Have you ever wondered why we believe what we do—why we follow the traditions we do, or where those customs came from?
Ask any “Christian” why he or she attends worship services on Sunday, and you’ll receive a variety of answers. The Bible says to go to church on Sunday, one might respond. But you, being an astute Bible student, point out that there are a number of passages in this Book that command observance on the seventh day of the week. Now, watch the responses. Some will reason that the seventh day of the week is Sunday—assuming that it has been that way since the Bible was canonized. But probably a more convincing argument and, by far the most popular, is:...
Read MoreWe can learn a lot from King David, even from his experiences as a youth. Here are a few lessons we can take from his life prior to becoming king. Develop Your Talents King Saul was having deep spiritual and emotional problems. His servants recommended that he find someone who could play soothing music on the harp whenever he was troubled by an evil spirit. Saul agreed that this was a good idea and asked them to find such a musician. “Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a...
Read MoreGiven that my house is about a half mile from the Hall of Administration, I sometimes walk to work wearing a suit and carrying my backpack. When I do, I walk as quickly as possible, hoping to be seen as little as possible. Not because it is scary or dangerous in my neighborhood, but on the contrary, it is so safe in my neighborhood that sometimes other people dressed in the same manner tend to walk there as well, even knocking on doors and handing out religious pamphlets to complete strangers. While they are generally nice people, I just don’t...
Read MoreMany of your friends at school are by now eagerly looking forward to Christmas. Their families are busy searching for gifts, decorating the house, and picking the perfect evergreen tree for the living room. TV shows are airing Christmas-themed episodes, shopping malls are covered with Christmas decorations and merrily playing upbeat Christmas tunes. This time of year can make a teen in God’s Church feel especially different—left out and alone. It often seems as though everyone except you is getting into the Christmas spirit. You might be embarrassed to let your friends know you don’t keep Christmas. If you’ve already told your...
Read More“Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?” asks the bank teller in her normal routine of small talk as she deposits a check for me. “Well, eh … ah …” I say as I stumble through a few options in my head before I release the best one I could come up with on the spot. “Oh … I’m always spending money on something it seems.” That was last Friday’s response. By now you have been hearing a lot about Christmas. Instead of talking about the weather, Christmas is on the tip of everybody’s tongue. And once Christmas is done, the...
Read MoreWhy does the Church talk about Germany and Europe so much? Time and again we hear in sermons about Germany’s rise. The Trumpet magazine is filled with articles about the rise of Europe. In fact, Mr. Armstrong wrote about a dictator appearing in Europe in his very first Plain Truth article—back in 1934! Why all the talk about Europe? Because what is prophesied to happen there is one of the most fundamental prophecies revealed to God’s Church through Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Flurry. How much do you know about what is going to happen in Europe? You may feel overwhelmed with all...
Read MoreIn Part Two we discussed the importance of having a positive attitude when studying, and letting the Bible interpret itself. Having a positive attitude will help us develop that good study habit, and it shows a lot about our character to God. We should also not rely on our own human reasoning when studying the Bible, but allow God to help us understand. If you missed Part Two, click here. Add color to your studies. Organization is an important key to profitable Bible study—and can add more interest and enjoyment. First, it is necessary to get the right ...
Read MoreIn the first part of this article we discussed the first two points on how to have more beneficial Bible study - go to the Bible ready to analyze yourself, and pray for God's guidance. Bible study is not only for gaining knowledge, but to see where we can change and improve. We should also ask God to guide us so that we can understand more and have the right attitude when studying. If you missed Part One, click here to view it. Be positive. Take a positive approach. Even if you’ve had poor study habits until now, be willing...
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