What Every Christian Ought to Know about Understanding the Bible April 3, 2013
Posted by regan222 in Books, Religion.Tags: Adrian Rogers, Bible, Christian, faith, God, Jesus Christ
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The following slides are the sermon notes that accompany my sermon of March 31, 2013. You can follow along in the slides as you listen to the sermon. Just click the link to hear my presentation of a portion of Dr. Adrian Roger’s book “What Every Christian ought to Know.” I was allowed to present the chapter entitled What every Christian ought to Know about reading the Bible. Just click the link below to listen to the sermon as you move through the slides.
Click Here to Listen
When you click the link it will open in a new tab or page. Minimize the new tab and reopen this tab to follow along in the slides.
Forgive as You Would Be Forgiven: A Lofty Goal February 23, 2013
Posted by regan222 in Religion.Tags: belief, faith, forgive, Jesus Christ, mercy
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Jesus was teaching his disciples to pray. The prayer template that he gave them, although often called “The Lord’s Prayer” was only his by way of authorship. He in no way ever prayed this prayer nor was it meant for him. Also, the model prayer was never meant to be a rote repetition as some have made it. Jesus said, in essence, pray LIKE this or “after this wise” and not “repeat this prayer word for word”. The Lord’s Prayer is meant to be a model and an example.
One of the most important aspects of the Christian life that the prayer models is forgiveness. The model prayer not only stresses forgiveness for the Christian but forgiveness BY the Christian and that is a much harder subject. Hopefully a short scripture study will let us see exactly what God expects from us as far as forgiveness is concerned. Let’s start with the ultimate authority on Christian doctrine, Christ himself, and see what he expects.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
The meaning seems pretty clear. Forgiveness for the Christian’s sins may only be attained if we are also forgiving. We know this is meant for Christians because no lost person can pray this prayer. They are not His children and can not say “Our Father”. Verses 14 and 15 are very direct. If you wish to be forgiven then you must forgive.
How much must we be willing to forgive? Just as verse 12 tells us, we are forgiven as we forgive. Peter tried to put a label on it when he asked how often we should forgive…
Matthew 18
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
There is no minimum daily requirement for our forgiveness. We must forgive even as God forgives. Now think about that for a moment. God forgives the Christian anything and everything. He would forgive those who nailed his only son to the cross had they asked for it. He would forgive Hitler for the Holocaust. His mercy knows no limits. He knows the sins of every Christian, both past and future, and they are all covered under the blood of Christ. Now ask yourself again, what am I expected to forgive against me and my family? The answer is “EVERYTHING”. No transgression, no matter how large, should be held against someone who honestly comes to you asking forgiveness.
Luke 17
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
What was the response to this doctrine? The apostles threw in the towel. They knew it was impossible without help from above. Most of the Christian life is impossible to live without Christ but this one aspect is doubly so. We CAN NOT forgive as we are expected to without the power of Christ in our hearts. The story has been told of a pastor whose son was killed by a drunk driver going to that man’s hospital bed to witness to him in the hopes that he might be saved. THAT is the kind of forgiveness that is expected of us. It goes against every fiber of human nature. Without Christ it would be impossible and yet we can do all things through him. Join me in prayer for that kind of heart that forgives without ceasing.
Stop Dragging that Dead Guy Around February 17, 2013
Posted by regan222 in Books, General Ranting, Religion.Tags: believe, Christian, corpse, death, faith, Jesus Christ, Sunday School
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Too often we as Christians find ourselves tied to the old man (or woman) we once were. To be in Christ is to be a new creature and to be dead to our past. This lesson was presented in Sunday School at the Central Baptist Church on February 17, 2013.
Every Christian should know…The Bible is the Word of God January 13, 2013
Posted by regan222 in Religion, Science and Technology.Tags: Adrian Rogers, baptist, Christian, doctrine, faith, Jesus Christ
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The following presentation was used in the Sunday evening service at the Central Baptist Church in Whitesboro, TX. We are currently studying Adrian Rogers’ work “What Every Christian Ought To Know” and I was slated to present the first chapter. I am not anti-apologetics but I think people put too much emphasis on trying to prove things that can only be spiritually perceived.
Be Right Back December 13, 2012
Posted by regan222 in Uncategorized.2 comments
Sorry the the extended absence but I have had a rather busy few months. I will be back shortly.
A Parable is NOT Two Male Cows August 19, 2012
Posted by regan222 in Books, Religion.Tags: belief, Christianity, faith, grace, salvation, scripture study, theology, vineyard
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Tonight is just a short scripture study on a passage that caught my attention. I had always had trouble with the parable of the householder who sent servants and then his son to receive the fruits of the vineyard. It dawned upon me tonight just how clearly this parable demonstrates the Father’s plan for the son.
Matthew 21
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
For those who think God unjust or unkind in His treatment of the unsaved, I offer this interpretation. The owner of the vineyard may do as he pleases with his property. He builds and develops it into a useful and profitable venture for his own pleasure. He then hired others, sharing his wealth with them, again out of kindness, to work the vineyard and gain profit from it.
When the time of harvest arrived and the landowner sends servants to collect his share, the workers kill the servants and refused to give the landowner his due. How would YOU feel? Instead of bringing grief and misery down upon their heads, the landowner gives them another chance. In SPITE of the fact that they killed his servants, the landowner was willing to allow them to stay employed. Would any of us be that merciful? When the landowner sent his son and the workers killed him, Jesus asked the pharisees and scribes what THEY would do. They said “Kill the workers.” Even here, the landowner is merciful. He gives the workers a VERY long time to repent and apologize before he brings justice upon them.
The story is a very accurate depiction of the interaction between God and man over the last 2000 years. God built and prepared a paradise for man and shared it with him. He allowed man to profit from essentially no labor. Mankind rebelled. God sent prophets and servants to woo humanity back into the fold. The servants were killed or ignored. Others were belittled and scoffed at. Sounds remarkably like the treatment most Christians get when they declare themselves believers. God sent His son to bring mankind into the kingdom, not by force, but by offering them everything they needed. Humanity treated the son even worse than the servants that were sent before. Even now, after ridiculing and killing God’s servants, humanity is allowed room to repent.
2 Peter 3
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
God is not ignoring the things that don’t please Him. He just does not want to punish and destroy people. The time is at hand. Today is the the day of salvation. No one is guaranteed a tomorrow and yet people live like they are going to live forever. News Flash: Death will NOT be cured before it comes for YOU. Be sure you are ready.
Ephesians 2
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Acts 16
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Grace is free but any gift requires acceptance. You must be willing to believe. Belief is an act of will. Choose to believe and be saved. It’s as simple as that. If you have questions, comment below but remember…a sincere seeker will never be turned away but mockers will have no place in God’s heaven.
Let a Man Examine Himself August 10, 2012
Posted by regan222 in Books, General Ranting, Religion.Tags: belief, Bible, Christ, Christian, church, faith, Gideon, God, Jesus Christ, Law, motives, salvation, works
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Watch the video and then watch the sermon
But Let a Man Examine Himself
1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
Taken in context, these verses encourage anyone partaking of the Lord’s Supper to examine their own hearts and make sure they are approaching the Lord with the right motives before they sit down at His table. It may be inferred that self examination is profitable at any time. I made the majority of that video a reflection in a mirror for a reason. We need to pause and reflect upon our own reflections for a moment and take stock of our growth and progress. Hopefully what you have just watched will offer up some things to look at as you examine yourself.
I. Examine your Methods.
Right away we should be aware that God is not so nearly interested in what we do as He is in why we do it. Each of us has been given talents and gifts to make us uniquely suited for the role God would have us play in the world.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
We have no right to glory or boast in our abilities because God is the source of the talents and abilities we have received. God, in His wisdom, knew that the church would need many different kinds of workers, just as the body needs many different kinds of organs. Some He called to preach or to teach or to give, or to encourage, but we all have in common the source of our abilities and what we are to use them for. Of ourselves, we are nothing. If you are a great singer, a powerful speaker, a wise businessman, beware of pride. What exactly did you get outside of God who sovereignly gives and takes away? Look at the person who has nothing and think for a moment, there but for the grace of God go I.
As this is the case, we are held responsible for very little. In the work of salvation, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We only accept or decline. As a witness we are called upon to spread the gospel. We are not held accountable for its results. I don’t hold James responsible for carrying out the trash or washing the car yet. There is very little that we are held responsible for because we are capable of very little. God does, however, expect at least two things from us. We must be faithful in our service if we want to serve and we must do our best. If we have the faith of a mustard seed we can do much, but we must have that faith.
Numbers 19:2
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
Numbers 28:3
And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
Numbers 28:9
And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:
Numbers 28:11
And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
Numbers 29:17
And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
Numbers 29:26
And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
When we do give something to God, be it sacrifice or service, He only wants our best efforts. We need to examine ourselves and see if we are truly giving our best.
II. Examine your motives
To a Christian, motives are the most important factor in their actions. The unsaved man’s motivation comes from worldly things. They are focused on self and what pleases self. Even their good deeds are motivated by selfish motives. They give to causes and charity because it makes them feel good. All actions from the lost man are motivated by self and the world.
The early Southern Baptists held that “The scriptural doctrine of depravity is not that every man is a bad as he possibly can be, for there may be indefinite progression in guilt:–nor that one man is necessarily as wicked as another,–for there may be as many shades of depravity as there are sinners in the universe. But it teaches us that man, by nature, is destitute of all holy principles and desires; that there is nothing in his character which is pleasing in the sight of God; that being alienated in his heart from God, corrupt in the very fountain of action, in the temper and spirit of his mind, all the actions that he performs, even those which are in themselves excellent and lovely, are still the service of an alien and a rebel, and consequently an abomination in the sight of heaven.” The lost man, even in the act of caring for his child or providing for his family, is in the service of “an alien and a rebel” and is “consequently an abomination in the sight of heaven.”
The Christian, on the other hand, is commanded to put self last on the priority list. We are motivated by God’s will. He asks and we act in disregard for self or worldly gain or anything else that would motivate a worldly person. History is filled with examples of Christians who would prefer to live in poverty or die in pain rather than act out of God’s will.
Matthew 6: 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
The lost soul does good to receive a reward. They operate under the law. When the Pharisee prays on the street corner and in the market place he gets his reward from the people who are impressed when they see him. The Christian is commanded to do alms, or to give, in secret. No one should know. We are not motivated by worldly recognition. We only seek God’s well done. We need to examine ourselves and see if we are acting out of love for God or for ourselves.
III. Examine your Future
You’d think we should examine the past first rather than the future, but as you will see, the past determines the future. For the saved church member, we stand at a critical junction. Like Gideon’s army at the river
Judges 7:4 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
Look around for a moment. There are seats empty that were once filled. The people who sat there have, for one reason or another, fallen by the way. We have a place being prepared for us just as the Israelites of the Old Testament but not everyone who set out with us on this journey will arrive. In order to have a future we must be faithful in the present. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years until none of that original generation of adults was left alive because of their lack of faith. The group future was preserved just as God promised but a lot of individual futures fell by the side of the road getting there.
Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
The church has been described as a vine. I am not so familiar with grapes but I have an acute awareness of blackberry vines. The best way to get more fruit from the vine is to cut away the dead wood during the winter. The time for pruning is when the vine is not actively producing fruit. The wise gardener knows this and when he sees the vine with no fruit he cuts away the dead wood. In the spring, the remaining wood produces more fruit. No vine ever died from careful pruning and in fact, they produce more fruit for the gardener. We need to examine our future. Don’t be part of the pruned. Hold fast and remain faithful and receive the reward.
IV. Examine Your Past
Contrary to what you might think, the past is more important than the future in this case. The past writes the future. If you believe and receive the gospel in the past, then in the future, your reward is assured. If you have no past relationship with Jesus Christ, you have no future. You cannot sneak into heaven. Some people have the mistaken idea that if they hang around the church long enough, attend enough services, give enough, even get baptized or become a member of the church, then they will somehow establish a relationship with Jesus by proxy or by just being around long enough. You need to examine your past right now and see if there is a moment in time when you definitively responded to the call of the gospel and accepted Jesus Christ as savior. Somewhere at sometime in your life you said yes to the Lord and your life was changed. This is the only way in to heaven.
The past is past. It’s gone. The wonderful thing about the present is that you have a chance to change the future. Today is your opportunity. It’s the only chance you are absolutely guaranteed. The future is very uncertain. You might not have one outside of this door. Don’t take that chance. Examine your past and write your future here in the present and for all time. Accept the Lord Jesus in faith. Choose to believe the gospel that he died for you and rose again and you will rise as well.
I’m Not Lost, This is the Scenic Route August 2, 2012
Posted by regan222 in General Ranting, Religion.Tags: apologize, belief, Christian, excuse, faith, God, immortal, Jesus, Jesus Christ, salvation
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To all my loyal readers, sorry I have not posted in a couple of weeks. Between trying to finish up a movie and get ready for school to start back up, not to mention trying to cut wood with my cousin in 110 degree heat, I have been remiss in my duties as a writer and minister. To you who are interested, I heartily apologize. I WOULD apologise like they do in Europe but the word press spell checker insists that it is misspelled.
To make matters worse, my family has been on vacation at the family reunion, which I did not attend, and that has me completely out of sorts. Enough excuses, I promise to turn out some Pulitzer Prize winning material just as soon as I can copy some from a Pulitzer Prize winning author. Meanwhile, God Bless and Keep You and Make His Face to Shine Upon You. For those of you who were put off by my reference to the Deity, please see my entry under “Live Forever, Ask Me How” tab immediately. You can thank me later after we have both passed away.
Wisdom vs. Knowledge July 16, 2012
Posted by regan222 in Books, General Ranting, Religion.Tags: believer, Christ, Christian, David, dynasty, God, israel, Jerusalem, Jesus, kingdom, Solomon
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Here is my Sunday School lesson for 7/15. We were looking at Solomon and the two harlots who each claimed the living baby. I am just posting the outline this time…
I. Wisdom Defined:
A. Wisdom: 1. The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. 2. The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of such experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
Wisdom is an action trait. It is only valuable if used. By contrast, knowledge is merely a collection of facts and information. It does not require action in order to justify its existence. Wisdom must be put to work.
Solomon knew he needed God’s help in order to be a wise ruler. Part of wisdom is experience. Solomon was very young, and, having grown up in the palace, was likely sheltered from much of the experience that many people receive growing up. Solomon, did, however, have the knowledge of his own limitations. There is much wisdom in him even before the Lord blesses him.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Solomon knew what he needed to rule well. He knew the only source for that kind of wisdom was the source and font of all wisdom. He understood that discernment was more important to a ruler than military might or riches or any other characteristic.
II. Wisdom Displayed
A. Most believers are familiar with the story of the two harlots. Solomon knew, from a very brief exposure to these two that the child’s true mother would react as she did. Solomon also depended on God to make sure everything went according to his plan.
B. Solomon knew that there are some basic human tenets that are constant even among the morally questionable. Mothers love their children. It is ingrained. The child’s mother would much rather see him raised by some other woman than to see him killed. The other woman really did not care, though no doubt she was heartbroken about the death of her own child.
III. Wisdom Departed
A. Unfortunately Solomon did not maintain the course of wisdom in his later years. The condition that God placed on Solomon’s life was that if Solomon would follow in the ways of the Lord all his life then God would add days to his life.
B. Solomon allowed unequal yokemates to enter his life. He married outside of his faith and allowed the immorality of his foreign wives to lead him from the paths of righteousness, and unfortunately, wisdom as well. Solomon might have ruled years longer if only he had not allowed foolishness and sin to cloud his judgement.
1Kings 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
Solomon lost the chance to establish a dynasty and had the kingdom stripped from the royal family because of his wickedness.
The Truth Shall Set You Free July 5, 2012
Posted by regan222 in Books, News and politics, Religion.Tags: America, American History, Britain, Christian, Declaration of Independance, faith, freedom, Jesus, King George V, liberty, Paul, salvation, United States
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Just a short entry tonight. This was my sermon from the 4th of July celebration at “The Place”. Hope everyone had a great time. I know I did.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We celebrate today because 236 years ago, 56 representatives from the original 13 colonies came together to declare their liberty from tyranny. They gathered in Philadelphia to ratify the document that officially severed ties with Great Britain and paved the way for the United States to become and independent nation. The document they signed, our declaration of independence, is essentially a list of grievances which led to the separation of the US and Great Britain.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness of his invasions on the rights of the people.
In that same light, over 2000 years ago, the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, urged them to declare their independence from the tyranny of sin and wickedness.
Gal. 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
The remainder of the passage is essentially a list of the things that enslave us and keep us from finding liberty.
Gal. 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
If you would be truly free then declare yourself. Pledge your allegiance to the only Son of God and accept the free gift of salvation he offers and you can finally escape the tyranny of the world and sin.
John 8:32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
