Category Authority

Paul’s Defense to Agrippa

The Preacher Leave a comment

Paul’s defense to Agrippa is very powerful, and something all Christians should study to understand, and be able to recite.

Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

I OPENLY DECLARE…

  • I Worship the God of the Bible. John 4:24 God is Spirit: then let his worshippers give him worship in the true way of the spirit.
  • I Believe all things which are written in the Law (of Moses) and the prophets. Luke 24:26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to go through these things, and to come into his glory? 27 And he made clear to them all the things in the Writings, from Moses and from all the prophets, which had to do with himself.
  • I Have Hope toward God. Heb 6:19 And this hope is like a strong band for our souls, fixed and certain, and going in to that which is inside the veil;
  • I Hope in the Resurrection of the dead, (both of the just & unjust). 2Cor 5:10 For we all have to come before Christ to be judged; so that every one of us may get his reward for the things done in the body, good or bad.
  • I Strive to have a conscience without offense toward God. 1Thess 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
  • I Strive to have a conscience without offense toward mankind. Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

None of the above is to be separated from the New Testament to make a creed we recite in a rote manner. These are the words the Apostle Paul came to know and Believe through inspiration of the Holy Spirit as he gave his defense before Agrippa.

Spencer.

How do we scripturally give God GLORY?

The Preacher Leave a comment

GLORY meaning.

  1. To make GORGEOUS, GREAT. Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
  2. LEADING above and beyond everyone and everything.
    1. John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (KJV)
    1. Re 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
    1. Hear ye Him.
    1. Mt 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  3. ORIGINAL, before everything. John 17:5; Col 1:17 used of Christ.
    1. Outstanding, above, before, first.
      1. Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
  4. Rejoice. & REQUEST.  1Cor 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
    1. 2Co 10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
    1. Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
    1. 2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
    1. REQUEST wishing. 2Cor 13:7; Jas 5:16
      1. Ac 26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
      1. 2Co 13:7 ¶ Now I pray to God that ye do no evil;
      1. Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
      1. 3Jo 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
  5. YIELD to submit and die to Glorify God. (this point is key, Luke 6:46)
    1. 1Pe 4:11-16 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
      1. PAUL’S CHANGED LIFE. Ga 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.CF., those that don’t put God first. Ro 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
      Joh 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.YOU LOVE. 1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:YOUR SUBMISSION TO THE GOSPEL. 2Cor 9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
    1. YOU WERE BOUGHT, 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

To give God GLORY is more than just boasting and praising Him.

GIVE HIM Praise, honor, & Preeminence in our lives. Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

LOVE Him above everyone and everything else. Matt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

OBEY His commands. Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (2Cor 9:13)

REJOICE only in Him and not in ourselves. 1Cor 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. 2Cor 10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

YIELD to His word, His commands, His doctrine, and be willing to die for preaching it, keeping it, and living it.

Spencer is an evangelist for the church of Christ o Franklin & Juniper st in Borger, Texas.

1Peter Overview chart

The Preacher 1 Comment

chapter OUTLINES.

1) SALUTATION / SALVATION of believers / SECURITY of believers / SUFFERING of Christ / SANCTIFICATION of believer / SINCERITY to the word

2) SINCERITY to the Word 1-2 / SPIRITUAL House 3-8 / SPECIAL, STRANGERS, SOJOURNERS 8-12 / SUBMIT to Authority 13-17 / SUFFERING Savior Our Example 18-25

3) DWELLING together / DAYS that are good /

DEFENSE for our hope / DIVINE longsuffering

4) Time has PAST to Sin / Time for the END / Time to SUFFER / Time for JUDGMENT

Roast Duck Soup

The Preacher Leave a comment

A nephew came to see his kindly old uncle from the country and brought a duck. The kindly old uncle was grateful, had the bird cooked, and shared it with his nephew.

A few days later another visitor arrived.

“I am a friend,” he said, “of the man who gave you the duck.”

The kindly old uncle invited him in to some steaming hot duck soup.

Another man came the next day who was a friend of the friend of the nephew. The kind old man sat him down to a bowl of Duck Broth Soup & Rice.

One day there was a knock at the door and a stranger appeared. “I am the friend of the friend of the friend of the man who brought you the duck from the country,” he said.

“Come in,” said the kindly old uncle.

They seated themselves at the table and the kindly old uncle asked his wife to bring the soup.

When the guest tasted it, it seemed to be nothing more than warm water.

“What sort of soup is this?” he asked the Old Man.

“That,” said the kindly old uncle, “is the soup of the soup of the soup of the soup of the duck.”

This is the difference in watering the gospel and watering it down.

“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1Cor 3:7).

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal 1:6-10).

we can RESTORE the New Testament church

The Preacher Leave a comment

Here’s a question almost nobody asks; Is the Lord pleased with so many varied churches teaching contradicting and erroneous doctrines? The answer is self evident.

We ought to seek to RESTORE the New Testament church that Christ built in the first century.

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt 16:18

How to continually RESTORE the New Testament church.

  1. RECOGNIZE there are different ones and it is not pleasing to the Lord.
    1. Gal 1:6-10
  2. EXPECT that it can be done. 1Tim 3; Titus 1; Matt 16:18
  3. SEED of the SCRIPTURE is the STANDARD by which we restore. Mark 4:13-20
  4. TRUE JESUS vs fake Jesus. 2Cor 11:4 “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
  5. ORIGINAL identifying marks of doctrine, organization, and function.
    1. 1John 1:9
  6. RETURN, Restore, Repent. 1Cor 1-5 This was the problem with the church at Corinth. They had become divisive over several issues. “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.”
  7. ESTABLISHED, organized, met. Acts 2:38-47
    1. 1Cor 11:17-34; 16:1-2; Acts 20:7
    2. They worshipped (Sing Acapella, Prayer, Giving, Teaching, & observing the Lord’s death)
    3. They worked together in local congregations (cf. Rom 16:16)
      • Organized with Elders, Deacons, & Saints. (Phil 1:1; 1Tim 3; Titus 1)
    4. The work of these local congregations (congruently with all local congregations) is all about saints…
      • Making Saints. (Matt 28:19)
      • Teaching Saints. (Matt 28:20)
      • Helping needy Saints. (Acts 11:29)

Levels as we READ

The Preacher 1 Comment

Levels of progress as we READ

Level One is RESEARCHING the unknown. Our first time Reading to discover what’s there. Pausing to look up word definitions. Reading through the books and letters in a short amount of time, but not hurriedly, to gain familiarity with the contents. This may last through two or three readings.

Level Two is continuing to read & taking a closer EXAMINATION of what we read. Taking note of context, audience, & speaker. This begins to happen after multiple readings after the text becomes familiar. 

Level Three is continuing to read and making ASSOCIATIONS between passages you’ve previously read. Looking up cross references of key verses, especially quotations of other scriptures.

Level Four reading is DIGGING DEEPER to DISCOVER buried treasure. ie. Searching Topical associations, People, Places, & Terms.

Reading is the foundation for Study. Reaching the next level only happens with continual reading. Study is just reading at higher and higher levels. 

READ

1) Research.

2) Examination.

3) Associations.

4) Digging Deeper.

Here is a link to a printable bible reading bookmark that lists the books of the bible.

If you live in the Borger area and would like to learn how to read your bible more effectively, please contact us.

Lessons from Proverbs 6: the WICKED man

The Preacher 1 Comment

A WICKED man, Proverbs 6:12-19

Walks w/ a perverse mouth. 12

“A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.”

Innocent people get hurt. 17

“A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,”

Conceited, arrogant, proud. 17

“A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,”

Knowingly tells falsely. 13,17,18

“He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;”

“A false witness that speaketh lies”

Evil imaginations, perversity in the heart. 14,18.

“An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,”

Devises mischief, sows Discord, 14,19

“A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Who is TIMOTHY?

The Preacher Leave a comment

TRUE son. 1Tim 1:2; 1Cor 4:17

IMPRISONED. Heb 13:23; w/ Paul Phil 2:19-23

MODEL / EXAMPLE. 1Tim 4:12

OBEDIENT. 1Tim 4:6-16;

TRUSTWORTHY. Phil 2:20 “likeminded, Sincerity”

HOLY SPIRIT gifts. 2Tim 1:6

YOUNG. Not to be despised. 1Tim 4:11; 2Tim 1:5; 3:15