You cannot have a prophetic voice and confront the world with biblical truth if you are motivated by the desire for gain, political ambition, or the praise of man. You have to be willing to suffer and be maligned for the truth (Matthew 6:24).
Expository preaching is not one way to preach, it is the only way.
Any other approach to Scripture is an abandonment of the responsibility of “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2Tm2:15).
As we remember the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, let's not forget that Jesus demands we live a life crucified to sin and alive to Him. (Mt.16.24-25). "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal.2:20).
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2Tm4:3-4
More true today than ever.
The fear of the Lord is the controlling principle of a wise life. A profound respect and reverence for Christ is the highest aspect of knowledge, for it is essential to eternal life and thus everlastingly consequential. To fail to fear God is to be a fool.
See the example of John the Baptist--never celebrated by the religious or political elite, yet he was pleasing to God and surely received with celebration in glory after being beheaded for confronting open sin with the truth of God (Mark 6:14-29).
This Sunday we continue through The Gospel of John as we look at John 20:19-23 in a sermon entitled, “The Gifts of Peace and Power.”
Join us Sunday at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Nederland, TX or watch on Livestream at 10:30am:
See also the ultimate example of Christ, who refused to be elevated through the institutionally religious or secular political systems (John 6:15), and instead "humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8).
The last few days with pastors from all over the state of Texas has been such an encouragement. The Southern Baptist of Texas Convention is a coalition of Churches built on an affirmation…
In contrast, see the religious elite of Jesus' day who actually rejected Christ Himself because "they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God" (John 12:43).
See also the example of Moses, who walked away from wealth and renown in order to honor God, as he "considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward" (Hebrews 11:26).
As Southern Baptists we join together in our efforts and offerings through the Cooperative Program in order fund and support missionaries and churches all across the world and in the State…
“With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments! I have stored up Your Word in My heart, that I may not sin against You.”
(Psalm 119:10-11)
“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
-Romans 8:26