Born Again? Your Actions Speak Louder Than Words.
May 26
Therefore, as Christians, we ought to take time to reflect seriously upon the question, “Has God truly wrought a miracle in my life? Is my own heart proof of the supernatural intervention of God?” In the West we go through these seasons of new-fangled theologies. The whole question of “lordship” plagued our debates for some time as we asked, is there such a thing as a minimalist view of conversion? “We said the prayer and that’s it.” Yet how can there be a minimalist view of conversion when conversion itself is a maximal work of God’s grace?
Reverend Crucifies Bunny on a Cross
Apr 14
“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6 The year was 2002 and I was just completing a very hard day’s journey hiking a nine mile portion of the Appalachian Trail’s famed “100 Mile Wilderness”, located in the rugged mountains of central Maine. As I approached the “Rainbow Ledge Shelter” (a small three sided building for A.T. hikers), I was met by a scraggly fellow. His appearance was somewhat shocking to me initially. His clothes were dirty, his shoes worn from miles of traveling and he has tattoos up and down every inch of his exposed thighs.
Why do "Christians" act and talk so… worldly?
Feb 25
In the Book of Ephesians are included several guidelines for the Christian's speech--how we should talk and what we should talk about. These are not easy rules to follow, but are necessary if we would please our Savior and be effective in our Christian lives and witness. As our text indicates, vulgar talk, idle chatter, and coarse jesting should "not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (5:3). "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (4:29). The same applies to bitter, angry, malicious speech. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice" (4:31). And certainly our communications should be true and trustworthy. "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor" (4:25).
Take heed and endure sound doctrine
Feb 25
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matthew 24:4,5). This warning by Christ has special relevance in these latter days when there are multitudes of "false Christs, and false prophets" (Matthew 24:24), not only in the so-called "New Age" movement but also (in view of the fact that "Christ" means simply "anointed") in all kinds of religious, political, and educational areas of influence, and are, as Jesus warned, deceiving many. Therefore His urgent warning: "Take heed!"
Learn what it means… this mercy, not sacrifice
Feb 25
"But go ye and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13). The Lord Jesus called all who would be His disciples to "learn of me" (or "from me," Matthew 11:29), and our text verse contains the first use of "learn" in the New Testament, thus indicating a basic item we must learn when we become Christians.
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