Month: June 2008

Below is the material used in our recently completed Vacation Bible School.  Any who would like to use this material for their own school or studies are more than welcome.  The materials were created by members of the West Side congregation.  (Please note the acknowledgments at the end of this post).
This class consists of five lessons taught at West Side from June 23-27, 2008.  Stan Cox taught the adult class of the 2008 Vacation Bible School.

The VBS followed the theme:  “Growing in Grace.”

Right click on each item to save it to your hard drive. Resources in this course of study include Powerpoint presentations and Audio files in the mp3 format of the adult class, and classbooks used in the childrens’ classes.
Lesson 1 – Growing in Grace Through Jesus

* A Loving Relationship With God
* Cultivating a Relationship With God
* Relationship Myths
* How the Relationship is “Entered”
* Conclusion: Press On!

Lesson 1 – Growing in Grace Through Jesus (PPT)

Lesson 1 – Audio (mp3)

Lesson 2 – Growing in Grace Through The Knowledge of God’s Word

* What We Get from God’s Word
* Facts About the Bible
* Get A Plan (Just Do It!)
* Our Desire to Know God and His Word
* Conclusion: Live the Word!

Lesson 2 – Growing in Grace Through a Knowledge of God’s Word (PPT)

Lesson 2 – Audio (mp3)

Lesson 3 – Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Disciplines

* Prayer
* A Formula for Prayer – A.C.T.S.
* Keep a Journal
* Memorize Scripture
* What Is Your Focus?
* Conclusion: Discipline Yourself!

Lesson 3 – Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Disciplines (PPT)

Lesson 3 – Audio (mp3)

Lesson 4 – Growing in Grace Through Obedience

* Examples of Authority
* The Authority of Christ
* Obedience
* Conclusion: Obey God!

Lesson 4 – Growing in Grace Through Obedience (PPT)

Lesson 4 – Audio (mp3)

Lesson 5 – Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Maturity

* The Example of Jesus
* Growing as a Christian
* Exemplify Christ in…
* Conclusion: Live a Life of Sobriety and Purity!

Lesson 5 – Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Maturity (PPT)

Lesson 5 – Audio (mp3)

Note:  In addition to the Powerpoint and Audio of the Adult class, other materials were prepared for the VBS.  Primary among these was a curriculum written by one of the members of the West Side congregation, Tracy Gallman.  Sister Gallman did a wonderful job with the lessons, and they were published in booklet form using the Microsoft Publisher program.  The adult class powerpoints were developed using this curriculum as the base.  Links to the booklet, as used by students from 3 grade through high school, another version for 1-2 graders, and other materials are listed below.  Feel free to use, and feel free to modify the materials to personalize for your congregation if you desire to utilize the material.  However, please do not alter the content, and please give proper credit to sister Gallman for the material, and sister Jade Calvert for the art work.

* VBS Student Book (Grades 3 through 12) (Microsoft Publisher)
* VBS Student Book (Grades 1 through 2) (Microsoft Publisher)
* VBS Circular (Advertisement) (Microsoft Publisher)
* VBS Bookmarks (Microsoft Publisher)

I was recently given a bulletin from a west Texas congregation. The front page of the bulletin had the order of service, including the preacher’s sermon topic for both Sunday services. The morning sermon was titled, “The Lord’s Church is Distinctive.”

The title is certainly true. The Lord’s church is distinctive, different, unique. It is seen in the worship we offer to God, the work that local congregations do in God’s service, and in the emphasis placed on the spiritual above the physical and social.

Continue reading “In The News: The Lord’s Church is Distinctive” →

Mark 1:9-13

Mark’s gospel is characterized by a concise telling of the events in Christ’s life. While not as verbose as the other gospels, Mark managed to encapsulate the grandeur of His ministry on earth.

These verses are a wonderful example. Here Mark recounts both the baptism of Jesus, and his temptation in the wilderness in just five verses.

The baptism of Jesus contains God’s witness that this was His Son. “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (vs. 11).

The temptation of Jesus expresses His perfect example. “Tempted by Satan,” yet, as Peter later stated, a man “who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:22-23).

As such, He left us “an example, that [we] should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

When I moved to Fort Worth from Odessa in 1989, I remember one of the members here asking me if I was used to preaching for such a small church. I assured them that “small” is relative. I grew up in a congregation that numbered about 30-40 for Sunday morning worship. I cut my teeth preaching for a group in Monahans that would have 15 present on a good day. So, West Side seemed to me to be a big church!

Regardless, there is a big difference between a congregation of 100 and a congregation of 200-300 or more. While many would advocate that bigger is better, I would assert that there are actually some benefits to being a member of a small congregation.

Continue reading “The Benefits of a Small Church” →

Four Algerian Christians accused of converting Muslims were each handed suspended jail sentences and fined Tuesday, according to reports.

The sentence is the latest to spark ire in the West, where Christian groups accuse the Algerian government of harassing Christians. The Higher Islamic Council, a state-appointed group, claims that Protestant evangelicals are secretly trying to divide Algerians for colonization, Reuters reported.

The four Christians, who admitted to converting to Christianity but contest the charges, said they planned to appeal the ruling.

“The verdict confirms an attitude of lack of respect for freedom of conscience,” defense lawyer Khelloudja Khalfoun, told Reuters.

A law passed in 2006 forbids non-Muslims from trying to convert Muslims and confines religious worship only to buildings approved by the state, according to the BBC. Under the law, more than a dozen churches have been closed in the past six months.

There are about 10,000 Christians in Algeria, the BBC reported.

FOXNews.com

Analysis:

We live in a country where religious freedom has long been respected. In fact, it is one of the founding principles of our society.

Continue reading “In The News: Christians Get Suspended Jail Terms for Converting Muslims in Algeria” →

Matthew 6:5-8

Before giving a model prayer for his disciples to emulate (vs. 9-13), Jesus instructed his disciples in how to pray.

He taught them to recognize the private and personal nature of prayer. Prayer is not performance, and those who treat it as such merely secure for themselves the recognition of men, not God. The Pharisees were of this ilk, and got what they wanted, the praise of men.

These performances are public, and often consist of “vain repetitions.” While such words may impress the hearers, they do not impress God, who sees the heart.

Instead, we should recognize that God knows our needs and desires. The purpose of prayer is not to inform God of those things, rather it is a means of acknowledging our dependence upon Him. We pray to God, not because He needs us to, but because he deserves our praise and thanksgiving. Pray to be seen of God, not men; and you will be rewarded.

The Hebrew writer compares Christ to Moses in chapter 3:1-6. The comparison shows that while both were faithful in their duties toward God, Moses was a servant, while Christ is the Son. So, Christ is deserving of far greater glory. The sermon contrasts and compares Jesus to Moses.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

An exegetical sermon based on the text of Galatians 5:1-6. An explanation of the covenant of circumcision is given, with special emphasis on its value to the Christian. Also, as the language of the text indicates the possibility of a Christian falling into apostasy, that subject is discussed as well.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .