Does God punish you for bad behavior? Why do bad things happen to people? Sometimes it’s simply due to chance (Eccl. 9:11). Sometimes it’s because God allows Satan to bring bad things into our lives to test our faith (Job 1-2). Sometimes God out of love allows bad things to happen to us in order… Read More Bible Q&A: Does God Punish You For Bad Behavior?
We all look fondly back a generation or two to the days of previous decades when the Lord’s church was growing very rapidly in number. Yet generally that’s all we want to do…sigh and remember the good old glory days. What God would have us do is see what the Lord’s church did back then which contributed to that growth and start doing that today and in the future. Press on. Move forward. Strain forward evangelistically to what lies ahead.… Read More Straining Forward to What Lies Ahead
If flesh does not inherit the kingdom of God, how are our bodies the temple of God? Paul wrote, “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable” (1 Cor. 15:50). He wrote this in the context of describing the resurrection of the dead on… Read More Bible Q&A: If Flesh Does Not Inherit the Kingdom of God, How Are Our Bodies the Temple of God?
Why did God tell Mary what to name Jesus? No specific reason is given in Scripture. However, it would be good to note that the name “Jesus” literally means “Jehovah is salvation.” Thus, it is likely God chose the name “Jesus” to give mankind a message as to his Son’s purpose for coming, which was… Read More Bible Q&A: Why Did God Tell Mary What To Name Jesus?
In Genesis 20:6, God says to Abimelech, “…that I have kept you from sinning.” Is this an example of God taking away free will? Out of fear, Abraham and Sarah had lied to Abimelech, the king of Gerar, by telling him the half-truth that Sarah was Abraham’s sister rather than his wife (Gen. 20:1-2). So… Read More Bible Q&A: Did God Take Away Abimelech’s Free Will?
Please explain the following passages from Job: “His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent” (Job 26:13) and “He overturns mountains at the base” (Job 28:9). Concerning Job 26:13, the Hebrew for “pierced” (ESV) is chuwl, defined in part as “to be made to writhe, be made to bear” and “to be brought forth.” The Hebrew… Read More Bible Q&A: Please Explain Job 26:13 and Job 28:9
Acknowledging our strengths and the areas in which we have grown is both encouraging, exciting, and motivating. To not do so keeps us discouraged and leads us to be more easily motivated to give up. However, to go to the opposite extreme (which we tend to do) is equally counterproductive.… Read More James: Stumbling in One Point
Someone asked me a question recently, “I’ve been taught that one does not join a church, that the Lord adds to the church. So why does the Bible say that Paul (Saul) “tried to join the disciples”?… Read More “Join the Disciples”
Pre-Denominational Christianity 