There is a growing sentiment in our time that the world has changed so drastically that the gospel itself must be adjusted to remain effective. The argument is often presented in language that sounds reasonable and even compassionate. We are told that people think differently now, that culture has progressed, that society has evolved beyond what it once was, and therefore the church must adapt its message in order to remain relevant and effective. Some insist that if we do no

Most civilized countries recognize the need for lower and higher courts. Our constitution and the various laws surrounding that national legal system utilize these lower and higher courts in an attempt to provide a reasonable degree of justice for all men. Nations sometimes appeal to the international court to settle issues between one another. Following WWII, trials were held at Nuremberg, Germany to try men guilty of crimes against humanity. That court was not a national la

What is a preacher? The answer depends on who you ask. "A preacher is someone who works only three hours a week and gets paid for it." "A preacher is a personal relations man whose responsibility it is to be a spokesman for the church in any given community." "A preacher is someone who works 80 hours a week and gets paid for 30 hours of work." "He is a servant, busboy, nurse, and errand boy for the sick and shut-ins and elderly folks in the church!" Elders often have a woeful

The question of whether we possess all the books God intended for His people is not a marginal issue reserved for academic debate, it is foundational to faith, assurance, and obedience. If God has spoken, and if His Word is sufficient to equip the man of God for every good work as affirmed in (2 Timothy 3:16,17), then we must be confident that we possess that Word in its fullness and finality. Scripture presents itself not as an unfinished or expandable body of revelation, bu

Few textual discussions generate more attention than the ending of the Gospel of Mark. Many modern translations include a footnote after Mark 16:8, stating that some manuscripts do not include verses 9–20. From this observation, some conclude that the so-called “longer ending” is secondary or uninspired. Yet when all the evidence is carefully weighed, manuscript, patristic, internal, and historical, the case overwhelmingly supports the authenticity of Mark 16:9–20, and the so

In every generation the people of God must answer a foundational question: Why do we believe the Bible? Not merely why we obey it, quote it, or preach from it, but why we are confident that it is in fact the Word of God. That is the purpose of studying General Biblical Introduction. When we speak of General Biblical Introduction, we are speaking of three core areas: Inspiration, Canonicity, and Textual Criticism. These are not academic luxuries reserved for preachers or schol

The word God is one of the Spirit’s designations for the divine nature. Under the figure of the synecdoche, where a part is made to stand for the whole, or the whole for a part, the word God is used to designate each of the divine Persons constituting deity; and, while there is but one God—one divine nature—the Scriptures clearly teach that there are three distinct personalities possessing this nature. The Father is called God ( John 3:16 ), the Son is called God ( John 1:1 )

All religious bodies have their own distinctive plea. Our plea is first, last and all the time, a plea for Christ. Whatever is not in some way connected with Christ, has no place in religious faith, doctrine, nor practice. Paul knew or recognized nothing in his preaching save "Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2). Any proper plea for Christ includes the whole truth about him, and all that he is, all that he ever did and taught. SONSHIP OF CHRIST Christ called God his

Every year nations pause to hear a “State of the Union” or “State of the State” address. Leaders reflect on where things stand and where attention may be needed. In a similar and reverent way, it is good for Christians to pause and ask, not in criticism of others but in humble reflection, "What is the state of the church?", and more personally, "what is the state of our own hearts within it?" When we speak of the church, we are not speaking of a denomination, an earthly headq

So much is being said and written about human denominations called "churches" that many seem never to have learned that Christ has a church at all. Sometime after the death of John the Baptist, Christ asked his disciples who they said he was. Peter said: "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matt. 16:16; 14:1-12.) Peter thus confessed the rock bed, fundamental truth of Christianity. "UPON THIS ROCK" Christ said: "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gat

There is perhaps no greater safeguard in biblical interpretation than an unwavering commitment to context. Scripture was not written as isolated aphorisms scattered through time but as revelation unfolding in historical setting, covenant development, and prophetic progression. When context is ignored, imagination fills the vacuum. When context is honored, harmony emerges. Isaiah 65:17–25 and 66:15–24 provide a striking example of this principle. Many read the phrase “new heav

Today marks what would have been the birthday of Eugene Lawton (1937–2022), a man remembered for his conviction, courage, and unwavering confidence in the authority of Scripture. I did not know Brother Lawton personally or in great depth, but through sermon recordings and from what many faithful brethren have shared, his influence is unmistakable. One statement in particular is closely associated with his life and preaching: “The Bible is right!”

Adult education within the church is not a luxury, an optional add-on, or a mere response to modern expectations. It is a biblical necessity rooted in God’s design for His people to grow in understanding, maturity, and faithfulness. From the earliest days of God’s people, instruction has been central to covenant life. Moses commanded Israel to teach God’s words diligently, not only to children but to the congregation as a whole (Deuteronomy 6:6–9). The New Testament continues

For a Sunday Home Service in Case of Weather-Related Cancellation This guide is provided to help saints worship God reverently and purposefully at home when travel is unsafe due to snow, ice, or hazardous road conditions. Though we may be physically separated, our worship is united in spirit and truth. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) Preparing Your Heart and Home Before beginning: • Choose a quiet place free from distr

Scripture consistently affirms that God is one while also revealing that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share fully in that one divine nature. Any discussion of authority within the Godhead must begin with the clear teaching of Jesus Himself. In John 5:21–23, Jesus declares that the Son has authority to give life and to execute judgment, works that belong exclusively to God. The Father’s will is that “all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father.” Equal hono

Questions surrounding women and leadership in the church are among the most discussed and misunderstood topics of our time. Too often, the conversation is framed in terms of equality, ability, or personal value. Scripture, however, frames it differently. The Bible consistently presents leadership in the public assembly as a matter of God’s design, not cultural preference, while at the same time affirming the essential and honorable role of women in the body of Christ.

The question of whether the Holy Spirit directly illuminates or enables a person to understand the Scriptures is one that carries great weight, because it touches both the nature of inspiration and the sufficiency of God’s revealed Word. Many sincere people assume that the Spirit must act upon the mind in a special, inner, or miraculous way before the Bible can be understood. Yet Scripture itself presents a very different picture. The Bible affirms that the Spirit revealed th

The prophet Jeremiah lived in a time when truth was unpopular and sin was celebrated. The nation of Judah had drifted far from God, yet the people still clung to a false sense of security in their temple, their rituals, and their heritage. Into that world stepped a man who was not afraid to speak what God commanded, even when it broke his own heart to do so. His message was not welcomed, his warnings were mocked, and his life was filled with sorrow. Yet Jeremiah never abandon

The apostle Paul’s final charge to Timothy is among the most solemn and stirring passages in all of Scripture: “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Those words, written from a Roman prison cell shortly before Paul’s death, were not merely personal advice but the Holy Spirit’s call to all who would take up the sacred responsibility of preaching the gospel. The work of an evangelist is not a car

The Holy Scriptures stand as the most remarkable revelation ever given to humanity. They are not a product of human imagination or religious tradition, nor are they a compilation of wise sayings or moral reflections born from cultural wisdom. The Bible is the Word of God, divinely breathed, fully authoritative, and eternally true. At the Hannibal church of Christ, we unashamedly affirm and teach the verbal, plenary, inerrant doctrine of inspiration because it forms the founda