AM Scripture Reading: Acts 16.1-5 Sermon Series: Keeping The Church Strong & Growing Brent T. Willey Lesson #1: AUTHORITY, ATTITUDE & ACTION Introduction: Every biblical subject must be approached from a foundational standpoint, and this is certainly true with the Lord’s church. Luke records, “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16.5), which should be our goal as well. How can this be accomplished? This is achieved by a multi-faceted endeavor that demands three essential elements: Authority, Attitude & Action! The church continues to face perilous times as there are those individuals who […]

The apostle Paul shared his own personal experience in order to teach a lesson about contentment. He wrote, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content” (Phil. 4.11). How’s your day going? Just imagine being yelled at early in the morning, being talked down to, or perhaps bullied, at the beginning of your day. Can you now imagine just how these types of behavior might impact the rest of your day? Just imagine not feeling loved. Imagine seldom experiencing acts of kindness. Can you now imagine how your life, in […]

AM Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.1-11 Brent T. Willey WHAT WE MAKE IT Introduction: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him” (2 Cor. 5.9). Philotiméomai: “eager or earnest to do something” (Strong). We shall examine four important applications… I. ATTITUDES We can choose our attitudes! It’s a conscious decision. Listen to Scripture: Every day is from God – be positive! (Psa. 118.24) We are the products of our thoughts! (Prov. 23.7) Possess Christ’s attitude! (Phil. 2.5 – niv). II. BEHAVIOR We decide what our own behavior is going to be! Paul […]

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2.5). “You need an attitude adjustment!” Who needs the attitude adjustment? Is it the person spoken to or the person doing the speaking? Often, we overlook our own attitude because of other people’s attitudes. Do we fail to see that we are as bad off as the person we are criticizing! I can’t see my attitude when I am criticizing someone else, can I?  By example, raging parents are teaching their children to become raging parents. Exceptions? Of course! But even the Bible uses the expression “Like mother, like daughter” (Ezek. 16.44).  Adam Clark writes,   […]

AM Scripture Reading: Luke 18.18-23 This Morning’s Sermon: Tim Barkas VISUAL ACUITY Introduction: Optometrists examine our eyes to determine our visual acuity or how keenly we can see. Spiritual vision is even more important. Without God our vision is impaired. We must examine our vision when it comes to how we are to conduct ourselves. The only way for us to sharpen our visual acuity is to submit our lives to the One who sees the whole picture! GOD SEES IT ALL! There is nothing that can be concealed from God. (Heb. 4.13; Job 34.21) He sees within man’s heart. […]

AM Scripture Reading: Mark 10.13-16 This Morning’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey HINDER NOT OUR YOUTH Matthew 19.13-15; Mark 10.13-16; Luke 18.15-17 Introduction: Jesus told His disciples, “Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Mark 10.14). Look at His statement, “do not hinder them.” The KJV, NKJ & ASV-01 use the word “forbid.” Kōlúō: “i.e., prevent (by word or act)” (Vine); “to hinder…to withhold a thing from anyone” (Thayer). (E.g., Matt. 9.38-39; Acts 8.36; Acts 10.47) How many children are “hindered” from coming to Christ? We must employ positive methods […]