Latest Lessons
Here are the most recent items added.
August, 2013
Plane Thinking
It's amazing how being thirty thousand feet in the air can give you a whole new perspective on life. Recently, I few out to California and, as the plane cruised far above the desert and mountains, I realized how different life seemed from this precarious angle.
August, 2013
Pray for your Enemies
In Matthew 5:44, Jesus tells His disciples that they should "pray for those who persecute you." This is timely instruction for our nation especially during these turbulent times, but, have you ever wondered what praying for your enemies does? After all they don't see or hear the prayer so how can it affect them?
August, 2013
Wonderchild Gone Bad
The tragic story of an exceptionally gifted servant of God who fails to live up to his potential and calling. (Samson)
August, 2013
The Pharisees' Attack
More dialogue between Jesus and a woman caught in adultery as well as His denunciation of the hypocritical Jewish leaders.
August, 2013
Jesus in Jerusalem
In this lesson we examine the dialogue that Jesus has with various groups during one of His trips to Jerusalem.
August, 2013
The Pilgrim Spirit
This sermon examines the ways that Christians can maintain the pilgrim attitude so necessary to successfully navigate this world on the journey to the next.
August, 2013
In Defense of Martha
I believe Martha's gotten a bad rap as far as Bible characters go. The most quoted reference about Martha is where Jesus gently admonishes her concerning this good woman's frustration at not receiving help from her sister, Mary, in serving their guests.
July, 2013
Grandparent's Day
September 8th is "Grandparents' Day" according to the flower and gift industry. Certainly grandparents are worthy of a bouquet or an outing at the Golden Corral, but if we really want to please them, how about some things that would truly make a difference in their lives?
July, 2013
Jesus Knows His Own
In this final section of Jesus' dialogue with an unbelieving crowd, the Lord sets forth the acid test for true discipleship.
July, 2013
The Miracle Catch
Jesus teaches Peter the qualities necessary to become a "fisher of men".
July, 2013
Reassurance for New Elders
One of the most common reactions that new elders have at being selected for this position is a feeling of unworthiness. After all, we're giving a man the responsibility of watching over the eternal souls of hundreds of people. This is quite a responsibility and a certain hesitation and sense of humility is natural.
July, 2013
Belief is a Must
Jesus continues His dialogue with the unbelieving crowd and emphasizes that belief is a must if they are to receive the 2 promises He makes to them.
July, 2013
From an Early Age
The Apostle Paul's makes the case not only for the inspired source of the Bible but also the importance of learning it as soon as possible in one's life.
Devo
July, 2013
Decisions, Decisions
July, 2013
Why is Giving More Blessed Than Receiving?
This lesson reviews the actual reasons why the act of giving provides a greater reward than the act of receiving.
July, 2013
The Inspiration of the Bible
Nobody just reads the Bible and says, "I think this book is inspired." It's not just a logical deduction. The Bible actually says this about itself in different places. Doesn't it seem natural that an inspired book would claim this about itself? The Old Testament takes this idea for granted since it continually describes dialogue between God and man.
July, 2013
Bearing the Cross in Church Relationships
Sometimes the cross we bear is our brother or sister in Christ.
July, 2013
Men in the 21st Century
Some think that the only thing that concerns men are sports and ties for Father's day. This lesson examines God's special requirements of men in this and every century.
July, 2013
Two Promises from Jesus
In chapter 6 of John, Jesus performs mighty miracles to prove His divine nature and makes two important promises to His followers.
July, 2013
Living on Less
Cross-country moves sure have a way of getting certain things into perspective. Take creature comfort for example. By the last days before we left Oklahoma, every lamp, comfortable chair, toothbrush holder and coffee cup had been packed away.
July, 2013
The Real Enemy
The new millennium has reminded us of the many ways we are vulnerable. It began with the New Year's Eve meltdown scare in 2000 and has continued with successive onslaughts like the 9/11 attack, financial scandals, a wave of child abductions across the country, and an imminent war with Iraq. Each one of these reminds us that our nation, our wealth, even our children are not safe in their own beds!
June, 2013
Six Ways to Lose Your Soul
In His response to the attacks by the Pharisees Jesus describes a variety of ways to lose one's soul. Each of these being demonstrated by the Jewish leaders who were opposing Him.
June, 2013
Full-Time Friend
When people compliment you on your friends, you know your friend is special. Such was the case this week as so many of you noted the kindness and generosity of our friends, Allen and Barbara Arnold, from Oklahoma.
June, 2013
Modesty is Always in Style
They say that if you keep your clothes long enough they'll come back into style. I guess the idea is that style is ever changing but never very new.
June, 2013
Labor of Love
Here are three rules to help brothers in Christ who want to do business together.
June, 2013
The Power of Grace
In this lesson we examine the engine of our faith and how it powers all that we do and hope to do in Christ.
June, 2013
Taking God at His Word
In this lesson Jesus teaches that the essence of faith is believing God based on His Word and not relying on "signs" or miracles.
June, 2013
Will He Find You Faithful
When speaking of His eventual return to judge the world and transport the church to heaven, Jesus had only one question expressed in Luke 8:8, "...when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" When applied in personal terms this question becomes, "When Jesus returns, will He find you faithful?"
June, 2013
Jesus' Method of Personal Evangelism
In the encounter with the woman at the well, Jesus demonstrates His method of multiplication evangelism.
June, 2013
Life in the Meantime
Solomon explains how one can live successfully through the long dry periods in between the high and low moments in life.
June, 2013
Three Little Devils
The story is told of three junior devils coming before Satan as they prepared to visit earth in order to destroy men's souls. The first one said that he'd try to trick men by telling that there is "no heaven." Satan replied that people have a natural hope and that this lie would not work very well.
Sermon
June, 2013
The Disciple and Service
In this lesson, we learn the basic requirements for becoming and persevering as disciples of Christ.
May, 2013
The Woman at the Well
Jesus uses an encounter with the woman at the well in Samaria to reveal His true identity.
May, 2013
Little Pumpkin
I made my mother laugh. Not just a quiet smile or chuckle, but a stomach cramping, bent over, shriek of laughter that came in waves of delirious joy that caused her to smile and laugh all over again long after the initial surge was gone. This was quite a feat for an 82-year-old woman with stage-one Alzheimer's disease!
May, 2013
John's Final Witness
John describes John the Baptist's reaction to the growth of Jesus' ministry and the decline of his own.
May, 2013
The Mothers of Choctaw
This sermon profiles mothers from the past, present, and future that make this congregation a blessed church to serve and belong to.
May, 2013
Save Iran
The hidden danger in our conflict with Iran is the thought that it's okay to hate our enemies. The media likes to whip up a frenzy of conflict framing this situation as simply a good guy vs. bad guy scenario.
May, 2013
Testing the Spirits
The Apostle John teaches the church what to look for in spotting spiritual predators.
April, 2013
The Mystery Revealed
In this lesson Mike summarizes God's plan of salvation kept secret from angels and prophets.
April, 2013
The Higher Court
A review of the reasons why America is great along with a warning concerning the influences that are undermining that greatness.
April, 2013
Roadside Shrines
The cross and the plastic flowers along the side of the highway usually appear unexpectedly. You're rounding a curve or cruising along and suddenly someone's marked a spot where a life tragically ended in some terrible crash that is all but forgotten save for this roadside shrine.
April, 2013
A King's Challenge
An impossible situation with insurmountable odds, in this lesson we look at the book of Daniel and see how these men responded to the king's challenge.
April, 2013
What Survived On April 19th
April 19th is special because it is the anniversary date of the Oklahoma City bombing. It is important to remember this event and focus on some of the things that survived the blast on that day one year ago.
April, 2013
Humble Beginning
It is interesting to note that Judah, the man from whose human lineage Jesus would eventually come, was born under questionable circumstances. His mother, Leah, was given by trickery in marriage as a substitute for her sister, Rachel. She conceived, but not in love, and struggled with her sister for the affections of their common husband.
April, 2013
Changed by Faith
Nicodemus gains 3 important insights concerning the change needed in order to enter into the kingdom of God.
April, 2013
What to Pack for Summer Vacation
Tanning oil and a good book are not the only things we have to pack in order to enjoy summer vacations. This lesson explores the spiritual things that also need to be brought along so that our getaway is pleasing to God and not just ourselves.
Devo
April, 2013
Getting Beyond the Rules
March, 2013
The Cleansing of the Temple
In this lesson, we will examine the layout of the Temple in Jerusalem and the reasons why Jesus expelled the money changers and merchants.
March, 2013
Miracle at Cana
In this lesson, we witness the first of Jesus' amazing miracles that establish His God/Man nature.
March, 2013
Preacher Worries
This lesson probes deeper into the true life of ministers and goes beyond the usual stereotype of this type of work.
March, 2013
The Pattern of Witness
In this lesson we explore the pattern of witness used by the apostle John, John the Baptist, and Jesus Himself to recruit disciples.
March, 2013
The Prodigal Principle
A review of this familiar proverb examining the cycle that takes us from rebellion to restoration with God.
March, 2013
Dirge for an Atheist
Comment on the death of Atheist, Christopher Hitchens, who stated that only the weak turn to faith when facing death.
March, 2013
Catching Up
In Joshua 24:3, we read that God gave a homeland to Esau (the land of Seir) long before He gave one to Jacob, Esau's brother, and his descendents. Esau had a 400 year head start on building cities and fortifying towers. He had a great advantage in establishing an army and a permanent culture.
March, 2013
John's Witness
John picks up the earthly history of Jesus' ministry with a description of John the Baptist's work in preparing the people for the arrival of the Messiah.
March, 2013
How to Become a Better Person
The secret to correcting bad behavior and becoming better people is to replace the elements of bad behavior with good and positive things in our lives. In this lesson, we look at 3 changes that are necessary to become a better person.
Sermon
March, 2013
Celebrating Jesus
If we expand our understanding of who Jesus is, according to the Bible, we will appreciate Him more.
March, 2013
Prologue
In the opening verses of chapter one John goes back before the beginning of time to introduce Jesus and His relationship to God.
February, 2013
Gospel of John
This study of the fourth gospel by John the Apostle lays out the case for Jesus' dynamic nature as the God/Man and the various reactions people had when confronted by this amazing reality.
February, 2013
Let Go Your Ego
Pride and self-centeredness are the topics of this lesson. How to combat this natural human tendency and cultivate an accurate sense of self are discussed.
February, 2013
Fervent in Biblical Marriage
A review of the elements that form a uniquely Christian and biblical marriage.
February, 2013
Holy Habits
The Hebrew writer gives his readers four habits to cultivate in order to preserve their faith in difficult times.
January, 2013
Aspiring To Spiritual Greatness
When I was a young Christian the preacher who baptized me warned me that I had to be careful of "selfish ambition". This term is only used three times in the N.T. and each time there is a warning that those who are this way, who have this attitude, will suffer in this world and the next.
January, 2013
Sitting on the Puck
I hated the Toronto Maple Leafs. Back in the fifties and sixties they were the arch rivals of the Montreal Canadiens when hockey in Canada only had six teams.
January, 2013
Be Strong and Courageous
Lessons on Christian perseverance from Joshua's leadership experience in the desert and in the Promised land.
January, 2013
Fervent in Worship
This lessons examines the who, what, where, when, and why of worship according to the New Testament.
January, 2013
Don't Worry, Be Happy
This lesson, based on the popular song by Bobby McFerrin, encourages people to replace worry with other specific responses to life's trials that will create the happiness that all of us search for.
January, 2013
Surviving the "Worst Case" Scenario
There are greater dangers in the world than suicide bombers and madmen weilding guns. This lesson prepares a person to survive the absolute worst case scenario.
January, 2013
How do I Deal with my Anger?
When one becomes a Christian however, the old man of sin dies, is buried in the water of baptism and a new man emerges. And this new man emerges with new ways of thinking and new ways of acting.
January, 2013
There is No Place Like Home
As a preacher, I've long ago discovered that home is where you're preaching at the moment. My wife and I often talk about the disconnect we feel because of a ministry that leads us to move an average of every seven years or so.
January, 2013
Gay Rights or Wrongs?
President Obama is so wrong. His enthusiastic support of legislation legalizing same-sex marriage is born out of his mistaken idea that this is a civil rights issue...
January, 2013
Is Baptism Really Necessary?
It seems that sooner or later every idea in the Bible is challenged in one way or another. In this video blog we'll answer those who challenge the following type of questions: "Is it necessary to be baptized in order to be saved?" or "Is baptism really necessary for me to be a Christian?"
December, 2012
Teaching vs. Tradition
In this lesson we examine how we conduct worship and determine which elements are God's teachings and which are just traditions passed on through the years.
December, 2012
Building a Christian Home
In this lesson we look at the many factors in building a successful Christian family. I'll describe how families are more than just a father, mother and some kids. We'll also examine the types of relationships needed to make a truly wonderful and Christian home possible.
December, 2012
3 Choices Christians Need To Make
Peace or conflict? Being a Christian will always bring the disciple into conflict with one's surroundings. Christianity goes against the grain of this world - its ideas, actions, desires.
December, 2012
The Christmas Shooter
Last minute Christmas sales and talk of the "fiscal cliff" were brutally replaced by headlines reporting that twenty children and six adults were murdered in a Connecticut elementary school last week.
December, 2012
Dental Theology
Which would you choose: Loss of body function or loss of mind function?
December, 2012
The Two Wisdoms
This lesson compares the wisdom that has been developed by thinkers and philosophers throughout history with the wisdom revealed by God in the Bible.
December, 2012
Angry Words
There's a lot of misunderstanding about how a Christian should deal with anger issues. In this blog we look at how Christians can deal with anger issues.
December, 2012
Penguin Love
The amazing ability of some creatures to know the true voice of their mates is compared to a disciple's devotion to Christ and His word.
November, 2012
The Joy of Church Attendance
This lesson motivates Christians to attend Worship and Bible Study regularly and answers questions like, do I need to come every week and is it a sin to not attend church? Stop dreading going to church and enjoy it!
November, 2012
God's Promises
Three promises that God makes to us that will never be broken.
November, 2012
Satan's Strategies
In this lesson we examine 3 strategies Satan uses to steal your soul. We'll also give you 3 strategies to combat his attach and teach you how to fight back.
October, 2012
Three Powerful Things the Cross of Jesus Does for you
The cross of Jesus Christ has the power to do three things that nothing or no one else can accomplish.
October, 2012
Miracles?
In this lesson we look at the history of miracles and try to determine if there is evidence that miracles can still be performed today?
October, 2012
What Under 40's Want
Every generation finds a way to distinguish itself from the previous one, whether it's by social custom, new philosophies or advancing technology.
October, 2012
What Would Google Do?
In this lesson we compare some similarities between how Google the company functions and how churches should function. It is based off the book by Jeff Jarvis entitled 'What Would Google Do?'
September, 2012
Progressive Conservatives
Finding the balance between the biblical pattern for public worship and the on-going changes in culture and technology.
September, 2012
Senioritis
You know you're a senior when the kid at the box office doesn't want to see proof of age when you ask for the senior discount at the movies. This scene along with the other signs of age have gotten me thinking about the future and what I want and don't want as I go from being a senior to just being old.
September, 2012
Victim or Victor?
Practical ways to overcome the reality of failure, injustice, and adversity in our present lives.
August, 2012
Seeing the Unseen
In verse 8 Matthew says that the people, after hearing Jesus forgive the paralytic, and then heal him, praised God for giving authority (to heal and forgive) to men. They heard and saw what Jesus did and glorified God for giving to a man such authority and power. The people in this story gave honor to God but they "didn't get it".
August, 2012
Faithfulness
This section concludes the letter by establishing faithfulness as the crowning glory in the believer's proper response to God's offer of salvation and the blessings that come with it.
August, 2012
The Lesson of the Leaven
This sermon examines the similarities between the making of bread with flour and yeast and the spiritual kingdom of heaven. A short parable with a wide application to our spiritual lives.
August, 2012
An Ordered Life
Paul adds an ordered life as another response from those who receive God's blessings of salvation.
August, 2012
God Given Rights
The recent trend in education and politics to remove any mention of God or the Bible is really a subtle attack on individual rights and freedoms.
August, 2012
Satan's Deadliest Weapon
Among Satan's various strategies to destroy us morally, physically, and spiritually, words and how he uses them are his deadliest weapons.
August, 2012
True Piety
This section builds on the previous two by adding piety as a true response of the church to God because of His blessings.
July, 2012
Who Can You Trust?
In this world of spin doctors and fake advocacy one Person stands out as reliable and trustworthy in every way, every day!
July, 2012
The Response of Righteousness
Paul continues to describe the proper response of the saved to God in the form of righteous living.
July, 2012
Peter's PR Plan
Peter the Apostle describes the Public Relations plan that all churches should have to witness Christ to their communities.