What is preaching and what good does a sermon do? The first question can be answered by definition. The second depends. The word, preach means primarily “to deliver a sermon.” This is what women are not permitted to do in mixed assemblies of men and women: note the word “teach,” Greek, didasko, “to deliver didactic discourses” [Thayer] (1 Timothy 2:12). The word, sermon, comes from a Latin term meaning, “a stab, or a thrust,” as in the heart or mind of the listener (Acts 2:37). This is the purpose of a sermon. It is not a discourse intended to satisfy “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3). There are three outstanding elements in preaching: the preacher, the message and the hearer. Christianity requires these three things: a sower, good seed or the pure Gospel and an honest (good) hearer. What Goes Into A Sermon? Lots of study, research, reading, memorizing, organization and prayer. None of these ingredients guarantees a perfect product. A preacher can only do his best and that is a human variable. The average sermon contains 5,000 words. Most preachers deliver ninety sermons in one place each year. This totals about 450,000 words per year. A full-length novel has about 50,000 words. A preacher, therefore, produces the equivalent of nine novels a year. This should help answer the question, “What does the preacher do?” How Do Some Hear A Sermon? There are those who never get offended at any pointed truth (even from those preachers who still offer pointed truths). They hear what is said, but never …

As we study the apostasy of the early church, we may note many characteristics or causes. Apostasy never starts full-grown. It almost always begins with a slight shift in emphasis or direction as a result of the lusts of the flesh, lust of the eyes or the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Then lust, when it is conceived brings forth sin (James 1:15). Let us notice some of these shifts, and try to do what we can to correct them as we find them in our time. First, there was a shift in emphasis from the importance and work of every individual to the importance and nature of the work of the clergy. In Acts 8:4, we find, “They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.” They did not need to call “The Minister” to do the preaching. The radicals and false teachers among us who teach that it is wrong to have “located preachers” have done much damage to the cause of Christ with their false and divisive doctrines. That does not change the fact that there is often an improper and dangerous tendency to exalt “The Minister.” In denominations it is done by calling him “Reverend.” In the church it may be done by calling him “Brother” while others are “Mister.” We need to show proper respect for age, dignity or achievement, but when we show respect of persons simply because of a presumed position of importance in an ecclesiastical hierarchy, seeds of apostasy …

Every once in a while one hears those sorts of statements that press him to do two things: 1) Examine his own soul, and 2) Pass the thought-provoking message on to others. A few weeks ago I heard such a statement. The study of the hour had taken folks to the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, and verse two. The verse records Jesus’ words to the seventy on the Limited Commission: “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2, NKJV). One person observed what he had heard another always say about this verse: “It is the most neglected command in all the Bible.” It doesn’t take long to catch on to what is meant by that statement, does it? There are a couple of implications: First, a person can be tempted by the lure of routine to consistently ask for material things, and end up neglecting the spiritual. Prayers can sound more like holiday wish lists than humble presentations of oneself for service to an Almighty God. One might ask himself, by way of examination, how often he prays for good weather, a good job, and good food and compare the results to how often he asks for wisdom and help in spiritual growth. Then, a step further along the same line is the second implication. How often does one pray for lost souls, and workers to harvest those ready …

The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). There is an event in the history of Israel during the forty years they spent in the wilderness that is familiar to all good Bible students. Balak, King of Moab, sought the services of the prophet Balaam. Balaam was offered a huge sum of money to curse the children of Israel. He found the offer quite appealing. The story is well known because Balaam’s donkey is said to have talked (Numbers 22:21-30). What I find most striking about the whole incident is Balaam’s response to the messengers of Balak. He said, “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God” (Numbers 22:18). As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Balaam would have liked to curse Israel, but God would not allow it. Balaam could have been bought had God not prevented it. I have heard it said that for enough money a man could be persuaded to do anything. I don’t believe it, though in Balaam’s case it was probably true! Jesus raised this question: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). No amount of money can compensate for the loss of a soul! Yet, folks sometimes sell out for next …

Question: “What will we be like in the resurrection?” Answer: This is a thoughtful question. While Scripture tells us that our bodies will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:35b-44), our exact form cannot be known until this transformation takes place. Having said that, we can still “piece together” a few passages which offer us some insight. According to the Word, we will be: 1. Like angels “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven”(Matthew 22:29b-30). Despite the fact that the Sadducees denied the resurrection and the existence of the spirit world (cf. Matthew 22:23; Acts 23:7-8), Jesus reminded them that there was sufficient Old Testament evidence to the contrary (cf. Exodus 3:6; Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 26:29; Daniel 12:2). He then explained that when the faithful dead are brought forth from the grave at the Last Day, they will share the unique qualities of spirit which belong to angels. They will not actually become angels, but will be like them (cf. Luke 16:22). Life there will be of a different order, with angels giving us the pattern. It is the life of the angels rather than the life of people here and now that shows us what heaven will be like. We know little about angels, but this saying of Jesus makes it clear that they do not live in families as we do. He does not say that we will be angels but that …

According “to the eternal purpose” of “God, the only being truly wise,” Jesus Christ has become “the Ruler of the kings of the earth,” the “King of kings” (Ephesians 3:11; Romans 16:27; Revelation 1:5; 17:14). The holy Scriptures set forth four stages in the heavenly plan: I. A King Is Coming! In the second millennium (c. 1852 B.C.), God promised Abraham that “kings will come from you” and “Sarah” (Genesis 17:6, 16). Then (c. 1706 B.C.) Abraham’s grandson Jacob, a prophet, said that his son Judah was the one who would be the ancestor of a special coming king: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and him the peoples will obey” (Genesis 49:10). “Shiloh” (from shalah, to be at rest, safe, secure) means a man of peace, a bearer of security, a peacemaker. Later Isaiah would call the coming king sar shalom, Prince of Peace (9:6). And David reported (Psalm 2:2) what God had said he would do for Mashiah, Messiah (in the Hebrew), for Christos, Christ (in the Greek): “Most certainly I will anoint my king in Zion, my holy mountain” (Psalm 2:6). Moreover, God spoke directly to that special coming king about a thousand years before he was born: “Ask me and I will make the nations your domain and you will possess the whole world” (Psalm 2:8). In anticipation, God said to the coming king that he would “send from Zion the scepter of your power, …

One day while driving my automobile, I came near enough to the car in front of me to be able to read the sticker on the back bumper. It read, “Don’t follow me, I’m lost.” I was reminded of a personal experience of mine that occurred a few years ago. I was endeavoring to find a particular building located near a lake and I began following some people I thought were going to the same gathering of brethren where I was supposed to be making a speech, and that they would be able to lead me safely to my destination. I was wrong. After traveling some distance on a dirt road, we came to a dead end. The car in front of me stopped and the driver got out and came to my side of the car and started to ask if I knew where the building we both were looking for was located. I answered quickly that I did not know and that I had been following them, thinking that they knew the directions. Eventually, we all arrived at our desired destination. In religious matters, we must not assume that others know the way of salvation. This would include preachers, parents, loved ones and friends. There is the probability that a blind leader could cause you to be lost (Matthew 15:14). Just because a certain way seems right does not insure that it is a safe path to travel (Proverbs 14:12). The sad fact is that the majority of people …

The New Testament of Jesus Christ: 181,253 words 7959 verses 260 chapters 27 books Did you know an average reader (8 verses a minute) who spends 30 minutes a day can read the entire New Testament through in 30 days? Do that every day and one would read the New Testament through 12 times in a year. Do that for just 10 years and one will have read the New Testament through 120 times! Our unfamiliarity with the Bible is a witness against us. No larger than what the New Testament is, why haven’t we mastered that material? We’ve been Christians for years, decades even, and yet we fumble through the pages unsure of our destination. You would think that a book, the only book, which gives us directions to heaven, would be consumed and devoured by people wanting to go to heaven. You would think that such a small amount of material, which directly affects our eternal destiny, would be read, studied, analyzed and mastered. Friends, there’s no excuse. Our ignorance betrays us. We’ve chosen the world over the Word. But, it’s not too late. Most who read this message will have another 10 years to live. Spend a half hour every day for those next ten years and you will have read the New Testament through 120 times! Think of it! Such little effort put forth for such great results! What awaits you? Just… 27 books 260 chapters 7959 verses 181,253 words

The apostle Peter closed his second epistle with this important advice to those who would escape the apostasy that he had described earlier in the book. His inspired advice was: “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” There are some very important truths which can be found in the text, and which we should take seriously if we are going to develop into the kind of Christians that we ought to be. Growth in Christ should be one of our primary goals as Christians, but many of us do not grow in Christ because we will not take the time and the trouble to give ourselves over to that great task. There are those of us who try to do so, and sometimes we are “put down” by those who may disagree with us on some point or another, or in some interpretation of a passage, or passages of Scripture. In order to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, we must have the attitude of the student, that is, we must always be hungry to know more about what the Word of God teaches upon any theme. Sometimes it is asserted that God does not care what we know, he is concerned with whether or not we are obedient to him. But God does care what we know, and for that reason he advised the early Christians, and all others …

(World Evangelist, Vol. 29, No. 11, June, 2001, pp. 15-16.) Man is a bio-psychosocial being with biological, psychological and social characteristics. This tripartite nature of man elevates him far above other creatures of God. Man is also a Homo sapien — a free thinker, with the freedom and ability to reason. Man in his ingenuity often craves for absolute freedom — from direction, control and reproach. Often he does not stop to consider the fact that though created to be superior to all animals, he is far inferior to God in thought, wisdom and intellect. David asked God, “What is man, that thou are mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:4). Whether man recognizes and accepts this fact or not does not alter it. For the prophet Isaiah wrote, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Therefore, in things divine, man must seek and accept God’s guidance and direction. Many years ago, Jeremiah recognized this need and wrote, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment” (Jeremiah 10:23-24). Also, there is some warning in the wise man’s statement. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Anointing of One …

Almost everyone has heard about the man Job.  Job was a righteous man. And Job was very wealthy. God had blessed him with great blessings. Satan went to God and said that Job only loved God because God had given him so much. So, God allowed Satan to take everything from Job. The only thing Satan was not allowed to do was kill Job. After Job had lost all his belongings, his children and his health, three of his friends came to sit with him. They sat with him for a week and then began to speak to him. They tell him that he must have done some terrible sins for God to be punishing him. Job insists that he has done nothing wrong. But his friends continue to tell him that they know he must have done something wrong. At the end of the book of Job God tells Job’s friends that they are the ones who have displeased him. They have spoken wrong regarding God. He tells them to take seven bulls and seven rams to Job and sacrifice them for themselves. Then God wants Job to pray for his friends. It would have been easy for Job to have bad feelings toward his friends. They had not comforted him but actually added to his suffering. He could have refused to pray for them. He could have told them in an angry way that he had been right all along and they deserved whatever punishment God would give …

“And I am come down to deliver them out of the land of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of the land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey…” (Exodus 3:8). The above statement is made by God to Moses. God is talking to Moses out of the burning bush on Mount Sinai. What a wonderful statement this is! God had come down out of heaven to deliver the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage and to bring them up to the Promised Land. God did these wonderful things for his chosen people, the Israelites. He also did the same for all people today. In John 6:38, Jesus stated, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” Jesus came down to earth for a specific purpose. He wanted to do the will of the Father. He loved us so much he was willing to leave heaven and come and live like a man. In Romans 11:26, we read, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Christ is the Deliverer who came to save all spiritual Israel. The church is spiritual Israel. Every Christian is a part of the church, spiritual Israel. Christ came down to deliver us from sin and ungodliness. In John 6:40, Christ said, “And this is the …

Visiting the sick is a vital part of the ministry of Christ. Faithful Gospel preachers engage in visiting the sick out of care and compassion, not obligation. If someone says that the preacher visits because, “That’s part of his job,” then, he does not know the heart of the true evangelist. Preachers, who truly care, want to know about those in the congregation who are sick. They certainly want to visit them, as well. Sometimes, it is the case, that a brother or sister enters and leaves the hospital before the preacher ever learns about that person’s condition. When that happens, the caring evangelist feels bad, because it appears to the afflicted brother or sister that he does not care. Perhaps the church member, then, spreads the word, “Well, the preacher didn’t bother to come and see me.” Yet, if the preacher had known of the person’s situation he certainly would have been there. James 5:14 reads, “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” The meaning of that controversial verse is not my concern here. I find delight, however, in the interesting comments of Albert Barnes on this verse. He says, in part: It may be added, as worthy of note, that the apostle says they should “call” for the elders of the church; that is, they should send for them. They should not wait for them to hear of their sickness, as …

“And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days” (Genesis 49:1). In the words that follow Jacob proceeds to pronounce in prophecy the future of his sons’ descendants. For the most part, Jacob’s words dealt with the character of each of his sons and what that meant for their children and future generations. Although no one can now utter prophecy about our future descendants, it would do us well to consider the impact our character will have upon those who follow. All too often, we spend our energies training our children how to be good children (doing well in school, minding us, etc.), but fail to teach them how to be successful adults. Our goals should extend far beyond seeing them graduate from high school or college or marrying. Parental responsibility is not just to provide for children for 18 or so years; it is to use those years in such a way as to make the rest of our children’s lives have proper focus and meaning. It does not matter as much what people see in your children while they are at home as it does what they will see after they leave home. Live your life with your moral legacy in mind. Make a Christian life, a Christian home and Christian children your legacy, and future generations will call you blessed.