Merkel Church Of Christ

Suffering is an undeniable part of life in this world. Regardless of what we do, have, or say we will face it. Trials and suffering come to all men (Psalms 90: 10; John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 10:13). God does not promise to remove us from trials and suffering while we are in this world. Jesus prayed not that we be taken out of this world, but rather that God would protect us from the evil one while we are here.

NOTE:  a large portion of the audio for this sermon is missing Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more perfectly and unselfishly than you do the things of your former life? (Or more than these men do?)” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said, “provide continual care for my lambs who are my disciples.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you unconditionally love me?”

Many statements don’t stand the test of time.  Even the most visionary people say things that are proven false and useless with time. In his final days, John records an exchange between Jesus and the disciples who deserted him.  The final two words of the exchange are timeless: Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will ...

Love for God Does Not Fail     The older son in this morning’s parable apparently worked hard and was obedient to his father. This should be a good thing, but it wasn’t enough to allow him to heed the pleading of his father and enter the feast and celebration! It left him alone in his boasting, alone in his justifying himself by his deeds. Where did he go wrong? Perhaps his love was for himself, not his father?! Love ...

  The Parable of Two Sons: Squandering But Penitent and Obedient But Bitter?   Luke 15:11–32 gives us Jesus’ parable of two sons, one came home to a feast, the other refused to go in. The younger son was lost in worldliness, squandering his blessings on this world and its pleasures, but later he repented and returned to his father’s house for acceptance and celebration far beyond his dreams. His father said, “We had to celebrate and be glad, ...

Faith and Hope are intrinsically bound together! We are called to live by faith in Jesus Christ and God’s promises to us in Him, but we are also called to know the hope He affords us. Hope changes us, it directs us, it empowers us to live in this world selflessly and to God’s glory!   Why would Paul pray for Ephesus what he did, if it mattered not that they know the “hope” to which they had been called?

Our Hope is Contrary to What We See   We may find little reason in this world for hope. This is because this world cannot offer us hope that does not disappoint. This world can only offer hope that is based on what is seen; it cannot offer us hope for what is unseen. God alone can offer us this kind of hope, a hope that does not and cannot disappoint. God offers this hope to us in Christ Jesus, ...

1 John 2:1-6 New International Version (NIV) 2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocatewith the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but ...

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?    Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:    he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” Luke 6:46-48  

Philippians 2:14 New International Version (NIV) 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,

Hebrews 10 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which ...

Hebrews 10 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 10 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and ...

The Shadow – offerings by faith speak of faith in God Gen 4:4 – Abel pleased God in his offering.  Heb 11:4 – By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Lev 2; Deut 26 et al. – Grain offerings were sacrifices of worship given them by God as agents ...

We live in the midst of our circumstances whether emotional, physical, or spiritual. We can see and feel them or the results of them through our God given senses. God gives us more than our senses; He has given us His word, the Bible. God gave His law to Israel, through Moses; it declared to them the utter sinfulness of sin (Romans 3:19-20; 7:7, 13). It made clear their circumstances, as sinners.  Our circumstances seem like the ultimate reality! In ...

Bible class by Lou David Allen