Category: Compromise
Subject: Compromise
All or Nothing?
Recently a Christian who had been disfellowshipped took issue with the discipline, wanting some type of social interaction, saying, “It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.” Unfortunately many hold this view almost exclusively regarding religious matters.
Socrates, the well known Greek philosopher, is quoted as saying, “Moderation in all things.” In fact, the Bible teaches moderation as well, just not in all things. The concept of temperance contains moderation. Things like gluttony and covetousness and drunkenness occur because people take things too far! Continue reading “All or Nothing?”
Accommodation and Principle
Acts 16 details the decision Paul made to take a young man named Timothy with him on his preaching journey. Timothy was the “son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was a Greek” (1).
The scripture says that since Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, he had this 50% Jewish man circumcised. The reason given in the passage, “because of the Jews there in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek” (3). Continue reading “Accommodation and Principle”
The Patternists: “All that the Lord has spoken”
Exodus 19 chronicles the arrival of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, where Moses was to receive God’s commandments on the mount. The Lord instructed Moses to tell the people, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…” (Exodus 19:5-6).
Moses relayed God’s message to the people, and they responded in a commendable fashion. “Then all the people answered together and said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do…’” (Exodus 19:8). We know, of course, that they reneged on that promise many, many times through the course of their history as a nation. But, the words remain a basis of the covenant God held with them. He promised a special place for them, above all people, conditioned upon their obedience. They promised that obedience to “all that the Lord has spoken.”
Continue reading “The Patternists: “All that the Lord has spoken””
Sermon: Fall 2019 Meeting with Kevin Kay
Our Fall 2019 Meeting with Kevin Kay too place on November 2-7. Sermon audio, Powerpoints and Video of each sermon can be found below:
The Faith of Abraham
Judas: The Man Who Betrayed Jesus
Pilate: The Coward Who Condemned Jesus
Barabbas: The Criminal Set Free
A Centurion’s Rare Faith
Moses Had Problems Too!
Lessons from Manasseh
And He Appointed Twelve
Progressive VS Conservative
Webster’s Dictionary defines progressive as, (a) of, relating to, or characterized by progress; (b) making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities. In relation to politics and societal trends, a progressive is interested in change. He wants to try new ideas, take advantage of new technologies, and is always trying to make the world a better place by replacing old ideas and ways with new ones.
One antonym of progressive, as supplied by Webster, is the word conservative. Again, speaking politically and societally, the conservative is wary of change. He embraces the way things have been done in the past, declaring them tried and true. He does not believe that change is for the better, and rejects new ideas and technologies as merely novel, fearing unknown consequences should they be adopted.
Sermon: Dangers Facing the Church
This sermon was adapted from an old bedsheet sermon chart created by Steve Hudgins years ago. The sermon was preached in two parts, AM and PM. I combined the two into a single recording of about 83 minutes. The sermon discusses 9 dangers facing the church: Ignorance, Neglectfulness, Worldliness, Boastfulness, Compromise, Materialism, Indifference, Doctrinal Error and Apostasy.
Sermon: Jehoshaphat in the House of Ahab
Guest Speaker Dennis Scroggins goes to 2 Chronicles 18, to establish through the story of Jehoshaphat and Ahab, the danger of compromising with evil.
Lesson 9 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
In The News: Can A Christian Be President
The question of our title is similar to other questions that have been asked. Can a Christian be a lawyer? Or, can a Christian tend bar?
Those questions speak of the morality of the two occupations. While I believe that a Christian could certainly practice law, there are certain types of lawyers who seem, if they do their job successfully, to violate Christian morality.
However, when I ask the question, “Can a Christian be President?” I am not so concerned with the ethics of the job; rather, I am referring to the electability of a Christian. I am convinced that one who truly holds to the teachings of Jesus Christ would be considered an extremist, and would have no chance of being elected to the highest office in America.
Continue reading “In The News: Can A Christian Be President”
AOTS: The Preacher
AOTS Number 78
In defense of the faithful preacher of God’s word… He is simply the messenger. It is God’s message, not his, and he must preach it without compromise or apology.
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Podcast: Is Sincerity Sometimes Enough?
Podcast Number 56
Denominationalists have long called for union and tolerance of doctrine error, and vain religious practices. The common claim is that as long as one is sincere, he is accepted by God. This is not true. There is a litmus test for acceptance by God, abiding in truth!
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AOTS: Isn’t It Srange?
AOTS Number 6
The bevahior of some Christians sure seems strange, as they profess to be disciples of Christ, and yet their priorities lie elsewhere!
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In The News: A Famine of the Word of God
Cecil May is the President of Faulkner University, and holds meetings in institutional (liberal) churches throughout the nation. He has some conservative inclinations, and from time to time in his bulletin, Preacher Talk, complains about the direction that institutional churches are heading in attitudes and worship. The following recently came from his pen.
“‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord God, ‘when I will send a famine on the land — not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord’” (Amos 8:11). While Amos was not talking about us or today, his words fit.
Many changes taking place today indicate a decline in appreciation for preaching.
Contemporary services typically focus on “praise and worship” and down-play preaching. Instead of two sermons on Sundays, Sunday night preaching is replaced by small group meetings. (These are not wrong in themselves and are often beneficial, but they do replace preaching.)
In the preaching that remains, popular demands are requiring shorter and shorter sermons. Film clips from television programs or movies replace significant parts of the sermons. Drama is deemed more effective than preaching. Preaching designed to make us feel good replaces preaching to convict and call to repentance.
The Bible still says, “How shall they hear without someone preaching” (Romans 10:14) and “It pleased God by the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).
Cecil May, Jr.
Preacher Talk, Vol. 23, No. 1, pg. 2
Analysis:
When the movie The Passion of the Christ came out I wrote an article for the River Oaks News mentioning the furor surrounding the movie. (You may remember that certain representatives of the Jewish community took exception to the movie’s premise that the Jews were responsible for the death of Christ. I guess they would not appreciate Peter’s statement, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36).
Regardless, in the article I mentioned that I had no desire to go see the movie. I had the New Testament itself, and felt no need to see the dramatization of the words I had read. The editor of the paper and others in the office had watched the movie, were very moved by it, and were convinced that it would bring some to Christ. So, she feared some would be offended by my words, and declined to run the article.
The attitude is typical. But, the idea that we need to spice up and dramatize the words of God (if you carefully think about it) is rather insulting to the Spirit of grace. While emotion certainly has its place in the lives of Christians, it should be noted that the types of emotional responses which lead to true zeal, ardor and love come as a result of edification. And edification is the byproduct of preaching and teaching.
Churches that are interested in truly lighting a fire under members would do well to remember that a movie, play or skit may cause someone to walk out the door sad, happy, or angry (depending upon the purpose of the dramatics); but the preaching of the gospel of our Lord (if heeded) will lead to lifetime commitments and zeal. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). As always, God’s way is the best way!
Proceed With Caution
Several years ago I signed up for a email discussion forum called “marslist.” I believe the name of the list referenced the text of Acts 17, where the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers are recorded as gathering daily at the Areopagus on “Mars” hill to discuss philosphies and doctrines.
While the intent of the individual who named the list was to indicate it would be a place for discussion of Biblical topics (as Paul did on that occasion), I find it a bit ironic that the sentiment Luke recorded about that place came to characterize the list as well. Luke wrote, “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing” (vs. 21).
In The News: North Richland Hills church of Christ to Begin Using Instruments in Worship
On Saturday, February 10, 2007, the Richland Hills church of Christ will begin holding a weekly Saturday evening worship service that will include the use of musical instruments in worship, and an observance of the Lord’s Supper. Jon Jones, (the former “pulpit minister” and one of the elders), said that the elders “fully and completely” endorsed the decision. At an adult Bible study, he said, “There is unity in our eldership, and we are so thankful for that.”
However, two of the 17 elders serving resigned when the decision was made. Though there seems to be some “politicking” going on, and the two remain members of the congregation, Roger Dean, one of the remaining 15 elders acknowledged that the decision had prompted the two elders to resign.
In The News: Choosing My Religion
An article in the Tuesday, August 15th issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram carried the above title, with the subtitle: “Shopping around for a family church—when the parents aren’t regular attendees—can be intimidating, but experts say it’s never too late to start keeping the faith.” The author of the article, Gaile Robinson, related a cub scout field trip that sent herself and her son to a Catholic mission, with a group of other little boys. The site of a larger than life cross with the Christ figure upon it, with the crown of thorns complete with painted blood, led to an awed silence among the boys, but caused her son to ask, “Whoa, what happened to that guy?”
