Will You Be “Left Behind”?

September 15, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSprings1 thessalonians 4, great tribulation, left behind, millennium, revelation 20, secret rapture

Download the eBooklet (PDF) Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17). “Will you be ‘left behind?’ Evangelical Christianity knows this question well. It has been inundated with the pre-tribulational, pre-millennial, secret rapture of the church for the last century. In fact, just last week Dallas Theological Seminary advertised a free ebook on social media, The Truth and Timing of…

Hebrews Joshua Psalms Sermons

“Sanctuary Cities”

September 11, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringscities of refuge, DACA, Hebrews 6, Hurricane Irma, illegal immigrants, Joshua 20, Psalm 46, sanctuary cities

Joshua 20:1-9; Hebrews 6:17-20 September 10, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Do you know what Machiavellianism is? The word comes from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, born in 1469, who wrote the popular book The Prince. In this book, Machiavelli proposed that all actions, whether good or evil, the state exercises to achieve and preserve its power are justified. In time, his proposition was summarized as, “the end justifies the means.” Individually, one can deceive, lie, steal, even commit murder, to achieve…

Sermons

“Jesus Had Compassion on Her”

September 9, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSprings

A Meditation for Linda Metcalfe Memorial Service Luke 7:11-17 September 9, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF) • Download Memorial Service Program (PDF) In a 1789 letter, Ben Franklin, one of our founding fathers, wrote, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” How true for Americans, and for all people (unless there’s such a country without taxes). It is so certain that the Bible talks about death a lot. Most…

Hebrews Joshua

Four Examples of Blessing for Obedience

September 7, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAchsah, Caleb, Hebrews 4, Joshua, Joshua 14, Joshua 15, Joshua 17, Joshua 19, Othniel, Zelophehad

Excerpts from Joshua 14-19; Hebrews 4:1-10 September 3, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: We now come to the tedious chapters of Joshua, where we read about the lands that the tribes and clans and individuals of Israel inherited after the conquest of Canaan. We read of tongue-twisting places and names. Why can’t Gederothaim be Gardensham, or Kerioth-hezron be Kerrington, and Shahazumah be Shenandoah? Why can’t the daughters of Zelophehad named Mahlah be Myla, or Hoglah be Holly, or Milcah be Michaiah, and Tirzah be Theresa?…

Joshua Psalms Sermons

“Divide This Land for an Inheritance”

September 4, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSprings12 tribes of Israel, 2 Corinthians 1, Canaan, half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 13, memorial stones, Philistines, Promised Land, racism

Joshua 13:1-14:15; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 August 20, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Near the beginning of our study of the Book of Joshua, we learned that after crossing the Jordan River on dry ground, the Israelites were commanded by God to set up a memorial of 12 stones, each stone representing a tribe of Israel. The memorial was built so that the following generations of Israelites would know that their forefathers crossed the river after the LORD dried it up. Then they would fear the…

Joshua Psalms Sermons

The LORD’s Northern Campaign

September 4, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsCanaanites, inheritance, John 6, Joshua, Levites, Philistines, Promised Land, Psalm 2, Psalm 46

Joshua 11:1-23; 12:1, 7-8; John 6:38-40 August 13, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: In recent days, there has been much saber-rattling between the United States and North Korea. North Korea threatens to send a few missiles to the waters near Guam, and the United States has threatened retaliation “with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” Both are flexing their nuclear muscles, but the whole world knows that the United States can destroy the whole world many times over with its weapons. Both countries…

Joshua Sermons

The Lord’s Southern Campaign

August 7, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAdoni-zedek, Amorites, Ephesians 1, Gibeon, Joshua 10, southern campaign, sun stood still

Joshua 10:1-43; Ephesians 1:19-23 August 6, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Today’s text includes one of the most disputed events in the Bible. This is the event popularly known as “the sun stood still” during the Battle of Gibeon between Israel and the Amorites. Did the sun – and moon – really stop in the course that God established for them? We will consider this today. As we’ve studied the Book of Joshua, we’re now at the beginning of the conquest of the Promised Land.…

Joshua Sermons

A Covenant with Deceivers

July 30, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsel-Jib, Gibeon, Joshua 9, Matthew 5, oaths and vows

Joshua 9:1-27; Matthew 5:33-37 July 30, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 was the worst day in the U.S. Navy’s history. But its causes include faulty intelligence, ambiguous communications, and a belief that the Japanese will never attempt such a daring attack. In his speech after that “day of infamy,” President Roosevelt said: The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its…

Joshua Sermons

Is God a “Moral Monster”?

July 23, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAi, Canaan, Jericho, Joshua 6, Joshua 8, Richard Dawkins

This was my Pastor’s Column in the Siskiyou Daily News on Friday, July 21, 2017.

Sermons

“They Have Violated My Covenant”

July 17, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSprings

Joshua 7:1-26; Acts 5:1-11 July 16, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) ● Download bulletin (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Today’s text makes Christians cringe, because when their families and friends hear this part of Israel’s history, they are asked, “How can your God commit genocide by exterminating all the men, women, children, animals and possessions of Jericho, Ai and other Canaanite cities?” Some even apologize, by accepting that the text is a mistake, or that they too reject this “holy war” in the book. But many others sway to the…