Joe R. Price

Every season presents particular challenges to Christians to live morally, to be devoted to God and to offer Him  true worship. For example, winter brings temptations to join in the false worship of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Spring offers us Easter and its false service to God. Summer brings its own set of temptations to forsake God and righteousness.

As summer begins we have a good opportunity to review and renew our priorities as children of God:

Ø I will not take a vacation from worshiping God.

Worshiping God on the first day of the week ought to be a given (Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25; Jno. 4:24). Planning a vacation also means planning our worship. Summer fun cannot mean we neglect God.
 

Ø I will give as I have been prospered.

If we get a paid vacation, God has prospered us. With such increase comes the privilege and responsibility to give (1 Cor. 16:2). We will give cheerfully and without neglect at all times (2 Cor. 9:7).
 

Ø I will only engage in moral activities.

The grace of God teaches us to live “soberly, righteously and godly” (Tit. 2:12). Therefore, we will respect God through holy conduct and not view vacation as a time to carelessly and foolishly disregard God’s will through immoral actions (1 Pet. 1:13-17; 2:11-12).
 

Ø I will be modest at all times.

Modest clothing is not defined by one’s location or activity. Since our clothing is to be marked by “shamefastness and sobriety”, our hearts must contain these attributes (1 Tim. 2:9). Christians know the world does not set the standard for decent dress. Summer is the time when the world “takes it off” – but after all, that is what the world is about (the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye) – that is what the world does (1 Jno. 2:15-16). But, Christians will not let the world define their modesty.
 

Ø I will be thankful to God for His blessings.

A vacation can easily turn into something that is all about us. But, Christians remember that God is the giver of all good things, and so is always prayerfully grateful to Him. Remember to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing” while on vacation (1 Ths. 5:16-17).
 

Ø I will obey our parents.

Children generally have more free time during the summer. Parents, monitor your children’s activities this summer. Let them play, but also give them chores for which they are responsible. It will do them good. Children, be respectful and obey your parents (Eph. 6:1-3).

I’m sure you can add to this list. Whatever the season, Christians will “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). This must be our priority every day. 

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A Regret-Free Marriage

Scripture Reading:  1 Peter 3:5-7

1. What a blessing to be forgiven of sins, Psa. 51:1-4, 12.
2. Since all of us have sinned, regret is something we must learn to address. Even with forgiveness comes the regret of our past failures, cf. 1 Cor. 15:8-9; 1 Tim. 1:12-15.
3. Marriage is a relationship in which we may allow sins to fester, flourish and finally fracture what God joined together, Matt. 19:6. Failure to care for our marriages will bring regret.
4. Respecting fundamental guidelines can minimize sin and its regret, 2 Cor. 7:9-11.

I. REFUSE TO SEE DIVORCE AS AN OPTION.

  A. God Hates Divorce, Mal. 2:16; Matt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 7:10-11; Heb. 13:4; Rom. 7:2.
  B. When there is Conflict, Solve it in God’s Way, Matt. 5:21-25; 19:5-6; Eph. 5:31.

II. MAKE YOUR MATE YOUR PRIORITY (unselfishness), Gen. 29:18-20.

  A. How Christ Loves Church, Eph. 5:25-29.
  B. How Church is to Love Christ, Eph. 5:24.

III. AVOID HURTFUL WORDS WITH YOUR MATE (tame the tongue),  Jas. 3:5-8.

  A. Hearts are Exposed in Marriage, Gen. 2:23; Eph. 4:29-32; Jas. 3:9-12.

IV. BUILD MEMORIES WITH YOUR MATE, Eccl. 9:9.

  A. Build Memories of a Shared Faith, 1 Pet. 3:7; Prov. 5:15-20; 2 Tim. 4:8.
  B. Build Memories of Mutual Love, 1 Jno. 4:7-11; 1 Cor. 13:4-8.
  C. Build Memories that Insure a Shared Hope for the Future, Phil. 1:19-20.

Conclusion

1. Live joyfully in God’s blessing, Eccl. 9:9.
2. Build a marriage free of regret. Set your mate as your priority, use kind words that strengthen your resolve to live by faith, and build precious memories.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

You be the Judge! (Acts 4)

1. Jesus teaches us we will have to judge many things, including what is right by using righteous judgment, Lk. 12:57; Jno. 7:24.
2. Judge: To determine, decide, to separate. 
3. Acts 4: The citizens of Jerusalem, the highest court of the Jewish nation and Peter and John had to “judge what was right”.
4. We also have to “judge what is right”.

I. THE FIRST ARREST, Acts 4:1-4.

  A. The Message is Interrupted by Arrest 4:1-3.
  B. Those Involved in the Arrest.

II. BY WHAT POWER (NAME) HAVE YOU DONE THIS? Acts 4:1-7

  A. Not by the Political, Religious or Moral Power of Man, 4:5-6; 3:12.
  B. By the Power of Jesus Christ, 4:9-10 (3:6, 16). Jesus has…
    1. Power to heal the body (lame man).
    2. Power to build the house of God, Psa. 118:22 (1 Pet. 2:6-7; Eph. 2:19-22); Ac 2:47 (Matt. 16:18).
    3. Power to save soul, 4:12 (1 Tim. 2:3-6).
  C. Jesus’ Power to Save is Offered and Obtained through the Gospel, Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16.
  D. By what Power have You Done This? (4:7) (Authority)

III. THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS, Acts 4:13.

    -Couldn’t deny the miracle, 4:14-16.
  A. People can Tell when You are with Jesus, 1 Pet. 4:1-4; 2:11-12.
  B. Being “with” Jesus does not Depend on Social Status or Human Learning, 4:13; 1 Cor. 1:26-29.
  C. Will People “Marvel” and Realize we are with Jesus? 1 Pet. 3:13-14; Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:10

IV. “DO NOT SPEAK IN THE NAME OF JESUS!” Acts 4:17-18

  A. Judge what is Right: Should You Listen to Man or to God? 4:19

Conclusion  Thousands judged the gospel to be true, 2:41; 4:4. Will you?

To “visit” orphans in James 1:27 means “to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes...in order to help or to benefit” (Thayer). Individual Christians have a directive from God to relieve the fatherless.

     There are about 400,000 children currently in the foster care system in America, and of those about 100,000 are available for adoption (“The Orphan Crisis in America”, christianpost.com). We will not debate the pros and cons of foster care here. Our point is this: When and where there are orphans, God expects Christians to see the need and help as they have the ability to do so. If this is not an application of Jesus’ words, then their meaning escapes me: “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in” (Matt. 25:35).

     God’s care and provisions for the fatherless are stated throughout the Old Testament. God “administers justice for the fatherless” and commanded Israel to do the same (Deut. 10:18; 24:17). The judges of Israel were to see that justice was applied in their cases (Psa. 82:3). Israel’s failure to attend to the fatherless and instead, oppress this powerless group, occasioned God’s wrath against her (Isa. 1:23-24; 10:1-4; Jer. 5:28-29; Ezek. 22:7). God watches and relieves orphans. So should we (Psa. 146:9; Isa. 1:17).

     James 1:27 is a directive to individual Christians, not local churches. To assign to churches the support of orphans is to hand over individual responsibility to the collective group, thereby abandoning personal duty. We have no right to do that. Each individual bears his own responsibility for individual obligations (Gal. 6:5). (See the difference between the individual and the church in 1 Timothy 5:16.)

     Let us also recall the spiritual significance of adoption. Lost in sin, sinners have “no hope” and are “without God” (Eph. 2:12). When one obeys the gospel (hear, believe, confess faith, repent and be baptized, Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38), he or she is saved and adopted into God’s family (Gal. 4:5). Redeemed in Christ, Christians have all the blessings of being children of God. We have God as our heavenly Father and we are heirs of the eternal inheritance He gives His children (Gal. 4:6-7).

The fatherless are at the mercy of others for their very survival. Help them, and you will be doing the good work of God, who is “a father of the fatherless” (Psa. 68:5). 

Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated.  06/02/2013