9th Avenue Church of Christ: Recent Episodes
9th Avenue Church of Christ
Listen to Bible-based and scripturally-sound sermons preached during the worship services of 9th Avenue Church of Christ in Haleyville, Alabama. Our pulpit minister is Adam Faughn and our youth minister is Tyler Hallman.
We need to love the Church for many reasons (God is glorified through it, it is Christ’s body, etc.). But that love needs to extend to all of God’s plans for the church including the organization of the church. This lesson quickly explores that organization, then focuses on deacons, the very special servants of each local congregation
Too many people let “experts tell them the Bible is not reliable, or that it has been disproven by science. This lesson will give a short list of reasons why we can fully trust every word of the Bible. It is intended to encourage you to seek even more reasons to build your trust in Scripture.
Focus on Restoration (Lesson #4)
Haggai had delivered great speeches, and the work was beginning. But near the end of the book, he made one more speech that reminds us that restoration is not a one-time act. Our society struggles with things that are never truly accomplished, yet we must continue to judge ourselves by the standard of Scripture and restore what needs to be fixed at all times.
Focus on Restoration (Lesson #2)
Though Haggai had made a powerful first speech, his work was not done. One speech rarely changes everyone’s mind. In his second, and shortest, speech, Haggai reminds the people, “I am with you, declares the Lord. This lesson is designed to show how understanding God’s presence can motivate us to action.
Jesus is our example in all things, and that includes prayer. He did not just teach about prayer; He modeled a faithful life of prayer. John 17 is the only text that scholars are absolutely certain is the full text of a prayer (though there are other texts that are possibly the full text of a prayer from our Lord), but He prayed often. Herbert Lockyear wrote, “The Master never discussed any difficulties about prayer. He took it for granted that men ought always to pray. This lesson will give three observations about the prayer life of Jesus that we can emulate in our own lives.
Prayer is a simple concept, but also unfathomably deep, because we are speaking to God. Many struggle with prayer. (“Would God really care about me? “I don’t know the right formula.) Hebrews 4 reminds us that, because Jesus knows what it is like to be human, we can go before the throne “with boldness (literally, “without ambiguity; Hebrews 4:16). Still, some struggle. This lesson is designed to remind us of four things we can always do in prayer, and need to do regularly as we pray.
Focus on Restoration (Lesson #1)
Can you imagine leaving a project undone for more than a decade and a half? That’s what Haggai (and Zechariah) were sent to fix. Ezra 3 tells us that the people of God rebuilt the altar to God then laid the foundation of the temple, at which there was rejoicing (Haggai 1:10-11) and weeping (Haggai 1:12). With that, the work stalled…for 16 years. Haggai’s series of speeches motivates the people to action after 16 years of not doing what they were to be doing. This lesson will focus on the first speech, found in Haggai 1:1-11.
As a part of our annual state of the congregation address, Adam Faughn presents our theme for 2018: "Focus--Simplify, Submit, and Serve."
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus was preparing to ascend. His followers still thought He was going to set up an earthly kingdom, but He assured them something greater was coming. Before ascending, He told them to take the message to the whole world. But for what purpose? He is coming back in the clouds! Using some of the final words of Jesus recorded in Scripture, this lesson will remind us of some facts about His return.
As we close our year, we are faced with the “one word “Holy Spirit. In Mark 3, Jesus spoke of a sin that is “eternal or unpardonable, and it deals with the Holy Spirit. This lesson seeks to explore this passage and give us some insight into a very difficult text.
Though human, earthly fathers fall short, that does not take away from God’s perfection as a Father. Using passages of Scripture that describe God as “Father, this lesson will show what makes Him perfect in that description.
In John 3, Jesus reveals a powerful truth to one man: Nicodemus. The truth is about the new birth (being “born again). Nicodemus does not fully understand the spiritual truth, so Jesus uses an earthly thing—a historical reminder—to give a great truth about His coming crucifixion.
If Jesus—the Son of God—had met Pilate in our media-saturated culture today, can you imagine the press coverage? Yet, we only have a few verses of Scripture about this interaction. Pilate led Judah (or Judea) from 26-36 AD as a Roman prefect. He was a cruel leader who often clashed with the Jews in overt ways. Eventually, he was called to Rome and forced to take his own life by the emperor Caligula. This man who was unstable and (seemingly) swayed by public opinion was the one Jesus stood before in the midst of the mock trials leading to His crucifixion. It is Pilate who asked the question, “What is truth? Of course, the answer—Jesus—was right before Him, but Pilate was not looking for that answer. However, in the words of Jesus toward Pilate, the Lord revealed three truths that we must all understand.
The song “Night with Ebon Pinion paints vividly a strong picture of the night Jesus prayed in the garden. It pictures darkness “brooding over the entire scene, and reminds us of the difficulty of that night. The prayer Jesus prayed is one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in all Scripture and should help us remember both His humanity and divinity.
In John 20:24-29, we see the doubt of the apostle Thomas. While such doubt will almost certainly come to all believers, we, like Thomas, can overcome such doubt by believing the words of Jesus Christ.
While the Parable of the Sower is not meant to be a mathematical formula, it is striking that three of the four types of soil are negative. But, thankfully, there is the good soil! If there were the three types of negative soil (hearts) in the crowd when Jesus spoke, then we can only assume there were some of those good hearts, as well. What makes for this good “soil?
[The Parable of the Sower, Lesson #4]
Certain words seem to only be used in certain contexts, and “propitiation is on that is rarely—if ever—used outside of the religious world. The word carries the idea of “appeasing, and shows us the manner by which we, as sinners, can be made friends of God. God is appeased through Christ, who is our propitiation. Knowing that, 1 John 4 gives us a greater appreciation for what propitiation does in our lives.
As with each of the types of soil in the parable, the thorny soil represents those who have heard the word. This lesson tells us the two things that choke the word, as well as the result of that choking.
[Parable of the Sower, Lesson #3]
How is it that some can obey the Gospel but turn away quickly? The rocky soil may be the answer. [Parable of the Sower, Lesson #2]
The Parable of the Sower is powerful and Jesus took the time to explain it, so we can be certain of what He would have us to know. Parables were not meant for everyone initially (Matthew 13:11-13), but Jesus shares the keys to understanding this parable. “The seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11) and the soils are the hearts of people. The wayside soil is often overlooking, but it is an invaluable study, even for people who come to worship.
[Parable of the Sower, Lesson #1]
The title to this sermon comes from "Jesus Loves Me," which is usually considered a children's song, but we all need to remember the truth we are singing in it! If you have ever felt weak or overwhelmed, that only makes you human and normal. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul wrote about his "thorn in the flesh," and we get a glimpse into his life as well as the grave of Christ through what I recorded there.
The Christian life is often compared to a walk (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10). Mark 8:34-38 (and Luke 9:23-36, which is a parallel passage) also uses this terminology. In clear language, Jesus helps us put our lives into the proper perspective.
Some parts of the Bible are difficult to understand, but that should only encourage us to dig more deeply into Scripture. But other portions are very straightforward and simple. One of those is Mark 16:16. Still, by what people teach and practice, it would seem that this verse has different views, when, in reality, it is clear what Jesus taught.
This lesson, focusing on the institution and observance of the Lord's Supper, is broken into three parts: an emphasis on the bread, which represents the body of Christ; an emphasis on the fruit of the vine, which represents the blood of Christ; and an emphasis on the necessity of our never forgetting the sacrifice that Christ made for us. When originally preached, the Lord's Supper was observed by the congregation in correlation with these three parts. Those portions of the service have been edited out for this podcast.
Stories of sacrificial giving motivate us, because they remind us of something bigger than ourselves. The account at the end of Mark 12 is not just about giving, it is about trust (as is any lesson on true giving). As you study this text, consider your own life and ask, “Am I really giving my all?
The word "Pharisee"means "separatists." At first, they just wanted to keep Judaism pure, but over time, they grew to be divisive and arrogant. They bound traditions that were not commanded by God, and their hearts were hard. And Jesus called them out on it. It must be said: holding to the truth, even boldly so, is not Phariseeism. If we are not careful, however, we can let our religious fervor become like that of this group. In Matthew 15, we see three traits of the Pharisees we must avoid.
We must be able to defend that the Bible really is the Word of God. The word “inspiration is only found in one New Testament verse, and not in all translations (2 Timothy 3:16, KJV). It means “God breathed or “God spirited, so Scripture claims to be inspired This lesson will show proofs of inspiration, then what a difference that should make.
Baptism, by which one enters into Christ, symbolizes His death, burial, and resurrection.
Service is not always easy, and that is exemplified by what we do on “We are the Sermon Day. Though God does not speak to us audibly as He did to Ananias in Acts 9, Scripture still commands us to do certain things that, at times, can seem daunting. How can we deal with times when God gives us a difficult task? Using the example of Ananias, we hope to learn.
What would it be like if Jesus were to reveal a divine history of a congregation? In the church at Ephesus, we have a glimpse into that, as so much of the New Testament centers on that one congregation (Acts 18-20; Ephesians; 1st-2nd Timothy; Revelation 2:1-7). In Revelation 2:1-7, the church was commended for many positive qualities, but Jesus made it clear they needed to wake up because something was lacking (verses 4-5).
If we were to list the saddest accounts in Scripture, the fall of man in Genesis 3 would certainly be listed. But Adam and Eve had been told by the Lord Himself what would happen if they sinned. Once they sinned, what was their hope? It was hinted at by God in Genesis 3:15, and Jesus brought it to fulfillment in His life. When Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," He provided the answer for Adam and Eve...and us.
In the spiritual realm, all Christians are part of a kingdom, and for that we should be grateful. Many today teach that we are awaiting the kingdom, but Scripture (Matthew 16:16-18; Colossians 1:11ff) makes it clear that the kingdom is in existence now. While many things identify a kingdom, we want to list four in this lesson.
The funeral service for Frank McKown "Mac" McAlpine was conducted on July 20, 2017, at the 9th Avenue Church of Christ in Haleyville, Alabama. Mac served as the youth deacon for the congregation. Those participating in the service were Darrell Pate, Tyler Hallman, and Andy Kizer.
Everyone will react to Christ in some way. Some outright oppose Him. Some oppose, but not in direct or violent ways. Some, of course, accept Him and follow Him.
The claims of Christ are as lofty as possible, so how did Christ prove His claims? In John 5, Jesus calls five “witnesses to prove that He is the Son of God. They are five witnesses that we continue to need to consider.
While we cannot live in a society that is child-led or child-centered, children are still vitally important. Luke 18:15 shows us that “even infants were being brought to Jesus, either for healing or for a blessing, but the disciples rebuked the parents. Jesus, however, took this opportunity to teach us about the kingdom, as well as children.
Freedom means so much to people, and in the United States, we value it a great deal. But in John 8, Jesus shares what true freedom looks like. This lesson will examine this famous text and help us appreciate the freedom that is found only in Jesus.
The church is made up of individuals. Even outside of the church, every individual has a name and a soul.
The "golden rule" teaches that we are to love our enemies. However, this is one of the hardest Biblical lessons for us to learn and to practice.
This is the fifth of six lessons preached by Dr. Jay Lockhart on the theme of "Things Most Surely Believed Among Us." This series of sermons comprised our 2017 Summer Gospel Meeting.
Dr. Lockhart works with the Whitehouse Church of Christ as their fulltime pulpit Minister. Brother Lockhart recently spent four years in Kentucky preaching and teaching the word of God. He started his preaching career in 1956 in West Virginia. Throughout the years his congregations have included several in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Houston and Tyler Texas. He has done extensive radio and television preaching since 1961 with the most recent television series being THE SEARCH in Tyler, TX from 1985-2007. He has conducted over 300 meetings for churches in 27 states and several foreign countries in the interest of New Testament Christianity.
This is the sixth of six lessons preached by Dr. Jay Lockhart on the theme of "Things Most Surely Believed Among Us." This series of sermons comprised our 2017 Summer Gospel Meeting.
Dr. Lockhart works with the Whitehouse Church of Christ as their fulltime pulpit Minister. Brother Lockhart recently spent four years in Kentucky preaching and teaching the word of God. He started his preaching career in 1956 in West Virginia. Throughout the years his congregations have included several in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Houston and Tyler Texas. He has done extensive radio and television preaching since 1961 with the most recent television series being THE SEARCH in Tyler, TX from 1985-2007. He has conducted over 300 meetings for churches in 27 states and several foreign countries in the interest of New Testament Christianity.
This is the fourth of six lessons preached by Dr. Jay Lockhart on the theme of "Things Most Surely Believed Among Us." This series of sermons comprised our 2017 Summer Gospel Meeting.
Dr. Lockhart works with the Whitehouse Church of Christ as their fulltime pulpit Minister. Brother Lockhart recently spent four years in Kentucky preaching and teaching the word of God. He started his preaching career in 1956 in West Virginia. Throughout the years his congregations have included several in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Houston and Tyler Texas. He has done extensive radio and television preaching since 1961 with the most recent television series being THE SEARCH in Tyler, TX from 1985-2007. He has conducted over 300 meetings for churches in 27 states and several foreign countries in the interest of New Testament Christianity.
This is the third of six lessons preached by Dr. Jay Lockhart on the theme of "Things Most Surely Believed Among Us." This series of sermons comprised our 2017 Summer Gospel Meeting.
Dr. Lockhart works with the Whitehouse Church of Christ as their fulltime pulpit Minister. Brother Lockhart recently spent four years in Kentucky preaching and teaching the word of God. He started his preaching career in 1956 in West Virginia. Throughout the years his congregations have included several in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Houston and Tyler Texas. He has done extensive radio and television preaching since 1961 with the most recent television series being THE SEARCH in Tyler, TX from 1985-2007. He has conducted over 300 meetings for churches in 27 states and several foreign countries in the interest of New Testament Christianity.
This is the first of six lessons preached by Dr. Jay Lockhart on the theme of "Things Most Surely Believed Among Us." This series of sermons comprised our 2017 Summer Gospel Meeting.
Dr. Lockhart works with the Whitehouse Church of Christ as their fulltime pulpit Minister. Brother Lockhart recently spent four years in Kentucky preaching and teaching the word of God. He started his preaching career in 1956 in West Virginia. Throughout the years his congregations have included several in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Houston and Tyler Texas. He has done extensive radio and television preaching since 1961 with the most recent television series being THE SEARCH in Tyler, TX from 1985-2007. He has conducted over 300 meetings for churches in 27 states and several foreign countries in the interest of New Testament Christianity.
This is the second of six lessons preached by Dr. Jay Lockhart on the theme of "Things Most Surely Believed Among Us." This series of sermons comprised our 2017 Summer Gospel Meeting.
Dr. Lockhart works with the Whitehouse Church of Christ as their fulltime pulpit Minister. Brother Lockhart recently spent four years in Kentucky preaching and teaching the word of God. He started his preaching career in 1956 in West Virginia. Throughout the years his congregations have included several in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Houston and Tyler Texas. He has done extensive radio and television preaching since 1961 with the most recent television series being THE SEARCH in Tyler, TX from 1985-2007. He has conducted over 300 meetings for churches in 27 states and several foreign countries in the interest of New Testament Christianity.
In a sense, we are all to be deacons, since the word simply means “servant. But God, in His wisdom, states that certain men are to wear that title in a special and vital way. These men must meet certain qualifications. However, 1 Timothy 3:13 also gives us a way to evaluate deacons, knowing that, if deacons are doing their work, elders can be freed up to shepherd and oversee.
Jesus was the Master Teacher, and one of His most effective methods of teaching was via parable (earthly stories with heavenly meanings). Though short, the Parable of the Mustard Seed contains powerful lessons for us today.
Why, when we rid ourselves of a sin, do we sometimes fall back into it harder than before? Luke 11:24-26 is about a particular problem of Jesus’s day, but may help us answer that question.
While marriage is not a requirement to be a faithful Christian, if one chooses to marry, he or she must follow God’s will fully in that relationship. In our time, when marriage is being stripped of its Biblical heritage, we must return to the Scripture and seek the will of God. In Ephesians 5, Paul gives one concept that, if we could apply in each marriage, would make all the difference. This lesson will build toward that all-important concept.
The “seven churches of Asia faced immense struggles, both internally and externally. The church at Laodicea was condemned by the Lord for being lukewarm, but what did Jesus mean in saying that?
It is commonly believed that the word “mother originated from the sounds little babies make. The word still makes us think of the preciousness of that relationship. To think of the idea of being a godly mother, we are going to study a lady that--so far as we know--did not have children of her own. However, Deborah was called “a mother of Israel, and her example sets forth principles that each mother who desires to be godly can follow.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most intriguing people in the Bible. While she is not to be worshipped, she is still worthy of our admiration. There are a few times in the New Testament where we have a record of Jesus speaking to His mother, and each time, it reveals something very important about our Lord.
To some, the Bible is malleable and can be changed to fit the times and the culture. To others, it cannot be changed at all. That fundamental difference shows that it matters a great deal how we view the Bible. As Jesus was tempted by the devil, the Lord showed us by His words how He viewed Scripture. His mindset toward the Word of God should be our own!
Romans is a deep book, but it divides well into two parts. Chapters 1-11 are deeply theological (or doctrinal), and chapters 12-16 are very practical. Note the word “therefore in Romans 12:1 that marks this change. With consideration to our graduating seniors, we want to look at just one verse of this very practical section that can help anyone who is going through a time of transition. If these three things are in place, one’s mindset will be better ready to handle the changes they are experiencing.
Beatitudes are usually thought of as the opening words of the Sermon on the Mount, but there are many other “statements of blessing found in the New Testament. In Acts 20, Paul shares with us one that is not found in the Gospels, but that Jesus said. This lesson will examine the statement, “It is more blessed to give than to receive in context, then apply it to our daily lives of giving to others.
1 Corinthians 15:33 is a favorite verse of parents and youth ministers, but do we ever consider the context? Paul is writing about the resurrection, so there must be a tie-in with that great teaching. This lesson will notice that tie-in, so that we can better understand the importance of this teaching.
The lyrics to a Disney song from the movie "Beauty and the Beast" end with "Tale as old as time, Song as old as rhyme." Today's sermon will look at a "tale" that is older than time--the Bible record of Jesus Christ, from His promised coming to His ascension back to heaven.
In Matthew 9:27-31, Jesus asked a question to two blind men. He asked, "Am I able?" If Jesus were to ask us that same question, how would we answer?
Christians are a family, but sometimes individual Christians still struggle to get along. In Matthew 18, Jesus shares how we are to handle situations where one Christian has sinned against another.
In Matthew 5:6, a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." While, even as Christians, we will never live a perfect life, if we walk each day in the light, then in Christ we can "become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:21).
In Matthew 25, Jesus gave a picture of the Judgment Day, reminding us to feed the hungry, visit the sick, and more. In each of the pictures, though, there is something that we may have missed. What is it? That Jesus has already done all of those things for us, and has done them to the deepest level possible. This sermon explores how we can follow in His footsteps and truly help others not only in a physical way, but also meet their deepest needs: the needs of their soul. When we do, we will be preparing for glory.
Our culture has a fascination with near-death experience stories, but in Luke 16, we are given something far greater. This story reminds us that we go to a waiting place, but that our eternal fate is sealed upon our death. If the rich man, who was lost, could speak today, what would his message be?
We long for peace in our world and in our lives, but we are reminded virtually every day that we cannot have peace in its perfect form in every arena of life. Christians, though, have a promise of “peace that passes all understanding if we are faithful (Philippians 4:7). In Ephesians 2, Paul addresses how Jesus is the answer for peace among those who are Christians, but who come from very different backgrounds (Jew, Gentile, pagan). Jesus is able to bring peace in several ways.
The story of the Good Samaritan has literally changed the world, but it was based upon a question asked by a man who wanted to justify himself: “Who is my neighbor? To jar this lawyer, Jesus told this story about “What Mercy Looks Like. This lesson will explore three facts about mercy, then conclude with one fact about this story that should cause us all to think about our own influence.
Humility is difficult. It is not thinking of yourself too highly, but it is also not humiliation (thinking of yourself too lowly). Instead, humility is seeing yourself in light of needing God at all times. This lesson will look at three Old Testament kings who should have learned humility. Some did; others did not. All serve as powerful reminders to us.
People know that Christians are supposed to be kind, but what does "kindness" actually mean? Using the context of Colossians 3:12-14, this lesson discusses three facts about how Christians are to treat other Christians with kindness, and it shows that it may be more difficult than it first appears.
The Sermon on the Mount ends with a well-known illustration of a wise man and a foolish man, each of whom built a house. As He ends that famous sermon, Jesus is trying to get us to see that storms of life will come to our lives, even if we are faithful. What matters? What helps us stand strong?
Stories of forgiveness touch our hearts. They are beautiful, but also rare. Jesus made it clear we should forgive (“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us). In Nehemiah 9, this great leader helps the people seek God’s forgiveness, and in so doing, shows us some powerful lessons about what forgiveness really means.
The word “radical means “extreme, but it also means “going to the root or origin; fundamental. Jesus gave teachings that befit both of those definitions. One of those is found in the Sermon on the Mount, and deals with retaliation, and Jesus turns natural human reaction on its ear, calling for radical patience.
We confuse “love in our society with nothing more than a feeling. This lesson will examine three facts about love that stand in contrast to how our society thinks about love.
John 3:16 has been nicknamed “The Bible in Miniature. While it was said to Nicodemus, this one verse summarizes so many themes of the Bible. Among them, we can find nine “greatest things.
Being humble seems to get more difficult in our modern world, where we are told to build ourselves up and put ourselves first. In Luke 18, Jesus told a parable about humility, but the text tells us why He gave this parable: “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt (Luke 18:9). This lesson will review the parable and Jesus’s own conclusion for us to live by.
In 1 Chronicles 17:16, David could not believe that God had brought him “thus far. He knew that it was only by God’s grace that he was in the position he was in. Grace is a beautiful concept, but we must make certain we understand it as the Bible describes it.
Matthew 7:1 is one of the most well-known, and most misinterpreted, passages in the Bible. While the text says, “Judge not, we must look at the context. This lesson will make two points about judging from this context, and two faults we can fall into as it pertains to judging.
While we must always be aware of the wrath of God, we must also be aware of the blood of Jesus Christ that can save us from that wrath.
There are at least three things that we should always remember about prayer. Prayer should be planned. Prayer should have a purpose. Prayer should bring peace.
When sin has had its way, it leaves us confused and broken by how far it has taken us. But what does “sin mean? From Genesis 3, we will notice five facts about sin that continue to be true.
Our modern idea of a banquet pales in comparison to the scope (and length) of most banquets in the days of Jesus. It is that setting that Jesus used to tell a parable about human nature. That parable deals with excuses and how humans are really good at making them! In Luke 14:15, someone had said something about the kingdom, only seeing the positive about it. He was, basically, saying that there was no way that people would not want to be part of the kingdom. However, Jesus shows him that people will make all types of excuses.
One way Jesus taught was to take the common things of life and make spiritual applications. In Luke 7, Jesus uses the play of children to teach the Jews around Him a valuable lesson from which we also can learn.
On Sunday nights in 2017, Adam Faughn and Tyler Hallman will preach on one Bible word each week. Listeners are encouraged to use the "One Word" devotional book (available from www.onewordstudy.com) to have a short family devotional about the word during the week.
This week's word is, appropriately, Words, as Adam preaches on "The Power of Words."
Our minister, Adam Faughn, begins this lesson by introducing our theme for 2017: "One Word: The Word of Christ." Then, our youth minister, Tyler Hallman, speaks concerning his vision for the youth program this year. Adam concludes the lesson [beginning at the 21:10 mark, if you wish to skip ahead] by delivering three powerful observations about Jesus that can been made from John 1:14.
The words of the song, "It's About the Cross*," as well as Scripture, tell us that the cross was the central focus of the life of Jesus Christ.
*(C) 2009 Song Garden Music Group
Jonah 4 is one of the most intriguing parts of this famous account. Jonah preaches to the wicked city of Nineveh and they repent, and Jonah is upset and angry about it! He wants them destroyed. In this chapter, God tries to work on Jonah’s heart, just as the message of God had worked on the hearts of Nineveh. But Jonah is terribly angry and bitter. The question God asks that ends the book is powerful, but provides a strange ending to this book (Jonah 4:10-11). The book feels unfinished, because there is no answer given to the question, but it is not unfinished. The “hanging question is the point! And it is a point we need to continue to grasp in our own lives.
Psalm 119:9-16 reminded us of “the walk. Psalm 119:33-40 reminded us of “the desire. Both are necessary to know God. However, if we are going to know God and follow Him, there is a promise we must make, as well. Not surprisingly, it involves the Word of God. Even when we become a Christian, we must continue to draw nearer to God. From Psalm 119:57-64, we will notice two related promises we must make if we are going to draw nearer to God each day.
Sometimes, tragically, the least attractive part of Christianity are those who wear the name of Christ. We must hold to “sound doctrine, but we must also carry ourselves in a proper way. In the little book of 3 John, we are given two short descriptions of men. One could have destroyed the church, while the other is the kind of person we all need to strive to be.
“I want to know Christ… (Philippians 3:10-11), wrote Paul. But he was not the first nor the last to desire to know the Divine. We can know a few things about God just by looking around us (Romans 1:19-20), but if we are going to fully know Him, we must desire it. David shows us the kind of heart that takes in Psalm 119:33-40.
It is important to always remember the things for which we need to be thankful. Among those, is the wonderful, free gift that has been given to us.
Walking may seem boring to our face-paced world, but the Bible places a premium on walking with the Lord. At times, we must slow down and be deliberate if we are to truly know God. Using Psalm 119:9-16, we are going to see some of those traits that may seem slow, but that will make all the difference.
Can you imagine the impact on a community if every member of the Lord's Church took his or her part in the Great Commission seriously? Using both the Bible and a recent survey conducted at 9th Avenue, this sermon seeks to instill in all of us a fire for personal evangelism, so that we are faithful to Christ's command in our daily life.
With the election just a couple of days away, many Christians are more than concerned; they are worried. Many are worried about “this person or “that party being in charge. If things do not go your way, what can the righteous do? That is exactly the question asked in Psalm 11:3. But many use that question, then jump into a sermon on various moral issues. Instead, we want to use Psalm 11 itself and find three things the righteous can—and must—do, no matter who is in charge or what happens in society.
Scripture often uses the picture of a shepherd and sheep to describe God and His people. But no picture is more beloved that Psalm 23. In this lesson, we want to examine just the first verse to discover five truths about the Lord and our relationship with Him.
A good sermon points out Biblical truth, but also seeks to apply that truth to modern life. At least one book in the New Testament carries that same trait, so much so that many people believe the book of Hebrews was originally a sermon. After multiple arguments of why Jesus is “better, the book ends with many points of application. They are all based upon Hebrews 12:1-3, where we are told to consider Jesus. Using Hebrews 13:1-6, we will notice four things that should continually be true if our minds are truly focused upon Jesus.
Even faithful Christians, at times, can wonder if God really cares. Some even, at times, might feel abandoned by the Lord. If you struggle with wondering if God has abandoned you, you are in good company! At least six times in the Bible, people called out to God, asking Him to remember them. Their circumstances are similar to times when we cry out to God in the same way.
You can take any number of roads to get from one location to another, but many people feel the same is true in our path to heaven. The Bible, however, makes it clear that not all roads lead to heaven. Using three statements of Jesus Himself, we hope to prove that in this lesson. This is Lesson #1 of the series, "Fall Back into First Principles."
God has, as it were, put a photograph of His glory on our hearts through Christ. How can we help but shine that to others? Will you let your light shine ‘til Jesus comes?
A church is not a country club, where we can just “pay our dues and get our way. Instead, a church is a living organism, where each member must do his or her part to make it grow. When each member dares to dream, many good things happen.
How many of us who love the Lord have still, at times, questioned our faith? Paul wrote as some of his last words, “I have kept the faith. In 2 Timothy 4, we find 10 principles for how we, too, can keep the faith, even in times when we struggle.
Attitudes and knowledge are wonderful and necessary assets, but without work, they will do us no good. Paul recognized that, and as he concludes Ephesians 4:1-16, he shares some important words about the work of a healthy congregation.
We should seek to be a “sound congregation, so long as we remember what true soundness means. It is holding to the Word of God, not our own traditions and whims. Healthy teaching is part of what makes a healthy church. In Ephesians 4, Paul lists seven “ones that undergird truly sound teaching.
In order for a local congregation to grow, certain things must be present, and they must be what God desires. Instead of appealing to “church growth experts, we need to appeal to God’s own description of a healthy church, because healthy things grow. This lesson will discuss the first healthy factor: healthy attitudes.
Lesson Seven, by Jim Faughn, of the Summer Gospel Meeting Series: “Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?
Lesson Six, by Jim Faughn, of the Summer Gospel Meeting Series: “Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?
Lesson Five, by Jim Faughn, of the Summer Gospel Meeting Series: “Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?
Lesson Four, by Jim Faughn, of the Summer Gospel Meeting Series: “Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?
Lesson One, by Jim Faughn, of the Summer Gospel Meeting Series: “Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?
Lesson Two, by Jim Faughn, of the Summer Gospel Meeting Series: “Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?
Lesson Three, by Jim Faughn, of the Summer Gospel Meeting Series: “Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?
This lesson will explore some of the things we can let take the Bible’s primary place in our lives if we are not careful.
We often focus on the events of the cross, then jump to the resurrection. However, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 includes the burial of Jesus as a piece of the Gospel message. In this lesson, we will examine the events that occurred minutes, hours, and days after Jesus’s death. (Note: Not literal minutes or hours, but simply at His death, then later in the day.)
In this lesson, we will consider three reasons why we should support a Gospel Meeting, and why we can rightly call it a “Gospel (good news) meeting.
While some of Micah’s message had been one of hope (Micah 4-5), all of it has been couched in things that were negative and difficult to hear. Once you had delivered such a message, what would your reaction be? The final chapter of Micah gives a glimpse into his heart, but also into the very heart of God.
Colossians 3 contains things we are to “put off, things we are to “put on, and, then, instructions about worship. It is in the section of what we are to “put on that we find one of the most difficult commands to live out, even among our Christian family.
Each and every person will face temptations (things which separate us from God), but with temptation comes escape.
Micah 6 can be viewed as a courtroom setting, with Israel as the defendant and with God serving as both judge and prosecutor.
In this lesson, we will examine Daniel 6, where that prophet prayed, and notice that the qualities of his prayer life are later seen in the life of Jesus.
Micah 4 had a message for his day, but you and I are still living with the further fulfillment of the prophet’s words from God. They are words of rescue for the faithful remnant.
God places a great emphasis on the influence of mothers. One positive influence is seen in the life of Moses, whose own mother was allowed to have a part in his upbringing, though he was in the house of Pharaoh. When Moses’s mother was chosen, the daughter of Pharaoh said, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages. Monetary wages were in view, but the wages (rewards) for a godly mother are far greater.
The concept of “fellowship is often reduced to a meal, but the New Testament concept is a very deep idea and one that would help every congregation if lived out.
As we "Strengthen Our Roots" this year, we need to learn what we gain from following the lamp of God’s Word. From the verses that follow Psalm 119:105, we see seven things we gain.
We have all known people who, seemingly, wanted to just figure out ways to do evil. That is just what was going on in the days of Micah all throughout the nation! While Micah 2 begins with disturbing news, it ends with hope when oppression is present.
There is much controversy over baptism, including the reason why one would need to be baptized. But does it matter?
In Micah 1, Micah gives three facts about judgment that were true then, and continue to be true. This is the first in a series of Sunday night sermons from the book of Micah.
As a Christian, have you ever felt like giving up? Frustrated? Battered and bruised? Like the finish line was too far away? God understands that we are going to be troubled at times; thus, the Bible is filled with encouragement from beginning to end. Hebrews was written to Christians who were thinking of quitting, but the encouragement of Hebrews 12:1-3 is enough to help us keep going when we, too, think of giving up.
When one decides to become a Christian, or return to the faith, how should he or she be treated by other Christians? Using the short letter to Philemon and the parable of the Prodigal Son, this sermon strives to point out that such a one is family and is to be celebrated and welcomed as a brother or sister in Christ.
Only the Christian ethic commands people to be proactive in doing good, rather than just reactive.
Be willing to break the cycle of negative and preconceived notions by showering kindness and mercy on all people. This lesson is part two of the three-part series.
We want people to feel at home in our congregation, but we are often frustrated that people do not jump at the chance to worship or study. This series is designed to work at moving people from fearful to faithful. This lesson is part one of the three-part series.
The 400 years between the Old Testament and the New Testament prepared the way for the fulfillment of the promised coming of a Savior.
We must always remain connected to the spiritual nourishment that only comes through Scripture. With that in mind, our theme for 2016 is “Strengthening Our Roots.”
We can learn principles to aid us in carrying the Gospel to the world from the traditions of Halloween.
Psalm 65 shares with us some simple, but powerful, reminders of reasons to give thanks to God.
As Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonian Christians, he illustrates the work we need to bedoing while we wait for the coming of Christ.
We can derive three applications from the loving words that Jesus spoke from the cross to his mother and to his beloved disciple.
Jesus gives not only the formula for bringing peace, but pronounces a blessing on those who make peace.
Since Jesus replaced the stones we deserved with grace, we should be ready to offer forgiveness and not stones to the sinner.
The forgiveness Jesus called for on the cross was for them on that day, but it extends to each of us, because we, too, were the enemies of Christ in our sins.
If we understand the words spoken by Jesus immediately preceding the greatest commandments, then following the greatest commandments becomes far easier and eternally important.
As Psalm 32:1-5 shows us, true repentance is more than just being sorry for your wrongdoing.
The list of character traits for deacons found in 2 Timothy should be found in the father in every home.
In your marriage, you will receive what you give with the same measure that you have given.
The solution to the challenge of every marriage should be found in the Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12.
From 1 Kings 19:1-8, we can gain four principles to put into action when we are overwhelmed by life.
In Acts 2, Peter did not answer a lot of questions. He was seeking a response by those who knew “enough. But what did they know, and what must we know, in order to be saved?
Paul gives several characteristics that should be evident in the life of one who is spiritual.
There is a time when weeping will be real, and we want to avoid that, so it is better to weep now and learn from it!
The friends of Job (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu) spend most of the book trying to get Job to admit what he has done wrong. However, before they spoke, they did some things right. These are things that will help us when we are near those who are brokenhearted.
Do we have things, like Habakkuk, that threaten us? Of course. Do we have, like those in Hebrews, temptations that attempt to pull us away? Definitely. But, "the righteous shall live by faith," and knowing that God sees our faith should help us fill our singing with joy.
In order for the church to avoid denominationalism, we need to remember some basic facts.
Mark 2:15-17 can provide a prescription to help when we are burdened, especially by sin.
Psalm 144 shows us that true victory comes from God and provides us with thoughts for how to remain humble.
We must be doing all that we can to maintain unity at all times with our brothers and sisters in Christ.