The Prodigal Sheep
(Kudos to my brother, Clark Sims, for stimulating these thoughts with his lesson Sunday.) There’s no mistake in the title. I want to talk about the prodigal sheep. He’s the brother who finds his way back into God’s service after years of inactivity and without any help or encouragement from the brethren. Like the prodigal […]
Teaching in South America
I just returned from a trip to Lethem, Guyana and the Guyana Christian University. What a blessing to visit these good people and have both students and community visitors in my classes. For those who do not know, Lethem is located in western Guyana along the border with Brazil. It is south of the almost […]
Too Much Faith In An Election?
Did Christendom gain a great victory in the Presidential election of 2016? Some think so. Others are not so sure. Many believed the election to be a turning point, even a final chance for the nation to return to its Christian roots. The election is over and the favored candidate won. Now what? What […]
Paralysis: Satan’s Tool
Guillen-Barre is a slowly progressing illness that paralyzes people beginning in the feet and sometimes moving all the way into the chest and neck. It’s terrifying to feel your muscle control slipping away and wondering whether your breathing will soon stop. In most cases GB reverses itself and patients make a full recovery but they […]
The Thief on the Cross
Many have asked how it is possible that the thief on the cross was saved apart from baptism. Some use the thief as proof that baptism is unnecessary in salvation. Their thinking is in error as the thief proves nothing concerning baptism. The story of the thief is found in some form in all four […]
So Many People!
The United States hit a population milestone this year surpassing the 320 million mark. That’s a lot of people but it is still lives us a very distant 3rd in the global population race. Both India and China count 4 times more people in their borders than we do. Worldwide, there are now over 7 […]
Man in the Mirror
Who’s In the Mirror? Have you ever noticed how much sinners look like the man in the mirror? I’ve been struck by the similarities of sinners to Christians. I shouldn’t be. Christians are sinners too. The difference lies in the “no condemnation” statement of Romans 8:1, 2: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those […]
What Is Sin and Why Should I Care?
Preachers are fond of saying that sin is the universal scourge of mankind. We talk a lot about sin and its impact on our world. We remind listeners that sin condemns. But it may be that some people, especially those fresh to thinking about spiritual matters, may not understand the entire idea of sin and […]
The Real Cost
Sometimes we are reminded how easy we have it here. Aside from the occasional snide remark our faith is largely unchallenged. But not too far from our shores a preaching student, much like those at our Guyana Christian University, are paying the price for evangelism. A preaching student was cut in pieces in the Dominican […]
Reaching the Unreachable
You know someone that needs Jesus. Their life is a mess and chaos reigns every day. You fear their eternity yet they slumber through life with little thought for the Lord and his salvation. Can this person be reached? Are they beyond the love of God? Should we surrender? The Love of God Extends to […]
