“All the Lord’s Good Promises Came to Pass”

October 11, 2017September 25, 2019 bigspringschurchAbraham, Canaan, Galatians 3, Joshua 21, Promised Land, SABBATH REST

Joshua 21:1-3, 41-45; Galatians 3:23-29 August 20, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: “I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death do we part or you turn into a zombie. Because then we’re going to have to start seeing other people.” “I promise that even though we have cell phones, I will never forget your number. You will be my phone call when the whole system crashes.” “With our wonderful chemistry, I know we would truly win the…

Covenant Renewal Before Joshua’s Death

October 11, 2017September 25, 2019 bigspringschurchchoose this day, covenant renewal, John 12, Joshua 24, Shechem

Joshua 24:1-33; John 12:25-26 October 8, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: It has been a great journey through the Book of Joshua over the last four and a half months. We learned that God promised Joshua and all Israel that he will be with them to give the land into their hand; how God led Israel into the Promised Land when he dried up the Jordan River so they could cross on dry ground; how he fought for them in their battles against the inhabitants…

Joshua Sermons

An Altar Called “Witness”

October 4, 2017September 25, 2019 bigspringschurchaltar of witness, Christian unity, John 17, Joshua 22

Joshua 22:1-34; John 17:20-23 October 1, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: The other day, I had a conversation with a package delivery man who asked me about our church. I said that we’re a Reformed church and we are part of a federation or denomination of churches. He then said that he doesn’t believe in denominations because the church of Christ must be united. So, are denominations wrong and not useful? Is it useful for Big Springs Community to belong to our federation called the…

Hebrews Joshua Psalms Sermons

“Sanctuary Cities”

September 11, 2017September 25, 2019 bigspringschurchcities 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…

Hebrews Joshua

Four Examples of Blessing for Obedience

September 7, 2017September 25, 2019 bigspringschurchAchsah, 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 bigspringschurch12 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 bigspringschurchCanaanites, 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 bigspringschurchAdoni-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 bigspringschurchel-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 bigspringschurchAi, Canaan, Jericho, Joshua 6, Joshua 8, Richard Dawkins

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