Sermons from 2019

Cults and Their Appeal “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” (Ephesians 4:14) I. cult: A particular form or system of religious worship; esp. in reference to its external rites and ceremonies. Now commonly, a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister. A. The term “cult” has such a ne...

Reasoning Out of the Scriptures I. This study sets forth the Biblical method for arriving at truth, our chief pursuit. PRO 23:23; 4:7. A. It sets forth the importance of linear, connected thought that produces sound conclusions as opposed to scattered, disconnected thought that produces invalid or indeterminate conclusions. This may be expressed: 1. Valid premise + valid reasoning = valid conclusion. 2. Valid premise + invalid reasoning = invalid conclusion. 3. Invalid premise + valid reasoning = inva...

The Bread of Life (John 6:32-58) I. Our Lord Jesus had recently multiplied loaves and fishes for a multitude. JOH 6:5-13. A. This had generated an association with the manna given to Israel under Moses. JOH 6:30-31. B. Jesus’ audience consisted of “the Jews” (JOH 6:41, 52) and “his disciples” (JOH 6:60-61). C. Jesus here sets Himself forth as the superior bread of life of Whom only some partake unto eternal life, fully entered at “the last day” (JOH 6:39-40, 44, 53-54). D. To those who partake of H...

Cults and Their Appeal “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” (Ephesians 4:14) I. cult: A particular form or system of religious worship; esp. in reference to its external rites and ceremonies. Now commonly, a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister. A. The term “cult” has such a ne...

Advice for Fledgelings 1. Do not forget God and all His benefits. PSA 103:2-5 ct/w 2CH 32:25; ROM 1:21. 2. Fear God. This is your duty, the beginning of wisdom, and moral restraint. ECC 12:13-14; PRO 9:10; NEH 5:15. a. Hate what God hates. DEU 16:22; PSA 11:5; 97:10; PRO 6:16-19; 8:13. b. Love what God loves. PSA 11:7; JER 9:24; MIC 6:8; PSA 87:2. c. Do not confuse these (ISA 5:20). There are absolutes. Grey is not possible without black and white: “...Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which i...

Temporal Salvation I. This study highlights the distinction between eternal salvation which delivers from the penalty of sin and establishes life and relationship with God; and temporal salvation which delivers from the power of sin and establishes active fellowship with God by hearing, belief and obedience of the gospel. A. “Word of God” refers not only to the written/preached Scripture. It may also refer to: 1. the Divine Person of Jesus Christ. 1JO 5:7; REV 19:13. 2. Christ’s effectual voice which ha...

Reasoning Out of the Scriptures I. This study sets forth the Biblical method for arriving at truth, our chief pursuit. PRO 23:23; 4:7. A. It sets forth the importance of linear, connected thought that produces sound conclusions as opposed to scattered, disconnected thought that produces invalid or indeterminate conclusions. This may be expressed: 1. Valid premise + valid reasoning = valid conclusion. 2. Valid premise + invalid reasoning = invalid conclusion. 3. Invalid premise + valid reasoning = inva...

A. convert: To turn in position or direction. B. Conversion requires Scripture and teaching. PSA 19:7; 51:13. C. Conversion involves seeing, hearing and understanding, which requires regeneration. MAT 13:15; JOH 8:43, 47; 1CO 2:14. D. Consider some examples of the conversion of already born-again (regenerated) persons. LUK 22:32 c/w MAT 16:16 c/w 1JO 5:1; JAM 5:19-20. E. The unconverted elect may be categorized thus: 1. Those not yet regenerated, and therefore unable to be converted. 2. Those regenerated, ...

Withdrawing Oneself I. withdraw: To remove oneself from a place or position. To go away, depart, or retire from. II. Believers have a duty to separate from the ungodly and cleave to what is true and right. A. There is a moral/personal aspect to this. 1PE 4:3-4. B. There is a doctrinal/ecclesial aspect to this. ROM 16:17; 2TH 3:6, 14-15; 1TI 6:3-5; 2TI 3:5. 1. Churches are under judgment for retaining known sin and error. REV 2:20-23; 1CO 5:1-2. 2. This ordered separation pertains not to the world at...

Zechariah 3 I. The prophecy of Zechariah came during the rebuilding effort after the return from Babylon. It was contemporary with the prophecy of Haggai. The restoration of true religion in a rebuilt house of God was at stake. A. This book is rich with prophecies of Christ. ZEC 2:10; 3:8-9; 6:12-13; 9:9; 11:12-13; 12:10; 13:1, 6-7; 14:8-9. B. It was written to reprove the returned remnant but also to comfort them. ZEC 1:1-6, 12-13; 8:13-15. C. The appointed seventy years of Babylonian captivity (JER ...

Getting By Getting By, Getting Along, Getting Even (A Minimal Guide for Life) 1. Keep the Ten Commandments (EXO 20:3-17; DEU 4:13), the Sabbath command by full faith in and submission to Christ. HEB 4:3, 10-11. 2. Emphasize the most important virtues. MIC 6:8; MAT 23:23; 1CO 13:13. 3. Eschew pride. PRO 16:18; JAM 4:6. 4. Desire God’s honor, not man’s. 1SAM 2:30; JOH 5:44. 5. Fear God more than man. MAT 10:28. 6. Be wise about good. ROM 16:19. 7. Maintain a clear conscience. ACT 24:16; 1PE 3:16. 8...

Reasoning Out of the Scriptures I. This study sets forth the Biblical method for arriving at truth, our chief pursuit. PRO 23:23; 4:7. A. It sets forth the importance of linear, connected thought that produces sound conclusions as opposed to scattered, disconnected thought that produces invalid or indeterminate conclusions. This may be expressed: 1. Valid premise + valid reasoning = valid conclusion. 2. Valid premise + invalid reasoning = invalid conclusion. 3. Invalid premise + valid reasoning = inva...

Repentance I. Repentance is a tenet of the gospel. MAT 3:1-2; MAR 1:14-15; LUK 24:46-47; ACT 20:20-21. II. repent: To affect (oneself) with contrition or regret for something done; to change one's mind with regard to past action or conduct through dissatisfaction with it or its results. A. Repentance involves sorrow over what was done, not just sorrow over consequence. 2CO 7:9-11; GEN 4:13-14. B. It involves a change of mind. 1KI 8:46-48; MAT 21:28-31. III. Repentance is obedience to a commandment of ...

Giving I. The way a Christian conducts his affairs in the area of mammon says much about his character. LUK 16:10-14. II. Giving A. Our giving rests upon the foundation of Christ's gift. 2CO 8:9. B. Under the law, a specific amount was commanded to be set aside for God. 1. There was a tithe each year for the Levite. NUM 18:21. 2. There was also an annual tithe for feasts of worship. DEU 14:22-27. 3. There was also a tithe every third year for the Levite and the poor. DEU 14:28-29. 4. Israel was obl...

1 Timothy 3:14-16 A. The theme of this epistle is summarized here. It was written to guide the behavior of the minister in his oversight of a local church. 1. The Biblical method of propagating and preparing ministers is by one minister teaching and ordaining a fit candidate for the office. 2TI 2:2; TIT 1:5-9. 2. Scripture knows nothing of seminary training where aspiring preachers are taught, classroom-style, for assumed ministries. 3. Under the Biblical system, if one preacher is doctrinally unsound...

The Believer’s Hope: The Second Coming of Christ I. The Lord Jesus promised that the faithful would not be exempted from tribulation. JOH 16:33. A. tribulation: A condition of great affliction, oppression, or misery; ‘persecution; distress; vexation; disturbance of life.’ B. Christ’s words were spoken to men who would suffer greatly for their faith. JOH 16:1-2. C. The fates of the apostles and the annals of history bear witness to terrible tribulation that saints have faced. 1. One school of propheti...

Christ’s Second Coming: When? How? I. Jesus Christ has promised to come again. MAT 24:30; ACT 1:11; HEB 9:28. A. Various things such as resurrection, judgment, rewards, etc. are associated with His coming. B. A correct understanding of the Second Coming should settle the heart. JOH 14:1-3; 1TH 1:9-10. C. A denial of the Second Coming is an open door to hedonism. 1CO 15:32; 2PE 3:3-6. D. A corruption of the Second Coming can unsettle the heart (2TH 2:1-2) and misdirect thought and action. 1. Example...

Reasoning Out of the Scriptures I. This study sets forth the Biblical method for arriving at truth, our chief pursuit. PRO 23:23; 4:7. A. It sets forth the importance of linear, connected thought that produces sound conclusions as opposed to scattered, disconnected thought that produces invalid or indeterminate conclusions. This may be expressed: 1. Valid premise + valid reasoning = valid conclusion. 2. Valid premise + invalid reasoning = invalid conclusion. 3. Invalid premise + valid reasoning = inva...

The Water of Separation (Numbers 19) I. This law provided for cleansing after contact with a dead body, bone or grave. Jesus alluded to the defilement by a grave in His poignant rebuke of the Scribes and Pharisees. LUK 11:44. A. The cleansing was primarily ceremonial as a condition to restoration to the congregation after defilement, a purification for sin (v. 9). B. As with certain other such ordinances (e.g., the law of leprosy, LEV 13-14), there were also health benefits. c/w EXO 15:26. C. The Egy...

Christians and Judgment 1) Didn’t Jesus say, “Judge not”? MAT 7:1-5 a) This is often used to condemn people, especially Christians, for judging others. b) Jesus is condemning hypocritical judgment (i.e. judging in others what you do not judge in yourself). i) mote: 1.a A particle of dust; esp. one of the innumerable minute specks seen floating in the sunbeam; an irritating particle in the eye or throat. ii) a mote in the eye: often fig. (a) with allusion to Matt. vii. 3, a relatively trifling fault ...

Christ’s Second Coming: When? How? I. Jesus Christ has promised to come again. MAT 24:30; ACT 1:11; HEB 9:28. A. Various things such as resurrection, judgment, rewards, etc. are associated with His coming. B. A correct understanding of the Second Coming should settle the heart. JOH 14:1-3; 1TH 1:9-10. C. A denial of the Second Coming is an open door to hedonism. 1CO 15:32; 2PE 3:3-6. D. A corruption of the Second Coming can unsettle the heart (2TH 2:1-2) and misdirect thought and action. 1. Example...

Christ’s Second Coming: When? How? I. Jesus Christ has promised to come again. MAT 24:30; ACT 1:11; HEB 9:28. A. Various things such as resurrection, judgment, rewards, etc. are associated with His coming. B. A correct understanding of the Second Coming should settle the heart. JOH 14:1-3; 1TH 1:9-10. C. A denial of the Second Coming is an open door to hedonism. 1CO 15:32; 2PE 3:3-6. D. A corruption of the Second Coming can unsettle the heart (2TH 2:1-2) and misdirect thought and action. 1. Example...

Reasoning Out of the Scriptures I. This study sets forth the Biblical method for arriving at truth, our chief pursuit. PRO 23:23; 4:7. A. It sets forth the importance of linear, connected thought that produces sound conclusions as opposed to scattered, disconnected thought that produces invalid or indeterminate conclusions. This may be expressed: 1. Valid premise + valid reasoning = valid conclusion. 2. Valid premise + invalid reasoning = invalid conclusion. 3. Invalid premise + valid reasoning = inva...

Christ’s Second Coming: When? How? I. Jesus Christ has promised to come again. MAT 24:30; ACT 1:11; HEB 9:28. A. Various things such as resurrection, judgment, rewards, etc. are associated with His coming. B. A correct understanding of the Second Coming should settle the heart. JOH 14:1-3; 1TH 1:9-10. C. A denial of the Second Coming is an open door to hedonism. 1CO 15:32; 2PE 3:3-6. D. A corruption of the Second Coming can unsettle the heart (2TH 2:1-2) and misdirect thought and action. 1. Example...

Christ’s Second Coming: When? How? I. Jesus Christ has promised to come again. MAT 24:30; ACT 1:11; HEB 9:28. A. Various things such as resurrection, judgment, rewards, etc. are associated with His coming. B. A correct understanding of the Second Coming should settle the heart. JOH 14:1-3; 1TH 1:9-10. C. A denial of the Second Coming is an open door to hedonism. 1CO 15:32; 2PE 3:3-6. D. A corruption of the Second Coming can unsettle the heart (2TH 2:1-2) and misdirect thought and action. 1. Example...

Christ’s Second Coming: When? How? I. Jesus Christ has promised to come again. MAT 24:30; ACT 1:11; HEB 9:28. A. Various things such as resurrection, judgment, rewards, etc. are associated with His coming. B. A correct understanding of the Second Coming should settle the heart. JOH 14:1-3; 1TH 1:9-10. C. A denial of the Second Coming is an open door to hedonism. 1CO 15:32; 2PE 3:3-6. D. A corruption of the Second Coming can unsettle the heart (2TH 2:1-2) and misdirect thought and action. 1. Example...

Fantasy, Fiction, Imagination I. Definitions. A. fantasy: Imagination; the process or the faculty of forming mental representations of things not actually present. B. imagination: 1. The action of imagining, or forming a mental concept of what is not actually present to the senses (cf. sense 3); the result of this process, a mental image or idea (often with implication that the conception does not correspond to the reality of things, hence freq. vain (false, etc.) imagination). 2. The mental considerat...

Communion: The Celebration of the Covenant of Peace A. In Scripture covenants or agreements of peace were solemnized by a meal. 1. This was the case with the covenant between Abimelech and Isaac. GEN 26:26-31. 2. This was the case with the covenant between Laban and Jacob. GEN 31:44-55. 3. This was the case with the agreement between Abner and David. 2SAM 3:20-21. 4. Sharing a meal suggests peace, friendship, and fellowship. a. In the peace offering, God, the priest, and the worshipper all partook of a ...

The Church Assembly: Our Blessing and Duty of Worship I. God demands that He alone be worshipped and He visits judgment upon those who fail to do so. EXO 20:3-6; MAT 4:10. A. The worship of God is also the fear of God. MAT 4:10 c/w DEU 6:13 c/w PSA 5:7. B. Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, none are truly wise who do not worship God. PRO 9:10. C. Since the judgment for not worshipping God is visited upon succeeding generations, it is important that parents train their children to ...

The Church Assembly: Our Blessing and Duty of Worship I. God demands that He alone be worshipped and He visits judgment upon those who fail to do so. EXO 20:3-6; MAT 4:10. A. The worship of God is also the fear of God. MAT 4:10 c/w DEU 6:13 c/w PSA 5:7. B. Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, none are truly wise who do not worship God. PRO 9:10. C. Since the judgment for not worshipping God is visited upon succeeding generations, it is important that parents train their children to ...

A. An overview of 2CH 4 shows that the furniture and instruments of the temple were numerically and dimensionally greater than what was set down in the order for the tabernacle of the congregation. 1. The temple’s construction was according to God’s pattern as was the tabernacle. EXO 25:9, 40; NUM 8:4 c/w 1CH 28:11-12, 19. 2. The pattern was of heavenly things to be cleansed by Christ. HEB 8:1-5; 9:22-23. 3. The upgrade of Solomon’s temple may have been a practical innovation since Israel had grown in ...

John 3:11-13 A. These words were uttered in response to Nicodemus’ perplexity. JOH 3:1-10. 1. Jesus was expounding upon the spiritual nature of the kingdom of God. a. The kingdom can only be seen or entered by being born again of the Spirit. vs. 3, 5. b. Being born of the Spirit is distinct from being born of the flesh. v. 6 c/w JOH 1:12-13. c. The Spirit’s work is regeneration and washing. v. 5. (1) Water is the Spirit’s symbol. JOH 7:37-39. (2) Washing is the Spirit’s action. TIT 3:5. d. The Spir...

Fantasy, Fiction, Imagination I. Definitions. A. fantasy: Imagination; the process or the faculty of forming mental representations of things not actually present. B. imagination: 1. The action of imagining, or forming a mental concept of what is not actually present to the senses (cf. sense 3); the result of this process, a mental image or idea (often with implication that the conception does not correspond to the reality of things, hence freq. vain (false, etc.) imagination). 2. The mental considerat...

Matthew 7:21-27 A. Jesus had just taught about knowing the nature of someone by their fruit. MAT 7:15-20. 1. The specific case was of false prophets. vs. 15-16 c/w 2PE 2:1-3. 2. The false prophet may speak in Jesus’s name (v. 22) but will be known by ravening (voracious devouring) and not keeping Jesus’s sayings. c/w TIT 1:10-11; 2CO 11:20. 3. This discourse (MAT 7:15-29) shows that Jesus knows that such false prophets do not belong to Him, that true disciples can know that false prophets do not belon...

The Letter to the Church at Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17) A. Christ introduces himself to this church as, “...He which hath the sharp sword with two edges” (v. 12). 1. This sword projects from His mouth (REV 1:16) and thus indicates judgment with/by the word for the unrepentant. v. 16; REV 19:15. 1. Christ judges men by the word of the Scriptures. MAT 5:17-19; 2TI 3:16; 1JO 4:6. 2. Christ executes sentence upon the wicked by the spoken word of His mouth. 2TH 2:8; MAT 25:41. 2. It is a sharp sw...

Fantasy, Fiction, Imagination I. Definitions. A. fantasy: Imagination; the process or the faculty of forming mental representations of things not actually present. B. imagination: 1. The action of imagining, or forming a mental concept of what is not actually present to the senses (cf. sense 3); the result of this process, a mental image or idea (often with implication that the conception does not correspond to the reality of things, hence freq. vain (false, etc.) imagination). 2. The mental considerat...

A. John here proclaims the love of God in our adoption and the effects of that adoption. B. John sets forth the manner of God’s love. 1. 2. 3. 4. C. We are 1. 2. 3. 4. God did not simply offer His love to us; He rather bestowed it upon us! bestow upon: To confer as a gift, present, give (a person). This bestowed love constitutes us the sons of God. If God loves you, you will be called a son of God. the sons of God by adoption. EPH 1:5. adoption: The action of voluntarily taking into any relation; e...

John 3:12 Earthly things, Heavenly things A. Nicodemus was reluctant to believe on Christ from the earthly things. By contrast, Nathanael believed on Christ from earthly things he witnessed. JOH 1:47-51. 1. Earthly things are observable things of a temporal nature that agree with experimental witness as opposed to the invisible eternal things only knowable by revelation and faith. 2CO 4:18; HEB 11:1. a. There is an earthly Jerusalem and a heavenly Jerusalem which we know only by faith. GAL4:25-26. b....

Faith I. 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 doctrine. A. (HEB 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. B. Faith is a present experience with what we hope to see and receive. II. Consider the source of faith. A. Our faith comes through the righteousness of God. 2PE 1:1. B. Our faith is born of God. 1JO 5:4. C. Our f...

Faith I. 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 doctrine. A. (HEB 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. B. Faith is a present experience with what we hope to see and receive. II. Consider the source of faith. A. Our faith comes through the righteousness of God. 2PE 1:1. B. Our faith is born of God. 1JO 5:4. C. Our f...

Scripture and Tradition I. tradition: The action of handing over (something material) to another; delivery, transfer. (Chiefly in Law.). Delivery, esp. oral delivery, of information or instruction. An ordinance or institution orally delivered. II. An important distinctive of Roman Catholicism is its position on final authority. A. It does not hold that the truth of Scripture is the final authority but rather that the Church is an infallible institution of Christ which determines inspired truth through i...

Faith I. 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 doctrine. A. (HEB 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. B. Faith is a present experience with what we hope to see and receive. II. Consider the source of faith. A. Our faith comes through the righteousness of God. 2PE 1:1. B. Our faith is born of God. 1JO 5:4. C. Our f...

Faith I. 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 doctrine. A. (HEB 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. B. Faith is a present experience with what we hope to see and receive. II. Consider the source of faith. A. Our faith comes through the righteousness of God. 2PE 1:1. B. Our faith is born of God. 1JO 5:4. C. Our f...

Fasting fast: To abstain from food, or to restrict oneself to a meagre diet, either as a religious observance or as a ceremonial expression of grief. To go without food and also (contextually) to go without drink. I. Israel had only one fast by divine appointment that was pegged to a calendar. LEV 16:29-31. A. Occasional other fasts were ordered by prophecy. JOEL 1:14; 2:15-16. B. The Jews appointed other fasts by their own authority for various reasons. JDG 20:26; 1SAM 7:6; 2CH 20:3; EZR 8:21; EST 4:3...

David: A Man After God’s Own Heart I. David was many good things: prophet, psalmist, first king of the Judaic royal line, temple planner, ancestor of Jesus Christ, example of mercy, champion of faith, etc. II. Scripture notes twice that David was a man after God’s own heart. 1SAM 13:14; ACT 13:22. A. ACT 13:22 appears to be a hybrid of 1SAM 13:14, PSA 89:20-21 et. al. B. 1SAM 13:14 was uttered when Saul “...had reigned two years over Israel” (1SAM 13:1). 1. Saul appears to have reigned forty years. ACT...

Christ’s Better Rest (Hebrews 4:1-11) I. The Book of Hebrews sets forth the superiority of Christ over angels, Moses, Levi and Joshua, etc. A. Joshua of old did what Moses could not do: he brought a redeemed people into their God- given inheritance. c/w ROM 8:3-4; GAL 3:10-13. B. Joshua is spelled “Jesus” in ACT 7:45; HEB 4:8. Both names mean, “Jehovah saves” or “Jehovah is salvation.” ISA 43:11 c/w MAT 1:21; 1JO 3:5. C. As good and great as Joshua was, Paul shows the Hebrew Christians that Jesus is ...

The Church Meeting at Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:3-12) I. The ark of the covenant which was the token of God’s presence had been taken by the Philistines as a judgment of God on Israel. 1SAM 4:10-11. A. The ark housed the written law of God which was Israel’s chief advantage. HEB 9:4; ROM 3:1-2. B. Well was it said of that tragedy, “...The glory is departed from Israel...” (1SAM 4:21-22). C. The Philistines suffered a plague of emerods for demeaning the ark of God with heathenism (1SAM 5 c/w PSA 78:66). So t...

The Lifting Up of the Lord Jesus Christ I. Three times in the Gospel of John Christ prophesied of the manner of His death as being lifted up. A. In JOH 3:14, Christ drew a parallel to Moses’ lifting up of the serpent in the wilderness. c/w NUM 21:8-9. 1. The lifted up serpent was by the order of God, as was the death of Christ. 2. Inasmuch as the serpent speaks of the curse of death from sin, so Christ would die under the curse of sin. 2CO 5:21. B. In JOH 8:28, Christ said to the Pharisees, “...When ...

(2CO 10:3-5) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 1. The devil is waging war on our minds. 2CO 10:3-5; EPH 6:11-12 a. The devil wants you to believe lies, because he’s the father of them and he uses the...

The Plan of Salvation: the Basic Gospel *All scriptures taken from the King James Version 1611. Someone professes Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Why do we need a saviour? What do we need saving from? I Our problem: sin and death. A. All have sinned. (Romans 3:23) - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; B. The penalty of sin is death. (Romans 6:23a) - For the wages of sin is death; C. Adam's sin brought sin and death to all mankind. (Romans 5:12) - Wherefore, as ...

Holidays holiday: A consecrated day, a religious festival. Now usually written Holy-day. I. The keeping of religious holidays is virtually universal among the religions of this world. A. Certain calendar days are deemed sacred or exalted above others and are deemed vital aspects of the belief system. The deity is honored by their observance and dishonored by their omission. B. In pagan religions that took their cues from nature rather than from Scripture, the holy- days generally were keyed to the su...

Holidays holiday: A consecrated day, a religious festival. Now usually written Holy-day. I. The keeping of religious holidays is virtually universal among the religions of this world. A. Certain calendar days are deemed sacred or exalted above others and are deemed vital aspects of the belief system. The deity is honored by their observance and dishonored by their omission. B. In pagan religions that took their cues from nature rather than from Scripture, the holy- days generally were keyed to the su...

On The Incarnation I. Christ was conceived and born of a virgin in fulfillment of prophecy. MAT 1:18-23 c/w ISA 7:14; LUK 1:26-38. A. virgin: Eccl. An unmarried or chaste maiden or woman, distinguished for piety or steadfastness in religion, and regarded as having a special place among the members of the Christian church on account of these merits. 2. A woman (esp. a young woman) who is, or remains, in a state of inviolate chastity; an absolutely pure maiden or maid. 1. virginity: The condition of being...

On The Incarnation I. Christ was conceived and born of a virgin in fulfillment of prophecy. MAT 1:18-23 c/w ISA 7:14; LUK 1:26-38. A. virgin: Eccl. An unmarried or chaste maiden or woman, distinguished for piety or steadfastness in religion, and regarded as having a special place among the members of the Christian church on account of these merits. 2. A woman (esp. a young woman) who is, or remains, in a state of inviolate chastity; an absolutely pure maiden or maid. 1. virginity: The condition of being...

Successful Christianity Now I. This study sets forth the importance of not letting the past impede victory and progress in the present. A. We do not live in the past and cannot change the past. B. Decision-making is for the present and has implications for the future, not the past. C. We do well to live in the present under the present law of Christ in this present evil world. GAL1:4. 1. The past law of Moses served its purpose but could perfect nothing. HEB 7:19; 9:9. 2. The entire law of the sinle...

Successful Christianity Now I. This study sets forth the importance of not letting the past impede victory and progress in the present. A. We do not live in the past and cannot change the past. B. Decision-making is for the present and has implications for the future, not the past. C. We do well to live in the present under the present law of Christ in this present evil world. GAL1:4. 1. The past law of Moses served its purpose but could perfect nothing. HEB 7:19; 9:9. 2. The entire law of the sinle...

Religious Quid Pro Quo I. Biblical ministry goes contrary to the theory, “You will catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” 2TI 4:2; TIT 1:13; 2:15. A. exhort: To admonish earnestly; to urge by stimulating words to conduct regarded as laudable. B. admonish: To put (a person) in mind of duties; to counsel against wrong practices; to give authoritative or warning advice; to exhort, to warn. C. rebuke: To beat down or force back; to repress or check (a person); to repulse; to reprove, reprimand, ...

I. The invisible God and Creator has revealed Himself by three means. A. General revelation in nature. ROM 1:20 c/w PSA 19:1; ACT 14:17. 1. Nature only reveals His existence and power (creative and destructive). 2. Nature does not reveal His purpose or will, nor does it reveal specifics about sin, forgiveness, reconciliation, the afterlife, etc. 3. Nature’s message is subject to ambiguous interpretation, as is evident by the variety of superstitions derived from natural phenomena. 4. Nature is a brok...

Dealing With Problems I. We will have problems in this world. JOH 16:33. II. View problems from God's perspective. A. God's dominion extends over all. DAN 4:34-35. B. There can be no problem without God's permission. JOB 1:12; 2:6. C. God has a purpose worthy of Himself in that which He permits. PSA 76:10. D. God knows and understands your problem. JOB 23:10; PSA 31:7; 147:5. E. God loves and cares for His people, and purposes to do us good even when He chastens us. 1JO 4:9-10; 1PE 5:7; HEB 12:5-11....

Successful Christianity Now I. This study sets forth the importance of not letting the past impede victory and progress in the present. A. We do not live in the past and cannot change the past. B. Decision-making is for the present and has implications for the future, not the past. C. We do well to live in the present under the present law of Christ in this present evil world. GAL1:4. 1. The past law of Moses served its purpose but could perfect nothing. HEB 7:19; 9:9. 2. The entire law of the sinle...

Successful Christianity Now I. This study sets forth the importance of not letting the past impede victory and progress in the present. A. We do not live in the past and cannot change the past. B. Decision-making is for the present and has implications for the future, not the past. C. We do well to live in the present under the present law of Christ in this present evil world. GAL1:4. 1. The past law of Moses served its purpose but could perfect nothing. HEB 7:19; 9:9. 2. The entire law of the sinle...