Thought for Meditation

Although holding forth the name and gospel of Jesus Christ
will certainly bring forth the reproach and affliction of this present evil world,
there is no good reason whatsoever for us to be ashamed
of the testimony and gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For our Lord is God the Son, the Almighty Creator, the Anointed Savior,
and the Eternal Sovereign, whose name is above every other name;
and His gospel is the very power of God unto eternal salvation for lost souls,
the very power of God to abolish death,
and the very power of God to bring eternal life and immortality to light.

Thought for Meditation

Our Lord Jesus Christ was made a servant that we might be made rich.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was made a sacrifice that we might be redeemed.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was made sin that we might be made righteous.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was brought to sorrow that we might be brought to rejoicing.

Weekly Sermon

1 Peter 2:6 – “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”

 I.  Our Lord Jesus Christ is a Living Stone. (1 Peter 2:4)
II.  In Christ we also are lively (living) stones. (1 Peter 2:5)

Weekly Sermon

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 reads, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

At the time that the apostle Paul wrote these things unto believers at Corinth, there were false teachers out and about.  Some of those false teachers were falsely teaching that there was no such thing as a resurrection from the dead.  Therefore, the apostle wrote 1 Corinthians 15 in order to defeat this false teaching.  In sod doing, the apostle began by communicating the elements of the gospel message and the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ's resurrection out of the dead.

In verses 1-2 the apostle declared unto the believers at Corinth, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” Now, the word “gospel” means “good news.”  Herein the apostle Paul was speaking of the gospel, the good news; and in verses 3-4 he revealed the three elements of this good news, saying, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Weekly Sermon

In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul gave testimony, saying, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Brethren, how seriously do we take our Lord’s commission to preach the gospel of Christ to the lost world around us?  How ready and committed are we to preach the gospel at any given opportunity?  How much confidence do we have in the gospel to convict and save the lost?  How faithful are we in our gospel witness from day to day?  In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul delivered a testimony under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit concerning his own faithful service in gospel witness.  Thereby the apostle is presented as an example for our faithfulness in gospel witness.  Even so, by that example we are taught three truths concerning this matter.