Category: Faith
Subject: Faith
Sermon: Fall 2021 Gospel Meeting (Dennis Scroggins)
All lessons preached by Dennis Scroggins, October 2-7, 2021
Lesson 1 (Saturday, October 2, 2021)
By Faith Noah Condemned the World
Dennis uses the example of Noah (and the text of Hebrews 11:7) to show that as he condemned the world by his righteous life, we as Christians are to shine as lights in the world as well.
Lesson 2 (Sunday @ 9am, October 3, 2021)
The Sin of Unforgiveness
Too often Christians harbor resentment and anger in their hearts when they have been offended. Such anger is self-destructive and sinful.
Lesson 3 (Sunday @ 10am, October 3, 2021)
Bitterness: The Devil’s Distraction
Bitterness of heart can destroy the spiritual well-being of the child of God. It is one of the Devil’s most successful tools in derailing the Christian walk.
Lesson 4 (Sunday @ 11am, October 3, 2021)
Spiritual Cannibalism
When Christians attack one another, it is a form of spiritual cannibalism. (Galatians 5:15), “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”
Lesson 5 (Monday, October 4, 2021)
Friendship – Fellowship
The basis for Christian fellowship has never been friendship. It revolves around obedience and faithfulness to the Word of God. Too often in the world today, Christians forget this truth.
Lesson 6 (Tuesday, October 5, 2021)
Why Does the Holy Spirit Speak to You, and Not to Me?
Many religious people believe the Holy Spirit speaks directly to them. The Bible reveals that the Holy Spirit guided the apostles into ALL truth, and now we have it in written form. So many, though sincere, are misguided in their feelings on the matter.
Lesson 7 (Wednesday, October 6, 2021)
Who is the Greatest Among You?
Greatness in the kingdom is the product of service. We must humble ourselves before God and man to serve Him as He desires.
Lesson 8 (Wednesday, October 7, 2021)
Progressive Church Movement Found in the Churches of Christ
A progressive attitude is present as a part of an ecumenical movement in many evangelical denominations. Progressive in the sense of a depature from the standard of God’s word. Unfortunately, such attitudes can be found in the Lord’s church as well.
Sermon: Lessons from Joshua
Speaker: Aaron Collier.
A discussion of the book of Joshua in a class setting.
Sermon: Lessons from Esther
Speaker: Ian Tilley.
A discussion of the book of Esther, with applications.
Pieces of Armor
Paul wrote in Ephesians 6, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (10-13).
What is the armor of God? Well, it certainly is not any type of physical armor. While Paul uses the metaphor, mentioning shields, swords and helmets, he is of course not talking about physical pieces of a literal suit of armor. This is because of the nature of the conflict waged between the child of God and the forces of evil we fight. We must stand against the wiles (devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants) of the devil. A literal shield or sword is of no use in such a conflict.
Sermon: Spring Meeting, 2021 with JR Bronger
JR Bronger from Blue Springs, MO preached a wonderful series of gospel sermons for the West Side congregation, May 1-6, 2021:
Saturday PM: The Conversion of Saul (Acts 9)
- A discussion of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. A religious terrorist who became a wonderful example of the saving power of God’s grace.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Sunday 1st Service: Evangelizing the World
- In the first century, Christians were able to spread the gospel throughout the known world, despite opposition and challenges. If we have the same mindset today, we can be just as successful!
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Sunday Class: Successful Marriages
- Foundational teaching on the subject of marriage. Principles which, if followed, will guarantee strong marriages existing in accord with God’s desire.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Sunday 2nd Service: The Hate of Christ and Christians
- The world hated Jesus Christ because of His mission and righteousness. He promised that the world would hate his followers as well. In our day such hate is prominent.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Monday PM: Christians Are Running a Race
- A runner himself, brother Bronger uses the Hebrew writer’s imagery in Hebrews 12:1-2 to establish a few important truths regarding the race the Christian runs.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Tuesday PM: A Rebel Returns
- A powerful lesson on rebellion and redemption, based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Young people need to hear this message!
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Wednesday PM: Do You Want to be Made Well?
- If you really wish for spiritual healing, you must stop thinking of yourself as a victim, stop blaming others for your failings, free yourself from fear and recognize the difference between wanting relief, and wanting a cure.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Thursday PM: Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart
- There were three responsible parties in the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. God Himself with His demands. The wicked court magicians. And most prominently, Pharaoh himself.
- Facebook Live Video of Sermon
Conveyed into the Kingdom
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).
WHO? God. He is the one to whom we owe our inclusion in the kingdom. It was God’s intention from before the world began to redeem us through the sacrifice of His Son (cf. Ephesians 1:3-6).
WHAT? Conveyed. The word is defined by Thayer: “to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another.” It is otherwise rendered “translated” (KJV), and “transferred” (ESV). Being in the kingdom separates the Christian from all others. He is granted all the privileges of citizenship.
WHEN? Already. Note the word conveyed is in the past tense. Those who are Christians are already in the kingdom. That means that the kingdom is already in existence. Those who believe it is yet to be established are wrong.
WHERE? The kingdom of Christ. The bondage of sin puts us into the domain of the wicked one. However, to be in the kingdom of Christ removes us from the reach of the Devil. We belong to the Lord. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47). So long as we are citizens in good standing, the Devil can’t touch us.
WHY? Why are we in the kingdom? Because we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ! Any who respond in faith to the gospel of the Lord are automatically worthy of citizenship in the Kingdom of God! Christ died for all, and is the Savior of those who believe! Have you believed the gospel Christ?
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We Are Confident
Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians used two phrases to characterize his view of his standing with God. He wrote, “we are always confident…” (5:6); and “We are confident…” (5:8). His reason for his confidence? “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (5:7).
Paul began this section of the letter by stating, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (5:1).
Through the eye of faith, Christians can look at “the things which are not seen…” (4:18). Faith is the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
While our faith is focused on the spiritual, the unseen, the eternal—that faith is not unreasonable. Our faith is based in the rational testimony of both God and man. God said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). He established that by both the miracles Jesus performed (cf. John 20:30-31), and by raising Him from the dead (cf. Acts 2:32). The human witnesses of that resurrection ran into the hundreds, including the preeminent enemy of that Lord in that day, Saul of Tarsus (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
Do you have that confidence? If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then you should be confident! Our faith is in the true God of Heaven and His begotten Son!
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Sermon: Where I Go You Can Not Come
Lesson 22 in series
In John 8:21-30 Jesus informs the unbelieving Jews that their unwillingness to believe in Him would keep them from heaven. Faith in Jesus (cf. John 14:6) is the only way to the Father. Without belief in Jesus, sin separates man from God.
Sermon: Fall Meeting 2020, Jeremiah Cox
The following lessons were preached from November 1-6, 2020 during the West Side Fall Meeting.
Brother Jeremiah Cox is the evangelist for the Elm Street church of Christ in El Reno, Oklahoma. He and his wife Zoe and little girl Collins live in Yukon, OK.
Sunday Sermon in two parts
Boldness to Enter the Holiest (Hebrews 10)
Sunday Class
Asking for Wisdom in Faith (James 1)
Monday
The Defense for My Hope
Tuesday
Walking in the Light (1 John 1)
Wednesday
Memories from Home
Thursday
The Generic Jesus
Friday
If They Were Here, What Would They Say?
Sermon: I Need Help!
All of us need help from God. Unfortunately, it is possible for their to be barriers that stand between us our such help from Him. Things like Pride, Uncertainty and a Lack of Faith.
Sermon: What Can the Righteous Do?
From Psalm 11 we see that the instinct to run and hide in the face of persecution and conflict is misguided. God is in control, and He protects those who are His. If we please Him, we can rejoice in our hope!
Why Can’t You See?
Have you even wondered why, when you share the truth with those who are caught in denominational error, that they just can’t see it? Some will claim that the truth is not clear enough to be understood alike, but that’s not it. Paul told the Corinthians what the problem is in these cases:
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Whether it be the one taken in religious error, the one who no longer retains God in his knowledge (cf. Romans 1:28-32), or the immoral, they don’t understand because they have been blinded by the influences of this world.
It is not surprising that this would happen. The devil is active, and men are surprisingly willing to believe what they want rather than what they should. All men are susceptible. You and I are susceptible.
Do you have a blindspot? Is there some truth from God’s word that you resist because you have carnal biases and preferences? You don’t? Are you sure?! Am I?!
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.”(Psalm 119:2-3)
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COVID-19 (33) Worshiping the Creature Rather Than the Creator
A couple of days ago I watched a discussion regarding the ongoing protests in America. The premise was the seeming desire of protestors to abolish the institutions and way of life that has characterized America from the beginning.
As a response to the part that racism plays in the conflict, the host of the program (a news anchor) referred to the Declaration of Independence. She said that the declaration clearly states that “nature has created all of us as equals.”
Continue reading “COVID-19 (33) Worshiping the Creature Rather Than the Creator”
Sermon: Faith Overcomes Doubt
The objectives of doubt are to destroy faith, question God’s power in our lives, and question the truthfulness of God’s word. In every circumstance, Faith overcomes the effects of doubt in our lives.
COVID-19 (23) I Guess God is Needed After All!
In my time on earth, I have been amazed and saddened by the increasingly secular bent of our world. I freely admit that there are many problems with the religion that has been historically practiced in America. Sectarianism has been the norm, leading to conflict, confusion and division. However, there always seemed to be an acknowledgment of God in our country, and a recognition of the importance of faith.
Continue reading “COVID-19 (23) I Guess God is Needed After All!”
