Category: Repentance

Subject: Repentance

Nevertheless

In reading 2 Chronicles 12, we note a particular response of God to the unfaithfulness of King Rehoboam.  The chronicler wrote that it happened in the fifth year of the king (2).  Shishak, the king of Egypt waged war against Rehoboam at Jerusalem.  The scripture states clearly that such a challenge came “because they had transgressed against the Lord.”

The challenge was great: 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and “people without number who came with him out of Egypt” (3).  The challenge was succeeding as the fortified cities of Judah were taken and Jerusalem was threatened.  Shemaiah, a prophet of God, told Rehoboam the reason for the threat. “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak’” (5).

This declaration brought repentance.  “So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, ‘The LORD is righteous’” (6).  One might think that this repentance (which of course led to the return of God’s favor), was enough to change the course of events.  And it did.  When God witnessed the repentance of Rehoboam and the leaders of Israel, He granted deliverance.  But, the deliverance on this occasion was not total.  Consider the words of verses 7-8: “Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, ‘They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.’” Continue reading “Nevertheless”

Acknowledging Responsibility for Wrong

This is a hard thing for children. It might be because a child thinks that if he admits he has done wrong, there will be consequences. In fact, some children will continue to proclaim “I didn’t do it” or “It wasn’t me” even if they were caught red handed!

It can be the same for Christians as well. Why would a Christian who has sinned deny, or rationalize,  or excuse their actions? Well, it may be that they fear what others may think if they admit to not being perfect! But, no one is perfect, and that shows too much concern for what others think, rather than what God thinks! “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). Continue reading “Acknowledging Responsibility for Wrong”

Mining the Scriptures: Galatians 2:11-16

This context is divided into two different passages so that first the event can be examined, and then the message Paul proclaimed (verses 14-21) can be addressed later.

When Peter came to Antioch of Syria, he and Paul had an encounter caused by Peter’s sin. Though by this time the inclusion of Gentiles into the kingdom was established (Acts 15), there was still opposition to it that Peter reacted to by “separating himself [from the Gentiles] fearing those who were of the circumcision” (12).

This was a public sin, and Paul responded publicly, admonishing Peter “before them all” (14). Peter’s actions were public, and they had led others, even Barnabas, to be “carried away with their hypocrisy” (13). Public sin can and often must be dealt with publicly. A little leaven leavens a whole lump (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:6).

Apparently, this admonition left no hard feelings, as Peter wrote approvingly of Paul in his own epistle at another time (cf. 2 Peter 3:15-16). A penitent soul does not harbor resentment for admonition.

 

Sermon: Jesus’ Restoration of Peter

In our final lesson in the study of Jesus’ words in John’s gospel, we recount the conversation Jesus had with Peter in John 21:15-25

Mining the Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

The text here consists of two main points. The first is that Paul determined to deal with the issues with the Corinthians through writing them, instead of coming personally. Most probably he thought the letter would be a more advantageous way to bring them to repentance, and joy. They were at present at odds because of their carnality, but he wanted to be joyful, and for them to be joyful so he wrote them with “much affliction and anguish of heart,… with many tears” (4).

The second point is regarding the call to withdraw from an immoral man in 1 Corinthians 5.  They had done so, which had led to sorrow and repentance on his part.  Now, rather than continuing the punishment, Paul encouraged the church to take him back and comfort him, as it is possible for such sorrow to eventually be destructive.

To forgive is the responsibility of the church, based upon the repentance, and was also done by Paul.  His reason?  “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

“I Am Going Fishing”

Why in John 21 did Peter say, “I am going fishing”? We don’t know for sure, but we do know he was grieved for betraying Jesus on the night of his death. And, we know when he helped to establish the kingdom he remained faithful unto death.

Abundant Grace

The apostle Paul was always quick to acknowledge from where he came. He was a Pharisee, and one who sought to do violence to those who followed Jesus. He serves as a significant witness of the Christ, as one who formerly fought against Jesus, who became His Savior.

Paul knew that his position as one of the redeemed came despite the evil he did as a young man. One of the places where he made this clear is in his first letter to Timothy. In the first chapter, he wrote the following: Continue reading “Abundant Grace”

Sermon: The Curious Case of Simon the Sorcerer

A discussion of Simon’s conversion, and the sin he committed following, taken from the text of Acts 8.

Sermon: Foundational Concepts – Repentance

A discussion defining the concept of repentance, teaching what it encompasses, and establishing its necessity for receiving forgiveness from God.

Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:

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The Gospel Plan of Salvation

Speaker:  David Hightower

Lessons Learned from Job

As the book of Job begins, we find the man to be extremely blessed by God. He had ten children, and was very rich by the standards of the day. It is said that he was “the greatest of all the people of the East” (1:3). More importantly, he was a man of good character: “that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (1:1).

But, all of this was taken away by the devil. It is interesting that so many have a problem with what happened to Job. They do not have a particular problem with Satan’s work, as they expect such from the adversary. Their problem is with the fact that God allowed it! “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person” (1:12). “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life” (2:6). Continue reading “Lessons Learned from Job”

Sermon: Jesus, Satan, and Peter

Tyler uses the account of Satan’s successful temptation of Peter, and then Peter’s restoration to make some salient applications for us today.

Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:

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Sermon: Paul’s Message to the Gentiles

In this short lesson, Stan turns to Acts 14 and Acts 17 to express the truth that the Gentiles must repent by turning away from the worship of idols, and begin to serve the one true and living God.

Fall 2022 Meeting with Kyle Campbell

CanYou

Our Fall Meeting, 2022 with Kyle Campbell, November 5, 2002. A series of fundamental lessons answering fundamental questions.

The theme: “Can you show”

Lesson 1: Can You Show That There is a God? (Saturday)

Lesson 2: Can You Show that the Bible is the Word of God? (Sunday 9AM)

Lesson 3: Can You Show that Jesus Rose from the Dead? (Sunday 10AM)

Lesson 4: Can You Show What the Bible Says? (Sunday 11AM)

Lesson 5: Can You Show That the Bible Can be Understood? (Monday)

Lesson 6: Can You Show How We are Saved? (Tuesday)

Lesson 7: Can You Show What Worship Is? (Wednesday 10AM)

Lesson 8: Can You Show What the Church Does? (Wednesday PM)

Lesson 9: Can You Show That Chrisitans are Moral People (Thursday)

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Lessons from a Millstone

millstone

We speak of God’s word as sublime. In this we acknowledge both that the word of God is understandable, and that it is unfathomably deep and productive as we study it each day. The simplest of babes can derive from it the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68), and yet the ablest of students can spend a lifetime of learning from it each day.

Lessons can be learned from unexpected places. For example, we can learn much from the Bible’s reference to the millstone. The millstone was extremely important in ancient times. To turn grain into flour, the grain would be crushed into powder between two heavy stones. Smaller versions of such stones were found in the homes of the people. Larger stones were fashioned in ancient societies to increase production. Regardless, as the Bible refers to such millstones, there are three thoughts to keep in mind. First, they were necessities. Second, they were hard. Third, they were heavy. With this in mind, consider the following truths:

Continue reading “Lessons from a Millstone”