Church Blog (Page 24)

Church Blog (Page 24)

Will There be Degrees of Reward and Punishment?: Part 3

On the opposite side of the equation, there is the matter of degrees of punishment. If anything, the Bible is even more decisive on this issue. Jesus informed the citizens of certain communities in Galilee that in the day of judgment, it would be “more tolerable” for certain people of the ancient world (e.g., Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom) than for them (Mt. 11:20-24; cf. 10:15). The word “tolerable” means “bearable, endurable.” In the Greek Testament the word represents a comparative…

Will There be Degrees of Reward and Punishment?: Part 2

The Scriptures, in many places, seem to imply varying levels of reward for the redeemed. Everyone in heaven will be supremely happy, but the capacity of some would appear to be greater – by virtue of their sacrifices and spiritual development. Let us first consider a few passages with respect to Degrees of Reward… In speaking of the heavenly order of things, Daniel wrote that those who “are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn…

Will There be Degrees of Reward and Punishment?: Part 1

Before we address the question directly, some preliminary observations would be helpful. The Bible is very clear in affirming that God is a being of absolute goodness. The Psalmist declared: “Good and upright is Jehovah?” (Psalm 25:8; cf. Psalm 100:5). Whatever God does, therefore, is good—whether or not man can understand it (Isa. 55:8-9). God is also just. Justice is one of the elements that lies at the very foundation of his sovereign rule (Psa. 89:14). The Judge of the…

Thanksgiving Thoughts

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ Paul, the Apostle: I Thessalonians 5:16–18 “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton “When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?” ~ G.K.…

Have You Thought Enough About Sin?

I listened to her sob over the phone, “This isn’t supposed to be happening to me—I’m a Christian wife and mother!” The very sound of her voice made my heart feel like lead. For months she had been involved in an affair with a man she had met at work. A friendly chat had evolved into dinner, then intimacy. Now her adultery had been exposed. She was pregnant with her lover’s baby and could no longer hide her burgeoning figure.…

It’s a Great Time to Be at Burleson!

The Burleson church family has been extremely blessed in the last handful of years! We have witnessed several people obeying the gospel (I’m looking at you Dennis, Samantha, Jimmy and Carolyn!), we have been blessed with the addition of several young families (the Hunts are only half young!), the birth of children (and more coming!), and grandparents diligently bringing their grandchildren. We’ve been blessed with faithful brethren placing membership, looking for a sound church wherein they can serve the Lord.…

The Value of Knowledge

Speaking of the political opposition in 1964, Ronald Reagan, (who would later become Governor of California and eventually the 40th President of the United States), said, “The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.”(1) Reagan was likely paraphrasing 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw, who said, “It ain’t ignorance causes so much trouble; it’s folks knowing so much that ain’t so.”(2) And so it is with so…

An Introduction to The Church of Christ

If you aren’t familiar with the Church of Christ, let us introduce ourselves and our practices to you. It is our sincerest desire to emulate the church revealed in the New Testament, particularly as found in the book of Acts. We read in Acts 2:42 that the early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.” Some early churches departed from that doctrine, thus inviting rebuke and correction by the apostles (e.g., the letters to the church at Corinth). Paul told…

Relativism: Scourge of a Nation and Religion

Relativism. What am I talking about? No, not fusses or disputes among one’s in-laws or other family members. Oxford’s Dictionary defines relativism as “the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.” In other words, what is right for me might not be right for you. It depends upon personal experience and current circumstances. In fact, what is right for me and what is right for you may be…