Category: Self
Subject: Self
Take Heed to Yourself
“Then He said to the disciples, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, “I repent,” you shall forgive him’” (Luke 17:1-4).
Jesus’ warning to His disciples here are words that are applicable to us today. He speaks of offenses as inevitable things. By offenses, Jesus was referring to “sin traps”, things a man or woman might to do cause another to stumble and sin. Colly Caldwell had an interesting thought about this, “The forms these spiritual sin-traps may take will vary with each person but the effect can be devastating. It may come as a result of immoral influence, pleasurable seduction, false doctrinal teaching, or material gain.” (Truth Commentary). Continue reading “Take Heed to Yourself”
Sermon: Self-Sacrifice
A discussion of 1 Corinthians 9, where Paul notes his right to wages, but his unwillingness to exercise that right, as an example of self-denial, fully discussed in chapters 8-10.
From the Preacher’s Pen: Boasting in Evil
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness.You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.God shall likewise destroy you forever;
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,
And uproot you from the land of the living.The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,“Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”(Psalm 52:1-7)
Here on earth the wicked may prosper, but as the Psalmist knew, ultimately God will settle all accounts. It is a righteous thing with Him to take “vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Instead, as the Psalmist we must make God our strength, and serve Him with all our might!
Sermon: little gods
Idolatry still exists today. There are little gods people put (metaphorically) in their pocket. Gods like money, human wisdom, tradition, pleasure and self.
In the News: On “Selective Preaching”
Occasionally I receive a bulletin called Preacher Talk written by Cecil May Jr. May is, I believe, the President of Faulkner University in Montgomery, AL, and a long time preacher among the institutional churches. He is a good writer, and wrote the following short article titled, Selective Preaching, in the May 2011 issue.
