Historical Posts
Psalm 61 – Does God Listen? audio
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Text: Psalm 61
Introduction
Do you ever wonder if God listens to you?
When you pray, do you feel that He hears your every word and that He really cares?
Perhaps David expresses these thoughts exactly in Psalm 61. He pleads for God to hear his prayer, and concludes by willing to keep his vows to Him.
Body
I. God can hear! Idols cannot hear (Revelation 9:20).
A. God can hear! Elijah proved this on Mt. Carmel when 450 prophets called out to Baal, and they could not be heard (1 Kings 18:26ff.).
II. God may choose not to hear.
A. The LORD will not listen to those who will not listen to Him (Zechariah 7:8-14).
B. God does not hear sinners (John 9:31).
III. God chooses who to hear:
A. He hears those who worship Him and do His will (John 9:31).
B. He hears those willing to learn His will (Acts 10).
C. He hears those who ask according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).
D. He hears those who keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22).
IV. God has heard:
A. Jesus, who always does His will (John 11:41-42).
B. Zacharias, who was willing to do God’s will (Luke 1:5-13).
C. The children of Israel, who were willing to turn from their own will and accept the will of God (Exodus 2:23-25; Acts 7:34).
D. Judah, who was willing to be restored to God (Zechariah 10:6; 13:9).
Conclusion
God is willing to hear you if you are willing to listen to Him and submit to His will.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Matthew 13:13-17 – God is Speaking; Are You Listening? audio
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Text: Matthew 13:13-17 KJV (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction
Illustration: An elderly couple was just getting up to start their day. “What would you like for breakfast?” the woman asked her husband. Receiving no answer, she proceeded to the kitchen to look for some ideas on what to cook. Her husband came in shortly thereafter, and she asked him again. “Did you decide on what you wanted for breakfast?” Still not receiving an answer, she began to clear off the table. When her husband had been seated, she walked over and asked him the third time: “WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR BREAKFAST?” He replied, “For the third time, I want bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, and orange juice!”
Sometimes people simply do not wish to listen. They hear what they only want to hear, or are too busy thinking about what they will say next to really pay attention to what is being said.
Body
I. God is speaking to us.
A. God has given mankind a very important message since the very beginning.
B. He spoke directly, through the Law, through the prophets, through His Son, and through His Inspired Word (Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16).
C. Everybody has a chance to hear Him speak!
II. Many are pleading for us to hear the Word of God!
A. Jesus pleads for us to listen.
1) He tells the seven churches in Asia: “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).”
2) He said, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand… (Mark 7:14)”
B. Peter preached, “…heed my words (Acts 2:14).”
C. Steven pleaded with many to listen to his words as he preached Christ (Acts 7:2).
D. The Jerusalem Council listened to Paul and Barnabas tell of all good things God did for the Gentiles, and then James pleaded for all to listen as he taught the agreement of the prophets (Acts 15:12ff.). James later commands his readers to listen to what God has done for the poor (James 2:5).
E. The author of Hebrews commands us to pay close attention to God’s Word (Hebrews 2:1-3).
III. Sadly, some do not listen to God’s words.
A. Many throughout the Old Testament did not listen to God (Nadab & Abihu, Jonah, et al.).
B. Jesus said that Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled in that day regarding those that do not hear (Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:13-17).
C. The Hebrew writer said his audience became “dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11).”
IV. Blessed are those that hear the Word of God!
A. The Bereans set a good example of hearing the word; they received it with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11).
B. Faith comes from hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17), and we cannot be saved without it (Hebrews 11:6).
C. If we hear the words of Jesus and believe in God, we may have everlasting life (John 5:24).
D. We are of God if we hear His words (John 8:47).
E. If we hear the voice of Jesus, we are of the truth (John 18:37).
F. True hearers of the word will hear it, understand it, and bear fruit (Matthew 13:23).
G. We must not only hear the word; we must do it (James 1:21-25).
H. Jesus likened hearers and doers to wise men; those that did not hear/do to foolish men (Matthew 7:24-27).
Conclusion
Through the word of God, we learn how to receive salvation. We must truly listen to Him and do what He says! If we do, we may receive everlasting life.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Are You Running?
Thanks to Al Parr, working with the Saline Church of Christ, for the content of this post.Habakkuk 2:2 – “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”
Habakkuk lived in a time of violence, iniquity, grievance, spoiling, strife and contention (Habakkuk 1:3-4). God revealed to him that He was about to do something that the people wouldn’t believe if they heard it (Habakkuk 1:5). But hear it, they must.
Write it, Habakkuk! Write it upon tablets. Make it plain. God wants people to know His word. More than that, He wants people to act upon His word. They can’t do what they don’t know (Romans 10:14).
It’s still true. You can’t please God if you don’t read His word. The good news is, His word is plain. When you read you can understand (Ephesians 3:4), and when you understand you will be motivated to run for Him (Isaiah 55:11; Romans 10:17).
Are you running?
Al Parr works Confirming the Churches and preaches at the Saline Church of Christ
7300 East Michigan Avenue
Saline, MI 48176
734-429-4319
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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Acts 07:37-53 Stephen’s Sermon Stings – audio
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Text: Acts 7:37-53
Introduction
Last Sunday night’s sermon helped us learn about those with hardened hearts and stiffened necks. Today we want to study about many that suffered from those symptoms, and the damage that was caused.
In fact, it is very relevant for all of us even today.
Body
I. Stephen preached about Moses.
A. Many years earlier, Moses told the children of Israel that God would raise up for them a Prophet like him (Acts 7:37). The Old Testament records when Moses spoke these words (Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19).
Naturally, that Prophet was Jesus Christ! Jesus would later appear with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration, and it was made clear that we should no longer hear Moses or the prophets, but rather Christ (Matthew 17:4-5).
B. Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, and later gave them God’s commandments from Mt. Sinai (Exodus 12-20).
Stephen said their fathers rejected those commandments (Acts 7:38-39). John also testified that Moses gave the law, but grace and truth came from Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
C. The people denied Moses and turned back to Egypt in their hearts (Acts 7:40-43). They also began to serve idolatry (Exodus 32, Deuteronomy 9:16).
II. Stephen preached about Christ.
A. Just as their fathers rejected Moses, the people rejected Christ who Moses spoke about (Acts 7:51-53).
1) The LORD taught Samuel that Israel had rejected Him from reigning over them (1 Samuel 8:7).
2) The LORD sent prophets, and as Stephen said, they were all killed (2 Chronicles 36:15-16).
3) Stephen’s audience was stung by hearing they were betrayers and murderers (Acts 7:52-53). Maybe some heard something similar by Peter (Acts 2:22-24,36; 3:13-15,18).
B. Moses was the lawgiver until Christ came (Galatians 3:19). When Christ arrived, He is the Mediator of the New Covenant (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 12:24).
C. The common factor between the people of Moses’ day and Christ’s day is they both resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51).
1) The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14).
2) We should not grieve the Holy Spirit as Stephen knew they were doing (Ephesians 4:30).
3) God gives us the Holy Spirit, and by rejecting Him we reject God (1 Thessalonians 4:8; 2 Timothy 3:16).
4) God reveals the hidden things through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10; 2 Peter 1:16-21).
Conclusion
Jesus taught that people would not always listen to Him, and they will not always listen to us.
Jesus says that when people hear us, they hear Him; if they reject us, they reject Him (Luke 16:10; John 13:20).
Jesus also knew that as He was persecuted, we will also (John 15:20). Stephen was then persecuted, even to death (Acts 7:54ff.).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Acts 02:26-35 – The Ethiopian Eunuch – audio
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Text: Acts 2:26-35
Introduction
An Ethiopian eunuch was returning from Jerusalem, where he had gone to worship. On his way he had begun to read from Isaiah.
Whether he was reviewing what he heard in Jerusalem, picked up a scroll there, or for some other reason, we do not know. What we do know is that he had an opportunity to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)” and he did.
Body
I. The eunuch was increasing his faith (Acts 8:27-28).
As he was traveling, he was reading from Isaiah. Interestingly, the prophet Isaiah says to “search from the book of the LORD, and read (Isaiah 34:16)…” He was indeed searching something, and by the providence of God would later find it.
One thing he would find by searching the Scriptures is faith. After all, faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Without it, one cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Our faith must grow, and one thing we add to our faith is knowledge (2 Peter 1:5-7). The eunuch obviously wanted to know more about what he was reading (as we’ll see shortly). As those were in Berea, so was the eunuch. He “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).”
II. The eunuch sought to understand the Scriptures (Acts 8:30-34).
It is not enough o only hear the Word of God; one must do it (James 1:22). In order to do what God commands, we must understand what He says!
Jesus commands us to understand (Matthew 15:10), as Matthew encourages his readers to understand his gospel (Matthew 24:15). On one occasion, Jesus opened the understanding of some to help them comprehend the Scriptures (Luke 24:45). This would be done to the eunuch through Philip.
It is God’s plan that everyone will understand His will (Romans 15:20-21)! Our understanding is only beneficial when we receive it with love (1 Corinthians 13:1-2), as the eunuch did.
A. Not understanding God’s Word will have its consequences. When Jesus taught the parable of the sower, He explained that those that do not understand the word had it snatched away by the wicked one (Matthew 13:19).
B. Understanding God’s Word will have its benefits.
1) Understanding God’s Word will bear much fruit (Matthew 13:23).
2) We may know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18).
3) This gives us wisdom (Ephesians 5:17).
4) We can walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him (Colossians 1:9-10).
5) Our hearts are encouraged and we have full assurance of God’s promises (Colossians 2:2).
6) It is a blessing to understand all things, and others are praying for us as Paul did for Timothy(2 Timothy 2:7).
7) We can come to know God and Jesus, and be in Him. This gives us eternal life (1 John 5:20; Ephesians 1:3).
III. Philip preached Christ to Him (Acts 8:35).
Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel to everyone (Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15-16), as Philip was doing.
Even Paul said he determined not to know anything but “Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).”
IV. The eunuch understood what Isaiah meant (Acts 8:36-39).
Isaiah prophesied about Jesus and His crucifixion (Isaiah 53:7-8). He was silent as He appeared before His accusers (Matthew 26:61-63; 27:12-14; John 19:9). He endured the suffering because of our transgressions. The eunuch realized Christ died for him, and readily obeyed the gospel.
Conclusion
Just as the eunuch understood he needed to become a Christian, so do we! Like the eunuch, we need to:
A. Hear the gospel (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6) to get faith.
B. Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 16:30-34; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10; John 8:24).
C. Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3-5; Acts 2:38).
D. Confess your faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10).
E. Be baptized for remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Decision Tree – Hear God’s Word
(Did you jump into the middle of this? Please start at the beginning of the decision tree.)
Your sin continues to separate you from God, but you are on your first step to removing it by hearing God’s plan to save us from our sin. Romans 10:17 tells us, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Hearing God’s word is so important, it is the mission of all Christians –
- According to John 12:48, God’s Word will judge us. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” See more here.
- Luke 16:31 “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Will you listen to God’s word?
Will you receive it? It may seem like the “foolishness of preaching” at first, but it is God’s wisdom and his chosen way to save us.
- Listen to God’s message, the Word of God, leading to…
- Ignore God’s Word and refuse to hear God’s message.
But what about those who never have the chance to hear? Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us that God is just and right, so let’s leave those who never hear His Word in His hands. But that does not apply to you, so pick one of the options above.
More about hearing God’s Word:
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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James 01:18-25 God’s Word as a Guide – audio
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Text: James 1:18-25
Introduction
1. We must understand the powerful guidance of God’s Word if we are to use the Bible as a tool to teach others.
A. O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps – Jeremiah 10:23
B. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes – Romans 1:16
Body
I. God’s Word is able to guide one to become a new creature
A. James 1:18
B. The Christian is a unique being – 2 Corinthians 5:17
II. God’s Word is able to guide one to the saving of his soul
A. James 1:21
B. Conversion is brought about through the power of God’s Word – James 5:20 “he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a Soul”
III. God’s Word is able to guide us to see ourselves as we really are
A. James 1:24
B. We see the reality of our sin and the desire of God to save us – 1 Timothy 2:3-4 “who desires all men to be saved”
IV. God’s Word blesses the life of the one who is guided by it
A. James 1:25
B. We have security, direction, and purpose – Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ…”
Conclusion:
1. To be guided by God’s Word is to be swift to hear – James 1:19
2. To have the Word engrafted – James 1:21
3. To receive the Word – James 1:22
4. To obey the Word – James 1:22-23
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Luke 24:32 Are You an Apatheist? audio
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Text: Luke 24:32
Introduction
1. On 12/25/11, USA Today had an article related to apatheism
a. Entitled “Many Say ‘So What?’ To God, Religion, Atheism”
b. Describing the attitude of those who are ‘spiritually apathetic’
2. This is a condition true of many; according to several polls
a. 46% never wonder whether they will go to heaven
b. 44% don’t spend time seeking ‘eternal wisdom’
3. How about you? Are you an apatheist?
Body
I. WHAT IS APATHEISM?
A. DEFINED – portmanteau
1. Acting with, disregard, or lack of interest towards belief or lack of belief in a deity
2. Describes the manner of acting towards a belief or lack of a belief in a deity; so applies to both theism and atheism
B. EXPRESSED
1. An apatheist is also someone who is not interested in accepting or denying any claims that God exists or does not exist
2. An apatheist is someone who considers the question of the existence of God as neither meaningful nor relevant to his or her life
3. In regards to whether God exists, whether there is heaven or hell, the apatheist’s creed is “So what?”
II. WHAT CAUSES APATHEISM?
A. CONSIDER THE ISRAELITES
1. Warned by Moses about the danger of materialism – Deuteronomy 8:11-14
2. Who deceived themselves when they became rich – Am 6:3-6
B. CONSIDER THE LAODICEANS
1. Lukewarm Christians, with whom Jesus was displeased – Revelation 3:14-16
2. Their spiritual apathy was the result of their materialism – Revelation 3:17
C. When all is well, when materially blessed, it is easy to become spiritually apathetic.
D. Compare that with times of crisis (remember the religious fervor following 9/11?)
III. WHAT CURES APATHEISM?
A. TRUE REPENTANCE
1. Brought about by godly sorrow for sin – 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
2. Manifested by diligence, fear, desire – 2 Corinthians 7:11
3. Through which we learn of grace, and the penalty of neglecting it! – Romans 2:4-11
B. TRUE RELIGION
1. Many are apathetic because they have not seen or experienced true religion!
2. But Jesus offers that which truly satisfies!
a. He offers the water of life that quenches thirst – John 4:13-14
b. He offers the bread of life that eliminates hunger – John 6:35
c. He offers light that dispels darkness – John 8:12
d. He offers freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin – John 8:34-36
e. He offers the abundant life, filled with joy and peace – John 10:10
3. Which comes by knowing and abiding in His word – John 8:31-32
4. As offered to the lukewarm Laodiceans, riches now, and royalty to come! – Revelation 3:18-22
Conclusion
1. What causes apathy regarding religion…?
a. It boils down to ignorance, combined with material well-being
b. Ignorance of God’s Word, preoccupation with material success
2. What can cure apathy regarding religion…?
a. It is simple: personal knowledge of salvation
b. Personal knowledge of God’s Word, personal experience of God’s saving grace
c. Begin by committing yourself to reading and meditating on the Word of God. It will burn like fire within you, leading you to Christ where you will find salvation and joy through the wonderful grace of God…!
– And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” – Luke 24:32
– Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:38
– But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control. Against such there is no law – Galatians 5:22-23
– Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit – Romans 15:13
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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