Loving God with all my heart, mind and soul and loving my neighbor as myself by making disciples, baptizing and to teach all things commanded by Jesus Christ in the Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles and the Revelation. HEAR THIS GOSPEL - Romans 10:17 BELIEVE ON CHRIST - John 6:47 REPENT OF EVERY SIN - Luke 13:3 CONFESS JESUS AS CHRIST - Matthew 10:32 BE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS - Acts 2:38 LIVE FAITHFULLY - I John 1:7 SPREAD THIS SAME GOSPEL - Acts 8:4
Showing posts with label Christian Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Family. Show all posts
One can go to hell by oneself but Heaven is a group destination! It's "if God is for us, who can be against us?" ...NOT... "if God is for me, who can be against me?"
Why church events? Let's be candid. Church events are hard work! They require time, effort, planning and expense. They keep us from our normal routine and they break up "normality."
We have church events because, as Christians, we have a threefold mission according to Matthew 28.18 - 20:
Make disciples
Baptize those disciples
Teach those disciples "all things commanded" by Jesus.
In order to "make" a disciple, we first must understand just what IS a disciple? The word in the original Greek for "make disciples" is metheteusate, "to make learners," or to make "believing followers." This, of course, presupposes something far more foundational...a preexisting acquaintance, a friendship of at LEAST a casual acquaintance,
We now must ask the question; "How do we make friends?" It's odd asking how to do something we USED to do all the time without even thinking of it or of it's definition! We were all good at making lots of friends when we were young. Now, not so much. What's the difference between then and now? The lives of young people are filled with what? EVENTS. You remember, club meetings, communal lunch 5 days a week with your friends, weekly sporting events, group study, holiday concerts...and...just "hanging out." Back in the day, we all had more friends than we could count! Now...?
What's changed? A number of things. Adulthood is far more of an isolated time than was school. We work alone. We have daily contact with fewer and fewer people as time advances. Events become fewer and farther between. Events that were once both common and spontaneous are now un-common and are likely contrived, Another factor, far more difficult to cope with, is the fact that when existing friends either move away or die, we fail to replace them. Though totally unnecessary, "old and alone" often go hand in hand, What to do? We can't do anything about the "old" part but the "alone" part can be dispatched completely!
Simply put, those of us who are older must "prime the friendship pump." That requires meeting more people more often than we might be comfortable with. Events make that process easier. It's easier to invite a stranger, or an acquaintance to a planned event than it is to create an event specific to the same purpose. Whatever the reasons are, people today are very reluctant to having people in their homes. Events give us a reason to engage potential friends who can then become "believing followers." The first step is the hardest...talking to strangers. I think it was Will Rogers who said; "I don't know any strangers, only friends I've yet to meet."
This is why we have events at the Archdale church of Christ in Charlotte, NC. On June 5, 2016 we had a "Comedy Night" with Charlotte comedian, Dan Sinski/ It was a great success. People who were strangers to us are now acquaintances. People who had never heard the gospel, heard it. We all became closer because we did something that fewer and fewer people are doing these days...we laughed out loud together. "Laughter is the best medicine" we are often told. Dr. Cyntia Thaik says this; "If you can find a reason to laugh every day, you'll find that your mood will improve, your relationships with others will seem more meaningful and effortless, and life's hurdles wont' seem so daunting. Moreover, your body, mind and soul will reap the health benefits of the natural and free medicine." (1) More importantly, we are all created "in the image of God." Part of that creative genius is laughter! God made people to laugh!
We have events so we can talk to strangers, make them acquaintances, make them friends, make them disciples, baptize them and then teach them "all things commanded."
Besides all that, who doesn't want more friends?
(1) HUFFPOST HEALTHY LIVING, "Why Laughing is Good for Your Health," March 16, 2016
Thesis: The Love of God
conquerors all things including treachery, loathing and unrequited love!
1Introduction
A.The
Four Tops – “Just Ask the Lonely”
When
you feel that need
To make it all alone,
Remember no one is thinking of,
Going alone
Just
ask the lonely
They know the hurt and pain,
Of losing a love, you can never regain
B.Jacob
betrayed Esau at Beersheba
1.Located
75 miles SW of Jerusalem
2.Founded
when Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant regarding the well Abraham had dug
in Genesis 21.
3.The
name means “The Well of the Oath” or “Seven Wells.”
4.Isaac
built an altar of sacrifice there (Genesis 26)
5.Near
here Jacob had his vision of the Stairway to Heaven (Genesis 28)
C.Rebecca
told Jacob to flee to Paddan-aram
1.599
miles from Beersheba
2.Name
means “Field of Aram”
3.Actually
an area in which is located Haran
4.Laban
was Rebecca’s brother and Jacobs uncle
5.Rachael
and Leah were his cousins
D.Jacob
comes under the tent of his uncle Laban
1.Begins
as an extended visit
2.Employment
offered by Laban to Jacob because of kinship
3.The
wages – 7 years of labor in return for Rachael
2The
Treachery of a Father – Genesis 29.15 - 24
A. (We see how Jacob inherited his devious ways!)
B. Laban breaks his covenant with Jacob
C. Laban uses Leah as a bargaining chip to double his money
1. He saw
his daughter as not being valuable because of
Poor eyesight.
2. By his snookering (THE FREE DICTIONARY - To lead(another)into a situation in whichallpossiblechoicesareundesirable;trap.)
he got 7 extra
years of free labor by Using his daughter as a pawn in a business deal.
D. Leah’s father’s treachery must have left her very alone
and very afraid of her future.
1. Once bartered away, women were under 100% control of their
husbands, the father was no longer any factor whatsoever. Leah had no legal rights at all whatsoever.
E. We can hear the sobs and see the tears as her father “high
fives” over his business deal.
3The
Loathing of a Husband – Genesis 29.25 - 30
A. Leah is a trick to Jacob not a lover though she is his
wife
B. Jacob sees Leah as making him a victim
C. Jacob sees Leah as an instrument of deception
D. Jacob is told the “fine print” of the covenant and
realizes he’s been “snookered.” GOTCHA!
E. Jacob spends a week with Leah, not out of love for her but
for the love of her sister!
1. “I’m going through the motions so I can marry your sister
that, UNLIKE YOU, I love!”
F. Leah’s husbands open and notorious loathing of her must
have left her in absolute terror, loneliness and self-hatred.
G. We can hear the sobs and see the tears while Jacob sulks
in the corner over having been out maneuvered by his uncle as he yearns for
Leah’s sister.
4Unrequited
Love – Genesis 29.31 – 34; 30.8
A. Reuben is born – “Now my husband will love me.”
B. Levi is born – “Now this time my husband will be attached
to me because I have born him 3 sons.”
C. Intense competition erupts with her sister who claims
victory over her
D. We can hear the sobs and see the tears as time after time
with each new son the love and affection of Jacob elude her.
5. Love Conquerors All! – Genesis 29.35ff
A.
A progression of faith in God – HER TRUE FRIEND AND HELPER
1) 29.31 – The Lord came to her rescue when HE saw she was
hated.
2) 29.32 – “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction…”
3) 29.33 – “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated…”
4) 29.35 – “THIS TIME I WILL PRAISE THE LORD!”
a)
JOY HAS REPLACED SORROW FOR HER LOVE
IS
NOW FOCUSED ON GOD AND NOT JACOB.
b)
This is the turning point in Leah’s life when
she
ceases crying and begins rejoicing!
5) 30.11 – “Good fortune has come!”
6) 30.13 – “Happy am I!
For women have called me happy.”
7) 30.18 – “God has given me my wages because I gave my
servant to my husband.”
8) 30.20 – “God has endowed me with good endowment…”
6The
Legacy of Leah’s Life
A.With
God’s loving help:
1)Leah,
like Churchill said, “Never, never, never give up!”
2)Leah
did not allow loneliness to defeat her
3)Leah
did not allow treachery to destroy her
4)Leah
never rebelled against her father
5)Leah
never rebelled against her husband
6)Leah
did not allow her loathing husband to cease striving for his love and affection
7)Leah
did not allow jealousy of her sister embitter her
8)Leah
waited on the Lord to hear her case
9)Leah
always sought what was best for her husband
10)Leah
accepted her circumstances
11) Leah gave thanks to God for the
success of others
12)Leah
always gave God the glory
13)Leah
was given two great gifts that continue to bless us today!
a)It
was her son, Judah, that became the savior of the family and the familial
progenitor of the Lord Jesus Christ!
b)She
received the highest commendation of those who lived centuries later:
1.“Then
all the people who were at the gate and the elders said; “We are
witnesses. May the LORD make the woman,
who is coming into your house, like Rachael and LEAH, who TOGETHER built up the
house of Israel…” – Ruth 4.11a
7Leah
Challenges Us This Morning:
A. To know that when God is for us, no one can be against us
B. To realize that surrender to our circumstances is not an
option
C. To understand that suffering is not failure
D. To know that treachery is never final
E. To realize that every person has at least one other person
in life who loathes them
F. To understand that getting “snookered” is not a reflection
on me
G. To give God Thanks for every circumstance
H. To give God all the praise and glory for all achievements
I. To understand that a small faith can grow great
J. To grasp the fact that family is greater than all
possessions
k. To willingly rejoice with the success of our adversaries
l. To realize that rebellion against God, parents or spouses
is never an option
m. To come to grasp with the fact that true happiness is
found ONLY in God and nowhere else!
1. “I have
come to give you life and life more abundantly!”
n. To “Never, never, never give up!”
8“The
Gospel Call”
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
·On Friday night, August 5, 2016 Russ will
dramatically portray the life and times of his 5th Great
grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A
portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh
Gaston. The event will take place at the
Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7
p.m. The public is invited to this free
presentation.
Thesis: A fine way to reject the commands of God is
to establish one’s own tradition
1Introduction - Review
A. The “chosen” did not need, ask for or even want
forgiveness
B. The “chosen” presumed to brag before God of their
“righteousness.”
1) Luke
18.10 – 12
2) Romans
2.17 - 23
C. The Pharisees were “Social Darwinists” 19 centuries before
Darwin!
1) All life moves continually upward from the simple to the Complex,
they saw themselves as the “best and
brightest” of all those who had come before!
2Establishing The Tradition of Moral Transference
A. “Bragging rights” trumped what “is right!”
B. The irony of Matthew 27.6!
1) “Corban”
(oblation, offering) used here and in our text
C. “The ends justify the means.” Or…
“I’m doing this for the “greater good.”
1) Elder
abuse was wrong then and it’s wrong now even if
one takes their abused parent to church with them!
D. Cloaking evil with “good” is much like having a golden
trash can!
E. We are to love people and use things, not, love things and
use people.
3Establishing The Tradition of Allegorical
Interpretation
A. They established their doctrine of “corban” by reading
between the lines, as it were, in the Torah
B. Define allegory
1) Hidden
meaning
2)
Personally assigned interpretation
3) A clear
signal of agnosticism!
4) A
vehicle of rationalization and self-justification
C. Allegorical interpretation leads to rationalization,
compromise, surrender, hypocrisy and ultimately disbelief.
4Establishing The Tradition of Imagination as
Truth
A. The dislodge of “old truth” demands creation of “new
truth”
B. Since “old truth” is revealed, “new truth” must be
created.
C. In order for “new truth” to be created, it must first be
“imagined.”
D. Thomas Aquinas and the “6th sense.” –
IMAGINATION!
E. The Pharisees “imagined” that elder abuse could be
justified by “corban.”
F. It is the “knowledge of the truth,” NOT the “imagining of
the truth that “sets us free!”
5Establishing The Tradition of Weaponizing
Doctrine
A. In the movie “Hunt for Red October,” the Russian submarine
is destroyed by its own torpedo
B. The Pharisees weaponized doctrine by transference,
allegory and imagination only to have it destroy them and their nation 40 years
later.
C. BEWARE! The
doctrine you shoot at someone else may just miss them and return to make you a
target of God’s wrath!
6The Meaning of the Text
A.Handing
down tradition voids the Word of God!
7The Challenge of the Text
A. Morality and Doctrine must always be in sync in order to
avoid hypocrisy
B. We must embrace the Scripture is its own Interpreter in
order to avoid hypocrisy
C. We must never replace Truth by imagination in order to
avoid hypocrisy
D. We must never weaponize Scripture in order to avoid
hypocrisy
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
21 March 2016 (Mint Hill, NC) - Several weeks ago the Charlotte City Council voted to mandate that public bathrooms be no longer gender specific. Without going into explicit details such an ordinance will allow deviancy to become legally, though not morally, normative. The personal privacy of individuals will be at least compromised. The worst case, of course, is that the safety and security of individuals will be threatened. Under the guise of "sexual orientation confusion," deviants will proceed into bathrooms of the opposite sex for less than honorable pursuits.
What should the response be to this by Christians?
There are two possible responses. One is to take the historical view of the early church and not engage at all in the political process. The other is to use whatever biblical allowable means available to challenge this turn to immorality in our community. We will here explore both options.
The first option, to do nothing, comes from a misapplication of ancient history. First and second century Christians, according to the Roman philosopher Celsus (image noted above), refused service in the military, did not engage in any kind of empire politics and did not even participate in the running of local municipalities. The much admired and lamented bro. David Lipscomb held this view for American church members in the 19th century. With all due respect to our late brother, to apply Roman conditions to American conditions is simply trying to compare apples to oranges. The "dog just won't hunt."
We should go to the Patristics (the so-called "church fathers") for history but never for theology. For theology, we go exclusively to the Holy Writ. Christians never participated with Rome for such a participation would constitute an "unequal yoking." The reason being of course, is that the early Christians intuitively knew that Rome was the "Beast." (Revelation 13)
No such designation could ever be applied today to our Nation, to our Declaration and to our Constitution. Our Republic, like no other, acknowledges that ALL rights descend, not from other men as was the case with Rome, but from God Himself! In fact, Peter, by inspiration tells us to "honor the king." (I Peter 2.17) Just who is our king in the United States? Our king, to which we give honor, is the Declaration and the Constitution. We give honor to our king, not by disengaging in the political process, but by embracing the political process!
Therefore, option two is biblically viable for the church today here in America. So...how does this play out in our time and place?
* The biblical truth concerning Christian morality must be heralded continually from our pulpits. Namely, ALL sexual contact outside of marriage between one man and one woman for life is immoral and damnable.
* Our approach to all parties should be one characterized by "truth in love," never with anger, rancor, threats, shoutings or any other form of personal animosity. Our approach should be as was Christ's; "...go and sin no more."
* Our approach must always be within acceptable legal channels such as public hearings, prearranged visits with dignitaries, letters, emails and social media.
* Should our pleas go unheeded, then we are free to support other candidates for the city council that oppose immorality and support our Constitutional moral order.
* Finally, Christians should be running to serve on councils, boards and commissions so immorality will no longer raise it's ugly head in our community.
NOTE:
Since I wrote this article the Governor and Legislature of North Carolina have stepped in on the side of decency and morality to overturn the Charlotte City Councils dictatorial bathroom edict. We thank God for their quick and decisive action.
Having said that, the likelihood of a radical court "overturning" (one cannot "overturn" what is biblical, good, pure right and moral!) this state statute is very great indeed. The deviant parties are already rumbling about this direction. The place to have stopped this would have been on the council itself so that there never would have been a vote in the first place.
(NOTE: Audio does not start until 45 seconds into video)
Synopsis:
She is never identified, we have not a clue to what her name was or anything about her...with one exception, she left a legacy in the form of a faithful son! His name? Jabez.
The Chronicles are two books rarely read or studied today but contain many a hero of God's faithful. Jabez was a man of faith because his mother was a woman of faith. Paul says that the gospel is spread from "faith to faith" in Romans 1.17. Jabez's mother was a Romans 1.17 woman.
The Bible asserts several things concerning Jabez that he learned from his mother, his father not being mentioned at all in the text. They are stunning.
1. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, he was a Bible man, a real Berean!
2. Jabez called upon the Name of the Lord God of Israel - he sought salvation.
3. Jabez asked God for blessings - no self made man here.
4. Jabez sought from God expanded influence - a man of the message.
5. Jabez placed himself under the protecting Hand of God - he surrendered control totally.
6. Jabez besought God to deliver him from evil - he knew that "sin was crouching at the door and he had to master it."
7. Jabez exercised the kind of faith that brought a full answer to prayer! - He prayed in faith, never doubting.
Jabez learned all of this from his Godly mother. Let's be like Jabez. May we all call, ask, seek, place and beseech from God those things that Jabez did. It's never too late to become a "Jabez Mother!"
Premise: We cannot
possibly understand the Revelation differently than the end of time teachings
in the rest of the New Testament!
Frame #1 – Luke 18.36
1.Jesus said; “My Kingdom is not of
this W_____________.”
2.Jesus said His servants WOULD fight
if what?
3.Jesus said that He would have escaped
His captors if what?
4.Jesus said that His Kingdom was not
from where?
5.Where in this passage is an earthly
Christological kingdom predicted?
Frame #2 – I
Thessalonians 4.13 – 18
6.Is Jesus coming to the dead or are they going with Him somewhere else?
7.Paul says these things as a clear message from whom?
8.What happens first on the Last Day?
9.What are the three “withs” of the Lord’s Decent?
10.Who shall rise first?
11.What will then happen to those Christians who are alive and remain?
12.Where in this passage is any prediction of Christ ever setting his foot
on the earth ever again?
Frame #3 – Matthew 24.29
– 31
13.The “Great Tribulation” takes place when according to prior verses?
14.The very next Eschatological event after the Destruction of Jerusalem is
what?
15.What is the sign of this event?What effect will this sign have?
16.At the time of this sign, Christ will send his angels with what?
17.What task are the angels given at the time of this sign?
18.Is there a “Great Tribulation” at the very end of time rendering a clear
sign of the pending return of Christ?
19.Where does this passage teach of any kind of earthly Christological
kingdom and any indication of Christ physically returning to this earth?
II Peter 3.10 - 13
20.The Last Day will come how?
21.At His coming, what will happen to the Heavens?
22.At His coming, what will happen to the elements?
23.At His coming, what will happen to the earth?
24.Where is the “Great Tribulation” if His coming is without warning?
25.How can there be any possibility of Christ returning a second time to a
non-existent earth?
26.How can there be a millennial kingdom here on earth if the earth no
longer exists?
One key to understanding the book of Revelation is to always keep in mind
the B_____________of this epistle,
Revelation 1.1 and Revelation 22.6 that clearly state that the events described
in the book are to take place when?
REMEMBER TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND
COWORKERS TO THESE STUDIES WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME!
Premise: We cannot
possibly understand the Revelation differently than the end of time teachings
in the rest of the New Testament!
Frame #1 – Luke 18.36
1.Jesus said; “My Kingdom is not of
this World.”
2.Jesus said His servants WOULD fight
if what?A. If His Kingdom WERE of this
world.
3.Jesus said that He would have escaped
His captors if what?A. If is Kingdom
WERE of this world.
4.Jesus said that His Kingdom was not
from where?A. Here or “hence.”
5.Where in this passage is an earthly
Christological kingdom predicted?A.
Nowhere
Frame #2 – I
Thessalonians 4.13 – 18
6.Is Jesus coming to the dead or are they going with Him somewhere else?A. They are going with Him somewhere else, He
is not coming back here.
7.Paul says these things as a clear message from whom?A. The Lord
8.What happens first on the Last Day?A. The Lord shall decend
9.What are the three “with’s” of the Lord’s Decent?A. With a shout, with the voice of the arch
angel and with the Trump of God
10.Who shall rise first?A. The dead
in Christ
11.What will then happen to those Christians who are alive and remain?A. They will meet him in the air
12.Where in this passage is any prediction of Christ ever setting his foot
on the earth ever again? A. Nowhere
Frame #3 – Matthew 24.29
– 31
13.The “Great Tribulation” takes place when according to prior verses?A. During the siege and destruction of the
Temple and Jerusalem in 70
14.The very next Eschatological event after the Destruction of Jerusalem is
what?A. The Return of Christ in decent
with the shout, arch angel and trumpet
15.What is the sign of this event?A.
His decent.What effect will this sign
have?A. Absolute panic and despair
among the lost
16.At the time of this sign, Christ will send his angels with what?A. With a great sound of a trumpet
17.What task are the angels given at the time of this sign?A. To gather His elect from the 4 winds
18.Is there a “Great Tribulation” at the very end of time rendering a clear
sign of the pending return of Christ?A.
No, the “great tribulation” took place
in 70
19.Where does this passage teach of any kind of earthly Christological
kingdom and any indication of Christ physically returning to this earth?A. Nowhere
II Peter 3.10 - 13
20.The Last Day will come how?A. As
a thief in the night
21.At His coming, what will happen to the Heavens? A. They will pass away
with a great noise
22.At His coming, what will happen to the elements?A. The elements will melt with fervent heat
23.At His coming, what will happen to the earth?A.It,
along with its works, shall be burnt up
24.Where is the “Great Tribulation” if His coming is without warning?A.It
already took place in 70, there is no warning whatsoever other than the sight
of theDescending Christ
25.How can there be any possibility of Christ returning a second time to a
non-existent earth?A. No possibility
for His Kingdom is not of this world, it is not from here
26.How can there be a millennial kingdom here on earth if the earth no
longer exists?A.No possibility for His Kingdom is not of this
world, it is not from here
One key to understanding the book of Revelation is to always keep in mind
the BOOKENDS of this epistle, Revelation 1.1 and Revelation 22.6 that clearly
state that the events described in the book are to take place when?A. Soon!
