Posts by Wayne Jones

Of all the minor prophets Obadiah might be the most minor of them all. Keep in mind that this designation is neither about rank nor importance. The term “minor prophet” is simply a nickname earned by the sheer volume and length of these books. Of the 12, Obadiah is the shortest. This one chapter, 21-verse book is not only shorter than the other 11 Minor Prophet books, but also the shortest book in all the Old Testament. There are a…

There was a time when God was recognized (at least He should have been recognized) as King in ancient Israel. Israel’s form of government has been termed a theocracy. Boice notes that, “monarchy is a form of government in which rule is in the hands of a single individual, a king. Democracy is government by the demos, or people. Theos means ‘god.’ So, a theocracy is the direct rule of a people by God as king.” Psalms 93 is the…

I am neither an avid nor casual fan of the Academy Awards. To me, Oscar is a grouch in a tin can on Sesame Street. I am, however, on Twitter. I saw the clips. I heard the vulgarity. I’ve seen the memes. Can you believe it? Will Smith slapped Chris Rock and most of the world is talking about it. But what should a Christian make of it all? Maybe my answer is overly simplistic, and I am certain it…

This year’s workshop is scheduled for April 30th – May 5th. It is hard to believe that this will be our 13th Focal Point. The work, sacrifice, love, and effort that this church has put into this amazing week has yielded much fruit for the Lord and His church. If you are new to University, the goals for Focal Point include the edification, education, and encouragement of those dedicated to Bible study, ministry, and the future of the Lord’s church.…

I once heard a preacher say that his wife liked going to a coffee shop to drink coffee because, “she believes that coffee taste better if it costs $5 a cup.” It may not be true, but sometimes we consider something to be better or more valuable simply because of the price tag that is bears. This disposition might lead us to discount things that are discounted. We might miss the value of the inexpensive. In hopes of safeguarding us…

Nearly 12 years ago, I was asked to write my personal code of ethics during my undergraduate studies. I have since required students to do the same. I have never published what I wrote, but I wanted to do so this week. Working back through these points was both challenging and therapeutic. My prayer is that I can honestly live up to this standard and that readers will be blessed by the challenges it presents. As the book of Job…

The ebb and flow of life can be both exciting and devastating. While change allows for growth and presents us with new challenges, it often takes away people, things, and circumstances that we hold dear. Last Sunday morning, the University church experienced another one of those ebb and flow moments and now we are left to move forward in the wake of this change. If you are unaware, brother Joe O’Banon resigned from the eldership last Sunday morning. Joe had…

Today marks the last Sunday that David and Kathy Jones (i.e., Dad and Mom) will be with us before they move to East Tennessee. There is no doubt that they will honor the Lord and strengthen His church through their teaching and example. Their departure, however, leaves a hole in the work at University, specifically the work on the campus of Texas State through the Bobcats for Christ organization and the McCarty Student Center. If time and faith have taught…

What can we really do with one-sixth of one hour? I know. It doesn’t seem like much time. Most of us spend longer each day commuting to work, standing in line, sitting in traffic, etc. It may not make a difference in most situations, but there is a place and a time where ten minutes could change lives and possibly the world. What we do with the first ten minutes after our weekly worships services is vital to creating a…

Our Lord has the most beautiful bride in the whole world. She is a “pure virgin” (2 Cor. 11:2) and worth dying for (Eph. 5:22-33). In this latter reference, Paul makes sure that we don’t miss the comparison by noting, “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:32). That beauty is both showcased and enhanced by the harmony, fellowship, and peace that exists among those who comprise his precious bride. For…

You can almost hear the pain in His voice as Jesus speaks to His disciples regarding the impending trials He will soon endure. It is considered by many to be the darkest hour in the life of Christ and a prelude to humanity’s darkest hour. The religious leaders of Christ’s day will soon be so moved with envy that they will sanction and even demand the death of the innocent, precious, sinless Son of God. In the hours surrounding those…

What makes a preacher? Is it his clever outlines? Is it his “preacher” voice? Is it his intimidating presence in the pulpit? Is it his vast library or his years of experience? Most of us would agree that the previous questions are somewhat superficial and that these things do not truly identify what makes a preacher a preacher. However, the idea expressed in our title (no matter how Biblical it is), is not usually considered the measure of a preacher…