Simply Gospel

May my steps be worship. May my thoughts be praise.

  • Remarkable Reproductions

    In Florida, there used to be a Billboard on U.S. 119 with a picture of the Mona Lisa and the logo, “Remarkable Reproductions.” It was an ad for an art studio that specialized in creating low-cost facsimiles of famous pieces of artwork. You could have something that was close to the original, but was close. You had to settle for poorer quality, value, and workmanship, but it served as a passable substitute for the original. As Christians, we comprise our Lord’s kingdom, and Matthew 16, beginning in verse 13, we read of Jesus asking his apostles what others and themselves… Continue reading

  • The Benefit of Genealogies

    In Matthew 1, the New Testament opens with a genealogy establishing the lineage of Christ. Anyone familiar with the Bible knows it is full of genealogies. The first is in Genesis 4, and we have a tendency to gloss over these records. There is even danger that we may view these passages as mere padding or filler. Think about the individuals contained within those verses – their families, their cultures, their histories. I Peter 1:19 and II Timothy 3:16 both make it clear that God is intentional with scripture. He inspires the writers to record what they do, so this… Continue reading

  • Humility In Teaching

    Paul, in the Romans 12, speaks of being distinct and separate from the world, and our attitude plays a role in this differentiation. One element of our attitude is reflected in how we speak to each other – reflecting the humility we are supposed to possess. Paul returns to the attitudes and motivations behind our actions, treating those factors as every bit as important as the actions themselves. We should be careful how we come across to others in attitude, action, and speech. Humility should underscore all of these – true humility, not feigned artificial forms of humility. Our Speech… Continue reading

  • Sliding Toward Apostasy

    In Romans 1, Paul begins discussing signs that one is falling away from God. He describes at least some steps toward apostasy beginning in verse 21, and he does so in context of a larger falling away by an entire people. He describes the Gentile nations turning away from God and toward their own creations, but he begins by saying they once knew God. Each of us in this assembly would claim to know God, but the danger is that simply knowing is not enough. We might acknowledge God’s existence, but our actions betray a different master in our lives.… Continue reading

  • Grace, Sin, and Our Choices

    In the first six verses of Romans 6, Paul begins asking some questions regarding Christians and there relationship to sin. From these verses, we often teach the importance of baptism and its role in uniting us with Christ. We also point to these verses as evidence that baptism is an immersion, a burial so to speak. While these are proper applications, the main thrust of these words is pointed toward those who are already saved. The primary audience is composed of individuals already baptized. Dead to Sin The ideas of justification through grace and faith are consistently weaved throughout the… Continue reading

  • The Preacher-Congregation Relationship

    Another preacher once observed that there is an epidemic among churches in a desire for generic preaching – preaching that will not upset or challenge anyone in attendance. Unfortunately, this kind of preaching is little more than a continual meal of desserts. Also, in this context, many preachers are viewed as disposable congregation employees as opposed to a fellow brother in Christ. In many cases, the preacher and his family can feel isolated among the congregation, held at arms distance from being welcomed as a member of the congregation. When things in a congregation begin to turn sour, it is… Continue reading

  • Running Without Legs

    A Boy Without Legs On January 2, 2008, one of my favorite bloggers posted this short anecdote to his site: On the final day of a trip to Disney World with my family last month, I saw something remarkable: a boy, 4 or 5 years old, with two artificial legs, running around Mickey’s Toontown Fair in the Magic Kingdom. Running. If he had been wearing pants instead of shorts, you’d have simply thought he had a bit of a limp. He was born without legs, but yet there he was, galloping across the playground on a warm, sunny December morning,… Continue reading

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  • In, Not Of

    A couple weeks ago, one of our members prayed that we be aided by God to remember who we are and the example we set for others as we engage in the celebrations and festivities typical during this season. We do have the challenge of being lights to the world, of being positive examples to those around us, without being adversely affected by the world. While Jesus was on Earth, He was no recluse, shielding Himself from the world, but he claims in John 17:9-11 that neither He nor His disciples are of the world. He prays that His disciples… Continue reading

  • Wise Men Still Seek Him

    Like other culturally driven topics like the making of resolutions or the giving of thanks, focusing on Christ’s birth is relegated to one time of the year. In this, we remember the stories surrounding that birth like those recorded in Matthew 2, where we find the wise men following a brilliant star to Bethlehem. Surrounding this event is Herod’s plot to assassinate the Christ child and His family’s flight to Egypt. Many questions remained unanswered about these individuals. How do the wise men know who they are seeking? Where do they come from? How many are there? What did they… Continue reading

  • Stop, Look, and Listen

    Today marks the third anniversary of our preacher with this congregation, and those of us who were together back then had come to a crossroads in our spiritual lives. At that time, we studied about how to move forward from where we were, and we have indeed come far since then – achieving yet another crossroads in the step we are reaching in adding on to our building. Whenever we come to a crossroads, we should stop. look, and listen. Things We Should Stop We should stop arguments. In John 6, after the feeding of the multitudes, after Jesus walks… Continue reading