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Revelation 2:8-11. Four verses that can be read aloud in about 30 seconds was all Jesus needed to strengthen the suffering saints of Smyrna. And it seems to me his brief message can be distilled down into a single, powerful word: perspective.
Smyrna was called “The Crown City” not only because the hills that surrounded it resembled a crown but also because it was exceptionally prosperous and proud. This was in large part due to its loyalty to the Roman Empire. From the city’s worldly point of view, the Christians in Smyrna must have seemed awfully foolish for…
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In our fast-paced, achievement-driven society, losing sight of what truly matters is easy. As members of the Church of Christ, we understand the importance of focusing on God. Yet, we can often find ourselves unwittingly bowing to modern-day idols. These idols are not statues or images we might think of from ancient times; instead, they are more subtle and insidious. They manifest in the form of self-worth, career success, and personal accomplishments.
The Subtlety of Modern Idolatry: A Dangerous Deception
Modern-day idolatry is deceptive because it often disguises itself as something good.…
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HELP ME GO TO HEAVEN
(Greg King)In John 14:1-3 Jesus said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
Do…
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The Bible says in Titus 2:11,12: “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. Instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age.” In order to be godly, there are certain things with which a Christian must not be in association. One of those things is alcohol and specifically modern-day alcohol.
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines sober as marked by self-control, of sound, moral judgment. Sober Christians deny themselves any worldly pleasure…
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THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND ITS WORK
(A.C. Grider)Christ said he would build His church (Matthew 16:18). That he built it is evidenced by the fact that Luke says He added people to it day by day as they were being saved, (Acts 2:47). This church is the body of Christ, and He is the head of it, (Ephesians. 1:22-23). The church which Jesus built is essentially the "New Testament Church."
This New Testament church was the…
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "LIBERAL" CHURCHES OF CHRIST AND "CONSERVATIVE" CHURCHES OF CHRIST?
In the introduction, let us explain the descriptive terms which we will be using. Webster says that "liberal" means: "not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; not conservative:" The word "conservative" means: "disposed to maintain existing institutions or views; opposed to change."
I believe these two terms describe the views of churches of Christ today. Many churches of Christ no…
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On June 13th, I officiated Marshall and Jordan’s wedding. This is an expansion of some of the thoughts I shared with them in the service.
When we talk about marriage we often speak of Genesis and reference Adam & Eve as proof that marriage has been a part of God’s plan since creation. That’s true, but I want to talk for a minute about a part of that story that are sometimes overlooked.
From Genesis 2:
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A funny thing once happened to me in New Orleans. I was staying at the Downtowner Hotel on Bourbon Street right in the midst of the French Quarter. That, as some of you know, must compare to the society of Sodom and Gomorrah. One evening as I was returning to my hotel I stopped along the way to purchase a quart of milk. Milk in hand (in a plain brown bag), I resumed my stroll down the center of Bourbon Street, now crowded with a variety of staggering revelers. Just as I approached my hotel a…
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SHOULD I CALL MY PREACHER "REVEREND"?
(Mike Willis)When some people learn that I preach, they refer to me as "Reverend" or "Rev." I understand that they are trying to show respect and courtesy toward me. Such religious titles are commonly worn by the "clergy" of the denominations and, judging the churches of Christ to be just another denomination, they refer to gospel preachers just like they refer to the denominational clergy. Nevertheless, I refuse to accept the religious titles commonly worn by…
