Introduction A. Of all the marvelous things with which God has blessed mankind, love is without a doubt the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13). B. Is it any wonder then that Peter would save this for last in his list of virtues to add to our Christian character? C. You might be a loving person, but there is always room to grow. I. When we talk about love, what are we talking about? A. Learning how to love is a process of slow and steady growth...
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (Part 1)
Introduction A. Never has there been a time void of troubles. B. In spite of the troubling circumstances that the disciples faced, Jesus told them, “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). C. Even though we may be living in troubled times, there is no need for us to have troubled hearts. I. In troubled times, we must keep the faith. A. Jesus told His disciples, “You believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). B. Although this was a...
Thanks Be to God!
Introduction A. This week the United States observes the Thanksgiving holiday—a holiday that enjoys a rich tradition both here and around the world. B. Nobody on this Earth has more for which to be thankful than do God’s children (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Ephesians 5:3-4). I. I am thankful for God’s constant provision. A. I am thankful for the daily physical sustenance that God provides (1 Corinthians 14:16-18; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Matthew...
Thanksgiving
Introduction A. Have you ever been amazed at how richly God has blessed you (Genesis 32:10; 48:11)? B. When God blesses us “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20), how do we begin to thank Him? I. We can thank God by praising Him. A. We can thank Him in song (Psalm 18:49; 92:1; 100:4; Ephesians 5:18-20; James 5:13). B. We can thank Him in prayer (Nehemiah 11:17; 12:27; Daniel 6:10). II. We can...
Born Again
Introduction A. There is no way to know exactly what Nicodemus expected from this interview with Jesus, but one could safely deduce that he was shocked to learn that he himself needed to be born again! B. There are many to whom this news still comes as a shock today, and there are precious few who are willing to submit to it. I. Nicodemus didn’t realize that the need for rebirth is universal.A. The fact that the Gentiles needed to be...
An Ungrateful Nation
Introduction A. Last week we celebrated Veterans Day to show our thanks to those who have served in our country’s armed forces. B. Of all the people in the world, surely we have the most for which to be grateful. C. How well do we show our gratitude to God for His blessings? I. Which city do we resemble more? A. The people of Keilah were ready to betray the man who risked his life to save them (1 Samuel 23:1-14). B. By contrast, the...
Do You Understand?
Introduction A. Misunderstandings can sometimes be comical, but at other times they can have devastating effects in our jobs, relationships, etc. B. The consequences of misunderstandings could never be more serious than they are when they pertain to our faith. I. Jesus was often misunderstood. A. People misunderstood His words (John 2:19-21; 3:3-4; 4:10-15; 7:35; 8:26-27). B. Often even His own disciples did not understand...
Brotherly Kindness
Introduction A. Of all the virtues we are to add to our character, brotherly love seems to be the most natural.B. We should not conclude, however, that it is always easy to show the kind of love for our brethren that God expects. I. Brotherly love doesn’t always come easily. A. The Old Testament is filled with examples of sibling rivalries, such as Cain and Abel (Genesis 4), as well as Amnon and Absalom (2 Samuel 13). B. Even Paul did not...
If I Were Satan
Introduction A. The Hebrew word Satan literally means “adversary.” B. Our enemy knows exactly what we must do to escape from his clutches, and he will do everything within his power to defeat us. I. If I were Satan, I would try to keep you out of the church. A. Satan knows that one must be a member of the Lord’s church in order to be saved (1 Peter 3:20-21). B. This plan has been most effective (Acts 26:28; Matthew 21:31), with...
Self-Control
Introduction A. Paul once reasoned with Felix about righteousness, self-control, and judgment (Acts 24:25), but Felix never learned the lesson, and he suffered the consequences of his own intemperance in time. B. When you think about your life, what is there that you can truly control all the time besides yourself and your own actions? C. If we wish to achieve mastery in anything (especially Christianity), self-control is...