Why Did Jesus Come?
John 10:7-11 I: Man Stumbled in Darkness: 1. He stumbled toward eternity without God. 2. Jesus came to light the way home. 3. The ordinary shone when Jesus came. 4. The ugly was made beautiful (Mary Magdaline, Woman at the well). 5. A tax collector’s life made to light-up. 6. The lame made to walk, blind to see, the fearful put at rest. II: He Came to: 1. Bind up the broken hearted and bruised. 2. To bring good news. 3. To put a new song in the heart, Joy. 4. To seek that which was lest, and bring it home. 5. He paid the ultimate price to bring Christmas to this world. 6. A world gone grey and weary needs the Spirit of Christmas! 7. Who is qualified to tell them? Who will dare put Christ first in everything we do this Christmas? If the manger, cross, and...
Valle Vista Baptist Church Adopted the Following Guidelines for Our Sunday School Staff:
1. It is both a privilege and responsibility to teach the Bible. 2. Bible Teaching is worthy of one’s best efforts. 3. The Bible teacher must seek the help of the Holy Spirit to become effective in the molding of lives. 4. Good Bible teaching requires preparation and dedication. 5. The faithful teacher will not leave a class without due notice or a definite substitute. 6. Every Department and Teacher needs time to prepare and plan together. 7. The attendance will increase in proportion to personal visits made. 8. The Teacher’s example in church attendance will affect the classes attitude toward the regular services of the Church. 9. Teaching to affect change should be the aim of the Bible Teaching Program. 10. Total commitment should be the...
Shadows of Change
Deut. 6:10-12, Jeremiah 2:32, Nihamiah 8:14-18, Psalm 19 It was the Autumn of 1607 that religious principles of conformity began to change the lives of many Englishmen. John Wycliff had much to do with independence that agitated the currents of England. Henry VIII added to the fires of Independence by becoming head of the Church of England. The Puritans held that the Bible was paramount higher than any man even though that man be King. They believed in the responsibility of the Individual conscience. They placed all men equal before their Creator. They denied the claim of any power to prescribe in matters of the soul. In 1606, James V determined to break the Puritans or run them from the land. William Brewster led in 2 attempts to flee Holland, and most...
“He Giveth Songs in the Night.”
Acts 16:23-40, Job 35:10 I: From Prayer Meeting to Jail. 1. The Church at Phillipi was founded in prayer. 2. It was on the way to prayer that Satan tried to stop them. 3. It was from a prayer meeting that Paul and Silas were taken to prison. II: Paul, Silas, and God. 1. Whipped and abused. 2. Thrown into prison and fastened with chains. 3. They prayed and sang, (were these men Baptist)? 4. There, prayer was not one of petition. 5. Adoration and worship. (Spiritual joy) 6. The other prisoners listened. “Attentively.” 7. Their closeness with Jesus gave songs in the night, and shook the jail doors open. 8. It’s impossible to shut one up from the fellowship of God. III: Paul, Silas, and the Jailer. 1. A brutalized Roman jailer was sleeping. 2. He...
“Your Love has Meant Hard Work”
I: Work in the Bible 1. The Greek gods never worked. 2. The ancient world never thought of their gods working. 3. They played, made love, fought wars, but work never. 4. The God of the Hebrews introduced himself as a God of work. 5. God’s plan for man included work from the very start. He was to care for Gods creation. 6. Mans very existence calls for work. 7. Do we know how to use leisure time? II: Man’s Life Comes to a Focus in His Vocation. 1. The Christian, “A high degree of maturity when he looks upon all of life as a trust from God.” 2. Choice of vocation should be made with the aim of doing our best for the cause of Christ. 3. The development of personality often determines the choice of vocation. 4. Trust, dependence, personal...
Worship and Conduct
Jeremiah 7:1-16 Jeremiah 2:13 I: What Is Worse Than Having No Religion? 1. Worse than no religion is have the wrong kind of religion. Cults, Devil Churches – Rituals counted by numbers. 2. The only kind of Christianity worthy of the name is that which is related to personal behavior and the rise of moral standards. 3. Judah’s worship was not related to her daily living. 4. Worshippers tha† go away from worship unaffected and unchanged in their daily walk have not worshipped. 5. Worship that fails to produce character is without value and a curse to God. 6. Judah thought God was fortunate to have them for His people. 7. “The essential value and proof of religion is that of the affect it produces on conduct.” Morgan. 8. Judah thought they...
Witnessing at Home
Mark 5:1-20 I: “Jesus Suffered Him Not.” 1. The man may have been afraid of the return of the demons. 2. He may have been ashamed to face his friends. 3. He may have thought he could be a better disciple away from the people that knew him so well . 4. Or he may have thought it necessary to leave home to do a great work for the Lord. 5. Jesus stayed where he was. II: “Go Home to thy Friends.” 1. The best place to start is at home. a. With your own family. b. With your neighbor. c. With those you associate with. d. With those you work with. 2. One will never overcome the world when he can’t live victorious at home. 3. You will never be successful abroad when your own family doubts your salvation. III: What did He have to Tell and Why...
Where Are the Nine?
Luke 17:11-19 I: There met him ten men that were lepers. 1. They stood afar off: 2. Their leprous condition cut them off from close contact with other people. 3. They were outcast and compelled to cry unclean. 4. Their misery had caused them to bind themselves together with disregard for former differences. 5. Every man lifted his voice and cried for mercy. 6. Their meed was felt and their helplessness acknowledged. Powerful Medicine to Cure – Calvary II: “Go show yourselves unto the priest.” 1. There was something for them to do. 2. They were promised healing if they obeyed. 3. As they went they were cleansed. 4. Up to this point they had one common interest to share one another’s burdens and to seek help for all. III: “And one of...
When Moses Became A Man
The writer of Hebrews tells us Moses did three things when he became a man; he refused, he chose, and he esteemed. Heb. 11:24-27 I: He Refused: 1. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 2. He refused to become a man of leisure & power in the courts of Egypt. 3. He refused to become bound by the wealth of Egypt. 4. He refused to remain idle while his people remained slaves. Moses became a Master in the use of the word NO. God’s men and women learn to say No. 5. The Hebrew Children, Daniel. Our young men today need to learn how to say a definite and final No. “Have courage my boy to say No.” A young woman of our day will never grow up to be used of God unless she learns to say No. II: He Choose, “To Take.” 1....
“What Shall I Do?”
In all three gospels the story of the Rich Ruler follows the blessings of little children. This young man lacked a chile-like faith. Mark 10:17-27, Matt 19:16-22 I: “There Came One Running and Kneeling.” 1. His actions tells of intense desire. 2. He was humble. 3. He recognized Christ as God. 4. He desired eternal life. II: “What Shall I Do?” 1. Ignorant of his real spiritual poverty. 2. Confident in his own goodness. 3. Like Saul of Tarsus Dependent upon works. 4. He did not know that he had become a slave to his wealth. III: “Jesus loved him.” 1. Jesus saw his ignorance. 2. Jesus heard his question. 3. Jesus saw his potentialities. 4. Jesus loved him and gave him the only medicine that would cure his sin-sick heart. IV: He...
“What Shall I Do Then with Jesus?”
Matthew 27:15-26, John 18:28, 19:22 I: Pilate’s Question Confronts us All. 1. This is the most important question one can be asked. 2. The answer to this question determines our eternal destiny. 3. “He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already.” Jh. 3:15 II: Pilate was Torn by Many Voices: 1. The voice of his wife. “Have nothing to do with that just man.” 2. The voice of false witnesses: “Many false witnesses came.” Mat. 26:59 3. The voice of Judas. “I have betrayed the innocent blood.” Matt. 27:4 4. The voice of the mob: “Let him be crucified.” Matt 27:22 5. Pilate’s own conscience: “I am innocent of the blood of this just person.” vs....
What Christians Ought to Be
Peter 2 3:11 General Omas Bradly said, “The most completely committed person I have ever met was a convinced communist.” I: Christians Ought to Be A Praying People. 1. George Adam Clark while climbing a dangerous airplane peak, “On your knees air, on your knees, it is not safe here except on your knees.” 2. Prayer changes people & Prayer changes things. 3. Prayer brings power and peace to the one who prays (Glen James & Dr. Fisher). II: Christians Ought to Have Convictions. 1. A man without a conviction is like a door swinging on its bottom hinge. 2. We do not make our beliefs; our convictions make us. 3. We need to believe in the love of God and the wrath of God. 4. We need to believe in an eternal Hell and Heaven. 5. We need to...
