March 1999

Leadership

In Acts chapter 20, Paul calls the elders of the church at Ephesus to him so that he can say goodbye. In the midst of this heart-rending farewell, Paul offers one of the greatest challenges ever issued in the Bible. Discussing their duties, he says, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears" (vv. 28-31). more...

Good Leaders

Throughout the history of God's people, there have been thousands and thousands of leaders. Some however, have set themselves apart as particularly good leaders. What qualities made them so? When we look at the lives of good leaders, what stands out about their abilities which make them the kinds of leaders who are helpful to the cause of God? more...

Poor Leaders

What qualities make for a poor leader? It may seem a strange question; why study poor leaders? But in looking at the qualities of poor leadership, we find in their antithesis the qualities of good leadership. The Bible is filled with examples of leaders, good and bad, and in studying them, we may find help in producing leaders in the future who can provide the type of guidance and instruction which all churches need. more...

Towards 2000: The Gospel Meeting

The gospel meeting has been a staple of 20th Century Christianity. A format which began in the previous century with "circuit riding" preachers (who went from town to town preaching when most towns did not have a "local preacher") has continued throughout this century, first as an evangelistic tool, then as an edification tool, and finally, in many cases, simply a tradition. more...

Desparate or Abundant

"I think most lives are desperate and painful, despite surface appearances. If you consider anyone's life for long, you find it's without meaning"-novelist Russell Banks ("Continental Divide" by Jerome Weeks, Dallas Morning News, March 2, 1999). more...

Is Christ Coming Soon?

The headline of a recent advertisement in the newspaper promises no less than eight compelling reasons why Christ is coming very, very soon. Boldly stating "the evidence for the soon return of Jesus Christ is overwhelming . . . one scholar lists 167 converging clues just in the last few years of this millennium" it urges all to be ready. Many are convinced that Jesus must come before the year 2000, or shortly thereafter. Can we really discern signs that say Jesus' coming is "very, very soon?" more...

The Preacher's Pen

Today we received a letter from a local church of Christ asking us to help finance a county wide assembly. This congregation has already made arrangements for the speaker, set the date, and reserved the theater. Now they want Westside to help bear some of the $4000 in costs. more...