Posts by Martin Miller

Posts by Martin Miller

What is Church “Membership”

Added to the Church versus Joining the Local Congregation In the latter half of Acts 2:47, the Bible tells us that “…the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” The book of Acts, being an account of the growth of the church in the earliest days, also tells us, “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women…” (Acts…

A Time and Place for Everything

A Time and Place for Everything Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven…” Stated another way, you might say, “…there is a time and place for everything.” Like so many other aspects of wisdom from God’s Word, this concept too has been misappropriated for various uses in our common culture. While Ecclesiastes 3 goes on…

When Men Stay Silent

When Men Stay Silent Several months ago, we had a one-session class based on the famous quote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” While the quote’s context pertained to society as a whole, we need to be mindful of that warning within the church as well. As the world around us increases its attacks not just on faith, but on…

Is All of Life Worship?

Is All of Life Worship? As we consider what the Bible says about worship over the next few weeks, we need to address a common misunderstanding. The sanctity and accuracy of our worship are vitally important if we are to lead a faithful life successfully. Modern commentators and those who promote a “modernization” of religion are teaching a tainted view of worship.…

He Who Has Ears to Hear…

He Who Has Ears to Hear… At the end of the parable of the sower, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record these words of Jesus: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8). This idea behind this directive is also repeated in Matthew 11:15, Matthew 13:43, and numerous times in the book of Revelation. When we examine the context in which this…

What to Do About Our Idols

What to Do About Our Idols As we’ve discussed, idolatry is not merely an Old Testament problem. And while the New Testament repeatedly warns Christians to reject idols, the higher concern for modern Christians is the risk of anything taking the place of God. Scripture makes it clear that we are to love and worship God alone, separate ourselves from distracting obsession,…

Are We Becoming Like Them?

Are We Becoming Like Them? It is easy to condemn Israel’s idolatry. We shake our heads at their repeated rebellion and wonder how God’s people could abandon Him so quickly. Yet Scripture invites us to ask a far more uncomfortable question: Are we any different? Repeatedly throughout the Old Testament, we read of the trouble that came upon the Israelites because of their…

Prophecy in Perspective

Prophecy in Perspective The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in the New Testament provides us with powerful evidence of the truth of God’s Word. In no account is this truer than the arrival and life of Jesus. As early as Genesis 3:15, Scripture foreshadows the coming of God’s Son. The relationship between prophecies and the events they foretold provides several…

About Our Lesson Series

About Our Lesson Series In conversations since last week, some have expressed concerns about the current sermon series, “Christmas in July.” This series is not about encouraging the religious observance of Christmas. Instead, it is an opportunity to study what the Bible says about the birth of Christ and to use a familiar cultural topic to point people to Scripture.…

Appreciating Matthew’s Genealogy

Appreciating Matthew’s Genealogy At first glance, a modern Bible student might be tempted to quickly scan the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. While some of the names may be familiar, others may not, leaving the reader with a list of unfamiliar names. However, for a serious Bible student, Matthew’s inclusion of the genealogy provides the starting point for an…