Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Apathy; Conformity; Culture; Internet; Leadership; Outreach; Rebellion; Technology; Teens; Thoughts; Witnessing; Worldview References: 1 Samuel 17; 1 Corinthians 9:23; Philippians 2:14–16; 1 Timothy 4:12; James 5:20 Two teens are combating the myth that teens are rebellious and apathetic. They’re doing that by blogging. Twin brothers Alex and Brett Harris, seventeen, created therebelution.com to debunk … Continue reading “NONREBEL
TEENS”

Topics: Character; Deceit; Dishonesty; Ethics; Government; Honesty; Integrity; Lying; Motives; Taxes; Temptation; Truthfulness; Values References: 2 Kings 17:4; Micah 6:10–11; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25; Romans 13:6–7 Cheating is a prominent feature in just about every human endeavor. So says economist Steven Levitt in Freakonomics. Although he doesn’t declare cheating part of human nature, Levitt notes … Continue reading “CHEATING
ON EXEMPTIONS”

Topics: Apology; Dishonesty; Honesty; Humility; Regret; Repentance; Truthfulness; Values; Words References: Acts 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 13:6; 2 Corinthians 13:5–10 After being included in Oprah Winfrey’s famous book club, James Frey’s memoir, A Million Little Pieces, quickly sold more than 3.5 million copies. Controversy erupted, however, when members of the press began to question whether the … Continue reading “OPRAH
ON TRUTH”

Topics: Confusion; Darkness; Discernment; Doubt; Emotions; Feelings; Questions; Scripture; Truth References: Psalm 43:3; 119:105; Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39; 2 Timothy 3:16 A scuba diver told me that he had been in water so deep and dark that it was almost impossible to keep from becoming disoriented. What a terrifying feeling—being underwater, unable to see your … Continue reading “FEELING
THE BUBBLES”

Topics: Belief; Doctrine; Experiencing God; Faith; False Beliefs; Idolatry; Legalism; Religion; Self-righteousness References: Ezekiel 33:32; Matthew 23; Mark 7:9; John 14:6; Galatians 5:6; 1 Timothy 5:4; Titus 1:16; James 1:26–27 One can love religion like anything else in life: sports, science, stamp collecting. One can love it for its own sake without relation to God … Continue reading “COLLECTING
RELIGION”

Topics: Appearances; Authenticity; Community; Companionship; Family; Humanity; Idolatry; Relationships References: Exodus 20:4–6; Isaiah 44:9–23; Matthew 5:16; Acts 17:29; Romans 12:11; Revelation 3:15–16 Dave Davila, twenty-four, took a job in Chicago and had to leave his close-knit family in East Moline, Illinois. But family gatherings just weren’t the same without Dave. So his mother took a … Continue reading “FLAT
DAVE TRUMPS REAL ONE”

Topics: Belief; Discernment; Doctrine; Faith; False Beliefs; Hermeneutics; Interpretation; Presumption; Testing God; Theology; Traditions; Trust References: Mark 16:17–18; Luke 10:19; Acts 28:1–6 John Wayne Brown Jr., a snake-handling evangelist, was bitten by one of his own timber rattlesnakes in the middle of his sermon. Though Brown continued to speak to the people of Rock House … Continue reading “SNAKE
KILLS EVANGELIST”

Topics: Afterlife; Atheism; Belief; Creation; Creator; Experiencing God; Fellowship with God; Hope; Knowing God; Meaning of Life; Nature; Religion; Science; Worldview References: Genesis 1:1–2; Psalm 14:1; 104; Isaiah 40:26; John 1:1–3; Romans 1:18–23; Colossians 1:15–17 According to a 2006 Newsweek poll, people in the United States said they believed in God by a margin of … Continue reading “TRUMPING
GOD WITH SCIENCE”

Topics: Creeds; Crucifixion; Easter; Faith; Family of God; Gospel; Jesus Christ; Love; Missions; Perspective; Protection; Resurrection; Victory References: Proverbs 25:11; Isaiah 55:5; Acts 4:13; 1 Corinthians 9:19–23; 15:3–5; Philippians 3:20–21; Hebrews 1:1–3 Judaism has its shema and Islam its shahadah, but Christians, responding to Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am?” have produced … Continue reading “JESUS
UNTOUCHED BY HYENAS”

Topics: Absolutes; Authority; Beliefs; Bible; Doctrine; False Beliefs; Humanism; Inspiration of Scripture; Postmodernism; Relativism; Religion; Scripture; Secularism; Truth References: 2 Samuel 23:1–2; Nehemiah 9:13–14; Matthew 24:35; 1 Corinthians 14:36–37; Galatians 1:11–12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21; 1 John 5:9 Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, has inspired a new religion. Yoism, invented by … Continue reading “INTERNET
RELIGION”