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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:
Never Forget
What Does the Lord
Require?
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Burying Children Alive
Never Forget
Joe R. Price
The tenth anniversary of
the Oklahoma City bombing of the U. S. Federal Building will occur on
Tuesday, April 19. One of the statements that we heard ten years ago was
that we must “never forget” what happened on that day. Time has passed, and
we have seen more tragedy, suffering and death. Have we forgotten?
Memory can be a wonderful
tool for good. By remembering past events we can improve our lives. God
blessed us with memory so that we can learn and grow from the past; avoid
its mistakes and duplicate its successes. The gospel teaches several things
the Christian should “never forget.” Never forget…
1. Our cleansing from past
sins (2 Pet. 1:9). When we forget the price paid for our redemption,
the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, or the thrill of our new life in
Christ, we show ourselves to be extremely ungrateful and short-sighted (cf.
Rom. 5:8; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 6:3-4; et al.). We must never forget (2 Pet.
1:5-11).
2. God’s word of truth
(2 Pet. 1:12-15; 3:2; Jude 17). Peter’s purpose for writing 2 Peter was to
help Christians remember the truth (1:12). They knew the truth and were
grounded in it, but still they needed to never forget it. We need similar
exhortation. The world is evil and tries to turn us away from divine
truth. The old, old story grows sweeter with time and protects us from
falling.
3. To do good and share with
others (Heb. 13:16). Our world emphasizes selfishness, getting and
staying ahead of the next person. We must remember the good Christ has done
for us and share that goodwill with others (Matt. 25:34-40). Never forget
to do good things for others (Matt. 7:12; Acts 4:32-35; Gal. 6:10).
4. Those who have gone
before us (Heb. 13:3). We continue to benefit from the sacrifices made
by brethren of past generations. Stands for truth against the innovations
of human doctrines have paved a path of respect for divine authority in
which we must continue to walk. Saints were deprived of their possessions,
their reputations, and even their lives so we may be saved (cf. Heb.
11:32-40, 13:3). Such sacrifices continue to be made, and we must never
forget what has brought us to this moment in our spiritual lives.
5. God’s power and promises
(2 Pet. 3:5, 8-9). Mockers forget what God has done in the past and do
not prepare for future judgment (2 Pet. 3:3-7). Those who remember God’s
power and promises are thankful for His longsuffering and repent. What about
us?
God remembers us. Let us
“never forget” Him (Heb. 6:10-12).
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What Does the Lord Require?
Joe R. Price
He has shown you, O man, what is
good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
God requires certain things from
man. Not in the sense that God needs anything from man in order for Him to
survive, but in the sense that as Creator He expects man to live in certain
ways (Acts 17:25; 1 Pet. 1:15-16).
Micah 6:8 (above) identifies
three things that are “good” and therefore required by God of man. These
three items drive to the heart of man and how he treats his fellow man. In
so doing, they reveal what must be present in each person’s life in order to
be blessed by God.
First, just as God required
Israel to “do justly” toward each other, He expects us to be just
toward one another. That is, God requires that we treat each other fairly
and honestly. Whether it is a king toward his subjects, a judge toward the
accused, neighbors across the fence or toward a fellow Christian, God
demands that we be just and fair toward others. It has always been so (Lev.
19:15; Isa. 1:21-23; Amos 5:10-13; Prov. 24:23; Rom. 1:18, 28-31). This
requirement forbids us from doing harm to another person’s property, his
person or his name. Speaking “truth with (one’s) neighbor” will help
(Eph. 4:25). Jesus commands, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do
also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12). We
must always be just toward others, since “the righteous God tests the
hearts and minds” and is a “just judge” who “saves the upright
in heart” (Psa. 7:9-11).
Secondly, God required Israel to
“love mercy” (kindness, KJV), and He continues to expect it of
Christians. Our lives ought to be living examples of mercy and kindness
toward others. Unfortunately, kindness appears to be an inconvenience to
some and a necessary evil to others. But, to the person who respects God
and his fellow man, kindness is cherished and practiced (Eph. 4:31-32; 2
Pet. 1:7). He loves his neighbor as himself because his heart is turned
outward, not inward (Matt. 22:39; Phil. 2:4). Kindness is a precious
commodity that should be freely given away.
Thirdly, God required Israel to
“walk humbly” with Him. God continues to resist the proud and give
grace to the humble (Jas. 4:6). He hates the proud look of haughty eyes
(Prov. 6:17). Where humility is found there will be a ready acceptance of
God’s word and a commitment to follow its teachings above everything else.
It is imperative that we humble ourselves before God now, rather than
waiting until that fateful and final day when every knee shall bow. Then,
we can only expect righteous punishment for the prideful heart we refused to
relinquish (Rom. 14:11-12; 2 Cor. 5:10).
We cannot afford to live a
self-defined Christianity. God offers salvation in His Son. He has shown
us what He requires for us in order to receive His mercy (Eph. 2:7-8; Heb.
5:8-9). Ours is to humbly obey His will, being just and kind toward all.
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You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
The Son of God
Scripture Reading:
John 5:16-23
1. “Son of” was used by the
eastern people primarily to denote sameness &/or equality in some respect
(Mk. 3:17; Lk. 10:6).
2. What “Son of God” means & how “son of” applies to us.
I. THE
SON OF GOD.
A.
Emphasizes Jesus’ Deity (sameness with the Father), Jno. 5:17-18.
1. Jesus fully submitted himself to Father, Jno. 13:16; 14:28.
2. Jesus was one with the Father (deity).
3. The Father & the Son have the…
a. Same work – Jno. 5:19-21.
b. Same judgment – Jno. 5:22.
c. Same honor – Jno. 5:23.
4. Son of God = One with Father, Jno. 10:30-38 (1:18; Heb. 1:3); Col.
2:9.
B. “Son of God” Identifies the Christ & His Nature – Lk. 1:31-35; Matt.
16:16-17; 22:41-45; Jno. 11:27.
II. WE
MUST BE:
A. Sons
of God (cf. 2 Pet. 1:4); Jno. 1:12-13; Gal. 3:26-27 (2 Co. 6:17-18; Matt.
5:9; 43-45).
B. Sons of Light, Jno. 12:36; 8:12; Eph. 5:7-10; 1 Ths. 5:4-6; Lk.
11:34-36.
C. Sons of Peace, Lk. 10:6; Rom. 12:18.
III. WE
MUST NOT BE:
A. Sons
of this World, Lk. 16:8 (1 Jno. 2:15-17).
B. Sons of Disobedience, Eph. 2:2; 5:6; 8:51.
C. Sons of the Devil – Matt. 13:38; Jno. 8:44.
Conclusion:
Whose son are you right now?
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For more on The Religion of
Islam, please go to
http://www.bibleanswer.com/islam.htm
The Religion of Islam
Scripture Reading:
1 John 4:1-6
1. “Islam, began in Mecca,
claimed to be the revelation of God (Allah) through the angel Gabriel to a
man named Muhammad. Muhammad was born in approximately AD 570-571” (A
Brief History of Islam, Reiber).
2. About 1/6 of earth’s population is Muslim.
I. FACTS
ABOUT ISLAM.
A. Size
(1.2 billion; 7 million in U.S.)
B. Vocabulary.
1. Islam: “peace” (salaam); “submission.”
2. Muslim: “A submitting one” (Moslem).
3. Allah: Name of the One and Only God.
4. Muhammad (570-632): Messenger of God.
5. Qur’an (Koran): Holy book, “recitation.”
C. Sources of Islamic Doctrine & Practice (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17; Gal.
1:8-9).
D. Regarded as Only True Religion, Jno. 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Pet. 4:16-19.
E. How to Become a Muslim, Mk. 16:15-16.
II.
ORIGIN & SPREAD OF ISLAM.
A.
Muhammad: Final Messenger of God.
B. Spread of Islam into a World Religion.
III. SOME
ISLAMIC DOCTRINES.
A. The
Oneness of God.
B. Jesus.
1. Not the Son of God.
2. Jesus a prophet, promised Muhammad.
3. Jesus did not die by crucifixion.
C. The Five Pillars of Faith.
1. PROFESSION OF FAITH: Shahada.
2. PRAYER (The Five Daily Prayers): Salat.
3. CHARITY: Zakat.
4. FASTING: Sawm.
5. PILGRIMAGE: Hajj.
D. Carnal Tactics to Advance Islam (Jihad?).
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Burying
Children Alive
Joe R. Price
In southern India there is an
ancient Hindu ritual known as “the festival of pits” in which parents bury
their firstborn child (some less than a year old). Indian police charged 80
people with practicing the Kuzhimattru Thiru Vizha ceremony happened last
Monday. Here is what happens:
The children are drugged to make
them unconscious and placed in shallow “graves” in temple courtyards. The
pits are covered with leaves and dirt and the children are pulled out after
Hindu priests chant a brief prayer -- lasting up to a minute (Indians
Charged for Burying Children Alive, Oddly Enough–Reuters.com, ThuApr14).
Yes, paganism still thrives.
Ancient Israel was induced by the
pagan idolatry around them to pass their children through the fires of Baal
and Molech, greatly sinning against God (Psa. 106:37; Jer. 32:25; Lev.
20:1-5).
Will we be induced by the
idolatry of covetousness to pass our children through the fires of
materialism? (Col. 3:5; Matt. 6:24) Are we teaching them there is
something much more valuable than possessions? (Matt. 16:26) Are they
learning from us, their parents, to put God first in their lives? (Matt.
6:33) Have we passed them through the fire of selfishness, worshiping our
own time, desires and things more than the God who gives them to us? (1
Tim. 6:9-10, 17-19)
Yes, paganism is alive today, and
not only in some distant land. Has it been put to death where you live?
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