Author: Stan Cox

In 2007, the state of Iowa updated the state’s Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity. The statute prohibits “unfair or discriminatory practice” in any public accommodation. However, it contains an exemption for religious organizations. A provision in the law states that the law does not apply to “any bona fide religious institution with respect to any qualifications the institution may impose based on religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity when such qualifications are related to a bona fide religious purpose.” The term “bona fide religious purpose” is nebulous.

In fact, a brochure published by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission interpreted the law in a broad fashion. The brochure stated:

Continue reading “Bona Fide Religious Purpose?” →

The apostle Paul wrote of ancient Israel in her infancy as a nation. “But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted” (1 Corinthians 10:5-6).

The reasons for God’s displeasure, both at the beginning and through Israel’s entire national history are myriad. They can be simply summarized in this statement – They did not obey God’s will for them. At turns they were rebellious, prideful and negligent. Regardless, God told them what He required of them, and they did not follow His will.

Today there are religious people who are guilty of the same thing. They give lipservice to God, but do not follow His will. They have not learned from the example of Israel.

The next time someone tells you that the Bible was not intended by God to be a “pattern” for the Christian, remember God’s dealings with Israel. They were “written for our admonition” (11).

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I am personally appalled and discouraged by the attacks upon the police in the past couple of weeks. While I acknowledge that corruption and abuse of power may exist in certain circumstances, the anti-police sentiment that has led to inflammatory rhetoric, physical assaults and murder of police officers is indefensible.

There is a simple, logical statement from the pen of the Apostle Paul that is appropriate here:

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:3-4).

Violence and disregard for law in our land is rampant. Evildoers will always exist, but it seems in our time that their destructive efforts are enabled by the ineffectual and misguided efforts of some of our country’s leaders. National leaders need to step up, support and enable the police to maintain peace and protect our communities. Those who threaten the safety of law enforcement officers should be dealt with swiftly and decisively.

As the wise man wrote, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

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The lesson is an exposition of the text of Matthew 6:1-18, with applications. Jesus, in his sermon on the mount, gives instructions regarding the practice of benevolence, prayer and fasting.

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“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19).

Human “wisdom” that denies God or His word is described by Paul here as only illusory, (“seems to be wise”). Interestingly, he also refers to being wise “in this age.” It seems that every generation believes itself to be wiser than the one before. There is an arrogance of time that leads the current generation to disregard the accomplishments and knowledge of the previous one.

An example. Many of the most accomplished Presidents of our nation believed in God, and in the Bible’s inspiration. However, to many today, such a belief in and of itself makes a man unqualified to serve in the office. Such arrogance is disturbing.

The problem is that knowledge is equated with wisdom. Because men gain more and more understanding of technology, science and medicine, they think themselves to be more capable than their predecessors in other realms as well. However, there is nothing in those disciplines that either disproves or invalidates the words of the great apostle Paul, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:24-25).

To gain actual wisdom rather than the illusory wisdom that has its origin with men, we must turn to God and His will. We are fooling ourselves if we don’t. As our text states, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Paul speaks of our being a “new creation” in Christ. This happens because we are reconciled with God.

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There are so many different philosophies of life, with different values and priorities, it seems it would be difficult to determine the most important attribute an individual might have. In fact, the Holy Spirit has revealed that attribute in a very interesting way in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

Love is most important. If love is not present, inspiration, knowledge, faith and sacrifice are all vain. That is not to say that such are not important, or even necessary. It is to simply say that they are not supreme. As Paul concluded the chapter, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love“ (vs. 13).

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In 1 Corinthians 14:33, the apostle Paul wrote, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” These words were written at the end of Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians for their failure to conduct an acceptable worship assembly.

In verse 26 he commanded, “Let all things be done for edification.” When teaching is done one person speaks and the others listen, resulting in edification. In the early church, the acts of prophesy and tongue speaking was to bring edification, and the same pattern was to be followed. One person speaks, the others listen, that they may be edified. A cacaphony of voices produces confusion, a lone voice speaking the word of God brings growth.

Many denominations, pursuing emotional gratification, equate spontaneous and multiple eruptions with edification. In this text Paul reveals the two are antithetical to one another. As he concluded, “If anyone think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant” (vs. 37-38).

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Sermon by Armando Vera

God is holy, and as sanctified individuals, Christians must live their lives in a holy way before Him.

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Sermon by Bob Ward

In 1 Peter 2:13-17, the Apostle Peter indicated that we are to “Honor the King.” The lesson discusses the appropriateness of Christians involving themselves in the political process, and the issues of the day.

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Recently, in doing some reading about evangelism, I came across a sermon outline by Mark Copeland titled “Perspectives for Success in Evangelism”. The lesson pointed out that even diligent Christians can reach a point where they become discouraged or apathetic with regard to teaching the lost. As this is an important duty for the child of God, it is important to avoid that trap. Mark points out certain perspectives that will help a person maintain enthusiasm and persistence in seeking opportunities to teach others. I want to share and discuss them in this short post.

Continue reading “How to Succeed in Sharing the Gospel” →

Upon Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, the church in Philippi, concerned about him, determined to send help to him. They sent a man named Epaphroditus, who was faithful to his task, and arrived in Rome with their gifts for the beloved apostle.

His trip to Rome was an eventful one. He had become ill, “almost to death”, causing great concern not only for Paul, but also for the church in Philippi who had heard of his sickness. But, he recovered, and Paul sent him back to his brethren in Philippi, that they might rejoice at seeing him alive and healthy.

Paul had great respect for Epaphroditus, and wrote of him in glowing terms. Of him, Paul wrote, “my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need” (Philippians 2:25).

Continue reading “Praise your brothers and sisters!” →

The apostle Paul knew of the tendencies of men to depend upon their own ideas and opinions to guide them in life. He also knew that such leads to ruin. He wrote, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

While men seek their own way, that they might receive praise from others, the wise man seeks God’s way to be accepted by Him. This is where Christ comes in, “you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (vs. 30-31).

This is why it is necessary to study, heed and obey the word of God. It is God’s way, the way to true wisdom and eternal life.

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever” (Psalm 111:10).

The world equates wisdom with the accumulation of technological insight, and the continual progression of moral change. People today are smarter, and less encumbered by outmoded superstitions and prejudices – so they say.

Oh really? Are we to equate political corruption, amoral lifestyle, extreme self-indulgence and a rejection of absolute values to some modern version of deep thought? If so, I choose to remain out of style and out of step.

As Paul wrote, “…the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

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The Psalmist in Psalm 96 proclaims praise to our great God in Heaven for what He has done, who He is, and what He will one day do. We too should lift our voices in praise to Jehovah.

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