[Luke 5:12-15]

INTRODUCTION

A. You may remember the television show from a few years ago entitled “Touched By An Angel.” The basic story line of the show usually revolved “around a person or group of people who come to a crossroad in their lives, such as a big problem or a tough decision. Then angels enter the scene, bringing messages directly from God and helping… Continue reading

In the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” Paul Newman played the part of a stubborn prison inmate who was constantly trying to escape. When he was brought back after a failed attempt and placed on a chain gang, Luke mocked the concern of the captain/warden and the warden [Strother Martin] struck him down and then delivered that now-famous line. The warden’s impression of Luke was that he… Continue reading

[2nd Corinthians 4:7-5:11]

INTRODUCTION

A. As Paul continues his to address the brethren at Corinth, he continues the previous thought of writing about that which they preached [Jesus Christ, not self], and expands the thought by writing to them to remind them of the end result of their belief in Him: heaven. While this may seem like a side note or and off-track when considering… Continue reading

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

INTRODUCTION

A. As we saw in our first lesson in this series, leadership is something that must exist within each local church and in our lives if we are to be spiritually productive disciples and servants. As was noted in the letter to the Ephesians, Christ established within the church to be the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to… Continue reading

We are in the midst of a study about spiritual leadership in the Lord’s church, in the home, and in the world, and have studied why we need leadership [and effective leaders], some principles about leadership that should be understood and that should characterize all leaders, and some factors in all leadership that affects how well one leads. In that last lesson, we touched on the one… Continue reading

INTRODUCTION

A. One of the main characters of Old Testament history is King David, a man whose name just about everyone who knows anything about the Bible would recognize. David was the man said by God to be “a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22), a description I believe we would all love to attain to. David’s life… Continue reading

[Matthew 5:38-48]

INTRODUCTION

This morning I’m beginning a series of lessons on Christlikeness.  Over the next year I’ll be preaching one lesson each quarter on what it means to be Christlike.
This morning we begin with a Loving My Enemies.
Let’s begin reading Matthew 5:38-48
Jesus is not saying that we have to love our enemies like our…

Families - storge
Friends - phileo
Brethren - philadelphia

Jesus… Continue reading

Many religious errors exist simply because men do not comprehend the spiritual nature of the Lord’s kingdom, the church. Some religious organizations, in fact, teach that Christ came to set up an earthly kingdom but, because He was rejected by the Jews, chose instead to establish the church [dispensational premillennialism]. Those who do so are demonstrating a willful ignorance of Scripture that teaches us the church is… Continue reading

[Luke 5:1-11]

INTRODUCTION

A. As disciples of Jesus Christ, it is required that we have faith. The writer of Hebrews, in fact, tells us that without it, we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6). And, by the definition found within God’s word, we know faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1, NASB 95). In even plainer language… Continue reading

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

INTRODUCTION

A. As we saw in our first lesson in this series, leadership is something that must exist within each local church and in our lives if we are to be spiritually productive disciples and servants. As was noted in the letter to the Ephesians, Christ established within the church to be the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to… Continue reading

During the heat of battle, there will inevitably be two sides; I believe most people would easily recognize this fact. In spiritual matters, we know “though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh,” and “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh,” but our fight is against “arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God” (2nd Cor. 10:3-5)… Continue reading