In a letter to the church at Corinth, Paul affirmed that “the natural man does not receive the things of God.” Some allege that this text suggests that one cannot understand the Scriptures without direct guidance from the Holy Spirit. But, as Wayne Jackson demonstrates in this article, this view reflects a misunderstanding of the apostle’s argument.

The church is a collection of all sorts of people from varying backgrounds and with different personalities. It is inevitable that such an aggregate of folks will experience conflicts. But the Scriptures can help us deal with these difficult situations. In this week’s Penpoints, Jason Jackson discusses this theme.

Nero Claudius Caesar was one of the most despicable characters on the stage of human history. But there are some important lessons to learn from his interaction with the Christians of the first century.

What can a father do to protect his children from Satan’s grasp? A wise dad will have a plan in place, well before the challenging teen years.

The only way one can consistently argue for the sanctity of human life is to ground his case in the ultimate moral law which proceeds from the sovereign Creator of the universe.

We have become a nation driven by polls. Polls are taken to determine practically everything—from what sort of food Americans prefer, to whether or not the president should be impeached.

The article explores the messages from angels in the 14th chapter of the book of Revelation, focusing on the vision of a Lamb on Mount Zion, the concept of redemption, and the eternal good tidings brought by the angel.

This article explores the interpretation of the phrase ‘by nature’ in Ephesians 2:3, discussing various viewpoints from theologians and examining how Paul used the term in other biblical passages.

A preacher or teacher must accept the heavy responsibility the Scriptures lay upon that role. His audience also has a responsibility—to test his message, whether or not it is from God.

Based upon a misunderstanding of Ephesians 2:8, some argue that “faith” is a gift from God, and that it is not, therefore, a condition of salvation. This theory is the offspring of Calvinism. This week’s question explores this issue.

The article explores the concept of re-baptism, discussing its validity from a scriptural perspective, and the circumstances in which it might be considered necessary, such as a lack of understanding or faith at the time of the original baptism.

How were some “fellow workers” (3 Jn. 8) received who had a commendation from the apostle John? While the “beloved apostle” commended Gaius, who “received” the church workers, others were censured for snubbing their noses, and treating the endorsed Christians like itinerate church cons.

Rehoboam was a reckless king over the nation of Judah and his folly caused spiritual decay among the Lord’s people. What lessons might one learn from this tragic circumstance in ancient history?

Marriage is an “until-death-do-us-part” commitment. It ought to be approached from a joyous, yet cautiously-solemn, vantage point. Marriage should be embraced for wise reasons, not foolish ones.

The Bible student is sometimes puzzled as to why much of the boyhood life of Christ is omitted from the New Testament record. This was no accident. Actually, it is a subtle evidence of the inspiration of the sacred record. This week’s Penpoints touches on this issue.

Church leaders bear a most serious responsibility before God. Unfortunately, some professing Christians take advantage of good leaders and “church hop” from place to place to avoid faithful oversight.

Critics of the Bible allege that the apostle Matthew made a mistake when he suggested “Judea” was “beyond the Jordan” (Mt. 19:1). Is there any way to legitimately exonerate the apostle from this charge? Study this problem with us.

After the return from Babylonian captivity, Ezra commanded certain men to put away their foreign wives. A professor in a Christian college has criticized the man of God for this action. Is the censure justified? Let’s take a look.

Stephen J. Gould of Harvard University is probably the most militant opponent of Christianity in the nation today. Now, though, the tables are turned. Gould is on the receiving end of a fiery blast “and that from one of his own evolutionary colleagues.”

Would you like greater strength in confronting temptation? We can learn from the Master, who never yielded, and we ought to appreciate the sufferings he endured for us. Let us study together the temptations of Christ.