Sound Teaching

As we begin a new quarter in our Bible classes, and I look at the bulletin boards and classrooms, I am moved to thank all of the teachers for the time and effort they put in to teaching our children the precious word of God.

The work of the teacher is an important work. (This is doubly so, as they are instilling the principles of God and His word into their students). It is a work of great value and responsibility. James said, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). His words are not intended to discourage any man from teaching, but to get him to recognize the grave responsibility that is his.

Please take the time to thank you or your child’s teacher for the great and important work he or she is doing!

Christmas approaches. We will soon hear the repeated admonitions to “Remember the reason for the season.” We will not belabor the simple point that Christmas is a man-made holiday. Jesus did not authorize the observance of a day to commemorate his birth.

However, it is appropriate here to admonish all, “Jesus is the reason for every season.” It is absurd for men to believe they honor the Son of God by taking time out once or twice a year to consider His gift to mankind.

As His disciples, we should be ever mindful not only of His birth, but of his perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection. These are the things that afford us life and hope. These are the things we ought to remember, and daily offer up praises and thankfulness to Him.

The sermon text is Matthew 10:34-39. The lesson deals with the subject of priorities. Specifically, that Christ must take precedence in the lives of all who would name the name of Christ.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The sermon establishes God’s intent in directing Christian’s to withdraw their fellowship from the unrepentant sinner among them. In doing so, the faithful protect themselves from the leavening influence of sin, and seek to bring the sinner to repentance. (1 Corinthians 5)

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Congratulations are in order for Jen and Josh Scroggins, the proud parents of their third child, a daughter they named Rylee, born last Monday.

The Psalmist said that the man who fears the Lord and walks in his ways would have a wife, and children all around his table. “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord” (Psalm 128:3).

Families are truly a blessing from God. This is true even after the kids get older, and make your hair turn gray, or fall out!

They are also a responsibility. “And you, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6;4).

As a congregation, we are blessed to have some great parents who take that responsibility seriously. Keep up the good work!

The sermon asks and answers the questions, Is there any way to reconcile the evolutionists claim that the universe is 12-14 Billion years old with the Creation account of Genesis 1? Is there any need for such a reconciliation? Can the Genesis account be accepted as literal?

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

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 .

The sermon defines what is Christian fellowship, with a special emphasis on local church fellowship.

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Sermon explains Bible teaching regarding salvation by Grace. In so doing it refutes Calvinistic and Neo-Calvinistic concepts of Grace.

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

(Image: 45 year old Asia Bibi of Pakistan)

Consider the unfairness of the following scenario. You are a single member of a minority religious group, working at your job as a farmhand in a field. You are asked by your supervisor to go and fetch water for the other workers. You do as asked, but when you bring the water, your fellow workers refuse to drink it, calling the water unclean because you are the one who fetched it. A few days later you are set upon by a mob, still angry over the initial incident. The authorities are called, and they take you away for your own protection. Later, some in the mob claim that you are guilty of blasphemy against their religion. So, the authorities arrest you, and imprison you on that charge. You go to court, and though no evidence is presented to show the charge is true, you are nevertheless found guilty and sentenced to death. You are married, and have five children.

Continue reading “In the News: Death Sentence for Blasphemy” →

No doubt many of you voted in the mid-term elections on Tuesday. The day marked a pretty impressive political victory for the Republican party, which made significant gains in both houses of congress, in state legislatures, and in governorships across the nation.

It is not our place or purpose to comment on the election results. I have my opinions (and I feel free to posit them privately). However, there are a couple of thoughts that arise in observation of the events of the day. These thoughts have a spiritual application that is appropriate for this space.

Continue reading “In the News: Mid-Term Elections” →

In Romans 10:15, the apostle Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah (52:7), writing, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

I am not sure how beautiful Mo Hafley’s feet are, speaking literally. However, they certainly are precious to us, as they have brought him to us for the purpose of proclaiming that wonderful gospel.

In store for us is a week of edification and spiritual feasting. I want to personally encourage every member here at West Side to take full advantage of the preparations made by brother Hafley. Attend each preaching service, listen intently, and invite others to come as well.

Welcome, Mo! We are so pleased that you have come to preach to us the gospel of Christ!

(John 4:1-15)

After Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus (John 3), He left Judea, and traveled through Samaria on His way back to Galilee. Many took a circuitous route between the two regions to avoid the Samaritans, who were despised by the Jews. However, Jesus determined to cross through Samaria, and immediately struck up a conversation with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the city of Sychar.

Jesus’ disciples had departed into the city to buy food, and upon their return (vs. 27) marveled that he had talked with the woman. Jesus’ actions, and the content of the conversation itself, made clear that His purpose in coming to earth was to save all men, not just the Jews.

Continue reading “Living Water” →

Paul begins his epistle to the Galatians in a manner typical to him. In the first few verses he defends his apostleship, and asks blessings upon his readers.

His defense of himself is especially appropriate in that the churches of Galatia had been influenced by Judaizing teachers. These false teachers not only advocated false doctrine, they also sought to destroy the reputation of Paul at every opportunity. Their chief tactic was to claim that since Paul was not one of the original apostles, he had usurped the position. In response, Paul declared that his apostleship was “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father…” (vs. 1). The truth of this is evident in the reading of his conversion (Acts 9).

In praying for Grace and Peace for the Galatians, Paul identified Jesus as the Savior. He expressed the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice, “that He might deliver us from this present evil age.”

In that Jesus accomplished this wonderful objective, Paul rightly noted that He is solely worthy of “glory forever and ever. Amen” (vs. 5, cf. Revelation 5:1-7).