Every Bible student knows about Samuel. He was the answer to his mother Hannah’s prayer and vow. She promised that if God would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord all of his life. He became a great man, considered the first of the prophets and the greatest figure since Moses
The goal of prayer is for God to hear His children. The Christian is given the privilege of asking favors of the One Who has all power and authority. “Ask of me and I will give” (Psa 2:8). Jesus told His disciples, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
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
Jesus occasionally taught in the synagogues, the meeting places of the Jews, but most of his teaching was done outdoors to the multitudes along the way. He left these last words for his disciples: “As you are going, preach the gospel to the whole world” (Mk 16:15). He traveled to all the towns and villages,
What is the “sin that leads to death?” The Bible promises clearly, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn 1:9). “Confess” here is obviously comprehensive for repent and forsake sin as we continue to “walk in the light.”
A person who had been saved by grace can fall from grace. The apostle Paul told some Christians in Galatia: “You have fallen away from grace” (Gal 5:4). Jesus said the believer has (present tense) eternal life (Jn 5:24); however, the believer can become an unbeliever. “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any one
We all become angry at times. It does not easily or quickly go away but rather can smolder inside and sometimes may burst out and result in sin. “In your anger do not sin” is a reminder that one can often be led from anger into sin. The apostle goes on to say, “Do not
“It is wrong, but is it a salvation issue!” What about failure to pray regularly (I Thes 5:17), or to contribute to the church each Sunday (I Cor 16:1-2), or to attend the Christian assembly on the Lord’s day (Heb 10:25), or to add mechanical music or rhythmic clapping to singing praises (Eph 5:19)? Is
How to live peaceably with each other: 1. Treat others like you want to be treated. Mt 7:12. 2. Turn the other cheek. Mt 5:39. 3. Overcome evil with good. Rom 12:21. 4. Give others the benefit of the doubt. Prov 18:17. 5. Do not jump to conclusions or make false assumptions. Mt 7:1. Ja
Last week we looked at how God used older men in His service. Today we consider older women. “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good… to train the younger women to love their husbands
