5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

Is it sinful to watch horror movies?

Sincerely,
Screamer

Dear Screamer,

There is some debate to be had over seeing a movie that is rated for gratuitous violence.  At the very least, christians should be very, very cautious about viewing anything rated ‘R’ (a rating that most horror movies receive).  According to the MPAA, an ‘R’ rating on a movie is received for one (or a combination) of five things:

1. Adult themes and activities.  This is a generic listing, but it is fair to say that this content almost always involves subject matter that is inappropriate for anyone with morals.  ‘Adult themes’ are almost always synonymous with ‘sinful behavior’.
2. Hard language
3. Intense or persistent violence
4. Sexually-oriented nudity
5. Drug Abuse

When a christian looks at that list (and at least one of those things MUST be present to receive an ‘R’ rating), it should explain why ‘R’ rated movies can be such a bad thing.  Christians are to dwell upon things that are pure, wholesome, good, and holy – not worldly filth (Php 4:8).  When we dwell upon evil things, like what is found in ‘R’ rated movies, we set ourselves up for spiritual failure and death.  Jesus Christ wasn’t “culturally relevant” in the sense of being like others.  Jesus abhorred worldliness.  The Bible tells us to flee immorality and, instead, to live soberly and righteously in this present world (Tit 2:12).  Everyone must make their own decisions regarding what movies to watch and what movies to avoid, but before you go to that next horror movie, ask yourself, “What am I putting into my mind?”

Can you explain John 15:2?

Sincerely,
Verse Vexed

Dear Verse Vexed,

John 15:2 is part of Jesus’ vine metaphor.  Jesus compares Himself to a vine that provides life to all of its shoots and branches (Jhn 15:1).  Jesus provides life to all of those who are in Him (Rom 6:23)… the branches of the vine are christians.  In addition to Jesus being the vine, the Father is the one who trims and tends the branches (Jhn 15:1).  Jhn 15:2 points out that God cuts off certain branches and trims other branches, so they can grow.  The branches that are cut off represent christians that turn away from Christ.  Those that fall away from God will be cut off from God (Heb 6:4-8).  The branches that are trimmed for further growth represent how God disciplines us and makes us better people through the various trials and circumstances of life (Heb 12:9-11).  That discipline and punishment are what Jesus is talking about in Jhn 15:2.

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

I’m wondering whom I would go to, a priest or preacher, to pray about my new house that I am getting.

Sincerely,
Mr. Buyer

Dear Mr. Buyer,

If you are living a faithful life, you should do the praying.  If you aren’t living a faithful life… your house won’t matter one way or the other (Mk 8:36-37).  God says that He clearly hears the prayers of the righteous (Pr 15:29), and He says those prayers make a difference (Jas 5:16-18).  The term ‘priest’ is a Bible word that is often misused by many false churches.  There is no such thing as special priests in the church.  In Christ, all christians are priests (1 Pet 2:9).  There is no need to seek some special religious leader to receive the blessing of prayer to God.  If you aren’t a christian or if you need a faithful church to gather with – e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, and we would be happy to help you in whatever way possible.