Category: Faith

Last week, FOX news anchor Brit Hume became the center of controversy when he suggested that Tiger Woods leave his Buddhist faith, and convert to Christianity to deal with his multiple infidelities.

“I don’t think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith,” Hume said. “So my message to Tiger would be, ‘Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.’”

These statements, of course, angered Buddhists, who suggest that Hume is ignorant of the 2,500 year old Eastern religion.

Continue reading “In The News: Christianity? Or Buddhism?” →

I am going to include in this post all of the sermons preached by brother Keith Greer in our recent meeting, November 7-12, 2009.

The Perils of Postponement (Saturday)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Rise Above Minimal Service (Sunday Class)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Prayerlessness (Sunday AM)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Uncompromising Faith (Sunday PM)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Will God Bless America? (Monday)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Sorry, did not record.

Same Principles in Every Age (Tuesday)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Keys to Joy (Wednesday AM)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Gratitude (Wednesday PM)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

God Said, But… (Thursday)
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Brother Greer did a fine job this past week, and I commend each of these lessons to you!

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 .

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” →

Those who live by faith will be faithful in their walk. They will obey God, and diligently live for His cause. They will set their affections on things above, where their reward is to be found.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

This fourth sermon preached by Jerry Fite in our gospel meeting May 9-14, 2009 asks the fundamental question that every man must and will answer. Do we, or do we not believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of mankind?

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

2 Timothy 1:8-12

2 Timothy 1:8-12

Even though the text is five verses long, it is made up of only two sentences. In the first sentence Paul exhorts Timothy, “…do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (vs. 8). In the second sentence Paul states, “…I am not ashamed” (vs. 12).

Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel for the following five reasons: 1) Jesus saved us and called us to holiness; 2) the holiness He calls us to is His own, not ours; 3) He revealed what that righteousness is when he appeared to us; 4) He has abolished death; 5) He has brought eternal life and glory to us.

Further, Paul told Timothy not to be ashamed of him (Paul) as an ambassador of God and a preacher of that message.

It is in this context that Paul affirms that he himself was not ashamed. He was willing to suffer because of his faith in Christ, and his confidence in Jesus Christ. “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to Him.”

May we have that same confidence, in the hope of eternal salvation, when that inevitable day of Judgment comes upon us.

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

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

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 .

The question before us is, What does the Bible require we believe, in order for it to be said that we believe in Jesus. Points made:

• Jesus is the Christ
• Jesus is the Son of God
• The Virgin Birth
• The Death, Burial and Resurrection
• The Only One Who Can Save

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In 1 Kings 18, we have the record of a conversation between the prophet Elijah and a steward of King Ahab named Obadiah.

Obadiah

The name Obadiah is a common one in the Old Testament. We know nothing of the man other than what is revealed in this text. From the text we can state with confidence his faithfulness to Jehovah, even though he was “in charge of his [Ahab’s] house” (vs. 3).

Verses 4 and 5 of 1 Kings 18 reveals that Obadiah “feared the Lord greatly”, and had personally secured the safety of 100 prophets by hiding them from the murderous actions of Jezebel.

Continue reading “Elijahs and Obadiahs” →

Many are aware of the sensationalistic claims of filmmaker James Cameron, who lent his name and resources to a “documentary” claiming that the ossuaries “bone boxes” that contained the bones of Jesus and Mary Magdalene have been found in Jerusalem. The show aired on the Discovery channel in February, 2007.

Mature Christians were dismissive of the claims, as they deny the Biblical account of Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Cameron, and director/producer Simcha Jacobovici claim that the evidence suggests Jesus and Mary Magdalene married, fathered a child, and later died and were buried in the city of Jerusalem. This directly contradicts Paul’s claim in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 8, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve… 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” In his testimony, Paul claims Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. This directly contradicts the contentions of Cameron and his television documentary.

Continue reading “In The News: Jesus’ Bones” →

Guest speaker Brantley Gallman, from the vantage point of what a Christian young person would want in a future spouse, identifies three characteristics that all Christians should possess. They should be spiritually motivated, able and willing to communicate (especially with God), and possess confidence in the knowledge that they are in Christ. These things will help a Christian be a good mate and a faithful child of God.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The sermon discusses the text: Hebrews 11:6. To come to God, one must come humbly, in faith, and willingly. God determines the parameters of reconciliation, not man.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

John 20:30-31

Our text immediately follows Jesus’ conversation with Thomas. Thomas expressed his faith upon seeing the ravaged body of Jesus.

His faith was a product of the resurrection miracle. He saw the evidence: the holes made by the nails and the spear wound in the Savior’s side, and exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (vs. 28).

John here states the purpose of miracles, to engender faith.

Jesus is the Anointed of God. He is the Divine, and it is through Him that salvation comes. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

The miracles prove Jesus to be who He claimed He was. We do not have a record of all that Jesus did while He lived on earth. What we do have is sufficient. And, we can be assured by the testimony of God, (cf. Hebrews 2:1-4), that belief in the Son will bring us “life in His name.”