Author: Stan Cox

Minister, West Side church of Christ since August of 1989 ........ Editor of Watchman Magazine (1999-2018 Archives available online @ http://watchmanmag.com) ........ Writer, The Patternists: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatternists

Sermon: The Fear of Hell

Guest speaker Dennis Scroggins describes Hell, and shows that a fear of Hell can be effective motivation to living a life of righteousness.

Lesson 1 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Admonition and Redemption

The two epistles of Paul to the Corinthians establish the pattern of fall and restoration before God. In 1 Corinthians, the apostle spends the majority of his letter admonishing the Corinthians for sin. In the second epistle a substantial portion of the letter is taken up in describing the Corinthian’s repentance and redemption.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: The Certified Gospel

Various evidences certify or establish the veracity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The sermon describes these evidences.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: How Faith Increases

A simple sermon explaining how a child of God can increase their faith.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: The Eldership – Qualifications and Work

As the West Side congregation considers appointing a new man to serve as elder of the congregation, this sermon gives an overview of the qualifications of the work.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Describing False Teachers

The Bible does a very good job clearly describing what a False Teacher is, in passages such as Jude, and 2 Peter 2.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Thinking that God is Like Man

Men make a grave error when they think of God as being like a man. This is the reason for false religions, and blasphemy against God.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Word of Christ

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

Here in the Colossian epistle, Paul gives several exhortations which are rather closely tied together. Simply, they are:

  1. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom.
  2. Teach each other by singing spiritual songs with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
  3. Do all things by the authority of Jesus Christ.

Underlying each of these is an emphasis on the importance of doctrine in the life of those who name the name of Christ. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Interestingly, a search in the New King James version of the New Testament reveals three other times where the phrase “know the truth” is used. The way in which the phrase is used is significant.

Continue reading “The Word of Christ”

Mining The Scriptures: Philippians 1:9-11

Shovel

 

Philippians 1:9-11

This prayer of Paul is interesting in that it is on behalf of the Christians at Philippi, and expresses his desire for their continued growth.

He prays for their love to “abound more and more”, but notice how the apostle links love to knowledge and discernment. Why is it that love must be with discernment? So that “you may approve the things that are excellent.”

In our day, love is undiscerning, and tolerant even of error and evil. When evil is tolerated by God’s children, it has the unhappy effect of compromising purity and godliness. It is Paul’s desire that the Philippians (and we) be “sincere and without offense.” In order for that to happen, discernment had to accompany their (and our) love.

We must avoid being influenced to evil. Christians should be careful to develop sufficient knowledge of what God approves, that we might instead be “filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ.”

“Be An Example … in Purity”

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).

The preceding paragraph of instructions, given by the great Apostle Paul to Timothy, his “son in the faith”, contains much of benefit to all who wear the name of our Lord. The call to diligence in doctrine, love and morality are not exclusive to young evangelists. Rather they are needed for all who would be followers of God.

Continue reading ““Be An Example … in Purity””

Sermon: What Is Man?

Man is different than the animals. He was created by God in His image. His purpose on earth is to serve God, and do His will. In doing this, he secures for himself a place in eternity in the presence of God.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Diffusing the Fragrance

In 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 the apostle Paul uses the metaphor of fragrance or aroma to describe the preaching of the gospel. To some, the word is the aroma of death, while to others it is the aroma of life. We are to preach that gospel (diffuse the aroma), and those who are right minded will accept and embrace it.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Elijah’s Prayer

The Prayer of Elijah. 1 Kings 18:41-46. Elijah was a righteous man who prayed to God fervently in accord with Jehovah’s will. As such, his prayer was answered. This example serves to teach us important lessons regarding prayer.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Divine Impartiality

Romans 2:11 states that there “is not partiality with God.” Because God is impartial and just, he has given everyone the right to hope. It follows that He requires the same with regard to the redemption of all men. God doesn’t play favorites. He “commands all men everywhere to repent.”

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon: Liberty as a Bondervant

An expository sermon discussing what might first be considered a paradox. The liberty we have in Christ comes as we make ourselves a slave to Him. (Text: Galatians 5:1-6).

Sermon Audio: Click Here .