About 100 years ago, “speaking in tongues” became popular again in Christianity. It is often seen as a revival of the powerful gift that was active in the time of the apostles. But what should we make of “speaking in tongues” today? How should this phenomenon be judged on the basis of Scripture? When…
Principles “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). For Where Two or three are gathered together In my name Am I In their midst Further points
Let us make sure that we really get rid of the burdens and cares that we put on the Lord. There was a man who was traveling alone in his chariot when he met another man with a heavy load on his back. He asked him if he would like to ride with him. He…
The assembly represents the unity of the “one body” (Ephesians 4:4) in the place where we live, namely through the one bread of which we eat (1 Corinthians 10:17). It is, therefore, good if we also publicly present the unity of the body of all the redeemed in every place where there are a certain…
Unfortunately, errors about this biblical passage are still circulating today, which ultimately attack both the Lord and His work of redemption as well as the necessity of conversion. Some publications still talk about the “hellish journey of Christ,” even though modern theology no longer wants to know much or anything about hell in the biblical…
Main idea: Testimony (in the place) In the Old Testament: In the New Testament: Examples:
Once a missionary came to a tribe somewhere in Africa. He gathered all the people together and told them about the life of the Lord Jesus. All the wonderful qualities of the Lord were described, how He was with His people, and how He always helped them. One of the natives said to the missionary:…
Marriage and the family are not a “product of capitalist society,” as claimed by communism in the wake of Friederich Engels, or the result of a long process of civilization, but a form of cohabitation between man and woman instituted by God, the Creator, with the creation of the first human couple. The Creator described…
We would like to connect these two biblical passages that speak of being strong and working for the Lord. First, we see in 2 Chronicles that King Asa has just won a great victory over the army of millions from Ethiopia. Sometimes, after a great victory that the Lord gives us in His grace, we…
Main idea: Love and Submission Essential characteristics: Timeline (in part) until the marriage of the Lamb: Participants in the wedding:
We can well imagine that Paul was afraid (by the way, he was often afraid, see, e.g., 2 Cor 4:8). After all, he would now be entering enemy territory where people would hate him—a tremendously great task. The Lord calls out to him not to be afraid. And why not? God still had a plan…
“You don’t talk about money, you just have it,” as the saying goes. Interestingly, the Lord talks about money and how we should deal with it in many places. The 16th chapter of Luke, where the Lord tells the parable of the unjust steward, is just one example. Who is meant? In chapter 15 the…
Some Christians may wonder what 1 John 5:21 still has to say to us today: “Keep yourselves from idols.” In the 21st century, we no longer have the concrete danger of prostrating ourselves before figures made of wood, stone, or gold (at least not in our western latitudes). But John – and the Holy Spirit…
Main idea: Holiness/glory and responsibility What characterizes the house? What does order involve?
“Backslider!” What an ugly word is this! So ugly that we usually reserve it for those who have openly and flagrantly turned back to the world from Christ, but the fact is that the great bulk of Christians are backsliders. Every one of us who ever knew a day of truer single-eyed devotion to Christ…
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) A great mountain towers up before Joshua. He is to lead several million people into a foreign land. For 40 years he has witnessed…
In this series, we want to collect some Scriptural thoughts about a topic that is very close to the heart of our Lord Jesus: His assembly. Main idea of the assembly as the body: Unity and diversity Prerequisites for the formation of the body: The essential characteristics: General notes:
Paul once called himself a “debtor”. Strange, isn’t it? Weren’t the recipients of his ministry – and therefore also us – his debtors? “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.” (Romans 1:14). Most Bible readers would no doubt agree that many nations are debtors to Paul…
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:2) Psalm 4 was written by King David. We do not know the exact circumstances that led to this psalm. There were many times in David’s life when he…
The missionary J. Alexander Clark once saw a lion attacking an African. He grabbed his rifle, killed the animal, and took the wounded man to hospital. Two months later, Clark was sitting on his veranda, and he suddenly saw a large procession of cattle, poultry, and people with the rescued African on the head. The…