Take Courage: Lessons from the Example of David (Excerpt)

February 18, 2016 by

The following is an excerpt from the book, Take Courage: Eight Lessons from Men of Faith.

Take Courage (cover)There are a few lessons we should take from the example of David.

First, we must have courage to fight, no matter who we are. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about “our warfare” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Participation in the spiritual battle that will continue to be waged until the Lord returns is not only for a select few. All must be willing to fight. Youth does not make one exempt. Paul told Timothy, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but…show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12). Youth is no excuse for failing to do what God has called His people to do.

Second, we must not worry about being adequately equipped. Peter and John were seen as “uneducated and untrained men,” yet they displayed great boldness in proclaiming Christ (Acts 4:12-13). We may also be “uneducated and untrained” by the world’s standard, but we are adequately prepared for our fight when we put on the armor that God provides (Ephesians 6:14-17).

Third, we must not worry about who our opponents are. Paul said, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11-12). We have some powerful opponents against us. But we must remember that Christ is over all of them (Ephesians 1:20-21) and that through Him we will be victorious (Revelation 17:14).

Fourth, we must direct our fight against those who are the enemies of God. “We do not war according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3) because our fight is spiritual in nature. We fight to destroy “speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

You can read more about the courage of David and others in Take Courage: Eight Lessons from Men of Faith. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Take Courage: Lessons from the Example of Joseph (Excerpt)

February 11, 2016 by

The following is an excerpt from the book, Take Courage: Eight Lessons from Men of Faith.

Take Courage (cover)Joseph’s example provides several lessons for us.

First, we must maintain sexual purity in order to please God. We are to respect God’s arrangement for fulfilling these natural desires – marriage (Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1-2). But even without marriage, we must resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). When Paul wrote to Timothy – a young, unmarried man – he told him to treat “younger women as sisters, in all purity” (1 Timothy 5:2). He was not to flirt with sin and see how close he could get to it.

Second, we must be faithful to God, even if we must stand alone. Though he would later deny Jesus, Peter’s initial attitude was commendable: “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away” (Matthew 26:33). If brethren forsake, desert, or mistreat us, it is discouraging; but we must remain faithful anyway (2 Timothy 4:16-17).

Third, we must remain steadfast, even if temptation is persistent. Peter warned his readers: “Be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17). It is possible for one to be steadfast but eventually give in to error and sin and fall away.

Fourth, we must avoid sin, even if we think no one will find out. Even if it might be possible to sin with no other human being aware of our transgression, God will know. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

Fifth, when necessary, we must be willing to flee temptation. Paul said, “Flee immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18), and, “Flee from youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). This does not necessarily mean we must run as Joseph did. But it does mean that we leave any situation that poses a great threat and temptation for us – whether it be a friendship, job, city, etc.

You can read more about the courage of Joseph and others in Take Courage: Eight Lessons from Men of Faith. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Take Courage: Lessons from the Example of Josiah (Excerpt)

February 4, 2016 by

The following is an excerpt from the book, Take Courage: Eight Lessons from Men of Faith.

Take Courage (cover)As we seek to restore (or maintain) faithful service to God, we should learn from Josiah’s example.

First, we must be willing to change when necessary. No one is perfect. Paul reminded us of this when he said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even Christians can be wrong, as Peter (Cephas) “stood condemned” for his sin (Galatians 2:11). When we are wrong, we need to repent – whether that means repudiating sin in our individual lives (Acts 8:20-22) or correcting errors in the congregation with which we worship (Revelation 2:4-5).

Second, we must not allow ourselves to be enslaved to tradition. Though the word tradition in regard to religious matters carries an immediate negative connotation with some, not all traditions are wrong. Paul told the brethren in Thessalonica: “Stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth, or by letter from us” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). But we must abandon the traditions of men that are contrary to the law of God (Matthew 15:6-9) – no matter how long we or those before us held the tradition.

Third, we must not place family above our service to God. The Lord must come first in all things. Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Following Christ will sometimes put us at odds with those who are closest to us in this life. It is difficult to see these ties threatened. But it is far worse to be “severed from Christ,” as this means we have “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4).

Fourth, we must be willing to oppose error. This means we must oppose those who promote error: “Keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them” (Romans 16:17). It also means we must oppose those who practice error: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). Many prefer the path of compromise in their attempt to be more tolerant than God. Because of this, we will often face opposition, not just from the errorists, but from weak-kneed brethren who sympathize with them.

Fifth, we must submit to a higher law. King Josiah was certainly not exempt from God’s law. We are not either. Jesus has “all authority” (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, we must “do all in the name of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17). He will save “all those who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). So we must be sure we measure up to His standard of judgment (John 12:48).

You can read more about the courage of Josiah and others in Take Courage: Eight Lessons from Men of Faith. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Simply Preaching the Gospel (Plain Bible Teaching)

December 29, 2015 by

Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years

The following is an excerpt from the book, Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years.

If you read through the entire book of Acts, you will not find the apostles or other disciples engaging in various activities (feeding the poor, building hospitals, organizing recreational activities, staging music performances, etc.) as a way to draw the attention of unbelievers and generate interest in hearing the gospel. Instead, they simply preached the gospel.

Some might object and say that this method is not effective. Yet it was very effective in the first century. So much so that Paul told the Colossians “of the gospel…which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven” (Colossians 1:23). It can be effective today as we sow the seed and it falls on good and honest hearts (Luke 8:15).

As we strive to make the gospel known to others, we do not need to resort to gimmicks. We do not need to copy the unscriptural practices of the denominations. Yes, technology and cultures change; but the methods of teaching – the spoken word and the written word (2 Thessalonians 2:15) – are timeless. As we seek to evangelize the lost, let us look to the apostles as our examples, rather than the denominations around us.

You can read more in Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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The Local Church Needs to Be Focused on Its Work (Plain Bible Teaching)

December 28, 2015 by

Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years

The following is an excerpt from the book, Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years.

The local church needs to be focused on its work. Besides the fact that such “fellowship meals” are unauthorized (as we have already noticed), adding works like this to the church distracts from the God-given work of evangelism, edification, and limited benevolence. When Paul wrote to Timothy about the care for certain widows, he said, “If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed” (1 Timothy 5:16). Caring for all widows was good. However, Paul said that only certain widows were to be cared for on an ongoing basis by the church. If a widow had family, those family members were to care for her. Why? So that the church would “not be burdened,” because this would distract it from its work of caring for “widows indeed.”

A similar principle is found in the record of the early days of the church in Jerusalem. When certain widows were being neglected, the apostles called upon the congregation to select certain men to handle this work. Why could the apostles not help these widows themselves? They said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables” (Acts 6:2). The apostles were charged by Christ to preach (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20). While it was important that those in need were cared for, it would hinder the apostles’ work for them to do it. This principle applies to the local church. The works of evangelism (1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 1:8) and edification (Ephesians 4:11-16) are ongoing. Placing additional works upon the church which the Lord never authorized the church to do not only violates the New Testament pattern (2 Timothy 1:13), but it also hinders these other works.

You can read more in Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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