Sermons About Wicked
Love, Mercy, Justice Part 9 - a message on giving
One of the lessons that should be learned from the economic crisis of 2008 is that the line between those in financial need and those that are not is pretty blurry. As home after home are foreclosed on, it is time to be honest with ourselves. Just because a person can afford to live in $300,000 home, does not mean that they are either doing well financially or that they have made good financial decisions. In fact, the person living in a $500 a month apartment struggling to make ends meet might actually be better off financially than many in upscale suburban neighborhoods. The main difference is that the folks in the nice communities get to walk the fine line of financial ruin in nicer accommodations. Unfortunately, it is easy to dismiss folks who file for bankruptcy or are mired in credit card debt because the temptation is to think they are just getting what they deserved. The thought, "If they had made smart decisions with their money, they wouldn't be in this mess," is easy to think. There is a sense of justice in many people's thoughts and speech that says, "Well, that's what you get if you aren't smart with your money." Now, our temptation if we are no where close to losing our house and if we don't have any credit card debt (or if we are even some where in between) is to look down on folks who make poor financial decisions. And I would say if that is the case, we need to be very careful of falling into the sin of self-righteousness. Yes, we need to obey and be fiscally responsible, but God always judges us on the heart behind our obedience. So, even though we are doing fine financially, we need to ask the question, "What is the heart motive?" Are you financially conservative and responsible because you want to be generous towards God and His kingdom or is financial conservatism just the smartest way to live the lifestyle that you want to live and the added bonus is getting to feel spiritually AND financially superior?
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Biblical Faith is Vindicated in the Judgment of the Wicked
God will vindicate real faith. Real faith, not false faith, will be proven by God to be true. And that ultimate vindication will come in the judgment of the wicked both temporally and eternally.
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Living WIth Our Minority Status
Living With Our Minority Status (SERIES: Over the Rivers and Through The Providence -- The Psalms: Songs We Sing Along the Way) Psalm 12
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Enjoy Your Life
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes calls his readers to enjoy life and God' s blessings in the face of suffering and the inevitability of death.
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Vantage Point: The View From The Pew
Vantage Point: The View From The Pew (SERIES: Over the Rivers and Through The Providence -- The Psalms: Songs We Sing Along the Way) Psalm 73
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Parable Of The Miracle Of The 7 Loaves
Continuing in the parables with the feeding of the 4000 with the seven loaves and few fishes. Teaching to the disciples and rebuking the Pharisees and Scribes. As Jesus touched his disciples they began to understand the mysteries of these parables.
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