Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Apology; Confession; Foolishness; Greed; Human Nature; Hypocrisy; Reconciliation; Repentance; Self-centeredness; Sports References: Psalm 32:5; 62:10; Proverbs 22:1; Joel 2:12–13; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 1:8–10 Pete Rose has finally admitted that he bet on baseball games while employed as manager of the Cincinnati Reds, an infraction that produced a lifetime ban from the … Continue reading “APOLOGIZING
AT A COST”

Topics: Depravity; Drinking; Foolishness; Gambling; Greed; Human Nature; Immorality; Money; Morality; Pleasure; Sin; Smoking; Spiritual Poverty; Temptation; Vices; Wickedness; Worldliness References: Jeremiah 17:11; Matthew 18:6–7; Mark 8:36; Luke 17:1–2; John 3:19–20; Romans 6:19–23; 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Peter 2:16; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:19 Though the stock market boasted in 2006 that it had 150 “socially … Continue reading “INVESTING
IN VICE”

Topics: Internet; Lust; Morality; Pornography; Sex; Technology References: Romans 13:12–14; 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 Sex.com was one of the most sought-after domain names in cyberspace for years before it sold in January 2006 for $12 million. According to an article on the USAToday.com tech page, the transaction ranks as one of the most … Continue reading “SEX
SITE SELLS FOR $12M”

Topics: Generosity; Giving; Good Deeds; Gratitude; Respect; Sacrifice; Unselfishness References: Matthew 19:30; 20:16; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30; Romans 12:1–10; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:3–4 Twelve United States soldiers were flying home from Iraq on a two-week leave in July 2004. Before one of the soldiers boarded the plane, a passenger traded his first-class ticket for … Continue reading “A
WAY TO SAY THANKS”

Topics: Blasphemy; Cursing; Profanity; Speech; Tongue; Ungodliness; Vices References: Exodus 20:7; Psalm 19:14; Ephesians 5:4–5; Colossians 3:8; James 3:7–12 The use of profanity in America is increasing. According to an AP-Ipsos poll conducted in March 2006, nearly 75 percent of people questioned said they encountered profanity in public frequently or occasionally. Two-thirds said they think … Continue reading “PROFANITY
RISING”

Topics: Addiction; Consequences; Depression; Drinking; Drugs; Emotions; Morality; Premarital Sex; Teens; Temptation References: Job 4:8; Proverbs 5:22–23; Romans 2:8–9; Galatians 6:7–8; Ephesians 4:17–19 Doctors and social scientists have long assumed that many teens get into drugs and sex to deal with depression. However, a study published in the October 2005 edition of the American Journal … Continue reading “DRUGS,
SEX, AND DEPRESSED TEENS”

Topics: Assumptions; Generosity; Giving; Help; Judging Others; Kindness; Sacrifice; Self-centeredness; Service References: Deuteronomy 15:7; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 25:31–46; Luke 6:38; Romans 12:13; 2 Corinthians 8:12; 9:7 Long before Sebastian Junger wrote The Perfect Storm, he decided to hitchhike across the country. He writes of what took place while making his way through the aftermath of … Continue reading “GIFT
OF BOLOGNA”

Topics: Bitterness; Boasting; Complaining; Criticism; Cursing; Discouragement; Faultfinding; Gossip; Insensitivity; Lying; Self-control; Speech; Tongue; Weakness References: Proverbs 4:24; 12:18; 13:3; 18:21; Matthew 12:36; 15:11; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:29; James 1:26; 3:1–12; 1 Peter 3:10 Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, often lectures on the impact of words. He asks … Continue reading “ADDICTED
TO HARMFUL WORDS”

Topics: Ethics; Judgment; Justice; Law; Morality; Righteousness; Standards; Ten Commandments; Truth References: Psalm 7:11; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10–23; 14:9–13; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11–15 Dennis Lee Curtis was arrested for stealing in 1992 in Rapid City, South Dakota. In his wallet the police found a sheet of paper on which was written the following code … Continue reading “THIEVING
CODE OF CONDUCT”

Topics: Deceit; Dishonesty; Lying; Morality; Success; Teens; Truth References: Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 11:1; 12:19–22; John 8:44; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9 A study shows that 70 percent of nearly 70,000 U.S. college and high school students admit to cheating. This distressing statistic highlights a 14 percent increase since 1993, and a 44 percent hike since 1963. … Continue reading “CHEATING
TEENS”