Author Unknown1. Every time I
went, they asked me for money.
2. The people with whom I had to sit didn't seem friendly.
3. The seats were too hard and not at all comfortable.
4. I went to many games, but the coach never came to call
on me.
5. The referee made a decision with which I could not
agree.
6. I suspected that I was sitting with some
hypocrites--they came to see their friends and what others were wearing
rather than to see the game.
7. Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting
home.
8. The band played some numbers that I had never heard
before.
9. It seems that the games are scheduled when I want to do
other things.
10. I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was
growing up.
-Author Unknown
When put in this light, how silly and selfish some of our
excuses for not assembling with the saints to worship God become! If you
wouldn’t give up your favorite activity for the above reasons, then make
sure you don’t give up worshipping God because them. (After all, shouldn’t
worshipping God be among our favorite activities?)
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Let Us Go On To Perfection
Joe R. Price
It
saddens us to see a child who fails to properly develop. Bodies and minds do
not always grow as they should, often through no fault of the person who
must live with the resulting disability. Jesus and His apostles had
compassion on such people, and so should we (Jno. 9:1-7; Acts 3:1-8).
It distresses us to see Christians who are not
developing spiritually. Spiritual growth is within our control. Spiritual
immaturity it is not the result of unfortunate, unforeseen or uncontrollable
circumstances. Equally tragic is that some Christians do not seem to want
to grow stronger. Apathy and indifference have infected them and they do not
see why they need to grow. This must change! Hebrews 5:11-6:3 states at
least three reasons why every Christian should mature in Christ.
1) We should mature by reason of time (Heb. 5:12).
Time gives us opportunities to grow and mature; to
become stronger Christians. How long have you been a Christian? How much has
your faith grown in that length of time? The passing of time ought to
increase our opportunities, if not also our ability, to serve Christ. For
instance, time gives us opportunities to become teachers of God’s word
(5:12). Perhaps we should ask ourselves what type of preaching and teaching
holds our interest? Apparently some can only tolerate the milk of the word
despite having heard the “first principles” for many years. I am not
criticizing first principle lessons, for they will always have their place
and need. But, when a Christian of some years objects to anything but first
principle classes and preaching, is that not a sign of spiritual immaturity?
Yes, preaching must suit the needs and capabilities of the hearers (2 Tim.
4:2). But, if I consistently describe Bible teaching as “over my head,”
could it be that I have not adequately grown in my ability to receive the
teaching I need? It was for this very reason that some of what needed to
written to the Hebrew Christians fell on ears that were “dull of hearing”
(5:11). Use your time to grow in Christ by reading and learning God’s word.
2) We should mature by reason of use (Heb.
5:13-14). Exercise helps us grow. Bodily exercise
is good, but it will not save our souls (1 Tim. 4:7-8). So, we must exercise
ourselves in godliness. Those who mature in their faith exercise their
senses by using the word of God to “discern both good and evil”
(5:14). They become stronger and more complete Christians through such
experiences (5:13). When muscles are not exercised they become weak and do
not function to their full potential. Similarly, when a Christian fails to
use God’s word in his life he becomes weak and frail. A Christian in such a
spiritually weakened state is an easy target for Satan. You can rest
assured that Satan will tempt you in your areas of weakness! So, we must
“be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” by obeying God
(Eph. 6:10-17). Additionally, those who are spiritually weak are not setting
good examples for others to follow. We need to set strong examples of
godliness before others (Matt. 5:14-16). If you are setting examples of
weakness and immaturity before others do not be surprised when they are not
strong, either. Rather, let us use God’s word to know and choose what is
right to be stronger Christians.
3) We should mature because it is God’s will for
us (Heb. 6:3). God wants His children to be strong
and mature. Just as fleshly parents want their children to grow to
adulthood, God anticipates our spiritual maturity. God wants us to be
“perfect in Christ Jesus” and to be “filled with all the fullness of
God” (Col. 1:27-28; Eph. 3:19). In His goodness, forbearance and
longsuffering, God gives us time and opportunity to do His will and become
strong in Christ (Rom. 2:4; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:9; Jas. 4:15). We must
decide to use these blessings to grow in our love for God, in our knowledge
of His word, and in our obedience to His will.
“Let us go on to perfection…and this will we do if
God permits” (Heb. 6:1-3).
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You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Building Christian Character in a Sinful World
Scripture Reading:
Colossians 3:1-4
1. Character: “Inner strength”; that which defines the
person (Prov. 23:7; Matt. 12:34-35).
2. Character is an expression of faith (Gen. 39:7-12).
I. JESUS IS OUR MODEL FOR CHARACTER, Lk. 6:40 (1
Pet. 2:21; 2 Pet. 1:4). (1 Jno. 4:17)
A. Conformed, Rom. 8:29. (Fashioned like)
B. Formed, Gal. 4:19. (morphe: Appearance)
C. In you, Col. 1:27. (Fixed position & relation; Salvation)
D. Image, Col. 3:10 (moral likeness).
II. CONVERSION: CHANGING CHARACTER, 2 Cor.
5:17; Rom. 12:2 (Salvation, Acts 26:18); 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
A. Raised with Christ (Rom. 6:1-4, 5-18), Col. 3:1-4
(2:11-12).
1. Seek Þ Goal, 3:1; Matt. 6:33 (1 Tim. 6:11).
2. Set Þ Commitment, 3:2; Rom. 8:5-8, 12-13 (1).
3. Sustain Þ Persistence, 3:3; Gal. 2:20 (Rom. 5:4).
4. Reward Þ Glory, 3:4 (2 Tim. 4:8).
III. IN CHRIST, WE HAVE…
A. A New Relation to Sin, 3:5-11 (Rom. 6:2-7; 11-14, no
longer slaves).
B. A New Heart, 3:12-15 (Rom. 12:2).
C. A New Message Accepted, 3:16 (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3); Eph. 5:18;
Jas. 1:21-22.
D. A New Authority Respected, 3:17 (Matt. 28:18; 17:5).
E. New Conduct in Relationships, 3:18-4:1.
Conclusion
1. What does God see in us? Heb. 4:13
2. Put on the new man (Gal. 2:20); Image of Christ (Col. 3:10), Lk. 6:40.
3. Partaker of the divine nature, 2 Pet. 1:4.
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Preparing Gospel Sermons
Scripture Reading:
1 Timothy 4:12-16
1. The gospel preacher must be prepared when he stands to
preach; he must have something to say, not just have to say
something.
2. 2 Tim. 4:2: You cannot preach what you do not know; you will preach what
you know (2 Tim. 4:2-4).
3. Gospel preachers must be ready (willing & prepared) to “preach the
gospel” (Rom. 1:15).
I. THE PURPOSE OF GOSPEL PREACHING,
Mk. 16:15-16; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 1:21-23.
II. TRAITS OF A GOSPEL SERMON.
(A Gospel Sermon Must…)
A. Be Scriptural, 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 4:2; 1
Ths. 2:1-4, 13.
B. Be Sound, 2 Tim. 1:13; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 1 Jno. 4:1, 6; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Cor.
11:3-4 (2 Jno. 9-11).
C. Be Studied (result of Bible study), 2Ti. 2:14-18; 1 Tim. 4:6-16; Heb.
5:12-14.
D. Present the Savior & His Salvation, Acts 8:5, 35 (1 Cor. 1:21-23;
15:1-4; 2:2-5 (14:37).
III. DEVELOPING A SERMON.
A. Parts of a Sermon.
B. Deciding what to Preach (2 Tim. 4:2).
IV. TYPES OF GOSPEL SERMONS.
A. Topical Sermons (examples).
B. Textual Sermons (examples).
Conclusion
1. Prepare yourself to preach the gospel by preparing your
sermon.
2. Goal: Preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2).
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Fatal Flaws about the Future
Joe R. Price
The current war in the Middle East has Premillennial
prophets predicting and Dispensational discerners divining the future.
Their false doctrines include 1) The nation of Israel is still the
chosen people of God, 2) Palestine is the still the Promised Land, and
3) Jesus will return to Jerusalem and reign there for 1,000 years. These
are fatal flaws about the future because:
The land promise to Israel has already been fulfilled.
“So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to
their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.” (Josh.
21:43; see also 23:14; Jer. 32:21-23)
The Messianic kingdom exists today and is the church of
Christ. “And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say
to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they
see the kingdom of God present with power." “…on this rock I will build My
church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give
you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Mk. 9:1; Matt. 16:18-19; see
also Psa. 2:6-12; Acts 13:32-33; Rev. 1:5-6)
The kingdom of Christ is spiritual, not earthly.
“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My
servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now
My kingdom is not from here" (Jno. 18:36; see also Lk. 17:20-21).
The physical nation of Israel is no longer God’s chosen
people; the church is now God’s chosen people.
“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…but he is a Jews who is one
inwardly” (Rom. 2:28; see also Rom. 9:6-8; 1 Pet. 2:9-10).
Armageddon is used symbolically in Revelation 16:16 of
God’s decisive defeat of the enemies of His people
(see also Rev. 16:12-15). The Valley of Megiddo was a place
where opposing forces fought decisive battles in the Old Testament (Jug.
5:19; 6:33; 2 Chrn. 35:20-25). Similarly, the Lord defeats the persecutors
of His people (Rev. 19:19-21).
When Jesus returns He will deliver the kingdom up to
God, not establish it on earth (read 1 Cor.
15:23-27).
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