Sound Teaching

What the world defines as success does not often coincide with what God considers successful. Rather than looking for earthly treasure, as Christians we must lay up for ourselves heavenly riches.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Not every attempt at prayer is acceptable to God. It may be the individual praying is not worthy, or the sentiment expressed may not be in keeping with the will of God. In this sermons there are six characteristics mentioned which properly indicate a prayer that is acceptable to God.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Podcast Number 19

What do Christians need to be able to preach the gospel to the lost? Education? Charisma? Eloquence? No, none of these. There are certain things, revealed in this podcast, that Christians need to be effective in sharing the good news.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

In my personal study, I recently came across a word with which I was not familiar. The term is “abnegation.” It is interesting that in consulting dictionaries about the word, one didn’t have it, several defined it simply as “self-denial”, and only two (both online dictionaries) gave the meaning that coincided with its usage in the example I had encountered. WordNet gives as the primary meaning of the term, “the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief.”

Though the term might be a bit rare, the concept or phenomenon of denying and rejecting a doctrine or belief is commonly found in scripture.

Continue reading “Abnegation” →

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A youth baseball coach accused of offering an 8-year-old money to bean an autistic teammate so he couldn’t play was convicted Thursday of corruption of minors and criminal solicitation to commit simple assault. Mark R. Downs Jr., 29, was acquitted of criminal solicitation to commit aggravated assault, and the judge declared a mistrial on a reckless endangerment charge. Authorities said Downs offered to pay one of his players $25 to hit a 9-year-old autistic teammate with a ball while warning up before a June 2005 playoff game. Keith Reese Jr. testified about Dons’ offer, saying he purposely threw a ball that hit Harry Bowers in the groin then threw another ball that hit him in the ear on Downs’ instructions.

– The Associated Press

Analysis:

The theft of our air conditioning units a while back got me to wondering how individuals could become so immoral and ungodly that they would, in effect, steal from the Lord. There is so much evil in the world… murders, rape, robbery, racism, violent crime, etc…, that we tend to become numb and rather accepting of its reality. Then something like the theft of our equipment, or this mistreatment of a small child serves to shock us, and raise our indignation toward evil.

It is not so much the severity of the crime. Our units have been replaced, and the insurance covered almost the entire cost. The autistic little boy was not severely injured, and is physically fine. But, the sheer audacity! There are certain things that are universally recognized as worthy of our protection (a small child is one such object), and to see Downs so cavalierly contract out a “hit” (literally) on the child is shocking to us.

In the trial parents testified that Downs frequently complained that the child “brought the team down”, and once asked a parent to call and tell the child’s mother that a game had been cancelled so that the child would not be there to play the 3 inning minimum required in the league’s bylaws. When the mother came to get her son following the two “beanings”, he flippantly told her, “Looks like the balls are after him today!”

Mark Downs has shown himself to be a twisted and perverse individual. There is no justification for his actions, (which are unfortunately not that rare in our society today). He should be locked up, and the key thrown away. He certainly should be precluded from ever coaching or volunteering in any way that would allow him to become involved with small children.

And yet, there is so much worse going on every day. As Christians, we need to be mindful of such evil, and react with indignation to both attacks against the innocent, and against our God. We should use every means to cry out against the indignities and inequities of our society, as did our Lord during his ministry on the earth (cf. Matthew 21:12-13).

A love and affection for one’s brothers and sisters in Christ leads a Christian to seek their well begin and eternal welfare.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

We need to have big evangelistic goals, coupled with the desire and steadfastness to share the gospel with the world.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Podcast Number 18

The Bible reveals (the epistle of James) that trials and tests produce patience in the life of the Christian. We should consider it a reason for rejoicing when we are tested and chastened by God.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

The Apostle Paul exhorted the Ephesian elders while in Miletus in Acts 20. His address is full of application with regard to personal responsibility and love for brethren.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Christian life is a life of dedication, and fealty to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. One who is a child of God must live a life of godliness, sobriety and righteousness in order to gain eternity.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Podcast Number # 17

Evidences are supplied in answer to questions… Does God Exist? Is the Bible Inspired? Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

Our world’s description of a “real man” and that found in scripture differ greatly. The Lord places an emphasis on obedience, virtue, steadfastness, and honor.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In the Saturday, September 2nd edition of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, there was an article entitled, House sellers put their faith in saintly intervention. The article refers to the practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph upside down in the yard of a home for sale will bring good luck to homeowners desperate to sell. In looking for a representative statue to accompany this story, I came across this “kit” for sale for $4.95 at an online novelty store, with the accompanying caption and description:

St. Joseph – Patron Saint of Real Estate

Based on the circumstances surrounding them, some Saints become “patrons” of people, occupations, places or things. It’s never been easier or more affordable to bring the power of a Patron Saint to your aid. Each 3-3/4″ tall, hard plastic Saint comes with a 3″ stand embossed with the Saint’s name and a removable backdrop with the Saint’s title, patronage and a prayer to help invoke the power of that Saint.

The reference is to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.

Continue reading “In The News: The Patron Saint of Real Estate” →

The Bible defines the concept of love, not as a mere profession, but as active good will toward others. We are to love first, our God; next, our fellow men; and finally, have the proper type of love for ourselves.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Podcast Number # 16

There are many things that can hinder the prayers of a Christian. These things must be identified, and avoided.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .