-
Three Reasons to Trust the Bible
The wise man of old was certainly correct when he wrote, “…of the making of many books there is no end…” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). As I am writing this, I have just looked at a website that purports to keep “up to the minute” figures on how many books have been published. According to it, somewhere in the world, there have been five books published in the last minute — or over 971,000 so far this year. It is interesting to me that one book stands alone — in so many ways. It has long been said that the Bible is the best-selling book of all time. According to the latest…
-
10 Lessons Young People Hear Often…And Need to Hear Again
One of the frustrations of working with young people is saying things over and over. (Oddly, working with adults isn’t much different!) Some think that we need to “move on” with young people, but there are certain core messages they need to hear, though they have heard them many times before. If you work with young people as a parent, a Bible class teacher, or youth worker, or if you just love young people, make sure you constantly teach them these lessons. I am writing these as an address to young people. I hope you enjoy this list and will add your thoughts in the comments. —————————– 1. God is…
-
5 Methods of Bible Study
I hear often, “I know I need to study the Bible, but I just don’t know how to get started.” That is a very logical complaint. Let’s be honest: the Bible is a fairly large book with a lot of material in it! We often hear those who have studied the Bible their entire lives say, “I still study because there’s something left to master.” That is great, but for one trying to start studying, it can be a bit discouraging. The major step is starting, but how? There are many different ways to study the Bible. I want to share 5 with you that require little, if any, materials other…
-
Friday Links Roundup: Snow, Buzz and Corinthians Edition
I’m typing the links roundup from home this week. As I look out my window, a little snow has started to fall, but we are expecting quite a bit more later in the day. That’s not the reason I’m at home, though. Leah has an appointment this morning, so I’m watching the kids. While I’m excited about it, there could be some interesting challenges. You see, we are also going to record iPreach this morning. Along with guests Billy Smith, Marlin Connelly, and Clarence DeLoach, Dale and I will be previewing the Freed-Hardeman University Bible lectures. So, while we discuss the lectures and their theme books of First and Second Corinthians, the…
-
Seeing What We Focus On
Have you ever noticed that, when you buy a certain type of vehicle, you start to see every other vehicle on the road that looks like yours? You might even mention it to your family and friends with phrases like, “I saw our car coming home today!” (Wah, wah, wah) The same is true of TV shows and music. If we have heard a particular song on the radio earlier in the day, and then it’s used in a show or commercial, our ears perk up and we notice it more clearly. I’m currently preaching a series that deals with the Christian home, and I was also asked recently to…
-
A LOT of Verses
For many years, preachers in churches of Christ were known for using a lot (and I mean, a lot) of verses of Scripture. Whether the sermon was basically textual or topical, many passages were used to show the truth of the matter being presented. Of course, passages can be taken out of context, but, as I read and listen to many of these sermons, I am touched by the faithfulness to the text in using verse after verse. A few weeks ago, we were visiting where my parents worship and the young men led the evening services. One young man presented a good sermon on baptism. His lesson was basic…
-
Friday Links Roundup: espn360 Edition
We don’t have TV anymore, but I am still getting to see a little bit of basketball. We love espn360.com. Okay, I love espn360.com, and Leah admits that she’s glad I’m getting to see some college basketball, as well. In fact, on most days, there are more choices on there than on TV. I’ve already seen at least a few minutes of over 20 teams play and with the Thanksgiving week tournaments coming, I’m looking forward to seeing more. (Here’s hoping for a classic soon between Duke and UConn in their preseason tournament!) On to the links for this week: 1. Cindy Colley (welcome to the blog reader) writes a powerful…
-
Being Apathetic: It's Pathetic!
I’ll be the first to admit, I have my lazy moments. There are days when I don’t want to do anything but watch a ball game or just relax. This post isn’t about running 100 miles per hour 24 hours each day. Each person needs time to relax his mind and his body. This post is about apathy, the desire to avoid work. I hate it when I waste a good opportunity. There are so many things I want to accomplish in a day, a month, a year, and (of course) in my lifetime that I hate it when I don’t get something done. It’s more than just being “driven,”…
-
Still No TV?
Back in April, we told you how we had completely turned off our DirecTV. We didn’t downgrade our package, or switch to just local channels. We have no television package whatsoever. At the time, we had a plan of things we would do in order to “fill” our time as a family. I thought you might like a little progress report, now that we’ve gone about 7 months without any TV. First, let me address the question everyone seems to ask. “Do you miss it?” While that’s impossible to answer in one word, I would say we really haven’t missed TV. Yes, I don’t like missing ball games, but we…
-
Guest Post: "The Church and Bible Study"
[Today marks the 9th edition in our “The Church and…” series. Our guest writer today is Drew Kizer. Drew preaches for the Ashville Road church of Christ in Leeds, Alabama. He has served there since 2000. A graduate of both the undergraduate and graduate Bible schools at Freed-Hardeman University, Drew also makes regular trips to Russia, where he helps train preachers and conduct evangelistic work. He is the author of three books. Drew is married to Julie and they have two beautiful children, Ava and Jackson (their newborn!). We are grateful for Drew for so many reasons. We hope you will read his words carefully and see a man who…
