Category: Subject Index
Study Material Categorized by Subject
Sermon: Ways of the Wise
Based in part on Ephesians 5:15-17. The sermon discusses the ways of the wise. A wise man: Receives counsel; Guards his tongue; Flees from evil; Is prepared; and Obeys God.
Note: Powerpoint file created by Jeremiah Cox.
Invitation: Contrasting Light and Darkness
Invitation delivered by: Armando Vera
In Ephesians 5:6-16, the apostle Paul contrasts light and darkness. We are to expose, rather than participate in the unfruitful works of darkness.
Sermon: Calling on the Name of the Lord
Sermon by Josh Cox.
All agree that one must call on the name of the Lord to be saved. However, many do not really know what that entails. The scriptures reveal clearly what it is to call on the name of the Lord.
Sermon: Responsibilities in the Covenant of Marriage
Sermon by Josh Cox.
Beginning in Matthew 9, the lesson discusses some of the responsibilities of husbands and wives as revealed in scripture. Responsibilities that the world has largely forgotten.
Invitation: Crucified With Christ
Invitation delivered by: Josh Jackson
In Galatians 2:20, the apostle Paul expressed his recognition that his salvation was dependent upon Jesus Christ. We too should be crucified with Christ, and have Him direct our lives.
Sermon: Remember Shiloh!
Jeremiah 7 records God’s call to Israel to remember Shiloh (cf. 1 Samuel 4:10-11) in their misplaced confidence that Jerusalem was safe because of the temple. The idea of virtue by association was wrong then, and it is wrong today!
Sermon: The Power of Love and Truth
Contrary to the message that world proclaims, it neither loves men, nor tells men the truth. In contrast, God both loves and proclaims His truth to all men. The power of Love and Truth is to save mankind.
Invitation: The Precious Work of Preaching
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In Romans 10:15 Paul describes how precious and important are preachers, and their efforts to save the souls of men. The gospel is the means by which God has chosen to save the world.
Sermon: It was God’s will that Christ Die
An exegetical lesson covering the material in Hebrews 10:1-10. Animal sacrifices were not sufficient to take away sins, so God sent His son as a perfect and effectual sacrifice.
Sermon: Stand Fast in the Lord
In Philippians 4, the apostle exhorts his brethren to stand fast in the Lord. The lesson examines the first 9 verses of that chapter to ascertain what that steadfastness entails.
Sermon: Walk in Love, Light and Wisdom
An exegesis of Ephesians 5:1-21, discussing the exhortations of Paul to the church at Ephesus to walk in Love, Light and Wisdom.
Sermon: The Excuses of Moses
An interesting aspect of an examination of Moses’ excuses to God when he was charged with the task of leading the Israelites is that the excuses are common to each of us.
* Who am I?
* What shall I say?
* Suppose they will not believe me?
* I am slow of speech and tongue?
* Please send someone else!
Men Displeased with God
In 2 Kings 5, we learn of Naaman, a Syrian general and honorable man, who was stricken with the disease of leprosy. An Israelite maiden was a servant of Naaman’s wife, and told her mistress of the prophet Elisha, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy” (3).
Inquiries were made, and eventually Naaman made his way to Elisha’s house. Rather than meeting with the man, Elisha simply sent a messenger to him with the following message: “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean” (10).
From the Preacher’s Pen: “The Lord Reigns” (Psalm 97)
“The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!” (Psalm 97:1).
There is good cause for rejoicing in the realization that the Lord reigns over our world. The Psalmist expresses the greatness of that reign by writing, “His lightnings light the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth” (4-5). We rejoice not only because of His power, but also because, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne” (2).
God is all powerful, and wholly good. He is beneficent, and those who belong to Him will be protected. “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart” (10-11).
It is important to note the contrast between those who belong to Him (His saints) and the wicked. It is not possible to rightly claim to be His if our lives are characterized by sin. “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 3:6).
We have the wondrous promise that God will reward the righteous. The Psalmist concludes, “Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His name” (12). All praise to the Almighty!
The Parable of the Sower
Jesus often taught by parable. A parable is a story told, using simple objects or situations, to illustrate a spiritual principle. Such illustrations can be extremely powerful, and this is certainly the case with his Parable of the Sower. The parable is included in all of the synoptic gospels, (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:2-9, 13-20; Luke 8:4-15).
The accounts reveal that the disciples were first confused about the meaning of this parable. Fortunately for us, Jesus gave to them and us a clear explanation of his words. Consider the following important points that can be derived from this parable. Citations will be from the account recorded by Luke:
