The easiest seat in the church? What do you think it is? It’s the “Monday Morning Church Member Seat.” It’s the seat that many members recline in on a Monday (or even Sunday afternoon), as they question, judge, deride and even laugh at decisions the elders make and actions they take. This chair is so easy, and sometimes it’s a big chair that can fit lots…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 69)
It is a wonder that some folks have not pulled a muscle (spiritually speaking) in all of the contortions that they have gone to in an effort to explain away what a Bible verse teaches. Philippians 2:12 is one of those verses. The verse begins with the word “Therefore.” Therefore what? “Therefore, my beloved,” based upon the exemplary humility of Jesus, which was expressed in His…
Paul finished his masterful dissertation on the church of the Christ, and he began to close the “doctrinal” section of his letter to the Ephesians before beginning the “practical section.” In this transition, he penned a prayer on behalf of his brethren, in which he made at least five distinct requests. The fourth desire in his list is that God “would grant”…
Sometimes a passage of Scripture is misused so much that, when we do study it, we see only how to answer the false teaching and we miss the beauty of the passage. Ephesians 1:4-5 is one example. The text does NOT teach unconditional election or a predestination of select ones to be saved and select ones to be damned. That would contradict the rest of…
In order to prove a point, win an argument, silence opposition or appear intellectually superior, many today are claiming that, in our post-truth era, it is incomprehensible and intolerable to speak of a definite “right or wrong,” “truth or error,” “black or white.” Everything today is relative, and seemingly growing more and more relative. The biggest problem with that is that the Bible…
Some preachers think they are “all that.” They think the church revolves around them. They think they are the master of the sermon preparation and delivery. They think they should be invited to speak in other congregations and on lectureships. They arrive at those places as if they are a celebrity and expect wonderful accolades and royal treatment. Perhaps (again, perhaps) if…
Paul used the word “mirror” twice in his writings. Can you think of where those are? First, he taught that before the New Testament was completed and while the early Christians were relying on prophets and inspired men to teach them God’s will, those Christians were actually only able to “see in a mirror, dimly” (1 Cor. 13:12), for they did not have the…
Paul was dealing with matters pertaining to the church and especially to the assemblies of the church in First Corinthians chapters twelve through fourteen, but there are some principles therein that we must apply in other parts of our lives. Paul begins “The Love Chapter” (1 Cor. 13) by emphasizing the absolute necessity of agape love. Think about this for a moment. In verse…