Recent Sermons
12/15/2024 PMOccupy! and Report Card
Jesus charged His disciples to work hard for His kingdom before He returns from heaven. This is the parable of the pounds, much like the talents, both money and returns. God has invested His grace. What is your return? We quickly review the parable, and then use a simple report card for self-examination.
12/15/2024 AMFacets of Our Salvation (2)
Eternal salvation may be viewed different ways - usually for doctrinal definitions or defense. But to see salvation's beauty for greater praise and joy, God used a variety of words from different parts of life like facets on a diamond. Delight in each one. Here for your pleasure are pardon and ransom.
12/8/2024 PMSins to Hate from N.T. (2)
Most use the Great Commission for initial preaching of the gospel before baptism. But Jesus charged His apostles after baptism to teach those converts all He had commanded them. We find these inspired orders from Jesus for our lives in the apostles' epistles. Let us find them, list them, and obey them.
12/8/2024 AMFacets of Our Salvation (1)
Our unspeakable gift of eternal life may be viewed different ways - usually for doctrinal definitions or defense. But for a broad view of salvation's beauty and for our greater joy, God used a variety of words from different parts of life like the varied facets on a well-cut diamond. Delight in each of the facets.
12/4/2024 PMARS for Youth and Adults Slides
A simple acronym is a tool to remind youth and adults of three important parts of life - authority, relationships, sex. The world and the flesh fights against God and godliness in these areas. The sons of God must be different. Use the acronym to remind you to carefulness in each of the three areas.
12/1/2024 PMBare Our Sins on the Tree
Jews were persecuted by civil rulers and by bosses on the job, but Peter exhorted them to quiet submission, and He used Jesus as the great example for them. He by Himself bore our sins on the cross. His sacrificial death not only saved them and us, but it teaches them and us a powerful lesson.
12/1/2024 AMFree Gift of Eternal Life (3)
After a brief review of the first two sermons, this sermon looks at the offers associated with salvation, with Jesus offering Himself to God, not to man, as the greatest offer. It then looks at aspects of acceptance, with emphasis on God accepting Jesus Christ and then accepting us in Him for eternal life.
11/24/2024 PMFree Gift of Eternal Life (2)
Man has corrupted the gift of eternal life and made it an offer requiring acceptance. But no sinner dead in sins can or will accept such an offer. And it makes man his own savior and steals the glory from God. The only offer is Jesus offered Himself to God, and God accepted Him and the elect in Him.
11/24/2024 AMFree Gift of Eternal Life (1)
God gives eternal life as a free gift; it is not an offer to men, as most of the Christian world presents it. No one gets to heaven by faith, baptism, or any good works. Heaven is a result of three gifts in Jn 17:2. Imputation, God's legal accounting by first Adam and then by Jesus, show it is strictly a free gift.
11/17/2024 PMHebrews 9 (#2)
Hebrews proves that Jesus' N.T. religion was far superior to the O.T. religion of Moses. By six lessons in this chapter, Paul taught the failure of temple worship, animal sacrifices, and O.T. priests in comparison to Jesus offering His blood to God in the heavenly places for our eternal salvation from sins.
11/17/2024 AMHebrews 9 (#1)
Hebrews proves that Jesus' N.T. religion was far superior to the O.T. religion of Moses. By six lessons in this chapter, Paul taught the failure of temple worship, animal sacrifices, and O.T. priests in comparison to Jesus offering His blood to God in the heavenly places for our eternal salvation from sins.
11/10/2024 PMSins to Hate from N.T. (1)
Reading the N.T. epistles helps us see what the apostles feared in the early churches. If the apostolic churches had temptations to sin that justified warnings in their inspired writings, then we should pay those sins special attention, for our risk must be greater due to the greater power they had.
11/3/2024 PMMembership Questions (2) Slides
Following six sermons about the greatness of the local church, becoming a member is a congregational ordinance of agreement. For many years we have used 15 simple questions to qualify members and obtain their commitment to N.T. rules of conduct. Here are the questions of church covenant.
11/3/2024 AMMembership Questions (1) Slides
Joining a local church of Jesus Christ is more than walking in to take a seat. It is a strong commitment and covenant promise to obey N.T. rules for members with others making the same commitment. The 17 questions are a sample of rules to receive new members by promises to Jesus Christ and to His body.
10/27/2024 PMGreat Church Members Slides
A local church will only be as great as its members, for a church is but a group of believers committed together. Most Christians merely attend services. In addition to what makes a great church (preached previously), learn the duties of great church members to excel at them.
10/27/2024 AMWhat Is a Great Church? Slides
If a local church is all the Bible says, you should do all you can to make it great. God and His Son deserve the best we can give. The Bible tells how to measure a church, so the ideas of men can be ignored. Learn the traits of a great church and purpose to help your church go above and beyond it.