AM Scripture Reading: John 4.19-26 This Morning’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey PERSONALIZING WORSHIP & GETTING MORE OUT OF IT Introduction: Some background regarding the Samaritans is necessary in order to understand the discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. (John 4.5-26; cf., 2 Kings 17; Ezra 4.1-3) In verse 22, Jesus accurately concluded of the Samaritans at large, “You worship what you do not know…” God desires that we personalize worship and make it a more meaningful experience, but this requires an investment on our part – physically, spiritually and emotionally! PERSONALIZING WORSHIP This does not mean making worship about “me.” […]

Within the narrative of the Book of Acts, Luke speaks of the Berean Jews’ reception of Paul’s teaching: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so”  (Acts 17.11 – NASU). For several generations Henry Thayer’s New Testament Greek lexicon was within every preacher’s reach as he studied his Greek New Testament. This man was a renowned scholar and had few equals. Although dated in many respects, gems of truth are still mined from his lexicon, and I still pull his work off […]

AM Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55.6-11 This Morning’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey THREE TENETS The McDonald’s Corporation has enjoyed great success because of the vision of businessman Ray Kroc and the unique philosophy he aggressively endorsed. Profundity, Simplicity & Consistency are three tenets that are vitally important for the success of Christianity. I. PROFUNDITY God’s Word is profound! (Isa. 55.8-11; Heb. 4.12-13) God’s Word reveals profound facts that we need to know: The depth of sin. (Rom. 3.23; 6.23; Eccl. 7.20; Gal. 3.22) God’s love. (John 3.16; Rom. 5.6-8; 1 John 4.9) The gospel’s power. (Rom. 1.16; 1 Cor. 1.18) Christ’s church. […]

PM Scripture Reading: Acts 17.10-15 Brent T. Willey Open To Truth! Acts 17.11 Introduction: Acts 17.11 notes a drastic difference between the Berean Jews and the Thessalonian Jews when it came to hearing the truth. We must do what the noble Bereans did. What is that? I. OPENING OUR MINDS “They received the word…” Coming to the truth takes hearing & learning. (John 6.45) Good listeners have open minds! (Matt. 13.14-15) “They received the word with all readiness (of mind)…” “Readiness” [prothumia], indicates an eager mind-set. Such is the “honest and good heart” (Luke 8.15). “If anyone wants to do […]

AM Scripture Reading: John 14.1-6 This Morning’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey The Exclusive Savior John 14.6 Introduction: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14.6). Note the definite articles: “the way, the truth, & the life.” No less than 18 times, as recorded in the gospel of John alone, Jesus says,  )Egw/ ei)mi [egō eimi] – “I am.” If His statement is the absolute truth, then Jesus Christ is indeed The Exclusive Savior! I. JESUS CHRIST, THE WAY Christ’s first clause, “I am the […]

Pm Scripture Reading: Acts 20.28-32 David M. Fiddament BEWARE, THE APOSTASY Introduction: The Holy Spirit warned of a great falling away in 1 Tim. 4.1. άποστασία (apostasia): a falling away. (2 Thess. 2.3) Paul says that Christ won’t come till the apostasy happens. We must always beware of apostasy and stand fast in the Truth! (Read Acts 20.28-32) I. APOSTASY PRODUCED A. By Satan. (John 8.44) B. By False Teachers. (2 Pet. 2.12; Matt. 7.15-20) C. By Stubbornness. (Acts 7.57; Acts 28.25-28) D. By a Love of the World. (Mark 10.17-22, 1 John 2.15-16) II. APOSTASY EXHIBITED A. In Resisting […]

AM Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 13.8-14 This Morning’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey THE DANGER OF EMOTIONALISM Introduction: There is a difference between “emotion” and “emotionalism.” The love that Jesus displayed on Calvary’s cross stirs up our “emotions.” Emotion is defined as the “the affective aspect of consciousness; a state of feeling” (Webster). To say that a loving God would never condemn anyone is “emotionalism.” Emotionalism is defined as an “undue indulgence in or display of emotion; a tendency to regard things emotionally” (Webster). Too many people allow emotionalism to influence their beliefs and religious practices, as opposed to objectively studying […]

PM Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3.14-18           Brent T. Willey “ADD TO YOUR FAITH…KNOWLEDGE” 2 Peter 1.5-11 (Part Three) Introduction: Solomon stated: “As he thinks within himself, so he is,” and went on to say: “Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge” (Prov. 23.7, 12). How can we “add to our faith” knowledge? I.BY AN HONEST STUDY GOD’S WORD! Knowledge is seen in two imperatives: “add to your faith… knowledge” and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1.5; 3.18). Knowledge does not […]

AM Scripture Reading: Hosea 4.1-6 This morning’s Sermon:                                                          Brent T. Willey A CUT-FLOWER GENERATION Introduction: “The terrible danger of our time consists in the fact that ours is a cut-flower generation. Beautiful as cut flowers may be, and much as we may use our ingenuity to keep them looking fresh for awhile, they will eventually die, and they die because they are severed from their sustaining roots” (Elton Trueblood, The Predicament of […]

AM Scripture Reading: 1 John 4.1-6 This Morning’s Sermon:                                                  Brent T. Willey COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANITY Introduction: Counterfeit: “Something that is likely to be confused with the genuine thing” (Merriam-Webster, 2003). God’s laws speak against counterfeits in religion. (Eccl. 5.1; Luke 6.46; Col. 2.23) Those who abide in the genuine receive God’s blessings! (Psa. 119.1; Luke 11.28; James 1.25, 27) I.THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM IN CHRISTIANITY! Counterfeit Churches Jesus said, “I will build My church…” (Matt. 16.18; […]