Author: Stan Cox

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 .

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 .

Do 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.

Continue reading “The Problem with Emotions” →

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.

Continue reading “Loyalty: An Inner Beauty” →

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).

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 .

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

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Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

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 .

On 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.

Continue reading “In The News: The Origin of Life on Earth” →

Due to the proliferation of murder mystery stories and police procedurals on television, most people are familiar with the term homicide. The term comes from the Latin “homo” – (man) and “cide” – (killing). Another familiar term is suicide. This term comes from the Latin “sui” – (oneself) and “cide” – (killing). Other terms that are well known: patricide (killing of a father); matricide (killing of a mother); infanticide (killing of a baby); and genocide (killing of an entire national or cultural group).

I recently came across another term in the same vein — menticide. The term comes from the Latin “ment” – (mind) and “cide” – (killing). The definition of menticide: The systematic undermining of a person’s beliefs, attitudes and values.

Continue reading “Committing Menticide” →

Balderdash – NONSENSE (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary).

A popular board game around our house is called Balderdash. In the game, you anonymously submit a nonsensical definition of some obscure word, hoping that others are convinced that your “made up” definition is the correct one. In effect, you make the definition plausible enough to bluff someone into believing it is authentic. You can imagine the laughter when the definitions are read aloud. Of course, the cards used in the game have the real definition of the word, and are the final authority.

False teachers have done the very same thing from the beginning of time. They attempt to bluff the ignorant into accepting their doctrines as truth. The sophistry of these ungodly individuals has an appeal to it that is unmistakable. It’s appeal serves to deceive the credulous, and they are led away into the apostasy.

In the end, remember that there is only one real authority in religion. It is God’s Word. Despite the appeal and seeming plausibility of the sophist’s claims, all he really has to offer is balderdash.

I recently came across the following letter to Dear Abby. It initially appeared in the paper in May of 1994. So, while certainly not recent news, it still appeared in a newspaper, and so technically fits the parameters of this column. It certainly gives an opportunity to teach.

DEAR ABBY: I am 45 years old, financially comfortable and would like to get married.

I would like to meet a man about my age who enjoys going to church.

I belong to the First Methodist Church, Blessed Angels Catholic Church and the Mount Zion Jewish Temple.

I also attend the Christian Science Church regularly, but I do take aspirin occasionally.

Can you please help me find a man of good character who is interested in marriage, and belongs to any of the above-mentioned places of worship?

A moderate cigarette smoker is O.K., but please, no beer drinkers. – VICTORIA

DEAR VICTORIA: You seem to have all the bases covered. I cannot understand how you can be a member of all the above-mentioned churches.

To find a good churchgoing gentleman, have a talk with any of your clergypersons and be up-front about your interest in finding a man. I am a firm believer that there’s somebody for everybody. Good luck.

Analysis:

You will note that Abby, in her response to the advice seeker, says, “I cannot understand how you can be a member of all the above-mentioned churches.” I daresay that just about all who read the article thought the same thing, wondering if the lady were a tad imbalanced – perhaps criticizing her lack of conviction.

Continue reading “In The News: Multiple Memberships” →

We should not set just one day aside for thanksgiving to God. Rather, we should always, every day be and express our thanks to God. Thanksgiving improves:

• Our perspective about Ourselves
• Our perspective about our Things
• Our perspective about our God

Thanksgiving helps to keep us from arrogance, greed and worry.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Sermon uses the text of Isaiah 65:1-7 as a warning against Self-Righteousness. We must not trust in ourselves, do our work to be seen of men, or be guilty of hypocrisy, which often accompanies Self-Righteousness. Having said that, Self-Righteousness is NOT:

• Obeying God’s Law
• Zeal and Dedication
• Reproving and Rebuking Sin
• Believing God’s Word to be Authoritative and Absolute

Rather than being Self-Righteous, we must submit to the righteousness of God.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

This lesson begins with a mention of Peter’s confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, recorded in Matthew 16:13-16. How do we know that Jesus is the Son of God?

• Fulfilled Prophecy
• Testimony of John the Baptist
• The Miracles He Performed
• Testimony of the Father
• The Resurrection

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Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

(Note: Audio is not available for this lesson).