Articles included in this issue: The Divine Commission Modernism the Handmaid of Atheism God’s Dwelling Place Progress and Mutual Understanding at Meeting at Gary December 1936 (1.61 MB)
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Christian Education: ministering to children with special needs This article is part 6 of a 6-part series taken from the October 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Written by Mary…
More than 130 teens representing 30 different churches gathered at Grandview Park Baptist Church in Des Moines, Iowa, to participate in the 43rd Annual Iowa Talents For Christ (TFC) state…
Jack Jacobs, GARBC pastor and leader, went to be with the Lord on Friday morning, April 20. Dr. Jacobs pastored GARBC churches, served on the Council of Eighteen, taught at…
Although participants were few, the Colorado Talents For Christ competition, held March 23 at South Holly Baptist Church in Centennial, highlighted great talent. Keri Lightfoot, a junior from Rustic Hills…
Except for the brightly colored plastic eggs peeking out from the inch of snow on the ground, you’d never know it was Easter time! It looked more like Christmas. In…
A dynamic group met for the Nebraska Association of Regular Baptist Churches (NARBC) 50th anniversary meeting April 12–14, hosted by Temple Baptist Church of Omaha. The three-day activities included great…
Meredith Lee, daughter of Pastor Don and Sandy LeMaster (Brooklyn, New York), began chemotherapy treatment on Monday, April 16, at Cooper Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. The report from the…
Christian Education This article is part 5 of a 6-part series taken from the October 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Written by Valerie Wilson, Mel Walker and David Rockwell…
Articles included in this issue: An Open Letter to Dr. W. B. Riley from Dr. R. T. Ketcham 28th Annual Baptist Fellowship Held Whither? New England Baptists! Don’t Give up…
Tri County Baptist Church, The Villages, Florida, hosted a reenactment of the Last Supper on Thursday, April 5 to help celebrate the events leading up to Resurrection Sunday. Tri County…
Faith Baptist Church, Mason City, Iowa, remembered the Lord on Good Friday with a service focused on the events surrounding Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Believers who came had the…
On April 2 and 3, the messengers of the Illinois/Missouri Association of Regular Baptist Churches met for a semiannual session at Delhi Baptist Church, Jerseyville, Illinois. Dr. Paul Jackson, president…
Have you ever watched grasshoppers jumping from one area of vegetation to another? They are restless insects, always on the move. Grasshoppers aren’t the only living creatures that are known…
Articles included in this issue: Turmoil! Confusion! Chaos! Startling Developments in the First Baptist Church of Elkhart, Indiana Wonderful Progress in the New Whole Bible Lessons The Battle is Raging…
The Iowa Regular Baptist Camp hosted a Timothy Retreat, aimed at high school students considering full-time ministry. Students were encouraged to attend alongside their pastors and youth leaders. Pastor Duke…
E-Info, a GARBC newsletter, communicates information about Association happenings, ministry development, church events, and service opportunities. Share your ministry-related information; contact the GARBC Resource Center. Together We Can Accomplish More!…
E-Info, a GARBC newsletter, communicates information about Association happenings, ministry development, church events, and service opportunities. Share your ministry-related information; contact the GARBC Resource Center. Together We Can Accomplish More!…
Churches Seeking Missions Trip Locations The student ministry team at Central Baptist Church of Hobart, Indiana, is available to assist a small Midwestern church in VBS, pulpit supply, music ministry,…
Be Part of Fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission Your church can participate in fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission by planting a church in your area. You will catch the vision and find…
Acquaint Your Church with the National Representatives Help your church members learn more about the GARBC by letting them hear messages from each of our national representatives–H. O. Van Gilder,…
Job Openings at GARBC/RBP Regional Manager–West: Responsible for selling church educational resources to churches and bookstores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming Graphic Designer: Responsible…
GARBC Pastor with the Lord David Knudson, pastor of Park Lane Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 1. The funeral is scheduled…
Articles included in this issue: The Greatest Bible Ministry Since the Reformation Good New From Buffalo Who Follows in Their Train? The Antichrist Kagawa Advocates August-September 1936 (2 MB)
Christian Education: upclose This article is part 3 of a 6-part series taken from the October 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Written by Daria Greening Be Different…Or They’ll Walk…
In June 2006, a sixteen-year-old girl named Katherine Lester tricked her parents into getting her a passport by convincing them that she was going to Canada with friends. She then…
During my freshman year in college, I shared a dorm room with four roommates. One of these, a junior named John, was the “prayer captain” of a three-room group. He…
It has attracted the attention of both the secular and religious media. Newsweek noted it as one of the top religious trends for 2005.1 Time magazine recently featured an article…
Editor’s Note: Any person who has had an individual or a group of people come to help with a tangible need knows how encouraging that help is. Max and Phyllis…
Many in Christendom teach that water baptism is a prerequisite to receiving the salvation for which Jesus Christ suffered and died. They regard baptism as a “sacrament,” “a means of…
Q. Please explain Matthew 16:27 and 28. It seems that Jesus was talking about the Second Coming. Is this right? If so, how could He accurately say that some standing…
Q. In Exodus 1:15–21, was it right that the midwives lied? It seems that God honored what they said. A. The occasion of this passage is the predicament the Children…
Eight-Day Missions Conference a Success in Hackensack, New Jersey “The Call” was the theme of the 61st Annual Missions Conference at First Baptist Church in Hackensack, New Jersey, held March…
On March 22, the Empire State Fellowship sponsored its 23rd Shop Talk, hosted by Henrietta Regular Baptist Church in Rochester, New York. Dr. Richard Van Heukelum, pastor of Walnut Ridge…
upfront written by David M. Gower frontlines: “The Church as an Educational Institution,” written by John Greening These articles are parts 1 and 2 of a 6-part series on church…
Articles included in this issue: Conference Close-ups 4th Annual Conference of GARB Brings Richest Blessings Resolutions Passed at GARB Fellowship The Lord God of Elijah Still Lives Can You Make…
Faith Baptist Church in Erial, New Jersey, is a small church that is reaching out in a big way to its community. On the third Saturday of every month, Faith…
College students have been known to hit the beach or some other relaxing destination over spring break. But forty-one students, children, and sponsors from Helping Internationals, the international student ministry…
“REALIGN: He will make your path straight” (from Proverbs 3:5–7) was the theme of this year’s Empire State Fellowship Youth Seminar held March 16 and 17. The annual seminars are…
Your church counts! Nominate Council of 18 members. Influence the Association through nominating and electing GARBC Council of 18 members. Please take a few minutes with your deacons and church…
On February 24 and 25, Pastor John Norris and Riverside Baptist Church in Decatur, Illinois, hosted more than 75 people from four area churches for a Balanced Evangelism Seminar taught…
rethinking the “American” approach to missions Written by G. Mark Trimble Article is taken from the April 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Pioneers, Boomers, and Missions (1.57 MB)
Articles included in this issue: Walnut Baptist Leaves Group by 148 to 20 Vote The Changeless God and Gospel for a Confused World Annual GARB Fellowship in Chicago, May 26-28…
LAGRANGE, Ohio—Pastor Noel Hack of First Baptist Church, along with more than 30 of the church members, attended the RBP Success in Bible Teaching Seminar in Elyria, Ohio. In this…
New Life Baptist Church in Lake in the Hills, Illinois, hosted a 12-hour scrapbook outreach February 24, with the goal of opening the church doors to present God’s Word to…
Meredith Lee, daughter of Pastor Don and Sandy LeMaster (Brooklyn Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY) will undergo a second cancer surgery on Thursday, March 15, in Camden, New Jersey. Please pray…
Articles included in this issue: To Convince Men Pray, Plan and Prepare for the Coming Fellowship of GARB When Shall These Things Be? There Are None So Blind Great Revival…
Written by Fredrick A. Carlson This article is part 3 of a 3-part series taken from the June 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Missionary Retirement Provisions (888KB)
The California Association of Regular Baptist Churches Annual Christian Worker’s Retreat was held at Cambria Pines Lodge in Cambria, California. The retreat’s purpose is to provide inspiration and restoration. More…
E-Info, a GARBC newsletter, communicates information about Association happenings, ministry development, church events, and service opportunities. Share your ministry-related information; contact the GARBC Resource Center. Together We Can Accomplish More!…
E-Info, a GARBC newsletter, communicates information about Association happenings, ministry development, church events, and service opportunities. Share your ministry-related information; contact the GARBC Resource Center. Together We Can Accomplish More!…
Church Seeking Missions Trip Location Monongah Baptist Church of Monongah, West Virginia, is seeking a place on the east coast for a summer missions trip (work project or ministry outreach)…
Discover How Your Church Can Plant a Church Your church can experience the joy of planting a church in your area. You will catch the vision and find help by…
See Great Photos Online Visit www.baptistbulletin.org regularly for updated information, religious news, instructional articles, Association news, ministry ideas, photos from sister churches, and more. Include a link on your church’s…
Job Openings at GARBC/RBP Regional Manager–West: Responsible for selling church educational resources to churches and bookstores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming Graphic Designer–Responsible to…
Q. What does the word “Selah” mean in the book of Psalms? I’ve noticed that in church, during Scripture readings in unison, people don’t know whether to say it or…
Q. Every now and then I’ve heard speakers appealing to unbelievers to trust Christ because they’re lonely. Also I can think of a few songs that have that theme. Is…
On Tuesday, Faith Baptist Bible College & Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa, officially announced that Dr. James Maxwell III will become the school’s ninth president beginning July 1. Dr. Maxwell,…
Articles included in this issue: President Harold Commons Writes of ABWE Mission Work Betty Scott Stam’s Prayer They Call it Crisis Now It Sounds Almost too Good to be True…
Written by Fredric A. Carlson This article is part 2 of a 3-part series taken from the May 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Missionary Retirement Solutions (240 KB)
Emmanuel Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan, has found a unique way to reach its community using karate. The church’s Karate for Christ mission statement reads: To use our Martial Arts…
by Allen and Beverly Berry, Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries My wife, Beverly, and I serve with Baptist Mid-Missions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Southern Caribbean). In February we teamed with…
The only true Passover occurred when the Angel of the Lord passed over the land of Egypt in judgment more than 3,500 years ago. Since then, every yearly Passover observance…
Great is our Lord, and of great power” (Psalm 147:5, KJV). Our Lord parted the sea, calmed a storm, and opened prison doors. He rescues, keeps safe, and provides for…
Since the beginning of Baptist Missionary Builders sixteen years ago, the agency has assisted churches with over fifty building projects. Their missionary crew can take a building project from bare…
A liberal writer, in assessing the possibilities of future rapport with evangelicals, stated that separatist movements tend to become less separatist in the second and third generations. Another has declared…
Not long after the newly degreed attorney had “hung out his shingle,” a caller identifying himself as a pastor cried, “Mr. Gibbs, I’m being sued for the faith!” “That can’t…
Editor’s Note: The author has attempted to address a difficult subject. It is hoped that the article will bring comfort and encouragement to those who face this experience—and give us…
Written by Fredric A. Carlson This article is part 1 of a 3-part series taken from the April 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Missionary Retirement Dilemmas (1.12 MB)
Articles included in this issue: Is there Modernism and Apostasy in the NBC? News Flashes from Rochester, NY Facts for Baptists to Face Bound for the Promised Land The Deadly…
Missionaries’ Home Destroyed Please pray for Pastor Tim and Dawn Mattison of First Baptist Church, Wayland, Michigan. Fire destroyed the RV in which they have been living. Dawn received minor…
As the result of a 21-inch snowfall in the Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, area, the roof over the family room section of Heritage Baptist Church’s edifice collapsed during the night of…
The Stoney Creek Lodge in Des Moines, Iowa, was the site for the Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches statewide annual Mid-Winter Couple’s Retreat. The retreat, hosted by First Baptist…
Articles included in this issue: Rockefeller Jr. Withdraws All Gifts from NBC Great NY Rally of Regular Baptists Young Baptists Alive for Christ An Interview with a Modernist The Devil’s…
reaching people with disabilities Written by Emma Felker Article is taken from the April 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. An Overlooked Field (1.77 MB)
Orphans Praise God The New Testament Baptist Church Association in Northeast India runs an orphanage of 45 children and expects to add 10 more this year. Brother B. Haupu and…
Camp Fairwood in Westfield, Wisconsin, held its annual Sweethearts Marriage Retreat on February 9 and 10. Weekend speaker Dr. Brian Trainer focused on expository teaching from Ephesians 4–6. His aim…
1936 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Support Urged for Approved Mission Agencies (26 KB)
1936 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Need for Churches to Render Support to the Fellowship (30KB)
1936 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Invitation to Other Baptist Churches to Join the GARBC (28KB)
1936 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Interstate Evangelistic Association (29KB)
1936 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Difference between a Convention and a Denomination (28KB)
1934 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Missionary Responsibility (36KB)
1934 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Communism, Socialism, and Ungodly Teaching (32KB)
1933 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Renouncement of Modernism and Conventionism (32KB)
1933 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Purpose of the GARBC (31KB)
1932 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. The General Association to be the Successor of the Baptist Bible Union (28KB)
1932 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Evangelism and the Need to Help Churches Secure Sound Pastors (40KB)
1932 GARBC Annual Conference resolution, passed by voting messengers. Depression, Hardship, and Need for a National Day of Prayer (37 KB)
Church Plant in Wisconsin Ed Fuller, Wisconsin Association of Regular Baptist Churches (WARBC) State Representative, asks us to pray for Heritage Christian Church—A Regular Baptist Fellowship, in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. It…
For more than 15 years, Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Waterloo, Iowa, has featured a Living Christmas Tree performance for the community. The Tree structure is 25 feet wide and…
Articles included in this issue: Fundamentalist Victory for the Lord in Iowa The Devil’s Game Today On the Horns of a Dilemma Who Will Be Your Next Pastor? They Cry…
Church Planting: Working a Plan Written by Roger McNamara This article is part 5 of a 5-part series taken from the March 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Practical Steps (83…
campus church builds model program for reaching international students Written by Elizabeth Gifford Article is taken from the January 2001 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. “Reach Ames…Reach the World” (620 KB)
About 130 teens and 25 adults attended the 8th annual “Winter Thing” last weekend sponsored by the DelMarVa Baptist Fellowship. Teens arrived at Evangel Baptist Church in Hagerstown, Maryland, on…
Despite subzero temperatures, 72 men and teens attended the third Super Bowl outreach event at Greg Crill’s machine shed in Creston. Twenty-seven in attendance were visitors. At halftime the organizers…
The first-ever Fox Valley Baptist Church Super Bowl party was held February 4, 2007, in Dundee, Illinois, as an outreach to the community. The church’s hope is that the event…
E-Info, a GARBC newsletter, communicates information about Association happenings, ministry development, church events, and service opportunities. Share your ministry-related information; contact the GARBC Resource Center . Together We Can Accomplish…
Church Seeking Missions Trip Location Monongah Baptist Church of Monongah, West Virginia, is seeking a place on the east coast for a summer missions trip (work project or ministry outreach)…
Catch the Vision for Planting a Church Your church can experience the joy of planting a church in your area. You will catch the vision and find help by attending…
Announcing the New and Improved GARBC Web Site Check out the newly designed GARBC Web site. Easier to use, up-to-date news and information! Visit www.garbc.org and www.baptistbulletin.org weekly to stay…
Job Openings at GARBC/RBP Regional Manager–West: Responsible for selling church educational resources to churches and bookstores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming Regional Manager–Southeast: Responsible…
Articles included in this issue: Clearing House for Fundamental Baptist Missions Established God Honors Those Who Honor His Son Praise God! The Fire is Spreading! Regular Baptists in California Wheaton…
Church Planting: The Early Church Written by R. Craig Golden This article is part 4 of a five-part series taken from the March 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. 1st-Century…
BROOKVILLE, Ohio—The last day of 2006 is a time Bible Baptist Fellowship members and visitors will not forget. They were able to hold their first church service in their new…
They were a young couple in their early-to-mid twenties. He carried the baby in an infant seat. The parents didn’t appear to be carrying Bibles. He looked semiprofessional. She had…
Q. What does one say to a person who doubts that insurance is Biblical, believing it is a sign of distrusting God and also a form of gambling? A. There…
Q. In Mark 5:19 Jesus told the demon-possessed man of Gadara to tell his friends what had happened to him, but in Mark 5:43 Jesus told the friends of the…
First Baptist Church of Rochester, Rochester Hills, Michigan, recently constructed one of the most creative and practical meeting rooms for its youth I have ever seen. So I took the…
NOTE: Amid defection from sound doctrine on the part of some in eschatology and related areas, the GARBC unashamedly holds to our historic positions. One well-known evangelical denomination is proposing…
She stood at the doorway of what was being called “her new Sunday School class.” It seemed strange to eleven-year-old Sally (not her real name) to be going to a…
As we approach the end of the Church Age, there appears to be a dramatic increase of the signs of the times. In the previous two installments, we considered the…
Please pray for Randy Charlton, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Chatfield, Minnesota, who recently had major surgery due to severe ischemic colitis. After being released from the hospital, he…
Articles included in this issue: The Need of the Hour! To Reclaim Modernist Baptist Churches for the Lord Jesus Christ “Bloodless–But Red” Iowa Pastor Bravely Battles NBC Machine Who Gets…
Three Churches Divided by One Building Equals Great Stewardship Church Planting: Sharing Resources Written by Daria Greening This article is part 3 of a five-part series taken from the March…
Synergy, a GARBC e-newsletter, provides practical ministry ideas and helps. Written by ministry leaders and pastors and wives for their colleagues, Synergy articles are church-tested. Share your ministry ideas. Together…
South Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan, created a three-step discipleship program for new believers. This program consists of three classes—Discovery, Welcome, and Foundations. In January 2007, Pastor Jim Vogel led…
Greeting We recently had the opportunity to share the gospel with a man with whom we were conducting personal business. We had listened to him over a two-day period. During…
Building Your Ministry At times it may be difficult for church visitors to know how to get started in their Christian walk or how to become better acquainted with your…
Reach Out Sneak Preview of a Baptist Bulletin article by Jeff Hodgin They were a young couple in their early-to-mid twenties. He carried the baby in an infant seat. The…
Building Your Ministry For five consecutive years our church, First Baptist Church, Bronson, Michigan, has held an annual Sunday School contest during the month of October with a sister church,…
Idea Exchange Continuing education might seem costly—but ignorance is more expensive. Here are five ways to build support and funds so you and your team can keep on learning. Educate…
Inward Look January is often the month when the GARBC Resource Center receives résumés from pastors who think the Lord may be leading them to new ministries. Maynard Belt, retired…
Idea Exchange During baptismal services our church shows the testimonies of baptismal candidates on video. As the believer enters the water, screens in the front of the auditorium show the…
Ministry Toolbox She said procrastination was the cause of all my sorrow. I don’t know what that big word means. . . . I’ll look it up tomorrow. Mary Alice…
Reach Out In our church’s efforts to improve our follow-up of visitors, we found a city map to be a helpful tool. When originally attempting to secure a map, I…
Reach Out When listening to a sermon recently, I was stirred by this statement: “The unsaved are not our enemy, they are our mission field.” If we listen to the…
Articles included in this issue: Bible Believing Baptists all over Country Withdraw from NBC Modernism The New NBC President The Case Against the American Baptist Home Mission Society Youth on…
Church Planting: Up Close Written by Daria Greening This article is part 2 of a five-part series taken from the March 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. A Mother’s Birthing…
Grace Baptist Church of Harlan, Iowa, sponsored its third annual Men’s Leadership Conference on January 12 and 13, titled “Developing Men’s Ministry in Your Local Church.” Pastor Duke Crawford of…
Pastor Mohan Kumar of the Jehovah-Jireh Baptist Ministry (IPFBM partner) in Hyderabad, India, is planning to visit a mission field in a remote forest area January 22-26, 2007. The people…
On Christmas Eve, Faith Baptist Church of Mason City, Iowa, sent carolers into the neighborhoods surrounding its church. Thirty church members broke up into groups of ten and went door…
Church Planting: The Great Commission Written by J. Don Jennings This article is part 1 of a five-part series taken from the March 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Let’s…
Articles included in this issue: Greatest Baptist Fellowship Held in Recent Years The Tabernacle on the Lake How We Operate June-July 1935 (1 MB)
E-Info keeps you informed about GARBC happenings, church events, and ministry opportunities. Churches in the GARBC may contact the GARBC Resource Center to post information. Check out the January issue…
Learn More about Church Planting Our international brothers lead the way in planting churches. It is a regular part of their ministry. Your church can plant a church too. You…
Welcoming and Integrating New People at Church Four articles in the Synergy winter edition address the important topic of assimilation. Pastors helping pastors is a great benefit of being part…
Celebrate the Lord’s Goodness 2007 marks the 75th anniversary of the GARBC. This summer’s Annual Conference will be a time to rejoice in the Lord’s work through the ministry of…
Job Opening at GARBC/RBP Regional Manager–West: Responsible for selling church educational resources to churches and bookstores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. To Buy: Communion…
one youth pastor’s experience Written by Robert Bolds Article is taken from the February 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Bi-vocational Ministry Can Work (1.34 MB)
The IPFBM once again moves from a partnership on paper to a meaningful expression of partnering. Pastor Gideon and deacon Samuel from Kisumu Baptist Church, Kisumu, Kenya were presented with…
Q. How did animals find their way to the ark before the Flood? How did they survive all that time in the ark? After the Flood, how did these animals…
Carl Elgena, longtime Regular Baptist pastor and leader, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 26, 2006. Dr. Elgena pastored several GARBC churches, was a member of the…
NOTE: In recent years the word “fundamentalism” and its derivatives, particularly as they relate to Biblical Christianity, have come under scrutiny and even attack. Some cite radical non-Christian groups who…
The crisp air is filled with the noise of people talking—getting reacquainted with old friends and greeting new ones. Fall colors adorn the trees, but the parking lot colors are…
Were it not for the skyrocketing cost of gasoline this past year, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the high cost of speaking during the same time—or at least I wouldn’t…
According to economist Peter G. Peterson, “a massive iceberg . . . dead ahead” is threatening to impact the social, cultural, and economic world for years to come.1 Here’s one…
Last month we noticed how an increasing number of world events appear to have prophetic significance. These events, however, meet with a callous indifference in many people who should be…
Q. When I was young and before I became a believer in Christ, I took a vow that I would never leave the church I grew up in or its…
On December 16th and 17th the First Baptist Church choir of Pavilion, New York performed its first Christmas cantata in 10 years. Pastor Phil Green directed the 11-member choir in…
For Christmas 2006, the staff of the GARBC International Resource Center were challenged to decorate their departments to reflect the true meaning of Christmas. Adding a little spice to the…
Chris Hindal, Director of International Ministries of the GARBC, just returned from a 19 day trip to Kenya, East Africa, where he spoke to the Lake Region Conference of the…
JASON JANZ, Journey Forth (BJU Press), 155 Pages, Paper, $9.95 As a new year approaches, many people would like their devotional life to be better—not another year of broken resolutions,…
Marilyn Twigg, secretary at First Baptist Church of Waverly, Iowa, recently shared these prayer updates: Brian Wilkins, pastor of First Baptist Church in Waverly, suffered a heart attack on Friday,…
In November the NARBC (National Association of Regular Baptist Camps) held their annual conference at the Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center in Hillsboro, Indiana. The retreat included workshops, activities,…
To build more bridges of ministry to its community, Urbandale Baptist Church of Des Moines, Iowa, joined the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. Pastor Richard Dayton suggested to the chamber that…
A Callous Indifference First in a three-part series on the signs of the times by Manfred Kober As the twenty-first century continues to hurry along, we are jarred by increasingly…
by Miles M. Grismore “What ya’ll have is neat!” I had heard Tom say it many times. I knew what he meant. My wife, Mary, and I had become good…
Q. I heard someone say the wise men were into astrology. I’ve been taught that astrology is sinful. Please comment. A. First we need to make sure we know the…
The GARBC Council of Eighteen recently concluded an excellent three-day working meeting at the Ministry Resource Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. In the opening session John Greening presented the National Representative’s…
The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation has released version 2.0 of The Journal of Biblical Counseling on CD-ROM. This edition includes all 36 issues of the Journal of Pastoral Practice…
JIM BERG BJU Press, 96 Pages, Hardcover, $10.95 Jim Berg adds an excellent book to the library of Christian books dealing with the topic of suffering. Some books on suffering…
Reincarnation, resurrection, and redemption are utterly irreconcilable. But would you believe that in America approximately thirty million people believe in reincarnation? These people think it offers hope, for if we…
Q. A born-again Christian I visited with the other day believes that we have just one nature, based on Romans 6:6 and 2 Corinthians 5:17, which say that old things…
Q. What about a new movement or thought among Christians known as transformation? Is it Biblical? A. Is it Biblical? should be our constant question today with so many new…
October 24, 2007—Back in my youth pastor days, several of us organized a youth rally where we invited a famous athlete to give a testimony of his faith in Christ….
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). In a world of quick fixes, we find ourselves wanting shorter wait times to see God working. We want, we…
Ministry Toolbox In 2 Timothy 2:2 the apostle Paul instructed young pastor Timothy, ”And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men…
Children’s Ministries Our small church has been blessed with a large number of children. Through the years we have noticed the availability of programs designed to bring children to make…
Building Your Ministry Small group ministry is not a passing fad. Have you read the stats? “2 out of 5 adults in the United States reported involvement in some type…
Reach Out Facilitating a gas buy-down event is simple; the most difficult part is securing a venue for the event. I approached gas stations, saying, “This is a win-win situation…
Reach Out At a conference of the Wisconsin Association of Regular Baptist Churches, Pastors Pete Mothershead and Scott Bixby challenged and instructed us in the areas of evangelism and community…
Holiday Focus When people think of Christmas, their thoughts often go toward home and family. In planning our church’s Christmas calendar, we wanted to incorporate the family atmosphere. We challenged…
Holiday Focus Since Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, I desired to provide a realistic way for our people to give a gift to Jesus. Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you did it…
Idea Exchange A beautiful, full-color brochure, “LeClaire Baptist Church—Discovering Life at Its Best,” caught my husband’s and my attention while visiting an Iowa Welcome Center along the Mississippi River. We…
Inward Look If ignorance is bliss, then when it comes to computer technology and surfing the Web, I must be the happiest man alive. At one time when we pastors…
RON J. BIGALKE JR., ED., University Press of America, 426 Pages, Paper, $51.00 The subtitle states that Progressive Dispensationalism is “an analysis of the movement and defense of traditional dispensationalism.”…
Where do we draw the line? by Scott Greening A fire recently gutted a historic and culturally significant church on the South Side of Chicago. In the aftermath of the…
October 9, 2007—Robert Ketcham didn’t really say it. Well, okay, he said it, but he wasn’t the first. Not only was Ketcham known for frequently saying, “Your Heavenly Father is…
August 15, 2007—Last weekend we covered two events in the searing Iowa heat. Both featured carnival rides, overpriced admission tickets, glad-handing politicians, screaming kids…and folks from Regular Baptist churches. I’m…
Q: I would appreciate your explanation of the Parable of the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30). It appears that the Lord directed the reapers to gather the tares, or weeds, before they…
How can you know the books in the Bible are the right ones? by Kevin T. Bauder Scripture has always been under attack, but the form of the attack changes….
Summer is a great time for much needed R & R. We hope you will give yourselves a breather. Remember—laziness may be a sin, but rest is ordained by God….
Building Your Ministry A Looking Toward Sunday e-mail notice allows me to communicate with our church people on Thursday about our upcoming Sunday services so they can be thinking about…
Inward Look Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the demands of ministry, family, and financial responsibilities? Craig Golden, state representative for the Empire State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches, shares…
Global Outlook As our missions conference approaches, the president of our ladies’ missionary group prepares for each Sunday School class a conference packet containing an information sheet, a needs list,…
Idea Exchange Summer is a good time to focus your congregation on good influences by promoting a summer reading challenge. A reading program is versatile; you can sponsor it for…
Ministry Toolbox 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 Paul reminds us that physical, emotional, and spiritual peril during the pastor’s or missionary’s earthy sojourn is to be expected. While God promises never to…
Student Ministries PreEm is a formal event our church hosts to provide a healthy atmosphere for fellowship among Christian teens (ninth through twelfth grades) as a prom alternative. Its name…
Idea Exchange Four times a year, there are five Sundays in one month. When this occurs, our church does something different to add spice to a Sunday service. We encourage…
Idea Exchange Our area GARBC churches get together whenever a fifth Sunday occurs in a month for a Sunday evening Singspiration. Different churches take turns hosting this event. Each attending…
Reach Out Our church sponsors an annual Family FunFest, offered free of charge to the surrounding community. A 5K run starts the day with approximately one hundred runners of all…
Women’s Ministries Ladies’ Retreats are a great thing, but unchurched women will not usually attend them. To offer an event that appealed to community ladies while giving our church women…
Reach Out As a volunteer chaplain for our local fire department, I have witnessed many things our public servants deal with day by day. It was my desire during a…
by Norm Olson Q: What did the Jews and early church offer in training compared with churches today? For example, they obviously didn’t have Sunday School. Are there things we…
Q: Was Elimelech right or wrong in moving his family to Moab in Ruth 1:1-5? A: Bible scholars hold varying views on this question. Ruth 1:1-5 simply states that during…
Q: Why did Christ curse the fig tree in Matthew 21:19? A: This account is also found in Mark 11:11-14 and 19-26. A person is going to have trouble with…
Q. What should people like me do who have asked Jesus to be our Savior and yet continue to doubt our salvation? A. You need to go on a purposeful,…
Q. In 1 Timothy 2:8 does “men” mean “males” or “mankind” in general? Does “lifting up holy hands” indicate something we should be doing? A. The background of 1 Timothy…
Greeting Often the beginning of a new year prompts us to reconsider our ministry goals. As we seek the Lord’s guidance for the upcoming year, we take a look back…
Idea Exchange When each of our two associate pastors joined our staff, we did the things most churches do—provided a good crew to help unload the moving van, a meal,…
Idea Exchange For our church’s 150th anniversary, we desired to recognize the Lord’s faithfulness and to celebrate our shared history. Our planning committee began working a year in advance—praying, preparing,…
Building Your Ministry Cottage prayer meetings provide a relaxed setting that encourages church members to pray. For three consecutive months, all ages of our church family gather in homes the…
Building Your Ministry Writing a Wednesday Night Article allows me to communicate a Christian worldview and to provide a change of pace for our Wednesday prayer meetings. While the Sunday…
Inward Look Failure is a common experience shared by all who serve in ministry. May this article as it appeared in a series in the Baptist Testimony, the Michigan Association…
Ministry Toolbox Even if you’ve been in ministry for years, this counsel serves as a good reminder of a pastor’s high calling. Call of the ministry Be satisfied in your…
Global Outlook Churches of the Northwest Association of Regular Baptist Churches know how to do missions conferences! Read on to discover conference ideas from Bits and Pieces, the Northwest Regular…
by Norm Olson Q: When a Christian dies, does the soul go directly to Heaven (later to be reunited with the resurrected body to appear for judgment/rewards), or does the…
Q. Does Colossians 2:10, which says that Christians are complete in Christ, contradict Genesis 2:18, which implies that being married completes a person? A. When a person is regenerated, made…
Q. If the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 came from the lineage of Cain when fallen angels supposedly entered their bodies and married the daughters of men, and if…
Q. It appears that both Jerusalem and Bethlehem are called “the city of David” in the Bible. Please comment. A. Yes, in 2 Samuel 5:6 and 7 we read, “The…
Q. Recently I heard that Christians shouldn’t use the word “Palestine” to describe Israel and the Holy Land. A. The term “Palestine” is a bit like the celebration of Halloween,…
Q. Since Jews haven’t accepted Christ as having come and as being their Messiah, why aren’t they still sacrificing animal offerings today? A. There are several factors. First, having been…
Greeting Developing the educational environment of your church is a challenging task. People in your church represent a variety of ages, spiritual maturity levels, learning styles, background experiences, and preferences….
Global Outlook Our church is like many churches that struggle financially. We still desire to encourage missionaries! When missionaries phone to inquire about scheduling a meeting, I explain that our…
Ministry Toolbox John Donne, a minister and poet, wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”…
Inward Look Scott Kigar, associate and discipleship pastor of First Baptist Church, Rochester, Michigan, granted us permission to publish the following article from Direction, his church’s Christian education newsletter. You…
Idea Exchange To enhance our Wednesday evening prayer time, we encourage people to bring in newspaper or internet news items as prayer requests. These national and worldwide issues are of…
Building Your Ministry Our church participated in a campaign in which we considered the Biblical purposes of individual believers within a local church body. As we emphasized the purpose of…
Children’s Ministries While I was serving as a youth pastor, my senior pastor impressed upon me the importance of giving children focus and attention during our ministries. In another setting,…
Q. Please comment on an editorial from a denominational magazine that criticizes what we Regular Baptists hold to eschatologically. The writing by this editor in chief criticizes the popular Left…
Q. Please comment on 2 Peter 3:11 and 12. Does the verse mean we can actually cause Christ to come back earlier than otherwise divinely planned? A. The verse reads,…
Q. What does 2 Corinthians 6:3 mean when it says we aren’t supposed to give offense in anything? A. First, I’ll mention what the verse doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean…
Women’s Ministries The women of Piecemakers, our church’s ladies’ quilting group, use their love of quilting to make baby quilts, not only for babies in our church, but also for…
Reach Out Our church’s community has the highest percentage of Hispanic people of any county in Michigan; many are full-time residents. Since soccer (futbol to the Spanish-speaking community) is a…
Global Outlook Pastors regularly get phone calls from missionaries on deputation requesting a meeting in the church. Many pastors report more requests than could possibly be scheduled—that’s good! Praise the…
Building Your Ministry Protecting pastors from harm is an important aspect of the church’s pastoral care. The following considerations may be helpful as your church pursues caring for its pastoral…
Global Outlook Our church has developed a special bond with several Jamaican pastors and wives. Recently three pastors and two wives from Jamaica ministered at our church. Their presence afforded…
Reach Out As a new church plant in a small county-seat town, we have capitalized on the availability of a quaint park and a pavilion for refreshments to sponsor summertime…
Idea Exchange Camp experiences are unique and effective opportunities for the transforming work of Christ in the lives of youth. Would you like to see young people and adults from…
Greeting It’s summertime-bike-riding, walking-in-the-park, talking-to-your-neighbors time. Summer offers unique opportunities to share the gospel with people in your community. In this issue of Synergy, three sister churches offer their ideas…
Ministry Toolbox “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,…
Q. Is there a difference between the words “conversion” and “regeneration”? A. We commonly use “conversion” and “regeneration” to refer to the “new birth,” the moment an individual experiences salvation….
Q. Is it Scriptural for a pastor to lead more than one flock at a time? I’ve known of some smaller (usually rural) churches that share the same pastor. A….
Q. Is corporal punishment (as in spanking) truly Biblical; and if it is, how do we answer all its opposition? A. Corporal punishment is certainly Biblical, and parents are, in…
Q. What is the basis for people’s believing in purgatory? A. “Purgatory“ comes from a Latin word that means “to purge.” Roman Catholicism defines it in its catechism: “All who…
Q. What stance should we believers take toward the recent tsunami, its toll on lives, and all the suffering? Some people in that part of the world don’t even want…
Q. Do pastors and other Christian workers, such as missionaries and teachers, need a definite call from God to go into their fields of ministry? If so, how does one…
Current Issue Synergy, a GARBC e-newsletter, provides practical ministry ideas and helps. Written by ministry leaders and pastors and wives for their colleagues, Synergy articles are church-tested. Share your ministry…
Articles included in this special Grand Rapids issue: On to Grand Rapids Entertainment at Grand Rapids Great Fellowship at Memphis Credentials Constitution, By-laws and Articles of Faith Our Financial Policy…
Articles included in this issue: Belden Baptists Quit Convention in Fight on Reds Welcome to Grand Rapids Strange Bed Fellows Baptists at Grand Rapids The Break-Up in the Northern Baptist…
Articles included in this issue: “Home—to Be with Jesus” Dr. Riley in Buffalo A Growing Missionary Family Believe It or Not The Recent Important Conference Cook-Stove Apostasy February-March 1935 (1.03…
Articles included in this issue: The Status of a Regular Baptist Church First Hebrew Christians to the Argentine Filipinos Read The Baptist Bulletin Why the Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary…
Articles included in this issue: Diotrephes Northern Baptist Convention Busy Making Missionaries for the Coming Anti Christ Dr. Buswell Refuses to be Fired What will the Indiana Baptists Convention do…
Articles included in this issue: The Tragic Death of Mrs. C. J. Abernethy Northern Baptists Belch Forth Their Infidelity May We Attack the Modernist? Creeping Things Bigness Dying for a…
Articles included in this issue: Regular Baptists Can Now Go Forward Constitution and By-Laws Articles of Faith Items of Interest Taken from the Minutes of the Gary Meeting The President’s…
Articles included in this issue: Spurgeon, the Great Baptist Reminiscences of C. H. Spurgeon and His Sons The Missionary Problem The Gary Meetings How Long Will It Take to Die?…
Articles included in this issue: Why Baptist Enthusiasm Is Waning Constitution, By-Laws and Articles of Faith of the General Association of Regular Baptists Explanation News Items May 1934 (905 KB)
Articles included in this issue: Constructive Work of Regular Baptists “On Defeating Heresy” What Are You Going to Do About It? Tid-Bits Report of Mid Baptist Missions News Items The…
Q. Please comment about the conscience. I have heard that we should not let it be our guide, as the saying goes; but what is it, and what value does…
Q. What does Luke 17:21 mean when it says that the kingdom is within a person? A. Luke 17:20 and 21 read, Now when He [Jesus] was asked by the…
infuse life into your Sunday School Written by Anthony Y. Woolford Article is taken from the December 1998 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Sunday School…Dead or Alive? (1.51 MB)
Articles included in this issue: What Shall We Do? A Puritan of the Long Ago The Issue at Stake News Items Jesus Christ Betrayed Afresh at Buffalo, New York Says…
Articles included in this issue: Moody Monthly Speaks Out The Modernists Win Protesting but Still Supporting The Road to Certainty News Items February 1934 (977 KB)
Articles included in this issue: Taking Time to Be Holy “A Denominational Asset” Is this the Reason The Testimony of a Great Physician “Three Men” Opposition to Controversy News Notes…
Q. Why was Sarah not punished for her laughing over the news that she would have a son, while Zacharias was struck dumb for a similar response? A. The accounts…
Q. Does the Bible offer any clue as to why so many differences of thinking and religious denominations exist even among true born-again Christians? A. Jesus once said to the…
Q. Please comment on the seeming difference between the God of the Old Testament and of the New Testament. In the Old Testament He seems foreboding, distant, stern, vengeful, overbearing,…
seven ways to connect with teenagers in your church Written by Don Martin Article is taken from the October 2001 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Uneasy around Teens? (949…
Q. The Ten Commandments and other Bible verses promise long life to people who obey God. Why then do some who have obeyed not get to enjoy this promise? I…
Q. Romans 12:20 says that when a believer acts kindly toward an enemy, coals of fire are actually heaped upon the enemy’s head. Please explain. Doesn’t that hurtful result negate…
the church’s commitment to raise a generation for full-time ministry Written by Daria Greening Article is taken from the October 2001 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Faith’s 100 (890 KB)
how to maintain a balance of order and fun while children learn to praise God Written by Barbara J. Mitchell and Cheryl M. Staats Article is taken from the July…
Written by Stephen Davey This article is part 1 of a three-part series taken from the May 2004 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Church Discipline and Restoration (104 KB)
Written by Stephen Davey This article is part 3 of a three-part series taken from the July 2004 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Church Discipline and Restoration 3 (104 KB)
Written by Les Newell Article is taken from the July 2001 issues of The Baptist Bulletin. Put Down the Remote and Read This! (278 KB)
Written by Tim Rumley Article is taken from the July 2000 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Top 10 Reasons You Should Not have Daily Devotions (798 KB)
ten things you should know about this runaway best-seller Written by Kenn Gangel Article is taken from the July 2004 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Decoding Da Vinci (119 KB)
Q. Will people sin during the Millennium? A. You have asked an interesting and important question. The Millennium, which is the one-thousand-year reign of Christ on earth after the great…
Q. Several psalms contain the heading “A song of degrees.” What does that mean? A. You’re referring to Psalms 120—134. Four of these psalms are attributed to David, one is…
Written by Stephen Davey This article is part 2 of a three-part series taken from the June 2004 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Church Discipline and Restoration 2 (113 KB)
Q. While I was studying 1 Timothy in Sunday School, the term “elect angels” came up. After searching, I could find no other use of the term in the Bible….
Q. Is the unpardonable sin the same as the “sin unto death”? A. The unpardonable sin and the sin unto death cannot be the same. To answer this question we…
Q. Romans 16:13 mentions a man named Rufus, and the apostle Paul wrote as though Rufus’s mother was also his own mother. Were the two men related? A. No, Rufus…
Q. In the New Testament it seems the act of water baptism appears rather suddenly. We read about John the Baptist, the disciples, and then the early New Testament church…
Q. Why don’t Baptists believe in displaying crucifixes in the home and church? Couldn’t these serve as a good reminder of what Christ did for us on the cross? A….
answering the pleas to settle conflicts Written by Richard Van Heukelum Article is taken from the April 2001 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Who Made Me a Judge? (1.90 MB)
Are they a disappointment to God? Written by Alan R. Wilson Article is taken from the April 2001 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Small Churches (2.00 MB)
Q. On the morning Jesus rose from the dead, Mary Magdalene met the Savior in the Garden near the tomb where Jesus had lain. Jesus told her not to touch…
Q. Why did Jesus’ disciples go back to Galilee after the Resurrection, when they would be going back to Jerusalem for Pentecost? How did they get up there so quickly?…
Written by Lee Wise Article is taken from the March 1999 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Influencing My World by Handing Out Tracts (361 kB)
steer clear of the “pastorless” stage Written by Davina Wallace Allgrim Article is taken from the March 2000 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Smooth Transition (676 KB)
Article is taken from the March 1999 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Congratulations! It’s a Baby Christian (1.37 MB)
Q. John 18:40 describes Barabbas as a robber, and Matthew 27:38 calls the two men on the cross on either side of Jesus thieves (KJV). Are these two words, “thieves”…
planning fresh, relevant classes for seniors Adapted from the book Senior Adult Ministry: A How To Guide for the Local Church. Article is taken from the February 1999 issue of…
Q. The parable found in Luke 16:1‒9 seems so dishonest. For example, what is so great about what the steward did? Also, what is the “unrighteous mammon” all about? A….
Robert Ketcham and the founding of the GARBC Written by Paul Dean Article is Part 2 of a Baptists in History series on Robert Ketcham taken from the January 2002…
Article is taken from the January 2002 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Resolving Misconceptions about Prayer (680 KB)
Q. In 2 Kings 25:16 what does the word “Sea” refer to? A. The sad context of this verse is the fall of Jerusalem under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The…
Robert Ketcham and the founding of the GARBC Written by Paul Dean Article is Part 1 of a Baptists in History series on Robert Ketcham taken from the December 2001…
Q. How did the wise men know that the star represented the Messiah? Why did they, as pagans, travel all that distance? Where did we get the name “magi” for…
Q. What does the Bible mean when it refers to the Son of God as “begotten”? A. This word, combined with the word “only,” indicates “unique” or “one of a…
Q. I’m confused about this whole matter of when Christ was born: why do people say Christ was born in 4 B.C. if “B.C.” means “before Christ”? Also, I have…
a look in the mirror may surprise you Written by Jim Bargfeldt Article is taken from the October 1999 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. The Most Overlooked Things Your…
Q. Are the miracles of Satan through his cohorts, as recorded in Revelation 13, real, or are they just sleight-of-hand imitation deceptions of real miracles? A. Revelation 13 deals with…
Q. Why did David pick out five stones instead of just one before he met and killed Goliath? Was it a lack of faith on his part? A. The account…
Q. John 1:18 says that no one has seen God at any time. I have no problem with that statement, but what do I tell a skeptic who points out…
Q. Why did King Solomon have numerous wives, when Deuteronomy 17:17 prohibited kings from having many wives? A. The first part of the verse reads, “Neither shall [a king] multiply…
Q. How should believers Biblically treat all the public opinion polls we’re being bombarded with these days? A. Polls, while they can be bothersome and skewed, are not necessarily the…
Your clothes tell on you! Written by David Warren Article is taken from the May 1999 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Clothing Communicates (726 KB)
Q. Please explain Ecclesiastes 10:19 in the light of other Scripture passages dealing negatively with money. A. You are probably thinking of passages such as Matthew 6:19: “Do not lay…
Q. Please comment on so-called generational curses found in the Bible. Are they in force today? Were they fair to those whose parents sinned? A. First let me point out…
practical help for a pastor’s financial future Written by James W. Rickard Article is taken from the April 2000 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Retired—and Broke? (569 KB)
Q. The Old Testament character Samson appears in Hebrews 11, the great hall of faith chapter. He scarcely seems qualified as a candidate for this honor. Please comment. A. Your…
Q. In Ezekiel 36:25 God told Israel He will sprinkle them with water to removed their uncleanness. Since sin can be removed only by blood, to what uncleanness is God…
fuzzy about who’s in charge—the agency, the missionary, or the church? Written by W. Paul Jackson Article is taken from the March 1998 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Who Does…
Q. Please explain 2 Corinthians 11:8, where Paul said that he robbed churches. I thought thievery is sin. A. In this portion of his second letter to the Corinthian believers,…
Q. I recently read a booklet that said spiritual giants of the past lived an average of only 35 years because they burned out for God. The book promoted burnout…
Q. I came across Romans 11:26 the other day. This verse has me stumped. Does it really mean that every last Jew living at the time of Christ’s return is…
Q. Luke 5:2 records that the disciples washed their nets. Why were they doing that when their nets would have been in the water all the time anyway? A. The…
Q. Is there any truth to the idea that certain numbers are significant in Scripture, such as the number seven’s being the perfect number? A. Certain numbers do have Scriptural…
Q. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after His birth. A Christian author I recently read wrote that Jewish circumcision in this case was a “cultural preference,” as was…
Q. Is it wrong for Christians to use the word “X-mas”? A. Scripture doesn’t address the specific issue. But shouldn’t we believers use every opportunity to name the name of…
Q. How could the Devil take Jesus places during the Temptation? How could they be near the pinnacle of the temple and then later on the mountain, when the Bible…
Q. Regarding Hebrews 13:2, is it possible that we could at some time have an angel visiting our house and not know it was an angel? Would an angel ever…
Q. I’m enclosing a page I read from a Southern Baptist devotional that makes this statement: “Christians today are the new Israel (Rom. 9:6–8).” Please comment. A. The “amillennial” and…
Q. A church without a pastor was given Jeremiah 3:15 not long ago as an encouragement. Was offering this verse legitimate in this context? A. The verse reads, “And I…
Q. In the Bible we find words like “sin,” “wickedness,” and “evil.” Are these terms interchangeable, or do their meanings differ? A. First, let me comment on the words “evil”…
Q. Should we apply 2 Chronicles 7:14, even though tied with Israel, to America’s spiritual decline as so many do? A. In context, the passage obviously concerns Israel, which had…
Q. What are deaconesses? If legitimate, what is their role? Should Regular Baptist churches have them? A. First, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches has no “official position” on…
Q. Colossians 4:10 (KJV) refers to Mark as being Barnabas’s sister’s son, which to me would make him a nephew of Barnabas. But I heard a preacher say he was…
Q. Did Jesus ever baptize anyone? My impression was that He didn’t, but I came across John 3:22. A. John 3:22 reads, “After these things Jesus and His disciples came…
Q. Please comment on Matthew 17:52 and 53, which says that people were coming out of their graves and seeing people upon Jesus’ death. A. Verses 51–53 read, Then, behold,…
Q. How could someone tear out a roof, as recorded in Mark 2:1‒12? That seems outlandish. A. Roofs of houses in that time were flat and made of materials that…
Q. Did the writers of Scripture know they were being inspired of God as they wrote? I’m not asking if they were inspired; we know they were. Also, please deal…
Q. If Lot was vexed by living in Sodom, as the Bible says, why didn’t he get out of there? How could he be considered righteous? A. Writing under inspiration…
Q. Please comment on the prophetic implications of the recent tragedy in America. A. Many people are asking your question. An item in USA Today on September 24 notes that…
Q. How do you reconcile Matthew 16:18b with Revelation 3:16? A. Matthew 16:18b reads, “On this rock [Jesus Christ] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall…
Q. What does Proverbs 11:1 mean? A. The verse reads, “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” I have heard people…
Q. Why did Jesus not do similar miracles to feeding the 5,000 (see Luke 9:12–17) on occasions when the disciples would have to buy food to eat (John 4:8)? A….
Q. I’m concerned about criticism being made about the doctrine of the coming rapture of believers. The critics call the event “secret.” They also say that it is a new…
Q. Could Jesus have sinned? (I’m not asking, Did He sin?) A. Your question could be answered in one simple statement: Jesus is God; therefore, He could not have sinned….
Q. On what basis did Pontius Pilate, from his vantage point as an unbeliever, insist that he found no fault with Jesus? Also, why did Jesus mostly keep silent when…
Ministry is no bed of roses—whether it be the mission field or pastorate, or whether it be ministering to 50 or 5,000 people.
Q. I’m totally serious in asking this question: Can we Christians anticipate having our pets with us in Heaven, since Heaven is a place of total joy and happiness? A….
Q. Please help me with 2 Corinthians 6:14. I know it deals with business partnerships, but how inclusive is this verse? A. The principle of separation on the part of…
Q. Please explain Proverbs 30:21–23. I can’t make sense of this passage. A. This passage in the Bible’s book of wisdom reads, “For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes,…
Q. As I read 2 Timothy 1:6, I am wondering what Timothy’s gift was that the apostle Paul referred to. A. In the context of his letters, Paul’s spiritual father/son…
God’s strategy for hot and cold wars Written by Wally Stephenson Article is taken from the March 2000 issue of The Baptist Bulletin. Christian Friction (1.95 MB)
Q. Someone asked one of the newspaper social columnists if it were all right, on the basis of Matthew 1:25, for couples to live together before or without marriage. In…
Q. In recent days I’ve been seeing Malachi 4:5 and 6 cropping up in literature dealing with present-day families and child rearing. Is this a correct use, context-wise? A. The…
Q. Why is God never mentioned in the book of Esther? A. The word “God” is not found in the book. Likely it is because the Jewish people living at…
Q. Jeremiah 33:20 and following state God’s promise that a descendent of David will reign forever on his throne. Why is this reign not evident? Could it be that England’s…
Q. What does John 8:15 mean? I thought Jesus is the coming judge. A. He is. Jesus had just encountered the Pharisees, who had attacked His record. So Jesus pointed…
Q. Recently I heard someone speak on Proverbs 1:20‒33, relating verse 28 of the passage to salvation. If that is correct, how can it harmonize with Romans 10:13? If a…
Q. What is the difference between cherubim and seraphim? A. Both classes are God’s special angels. Other than to make this distinction, attempts to distinguish them have been rather feeble….
Q. Does the Bible address the issue of cliques, such as in local churches? A. Yes, the apostle Paul, in his first letter to the church in Corinth, mentioned the…
Q. I work with a large number of Muslim families. We sometimes engage in religious discussions. Muslims view Jesus as a prophet or messenger from God but not as God…
Q. I was reading Matthew 27 in my Bible. Verse 9 mentions Jeremy [Jeremiah] the prophet, but I noticed that in the center margin there is a reference to Zechariah…
Q. In Zechariah 1:8, is the man on the red horse Jesus Christ? Also, the first several chapters speak of the Angel of the Lord; do they refer to Jesus…
Q. Concerning the Fall (Genesis 3), why would it be the serpent’s fault that Satan entered into it? (The serpent was cursed.) What does the Bible mean when it says…
Q. Please comment on Psalm 30:5b. I’ve heard various ideas on it, such as weeping over souls in witnessing situations, which will result in people being saved, and in our…
Q. When will the earth finally be destroyed—during or after the Tribulation or after the Millennium? A. Second Peter 3:10 reads, “But the day of the Lord will come as…
Q. At Christmas, we often think of angels, but with the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer during the Church Age, do believers still need, require, and receive help from angels?…
Q. I have a question about 1 Corinthians 5:1. Was this prohibition based on the Old Testament law? If so, I thought we are not under the law’s prohibitions. A….
Q. Did God, or does God, love the Devil, since the latter is a created being and God loved His creation? A. It would appear that the answer to your…
Q. Please comment on 1 Corinthians 1:17. Doesn’t it seem that Paul was giving credence to the idea commonly held today that baptism is unimportant? A. In this verse the…
Q. What is the meaning and significance of the expression “for obedience” in Romans 1:5 and 1 Peter 1:2? Is it speaking of Christ’s obedience or the apostles’ or ours?…
Q. I’m confused about this whole matter of whether some sins are worse than others. Please comment. A. In one sense all sin is equally bad in God’s sight. It…
Q. Please comment on John 2:17 as it relates to the Old Testament. How did it come about that the disciples remembered the passage? A. Evidently the Jews knew Psalm…
Q. Our GARBC Articles of Faith state under VIII (Salvation) that Christ is now enthroned in Heaven. Is this correct? I thought that Christ will be enthroned after the Tribulation,…
Q. Someone told a terminally ill friend of mine, a believer, that she should demand a healing from God to show she meant business and also to demonstrate boldness “before…
Q. I came across an incident in Jesus’ suffering that I had overlooked. It is found in Mark 14:51 and 52. Please comment. A. Only Mark’s Gospel includes this incident….
Q. I was under the impression that Solomon wrote Proverbs, but what about the names of Agur and King Lemuel in chapters 30 and 31? A. There are differing views…
Q. Does Titus 3:9 teach that it is wrong to pursue and trace our ancestry or family tree? A. Anything is wrong if it becomes an obsession, time waster, or…
Q. Please explain 1 Kings 19:20 in the light of passages such as Matthew 3:18‒22; 10:37; and Luke 14:26 and 27. A. The setting of 1 Kings 19:20 is God’s…
Q. Does the Bible really allow for a person to give blood or receive blood transfusions? It seems that the Bible is meticulous about putting a high value upon human…
Q. Is there Scriptural evidence that Satan can heal today? A. We need to understand a couple of truths about Satan in regard to your question. First, there is only…
Q. Why did God send an angel to Mary to tell her that she was going to have a baby? A. In Bible times God often used angels to take…
Q. I see nothing in Scripture that commands me to be a member of a church. What is your opinion? A. I point out lovingly that it is not my…
Q. Matthew 18:18 has put a question into the minds of our church group. Can you help us understand this verse? A. As with any passage of Scripture, we must…
Q. People in the Bible, such as Abraham, had more than one wife. Why did God allow such a thing? When did the practice begin, and when did it end?…
Q. Matthew 7:14 and Matthew 11:30 seem to contradict each other. Please explain. A. There is no contradiction. Matthew 7:14 warns that following Christ can be difficult. Matthew 11:30 states,…
Q. During the Kingdom Age, will King David literally sit upon the throne as a risen being in Jerusalem assisting Jesus? A. A number of Scripture references speak of David…
Q. Please explain Hebrews 10:22. Does it in any way pertain to water baptism? A. No, it does not. But first we must note the context of the verse, which…
Q. Please explain the “sop” the writer John mentioned as it related to the Last Supper. Why didn’t the other Gospel writers mention it? A. During His last observance of…
Q. In Luke 15, were the ninety-nine sheep lost or saved? A. Some people have acquired the idea that this passage refers to believers who are out of fellowship with…
Q. Please comment on Paul’s decision in Romans 11 concerning the relationship between the salvation of the Gentiles and Israel’s disobedience. He seemed to say that Gentile Christians owe their…
Q. I am baffled by the phrase “because of the angels” in 1 Corinthians 11:10. What does it mean? A. The context of 1 Corinthians 11:10 is God’s divine pattern…
Q. Titus 1 mentions some people who were extremely rebellious. Were these people believers or unbelievers? A. Only God knows hearts. I would hate to give a blanket statement and…
Q. Why did God tell Joseph and Mary to go to Egypt with Jesus when He could have taken care of His Son in Bethlehem just as easily? In other…
Q. It seems that Scripture often uses the phrase “last day(s).” I am wondering what it means in John 6:40. A. You are correct in your observation that Scripture frequently…
Q. Please comment on the word “vicar.” I have a friend whose church uses it, and I think I have seen the word in the Bible. What does it signify?…
Q. I would like to know about the unpardonable sin. A. The unpardonable sin occurred when Jesus Christ was living on earth (Matt. 12:14–37). Israel’s religious leaders were about to…
Q. As a retired nurse I am very troubled over Romans 14:12 in relation to individuals with severe learning disabilities, such as Down’s syndrome. Also I speak of those who…
Q. According to Numbers 20:22–29 and Deuteronomy 32:50–52, God punished Aaron by not letting him enter the Promised Land. Why did He punish Aaron for the incident at the waters…
Q. We appreciated your answers to the questions that were asked in the April 1997 Baptist Bulletin on the book of Job. The question we would ask is, Could it…
Q. Please comment on how we should cope with Satan. The Bible in some places tells us to be bold in dealing with him. In other places, such as Jude…
Q. I am confused over Revelation 7. Who does the chapter refer to, Jews or Gentiles? Also it sounds as though they are saved during the Great Tribulation. I thought…
Q. I have an acquaintance who believes that a speaker (pastor, Sunday School teacher, and so on) is sinning if he doesn’t include the gospel in every message. Does the…
Q. If smoking is wrong, why did God create the tobacco plant in the first place? A. Your question is particularly relevant to our times, as smoking is again the…
Q. Please explain Isaiah 45:7. It sounds as though God is responsible for evil. Also, I have a question about Acts 27:35 and 36. Was this communion? A. Isaiah 45:7…
Q. Please comment on Job 1:6 and 7. Where did the event recorded in these verses take place? Does Satan normally associate with the “sons of God”? Does God regularly…
Q. Please comment on the various kingdoms of the Bible, as they are somewhat confusing. For example, I want to know the difference between the “kingdom of God” and “kingdom…
Q. I am confused about Hebrews 9:27. It seems to contradict Christ’s raising of Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus surely must have died twice. A. We must be extremely prudent…
Q. Acts 4 (vv. 36, 37) reveals that Barnabas, a Levite, owned land. I thought Levities were forbidden this privilege. A. The Levites, the priestly tribe, were under many restrictions…
Q. I was curious as I read the short book of 2 John. Has the “elect lady” mentioned in it ever been identified? A. Interestingly, the “elect lady” of 2…
Q. Please comment on Luke 2:36–38. Was Anna 84 years old, or had she been a widow for 84 years after 7 years of marriage? A. Verse 37 reads, And…
Q. Why are our churches getting away from the beauty of the four Gospels? What are the Gospels for, if pastors neglect this section of the Scriptures? A. I am…
Q. In 1 Chronicles 3:6–9, I came upon something I am wondering about. Did David have two sons named Elishama and two sons named Eliphelet? That would seem very strange….
Q. Lately I have come across some Christians who believe our society should grant the death sentence to people who are guilty of various sex crimes, such as adultery and…
Q. Please comment on Psalm 23:4. Does this verse refer to the time just before our physical death? Also, is it true that God dispenses a special grace upon believers…
Q. Why don’t Baptists practice the washing of one another’s feet? John 13:2–17 seems to indicate this was Jesus’ intention for us. A. When we compare the overwhelming support in…
Q. Is it Scriptural for a church to hire an unsaved organist if it does not have one in its congregation or to bring in unsaved people to perform musically?…
Q. Please comment on the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. If it refers to the second coming of Christ after the Tribulation and not to the rapture…
Q. Have I been wrong in assuming that the cock crowed three times, since Peter denied His Lord three times? Mark 14:72 indicates that the cock crowed only two times….
Q. Please comment on just who was responsible for Christ’s death. Were the Jews entirely accountable? A. The idea that one group of people (the Jews) killed Jesus is an…
Q. Please comment on the two passages, John 4:24 and Ephesians 5:18. Do they refer to the Holy Spirit or to something else? A. John 4:24 reads, “God is a…
Q. A sentence that truly puzzles me is found in Luke 17:37, where the King James Version uses the word “eagles,” but other versions use the word “vultures.” Why is…
Q. Please comment on the Old Testament practice of polygamy, especially since 2 Samuel 12:8 seems to indicate that God gave David even more women than he had previously. Surely…
Q. Why did God seemingly wait so long to send Jesus Christ to be born? A. God promised a Savior to Adam and Eve, the first people who lived on…
Q. Revelation 3:5 speaks of names being blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. Please explain how such a thing could happen. Also Revelation 20:12 refers to other books…
Q. In Luke 12:4 and 5, the Lord tells us whom to fear and whom not to fear. This teaching also appears in Matthew 10:28 in almost the same words….
Q. In light of the importance of trials taking place across America for a number of serious slayings, is capital punishment Biblically wrong if the person who committed the crime…
Q. When we pray, are we to talk only to God the Father, or can we pray to Jesus and the Holy Spirit too? Also, what does 1 John 4:1…
Q. I am a 16-year-old high school student. My best friend believes that a person must be baptized to be saved. Is baptism necessary for salvation? Is baptism necessary for…
Q. Please comment on the so-called sinner’s prayer in Luke 18:13. Should we pray this kind of prayer for salvation today? A. The “sinner’s prayer” is part of one of…
Q. In 1 Peter 2:12, what does the “day of visitation” refer to? A. First Peter 2:12 states, “Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against…
Q. Please comment on the matter of backsliding. Is this sin not an Old Testament phenomenon? A. The words “backsliding,” “backslider,” and “backslidings” are indeed found only in the Old…
Q. Now that coffee is at last listed with the other drugs, I would like to have your thoughts on how Christians handle this categorization. Nearly all the Christians I…
Q. Why does Mark 15:32 say what it does? I thought one of the robbers repented. A. The second part of Mark 15:32 reads, “And they that were crucified with…
Q. Please comment on Matthew 12:40, the part that says Jesus would be three days and three nights in the grave. If this statement is true, and if Jesus rose…
Q. In Luke 18, why did Jesus say to the rich young ruler that only the Father in Heaven is good, when He (Jesus) also is God and, therefore, is…
Q. Is it Scriptural for us to baptize people who have no intention of joining our local church? Are baptism and church membership prerequisites to taking communion? Can a local…
Q. We all know Scripture verses that show the vengeance of God toward unbelievers (2 Thess. 1:7‒10; Rev 16:8‒11; also Old Testament incidents and illustrations). But 1 Thessalonians 4:6 seems…
Q. Who are the two witnesses listed in Revelation 11? A. Revelation 11 teaches that God will during the last half of the Tribulation to denounce the sins of the…
Q. I’ve been thinking about the story of Jesus’ birth lately. Wasn’t it cruel of God to force Mary to go 90 miles in her advanced pregnancy on a donkey…
Q. On the cross Jesus Christ asked the Father why He had forsaken Him. How did the Father do that? Also, why did Christ have to “take on our sins”?…
Q. What is “praying in the Spirit” in Jude 1:20? A. First, I should comment on what praying in the Spirit is not. We live in a day when people…
Q. Does the Bible set any guidelines regarding the Christian use of computer dating services to find a future spouse? A. The Bible doesn’t mention this modern-day invention, of course,…
Q. How did racial groups originate, and why did God divide people into races? A. Genesis 10:1–32 indicates that all nations originate in Noah’s sons. Japheth’s sons have been associated…
Q. I am puzzled. First John 3:9 really hit me, and I don’t know how to reconcile this verse with 1 John 1:9. Please help. A. First John 3:9 states,…
Q. What does the phrase “Try my reins and my heart” in Psalm 26.2 mean? A. Ancient languages had no vocabulary for certain concepts relating to man’s emotional and soulish…
Q. If God didn‘t send His Spirit until Pentecost, what does Haggai 2:5 mean? A. This question gives us an opportunity to review the differences between the Holy Spirit’s work…
Q. Please explain why Hebrews 9:22 states that “almost all things are by the law purged with blood.” Why doesn’t it say that all things are purged with blood? A….
Q. As America’s government continues to pursue godless and immoral policies, is there a point where we should abandon involvement in our political system, initiate an alternative, or flee the…
Q. Please help me. I’m confused about Genesis chapter 6, which refers to sons of God marrying the daughters of men. Were these sons angels? A. You’re not the only…
Q. I have acquaintances who belong to a church that doesn’t require baptism before a believer becomes a member of that church. Is that practice right? A. Some denominations take…
Note: About five years ago I dealt with the subject of cremation in this column. Since then I have received numerous requests to run that particular answer again, in addition…
Q. What are the Biblical grounds for leaving a church? If a church is doctrinally sound but the leadership is corrupt, and if members took steps to correct the situation…
Q. Lately I’ve been listening to a preacher on the radio who claims that eating pork is wrong for Christians. Please comment. A. I will begin by stating that a…
Q. I’ve never seen or read the Apocrypha, but does this writing have any value for us today? A. Your question is particularly relevant at this time because a major…
Q. To whom was the gift of “tongues” a sign? Has (or is) speaking in tongues been an evangelistic tool, such as bridging a language barrier in preaching the gospel?…
Q. Would, or did, the Lord require or accept the sacrifice vowed by Jephthab—his daughter? A. Judges chapter 11 is one of the most debated passages in the Bible. Before…
Q. I’m confused by the term “church fathers.” I have wondered about men like Thomas a Kempis. Were these individuals believers? Are they our spiritual fathers in some way? (I…
Q. A Christian friend believes in a mid-tribulation Rapture because of 1 Corinthians 15:52. Is this last trump one of the seven judgment trumpets? Also, please comment on Revelation 22.2–5….
Q. To whom does the phrase about teachers who tickle people’s itching ears refer? If it refers to modernists, how can this statement be true? Their churches are practically empty….
Q. Does Proverbs 11:14 mean the more counselors you go to, the better it will be for you? How does this verse harmonize with Scripture passages that teach it is…
Q. One of your recent publications stated Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, but the Bible calls Belshazzar Nebuchadnezzar’s son. Which is correct? A. Both are correct, depending on how…
Q. Matthew 27.51–53 tells about people who came out of the graves after Christ’s death and witnessed to others. Did this actually happen? Who were these people, and what happened…
Q. I know someone who smokes and drinks. He says these habits are all right as long as he does them in moderation. He thinks that the Bible backs him…
Q. Is there, or isn’t there, healing in the atonement? Why or why not? A. Your question has been the object of much controversy over the centuries, including the present,…
Q. I have several questions about the book of Ezekiel. First, how could Ezekiel 4:14 mention Daniel when Daniel came after Ezekiel? Second, does Ezekiel 38:8 refer to Russia (Gog)?…
Q. Please explain Luke 9:27, which says that some will not taste death until they have seen the kingdom of God. Is that those who are destined for Hell? A….
Q. Is the writer being sarcastic when, in Proverbs 18:16, he writes that a bribe does wonders and that it will bring a person before men of importance? A. Whenever…
Q. What does Psalm 2.12 mean when it talks about kissing the Son, “lest he be angry”? A. The whole verse reads, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and…
Q. Isn’t there a contradiction between Psalm 37:25 and the account of Lazarus in Luke 16:19–31? A. In Psalm 37:25, David observed, “I have been young, and now am old;…
Q. Jesus showed His divinity by doing miracles. One miracle was changing water into wine at Cana for a wedding feast. From this act, can we conclude that drinking is…
Q. Please comment on Psalm 133, where David said that unity is like oil running down the beard of Aaron. That certainly doesn’t seem “pleasant” or “beautiful.” A. Let me…
Q. How do you explain King Nebuchadnezzar’s use of the term “the high God” and his freedom in verbally recognizing God’s dominion (Dan. 4.2), when twelve months later he continued…
Q. Please comment on anti-Semitism. I know some Christians who believe a Jewish conspiracy will take over the world, and the newspapers seem to show an increase in this type…
Q. Every now and then I hear Christians talking about building up God’s kingdom here as we serve the Lord. Please comment, as l have been taught to be cautious…
Q. When Jesus told the religious leaders, “he who is without sin cast the first stone,” was He referring to capital punishment? Jesus Himself was a victim of capital punishment….
Q. Why do we as Baptists overlook the Lenten season and yet observe Christmas? A. Let me deal with the first part of your question first, as the answer to…
Q. Is it true that not going forward for salvation in a church service invitation indicates pride, and the person is, therefore, not saved? A. We need to remember some…
Q. How can we imitate God as Ephesians 5:1 directs? To try to imitate God seems phony. A. Ephesians 5:1 indeed tells us we are to be followers, or imitators,…
Q. Recently I came across some material that seems to state that one cannot exercise his or her spiritual gift properly unless he has learned to exercise all seven of…
Q. Please comment on the Nicolaitans in Revelation. The verse that says God hates them seems like strong language. Is that something like the reference to God’s hating Esau? A….
Q. Could you please explain Romans 12:10: “In honour preferring one another”? A. Having dealt with doctrinal aspects of the gospel in relation to Israel in chapters 9—11 of his…
Q. If Satan can be at only one place at a time as I have been told, why do all of us as Christians say constantly that Satan tried to…
Q. Please explain Matthew 7:7. If the verse is true, why is it that prayer often doesn’t work out that way? A. Matthew 7:7 reads: Ask, and it shall be…
Q. Is it right for a pastor of a local church to call himself “Reverend” or to be called “Reverend”? A. It is true that we must be careful not…
Q. Please explain 1 Corinthians 1:29. Surely it doesn’t mean that we can be baptized for someone who has died. A. You’re correct. People often accuse us Bible-believing Baptists of…
Q. What does the word “selah” mean? I’m referring to the Psalms. A. The word “selah” is one of several musical terms in psalm superscriptions. These terms designate types of…
Q. I don’t understand verse 22 of John 20. I thought the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. A. This is one of the most puzzling passages in the Gospels and…
Q. Where do we get the idea that the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us right at the moment of salvation? I’d like to see proof of this. So often…
Q. Do we have proof that Hell will last forever? If so, how could God do such a thing? A. I firmly believe that Hell will last forever. Although Hell…
Q. Can Psalm 73 apply to malicious and nasty believers, as well as to the “wicked”? I have found that some Christians can be just as mean as unbelievers, sometimes…
Q. Please explain John 10.10, which says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” I’ve heard all sorts of things about…
Q. Isaiah 9:6 refers to Christ as the Prince of Peace, while Hebrews 7:2 refers to Melchisedec as the King of Peace. Since the office of a king is higher…
Q. Please comment on Luke 14:12–14. Why do people not do this? Even in our church suppers and banquets we never heed this command. I don‘t ever remember anyone preaching…
Q. I’m confused about 2 John 10 and 11. I’ve heard we should never let members of the cults inside our homes, even to witness to them. On the other…
Q. Why does Zechariah 4:6 say, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts”? Wouldn’t might and power be the same? A. They…
Q. Where does one draw the line between godly discerning as a Christian and the wrong practice of judging? A. Discernment to the Christian is the God-given ability to know…
Q. Your November question prompts me to ask another question: How can we justify the belief that the heathen are lost and going to Hell when they have never heard…
Q. Is the account of the wise men really a part of the Christmas story? Also, who were they, where did they come from, and is it true that there…
Q. Do you feel that Christians will be able to bring about peace on the earth and win everyone in the world to Christ? A. No, I do not. Your…
Q. Romans 9 gives examples of God’s sovereign will in making choices. I wonder about God’s selection when neither child had done any good or bad. Also, is this like…
Q. Would you explain why in one passage food offered to idols is forbidden, while in another it would appear sanctioned? Have some of the above passages been twisted to…
Q. Please comment on life in the Millennium. I have heard bits and pieces but would like to know more. Is it similar to Heaven? A. The Bible has so…
Q. Why does James use the word “religion”? I thought religion was works—man doing something in vain to attain salvation or favor with God, and here is the New Testament…
Q. Why did David call down the wrath of God upon his enemies when the Bible clearly states in the New Testament that we are to love our enemies, turn…
Q. I was asked this question: “Since there is no sin in Heaven, how could Lucifer possibly have sinned?” I didn’t know how to answer it, except to say I…
Q. I heard somewhere that the trial of Christ before His death was illegal. Please comment. A. First, we should make the word “trial” plural because He had at least…
Q. Please comment on finding God’s will in a particular situation. Is it wrong to “put out the fleece” during these times? I’ve heard it is, but I’ve also heard…
Q. I heard a speaker say that God doesn’t love one of His own any more as time passes than He did at his conversion to Him. I don’t understand….
Q. Please explain Colossians 1:4. It seems to imply that the work of Christ was somehow incomplete, although I know this is not the case. A. The verse reads, “Who…
Q. I heard a man in full-time Christian work say that he felt he had the gift of discernment. Is there such a thing? A. I do not believe so….
Q. Since there is a Hell, why do people take chances by having children? The Bible mentions many godly men who had ungodly families. In the day we’re living in,…
Q. I have a friend who believes that one is saved through baptism, and she uses such passages as 1 Peter 3:21 and Acts 2:38 to “prove” her position. These…
Q. Please comment on the word “apostasy.” I’m confused over what it really is and what we can do about it, if anything. A. The word “apostasy”—like words such as…
Q. Does the Bible teach that it is possible for believers to be ashamed when they stand before our Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ? If so, how do…
Q. I would appreciate your comments on Proverbs 22:6. Does this verse mean that if a child does depart, he was not properly trained? As you may guess, I am…
Q. Do angels sing? A. You are probably asking this question because we associate the angelic announcement to the shepherds with a heavenly chorus, when Luke 2:13 in contrast reads,…
Q. Had Abraham ever been an idolater? Was his offering of Isaac the same as the heathen practice of offering children on an altar? If so, why did God ask…
Q. Should we pray the Lord’s Prayer, as believers today? A. The Lord’s Prayer is found in Matthew 6:9–13. Luke also included a somewhat abbreviated part of it in his…
Q. When in God’s prophetic schedule will Russia invade Israel? A. Bible scholars have varying views on what the Bible indicates concerning this. Some have pointed out that this event…
Q. What is the significance of the number 40 in the Bible, such as when it rained for 40 days and nights, when Moses was in the mountain with God…
Q. What is wrong with tarrying for the Holy Spirit? Doesn’t the Bible tell us to wait upon the Lord, such as in Isaiah 40:31? A. We do need to…
Q. Will the Antichrist be a Jew? A. By the “Antichrist,” we, of course, are referring to the key person of the tribulation period, the seven years of unprecedented horror…
Q. Will the Antichrist be a Jew? A. By the “Antichrist,” we, of course, are referring to the key person of the tribulation period, the seven years of unprecedented horror…
Q. My question concerns the lottery. If a man has given first to the Lord, met all his monthly financial obligations, taken care of his family, etc., is it okay…
