Category: Subject Index
Study Material Categorized by Subject
The New Testament Texual Witnesses
The New Testament that we have in our possession today is the product of a multitude of manuscripts. The word manuscript in general has reference to any handwritten document. However, when referring to the Bible, it references handwritten copies that are in the original Koine Greek language.
The fact that we no longer have the original manuscripts penned by the New Testament writers would seem to be a concern. However, the multitude of copies that we have in our possession serve to assuage any concerns about whether we have the actual words of Paul, Peter, John and the others who wrote by inspiration of God.
The Patternists: Support of the Preacher
In 1 Corinthians 9, the apostle Paul found it necessary to defend his right, as well as that of his preaching companion Barnabas, to receive material support in the pursuit of preaching the gospel.
This was in response to an “examination” by others, who apparently objected to his taking money and support from congregations. (It is interesting how possessive some brethren can be about money that belongs to the Lord!). His defense begins in verse 4.
“Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?” (9:4-7).
Throwing Out the Trash
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:7-11).
This fairly long quote needs to be given in its entirety to establish Paul’s commitment and motivation. His commitment was total. There was no accomplishment, possession or relationship he previously experienced that any longer had any value to him outside of the context of his relationship with Christ. His commitment to His Lord was without compromise. In this he serves as an example to us. “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
His motivation was clear. He desired to be resurrected from the dead. His desire was eternal life, and his life was lived successfully (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6-8). At the end of your life, will you also be able to say, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day”?
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Sermon: The Scriptural Meaning of the Word “Church”
Religious people today use the word “church” in ways that are obviously not scriptural. If we respect God’s word and His will for man, we will be careful of our usage of the term, and align ourselves with those who recognize and respect the church as He made it.
Sermon: Miracles and Their Consequences (4:46-5:17)
Lesson 9 of Series (4:46-5:17)
When Jesus heals and performs miracles, the serve to establish Him as God’s Son, and worthy of His Lordship. As such, we must obey Him!
The Patternists: Observing the Lord’s Supper
The importance of the Lord’s Supper is beyond dispute. In the first century, the disciples partook of the emblems each first day of the week for the purpose of remembering the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. It is an example that we emulate in our worship as well. It is a solemn and special feast, and we each should rejoice in the opportunity we have in our assembly to observe it.
We might ask, knowing the significance of the supper, why anyone would sully the experience by improper attitudes or actions? And yet, the Corinthians were guilty of that very thing. They took the Lord’s Supper, but they did it in such a way as to bring Paul’s condemnation of their observance. His admonition is found in 1 Corinthians 11, from verse 17 to 33. “Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse” (vs. 17). We should consider their negative example, to learn from and avoid their failures.
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True Wisdom
Paul quotes Job’s friend Eliphaz in 1 Corinthians 3:19 while admonishing the Corinthians to avoid the “wisdom” of the world. The full quote from Job 5 is:
“He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noontime as in the night” (Job 5:13-14).
This truth is affirmed time and again in scripture. What men consider to be “wise” is often at odds with the Lord and His will.
Consider that wisdom is often associated with illumination. A truly wise man has insight, an ability to “see” that is not available to the foolish. And yet, Eliphaz talks of the “wise” as groping at noontime as in the night. The only explanation for this is that the wisdom noted in the passage is not true wisdom.
“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12).
Remember that true wisdom descends from above (cf. James 3:13-17). Any time the wisdom of men conflicts with the mind of God, it is counterfeit. It has no real ability to illuminate and guide a man in the way he should go. As Paul notes, the thoughts of the wise, “they are futile” (1 Corinthians 3:20).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 2:5-6).
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Sermon: God’s Word is Excellent!
The text of Psalm 119 is devoted to expressing to man the blessings which come from God’s excellent word. It guards and directs us, brings us comfort and wisdom, and ultimately brings salvation to mankind.
Sermon: Fields White For Harvest (4:27-38)
Lesson 8 in Series (John 4:27-38)
Jesus expresses to His disciples that both His and their work in the world is to save souls.
Is It Lawful?
In Mark 10, the Pharisees came to Jesus for the purpose of testing Him. Their motivations were impure, but they asked a question of him that is especially important to us today. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (10:2). Matthew records the question in this way, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (19:3).
The Patternists: “For Three Transgressions … and for Four”
The book of Amos begins with a proclamation of God’s judgment against the nations. Jehovah included in these words of condemnation Damascus (Syria), Gaza (Philistia), Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab — in addition to Judah and Israel.
He introduces each pronouncement of judgment with the words, “For three transgressions of [enter nation here], and for four, I will not turn away its punishment” (cf. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6). The phrase is a typical way of expressing a measure of completeness. Three sins were bad enough, but the fourth was cause for God’s judgment, He had reached the end of His longsuffering.
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The Lord’s Counsel
“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand” (Proverbs 19:20-21).
Wisdom comes from instruction. The reason for this? Wisdom is the perceptive application of truth. In order to act wisely, one must first know the truth. God’s truths, ultimate truths, are revealed in His word. If a man listens to those who know those truths, and comes to know them himself, he has established a foundation for wisdom. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Men often reject wisdom for their own desires and goals. Truly, “There are many plans in a man’s heart.” Men design wicked, selfish and foolish plans that result in ruin. “No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil” (Proverbs 12:21).
Their evil ends in ruin for two reasons. First, it is foolish. That is, what they do is most often self-destructive. By rebelling against God’s plans, they reject counsel that is designed to benefit man. God’s knows best, and yet men consistently reject His good counsel.
Second, rejection of God’s counsel leads to judgment. God said to Israel, “Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them, because they have transgressed against Me!” (Hosea 7:13).
Be wise. Listen to and heed God’s counsel. “The Lord’s counsel – that will stand.”
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Sermon: Growth of the Body
The lesson shows the need for faithfulness and zeal, by noting the admonitions and commendations to the seven churches of Asia. The key is the individual in accomplishing this need (cf. Ephesians 4:11-14)
Pappy’s Bad Word
One interesting part of being a Pappy is that you may forget some of the “bad” words parents teach their children not to say. A couple of times I have used the word “stupid” in front of my granddaughters, and they have been scandalized! “Pappy, that’s a bad word!” So Pappy has to say he’s sorry, and promise not to say it again.
The word “stupid” is certainly an ugly word, and we generally are right to avoid it’s use. It is also an appropriate word to use from time to time. One such time is in describing a man who hates to be corrected.
“Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1).
The Hebrew word that is translated stupid in the NKJV is ba’ar. It is translated “brutish” in older translations as a nod to its etymology. You have heard the insult “dumb cow” or “dumb as a cow”? Cattle are not known to be particularly smart animals. The Hebrew word is taken from a root which means to consume or eat cattle. If you are brutish, you are like a cow. In a word, stupid!
God’s people appreciate both His word, and those who are willing to reprove and rebuke in accord with that word. A person who is unwilling to take such correction is actually acting in a self-destructive manner. He is being stupid! It is not always comfortable or enjoyable to be corrected by someone more knowledgeable, but it is smart to listen.
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Sermon: Faith, Love, Hope
The text of 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 talks about the work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope that defines the Christian experience. The subject was a favorite one of the great Apostle.
