Introduction A. Why do we do the things we do? What is it that makes the monotony of everyday life meaningful? Is there meaning to life at all? B. If one of the most prosperous, powerful, and prodigious men of all time would say that all his work was vanity, what chance do we have of faring better? Why bother at all? I. Solomon had an identifiable problem. A. Solomon reached a point at which it seemed that nothing in life ever really...
Have You Done What You Could?
Introduction A. When Jesus’ death drew near, there was little anyone could do, but the Gospel speaks of a certain woman who did what she could. B. Have you done what you could? I. The Scriptures offer examples of people who did what they could. A. Rahab did what she could (Joshua 2, Hebrews 11:30). B. Ruth did what she could (Ruth 2:23). C. A certain poor widow did what she could (Luke 21:1-4). D. Paul did what he could...
Strength in Weakness
Introduction A. Many have guessed at what Paul’s thorn in the flesh might have been, but nobody knows for certain. B. Whatever it was, it still teaches a valuable lesson—that God’s strength is most evident in our times of weakness. I. Paul’s attitude toward his infirmity should be ours. A. He calls his affliction a “messenger of Satan” (vs. 7). B. When Paul’s request was denied, he responded, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in...
Ready for Service
Introduction A. As Christians, we recognize that the primary goal in our lives ought to be to serve God and to serve others. B. Although we could all compose a long list of things we can’t do, let’s take some time to think of some things we can do. I. There are ways we can serve in the church. A. We ought to work in the church where our abilities lie (2 Corinthians 8:12; Romans 12:3-8). B. We can try to be helpful to those leading the way...
Why We Persuade Men
Introduction A. Why would a man repeatedly jeopardize his own life in order to take this message to people who apparently did not want it? B. People still do not understand what compels us to preach the Gospel to a world that thinks it has no need for it. I. We persuade men because of the “terror of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:11). A. If we refuse to persuade men, they have no hope (Romans 10:14). B. If we refuse to persuade men, we have no hope...
Slaves of God
Introduction A. A slave is one who renders service not as a matter of choice, but because he is subject to a will other than his own. B. If the thought of slavery is despised in modern America, it was utterly detested by the people of Greece and Rome. C. To men who cherish freedom, Paul says we must be slaves (Romans 6). I. Whether we like it or not, we are all slaves. A. At some point in our lives we all become slaves to sin (John 8:31-34...
Repentance
Introduction A. There seem to be a lot of mistaken ideas about repentance. B. If it is necessary for each of us to repent in order to be saved (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30), isn’t it important for us to have a sound understanding of what repentance is and how it is done? I. Repentance leads us to salvation. A. We cannot be saved without it (Luke 13:3). B. There are, however, other requirements for salvation that must not be overlooked (Romans...
“Be Ye Separate”
Introduction A. The problem with the Corinthian church was that it was too Corinthian. B. What does it mean to be separate from the world, how is this accomplished, and how important is it to our lives and destinies? I. Separation is often unpleasant, but sometimes it is necessary. A. We do not enjoy separation from family (cf. Genesis 2:24). B. Sometimes it is essential for life (1 Corinthians 5:4-8). C. Death brings pain, but all must experience it...
None of Self
Introduction Of all the virtues that Christianity teaches, selflessness lies at the center, for until we learn to give up ourselves and to put God first, we will never know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. I. The world tells us to watch out first for ourselves. A. Selfish men of the Bible include Lot (Genesis 13:10-12), Achan (Joshua 7:21), and Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-10). B. In each case the fruit of selfishness was destruction (Genesis 19:24-38...
Hold That Line!
Introduction A. Every serious football fan knows that the backbone of a successful offense is in the offensive line. B. We need some men and women in the church who have the strength and willingness to “stand in the gap” (Ezekiel 22:30). I. The faithful had to hold the lines from the error. A. The Galatians had to hold against Judaism (Galatians 5:1-4). B. Paul charged Timothy to help hold the line in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:1-6). C. John told...