December 2021, Vol. 40, No. 12

What Are We to Do with Christmas?

[419 words] Christmas – what are we going to do with it? Some say, “We need to put Christ back into Christmas.” Others say, “Christ was never meant to be in Christmas.” Some celebrate it as a religious holiday. Other celebrate it as a secular holiday. Other do not celebrate it at all. What does…

Don’t Forget to Light the Fire

[317 words] In one of Jack London’s short stories, he writes about a fellow who was a newcomer to the Alaska gold rush. As he outfits to go out to “stake his claim and strike it rich,” a seasoned veteran gives him some advice. “It’s winter, so whenever you pause from hiking, be sure to…

Handling the Pressure

[363 words] For ages, people have wondered what was on the ocean floor. On August 15, 1934, Otis Barton and William Beebe came closer than ever before. On that day, they descended to a depth of 3,028 feet into the dark ocean, a record that remained unbroken for 15 years. The way they achieved this…

Searching for Jesus

[462 words] One of the verses most heard at this time of year is found in Luke 2:11, “…for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” And as familiar as this verse is, the immediate reaction to the verse may be more important.…

‘You shall call His name…’

[280 words] One of the earliest predictions about the birth of Christ came from the prophet Isaiah. Seven centuries before our Lord was born, this Old Testament preacher wrote: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). This passage would be repeated later to remind us…

Having a Bad Day?

[181 words] Well, are you having a bad day today, a pretty tough time? If you are think about this. There is a story that was told of one little boy’s rough day. while going to school he fell off the school bus and hit his head, and he needed two stitches. After returning to…

Leaving Joppa

[175 words] I’ve had the privilege to walk the cobble stone streets of the biblical city, Joppa. As I walked on the streets of that city and looked out at the Mediterranean Sea, I couldn’t help but remember two significant biblical events that took place in this city. The first one involved the prophet Jonah.…

Don’t Believe Everything You Think

[412 words] I admit a curiosity for bumper stickers. On occasion, one succinctly states a great truth or at least provokes reasonable thought. Once I stopped at a light, and the car in front of mine had the sticker, “Don’t believe everything you think!” The more I thought about it, that statement struck me as…

Making Sense of Moral Outrage

[544 words] This is a time of moral outrage. Anger and animosity quickly and easily spill over from one person to the next, often in violent outbursts. Riots and looting have been recorded and reported from the streets of several major U.S. cities. Bitterness and condescension is lobbed from one side of the aisle to…

An Exciting Eternity

[248 words] Do you ever wonder how you can live forever without being bored? One fellow said he didn’t want to live forever because life on earth is so monotonous. His comments reminded me of a college professor’s sneering statement to his class (a class I was in) that he couldn’t think of anything more…

On Sale NOW!

[406 words] The holidays are almost over. Everyone will soon be settling back into a rhythm that will take most people through the remainder of the winter and through the first part of spring. However, every day I check my “junk email” account, I see hundreds of email subject lines from hundreds of different companies…

Are You a Part of the 5G Network?

[417 words] With a title like that, it sounds like I’m asking if you are a part of the latest cell phone technology, doesn’t it? The latest 5G cell phone network promises many things. In the church, we have a network that is designed by God Himself for the betterment of the kingdom and for…

Scandalized by Particularity

[288 words] The doctrine of religious pluralism says that all roads, spiritually speaking, end up at the same destination. It’s only that––so goes the belief––we’re all just taking different paths to the same god. But if all religions are the same, Jesus Christ is a liar, and He died in vain. It is the scandal…

The Road of Resolution

[348 words] It is this time of year many like to make New Year’s Resolutions. A resolution is defined as, “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” It is good to make godly resolutions or firm decisions. Maybe the following can help you to keep on the right road with God throughout…

The Conflict Within

[520 words] “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). All of us struggle with our feelings. They give us joy, but they also bring grief. A Christian woman was talking about these bad feelings and said, “I believe everybody has trouble with these inner demons.”…

Jesus’ Compassion for Lost Souls

[204 words] Matthew describes Jesus’ compassion for lost souls: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus saw people. He did not look past them, ignore them, or turn away from them. Jesus was cognizant of…

The Important Question: Who Is Jesus?

[332 words] The Bible shows us two sides of the most important person in history. The Lord is like us “in every respect” (Hebrews 2:17). There is no shortage of biblical evidence concerning Christ’s humanity. He experienced physical reactions, such as hunger (Matthew 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), and weariness (John 4:6). He wept (John 11:35),…

Contemporary Worship

[441 words] “Unbelievable!” That is the only word to describe it! A brother expressed concern in one of our publications about the “have it your way” mentality of those advocating contemporary worship. He clearly articulated the inherent danger of putting the focus on us instead of upon God, thus seeking to please ourselves instead of…

Finding Favor

[257 words] Numerous times in Scripture we read about godly men and women who “find favor” in the sight of God and the people around them. It seems to be a common characteristic. For example:  Esther is described again and again as one who won favor in the sight of the king and his subordinates…

Once Saved, Always Saved? What the Experts Say

[477 words] The “once saved, always saved” belief is very prevalent in the religious world today. It carries the idea that once one receives salvation they can never lose it no matter what they do or don’t do. But is it truly a Scriptural concept? Let’s go to the Bible and note what some inspired…

Bible Quiz: 2 John 1-3

[90 words] Who is “the elder” in verse one?“The Elder, To the elect __ and her __,”“whom I love in __ , and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which __ in us and will be with us forever:”Name three things in verse 3 John…

Bible Quiz: 2 John 4-6

[78 words] “I __ greatly that I have found some of your children walking in __, as we received __ from the Father.”True or False: It made John happy to hear of people walking in the truth.Did John write a new commandment to the readers in verse 5?“This is love, that we walk according to…

Bible Quiz: 2 John 7-13

[120 words] “For many __ have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the __.”Is it possible to “lose the things we worked for” and not receive a full reward?“Whoever __ and does not abide in the __ of Christ does not have God.”“If anyone comes to you…

Bible Quiz: 3 John 1-8

[79 words] To whom is this letter written?”Beloved, I pray that you may __ in all things and be in __, just as your soul prospers.”“I have no greater __ than to hear that my children walk in __.”“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the __ and for __, who have borne witness…

Bible Quiz: 3 John 9-14

[95 words] “I wrote to the __, but __, who loves to have the __ among them, does not receive us.”True or False: This man who would not receive the brethren was putting those who did receive them out of the church.“Beloved, do not __ what is evil, but what is good. He who does…

Quotes and Sayings (December 2021)

[206 words] “New Year — A new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours.” — Alex Morritt “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to…

On the Lighter Side (December 2021)

[145 words] New Year’s Laughers Q: What is a New Year’s resolution?A: Something that goes in one year and out the other. Q: What was Dr. Frankenstein’s new year’s resolution?A: To make new friends.  Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up for New Year’s. Middle age is when you’re forced to. An optimist stays…