New Brunswick Bible Institute

Matthew Little, NBBI Faculty

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up the fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12

The Jews of Hosea’s day had hardened their hearts to the Word of God. They had left off its warmth and light and huddled around the coldness of their own ideas. How easy it is for us to set aside God’s Word in favour of man’s opinions. God said to Israel, as He may very well be saying to you, “thou didst trust in thy way” (v. 13b). Maybe God’s Word has taken a back seat in your life. What is the answer to such a dilemma?

First, “…break up the fallow ground…” There may be hardened ground in your heart that needs to be softened so that the seed of God’s Word can once again begin to penetrate and impact your life. Start to cultivate the soil of your heart. Cleanse your heart from the hardened soil of indifference, till up the dangerous roots of worldly affections, and plough up deep rooted weeds and thorns of sin and selfishness. This is the preparatory step. It is the initial step of obedience whereby we signify to God that the soil of our hearts has been left unkempt and uncared for. What sinful barriers may be preventing the seed of God’s Word from penetrating your heart and changing you?

Second, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness…” God’s Word, once more, must become the source and rule of righteousness in your Read More

Keith McMahon, NBBI Faculty

By Keith McMahon

Recently, my dear wife Beth and I had the wonderful opportunity of touring Israel with a group with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. It was an incredibly humbling and enlightening experience. Since our return, many have asked “what was the highlight of the trip?” That’s a tough question to answer! For me, getting acquainted with the lay of the land certainly has enhanced my Bible reading. But even greater, getting better acquainted with the heart of our Saviour, for His people, Israel, has enlarged my perspective. Read More

John Hoag, NBBI Chancellor

By John Hoag

Conscious that at my age I have more days behind me than before me, I am preparing for the “stretch run” and have been reading Paul’s epistle to the Philippians. I have turned to the epistle of Joy as I remembered with fondness my predecessor, Ken Robins who so role-modeled the joy of the Spirit. Paul’s prayerful remembrance of the Philippians caught my attention and two words leaped out, “with joy”.

Philippians 1:3-4, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.”

Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians as servant to saints. That was not just a formal salutation from Paul it was the “culminating characteristic” of a humble man’s lifetime ministry for God. He respected and loved the people of God who he refers to as saints. He thanked God for them and his prayerful remembrance of them was always accompanied with joy. Joy characterized the apostle Paul’s ministry from start to finish. Joy was a career choice goal for Paul, Acts 20:24. It can be defined as Read More

Eric Liddell - Missionary, Olympic Gold Medalist

By Jack Caron, NBBI Faculty

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23

Recently, while watching the Vancouver Olympics, I saw a short program on some of the greatest Olympic athletes of the last century. Although there were truly a number of well deserving champions, my personal favourite was not among them. To me no account of the games would be complete without the story of Eric Liddell (1902-1945), who represented Great Britain at the 1924 Summer Olympics.

Eric Liddell was raised in China, the son of Scottish missionaries. During the 1924 Olympics in Paris, he went on to win a gold medal in the 400 metre dash and bronze in the 200 metre. Liddell’s story was made famous in the 1981 film, Chariots of Read More

Robert Booker, NBBI Vice President

By Dr. Robert Booker

Most Bible commentators believe that the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 were actual churches in Asia. Not only did they have messages to be applied to the church universal and local, but God, through John, was also instructing us regarding the history of the church. The first church mentioned, Ephesus, refers to the first century church. If each subsequent church logically follows history, then Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22 describes the present day church.

From verse 14, we must understand that throughout history, and in these “perilous times” (II Timothy 3:1), Christ is faithful and true and He is the accurate Witness to the past, present and future. No matter how difficult times are, how poorly we conduct ourselves, or how cold the church gets, Christ is faithful and gracious. Read More