Jesus wanted His disciples to know what the church (i.e., the kingdom) would be like, describing its many aspects through parables, including its immeasurable value. In one parable, Jesus said that His church is “like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls” (Matt. 13:45). Do you know anyone who is searching for truth? What a beautiful pearl! But notice what Jesus said this merchant found. He “found one…

If a snake came and talked to you and offered you a piece of food that your Physician had forbidden you to eat, would you give in? Sometimes we are quick to judge. First, we may think, “Who in the world would pay attention to a talking snake?” (Yet, we have another man in the Bible arguing with a talking donkey.) Second, we may think, “Staying…

I may have misheard this. The morning traffic report on the radio said that there was an accident on the Beeline Highway at Lake Worth Road. Some people would completely disregard because they’re not on the road that day. Others would believe the report, as it is coming from a professional who knows what he’s talking about—why question him? Still others would realize that those two…

Five times in the letters to New Testament Christians, instruction is given to “Greet one another,” “all the brethren,” with a “holy kiss” or “a kiss of love” (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14). In addition to those five, twenty-one other times Christians are instructed to “Greet” specified brethren. That’s 26 times where Christians are told…

Is the Christian life worth it? Is it “worth all the sorrows that here befall”? In all that the apostle Paul endured, he certainly insisted that it is well worth it! He pleaded, for example, with the churches of Galatia to remain true to the Christ and to His gospel and to not “turn away” from Him. In his next-to-last sentence in the letter, to show…

It seems like every time you check the news these days there is a catastrophe of some kind that has taken place, often some immoral or violent activity. Pundits are quick to offer their brilliant ideas on how to solve the problems: “Make more laws.” “Take away guns.” “Do things our way.” But guess what? None of these things (or other ideas they offer) will fix the problem!…

After playing AC/DC’s 1979 hit, “Highway to Hell,” the classic rock radio DJ quipped, “When life on this spinning ball called earth is over, will you ascend the beautiful ‘Stairway to Heaven’ or will you speed full throttle down the ‘Highway to Hell’? I know where I’m going! And I’m gonna need my sunglasses and shorts, because it’s going to be really hot! Ha!” The…

Sometimes it’s easy to point the finger at others and not make application to ourselves first. Sometimes we might use a verse to talk about other people and think it only applies to them (and not us). Before we ever censure others, we must first make the application to ourselves.  Take Matthew 15:8 for example. We readily direct this at others, but what about you? What…