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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:
Signs of Decay
Are You Fat? (Mike
Thomas)
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Eavesdropping Parents
Signs of Decay
●
WHEN
the way to the meeting house SEEMS TOO FAR,
●
WHEN
it seems TOO MUCH TROUBLE to get ready or to get out in the weather to go to
the service,
●
WHEN
the singing comes HARD and SEEMS DREARY,
●
WHEN
the sermon seems much TOO LONG,
●
WHEN
you see much you DISLIKE in the brethren,
●
WHEN
the preacher’s or teacher’s lessons make you MAD,
●
WHEN
the members frequently say things that OFFEND you,
●
WHEN
PRAYER is a BURDEN,
●
WHEN
the reading of the BIBLE is DULL and puts you to sleep,
●
WHEN
it FRETS you to be called on to GIVE more,
●
WHEN
you try to make EXCUSES FOR YOUR SINS and try to persuade yourself that God
will NOT PUNISH or Judge,
●
WHEN
you feel you are being SLIGHTLY NEGLECTED,
WATCH OUT!!
Top
Are You Fat?
Mike Thomas
Are you
fat in the Lord? I realize I’m the last person qualified to ask that, but
are you? Have you forgotten what it is like to be without God and His
blessings because you have an abundance of them right now? Has He surrounded
you with good things for so long that you can no longer remember how empty
and dark (and lonely and fearful) you were before Christianity?
God
warned the Israelites that they would abandon Him once He established them
in the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy 31:20 reads:
When I
have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore
to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown
fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will
provoke Me and break My covenant.
This is
exactly what happened. They lived better than they ever could in Egypt, yet
they forgot to see Him as the source of life and prosperity when He brought
them to a land flowing “with milk and honey”. They got accustomed to their
abundance, thinking they could fare just fine without Him. Yet, after God
led them into Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, the returning generation
humbled themselves and praised God for His judgment against their ancestors.
God was justified in judging them because they abandoned Him in their
fatness:
And they
took strong cities and a rich land, And possessed houses full of all goods,
Cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, And fruit trees in abundance.
So they ate and were filled and grew fat, And delighted themselves in Your
great goodness. Nevertheless they were disobedient And rebelled against You,
Cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets, who testified
against them To turn them to Yourself; And they worked great provocations.
(Neh.
9:25-26)
Today, God is still rich in His blessings upon His people. Jesus likened God
to a Father who wants to shower blessings upon His children (Matt. 7:11).
His love for us compels Him to extend such mercy and wealth, even when we
don’t deserve it. And, like spoiled children, we lap up to our heart’s
content, and then some—forgetting that without Him we would have nothing.
In
our abundance let us not take for granted our blessings in becoming ungodly.
Before God saved us, we cried out to Him for deliverance from sin and
darkness, and He heard us. Let us continue to have such dependence on Him
throughout the day, and turn to Him in the good times as well (Eccl. 7:14).
Our families, our brethren, our peace of mind, our jobs, our health and
every other significant blessing can all be traced back to God in one way or
another. At the very least, had He not permitted us to live, we would not
have seen any of these in life under the sun.
Instead of neglecting God by not attending worship, let us not use our jobs
and riches against Him in our worldliness. Instead of despising our families
and our responsibilities to them, let us be thankful for God’s mercy in
giving us a mate and children. Instead of blaming God for the bad times in
life, let us be mindful of His care for us and how we depended on Him in the
past. Ungratefulness is a sin (Rom. 1:21). It is the product of people who
are selfish and fat, and is insulting to the One in whom we live and move
and have our very being:
Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah, saying...They
do not say in their heart, ‘Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives
rain, both the former and the latter, in its season’…’For among My people
are found wicked men…’They have grown fat, they are sleek...’Shall I not
avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’
(Jer.
5:20-28)
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Be a Friend of God
Scripture Reading: James 2:17-24
1. Marks of friendship
(companionship, communication & constancy).
2. Friendship with God is essential for our salvation – Col. 1:21-22; Jas.
2:23-24.
3. We all consider God to be our friend, but, “Am I being God’s friend?”
(Jno. 15:15)
I. WE
ARE FRIENDS WITH GOD WHEN WE REVERENCE HIM
– Psa. 25:14.
A. Stand
in Awe of God (Wonder, amazement) – Heb. 12:28-29 (Psa. 22:23).
B. Dread (fear) Displeasing Him – Isa. 8:13 (Eccl. 12:13-14); Jno. 8:29;
2 Cor. 5:9.
C. God Blesses Those Who Revere Him (Psa. 112:1):
1. Be pleased with us – Psa. 147:11 (149:4).
2. Show mercy to us – Psa. 103:11-13.
3. Accept us – Acts 10:34-35.
II. WE
ARE GOD’S FRIENDS WHEN WE HAVE FAITH IN HIM.
A.
Abraham an Example of Friendship with God – 2 Chrn. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; Jas.
2:21-23 (Gen. 15:6); 1 Jno. 3:23-24; Gal. 5:6-7.
B. Our Faith Enables Us to be Fruitful for God – 1 Ths. 1:3; Jno. 15:5.
III. WE
HAVE FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD WHEN WE LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
– Prov. 3:32 (Acts 10:35).
A. A Life
Lived in God’s Truth – Deut. 6:24-25 (Lk. 1:6); Eph. 4:23-24; 6:14; Tit.
2:11-13; Phil. 4:8-9.
IV. WE
ARE GOD’S FRIENDS WHEN WE OBEY JESUS
– Jno. 15:13-15.
A. Out of
Love for Jesus – Matt. 22:36-37.
B. By Sacrificing Ourselves & Putting Him First – Jno. 15:13 (Gal. 2:20);
Matt. 10:37-39.
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
"A Thing of Brass"
Scripture Reading:
Luke 2:1-14
1. Num. 21:4-9 – Serpent of
brass, because idolatrous, 2 Kgs. 18:1-4 (“Nehushtan”).
2. Jno. 3:14-15 – Fitting figure of Christ on cross, become “Nehushtan” (1
Pet. 2:24).
3. Lk. 2:1-20 – Historical record Jesus’ birth has become “Nehushtan” (false
worship).
I.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE OF CHRIST’S BIRTH: FROM MAN OR GOD?
(Matt. 21:23)
A. The
Bible Affirms the Virgin Birth of Jesus – Lk. 1:31-35 (2:1-7); Jno. 1:14;
Phil. 2:7f
B. Bible Does Not Give Date of Jesus’ Birth, Matt. 2:1; Lk. 2:1, 8; S of
S 2:11.
C. There is no Biblical Authorization for the Celebration of Christ’s
Birth
D. The Religious Celebration of Christ’s Birth is Based on Human
Authority, Not Divine Authority – Matt. 21:23; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Col. 3:17;
2:22-23 (2 Jno. 9-11; Gal. 1:8-9).
II.
ORIGIN OF CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
A. “Mass
of Christ” – Catholicism; To counter pagan festivals.
B. No Doubt that the Festival of the Birth of Christ Began After New
Testament Times.
III. WHAT
IS THE CHRISTIAN TO DO?
A. Do not
Take Part in Religious Additions of Men – 2 Jno. 9-11 (1 Cor. 10:20-22);
Gal. 4:8-11; 2 Cor. 6:14.
B. Use Opportunities to Explain why You do not Celebrate Christmas as
Birthday of Jesus Christ – Matt. 5:13-16 (11-12).
C. Non-religious Holiday – cf. Acts 16:1-3; 21:23-24, 26; 1 Cor. 8:4-8;
Rom. 14:5, 23.
Concl.
Jesus is not “the reason for the season” – Man is…only a “thing of brass”.
Top
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Eavesdropping
Parents
Joe R. Price
Earlier this month the
Washington State Supreme Court overturned a felony conviction of a 17-year
old because evidence used to convict was obtained from a parent who was
listening in on her 14-year old daughter’s telephone conversation. Now, the
state legislature will introduce a bill that would “exclude” minors from the
state privacy act.
God not only gives parents
the right to see after the welfare of their children, He commands it of them
(Prov. 22:6; 13:24; Eph. 6:4). And, children are expected to obey their
parents (which, by the way, would include answering any questions parents
ask them about their telephone conversations, Eph. 6:1).
Christians (and everyone
else) should remember that our heavenly Father hears every conversation we
have:
O LORD, You have searched me and
known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my
thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are
acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but
behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
(Psa. 139:1-4; cf. Heb. 4:13)
We will not deceive God.
Better to confess and repent of every sin to be forgiven in Christ than to
arrogantly live as if God does not know you and will not judge your sin.
Better to “be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live” than
to rebel against God and die in sin (Rom. 6:23).
Loving parents will be
involved in our children’s life to protect them from evil and train them in
righteous living. God is involved, disciplining us so we will live for Him
(Heb. 12:5-11). God is listening – are we?
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