Ironworks

     Are you thankful it is over? What is over? The constant barrage of political advertisements on television, YouTube, and in  our mail. However, if the Lord does not return first, it is coming back. It will happen again every 2 years just like it has since our nation's founding. There will even be special elections and local elections that will happen in the meantime, but now you can take a rest for a while. As temporary citizens of the United States, we understand this is the way our nation is governed. The problem we have though is that some would have the church of our Lord operate like the government in our own land.       Some congregations have imported a denominational practice of reaffirmation of elders. It was recently brought to my attention that a congregation in Arkansas has elected to do this. I attempted to ask one of their elders to describe the process and the authority by which they came to this conclusion. The Lord’s church mu...

     This week we will begin a series on the qualifications of elders. We know the pattern for the New Testament church is that elders be appointed in every congregation (cf. Titus 1:5). Each of those who would be appointed as elders must be fully qualified according to what the Holy Spirit has revealed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4, and Acts 20:28.  We are very blessed to have good and godly men, Bob, Jack, and Gary, who have served and continue to serve well. With Bob and Colene’s relocation, our elders have taken the task of looking at adding a man to the eldership. It is important that all of the congregation be invested in our study of such an important role in the Lord’s church.       When elders are appointed, they must be fully qualified according to the Scriptures. If they are not fully qualified, they must not serve in that role. A brother made the observation recently that it is easier to get a man in than it is to get ...

  “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” Proverbs 25:19 From time to time I receive a call from various denominational groups that want the congregation I serve with to purchase something from them. I have received calls about camp rentals, books, and most recently a call from an organization called RightNow Media. Sadly, this was not my first encounter with this group. I was familiar with this group because I have seen a link to this organization on the websites of several congregations across the nation. So why is this a problem? Please consider the evidence. What is Right Now Media RightNow Media, according to their website, is, “A streaming library of more than 20,000 Bible study videos for leaders to share with their people.” Seems innocent enough. In fact, we in the 21st century have seen that streaming videos have been very successful as a means of communicating the truth of the Gospel. However, RightNow Med...

           Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel.   And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree . 2 Kings 16:2-4                   When was the first time you drove a car? What about the first time you jumped off a diving board or gave a speech? After that first time, it certainly became easier. What about the first lie you told? Did it become easier? King Ahaz of Judah was evil and far from the example of David. Ahaz was the first to offer child sacrifices to t...