Sermons from 2016

On Pastoring 1. As recently preached, a N.T. pastor has the office of elder/bishop/overseer/steward. A. The rule of the church is committed to him. HEB 13:7, 17. B. rule: To control, guide, direct, exercise sway or influence over... C. control: To check or verify, and hence to regulate... 4. To exercise restraint or direction upon the free action of; to hold sway over, exercise power or authority over, dominate, command. D. check: To stop (action, growth, exhibition of feeling, and the like); to stay...

The Reformation of the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 9:10) I. Definitions. A. kingdom: Kingly function, authority or power; sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship. B. power: II. As a person, body or thing. One who or that which is possessed of or exercises power, influence, or government; an influential or governing person, body or thing; in early use, one in authority, a ruler, governor. C. The kingdom of God is the government of God. D. government: The action of ruling; con...

The Evening Sacrifice 1. In his journey to the cross, Jesus Christ was led as a lamb to the slaughter. ISA 53:7 c/w ACT 8:32 c/w MAT 26:57; 27:2, 31. 2. There was a particular hour to which He was appointed. JOH 12:27; 13:1. 3. Jesus died shortly after the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.). MAT 27:45-50. A. This was the time of the appointed daily evening sacrifice in Moses' Law. EXO 29:38-39. B. It was at the time of the evening sacrifice when the prophecy of Messiah's coming to be cut off was given to Daniel. ...

On Pastoring 1. As recently preached, a N.T. pastor has the office of elder/bishop/overseer/steward. A. The rule of the church is committed to him. HEB 13:7, 17. B. rule: To control, guide, direct, exercise sway or influence over... C. control: To check or verify, and hence to regulate... 4. To exercise restraint or direction upon the free action of; to hold sway over, exercise power or authority over, dominate, command. D. check: To stop (action, growth, exhibition of feeling, and the like); to stay...

Nehemiah 8 vs. 1-12. The people here attended to the reading and exposition of the law of Moses. A. There was congregational unity in the matter: they “...gathered themselves together as one man...” (v. 1). c/w PHIL 1:27; 1CO 1:10. 1. Their cooperation and unity of purpose in the building of the wall carried over into spiritual areas. Good character rightly manifests itself in all areas of life. 2. Such a unified group is well fitted against falling before the enemy. ct/w MAT 12:25. B. There was congr...

Pleasing God A. We are to keep God's commandments and do things that are pleasing in His sight. 1JO 3:22. 1. “Thou shalt...” and “Thou shalt not...” commandments are “no-brainers.” 2. What about areas not so clearly defined? How does one please God in general? 3. This study is only of value to someone who is genuinely concerned about pleasing God. B. We should seek knowledge as to how to walk and to please God. 1TH 4:1; COL 1:10. 1. Without knowledge, one may wrongly think he is pleasing God. JOH 16:...

The Reformation of the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 9:10) I. Definitions. A. kingdom: Kingly function, authority or power; sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship. B. power: II. As a person, body or thing. One who or that which is possessed of or exercises power, influence, or government; an influential or governing person, body or thing; in early use, one in authority, a ruler, governor. C. The kingdom of God is the government of God. D. government: The action of ruling; con...

1 John 1:1-4 I. The epistle begins with a declaration of the apostolic witness of Jesus Christ, the Word of life. A. John begins this epistle as he began his gospel by setting forth Jesus Christ as the Word. JOH 1:1-3. B. The Word is the name of Jesus Christ’s divine nature as God. 1JO 5:7; REV 19:13. C. The apostles were especially chosen witnesses of Jesus Christ. MAR 3:14; JOH 15:27; ACT 10:40-41. D. The Word became flesh and thus made Himself manifest to the senses of hearing, sight, and touch. J...

Elijah and the Widow (1 Kings 17:8-24) I. At this point in their history, Israel was overrun with Baalism/paganism which had been introduced by Jezebel and Ahab. 1KI 16:30-33; 18:19. A. Elijah dared to announce that an age-old curse was about to become effective. DEU 11:16-17; 1KI 17:1. B. Israel would be without dew or rain for three and a half years. LUK 4:25. C. God then told Elijah to leave and hide himself. 1KI 17:2-3 c/w ACT 22:18; MAT 2:13. D. God sustained him while in hiding by unusual means...

Being Established (Acts 16:5) And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. I. Definitions. A. establish: To render stable or firm. a) To strengthen by material support. b) To ratify, confirm, validate. c) To confirm, settle (what is weak or wavering); to restore (health) permanently; to give calmness or steadiness (to the mind). d) To calm (anger), to settle (doubts). B. confirm: To make firm or more firm; to add strength to, to settle; establish firmly. C. enticin...

Emotion v. Faith 1. emotion: Psychology. A mental ‘feeling’ or ‘affection’ (e.g. of pleasure or pain, desire or aversion, surprise, hope or fear, etc.), as distinguished from cognitive (of or pertaining to the action or process of knowing) or volitional (pertaining or relating to the action of willing) states of consciousness. 2. faith: Belief, trust, confidence. Confidence, reliance, trust (in the ability, goodness, etc. of a person; in the efficacy or worth of a thing; or in the truth of a statement or ...

Possessing Edom Obadiah 1:17-21 (17) But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (18) And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it. (19) And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistin...

The Two Provisions of the Cross I. Have you ever heard an evangelist present Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sins and eternal life to sinners as an offer? A. He might declare, “There's nothing you can do...” B. He might also declare, “But all you have to do is...” C. Which declaration is the sinner to believe? II. The cross-work of the Lord Jesus Christ has provided for two forgivenesses for God's elect. A. The blood atonement provides for a judicial, unconditional forgiveness of sins. This forgiveness:...

Guidelines For Effective Study I. Definitions. A. study: To apply the mind to the acquisition of learning; to think intently; to meditate; to reflect, try to recollect something or to come to a decision. B. meditate: To muse over or reflect upon; to consider, study, ponder. C. ponder: To ascertain the weight of; to weigh. Also. fig. 4. To weigh (a matter, words, etc.) mentally; to give due weight to and consider carefully; to think over, meditate upon. II. God expects us to study and meditate, especi...

The Reformation of the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 9:10) I. Definitions. A. kingdom: Kingly function, authority or power; sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship. B. power: II. As a person, body or thing. One who or that which is possessed of or exercises power, influence, or government; an influential or governing person, body or thing; in early use, one in authority, a ruler, governor. C. The kingdom of God is the government of God. D. government: The action of ruling; con...

Zeal for God's House I. It was said that zeal for God's house consumed our Lord Jesus Christ. JOH 2:17. A. David penned those words which the N.T. applies to Christ. PSA 69:9 c/w ROM 15:3. B. The Holy Spirit thus encourages us to consider David's attitude towards God's house. C. What David did for God's house was done with all his might. 1CH 29:2; PSA 132:3-5. II. The gospel church is God's house. 1TI 3:15; EPH 2:19-22; 1PE 2:5. A. It is God's kingdom on earth. MAT 16:18-19; LUK 22:29-30 c/w 1CO 10 & ...

2 Timothy 1:9-10 v. 9. 1. Paul here declares salvation which God accomplished for His elect: He hath saved, hath called us. A. This is the eternal salvation that is declared in the gospel, per v. 10. B. The gospel is the declaration of what God HAS done about sin and its consequence, death. C. This salvation is according to His purpose, grace and work, not according to our works. D. Since this eternal salvation is God's finished work, it is a secure salvation. JOH 10:27-29. E. This fact makes the aff...

Truining Children I. Truining is a made-up word implying a training of children that is ruinous. II. The proper training of children is necessary owing to their nature. PRO 22:15. A. Do not expect a child to develop properly on its own. PRO 17:25; 29:15. B. Children are like photo film images: negative until processed. C. You don't need to train children to become fools since they are pre-programmed to folly but bad training will expedite that. III. Both parents are responsible to train the child pro...

The New Life Within Judges 13:2-5 (2) And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. (3) And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. (4) Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: (5) For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall co...

The Faith of Jesus Christ I. faith - I. Belief, trust, confidence. 1. a. Confidence, reliance, trust (in the ability, goodness, etc., of a person; in the efficacy or worth of a thing; or in the truth of a statement or doctrine). II. Jesus Christ was a man of great faith. A. Some will object to this idea because they say that because Jesus was God, He didn't have faith since God doesn't have faith. 1. First of all, Jesus was/is fully God (JOH 1:1, 14) and fully man. 1TI 2:5. a. Men are commanded to hav...

Three Mighty Men 2 Samuel 23:14-17 (14) And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. (15) And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! (16) And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. ...

Let Thine Eyes Look Right On (Proverbs 4:25) I. Disorganized and ineffective people have a problem getting focused or staying focused. A. They have a problem concentrating their energies and resources on one thing and seeing it through to completion. B. They are easily distracted. II. PRO 4:25-27 exhorts us to be focused and warns us against being sidetracked: A. To ponder our path means to consider our direction carefully. B. Established ways are settled or fixed. C. Looking right on, straight bef...

From Tent to Triumph Numbers 29:12-40 (12) And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: (13) And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: (14) And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullo...

1 Peter 1:13-16 I. The Christian is to gird up the loins of his mind. A. gird: To surround, encircle with a belt or girdle, esp. for the purpose of confining the garments and allowing freer action to the body. Fig. To prepare for action; to brace up for, to, or to do something. B. Note the usage of gird in EXO 12:11; LUK 12:35-37. C. The believer should not allow his thoughts to roam without restraint. 2CO 10:3-5; PHIL 4:6-8. D. The believer's mind is to be in a state of preparation for the coming o...

Conscience I. What is a conscience? A. The English word “conscience” translates the Greek word “suneidesis” meaning co- perception, i.e. moral consciousness. B. conscience: I. Inward knowledge; consciousness; inmost thought, mind. II. Consciousness of right and wrong; moral sense. The internal acknowledgement or recognition of the moral quality of one’s motives and actions; the sense of right and wrong as regards things for which one is responsible; the faculty or principle which pronounces upon the mo...

Tips For Witnessing to a Cultist I. This study should help you to engage someone involved in a cult. A. The label “cult” can be misleading. Sometimes what are considered the earmarks of a cult can also apply to mainstream religion. B. Keep in mind that, to an ignorant and unbelieving world, the way of righteousness is a heretical cult. ACT 24:5, 14. C. For this study's purposes, “cult” refers to pseudo-Christian groups which use Christian terminology but twist the definitions and which commonly have ...

Taking Refuge in God’s House I. Introduction A. The Spirit of Christ which is in us by the grace of God is holy and longs for holiness and righteousness. B. Yet we are surrounded by corruption in this world. 1. In ourselves 2. In our families 3. In schools 4. In governments 5. In churches 6. In nature C. So we want to get away from it. But where in this world do we go? D. Overview 1. God’s house is the gospel church. 2. The gospel church has a geographical location. 3. God governs this wor...

2 Peter 1:1 A. Peter is an apostle--one of the select disciples which would be the foundation of the church (EPH 2:20). But he considers himself first a servant. 1. No man is a good leader who himself does not know how to be a good servant to his superior. MAT 8:8-10; 10:24-25. 2. Greatness embraces service. MAT 20:25-28. 3. The Lord's servant must have a compassionate eye towards the Lord's flock. 2TI 2:24-25. 4. But the Lord's servant must not compromise truth. GAL 1:10; 1PE 4:11. B. Peter denounce...

Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage I. The covenantal nature of marriage. A. Two people are so bound as to be considered one. MAT 19:4-6. B. No other is to be looked upon or thought upon as the object of marital love. JOB 31:1 c/w GEN 20:16. C. A spouse is deemed such by covenant or vow. MAL 2:14. D. Husband and wife are bound together in marriage. ROM 7:1-3. E. Marriage is a God-ordered contract, vow, or covenant between a man and a woman. Both are bound by the law of God to be faithful to the contract a...

The Fellowship of the Truth (2 Corinthians 13:8) For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. I. fellowship: Partnership; membership of a society. Participation, sharing (in an action, condition, etc.); 'something in common', community of interest, sentiment, nature, etc. II. Few things in Christian life can compare with the comfort, satisfaction and sense of belonging that we derive from fellowshipping with others with whom we have something in common. A. We need the mutual support and c...

The Fear of God I. Our God is love (1JO 4:8) but also a consuming fire (HEB 12:28-29) Who “...ought to be feared” (PSA 76:11). A. The fear of God was implied before sin entered the world. GEN 2:17. B. Adam was afraid of God after sin entered (GEN 3:10) but this fear could not prevent judgment. 1. Had Adam's love of God been perfect, this latter fear would not have come. 1JO 4:18; 3:21. 2. Such is the consequence of not loving God above all as we should. MAT 22:37. C. Adam chose to not fear God when ...

Some Thoughts on Abraham 1. God called Abram alone out of Ur. GEN 12:1; ISA 51:2. A. Prior to his calling, Abram was an idolater as were his family. JOS 24:2, 14-15. B. His father, Terah, took the family out of Ur because of what God had said to Abram. GEN 12:1 c/w GEN 11:31 c/w ACT 7:2-3. C. Blessed is that man whose calling from God motivates those around him in spite of their natural opposition. c/w MAT 13:55-57. D. Mind that God called Abram, not the other family members. Over time, Terah died (GE...

The Reformation of the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 9:10) I. Definitions. A. kingdom: Kingly function, authority or power; sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship. B. power: II. As a person, body or thing. One who or that which is possessed of or exercises power, influence, or government; an influential or governing person, body or thing; in early use, one in authority, a ruler, governor. C. The kingdom of God is the government of God. D. government: The action of ruling; con...

1. 2. 3. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines transsexual: “a person born with the physical characteristics of one sex who emotionally and psychologically feels that they belong to the opposite sex.” The use of transsexual or transgender to describe essentially the same group is somewhat controversial within that group. “Distinctions between the terms transgender and transsexual are commonly based on distinctions between gender (psychological, social) and sex (physical).[34][35] Hence, transsexual...

Transgenderism I. The terms associated with this topic are many and are often invented outgrowths of the basic issue. This study will focus on basics. A. “Transgender” is itself a relatively novel term. It does not appear in my hardcover OED (1971 edition). 1. A newer CD-ROM version of OED defines transgender: “adj. Of, relating to, or designating a person whose identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender, but combines or moves between these; transgendered.”...

Transgenderism I. The terms associated with this topic are many and are often invented outgrowths of the basic issue. This study will focus on basics. A. “Transgender” is itself a relatively novel term. It does not appear in my hardcover OED (1971 edition). 1. A newer CD-ROM version of OED defines transgender: “adj. Of, relating to, or designating a person whose identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender, but combines or moves between these; transgendered.”...

Amazing Grace grace: Favour, favourable or benignant regard or its manifestation (now only on the part of a superior); favour or goodwill, in contradistinction to right or obligation, as the ground of a concession. I. It is said that “...the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (JOH 1:17). A. This is not to imply that there was no grace or truth in the O.T. PSA 119:151; GEN 6:8; ROM 11:5. B. However, Moses was the mediator of the law covenant of works, a “do and live” syste...

Romans 4:17-22 1. In this chapter, Paul sets forth the kind of faith which is counted for/imputed to/reckoned for righteousness. A. This kind of faith excludes the concept of acquiring righteousness by obligating God by a debt for work performed. ROM 4:4. B. This kind of faith excludes circumcision since it preceded circumcision and circumcision is a work. ROM 4:9-11. C. This kind of faith excludes the Law of Moses since it preceded the Law of Moses and the Law of Moses is works-oriented. ROM 4:13-14 c/...

Romans 4:17-22 1. In this chapter, Paul sets forth the kind of faith which is counted for/imputed to/reckoned for righteousness. A. This kind of faith excludes the concept of acquiring righteousness by obligating God by a debt for work performed. ROM 4:4. B. This kind of faith excludes circumcision since it preceded circumcision and circumcision is a work. ROM 4:9-11. C. This kind of faith excludes the Law of Moses since it preceded the Law of Moses and the Law of Moses is works-oriented. ROM 4:13-14 c/...

The Five Phases of Salvation From Sin “...and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (MAT 1:21) I. The Planning Phase: Salvation from the plan of sin. A. EPH 1:3-5. 1. God planned that mankind would be represented in Adam. Knowing that Adam would fall, He purposed to impute Adam's sin to the human race. ROM 5:12-19; 1CO 15:22. 2. God chose a people and purposed to make them holy, thus saving them from the effects of the fall. B. The time of the planning phase: ...

The Reformation of the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 9:10) I. Definitions. A. kingdom: Kingly function, authority or power; sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship. B. power: II. As a person, body or thing. One who or that which is possessed of or exercises power, influence, or government; an influential or governing person, body or thing; in early use, one in authority, a ruler, governor. C. The kingdom of God is the government of God. D. government: The action of ruling; con...

Our High Priest's Order (Hebrews 5:10) I. A study like this is difficult to teach to those who are dull of hearing. HEB 5:11. A. For various reasons, their ears received not doctrine. HEB 5:12 c/w 2TI 4:3-4. B. Sharpness rebukes dullness; sharpening overcomes it. 2CO 13:10; PRO 27:17. C. Many of the Hebrew Christians were still overmuch zealous of the law (ACT 21:20) and its Levitical priesthood. To pry them from Levi, Paul sets forth something better. II. Christ's priesthood is after the ...

Our Beautiful Savior (Isaiah 53:1) Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? (Isaiah 53:2) For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. The Book of Isaiah is so replete with references to Jesus Christ and His work of redemption that it could almost be called “The Gospel of Isaiah.” Such a conclusion would not be unwarranted, for...