Coherent (def.): to be clear and consistent, logical and reasonable. The accusations of our critics: [See PREVIOUS SERMON (Coherence Part 1) for accusations 1-3]   4. Your requirement of faithful obedience to be a Christian is too difficult. We are totally broken and unable to live faithfully obedient lives to God. It is for this reason the message of salvation is faith in Christ not faithfulness to Christ. It is also the reason Jesus came to earth – to obey so we wouldn’t have to! The standard of obedience preached at your church is just making people into self-righteous Pharisees ..read more

Coherence (def.,) to be intellectually clear and consistent, logical and reasonable. The accusations of our critics: 1. Your list of capital crimes and their punishments are completely arbitrary. The NT possesses no such list or penalties. The only law is love. Our biblically obedient and coherent response: 1.1. The NT (or more specifically, Jesus) affirms the OT Law’s (including its capital crimes) continuing authority under the NC and for the Christian (Mat 5:17-18, hence 19-20). 1.2. The NT likewise establishes excommunication as the new and consistent application of the prior established ..read more

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1. Relevance of this study 1.1. Unbelief wb at an all-time high at the return of Christ (Luk 18:8). 1.2. Without sustaining belief (or faith) in God, His Person and Words (1Ti 1:5 [“love” = For God and others – loyalty/equity]; Heb 10:37-39 [w/Heb 11:6]; 1Jo 5:4-5; 1Pe 1:5-7), it is impossible to sustain faithfulness to God and others (the other necessary instrument of salvation and to receiving divine blessings) (Jam 2:14-24; Luk 17:3-10; hence 2Pe 1:5-11; our examples – Heb 11:33 and 12:2). 1.3. Transformation from a foolish, spiritually darkened, deceived person led by their flesh/feelings ..read more

1. The book, "Life for Dummies" is the Bible, which means the less you know and believe, the more you reveal yourself to be a dummy. (Is 8:20) 2. Life is a test, and God is the proctor of that test. He is the one judging/grading how you do. It is why you exist. This is our purpose: pass His test. Those who pass the test seek Him through the constant, consistent, and permanent practice of learning about Him. (Heb 11:6; Jer 29:13; Jer 9:24; Col 1:28; Col 2:1-10; Joh 1:18; 2 Pe 3:17-18; 2 Pe 1:16-190 3. Because life is a test, you will be tested. (Deu 8:2; 1 Pe 4:12-18; Jam 1:1-2; Phi 1:28 w/ 1 ..read more

QUESTIONS 1. Can you give the Big Picture (from God's Word)? 2. Can you show that salvation is a marrage? 3. Can you show it is a marriage to Jesus? 4. Can you show who Jesus is and what He did? 5. Can you show that baptims is necessary as the place where we pledge our allegiance to Jesus? 6. Can you show that God's vow to us is dependent on us being faithful? 7. Can you show that obedience is necessary to salvation? 8. Can you show that the obedience God requires is faithfulness and not perfection? 9. Can you show that this is something you can do? 10. Can you show faithfulness means our new ..read more

1. God is real. This life is the test. 2. Extreme ownership. 3. Self suspicion before evil suspicion. 4. See something, say something. 5. No victim mentality. 6. Use the courts. 7. Those who fail to fulfill the second greatest commandment are fit only for the pit. CLOSING THOUGHTS 1. The first generation ministry is to raise up the second generation. 2. Hold them accountable so that their generations are not marked by the same failures. 3. we all need to own the failures of our first generation and vow to be better ..read more

An important ministry in the church is the ministry of mercy. This study will discuss various aspects related to this subject.   1. Historically the church has recognized the existence of only two forms of ministry: the ministry of mediation and the ministry of mercy. The ministry of mediation includes all those gifts and tasks related to teaching (e.g., preaching, discipleship, counseling, music/worship, sacraments), justice (e.g., discipline, establishing policy, counseling, judgment/JUDCO, sacraments) and operations (security, administration, finances, building and grounds maintenance ..read more

1. Culpability: without exception, every person able to reason, who knows that what they are doing is wrong (Jam 4:17) is not only fully culpable for their actions but also fully capable of turning from them (repentance) (Act 17:30; Deu 30:9-14). With respect to one’s ability to reason consider: 1) God makes such a distinction in multiple OT texts (Jon 4:11 “know the difference between their right and left hand”; Isa 7:15-16 “know enough to refuse evil and choose good”; Isa 8:4 “My father...my mother” ) = A person able to demonstrate (e.g., in conversation w/others) cognitive reasoning skills ..read more