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Instrumental Music
There is much confusion in the religious world about the use of mechanical instruments of music. Some say that they can be used in worship to God. Some of the old preachers for some of the denominations have come out against it. Some in the church say that it is a matter of conscience. You can use them if you want but if it is going to cause a problem then the best thing is not to use them. Several years ago a famous preacher said that about eighty percent of members of the church...Continue reading
Giving
God gave His Only Begotten Son, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). How much do you give in comparison to this? Christ gave up heaven, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He gave up heaven. He gave up fellowship with God. “And now, O Father, glorify thou...
Beginning Again
This is the time of the year when things are renewed. When one looks out the window he can see many things that are renewing themselves. The grass is beginning to turn green and in many cases the grass has already been cut once or twice. The flowers are beginning to come forth from their wintry grave. The trees are budding and blooming. They are turning their beautiful color of green. God has done such a wonderful job in creating all of these items. We ought to praise God for all of the renewal that...Continue reading
Don’t Stay Away from Church…
Because you are poor. There is no admission charge. Because you are rich. Money is not everything. Because it rains. You go to work in the rain. Because it is cold. It is warm and friendly inside. Because it is hot. So are fishing and golfing, especially gardening! Because no one invited you. People go to a lot of places uninvited, and even pay to get in. This is your paper invitation. Because of hypocrites. We associate with them in the world every day. You have a choice, associate with them in the church now...Continue reading
Compromise
The ease of compromise is real. When faced with a situation in which a choice has to be made, it is easy to compromise what we believe and teach. The Bible tells us “choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). They had a choice to make between the God of heaven who had supplied them with the defeat of all their enemies, or they could chose between the god of the people whom they had destroyed. Today we have the same choices. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either...Continue reading
Clean vs. Unclean
In the Old Testament we find what God calls clean and unclean. Sometimes this refers to animals. The earliest we find this is in Genesis 7. Noah is told by God “Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the make and his female: and of beast that are not clean by two, the male and his female.” Later on we are told in Leviticus 11 what animals are clean and unclean. Sometimes “clean and unclean” would refer to clothes (Leviticus 14), houses (Leviticus 14) and even man (Leviticus 15). Nowhere in...
“Breaking of Bread”
This term or ones similar are found many times in the New Testament. When it is found what does it refer to? For instance consider Acts 2:42 we find these words, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (The study of “fellowship” will be left for another time.) These items listed are worship acts. Yet in verse 46 we find these words, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with...
Decisions
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” Joel 3:14. We make hundreds or even thousands of decisions every day. Some are not so good and some turn out pretty good. If you were here Sunday you saw a person make a decision to follow Jesus. He put Christ on in baptism. He had his sins washed away. He was baptized for the remission of sins. This is a good decision to make. It will affect someone’s eternal destiny and maybe it will...Continue reading
Who Needs the Church?
In the book “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” by Philip Yancy a story is told of a woman who was down on her luck. She was having a miserable time and things in her life did not look like they would get any better. She was asked if she had ever thought about going to church for and with her problems. Her reply was, “why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They’d just make me feel worse.” If someone was having problems in their life came to the services...Continue reading
Watch
When you see a STOP sign do you remember what one is to do beside stop the vehicle that you are in? Remember that you are not only to stop, but one is to look and listen. It is a warning sign of danger. We are to be ever watchful of the danger that is on the road. Likewise the Bible does the same for us. In the Old Testament there is the watchman. This is an individual that was appointed to be on the walls of the city and watch. He was to watch...Continue reading