What must I do to be saved?

    Exodus 15 records a song which Moses teaches and sings with Israel after the salvation through the Red Sea. Chapter 14 records the historical narrative while chapter 15 is a poem based on that history. Because it is poetry, we should not understand its imagery to be literal. It is a poetic description of what happened. Let’s keep that in mind whenever we study biblical poetry. 

I WILL SING TO THE LORD – 15:1-6:

    Moses, inspired by the Holy Spirit, compiled and sang this song, along with Israel, to glorify Jehovah God. Notice that Moses is not praised in the song at all. He is not the one to praise. Jehovah God is. Verse 1 states that God “lifted up” the horse and its rider – these would refer to the chariots (14:26-29) of Pharaoh and God cast them into the sea. Remember, this is poetry, not historical prose. 

YOU OVERTHROW THOSE WHO RISE UP AGAINST YOU – 15:7-11:

    Having defeated the whole pantheon of Egyptian gods, Moses reflects on the unique (“holy”) nature of Jehovah God in verse 11: “Who is like you among the gods, Jehovah?” The implication is that no god is like Jehovah God. Moses is not stating that these gods exist. He is simply emphasizing that there is no god that compares to the True and Living God. He is holy. He is fearful. He is to be praised. He performs wonders. He extended His right hand and caused the earth to swallow them (ver. 12). Remember, this is poetry; it is not describing the events in a literal way.

GOD’S LOVINGKINDNESS – 15:12-16b:

    God led Israel through His “loving loyalty” (ver. 13), the people whom He had redeemed (see 6:6). God did what it took; He paid the price to buy (obtain) His firstborn son out of the hands of the Egyptians. It was by His strength that He led them to the “pasture of His holiness.” Moses will picture God under several different images in this poem; here He pictures God as a shepherd leading His people as sheep (see Genesis 48:15; 49:24). This pasture is a spiritual pasture, not a literal pasture. It is the pasture “of His holiness.” 

THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD’S INHERITANCE – 15:16c-18:

    God brought His people, His firstborn, and He “planted” them (as He had planted the garden of Eden; Gen. 2:8) in the “mountain of His inheritance,” a place for Israel to dwell (ver. 17). There was a “sanctuary,” a holy place, which Jehovah’s hands had established. God’s sanctuary might be Mount Sinai, the land of Canaan, the tabernacle, or the future temple on Mount Zion. Of course, eventually God’s “sanctuary” is found in Jesus Christ (John 1:14; Col. 2:9). 

    After Moses had sang this song with Israel, celebrating the power of Jehovah God, then Israel sang and danced. When you and I experience and are reminded of the power of God, we too should respond with singing in praise of our omnipotent God and His omnipotent Son, Jesus Christ. 

    And, we should remember that that power works in us to accomplish what God wishes to accomplish in us and through us (Eph. 3:20). 

Paul Holland

    What if… The federal government decides under the auspices of “civil rights” to require doctors and nurses to perform gender reassignment surgery (or feminizing hormone therapy or abortion) or assist in them, or at least sign a statement saying they would if the hospital administration required them to. Imagine… That the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department wrote a letter to our local hospitals (Hurley, McLaren, and Genesys) and informed them if that they did not require all their doctors and nurses on staff to sign a statement to that effect, the federal government would cut off all Medicare and Medicaid funds to that hospital? What would our Christian doctors and nurses do? What if…?

    What if the American Medical Association decided they would require the same statement – under the auspices of “civil rights” – from any doctor who wished to be recognized by the Medical Association?

    What if your state decided to require the same statement before they would issue a medical license?

    Like me, you probably think this is all outlandish – and maybe is not highly probable. But it is not impossible.

    If these things concern you, the book of Revelation has something to say to you.

    In 2023, we are going to study the last book of God’s word, the book of Revelation and I will point out some “rich realities from Revelation” that will encourage and inspire us as we try to stay faithful to Jesus Christ.

    Against Rome, against persecution, against challenges to their faith, John’s message to those Christians in the first century was that faith and obedience to Jesus Christ will bring “victory.” The verb “to be victorious” or “to overcome” is used 17 times in Revelation. 

WHAT JOHN SAW – 1:12-16:

    The description of Jesus shared here in this text is the description of God from the book of Daniel. Jesus has the authority, the nature, and the power of the “Almighty.”

    We see, in Jesus, glory, majesty, holiness, power, and authority. He had the power to rule, to command, to know, and even to punish.

    When John addresses the seven churches of Christ in chapters 2-3, he will use descriptions of Jesus which come from this text.

    Jesus was standing in the middle of His churches. The seven lamp stands represent the seven churches (verse 20). Jesus is always and has always been  among His people. He will never leave us nor forsake us. 

    The robe and sash indicate royalty.

    The white symbolizes purity and holiness.

    The eyes portray penetrating knowledge.

    The bronze pictures strength and stability.

    The seven “stars” are seven angels of the seven churches (ver. 20). Out of Jesus’ mouth came a sharp sword with two edges. Jesus’ offensive weapon has always been the power of His word – whether that power is found in the blessings of the gospel or in the curses of divine judgment. Jesus exercises all power through His spoken word. That’s why it is so important for us to trust that word and build our lives on that word.

WHOM JOHN SAW – 1:17-20:

    John reacted with fear and fell down as if he were dead. Jesus laid his hand on John and said, “Do not be afraid.”

    Then Jesus used the same expression for Himself that God used of Himself in verse 8: “I am the first and the last.” That means Jesus was present before the Roman Empire started and He will be present when the Roman Empire is destroyed. We could insert “USA” in that statement too: Jesus is present before the USA started and He will be present when the USA is destroyed.

    Jesus is the “living One,” meaning that He “was dead, but behold, I am alive forevermore.” That was important for Christians in the first century to keep in mind because they might be killed for their faith. Jesus was killed for His faith. But, as John wrote in 1:5, Jesus was the “faithful witness.” He calls on us to stand on His truth and to do so, as He did, faithfully.

    Jesus has the “keys of death and of Hades.” In other words, there was no reason for the Christians to fear Greek gods like Hades. Jesus controlled the unseen world and He controlled who would die and where they would spend eternity. He has all power. 

    Therefore, for a second time (1:11, 19), Jesus commands John to write what He sees in His vision – things that had happened in the past; things that were going to be happening in the present; things that would happen in the future.

    Then in verse 20, John identifies for us the meaning of the symbols of the lamp stands and the stars. The lamp stands, shining the light of Christ in their respective communities. And the stars symbolize the “angels” of the churches. In Matthew 18:10, Jesus alludes to His followers having “angels” who are constantly in the presence of the Father. Here, it appears that congregations of Jesus’ followers also have “angels” who are constantly in the presence of the Father. It seems to mean that these “angels” are a metaphor denoting the idea that Jesus knows exactly what is going on in every congregation of His people – for better or for worse. In chapters 2-3, Jesus will encourage and correct those seven congregations of His people. 

    Rich reality from Revelation #1: Jesus is: The Loving One. The Faithful One. The Ruling One. The Glorious One. The Coming One. The All-Powerful One.

Paul Holland

The great golfer, Ben Hogan, had many failures at the beginning of his career. After playing a few tournaments and winning nothing, he would end up broke and have to return home to Texas. He was never discouraged and kept working on his game.  He said his motto back then was; “Yesterdays gone, that’s why they report it in the newspapers.”

As we enter a New Year, forget the failures and regrets of last year.  Look to the hope of today.  Don’t be like Job’s friends who looked only to “past generations” and lamented, “For we are only of yesterday and know nothing” (Job 8: 8,9). Instead, recall the words of Paul as he announced, “One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind”, he joyfully proclaimed, “I look forward to what lies ahead” (Ph. 3:13).

What a blessing we now have: the New Year to look forward to! Think of the challenges, goals, opportunities, and successes that lay before us for the taking. Ben Hogan would end his career having won sixty-four tournaments, including nine Majors. His early failures can only be found in yesterday’s newspapers. Let it be true for us as well as we eagerly welcome in a new year.

-Dennis Doughty

According to Genesis 1, God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days. This is likely the most frequently attacked chapter in all of the Bible. That makes sense, because if doubt can be cast on the first page of the Bible, how much can the rest be trusted? Let’s spend a few minutes considering whether or not Genesis one makes sense and is reasonable.

First of all, the idea that a well-ordered creation came from an All-wise and All-powerful Being certainly makes sense. In fact, it makes much more sense than everything coming into existence through nothing (neither mind nor matter). If there was ever a time when absolutely nothing existed, then nothing would exist today. Science itself testifies to this simple truth.  The fact that intelligent and complex life does exist today testifies to a Creator who is more intelligent and more complex than man and the world which He created. The painter is greater than the painting!

Secondly, the order of creation makes sense. Light and darkness (and hence, day and night) were features of the very first day (see v. 5). From the very beginning of the world this simple measure of time has been present. It is unlikely that modern science has fully comprehended the benefit of this most basic cycle of time. Additionally, the Genesis account places the creation of the sun and other luminaries as coming to be on day four, the day after trees and other plant life came to be. Thus, there was no depravation of the sun’s rays from the very onset of plant life. Noteworthy also is that man and animals were created on the final creation day, day six, which makes perfect sense because food sources were already in place in the fully prepared habitation that God created for them.

Thirdly, a literal six days of creation makes sense. The natural reading of Genesis 1, especially pertaining to the numbering of the days, as well as these days being constituted of day and night (see v. 5), suggests nothing but literal 24 hour periods of time. Genesis 2:4, at first glance, seems to both negate what we have just said and support it as well. Moses says there, “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” The word “generations” here could rightly be translated “account” or “history.” Verse 4 is not suggesting that creation actually took place over thousands or millions of years as some assert. In fact, such an interpretation runs into a problem, as we noted, even within this verse. Please observe that if these days are not literal days, but vast periods of time, then we run into catastrophic problems concerning the sustainability of plant life. Suffice it to say, the Bible references a creation week, or creation in six literal days, as is also referenced in Exodus 20:11 (see also Is. 40:21; Mt. 19:8).

In the fourth place we note that Genesis one alludes to the well established scientific principle that not only does life proceed from life, but life produces life after its own kind. Everyone knows that when dogs reproduce they produce dogs. Likewise the oak tree produces oak trees. And every one knows that oak trees do not produce dogs. The evolutionary model sees no problem with essentially saying that all hurdles can be overcome with millions and billions of years. How scientific is that?

Genesis one makes sense. The Bible makes sense. God makes sense.

Daren Schroeder

    Envy wants what someone else has, whether it is status, possessions, lifestyle, relationships, or characteristics.

    Jealousy is being fearful that something one has attained will be taken. Jealousy also involves a triangle – three people, one of which is the jealous person becoming fixated on a (usually misperceived) rival, who is viewed as competing for the attention of the third person.

Causes of Envy and Jealousy:

    The person may see only what God hasn’t provided rather than what God has provided. Therefore, one of the “cures” for an envious heart is contentment and thanksgiving. 

    We also constantly compare ourselves to others – financially, physically, relationally, spiritually, etc. 

    Pride also drives envy because we often feel like we deserve more than what we have. 

Expressions of Envy and Jealousy

    When we feel envy, it leads to a host of other sins, like resentment, competition with others for attention, lack of contentment, depression, gossip, idolization of others, and general dissatisfaction with life.

WISE COUNSEL

    The first time the Hebrew word “envy” or “jealous” (they translate the same Hebrew word) is used in the Scriptures is in Genesis 26:14, relative to the Philistines’ attitude toward Isaac and the prosperity of his flocks. The Hebrew word is used 34 times.

    The Greek word for “envy” is used only 9 times, for the first time in Matthew 27:18 relative to the Pharisees’ motivation for betraying Jesus into the governor’s hands for execution. Paul will list “envy” as a sin in Romans 1:29; Gal. 5:21; 1 Tim. 6:4; Titus 3:3. Peter will tell Christians to “put off” envy in 1 Peter 2:1.

    The first time the Greek word “jealous” is used is in Acts 7:9 as Stephen reminds his Jewish audience that Joseph’s brothers were motivated by jealousy when they sold him into slavery into Egypt. This word is used 11 times. About half the time, it is used with positive connotations with the meaning “earnestly desire” such as 1 Cor. 12:31. 

    The core to overcoming envy or jealousy is threefold:

    1. understanding God’s love 

    2. being content with His provision 

    3. loving others as God loves you.

    “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy; and all evil speaking…” (1 Peter 2:1). 

    Don’t compare your looks, possessions, jobs, or abilities with those of others but focus on being His child and serving Him with what you have.

Paul Holland

Our objective in this lesson is to consider the need for the content of our prayers being in harmony with the will of God.

John said, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 Jn. 5:14). Note that prayer is not a completely “blank check.” We only have the promise of God hearing (and answering) our prayers when they are according to His will.

Briefly we should mention two aspects of God’s will. First, there is the will of God which has been revealed in His word (see 2 Pt. 1:3). This is the mind and will of God which has been made known through inspired men (see 2 Pt. 1:20-21) which furnishes us with everything we need to know (see 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Secondly, there is the will of God (or divine plans) which have not been revealed. Let me seek to briefly explain using an example to clarify…

Sometimes when we are deliberating between jobs or some other decision in life, there may not be a clear “Bible answer” as to what we should do. Of course, it is certainly possible that God has a plan (behind the scenes), though He has not revealed them through His word. We may use the Scripture and be prayerful about our decision, but yet there is not necessarily a choice between obeying or disobeying the Lord. Even so, James says, “you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that’” (Jm. 5:14). The end is the same… Christians want the will of the Lord to be done! While this area certainly merits further discussion, our main focus is on the revealed will of God.

Certainly, we must not ask things of God which are not in accord with Scripture. Our prayers to God is not going to change what He has stated in His Word, and neither will such prayers be answered.

John gives such an example when he says, “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that” (1 Jn. 5:16). This is a somewhat difficult passage but the most likely interpretation is that the sin not leading to death is a sin a brother is willing to turn away from. We know that repentance and prayer, in such an instance, can bring restoration (see Jm. 5:16; Acts 8:22). Since this is according to God’s will, we are certainly free to pray that penitent person will be forgiven. On the other hand, in regards to the individual who is not willing to turn from his sin, there is no hope provided in God’s word for his forgiveness. God has a “will” that is established and is not going to change. Thus, we should not pray that such a person will be saved while in his sin. This is against the word of God and will of God. Of course, we should pray for the individual’s heart, and that he will come to repentance so that he can be forgiven  because that indeed is God’s will (see 2 Pt. 3:9; Lk. 15:11-32).

This admonition to pray according to the will of God presupposes that we know the teaching of Scripture. Otherwise, such is impossible. The better we know the Scripture, the more we can pray in accord with His word and the more assurance we will have in answered prayer. This is a powerful motivation to read and study the Scripture. It is also a motivation to pray in the midst of Bible study itself. The Lord has promised to answer our prayers as they are in harmony with His will.

From a different angle, what James says also impacts this matter. He says in James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions.” The problem alluded to is that the individuals spoken of are more concerned with selfish desires than God’s will. Such prayers will not be answered and such warped attitudes (adulterous attitudes – see v. 4) will cause contention in the body of Christ. God doesn’t answered “ego-filled” prayers (see Lk. 18:9-14).

A related danger to what we are talking about is saying too much in prayer. Of course, the longer our prayers are the greater likelihood of praying amiss. Remember that Jesus taught simplicity in prayer (see Mt. 6:9-13). He also warned against heaping up words and phrases (see Mt. 6:5-8).

Remember, the Lord already knows what we need before we ask him (Mt. 6:8). Even when we are incapable of uttering words because we don’t know what to say, the Spirit makes utterance for us (see Rom. 8:26). And we know that the Spirit will intercede according to the will of God!

But when we know the revealed will of God we can petition our loving Father to act in a way that is in harmony with His will. If we approach Him with a good heart, we have great confidence to come before Him pleading for His will to be done whatever that may be, even if unrevealed.

Jesus prayed in Gethsemane just hours before being nailed to the cross: “…not my will, but yours, be done” (Lk. 22:42). We should take inventory of our prayers and our hearts, that they are genuinely focused on His will being accomplished, not ours.

Daren Schroeder

When a former elder, Bill Maguffee, performed funeral services, he would often speak about the “dash” in-between the dates. How do you live your life, along the way?

JESUS ALLOWED INTERRUPTIONS:

In Mark 5:21–43, Jesus was on His way to the house of an important official, Jairus, to heal his ailing daughter. Yet in between, a woman with a hemorrhage touched His coat, and she was healed.

In Luke 17:11–19, ten lepers needed cleansing, and when Jesus saw them, He simply said, “Go and show yourselves to the priest.” As they were heading over to the priest, the lepers were healed.

In John 4:1–42, Jesus was traveling from Galilee down to Jerusalem and stopped off at a town called Sychar in the region of Samaria. Along the way, Jesus met a woman while sitting at a well. For the first time, the woman encountered God.

Sometimes Jesus brings “interruptions” in our lives, along the way, in order to guide us on the path He knows we need to follow. Remember that His ultimate purpose in our lives is to conform us into His image: Romans 8:29 reads, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Three Points in Living Life Along the Way 

1. Focus – “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense” (Proverbs 12:11).

2. Be Intentional. Wherever you find yourself, keep yourself in the moment and serve God as best you can in that moment.
3. Lordship: Follow Jesus and His Gospel Alone. Keep Him and His word at the center of your decision-making.

Focus. Be intentional. Follow the lordship of Jesus in everything. 2023 will be a successful year.

Paul Holland

It seems the obituary section is the most-read portion of a newspaper, according to data collected by Legacy.com. Something attracts readers to a page that exists to offer brief summaries of the lives of deceased individuals. Perhaps morbid curiosity drives traffic to the obituary pages. Maybe readers look there to ensure they have not missed the announcement of the passing of a dear friend or an old neighbor.

It could be something else altogether; in fact, I believe it is. The wise man says in Ecclesiastes 7:2, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.” The obituary section of the newspaper forces readers to face several truths.

Death comes to all. The author of Hebrews states, “it is appointed for man to die once.” Unless the Lord comes back first, we will all eventually die.

Death comes in many ways. Some people die young, some people die old. Some people die from protracted diseases, while others perish suddenly. Some people die in spite of their devotion to health and fitness, while others die because of careless decisions or addiction. The obituary section includes them all.

A person’s life becomes his or her legacy. While presiding over funerals, I have often said a person’s life cannot be summed up in a few sentences. I believe that with all of my heart. At the same time, I recognize that the actions we take impact other people. Others see how we live our lives. When we die, we often leave evidence of even those things we thought we might have kept secret.

When I was a child, my parents frequently took me and my siblings to the funeral home for visitations. We attended a large congregation, and one consequence of that was knowing lots of people, young and old. When you know a lot of people, you experience a lot of death. I hope it doesn’t sound morbid or disrespectful. I’m thankful my parents took me to the funeral home and did not shield me from death. I learned about how God’s people grieve and rejoice when a Christian leaves this temporary life for eternity.

Take it to heart, dear reader. Sometimes we need to think about death. We need to recognize that it will come, and it could come at any moment. And we need to know that when it does, our lives will be examined. When that happens, will Christ be at your side, advocating on your behalf (1 John 2:1–6)?

Clay Leonard

THE CONTEXT:

In Luke 17:20 and following, Christ teaches the Pharisees about the kingdom. The Pharisees, like the Jews in general, believed that Jesus intended to establish an earthly kingdom. But here He indicates that “the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (v. 21). Though the kingdom had not actually been established at this point, as it would come with power on the first Pentecost after the resurrection (see Mt. 16:18; Mk. 9:1; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; 2:4), the kingdom of God was certainly upon them (see Lk. 11:20).

In reference to the coming destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus teaches that one ought to seek to lose his life so that life may be gained (Lk. 17:33). In other words, they ought to submit unto Him. The events spoken of in this chapter should not be confused with the second coming of Christ at the end of time since the instructions given here will not be relevant at that time (see vv. 31-35).

At the beginning of chapter 18 Jesus uses a parable to teach that “they ought to always pray and not lose heart” (v. 1). This seems to have a particular connection with the coming destruction of Jerusalem, suggesting that prayerful living will overcome the difficulties that lie ahead. They should keep on pleading with a merciful God who will surely grant them deliverance according to His promise. The parable ends with the ominous statement: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (v. 8).

OUR TEXT: LUKE 18:9-14

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus gives here a parable, “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” It is not an actual event but one that would be fathomable from what we know about the Pharisees (see esp. Mt. 6). Jesus said these things “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” (v. 9). They were deficient in faith and proficient in ego.

Their deficient faith was based on their justification by their good works, which, in reality, weren’t so good! Why? Because their hearts were far from God (see Mt. 15:8). They were insincere in faith. Though their prayers were long and pious (outwardly), the purpose of their prayers was mainly for show (see Mt. 6:5).

Years ago I was engaged in a discussion about whether it was wrong for a person to raise their hands in the air when they were praying to God. My response was something like: “I sure hope they pray with raised hands when they go home and shut their door.”

Both of the men of the parable entered the temple to pray. The men were very different. Their prayers were very different. Their hearts were very different. These men were perceived by others very differently. The Pharisees were revered by the people, and the tax collectors were considered to be traitors. God saw things very differently.

The Pharisee manifested his self-righteousness in prayer by comparing himself with others, even the tax collector who was with him in the temple! He boasted to God about his own righteousness.

When the tax collector prayed he was “standing far off.” He was in a more humble location. He prayed with a more humble posture. He prayed with more humble words. Most importantly, he prayed with a more humble heart. The tax collector knew who he was speaking to. God was his true audience. The only words he spoke were: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Ironically, it is this man who went home being justified by God rather than the Pharisee (v. 14). Should we miss the point of this parable, Jesus clarifies at the end, stating, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 14).

In reality, though prayer is a major theme of this text, the parable is about humility. Humility, as well as arrogance, manifests itself in very different ways… ways that are always clear to our Lord. May we ever and always be mindful of our heart in worship and in life.

Daren Schroeder

” . . . I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” Acts 26:29.

Perhaps many of us recognize these words as those spoken by Paul to Agrippa when he told Paul that he had almost been persuaded to become a Christian (KJV). Have we ever stopped to think of what it would require for us to be able to make the same statement that Paul made to Agrippa? It would mean much more than being just a member of the church. It would mean that I could examine the type of life that I am now living, and yet be able to say the world would be a much better place to live in, even if every other person in the world were living that same type of life! It would mean that the universal church of Christ would be more like what the Lord would have it to be, even if every other Christian lived and served the same way that I do! It would mean that the local congregation of the body where I worship would be more active and more zealous in doing that which is pleasing to the Lord, even if every other member of that congregation attended the services, gave of his money, and helped to do that which must be done just as I do. Remember, Paul said “. . . I would to God, that … all that hear me this day, were … altogether such as I am . . . ” What a sobering thought!

But now, let us apply the thought. Are you a member of the Lord’s church? Then ask yourself this question: “If every other person in the local congregation where I am a member worshipped, labored for, and served the Lord as I do, what would this church be like?” We all think it is wonderful for the church to do very great things, but when the time comes to do, oftentimes “Big I” am not to be found.

– by Ray Ferris