NEW RELEASE: Basic Bible Truths

Basic Bible Truths (cover)We would like to announce our newest title – Basic Bible Truths: Laying a Foundation for a Lifetime of Spiritual Growth and Service by Andy Sochor – is now available.

Basic Bible Truths addresses some fundamental topics from the word of God in order to lay a foundation for further study and growth for the reader. The book contains the following chapters:

  1. What Is the Bible?
  2. What Is the church of Christ?
  3. What Must I Do to Be Saved?
  4. By What Authority?
  5. If You Have Been Raised Up with Christ
  6. Studying the Bible
  7. Is Divine Revelation Ongoing Today?
  8. Is One Church As Good As Another?
  9. Worship in Spirit and Truth
  10. Grace, Faith, and Works
  11. Using Our Bodies As Instruments of Righteousness
  12. When Will the Lord Return?

These lessons are for non-Christians, new Christians, and also for more mature Christians who are seeking to teach these basic Bible truths to others. Read more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Truth Is Not Determined by Numbers

The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119

Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies. I behold the treacherous and loathe them, because they do not keep Your word” (Psalm 119:157-158).

David’s adversaries were “many” (Psalm 119:157). He considered them, but he did not join them. Instead, he said he loathed them (Psalm 119:158).

We should take this as a reminder to not be tempted to join the majority. Jesus warned about this in the Sermon on the Mount: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Popular opinion will change; but the truth of God’s word will not (Psalm 119:160). Therefore, we must not look at numbers to determine what is right; we must look to the Scriptures.


The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

The Sum of God’s Word Is Truth

The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119

The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalm 119:160).

This twentieth stanza brings together some themes we have seen throughout this psalm. We have already seen in this psalm that God’s word is truth (Psalm 119:43, 142, 151). This same thought is expressed elsewhere in the Bible. In particular, we should note the passages from the New Testament. In Jesus’ prayer to the Father, He said, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Paul identified “the gospel” as “the word of truth” (Colossians 1:5; cf. 2 Timothy 2:15).

The reason why the Bible is the truth is because it is from God. He “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Because of this, the promises contained in His word serve as an anchor for us. The Hebrew writer made this point in his letter: “So that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil” (Hebrews 6:17-18). We can have hope because God’s word is right and cannot be wrong.

In considering this point, it is important to note that the sum of God’s word is truth. All of it is true because it is all from God. Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Since all of the Bible is
from God, we can be confident that it is all true.

However, many will attack various parts of the Bible, claiming that they are not true, but instead are myths, lies, mistranslations, etc. This is commonly done with events like the Creation (Genesis 1), the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-31), and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (Matthew 28:1-9; et al.). Yet if we reject parts of the Bible – as is often done with examples such as these – how can we believe any of it? The psalmist wrote, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Faith comes from the word of God (Romans 10:17); but if our faith in the integrity and veracity of the Scriptures is compromised, where does that leave our faith? Regarding the resurrection of Christ, Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). If Jesus was not raised from the dead, our “faith is worthless.” In the same way, if we do not believe His resurrection really happened, our faith is just as worthless. We must always remember that the sum (entirety) of God’s word is truth.


The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

Error Can Be Taught Innocently

Success at Bible Teaching

Not everyone who teaches error sets out to do so deliberately. It is possible for one to teach error without knowing that it is error. Apollos was an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures, but he knew only the baptism of John until Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and taught him the way of the Lord more accurately (Acts 18:24-26). Paul was in ignorance when he was opposing Christ (1 Tim. 1:13). There are doubtless a great number of people today who believe they are teaching the truth, but who are in reality teaching error. For this reason Bible teachers continually need to take heed unto ourselves and the doctrine that we may be able to save ourselves and others (1 Tim. 4:16).

The responsibility of Bible teachers is great. Our own souls are at stake and so are the souls of those we teach. Therefore we need to know the difference between the truth which saves (John 8:32; 1 Pet. 1:22) and the errors of men which damn the soul (2 Thess. 2:10-12). We also need to help our students to be able to make this distinction and follow truth in the face of all opposition.


The above post is an excerpt from the book, Success at Bible Teaching. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

Daily Notes & Observations: “They Prophesy for Money” (Excerpt)

July 14

They Prophesy for Money

Daily Notes & ObservationsAfter condemning the rulers for oppressive taxation of the people (Micah 3:1-3), the Lord addressed the prophets who had the same “love of money” (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10) as the rulers. Money, rather than simply proclaiming the word of God, was the primary motivation for these prophets.

Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, her priests instruct for a price and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, ‘Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us’” (Micah 3:11).

Since their motivation was money and not truth (their claim that the Lord was with them and would protect them was false), these prophets adjusted their message depending on whether or not their audience would support them.

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; when they have something to bite with their teeth, they cry, ‘Peace,’ but against him who puts nothing in their mouths they declare holy war” (Micah 3:5).

For those who were willing and able to pay them, these prophets delivered a message that would be pleasing to them. But for those who did not support them, they responded with condemnation.

In every generation throughout the history of man, there have been people who were motivated primarily by money and were willing to compromise principles in order to gain wealth. The prophets were guilty of this in Micah’s day. Preachers can easily be guilty of this today — preaching a message that will be well-received by those who currently or could potentially support them. If a particular topic is controversial or not popular among their supporters, they simply ignore that topic — a blatant violation of their responsibility to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

Preachers must be more concerned with truth than with their support (or lack thereof) for preaching the truth. Paul told Timothy to “preach the word… in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Even when brethren would not like it and would “accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3), Timothy was not to compromise. “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Let us all, whether preachers or not, value the truth over every earthly thing.


Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!