Category: Subject Index

In the Fort Worth Star Telegram on the crosswords page, there are two “jumble” type puzzles, where you have to rearrange letters to uncover the intended words. Each of them have a “payoff” word that comes with a clue. I liked the “Scramlets” puzzle from Tuesday. The clue was:

Politeness is the art of choosing among your thoughts.

Wisdom comes from the most unexpected places. The quote acknowledges that everyone has thoughts that are rude or inappropriate, but a polite person chooses carefully those thoughts he will express.

This reminds me of James’ thoughts regarding temptation and sin in James 1:14-15, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings for death.”

All are tempted to sin. No matter the enticement, no matter the desire, sin is avoided when we choose not to pursue it. The choice is not always easy to make, and is made easier only as a Christian matures spiritually. However, two things are indisputably true. First, we can resist the temptations to sin. Paul wrote, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Second, we are accountable for the choices we make! “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The sermon explains the proper relationship the Christian should sustain with those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior.

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Many today deny the existence of God. However, the clarion call of His voice can be heard in many ways. And, it will be heard by the unprejudiced heart.

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Invitation delivered by: Josh Cox

Josh uses the text of 2 Corinthians 7:8-ff, to explain the godly sorrow that should be present in every person guilty of sin, that they might repent and be saved.

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Invitation delivered by: Jeremiah Cox

In an invitation talk given on our 5th Sunday singing night, Jeremiah Cox asks and answers the question, Why Do We Sing? (Psalm 63).

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The sermon supplies a description of the Lord’s church.

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Invitation delivered by: Chad Gallman

Chad uses the book of Ecclesiastes to establish the truth that man, because he is man, should fear God.

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In each of our lives, we come to crossroads, and must make decisions, like: Will we obey the gospel or not? Will we live in sin or above sin? Will we pay the price of discipleship? Will we endure to the end? Our soul’s destiny depends upon our answers to these important questions.

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Powerpoint Slides

The sermon describes both the physical and spiritual consequences of sin, using King David as an example and object lesson.

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One of the many reasons why sin is so popular in our society is that people have been able to convince themselves that such activity can be enjoyed with few consequences.

While certain sins in the past carried with their commission a certain stigma, such is not the case today. Pregnancy outside of marriage, sexual promiscuity, drug use, homosexuality — all are accepted by society, or at the most are looked upon as a mild indiscretion. We witness the famous engaging in bizarre and destructive behavior, and they are continually enabled and excused in their lawbreaking and infidelities. Authority figures in our country, including policemen and educators, often have their hands tied when trying to deal with crime and delinquency. We are a society that defends, rationalizes and enables. Sin is seldom dealt with as God intends — even in the church.

Continue reading “Painful Consequences” →

Invitation delivered by: Kyle Chamblee

In his first effort to speak to the brethren, Kyle uses the construct of a “pop quiz” to teach some fundamental truths from God’s word.

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“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV).

The Bible calls us to be content in our lives. Jesus said, “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:31). The apostle Paul exemplified this attitude, even while imprisoned, in his epistle to the Philippians, “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, bot to abound and to suffer need” (4:11-12).

However, as our initial text notes, there is one area where contentment can be detrimental to the Christian, and that is self-satisfaction in the area of his Christian walk. While it would be unfortunate for us to doubt the Lord’s promises of blessings to his followers, we should never be satisfied with where we are in our journey to heaven. It is necessary that we continue to press forward, lest we falter.

The Hebrew writer warned about neglect, and exhorted his readers to “give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (2:1). He noted that some of them had “become dull of hearing” (5:11). For the Christian, diligence is the watchword. Contentment and self-satisfaction are the enemies of faithfulness!

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

Since, as 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 indicates that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, many will be unprepared for that day. We can not know when the Lord will come, so those in the light will be sure and prepare themselves for that day.

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The apostle Paul identifies the individual to whom he writes this epistle, Timothy, as his “true son in the faith” (2). Timothy probably first heard the gospel preached by Paul during his first visit to Lystra (Acts 14). The first record of their acquaintance is mentioned in Acts 16:1-2. There is no direct indication in scripture that Paul was the one who shared the gospel with the young man, his mother and grandmother, but it is very probable. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were wonderful spiritual influences for him (cf. 2 Timothy 1:5).

Timothy was a companion and fellow worker with Paul in his ministry. He traveled with him on both his second and third preaching tours. He visited Paul while in prison, as recorded in Philippians 1:1, and was himself imprisoned for his faith, as indicated in Hebrews 13:23. He was a faithful evangelist, and Paul was his mentor. It is not surprising that Paul would call him his “true son in the faith.”

Paul’s salutation was typical of his epistles. It is notable that he repeats here his claim that his apostleship is by the “commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (2), rather than a usurpation of authority.

Each election cycle, pro-abortion and pro-life advocates bring before the public their best arguments in an attempt to gain momentum for their agendas and causes. One of the most formidable arguments made by pro-abortion advocates is that abortion should be allowed in the case of rape or incest. The argument surely has emotional appeal, as all readily concur that it would cause severe emotional trauma for a woman to bring to term a pregnancy that had its beginning with her violation. She is innocent, surely she should not have to suffer the further indignity of giving birth to the byproduct of her victimization.

Continue reading “In the News: Abortion and Rape” →