What’s behind “It doesn’t really matter what you believe as long as you’re honest and sincere”?
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Choices, Church, Salvation, Genesis, Matthew, John, Acts, Ephesians
The statement of our title is usually followed up with, "After all, we're all just taking different roads to the same place." I don't mean to be unkind, but these statements are a lazy plea of ignorance disguised as love and ecumenicism. I've always felt it was important to realize what motivates people to make the statements they do, especially when those statements directly contradict clear biblical teaching. So, what is "behind" these statements? What motivates those making them to do so? And equally important, how can we constructively handle these situations to bring about the ultimate good?
The “Foolish” Power of Preaching
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Fidelity, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy
Preachers are somewhat like mother-in-laws in that both are often the butt of jokes. Such just seems to “go with the job” in both cases. Any preacher who doesn’t understand and accept this, or who has a thin skin, won’t last very long. For instance, did you hear the one about the embarrassed wife who tried to explain to the minister why her husband walked out during the sermon? “It wasn’t that he didn’t agree with what you were saying,” she said sheepishly, “He just sleep walks.” Fortunately, most preachers have a pretty good sense of humor and thus take the kidding well.
Camels and Gnats
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Commitment, Matthew
This excellent lesson was preached by Bro. David Smitherman in our recent Gospel Meeting here at Southside.
Affirmations of Jesus
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Faith, Trust, John
This excellent lesson was preached by Bro. David Smitherman in our recent Gospel Meeting here at Southside.
Erroneous Views of the Local Church
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Church, Fidelity, Luke
Sunday two weeks ago, we spoke about the Purpose of the Church- that it was to be pillar and support of the truth; that by being the fruit of God’s eternal plan to save man, it makes known the manifold wisdom of God; and that it is to be that glorious, spot and wrinkle free, blameless and beautiful Bride of Christ whose love and devotion cannot be questioned or impeached. These are somewhat lofty-sounding goals. While I tried my best to explain it in that lesson, there were some things regarding our view of the Church in general, and ourselves as a part of it specifically, that have continued to “nag” at me. I fear that we may not yet have a complete picture in our heads of what God expects us to be and do. I fear I may not have completely brought into focus some things that we may need to “see” to be what God wants us to be...
The Compromise of Theistic Evolution
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Faith, Genesis, Exodus
The evolutionary mantra seems to be that no matter how far-fetched a theory might be, if you proclaim it loud and long enough, people will believe it. They began attracting youngsters with fascinating tales of dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago, and the evolutionary time-table for the age of the earth has ballooned exponentially since. The question many fail to ask is: “Why does the age of the earth keep increasing in evolutionary models?”
“Modern” Prophets
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Matthew, 1 Peter, 2 Peter
There are good reasons that the Bible warns of latter day prophets, but they may not be just the ones you suspect. If we believe the Bible’s claims of authority and completeness, (see John 12:48; Ephesians 3:3-5; 2Timothy 3:16-17; et al), then exactly what would a “modern” prophet tell us? If he “reveals” something different from the Bible, then either he or the Scripture is not true. If he “reveals” only what the Scripture has already said, he is not really a “prophet.”
Deception and Transgression
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Fidelity, Genesis
This PowerPoint lesson takes a brief but perhaps somewhat different look at the deception and transgression of Eve (Gen.3:1-7) in hopes of avoiding the same mistakes ourselves.
Lessons from Malachi
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Worship, Malachi
The Israelites who have returned from a seventy-year captivity in Babylon; they've at least partially rebuilt the city and the Temple; sacrifices of worship are again being made to Jehovah. But God is greatly displeased with their offerings and worship. Why? This lessons attempts to answer that question by taking an overall look at God's last recorded prophetic word to Israel before the arrival of John the Baptist some 400+ years later- the book of Malachi. In this oracle, we will likely also see ourselves...unfortunately.
The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Choices, Luke
This trio of parable have not be 'lost" and recently discovered. They are "lost" in the sense that they all center on something, or someone, that has been lost- a sheep, a coin, and sons. It hoped that this PowerPoint lesson will adequately explain them.