DISCIPLE

The Wonder of the Cross   Text: Acts 20:28   “...the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” What would be the result if a person fully comprehended the wonder of the cross? He would be totally transformed. He would be continually amazed and grateful. He would talk of Christ to anyone who would listen. He would become a compulsive worshiper. Worldly ambitions would perish. His life would be devoted to Christ, not self.     Beloved, let me speak plainly now. The unevangelized world is evidence that the church has lost the wonder of the cross. With some happy exceptions, the church generally has become comfortable, complacent and self-pleasing. We need to be awakened and moved afresh by the wonder of the cross. Dare we take this great work for granted, or just smile and say, "that's nice"?  Of course not! We should make the words of this hymn our prayer,     “Oh make me understand it, help me to take it in, ...

The Emergent Church: The Gospel of God (3) Mervyn Hall from Truth and Tidings magazine, December 2011 One of the most common criticisms directed at the Emergent Church concerns its handling of the Biblical gospel and, in particular, its tendency to promote the dangerous heresy of Universalism. In the words of one of its most popular advocates, Universalism is the belief that "in the end, all men will be gathered into the love of God" (Barclay, 1977). Although it has been presented in many guises throughout 2,000 years of church history, it has not been widely accepted. But due to its natural appeal to the sentimentality of human nature, it has never finally disappeared, experiencing strong resurgence in the liberal theology of the Pentecostal Latter Rain Movement (1940s & 50s) and, most recently, within the Emergent Church. Despite this assertion writers, such as Brian McLaren and Steve Chalke, have stayed sufficiently distant to av...

An assembly, no matter how many or few are in fellowship, no matter how sound its doctrine, must continue to preach the Gospel. First, because the Lord commands us to evangelize. Second, because the lost need to hear the message; it is their only hope. But third, in plain words, because of the law of the harvest, or the law of sowing and reaping. If there is no gospel meeting, little or no personal testimony, no tract distribution, no evangelistic visitation or Bible study, how do we think we will grow?  What can we reap when we sow nothing? Or as someone phrased it differently, "if you aim at nothing you'll hit it every time."      In too many cases assemblies have abandoned the practice of a weekly meeting where the gospel is preached. Typically it was the evening meeting, and now the evening meeting has been cancelled until further notice, and the believers have become comfortable in their homes or other Sunday evening activities, and are reluctant to start up ...

Note: The following is not an actual dream or experience, but simply the use of a story to convey a message. Carl T. Knott, Jr. It was the first morning of the Christmas holidays. My wife and children had just left for some last-minute gift shopping. I sat quietly at my desk addressing Christmas cards while "Silver Bells" played on my stereo. It was then that I heard a knock on the front door. I put down the pen and listened. There it was again. Who could that be? A friend dropping by for a visit? Maybe bringing a gift? The mailman with a holiday package? One of the neighborhood children? I turned down the stereo, walked to the door, and opened it. There He was. He didn't look like the Bible storybook pictures of Him. He was different, yet, somehow I sensed instantly who He was. Maybe it was the look in His eyes. But when I extended my hand to shake His, I was absolutely certain... nail prints! "Lord!" I fell on my face in awe, surprise...

by F. W. Pitt The Maker of the universe, as Man,  by man was made a curse. The claims of Law which He had made,  unto the uttermost He paid. His holy fingers made the bough,  which grew the thorns that crowned His brow; The nails that pierced His hand were mined,  in secret places He designed. He made the forest from whence sprung  the tree on which His body hung; He died upon a cross of wood,  yet made the hill on which it stood. The sky that darkened o'er His head,  by Him above the earth was spread. The sun that hid from Him its face,  by His decree was poised in space. The spear which spilled His precious blood  was tempered in the fires of God. The grave in which his form was laid  was hewn in rocks His hands had made. The throne on which He now appears  was His from everlasting years; But a new glory crowns His brow,  and every knee to Him shall bow: The Maker of th...

from: The Answer Book by Samuel C. Gipp What is the Septuagint? QUESTION #9: What is the LXX? ANSWER: A figment of someone's imagination. EXPLANATION:      First, let's define what the LXX is supposed to be. An ancient document called "The Letter of Aristeas" revealed a plan to make an OFFICIAL translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) in Greek. This translation was to be accepted as the official Bible of the Jews and was to replace the Hebrew Bible. Supposedly this translation work would be performed by 72 Jewish scholars (?), six from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The supposed location of the work was to be Alexandria, Egypt. The alleged date of translation was supposedly around 250 BC, during the 400 years of silence between the close of the Old Testament in 397 BC and the birth of Christ in approximately 4 BC (due to a four year error in the calendar).       It has become known as the...

  On a recent visit to London I repeatedly saw buses with advertisements on the side. One said, "The right gift, at the right price." It was publicity for a mobile phone company, which hoped to convince the public to purchase phones as Christmas gifts. However, they overstated their case, as the right gift is certainly not a mobile phone that can be lost, stolen, broken or outdated in a short time.     The right gift is the gift God gives: "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). This is the right gift because it is a good and perfect gift (James 1:17) which descends from above. God's gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners, is the greatest gift that most people have never received. We are told of it over and over in the Scriptures. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlas...