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There are extremes to the left and right on the topic of Christian fellowship.
"The Lord's supper" is the name Paul gives to the memorial meal of bread and fruit of the vine that Christians eat in remembrance of Christ's death. The expression appears only once in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 11:20). The word rendered "Lord's" (kuriakos) means "belonging to the Lord." It...
Biblical words may have varying senses, depending on the context in which they are found. A brief study of the term “kingdom” is a good illustration of this principle.
Sincere though these people are, their approach to the Scriptures in this regard is flawed. When the New Testament speaks of the cup in observing communion, it is not the literal container that is being referred to. Instead, it is the contents (i.e., the fruit of the vine) that are emphasized. Th...
As is often the case, our Bible questions touch on some important fundamental issues: • What actually constitutes marriage in God's eyes? • What role does civil authority play? Let's examine what Scripture reveals. What Makes a Marriage Valid Before God? God's foundational design for marriage can...
The word "kingdom" (basileia) is a noun that generally refers to a territory over which a king rules. Three senses are prominent in the theology of the N.T. • Jesus uses the term to denote the reign of God over the nation of Israel (Mt. 21:43). That divine system would become obsolete with the te...
"Fellowship" translates the Greek koinonia, meaning "participation, association, sharing." Fellowship exists on two levels -- the vertical (the Christian's relationship with God) and the horizontal (the sharing among children of God). The Bible emphasizes the wonderful "communion" that Christians...
Expediency is sometimes defined as the method by which a determined goal is achieved, regardless of the moral consequences. This is not the biblical concept of expediency. In Bible parlance, a method can be expedient only if it is lawful. In other words, if there is a generic authority for a prac...
"Communion" is a term applied to the Lord's Supper because of its usage in 1 Corinthians 10:16. This act of worship emphasizes the fellowship (koinonia — sharing, participation) we enjoy with Christ when we partake of the sacred elements (cf. "with you" in Mt. 26:29). The communion involves two e...
Discover the significance of worship in the Bible, its historical context, and principles for true worship. Learn how to honor God through biblical practices.
Why do so many Christians label gambling as a “sin” when the Bible doesn’t specifically condemn gambling?
What did Mary meditate on during communion?
Christ’s prophecy concerning his approaching kingdom, as recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, is a most controversial theme. In this article we provide a careful study of this declaration.
Are multiple cups (containers) prohibited in the distribution of the “fruit of the vine” during the Lord’s day communion service? Some sincere folks so contend, but what does the evidence actually indicate? Study this question with us.
Who is the sinister “man of sin” mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2?
Traditionally, churches of Christ have observed the Lord’s supper each Sunday — and only on that day. Now, some are suggesting there is New Testament authority for daily communion, or for the serving of the supper on days other than the Lord’s day. Unfortunately for those who so argue, the New Te...
In a letter to the church in Corinth, Paul said: “I think I have the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 7:40). Was the apostle uncertain of his possession of the Holy Spirit? Read this discussion of this puzzling passage.
The scope of a biblical verse may be expanded by supplementary information on the same subject in related passages. An understanding of this hermeneutical principle would prevent many an error.
Premillennialism, the doctrine that Christ will soon return to set up an earthly kingdom for a thousand years, is a popular idea these days. In this article, Wayne Jackson examines this theory.