Sermons and classes from our weekly church of Christ services
Episodes
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 22, 2023 - Equipped Day 3
11:00AM Auditorium Speaker
Adam Faughn discusses the dangers of being rich / powerful and how the love of money can lead you away from God.
Slides:
- Warning the Worldly Rich - (James 5:1-6)
- Top 1% - $60,000/year
- Drawing of
- Picture of the book of James
- "When wealth is devoid of the Lord's blessing, trouble accompanies it in the form of envy, injustice, oppression, theft, murder, abuse, and misuse" - Kristimacher
- A warning to unbelievers
- Written as if it as already happened (riches HAVE rotted, etc.)
- Fire = judgment
- No real call to repentance because these are unbelievers
- Written as if it as already happened (riches HAVE rotted, etc.)
- The crying of the workers
- Starts with unfair (unpaid) wages
- Defrauding (depriving away from)
- They are not rebuked for crying to the Lord about this injustice. God cares about injustice!
- The Hearing of the Lord
- Lord of Hosts (often a military term)
- God had already heard (or seen) the issue
- Murder, literal or figurative? Not sure, but shows cold heart
- Applications
- Stuff is alluring but transient.
- Sin follows sin
- Speaking out for the oppressed is right.
- Stating injustice to God is good
Duration 35:20
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 22, 2023 - Equipped Workshop Day 3
10:00AM MPR 2 Speaker
Tyler Averson challenges us to change our views on helping others. Looking at the book of James, Tyler shows how we should think about and approach helping others.
Slides:
- It's all about me
- Help Me Serve (James 1-2)
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 - For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
- Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to server, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
- Help Me Serve
- Ask God for Wisdom - (1:5-8)
- Illustration of a hot Burner on a stove
- If mama ain't happy Ain't nobody happy
- Illustration of cheating on a test
- Imitate God's Giving - (1:17)
- Be doers of the WORD - (1:22)
- Help the helpless - (1:27)
- "God helps those who help themselves"
- Refuse to show partiality - (2:1)
- Love your neighbor as yourself - (2:8)
- Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
- Matthew 22:39 - And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- Live in view of judgment - (2:12)
- The Sheep and the Goats - Matthew 25:31-46
- Show Mercy - (2:13)
- Show your faith by your works - (2:18)
- Ask God for Wisdom - (1:5-8)
Duration 33:09
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 22, 2023 - Equipped Day 3
9:00AM MPR 2 Speaker
Doug Burleson looks at the similarities of the teachings from the book of James and Jesus' sermon on the mount.
Slides:
- Parallels Between James and the Sermon on the Mount
- Why doesn't James spend more time making the clear connection between himself and his older brother
- Sayings > Stories
- Not limited to Matthew
- Not limited to Sermon on Mount (Matthew 24:27 and James 5:9)
- "James depends more than any other NT author on the teaching of Jesus... The author of the letter seems to have been so soaked in the atmosphere and specifics of Jesus' teaching that he can reflect them almost unconsciously" - Douglas Moo, The Letter of James, Pillar NT Commentary, 7
- How does James allude to the teaching of Jesus in the book of James?
- Direct Statements (not quotes) -
- James 1:5; 2:8; 11; 4:11-12; 5:9; 12
- Being Hearers and Doers -
- James 2:14-26
- The Beatitudes -
- James 2:5, 13; 3:18; 4:8
- Nine Themes of practical living
- Direct Statements (not quotes) -
- Direct Statements
- Ask and it will be given - James 1:5 & Matthew 7:7
- Love your neighbor - James 2:8 & Matthew 5:43; 7:12
- Do not murder, commit adultery - James 2:11 (Exodus 20:13-14) & Matthew 5:21,27
- Do not make unfair judgments - James 4:11-12; 5:9 & Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37
- Do not make oaths - James 5:12 & Matthew 5:33-36
- James 5:12 - But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
- Matthew 5:34-35 - But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
- For total OT quotations in James
- James 2:8 - Leviticus 19:18 (Matt. 5:43; 7:12)
- James 2:11 - Exodus 20:13-14 (Deut. 5:17-18) and Matthew 5:21, 27
- James 2:23 - Genesis 15:6
- James 4:6 - Isaiah 54:7
- Being Hearers and Doers
- Compare James 2:14-26 with Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46
- Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26)
- The wise man is like the one who hears Jesus' words and acts on them. The foolish man hears and doesn't act (Matt. 7:24-27).
- Why honor Jesus with our words and not do what He says? (Luke 6:46; 11:28)
- The Beatitudes
- The poor in spirit (Luke 6:20) - James 2:5 & Matt. 5:3
- The merciful - James 2:13 & Matt. 5:7
- The peacemakers - James 3:18 & Matt. 5:9
- The pure in heart - James 4:8 & Matt. 5:8
- Nine themes for living
- Enduring Trails - (1:2-4; Matt. 5:10-12, 48; Luke 6:23)
- Judging (2:1-13; Matt. 5:3-7, 19-22; 7:1-5; Luke 6:20)
- Listening (1:19-27; Matt 5:22; 7:21-27; Luke 6:46-49)
- Patience (5:7-11; Matt. 5:11-12; 7:1; Luke 6:22-23)
- Prayer (5:13-18; Matt. 6:12-15; 7:7-11)
- Use of Riches (1:9-11; Matt. 6:19-21)
- The tongue (3:1-12; Matt. 7:16; Luke 6:44-45)
- Wealth (5:1-6; Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 6:24-25; 12:33)
- Wisdom (3:13-18; Matt. 5:5-9)
- Should we be surprised at the consistency of GOD's WORD?
- The book of James is well-connected to the rest of scripture, but especially the teachings of Jesus.
- Two of the OT passages quoted in James are also quoted in the sermon on the mount.
- What are the implications for inspiration and the nature of the truthfulness of GOD's WORD?
Duration 41:45
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 21, 2023 - Equipped Workshop Day 2
3:30PM MPR 2 Speaker
Daniel Stearsman looks at what it means to be a leader for God.
Slides:
- Words of Life for Leaders
- Service - (James 1:1, 22; 2:17)
- Unflappable - (James 1:2-3, 12-13)
- Motivational Listener - (James 1:19, 22-23)
- Accountable Loving Merciful - (James 5:16, 19-20; 1:25; 2:12)
- Attentive to Toxic Tendencies - (James 1:2-4, 14, 27)
- Fearless to Worldliness - (James 4:4)
- Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church
- Christianity is Shallow
- Overprotective
- Simplistic / Judgmental towards Sex
- Antagonistic to Science
- Unfriendly to Doubters
- Wrestle with Christianity being Exclusive.
Duration 39:39
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 21, 2023 - Equipped Day 2
3:30 PM Auditorium Speaker
Ty Rhymes discusses James's guidance on controlling our speech. And the words we speak reveal our innermost thoughts and feelings.
Slides:
- The Troublesome Tongue - James 3:1-12
- Admonitions in James:
- Shaming Speech (James 2:3-4)
- Superficial words (James 2:16, 18)
- Slander (James 4:11)
- Cocky speech (James 4:13-14)
- Complaining (James 5:9)
- The Influence of Our Words
- The danger of becoming a teacher (James 3:1)
- The difficulty of taming the tongue (James 3:2)
- The disproportionate power of the tongue (James 3:3-5A)
- The destructive potential of the tongue (James 3:5B-8)
- The Inconsistency of Our Words
- An Observation (James 3:9)
- A Problem (James 3:10)
- An Illustration (James 3:11-12)
- The Internal Change We Need
- Continue in the WORD!
- Give constant attention to your heart!
- Press on with assurance, hope, and anticipation of the day in which all our lips will do is a praise GOD!
Duration 41:55
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 21, 2023 - Equipped Workshop Day 2
2:30PM MPR 2 Speaker
Neal Pollard provides a lesson to teachers, speakers and preachers on the use of illustrations.
Slides:
- Illustrating the lesson (James)
- Beware of Illustrations:
- For the sake of the story
- Too numerously supplied
- Trying to hide poor content
- Detracting from the truth
- What can we learn about illustrations from James?
- Use what people know
- 1:6
- 1:10-11
- 1:23-24
- 1:26; 3:3
- 3:4
- 3:5
- Illustrate with vivid imagery
- chapter 3
- 5:3
- Bible Characters
- Abraham
- Rahab
- Job
- Elijah
- Look for threads in the book
- Judgment
- Brethren
- Faith
- Works
- Use illustrations to convict
- Double-minded man
- Friendship with world
- Unbridled tongue
- Favoritism
- Where do you get illustrations?
- Scripture
- History
- Nature
- Poetry
- Church bulletins
- Biographies / Autobiographies
- Personal Experience
- Media
- How do we us illustrations effectively?
- Make them interesting
- Make them lasting
- Make them learning tools
- Make them understandable
- Make them supportive
- Make them truthful
- Make them realistic
- Make them assorted
- Make them tasteful
- Make them illuminating
- Make them opportunistic
- Make them necessary
- James
- Genuine Religion
- Genuine Faith
- Genuine Wisdom
Duration 39:55
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 21, 2023 - Equipped Day 2
2:30 PM Auditorium Speaker
Dave Rogers looks at what it means to have faith. Dave discusses measurable faith and shows a few biblical examples of faith. So many Christians have just enough faith to get by, but God wants us to have more than that.
Slides:
- Faithless Fruits - James 2:14-26
- 14 What Does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
- 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
- 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
- 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
- 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
- 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!
- 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
- 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
- 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
- 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
- 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
- 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
- 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
- Faith
- Quality measurable through works pleasing to God.
- Sacrifice of Isaac
- Rahab and the spies
- Enemies of Faith
- Doubt
- Fear
- Lack of understanding
- Selfishness
- Pride
- Faith: Quality measurable through WORKS pleasing to GOD
Duration 40:34
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 21, 2023 - Equipped Workshop Day 2
1:30PM MPR 4 Speaker
Scott Harp discusses the responsibility of leadership and how it is taught from our surroundings.
Slides:
- "How Do You Know When You're Ready To Lead?"
- Men have been thrust into leadership
- Moses (Exodus 1-3)
- AMOS
- "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, 'Go prophecy to my people Israel.'" (Amos 7:14)
- What is a leader?
- "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them." - (Isaiah 11:6)
- "Old things have passed away; men and women have become new creatures in Christ (cf. II Corinthians 5:17). The old man has been crucified in Christ, and the new man is led by a childlike spirit, a simple alertness to hear and learn, and a readiness to obey (Matthew 18:3)." -- Homer Hailey, Isaiah, page 123.
- Desire
- "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." - (1 Timothy 3:1)
- "This saying is true, if one earnestly seeks the office of a bishop, he desires an excellent work." - (1 Timothy 3:1) - Alexanders Campbell's Living Oracles
- How do we get past this point?
- King Edward VI Statue
- "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozhath. And He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walled in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or the left." - (2 Kings 22:1-2)
- Discovery: all great leaders start somewhere!
- Josiah (648-609bce) - 2 Kings 22
- Constancy - verse 1
- Choice - verse 2
- Command - verse 4
- Conviction - verse 11-13
Duration 35:01
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 21, 2023 - Equipped Day 2
1:30 PM Auditorium Speaker
Daniel Stearsman looks at what is partiality and how it is affects Christians. Daniel explains that we should not extend favoritism to any on based on their looks or possessions. God loves everyone and is not biased. We should try to be the same way.
Slides:
- Purging Partiality - James 2:1-13
- James 2:1-13 -
The Sin of Partiality
2 My brothers,[a] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- What is Partiality?
- Romans 2:11
- James 1:27; 2:1-13; 3:17; 5:1-6
- How Do I Purge Partiality?
- Apply the Royal Law
- Favor, not Favoritism
- Open evaluation of perceptions, assumptions, and presumptions
Duration 41:17
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
April 21, 2023 - Equipped Day 2
11:00AM MPR 4 Speaker
Katrina Stearsman kicks off the Ladies sessions of the Equipped Workshop. Katrina examines how to make your home heavenly.
Notes:
MAKING YOUR HOME A SLICE OF HEAVEN
- Our home can reflect our goal of a real heavenly home. Phil 3:20
- Factors to consider in the influence of your home
- Priorities
- Where we’re headed
- Who we want to bring with us
- Who are we influencing – our families and those we extend hospitality to
- Who are we influencing
- Family – those we are around the most
- We can influence our family for good or for bad
- Build them up as your first mission
- Calm Parenting – by Kirk Martin
- Avoid situations like “the cobbler’s children have no shoes”. Don’t neglect your own
- while focusing on others.
- Guests – those we extend hospitality to in our homes.
- 1Pet 4:9
- Far too many don’t make hospitality a habit or we do and grumble about it.
- Be hospitable to your brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Transparency allows for needs to be met.
- 1Pet 4:8
- Love and hospitality go hand in hand
- Real life hospitality gives a glimpse of Heaven
- John 14: 2-3 We can prepare our homes in a way that points others to Heaven
- Acts 7:48-49
- Ps 127:1
- Family – those we are around the most
- Interior Design to Make Your Home a Slice of Heaven
- Your home should have Heavenly inhabitants Col 3:1
- God – Know Him to show Him
- Spend time in study of the Word to know God
- 1 John 5:3, John 17:3, Prov 31:26
- Know your impact as a spouse and as a parent, child, etc
- You are a present-day Loise and Eunice
- Know your impact as host in your home (how you present yourself) Luke 10 Mary and Martha
- Communicate to and thru Him
- 2Chron 6:21, continually indwelling together
- Rev 7:9
- Heavenly Attributes
- Your home should be a rewarding place to be
- Made possible by God’s sacrifice
- Extend similar spaces in your home where love and grace abound
- James 1:17, 2:13
- Prov 24: 3-4 – Treasures in your home should radiate the treasures of God, what you gain from study
- Don’t let clutter in your home clutter your mind!!
- Your home should be a place of perpetual fellowship
- Rev 21:3
- Shine Heaven by having others in your home
- Your home should be a place of joy and blissful rest Rev 14:13
- Create a peaceful restful CLEAN space
- Exemplify the peace that comes from Christ. There is a present rest extended by Jesus.
- Matt 11:28-30
- Your home should be a rewarding place to be
- Absent Attributes – THOSE ATTRIBUTES TO AVOID IN YOUR HOME
- Unrighteousness
- 1Cor 6:9, Gal 5 (works of the flesh)
- No secret spaces
- 1Cor 15:33
- Partiality
- Don’t limit the boundaries of who is included based on current shape of their soul
- Suffering
- Can’t keep out but don’t be the source
- Can use to lead others to God Rom 8:18
- Can’t keep out but don’t be the source
- Ps 27:10
- Unrighteousness
Duration 38:11