Category: Subject Index

This sermon answers the question, “When Judas betrayed Jesus, did he do so because he was compelled to by God, or did he exercise his free will?

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

First of six lessons in a series on Galatians.

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Our quarterly singings are a wonderful time for edification and encouragement. All who were at the singing last night were strengthened in faith by the worship offered to God.

We are given the command to sing in Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” We are given a reason to sing in James 5:13, “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

It has been said that familiarity breeds contempt. Our singings have been going on now for some time. Were you there last night? Did you forget, or have something “better” to do? Please consider whether your time could be spent in doing anything better than offering praise to God!

Remember, our next singing is scheduled for April 17th. Hope to see you there!

Angry words! O let them never,
From the tongue unbridled slip,
May the heart’s best impulse ever,
Check them ere they soil the lip.

Love one another thus saith the Savior,
Children obey the Father’s blest command,
Love each other, love each other,
‘Tis the Father’s blest command.

The above song, here containing the first verse and refrain, was written by one known only by the initials D.K.P. The song has a beautiful melody arranged by H.R. Palmer, but the words of the anonymous poet are even more beautiful in their sentiment.

Continue reading “Angry Words” →

2 Peter 1:5-11

Here the apostle Peter calls Christians to add to themselves various righteous characteristics. The list includes: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

Peter indicates they are to do this for “this very reason”, referring back to the previous verses where eternal promises are alluded to as being given by God’s divine power. In effect, the promise of redemption and hope of heaven are our motivation to living a godly life. Considering what God has done for us in sending Jesus leads us to diligence, that we might mature into the disciples God would have us to be.

Verses 8-11 indicate that these promises are conditional, but sure. If we add these characteristics to the foundation, faith; there is no doubt as to what we will receive. “For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom…” (vs. 11).

It is our choice. Will we choose apathy, leading to spiritual blindness and apostasy? Or, will we choose zeal, leading to a sure standing with God, and an eternal abode with our “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”?

Last week, FOX news anchor Brit Hume became the center of controversy when he suggested that Tiger Woods leave his Buddhist faith, and convert to Christianity to deal with his multiple infidelities.

“I don’t think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith,” Hume said. “So my message to Tiger would be, ‘Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.’”

These statements, of course, angered Buddhists, who suggest that Hume is ignorant of the 2,500 year old Eastern religion.

Continue reading “In The News: Christianity? Or Buddhism?” →

I came across a quote recently about the reliability of the New Testament text. In other words, we can be sure that the original words have been preserved for us today.

“God has given us 5,656 manuscripts containing all or parts of the Greek NT. It is the most remarkably preserved book in the ancient world. Not only do we have a great number of manuscripts but they are very close in time to the originals they represent. Some partial manuscripts of the NT are from the second century A.D., and many are within four centuries of the originals. These facts are all the more amazing when they are compared with the preservation of other ancient literature” (Edward Glenny)

What we have preserved for us today is the true, complete and inspired word of God!

Perhaps the best known and most quoted passage in scripture is Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” It is also one of the most misunderstood and misused passages in scripture. The sermon seeks to explain Jesus’ teaching in the passage.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The sermon seeks to explain what is, and what is not Autonomy, as revealed and defined in the Scriptures, especially regarding the Lord’s Church.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

As we enter a new decade, it is amazing to look at how humans have messed up the world in which we live.

As always, the problem is sin (cf. Romans 3:23), and one has only to look at the headlines of the day to see how decrepit our world has become. Let me give you a sample, taken from some of yesterday’s headlines:

New Year Drunks Should Pay for Hospital Care? Taken from a Reuters report, the headline references the toll intoxication is taking upon Great Britain’s public health care program. British citizens do not have to pay for their health care, and in the last decade hospitalization for alcohol intoxication has doubled. The government is considering charging the equivalent of $845 to anyone who is admitted to the hospital in a drunken stupor. (Health care costs for alcohol related illness in Great Britain are in the area of 5 billion dollars a year).

Continue reading “In The News: A Messed Up World” →

I have put on the back table in the foyer a very good daily Bible reading schedule that will help you read through the entire Bible in a year’s time. Best of all, you only read on the weekdays, so you aren’t behind! It starts tomorrow.

I do not know of a better habit to form than daily Bible reading. The commitment is no more than 30 minutes a day. Those who have a fast reading rate can finish the reading in 20 minutes or less each day.

Remember the words of the apostle Paul, written to his son in the faith, Timothy. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Read His word. God will bless you with wisdom in this New Year!

One of the sermons in the series, Simple Answers for Difficult Questions. The sermon shows why it is sinful to smoke marijuana (or use other illicit drugs).

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

A simple sermon containing suggestions on how to live more zealously for God in 2010, beginning a new year, and a new decade.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

1 Peter 3:3-6

In this text, the apostle praises God, and gives reason for that praise. He, according to His mercy has “begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

The term “begotten” in verse 3 is the same term in verse 23, where we are told we have been “born again” through the word of God.

The term is found only in these two verses. Interesting, it is a similar term to the one used in John 3:16, where Jesus is said to be the “only begotten” (gk., monogenes). Here all Christians are “begotten” (gk., anagennao).

Where Jesus, in a sense, is the only begotten; in another sense all Christians are begotten of God when we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As stated in the text, when we are begotten, or born again, we are granted great privileges. We have hope, and an undefiled and incorruptible inheritance reserved in heaven.

This is so because we are kept by God’s power. We are protected by Him because we are His children. This is a reason for rejoicing, no matter the present circumstances of our lives. We are the begotten of God!

A new year is upon us, and it is a good time to resolve to do a better job of living for our Lord. Of course, any time is a good time to resolve to do a better job of living for our Lord, but none better than the present.

We are now a full decade into the 21st century. It is an amazing thing that despite the passing of time, God and His word remain just as relevant and significant today as He and it have ever been.

What do you want to do this next year to better serve Him? Study more? Pray more? Be more diligent in attending Bible class or worship? Share the gospel with more lost souls? Be more loving? More hospitable? More longsuffering? More patient? More diligent?

All are laudable goals, and are well worth considering. Surely we all have room for improvement!