What Must I Do? - 10/25/09am

Mark 10:17-22 -The rich young ruler
This man asks a question which is a familiar one that has been asked many times. He asks the question of what a person’s duty is in order to receive salvation and eternal life.
Acts 2:37-41 -What shall we do?
Acts 16:25-34 -What must I do to be saved?

Question Denotes a Degree of Faith
…That God has made salvation available
Titus 2:11-14 -Grace has appeared, bringing salvation to all men
I Timothy 2:1-6 -God our Saviors wants all men to be saved

…That Jesus is the Christ
I John 5:1-5 -Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
John 6:66-69 -Christ, the Holy One of God, has words of eternal life

The Answer Requires Obedient Action
We see that Christ’s response to the rich young ruler began with reminding him of the commandments that had been given. The meaning is clear: if we wish to receive eternal life, we must do what the Lord has said to do, and avoid those things which the Lord forbids.
I John 2:1-6 -We know Him if we keep His commandments
Acts 3:17-21 -Repent and convert, that yours sins may be removed
Romans 10:5-13 -Confess with the mouth
Galatians 3:23-29 -As many as have been baptized

The Answer Requires Focus
The rich young man went away sad because he lacked the proper focus. His wealth was more important to him than was eternal life. We must be diligent to always have the proper focus and priorities in our life. We must be focused on Christ.
Mark 10:23-31 -Leave all for Christ to receive the reward
Matthew 10:32-39 -Love Christ more than family or life
Hebrews 12:1-2 -Cast off every weight, looking unto Jesus
Hebrews 11:17-19 -Abraham loved God more than he loved Isaac
Hebrews 11:24-29 -Moses loved God more than Egypt’s riches
Matthew 6:33 -Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness

A Corrupt Priesthood - 10/11/09pm

Malachi 1:6-8 -The vain offering of the priests
Malachi 2:1-9 -The sins of the priests

The priesthood in the days of Malachi had become corrupt. Sadly, this had often been the case for the priesthood. Let us take a few moments and consider some of the times in scripture where God’s priests had chosen to stray.

Leviticus 10:1-7 -Nadab and Abihu offer strange fire
I Samuel 2:12-25, 34 -Eli’s sinful sons
Micah 3:1-12 -The priests teach for pay
Nehemiah 13:28-31 -The defiled priesthood
Matthew 26:1-5 -The chef priests plot to kill Jesus
Matthew 27:15-26 -The chief priests ask for Jesus’ crucifixion and Barabbas’ release
Acts 26:9-13 -The priests send Paul to persecute the church

So what is the lesson in this for us?

I Peter 2:1-10 -You are a holy priesthood
Revelation 1:4-6 -You are kings and priests

Under the new covenant, all Christians are priests. All Christians have that obligation to God and to man. If we grow corrupt, if we choose not to fulfill our responsibilities, we include ourselves among those that we just read of a few minutes ago. We must each remain pure, blameless, and undefiled before God. We must serve God, we must teach, we must be dedicated and offer ourselves up as an offering to Him.

You Owe Him - 10/11/09am

Sometimes people feel that God requires too much, or that simply assembling is enough, or that they’ve already done enough for God. When we examine the scriptures we see that we owe God everything, and should be spending our lives dedicated to His service.

Because He Created You
God created you. Not only that, but everything you have enjoyed in this life, He created. Everything you have needed in this life is there by His Hand. Ever enjoy a day at an outdoor barbeque with family and loved ones? The sunshine you enjoyed, the food you ate, the people you were around, the ground you stood on, the air you breathed…all there because God created it.
Genesis 1:1-31 -Creation

Because His Son Died for You
Not only did God create all things, but He put in motion a plan by which men can be saved. He sacrificed His Son that we might have salvation. The cost was paid for our sin with the blood of God’s only begotten.
Romans 5:6-11 -While we were sinners, Christ died for us, allowing for reconciliation
Luke 23:26-46 -Crucifixion

Because He has Blessed Us in Life
In this life God has given us each many blessings and gifts. There are many nonessentials that we enjoy. There are also spiritual blessings, such as the word of God that have been provided for us.
James 1:16-18 -Every good and perfect gift is from God
II Peter 1:2-4 -God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness

Because He Has Given Us Hope
Lastly, because of the sacrifice made by His Son, we can have hope of eternal life. Not that we deserve it or have earned it (or ever can earn it), but we owe God a great deal for making such a thing available to us.
Revelation 21:1-22:5 -The eternal reward

The Holy Spirit - 9/20/09pm

This sermon will hardly be all-inclusive or exhaustive on speaking of the Holy Spirit. Nor do I claim to perfectly understand Him and His work. But the Holy Spirit is a subject worth studying, so let us consult the scriptures!

The Holy Spirit is a Person of God
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force that emanates from God. The Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of Deity.
Acts 5:1-11 -Holy Spirit and God are used interchangeably
Matthew 3:13-17 -The Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:18-20 -Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit and the Bible
The scriptures are give to us by the Holy Spirit, working through men. The Bible is not a book of stories that men came up with, but given by God.
John 14:25-26 -The comforter, the Holy Spirit, will teach the apostles
I Peter 1:10-12 -The Gospel was taught by those who preached by the Holy Spirit
II Peter 1:19-21 -All prophecy came from the Holy Spirit
II Timothy 3:16-17 -All scripture is God-breathed

The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Much confusion exists when speaking on the subject of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian is simple Biblical truth. The means by which He does so is sometimes more difficult to understand. To this purpose, it becomes useful to see consider the indwelling of the Father and the Son.
Ephesians 3:14-19 -Christ dwells in the Christian’s heart by faith
John 14:19-24 -The indwelling of the Son and Father through faithful obedience
Galatians 3:1-14 -The Spirit dwells in us by faith
Romans 10:17 -Faith comes by hearing the word of God
Acts 5:26-32 -The Holy Spirit given to those who obey
Galatians 3:26-4:7 -The Spirit dwells in those who are sons (those who have been baptized)
What we see then is that the Holy Spirit dwells in us by faith, through the word of God. It is not a personal literal indwelling anymore than the indwelling of the Father and of the Son. It is also worth noting that everything that the Holy Spirit does for us is also stated as the word of God doing for us, showing the means by which the Holy Spirit has chosen to operate.

(The Power Point chart showing the verses correlating the Holy Spirit to the Bible are available upon request)

The Holy Spirit and Salvation
The Holy Spirit is involved in our salvation. Not by a miraculous event, but in our faithful obedience to the will of Christ, we are washed by the Spirit of God.
I Corinthians 6:9-11 -Washed, sanctified, and justified by the name of Christ and by the Spirit of God
Titus 3:1-8 -Salvation by Christ and the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:18-20 -Be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

God's Watchman - 9/20/09am

Ezekiel 33:1-6 -The responsibility of a watchman
Ezekiel 33:7-9 -Ezekiel made God’s watchman to Israel
Colossians 1:24-29 -Warning every man and teaching

A Watchman’s Warnings
God, through Ezekiel, warns that He “has no pleasure,” that is, He is displeased. This is a dire warning, as God’s displeasure has been made known to men in the past. Just Israel should have been striving to avoid God’s displeasure, we must as well. We must aim to be pleasing to the Lord.
Ezekiel 33:10-11 -Ezekiel is to warn that God is displeased
Numbers 11:1-3 -God is displeased and brings fire on the Israelites
II Samuel 11:26-12:15 -David displeased the Lord by sinning with Bathsheba, and God punishes David

Ezekiel warns that God will punish those who are guilty and reward those who are righteous. In this is both a warning and an encouragement. First, a warning against sin. Second, an encouragement to live upright and blameless. And just as the Lord did then, we know that we will be judged by our actions and hearts.
Ezekiel 33:12-16 -Ezekiel is to warn that God will punish the guilty but save the righteous
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -The Lord judges all by their actions
Revelation 20:11-15 -All will be judged by their actions
John 5:24-30 -Christ judges justly

A People’s Response
Ezekiel 33:17-20 -The people complain that God’s way is “unfair”
Does this sound familiar? God has made the same promise: obey and be rewarded or disobey and punished. It’s reasonable, yet many call it unfair or unloving.

Ezekiel 33:21-22 -God’s judgment on Jerusalem is carried out
Ezekiel 33:23-29 -The reason Jerusalem feel was because of their wickedness
The judgment God had promised was carried out because of the sins of the people. Though they were warned clearly and plainly, the warning was not heeded, and destruction came.

Ezekiel 33:30-33 -The people hear, but do not obey God’s will
James 1:19-27 -Be doers, not only hearers of the word, deceiving yourselves
Just as they “listened” to Ezekiel, many “listen” to God today. It is essential that we do not be like the people in that day, but rather that we hear and faithfully obey the Lord.
I Corinthians 10:1-22 -Pay attention to Israel’s poor example, follow the Lord, do not turn aside to Idolatry and sin

Jeremiah's Letter - 9/6/09pm

Jeremiah 29:1-3 -The letter containing God’s word that Jeremiah sent

Jeremiah 29:4 -The Lord had caused the exile to be
The Lord is in control, and all has gone by His plan
A reminder that though they are in captivity, they are still God’s people
Job 42:1-6 -Job realizes God’s plans cannot be stopped, and that God’s way are greater

Jeremiah 29:5-9 -Build houses, do not listen to false prophets
They are going to be in exile for a while, so get used to it
Turn to the Lord in prayer, seek peace
Do not heed the many false prophets
I John 4:1-6 -Test the spirits

Jeremiah 29:10-14 -Exile will end after 70 years, and the people will turn to God
Things will continue to go as God has planned, even to when they will leave exile
The exile will cause the people to turn back to God, as they should have done from the beginning
Acts 26:19-23 -God wants all to turn to Him

Jeremiah 29:15-20 -Because the people have turned to others, those remaining will face trials
Because they still have not turned to God, but rather to the false prophets, punishment will continue in Jerusalem as well as in Babylon
They had ignored God’s prophets to listen to false prophets
Romans 1:20-25 -Reject the truth for a lie

Jeremiah 29:21-23 -The problem of false prophets
Two false prophets are singled out and condemned by God
They will become a curse, taken up by all of Israel
II Peter 2:1-3, 12-22 -As there were false prophets, there will be false teachers

Jeremiah 29:24-28 -Shemaiah is rebuked for not heeding prophets
Shemaiah had written letters telling Zephaniah the priest to put Jeremiah in prison with others who are “demented”
Shemaiah seems to blame Jeremiah for the captivity
I Peter 3:13-17 -Live so that shame comes on those who revile

Jeremiah 29:29-32 -Shemaiah’s house to be cursed, never to see the good that the Lord will do
Zephaniah had shared the letter with Jeremiah
The Lord will punish and destroy the house of Shemaiah for teaching rebellion
The Lord will do good things for His people
Matthew 25:31-46 -The sheep and the goats

Will you be one of the sheep who will see the good that God does for His people? Or will you be like Shemaiah who rejected what God had to say, and so was accursed?

The Value of Prayer - 9/6/09am

Abraham’s Servant
Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac. He wanted a wife not of the people around him, but of his own people, so he sent a servant to seek one.
Genesis 24:1-28 -The servant prays for guidance and a sign to know when his task is completed
The servant’s prayer was no for himself so much as for his master. He wanted to make sure the task was correctly done as Abraham wanted it. And we see that he is rewarded for his prayerful diligence, in that his prayer is answered.

Elijah
Elijah stood before Ahab, possibly the worst king Israel had ever suffered. And in rebuke, Elijah prayed and there was drought for 3 ½ years. And then he prays, and rain comes.
I Kings 17:1-7 -Elijah prays for drought
I Kings 18:41-46 -Elijah prays for the drought to end
Elijah’s prayers were answered. Once again, we see that there is nothing immediately miraculous about the answer, but what he had asked for came to be.

Daniel
Daniel was in exile in Babylon. But he did not stop praying to the Lord. When Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, he continued his prayer.
Daniel 2:1-23 -Daniel prayers for understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
Daniel 6:1-23 -Daniel prayers daily, survives lion’s den
We see Daniel’s effective prayer in that he was able to save the ungodly “wise men” of Nebuchadnezzar’s court. God answered his pryer on the behalf of others. We see also that Daniel made a practice of regularly going to the Lord in prayer. And for this he is rewarded for his diligence and godliness.

Disciples
Just as we see prayers fulfilled in the past, we can know that our prayers are heard by God today. We can have confidence that our prayers will be answered.
James 5:13-18 -The effective prayer of a righteous man
I Peter 3:7 -Do not let your prayers be hindered
I John 5:14-17 -God hears prayers
Acts 10:30-33 -God hears those who seek Him

A Man of Perseverance - 8/30/09pm

Matthew 10:22 -He who endures to the end will be saved

Jeremiah 1:1-19 -Jeremiah introduced and called. God gives him the message to preach
Covers a period of about 40 years
Young people can serve the Lord and valuable in His work
Jeremiah was to only preach/teach what was given Him
Jeremiah was not given a message that was going to be well liked

Jeremiah 8:4-22 -God’s indictment of Judah
Judah’s false wisdom and false piety
Judah’s complacent “peace”
Judah’s idolatry
Judah will be destroyed

Jeremiah 9:1-2 -Jeremiah’s sad response
Jeremiah does not rejoice at the destruction of his people
Jeremiah often referred to as the “weeping prophet”

Jeremiah 18:11-18 -Hearing God’s word, the people plot to slander and ignore Jeremiah
The people are called to repent and are condemned for their sin
They do not like this, so plot to see that Jeremiah is not heard

Jeremiah 18:19-23 -Jeremiah prays to God
Jeremiah had said what God wanted said
Jeremiah is willing to let them be judged accordingly

Jeremiah 28:1-17 -Jeremiah contends with Hananiah
Hananiah falsely prophesied peace and safety to Jerusalem, telling the king what he wanted to hear
Jeremiah stated the will of God
Hananiah, stating what people wanted to hear, died
Jeremiah, stating what was distasteful to people but pleasing to God, lived

Jeremiah 38:1-13 -Jeremiah is thrown into a pit, rescued by
Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian
Jeremiah’s life is sought by the princes of Jerusalem, and is cast into a pit
Jeremiah is rescued by one who is not a Jew

Jeremiah 38:14-28 -Jeremiah continues to preach until Jerusalem is captured
Jeremiah did not let previous events stop him, but continued to speak what the Lord had spoken

God and Man in Salvation - 8/30/09am

What God Does
Genesis 3:9-15 -God made a Plan
From when sin entered the world, God set in motion a plan for redeeming man. He did this because He loved us. Not as a collective, but each as individuals. Even while we turned from Him, He continued His plan for our salvation.
I John 4:7-11 -God loved us first
John 3:13-16 -God so loved the world
Romans 5:8-11 -God loved us, His Son died so we may be justified
By His blood, we are saved. God has done for us what no man can do: offered the perfect sacrifice for sin. And when He had done this, and the Christ rose again the third day, He did not keep it hidden, known only to a select few. He did it publicly, and sent men to spread the good news of salvation, that even those who had rejected Him might have opportunity for eternal life.
Matthew 28:18-20 -Christ sent men to spread the gospel
II Peter 1:2-4 -The gospel is complete and all that we need
Titus 2:11-14 -His grace has appeared to all men
And this good news and grace is something we all need, for we have all chosen to sin. We have each fallen short of what we should be.
Romans 3:23 -All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
Ecclesiastes 7:29 -Though created upright, men seek out other paths

What Man Does
Salvation has been made available by God. So what do we each have to do in order to grasp this good and perfect gift?
Hebrews 5:5-11 -Salvation goes to those who obey
I John 3:16-24 -Love and belief: commands of God
John 6:26-33 -Believing is doing a work of God
I Corinthians 16:22 -The importance of loving the Lord
Acts 17:30 -All men need to repent
II Timothy 2:22 -Flee youthful lusts, pursue righteousness
Romans 10:8-13 -Confess Christ
Acts 2:38 -Repent and be baptized
These things are necessary to grasp hold of salvation for the first time. But once we have it, we cannot let go of the hope we have. We must continue to live for Christ.
I John 1:5-2:6 -Walk in the light with Christ
What is required of us is so insignificant compared to what the Lord has already done. He does not ask us to do things that will “earn” salvation. Instead, He asks for small, simple things, done out of love and faith. Are you walking in the light? Are you with Christ? Have you obeyed the gospel?

Isaiah: The Coming Messiah - 8/23/09pm

Last week we considered some of the prophecies Isaiah made against Israel, of their sin, and of their return to come. This week we will take a brief look at some of what Isaiah had to say about the long awaited Messiah, how He could be recognized, and what would happen.

Prophecies of the Messiah
Isaiah makes several prophecies of the coming Savior. Some were regarding signs that would make it apparent who the Messiah was. Some were in regard to what the Messiah would do, or what would occur to the Savior.
Isaiah 7:13-17 -Immanuel, virgin birth
Isaiah 9:1-7 -From Galilee, names for, throne of David
Isaiah 11:1-16 -Root of Jesse
Isaiah 53:1-12 -The suffering savior

Fulfillment by the Messiah
We can read in the New Testament of the fulfillment of these prophecies. In this we find evidence that Jesus is the Messiah. In this we can have faith and trust that in following Him, we have not misplaced our hearts. We follow no lie, but the Truth.
Matthew 1:1-25 -Immanuel, virgin birth, root of Jesse fulfilled
Matthew 4:12-17 -From Galilee fulfilled
Acts 8:29-39 -Isaiah 53 refers to Jesus, the Christ

The Messiah’s Followers
Not only does Isaiah have something to say about the Messiah, but also regarding His followers: the church.
Isaiah 2:1-4 -The mountain of the Lord’s house
Hebrew 3:1-6 -We can be part of His house

Would you follow the Messiah that had been prophesied of and has now come? Would you be a part of His house?

Preach the Word and Teach the World, Part 3 - 8/23/09am

Romans 10:14-17

Previously we looked at each of our roles in teaching others. We also looked at who we are supposed to be bringing the word, and what we are to be teaching. To conclude this series, we will take a look at how we are supposed to be teaching, and why we are supposed to be teaching.

How we should Teach
II Timothy 4:2 -With patience
II Timothy 1:8 -Not ashamedly (Romans 1:16)
Matthew 23:3 -Not hypocritically
II Timothy 2:25 -Gently instruct
Acts 4:29-31 -With boldness (Acts 9:27-29, Acts 14:3, Acts 19:8)
Ephesians 4:15 -In love
Philippians 1:15-16 -With love and good will
Titus 2:7-8 -With integrity and seriousness
I Timothy 2:1 -Without favoritism

We should teach with longsuffering, with patience, and with love. We should speak boldly, and unashamed of what we are speaking. We should freely preach to all men, without favoring some over others. And we should be practicing the word of God that we are teaching.

Why we should Teach
Philippians 1:15-18 -Should be freely and willingly preaching
I Corinthians 9:16-18 -We are rewarded for preaching voluntary work
Acts 4:18-20 -God said to, and we shouldn’t be able to stop ourselves from doing so
Acts 14:11-17 -For God’s glory
Ephesians 4:29 -To build up
Romans 10:14-17 -Teaching will lead to faith
II Peter 3:9 -That all might repent
I Corinthians 9:19-23 -To save souls
I Corinthians 15:1-11 -For salvation through the gospel

We should be preaching from the proper motives. We should be doing so willingly, not begrudgingly. If we are doing so because we are compelled, the word I still spread, but it shows that our priorities are other than what Christ wants it to be. We should be preaching to help save souls and bring others to Christ. We should be soul winners for Him, striving to increase the size of His kingdom and bring glory to Him. We must be sure to do it for Him, and for the souls of others, and not for ourselves.

Paul’s Example and Preaching
Acts 18:1-23
-Paul taught boldly, willingly, without hesitation
-Paul reasoned from the scriptures
-Paul traveled often to save souls

Have you obeyed the gospel preached by Paul? Are you willing to become one of the Lord’s disciples?

Isaiah: Judgment of Israel - 8/16/09pm

Isaiah can be divided up in different ways. The way I usually look at this book is that Isaiah primarily has three different subjects he deals with. The first is the judgment of Israel, the second is similar and deals with God’s judgment of the nations surrounding and affecting Israel, and the third is prophecy of the Messiah. This week, let us consider God’s judgment of Israel. Next week, Lord willing, we will consider some of what Isaiah has to say about the Messiah.

Israel’s Sin
Israel and Judah, rather than following the Lord as they should, chose to sin against the Almighty and go their own way. God, through Isaiah, names some of the sin that they had committed and which had separated them from the Lord.
Isaiah 1:1-23 -Judah’s empty worship and degeneracy
Isaiah 3:13-23 -Judah’s prideful materialism
Isaiah 5:8-12 -Judah’s materialism
Isaiah 5:18-23 -Judah’s reversing of evil into good and good into evil
Isaiah 32:9-11 -Their complacency
Isaiah 59:1-8 -Their sins have separated them from God

Israel’s Punishment
For their sins, Israel was to be punished. Their cities would be laid waste, and the people would be carried off in captivity.
Isaiah 29:1-8 -Jerusalem to be destroyed
Isaiah 39:1-8 -Babylon to carry them into captivity

Israel’s Return
The Lord, being merciful, would later bring a remnant back to the land of Israel and allow Jerusalem to be rebuilt. Even when Israel has rejected God continually, we see that he offers hope should they repent.
Isaiah 10:20-27 -A remnant will return
Isaiah 26:20-27:13 -Israel is to return
Isaiah 44:24-25:7 -Through Cyrus, Judah will return from captivity

Preach the Word and Teach the World, Part 2 - 8/16/09am

Romans 10:14-17

Continuing our study on what we, as Christians, should be doing to spread the gospel of Christ, we will look at some more specifics. Last time we looked at the role of an evangelist and what every Christian should be doing to teach others. Today we’ll look at who we should be teaching and what we should be teaching.

Who do we Teach?
Romans 1:16
Titus 2:2 -Older men
Titus 2:3 -Older women
Titus 2:4-5 -Younger women
Titus 2:6 -Younger men
Titus 2:9-10 -Slaves
Acts 20:7 -The church
II Timothy 2:25-26 -Opponents of Christ
(Romans 15:20, Luke 9:10)
Matthew 28:18-20 -All the world
(Mark 16:15, Acts 22:15)
Everyone is included among those who need to be taught. Whether you are in a saved condition or a lost condition, you need to be taught. Whether you are male or female, young or old, and whatever your lot in life may be, you need to be taught. And as Christians, we are supposed to be teaching them.

What do we Teach?
Matthew 28:18-20 -What Christ taught the apostles
Titus 2:1 -Sound doctrine
II Peter 3:15 -To explain the faith
II Corinthians 11:4 -Jesus
(I Corinthians 1:23)
Acts 8:35 -Good new about Jesus
(Galatians 1:6-9, Romans 10:14-15)
II Timothy 4:2 -The word
Ephesians 4:15 -The truth
Galatians 1:11-12 -What God revealed
Acts 26:20 -Repentance and turning to God
Acts 22:16 -Baptism and remission of sins
We should be teaching the Bible. The word of God. We should be bringing people the true good news about our savior, who was crucified for our sins, and was raised again on the 3rd day. We should be letting everyone know about Christ, and what Christ wants us to do, in return for his sacrifice. We should be teaching people to bring them to God.

Philip’s Example and Preaching
Acts 8:4-8, 26-40
-Philip preached about Christ to Samaria and the Eunuch
-Philip preached from the scriptures, using what God had provided
-Philip’s teaching of Christ included baptism and information about salvation
Have you obeyed the gospel of Christ?

The Whole of Man - 8/9/09pm

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The Feet
While before we have looked at “walking” in a figurative sense, now we consider how we can literally use our feet in the Lord’s service: to carry us to teach others and to speed us towards doing His work.
Ephesians 6:15 -Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel
Romans 10:14-15 -Beautiful feet

The Body
We must submit the body, and all of its desires, to God, using what we physically in such a way as to serve Him.
I Corinthians 6:12-20 -Glorify God in your body
Romans 12:1-2 -Present body as a living sacrifice

The Heart
We must focus our hearts on Christ. We cannot have our hearts set on other things, but must desire the will of God.
Matthew 22:34-40 -The greatest commandment
Psalm 131 -A humble heart

The Hands
Our hands must be innocent of wrong doing, and clean. We should also be working diligently in all things, as though unto the Lord. When we work diligently in our lives at secular work and such things, the Lord is pleased.
James 4:7-11 -Cleanse your hands
I Thessalonians 4:1-12 -Work with your own hands, consider context

The Tongue
How are we using the tongue in the Lord’s work? We must be careful to speak those things He wishes to be said, and to not speak those things we should not.
James 3:1-13 -Taming the tongue
Palm 119:169-176 -Speaking to God, and about His law

The Ears
We should be receptive and quick to heed the word of God. We must not let teaching simply slip in one ear and out the other, but rather be prepared to listen and apply.
Matthew 13:10-17 -Christ’s reason for speaking in parables
Psalm 78:1-3 -Incline your ears
I Timothy 4:1-14 -Itching ears

The Eyes
We must keep our focus on Christ, and on those things he would have us focus on. We must not allow ourselves to look instead towards sin.
Matthew 5:27-32 -Do not look after a woman to lust
Hebrews 12:1-2 -Looking unto Jesus
Psalm 123 -Lifting up eyes unto God

The Mind
We must follow and love the Lord with our mind. Our mind, as it controls the rest of the body, must be in line with what God wants. If we cannot bring our minds into subjection, then the rest of us will not be either.
I Peter 1:13-16 -Gird up the loins of your mind
Philippians 3:18-19 -Minds set on earthly things
Philippians 4:8-9 -Think on these things

Don't Be Stupid - 8/2/09pm

Proverbs 12:1 -The stupid man hates correction
Proverbs 30:1-3 -The stupid man has no wisdom or knowledge of God
Jeremiah 10:1-25 -Stupidity of idols and idolatry (vv. 8, 14)
Jeremiah 51:15-19 -Lacking knowledge and following idols is stupid
Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 -Actions make stupidity obvious
We see then that stupidity is found in rejecting that which God has made known, and in turning to other things. It is truly stupid to not heed that which is made clear by God, and it is truly stupid to put our trust in idols, false religions, and other things, instead of in the Lord.

In the Bible, we have examples of people who, knowing the truth, choose to reject it and turn to something else. In other words, we are shown examples of stupid people in the Bible.
Exodus 32:1-20 -Israel, knowing God, turns to an idol
Luke 22:1-6, 47-53 -Judas, knowing Christ, betrays him
Acts 26:19-32 -Agrippa, knowing the law and prophets, rejects Christ

Jude 3 -The faith has been delivered, once and for all
II Peter 1:2-3 -All things pertaining to life and godliness
The word of God has made the Lord clear to us. God has seen to it that we have all that we need in order to know Christ, to follow Him, and to not turn aside. If we choose to do anyway, we, like the Israelites, like Judas, like Agrippa, and like many others, choose to be stupid. Don’t be stupid.

Excuses Christ Failed to Make - 8/2/09am

Luke 14:16-24
It’s easy and common for us to make excuses to get out of things. We make excuses to not wash dishes, to not go to the doctor, or to not go to work. We also make excuses to not teach others, to assemble, or to study the Bible. I would like to take a few minutes and think about the results if Christ had made these same excuses.

“It’s just too hard to do God’s will!”
How often do we make or hear this excuse? It just seems like God has asked so much of us! But consider Christ, our ultimate example. Instead of making this excuse, He did as the Lord commanded.
John 6:32-40
Luke 22:39-46

“But I’ll have to give up things that I like!”
To follow Christ we may have to give up certain possessions, hobbies, entertainments, and friends. But no matter how much we must remove from our lives, consider what Christ gave up. Imagine if He had made this excuse!
Philippians 2:5-11

“No one will listen if I try to teach!”
This excuse is used to keep from teaching others. Again, consider the consequences if Christ had made this excuse. Yet He did not: He taught.
John 7:25-31
John 10:22-30

“I’ll do it later.”
When in doubt, procrastinate, right? Imagine if Christ had put off our salvation, instead of doing what needed to be done when it needed to be done: in the fullness of time.
Galatians 3:26-4:7

“I’m just too tired right now.”
This is an easy excuse to make, particularly on Sunday mornings, isn’t it? Again, we see Christ not making this excuse. Even when tired, He sought to do God’s will. In fact, it’s only recorded once that He ever went apart to rest.
John 4:2-14
Mark 6:30-32

“But I may be laughed at or persecuted!”
Yes, people may laugh at us. They may even throw things. But imagine if Christ made this excuse. He would not have gone to the cross, and we would not have salvation.
Matthew 27:22-50

I Peter 2:21 -Be like Christ

Calling on the Name of the Lord - 7/26/09pm

Romans 10:1-21 -Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
Matthew 7:21-23 -Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord
Calling on the name of the Lord is linked to confessing Christ, and of course, salvation. However, we know from the passage in Matthew that it is not simply giving vocal acknowledgement of the Lord. Let us consider, again, some of the psalms which call upon the Lord.

Psalm 18:1-3 -David calls upon the Lord in praise
Psalm 31:9-18 -David calls upon the Lord
Psalm 105:1-7 -Giving thanks, praise, calling on the Lord
Psalm 141:1-10 -A prayer to be kept from sin
Psalm 148:17-21 -The Lord is near those who call upon Him
We see that calling on the Lord includes spoken confession, but goes far deeper. Calling on the Lord involves confessing Christ throughout all our lives, in word and in deed. Calling on the Lord involves turning to the Lord in all circumstances.

I Corinthians 1:1-3 -The church, those who call upon the Lord
II Timothy 2:14-26 -Those who call on the Lord with a pure heart
Those who truly call upon the Lord are the church, those who have been sanctified. If we wish to call upon the Lord, we must do more than simply do so vocally: we must live it.

God's Gift: Grace - 7/26/09am

II Peter 3:17-18 -Grow in grace and knowledge
As in previous weeks, we consider this passage. We have looked at growth and we have looked at knowledge. This week we consider God’s grace, by which we have salvation.
Ephesians 2:1-10 -Saved by grace, the gift of God
Titus 2:11-15 -The grace of God has appeared to all men

I Peter 1:3-16 -Salvation, grace to be given to you, obedience
I Timothy 1:8-12 -Saved and called to a holy life by His grace
Romans 6:1-23 -A life of sin is opposed to God’s gift of eternal life
After considering these verses, let us look at an example of how a gift from God works. Consider Jericho, which God gave to the Israelites.
Joshua 6:1-21 -Example of God giving a gift: Jericho

Philippians 3:1-21 -Paul’s faith, righteousness from God, and pursuit of the goal

Singing the Psalms - 7/12/09pm

Colossians 3:16-17 -Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

Psalm 104:1-2 -Praise for God
Psalm 104:3-9 -God created all things
Psalm 104:10-23 -God’s continuing work
Psalm 104:24-30 -God’s concern for His creation
Psalm 104:31-33 -Praise for God
Psalm 104:34-35 -Victory of the Lord
Song # 513

Psalm 113:1-3 -Continual praise for God
Psalm 113:4-6 -The height and power of the Lord
Psalm 113:7-9 -The love of God for the lowly
Song # 601

Psalm 24:1-2 -All belongs to the Lord
Psalm 24:3-6 -Blessings for the righteous
Psalm 24:7-10 -The Lord of hosts
Song # 597

Psalm 118:1-4 -Give thanks for God’s mercy
Psalm 118:5-14 -Strength and refuge in the Lord
Psalm 118:15-18 -Salvation and chastening
Psalm 118:19-21 -Praise for God’s salvation
Psalm 118:22-24 -The rejected stone
Psalm 118:25-28 -Praise for God
Psalm 118:29 -God’s mercy
Song # 644

Church Growth - 7/12/09am

Individual Growth
Before we focus on the growth of the church as a collective, let us spend time considering the growth that each Christian must have.
II Peter 3:17-18 -Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord
II Peter 1:5-11 -Add to your faith...
Luke 17:5-10 -Increase our faith
Luke 2:51-52 -Christ grew

Luke 22:31-34 -Strengthen the brethren
Hebrews 10:24-25 -Do not forsake assembling yourselves together
I Corinthians 14:20-25 -If someone comes into the assembly

Numerical Growth
It is important for the church to grow in number. Not so that we can have more impressive numbers or more money, but rather so that as many can be saved as possible.
Acts 2:46-47 -The church grows
Acts 4:1-4 -The church grows
Acts 11:22-24 -The church is strengthened and grows
Acts 12:24 -The word of God grows
Acts 19:20 -The word of the Lord grows
I Timothy 2:1-7 -The Lord desires all men to be saved

I Corinthians 9:19-23 -Become all things to all men to save some
I Corinthians 3:1-9 -Men teach, God gives the increase

Spiritual Growth
It is vitally important that everyone grows spiritually. As we grow as individuals, we can strengthen others. And as we all grow together, and as we grow in number, the church will grow spiritually as a collective.
Ephesians 4:11-16 -Different roles for the edification of the body
Acts 14:21-26 -The souls of the church are strengthened
Colossians 2:16-19 -The church grows with the increase from God

Revelation 3:1-6 -Sardis, the dead church