Sermons and classes from our weekly church of Christ services
Episodes
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
July 17, 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 35:23
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
July 17, 2022 - Sunday AM Sermon
Who is Jesus?
John 1:1-5
Hiram Kemp
Introduction:
1. Jesus is the most __________ person in the history of the world. Some
people have given their __________ to him and others have given their
___________ trying to __________ him.
2. Even during his _________ ministry there were questions about his
_____________. Today many people may think they _________ him, but sadly many do _______________.
3. If God exists and if the Bible is the Word of God, we must let __________
through the ____________ define ______________ identity for us.
I. The ________________ God (John 1:1-5)
II. The ________________ human (John 1:14)
III. The _______________ Messiah (John 1:41, 1:45, 1:49)
IV. The __________ for ______________ (John 1:29, 1:36)
V. The ___________ way to ______________ (John 1:43, 1:50-51)
Conclusion:
1. Jesus is humanity’s only __________. Our belief in him is of _________
importance. What we believe about ____________ is also of _________
importance.
2. Jesus is the only ________ who could have ________ what he ________.
Duration 36:43
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
July 10, 2022 - Sunday PM Sermon
Lessons from Farmers in the New Testament - Matthew 13:24-30
Neal Pollard
- Priorities - (Luke 12:15-21)
- What the rich farmer's problem wasn't...
- His Prosperity
- His Search for Resolution
- His Renovation Plan
- His Problem - (Luke 12:15)
- He was Self-centered
- He Thought He was Self-made
- He Left God Out of the Picture
- Priorities
- Perseverance - (2 Timothy 2:6)
- The Character of Endurance
- The Reward of Endurance
- Patience - (James 5:7-8)
- Patience Instructed
- Patience Illustrated
- The Farmer Waits
- The Farmer Waits for Harvest
- The Farmer Waits for What Brings Harvest
- Patience Imitated
Duration 34:31
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
July 10, 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 justifying 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 37:59
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
July 10, 2022 - Sunday AM Sermon
Is the Bible the Word of God? - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Hiram Kemp
Introduction:
1. The __________ is the most ____________ book in the world. It is the most
___________ book in the history of the world.
2. How can we be sure that the Bible is not just ___________ book? How can
we know if the ___________ is the ___________ of _____________?
3. If a ___________ was from _____________ what would we expect it to
____________? Does the ____________ meet the ___________?
I. ______________ of _________________ (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
II. ___________ Evidence of _____________ (Psalm 119:160)
III. Cannot be ____________ (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8)
IV. ___________ & ___________ the Heart (Psalm 19:7-8; Hebrews 4:12)
V. A ________ & A ____________ (Psalm 34:8)
Conclusion:
1. God has __________ with us through the ____________, but it is up to us to
_______________.
2. The Bible is more than a mere ___________, it is __________ book.
3. It's the only _________ God ever ___________ and the only one we cannot
live without ____________.
Duration 35:01
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
July 3, 2022 - Sunday PM Sermon
Differences Without Division
Romans 14: 1-9
Hiram Kemp
- Ground Rules For Romans 14
- Avoid Extremes
- Determining Matters of Judgement / Opinion
- Defining Weak And Strong
- Paul's Focus on Romans 14
- Some Modern Matters of Judgement
- Receive Each Other Without Arguing - (Romans 14:1)
- Refuse to Condemn Each Other - (Romans 14:2-4, 13)
- Remember The True Judge - (Romans 14:4, 10-12)
- Be Fully Convinced Yourself - (Romans 14:5-9)
- Refuse to Be A Stumbling Block - (Romans 14:13-15, 20-21)
- Guard Your Influence - (Romans 14:16-19)
- Never Violate Your Own Conscience - (Romans 14:22-23)
Duration 37:39
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
July 3, 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 37:31
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
July 3, 2022 - Sunday AM Sermon
HOW CAN WE KNOW THERE IS A GOD?
Text: Psalm 8
Neal Pollard
Introduction
- The ______________ Of _____________ Is The First Truth Assumed In The Bible
- We Can Know There Is A God From...
I. HIS ______________________ (1-2)
- This Is Sometimes Called The ___________________ Argument
- We See His Fingerprints In The __________________ Above The Heavens (1)
- We See The Fingerprints In The Small, Simple Complexity Of A __________ (2)
II. HIS ________________________ (3)
- Laws Men Have Discovered And Named:
- From Genesis 1:16, We See
- The ______________________
- The ______________________
- The ______________________
- The ______________________ (including earth)
III. HIS _________________ (4-8)
- We're Told Our ______________ In This Wonderful World
Conclusion: Psalm 19:1-5
- There Is A ____________; He Is ______________!
Duration 28:48
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
June 26, 2022 - Sunday PM Sermon
Monthly Questions & Answers with Hiram Kemp
Questions to be covered.
- Deacons. Is this a title, job description, or both?
- Are the men in Acts 6 deacons?
- Can individuals serve and be over a ministry who is not a deacon?
- What does it mean to honor your father and mother?
- As adults are we supposed to continue to honor our father and mother?
- How do you honor your father and mother when they are horrible or abusive to you?
- Why does God sanction the Israelites to honor the covenant with the Gibeonites?
- Are all sins equal in the eyes of God?
Duration 24:20
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
”Esther - For Such a Time as This” by David Chang
June 26, 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 justifying 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 demands 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 37:28