Baptism and Obedience

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by Bryant Evans on September 1, 2010

That baptism was a part of original Christianity is beyond question. Today it is present in just about every Christ-believing religious tradition although not always in the same way as the Bible teaches. On August 15th, a preacher in Canada offered a sermon from Romans 6:1-6. Here is the text:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

This is one of several discussions of baptism in the Bible but it is one of the “classic” explanations of immersion. The preacher at the Peoples Church of Montreal, Brian Guinness, reached a couple of erroneous, but common conclusions. Let me address a few of them.

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A Christian Nation

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by Bryant Evans on August 29, 2010

The United States is founded upon Christian principles. For decades we have watched the national slide into secularism and mediocrity. Any mention of God, Christ,  the church or anything resembling religion has been removed, by force and coercion from the public square. That seems to be changing.

The rise of angry, militant Islam has caused Americans to rethink our foundations. The proposed building of a mosque near Ground Zero has caused many to examine the relationship of this nation to the various religions. The conclusion, for thinking people, is that America was founded upon certain religious principles. Our founding fathers wisely chose not to compel adherence to any faith but even in that decision they mirrored the God of Heaven who grants every person the decision to obey or disobey. People are now choosing to reconsider their faith and its impact on public policy.

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The End of the Patriarchal Age

August 16, 2010

A reader has asked the question: “When did the Patriarchal Age end for the Gentiles, Acts 2 or Acts 10?” It’s a good question and we will try to give an accurate answer. First some background. God has always placed himself under certain agreements with man. These Biblical covenants or dispensations are summarized in another [...]

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School Starts

August 15, 2010

Schools resume tomorrow in Baldwin County. With their opening things begin to move back into a routine. Summer vacations are over and most people will get back into a Monday through Friday routine that will go largely unchanged until May. With such a key date looming as the start of school we might decide to [...]

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A Congregation is not the Church

August 10, 2010

Fellowship and cooperation among congregations is the will of the Lord. As brothers and sisters in a closely knit family we work together to tell the world of the good news of Jesus Christ and to share the glory of God with his creation. The One There is one church (Ephesians 4:4). Jesus promised to [...]

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Words of Wisdom for Monday, August 9, 2010

August 9, 2010

Our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, offers a wise quote concerning happiness. The Illinois lawmaker said: “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Lincoln was right. Happiness begins on the inside. It’s comes from me. I have no control over others. The happiness or sorrow of others must be [...]

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Words of Wisdom – August 6, 2010

August 6, 2010

Yesterday I mentioned Epictetus, the Greek stoic philosopher. I thought another comment from the former lame slave would be useful. “Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed.” Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where [...]

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Words of Wisdom – August 5, 2010

August 5, 2010

Epictetus was a slave, born in AD 55 as a slave. He was apparently lame from birth but eventually did earn his freedom and became a teacher of philosophy. Is wise advice is useful especially today: “If you understand this you will know peace. Some things are within the power of your control and some [...]

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Words of Wisdom – August 4, 2010

August 4, 2010

Andre Gide was a french writer and a recipient of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1947. He viewed himself as a man torn between opposing views of society. He was willing to change his views upon study and reflection. He was a supporter of Communism but changed his views after a visit to the [...]

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One Way – Only One Way to God

August 3, 2010

Sometimes people say, “There are many paths to God.” Sometimes people worship without regard to Jesus the Son of God. Jews honor Jehovah God and Muslims honor Allah through the teachings of Mohammad. Some pay homage to Buddha, some practice Hindu while others look to Shinto for their faith. Still more practice a form of [...]

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Words of Wisdom – August 3, 2010

August 3, 2010

Mike Ditka (1939 – ) is one of the greatest coaches in the NFL. He coached the famed Chicago Bears in the mid 80′s and carried them to 6 division titles and three trips to the NFC championship. In 1986 his team beat the Patriots in the Superbowl. He later coached at New Orleans and [...]

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Book Review: Touchdown! by Kevin Elko

August 2, 2010

I promised last week that I would share some thoughts on Touchdown!: Achieving Your Greatness on the Playing Field of Business (and Life) by sports psychologist Dr. Kevin Elko. I’ve finished the book and can offer an opinion or two. Kevin Elko is in the business of helping athletes and business leaders achieve their best [...]

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Words of Wisdom – August 2, 2010

August 2, 2010

From J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) was the author of the Lord of Rings trilogy which was made into a blockbuster Hollywood movie a few years ago. Tolkien was a friends with atheist-turned-believer C.S. Lewis. Tolkien offers these wise words: “All we have to do is decide what to do with the time given us.” It sounds [...]

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Understanding Bible Covenants

July 30, 2010

You must understand covenants in the Bible if you want to understand the Bible. Although God himself never changes (Hebrews 6:17; Hebrews 13:8) he does change the way he deals with man. God does not deal with us today the same as he dealt with Adam and Eve. He did not deal with the Israelites [...]

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Kevin Elko and Touchdown!

July 28, 2010

My good friend Bert Sims suggested I read Touchdown! by Kevin Elko. I am in the process of reading it and will post a short review next week. But I read a story in the book which I just can’t hold back. Elko is a sports psychologist who has worked with the Crimson Tide, The [...]

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When Job Saw God

July 27, 2010

For your consideration: “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you…” (Job 42:5) Job is a favorite Bible character. He strength and character sustained through the darkest night. He lost his children all at once and lost almost all of his belongings at once. Only his [...]

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Originality and Scripture

July 27, 2010

Originality is valued in our society but not when it comes to Scripture. Timothy Archer offers some thoughts on Biblical originality at his blog. It’s worth a read.

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Have You Been To The Archives?

July 27, 2010

We have been posting here for over two years now and in that time we have accumulated many articles on a wide variety of subjects. Of course you can easily search for any topic by entering your search term in the box to the right but maybe you would be better served by visiting our [...]

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The Value of Christian Camping

July 24, 2010

Why would 60 grown men and women take a full week of their vacation to travel to Indian Creek Youth Camp in the hills and hollows of West Alabama with 190 children? Why would these normally intelligent people leave the comforts of their own beds to sleep on thin mattresses inside a small cabin that [...]

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Indian Creek Youth Camp

July 23, 2010

Indian Creek Youth Camp, Clark Sims week, is now over. What a great week in Walker County Alabama near Jasper, Alabama and just north of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 253 people were at the camp for the session that ran Sunday through Friday. 11 were baptized and 31 rededicated themselves to their Lord. Clark Sims, preacher for [...]

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Examples for Christian Living – 1 Corinthians 10 – Part 2

July 23, 2010

We are looking at Examples for Christian Living which is a continuation of an article begun yesterday. Today we continue by looking at 1 Corinthians 10:8-11. Examples for Christian Living – Sexual Immorality – 1 Corinthians 10:6 The practice of sexual immorality is an example of something that must not be tolerated in our lives. [...]

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Examples for Christian Living – 1 Corinthians 10

July 22, 2010

We all need examples. We learn from them. A demonstration is always better than just hearing some words. I’m glad the Bible has given us plenty of examples and demonstrations to help us learn. On such set of examples comes in 1 Corinthians 10. Let’s take a quick look. Examples for Christian Living 1 – [...]

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Book Review “The Case for Christianity” by C.S. Lewis

July 21, 2010

C.S. Lewis is a well known author who has penned many classic volumes on the subject of Christianity and Christian living. “The Case for Christianity” is perhaps his shortest book and is a very easy read. It is a nice introduction to this author as well as a pleasing read of the thoughts that flow [...]

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Indian Creek Youth Camp – ICYC – 2010

July 17, 2010

Indian Creek Youth Camp begins for us today. Although Sunday is the official start date for Clark Sim’s week, we will leave today to get setup. We are expecting upwards of 250 people this week which will likely make it the largest week we have had. I know it will be a great week. Campers [...]

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7 Links Just for Fun

July 16, 2010

Here is something a little different for a Friday. I am including a list of 7 links to posts which are special in some way. Check them out! Here is a link to my very first post at Preacher’s Study Blog. Here’s the first “study” article. Here is a post I really enjoyed writing. This [...]

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Internet Pornography Statistics – An Update

July 15, 2010

We’ve posted several articles on internet pornography and its terrible hold on Christian men and women. Statistics on internet porn are difficult to discover in part because it is such an anonymous habit. But from time to time we come across some statistics and we wish to pass them along. A page at BlazingGrace.org offers [...]

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Gulf Oil Spill and Jesus

July 14, 2010

It shouldn’t be surprising that some people will use faith as a tool to achieve political ends. Governments have done it for ages. The Russian Orthodox Church was cooperating tool of the old Soviet empire, the Roman Catholic Church almost divided over the issue of Liberation Theology in Central America. More than any of those [...]

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Grace and Works Followup

July 14, 2010

Grace and Works is an important topic and one which seems to divide many people who believe in Christ. I tried to clarify some issues in the grace and works post from yesterday (July 13, 2010) but wanted to add a reference for you from an article written almost 2 years ago. It asks the [...]

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Do Grace and Works Clash?

July 13, 2010

Grace and works, or more commonly, grace vs. works. Is there a clash between these two biblical notions? The perfectly honest Bible student will acknowledge that both are found in Scripture. But people are all over the map on this one. Some argue that a person can perform works sufficient to gain their salvation. Others [...]

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Obama and Abortion

July 6, 2010

President Obama gained a reputation as a supporter of abortion, even of the horrible partial-birth abortion. A year ago he called for supporters and opponents to find common ground on the subject of abortion. That was a speech  that never really made sense to me. I don’t think we have common ground with those who [...]

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Ways to Stop Gossip – Your Response

July 5, 2010

There are many ways to stop gossip. Maybe the most important way is to stop repeating what we hear. But since so many people struggle with the consequences of gossip and because so many are hurt by it, I thought we would offer a slightly different take on the subject. We’ve talkeed about ways to [...]

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Walk Away – Defuse an Argument

July 5, 2010

The best way to clean up after an explosion is to prevent it from happening. It’s true in the physical world and in the home. If you can stop the bomb from exploding you will be in much better shape. Sometimes the best way to prevent a painful destructive argument is to prevent it from [...]

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Love Locks

July 4, 2010

Here’s a cute story that I came across. It’s about a place in Serbia where young women take their romantic commitments very seriously. I’ll let you read the story and view the pictures about the Bridge of Love. I do wonder what would happen if people in our country tool love as seriously as these [...]

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Is There A Middle Ground Between Heaven and Hell?

July 4, 2010

This is a question  that pops up in some form from time to time. The questioner wants to know what will happen to people who have  never  heard of God, Jesus Christ, the Bible and salvation. I am going to try and offer a reasonable answer to the question. Let me say in the opening [...]

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Can Money Make You Happy?

July 3, 2010

There’s a new story from FOX DC which suggests that more money can really make you happier. It’s a large study of 136,000 people from around the world. If true it goes against much of which we have been taught, namely, that money cannot buy happiness. Certainly money is important. Being able to afford the [...]

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Church Division – Part 2

July 3, 2010

Church division is never good although in a few cases it may be necessary. In this article we continue our previous discussion on church division and the reasons it is common. We previously spoke of sin and doctrine as reasons for division within the local body. These are areas in which division may necessary or [...]

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Mercedes Drive Church of Christ

July 1, 2010

My thanks to the good people in Vance, Alabama and the Mercedes Drive Church of Christ for their marvelous hospitality during my stay with them this week. I was invited to conduct their summer gospel meeting which was held in the Vance Civic Center not far from the Mercedes Benz plant near between Tuscaloosa and [...]

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Romans 6, Part Four (Romans 6:12-13)

June 28, 2010

The crucial challenge for Christians is to live righteously. As a chosen race and a holy nation( 1 Peter 2:9) we should live, act and think differently from the world. It is not always easy but it is possible. In Romans 6:12-13 we see the call to godly living. “Let not sin therefore reign in [...]

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Church Division – Part 1

June 27, 2010

Church division is never good. It follows discord, discontent, poor fellowship and sin. While it may be necessary to remove the disorderly  from  fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:1-2; Romans 16:17; Matthew 18:17 ) the roots which caused that removal are sad. Like surgery, division may be necessary but it is never good. Paul addressed church division [...]

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Sunday’s Sermon, June 20, 2010

June 21, 2010

Here’s the audio from Sunday’s Fathers Day Sermon. Powered by Podbean.com

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Father’s Are Needed

June 21, 2010

I awoke Sunday morning to an awful set of articles that were published on Father’s Day and which bashed and smashed fatherhood in general. First came a story in the Washington Post about a father, suffering with cancer, trying to ensure his daughters are well cared for by a team of Dads who will carry [...]

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Good Gossip?

June 19, 2010

Gossip is regarded by most as a contemptible, sinful practice which should have no place in society. At the same time most will quickly affirm the universal presence of gossip in the home, at work and even in the church. I have never heard anyone actually defend gossip – until now. I was doing some [...]

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Subscription

June 18, 2010

You may have noticed the popup box asking you to subscribe. I hope its not too annoying and you should see it only once. If you subscribe to our weekly digest you will receive every article by email in one neat email message every Saturday. We will never trade or sell your email addresses. They [...]

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Romans 6, Part 3 (Romans 6:1-11)

June 16, 2010

This section of Romans 6 contains 3 very powerful analogies to help us understand our walk with Christ. Remember from chapter 5 that Paul is arguing that although grace exceeds sin (Romans 5:20) we must avoid sin if we intend to claim that we belong to Christ (Romans 6:1-2). Now Paul offers three key comparisons [...]

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Romans 6, Part 2 (Romans 6:3)

June 9, 2010

As we continue our look at this great chapter of the Bible we want to examine verse 3 in some detail. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3, ESV) Paul is building on the thought begun in Romans 5 where he [...]

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Romans 6

June 8, 2010

For some reason I have been thinking about Romans 6 quite a bit lately. I did a lengthy discussion of it at the University in Lethem and then used it as the basis for a Bible Study class in Georgetown on Wednesday night. There is  a lot of meat on these verses! Romans is arguably [...]

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Spiritual but not Religious?

June 5, 2010

There is a new story on the web at CNN.com with the title Spiritual But Not Religious. Take a quick read and offer your comments here. The article is pretty balanced and probably fairly accurate at its description of the modern world. In my judgment the people interviewed make a profound error in thinking that [...]

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Guyana Report, May 2010

June 4, 2010

It was another great trip to Lethem Guyana and the Guyana Christian University. I was allowed to spend almost two weeks with 10 students. We studied Biblical Interpretation for 6 hours a day. I know I was exhausted and suspect they were too. However this is a vital and often neglected topic which will help [...]

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Pledge of Allegiance Is Constitutional

May 10, 2010

The U.S. Pledge of Allegiance has been at the center of the church-state discussion for many years. Like the phrase “in God we trust,” imprinted on our money, atheists have been aggressive in trying to remove any semblance of the creator from the public square. In recent days the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals [...]

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What Makes a Mom

May 9, 2010

If you were asked this week, “What makes a mom” what would you say? Scientifically you might reply that a mom is a female who has given birth to at least one child. Legally you might respond that a mother is a female that has been given the legal responsibility to care for, guide and [...]

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Sermons for Sunday, April 18, 2010

April 21, 2010

Here are the two sermons from Sunday, April 18, 2010. Powered by Podbean.com And from Sunday evening: Powered by Podbean.com

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Archives Available

April 20, 2010

The Preacher’s Study Blog is pleased to offer a complete archive of all of our articles dating back to July of 2008. Visit the Archives page to find articles on a wide variety of subjects. You can also access the page from the tab at the very top of this page. I have left the [...]

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Lessons from the Cheesecake Factory

April 20, 2010

An evening with friends at The Cheesecake Factory in Birmingham, Alabama is a fine way to spend a Friday night. I was there with my oldest son, Isaac as part of the Alabama All-State Choir Festival. Founded in 1978 in Beverly Hills, California, the chain is now present in 34 states and boasts annual revenues [...]

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Lord Keep Me From the Extremes

April 18, 2010

Would you rather be rich or poor? Does it matter? The wisest man ever, who happened to have great wealth, said it like this: “Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty or riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and [...]

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Stop Gossip in the Church

April 16, 2010

Do church members gossip? Do they gossip about each other? I think we know the answer. And I think we know that all of us have been guilty of gossip at some time. But we also know that gossip is a horrendous habit that can assault, crush and destroy even the strongest believer. Gossip is [...]

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A Good Time To Be A Child

April 5, 2010

Here’s the sermon from Sunday, April 3. We know that adults should behave like adults. But Jesus says there is a time when being childlike is a good thing. Powered by Podbean.com

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Monday Memo – Vashti

March 28, 2010

Queen Vashti is a profile in courage often overlooked in Scripture. She is a central player in the book of Esther and one of the most courageous people in the Bible. She is a model for women today and a strong guardian of modesty and morality. Her story begins in Esther 1:10 when a great [...]

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Baptism of Fire

March 23, 2010

Many people earnestly seek for the baptism of fire as part of the salvation process. They read the statement of John the baptist who said Jesus would come and baptize with fire and  the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). They trust that this baptism of fire is synonymous with the reception of the Holy Spirit mentioned [...]

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Monday Memo – Hezekiah

March 22, 2010

Here’s a guy that brings great courage to the pages of the Bible. We first meet this ancient king at the death of his corrupt father Ahaz (2 Kings 16:20). We see the details of his reign beginning in 2 Kings 18:1 and find that he was a young 25 years old when he took [...]

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Smoothing the Edges: An Approach to Marital Peace

March 21, 2010

Life is a challenge. Married life is a big challenge. A man and a woman come together with lofty and noble intents. Surrounded by love they make long term commitments and set off on a journey of unity. For most, all goes very well, at least for the first several weeks. Then something doesn’t go [...]

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Talk About Jesus – Please!

March 19, 2010

Two men, who do not know one another, are walking through the fishing department at Bass Pro. As they shuffle through the lures and examine the latest gear they begin to talk…about fishing. A young woman is at Barnes and Noble looking at the latest fiction offerings. Another woman approaches and they begin to talk…about [...]

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Read The Bible Daily

February 21, 2010

God began speaking to man even before man existed. He revealed his words of Creation to us in Genesis 1 through Moses who wrote thousands of years later. Dozens of times the Bible says “God said…” The entire Bible is a revelation of God’s mind given through the Holy Spirit. God’s word is truth. Jesus [...]

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Is There Any Room for Obedience?

February 11, 2010

Is there any room for obedience in salvation? I am trying to answer this question but I find many confusing answers in the protestant world. Some don’t seem to think obedience is important. Some argue that we cannot obey God. Phil Johnson, himself a Calvinist, in arguing against an extreme form of Calvinism says this, [...]

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Upside Down – Sunday Sermon

February 9, 2010

Jesus says the one who wants to be first must be the servant. That’s a big difference from the common worldview that “I” am number one. Here’s the Sunday lesson taken from Mark 9. I hope it encourages and instructs. Powered by Podbean.com

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Talk to God Every Day

February 7, 2010

We have been challenged to speak to God every day. Prayer is essential to the Christian and each of us should spend time daily in prayer to God. While prayers over a meal, a blessing, is good and should continue, our prayer life must become more intense and deeper. Like phone calls to a dear [...]

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Women sew for Guyana children

February 4, 2010

Here’s a great story I think you will enjoy reading about the work in Guyana. It’s from BrotherhoodNews.com.

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Did A Fish Really Swallow Jonah?

February 3, 2010

The story of Jonah and the whale is beloved by children. It’s a fantastic adventure! But some adults are skeptical. It just seems too fantastic to think that a great fish (that’s the Bible’s phrase) could swallow a man, hang on to him for three days and nights and then vomit him up on dry [...]

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Path to Calvary

February 1, 2010

This is Sunday’s lesson. The text is taken from Mark 9:30-32 and looks at Jesus’ steadfast march to the cross. Indeed, Jesus paid a debt we could not ourselves pay! I hope this is enjoyable and uplifting. As always, your comments are appreciated. Powered by Podbean.com

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Teen Pregnancy

January 26, 2010

There is troubling news today about teen pregnancies and the rate of abortion. A new report suggests a rise in pregnancies and abortions although the long term trend remains downward. I’ll let you read it for yourself at TIME.COM. But we should be reminded that we all need to remain vigilant and maintain open lines [...]

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4 Lessons from a New Washing Machine

January 22, 2010

Even the Maytag repairman couldn’t find time to fix it. After 22 years our washing machine died. That includes raising three boys and cleaning all the filth they could find. When the machine began to squeal and oil began to leak, we knew the end was near. Last night we bought a new machine. It’s [...]

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John 4:24 – “in spirit and in truth”

January 22, 2010

A recent comment made here asked some important questions about worship. He mentioned John 4:24 and Jesus’ comment that true worshipers must worship God “in spirit and in truth.” I think it would be helpful for us to spend some time thinking about what it means to worship in spirit and to worship in truth. [...]

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Persecution Against Christians in Vietnam

January 22, 2010

The Religion News Blog reports on continuing violence against Christ believers in Vietnam. You can read the details at their website but it reminds me just how blessed we are in this country. Like you, I am often frustrated at the direction our country seems headed. Immorality rules. Faith is challenged. But we do not [...]

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With His Hat in His Hands

January 21, 2010

Old timers used to say that a humbled man “had his hat in his hands.” It referred to the appearance of someone in humility or someone who had been shown to be wrong and was coming to ask forgiveness. We don’t see many people today with their hats in their hands. Humility may be a [...]

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Lessons from Grandma About Victory

January 10, 2010

My grandmother was a sweepstakes fanatic. She registered for almost every contest she found and she often won. But I remember two contests she lost. The first was for a new car. She got the phone call one morning telling her that she had won and that she needed to provide some additional information to [...]

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Beginnings

January 3, 2010

We are three days into 2010. Many have set high goals for the year and are already at work achieving those goals. The beginning of the year is a time to focus on improvements and ways to enhance our lives. I guess that health related goals probably top the list followed by financial goals. Among [...]

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How Religious Are We?

January 2, 2010

Here are some stats for you numbers people. The Pew Forum has released survey numbers showing which states are the most religious. The rankings were based on the percentage whoself-reported that religion is very important in their lives. As expected the southern states fared best. Mississippi was the most religious state and Alabama came in [...]

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First 2010 Sermon

January 1, 2010

Is there a better way to start the New Year than by assembling with God’s people on the first Lord’s Day of the Year? This Sunday morning we will consider how to Begin With Jesus. Using John’s account of Jesus calling his first disciples (John 1:35-51) we will see some important characteristics for every Christian [...]

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A Reasonable New Year’s Resolution

January 1, 2010

The giant Moonpie has dropped (Mobile, Alabama’s version of the Times Square Ball) and the New Year has begun. Resolutions will soon be dropping by the wayside. “Resolution Reduction” occurs because we bite off too much. For example, if I declare I will loose 100 pounds by April 1st I will certainly fail. Instead a [...]

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The Cultural Christian

December 31, 2009

I’m finally reading Patrick Morley’s book, The Man in the Mirror. So far I like it. I will give a full review when I finish it. But I want to pass along a comment he makes. In discussing trends of the latter 20th century he notes one which he calls Cultural Christianity. Here is his [...]

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Does 1,000 Years Equal One Day?

December 29, 2009

From time to time we hear people suggest that a 1,000 years is the same with God as 1 day. Is that really true? “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8) So yes, [...]

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Finished With Christ?

December 26, 2009

I guess it’s good that people think about Jesus at least once or twice a year. I mean, apart from Christmas and Easter some folks could go years and never even think of the Savior. But I am also concerned that some may feel satisfied with their “duties” done after attending a church service during [...]

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Should Mark 16:9-20 Be In The Bible?

December 24, 2009

(This article and the linked paper are from an old Freed-Hardeman friend, David Hester. This is an important scholarly work which should be considered by mature Christians. I think David has reached some very valid conclusions here and I commend his article to your reading. As always, please post your comments below and we will [...]

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What Pro-Lifer’s Really Want

December 23, 2009

Abortion is probably the single most polarizing discussion in America. Few people are in the middle and most have staked out their positions long ago. Still there are frequent debates. Conservative Chuck Norris entered the fray with an article entitled “Away with the Manger.” In it he suggests that abortion may have been driven in [...]

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Where Is Peace?

December 20, 2009

The world seeks peace. But since almost the beginning it seems peace cannot be found. The first couple found themselves at odds with God over their sin (Genesis 3:6). As a consequence they lost both of their sons, one as a victim of murder and the other as the murderer (Genesis 4:8). Turmoil would continue [...]

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Wednesday Blog Roundup for December 16, 2009

December 16, 2009

We begin today with a post from Neil Richey which he calls “When a Preacher Stays Home on Sunday.” Please visit his site and check out the article. Neil also has an article which I endorse and was about to write myself. It concerns the celebration of Christmas as a holy day. If you have [...]

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Who’s Moronic? Christians or the World?

December 15, 2009

From our Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Dumber Department comes the story of youngster sent home from school and instructed to undergo psychological testing because he drew a picture of Jesus on the cross. Here’s the link to the story. Now I am reminded of Paul’s words about the cross when he [...]

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Church Buildings

December 15, 2009

I recently asked your thoughts on church buildings and whether they were being “over-built.” We got many good replies both here and on my Facebook page. I really appreciate your thoughts and insights. Now, as I promised, here are my thoughts. First, this is largely a matter of judgment. The Bible doesn’t specify how a [...]

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Forced to Assist in Abortion

December 14, 2009

There are few things in life that I am certain about but abortion is one of them. It’s just wrong. Now comes word that a nurse was forced to assist in what turned out to be a non-emergent abortion even though the nurse had serious moral issues with the procedure. I’d suggest you read this [...]

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Sermon Preview for Sunday December 13, 2009

December 12, 2009

I’m looking forward to Sunday both because it is a day of worship and because we have two lessons that I think will be useful for everyone. Sunday morning, we will continue our studies through the Gospel of Mark. Our lesson is called, The Kingdom Comes with text taken from Mark 9:1. The Bible uses [...]

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What Do You Think About Church Buildings?

December 3, 2009

I’d like to talk for a few minutes about something that is largely in the realm of opinion. I have some thoughts myself and will post them in a separate article soon. But for the moment, I’d like to pose a question and have you offer your thoughts here on the blog. Here it is: [...]

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You Matter

November 29, 2009

Excuse me, may I have your attention please? Yes, you – the person reading this article. I need to tell you something very important: You make a difference. In fact, you make a really BIG difference is so many ways. Please read on and let me explain. It’s a little odd but in the middle [...]

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Tattoos and the Bible

November 25, 2009

I don’t like tattoos. I have never seen one that really appealed to me. I’m just not about to spend a small fortune marking up my body with permanent inks. (Actually, with the size of my body it would be a large fortune.) But that is just my opinion and like everyone else I’m entitled [...]

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Give Thanks

November 22, 2009

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good…” (Psalm 136:1) I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the phrase “give thanks” occurs 70 times in the Bible (ESV). I knew it was there and knew the idea was present throughout Scripture but 70 times was more than I imagined. Believers are instructed by [...]

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Black Friday Sales Event

November 20, 2009

Black Friday sales are just a week away. By this time next week thousands of shoppers will be flooding into the shops, stores and malls trying to grab up great after Thanksgiving deals. For some people it’s a day of bargain hunting and adventure. For others it’s a great time to stay home and avoid [...]

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Sermons for Sunday, November 22, 2009

November 20, 2009

This Sunday we will take a slight deviation from our studies in Mark’s gospel and look at a parallel passage from Matthew 16:13-20. There is a critical doctrinal thought in this passage which we will explore. It is entitled, Is the Church Built on Christ or Peter? I hope you will be present. Sunday evening [...]

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I’m Trying Not To Be A Bubba…but…

November 18, 2009

Sometimes you just don’t fit in. That happened this afternoon when I tried to run into the hotel restaurant for a quick lunch. It was a fine restaurant I’m sure. I am equally as sure that it has never served grits with red-eye gravy and I know they don’t serve sweet tea. Of course I [...]

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10 Powerful Ways to Prepare for Worship

November 16, 2009

Lord’s Day worship occurs every Sunday. While worship can occur elsewhere, the assembly of the saints is a special and unique opportunity for Christians. But sometimes worship seems more like an obligation than a privilege. There are some things we can do to make worship more meaningful and far more powerful. Here are ten tips. [...]

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It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like…

November 15, 2009

Holidays are fast approaching. Soon Americans will be consumed with bargains, sales and shopping in preparation for Christmas. Travel plans will firm up and soon we will be on the road traveling to and fro during work breaks. It really is an exciting time of year and probably my favorite. But let us be careful [...]

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Sermon Preview for November 15, 2009

November 14, 2009

I am looking forward to a great day of worship Sunday and I hope you are planning to be with us. Our Sunday morning lesson is a continuation of our study of Mark. The lesson is titled You Are The Christ!” and is taken from Peter’s great confession in Mark 8:27-30. While I think everyone [...]

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Book Review: People of the Lie

November 13, 2009

M. Scott Peck is a psychiatrist and well known author. His first success was The Road Less Traveled. Most recently he penned Glimpses of the Devil in 2005 which is a consideration of demonic exorcism from the perspective of a psychiatrist. In People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil, written in 1983, [...]

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