Category: Subject Index

Hebrews 11:4 mentions Abel as one of the patriarchs, who through his good example, though he is dead, still speaks to us. His example of faith as well as that of others (Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Rahab), teach us the need for obedient faith.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Atheists and Secularists decry religion as being irrelevant, and claim that those who believe in God and the Bible are unreasonable, and exercising blind faith. This sermon strives to show that faith in God and his word is both reasonable and relevant.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Now she tells us? When I first heard that J.K. Rowling had revealed the homosexuality of Professor Albus Dumbledore, esteemed headmaster of Hogwarts, before a packed congregation of children and adults at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 19, my reaction was half appreciation, half annoyance. Ten years, seven books, 4,000 pages, and it never occurred to her to mention this before? At least she didn’t make the gay character a fairy (or a troll), so we’ll be spared those jokes, I thought. Rowling’s announcement felt almost too strategic, a gotcha! she conveniently withheld until the multibillion-dollar revenue stream had had years to flow. And why bother? The outing of Dumbledore doesn’t seriously reshape any plotline in the Harry Potter novels, nor do the books ever drop the kind of hints that would inspire questions from readers. Also, the saga is over, and Dumbledore’s, you know, dead, so, like that infamous moment on Law & Order when viewers suddenly learned that one of the show’s main characters was a lesbian literally 10 seconds before she left the series, it all seemed a bit easy.

Mark Davis
EW.com (Entertainment Weekly)

Analysis:

First, there is no such person as Dumbledore. So, he can’t be a homosexual. He is not a person, he is a fictional character in the Harry Potter books.

Continue reading “In The News: Dumbledore is a Homosexual” →

In Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer attempts to reconcile the seemingly contradictory beliefs of God’s sovereignty and man’s free will:

“An ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of sovereignty.

“On board the liner are scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as they please; but all the while the great liner is carrying them steadily onward toward a predetermined port.

“Both freedom and sovereignty are present here, and they do not contradict. So it is, I believe, with man’s freedom and the sovereignty of God. The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history.”

Douglas G. Gerrard

The illustration above is relatively accurate, though limited as illustrations always are. It is true that God’s sovereignty has predetermined the victory of righteousness over evil.

It is equally true that God has granted each man free will in his life. However, there is one thing that is not noted in the story. It is possible, first, for a man to choose not to board the ship, and then for a man to jump off the ship, of his own free will, thus not reaching the destination! (cf. Mark 16:16; 2 Peter 2:21-22).

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Paul here admonishes the Corinthians for being “carnal.” The word is the greek sarkikos, and means: pertaining to the flesh… by implication, unregenerate (from Strong’s).

This designation is the opposite of “spiritual”, and indicates that the flesh was winning in its conflict with the Spirit in their lives (cf. Galatians 5:17).

What was their sin? They were divided. Rather than expressing love for one another, and “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3), they were “behaving like mere men.”

It is not godly to be a strife bearer and envious. To be so is antithetic to Christ’s cause. Those who are His must show their love to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Peter 2:22). One way this is done is to “all speak the same thing” and to be “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (cf. 1:10).

AOTS Number 80

Our society is tolerant of everything except for intolerance. The attitude? Don’t Judge Me! This can not be the attitude of the child of God.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

AOTS Number 79

This Old Book, the Bible is God’s Word. It is given to us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It contains all that is needful to make a man completely furnished to a righteous and fulfilling life.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

AOTS Number 78

In defense of the faithful preacher of God’s word… He is simply the messenger. It is God’s message, not his, and he must preach it without compromise or apology.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

AOTS Number 77

It is important to many parents to supply for their children all the toys and comforts of life as possible. We supply for them a house, but too often parents do not ensure that a child has a caring and Christian home.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

Jude 3-4

The concept of contending for the faith, while well documented scripturally as a requirement of God, is not practiced with regularity in our time. Rather, the call today is for compromise and tolerance.

It is interesting that Jude indicates in this text his desire to write “concerning our common salvation.” It is certainly a pleasant thing to relate the privileges and rewards that are ours if we are found faithful in Christ. However, Jude “found it necessary” to write instead about false teachers and their influence, to warn his readers.

Why did Jude feel compelled to do this? Because of the dangers such men present! They are deceitful in their practices, and Jude reveals that they will stand condemned for their message (cf. vs. 14-15).

Jude warns his readers to “keep yourselves” (vss. 20-21). False teachers are dangerous, and we must contend with them!

Jesus Christ is our example in obedience, sacrifice and love. We are to obey, live lives of sacrifice, and love one another as we emulate Him.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Today is the day we are to show our priorities to be in order. God must be first in our lives today, because we do not have assurance of tomorrow.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

AOTS Number 76

Too many in our permissive society twist the concept of liberty to mean a liscense to do whatever they want. As Christians, we must become slaves to Christ, and be responsible in our actions.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

AOTS Number 75

An essay by Maurice C. Hall which parallels the presumptuosness of the hitch-hiker with the attitude that some have toward service in the Lord’s church.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

Podcast Number 59

Saul of Tarsus, chief among sinners, by the grace of God became the apostle Paul. Paul was one of the most influential and important figures of the New Testament. We can learn many wonderful lessons by examining his life.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .