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"...Shepherd the flock of God which is among
you, serving as overseers..." (1 Peter 5:2)
Elders
Morris Bass, Rick Holt , Joe
Price |
"...let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless..." (1 Tim. 3:10)
Deacons
Aaron Bass, Rich Brooks, Mike Finn
John Hague, Dan Head |
"And take...the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
The Fruit of the
Spirit: Faithfulness (#8)
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Morality and Law-makers
The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness (#8)
Joe R. Price
Faith has been described as
“taking God at His word and doing whatever He says.” This succinct
explanation of faith is also scriptural: “Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). To the
interested observer it is obvious that when a person is living by faith he
is being faithful to God. He is reliable and dependable toward the things
of God. He is trustworthy to the cause of Christ. He can be counted on to
obey the word of God. On the other hand, a lack of faithfulness to God
shows a lack of faith in God. So, the Christian who walks in the Spirit
possesses the quality of “faith” (KJV) or “faithfulness” (NKJV, ASV) (Gal.
5:16, 22).
Faithfulness is often
distinguished by how we handle “little” things. Jesus said “He who is
faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in
what is least is unjust also in much” (Lk. 16:10). Jesus used our care for
material things as illustrative of how we will care for spiritual things.
For instance, if an employer can trust his employee to fulfill a simple
task, the employer is generally willing to entrust him with more
responsibility. The employee has shown himself to be loyal and diligent.
He has been faithful, and his employer rewards his faithfulness.
Oh, how faithfulness is needed in
the church of Christ. Faithfulness is a matter of loyalty. The “faithful
and wise servant” is loyal to his lord, honestly fulfilling his duties as a
servant even when his master is not personally present to oversee his work
(Matt. 24:45-47).
We may begin to think God does
not see and know what we say and do, but we are wrong. If we are unfaithful
servants of God (unreliable, negligent and disloyal) when we face our Master
we will receive eternal punishment (Matt. 24:48-51). So, be faithful to God
and fulfill the tasks He has given you in His house, the church (1 Cor. 4:2;
Rom. 12:3-8; cf. Gaius, 3 Jn. 5-8).
Consider what a difference it
makes in this world when there is faithfulness in the home. What if every
husband and every wife were loyal to each other; if each could totally trust
the other to be faithful to the interests and welfare of their marriage?
Broken homes would be eliminated. What God has joined together would stay
together. Millions of parents and children would not have to face the
emotional, financial and spiritual devastation of divorce. The positive
impact on society would be tremendous. As it is, we are all witnesses to
the effects of unfaithfulness in the home: Infidelity, child and spousal
abuse, selfishness, poverty, neglect and chaos – these are but some of the
marks of unfaithfulness upon families (1 Pet. 3:1-2, 5-7; Eph. 5:22-33).
Faithfulness will distinguish the
Christian on the job. “All good fidelity” is commanded of servants in Titus
2:9-10. Here, the Christian’s faithfulness to his master is set in contrast
to insubordination, abusive confrontation and stealing from him. When a
Christian is trustworthy at work he beautifies the gospel (v. 10). When he
is not, he tarnishes his name and blackens the name of Christ. So, carry
your faith with you to work and show “all good fidelity.”
We need faithfulness when
confronted with temptations. Withstanding temptation is accomplished
through faith (1 Pet. 5:8-9; 1:6-9; 1 Jn. 5:4). Being faithful calls for
all our energy to be directed toward heaven (Col. 3:1-3). Faithfulness
helps us be deliberate in fulfilling our duties to the Lord (Heb. 6:11-12).
Dutiful obedience to Christ increases our faith so that, by and by, we will
receive from Christ the victory of faith (Lk. 17:5-10; Rev. 17:14).
Against such there
is no law.” (Galatians 5:23)
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Spiritual Discernment
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 1:3-11
1. We need spiritual discernment
in order to please God, 1 Cor. 2:14; Lk. 12:56-57; Heb. 5:14; Phil. 1:9-10.
2. Discernment has two parts: Examination & judgment – Acts 17:11-12.
3. Discernment is “an intensive investigation which closely examines the
evidence & then distinguishes between right & wrong.”
I. WE
NEED DISCERNMENT (Judgment) IN OUR LIVES.
A. Its
Necessity is Obvious – 1 Kgs. 3:9, 11; Lk. 12:54-59.
B. Discernment is Needed for Godly Living – Phil. 1:9-11.
II. THINGS WE
MUST DISCERN.
A. We
Must Discern Truth – Jno. 18:38 (14:6; 8:31-32); 1 Cor. 2:13-16; 1 Jno. 4:1;
Acts 17:10-12 (1 Jno. 4:6); Rev. 2:2-3.
B. We must (can) Discern Good & Evil – Heb. 5:14 (cf. Messiah, Isa. 7:15;
11:3).
C. We must Discern the Lord’s Body in the Lord’s Supper – 1 Cor. 11:29,
24-25.
D. We must Apply Discernment to Ourselves – 1 Cor. 11:28, 31. (2 Cor.
13:5; Gal. 6:4; 1 Ths. 5:21-22; 1 Cor. 2:15)
Conclusion
1. Israel was to distinguish
(discern) between clean & unclean to be a holy people – Lev. 20:25-26.
2. Priests in the house of God (Christians) must know & teach difference
between holy & unholy – Ezek. 44:23.
3. Phil. 1:9-11 – Without discernment:
a. We will be deceived by sin, and
b. We will not bear righteous fruit in our lives.
4. Obey the word to develop, Heb. 5:13-14
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Why God's Word Becomes a Strange Thing
Scripture Reading:
Hosea 4:4-10
1. Israel’s changing attitude
toward God’s word led to her destruction – Hosea 4:1, 6; 8:1, 7, 12.
2. God’s word became “strange” (a stranger, foreign, & estranged from).
3. Continues to happens today. Why?
I. TO
UNDERSTAND & LIVE GOD’S WORD REQUIRES PERSONAL EFFORT.
A.
Requires Diligence – 2 Tim. 2:15; cf. 2 Pet. 1:5, 10.
B. Requires Learning – 2 Pet. 3:14-17, 18; Acts 2:42.
II. WHY
(HOW) GOD’S WORD BECOMES STRANGE (FOREIGN) TO CHRISTIANS.
A. Some
are Untaught – (2 Pet. 3:16); 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:6, 11, 16; 5:7; Heb. 4:12.
B. Because of a Lack of Good Teaching – cf. Acts 8:30-31; Lev. 10:10-11;
Hos. 4:4-10; 2 Tim. 2:2 (1 Cor. 14:26).
C. Because of Unclear Teaching – 1 Cor. 14:9; Jas. 3:1; Lk. 8:18; cf. Jn.
2:18-22; 8:26-30
D. Some are Babes in Christ – Heb. 5:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:2.
E. Some are Unstable in Faith – 2 Pet. 3:16; Col. 2:6-7 (Jer. 2:13;
17:13; Eph. 4:14).
F. Some are Deceived – 2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13-15 (1 Tim. 4:1-3).
G. Some have Closed Minds – Jer. 6:16-17.
1. Bias & prejudice, Acts 7:54-58
2. Hardened hearts, Heb. 3:7-8
3. Contrast: Open hearts, Acts 2:42; 2 Ti. 4:2-4
H. Some Love to Have it So – cf. Jer. 5:31; Gal. 6:3; Phil. 2:3.
Conclusion – Result:
Sin, negligence, apathy & eventual punishment, Hos. 8:11-12, 14 (4:6).
Top
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Morality and
Law-makers
Joe R. Price
“You cannot legislate
morality” is the mantra of moral relativism. Almighty God didn’t think that
way when He spoke from Mount Sinai: “You shall not murder. You shall not
commit adultery. You shall not steal” (Ex. 20:13-15).
Earlier this month the
Virginia state Senate and this week the state House voted in favor of a
constitutional amendment that defines marriage as the union of a man and
woman and bans same-sex civil unions (“Virginia House approves gay
‘marriage’ ban,” The Washington Times, Feb. 9, 2005). Sounds like
Virginians are saying that sexual immorality is morally offensive to society
and they do not approve. Good for them.
The Virginia House spoke on
another moral issue this week when it proposed a $50 fine for the
intentional wearing of exposed underwear as “lewd or indecent.” The bill’s
sponsor said “to vote for this bill would be a vote for character, to uplift
your community and to do something good not only for the state of Virginia,
but for this entire country” (“Pants to fashion! Virginia to ban ‘indecent’
low-slung jeans,” Independent News, Feb. 10, 2005). Unfortunately,
on Friday a Virginia Senate committee did not show the same character and
killed the bill. One 17-year old student told the committee, “If people in
Florida can wear bikinis, a little underwear showing isn’t going to hurt
anybody.” One lawmaker said the bill had become “a distraction” (what about
the exposed underwear?!), (“Virginia drops droopy pants bill,” BBC News,
Feb. 11, 2005). Virginia, pull up your pants (and Florida, put on some
clothes)! (1 Ti. 2:9-10)
And America, return to moral
decency! The Bible says “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a
reproach to any people,” and “blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord
(Prov. 14:34; Psa. 33:12). Any nation that will not honor decency will not
long endure.
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