Daniel was carried as a young man to the land of his enemies and was selected (along with three of his friends) to serve in the king’s palace. Wow! Talk about someone who needed those “three years of training” (Dan. 1:5) to know how to fit in with his new country and new job and new environment and new associates. He needed…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 246)
Do you know anyone who “worships God” but is not saved? Think about that for a moment. Do you know anyone who regularly goes to an assembly of worshipers and “worships God” but that person has not obeyed the gospel and is not destined for heaven? Someone might say, “Wait a minute! How can somebody ‘worship God’ every week and not be…
It’s interesting how much of life is made up of choices and how often those choices are simply between Option A and Option B (without an Option C in the picture). Sometimes it comes down to deciding which one of life’s roles takes precedence at that moment. And, it affects all ages. A young child may have to choose between friendships to…
Numerous are the attributes of God for which man ought to stand in awe, wonder and thanksgiving, including His holiness, love, mercy, omnipotence, etc. One of His most astounding characteristics (and essential for mankind) is His longsuffering! The Greek word for “longsuffering” or “patience” is makrothumia, which is a compound word combining makros (“long”) and thumos (“temper” or “feelings”). Thus, makrothumia describes…
For a long time in the church, we have emphasized the unique nature of “agape love.” One word (among several) that the Greeks used for love was the word “agape,” which represented the ultimate form of love — an unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial love which sets out to meet the needs of the one to whom it is extended. It is the love…
There are few subjects (if any) that will make a preacher more unpopular and disliked among teens and their parents than for him to warn about the spiritual dangers of the prom against one’s soul (and for him to use the Bible to “try” to prove it). So, in order to gratify these my brethren, I’ve found some verses that will soothe…
Carefully consider this chain of verses. “God, who is rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4), “and abundant in mercy” (Psa. 86:5), “according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3), “according to His mercy He saved us” (Tit. 3:5) and “made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:5). By definition, mercy is not merely a feeling…
In the midst of troublesome subjugation from his adversaries, David affirmed that true God-seekers will always seek to keep their focus on the Lord! He cried out with urgency at the start of Psalm 70, “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!” Then again at the end, he pleaded, “You are my help and my…