In the “Great Commission,” Jesus commanded His apostles to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20). Does this mean that every Christian must travel the world preaching the Gospel? While Jesus’ command clearly emphasizes the need for the Gospel to reach the entire world, the idea that every Christian must personally travel to distant parts of the world — or constantly move from place to place — to fulfill this command is a misunderstanding of God’s plan.… Read more
Category: Benevolence
A “Sermon Seen” Is Not a Sermon Heard
Perhaps you have heard someone say, “I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day!” While the intention behind the statement may be good, one must be careful that he does not over-emphasize morality while minimizing the power of God’s Word. Yes, God condemns hypocrisy and commands His children to do good works and live holy lives (Matthew 7:1-5, 21; Romans 2:1, 21-23; 12:1, 2; Galatians 6:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16). However, Christ did not simply command His disciples to go forth and live good moral lives before the lost to save them—He commanded them to go preach the Gospel and baptize people!… Read more