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Sunday June 29, 2008
FAITH FACT:
A 2006 Discover magazine article reported on Mary Schweitzer’s  controversial discovery in 2004 of soft tissue inside a T. rex leg bone containing intact blood vessels and red blood cells.  The article pointed out, “It’s a matter of faith among scientists that soft tissue can survive at most for a few ten thousand years, not…65 million.”  The findings were suspected not only because they challenged “accepted” timelines but also because Schweitzer is an evangelical Christian.  She had difficulty getting her results published.  Schweitzer remembered, “One journal reviewer said he didn’t care what the data said, he knew what I was finding wasn’t possible.  When I asked him, ‘What data would convince you?’  And he said, ‘None.”  This is hardly objective science which should go wherever the evidence leads.  Evolutionists struggle to reconcile the obvious implications of these discoveries with Darwinism, but creationists need not.  It fits perfectly with the creation model of an earth which has existed less than 10,000 years.  YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE!!!

Sunday AM 6/29/08
Howdy, Neighbor! (Matt. 22:35-40)

Intro: Our attitude towards others reflects our attitude toward God

I. Sums Up the Old Testament
A. Commandments #1-4=concern God; #5-10=mankind
B. Law and Prophets hang on these two commands
II. Who Is My Neighbor?
A. Jesus answered this question with parable of the
           Good Samaritan
B. Ability + opportunity=obligation
III. How Do We Love Ourselves?
A. Quite naturally
1. We make excuses for ourselves
2. We don’t think we are evil, hopeless cases
B. We hate our sin but love our souls
C. Biblical love seeks the best for others despite cost
IV. Why This Is So Important
A. Matt. 25:41-45 “When did we see You…”
B. When we are good neighbor to men, we are a good
    neighbor to Jesus

Jesus was our Good Samaritan;
be a good neighbor and pass His love on to others!

SERMON ILLUSTRATOR'S CLUB
July 6,2008
FAITH FACT
In 1912 a worker digging near the town of Piltdown, England found a piece of bone (as the story goes).  He gave it to a local archaeologist named Charles Dawson who determined it was a skull and later found a jawbone at the same location.  It appeared to be a primitive human ancestor and was named “Piltdown Man.”  It wasn’t until over 40 years later in 1953 that it was exposed as a fake.  It was actually a modern human skull paired with the jawbone and teeth of an orangutan.  The teeth had been filed down to make them look more human and all the bones had been chemically treated
(and even painted) to make them look old.  Charles Dawson had died in 1916, but it was determined that all the historical artifacts he supposedly found and that were displayed at the Hastings Museum were forgeries.  Religion is not without its frauds and charlatans.  But let us not believe that DarwininIst evolution is pure as the driven snow and free from its own agenda-driven con men.  Question everything.  God is not afraid of investigation. YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE!!!

Sunday AM 7/6/08
Liberty in Christ
Intro:
-Christianity gives freedom, not restriction (kindergarten fence)
-Freedom is assured by boundaries of society; freedom in
Christ assured by obedience

I. Liberty From Law
A. Freedom from division (Num. 33:51ff)
B. Freedom from burden of Old Testament
C. Freedom from curse (spiritual burden)
D. Freedom from system of works
1. Gal. 2:16
2. Not just OT, but any system of salvation by works
II. Liberty In Life
A. Free from Satan’s power
1. Power of fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15)
2. Power to accuse (Rev. 12:10; Zech. 3:1-4)
B. Free from sin
1. Bondage of sin (Gal. 3:22; Rom. 6:17-22)
2. Guilt of sin (Heb. 10:3; Jer. 31:34)
3. Penalty of sin (1 Thess. 1:10)

We are free through Christ although bound to Him. 
The kite only flies because of the string tied to it!

Sunday PM 7/6/08
Investing in Eternity (Jms. 5:1-6)
Intro:
-Rich bear a responsibility and danger of $$ becoming a god
-James is not addressing Christians, but their wicked oppressors
I. Warning to the Rich (1-4a)
A. Misery coming (70 AD and eternity)
B. Worthless riches
1. Material wealth rots if unused
2. Soul rots if consumed with materialism
C. Wickedness
1. Became rich by cheating others
2. Wages belong to workers (even if withheld)
II. Comfort to the Oppressed (4b-6)
A. Lord of Sabaoth (cheers the righteous, terrifies wicked)
B. God will avenge
1. Wicked only prosper for a time “on the earth”)
2. Poor spiritual fitness (weak hearts)
III. Caution to Us
A. Unproductive hoarding displeases God (Matt. 25:27)
1. The elder who “failed”
2. Saving purposefully is wise, not for “rainy days”
B. Hoarding shows lack of faith (Isa. 55:11)

Are we storing up treasure on earth or in heaven?

July 13, 2008
FAITH FACT:
Doctors often reassure patients that they will never miss their appendix.  It is believed to be a “vestigial organ.”  That is, an evolutionary leftover from primitive ancestors.  Science has recently discovered that the appendix has a very important function.  It helps developing human embryos sort out good and bad bacteria in the intestinal tract.  This is vitally important to babies, but also even into adulthood.  Certainly we can get along without it, but it still has a necessary function in modern humans.  Just because we do not appreciate what the function of an organ is does not mean it has no function.  The evolutionist is left to explain what else we don’t know which we thought we knew.  Let’s give God credit for the brilliantly designed human body.  Let no one tell you that you were some random chemical accident.  You were created and formed by the hands of a loving and all-powerful God.
YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE!!!
Sunday AM 7/13/08
Lord, It’s Hard to Be Humble (Matt. 18)

Intro:
-Humility is the key to understanding chapter 18

I. Humility Grants Entrance Into Kingdom (3-4)

A. Have to get in the door first
1. Recognize need for forgiveness
2. Recognize God’s power to give it
B. Become like children
II. Humility Prevents Stumbling (5-11)
A. Of others
1. “Little child” is illustration of immature believer
2. Humble man is patient with newborn Christian
B. Of ourselves (we never see ourselves as the “little one”)
III. Humility Resolves Church Conflict (15-20)
A. Verse 15-Takes humility to confront offender directly
B. Verse 16-Take witnesses (Your word is not enough)
C. Verse 17-Ignoring the whole church is not humble
IV. Humility Brings Forgiveness (21-35)
A. For one another (Luke 17:4 seven times a day)
B. For ourselves (Parable of unforgiving servant)

God had to be humble to extend mercy to each of us!

July 20, 2008
FAITH FACT:
The first careful and accurate measurements of earth’s magnetic field began in 1829.  In 1979, data from a NASA satellite indicated that the magnetic field is deteriorating (albeit very slowly).  At its present constant rate, it should reach zero in 3993.  But, if you increase backwards at the same rate of decay, as recent as 15,000 years ago the earth’s magnetic field would have been so great that the planet would have ruptured.  Astronomers explain this by saying the field has “reset” itself periodically.  Fine, but what protected life on earth from deadly cosmic radiation during those periods of “resetting?”  This is just one more bit of hard, scientific evidence which points to an earth which cannot be billions of years old. 
YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE!!!

Sunday AM 7/20/08
The Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23-25)

Intro:
-Santa Fe newspaper ad; “Might as well marry her”
-Paul uses marriage to teach about church’s relationship
  to Christ

I. Christ Is Head of the Church
A. As husband leads the home
B. Leader is also a member
II. Christ Is Savior of the Body
A. Protector, defender
B. Redeemer
C. Only the savior of the saved
III. Church Is Subject to Christ
A. His way (John 14:6)
B. Servant leadership
IV. Christ Loves the Church
A. His choice to love the church
B. Bound to Him by our choice
V. Christ Gave Himself For the Church
A. “No greater love” (John 15:13)
B. Bought at a great price (Acts 20:28)

Marriage represents the most intimate relationship possible.
The church is the bride of Christ and His one true love!

Sunday PM 7/20/08
Wait Until Your Savior Gets Here (Jms. 5:7-11)

Intro:
-Waiting can be the worst punishment

I. Reason to Endure
A. Christ WILL come
B. He will come suddenly
II. Putting Up With Junk
A. Makrothumia (irritations)
B. Example of the farmer
C. “Strengthen your hearts”
D. Keep proper perspective (physical vs. spiritual)
III. Enduring Real Hardship
A. Hupomone (soldier refusing to retreat)
B. Example of the prophets
-God pleased with them, but they still suffered
C. Example of Job
-Trusted God’s judgment and was blessed
D. Example of Jesus
1. What we suffer, what He suffered
2. Why we suffer, why He suffered
3. Who we are, who He was

We must wait for final reward, but start right now!