Why Preachers Fail Morally

Preachers’ moral failures remain a depressing irony from which God’s people cannot realistically escape. From my youth I remember quiet discussions explaining why a particular preacher lost his job or why he no longer received invitations to speak throughout the brotherhood. These instances baffled me for years, having witnessed my own father’s character and faithfulness…

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Shortcuts for Bible Study

Anyone who studies the Bible has longed for tips that could reduce the effort needed to exegete a passage, prepare a lesson plan, or write a sermon. When an especially difficult passage or topic comes along, the time crunch feels truly oppressive, mocking your efforts and exposing your weaknesses. The expectation for the preacher to…

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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…

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Two 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,…

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Digital 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…

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The 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…

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The 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…

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A 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…

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An 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…

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Unity 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…

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