More Blessed than the Apostles? - In One Way...YES!

Audio and Outline of a Sermon Rendered 3 June 2018, Morning Service, Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 by Russell H McCullough:

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/sounds-from-sunday-morning-5

Text: Luke 1.26 - 33; John 20.24 – 31
Thesis: We are more blessed than the apostles because we have only HEARD the testimony, never seeing it.
Introduction – Why does no one doubt the veracity of the existence of any other historical figure OTHER than Christ Jesus? 
• Who ever heard; “I would believe in the existence of Julius Caesar if only I could have seen him.”
• Who ever heard; “I would believe in the existence of Abraham Lincoln if only if I could have seen him.”
• Who ever heard: “I would believe in the existence of the law of gravity if only I can see it.”
• Today, people have more faith in the words of Charles Darwin than they do in the words of Jesus Christ!
• NO ONE here today has ever seen any of these mentioned.
1. We know of these and believe in their existence because of the testimony of the spoken word of 3rd parties.
a. People simply believe some 3rd parties and dismiss others.

I – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in angels?

a. Hearing is believing
b. Admiral Cochrane
• “Besides 9/11, the only other attack by an outside force on Washington, D.C. was in 1814 when Adm. George Cockburn of the British Royal Navy, literally walked into the White House, at Pres. James Madison’s dinner, drank his wine, and then sat fire to the place.”  DID YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEARD OR NOT?

II – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in the virgin pregnancy?

a. Hearing is believing
b. Edwin Booth
• “Months before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert fell from a train platform in Jersey City.  The hand that pulled him to safety belonged to Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth (Lincoln’s killer).”  DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEARD OR NOT?

III – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in the eternal reign?

a. Hearing is believing
b. The Polish impostor
• “After a Polish impostor who claimed the throne of Russia was found out, he was executed, burned and had his ashes shot out of a cannon back toward Poland.”  DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU JUST HEARD OR NOT?

CONCLUSION:  People believe what they want to believe without evidence and reject what they want to reject regardless of evidence!

 “The Gospel Call” – Acts 2.38 -

NOTE: Illustrations courtesy of “WTF Fun Facts”

Ephesians 6.5 - 9 - Slaves, Bond-servants & Christ

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Judges 4.11 - 5.31 - Deborah & Barak Part 2

LISTEN! to a short synopsis of this lesson on SOUNDCLOUD!
https://soundcloud.com/tags/bible%20class%20lesson%20synopsis

Judges

A Judge by Judge Bible Study -  31 December 2017

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson #6 – Judges 4.11 – 5.31

1.     When did Sisera call all his chariots? 

2.     How many chariots?  Of what were they made?  What came with them?

3.     Sisera’s men were from where to where?

4.     What does Deborah say to Barak?  The second sentence is a R______________ question.  What is the implied and imbedded answer?

5.     What does Barak then do?  Despite this hesitancy, how do we know he had great leadership skills of some kind?

6.     What 3 things does the Lord do here now?

7.     What does Barak now do?  How good is his chariot to him?

8.     How many men in Sisera’s army lived to tell the story?

9.     Where did Sisera flee and why did he flee there?

10. What did Jael say to Sisera that caused him to stop running?

11. What did she cover him with?

12. What did he ask of Jael?  What did she do instead?

13. What instructions did he give her?

14. What did Jael do once Sisera fell asleep?

15. What did Jael then tell Barak once he showed up?

16. What 3 things happened in verse 23?

17. Who sings a duet in 5.1?

18. The song…

 ANSWER GRID

1.     When did Sisera call all his chariots?

WHEN HE WAS TOLD THAT BARAK THE SON OF ABI-NO-AM HAD GONE OUT TO MT. TABOR

2.     How many chariots?  Of what were they made?  What came with them?

900.  IRON.  ALL THE MEN TO DRIVE THEM

3.     Sisera’s men were from where to where?

HAROSHETH-HAGOYIM TO THE RIVER KISHON

4.     What does Deborah say to Barak?  The second sentence is a R______________ question.  What is the implied and imbedded answer?

“UP!  FOR THIS IS THE DAY IN WHICH THE LORD HAS GIVEN SISERA INTO YOUR HAND.  DOES NOT THE LORD GO OUT BEFORE YOU?”  RHETORICAL.  YES!

5.     What does Barak then do?  Despite this hesitancy, how do we know he had great leadership skills of some kind?

HE WENT DOWN FROM MT. TABOR WITH 10,000 MEN FOLLOWING HIM.  10,000 MEN FOLLOWED HIM INTO BATTLE!

6.     What 3 things does the Lord do here now?

A.   HE ROUTED SISERA

B.    HE ROUTED ALL HIS CHARIOTS

C.    HE ROUTED ALL HIS ARMY BEFORE BARAK WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWOARD.

7.     What does Sisera now do?  How good is his chariot to him?

SISERA DISMOUNT HIS CHARIOT AND FLEES ON FOOT.  NO GOOD AT ALL!

8.     How many men in Sisera’s army lived to tell the story?

ZERO, ZIP, NADDA…

9.     Where did Sisera flee and why did he flee there?

HE FLED TO THE TENT OF JAEL, WIFE OF HEBER THE KENITE

10. What did Jael say to Sisera that caused him to stop running?

“TURN ASIDE, MY LORD; TURN ASIDE TO ME; DO NOT BE AFRAID.”

11. What did she cover him with?

A RUG (A BEDOIN SITTING PAD)

12. What did he ask of Jael?  What did she do instead?

“PLEASE GIVE ME A LITTLE WATER TO DRINK, FOR I AM THIRSTY.”  SHE OPENED A SKIN OF MILK, GAVE HIM A DRINK, AND COVERED HIM.

13. What instructions did he give her?

“STAND AT THE OPENING OF THE TENT, AND IF ANY MAN COMES AND ASKS YOU, “IS ANYONE HERE?” SAY, “NO.”

14. What did Jael do once Sisera fell asleep?

SHE TOOK A TENT PEG AND A HAMMER AND DROVE THE TENT PEG INTO HIS TEMPLE ALL THE WAY INTO THE GROUND.

15. What did Jael then tell Barak once he showed up?

“COME, AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE MAN WHOM YOU ARE SEEKING.”

16. What 3 things happened in verse 23 & 24?

A.   GOD SUBDUED JABIN THE KING OF CANAAN BEFORE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

B.    THE HAND OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL PRESSED HARDER AND HARDER AGAINST JABIN, KING OF CANAAN.

C.    ISRAEL DESTROYED JABIN, KING OF CANAAN.

17. Who sings a duet in 5.1?

DEBORAH & BARAK, SON OF ABI-NO-AM

18. The song…

Ezekiel - Introduction Continued

Last week we commenced our study on the book of Ezekiel with a PowerPoint (R) presentation on the historical and cultural context of the ca. 586 BC time period in both Judah and Babylon.  This lesson is our first in "handout" lessons ongoing.  Should you live in the greater Charlotte area we encourage you to attend these lessons in person, every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC.  Both student and teacher handouts are attached.

Ezekiel

Lesson 2 – Introduction Continued - Archdale church of Christ

14 September 2016 – Copyright © 2016, Russell H. McCullough

“Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, we are cut off.” – 37.10

“For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep and seek them out.” – Ezekiel 34.11

Image Courtesy of: Bing Images from the Public Domain

The Questions (1) of Israel by the Rivers of Babylon:

1.   Why would God be ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2.   Why would God allow _________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

3.   Why would God abandon ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

4.   Why would God allow __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

5.   How can this now “homeless” God ______________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6.   Why would God save ___________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

7.   How can any hope _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

The C________________ T_________________ (2)of Ezekiel answer these questions.

1.   God is all S_____________ and all G__________________

a.    II Chronicles 7.1 – 3

2.   Even in chastisement, God D____________ with His people.

b.   11.16

3.   The utter S_________________ of mankind is the ultimate cause of all human pain and suffering

a.    23.3

b.   16.46 – 48

c.    Jeremiah 8.8 - 13

4.   The inescapable coming of J__________________ as a consequence of sin.

a.    14.12 - 20

5.   R______________________ is coming to Israel after her chastisement

a.    43.1 - 5

6.   The M________________ is coming !

a.    37.21 – 28

Sources:

Holy Bible – English Standard Version

McGuiggan, Jim (The Book of Ezekiel) Lubbock, TX, Montex Publishing Co.  1979, 1984

Duguid, Iain M., (The NIV Ezekiel Application Commentary) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 1999.

NOTES:

(1)      Duguid – “Introduction – Why Read Ezekiel?”

(2)      IBID

Free use and duplication is hereby granted by the author as long as the text is unaltered and authorship is fully acknowledged.

Russell H McCullough

http://gospelcall.blogspot.com

Ezekiel

Lesson 2 – Introduction Continued - Archdale church of Christ

14 September 2016 – TEACHERS COPY

Copyright © 2016, Russell H McCullough

“Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, we are cut off.” – 37.10

“For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep and seek them out.” – Ezekiel 34.11

Image Courtesy: Bing Images from the Public Domain

The Questions (1) of Israel by the Rivers of Babylon:

1.   Why would God be unwilling to protect His own land?

2.   Why would God allow His own Temple to be defiled & destroyed?

3.   Why would God abandon His own people of the Promise?

4.   Why would God allow pagans to overcome His own righteous remnant?

5.   How can this now “homeless” God do anything to help His now exiled people in a far away & foreign land?

6.   Why would God save His people out of Egyptian slavery only to re-enslave them in Babylon?

7.   How can any hope be found in this totality of despair?

The Central Theme (2)of Ezekiel answer these questions.

1.   God is all Sovereign and all Glorious

a.    II Chronicles 7.1 – 3

2.   Even in chastisement, God Dwells with His people.

b.   11.16

3.   The utter Sinfulness of mankind is the ultimate cause of all human pain and suffering

a.    23.3

b.   16.46 – 48

c.    Jeremiah 8.8 - 13

4.   The inescapable coming of Judgement as a consequence of sin.

a.    14.12 - 20

5.   Restoration is coming to Israel after her chastisement

a.    43.1 - 5

6.   The Messiah is coming!

a.    37.21 – 28

Sources:

Holy Bible – English Standard Version

McGuiggan, Jim, (The Book of Ezekiel) Lubbock, TX.  Montex Publishing Co.  1979, 1984

Duguid, Iain M., (The NIV Ezekiel Application Commentary) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 1999.

NOTES:

(1)      Duguid, “Introduction – Why Read Ezekiel?”

(2)      IBID

Free use permission is hereby granted as long as no alterations are made to the text and authorship is fully acknowledged

Russell H McCullough

http://gospelcall.blogspot.com

Delivered, Sacrificed and Raised!

“Delivered, Sacrificed and Raised!”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  21 August 2016

Text: Mark 9.30 – 32; Matthew 17.22 – 23; Luke 9.43 - 45

Thesis: Forgiveness, Remission and Redemption are made Unilaterally and Unconditional by God through Jesus Christ.

1           Introduction

A.   He and the disciples have left the region of Caesarea Philippi

1)     Golan Heights

2)    AKA as Caesarea Paneas per Josephus

3)   Center of worship of the Greek pagan god, Pan(eas), the god of “desolate places” (Hades)

4)   A great cave is there of which flowed much water then

That formed the headwaters of the Jordan

5)   The cave was known as “The Gates of Hades”

a.    This where Peter made his great confession

6)   Herod Agrippa had his palace here

B.   They now passed through Galilee

1)     Located in the region of the tribes of Naphtali and Dan

2)    West and SW of the Sea of Galilee

3)   Solomon rewarded his ally, the Phoenician king Hiram, with 20 cities here, hence the name; “Galilee of the Gentiles”

4)   Here was Jesus’ center of operation, Capernaum

2          Delivered to the Hands of Men

A.   John 3.14 – 17

B.   Isaiah 52.13 – 53.7

C.    When man is given total control – He plots to kill God

1.      The most prolific murderers of all time, Mao – Stalin – Hitler were all disciples of Charles Darwin

3          Murdered by the Hands of Men

A.   Isaiah 53.8 – 10a

B.   His life was not taken, it was given as “a ram in the bush”

1.      Genesis 22.9 – 14

C.    John 10.14 - 18

4         Raised for the Sins of Man

A. Isaiah 53.10b – 54.1

5          The Meaning of the Text

A.   God delivered Him

B.   We murdered Him

C.    He was raised for our

1.      Forgiveness

2.     Remission

3.    Redemption

6         The Challenge of the Text

A.   Repentance

B.   Forgiveness of others as Christ forgave us

C.    Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly before God

7          “The Gospel Call”

A.      How shall we neglect such a great salvation?

·         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.