The Doctrine of Hell, SEFC 1997, Thursday evening, Pastor Donnelly

IV.  What effect should the reality of hell have on us?
    A.  It should produce in us a daily commitment to putting sin to death.
"If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body . . . "  Make putting sin to death a daily habit.  Be killing sin, or it will kill you.  When temptation comes, say to yourself, "By committing this sin, I'm telling God I want hell."

    B.  Unbroken contentment in all life's circumstances
It is a great mark of faith to always be content.  We are consumers, like pigs at a trough.  It is a terrible testimony to see a Christian murmuring and complaining.  Christians should be most happy and content, for they are escaping hell.  Any time you feel yourself complaining, look into the pit of hell and be content that you are not going there.

    C.  It should produce in us a pervasive seriousness in our manner and thinking. 
We are to be a serious people.  there is a line between humor and clownishness.  People may think we're gloomy, but when people are in trouble, they won't turn to the clowns.

    D.  A deeper appreciation of the love and merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.
How much have we been forgiven and spared!  however, until we stare hell in the face, we will not fully appreciate Christ's love.  The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  It pleased the Lord to bruise Him.  The Lord, by His death, made full atonement for all the sins, and all the damnation of all His elect.  Calvary makes up for all eternity in hell.  Hell brings us to our knees, fills us with love and adoration to Him who drained and canceled hell for us.  Christ saves from hell by experiencing the pain of hell.

    E.  It should produce in us a desire for the evangelism of the needy sinners.
It's probable that we, as reformed Christians, may be terribly at fault.  Our strength is weakness.

    F.  Hell shoudl produce in us a humble acceptance of God's sovereign purposes.

1. Regarding our great responsibility.  We will be guilty if we keep silent.  Don't take more responsibility on yourself than God puts on you, for it will break you.  Remember, every single one of Christ's sheep shall be saved.
2. Regarding God's sovereign purpose about hell itself.  The saints in heaven praise God for hell.  Should we?  Now be careful, for some are too tipped in a cruel way, which is a sin.  We can certainly be thankful there is a hell for sin.  As we see the reprobate in hell suffering when we are in heaven we can be thankful for hell, but can we now?  Maybe not.  But when we are able to be perfect and praise God for everything, we shall be able.  Any doctrine should lead us to worship.  Let us now worship.

Grace, SEFC 1997, Thursday morning, Pastor Hendrix

Each good thing that comes to you is a gift of the grace of God.

III.  Positive objective
     A.  The essential objective defined
     B.  The qualities of the essential objective identified. 
-  We should live in a certain way

Christ gave Himself for our sins that He might save us from this present evil age.  Sin is insanity; grace returns sanity.  What does it mean to think soberly?

1. All of our actions and words must be founded on the person of God.  We don't begin with ourselves.  Begin with God who is working all things for the counsel of His own will.  "Trust and obey" is the motto of the Christian.
2. The thoughtful realization of our acceptance with God.  Gospel reality is not just for good days, but for bad days also.
3. The confidence that God has supplied all our needs.
4. It's soon going to be over.  Soon I will be with Christ.

We are to live righteously.  Grace trains us how to live with people.  What does God require?  He forbids talking back.  Grace forbids you to pilfer.  You don't take salary you refuse to earn.  Positively, God says workers are to be submissive and obedient to your masters.  He also requires that you excel in your labors.  God requires that we show fidelity.  Grace is relentless, and it is not just relentless in pursuing the elect sinner who is not yet converted, but also in pursuing the converted sinner's sanctification.

The Doctrine of Hell, SEFC 1997, Wednesday evening, Pastor Donnelly

III.  What will hell be like?
     A.  Absolute poverty
     B.  Agonizing pain
     C.  Angry presence
     D.  Appalling prospect

Hell is a place of separation from God.  Hell is a place where all your humane objects will leave you.  You will be raised to increasing dishonor.  "Whoever says 'you fool' shall be cast into the everlasting fire."  It will be excruciating agony.  In hell, the conscience shall be a whip that will last his soul.  "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Those in hell are separated from God's grace, love and mercy, and there is a great gulf between heaven and hell, but God will be there, angry.  The Lord abhors the wicked.  People say, "We don't need to worry about hell; it's not literal fire."  In hell they will say, "If only it were literal fire."

Grace, SEFC 1997, Wednesday morning, Pastor Hendrix

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men."  Titus 2:11  Grace, is is saving grace.  God makes his grace manifest to individual sinners through the preaching of the gospel. 

II.  The activity of grace
     A.  To identify the activity of grace as to its nature
The grace that brings salvation is teaching.  Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians.  "Pedea" signifies teaching, training correcting.  The grace carries on the activity of training.  This activity transcends the human, the supernatural.  Grace is God at work.  It is not a mystical force that flows down from God.  Every christian has a personal trainer, and this personal trainer is Christ.  Grace often takes us through God's gym.  Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

     B.  To identify the activity of grace in its negative objective
The "us" is all those who have received salvation.  There are things happening in your converted friends that you are unable to understand.  Grace teaches us what to do with sin.  Ungodliness is simply something that is against God.  To desecrate His day is ungodliness.  Grace trains us also to deny worldly lusts.  Lusts are evil desires.  What makes a desire to be a lust?  Either it is a desire God has forbidden or an inordinate desire.  It is not teh world's fault that you have lusts; it is from you.

Christian Unity, SEFC 1997, Wednesday morning, Pastor Pizzino

What can we do to encourage the God-given object of Christian unity?
We ought to readily and happily appreciate and cultivate real Christian unity. 

"Arminianism is a bus-stop on the way to Atheism."  A cardinal virtue for Christian unity is humility, lowliness.  Only God can spell out all the "why's."  Pride is a very big reason for problems. 

Paul cared for the Corinthian church and admonished them and corrected them.  May God wash us of our sinful pride.

The Doctrine of Hell, SEFC 1997, Tuesday evening, Pastor Donnelly

II.  What does the Bible teach about hell?
     A.  Five propositions [Six?]

1. Hell is a real place created by God.  "Life can be like hell," some people say after going through a hard time.  "I just went through hell," but that is not true, because hell is a real place.
2. Hell is a place of punishment which is just, terrible, and everlasting.  All will be punished, but some will receive more punishment than others.  The punishment in hell shall be totally fair.
3. Hell is for the devil, his angels and the unsaved.  The only human beings that escape hell are his elect.
4. Hell is where the souls of the wicked go at death, and where their bodies are joined to their souls at the last judgment.
5. Hell is ruled by God, and exists for His glory.  "Fear Him who has power to cast into hell."  The devil does not rule in hell, rather he is in the worst torment.  At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow.  God rules in heaven, and He also rules in hell.
6. In hell, God shall still be glorified.  

    B.  Two Problems

1. Is hell not a punishment which is disproportionate?
• We have no concept of the horror and guilt of sin.  A sinner cannot be reconciled by being confirmed in sin.
2. Is hell not contrary to the love of God?  
• God's attributes do not oppose each other.  It is right for God to hate sin.  Is it not right for God to expose sin?  Would indifference to sin be a virtue?  Indifference to sin is not a virtue.  It's quite clear that God judges sin.  God's judgments are frequent enough to show that God judges, but seldom enough to point to a coming judgment. 
3. Why has God put these awful statements in His word?  
• That is not the issue.  is it true, or is it false?  If it is true, then the louder the warning the better.  He who tells us about hell is the one who can save us from hell.  Flee from the wrath to come.

Christian Unity, SEFC 1997, Tuesday morning, Pastor Pizzino

The prayer of John 17 is connected to John 13-16. 

I.  The Framework of Christian Unity
    A.  There is no Christian unity where there is refusal to believe in the Christ of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
    B.  The force of our Lord's words[...]

II.  The Nature of Christian Unity
    A.  It is profoundly spiritual
    B.  It is presently real
         We Christians are united whether we want to be or not.  Blessed be God, Christ has made us one!  Sin is insanity.

III.  The Design of Christian Unity
"I have decided to follow Jesus,/No turning back, no turning back."

Grace, SEFC 1997, Tuesday morning, Pastor Hendrix

Grace makes these labors to be imperative.

4 Headings
 I.  The appearance of grace
    A.  What is grace
    B.  When did grace appear
    C.  For what purpose did grace appear
    D.  What are the practical implications
II. The activity of grace

- "charis" - the action of one who volunteers to do something he's not normally known to do - favor - the blessing received from another.  God loves you because He loves you.  We love Him because He first loved us.

How is grace used?

1. "Grace" sometimes speaks of a status 
2. "Grace" is sometimes used as the origin of spiritual abilities
3. "Grace" sometimes denotes a supernatural strength that comes from God to His people
4. "Grace" sometimes used as a synonym for salvation
5. "Grace" is used as identifying the source of our salvation.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.  Not as a result of works, lest any man should boast."

Grace is God doing his utmost to bless those that deserve the worst.  Hell is deserved; grace is undeserved.  The grace of God has appeared.  Grace was manifested.  God has in due time manifested His preaching.  "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we behdl His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

The grace of God that has appeared is saving in its nature.  Grace is not a matter of God lifting man into a more saveable position so he can save himself.  Grace comes in feeling your need of Him.

The Doctrine of Hell, SEFC 1997, Monday evening, Pastor Donnelly

4 Questions

I.  Why should we think about hell?
-  It is of the utmost importance for our souls and those that will come.
    A.  Its intrinsic importance

1. The massive weight of Biblical testimony - "gahana" - the key word for hell
2. The actual content of the doctrine itself
3. We are not remote from this catastrophe
4. There is only one way to escape from hell

    B.  The pervasiveness of unbelief about hell

1. Popular mockery
2. Serious unbelief
3. Evangelical questioning

    C.  Unbelief is a symptom of a deeper problem

II.  What hell contradicts
    A.  A man-centered view of man - "People must be happy."
    B.  It opposes the man-centered view of sin
    C.  A man-centered view of God.

Who will tell of the great God?  Hell doesn't make sense until you see God.  When the day of judgment comes, no one will be laughing and making flippant remarks about heaven or hell.  "For You alone are holy, for Your judgments shall be made manifest."

6/29/97, AM, Pr. Domm

Matthew 7:24-27
4 Concerns

I.  An Examination of the Parable Itself
He describes the persons as what they have heard.  The Lord describes how they have heard.  He draws the comparison. 
    A.  The wise man builds his house upon the rock, the foolish man builds his house upon the sand.
    B.  Both men have their houses tested.
    C.  Both realize the consequences of their building
     -  We are all builders, and are in one of the two pictures, and will sometime be tested.

II.  The Symbolism of the Parable
     A.  The house represents the men's hope of heaven
     B.  The house represents the men's lives
     C.  The rock is Christ in His words
     D.  The sand could be atheism, sensualism, etc.  Any other foundation men build their house upon.
     E.  The storm represents a test, such as death followed by judgment.
     F.  The fall of the house is the loss of the man's soul.
     -  Why was the fall great?  Because this person had opportunities and privileges of Christian nurture and training.

III.  Statement of the Parable's Main Lesson:

How a man responds to Christ's words determines whether he will be saved or lost in the last day.  The wise man's confidence was in the rock. 

IV.  Four Applications
     A.  This parable urges us to regular exposure of the word of Christ.
     -  A man can't do the words of Christ until he hears the words of Christ. 
We are going to hear a lot of truth this week.  Are you building on Christ or on sand?  Everyone is building on something.  Everyone is building.  What kind of house, and are all rooms finished?  Is it an attractive house?  So many things are begging to be built upon.  What is it?  Christ, or sand?

The parable calls us to joyful, confident steadfastness as we build.
"On Christ the solid rock I stand/ All other ground is sinking sand."

4/27/97, PM, Pr. Dutcher

I.  The Tax itself

This was an occasional tax, when the temple needed repair.  It also paid for atonement.  This is different from tithing, for you tithe according to the value of your income.  Of course, you cannot pay how much your soul is worth, for it is of more value, the Bible says, than the whole world.  The rich shall not pay more, and the poor shall not pay less, for all's souls are of equal value. 

II.  The Context of this Text

Imagine yourself to be Peter, going through all that Peter had ever gone through, feeling all that Peter ever felt, thinking all he ever thought, and having to answer this question to the people and to Christ.  What would you have said?

III.  The Simile

It is a blessing to us that we have Christ.  The Lord has perfect knowledge of everything that we think, say, do any time we think, say, or do anything.  Hiding from God is impossible, hypocrisy is useless, deceitfulness will never work in heaven.  Are you submissive to all masters, kind and unkind, reasonable and unreasonable?  God knows and He is pleased with it. 

This tax did not apply to Christ.  It did apply to Peter.  Rome would disagree, but they were wrong.  Christ was not obliged to pay this tax; Peter was.  But Christ paid anyway.  How often do we pay taxes we're not asked to?  We usually don't jump at the chance.  Christ didn't want to offend the ignorant. 

IV.  The Self-Denial

Our Savior prefers to work a miracle rather than to cause a scandal.  If Christ refused to pay now, Peter would look foolish.  Christ knew that Peter's reputation was important, and was willing to save it at His own expense.  Christ will pay the tax lest we should offend them.

V.  The Miracle

Only the Creator could cause the fish to bring the coin, which proves that truly the Creator and the Christ are one.  Christ did not need redemption; He was paying for Peter.  Like Peter, are you preparing to give some excuse to God that you think He will accept?  No, it will not work.  Receive the Lord as your Redeemer.  Have faith in Christ and be redeemed.

4/27/97, AM, Pr. Sarver

Revelation 2:1-7
The speaker is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He walks through the seven candlesticks, His churches. 

I.  The primacy of the grace of love

The church at Ephesus is the most favored of all seven.  One thing is wrong with the Ephesian church; they left their first love.  Love is the principal of life.  Above all other things, the Lord looks for love.  "Even the heart of God thirsts for love."

II.  What it is to decline in love
"Leaving our first love"

When love weighs, your happiness in God weighs.  No sacrifice is too great to the one who died at Jerusalem.  If you decay in your love for Christ, you will decay in your love for God's people.  Could it be that any of these marks are true of you?

III.   The seriousness of the decay in love
        A.  the Lord deals with it very personally

1. He is the one who discovers it.  It matters not who is deceived; the Lord sees all there is to see.
2. He has nothing directly to say about the wicked.  All His attention is to His beloved.
3. He counts this decay of love as a wrong done to Himself.  "I have this against you."  He speaks with tenderness and painfulness, not with thunder and lightning.  It is no small thing.

       B.  The Lord prescribes drastic remedies

1. Remember - Remember when you were first brought to the Lord.  
2. Repent - Repent over all the good that you have left undone.
3. Return - Return to doing the things you once did.

       C.  The Lord issues a serious threat.
"I will remove the candlestick."  He would take away all usefulness in the surrounding world.  The candlelight in Turkey has gone out.  The word "ichabod" must be there.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."  Revelation 2:7

END OF BOOK I!

And one interesting photo from said book . . .

We actually had prayer meeting on Christmas Day in 1996!  It seems like in recent years if prayer meeting has even fallen on Christmas Eve, we've moved it to Tuesday.  Well.

1/12/97, PM, Pr. McDearmon

Satan's temptations remind us that he is a malicious enemy, and to, in the language of Paul, "Put on the full armor of God." 

The Christian life is a fight.
A.  What we are fighting for
B.  Our enemies

1. Satan
2. The world  1 John 5:4

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory which has overcome the world - our faith."  Faith in Christ is our weaponry and armor.

What does "the world" signify? 
a.   Fallen man
b.  The whole realm of sight and sense

Faith in Christ leads us to seek first not what we shall eat, not what we shall drink, not with what we'll clothe ourselves, but His kingdom and His righteousness.  Faith, which is the trusting in things we have not seen. 
The third enemy:
      3.   Indwelling sin   Romans 7:21

"I find, then, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good."
James 4:1-2:  "Where do wars and fights come from among you?  Do they not come from your desires for pleasures that war in your members?  You lust and do not have.  You murder and covet and cannot obtain.  you fight and war.  Yet you do not have because you do not ask."  We indulge our fleshly lusts and we become again like a beast.  1 Peter 2:11

Natively, every man has been conquered by and enslaved to sin.  Natively the white flag has long ago gone up.  Natively we are willing compliers to the devil.

1/12/97, AM, Pr. McDearmon

Do not hastily enlist.  Think.  Count the cost.  Not everyone will want to join.  Jesus is the captain of our salvation.  2 Tim. 2:3-4.  The Christian life is a fight.  1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7. 

A.  The objective of the soldier of Christ '
B.  The enemies who ware against the soldier

1. The devil
2. The world
3. Indwelling sin

C.  The armor and weaponry of the soldier of Christ
D.  The triumph of the soldier of Christ
"Whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
"Oh Death, where is your sting?  Oh Hades, where is your victory?"  1 Cor. 15:55  The answer:  there is no sting.  Revelation 2&3  Satan's warfare is "guerrilla" warfare.  He waits until a time of weakness or sorrow.  He creeps in cunninglyl instead of charging boldly on.  He practices war only by ambushes and surprises.

12/29/96, PM, Pr. McDearmon

Titus 3:4  "But when the kindness and love of god our Savior appeared, He saved us . . . "

I.    Who appeared
II.   What appeared
III.  The result of that which appeared

"Us" refers to the same persons mentioned in verse 3:  those formerly foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  Eph. 2:5,8; Acts 27:20; 1 Tim. 1:15; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 1:16; Tit. 3:4, 2:13

"He saved us."  This signifies a done and finished work, a completed task.  No delusion is more deeply embedded in man's mind than the one that to some degree he can save himself by holiness and by doing good works.  God our Savior saved us freely.  The Lord weighs the motive.  What is a righteous motive?  A righteous motive is primarily to love god, and secondly, to love our fellow man.  When did He save us?  It was prior to His incarnation, which makes it impossible for us to work our way through salvation.  Self-righteousness is a hard master.

The term "mercy" implies our wretchedness and withholding what we deserve.  "Justice is getting what you deserve.  Mercy is not getting what you do deserve.  Grace is getting what you do not deserve."

Take special note that He saved us from the bondage of sin.  We are His workmanship created by Christ Jesus.  We are reminded to be merciful to others, just as your Father is merciful.  God our Savior has accomplished a salvation which is willingly held out to all who will repent and believe.  Salvation does not come from duties done.  "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy."

1/5/97, PM, Pr. McDearmon

[Note] The need to resist the aggressive forms of human depravity.  Nations will seek to conquer other nations unless they are deterred not by peace treaties but by force.  It is a matter of when, not if.  "Nations are usually unjust and unscrupulous."  (Dabney) It is the duty of the magistrate to resist human depravity.

I.  The Biblical purpose of the military
It is defending the nation against the attack of other nations.
II.  The military with which the New Testament writers were familiar
The Bible is a book unlike and like any other.  True Christian living is a good fight, and it requires all the vigilance, strength, warring, etc. that a soldier has.  

Why is the Christian fight a good fight?

1. It is fought under an excellent  commander
2. It is fought with the best of helps
3. It is fought with the best of promises  "The righteous man shall fall seven times and yet rise again." 
4. It has the best of outcomes -- eternal life.  "Of those that Thou hast given me, I have brought them back unharmed."

There are more good things about the Christian warfare than we see.  Let us not judge things by their appearances.  "Fight the good fight of faith."  "This is faith's fight."  The Christian warrior fights not only for the fight, he fights because of faith.  "Whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory which has overcome the world--our faith."  "Oh death, where is thy sting?  Oh grave, where is thy victory?"

Acts 22:22-29, 27:1; Eph. 6:10-20; 1 Tim. 1; John 10:28; Phil. 1:6, 2:13, 4:13; Heb. 13:5; Ps. 37

1/5/97, AM, Pr. McDearmon

in the New Testament, we have a rich example of favour from the military to Paul.

Lines of truth in military language

1.  Jesus is the captain of our salvation  (Hebrews 2:10)
Questions & Answers:

• How did His sufferings fit our salvation?
• His sufferings made Him a sympathizing leader.
• He made a full satisfaction for sins.
• His sufferings also became an example to His suffering people.  2 Tim. 3:12; John 15:20
• In what way is He the captain of our salvation?
• By His perfect life and substitutionary death, He has obtained a righteousness before God that we could never attain.  "We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."

2.  This captain seeks faithful soldiers  (2 Timothy 2:3-4)
A [Old Testament Israelite] soldier cannot marry, farm, manage another person's property, or anything else that would distract him from the serving of his commander.  He cannot serve on his own terms.  He must lose his will while accomplishing the will of his master or commander.  The Christian life is a fight, but it's a good fight.

12/29/96, AM, Pr. Trummel

1 Peter 3:1-8
Three Things Noticed

1. The joy of a saint is the highest and best kind of joy.  It is full of glory.
2. This joy is not neutralized by trials.  The Christian's joy is joy over trials also, for trials help keep your faith.  
3. Christian joy is the offspring of faith.  There can be only one hub of a wheel.  The spokes are the fruits, the joy.

It is not until the darkest night that you can see the brightness of the stars.

I.  Christian joy
    A.  One of the marks of a Christian
          Often Christian joy is present at the time of conversion.  Acts 8:39; Acts 13:48,52; Acts 16:34
          "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!"  There is a difference in the joy of this earth and the joy of heaven.
    B.  Some of the biblical traits of joy

1.  The object of joy is different.  The Christian rejoices in the Lord.  The unconverted rejoice in the things of this world that God could destroy in 2 minutes.  "These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."  Let the world take their joy in the world, but Christ the Lord shall be your delight.
2. The source of joy is different.  "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy . . . "  the joy which the world has is transient.  "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the full day."  No faith, no joy.  If what you call joy has not come through Christ, then it is not Christian joy.

Several Applications

1. We as the people of God ought to realize that it is our Christian responsibility to rejoice.  Psalm 2:11, 149:42; 1 Thess. 5:16  It is a 
1. personal
2. present
3. persisting duty.  It is a sin not to rejoice.
2. We ought also to seek to manifest our Christian joy in a Biblical way.  1 Pet. 4:13
3. We ought to seek to glorify God for His gospel of grace.

If the affections of a man have not changed fundamentally, something is wrong.  It cannot be harmful for you to do what God has commanded you to do, because it is for your good.  Glorify this God for the grace that He gives you through His Son, that grace which restores your affections.  Glory to God, Amen.

12/22/96, PM, Pr. McDearmon

I.  Who appeared:  God our Savior through the God-man, fully God, and fully man
II.  Who will again appear
III.  What appeared
     A.  Kindness
           Romans 2:4 -- "the kindness of God"
     B.  Love for mankind
          "Love your enemies doing good, not expecting a reward, and your reward will be great."
          "Behold, then, the kindness and severity of God . . ."

A two-part theology of God's kindness

1. God is a God of abounding kindness
2. God's kindness is bestowed both to the needs of body and soul

Will not you, to whom gentleness and kindness have been greatly bestowed, be gentle adn kind to others even when they don't deserve it at all?

12/22/96, AM, Pr. McDearmon

Men act as they do because of who and what they are.  They are, according to one another, malicious.  They have a secret desire to see others harmed and hurt.  Men behave so badly because it is their nature to so behave.

"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, through the washing of regeneration adn renewing by the Holy Spirit."  Titus 3:4-5

That is the remedy.  Not more education, getting "connected" or getting to know each other better, but the saving work of God; the changing us to new creatures.  Christ should motivate us to deal with others kindly, [in a] friendly [manner], graciously agreeably, amiably.  We are not to think "Those men don't deserve kindness so I'm not going to give it."  Granted, they don't deserve it, but Christ gave you something you didn't deserve.
Eph. 5:1

There is a deliverer.  He demands that all men repent and believe.  He demands that we confess our sins.

12/15/96, PM, Pr. McDearmon

The child's primary problem is not his action; it's his contrary attitude.  What will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel?  It means to be froward, heady, and eternally fight[ing] against the truth.  Man is natively foolish, disobedient and deceived.  "For you were continually straying like sheep."  God has revealed His truth through creation and the Bible, but men suppress it, trying to convince itself that wrong is true and believe it to be true, making themselves look like fools along the way.  They deceive themselves by resting upon their baptisms, intellectualities or something else.  Lust of the flesh is most often wrong and evil.  Mortification is the way to respond to lust, not gratification.  Malice is that desire to see others suffer, harmed, and hurt.  Envy is that secret hatred and bitterness that someone else has something you want.  Hating each other is the natural result when hateful and mean people live together.  This was our former condition and should incline us to heed the reminder of showing every consideration of all men.  By nature, we are just like all men.  Remember this profile tomorrow and in the week ahead.  You did not get to the place you are at by yourselves.  "By the grace of God, I am waht I am."  The remnants of sin are still in us.  Let his weakness be the glass to view your own, for you can see your own sin about as often as you can see your own ears.

12/1/96, PM, Pr. Brackett

There are issues of the heart.  It is not just hand obedience

 A Mandate for Dealing with Sinful Acts

 "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye when you have a log in your own eye?  You fool!  First take the log out of your own eye so you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

It is not enough that I don't steal your money; it's that I don't want to steal your money.  It's not enough that you don't murder me; it's that you don't want to murder me.

When you say "I don't want any of your lip" or "don't be eyeing my piece of pie," you don't mean that you don't want that person to rip off their lip and give it to you or cover their eyes so they can't see your pie, but you don't want them to speak impertinently or be covetous in their heart of your pie.  So Christ means when He says to pluck out your eye or cut off your hand.

12/1/96, AM, Pr. Brackett

Thankfulness is to be the pervasive disposition of the Christian's heart.  What is it to be thankful?  It is to express gratitude to God for His mercies.  Thanksgiving also ought to be the climate by which we live.  It ought to be what Christians are known for. 

"And, be thankful." Col. 3:15c  It is not a suggestion; it is a command.  "In everything give thanks."

Motivations

1. Unthankfulness is the characteristic of ungodly people.  Even the Pharisees knew what it was to give thanks.
2. Thankfulness is expected of the righteous. 

Thanksgiving must rise out of the heart.  How will it manifest itself?  Paul is always giving thanks.  Likewise David and the other psalmists.

Concluding hindrances

1. Forgetting our sin and ungodliness
2. Forgetting what God has done for us

12/1/96, SS, Pr. Brackett

Psalm 73 
Notice 2 Things:

1. Asaph's near apostasy
2. Asaph's recovery

The reason he almost slipped was because he was envious of the wicked.  They may seem to be in a good state, living rich and glamorous lives, dying anything but painful, troubled deaths. Of course they had no persecutions or trials.  Asaph began to ask himself where the "prosper" was in his religion.  Everything is peace and safety [for them].  But then God broke them and gave them what every sin deserves.  What could be more dangerous than those who sin with impunity?  The wicked are on a very tall pinnacle, but it is a slippery place and though they think God doesn't see or doesn't care, they shall soon have that far to fall, all the way into the pit of hell.  We must guard our hearts of envying wicked men.

11/24/96, PM, Pr. McDearmon

A family is wanted that has an open door policy toward brothers and sisters in Christ.  A man is to understand that his role is to spend and be spent.  He is to be the ruler over his wife.  A woman as a wife is to be a helper suitable for her husband.  She was created for his sake.  "The rod and reproof give wisdom," but "spare the rod and spoil the child."  Jesus did not grow one-dimensionally; He grew in proportion.

• Obedience vs. Rebellion
• Diligence and Industry vs. Sloth and Laziness
• Honesty vs. Tell a lie
• Responsibility vs. Irresponsibility
• Purity vs. Impurity etc.

To rear an obedient fool is no accomplishment.  To rear an obedient glutton will be nothing to shout about.  Teh whole man must make headway, like olive plants.

Practical Applications:  "It will require . . ."

1. Full time, hands on, pro-active parents
2. Parents who realize they are responsible for their children's education
3. Credible parental examples
4. Biblically informed parents
5. Alert parents who seize upon the every-day lessons of life

If you sow foolishness, you too may reap a premature, fiery and bloody death.  Even in laughter, there is not perfect happiness.  Better is little and happiness than treasure and trouble therewith.  A man is happy because he was work to do.  Don't miss this.  You cannot find happiness in riches. 

We should stop for nothing less.  God is the God of a second chance when we fail.  We must model for our sons and daughters a life we want them to live.  Christ alone is the source of such domestic life.

11/24/96, AM, Pr. McDearmon

What is a distinctive?  It is a quality that sets someone apart from the crowd.

Distinctives of the BLBC:

1. The distinctive of true holiness
2. The distinctive of true harmony
3. The distinctive of true headway
4. The distinctive of true happiness

A family whose

• Dad is not only interested in his work and own affairs
• Mom who does not do all the work or make all the decisions
• Children who don't grow up as unprecedented worldlings, indulged by their parents

The fear of God is that consciousness that we are all living under God's hand.  "I am a companion of all those who fear Thee, and a friend to those who fear Thy name."  Explicitly, the one pictured here who fears the Lord is the man, the spiritual leader, not the sole possessor of the fear of God, but rather the pace-setter.

Characteristics of the holy family:

1. There is in a godly family the consistent, vital family worship
2. The Biblical resolution of conflict:  confession of sin, seeking forgiveness, granting forgiveness
3. The thorough integration into the life of a true church

Three Practical Necessities:

1. You must stop up your ears to the message of our day:  unisex, equality
2. You must have the Bible inform you of your roles and duties.  Listen and act.
3. You must act upon the information you find in the Bible.

Paying Attention, 11/10/96, PM, Mr. Maiella

Proverbs 1:5; I Samuel 2:12

I.  Survey the book of Proverbs about paying attention

II.  Practical lessons we can glean from the book of Proverbs

You cannot allow a son or daughter to get away with the excuse of forgetting when you told them but a minute ago. 

This son knew who was in charge when his father spoke.

It is your duty to listen and be attentive. 

1.  Train your children to sit quietly
2.  Train them to keep eye contact with the speaker
3.  Ask your children questions about the sermon

Adults need to pay attention to what your children are saying.  It would be silly to give them a half-hearted attention and expect a full attention from them.

How do our children see us as we listen to the pastor?  If we want to train our children to be attentive listeners, we must be careful to be a good example to them.

11/10/96, AM, Mr. Horan

Inside the tomb was an angel.  He knew who the women were looking for.  the angel makes special reference to Peter:  "God, call the disciples, and,"--especially--"Peter."  When the women went and told the disciples, they did not believe.  When two of their number went and told the rest after seeing Him in person, the disciples did not believe.  When Jesus Himself came to them Himself, He rebuked them for their disbelief.  They were probably living in a time of confusion, and did not understand.  The resurrection is proof of the divinity of Christ.  "The Lord said to my Lord, 'sit at my right hand until I make My enemies a footstool.' "
"He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise all those who are in Christ Jesus."
"If we have believed in this life only, wew are most to be pitied."
"Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ."