The love of money

 by David Long

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:10).

We think more money is the answer to everything. If the schools are failing give them more money. If a city is failing give them more money. If the economy is failing print more money. If we want to be happy we need to make more money. But money is just a tool to be used wisely. When not used wisely all the money in the world won't do any good. 

Understanding repentance

 by David Long

The word repent means "to think differently; to change one's mind." Repentance involves a change of mind that leads to a change of life. Repentance is not just feeling sorry for your sins. You can feel sorry all day long but if you don't change your attitude and actions then there has been no repentance. 

How important is repentance? Read Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30. If we don't repent of our sins, we will perish! 

Understanding baptism

 by David Long

The word "baptism" or "baptized" comes from a Greek word which means "to immerse or submerge." New Testament baptism is not a sprinkling or pouring. When people were baptized in the New Testament they were immersed. People today who have been sprinkled or had water poured them have not been baptized scripturally. When Phillip took the eunuch down into the water "he immersed him" (Acts 8:38).

Why be immersed in water? 

1. To be saved (Mk. 16:16).

2. To have forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

3. To have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16).

4. To put Christ on (Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12).

5. To walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4).

6. To be added to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Cor. 12:13).  

I will build my church

 by David Long

".. The churches of Christ salute you" (Rom. 16:16). Where do you find the church that you belong to in the Bible? Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). Do you belong to the church that Jesus built? 

We are dust

 by David Long

We came from dust. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground..." (Gen. 2:7). 

We are dust. "for dust thou art" (Gen. 3:19). "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Psa. 103:14).

We will return to dust. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen. 3:19).

Any questions? 

Are you willing?

 by David Long

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:17). Jesus said, "If any man will do his will." You have to be willing. You gotta have the "want to." But therein lies the problem for most folks, they are not willing. Why? Because they want to do what they want to do and not what God wants them to do. 

No other one to go to

 by David Long

"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:66-68). If Jesus has the words of eternal life (and He does) then we must believe and obey those words. To not believe and obey is to walk away from eternal life.