Category: God

This sermon answers the question, “When Judas betrayed Jesus, did he do so because he was compelled to by God, or did he exercise his free will?

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Recently I have been listening to Dr. Donald Kagan’s lectures on Ancient Greek history. Kagan is a professor at Yale University, and his university course is available both in audio and video on the internet.

In his lectures, he often references the similarities and differences between ancient Greek culture, and the Judeo/Christian ethic, both of which have been extremely influential to modern western culture.

From the Greeks we received democracy as a viable form of government. As a culture, their contributions to the world in the realms of philosophy, literature, language and literature are well documented. The Greek culture, though pervaded by their mythology, was nevertheless a very secular society. In other words, while they recognized and worshiped the gods of their mythology, they considered those gods to be only tangentially involved in their lives. As such, they trumpeted the potential and accomplishments of man. The gods were not the center of Greek culture; man was.

Continue reading “Andra VS Elohim” →

A proper understanding of why the Christian has hope will dispel much of the religious error surrounding the concept, and will benefit the child of God by increasing his assurance based upon his faith in God.

The basis of the Christian’s assurance is NOT:

• Predestination
• Experiences (Emotions)
• Good Works

Rather, the basis of the Christian’s assurance is the promises of God.

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This sermon establishes certain attributes of God, and correlates the attributes with what is required of the child of God in response. God Is:

• Spirit
• True
• Light
• Love
• Faithful
• One

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This lesson begins with a mention of Peter’s confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, recorded in Matthew 16:13-16. How do we know that Jesus is the Son of God?

• Fulfilled Prophecy
• Testimony of John the Baptist
• The Miracles He Performed
• Testimony of the Father
• The Resurrection

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Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

(Note: Audio is not available for this lesson).

Sermon based in part on a text from 2 Kings 6:11-18. Open our eyes that we may see the:

• Power of God
• Power of Truth
• Power of Love
• Power of Unity in Christ
• Power of Forgiveness

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This seventh sermon preached by Jerry Fite in our gospel meeting May 9-14, 2009 reveals the only legitimate way we can find common ground religiously.

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I recently came across a poem titled, “God is Mighty Kind”, written by Carl Flynn. The poem states that although we suffer in this life, God is merciful, and grants us bountiful blessings. Note the following verse:

“For every dark and stormy day
A week of days are fair;
However chill the clouds and gray
‘Tis always bright somewhere.

This is something to remember. Especially when we become burdened from time to time with the cares and trials of our lives. No matter how bad it may be at any one time, we all have been wonderfully blessed by our God in heaven. Remember the promise, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Stan

(The following article was written by Justin Carrell, a member of the West Side congregation)

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man” (James 1:13, KJV).

In class last Wednesday, we briefly discussed the middle of James chapter one; particularly verses 13 and 14. This passage is often confused. The reason is the same as we mentioned in class. God creates tempting things. However, the passage says that God does not tempt anyone. How do we reconcile these two things?

Continue reading ““Tempted” VS “Tempted”” →

Men make a grave error when they think of God as being like a man. This is the reason for false religions, and blasphemy against God.

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The Chastening of the Lord does not seem pleasant, but secures for us the same standing with God as that enjoyed by such patriarchs as Abraham, Joseph and Moses (cf. Hebrews 11).

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Four little creatures, listed in Proverbs 30:24-26 (The ant, rock badger, locust and spider) teach us wise lessons about industry, God’s protection, unity and boldness in serving God.

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John 1:1-4

John’s gospel is not the only book that begins with the words, “In the beginning.” The first book of the Bible, Genesis, begins with the statement, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Our text reveals that God consists, at least, of the Father and the Son. Of course, the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead.

Verse 14 states that the “word became flesh”, clearly showing that Jesus Christ is God, and is the Word mentioned in the first four verses as existing “In the beginning”, being “with God”, and actually being God.

The Word, God’s Son, is behind the entirety of creation. “without Him nothing was made that was made.” Because of the positions He holds as Creator and Savior, He is worthy of our worship and devotion. As John so eloquently put it, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Consider carefully the person and position of your Lord.

The film, The Golden Compass, is scheduled for a Christmas release, and New Line Cinema is hoping that it will be as big a blockbuster as Disney pictures The Chronicles of Narnia, released last year.

The films are both fantasies, both based upon books that were written to appeal to children. The difference is that one was written by C.S. Lewis, a member of the Anglican church and a well known Christian apologist. The other was written by atheist activist Philip Pullman, whose desire is to portray religion as evil and God as a fraud.

Continue reading “In The News: The Golden Compass” →