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The alternative to freezing to death in our loneliness

The German philosopher Schopenhauer compared the human race to a bunch of porcupines huddling together on a cold winter’s night. He said,

“The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills. And in the lonely night of earth’s winter eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness.”

Christ has given us an alternative: to forgive each other for the pokes we receive. That allows us to stay together and stay warm.

—Wayne Brouwer, via Glenn Hitchcock’s “Thoughts for the Day to Brighten Your Day“

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‘Surprises in the kingdom of God’

There is a story of a woman who had been used to every luxury and to all respect. She died, and when she arrived in heaven, an angel was sent to conduct her to her house. They passed many a lovely mansion and the woman thought that each one, as they came to it, must be the one allotted to her. When they had passed through the main streets they came to the outskirts where the houses were much smaller; and on the very fringe they came to a house which was little more than a hut. “That is your house,” said the conducting angel. “What,” said the woman, “that! I cannot live in that.” “I am sorry,” said the angel, “but that is all we could build for you with the materials you sent up.”

—William Barclay

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My Lot in Life

By Bobby Cloyd, Smithville TN

Genesis 13

  1. Our decisions detemine our destiny.
  2. Get past your past.
  3. Nothing impacts our success more than our relationships.
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The aim of instruction

1 Tim 1.3-7

  1. The need for love: false doctrine leads away from love.
  2. The aim at love: we want to get here for God is love.
  3. The nature of love: rational “instruction” that can be taught.
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Wise or Unwise?

By John Henson, McMinnville TN

Proverbs 20:1-7

  1. The intoxicated are unwise (verse 1).
  2. A provoked fool is unwise (verses 2-3).
  3. The sluggard (lazy) is unwise (verse 4).
  4. The deliberate, righteous one is wise (verses 5-7).
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Outline: Preaching about sex

Matthew Morine published a lengthy outline on his website that deals with how to preach about sex.

He deals with “The tension of a sexual culture,” “The tension of a sacred church,” and “The tension of intertexuality.”

Consult the outline here.

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God’s Word Demands

By John Henson, McMinnville TN

Text: James 1:19-27

  1. Attention (Verses 19-20)
  2. Reception (Verse 21)
  3. Application (Verses 22-25)
  4. Action
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The pain of persecution

From a series on the pains of the Christian. One of those pains is persecution.

Text: 2 Tim 3.6-17

  1. Persecution arises because of opposition to the truth, 6-9.
  2. Persecution is part of the “package” of living for Christ and proclaiming his word, 10-11.
  3. The Lord rescues us from it all, 11.
  4. Persecution is the reality of godly living, 12.
  5. The Christian’s reaction: faithfulness to the Scriptures, 14-17.

 

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Six questions

By John Henson, McMinnville TN

Amos 3:1-8

I. GOD SPEAKS FOR A REASON (Verses 1-7)

a. Six questions pose a cause/effect relationship.

b. Each one explains ONE TRUTH: God speaks to his prophets for a reason!

c. Verse 7 is the Answer. There is a REASON for God’s message.

d. The Lord Has Spoken!

II. WILL WE LISTEN?

a. Go into all the world and preach (Matt 28:18-20)

b. We were dead, but God has made us ALIVE (Ephesians 2:1-7.

c. We have been reconciled to God! (2 Cor 5:18-19) We are changed!

d. START LIVING TODAY! (John 5:25-27)