Sermons and classes from our weekly church of Christ services
Episodes
Saturday May 20, 2023
Saturday May 20, 2023
April 22, 2023 - Equipped Workshop Day 3
10:00AM Upstairs Speaker
Kirk Brothers opens the leadership lessons for day 3 off the Equipped Workshop.
Slides:
- Picture of a man standing on top of a mountain looking at a landscape of more mountains
- Fox News: Examining the Changing presence of U.S. Religion
- The Great Decline: Average of Five Gallup Measures
- Fewer than half of U.S. adults pray daily
- Four in ten U.S. adults consider religion 'very important' in their lives
- % of Americans with no religious affiliation
- WSJ Poll: 39% say religion is "Very Important"
- Leadership Lessons in James
- Normal Leadership Lessons from the Bible
- Moses (Exodus)
- Joshua (Joshua)
- David (1-2 Samuel)
- Nehemiah (Nehemiah)
- Barnabas (Acts)
- Paul (Acts, Romans-Philemon)
- Jesus (Matthew-John)
- The Maxwell Leadership Bible
- Leaders in James
- James, Job, Abraham, Prophets
- Teachers, Elders, Wealthy Landowners
- Features
- It is called the Christian book of Proverbs. It has a number of short pithy sayings on various topics like the book of Proverbs.
- It has a Jewish flavor: “12 tribes” (1.1), “the synagogue” (2.2) and “the law” (2.11), “Lord of Sabboath” - Hebrew title for God (5.4).
- It emphasizes an active faith shown by works (1.22-26). There is an emphasis on prayer and proper use of the tongue. Faith is especially shown in one’s treatment of others.
- Purpose
- 1. To comfort and encourage them in trials and temptations (1.2ff).
- 2. To correct disorders in early Jewish Christian assemblies (2.1ff, favoritism)
- 3. To deal with the tendency to divorce “faith and works” (2.14ff).
- Key verse: James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. NAS
- Outline
- The Testing of Faith (1:1-18).
- The Traits of Faith (1:19-5.6).
- The Triumph of Faith (5:7-20).
- (adapted from Nelson’s Bible Dict.)
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“James is the kind of book you ought to read standing up. It contains a ringing call for action, a plea for vital Christianity and a faith that demonstrates itself not in mere words, but in lifestyle” (Maxwell, 1541).
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“James models a leadership weary of sterile mission statements framed on a wall. He cares nothing for the set of core values the subcommittee wrote down last year if they were only words on paper that got filed away” (Maxwell, 1541).
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“He is an activist who labels as ‘self-deceived’ those who say they are committed to do something, but never do” (Maxwell, 1541).
- For James, Christianity and Leadership are
Action Words - Leadership Lessons in James -
What does godly leadership in action look like?
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James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”
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James 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
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James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
- Picture of poor child and some coins.
- The Problems of Power – James 2, 5
- Playing Favorites – James 2:1-13
- Playing with People – James 5:1-11
- Picture of a man floating above a beach
- Picture of a four women holding their hands in the shape of hearts
- Picture of a chess board
- Godly Leadership in action.... Lowers the leader & lifts the follower
- Illustration of the donkey dressed in the lion skin
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James 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
- Why?
- James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
- James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
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James 3:8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; NAS
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James 3:10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
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James 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.
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James 4:11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
- Picture feathers floating in the wind
Duration 42:39
Saturday May 20, 2023
Saturday May 20, 2023
April 23, 2023 - Equipped Day 4
8:30AM Auditorium Speaker
Hiram Kemp looks at the 10 different types of Christian roles. He discusses their key qualities and provides biblical examples.
Slides:
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- Slide from Disney's Utopia
- Finding Your Place in Evangelism
- Bringer - (John 1:40-42, 1:46-47)
- Encourager - (Acts 2:40; Romans 12:8)
- Teacher - (Romans 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:29)
- Restoring your zeal for teaching
- Remember it's a privilege not a pain - (Luke 1:47)
- You bring Christ to them - (John 6:44-45)
- You don't have to know everything - (1 Cor. 2:2)
- You improve by teaching - (Romans 12:6)
- Jesus didn't win everybody - (John 6:63-66)
- Prayer - (Colossians 4:2-4)
- Keeper - (Acts 14:22; Col. 1:23)
- Restorer - (Acts 8:22-24)
- Example - (Matthew 5:16; Col. 4:5-6)
- Sender / supporter - (Phil. 4:15-16)
- Missionary - (Acts 13:1-3)
- Hospitality - (Hebrews 13:2)
- Photo of loading a VCR with a VHS tape
Duration 39:27
Saturday May 20, 2023
Saturday May 20, 2023
April 22, 2023 - Equipped Day 3
3:30 PM Upstairs Speaker
Dean Miller discusses looks at the challenges of being a young adult and how to be an active member of the church at that season in life.
Slides:
- What the Church Needs from You (Young Adults)
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
- Every Member Matters!
- Functional Faithfulness
Duration 42:34
Saturday May 20, 2023
Saturday May 20, 2023
April 22, 2023 - Equipped Workshop Day 3
2:30PM MPR 2 Speaker
Glenn Hitchcock looks at conflict and how the book of James directs us to resolve it.
Slides:
- The Book of James: Resolving Conflict
- Conflict Defined
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Jas. 4:1 Conflict means→ maintain war with; keep up a feud.
The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Septuagint (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).
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- Source of Conflict - (James 4:1-3)
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Christians Possessing Selfish Desires & Uncontrolled Lust:
- Uncontrolled in Storms, Chapter One - Forgetful Hearer
- Uncontrolled in Society, Chapter Two – Favoritism
- Uncontrolled in Speech, Chapter Three – Factious
- Uncontrolled Self, Chapter Four - Feuding
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- Conflict in Every Chapter
- To Christians scattered or dispersed in unfriendly regions of the Roman Empire the inspired writer comforts, challenges and rebukes his brethren who are conflicted mighty.
- There is Christian conflict in every chapter of the Book of James that is manifested in the form of the sin of hypocrisy.
- Conflict in Chapter One
- 1-4 To claim to serve God except when trials and troubles come.
- 5-11 To claim to depend on God, refuses wisdom.
- 12-16 To claim to depend on God while denying Him because of pleasures!
- 17-25 To be gifted with INSTRUCTION BOOK and neglect to follow it!
- 26 To claim to be Christ controlled while your tongue is out of control!
- 27 To claim pure Christianity without ACTION.
- Conflict in Chapter Two
- 1-13 To claim to be a Christian but does not show proper respect of persons
- 14-26 To claim to be a Christian but does not present a proper concept of faith.
- Conflict in Chapter Three
- 2-3 Failure to control your desire to say what you shouldn’t.
- 8-9 To use the tongue to glorify God, and to curse man.
- 13-18 To claim to be wise but acts foolishly.
- Conflict in Chapter Four
- 1-3 Embracing our sinful desires rather than submitting to God.
- 4 Attempting to be a friend of God and a friend of the world.
- 11-12 Speaking evil of your brother while attempting to be a doer of the law.
- 13-16 To boastfully goal plan without including the Lord.
- 17 To know to do good and refuses to perform it.
- Conflict in Chapter Five
- 1-12 Claiming spirituality while envying riches.
- 13-18 Claiming spirituality with an ineffectual insincere prayer life.
- 19-20 Claiming spirituality but failing to restore your erring brother.
- Resolve Conflict Now!
- 1:1-4, Possess faithful dependence
- 1: 5-11, Maintain your declaration of dependence to God with:
- Perils (without & within)
- Pleasures of Sin
- Prosperity - Power
- People - Partiality
- Pain
- Politics
- 1: 17-25 Trust God’s Authority, its in the Book!
- 1: 19-20 Be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.
- 1:21 Always be ready to learn from God’s Word.
- 1:27; 2: 24-26 Once received, one must Act on God’s Word.
- 2: 1-13 Honor ALL men.
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3:1-9 Always glorify God in speech.
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3:13-18 Always seek the peaceable wisdom that is from Above.
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4:13-16 Always include God in your plans.
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5:13-18 Speak to God often and practice patience.
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5:19-20 Give priority to reaching out to your erring brother.
- The Need
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Go To Work!
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2:24, 26 -You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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- You can't live like a goat and die like a sheep!
- James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
- James 1: 27 - Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
- James 4:17 - “Therefore to him who knows to do good and doesn’t not to him it is sin.”
- An Elder's Plea
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1.Before You Assume, Learn The Facts.
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2.Before You Judge, Understand Why.
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3.Before You Hurt Someone, Learn To Feel.
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4.Before You Speak, Think.
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Duration 40:20
Saturday May 20, 2023
Saturday May 20, 2023
April 22, 2023 - Equipped Day 3
2:30 PM MPR 2 Speaker
Ty Rhymes discusses what it means to stand up or take action for what matters to you. He particularly looks at how we can stand up for God.
Slides:
- Stand Up!
- Stand Up and be full of character (James 6:8)
- Stand Up and be full of courage (James 6:9-14)
- Stand Up and be full of Christ (James 6:15)
- Stand up for Jesus... and He will stand up for you (Acts 7:55)
Duration 35:42
Saturday May 20, 2023
Saturday May 20, 2023
April 22, 2023 - Equipped Day 3
10:00AM Auditorium Speaker
Brandon Rader looks at James chapter 4 and how God is in charge of our lives.
Slide:
- Remember who's in charge - (James 4:11-17)
- Two Problems
- What Saying - (v. 11-12)
- "Who are you?" - (v. 12b)
- "One lawgiver and judge" - (v. 12a)
- What Not saying - (v. 13)
- "What is your life?" - (v. 14)
- "If the Lord wills" - (v. 15)
- What Saying - (v. 11-12)
- Two Paths to Sin
- Active Violation - (v. 16)
- "Boast in ... arrogance"
- Passive Rebellion - (v. 17)
- "Knows... and fails to do"
- Active Violation - (v. 16)
- Two Paths to Service
- Save Wanderer
- James 5:19-20
- Give from Wealth
- James 2:15-17
- Save Wanderer
- Remember Who's in Charge
- ... of Destinies
- Lawgiver and judge (4:12)
- ... of Prosperity
- Gift giver (4:15)
- ... of Destinies
Duration 39:22
Sunday May 14, 2023
Sunday May 14, 2023
May 14, 2023 - Sunday PM Sermon
Jesus' Question & Answers in The Gospel of John
- "Can Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazareth?" - (1:46)
- "How Can a Man Be Born When He Is Old?" - (3:4)
- "What Work Should We Do, That We May Work the Works of God?" - (6:28)
- "Who Is This Son of Man?" - (12:34)
- "How Can We Know the Way?" - (14:5)
- "What Is Truth?" - (18:38)
- Are You a Christian?
- Are You Walking in The Light?
Duration: 26:11
Sunday May 14, 2023
Sunday May 14, 2023
May 14, 2023 - Sunday AM Bible Class
This quarter Darrell Dubree and Robert Warren are going to teach the class on the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel. Robert picks up the class today. He begins with chapter 15.
Duration 44:24
Sunday May 14, 2023
Sunday May 14, 2023
May 14, 2023 - Sunday AM Sermon
THE HEART OF HANNAH (1 Samuel 1-2)
Introduction
A. The Story Of Hannah Is About More Than ________________
I. HER HEART WAS __________________
A. She Teaches Us That Such Is Not Divine ______________
B. Seek Help From ____________________
C. Search For Possible _________________
D. See God's __________________ To Help
E. Shelter In God's Place Of ________________
II. HER HEART WAS _______________________
A. Her Prayer Was ___________________ (1:10)
B. Her Prayer Was ___________________ (1:11)
C. Her Prayer Was ___________________ (1:12)
D. Her Prayer Was ___________________ (1:26-28)
III. HER HEART WAS _______________________
A. She Makes 4 Broad Observations About God In Her 2nd Prayer
1. God is ______________________ (2:1-2)
2. God is ______________________ (2:3-5)
3. God is ______________________ (2:6-9)
4. God is ______________________ (2:10)
Conclusion
A. Doors That Are Closed ____________ May Be Opened ______________
1. Or maybe God will show you a better ____________________
Duration 31:47
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
May 7, 2023 - Sunday PM Sermon
Slides:
- Three Habits for Growing Closer to God
- How can I draw closer to God?
- Engage in right thinking
- Think true thoughts
- Think honorable thoughts
- Think right thoughts
- Think pure thoughts
- Think lovely thoughts
- Think respectable thoughts
- Practice right behaviors
- Present your bodies a living sacrifice
- Do not be conformed to this world
- Be transformed
- Develop right feelings
- Put on Christ - (Rom. 13:14)
- Develop honesty - (James 5:16)
- Love the right things the right way
- Discover your purpose and meaning
- Practice sacrificial generosity
Duration 41:30