Safe and Sane Solutions

Sommer: Safe and Sane Solutions

Few preachers associated with the Restoration Movement fought so strongly and effectively against innovations and apostasy than Daniel Sommer (1850-1940). His efforts were motivated by a profound respect for the word of God, and his ability to defend the truth as he did was possible because of his diligence in studying the Scriptures. This respect and diligence can be seen in the quote below from Allen Sommer – the son of Daniel Sommer – as he recalled the memory of his father.

“When he was home, as a child I remember going to bed at night leaving Father seated at a writing table with the Book open before him, and a piece of heavy paper or card-board bent around the coal-oil lamp chimney, to shade his eyes … there he was—reading and writing—always writing and reading … And when I sleepily drifted into the room next morning, there he was—reading that Book, and writing … always writing and reading. I wondered if he’d been there all night … Sometimes he’d pause, lift his massive head and shoulders and gaze straight ahead. I wondered then what he saw. Later I concluded he was turning over in his mind a scripture, looking under, around, and behind, for safe-and-sane solution…” (Faith and Facts Quarterly, Volume 48, Number 2, p. 19).

Daniel Sommer had such a habit of Bible study that his young son wondered if he ever went to sleep or stayed up all night with the word of God open before him. This diligence is commendable. We all need to strive to maintain such a habit of studying the Scriptures. Yet there was more involved in the study done by Sommer than just the time he spent in it. His young son noticed the time, but as Allen Sommer grew up, he realized that his father’s approach to the Scriptures – looking for a “safe-and-sane solution” to the issue at hand – enabled him to teach and defend the truth so effectively.Continue Reading

How the Church May Use Its Money

Collection Plate

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

The passage above shows the practice of churches in the first century under the direction of the apostles taking up a collection on the first day of the week. Brethren often cite this as the reason why Christians today continue to give on the first day of each week when they assemble with their local congregations.

But why do we give on the first day of each week? Besides following this example, what is the purpose of doing this? After we put our money in the collection plate, what does the church do with it? Are there any instructions or principles in the New Testament that would inform us about the church’s use of that money? We are going to consider these questions in this article.Continue Reading

What the Bible Says about Easter (04.06.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about Easter. This Sunday is Easter Sunday, which means churches across the country and around the world are preparing special services and events in celebration of this holiday that supposedly is to remember the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. What does the Bible say about this? We’re going to discuss that in our episode today.Continue Reading

Churches Canceling Services for Christmas (12.22.22)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about churches canceling services for Christmas. December 25th falls on a Sunday this year. And while most churches in the religious world place a special emphasis on this as a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, there are a number of churches that are planning not to meet at all because of the holiday. There are some points I want us to consider about this.Continue Reading

Answering Basic Questions (Part 11): What Is the Work of the Church?

Answering Basic Questions

Earlier in this series, we discussed the question: What is the church? A related question, and one that will come up from time to time, is about what local churches are to be doing. If you ask various people, you will likely get many different answers. This is the reason why there is an almost limitless number of activities and “ministries” offered by churches today. Is it necessary – or even good – for churches to do all of these things?

What is the work of the church? There are four points for us to consider here.Continue Reading

Answering Basic Questions (Part 8): What Is Bible Authority?

Answering Basic Questions

Man has come up with many different things to do in the name of religion. Yet when it comes to deciding what we will do in our service to God, the only way we can know how to please Him is by looking to His word. But how does His word help us discern His will? That is a matter of Bible authority.

What is Bible authority? We are going to discuss some fundamental points here.Continue Reading

Moses Finished

Tabernacle

When we read about different individuals in the Bible, we often try to learn from their example in the things that they did. However, there are also times when we can learn from them as they finished what they were doing. In this article, we are going to notice the example of Moses and the times in which the Scriptures indicate that he finished something.Continue Reading