Thoughts on Ministry, The Bible, & Christian Living
A Sermon (#542) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited By Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles turn with me to Acts 7. As you will recall in Acts 6, the church looked out among themselves and called seven men to help serve with the Apostles. While the Apostles ministered through the Word, and through prayer, these seven men ministered through serving the needs of the people.
Continue reading “Acts 7:1-60 – Wednesday Night Bible Study (11/8/95)”
A Sermon (#541) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited By Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles, turn with me to 1 Timothy 3 and tonight I want to begin a series of sermons on the subject of spiritual leadership.
There’s an old maxim that says, “as goes the leaders, so goes the country.” I believe that to be true.
Never in the history of this country has the sin of immorality been accepted and approved as it is today. But, as goes the leaders, so goes the country.
Never in the history of this country has integrity, character, honesty, meant so little. But, as goes the leaders, so goes the country.
Never before in the history of this country has Christianity, the Bible, prayer, church been neglected like it is today. But, as goes the leaders, so goes the country.
But let me put it another way. As goes the spiritual leaders, so goes the church.
Never before has the church had so little influence and power, But, as goes the spiritual leaders, so goes the church.
Never before has the church been so unconcerned about purity and prayer, But, as goes the spiritual leaders, so goes the church.
Never before has the church been so unconcerned for lost souls. But, as goes the spiritual leaders, so goes the church.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 3:1-7 – A Look At The Pastor (11/5/95)”
A Sermon (#540) Preached by William “Bill” Touchton
Edited by Michael D. Lawson
Turn to Revelation chapter 3.
In Revelation 1, the resurrected Lord appears to John and tells him to write seven letters to the seven churches of Asia.
These were real churches, but many believe them to be problematic, they represent a problematic view of church history.
The Church at Ephesus (Acts 2; 100AD – ?) – They served. They shared. Yet got cold.
Smyrna (100-300AD) – A persecuted church.
Pergamos, Thyatria, Sardis (300 – 1750AD) – Corrupt, Carnal, Compromising churches.
Philadelphia (1750-1900AD) – Church of the Awakening under Whitefield…Wesley…Edwards.
Laodicea – the last of the seven. Represents the last church, how the church will be prior to the rapture.
Question: What would Jesus preach on (what would be his subject) if He could gather together every person in this country who has their name on a church roll? A church roll…Baptist, Methodist, Luthern, Charismatic…all the millions of people. What would He preach on? Inerrancy? And resolve the conflict between conservatives and liberals. Gifts of the Spirit? And solve the conflict concerning the tongue movement. The end time? And resolve the conflict between Amill and Premill.
Continue reading “Revelation 3:14-22 – Christ’s Message to the Modern Church (11/5/95)”
A Sermon (# 537) Preached by William “Bill” Touchton
Edited by Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Acts, chapter 6.
In a couple of weeks, we are going to ordain three men to help us serve, and we may install a fourth man who has already been ordained. And beginning a week from Sunday, I am going to start a series on Sunday nights that deals with spiritual leadership. And for a few weeks, we are going to look at what the pastor ought to be – and what the deacons ought to be, and when I get to that point, I want to come back to this chapter because it lays the ground work for spiritual leadership. So, I’ll try not to use everything I’ve learned tonight, but in two or there weeks when you hear me preach this passage again – if I say something you have already heard, then smile like you have never heard it before.
Continue reading “Acts 6:1-15 – Wednesday Night Bible Study (10/25/95)”
A Sermon (#536) Preached by William “Bill” Touchton
Edited by Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles tonight, turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 4.9-12.
Sometime back there was a commercial on TV starring Andre Agassi, and in this commercial, image is everything.
In other words, it’s very important how other people see you.
There was a time in this country when preachers, Christians, and churches were all well respected, but for the most part, those days are gone. Our image has been destroyed by sin and scandal and tonight I want to show you how we can improve our image.
Continue reading “1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 – Improving the Image (10/22/95)”
A Sermon (#535) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited By Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles turn with me to John 2, and I want us to look at one verse, and then I want to look at the first 16 verses of John 3.
When my 2 girls were born in the 1970’s, the idea of the father being in that room to observe that event was unthinkable. In our days, they held the father in a waiting room, and they would not even let you hold that baby until the day you brought them home, but times have changed.
Now they allow the father to be in the delivery room as well as other friends and relatives. They even allow you to bring in VCR equipment and record the entire thing.
When Elizabeth was born, our precious grandchild, by son in law watched the whole thing and I asked him what it was like, and he said it was a real miracle.
Continue reading “John 3:1-16 – The Miracle Of Being Born Again (10/22/95)”
A Sermon (#534) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited By Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles turn with me to Acts 5. Now you will recall that last week we looked at the story of Ananias and Sapphire. They sold a piece of land, kept out a portion of the money, and then told the church they were giving all they received to help the poor, and God killed both of them right there on the spot.
Now, when you think about it, it seems like such a small sin. They just lied. They wanted people to think they were more spiritual than what they were. So, they conceived of a way of doing that and tried to pull it off, but God caught them. It seems like such a small sin, no one got hurt. No one died. No homes were destroyed. In fact, just the opposite took place and people were helped with their offering and yet God poured His wrath out on them.
Continue reading “Acts 5:1-42 – Wednesday Night Bible Study (10/18/95)”
A Sermon (#532) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited By Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles, turn to the last few verses of Acts 4, and I want us to review a moment, because it sets the context for what takes place in Acts 5.
Now, when we leave Acts 4, the church was undergoing some persecution. Many of the early believers, when they accepted Jesus as their Savior, they were rejected by the world. Many of them lost their jobs and homes.
So look at what takes place in Acts 4.32-37.
Continue reading “Acts 5.1-42 – Wednesday Night Bible Study (10/11/1995)”
A Sermon (#531) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited By Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles turn with me to Matthew 16.13-19.
In 1971, a group of people from the Sherwood Forest Baptist Church felt led of God to buy this property and build this church, and next Sunday morning we will celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Wingate Road Church. As I studied the history of our church, I was amazed at how many people we have reached these years. In 24 years, we have seen…700 saved and baptized…800 come and be a part by change of letter. This church has touched a lot of lives, however, I want to ask you a question that I have wrestled with this week.
Question: If Wingate Road Baptist Church ceased to be, if we walked out this morning, locked the doors, and never came back, would anybody in this community care? If WRBC ceased to be, would it have any effect at all in this community?
Continue reading “Matthew 16.13-19 – A Church of Influence (10/8/95)”
A Sermon (#530) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited by Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles turn with me to Psalm 85.10. and I want us to look at this very unusual verse for just a moment, and then I want us to look at Romans 8.1.
On Tuesday of this week, (Oct. 3, 1995) millions of Americans and millions of people around the world turned on their TV sets, or radios and they listened as the lady read, “We the jury, find the defendant Orenthal James Simpson not guilty of the crime of murder.”
Now listen, after that verdict was announced there were two statements made that have divided the whole country.
Statement #1 was made by Ron Goldman’s father, he said, “Justice was not served today.” And many people agree and lined up behind that statement.
Statement #2 was made by Johnnie Cochran. He said, “Justice was served today.” And many people agreed and lined up behind him.
Continue reading “Psalm 85.10/Romans 8.1 – Justice of Mercy for All (10/8/95)”