Great Days in History (Part 8): Today

Great Days in History

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me’” (Hebrews 3:14-15).

In this final lesson, we are not going to keep moving further down a timeline. There is nothing past the day of eternity. Instead, we are going to talk about today to see what we need to do with what we have learned in this series.Continue Reading

Give Us a King (Sermon #22)

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Give Us a King (Sermon #22)

We’re in between season 8 and season 9 which will start on January 23rd. During the break we’re posting audio sermons each week instead of the regular episodes. The sermon for this week was preached on September 17, 2017 at the Eastside church of Christ in Morgantown, KY.

If you found this episode to be useful, please share it with others. Also, if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. This also helps others hear about the podcast. Thanks.

What Should Characterize Our Giving?

Collection plate

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Periodically, it is good for us to evaluate what we do in our service to God in order to make sure we are doing what we should do with the right attitude to the best of our abilities. In this article, we are going to look at one aspect of our service to God – our giving on the first day of the week. This is not about examining the total amount that is contributed by everyone assembled in a congregation; rather, it is about individually examining ourselves by the standard of God’s word.

With this in mind, let us use the New Testament to help us consider the following question: What should characterize our giving?Continue Reading

Joshua’s Challenge to the People

Joshua 24:15

Most of us probably remember Joshua’s statement: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). His mind was already settled. No matter what the rest of the people decided when he challenged them, “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve,” he was determined to follow God.

But what did serving the Lord include? What was he challenging the people to do? Notice Joshua’s entire statement:
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The Root of the Problem (Part 2): “We Are Only Human” – Not a Reason. Just an Excuse

The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome

Sin is a universal problem. Right before telling the Romans that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), Paul uses several Old Testament passages to remind his readers of the universal nature of sin.

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greek are all under sin; as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.

Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:9-18).

The Jews could not say that sin was only a Gentile problem. Neither could the Gentiles say that only the Jews were lost in sin. All people of every race, time, and location, had sinned.
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How Long Will You Hesitate Between Two Opinions?

Fork in the Road

Just before Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, he issued a challenge to the people of Israel who had gathered to witness the event.

Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people did not answer him a word” (1 Kings 18:21).

The people were presented with a choice between two options – follow God or follow Baal. Similarly, we have choices to make about our personal conduct and religion. Many people like to think that they have a multitude of options from which to choose. But when you break down every decision, there are really just two options – follow God or not.
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Continue in the Grace of God

For by grace you have been saved…” (Ephesians 2:8). The fact that salvation is by grace is one of the few points on which most – if not all – self-proclaimed Bible believing Christians will agree. But though we will all agree on the concept of salvation by grace, there is disagreement when you get below the surface.

A common misconception in the religious world is that we are saved by grace alone. Those who believe this will contend that salvation is wholly in the hands of God and that man can do nothing to impact his salvation – either to become saved or to remain saved. This doctrine of grace saving us unconditionally is completely false. Paul said, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11). But this simply means that God has made salvation available to all men by His grace. It does not mean that all will be saved. Jesus made it clear that many would go down the path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

When Paul and Barnabas were teaching in Antioch of Pisidia, Luke recorded a summary of their message that helps present a picture for us as to what Christians need to remember with regard to God’s grace.
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