Sound Teaching  This is the teaching site of the West Side church of Christ in Fort Worth, TX. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials were written and prepared by Stan Cox |
By Stan Cox, on May 13th, 2012
The sermon deals with the doctrine commonly referred to as Mental Divorce. Arguments are made regarding what the Bible teaches about marriage and the bond between a husband and wife. The doctrine is shown to be erroneous.
Audio
Powerpoint Slides
By Stan Cox, on May 13th, 2012
I recently read an interesting short article on the use of the term “literally” that I want to share with you, then comment upon.
Two Misuses of “Literally”
“He literally knocked his head off.” No. If he had, the head would have rolled across the floor, separated from the body. “Literally,” in that case, is mistakenly used to intensify a figure of speech, but “literally” does not intensify the figure. It says “knocked his head off” is not a figure of speech but a true description of what he did.
Another misuse of “literally” has to do with word meaning. Someone says, “proskuneo ‘literally’ means ‘kiss the ground toward.’” No, proskuneo literally means “worship.” “Kiss the ground toward” is its etymology, how the word was formed. It is also an archaic meaning; as ancient Persians did literally fall on their faces and kiss the feet or hem of the robe of their deified kings. Etymology does not determine meaning; usage does. The New Testament frequently says, “They fell down and worshipped him” (Matthew 2:11; e.g.). “Fell down” is from a different original word, “worshipped” is proskuneo.
“Literally” does not intensify a figure. A word’s etymological meaning is not its “literal” meaning.
Cecil May
Preacher Talk (Vol. 27, No. 2—April 2012)
The first misuse of the term “literally” is typical in casual conversation. While irritating to those who are sensitive to the mangling of the English language, it is innocuous. However, defining biblical terms by their etymology, (or even their assigned dictionary definitions), without considering context, is extremely troubling as we seek to interpret God’s word.
Continue reading » “Literally” – A Discussion of Definitions
By Stan Cox, on July 24th, 2011
The sermon establishes what the Bible teaches regarding an aspect of the marriage, divorce and remarriage question. Most often people try to loose where God has not, but recently arguments have been made asserting there is no scriptural exception to God’s law regarding the permanency of the marriage relationship. What does the Bible teach?
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
By Stan Cox, on July 28th, 2010
After some delay, all eight sermons preached by Micky Galloway during his April 2010 meeting are now available online. These can be accessed in this post, or by going to the 2010 Sermons Archive page.
Sunday Morning Class: My People Love to Have it So
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Sunday AM: The Soundness of God’s People
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Sunday PM: The Promise
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Monday PM: Committment to Family
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Tuesday PM: A Marriage That Will Not Fail
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Wednesday AM: Jesus, The Master Teacher
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Wednesday PM: What God Expects of Us as a Family
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Thursday PM: Victory in Jesus
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
By Stan Cox, on July 18th, 2010
The sermon discusses the truth, and exposes error being taught on the subject of Marriage, divorce and remarriage.
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
By Stan Cox, on May 15th, 2010
(Note: The following article is written by one of the members at West Side, Justin Carrell. I commend it to you. SC)
Matthew 19:3-9
“And the Pharisees came near to him, tempting him, and saying to him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?’ And he answering said to them, ‘Did ye not read, that He who made them, from the beginning a male and a female made them, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall be–the two–for one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh; what therefore God did join together, let no man put asunder.’ They said to him, ‘Why then did Moses command to give a roll of divorce, and to put her away?’ He said to them–‘Moses for your stiffness of heart did suffer you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it hath not been so. ‘And I say to you, that, whoever may put away his wife, if not for fornication, and may marry another, doth commit adultery; and he who did marry her that hath been put away, doth commit adultery.’” (Young’s Literal Translation)
I’ve heard this scripture debated more than any other. We debate baptism with those outside the body, but this we debate without and within. Below are two arguments recently put forward to me, and my response.
Continue reading » Separating What God Has Joined
By Stan Cox, on February 27th, 2010
Last Tuesday Reuters reported that the head of the Lutheran Church in Germany, Margot Kaessmann, 51, the Lutheran Bishop of Hanover, was cited for running a red light while driving under the influence of alcohol. A state prosecutor told the German Newspaper Bild that Kaessmann had a blood alcohol level that was three times the legal limit. She is under investigation, and could lose her driver’s license for a year.
The Reuters article also noted that Kaessmann was a controversial choice to head the Lutheran church, because she had had a divorce.
(Protestant Leader Regrets Driving Drunk, 2/23/10, Christopher Lawton)
Continue reading » In the News: Lutheran Leader Drives Drunk
By Stan Cox, on June 29th, 2009
 You may not be aware of it, but in pop culture the biggest piece of news is the impending divorce of Jon and Kate Gosselin. The Gosselin family resides in Pennsylvania, and the two with their 8 children (one set of 8 year old twins, and one set of 5 year old sextuplets) are the subject of a very successful reality TV series, Jon and Kate Plus 8.
The series has been on television since January of 2007, and is widely viewed. Until recently the show revolved around the children, and the challenges of raising such a large and young family. However, the Gosselin’s marital problems have dominated reports in the entertainment media, and have been dealt with in the most recent episodes of the television show, which airs on TLC.
Continue reading » In The News: Jon and Kate Plus 8
By Stan Cox, on November 5th, 2008
Guest speaker Dennis Scroggins establishes from scripture that God hates divorce, and intends for a marriage to last for a lifetime. One man, one woman, for a lifetime is the teaching of scripture. We need to emphasize this rule in our preaching.
Lesson 8 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
By Stan Cox, on March 14th, 2008
 The question of our title is similar to other questions that have been asked. Can a Christian be a lawyer? Or, can a Christian tend bar?
Those questions speak of the morality of the two occupations. While I believe that a Christian could certainly practice law, there are certain types of lawyers who seem, if they do their job successfully, to violate Christian morality.
However, when I ask the question, “Can a Christian be President?” I am not so concerned with the ethics of the job; rather, I am referring to the electability of a Christian. I am convinced that one who truly holds to the teachings of Jesus Christ would be considered an extremist, and would have no chance of being elected to the highest office in America.
Continue reading » In The News: Can A Christian Be President
By Stan Cox, on January 11th, 2007
“Then Peter said, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’ 29 So He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life’” (Luke 18:28-30).
A few months ago we examined the position that Luke 18 gives a rationale for a person to divorce their mate, “for the sake of the kingdom of God,” without sin. The article dealt not only with the context of the passage, but also the greater context of scripture, and concluded that the position is without merit. Jesus said in Matthew 5:32, “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except for sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” The text clearly reveals a single reason for which a man or woman may put away their spouse. To appeal to a passage where divorce is not contextually found in an attempt to explain away the plain import of another passage is, at best, poor hermeneutics, and is a common tactic of those who twist the scriptures to fit their pet theories.
Continue reading » Luke 18 Revisited
By Stan Cox, on April 23rd, 2006
This sermon was preached to the West Side congregation to explain why the elders determined to cease monetary support of brother Bobby Holmes. The elders, together with brother Stan Cox had studied on several occasions with brother Holmes, differed with him regarding his teaching of divorce, and asked brother Cox to address the subject, and explain the events which led to the ending of his support. The sermon is, in part, an examination of brother Holmes’ teaching on the subject.
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
By Stan Cox, on March 12th, 2006
In the first verse of 1 Corinthians 7, the apostle Paul began a discussion of questions asked him by the Corinthian Christians. “Now concerning the things of which you wrote me…” While the Corinthians no doubt had an exact knowledge of those questions, we do not. It is important that we deal carefully with the text of this chapter. The exegesis is a difficult one, and brethren have struggled with the passage for many years.
After discussing some general principles concerning the sexual aspect and obligations of marriage in the first seven verses, the apostle answered certain questions concerning special groups in verses 8-16. First, the unmarried, in verses 8 and 9 were given the advice to remain unmarried during the “present distress” (cf. vs. 26), unless their passion precluded such a celibate state.
Continue reading » An Exegesis of 1 Corinthians 7:10-11
By Stan Cox, on February 19th, 2006
This section of scripture in Luke 18 recounts a conversation recorded by the physician between Jesus and his disciples. The exchange is also recorded by Matthew (chapter 19), and Mark (chapter 10).
The conversation immediately followed Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man desiring to know, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life” (vs. 18). When Jesus revealed his covetousness (putting his riches before service to God), the young man went away sorrowful. Jesus told his disciples that it was extremely difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven, but “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (vs. 27). What is obviously established in this teaching is that nothing can come before God in our lives. This elicited a response from Peter contained in the text under consideration:
Continue reading » An Exegesis of Luke 18:28-30
By Stan Cox, on February 12th, 2006
The first nine verses of Matthew 19 make up as disputed a passage of scripture as any in our time. It is interesting to note that the conversation contained in the passage, a discourse between Jesus and some Pharisees who sought to “test” him, was likewise an outgrowth of great dispute among the Jews of that day.
There were two major schools of thought concerning divorce in the first century. One group, following the teaching of a rabbi named Hillel, contended that the law, (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), allowed a man to divorce his wife for any offense at all. The other main group, led by the teaching of a rabbi named Shammai, maintained (as reported by Albert Barnes in his commentary, page 194) “divorce was unlawful except in case of adultery.”
The Pharisees knew that whichever position Jesus took would bring objections from the “other” group. So, they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (vs. 3).
Continue reading » An Exegesis of Matthew 19:1-9
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