Trusting In & Having Courage In God

randyMc_1_cropRandy McCarthy opened services by reading from Ephesians 1:3-11 and Romans 8:28-29 and spoke briefly about predestination.  God predestined, or determined beforehand, the destiny of His people before the creation of the world.  This destiny includes the facts that we would be adopted as God’s children, that we would have an eternal inheritance, and that we would be conformed to the image and glory of His Son Jesus Christ.

 


kwest-newKeith West

Trusting in God

Keith preached on how the Scriptures teach us to trust God.  He noted that our national motto (“In God We Trust”) is present on the currency of the United States.  To trust God means that we need to believe that He is able and willing to do what He has promised.  He observed that since God created everything (Gen 1:1), it is not difficult for Him to do other things within His creation.  Keith brought to mind three important characters who were presented with challenges of faith and who reacted in different ways (Zechariah, Luke 1:11-20; Mary, Luke 1:26-38; and Joseph, Matt 1:18-25).  Keith encouraged us to be faithful to God’s promises even when we don’t understand how He will fulfill them.


mark w-new_hc

Mark Wattenbarger

Having Courage in God

Mark followed up with the same theme by examining the life of Joshua.  Joshua had been present during all the great works that God did through Moses in redeeming the nation of Israel from Egypt, giving them the Law and Tabernacle service, and providing for them in the wilderness.  Nevertheless, it was something else when it became apparent that Joshua, not Moses, would be the one leading the people into the promised land.  Both Moses and God told Joshua to “be strong and of a good courage.” Deut 31:7; Josh 1:6; Josh 1:9).  Most importantly, Mark pointed out that God further said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded thee?”  Mark encouraged us that, just like Joshua, if God commands us to do something, He will most certainly give us the grace and power to carry out His tasks.

Being Servants of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Allen Daniels opened services commenting on Newsletter article “Our Tongues”, by Elder Leon Clevenger


j-harvey-newJohn Harvey

Text: Phil 1:1 (reading verses 1-7)

Subject: Servants of Jesus Christ  (He that is greatest among you shall be your servant;   …Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  It is not about us, but it is all about our service unto our Master, Jesus Christ.)

Scriptural References:  Phil 2:5-8; Matt 20:24-28; John 13:4-17; Matt 25:31-40; Acts 9:1-6; Heb 12:1-2  

 

 


allen d-newAllen Daniels

Text: Phil 1:27
Subject: “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ”
Scriptural References: Acts 9:1-5; Phil 3:1-17; Luke 23:42-43

Not Damaging the Conscience of Others

randyMc_1_cropRandy McCarthy continues his series on the conscience of man in this sermon by stressing that we should strive to have a good conscience before God and man. Randy makes the point that while men may be informed of right from wrong through the Mosaic law or the natural law, these things merely condemn us and give us no true relief or path to reconciliation when we violate that which we know to be right. It is only through the gospel of Jesus Christ and our repentance and faith in Christ can we be restored and cleansed when we invariably get off track. Randy further shows that even if we strive to have a good, operative conscience before God and man, this is not the entirety of the matter. Disciples of Jesus Christ are called by God to consider the conscience of others, and if necessary, limit our liberty in order to not damage the weak conscience of our brethren because of our love for them. (Heb 9:11-14, Acts 15:1-9, 1 Cor 8:1-13, Mk 7:15, Lk 17:2, 1 Cor 10:23-33, Romans 14:1-19)


mark w-new_hcMark Wattenbarger closed out the services by stating that the underlying presupposition for God’s people is that God is our father and has saved us, and we must decide to follow him as Joshua had done in his final words to the nation of Israel (Josh 24:2-15).

“In major things, unity; in minor things, liberty; in all things, charity.”

 

The Conscience of Man

randyMc_1_cropRandy McCarthy

In this sermon, Randy asks us to think about this question: what is the purpose of the preaching of the gospel? He refers to 1 Timothy 1:5 which states that the end (or purpose) of the commandment of God is to promote love out of a pure heart, and a good operative conscience, and genuine faith. Randy focuses on the conscience of man, which is a faculty which God has given every man to enable him to know and judge his own behavior; when we disobey our conscience, we feel inward condemnation. Randy shows that while our conscience is operable, it is not infallible due to the fall of man. If we ignore our conscience, it can easily be damaged; if we are not careful, we can do amazingly sinful things and our conscience will not condemn us. Randy looked to three examples in the Old Testament of men whose consciences were “seared over with a hot iron” (1 Tim 4:2): Cain (Genesis 4), Joseph’s brothers (Gen 37, 42) and David (1 Sam 11). God nevertheless promises to cleanse our consciences by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9).  


Bill McCarthyBill McCarthy closed out the services by stating that a good summary of what was preached by Randy was “to beware your conscience” since it can be so easily damaged. Bill spoke of the heart of man and how easy it is for us to sin – no man needs to teach us how to do that. He referenced 1 Cor 9:24-27 and Ps 119:9 to show that we are called by God to be temperate in all things and to run the race before us by applying the things we hear in the gospel.

 

Dec. 20 – Bill & Allen

Allen Daniels opened services speaking about The Reason for the Season


Bill McCarthyBill McCarthy

 

 

 


 

allen d-newAllen Daniels

Randy & Mark – Dec. 13

randyMc_1_cropRandy McCarthy

 

 

 


mark w-new_hc

Mark Wattenbarger

Randy McCarthy – Dec. 6

randyMc_1_cropRandy McCarthy

Mark Wattenbarger – Nov. 22

mark w-new_hcMark Wattenbarger

Predestination

allen d-new

Allen Daniels

Text: Romans 8:28-30

Reference: Article “Thoughts on Predestination” by Elder Walter Cash (see link below);
John 6:44; Eph 2:1-2; Romans 5:12; Deut 32:8-9: Romans 9:12-14; Matthew 26:31-46; Eph 2:10;
Gal 4:4-5


 

Article published in the 10-15-2015 OKC Bethlehem PBC Newsletter written by Elder Walter Cash “Thoughts on Predestination” as it appeared in “Messenger of Peace” 4-1-1928  (follow link to read the article in its entirety).

 

Purim, A Festival of Thanksgiving

randyMc_1_cropRandy McCarthy

Introduction: The God of all Comfort   (2Cor 1:1-5)


Elder Randy speaks about the origin of the Jewish holiday of Purim, which is festival of thanksgiving, as told of in the book of Esther.

Text: The Book of Esther
Scriptural References: Daniel 11:1-5