Category: East Main Bulletin Articles

Articles I write for the weekly bulletin of the East Main Church of Christ, the congregation where I preach.

1 Peter: Reasons to Rejoice…And Reasons for Trials

“Wait, Peter!” these first readers of his epistle might have been thinking to themselves at this point.  “Aren’t you aware of all the persecutions and hardships we are facing because of our Christianity?”  The apostle acknowledged this.  “…though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…” (1:6b).  He will elaborate further on what those trials were later in this book, as well as how Christians should respond to them.  For now, notice that he still expects them to rejoice because of all the great blessings with positive eternal ramifications which the Father had and continued to shower upon them…in spite of the trials they were currently experiencing.  The Lord expected the same from His apostles, and He expects the same from us today (John 15:11, 18-25; Phil. 4:4-7).  Are our daily lives filled with joy in spite of whatever hardships life throws at us for these reasons…or are we too focused on the bad to see the eternal good?… Read More 1 Peter: Reasons to Rejoice…And Reasons for Trials

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Zechariah: Holy to the Lord

The “Feast of Booths,” booths being tabernacles or tents, was observed under the old covenant as a time of joy and gratitude as Israelites celebrated how their time in the wilderness had ended and God had allowed them to dwell in the Promised Land (Lev. 23:34-43).  This is likely a figurative way of prophesying how those who had been lost and enemies of the church but now are followers of Jesus have similar reason to rejoice.  God’s grace had brought them out of the wilderness of sin and now they are in the “Promised Land,” citizens of his Son’s kingdom with eternal life as their destiny.… Read More Zechariah: Holy to the Lord

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Zechariah: “The Lord Will Be King Over All The Earth”

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”

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Zechariah: “Living Waters Will Flow Out From Jerusalem”

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”

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1 Peter: Christians Are Guarded By The Power of God

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

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