Angels are not easily recognized. The Bible says “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2). God’s angels come disguised, for they do not always appear to us in a burst of light or power. An angel wing may have grabbed you as you were about to slip
The parable known as “The parable of the Sower” is really a parable of the soils (Mt 13:3-8). The sower and the seed are the same in each. But the soil is different. The sower scattered the seed but it fell upon different kinds of soil: (1) wayside where people walked, hardened and packed down;
Quite early in Jesus’ ministry a conversation He did hold With Nicodemus who needed instruction, though quite old. He could never see the kingdom of God – its that plain Unless he “of the water and the spirit” be born again. John 3:3-5 Last words of a man are often thought of great significance Especially
“We are shopping for a church,” he said when I invited him to worship. With hundreds in Fort Worth, he could “shop” the rest of his life! If anyone is looking for the church Jesus built (Mt 16:18), note these identifying marks. NAME. See Rom 16:16: “The churches of Christ send greetings.” He bought it
“Come to me … for I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus promised the kingdom of heaven to those who are “poor in spirit” (Mt 5:3). Have you struggled with trying to become more gentle, more humble, more poor in spirit? Is Jesus saying we should
There are three families: Natural, Spiritual and Eternal. NATURAL FAMILY. First there is the planting of the seed of man, followed by the birth of a baby from the womb of woman. This is only a temporary dwelling with sickness, health, joy and sadness. The time here is short like a “vapor that appears for
“Filthy lucre” is money, but not all money is filthy. The KJV and ASV use this term five times. Other Bible versions translate this “unlawful gain.” Elders in the church must not be “lovers of money” [“filthy lucre,” KJV, I Tim 3:3]. Money is morally neutral, neither good nor bad in itself. There are three
What happens when a sincere searcher for the truth puts family and religious perceptions aside and takes a careful look at the New Testament record of the church which Christ built? How does His church compare to the newer institutions we see on every corner today? TABLE OF CONTENTS I Christ’s Church Defined A. The
The Book of Hosea is a love story that went wrong, labeled as “the prophet of sorrowful heart.” This grand treatise is a tender section of Scripture that ought to challenge and enrich our hearts. Hosea wept over Israel’s sins 7 centuries before Christ, but the errors of God’s people then parallel our problems today.
The Pharisee sect of the Jewish religion loved to make public displays of their righteousness. They wore long flowing robes, tassels, tinkling bells, prominently displayed phylacteries (prayer boxes), etc. Their religion was based on hundreds of their own religious laws (traditions). Jesus strongly denounced their hypocrisy (Matthew 23, Mark 7 and Luke 11). Their pride kept them from accepting Jesus. They thanked God they were not like other men (Lk
