Two weeks ago I began preaching through the seven congregations of Asia Minor (Rev. 2-3). The churches at Smyrna and Philadelphia both share the distinction of receiving only praise from the omniscient Lord who addressed them. In my approach to the church at Smyrna one particular point of interest occurred to me. The fact that […]

The prophet Amos wrote to the people of his generation; “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine on the land. Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). There were times in the history of […]

Wes McAdams When a crazed gunman shoots children at an elementary school, protestors are rioting in the streets, a hurricane destroys a city, or terrorists detonate bombs and shoot innocent people, people are quick to take to social media. The things they post range from sympathetic to absurdly inappropriate. If you will allow me, I would like […]

If you are a Christian, then you have at least three reasons you can always rejoice. Paul said in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”  Will there be times where our earthly circumstances are less than ideal? Yes. Will there be times where we feel down? Absolutely. Yet there […]

            “So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain” (Ezekiel 33:31). These are the words that Jehovah spoke to Ezekiel and that […]

This statement in Acts 20:35 is one of the most interesting verses in the New Testament. It is difficult for people to learn the truth that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” The word “give” denotes the deep self-denial for which Paul was known (Vs. 24). It advocates a counter-worldly attitude (Vss. […]

Stress. Worry. Anxiety.  Three words that plague the lives of many Americans today. In fact, in recent years, the anxiety of Americans has only seemed to get worse. A condition called social anxiety has developed in many. This certainly has to do with worrying about being in a social setting and feeling uncomfortable, but it […]

Last Sunday morning I preached from Matthew 19:13-15, using the title above as my subject. What is it about children that might have provoked this statement from Jesus? (Vs. 14). Obviously, Jesus did not say that children are in the kingdom, but that the kingdom is “of such.” That is, the church of God on […]

In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Paul said, “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.” This passage addresses the attitude that the brethren at Thessalonica […]

Does the New Testament teach the necessity of placing church membership? Yes. It does by example and by implication. I think that those who like to argue this point by insisting that they are members of the church universal, and not tied down to any particular church, are looking for a command that says, “Thou […]