Posts by Kevin Rhodes
What Makes a Sermon a Sermon?
While I have not polled preachers personally, I would imagine that they all believe they are preaching when they give lessons in the assembly on the Lord’s Day. After all, they are using some scripture, they are imparting biblical information, and they are doing so in the midst of Christians. They have studied for the…
Read MoreTwo Years is Too Fast
The spring quarter has found first year students beginning a yet more challenging slate of classes while the second year students realize that graduation approaches swiftly–with all of its accompanying pressure and excitement. This constant cycle in which we meet students eager to learn how to preach and teach the gospel, build their knowledge, skills,…
Read MoreDigital Devouring
Recent activity on Facebook–that social media platform known for congeniality, reason, and unity–has once again demonstrated how much God’s people have allowed the divisive attitudes of modern society to color and contaminate their interactions. Rather than exhibiting the noble attitude of the Bereans (Acts 17:11), the ignoble traits of politics and partisanship tend to rule…
Read MoreThe Power of Providence
As many already know, on September 2, 2022, my wife had open heart surgery to replace a failing heart valve and correct an aortic aneurysm. Thankfully, she is doing very well in her recovery and growing stronger every day, with life almost getting back to routine. That this is possible after only four months is…
Read MoreThe Faith of Moses…and More
During my recent course covering the book of Hebrews—while studying the well-known faith chapter, Hebrews 11—we came to the section addressing the life of Moses and a particular problem. In Hebrews 11:27 the author writes, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is…
Read MoreA Material Myth
We live in an age filled with unparalleled advances in technology. These have made it possible for people everywhere to have access to multiple luxury items that make everyday life easier than ever. For those willing, food and clothing are available at much lower costs. Transportation and communication improvements have created a society so mobile…
Read MoreAn Unfulfilled Life
Among common life goals people cite, wanting to make a difference usually tops the list. How people define making a difference may change due to the different interests and strengths people have, but people want to feel like what they are doing in life truly matters. Doctors, researchers, counselors, journalists, soldiers, politicians, and more all…
Read MoreUnity is Worth It
Spiritual unity remains an elusive goal in the Lord’s church. While some form of unity has existed for brief periods over the centuries, allowing a slight respite from bickering and controversy, these times serve as the exception rather than the rule. As such, they remind us just how far we have to go in our…
Read MoreThe Value of Virtue
Modern society has rapidly replaced meaningful virtue embodied in people’s lives with vapid symbolism rooted in identity politics. Rather than encouraging individuals to aspire to self-improvement, higher purpose, and moral refining, the wisdom of the social media masses calls for universal validation keyed to their own perceptions of self-importance. The problem Patrick Moynihan described in…
Read MoreWhen Success Runs Amok
My senior year in high school I had the privilege of being the featured speaker at the Junior-Senior Banquet. I was certainly not the first choice for the role, and I was absolutely not the best choice. At the time, I had no intention of speaking publicly for a living. However, I accepted the challenge…
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