Pearls of Wisdom from Oyster Bay Church of Christ in Crawfordville, Florida

The church described in the New Testament is the spiritual temple of God, the stones of which are people. It is also the body of Christ made up of a collectivity of members united by their head, Christ Jesus. But who are the members of His body? What constitutes a member of the church of the New Testament? How does one become part of the living church of Christ? In this broadcast of Let the Bible...

Christ is the head of His body, the church, and he expresses His authority through His apostles and prophets which He set over the church at its beginning. But what type of government did He place over the church besides those who lived in the first century? Is this government universal or local in its scope? In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we continue out series about the church as it i...

What is the church that we read about in the bible? What form did it assume when Christ established in on the Day of Pentecost. In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we continue a series on the New Testament church. This week, we learn about how the word rendered as "church" is used in the bible and why this is so important. ******* Hear more messages and find out more about Oyster Bay Church...

We begin a series of presentations on the church that Jesus Christ built and is revealed in the New Testament. Christ promised to build His assembly upon His return to heaven. The church began in great power on the first Pentecost after His death, resurrection, and ascension. In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we focus on the origin of this divine institution, the church of Christ. *******...

Man is a creation surrounded by many enemies. From the beginning of history, there have been forces that envy his prosperity and seek to rob him of his freedom. Empires have risen and fallen, leaving trails of bondage and broken lives behind them. Yet, God never intended for man to live in chains. For the Bible declares, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). Whe...

The Standard of Holiness In a world where moral belief often reigns, many people believe that being "mostly good" is enough to earn a place in heaven. The common sentiment is that if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, God will accept us. However, scripture paints a very different picture—one that emphasizes the holiness of God and the impossibility of entering His presence with even a trace of...

"Why persecutest thou me?" In Acts 9:4, Saul of Tarsus—a fierce persecutor of early Christians—is stopped in his tracks by a blinding light and a voice from heaven. The voice, belonging to Jesus, asks a piercing question: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" This moment marks one of the most dramatic conversions in biblical history, transforming Saul into Paul the Apostle, who would spread the G...

Worshiping God when you don't feel like it. Worship is often connected in the human mind with joy, peace, or spiritual enthusiasm. Yet, Scripture teaches that worship is not grounded in emotion, but in truth and obedience. Throughout the Bible, God's people are shown worshiping Him not only in moments of joy, but also in seasons of sorrow, confusion, and weariness. These passages reveal that worsh...

Is Judgment Day a negotiation? Some people imagine Judgment Day as a moment when those who are not saved will be able to plead their case before God, offering explanations, defenses, or good works in hopes of changing the outcome. One passage that is often cited in support of this idea is Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus describes people saying, "Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in yo...

Saul of Tarsus left Jerusalem as the avowed enemy of Christ and His followers on a murderous mission, but he entered Damascus blind and humble, seeking to do the bidding of Jesus. His dramatic encounter with the risen Christ left him asking "what will you have me do?" He was told to wait in Damascus for a disciple to come to him and instruct him on what he must do. The anxious days that followed e...

When, in the heart of the Christian, worship loses its wonder, what is the solution? Is the problem with the ordinances of God or with the ones who are going through the motions of worship? In fear of boredom, many churches chase the latest trend or novelty and in fear of shallow emotionalism, others retreat to cold and meaningless formality. God's word has a better answer. In this broadcast of Le...

What role should emotions play in the life of the Christian? While some criticize others for appearing to have little feeling for the things of God, others are on guard against emotionalism. Both are valid concerns. In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we consider the powerful role of emotions in our love for God as well as the danger of being led by them. The problem is not possessing emotio...

Many who practice closed communion base their view on a misunderstanding of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 11:27, where he says, "Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." They argue that since communion is serious, the church must not permit anyone to partake who might be unworthy, lest they bring condemnation u...

Many people today express a common frustration with Christianity: "I believe in God, but I don't want to be judged by church people." This concern is not without merit. Scripture itself draws a clear line between judging others and warning them about what God requires. Understanding this distinction is essential for faithfully representing God's truth while reflecting His grace. The Bible is clear...

In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul writes, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." This striking confession is not merely self-criticism. It's a profound theological statement that reveals Paul's understanding of grace, redemption, and the depth of his own transformation. Paul's use of the phrase "Chief Among Sinner...

Worship is one of the most important expressions of a believer's relationship with God. Scripture not only commands us to worship, but it also explains how God desires to be worshipped. Three passages—John 4, John 17, and 1 Corinthians 14—provide a complete and balanced picture of true biblical worship. Together, they show that worship must be heartfelt, guided by God's truth, and carried out with...

The bathtub has arrived. A man enters into a newly built house carrying a heavy bathtub. The walls are finished, the smell of sawdust fills the air, and it's time to install the tub. He carefully lowers it into place, snug against three walls, then looks down the drain hole and says, uh oh, that's never good, especially coming from a plumber. Instead of seeing a drain, he sees a solid floor. Weeks...

The great Apostle Paul was a pillar in the church throughout the Greek world. This ambassador of King Jesus was dispatched to carry the message of the Heavenly Monarch to the Gentile nations. Was the gospel he was entrusted with different from that of Peter and the other apostles who were there when the gospel was first preached to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost? Some allege that Peter was given...

We often spend our lives focused on the here and now, but what happens when the clock of our earthly life stops? This message serves as a wake-up call to evaluate where you stand in light of eternity. Allen Bailey strips away the distractions of modern life to address the most critical question you will ever face. -- Eternity is an unavoidable reality that begins immediately after death or upon th...

While the number of people who self-identify as Christians is in decline in America, so is the number of professing Christians who attend church gatherings or claim membership in a local congregation. More and more claim a relationship with Christ has little to nothing to do with affiliation with a church. In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we emphasize several reasons why every Christian n...

The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was prophesied 800 years before by the prophet Joel. When the apostles of Christ were baptized with the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem it created wonderment but also confusion among some. The apostles miraculously spoke in the various languages of those gathered there and some, not understanding, said the men were drunk. Peter stands and says they we...

In Judges 7, Gideon’s army faces an enemy too vast to defeat and a task too great to accomplish by human strength. Outnumbered, under-equipped, and surrounded by fear, the 300 are given a simple command when the moment comes: “Every man stood in his place” (Judges 7:21). They did not retreat, panic, or abandon their responsibility. They stood firm. God has positioned His people today in strategic...

The Bible portrays sin not simply as moral failure, but as a powerful spiritual force that, when ignored, brings serious consequences to individuals and their communities. Throughout Scripture, the pattern is consistent: sin that is left unaddressed grows, hardens, damages relationships, disrupts fellowship with God, and ultimately leads to judgment. Understanding these consequences highlights the...

"God saw all that he had made and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). We live in a culture where the word "good" has become casual and ordinary. We use it to describe a decent meal, an entertaining movie, or the pleasant behavior of another person. Yet, when God uses the word "good," it carries a depth and perfection beyond anything human language can fully capture. In the opening chapters of Genesi...

The instruction in Titus 1:11, "whose mouths must be stopped," is one of the more striking commands in the New Testament. At first glance, it may appear severe, yet within its biblical context, it reflects Paul's deep concern for the health and stability of the early church. His goal was not to silence people by force, but to protect believers from false teaching and destructive speech that harmed...