Even before 2020's global pandemic created habits that saw Christians worshipping on a couch in front of a screen instead of on a pew in front of pulpit, the concept of church membership was under attack. Why is it important to identify, work, and worship with a local church?   Read More

It's pretty common to hear Christians today claiming that they are members of the church at _____________ location. Does this understanding of the term "church" arise from the Bible?   Read More

It's fairly common to encounter Christians who bear guilt because of good faith efforts in evangelism that have failed. Here are some things to remember when reflecting on your less than perfect efforts to win souls for Jesus.   Read More

In this final article in our series discussing church leadership without elders, we'll discuss the need for Christians to continue to follow leaders even when those leaders aren't elders.   Read More

In this third article in our series discussing church leadership without elders, we'll consider an absolutely vital quality leaders must exhibit and how it works practically.   Read More

While God desires "elders in every church" (Acts 14:23), churches sometimes don't have men who are ready to serve in that capacity. What can these congregations do in the meantime? In this article, we'll discuss how Christian men can organize themselves so as to effectively lead when there are no men qualified to serve as elders.  Read More

While God desires "elders in every church" (Acts 14:23), churches sometimes don't have men who are ready to serve in that capacity. What can these congregations do in the meantime? In this article, we'll reflect on some guiding principles from Scripture in establishing leadership in such situations.   Read More

It's a testament to Martin Luther's skill in hymn writing that we still sing "A Migthy Fortress" about 500 years after he wrote it. Though it's likely that we sing a translation rather than Luther's original German, the translation that appears in many hymnals is quite dated. Let's see if we can translate the translation to get the most out of this powerful hymn.   Read More

Sometimes the journey to understanding can be filled with frustration. Sometimes that frustration becomes guilt when understanding just isn't reached. How did people discover God's truth in the first century, and what can we learn from it?   Read More

"Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah" was a hymn written well over a hundred years ago. In spite of its age, it maintains its relevance and is still sung in churches around the world, perhaps owing in part to its connection to Psalm 148. Let's dig into both the words and thoughts of this hymn to ensure that we can sing it with understanding.  Read More

The text of Matthew 5:3-12 is often described as The Beatitudes. Do you know what the word "beatitude" means? Hint: It's not just a "beautiful attitude."   Read More

Mark's Gospel is known for its brevity, so why does it begin its account of the deeds of Jesus with an account of His baptism? And what about His baptism was so significant that God the Father spoke in approval? Let's reflect upon Mark's account of the baptism of the sinless Son of God.   Read More