To start our second Peter class off, it will be good for us to understand the book as a whole, this will allow us to better understand the details as we go through the book. This second letter written by Peter was once again a reminder to the people. The first letter Peter wrote was a reminder of the salvation Christians enjoy in order to encourage them through the suffering they were going to face. This second letter is reminding the people of the salvation they enjoy and warning them of the false teachings that will be coming to them soon. This book grouped along with Jude and 1 John tell us the progression of the false teachers. 2 Peter 2:1 tells us the false teachers are coming. Jude 4 tells us the false teachers have come. 1 John 2:19 tells us they have left and are coming again. Peter thankfully doesn’t leave us in the dark. There are different ways to break the book down, we will break it down into chapters. Chapter one Peter reminds the Christians of the things they already know about Jesus Christ, “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12). Chapter two Peter explains the approach the false teachers are going to use, “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through he lusts of the thresh, through lewdness, the ones …

            Perhaps it is due in part to the great freedoms we enjoy, but we often feel as though we do not owe anyone anything. It may not be the case that we owe a financial debt to another, or still owe an I-O-U to a neighbor, but as Christians, we all share a certain amount of responsibility to all with whom we come in contact. In obeying the gospel, we recognize our responsibility to God (Rom. 6:16-18), but we also find that we owe something to our fellow man. Because of the grace we have received to be forgiven of our sins through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are indebted to sharing His love and His saving gospel with all men.             As Christians, we owe the love of God to one another. Paul writes in Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (NKJV). Paul goes on to explain that love fulfills the law of Moses since “love does no harm to a neighbor” (Rom. 13:10). If love is not looking to harm a neighbor, then love must be seeking something greater. Love looks for that which is better for the other person – even at the expense of self. This type of sacrificial love is the reason we can even know love. John writes by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought …

            If you walk in the modern-day denominational church you will get caught off guard and think that you just walked into a concert hall. The use of musical instruments in “church” services is nothing new. People use them because it is “cool” or “it makes the music sound better” or just the plain “I like it better with the music.” It is important to understand that worship is not for us humans but to praise our Heavenly Father who is in Heaven. Ephesians 5:19 says “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” It doesn’t say anything about plucking a guitar or beating a drum. In Genesis 6:14 God told Noah to make an ark of gopherwood. God did not have to tell him not to use oak, pine, or spruce, by saying “do it with this” there is an omittance of everything else that was not said. This can be carried to Ephesians 5:19 when God said singing and making melody in your heart that omits all other forms of worship, musical instruments included.             Some may say that David used a harp in 1 Samuel 16:23 to make the evil spirit go away. Although it did ease Saul, for music can be very therapeutic, we are not told that it did not ease God. One can argue that if it wasn’t said, one cannot assume whatever is not said. Let’s say your boss tells …

This article is a continuation of last week’s article. If you were unable to read Part 1, you can find it on our website, www.mountvernonchurchofchrist.org. Alongside the immodest dress that is associated with the prom, another thing to consider is the activity associated with the event. Based on the clothing, we have already established the real issue and temptation of lust for those who are present. Combine this with the main event of the dancing that occurs, and what we have is a real problem. The type of dancing that is most often associated with the prom is dancing that places the two very close to each other, moving in suggestive manners, and adding fuel to a lust-filled fire. This perhaps helps to explain why it is not uncommon for teenagers to become sexually involved on their prom night – especially when one considers the prevalence of alcohol and drugs at many of the after-parties.[1] Is this the type of event that we as Christians should want to take part in or encourage our children to attend? We are called to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11). We are not to walk “in lewdness” or “lusts” like those of the world (1 Pet. 4:3). Such “immorality, impurity, and sensuality” are noted as being “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21, NASB). To actively take part in any work of the flesh is not to live as a Christian. Despite the dangers of the prom, many …

Hair stylists, dress shops, and tuxedo rentals all love this time of year because it is prom season. During the spring, most all juniors and seniors have their formal event where they dress up, take pictures, eat a meal, and dance. Schools encourage all eligible students to attend, parents want their children to have their big night, and peers find it strange when one does not desire to attend. Prom has become a rite of passage for teenagers. Society says one should attend, but as Christians, we must understand that our culture, our schools, our parents, or our peers are not our guides – God’s word is the guide by which we ought to live our lives. Therefore, it is God’s word to which we should turn to determine whether we as Christians should be supporting or attending the prom. One thing to take into consideration is the dress that is most often associated with the prom. While above I mention that prom is a time to “dress up,” in all reality, prom is a time in which most actually dress down. The guys wear their tuxedos, but the girls almost always wear tight, revealing dresses. Many dresses that are in style today may reach the floor, but they have a slit that comes all the way up the leg, past the thigh, and reach the hip. Dresses might be covered in the front, but there is little fabric to be found on the back. Some dresses might be an …