Category: Sin

Subject: Sin

How Does It Look to You?

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How the world views it:

“Yes, they had an affair. But, people fall in and out of love. It’s nobody’s fault, really. God wants His children to be happy. You shouldn’t judge them.”

“The most important thing in George’s life is making money. He works his fingers to the bone, and is always thinking about, and trying to get rich. That’s not for me, but to each their own. You do you, and I’ll do me.”

“Old Billy is the consummate gambler. And he is good at it! Be careful around him, or he will fleece you, and take all you’ve got. He’s a good old boy, and a lot of fun to be around. Just keep your hand on your wallet!”

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Sermon: Sinful Lusts

Sinful Lust

Defining it, determining its origin, discussing who is vulnerable, and a discussion of the admonitions against the lust that brings sin and death.

Scoundrels

Thieves

An interesting word study is found in 2 Kings 21, which records the death of Naboth, who refused to sell King Ahab a vineyard he desired. His refusal to sell “the inheritance of my fathers” to Ahab, left the king pouting. Worse, it made Queen Jezebel angry.

Jezebel set in order a conspiracy to kill Naboth for his actions. Men were recruited to bear false witness against Naboth in the presence of the people, proclaiming, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king” (vs. 13). On the basis of their testimony, Naboth was taken outside of the city and stoned to death. Ahab got his vineyard.

These men who bore false witness were identified as “sons of Belial” in the KJV, (vs. 10, 13). Later, Paul equated the name Belial with Satan Himself (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:15). Other translations call these men, “scoundrels” (NKJV), “base fellows” (ASV), “worthless men” (ESV), and “sons of worthlessness” (YLT).

The Hebrew words bên (sons) belîya’al (of Belial) indicate individuals who are without profit, worthless, destructive, wicked, evil, ungodly. Evil recruits evil for the express purpose of harming the righteous. Thus it has always been, and thus it shall always be. But remember, in the face of such ungodliness, “it is a righteous things with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you… in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8).

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Sermon: The Truth Shall Make You Free

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Lesson 23 in our series of Jesus teaching in the gospel of John covers 8:31-47. Jesus affirms the power of truth to free men from the slavery of sin. Also, he contends that the religious leaders have Satan as their father, because they are like him.

Sermon: Ugliness

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Just like in Roman times, our society is full of ugliness and sin. Violence, oppression, immorality, vitriol and corruption is everywhere. What is the proper Christian response?

Sermon: Where I Go You Can Not Come

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Lesson 22 in series

In John 8:21-30 Jesus informs the unbelieving Jews that their unwillingness to believe in Him would keep them from heaven. Faith in Jesus (cf. John 14:6) is the only way to the Father. Without belief in Jesus, sin separates man from God.

Sermon: Wrong is Always Wrong

Wrong is Always Wrong

Wrong is wrong, regardless of whether it is legal, you get caught doing it, you do it for the right reasons, someone else influences you, or the other person is doing even worse. It is wrong even if your conscience is clear or it is an expedient thing to do. It is wrong even if you refuse to admit it is wrong. It is wrong even if it is done in ignorance, or if others are doing it too. Wrong is ALWAYS Wrong!

COVID-19 (32) Learning from Juneteenth

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President Abraham Lincoln signed his Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves, on January 1, 1863. However, many slaves remained in bondage as the Civil War raged on, as many refused to acknowledge the authority of Lincoln to do what he did.

General Robert E. Lee surrendered his southern army to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9, 1865, though Civil War hostilities actually continued up to 16 months following that surrender. Texas had not suffered as much as many of the southern states, and was last to reestablish a state government acknowledging the authority of the federal government. This occurred in August of 1866.

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COVID-19 (10) The Most Contagious and Fatal of Diseases

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The COVID-19 virus is highly contagious. How contagious is yet to be determined. The worst case scenario posted by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) posits between 160 and 214 million people could be infected this year, with deaths between 200,000 and 1.7 million. Those are big numbers, and especially with the death estimates, widely ranging. We should pray that our tactics to combat the spread of the virus are successful, and that the numbers are much smaller.

A big part of the problem is that the virus is new. You have heard the word “novel” being used to describe it. Before the latter part of 2019, no one had ever seen it. No one knew how it was transmitted, how easily it could be spread, how contagious it was. And, no one knew how to treat it.

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Sermon: Understanding of the Times

Understanding of the Times

God expects Christians to have an understanding of the times in which we live, and react accordingly and appropriately. The days are evil and short, the evil that exists is not new, and ultimately it will not win. Knowing that victory is ours helps us to do what is required of us.

Sermon: A Covenant With My Eyes

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The text of Job 31:1 reveals a conviction of Job not to lust with his eyes. This teaches us that we too need a determination not to involved ourselves in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh or the pride of life.

Sermon: Sin VS Righteousness

Sin VS Righteousness

A comparison and contrast made between sin and righteousness. Sin is attractive, but righteousness is beautiful. Sin deceives, righteousness is honest. Sin enslaves, righteousness liberates. Both sin and righteousness spread. Sin defiles, righteousness partakes of the Divine nature.

Sermon: Dealing with Sin

Dealing with Sin

Men deal with the sin in their lives in varied ways. Some deny it, some indulge it, some excuse it, some hide it, and the righteous confess and repent of it. What do you do?

Sermon: Knowing Good and Evil

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A discussion of the Serpent’s temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden. The consequence and destructive nature of sin, and the importance of knowing God’s will for man.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Sermon: Perfect Hatred

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There is a sense in which Christians not only can “hate”, but must. However, this hatred must be in accord with God’s word and will. A proper understanding of the principles will assist the Christian in pleasing God.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides