Sermon
Because of the Sins of Jeroboam
Text: Matthew 5:13-16 I. Few credit the influence we have on the lives of those around us. A. The things we do and say impact the lives of those we come in contact. B. Sometimes our influence spreads to people we may not have seen. II. The example of Jeroboam A. Following the death of Solomon, the nation of…
Read MoreChanging My Mind
Text: Matthew 7:15-20 I. Solomon observed about the miser that it wasn’t the man’s words or his actions that made him a miser, but his thoughts – Proverbs 23:6-7 A. People too often say things that they don’t mean B. Given motivation, they may do things that they would rather not do C. But it is their thoughts…
Read MoreBiblical Paradoxes: In the World, But Not of the World
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 17:6-16 I. A paradox is a true statement that either is contrary to conventional wisdom or is seemingly absurd A. Paradoxes can be a useful tool in teaching because it requires you to think more carefully about what is being said. 1. Most people, when they first hear a paradox, immediately…
Read MoreBetter Than Self
Text: Philippians 2:1-11 I. When learning another language, it helps to start with the most common words first, the ones most likely to come up in a conversation. A. So what is the most common word spoken in English? 1. One study in 1992 by Godfrey of switchboard conversations found the word “I” to appear the most…
Read MoreKindness
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 12:9-21 I. When a person walks as the Spirit directs, it produces a fruit that has many attributes – Galatians 5:13-25 A. We will focus on one of those attributes today: kindness. B. chrestotes is a form of the word for usefulness. It means kindness, goodness, or honesty C. God is both…
Read MoreBeing a Conversationalist
Text: Romans 12:10-18 I. A young lady wrote and asked, “How can you be a good conversationalist? I’m so boring. I don’t know how to strike up an interesting conversation.” A. It is a good question because talking to people is something we just take for granted. II. Start by listening – really listening A. The biggest mistake…
Read MoreFriends
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:57-64 I. You can tell much about a person by the friends he keeps A. “Wait a minute! I’m my own person!” B. Perhaps, but outside our family, our friends hold a strong influence in our lives C. You can’t choose your family, but the people you choose to be your companions…
Read MoreThe Day of the Lord
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 2:14-24 I. In Peter’s first sermon, he quotes the prophet Joel who warns of the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. A. As we read the warnings of God through the prophets, repeatedly we find references to “the day of the Lord” or “the day of…
Read MoreHandling the Crafty
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 9:3-16 I. Some people don’t deal with others in a direct fashion A. Stating their goal would not allow them to reach their target because they know it would be rejected, so they manipulate others B. While both men and women engage in craftiness, it is often a complaint of parents…
Read MoreIt Was Only a Small Fib
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 21:6-8 I. I have concluded that much of the work of psychologist, psychoanalysts, and even philosophers is to help mankind remove the guilt and shame of their own actions. A. People don’t want to hear that their actions are wrong, their conscience is bothering them enough, thank you very much.…
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