- Jun 6, 2021An Exposition of Psalm 27
- May 30, 2021What’s So Special About The Bible
What’s So Special About The Bible2 Timothy 3:16-17“There is nothing like the written word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17 (The Message)I. All Scripture is God-Breathed
Inspired - a compound word – means God breathe
2 Peter 1: “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of ones own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will. It didn’t come from man, but those moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”II. The Scriptures Are Alive“Scripture is profitable for correction”
Correction - a compound word and part of that is word is from which we get our English word
Orthopedic.
Training us to live God’s way – means scripture shows us how to be happy.
" that the kingdom of heaven is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say rejoice”
“God, don’t just watch from the sidelines. Come on! Run to my side! My accusers are talking behind my back, watching for their chance to knife me. The gossip is: ‘God has abandoned him. Pounce on him now; no one will help him. God, don’t just watch from the sidelines. Come on! Run to my side! My accusers-make them lose face. Those out to get me – make them look like idiots, while I stretch out, reaching for you, and daily add praise to praise.” Psalm 71: 8-15
III. Determine To Believe And Read The Scriptures Daily
2014 42,773 people took their own lives
2018 48,344 people took their own lives
SUICIDES ARE GROWING BY MORE THAN 24% A YEAR NOW - May 23, 2021How To Be A Positive Influence In The Lives Of Others
How To Be A Positive Influence In The Lives Of Others
2 Timothy 3:10-15
“Now you have been a good apprentice to me, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings – suffering with along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. And you also knew that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there is no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They are as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse. Don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you have learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers – why, you took in the Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There is nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” ~ 2 Timothy 3: 10-15 (The Message)I. Be Careful Who You Choose To Follow"Be imitators of Me, just as I am of Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:1
II. Characteristics Of Positive Examples(1) vs 10 “you followed my teaching”
(2) I set the example for you and lived the truth
The Scripture says in 1 Peter 1:16 “as obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, I am holy; you be holy.”
(3) living with the right motive
ACTS 1:8 “You shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the most remote part of the world”
(4) willing to suffer for Jesus
PAUL DID A LOT OF SUFFERING FOR JESUS
“you followed my teaching, my manner of life, my direction, my faith, my steadiness, my love, my patience, my troubles, my sufferings”
Persecuted - means pursue you
(5) someone who remains faithful with Jesus
“unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They are as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.” - May 16, 2021We Are Fascinated With The Future
We Are Fascinated With The Future
WHEN WILL THE END TIME COME?
HOW WILL IT COME?
WHO WILL SURVIVE IT?
“you are to be a vessel for honor, one characterized by kindness, patience and gentleness. You are to be responsible.”
Guardian of God’s people, protecting them from false doctrine and immoral living.
Characteristics Of The Last Days
SELF-ABSORBED - THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO SEE EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD ONLY AS IT AFFECTS THEM. THEY CARE ONLY ABOUT THEIR OWN COMFORT LEVEL.
MONEY-HUNGRY - materialism. Materialists seek wealth & possessions as a means of power, control, security, & self-love.
SELF-PROMOTING - a con artist. One who makes big promises. They seek glory only for themselves without providing anything of worth to those around them.
STUCK-UP - ARROGANT. ONE WHO SEES THEMSELVES AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS
PROFANE - BLASPHEMER. MEANS TO CURSE, SLANDER, OR TREAT SOMEONE WITH CONTEMPT. DISREGARD OR DISRESPECT THE VALUE OF ANOTHER PERSON.
CONTEMPTUOUS OF PARENTS - This is a person who does not merely reject their parents’ house rules, they reject any form of authority.
Crude - means ungrateful a person with an unthankful attitude. These people have a sense of entitlement. When they do not get their way, they grouse as though robbed of something.
Coarse - this is one who does not respect God or abide by the rules of common decency.
Dog-eat-dog - hardheartedness. If they do or give something they expect something in return.
Unbending - this person refuses to admit wrongdoing, refuses to forgive offenses & is at odds with most people. Rarely has friends.
Slander - a malicious (lying) devil. Really one word DEVIL Repeats anything. And does not care if it is true or lie. They will do anything to stir up.
Impulsively wild - THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT REMAIN ETHICALLY UPRIGHT. THEY ARE NOT MORAL.
WILD - the opposite of gentle. Often used of wild animals such as lions.
Savage - this is a person who is more at home in a corrupt world. They have no desire to be a positive witness for God.
Cynical - QUESTION EVERYTHING AND VIEWS LIFE FROM A NEGATIVE POINT OF VIEW.
Treacherous - to give or to hand over. Dr Luke uses this word to describe Judas. Betraying the well-being of another for personal gain.
Ruthless - TO FALL FORWARD. This person is rash, head-strong, easily provoked and delights in causing harm to others.
Bloated windbags - this person has their head in the clouds. They view themselves and their thoughts as having more value than yours. They do not listen.
Addicted to lust and allergic to God - this person lives a hedonistic lifestyle – elevating the desires of the moment above all else, even God. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF SELF-LOVE
They make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals – PAUL NOW CONCLUDES THIS LIST WITH PERHAPS THE MOST DESPICABLE OF ALL. SOME DRESS THEMSELVES UP IN ROBES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS YET PURSUE THEIR OWN LUSTS.
THEY PRETEND TO BE GODLY, BUT THEY REJECT GOD.
THE DARKER THE WORLD BECOMES THE CLOSER TO THE TIME JESUS WILL RETURN!
- May 9, 2021How Close Are We To The End Of The World?
How Close Are We To The End Of The World?2 Timothy 3“O unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus replied, how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?” ~ Luke 9:41
“CHILDREN NOW LIVE IN LUXURY; THEY HAVE BAD MANNERS, CONTEMPT FOR AUTHORITY; THEY SHOW DISRESPECT FOR ELDERS AND LOVE CHATTER IN PLACE OF EXERCISE. CHILDREN ARE NOW TYRANTS, NOT THE SERVANTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD. THEY NO LONGER RISE WHEN ELDERS ENTER THE ROOM. THEY CONTRADICT THEIR PARENTS, THEY CHATTER BEFORE COMPANY, AND THEY TYRANNIZE THEIR TEACHERS.”
“when all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way! be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise that day will take you by surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, For it is going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.”
- America Was Founded On The Principles Of Scripture
“I will bless them that bless thee; and I will curse them that curse you. I will make of you a great nation as the stars of the heaven, as the sands of the sea and those who bless you, I will bless. And those who curse you I will curse.”
- What Are Some Things That Are Clues Jesus Will Return?
We find in Matthew 24:32-34 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer is just around the corner. So it is with you: when you see all these things, you’ll know he is at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I am not saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place.”
Matthew 24:5 “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, I am the Christ, the Messiah, and they will deceive a lot of people.”
ISLAM IS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN THE WORLD
CHRISTIANITY IS THE 2ND
HINDUISM IS THE 3RD
BUDDHISM IS THE 4TH
III. The Clues Are Warning Signs The Coming Of Jesus Is Near
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Almost 20 years ago on September 11, 2001, 2,977 Americans were killed by 19 hijackers. More than 6,000 were injured.
PART 3 AND THE LAST IN THIS PASSAGE OF2 TIMOTHY WILL BE NEXT SUNDAY YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS IT! - May 2, 2021We Are In The Last Days
We Are In The Last Days2 Timothy 3:1-5“Don’t be naïve. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog eat dog, unbending, slanders, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They will make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they are animals. Stay clear of these people.”I. Society Will Become Turbulent and DifficultDifficult - harsh, dangerous, hard to bear, savage.II. Our Culture Is Going To Get Worse Before It Gets BetterVs 2 men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers (that means they are abusive; they speak evil), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.Self-absorbed - means you cannot control yourself.“But God’s angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such cannot see: eternal power, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse.” ~Romans 1:18-20“they pretended to know it all. They knew deep inside there is a God. They pretended to know how to live but they were illiterate regarding life.”Vs 26 worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon did not know how to be human either – women did not know how to be women, men did not know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men, all lust, no love….Since they did not bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loss, rampant evil, grabbing and backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating. Look at them: mean-spirited, wanton killing, backstabbing and killing……they knew perfectly well they are spitting in God’s face. And they do not care – worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best.III. Christianity Is Becoming In The Minority In AmericaPaul said, “With all this going for us, my dear friends, stand your ground, and don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste ofTime or effort” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:58Part 2 of this sermon next Sunday
- Apr 25, 2021The Qualifications for Ministerial Church Leaders
The Qualifications for Ministerial Church Leaders2 Timothy 2:23-26"But refuse to become involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s bond servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.”
1. The Lord’s Bond-servant Is To Be Totally Obedient To God
VS 26 PAUL TALKS ABOUT BEING UNDER THE DEVIL & BEING HELD CAPTIVE BY THE DEVIL TO DO HIS WILL.
Jesus said in John 8, of the devil. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.”
2. The Lord’s Bond-servant Is To Stay Away From Foolish Talk
Look at vs 23 refuse to get involved in inane discussionsRefuse means to shun, to avoid, to reject.Paul said to Timothy “Don’t be argumentative”3. The Lord’s bond-servant is to be kind and patient.
Vs 24: “Be kind to all, be a gentle listener and a one who keeps cool….”
Argumentative – means quarrelsome, pugnacious
Do not be someone who is just looking for a fight.
4. The Lord’s Bond-servant Is To Be A Teacher of Scripture
Vs 24 a teacher who keeps cool
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