Tag: love

2 Corinthians: Christianity Is Personal (IX)

Cooperating With God, Commended To Men (6:1-13)

Neal Pollard

We remind ourselves that chapter breaks are an artificial addition inserted many centuries after the Bible books were written. This chapter is a prime example. Paul is drawing a conclusion in verse one based on what he’s said in 5:16-21. As God “appealed” to the Corinthians through Paul and Timothy (5:20), Paul makes an “appeal” to them not to receive God’s grace in vain (1)–another way of expressing the reconciliation process Paul has just detailed in the last several verses. As the messengers of this reconciliation and grace, Paul again sets out to defend their work and their motives.

He asserts, “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry” (3). We don’t know all the reasons why their ministry faced fault-finders, but most who actively serve the Lord will have plenty of detractors. Paul’s opponents resorted to some pretty nitpicking and petty criticisms (see 10:10). I have had the displeasure of hearing elders, deacons, other preachers, and church workers come under fire from self-appointed spiritual analysts, and it usually tells me more about the critic than the criticized. But how much good work has been unfairly tainted by hypercritical people? Moved by the Holy Spirit, Paul goes to the trouble to counter these unnamed “analysts.” 

THEY WERE EARNEST IN THEIR APPEAL (1-2)

Seeing themselves as God’s ambassadors (5:20), they urged the Corinthians not to throw away the great gift of salvation they had received (1). He quotes Isaiah 49:3, where Isaiah also feels like his words were falling on deaf ears and he himself was rejected (49:1-6), to remind them of how precious this salvation is (2). Paul is affirming that they were engaged in ministry to help the Corinthians successfully cross the spiritual finish line. It was urgent! They cared about them.

THEY WERE MINDFUL OF THEIR INFLUENCE (3-9)

In no other letter does Paul so specifically and so frequently refer to the price he paid for serving Christ (see also 4:8ff; 11:23ff; 12:10). He was mindful of not just his exhortation, but just as much his example. So they commend themselves “in every way” (4): he lists ten difficulties (4-5), nine spiritual attributes (6-7), and eight contrasting situations (8-10). They put their work and their character under the microscope, asking the Corinthians to consider their faithful discharge of their divine duty. They understood that souls and eternal destinies were at stake, so they pursued their work with great carefulness. We do well to be mindful of our example and our efforts to win people to Christ and help them mature in Him, too! 

THEY WERE GENUINE IN THEIR AFFECTION (11-13)

Paul was moved by more than his duty to God. He unashamedly declares his affection for these Christians. While he felt they had not always reciprocated his affections, he humbled himself to ask that they open their hearts as wide to him and he and his coworkers had to them. 

More times than I can count, I have seen elders serve from sincere motives, spending hours and expending emotion, to help a struggling brother or sister only to have these men’s love and motives unfairly questioned. The same is true of other, hardworking Christians. Our job is to strive to live above reproach knowing we will be unfairly criticized. It is also important for the critic to take personal inventory, asking if they have considered the spiritual consequences of their maligning. When we all decide to pull together and work for the same important goals, so much more gets accomplished! If you’ve faced unfair criticism, remember that God has a perfect record of your deeds. Even if others misunderstand, God doesn’t! 

Don’t Be Hating

Gary Pollard

What is hate? In the New Testament, hate is μισεω (miseo) and has a few definitions. According to one of the best Greek-English lexicons out there, it can mean “anything from ‘disfavor’ to ‘detest’ depending on its context” (BDAG, μισεω). In other words, it doesn’t necessarily have to mean complete detestation. 

“Hate” is kind of a loaded word today. It’s been hijacked by activists seeking to condone depravity. It’s been a little watered-down as a result. 

Any rational person would understand if we hated someone for good reason. Our justice system has divided homicide into categories at least partially for that reason. They’re all wrong, but some forms of hatred are more understandable than others. 

That’s human thinking. The short version is that it is always wrong to hate anyone for any reason (Mt 5.43ff). What about terrorists who target civilians and use them as human shields? They are our enemies. What are we supposed to do for our enemies? Love them, pray for them (5.44). God brings justice on his terms. A soldier fighting these groups may well be that instrument of justice (cf. Rom 13.4). But most of us aren’t soldiers. That’s just an example, so apply this (minus the soldier part) to illegal immigrants, to the sexually depraved indoctrinating our children in public education, to the Federal managerial state destroying our country, and to any other group/movement/individual we might hate because of their behavior and worldview. 

It can be extremely difficult to do (speaking from personal experience here), but God demands perfection in this context — we have to love our enemies, we have to pray for our enemies. We don’t usually select random people as targets of our hatred. We usually have good cause! That doesn’t excuse a poor view of even the worst of people. God will deal with them, our job is to love and pray for them. 

Finally, our church family is never, ever, ever a place for hatred. Hatred (μισεω, BDAG) means “having a strong aversion to” or “to disfavor” (instead of giving preferential treatment). We’ll end by letting God speak for himself: 

“We know that we have left death and have come into life. We know this because we love each other. Anyone who does not love is still in death. Anyone who hates a fellow believeris a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life” (I Jn 3.14-15). 

“Love One Another”

Neal Pollard

One of my favorite songs, “The Greatest Commands,” starts with this imperative. As that song urges us, “Love is of God” (1 John 3:10). Having a divine source and being a command, it ought to really grab our attention. John explains by reinforcing why we should love one another.

IT IS AS OLD AS TIME (1 John 3:11-13). When a Bible writer leaves his own culture and goes back to the beginning, you know the subject is important. Jesus does this with marriage (Mat. 19:3-9). Paul does this with women’s role (1 Tim. 2:8-15). John does this with love. He takes us back to the edge of Eden, using Cain and Abel as examples. He implies that Cain killed Abel because he did not love his brother (12). He also is teaching that love is a work, not simply a feeling (12). He then shows us that Cain’s way is the world’s way (13). John will stress that following the Lord’s way is how we overcome the world (4:4; 5:4), and the Lord’s way is to love one another. 

IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (1 John 3:14-16). It is a characteristic of the spiritually resurrected; it is how “we know that we have passed out of death into life” (14). We persist in a dead state if we do not love our brother (14). Hatred is the spiritual equivalent of murder (15; Mat. 5:21-26). At the other end of the spectrum, we know love by imitating Jesus and being willing to lay down our lives for the brothers (16). Building that kind of spiritual bond within the body of Christ matters so much to God! He wants us eliminating negative feelings, dissension, grudge-bearing, and animosity. He wants us building a spiritual bond that looks like the heart of Jesus, a heart that caused Him to go to the cross! What a challenge!

IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAKE AND GENUINE (1 John 3:17-18). Saying “I love you” is incredibly easy. It is three one-syllable words. But our actions so often betray our claim. Do we literally put our money where our mouth is (17)? If we see our brother in need, whether financially, emotionally, socially, or spiritually, but show callous indifference, we need to go back to verse 10 and start reading again! The simple, powerful admonition is, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (18). In the context of works, James says, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jas. 2:14-16). Just like faith without works, words without loving action are dead and useless! It makes our “I love you’s” false and dishonest.

IT IS KEY TO OUR CONFIDENCE (1 John 3:19-24). John says, “By this…” (19). By what? By loving in deed and in truth. By loving in deed and in truth, “we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him” (19). Look at all the conditional language in these verses. We should have confidence of our salvation if we love in deed and truth (19-21). We should have confidence that He will bless us and be with us if we keep this commandment to love one another (22-23). We should have confidence that we abide in God and He abides in us, if we keep His commandments (which includes, “love one another”)(24). John is not talking about cockiness or arrogance, but a blessed assurance that comes when we are striving to walk in the light (1:7). But, do not miss this point. Walking in the light necessitates brotherly love. You can’t have one without the other.

How should this change us? Won’t it kill grudges, feuds, avoidance, gossip, resentment, hostility, division, rivalry, suspicion, and the like? It will revolutionize the atmosphere of an entire congregation and the relationship between individual Christians in the congregation. It will draw us closer, into one another’s lives. Most of all, it causes us to imitate, please, and obey the God whose Son showed the greatest love of all (John 15:13)! 

Dozen Thousand

Gary Pollard

It’s so encouraging that many public figures (by extension, many of their audiences) have rejected outright atheism and godless evolution! Even those who would never consider themselves believers have rejected some of the main pillars of evolution. Among them are people like Joe Rogan, Randall Carlson, Graham Hancock, Jordan Peterson (who does describe himself as a believer in some capacity), Ben Van Kerkwyk, and many others. 

What have they rejected (minus Peterson)? Gradualism/Uniformitarianism — a belief (it is a belief) that current processes are sufficient to explain how things were in the past. Uniformitarianism is the foundation supporting a belief that our earth is billions of years old, that geological processes take millions of years, and it serves as the bias behind radiocarbon/radioisotope dating. 

So what’s the problem? These same proponents of catastrophism (the belief that geological processes are best explained through natural disasters rather than gradual changes over long periods of time) still view the earth as being billions of years old. They still have an evolutionary view of our timeline. Progress is progress, so I don’t want to be harsh in discussing these people! 

But I would like to remind myself (and whoever may read this) of why I don’t believe the earth is any more than (at most) 12-15,000 years old: 

  1. Population of earth — We double in population every couple of decades. Allowing for disasters, if humans (or humans-ish, as evolutionists say) came onto the scene 1,000,000 years ago, we’d have something like 1×105000 people on earth today. The known universe couldn’t hold anywhere near that many people, much less our one planet. Since the current population of earth is around 8.02 billion (according to commerce.gov), we can safely assume that we’re no older than 12-15,000 years. 
  2. Sediment layers across our ocean floors are far too “thin” to support an age of hundreds of millions of years. Sediment should be “choking the oceans” if the oceans were that old. The salinity (saltiness) of the oceans is another problem for old-earth proponents — it has been convincingly proven that our oceans are getting saltier with time (rather than remaining constant). Based on current salinity, our earth is no more than several thousand years old. 

Many other brilliant authors have written much more than can be contained here. I recommend perusing the Institute for Creation Research’s website, as well as Apologetics Press and Answers in Genesis for more proofs. While the secular world is still off on quite a few things, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that progress is being made. 

At least for right now, there does seem to be a positive trend in society’s thirst for meaning! Let’s make the most of this by showing God’s love even more. Let’s prove to the world that there’s no better life than a Christian life! Our God is coming back — when he does, the entire world will see him. Let’s show them that we believe in him enough to love like Jesus!  

1  Butt, K. (2001). Fighting the crowd over a young earth. ApologeticsPress.org. https://apologeticspress.org/fighting-the-crowd-over-a-young-earth-882/

2  Tomkins, J.P. & Clarey, T. (2021). The oceans point to a young earth. Institute for Creation Research. https://www.icr.org/article/oceans-young-earth

The Power Of The Resurrection (Part 3)

Carl Pollard

 Previously we have discussed the importance of knowing for certain that Jesus lived on this earth. The power of His resurrection begins with the hope of His birth. We are all in need of a Savior. Thankfully, 2,000 years ago God sent His Son to take on flesh. He willingly came and left an example for us to imitate. Secular historians all agree that Jesus of Nazareth really did exist. But there’s more to this that we need to study. He lived, oh yes, He LIVED. But we also need to understand that He Died. 

Scripture says that, in John 19:18, “There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.” Mark 15:39 adds, “When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Scripture tells us that not only did Jesus live on earth, He was also put to death. John tells us that Jesus hung on a cross between two criminals. Mark records the response of a Roman centurion who saw the way Jesus died and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” 

God in flesh and blood hung on a cross for my sins, for the sins of the world. For me, having several biblical authors record the death of Jesus is more than enough proof. But let’s see what secular history has to say about His death. 

The Roman historian Tacitus said this in AD 117, “Their originator, Christ, has been executed in Tiberius’ reign, by Pontius Pilate.” Even Jesus’ worst enemies record His death. The Jewish Rabbis and Religious leaders wrote this in the Talmud, “Jesus of Nazareth was a transgressor in Israel who practiced magic, scorned the words of the wise, led the people astray, and said that he had not come to destroy the law but to add to it. He was hanged on Passover Eve for heresy and misleading the people.” 

The truth is, Jesus surely died for you and me. Scripture clearly teaches this, and so do many secular historians. For us to fully grasp the power of what comes next, we’ve got to believe that Jesus lived and that He died on a cross for you and me. 

Five Things Jesus Teaches Us About Temptation

Neal Pollard

Jesus knew temptation. The writer of Hebrews makes that point about Him in assuring us He, as our High Priest, knows just what we are going through in this life (2:18; 4:15). His suffering allows Him to sympathize. I am comforted to know that He understands, since He is like me (Heb. 2:17). Luke records this significant and pivotal moment in Jesus’ life before He begins His public ministry (Luke 4:1-13). It gives me necessary insight into who Jesus is, and it helps me fight the common battle against the enticements of my flesh, my eyes, and my pride.

TEMPTATION STRIKES THOSE IN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. To be clear, temptation strikes “every man” (Heb. 4:15). But, sometimes we conclude that it’s not so bad or so frequent for the spiritually strong. Here is the perfect Son of God, described as full of the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit (1), who encounters the tempter (2). Being spiritually strong can help make navigating temptation easier than it is for those who live according to the flesh (Rom. 8:5-14), but no one was closer to God and more spiritually healthy than Jesus as He walked the earth. How helpful to consider Paul’s warning here: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). 

TEMPTATION STRIKES IN PREDICTABLE AREAS. John classifies temptation into three major categories: “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life” (1 Jn.2:16). Methodical Luke lists Jesus’ temptation in that very order (cf. Mat. 4:1-11). The serpent, approaching Eve, must have appealed to these very areas at the beginning (Gen. 3:6). The devil does not have to get more complicated than that because these avenues are overwhelmingly effective for him. Though this and other passages reveals the evil one’s intentions and efforts, we are fully accountable for how we respond to temptation (Jas. 1:13-15). We must take responsibility for how we handle temptation. 

TEMPTATION STRIKES WHEN WE ARE VULNERABLE. Jesus has gone an unfathomable 40 days without food when He encounters the devil (2ff). The devil goes straight for this susceptible area. Think back to times when you haven’t gotten proper rest, you faced stress and pressure, you were sick or felt poorly, and other trying times. These can easily become doors we open to sin. All of us will experience physical and emotional weakness. We must be aware that these lead to spiritual exposure. 

TEMPTATION CAN MAKE US CALL WHAT WE KNOW INTO QUESTION. Twice, the devil uses conditional statements to try and create doubt. First, he says, “If You are the Son of God” (3). He called Jesus’ identity into question. Then, he says, “if You worship me” (7). He seeks to get Jesus to question His loyalty. It was not a matter of what Jesus intellectually knew, but Jesus dwelled in the flesh (John 1:14; Heb. 2:14). Be aware that temptation will cause us to question things we know, too. That includes our exalted identity and our true motivation.

TEMPTATION IS THWARTED BY AN OMNIPOTENT TOOL. Jesus wins His battles with the devil and temptation by leaning on truth. There are 86 quotations of Deuteronomy (the second giving of the Law of Moses) in the New Testament, and Jesus quotes this book in reference to each of the devil’s temptations (8:3; 6:13; 6:16). Proper knowledge and handling of Scripture helps even when enemies of truth, even the devil, try to misuse Scripture against us (as he does with Jesus, misapplying Psalm 91:11-12). Scripture is God’s own weapon, given to us not to cut and maim others but to fight off temptation and fend off the biggest threats to our faith and soul (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17). 

It is wonderful to contemplate a day in which temptation will be permanently past-tense (cf. Rev. 21:1ff; 1 Cor. 15:55-58). Until then, we benefit so much from seeing how Jesus coped with the bane of temptation. It also helps us appreciate what He endured in order to give us salvation. 

Good Stuff To Do

Gary Pollard

These are some of the positive actions God wants to see, taken from Colossians chapter three:

Show mercy to others — This was originally two words: σπλαγκνα οικτιρμου (sp-longk-na oik-tear-moo). The first describes that powerful gut feeling of compassion when you see someone’s awful situation. The second means something like pity or mercy. So this is an emotional response to someone’s plight, followed by actually doing something about it.

Be kind — This word is very closely connected with the concept of helping others. It’s a catch-all that means, “Be someone who benefits other people.” 

Be humble — This is someone who doesn’t think more highly of themselves than they should. It can be taken too far (as in Col 2.18, 23) in the form of “pious self-denial” or asceticism. God wants his people to have a balanced view of self. We are the heirs of his kingdom, but we are no more important than any other Christian. 

Be gentle — This is closely tied to humility, and it means “not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance.” A humble, gentle person recognizes their own position as someone who serves God and must therefore serve other people, and view them as being more important. 

Be patient — This word is also closely tied to humble and gentle in this context. While we serve other people with a balanced view of self, we have to be willing to put up with their shenanigans. People can be really hard to love, but patience puts up with their weakness while we try to show them God’s love.  

Don’t be angry with each other — This would be better translated “put up with each other.” In other contexts, it’s used to mean putting up with something draining or difficult without giving in. This word is a participle in the original text, so it tells us to what extent we’re supposed to live out the qualities of kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. That extent is limitless. God expects us to be good to our Christian family, even when that’s the last thing we want to do. We might even say, “Fake it til you make it.” Be good when you don’t want to until God’s love perfects your mindset. 

Forgive each other — Greek doesn’t have the word normally translated “forgive”. Instead, it seems to be similar to the kind of language Jesus used when he said, “If someone slaps you on the cheek, give them your other cheek to slap.” When our Christian family wrongs us, our reaction should be to go out of our way to do something good for them. Forgiveness is an element of that mentality, but this word really seems to stress having a positive reaction in the face of mistreatment from our Christian family, rather than a passive forgiveness. Paul even says here, “Be good to them because Jesus was good to you first.” Yes, Jesus forgave and forgives us! But more than that, he was good to us when we didn’t deserve it at all. 

Love each other — This is the most important element of all of the ones listed here (“επι πασιν δε τουτοις την αγαπην”). Paul says, “This is the most important thing,” and, “Love holds everything together the way it should be.” It’s safe to say that all of the other positive things we’re supposed to adopt from this list are practical ways to express this godly love. 

Defining Love

Carl Pollard

“Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy or boast.” Many of us know exactly where this verse is found. 1 Corinthians 13, which is quite possibly the most well-known chapter in the entire Bible. When many people hear “love is patient, love is kind,” they start hearing wedding bells and think of a white dress. This profound chapter is all about defining true love, and Paul isn’t talking about the feeling you have when you want to marry someone. There is so much depth to this chapter and that is what we are going to dig into in this article.

True love is increasingly harder to find and practiced by few. So many are chasing a feeling that comes and goes with each moment. The love that Paul is talking about is agape love. This chapter is all about explaining why TRUE, sacrificial love is the greatest. Before we get into this chapter we need to understand why Paul is writing about love. The main reason for this letter is because the church at Corinth was an absolute mess. 

This congregation was filled with all kinds of sinful behavior, drama, and misunderstandings. Their behavior was a negative influence on others, and it was unacceptable before God. Chapter 13 was written so that these Christian’s would correct their behavior by practicing true agape love. 

The Corinthians were obsessed with spiritual gifts, especially the gift of speaking in other languages. Paul spends chapter 12 dealing with spiritual gifts in the church. They have a purpose, and ultimately they are for unity and glorifying God. God gave these gifts to help strengthen the church in its beginning stages. They were abusing their gifts, they were bragging about their abilities and acting like children. “Oh you only have the gift of wisdom? I have the gift of prophecy!” Some were bragging, others were trying to use gifts they didn’t even have! Like fake prophesying just to seem cool. Chapter 12 ends with Paul saying, “you can strive towards greater gifts, but there is a more excellent way.” That better way is having the gift of love. 

This is something EVERYONE can have. The love that Paul is speaking about is not the love of romance and warm fuzzy feelings. Paul is using the Greek word “Agape” which means self-sacrificing love. Agape love is behind all actions that put others before self. This is the love with which God loved us when He sent His Son (John 3:16). A love that does what’s difficult, because it is a choice. We are called to imitate this love. 

As Paul begins to describe love in chapter 13, he tells us that love is essential. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Cor. 13:1-3). These gifts that the Corinthians were obsessed with were meaningless if they didn’t have love. If you are speaking without love, it’s empty noise! Have you ever pulled a trailer that was empty? As you’re going down the road every bump and pothole sends it banging up and down. It makes a whole bunch of noise because it’s empty. No matter what our words contain, if they are said without love it’s just a load of nothing. 

It was the same for any other gift they had! Whether it’s prophecy, wisdom, or even faith, if there is no love they are irrelevant. This is why love is essential! The Corinthians failed to see the true purpose of the gifts. They didn’t use them out of love. Paul quotes Jesus when he says “faith to move mountains” (cf. Matt. 17:20). You could have faith to do the impossible, but again if you have no love it won’t do you any good. A faith to move mountains is great, but if you don’t have love your faith won’t do you any good. Faith, wisdom, or any other gift isn’t a sign that you’re a Christian, it’s LOVE!

If we’re not willing to deny ourselves for the sake of others, our religion is worthless. You could give everything you own to the poor, you could even be martyred for Christ, but again if you do it without love you’ve sacrificed for no reason. Everything that Paul mentions in verses 1-3 are good things! Tongues were good for the church at the time. Prophecy, knowledge, faith, all wonderful things. Sacrifice is good, but love is SO valuable, SO important, that apart from it every other good thing is useless. 

As Christians, we need to remember that love is essential. No matter what good thing you may do, if you don’t have love you might as well not do it. Agape love is hard to find, so be the one to sacrifice for others. Make choices out of love, speak with love, and live imitating the agape love of God!

God’s Endless Love

Dawson Eubank

Since the world this week celebrated Valentine’s Day, I saw it fitting for us to talk about God‘s love. In the bustling noise of life with all its hardships, trials and tribulations, there is an unwavering truth–God’s endless love,. Let’s jump through Romans and unravel the depths of this divine love that sustains and transforms our lives.

Romans 5:8 – Sacrificial Love: 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Reflect on the sacrificial love of Christ, willingly laying down His life for us, even in our brokenness. It’s a love beyond comprehension, a love that saw our flaws yet chose to redeem us.

Romans 5:5 – Overflowing Love: 

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Let’s dwell on the overflowing nature of God’s love, filling every corner of our hearts through the presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s a love that brings hope, assurance, and a sense of belonging.

Romans 8:38-39 – Unbreakable Love: 

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Meditate on the unbreakable bond of love between us and our Creator. Nothing in this world, no circumstance or force, can sever this divine connection. It’s a love that endures through eternity.

As we ponder Romans, may we experience the richness of God’s love. Let’s embrace the truth that we are cherished, forgiven, and empowered by His love. Let this love be our anchor in the storms of life, our light in the darkest nights, and our joy in every season. For in God’s love, we find our ultimate fulfillment and purpose.

YOU LOVE SOMEBODY WHO’S LOST

Dale Pollard

Recently I had the privilege to attend the funeral of a godly man. Since he lived faithfully—  it was a celebration. Funerals have a negative connotation with them but they’re really only all bad when the one who’s passed on did so outside of Christ. 

You and I may wish for a longer life for ourselves and those we love but the ironic truth for the faithful Christian is this— the first to accept God’s decision of death is the one who died.

The faithful go to heaven and the lost do not. While we enjoy talking about  and thinking about those who will and have been eternally saved, it’s just as important to remind ourselves of those who find themselves in the other camp.

 It’s easy to forget that people are lost and maybe it’s because they’re easier to push to the back of our minds. It’s not a pleasant thought by any means and doing something about it tends to make us uncomfortable. 

It hurts and it’s hard to become attached to anyone who isn’t living faithfully because they’re lost. That means they’re not going to heaven. Sometimes the lost pretend as if that’s not their reality by distracting themselves with the things that make them feel as if they’re not lost (Ecc. 2.24-25). 

There’s a good chance that you know people who aren’t going to heaven and it’s even likely that you love people who aren’t. We’ve got to convince them to hear Jesus out— no matter what it takes. 

What can we do? 

  1. We can simplify spiritual concepts so that people can understand a message that they desperately need to hear. Try to teach Jesus differently. Approach His will for their lives from different angles. How can Jesus help their marriage? Their children? Their addiction? 
  2. Please don’t let anything get in your way of going home. Don’t let friends and loved ones who aren’t living faithfully bring you down. Not only do you ultimately lose, but your loved ones outside of Christ have lost their greatest chance of coming into the Light. 
  3. Don’t ever lose hope. There may be unique and seemingly impossible odds stacked against you and your mission to convert the lost, but don’t put God in a human-sized box. Pray often and live in hopeful expectation. 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”Romans 8.5 

Thoughts On Love (Part 2)

Gary Pollard

Love for other people means taking care of them, even if we don’t like them. We’re also expected to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. How is it possible to show love to God the same way we show love to people? It isn’t possible, because God needs nothing. Everything we have comes from him, so we cannot give him anything he doesn’t already have. 

Jesus told a story about two sons. Their father asked them to work in the field — one of them said, “I will,” the other said, “I won’t.” The one who agreed to work never went to the fields, and the one who didn’t want to work eventually worked. Who actually did what their dad asked them to do? 

We show love for God by doing what he wants us to do, even if we don’t want to do it. It’s very difficult (often bordering impossible) to love our enemies. But if we love God, we’ll love our enemies. In our current political climate, it’s very tempting to violate the unconstitutional policies that have been shoved down our throats for decades. But if we love God, we’ll follow every law that doesn’t demand sin on our part. If we ever reach a point where our physical safety is threatened because of our faith, we will remain passive if we love God. 

Having love for God means doing what he wants us to do. John makes it very clear that we cannot love God and hate other humans at the same time. We cannot love God and neglect our Christian family. The point of love is to prove the goodness of God! If we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, the natural expression of this is to take care of the people God created! Loving God means emulating his nature — God is love. He proved this by sacrificing his son while we were neck-deep in violating everything he holds sacred. We deserved nothing, and he gave us everything. If we love God, we try to emulate that level of sacrifice for other people. 

The Message Of The Cross

Carl Pollard

“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, til my trophies at last I lay down. I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.” 

The cross has long been an integral part of Christianity. It has been a symbol of faith, a marker of hope, and a reminder of God’s love. 2000 years ago Jesus died on a cross, and ever since, millions have associated Christianity with a cross. Before Christ was crucified on one, the cross was just a terrible way of putting someone to death. 

Crucifixion was used by the Persians, Greeks, and Macedonians, but the Roman’s really perfected it. 

Tens of thousands of people have been put to death on a cross throughout history.

It was considered at the time to be one of the most brutal, shameful and humiliating ways to die. The cross was seen as a source of death and pain, but Jesus turned it into a symbol of life and joy. God’s own Son forever changed the meaning of the cross when He was nailed to one and gave His life. Now when you google, “the cross” the first thing that pops up is a description of Christianity and our beliefs. 

Jesus changed the entire purpose of a cross, and He did it for us. Sadly, the cross doesn’t mean to some what it means to others. The cross is a reminder of the life we have to come, but for others it is a made up story or fairytale. It is truly incredible how two people can look at the cross and think two entirely different things. 

Interestingly enough, Paul actually wrote about this very problem in 1 Corinthians 1. 

Written around 55 AD, Paul, the author, wrote to the church at Corinth for several reasons. They needed to understand the difference between divine and human wisdom. They needed pointers on marriage and sexual conduct. They had an idol problem, weren’t sure how Sunday services should be conducted, had no idea about the resurrection, and so much more. All in all there’s a lot to learn from this letter, but the part we will look at is found in 1:18-25. 

Chapter 1-4 is all about human wisdom versus divine wisdom. If you’ve ever wondered why the world thinks we’re crazy, Paul answers that in this section. 

The message of the cross. The cross causes different reactions in each person. 

The cross divides, delivers, and decides. 

  • The Cross Divides The Saved and Lost (18) 
  • The Cross Delivers True Wisdom (19-21) 
  • The Cross Decides Your Future (22-25) 

”The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will confuse the understanding of the intelligent.” Isaiah 29:14 So what does this say about the philosopher, the law expert, or anyone in this world who is skilled in making clever arguments? God has made the wisdom of the world look foolish. This is what God in his wisdom decided: Since the world did not find him through its own wisdom, he used the message that sounds foolish to save those who believe it. The Jews ask for miraculous signs, and the Greeks want wisdom. But this is the message we tell everyone: Christ was killed on a cross. This message is a problem for Jews, and to other people it is nonsense. But Christ is God’s power and wisdom to the people God has chosen, both Jews and Greeks. Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. Even the weakness of God is stronger than human strength“ (1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭25,‬ ‭ERV)‬‬

What does the cross mean to you?

GENESIS: THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS (XXX)

Jacob Gets A Taste Of His Own Medicine (29:1-35)

Neal Pollard

Rebekah urged her son to flee to Haran (27:43), and he arrived in “the land of the sons of the east” (1). Jacob is looking for his mom’s brother, Laban, and he encounters his shepherds tending his thirsty flocks (2-8). Laban’s daughter Rachel, a shepherdess herself, is also with them (9). Jacob assists them by rolling the stone from the well (10). He introduces himself to Rachel, kissing her and telling her their connection as cousins (11-12). Rachel runs back and informs Laban of Jacob’s arrival, news which his uncle welcomes (13-14). Laban extends hospitality to Jacob for the next month while Jacob presumably already begins to work for Laban (14-15). 

We have already received glimpses of character traits in Laban that are on fully display in Genesis 29. As mentioned previously, Laban was not a stranger to materialism (24:29-31,53).  He is always presented by implication as a man striving to get the upper hand or advantage. He is wily enough to win out over a conniving character (Jacob), but he would meet his match with God at a later point (ch. 30). 

When Jacob saw Rachel, he was very attracted to her. We do not know how impressed he was with her personality or spirituality, “but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face” (17b, NLT). Leah was comparatively plain (17a). There is no doubt to anyone, certainly Laban, that Rachel was the one he desired. Moses highlights this by speaking of Jacob’s “love” for Rachel three times over the next several verses (18-30). 

But, Laban lies to Jacob. He exacts seven years of work from Jacob for the promise of Rachel, then promptly sends Leah into his tent on their wedding night. Jacob unwittingly sleeps with her in the dark. The next morning, he is enraged at being tricked and expresses as much to Laban (25). Laban’s excuse is that their local custom was to marry the eldest daughter before marrying a younger daughter. He gives Rachel to him that week, but requires him to work seven more years for her (28-30). You wonder how many times Jacob considered the irony of being treated the way he treated his brother Esau.

It is interesting to see God’s tender feelings for the spurned Leah. Verse 31 says, “When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive” (NLT). Leah gives him four sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Each name symbolized her triumph is the spousal war with her sister. Reuben means “see, a son,” Simeon means “unloved” or “hated,” Levi means “attached,” and Judah means “praise the Lord.” Interestingly, the Savior of the world would come through the lesser loved Leah than the physically more beautiful Rachel. 

So many departures from God’s will marked this entire interaction. The polygamy, the deception, the selfish desire, and more. Yet, God’s overarching providence was at work accomplish His will. Jacob is being refined and tested, and we will see the growth and progress. But, we leave him in this chapter working through a domestic boondoggle! 

Thoughts On Love (I)

Gary Pollard

I’ve been studying the nature of Christian love recently. I try to study where my knowledge is insufficient or personal character is lacking. It has been difficult for me to love others the way Jesus loved others. I still have a long way to go. Other people can be unlovable, and threats are to be dealt with! This is the perhaps one of the more common baselines of human thought. 

Jesus calls us to transcend these primal dispositions and pursue a truly selfless love. We have many obstacles to overcome in our pursuit of the kind of love Jesus shows. The idea of “love of self” has been perverted by the world. We’ve all seen a saying that goes something like, “You can’t love others unless you love yourself.” While the underlying motive behind that saying may have been pure, it has been used to justify narcissistic tendencies or excuse bad behavior. 

But what if I genuinely don’t love myself? How can I love my neighbor like I love myself if I don’t feel anything (or very little) positive about myself? Our understanding of biblical love may need to change a little. In all of scripture (and even in apocryphal and pseudepigraphal writings), love for our neighbors almost always translates to providing for their needs. 

A person may not love self, but they will not starve their bodies out of hatred (remember, an exception by its nature is not the rule; a rule is something so often true that it is reliably predictable). They will not neglect the basic functions of being just because their view of self is not completely perfect. 

Love does not necessarily have anything to do with how we feel about a person. It is sometimes called “the strongest emotion” but this is not completely accurate. There is an emotional aspect to love, often described as σπλαγχνον (splanknon, compassion) or οικτιρμος (oiktirmos, heartfelt pity), though this is not exhaustive. But αγαπη love is a decision to help another person, despite how we might feel about them. 

What does biblical love look like? If we love our neighbor, we’ll feed them when they’re hungry, encourage or give affirmation when they need it, help them financially (anonymously, if we want to avoid God’s judgment), give grace to their weaknesses and mistakes, and overlook hurtful actions done to us. 

Who are our neighbors? Our enemies, our friends, and everyone else who lives on this planet. More realistically, any other human in our proximity. If we see a need and have the ability to help, godly love compels us to help. When Jesus comes back he will ask, “Did you take care of my people?” So much more could be said about this, but next week we will look at the kind of love God wants us to have for him. 

Handling Guilt

Cooper Dillingham

I want to talk about something that everyone has some experience with: guilt. I think it’s safe to say whether you’re a little kid sneaking cookies from the pantry, lying to a friend, or disappointing someone you care about, we’ve all felt guilt and shame. I know I’m not an exception. Not long ago, I went to a friend’s house. It was supposed to be a stay at home night with a few friends. At least that’s what I thought, and what my mom had signed off on. Little did my mom or I know, my friends had other plans in mind, and that chill night went out the window. I ended up driving around harmlessly with my friends. I ‘forgot’ to tell my mom that things had changed, or that I would even be leaving my friend’s house. I thought that if I acted normal it would be fine, and what my mom doesn’t know won’t hurt her, right?  But, I forgot about a minor detail. That little detail was that I had Life360 constantly giving my phone’s location to my mom. So, imagine her surprise when she looks at it, and sees me on the other side of the town when I was supposed to be at my friend’s house. I came home apologizing for breaking my mom’s trust, and lying to her. I learned my lesson, and luckily, my mom forgave me since it wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought it would be.

Sometimes in life we feel guilt or shame from our sins, and we think we  have wandered so far away from the path God wants us on that he’ll never take us back. But, God never gives up on you, and you can always get back on track. The first example that comes to mind is the parable of the Prodigal Son, which is found in Luke 15. We all know the story. The younger son wanted his inheritance early, which his father graciously granted him. It didn’t take long for the son to lose every last cent of his dad’s money, and he then found himself at a low point in his life. He had no choice but to go back home poor, dirty, and ashamed. He just knew his dad was going to be so mad at him, and if he was lucky, maybe his dad would let him come back as a servant . But look at verse 20 through 24 “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.” You see the son made a lot of mistakes, but His biggest was underestimating the love his father had for him.

God has that same love for us, and Romans 5:8 reassures us of that, saying, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Turn with me, also, to 1 John 4 verse 16  ”So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.“ God’s love for us is stronger than any mistake we could make. All that matters to God is that we trust him and are willing to follow his commandments.

When we take Christ on in baptism we are supposed to stop walking our own path and follow him.  If you disobey His commandments, you are denying Him, therefore you are separating yourself from him.  But, even though you may be temporarily lost, that does not mean you’ve lost your salvation. One great analogy that Hiram mentioned at a recent Bible study, was for us to imagine our Christian walk as a literal walk. Everyone starts in one place and with each step that you take forward you stay on the path of God. Many people think that when you disobey God’s word and you go off the path, that you’ve lost your salvation, and are away from God. What Hiram reminded us however, is much different. I was told that every wrong direction that we take in life is just us taking one step back. It isn’t getting off the path of Christianity, it’s just a slight mistake in this long walk of life. I know many times I’ve taken a step back in my faith.  In the  story of the prodigal son, he took several steps back and his father was still waiting for him to come home. Our Father waits for us too, just like my mom was waiting for me when I got home that night. 

Second Chances

Travis Harrison

It’s a new year. For many it’s an opportunity at a new beginning – a fresh start, a second chance. I want to begin tonight with a lighthearted story about how a couple of second chances helped me.

When I was about 5 or 6 my older brother unintentionally tried to kill me, at least twice. The first time, we were outside playing, and we found these large bushes, pokeweed. These plants and the berries are poisonous, but we didn’t know that. I read that if you cook the leaves and berries properly, you can eat them. However, what you shouldn’t do, especially as a small child, is convince your younger brother to eat a handful of these berries. I googled for curiosity’s sake how many berries were dangerous, and it said that as few as 10 would make the average adult sick with all kinds of symptoms or some reports even said death. We went to the house and my mother knew exactly what I had done, the evidence was smeared all over my hands and my face. She called poison control, and they told her to give me this syrup that would make me sick to my stomach and I’d throw up the berries. Sure enough about 45 mins later – no more berries.

The second time was a little more serious. We had this storage building out back, it had a small lean-to shed on the back side. One of the sides was perfect for climbing on. Since we were expert climbers my brother had the idea – let’s get up on that roof so we can see everything better. We shimmied our way up the side and made it up onto the roof. If that had been the end of the story that would’ve been great…but wait, there’s more. My brother noticed something coming from the side of the building. He was referring to the electrical service, and the power lines that were coming off the pole and into the side of the storage building. “I wonder what happens if you touch those?” Listen guys I’m smart it just hadn’t kicked in yet. So yeah, I walked over and grabbed them and believe me when I say they grabbed me right back. I’ve told this story 100 times and everyone seems shocked and surprised, but I can assure you, not nearly as much I was!!

Second chances are given to us all the time and come in a variety of ways. They happen in our everyday lives, our careers, our marriages, relationships with our families our friends, and our relationship with God. God gives us second chances because he loves us, and he knows us and knows we need them.

God is a God of second chances. Throughout the Bible we study about people who have sinned or made mistakes, altered their courses in life but are still given a second chance by God.

1.     For example, Jonah had fled from what God had commanded him to do yet was given a second opportunity to go to Nineveh and spread His word to the people. (Jonah 3:1-10).

2.     David was a man after God’s own heart, yet he turned away from Him when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, had Uriah killed, then his son died because of the evil he had done (II Samuel 11 and 12) but still God loved him, and he was a great king. 

3.     Rahab was a prostitute. She didn’t live a wholesome life, but she changed the course of her life when she did something for good. She hid the spies in Jericho. When the city was destroyed, she was rewarded. Only she and her family were saved. (Joshua 6:22-23)

4.     Paul once was a persecutor of Christians (Acts 8:1-3). He was converted into a Christian and baptized (Acts 9:18). He became one of the most influential missionaries, authors, and apostles of the first century. 

5.     Onesimus was once deemed useless. After being given a second chance Paul describes him as beloved servant, and brother to him. He was willing to do anything for him, even pay his debts. (Philemon 11-17)

The list could go on and on. The point is that God’s love, his mercy, and by His grace through faith, we can all be saved (Eph. 2: 4-8). God forgives our sins and gives us a fresh start. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Every day we wake up is another chance to make changes. God’s steadfast love never ceases, his mercies never come to end, they are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)  

As important as it is that we don’t forget about God giving us second chances, Let’s not forget we are to extend second chances to others. We all have family, friends, coworkers, even sometimes church family that we don’t always see eye to eye with. We don’t need to settle for division, we need to strive for unity. (1 Peter 3:8) As Jesus taught, we are to forgive others as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15). We are also encouraged to show kindness, love, and grace to others – just as God has shown us (Ephesians 4:32).

God’s second chances are such a blessing to us. We need them, he knows that we do. He’s not a mean God, “He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalms 103:10). He doesn’t want us to fail, but second chances aren’t meant to be free passes for us to keep returning to sin. (Romans 6:23) “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  He sent his son to die for us so that we could have as many chances as we need to make things right and grow closer to him before its too late.    

Each new morning the sun rises, God is giving us a second chance. A chance to improve our lives, mend broken relationships, work on those New Year’s resolutions – that I hope we haven’t already broken. This year let’s not squander our second chances, but instead savor them. Let’s make the most of those opportunities to do good, to do things that glorify God, and that will help us walk closer to him.  If 2023 just wasn’t the year for whatever reasons, then begin this year on the right foot. Let 2024 be your second chance. 

What Does It Mean To Be “First Fruits”?

Brent Pollard

“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures” James 1.18 NASB 1995).

In James 1.18, we learn about our identity as believers and what it means to be a new creation in Christ.

James, the brother of Jesus, reminds us in James 1.18 that God’s will enables us to be reborn as new creations through the word of truth. This rebirth sets us apart as “first fruits of His creatures,” which starkly contrasts humanity’s natural inclination towards sin (James 1.13-15). We cannot save ourselves on our own, but through the transformative power of the Lord and His word (Romans 1.16), we can experience real change.

In biblical times, people offered God the first harvested crops, called “first fruits.” By drawing from this example, spiritually, being “first fruits” means dedicating ourselves to God and His purposes. It is more than just a title; it comes with a great responsibility to live our lives in a way worthy of our calling. James, in his letter, explains what this responsibility entails.

For those sanctified:

  • Control Your Anger (1.19): It is crucial to control oneself and refrain from giving in to anger, as it does not lead to righteousness, which God desires. Often, anger stems from impulsive speech and not paying attention to what others are saying. James 1.26 warns us that an uncontrolled tongue signifies a lack of genuine faith.
  • Reject Sin (1.21): We should strive to eliminate all impurity and widespread evil. As sin opposes us to God (4.4), those sanctified by God willingly accept and adopt His teachings, allowing them to fill the void left by sin. God’s word has a deep and dynamic connection with us. He expects us to actively apply His word rather than passively hear it (1.22-25). Our actions genuinely reflect our faith (2.14-26).
  • Show Impartial Love (1.27-2.9): We must protect and support the vulnerable, including widows and orphans, and show equal love for all, reflecting God’s love for humanity (2.8).

God has allowed us to be reborn through His Son’s grace. His will is evident, as He wants us sanctified (1.18). As we realize our identity as the first fruits, let us contemplate how this change affects our everyday choices and relationships. We must try to become the first fruits that truly please Him in every aspect of our lives.

The Time Is Near

Gary Pollard

I learned something from dad a while ago: when you’re sick, exercise. It was rare, but whenever he got sick he would run back-to-back marathons or something crazy and would be fully recovered the next day. I decided to try his mad method and found that it really does work! Today was one of those days — I got the bug and didn’t skip the gym. 

When I got there I saw one of our lifting buddies. He asked if we had a good Christmas, and I said, “It was awesome, but this year felt different for some reason. It was almost weird, and I can’t put my finger on why.” He said, “It really did! I don’t know why, but this year felt weird. The time is near.” 

Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Peter wrote, “The time is near when all things will end. So keep your minds clear, and control yourselves. This will help you in your prayers. Most important of all, love each other deeply, because love makes you willing to forgive many sins” (4.7-8). He said that two millennia ago! From our perspective, that’s not exactly “near”. For those Christians, though, it was. 

Whether the end of this earth is imminent or not, Peter’s reminder is relevant. We don’t know when our lives are going to end! Having clarity of purpose, self-control, and selfless love will keep us ready for Jesus’s return. 

“Everything that God made is waiting with excitement for the time when he will show the world who his children are. The whole world wants very much for that to happen. Everything God made was allowed to become like something that cannot fulfill its purpose. That was not its choice, but God made it happen with this hope in view: That the creation would be made free from ruin—that everything God made would have the same freedom and glory that belong to God’s children” (Rom 8.19-21). 

Love Your Neighbor

Gary Pollard

Jesus told a story about a Jewish man who was attacked while traveling. He was seriously injured and left for dead by the side of the road. Two of his own countrymen — considered spiritual leaders by their people — completely ignored their unconscious brother and went about their day. A Samaritan man — considered inferior by the Jews at that time — helped him. He didn’t say, “I hope everything works out for you.” He rendered medical aid, took him to shelter, and made sure he had everything he needed to recover. 

The conclusion of this story was a question: “Which one of these three men do you think was really a neighbor to the man who was hurt by the robbers?” The answer was obvious. Loving your neighbor (i.e. other humans) necessarily means providing for their physical needs. How important is this? “Teacher, what do I have to do to get eternal life?” The Good Samaritan illustration was Jesus’s answer to that question. 

“When we have the opportunity to do good to anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers” (Gal 6.10). 

“My brothers and sisters, if a person claims to have faith but does nothing, that faith is worth nothing. Faith like that cannot save anyone. Suppose a brother or sister in Christ comes to you in need of clothes or something to eat. You say to them, ‘Go peacefully, warm yourself and find some food,’ but you don’t give them the things they need. If you don’t help them, your words are worthless” (Js 3.14-16). 

“Suppose a believer who is rich enough to have all the necessities of life sees a fellow believer who is poor and does not have even basic needs. What if the rich believer does not help the poor one? Then it is clear that God’s love is not in that person’s heart. My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do” (I Jn 3.17-18). 

“The Son of Man will come again with divine greatness, and all his angels will come with him. He will sit as king on his great and glorious throne. All the people of the world will be gathered before him. Then he will separate everyone into two groups. It will be like a shepherd separating his sheep from his goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.Then the king will say to the godly people on his right, ‘Come, my Father has great blessings for you. The kingdom he promised is now yours. It has been prepared for you since the world was made. It is yours because when I was hungry, you gave me food to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no place to stay, you welcomed me into your home. When I was without clothes, you gave me something to wear. When I was sick, you cared for me. When I was in prison, you came to visit me’” (Mt 25.31-36).

Dealing With Disagreement In A Godly Way

Dale Pollard

Godly men and women can voice their views and opinions in a healthy and helpful way by adopting some basic principles found within scripture. Even if some disagree with you (eventually they will!) everyone can leave encouraged if it’s approached appropriately. 

First, they understand that the truth must be spoken in love (Ephesians 4.15). The faithful are able to tell the difference between matters of opinion and matters of salvation. 

Second, they are eager to maintain a unity of spirit and a bond of peace (Ephesians 4.3-6). Godly members are not purposefully divisive or quick to start heated debates. 

Third, the older Christians recognize the responsibility they have to share their wisdom with the younger generation and the godly youth respect the wisdom that is given from the older generation (Titus 2.2-12). 

When the body of Christ is unified it’s also unstoppable. The church family that respects those God-given roles that we are all assigned will find that Bible classes, Biblical discussion, and relationships are enriched and strengthened. Knowledge is both shared and received in love and humility.