Truth Magazine

MONTHLY COLUMNS

EDITORIAL: Balancing Form, Freedom, and Function, by Mark Mayberry

MEDITATIONS: “Is Christ Divided?” by Kyle Pope

WOMEN’S INSIGHTS: Running the Race Without Spectators, by Lindsay Mast

CHALLENGES FACING CHRISTIANS: The Progressive Movement: Progressivism in the Workplace, by Corey Willis

PRINCIPLES OF PRAISE: Examples of Dependence in Worship, by Matthew Bassford

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Can you please clear up some confusion about the meaning of “godliness”? by Bobby L. Graham

ARCHAEOLOGY: Where Has God Placed You? by Barry Britnell

THEME ARTICLES: OPEN ISSUE

Will the Baptism Issue Be Settled? by Dick Blackford

What Do Leaders Need Today? by Keith Hamilton

Pick Up a Book, by Chris Reeves

Dad’s Last To-Do List, by Kevin Maxey

The New American Bible Revised Edition and the Apocrypha, by Steve Wallace

The Gift of God, by Mike Cooner

Editorial: Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

by Mark Mayberry

This issue of Truth Magazine focuses on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a subject of considerable interest, and sadly, much speculation. Thanks to Bruce Reeves and Kyle Pope for helping assemble these topics and writers.

Meditations: Is Matthew 24:34 a “Transition Verse?” (Part Two)

by Kyle Pope

A final point used to support the “transition verse” view of Matthew 24:34 is the use of “immediately” in 24:29. Does such language demand connecting the coming of Jesus in 24:29-33 with AD 70?

Women’s Insights: Just Like That, Everyone Is Homeschooling

by Diana Dow

This month, we welcome Diana Dow to our team of regular contributors. The current situation has caused parents to consider what their child’s education should look like. In future articles, Diana will share her insights in this area.

Challenges: Progressivism and the Family

by David Dann

God’s people must resist the progressive movement’s assault on the divine design of the home.

Praise: Dependence in Worship

by Matthew Bassford

Recognizing our dependency upon God is fundamental to maintaining a proper view of our lives and a healthy relationship with Him. Expression of this dependence in song helps to instill this concept within our hearts and minds.

Questions and Answers

by Bobby L. Graham

Please explain the identification of Jesus as the “one Mediator between God and men” (1 Tim. 2:5)?

Archaeology: Azekah: a Mini-Pompeii in Judah

by Luke Chandler

The discovery of massive destruction with numerous skeletons at biblical Azekah shows a stunning disaster hidden under the soil for thousands of years.

Monthly Theme: The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Article 1: Balancing Concepts of the Spirit’s Influence

by Kyle Pope

Does Scripture reveal information on the nature of the Spirit’s indwelling that helps resolve questions of whether His influence is “personal” or “only through the word”?**

Article 2: Reemphasizing Hermeneutics in the Study of the Holy Spirit

by Bruce Reeves

Basic principles of Bible study must not be neglected when examining scriptural teaching on the Holy Spirit. Recognizing the use of figures of speech, context, and harmony can clarify our understanding of this important topic.

Article 3: The Role of Providence

by Reagan McClenny

Providence, referring to God’s working through people, events, and times to bring about His purposes, may include the Holy Spirit, but it does not require the Spirit working on us or in us to be still present for us and around us.**

Article 4: The Influence of Calvinism

by Mark White

The influence of the teachings of the Protestant leader, John Calvin, has been so pervasive that unless great caution is taken Christians unwittingly may find themselves using its unscriptural language about the Holy Spirit.

Article 5: The Spirit Indwells through the Word: Answering Objections

by Shane Carrington

Scripture declares that the Holy Spirit indwells disciples through the word. Some object to this statement, so let’s consider some of those objections.

Article 6: The Conscience and the Holy Spirit

by Heath Rogers

Some of the work attributed to the Holy Spirit by people is actually the work of their conscience and emotions.

In my Editorial for the April issue of Truth Magazine, I address the subject of “Competence.” Here in Alvin, I have been helping team-teach a teenage boy’s Bible class on “Becoming Men.” As Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man, we must also. Therefore, let us develop skill sets that will enable us to lead our families, and effectively serve God and man.

In his Meditations column, Kyle Pope presents the first of a two-part series asking, “Is Matthew 24:34 a Transition Verse?” This article is also connected with the theme, “Questions re Eschatology,” and the Truth Lectures to be held in Athens, AL, in July. Details about the upcoming lectures are found inside this issue.

In the Women’s Insights column, Sherelyn Mayberry offers her reflections on the beautiful hymn, “How Long till the Morning?”

In our new column, entitled Challenges Facing Christians, Kevin Maxey examines the impact of the progressive movement on education.

In the Principles of Praise column, Matthew Bassford offers examples of pride and humility in worship. While God opposes the proud, He gives grace to the humble.

In the Q-n-A column, Bobby Graham responds to a reader who asks, “What scriptural authority would you give for worshiping the Holy Spirit as in the song ‘Glorify Thy Name’?”

In the Archaeology column, Trent and Rebekah Dutton take us on a tour of the world-famous Israel Museum, which is located in Jerusalem about 1.5 miles west of the Temple Mount.

The theme section of the April issue of Truth Magazine contemplates various “Questions Regarding Eschatology.”

Does Apocalyptic Language Foreshadow or Exaggerate? by Kyle Pope. The OT often used apocalyptic language to describe significant divine judgments. When the NT employs similar language, does it foreshadow an ultimate reality or exaggerate something that will never actually happen?

Did 2020 Signal the End? by Andrew Dow. The events of 2020 do not indicate when the world will end but remind us that the world will, indeed, end. Let us, therefore, prepare for the day when we will stand before God in judgment.

Teaching a Future Judgment to the “Nones” by David Deason. An increasing number of people identify themselves as having no religious affiliation. How should Christians approach helping such lost souls prepare for the day of Final Judgment?

Is God Cruel to Send Souls to Hell? by David A. Cox. The idea that God is cruel because He will send people to hell is rooted in a lack of understanding of God’s character.

Creation and the End of the World, by Jim Deason. The soul who rejects a belief that God created all things will also struggle to believe He could bring the universe to an end. The same evidence that supports one doctrine also supports the other.

“No One Knows,” and the Deity of Christ, by Mike Willis. In Mark 13:32, regarding the day and hour of His return, Jesus said, “no one” (including “the Son”) “knows” except the Father. This article considers how He can be deity even though He claimed not to know the time of His Second Coming.

Our goal, “Taking His Hand, Helping each other home,” describes our mission and motivation. We hope that you will benefit from these informative, Bible-based articles.

If you have not yet subscribed to Truth Magazine, we encourage you to do so. The magazine is available as a printed monthly journal, and accessible through a variety of digital platforms (Amazon Kindle, ePub, and PDF versions, and through your favorite web browser).

Yours,

Mark Mayberry