“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17). “Continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).

            These are but two of the passages which have led our shepherds to choose prayer as a subject of emphasis in the coming year. And let’s be clear about something—the intent is not to focus on prayer in 2017 and then move on to something else in 2018. Instead, the hope is that in this coming year we can learn some things and make some changes that will stay with us throughout our lives. In February we will use our winter classes to focus on prayer and…

What do you do when you come to sections of Scripture filled with strange-sounding names, chapters like Romans 16? Because those portions of the Bible often contain very little action or instruction, we may be prone to skim over them without a lot of thought given to them (or even skip them entirely), but may I suggest that they are often a lot richer than we might think. Grab your Bible, read Romans 16, and then consider a few things we might get out of it.

“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church…

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.” Prov. 10:19

“He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” Prov. 17:27-28

            Having read these little tidbits of wisdom, it would probably be a worthwhile endeavor for all of us if we stopped to consider our speech habits and how much we talk. Do we…

Weather forecasting can be tricky, but I am going to venture out on a limb and predict that June, July, and August will bring hot weather to north Alabama. I am also going to predict that this hot weather will allow (note that I said allow, not require) many of the citizens of north Alabama to go about in rather skimpy attire.

            Obviously, I am being somewhat facetious about going out on a limb, because, unless the return of our Lord comes before summer, we will see some brutally hot days over the next few months. And unfortunately, the…

            “He has made the first obsolete” (Heb. 8:13).

            These words follow an extensive quotation from Jer. 31 in which the prophet foretold the replacement of the covenant made with Israel at Sinai with a better covenant (cf. Heb. 8:7-13). The writer would go on to say that the “better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Heb. 8:6) was put in place by the death of Jesus (Heb. 9:15; cf. Matt. 26:28 and His “blood of the new covenant”). When we put Heb. 8, 9 together with Rom. 7:1-4, Eph. 2:11-18, and Col.…

We are currently studying Acts in our auditorium class and invite everyone who can to join us for these studies. However, if you can't be with us, the audio will be posted to the website at the conclusion of each class. If you would like to follow along with us, we are posting the questions/study materials being utilized in the class. At this point, we only have chapters 1-7 ready, but as more chapters are completed, this material will be updated to include them. 

While Colossians 2 and 3 both contain warnings and admonitions to  saints, they are quite different in tone.

Col. 2:20-23 warns against those who seek to impose restrictions above and beyond those actually found in God’s word.

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,’ which all concern things which…

Old habits are hard to break!

That statement is much more than an old adage, for anyone who has ever tried to stop biting their nails, sought to break the nicotine habit, or tried to change their eating habits knows how difficult it can be to eliminate long-established practices from one’s life. And when it comes to the spiritual realm, old, sinful habits are just as hard to break as relatively insignificant things like biting one’s nails.

“ ‘Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?

No! They were not at all ashamed;
Nor did they know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time I punish them,
They shall be cast down,’ says the Lord.” Jeremiah 6:15

It…

“Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord….For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” 1 Cor. 11:27, 29

The words guilty and judgment should get…

            There are some things I like about the modern Easter celebrations. Ham, boiled eggs, and the chocolate peanut butter eggs you can get for half-price the next day certainly make the list. And seeing the young ones dressed up in their spring finery is always a delight. I could add a few more things to the list, but, while I don’t want to seem like a curmudgeon, there are also some things about Easter I don’t like.

           …

The night before the crucifixion two of Jesus’ apostles failed their Lord and committed shameful acts. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas Iscariot led the chief priests to the garden where Jesus had been accustomed to going. There he hypocritically greeted Jesus with a kiss so that in the darkness they would be able to identify the One they sought. At that moment, recklessly and impulsively, yet quite courageously, Peter took a sword and sought to defend Jesus. However, later that same night at the high priest’s…

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