Category: Authority
Subject: Authority
Sermon: The Lord’s Supper – A Study in Authority
The lesson consists of two parts, describing what the Bible teaches on the subject of the Lord’s Supper, and dealing with certain issues (number of containers, evening observance, etc.) by an appeal to the authority of God’s word.
Sermon: Institutionalism
The following sermon was preached in two parts, in the AM and PM services.
The practice of Institutionalism has caused a large and unfortunate division among God’s people. Those who practice it violate the authority of scripture.
The lesson discusses the dangers of 4 aspects of the Institutional question, showing the contrast between such practices and the pattern established in scripture. These four aspects are:
- The church support of human institutions.
- The sponsoring church arrangement.
- The concept of unlimited church benevolence.
- The practice of the Social Gospel.
Audio (Part 1)
Audio (Part 2)
Sermon: Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
The sermon is in two parts. Part 1 reviews the concept of patternism in scripture. Part 2 shows the need for common sense in interpreting scripture.Sermon: Retaining God’s Standard of Salvation
Fall 2014 Meeting
Speaker: Bryan Gary of Dumas, TX
In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (NASB).
This ninth in a series of 9 lessons emphasizes what the Bible teaches about Salvation, and examines some of the perversions of men on that aspect of God’s will.
Sermon: Retaining God’s Standard of Marriage
Fall 2014 Meeting
Speaker: Bryan Gary of Dumas, TX
In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (NASB).
This eighth in a series of 9 lessons emphasizes what the Bible teaches about Marriage, and examines some of the perversions of men on that aspect of God’s will.
Sermon: Retaining God’s Standard of Benevolence
Fall 2014 Meeting
Speaker: Bryan Gary of Dumas, TX
In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (NASB).
This seventh in a series of 9 lessons emphasizes what the Bible teaches about Benevolence, and examines some of the perversions of men on that aspect of God’s will.
Sermon: Retaining God’s Standard of Modesty
Fall 2014 Meeting
Speaker: Bryan Gary of Dumas, TX
In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (NASB).
This sixth in a series of 9 lessons emphasizes what the Bible teaches about Modesty, and examines some of the perversions of men on that aspect of God’s will.
Sermon: Retaining God’s Standard of Evangelism
Fall 2014 Meeting
Speaker: Bryan Gary of Dumas, TX
In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (NASB).
This fifth in a series of 9 lessons emphasizes what the Bible teaches about Evangelism (what it is, and how it is to be done), and examines some of the perversions of men on that aspect of God’s will.
Sermon: Retaining God’s Standard of Authority
Fall 2014 Meeting
Speaker: Bryan Gary of Dumas, TX
In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (NASB).
This first in a series of 9 lessons emphasizes the fact that the Bible is God’s standard, and should be respected and submitted to in order to be pleasing to God.
Invitation: Walk Circumspectly
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In Ephesians 5:15-17, the apostle Paul calls for a careful, circumspect walk. We must walk in accord His will, redeeming the time!
Invitation: A Zealous Practice of Love
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
A discussion of Colossians 3:14-25 indicating that the love we express (the bond of perfection), must be in accord with Christ’s will, and practiced zealously.
From the Preacher’s Pen: A Presumptuous Invitation
This past week we received in the mail an invitation to join with other churches in the area in an effort to increase evangelism in our community. The invitation was from a human organization whose purpose was to teach our members how to evangelize, and to explain to churches how the work could be done most effectively. It was suggested that we send an “Advanced coordinator,” an “Event coordinator”, and a “Youth coordinator”, but emphasized the need for every church to at least send a contact person to the seminar they would be holding.
The absurdity of this request is evident. How can a human organization instruct the God created institution in how to do the work God gave it to do? The fact that such an organization did not exist in the first century, and that such designations as the above “coordinators” is unknown to scripture shows just how truly misguided is this invitation. It is eminently unscriptural, and without Divine approval.
That doesn’t mean, however, that as a congregation of God’s people we are sufficiently active and effective in sharing the gospel message with our community. It takes diligent effort and a sharpening of the Spirit’s sword to accomplish the work God has given for US to do in this town. If we don’t do it, it will not be done. God has granted to us a “great and effective door” (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:9). Will you do your part by walking through, and teaching others about the Christ?
The Seed Principle
There is a simple, natural principle that has been used numerous times by the Holy Spirit to illustrate truth. We may call it the seed principle, and it was used (for example) by Paul when he wrote to the Galatians, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8). You reap what you sow — a sublime idea that has awesome implications regarding spiritual truths.
The idea holds with regard to amount, kind and the nature of the soil upon which the seed is sown. For example, Paul used the principle in exhorting the Corinthians to liberality in their giving. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Jesus, in His parable of the sower, indicated the importance of planting the seed (the word) upon good soil (the honest heart), referring to the honest man as one “who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:23). The seed principle even can be used to show God’s glory in the redemption of man. Paul deflected any personal glory in his work in preaching, saying to the Corinthians, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 6:7-8). All of these points can be illustrated equally by this simple, agronomic analogy.
From the Preacher’s Pen: Follow HIS Directions!
Seek the Lord! That is the cry of faith. It is the need for every man and woman who lives upon the earth. This sobering sentiment is expressed clearly by the prophet Isaiah in his instructions to Judah.
Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:6-9).
The most sobering aspect of these words is the realization that our success in seeking the Lord is contingent upon our knowing His thoughts. We can’t find Him is we don’t know where He is. We can’t know where He is unless He tells us. The most amazing thing is that He has, and yet people persist in following their own directions rather than His.
Consider the contrast of the text. In the same way that “the heavens are higher than the earth” so are God’s ways than our own. In other words, it is impossible for us to please God by our own devices. If you want to please God, you must seek Him. If in seeking you find Him, it will be because you followed His directions!
Sermon: Rebellion Against Authority
Preacher: Bob Ward
Old Testament examples are used to indicate the danger then and now of rebelling against the authority of God.
