Tri-Annual Singing!
October 17, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Category: Subject Index
Study Material Categorized by Subject
Keys to a Successful and Happy Marriage
For years the divorce rate in America has been at the 50% mark. While the rate is lower among members of the Lord’s church, it is still common to see marriages fail. There are a number of reasons why it happens. In the case of each failed marriage there is sin. The husband, or wife, or both, are living in a rebellious state before God. Such unfaithfulness leads to the dissolution of the marriage bond. The problem may be marital infidelity, pride, selfishness or dishonesty, but sin is present.
The simplest answer when seeking a cure for marital discord is to live faithfully before God. If a husband and wife are living righteously, their marriage will be successful and happy. However, it is necessary to explain what is righteous living in regard to domestic responsibilities. Above and beyond putting God first in our lives, here are a few “needs” that should be considered to ensure a strong and lasting marriage.
Mining the Scriptures: Hebrews 1:5-14
The book of Hebrews contains a series of contrasts designed to establish the supremacy of Jesus Christ, and His covenant with mankind. The first of these contrasts consists of a comparison between Christ and angels.
- Verse 4 indicates that Jesus is superior to the angels because His Father granted an inheritance to Him as a Son.
- Jesus is superior to the angels because He is, in fact, God’s only begotten Son (5)
- Jesus is seen to be superior in that God declares we are to worship Him, where angels are not to be worshipped. Rather they serve as ministering servants (6-7). Jesus is, in fact, God, reigning on His throne in righteousness (8-9).
- Jesus is superior because He is the Creator of the universe. While the universe is temporal, and will one day cease to exist, its Creator is eternal and incorruptible. (10-12).
The angels are ministering spirits, appointed by God to serve us. In contrast God has exalted the Christ, and appointing for Him a place at His right hand, reigning in Heaven. He is not a servant, He is our Lord! (13-14).
In the News: At What Point Life?
Here are some further comments I have made in an online discussion on the subject of abortion. These are edited a bit to make them more usable in an article format:
From the Preacher’s Pen: Abortion – A Polarizing Issue
(This is a comment I recently made during an online discussion on the subject of abortion. It is edited for space).
The abortion debate is polarizing. I think by nature it must be. If one holds my position, it is black and white, and there is a place for condemnation of the act. If one holds the other position, the belief is that condemnation is inappropriate. The crux of the matter is whether a fetus is a child. If one grants that the fetus is human, when that life is taken it is murder. If it is not human, then it is simply a part of the woman, and there is nothing immoral about removing it.
Morality is objective, not subjective or relative. The true standard of what is moral has been established by God, and man has no right to alter it. When men do so (be they individual or government) they substitute their own will for God’s. As it relates to our topic, abortion is a subset of the general category of murder (as is genocide, patricide, matricide, infanticide, etc.) We rightly have laws against all of these. When men choose to disregard these laws, we as a society judge and punish them. While mitigating circumstances (upbringing, mental illness, economic circumstances) may lessen the punishment, it does not change the fact that a crime has been committed, and innocent parties have been harmed. When in 1973 the laws on abortion were changed, the Supreme Court wrongly allayed itself against the will of God. Abortion should still be illegal. The purpose of government is to protect the innocent. There is no more innocent an individual than an unborn child.
So, to me there is little nuance, and there is every reason to judge and condemn. I will never hesitate to speak out for the most innocent and pure individual in every abortion scenario — the threatened unborn.
Invitation: Submitting to One Another
Invitation delivered by: Justin Carrell
Justin describes the aspect of love that would preclude a Christian offending his brother or sister in Christ.
Sermon: The Throne Room of God
Lesson 1 of 8 in a series on Awesome Texts.
Revelation 4 and 5 reveals a vision of John, where he describes the throne room of God. The text reveals a most important point. God is the center of the universe, and all of creation exists to offer up praise to Him, and the Lamb of God.
Sermon: Strive to Enter In!
Sermon by Marc Smith.
Marc ended our gospel meeting with his exhortation to the congregation to “strive to enter in” to the narrow gate that leads to life. He rightly pointed out that effort is required in staying faithful and pleasing the Lord.
Sermon: Age of Accountability
Sermon by Marc Smith.
In this lesson Marc answers from scripture the often troubling question, “When do children become accountable for sin, before Almighty God?” Scriptural principles give parents guidance on the question.
Sermon: Dwelling in the House of Mourning
Sermon by Marc Smith.
In the lesson, given in the special class on Wednesday morning, Marc gives comfort by explaining the process of mourning, and giving the child of God help in dealing with the grief one experiences at the loss of loved ones. (Note: the first 5-8 minutes of the lesson were not recorded. Also, the lesson was recorded from a loudspeaker rather than directly from Marc himself, so the audio suffers a bit).
Sermon: Why We Do Not Use Hand Made Music in Worship
Sermon by Marc Smith.
In this lesson Marc gives a reasoned and thorough explanation of why Christians, in New Covenant worship, refrain from using mechanical instruments of music in their worship to God.
Sermon: Desensitized!
Sermon: “Borne by Four”
Sermon by Marc Smith.
In this lesson, Marc uses Mark 2, and the phrase from the KJV indicating that the paralytic man was carried by four men to see Jesus. The phrase is used to illustrate the point that each of us have those who have borne, or influenced us in our lives. Saul of Tarsis is a good example, and four men are mentioned: Gamaliel, Stephen, Annanias and Barnabas who had a profound influence upon him and his conversion to Christ.
Sermon: Jesus’ Five Principles of Prayer
Sermon by Marc Smith.
This simple lesson by Marc establishes five important principles, taught by the Lord, important for a healthy and effective prayer life.
Sermon: Conservative or Liberal
Sermon by Marc Smith:
In this lesson, Marc points out that while the terms conservative and liberal have been helpful in differentiating between churches in the past, they are irrelevant with regard to a congregation’s standing before God. Only one scriptural term is truly relevant: Sound. Is a congregation sound?
Using New Muscles
Some of you may be aware that when Kyle Chamblee was younger, he used to be a competitive gymnast. He and I were talking the other day, and since he knew I played golf, asked me if playing golf ever left my muscles sore.
I told him, no, that it didn’t. Golf after all, is not the most intense form of physical activity. It is one of those lifetime activities that can be enjoyed at any age, and just about any fitness level.
