There’s an old saying—“The boat belongs in the water, but the water doesn’t belong in the boat.” Christians live in the world, but there’s a problem when the world lives in Christians. One part of our society that seems to be creeping more and more into the church (and deeper and deeper into the hearts of its members) is a spirit of hate. The sharp…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 10)
Have you ever been working outside and come inside to get a drink of cold water? Or maybe it was coming off the playing field completely spent and being refreshed by a gulp of cold water? Did you know that the Bible talks about what “cold water” is like “to a weary soul” (Prov. 25:25)? It’s had the same effect on humans since the beginning…
Some often question what the baptizer is supposed to say when baptizing someone. The short answer is: The Bible does not give specific words that a baptizer must say when baptizing another person. What the Bible does demand before someone is baptized is belief in Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16), repentance of sins (Acts 2:38) and confession of faith (Rom. 10:9). Thus, where…
“I know when we sin against a brother or sister, we are also sinning against God. When we commit a sin that truly is only against God (drunkenness, cursing when no one else is around, pornography, etc.) are we also sinning against the church/body/kingdom/our brothers and sisters? Basically, are all sins against God as well as our church family?” Jesus spoke about…
The word “bitter” is defined in English as “angry, hurt or resentful because of a bad experience or unjust treatment.” The Greek word also carries the idea of “animosity, anger, harshness.” This is an emotion that all have experienced and one that feels so natural and justified in the moment. But, it is an emotion that must be controlled (and can be controlled). Consider the…
In following the Lord’s explicit commands, which cannot be rightfully ignored (Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Thess. 3:6-15), the Lord’s church withdrew fellowship from LW on Sunday morning. Eight hours later, LW responded to the Lord’s invitation and was restored to the Lord and His church. A few thoughts come to mind. First, thank God for forgiveness (Jas. 5:19-20)! Second, thank God for His…
[This article is not original with me and has been around for a while, but it is certainly “bulletin-worthy.” I do not know who wrote this “letter,” but online and in church bulletins over the years, I have seen many variations of it. While children will not appreciate some of the things stated, may this encourage all parents to continue striving daily…
When someone invests wisely and reaches the time for their retirement, they “get the benefit out of it.” Someone else might just want a quiet dinner at their favorite restaurant after a long week, and they “get the benefit out of it.” But, Christians looks at things differently. Not long ago, there was a Christian who was lending a hand to a fellow Christian…