Thoughts on Ministry, The Bible, & Christian Living
The biblical narrative for Psalm 51 can be found in 2 Samuel 11.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
David’s plea for God to deal graciously (have mercy on me) towards him is based solely on the love and mercy of God, not upon any favorable action or attribute of David himself.
In my first philosophy class, Dr. Wiley Richards said something to the effect of, “Everyone is a philosopher. Everyone thinks. Thus everyone is a philosopher.” Some believe theology to be an academic study better left to the seminary or trained pastor. Theology, at it’s simplest, revolves around our thoughts about God. Therefore, you’re a theologian too!
Calvin Miller once wrote, “All real preaching is doctrine.” He essentially argues that all sermons communicate doctrine, even though dogmatics may not be the desired objective of the preacher. Following Miller’s reasoning, A sermon may then communicate doctrine poorly, incorrectly, or it may communicate that doctrine is unimportant altogether, but all sermons communicate doctrine.
All sermons may communicate thoughts about doctrine, but all sermons are not doctrinal.
Continue reading “Every Sermon Communicates Doctrine (5 Considerations for Doctrinal Preaching)”
A Sermon (#561) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited & Preached By Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Luke 2:8-20. This morning, of course, we want to continue looking at the birth of Jesus as we celebrate his incarnation.
Christmas has always been a very special time of the year for me, and I guess over the course of my life, I have received hundreds of gifts…
I remember when I was a boy, my mother gave me a Bible with my name engraved…zipper…and pictures that illustrated the stories…I still have that Bible.
In December of 1886, my wife gave me one to honor my last semester of school. I have used it so much that the cover is coming off…and the pages are coming out. It was and still is, a very special gift.
While living in GA, our first semester, a man in my SS class brought a box, it contained a 25lb ham. We took that man to the meat market and had it sliced and ate off that for a month!
One of our widows brought me a new suit.
I have received so many wonderful gifts, but the best gift I have ever received came from God.
Continue reading “Luke 2.8-20 – The Gospel of Christmas (12/24/95)”
A Sermon (#543) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited By Michael D. Lawson
If you have your Bibles turn with me to Revelation chapter 6…
On the wall in my office is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ that’s based on that verse in John 11 that simply says, “Jesus wept.” And in this picture you see the face of the Lord Jesus up in the heavens overlooking this old sinful world. And every time I look at that picture, I am reminded of that verse in Hebrews that says, “He upholds all things by the Word of power.” He literally keeps this world in tact. He keeps it from falling apart. And I think about that verse by the Apostle Paul when he said, “By him al things consist.” He is the glue that keeps it all together.
In Psalm 33.5, the psalmist said, “the whole earth is filled with the goodness of God…”
This world is – and this world stays – and sticks together – and it is good because He oversees every detail.
But, as you look at this picture on my wall, you will notice that His eyes are filled with tears, and how it must grieve his heart to see the sinfulness of this world, and to know He died on the cross for that sin, and yet this world still rejects Him. In fact, for the most part, this world couldn’t care less about God. They don’t care if He exists or not. And I look at that picture and wonder what it would be like if God turned His back on this old world and walked away, and just left us to ourselves. What would this world be like without God? I want to show you in this passage. Look at verse one and this morning I want to preach on… “A World Without God.”
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)”