There is man that is in the thoughts of thousands of people, even though they do not know his name and have never met him. He is frequently mentioned in Bible studies. Usually, he comes up after studying about the gospel and hearing that the obedience of faith is necessary for salvation. Someone will ask: [...]

An unanchored, unmanned boat will only drift aimlessly going wherever the tides or streams take it. It could have been used for great deeds: for travel, for transporting cargo, for catching food to feed the hungry, or simply for entertainment. Drifting, however, it accomplishes nothing and is worthless. No one expects a boat to be [...]

A frequent practice today is to recite “The Lord’s Prayer” (found in Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4). Unfortunately, many do not understand what they are saying and mindlessly repeat Jesus’ words. This is the very practice Jesus is opposing (i.e., meaningless repetition, Matthew 6:7). It is important for us to understand what Jesus is praying for [...]

Salt is an amazing substance. It improves the function of yeast. It gives baked foods a better texture. It can preserve meats and cheese. A pinch of salt can increase the volume of whipped cream or egg whites, raise the boiling temperature of water, and lower the freezing temperature of water. It is found in [...]

Growing up I was always fascinated with swords. Every movie with even a hint of a sword fight was one I wanted to see. I had books about them and I practiced the sport of fencing with my friends. In fact, fencing is how I met my wife. Today, I am still enthralled, but what [...]

Genesis 4:1-10 records the story of two brothers. One was a child of faith and the first to face persecution and death for his service to God. The other was a child of disobedience and was the first to shed the blood of God’s children. They were worlds apart religiously, yet they were brothers. Today, [...]

Alexander McClaren tells of an event when he was preaching in Manchester England. An agnostic scientist and professor of a local university came to his church. As a result, McClaren decided to do a series of sermons about science and faith. A few months later this man came to see him about committing his life [...]

Think of a time when you sprained your ankle or tore a muscle. Suddenly, tasks you didn’t think about before now take tremendous effort and pain (e.g., crossing a room, going up a flight of stairs, getting in and out of a car). For some the Christian life seems to be as difficult. They make [...]

Urgency! This one word defines the lives of most people. We know what is important in life (i.e., church, prayer, Bible study, and family), but sometimes we focus on what we think absolutely must be done now. When this happens, working to pay bills outweighs going to worship. Watching our favorite T.V. show coming on [...]

There was a time when children had to really, really want a toy in order to get it. I remember children screaming and crying, begging for a toy at a store, having to do chores, save money, demonstrate good behavior, etc. This is rare today. Many times children are given what they [...]