Category: Subject Index

Podcast Number 12

It may be that Christians miss out on worldly pleasures as we practice our faith, but it is the one who is lost that is truly impoverished.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

Martyrdom is defined as “the suffering of death on account of adherence to a cause and especially to one’s religious faith” (Webster’s). In respect to the Christian faith, martyrdom is dying because of the profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Perhaps the best known example of such a death is also the first example, that of Stephen, whose stoning is recorded in Acts 7:57-59, “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Continue reading “Martyrdom” →

Former ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass has announced he is gay and is in a very stable relationship with “Amazing Race” reality TV star Reichen Lehmkuhl.

The 27-year-old was afraid of coming out during his time with the boy band because he feared his sexuality would damage the group’s commercial prospects.

He tells People magazine, “I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys’ careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything.

“I didn’t know. Could that be the end of ‘N Sync? So I had that weight on me of like, ‘Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it’s bad.’ So I just never did.”

He adds, “The thing is, I’m not ashamed — that’s the one thing I want to say. I don’t think it’s wrong, I’m not devastated going through this. I’m more liberated and happy than I’ve been my whole life. I’m just happy.

“The main reason I wanted to speak my mind was that (the rumors) really were starting to affect my daily life. Now it feels like it’s on my terms. I’m at peace with my family, my friends, myself and God so there’s really nothing else that I worry about.”

Bass is currently developing a TV sitcom with Fatone in which his character will be gay.

Joey Fatone was the first ‘N Sync member to find out Bass’ sexuality.

Fatone says, “He took years to really think about how he was going to tell everyone. I back him up 100 percent.”

SFGate.com

Analysis:

There is nothing out of the ordinary with the announcement that another entertainer is gay. In fact, in the present climate, it is rather doubtful that the announcement would have had a detrimental effect on the boy band’s popularity, despite Bass’ concerns.

What is worthy of note is Bass’ statement about being at peace with his family, friends, himself and God.

He is at peace with his family and friends because they are among those who “…knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (cf. Romans 1:32).

He is at peace with himself because he “because, although [he] knew God, [he] did not glorify Him as God, nor [was he] thankful, but became futile in [his] thoughts, and [his] foolish [heart was] darkened… 24 Therefore God also gave [him] up to uncleanness, in the lusts of [his heart], to dishonor [his body]…” (Roman 1:21,24).

But, he is not at peace with God. He has no right to speak for God. God says, “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13). Homosexuality is an abomination. No man or woman who persists in that sin is at peace with the God of heaven.

Momentous decisions made by individuals recorded in the scripture record (decisions good and bad) demonstrate the necessity of us making godly decisions in our own lives.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Hebrews 11:6 affirms that biblical faith consists not only of an assent to the existence of God, but also confidence that God rewards the obedient. This teaches us that the doctrine of faith only is deficient. Faith working together with obedience justifies man.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Podcast Number 11

Contained in the word of God are objective truths. The humanistic view of subjectivism is shown to be an invalid way of looking at life.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19).

Jesus revealed in his explanation of the Parable of the Sower that one of the real dangers threatening the faith of children of God is the inordinate desire for material things.

We certainly live in a rich society. Even families of the most modest means normally have such things as automobiles, homes, food, televisions, and now the ubiquitous cell phones.

Of course, none of these things, or the many toys, possessions and luxuries that many Christians enjoy are inherently sinful. They do, however, have a tendency to divert our attentions and priorities from that which is truly important.

Continue reading “The Deceitfulness of Riches” →

President George W. Bush may have cited his moral stance in vetoing a bill that would have expanded embryonic stem-cell research on Wednesday but the issue transcends traditional divisions over abortion rights.

Strongly conservative Republicans who oppose abortion such as Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch have backed broader federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research for years, and more conservatives have come on board recently, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee.

The embryos at issue come from fertility clinics, where eggs and sperm are united in lab dishes. But many more are made than can ever be implanted in mothers’ wombs, and the leftovers are discarded.

The bill vetoed by Bush would have allowed federal taxpayer money to be used to do research on those embryos donated by the parents. It is not illegal to use private funds to do so, although some conservatives, such as Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, would also seek to ban this research.

The stem cells are taken from a ball of cells known as a blastocyst, which develops five to seven days after conception. These embryonic stem cells are pluripotent — meaning they can differentiate into all the types of cells that make up an animal, including a human being, but do not form placenta and cannot become a fetus.

Bush, an opponent of abortion, used his first veto as president to block the bill on Wednesday, saying destroying embryos for medical research “crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect.”

Many people who disapprove of abortion say they do not disapprove of experimenting on these embryos, which would otherwise be discarded.

“It’s very difficult to justify abandoning 7,000 to 20,000 in vitro eggs as medical waste,” Hatch told reporters recently.

REUTERS / Peter Macdiarmid

Analysis:

It is not uncommon for advocates of stem cell research to blur the lines regarding what constitutes life. In reality, man has no right to establish such arbitrary distinctions. From conception, an embryo is an independent, living organism. If it is not human, then what is it?

Understood in this light, the immoral nature of the aforementioned arguments becomes clear. For example, stem cell advocates are arguing that since we are going to throw living humans into the trash anyway, instead we ought to kill them through human experimentation.

Stem cell advocates are actually claiming to have the moral high road in this debate. Note the following quote from later in the article, “It is immoral for our families, neighbors and friends to be held hostage to chronic diseases when their treatments are within our scientific grasp,” June Walker, president of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, said in a statement. In reality, the call is for the sacrifice of innocent and vulnerable human beings to benefit others in society. The fact that stem cell advocates are unwilling to admit to the humanness of the embryos does not change the fact of their humanity. To sacrifice one segment of society in preference to another is barbaric, and without any moral justification.

“And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41).

I recently came across an article from the online edition of the Kansas City Star, detailing objections of the Chinese government to scenes contained in the recently released movie, Mission Impossible III.

The movie contains a few scenes shot in Shanghai, which the Chinese government finds objectionable. Of course, most are aware of the fact that China’s government is repressive, and does not allow the almost unlimited expression of free speech we see in other societies.

Continue reading “In The News: Movie Nudity – A Moral Issue” →

Podcast Number # 10

Set against the dingy backgrop of human pretense and religious traditions our blessed Lord appeared. He came to give us life, and to give it abundantly (cf. John 10:10).

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

The Holy Scriptures, inspired of God, are versatile.  They supply each man whatever is needed to convict, rebuke, correct or instruct him in the way he should go.  Different men may need different things from scripture, but it is able to supply each with whatever is needful for their salvation.
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The judgment of God is inescapable, and the sin of man will be found out.
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

KIEV (Reuters) – A man shouting that God would keep him safe was mauled to death by a lioness in Kiev zoo after he crept into the animal’s enclosure, a zoo official said on Monday.

“The man shouted ‘God will save me, if he exists’, lowered himself by a rope into the enclosure, took his shoes off and went up to the lions,” the official said.

“A lioness went straight for him, knocked him down and severed his carotid artery.”

The incident, Sunday evening when the zoo was packed with visitors, was the first of its kind at the attraction. Lions and tigers are kept in an “animal island” protected by thick concrete blocks.

Analysis

This news account is rather peculiar, as it does not indicate whether the man in question was one who had faith in God, or who had taken drastic means to prove to himself whether or not God exists.  If a man doubts the existence of God, it seems rather extreme to place himself in mortal danger to find out!  Continue reading “In the News: Lioness In Zoo Kills Man Who Invoked God” →

Podcast Number #9

Whether it is observing the Letter of the law (cf. Hebrews 10:24-25) or observing the Spirit of the law (cf. Matthew 10:37,39) it is obvious that God expects for us to be regular and diligent in our attendance to worship services and classes in the local church. We should not be seeking to do the “minimum”, rather we should be diligent to do all we can for the Lord.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

Israel disobeyed God after the destruction of Jericho, as Achan took of the accursed things. Israel’s defeat at the hands of the small city of Ai teaches us that God’s acceptance is contingent upon our righteousness and obedience. There are lessons to be learned from this text (Joshua 7).

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .