Category: Obedience

Liberty, standing proudly on a small island in the New York harbor, has long been an important emblem to our nation. We have long believed as Americans that God has granted us the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

How sad it is that this pursuit of liberty and happiness has become so twisted in our present day. Our founding fathers recognized that liberty comes with a price. That price is personal responsibility.

Today so many are interested in only themselves. Their pursuit of pleasure is first and foremost in their lives. They talk about their “rights”. But, their right to drink has cost thousands of lives in automobile accidents. Their right to an abortion has led to the murder of countless unborn children. The rights of “two consenting adults” has led to broken homes, a lowering of societal values, and the scourge of disease.

Truly, there needs to be a change of emphasis. May we begin (or continue) to proclaim accountability. May we emphasize not our rights, but the rights of others. May we recognize that true happiness and liberty come in making ourselves slaves to our Lord. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the {life} which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

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 .

One of the most sobering passages I can think of is found in John 15. There Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (vs. 2).

The text disproves the common belief expressed as “once saved, always saved” and soberly warns us to be industrious as Christian servants.

The text tells me that I need to develop the proper skills needed to be a fruit bearer. It tells me that I need to be spending the time and making the effort necessary to bear fruit. And, it tells me that I need to identify the type of fruit that Jesus expects me to produce.

It also tells me that there are a lot of Christians who need to get started before it’s too late! (Think about it!)

Stan

In two weeks, we will begin a Gospel Meeting with brother Jerry Fite, of Pasadena, TX. The effort will start on Saturday night at 7:30 pm, and will continue through the following Thursday. There will be a special Wednesday morning study together with our regular Sunday services and the weeknight preaching.

Jerry preaches for the Parkview congregation in Pasadena, and has been a faithful proclaimer of God’s word for many years. He is known to the brethren here, having spent a number of years at the Castleberry congregation as a young man, while his father Harold preached for that group. He held a meeting for our congregation in May of 1999, and we are glad to have him return to preach for us again.

Continue reading “The Importance of Gospel Meetings” →

This sermon is an exegetical treatment of Colossians 1:9-19. The text relates Paul’s prayer on behalf of the Colossians, “that you may be filled…” Also, the Preeminence of Christ is revealed and discussed.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Last Monday President Obama delivered a speech on the economy at Georgetown University. In the speech, he was asking the American people to be patient as his administration seeks to deal with a sluggish economy, and to change the “foundation” upon which the economy rests. Notice the following quote, as reported by the Associated Press:

“We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand,” he said, invoking a Biblical reference to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. “We must build our house upon a rock. We must lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity a foundation that will move us from an era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest, where we consume less at home and send more exports abroad.”

While some may have doubts as to whether his actions mirror his rhetoric, we will leave such discussions for a more appropriate forum. It is the purpose of this article to note the President’s reference to Jesus’ words.

Continue reading “In The News: Founded on the Rock” →

(Note: This article was written by one of the members at West Side, Kelly Wilson. I commend it to you. SC)

“…The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them…’” Acts 28:25-27 (ESV)

When the Lord Jesus and His apostles proclaimed the simple gospel the common and uneducated heard him gladly and believed (Mark 12:37; Acts 4:13) but when many of the educated Jewish leaders heard the same message they rejected it (Matthew 21:32).

Continue reading “Their Eyes They Have Closed” →

This lesson emphasizes the importance of heeding and obeying God’s word, that you may be blessed, be saved, bear fruit, avoid drifting, and avoid condemnation.

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 .

An expository sermon discussing what might first be considered a paradox. The liberty we have in Christ comes as we make ourselves a slave to Him. (Text: Galatians 5:1-6).

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Ephesians 6:1-4

Here the Holy Spirit reveals instructions to children and fathers.

First, children are to obey. The simplicity of the reason would certainly appeal to a child, “for this is right.”

Additionally, Paul records the promise of Deut. 5:16, “that it may be well with you.” It is the wise child who heeds and obeys the counsel of his parents. God is pleased, and many pitfalls that other young people fall into are avoided.

Second, the admonition to fathers. “Do not provoke your children to wrath.” This does not mean to not make your children mad. Rather, the provocation would be because of wrong action on the part of the father. In contrast, the godly father is to “bring them up” or grow them into godly men and women through training and nurturing. God’s word supplies the father what is needed in this. We are to follow God’s instructions rather than our own philosophies on childrearing.

Because of Christ’s authority and position, the wind and waves, the unclean spirits, disease, and even death obey His commands. If all of these things obey Christ because of who He is, and the authority He has been given (Matthew 28:18), should not we quickly, completely and unquestioningly submit to His authority?

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Israel disregarded the chastisement of God, causing the prophet by inspiration to proclaim in Amos 4:12, “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” We too must recognize the inevitability of judgment, and prepare that our meeting with God will lead to life rather than destruction.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Acts 9:31 reveals that the early church prospered as Christians walked in the “fear of the Lord.” What does it mean to fear the Lord? What are the blessings of this walk? And how do we as Christians walk in the “fear of the Lord?”

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Guest speaker John Robertson does a fine job of expressing the importance of complete obedience to God. The title is taken from Joshua 11:15.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .