Author: Stan Cox
Sermon: “May the Lord our God be with us” (1 Kings 8:57-61)
At Solomon’s dedication of the newly erected Temple, he reveals important truths concerning the relationship that God has with His people.
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The Home as God Would Have It
When we talk about the home as God would have it be, there are numerous admonitions given: to the husband/father, to the wife/mother, and to the children. Let’s look at a few passages, and make a few observations about each. Continue reading “The Home as God Would Have It”
Mining the Scriptures: John 1:29-34
Here we have a plain demonstration of John the Baptist’s work of preparing the world for the ministry of the Lord. John’s declarations regarding Jesus establishes many truths about the Lord. He is the Lamb of God (Revelation 7:17). He is the One who “takes away” the world’s sins (Romans 5:6-9). He is greater than John, and John’s purpose was to come before Him to prepare His way (Malachi 3:1).
John witnessed first hand the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Lord to alight and remain with Him (Matthew 3:14-17). He testified that this coming of the Spirit was a message from God to identify the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8).
In conclusion, John said, “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” His statement supplies for us proof and confidence that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be while He was with us on the earth (Luke 22:70).
My Soul Melts
It is commonly known that the 119th Psalm is a discourse on the greatness of God’s will, at that time encompassed by the Law of Moses. It is 176 verses long, and verse after verse reveals how wonderful God’s ways, statutes, commands, instructions, testimonies, precepts, etc., truly are. They are the directions of life that bring God’s blessings. As such they are to be meditated upon and obeyed in order to please Him. Continue reading “My Soul Melts”
Without Grumbling
In Philippians 2:14, the apostle Paul wrote, “Do all things without complaining and disputing”, in order to become “children of God without fault” (15). So, this admonition is appropriate and needed for all of us.
The word “complaining” comes from the Greek (gongusmos). It (in both its noun and verb form) is found only 5 times in the New Testament. The NKJV translates the term complaining, murmuring, complaint, complaining, and in 1 Peter 4:9, grumbling. The entire text of 1 Peter 4:9 reads, “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”
The passages reveal clearly that a man’s heart is just as important as rote obedience. This is a truth that is found throughout scripture. For example, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6).
Grumbling is an affront to God. When we consider the great sacrifice He made in sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins, the debt we owe to Him is one we should accept willingly, not grudgingly.
God expects His children to not only do His bidding without question, but with eagerness and delight! Think about it!
Sermon: Rejoice in Goodness
Stan uses the book of Psalms to explain the passage in 2 Chronicles 6:41, where at the dedication of the temple, King Solomon asked God to “let Your saints rejoice in goodness.”
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Sermon: One Long Sentence (Ephesians 1:3-6)
An exegesis of Ephesians 1:3-5, which the apostle Paul, in one long sentence teaches three important points about God’s plan for redeeming man.
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Burdens and Loads
There is a text in Galatians 6 that begins in verse two by saying, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Later in the same context, verse five, he said, “For each one shall bear his own load.”
Now it is obvious to anyone who accepts the inspiration of scripture that there must be a difference between a burden and a load. The Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself, and if the two are the same, the thought produced is nonsensical. There are two aspects of the writing that serve to give us the true sense of Paul’s teaching. The first is an understanding of the definitions of the two words. The second and most important is the context, both immediate and remote. Let’s consider. Continue reading “Burdens and Loads”
Soundness
The question, “what is sound?” is an interesting one. It may have to do with doctrine, congregations, minds, individuals, etc. Some may object to the adjective, but it is a biblical concept. In 2 Timothy the apostle Paul exhorted his younger friend to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” The reason for such an admonition? “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Continue reading “Soundness”
Mining the Scriptures: Luke 1:46-56
Our text reflects Mary’s praise to God while she visited her relative Elizabeth in the preceding verses.
In the first three verses she gave thanks for God’s consideration for her. She was to give birth to the prophesied Messiah, the son of David, “Immanuel” (cf. Matthew 1:23), and she praised the Lord saying, “And holy is His name” (49).
Verses 50-55 are a statement of Christ’s purpose in being sent. God’s plan for redeeming man from their sins. God’s mercy is shown to those who fear Him. He resists pride and willfulness, but shows His mercy to the lowly, exalting them; and the hungry, feeding them. As Mary said, “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever” (54-55).
Verse 56 says Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months before returning to her own home. John the Baptist and Jesus were about 6 months different in age (cf. 36, 41, 56-57).
Godliness
“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
Paul’s words here contrast with bodily or physical exercise which has a much more limited profitability to a man. While it may make his body strong, it has no effect whatsoever upon his standing with God, making it a much less profitable action.
However, consider godliness. The term (eusebeia) is well defined by Vine as “piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well-pleasing to Him.”
Doing what is “well-pleasing to God” is good in every way. It impacts your relationships with others, your standing with God, and your hope of eternal life. In effect, it is good for right now, and for eternity as well!
I like the phrase “Godward attitude” in Vine’s definition. Godward, looking and acting in the direction of God. That really is the definition of discipleship! One who desires to be a Christian should have as a characteristic behavior an effort to do God’s will always!
“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).
Sermon: King, Rod, Priest, Judge (Psalm 110)
A discussion of Psalm 110, the Psalmist identifies the coming Christ as one who would serve as both King and Priest, and rule with a rod (indicating authority and strength).
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Sermon: Some Simple Christian Instructions
The text of Colossians 4:2-6 is used to show that we as Christians ought to acts as diligent disciples of Jesus Christ. This is a short 10 minute invitation talk.
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Sermon Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Josh Cox discusses Matthew 5:3, where Jesus taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Sermon: Fasting
Dennis Craig discusses the spiritual benefits of fasting by an examination of texts in the Bible.
