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The newest verse cards in our verse card project are as follows: To purchase these memory verse cards, you may go to the following page:
Premium Quality Verse Cards
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Weekly Sermon
James 1:1-8 reads, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” As a whole the epistle of James is written with a focus upon the daily character and conduct of the believer. It is filled with imperative instructions, exhortations, and even correctives. James, the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19), was the leader among the pastoral leadership of the church at Jerusalem. (Acts 12:17; 15:13-21; 21:18; Galatians 1:19; 2:9) Therefore, as a pastor James originally wrote this epistle under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit to the Jewish believers who were scattered throughout the empire of Rome. His Holy Spirit inspired purpose was to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the lives of these believers. The opening paragraph of this epistle (verses 2-8) moves immediately to the subject of life’s many, various trials, troubles, and tribulations. This contextual situation and setting for the paragraph is established through the closing portion of verse 2 – “When ye fall into divers temp-tations.” Now, in this context the phrase “divers temptations” refers to the many trials of our lives; for these “divers temptations” are described in verse 3 as “the trying of your faith.” Brethren, we all will face many, various trials, troubles, and tribulations in our lives. Concerning this matter, God’s Word does not use the word “if,” but the word “when.” It is not if we might fall into diverse temptations, but when we will fall into diverse temptations. So then, how are we to deal aright with these many, various trials, troubles, and tribulations of our lives? James 1:2-8 gives a series of four instructions concerning the matter. Along with each of these instructions, a motivational reason is also provided in order to encourage our obedience therein. Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: Unmoved, A Steadfast Man of God (Part 1) - Acts 20:22-24 Acts 20:17-24 reads, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” In this passage of Scripture, we pick up the life of the apostle Paul at the end of His third missionary journey. While going about the areas of Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia, establishing and confirming churches in the faith, Paul collected money for the financially destitute church of Jerusalem. Here we find Paul in Miletus for a few days, as the ship on which he had booked passage is resupplied and outfitted for the journey. The apostle Paul, never one to waste time, takes this opportunity to send for the elders of the church at Ephesus, (Ephesus being approximately thirty miles distant). Now, as the New Testament Scriptures often use the term “elder” as a reference for the official leadership of churches, we recognize these men in our common terminology as the pastors of the church at Ephesus. Unto these pastors the apostle Paul spends the whole of Acts 20:18-35 in a farewell address. Contextually, this address can be divided into four parts. First, in verses 18-21 there is Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men. Second, in verses 22-24 there is Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. Third, in verses 25-31 there is Paul’s exhortation to these pastors concerning their ministry. Fourth, in verses 32-35 there is Paul’s commendation of these pastors unto God. In this message let us consider the second of these matters – Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. In the three verses of Acts 20:22-24, the phrase with which verse 24 begins stands out with great strength and emphasis – “But none of these things move me.” The apostle Paul was like an unmovable rock. Regardless of how the storms might blow, he remained a steadfast man of God. Yet there are two questions that come to mind – By what things was Paul not moved, and from what things was Paul not moved? So then, in this second part of the message, let us consider the answer to the second of these two questions – From what things was the apostle Paul unmoved as a man of God? Furthermore, through Paul’s example let us consider how we also as men and women of God may also be unmoved in our spiritual walk with the Lord. Thought for Meditation
When an individual possesses eyes to see and ears to hear, yet does not actually hear the truth of God's Word or see the wisdom of God's Word, it is specifically because that individual's heart is filled with rebellion against the Lord our God and His Holy Word. Weekly Sermon
Acts 20:22-24 reads, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” In this passage of Scripture, we pick up the life of the apostle Paul at the end of His third missionary journey. While going about the areas of Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia, establishing and confirming churches in the faith, Paul collected money for the financially destitute church of Jerusalem. Here we find Paul in Miletus for a few days, as the ship on which he had booked passage is resupplied and outfitted for the journey. The apostle Paul, never one to waste time, takes this opportunity to send for the elders of the church at Ephesus, (Ephesus being approximately thirty miles distant). Now, as the New Testament Scriptures often use the term “elder” as a reference for the official leadership of churches, we recognize these men in our common terminology as the pastors of the church at Ephesus. Unto these pastors the apostle Paul spends the whole of Acts 20:18-35 in a farewell address. Contextually, this address can be divided into four parts. First, in verses 18-21 there is Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men. Second, in verses 22-24 there is Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. Third, in verses 25-31 there is Paul’s exhortation to these pastors concerning their ministry. Fourth, in verses 32-35 there is Paul’s commendation of these pastors unto God. In this message let us consider the second of these matters – Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. In the three verses of Acts 20:22-24, the phrase with which verse 24 begins stands out with great strength and emphasis – “But none of these things move me.” The apostle Paul was like an unmovable rock. Regardless of how the storms might blow, he remained a steadfast man of God. Yet there are two questions that come to mind – By what things was Paul not moved, and from what things was Paul not moved? So then, in this first part of the message, let us consider the answer to the first of these two questions – By what things was the apostle Paul unmoved as a man of God? Furthermore, through Paul’s example let us consider how we also as men and women of God may also be unmoved in our spiritual walk with the Lord. 1. Do you believe that the Lord our God desires and requires for us believers to be in His Word every day? 2. Do you believe that it is necessary for us believers to be consistently in God’s Word in order to live pleasing unto the Lord our God? 3. Do you believe that it is necessary for us believers to be consistently in God’s Word in order to grow in spiritual maturity? 4. Do you believe that it is necessary for us believers to be consistently in God’s Word in order to walk as good, godly Christians? 5. Do you believe that it is spiritually important for us believers to walk daily abiding in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit? 6. Do you believe that it is necessary for us believers to be consistently in God’s Word in order to walk abiding in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit? 7. Do you believe that we believers will be spiritually immature, spiritually backslidden, and wordly Christians if we are not consistently in God’s Word? 8. Do you believe that it is a sin against the Lord our God when we are not consistently in God’s Word? 9. Do you believe that it is necessary for us believers to be consistently in God’s Word in order to have an effective prayer life? 10. Do you believe that it is necessary for us believers to be consistently in God’s Word in order to experience the peace and joy of the Lord? 11. Do you believe that we believers should be deeply burdened for a true, spiritual revival in our individual lives, our individual homes, and our individual church? 12. Do you believe that a true, spiritual revival is Biblically and genuinely possible for our lives, homes, and church? 13. Do you believe that the Lord our God graciously and deeply desires to grant the gift of a true, spiritual revival in our lives, homes, and church? 14. Do you believe that we believers do not often experience the gift of a true, spiritual revival simply because we ourselves will not meet the Lord’s requirements for such a revival? 15. Do you believe that a true, spiritual revival will have a real and noticeable impact upon the character of our hearts and the conduct of our lives? 16. Do you believe that a true, spiritual revival in our individual lives will transform the character of our daily attitudes, both privately and publicly? 17. Do you believe that a true, spiritual revival will motivate us unto a deep interest after the daily fellowship of the Lord and after daily obedience unto the Lord? 18. Do you believe that a true, spiritual revival will motivate us unto a deep interest and a driving priority for the things of the Lord, such as His Word, His work, and His church? 19. Do you believe that a true, spiritual revival will motivate us unto a consistent and faithful witness for Christ of the gospel unto the lost around us? 20. Do you believe that it is displeasing unto our Lord and wickedness against our Lord when we do not walk daily in the path of true, spiritual revival? Please share this post with others:
Thought for Meditation
Why do so many of God's own people today seek after psychological and pharmaceutical solutions to their emotional, mental, and behavioral problems, rather than follow after Biblical and spiritual (Holy Spirit directed) solutions? Weekly Sermon
Acts 20:17-21 reads, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” In this passage of Scripture, we pick up the life of the apostle Paul at the end of His third missionary journey. While going about the areas of Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia, establishing and confirming churches in the faith, Paul collected money for the financially destitute church of Jerusalem. Here we find Paul in Miletus for a few days, as the ship on which he had booked passage is resupplied and outfitted for the journey. The apostle Paul, never one to waste time, takes this opportunity to send for the elders of the church at Ephesus, (Ephesus being approximately thirty miles distant). Now, as the New Testament Scriptures often use the term “elder” as a reference for the official leadership of churches, we recognize these men in our common terminology as the pastors of the church at Ephesus. Unto these pastors the apostle Paul spends the whole of Acts 20:18-35 in a farewell address. Contextually, this address can be divided into four parts. First, in verses 18-21 there is Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men. Second, in verses 22-24 there is Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. Third, in verses 25-31 there is Paul’s exhortation to these pastors concerning their ministry. Fourth, in verses 32-35 there is Paul’s commendation of these pastors unto God. In this message we shall consider the first of these matters – Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men. Apparently there were those in Ephesus, as was so often the case at other places in the apostle’s ministry, who were slandering His character and ministry. Thus the apostle Paul began this farewell address with a reminder to these pastors concerning their personal knowledge of and experience with his godly character and behavior. In so doing the apostle Paul, by the example of his own life and ministry, reveals to us the reputation of a man of God. Even so, if we desire to be men and women of God, then we must seek these same characteristics as a part of our reputation. So then, from Acts 20:18-21 let us consider five characteristics for the reputation of a man of God. |
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