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 Corinthians: Servants, Stewards, and Mysteries

Anyone who takes upon themselves the serious responsibility of being God’s spokesman must prove themselves trustworthy to speak nothing but God’s Word in its entirety (Ps. 119:160a; Prov. 30:5-6; Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Pet. 2:1-22; Rev. 22:18-19).  This is because souls are at stake.  People are influenced to follow truth from God…or lies from Satan…every time a sermon is preached, a class is taught, or an article is read.  This is why the Bible alone must be what is preached and taught.       … Read More 1 Corinthians: Servants, Stewards, and Mysteries

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1 Corinthians: Boasting In Men

Make the choice to open yourself to the possibility that you do not have it all figured out, that you are mistaken, and that you are on the wrong path.  Humanity typically recoils from thinking ourselves as wrong or foolish.  However, since God’s thoughts and ways are vastly different from our own (Is. 55:8-9), we exist solely to serve him (Eccl. 12:13), and it is God whose judgment we depend upon for eternal salvation (Eccl. 12:14; 2 Cor. 5:10), it is essential that we go against what comes naturally to us and make the choice to “become a fool,” i.e., have the humility to acknowledge that we are doing wrong.  Only then will we “become wise,” i.e., make the wisest decision one could make by choosing to repent and do what God wants you to do.… Read More 1 Corinthians: Boasting In Men

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1 Corinthians: Do Not Destroy God’s Temple!

Christians, remember this.  God’s Spirit is with us, both collectively as a church (3:16-17) and individually as disciples of Christ (6:19).  He is always with us (2 Cor. 6:16; Matt. 28:20).  He is always watching us (Heb. 4:13; Job 34:21; Ps. 33:13-15)…as are our brethren, including those who are spiritually younger and weaker than us.  They too are watching us, and are extremely likely to follow our example, whether it be good or bad.  If we lead them down the path which ultimately ends in hell through unbiblical teaching or ungodly examples shown to them by vulgar language, immodest dress, immoral actions, hot tempers, gossip, selfishness, and the like, we are “destroy(ing) God’s temple” which is the church…and “God will destroy” us in eternity.… Read More 1 Corinthians: Do Not Destroy God’s Temple!

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1 Corinthians: Building On The Foundation

The best way to understand Paul’s analogy of building on the foundation of Christ “with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, (and) straw” (3:12) is to compare it with the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:3-8, 18-23).  This parable is about bringing the gospel to others, which ties in with Paul’s illustration about building upon the foundation which is Jesus.  The parable shows six reactions given by those with whom we share the gospel, just as there are six materials mentioned by Paul in verse 12 which are used to build upon the foundation of Christ. … Read More 1 Corinthians: Building On The Foundation

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1 Corinthians: The Church’s One Foundation

Those who wield influence within the church today – elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, mentors, encouragers – must all take care to build, and build with great care, upon only one foundation.  That foundation cannot be themselves.  It cannot be based on the musings and opinions of whatever theologian has caught the public eye.  No, that foundation must be Jesus Christ and Jesus alone…his teachings and his example, all of which being found only within the entirety of rightly-divided Scripture (Ps. 119:160; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; cf. 2 Pet. 1:19-21; John 16:12-15; Eph. 3:3-5).  It must be God’s Word that is taught and preached, Scripture and Scripture alone which is the basis of all influence.… Read More 1 Corinthians: The Church’s One Foundation

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