Introduction As December comes to a close, we always reminisce about the previous 12 months and look ahead to the dawning of a brand-new year! In addition, this time around, we look to a new decade beginning (technically it would start in 2021, but you can’t convince anyone of it). New Years mean a new beginning and an opportunity to change something about who you are or, maybe, what you are. Resolutions and Other Lies Every year we make the same resolutions: I’m going on a diet, I’m going to travel more, I will be more outgoing. And yet, just a few days later, we come to the realization that we were rash in our decisions and immediately fall back into routine. The diet is ruined by that extra piece of pie, traveling is out because of a dwindling bank account, being outgoing means having to go outside where *gasp* other people are. Instead of changing the physical aspect of your person, why not try the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspect?...

This week's sermon is by Jay Borg looking at the silence of the scriptures

Introduction Last week we discussed how Christians provide lip service to God by living their life the way they want to and yet professing holiness to God, our Father. This week we’ll look at a similar lip service as performed by preachers. Some will say, “How is this possible?” They see preachers as God’s messengers. And they are as such; that is, they are supposed to be. But we learn differently in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” When man no longer wants to hear the truth, there will be those who will give them what they want not what they need. Old Testament Prophets During the time of the prophets, God sent His representatives to His people with the basic message of ‘Repent of your sins and turn back to Me....

This week a couple of videos by Jerry Fite of Pasadena, Texas What Must I Know to be a Christian ? God Working His Plan in a Sinful World

Introduction In Matthew 15, the scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus and challenged him concerning the traditions of the elders. Jesus replied to them in verses 7-9, "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Last time we discussed how people give up the commandments of God to follow the traditions of Men in the discussion of celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday. Most can’t let go of this tradition as it has been seared in their minds for decades by family and, for centuries, by men. This week we look at how much more people prefer the commandments of men over God’s law. Just One Drink never hurt anyone The use of alcoholic beverages with a meal or during a celebration continues to be an issue with Christians. They see it as a liber...

Introduction As the month of December unfolds, the season of Christmas comes right along. This is one of my least favorite holidays, not because of the music and festivities, but because of that fact that I don’t like the religious trappings that go along with it. People scratch their heads when I tell them that I’m a Christian but I don’t celebrate this holiday religiously. As I’ve stated in previous articles, this holiday was manufactured by man to downplay the pagan season of Solstice. But, in doing so, they have paganized Christmas as well. Just Like the Jews Several years ago, I happened across a woman’s website who touted the birth of Jesus on December 25 th . I emailed her and asked where does the bible say that. She responded that it wasn’t in the bible, but that she was going to do it anyway as she felt that it was important to her to do it. That reminds me of the Jews during the time of The Kings. In latter years, around the time of Ahaz, the...

(Current events in the light of Scripture) Long lines. Heavy traffic. Winter weather. All these (and more) can combine to bring a feeling of frantic frenzy as the holiday season approaches. They can also contribute to Christians having less than godly attitudes, charitable words, and kind actions. Here are a few reminders we believe will help us navigate the season with grace and a godly influence. (And, they are also valid qualities to have as we navigate life in view of eternity.) Plan ahead . Waiting until the last minute to buy groceries, shop for a gift, or do a good deed for others usually brings its own set of challenges. Don’t wait until the last minute is good advice, not only for the holidays, but also for getting ready for the Lord’s return. Being unprepared, the foolish virgins were unable to enter the wedding feast (Matt. 25:1-13). Thinking we will can take care of our spiritual lives at the last minute ...

This week's sermon comes from Steve Wolfgang.

This week's lesson is presented by Ron Daly of Hammond church of Christ in Hammond, Indiana

By Chris Bates I’ll have to admit…Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It’s a great time of sharing in the joy and love of family and there’s very little “commercialization” to consume one’s attention. Americans typically use this day to enjoy being with relatives that perhaps they otherwise do not see as much as they would like, and to enjoy the favorite American “thanksgiving pastime” of football. Too, thoughts reflect on the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans and the difficult roads that those before us traveled so that we might enjoy what has come to be known as “the great experiment in self-government.” But for the Christian this “reflection” is on a much more serious level. His “thanks” centers around spiritual things more so than the physical joys of this life. To be sure, among men there should be no more thankful person on earth than the Christian. In this article we consider some things for which the Christian should be thankful, not only on t...

Introduction In 1 Peter 4:16 the apostle writes, “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” Very few people would understand this verse; even those of the denominational world would be confused as to glorifying God if they suffer. Our world today tells us that if someone ridicules us or persecutes us, we should be offended and take the matter to a supervisor, teacher, or parent. On social media it can seem devastating to suddenly be ‘Unfriended’ on Facebook, but if your stance for the truth is what caused it, you shouldn’t feel ashamed. The Transgender Doll A few years ago, a company was introducing a transgender doll based on a real person. It was a young boy who became a girl and the doll was to praise the child’s decision to live their life they way they wanted to. I posted the article on my personal page and stated that Transgenderism was an abomination before God. Shortly after that, I was ‘u...

This week's sermon is from Jay Borg. It is title, The Mindset of God's People .

Introduction I’m sure you’ve heard, at the conclusion of a sermon, a preacher makes a plea for those who desire to become a Christian. This is what’s known as the invitation. However, some don’t know what the plan of salvation is and they create a shortcut by telling people to: Accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, say the Sinner’s Prayer, then attend the church of your choice. Do we read anywhere in scripture that a person is saved by prayer? The answer is No. But let’s look at the idea of the Sinner’s Prayer and compare it to what the bible says. What is the Sinner’s Prayer? The origin of this type of prayer goes back to the mid-1700s when a preacher used the text of Rev. 3:20 in the first person; in other words, instead of Jesus saying this, the preacher was. Let’s look at the text… Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (NKJV...

This week's sermon is titled, If Any Man Be in Christ . It is preached by Micky Galloway of Lancaster, Calif.

Today's Bible article is a link from Joe's Price's website, The Spirit's Sword. This title of the article is  Are You in Jesus' Family? written by Steven F. Deaton

This week's sermon is titled, If Your Funeral Was Tomorrow. It is preached by me, Chris Mentzer.

Today's Bible article is a link from Joe's Price's website, The Spirit's Sword. The title of the article is What is the Work of an Evangelist ?

Introduction Humans learn by example; repeat what they hear and copy what they see. That’s why it’s important for parents to set the standard for their children by being a good example so that when they copy what they see and repeat what they hear, we’ll know that we’ve done well to mold them as future adults. However, not all parents leave a good example. They want what’s best for their children; even to give them better than what they, as children, had. Yet, they fall into a routine and not give heed to what is said and done around their own children. Two Examples I’ve Observed When I worked in a grocery store several years ago, I witnessed the aftermath of a child; around 8-years-old, attempt to steal a magazine. The mother was profusely apologizing to the manager that he was only 8 and didn’t know what he was doing. I was thinking, ‘Really? He wouldn’t know what stealing was unless he saw someone else do it.’ Then again, I could have been wrong. An...

This week's sermon comes from Gary Johnsen.

Introduction I sometimes wonder how it is that preachers run out of material from the bible that they have to resort to other sources of information to keep the interest going in their local congregation. Just preaching on a Psalm a week would give you almost half a year’s material with 150 Psalms! In addition, you could dig further into the Psalms and create even more sermons. But for some preachers, the bible just isn’t enough as they feel that you can only talk about Jesus and disciples for so long that people would get bored. Is it possible? Yes! Should you seek outsides sources? NO! Now Playing at a church near You Once a week, whenever I pass by this church on my way to work, I like to read the title of the upcoming sermon that are going to have. It’s a denominational church but, it’s amusing to see the titles and wonder what they will talk about in regards to the subject. During the summer of ’98 I was caught off guard by a couple of titles. The ...