Category: Subject Index
Study Material Categorized by Subject
God Reigns in the Kingdom of Men
In Jeremiah 51, Jehovah proclaimed the ultimate destruction of the kingdom of Babylon. Though it was yet to happen, that judgment of God was sure. “‘Therefore behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘That I will bring judgment on her carved images,
And throughout all her land the wounded shall groan. Though Babylon were to mount up to heaven, and though she were to fortify the height of her strength, yet from Me plunderers would come to her,’ says the Lord” (vs 52-53).
It does not matter how powerful the nation may be, how large the army, how explosive the arsenal, God’s will is done. In every age and in every place, when men trust in their own might to stand against the righteous God of heaven, they are doomed to destruction. Paul said, “And He [God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” (Acts 17:26).
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). God judged Babylon because she was an idolatrous and evil kingdom. “Thus Babylon shall sink and not rise from the catastrophe that I will bring upon her. And they shall be weary” (Jeremiah 51:64). This is an important lesson that our own nation needs to hear and learn to avoid the same fate.
Invitation: Wait on the Lord
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
The Psalmist, in Psalm 37:30-38, notes that ultimately God will save the righteous. Wait on the Lord.
Sermon: Reactions to Religion
The sermon is a discussion of the responses received to a Facebook video we created, called “The Christian Faith is Under Attack.” There were several comments critical of religion that were made in reponse to the video. The sermon explains the proper response to such objections to religion.
Sermon: Faith, Hope, Love
The text of 1 Corinthians 13:13 is a famous one. However, Paul’s explanation of his intercessions for the Colossians (Colossians 1:3-7) gives interesting insight on how faith, hope and love work together for the Christian.
Wait On Your God
“So you, by the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually” (Hosea 12:6).
It is hard to be patient. This is especially so when you perceive injustice. While you are striving to be good and righteous, the ungodly prosper. The Psalmist knew this, and counseled:
Reading a Lump of Coal
Bible believers have long defended the text of Scripture against the attacks of skeptics. For a long while this defense, specifically regarding the text of the Old Testament, was made more difficult by relatively recent manuscript evidence that formed the basis of the Hebrew text.
Invitation: Heirs of God
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In Galatians 4:4-7, Paul describes the change that comes once we are redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ. We become heirs of God!
Video Transcript: The Christian Faith is Under Attack!
The national elections are less than two months away. While it is not my place as a preacher to tell anyone who to vote for, it is my place to defend the Christian faith against attack. In fact, all Christians have that same imperative!
Remember the words of Jude. He wrote to his brethren, “…I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
Continue reading “Video Transcript: The Christian Faith is Under Attack!”
Sermon: Giving Thanks
To give thanks, you must first know you have been blessed and know the source of those blessings. Thanksgiving is appropriate before, during and after the blessing occurs.
Sermon: The Easy Way
Where is self denial? Where is “giving all diligence”? Where is “striving”? Too few are willing to sacrifice for their faith and their God.
Making Good Choices
Our lives consist of a series of choices. The choices we make determine the path that our life will take. Wrong turns can have tragic consequences, but good choices can make for a joyous and fulfilling tenure here on earth. Of course, our choices can also impact our eternal standing with God. The mansion prepared for us by the Lord (cf. John 14:1-2) hangs in the balance, dependent upon the decisions we make.
The life of Moses serves as a wonderful example in this regard. His life was first influenced by the decision made by his mother. “So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months” (Exodus 2:2). When she could hide him no longer, her desperate act to save her son resulted in Moses being raised by the daughter of Pharaoh.
FB: A Broken Spirit
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).
This text from David’s psalm shows his truly penitent spirit following his adultery with Bathsheba. Though it took a direct admonition from Nathan to bring him to his senses, there is no doubt that David felt remorse for his sin.
He said, “I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (3). This confession, accompanied with his godly sorrow provoked God’s tender mercies.
The Christian too, if he is truly sorrowful for the sins he commits, can receive forgiveness from God. He must acknowledge his sins, repent, and pray God’s forgiveness.
May each of us remember, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
a broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise” (17).
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The Patternists: The Way of the Fool
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15).
Perhaps we live in a foolish culture, but it is typical of the religious individual today to do what “is right in his own eyes.” We have been told time and again of the confidence the fool has that “God is pleased with what I do.”
Men justify immodesty because “God created me this way, and there is nothing wrong with celebrating the beauty of our bodies.” This despite the fact that the Holy Spirit reveals that to “uncover the thigh” constitutes a nakedness that is shameful to expose (cf. Isaiah 47:2-3).
Men justify willful worship, because “God gave me this gift, and so it is pleasing to Him for me to use it.” This despite the fact that the Lord said that such worship is vain and iniquitous (cf. Matthew 7:21-23; 15:9).
Men justify the existence of denominations (division) because “God doesn’t care which church you are a member of, or what they teach, so long as you love Him.” This despite the fact that Jesus prayed to His Father, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10).
We could go on and on with examples of such foolishness. Truly the wise man “heeds counsel” especially the Divine counsel of God’s word.
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Sermon: What Obedience is Not
Obedience to God’s commands does not constitute earning your salvation. It is also not “self-defined”, as it is God who determines what must be done. Finally, it is a necessary thing!
