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NEW THIS WEEK |
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WHAT ABOUT NUMBERS |
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A FRESH START |
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THE CHURCH ON HIGHER GROUND |
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HOMEPAGE |
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SERMON NETS HOMEPAGE |
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SERMON NETS MENU |
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SERMON NETS ON SIN AND SALVATION |
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7 SERMONNETS ON SIN |
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SALVATION #1 |
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SALVATION #2 |
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SALVATION #3 |
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SERMON NETS ON HOLINESS AND VICTORY |
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WELCOME AND MENU |
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HOLINESS #1 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #1 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #2 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #3 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #4 |
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KEYS TO VICTORY #5 |
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SERMON NETS ON MINISTRY & SIMPLE LIVING |
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MINISTRY #1 |
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MINISTRY #2 |
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MINISTRY #3 |
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MINISTRY #4 |
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MIINISTRY #5 |
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MINISTRY #6 |
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SIMPLE LIVING |
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OTHER STUDIES |
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A CLOSER LOOK... in depth studies of select subjects and passages |
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THE PLAN a Bible studies in Genesis |
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SIN #1
| SERMON NETS ON SIN...PAGE #1 SHORT MESSAGES WHICH DEAL WITH THE SUBJECT OF SIN ON THIS PAGE#1 DANCING ON THIN CONCRETE#2 SATISFIED TO DEATH #3 DUMBER THAN A CONCH #4 DERAILED OR SIDETRACKED #5 EVICT THE RUMERS (Gossip) #6 IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, WHAT HAPPENED? #7 TO WHICH GENERATION DO YOU BELONG? <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> |
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#1 DANCING ON THIN CONCRETEJun 18, 2001A few weeks ago there was a terrible tragedy in Jerusalem. A wedding party of about 600 people were celebrating together when the floor collapsed beneath them. Those who were partying were focused on the pleasure of the moment. They felt secure in their surroundings. They sensed no danger. They were oblivious to their destiny. They were sure that the building was of sound construction. What could go wrong on such a joyous occasion? The joy of the occasion and the celebration of their dance turned to sudden and final horror as the floor dropped a couple of floors. The laughter, fellowship, merriment and excitement came crashing to disaster and death for many of the celebrants because of reported poor workmanship in the building. The moment was caught on video tape as the music and dancing ended with the sudden disappearance of the entire dance floor amid screams of terror and looks of horror. The floor was apparently not as strong as it needed to be. I have read that the concrete was not as thick as it was supposed to be. Those present did not think that they were taking some unreasonable risk, such as venturing out on a thin layer of ice during a winters outing. They were, after all, simply dancing on a concrete floor which had passed someone's inspection. This is a picture of the world we live in today. The world is partying with no concern for it's destructive surroundings, awareness of it's lurking danger or vision of it's dark destiny. They are sure of their foundation in life, certain of the soundness of their beliefs. They have home, food, cars, boats, friends and a bright future, what could go wrong? They have not done something as foolish as skating out on the thin ice of radicalism or fanaticism. They are simply dancing on the solid foundation of a life built on the concrete of societal norms. Their desires and actions are just like those around them. After all, how could there be any problem with the way they are living when the vast majority of neighbors are dancing the same dance? However, they are standing on a weak foundation. Partying like there is no tomorrow. There laughter will be turned to terror, their security will be turned to disater. They are not being so foolish as to skate on thin ice but they presume that their foundation is safe and sound...while they are dancing on thin concrete. This life will suddenly give way to the horrors of the next world where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Where there is eternal punishment for sin and where the cry of their torment never ceases. The moment of transition will bring a sudden change from celebration and revelry to suffering and punishment. The moment of this life's fleeting pleasures will give way to eternal separation from God. There will come a moment when the facade and pretense of this world will be swept away and the reality of eternal destiny will come rushing up to meet those who have chosen to live their lives without the love, forgiveness, presence and mercy of God. A life lived without Jesus is the way to eternity without God. People refuse to accept both their own accountability for disobedience and rebellion and God's provision for forgiveness and newness of life. They are dancing on thin concrete and will only realize the error of their way when the bottom drops out and they are lost forever. Believe that you have sinned against God. Believe that you deserve to be separated from God for eternity in eternal punishment. Believe that God paid for your sin with the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus, on the cross. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and that He rose again from the dead. Confess and turn from your sins, believe on Jesus as your Rescuer and you shall be saved from the dark night of eternal separation and the eternal torment which awaits you. DON'T DANCE ON THIN CONCRETE! BACK TO TOP <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #2 SATISFIED TO DEATHJul 1, 2001As a high school and college student (early '60s), I spent my summer days working on sports fishing boats on the coast of North Carolina. Those were great days...but I have always found great days whenever Jesus is my focus. They were usually long, tiring and sometimes trying days, but they were good days because of the presence of Jesus with me. They were great days of learning. I stayed busy reading, meditating and sharing Christ every opportunity that I had, but I also learned from the everyday events that enveloped my life. As the "mate" (don't call me "Gilligan") aboard a sports fishing boat, my job included the preparing and maintaining of fishing gear, tackle and fresh baits. We used whole fish and parts of fish for bait to catch other fish. One of the fresh baits that we would use was the glistening white belly of the False Albacore. The False Albacore (a member of the tuna family) is pretty much only good for sports fishing and bait. They are not desirable for food since the have such a high blood content and need to be soaked for a long period of time. But as a sports fish...WOW. They are not great in size (by deep seas standards), but they are more than a handful for those who want a challenge and are not afraid of some hard work to land a fish. They can cause an ocean rig to sizzle and scream. These "Prince Alberts" were also used for bait to catch other fish, whether the delectable King Mackerel, the lumbering Amber Jack or the spectacular bill fish (Sailfish, White Marlin or Blue Marlin). Or they could be used to catch a monster Jaws (shark) if you were so inclined. On one occasion, after a good day of fishing, we returned to the dock to unload our catch and prepare for going out again the next day. I threw the day's catch onto the dock and then cleaned up my boat. After I got her ship-shape again, I worked on my tackle and fresh baits. Along with the edible fish that we had caught that day, we had a "Prince Albert." I cut the belly into strips and then tied a line around the tail of the remaining portion. I lowered the carcass into the water alongside our boat and tied it off to the dock. He became a feast for schools of hungry small fish which swam along the waterfront. I watched as they attacked his opened belly and ate like there was no tomorrow. After a few more chores, I went home to eat and clean up. When I finished supper I returned to the waterfront, in an attempt to "catch" another "fishing party" for another day. Once aboard my boat, I looked over the side to see how my "Sushi On A String" was doing, only to find that the falling tide had left the well-eaten remains hanging a couple of feet out of the water. A large part of the entrails had been devoured by the ravenous little fish. However, I discovered another dead body when I looked at the lifeless remains of the Albacore. Inside the body cavity was the remains a small fish which had been part of the feeding frenzy of the previous hours. Apparently this little fish had gotten so involved in his feasting that he did not notice the falling tide which would leave him "hanging" above the water level. He had all he wanted and it cost him his life. He was so focused on the present pleasure he didn't recognize the present danger. That is so much like we humans. We get so caught up in the pursuit of pleasures and the essentials of life, that we don't pay attention to the ebbing tide of life. We become oblivious to the dangers and the certain doom which will catch us unaware. We become so concerned with the passing pleasures of the moment and we get so consumed in consuming the morsels of this life, that we become victims of our own desires. How many will find that they have chosen the way of death while they thought it was the way of life? BACK TO TOP <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #3 DUMBER THAN A CONCHSep 22, 2001My boyhood was spent on the coast of North Carolina where I enjoyed all of the benefits of nature I could. I enjoyed the ocean, the sound, the beach, the open skies, the fresh air, the fishing and many other advantages of the coast. When someone did something really stupid, someone might call them, "Dumber than a conch", (a conch is a shellfish and obviously not very smart). When it came to following God, the Israelites were sometimes Dumber Than An Ox or Dumber Than A Donkey. Isaiah told Judah, "...I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against Me. The ox know its owner and the donkey its master's crib, But Israel does not know, My people do not consider." Is. 1:2-3. God had provided for and protected His children. He had led them and blessed them with His presence, but they had become dull of understanding. They no longer loved, honored or followed God. They thought they had achieved their position in life on their own merit. God is our breath and when we no longer take Him into our own spirit, we suffocate. If we were to neglect breathing, we would die. It is also true in the spiritual realm. When we neglect to allow God in our daily lives we die spiritually. As someone has said, "Seven days without Jesus, makes one week (weak)." Have you come to the point that you have forgotten from whence your help has come? Are you self sufficient? Do you have what you have, because of your own accomplishments? Have you been lucky in love and life? These are all fallacies. "God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift." If we forget Him, He will remind us. However, if we come to the point that we need to be brought back to God, we will suffer losses along the way. The wiser way to live is to never forget God. Don't think that you have reached any level of accomplishment on your own. "God has been our dwelling place in all generations." "God is a very present help in trouble" for His people. God has never left you or forsaken you. Do not forget Him or all of His benefits toward you. Unhappily, some people who have come to meet God through His Son Jesus Christ, and then have drifted away, never come back to a right relationship with Him. They are led astray and come to depend on themselves or others rather than on God. Do not be "Dumber than an ox", "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding." Remember, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." "Be not wise in your own understanding..." but rather, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." It is time to turn our minds, energies, attention and talents to Jesus and let Him be our God. We should "...bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Don't be "Dumber Than A Conch." BACK TO TOP <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #4 DERAILED OR SIDETRACKED"Dec 13, 2001There are two ways which satan gets us "off the track" of following Jesus and reaching our spiritual destination. he either "DERAILS" us or he "SIDETRACKS" us. But remember, he cannot do either one of these if we do not allow him. God gives us the final decision in our destiny. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance*. satan on the other hand does not want any to be saved, but to be lost forever. Though we have sinned against God and deserve to be judged and separated from God forever, Jesus died and rose again that we might be "saved" from God's judgment. In effect, God has voted with His Son's death on the cross that we should not be lost. satan votes every moment for our destruction through his attacks, temptations, intimidation and accusations. God has given us the "deciding vote." By God's grace we can choose to "get on track" with God by trusting and following Jesus. After we "make our choice" to follow Jesus, we are still attacked by satan. he wants to keep us from living the life which is available for us in Jesus and he wants to keep us from reaching heaven. "Make no mistake about it", if you do not remain faithful to the end, you will not be saved*. Only those who remain faithful and overcome satan and sin will not have their names blotted out of the book of life*. In order to keep us from our "destiny" with greatness, satan attempts to Derail or Sidetrack us. Derailing is the most obvious and drastic thing satan can do to us. Derailing is getting us to completely leave the "track" on which we have started. Two examples of "Derailing" are seen in the parable of the "Seed and the Ground" (Mt.13:1-22). The seed (the Word of God) was sown on the "rocky" ground. This is the person who receives the word with joy, but does not get a firm hold on God and as a result, only has a temporary relationship with God (Jesus said that this person believed for a while but then "fell away", Lk.8:13). Persecution and affliction causes this person to "fall away." The other example from Mt. 13 is the "thorny ground." This is the person who hears the word and starts to produce fruit but the pleasures of this life and the worries of this world "choke" out the life and the fruit never comes to maturity (Lk. 8:14). satan "derails" us with persecution and pleasure. The other way satan keeps us from reaching our destination is by Sidetracking us. This is what happens to the well-meaning and deeply committed believer. They are willing to suffer hardship and make all of the right sacrifices to follow Jesus fully, but they get "sidetracked" onto less important issues or non-Biblical concepts. They get caught up in the teachings of men rather than the Word of God. They focus on things which are not central to their relationship with God. They spend their lives and energy for that which may be good, but they do not follow that which is best. (The greatest enemy of that which is best is that which is good.") Remember, "Only one life, twill soon be passed, only what is done for Christ will last." In either case, the person never reaches their full potential in Christ because they have either stopped following Jesus completely (derailed) or they have allowed themselves to be maneuvered (sidetracked) away from God's leading. When we get derailed, we will be cut off and burned*, when we get sidetracked we may be saved in the end, but we will have our useless works burned*. Why lose in either case? Do not be Derailed or Sidetracked, follow Jesus fully. BACK TO TOP <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #5 EVICT THE RUMERS (Gossip)Dec 22, 2000It is easy to just "pass-on a story" or "relate a situation" and never admit that it is GOSSIP. If the subject of the "discussion" is not present and able to respond to the rumors, then the "rumers" ought to be evicted. To crave new info at the expense of another persons dignity is sin. It takes courage to stop a gossip. It might even take more grace than a person has. If that is true, it is time for them to get grace and change friends. Friends who tear down someone else will tear you down when you are not there. They will destroy your family and your life if you give them a chance. Gossip is a poison which is dispensed freely and too many "Christians" are trafficking in it. We will be held accountable for what we say and to what we choose to listen. BACK TO TOP <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #6 IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, WHAT HAPPENED?Mar 12, 2002 9:14 amLong ago and far away there was an All Powerful Creator, who decided that He had so much love that He wanted to share it with others and let them enjoy His extreme wealth and benevolence. He created a perfect world where there was no hunger, sickness, violence or death. He filled this world with wonderful foods, perfect climate, beautiful animals and glorious gems and metals. There would be no poverty, crime, disease or corruption. All of His creature children would be bountifully provided and would enjoy a close and loving relationship with the loving Creator. He only required that they not eat from one particular tree in this perfect world. They would have children, grand children and great grand-children and they would live together in peace and harmony without any evil or suffering. It was a great idea, what happened? The creature child disobeyed the one rule which had been set forth by the Creator Father. That disobedience changed the whole environment and situation for the man and his wife. Sickness, poverty, violence, perversion and death entered into the creatures lives and the whole world was cast into chaos. Time and again the Loving-Creator-Father offered new and viable escapes from a life of bondage, hatred, fear and despair. They were great ideas, what happened? The creature children always chose to reject the Creators plan for personal and societal fulfillment. The Loving, Creator-Father finally sent His Son to live among the creature children and show them how to live and love. He would ultimately erase all of the debt which stood between them and the Creator. It was a great idea, what happened? The creature children killed the Son along with those who followed Him. As the Redeemer-Son had said, "Men loved darkness rather than light." The Loving-Creator-Father was not finished with His attempt at giving His good and perfect gifts to the creature children. Though they had killed the Son, the Son raised Himself from the dead and then He sent His Spirit to accomplish the Father's plan for blessing the creature children. The Spirit would speak into the inner person of the creature children and if they would believe the Son had died as a sacrifice for them and follow Him in their daily lives, the Spirit would join them together with other "believers" in worship, service, fellowship, prayer and praise. These "believers" would then tell others about the new life of forgiveness, power, love, holiness and hope. When the creature children would place their trust in the Redeemer-Son, their lives would be changed from a temporal and empty existence to one of depth, purpose and fulfillment. Their relationships would be changed from selfish, manipulative and fleeting to self sacrificing, self denying and eternal. People would find themselves being used by the Loving-Creator-Father as His instruments of reconciliation and redemption. This plan would reach across all boundaries; racial, economic, educational, national and class distinctions. War would be replaced with peace, crime would be replaced with social service, division would be replaced with loving unity and want of all kinds would be replaced with plenty. It was a great idea, what happened? Men would rather follow other men than follow the Redeemer-Son. They would rather execute their own plan instead of the plan offered by the Loving-Creator-Father. Still, after 2000 years of offering His plan and being rejected, He would make one more attempt at blessing His creature children. The Redeemer-Son would reign over them as their benevolent King, and would cast the diabolic enemy of their kingdom into bondage for 1000 years. Under the reign of the Redeemer-Son there would be no more war, hunger, disease, violence and death. It was a great idea, what happened? As soon as the vile enemy of the Creator was released from prison, the great majority of the creature children in the kingdom sided with him and sought to overthrow the Redeemer-King. Salvation from sin and death, It Was A Great Idea, What Happened? BACK TO TOP <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #7 TO WHICH GENERATION DO YOU BELONG?Mar 22, 2002Every generation views their own generation as being better than the previous one and the next generation as worse than their own. However, in the scheme of things, there actually is a generation which is worse than any other generation. In past history we would have to give that dubious distinction to the generation of Noah's day. Sin multiplied in his day to the point that the all-merciful and longsuffering God finally intervened with terrible judgment. --------------------------------------------------------- "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at this heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made man" (Ge.6:5-7). --------------------------------------------------------- Note the statement, "...every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually". This led to violence and perversion of every kind. This was also leading the next generation into a time and life of even greater wickedness. God was not only "just" in executing judgment on a wicked world, He was "merciful" to bring it to a close. The horrible things which were taking place and the terrible things little children were suffering must have been overwhelming. We get a little insight into that situation from today's society. Each day brings with it new horrors of man's inhumanity to man and the unspeakable treatment of children. However, instead of these events leading us into a brighter day, our children seem to be drawn to a darker life-style than their parents. This should not be a surprise, since Jesus told us that the period, which would bring to a close the world as we know it, would be like the days of Noah. The New Testament is filled with pictures of a violent and wicked world which would bring to a close "this present evil age" (Ga.1:4). This would become the most wicked of all generations, since it would lead to the final end of all things as we know them. Moses spoke not only to his own generation, but to the end times generation when he said, "...they are a perverse and corrupt generation" (De.32:5). We live in a day when men think they can solve their problems with Economics, Education, Diplomacy, Psychology, Sociology, Medication, Meditation and trunk full of other panaceas. The fact is, there is only one hope for mankind and the world is moving away from that one hope just as fast as it can. Jesus is our only hope (Jn.14:6; ITi. 1:1). The Psalmist spoke about the end times generation when he said, --------------------------------------------------------- "That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God" (Ps.78:7-8). --------------------------------------------------------- The writer of Proverbs spoke to this last generation when he said, --------------------------------------------------------- "There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness, There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men (Proverbs 30:11-14). --------------------------------------------------------- Jesus called the people of His day, a "...generation of vipers."* But through God's work of salvation we are called to come out from this "untoward generation" (Acts 2:40) and to be, "...a chosen generation" (I Pe. 2:9). God wants us all to be part of His family, His generation, but He allows us a choice in the matter, as Joshua said, "Choose ye this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Josh. 24:15). As Elijah told his wicked generation, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal (the popular god of the people), then follow him" (I Kgs. 18:21). It is not easy living as the "chosen generation" in the midst of such a "wicked generation", but that is our calling and opportunity and with Jesus all things are possible. BACK TO TOP |
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