Occasional Hearing
James Dodson
Scripture holds out a connection between hearing and obeying, Deut. 5:1. The purpose of hearing is not to increase our vain imaginations, Acts 17:21; but, rather, it is a sign of submission in order to prepare for belief and action...
Scripture, by “thy companions” ( !), points to those possessed of a friendly disposition, even those with whom one is associated, Song 8:13; Ps. 45:14. However, in this case before us, it speaks according...
Scripture speaks of the church as “but one,” Song 6:9; “thy flock” instead of “the flocks” of the companions, Song 1:7. Unity must be considered one of the distinguishing characters of the church of Christ. The practice...
The character of early Christians was to continue stedfast in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, Acts 2:42. The command to remain stedfast is express in Scripture, 1 Cor. 15:58. This forms a...
Should we suppose this merely a matter of indifference, as is generally assumed, then the command of the apostle falls in our favor. What is a matter of indifference to one must be yielded to another...
Without the divine blessing, any discourse, no matter how good of itself, will provide no spiritual benefit, Rom. 1:17. Good preaching is not the same as good speaking; the latter terminates with eloquence whereas the...
This purposing supposes in it an acknowledgement of defect in the teaching delivered either as to error positively held or partiality in the presentation of the truth, contrary to the apostolic spirit...
This question displays much of the underlying confusion of the age regarding the distinction between essential and non-essential, or circumstantial, doctrine. While we admit that some doctrines are...
It is alleged that there were many corruptions in the Jewish church and yet Christ himself attended the ordinances, cf. Matt. 12:9. The reasons are quite obvious. As a nation, the Jews were selected to be the depositories of the only divine system of religion...
There are a number of passages advocates of occasional hearing have brought forward. First, there is that place, “sow beside all waters,” Isa. 32:20. This place cannot affect the question because...