God's Everlasting Word

The name “Christian” is found three times in the Bible -- in Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and First Peter 4:16. Today’s lesson is directed to undenominational Christians...those who claim to be members of the Lord’s church, also known as the church of Christ. We know that “Christian” is the correct and only name...but a lot of church members don’t seem to realize the full significance. All of us wear it...but some, not very well. A Christian is more than a baptized person, church member, and weekly worshipper. There are a lot of those...but fewer Christians! In today’s GOD’S EVERLASTING WORD podcast, we’ll consider what the Bible teaches about, “Wearing the Name Christian.”

There’s a wonderful word that occurs ten times in the King James Version of the New Testament, and in each place it’s mentioned, it’s connected to salvation, and what we must do, in order to make it to heaven after we die. But, what does it mean, when we say, “remission of sins?” That’s the topic of today’s GOD’S EVERLASTING WORD PODCAST, with special guest Sidney White, preacher for the Gardner church of Christ, in Martin, Tennessee.

One of the benefits and blessings enjoyed by the Christian is the avenue of prayer...the way in which God’s children talk to their heavenly Father. They pray to God in order to seek fellowship with Him, to thank Him for what He’s done, to praise Him, to seek pardon for themselves and others, and to ask Him for specific needs. And there are passages in the Bible that give examples of all of those things. But, when it comes to asking God for anything, we may have, at times, paused and asked ourselves, “For what should I pray?” That’s the topic of today’s episode, with special guest, Jared Knoll.

The subject of baptism has been discussed and debated for many, many years, with some people teaching that it has nothing to do with our salvation and others considering it a vital part of God’s plan to save us from our sins. And there have been numerous methods used to teach people about it. One of the most unique, and easy-to-understand, ways was presented by a preacher named J.W. McGarvey, back in 1893...it was simple, to-the-point, and addressed baptism in the order in which it is mentioned in the New Testament. McGarvey’s students began to preach it this way and, later on, men such N.B. Hardeman, Gus Nichols, and many, many others would use this method in their sermons. So, for today’s podcast, we invite you to listen to, and learn from, one of the most effective ways to teach someone about baptism...and what part it plays in our salvation.

In Acts chapter 2, when the apostles spoke in other tongues, what were they doing? Did they speak in some unknown language that no one understood? Was it just “gibberish?” Why did they do it...and what is it that people today claim they’re doing and why?  Our special guest for today's episode is Bill Davis, a former minister for the Assembly of God denomination...but now a faithful gospel preacher for the Lord's church, in Pensacola, Florida. His topic: "Speaking in Tongues."

There’s a wonderful old song in our hymnals that begins with the following words: “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.” It’s based on a verse from the Bible, found in Jeremiah 8:22, and is as relevant to us today as it was when it was written. It’s also the topic of today’s GOD’S EVERLASTING WORD podcast: “The Balm of Gilead.”

Our lesson is from Joshua, Chapter 1, beginning with the fifth verse -- "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give them." Did you notice the words of God, "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee"? If there was ever a subject custom-fit for today’s world, this is it -- "The Never-Failing God."

I think most people are interested in any question that relates to their future life. We’d like to know, if possible, where we go immediately after we die...and we’d like to know whether our friends and loved ones who have crossed over are conscious, and if they are, do they know what we’re doing. Plus, where do the we go immediately after death? Now, some of these questions we can’t answer. There’s nothing revealed in God’s Word that will answer all the questions we have about death and what happens after we die. But God has shared some things with us regarding the afterlife. So, for today’s study, we’re going to examine the Scriptures to see if we can find the answer to the question: “Where are the dead?”

Our lesson today comes from Acts chapter 4, verse 13, where it says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." There's a great lesson in that for us today. When others saw the apostles, they knew they had been with Jesus...and that's the topic of today's episode.

Many people say they love the Lord and know that He is their Savior...but when they hear what He expects, they walk away, like a young man did, many, many years ago, after He came to Jesus and asked, "What lack I yet?" Maybe we should be asking the same question, if we expect to go to Heaven. What does the Bible say?