A sincere Christian wants to know: “Why don’t churches of Christ use instruments of music in their worship?” The issue comes down to the matter of authority. Take a look at this theme with us in this week’s Question and Answer.

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.

During his trial before Pilate, Christ boldly confirmed that he was a king, but that his followers did not fight—a bold claim since hours earlier one of his disciples attempted to decapitate a government official. Why, then, was this one little statement by Christ not exploited by his enemies?

Words are vehicles of information; even the smallest words can be packed with meaning. Such is the case with the term “must.” Often overlooked; more often ignored, this important word must be studied carefully.

The Major Prophets represent the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.

Does the fact that God did not require water baptism for the remission of sins under the Mosaic system indicate that baptism must not be obligatory under the New Covenant? Does this compromise the Lord’s “immutability”? Study the question with us.

A Samaritan woman told Jesus that she knew about the coming Messiah. How did this lady know this fact?

“How does this man [Jesus] know letters, since he has never learned?” (John 7:15). This text has puzzled many Bible students? How could Christ have so amazed the multitudes with his teaching if he had “never learned”? Study this passage with us.

Obviously, feeling the solitude imposed by a disciplinary procedure, these false teachers now are crossing over into denominationalism, freely fraternizing with, and employing the services of, a host of sectarian teachers.

Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea who presided at the trial of Jesus, was truly a tragic character. Yet, he was providentially used by God to establish the innocence of Christ. Wayne Jackson takes a look at Pilate in this week’s Penpoints.

The literature of the Roman Catholic Church makes the claim that the apostle Peter was the original Pope, and the earthly “head” of the Church. Do the apostle’s personal writings sustain this view? Read this week’s Penpoints article for a discussion of this issue.

A reed is a symbol of instability; a pillar signifies a solid, immovable foundation. The church of today must ask: “Are we a ‘reed shaken in the wind’ or are we the ‘pillar and ground of the truth’”?

What did Mary meditate on during communion?

Through divine intervention and revelation, God communicates a timeless message through the prophet Daniel – He is in charge and rules in the kingdoms of men. Combined with the book’s immense apologetic value, the study of Daniel is faith building in many respects. Our confidence in Scripture is increased; our conviction regarding God’s plan in the world is strengthened.

According to recent news reports, “Mother” Teresa, the deceased Catholic nun, is on the fast-track toward “sainthood” — a process that usually takes many years. A claim is now being made that the departed “sister” has performed a miracle from the grave.

It is surely an oddity of modern liberalism within the body of Christ that some would appeal to the authority of Bible precedent to establish the premise that one needs no authority for what he practices in religion. This article addresses some of these current efforts.

Answer a fool. Don’t answer a fool. What is the right thing to do?

Who was John the Baptist? What was his relationship to Jesus?

Though the case of Samson is at times perplexing, the Hebrew writer included the judge in a list of “heroes of faith.” A consideration of this Old Testament character yields valuable lessons.