Articles

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… 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…

Great and Getting Better! Feeding on Ashes: The Folly of Modern Idols In Isaiah 44:12–20, the prophet exposes the absurdity of idolatry with sharp irony. He describes a blacksmith and a carpenter exhausting themselves to shape a god out of wood and iron. The craftsman cuts down a cedar tree, uses half of it to build a fire to bake his bread, and uses the remaining half to…

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? 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…

Great and Getting Better! Waiting on God and Other Lessons From the Golden Calf Waiting is one of the hardest parts of living the Christian life. It only took forty days of silence for the people of Israel to lose their way. In Exodus 32, we find the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai, facing a major test of patience. Moses had been up on the mountain for nearly forty…

Great and Getting Better! Christmas in July — Joseph The story of Jesus’ birth often centers on Mary, angels, shepherds, and wise men, but Joseph’s obedience was critical to the unfolding of the story of the birth of Jesus. His quiet faith and willingness to follow God’s divine direction secured a safe, nurturing earthly home for the Messiah. When Joseph, a carpenter by…

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 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 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…

Great and Getting Better! New Self – Better Congregation – Better Families Ephesians 4:25–32 serves as a practical guide for everyday Christian living, urging believers to “put off” old, destructive habits and “put on” new, Christ-like behaviors. It calls us to replace falsehood with truth, manage our anger constructively, avoid corrupting speech, and extend radical grace…

When Families Falter: Finding Encouragement in Time of Trouble Families are among God’s greatest blessings, yet even faithful families experience seasons of difficulty. Marriages struggle, children make poor choices, misunderstandings arise, and hardships can strain relationships. As we search the…