The Astonishing Servant of Jehovah

By David R. Ferguson     In the final portion of the Book of Isaiah, a dramatic shift occurs. No longer is it the book about condemnation for Judah’s and Israel’s rebellion, chapters 40 through 66 of Isaiah are all about grace and salvation, and grace and salvation. Now, who’s going to bring this grace and salvation to the world? Who’s going to be the one to provide this deliverance? The answer is the Servant of the Lord, the Servant of the Lord. I say it twice because that’s how Isaiah says it. That’s how Jesus is designated here. The Hebrew word used is ebed, and it means slave or servant. It’s used many hundreds of times in the Old Testament. So what we have here from Isaiah is a prophetic Messianic reference to Jesus as the Slave of Jehovah, the Servant of Jehovah. He’s the One Who will bring salvation. He’s the One Who will bring us comfort. He’s the One Who will bring us the forgiveness of sins. He’s the One Who becomes the theme of this final section of the Book of Isaiah.     Now let’s go to chapter 53 for a moment, with just that kind of broad picture. And you will find in verses 13 of 52, “Behold My Servant, Behold My Servant,” My ebed, My Slave. This is the same designation that has been indicated much earlier in this section of the Book of Isaiah. This is the fourth of specific prophecies regarding this Servant to come. Chapter 42 is one, chapter 49 is another, and chapter 50 verses 4 to 11 is the third. This here is the fourth of what we would call Isaiah’s Servant songs, or Servant prophecies.     Now in this presentation of the Servant before us, the Prophet calls on us to look at this Servant and be astonished. This is the most complete, most powerful, and most important revelation of the Messiah in the entire Old Testament, right here in front of us in Isaiah.     In Isaiah 53, we read of the Suffering Servant to come. “All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way. But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He didn’t open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and as for His generation, who consider that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of My people to whom the stroke was due. His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief.”     May God bless you in the knowledge that His Servant died for you! May this knowledge grant you further peace in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life eternally in Heaven!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

The Remarkable Book of Isaiah

By David R. Ferguson     Isaiah 43:1 tells us that we are redeemed, for God has redeemed us. Literally, this means I want to continue our series of looking at the Gospel of Isaiah this morning. As was mentioned the last two Sundays, the Book of Isaiah was written some 700 - 750 years before Jesus Christ came into this world as a Baby born of the Virgin Mary.     The final 27 chapters of the Book of Isaiah are simply amazing. Chapters 40 through 66 are practically a mirrored foretelling of the last 27 books of the Bible, what is commonly referred to as the New Testament. The theme of this second half of Isaiah is grace and salvation.     These 27 chapters, starting in chapter 40, are the most sublime and richest portion of Old Testament prophecy. In a sense it really is a single prophecy, one glorious vision, and one majestic revelation of salvation which will arrive through the coming Messiah. The last half of Isaiah is supreme. It’s sweeping. It’s comprehensive. It encompasses not only the deliverance of Israel from Babylon, not only the deliverance of sinners from sin, but the deliverance of the nations from the curse of sin and death and then being brought into the Kingdom of the Messiah. So, it has those same elements. The first part if Isaiah talks about judgment upon Israel, it talks about judgment upon sinners, and it talks about final judgment. The second half of the Book of Isaiah talks about deliverance for Israel, deliverance for sinners, and a final deliverance of the redeemed into the Eternal Messianic Kingdom.     Most interestingly the second half of Isaiah, chapters 40 to 66, begins where the New Testament begins. If you look briefly at chapter 40 for just a moment, the parallel is quite interesting. In chapter 40 we read, “Comfort, O comfort My people, says your God.” And that’s the turn that occurs in the Book of Isaiah. It goes from the pronouncing of judgment in the first 39 chapters, to offering comfort in the back half because of grace and salvation coming from God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem,” we now read. And then comes the prophecy in verse 3 regarding the coming of John the Baptist. “A voice is calling, clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness, make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”     And, of course, it was John the Baptist who came, who was the fulfillment of that prophecy. He was the forerunner of Messiah, he was the voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make in the desert a highway for our God.” Just as John is featured in the gospels as Jesus begins His ministry, so, too, does the New Testament end in Revelation speaking of the same new heavens and new Earth, just as Isaiah does in the end of his book!     May the Lord bless you in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Redeemed

By David R. Ferguson

    Isaiah 43:1 tells us that we are redeemed, for God has redeemed us. Literally, this means God has purchased us and set us free. That’s what it means to be redeemed in this case, to be set free.

    Just as God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt, and set them free, God has rescued us. Our baptisms teach us that in a very powerful way. The water overwhelming us in baptism reminds us of God’s people journeying to freedom through the Red Sea as a cloud of water overhead completely enveloped them in water, and years later they entered the Promised Land by crossing the River Jordan, the very same river in which Jesus Himself centuries later was baptized.

    Our baptism sets us free, but free from what? Well, what do we need to set free from? We’re set free from sin, death, and the Devil. But what would you say? How might you answer this today? What do you need to be set free from personally?

    Let me ask it a little differently: What keeps you up at night? What do you worry about, and just can’t seem to stop? Maybe that’s what God wants to set you free from – free from those things that keep you up at night. Just remind yourself that God’s got this. Turn your worries into prayers and be at peace.

    Or, let me ask it another way: Where in your life do you feel stuck, or maybe even trapped? Where in your life are you coming up short in how you want to live? God also wants to free you from whatever is causing you pain and anxiety. He won’t force you, but He wants to help you.

    God wants to set us free, and He has sent His Son into this world to bear our sins and to show us how to live. And our baptism into Jesus Christ set us free from our sin and from whatever is separating us from God’s love.

    Do not fear. In other words, cast away your fear and realize that God has redeemed you, God has purchased you, God has adopted you, God has made you a joint heir with His one and only begotten Son, and that God has set you free. Live in the truth and the promise of that freedom, and live free from fear and worry and anxiety that plague your heart. Trust God. And trust in God’s promise to you. There is nothing more freeing than letting go and letting God be the Source of all true joy and happiness in your life, not only now, but throughout eternity as well!

    May the Lord bless you in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

By David R. Ferguson

     In Hebrews 13:8, the writer says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." What’s significant about these three time periods the Holy Spirit instructed to be written: Yesterday, today and forever? Why does it matter that the Jesus Christ of today remains the same as the Jesus Christ of yesterday and the time to come?

    Yesterday is significant because it’s crucial that Jesus Christ be the same yesterday as He is today, because yesterday was when Jesus Christ showed us historically what He’s really like. The significance of Today is that it’s crucial that Jesus Christ is the same today as He was yesterday, because today is when those of us who are His can have fellowship with Him. It’s how we relate to Him as the person we know by reading about His life and work He accomplished yesterday. Forever’s significance stems from it being absolutely crucial that Jesus Christ remains the same tomorrow and forever as He was yesterday and today, because all our hope for everlasting life and joy with Him hangs ultimately on us being able to relate to Him unceasingly.

    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. What once was true about Christ always will be true about Christ, so we don’t need or want new doctrine. And what was once satisfying about Christ will always be satisfying about Christ, so we don’t need or want money as the means to lasting happiness. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever – the same truth and the same treasure. He’s also promised to save us. This promise is clear, and it’s also part of what makes Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. Paul wrote in Romans 10:13, "for, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." When a lost sinner comes to Jesus through obedient, saving faith, he’s saved by grace and prepared for Heaven. This, too, is a promise that will never change! Therefore, don’t let the Devil play mind games with you. If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, as the Bible teaches, then you’re saved and going to Heaven. If not, then you need to be saved by doing what the word of God tells us. Receive Him on His terms and be free by having your sins washed away in the watery grave of baptism today. Then you, as did the Apostle Paul, can have the same assurance to say, "For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Since He’s the same, He’ll never lose His saving power! As the Hebrews writer states in Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them."

    May the Lord bless you in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

The Gospel of Isaiah

By David R. Ferguson     I’m sure every one of you have heard of the four gospels, The Gospel of Matthew, The Gospel of Mark, The Gospel of Luke, and The Gospel of John. But believe it or not, it really is true that there was another gospel account of the life and death of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. As amazing and as wonderful as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are, this additional gospel of Jesus Christ is arguably even more amazing, for it was written 750 years before Jesus was born! You heard me correctly. There’s a prophetical book in the Old Testament that’s so declarative, so prescient, and so detailed regarding the coming life, mission and death of Jesus that it rightfully can be called The Gospel of Isaiah.     Many people are familiar with Isaiah Chapter 53 and its graphic description of a suffering Messiah, and we’ll be spending much of our time in it this morning, but that’s not the only place in Isaiah Jesus’ life is so vividly portrayed. Isaiah is chockfull of messages regarding our Savior, and Jesus had to fulfil every single one of these. And that’s absolutely what He did.     As was mentioned earlier, this book was written some 750 years before Christ came into this world as a Baby born of the Virgin Mary. Think about that for as moment. Just how difficult was this going to be for Jesus to fulfill a prophecy that demanded He be born of a virgin! You can search everywhere but you won’t find predictions about anyone else who was to bring us to God who was going to be born of a virgin. In fact, there are many religions around the world, but not a single one of them had anything written about their leaders before they were born. Not a single one. All other religions were manmade. Mohammad, Confucius, Buddha or any other man or being were self-proclaimed by man. They have nothing written about their coming as God with man. Only Jesus fits this bill, and only Jesus was spoken of even before He was born.     The elements of the gospel of Jesus Christ were foretold by Old Testament Prophets. It was prophesied that there would be the coming of the Messiah. Concerning the establishment of His coming Kingdom, much was written. It was this fact of the establishment of a coming Kingdom that the Jews at the time of Christ grasped onto the most, and pictured in their minds that the much anticipated and longed for Messiah would be a great warrior King like David of old who would overthrow militarily the yokes of the Roman Empire that had enslaved them, and this warrior King would establish a new Israel who would rule the world from Jerusalem. But what God had in mind, and what the expectations are of what man desires, rarely, if ever, are the same thing.

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Our Sure and Steadfast Hope

By Glen Elliott      A ship securely anchored does not drift from its harbor. A life firmly fastened to the will of God is not easily shaken from its moorings. In spite of life’s uncertainties, there is a God upon whom we can depend. He inspires hope in the human heart, saying, “I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you…” (Heb. 13:5). Such hope is the Christian’s spiritual anchor. The inspired author offers the following description: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:19-20).     This hope is sure because it is grounded in the word of God. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Mt. 24:35). Because the word of Christ will be our standard of judgment on the last day (Jn. 12:48), it is imperative that we closely and carefully study and practice its teachings.     This hope is sure because it is inseparably connected to the nature and presence of God. The nature of God provides strong encouragement in as much as it is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18). We can trust His promises completely. Our hope is anchored in heaven, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us and always lives to make intercession on our behalf (Heb. 6:20; 7:25).     As Christians, we do not need to despair in the storms of life. We have an anchor to keep the soul, one that is sure and steadfast. Our God, who cannot lie, has promised that, if we remain faithful, we will receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). This is our calm assurance, our peace that passes understanding (Ph. 4:7).

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Make the Lord Your Trust

By Glen Elliott     In the midst of so much uncertainty and fear -- when winds of change blow strongly in our faces -- it is good for us to pause for a moment and reflect on the importance of trust. Our struggles do not have to do so much with a lack of trust as a failure to make God our trust. We all trust in something, but “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Ps. 118:8). We must make the Lord our primary trust (Ps. 40:4). It doesn’t take a 9/11 experience to remind us of just how quickly things can change around us. We cannot know the future, but we can know and trust the God who holds the future in His hands.     In the dark and tumultuous days leading up to Babylonian Captivity, Jeremiah begged the people of Judah to place their trust in the Lord rather than foreign alliances. His comparison between trust in God and trust in man is quite remarkable. The prophet writes, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit’” (Jer. 17:5–8).     Trust makes all the difference! The person who places his trust in man is like a scraggly bush in a barren desert. But the one who trusts in God is compared to a beautiful tree growing beside a lovely stream. Truly, the path to God’s blessing lies in our ability to make Him our trust.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Feeling Good About Yourself

By Glen Elliott     There is nothing inherently sinful about having a good self-image. Self-centeredness is wrong; but there is a great difference between selfishness and good self-esteem. God wants us to feel good about ourselves. In fact, He sent His Son so that we might enjoy a “full and abundant life” (Jn. 10:10). God does not rejoice when our feet get kicked out from under us and we find ourselves flat on our faces, bruised and battered by life’s setbacks. To the contrary, God hurts when we hurt. Jesus is a high priest who can “sympathize with our weaknesses” because He “has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).     Because God wants us to be happy and feel good about ourselves, He has given us His word as a guide to joyous living. The “dos and don’ts” of the Bible are not given to inflict pain, but joy. Even the Law of Moses was given for the good of the people. Moses asked this very telling question: “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Dt. 10:12–13). Every parent knows what “for Your good” means. As children, we tried to bend the rules a little only to discover later that the rules had been given “for our good.” Likewise, we can be sure that every command of God is for our good and for our ultimate happiness. God’s word provides us with a sense of security and well-being because our Father cares enough to set boundaries. When we follow His teaching, we feel good. We were created in His image and He loves us so much that He gave His only Son so that we might live forever in His presence. This sense of His abiding love frees us from self-hate and stirs within us a love for God and others (1 Jn. 4:19).

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

By the Grace of God

By Glen Elliott     Some reject the grace of God in preference to earning salvation. In the April 2026 issue of the Spiritual Sword, Steve Higginbotham cites a New York Times interview with the former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, who said, “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed, I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.” No doubt there are many who feel the same in regard to procuring their own salvation. But, if such were the case, grace would be unnecessary and the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross was a serious blunder in the redemptive plan of God.     We must not overlook the underlying belief expressed by the phrase, “if there is a God….” But, if there is a God, He surely would have revealed the nature of our salvation; whether is it something we earn or something given to us on the condition of biblical faith. The matter is settled in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where he writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Of one thing, we can be certain: we will not walk into heaven because we have earned it. All have sinned and stand in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23). Denying our need for a Savior suggests sinless perfection -- something that flies in the face of both Scripture and practical experience (1 John 1:10). Ultimately, those who enter into heaven will be those who have been saved by grace through faith.     Grace is a strong motivation to demonstrate our faith through active obedience to God’s will. After acknowledging the fact that we are saved by grace through faith, Paul goes on to say, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). We cannot be saved by works of merit nor can we be saved without an active, working faith (James 2:14-26). Just as faith has a role in grace, so also grace has a role in faith. Paul speaks of the empowering nature of God’s grace when he says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Cor. 15:10). God’s grace, then, is our motivation and strength to produce good works to the glory of God.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

A Big Blue Marble

By Glen Elliott     Lord willing, by the time you read this Artemis II will have made her way back to Earth. What a perspective to see the Earth from space! Yet, when compared to the vastness of the universe or even our own solar system, we have hardly made it past our own front porch. This big blue marble we call home is, by comparison, infinitesimally small. When seen from over 200,000 miles away, it appears as large as a basketball held at arm’s length.     As a shepherd and, then later, as a fugitive fleeing from King Saul, David must have spent many nights pondering the glories of the celestial luminaries which dot the evening sky. This is evident in the book of Psalms where he writes, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1). The perceptive heart can hear creation’s message detailing the glory of God. All of this, He created out of nothing. “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9). We are humbled by the awesome greatness of God as expressed through creation. David spoke to this in His praise to God, saying, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). We are but a speck on that big blue marble we call Earth. Yet, we are comforted in knowing that we are His special creation and that all this He has designed for us.     Our God is not far away, but near (Jeremiah 23:23). Paul told the Athenians that He is “not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:27). God knows everything about us. He understands our “thoughts from afar” and is “intimately acquainted with all [our] ways” (Psalm 139:2-3). We are not an afterthought in the mind of God. His interest in us predates even creation itself. Our value, then, is not measured by a big blue marble; but by a big brown cross stained with the blood of Jesus. At times, we may feel small -- just a speck on a big blue marble -- but, “He surrounds [us] with favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Does the Bible Offer Hope for Depression?

By Bob Prichard     Depression is perhaps the most common emotional problem that we face today. Experts suggest as many as one out of five Americans experience severe depression some time during their lives, and depression may be the most common health problem for women. Symptoms of depression include apathy, insomnia, difficulty in concentrating, and a general loss of interest in life. Severely depressed people may become suicidal, violent, or completely withdrawn. Depression has always been a problem for mankind. Bible characters such as King Saul, Elijah the prophet, Job, and others experienced depression.       Sources of depression may be physical, psychological, or spiritual. Fatigue, chemical imbalances, and other physical problems may cause depression. After his defeat of the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel, Elijah was physically exhausted. When Jezebel threatened his life, he fled into the wilderness and was ready to die. The angel of the Lord comforted him and strengthened him with food, telling him, “Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee” (1 Kings 19:7). He still felt overwhelmed and alone, however. He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10). He repeated,  “I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14). The Lord encouraged him by letting him know that there were still seven thousand faithful, and by sending Elisha to help him.     Loss is a common psychological cause of depression. Job lost his possessions, his family, his health, and even his reputation. He cried, “the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came” (Job 3:25-26). Later he learned that God continued to control the universe, saying “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee” (Job 42:2). Unfulfilled hopes and dreams, and feelings of worthlessness or helplessness brought on by stress also cause depression. These feelings often come because a person has lost the proper perspective. Disappointments may be opportunities in disguise, however. They may be times to rearrange priorities, making our life priorities more in line with God’s will. It is helpful to remember when overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness and worthlessness to remember that God is still in control. He demonstrated His love in the cross. “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).     Sin must have its spiritual consequences, which very often includes depression. Obedience to the Lord is the key. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10). God does not intend for us to be depressed, and is eager to forgive and comfort. His love demonstrates this. A wise counselor points the depressed person to God.

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

How are the Church and the Kingdom Related?

By Bob Prichard     The burning question in the hearts of the early Jews was the question of when the Messiah would establish His kingdom on earth and reign upon David’s throne. Most misunderstood the issue, and even the disciples were caught up in misconceptions of the nature of the Lord’s kingdom. Just before His ascension, they asked Jesus, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). They just did not understand the true nature or identity of the kingdom of God.     The word “kingdom,” as used in the New Testament, means “royal power, kingship, the territory subject to a king, the reign of the Messiah,” with primary reference to the rule, reign, and authority of God. New Testament writers used it in several senses. Paul spoke of the eternity of the kingdom: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18). Jesus used kingdom in another sense when He told the Pharisees, “behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), meaning that the kingdom, or rule of God was in their midst through His ministry as the Son of God. The primary use of the term “kingdom,” however, is in reference to the church.     After Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus blessed Peter, saying, “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). Jesus here used the phrases “my church” and “kingdom of heaven” interchangeably. Writing later, Paul rejoiced with the Colossian Christians that God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Just a few verses later he identified the kingdom as “the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18).     John the Baptizer, Jesus, and the apostles all preached that the kingdom was “at hand,” or near. “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). “Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).      The New Testament church surely fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the kingdom. Daniel declared that “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). The “kings” referred to the Roman Empire, the fourth kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image, the kings who controlled first century Judaea when the church was established.      Jesus Himself predicted that the kingdom would be established within the lifetime of the apostles. “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). The kingdom surely came with power on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).     People become citizens of the kingdom of God, the church, by the new birth, being born of the water and the spirit. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

I Will Build My Church

By Bob Prichard     “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-19).     When Jesus asked, “Who do men say that I am?” the answers of men were wrong! Only Peter had the right answer, and it makes a difference Who we believe Jesus is. Can anyone be saved by believing He was John? Of course not!     Jesus said, “Upon this rock” not to emphasize the rock, but the One upon whom the belief is placed. Jesus was not promising to build his church on Peter, but on faith that He is the Messiah. But what did Jesus have in mind when He made this promise? WHEN WOULD HE BUILD HIS CHURCH?     We know clearly that it was not built by John. “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11). John was never in His kingdom, the church.     Daniel prophesied the beginning of the church: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44).  A church built any other time would not be His church.     Jesus told the apostles, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).     This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:14-16). At the conclusion of his sermon, as he invited all to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38), “they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Act 2:41). “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47b). HOW MANY CHURCHES DID HE SAY HE WOULD HE BUILD?     Did Jesus envision thousands of denominational divisions? Did He envision a time when men would say “Join the church of your choice”?     John 17 records the prayer of Jesus as he prepared for the cross, praying first for his disciples, and then He added, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23).     He did not say “I will build my churches.” He envisioned one church, not many denominations. Among the great unities of Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul said “There is one body,” meaning there is one church. WHAT WOULD HE CALL HIS CHURCH?     Names are important, and He would want His church associated with Him. The church at Corinth was divided, and Paul asked them to be united, speaking the same thing, and wearing the name of Christ. “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:11-13).     There are no exclusive names, but descriptive names given for the church in scripture, It is called “the church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2), “the church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23), “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16), “body of Christ” (Colossians 1:24), “bride” (Revelation 21:2), and “the house of God” (1 Timothy 3:15). These are not different churches, but the one church He established. WHAT WOULD GUIDE HIS CHURCH?     God has always given His people a pattern (Exodus 25:40 Hebrews 8:5). In the parable of the soils, Jesus explained, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). If the seed, the word of God is properly planted and cultivated, the seed will produce the church. Church history is marked by men deviating from the Bible pattern to make the denominations what they desire. You could never find the churches or their doctrines in the Bible alone. But if you have the seed, you can produce the church of the New Testament. If you wanted Georgia watermelons in Texas, you wouldn’t need to run a vine from Georgia to Texas. You would just need the seed. HOW WOULD PEOPLE ENTER HIS CHURCH?     The pattern established on Pentecost. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:36-38).     The same pattern was followed as Phillip taught the Ethiopian eunuch. “And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:34-38).     You can be a member of the same church as those on Pentecost, the eunuch, Peter and Paul, if you will obey the gospel as they did.

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Does Matthew 24-25 Tell Us of the Signs to Watch for Concerning the Second Coming of Christ?

By Bob Prichard     One of the most popular areas of speculation in our religious world today is in the area of setting the date for the second coming of Christ. Many point to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, the arrival of the computer age, or even the introduction of the social security number, to say that the “signs” show Jesus is coming “soon.” The scriptures are very clear, however, that there will be no special signs of His second coming. Time after time men and women have set dates for the Lord’s second coming, only to be proved wrong. No particular date can be set!     At the beginning of Matthew 24, Jesus showed the temple to the disciples, and said, “There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down”  (Matthew 24:2). In response, they asked, “When shall these things be?” and “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (vs. 3). Notice that the disciples asked about two separate events: the destruction of the temple, and the Lord’s second coming. Jesus first answered concerning the signs before the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, and then He spoke of His second coming at the end of the world.    Beginning in verse four, Jesus described a number of signs to the disciples, including the coming of false Christs, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, apostles being killed, and the preaching of the gospel to the whole world. He warned them that men would have to flee to the mountains (vs. 16). He warned the disciples, “When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (vs. 33). These signs were fulfilled in the events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in the year a.d. 70 by the Roman army. Verses 29-31 describe the upheaval of the Jewish world with the end of Jewish worship in the Jerusalem temple. History records that many Christians understood the signs, and fled Jerusalem. They could flee the Roman armies, but no one will be able to flee when the Lord returns.     Jesus said in verse 34, the key verse, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” In other words, Jesus said that the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple would occur before the generation hearing His words passed away. (A generation is thirty to forty years.) Then, speaking of His second coming, Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (vs. 36). No man knows the day or hour!  Jesus emphasized the contrast between the destruction of Jerusalem in 70, and His second coming.     The signs before the destruction of Jerusalem were evident, but as for His second coming, “be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (vs. 44). The disciples asked for a sign of his coming, but the Lord gave none. If people could know the exact date of His coming, they would wait until the last minute to be prepared. We should be ready always. Be prepared today, because there will be no signs!

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Good Soil in America

By Bob Prichard     The world out of which the American Restoration movement grew was truly a world of “good soil” (Luke 8:8). The new nation was a nation that did not have allegiance to any particular religious denomination. Many were searching for truth in the early decades of the nineteenth century. It was fertile soil for people to question what they had always believed.     The result was a variety of religious movements. Joseph Smith offered his mythical Book of Mormon, as he suggested that all of the churches of the day were corrupt, and it was necessary to restore the church in those “latter days.” The “United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing,” better known as the Shakers, spread west to Kentucky and Indiana from their base at New Lebanon, NY, attracting thousands to communal living.     And then there was the Restoration Movement. From diverse beginnings, many began to question the religious division and denominational loyalties of their world. A trickle of searchers departing from those loyalties became a roaring river of people seeking to restore the ancient order of things. James O’Kelly left the Methodists. Elias Smith and Abner Jones left the Baptists. Barton W. Stone, Thomas Campbell and Alexander Campbell left the Presbyterians. Although these had some differences in doctrine, they united in understanding that the need was a return to the church of the New Testament, following only the Bible as a guide. As heirs of the Restoration Movement, we can be thankful that the religious climate of the nineteenth century provided the fertile soil of truth seekers.     We must seek good soil in our nation today. The moral climate of our world can’t help but convince truth seekers that there is a better way. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16a).

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.