The Work of the Local Church

What work did God assign to local churches? Should they focus on spiritual work (teaching God's word, worship, and evangelism) or may they participate in recreation, entertainment, and social activities? What constitutes local church fellowship, edification, and good works?

A Marriage License and Faith (Alone)

How does a marriage license illustrate faith? Are we saved by faith only without obedience? Is baptism necessary to forgiveness? What about repentance and confession?

A news item from years ago read as follows:

“Court Clerk Everett Rains of Corbin, Kentucky, issued a marriage license to a young couple… Several days later he met the mother of the bride on the street. ‘Well, how did the marriage ceremony come out?’ Rains asked. ‘You should know,’ the woman said. ‘After all, you married them.’ Rains, taken aback, explained diplomatically he didn’t marry the couple when he issued the license. The honeymooning couple was brought back from Cincinnati, Ohio, and a preacher did what Rains hadn’t!” *

What’s the lesson?

Is Faith a Blind Leap in the Dark?

Many think that believing in God, Christ, and the gospel is a “blind leap in the dark.” They say Christians cannot defend their faith with evidence but accept it blindly. Some who profess to be Christians would agree; they say we should simply accept the gospel without proof. What is the truth?

Consider what God’s word says about blindness vs. sight and light vs. darkness.