Jesus told his disciples “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Have you ever wondered what he meant by that? He obviously was not speaking of a building as we often make use of the term today (e.g., did you go to church?). What thenContinue reading “Christ Builds His Church – the Ethiopian Eunuch”
Author Archives: randylivingston
The Resurrection of Christ
In Acts 4 we have the record of the lame man healed through the ministry of Peter. The chief priests and elders, moved with envy against Christ, examined the apostles as to how this miracle was performed. Peter responded “Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined ofContinue reading “The Resurrection of Christ”
A Salvation for All
Early in Paul’s first missionary journey, he and his company came to Antioch in Pisidia. Luke records for us that upon arriving they “went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day” (Acts 13:14). We read later in Acts that ministering the gospel first to the Jews was his custom. “Now…they came to Thessalonica, where wasContinue reading “A Salvation for All”
A Pattern for Worship
The church was born at the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ. It was at that time that Jesus “having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit” sent Him to his disciples and “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit”Continue reading “A Pattern for Worship”
A New Course
The Bible teaches that after Jesus Christ rose from the dead, he “shewed himself alive…by many infallible proofs, being seen of them [his disciples] forty days…” and taught them “things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). The certainty of the resurrection of Christ is indisputable. Paul testified to this great truth in hisContinue reading “A New Course”
A Message to be Believed
Luke records in Acts 17 that the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey brought him and his co-laborers to Thessalonica “where was a synagogue of the Jews” (Acts 17:1). He goes on to say that “Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening andContinue reading “A Message to be Believed”
A Matter of Receiving
The Apostle Paul made three significant missionary endeavors that are recorded for us in the Scriptures. One thing stands out in all of them. No matter where he went, no matter where he stayed, no matter where he preached, the message of the gospel was received by some and rejected by others. One might dismissContinue reading “A Matter of Receiving”
A Lesson for Those in Authority
One of the great moments in Israel’s history occurred when God “appeared to Solomon in a dream by night…and said, ask what I shall give thee” (I Kings 3:5). Solomon, David’s son, had just ascended to the throne and God offers him a blank check. Wow! Solomon responded by first acknowledging his privileged position byContinue reading “A Lesson for Those in Authority”
Yet in Your Sins
Paul had previously presented to the believers in Corinth irrefutable eye-witness testimony of our Lord’s bodily resurrection from the dead. This he had done after testifying that Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection were scripturally foretold (I Corinthians 15:1-8). Nonetheless, there were those in Corinth that did not believe in any resurrection of the body andContinue reading “Yet in Your Sins”
Working for the Gospel’s Sake
Paul expressed his disappointment with the Corinthians’ lack of spiritual growth and rebuked them for their divisive favoritism (I Corinthians 3:2-4). He went on to explain that this unwarranted elevation of personalities struck at the very core of the gospel ministry. He challenged his readers, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministersContinue reading “Working for the Gospel’s Sake”
From the Chaplain 