Tri-Annual Singing!
February 21, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Category: Lust
Subject: Lust
Lust of the Eyes & Flesh, the Pride of Life
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16).
The description given by John in this text seems to categorize all sin into at lease one of three groups. A practical consideration of this seems so. Every sin I can think of can be categorized as a consequence of illicit desire (brought from what we see, what we feel, or pride). Continue reading “Lust of the Eyes & Flesh, the Pride of Life”
A Great Contrast
The fifth chapter of Galatians contains a great contrast written by the apostle Paul. On the one hand are the works of the flesh, and on the other the fruit of the Spirit.
First note their opposition. They are antithetical, and Paul gave the advice, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (5:16). In saying they are antithetical, we do not claim that both can’t be present in our lives. Because of our human nature, it is possible for us to have both of these in some amount. Such presence ensures a great conflict in our inner man. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (5:17). Continue reading “A Great Contrast”
Sermon: Are You Carnal?
The flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. You should have a spiritual mindset. Are you instead carnally minded? How do you fix this?
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Sermon: Lust, Marriage and Divorce
A lesson discussing an aspect of the radical teaching Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount. This section covers Matthew 5:27-32.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Sermon: Sinful Lusts
Defining it, determining its origin, discussing who is vulnerable, and a discussion of the admonitions against the lust that brings sin and death.
Sermon: A Covenant With My Eyes
The text of Job 31:1 reveals a conviction of Job not to lust with his eyes. This teaches us that we too need a determination not to involved ourselves in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh or the pride of life.
Invitation: Fleshly Lusts War Against the Soul
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In 1 Peter 2:11, Peter states that fleshly lusts war against the soul. Sin is destructive to our souls, and our standing with God.
From Where Do Wars Come?
James wrote, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1). Commentators differ on what “wars” James refers to — big ones, or little ones. However, the motivation for is typically the same — Lust!
Selfish desire is at the root of most strife, whether disputes between nations, or petty squabbles among individuals. James wrote, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war” (4:2).
One nation covets the land or resources that are owned by another. One ruler wants riches he sees beyond the borders of his own land. Lust and covetousness is the root of war!
The same is true in religion. Wars have been fought because of sectarian jealousies. The continual war between Jews and Muslims is fueled in part by claims made on the old city of Jerusalem, and the Temple Mount. Each faction covets the same plot of land.
Strife was caused in Corinth because each faction wanted exalted status (1 Corinthians 1:10-15). Conflict existed between two women in Philippi, presumably for the similar reasons (Philippians 4:2). Paul’s remedy? “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3).
Selfish desires bring war and conflict. Humility brings unity and expressions of love and peace.
Sermon: Promises to the Lord
In the 101st Psalm, the singer makes five promises to the Lord that we would do well to emulate ourselves.
* Sing praises
* Behave wisely
* Set nothing wicked before my eyes
* Not endure slander and pride
* Bless the faithful
Sermon: Satan’s World
The lesson is concerned with that sphere of influence with Satan as master. John describes this (worldliness) using the terms: 1) Lust of the flesh; 2) Lust of the eyes; 3) Pride of life.
Sermon: Sinful Lust
In this lesson, lust is defined and described, those who are vulnerable and susceptible to its effects are described, and explanations are given as to how it can be defeated.
Sermon: A Covenant with My Eyes
In Job 31:1, a “covenant” with the eyes is mentioned. By application, we submit that we should not look upon the darkness of sin, or lustful sights that might lead to adultery, alcohol use or the observance of irreverent things.
In The News: Scandal and Immorality
It is apparent that we are living during a time of immorality and ungodliness. Worldliness has always held sway with the majority, but we are certainly in a cycle of excessiveness.
In Genesis 6:5-6 we are informed of an ungodly time, much like our own. “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” That is not to say that there are only 8 righteous souls on the earth (the number spared in the flood). However, the evil nature of society is certainly similar to that of old.
The pagan society of Paul’s day was similar. Paul stated that “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21). Their foolishness led them to all types of debauchery, and Paul maintained that those who practice such things are “worthy of death” (vs. 32).
This past week I typed in the word “scandal” into an internet search engine, and came up with a sampling of the pervasive ungodliness that exists in our world today.
- An NBA referee (Tim Donaghy) is being investigated by the FBI for both betting on and fixing NBA games in order to appease gangsters because of his gambling debts. The scandal is perhaps the most disturbing in decades in professional sports.
- Some British politicians are presently embroiled in a scandal involving unethical campaign financing schemes.
- A Catholic Cardinal in Los Angeles apologized last week to the hundreds of people affected by the sex scandal that has rocked the Catholic church. The church in L.A. is scheduled to pay $660,000,000 in reparations to victims.
- Louisiana Senator David Vitter spent last week in seclusion after a raid on a prostitution ring in Washington D.C. turned up his phone number. He has acknowledged what he calls “a serious sin.”
- In China a scandal surfaced last month after about 400 distraught parents posted a plea on the Internet about their children who had been sold into slavery in China’s northern Shanxi province and neighbouring Henan. It is estimated that over 1,000 people, many of them children, have been victimized by these crimes.
These are only representative of the literally hundreds of scandals that have been reported on in the news the past several weeks. They show a lack of integrity, conviction and morality that exists in the world today. Sex, gambling, corruption and man’s inhumanity to man are the norm rather than the exception. In fact, such are so common that it is probable most of the examples above are unfamiliar to most of the readers of this article.
In the face of such ungodliness, Christians are admonished by the Holy Spirit to, “become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I [Paul] may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Phil. 2:15-16).
In The News: LA Church to Pay $600 Million for Clergy Abuse
LOS ANGELES – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles will settle its clergy abuse cases for at least $600 million, by far the largest payout in the church’s sexual abuse scandal, The Associated Press learned Saturday.
Attorneys for the archdiocese and the plaintiffs are expected to announce the deal Monday, the day the first of more than 500 clergy abuse cases was scheduled for jury selection, according to two people with knowledge of the agreement. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the settlement had not been made public.
The archdiocese and its insurers will pay between $600 million and $650 million to about 500 plaintiffs — an average of $1.2 million to $1.3 million per person. The settlement also calls for the release of confidential priest personnel files after review by a judge assigned to oversee the litigation, the sources said.
The settlements would push the total amount paid out by the U.S. church since 1950 to more than $2 billion, with about a quarter of that coming from the Los Angeles archdiocese.
By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer
Analysis:
The Catholic church has been embarrassed by this scandal, as alarmingly large numbers of Catholic priests, (each of which has taken a vow of celibacy), have been exposed as criminally promiscuous. Priests have been convicted of charges of sexual harassment, rape, and pedophilia (with both boys and girls).
Continue reading “In The News: LA Church to Pay $600 Million for Clergy Abuse”
