Sep 20, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Morning
Several years ago, I shared this illustration, but it is so appropriate to this message, I’ve decided to use it again. For some time, a man named Juanito Piring, imagined himself in the spot light, with 20,000 eyes watching him. Eventually all the details were worked...
Sep 18, 2015 | This Sunday in Baptist History
No two – or no three – servants of God are exactly the same in temperament and talents. Generally speaking, they have different gifts sovereignly dispensed by the grace of the Lord. For this reason some are considered by men as more “successful” than...
Sep 17, 2015 | Wednesday
Generally speaking, Arthur W. Pink is a useful guide into the study and application of the Scriptures. Here is one of his quotable statements – “The god of this 20th Century no more resembles the supreme sovereign of Holy writ than does the dim flickering of a...
Sep 14, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Evening
Computers are marvelous instruments. I bought my first computer while visiting here on a visit from Calgary in 1987, and I haven’t looked back. I’m not sure anymore that I could prepare four messages a week, if it was not for my computer. And I know that I couldn’t...
Sep 13, 2015 | Lessons on Bible Trivia
A “plot” might be (a small piece of ground; a plan; a conspiracy; a scheme)? Any of these In the Bible, the word “plot” is found (once; twice; thrice; quice)? Never In the Bible, the word “scheme” is found (once; twice; thrice;...
Sep 13, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Morning
Have you ever wondered why there were 3 crosses on Golgatha that Spring morning so many years ago? We are aware that the Jewish priests hated and feared Christ Jesus, demanding His crucifixion. But do we hear them demanding that Jesus die that very day? Not that I...
Sep 11, 2015 | This Sunday in Baptist History
John Taylor Jones was born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire in 1802, and at the age of 15 he joined the Congregational church. After graduating from Amherst in 1825 he began to train for the ministry at Andover Seminary, but then he was confronted with the mode and...
Sep 10, 2015 | Wednesday
One of the problems that pastors have lays in the very nature of their office. Since I left my secular job, I don’t have as much causal contact with the world any more. Sure I have my weekly routine, but generally speaking it involves the same people all the time....
Sep 8, 2015 | Timothy Parrow
Dear Pastor and Brethren: Preaching! The Lord has enabled me to return to the pulpit to preach once again! I have preached three Sundays this month with visitors coming each time. The first Sunday I preached, my physical animation was a bit slow so that it took me a...
Sep 7, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Evening
Our message tonight is theological. Let’s go through the back door to consider the omnipotence, omniscience and sovereignty of God. Of course by “omnipotence” I refer to the fact that the power of God knows no limitations whatsoever. As Jesus reminded the...
Sep 4, 2015 | This Sunday in Baptist History
Absalom Waller was the nephew of John Waller, known as “Swearing Jack Waller,” due to the pattern of his old life. Nephew Absalom, the eldest of six children, was raised under the preaching of the gospel, and when he was fourteen, was saved by the grace of...
Sep 3, 2015 | Wednesday
There is a member of the Inland Empire Philatelic Society who doesn’t get the respect he deserves. He is the coordinator of several meetings and has held some rather important responsibilities in the past. The only thing slowing him down is his age and health, but...
Aug 31, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Evening
Twenty years ago – in 1995 – I preached a two part message entitled, “If I was the Devil.” I didn’t pull them up to check, but if I remember those sermons, I suggested things that I would do if I was in charge of a God-hating world. And it just so happens...
Aug 30, 2015 | Lessons on Bible Trivia
Paradoxes: A “paradox” is (medical consulting team; an unanswerable conundrum; a resident of Paradise; a statement or proposition that, despite apparently sound reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically...
Aug 30, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Morning
Not only do I feel inadequate for our subject this morning, I know full-well that I am. I am a child of God because of the grace of God and what took place in the verses we have just read. But there are mysteries here which I doubt that I will ever fully comprehend....
Aug 28, 2015 | This Sunday in Baptist History
On this day in 1866 a memorial service was held for Pastor Hezekiah Johnson, who passed away two days earlier. Hezekiah was born into the home of a Baptist pastor in Maryland in 1799, and as a young man he came to understand his salvation in Christ. His family moved...
Aug 27, 2015 | Wednesday
Most of the employees at the plasma place I visit, know that I am a Christian and a pastor. A few of the regular donors do as well. It is not unusual for our casual conversations to swing to a variety of religious topics. There is one worker who always asks me either...
Aug 24, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Evening
I have decided to cancel this evening’s sermon – but you aren’t invited to leave just yet. I don’t know how to describe this message, but it is not a sermon. It might be a lecture, a lesson, an address or merely just rambling, but it is not a sermon. I thought that...
Aug 23, 2015 | This Sunday in Baptist History
Many early American Baptists were common citizens of no great fame or fortune. But there were notable exceptions. For example Eleaszer Clay was the Sheriff of Chesterfield county Virginia and the uncle of the famous Henry Clay. David Benedict claimed that the man was...
Aug 23, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Morning
When I first set out on this study through Matthew, I told myself I would stick to that man’s outline. I didn’t want to make this a study of the life and ministry of Christ, but rather a study of Matthew. There are several events recounted by Mark and Luke which we...
Aug 20, 2015 | Wednesday
Some of you probably first heard about Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord when you six-years-old. And you re-examined it when you were nine and again when you were eleven. It’s a kid’s Sunday School story, but have you ever looked at this chapter with the eyes...
Aug 16, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Evening
Briefly, I want to share with you some of my cogitations on another of the Biblical men named “Simon.” And right off the bat we are confronted with a lot of nothing. There is very little that we know about him. He is mentioned in only three scriptures –...
Aug 16, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Morning
We are coming to some of the most intense, heart-breaking verses in the Bible. I warn you that I will not be able to fully expound these verses, because I don’t think I fully understand them myself. Of course, there are the obvious details of the case, which to some...
Aug 14, 2015 | This Sunday in Baptist History
On this day in 1732 David Thomas was born at London Tract, Pennsylvania. After the Lord saved him, Bro. Thomas attended America’s first Baptist school of higher education at Hopwell, N.J. He did so well there that he was granted a Master of Arts degree from Rhode...
Aug 13, 2015 | Wednesday
Christ Jesus loved families. If you’ll remember, there were several pairs of brothers among His disciples. And there was Peter’s family, including his children and at least one in-law. And there was this extra-special family, living just outside of Jerusalem....
Aug 10, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Evening
You young people might disagree, but I am not yet an old man – older every day – but not “old” as yet. One aspect of that point is the fact that I still learn things. I can’t say that I learn something new every day, but I do learn things from time to...
Aug 9, 2015 | Lessons on Bible Trivia
Biblical Mountains: Did God create the world as it is today – with (oceans; mountains; rivers; desserts)? ????? Were there any mountains when the flood began (yes; no; I don’t know; does it matter)? ???????? What is the likelihood that mountains were formed during the...
Aug 9, 2015 | Matthew, Sunday Morning
Pilate was the Roman Procurator of the Province of Judea. He had the responsibility of governing Jerusalem and most of the Jews – on behalf of Caesar. The secular and spiritual leadership of those Jews recognized Jesus Christ to be a threat – not to Rome – but to...
Aug 7, 2015 | This Sunday in Baptist History
During the 17th and into the 18th century, the ministers of the State Church in Connecticut were supported by taxes taken from the general public. From time to time Baptist missionaries from Rhode Island visited and held services in that Colony, but for the most part...
Aug 6, 2015 | Wednesday
Joshua 13 begins the instruction given to Israel for the division of the land. But much of this chapter deals with the history of the two and a half the tribes. And then there is verse 22 which seems really out of place. This Balaam must be a truly wicked man to be...
