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Sermons & Classes (824)
- Nearer, My God, To Thee
Myles Hester <- Back Nearer, My God, To Thee Myles Hester February 9, 2025 Nearer, My God, To Thee Myles Hester 00:00 / 34:46 Download Outline File Download Presention File Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now near, nearness, relationship to God, relationship, near to God, nearness to God, draw near, Godliness
- Why We Should Not Sin
Benjamin Lee <- Back Why We Should Not Sin Benjamin Lee October 29, 2023 Why We Should Not Sin Benjamin Lee 00:00 / 01:04 Download Outline File Download Presention File Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now sin, holy, love
- Taking The Saving Gospel To The Lost World
<- Back Taking The Saving Gospel To The Lost World October 6, 2024 Taking The Saving Gospel To The Lost World 00:00 / 01:04 Download Outline File Download Presention File Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now
Blog Posts (53)
- How far will you go for your king?
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. while at a gospel meeting. The preacher at the congregation took to me to D.C. and we had a great time there. One of the places we visited was the spy museum. All the tickets were sold out for that day, so we were only able to look around in the bookstore. While checking out some of the books, the preached said, “I wonder if they have any book on Hushai the Archite.” The name didn’t register with me and so I asked “Who?” He replied, “The story of Hushai the Archite from 2 Samuel .” He then launched into how the CIA used the story of what Hushai did for King David when Absalom, David’s son was seeking to kill him. The story is found in 2 Samuel 15-17 . The CIA released some documents in 1996 describing Hushai as one of the first agents of influence. His story and how he persuaded Absalom to listen to him instead of the wisdom of Ahithophel has been used to teach new agents the art of persuasion for years to new CIA agents. Do you know the story? Let’s summarize a few thoughts. 1. 2 Samuel 15 : Absalom has plotted against his father David. He sought to “Steal away the hearts of the men of Israel.” 2 Samuel 15:6 2. 2 Samuel 15:10 : “Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, ‘As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’” 3. 2 Samuel 15:12 : Absalom got David’s counselor Ahithophel the Gilonite to assist him as well. “And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.” 4. 2 Samuel 15:13 : David found out that “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” As a result of this David, his servants, and his household had to flee. It was a sad day for the king as there was great weeping with a loud voice as they departed and made their way to the wilderness, 2 Samuel 15:23 . It appears that Psalm 63 , is in connection with this event as well. David’s request to the LORD was to make Ahithophel’s counsel to become foolishness, 2 Samuel 15:31 . His prayer would be answered! This is when Hushai comes into the picture, 2 Samuel 15:32-37 . I find it interesting that right after praying, that David meets Hushai. David asks Hushai to go to Absalom and see if he could thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for him, 2 Samuel 15:34 . In verse 37 , it says, “So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.” It's in 2 Samuel 17 where we see the bravery, courage, and influence of Hushai. He’s able to convince Absalom not to listen to the wisdom of Ahithophel, 2 Samuel 17:7 . Hushai plays to the ego and emotions of Absalom. As a result, Ahithophel leaves and commits suicide because he knows the Absalom and his men will fail. David’s prayer is answered by God. It says in 2 Samuel 17:14 : “Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.’ For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom.” Calamity would come Absalom’s way! He eventually died in battle a terrible death. This story is interesting on so many levels. One thought for us is to ask ourselves, “How far will we go for our King: Jesus? 1. Hushai put his life on the line for King David . What are we willing to sacrifice for our king? We are to be dead to sin and alive to Christ, Romans 6:11 . 2. Hushai demonstrated his allegiance to his King . How far are we willing to go to demonstrate our allegiance to our King Jesus? 3. Hushai was willing to speak up on behalf of his king . How willing are we to speak and share the good news of our King? Let’s go all the way for King Jesus! Let’s be dedicated in our service to Him.
- Modern Day Idolotry
When we think of idolatry, we may think of statues made of wood, stone, or metal, like the ones we see in history museums or read about in the Bible. Consider these examples: - “And [Aaron] received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” ( Exodus 32:4 ) - “And [Israel] abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.” ( 2 Kings 17:16 ) - “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols… For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god...’” ( Acts 17:16, 23 ) Throughout the Bible, people find “things” to put above God. Sometimes this literally takes the form of some sort of animal (like a golden calf), an altar to a foreign god (like Baal or “the unknown god,”) or even a human form (Asherah were often long, skinny, wooden figures carved to look like female bodies.) While in some parts of the world, there may be places where people worship or pay homage to some sort of statue like Buddha or Mohammed, in 21st century America this is not very common. So is idolatry just not an issue anymore? This could not be farther from the truth! The Bible indicates that idolatry will always be an issue. Romans 1 gives us special insight into what “modern” idolatry may look like and how modern idolatry relates to past idolatry. Paul talks about the ungodliness and unrighteousness in the world that is indicated by the sin we see all around us. He explains that the root of sin is the fact that many people do not honor God or give thanks to Him ( vs. 22 ). He goes on to summarize sin this way: they “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things…they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” ( vss. 23, 25 ). What a harrowing definition of idolatry: to exchange all the glory of the Almighty Creator of the Universe for just images of animals. One way, then, for us to think about what idolatry looks like in our lives is by asking this question: what are we exchanging the glory of God for? Paul continues talking about God’s glory in Romans 8:18 when He says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Here, rather than talking about God’s glory in the negative context of sin and idolatry, he refers to the fact that those who are saved in Christ have a hope of sharing in God’s glory in the future. Really, idolatry comes down to putting God in His proper place: as our number one priority in life! We may not struggle with bowing down to images of wood or stone, but Paul makes it clear that in order to share in future glory, we need to glorify God now: with our words, our actions, our bodies, our time, our money—everything about who we are and what we do should glorify God! When we prioritize things—even things that are not inherently bad, or abstract things like our ambition, our ego, or our comfort—above God, we are committing a grave mistake that humanity has literally struggled with since the beginning of time. Are you serving the “creature” or the Creator?
- The Apostle Peter & Grace
When studying a book of the Bible there are certain questions that need to be answered upfront. Knowing the answer to these questions will give you a better understanding of the book. Here are three simple but important questions as you think about books of the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. Who wrote the book? Who is the audience of the book? What is the purpose of the book or letter? Certainly, there’s more to consider than these three questions, but this is a start. I want us to consider the short epistle of 1 Peter . Let’s begin by answering these questions and then consider a few thoughts about God’s Grace. Who wrote the book? The apostle Peter did. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 1:1 . Who is the audience of the book? Saints of God who are scattered. 1 Peter 1:1-2 “To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” What is the purpose of the letter? Peter is writing to encourage these Christians who are going to face persecution. They are to stand in the true grace of God. “Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.” 1 Peter 5:12 . The apostle emphasizes the need for holiness, endurance, and the grace of God throughout the letter. Let’s consider some thoughts Peter helps us to see understand regarding God and His Grace. 1 Peter 5:10 : “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” Notice where grace comes from: God! Our God is gracious in every way. He’s always been gracious. Some think God in the Old Testament was not gracious, but that’s not true. In both the Old and New Testament God demonstrates His grace toward man. There is such a thing as “True Grace.” We are to stand or abide in the true Grace. If there’s a true grace, then there’s a false grace or concept of grace. Some view God’s grace as a get of jail free card when it comes to sin. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, Peter reminded the saints in 1 Peter 2:16 “…Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” We are not to continue in sin so that God’s grace may abound, Romans 6:1-2 . We have God’s grace because of the appearance, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus appeared for our sake, 1 Peter 1:20 . We were redeemed by His precious blood, 1 Peter 1:18-19 . There was nothing we could do to earn or merit this amazing grace. Yet the God of all grace has provided it for us. As a result of God’s grace Peter urges the saints to live excellent lives. By that, he emphasizes that their behavior is to be excellent among the people of the world, 1 Peter 2:11 . But why should Christians strive to live holy and righteous if we’re already saved by God’s grace? It’s because this great gift God has provided should be motivation for our conduct. Because we have tasted the kindness of God through the salvation He’s given us, this should be the natural response. Peter reminds the saints that because of who they are in Christ, they are to “…Proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” 1 Peter 2:9 . There’s much more to consider about God and His grace from the apostle Peter. One last thought. God has given His people commandments to know, to follow, and to live. While we have His grace, it doesn’t nullify obedience. His commands are rooted in His grace. Therefore, let us stand in the true grace of God. Let us be obedient children to Him.