Christ startled His disciples when He declared to them that they would not inherit the Kingdom of God if their righteousness was not to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were considered to be extremely righteous and law-abiding religious leaders, so how could anyone exceed their righteousness and their zeal for the law? What were the fundamental character flaws of the Pharisees? And how can we make sure that we do not fall into the same trap?
Sermons
Delusions of Grandeur
The Wrath of God
The Wrath of God is not limited to accounts in Old Testament history or to the end-time judgment of the wicked—which is how most people view it. Rather, God’s wrath is His righteous anger directed against sin, and unless we truly believe in Jesus Christ, the wrath of God remains on us!
My Calling
God’s calling is a very special thing, for it brings one to understand the Truth and learn how to fulfill God’s purpose. When God calls a person, He does so on an individual basis, each person having his or her own personal relationship with God. Everyone who is called becomes personally responsible for individual Christian growth and development. If we are fortunate enough to be called in this day and age, do we treat our calling with the highest esteem and honor that it requires?
The Cup of Divinity and Salvation
In this Sermonette, I draw the thread that is clear especially in Matthew in which our Lord utilizes the dual concept of the cup in different ways. First, to signify the coming new covenant between God and man. Secondly, our Lord, on the night of his betrayal expresses the most human emotion of asking the Father if the cup that would bear his death could pass him. Our Lord makes clear however that he will accept the Father’s will. We have all faced trials and human suffering—yet all pales in comparison to what Jesus faced on our behalf. Through his sacrifice we can have the opportunity for eternal life in the Kingdom.
Walk Worthy
What do we need to do to be counted worthy of the Christian calling we have received? How does our effort to live in a worthy manner relate to the free gift of salvation through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our relationship to God?
Where is Hope?
Mankind is hastening its pace towards complete rejection of God. Without God’s influence, we lose the ability to foster lasting character traits. One of those traits, hope, is disappearing from the mindset of humanity—replaced by despair. Our war against this growing darkness can only be won if we are holding fast to godly traits that aren’t overcome by the influence of Satan.
Treasures in Heaven
Why pray? What if I don’t have my prayers answered? Does God really take notice? We all ask ourselves questions like this, but the Bible proves that prayer is vitally important—for us and for the eternal relationship we are building with God!
Living a Full Life
What does it mean to live a full life as a Christian? When we look at the state of the world at this time, it is easy to think that Christ will come soon, so we just need to put our heads down and mind our own business. But the Bible is very implicit that we should be living our lives to the fullest extent possible every single day. So how do we accomplish this? What form does it come to take in our daily Christian lives?
Did Jesus Resort to Violence?
Did Jesus approve of killing in war? Would He support the changed purpose of Armistice Day to that of Veteran’s Day? Would He agree with the idea of bringing weapons to church services? Did He ever commit violence towards anyone? What can WE do to protect ourselves? Are guns the answer?
