The temple built by Solomon lasted about three hundred and fifty years and then was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, in divine judgment. Seventy years later, the Jews who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon dedicated a second temple, much smaller than the one Solomon built, and the sacrificial system was restored, as predicted…
Ecclesiastes 7:1 begins, “A good name is better than precious ointment…” The wise Preacher states that a good name is better than costly cleansers or perfumes for the body. What, though, does he mean by a good name? While I would like to think we gave our children good names — names that just roll…
Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his first inaugural address to a nation in the throes of economic depression. In this first speech FDR proclaimed, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” From a spiritual perspective, his words are not entirely accurate. There are some fears that are legitimate and necessary. However, FDR did…
From the moment God breathed into man’s nostrils (Genesis 2:7), it has been readily apparent that there is something sacred and precious about life. This fact has been consistently reflected and protected in the laws, institutions and instructions that God has given His people. Well before the Law of Moses, we find examples and commands…
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). I fully believe in the truth of this verse, but to my shame I have not talked about this verse as much as I should. I am saved solely by the grace of…
We at the Old Lamine church of Christ have subjects assigned for each month. Each speaker then takes the subject assigned and gives a lesson on that subject. A couple of months ago, one of our members set up the subject for the month and it was titled iTruths for an iGeneration. The subject that…
What if you went to church this Sunday, and after hearing the song leader announce the first number, turned to that page in your songbook only to find yourself looking at words written in Spanish? What if, then, you and the congregation (who don’t know Spanish well…or in some cases, at all) went on to…
“Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.” I was introduced to this odd little song with accompanying gestures somewhere between my twenty-third and twenty-eighth birthday. I had never heard children’s songs like this. What a fascinating character, this wee little man. Zacchaeus “was a chief tax collector, and he…
What are the chances that your children and grandchildren will remain faithful in the church? Not that good. It’s a disturbing reality, but the facts are hard to deny. Academic studies on denominational churches show that about 70% of all young people will quit attending church within 2 years of leaving the home. In the…
Just before Jesus ascended to His Father, He spoke to them the words in the title above (Matthew 28:18-20). He was handing His authority over to His apostles who would take the leadership role in establishing the remainder of the foundation for His church. His apostles would be leading the new church in teaching the…