Christ Loved the Church
“Jesus loves you. Jesus loves the church.” Eph. 5:25-33 Conversion is just the beginning of the Christian life. The journey to our eternal home in Heaven begins here. The new birth places our feet on the royal road to Heaven, our name on the lambs book of life. God has two great institutions, Home and Church. I: Just the Beginning. 1. The possibility of becoming like Jesus. 2. Aims in life as different, different hopes, different destiny. 3. The desires of life are so changed that we must seek new ways to live by. Worked out thru our daily living. 4. This radical changed demands a new plan for life. 5. God’s plan was and still is the local visible body of believers called the church. II: The Church Is God’s Family to Help Us Travel the...
Christ In the Old Testament
Preparing A People Gen. 3:15 — Adam, Gen. 7:1 — Noah, Gen. 12:1-3 — Abraham I: Jehovah of the Old Testament: 1. Jehovah occurs 7,000 times in the bible. 2. Jehovah means: a. “The living one.” b. “The ever-present one.” c. “The covenant maker.” II: Jehovah Dealt with Men of Old: 1. Jehovah taught Adam. a. By experience, by nature, & revelation. b. The 1st lesson must be obedience. c. The 2nd was responsibility. d. The 3rd was the power of choice. Adam must have power to choose and opportunity to choose. e. Adam’s only guide was the will of God. 2. Jehovah sought Adam in his shamed condition. 3. Sacrifice was made and promise given. 4. The tree of life was to have been Adam’s Gospel (No...
Burning Hearts
Man with cold, lifeless hearts, are not apt to move the world for good or for bad. Luke 24:13, Eph. 2:12 I: The Emmaeus road: 1. Their King was dead. 2. Their personal ambitions were shattered. 3. Their faith was shaken to its foundations. 4. In their desperate condition they saw only the dark side of life. II: Jesus walked with them. 1. He came to them in disguise. 2. He was moved by their sad appearance. 3. He listened to their story of sorrow. 4. He pointed them to the scriptures for the truth. 5. He did not enter the home until invited. 6. He opened their eyes by giving thanks and breaking bread. III: Hearts of fire. 1. The fire in their hearts took the doubts from their minds. 2. Warm hearts sent them back to the place of defeat. 3. With burning hearts the...
Building Elyjah an Altar On Mt. Carmel
Kings I 18:21-31 (30-38) I: Storm Clouds of Sin 3 1/2 years of Length. 1. He wasn’t afraid to provoking opposition: 2. Arab was head man and his wife run the church. 3. Elijah was not there in a popularity contest. 4. He was there to call fire from Heaven. 5. He was not there to defend his religion, but to show that God was in it. 6. He expected a Revival. 7. Elijah was not afraid to stand alone. Priest Cloth, and Elijah’s Clothes. II: God Never Sends Fire on a Broken Altar. 1. Sinners never become concerned while the church sleeps. (Little Imps) 2. Baal’s prophets were anxious to start early and get it over with. 3. Faith is a mightier force than dynamite or great numbers. 4. Elijah laughed at their foolish efforts. III: Right Doing Proceeds...
Bind A Wild Man
Context: The stilling of the tempest. Mark 5:1-20, Matt. 8:28-34, Luke 8:22-40 I: The Country of Gadara: 1. It was a farming country. 2. There were beautiful places of pleasure. 3. But there was a dreaded drawback. 4. The stillness of the night was broken by the cries of a demon possessed man. (Eagle’s scream, a panther’s snarl, a hungry lion’s roar, the cry or the moan of a tormented soul). 5. It was dangerous to go near the graveyard. II: The Wild Man Broke their Bonds. 1. They had tried to keep him tied. 2. He was wild as a leopard. 3. He cut himself with stones and tore his clothes from him 4. He was a sorrow to his family and a terror to his community. III: Then Jesus Came! Jesus Binds the Wild Man. 1. A few hours before he had calmed the...