An exposition of Mark 12.18 - 27 examining the deadliness of error. Preached by Russ McCullough on 28 May 2017 at the Archdale church of Christ in Charlotte, NC. Questions and comments can be posted through LinkedIn or by writing to: russellspeaksandwrites@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Sarah - The Personification of Faith
14 May 2017 - Archdale church of Christ - Charlotte, NC - Russell H. McCullough
No outline this week. I am recovering from bronchitis and all I could do is get up and get down without coughing as God gave me the strength.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Rendering to God by Rendering to Caesar
“Rendering to God by Rendering to Caesar”
“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: 7 May 2017
Text: Mark 12.13 - 17
Thesis: When
We Honor Caesar, We Honor God. When We
Pay Our Taxes, We Honor Caesar Which in Turn Honors God. We Cannot Play Word Games With God!
1
Introduction
A.
The greater context begins in 11.27 – “…they
came again to Jerusalem; and as He was walking in the Temple there came to Him
the Chief Priests, and the Scribes, and the Elders…”
1.
The Levites
2.
The Levitical Lawyers
3.
Representatives from The Sanhedrin –
The 70 elders of Israel made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees.
B.
“By what authority?” – “Was the
baptism of John from God or from men?” – 11.27 – 11.33
C.
The parable of the vineyard – 12.1 –
12.12
D.
Having humiliated these, they (L, LL,
S) sent the most unlikely of allies to “catch Him in His words,” the Pharisees
and the Herodian’s!
1.
Pharisees – Ultra nationalists who
continuously fought against Roman occupation and the influence of Greek
culture.
2.
Herodian’s – Pro Roman collaborators,
the otherwise enemies of the Pharisees.
3.
Only their common hatred of the
Christ brought them together for the very first and very last time!
E.
These delegations singular purpose
was to “catch Him in His words,” to “entangle Him in His talk,” and to “take
hold of His Words” so they might build a case for His murder.
1.
They proposed to put Christ into a
“semantic stew” as it were.
F.
They proposed to do this by a classic
“catch 22” move, no matter what His response, He would convict Himself, a
classic “between a rock and a hard place” rhetorical trick. We might call this a “loaded question.”
1.
The Pharisee’s wanted to hear “YES”
as this would politicize Christ as pro-Roman and destroy His standing with the
people.
2.
The Herodian’s wanted to hear “NO” as
this would politicize Christ as anti-Roman and make Him an enemy of the state.
3.
Either way, they thought, Jesus would
incriminate Himself and they then could arrest Him.
G.
What they did not know was that they
were attacking the King of Rhetoric!
1.
Jesus Christ is the greatest
Rhetorical Power the world has ever seen or will see!
a.
Jesus Christ defeats ALL arguments
against Him!
b.
If one wishes to master rhetoric, if
one wishes to master argumentation, if one wishes to master debate…study Jesus
Christ!
H.
What Jesus Christ is about to do here
is to pull a “rhetorical reverse” …it will put the delegation in the vice that
they themselves created!
I.
This account is found in 3 of the
synoptic gospels: Out Markian text today, in Matthew 22.15 – 22 and Luke 20.20
- 26
2
Mark’s
and Matthew’s account are vertically identical:
A.
Pharisees
and Herodian’s
B.
“Trap
/ entangle” Him in His talk
C.
He
is called Teacher
D.
“We
know You are True”
E.
“You
don’t care for other’s opinions”
F.
“You
are not swayed by appearances”
G.
“You
truly teach the Way of God”
H.
They
ask the same question; “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?”
I.
Jesus
asks the question; “Why test Me?”
J.
Jesus
asks for a coin
K.
“Whose
likeness and inscription is here?”
L.
Same
response; “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars’s, and to God the
things that are God’s.”
M.The same result; “And they marveled
at Him.”
3
In
Luke’s account, (Read Luke 20.20 – 26) we discover a wide variety of additional
facts:
A.
Luke
calls the delegation “spies.”
B.
He
says the delegation “pretended to be sincere.”
C.
Their
purpose was to deliver up Christ to the authority and jurisdiction of the
governor.
D.
They were unable to do so in the presence of
the people to catch Him in what He said.
E.
They
became silent.
4
Motives,
Questions, and Answers:
5
CONCLUSION:
6
The
Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:
A.
7
The
Challenge of the Text for Christians Today
A.
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.
Sunday, April 30, 2017
The Admiral and the Crow
“The Admiral and the Crow”
Sermon 2 in
the Series – “Why I am a Member of the church of Christ”
“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:
Text: Matthew 16.16 - 20
Thesis: I am a member
of the church of Christ “Because It was Founded on the Scriptural Foundation”
1
Introduction
A.
Vice
Admiral Horatio Nelson “turned a blind eye” to Admiral Parkers signal to
retreat at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.
B.
In
the age of sail before the discovery of latitude and longitude coordination, at
the top of the tallest mast on the ship was the “crow’s nest.” So-called for it contained just that, a nest
of crows in a cage. When released the
crow would immediately fly to land in the shortest and fastest route possible,
thus the saying “as the crow flies.”
2
To
What Does “Upon This Rock” Reflect?
A.
Petros
– Peter
B.
PETRA
– the CONFESSION
C.
“IF”
there would have been the office of the pope then:
1.
Paul
would have been pope for he was the one who chastised Peter in Galatians and
not the other way around.
2.
Paul
would have been pope since he was the “apostle to the gentiles.”
3.
Paul
would have been pope since he was not married and Peter was.
3
I
Corinthians 3.11
A.
No
other foundation
4
Ephesians
2.20
A.
Christ
is the chief cornerstone
1.
Psalms
118.22 – rejected corner
2.
Matthew
21.42 – Jesus applied this to Himself
3.
Acts
4.11 - Peter applied this to Christ
B.
The
witnesses are one and the same as they are part of the foundation
a.
Acts
1
5
CONCLUSION:
The one Singular Jesus Christ build his one and only singular church on the one
singular foundation of which He is the only singular chief and cornerstone!
6
The
Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:
A.
Jesus
promised, built, and is head of only one church – HIS!
7
The
Challenge of the Text for Christians Today
A.
We must continue to strive to “contend for the
faith that was once delivered to the saints.”
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.
Sunday, April 23, 2017
"What Will Owner of the Vineyard Do?"
“What Will the Owner of the Vineyard Do?”
“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: 23 April 2017
Text: Mark 12.1 – 12; Psalm 80.8 - 19
Thesis: The Owner of
the Vineyard will return and destroy the evil tenants and give the vineyard to
others
1
Introduction
– What is involved in establishing and maintaining a vineyard?
A.
Purchasing the land
B.
A Vinedresser is hired
C.
Other workers are hired
D.
Plowing out the rocks
E.
Building a secure wall
F.
Building a tower to guard the
vineyard
G.
Terraces are built on any steep hills
H.
A winepress must be built
I.
A permanent cover crop must be
planted
J.
Vines are planted at approx. 1,555
per acre in mid-April by hand, one by one
K.
The trellis system is constructed
L.
The irrigation system is installed
M.In the first year, the
vines are allowed to grow freely so as to establish a strong root system
N. In February of the 2nd year all the vines are pruned back to
only 2 buds per branch
O. In February of the 3rd year the vines are all pruned back
again
P.
In May of the 3rd year and
again after harvest in October of that year, fertilizer is applied
Q. In July-August of the 3rd year are cut back radically to
remove up to 50% of the young crop
R.
The third year is the last year that
slow growing vines are trained and spared
S.
Ongoing in every year during the
months of March, April, and May constant care is taken to protect against
frost.
T.
Ongoing in every year constant care
is taken to discover and eradicate pests.
WHAT WILL THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD DO?
U.
If unsuccessful in the October
Harvest of year 3, all unsuccessful vines are uprooted and destroyed after the
very first useable crop is gathered
2
The
Owner of the Vineyard Went Into Another Country
A.
12.1
1)
Planted
2)
Fenced
3)
Dug
a pit for winepress
4)
Built
tower
5)
Leased
to tennets
3
The
Owner Sends a Servant to the Vineyard for Fruit
A.
12.2
– 3
1)
Took
him and beat him
2)
Sent
him away empty handed
4
The
Owner Sends a Second Servant to the Vineyard for Fruit
A.
12.4
1)
Struck him on the head
2)
Treated him shamefully
5. The Owner Sends Yet a Third Servant
PLUS Many Other Servants to the Vineyard for Fruit
A.
12.5
1)
The 3rd servant they killed
2)
Some others they beat
3)
Some others they killed
6.
Finally, the Owner Sends His Beloved Son to the Vineyard for Fruit,
A.
12.6 – 8
1) The owner said; “He is my son, they will respect Him.”
2) The tenants said however; “He’s the heir! Let’s kill him
and take his inheritance for
ourselves!”
3)
They took him, killed him, and threw
him out of the
vineyard.
7. WHAT WILL THE OWNER OF THE
VINEYARD DO?
A.
12.8 - 9
1) “He will come and destroy the tenants and give the
vineyard to others.”
8.
The Answer in Scripture
A.
12.10 – 11
1)
The greatest shock in history!
5
CONCLUSION:
The servants are the prophets and the beloved Son is the Christ.
6
The
Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:
Israel has continually rejected God and His Will. They have killed the prophets and they have
killed the Christ. Rejecting Christ is
tantamount to murder.
A. Knowing far more about God’s will than they did, most are
still rejecting God and His Son Jesus Christ.
7
The
Challenge of the Text for Christians Today
A.
All we are servants in the Vineyard of
God. He will someday return. Will we repent or perish? Will we hear and obey or will we refuse to
hear and kill the messenger? WHAT WILL
THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD DO? God is on
His way back to his vineyard and he will arrive at any moment!
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.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Finding Love in Leviticus
On Sunday evening, April 2, 2017, Greg Wanderman, gospel preacher for the Clover (SC) church of Christ spoke at the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 during the worship hour.
He very admirably spoke on the subject; "Finding Love in Leviticus." Though many wrongly assume that the God of the Old Testament is an angry tyrant, Greg pointed out with proof after proof from the text that quite the opposite is true. He showed that the eastern gate of the Tabernacle (the tent of meeting) was the only entry to the abode of God Himself as Christ is the only "true door." He noted that the show bread reminds us that Christ is the bread of life. It was illustrated that the candles are symbolic for the fact that Christ is the light of the world. The brazen sea was used for the priest to ritually cleanse themselves before serving in the Tabernacle as Christ commands baptism in water for the remission of sins. The prayers of the saints are symbolized by the incense of the temple. In both the Tabernacle and in baptism, atonement is made by the shedding of blood to blot out sin. Mercy is extended to the poor as two measures of flour would substitute for a pigeon should one be too poor to possess one. The flour would be poured by the priest onto the burning sacrifice of a bloody sacrifice thus combining the blood going up in smoke with the powdery flour.
No, far from being the "God of Wrath," there is nothing but love to be found in Leviticus because above all else, God wants to Tabernacle with us, now and forever.
Thanks, Greg, for a job well done as God gets all the glory for "loving us while we were yet sinners."
He Began to Speak to Them in Parables - Part 1
“He Began to Speak to Them in Parables”
“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: 2 April 2017
Text: Mark 12.1 - 12
Thesis: In order to rightly divide the Scriptures we
must understand how language is used in Scripture.
1
Introduction
A.
Keys
are required to open doors. Language and
its use is the key to understanding.
B.
The
NT uses Metaphors, Similes, Parables, Epigrams, but not Allegory to communicate
God’s Will. We are going to examine
each.
1.
Metaphor
– A metaphor is the comparison of two factual things that are essentially
unalike in order to make a point – Luke 13.32
a.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN SCRIPTURE.
2.
Simile
– A simile is a more overtly stated metaphor to underline, as it were, the
meaning. A simile is likely to us words
such as “like” or “as” – Isaiah 53.6
a.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN SCRIPTURE.
3.
Parable
– A parable is an extended simile or metaphor that is characterized by a
setting, an account, and an application.
Many times, such as in Mark 12.9, a parable asks questions of the
audience – Mark 12.1. Sometimes the
questions are rhetorical, providing the obvious answer.
a.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN SCRIPTURE.
4.
Epigram
– “…any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.” –
Dictionary.com - “Epigram is a clever and witty statement expressed in just a
few lines, pointing out foibles and truths of mankind.” – Literarydevises.net –
Luke 6.42
a.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN SCRIPTURE.
5.
Allegory
a.
An
allegory is a “½ true metaphor” as it has real things doing or saying things
not found in reality, in other words, a fable – Judges 9.7 – 15
1)
This
is the only true allegory in the entire Bible.
What Paul calls an “allegory” in Galatians 4 turns out to be a metaphor
for the true meaning of the contrast is revealed by the Holy Spirit at the end
of the context.
b.
An
allegory is also the drawing of factual conclusions with no supporting evidence
as taught by the so-called “church father,” Origen in the 3rd century. Origen “spiritualized” or “assigned meanings
by imagination” to the Scriptures drawing downright stupid conclusions. His interpretation of the Prodigal Son in
Luke 10?
1)Adam is the victim
2)Jerusalem is heaven
3)
Jericho
is the world
4)
The
Robbers are the devil and his demons
5)
The
Priest is the law
6)
The
Levite is the prophets
7)
The
Good Samaritan is Christ
8)
The
Beast is the Body of Christ
9)
The
Inn is the church
10)
The
2 denarri coin is the Father and
11)
The Son Promise to come back is the Second
Coming of Christ.
c.
The
“Allegorical Jump”
1)
“Well,
that’s not a heaven and hell issue.”
2)
“We
know that babies are baptized in the New Testament because the “entire
household” of both Cornelius and the Philippian Jailer were baptized.”
3)
“The
Bible never says we can’t __________”
2
The
Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:
A.
If
we ignore how language is used in the Scriptures, we will not have “ears to
hear.”
B.
Peter
refers to the misunderstanding of the language of Scripture, either done
ignorantly or on purpose, as “twisting.” – II Peter 3.15 - 16
3
The
Challenge of the Text for Christians Today
A.
At
the heart of every error lies a misunderstanding of how language is used in the
Bible.
B.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN THE SCRIPTURES.
C.
“Why?”
D.
Luke
12.9 – “What will the owner of the vineyard do?”
4
“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.
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