Author: Stan Cox

Each local congregation must decide to be steadfast in the face of opposition and false doctrine; Zealous in the Lord’s work; and, work for Unity and Peace.
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It’s Superbowl Sunday and for the first time in the history of the franchise, the New Orleans Saints will be playing for the NFL Championship. The game has been referred to time and again as a needed balm as the city of New Orleans continues its recovery from hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

New Orleans is a city of sin. It is a party city, with its famous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, and the Mardi Gras celebration. It is a mixture of French decadence, Southern hospitality, voodoo, narcissism and Roman Catholicism. Mardi Gras is an interesting example of these influences. The word Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referencing the common Catholic practice of eating rich and fatty foods in the days before the fasting of the Lenten Season, starting with Ash Wednesday.

Continue reading “In the News: New Orleans – Super City” →

One of the most admirable qualities of the apostle Paul was his zeal. That zeal was present before he became a Christian, and in fact was partly responsible for his destructive work as a persecutor of God’s people. Paul said as much in Galatians 1:14, “And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.”

We readily accede to the fact that zeal alone is insufficient to ensure admirable action. In fact, Paul admonished the Jews despite their zeal. He said, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:2-3).

Continue reading “Paul’s Example: A Zealous Life” →

One interesting area of Bible Evidences is Archaeology. Archaeology helps to provide a background for the characters and events described in the Bible. It serves to corroborate the Bible as a dependable and inspired text. One caveat: The fact that archaeology has not corroborated a specific event, place or person is not evidence that it doesn’t exist. I came across this recently:

“The Hittites were unknown outside the Bible until late in the 19th century. Some critics had denied the existence of such a people. A.H. Sayce proposed that certain inscriptions in Syria were Hittite, then the Hittite capital at Boghazkoy was excavated by Hugo Winckler in 1906. About 10,000 Hittite and Akkadian texts were found. It is now possible to get a graduate degree in Hittite civilization at the University of Pennsylvania.” (Ferrell Jenkins, Introduction to Christian Evidences, pg. 60).

1 John 1:5-10

Here John relates to his readers a most important message, “God is light” (vs. 5).

This truth has far reaching implications. For example, if we are tempted and sin, it is not God’s fault. He is not responsible for temptation, and we are solely responsible for our own sinful actions (cf. James 1:13-15).

Second, (and the point of these verses), we can not practice sin and be in fellowship with God. As there is “no darkness” in him, those who “walk in darkness” can have no part with God.

That’s not to say that we never sin. In fact, John here says we are lying to ourselves, and also accusing Christ of lying if we say we are not guilty of sin. The fact that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins indicates that we all are guilty. John here affirms the same.
What this does indicate is that God requires us to seek to live righteously. When we sin, we are required to confess those sins to God, and ask forgiveness. God is gracious and faithful in forgiving us upon our repentance.

Have you sinned? Ask God’s forgiveness! We must walk in the light to have to have fellowship with Him.

Third in a series of six lessons on Galatians.

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This sermon compares and contrasts the Old Testament with the New, establishing the superiority of Christ’s covenant.

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Second of six lessons on Galatians.

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This sermon answers the question, “When Judas betrayed Jesus, did he do so because he was compelled to by God, or did he exercise his free will?

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First of six lessons in a series on Galatians.

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Our quarterly singings are a wonderful time for edification and encouragement. All who were at the singing last night were strengthened in faith by the worship offered to God.

We are given the command to sing in Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” We are given a reason to sing in James 5:13, “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

It has been said that familiarity breeds contempt. Our singings have been going on now for some time. Were you there last night? Did you forget, or have something “better” to do? Please consider whether your time could be spent in doing anything better than offering praise to God!

Remember, our next singing is scheduled for April 17th. Hope to see you there!

Angry words! O let them never,
From the tongue unbridled slip,
May the heart’s best impulse ever,
Check them ere they soil the lip.

Love one another thus saith the Savior,
Children obey the Father’s blest command,
Love each other, love each other,
‘Tis the Father’s blest command.

The above song, here containing the first verse and refrain, was written by one known only by the initials D.K.P. The song has a beautiful melody arranged by H.R. Palmer, but the words of the anonymous poet are even more beautiful in their sentiment.

Continue reading “Angry Words” →

2 Peter 1:5-11

Here the apostle Peter calls Christians to add to themselves various righteous characteristics. The list includes: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

Peter indicates they are to do this for “this very reason”, referring back to the previous verses where eternal promises are alluded to as being given by God’s divine power. In effect, the promise of redemption and hope of heaven are our motivation to living a godly life. Considering what God has done for us in sending Jesus leads us to diligence, that we might mature into the disciples God would have us to be.

Verses 8-11 indicate that these promises are conditional, but sure. If we add these characteristics to the foundation, faith; there is no doubt as to what we will receive. “For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom…” (vs. 11).

It is our choice. Will we choose apathy, leading to spiritual blindness and apostasy? Or, will we choose zeal, leading to a sure standing with God, and an eternal abode with our “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”?

Last week, FOX news anchor Brit Hume became the center of controversy when he suggested that Tiger Woods leave his Buddhist faith, and convert to Christianity to deal with his multiple infidelities.

“I don’t think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith,” Hume said. “So my message to Tiger would be, ‘Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.’”

These statements, of course, angered Buddhists, who suggest that Hume is ignorant of the 2,500 year old Eastern religion.

Continue reading “In The News: Christianity? Or Buddhism?” →

I came across a quote recently about the reliability of the New Testament text. In other words, we can be sure that the original words have been preserved for us today.

“God has given us 5,656 manuscripts containing all or parts of the Greek NT. It is the most remarkably preserved book in the ancient world. Not only do we have a great number of manuscripts but they are very close in time to the originals they represent. Some partial manuscripts of the NT are from the second century A.D., and many are within four centuries of the originals. These facts are all the more amazing when they are compared with the preservation of other ancient literature” (Edward Glenny)

What we have preserved for us today is the true, complete and inspired word of God!