Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Influence; Media; Music; Sex; Sexual Immorality; Teens References: Proverbs 22:6; Matthew 6:22–23; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Philippians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–5; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 John 2:15–17 Teens who listen to raunchy, sex-filled lyrics are more likely to indulge in early sexual activity than teens who don’t. So said a survey done in … Continue reading “ROUSING
SEX WITH MUSIC”

Topics: Killing; Murder; Teens; Temptation; Video Games; Violence References: Exodus 20:13; Proverbs 3:31; 22:6; Matthew 6:22–23; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Philippians 4:8 David Grossman, a retired U.S. Army psychologist, believes that violent video games are teaching our kids to kill. Grossman first became aware of this issue while conducting research for his Pulitzer prize-nominated book On … Continue reading “TEACHING
KIDS TO KILL”

Topics: Addiction; Appetites; Gambling; Greed; Love of Money; Money; Self-control; Temptation; Vices References: Psalm 103:2–5; John 8:34; Romans 6:16; Titus 2:11–12; 2 Peter 2:19; 1 John 1:9 In 1999, between 0.6 and 0.9 percent of Americans were compulsive gamblers who had a pathological addiction to gambling, reported the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. Seven years … Continue reading “NO
DRUG FOR GAMBLING”

Topics: Brokenness; Christian Life; Evil Desires; God’s Love; Obedience; Sin; Temptation References: Galatians 2:20; 5:16–25 I cannot continuously say no to this or no to that unless there is something ten times more attractive to choose. Saying no to my lust, my greed, my needs, and the world’s powers takes an enormous amount of energy. … Continue reading “LOVING
TO SAY YES”

Topics: Abstinence; Commitment; Sex; Teens; Temptation References: 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; Galatians 5:16–25; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 Teens who take public pledges to remain virgins wait about eighteen months longer to have sex than those who don’t, says a new study published in the American Journal of Sociology. “Adolescents who pledge are much less likely to have … Continue reading “PLEDGING
ABSTINENCE”

Topics: Jesus Christ; God’s Love; Salvation; Savior; Temptation References: John 3:16; 1 John 4:9 Several years ago, my wife, Kathy, and a friend took their kids to the St. Louis Zoo. “Big Cat Country” had just opened, which took the lions and tigers out of their cages and allowed them to roam in large enclosures. … Continue reading “SAVED
FROM THE LIONS”

Topics: Addiction; Appetites; Contentment; Desires; Fruit of the Spirit; Greed; Limitations; Lust; Patience; Self-control; Self-indulgence; Temptation References: Genesis 25:27–34; Psalm 37:7; 40:1; Proverbs 25:28; Acts 1:4; Galatians 5:22–23; 2 Timothy 3:2–4; James 5:7–11 Kids who can wait for something do better in school. That’s what Walter Mischel proved in an experiment in 1970 with four-year-olds. … Continue reading “EXCELLING
WITH PATIENCE”

Topics: Entertainment; Example; Lust; Media; Movies; Music; Pornography; Premarital Sex; Sexual Immorality; Teens; Television; Temptation References: Job 31:1; Matthew 5:28; 6:22–23; Luke 11:34; 1 Corinthians 15:33 Kids who watch violence on television and in movies tend to become more violent, research has shown. Now research shows that kids who watch sexual activity on TV and … Continue reading “WATCHING
SEX”

Topics: Business; Competition; Ethics; Fairness; Golden Rule; Honesty; Integrity; Morality; Temptation; Values; Virtue References: Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; 15:27; Ephesians 4:25; 1 Timothy 1:19; 6:10 In 2006, an administrative assistant at Coca-Cola’s Atlanta headquarters left work with classified materials in her purse, which included recipes for upcoming products, future promotions, and a … Continue reading “PEPSI
REFUSES COKE SECRETS”

Topics: Addiction; Death; Foolishness; Lust; Perversion; Pleasure; Pornography; Self-indulgence; Sexual Immorality; Temptation; Unrighteousness; Vices References: Matthew 5:27–30; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 5:19–21; Colossians 3:5; Jude 1:7 In 2006, Vladimir Villisov of Russia designed his own coffin to accommodate his vast collection of pornography. “The girls in those magazines have been my companions for … Continue reading “DYING
WITH PORNOGRAPHY”