Sermons

This sermon asks a question to believers in a day when Christians seem to be more tolerant of sin than ever before. We are no longer shocked or ashamed of things that were once very black and white. Two verses in the book of Acts are examined in the first point where believers are challenged to be sensitive to their conscience. The second point turns one to 1 John and details the secret to holding a clear conscience. Sad to say, many are getting used to the dark, and their special moral alarm system, the conscience, is on silent mode.

The fifth vital sign in this series, Signs of Life, has to do with guarding one’s heart.  1 John 5:18 calls upon the believer to be vigilant over his own heart.  A textual difference between the text underlying the KJV and other Bible versions is visited and then the intent of the author explored in these final verses of the Epistle.  The first point is a call to personal sanctification and a call to spiritual vigilance.  Further, a failure to guard one’s heart will leave one vulnerable to the adversary, the Devil.  One who is truly born again will be proactive in guarding their heart.

Three Days in the Grave was preached Easter Sunday here at Hardingville.  Luke, the beloved physician, concerned with detail, alone records the phrase “third day” three times in the resurrection narrative.   Matthew 28, Mark 16, and John 20 do not mention this detail.  These three references in Luke 24 set forth three specific challenges regarding the Savior, the Sepulchre, and the Scripture.   While our Lord’s body was in the tomb, He was active during those three days in His spirit.  On that glorious third day, that spirit was reunited with that same body in resurrection as a fulfillment of prophecy.  Christ alone is the favored one from Psalm 16:10.

The fourth vital sign in this series, Signs of Life, has to do with living a victorious life. One who is born of God will be victorious over this world. John writes “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world” (1 John 5:4). This message will elaborate on the meaning of the metaphor behind this term Nike, and then examine two verses in this chapter that speaking of overcoming the world, ongoing victory, and the overall triumph that should characterize one who is truly born again. There is a secret weapon that believers must utilize to get out of a cycle of defeat and to live victoriously. There is victory in Jesus, and this is, in fact, another evidence that one is truly born of God.

The third vital sign in this series, Signs of Life, has to do with what it really means to believe in Jesus Christ.  One who is born of God is vocal in his confession of Christ.  John writes “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1).  This message will expound this one verse and address three aspects of believing in Christ.   This belief in Christ includes a specific confession of Christ coming in the flesh as the Son of God and that He is the Messiah.  What one believes is crucial in a day when it seems like everyone says they believe in Jesus Christ.  Genuine belief in Christ is another evidence that one is born of God.

The second vital sign in this series, Signs of Life, has to do with mutual love within the family of God.  Are you vibrant in your love for others?

This is an evidence that one has been born of God (1 John 4:7). The truth in verses 7-12 of this chapter are an expectation of those who are born of God, and it is an echo of two New Testament passages (John 3:16 and Matthew 22:39).  This mutual love, as a sign of life,  requires four things of genuine believers in Jesus Christ.  If these four are not present, one’s conversion is suspect.  The world will know that we are Christians by our practical demonstration of love.

The apostle John wrote of being born again in his Gospel and of being born of God in the 1^st of his epistles at the end of our New Testament.  This distinct phrase “born of God” is used in five specific settings and sets forth a different evidence of conversion in each.  This message is the first in this series entitled Signs of Life.  There are FIVE distinct VITAL signs in this 1^st Epistle.

This message will introduce this matter and deal with the first sign, namely, one who is virtuous in his daily life is indeed one who is truly born of God.  On three occasions John argues the point that one who is truly born of God does not commit sin.  Three main truths are unpacked from chapters 2, 3, and 5 on this specific sign of life.  Is your life characterized by righteous living?

The 4^th Gospel is the Gospel of Life. Over 40 times John mentions “life,” and the book begins and ends with a reference to “life” (1:4, 20:31).  This study will focus upon the truth of everlasting life as mentioned in the Gospel of John.  Eternal life is not just a future hope but a present possession of every child of God.  The sermon works through John and concludes with a special emphasis from 17:2-3 where the Apostle offers a definition of eternal life that is both precious and practical for us today.

A recent news story in the Philadelphia Inquirer began:  Soon it will be spring again. The snow will melt, the dogwoods flower.  Trumpets will blast, graves will open, and Earth will begin a five-month descent to its fiery end [David O’Reilly, 1/19/11).  Harold Camping, owner and general manager of Family Radio International, has declared May 21^st as the end of the world, and he has engaged in an elaborate campaign to Spread the Word on the matter. Consider a few thoughts on Confronting Camping on this erroneous teaching about the end of the world.  The Bible is plain; no one knows when the End will come, and it is pompous to think that God has revealed such divine secrets to this “prophet” of the air ways.

Read an article written by Pastor Franklin on this very topic on the Pastor’s Blotter, or directly by clicking here.

One of the familiar metaphors of the Christian life is that of a soldier in battle.    There will always be struggles with the world, flesh, and the Devil all our days.  One of the greatest conflicts we have is with our own sin.   William Gurnall once wrote:  The Christian is to proclaim and initiate an irreconcilable war against his choice sins [ pg 13   Christian in Complete Armor]. He actually called these “bosom sins,”  those sins nearest and dearest to your heart must be trampled under foot.  In this sermon Pastor Franklin will explore a comment from three NT passages:  Hebrews 12:1-2, Romans 12:1-2, and Romans 8:13.   Three specific points will be unpacked that will detail the holy war we are to have with sin in our lives.  We must be aware of our own vulnerable sins, strengthen ourselves in light of this, and then put to death such sin when it arises.