Category: Bible

Kris Braddock’s first sermon in our Spring gospel meeting is a comparison of the Christian’s world view and that of a secular society, as it impacts the environment. The Bible shows man to be the pinnacle of God’s creation, given the responsibility of stewardship in the world. In contrast, society today paints man as simply an animal, and often refuses to accept the preeminence of man over the earth.

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

A few days ago MSNBC carried a discussion between Time Magazine’s World Editor, Bobby Ghosh and MSNBC show host Chuck Todd.

Ghosh, who was apparently being presented as some type of expert on the matter, was quoted as saying that the Koran is held by Muslims to be more sacred than Christians regard their Bible to be. Note the dialogue:

Continue reading “In the News: The Difference – Christians VS Muslims” →

We are nearing the end of an old year, and the beginning of a new one. Each year I encourage the brethren to read their Bible completely through. You can do this by simply sitting down and starting with Genesis… Ending with Revelation.

However, there are a number of schedules to help organize the readings in a way to allow concurrent readings in the Old and New Testament. One of the best of these has been prepared by Mark Roberts, the preacher for the West Side congregation in Irving.

He allows churches to make unlimited copies to supply to their members. We appreciate this, and have put copies of this reading schedule in the foyer. Please take one, and set aside time in 2011 to read your Bible through!

I recently came across a wonderful quote from Nelson Mandela, a Nobel Prize winner, an former President of South Africa. He wrote or said:

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

This has a wonderful spiritual application. God’s word is unchanging. The epistle of Jude states that it has been “once for all delivered to the Saints” (verse 3). As such, it serves as a standard by which we can examine and compare ourselves.

One of the great dangers of any Christian is to, with time, begin to drift away from God. Societal influences, changes in circumstances and the passage of time can lead to subtle changes that may not even be noticed by the careless Christian. He may believe himself to be every bit as faithful to God as in the past, not recognizing that he has left the moorings, and has changed the profession of his faith.

However, a careful and frequent comparison between his faith and God’s word will catch any drift, thus saving him from an unfortunate apostasy! “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

At the age of 18 years old, swimmer Kim Linehan held the world record in the women’s 1500 meter freestyle in 1981. A hard worker, Linehan had an extensive exercise regimen, and swam 7 to 12 miles every day. Once, when asked the hardest part of her workout, she said, “Getting in the water.” (as quoted in Reader’s Digest, June 1981).

There are many applications to draw from this illustration. For example, I find it to be true when writing. Either when writing for the bulletin, Watchman Magazine, or the newspaper, the most difficult part for me is getting started! In fact, I will often procrastinate, waiting for inspiration to strike, when I would be better served putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), and just start writing!

The same is true with regard to gaining a knowledge of God’s word. Most would like to become familiar with God’s will. They want the ability to quickly bring a passage to mind, or easily comprehend the writer’s intent in each book or epistle. But, the task seems daunting, unattainable.

But it is not! You may ask, what is the hardest part of gaining knowledge? The answer, “Opening the book!” Open it up, and begin reading. Pay attention, ask questions, be curious. It will take time, but once your Bible is open, you will never want to close it again. “When you read, you may understand…” (cf. Eph. 3:4).

Consider the following quote:

“For the postmodern and mystic, … words are only symbols for a subjective interpretation of and experience with the “Living Word.” (Randall Price, Searching for the Original Bible, page 27).

This quote accurately describes the attitude of the majority of religious people in our day. The Bible, while a comfort and precious object, has little bearing on their daily walk. Their view is that a relationship with Christ is sufficient, and that it can be obtained on their own terms.

But, in truth, our understanding of Christ, and our relationship with Him depends upon His written word. It is the “word of life” we are to be “holding fast” (cf Philippians 2:16). It is that which perfects a man (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It must be known and obeyed.

We have the ability to understand God’s word when we read it.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The sermon examines the proper attitudes toward God’s word.

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I came across a quote recently about the reliability of the New Testament text. In other words, we can be sure that the original words have been preserved for us today.

“God has given us 5,656 manuscripts containing all or parts of the Greek NT. It is the most remarkably preserved book in the ancient world. Not only do we have a great number of manuscripts but they are very close in time to the originals they represent. Some partial manuscripts of the NT are from the second century A.D., and many are within four centuries of the originals. These facts are all the more amazing when they are compared with the preservation of other ancient literature” (Edward Glenny)

What we have preserved for us today is the true, complete and inspired word of God!

I have put on the back table in the foyer a very good daily Bible reading schedule that will help you read through the entire Bible in a year’s time. Best of all, you only read on the weekdays, so you aren’t behind! It starts tomorrow.

I do not know of a better habit to form than daily Bible reading. The commitment is no more than 30 minutes a day. Those who have a fast reading rate can finish the reading in 20 minutes or less each day.

Remember the words of the apostle Paul, written to his son in the faith, Timothy. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Read His word. God will bless you with wisdom in this New Year!

Just about every year at this time I ask you to consider a systematic Bible Reading schedule for the New Year.

There are many such schedules available, both online and in printed form. If you are interested, let me know and I will hook you up.

Perhaps the best schedule is a bit more challenging. Read the New Testament, once a month, every month, for a year. The simplest way to do this is to divide the New Testament into 28 or 29 sections. Take the total number of pages, divide it by 28 or 29, and read that many pages (to the nearest chapter) each day. You can miss a day or two, and still finish on time each month using this method.

This is a bit challenging, but doable. Maybe you will want to try it in 2010?

This seventh sermon preached by Jerry Fite in our gospel meeting May 9-14, 2009 reveals the only legitimate way we can find common ground religiously.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Bible is the best selling book of all time. It is the divine mind of God revealed, and should be respected, revered and studied diligently by men. However, in a recent survey, 64% of all Americans said they do not read their Bible because they are too busy. What kind of attitude do you have, as a Christian, toward God’s word?

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

I recently came across the following quote: “Where God places a period, let no man put a question mark.”

I understand the quote to mean that men must accept the decree of God in all things. This is something that is rarely seen in the world today. A premium is placed on skepticism and independence of thought. These things are considered virtuous, and have certainly helped to fuel discovery and advancement in human learning.

However, truth does not need discovery in the realm of religion. The mystery “has been revealed” (Colossians 1:26). The faith has been “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Further, it is impossible for man to determine for himself the proper path. “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

It is certainly appropriate to question what God’s will is. We should study our Bibles daily, and use our God given intelligence to determine what it is that God has revealed to us. What we do not have the right to do is to question why God has said what he has said. Or, whether the words contained in scripture are beneficial to man in today’s society. May we say as the Psalmist, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments” (Psalm 119:73).