Christian Life (Page 2)
Judge Righteous Judgment
Judge not that you be not judged. (Matthew 7:1) This might be the most frequently quoted passage of Scripture in contemporary America. At least, it’s habitually cited by people who rip it from context without any idea of what Jesus meant by this statement. It is a convenient verse to have in your back pocket to prove what you already want to believe. Accordingly, it is often used to advance moral relativism. “You live your lifestyle, and I’ll live mine.…
Opportunity Still Knocks
The following article is by Cleon Lyles and originally appeared in “Just a Moment” in March 1962. But it’s just as relevant today as it was then – I encourage you to think about it. – BP Every person can be what God wants him to be and do what God wants him to do. How few ever realize this to the fullest! It is not because there is something wrong with us. Recently I read this statement: Opportunity still…
The Christian Nation
This week we will celebrate Independence Day, commemorating the Declaration by the Continental Congress that the 13 colonies constituted a new nation separate from the British Empire. We are all fortunate to live in the United States; that is certainly something worth remembering, and we should thank God for this privilege. But that thanksgiving can go too far. A good example comes from just this past week, where First Baptist Church in Dallas held a “Freedom Sunday” service. They took…
Why Are You Idle?
Jesus once told a story about a man and the laborers he hired. He went early in the morning into the marketplace and bargained with his laborers for a day’s work. Late in the afternoon, he returned to the marketplace and found still other workers standing there. To those who were loitering while they should have been working, he asked, “Why do you stand here idle all day?” The answer of those workers was as inadequate as the course they…
A Family Resemblance
Today is Father’s Day. I hope all of the fathers and grandfathers reading this have a happy day. I remember the first time my parents came and visited when I was preaching in Spicewood. An older gentleman in the congregation asked my father, “Are you Bryant’s daddy?” My dad responded, “Does he owe you money?” That was good for a laugh, and the fellow in question never tired of retelling that story on me. But, you know, it is not…
A Wall of Separation
This week, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop, in which a baker refused to craft a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage due to his religious beliefs. There were a number of issues in play, but the Court hinged their decision on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission’s overt hostility to the baker’s faith. This is a very narrow holding that does not really address the larger questions the case raised, leaving many on both sides of…
Living With Joy
I read one time about an incident that occurred in a restaurant. I want you to visualize a man at a buffet style establishment. He is standing at the salad bar. Do have that picture? Now picture him covered in Thousand Island Dressing. It is running from his hair, over his glasses, down his face, all over his jacket, pants, and shoes. We are not just talking about a little salad dressing here. We are talking 2 gallons of Thousand…
How to Make Decisions
Toward the end of services today, we are going to honor our graduating high school seniors. They have reached an important milestone and are now about to embark on a new stage in their lives, where they will face many decisions that will define who they become. It highlights a point of significance for all of us: the choices we make are important. Throughout our lives, we are all constantly making decisions. We must decide where to live. We select…
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