Sermons and classes from our weekly church of Christ services
Episodes
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
August 7, 2022 - Sunday AM Bible Class
Today, David continues his study of the book of Esther.
Esther - For Such a Time as This
Esther: A Book without God?
Esther is one of two books of the Bible in which the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) does not appear at all
Even During the development of the Hebrew canon, Esther was contested as an apocryphal work because of this reason
There are also skeptics of the book among modern scholars, mainly because of the aforementioned absence of the Tetragrammaton, the lack of extra-biblical record of the events of Esther, and the book's strong nationalistic theme
Some of these theorize that someone much later wrote the book to give more authority to the origin of Purim
It is true that there are difficulties in reconciling the events of the book of Esther with the extra-biblical records and/or archeological finds
It is also true that the name of God is absent in the entirety of the book, and the focus of the Jewish identity is more ethnic and cultural rather than religious.
But are these current realities justify the dismissal of Esther as a canonic book of the Old Testament? What possible lessons can we learn from such a doubted book - one that doesn't even mention God?
Humility
Esther: A Lesson of Humility
In our perspective of the present time, it is easy for us to criticize ancient texts and question their place in the biblical canon
Through critical thinking about the canon itself is not wrong, it must be done with utmost care and humility.
Here is why the book of Esther - before even reading the text itself - gives us a lesson on humility:
The Bible is a book of faith first and foremost
The Bible has a lot of manuscripts, archeological discoveries, and other evidence that "validate" it.
While those evidence can be instrumental in strengthening our faith, it cannot replace it.
There is danger in depending too much on archeological findings and extra-biblical material:
Archeology as a field is not static
There will always be different interpretations of archeological discoveries
So, even with "better" or "more" evidence, there will always be a debate.
Our Perspective depends on what we've found
In other words, we are working with theories based on what we have found so far.
Because these are educated guesses, they will change if new information gets discovered.
When you look at a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces, do you dismiss the existence of the whole picture or the missing piece because you can't see it in front of you?
Frankly, we just don't know a lot
Compared to what God can see and what human history has actually been throughout the millennia, our knowledge of the ancient world is very limited
While it is difficult, books like Esther challenge us even before we open the text: God's will demand humility on our part.
Think about it; if either "side" had definitive and undeniable evidence, do you think there would be a debate? It is because both "sides" are working with limited information.
Opinion:
Instead of putting up walls with the little information that we have, our time is better spent trusting God and learning what books like Esther has to teach us.
Its harmony with the rest of the Bible is far more important. If its principles and messages are sound, then it is better to learn from it than doubt it.
Sometimes, this takes a lot of intellectual humility to do. Acknowledging that we do not have all the pieces also takes strength.
The arguments about Esther are not very strong either:
Absence of God
Though God is not mentioned explicitly, the author indirectly hints at God and his presence with the practices and culture of the Jews (Esth. 3: 8, 4:3)
Purim "Chicken or the Egg"
If it were the case that someone made up the story of Esther to authorize the feast of Purim, then why didn't he make more mention of God? Why risk it with the ambiguity?
Esther is not a Godless Book
What to Expect from this class
Overview of the narrative of Esther
Further discussion about some of the challenges to Esther
Exploration of structure, themes and the choices of the author that play into the message of the book
Comparison of Esther and Mordecai's circumstances to modern Christianity
... and more.
Homework
Please read Esther all the way through as many times as you can!
Duration 31:46
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
August 7, 2022 - Sunday AM Sermon
"Embracing the Truth About God's Grace" - 1 Peter 5:12
Hiram Kemp
Introduction:
1. The word ________ appears more than __________ times in the Bible.
2. The ________ of __________ is both an _______ and _________
Testament idea.
3. The _________ of ________ is the ____________ of God ___________ to
____________ at _____________ expense.
4. In 1 Peter 5:12, Peter mentions the ________ grace of ____________.
I. ___________ is for _____________ (Titus 2:11)
II. __________ brings ___________ (Titus 2:12-14)
III. _________ can be ___________ (Jude 4)
IV. We can _________ from ________ (Gal. 5:4)
V. We are ____________ by __________ (Eph. 2:5, 2:8-9)
Conclusion:
1. Jesus is the _________ of ___________ grace.
2. We need to ________ the _________ of ___________ ______________.
Duration 33:46
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
July 31, 2022 - Sunday PM Sermon
God's Providence
by Hiram Kemp
Looking at Acts 16:6-10, Hiram discusses how sometimes God responds with a "No" to your requests such that his will may be done.
Duration 16:37
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
June 22, 2022 - Wednesday PM Sermon
Every Wednesday for the months of June and July we will be having special guest speakers as part of this year's Summer Series. The theme of the summer series will be "Building Balanced Believers"
Tonight's lesson is
"Building Balanced Believers: Through Worship" by Dale Pollard
Duration 32:48
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
July 27, 2022 - Wednesday PM Sermon
Every Wednesday for the months of June and July we will be having special guest speakers as part of this year's Summer Series. The theme of the summer series will be "Building Balanced Believers"
Tonight's lesson is
"Building Balanced Believers: Through Evangelism" by Aubrey Johnson
Duration 37:33
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
June 20, 2022 - Wednesday PM Sermon
Every Wednesday for the months of June and July we will be having special guest speakers as part of this year's Summer Series. The theme of the summer series will be "Building Balanced Believers"
Tonight's lesson is
"Building Balanced Believers: Through Assurance" by Ty Rhymes
Duration 40:52
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
July 13, 2022 - Wednesday PM Sermon
Every Wednesday for the months of June and July we will be having special guest speakers as part of this year's Summer Series. The theme of the summer series will be "Building Balanced Believers"
Tonight's lesson is
"Building Balanced Believers: Through Study" by Eric Garner
Duration 42:13
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
July 6, 2022 - Wednesday PM Sermon
Every Wednesday for the months of June and July we will be having special guest speakers as part of this year's Summer Series. The theme of the summer series will be "Building Balanced Believers"
Tonight's lesson is
"Building Balanced Believers: Through Prayer" by Justin Rogers
Duration 42:40
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
June 29, 2022 - Wednesday PM Sermon
Every Wednesday for the months of June and July we will be having special guest speakers as part of this year's Summer Series. The theme of the summer series will be "Building Balanced Believers"
Tonight's lesson is
"Building Balanced Believers: Through Repentance" by Bart Warren
Duration 39:45
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
June 15, 2022 - Wednesday PM Sermon
Every Wednesday for the months of June and July we will be having special guest speakers as part of this year's Summer Series. The theme of the summer series will be "Building Balanced Believers"
Tonight's lesson is
"Building Balanced Believers: Through Rest" by Dan Chambers
Duration 44:17