There come times in every disciple's life when their allegiance to Christ will be challenged. When these tests come, how do we fare? For those who followed Christ in the first century, the testing did not always show positive results - for some, they turned away (I.e., Hebrews, Judas, etc.). For others, when there was a challenge to their faith, they were proven loyal (Antipas - Rev 2:13, Stephen - Acts 7, etc.). Results are mixed. With that in mind, vigilance is essential (1

The Church is eclectic, comprising people with various backgrounds, personalities, and preferences. Some might be part of a heritage of Christians; others might be the first generation, perhaps even one of the few lapses in generations. In the Church, we have some who are more inclined to be outgoing, others who are more kept to themselves, some who are go-getters, and others who exercise an abundance of caution in all they do. Some prefer to keep things as they have been, wh

In John 4:24, Jesus, speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, said, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Here, Jesus spoke about what was fundamental to worship and what would not change. Before this, Jesus was presented with a statement of division, “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus’ response to this statement is what has changed about worship,

In Romans 6:1-2, Paul wrote the Church in Rome these questions, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" It seems evident that a misunderstanding of grace existed among the Church of the first century that seemingly still exists in the Church and in the religious world at large. The issue is the mistaken idea that once in Christ, we have an all-atoning sacrifice that accounts for every

Recently, I viewed a poll among a small group of Ministers claiming to be members of the Church of Christ. The poll was about when the Law of Christ took effect. One answer seemed immaturely proposed, "We are not under law, but grace." It is true that Paul does make reference to Christians being "under grace" and not "under [the] law." (Brackets given to reflect various translations, KJV included) (Rom 6:14). However, if we read this verse with the understanding that the New

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). This is far from the only passage that reflects the great love that God has displayed and possesses. Still, it is the most familiar among people. A reason for this is the boldness of this proclamation and the magnitude that it truly amplifies. This statement of God's love says some powerful and irreplaceable things. For e

In 1 Kings 10:1-10, the kingdom of Solomon is visited by a very important guest, the Queen of Sheba. The queen came with an understanding of how beautiful Solomon's kingdom was; she had heard the far-reaching report of its immense beauty. Still, despite what she heard, the queen had this to say, "the half has not even been told." The kingdom was far more beautiful than any glowing words could have described. Such is the case for heaven. Heaven is the most beautiful place beyo

Jesus, speaking with James and John, reminds us in Mark 10 of His purpose in coming, "For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mk 10:45). This comes at the cusp of a plea that they were bringing forth to receive prominent sitting at His right and left hand. Jesus rightly pointed out that being His disciple is not about the measure of reward you receive but the service you render. He, the greatest, reminds us, "…whoever

"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." Deuteronomy 14:2 Statements like what we have above when improperly perceived, cause various problems and suggest several false ideas. One issue is the suggestion of Israel's, as a nation, importance following the judgment - that Christ will establish His throne there among the physical nation and h