[Eric is the evangelist of the Hamburg Pike Church of Christ in Jeffersonville, Indiana.] Most Americans love the Christmas season. They look forward to all the sights, sounds and smells it has to offer. Some people go all out. Decorations go up on November 1 and don’t come down until Valentine’s Day. They wear festive…

Have you noticed that the New Testament speaks of Christian worship in terms of old covenant offerings? For instance, the author of Hebrews says, “Through [Jesus] let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Heb. 13:15). When the church sings hymns of…

Every driver relying on GPS technology knows the occasional frustration of getting bad directions. Imperfect satellite signals and outdated maps are common reasons for GPS failure. One time I heard a funny insurance commercial. A car smashes into a building. The sound of falling bricks and shattering glass is followed by a moment of silence.…

We live in a land of exceptional prosperity. Our material riches should give us peace of mind. After all, even if we don’t have a job, a financial safety net will catch us—unemployment benefits, disability income, Social Security, food stamps, subsidized housing. Yes, we should have peace of mind, but we don’t. The more we…

Americans are aware of the health risks posed by unwashed hands. Germy hands can contaminate food during meal preparation or at the table. Dirty hands also make us susceptible to colds, chicken pox, meningitis, the flu, and other viruses. So, most of us make a real effort to keep our hands clean. We wash them…

Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother” (Matt. 18:15). Obviously, a brother gained is a brother forgiven. He sins against you, listens to your complaint, and repents. You acknowledge his change of heart…

After my son graduated from college, he decided to sell his Toyota Tacoma. So, we posted it on Craigslist. A man named Steve called almost immediately and offered to buy it over the phone. I told him that I’d prefer not to do business that way. After he came and looked at the truck, we…

In his 2009 book “Have a Little Faith,” Mitch Albom says that “religion is built on ritual” (p. 25). I understand how he could think that. Growing up in a Jewish family, Mitch participated in endless rituals – lighting candles, chanting prayers and scriptures, observing the sabbath and other holy days. But even in the…

The apostle Paul says that a Christian has been “buried with [Christ] in baptism” (Col. 2:12). In immersion, a believing sinner unites with the Lord in his death. Jesus died on a cross and was buried in a tomb of stone; our sinful flesh is crucified with him, and we are buried in a tomb…

My older sister Sue and I were in high school at the same time. One afternoon she shared something learned in sociology class. The teacher had said that the most foolish kind of argument was the one in which both parties repeatedly contradicted each other: Yes, it is. No, it isn’t. Secretly, I agreed with…