By Jim Mettenbrink
When the foundation of a building crumbles or rots away, the building will collapse. The Psalmist under God’s direct revelation wrote, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps 11:3). Of course, this can be applied to the foundation of anything. Without a rock-solid foundation, literally, nothing can be built – building, organization, family, society, nation. What causes a nation’s foundation to be destroyed?
By Dan Jenkins
There are those events in our lives which need to be repeated. There was great reward when we did them the first time. To do them again can often bring even greater rewards. Consider the following verses which contain the word “again” to see just how true this is.
When we became a Christian, our lives were changed as the old man of sin died, and in baptism we became a new person. “For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). We began our new lives seeking to follow the example He set for us. However, some Christians lose sight of this goal and become complacent and stop growing.
By Jim Mettenbrink
The rise and fall of a nation should concern every person. The reason is that God controls nations’ existence – “The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it” (Jeremiah 18:7-10). What this passage does not reveal is the precise redline when God decides to destroy a nation. However, the security and prosperity of the nation, i.e., its continued stable existence is clear – Obey God and the nation stands.
By Jim Mettenbrink
Nations rise and fall. That is the term we use – “rise and fall.” When does a nation rise? God promised to make Abram’s descendants into a great nation – “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). That implies they would need a territory – land. 400 years before that nation was formed, God told them where the land was located – “ On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites” (Gen 15:18-21).
The Bible places great emphasis on the importance of hearing, using the word “hear” over 500 times. Many times it is found in historical references, but when Jesus came He placed special emphasis on the way we hear. Since faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17), it is important that we make sure we listen when God’s word is speaking to us, building our faith and directing our lives.
By Dan Jenkins
Thirty-seven of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament had been written when Zechariah began his work as a prophet. What had God not reveal to His chosen nation? What more needed to be said before the close of that part of the Bible? The answer to these questions emphasizes the importance of the words of this prophet.
By Jim Mettenbrink
Such a contrast to Jesus!! We live in an era of Postmodernism. Whereas Secular Humanism advocates that each person makes his own truth. Postmodernism proclaims there is no truth. In stark contrast, Jesus of Nazareth stated that He is THE truth and the only way to God (John 14:6) . The foundation of Christianity is that He rose from the dead, thereby showing He is God and, yes THE truth. Considering the testimony recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament regarding Jesus’ resurrection – The evidence of His claim to be the living deity. If this is so, then you are obligated to follow His will and be accountable to Him.
By Brad Harrub
God does exist. All of the best-sellers in the world that espouse otherwise will not change that fact. But if we really expect our children to believe and follow the One True Living God, we must start thinking outside the box! Sadly, the atheists of this country are doing their job better than we Christian parents are. It’s time someone state the obvious: What we’ve done in the past hasn’t worked. If you do not believe this, just walk into a church building and inquire if anyone there has children who have abandoned the faith. But be prepared—for the line that forms before you may be much longer than you ever expected. Far too many young people are leaving the church only to turn around and embrace secular humanism, or even worse, atheism.
By Dan Jenkins
When I was a student at Freed-Hardeman University, the Mooresville congregation near Lewisburg, Tennessee wanted to send me to help spread the gospel in Georgia. Through one of teachers at the college, I made contact with the church in Savannah, and I preached in my first gospel meeting in an attempt to plant the church Statesboro, Georgia.
I was there for two weeks knocking on doors and inviting the people to the upcoming meeting. On the Sunday before the meeting began, I worshiped with the Bull Street congregation where W.F. Buffington was preaching. I will never forget what he said in that Sunday morning Bible class.
By Kevin Cauley
Not too long ago, the State of New York’s legislature passed legislation that permitted a woman to abort a child up to the time of birth. The governor signed the bill into law, and the legislature cheered. Not too long after this happened, Virginia’s recently elected governor proposed something along the same line. Such news saddens me because it tells me that our society is drifting further from God each day. Who, in their right mind, would cheer the death of a newborn infant? Yet, some would cheer the death of infants seconds from being born.