Articles I write for the weekly bulletin of the East Main Church of Christ, the congregation where I preach.
Outside of the church within the world, sin reigns and thus brings forth all kinds of destruction, including the ultimate destruction of hell. However, the Lord and King of all protects those who are within the walls of the spiritual Jerusalem which is the church of Christ (Matt. 6:25-34; 1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 13:5-6; 2 Pet. 2:9; cf. Is. 2:2-4; Mic. 4:1-4).… Read More Zechariah: “The Lord Will Be King Over All The Earth”
The ”living waters” which “will flow out of Jerusalem” (v. 8) clearly refer to the gospel (John 4:10-11). The good news was first preached at Jerusalem (Lk. 24:47-49; Acts 1:5-8; 2:1ff). It continued to spread to the whole world (Matt. 24:14; Col. 1:5-6, 23), the likely meaning behind the living waters flowing both “toward the eastern” and “western sea.” Evangelism throughout the world would continually take place, “in summer as well as in winter.” … Read More Zechariah: “Living Waters Will Flow Out From Jerusalem”
The apostle now informs his Christian readers that the power of God guards us (1:5a). This term, also rendered “kept” in some English translations, comes from the Greek term phroureo and is a military term; it refers to being under military guard. During biblical times, soldiers at the gates of a city would stand at post to either keep the hostile invaders from entering the city or keep the citizens within that city from leaving the protection of its walls and falling into enemy hands. Our heavenly Father does the same for us through His awesome power. The gospel is the power God uses to save us (Rom. 1:16), and this same power is used to guard us from Satan. … Read More 1 Peter: Christians Are Guarded By The Power of God
What if Zechariah is prophesying about the age of the church as a whole, using the battle against Jerusalem as a figurative type of the church (cf. Heb. 12:22-23) to describe how the world will always set herself against Christians? … Read More Zechariah: “The Lord Will Go Out And Fight”
As Peter brings out, God the Father “has caused us to be born again” (1:3b; cf. 1:23). Jesus spoke of being born again to Nicodemus, explaining that this rebirth was being “born of water and the Spirit” and necessary to “enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5). This is a clear reference to being baptized into Christ, which culminates in our salvation and forgiveness of sins (Gal. 3:26-27; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16).… Read More 1 Peter: What God The Father Has Done For Us
Pre-Denominational Christianity 
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