Sound Teaching

I found the following nugget recently, that illustrates an important point about Truth.

Burghardt DuBois, the great black educator, sociologist, and historian, upon completion of studies at Fisk, Harvard and the University of Berlin, was convinced that change in the condition of the American black could be effected by careful scientific investigations into the truth about the black in America. So he proceeded. His research was flawless and his graphs and charts impeccable. After waiting several years and hearing not the slightest stir of reform, Dr. DuBois had to accept the truth about Truth: its being available does not mean it will be appropriated.

Fred B. Craddock, Overhearing the Gospel

The truth of God’s word is readily available to men. This is especially so in our country. The Bible is everywhere. A copy can be found in just about every home, and is available to every man. And yet, the book is seldom studied. At best, it is normally given a cursory examination, and devotion to God’s word is shallow at best.

If you want to know truth, you must exert yourself! “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

The sermon canvasses the book of James to come up with 16 different, practical pieces of advice from this wonderful book.

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The sermon discusses the origin and problem of sin, and how God “solved” the problem of sin.

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In these verses, the apostle deals with a particular situation involving sin in the congregation. He identifies a man who was guilty of having sexual relations with his father’s wife. The wording here would indicate a stepmother.

However, Paul does not deal with the man himself. In fact, he says that he has already judged in the matter (vs. 3). The man was guilty, and stood condemned before God.

Here Paul is addressing the Corinthians lack of action. He tells them that they should have already removed the man from their midst, and called their refusal to do so an act of pride (cf. vs. 2, 6).

Here Paul reveals the congregational action that is required when an individual is in rebellion to God. By Christ’s authority the congregation is to come together, and mark and banish him as one unworthy of Christian fellowship. Other reasons for this action follow in later verses, but in verse 5 he states one of the most compelling ones, “that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Brethren, congregational discipline saves men’s souls.

Daniel is a man of Purpose, Principle, Purity and Prayer. As such, he serves as a wonderful example to us.

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The sermon is a simple comparison between the two faiths of Christianity and Islam. In the comparison, Islam is found greatly wanting.

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The April 8, 1966 issue of Time Magazine had in big red letters on its cover the question, Is God Dead? The cover story sought to answer the question, 44 years ago, had belief in God become irrelevant in our modern society? The form of the question echoed the contention of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who in his book, The Gay Science (1882) said that God is dead in the hearts of modern men — killed by rationalism and science.

In the Time Magazine article, the author stated, “Even within Christianity, now confidently renewing itself in spirit as well as form, a small band of radical theologians has seriously argued that the churches must accept the fact of God’s death, and get along without him.” So, 130 years have passed since Nietzsche’s proclamation that “God is Dead”, and 44 years since Time reported that some religious people agree.

Continue reading “Worse Than A Fool” →

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?” →

Sermon text: 1 Corinthians 1 & 2. Those who deny God and His Son are extremely foolish. Paul contrasts such human wisdom with God’s “foolishness”, and finds the wisdom of men sorely lacking.

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1 Kings 18 records a conversation between two faithful servants of God, the prophet Elijah, and the servant Obadiah, from King Ahab’s house. Though different, they were both faithful, and teach us some important lessons.

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Paul’s introductory comments in Romans are typical. In them he identifies himself as a bondservant of the Lord, engaged in the task of preaching His gospel.

He affirms his apostleship, and that the gospel had its inception in the prophets. (Remember, Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian using the text of Isaiah 53).

He affirms Jesus to be the Son of Man “born of the seed of David according to the flesh”, and to be the Son of God, attested “by the resurrection from the dead.”

It is amazing how often the apostle repeats those two facts throughout his writings: 1) I am an apostle by God’s choosing; 2) I am bound by God to preach the gospel of the Lord.

Paul also revealed something about the Roman Christians. He wrote, “among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ.” This calling is the process of sanctification. We are called out of the world, called to holiness. All of Paul’s instructions come from this fact concerning his brethren. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (6:2-3).

Exodus 3 & 4 Record God’s call to Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. Moses’ initial excuses to avoid the responsiblity are similar to excuses many Christians use today. God’s answers are instructive for us in application.

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In reading a debate from 1928 on the subject of Premillennialism, I came across the following from the pen of H. Leo Bole. This is found in his first negative of the proposition, “The Scriptures teach that Israel (fleshly descendant of Abraham through Jacob) shall be nationally restored.”

“… An important rule for the correct understanding of God’s word is this — namely, the Scripture must be its own interpreter. This rule requires that when there is a question concerning the meaning of any Scripture, that the true sense must be searched out and ascertained from other Scriptures that speak more clearly on that point. All Bible scholars recognize two classes of Scriptures–plain and simple Scriptures, and obscure or difficult Scriptures. The obscure and difficult Scriptures must be interpreted by the plain and simple Scriptures.”
(http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/rboll/up/UP01N.HTM)

For example, Revelation 20:1-10 should be interpreted with Mark 9:1 in mind. If that is done, the erroneous view that Jesus has yet to establish an earthly 1000 year kingdom will not be seriously considered. This example could be multiplied with the various false doctrines that have troubled religious people throughout the history of the Lord’s church.

The apostle Paul’s appeal to Philemon on behalf of the slave Onesimus serves as an object lesson in this textual study of that book.

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