Merkel Church of Christ: Recent Episodes
Merkel Church of Christ
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light…
Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning…
TThe church in its beginning was devoted to the apostles teaching, to the Lord’s Supper, the fellowship, and prayer…. The…
TPaul faced the hardships of being: in want, shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, falsely accused, and uncertain of life, itself. Yet, he…
At times in our life we let the world identify who we are! God has an identity for you. Walk…
The main message of the Bible declares God’s power to accomplish His eternal redemptive purpose. God, the Creator, wants loving fellowship with mankind, whom He created in His image. The reign of God’s King, Jesus, is more than some nice figure or feature of redemption. It is more than a promise about the end of time. God’s covenant with David reveals a very important aspect of God’s purpose: The Reign of His King! The reign of Christ is a fact of the here and now, and it is a necessity for God’s purpose in His church.
The Main Message of the Bible: Christ Jesus our High Priest The Bible gives us an abundance of evidence about…
The Main Message of the Bible Series: The Account of Noah The account of Noah in the Bible, is like…
The Main Message of the Bible The Bible is a very large book, up to 800, 000 words in some…
Faithful fathers are representations of our Heavenly Father in their: authority, leadership, discipline, and compassion (Deut 1:31; 8:5; 32:10-12; Prov…
Mark Allen: The Meaning of Justice Tyler Jones: The Meaning of Suffering & Anguish These young men have spent the…
Through Distance, Darkness, and Enemies – God Is There Good friends and neighbors, we say, are there with us through…
Mamas, rain, and the Bible all have this in common – they give us life. Rain, we simply cannot live…
All God has told us in Ephesians up to this point: God’s eternal purpose of redemption and forgiveness (1:3-14), Paul’s…
Looking for That One Thing? Are you looking for that one thing that can change your life, bring you peace,…
LThe Bible tells us plainly that we are in a battle or struggle that is way over our heads. The…
Saul of Tarsus was a prominent figure in Judaism. He was a leader in the Jews attack of followers of…
Amazing Grace: Started, Sustained, and Completed by God God’s grace saved us, renews us, and completes God’s work until we…
United With Christ We have a choice if we obey sin or righteousness. Following Law and relying upon it will…
TAll that God tells us in Scripture leads us to His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. It is in Christ…
We have been called to a new self created by God in righteousness and Holiness. Eph 4:24
The Bible says Jesus Christ, Himself is our peace (Eph 2:14), and in Jesus Christ we have peace with God…
God is eternal, and so He is all-powerful and holy. God keeps His promises and rewards those who honestly, diligently,…
The Bible says of Jesus – in Him was life and that life was the light of men. The light…
When we discover we need help, spiritual help, then we call on the One who can help us, God. The…
Family takes us back to our origin, the place we were born. It is our identity. It charges us with…
God has offered to us everything we need for life and godliness, and He has offered to us certain qualities…
When we make the decision to love, we are making the decision to imitate God. If Christianity can be accomplished…
Participating in His Divine Nature: Knowledge God has offered to us everything we need for life and godliness, and He…
John 6: 1-15, 22-29 John 20: 30-31 Times in our lives where we find ourselves trying to make Jesus more…
God’s offer is to come out of darkness and into wonderful light. God’s offer is to come into fellowship with…
Lev 16; Hebrews 7, 9, 10 The function of a high priest is to bring people to God, Jesus, Himself,…
What is impossible with man is righteousness. Having committed unrighteousness, man cannot justify himself. However, what is impossible with man,…
Labor is a good thing, but labor in the Lord is the best thing. Labor in the Lord is a…
The Bible says, as Christians, we are priests for God. Priest offer sacrifice, and teach people of their God. As…
Declaring His Power to the Next Generation One of the greatest blessings of faith is that we can pass it…
Bind Us Together Lord Bind Us Together God’s chosen people in Christ Jesus have all they need in Christ Jesus…
Prayer, Bible Study, and Worship: Spiritual Disciplines And Security Systems For the Christian, Prayer is our honest and humble admission…
The Real Question of Faith People want to know: When, Where, Why, and How Long or Much? However, the real…
God called Abram out of his earthly father’s household (Gen 20:13; 24:7), so that he might become Abraham, the father…
We enjoy religious freedom in this country, and we are so very thankful for it. We intend to live as…
Our enemy is far more powerful than we are. The world we live in serves as a constant adversary. Temptation…
Knowing What We Are Up Against Not knowing what is happening is one of our greatest challenges in physical and…
Lessons from a week of Preaching school offered by the church at Oldham Lane in Abilene. Thanks to the church…
Lessons from a week of Preaching school offered by the church at Oldham Lane in Abilene. Thanks to the church…
Lessons from a week of Preaching school offered by the church at Oldham Lane in Abilene. Thanks to the church…
Do you remember, as a little child, how simple the Bible narratives were for you? God was more powerful than…
Trust and Obey God has always called people to Himself through His own word. His word always calls people to…
“Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that…
God’s Call to Us God’s call to us is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He calls us in…
Take Scripture Personally Jesus was asked by an expert in the law, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” …
Where Are You and What Are You Doing Here? The LORD is patient (2 Pet 3:9), and He didn’t just…
God’s Purpose In the Church God wants all men saved (1Tim 2:3-5), and this is how all men will know…
Fruit to the Father’s Glory God has likened His purpose in His people since the early days Israel, the nation…
The Paralytic and Faith in Christ Jesus reminds His disciples to consider carefully how they listen to the word (8:18).…
Take a Break in the Spring The Lord wants to give us more than a break from our routine, though…
Life and Godliness and Redemptive Help for Others God’s divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness…
Clay Jars: Fragile But Sufficient This life is like a vapor, fragilely it appears in this world, but it is…
‘Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom…
When an expert in the law asked Jesus what needed to be done to inherit eternal life, Jesus in turn…
Homecoming is such an interesting idea. It is a big deal in West Texas. We schedule our school homecoming events…
God Loves You These three little words are true. The message they carry is the gospel message in a nutshell.…
Never, Never, Never Give Up Psalm 107 inspires us to never give up, because God’s unfailing love rescues, delivers, feeds,…
God has from the beginning given man an opportunity to know Him, enjoy His favor, and serve Him, but what…
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law…
This morning we heard lessons from three young men, Kent Cates, Cameron Wallace, and Caleb Cates, who have spent last…
The last formal lesson Christ taught His apostles (chosen disciples) was that of the True Vine and its branches (John…
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than…
Those of us who have had a Christian mother, or watched one, know well what a beam of light that…
We may think of God as waiting in heaven for us to change our lives by our own strength and…
Paul, as a prisoner, writes to all the saints in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons, to encourage them…
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the historical fact upon which our faith is based. In the first gospel of…
Treasure in Jars of Clay Paul the Apostle had a glorious ministry by and in the mercy of God. It…
Psalm 19 – The Word’s Place in Our Lives The creation declares to us the knowledge and power of our…
Where Are You? Gen 3:9 tells of God’s question to Adam, after he had sinned. God is not looking for…
Suffering and God’s Purpose in It All people in this world suffer. As God’s people it is not ours to…
We do not judge our faith by mere appearances. The value of our faith is not found in the numbers…
The reality is that our enemy the devil is far greater than we are. A spiritual being described as so…
At times God’s people can feel forgotten or forsaken and find their souls mourning, oppressed, disturbed, and downcast. When the…
Are you feeling uncertain, weak, hopeless, frustrated, even lost? Our world is full of uncertainty, but Jesus says the truth will…
History has tamed Jesus but the New Testament writings tell a different story. Jesus was filled with emotions: joy, gladness,…
True worship is not without power to accomplish God’s purpose in our lives. When we honor Christ in worship for…
True worship is worship that is true to God’s purpose for worship. It turns the hearts and lives of the…
Less is More The key for a bull rider is not strength, no one is stronger than a 2000 lb.…
Faithfulness and Redemption The church in Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11) face persecution on every side, Jesus tells them that He knows…
Jesus clearly states and lives the example of what His disciples must do – love one another, as He loved…
Tressie Lucas, 97, passed away peacefully Wednesday, September 21, 2016 in a local hospital. Tressie was born December 29, 1918…
If you have ever felt lost, then you know well the anxiety that comes from that realization. Jesus Christ, the…
In our country we have a day set aside to give honor and recognition to the achievements and contributions of…
Wednesday night devotional “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor…
The nations have always waited and looked for God’s covenant related priesthood (Mal 2:4-5; 1 Pet 2:9) to revere /…
In calling the church in Corinth to spiritual disciplines that will keep them living lives empowered by the gospel, Paul…
Rejoicing in the Lord: The Word of God Our recent study of the book of Philippians has helped remind us…
We have discussed in some detail how this letter (Philippians) updates Paul’s dearest supporters (1:3-5, 7, 4:1, 17-18) of his…
Philippians is a missionary report and thank you letter that encourages the saints in Philippi to hold on to their…
Sin distances God from sinners, and God’s commands declare His holiness and the sinfulness of sin. They always have. God’s…
The early Jewish Christians who received the letter called Hebrews had faced difficult times of hardship and they were about…
Seeking the Lord: Be Rich Toward God Our graduating seniors are enjoying the fruits of their labor, in graduating. However,…
Seeking the Lord: Repentance Repentance – every Christian has heard the word, you can’t come to God without it. God…
Proverbs 1:8 says … “do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” We would do well to hear the king’s advice…
Seeking the Lord: Worship Not in Vain God, our God, the Living God is not like idols that He should…
Seeking the Lord: Victory by Our Lord Jesus Christ In seeking the Lord, we find the streams of life giving…
Seeking the Lord: Life by the Spirit Are we afraid, angry, and frustrated? If these words mark us, then you…
Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think…
In order to seek the Lord, we must humble ourselves in obedience to Him. Christ is our ultimate flesh-n-blood example…
Seeking the Lord: Obey God The Devil tells us that this world should work on our terms. It does not!…
We all want to have much faith, but when Jesus apostles faced an overwhelming command to forgive others, He reminded…
The Jews were given great divine privileges, the greatest being the very words of God. Yet, largely, they missed God’s…
NOTE: Due to technical issues this recording is low quality, we apologize for any inconvenience One practical part of our…
Even when we face difficult times, we worship God. If you are a Christian, you worship God; it’s just what…
Their Angels Always See The Face of My Father: You Are Important to God The kingdom of heaven is such…
God’s promise is that if we seek Him, we find Him! It always works. God has so designed worship that…
Worship: Seeking God in the Lord’s Supper The Lord’s Supper is in remembrance of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor…
The Promise Land, a Place of Blessing Joshua lead Israel into the promise land. Following His example of faithfulness, Israel…
Some of David’s last words admonishing and encouraging his son Solomon before he becomes king. 1 Chron 28:9 “And you,…
Our hope in Jesus Christ guides us and anchors us through the storms of this life, sin, sadness, success, and…
God’s plan for us is to save us and conform us to the likeness of His Son. We see God’s…
The Kingdom of heaven is a practical expression of Christ living in His people by His Spirit. The humble, the…
God is the God who keeps His promises. His children can rest in the fact that God’s promises, His…
We long for a redemption that is seen (Romans 8:22-25). We want to see the result of our faith. We…
Someone has said, “Life with Christ is an endless hope; without Him, a hopeless end.” The author of these…
Paul the apostle may have spoken of God’s grace more than anyone in scripture. He is constantly calling God’s people…
The flesh, its emotions and physical endurance, cannot accomplish God’s purpose for mankind. It is the gospel, according God’s own…
Some of the greatest men of history were those who understood the shame and guilt that sin brings, but they…
When we become aware of our sin and are burdened with its shame and guilt, the devil does not care…
We are here today because we believe that life on earth is short compared to eternity. It is a vapor…
The smallest detail or item can not only capture our attention but overwhelm our thoughts and block our vision. We…
Believing is a difficult thing when it requires trust of us. We can believe Jesus did and said all…
The world around us is an ever-changing place. Social values change with the wind. Our circumstances change: we grow…
Life John 3 in Christ, full of grace and truth He sees us, individually knows us not found in…
Our world is infatuated with the newest and most recent updated version of everything. Our pride is often in the…
Disciplines — you have had many of these, some to your awareness some not. You have experienced these in the…
The Lord’s Supper is a spiritual discipline, given us by Christ, to help keep us strong to the end. In…
A mother’s suffering brought us into the world. Her serving is the first experience we have with the nature of Jesus…
The Lord’s Supper: Foundational Jesus Christ is our foundation and our covenant. The Lord’s Supper is in remembrance of Him.…
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, and Jesus told His disciples – unless you humble yourself…
Jesus will tell us to count the cost of following Him (Luke 14: 25-33), but then illustrates the purpose of…
Consider Carefully How You Listen We may hear Jesus say these words and fall prey to the idea that there…
The Kingdom: Ordinary People Given an Extraordinary Message Listening carefully (Luke 8:18), we heard Luke give Theophilus evidence that the…
Luke has mentioned five people by name in chapter 1-2 that the world and even God’s own people would not…
Luke writes his first letter to Theophilus as an orderly account, so that Theophilus might know the certainty of…
Have you ever changed your mind about something, not just vegetables, athletes, or sports teams but something really important? Much…
The lies we face today are not new, they are not some recent invention or temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). The…
The power of God to save us and transform us is the Gospel (Romans 1:16). The gospel brings is God’s…
This is a new year, 2015. None of us have ever seen or lived the year of 2015 before. We…
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death…
Luke 10:25-37 The essence of the kingdom in the lives of Christ’s followers is that they are imitating Him. They…
John 18 :15-18 Peter’s First Denial 15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to…
Jesus is the Christ: Believing That, You May Have Life in His Name Any teaching that will lead us away…
Extended periods of darkness in our lives are difficult to understand much more to deal with. But the reality of the…
Not only does Jesus engage the most unlikely person in an exchange about his status as Messiah, he does so…
1 John is a book about the God who gives life, eternal life, purity, righteousness, to His little children, those…
The world, even our postmodern world, always seems charmed by the mysterious and the complicated. Perhaps, the reason why we…
The Bible tells us not to love the world, the things in the world. God loves the world, the people…
Why is the Genesis account of creation such an encouraging and awe-inspiring Bible text? The account of creation reveals the…
Our souls cry out for peace, life, and righteousness. However will live in a world where we will have trouble…
Fathers are God’s creation to share life. Godly fathers share life with their families by providing for them, by leading…
Our present life is fortified by, tied to, and has as its basis the “power of an indestructible life.” –…
Suffering is an undeniable part of life in this world. Regardless of what we do, have, or say we will…
NOTE: a large portion of the audio for this sermon is missing Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of…
Many statements don’t stand the test of time. Even the most visionary people say things that are proven false and…
Love for God Does Not Fail The older son in this morning’s parable apparently worked hard and was…
The Parable of Two Sons: Squandering But Penitent and Obedient But Bitter? Luke 15:11–32 gives us Jesus’ parable…
Faith and Hope are intrinsically bound together! We are called to live by faith in Jesus Christ and God’s promises…
Our Hope is Contrary to What We See We may find little reason in this world for hope. This…
1 John 2:1-6 New International Version (NIV) 2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.…
Philippians 2:14 New International Version (NIV) 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
Hebrews 10 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice…
Hebrews 10 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 10 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the…
The Shadow – offerings by faith speak of faith in God Gen 4:4 – Abel pleased God in his offering. …
We live in the midst of our circumstances whether emotional, physical, or spiritual. We can see and feel them or…
Did the never-ending pancakes at IHOP, ever end? Regardless of the pancakes, what about the never-ending questions? Parents know the…
Hebrews 9:11-14 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more…
18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies…
Exodus 33 The Tent of Meeting 7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some…
Exodus 14 New International Version (NIV) 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth,…
Hebrews 10:23-39 New International Version (NIV) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let…
Being God’s pets would have been blessing enough to serve Him – Paul Shero. If we have dogs who live…
2 Peter 2:9 New International Version (NIV) 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly…
People sometimes say, “God’s love toward us is unconditional.” If we mean by this that God loves us because He…
Psalm 32 New International Version (NIV) Of David. A maskil.[a] 1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are…
In Christ Jesus, God is offering the world peace with Himself. Peace is the fruit of forgiveness that we simply…
Forgiveness is one of the most prevalent concepts in all of scripture but also one of the most misunderstood! Some…
Matthew 21:28-32 New International Version (NIV) The Parable of the Two Sons 28 “What do you think? There was a man…
Whether or not we make New Year’s Resolutions, we all do well to take time to consider where we are,…