A new convert recently brought up to me how she’s noticed that a lot of people in various churches lift their hands up high and close their eyes while singing, praying, and listening to the sermon. She asked my why they do this. I’ve asked the same question over the years to some whom I’ve… Read More Lifting Holy Hands In Worship — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: March/April, 2023)
Study 1 Peter 1:3. The apostle praises our Father in heaven for blessings which he has given to every Christian, blessings such as “caus(ing) us to be born again” (cf. v. 23). Jesus spoke of being born again of water and the Spirit as necessary to enter God’s kingdom (John 3:3-5), a clear reference to… Read More A Reminder of the Blessings We Receive From Our Father — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: January/February, 2023)
As we conclude our study of church discipline which has taken place over the past two editorials, let us turn our attention to some questions submitted by readers concerning this topic. It seems that church discipline is not practiced today in the Lord’s church as much as it has been in previous generations and in… Read More Some Questions About Church Discipline — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: November/December, 2022)
In continuing our discussion on church discipline which was started in the last issue, we should address a very pertinent question: who exactly should be disciplined? In answering this question, it must first be said that it must be those who sin. Jesus started his teaching about discipline within the church by stating, “If your… Read More More Thoughts on Church Discipline — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: October, 2022)
I get it. I really do. Awkwardness…uncomfortable situations…the probability that someone will get upset at you…the potential loss of friendship…all of that and more is part of the package you unwrap when you go to a brother or sister in Christ who is “caught in any transgression” and tell them, no matter how lovingly and… Read More Some Thoughts About Church Discipline — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: September, 2022)
While answering the Jews’ question about whether to continue their fasts which they had started observing several times a year while in Babylonian captivity (Zech. 7:1ff), the Lord gave Zechariah an encouraging message for those who were rebuilding the temple and “have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present”… Read More An Old Testament Lesson About New Testament Joy — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: July/August, 2022)
Paul “(made) it (his) aim to please (God)” because “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” This is why, “knowing the fear of the Lord,” Paul “persuaded others,” i.e., shared the… Read More A Bit of Perspective — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: May/June, 2022)
I type this as Russian helicopters fly over Ukrainian villages. People in Ukraine, likely including people I know and have taught and baptized years ago, are suffering and dying. From my perspective, all of this is happening because of greed and selfishness. It’s such a waste. It’s needless and it’s horrible. It’s also nothing new. … Read More If God Exists, Why Do Evil and Suffering Exist? — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: March/April, 2022)
I recently started a new work as the pulpit minister at a new congregation. As I began preparing to take on this new work, I started contemplating anew the responsibilities laid out in Scripture for preachers. It’s always been good for me to meditate on these things from time to time, and my study on these matters certainly benefited me this time. Let me share with you what I’ve found God desires and expects from those who preach His Word to the church and to the lost. I pray this will prove helpful to all preachers who read it, and that it will give all Christians who are not preachers some insight into what they themselves should expect from their preachers.… Read More The Responsibilities of a Preacher — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: January/February, 2022)
Space does not permit me to dive deep into all the rich spiritual meat which is found in the final book of the Bible, so I must limit my discussion of what Revelation has taught me to one crucial lesson: the importance of Ephesians 4:15, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 4:2, and Psalm 119:160. I say… Read More What I Learned From Revelation — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: November/December, 2021)
Hebrews is one of the deepest and most spiritually enriching books in the entire Bible. I greatly enjoy preaching from it and studying it in private for the benefit of my own understanding of Scripture. Recently my studies have taken me to the first twenty-five verses of chapter 10, where we see the divinely inspired… Read More A Study of Hebrews 10:1-25 — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: October, 2021)
The directives Paul gave to the young preacher Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:8-15 are among the most controversial and misunderstood passages in the entire Bible. Parts of these verses have been taken out of their immediate context as well as away from the overall context of the rest of Scripture (cf. Ps. 119:160a). This has… Read More A Misunderstood Passage — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: September, 2021)
While instructing Moses concerning the construction of the sanctuary, the ark of the covenant, the table for the bread of the Presence, and the golden lampstand in Exodus 25, God commanded him, “And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain” (v. 40, ESV). Have… Read More “Make Them After The Pattern” — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: July/August, 2021)
The apostle Peter recognized the great necessity of Christians being “stir(red)…up by way of reminder” (2 Pet. 1:12-13, 15; 3:1-2). Along these lines, this preacher believes there are a few topics which should be preached and taught from once to several times a year. Withdrawing of fellowship, commonly known as church discipline, is one of… Read More Some Thoughts on Church Discipline — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: May/June, 2021)
I write this days after the horrible events in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021, a day filled with sinful rebellion, violence, and tragedy which is but yet another horrific event added to so many similar days of unrest, rioting, anger, and viciousness which have taken place last year. The times in which we live… Read More Wisdom From Above In These Troubling Times — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: January/February, 2021)
The majority of the editorials in the Carolina Messenger this year have studied various aspects of what the Bible teaches about government and governing authorities. As we close out the year, we come to the often-controversial question of whether governments have a divine right to wage war. The numerous and various atrocities committed by man… Read More What Does The Bible Teach About War? — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: November/December, 2020)
Perhaps idolatry is one of those sins easily dismissed by the modern Christian as something limited to the ancient past of the Bible and not prevalent in twenty-first century America. After all, we don’t see people bowing to statues of pagan gods on every street corner as we read of in the Bible. Due to… Read More The Reality and Danger of Political Idolatry — Jon Mitchell, Editor (Editorial: October, 2020)
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