It would not do us much good to know that “God, … spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1) if the record of those words were lost, garbled, or corrupted. Through the good providence of God, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have been preserved over time so that what we have today is the same as what God originally inspired. We can have great confidence that the Bible we hold in our hands today is the inspired, infallible, inerrant, preserved Word of God. Read More ...
Everything that anyone accomplishes in Christian ministry is ultimately for the Lord’s glory and through the Lord’s power. Whatever we are able to accomplish in ministry is because of God’s work in us. God gets the glory for whatever we might achieve. So there’s no room for boasting. Read More ...
The pastor is supposed to use his authority over the flock to build up the flock. Like a shepherd, a pastor should want his flock to be strong and in good health. He wants the flock to prosper and grow spiritually. He wants to promote the best interests and well-being of the flock. He wants the church to be mature, stable, and strong. Read More ...
We must use the weapons God gives us—the word, prayer, truth, love, goodness, beauty, and godly behavior. We don’t use fleshly, carnal, worldly methods in this battle. We try to solve the problem with Christlike humility and gentleness if we can, but if we need to be assertive and stern, we know how to do that as well. Read More ...
The Christian life is a battle or a struggle. We have spiritual enemies—primarily, the world, the flesh, and the devil. In Paul’s case, his enemies were the false teachers who had infiltrated the church and were leading people astray. Paul is ready to go to war with these spiritual adversaries. He’s not going to tolerate them or allow them to have any influence in the church. His intent is to destroy their false ideas. Read More ...
Be truthful and honest enough to take the blame when you deserve it. Don’t try to avoid personal responsibility; don’t try to blame someone else for what you are responsible for. God holds us all personally accountable for what we do, and it’s best for us to take responsibility for our own actions. Read More ...
Instead of worrying about daily needs, believers should focus on God, His kingdom, and righteous living. Replace worry with positive action. Adopt God’s perspective on things—eternal and spiritual, not temporary. Read More ...
Hypocrites don’t really care about the law, salvation, the needy, prayer, the truth, tithing, or weighty spiritual matters. Within, they are full of dead men’s bones, uncleanness, extortion, and excess. They are serpents and vipers even though they appear to be righteous before men. Ultimately, their religion is a fraud, a charade, and they are in danger of the damnation of hell. Read More ...
A message from Jonathan Rehfeldt, missionary to Uruguay.
One of the marks of a hypocrite is that he tells others to do what he is unwilling to do himself. They “say and do not,” they preach but they do not practice. Perhaps they keep the rules in public but not in private. Hypocrites are different people when no one is watching them. Their religion is external; it’s an act, a mask or a costume. Read More ...
It would not do us much good to know that “God, … spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1) if the record of those words were lost, garbled, or corrupted. Through the good providence of God, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have been preserved over time so that what we have today is the same as what God originally inspired. We can have great confidence that the Bible we hold in our hands today is the inspired, infallible, inerrant, preserved Word of God. Read More ...
Everything that anyone accomplishes in Christian ministry is ultimately for the Lord’s glory and through the Lord’s power. Whatever we are able to accomplish in ministry is because of God’s work in us. God gets the glory for whatever we might achieve. So there’s no room for boasting. Read More ...
The pastor is supposed to use his authority over the flock to build up the flock. Like a shepherd, a pastor should want his flock to be strong and in good health. He wants the flock to prosper and grow spiritually. He wants to promote the best interests and well-being of the flock. He wants the church to be mature, stable, and strong. Read More ...
We must use the weapons God gives us—the word, prayer, truth, love, goodness, beauty, and godly behavior. We don’t use fleshly, carnal, worldly methods in this battle. We try to solve the problem with Christlike humility and gentleness if we can, but if we need to be assertive and stern, we know how to do that as well. Read More ...
The Christian life is a battle or a struggle. We have spiritual enemies—primarily, the world, the flesh, and the devil. In Paul’s case, his enemies were the false teachers who had infiltrated the church and were leading people astray. Paul is ready to go to war with these spiritual adversaries. He’s not going to tolerate them or allow them to have any influence in the church. His intent is to destroy their false ideas. Read More ...
Be truthful and honest enough to take the blame when you deserve it. Don’t try to avoid personal responsibility; don’t try to blame someone else for what you are responsible for. God holds us all personally accountable for what we do, and it’s best for us to take responsibility for our own actions. Read More ...
Instead of worrying about daily needs, believers should focus on God, His kingdom, and righteous living. Replace worry with positive action. Adopt God’s perspective on things—eternal and spiritual, not temporary. Read More ...
Hypocrites don’t really care about the law, salvation, the needy, prayer, the truth, tithing, or weighty spiritual matters. Within, they are full of dead men’s bones, uncleanness, extortion, and excess. They are serpents and vipers even though they appear to be righteous before men. Ultimately, their religion is a fraud, a charade, and they are in danger of the damnation of hell. Read More ...
A message from Jonathan Rehfeldt, missionary to Uruguay.
One of the marks of a hypocrite is that he tells others to do what he is unwilling to do himself. They “say and do not,” they preach but they do not practice. Perhaps they keep the rules in public but not in private. Hypocrites are different people when no one is watching them. Their religion is external; it’s an act, a mask or a costume. Read More ...