Archives for November 2016

THE TWENTIETH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. As the 19th century began, many Christians across the spectrum believed that the original church had become corrupted and must be restored to its original purity and beauty. Thomas and Alexander Campbell believed they had found the key to doing that in the history of Israel. Just as God provided Moses with an exact pattern for building the Tabernacle, the Campbells believed that he also provided an exact pattern in the New Testament for his people to follow while restoring the apostolic, first-century … [Read more...]

THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. The New Testament provides the pattern for each of us as Christians, and that pattern is Jesus Christ himself (Matt. 16:24; Phil. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21). When God'’s people follow Jesus, they also become a pattern for each other (1 Cor. 4:16; Phil. 3:17; Heb. 13:7). Healthy teaching that is consistent with trusting and loving Jesus can also be called a pattern, and it also deserves to be followed (2 Tim. 1:13). In short, Jesus is our pattern, though he is also much more, and to say that we should follow his steps … [Read more...]

THE SIXTH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN. Sybil Short Fudge Dewhirst is a gracEmail reader and zealous encourager of all things good and of everyone whose heart is set on doing good things. She also happens to be my mother. Now in her 94th year, Mom fills each day with devotional reading, Bible study, praying for family both physical and spiritual,and more often than not, writing them emails to encourage, console, guide and revive. (She also has her hair done and nails tended, eats food, and does light housekeeping -- no wings and halo, just a mortal … [Read more...]