|
"And take...the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
"A Challenge To
You"
(Steven J. Wallace)
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Modern day Lazarus still dead
"A Challenge To You"
Steven J. Wallace
The Bible is full of challenges that have
been issued out by both good and evil men. Goliath stood before the armies
of Israel and challenged them saying:
“Why have you come out to line up for
battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man
for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me
and kill me, then we will be your servants. . . .”
(1 Sam. 17:8-9)
David answered that challenge and destroyed
the enemy of Israel. On the other hand, the great prophet Elijah challenged
the people of Israel to make a choice by crying out:
“‘How long will you falter between two
opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the
people answered him not a word”
(1 Kin. 18:21)
In that spirit we lay forth a challenge for
you in the hopes that you will not sit by and “answer not a word.”
A challenge to
investigate God. Please do not
misunderstand, this is not a challenge to investigate what men, churches, or
what some religious leader may say about God. We challenge you to
investigate the God of the Bible with your own eyes. Only here the original
picture of God remains without human distortions. “Therefore consider the
goodness and severity of God...” (Rom. 11:22). If you are young,
realized there is no better time to investigate God than in your youth
before you begin to make decisions that will affect your life. First learn
Christ who owns and gives you your life! “Remember now your Creator in
the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw
near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Eccl. 12:1)
· A
challenge to investigate the one faith of the New Testament. Do not
accept the various world religions of Islam, Hindu, and Buddhism, as being
of God. Neither accept the divided and contradictory religious world of
so-called Christendom as being something that is from God. Such
didn’t exist in the time of Christ. Approximately 2000 years ago a man named
Jesus of Nazareth, was put to death as a criminal, though he had done many
wonderful deeds. It was predetermined by God that he should die and be
resurrected (Acts 2:23, 24). If Jesus did in fact resurrect from the dead,
then he is certainly God. One correctly observed, “for no one can do these
signs that You do unless God is with him” (Jn. 3:2). His resurrected person
was seen by many witnesses, even by 500 people at one time (1 Cor. 15:6).
Followers of Christ at this time were only called Christians. “One name. .
.one faith!” They were not “hyphenated Christians” as so many suggest they
are today. Will you investigate the “one faith” of first-century Christians
(Eph. 4:5)?
·
A challenge to investigate the church of Christ. Just as sure
as Jesus resurrected from the dead, he established his one true church,
“. . .I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18). It began in Jerusalem (Acts
2:1ff). It was built by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). Its law came from
Jerusalem, not New York, Switzerland, or even Mt. Sinai as some suggest (Is.
2:3; Jer. 31:31-34; Acts 2). We challenge you to find where it wears a name
that gives honor to a method (i.e., Methodist), an eldership / presbytery
(Presbyterian); a day (Seventh - Day Adventist; Pentecost), or any other
concept, doctrine or person (Grace Dispensational, Baptist, Free Will, Saint
Paul’s Catholic, etc.). We challenge you to be content with those
designations found in the Bible: “church of God” (1 Cor. 1:2); church of
Christ (Rom. 16:16); “church of the Firstborn” (Heb. 12:23), etc. Will you
investigate the church of Christ?
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Why Do People Reject the
Evidence that Jesus is the Son of God?
Scripture Reading:
John 12:31-41
1. “We have found the Messiah” (Jno.
1:41, 45).
2. Why do people refuse to believe Jesus is the Son of God? (“Lord, who
has believed our report?” – Jno. 1:11; 12:37-38; Rom. 10:16-17)
I. WHY DO PEOPLE
REJECT THE EVIDENCE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD? Jno. 12:37
A. It Does Not Agree
with Human Wisdom – 1 Cor. 1:21-25; 2:1-5, 6.
1. Pride – Psa. 10:4; Prov. 14:12 (28:26).
2. God is excluded from consideration (Rom. 1:22, 28).
B. It Means there is an Objective Standard of Truth & Morality to which
One is Obligated (Jno. 18:38) – Jno. 14:6 (1:1, 14); 12:46 (12:35-36; 8:12);
3:19-21.
C. Some are Unwillingness to Do What He Says – Jno. 7:16-17; Matt. 12:30.
D. It is Not What Some Have Always Believed – Jno. 1:45-46 (Lk. 13:5;
Acts 20:21).
E. It Means Loved Ones Who Do (did) Not Believe in Jesus are Lost in Sin
– Jno. 3:16-18.
F. Because of What Others will Say or Do – Jno. 12:42-43 (cf. 16:1-2);
Jno. 9:16-22; cf. Matt. 10:27-31.
1. Lord will not leave you – Heb. 13:5-6.
2. Lord will deliver you – 2 Tim. 4:16-18.
Conclusion
1. “Who is the Son of
Man?” (Jno. 12:34) Jesus of Nazareth!
a. “Do you believe in the Son of God?” (Jno. 9: 35-38)
b. Will you believe the report? (Jno. 12:38)
2. If you believe, then obey Him & have everlasting life (Jno. 12:48-50).
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Crossroads of Life
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 25:1-12
1. We all stand at crossroads during life: Path we choose has
life-changing effects. Psa. 25:4-5
2. Choices: Josh. 24:15; 1 Kgs. 18:21; Jer. 6:16; 7:23-24; Matt. 7:13-14;
Prov. 4:26-27.
I. THE PATHS BEFORE US – Jer. 6:16 (42:3).
A. The Highway of Holiness – Isa. 35:8 (difficult
way, Matt. 7:14)."
1. Path of life (Psa. 16:11), righteousness (Psa. 23:3), of the Lord
(Psa. 25:10), God’s commandments (Psa. 119:35), every good path (Prov. 2:9),
way of goodness (Prov. 2:20), right paths (Prov. 4:11), His ways…His paths
(Isa. 2:3), way of the just (Isa. 26:7), way of peace (Isa. 59:8)
2. Choice – Heb. 12:13.
B. The Way of Destruction – Matt. 7:13 (broad way).
1. Path of sinners (Psa. 1:1), devious paths (Prov. 2:15), way of fool
(Prov. 12:15), way of unfaithful (Prov. 13:15), way that seems right (Prov.
14:12), way of the wicked (Prov. 15:9).
2. Choice – Eph. 4:17.
II. SOME CROSSROADS OF LIFE.
A. Will You Obey the Gospel & Become a Christian?
(2 Cor. 6:2) Acts 2:36-38, 41; 4:4; 8:35-39; or… Acts 13:45; 17:32
B. Will We Live in Sin or Above Sin? – Eph. 2:1-2; Rom. 6:1-2, 4-6; 1
Pet. 4:1-4; Jas. 4:4; 2 Pet. 2:9-10; 1 Pet. 2:9-12
C. Will We Pay the Price it Costs to be a Disciple of Jesus? Lk.
14:25-33 (Ezra 10:1-4) 2 Cor. 2:9; 7:9-11
D. Will You Remember God when you are Young? Eccl. 11:9-12:1; 1 Cor.
15:33-34.
E. Will I Endure to the End? Matt. 10:22; Heb. 10:36 (12:1); 2 Tim.
4:7-8; 2 Cor. 4:16-18 (Psa. 71:16; Tit. 2:2-3)
Top
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Modern day
Lazarus still dead
Joe R. Price
Paul Meintjies died on July 1,
2004 in Hertzogville, South Africa. David Frances, a self-proclaimed
prophet who founded Action for Christ Ministries in Johannesburg about 18
years ago, predicted Mr. Meintjies would rise from the dead on July 29.
Believing the prophet, his family did not bury the body (it was kept frozen
at the local mortuary at a cost of about $40 a day). One problem: the
resurrection did not happen.
But, the plot thickens.
Another miracle worker, Duke Potgieter of Cape Town, claimed he resurrected
the body just before dusk on July 31. But, Potgieter said Mr. Meintjies
“froze to death again” because the funeral director wasn’t there to unlock
the mortuary’s heavy doors! Potgieter blamed Mr. Meintjies’ “second death”
on the funeral director, Nico Foulds.
As of this writing, the family
still believes that Meintjies will be raised; they have paid the mortuary
almost $1,500 for keeping the body on ice (which the “prophet” Francis was
initially suppose to pay); the mortuary rate has now increased to about
$160/day; and Mr. Meintjies is still dead. (ReligionNewsBlog.com)
These men are fully exposed as
false prophets. Nobody should put any trust in what they have to say:
“when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen
or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the
prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him”
(Deut. 18:22). Our advice to the Meintjies family: cut your losses, bury
your loved one and do not trust in those who pervert the gospel of Christ
(Gal. 1:6-9; Heb. 9:27).
Top
|
