THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING

Mankind is drawn to things that are new. It's how advertisers make their living. Look at the world of technology and you can see how quickly what you presently own becomes out of date. Today's cell phone is tomorrows dinosaur. Thankfully their is nothing new about the matter of the salvation of sinful men. Paul stated, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). The "foolishness of preaching" is the old fashioned gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3). Knowing that this was the focus of his message, we should not be surprised that Paul also wrote, "And how shall they preach, except they be sent as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of great joy'" (Romans 10:15). However, preaching the gospel is not just the privilege of full-time Christian workers such as pastors, evangelists, and missionaries, it is the privilege and responsibility of every Christian. As we therefor have opportunity, let us go and tell the world the good news of the gospel so that they might have the forgiveness of their sins, through faith in the sacrifice for sin that Jesus made on the cross. This is the foolishness of preaching by which men, women, and children are transferred out of the kingdom of darkness, and into the kingdom of God's own dear son (Colossians 1:13,14),

God bless,

Pastor Tom

THE ELECTION RESULT

This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget

That thought the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

My daughter sent me a text this morning with the words above reminding me of the great truth that God rules overall. 

May Christian's across this country pray that President-Elect Trump will govern in the fear of God.

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Pastor Tom

CHURCH GROWTH METHODS

The following comments are taken from Archibald Brown's, sermon, "The Devil's Mission of Amusement: The Church's Task-Entertainment or Evangelization?  Brown was the successor to Charles Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.  We don't have to agree with all that Brown wrote to appreciate his concern that the church's mission of proclaiming the gospel would be weakened by making the church a place of entertainment. Brown wrote:

My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in Holy Scripture as one of the functions of the church.  What her duties are will come under our notice later on.  At present it is the negative side of the question that we are dealing with.  Now, surely, it our Lord had intended His Church to be the caterer of entertainment, and so counteract the god of this world, He would hardly have left so important a branch of service unmentioned.  If it is Christian work, why did not Christ at least hint it?  "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature," is clear enough.  So would it have been if He had added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish the Gospel." No such addendum, however, is to be found, nor even an equivalent for such, in any one of our Lords utterances.  This style of work did not seem to occur to His mind.  Then again, Christ, as an ascended Lord, gives to His Church specially qualified men for the carrying on of His work, but no mention of any gift for this branch of service occurs in the list.  "He gave some, apostles;. and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers - for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," Where do the "public entertainers" come in?  The Holy Ghost is silent concerning them, and his silence is eloquence.

Pastor Tom

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity,

WORRY DOESN'T CHANGE THINGS!

I sometimes wonder how much time I have wasted, and how much energy I have spent worrying about things which never came to pass, or things I could never change. Looking back, worry hasn't accomplished one positive thing in my life. Looking forward, I pray that the Lord will strengthen me in my faith through His Word so that I can trust Him even in life's darkest hours. In the midst of the ups and downs of daily living one thing is certain, God never changes. He will always be as He has always been, which means that I can always depend upon His faithfulness. Theologians call this "immutability." I call it peace. The peace which comes in knowing that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). John Newton said, “We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.” Jesus put it this way, "Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought of the things sufficient of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:34).

Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Additional thought taken from William MacDonald’s Believer’s Bible Commentary:

“Worry is unnecessary; there is no need for us to bear the burdens when He is willing and able to bear them for us. Worry is futile; it hasn’t solved a problem yet. Worry is sin. A preacher once said: ‘Worry is sin because it denies the wisdom of God; it says that He doesn’t know what He’s doing. It denies the love of God; it says He does not care. And it denies the power of God; it says that He isn’t able to deliver me from whatever is causing me to worry." 

Pastor Tom

READINESS OF MIND

What is your attitude toward the Holy Scriptures? 

I have shared many different truths from the Bible with many people in the past 40 years of my life and they have reacted in several ways’. First, there are those who are completely indifferent. They usually don't express direct opposition, but spiritual matters don't matter to them at all. They would rather talk about earthly things. Like politics, sports, or the weather, Second, there are those who are irritated, upset, and even hostile. They simply do not want to hear about sin, salvation, God, or Jesus Christ. The Bible is a fool's book to them. Some of them were atheists, others identified themselves with a particular religion, or spiritual viewpoint, but all of them in this category had negative feelings about "Bible Christian's." Finally, there were the few among the many who were eager to hear what God revealed in His Word. We find the latter crowd in the book of Acts, chapter 17. 

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few (verses 10,11).

The key words in this story are the words "received the word with readiness of mind" (verse 10). Readiness (prothumia in Greek) denotes a disposition toward, and eagerness, or a willingness to hear. The result was that "many of them believed" (verse 11).  Those who come to accept Christ as their Savior are those who have a willingness to hear "thus saith the Scripture." It all begins with a positive attitude toward God's Word. The Holy Spirit will then take that Word to bring conviction of sin leading to salvation (John 16:8; Romans 10:17). Don't be indifferent or cynical toward the Bible. Be eager to receive it and you too can be among the noble Bereans. God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).


Pastor Tom

WHAT REAL CHANGE LOOKS LIKE

Yesterday I preached a message, "What Real Chang Looks Like." I would encourage you to listen to it by going to www.faithsd.org. Click on "Hear a Sermon" in the quick links section. I pray that you are blessed by it. My outline consisted of the following points:

INTRODUCTION: Real change is possible because of the Almighty power of God

I. REAL CHANGE IS CHANGE WHICH PLEASES GOD

  

Romans 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 5:8,9; Ephesians 5:8-10; Colossians 1:9,10; 11

II. GOD IS AT WORK TO BRING ABOUT REAL CHANGE IN OUR LIVES

Philippians 2:12,13

III. REAL CHANGE REQUIRES HARD WORK                                                                                                 

Philippians 2:12; Ephesians 6:14-18; 1 Timothy 4:7,8                                                      

IV. REAL CHANGE IS VISIBLE CHANGE

John 13:35; Ephesians 4:21-24; 2 Corinthians 7:1

V. REAL CHANGE IS LASTING CHANGE

John 15:7; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

VI. REAL CHANGE GLORIFIES GOD

1 Corinthians 10:31; Habakkuk 2:14

Close: Are you resolved to make real changes in your life for God’s glory?