Has Humanity Reached Total Depravity? (Part Two)
by Richard T. RitenbaughIn Part One, we exhaustively covered God’s declaration in Genesis 6:5 that the humans of Noah’s day were altogether evil, from their innermost intentions to their most public behaviors. ...
31-Jul-20
Has Humanity Reached Total Depravity? (Part One)
by Richard T. RitenbaughJust before the Noachian Flood, God declares His assessment of the moral state of humanity, and He pulls no punches: “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and ..."
24-Jul-20
The Sacred Name Movement
by John ReissGod says to Moses in Exodus 6:2-3, “I am the LORD. ...
17-Jul-20
God's Enduring Mercy
by Ronny H. GrahamThe greatest example of mercy in the Bible is, of course, found in the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He walked in mercy every day, healing multitudes, feeding thousands, and casting out many demons. ...
10-Jul-20
Led Outside the Gate
by David C. GrabbeMeekness, we should understand, is not weakness. Though scoffed at by an assertive and bruising world, meekness demonstrates tremendous strength, for it is power under internal restraint. ...
26-Jun-20
Why Preach the Gospel to the World?
by Richard T. RitenbaughOn a street corner of a crowded city, a young man in threadbare clothes stands on a pine box, a worn Bible clutched in one hand. He shouts at the hustling passersby, "God is not mocked! We will reap what we have sown!" ...
19-Jun-20
Did Eve Really Speak to a Snake?
by Mike FuhrerIn Revelation 20:2, the apostle John relates what he saw in a vision: “[An angel] laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years." ...
12-Jun-20
Our Way Forward
by Richard T. RitenbaughAs God’s instruction manual for His people, the Bible contains the answers and guidance Christians need in times of trouble. Scripture reflects His mind more than any other resource on earth ...
05-Jun-20
Soldier On! (Part Two)
by John ReissWe all face trials in life, some of them quite difficult. A few of them may be so devastating that our first reaction is to curl up in a ball and give up. God, though, does not want us to allow ...
29-May-20
Soldier On! (Part One)
by John ReissAs sunset neared in the Persian Gulf on February 16, 1991, American forces, engaged in a skirmish with Iraqi forces, shot a single TOW anti-tank missile at one of the enemy’s tanks, damaging but not destroying it. ...
22-May-20
Beware the Second Flood (Part Two)
by David C. GrabbePart One drew upon the imagery in Revelation 12:15, in which a flood of words pours from the mouth of the serpent to sweep away God’s people. A ready application arises in our present ...
15-May-20
Beware the Second Flood (Part One)
by David C. GrabbeAfter the apocalyptic Flood from which God delivered only eight souls, He made a covenantal promise that He would never again send a globe-covering flood. To remind humanity from that ...
08-May-20
The Purpose of Prophecy
by Mike FuhrerWhat is a prophet? At its most basic, a prophet is an assistant who speaks for the leader. We have the perfect explanation of this in Exodus 7:1-2, where God tells Moses that his elder brother, Aaron, ...
01-May-20
The House of Annas
by John ReissThe evangelist Luke writes in Luke 3:1-2: “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, . ... while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, ...
24-Apr-20
Fear and Faith (Part Three)
by Mike FordAs we close this series on the choice between faith and fear, we need to consider one more example from the events of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Moses sets the scene for us in ...
17-Apr-20
Fear and Faith (Part Two)
by Mike FordIn the book of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts the history of the Israelites’ travels up to that point. About eighteen months into the Exodus, the Israelites had come to Kadesh Barnea, which God had ...
10-Apr-20
Fear and Faith (Part One)
by Mike FordThe story of the children of Israel fleeing from Egypt never gets old even though we return to it routinely every spring. There seem to be endless lessons we can learn from it, and in that vein, the . . .
03-Apr-20
Heirs of the Kingdom
by Mike FuhrerIn my studies, I happened across Matthew 8:5-13, the story of Jesus’ conversation with a centurion whose servant had become paralyzed and was in great pain: "Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, ... "
27-Mar-20
Let Us Examine Ourselves
by Ronny H. GrahamWith the Feast of Unleavened Bread less than two weeks away, many of us are well into our de-leavening. Some may even be finished and feel a sense of relief that the job is done. ...
20-Mar-20
Deliverance and Unleavened Bread
by John ReissIn a few weeks, members of the church of God will be observing Passover and then the Feast of Unleavened Bread. These springtime festivals memorialize the redemption and exodus of ...
13-Mar-20
Avoiding Prayer? Consider Carefully
by Richard T. RitenbaughThe alarm sounds, jolting the sleeper from deep slumber. He lifts his head and peers through slitted eyelids at the bedside clock. Five-thirty am. Hitting the snooze button, he sighs ....
06-Mar-20
Ditching Tithing? Consider Carefully
by Richard T. RitenbaughTimes are hard. Money is short. Bills need to be paid. Taxes are due. The car needs new brakes. The baby has run out of diapers, and mama needs new shoes. The self-centered human mind can always come up with “needs,” ...
28-Feb-20
Skipping Services? Consider Carefully
by Richard T. RitenbaughAfter a long week of work, Fred arrives home early Friday evening and drags himself inside. He is looking forward to the Sabbath and the extended rest God allows us to enjoy on His day. ...
21-Feb-20
The Patience of God
by Ronny H. GrahamA while ago, while driving in Charlotte, I was stopped at a red light. Someone behind me started blowing his horn, and I immediately thought, "What's his problem?" ...
14-Feb-20
Divine Providence (Part Two)
by Mike FuhrerIn Part One, we stuck a toe into the waters of divine providence and found that the subject is far deeper than we may have imagined it to be. God's care for us goes well beyond fulfilling ...
07-Feb-20
Divine Providence (Part One)
by Mike FuhrerGod’s providence is a subject that few people, even in God’s church, have a full grasp on. Most look on it too narrowly. Providence is defined as “the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power.” ...
31-Jan-20
A City on a Hill (Part Two)
by John ReissIn Part One, we considered the examples of two men, Dirk Willems and Desmond Doss, both of whom lived out in public what they believed, the first showing love toward an enemy and the second selflessly caring ...
24-Jan-20
A City on a Hill (Part One)
by John ReissThree hundred and eighty-nine years ago, John Winthrop sold his properties and joined with other pilgrims leaving England in search of religious freedom. ...
17-Jan-20
The Elijah Syndrome (Part Three)
by David C. GrabbeWe can draw several lessons from the prophet Elijah’s experience recorded in I Kings 19, particularly his belief that he was the only one left whom God could use. First, no matter how bleak ...
10-Jan-20
The Elijah Syndrome (Part Two)
by David C. GrabbeLast time, we saw that, even though God used the prophet Elijah powerfully in opposing the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel, performing extraordinary miracles through him, the man’s perspective ...
03-Jan-20
The Elijah Syndrome (Part One)
by David C. GrabbeElijah the Tishbite stands as one of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel. He is not known for any prophetic books, but instead, his fame arises from the great miracles associated with him. ...