Tri-Annual Singing!
February 21, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Mining the Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:17-19
The text continues the call for righteous living by noting that each person is treated the same way by God. He judges “without partiality”, and “according to each one’s work.” This is imminently fair. God does not play favorites. Your standing before Him is a result of appropriate rules He has established that are the same for all men.
So, our sojourn on this earth should be characterized by a respect for the rules of God. Anarchy or rebellion is not acceptable, and will be judged harshly. The gift of grace is much too precious to be treated with disdain. How precious? Our redemption is purchased with something far greater than worldly treasures.
Our redemption is purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. He who lived perfectly died a sacrificial and vicarious death. He died for us! Isaiah wrote, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (53:5).
Trained by Grace
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:11-13).
The grace of God has implications far beyond our redemption as the elect of God. It also indicates an ought. In effect, the grace of God teaches or trains us to know how we ought to act and focus our thoughts in response to its effectiveness in saving our souls
We owe a debt we simply can’t pay, “salvation.” But, we are to indicate clearly our thankfulness for the gift of redemption, (cf. Luke 17:11-19). The haunting words of Jesus, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine” (17).
Our show of appreciation for the gift of grace must be seen in our life’s response. We have spent enough time living in sin (cf. 1 Peter 4:3), and in response to God’s grace must live soberly, righteously and godly. This not only involves doing righteousness, but primarily denying ungodliness and the illicit desires that characterize the worldly. Our motivation? An eternal reward in heaven, given at His second coming. Anything less is ungratefulness on our part!
Sermon: God Requires Obedience (Deuteronomy 5-9)
A discussion of Deuteronomy 5-9, showing that God always requires obedience of His children. This is the basis of the 10 commandments, the entireity of God’s Old Covenant, as well as what is required as a part of Faith in Christ.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Sermon: Hearing the Word
A description given by James in James 1:21-22 as to the correct way to approach the preaching of the gospel.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Working on the House of the Lord
The book of Haggai is a short work, a series of messages from the prophet to Zerubbabel (governor), Judah (high priest) and the remnant of Judah who had returned from Babylonian captivity. The people had returned to rebuild the temple, but years had passed with it unfinished. An introduction to the book indicated that Haggai’s message was a call for renewal, a renewal of courage, holiness, and faith. This seems to be a rather apt description of the message God gave to the prophet.
First, notice why the people had left the temple unfinished for several years. “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!’” (Haggai 1:4-5). The people had become distracted, shifting their priorities from the greater to the lesser. They were more concerned for their own comfort than for serving the Lord. Misplaced priorities are a big problem for just about every generation! In this the returned exiles were typical, “It is time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” The remedy is, as stated, to “consider your ways!” Continue reading “Working on the House of the Lord”
Mining the Scriptures: James 1:26-27
The final two verses of this first chapter of James contain a contrast between vain religion and pure religion.
First, vain (useless) religion is a religion that does not change a person for the better. Specifically, James describes one who thinks himself to be religious, but it has not touched his tongue (or his heart), cf. Matthew 15:18.
Second, pure (and undefiled) religion is characterized by both what is not done, and what is done. One whose religion is pure will show it by righteousness. He will keep himself “unspotted from the world,” cf. 1 Peter 4:3. Additionally, he does his duty, what God requires of Him. He visits “orphans and widows in their trouble,” cf. Galatians 6:10.
Simply put, our religion must first be true (accepting Jesus Christ as the Anointed, the Son of God), and also life changing. We must be a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), living our lives according to Jesus’ own will (Galatians 2:20).
Comparing High Priests
Aaron, the older brother of Moses, was appointed to be the first High Priest of the nation of Israel. This was an office established by God under the Old Covenant, the Law that God gave to Moses to govern the Jews. Aaron was the first of many men who served in this capacity before Jesus. He was a descendent of Levi, hence the priesthood is known as the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood. Put simply, these were mere men, themselves guilty of sin, who yearly had to offer the blood of bulls and goats for atonement, first for themselves, and then for the people of Israel, (cf. Leviticus 16:1-5).
In the letter to the Hebrews, the Holy Spirit makes clear the differences between Jesus as High Priest, and those who went on before. Consider the following: Continue reading “Comparing High Priests”
Putting Away Lying
“Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).
The phrase, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” is taken from Zechariah 8:16. Zechariah’s prophecies occurred following the return of the remnant from Babylonian captivity. Note two points. First, honesty is a principle that should inform every part of our lives, and all of our relationships. Second, this is especially so with whom we share a special bond, “for we are members of one another.”
The bond the remnant shared was their cultural and national identities. They were Jews, part of God’s chosen people, with a obligation to keep the law.
Here Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians. Their bond was their shared faith in Jesus Christ. The same words were used by Paul to describe that relationship in Romans 12:5.
Honesty (putting away lying) is important in and of itself. God revealed time and again that lying, deceit, guile, are condemnable acts, and not worthy of God’s children (cf. Revelation 21:8). Beyond that, our special bond as Christians demands that we treat each other honestly. To do less is to disrespect and endanger our fellowship as His children!
Sermon: Spiritual Maturity
Once you become a Christian, it is important to grow to maturity, progressing rather than regressing.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Sermon: “In Isaac Your Seed Shall Be Called”
A discussion of Romans 9:1-8, showing that ultimately, salvation for both the Jew and the Gentile is found in the promise of the Messiah, fulfilled through Isaac.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Sermon: Inescapable
Certain things are not avoidable in life, including The Consequences of Sin, Death, and the Judgment!
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Sermon: Psalm 53
A discussion of the 53rd Psalm and the expression of the evil fool, “There is no God.”
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Weeping Now, or Laughing Now?
I was asked to speak on a couple of passages in Luke 6 (in August), and while it is on my mind I would like to share with you some thoughts about the 21st and 25th verses. In the latter part of verse 21, our Lord says, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” In the last part of verse 25 the thought is reversed, “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”
The initial thought I had is that these two principles are very clearly demonstrated in Luke 16. There, we have a contrast between the lives, deaths, and afterlives of a rich man, and a beggar named Lazarus. “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores” (Luke 16:19-21). Continue reading “Weeping Now, or Laughing Now?”
