Author: Stan Cox

Invitation delivered by: Josh Cox

In Romans 5:12 the apostle Paul affirms that death has spread to all men. The only way to escape death is through God’s gift to man (cf. Romans 6:23). As such, we are Debtors (Romans 8:12).

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In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, the apostle Paul expressed thanks to God for the Christians there, “because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.”

Faith and love are two of the identifying characteristics of the child of God. The love of God abounds toward man, as is evident from His scheme for our redemption. The faithful Christian’s love should be the same, especially toward their brethren.

The faith of the diligent Christian is a faith that grows daily. As the Hebrew writer noted, (Hebrews 5:12 – 6:6), if you are not progressing in your faith, you will regress, potentially to the point of apostasy.

Do you have a growing faith and abundant love?

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There is no more important question for each of us to ask ourselves. We acknowledge the existence of God, and our own subservient relationship to Him. So, each must ask, “What kind of servant am I?”

In the text of Matthew 24 Jesus describes the two answers possible. One may be a “faithful and wise servant” (vs. 45), or an “evil servant” (vs. 48). What is the difference between the two? The faithful and wise servant is the one, when the Master comes, who is doing the Master’s will (vs. 46).

The point is simple. God is our Master, and if we want to please Him, we must do His bidding. That is why it is so important for us to know the pattern of obedience required by God in His word. If we do so, we are “blessed” (vs. 46), and will be rewarded (vs. 47). If not, “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (vs. 51).

A sobering truth, to be considered in opposition to the common claim that sincerity in religion is the sole matter of importance. Jesus tells us the important thing is to do the Master’s will!

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Speaker: Armando Vera.

The lesson discusses four different perspectives about experiencing the joy of the Lord.

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Speaker: Brantley Gallman

John 4:24 tells us that worship must be done in spirit and in truth. Brantley supplies 5 practical suggestions to enable us to worship God properly “in spirit.”

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Articles on The Patternists Facebook page constantly emphasize the authority of God, and His word. Most articles are concerned with worship, doctrine and the church established by Jesus Christ.

We also note that God’s authority extends to the nations of men. This will be so until Jesus comes again. Paul spoke of this in his sermon to the Athenians in Acts 17:

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (vs. 26-27).

God determines the rise and fall of nations, and the extent of their rule. The nations of the world exist to facilitate a search for God and His will for men. When nations impede that search, God’s patience is tested. If repentance does not occur, that patience runs out, bringing God’s judgement on that nation.

God is both aware of and concerned about the state of our nation. How long will he forbear judgment upon us? No one knows, but each day of rebellion is one day nearer to God’s wrath. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In Acts 19:20, “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” The preaching of the word brings opposition, but ultimately God gains the victory!

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In the last day, the only way to have a good day is if you are an obedient believer of Jesus Christ.

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The sermon examines the use of alcohol, seeking to answer from the scriptures whether it is sinful to drink what is commonly claimed to be moderate amounts of alcohol in a social setting.

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Powerpoint Slides

The title is a fancy way of saying that tomorrow’s addition of an extra date to the calendar (this is a leap year) got me thinking about time.

The insertion of an extra day into the calendar for corrective purposes was an innovation of Julius Caesar 2000 years ago. It was modified a bit when the “Gregorian” calendar was adopted in the western world in 1582. But, this article is not about that…

We are creatures bound by time. We mark the day of our birth, each year in turn, and finally, the day of our death. Our physical existence is measured by decades, years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds. Our written history will add centuries, and perhaps a few millennia, but ultimately the span of our temporal existence is greatly limited.

Perhaps this is why the concept of God is met with such resistance. The skeptic is certainly challenged by the evolutionist’s hypothetical “billions of years”, but is absolutely unable to grasp the idea of a Being without beginning or end.

Even Christians struggle with the scope of eternity. The goal of eternity in God’s presence, while desired, is too often a remote concept. We live in the here and now, and sometimes our focus strays (to our detriment) to what this life has to offer. Let us never forget the only question of importance, as asked of Jesus by the young ruler, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).

Last week I wrote a lengthy article titled “An illogical attitude toward the Bible.“

The article was in response to another article titled “Evangelicals are Losing the Battle for the Bible. And They’re Just Fine With That.”

Consider the ramifications of that title. Evangelicals as a group have always contended that the Bible is inspired of God and inerrant. A new generation of Evanglicals are disavowing that position. The article states that the issues leading to this change in thinking revolve mainly around social issues. The Bible condemns homosexuality, contends for specific and different gender roles for men and women, and contends that the Bible was created by the fiat of God in seven days. These positions are rejected by society today. Young evangelicals, swayed by current mores, are accepting the wisdom of men, and rejecting what they perceive to be foolishness contained in God’s word.

In so doing, they deny the words of Paul, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’ Therefore let no one boast in men“ (1 Corinthians 3:19-21).

Those who reject the Lord’s words are rejecting the Lord Himself! Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In Matthew 27:32-54, Matthew narrates the crucifixion of Christ. This invitation is a reading of the narrative, with the invitation to take advantage of that sacrifice for our sins.

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“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins”(2 Peter 1:9).

Peter wrote these words after exhorting his readers to spiritual maturity. It is important to add to your faith by incorporating characteristics such as: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (cf. vs.5-7).

Lacking these things brings about spiritual myopia. Short or near sightedness. The inability to see far away (spiritually speaking).

The Christian has the hope of heaven. The best way to keep that hope in view is through spiritual growth. If we grow spiritually, we will receive and abundant and everlasting reward! (cf. vs. 11).

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The Sermon analyzes the letters of the Lord to the seven church of Asia, found in Revelation 2 & 3.

The letters emphasize Jesus’ knowledge of the works of the churches, His call for some to repent, and His promise of reward to the faithful.

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All of the things that God requires of us, Jesus did first. He leads the way, He is our trailblazer. He blazed the trail of:

* Obedience
* Sacrifice
* Love
* Forgiveness
* Resisting Temptation

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Powerpoint Slides