Category: Subject Index

I want to start this article with an admission, I am not a young man anymore. I have always viewed myself as a young man, even as two decades have passed since the day I came as a 28 year old preacher to work with this congregation.

Twenty years, and I am rapidly approaching my 48th birthday. Now, I know that “young” is a relative term. There are many in the congregation that would still consider me a “whippersnapper”. Actually that term means an insignificant person, according to Webster, but I have always heard it combined with the term “young.”

Continue reading “Frail Bodies” →

Just about everyone knows who Tiger Woods is. He is the most famous golfer, and perhaps the most famous athlete in the world. He has also become one of the most infamous athletes due to being a serial philanderer.

Numerous women have been linked to him. Despite initial denials it was obvious that he had been unfaithful to his wife on numerous occasions with multiple mistresses. When denials proved futile, he finally admitted his infidelity, and has taken a sabbatical from golf to try to save his marriage, and regain the trust of his wife.

Continue reading “In The News: A Philandering Tiger” →

Just about every year at this time I ask you to consider a systematic Bible Reading schedule for the New Year.

There are many such schedules available, both online and in printed form. If you are interested, let me know and I will hook you up.

Perhaps the best schedule is a bit more challenging. Read the New Testament, once a month, every month, for a year. The simplest way to do this is to divide the New Testament into 28 or 29 sections. Take the total number of pages, divide it by 28 or 29, and read that many pages (to the nearest chapter) each day. You can miss a day or two, and still finish on time each month using this method.

This is a bit challenging, but doable. Maybe you will want to try it in 2010?

The sermon examines the conversion and ministry of the apostle Paul, noting that the one who was “chief among sinners” by the grace of God became one of the most influential men in the Christian faith (Acts 9:21-23)

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

A companion to the previous week’s sermon, The Kingdom of God. This sermon examines the nature of Christ’s reign in His kingdom.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

From the series, Simple Answers to Difficult Questions. The sermon shows that racism is sinful.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

This sermon examines the usage of the phrase “Kingdom of God” in scripture.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In James 4:1-10, the Holy Spirit reveals that loving the world is tantamount to being unfaithful to God. Worldliness is equated with adultery. This shows the degree of treachery the worldly Christian is guilty of committing toward God.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The phrase “sound doctrine” appears several times in the New Testament, always in Paul’s epistles. This sermon examines the meaning and usage of the phrase.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

It got cold outside this past week! I got an email from a preacher friend in Edna, TX (down south), who told me they got between 1” and 2” of snow a couple of days ago! Snow in south Texas?

The grass is going dormant, and the leaves have just about all given up the ghost, and it certainly is not my favorite time of the year! Oh well, knowing North Texas, it will probably be in the 70’s on Christmas day.

The cool weather reminded me of Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish that you were either cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.”

I’m not saying that our Lord likes the cold, but He at least prefers it to lukewarm Christians!

It got cold outside this past week! I got an email from a preacher friend in Edna, TX (down south), who told me they got between 1” and 2” of snow a couple of days ago! Snow in south Texas?

The grass is going dormant, and the leaves have just about all given up the ghost, and it certainly is not my favorite time of the year! Oh well, knowing North Texas, it will probably be in the 70’s on Christmas day.

The cool weather reminded me of Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish that you were either cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.”

I’m not saying that our Lord likes the cold, but He at least prefers it to lukewarm Christians!

The sermon explains the assertions made by the Apostle Paul concerning the gospel, the Lord and God in the text of Romans 1:1-7

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Two questions are answered in this lesson.

• Is every individual who asks worthy of benevolent help?
• Is the church limited with regard to whom they offer benevolent help?

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Large Hadron Collider is in the news again. The Collider is a large, underground tunnel built in the form of a ring. The equipment within it is designed to accelerate and collide photons to help scientists better understand the nature of matter.

Why is this such a big deal? I am sure that there are “hard science” benefits, but the main reason the Collider exists is to give scientific “proof” that the theory a “Big Bang” began the universe is valid.

Interestingly, a similar Collider, to be built in the United States about 15 years ago was scrapped because of cost overruns, and the fact that Congress could not be convinced of its “scientific value.”

So much ado about nothing! All they need to know about the origins of the universe, they can read in Genesis 1:1.

James 1:1-4

The epistle of James is a general epistle, in the sense that it was written to a broad group rather than a specific individual or church. It was written to the “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” indicating Jewish Christians throughout the world. Though the introductory paragraph does not specify Jewish Christians, the contents of the letter show that his intended audience is believers in Christ.

James’ letter is eminently practical, and his first admonition in verses 2-4 certainly deserves this designation.

The trials of life are tests, and if we pass the tests, we benefit greatly as a result. When the text says that tribulation produces patience, it acknowledges the fact that we learn as we endure. We grow stronger, we are tempered and we mature. As such, when we come out the other side, it can be said of us that we are “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

While tribulation is not pleasant, such testing is nevertheless cause for joy. It is because of the spiritual growth we experience. And, even more so because it shows our Lord that we are worthy to join with Him in suffering and future glory.