Sound Words
The Christian’s Bragging Right
Randy Fox The boaster’s goal is to leave his listener with a favorable impression about himself. He recalls his achievements, drops names, and may even engage in belittling others. He may speak loudly in the hope that he will have as wide an audience as possible. We can all understand the Bible’s condemnation of bragging.…
Read MoreSeeking the Fruit: The Use and Misuse of Paul’s List in Galatians 5
Kevin Schaal Have you ever watched a tree strain and groan to produce fruit? Of course not! A healthy tree connected to proper nourishment naturally produces fruit. The apostle Paul uses this analogy when discussing the fruit of the Spirit-filled life in Galatians 5. The primary error in the interpretation of the “fruit of the…
Read MoreAnticipating Future Persecution
David L. Cummins Terror! Since September 11, that very word has taken on a new meaning to Americans across the land, and fear grips the hearts of many. After all, America has been known as the “Land of the Free,” but surely “911” has taken on a new meaning in our society. While Americans of…
Read MoreUpon This Rock • A Study of Matthew 16:13–20
Layton Talbert This famous theological battleground invites, deserves and rewards close and independent exegetical scrutiny. Interpretational Options The first option, perhaps the most popular view among non-Romanists, is that the “rock” is Christ Himself. This view is defended by the New Scofield Reference Bible, Barbieri (Bible Knowledge Commentary), and somewhat tentatively by Matthew Henry.
Read MorePreach-ing or Preach-er? (3)
Mark Minnick Part One • Part Two • This is Part Three In part One, Dr. Minnick urges on us the notion that preachers who live their message have more power for spiritual influence than men who are more gifted and skilled in speaking without the power of the devoted life. In part Two, he…
Read MorePreach-ing or Preach-er? (2)
Mark Minnick Part One • This is Part Two • Part Three In part One, Dr. Minnick urges on us the notion that preachers who live their message have more power for spiritual influence than men who are more gifted and skilled in speaking without the power of the devoted life. In this second part,…
Read MorePreach-ing or Preach-er? (1)
Mark Minnick This is Part One • Part Two • Part Three It’s not my title. I’m borrowing it from William Quayle, pastor of large congregations in Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Chicago over a period of 30 years (1894–1925). Out of that extended, varied experience Quayle proposed something that every preacher sensitive to the state…
Read MoreThe Greatness of the Gospel
Chuck Phelps The gospel is “good news.” It is the good news of God. God sent His Son, our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to bear our sins in His body on the tree (Isaiah 53) so that we might be reconciled to God through Him (2 Cor. 5:18). In a world filled…
Read MoreThe Value of Suffering
Steve Pettit Suffering is one of the main avenues by which God brings revival. Perhaps no one understood this concept more than the apostle Paul. His writings are full of references to God’s power entering through the pathway of pain. In 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, he mentions his “thorn in the flesh,” a physical infirmity. He…
Read MoreA Ministry of Necessary Controversy (4)
Mark Minnick This is Part Four of four parts • One • Two • Three In Part One, Dr. Minnick introduces Benjamin Keach and some of the features of his life and times which produced Benjamin Keach, the controversialist. In Part Two, Dr. Minnick covers Keach’s early ministry as he faced imprisonment and persecution for…
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