I remember the wise counsel that I was given as a young man: “There is a difference between truly being in love with someone and being in love with being loved by someone.” “Being loved” by someone makes us feel good, feeds our self-esteem and builds our confidence. It usually makes us want to love in return. NONE of that is a…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 145)
For some people, the thought of teaching someone else the gospel is fearful and even paralyzing. First of all, how do I get someone to agree to let me talk to them about the gospel, and then, if they agree, what do I even say? While teaching the gospel is certainly a task to be taken seriously and with proper readiness, it…
It’s the day after. (The day after “what” is somewhat immaterial.) It could be the day after you got an unexpected diagnosis. It could be the day after you lost someone very dear to you. It could be the day after the loss of a job or after a hard-fought proposal or after some catastrophe. Regardless of what transpired the previous day,…
The apostle Paul endured “persecutions” and “afflictions” more than any Christian in America today can fathom. Yet, he said, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:11-12). He looked toward the future and foretold of a time when “evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (3:13, ESV). The…
One of the most memorable parts of the Disney movie “Up” is the dog that is repeatedly distracted by the “Squirrel!” While trying to pay attention (“Squirrel!”) to some very important instructions, the dog has a hard time not being distracted (“Squirrel!”). What a silly dog! Fortunately, as humans, we have advanced completely beyond such distractions in our lives. Right? Um, wrong!…
One of the qualifications for a deacon is that he must not be “double-tongued” (1 Tim. 3:8). The expression describes a man who says one thing to one person and then something different to another person. A deacon must be honest and straightforward in his dealings with all people. So, is that just a qualification for deacons, or is that a responsibility…
Our lectureship begins in less than a week. This is one of the highlights of our church calendar every year, when some of the best preachers in the brotherhood are invited to come and speak on a variety of Biblical topics. It is like a free spiritual buffet for every Christian—without any restrictions or calorie counting—and everything on the menu is terrific! …
Some disciples in Corinth were claiming, “I am of Paul” (1 Cor. 1:12). One essential condition of making such a claim was that such persons must have been “baptized in the name of Paul” (1:13). Since they were not “baptized in the name of Paul,” they could not be “of Paul”! Some today are claiming, “I am of Christ” (i.e., I am…