You’ve heard of “unanswered prayers,” right? The idea is: (1) “I asked God for this.” (2) “I didn’t get it.” (3) “It’s an unanswered prayer.” Of course, such an approach severely limits God to only see, desire and give us what we want. An answer of “Yes,” then, is the only acceptable response for some, but we must realize that God sometimes…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 171)
Near the end of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” when Frodo Baggins had nearly completed his task of carrying the One Ring into Mordor, he collapsed from sheer exhaustion. He could not go on. His friend, Samwise “Sam” Gamgee, tried to urge him to finish the journey, but Frodo seemed to have lost the strength to reach…
There is only one church (Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23; 2:16), and that one church finds its origin in God, not man (Isa. 2:2-4; Dan. 2:44; Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28). Those points are inarguable. So, when it comes to how that church is organized, we should expect that there is only one organizational structure that is acceptable and that it comes from God Himself.…
Do you think the stripes in a parking lot are important? Some folks who have trouble parking straight might suggest removing them to make parking easier. Do you know when a parking lot is most chaotic? It’s when there are no stripes. Without stripes to designate where to park, drivers park anywhere and in any way they choose. Oftentimes, fewer cars are…
A man stood behind the podium and led the congregation in prayer during the morning worship assembly. There was nothing unusual about his prayer. It was truly worshipful in every way. But, there was something about the way he said a certain phrase that made it stick. Again, the phrase was not anything new. But, he gave it a little added emphasis…
If you jumped in a car at your house, how many different “churches” would you find if you drove for 20 miles? What about 50 or 100 miles? Your answer will easily be in double digits and could even approach triple digits. Now multiply that by every urban area around the world. Of course, you realize, without even stepping foot inside any…
As Paul was explaining how the wisdom of man is inferior to the wisdom of God and how man needed to seek his fulfillment in Christ, he observed that “Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified” (1 Cor. 1:22-23). Then, he showed them that what they were seeking could only be found in what he…
When did your church begin? That’s an important question to answer. We often like to know when a thing started. Some businesses will advertise, “Doing business since 1963.” That’s when they began their company. Your date of birth is needed on many forms and transactions today, as it uniquely identifies your own origin. Where did your church begin? That’s another important question…