Category: Spirituality
Subject: Spirituality
Seeing the Unseen
Lesson 4 of 9, Fall 2016 Gospel Meeting. Speaker: Jeremiah Cox.
An exegetical study of 2 Corinthians 4, emphasizing the importance of keeping our focus on spiritual, eternal matters – so that we do not become discouraged.
Spiritually Minded
Lesson 3 of 9, Fall 2016 Gospel Meeting. Speaker: Jeremiah Cox.
The lesson is an exegesis of Romans 7 & 8, with applications. The child of God is no longer to practice sin. Our bodies are to be used for righteousness, not sin leading to death.
Sermon: Building a Christ-Like Character
Using the text of Colossiansa 3:1-17, the lesson discusses how to build a character that emulates that of the Lord. Such a character stands fast in the face of adversity, trial and temptation.
Sermon: Mary Chose the Good Part
In Luke 10:38-42, Luke narrates an occasion in Jesus’ ministry when he went to the house of Martha. At that time, Mary was commended for sitting at Jesus’ feet to hear His teaching.
Sermon: “Let us go on to perfection”
The lesson uses Hebrews 5:11 – 6:3 to establish 3 reasons why we should mature spiritually as Christians. They are:
- We should mature by reason of time (5:12)
- We should mature by reason of use (5:13-14)
- We should mature because it is God’s will for us (6:3)
From the Preacher’s Pen: Shortsighted
I am typing this short article while away from home, and handicapped by having left my reading glasses behind. As such, my near-sightedness is making it difficult to complete the task.
Naturally, I am reminded of Peter’s words in 2 Peter 1:9, “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” The things to which Peter refers are: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.
Consider that when Peter wrote these words there was no relief for a short sighted person. While I can pick up my glasses, they had no remedy. Such words would be especially poignant to one who suffered from near-sightedness, but would be a vivid picture to all. The Christian without his virtues is severely handicapped. It is difficult for him to accomplish his life’s purpose to serve God, and receive the reward.
In contrast, Peter writes, “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 8). Peter promises the clear-sighted Christian an entrance “into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (vs. 11). This requires diligence on our part (cf. vs. 10), and it certainly takes work to mature through the process of adding to our faith. What about it? How hard are you working to for such spiritual focus?
Sermon: If Then You Were Raised With Christ
Colossians 3:1. “If then you were raised with Christ…” There is a consequence to our being raised with Christ. Things that are expected of us as a result of the blessing we have received from our Lord. We are to seek the things above, that are of Christ.
Sermon: Spiritual Maturity
This sermon by Josh Cox examines the text of 2 Peter 1:5-11 to determine the characteristics that make for Spiritual Maturity. (Virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love).
Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
In the News: Queen of Vampires No Longer a Christian
NEW YORK – Anne Rice has had a religious conversion: She’s no longer a Christian.
“In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control,” the author wrote Wednesday on her Facebook page. “In the name of … Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.”
Rice, 68, is best known for “Interview With a Vampire” and other gothic novels. Raised as a Catholic, she had rejected the church early in her life but renewed her faith in recent years and in 2008 released the memoir “Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession.”
Hillel Italie
Associated Press
Continue reading “In the News: Queen of Vampires No Longer a Christian”
A True Tragedy
(Many of you know that I write a weekly sports article for the River Oaks News. In the summer they let me write other kinds of articles. This one is to appear in the paper next week. They don’t let me write on religious topics, but sometimes I sneak in a spiritual value or two. I have a few other comments at the end of the article).
The news shows, magazines and internet have been humming recently with the news of the deaths of three well known entertainers.
Ed McMahon, sidekick to Johnny Carson, and host of Star Search lived to the age of 86. He died after a long battle with bone cancer, and a recent bout with pneumonia. His death, therefore, was not unexpected.
Farrah Fawcett, pinup girl and television star, died at the age of 62 after a long battle with cancer. Her death was long anticipated as well.
The Search for Immortality
(And the Meaning of Life)
(Note: This Article, The Search for Immortality, (And the Meaning of Life) , was written by Tommy Davis, one of the members of the West Side congregation. I commend the article to you).
A few weeks ago, as my family and I watched a movie, I noticed a recurring theme in all forms of literature and movies — the search for immortality. This is not a recent phenomenon. The Egyptian pharaohs went to great lengths to achieve immortality. In fact, their culture almost revolved around the afterlife and immortality. Legends exist from nearly every society about those searching for the magic elixir that will let them live forever. What a colossal waste of time! From the day man was created, we have been immortal souls. We die as a direct consequence of our own sin. God gave us all a soul that will live forever; however, our problem comes because men want to live forever on earth. Why? It is a broken place full of death, disease, and heartache because of sin.
Sermon: Lot – How to Make A Terrible Decision
Sermon Title: Lot – How to Make a Terrible Decision
This sermon by Heath Rogers establishes that bad influences (in this case the men of Sodom) can corrupt our thinking and judgment to the point that we make bad decisions. Great lesson for young people.
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
