Sermon: The Trials of a Christian

Thackery

Speaker: Thackery Scroggins

Christians are beset with trials and temptations. What could be an advantage for the devil can instead bring maturity, if handled correctly.

Sermon: The Empty Tomb

The Empty Tomb

A discussion of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The eyewitness testimony, and the significance of the event.

Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:

[doc id=10819]

<<———><><———>>

Sermon: The Will of God, Your Sanctification

Sanctification

A discussion of holiness as it relates to sexuality, taken from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.

The Patternists: Why is Discipline Lacking?

Withdraw

The New Testament is rather clear about the importance of discipline among God’s people. Consider the following passages:

(Titus 3:10-11), “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

(Romans 16:17), “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”

Continue reading “The Patternists: Why is Discipline Lacking?”

The Danger of Assumption

Good VS Evil

When the wicked in the world engage in evil without suffering consequences, what do we think? Do we think that this not fair? Do we think that God is not fair? Do we think that God is evil? Some have gone beyond thinking it, and have actively said as much.

God has something to say on the matter. In Psalm 50, He speaks to the wicked regarding their evil works. Consider His words:

“These things you have done, and I kept silent;
You thought that I was altogether like you;
But I will rebuke you,
And set them in order before your eyes.
“Now consider this, you who forget God,
Lest I tear you in pieces,
And there be none to deliver:
Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
And to him who orders his conduct aright
I will show the salvation of God.”

(Psalms 50:21-23)

It is a mistake to assume that God is anything at all like the wicked. Though He does not always work in ways we understand, we know two truths absolutely. One, those who “forget God” will eventually pay for their sin, (cf. Romans 1:28-32). Two, the one who “orders his conduct aright” will be saved by God (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7).

God is righteous in character and judgment. In the end, righteousness will prevail!

Click below to…

Image

Sermon: Hate Speech

Hate Speech

God condemns the use of any type of hateful speech. However, there is a difference between what is actual hate speech, and what our culture determines to be hateful.

Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:

[doc id=10709]

<<———-><><———->>

Sermon: Effectively Approaching People

Effectively Approaching People

Justin shares some practical considerations as we seek to share the gospel of our Lord with those who need it.

Having His Children in Submission

submission

Having discussed the question, “Does one child constitute children” in Paul’s list of qualifications, we now turn our attention to the qualification itself, listed in 1 Timothy 3:4-5.

“One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)”

Continue reading “Having His Children in Submission”

The Patternists: Are Repeated Warnings Tedious?

eye roll

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul clearly showed his respect for and confidence in this fine congregation. They were faithful, loving and active in the work of the Lord. There are few notes of admonition in his letter. His primary intent is to thank them for their fellowship and love.

However, he makes an interesting statement in the first verse of the third chapter. “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.” While there was no need for him to admonish them, there was a need for him to warn them again about things he had already addressed. In doing so, he contributed to their safety – “but for you it is safe.”

Continue reading “The Patternists: Are Repeated Warnings Tedious?”

Causing Grief

grief

In 2 Corinthians 2, the apostle Paul gives instructions to the church to “forgive and comfort” the man who had been disciplined by them. It’s almost certain that the man under consideration was the man guilty of fornication, referred to in 1 Corinthians 5. They had done as Paul commanded, and withdrew fellowship from him. The text obviously intimates the man’s eventual repentance, and now Paul calls upon the Corinthians to forgive him, and receive him back into their fellowship.

Why would they hesitate to bring him back? Because his sin and rebellion had caused them grief! He hadn’t personally grieved Paul, as Paul was not part of that congregation, but all of them in Corinth, “to some extent,” had been caused grief by him.

The word grief here, (lupeo), means to make sorrowful, to offend, (Thayer). Two simple, but important points are here made.

First, no matter the trouble, sorrow and offense we endure from a man who is caught and remains in sin — we are called to forgive and comfort him upon repentance. It is not right for us to hold sin against another. We are to express our love to them and receive them back, regardless of the grief they may have caused us.

Second, when you sin, your sin causes grief to others. It may be slight, it may be great, but your actions impact your brethren! Sin is characteristically selfish and self-centered. You’re not only hurting yourself. Something to think about!

Click below to…

Image

Sermon: “By whose stripes you were healed”

By whose stripes you were healed

A discussion about the suffering of Jesus, what it means for us, and how we are to respond as His disciples.

Sermon: We Will Come to Him

john38

A discussion of Jesus’ conversation with His disciples in John 14:19-24. The text emphasizes the relationship Jesus would have with them in His kingdom.

Is a Single Child … Children?

Families

In our study of the qualifications of elders we have researched all of the qualifications other than the two that deal with a man’s children. These two qualifications, listed in 1 Timothy 3:4, (“one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence”), and Titus 1:6, (“having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination”), are the most difficult for Christians to understand.

We have already mentioned the importance of avoiding speculation. It is a mistake to try to determine the “Why?” of a qualification, unless that “Why?” is stated in the text itself. Of course, there is an indication of this in 1 Timothy 3:5, “for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?”

Continue reading “Is a Single Child … Children?”

The Patternists: Paul’s Lord’s Supper Admonitions

Lords Supper

There are several texts we used to establish our practice of observing the Lord’s Supper. By looking at all relevant passages, we see the entirety of what God expects of us as we worship Him in this way.

The church at Corinth was abusing the Lord’s Supper, observing it in an unscriptural way. So, he admonished them. In these admonitions, we receive some important knowledge about how to worship God acceptably. The text we are considering in this article is 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.

Continue reading “The Patternists: Paul’s Lord’s Supper Admonitions”

Pandemic VS Endemic

Breaking news: We have been in the midst of a worldwide pandemic for more than two years now! (Duh!) This is the first worldwide pandemic that we have experienced in our lifetimes. This is fortunate, but I would have appreciated another 30 or so years before it happened (let the kids and grandkids deal with it).

Some experts are cautiously predicting that the pandemic is almost over. They say the best case scenario to hope for is for the COVID virus to become endemic. Pandemic, endemic, what is the difference?

Pandemic is defined as a disease that is, “prevalent in a country or the world.” A disease that is endemic is one that is regularly found in the population, (like colds or the flu). In other words, the COVID virus will always be around, but we are getting a handle on it.

How about a spiritual application? In our world is faith a pandemic or is it endemic? Well, true faith is certainly not prevalent in the world today — would it were so. It is more accurate to consider it endemic in society. It is always there, it is around, but it doesn’t particularly effect the majority of society.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were able to “[turn] the world upside down” (cf. Acts 17:6)? That’s what the Thessalonians accused Paul of doing. Our expressions of faith and efforts to preach the gospel should have an unsettling effect on our society. Are you doing your part to “spread” the faith of our Lord to “infect” those you meet day to day?

Click below to…

Image