GARBC Blog Feed

Q. Please comment on the practice in many churches of dedicating infants and children in a church service ceremony. Is there a Biblical basis for …

Q. Lately some friends have begun attending a church that doesn’t have membership; a person who simply attends is considered a member. Is this right?

A. In the last few decades an increasing number of churches have gone this route, particularly so-called megachurches. The Bible doesn’t specifically use the word member concerning local churches, and I am not going to judge those churches that do not have what we might call formal membership. However, I believe a positive, Biblically harmonious case can be made for it.

Q. Two verses, 1 Samuel 16:7 and 16:12, seem to contradict each other. Please explain.

A. Samuel was to anoint a new king to take the place of wicked King Saul. God instructed Samuel to go to Jesse the Bethlehemite to find a king among his sons. Verse 7 says that the Lord warned Samuel not to evaluate the sons by their looks, “for the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” After God indicated that the sons, one by one, were not whom He had in mind, verse 12 says that there was one son left, “so he sent and brought him [David] in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good looking. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!’”

President Barack Obama on Thursday praised the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage as a “victory for American democracy” but clashed with his African host …

A petition urging the Obama administration to ban the teaching of creation and intelligent design in U.S. schools was recently filed on the White House …

World News June 21: A substitute teacher believes he was fired because he’s a member of an international religious organization that distributes Bibles. Read more about this and other news.

World News June 18: The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an order that the Department of Justice must respond to a rehearing request regarding the legal status of a German homeschooling family. Read more about this and other news.

World News June 14: Southern Baptists expressed their “opposition to and disappointment in” the membership policy of the Boy Scouts of America. Read more about this and other news.

World News June 11: Two prominent civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit against the National Security Agency. Read more about this and other news.

World News June 7: The number of churches that were dismissed from Presbyterian Church (USA) last year has increased by fivefold compared to 2011. Read more about this and other news.

World News June 4: Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are active in seven states responding to damage from floods, tornadoes, and other disasters on the eve of hurricane season. Read more about this and other news.

World News May 31: Most voters don’t approve of the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation of news reporters. Read more about this and other news.

World News May 28: People concerned about the Boy Scouts’ membership policy are seeking alternative groups to join. Read more about this and other news.

World News May 24: Oklahoma Baptist disaster relief workers were in action immediately after the tornado hit. Read more about this and other news.

Q: I have a question about the belief some have that each Christian has a personal guardian angel that watches over and protects us through …

Q. Please comment on Psalm 2:12, which mentions “kissing the Son.” A. The phrase “kiss the Son” is figurative language, referring to the actual practice …

World News May 21: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to take up a case involving a New York town’s policy regarding prayers presented before public meetings. Read more about this and other news.

World News May 17: The IRS will soon face more than controversy and Congressional hearings over its discrimination of pro-life and conservative groups. Read more about this and other news.

World News May 14: An IRS campaign to apply additional scrutiny to conservative groups included those focused on government spending, the Constitution, and several other broad areas. Read more about this and other news.

World News May 10: A House committee has launched an investigation in response to the trial of the abortion practitioner charged with multiple counts of infanticide. Read more about this and other news.

World News May 7: In a huge victory for pro-life advocates taking on the controversial HHS mandate, the Obama administration is giving up its effort to force a Bible publisher to obey it. Read more about this and other news.

C. H. Spurgeon Banner of Truth Trust, 316 Pages, Hardcover, $28.00 Many of us have been blessed by published sermons and commentaries from the “prince …

Jim Geyer Ambassador International, 192 Pages, Paper, $12.99 A pastor shares insights he received from two blessings in life—having godly parents and being raised on …

Banner of Truth Trust, 123 Pages, Softcover, $14.00 A letter came to Baptist churches in England and Wales asking them to send representatives to a …

World News May 3: A California megachurch pastor who has recently come under fire for his views on homosexuality has declared that he will not be intimidated. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 30: President Obama addressed the nation’s largest abortion provider Friday, criticizing pro-life laws. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 26: Southern Baptist chaplains report that an SBC website has been blocked at military installations around the nation. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 23: Congress is now far more aware of the Kermit Gosnell story, the abortionist on trial for murder in Philadelphia. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 19: Well-known gospel soloist George Beverly Shea, 104, died Tuesday evening following a brief illness. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 16: An idea for a national day of prayer and fasting, which began in a column just several days ago, has now become a national movement. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 12: A Michigan high school canceled a speech by former Sen. Rick Santorum after teachers became outraged over his opposition to gay marriage. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 9: Soldiers in the U.S. military have been told in a training briefing that evangelical Christians are the No. 1 extremist threat to America. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 5: A portrait of Jesus that had adorned a southern Ohio public school district building since 1947 has been taken down. Read more about this and other news.

World News April 2: Edith Schaeffer, 98, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 30. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 29: Florida Gov. Rick Scott has stepped into the fray concerning a professor who told students to write the word “Jesus” on a piece of paper, throw it on the floor, and stomp on it. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 26: Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent imprisoned in Tehran, tells of the torture he has endured for his faith as well as the joy that comes with forgiving his perpetrators. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 22: Redefining marriage to include same-sex couples would jettison the rationale and logic behind prohibitions on polygamous marriages, according to several friend-of-the court briefs. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 19: The island nation of Cyprus made headlines, and rattled markets across the Western world, by announcing a raid on private bank accounts this week. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 15: The archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has been selected as the next Roman Catholic pope. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 12: Leaders at this past week’s National Religious Broadcasters conference warned that Christians may soon be forced to practice civil disobedience. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 8: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s unmanned Predator B drone fleet has been custom designed to identify civilians carrying guns and track cell phone signals. Read more about this and other news.

Q: Is it wrong to invest time in genealogies, family trees, etc.? I refer to Titus 3:9. A: Titus 3:9 reads, “But avoid foolish disputes, …

Q: In reading the book of Daniel, I came across something that appears to be contradictory. Daniel 12:11 says 1,290 days, while my understanding from …

World News March 5: The Department of Justice is saying that children do not need—and have no right to—mothers. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 1: John Freshwater got a day in court as his latest attempt to get reinstated as a schoolteacher was presented in oral arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court. Read more about this and other news.

World News Feb. 26: Tim Tebow has backed out of speaking at First Baptist Church of Dallas, saying he “needed to lay low and steer clear of controversy.” Read more about this and other news.

World News Feb. 22: Sen. Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening. Read more about this and other news.

World News Feb. 19: China’s Christians felt a noticeable rise in persecution in 2012 as the Communist government began the first of a three-phase plan to eradicate unregistered house churches. Read more about this and other news.

World News Feb. 15: For a German family that fled to the U.S., the Justice Department is arguing that educating one’s own children is not a fundamental right. Read more about this and other news.

World News Feb. 12: Pope Benedict stunned the Roman Catholic Church on Monday when he announced he would stand down, the first pope to do so in 700 years. Read more about this and other news.

World News Feb. 8: The Department of Justice has developed a white paper outlining the circumstances under which the U.S. can conduct a drone strike against an American citizen. Read more about this and other news.

World News Feb. 5: The National Black Prolife Coalition has lobbied to have its Twitter account restored after the social media company yanked the group’s Tweeting privileges. Read more about this and other news.

World News Feb. 1: Frank S. Page issued comments on the current focus on the Boy Scouts of America. Read more about this and other news.

World News Jan. 29: The Boy Scouts of America is reportedly on the verge of changing its policy on homosexuals. Read more about this and other news.

World News Jan. 25: The head of a Messianic Jewish ministry says it’s too early to know just what kind of government might emerge from Tuesday’s surprise election results in Israel. Read more about this and other news.

World News Jan. 22: Open Doors has confirmed the death of two Christians in North Korea. Read more about this and other news.

World News Jan. 18: The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that “unborn children are persons with rights that should be protected by law.” Read more about this and other news.

World News Jan. 15: A public school teacher has filed a civil rights lawsuit after she was forced to remove all religious content from her classroom. Read more about this and other news.

DVD Vision Video, 105 Minutes, $16.99 Like it or not, Regular Baptists must recognize that Chuck Smith has had a profound effect on evangelical and …

Albert Mohler Bethany House, 222 Pages, Hardcover, $22.99 Albert Mohler is one of those writers whose familiar name compels the reader to take notice, no …

John MacArthur Thomas Nelson, 328 Pages, Hardcover, $29.99 A reader might wonder what could be said about evangelism that would differ from what numerous other …

Elmer Towns and Ben Gutierrez, eds. B&H, 368 Pages, Hardcover, $39.99 Here is a very attractive, nicely laid-out book with more than 150 full-color photos, …

Dave Barba Journey Forth, 132 Pages, Paper, $13.00 This book gives hope and practical, Biblical help for those in ministry who are discouraged, lonely, financially …

World News Jan. 11: A pastor’s withdrawal from President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony has left Christians lamenting over what they see as a new era of religious intolerance. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 8: A report in WorldNetDaily notes that Barack Obama’s criticism of congressional efforts to protect the faith-based values of military chaplains is disturbing on many levels. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 4: Tens of thousands of Americans have committed to support Hobby Lobby on Jan. 5 after courts have refused to issue a ruling stopping the HHS mandate. Read more about this and other news.

Q: What does “born of water” in John 3:5 mean? A: Several views exist. Some believe it refers to water baptism, meaning that a person …

Q: We’re convinced Jesus never married, contrary to what some attention-getting liberals have advanced lately, but what about His disciples? And if any of them …

World News Jan. 1: Hobby Lobby will defy the Obamacare mandate that health insurance for its employees cover “abortion-inducing drugs.” Read more about this and other news.

World News Dec. 28: It was a bad Christmas for Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, the Church of Iran pastor who has been returned to jail on an earlier charge. Read more about this and other news.

World News Dec. 21: A federal appeals court sided with two colleges in a decision related to the ongoing court challenges to the Obama administration’s birth control mandate. Read more about this and other news.

Ron Rhodes Harvest House, 340 Pages, Paper, $17.99 Another book that would greatly help believers grow in their knowledge of the Word, particularly in eschatology, …

Rick Horne Shepherd Press, 192 Pages, Paper, $13.95 Here is great Biblical guidance for parents who are struggling in this area. One author, Dave Harvey, …

Eric J. Bargerhuff Bethany House, 173 Pages, Paper, $12.99 This interesting book cites 17 commonly misused Scripture passages and explains their true meaning. But first …

Gordon D. Fee and Robert L. Hubbard Jr., gen. eds. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 834 Pages, Hardcover, $40.00 This voluminous edition uses respected Biblical scholars to …

Robert D. Jones Crossway Books, 208 Pages, Paper, $14.99 Conflicts in a person’s life can happen anywhere and can take on any form. Those we …

David W. Jones and Russell S. Woodbridge Kregel Publications, 201 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Yes, the prosperity gospel is still alive and well. Jones and Woodbridge …

World News Dec. 18: Christians, including Christian leaders, are pondering the tragedy of last week’s mass killings in a Connecticut grade school. Read more about this and other news.

World News Dec. 14: Twenty-five same-sex couples exchanged vows in a group wedding ceremony at First Baptist Church in Seattle Dec. 9. Read more about this and other news.

World News Dec. 11: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up two cases that could either lead to the legalization of gay marriage nationwide or affirm the right to protect traditional marriage. Read more about this and other news.

World News Dec. 7: A United Nations treaty to ban discrimination against people with disabilities went down to defeat in the Senate on Tuesday. Read more about this and other news.

World News Dec. 4: The Supreme Court took no action Monday on historic cases involving same-sex marriage. Read more about this and other news.

World News Nov. 30: The U.N. General Assembly voted Thursday in favor of Palestinian statehood. Read more about this and other news.

World News Nov. 27: Another challenge to the Affordable Care Act can continue, the Supreme Court has ruled. Read more about this and other news.

World News Nov. 23: This year will see an unprecedented move by the big boys of retail to open their stores earlier than ever on Thanksgiving Day. Read more about this and other news.

World News Nov. 20: A federal court on Friday stopped enforcement of the Obama administration’s abortion pill mandate against Tyndale House Publishers. Read more about this and other news.

World News Nov. 16: President Barack Obama will be taking the oath of office on Jan. 21, and atheists want him to do so without mentioning “God” and without a Bible.

World News Nov. 13: Could it be that Mitt Romney might have won last week’s election or at least received more votes than he did? Read more about this and other news.

Q. Are churches required to use bread without yeast in observing the Lord’s Table? A. Churches use a variety of elements in Communion bread, but …

World News Nov. 9: Christians and conservatives in general found virtually nothing to cheer about in the elections of the past week. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Nov. 6: The IRS says it is not auditing churches, because it does not have the authority to take away churches’ tax-free status. Read more about this and other news.

Tim LaHaye, Thomas Ice, Ed Hindson, gen. eds. Harvest House, 313 Pages, Paper, $14.99 This book is a great resource on the pretribulation Rapture, the …

Fred Moritz Faithful Life Publishers, 133 Pages, Paper, $12.99 Those in fundamental Bible-believing Christianity will appreciate this historical account of one of its mission agencies. …

Dan Story Kregel Publications, 203 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Whatever one’s view on this hot topic, the reader should find this book thought-provoking. Dan Story considers …

DVD Vision Video, 58 Minutes, $15.99 Africa, once called “The Dark Continent,” changed dramatically when David Livingstone came to its shores. Considered one of the …

Steve Zollos Shepherd Press, 202 Pages, Paper, $13.95 Telling sons the facts of life is daunting, and many Christian dads end up doing nothing (research …

Brian H. Cosby P & R Publishing, 150 Pages, Paper, $12.99 Brian Cosby, in youth ministry for more than a decade, calls churches to gear …

World News Nov. 2: In an unprecedented move for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, all large-capacity mobile kitchens in the fleet east of the Rocky Mountains have been asked to mobilize in response to Hurricane Sandy. Read more about this and other news.

World News Oct. 30: As cities up and down the East Coast were preparing for Hurricane Sandy, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders were preparing for a large-scale response. Read more about this and other news.

World News Oct. 26: An urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. Consulate and subsequent attack several hours later was indeed denied by U.S. officials. Read more about this and other news.

World News Oct. 23: A 23-year military intelligence veteran is casting strong suspicion on weekend statements from Barack Obama’s re-election campaign that talks with Iran are imminent. Read more about this and other news.

World News Oct. 19: A group of Texas cheerleaders may continue to display Biblical-themed banners during high school football games, a judge says. Read more about this and other news.

Q. Please explain Matthew 7:1 in relation to our need to exercise discernment. A. The familiar verse is, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” …

Q. Recently I heard that a certain cult teaches we can become gods, based on Psalm 82:6 and John 10:33 and 34. Please comment. A. …

World News Oct. 16: About 25 to 30 Christian college students were massacred at a university in northeastern Nigeria, causing Christians to pray for a “change of heart” among the Islamist group Boko Haram. Read more about this and other news.

World News Oct. 12: A school district will pay hefty legal fees after a federal appeals court decided that the district committed viewpoint discrimination by not allowing a Christian club to remain part of a school’s activities program. Read more about this and other news.

World News Oct. 9: A man who can rightly be called an American hero was memorialized at the Coronado Naval Air Station Chapel in San Diego on Sept. 20. Read more about this and other news.

World News Oct. 5: A college student who claims he once had same-sex attractions but became heterosexual after conversion therapy has filed a lawsuit against California. Read more about this and other news.

World News Oct. 2: Thousands of conservative Christians gathered Saturday on Independence Mall in Philadelphia to pray for the future of the United States in the weeks before the presidential election. Read more about this and other news.

World News Sept. 28: Could you imagine going to jail for your faith? A recent report warns that it could happen. Read more about this and other news.

World News Sept. 25: Chick-fil-A has cleared up rumors that it has revised its charitable donation policy to exclude “anti-gay” groups. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Sept. 21: A so-called Gospel of Jesus’ Wife isn’t sending shock waves through the Christian world as some publications have reported. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Sept. 18: Missouri lawmakers have ignored the warnings of the Obama administration and overrode their governor’s veto to enact religious exemptions to the abortion pill mandate. Read more about this and other news.

World News Sept. 14: Anti-American protests erupted across the Middle East Friday, following weeklong demonstrations outside of several U.S. embassies and a 9/11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya. Read more about this and other news.

World News Sept. 11: Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death in his country for his Christian faith, has been acquitted of apostasy charges and released from custody. Read more about this and other news.

World News Sept. 7: After excluding God from their platform, Democrats hurriedly rewrote their convention platform Wednesday amid criticism to add a mention of God and declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Read more about this and other news.

World News Sept. 4: Rev. Moon Sun-myung, who founded a global religious movement, died Monday at his Unification Church complex east of Seoul, South Korea. Read more about this and other news.

World News Aug. 31: Republicans approved a party platform at their national convention Tuesday that would ban all abortions and gay marriages and reshape Medicare. Read about this and other world news.

World News Aug. 28: A federal appeals court has determined a federal judge was right to throw out a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama’s decision to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Aug. 24: Texas officials are vowing to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Aug. 21: The joint study from two conservative groups, Liberty Institute and the Family Research Council, reveals proven hostility toward Christianity in the U.S. Read more about this and other news.

World News Aug. 17: Authorities took a gunman into custody in the wake of a shooting Wednesday at the headquarters of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. Read more about this and other news.

World News Aug. 14: Mitt Romney’s announcement that Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan is his VP choice is getting widespread approval within the conservative community. Read more about this and other news.

World News Aug. 10: In the wake of tragedy among the Sikh community, Christians have an unprecedented opportunity to reach out with the gospel. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Aug. 7: A major evangelical Christian gathering is set to take place in Charlotte, N.C., the day before the Democratic National Convention. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Aug. 3: According to the Support Chick-fil-A Facebook page, more than 550,000 people committed to visit the fast-food restaurant Wednesday. Read more about this and other world news.

World News July 31: Reaction has been strong following Monday’s announcement that the Democratic Party plans to adopt support for gay marriage. Read more about this and other world news.

World News July 27: Thousands of Christians are mobilizing efforts to support Chick-fil-A. Read more about this and other world news.

World News July 24: While police are still investigating the motive behind Friday’s shooting at a theater in Aurora, Colo., some Christians are convinced of the real source: evil. Read more about this and other news.

World News July 20: After a confidential two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday emphatically reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays. Read more about this and other news.

Thomas E. Bergler Eerdmans Publishing, 281 Pages, Paper, $25.00 The cover letter accompanying this book summarizes it best: “Pop worship music. Falling in love with …

Gloria Vermaas Goering Xulon Press, 472 Pages, Paper, $24.99 A longtime member of one of our GARBC churches has produced an unpretentious yet unique book: …

Eric W. Gritsch Eerdmans Publishing, 158 Pages, Paper, $25.00 The vitriolic attitude of Martin Luther toward Jews has shocked many who have read the great …

Robert P. Lightner Grace Acres Press, 86 Pages, Paper, $11.95 From a respected author in our circles comes this short but helpful study on the …

Dan Phillips Kregel Publications, 315 Pages, Paper, $17.99 Why did the early Christian church thrive despite not possessing what we Western Christians have materially? The …

Tom Nelson Crossway Books, 221 Pages, Paper, $15.99 This book challenges readers to make work a divine calling, not just a way to make a …

World News July 17: A legal expert is urging Mississippi to stand strong against a lesbian couple’s demand to use state facilities for a commitment ceremony. Read more about this and other news.

World News July 13: Episcopalians approved a churchwide ceremony Tuesday to bless same-sex couples. Read more about this and other news.

World News July 10: The public’s perception of the military since the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is being manipulated by the U.S. Department of Defense, says the director of a chaplain alliance group. Read more about this and other news.

World News July 6: The Baptist church in Georgia that produced Fireproof and Courageous received thousands of people for its annual Independence Day celebration. Read more about this and other news.

World News June 29: Christians are reacting to this week’s Supreme Court announcement on ObamaCare. Read more about this and other world news.

World News June 26: In a widely watched Swedish homeschool case, two parents and their child are closer to being reunited. Read more about this and other world news.

World News June 22: Several major happenings took place in the past week’s national conclave of the Southern Baptist Convention. Read more about this and other world news.

World News June 19: General Mills is supporting homosexual marriage, leaving critics surprised at its abandonment of traditional values families. Read more about this and other world news.

D. A. Carson Eerdmans Publishing, 186 Pages, Hardcover, $24.00 “Far from bringing peace, the new tolerance is progressively becoming more intolerant, fostering moral myopia, proving unable …

Byron Forrest Yawn Harvest House, 190 Pages, Paper, $11.99 In the foreword, John MacArthur calls attention to the role that fathers in Bible times played …

Paul Chappell Striving Together, 222 Pages, Paper, $12.95. Practical help for deacons comes in two parts. Part 1 covers qualifications, duties, relationships, and the deacon’s …

This guide should provide help for all involved. It includes topics such as strategy, recruiting, determining location and facilities, and monetary issues.

Stephen Viars Harvest House, 247 Pages, Paper, $12.99. This book offers help in viewing past sins, missed opportunities, and hurt memories and dealing with them …

Robert L. Sumner Biblical Evangelism Press, 265 Pages, Paper, $12.00 Some time ago the Baptist Bulletin reviewed Sumner’s first book by this title. In the …

World News June 15: More than 6,000 people took part in a webcast on Monday to launch a program to help people who want to leave their jobs in the abortion industry. Read more about this and other world news.

World News June 12: A coalition of groups seeking to overturn Washington State’s same-sex marriage law received twice as many signatures as needed for a referendum in November. Read more about this and other world news.

World News June 8: Gov. Scott Walker easily survived his recall election brought on by organized labor in Wisconsin by winning 54 percent of the vote. Read more about this and other world news.

World News June 5: A measure to ban abortions based on the sex of a child failed to earn enough support in the House. Read more about this and other world news.

World News June 1: A federal appeals court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in a unanimous ruling Thursday. Read more about this and other world news.

World News May 29:A “new rainbow coalition” made up of Christian pastors and leaders gathered on Capitol Hill to support traditional marriage. Read more about this and other world news.

World News May 22: An influential African-American evangelical pastor says that many black Christians are in an “adulterous” relationship with President Obama over the issue of same-sex marriage. Read more about this and other world news.

World News May 18: A new pastor in St. Clair, Mo., doesn’t play softball, but members of his church do. Or at least they did until their pastor’s bisexuality prompted a boycott. Read more about this and other world news.

World News May 15: Leaders of some of the nation’s largest religious denominations say they are distressed and saddened by President Obama’s support for gay marriage. Read more about this and other world news.

World News May 11: North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Read more about this and other world news.

World News May 8: Tennessee lawmakers are now backing Christian student groups at Vanderbilt University. Read more about this and other world news.

World News May 4: Iranian officials have sentenced a human rights attorney to prison, putting the pastor he was working for in greater danger. Read more about this and other world news.

Q. Please explain what two curious statements mean Biblically: “Many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30; cf. 20:16); and …

World News May 1: As many as 100 high school students walked out of a national journalism conference after Dan Savage, an anti-bullying speaker, began attacking the Bible. Read more about this and other world news.

World News April 27: Students at an elementary school in Phoenix, Ariz., will be allowed to pass out fliers promoting a Good News Club after-school program as the result of a settlement. Read more about this and other world news.

World News April 24: Chuck Colson, who became a Christian amid the Watergate scandal and later an advocate for the spiritual transformation of prisoners, died Saturday. Read more about this and other world news.

C. John Collins Crossway Books, 192 Pages, Paper, $15.99 The title notes perhaps the latest in a series of evangelical questionings of Bible doctrines that …

Jay Lucas Reliance Media, 269 Pages, Paper, $14.95 Society, American society in particular, is very conscious of individual and group rights, so much so that …

Mark Hitchcock Harvest House, 198 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Prolific prophecy author Hitchcock presents a new work to answer the question of the curious, Who is …

Eric Kress and Paul Tautges Kress Biblical Resources, 205 Pages, Paper, $14.99 This book is an excellent verse-by-verse commentary on Lamentations, intended to help Biblical …

David A. Norris iUniverse, Inc., 180 Pages, Paper, $16.95 Norris presents 15 principles that liberated mankind from the politics of tyranny, and contends that schools …

Joy Mielke AuthorHouse, 107 Pages, Paper, $11.99 Mielke shares the account of her grandfather, who served in China as a missionary from 1913 through 1938, …

World News April 20: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law a bill that allows classes that focus on the Bible and its influence on western civilization. Read more about this and other world news.

World News April 17: The National Organization for Marriage explains why it has endorsed Mitt Romney for president, even though his state was the first to legalize same-sex marriage. Read more about this and other world news.

World News April 13: In response to the political battle for female voters, the exchange elevated to “mommy bashing” when Hilary Rosen leveled a blow at Mitt Romney’s wife. Read more about this and other world news.

World News April 10: A school under fire for changing “God Bless the USA” to “We Love the USA” reversed course after drawing a backlash and legal threats. Read more about this and other world news.

World News April 6: President Obama gave an ultimatum on a pending U.S. Supreme Court case, saying that if the justices overturned his healthcare law, it would amount to “judicial activism.” Read more about this and other world news.

World News April 3: For the first time, the U.S. military has hosted an event specifically for atheist and agnostic soldiers at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Read more about this and other world news.

World News March 27: The U.S. Supreme Court has begun hearing arguments in the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Read more about this and other world news.

World News March 23: The abduction of a 7-year-old is being called one of the worst cases of government abuse ever committed against a homeschooling family. Read more about this and other news.

World News March 20: The White House is in talks with faith groups about the administration’s contraception mandate. Read more about this and other world news.

World News March 16: A Christian minister at Southwest Minnesota State University was threatened with a citation for trespassing. Read more about this and other world news.

World News March 13: A New York imam has declared that he will start a campaign on April 22 to make the April 26 birthday of the Muslim prophet Muhammad a national holiday. Read more about this and other world news.

World News March 9: Franklin Graham has said if the government passes an edict forcing him to hire employees who do not share his Christian outlook, he will “break the law.” Read more about this and other world news.

World News March 6: After vicious storms ripped through the South and Midwest, stories of survival and God’s protection have begun to emerge. Read more about this and other world news.

World News March 2: A state lawmaker is proposing to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse midwives to perform abortions as a way of expanding access to the procedure across California. Read more about this and other world news.

Q. I have met some believers recently who say that to truly be spiritual, one must know the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and …

Q. I have some questions about Adam and Eve when they sinned. Where was Adam when Eve was tempted? Also, why does Adam apparently get …

World News Feb. 28: Kentucky Baptists were victorious in their effort to stop seven casinos from entering the state when a bill fell short of the votes it needed in the state Senate. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Feb. 24: A Southern Baptist Convention task force has recommended that the SBC keep its name, but introduce the descriptor “Great Commission Baptists.” Read more about this and other world news.

World News Feb. 21: The contraceptive mandate harms not only Baptists and other religious adherents, but all Americans, says a Southern Baptist ethicist. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Feb. 17: Conservative Christian groups are outraged that a school decided a lunch a preschooler’s mother prepared was not healthy enough and replaced it with chicken nuggets. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Feb. 14: President Obama announced a change in the way that employees of religious organizations will receive free contraceptives, but it fell short of what is needed to protect religious liberty. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Feb. 10: A resurgent Rick Santorum has been declared the winner in three states. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Feb. 7: A surprise announcement by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation to reverse its decision to fund Planned Parenthood has pro-life groups and advocates shaking their heads. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Feb. 3: Wycliffe Bible Translators is in hot water over new Bible translations they have worked on that purport to avoid offending Muslims. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 31: A former Eastern Michigan University student has the right to present her religious discrimination suit to a federal jury, ruled the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 27: Tens of thousands of pro-lifers joined together Jan. 23 for the annual March for Life that followed a weekend of pro-life events in the Washington area. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 24: Christian and pro-life groups are decrying President Obama’s order that health care plans must cover contraceptives, including abortion-causing drugs. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 20: Should a Christian church be allowed to practice its faith in all of its activities? Not according to a New Jersey judge. Read more about this and other world news.

Hannah Farver Moody Publishers, 269 pages, Paper, $12.99 Well written by a young woman, for young women (college age and younger), this book shows an …

Stephen and Alex Kendrick B&H Publishing, 257 Pages, Paper, $14.99 The back cover reads, “From the New York Times best-selling authors of The Love Dare …

Arno Froese Olive Press, 253 Pages, Paper, $12.95 People just about everywhere are watching with keen interest as nations like Egypt and Libya are deposing …

Francis Chan David C. Cook, 186 Pages, Paper, $14.99. “There is a big gap between what we read in Scripture about the Holy Spirit and …

Lisa Grote, ed. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, 242 Pages (workbook), Paper, $49.95 A virtual textbook, the large workbook includes assessment of needs, leadership issues, training …

David R. Stokes Steerforth Press, 350 Pages, Hardcover, $27.00 The value of this book is historical; it is a detailed account of the trial of …

World News Jan. 17: As the Republican voting moves South, the religion of front-runner Mitt Romney may be an inescapable issue in many voters’ minds. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 13: The United States Supreme Court has delivered “a knockout blow to the White House in the cause of religious liberty.” Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 10: Police have arrested New York City councilman and pastor Fernando Cabrera and six others on charges of “criminal trespassing.” Read more about this and other world news.

World News Jan. 6: Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum won a plurality of support from evangelicals in the Iowa GOP caucuses Tuesday. Read more about this and other world news.

Q. Why do we worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? Is it true that Sunday worship originated in Roman Catholicism? A. It may be true …

World News Jan. 3: With changing social trends and approaches to tying the knot, the church’s message on marriage is going to have to be repackaged for 2012. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Dec. 30: Since 1998, WORLD magazine has selected one Christian who has stood up against ungodly trends. This year WORLD has chosen Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Dec. 28: On Christmas Day, police across China tear gassed and beat Christians for worshiping at “unofficial” Christmas services. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Dec. 23: Several defectors from North Korea have noted their sympathies for the North Korean people, who they say will be forced to cry over their leader’s death. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Dec. 20: The battle over a nativity scene in Athens, Texas, reached new heights this past weekend when up to 5,000 supporters flooded the town square. Read more about this and other world news.

World News Dec. 16: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reaching out to Christians with warm wishes. Read more about this and other news.

Calvin R. Stapert Eerdmans Publishing, 192 Pages, Paper, $15.00 Increase your knowledge and appreciation of this magnificent oratorio, so much a part of the Christmas …

DVD Unusual Films (BJU Press), 135 min., $18.36 This video tells the story of a young man in the Roaring ’20s who dreams of playing …

Matthew C. Hoskinson Bob Jones University Press, 228 Pages, Paper, $22.95 For many years Regular Baptist Press has published a well-received book written by Dr. …

Brian C. Brewer, ed. Judson Press, 174 Pages, Paper, $17.99 A press release for this book says that we are living in a post-
denominational age …

Roger N. McNamara Xulon Press, 156 Pages, Paper, $14.99 Troubling news about tragic sins committed against children comes to us constantly, it would seem, demanding …

Q. In Genesis 3:22, God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil.” Many theologians say “Us” is …

Dr. Carl A. Moeller and David W. Hegg Moody Publishers, 152 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Following Christ can be deadly in many parts of the world, …

Stephen Ong Chambers Press, 178 Pages, Paper, $8.00 Ong answers questions such as, What causes leaders to go bad? How can one prevent bad leaders …

Charles Anderson WinePress Publishing, 208 Pages, Paper, $16.95 A church planter with Baptist Mid-Missions tells of his experiences in sharing Christ on a 2,160-mile hike.

Mark Galli Tyndale House, 203 Pages Paper, $12.99 God Wins is a response to a controversial book, Love Wins, by Rob Bell. Bell’s basic thesis …

Andrew Himes Chiara Press, 344 Pages, Paper, $16.95 Many people probably don’t know that evangelist and editor John R. Rice had a black sheep in …

Michael J. Peck Baptist Church Planters Couple’s Edition ($7.95), Leader’s Edition ($19.95), DVD ($39.95) Some time ago Michael Peck came up with a premarital counseling …

Q. When the Hebrews left Egypt, they took their herds with them. Why didn’t they eat their flocks instead of complaining and receiving manna? Also, …

Q. Recently I was introduced to some literature by a group that says believers should petition angels. The group says that angels are our best …

Joe Dallas and Nancy Heche, general editors Harvest House, 501 Pages, Paper, $19.99 In the introduction the authors tell of their own experience with homosexuality. …

Kenman L. Wong and Scott B. Rae IVP, 288 Pages, Paper, $24.00 A statement on the back cover challenges the reader, “Is business just a …

Tim Pawlenty Tyndale House, 301 Pages, Hardcover, $26.99 Yes, he was a successful two-term conservative governor of his liberal home state, Minnesota. Yes, his name …

Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus Crossway, 216 pages, Paper, $14.99 Give Them Grace will resonate with all parents who …

L. Duane Brown Faithful Life Publishers, 222 Pages, Paper, $15.99 Here’s a book that purposes to focus on this one aspect of eschatology—the word “apostasy,” …

Q. People in our fundamental circles believe that the so-called sign gifts in the early New Testament church, such as speaking in tongues, ceased and …

Leland Ryken Crossway, 265 Pages, Paper, $15.99 Here’s another tribute to the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, “the most influential English translation” (as …

Brian G. Hedges Shepherd Press 302 Pages, Paper, $15.95 The pastor of a GARBC church has put into words important how-to principles for spiritual growth …

Norman L. Geisler Bethany House 173 Pages, Paper, $14.99 As this review was being written, the world had just experienced one of the worst earthquakes …

David W. Bebbington Baylor University Press 315 Pages, Paper, $39.95 Every Baptist needs to know what Baptists believe and practice, but they also should know …

Another evangelical pastor has written a liberal coming-out book, a sad trend that is becoming an annual rite of spring. Last year Brian McLaren surprised …

Q. In Acts 23 or 24, Paul talks to his accusers in either Aramaic or Hebrew—it depends on which translation one reads. What is the …

Q. Please comment on “unworthy” in 1 Corinthians 11:27. I’ll admit I sometimes am afraid of taking the Lord’s Supper unworthily. A. If you are …

Q. Please comment as to who the “angel” is in Revelation 2:1. A. Revelation 2 and 3 include messages the Lord gave to the seven …

Douglas R. McLachlan’s book highlights numerous principles of historic fundamentalism that are the foundation of what a fundamentalist should believe.

William J. Petersen & Ardythe Petersen Tyndale, 690 Pages, Paper, $19.99 It’s doubtful they’re exaggerating when the publisher says on the back cover that this work …

Mark Hitchcock Harvest House, 184 Pages, Paper, $12.99 A number of predications are circulating these days concerning the Lord’s return and the end of the …

Abby Johnson with Cindy Lambert SaltRiver (Tyndale House), 267 Pages, Hardcover, $22.99 Copublished with Focus on the Family, this gripping new book tells the story …

John Crotts Shepherd Press, 138 Pages, Paper, $13.95 “Satan has taken over the local churches.” “Churches are irrelevant, at best.” “Churches today are nothing but …

Art Rorheim Grace Acres Press, 266 Pages, Paper, $19.95 Will readers interested in Christian history ever enjoy this autobiography of the founder of Awana! It’s …

Mark Hitchcock Harvest House, 237 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Part 1 of this book has 10 chapters for “10 Amazing Fulfilled Prophecies.” Included is “the greatest …

Q. Legalizing polygamy has been in the news lately. If it’s wrong, why did so many Old Testament believers practice it? Why did they go …

Nathan MacDonald Wm. B. Eerdmans 156 Pages, Paper, $16.00 Beginning with a consideration of God’s promise to His Chosen People of a new land “flowing …

DVD Vision Video, 42 minutes, $19.99 This year hails the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible. Still a best seller, the …

T. David Gordon P & R Publishing, 190 Pages, Paper, $12.99 The book’s title and cover more or less reveal the thesis, along with the …

David and Betty Weinberger Association of Messianic Home Educators 40 Pages, Hardcover, $22.00 With the observance of our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection ap-proaching, this …

Michael J. Peck Baptist Church Planters 115 Pages (Couple’s Edition), Paper 124 Pages (Counselor’s Edition), Paper $29.95 for set of two couple’s books and one …

My wife works at a learning center that, among other things, teaches students reading skills. The center start this emphasis with its youngest students, preschoolers, and …

Q. Just when did Satan fall? Why did God allow Satan to fall, and why did God even create Satan in the first place? A.To …

Austin Hill and Scott Rae Northfield Publishing (Moody Publishers), 153 Pages, Paper, $14.99 With the economy the way it is, and with the current U.S. …

Jim Newheiser and Elyse Fitzpatrick P & R Publishing, 224 Pages, Paper, $14.99 Here’s another book that somewhat relates to the current economy, since many …

J. Steven Hunt Reedy Press, 138 Pages, Hardcover, $49.95 + $4.00 S&H Western Baptist Bible College (now Corban University) was part of the former GARBC …

Mosab Hassan Yousef SaltRiver (Tyndale House), 265 Pages, Hardcover, $26.99 As the jacket states, this New York Times best seller is “a gripping account of …

Here are some book recommendations to help you, and perhaps your church, think through congregational worship and the accompanying issues. Gordon MacDonald’s Who Stole My …

Q. Please comment on Exodus 11 and 12, where the “death angel” supposedly killed the firstborn of any families who didn’t have blood sprinkled on …

Q.  After Job’s intense suffering, the Bible says he was given more than he had before his trials began, including seven sons and three daughters. …

Is Earth young or old? This question can’t be avoided in the subject of origins, and Coming to Grips with Genesis is most welcome to the discussion.

RICHARD TEACHOUT EBPA, 100 Pages, Paper, $5.00 suggested donation In both an article and a book review, the last issue of the Baptist Bulletin addressed …

ROBERT L. SUMNER Biblical Evangelism, 60 Pages, Paper, $8.00 This latest of Sumner’s books is a much-needed reminder concerning the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s …

ArtisansInBrass, $20.70 (includes shipping and handling) It isn’t often that we come across a high-quality, unique musical production that would merit inclusion in this space-limited …

Q. Recently I came across a person who insists that Baptists are the only true church because only Baptists can trace their heritage to John …

JULIANA MORGAN, Pleasant Word, 69 Pages, Paper, $11.99 Every woman loves a good love story. Juliana Morgan has produced a Bible study on the Old …

Q. We are currently in Ezekiel in Sunday School, and I am stuck (I teach the adult class). I have a problem knowing which judgments …

Q. Every now and then in Scripture, I read about God asking people questions. Why would God, Who knows everything, bother to ask people things? …

World News June 30: The Supreme Court refused Monday to safeguard the right of a Christian student group to associate with fellow believers who subscribe to their religious beliefs about sexual conduct outside of marriage. Read more about this and other world news.

Q.  In Exodus 2:18, the priest of Midian and father of Zipporah (wife of Moses) is named Reuel. In Exodus 3:1, the father-in-law of Moses …

Q. Why should we oppose the “prosperity gospel” in the light of 3 John, verse 2? A. The verse reads, “Beloved, I pray that you …

Q. Do you think the pontiff at Rome could be the Antichrist? A. Some people believe that the pope is indeed the Antichrist, regardless of …

Q. Please explain what the apostle Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 5:5. A. The verse reads, “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction …

Q. Is Jericho also known in the Bible as the City of Palms? If so, I thought Jericho was destroyed by Joshua and not rebuilt …

Q. Is the story told in John 12:1-8 the same as the one in Matthew 26:6-13? I read a study that says so, but the …

Q. Please explain what Revelation 3:10 means. A. The verse reads, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from …

Q. In Luke 9:1–6, Jesus told His followers not to take various necessities with them when they went out to minister. Why did He instruct …

Q. In Genesis 44:5, it appears that Joseph practiced divination. I can’t imagine Joseph, the godly man he was, being involved with such. Also, I …

MARK R. LEVIN, Threshold Editions, 256 Pages, Hardcover, $25.00 Making the top of best-seller lists, this book is truly a challenge to America, especially when …

ANNIE CHAPMAN and HEIDI CHAPMAN BEALL, Harvest House, 222 Pages, Paper, $11.99 Interestingly, the idea for this book came not from a woman but from …

A Literary and Theological Analysis of Ezra A. PHILIP BROWN II, BJU Press, 288 Pages, Paper, $22.95 The Old Testament book of Ezra is one …

Q. There’s a section of 1 Corinthians 15, verses 39-44, that simply doesn’t make sense to me. Please explain. A. Looking at the whole context …

Q. What did Jesus mean when He told His disciples to “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” if …

ROLLAND McCUNE, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 443 Pages, Paper, $15.99 Quite a number of systematic theology works exist, but this one will especially interest fundamentalists, …

PAUL TAUTGES, Day One Christian Ministries, Inc., 144 Pages, Paper, $10.00. This valuable and nicely designed book by a fundamental pastor is filled with helpful …

TERRY JAMES, Harvest House, 292 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Many seeing a subtitle like Is the United States in Bible Prophecy? would want an immediate yes or …

Q. Taking the view your group does on dispensationalism, premillennialism, and the pretribulational Rapture, I sense that you don’t believe in peacemaking in the world …

Q. First Corinthians 15:51 and 52, apparently referring to the Rapture, link that great event with a sounding of the last trumpet.  In Revelation 11:15-19, …

Q. Why does Revelation 5:6 speak of seven Spirits, when there is only one Spirit? A. The “seven Spirits” should be regarded as “sevenfold Spirit,” …

Q. Why did Nicodemus come to talk with Jesus during the night? A. Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospels; you are referring to the …

Sherwood Pictures; 119 Minutes; $17.49  Incredible! Moving! Action-packed! And to think that a local church, not Hollywood, is producing movies like this one, and on …