Author: Stan Cox
Sermon: Pride Manifested
Strife, worldliness, and judgmentalism are manifestations of pride, as revealed in James chapter 4.
Sermon: Let’s Get Excited!
Using the texts of 2 Chronicles 29 and 2 Samuel 10, the lesson emphasizes the need for zeal, in order to live a Christ centered life.
Sermon: Tim Stevens Meeting, Spring 2019
1 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to the Future of the Church?
2 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to My Forgiveness?
3 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to My Anger?
4 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to Time?
5 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to My Attitude Toward God’s Word?
6 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to My Influence?
7 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to Humility & Servitude?
8 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to Repentance?
9 – Is My Heart Right with Regard to Persecution & Endurance?
Sermon: Some Thoughts About Appropriate Dress
Matters of modesty and propriety in the area of a Christian’s dress are discussed in this lesson.
Sermon: Bad Investments
Bible characters such as Adam and Eve, Esau, the prodigal son and Judas all made bad decisions, choosing sin over righteousness.
The Patternists: Fear Him
“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:4-7).
We all have read these words from Jesus, but do we know what they mean? To wit, how does fearing the One who has the ability “to cast into hell” impact your life?
Reminding You
Most people enjoy learning new things. Gaining new knowledge is exciting and important. This is certainly so when God’s will is the subject being considered.
What is rare is the mastering of a subject. We are in awe of those individuals who show such a mastery. A philatelist who can discuss the value of an inverted Jenny, or the 1847 issue of the block of 16 Ben Franklins is pretty impressive to those of us who had to look up the term “philatelist” (stamp collector), and have no idea what an inverted Jenny is! Conversely, those of us who know Dirk Nowitzki’s rank on the list of career NBA scorers (6th), and who he last passed to get there (Wilt Chamberlain) may be considered a little crazy. (Note: I didn’t have to look those up).
Familiarity and relative mastery of God’s revealed will is impressive (few make the effort), and important (the subject is impactful of our final standing in eternity). As such it is worthy of our effort to not only learn new things, but to become completely familiar with what we already know. With that in mind, consider Peter’s words:
“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease” (2 Peter 1:12-15).
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Sermon: What Is and Is Not a Work
Speaker: Josh Jackson
Josh seeks to determine from scripture how the devil has confounded some regarding the necessity of obedience in order to be saved.
Sermon: “Who may abide in Your tabernacle?”
According to Psalm 15, only the upright, righteous, truthful, lover of good, obedient individual is welcomed by God into His presence. Those who backbite, do evil, gossip, mistreat and harm others are not welcome.
Sermon: More Than Enough
The lesson uses the text of Exodus 35 and 36 to establish the necessity of Zeal. God wants us freely willing to sacrifice our lvies and purpose in His service!
The Patternists: When Men Dictate in Religion
Paul’s letter to the Colossians contains his defense of Christ as the basis of our standing with God. He speaks of Christ’s preeminence (1:15-18). He contends that reconciliation comes through Christ’s sacrifice (1:21-22). As such, he warns “every man” to labor and strive as he did, “according to His working which works in me mightily” (1:28-29). Notice, we are to strive according to His working.
In chapters two and three, he contrasts the salvation which is in Christ with false influences which endanger Christians. For example, he notes in (2:1-10) that human philosophy is deceptive. In Christ “are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3).
He also calls for a rejection of lustful passions in (3:10-11), “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (3:3). Because of this, the Christian is to “put off” (3:8), the sinful inclinations of the flesh.
Our attention is centered in (2:11-23). This section of the text is unfortunately labeled “Not Legalism but Christ” in my NKJV. The label misses the point of what Paul is saying.
Continue reading “The Patternists: When Men Dictate in Religion”
The Gentiles
It is obvious that the Jews during the first century had no love for other nations. The Gentiles were reviled, dismissed, and disrespected by the Jewish nation.
God had separated to Himself the Jewish nation in preparation for the Messiah’s appearance. As Paul wrote, “the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:23).
The Jews, however, typically took an extreme view of Gentiles as unworthy of God’s mercy and salvation. It took divine intervention (the Holy Spirit “fell upon them”, cf. Acts 11:15) for the Jews to come to grips with the truth, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life” (Acts 11:18).
Paul taught differently, making two points. First, both Jew and Gentile were guilty of sin (cf. Romans 2:1-2) and stood condemned by it. Second, nationality has no bearing on an individuals standing with God, “who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’” (Romans 2:6). “For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:11).
Regardless, the New Testament does speak disparagingly of the Gentiles. Paul wrote the Ephesians, “that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind” (Ephesians 4:17; cf. 1 Peter 4:1-6). This was not a criticism of their nationality, but of their characteristically sinful life. Not all Gentiles fell into this category (cf. Luke 7:1-10; Acts 10:1-4; Romans 2:26-29).
Racism is wrong. Prejudice against others is inexcusable. However, pointing out sinful works is both good and necessary. We will be judged by what we do! (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:9-11).
(Note: Image of Peter preaching to the household of Cornelius. Artist unknown. Wikipedia Commons).
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Sermon: How to Make a Local church Grow
Speaker: Josh Jackson
Josh discusses scriptural principles to encourage the brethren in growing as a congregation.
Sermon: How Heaven Views Sinners
The Parables of Luke 15 explain the view that Heaven holds regarding lost souls.
Sermon: The Rich Man – A Failure
The rich man of Luke 12, while no doubt considered a success by the world’s standards, is described as a failure because he was not right with God.
