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A preacher was trying to persuade a capable man to teach a Bible class.  The man responded: “I just don’t want to be tied down at this time!”  With kind firmness the preacher looked him right straight in the eyes and said, “You know, we serve a Master who was willing to be tied down; in fact, He was willing to be nailed down!” Isn’t it interesting how we can freely accept salvation from the nail-pierced hands of Jesus, yet…

The apostle Paul said in II Corinthians 2:17, “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God . . .” From this verse we see that there were many people in Paul’s day who were corrupting the word of God.  I wonder what he would say today if he lived in America which is filled with religious division evidenced by over 1,000 churches.  With the passing of centuries and the growth in population, the departure from God’s…

Several years ago, the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri made public 1,300 recently discovered letters that the president wrote to his wife, Bess, over the course of a half-century.  Mr. Truman had a lifelong rule of writing to his wife every day they were apart.  He followed this rule whenever he was away on official business or whenever Bess left Washington to visit her beloved Independence.  We should be impressed by the simple fact that every day he…

Churches of Christ are interested in unity.  We recognize our own personal shortcomings and weaknesses–and therefore want to carefully follow the all-sufficient and perfect plan God has for the church (II Timothy 3:16,17). Non-denominational.  We believe religious division is against God’s will.  Jesus prayed for unity (John 17), and the apostle Paul begged those who were divided to unite in Christ (I Corinthians 1:10).  We do not conceive of ourselves as being a denomination–nor as Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish–but simply…

A Threefold Cord Albert Gardner “A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). A CHRISTIAN HOME is the first, most important, and the most effective force in building character and setting values in our children. God intended that parents love and train their children.  Children deserve to have two parents who set the right example and who will teach them and show them the right way.  This duty must not be shirked by parents and must not be turned…

In The Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient, Norman Cousins tells of being hospitalized with a rare, crippling disease.  When he was diagnosed as incurable, Cousins checked out of the hospital.  Aware of the harmful effects that negative emotions can have on the body, Cousins reasoned the reverse was true.  So, he borrowed a movie projector and prescribed his own treatment consisting of Marx Brothers films and old “Candid Camera” reruns.  It didn’t take long for him…

Put the kingdom of God first in his life and teach the same to his family (Matthew 6:33). Teach his sons and daughters to love, respect, and obey their parents. Be a loving and considerate father and husband. Not only provide the physical things, but the spiritual things as well for his family. Be honest in all of his dealings with others. Set aside the first day of the week for his family to worship (Hebrews 10:25). Be big enough…

Throughout the New Testament, six baptisms are mentioned. (1) John’s baptism (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:4); (2) Baptism of suffering in leadership (Matthew 20:22,23); (3) Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5); (4) Baptism with fire (Matthew 3:11); (5) Israel’s baptism in the cloud and in the sea (I Corinthians 10:1,2); (6) Baptism in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).  When Paul wrote the Ephesian letter in 62 A.D., he proclaimed that there was only one baptism…

In the church today there is a growing trend of thought that assembling with the congregation, especially on Sunday night or Wednesday night, is “not important.”  There are a growing number of members who choose not to attend those periods of worship. They think it more beneficial for them to stay home and rest or engage in some worldly activity to take the place of their attendance.  I cannot fathom why this would be. We read in Hebrews 10:25, “Not…

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence…

Being a Christian is more than making a claim.  Some have claimed to be doctors but were later exposed as frauds and accused of practicing without a license.  One is not a Christian unless God calls him one.  The term “Christian” in the New Testament is associated with a saved person.  Jesus told His disciples to “make disciples” (or followers) by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20).  In Acts 2:38, Peter proclaimed…

Often, we find it hard to express our love for mother.  Perhaps the words of a six-year-old would be helpful.  Struggling with the mysteries of mathematics, he expressed his affection for his mother this way: “Mommy, I love you as many times as God can count.” Perhaps the following Mother’s Beatitudes might be helpful to our mothers, busy rearing their families and doing all that is involved in the function of their high office: “Blessed is the mother who understands…