Introduction
A. On July 30, 1956, President Eisenhower signed a legislation making the phrase “In God We Trust” the official motto of the U.S.
B. What does it really mean, however, if we imprint this on our currency but don’t make any effort to live by it?
I. The world puts its trust in all the wrong places.
A. It puts trust in earthly treasure (cf. Matthew 6:19; 1 Samuel 17:33-39).
B. The world puts confidence in the flesh...
Paul’s Defense
Introduction
A. When Paul made his defense in Jerusalem (his first in a long series of such), no man stood with him, but the Lord did (Acts 23:11).
B. Paul was always ready to give a defense, not just of himself, but of the Gospel that he preached with such boldness.
I. This was neither the first time nor the last that Paul had to make a defense.
A. Paul’s defense was for the Gospel (Philippians 1:17).
B. Paul had made his defense...
Being Good Stewards of God’s Word
Introduction
A. Of all the gifts that God has entrusted to human hands, surely the Scriptures are chief among these (Romans 1:16; Psalm 119:105).
B. Are we being good stewards of this precious gift?
I. What is the conduct of a bad steward of God’s Word?
A. A bad steward often will not allow the Word into his heart in the first place (Matthew 13:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
B. A bad steward will allow other things to choke...
Matthew 3: Our Savior’s Baptism
Jesus traveled from Galilee (the northern part of Palestine) to the Jordan (its most important river) to be baptized by John. No doubt, being baptized was an essential part of the beginning of His ministry. Why was Jesus baptized?
Since Jesus never committed sin (Hebrews 4:15), He was baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” (vs. 15)—Jesus was to fulfill Heaven’s requirements by submitting to baptism; John...
Cleansing the Leper
Introduction
A. Although it is easily curable today, leprosy is a disease that adversely affects skin and nerve tissue, resulting in permanent disabilities.
B. While leprosy has been virtually eliminated in the modern world, there is another plague that is silently killing millions every year.
C. The cure for this disease is also available, but few will seek it.
I. God gave Israel specific laws regarding leprosy.
A. First, God gave...
Being Good Stewards of Our Bodies
Introduction
A. God has fashioned billions of human bodies through the natural process He enacted, and each of them is unique.
B. There are many who are not happy with the bodies God gave them and go to great lengths to manipulate them.
C. Instead of letting society define beauty, why not let God?
I. What is the purpose of the human body?
A. Our bodies are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 3:16-17)...
Being Good Stewards of Our Money
Introduction
A. When we think about money, we must first realize that everything belongs to God (1 Chronicles 29:14; Psalm 50:10-12).
B. Will we give an account of the way we use the financial means God gives us here on earth? How should we be using them?
I. Money can be either a blessing or a curse.
A. Money can be good (1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 19:6-7).
B. It can also be dangerous (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12...
Building the Temple
Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. But Solomon...
Dealing With Conflict
Introduction
A. In the earliest days of Christianity, the church enjoyed remarkable harmony (Acts 2:46; 4:32; 5:12).
B. In Acts 15, we see the first serious conflict in the church, and therefore a critical moment in the church’s history.
C. How would these conflicts be resolved? Who would draft the constitution by which this body would be governed?
I. Where there is conflict, leadership is vitally important.
A. Where...
Being Good Stewards of Our Time
Introduction
A. Time is a precious thing. Once it is lost, it can never be recovered, and not one of us knows how much he is to receive.
B. In an age when time seems to come at a higher premium with each passing day, it is now more important than ever for us to be good stewards of the time God gives us.
I. There are some thieves that rob us of time when we let them.
A. One prolific thief is a lack of proper planning and...