Sound Words (Page 2)
SOUND WORDS, FEB. 2, 2025
DISCIPLINE IS ABOUT SAVING SOULS Collective discipline is so misunderstood and underutilized by Christians that it begs the question, do we really understand how discipline fits into God’s design for saving the soul? The deeper question is, do we believe and trust that God knows best? Discipline comes in many forms. It can be difficult to know exactly what to do or where to start. Fear of immediate consequences sometimes outweighs our fear of eternal consequences. In the cases where…
SOUND WORDS, JAN. 26, 2025
we’ve come a long way About two years ago the Athens News Courier contained a quarter page ad inviting all to a “Free Community Cookout.” The ad went on to say, “Join us as we say, ‘Happy Birthday America’ on Saturday, June 30th. We will begin serving hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and drinks at 6:00 pm and will serve until we run out. There will also be snow-cones, cotton candy, face painting and games. You will have the best view in town of…
SOUND WORDS, JAN. 19, 2025
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE In a world divided by prejudice over ethnicity, or income, or even the sins of our past, the message of the church is clear: you are welcome here. The invitation to come into the presence of God is open to all people, regardless of background or circumstance. However, while the church welcomes everyone, it stands firm in its stance that sin is not welcome. This article explores the balance between inclusivity and holiness, highlighting biblical teachings…
SOUND WORDS, JAN. 12, 2025
MAKE SUNDAY SPECIAL Sunday is special. It’s the day of His resurrection. It’s the day of devotion to God, a day for spiritual service and rejoicing. It’s the day God ordained for worship and service. It’s the day when we keep the memorial of Jesus’ death, the Lord’s Supper. It’s a day for singing and praying and being together. It’s a day for spiritual feasting. Sometimes I think we take the Lord’s Day for granted. We become so familiar with…
SOUND WORDS, JAN. 5, 2025
WHOLLY DEVOTED 1 Kings 8:61 NASB 61 “Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” 1 Timothy 5:10 NASB 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. The scriptures have many…
SOUND WORDS, DEC. 29, 2024
WHAT DOES GODLY WISDOM REQUIRE? Living in any given culture and time requires that we have the wisdom and will to be what we ought to be for the Lord. Serving the Lord is not just about obeying a few commandments. Rather, it is a lifelong commitment to be faithful, loyal, and true to the end (cf. Rev 2:10). Developing a heart for wisdom cannot be stressed enough (Prov 2:2), and this begins with the fear of the Lord (Prov 9:10).…
SOUND WORDS, DEC. 22, 2024
WHY DOESN’T THE CHURCH WHERE YOU WORSHIP CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS? Notes about the RELIGIOUS observance of Christmas: Why No Special Christmas Services? Folks are often surprised to learn that we have no special religious observance of the Christmas holiday. Such practices are so common in most denominations that many people think it is odd when we don’t sing Christmas songs, decorate the church building with seasonal ornaments, and conduct special worship services. Please allow us to explain. First, it should be pointed out…
SOUND WORDS, DEC. 15, 2024
CHURCH-GOD CENTERED OR MAN CENTERED Religion by its very definition would seem to involve God. The word godly means God-centered. However, there are those who practice a religion that is all about man rather than God. To say that such religion is godly is not to say that it is wicked, but simply that it is not centered in God. Jesus described such people in his day in the words of Isaiah: “These people draw near to me with their…