Drawing Near to the Lord

• Do You Know the Holy Spirit?

  www.ComeNeartoGod.com
  
  Do you really know the Holy Spirit? As much as the Bible talks about the Holy Spirit, it is a wonder then why so little thought or consideration is given to Him. In our understanding of who God is, we must not forget about the Holy Spirit.
  [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2008, 9:06am EDT
  

• How Good is "Good Enough"?

  www.ComeNeartoGod.com
  
  Do we understand what it means to be saved by grace? Though many claim to depend on the grace of God for their salvation, many continue to live life as if they must earn their way to Heaven. “Am I good enough?” “Have I done enough?” [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2008, 9:02am EDT
  

• Heroes Wanted

  www.ComeNeartoGod.com
  
  There is a short supply of heroes these days. It’s no wonder then why so many young people are uninspired and unmotivated to become Christians. There are few good role models for them to look to for the encouragement they need. As a result, they look to [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2008, 8:57am EDT
  

• Humble Yourself and Be Taught of God.

  By Mark E. Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to [...]
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  Posted: February 01, 2008, 6:25am EST
  

• "Better Felt Than Told" Religion

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  The belief that religion is based on the feelings that a person may experience is a major obstacle in getting people to obey the gospel. Those who adhere to such a belief cling to their feelings as the basis of their salvation. Even when [...]
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  Posted: September 18, 2007, 10:12am EDT
  by Mark E Larson

• May a Christian Drink Alcohol?

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thes. 5:21-22, NASB). To some people, alcohol is readily perceived as an evil to be avoided at all costs. If you are like me, you carry [...]
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  Posted: September 12, 2007, 2:37pm EDT
  by Mark E Larson

• The Subtle Dangers of Creeds

  Number of comments: 1
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  For centuries, people, claiming to be Christians, have seen the need to write creeds to serve as guides in religion. Thousands of creeds have been established by men all over the world. Creeds have been around for so long, in fact, that many are [...]
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  Posted: May 07, 2007, 1:35pm EDT
  by Mark E Larson

• Winning the Battle Against Pornography

  Number of comments: 1
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Pornography is a very real problem in our society that will not go away any time soon. In fact, statistics show that it will only get worse. There is more pornography available than ever before with the advent of the Internet and pay-per-view movies [...]
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  Posted: April 09, 2007, 10:58pm EDT
  by Mark E Larson

• Is Pornography Grounds for Divorce?

  Number of comments: 1
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Pornography can cause major destruction to a marriage. The temptation to cheat on one’s spouse becomes ever stronger for those who partake of it (The use of online porn is involved in two-thirds of all divorces!). Yet, even when pornography does not lead to [...]
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  Posted: March 10, 2007, 5:32pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Are You Eagerly Waiting for the Savior?

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He [...]
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  Posted: March 03, 2007, 6:17pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• The Deception of Pornography

  Number of comments: 2
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Pornography; the mere mention of the word ought to raise a red flag in the mind and heart of every Christian. No child of God should ever even consider partaking of such a dangerously wicked form of entertainment. Yet, despite the clear warnings of [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2007, 9:39pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Have You Read the Book?

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “Conservative” and controversial talk-show host, Glenn Beck, known for his wacky presentation of political issues, recently had Dinesh D’Souza, the author of “The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11” on his radio show. As an opener to the interview, [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2007, 5:31pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Our Quest to Be Spiritual

  Number of comments: 1
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Now, more than ever before in our country, there is a desire to be “spiritual.” While the interest in churches or organized religion is in decline, the pursuit of spirituality has become ever more popular. So popular in fact, that spirituality has become recognized [...]
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  Posted: February 04, 2007, 10:41pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• What Would it Take to Get You to Leave God?

  Number of comments: 2
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  For the Christian, the thought of leaving God should never occur. No consideration should ever be given to leaving the Lord and going back into the world and into sin. Yet, let us not be naive and believe for one second that it could [...]
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  Posted: January 13, 2007, 10:41am EST
  by Mark E Larson

• The Fragrance of Christ

  By Mark Larsonwww.cvillechurch.com
  
  Every Christian has a responsibility to proclaim the gospel to others according to one’s ability and opportunities (e.g., Acts 8:4). Yet, is every Christian held liable by God for the response each person gives to the gospel? Certainly, there are cases when we do not [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2007, 10:24am EST
  by Mark E Larson

• The Spiritual Significance of Baptism

  Number of comments: 2
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through [...]
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  Posted: December 19, 2006, 3:42pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• How the Holy Spirit Dwells in the Christian

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  The Christian’s relationship with God is meant to be the most blessed of all relationships that he or she has in life. Our love and devotion to God should exceed our love for any other person in the world. Jesus gave the command: “You [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2006, 9:13pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• "Who Are You to Judge Me?"

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Often when Christians present the truth to others, they are accused of being arrogant, narrow-minded, and judgmental. Frequently, there are resentments that people have when Christians tell them how to live their lives for the Lord. They interpret our words as a personal attack, [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2006, 3:46pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• DEFINING MARRIAGE

  By Mark Larsonwww.cvillechurch.com
  Introduction: “Is it Necessary to Define Marriage?” A. Many say that defining marriage is unnecessary and unwarranted, that marriage is strictly a human or civil right, a social and private affair that should be left to individuals to decide without government interference.
  
  B. Such an [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2006, 4:01pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Does the Salvation of the Thief on the Cross Make Baptism Unnecessary?

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  The following question is often asked: "If we are required to be baptized in order to be saved, why was the thief on the cross allowed into Paradise? (Luke 23:42-43).
  
  There are several reasons why the thief on the cross got to enter" [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2006, 9:09am EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Are There Many Ways to Heaven?

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “We’re All Trying to Get to Heaven, Just Taking Different Paths to Get There.” How often have you heard that statement? Too often, it has been said by people who want to legitimize most any religious belief or practice. Rather than examine the different [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2006, 9:06am EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Receive Jesus as Your Savior

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Many religious people, with good motives, seek to save the lost by getting anyone they can to receive Jesus as their Savior through prayer. The so called “plan of salvation” often goes something like this: “Pray the following prayer and receive Jesus as your [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2006, 9:00am EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Do You Love the Truth?

  Number of comments: 1
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 2:37pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Confessing Christ

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:32-33, NASB). Confessing one’s [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 2:00pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Conformity in Religion

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2, NASB). To be “conformed” is to be [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 2:00pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Eternity

  Number of comments: 2
  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Four out of five Americans believe in life after death, according to a General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center that has tracked such convictions in the United States for nearly 25 years. 81% of the U.S. population is convinced there is [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 1:51pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• God Is Three in One: The Trinity

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Many critics of Christianity point to what they believe to be a fundamental flaw - the belief that God is three persons, yet one God (i.e., the doctrine of the Trinity). To the Jews and Muslims, this Christian doctrine appears to be a contradiction [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 12:19pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Jesus Christ, Our Only Lord and Master

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Jesus Christ is “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15). When we confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9), we confess that He is supreme in authority and power. More than that, we submit to His control as our Master, the [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 12:14pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Seek a Church of the Truth

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 12:07pm EST
  by Mark E Larson

• Competition in the Local Church

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  “And they came to Capernaum; and when He [Jesus] was in the house, He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 11:44am EST
  by Mark E Larson

• The Urgency of Obedience

  By Mark Larson
  www.cvillechurch.com
  
  Most everyone claims to be extremely busy today. Matters in which we consider "urgent" and "important" consume a lot of our time in life. Yet, regrettably, our obedience to God is oftentimes viewed as important, but not urgent. As a result, other matters in [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2006, 11:44am EST
  by Mark E Larson