“Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho”: Really?

July 10, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAngel of the Lord, commander of the Lord's army, Divine Warrior, Jericho, Jericho walk, Joshua 6, prayer walk, Revelation 19

Joshua 5:13-6:27; Revelation 11:15-19 July 9, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) • Download the bulletin (PDF) Congregation of Christ: A guest pastor asked the congregation, “Do you know how I got my car?” So he proceeded to tell his story of how he went to a car dealership because he really wanted to have a car. When he found his “dream car,” he walked around it, praying for it, and “laying his hands” on it. The next Sunday, in his sermon, he preached how it is God’s will that…

Visiting Our Church Worship

Corporate Confession of Sin: “It’s so ritualistic!”

July 7, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsconfession of sin, liturgy, worship service

I’ve heard comments – mostly negative – about our Corporate Confession of Sin in our worship service. “It’s not from the heart.” “It’s ritualistic.” “It doesn’t bless me.” “It’s too Catholic.” To these, I refer to a short post at Monergism.com. Corporate worship, as our local church understands it, is a time of joyful covenantal renewal which includes confession of sin, assurance of pardon, responsive prayers, corporate song, the preaching of the gospel and the covenantal climax of communion in the Lord’s Supper. To be frank, I previously never thought…

First Covenant Services in the Promised Land

July 3, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsbaptism, circumcision, covenant of grace, covenant of works, Joshua, Lord's Supper, new covenant, old covenant, Passover

Joshua 5:1-12; Acts 2:38-47; Heidelberg Catechism 75 & 76 July 2, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: As we continue our study of the Book of Joshua, we found the Israelites crossing the Jordan River. God stopped the flow of the river upstream so the people made it safely across on dry ground. And God melted the hearts of the Canaanites on the other side in fear so they did not oppose the crossing. Today, we come to the scene at Gilgal where Israel camped after…

Sermons

A Memorial to God’s Might Forever

June 26, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSprings12 stones, Jordan River, Joshua, Joshua 3, Joshua 4, Red Sea, river crossing, second exodus

Joshua 3:1-4:24; Matthew 2:14-15; 3:13-17; 4:1-2; 5:1-2 June 25, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) • Download sermon notes (PDF) Congregation of Christ: After the Twin Towers were destroyed by Muslim terrorists in 2001, Muslims proposed a mosque to be built on the Ground Zero site. Former President Obama, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, the media, and many other politicians supported the building of the Ground Zero Mosque. This mosque was planned by Muslims to be a middle finger to the American people. Why is this? Because throughout…

Hebrews Joshua Matthew Sermons

Confessions of a Woman of the Oldest Profession

June 21, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSprings

Joshua 2:1-24; 6:22-25; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:30-31 June 18, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: “It’s been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.” Who said this? This quote is usually attributed to President Reagan when he was still governor of California. But claims for the oldest profession have been made for gardeners, ranchers, engineers, soldiers, doctors, nurses, teachers, and of course, lawyers. Some have pointed out that tailoring was the oldest profession because…

Sermons

“Be Strong and Courageous”

June 11, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSprings

Joshua 1:1-18; Matthew 28:20; Revelation 21:1-4 June 4, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: “The Old Testament gives us something very different than what we might call ‘history’ today. The Old Testament does not contain one systematic and consistent body of “truth” but various, and even conflicting, perspectives. The Old Testament “evolved” over time until it came to its final expression. The Old Testament, technically speaking, is a product of the Judahites in the centuries following their return from Babylonian captivity (539 BCE).” This is a…

Hebrews Sermons

Final Exhortations and Benediction

May 29, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsbenediction, day of atonement, Hebrews 13, Psalm 118, Psalm 50

Psalm 50:23 ● Hebrews 13:1-25 May 28, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: What if the pastor of your church has “been guilty of arrogance, responding to conflict with a quick temper and harsh speech, and leading the staff and elders in a domineering manner … [and having] attitudes and behaviors reflected by a domineering style of leadership”? What if the pastor “domineers by making people feel unsafe and insecure should they desire to voice an objection to his proposals and policies”? These statements were made…

Bible studies Book of Revelation

Is Armageddon World War III?

May 24, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsArmageddon, Megiddo, Mount of Assembly, Mount Zion, Revelation 16, World War III

May 28, 2017 • Download this article (PDF) 1. Most evangelicals equate the word “Armageddon” to World War III. 2. “Armageddon” comes from Revelation 16:16, “And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” 3. Revelation 16:12-16 is the vision of the sixth bowl of judgment. a. God dries up the river Euphrates. Armies from the east would then pour into Israel for a great end-time battle. b. Euphrates protected Babylon from invasion by eastern kings, such as the Medo-Persian King Cyrus in 539 B.C. He diverted…

Hebrews Sermons

True Worship on Two Mountains

May 22, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsHebrews 12, Mount Sinai, Mount Zion, Psalm 96, regulative principle, true worship

Psalm 96 ● Hebrews 12:18-29 May 21, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Why do you come to worship every Lord’s Day? Is it out of habit or tradition? Is it to gather with family and friends? Is it to make you feel good? Have you ever wondered what really happens during a worship service? In many churches today, people flock to see and hear entertaining music and amusing, therapeutic sermons. They say the purpose of the worship service is to get unbelievers to be saved. Others…

Hebrews Proverbs Sermons

“The Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith”

May 15, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringscloud of witnesses, discipline, founder and perfecter, Hebrews 12, perseverance, Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-17 (text) May 14, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: In 203 A.D., about a century after John the last apostle died, there was a young Christian woman who was in prison awaiting her execution for being a Christian. When her pagan father visited her in prison, he tried to persuade her to renounce her faith in Christ. According to some accounts, there was this conversation: “Father do you see this vase here? Could it be called by any other name than what…