Briefly Considered: The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians Polycarp was a disciple of the apostle John and was said to have met with numerous people who knew Jesus. He was held in very high regard among the churches as is indicated by his being titled "holy" Polycarp in the letter concerning his martyrdom from the church at Smyrna. We do not know the date of this let...

As a recent seminary graduate engaged in starting my first church plant, I cannot claim that I had it all figured out. Not even close. Name a doctrine or theological emphasis and I often had more questions than answers. There were some things, however, that I was clear on. I was invited to a vision-casting meeting held by our main sponsoring church in which they were discu...

In other words, why do we gather on Sunday mornings in the first place? Various people may answer in various ways, but to get at the answer we cannot simply take a poll, we have to look to see what the Bible says. And what we find is Paul speaking to the Christians in Corinth concerning their weekly gathering saying, "So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifesta...

This is a transcription I did some time ago of excerpts from a conversation between James White and Thom Aschol. I felt that what James White shared below hit such a nerve with me. I could relate so well to going to seminary and then into ministry, wanting to do the will of God and to preach and teach, but being taught, directly and indirectly, that man's methodologies wer...

After nearly two decades of overseeing the Lord's table, I came to embrace the belief that the best practice of the ordinance is by following what is called "closed communion." This is not to say that I am not able to practice communion with those who do not share my convictions. I am willing to submit to the authority of the elders who rule over their church and practice ...

"Let deacons each be the husband of one wife." 1 Timothy 3:12 In a discussion which followed the nomination of a single man to the office of deacon in our church, a comment was jokingly made concerning whether or not he would have a wife in time for the vote and if she would, indeed, be dignified (1 Tim. 3:11). While the comments were made in good fun, they do present a s...