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We are just days away from the end of another year of our time together on this earth. It is a good time for reflections, and so I want to share with you some of the spiritual lessons the past twelve months have brought to me. I am not the same person I was when 2021 began. I have learned much this year. I have learned more about living close to God and becoming His friend. A few years ago…

Study is essential to building a positive life. King Ptolemy Lagua asked Euclid, “If there was not a shorter and easier way to the knowledge of geometry than he had laid down in his ‘Elements.” He answered, “There is no royal road to geometry.” I will add that neither is there a royal (i.e., easy) road to any study. Knowledge comes through study and hard work. Concerning study the Proverbs writer said, “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer…

The following article appeared in the Lancaster church of Christ (Lancaster, CA) bulletin November 25, 1984. There was no name, but it is still thought provoking. (Richard) By now you have heard me express my protest to the commercialism of our times that has us, counting the days until Christmas, instead of counting our blessings day by day. Even though my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, it’s Thanksliving that’s important. True Thanksliving gives thanks even in the midst of trials, Daniel…

I am a long way from being an accomplished sailor, but the apostle Paul spent many days aboard ships throughout his life. He understood nautical terms and used one of them three times in the Bible. The Greek word is hupostello and refers to what happened whenever the captain of the ship sensed troubled waters ahead. It was used to describe what happened when he ordered his sailor to lower the sails to avoid what lay ahead. Paul used the…

It is impossible for us to imagine the emotional rollercoaster endured by young Daniel and his three friends. They had lived all of their lives in one of the most spiritual times in the history of the Jews. In the six decades before they were born, king Manasseh and king Amon, had brought idols into Solomon’s glorious temple. Yet Daniel grew up knowing only of the temple worship which Josiah had restored. For the two decades before they were taken…

There is a seemingly innocent statement made in Hebrews 12:2 that should challenge every leader in the church to do some serious soul-searching. As the writer pictures the life of a Christian, he says as we are running our race he wants us to be “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith …” Keeping one’s eyes on Jesus becomes extremely necessary and important especially to leaders in making right decisions, reacting to criticism, making future plans and…

We have often pointed out that there is a way of remembering the six words used to describe elders that can be easily remembered. Take the first letter of each of the six words and form a new word. Because an elder must have children, just remember this truth, “Elders must BE-POPS”. Those six words? B=bishops; E=elders; P=presbyters; O=overseers; P=pastors and S=shepherds. Each of these words emphasize an important aspect of what an elder must be and what he must…

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus who was the greatest leader history has ever known or will ever know, has provided in His life the perfect example of “true leadership”. It was Jesus who used the teachable moment when asked by the mother of Zebedee’s sons to “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit on your right hand…

The Bible clearly points out that the church is a spiritual institution (Col. 1:13,18,24; John 4:21-24) and its members are to be spiritual people (Rom. 8:6-9). The men who are to serve as leaders in the church are men who have placed God first in their lives and are manifesting those spiritual qualities that Christ desires. (Matt. 6:33; 2 Peter 1:4-9; 2 Tim 2:24-26). The leaders in a local church are to manifest spiritual maturity, which is “having the ability…

David Paul Smith penned an article under this title in the October 18, 1984, Gospel Advocate. I have modified and adapted his material in the article below. God’s will for every congregation is to mature to the point where qualified men can be appointed to oversee the work of that congregation (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23). The qualifications for such an office are found in Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1, and 1 Peter 5:1-5. Their role is one of authority (Heb.…

David Paul Smith penned an article under this title in the October 18, 1984, Gospel Advocate. I have modified and adapted his material in the article below. God’s will for every congregation is to mature to the point where qualified men can be appointed to oversee the work of that congregation (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23). The qualifications for such an office are found in Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1, and 1 Peter 5:1-5. Their role is one of authority (Heb.…

Malachi is generally believed to have prophesied about 450-400 B.C., although his book never tells us this. The content of the book indicates a time when Israel had lost their zeal and fervor for God’s law. Their religion had become one of facade and sham. It is interesting to note that Malachi, whose name means “My Messenger”, ends the Old Testament by prophesying the coming of God’s first New Testament messenger, John the Baptist (4:5-6). He uses a question and…