If?
Read John 13:1-17 Just as large doors swing upon small hinges, so great truths hang upon little words. The word if, used three times in this passage, carries with it some important truths for the Christian. There is the if of holiness: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (v. 8).
Becoming a Wise Leader
Written by: Bill Elliff We would be foolish not to want wisdom. Wisdom is different than knowledge. It is the use of knowledge at the right time. A wise man knows what to say and do with the knowledge given and is the best counselor in times of need and decision. But there is a
The Right
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34 “Then he believed in the Lord and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6 Words mean things. It is not enough for people to use the right vocabulary. They must have the right dictionary. It is impossible to know
Don’t Be a Foolish Thinker
The word “fool” is used nearly 40 times in the book of Proverbs. Solomon used it more often than any other writer in Scripture. The word appears primarily in the wisdom literature. It was used to describe a person who, in general, lacked wisdom. Sometimes a fool was one who despised wisdom or discipline. According
What Shall We Say?
Read Romans 8:28, 29 Paul had been writing about the great things of the Christian life, including suffering. All of creation is suffering under the curse of sin, and even the most devoted Christian feels the burden of suffering in one way or another. “What shall we then say to these things?” he asks in
Imitatable Faith
Written by: Bill Elliff Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.(Hebrews 13:7) We all have heroes. Its tragic that often the world defines this for us in ways that are less than best. We follow men who are athletically
The Issue
“Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore
Drive for Show, Putt for Dough
I love to play golf. I’m not that good at it, I just love the game. On the golf course, I have one rule; don’t talk to me about church. Golf is where I let down, unwind, and get my mind off my job as a pastor. I’ve never been great at the game. I’m
How Much Is Your Bible Worth?
Read Psalm 119:72, 127, 162; Joshua 7 Don’t misunderstand the question. It isn’t How much did your Bible cost? because that is not important. The question is How much is your Bible worth? Because the way you value God’s Word pretty much reveals the kind of Christian you really are. The psalmist valued God’s Word
Believing the Unseen
Written by: Bill Elliff Everything in the Christian life, on the human side, revolves around faith. It is through faith that we enter into a relationship with Christ and through faith that we operate in that relationship. It is the primary foundation for our communion with our Creator. So, what is faith? Now faith is
Politics and Religion
(*I wrote the following article nearly 12 years ago, yet it’s still applicable today.) Does anyone remember when Jimmy Carter announced that he was “born again” and created a stir during the 1976 Presidential Campaign? Some say that the Christian community was so desperate for a believer in office that they were the deciding factor
A Man Has to Eat!
Read Matthew 4:104; Job 23:12 That’s right, a man does have to eat! But if he is going to be a whole man, he must feed the soul as well as the body. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” The outward man