As we know, opportunities to do wrong and to gratify the flesh abound all around us. And sometimes Christians think that they can take advantage of their “forgiving God” who “always forgives them,” and use that liberty to do some things that they should not. Paul warned about this in Galatians 5:13 – “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 101)
When Paul wrote the book of Romans, he told the church that his “heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (10:1), and he went so far as to say, “I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,” so that they might be saved (9:3). Paul wanted all people to be saved,…
Much has been said in the last week about the first opening prayer of the 117th Congress, which was led by Congressman (are we still allowed to say, “Congressman”?) Emanuel Cleaver. The focus has been especially on how he closed the prayer by saying, “Amen and awoman.” While those words are disturbing—expressing an unfamiliarity with the meaning of terms and evidencing an…
Sometimes people (that includes us, yes?) say things that they believe will show they are enlightened, a cut above most, and actually relevant to the world. Unfortunately (or maybe it’s fortunately), if you listen closely to what these folks say (and listen long enough), their own words will expose them. This is why Solomon warned, “Do not be rash with your mouth…let…
It’s that time of year when folks make resolutions to begin on the first day of January. Statistics indicate that more than 80% of those resolutions don’t stick. (That number is actually lower than I expected.) The reason they don’t last is because they are attached to an arbitrary date and not a true decision and commitment to change. Think about that in relationship to Christianity.…
When Paul visited the idolatrous city of Athens on his second missionary tour, he encountered some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, who were intrigued by his so-called “new doctrine” (Acts 17:18-20). Luke, the inspired penman, went on to record, “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some…
Why is it that those closest to us are often the ones who can hurt us, irritate us and upset us the most? Maybe because we spend more time with them, maybe because they know us best, maybe because we have higher expectations, maybe for no good reason at all. What can we do when those we are closest to annoy us? Perhaps ask a…
We pick and choose when we go to the movies, when we go out to eat, when we do most everything. Do we pick and choose when we will go to worship and when we won’t? Over the years, I have known of people who chose to not worship on a particular Sunday because a certain person was going to be preaching, a certain…