Author: Stan Cox

This sermon discusses the text of 1 Corinthians 15:45-ff, comparing and contrasting Jesus Christ and Adam.

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One of the definitions of the term olympian is “surpassing all others in scope and effect” (American Heritage Dictionary). This definition certainly applies to the sexual appetites of the athletes in the Olympic Village this week in Vancouver. Continuing the trend of recent Olympiads in Sydney (70,000) and Beijing (100,000), Canadian officials ordered and distributed 100,000 condoms to athletes for the Vancouver Olympics. That averages to 14 for each athlete.

In explaining the hedonism of the Olympic athletes, former Olympic skier Picabo Street said, “It’s hundreds of auras, which does lead to a huge movement of energy. It’s not normal, resting energy. It’s jacked-up, hyped-up, on-the-brink-of-my-dream-coming-true, got-to-get-it, got-to-do-it energy, and it’s there all the time.”

Continue reading “In the News: Olympian Promiscuity” →

3 John 5-8

Gaius was a wonderful and hospitable man. This is evident from our text, where the beloved apostle John commends him for the love he showed for “the brethren and for strangers.”

Though hospitality is a physical thing, it is a spiritual work. It is a means of supporting the Christian laborer, as evidenced by the words of our text, “If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well.” One who is doing the Lord’s work should be encouraged and helped in that work. This is something that even the babe in Christ is able to do. To put it simply, you may not be able to eloquently share the word, but you can supply a comfortable bed and warm meal for those who do!

2 John 9-11 also indicates that the work of hospitality is a spiritual endeavor. John there indicates that the offer of your home to a teacher is the equivalent of extending the hand of fellowship. That is why we are not to extend such hospitality to a false teacher, for “he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (11).

Hospitality is the Lord’s work!

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).

Paul here gives us a wonderful promise, though you note it is conditioned upon our walking according to the Spirit rather than the flesh. You can go to his epistle to the Galatians (5:16-26) for an extended discussion of the difference between walking according to the flesh and the Spirit. In verse 24 of that passage, the point is well made, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

It doesn’t make sense to claim to be a Christian unless you are willing to live the life you claim!

Too many religious people believe that Love and Truth do not go hand in hand. If you insist on obedience to truth, you are unloving. If you claim to love, you must be tolerant of error and sin. John, in his epistle reveals this view to be wrong.

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This sermon examines the concept of sin, what it is, and how God feels about it.

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2 John 1-3

2 John 1-3

The apostle John begins his epistle to the “elect lady and her children” by petitioning God on their behalf. His request? “Grace, mercy and peace” from the Father and the Son.

A most interesting juxtaposition is made in this text. Truth and Love are combined several times. John loved the elect lady “in truth” as well as all others who “have known the truth.” For Christians, truth is the foundation for our love. Abiding in truth is necessary for maintaining our relationship with God (cf. 2 John 9-11).

In contrast, many in our day believe truth and love to almost be antithetical. Those who contend for truth are called hatemongers for that very reason. John shows us here that truth and love go hand in hand.

John here promises us that “grace, mercy and peace” will come to Christians in “truth and love.” You can’t receive God’s mercy unless you abide in truth and love. It is a lesson we all would do well to learn.

This discussion sheds light on what Heaven is, and what it is like.

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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).