January 1, 2024

The Seven Churches (Part 3): Pergamum

The Seven Churches (Part 3): Pergamum

The church in Pergamum, or Pergamos (KJV, NKJV), was the third church addressed by the Lord at the beginning of the book of Revelation. Like the church discussed in the previous lesson (Smyrna), this church and city are mentioned nowhere else in the New Testament. Also like Smyrna, the church in Pergamum experienced persecution. One of their number had even been killed as a result. Yet the Lord warned them not to compromise the truth, even in the face of persecution.

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it’” (Revelation 2:12-17).

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October 5, 2023

AI-Generated Fake Bible Verses (10.05.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about how AI can be used to generate “fake” Bible verses. The danger in this is that those who are not familiar with the Scriptures can be easily deceived by fake verses that sound vaguely like Biblical statements but contain teaching that is contrary to what the Bible actually says. Instead, they will provide some sense of comfort to people who simply want to hear what they want to hear.Continue Reading

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June 21, 2023

The Time When They Will No Longer Endure Sound Doctrine

Megachurch

As Paul began to close his second letter to Timothy, he “solemnly” charged him (2 Timothy 4:1) to carry out his work as a preacher. He told the young evangelist, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Timothy was not at liberty to teach any message that he or others might prefer. He was to proclaim the word of God, just as Paul and the other apostles taught (2 Timothy 1:13). He was not to deviate from this message in any way – just as we must not alter the message (cf. Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19). The charge for him to “be ready in season and out of season” to preach this pure, unadulterated message of the gospel required a willingness to proclaim it even if it was unpopular, inconvenient, and difficult for people to accept.

However, since the message of the gospel is sometimes unpopular, inconvenient, and difficult for people to accept, many turn away from it. Sadly, this even happens among Christians and in local churches. Paul warned Timothy that he would encounter this:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

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January 24, 2022

Dangers on the Safe Side (Part 1): Avoiding Controversy

Dangers on the Safe Side

For many Christians, controversy is undesirable. Debates, which were common in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, are rare today. In some ways, this is understandable. As our society has become more polarized and heated debates can erupt over issues that seem to be largely insignificant, it is tempting to want to stay “on the safe side” and avoid anything controversial (we do not want to “rock the boat”) so we can continue to get along with our brethren. However, there are dangers that come with avoiding controversy on spiritual issues.

Consider the example of the apostle Peter (also called Cephas):Continue Reading

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November 6, 2019

Pay Attention

Attention

We receive reminders throughout our lives to pay attention – to our spouses, children, parents, teachers, employers, etc. The Bible also emphasizes the importance of paying attention. In this article, we are going to see what we are – and are not – to pay attention to and why it matters.Continue Reading

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July 17, 2019

How to Silence False Teachers

Man with duct tape over mouth

When Paul wrote to Titus about the qualifications for elders, one of the requirements for these men was that they have an ability to deal with false teachers.

“Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain” (Titus 1:9-11).

Paul said these false teachers “must be silenced.” But how would this be done? No one expects the elders of a local church to kidnap a false teacher, put duct tape over his mouth, tie him up, and then lock him in a closet to prevent him from spreading his error. Since they cannot use physical force to silence false teachers, how are they to do it?Continue Reading

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November 21, 2018

“Jesus Christ Had Not Joined the Shakers”

David Purviance: "Jesus Christ Had Not Joined the Shakers"

One of the principle documents of the Restoration Movement was The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery. It announced the dissolving of this religious body (the Springfield Presbytery) and articulated a desire for all such bodies to “be dissolved, and sink into union with the Body of Christ at large.”

This document was signed by six men – the most well-known was Barton W. Stone. Two of the men – Richard M’Nemar and John Dunlavy – later departed from the faith to join the Shakers. In his memoirs, David Purviance – another one of the six who signed The Last Will and Testament – described their departure and the impact it had upon the church.

“They were not content to abide in the simplicity of the truth. They became fanatics, and were prepared for an overthrow — when the Shakers entered in among us and swept them off with others who were led into wild enthusiasm. The shock to the church was severe — but it terminated for good. It served as a warning to us to watch and pray, and cleave to the Lord and to his word. We heard the word of the Lord: ‘Is there no king in thee, is thy counselor perished?’ M’Nemar was gone, but Jesus Christ had not joined the Shakers. The bond of union and fellowship was dissolved between us and those who had received the Shaker testimony. They were moved from ‘the foundation of the apostles and prophets,’ and had received a new revelation — ‘another gospel.’ ‘They went out from us, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.’ We found their character delineated: 1st Tim. 4:1, ‘Some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils’” (The Biography of Elder David Purviance, p. 115).

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