Month: August 2009

Twenty Years, Next Week

Next Sunday will be the 20th anniversary of my first lesson preached as the evangelist for the West Side congregation. On September 3, 1989 I was a 27 year old, with a wife (same one that I have today), and two small children (Josh — age 4, and Kendra — two months shy of 3 years old).

I don’t believe my sermons that first week were recorded. On September 10th we began a gospel meeting with Ardy P. Brown. September 17th, I began a series of four lessons on True Devotion (I still have the outlines somewhere). The lesson that day was titled: Listening to Heaven (More Bible Study). That lesson, and every lesson since have been recorded and are still available to listen to either on tape or CD. (There are a few exceptions where someone forgot to hit record, or a tape broke, etc.). I don’t expect you to go back and listen to any of those early efforts.

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Sermon: Preaching Like Paul

Paul, as a preacher, should be emulated by Christians. He preached plainly the whole counsel of God, despite persecution and a lack of support. And he did it all with joy and zeal.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In The News: The Muslims are Here

inthenewsA couple of weeks ago I was handed a copy of an email that has been making the rounds on the internet. The email was written by an elder at the institutional Green Lawn church of Christ in Lubbock, TX, and mentioned a rather scary situation that had occurred at a prison in Snyder, TX.

I have since received at least 3 copies (forwarded) in my email box, the latest of which was titled, “The Muslims are here!”

The email was definitely disturbing. The post noted that shortly before three members of the Green Lawn congregation began worshiping with some Christian prisoners, they were asked by about 15 other inmates for permission to join the group. They readily agreed, but it turned out the men were antagonistic, continually interrupted the service, and threatened violence. The elder wrote in the post that the men were Muslim.

The email, as these things do, went viral. That means, like a virus, it has spread quickly. Unfortunately, people forward these messages without checking them out.

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Sermon: Marriage Roles and Authority

The divine wisdom of God has established the roles of men and women in the home. The husband is the head, and must be deferential and loving in his treatment of his wife. The wife is submit to the leadership of her husband in the home (Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7).

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Plain Preaching

Jesus was plain in His preaching (cf. John 10:22-28), as were the apostles (cf. 2 Cor. 3:12). We should strive to be as well. The sermon describes 5 areas where plain speech is needed in teaching others:

  • How to be saved from sins
  • The Nature of the Church of Christ
  • Assembled worship is required of Christians
  • Christians are called to godly living
  • A Judgment is coming!

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Love in the Family of God

Love is of the utmost importance in any relationship. This is especially so in the relationships sustained with the brethren. The Christian needs to have a fervent, sincere love for his brothers and sisters in Christ, that abounds, and knits them together in unity.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: The Nature of the Christian’s Assurance

A proper understanding of why the Christian has hope will dispel much of the religious error surrounding the concept, and will benefit the child of God by increasing his assurance based upon his faith in God.

The basis of the Christian’s assurance is NOT:

  • Predestination
  • Experiences (Emotions)
  • Good Works

Rather, the basis of the Christian’s assurance is the promises of God.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: God Is

This sermon establishes certain attributes of God, and correlates the attributes with what is required of the child of God in response. God Is:

  • Spirit
  • True
  • Light
  • Love
  • Faithful
  • One

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Problem with Emotions

ImageDo you feel good about yourself? Your relationship with God? Do you feel good about those with whom you have spiritual fellowship? Do you have joy without measure? A peace which passes understanding? Does a smile invariably crease your face when you contemplate your eternal welfare? It does? Good!…Now for the most important question. Upon what do you base all of these positive emotions?

Hopefully, you have a ready answer to this last question. The proper answer would be, “From a study of God’s word, I recognize that I have been obedient to His will, and am a partaker of the blessings that are reserved for His children.” Now, you might not word it in exactly the same way, but the point is that your good feelings, your emotions, are based upon an intellectual recognition. You know you have been obedient to God. You know that God has promised blessings to those who are obedient. You know that God keeps His promises. Therefore you are happy. However, many experience that same happiness without that intellectual foundation.

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Loyalty: An Inner Beauty

One of the most beautiful passages in all of scripture, illustrating the exalted virtue of loyalty, is found in Ruth’s statement of love for her mother-in-law Naomi.

“But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, {or to} turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people {shall be} my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if {anything but} death parts you and me.'” Ruth 1:16-17

Certain aspects of this relationship between a woman and her daughter-in-law strike me as especially notable.

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Twisted Liberty (Short Article)

Image

Liberty, standing proudly on a small island in the New York harbor, has long been an important emblem to our nation. We have long believed as Americans that God has granted us the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

How sad it is that this pursuit of liberty and happiness has become so twisted in our present day. Our founding fathers recognized that liberty comes with a price. That price is personal responsibility.

Today so many are interested in only themselves. Their pursuit of pleasure is first and foremost in their lives. They talk about their “rights”. But, their right to drink has cost thousands of lives in automobile accidents. Their right to an abortion has led to the murder of countless unborn children. The rights of “two consenting adults” has led to broken homes, a lowering of societal values, and the scourge of disease.

Truly, there needs to be a change of emphasis. May we begin (or continue) to proclaim accountability. May we emphasize not our rights, but the rights of others. May we recognize that true happiness and liberty come in making ourselves slaves to our Lord. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the {life} which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Sermon: Obstacles to a Relationship with God

The Sermon points out, It isn’t possible to have a relationship with God:

  • If you don’t know about Him.
  • If you refuse to Repent.
  • If you neglect Obedience.
  • If you reject Jesus Christ.
  • If you don’t listen to, or talk to Him.

Stated Positively: If you will seek to learn about God and know Him; if you will acknowledge your sin and repent; let faith and love produce obedience; trust in Christ, listen to God and pray to Him — You can enjoy a relationship with your Creator, that begins here on earth and is consummated in eternity.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Pitfalls !

Pitfalls are traps set by Satan, that are not always immediately evident. Satan makes his enticements seem sometimes innocent, and always enticings. We must be on Guard, because:

  • Strong Drink is a Pitfall
  • Dancing is a Pitfall
  • Evil Companionship is a Pitfall
  • Fault Finding is a Pitfall


Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Teaching the Plan of Salvation

While many believe the Bible to be difficult to understand, thus making their opinion (no matter how uniformed) as valid as any other, in reality the Bible is very simple and clear with regard to God’s plan of Salvation for man. The sermon covers a simple method of converting the sinner to Christ, using Acts 2 as a narrative.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In The News: The Origin of Life on Earth

ImageOn Friday morning, the space shuttle Endeavor safely returned to earth, landing at the Kennedy Space Center after a 15 day trip that took it 248 times around the earth, and a distance of 6.5 million miles.

While in space, the Endeavor spent time docked with the International Space Station, performing some maintenance, and replacing one astronaut who had been in space for 5 months, Koichi Wakata with another, Timothy Kopra.

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