Although we do not often hear the word “sanctification” it is one of the greatest biblical doctrines! Some form of this word appears about 30 times in the New Testament. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon says this about the Greek word hagios, “to set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively his.” That definition itself […]
Author: bumchecks
“The Preaching Game”
Graham Johnston told about a preacher who preached the same sermon three Sundays in a row. After the third time, someone asked him, “When are you going to preach something different?” He answered, “When this church starts practicing this lesson, you can have a new one.” Johnston used that story to set the tone in […]
Should We Be “Tolerant?”
Many people have the opinion that we all should be “tolerant” of the religious views of everyone else. In fact, about the only thing that receives much criticism these days is the ‘intolerance” of some of us who argue against certain religious beliefs. We’re frequently viewed as being “fanatics,” and mean-spirited “bigots.” They tell us […]
Beware Of Normal
An ad for a local termite exterminator warned that one of the first signs of termite infection in your home is that “everything looks perfectly normal.” It is their way of convincing us that a lot of damage can be done before you even notice it. The ad might serve to remind us of problems […]
The Truth Sometimes Hurts
How much do you appreciate the truth? The truth is easy to hear when it is flattering, encouraging and uplifting. However, the truth can sometimes hurt. Do you always desire the truth from those around you, regardless of whether it is favorable or not? Do you always demand the truth from those who preach and […]
Usurping Authority – United Methodist Church
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but […]
We Are the Salt of the Earth
Sometimes the most common items are of the greatest value and contain the most important lessons. One of the traits that made Jesus the greatest teacher was His ability to use common items and turn them into powerful visual lessons. When Jesus finished giving what is called “the beatitudes” in Matthew 5:3-12, which describe the […]
The Glory of God’s Son Luke 9:28-36
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shown in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Peter, James, and John saw the radiant glory of God’s […]
Would God Ever Require Unlawfully Married People to Separate?
What should we say about a situation where a person desires to obey the gospel, but they have been divorced for an unscriptural reason (Matt. 5:32; 19:9) and are now remarried? There has been lots of controversy on this subject, but it is clear that the basic concept of repentance necessitates a severance of the […]
Two Men Disagree With the Preacher
Two men disagree with the preacher. They have both been taught that they are not just to “swallow” everything the preacher says; that they are to think for themselves. They are to be commended, therefore, for their careful evaluation of what is taught. The key words with the first man, however, are, “It seems to […]