Author: Rogers, Heath

At times, saints of old were guilty of “running ahead of God,” that is, they presumed to know the will of God and put forth human efforts to help accomplish His will. The results were always bad. We can be guilty of doing the same thing – as individuals and collectively as the church.

No one likes having their sins pointed out. Our pride makes it easy to be tempted to defend ourselves in such situations. However, we must rise above this temptation and always be willing to deal honestly with the sin that is in our life.

Hell is not a place where anyone should want to spend eternity. Jesus has shown us the way to avoid Hell, but He leaves the choice up to us.

Deacons are an important part of the Lord’s church. These men are not in a leadership role, neither is their office simply that of a figurehead. They are servants of the church.

We can not agree with the appeal to “attend the church of your choice.” It is our conviction that the church that Jesus built in the first century is the only church that the Lord will recognize as His own today. This church can not be found by tracing history, or by a majority vote (i.e., the church with the largest membership), but rather by looking at the pattern of the church that is set forth in the New Testament. Denominations divide believers by subscribing to creeds, councils, catechisms, and conventions. We simply try to follow the teachings of the Bible alone. Until we can find different kinds of churches in the Bible we can not encourage men to attend the church of their choice.

God has given us light and all the blessings that accompany it. This light has been introduced in our world at different times. Physical light came at the creation. Spiritual light came with Jesus Christ. This “light of life” came to us personally as we came to believe and obey the gospel.

The Christian’s belief that Jesus is the Son of God is not based upon feelings, traditions, or cultural beliefs. It is based upon evidence that is recorded in the Word of God.

The New Testament abounds with evidence that Paul was a genuine apostle of Jesus Christ. He possessed the authority of an apostle, and his epistles contain the teachings that we are to follow today.

Parenting can provide the greatest blessings or the bitterest of failures. Children are free-moral agents and can rebel despite the best efforts that are put forth by the best of parents. However, parents cannot ignore the fact that they play an important role in the raising of their children.

The Bible offers the answers to our most important questions while providing the standards and guidance we need as individuals and as a society. The Bible not only shows us how to have the best life here on earth, it is the only book which can prepare us for eternal life.

As a member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit can be sinned against. The Holy Spirit can be resisted, quenched, grieved, insulted, and blasphemed.

No one should deny that the Spirit dwells in the Christian. The Bible teaches that the Spirit dwells in us through our faith and acceptance of His word. The Spirit can be said to dwell within us as we manifest the Spirit’s influence upon our lives. The fact that we dwell in the Godhead, and that the Godhead dwells in us, shows the closeness of the fellowship that we have with the Godhead. However, I believe we are in error to take the position that the Holy Spirit literally dwells within us. The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit all dwell in us through our faith, and operate upon our lives through the word of God.

Peter, James, and John formed an “inner circle” among the Lord’s twelve apostles. We cannot know for sure why these three men were singled out, but we benefit greatly from the blessings they were allowed to experience.

There is no doubt that we live in a world of change, but God is the one constant in this world. He is Creator of all, Lord of all, and Judge of all. Man’s departure from the truth and unwillingness to acknowledge the sovereignty of God does not change anything about God. God’s moral law is just as fixed as His natural law. He will judge us one day.

A look back at the lessons learned from the events that occurred on and after September 11, 2001.

Meekness is not weakness, but is the ability to choose to exercise great strength in the form of self-control. It is not apathy, but the ability to distinguish between personal injuries and offenses against the things of God. Meekness is needed in the life of a Christian, and is the means by which we will dwell with God in His kingdom for eternity.

The Bible condemns the recreational use of alcohol, even in moderation. The only reasonable and honest conclusion that can be drawn from 1 Timothy 5:23 is that it is proper for a Christian to use a small quantity of wine for medicinal purposes. However, one must acknowledge the fact that the Bible uses the word “wine” in a generic manner, often referring to unfermented grape juice, which was the preferred remedy for stomach disorders during the first century. This text also indicates that Timothy did not drink any wine, which argues strongly in favor of the early church practicing abstinence when it came to the consumption of alcohol.

Complaining does not accomplish any good for our spiritual lives or for the cause of Christ. It brings down efforts, stifles enthusiasm, causes dissatisfaction, discontent, and division. Complaints directed toward God are a sin on par with idolatry and fornication. Christians are not to grumble against one another lest we be condemned. Instead, we are to do all things without complaining and disputing.

Some people today believe that they have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues and to prophecy, to perform miracles, to heal the sick and cast out demons. Regardless of the sincerity of these individuals, these claims do not harmonize with the Bible’s teaching regarding the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were real. They were given to believers through the laying on of the hands of an apostle. These gifts were the means of equipping the church and confirming the word to unbelievers. When the last apostle died, these gifts were no longer available to mankind.

Paul was perhaps the greatest evangelist of all time, but his success is not a secret. He was busy taking advantage of every opportunity to declare the whole counsel of God to everyone, calling upon them to obey the gospel. His care for the souls of men is shown in the fact that he was willing to suffer personally for their salvation. We must do the same.