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"...Shepherd the flock of God which is among
you, serving as overseers..." (1 Peter 5:2)
Elders
Morris Bass, Rick Holt , Joe
Price |
"...let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless..." (1 Tim. 3:10)
Deacons
Aaron Bass, Rich Brooks, Mike Finn
John Hague, Dan Head |
"And take...the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
The Balanced Christian
Enemies of the
Cross of Christ
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Death Deliberations
The Balanced Christian
Joe R. Price
Jesus said, “Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and
cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and
mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others
undone.” (Matt. 23:23). The Pharisees had neglected (lit. “leave, send
away”) the elements of character and conduct which validate one’s service to
God and others. Their enthusiasm for correctness was not rebuked by Jesus.
It was their failure to ground their zeal in the fundamental traits
commanded in the law – justice, mercy and faith – that brought Jesus’
rebuke.
These attributes must define
our heart and conduct before men and God. The law commanded the very
elements they neglected: justice (Exo. 23:2, 6; Micah 6:8); mercy (Lev.
19:10) and faith (Deut. 10:12-13). But, because of their spiritual
blindness, their lives were out of balance. Consequently, the failure of
the scribes and Pharisees to have these qualities caused them to disobey
God’s word by binding man-made traditions as doctrine (Matt. 15:3, 6-9).
Like the scribes and
Pharisees, it is also possible for us to be out of balance. The balanced
Christian is mature in his responsibilities toward God and men.
Justice, mercy and faith in one’s life shows a measure of maturity. To
“grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord” means much more than just
knowing things about Jesus (2 Pet. 3:18). A person may grow in “knowing”
the Bible, but he is still immature if his knowledge does not move him to
live with justice, mercy and faith.
The balanced Christian
serves others. He is fair and equitable in all his dealings with
others. He is merciful to those who need compassion, because he has come to
realize his own need for mercy (Matt. 18:32-35; 5:7; Jas. 2:13). His
judgments are fair, not a façade for evil (Jno. 7:24). He helps those who
are in need, not because he is forced to, but because of justice, mercy and
faith. His character is reflected in all of his relationships (family, the
local church, on the job, the community, etc.) because this is who he is and
what he is about; he lives for others and not himself.
The balanced Christian
lives by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). He listens to, believes and obeys the New
Testament of Jesus Christ. His will is to do the will of the Father (Matt.
7:21). Therefore, he does not compromise truth or accommodate error (Gal.
2:5, 11-14). He will not be a blind guide, straining out gnats and
swallowing camels. He will trust the Lord’s word and be directed by it, and
not lean on his own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6)
“These you ought to have
done, without leaving the others undone.” Now, that’s the balance Jesus
approves.
Top
Enemies of the Cross of Christ
Joe R. Price
Not
everyone who wears the name of Christ has the interests of Christ at heart.
Unfortunately, there are Christians who deny the power of godliness by
appearing to be godly while being inwardly filled with the corruption of sin
(2 Tim. 3:5; Matt. 23:27). The servants of Satan often appear to be angels
of light (2 Cor. 11:13-15). If we are not alert we will be deceived and our
faith will be damaged (Rom. 16:17-18). The Bible helps us understand the
enemies of the cross.
“For
many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping,
that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction,
whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their
mind on earthly things”
(Phil. 3:18-19). This describes people who walk contrary to the example of
the apostles and the truth they preached (3:17). Paul weeps over their lost
state and the soul-damning influence they have on others. Paul specifically
describes these “enemies of the cross of Christ” as those:
(1) whose end is perdition. When
one accepts error and rejects the truth of the gospel (here the Judaizers
are especially in view, 3:1-6), his soul will be destroyed. Advocating
false doctrine brings swift destruction (2 Pet. 2:1). For this reason we
must resist the intrusion of error and demand truth be preached among us
(Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; Jude 3-4).
(2)
whose god is their belly. Those who serve sensual and selfish
desires are enemies of the cross of Christ (Eph. 2:1-3). Who is your god?
Self-indulgence is the god of the glutton; money is the god of the
covetous. That which we adore, honor, long for and devote our time and
attention to is our god. The very real question for every Christian to ask
himself is, “who is my god?”
(3)
whose glory is in their shame. Enemies of the cross of Christ find
their glory, their renown, their fulfillment, in shameful things. The world
is their realm of existence (see Eph. 5:12). Sin can give you fulfillment,
but only for a season (Heb. 11:25). Sin will ultimately cause your eternal
death. To share in the glory of Christ, on the other hand, will be the
eternal reward and satisfaction of the righteous (Phil. 3:21; 2 Ths. 1:10).
(4)
who set their mind on earthly things. This is in direct contrast to
the mind of the converted person who sets his mind on heavenly things (Col.
3:1-2). Since the Christians lay up treasures in heaven because that is
where their place of citizenship (Phil. 3:21; Matt. 6:19-21).
Who is your
god? In what do you find fulfillment? Upon what is your mind set? What
will be your reward? Are you a friend or an enemy of the cross of Christ?
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
On What are You Building Your
Life?
Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:24-29
Intro.
1. Wisdom
is principle, Prov. 4:7 (5-9).
2. Two
choices: Jas. 3:13-18.
3. Matt.
7:24-27 – A simple contrast of wisdom & foolishness that applies to all.
I. THE
FOOLISH MAN: BUILDING ON SAND
– 7:26-27. (Jas. 4:17; Lk. 8:14)
A.
Rebellion - 1 Sam. 15:22-23.
1. By
changing Christ’s words, 15:22, 3, 9; Gal. 1:6-7 (Isa. 5:20).
2.
Disobedience is rejection of God’s word, 15:23; 13:13-14.
B.
Ignorance (cf. Eph. 5:17); Lev. 5:17; Acts 3:17, 19.
1.
Error – Matt. 22:29.
2.
Alienation from God – Eph. 4:18.
3.
Sinful lusts – 1 Pet. 1:14.
C. Apathy
– Zeph. 1:12; Matt. 24:48-51; Rom. 12:11; Gal. 6:9.
D.
Ritualism – Matt 15:6-9; Amos 5:21-24.
E.
Feelings – Prov. 28:26 (14:12); Jas. 1:19f.
II. THE
WISE MAN: BUILDING ON ROCK
– 7:24-25.
A. The
Rock of Obedience – Lk. 8:8, 18 (Matt. 13:16, 23); Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9; 1
Jno. 5:1-4.
Conclusion
1. Prov.
10:25; 12:7 – The house of the righteous shall stand (Rom. 1:16-17).
2. Jas.
3:13 - Are you building your life upon the sand or the rock?
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Do Not Fear
Scripture Reading:
John 14:27-31
Do not fear…
I. THERE
ARE BLESSINGS IN THE JOURNEY OF LIFE
– Gen. 26:24; Josh. 1:8-9. {Jas. 1:17}
A. God
Knows & Supplies our Needs, Matt. 6:31-32; Acts 14:17 (Deut. 8:2f)
B. In Christ Every Spiritual Need is Met, Eph. 1:3; Rom. 8:35-39.
II.
SUPPLIES IN FAMINE – 1
Kgs. 17:4, 13-14.
A. God
can be Trusted in Times of Need, Matt. 12:44 (Ps. 37:25; Mt. 6:11, 33)
B. Those who Hunger for Righteousness are Filled, Matt. 5:6; Isa. 44:2-4
(4:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17); Jno. 4:10.
III.
PROTECTION IN PERIL –
2 Kgs. 6:16-17.
A. God’s
Will is Done, Dan. 3:16-17.
B. God is Greater than Satan – 1 Pet. 3:14; 1 Jno. 4:4.
IV.
STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS –
Isa. 41:8-10.
A. All
Phys. Strength Fails – Eccl. 12:3-7; Mk. 2:2-5; 2 Cor. 12:9.
B. Strength of Faith, Isa. 40:29-31.
V.
COMPANIONSHIP IN TRIAL
– Isa. 43:1-3, 5.
A. Trait
of Faithful Friends – Eccl. 4:7-12.
B. Not Forsaken by Our Lord - 2 Tim. 4:17.
VI. GOD’S
CARE – Matt. 10:30-31.
A.
Remember God – Jas. 4:13-17 (10:30, 31)
B. God’s Purposes Achieved – Lk. 12:32.
VII. LIFE
BEYOND THE GRAVE –
Rev. 1:17-18.
A. Bodily
Resurrection, 1Co.15:21-22,42-44
B. Eternal Life for Christians, Jno. 11:25-26; 5:28-29.
Top
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Death
Deliberations
Joe R. Price
The guilty verdict has been
rendered in the Scott Peterson double murder trial. The jury is now
deliberating his sentence: life in prison without parole, or death. No
sentence has been reached at the time of this writing.
The Bible approves the punishment
of criminals. God has ordained the right of civil government to protect the
innocent and punish those who do evil. Romans 13:4 describes the governing
authority as “God’s minister” to serve as a defender of good as well
as His “avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” As
such, “he does not bear the sword in vain.” Those who oppose the
death penalty on the grounds that it is morally reprehensible have it wrong.
The just punishment of criminal
is a deterrent against more crime (Eccl. 8:11). This does not weaken the
basic fact that when just punishment is executed it is because a
transgression of the law has occurred: “whoever resists the authority
resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on
themselves” (Rom. 13:2). The governing authority is not at fault when a
criminal is convicted and sentenced for his crime, although this commonly
happens. Instead, we should be thankful that God has given us the means in
society to maintain order and to live a quiet life (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
Civil government has God’s
blessing to attend to protecting its citizens against evil people and
punishing those who do evil. We are to respect those who serve us in this
role (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17). It is a blessing from God.
Top
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