3/22/98, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Wisdom is the ability to deal with real life by making oral judgments with discernment.  much of what the preacher reveals is about wisdom, and how, for a while, he thought wisdom was equivalent to much book learning.

II.  Reign of Solomon
D.  His building of the temple
   1.  David's charge to Solomon
   2.  David's provisions for the temple
      a.  Survey various elements of David's provision

• Means of securing materials for its construction
• By charging the leaders of Israel to construct it
• The Levites that were to serve there were organized
• The other leaders were organized
• Final charge about the temple

     b.  The final charge to Solomon
     c.  his offerings of gold and silver
     d.  The nation's offering
     e.  David's prayer of thanksgiving

Some practical matters:

1. David demonstrated a next-generation concern for the work of God.  We ought to be concerned about 3 specifics
1. Second-generation leadership
2. Second-generation membership - conversions among the young in our midst
3. The viability of this area
2.  David expressed the primary elements of a sanctified masculinity.
3. David provided his son a sense of direction and destiny for life.

-  We see in Solomon's temple a picture of Jesus Christ.  We have New Testament warrant for seeing in Solomon's temple a picture of Christ.  He is the chief cornerstone.
-  We see in Solomon's temple a picture of teh church of Christ.  The church, thus, is the locale of God's presence.  David looked for skilled men out of reverence for God's house, to work on the temple.

3/15/98, PM, Pastor McDearmon

D.  His building of the temple 1 Kings 5-8, 2 Chron. 2-7
1.  The charge
   a.  The nature of early piety

• The knowledge of God
• A relational, experimental knowledge of God that motivates how we think and act
• It consists of cheerful responses to God.

   b.  The motives of early piety
Be thankful you have fathers who know God, and they care that you know God. 

• Filial considerations
• The rightness of early piety
• Because of God's omniscience
• The encouragement of the promise, "If you seek Him, He will let you find Him."  Matt. 7:7
• The fearfulnes of the warning:  "But if you forsake it, He will reject you forever."

   c.  The evidence of manly piety - To act, be courageous

3/15/98, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Life of Solomon
2 Viewpoints

I. The natural man - man is considered supreme, and mortal life is considered final.  The conclusion from this viewpoint is "All is vanity."  This viewpoint is often characterized by the phrase "under the sun."

II.  with God in proper perspective

I. Rise of Solomon
II.  Reign of Solomon
    A.  His first marriage --> He started well
    B.  Solomon's prayer --> for wisdom
    C.  His statesmanship
1 Kings 4:1-34, 9:10-10:29; 2 Chron. 8:9

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."  Prov. 14:34  Another observation - The Judean region had only one deputy, the remaining were all for upper Israel.  Taxation is a powerful part of government.  As was the case there, so in American history.  Taxation triggers revolution.  1 Tim. 2:2 
God gives wisdom on two cases:
1.  One must fear Him
2.  One must receive His Word

7 aspects that he built after God's house

1. The building of cities
2. The enslaving of his enemies
3. He built a queen's palace for his wife
4. He offered sacrifices unto God  (The identity of David is "the man of God.")
5. He built a fleet of ships
6. He multiplied his wealth
7. He buitl up his military --> though at peace, he was still prepared for war.

Prosperity would become Solomon's worst enemy.

3/8/98, AM, Pastor Brackett

2 Kings 9
God works out everything to happen according to His Word.  Whatever God gives us to do, He wants us to do to serve Him and for His own glory.  Indeed, the Word of God is true. 

1. Do not be so foolish as to be forewarned of God's judgment, and yet keep in your ungodly ways.
2. Do not assure yourself that there are no immediate judgments on you--that all is well.
3. Do not follow in the sins of your fathers.

3/8/98, SS, Pastor Brackett

I.  The Biblical warrant for praying for pastors
Acts 4, 12; Phil. 1:19; Rom. 15:30; 2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:19; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1; Heb. 13:18
Sometimes extraordinary prayer [with] particular fervency is needed.  Other times it is just in our ordinary prayer with regular focus, frequency and fervency needed to pray for our pastor. 

II.  The fundamental concerns
    A.  Their preservation from the enemies of God
    B.  Their proclamation of the Word of God

1. The issue of deliverance
2. The issue of contrition
3. The issue of divine enablement
4. The issue of courage and right manner
5. The issue of the Word of God needing to run and have free course

III.  Several motivations for praying for pastors
    A.  It is our obligation to pray
    B.  It is both essential and effectual in its instrumentality.  "You have not because you ask not."
    C.  Because of the vital necessity of their work.  Eph. 4
    D.  Because of the exceptional difficulty of their work
    E.  Because of the frailty of the men themselves
    F.  Because of the indirect ministry of their work for us

If you do well, it is because your pastor is praying for you and preaching to you, so when you pray for him, you are praying for yourself.

1/7/01, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Ecclesiastes 10:8-11
IV.  D. 4. To Method

method - the procedure that we lay out adn follow.  A systematic process for doing something.

• The primary lesson is that the use of the mind is the major difference between the wise and the foolish. 
• The passage identifies 6 actions which were common to the original mindset, and they all involve risk (which should be anticipated) and they are representative of our life's labors.
• The key is vs. 10b.  "Wisdom has the advantage of giving success."  
• This wisdom involves planning, preparing and promptly performing.  1 Kings 5:17

Poetic Justice - when malicious men are punished in an ironic way.  Most commonly, a man in Solomon's day would dig a pit for the purpose of capturing wild animals.  If you dig pits, remember where the pit is.  Be wary; think ahead.  Wisdom is not knowing everything about wood or arcs, it is applying what you know.  Doing things God's way brings success.  When it comes to snake charming, you must use your skill before you are bitten.  A wise man uses the proper time and procedures. 
Prov. 26:27; Ps. 7

Conclusion

• We are reminded that our minds are among those talents with which God has entrusted us.  Mental laziness is evil.
• We are reminded of a wise man's manner of thinking.
• We are reminded that life is filled with endeavors that demand our attention.  Discipline your child while there is hope.

12/24/00, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Portraits of Manhood:  Simeon
Luke 2:22-35
1.  Person of Simeon
"Simeon" - "one who hears and obeys"
He is only mentioned here in the Bible, although other Simeons appear in the Old Testament. 
-  He was an ordinary man (not a priest, rabbi, or leader of the Jews).  He lived at a time when true religion was at a low point in Christendom.
-  He was a godly man.  He was "righteous and devout," obeying God because he loved God.  He was far more than just churchly.  He was a godly man from the inside out.

2.  Passion of Simeon
Passion - An ardent, fervent desire for something.  vs. 25 "looking for the consolation of Israel."  The "consolation of Israel" describes the coming Messiah.  Is your supreme passion Simeon-like?  "If you seek Him, He will let you find him."  Ps. 63:1; Jer. 29:13

3.  The Power of Simeon - that which moved him. 
Simeon was directed, influenced, guided and taught by the Holy Spirit.  "The Holy Spirit was upon him."  (vs. 25.)  Simeon, as all other true believers, was a man who knew the presence of God with him.

12/24/00, PM, Pastor McDearmon

Portrait of Simeon

4.  The prayer of Simeon
4 Truths

• It reveals that salvation is to be found in the person of the Child Jesus.
• It reveals that salvation is offered to all kinds of men.  "God so loved the world . . . "  John 3:16  "For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Salvation is offered to all, therefore all men are obligated to come.
• It teaches us that salvation prepares people to die.  Simeon prays all these things.  Acts 4:27

5.  The proclamation of Simeon
It's quite different from what most proclaim right now.  He proclaimed the Lord's death.  He said that Jesus would prove to be the ruin of many and the rise of many.  There is no neutrality with Jesus.  "He who is not with Me is against Me."  Luke 18:9

12/17/00, PM, Pastor McDearmon

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty..."  Eccl. 10:4-7

Prefacing Comments

1. The primary lesson of verses 4-7 is that of wisdom applied to our passions.
2. Vs. 4-7 are being viewed as a unit of thought despite the paragraph break.  Verses 5-7 are a continuation of vs. 4, calling for the same thing.
3. The section recalls these previous sections:  Eccl. 4:14-16; 5:8-9; 7:7; 8:1-9
4. Vs. 4-7 are an example of one primary way the fool demonstrates to everyone he is a fool.

IV.  4th Discourse
D.  Vanity dispelled by wisdom applied
3.  To anger
    a.  Provocation #1:  vs. 4
When you're dealing with a hotheaded superior, remain composed.  Panicking, resigning, quitting will only make things worse.
"Do not abandon your position" - don't walk away in a huff.
Reason:  composure allays great offenses.
Composure - signifies a calm, controlled, clear-headed response.  Angry passions only incite angry passions.  Wisdom leads to this kind of composure.
   b.  Provocation #2:  vs. 5-7
Fools an incompetence are often in high places and this can make a good man irritated.  Don't look upon the wise with envy but as people from whom you can learn.  The idea is dissidence. 

Summary 
This can provoke wise and good men to anger.
-  Beware of the provoking nature of such reversal
-  Beware of the temptation to quit
-  When we are ruled by fools, we need to remember that God is truly sovereign over the land and the peoples.

12/17/00, AM, Pastor Dutcher

"Religion begat prosperity, and the daughter consumed the mother." - Cotton Mather, about the decay of religion in the Plymouth Colony. 

The Christian develops, because of his religion, a good character that often produces prosperity.  Yet prosperity must not let us forget religion.

It's better to do less with more - examine your lives to see if you can eliminate non-essential activities in order to spend more time in devotion to God.

1.  Martha's Perspective
Martha's spirit is self absorbed.  If we are preoccupied with ourselves in our service of Christ, we are really serving ourselves.  We spoil our service when we overestimate its loftiness.  Martha fell into an unbelieving expectation.

2.  The Lord's Perspective
It's more important to listen to Christ.  Martha allowed the means to be the ends.  Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  We know we have yielded to Martha's inclination when we don't sit at the feet of Jesus, listening to His Word. 

Demas was a fellow worker with Paul.  But he went on to forsake Christ in order to gain the world.  How came this?  Jesus tells the men who said, "Lord, Lord . . .", "I never knew you."  If they had sat at Christ's feet every day, he would have known them.  Do less - cut back on all the Martha-like busyness.  Christ must come first.  Pray.  Perfectionism is not conducive to productivity.

Luke 21:34; John 11; Rev. 2, 3:1, 14-22; Col. 4:14; Phile.:23-24; 2 Tim. 4:10; Matt. 7:22-23; 1 Cor. 7

12/10/00, AM, Pastor McDearmon

The wise and the foolish speak, think and act differently.  Ecc. 10:2-3

IV 4th Discourse
D.  Vanity dispelled by wisdom applied
   2.  To competence
        a.  The root
Heart - refers to the inner nature of man.  Synonym-soul.
Used:

• Ecc. 3:11 "there is no annihilation of the heart"
• Ecc. 5:20 heart relates to affections
• Ecc. 7:2 One learns with the heart
• Ecc. 7:3 Contrast  heart : face :: spiritual : physical
• Ecc. 8:11 Signifies will
• Ecc. 9:3 Men's hearts are thoroughly depraved
• Ecc. 9:1 Thinking and analyzing
• Ecc. 11:9 Desire, will

Heart then signifies the spiritual, the inward affections and volition.

Here we have wisdom contrasted with folly.  Here "heart" has an emphasis on the mind and reason.  The foolish man's heart is governed by its own notions.  His mind is largely given to the fleeting--listless vacuity.  His reasoning powers are nto governed by God's truths.  Matt. 7:24-25  Your mind matters.  Thus beware of what goes into it.  2 Tim. 3:15
 
       b.  The routes
The condition of a man's heart has real bearing on the course of a man's life. 
-  "The right" signifies

• blessing on someone
• strength, ability or competence

-  God strengthens the hand of skill
-  Hand of power
-  The left hand signifies loss, dishonor, disfavor (sheep on teh right, goats on the left)
Matt. 25:33; Is. 51:13; Ps. 21:8; Judges 3:15
 - exception - left-handed men of high competence

Comments
-  The text bears upon our temporal interest in the world.
-  The text reminds us of things spiritual--if you want to make it to heaven, you've got to live like Christ.

"Nature of Repentance", 12/10/99, Pastor Martin

1.  Source
Repentance is a gift from God, even though it is the sinner that has to repent.  The repentant sinner and the preacher are not to be praised, but God is.  Evangelism is not a con job on sinners, but eh hope of God's imparting His grace. 
Acts 5:30-31, 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Ez. 36

2.  Soil
- Spirit-wrought conviction of sin
- Spirit-imparted grasp of Christ
If your mouth has not been shut against excuses and equivocating, you have not known true conviction.  You need nothing more than a crucified Christ to save you, and nothing else will do. 
Rom. 3:19-20; Luke 15:17-19

3.  Substance

The Christian in the Workplace, 5/28/00, Pastor Thompson

"A Passion for Excellence," part 2

II.  A Passion for a Biblical Work Ethic  Luke 16:9
We all are called to be conformed to Christ in every aspect of life, including the workplace.

A.  A Biblical work ethic is Christocentric (Christ is in the middle of it)
We must spend time gazing at our Lord's perfection.  Christ had established Himself as a craftsman rather than as a rabbi.  He worked as a carpenter for 30 years before He took up His preaching ministry.

1. Our Lord's example.  He worked.  His carpentry was a part of His mission to save His people from their sins.  John 17
• One's career should be viewed as a divine calling
• Our career brings us into contact with the world
• Our career must leave us unpolluted by the world.  We are to have separated involvement.  It comes from understanding "degree of association"
• We must be in the world but not of the world 1 Cor. 10:14-21.  We're told not to be unequally bound together with unbelievers.  A closeness and intimacy with them is forbidden.  This speaks to marriage, friendship, and how you do things.  Seek counsel not of your peers but of someone older and experienced.  A Christ-like work ethic will bring opposition.
• Investment of our money.  Make friends and help others with your money, but do it with your accountability in mind.  "Be on your guard against every form of greed."  Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:13; Matt. 25:14  The discharge of our stewardship, regardlses of its scope, reveals our character.
• Rules for Guys [i.e. potential husbands]
• A relatively mature Christian proven in a church
• A leader
• A gentleman
• Proven faithfulness in a vocation or raining for a vocation.  Beware of a divided heart, trying to serve both God and Mammon.  Matt. 5:13
• Christian witness in the workplace:  Living the life, then speaking for Christ
• Sexual purity:  you must keep both your eyes and your heart and body pure.  Christ died for your body as well as your soul.  1 Cor. 6:15-20
• Kingdom priorities:  we have few needs but many wants.  Matt. 6:19
2. Our Lord's teaching.  All of our Lord's teaching has relevance to the workplace, but some are particularly helpful.  Stewardship/accountability. 1 Cor. 4:1-6; Luke 16:1-13 Surely you sense in your soul the reality that you are a steward.  Are you prepared to give an account now?  Our Lord calls us to a practical wisdom in the discharge of our stewardship.  Much of wise stewardship comes from experience and maturity.  Be inquisitive and observant.  

B.  A Biblical work ethic is essentially spiritual
It is wrought by the Holy Spirit.  In and of yourself, you are doomed to failure.  You need power to live for Christ in a dark, hostile environment.  You need truth.  You need love.  It is first and foremost.  The starting point of love is God's first love for us.  John 14:16-17

The Christian in the Workplace, 5/28/00, Pastor Thompson

"A Passion for Excellence", part 1

We must plug this passion into a passion for the glory of God.  That's what we're here for.  Eat, drink, or whatever--all must be to God's glory.  How do I accomplish such a lofty goal--to have a passion for excellence in work by glorifying God?  You must have:

I.  Passion for the Purposes of God in Relationship to our Work
There is no interest in truth in our culture today.  The passion is from the beginning.  Gen. 2:8 

A.  Labor as a significant element of our humanity
God gave Adam a career at the very beginning.  Remember, God made man in His own image.  Your career is designed to reflect the glory of God.  you are who and where you are because God made you thus and put you thus.

B.  Significance of labor unchanged by the fall
Man's labor is not changed in its duty because of Adam's sin.  The peculiar arena of difficulty because of sin is, especially in man, in his labor.  The curse brought hardship to it, yet labor itself was not part of the curse.

C.  The glory of labor restored in redemption
God's saving activity has a profound effect upon our minds.  Those who are not Christians have their thinking veiled.  2 Cor. 4:1-6  We must understand our labor in its Biblical framework.

3 Applications
- If you're to have any passion for the dignity and necessity of labor, you must go back to Genesis and think "My career has dignity because it is a portrait designed by my Father to illustrate His glory and power."

- A healthy, Biblical realism will be provided you from your work.  That's because you'll have aggravation, temptation, and shattered dreams.  EVEN in a vocation you love.  Psalm 62:10, Prov. 23:4-5, Rom. 8:20

What is the ultimate and final end for which we work?
- It is ultimately to stack up all our works at the feet of the King.  Our retirement plan is the laying up of treasure in heaven.  You don't naturally think like that, either.

The Son of Man: A Ransom for Many, Pastor Bill Hughes

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  Mark 10:45

1. Greatness of Who He is - "The Son of Man" - Jesus' favorite way of referring to Himself.  The Jewish people couldn't understand it.  He has an eternal glory and has been with the Father and the Holy Spirit from eternity.  He made Himself of no reputation by becoming one of us.  We are so often very proud.
2. Greatness of What He did - "to serve" He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.  He was obedient to His Father.
3. Greatness of What He accomplished - "ransom" - the price paid to redeem someone/something.  Christ did not simply come to make people saveable; He came to save them.  Christ is dealt with as if He was guilty.  Barrabas was guilty.  Yet he is released.  There are many people who are condemned already, because they were born that way.  Your sins are either on your own head or on the head of Christ.

"David's Mighty Men," Pastor McDearmon

"No man is an island." - John Donne
Everyone's life is interwoven with the lives of other men.  Primary application:  We ought to identify the mighty men God has provided us. 

1. Men who gave a hand (helping, supporting and cooperating with others).  David possessed the presence of God.  What course is being advanced by us giving our support?  They selflessly helped their righteous king.
2. Men of guts - courage and valor.  They faced and overcame their fear of death.  Evident self-exposing bravery.  They're called the "mighty men."
3. Men of gift - these were competent men; of skill; who had cultivated their God-given ability.  These men must have drilled and practiced and trained.
4. Men of "get up and go" (initiative and action).  Men of mighty deeds.  That's a rare commodity in our day.  They must have the willingness and the energy to do something.  Opposite of procrastination, delay, lethargy, "let someone else do it" mindset.  "Mere talk leads only to poverty."

2 Samuel 23, 1 Chronicles 11

Uriah the Hittite was one of David's mighty men.  "The thirty" yet there are thirty-six in 2 Sam. and 52 in 1 Chron.