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  • Eugene Adkins 6:55 am on May 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: jesus, ,   

    Peace, Be Still 

    If you have ever visited the ocean then you know about the raw power it contains. Other than its shere size, the other thing that sticks out in my memories about the ocean is the sound. The strength and sound of the waves are truly something to behold! There’s no confusing it with the traffic noise from across the street. Can you hear it?

    In Psalm 65 David describes the power of God by saying, “Who established the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power; You who still the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves,…“ (Psalm 65:6,7). David says the power and noise of the ocean waves become silent at the command of its Creator.

    When I read those verses I couldn’t help but wonder if the apostles would have thought about them after Jesus stilled the raging wind storm on the sea that’s recorded in Mark 4:35-41. In the midst of fearing for their life Jesus told the storm, “Peace, be still!” and it listened. What a sight, or rather, what a sound that would have been to have witnessed that voice still the noise of the stormy sea and its waves.

    The same God who stilled the noise in the Psalms is the one who stilled the noise of that stormy sea from that little boat. That’s the confidence and faith Jesus wants us to have in him. The next time you visit the ocean, let that thought bring you peace and make you be still for a moment, for this God whom we read about in the Bible can still bring peace to our lives in the midst of terrible storms.

    “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:41 – NKJV)

     

    • J. Randal Matheny 8:57 am on May 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Tremendous thought, Eugene. Our Lord controls the vast and powerful ocean, quiets its sound. He can quiet my heart as well.

  • Ed Boggess 9:07 am on May 8, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus,   

    Doing the right thing – sometimes I have a hard time doing the right thing! Temptation finds its way into my heart and there you have it. I’d rather not have to face temptation at all! I like to pray “lead me not into temptation.” Nevertheless, it helps me to realize that even Jesus, at least once, did not want to do the right thing. In the Garden Jesus prayed “let this cup pass from me.” He didn’t want to deal with it, endure it, go through it. Yet He backed up that petition with a “may Your will be done.” So I guess that is where I am, trying to do the right thing even when I don’t want to.

     

  • Eugene Adkins 6:54 am on April 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , jesus,   

    Get Your Old News Here! 

    A person wouldn’t sell very many papers with that headline would they? But that’s one of the “headlines” Paul used consistently when he taught about the “Good News.”

    Not too long ago I preached a sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and how Paul was telling the church then that their faith was a faith based on “old news” that was “reliable news” – the Old Testament (Luke 24:44-47).

    So many people in “Christianity” are looking for something new, something hip, something “evolved” but what they don’t realize is that the people could have said the exact same thing to Paul when he presented a Savior based upon the Old Scriptures. It didn’t stop Paul from following Jesus and I don’t see as to why the gospel being “old news” today should keep anyone from believing the “good news” about Jesus.

    “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”” (Acts 17:2-3, NKJV)

     

  • Eugene Adkins 6:46 pm on March 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus,   

    “War and Peace” 

    Can a person understand peace without understanding conflict? They can no more understand it than they can appreciate it. Peace with God does not come from ignoring the problem of sin. Peace with God comes from confronting the problem and finding the way of reconciliation.

    “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:9-11)

    “For it pleased the Father that in [Jesus] all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard….” (Colossians 1:19-23)

    Peace with God can only be found in one way; the hope of reconciliation with God comes only through Jesus. Is it not true that the most important peace-sign the world has ever seen came in the shape of a cross? It is if we understand the conflict. It is when we know who has won the war!

     

  • Ron Thomas 8:44 am on December 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , herod, jesus, , Micah   

    A Few Thoughts from Matthew 2 

    Political turmoil was a norm in the days of the Lord; there might have been some stability, but when a political leader like Herod is able to kill who he wants and when he wants to, to say there in NOT turmoil is to be mistaken. Can you imagine living (always) in fear of someone behind you? This is how Herod lived, and when he heard of the Scriptures attesting to a new born king, that was enough to get him into action! R.C. Foster said that Herod died in March of 4 B.C., and if he saw to it that the males were killed at two years of age and younger, we get a time frame in which our Lord was born (D.A. Carson notes that some have attempted to take the years of our Lord’s birth to 2 B.C.). However, with that, we still don’t know exactly when it was – so how in the world can anyone assert that is was December 25th?! It may have been, but not a single one of knows this to be the case.

    ****

    If the Lord was 33 years of age when He was crucified, at what year would His passing have been?

    ****

    In 2:6 we read that in Bethlehem the Messiah would be born; this is how the religious leaders interpreted the Scripture in their day and this is what they told the king as well. “As shown by the rendering of the Targum Jonathan, the prediction of Micah v.2 was at that time universally understood as pointing to Bethlehem, as the birthplace of the Messiah” (Edersheim, Volume 1, Book 2, Chapter 8, p. 206, 1904 edition). The significance of this remark by Edersheim will be seen when we take note how Orthodox Judaism now looks at the passage. This passage does not place the birth of the Messiah in the city (town, village) of Bethlehem, but only from the house of David who, himself, was born in Bethlehem. “… it is from this family that the Messianic king will emerge … Scripture does not mean that the Messiah’s birthplace will be the city of Bethlehem [as Christian writers propose] but that the Messianic king will be a descendent of the House of David which originated in Bethlehem” (Commentary on Micah 5:1, ArtScroll Tanach Series, Volume 2, p. 37).

     

    • Stephen R. Bradd 9:01 am on December 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      AD 30 makes the most sense to me.
      I know “AD 33″ is popular, but I don’t see how it can be justified unless one is willing to embrace the notion of a much longer public ministry of Christ (and Jesus dying at an older age).

    • Ron Thomas 9:03 am on December 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Of late, I have been inclined to think about 29, though 30 might be the case.

  • J. Randal Matheny 5:31 am on November 16, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , jesus, QuickBibleTruths   

    Knowledge of God 

    "The way to knowledge of God is through knowledge of Christ, and the way to knowledge of Christ is by faith in his promises as revealed in the Bible." —Donald Bloesch, Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord, pp. 15-16

    "No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known." John 1:18 NET

    Quick Bible Truths

     

  • Ron Thomas 9:26 am on October 11, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: healed, jesus, known   

    Can it be known? 

    In the mass of humanity can it possibly be known that one if seeks out the Lord the Lord will find that one? How can one speck of dirt be so easily seen by anyone when all around you is nothing but a mound of dirt?

    There was a woman who was so ill that hardly any knew of her presence when the crowd thronged around Jesus. Yet, in her act of faith, perhaps with some uncertainty, she reaches out and touches someone – not just any (or every) someone but the Someone – Jesus.

    She was healed instantly.

    The disciples were amazed that Jesus would even begin to ask the question about who just (merely) touched Him with the crowd pressing in on Him. He knew, and he looked on her who was “guilty” and said to her that her faith made her well (Mark 5:25-34). What is it that the Lord of all the universe is so interested in one small speck of dirt that He is able to pick that speck out of the mound of those around who have a mere curiosity?

    Can it be known that you seek emotional and spiritual relief, that you are heavy with guilt? Oh, it can be known, but will you let it be known?

    How strong is your faith?

     

  • Richard Mansel 5:57 pm on July 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus,   

    God in the Flesh 

    I recently spent a week at the Hinesville, Georgia congregation teaching the deity of Jesus in the Gospel of John to young men in the Leadership Training camp. It is a challenging study that I enjoy. John and Ephesians are my two favorite books, so I’ve done more study in them.

    I started today on a series of articles on Christ as God in the flesh from the Gospel of John. I include my theory of the purpose of the book and how it comes to bear on the theme established in the prologue.

    I would be interested in your thoughts on my article and the overall subject of God in the flesh. How do we express something that is so vital, yet so incomprehensible? Thanks in advance for your insight. I want to be able to learn from you, as well.

     

  • John Henson 11:50 am on July 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus,   

    Epidemic Blindness 

    There is so much blindness in Mark chapter eight!

    First, the apostles are blind to the needs of others, mainly because the people they encountered were Gentiles. Jesus, however, was not so prejudiced. He said, “”I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat,” (Mark 8:2 NLT).

    Such was God the Son. He was always concerned about people; Jew or Gentile didn’t matter to him. He knew that true religion is caring for others (James 1:27). Why is it that people are so often reluctant to help?

    Following this, the Pharisees caught up with Jesus in Dalmanutha. These people were blind to Jesus as the Son of God. They asked for a sign. Jesus had given them several miracles and signs already. Why were the Pharisees always looking for the abnormal to find the Messiah? They were blind, but simply needed to open their eyes.

    Next, the disciples demonstrated their blindness again when Jesus said, “”Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod,” (Mark 8:15). The disciples thought Jesus said this because they had no bread back there in the wilderness.

    They were blind. He was not talking about that. He was trying to get them to understand the influence the Pharisees and Herod might have on them. They needed to be cautious of what their influence could do!

    Jesus said to them, “’You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’* Don’t you remember anything at all? (Mark 8:18 NLT). Did you notice the frustration in Jesus’ words?

    Later, though, a glimmer of light came through for Peter when he confessed Christ is the Son of God. Still, blindness has a way of afflicting some even after they receive their sight, as it did Peter in verses 32 and 33.

    People struggle with the same kind of blindness even today, don’t they? They need help. Will we help them see?

     

  • Richard Mansel 7:53 pm on June 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus, , ,   

    God in the Flesh 

    On Sunday morning, I will be speaking on “God in the Flesh” from John 1:1-5,14. What a powerful and challenging topic! It is difficult to explain the unexplainable.

    Without faith, how can we understand what it means to be God and man at the same time? Our text is so powerful that we can spend a lot of time on the subject. I plan a two-part series, trying to help my audience understand this difficult subject.

    John’s gospel is not a biography but a treatise to prove the premise in John 1:1-5.14. John’s prologue is so overwhelming that no human being could ever live up to it. John spends the rest of the book laying out evidence to prove his case. Everything in this book is designed to illustrate his point. It comes to fruition when Thomas cries, “My Lord and My God!” in John 20:28.

    What is the best way for you to explain what it means for Jesus to be God and man?

     

    • J. Randal Matheny 8:48 pm on June 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      All the illustrations I’ve heard for the incarnation (as well as the God who is three in one) seem to fall flat. Most likely the people who created them felt it, also, but they are attempts, at least, to help us understand the deep things of God. God bless you tomorrow as you speak his word on this most precious topic.

  • Richard Mansel 3:24 pm on June 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , jesus,   

    “If Jesus was a liar, a con man, and therefore an evil, foolish man, then how can we explain the fact that He left us with the most profound moral instruction and powerful moral examples that anyone ever has left? Could a deceiver–an imposter of monstrous proportions–teach such unselfish ethical truths and live such a morally exemplary life as Jesus did? The very notion is incredulous.”

    Josh McDowell, “More Evidence That Demands a Verdict,” page 159.
     

  • Richard Mansel 3:21 pm on June 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus, , ,   

    “If you were to take the sum total of all authoritative articles ever written by the most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on the subject of mental hygiene–if you were to combine them and refine them and cleave out the excess verbiage–if you were to take the whole of the meat and none of the parsley, and if you were to have these unadulterated bits of pure scientific knowledge concisely expressed by the most capable of living poets, you would have an awkward and incomplete summation of the Sermon on the Mount” [Psychiatrist, J.T. Fisher]

    “More Evidence That Demands a Verdict” by Josh McDowell, page 162].
     

  • John Henson 12:05 pm on June 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: jesus, redeemer,   

    Jesus, Savior and Redeemer 

    Some of the members of Grand Blanc Church of Christ and I have been engaged in a study of the Major Prophets since the fall of 2010, beginning with the book of Isaiah. We are studying the 42nd and 43rd chapters and I noticed something.

    Jesus is “savior” and is denoted as such in Isaiah 43:3. His name means exactly that.

    Jesus is “redeemer.” Just as Boaz plucked off his sandal in token of redemption of Ruth and Naomi, Jesus allowed his life to be plucked from him, along with his blood, in redemption of us.

    Jesus is the servant identified in Isaiah 42, and is the one in verse 7 who will “bring prisoners from the prison” of sin.

    How much more should we love him who first loved us? He is our near-kinsman, for he is the only one who could redeem us from our sin.

    After reflecting on this, I read with new appreciation: “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them,” (Isaiah 42:16 NKJV).

    God be praised, for he has saved us, redeemed us, and led us to understand and walk in ways we have not known.

     

  • John Henson 11:36 am on April 12, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus,   

    Do You Clash With Jesus? 

    After Judy and I were married, we dressed for our wedding trip.

    She was beautiful in a smart, green dress. But, she cringed at my light gray suit, red, gray and white zig-zag-striped shirt and my red, white and gray striped tie.

    She said I clashed.

    Jesus clashed with many people during his time on earth. That’s because Jesus always showed God’s mind from the beginning. Jesus’ thinking was not a product of the Pharisees. While the Pharisees looked at religion as ritual, Jesus knew true religion was service.

    So in the last part of Mark 2 and in Mark 3, Jesus clashed with the ideas of the Pharisees.

    People still clash with Jesus. Those who believe there are “many paths to God” clash with Jesus who said, “I am the way,” (John 14:6). Those who believe they have the authority to determine what we must do in the work, worship and conduct of the church clash with Jesus who said, ““All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” (Matthew 28:18).

    Do you clash with Jesus? Stop this warfare now and surrender to his will, humbly obeying him.

     

  • Mike Riley 7:10 am on February 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: attain, , coming, , jesus, , , ,   

    Summing Up The Bible In One Sentence 

    The Bible is about the coming of Jesus as our Savior, His teachings, & our necessary obedience to those teachings in order to attain heaven.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 4:56 pm on February 22, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: jesus, , , striking phrases   

    Better than the Pharisees 

    “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20 NIV).

    Jesus’ statement had to be one of the most shocking things he ever said. The Pharisees were considered the top cats of religion. But theirs was, as one writer (not of the brotherhood!) said, selective obedience. And external observance.

    The verse is considered a key, if not the key, verse in the Sermon on the Mount, rightly so, it would seem. It prohibits us from seeing the sermon as the great but unattainable ideal. This is to be lived out and done right.

    The better righteousness (right-doing) is one of kind not degree, God centered (see 5.48), motivated by God’s approval (so chap. 6), kingdom prioritized.

    When Jesus spoke these words, they must have rocked the listeners to their core. Following the Lord was a whole new enterprise, one that forbade the normal assumptions, turned the definition of goodness upside down, and made holiness not only an inner quality but a worldwide mission of salt and light.

     

  • Stephen R. Bradd 10:14 am on February 22, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: jesus, , striking phrase   

    Jesus’ Most Strking Phrase 

    “Let the dead bury their own dead.”

    And modern man replies: “That’s so harsh and certainly not politically correct, Jesus!”

     

    • guy 10:47 am on February 22, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Stephen,

      What do you think Jesus meant by that statement? i’ve honestly never understood what His response intended to convey.

      –guy

      • Stephen R. Bradd 10:52 am on February 22, 2011 Permalink | Reply

        My thoughts on Matt. 8:22 -

        “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead” – Jesus means, “Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead; you, come and follow me.”

        There are some who seem to think that Jesus is uncharacteristically cruel here in not allowing the man time to go back and bury his father. Such is not the case. In Jesus’ day, the dead were buried on the same day in which they died. Thus, if this man’s father was already dead, he certainly wouldn’t have been there at that time with the multitude. It must be the case that his father is in poor health or elderly, and he believes that the man is not far from death. So, what this disciple really wants to do is to go and tend to his father’s needs until his death, and then he will come and follow Jesus.

        Jesus’ response demands that the man prioritize. The disciple had no way of knowing if his father would live another day or another 5 years, and one who wanted to literally follow Jesus during his public ministry needed to act quickly. This is true because Jesus’ earthly ministry wasn’t going to last much more than another year. Jesus is simply telling the man that he can’t do both. Thus, he needs to choose what is really important. Certainly man does have a responsibility to his family, but this responsibility does not supersede one’s responsibility to God (cf. Luke 14:26). Note – Today one should never postpone following Jesus until “this” or “that” happens; following Jesus is something one must do now, not put off until later.

  • Mike Riley 9:30 am on February 22, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , jesus, , , , , , striking, ,   

    Jesus’ Most Striking Phrase 

    To me, the most striking phrase of Jesus is, “Have ye not read?” (Matthew 12:3,5; Matthew 19:4; Matthew 22:31; Mark 12:10,26; Luke 6:3).

    The religious leaders of Christ’s day had indeed “read” the Old Testament passages that Jesus’ referred to in the above passages, but were more interested in upholding their own “traditions” rather than upholding God’s word (Matthew 15:3,6; Mark 7:8-9,13).

    As a result, the Lord called these religious leaders “hypocrites” (Matthew 15:7-8 ; cf. Isaiah 29:13).

    Today, our society would call them “reading-challenged.”

     

  • Ron Thomas 5:27 am on February 22, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: charlatans, , genuine, jesus   

    John 11:43 

    Striking words, to me, would be the words of our Lord in John 11:43. In contrast to the fake religious, miracle worker preachers of today, Jesus simply speaks forth three words, “Lazarus, come forth!” With those words a man dead four days comes from his tomb. Rather than parade the man in the presence of the preacher and in front of thousands on a stage, Jesus simply says to those about him, to unbind him and set him free. I marvel at the thousands who are deluded by these charlatans, but I am angered by the preachers who have an interest in money, prestige, and power (or influence). Though I marvel at the many who are deluded, I also take note of the many who want to be deceived. They want to be deceived because when evidence is brought forth that the person they are following is not following the Lord – they still follow the charlatan. On the other hand, there are many who are there genuinely trying to get answers to their most pressing problems in life, and those people are the ones….. well …. I hope the Lord has mercy on.

    Never fail to take note of the contrast between the genuine (Jesus) and the one who promotes himself.

     

  • Ron Thomas 6:16 am on February 18, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus   

    My Faith 

    The word “faith” has become a popular word that has little meaning in some contexts. “My faith pulled me through,” someone might say. While I think I understand what is being said, I might ask what is actually meant with the expression of the words. My interpretation may not be the same as what someone meant. “Faith” is a good word, a word that is based on the historical person of the Lord Jesus. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life…” (1 John 1:1, ESV). Perhaps it would be better if one were to say, using the same sentence a moment ago, “My faith in the Lord Jesus pulled me through.” With these words, this is what I mean: Jesus is the anchor of my soul; thus, when the waves are thrashing back and forth, my ship is steady because of the One who lived and died for me. That is what I mean by “my faith.”

     

  • Ron Thomas 5:15 am on February 18, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: jesus, ,   

    John did not know 

    For some time I have pondered on the thought that John, the Baptist, did not know the Lord Jesus. “And I did not recognize (know – ESV) him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining — this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’” (John 1:33, NET). Yet, the Scripture declares that to some degree John did indeed know the Lord, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:13-14, ESV). John knew (recognized) Him, but then again he did not. That he knew Jesus is clear from the words of Matthew, but the special way in which he was going to come to know did not occur until after he and jesus fulfilled all righteousness.

    Perhaps we, too, recognize the Lord, but do we know Him?

     

  • Glenda Williams 1:28 pm on February 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: jesus, ,   

    What if on every pulpit there was a small sign that read, “Tell me the story of Jesus”?

    I wish that preachers would preach when they get up to the pulpit. That is valuable time when the Word is to be taught. Announcements that were not given to the person making announcements, jokes, frivolous talk, and recaps of a television program seen the night before, seem to me such a waste of valuable time.  I have been to worship God when the speaker would spend as much as ten minutes talking about such things before ever beginning his sermon.

    Tell me the story of Jesus. Write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.

     

    • John Henson 2:03 pm on February 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      You are so right, Glenda. Some use the time to hone their stand-up routine.

  • Mike Riley 10:54 am on January 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , hate, household, jesus, , twelve,   

    “Fear Ye Not” – Matthew 10:31 

    In the context of Matthew 10, Jesus is telling his twelve disciples what to expect when they go from city to city, preaching the gospel. He explains to them that the world will hate them because of the message they preach – including those of their own household (Matthew 10:16-22). He then tells them to preach the whole gospel without fear (Matthew 10:26-27), the only person to fear is the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).

    In Matthew 10:31, He then goes to to say that the disciples are of far more value than that of mere sparrows, therefore, they are not to “fear” what man can do to them – God will take care of them, even in death (Matthew 10:29-31; cf. Romans 8:28-39; cf. Psalm 116:15; Revelation 14:12-13).

    When Jesus rides in our boat, there is absolutely nothing to fear: http://mbriley.preachersfiles.com/2010/02/05/when-jesus-rides-in-our-boat-2/

     

  • Mike Riley 5:58 pm on January 24, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: accuse, between, , , , , jesus, , , , ruler, seeker, similarity, , , ,   

    Comparing The Rich Ruler And Zacchaeus 

    Some similarities between the rich ruler and Zacchaeus are:

    1) Both men were seekers of Jesus (Lk. 18:18; Lk. 19:2-3).

    2) Both men were rich (Lk. 18:23; Lk. 19:2).

    3) Both men were willingly receptive of Jesus (Lk. 18:18; Lk. 19:6).

    4) Both men were seeking eternal life (Lk. 18:18; Lk. 19:8-10).

    Some differences between the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus are:

    1) The rich young ruler was not willing to share his riches with others less fortunate (deny himself – Matt. 16:24), in order to have riches in heaven and follow Jesus (Lk. 18:22).

    In contrast, Zacchaeus was willing to deny self and share his riches with those less fortunate and restore anything taken by false accusation (Lk. 19:8).

    2) The rich young ruler was very sorrowful – but not to the point of sincerely repenting of his selfishness. His was a worldly sorrow (Lk. 18:23; cf. 2 Cor. 7:10).

    In contrast, Zacchaeus was sorrowful to the point of sincerely repenting of anything amiss in his life – even to the point of restoring to individuals anything falsely taken. His was a godly sorrow (Lk. 19:8-9; cf. 2 Cor. 7:9-10).

     

  • Ron Thomas 5:47 am on January 24, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , jesus, , things to believe   

    What’s the Least You Can Believe and Still Be a Christian? 

    I bet you were unaware of the fact that there are some things one does not have to believe in order to be a Christian. No, I am sure you did not know this. However, in offering a few thought on this, it might very well be the case that you (or others) have actually wondered whether some topics are a “salvation-issue” or not. While this article won’t address “salvation-issue” topics (or not), what it will address is the importance of where one should start.

    “What’s the least I can believe and still be a Christian?” What a great question! Danny’s provocative question prompted me to write a new book, using his question as the title. Part one of the book presents 10 things Christians don’t need to believe. In short, Christians don’t need to believe in closed-minded faith. For example, Christians don’t need to believe that:

    • God causes cancer, car wrecks and other catastrophes
    • Good Christians don’t doubt
    • True Christians can’t believe in evolution
    • Woman can’t be preachers and must submit to men
    • God cares about saving souls but not saving trees
    • Bad people will be “left behind” and then fry in hell
    • Jews won’t make it to heaven
    • Everything in the Bible should be taken literally
    • God loves straight people but not gay people
    • It’s OK for Christians to be judgmental and obnoxious”

    Of the ten points, how many of them would you consider worth even discussing? Having enumerated these ten points in my head, the following I would not even consider to be a point of discussion: all ten! The point is not that the topics do not deserve a fair hearing or that they are not important, but in order for one to become a Christian – are these the topics to be discussed? Of the subjects above, I would take serious and strong issue with seven of the ten, but even then I would not lead a discussion in these areas.

    In order for some in society to accept a particular brand of “Christianity” some topics, subjects are worth more time in discussion than others. In New Testament Christianity, it all started with Peter’s words to the Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:36), Paul’s words to Lydia (Acts 16:14, his words to the jailor (Acts 16:31-33), and his words to the Athenians (Acts 17:22ff). The older I get, the more I appreciate the words of Paul when he said that all he knows is Jesus and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).

    These topic are worthy of discussion, but a serious discussion must first start with Jesus. What do you think, shall we first start with Him?

    SOURCE: From the Huffington Post

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-thielen/whats-the-least-you-can-b_b_811353.html

     

    • Steve 5:31 pm on February 13, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Yes, We must start with Jesus, But if we believe in Jesus we must first believe in the Word of God and that Jesus as that word does not lie or mislead his flock. If I were to tell my flock it was okay to believe in evolution how then could I read to them Genesis 1:1 and if we depart from the first verse in the Bible where do we go from there. There is no hell! I am lost on this person being a pastor. If there is no heaven or hell I do not need to know Jesus or anyone else.

      • Ron 4:51 am on February 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply

        Thank you, Steve, for your remarks.

  • Richard Mansel 9:16 pm on January 23, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus, parable,   

    The Tale of the Three Trees 

    Ed Melott posted the following parable on a discussion list. The author of the piece is unknown but the story is wonderful and I hope you are edified by it.

    Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

    (More …)

     

    • Steve 9:49 pm on January 23, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Richard, It’s been awhile since I’ve been in TFR or seen any of your postings. It seems a while back you were going to Mayo specialists to identify and resolve your health issues. If resolution has not yet been achieved, may God provide the knowledge and wisdom to those medical professionals who are working on your case.

      • Richard Mansel 9:51 pm on January 23, 2011 Permalink | Reply

        Steve, there aren’t any answers to my health challenges, at present. Thanks for your concern and prayers.

  • Ron Thomas 1:47 pm on January 2, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , jesus, ,   

    The Fundamentals – The Church 

    The other day I received in the mail Ministry magazine, a publication of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. It comes free to the office (how we begin to get it, I do not know). In the publication was an article titled, “Find the right church” (January 2011, pp. 13-16). The focus of the article was on helping “pastors” find the right church for them with respect to employment. The title, however, is more illustrative of a frame of mind.

    From this I gave thought of how a great many people view the church. The church is an institution that one can take or leave, depending upon the whims of the person. Since they think in a denominational sort of way, this is not far from the truth of the matter. However, when one thinks in terms of a biblical position, those who leave the church or take it somewhere the Lord did not purpose for it to go, this is a catastrophic sentiment. Since the Lord established the church (Matthew 16:13-19), only He can determine anything about it. Those who have false ideas about the church need to consider all over again what the teachings of Scripture.

    Such a teaching that we are part of a larger denominational entity is biblically false! The Lord’s church is strongly opposed to denominationalism for by its very nature denominationalism is fragmented into to contrary doctrines: contrary to Scripture and contrary to one another. There is more to the Lord’s church than just believing Jesus is Lord, that He died and was resurrected, and His second coming is pending.

    The Lord’s church is a necessary institution because 1) Jesus established it (Matthew 16), 2) it was in the mind of God in eternity (Ephesians 3), 3) by it the manifold wisdom of God is declared to all creation (Ephesians 3), 4) through it the local members receive much edification (Acts 14:22), and 5) its benevolent spirit radiates the glory of God (Galatians 6:7-10).

    It is a shame when men and women, professing to be Christian, do not know what the Lord said about His body, the institution of which they are, supposedly, members. The church is the blood-bought institution of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are saved are members of His body and members of no man-made institution. It is a challenge to each of us to faithfully live the life of Christ, to faithfully speak the words of Christ, and to cheerfully, lovingly, gently, but firmly share the message of Christ with others. Remember, only those who are members of His church will be saved because there are no saved people outside the Lord’s church!

     

    • Mike Riley 2:51 pm on January 2, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Great points as usual, Ron! Christ and His church cannot be separated. In fact nothing can separate us from the love of God or Christ (Romans 8:35-39). If we love Christ, we must love the church for which He died (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-32).

      • Ron 2:54 pm on January 2, 2011 Permalink | Reply

        Mike, you are very kind in your remarks. What is really unfortunate is the Xian who cares not very much about it.

  • Ron Thomas 5:30 am on November 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: chosen, , , jesus,   

    A Word of Lamentation 

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:37-39, ASV).

    Jesus, during the last week of His life on this earth, speaks these words because of an anguished heart. For three years He had been preaching the message of God, both in Jerusalem and in the extended areas. And for three years His message was spurned by the masses. Certainly it was not because His word did not warrant acceptance, rather it was because His word was contrary to preconceived notions. These preconceived notions and the subsequent rejection of the message of God brought God’s wrath upon Jerusalem.

    Jerusalem and the Israelite nation was the “chosen” of God. But the nation Israel had fulfilled its purpose, now the purposes of God had gone beyond that. When God chose Israel it was because through them the promised Savior would come into the world. Into the world He came and many people wanted nothing to do with Him. But, whether rejected or accepted, Jesus is the chosen of God. Will we accept God’s chosen?

     

  • Richard Mansel 12:25 pm on October 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , jesus,   

    Did Judas Know? 

    Matthew 26:21-25, ” Now as they were eating, He said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.’ And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, ‘Lord, is it I?’ He answered and said, ‘He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.’The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.’ Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, ‘Rabbi, is it I?’ He said to him, ‘You have said it.’”

    Two things are curious about Judas.

    First, it appears from this passage that  he did not know he would betray Jesus (Luke 22:3)

    Second, none of the apostles thought Judas was capable of such evil (John 13:26-30).

    What comments do you have?

     

    • Ron 1:05 pm on October 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Richard, it seems to me that Judas, by this time, had a sure sense of what he was doing. Satan entered Judas, and from that time he sought a way to betray, though he may not have known the exactly the way it would “go down.” However, in short order, he had a good idea as to how it would occur. In my opinion, his greatest surprise was when he learned that Jesus knew all about it, especially when the bread was handed to him.

    • Mike Riley 2:05 pm on October 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      John 13:2 says that it was “after supper” that the devil put the thought of betrayal into Judas. It wasn’t too long after that event, that Judas went to the chief priests to offer them a bribe (Matthew 26:14-16). The rest of the story is history.

      It’s always amazed me as to what a small amount of money will do to some people – causes them to think irrationally – Judas being one of them.

  • John Henson 10:54 am on October 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus,   

    Laying up treasure 

    It is impossible to consider a history of the Americas apart from treasure.

    When Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of the Bahamas on Oct. 12, 1492, he was looking for two things: he sought a shorter route to India, and he was looking for treasure.

    The conquistadors brought religion to the land of the Aztecs and Incas, but they were principally looking for gold to take back to Spain to fund that country’s navy. In addition to the Spanish language, they brought European diseases, such as smallpox, that wiped out both native cultures.

    Men have sought and laid up treasures for as long as there have been human beings, only to find their lives gone and death at the door. Columbus died May 20, 1506 still believing he had found a shorter route to India. One of the conquistadors, Francisco Pizzarro, was assassinated.

    Jesus talked about treasure, too, but it was the kind of treasure that could not be stolen and one which could not be destroyed by time and decay. The Lord encouraged us to use a different banking system that of the world.

    Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal,” (Matthew 6:19). He knew that many people stored things on earth they will never use, things that will never benefit them or anyone else. When talking about the rich fool who built more storehouses to hold his treasures, Jesus said, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”(Luke 12:20).

    People sometimes say, “If I can’t take it with me, I’m not going.” Of course, they’re wrong about that. They will, indeed, go, and they won’t be taking anything with them. The idea of a hearse towing a trailer is so absurd it’s laughable, but isn’t that the way many think? Isn’t that how they live?

    Oh, how much happier we’d be in this life and in eternity if we heeded the words of Jesus, who said, “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” (Matthew 6:20).

    Where is your treasure? What are you storing up and when do you think it will make you prosper? Nothing on this earth can help provide one bit of assurance in eternity, except the Lord Jesus and his body, the church. As the hymn says, “Live for Jesus, oh, my brother; his disciple ever be. Render not to any other what alone the Lord’s should be.”

     

  • Richard Mansel 7:04 am on September 1, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus, ,   

    The Resurrection is Easier to Believe 

    Barry Newton provides some excellent food for thought this morning on the believability of the Resurrection of Christ.

     

  • Mike Riley 9:57 am on July 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: author, compelling, , , , , , , jesus, ,   

    “Looking Unto Jesus” 

    One of the most compelling phrases in the book of Hebrews is found in Hebrews 12:2:

    “Looking Unto Jesus.” The NASB renders this phrase, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus.” (More …)

     

  • Richard Hill 4:38 pm on July 21, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus, superior   

    Fix Your Thoughts On Jesus 

    Hebrews 3:1   . . .fix your thoughts on Jesus. . .

    Jewish Christians tended to fall back into the familiar.  They:

    • were infatuated with angels
    • looked to Moses as the great leader
    • considered rituals of the Levitical system God’s answer to sin
    • and trusted the Old Covenant as their hope for the future

    All these things were inadequate substitutes for radiance of God’s glory—Jesus Christ.

    Those silly Jewish Christians.   Couldn’t they see that Jesus had not only replaced, but is superior in every way to all these things?

    Shouldn’t we be grateful this is never done today?  Or is it?  Honestly answer the following questions.

    Do you have an extravagant passion for any of these?

    a.  Movie stars                          b. Athletes

    c.  American Idols                      d. Jesus

    Whom do you look to as a great leader?

    a.  Reagan                                b.  Obama

    c.  Jefferson                              d.  Jesus

    Who or what is your go-to source to improve your life?

    a.  Dr. Phil                                b.  Dr. Oz

    c.  Disney Movies                     d.  Jesus

    Where do you learn about the meaning of life?  (Remember, be honest.  Do you spend more time with Oprah than in Bible study?)

    a.  Dali Lama                            b.  Oprah

    c.  Science & psychology          d.  Jesus

    Where do you place your hope for the future?

    a.  Financial holdings                 b.  Family

    c.  Government                          d.  Jesus

    Once you locate the target of your infatuation, the one you consider a great leader, your go-to source to improve your life, and where you place your hope for the future, then you will know all the things you have substituted for Jesus or that you have Jesus right where he belongs.

    By the way—There’s only one right answer.

    Fix your thoughts on Jesus.

     

    • Ron 5:01 am on July 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Richard, I like this. Sounds like you need to have this at the ready to preach.

  • J. Randal Matheny 12:45 pm on July 21, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus,   

    Aren’t all religions equal? And equally useless? 

    Read the translation of my Portuguese-language devotional called “God with Us.” Today’s meditation: “Superior Religion,” based on a verse from the book of Hebrews, a hard-hitting call to hold fast to faith in Christ rather than returning to an inferior religion.

     

  • Ron Thomas 8:37 am on July 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: healing, jesus, physician   

    The Great Physician 

    The great physician wants people to come, but He wants them to come because they want what He can give (Matthew 8:19-22). A physician is of no value to the one who refuses or neglects a physical solution to a physical problem. Job looked upon his friends as being “physicians of no value” when they tried to remedy his ailment (Job 13:4; cf. 16:2). What good can one as great as Jesus do for us (me)? Our text this morning tells us that one as great as Jesus will be of no value to one who does not see that he (she) is sick! On the other hand, when one sees himself as he ought to see, to Jesus he goes. Why would he go to Jesus? Consider those who did:

    Jesus’ Healing.
    A. One who was a leper (8:1-4).
    B. One who was a paralytic (8:5-13).
    C. One with a fever (8:14-17).
    D. One who was demon possessed (8:28-34).

    These people saw themselves as they ought to have and came to Jesus for healing. They saw their sin-sickness, and now what stops us from seeing ours?

    Jesus’ Healing Us.
    A. He heals us when we have no faith (or little of it). Mark 9:14-27
    B. He heals us when we are afraid. Matthew 14:22-33
    C. He heals us when we are angered. Matthew 5:21-26
    D. He heals us when we are confused. Matthew 15:15-20
    E. He heals us when we are insecure. John 6:37-39
    F. He heals us when we are weak. Matthew 9:27-29

     

  • Richard Hill 7:33 pm on July 4, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus,   

    One Final Thought on Freedom 

    The greatest freedom is the freedom to be a servant of Jesus.

    Governments, try as they may, can’t take this one away.

     

  • Richard Mansel 1:31 pm on June 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus, , robber   

    Barabbas – What Was He? 

    I have always found it interesting the way that Barabbas is characterized. He was the prisoner who was released, at the request of the Jews, so Jesus could go to his death. In John 18:40, Barabbas was called a robber. Yet, Acts 3:14 calls him a murderer. Today, murderer would always take precedence over being a thief. Yet, to John, the “robber” designation was more indicative of his character. We have no way to know why John made this decision. However, we can speculate. Any ideas?

     

    • Mike Riley 2:06 pm on June 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Brother Burton Coffman describes Barabbas’ crimes as those of “murder, robbery, and sedition” in his commentary on Matthew 27:15-17: http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/bcc/view.cgi?book=mt&chapter=027.

      Barabbas was definitely a despicable fellow, to say the least. The way our courts are today, Barabbas would more than likely have hired some slick lawyer, and been out on probation. (:

    • John Henson 4:06 pm on June 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Theft is usually described in some states as “theft of property,” but robbery always involves the threat or infliction of violent, even deadly force. When I wrote for the newspaper, the Associated Press stylebook always made this distinction. Whether that has any bearing on the distinction is, indeed, supposition.

  • Richard Mansel 11:45 am on June 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , jesus, ,   

    Blood and Water in Salvation 

    I think that an understanding on blood and water in salvation is key to understanding baptism and God’s plan of redemption. I have posted a series of yes/no questions to help guide the student through a the subject of water and blood in salvation.

     

    • Mike Riley 1:02 pm on June 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Richard, great job of illustrating the need for both blood and water in salvation!

      • Richard Mansel 1:45 pm on June 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        Thank you, Mike. I feel this study [of blood and water] does not receive the attention it deserves.

  • Richard Mansel 8:10 pm on June 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , jesus   

    “Jesus did not pay for the church with His blood just to have people disdain it and ignore it (Acts 20:28).”

    Martel Pace, “Hebrews” Truth for Today Commentary Series, page 533.
     

    • John Henson 8:36 pm on June 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Great point, isn’t it? I’ve bought several of the TFT commentaries and I really like them. I have both books on Acts by Bro. Roper and find them very valuable. I hope to have the entire set Genesis-Revelation while I’m still in this earthly sojourn.

      • Richard Mansel 8:37 pm on June 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        I am still very early in the purchasing process. I would like to have the volumes on Acts.

  • Daniel Haynes 3:03 pm on May 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , jesus, ,   

    The Temptation of Jesus 

    Concerning Matthew’s account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (4:1-11), specifically Jesus’ response in verse 4, Albert Barnes offers the following lessons:

    • That Satan oftens takes advantage of our circumstances and wants to tempt us. The poor, the hungry, and the naked he often tempts to repine and complain, and to be dishonest in order to supply their necessities.
    • Satan’s temptations are often the strongest immediately after we have been remarkably favored. Jesus had just been called the Son of God, and Satan took this opportunity to try him. He often attempts to fill us with pride and vain self-conceit when we have been favored with any peace of mind, or any new view of God, and endeavors to urge us to do something which may bring us low and lead us to sin.
    • His temptations are plausible. They often seem to be only urging us to do what is good and proper. They seem even to urge us to promote the glory of God, and to honor him. We are not to think, therefore, that because a thing may seem to be good in itself, that therefore it is to be done. Some of the most powerful temptations of Satan occur when he seems to be urging us to do what shall be for the glory of God.
    • We are to meet the temptations of Satan, as the Savior did, with the plain and positive declarations of Scripture. We are to inquire whether the thing is commanded, and whether, therefore, it is right to do it, and not trust to our own feelings, or even our wishes, in the matter.

    From Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.

     

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