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Christian Communicators Worldwide: The Impetus to Do It
This year Christian Communicators Worldwide is 40 years old. Before the inauguration of the CCW ministry, the elderly J. Oswald Sanders came into my life. I had read his writing, but Pam and I had the privilege of having him in our home in Little Rock, where I had asked him to address leaders in the area and our church. The timing was perfect because I was going through a decision process that would change my future dramatically. Dr. Sanders…
How My Congregation Worshiped and Edified One Another One Sunday in March
Tim Challies has occasionally written posts over the years that are titled, “How We Worshiped One Sunday,” followed by “in (name of the month).” I enjoy reading those and appreciate his church’s intentionality and love for the gospel. From what I can tell, it’s a wonderful body of believers. I thought it might be interesting to follow his example and share what happened in my church on a recent Sunday. Why? Though we believe the same gospel as Challies’ church…
Two Angels on a Bloodied Slab
Guest Author: Brian Verrett Peter and John raced to the tomb to look for their Lord (John 20:3–4). Though John won the race, Peter stooped and looked into the tomb seeing only linen cloths, a face cloth, and empty space (vv. 4–7). John then looked, saw the same, and went home with Peter (vv. 8–10). Mary remained outside the tomb weeping (v. 11). When she looked into the tomb, she saw more than empty space. Surprisingly, “she saw two angels…
The Cause Is Still As Dear
There are a some followers of Christ who laid it all down in the battlefield. Most of them are unknown. Not all had the same opportunities. But God knows who they are. Among them was my indefatigable grandfather, A. P. Elliff, who was still teaching the Bible until he died at 93. I want to be like him. Here is a short poem to call us to that kind of life. The Cause Is Still As DearJim Elliff The body…
The Fear of Death and God’s Grip
Whatever hard thing you are facing may turn out to be more frightful in the projection than the reality of it. Like all things that bring us fear, there is truth behind that fear, however. The truth that chokes us is that all of us will die (unless escaping at the coming of Christ). It is only a matter of time. We’re sure, as well, that our lives could end in an unexpected way. And, beyond this, most of mankind…
In A Body
What did the writers of the New Testament mean when they claimed that Jesus Christ was resurrected? It certainly was not that he only appeared to be resurrected when in fact it did not happen. That is, resurrection to these writers did not mean that he appeared in some apparitional way, or some imaginary way, or some spiritualized way similar to the kind of thing a person might say about a deceased relative (i.e. “Mother is here with us whenever…
Guidelines for Children
RULE # 1 WE ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH. "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight." Proverbs 12:22 "A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin." Proverbs 26:28 (New Jerusalem) "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life." Revelation 21:27 RULE…
Creating a Culture of Hospitality
CREATING A CULTURE OF HOSPITALITYBryan Elliff Church doesn’t just happen on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights. We all know that. In our busy and self-isolating culture, we have to make intentional, personal contact with each other if we want to be a real community. But how do we do it? Let me suggest one centuries-old method: invite people over. There is something amazingly bonding about being in someone’s house. You enter their world. You see their interests and their style…
Missionary or Missionary Worker?
Missionaries must have other workers, long and short term, to assist. Many of these will naturally come from among those who show promise as converts through the missionary’s efforts. Paul, though perhaps exceptional in his management skills, had 38 whose names appear as likely assistants at various times. He was always traveling and laboring with a coterie of faithful helpers. There could have been even more! Some of Paul’s workers were women (18%, according to Schnabel, p. 251), although no…
Listen Free to Wasted Faith
Wasted Faith Audio Book Listen to Wasted Faith by clicking “Play” on the black bar below. You can also download the MP3 of Wasted Faith here. Right-click and choose, “Save this file.”
How Scripture is Believed
Though the Scripture may be shown to be trustworthy by many historical and logical proofs, it is essentially received as true because of the revelation of God’s glory experienced through it. Just as nature reveals God (Rom 1:19-21), and some receive or reject his glory, so man receives or rejects the glory of God in Scripture. In other words, a man sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking a majestic display of nature has every reason to believe in…
This is WHAT DAY the Lord has made?
When we quote or sing “This is the day the Lord has made,” we aren’t saying that this very day, the day we are in presently, is the day the Lord has made. That is true, of course, but it isn’t what Psalm 118: 22-24 is about. Rather, something much more important is being said. Read it closely: “The stone which the builders rejectedHas become the chief corner stone.This is the Yahweh’s doing;It is marvelous in our eyes.This is the…
You Know This All: A Letter From Jim
Dear CCW family, When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, what were they thinking? If we could have interviewed them just before their sinful action, when their desire was still unfulfilled, what would that have revealed? More importantly, what did God know about their sin — and what does he know about our sin? Thinking this through can aid our endeavors to hate sin, a critical tool for rejecting it. Just the thought that God is not only aware…
7 Brief Reflections on Pastoring ALL the Flock
Acts 20:28 is one of the most memorable verses of Paul’s charge to the Ephesian elders: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for [to shepherd; to pastor] the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” These leaders (elders/pastors/overseers) of the church in Ephesus were responsible to pastor “all the flock.” What follows are seven reflections on that concept. First, the elders are…
Ephesians Riches and Blessing Diagram
This is a simple diagram to help me consider how God’s riches relate to his blessings in Ephesians. See what you think. Doing this in my meditation on books and larger passages of the Bible has been a sincere joy to me. It slows me down and forces me to think. I hope you will try it, even if it’s imperfect like mine. A side note: notice the second funnel called “Christ’s Inheritance.” Like the others in the diagram, it…
DO Something When You Are Maligned
When stressed through the ill-will or stinging insults and persistent opposition by someone who wants to cause you trouble, we know there is something to think. We are to think the truth about God and ourselves. We don’t take their evaluation as true, but only God’s. Also, we are to think of God’s loving and purposeful sovereignty over his children, meaning that difficulties can bring about good results in character and progress for the gospel. But there is also something…