400-499 words | Bulletin Digest

No Confusion on Marriage

[418 words] In my work as a minister I have had several opportunities to conduct weddings. There was never any confusion as to which person was the “bride” in contrast to the “bridegroom.” The woman was always the bride. The man was always the bridegroom. Each and every time, this was reflected in the language…

Having Much Yet With So Little

[401 words] One of the first proverbs Solomon wrote was “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (1:7). So many people grasp for knowledge in books, journal articles, magazines, digital media, and so on and so forth. People can search out knowledge of God in commentaries,…

Preparing For a Future Calling

[460 words] Have you ever wondered why things happen the way they do? Have you ever wondered why some strange and/or unusual events have taken place in your life, or why it seems nothing much out of the ordinary has ever happened to you? How did you end up living where you live? How did…

Six Reasons to Attend Bible Class

[414 words] Every Sunday morning Bible classes for every age are conducted in our Bible classes. Lamentably, some of our people do not take advantage of these fine classes. Many children are prevented from attending their class each week because their parents fail to bring them. Some are prevented by illness or other factors beyond…

How Could They?

[404 words] One of the sins of the dark world of the Gentiles in the first century was being “without natural affection” (Rom. 1:31). This is the natural love we have for our kin, especially for our parents and our children. It is not just being “unloving” as the New King James translates this verse.…

Watch the Ledger

[407 words] One of the hardest classes that I had when I started college was accounting. My teacher was a stickler, there was plenty of homework, and class was a fast-paced frenzy of new ideas. It should have been an easy subject, but I didn’t quite get the knack of it at first. It was…

Mirror Moments

[495 words] Recently I was asked why God repeated his question to Elijah during the incident recorded for us in 1 Kings 19. Before I give you my answer (opinion), let me briefly set the context for you. Elijah had just achieved great victories. He had confronted the prophets of Baal and challenged them to…

People Identified With Him

[437 words] September 22, 2015 will be remembered as “the day Yogi died.” Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra was loved by millions of people even though he played for a baseball team that many did not like. His outstanding ability and endurance on the field made him a star, but his humble personality and wise…

Do All Dogs Really Go to Heaven?

[497 words] Every year on October 4, a growing number of churches involve themselves in a “blessing of the animals” service. This “blessing of the animals” is rooted in the Roman Catholic Church as a part of observing “Saint Francis of Assisi Day.” However, in more recent times, more and more protestant churches have…

On the Lighter Side (October 2015)

[418 words] A Special License After a recent college basketball game, the coach spotted a cell phone lying on the floor. He picked it up and handed it to one of the referees and said, “Here’s your phone.” “What makes you think it’s mine?” the referee asked. “Easy,” said the coach. “It says you…

In Everything Give Thanks

[479 words] “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This statement Paul wrote to the church of Thessalonica is one that should be applied to our lives daily. During the holiday season, there is an emphasis on the need for being…

Sin

[454 words] We’ve all heard the story of the preacher who was asked, “What are you preaching on Sunday?” He responded, “Sin.” The querist retorted, “Well are you fer or agin it?” It seems sin is a taboo topic in our world today. The politically correct movement wants us to use words like “illness,”…

Excuses

[483 words] Man has made excuses for his behavior and actions almost since the beginning of man’s history. In the Garden of Eden, the devil tempted Eve to sin and eat the forbidden fruit. She in turn enticed her mate to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When God…

Out of Options

[418 words] l don’t know about you, but l have a hard time being told what to do. l feel as though, being an adult and overall responsible and trustworthy, l should not have to be forced to comply to any command or request of anyone walking the face of this earth. If and…

The Keys to Overcoming the World

[485 words] In Revelation, there is a lot of figurative language and many difficult symbols. Because of that we often avoid reading the book. But in it are some great Bible helps. One of them is found in chapter 12, where we learn how Christians are to overcome the world. To preface what is…

The Trouble Tree

[403 words] A preacher told of hiring a carpenter to restore an old farm house. On the first day when the carpenter was to report for work, he was an hour late. His tardiness, he said, was because he found that his electric saw was not working, and in addition, he had found a…

How Do I Keep from Doing a Sin That I Want to Do?

[478 words] In a Bible class that was discussing the topic of homosexuality, a 13-year-old girl asked, “What about someone who really doesn’t want to have those feelings but can’t seem to stop them?” That is such a great question, for there are many who are struggling with homosexual desires but they don’t want…

You Can’t Cross a Bridge Until You Get to It

[494 words] All my life I have heard the expression, “you can’t cross a bridge until you get to it,” or “l’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.” These often-used expressions have to do with worrying about things before they happen. A traveler was stopped and informed of some dangerous bridges ahead.…

What Your Tongue Says

[492 words] You know that every human being has a unique fingerprint, but did you realize that each person also has his or her own unique tongue print? According to published reports, scientists have discovered that just as no two people have the same fingerprint, so each one of us can–theoretically–also be identified by…

On the Lighter Side (September 2015)

[426 words] A Special License A policeman looked up to see a woman racing down the center of the road at 100 m.p.h. He pulled her over and said, “Hey, lady, would you mind telling me why you’re going so fast down the middle of the road?” “Oh, it’s okay, Officer,” she replied. “I…

On the Lighter Side (August 2015)

[442 words] The Coin Toss By the time Bobby arrived, the football game had already started. “Why are you so late?” asked his friend. “I couldn’t decide between going to church and going to the football game. So I tossed a coin,” said Bobby. “But that shouldn’t have taken too long.” said the friend.…

Heavenly Sunlight

[459 words] “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Matt. 4:16). The world can be a dark place. “The whole world,” John wrote, “lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). Satan, the “prince of this world” (John…

The Power of God’s Word

[449 words] “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the…

When the Rooster Crows

[416 words] Have you ever heard a rooster crow? Some of you with a little gray hair probably have. I would guess that some of our young people have not. A few years back, most of our grandparents or even our parents lived on a farm. If they had chickens, they also had a…

Be the Best Version of Yourself

[409 words] There’s a saying that has become popular of late that I really like. It is this: “Be the best version of yourself.” I like it because it does emphasize being yourself. It is important to be you, to be unique, and to be who God made you. Don’t change that. But it’s also…

Read the Manual!

[490 words] When was the last time you bought something (anything) new? Like most of us, you probably pulled out the new product, proceeded to put it together or plug it in to use based on your previous experience with the product, only to discover that you have that one bolt extra that should probably…

What Can You Do for the Church?

[489 words] People often wonder what the church can do for them. It seems that everyone wants to be part of a large congregation that has immaculate facilities, lots of activities for the young and old, children of all ages, and a large contribution. When someone is looking for a congregation to attend, these may…

Cruise Ships and Aircraft Carriers

[484 words] I’ve not been on a cruise yet, but I hope to one day. From what I hear, cruise ships are all about having fun. The entire crew, from the captain to the dishwasher, is there just to serve the passengers and help them have the time of their lives. The food, the…

Timeless Words for Families

[418 words] Ours, it is to be feared, is an irreverent age and land. The number of those who neither fear God nor regard man, is greatly multiplied. The whole providentially arranged system of things is reversed; and if there is any one motto which might be inscribed on the surface of society as…

He Emptied Himself Completely

[448 words] Pride. There is a necessity in our culture today for pride in our country, pride in a job well done, and pride in the accomplishments of our children. But along with the recognition for such pride, there should also be a label warning of the dangers which accompany pride. Solomon, in his…

God’s Word Waits for No One

[444 words] “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.’ Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should…

How to Bring Greater Joy to Your Life

[443 words] Everyone wants to enjoy life more. Advertisements bombard us with “just buy this” or “just go there” or “just do that” and you will be happier. But we must realize that God already has a plan in place for greater joy of life. In Acts chapter 2, we read of people becoming…

The Unsettling Truth

[421 words] Jesus preached what is undoubtedly the most famous or popular sermon ever preached: the so-called Sermon on the Mount. In the course of that sermon, He preached things that many would deem as positive, such as “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this…

What is the Devil Like?

[476 words] “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8) While trying to rock my son to sleep late one night, I happened upon a special program on television’s Animal Planet channel about lions and how they hunt their…

Reflections From Walking In A Cemetery

[422 words] I’m not sure how you feel about cemeteries, but I actually do my best thinking and reflecting anytime I find myself in a cemetery. Why? My priorities are quickly put in order, I realize we all have a limited number of sunsets, and I see firsthand the hurt one feels when a…

An Illustration of God’s Grace

[434 words] Shortly after David became king of Israel, he remembered a promise he had made to Jonathan and Saul concerning their descendants. To Jonathan, he promised to protect his life and to show lovingkindness to his house forever (1 Sam. 20:12-17). To Saul, he vowed not to cut off his descendants after him…

Mothers, the Lord, and Baseball

[413 words] It is my good fortune in life to be blessed with a faithful Christian mother. My mother has blessed my life in more ways than I can count. Without her influence and godly example, I might not be a Christian or have a Christian family of my own. I will be forever…

Diamonds

[424 words] You might have more in common with a diamond than you think. Scientists believe that most diamonds are made of carbon about 100 miles below the surface of the earth under tremendous pressure where temperatures reach 2000 degrees. The high heat and pressure combine to crystalize the carbon changing the arrangement of…

Let God Handle It

[412 words] “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will…

Benevolence, or Enabling Bad Behavior?

[401 words] “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this; If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever“ (1Timothy 5:8). There…

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