March 2021, Vol. 40, No. 3 Archives

Are You Tuned to the Right Station?

[191 words] George Washington Carver was a man who lived very close to God’s creation. As a youngster he was very interested in plants and experimented with natural pesticides, fungicides, and soil conditioners, earning the nickname “the plant doctor” for his ability to improve gardens, fields, and orchards. Later as an agricultural scientist and inventor,…

Being A Difference-Maker

[240 words] Most of us are pretty good at making excuses and rationalizing as to why we are not more vocal in sharing the truth of the Gospel of Jesus with others. “I don’t know enough!” “I wasn’t trained for this!” “That is someone else’s job!” The list goes on but you get the idea. …

The Best You

[291 words] The Koreans have a term to describe a person who’s better at everything than you are, Umchina. If you translate it literally it’s “mom’s friend’s son.” Things are not that different here. Everyone can find that person who we always fall short of (If you can’t ask your Mom). The standard of others…

Share the Cup!

[413 words] In a land far away (as in it only exists in my own mind) a certain villager was given a cup. He was told by the old, bearded man who gave it to him that anyone who drinks from this cup would be made well from whatever afflicted them. Right after saying this…

The Other Person That Heard the Sermon

[350 words] In Acts 24 we read of a sermon that was delivered to Felix: “But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix…

Drifting

[420 words] “…And remember, brethren, we are drifting.” With that ominous catchphrase, J.D. Tant closed the many articles he wrote in the early twentieth century for the Firm Foundation and for the Gospel Advocate. He also often used this warning to close sermons in gospel meetings. Tant was applying to his day the warning of…

Psalm 103

[311 words] Psalm 103, attributed to David, is a wonderful psalm of thanksgiving. It would help us greatly if we read it frequently and remembered its lessons constantly. We immediately notice that expression “Bless the Lord,” repeated five times within the twenty-two verses. We are not really surprised to see these words come from David,…

A Little Birdie Told Me

[378 words] “Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known” (Ecclesiastes 10:20 NASU). “A birdie told me” Mom said, when I asked her how…

Who is Your Twin?

[376 words] A young girl of 14 gave birth to twins in a small town in Ohio. Afterwards, she disappeared — never to heard from again. The twin babies were adopted by two families in separate towns in Ohio. Jim Springer and Jim Lewis grew up not knowing each other although they had heard that…

Staying Faithful in Daily Living

[221 words] The great challenge for Christians is to stay faithful to God in daily living. In Revelation 2:10 we read, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful…

The Truth

[122 words] It seems so hard to trust people these days. Who can be counted on to tell us the truth? Here is what we know: Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Additionally, we know: It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). Therefore, we absolutely must spend more…

Looking Unto Jesus

[230 words] If you have ever watched a choral group or orchestra, you will note one thing each member always does – they look at the conductor from time to time. This is to insure that they are in harmony and performing in accordance with the conductor’s directive. As members of the church, we make…

Is Homework Important?

[205 words] How many of us have asked this question? The answer to that question is incalculable! Depending on when we have been asked this question will depend on how we answer the question. When I was younger, I would probably say, “Homework is important, but can we reduce the amount?” The older I have…

A Lesson For Timothy

[346 words] “These are the things you are to teach and insist on” (1 Timothy 6:2). Paul makes this statement to Timothy in his letter making it clear that Timothy is to pass on to others what he has been taught. This is a message that needs to be passed on to us as well.…

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

[169 words] Before Jesus Christ came into the world, the name Jesus (the Greek form of name Joshua) was an extremely common name. And yet, Jesus took an ordinary name of his day, and made it something unique and special—a name by which all can be saved (Acts 4:12). Then, during His ministry, Jesus took…

The Awesome Word

[309 words] We have reduced the church to a counseling center helping people cope! God made the church a salvation center teaching people how to live. We do not merely need therapy—we need the WORD! We don’t just need Bible scholars—we need Bible lovers! If you honor the Word, God will bless you! You must…

Snow and the Bible

[323 words] I do not usually think of snow when I think of the events recorded in the Bible. Most of the time I think of the things that I read about taking place in an arid hot climate, but that is not the case at all. The climate around Jerusalem is surprisingly similar to…

Works Salvation

[165 words] Do you know what it is? If you listen to people in the denominational world, many of them (if not all) will tell you that if you obey any of God’s commands to be saved, then you are trying to be saved by works. Not only is this a flat lie, but it…

A Heart like Paul’s

[452 words] “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to…

Who is the Greatest?

[437 words] “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.…

Bible Quiz: 1 Peter 4:12-19

[80 words] “Beloved, do not think it __ concerning the __ trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;True or False: Peter says Christians should rejoice to partake in Christ’s sufferings.“If you are __ for the name of Christ, __ are you, for the Spirit of glory and of…

Bible Quiz: 1 Peter 5:1-4

[85 words] “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow __ and a __ of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:Peter said the elders of the church were to __ the flock of God, serving as __.“not by __ but willingly,…

Bible Quiz: 1 Peter 5:5-9

[61 words] “Likewise you __ people, submit yourselves to your __.”“Therefore __ yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may __ you in due time,”Where does Peter say we should cast all our care?“Be __, be __; because your __ the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”True…

Bible Quiz: 1 Peter 5:10-14

[72 words] By Whom did God call us to His eternal glory?Peter was hopeful that the God of all grace, after they had suffered a while, would “__, __, __, and __” them.“By __, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly,”Besides the church at Peter’s location, who else specifically…

Quotes and Sayings (March 2021)

“Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed… Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.” — Henry David Thoreau “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if…

On the Lighter Side (March 2021)

Planned AbsenteeismA college faculty member received this e-mail from a prospective student prior to the start of the semester: “Dear Professor, I won’t be able to come to any of your classes or meet for any of the tests. Is this a problem?” Knock Knock.Who’s there?Control Freak.Con…OK, now you say, “Control Freak who?” Q: Why…