[James 5:19, 20]

INTRODUCTION

A. In the movie of this title, Jake Taylor is a popular high school student who is seemingly well on his way to a college scholarship and a successful life. But the movie begins with the funeral of a young man - a young man who used to be Jake’s best friend but who was pushed away over time because Jake became popular and… Continue reading

It seems a lot of people - including many Christians - are very concerned with their Constitutional Rights as of late. Some focus on their right to keep and bear arms, some focus on the right to free speech, and others are concerned with their freedom of religion, but it seems our Constitution is the focus of a lot of attention lately. Maybe we should consider some of those “freedoms”… Continue reading

[Daniel 3]

INTRODUCTION

A. One of the world’s most recognized religious groups is Islam, which some claim is “a religion of peace.” What they don’t tell you, though, is that their faith’s book teaches plainly that all adherents are to spread the doctrine wherever they go and, should others refuse to submit, they are to be enslaved or killed. As much as some would have us believe this… Continue reading

[Revelation 21:8]

INTRODUCTION

A. In the early 14th century [the date is not certain], Italian poet Dante Alighieri wrote a three part series of epic poems entitled The Divine Comedy, with the three parts being Inferno [hell], Purgatorio [purgatory], and Paradisio [paradise]. The first is the one I would like to focus on as a setup for today’s lesson. In the story Inferno, the main character is led… Continue reading

Jesus once told the story of a man who had an evil spirit leave him. [Obviously, this man was previously possessed by this evil spirit.] When the evil spirit left, he searched but could not find a suitable place for rest (Luke 11:24), and decided to return to his “house” [the man] he had previously possessed. When he returned to the man, he found “the house swept and put in… Continue reading

[2 Corinthians 8:7-9]

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. Generosity is important for a Christian, but when we’re busy, when money is tight, or when we struggle with our health, sometimes we forget about being generous to those who are in need.
   2. Being generous isn’t just about giving money, we can also give time, attention, patience, love, forgiveness, tenderness, compassion, knowledge, experience, and so much more.
   3. Tonight let’s talk about generosity, its importance in

[Luke 10:33-37]

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. Focusing on yourself is easy. Considering the needs and safety of others is not. It’s increasingly easy to place more emphasis on ourselves and our own desires than to consider how we can be of service to others. Consider a few examples:
      1. The Good Samaritan - two passed by and did nothing to help the wounded man (Luke 10:33-37)
         1. They couldn’t be bothered to take a

Do I have the right to kill? To abort? To euthanize? To commit suicide? To end life? What is the difference between each of the above? If I kill, I end life. If I abort, I end life. If I euthanize, I end life. If I commit suicide, I end life. So, the question is: Do I have the right to end life? If I have that right, whose life… Continue reading

INTRODUCTION

A. As much as we would like to believe that the life of a disciple is trouble-free, we all probably have come to realize - often through personal experience - that such is simply not true. Unfortunately, many men today have the same concept of God’s workings as did Job’s so-called friends who blamed some unknown evil he had done as the cause for his misfortune, not… Continue reading

[Romans 1:18-32]

INTRODUCTION

A. In 1863, author Edward Everett Hale published a story anonymously in The Atlantic entitled The Man Without A Country, which was later published in book form. The fictional story tells of a man, Army lieutenant Philip Nolan, who is caught up in a treasonous plot and who then condemns the United States, renounces his American citizenship, and states that he wishes never to hear… Continue reading

“Imagine, if you will…”

Those famous words were spoken by Rod Serling at the beginning of each episode of “The Twilight Zone” television program and focused our attention on a seemingly impossible situation or setting that the show was about to reveal. Some situations were more believable than others, but Serling wanted us to consider the possibility but for a few minutes.

May I ask the same of you today? Imagine, if… Continue reading

[John 5:19-30]

• Isaiah 5:18-23
• Philippians 1:21-30
• 2 Timothy 4:7-8
• 1 John 5:9-21
• 1 John 2:3, 25
• Hebrews 10:26
• 1 Corinthians 15:24-28
• Let us then be COMFORTED in knowing He is the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE

• All Mankind have been Advised of this Last Great Day
  • Romans 1:18-2:29
  • Acts 17:30-31

• The Ability of this Great Judge is Beyond Compare
  • Matthew 25:31-46
  • 2 Timothy 4:1-8
  • John 5:19-30
  • John 12:44-50

• None Shall Avoid Judgement
  • Romans 14:12
  • 2 Corinthians 5:10-11
  • Revelation 1:7

• But Not All Will be Prepared
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

[Galatians 4:1-7; Titus 2:11-15]

• “Redeemer” - found only in he OT
• Job 19:25
• Psalm 19:14
• Prov. 23:11
• 1 John 2:1-3
• 1 Peter 1:18-25

• The Meaning of REDEMPTION
  • “A relationship/kinship; deliver (do perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk; purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), avenger”
  • Ruth 4:1-12
  • Eph. 1:1-14
  • Acts 20:28

• But What Caused Us to be “Sold” in the First Place?
  • Galatians 4:1-7
  • Hebrews 2:14-18
  • Romans 6:16-23

• The Price of our Redemption
  • Galatians 3:7-29
  • 1 Peter 1:18-25
  • Revelation 5:9-14
  • Revelation 14:1-5

[Luke 2:8-20]

• Luke 2:11
• Isaiah 9:6
• Isaiah 61:1-3
• Luke 4:14-21

• Jehovah Annointed Him
  • “Messiah” - Dan. 9:21-27
  • “Shiloh” = Messiah
    • Gen. 49:10
    • Isaiah 11-12:6
    • Heb. 1:9

• The Greatness of His Anointed Names [Isaiah 9:6]
  • WONDERFUL -
    • Properly- “a name quite above the normal”
    • Php. 2:5-11
    • Acts 4:12
  • COUNSELOR -
    • Properly - “one from whom wisdom exudes”
    • James 1:5-8
    • Heb. 1:1-2
    • Col. 3:16
  • MIGHTY GOD -
    • Properly - “the strong one of God”
    • 1 John 5:7,20
    • Matt. 28:18
    • 1 Tim. 3:16
  • EVERLASTING FATHER -
    • Properly - “the one of eternity”
    • Compare Psalm 90:2 and

[John 3:1-2]

• John 3:1-2
• John 5:36
• John 10:25
• John 10:37-38
• John 14:11
• John 9:1-41

• He Caused the Blind to See More than the Temporal Things of the World
  • John 9:1-11
  • John 9:25
  • Mark 8:22-25
  • Acts 26:13-20

• He Caused the Lame to Walk with More than Legs
  • John 5:1-9
  • Luke 5:17-26
  • 2 Cor. 5:7
  • Eph. 5:15-16
  • 1 John 1:5-10

• He Caused the Deaf to Hear and the Dumb to Speak Much More than Man’s Words
  • Mark 7:31-37
  • Matt. 13:11-17
  • 1 Peter 1:3-9

• He Raised the Dead to Life

[John 3:1-2]

• Preaching and Teaching
  • Matt. 4:23; 9:35
  • Matt. 7:28-29
  • John 12:49-50
  • Hebrews 1:1-2

• His Use of Parables Taught the People with Simplicity
  • Matt. 13:12-17
  • Matt. 15:10-11
  • Matt. 9:35-38
  • Mark 6:1-6

• His Silence Taught with as Much Authority as His Voice!
  • Matt. 15:21-28
  • Luke 7:9
  • John 8:1-11
  • Matt. 26:59-68; Mark 15:1-5

• His Miracles Taught His Power Came from God
  • John 3:2
  • Mark 2:1-13

• He Taught with Insistence of Obedience
  • Matt. 11:28-30
  • Matt. 21:23-27

• His Teachings Proved His Interest in Their Souls
  • Luke 18:18-30
  • Luke 19:37-44

[Luke 2:41-52]

• Earliest Acquaintances:
  • Simeon knew by the Spirit the purpose of His coming - Luke 2:32; Isaiah 42:1-9
  • Anna knew of His promised redemption for Israel - Luke 2:38; Lam. 3:21-36

• His Parents Raised Him to Appreciate God’s Law
  • They respected God’s law - Deut. 16:1-8; 16-17
  • Obviously, Jesus at 12 determined to STAY AND DO WHAT WAS RIGHT (v. 43)

• The Parents Search
  • Had gone a days journey before they noticed

• Belief is more than a mere idea a or ideal and is stronger than a conviction. If faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen - Heb. 11:1 - it is not a blind faith!
• What convinces us beyond doubt that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God? Heb. 11:6
• Rom. 10:17 - it is not mere hearing, but listening and absorbing

• Jesus - The Promised One with Promises
  • Gen. 3:14-15
  • Gen. 17:15-21
  • Gen. 22:1-18
  • Deut. 18:15-22
  • Isaiah 9:6-7

• Gods Intention to Save Men’s Souls is Eternal
  • Eph. 3:8-21
  • Prov. 8:12-3

• Salvation as Explained in Matthew
  • Matt. 1:22-23
  • Matt. 2:15
  • Matt. 2:23
  • Matt. 4:12-16
  • Matt. 8:16-17
  • Matt. 12:9-21
  • Matt. 13:34-35
  • Matt. 21:1-5
  • Matt. 26:51-56
  • Matt. 27:9-10
  • Matt. 27:35

• Jesus is the Only One with Promises
  • John 14:1-7
  • John 11:25
  • Mark 16:15-16
  • Rev. 2:10

I really don’t ask much of anything I buy; I just want it to work! I imagine most people are the same way. If we buy a tool to get a job done, we want the tool to do what it was intended to do without breaking. If we spend thousands of dollars on a new [or even used] car, we want it to be reliable and not to… Continue reading