Posts by Bryant Perkins

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands…

In our sermon this morning, we will explore the question, “What is love?” I want us to ponder a particular example of it here. The scene is Bethany, a village just a few miles from Jerusalem. The time is the night before Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city. In just a few days He will be arrested, tried, convicted, and crucified. And Jesus is aware of what awaits him. So what does He do this night? He goes to a…

This past Sunday was Groundhog Day. Many of you have probably seen the movie of that name. Bill Murray’s character, Phil Connors, relives February 2nd over and over again in Punxsutawney, PA. It is never made explicit, but the best estimates are that Phil spent at least 3 decades in this loop. How does he cope with this monotonous existence, when it seems like nothing he does matters from one day to the next? He looks for happiness in different…

I randomly came across an interesting article in a Facebook post this week where I learned that the supposed Icelandic translation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, first published in 1901, was discovered in 2014 to not be a translation at all. Instead, it was more like fan fiction: the author had taken the gist of the story, changed a good bit, and come out with something completely different. And then I noted, in response, several people had so cleverly commented with…

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. – Psalm 19:1 This past week, we enjoyed the rare sight of snow blanketing our town—and, in fact, the entire Gulf Coast. We relished spending all morning long out in it; from pictures I have seen, I know that many of you did too. And while I realize that not all of us might have been quite that excited about it, no one can deny the…

As Christians, we are people who are forgiven by God; as a result, we are to be people who are forgiving. The forgiveness we extend to others is a result and reflection of the forgiveness God extends to us. Paul puts it: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32). Of course, that is easier said than done. How do we put aside our hurt? Our pride? The key is in…

At this season of the year, we often are thinking about setting new goals. In conjunction with that, it is also wise to consider common pitfalls to avoid. Israel reached the zenith of its power during the period of the United Kingdom, when Saul, David, and Solomon sat on the throne. These kings have many things in common. They were chosen of God to rule his people. They were all men of great ability. Each did some outstanding things during…

It has become something of a Christmas tradition for me to print this article, written by Reuel Lemmons and published in the Firm Foundation several decades ago, not quite every year, but more often than not since I have moved here. Not only are its sentiments highly appropriate, but I get comments every year from those who missed it before somehow about how much they appreciate it; so I make no apologies for running it again. This editorial powerfully addresses…

I confess that I am behind on my Christmas shopping this year. Normally, I have begun by Thanksgiving and often have it finished by the beginning of December; this year, I am still working on it as I type this. I think that the lateness of Thanksgiving in the calendar this year has thrown me off my usual routine. But it reminds me that this is the time of year when we are concerned with choosing just the right gift…

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of…

From their emergence in this country in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the ethos of churches of Christ has been restoration. European nations had established churches: Roman Catholicism in many countries, Anglicanism in Great Britain, Lutheranism in Scandinavia. These were supported by taxes, given privileges by the government and, in some cases, compelled membership of all citizens. The New World offered an opportunity for religious freedom, as most of us learned in grade school. But that freedom came…