The M list: to help with finding a
topic look at the words in BOLD print.
Turmoil in the Middle East ~ Assumptions
Answered: This article
addresses assumptions or postulations that have been made in discussing the
Middle East crises. For one, a person claiming not to be religious states that MANKIND is just like the dinosaurs and will
end up destroying itself. Man is a distinct part of God's creation, a
"class" i.e. mankind not an animal (Gen. 1:26-28). Moreover, what God created is in His own
power and not man’s to ultimately destroy (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:2;
Rev. 3:14, 4:8, 11). This is an awareness, I believe,
that our society today is in great need of hearing and understanding. Man
cannot properly understand his "place" here upon the earth without
this knowledge.
The mark
of the beast, 666, Rev.
13:16-17: A respondent has stated that people
are going around preaching 666 from the book of Revelation about everything. He states that people
are even looking for the "MARK" on the foreheads of others and requests that something be said about this.
The material puts the "mark" in the context (historical setting)
where it belongs!
What Some "Only" See: MARRIAGE as God would have it to be.
What does
the New Testament teach on divorce? Anytime that one desires
to study the matter of scriptural divorce they should consider the applicable
passages from the New Testament. Jesus taught, " And I say unto you,
Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall MARRY another, committeth
adultery: and whoso MARRIETH her which is put away doth commit adultery"
(Matt. 19:9). An innocent mate has the right to divorce his or her mate
for the cause of their mate's adultery and remarry. He also taught that whoever marries one who is put away commits adultery. My advice to anyone is that they read these
verses first, and do so without getting into philosophical discussions that do
not take these scriptures to heart. God's word is truth (John 8:32; 17:17).
I've listed them here for that very purpose, so why not just take time to read
them and read them from your Bible as well? I caution ~ avoid emotional arguments
based upon "I feel like it should be this way," or "I think in
my heart that such and such will be allowed or overlooked by God" (Pr.
14:12; Lk. 6:46).
Helping to
Avoid Divorce When You
Know It’s Coming Just like in the world, yet among members of the church
one spouse will often say that they have fallen out of love with the other.
When this is not dealt with scripturally, and immediately, then the next step
is they quit assembling and soon leave the church altogether (see Heb. 10:24-26
for the eternal consequences of doing such). This article sets forth a pattern
that I’ve seen develop among members of the church for many years now. They do
not consult God’s word and seek scriptural counsel from the faithful. Instead
they rush to the world and seek out those who offer them a quick worldly
solution to ensure that they can escape their marriage, and often with
financial security. Sin is added to sin in such cases and the inevitable end in
sight is divorce. Read this article with a view to offering scriptural aid to troubled MARRIAGES in the church and thus enabling them to avoid the sin of
divorce.
What You
Can And Will Do In Christ This brief study should
offer assuramce to Christians that their efforts to serve
God faithfully are attainable, as well as being greatly aided by others'
prayers on their behalf. What one can and will do by remaining faithful in
Christ is declared through the words of Paul's prayer for the church at
Colossae in Col. 1:9-12. Here are the key thoughts: A. Be filled with
knowledge, all wisdom and spiritual understanding. B. Walk worthy, fully
pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge
of God. C. Strengthened for attaining all stedfastness
and patience, with Joy. D. Joyously giving thanks to the Father. Following is a
"Check Your Spiritual Growth With Self-Test
Questions" giving further emphasis to our growth and development into MATURE
children of God. The stated "goal" of our efforts is seen in Philippians
1:10-11.
The Conduct God Expects From Our Members Read this article and it should help you
to better understand the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"
(Eph. 4:1-3; Col. 3:12-14). These 7 Virtues are discussed as being necessary
for each member of the local church: Lowliness (Humility), MEEKNESS (Gentleness), Longsuffering (Patience), Forebearing (Showing Tolerance), Tender Mercies (Heart of
Compassion), Kindness and Forgiving one another.
Understanding these in this context answers such important questions as: Whom
can I talk to?, When do I go to another?, Can I speak
publicly in rebuking to thus maintain this unity?, What would a refusal to
listen indicate? And, What happens to one who does not
forgive if one repents?
Membership Requirements According to the
First Century Revelation This is Lesson Three in our
Series: "Fundamental Lessons on the Church." Lesson Three: "MEMBERSHIP
Requirements According to the First Century Revelation." In this lesson you will
learn how
one BECOMES A MEMBER of Christ's church. The question, "What must I do to be saved?" is fully
answered as you study through the cases of conversion recorded in the book of
Acts.
God's Divine Organization ~ The Local
Church, Part One of Two This is Lesson Four (Part One of Two) in our Series: "Fundamental
Lessons on the Church." Lesson Four, Part One: "God's Divine
Organization ~ The Local Church, Part One of
Two." In this lesson you will be studying the local church as the
organization that God gave for the collective work of Christians in evangelism,
edification, worship and benevolence to needy saints. You will take an in depth
look at the organization of the local church according to God's pattern in the
New Testament. You can read about the obligation Christians have in Local Church
MEMBERSHIP as seen in Paul's example in Acts
9:23-28.
What One Neglects In Not Placing Membership Many are seeing and discussing a pattern manifested by members of the church in their choice to not place their MEMBERSHIP with a local church of Christ where they reside. Reading this article will give you a practical understanding of those who choose to do so thus exempting their themselves from collective responsibility. The article also considers the affect their actions have upon others and especially family, both immediate and distant.
God Turns
The Way Of The Wicked Upside Down This
lesson considers the path of the wicked that is a familiar topic throughout the
Psalms. You will learn about the wicked by the following: (1) God thwarts the
way of the wicked (Ps. 146:9); (2) God puts the wicked in great fear because He
despises them! (Ps. 53; Lev. 26:14-33); (3) Accusers are filled with their own
ways (Ps. 109). This section tells you exactly what will happen to the wicked. The wicked are mere MEN and God will show
them that they are! (4)
You will learn about the purpose of their traps they set for the righteous; (5)
God overthrows the best of secret counsel (Ps. 64).
The
Conduct God Expects From Our Members Read this article and it should help
you to better understand the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace" (Eph. 4:1-3; Col. 3:12-14). These 7 Virtues are discussed as being
necessary for each member of the local church: Lowliness (Humility), Meekness
(Gentleness), Longsuffering (Patience), Forebearing
(Showing Tolerance), Tender MERCIES (Heart of Compassion),
Kindness and Forgiving one another. Understanding
these in this context answers such important questions as: Whom can I talk to?, When do I go to another?, Can I speak publicly in
rebuking to thus maintain this unity?, What would a refusal to listen indicate?
And, What happens to one who does not forgive if one
repents?
A Study On
Mercy A
fourfold distinction is presented concerning God’s great MERCY:
(1) The General
Mercy of God to
his creation and creatures; (2) We Are Saved By God’s Mercy; (3) There Is A Mercy For Those Who Have Been Saved; (4) Mercy As Practiced By the Saved. Read this study and notice that it is in the practice
thereof that we receive back from God! Notice carefully that the general
mercies God bestows upon the wicked are of a temporal nature only; they are
confined strictly to their life here on earth. There will be no mercy extended
to them beyond the grave! In spite of the clear scriptural warnings given in
this article the wicked say, “I do not believe that God will ever cast me into
hell. They are wrong!
The
Paths of Mercy The subject of God’s great MERCY is connected with the things that He delights in. God delights in
Loving-kindness, Justice and Righteousness, thus the necessity of our glorying
in these things in order that we might receive His mercy! Moreover, God’s mercy is for those who fear Him (Ps. 103:17-18). We must remember that it is in the practice of mercy itself that we receive back from God (Ps. 18:25-27). Along
with these there is a checklist of applications on God’s kindness.
Messianic
Jewish churches: A critique of one of the newer movements (denominations) today, MESSIANIC JUDIASM. These are Jews who profess belief in Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.
Their worship appears to be a combination of Old and New Testament items. They
look for a return of Christ, whom they do believe is the Messiah, back to the
earth in order to reign from Jerusalem.
Turmoil
in the Middle East ~ Assumptions Answered: This article addresses
the following assumptions or postulations that have been made discussing the MIDDLE EAST crises:
1. A person claiming not to be religious states that mankind is just
like the dinosaurs and will end up destroying itself.
2. Some claim that the bible teaches Christians ought to support Israel
"militarily."
3. "I know that God has not broken
His covenant with the Jewish people."
The Foolishness In Forgetting God’s Word Trials should not cause us to forget God’s law! We can receive strength
in remembering past trials we persevered in (Cf. Heb. 10:32-34). The one who
perseveres does not shrink back! Those who depart from the faith are often seduced by liars who are defiled in both
MIND AND CONSCIENCE.
Why not read
this article and acquaint yourself with what is happening when one forgets
God’s law?
A Study of the Miracles of the New
Testament ~ Part One: An inquirer asks: Does God still do MIRACLES today through men of God and apostles? Such
questions stem from, I’m convinced, people’s awareness that the so-called
“miracles” performed by faith healers today are obviously the works of frauds. They
can see that their so-called miracles are not of the same nature as those
recorded in the New Testament. The request asks if the New Testament miracles
performed by men came to an end?
A Study of the Miracles of the New Testament ~ Part
Two: For further
study I
have listed MIRACLES you find recorded in the book of Acts. There are several of these and I
ask you to consider carefully their “nature” in contrast to the false
miraculous works of so-called faith healers today.
Light
Beer Is Not So Light! Perhaps you've wondered what the alcohol
content is in light beer. In this brief
article you will find an answer to that important question. Dear reader do not believe every thing
that you hear concerning light beer. And especially comments to this effect,
"What's the big deal after all it is only light beer?" Why not read
this article and give careful consideration to the scriptural warnings as to how ALCOHOL MOCKS the drinker,
their woes, the deceitfulness of alcohol, and its attendant state of drunkenness and addiction?
"What went you out…to see?" This is a lesson on dress and MODESTY. The brief study first looks at what
Jesus said about clothing. An
application is drawn from His use of "clothing" as a metaphor in warning against false
religious teachers, Matt. 7:15. A very important lesson is drawn
from His teaching concerning the hypocritical Jewish leaders
who were skilled in identifying their "own" holy signs of dress, yet so unskilled in listening to
God's word and identifying "proper" conduct. What it means to present
one's self as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1-2), is
viewed in the light of proper dress and conduct. The kind of
conduct that shows respect for oneself, for others, and manifests one's MODESTYT and self control (I Tim. 2:8-9).
Hating Homosexuality This article from 1999 relates to the
meeting between Jerry Falwell and the so called gay
Christians. The press presented them as "gay Christians" meaning that
they were practicing homosexuals and lesbians. The purpose of that meeting was
to reduce violence and hatred toward homosexuals. The purpose of that meeting
was to reduce violence and hatred toward homosexuals. When the press presents
practicing homosexual and lesbians as Christians who present themselves in good
standing with God, then the contradictions from a religious point of view must
be exposed! And that's what the article does. It shows clearly how "practicing"
homosexuals and lesbians are not to be accepted or fellowshipped in the church.
Many
young people are taking acceptance, tolerance and diversity instruction to mean
that there is nothing wrong "MORALLY" with being gay. You will hear them say, "What’s
wrong with being gay?" Such I believe is the aim of the homosexual
activists. Tell your
children that being taught "tolerance" does not make sinful acts
right. It changes nothing! Such instruction in school should never leave the impression that
one should not, cannot or does not have the right to hold the conviction that
homosexuality is perversion.
A Case Of Compromise The primary part of this study concerns
Jehoshaphat (the king of Judah) and his compromise with wicked Ahab the king of
Israel (the northern kingdom). It compares Ahab's religion with the description
of Jehoshaphat
who did not let the Levitical service and the Temple
deteriorate, but was diligent in having the law of God taught in Judah (2 Ch.
17:6-9). A secondary point is that we should follow the example of MORDECAI in the book of Esther and state
our religious convictions in order to avoid compromise (Esther 3). This simple lesson shows why people
compromise the Truth along with the attendant consequences for doing such.
Newspaper Articles:
This publication contains selected newspaper articles: "MOTHERS of a Different Kind."
Principles
For Helping One Another This study presents the duty of Christians helping one another.
Perhaps you need to read up on some of the IMPROPER MOTIVES for helping another. You can find some listed here! Also, you can learn more, perhaps, concerning
the improper
attitudes that
individuals manifest towards those who do fulfill their duty to help others.
Selected
Newspaper Articles Dear
reader the following bold heading is a selected article that appeared in our
local newspaper, the Yuma Sun. This article titlled
“I’m Mr. Positive!” bespeaks
of the empty, vain, teaching and preaching done today by popular speakers who
serve themselves and not the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 16:17). Mr. PMA (Positive
Mental Attitude) can avoid every probing question as to soundness in teaching
and love for truth with, “You’ve got to understand, I’m just being me in being
totally positive in my message.” How clever the liars are who hide their true
MOTIVES concerning their love of riches, fame, and power behind “I’m Mr. PMA!” Why not
read about Mr. PMA and his MOTIVES FOR NOT USING SCRIPTURE AND REQUIRING
REPENTANCE unto salvation? We encourage you to read each of scriptures referenced
to understand your own accountability (Jo. 12:48; Matt. 7:21-27).
A Case Study of Mourning Sin:
This article explains in detail what it truly means to MOURN the sins we see others commit. For example, the first point given
emphasis is we mourn the sins of others when we are justifiably angry at sin,
Ex. 32:18-21. Several applicable points are presented.
God Turns The Way Of The Wicked Upside Down This lesson considers the path of the wicked that is a familiar topic throughout the Psalms. You will learn about the wicked by the following: (1) God thwarts the way of the wicked (Ps. 146:9); (2) God puts the wicked in great fear because He despises them! (Ps. 53; Lev. 26:14-33); (3) Accusers are filled with their own ways (Ps. 109). This section tells you exactly what will happen to the wicked; MOUTHS will be shut! (4) You will learn about the purpose of their traps they set for the righteous; (5) God overthrows the best of secret counsel (Ps. 64).
The
Majority Know Another Jesus The
church at Corinth gladly tolerated fools who taught another Jesus and different
gospel, Paul said (cf. 2 Cor. 11:4, 19).
It is possible for one to read the trifling literature of fools and
possess a completely false view of Jesus. Read the Gospels for your self and see what He really did do and teach. Here’s a
start with applications from the Gospels themselves that show the stark
differences between what most think Jesus taught and what He really did teach!
Verses are presented that deal with: (18) “INTER-FAITH”
AND “MULTI-FAITH” ARE NOT POSSIBILITIES WITH JESUS…
"What went you out…to see?" This is a lesson on dress. What it means
to present one's self as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, holy, …and not
be conformed to this world (Rom. 12:1-2)
is viewed in the light of proper dress and conduct. The kind of conduct that shows
respect for oneself, for others, and manifests one's self control ((I Tim.
2:8-9). Paul commanded the men to pray
"without wrath and doubting" (I Tim. 2:8). We
are to be free of MURMURING and disputing (see Phil. 2:14).