Category: Sin

Bill Crews’ sermon documents the tendency of man to choose to sin. Using the history of the Jews, as well as New Testament and modern digressions and sin in the church, he points out the need to be on guard against apostasy.

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AOTS Number 16

Some people will turn to God only when desperate, only when they are forced to by circumstance. To think that such an attitude will be acceptable to God is to be mistaken!

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Podcast Number 38

Leprosy is a loathsome disease that terrified ancient people, including the Israelites. It serves as a parallel to the greatest scourge (disease) of mankind, the spiritual malady of sin.

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Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has got some parents steaming over his racy new stage play role.

One of the publicity photos for the play shows a topless and buffed Radcliffe being hugged by a naked woman. Another shows him leaning against bales of hay as he stares up at the topless woman. A third has him posing in front of a white horse.

The pictures have been released ahead of the opening of Equus, a controversial Peter Shaffer play showing at London’s Gielgud Theatre from next month.

Radcliffe,17, plays a troubled stablehand who one night blinds six horses with a hoofpick.

He features in numerous nude scenes with co-star Joanna Christie, the woman in the publicity shots.

The UK’s Daily Mail reports that Harry Potter fan sites have received emails from concerned parents…

…The play’s producer, David Pugh, told the Daily Mail that Radcliffe had been rehearsing the nude scenes with Christie for more than a week and had overcome his initial shyness.

The young actor’s spokeswoman, Vanessa Davies, said: “Daniel does not want to step away from Harry Potter but he does want to show he is a rounded actor capable of very different and diverse roles.”

“He has tremendous support from Harry Potter fans,” she said.

Jano Gibson
Sunday Morning Herald

Analysis:

It is shameful that the young actor who plays Harry Potter feels that to prove his ability as an actor he must appear in nude scenes on stage, and scenes depicting sexuality. In fact, it is sad that any 17 year old would do so, and likewise a sad commentary that such a move is lauded as “brave” and “daring.”

While it is a bit presumptuous for Radcliffe’s publicist to claim that he has “tremendous support from Harry Potter fans” (many are shocked and dismayed at what he is doing), nevertheless it is true that others are taken with his lewd turn. In fact, many fans admire the publicity photographs released for the play. One female fan said, “When I saw it I couldn’t breathe for a moment … I like it … They’re awesome!”

This is just another example that in the midst of our ungodly society, sex sells. Of course, the Bible has something to say about such ungodliness. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

While the world is characterized by such ungodliness, the Christian should be clear of it. Both in his personal life and conduct, and in his approval of the same. Remember the apostle Paul’s condemnation of the ungodly in Romans 1, “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” (vs. 31). We must be sure not to approve of that which God clearly and forcefully condemns. Think about it!

Two thousand years ago the Son of God was delivered up to be crucified on a cross. Not long after, some in Jerusalem expressed amazement at Peter and John as they healed a lame man at the gate of the temple. Peter took the opportunity to address the gathering, and said:

“Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses” (Acts 3:12-15).

Peter later acknowledged the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice, saying, “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled” (vs. 18). He then called on those present to “repent therefore, and be converted” (vs. 19).

Continue reading “The Rejected Savior” →

Podcast Number 33

Our society is presently plagued by many problems: Violence, sexual immorality, disease. Those who seek the answers to the problems are often looking in the wrong place. The Bible has the answers to society’s problems, whether men wish to accept it or not!

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Romans 6 establishes that the Grace of God is not a license to sin. The child of God, who has died to sin and been raised to walk in newness of life, must become a slave to righteousness.

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Podcast Number 29

The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 7:1 admonishes Christians to purify themselves from filthiness,
and perfect holiness. This lesson describes and explains how this can be accomplished.

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(Gospel Meeting: Mark Mayberry) First in a series of nine lessons based on 1 John 2:15-17. The world is properly defined in the text cited as the “Realm of Sin.”

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UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A youth baseball coach accused of offering an 8-year-old money to bean an autistic teammate so he couldn’t play was convicted Thursday of corruption of minors and criminal solicitation to commit simple assault. Mark R. Downs Jr., 29, was acquitted of criminal solicitation to commit aggravated assault, and the judge declared a mistrial on a reckless endangerment charge. Authorities said Downs offered to pay one of his players $25 to hit a 9-year-old autistic teammate with a ball while warning up before a June 2005 playoff game. Keith Reese Jr. testified about Dons’ offer, saying he purposely threw a ball that hit Harry Bowers in the groin then threw another ball that hit him in the ear on Downs’ instructions.

– The Associated Press

Analysis:

The theft of our air conditioning units a while back got me to wondering how individuals could become so immoral and ungodly that they would, in effect, steal from the Lord. There is so much evil in the world… murders, rape, robbery, racism, violent crime, etc…, that we tend to become numb and rather accepting of its reality. Then something like the theft of our equipment, or this mistreatment of a small child serves to shock us, and raise our indignation toward evil.

It is not so much the severity of the crime. Our units have been replaced, and the insurance covered almost the entire cost. The autistic little boy was not severely injured, and is physically fine. But, the sheer audacity! There are certain things that are universally recognized as worthy of our protection (a small child is one such object), and to see Downs so cavalierly contract out a “hit” (literally) on the child is shocking to us.

In the trial parents testified that Downs frequently complained that the child “brought the team down”, and once asked a parent to call and tell the child’s mother that a game had been cancelled so that the child would not be there to play the 3 inning minimum required in the league’s bylaws. When the mother came to get her son following the two “beanings”, he flippantly told her, “Looks like the balls are after him today!”

Mark Downs has shown himself to be a twisted and perverse individual. There is no justification for his actions, (which are unfortunately not that rare in our society today). He should be locked up, and the key thrown away. He certainly should be precluded from ever coaching or volunteering in any way that would allow him to become involved with small children.

And yet, there is so much worse going on every day. As Christians, we need to be mindful of such evil, and react with indignation to both attacks against the innocent, and against our God. We should use every means to cry out against the indignities and inequities of our society, as did our Lord during his ministry on the earth (cf. Matthew 21:12-13).

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.

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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.

Podcast Number 6

The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 7:11 describes godly sorrow, which leads one to repentance and salvation. Unfortunately sometimes the actions of Christians caught in sin do not match the description given by Paul in this passage.

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In the fourth chapter of Luke’s gospel we have recorded the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. None other than the devil himself (vs. 2) took the opportunity of Jesus’ fast in the wilderness to put stumbling blocks before the Son of God.

The second temptation placed before the Lord, to reject the work of redemption for the glory of the world’s kingdoms, brought this response from Jesus, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (vs. 8).

Continue reading ““Get Behind Me, Satan!”” →

Sermon Title: Who pays When I Sin?

Heath Rogers preached this sermon, examing the consequences, to self, family, friends, the church, and even the Lord Himself as a result of sin. Excellent Lesson!

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