Some blessings in life are only appreciated when received with tears. Nothing is quite as refreshing as having your heart's longing satisfied. If the sentiment can be appreciated, it would be most appreciated by those who had their longing for motherhood granted. I do not arrive at this conclusion because of naivety or because I understand the mind and body of women. I arrive at this conclusion because some of the most beautiful Scripture comes from formerly barren women, now

One of the greatest privileges of life is parenthood. Globally, it is estimated that 80-90% of all people living will enjoy this blessing. With the blessing comes a great responsibility. Children should learn of and remember their Creator from their youth (Eccl 12:1). This is greatly advantaged when parents fulfill their obligation to discipline and instruct their children in the Lord (Eph 6:4). The Bible informs us of parents who both honored and neglected this responsibilit

It is estimated that the book of Acts covers the first thirty years of the Church’s history. During these thirty years, we focus on several lives and ministries. In Acts 1-5, the emphasis is on the duo of Peter and John. In Acts 6-9, the attention shifts to the evangelists Stephen, Philip, and Ananias. In Acts 10-12, the focus is on Peter and the Gentiles. In Acts 13-28, the spotlight is on Paul and his various companions. From start to finish, it tells the story of the Churc

If the All-Knowing God commented on your faith, what would He reveal? There are a few times when Jesus comments on the faith of others. Interestingly, those He found most favorable were those of a Gentile background. As for those who were the esteemed teachers of the Law, their faith was lacking (Matt 5:20). As for those who followed Him closely as friends and students, their faith was lacking. In a previous article, we commented on Jesus’s remark to Peter falling into the wa

Last Sunday, our article considered Peter and an occasion where he "hit the nail on the head." In John 6, Peter's fervor was completely right—where else shall we go? Who else has the words of eternal life? By what other man can we come into fellowship with God Almighty? There is no other man (Acts 4:12), no other way (John 14:6), and no other words (Romans 1:16). There is, however, another lesson to be learned from Peter's fervency. We referred to this, a time in which Peter

You have heard the expression, “You hit the nail on the head.” This means that you got it entirely correct. Your understanding is not off even a shade. You are right. In Peter’s life, we can see several instances where he couldn’t be any more wrong. Matthew 16 is an excellent example of such; Peter stands and proclaims he would not allow the Christ to die (Matt 16:22). As we might recall, Jesus returns Peter’s proclamation with the searing words, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Matt

If Peter wrote a memoir, I could imagine reading something like this: "One night on the seas, as winds blew and the waves beat about in the darkness, a dear friend approached me. He was the most powerful man I have ever met, for he was no mere man. He was the Son of God. I witnessed many of his powerful deeds, saw the lame restored, saw thousands fed from measly portions, and even saw the dead raised. When he came to our side, standing on the turbulent sea, I asked that he pe

"He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist." (John 13:4). These statements serve as a transition, namely a transition from the first roughly 33 years of His life to the last hours of His life. When we begin reading John 13:1, we start with the reading of a day that will then span to John 18, where Jesus is found and arrested in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus, on this last day, undoubtedly recognized a significant time for instruction - Hi

What type of lives would we live if we knew when they would end? Some might go mountain climbing and bull riding. Others might make it their mission to give all the love and forgiveness they have been denying. However, at the very least, most would be tempted to live lives of absolute wickedness. If we had a guaranteed time of judgment, many would seek to squeeze in all the sins they possibly could and then try to ask for forgiveness afterward. How do I know? People try to do

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