Category: Worldliness

Subject: Wordliness

Sermon Minute: The Practice of Pure and Undefiled Religion

Put to Death Your Members Which Are on the Earth

In Colossians 3:5, the apostle Paul told the Christians there to “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry.” The reason for this admonition? “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience…” (vs. 6).

The phrase “members which are on the earth” is an interesting one. These things “members” are aspects of a person that precludes him from serving God acceptably. Specifically, while these things could be considered sinful themselves, they are also the attitudes and characteristics that lead a person to sinful actions. These “members” are characteristic of a lustful, lascivious, hateful and greedy person. So, Christians should “put them to death.” Continue reading “Put to Death Your Members Which Are on the Earth”

Sermon: Are You Carnal?

The flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. You should have a spiritual mindset. Are you instead carnally minded? How do you fix this?

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Sermon: Not All Change is Progress

What is true progressivism and conservativism, as it relates to morality, spirituality, and religion

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Humility Cures Worldliness

Our premise is a simple one: At the center of worldly lusts is a heart that is selfish.  In 1862 Emily Dickinson wrote a phrase that is familiar to most, “The heart wants what it wants…” Her context applied to the idea to romance, but there is truth to the saying no matter the subject of such desire.

This is what lust is. It is strong desire. It is lust because the desire is for the illicit. I want what I do not have a right to obtain, but I want it anyway. And so, I pursue it.  This is the basis for sexual immorality as demonstrated by David in 2 Samuel  11. It is the basis for all types of moral sins.

I came across a silly question recently.  “If money is the root of all evil, why do churches ask for it?” The question showed ignorance as the actual quote is: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). The simple truth?  The heart wants what it wants (money), so greed, graft, fraud, pilfering, covetousness, etc. result.

This is true with all kinds of sin.  It all comes from a selfish desire for what I want.  It’s all about me. It is selfish, arrogant pride that causes a person to mistreat others, and neglect God, because the heart wants what it wants.

The cure?  Submit your desires to God! Resist the enticements of the devil! Draw near to God! Be selfless! As James wrote, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

God’s View of the Worldly

The book of James is full of wisdom and practical knowledge that helps a Christian know God’s will, and how to adhere to it. It is certainly worth the effort to become familiar with its teaching.

In James chapter four he shows the origin of most strife.  “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (1). This is demonstrably true when considering the motivation of just about every war and conflict that has ever occurred on earth.  The pursuits of pleasure, possessions and prestige are the common motivations of conflicts.  James noted, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war” (2). Continue reading “God’s View of the Worldly”

Evil Company Corrupts

“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’ 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).

In our text, the apostle Paul is talking with the Corinthians about a false idea some had espoused, that there was no resurrection from the dead (15:12). It was apparent that their views had some traction, as an entire chapter of the epistle is taken up in the refutation of the error, and the glory of the truth on the subject. In the midst of the discussion, our passage expresses Paul’s desire that the Corinthians stay away from those who would espouse the error. Continue reading “Evil Company Corrupts”

Sermon: Light not Darkness

A discussion of Ephesians 4:17-24 showing the necessity of walking in the light as Christians, and refusing the sinfulness of the darkness.

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Sermon: The World Hates You

Sermon 42 in series.

In John 15:18-25, the Lord warned His disciples to expect the world to hate them, because the world hated Him first. All Christians should expect animosity from the ungodly, and be prepared for it.

Sermon: The Weakening of Our Faith

While the world looks to magnets to weaken faith in God, we must concern ourselves with self-inflicted attacks on our faith. Instead, we must work and be diligent to increase our faith!

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Poisoning Minds

Poison

In Acts 14, we are told that Paul and Barnabas were in Iconium, preaching in the synagogue. Their preaching was effective among Jews and Gentiles. But, the unbelieving Jews “stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren” (14:3). Many believed, but the opposition was strong and active, and they eventually had to flee for their lives.

We will always emphasize the need for defending the faith, and the capability of truth to stand and convict men of sin. But, we also realize that it is possible for the minds of men to be poisoned. And, when it happens there is often nothing that can be done.

When men call light darkness and darkness light, they can poison the minds of some. When they state with extreme conviction and flattering words a false doctrine that has appeal to the masses, they can poison the minds of some. When they make false accusations about the faithful, characterizing their faith as extreme or irrelevant, they can poison the minds of some.

Such poison minds can make life more difficult for the servant of God. Not only does such opposition confuse the innocent, it emboldens the enemies of the cross to persecute the faithful. What do we do in response?

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ” … “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1a,2).

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Sermon: Who Then Are We?

Who Then Are We

The lesson deals with the Corinthian’s carnal tendencies, and the call to preach to the lost.

“Let him become a fool”

pontificating

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19a).

We are constantly bombarded with the world’s wisdom. It is seen on television as we watch the news, as well as entertainment. It even rears its head when you watch something as simple as sports. Moral issues, civic issues, questions of war and peace. How to help people. What is most important. Who is right and wrong. People argue back and forth, everyone sure they are right, and the other side is not only wrong but evil. But, few talk about God. Even fewer adopt what God has to say!

James warned about this, calling worldly wisdom demonic and divisive (cf. James 3:15). Here in our text, Paul called them fools who hold to worldly wisdom!

They are crafty, but God catches them in their deceit. Their thoughts are futile. (vs. 19b-20). It is misguided to place your trust in their schemes. The world is a mess because of them. “Therefore let no one boast in men” (21a).

Society seems doomed because too many are swayed by the futile thoughts of our cultural and political leaders and influencers. But it is not too late for you and I. We have to reject the wisdom of the world, and become fools for Christ!

Do you want true wisdom? Place your trust in the Lord!

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Sermon: Vain Things

Vain Things

The writer of Ecclesiastes recognized something we must learn as well. There is no intrinsic value in wisdom, pleasure or possessions. If we do not serve God, our life is lived among vain things.

Not Covetous

not covetous

In 1 Timothy 3:3, one of the characteristics that must be present in any who would serve as elder is described in the negative phrase, “not covetous.” The phrase comes from the single Greek word, aphilargyros. It occurs only once in this form in the New Testament. It consists of the prefix (a-) indicating the negative, and (-philargyros), which literally means a lover of silver.

So, the idea is that one who is serving as an elder must not be motivated by a love for money. Thayer defines the word: “not loving money, not avaricious.”

Later in the epistle, the apostle Paul wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). The word is the exact same as the one we are considering, minus the negative prefix.

If we were to consider the opposite of the phrase “not covetous”, Paul indicates it would be “godliness with contentment” (1 Timothy 6:6). This is important for all of us. If we recognize the transitory nature of all things earthly, their value decreases in our mind. We must not “love the world, or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). One who does certainly should not be leading the Lord’s people.

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

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