FrontLine
Restoring a Sinning Brother
Ron Allen Galatians 6:1–5 deals with the subject of restoring a sinning brother. When a brother is caught up in a sinful situation, the Spirit-controlled believer is commanded to help mend or repair or restore his fellow Christian. As the Apostle Paul enlarges upon this subject, he makes two statements that seem to rival one…
Read MoreSketches of Non-Conformists (1)
Mark Minnick This is Part One ♦ Part Two ♦ Part Three August 24 this year marked the three-hundred fortieth anniversary of the infamous 1662 ejection of nonconforming English and Scottish ministers from their pulpits. Some 2,000 English and 300 Scottish ministers, nearly one-quarter of all ordained pastors in those countries, were forcibly put out…
Read MoreThe First Russian Baptists
Rick Barry The last decade [pre-2002] has seen almost unprecedented opportunities for Christian ministry in Russia. Today, Russian churches— including Baptist churches—enjoy freedoms that they could scarcely dream of for most of the 20th century as they endured the storms of communistic persecution. But the question arises, just where did those Russian Baptist churches come…
Read MoreProvidential Dullness? Luke 18:34
Layton Talbert The writers of the synoptic Gospels record three occasions on which the Lord Jesus explicitly forewarned his disciples of His approaching betrayal, death and resurrection. (See a harmony of the Gospels to compare the exact parallel passages.) The first occasion prompted Peter’s rebuke of the Lord and the Lord’s rebuke in reply (Mt.16/…
Read MoreA Closer Look at the Great Commission
Gene Gurganus Most organizations, businesses, and companies prepare a policy statement publishing their reason for existence and what they wish to accomplish. For example, my home church simply and eloquently expresses it thus: “Our purpose is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by bringing the saints into a closer fellowship with God and with one…
Read MoreThe Christian’s Bragging Right
Randy Fox The boaster’s goal is to leave his listener with a favorable impression about himself. He recalls his achievements, drops names, and may even engage in belittling others. He may speak loudly in the hope that he will have as wide an audience as possible. We can all understand the Bible’s condemnation of bragging.…
Read MoreKeep Your Family in a Bible-Preaching Church
John Vaughn Several issues ago, Dr. Mark Minnick featured an article about the importance of preaching on preaching. That article really spoke to my heart so I prepared a sermon for my people called, “The Importance of Preaching.” Dr. Bell heard me preach it at an FBFI meeting in Puerto Rico, and asked me to…
Read MoreSeeking the Fruit: The Use and Misuse of Paul’s List in Galatians 5
Kevin Schaal Have you ever watched a tree strain and groan to produce fruit? Of course not! A healthy tree connected to proper nourishment naturally produces fruit. The apostle Paul uses this analogy when discussing the fruit of the Spirit-filled life in Galatians 5. The primary error in the interpretation of the “fruit of the…
Read MoreThe Importance of Worship
Dennis L. Peterson Today’s world is characterized by hustle and bustle. Everyone, it seems, is in a hurry to get somewhere or do something. This is the age of the “instant.” Microwave ovens, personal computers, e-mail, the Internet, and other “get-it-quick” time-savers have only increased our desire for instant gratification. And when delays keep us…
Read MoreChurch Unity or Church Purity?
Bud Talbert It was June of 1962. The place? The legendary Westminster Chapel in London, England. The keynote speaker was the host of the Westminster’s Ministers’ Fellowship, Dr. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He began, No question is receiving so much attention at the present time in all branches and divisions of the Christian church as the…
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