Before we look at what God teaches us regarding women in church leadership/preaching positions, we must understand that the Bible never implies that women are in any way inferior to men. If anything, women prove to be the most spiritual (who stood by Jesus on the cross?). There are so many amazing and faith-filled women in the Bible (e.g. Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, Phebe). To understand why God directs us toward different leadership roles in the Bible, we must go back to God’s original design for men and women. These Scriptural truths are......
Continue Reading
What Is Church Membership? Church membership is when a group of Christians gathers together and forms a local church, bonded together by a common set of beliefs and goals. In the Bible, every local church was autonomous (i.e. self-governing, not under the control of an earthly organization or headquarters). Each believer “joins” the church, becoming a vital part of the local body, serving and helping make church decisions. Each church typically writes a document, sometimes referred to as a “constitution”, defining the church’s core beliefs from the Bible, how the church accepts and......
Continue Reading
In Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus Christ taught a lesson on prayer. Let’s look at it. In verses 5-6, the Lord tells us to pray in our closet, teaching us that He wants us to meet Him in a private place every day. We are to be honest with God, Psalm 51:6, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts.” Psalm 145:18, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” He says “when thou prayest”, not “if thou prayest.” (All great men of the......
Continue Reading
If you are hurting or suffering in some other way, you are not the first person to go through this! In the Bible, we have record of many of God’s people who have suffered. David, a man after God’s own heart, suffered as well. In Psalms 77 verses 7 through 9 we read of his frustration with his trials. After expressing his frustration, he realized that the truth of his position with the Lord was not changed by his current-day circumstances. Circumstances can often make us “feel” like God doesn’t care any more,......
Continue Reading
The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119. That chapter is all about God’s Word. In one section, David expressed his love for God’s Word and related how that love affected his life. We can glean much from his lesson. Having a proper attitude toward the Word of God will truly make a difference in your Christian life. In verse 161 David explained how his “awe” for God’s Word helped him through his trials. Loving God’s Word does not mean we won’t have problems, but it will help us respond to those......
Continue Reading
According to the Bible, friendship is a good thing, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” However, the Bible gives many warnings about the importance of choosing our friends carefully. It’s been said that your future is no greater than your friends and that you are known by your friends (often guilt by association).......
Continue Reading
Many Christians struggle with past wrongs and find their joy and effectiveness hindered as a result. God made us and knows our capacity to remember. He also has given us the means to overcome these types of problems. Bitterness is warned against in the Bible. It is the result of not forgiving someone. God warns in Hebrews 12:15 that bitterness in one person can defile others. That’s because bitterness is like a cancer that eats from the inside out and eventually affects those around us if it’s not dealt with. The foundation of......
Continue Reading
Most conservative Christians believe that the Bible is Inspired (written by God, see 2Timothy 3:16), Powerful (see Hebrews 4:12), and Authoritative (see John 12:48 and Titus 2:15). However, there is much disagreement among conservative Christians about whether or not the Bible is Preserved. Before we look at what the majority of Christians believe regarding preservation, let’s establish a few Biblical points.1)God has promised to preserve His Word. Psalms 12:6-7 reads, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them,......
Continue Reading
There is much confusion in the churches today about the subject of “worship”. Because mankind is inherently prideful, the temptation is for worship to become man-centered instead of God-centered. In many circles, worship has become entertainment rather than the exultation of a holy God. Statements like “I enjoyed the worship today” are meaningless. Whether or not we enjoy worship is not the point. The question to ask is, “Was God glorified?” True Biblical worship can be offered in many forms. Examples include singing (Hebrews 2:12), giving (Matthew 2:11), and honouring the Word of......
Continue Reading