Category: Worldliness

British singer Amy Winehouse died on July 23, 2011. Winehouse was a talented performer with a distinctive voice and style, who died following a history of drug abuse, at the age of 27.

Her death is one in a long line of untimely deaths of celebrities and performers. In fact, the age of 27 seems to be significant, as singers Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Janice Joplin all died at that age as well. All were heavy drug users, and Hendrix and Joplin died of drug overdoses. Cobain committed suicide.

Continue reading “In the News: Another Rock Star Dies” →

The sermon is an explanation of Romans 13:11-14. A wonderful passage indicating the importance of a dedicated and focused “walk” to fulfill righteousness and refuse the flesh.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The last several chapters of the book of Job are very interesting. In them, in no uncertain terms, God puts Job in his place. He describes Himself as creator, and the one who is in charge of the universe, the earth, and the animals upon it. In contrast, he shows Job his own impotence and lowly place. For example, he wrote in chapter 38:34-35, “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you? Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?”

I always think of that conversation between God and Job when natural disasters occur, like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan this past week. Men so often consider themselves to the masters of the earth. While technology is amazing, and we are fortunate to live in an age of comfort and security, so often we are confronted with how vulnerable we are to this great universe created by our God.

Continue reading “Men Too Often Forget!” →

This post contains short summaries and links to both audio and Powerpoint presentations of all the sermons Mo Hafley preached for the West Side congregation in the Fall 2010 meeting, November 6-11.

Lesson 1: Looking Unto Jesus

In this sermon, Mo Hafley of Paden City, WV uses the text of Hebrews 12:1-7, to establish the nature of the Christian’s race on earth, and the motivation behind it as we look to Jesus, our Savior.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 2: How We Worship

This sermon by Mo Hafley is a discussion on proper worship to God, with an emphasis on focus and proper spirituality when we sing, pray, commune around the Lord’s table, give of our means, and listen to the preaching of the Word of God.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 3: A Few Days with Paul

This sermon by Mo Hafley is a discussion of Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica and Berea, as recorded by Luke in Acts 17:1-13. Paul and the first century disciples showed great courage in the preaching of the gospel of Christ.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 4: Parents and Children

This sermon by Mo Hafley is a wonderful treatment of God’s word on the topic of Parenting. In it, Mo shows what God expects of Christian parents, and even has some words of admonition for children.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 5: Preaching Properly

In this sermon, Mo Hafley discusses the proper tone we are to take in preaching. Emphasis is placed upon militance in preaching, as too often in our day and time people heap up for themselves teachers having itching ears. Soft preaching is not God’s way.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 6: Holy Living in an Unholy World

This sermon by Mo Hafley documents the moral evil that is present in our world, and especially our nation. Biblical advice is given to Christians, explaining how we are to navigate in such troublesome waters.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Lesson 7: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego

This lesson is an expository treatment of Daniel 3, showing the courage of these great servants of God. Regardless of consequence, Christians must emulate them.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 8: Evidences

This lesson by Mo Hafley is a concise detailing of various internal and external evidences, given to prove God’s existence, and the validity of the Bible as God’s revelation.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Lesson 9: Homesick for Heaven

This lesson was an appropriate ending to our gospel meeting with Mo Hafley. He used homesickness (an emotion we have all felt) to explain the type of desire and expectation we as Christians should have regarding our heavenly home.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Craigslist is a free ad listing service on the internet. It is similar to the free Thrifty Nickle newspaper, but it costs nothing to list a sale item, and it has become a popular way to buy, sell and trade.

Craigslist also has what it calls the “Adult Services” section. Here people can advertise massages, escort services, and other euphemisms of what is sometimes a solicitation of prostitution. As such, the service has come under legal scrutiny, and after various threats, Craigslist has shut down that part of its site.

Continue reading “In the News: Adult Services?” →

A Study of Psalm 101. The Psalm reveals the resolution of the King of Israel to reign with justice and righteousness in the Kingdom. His resolve, and attitudes toward both the wicked and just serve as an object lesson for Christian’s today.

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

A scenario arises where something objectionable is said or done. Some profanity, perhaps a dollop of gossip, maybe an unkind word. A Christian has the temerity to object, perhaps mildly, saying that such should not be said or done.

The response? A rolling of the eyes, and an invitation to just, “Get over it!” The world has no compunction about offending the Christian. Sometimes even other Christians may look askance at the one audacious enough to stand for what is right.

My answer? I will not “Get over it.” I am offended, and I refuse to go along to get along. Such raised objections are not an example of self-righteousness, (as the world believes), but the cry of those who are pilgrims in a land that is increasingly hostile to their faith, and that is leading more and more of God’s people to ungodly compromise. If someone doesn’t continue to speak up, all of us will “Get over it”, and the Devil will have won!

After some delay, all eight sermons preached by Micky Galloway during his April 2010 meeting are now available online. These can be accessed in this post, or by going to the 2010 Sermons Archive page.

Sunday Morning Class: My People Love to Have it So

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sunday AM: The Soundness of God’s People

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sunday PM: The Promise

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Monday PM: Committment to Family

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Tuesday PM: A Marriage That Will Not Fail

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Wednesday AM: Jesus, The Master Teacher

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Wednesday PM: What God Expects of Us as a Family

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Thursday PM: Victory in Jesus

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

One of the definitions of the term olympian is “surpassing all others in scope and effect” (American Heritage Dictionary). This definition certainly applies to the sexual appetites of the athletes in the Olympic Village this week in Vancouver. Continuing the trend of recent Olympiads in Sydney (70,000) and Beijing (100,000), Canadian officials ordered and distributed 100,000 condoms to athletes for the Vancouver Olympics. That averages to 14 for each athlete.

In explaining the hedonism of the Olympic athletes, former Olympic skier Picabo Street said, “It’s hundreds of auras, which does lead to a huge movement of energy. It’s not normal, resting energy. It’s jacked-up, hyped-up, on-the-brink-of-my-dream-coming-true, got-to-get-it, got-to-do-it energy, and it’s there all the time.”

Continue reading “In the News: Olympian Promiscuity” →

As we enter a new decade, it is amazing to look at how humans have messed up the world in which we live.

As always, the problem is sin (cf. Romans 3:23), and one has only to look at the headlines of the day to see how decrepit our world has become. Let me give you a sample, taken from some of yesterday’s headlines:

New Year Drunks Should Pay for Hospital Care? Taken from a Reuters report, the headline references the toll intoxication is taking upon Great Britain’s public health care program. British citizens do not have to pay for their health care, and in the last decade hospitalization for alcohol intoxication has doubled. The government is considering charging the equivalent of $845 to anyone who is admitted to the hospital in a drunken stupor. (Health care costs for alcohol related illness in Great Britain are in the area of 5 billion dollars a year).

Continue reading “In The News: A Messed Up World” →

One of the sermons in the series, Simple Answers for Difficult Questions. The sermon shows why it is sinful to smoke marijuana (or use other illicit drugs).

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In James 4:1-10, the Holy Spirit reveals that loving the world is tantamount to being unfaithful to God. Worldliness is equated with adultery. This shows the degree of treachery the worldly Christian is guilty of committing toward God.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Justin Carrell sent me a link to a press release by the ADF (Alliance Defense Fund). The subject of the release was a decision made by a New Hampshire court which would require a mother to stop homeschooling her 10 year old daughter, and put her in public schools.

This is one of the scariest things that I have read in quite a while, and I felt it important to share it with you. Following are the facts, and the reasoning behind the court’s decision.

Continue reading “In The News: Government Abuse of the Family” →

Jesus was plain in His preaching (cf. John 10:22-28), as were the apostles (cf. 2 Cor. 3:12). We should strive to be as well. The sermon describes 5 areas where plain speech is needed in teaching others:

• How to be saved from sins
• The Nature of the Church of Christ
• Assembled worship is required of Christians
• Christians are called to godly living
• A Judgment is coming!

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Pitfalls are traps set by Satan, that are not always immediately evident. Satan makes his enticements seem sometimes innocent, and always enticings. We must be on Guard, because:

• Strong Drink is a Pitfall
• Dancing is a Pitfall
• Evil Companionship is a Pitfall
• Fault Finding is a Pitfall

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Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .