West Palm Beach church of Christ - West Palm Beach church of Christ http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com Congregation of Christians located in West Palm Beach, Florida Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:52:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Congregation of Christians located in West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach church of Christ no Congregation of Christians located in West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach church of Christ - West Palm Beach church of Christ http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com John 6:30-40, The Bread of Life http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/bread-of-life.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/bread-of-life.html#comments Sun, 09 Jun 2013 23:00:03 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3551 The day before Jesus fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish. The next day the crowds come back looking for Jesus and find him across the sea in Capernaum. But Jesus knows their hearts and declares that they only reason they seek him was not because they saw the signs and comprehended, but because [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/bread-of-life.html/feed 0 john 6,life of jesus,ministry of jesus The day before Jesus fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish. The next day the crowds come back looking for Jesus and find him across the sea in Capernaum. But Jesus knows their hearts and declares that they only reason they seek him was not because the... The day before Jesus fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish. The next day the crowds come back looking for Jesus and find him across the sea in Capernaum. But Jesus knows their hearts and declares that they only reason they seek him was not because the... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:24 Don’t Go To Church: The Eyes of the Blind Shall See (Isaiah 29) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/eyes-of-blind-shall-see.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/eyes-of-blind-shall-see.html#comments Sun, 09 Jun 2013 14:00:40 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3547 Isaiah has been prophesying about the sins of the nation of Judah and the impending judgment due for their sins. However, with each pass of prophetic judgment, Isaiah also declares the great graciousness of God who will not give his people what they fully deserve. Chapter 28 described the perpetual wickedness and constant debauchery of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/eyes-of-blind-shall-see.html/feed 0 grace of god,isaiah 29,judgment Isaiah has been prophesying about the sins of the nation of Judah and the impending judgment due for their sins. However, with each pass of prophetic judgment, Isaiah also declares the great graciousness of God who will not give his people what they fu... Isaiah has been prophesying about the sins of the nation of Judah and the impending judgment due for their sins. However, with each pass of prophetic judgment, Isaiah also declares the great graciousness of God who will not give his people what they fu... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:18 Gideon: Foolishness in Victory (Judges 7-8) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/foolishness-in-victory.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/foolishness-in-victory.html#comments Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:00:49 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3542 Because of Israel’s idolatry, God sent the Midianites to oppress Israel. When Israel called to the Lord for salvation, the Lord chose weak Gideon to lead Israel against Midian. Once the Lord proved his power to Gideon, Gideon moved his 32,000 men close to the Midianite camp. Though Gideon’s men were outnumbered four to one, [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/foolishness-in-victory.html/feed 0 gideon,idolatry,judges 7,judges 8 Because of Israel's idolatry, God sent the Midianites to oppress Israel. When Israel called to the Lord for salvation, the Lord chose weak Gideon to lead Israel against Midian. Once the Lord proved his power to Gideon, Gideon moved his 32, Because of Israel's idolatry, God sent the Midianites to oppress Israel. When Israel called to the Lord for salvation, the Lord chose weak Gideon to lead Israel against Midian. Once the Lord proved his power to Gideon, Gideon moved his 32,000 men close to the Midianite camp. Though Gideon's men were outnumbered four to one, God told Gideon that he wanted to defeat Midian with fewer men so that Israel would recognize that God gave them the victory. God sent home all but 300 of Gideon's men. Though Gideon's men were now massively outnumbered, God offered Gideon another sign to rekindle his boldness to fight against Midian. Gideon heard a Midianite soldier tell his comrade a dream about a cake of barley bread knocking a tent over. Gideon was that small barley cake that would conquer the gigantic camp of Midian through the power of the Lord. The sign caused Gideon to return to the camp and lead his men with full faith in the Lord. Gideon split his 300 men into three companies of 100 men each. Instead of arming the men with the typical necessities for war, Gideon armed each of his men with a trumpet, a jar, and a torch. Can you imagine attacking 135,000 enemy soldiers with such simple instruments? Gideon's men broke off into their three companies and completely surrounded the Midianite camp. The men blew their trumpets, broke their jars, held up their torches and cried out, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" Instead of charging against the Midianites, Gideon's men stood firm in their places. When the Midianite soldiers woke up to this noise, pandemonium broke out in their camp. Judges 7:22 says that the Lord set every man's sword against his comrade. The Midianite soldiers were so confused that they began killing one another. The Midianites self-destructed as Gideon's men stood their ground. The slaughter was massive, but the kings and princes escaped with some of their men. As the remaining Midianites fled, Gideon called the northern tribes to pursue Midian. Naphtali, Asher, Manasseh, and Ephraim responded. Ephraim successfully captured and beheaded two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. The Midianite army was now reduced to 15,000 men led by the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. When the Midianites least expected an attack, Gideon's men attacked and threw the Midianite camp into a panic. Though Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon captured and beheaded them. The seven years of crippling oppression ended. The Lord conquered despite Gideon's inadequacies. Through simple men and simple instruments for war, the Lord fulfilled his promise to deliver Gideon and Israel. The Lord's victory for Israel that day caused Israel to have rest from war for the next 40 years. Though the Lord displayed his massive power and faithfulness in this victory, I want us to dig deeper into the details of this story. When we do, we will find that not all in Israel handled victory appropriately. Some men had intentions for this victory outside of the Lord's intentions. Studying faulty perspectives in this victory will help us see the Lord's victory in our own lives from a better perspective. Ephraim: It's Not About You (8:1-3) After the initial slaughter when Gideon called the northern tribes to assist, Ephraim successfully captured and beheaded two princes of Midian. Ephraim played a key role in the defeat of Midian. However, when Ephraim should have praised God for using them to carry out his deliverance, they complained with selfishness. The powerful men of Ephraim came to Gideon with anger. "You intentionally left us out of the initial attack on Midian! How could you attack Midian without us?" Though Gideon recognized that Ephraim's anger was unwarranted, Gideon diffused the disagreement by praising them. Judges 8:2–3 NLT, "What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren't even the leftover grapes of Ephraim's harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer? God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:10 Don’t Go To Church: Community Driven http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/community-driven.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/community-driven.html#comments Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:00:15 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3539 We are continuing to examine the teaching found in Acts 2:42. In our last lesson we noticed that the thousands, once becoming Christians, immediately devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings. They had the common ground of the gospel which bridges the divide between social status, class, race, wealth, culture, and the like. The good news [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/community-driven.html/feed 0 acts 2,church We are continuing to examine the teaching found in Acts 2:42. In our last lesson we noticed that the thousands, once becoming Christians, immediately devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings. They had the common ground of the gospel which bridges ... We are continuing to examine the teaching found in Acts 2:42. In our last lesson we noticed that the thousands, once becoming Christians, immediately devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings. They had the common ground of the gospel which bridges ... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:03 John 6:16-29, Do Not Labor For The Food That Perishes http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/food-that-perishes.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/food-that-perishes.html#comments Sun, 26 May 2013 23:00:29 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3518 What do verses 16-21 have to do with Jesus as the bread of life? This is the great dilemma of this text. The author of this gospel has placed a story in the midst of a discourse of Jesus as the bread of life. On the surface it seems completely out of place except that [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/food-that-perishes.html/feed 0 john 6,life of jesus,ministry of jesus,miracles of jesus What do verses 16-21 have to do with Jesus as the bread of life? This is the great dilemma of this text. The author of this gospel has placed a story in the midst of a discourse of Jesus as the bread of life. What do verses 16-21 have to do with Jesus as the bread of life? This is the great dilemma of this text. The author of this gospel has placed a story in the midst of a discourse of Jesus as the bread of life. On the surface it seems completely out of place except that this is what happened next. While all the gospels record the feeding of the 5000, Luke does not record the story of Jesus walking on the water. So it is not necessary for this story to be placed here. Further, the record of Jesus walking on the water in John's gospel is extremely brief and leaves out key parts like Peter walking on the water and sinking. There is nothing about Jesus stilling the storm. But somehow this story of Jesus on the water is useful and part of the story about Jesus as the bread of life. Do not forget that our story is colored by the Passover (6:4). We have already noted the parallels to the Passover and exodus in the first three verses also. The sea plays a major role in the exodus account. God rescues Israel at the Red Sea and shows his power and deliverance of his people in that miracle. When the psalmist records the exodus scene and God's deliverance through the sea in Psalm 77, he writes these words: "Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen" (Psalm 77:19 ESV). Notice that the deliverance from Egypt and parting of the Red Sea is pictured as God walking through the sea and the great waters. So now we see Jesus walking on the water. Remember the message of John's gospel is that Jesus is God because he does the things that God has already done in history. So what is the message here? Jesus Has Come To Save (6:16-21) Jesus is up on the mountain as the story ends in John 6:15. Jesus' disciples get in the boat and are rowing across the Sea of Galilee. As they are going the sea becomes rough because a strong wind is blowing. Verse 18 tells us that they are only about halfway across the sea. It was about 6-7 miles to Capernaum across the sea. It is at this moment that the disciples see Jesus walking on the water and coming near the boat. Fear strikes the hearts of the disciples. But Jesus clarifies that it is him and there is no need for fear. It is possible that Jesus said, "I am." Either way, Jesus clarifies that it is the Lord. Verse 21 seems to be the key to this short story. The disciples then, knowing that it is the Savior, want to receive him into their boat. This is all that matters in the story. The story is exclusively about the disciples, upon learning that it was the Lord, wanted Jesus with them. Jesus has come to deliver his people. When you receive Jesus, then you have all that you need. Then you have deliverance and nothing to fear. Just Jesus is all you need. Notice something else that is interesting. As soon as Jesus comes into their boat, they immediately arrive at their destination. Remember that they were still miles away from shore. The text goes out of its way to make this point clear. The text also goes out of its way to make the point that Jesus has brought them safely home with the simple word, "Immediately." Though in the middle of the sea, they suddenly come to port. Think about this: Jesus is there for his disciples. Even though he seemed far away, left on the other side of the sea, Jesus was there for his disciples and he delivers them. See how this amplifies the message in John 6:12. Jesus has come so that nothing will be lost. He has come to save. He has come to deliver and those who receive him will not be lost. Jesus abides and remains with those who receive him. The author has set us up for the contrast recorded in verses 22-29. Love The Savior (6:22-26) The story now turns to the next day. The crowd is still on the east side of the sea where Jesus had fed the 5000 men with five loaves and two fish. The crowd sees that the boat is gone because the disciples had crossed back over to the other side. However, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:48 Don’t Go To Church: Gospel Driven http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/gospel-driven.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/gospel-driven.html#comments Sun, 26 May 2013 14:00:25 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3520 In our first lesson of our series, “Don’t Go To Church,” we noticed that the first century Christians did not look at the church as something outside of themselves that they went to for an hour. We saw that Christians are the church. We noticed that the Christians immediately and joyfully joined together, spent time [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/gospel-driven.html/feed 0 acts 2,church,gospel In our first lesson of our series, "Don't Go To Church," we noticed that the first century Christians did not look at the church as something outside of themselves that they went to for an hour. We saw that Christians are the church. In our first lesson of our series, "Don't Go To Church," we noticed that the first century Christians did not look at the church as something outside of themselves that they went to for an hour. We saw that Christians are the church. We noticed that th... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:44 Gideon: Faith For Battle (Judges 6-7) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/gideon-faith-for-battle.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/gideon-faith-for-battle.html#comments Sun, 19 May 2013 23:00:25 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3506 Last time we completed the first phase of Gideon’s story where Gideon moved from having no faith in the Lord to crushing his father’s idols. Though Gideon showed great faith in this act of boldness, Gideon will show us today the great difficulty of maintaining a faith this strong. Gideon’s faith will fluctuate as the [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/gideon-faith-for-battle.html/feed 0 faith,faithfulness of god,gideon,judges 6,judges 7 Last time we completed the first phase of Gideon's story where Gideon moved from having no faith in the Lord to crushing his father's idols. Though Gideon showed great faith in this act of boldness, Gideon will show us today the great difficulty of mai... Last time we completed the first phase of Gideon's story where Gideon moved from having no faith in the Lord to crushing his father's idols. Though Gideon showed great faith in this act of boldness, Gideon will show us today the great difficulty of maintaining a faith this strong. Gideon's faith will fluctuate as the battle draws nearer. Though his weakness is emphasized, the strength of the Lord will be even further magnified. Fleece: God's Victory In Spite of Fear (6:36-40) Though Gideon destroyed his father's idols, the battle that faces Gideon will be an even greater test of faith. Gideon is an absolute nobody. A few days ago Gideon had no standing in Israel, but now he has been made a commander over thousands of men. The Midianite army was no joke. The Midianites had successfully oppressed Israel for 7 years (6:1). We are told the Midianite army was as numerous as the sands on the seashore (7:12). The Lord brought many men to Gideon to prepare for battle, but fear set in Gideon's heart as the men began pouring into camp and his faith grew faint. Though God had proved he would deliver Gideon, fear was aroused in Gideon's heart and he asked for another sign. He wanted more proof that the Lord would truly save Israel. Consider what is happening: Gideon is speaking to the Lord God Almighty who created the entire universe. Gideon is speaking to the God who parted the Red Sea for Moses and made the sun stand still for Joshua. Gideon is speaking to the Lord who is capable of magnificent displays of his power. Yet, Gideon set wool fleece on the ground and asked God to cause dew to fall upon the fleece, but not the ground around it. "Lord, if you will destroy the 135,000 Midianites by my hand, make this wool fleece wet." Gideon woke up the next day and tested the wetness of the fleece by wringing it out into a bowl of water. Though God completed this sign, Gideon came back and asked for a second sign. "Lord, please don't be mad. Just let me see one more sign. I'm going to lay the fleece out again, but could you please cause the dew to land on the ground but not the fleece?" When Gideon awoke the next morning, God did as Gideon had requested and made the ground wet, but the fleece dry. We need to fully realize what Gideon is doing. An army of 135,000 Midianites is nearby and God has brought 32,000 men of Israel to fight against them. But Gideon is afraid. He knows what he is supposed to do and has seen signs that the Lord will be with him, yet he is testing to see if the Lord will truly come through on his promise. Gideon does not understand who the Lord is. The Lord is not like one of his powerless idols. The Lord keeps his promises. God had every right to look at Gideon's hesitancy to go to battle as disobedience. God had every right to pick someone else to conquer Midian. Instead of forsaking Gideon in his fear and faithlessness, God shows the compassion of a father who desires to overcome Gideon's fear. Gideon is disabled by his fear, but God shows patience. We too can be filled with this doubt that Gideon experiences. We can walk through life with little trust in the Lord's deliverance. We can be uncertain of God's promises toward us. Our prayers often carry no certainty. We may struggle trusting that the Lord truly answers prayer. This is exactly where Gideon is. God has promised victory but Gideon doesn't believe it. How great is God to continue to work with Gideon and answer his signs! He desires to overcome our fear. He is begging for us to trust him. The Lord refuses for his purposes to be held back by our fear. The Lord is willing to work with us even when we come to him struggling to trust him. The Lord will be victorious in spite of our fear and faithlessness. 300 Water Lappers: God's Victory In Spite of Size (7:1-8) The sign in the fleece renewed Gideon's faith. I cannot imagine the fear in Gideon's men as only 32,000 of them gathered for war against 135,000 Midianites. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 43:25 Don’t Go To Church: What Is The Church? http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/what-is-the-church.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/what-is-the-church.html#comments Sun, 19 May 2013 14:00:42 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3503 What is the church? What do you think of when you speak of the church? The concept of the church has been so greatly distorted since the writing of the scriptures that it is easy for us to miss what church is all about. Today, church is something you go to. Church has become something [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/dont-go-to-church/what-is-the-church.html/feed 0 acts 2,church,worship What is the church? What do you think of when you speak of the church? The concept of the church has been so greatly distorted since the writing of the scriptures that it is easy for us to miss what church is all about. Today, What is the church? What do you think of when you speak of the church? The concept of the church has been so greatly distorted since the writing of the scriptures that it is easy for us to miss what church is all about. Today, church is something you go to. Church has become something you do. Church is somewhere you go for about an hour, perhaps two or three hours a week. Church is something you attend. Church is something for when you need God. The perception of church rests at a level somewhere between having a psychiatrist and belonging to the girl scouts. When you need church you go. Otherwise you go when you want to go. These concepts are extremely unbiblical at best and slanderous of God at the worst. But this is what we see, where people rank church somewhere between a hobby and an extracurricular activity. So we kick off a new series of lessons today entitled, "Don't Go To Church." What we are going to do in these lessons is examine the scriptures to learn what the church looked like in the first century and observe what God depicts to be a local church. Our primary text for our study is Acts 2:42-47 where we read about a group of Christians who are the local church in Jerusalem. In Acts 2 Peter has preached the gospel concerning the salvation found in Jesus. In verse 41 we see that on the day of Peter's sermon about 3000 people respond to the word, were baptized, and were added to Christ and his kingdom. What did these new Christians do? What was their natural response to becoming saved by God's grace? Acts 2:42-47 tells us what they were doing. Who We Are There is a concept that we repeatedly see in the scriptures concerning Christians that is easy to miss in our individualistic driven society. We are going to look at a number of texts and I want us to observe who we are in Christ. Joined together. Look at Acts 2:44. "And all who believed were together and had all things in common." There is a devotion to being together that is highlighted and emphasized throughout Acts when describing the church. In Acts 2:42 Luke records that they were devoted themselves and were persistent in the apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers. The same word translated "devoted" also appears in Acts 2:46 which is translated by many Bible versions as "continued." The HCSB maintains the word correspondence and reads in verse 46, "Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex." Notice Acts 4:32 Luke makes the same point about these Christians in Jerusalem. "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." There is a tremendous picture of unity that existed among the Christians in Jerusalem. We are reading about a radical change in the lives of these people. A common view of Christianity is that it is something we add to our lives. Our lives are very much the same as the rest of the world with one difference: on Sunday morning we go to a place of worship for a brief service. But in Acts their whole lives and whole outlook changed. The apostle Paul described the change this way: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV) We are to be completely changed and our lives reflect a radical change because we are in Christ. The change caused these Christians to desire to spend their time together. They devoted themselves to continue steadfastly together. It is not that they were commanded to be together. The apostle Peter did not have to beg these Christians to spend time together. They wanted to be together. I believe the ultimate problem is that we do not see ourselves as a "we." Each of us see ourselves as individuals who come together for a couple hours, maintaining our individuality, and not forming what the scriptures describe as the church. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 36:08 Isaiah 28, A Sure Foundation http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/sure-foundation.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/sure-foundation.html#comments Sun, 12 May 2013 23:00:06 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3492 One of the things that people are looking for in life is a foundation. We need a foundation to build our lives upon. We want something that frames our values and decisions. What Is Your Crown? (28:1-6) Isaiah turns back to the problem of pride in the hearts of the people. Notice the imagery in [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/sure-foundation.html/feed 0 isaiah 28 One of the things that people are looking for in life is a foundation. We need a foundation to build our lives upon. We want something that frames our values and decisions. What Is Your Crown? (28:1-6) Isaiah turns back to the problem of pride in the... One of the things that people are looking for in life is a foundation. We need a foundation to build our lives upon. We want something that frames our values and decisions. What Is Your Crown? (28:1-6) Isaiah turns back to the problem of pride in the... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:51 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, Victory Over Death http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/victory-over-death.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/victory-over-death.html#comments Sun, 12 May 2013 14:00:36 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3494 The apostle Paul has been explaining how the resurrection will take place. In 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 the apostle has described that we must be given different bodies that are prepared to live in the spiritual realm. These bodies that we have now are created by God to live in this world. But just as a [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/victory-over-death.html/feed 0 1 corinthians 15,christian life,kingdom of god,resurrection The apostle Paul has been explaining how the resurrection will take place. In 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 the apostle has described that we must be given different bodies that are prepared to live in the spiritual realm. The apostle Paul has been explaining how the resurrection will take place. In 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 the apostle has described that we must be given different bodies that are prepared to live in the spiritual realm. These bodies that we have now are cr... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 29:23 Beginnings: Eden to Abram (Genesis 3-12) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-eden-to-abram.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-eden-to-abram.html#comments Sun, 05 May 2013 19:00:03 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3481 The Failure In Eden In the beginning when God created the heavens and earth, he created man in his image. He gave them one purpose: multiply and fill the earth. He spoke and gave them paradise on a silver platter. Adam and Eve had food, gold, each other, and fellowship with God. They lacked nothing. [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-eden-to-abram.html/feed 0 abraham,adam and eve,cain and abel,genesis 11,genesis 12,genesis 3,genesis 4,genesis 7,noah,tower of babel The Failure In Eden In the beginning when God created the heavens and earth, he created man in his image. He gave them one purpose: multiply and fill the earth. He spoke and gave them paradise on a silver platter. Adam and Eve had food, gold, The Failure In Eden In the beginning when God created the heavens and earth, he created man in his image. He gave them one purpose: multiply and fill the earth. He spoke and gave them paradise on a silver platter. Adam and Eve had food, gold, each oth... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:10 Gideon: The Lord Calls (Judges 6) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/gideon-the-lord-calls.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/gideon-the-lord-calls.html#comments Sun, 05 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3478 There are over 1.3 million people in Palm Beach County. We have about 85 people working in this congregation. Our goal is not to merely have a “church” here. We have a purpose to spread God’s glory. Our task to conquer evil and bring God’s grace to this area with such small numbers seems daunting. [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/gideon-the-lord-calls.html/feed 0 gideon,idolatry,judges 6 There are over 1.3 million people in Palm Beach County. We have about 85 people working in this congregation. Our goal is not to merely have a "church" here. We have a purpose to spread God's glory. Our task to conquer evil and bring God's grace to thi... There are over 1.3 million people in Palm Beach County. We have about 85 people working in this congregation. Our goal is not to merely have a "church" here. We have a purpose to spread God's glory. Our task to conquer evil and bring God's grace to thi... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:25 John 6:1-15, The All-Providing King http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/all-providing-king.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/all-providing-king.html#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:00:43 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3472 Overview The sixth chapter of John’s gospel records for us the miracle of the feeding of 5000 men. As we return to our study of this gospel we need to keep a few concepts in mind. First, the purpose of John’s gospel is to cause people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/all-providing-king.html/feed 0 john 6,miracles of jesus Overview The sixth chapter of John's gospel records for us the miracle of the feeding of 5000 men. As we return to our study of this gospel we need to keep a few concepts in mind. First, the purpose of John's gospel is to cause people to believe that ... Overview The sixth chapter of John's gospel records for us the miracle of the feeding of 5000 men. As we return to our study of this gospel we need to keep a few concepts in mind. First, the purpose of John's gospel is to cause people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and by believing you will have life (John 20:31). Second, the way John has been showing that Jesus is the Son of God is by revealing how Jesus does what God does. We were introduced to this concept with the very first words of the book, "In the beginning was the Word." This is the same introduction as the book of Genesis, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." John makes the equation that Jesus is God because he was in the beginning just like God the Father. Third, John emphasizes signs. John only records seven miracles, which he calls "signs." We are not supposed to be simply wowed by the miracle but ask what is the spiritual meaning of the miracle because it is a sign. A sign points to something or communicates something to us. With these reminders in place, let us come back to John's gospel and enjoy these precious truths of God. Introducing The Chapter As we look at this miracle, it is interesting to consider that this is the only miracle that is recorded in all four gospels. All of the gospel authors use this miracle to show us Jesus and prove who he is. The goal is not to try to harmonize these gospel accounts. We make an enormous mistake when we try to blend these stories into one. As I have noted to you many times, if God wanted only one gospel he would have given us only one gospel. Rather, the goal is to notice what about this account of the feeding of the 5000 is distinct. We need to observe the distinctiveness of the account and draw much from those difference because the author of the gospel is trying to teach us from those unique features. The exodus overtones in this story are strongly highlighted by John's gospel. Notice in verse 4 that John tells us that the Passover was near, which is a memorial for the exodus from Egyptian slavery. Notice the imagery that John gives us that the other gospels do not, which point to the exodus. (1) Jesus crosses the sea and goes up on the mountain. Jesus is mimicking what Moses did in the exodus when Moses crossed the sea and then went up to Mount Sinai. (2) A large multitude is following Jesus across the sea. But only Jesus goes up the mountain with his disciples, just like Moses only went up on the mountain. (3) They are in the wilderness after crossing the sea. We know that the east side of the Sea of Galilee had barren hillsides. They are in a desolate place and are unable to go buy bread anywhere, as indicated by Jesus' question, "Where are we to buy bread?" There is no where to do this. (4) John's gospel is the only account where Jesus is asking the question, "Where are we to buy bread?" In all the other accounts, the disciples initiate with the question and Jesus tells them to feed. Consider that the exodus reenactment is continuing because Moses asked the very same question in the wilderness, "Where can I get meat for all these people?" (Numbers 11:13). As we study the sixth chapter of John, the gospel wants you to have firmly in your mind that a new exodus is occurring. These events are being paralleled to the Passover, exodus from Egypt, going up to Mount Sinai, and going into the wilderness. The story also gives a warning for future trouble. Notice verse 2: "And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick." The crowds were following him because they saw the signs he was doing. We have observed that this has been a problem many times in the Gospel of John. The issue was first highlighted for us in John 2:23-25. Many believed when they saw the signs he was doing but Jesus did not believe in or entrust himself to them because he knew what was in their hearts. They were not following him for the right reasons. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:08 1 Corinthians 15:35-49, How The Dead Are Raised http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/how-dead-are-raised.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/how-dead-are-raised.html#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:00:24 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3469 The apostle Paul has strongly asserted that those who are in Christ, though they die, will be raised from the dead. Since Christ has risen from the dead, then with certainty we know that we also will be raised from the dead. But understanding how this resurrection could occur is difficult to grasp. It seems [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/how-dead-are-raised.html/feed 0 1 corinthians 15,importance of the resurrection,resurrection,what happens after death The apostle Paul has strongly asserted that those who are in Christ, though they die, will be raised from the dead. Since Christ has risen from the dead, then with certainty we know that we also will be raised from the dead. The apostle Paul has strongly asserted that those who are in Christ, though they die, will be raised from the dead. Since Christ has risen from the dead, then with certainty we know that we also will be raised from the dead. But understanding how this resurrection could occur is difficult to grasp. It seems to be the reason why the resurrection of the dead was being rejected by some in Corinth. Considerations about death were very important at that time, especially because they did not remotely live as long as we do today. In the Greco-Roman world approximately 50% of the children would die by age 10. About 30% of the children died by age 1. If you made it to age 5, then you were likely to live to about 48 years of age. If you made it to age 15, then you were likely to live to ripe old age of 52. So the concepts of what happened after death were very real to them because they were going to encounter it much faster than we do today. It is important to consider that while there were many views of life after death in the Greco-Roman world, one of the prominent views at that time was that there was life after death, but it was a disembodied life. In fact, the soul leaving the body and not possessing a body was desired. The body was often described as a prison of the soul, and death frees the soul from that prison. So while the concept of life after death was popular, souls residing in Hades, the realm of departed spirits, the idea of possessing a body was completely rejected. So the idea that we will be raised from the dead as Paul is preaching was rejected by some Greek thinking: that just as Jesus rose from the dead bodily, not just spiritually, so as the firstfruits we will be raised in his likeness. This is why Paul addresses the problem he knows he is going to face and seems to take it as a hypothetical objection. "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" One can easily understand the question. The resurrection seems impossible. The body is decayed and ruined. How can this rotted corpse be raised to life and bring us into eternity? We even fall into these kinds of traps. Since I don't understand how something works, then it must not be possible. But we are called to be people of faith and it is dangerous for us to suggest something is impossible just because we do not fully understand how it may be. The scriptures are plain that there is a physical resurrection, not just our spirits going on. We have seen this from our study of the bodily resurrection of Jesus and Paul telling us that he is the firstfruits. Therefore what happened to Jesus will happen to us. But other scriptures confirm a bodily resurrection. 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5:1–4 ESV) Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28–29 ESV) The Principle of Change (15:36-38) The apostle Paul will now explain to the Corinthian Christians how physical resurrection is possible. Paul begins by teaching them about the principle of change. 1. The seed is not made alive unless it dies (15:36). Listen to the words of Paul: "What you sow does not come to life unless it dies." The seed decomposes. It must cease to exist in its original form as a seed before it can come to life. Jesus used the same figure of his own resurrection in John 12:24. And Jesus answered them, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 28:52 Beginnings: Sin’s Consequences (Gen. 3:16-19) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-sins-consequences.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-sins-consequences.html#comments Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:00:21 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3463 Last time we looked at the serpent’s curse and how Genesis 3:14-15 predict Satan’s ultimate destruction through the offspring of woman. Adam and Eve must now face the consequences of their own sins. Their consequences are specific and purposeful, not random. Though the consequences are painful, they are meant to teach Adam and Eve about [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-sins-consequences.html/feed 0 adam and eve,consequences,genesis 3,sin Last time we looked at the serpent's curse and how Genesis 3:14-15 predict Satan's ultimate destruction through the offspring of woman. Adam and Eve must now face the consequences of their own sins. Their consequences are specific and purposeful, Last time we looked at the serpent's curse and how Genesis 3:14-15 predict Satan's ultimate destruction through the offspring of woman. Adam and Eve must now face the consequences of their own sins. Their consequences are specific and purposeful, not random. Though the consequences are painful, they are meant to teach Adam and Eve about the seriousness of their mistakes and their future life now that sin is a reality. Much of the world's problems originate in the garden. People cry out for God to end suffering, but understanding these consequences will show us how our sin is the cause. Suffering is not God's fault. A Wrecked Home Life (3:16) The serpent's sin caused him pain and futility. He will experience pain as his position below mankind and animals is re-emphasized by slithering in the dust. His primary evil purpose to hurt mankind will be futile as verse 15 predicts that his head will be crushed. Sin produces similar results of pain and futility for Adam and Eve in verses 16-19. Adam and Eve's consequences for sin are different because their roles and spheres of work are different. A woman's work centers on her family; therefore, sin causes pain in her family life. The children she greatly desires to have will only come through great pain. Mothers understand that the pain doesn't end with labor. Teaching and preparing children to deal with the responsibilities of having a family of their own is difficult, especially now that sin is a reality. Sin attacks children as they grow as it attacked Adam and Eve. The pain becomes a reality in chapter 4 as Eve experiences the pain of birth followed by the pain of experiencing Abel's death at the hands of her son, Cain. Surely, she suffered as she realized her foolish decision in the garden led to this destructive sin. As if her sin didn't cause enough physical and psychological pain with her children, God continues to describe the futility she will experience in her relationship with her husband. This phrase, "Your desire shall be for your husband," is confusing at first. Alternating lines of poetry are meant to work together to create a unified meaning, but the second line, "and he shall rule over you" doesn't seem to do that. In the past I've seen this as two separate phrases: you are going to love your husband and separately he is the head, not you. Not only does Hebrew poetry not work like that, "rule over" is not a godly description of a husband's role. God's wording isn't ambiguous, but our translation certainly is. The meaning of this phrase is clarified when God says something similar to Cain before he kills Abel. Genesis 4:7,"Its desire (teshuqa) is for you, but you must rule (mashal) over it." Genesis 3:16, "Your desire (teshuqa) shall be for your husband, and he shall rule (mashal) over you." God's words to Cain clarify his usage of the word desire (teshuqua). As sin desires control over Cain, Eve's desire is for control over her husband. The NLT and NET translations agree with this interpretation. Poetically, this makes much more sense. The woman's desire for control over her husband is contrasted with the prediction that he will rule over her. This battle existed when Eve convinced Adam to eat the fruit. It's the very thing Adam is angry about when he is caught in sin: "She told me to!" God replies in punishment in verse 17, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife." 1 Timothy 2:11-14 clarifies this more when Paul tells us Eve was deceived, not Adam, and for this reason she is not permitted to exercise authority over a man. Though Genesis tells us a simplified story, "she also gave some to her husband," Paul's reference to the story further shows that Eve did more than hand him the fruit. However she did it, she led him into sin. God tells her that though she will continue to desire this control over Adam, he will dominate her. This is a sad turn from the picture of marriage's unity and equality in chapter 2. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:40 1 Corinthians 15:20-34, Since Christ Has Been Raised http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/since-christ-has-been-raised.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/since-christ-has-been-raised.html#comments Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:00:09 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3460 In verses 12-19 of the fifteenth chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul has argued that if the dead are not raised then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then we are still in our sins, our faith is futile, our preaching is vain, the [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/since-christ-has-been-raised.html/feed 0 1 corinthians 15,baptism,importance of the resurrection,resurrection In verses 12-19 of the fifteenth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul has argued that if the dead are not raised then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then we are still in our sins, In verses 12-19 of the fifteenth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul has argued that if the dead are not raised then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then we are still in our sins, our faith is futile, our preaching is vain, the dead have perished, and we are to be most pitied of humans. Verse 20 is the turn point of Paul's argument. Christ in fact has been raised from the dead and he is the firstfruits of the resurrection. What happened to him will happen to us. Paul wants his readers to learn that there is certainly a resurrection of the dead. Paul continues in verses 20-28 to explain what it means that Christ has risen from the dead. Christ's Power Over Death (15:21-22) Paul makes a simple argument. Physical death inevitably came from Adam's sin. So also physical resurrection comes from Christ's act. All who are descendants of Adam will die but all who are descendants of Christ will be brought back to life. While the point sounds very similar to Romans 5:12-13 there are a few key distinctions. In Romans Paul declared that every person experiences spiritual death because all sin just like Adam. But in Christ all who belong to him will experience spiritual life. But the firstfruits argument steers us away from Paul speaking about spiritual life. Remember that the apostle has argued that whatever happened to Jesus will happen to us because Christ is the firstfruits. Paul cannot be teaching that Jesus suffered spiritual death and then experienced spiritual life as the firstfruits. The firstfruits image means that Jesus suffered physical death and then experienced physical resurrection from the dead as the firstfruits. Christ's coming not only dealt with the problem of spiritual death, which is our separation from God. Christ's coming also dealt with the problem of physical death. Since the act of Adam inevitably brought physical death, the act of Christ inevitably brought resurrection from the dead. Notice the parallel in verse 21 is not that by one man came death and by another came life. Death is still going to happen. But Christ came and rose from the dead and all who are in Christ will be raised from the dead (15:22). We will be made alive. Paul continues to emphasize that since Christ rose from the dead, then those who are in Christ must of necessity rise from the dead also. Resurrection Order (15:23-28) But there is an order to the resurrection events. Christ has already done his part. Christ is the firstfruits. He has already risen from the dead. Then, those who belong to Christ will rise from the dead "at his coming." The apostle Paul sets the mark in time for us. When Christ returns, then those who belong to Christ will rise from the dead. The resurrection of Christ has set in motion a series of events to be culminated at his second coming. When Christ returns, then we will be raised from the dead. When Christ returns and we are raised, Paul says "then comes the end." The end of all things happens when Christ returns. Then Christ will deliver the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed every enemy and every power and rule. In fact, Christ must continue to reign in the kingdom until all the enemies are put under his feet. Christ reigns now (cf. Daniel 7:14; Acts 2:31-35) and will continue reign until all enemies are subjected to him. This is what the prophets declared, "1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." 2 The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! (Psalm 110:1–2 ESV) Christ is on the throne and ruling over the world, subjugating the enemies. Notice what the last enemy is, in verse 26. Death is the last enemy. Christ must reign until all the enemies are destroyed and the last enemies that will be destroyed in this order is death. Here is the idea: We know that we will be raised from the dead because Christ has been raised from the dead, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:18 Isaiah 27, New Exodus http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/new-exodus.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/new-exodus.html#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:00:41 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3451 Isaiah is in the midst of describing life in the new kingdom when the Messiah arrives. In Isaiah 26 we saw that those who are faithful enter into the strong city of God whose walls are salvation, where perfect peace is experienced. Isaiah continues to describe the new life when the Christ comes in his [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/new-exodus.html/feed 0 grace of god,isaiah 27,messianic kingdom Isaiah is in the midst of describing life in the new kingdom when the Messiah arrives. In Isaiah 26 we saw that those who are faithful enter into the strong city of God whose walls are salvation, where perfect peace is experienced. Isaiah is in the midst of describing life in the new kingdom when the Messiah arrives. In Isaiah 26 we saw that those who are faithful enter into the strong city of God whose walls are salvation, where perfect peace is experienced. Isaiah continues to describe the new life when the Christ comes in his kingdom. We see the clues for this in Isaiah 27:1-2 and verses 12-13 in which each of these four verses begin with, "In that day." In these images we are seeing a new exodus that the Christ will accomplish, for Moses declared that a prophet like himself would rise up and lead the people. Your Enemy Defeated (27:1) The first image is found in the first verse. The Lord is pictured with a strong, great, and hard sword and wielding that sword against Leviathan, the serpent and dragon. The Leviathan is used in a few places in the scriptures and it is used to describe an immensely powerful enemy (Job 3:8; 41:1-32; Psalm 74:14; 104:26). Psalm 74 is notable because Leviathan is used as a description of the power of Egypt, which enslaved the people of God in the days of Moses. The use of the dragon image is rather rare in the scriptures. Ezekiel uses the dragon image to speak about the Pharaoh over Egypt (Ezekiel 29:3; 32:2). Isaiah also refers to Egypt as the dragon in Isaiah 51:9. So the Leviathan is the powerful enemy of God's people, enslaving them and harming them. God is described as slaying the dragon when the people were released from the power of Egypt. Now Isaiah looks forward to the days of the Christ and expects the powerful enemy of God's people to be destroyed again. What is Isaiah looking for the Christ to do that will be the slaying of the dragon, the punishing of Leviathan? In Revelation 19 we see the Christ riding in victoriously his white horse, destroying all the enemies that are in his path. His robe is covered in blood and from his mouth comes a sharp sword to destroy the enemies (Revelation 19:13-15). Listen to what Christ's power accomplished: And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. (Revelation 20:2–3 ESV) Why is Satan called the dragon in Revelation? Satan is the great dragon, the ancient serpent, because he is the great enemy of God's people. Satan is the power behind these nations harming and destroying God's people. Satan being called the great dragon is not a random image choice. The dragon has always been oppressing and attacking God's people. But Isaiah prophesied of the days when the Christ would come and he would slay the dragon. Isaiah sees a new exodus coming, when the people of God would be released from their great oppressor, the dragon, who has enslaved them because of their sins. The ultimate enemy of God's people will be slain and God's people will be set free. Isaiah sees it and John in the Revelation saw it also. Christ will defeat the ancient serpent, the great dragon, Satan and set his people free. Vineyard Reversal (27:2-6) The next prophetic image shows that we have understood Isaiah's dragon image properly. Isaiah now sees a pleasant vineyard and is going to sing of it. This is a notable image in Isaiah. Go back to Isaiah 5 and recall that Isaiah described Israel. God had planted a beautiful, expensive vineyard and looked for it to bear grapes. But instead of producing good fruit the vineyard produced wild grapes. Therefore, the Lord said he would destroy the vineyard and lay it waste. Isaiah now looks to the coming of Christ that would happen "in that day." Now Isaiah sees a vineyard that is pleasant and fruitful. Listen to how God describes himself concerning the vineyard now. The Lord is the keeper of the vineyard. He waters it every moment. He guards it day and night so that no one may harm it or damage it. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:22 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, If There Is No Resurrection of the Dead http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/if-no-resurrection-of-the-dead.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/if-no-resurrection-of-the-dead.html#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 10:00:11 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3453 Can we really believe that we will live after we die? This is perhaps one of the great challenges to our thinking where faith is demanded. When we die, is there something more? For us, the question is do we go out of existence after the body dies. Some of the Christians in Corinth had [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/if-no-resurrection-of-the-dead.html/feed 0 1 corinthians 15,eternal life,resurrection Can we really believe that we will live after we die? This is perhaps one of the great challenges to our thinking where faith is demanded. When we die, is there something more? For us, the question is do we go out of existence after the body dies. Can we really believe that we will live after we die? This is perhaps one of the great challenges to our thinking where faith is demanded. When we die, is there something more? For us, the question is do we go out of existence after the body dies. Some of the Christians in Corinth had difficulty understanding and believing in the resurrection of the dead. It was not that they denied that Jesus rose from the dead. They believed in that, for they were Christians and they had received and stood in this gospel message of the resurrection. But they did not fully understand what the resurrection of Jesus meant for them. Why does the resurrection of Jesus matter? What does his resurrection mean for us? The apostle Paul answers these questions in two parts. First, the apostle Paul explains what it means if there is not a resurrection of the dead (15:12-19). Then, Paul explains what it means since there is a resurrection of the dead (15:20-28). Problem Declared (15:13) Paul begins by stating the problem. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then this means that Christ has not been raised from the dead either. These two events go hand in hand. Paul makes a very powerful point. These two events cannot be separated. The resurrection of Christ occurred so that the resurrection of the dead would occur. The first was done to accomplish the second. If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised because that is the whole meaning of the resurrection. The point is not merely about possibility but purpose. Here is what I mean. Paul is not saying that if you think people don't rise from the dead, then you cannot think that Jesus rose from the dead. That is not the issue the Corinthians are dealing with at this moment. What they fail to recognize is the purpose of Jesus' resurrection. His resurrection is not a singular act. His resurrection is our hope for our resurrection. What happened to Jesus is what will happen to us. Preaching a risen Jesus means preaching that we also will be raised like he was raised. Paul's point is that these two resurrections stand together or fall together. You cannot have one without the other. The two resurrections are bound together as one. Paul is now going to give six implications that must be accepted if there is no resurrection of the dead. This is to prove to his audience beyond a doubt that there must the resurrection of the dead. Six Implications If There Is No Resurrection of the Dead Verse 13 states the premise: if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. These two events go hand in hand and cannot be separated. If Christ has not been raised, then there are serious problems that we encounter. Preaching is meaningless. Without the resurrection, then there is nothing worth preaching. The good news becomes bad news. If death is not conquered, then we have nothing to preach to the world. If we do not believe that we will be raised from the dead, then Paul asks, "What are we preaching?" Why are we telling people to believe in Jesus if the consequence is the same? What is there to declare? When you die that you are still dead? It does not make any sense! Faith is without substance. The second implication is that our faith is without substance. Believing in such a gospel has no value. A dead savior cannot give life. The people in Hebrews 11 who died in faith would have been faithful for nothing. They were mistreated and killed for nothing. This is why Paul began this section declaring that the resurrection is the heart of the gospel. There is no gospel and there is no reason for faith if the dead are not raised. The apostles are liars. All witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus are liars. They claim Jesus rose from the dead but must be considered false witnesses worthy of death. Then the people who wrote the scriptures are liars and deceivers. They were not innocently mistaken. They were liars. Their words are false, their writings are false, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 40:05 Beginnings: The Serpent’s Curse (Gen. 3:14-15) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-serpents-curse.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-serpents-curse.html#comments Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:00:40 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3440 We often speak of the consequences man faced when they sinned in the garden, but we often miss the magnitude of the consequences the serpent faced for his deception. It is easy to read verses 14-15 and give a cursory interpretation based on a traditional understanding of this text where Satan bruises Christ’s heel in [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-serpents-curse.html/feed 0 adam and eve,genesis 3,prophecy,sin We often speak of the consequences man faced when they sinned in the garden, but we often miss the magnitude of the consequences the serpent faced for his deception. It is easy to read verses 14-15 and give a cursory interpretation based on a tradition... We often speak of the consequences man faced when they sinned in the garden, but we often miss the magnitude of the consequences the serpent faced for his deception. It is easy to read verses 14-15 and give a cursory interpretation based on a traditional understanding of this text where Satan bruises Christ's heel in death, but Christ crushes Satan's head through his resurrection. I believe this is very limited in its scope and is without scriptural evidence. My goal this evening is to freshly approach this text by seeking its meaning in light of passages that reference this event. When God curses the serpent he sends the message that his deception was no small matter. My hope is for us to gain a greater appreciation of God's plan to destroy his works and to see how we fit into that plan. Cursed Are You When the serpent deceives Eve and causes mankind to disobey God, his guilt is assumed. The serpent is given no opportunity to defend himself; he is the only one in this situation who has no shame in his rebellion against God. Genesis 3 seems to emphasize that to Adam and Eve this was a mere serpent. He is the craftiest animal (3:1), was cursed above all livestock (3:14), and must now slither on the ground (3:14). While he seemed like a mere serpent, the rest of the Bible refers him as much more. The most explicit reference to this serpent's true identity is in Revelation 12:9, "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…" God's prophecy in verse 15 warns of the danger of underestimating this serpent by predicting the continuation of turmoil between the serpent and the woman throughout their generations. We can see in hindsight through Revelation why all this happens. This is no mere animal; it is Satan, the one who would be responsible for deceiving the nations. The enmity is predicted to continue with strife between the woman's offspring and serpent's offspring. But who are these offspring? This Hebrew word "zera" is a collective singular noun usually translated as "offspring" in the ESV and "descendents" in the NASB. "Flock" and "herd" are both examples of collective singular nouns – one group with many individuals within it. This prophecy could very easily refer to a plurality of individuals belonging to each offspring. This would potentially mean that offspring refers to two opposing families at war, not two individual offspring. In some ways, it only makes sense to interpret this as two families battling each other. Traditionally, we interpret "offspring" as a single person with the woman's offspring being Christ. If we say the offspring of woman is a single person, then we have to say the same for Satan's offspring. Who would that be? Hopefully you see the problem of trying to identify one specific offspring of Satan as the great enemy – we know of no such follower of Satan. By extension, we must also question our traditional conclusion that Christ alone is this offspring. The Offspring Crushes Paul makes the most direct reference to the picture of the offspring crushing Satan. In Romans 16 Paul exhorts the congregation to watch out for divisive people and then references this Genesis 3 scene. Romans 16:17-20, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."The description of divisive people sounds extremely similar to a description of Satan. Paul connects Satan and these evil people in verse 20 by speaking of Satan's eminent destruction. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:09 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, The Gospel of Grace http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/gospel-of-grace.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/gospel-of-grace.html#comments Sun, 07 Apr 2013 10:00:56 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3438 Just as the heart pumps life giving blood to every part of the body, so the resurrection is the gospel life to our souls. The resurrection often seems to be ignored discussions concerning Jesus. Often the focus remains on the life of Jesus. Certainly the death of Jesus is proclaimed, especially as we partake of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-corinthians-new-testament/gospel-of-grace.html/feed 0 1 corinthians 15,gospel,importance of the resurrection Just as the heart pumps life giving blood to every part of the body, so the resurrection is the gospel life to our souls. The resurrection often seems to be ignored discussions concerning Jesus. Often the focus remains on the life of Jesus. Just as the heart pumps life giving blood to every part of the body, so the resurrection is the gospel life to our souls. The resurrection often seems to be ignored discussions concerning Jesus. Often the focus remains on the life of Jesus. Certainly the death of Jesus is proclaimed, especially as we partake of the Lord's Supper every first day of the week. But I want us to consider the great importance of the resurrection. The first century Christians did not partake of the Lord's Supper on Thursday or Friday because these were the days of the betrayal, arrest, or death of Jesus. They did not partake of the Lord's Supper on Saturday because Jesus was in the tomb that day. The first century Christians took the Lord's Supper and remembered their Lord on Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of the resurrection of Jesus. Sunday is the resurrection day. The resurrection is the heart of the gospel. I believe we can say it more forcefully: the gospel is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. When the apostle Paul preached, he declared that he was on trial for his "hope in the resurrection of the dead" (Acts 23:6). The resurrection is so central to the gospel that we enter into the fifteenth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians and Paul spends a significant portion of his letter teaching the resurrection of Jesus and what it means to the world. The Gospel Is Where You Stand (15:1-2) Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1–2 ESV) These Corinthian Christians are in this spiritual trouble because they have lost their focus from the essential things of our Lord. They were fighting over who they had been baptized by and how that made one greater than another. They were full of divisions. Paul says he must remind them of the gospel that he preached to them, in which they must stand, or else they have believed in vain. Listen to the words of the apostle Paul. The teaching he is giving them is the foundation by which we stand. This teaching is the ground to hold fast to. Paul declares that they had received the gospel, they were to stand in the gospel, they were saved through the gospel, and they were to hold fast to that gospel message. This fifteenth chapter is an anchor point for your life. No matter how hard the winds of life blow, this is the point of your grip. This fifteenth chapter is the strength that picks you up off the ground and causes you to stand. Your whole life is predicated on this message. The apostle Paul says that their past (you previously received the gospel), their present (you presently are to stand in the gospel message), and their future (you are being saved) are founded right here in this truth of the resurrection of Jesus. But Paul has a concern for his audience. He is concerned that they have believed in vain. He speaks of them starting well in the gospel, but concerned that they would lose their grip and no longer stand in the hope of the resurrection of Jesus. The Gospel Evidence (15:3-8) The apostle Paul begins by telling them that he delivered to them the most important thing. What Paul gave them was not a new teaching, but handed down information. Paul is preaching what the other apostles are preaching and what was preached to him. This is the great foundation in which we stand: Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, he was buried, he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he made many resurrection appearances. Notice the first foundation by which is stand is the repeated statement, "according to the scriptures." All of the events that happened to Jesus were foretold by the prophets and are found in the scriptures. Everything that happened was according to the plan of God. None of the gospel was left to chance. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 40:32 Isaiah 26, Kept In Perfect Peace http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/kept-in-perfect-peace.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/kept-in-perfect-peace.html#comments Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:00:25 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3428 Isaiah is prophesying about the way things will be in the future. In our immediate context, Isaiah has spoken about a coming time when all peoples will come to the mountain of the Lord for banqueting and feasting with the Lord. Rather than putting their trust in the wreckage of the world, people are going [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/kept-in-perfect-peace.html/feed 0 isaiah 26,messianic kingdom Isaiah is prophesying about the way things will be in the future. In our immediate context, Isaiah has spoken about a coming time when all peoples will come to the mountain of the Lord for banqueting and feasting with the Lord. Isaiah is prophesying about the way things will be in the future. In our immediate context, Isaiah has spoken about a coming time when all peoples will come to the mountain of the Lord for banqueting and feasting with the Lord. Rather than putting their trust in the wreckage of the world, people are going to find rich food and wine when the Messiah comes. In the kingdom of the Messiah people will find their satisfaction and joy. The twenty-sixth chapter of Isaiah continues to picture what will happen when the Messiah comes and establishes his kingdom, the mountain of the Lord. Security (26:1-6) In that new kingdom there is going to be a song that is sung in the land. Listen to the words of this song. "We have a strong city." In the Lord we have a strong city. We don't think of the need for strong cities today. Back then you needed a strong city, high walls, large towers, and powerful armies to protect and defend the inhabitants of the city. Otherwise your city would be conquered and you would be captured or killed by the enemy. Isaiah has pictured the devastation of every city on the earth. No city will stand. Not even Jerusalem will stand (cf. Isaiah 22). No earthly city is strong enough to withstand the judgments of the Lord for sins. But there will be a time when people will have a strong city to turn to. What makes this city strong? Notice that the walls are made of salvation. The strength of this city is the salvation the Lord offers. Isaiah 24:10 described a city laid waste. Now there is a strong city and its strength is in the salvation God offers. Who are the people that get to go into this city? Verse 2 tells us that there is a group of people who are allowed to enter. It is a nation that is allowed to come in. Not just an individual but a whole nation can enter. What nation is allowed to enter? What group of people is this? It is the righteous nation. It is the people that are faithful to the Lord. They are the ones who can enter this strong city. God keeps each individual in that nation who enters through that city in perfect peace (26:3). We will have real peace and stability in our lives because our thoughts are fixed on the Lord. Those who have their minds resting on God, a mind dependent on God are those who live in perfect peace. There is true peace in life that people can have if they will enter the strong city. There is no peace living outside of the strong city. Living outside the strong city means that we are open to attack. We have no defenses against those who would desire to wreck and ruin our lives. True peace, perfect peace can only be found in the strong city. The Lord God is the everlasting rock. Everything else is movable and shakable in life. The Lord is our rock and we can put our trust in him forever. Those who enter the strong city must be free of pride. They cannot think to themselves that they can protect or defend themselves. The proud are humbled before the Lord. Only the righteous wise will recognize that they need to get inside the strong city of God, relying upon the walls of salvation for their protection. Real security and peace comes from resting in the salvation that God gives to those who are his. Trust in the Lord forever because he is our immovable foundation. The Way of Life of the Faithful (26:7-9) This is the path of the faithful. The faithful see their path in life as the divinely smoothed path. The path leads us in the way we must go and God blesses those who walk down that righteous path. Jesus said that this path was narrow and difficult, and few find it (cf. Matthew 7:14). But it is the path we must travel to belong to the strong city. Verse 8 further pictures the lifestyles of the faithful. First, we walk in the ways of God's laws (NIV). Second, God's name and God's renown are the desires of our hearts. His honor, his glory, his worship, and his celebration are the deepest desires of our hearts. We want to see God praised. We want to see God celebrated. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 45:04 Luke 24:36-53, The Mission http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/the-mission.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/the-mission.html#comments Sun, 31 Mar 2013 10:00:45 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3418 How do you end a gospel? Luke began this gospel writing to Theophilus an orderly account concerning the life of Jesus. Particularly, Luke wants Theophilus to “have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” Luke has recounted for all the world to read that Jesus has risen from the dead. There are two final [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/the-mission.html/feed 0 evangelism,life of jesus,luke 24,resurrection How do you end a gospel? Luke began this gospel writing to Theophilus an orderly account concerning the life of Jesus. Particularly, Luke wants Theophilus to "have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. How do you end a gospel? Luke began this gospel writing to Theophilus an orderly account concerning the life of Jesus. Particularly, Luke wants Theophilus to "have certainty concerning the things you have been taught." Luke has recounted for all the world to read that Jesus has risen from the dead. There are two final teaching points for Luke as he concludes his account of the good news: (1) declare the resurrection and (2) instruct what to do because of the resurrection. Declaring the Resurrection (24:36-43) Verse 36 begins, "As they were talking about these things." This refers back to what we studied in our last lesson. The two disciples who had gone to Emmaus and seen the risen Lord had returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples there all that had happened. The disciples declare that the risen Jesus had appeared to Peter and the two men from Emmaus describe seeing the risen Jesus also. So while the disciples are talking to each other about these resurrection appearance, Jesus stands among them and says, "Peace to you!" This is startling and frightening to have Jesus, who was laying dead in a tomb yesterday, standing suddenly among the group of disciples. They think they are just seeing a spirit and not the risen Jesus. Resurrection from the dead is hard to believe. It requires belief in a miracle. Again I want us to see that there are no disciples who are expecting resurrection. No one is like, "I totally expected this to happen." This is important for the notion that people have these days that the disciples so badly wanted to believe that Jesus rose from the dead that they thought they saw him, but actually did not. No one was expecting Jesus to be alive. Listen to the words of Jesus which proves the mental state of the disciples. "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" They are not immediately believing. They are skeptical. They are so skeptical that they do not believe they are seeing the risen Jesus, but just his spirit. Jesus does two things to confirm to the disciples what they are seeing. First, he tells the disciples to touch him. A spirit does not have flesh and bones. This is not a spiritual resurrection. This is not a spirit. The disciples are not looking at an apparition or mystical vapor. It is not even a new body. They recognize it is Jesus by looking at him. Further, Jesus instructs them to examine his hands and feet, for this would have wounds from the nails that were driven into those body parts. Second, Jesus eats broiled fish with them. This is a second proof to the disciples that this is the physical resurrection of Jesus. When Peter is preaching to Cornelius and his household, he told them how they ate and drank with the risen Jesus. Jesus has risen from the dead. Now what does this mean for the world? What The Resurrection Means For Us (24:44-53) Jesus now tells the disciples what we learned in our last lesson. The scriptures were all about Jesus. Everything from Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then Jesus opens their minds to understand the scriptures. John's gospel records that Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). These seem to be parallel accounts. Jesus is giving the disciples what was promised in John 14-17 to understand the scriptures. This should caution us against suggesting that the disciples are mistaken in their question to Jesus 40 days later in Acts 1:6 regarding restoring the kingdom to Israel. Jesus has opened their minds to understand the scriptures. They are no longer the disciples that do not understand the scriptures. Once Jesus rose from the dead, the disciples understood Jesus' teachings and the scriptures that pointed spoke of him. Now what? Jesus is proven to have been risen from the dead, not simply because of these witnesses, but because the scriptures all spoke of these things. Is it enough to simply believe that Jesus rose from the dead and do nothing else? West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:15 Isaiah 13-25, God Will Swallow Up Death Forever http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/god-will-swallow-up-death-forever.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/god-will-swallow-up-death-forever.html#comments Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:00:37 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3425 The Supremacy of God Over The Nations (13-23) Chapters 13-23 of Isaiah’s prophecy picture the sovereignty and supremacy of God over the nations. The world nations are described one by one as God decrees his judgment over them. We will explore in further detail many of the points declared by Isaiah in our Wednesday Bible [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/god-will-swallow-up-death-forever.html/feed 0 14,isaiah,isaiah 13,isaiah 15,isaiah 16,isaiah 17,isaiah 18,isaiah 19,isaiah 20,isaiah 21,isaiah 22,isaiah 23 The Supremacy of God Over The Nations (13-23) Chapters 13-23 of Isaiah's prophecy picture the sovereignty and supremacy of God over the nations. The world nations are described one by one as God decrees his judgment over them. The Supremacy of God Over The Nations (13-23) Chapters 13-23 of Isaiah's prophecy picture the sovereignty and supremacy of God over the nations. The world nations are described one by one as God decrees his judgment over them. We will explore in further detail many of the points declared by Isaiah in our Wednesday Bible study. But I want to give you a flavor of what Isaiah is doing as he pronounces doom upon all the nations of the earth. Chapters 13-14 are a declaration of judgment against Babylon. The thing that should be amazing to us about this prophecy is that Babylon is not yet the world power yet. As we have seen in our study of Isaiah, Assyria is the world power. In time, Babylon will conquer the Assyrian Empire. But Isaiah prophesies that once Babylon rises, it too shall fall. Yet in the midst of this judgment declaration, notice two verses of hope for God's people in Isaiah 14:1-2. While on the surface we may conclude that this is talking about the return of Judah to its land from Babylonian captivity in 536 BC. However, read the last line of Isaiah 14:2 and we will quickly realize that Isaiah cannot be talking about the return from Babylonian captivity. Isaiah says that the nations are going to come and attach themselves to Israel in verse 1. Then Isaiah says that Israel will possess the nations like slaves. Further, Israel will take captive those who were their captors and rule over those who oppressed them. For those of you familiar with history will know that this never happened in any physical sense. While Israel was allowed to return to the land, they were still under the rule of the nations: first Persia, then Greece, then Rome. Israel never ruled over its captors. So Isaiah is not speaking in a physical sense but in a spiritual sense and the rule of God will extend over the nations of the earth. Keep this spiritual rule of God in your mind as we traverse these prophetic chapters in Isaiah. Isaiah 19:19-25 show this spiritual call of the nations to the Lord. Verse 19 shows an altar to the Lord in the midst of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord at Egypt's borders. Egypt sounds like they are the people of God. They have an altar to the Lord and God protecting them. Verse 20 sounds like the days of the judges of Israel such that when an oppressor came, God would deliver them when the people called out to him. Egypt will become the Lord's land. In fact, not only Egypt but also Assyria as a highway is made between the two nations, which would have run through the nation of Israel. All three nations will worship the Lord, a blessing in the midst of the earth. Verse 25 declares Egypt to be God's people, Assyria to be the work of God's hands, and Israel to be God's inheritance. The nations are pictured as joining together as one people on earth under God's rule. In Isaiah 23:18 we read that even the merchandise and wages of Tyre will become holy to the Lord and given to the people of God. The message is that God rules over the nations. God rules over the peoples. He will bring his judgment on the nations that do not yield to his rule. However, Isaiah 22 records that Jerusalem is included in these national judgments. Previously, God declared that Jerusalem would survive the Assyrian invasion. But Jerusalem will not survive the next invasion. Here is what the Lord said, "Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die" (Isaiah 22:14). The Supremacy of God Over The Earth (24) The struggle with the upcoming chapters is trying to determine what time Isaiah is speaking about coming. I am going to keep the context that we have been following through these chapters, which is that Isaiah is speaking about the current conditions of judgment and the future hope and deliverance that will arrive with the Messiah, the new Davidic king (cf. Isaiah 11:1). I am not able in this lesson to continue through chapter 28, but feel free to study ahead and notice the messianic language found in each of those chapters, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 45:08 Luke 24:13-35, It’s All About Jesus http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/its-all-about-jesus.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/its-all-about-jesus.html#comments Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:00:59 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3422 It is the first day of the week. The women have found the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid to be empty. The angels have declared that Jesus is alive. Peter and John have run to the tomb and found the same evidence. But Luke takes us away from the tomb and tells us about [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/its-all-about-jesus.html/feed 0 luke 24,resurrection It is the first day of the week. The women have found the tomb where Jesus' body was laid to be empty. The angels have declared that Jesus is alive. Peter and John have run to the tomb and found the same evidence. It is the first day of the week. The women have found the tomb where Jesus' body was laid to be empty. The angels have declared that Jesus is alive. Peter and John have run to the tomb and found the same evidence. But Luke takes us away from the tomb and tells us about a resurrection appearance that is not recorded in any of the other gospels. Luke tells us about two men who are walking a seven mile journey from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus. Who are these two men that the scripture would record that it was "two of them?" The connection goes back to verse 9 that these two men were followers of Jesus. Verse 22 confirms this as they say that "some women of our company amazed us" because they saw the empty tomb. These two men are disciples of Jesus. As these two men walk they are discussing all the things that had happened the last three days. The person they had followed had just been betrayed by Judas, handed over by the Jewish authorities, killed by the Romans, and the women are telling people that the body is missing. There is a lot for them to discuss. As they are walking on the road, Jesus starts walking with them. However, their eyes are kept from recognizing that this person is Jesus. Rather than just appearing to them, Jesus seems to want to have a discussion with them first before revealing himself. Have you ever asked the question or heard others ask, "Why doesn't God just reveal himself to everyone? If he wants followers and believers, then why doesn't God just show himself?" I believe the answer to that question is found in these resurrection appearances. As we read this discussion between Jesus and these two disciples, ask yourself why Jesus is concealing himself from these two men. What is Jesus trying to accomplish? Why not just show himself to them? The Discussion (24:17-27) So Jesus walks up to them and asks what they are talking about. Notice that the two men stop walking and look sad. These two men are filled with grief. Jesus is dead and they do not know what to make of what the women are saying. But they are not accepting the answer of resurrection. They are grieving over the loss of their teacher. Imagine if you had lost your loved one and about three days later someone comes up to you and asks you what is going on in your life! The pain of what had transpired comes rushing right back over you again. So one of the men says, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" Everyone knows what has happened this weekend. Even people who were visitors in the city heard about this. Are you the only visitor of Jerusalem who has no idea what just happened? So Jesus says, "What things?" It is not like Jesus does not know. He wants to hear their discussion and see what answers they are coming up with for what they have just seen and heard about Jesus. So the men recount the story of Jesus. Jesus was a man who was a prophet, mighty in deed and in word before God and all the people. But the chief priests delivered him up to be crucified. We had hoped that he as the one to redeem Israel. He was the one we had hoped to be our Messiah, Savior, and Deliverer. This hope is the same hope expressed by Zechariah in Luke 1:68-79. Besides all of these things, it is the third day since all these things had happened. The women went to the tomb in the morning and did not find his body. They saw angels and the angels told the women that Jesus was alive. Some of the disciples went to the tomb to see for themselves and found the tomb just like the women said. The body was not there. Now, again, Jesus does not reveal himself and make everything okay. Nor does he reveal himself and then rebuke them. Here is this stranger that to these men has no idea what has happened in Jerusalem these past three days. This stranger turns on them and says, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! West Palm Beach church of Christ no 36:35 Psalm 104, “The Great Creator” http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/psalms/great-creator.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/psalms/great-creator.html#comments Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:00:28 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3388 Last month we spoke about how created things point to the glory of the creator and how our reaction needs to be praise. We also mentioned how humanity’s need to worship is often filled incompletely by worshiping the created. Because of this, Christians often struggle with turning their full hearts toward worshiping God in song and prayer. [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/psalms/great-creator.html/feed 0 praising god,psalm 104 Last month we spoke about how created things point to the glory of the creator and how our reaction needs to be praise. We also mentioned how humanity's need to worship is often filled incompletely by worshiping the created. Because of this, Last month we spoke about how created things point to the glory of the creator and how our reaction needs to be praise. We also mentioned how humanity's need to worship is often filled incompletely by worshiping the created. Because of this, Christians... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 36:09 Luke 24:1-12, The Third Day http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/third-day.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/third-day.html#comments Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3390 Joseph of Arimathea received permission to take down the body of Jesus from the cross. He has transported the body of Jesus to his tomb, an unused tomb. The women who were followers of Jesus and had come from Galilee watched where Joseph put the body and went home to prepare spices for the body [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/third-day.html/feed 0 death of jesus,luke 24,resurrection Joseph of Arimathea received permission to take down the body of Jesus from the cross. He has transported the body of Jesus to his tomb, an unused tomb. The women who were followers of Jesus and had come from Galilee watched where Joseph put the body a... Joseph of Arimathea received permission to take down the body of Jesus from the cross. He has transported the body of Jesus to his tomb, an unused tomb. The women who were followers of Jesus and had come from Galilee watched where Joseph put the body and went home to prepare spices for the body of Jesus. The preparation of the spices is in expectation of decay. The body quickly begins to decay and so pounds of spices were brought to deal with the smell of the body while making preparations for the body. Joseph has wrapped the body in a linen shroud and closed the tomb. The Jewish leaders have requested a guard be placed around the tomb to ensure that no one would be able to steal the body. Luke 23:56 tells us that everyone had gone back to their homes, observed the Passover, and observed the Sabbath. Risen (24:1-12) Now it is the first day of the week, the first day after the Sabbath. The day is just like any other day. There is no expectation for anything amazing today. It is early dawn. The sun is beginning to ever so slightly shed its early light. The women gather and start walking to the tomb where Jesus' body was laid. They go with the spices they had prepared before the Sabbath occurred. They have been waiting with anticipation to go back to the tomb and finish with the honorable burial of their Savior. As they approach the tomb, they discover something unusual. The stone that covered the tomb had been rolled away. The tomb was no longer sealed. But maybe Joseph has also come back early this morning to do some final preparations also. But that is not the answer. The women come to the tomb, go inside the tomb, and do not see the body of Jesus. The linen clothes remain, but the body is not there. Verse 4 tells us that women are perplexed by this scene. What happened to the body of Jesus? No one is expecting a resurrection. Notice that no one says that Jesus must have raised from the dead. Rather, the only response we see in the gospel accounts is that it was believed that the body had been moved. No one thought that the answer to the empty tomb was resurrection. The followers of Jesus did not expect the body of Jesus to be missing. Verse 3 is very important to our understanding of this event. Luke emphasizes that they did not find the body of Jesus. What we are reading about is not a spiritual resurrection and Luke wants us to clearly know this. It is the body of Jesus that has come back to life. He is not a ghost. He is not a figment of imagination. This is life in the body. This is why Jesus could tell people to see his hands and his feet. The physical body of Jesus is not there any longer. While the women are trying to figure out what they are looking at and where the body of Jesus is, there are two men in dazzling apparel. The clothing tells us that they are angels, as well as the other gospel accounts. They see these two angels and fall down in fear to the ground. But they angels ask an important question: "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" The angels seem to be perplexed by the women. Why have you come to the tomb? Why would look for someone who is alive by looking in a tomb? He is not here but has risen. God's plan has not been derailed! In fact, Jesus told you that this was going to happen. Don't you remember? In Luke 9:22 Jesus taught his disciples: "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (Luke 9:22 ESV) Remember how he told you that he would be raised from the dead on the third day? Verse 8 tells us that they remembered Jesus' words. "That is right! Jesus did say he would be raised from the dead!" Why The Third Day? Have you ever asked the question why Jesus had to rise on the third day? Why not the next day? Why not on the fourth day? Or in a week? What is the significance of Jesus rising on the third day? There are two key points to the resurrection occurring on the third day. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 33:21 Luke 23:44-56, The Day The World Went Dark http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/day-the-world-went-dark.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/day-the-world-went-dark.html#comments Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:30:19 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3374 Jesus is hanging on the cross. He has prayed to the Father that they be forgiven because they do not know what they are doing. We noticed in our last lesson how amazing it is to see our Lord still acting as an intercessor for the people, during his greatest suffering, and praying for those [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/day-the-world-went-dark.html/feed 0 crucifixion,death of jesus,luke 23 Jesus is hanging on the cross. He has prayed to the Father that they be forgiven because they do not know what they are doing. We noticed in our last lesson how amazing it is to see our Lord still acting as an intercessor for the people, Jesus is hanging on the cross. He has prayed to the Father that they be forgiven because they do not know what they are doing. We noticed in our last lesson how amazing it is to see our Lord still acting as an intercessor for the people, during his gre... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 43:11 Beginnings: The Counterpart (Genesis 2:18-25) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/counterpart.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/counterpart.html#comments Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:00:24 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3377 As we are continuing our study of “beginnings,” there are important lessons to learn about men, women, and marriage from God’s account of creation in Genesis 1-2. When Jesus was tested by the Pharisees in Matthew 19 he appealed to the beginning to make his argument about divorce and remarriage. As we have found so [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/counterpart.html/feed 0 genesis 2,marriage As we are continuing our study of "beginnings," there are important lessons to learn about men, women, and marriage from God's account of creation in Genesis 1-2. When Jesus was tested by the Pharisees in Matthew 19 he appealed to the beginning to make... As we are continuing our study of "beginnings," there are important lessons to learn about men, women, and marriage from God's account of creation in Genesis 1-2. When Jesus was tested by the Pharisees in Matthew 19 he appealed to the beginning to make... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 29:35 Isaiah 12, The Wells of Salvation http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/wells-of-salvation.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/wells-of-salvation.html#comments Sun, 03 Mar 2013 19:00:50 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3363 The apostle Paul ended a glorious section of his inspired writing in Romans 8:31, “What shall we say to these things?” Isaiah comes a similar conclusion at the end of this great theme of how God will send a new David, who will not rule like the kings before him, will bring reconciliation for the [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/wells-of-salvation.html/feed 0 isaiah 12 The apostle Paul ended a glorious section of his inspired writing in Romans 8:31, "What shall we say to these things?" Isaiah comes a similar conclusion at the end of this great theme of how God will send a new David, The apostle Paul ended a glorious section of his inspired writing in Romans 8:31, "What shall we say to these things?" Isaiah comes a similar conclusion at the end of this great theme of how God will send a new David, who will not rule like the kings before him, will bring reconciliation for the people to God, and call for the nations to come and inquire of the Lord. Isaiah speaks about what will happen "in the day." In particular, Isaiah is prophesying what people will do once the Davidic ruler arrives to lead Israel and the nations to Zion and establish his kingdom of justice and peace. We noted in our last lesson from Isaiah that Isaiah is speaking about the coming of Jesus the Messiah and King. We also noticed that the apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 11:10 in Romans 15:12 and makes the point that this prophecy had been fulfilled in the first century because Jesus had come, conquered death, and was ruling in his kingdom. Therefore Gentiles and Jews alike are called into this kingdom as one new body. In particular, "in that day" would have its nearest connection to Isaiah 11:16 where we see Isaiah declaring that there will be a highway for remnant to come to God, like when God led Israel out of the land of Egypt. There is going to be a new exodus as God will lead his people out of slavery from sin and hostility to God and bring them into his glorious resting place (11:10). Knowing that God is going to do all these things for the world and that only a remnant will belong to the Lord, Isaiah now presents for us those who belong to the remnant will do. Before we move into this song, there is another note of parallelism. When Israel was led by God out of Egyptian slavery in the glorious exodus, Exodus 15 records the song of the people, also called the song of Moses. Isaiah has predicted the new exodus of God's people from sin's slavery, and Isaiah 12 records the song of the people, the song of Isaiah. So what shall we say then since God has sent his new David to rule the world? I Will Thank The Lord For Grace (12:1) The first picture he gives of what his remnant people will do is they will offer thanksgiving. The "you" in verse 1 is singular. He is speaking to one individual of the saved remnant and declares to that person what he will do. You as an individual believer, this is what you will do. You will offer thanksgiving to God because his anger has turned away. We saw this pictured for us in the sixth chapter of Isaiah. Isaiah is taken into the throne room of the Lord in a vision where he is able to see the glory of God. The reaction of Isaiah was that he was completely ruined because he was a man of unclean lips and lived among an unclean people. We cannot be in fellowship with God because of our sins. We are ruined and utterly lost. We are deserving of the anger of God for our disobedience. But now the Lord's anger is turned away. Recall the repeated refrain in Isaiah 10-11: "his anger is not turned away; his arm is still outreached." This pictured a continuing judgment against the people for their sinfulness. But verse 1 of Isaiah 12 gives us precious words of comfort: "your anger turned away that you might comfort me." We learn something very valuable from Isaiah: reconciliation is not about our willingness to have God but God's willingness to have us. Deserving wrath is turned to undeserved comfort. There is no reason for God to make this change. What had Israel done in Egypt so that God would save the people and deliver them from the Egyptians? Absolutely nothing. They had done nothing but God acted in their favor. This is the idea of propitiation that we read about in the New Testament (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). Jesus is the means by which God is able to show us undeserved comfort. Jesus is our propitiation so that we do not receive the wrath we deserve but receive the comfort we do not deserve. Each person that belongs to the Lord will say words of thanks for receiving comfort rather than anger. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 41:41 Luke 23:26-43, Criminal On The Cross http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/criminal-on-the-cross.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/criminal-on-the-cross.html#comments Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:00:18 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3361 There is no appeals process for the greatest injustice in the history of the world. The person who had never done one thing wrong, morally or otherwise, and lived a perfect life has just been condemned to execution. Every trial exonerated Jesus, yet he is still condemned to go to the cross. The Walk of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/criminal-on-the-cross.html/feed 0 crucifixion,death of jesus,grace of god,luke 23 There is no appeals process for the greatest injustice in the history of the world. The person who had never done one thing wrong, morally or otherwise, and lived a perfect life has just been condemned to execution. Every trial exonerated Jesus, There is no appeals process for the greatest injustice in the history of the world. The person who had never done one thing wrong, morally or otherwise, and lived a perfect life has just been condemned to execution. Every trial exonerated Jesus, yet he is still condemned to go to the cross. The Walk of Death (23:26-31) Jesus is led away to walk to the place of his execution. Executions were held outside the city walls. So Jesus takes his walk to his death. But he does not simply walk by himself nor empty-handed. Jesus is carrying the crossbeam for his crucifixion on his shoulders. This was common Roman treatment. Plutarch wrote, "Every criminal who goes to execution must carry his own cross on his back" (The Divine Vengeance, 554 A-B). The condemned would carry the crossbeam to the place where the execution would occur. Scholars have done work on how heavy a cross and crossbeam would be. Studies have shown that carrying a full cross is simply impossible. The weight and mass of that much wood could not be carried by a human. The weight of a full cross would greatly exceed 200 pounds. It is simply too large and too heavy. Most of the paintings of medieval and renaissance times depicts Jesus carrying a whole cross, dragging some of it on the ground. Movies have also depicted this. But it is too much for a human to carry. However, carrying the crossbeam is manageable. It is heavy, but it is possible. Verse 26 reveals that Jesus is unable to carry his cross because a random person is selected to carry the crossbeam for Jesus to the place of execution. Simon of Cyrene is chosen by the Romans. This inability to carry his crossbeam reveals the degree of punishment Jesus has endured up to this point. He should have been able to carry his cross, but he cannot. The condemned carried their crosses. The only logical explanation left is that the punishment Jesus endured, from the beatings to the floggings, has significantly impacted the flesh of Jesus. So Simon is carrying the cross of Jesus. We are also told that Jesus is not walking by himself. Verse 27 tells that there was a great crowd of people following Jesus. Further there was a group of women following, mourning and lamenting for him. But Jesus turns to them and tells them to not weep for him, but to weep for themselves. There is a judgment that is coming against Israel for this action. Jesus prophesied about all of this and how the doom of Israel was coming for killing him. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." (Luke 20:13–16 ESV) Matthew tells a parable the wedding feast that is rejected by those invited. Listen to his description of what God will do: The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. (Matthew 22:7 ESV) So Jesus warns again about what is coming about the nation because of what they are doing. Verse 29 reveals that the situation will become so bad that blessings and curses will be reversed. Having children was considered the greatest blessing a Jewish woman could have. The blessed people will be those who never had children. People will cry to the mountains to fall on them, a picture that comes from Hosea 10:8. They will be begging for protection and help, but there will be no help. Jesus tells a short parable in verse 31. If everything goes bad when things are good, what will happen to you when things turn bad? God is going to act because of this great injustice. Crucified (23:32-34) Luke tells that Jesus is not alone in execution either. There are two others who are marching to the place of crucifixion as well. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:48 Beginnings: The Tempter (Genesis 3:1-13) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-the-tempter.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-the-tempter.html#comments Sun, 24 Feb 2013 19:00:25 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3353 Introduction As we are continuing in this series of lessons from Genesis of “beginnings” we are taking time to study major events and ideas that are crucial to understanding many things about our existence. The New Testament points back to Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden as one of the most monumental events in [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-the-tempter.html/feed 0 adam and eve,genesis 3,sin Introduction As we are continuing in this series of lessons from Genesis of "beginnings" we are taking time to study major events and ideas that are crucial to understanding many things about our existence. Introduction As we are continuing in this series of lessons from Genesis of "beginnings" we are taking time to study major events and ideas that are crucial to understanding many things about our existence. The New Testament points back to Adam and Ev... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:10 Luke 22:63-23:25, The Trials of Jesus http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/trials-of-jesus.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/trials-of-jesus.html#comments Sun, 24 Feb 2013 10:00:30 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3350 The interrogation in the house of the high priest is complete. Peter has denied Jesus three times in the middle of the night while Jesus was being interrogated by the high priest. Jesus is now being held over night in the house of the high priest until the morning when the official verdict by the [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/trials-of-jesus.html/feed 0 death of jesus,life of jesus,luke 22,luke 23 The interrogation in the house of the high priest is complete. Peter has denied Jesus three times in the middle of the night while Jesus was being interrogated by the high priest. Jesus is now being held over night in the house of the high priest until... The interrogation in the house of the high priest is complete. Peter has denied Jesus three times in the middle of the night while Jesus was being interrogated by the high priest. Jesus is now being held over night in the house of the high priest until the morning when the official verdict by the Sanhedrin can occur. The Mockery (22:63-65) While Jesus is held over for trial, there are soldiers who are standing guard over him. But it is not an easy time for Jesus. The men who are holding Jesus are mocking him as they beat him. The temple guards are punching him and making fun of him while they do so, with great cruelty. They would cover his eyes, punch him again, and then ask Jesus to prophesy and tell them who was the one who punched him that time. Who hit you that time! "And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him." The other gospel accounts tell us that they are spitting on him while they are abusing him and mocking him. This is what is happening to Jesus as the Sanhedrin waits for the daylight to come so they can pass their verdict. Jesus predicted these events. Earlier in Luke's gospel we read these words from the mouth of Jesus: 31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise." (Luke 18:31–33 ESV) The Jewish Trial (22:63-71) As the sun begins to rise, the Jewish leaders must quickly find charges against Jesus that will be of concern for Pilate. The charge of blasphemy against God is not enough to move Pilate to put Jesus to death. So the circumstances of the interrogation are to get Jesus to say something or admit to something worthy of the death penalty by the Roman government. So the questions go right after Jesus. "If you are the Christ, tell us." Jesus' response is very simple. "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer." Jesus says that he can make the claim to being the prophesied Christ, the Anointed King of God, but they will not believe it. Further, when Jesus has tried to get the Jewish leaders to answer his questions about who he is, they have repeatedly failed to give an answer. When the leaders asked by what authority Jesus was doing these things, Jesus responded with a question if John's baptism was from heaven or from men (Luke 20:3-8). Jesus would answer them if they would answer his question. They refused to answer his question. A little later in the very same chapter Jesus asked the question how the Christ could be David's son when in speaking about the Christ, David called him "Lord" (Luke 20:41-44). They had no answer for this question either. So Jesus makes the point to the Jewish leadership. You won't believe me if I tell you and when I try to explain myself to you, you refuse to answer my questions. Essentially, this is a pointless trial. But Jesus does not end it there, like he could have. He does tell the Sanhedrin who he is. Listen to what he says in verse 69, "But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Jesus makes an enormous statement. We need to understand that only God sits in heaven according to Jewish thinking. So for Jesus to claim to be the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God means only one thing: Jesus is God. Jesus uses two prophetic texts in his answer to the Sanhedrin. The first text comes from Daniel 7:14 and the second text comes from Psalm 110. Daniel 7 pictures the Son of Man coming to the Ancient of Days and receiving power, glory, dominion, and a kingdom. This is what it means to sit down at the right hand of God. It is a figure for rule. We see this in the imagery of Psalm 110. 1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:45 Isaiah 10:20-11:16, The Root of Jesse http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/root-of-jesse.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/root-of-jesse.html#comments Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:00:23 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3285 In Isaiah 9-10 we read that the anger of the Lord will still stretched out against Israel and Judah for their various sins. Assyria, in whom they put their trust, would be their demise and God would use them as an instrument of his judgment against them. However, Assyria will become prideful and go too [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/root-of-jesse.html/feed 0 isaiah 10,prophecy In Isaiah 9-10 we read that the anger of the Lord will still stretched out against Israel and Judah for their various sins. Assyria, in whom they put their trust, would be their demise and God would use them as an instrument of his judgment against them. In Isaiah 9-10 we read that the anger of the Lord will still stretched out against Israel and Judah for their various sins. Assyria, in whom they put their trust, would be their demise and God would use them as an instrument of his judgment against them. However, Assyria will become prideful and go too far by thinking that their power resides in themselves rather than seeing themselves as instruments in the hand of God. Therefore God will judge Assyria as well. We pick in prophecy in verse 20 of the tenth chapter of Isaiah. Isaiah now describes what the future holds for Israel and Judah. Creating A Remnant (10:20-34) Isaiah declares that there will be a remnant to come. Verses 21-22 drives home this truth to the hearers. "A remnant will return" is the name of the son of Isaiah, Shear-Jashub. It will not be all of Israel that will be delivered. Notice verse 22, "For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return." This is a direct reference to the Abrahamic promise. Recall that when God made a covenant with Abraham that through his offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed, declaring that he would multiply Abraham's offspring like the stars of heaven and the sand of the sea (Genesis 22:17). God is recalling his covenant promise by not destroying the nation, but only a remnant will return to the mighty God. Verse 20 tells us that the remnant will be those who no longer depend on outsiders, but will faithfully depend on the Lord alone. This dependence is a picture of weakness resting on strength. They will not simply say that they rely and depend on the Lord. They will rely on the Lord in truth. They will truly do this and they will do so faithfully. This is what it means to return to the mighty God (10:21). Now, do not forget that the "mighty God" was described in Isaiah 9:6 as the child born and son given to the world that will sit on David's throne and rule in righteousness and justice. The truthfulness of the nation's faith will be demonstrated by their action of choosing to trust the Holy One of Israel, the Mighty God, rather than someone else or something else. So Isaiah states an important truth: the Abrahamic promises are not an absolute guarantee of blessing for people who fail to trust God. Turn to Romans 9:27-28 where the apostle Paul quotes this verse and makes the same application. In Romans 9:6 Paul declared that the word of God has not failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are truly Israel. Paul spends the ninth chapter of Romans proving this point. In verses 27-28 Paul uses Isaiah to prove his point. Though the number of Israel is great, only a remnant will find salvation. The true people of God, Israel, are known by their faith in the mighty God, not by ethnicity. I think we have the right to make the same application today. Not all "Christians" are Christians. Just because you were baptized does not mean that you are part of God's faithful remnant. Just because you accepted Jesus and confessed him as the Son of God does not mean you are part of his glorious kingdom. The remnant are those who go past the external acts of obedience (while obeying those commands, of course) and faithfully put their hope and reliance on God. The remnant is a group of people who obey the Lord because they are faithfully relying on God, not by merely accomplishing some list of acts. What God will do to keep his covenantal promise is do something that seems to be impossible. First, God is going to end his wrath against Judah (10:25). Second, God will attack Assyria (10:26). Third, God will remove the yoke the Assyrians from the neck of Judah (10:27). God uses two examples to show how he can accomplish the seemingly impossible in 10:26. First, God will act like he did "when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb." This is a reference to Judges 7:25 in the days of Gideon when God was victorious with only 300 soldiers. Second, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:12 Luke 22:47-62, The Kiss of Death http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/kiss-of-death.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/kiss-of-death.html#comments Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:00:04 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3283 The Betrayal (22:47-53) The moment has arrived. While Jesus is telling his disciples again to pray so that they will not enter into temptation, a crowd of people arrive and Judas is leading them. Luke highlights this shocking event. “Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them.” The scriptures prophesied that this would be how [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/kiss-of-death.html/feed 0 apostle peter,life of jesus,luke 22 The Betrayal (22:47-53) The moment has arrived. While Jesus is telling his disciples again to pray so that they will not enter into temptation, a crowd of people arrive and Judas is leading them. Luke highlights this shocking event. "Judas, The Betrayal (22:47-53) The moment has arrived. While Jesus is telling his disciples again to pray so that they will not enter into temptation, a crowd of people arrive and Judas is leading them. Luke highlights this shocking event. "Judas, one of the... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 40:21 Beginnings: Created In God’s Image http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-created-in-gods-image.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-created-in-gods-image.html#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2013 19:00:01 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3270 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-created-in-gods-image.html/feed 0 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 31:58 Luke 22:39-46, Your Will Be Done http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/your-will-be-done.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/your-will-be-done.html#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2013 10:00:44 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3176 How do you view Jesus? I think it is easy for us to forget that though God, he became human for us and experienced life as we experience life. He was tempted in the same manner that we are tempted. He dealt with the weaknesses of the flesh as we do. He is able to [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/your-will-be-done.html/feed 0 life of jesus,luke 22 How do you view Jesus? I think it is easy for us to forget that though God, he became human for us and experienced life as we experience life. He was tempted in the same manner that we are tempted. He dealt with the weaknesses of the flesh as we do. How do you view Jesus? I think it is easy for us to forget that though God, he became human for us and experienced life as we experience life. He was tempted in the same manner that we are tempted. He dealt with the weaknesses of the flesh as we do. He is able to sympathize with us because in every respect he was tempted as we are. This is important to remember as we read this scene in the life of Jesus unfold. Time of Temptation (22:39-40) Jesus leads his disciples to the Mount of Olives. This was his custom. This is where Jesus slept at night when in Jerusalem. We know from the other gospel accounts that Judas had already left and made the transaction to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus is left with his other eleven apostles. Notice that Jesus does not change his habits to allude Judas. Jesus knows that Judas is coming. Jesus does not change his habit. Jesus does not decide to leave Jerusalem, knowing that he is about to be betrayed and arrested. Now is the time. Now is the moment for the redemption of the world. Jesus goes to his place on the Mount of Olives with his disciples. Jesus knows this is the critical moment. When he came to the place where they always stayed, Jesus told his disciples to pray rather than go to sleep. It is the middle of the night by this point in the story. Tonight is a different night. Jesus does not want his disciples to go to sleep and with good reason. Tonight will be a severe testing of their faith. The temptation to deny Jesus will be very great in these moments. Satan is going to sift them. Satan is trying to break apart their faith. But Jesus gives his disciples the solution to temptation. "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." Prayer is the remedy needed to fight the attack of Satan. Pray, my disciples, pray! Friends, the answer to dealing with temptations and sin is a full dependence on God. Pray to the Father. We need to feel a desperate need for communion and connection to our Father in these moments. How unfortunate that so often we do not feel this desperation to cling to our Father in our times of weakness and vulnerability. Time of Agony (22:41-44) Jesus is not a hypocrite. He practices what he preaches. He withdraws from his disciples a short distance, kneels down, and prays. We are allowed to see an intense, intimate moment in the life of Jesus. We are allowed to look into the emotional state of Jesus as these betrayal, arrest, and death events are beginning to unfold. Tonight is the night and he falls down on his face in prayer. We need to recognize that the temptation to not go to the cross is extreme. Satan is doing everything he can to stop Jesus from going to the cross and redeeming the world for its sins. We know this not only from this text but also from what we saw earlier in the life of Jesus. In the temptations of Jesus that we read about in Matthew 4, Satan offers Jesus the kingdom of the earth. The temptation is to receive his kingdom without the cross. Satan is offering Jesus to bypass the cross, to bypass the horror of his betrayal, arrest, crucifixion, and death. Simply bow down because you are the Son of God and Satan will give you the kingdoms of the earth. Move forward in the life of Jesus and consider the confrontation Jesus has with Peter. When Jesus explains that he must suffer many things and will be crucified by the leaders of Israel, Peter says, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" (Matthew 16:22). Do you remember what Jesus says to Peter? "Get behind me, Satan!" Not, "Get behind me, Peter." This is the temptation of Satan to not go to the cross. The temptation is to not experience suffering. You are God. You do not have to go through this pain. You have the power to stop all this. You do not need all of this. Satan's temptations are to achieve glory without the cross. We are reading about the strong pull of Jesus' flesh at this moment. I want to be honest with you. I love this scene. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 36:29 Beginnings: Purpose of Creation http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-purpose-of-creation-2.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-purpose-of-creation-2.html#comments Sun, 03 Feb 2013 19:00:12 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3268 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/beginnings-purpose-of-creation-2.html/feed 0 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 28:50 Luke 22:35-38, Dangerous Christianity http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/dangerous-christianity.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/dangerous-christianity.html#comments Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:00:14 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3156 This is the final teaching of Jesus to his disciples. After these final words, Jesus and his disciples are going to leave the upper room in Jerusalem and go out to the Mount of Olives. What Jesus is going to tell his disciples is critical to their future work and mission. The World of Hostility [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/dangerous-christianity.html/feed 0 life of jesus,luke 22,ministry of jesus This is the final teaching of Jesus to his disciples. After these final words, Jesus and his disciples are going to leave the upper room in Jerusalem and go out to the Mount of Olives. What Jesus is going to tell his disciples is critical to their futu... This is the final teaching of Jesus to his disciples. After these final words, Jesus and his disciples are going to leave the upper room in Jerusalem and go out to the Mount of Olives. What Jesus is going to tell his disciples is critical to their futu... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 33:44 Isaiah 9:8-10:19, His Anger Has Not Turned Away http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/his-anger-has-not-turned-away.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/his-anger-has-not-turned-away.html#comments Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:00:10 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3133 In many ways our generation has completely lost sight of the wrath of God. We live in a time where it is popular to suggest and teach that God will not judge people. God is love and not full of wrath is the popular way of thinking. But grace and salvation do not make sense [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/his-anger-has-not-turned-away.html/feed 0 isaiah 10,isaiah 9,wrath of god In many ways our generation has completely lost sight of the wrath of God. We live in a time where it is popular to suggest and teach that God will not judge people. God is love and not full of wrath is the popular way of thinking. In many ways our generation has completely lost sight of the wrath of God. We live in a time where it is popular to suggest and teach that God will not judge people. God is love and not full of wrath is the popular way of thinking. But grace and salvation do not make sense without wrath. What are we be saved from if there is no wrath? How can there be grace when God does not have wrath against sin? This kind of thinking about God is not new. It existed in the days of Isaiah when the people did not expect that God was going to execute judgment against them. In this section of Isaiah, Isaiah 9:8-10:4, we are going to notice that Isaiah four times declares that the anger of God has not turned away and his hand is still stretched out. God's Word Falls (9:8-12) The picture that Isaiah declares is God's word being sent against Judah (Jacob) and falling like a hammer or stone against Israel. Judgment on both the northern nation of Israel and the southern nation of Judah is coming. What is the problem? The people are speaking in their pride and arrogance. They think so highly of themselves that these decrees of judgment do not phase them, cause fear, nor bring about repentance. Listen to what they are thinking in their arrogant hearts. "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones." Not only are they seeing themselves as so powerful that they can rebuild whatever has been destroyed, but they will rebuild so that it is better than ever. They express such great self-confidence. But this is the very problem. God does not want us to have our confidence in ourselves. God wants us to have confidence in him. Why should there be confidence in ourselves? This is the problem of self-reliance: we think we do not need God. God is doing something against the people and the people think they are strong and will endure. They are failing to rely on their God. Perhaps we need to hear again the words of Paul that our salvation is "not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:9 ESV). We do not do this ourselves. We cannot complete this ourselves. We need God. We are not supposed to try to do it ourselves. We are supposed to rely on God for everything in our lives. We are not to have self-confidence. We are to have the confidence that God supplies because we are relying upon his power and his working. Therefore, even in all of this judgment God is not done. His anger has not turned away. His hands is stretched out still. The hand of the Lord to still be stretched out pictures God's power and strength standing against a person or group of people (cf. Exodus 15:12; Deuteronomy 4:34; 5:15; 7:19). God's hand is still moving. He has not rested from judgment against them. Did Not Turn To God (9:13-17) Because of their self-confidence and arrogance, the people did not turn to God. God has struck the people in judgment, but this judgment has not provoked the people to turn to the Lord. They are not inquiring of the Lord for direction or for obedience. They are not looking to God in their lives. Therefore God will bring even more judgment against them. God is going to cut off those who are leading the people astray, the elders and the prophets. They are leading the people astray in their teachings. The people are being swallowed up by listening to their teachings. This is why textual preaching and teaching is so important. If teachings are not built directly from the scriptures, then you are not learning the word of the Lord but the word of a human. Teaching must be rooted directly in God's word or it has the power to lead people astray. Seeking God is to purposefully look for assistance from the Almighty. Turning to God requires people to admit they need help and causes them to rely on someone stronger than themselves. A heart's desire for God means a willingness to ask God for guidance, make a commitment to turn toward that direction, and follow God's answer and will. Prayer is the means of our inquiry of the Lord. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 40:26 Luke 22:31-34, Sifted Like Wheat http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/sifted-like-wheat.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/sifted-like-wheat.html#comments Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:00:40 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3130 Jesus and his chosen twelve were in the upper room for the Passover which Jesus has transformed into a memorial for his coming death and resurrection. There is a betrayer among them which has caused the disciples to argue among themselves as to who is the greatest. Jesus taught them that greatness in the kingdom [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/sifted-like-wheat.html/feed 0 apostle peter,luke 22,ministry of jesus Jesus and his chosen twelve were in the upper room for the Passover which Jesus has transformed into a memorial for his coming death and resurrection. There is a betrayer among them which has caused the disciples to argue among themselves as to who is ... Jesus and his chosen twelve were in the upper room for the Passover which Jesus has transformed into a memorial for his coming death and resurrection. There is a betrayer among them which has caused the disciples to argue among themselves as to who is the greatest. Jesus taught them that greatness in the kingdom of God is not about having power but about serving. Leadership and authority and sitting on thrones is about serving, by doing the tasks that no one else wants to do. Now Jesus needs to warn his disciples. Sifted By Satan (22:31) Jesus says something shocking to our scene in verse 31. "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you all, that he might sift you all like wheat." The "you" in both places is plural. So Jesus addresses Peter who represents the twelve apostles. All of the apostles are under this threat. Satan is demanding to have all of you. This causes me to shutter and I think it should cause all of us to shutter. Satan is asking for you. Satan is demanding to have you. Satan wants to sift you all like wheat. A grain would be put into a sieve, where the head of the grain was taken apart. To be sifted like wheat is a metaphor for being taken apart. Satan is trying to ruin Peter and the apostles and leave them in pieces. Does this not remind you of exactly what we read in the first two chapter of the book of Job? Satan does the same thing to Job. Satan approaches the Lord in heaven and asks to essentially try to ruin Job and leave him in pieces. We see something really important about who Satan is and what he is doing. Satan is not merely an accuser. He is not only standing there to condemn us when we sin but he causes reason for accusation. Satan is an accuser and an attacker of our faith. Satan wants to take our faith apart. Do we think of Satan's work in those terms? Do we see the spiritual battle revealed to the eyes of the apostles and ourselves? Simon Peter is particularly under this threat of having his faith shredded. Please notice that Jesus does not call him by the name he gave him which was Peter, meaning rock. Rather, Jesus goes back to his birth name, Simon. You are not going to be a rock at this moment, Simon. Satan is attacking your faith and demanded to take you apart. We need to recognize the power of Satan. Satan is real and his power is great. Do you feel that Satan is trying to take your faith and leave it in pieces? Do you recognize that Satan wants to sift and ruin you? You are under attack if you are trying to profess faith in Jesus and give your life in passionate pursuit of him! The apostle Paul says that the evil one is shooting flaming arrows at you (Ephesians 6:16)! Jesus, Our Intercessor (22:32) But listen to what Jesus says he did. Jesus says that he prayed for Peter. Please note that in verse 32 all four instances of the word "you" and "your" are singular. So Jesus is directing this particularly to Peter. Listen to these wonderful words of hope. Satan is trying to leave you in pieces, but I have prayed for you so that your faith may not be lost. Notice that Jesus does not pray that Peter would not sin in that moment. Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny him three times. But the issue at hand is not simply the sin but what will happen next. What will Peter do after he fails the Lord? Peter will sin. But this is not a surprise. Everyone will sin. Everyone will fall short. Everyone lets our Lord down. The question is not if you are going to sin. The question is what are you going to do after that. Is Satan going to be successful and shred your faith to pieces? Our effort is not only to avoid sin, but also to not allow our faith to be shattered when we fall short. What will we do once we sin? It is so easy to be demoralized by our failures. It is easy to want to quit because of our shortcomings. Perhaps the easiest thing to do is give up. What I mean by this is that we still come to church and do some of the external things, but we let our heart grow cold. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:00 Evidences: How We Got The Bible http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/evidences-how-we-got-the-bible.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/evidences-how-we-got-the-bible.html#comments Sun, 13 Jan 2013 19:00:29 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3266 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/evidences-how-we-got-the-bible.html/feed 0 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 42:02 Luke 22:24-30, True Greatness http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/true-greatness.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/true-greatness.html#comments Sun, 13 Jan 2013 10:00:03 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3095 In the first half of Luke 22 Jesus has taken the Passover meal and created a memorial to his death, which we call the Lord’s Supper. Jesus has announced his impending death with this memorial. He has further revealed that one of his own apostles is going to betray him. One of the very people [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/true-greatness.html/feed 0 lords supper,luke 22 In the first half of Luke 22 Jesus has taken the Passover meal and created a memorial to his death, which we call the Lord's Supper. Jesus has announced his impending death with this memorial. He has further revealed that one of his own apostles is goi... In the first half of Luke 22 Jesus has taken the Passover meal and created a memorial to his death, which we call the Lord's Supper. Jesus has announced his impending death with this memorial. He has further revealed that one of his own apostles is going to betray him. One of the very people who is participating in this memorial supper will be the one to betray Jesus. It seems that this questioning of who could possibly be the betrayer degenerates into pride and selfish thinking. An argument breaks out over who is the greatest. I read this and I think to myself that this is simply unbelievable. Even more unbelievable is that they had this argument earlier as recorded in Luke 9. Jesus has eagerly desired to enter into this moment with his disciples to share with them this communion in which he established his memorial. The disciples are arguing over who is the greatest. What a polar opposite to the meaning of communion! Isn't it amazing how quickly we turn to self-centered pride? We can sit here and partake of the Lord's Supper, recalling his death and committing ourselves to the covenant of Christ, only to say "amen" to the closing prayer and start back into our selfish thinking and prideful actions. Now consider the foolishness of this dispute. Jesus and his apostles are in an upper room and have completed the memorial to Jesus. Who is the greatest in the room? Who should be regarded as the greatest? It is not any of the disciples. Jesus is the greatest. Who is the greatest in this room today? None of us are the greatest. Jesus is the greatest. He exclusively holds that title. None of us are to be regarded as great. Only Jesus is to be regarded as great. So Jesus is going to show us what true greatness is in the kingdom of God. Jesus will define for us what greatness truly is. True Greatness — What It Is Not (22:25-26a) Jesus begins by implying that the way the disciples are thinking and acting is the way the world thinks and acts. Worldly kings exercise their lordship. Worldly people lord their power over others. Leadership is not telling people what to do. Using your authority to make people do things is to lord your power over them. This is what the world does. We experience this at work and we experience this with those who have authority. They simply tell us what to do and we have to comply. The apostle Peter gave the warning in his letter that shepherds who lead the flock that is among them are not to lord it over the flock (1 Peter 5:3). I am so saddened to see how often this is how shepherds exercise their authority in many churches today. They think they have the right and the power to tell people what they can and cannot do. Deacons believe they have some power and can tell people what to do. Preachers think they have authority to compel people to do something. Leadership is not telling people to do something. We do not lead by an exercise of power and authority. So this is Jesus' first point. Leading is not bossing others around. Leading is not telling people what to do. Leading is not using your authority to compel people to do something. Second, Jesus describes these in authority as being called "benefactors." This was a title that existed in the Greco-Roman world. The wealthy would use their wealth to give gifts with strings attached. They would do certain things and give gifts with the expectation of things in return such as service and honor. Worldly people not only command people to do things, but they will do things for others to put that person into debt so that there is an expectation of return. Jesus says that this is not how we become great either. We are not doing good so that they will have to do something for us. We are not to try to force obligations out of people through our wealth. True Greatness — What It Is (22:26b-27) Now Jesus tells his disciples what true greatness looks like. In verse 26 Jesus says that the greatest will become the youngest. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 25:58 Luke 21:5-38, The Days of Vengeance http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/days-of-vengeance.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/days-of-vengeance.html#comments Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:00:55 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3088 The fifth verse of Luke 21 is an important sentence to read carefully because it sets the direction of the discussion and teaching that Jesus is about to give. There are some (his disciples) who are speaking about the temple in Jerusalem, how it was adorned with beautiful stones. What Herod was doing in his [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/days-of-vengeance.html/feed 0 judgment,luke 21,parables of jesus The fifth verse of Luke 21 is an important sentence to read carefully because it sets the direction of the discussion and teaching that Jesus is about to give. There are some (his disciples) who are speaking about the temple in Jerusalem, The fifth verse of Luke 21 is an important sentence to read carefully because it sets the direction of the discussion and teaching that Jesus is about to give. There are some (his disciples) who are speaking about the temple in Jerusalem, how it was ad... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 47:53 Luke 22:1-23, In Remembrance of Jesus http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/in-remembrance-of-jesus.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/in-remembrance-of-jesus.html#comments Sun, 06 Jan 2013 10:00:35 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3085 Betrayal Begins (22:1-6) We are now the day before Jesus’ death. Luke 22:1 tells us that it is the Passover week. The religious leaders are still looking for a way to put Jesus to death. In chapter 20 we saw the leaders give their best efforts to trip Jesus up in his words so that [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/in-remembrance-of-jesus.html/feed 0 communion,lords supper,luke 22 Betrayal Begins (22:1-6) We are now the day before Jesus' death. Luke 22:1 tells us that it is the Passover week. The religious leaders are still looking for a way to put Jesus to death. In chapter 20 we saw the leaders give their best efforts to trip... Betrayal Begins (22:1-6) We are now the day before Jesus' death. Luke 22:1 tells us that it is the Passover week. The religious leaders are still looking for a way to put Jesus to death. In chapter 20 we saw the leaders give their best efforts to trip Jesus up in his words so that either (1) he would say something treasonous against Rome and therefore be handed over to the Roman authorities for judgment or (2) he would say something unpopular so that the crowds would not care if the Jewish authorities arrested him. But the Jewish leaders have failed in both efforts. However, they are still looking for a way to execute Jesus. The opportunity now arises. Luke 22:3 tells us that Satan entered the heart of Judas, one of the apostles, to betray Jesus to them. John 13:2 records that the devil had put it into Judas' heart to betray Jesus. This is a description of temptation, quite simply. This is not saying that Judas was forced to do something against his will. This is what Satan does: he puts an idea in our hearts. It is our choice whether we will accept the idea or reject the idea. The sinful creatures that we are, so often we accept the idea. Judas accepts the idea of betrayal. We should be shocked by this. We cannot forget that Judas is an apostle. It is easy for us to not think of who Judas was. Judas was a close companion, a student and disciple of Jesus. Judas was a friend of Jesus. Judas was one of the chosen twelve apostles. I believe that God uses the language of Satan putting this temptation into the heart of Judas to remind us that this event is something far greater than one close companion of Jesus going rogue. This is more than an apostle becoming a double agent. This is the unfolding of a cosmic struggle between Satan and the Lord, not just Judas and Jesus (cf. Revelation 12:4). Satan is at work to crush the plan of the Lord. We also need to understand the purpose of the betrayal. The Jewish leaders fear the crowds. They cannot go into the temple courts and arrest him because of the backlash that would occur against them. Luke 21:37 tells us that Jesus is not staying in a house at night where they could find him. At night he is going back to the Mount of Olives. He is staying somewhere in the Kidron Valley and Mount of Olives. The Jewish leaders and authorities do not know where he is sleeping. So Judas is agreeing to betray Jesus at a time when there are no crowds around Jesus (22:6). The negotiation of money is made. Judas will betray Jesus for a certain sum, 30 pieces of silver. We are not told why Judas was willing to betray Jesus. The text simply tells us that he was looking for money and was willing to trade Jesus for that sum. We may read this story with disgust. How can Judas do this? How can Judas betray Jesus for money? But I want us to consider what we willingly trade Jesus for. What do we trade Jesus for? How often we will trade Jesus so we can have comfort? We will trade Jesus so we don't have to do anything or only do what we want to do. We trade Jesus to maintain our beliefs and keep the laws of God that we want to keep. We trade Jesus to have more wealth. What will you trade a full life devoted to Jesus for? Passover Preparation (22:7-13) It is time for the disciples to make preparations to keep the Passover. Verse 7 contains theologically significant words. It is the day on which the Passover lamb must be sacrificed. The lamb must be sacrificed. There is no alternative. There is no other option. The lamb must be sacrificed so that the people may be delivered. Jesus tells Peter and John to go make preparations for the Passover. This was not that simple. This was a time when every Jew was required to come to Jerusalem. The city swelled to hundreds of thousands of people during the time of the Passover. The Law required a room where the family would eat the Passover meal and keep the regulations of the Law. So it is a natural question in verse 9 by Peter and John. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 44:09 Luke 20:45-21:4, Authenticity vs Showmanship http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/authenticity-vs-showmanship.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/authenticity-vs-showmanship.html#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2012 19:00:19 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3049 Jesus is in the temple teaching the people every day. It is the last week of Jesus’ life on the earth, his final days before his crucifixion. Jesus has stumped the Jewish leaders, asking a question from Psalm 110. How is Christ David’s son when David calls him “Lord?” The answer is that the Messiah [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/authenticity-vs-showmanship.html/feed 0 life of jesus,luke 20,ministry of jesus Jesus is in the temple teaching the people every day. It is the last week of Jesus' life on the earth, his final days before his crucifixion. Jesus has stumped the Jewish leaders, asking a question from Psalm 110. Jesus is in the temple teaching the people every day. It is the last week of Jesus' life on the earth, his final days before his crucifixion. Jesus has stumped the Jewish leaders, asking a question from Psalm 110. How is Christ David's son when David calls him "Lord?" The answer is that the Messiah is God. There is no other answer. The Messiah is more than human such that King David would call him "Master." Jesus is not done with this group. Luke 20:45 tells us that Jesus is teaching in the hearing of all the people in the temple courts. He is preaching in front of his disciples. He is preaching in front of the crowds. He is preaching in front of these Jewish leaders who are looking for a way to have Jesus arrested and executed. Jesus is going to teach us about the necessity of serving from the heart rather than serving out of pretense or show. Showmanship (20:45-47) Jesus begins with a warning. "Beware!" Watch out for the scribes! Watch what they are doing and do not be like them. What are the scribes doing? First, they like to walk around in long robes. They wear clothes to be noticed by people. They wanted people to know that they were religiously important. So they wore these expensive robes so that people who know who they were. We see this in the religious world today. We see the teachers wearing robes to set them apart from the rest of the Christians. We see cardinals wearing red robes, popes wearing special hats and long robes, fathers wearing white collars, pastors wearing outfits, and reverends wearing robes. Jesus condemns those who set themselves apart by their dress, trying to draw attention to themselves as someone important or someone spiritual. We can do the same thing and I find it just as disturbing. When we think that the preacher should wear a certain outfit or have certain clothes because he is the preacher, then we are falling into the same trap. Wearing a suit to make sure people know that you are the preacher is just as wrong as wearing robes, collars, or other outfits. Attention is to be drawn to God, his glory, and his word. Second, they love formal greetings in the marketplaces. They want people to give them a special greeting rather than treating them like everyone else. So they would heap titles on themselves. We see the same problem in the religious world today again. People are called by titles rather than by name. People are called cardinal, father, reverend, priest, pastor, and the like. Again, we are not drawing attention to ourselves. Our attention is focused squarely on the Lord. You call me Brent. Just Brent and nothing more. I do not have a title. I have descriptions for what I do: evangelist, teacher, minister, servant, preacher. But these are not titles but descriptions of what I do. But I am not greater than you. I am not more important than you. There is nothing special about who I am or what I do. By God's grace I am able to teach the gospel of Jesus. The only formal greeting that we see is that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Third, they love the best seats in the synagogue and sat in the places of honor at the feast days. Luke addressed this issue earlier in Luke 11:43 as he taught about our need for humility in serving Jesus. Notice the consistent point that Jesus is making. We are not suppose to wear things that draw attention to ourselves. We are not to sit in a way that draws attention to ourselves. We are not to have people say things that set us apart from everyone else. The golden rule of the Law is to be applied: do to each other as you want people to do for you. Fourth, they engaged in poor treatment of the needy. We are not told exactly what the scribes were doing to the widows' homes so that Jesus could say that they are devouring them. It does not really matter. The point seems to be that rather than providing for them and taking care of them as the scriptures from the Old and the New Testaments teach, they were taking money from them. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:38 Isaiah 8:11-9:7, From Darkness To Light http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/from-darkness-to-light.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/from-darkness-to-light.html#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2012 10:00:53 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3046 The Way We Ought To Walk (8:11-18) Not like the world (8:11-12). The Lord comes to Isaiah and warns him not live like these people. In chapter 6 we saw Isaiah declare that he was a man of unclean lips and lived among an unclean people. God had purified him and charged him to preach [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/from-darkness-to-light.html/feed 0 christian life,isaiah 8,isaiah 9 The Way We Ought To Walk (8:11-18) Not like the world (8:11-12). The Lord comes to Isaiah and warns him not live like these people. In chapter 6 we saw Isaiah declare that he was a man of unclean lips and lived among an unclean people. The Way We Ought To Walk (8:11-18) Not like the world (8:11-12). The Lord comes to Isaiah and warns him not live like these people. In chapter 6 we saw Isaiah declare that he was a man of unclean lips and lived among an unclean people. God had purified him and charged him to preach God's message to the people. Part of this charge is to not return to the lifestyle of the people you were called out from. They walk in the way of darkness and you cannot belong to that way. Don't fear what the people fear. God tells Isaiah to honor the Lord and fear him. In fact, there is nothing else to fear. The life of those who are God's children is to honor the Lord and fear him alone. Honoring God (8:13-15) Those who treat God as holy do not ignore his words, dishonor his name, or fail to trust him. They bow in awe to the Lord. They give the Lord his due reverence. In faith they obey what the Lord says. God is showing that we do not honor God when we fail to trust him. Those who follow God will do things differently than the world because their trust is in God and they fear no one but God. God's call to not living like the world is not a call to isolated, monastic living. Physical separation is not going to be the factor that keeps us from acting like the world. You can live alone and still be just like the world in thought and action. Obedience to God's word is what keeps us from acting like the world. Honoring God is what keeps us from acting like the world. A fear and reverence for God is what keeps us from acting like the world. Verse 14 describes what God will be for the people. He will either be a sanctuary or he will be a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling. We see the picture of God as the holy place, the sanctuary, in Exodus 25:8 where God says that he will dwell among his people. If Isaiah and the people will fear God, then he will be a sanctuary, a place of solid strength and refuge, a blessing, and a comfort. God is telling us that he will be with us and be a blessing to us if we will trust him and not live like the world. However, to those who will not trust him, the Lord will become a stone of offense and rock of stumbling. The rock will lead to ruin rather than refuge. There are strong consequences when we refuse to treat the Lord as holy. Notice that this is the very connection that the apostle Peter makes in his teaching, pulling this context into his own day. In 1 Peter 1:15 Peter called for Christians to be holy in all their conduct. Peter continues in chapter 2. 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:7–12 ESV) The rock was put in the road to block the traveler from danger. But in carelessness or rebellion, he refuses the warning and stumbles to his death. How you respond to God determines whether he is your sanctuary or your stumbling stone. Treasuring God's Word (8:16). God tells Isaiah to preserve this neglected teaching for a later generation who will listen (vs. 16-18). Treasuring God's word and finding hope in God are inseparable. Faith in God is waiting for the arrival of that hope. Trusting and hoping in God (8:17-18). Further, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:31 To Fulfill What Was Spoken By The Prophet http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/to-fulfill-what-was-spoken-by-the-prophet.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/to-fulfill-what-was-spoken-by-the-prophet.html#comments Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:00:52 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3006 Matthew’s Usage of OT Prophecies In our lesson from Isaiah we noticed the curious way that Matthew uses Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. In particular we saw that Isaiah is giving a sign to King Ahaz because he will not trust in the Lord to deliver him and his nation. The sign is that a [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/to-fulfill-what-was-spoken-by-the-prophet.html/feed 0 prophecy Matthew's Usage of OT Prophecies In our lesson from Isaiah we noticed the curious way that Matthew uses Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. In particular we saw that Isaiah is giving a sign to King Ahaz because he will not trust in the Lord to deliver h... Matthew's Usage of OT Prophecies In our lesson from Isaiah we noticed the curious way that Matthew uses Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. In particular we saw that Isaiah is giving a sign to King Ahaz because he will not trust in the Lord to deliver him and his nation. The sign is that a young woman would bear a son and by the time that son knows right from wrong, the two nations (Israel and Syria) who he feared would conquer them would be deserted. But Matthew comes along in Matthew 1:22 and says that this prophecy of the young woman bearing a son is fulfilled in Jesus. How can Matthew say this? In this lesson we are going to examine three of Matthew's quotations from the prophets and look for the methodology of Matthew's use of the Old Testament prophecies. Hosea 11:1 — Matthew 2:15 1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. (Hosea 11:1–3 ESV) It is obvious by reading Hosea that Hosea is not referring to a coming Messiah at all. Israel is the son. The reference is to when Israel was enslaved in Egypt and God called them out of Egypt to be his son. However, the nation turned away from the Lord to worship idols. So what is Matthew doing by quoting this passage? In particular, notice what Matthew says: "This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet." But this is not what the Lord was referring to through the prophet! I want us to clearly see that Matthew cannot mean that the prophecy is directly fulfilled in Jesus when he as a child left Egypt because Herod had died. Hosea is not talking about that at all. Hosea has no concept about Jesus in his prophecy. This has led a number of writers and scholars to be critical of the New Testament authors in how they use the Old Testament. It led scholar David Kupp to say, "Matthew shows little awareness that the prophets might actually have been delivering oracles of crucial relevance to their original audiences" (Matthew's Emmanuel: Divine Presence and God's People in the First Gospel, 167). Many have concluded that Matthew's exegetical methods are illegitimate. As Bultmann charges, "The writers of the New Testament do not gain new knowledge from the Old Testament texts, but read from or into them what they already know" (Prophecy and Fulfillment, 54). So how is Jesus coming out of Egypt the fulfillment of the Hosea prophecy? Is Matthew using the prophecy from Hosea because he has no better proof-text? Is it because Matthew went concordance surfing and found that Hosea speaks of Egypt and just went with it? Obviously these are not acceptable answers if we hold the Bible to be the very words of God. The answer we must consider is typological fulfillment. First, let's describe what typological fulfillment is not. Typological fulfillment is not dual fulfillment. Dual fulfillment carries the idea that the prophet spoke not only of his own time but also of a future time. I do not believe we can read Hosea 11:1 and suggest that Hosea is not only referring to his own time but also to the time of Jesus. I believe this answer was created because they are somehow trying to reconcile how Matthew could say that this even fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet. Typological fulfillment sees in biblical narratives a divinely intended pattern of events. It is a view that events of the Old Testament are not merely repeated or continued, but enhanced, intensified, and escalated. You may have a number of examples immediately jump your mind. Our study of the Gospel of John has been built on this premise. John is teaching us that Jesus is God because he not only repeats events in the history of Israel but escalates them. For example, Israel received bread from heaven. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:39 Luke 20:19-44, Playing Games With Jesus http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/playing-games-with-jesus.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/playing-games-with-jesus.html#comments Sun, 16 Dec 2012 10:00:19 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3009 We are in the midst of the twentieth chapter of Luke’s gospel where the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem are challenging Jesus’ authority. Jesus is teaching in the temple complex every day. He is cleansing the temple by teaching the very words of God. After teaching the parable of the wicked tenants, verse 19 tells us [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/playing-games-with-jesus.html/feed 0 life of jesus,luke 20 We are in the midst of the twentieth chapter of Luke's gospel where the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem are challenging Jesus' authority. Jesus is teaching in the temple complex every day. He is cleansing the temple by teaching the very words of God. We are in the midst of the twentieth chapter of Luke's gospel where the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem are challenging Jesus' authority. Jesus is teaching in the temple complex every day. He is cleansing the temple by teaching the very words of God. After... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 36:01 The Heart of the Tongue (James 3:8-12) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/heart-of-the-tongue.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/heart-of-the-tongue.html#comments Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:00:24 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3264 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/heart-of-the-tongue.html/feed 0 james 3,tongue A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:49 Luke 20:1-18, Rebellion In The Vineyard http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/rebellion-in-the-vineyard.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/rebellion-in-the-vineyard.html#comments Sun, 09 Dec 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2935 Challenging Jesus’ Authority (1-8) Jesus has entered Jerusalem. The twentieth chapter of Luke reveals the Jewish leaders and authorities challenging the authority of Jesus. The reason why is because of what Jesus just did in Luke 19. Jesus has approached Jerusalem with a large crowd of his disciples proclaiming him as the king who comes [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/rebellion-in-the-vineyard.html/feed 0 authority,luke 20,parables of jesus Challenging Jesus' Authority (1-8) Jesus has entered Jerusalem. The twentieth chapter of Luke reveals the Jewish leaders and authorities challenging the authority of Jesus. The reason why is because of what Jesus just did in Luke 19. Challenging Jesus' Authority (1-8) Jesus has entered Jerusalem. The twentieth chapter of Luke reveals the Jewish leaders and authorities challenging the authority of Jesus. The reason why is because of what Jesus just did in Luke 19. Jesus has approac... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:28 Isaiah 7, The Lord Will Give A Sign http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/lord-will-give-a-sign.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/lord-will-give-a-sign.html#comments Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:20 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2910 The Situation Though there are a number of chapter breaks, Isaiah 7-12 is one unit of prophecy concerning a number of signs that will take place. The scene is presented for us in verse 1 of Isaiah 7. Ahaz is the king over Judah. Rezin, the king of Syria and Pekah, the king of Israel, [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/lord-will-give-a-sign.html/feed 0 isaiah 7,judgment The Situation Though there are a number of chapter breaks, Isaiah 7-12 is one unit of prophecy concerning a number of signs that will take place. The scene is presented for us in verse 1 of Isaiah 7. Ahaz is the king over Judah. Rezin, The Situation Though there are a number of chapter breaks, Isaiah 7-12 is one unit of prophecy concerning a number of signs that will take place. The scene is presented for us in verse 1 of Isaiah 7. Ahaz is the king over Judah. Rezin, the king of Syria and Pekah, the king of Israel, allied together to go to war against Judah. When Ahaz learns that Syria and Israel have allied to conquer Judah, Ahaz and the people become very afraid. God tells Isaiah to take his son, Shear-Jashub (whose name means, "a remnant will return") and prophesy to Ahaz. Here's the message to Ahaz: don't be afraid of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands. Rezin and Pekah are nothing more than two smoldering stubs of firewood. Their fire is about to go out. Verse 6 shows that their plan was to depose of Ahaz from being king and set up their own king over Judah. It is important to consider what this means. The threat is the destruction of the Davidic dynasty. So there are a couple implied questions as we examine this situation which leads to the prophecies given in this chapter. First, what would happen if their plot succeeded? What will become of Judah if Ahaz is deposed and they put their own king on the throne. Second, what about the covenant God made with David, recorded in 2 Samuel 7, that a son of David will reign on the throne eternally? Does God's word have no power? Verse 7 begins the message of the Lord: "It shall not stand." The reason it will not come to pass is that these rulers are only human beings. They are nothing before the Lord Almighty. In fact, within 65 years Ephraim (that is another name for the nation of Israel) will be shattered from being a people. We know historically that the nation of Israel was wiped out by the Assyrians in 722 BC. But I want us to notice what is not happening. Ahaz is not trusting in God. Ahaz is not praying to God. Ahaz is not looking for God to deliver. In verse 3 we are told that Ahaz is examining the water supply as he prepares for the coming invasion. God declares in verse 7 that it is not going to happen. But verse 9 is the critical call to Ahaz and the people. "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all." The word "you" is plural, so Isaiah's message is to all the people. Be firm in your faith. Do not act with the normal response of fear but rest in God's promises. This is an important message for us. We have God on our side. Do not act like God is not with you. Ahaz is facing a big decision: will he trust God or will he trust in himself? The people are facing the same big decision. It is during challenging times that we are to respond in faith. It is easy to say we have faith in God when life is going the way we want. But faith is revealed during difficult times. The Sign of Immanuel To prove himself, the Lord tells Ahaz to ask for a sign. Ask any sign that you want, as high as the heaven or the deepest depths. The Lord stands ready to show Ahaz any proof so that he will put his trust in the Lord and not in himself. Ahaz's response is that he will not ask for a sign or put the Lord to the test. This response is a reference to Deuteronomy 6:16 that commanded the people were not to put the Lord to the test. The irony is that we are putting the Lord to the test when we do not believe in God's promises. Ahaz's response is not a statement of faith or righteousness, but a statement of rebellion. Ahaz has no interesting in trusting God. He has his own plan. When we turn to 2 Kings 16:8-9 we find out that Ahaz has called for Assyria to help him defend against the coalition between Syria and Israel. Ahaz gave the gold and silver from the temple and the palace to the king of Assyria, and the king of Assyria went to Damascus, fought Syria, and killed Rezin the king. You will notice in verse 13 that the Lord is angry with Ahaz's response. God does not respect what he says because it is not a statement of faith, but a statement of rebellion and rejection. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 42:35 Luke 19:28-48, The Coming King http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/coming-king.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/coming-king.html#comments Sun, 02 Dec 2012 15:00:07 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2906 We have a saying which has been a saying for a long time in human history. Seize the day! Carpe diem! Take advantage of the opportunities given to you. Make the most of what you have. These are common proverbs and ideals in our time, statements that the Lord himself emphasized to his people while [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/coming-king.html/feed 0 life of jesus,luke 19 We have a saying which has been a saying for a long time in human history. Seize the day! Carpe diem! Take advantage of the opportunities given to you. Make the most of what you have. These are common proverbs and ideals in our time, We have a saying which has been a saying for a long time in human history. Seize the day! Carpe diem! Take advantage of the opportunities given to you. Make the most of what you have. These are common proverbs and ideals in our time, statements that th... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:48 The Tongue (James 3:1-6) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/the-tongue.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/the-tongue.html#comments Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:00:11 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3262 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/the-tongue.html/feed 0 james 3,tongue A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:27 Luke 19:11-27, Accountability To The King http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/accountability-to-the-king.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/accountability-to-the-king.html#comments Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:00:42 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2898 In 4 BC when Herod the Great died, his territorial rule was divided between his three sons. Archelaus, one of Herod’s sons, was assumed to rule over Judea. Though Archelaus began to rule immediately upon his father’s death, his royal title could only be ratified by Augustus Caesar. So Archelaus made the long journey to [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/accountability-to-the-king.html/feed 0 luke 19,parables of jesus In 4 BC when Herod the Great died, his territorial rule was divided between his three sons. Archelaus, one of Herod's sons, was assumed to rule over Judea. Though Archelaus began to rule immediately upon his father's death, In 4 BC when Herod the Great died, his territorial rule was divided between his three sons. Archelaus, one of Herod's sons, was assumed to rule over Judea. Though Archelaus began to rule immediately upon his father's death, his royal title could only be ratified by Augustus Caesar. So Archelaus made the long journey to Rome where he expected to be crowned as king. However, there was an active opposition to his rule by his subjects in Judea. A delegation of fifty Jewish leaders came from Jerusalem to Rome seeking an audience with Caesar claiming that Archelaus was unfit to govern because of his cruelty. The thousands of Jews who were living in Rome participated in the demonstration against the rule Archelaus. Caesar eventually allowed Archelaus the opportunity to prove himself worthy to rule Judea. When Archelaus returned to Judea he executed swift punishment against the men who rebelled against his rule. What Jesus does in this section of Luke's gospel is tell a parable grounded in the near history of the nation. We are told in verse 11 that the reason the parable was told by Jesus was because he was near Jerusalem and people thought the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. The reason this topic is important is because it is the last week of Jesus' life. This is Jesus' last time to come to Jerusalem. Verse 1 tells us that Jesus is in Jericho as he tells this parable, a town on the way to Jerusalem where we saw the salvation of the Lord come to Zacchaeus. The Parable Jesus begins with a parable about a nobleman who went into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. I would like to highlight something before we continue on in the parable and that is the timing of the kingdom. The nobleman is going to go away to a far away place, receive the kingdom, and then return. This is the first time we have seen in Luke the teaching that Jesus was going to leave but then return. Please notice that Jesus does not say that he is going to a far away country, returning, and then receiving the kingdom. He does not receive the kingdom upon his return, but receives the kingdom first and then returns. This is what the scriptures prophesied. "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13–14 ESV) Jesus is about to leave the earth and return to the Father where he will receive the kingdom. Then there will be a time when he will return. So this is the set up to the story. Before he leaves for the far country, he calls ten of his servants and gives them ten minas. Each servant is given one mina. One mina was approximately four months of wages, so this is not a small amount of money. One mina is about one-third of your annual salary. The charge given to the servants is to make money, to put the money to work so as to make a profit. This is the idea of their charging being to "engage in business." Verse 14 is the point of parallel to the historical event of Archelaus. The citizens hate this nobleman and do not want him to rule over them. So let's set the parable for a moment. The nobleman is about to go to a far away country to receive a kingdom and return. Before he leaves, he gives his servants a mina to make money while he is away. Further, the citizens of the kingdom hate the nobleman and demand that he does not become their ruler. When the nobleman returns, after successfully receiving the kingdom, he ordered his servants to come to him so that he would know what they had profited by doing business with the nobleman's money. The first servant appears and tells him that he used the mina in business and made ten minas more. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 32:50 John 5:30-47, Witnesses To The Deity of Jesus http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/witnesses-to-deity-of-jesus.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/witnesses-to-deity-of-jesus.html#comments Sun, 18 Nov 2012 15:00:54 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2891 We are in a section of John’s gospel where Jesus is proving that he is God. Jesus healed a disabled man on the Sabbath. When questioned as to why he would break the Sabbath law, Jesus responded that the Father works on the Sabbath and therefore he must also work on the Sabbath because he [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/witnesses-to-deity-of-jesus.html/feed 0 jesus,john 5 We are in a section of John's gospel where Jesus is proving that he is God. Jesus healed a disabled man on the Sabbath. When questioned as to why he would break the Sabbath law, Jesus responded that the Father works on the Sabbath and therefore he must... We are in a section of John's gospel where Jesus is proving that he is God. Jesus healed a disabled man on the Sabbath. When questioned as to why he would break the Sabbath law, Jesus responded that the Father works on the Sabbath and therefore he must... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:33 Preservation From The Wicked (Psalm 64) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/preservation-from-the-wicked.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/preservation-from-the-wicked.html#comments Sun, 11 Nov 2012 19:00:11 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3260 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/preservation-from-the-wicked.html/feed 0 psalm 64 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 31:26 John 5:25-29, Two Resurrections http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/two-resurrections.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/two-resurrections.html#comments Sun, 11 Nov 2012 14:00:36 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2883 Do you believe in resurrection? It is a question on the mind of many. Can we really believe that when we die that there is going to be another life? Can it be possible that we will live on? Jesus teaches the audience in this section of John’s gospel that not only is there a [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/two-resurrections.html/feed 0 eternal life,john 5,resurrection Do you believe in resurrection? It is a question on the mind of many. Can we really believe that when we die that there is going to be another life? Can it be possible that we will live on? Jesus teaches the audience in this section of John's gospel th... Do you believe in resurrection? It is a question on the mind of many. Can we really believe that when we die that there is going to be another life? Can it be possible that we will live on? Jesus teaches the audience in this section of John's gospel th... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 33:32 1 Kings 5-8, A Holy Temple To The Lord http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/holy-temple-to-the-lord.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/holy-temple-to-the-lord.html#comments Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:22 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2873 First Kings 5-8 center upon the construction of the temple, with chapter 8 standing as the pinnacle when the temple is completed and dedicated to the Lord. We will spend the majority of our time in chapter 8. But there are some important observations to make as we read about the preparations and construction of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/holy-temple-to-the-lord.html/feed 0 1 kings 5,1 kings 6,1 kings 7,1 kings 8,faithfulness of god,grace of god First Kings 5-8 center upon the construction of the temple, with chapter 8 standing as the pinnacle when the temple is completed and dedicated to the Lord. We will spend the majority of our time in chapter 8. First Kings 5-8 center upon the construction of the temple, with chapter 8 standing as the pinnacle when the temple is completed and dedicated to the Lord. We will spend the majority of our time in chapter 8. But there are some important observations to make as we read about the preparations and construction of the temple. The beginning of the fifth chapter tells us why Solomon is going to build this temple. First, Solomon is doing this because God is faithful and good (5:4). God has given him peace on every side and there is neither adversary or misfortune. This is our first motivation: God has been good to me so I want to respond to God. I'm looking at my life and see the faithfulness of God. Therefore I am going to act for God and serve him. Second, Solomon is building this temple because God commanded it (5:5). The Lord told David that it would be his son that would build a house for the name of the Lord. We have spent many lessons talking about grace-driven obedience, and I want us to see that it is the motivation of all the faithful of God. God has done great things for me. Therefore I want to do for him. So I seek his will and search his teachings to learn and do what he says. This is the message that Solomon sends to Hiram, the king of Tyre. Just an interesting side note: chapter 5 records that Gentiles help build the house of the Lord. Verse 6 is the request for Tyrian servants to cut the timber. Verse 18 shows the builders of Solomon and the builders of Hiram, as well as the men of Gebal, cutting and preparing the timber and the stone to build the house. In chapter 7 we will read of a man from Tyre building all the of the articles for the temple worship and service. This is a sign that the temple from its beginning is a "house of prayer for all the nations" like Isaiah declared later (Isaiah 56:7) and Jesus quoted. Further, the nations want to participate. Hiram is excited to assist in the building of the Lord's house. Chapters 6-7 emphasize the splendor and grandeur of this temple. The repetition of how everything was overlaid with gold is staggering. Even the articles for the temple service are overlaid with gold. But in the middle of the description of all that is being constructed for the Lord's temple there is a reminder of the conditions of this temple. Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon, 12 "Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel." (1 Kings 6:11–13 ESV) This is a repeated reminder in the first half of 1 Kings as to what God will do. God says that if you will follow his ways, then he will establish the promises that he spoke to David. And Solomon would have seen these promises in the process of being fulfilled. Notice the emphasis is made to the king. If the king will live according to the ways and commandments of the Lord, God will dwell with the people and not forsake Israel. God shifts to a demand of the kings to obey which would in turn cause blessings to come to the nation and God remaining with his people. We see that the kingdom promises were to encourage kingdom work. God says that he will bless us and fulfill his promises in us if we will keep his commands and follow his ways. So even while the temple is being constructed, God is warning that this building does not mean that he will dwell with his people if they are disobedient. God was not to be taken for granted as if he was with them and supporting them through sinfulness. Obey him and he will stay with them. The temple then becomes a reflection of this promise of God dwelling with his people. The Presence of God (8:1-13) Chapter 8 begins with bringing in the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the tabernacle, and all the articles of the tabernacle to the temple. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 40:14 John 5:15-24, Jesus Is God http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/jesus-is-god.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/jesus-is-god.html#comments Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:00:05 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2869 We are in the midst of John 5 where have seen Jesus heal a disabled man on a Sabbath. This man had been in this condition for 38 years, equal to the time of the helplessness and hopelessness of the Israelites as they were punished for their sins in the wilderness during the days of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/jesus-is-god.html/feed 0 authority,john 5 We are in the midst of John 5 where have seen Jesus heal a disabled man on a Sabbath. This man had been in this condition for 38 years, equal to the time of the helplessness and hopelessness of the Israelites as they were punished for their sins in the... We are in the midst of John 5 where have seen Jesus heal a disabled man on a Sabbath. This man had been in this condition for 38 years, equal to the time of the helplessness and hopelessness of the Israelites as they were punished for their sins in the wilderness during the days of Moses. This is the reason that Jesus selects this man over all the other people who are in this covered porch area. However, verse 9 tells us some somber words that is was the Sabbath and problems are going to arise for Jesus from the Jewish leadership. They question the healed man about who it was that healed him, but he did not know who it was. Later, Jesus finds this healed man at the temple and tells him to sin no more so that no worse thing will happen to him. Verses 15-16 tell us that the healed man, after Jesus comes back to him, goes to the Jewish leaders and tells them that it was Jesus who had healed him on the Sabbath. This ignites a persecution against Jesus because he was healing on the Sabbath. Jesus responds to this persecution by teaching that he is equal to God because he is God. What we are about to read is Jesus' own defense of his deity. Jesus Is Equal With God In His Person (5:17-18) Jesus' answer is fascinating. The Jewish persecution is because they are charging Jesus with doing work on the Sabbath. Rather than teaching them how healing is not work and not a violation of the Sabbath, Jesus goes the other direction and argues how he is working on the Sabbath and why that is acceptable. This is not at all what we would expect to read and I would imagine took the Jewish leaders by surprise. Listen to the statement Jesus makes in verse 17. "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (John 5:17 ESV) This is the claim that gets Jesus in deep trouble. But we must also see that this claim becomes the fountain from which his sermon flows. Jesus makes the claim that he is equal with God. Notice how he does this. Jesus makes the point that the Father is also working on the Sabbath. This was an interesting dilemma that the Jewish rabbis had. According Genesis 2:2-3, God rested on the seventh day. However, if God rested on the Sabbath, who sustained the universe? So the Jewish rabbis determined that God does work constantly, but that does not amount to breaking the Sabbath because the entire universe is his domain. This is the thrust of the argument Jesus is making. My Father is still working continually, and so am I. Jesus assumes a unique relationship with the singular, "my Father," He does not say, "Our Father is still working." Rather, Jesus says, "My Father is still working." Therefore, Jesus claims something amazing. There is only one person who can work on the Sabbath: God. Humans are to rest on the Sabbath. But Jesus is not a mere human. Jesus is God and therefore he must be working, otherwise the world would no longer sustain itself. God must be working. Jesus therefore claims a relationship to the Father that humans cannot claim. Jesus is God. Verse 18 shows that this is exactly how the Jewish leaders understood what Jesus was claiming. Jesus was making himself equal with God with that statement. Please consider that this is Jesus' intention. Jesus is claiming to be God. If he was not, then this would be the time to clarify the misunderstanding. Jesus could stop any persecution right now if he would simply tell them that this was all a misunderstanding and that he is not God. Not only does Jesus claim to be God and allow the people to understand that is what he was claiming, he then gives four more pieces of evidence to prove he is God. Jesus Is Equal To God In His Works (5:19-20) Verse 19 is a staggering response to these Jewish leaders and to the world. Listen to the two parts of this amazing answer that Jesus gives. First, the Son does not do things on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. Please underline the word "see." Who can see what the Father is doing? West Palm Beach church of Christ no 32:28 Judge Not (Matthew 7:1-6) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/judge-not.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/judge-not.html#comments Sun, 28 Oct 2012 19:00:05 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3258 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/judge-not.html/feed 0 christian life,matthew 7 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 28:23 John 5:1-14, Be Healed, Be Holy http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/be-healed-be-holy.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/be-healed-be-holy.html#comments Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:00:20 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2855 The fifth chapter of John’s gospel is going to express to us proofs and evidence that Jesus is God. The purpose of John’s gospel was stated in John 20:31, “That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believe you may have life in his name.” So as we [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/be-healed-be-holy.html/feed 0 john 5,miracles of jesus The fifth chapter of John's gospel is going to express to us proofs and evidence that Jesus is God. The purpose of John's gospel was stated in John 20:31, "That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, The fifth chapter of John's gospel is going to express to us proofs and evidence that Jesus is God. The purpose of John's gospel was stated in John 20:31, "That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believe you may have life ... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:09 1 Kings 3-4, A Wise Heart http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/a-wise-heart.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/a-wise-heart.html#comments Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:00:36 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2848 If there is anything God could give you what would it be? If there was one single offer from the Lord to give you anything you request, what would be your request? This is the opportunity that is presented to King Solomon, the son of David. The story begins in 1 Kings 3. The first [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/a-wise-heart.html/feed 0 1 kings 3,1 kings 4,solomon,wisdom If there is anything God could give you what would it be? If there was one single offer from the Lord to give you anything you request, what would be your request? This is the opportunity that is presented to King Solomon, the son of David. If there is anything God could give you what would it be? If there was one single offer from the Lord to give you anything you request, what would be your request? This is the opportunity that is presented to King Solomon, the son of David. The story begins in 1 Kings 3. The first two verses of chapter 3 are a bit puzzling because we see violations of God's law already being tolerated. Solomon enters into a marriage alliance with Pharaoh. Further, the people are sacrificing at the high places because there is no worship complex for the Lord in Jerusalem. Notice the author does not elaborate on these errors. The people are not perfect. The king is not perfect. He is not good. He is not righteous before God in some sort of moral absoluteness. We also may have a foreshadowing of what will be Solomon's downfall. There is a weakness in Solomon that is going to lead him into trouble in the future. Ask The Lord (3:3-15) But verse 3 sets the tone for the chapter. Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father. David told his son to pursue the commandments of the Lord and we learn that as Solomon's reign begins that this is exactly what he is doing. Solomon goes to the greatest of the high places, which is Gibeon about seven miles from Jerusalem. The first chapter of 2 Chronicles fills in some of the details that while the ark of the covenant had been transported to Jerusalem, the tabernacle and the bronze altar were at Gibeon.  Solomon goes there and offers 1000 burnt offerings on that altar. 1000 offerings! Consider the enormous expense. Consider the great sacrifice. This is a reflection of Solomon's love for the Lord. David told his son Solomon that if he would be faithful to the Lord, be strong in the Lord, and walk in the ways of the Lord, the Lord would establish his ways and make him prosper wherever he turned. Notice what happens in verse 5. The Lord appears to Solomon in a dream by night and says, "Ask what I shall give you." Listen to the response of Solomon. Listen to the heart that speaks in these words. He does not sound like a kid in the candy store with money to burn. Listen to his careful and thoughtful response in verses 6-9. Verse 6 reiterates the promises of the covenant declared to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. Notice his humility in verses 7-8. You have given me a great people to rule over, too many to be numbered our counted. But I am a little child and do not know how to go out or come in. Solomon is not speaking of his age. This is a Hebrew word that is used to speak of a dependent child. To not know how to go out or come in is an idiom that refers to the skills of leadership. Hence the HCSB reads, "no experience in leadership" and NET reads "inexperienced." Solomon is humbling himself before the Lord. God is the cause of his rise to power. God has called him to lead a great nation and feels unqualified to do so. Therefore Solomon makes his one request to the Lord: a discerning heart. He wants a mind for understanding. Solomon desires an obedient, listening heart to be able to administer justice in Israel. The Lord is pleased by this request. Notice in verse 11 how the Lord is pleased that he did not ask the Lord for anything selfish. He did not ask for a long life. He did not ask for riches. He did not ask for power over his enemies. He asked for the understanding to discern what is right. This is exactly what James means in James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." God wants us to be asking him for an understanding heart, to discern the ways of the Lord so that we can live and act properly in his kingdom. Solomon is praying for the kingdom first. He is seeking the kingdom of the Lord first, just as David instructed him to do in the second chapter. The Lord says he will give Solomon this understanding and discerning heart, and everything he did not ask for like wealth, honor, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:18 Isaiah 6, I Saw The Lord http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/i-saw-the-lord.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/i-saw-the-lord.html#comments Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:00:51 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2846 The first five chapters of Isaiah have revealed the sinfulness of the people of Israel. Chapter 5 showed that the people had received the grace of God in vain. God had graciously blessed the people but the people did not bear fruit from that grace. God has described the people as covered in filth and [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/i-saw-the-lord.html/feed 0 grace of god,holiness of god,isaiah 6 The first five chapters of Isaiah have revealed the sinfulness of the people of Israel. Chapter 5 showed that the people had received the grace of God in vain. God had graciously blessed the people but the people did not bear fruit from that grace. The first five chapters of Isaiah have revealed the sinfulness of the people of Israel. Chapter 5 showed that the people had received the grace of God in vain. God had graciously blessed the people but the people did not bear fruit from that grace. God has described the people as covered in filth and bloodstained. Therefore judgment has been decreed against the people for casting away the grace of God and being consumed by the ways of the world. It is at this point that Isaiah places the Lord's commission to call him to be a prophet to the people. This is a strange location for this commission. Most prophets have their commission from the Lord to prophesy in the very first verse. But Isaiah is not a book in chronological prophetic sequence. Isaiah has a purpose for holding his commissioning story to this point in the book. We will consider this as we read the call of the Lord for Isaiah. Seeing the Holiness of the Lord (6:1-5) Isaiah notes that it is the year that King Uzziah died. This is noted not simply because the death of a ruler is a sad occasion, but because it symbolically represents the end of the good times for the nation. Uzziah had reigned an unprecedented 52 years, an amazing duration in that world. King Uzziah has died and listen to the words of Isaiah: "I saw the Lord." Isaiah is being allowed to see something majestic, amazing, and great. Listen to what Isaiah saw. "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple." This is a declaration of power. God's train fills the whole temple. I was too young, a boy, and did not care, but when Princess Diana was married, do you remember how long the train of her dress was? It was ridiculously long. That is not an accident but a picture of power and majesty. Further, no king rules on the level of his subjects. The throne is always on a platform so that the king is higher than all who approach him. God is seen as on the throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe fills the whole temple. Look at what is going on around this throne room scene. Above the Lord sitting on the throne stood seraphim. We do not know what seraphim are except some kind of spiritual beings. The word "seraph" literally means "burning ones" and is the same word used for the fiery serpents in the wilderness. All that we know about these seraphim is what we read in verse 2: they have six wings, two cover the face, two cover the feet, and they fly with the other two. The seraphs say to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" The foundations of the thresholds are shaking at the voice of him who called and the house was filled with smoke. The holiness of God is the focal point of this scene. God's name is qualified by the adjective "holy" in the Old Testament more than all other qualifiers combined. God's voice is booming. The foundations are shaking. Smoke has filled the room. The train of his robe has filled the temple. The seraphim are calling out to each, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts." What is Isaiah's response to this whole scene? Is his response that this is a pretty cool thing to see? Does he stand in amazement and awe? Please hear the words of Isaiah: "Woe is me! I am ruined!" Combining the other translations, "I am lost, undone, doomed, ruined, and destroyed!" Isaiah thinks that it is over for him! This is what the holiness of God looks like. We cannot approach God. We cannot be near God. We cannot come to God. We can have nothing to do with God. We are ruined and doomed before the majestic Lord Almighty. When we see people fear God, the fear is not because humanity is in the presence of the divine. People fear God because they are conscious of their sinfulness in the presence of his purity. God is holy. He is unapproachable. He is separate. We see this in the very words of Isaiah. Isaiah does not say, "Woe is me because I am finite and you are infinite." He does not say, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:29 Don’t Hide Your Face (Psalm 102) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/dont-hide-your-face.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/dont-hide-your-face.html#comments Sun, 14 Oct 2012 19:00:59 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3256 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/dont-hide-your-face.html/feed 0 psalm 102 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 33:38 Isaiah 5, Receiving The Grace of God In Vain http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/receiving-grace-of-god-in-vain.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/receiving-grace-of-god-in-vain.html#comments Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:00:16 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2839 It is a frightening statement. It is possible to receive the grace of God in vain. The apostle Paul gave such a warning to the Corinthians: “Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” (2 Corinthians 6:1 ESV) The image Paul uses is that of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/receiving-grace-of-god-in-vain.html/feed 0 grace of god,isaiah 5 It is a frightening statement. It is possible to receive the grace of God in vain. The apostle Paul gave such a warning to the Corinthians: "Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. It is a frightening statement. It is possible to receive the grace of God in vain. The apostle Paul gave such a warning to the Corinthians: "Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain." (2 Corinthians 6:1 ESV) The image Paul uses is that of receiving this amazing gift of salvation from the Lord only to throw it away. This is exactly what the people of God, as the nation of Israel, did. God had chosen them and blessed them. Look at the description of God's goodness and blessings to the people in Isaiah 5:1-7. The Song of the Vineyard (5:1-7) Isaiah sings a song concerning God and his vineyard. As we read this song you will notice how Israel is being described as the vineyard. It is a love song that God has for the vineyard. Listen to the loving actions of the Lord. The Lord cleared the stones, planted choice vines, and built a watchtower in its midst. Building a watchtower in the midst of the vineyard depicts permanent residence. God was living among his people. He also cut out a wine vat in the vineyard, suggesting a permanent storage place as God expected abundant fruit from his vineyard. So the Lord looked for his vineyard, with which he had made every provision and given every opportunity, to yield grapes. But it yielded wild grapes instead. It yielded sour, worthless grapes. All of God's work and loving actions for the vineyard has not produced good fruit, but sour, stinking fruit. So now God asks the question: what more could he do for his vineyard? What more can I do that I have not already done to ensure that fruit would come from this vineyard? There was no reason for this vineyard to yield worthless grapes. What can be done for the people of God when a total work of grace has been lavished on them and yet they remain as if grace never touched them? To illustrate this another way: what would you do if you plant a fruit tree or plant and it did not bear the fruit you were looking for it to bear? No matter how much work you put into that plant or tree, no matter how much fertilizer you put on it, no matter how much you cared for it, it simply would not produce good fruit. What you do? You would rip it out! God has done all he could for the vineyard. He is not responsible for the sour grapes that were produced. So what is God going to do? Listen to what God says he would do in verses 5-6. He will tear the vineyard down. The abandonment of an unprofitable venture was to be expected. If the vineyard had born true fruit, no hand could have touched it. All the blessings, all the provisions, all the protection, and all the grace was going to be removed. The only thing worth doing to the vineyard is ripping it out and demolishing it. Notice how verse 7 gives the explanation of this song. The vineyard is the house of Israel and the people of Judah were the Lord's pleasant planting. The Lord looked for justice and found bloodshed. He looked for righteousness and found outcries of distress. So what were the people doing such that they had received the blessings and grace of God in vain? Receiving Grace In Vain (5:8-30) They do not regard the works of the Lord (5:12). Verses 8-11 reveals a people who are consumed by worldliness. Their hearts do not regard the works and the ways of God. Instead, the people are consumed with adding fields and homes to their possessions. They are feasting and partying and do not pay attention to the ways of God. Verse 11 shows people are chasing after alcohol rather than pursuing the Lord. Their efforts to seek after the desires and pursuits of this world cause them to be blind to the work of God's hands. This is a useful lesson to us. We are unable to see the hand of God working in our lives when our focus is on this life. The scriptures explicitly tell us to not be consumed with the affairs of this life, but to be consumed with the life we have in God. "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:39 Isaiah 3-4, The Branch http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/the-branch.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/the-branch.html#comments Sun, 07 Oct 2012 23:00:18 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2833 In chapter 2 we saw Isaiah cry out to the people to put away their idols and no longer trust in themselves. Humans are just a breath and there is nothing within a human to trust. Humans have no control over anything in this life. Isaiah continues describing the coming judgment of the Lord and [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/the-branch.html/feed 0 isaiah 3,isaiah 4,judgment In chapter 2 we saw Isaiah cry out to the people to put away their idols and no longer trust in themselves. Humans are just a breath and there is nothing within a human to trust. Humans have no control over anything in this life. In chapter 2 we saw Isaiah cry out to the people to put away their idols and no longer trust in themselves. Humans are just a breath and there is nothing within a human to trust. Humans have no control over anything in this life. Isaiah continues describing the coming judgment of the Lord and reason for these judgments. Judgments Decreed (3:1-7) Isaiah pictures the total upheaval of their society as the hand of the Lord in judgment. Supplies of food and water will be taken away. Further, the heroes and warriors, judges and prophets, fortune tellers and elders, captains and ranked officials, counselors and magicians will also be taken away. The whole support system to the nation and its capitol will be removed. The governmental system will be so shattered that boys will become rulers and infants will be asked to take charge. God uses a humorous picture to depict how much loss there will be in the coming judgment. You will suffer such loss that you will be asking for children to take leadership roles. With this lack of government security there is will be an increase of defrauding and oppression (3:5). The judgment will be so extensive that if a person has a cloak, he will be called upon as a ruler and he will rule over a pile of rocks. Things will be so bad that people will refuse to take any roles in leadership. Reasons For Judgment (3:8-12) Verse 8 gives the first reason in this section as to why the Lord is crippling the nation. Judah has fallen "because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord." The Lord declares that the look on the people's faces testifies against them. They do not care about their sins. In fact, shamefully, they proclaim their sins like Sodom. It is not that they are practicing sin but that they openly proclaim their sins. There is no effort to hide their sins. Please notice the comparison to Sodom, a city that was judged its sexual sins to our nation now. No longer do Americans hide their sins like they did before. There has been a shift in our society from covering over sins to openly proclaiming sins. All of these sins have been going on for thousands and thousands of years. But the Lord notes the shift of no longer hiding their sins. There is no shame in what they are doing. They are proud of their sinful ways. Therefore they have brought this evil upon themselves. This will be a repeated theme in this chapter: the boomerang effect of sin. The sinner has his own paymaster. The judgment is coming because of their own actions. You have done this to yourselves. Listen to the repetition: "For they have brought evil on themselves" (3:9), "For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds" (3:10), and "For what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him" (3:10). Your practice of sins and glorification of those sins is God's reason for the nation's doom. It will go well for the righteous but not for the wicked. For the sins committed God will judge. Their leaders have led them astray. The people have bought into the foolish proclamations of the nation concerning sins that have led the people off the path of the Lord. In verse 12 Isaiah notes that the leaders are guiding the people down the wrong paths and the people are following them. Rather than leading the people in the ways of the Lord, they are guiding you down the paths of confusion leading to destruction. The boomerang effect of sin have powerful outcomes according to the scriptures, neither of which we often consider. The first boomerang effect of sin is dealing with the consequences now for our poor choices and sinful decisions. "The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin" (Proverbs 5:22 ESV). Sin has very powerful consequences to our lives today and to the lives of those we know and do not know. The second boomerang effect of sin is the eternal consequence. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23 ESV). We must let the concept of the wages of sin sink deeply into our hearts. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:19 1 Kings 2, Kingdom First http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/messy_lives/kingdom-first.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/messy_lives/kingdom-first.html#comments Sun, 07 Oct 2012 14:00:06 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2829 Jesus commanded his disciples to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). But what does it look like to seek the kingdom first? The final words of King David to his son Solomon are parallel as he gives his final instructions. The second chapter of 1 Kings records that David is [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/messy_lives/kingdom-first.html/feed 0 1 kings 2,david,solomon Jesus commanded his disciples to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). But what does it look like to seek the kingdom first? The final words of King David to his son Solomon are parallel as he gives his final instructions. Jesus commanded his disciples to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). But what does it look like to seek the kingdom first? The final words of King David to his son Solomon are parallel as he gives his final instructions. The second chapter of 1 Kings records that David is about to pass away and this is David's final opportunity to give wise words to his son about the kingdom. Listen to the instructions of David in 1 Kings 2:2-4. Live A Life of Faith There are two instructions that fit within this need to live a life of faith. David says, "Be strong, and show yourself a man." David is not telling his son to go lift weights, to be physically strong, or to make sure look like a man. These are spiritual instructions regarding Solomon and his life in the kingdom. Let's look at these two instructions. First, David tells Solomon to be strong. This is a common instruction in scriptures. Moses tells Joshua to be strong and courageous when Joshua is about to take over the leadership of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, 23). The Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:7) and follows a parallel instruction to what we read David giving Solomon here. Be strong means to faithfully carry out one's responsibility to the Lord even in the face of danger and frightening circumstances. Do not give in to fear or hopelessness. Be strong in your faith. Be strong in the Lord. Notice that the apostle Paul gave the same instructions to the Ephesians. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (Ephesians 6:10 ESV) The apostle Paul also gave the same instructions to the Corinthians at the end of his first letter. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13–14 ESV) Be strong to withstand the attacks of the power of darkness. The kingdom of God is under attack. Our souls are under attack. Be strong and watch what is going on around you and in your life. Satan is launching flaming darts at you (Ephesians 6:16). Don't give up! Oh how I think we need to hear this instruction today. The scriptures would not call for us to be strong if carrying out our responsibilities to the Lord were easy. Being a Christian is going to be hard. You are going to make hard decisions and face difficult situations. Be strong! Fight against sexual temptation. Fight against impurity. Be strong against Satan's tactics in your life as he attacks your weaknesses. Tied closely to this point is David's instruction to "show yourself a man." The apostle Paul told the Corinthians Christians to "act like men" (1 Corinthians 16:13). It surprises how often people bristle at this kind of language. The scriptures do not make the comparison to not act like a woman but to act like a man. That is not what the authors are doing and we too quickly impose our political correctness and gender sensitivities on these passages. The scriptures do not contrast acting like a man and not like a woman. Rather the scriptures contrast acting like a man and not like a child. Don't act childish. Act like an adult. Listen again to the apostle Paul. Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. (1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Ephesians 4:11–14 ESV)Do not be naive and immature when it comes to spiritual matters. David is calling for his son to show maturity. Don't go along with every idea. Don't go along with what other people want. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 26:56 Covenant With God http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/covenant-with-god.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/covenant-with-god.html#comments Sun, 30 Sep 2012 19:00:13 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3254 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/covenant-with-god.html/feed 0 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 38:10 Psalm 91 http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/psalm-91.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/psalm-91.html#comments Sun, 30 Sep 2012 10:00:26 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3251 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/psalm-91.html/feed 0 psalm 91 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 33:51 Isaiah 2, Glory To God and His Kingdom http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/glory-to-god-and-his-kingdom.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/glory-to-god-and-his-kingdom.html#comments Sun, 23 Sep 2012 23:00:45 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2810 The Arrival of a Glorious Kingdom (2:1-5) Isaiah begins a new prophecy describing the coming of the glorious kingdom, offering hope to the people of God. God describes his future kingdom to present a vision of what God would ultimately do in Zion so the people can choose to either be part of the plan [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/glory-to-god-and-his-kingdom.html/feed 0 1 john 2,kingdom of god The Arrival of a Glorious Kingdom (2:1-5) Isaiah begins a new prophecy describing the coming of the glorious kingdom, offering hope to the people of God. God describes his future kingdom to present a vision of what God would ultimately do in Zion so th... The Arrival of a Glorious Kingdom (2:1-5) Isaiah begins a new prophecy describing the coming of the glorious kingdom, offering hope to the people of God. God describes his future kingdom to present a vision of what God would ultimately do in Zion so the people can choose to either be part of the plan or not. The "last days" or "latter days" point to the arrival of the Messianic age, a new era, when God's glorious kingdom would arrive. In this new era God will bring about a new relationships with Israel and with the world. Isaiah says that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the highest of the mountains. The mountain carries a symbolism of a kingdom or power (cf. Jeremiah 51:25). Therefore, there will be a time when the kingdom of the Lord will be greater than all other kingdoms. This is what Daniel prophesied also. 31 "You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:31–35 ESV) 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure." (Daniel 2:40–45 ESV) Notice that the vision is of a stone striking and shattering the statue. Then the stone becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth. Isaiah continues to picture the nations flowing to this glorious kingdom. Isaiah pictures streams of people coming to Zion. People from all the nations and many peoples will be thronging to Zion. Why are they going there? The people will go to Zion because they will have the desire to be taught by God and walk in his paths. This is a contrast to current Israel in the day of Isaiah who are rebelling against him. When this restored kingdom comes, the people will desire to participate in it. People will flow to this kingdom (Zion) because it will be the place where instruction goes out. God will teach the people so that they can obey and have proper conduct in the ways of God. God will be the teacher and people will flow to him to listen to him. When the people come to him, they will trust God and submit to his just decisions. God's word will be the standard by which all matters are judged. This kingdom would not be defended or extended by fleshly warfare (cf. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:39 1 Kings 1, Foolish Exaltation http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/messy_lives/foolish-exaltation.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/messy_lives/foolish-exaltation.html#comments Sun, 23 Sep 2012 14:00:48 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2812 Selfish Ambition King David is old and frail. The mighty king David has come to the end of his time. Just like every person, there is the time when life is about to come to an end. So it is a time of succession. Who is going to to be the next king over Israel? [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/messy_lives/foolish-exaltation.html/feed 0 1 kings 1,adonijah Selfish Ambition King David is old and frail. The mighty king David has come to the end of his time. Just like every person, there is the time when life is about to come to an end. So it is a time of succession. Selfish Ambition King David is old and frail. The mighty king David has come to the end of his time. Just like every person, there is the time when life is about to come to an end. So it is a time of succession. Who is going to to be the next king over... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 29:58 The Faith of Daniel (Daniel 6) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/faith-of-daniel.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/faith-of-daniel.html#comments Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:00:40 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3249 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/faith-of-daniel.html/feed 0 daniel 6,faith A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 44:20 Isaiah 1:21-31, Restore Us Again http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/restore-us-again.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/restore-us-again.html#comments Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:00:55 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2805 The Need For Purification (1:21-26) The first section of this part of Isaiah’s prophecy is about the nation’s need for purification. Verses 21-23 paint the sad picture of a righteous nation becoming full of sin. The faithful city has become a prostitute. The nation full of justice and righteousness is full of murderers now. The [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/restore-us-again.html/feed 0 isaiah 1 The Need For Purification (1:21-26) The first section of this part of Isaiah's prophecy is about the nation's need for purification. Verses 21-23 paint the sad picture of a righteous nation becoming full of sin. The faithful city has become a prostitute. The Need For Purification (1:21-26) The first section of this part of Isaiah's prophecy is about the nation's need for purification. Verses 21-23 paint the sad picture of a righteous nation becoming full of sin. The faithful city has become a prostitute. The nation full of justice and righteousness is full of murderers now. The Lord is praising the past but lamenting the present. The Lord contrasts what he intended and what he received. He intended faithfulness but received prostitution. He intended righteousness but received murder. One of the interesting observations we need to make is how infidelity to God leads to infidelity toward people. When we are not faithful to the Lord and his commands the result is the mistreatment of other humans. People become self-serving and live for their own personal advantages. Verses 23 reflects the social situation in the nation. The princes are rebels. They are friends with thieves. All the people love a bribe and run after gifts. There is no concern about others but the financial impact for ourselves. If I can make more money then I will do it without any regard for the impact it has on other people. Verse 23 continues to describe the lack of justice to the orphans and the failure to uphold the cause and needs of the widows. They are seeking possessions and wealth at any cost. There is a blatant disregard for the innocent. They ignore the needs of the people and do not care about who is hurt. We must feel the similarity of circumstances from Isaiah's day to our day. When we reject God as our ethical standard, there is nothing to stop us from committing all kinds of atrocities against each other. This is the critical failure of atheism or any removal of God from our society and from our government. If God is not the reason for constraining my actions, then what reason is there to constrain my desires? If there is no God or judgment, then why can't I rip you off? Why can't I steal from you? Why can't I mistreat you? Why can't I harm you? Moral and ethical degeneration explodes when we reject the will of the Lord. If I do not answer to the Lord, then I answer to myself and I will do whatever I want. Government, corporations, and businesses will exploit people because they consist of people. People run these things. Neighbor will raise his hand against his neighbor because there is no ethical or moral standard. Therefore, as verse 22 describes, there is total degeneration. The people are not pure but are completely tainted by sin. Their silver has become dross. Their best wine has been mixed with water. There is nothing good. There is nothing pure or right in their actions. Social justice cannot take place through legislation. Social justice will only be effective when hearts and lives are faithful to the Lord. Verses 24-26 describe the coming purification. God is determined to have a purified people. Notice the powerful self-declaration of the Lord in verse 24: "The Lord, the Lord of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel." The word translated "hosts" in most translations refers to a host of armies. This is a declaration of the power of the Lord, the Lord who commands heaven's armies, the Mighty One of Israel. The powerful Lord is going to act. He is going to get relief from his enemies and avenge himself on his foes. Please consider who the enemies of God are in this prophecy: the people of God! Judah and Jerusalem are the foes. They are the enemies of the Lord because of their sinfulness. They were supposed to be God's people but they have become God's enemies. After reading the charges of verses 21-23 and reading the firm, angry resolve of the Lord in verse 24, what would expect God to do? Rather than total annihilation for sins, God promises redemption. Rather than turning his hand against the people in hostility, the Lord describes the coming restoration. The Lord is going to thoroughly purge his people of the dross that has corrupted their silver. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:27 Isaiah 1:10-20, Repentance Driven Worship http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/repentance-driven-worship.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/repentance-driven-worship.html#comments Sun, 09 Sep 2012 23:00:39 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2796 Isaiah’s prophecy began with a declaration of the sinfulness of the people. God has charged them with rebellion, which is foolish rebellion because God had provided for the nation. Therefore the nation of Judah is experiencing judgment for rejecting the Lord. But in his grace, God has not allowed the nation to completely consumed like [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/repentance-driven-worship.html/feed 0 isaiah 1,rebellion,repentance,worship Isaiah's prophecy began with a declaration of the sinfulness of the people. God has charged them with rebellion, which is foolish rebellion because God had provided for the nation. Therefore the nation of Judah is experiencing judgment for rejecting th... Isaiah's prophecy began with a declaration of the sinfulness of the people. God has charged them with rebellion, which is foolish rebellion because God had provided for the nation. Therefore the nation of Judah is experiencing judgment for rejecting the Lord. But in his grace, God has not allowed the nation to completely consumed like Sodom and Gomorrah. Survivors remain because God's grace continues to shine in the face of rejection and sin. The Lord's Displeasure (1:10-11) The declaration begins with a serious insult to the nation, calling them spiritually Sodom and Gomorrah. The rulers and the people have a Sodom-like offensiveness to the Lord. In verse 11 the Lord describes his displeasure with these people. God does not call them "his sacrifices" but "your sacrifices." God says these sacrifices are not for me but for yourselves. Listen to the threefold decrying of these sacrifices: "What are the multitude of these sacrifices to me?" — "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams" — "I do not delight in the blood of bulls." These sacrifices mean nothing to God, add nothing to God, and do nothing for God. We must be amazed by this because God commanded these sacrifices. Page after page through the book of Leviticus we read the commands for the sacrifices that God required. Consider what God is saying: you are giving the sacrifices I've commanded and I do not want them and have had enough of them. I have no joy in these sacrifices you are bringing. The Lord is about to explain why he has had enough of their sacrifices and has no delight in them. But we before we explore those verses we need to consider that there is worship that God does not accept. There is worship that God does not delight in, does not want, and will not accept. What The Lord Has Not Asked (1:12-15) All of their coming to worship with their animals is nothing more than the noise of shuffling feet and clacking of hooves on the pavement. There is plenty of religious activity, but God is not pleased with what is happening. All of this activity is just an incessant noise to the Lord. This is not what God wants. Therefore, do not bring any more of your vain offerings. The incense is an abomination. The Lord cannot endure iniquity and solemn assemblies. Isaiah now explains to us the problem. The people are coming to God in worship while their lives are happily continuing in sinful living. Their unconfessed, unrepentant sins make their worship intolerable to God. God is offended by hollow worship. We often do not think that God hates our worship when we are not in repentance to him. Listen to verse 14: "Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates." The equivalent statement in our time would be, "I hate with all my heart." God cannot stand their worship. He hates it with all of his heart.  All that God sees is their blood stained hands. God cannot stand our worship when we are full of unrepentant sin. Further, notice that God declares that our prayers are blocked and we are out of relationship with God when we have unrepentant sins. The Lord declares the withdrawal of divine favor. Their prayers are ineffective because their prayers are not matched with godly lives. Even though we make many prayers God says he will not listen because our unrepentant sins block our relationship with God. What The Lord Requires (1:16-17) First, wash to make yourselves clean. There is cleansing of the heart that needs to occur. God is calling us to repent in obvious ways. Clean up your lives. Stop thinking that you can continue to practice your sins and still remain in God's favor. God does not want our worship if it does not come from repentant hearts. Further, God calls for the people to "remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes." The literal rendering is important here because Isaiah is not simply saying to remove your evil deeds. He is calling us to remove the evil of our deeds. The acts may already be done, but the evil remains. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 33:45 Luke 19:1-10, Repentance In The Kingdom http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/repentance-in-the-kingdom.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/repentance-in-the-kingdom.html#comments Sun, 09 Sep 2012 14:00:00 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2794 We have been studying the nature of the kingdom of God in this section of Luke. Luke has been answering two questions in these last few chapters, “Who is in the kingdom of God?” “Who is going to inherit eternal life?” Luke has put four stories together to drive into our hearts how the people [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/repentance-in-the-kingdom.html/feed 0 eternal life,luke 19,repentance,zacchaeus We have been studying the nature of the kingdom of God in this section of Luke. Luke has been answering two questions in these last few chapters, "Who is in the kingdom of God?" "Who is going to inherit eternal life? We have been studying the nature of the kingdom of God in this section of Luke. Luke has been answering two questions in these last few chapters, "Who is in the kingdom of God?" "Who is going to inherit eternal life?" Luke has put four stories together to drive into our hearts how the people you would not expect are in the kingdom while those who would expect to be in the kingdom will not enter. Jesus told a parable about a tax collector and a Pharisee. The Pharisee relied on his own morality and good works, while the tax collector relied on the mercy of God. The tax collector was justified not the Pharisee. The rich ruler is the proof of this parable. He thinks he has kept all of the Mosaic Law, but Jesus exposes that the rich ruler had broken the first commandment. He had an idol in his heart which was his wealth. He was unwilling to give up his wealth to follow Jesus. By contrast, a blind beggar saw his need for Jesus, crying out, "Son of David, be merciful to me." The blind beggar, though physically blind, was able to see his spiritual condition and knew he needed the mercy Jesus could offer. This brings us to the final surprising story to teach us who is in the kingdom of God. Zacchaeus, The Tax Collector Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and is passing through the city of Jericho as he goes. A crowd is following Jesus on this journey. There was a man named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and he is rich. As we have noted throughout our study of the gospels, the tax collectors were hated by the Jews, not only because they were considered traitors to the Jewish nation, but because they were greedy and charged far more than the Roman Empire demanded. Luke wants us to think this way about Zacchaeus. He is a chief tax collector and he is rich, no doubt because of his business practices. But he is seeking to see Jesus. But the crowd was so great and he was a shorter person, he could not see or approach Jesus. So he climbs a tree to be able to see Jesus pass by. As Jesus came to where Zaccheaus was, Jesus looked up into the tree and says something amazing. "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." I want you to hear the outrage of the crowd. They began grumbling when they heard these words. How can Jesus go and stay at this guy's house. He is a tax collector. He is a cheat. Listen to their words, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." How can Jesus stay with this person? Among the Jews it was unheard of for a rabbi or any other religious leader to lower himself by staying at the house of a tax collector. Please notice Jesus' words, "I must stay at your house." Just as Jesus had a divine appointment with the woman at the well in Samaria (John 4), Jesus has a divine appointment with this rich, chief tax collector. Receiving Salvation There are three things that Luke wants us to see in the response of this chief tax collector that reveals that salvation belongs to this man. First, he received Jesus joyfully. When Jesus tells Zacchaeus that he is going to stay in his house today, Zacchaeus hurries down from the tree and receives Jesus joyfully. This is an exciting thing. There is excitement in getting to know Jesus and spend time with him. "You will come into my house and spend time with me? How exciting!" So Zacchaeus hurries and receives Jesus joyfully. Luke draws the first contrast in this story between the rich ruler and this tax collector, Zacchaeus. The rich ruler was simply concerned with the minimum. What rule do I need to keep? What are my requirements? But look at Zacchaeus. He wants to know Jesus and spend time with him. It is not a question of what do I have to do, but a question of how can I see Jesus, meet Jesus, know Jesus, and spend time with Jesus. The attitude that is seeking Jesus is the attitude that finds salvation. Second, notice his new heart that leads to generosity. When the people are complaining about Jesus going to this vile tax collector's home, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 31:48 Balaam’s Block (Numbers 22-25) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/balaams-block.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/balaams-block.html#comments Sun, 02 Sep 2012 19:00:51 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3245 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/balaams-block.html/feed 0 balaam,numbers 22,numbers 23,numbers 24,numbers 25 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 42:10 John 4:43-54, The Problem of Unbelief http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/problem-of-unbelief.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/problem-of-unbelief.html#comments Sun, 02 Sep 2012 14:00:45 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2786 One of the arching themes in these first four chapters of John is belief. What is true belief? Who will believe in Jesus? Nicodemus came to Jesus with belief: “We know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” But [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/problem-of-unbelief.html/feed 0 faith One of the arching themes in these first four chapters of John is belief. What is true belief? Who will believe in Jesus? Nicodemus came to Jesus with belief: "We know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unle... One of the arching themes in these first four chapters of John is belief. What is true belief? Who will believe in Jesus? Nicodemus came to Jesus with belief: "We know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." But Jesus shows him that he has insufficient belief. Nicodemus must experience the new birth, total regeneration of the heart to have saving faith. The same problem was illustrated in John 2:23-25. Many believed in his name when they saw the signs but Jesus did not entrust himself to them because he knew their hearts. John is dealing with what true belief looks like, since many seem to have faith and belief in Jesus, but it is insufficient, shallow faith. John returns to this problem of unbelief in the final paragraph of chapter 4. Unbelief Described (4:43-45) Jesus has been in Samaria and he stayed there two days. Many in Samaria believed because of the words he was teaching. They no longer believed because of the woman's testimony but their faith had deepened to belief in Jesus because they had heard him for themselves. They confess Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Now Jesus leaves and continues to Galilee. Remember in John 4:3 that Jesus needed to leave Judea and was going to Galilee. But Jesus had this appointment with the woman at the well. Now Jesus continues his journey to Galilee and a curious statement is made in verse 44. He is going to Galilee and he had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown. But then verse 45 says that when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. The whole story does not seem to make any sense. He is going to Galilee, where is not going to receive any honor, yet the Galileans welcome him. In Samaria Jesus has enjoyed unqualified, unopposed, and open-hearted success. Now Jesus is going to return to his own people, the Jews, and the response is not going to be the same. Jesus finds acceptance with the Samaritans but rejection with his own people. The Samaritans believed because of what Jesus said (4:42). This belief has led to their salvation because they recognize Jesus to be the Savior of the world. They are experiencing the life changing faith that Jesus is calling for. However, this is not true with his own people. Looking at verse 45, notice that the Galileans welcome Jesus, but look at the reason why. They have seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. They are welcoming him because of the signs. But Jesus does not want "wow" belief but new birth. Jesus is not trying to generate in people's hearts a "wow, that was neat" belief. Jesus is trying to generate life-change, new birth, fully transforming faith. The despised Samaritans turn to Christ in faith while the historical covenant community of God either oppose Jesus or cannot progress beyond a fascination for miracles. This goes back to the point John made at the beginning of this gospel: "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him" (John 1:11). Jesus is not being honored for who he is but what he was able to do. And the same false belief exists today. There are many who believe in Jesus on the basis of some shallow, physical benefit that can be derived from him. They do not believe because he is the Savior who has forgiven their sins and saved them from eternal punishment. Rather they believe because the church is nice, the music is good, some sort of financial gain, or some other shallow reason. When we turn worship into what we get out of it or what we like, then we do not have life transforming faith that Jesus expects. When we serve Jesus for what we get out of it or do what we like, then we do not have life transforming faith that Jesus expects. The people believe in Jesus because of what they can get from him. Rather than Jesus being the treasure, the treasure is what we can get out of Jesus. The problem is that people are not coming to Jesus for mercy and salvation, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 33:00 Luke 18:31-43, Finding Mercy In The Kingdom http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/finding-mercy-in-the-kingdom.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/finding-mercy-in-the-kingdom.html#comments Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:00:53 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2774 One of the great attributes of God is his mercy toward his creation. God creates people to be in his likeness only to watch each person ever made rebel against him. Jesus is going to tell us in this section how mercy is given to the people he made who have rebelled. Jesus Has To [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/finding-mercy-in-the-kingdom.html/feed 0 death of jesus,luke 18,savior One of the great attributes of God is his mercy toward his creation. God creates people to be in his likeness only to watch each person ever made rebel against him. Jesus is going to tell us in this section how mercy is given to the people he made who ... One of the great attributes of God is his mercy toward his creation. God creates people to be in his likeness only to watch each person ever made rebel against him. Jesus is going to tell us in this section how mercy is given to the people he made who have rebelled. Jesus Has To Die (18:31-34) For mercy to come to the world, Jesus has to die. This is the sixth announcement of Jesus' death. Jesus gives a detailed prediction of all that will happen when they go to Jerusalem. But notice that this is the prophetic plan of God. Everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. First, Jesus would be handed over to the Gentiles. The Jews will not kill Jesus themselves. They will turn Jesus over to the Gentiles as a criminal. Second, Jesus will be mocked. He will not receive any respect. He will not be honored as the king that he is. Rather, they will make fun of him for his claim of kingship. Third, Jesus will be shamefully treated. Not only will the mockery be of words, but also in action. They will put a scarlet robe on him, a crown of thorns, and reed in his hand, and bow down to him in mockery of his claim. Fourth, Jesus will be spit on. What vile and disgusting treatment to be spit on. Fifth, Jesus will be flogged. This was a custom that was often part of the crucifixion process. Based upon the prophecy in Isaiah 52:14 and the short time Jesus lasts on the cross, the evidence points to Jesus being severely flogged. Sixth, Jesus will be killed. Consider the weight of the words Jesus is saying. We are going to Jerusalem and I am going to be killed. Also notice that nothing that is about to happen is a surprise to Jesus. There is nothing that will transpire that is by accident. The prophets predicted these evident. None of these actions catch Jesus off guard. To make any suggestion that the death of Jesus was not part of the plan is completely false. Jesus' rejection and death was the plan of God. Jesus is predicting it and is going to Jerusalem anyway. This is the way that mercy is going to come to the world. This is way that Jesus will save people from their sins. Seventh, on the third day Jesus will rise. How amazing is this? Not only is Jesus predicting with death with amazing details, but now he is predicting his resurrection! They are going to kill him but in three days he will raise from the dead. But none of these things were understood by his disciples. This did not fit the disciples' expectations or understanding of the Messiah. How is it possible for the Messiah, the Savior of the world, to die? It is difficult for us to appreciate how surprising this road Jesus is taking would be. The road for our mercy is the road of suffering and death for the Savior. The Cry For Mercy (18:35-43) As Jesus comes near Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, there was a blind man sitting by the roadside begging. It is important to keep in mind that there was not a social welfare system to deal with those with disabilities. The disabled relied upon their families and the good hearts of those who passed by. There was nothing else a disabled person could do. While sitting on the roadside, the blind man hears a crowd go by and asks what the great noise is all about. The crowd tells him that Jesus of Nazareth is walking by. The blind man cries out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Those who were in the front of the crowd rebuked this blind man, telling him to keep quiet. But the blind man shouts all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stops and has the blind man brought to him. Then Jesus asks what he wants him to do. The blind man responds, "Lord, let me recover my sight." Jesus tells him "Recover your sight; your faith has made you well." Immediately the man recovered his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. When all the people saw this, they also gave praise to God. Now, let's consider what Luke is doing in this chapter. The rich ruler desired eternal life but did not receive it. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 27:28 The Power of the Resurrection (Philippians 3:7-14) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/power-of-the-resurrection.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/power-of-the-resurrection.html#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:00:16 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3242 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/power-of-the-resurrection.html/feed 0 philippians 3 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:59 Luke 18:15-30, Sacrificing All For The Kingdom http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/sacrificing-all-for-the-kingdom.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/sacrificing-all-for-the-kingdom.html#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2012 14:00:01 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2766 In our last lesson we examined Jesus’ parable concerning a Pharisee and a tax collector. The surprise of the story was that the tax collector was justified and belonged to the kingdom of God while the Pharisee, the religious, moral person was not justified. The reason was the tax collector revealed humility and recognition of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/sacrificing-all-for-the-kingdom.html/feed 0 kingdom of god,luke 18,ministry of jesus In our last lesson we examined Jesus' parable concerning a Pharisee and a tax collector. The surprise of the story was that the tax collector was justified and belonged to the kingdom of God while the Pharisee, the religious, In our last lesson we examined Jesus' parable concerning a Pharisee and a tax collector. The surprise of the story was that the tax collector was justified and belonged to the kingdom of God while the Pharisee, the religious, moral person was not justi... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 32:26 John 4:27-42, The Savior of the World http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/savior-of-the-world.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/savior-of-the-world.html#comments Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:00:06 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2752 We are continuing the story told to us by the apostle John about Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. Jesus has been engaged in conversation about living water with the Samaritan woman. Jesus has just revealed to the woman that he is the Christ whose arrival they have been long awaiting. As a [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/savior-of-the-world.html/feed 0 john 4,savior We are continuing the story told to us by the apostle John about Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well. Jesus has been engaged in conversation about living water with the Samaritan woman. Jesus has just revealed to the woman that he is the Christ... We are continuing the story told to us by the apostle John about Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well. Jesus has been engaged in conversation about living water with the Samaritan woman. Jesus has just revealed to the woman that he is the Christ whose arrival they have been long awaiting. As a reminder, Jesus has exposed her sin to awaken her from her spiritual blindness so she will see that she needs the living water leading to eternal life that Jesus is offering. True Satisfaction (4:27-34) As Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan woman, the disciples return from the city. Remember that they had gone into the city to buy food (cf. John 4:8). The disciples are astonished that Jesus is talking to this Samaritan woman. But they respect Jesus too much to question what he is doing. So it is evident that Jesus' disciples need some instruction which is about to happen. The Samaritan woman, in her excitement, leaves her water jar, goes into the city and tells the people to come and see a man who could be the Christ. She has been moved from her spiritual darkness and blindness and is seeing what Jesus is offering. Therefore she is sharing the good news to the people in the city about who she has encountered. But the story leaves the woman and focuses on the training of the twelve. The disciples approach Jesus and urge him to eat. The disciples had gone into the city and have food for lunch. The chapter began by telling us that Jesus was weary from the journey to Samaria. So they urge him to eat and recover from the journey. Jesus responds, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." Jesus uses the same guarded language that he used with the Samaritan woman, trying to engage their spiritual hearts and minds. So the disciples naturally ask if someone brought him food to eat. Their purpose was to get food and now Jesus says that he has food that they don't know about. So Jesus explains, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." The work of Jesus, as we have seen in throughout this gospel, is to give eternal life. Jesus has come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world and give eternal life. Jesus is the light that has come into the darkness of the world to bring sight to the blind so that they will not perish. Jesus is exemplifying the words he quoted when Satan was trying to tempt him in the desert. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4 ESV) Jesus' works are God's works and that is his satisfaction. His food is doing what God has called him to do. There was greater satisfaction in teaching the Samaritan woman than any food the disciples could offer. Jesus is so engrossed with the woman's spiritual well-being that he does not care about anything else. Consider that Jesus went out of his way to teach his disciples something with this response. Jesus could have taken a bite to eat so that none of this discussion occurs. But Jesus wants his disciples to know something. Jesus wants to direct their hearts to higher, spiritual matters. Serving God and doing God's will is the ultimate priority. It is a greater priority than any physical demand. The work of God sustains the true disciple. Marriage does not sustain us. Food does not sustain us. Wealth does not sustain us. Nothing in this world brings us satisfaction except doing the work of God. That is what upholds our life. This is what it means to say that a person does not live on bread alone but by every word from the mouth of God. Jesus is showing this truth to us. Our joy and our life is to do the will of the Father. As the psalmist declares, "I have come to do God's will" (cf. Psalm 40:8). We are here for the express purpose of doing his will. In doing God's will we are doing God's work. Jesus said that in verse 34. Jesus is accomplishing and completing God's work. Disciples must also continue and complete the work of the Lord. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:31 Luke 18:9-14, Too Good To Be Saved http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/too-good-to-be-saved.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/too-good-to-be-saved.html#comments Sun, 05 Aug 2012 14:00:43 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2749 The gospel of Luke is continuing to ask and answer the question: Who is in the kingdom of God? Or to put the question another way: Who can be justified before God? In this parable Jesus is going to show who is justified before God and how such a one is justified. This parable is [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/too-good-to-be-saved.html/feed 0 kingdom of god,luke 18,parables of jesus The gospel of Luke is continuing to ask and answer the question: Who is in the kingdom of God? Or to put the question another way: Who can be justified before God? In this parable Jesus is going to show who is justified before God and how such a one is... The gospel of Luke is continuing to ask and answer the question: Who is in the kingdom of God? Or to put the question another way: Who can be justified before God? In this parable Jesus is going to show who is justified before God and how such a one is justified. This parable is going to show two people trying two different means to find justification. Before the parable begins, Luke tells us that Jesus told this parable to people who trusted in themselves for righteousness and treated others with contempt. The problem is clearly stated. Jesus is dealing with people who are trusting in themselves for salvation and justification. In trusting in themselves, they are treating other people with contempt. A term that we frequently use is that these people were self-righteous. So the parable is going to describe them and their error so they will understand how one enters the kingdom of God. Two Extremes The parable begins with two men going up to the temple for prayer. There were two periods of public prayer each day (9am and 3pm). We don't think of prayer in these terms but this is what the Jewish people did in the first century, and we see this prayer activity throughout the book of Acts. The two people who go up in this prayer are the two extremes in Jewish society. First, the Pharisees is one of the extremely religious people in that day. We have seen them on many occasions in our study of Luke's gospel. They were the people who showed contempt and filled with disdain for others who were not like them. The other person is the tax collector. The tax collector was the villain of the day. Consider how the complaint against Jesus was that he ate with sinners and tax collectors. Tax collectors were considered the worst of people, usually being thieves, extortioners, and traitors to the Jewish nation. Tax collectors were hated sinners. The two people are a contrast of extremes. The Pharisee represents the moral, righteous person. The tax collector represents the vile, immoral person. There are two ways to understand what the Pharisee does in the parable. He is either standing by himself as he begins his prayer or he is praying about himself, and the translations and scholars are divided about which way to understand what he does. I think the NET captures the idea well: "The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this:" As you read the prayer you will see that this is exactly what the Pharisee is doing. He is praying about himself. His prayer is not really toward God but in contempt toward others. The Pharisee shows his moral uprightness in the words of his prayer. The Pharisee exalts himself above others before God because of all his righteous acts. He is not an extortioner. He is not an adulterer. He is not even like this tax collector. He fasts twice a week and gives a tenth of all that he gets. This person is moral and he is extra religious. He fasts more than the law required and he is careful in giving a tenth of everything, as the law required. The Pharisee Why does he think that he is in the kingdom of God? How does he think justification occurs? He thinks he has justification because of all the things he is doing. He thinks he is a good, moral person. Look at all the good things he is doing. He is not like those awful people in the world. He is certainly not like this immoral, vile tax collector. This is what the religious and secular world thinks about justification today. People think that they just need to go to a church somewhere and they will be found justified in the sight of God. Some people think that they need to be charitable and give their money to others. Some think that they just need to be generally good, fairly moral, and not as bad as these other terrible people who are thieves and murderers. Most believe justification is found in "making a difference" and "leaving the world better than you found it." But here is the shocker to the story. According to verse 14, this person is not justified. The moral, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 37:39 A Call To The Thirsty (Isaiah 55) http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/call-to-the-thirsty.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/call-to-the-thirsty.html#comments Sun, 29 Jul 2012 19:00:57 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3240 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/call-to-the-thirsty.html/feed 0 isaiah 55 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 36:30 John 4:1-26, Living Water http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/living-water.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/living-water.html#comments Sun, 29 Jul 2012 14:00:23 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2742 The fourth chapter of John’s gospel tells a dramatic story of a planned encounter between Jesus and a woman from the area of Samaria. The point of the story is the same as all the stories we have seen thus far in this gospel: to show Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. John [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/living-water.html/feed 0 john 4 The fourth chapter of John's gospel tells a dramatic story of a planned encounter between Jesus and a woman from the area of Samaria. The point of the story is the same as all the stories we have seen thus far in this gospel: to show Jesus is the Christ, The fourth chapter of John's gospel tells a dramatic story of a planned encounter between Jesus and a woman from the area of Samaria. The point of the story is the same as all the stories we have seen thus far in this gospel: to show Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. John records this event for us as another convincing proof for who Jesus is. The first six verses set the scene for how this encounter comes about. Jesus learns that the Pharisees know that his popularity is greatly increasing. Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John. The Pharisees' attention is turning away from John (cf. John 1:24) and now they are going to focus their opposition to Jesus. Because of this, Jesus is going to leave Judea and go north to Galilee, away from Jerusalem, the heart of the Jewish leadership and rule. Before we move forward with our background of the story, I am compelled to spend a moment noting the parenthetical statement recorded in verse 2. Jesus himself did not actually baptize people, but his disciples did. John MacArthur makes an outlandish statement based on this verse. "The parenthetical note that Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were is impossible to reconcile with the doctrine of baptismal regeneration, the false teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation. Surely the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to 'seek and to save that which was lost' (Luke 19:10), would Himself have done whatever was necessary to bring sinners to salvation." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary) Friends, I hope sitting in your chairs you can quickly come up with a reason why Jesus would not be physically baptizing people himself, but having his disciples do it. I hope you can figure out the most obvious way to reconcile this information. What do you suppose would happen if Jesus was the person baptizing along with his disciples? Put yourself in the first century. If you were standing in line to be baptized, whose line do you think would be longer: Jesus or Bartholomew? Do you think there could be a problem if Jesus was actually baptizing people himself? Further, can you imagine what people would have said? There would have been boasting about being baptized by Jesus himself and not one of the apostles. In 1 Corinthians we see those Christians were boasting over which apostle baptized them. Paul is glad he did not baptize any of them because of that very problem (1 Corinthians 1:14-17). It happens even today where people want to be baptized by a particular preacher, as if who baptizes you has any meaning or impact at all. Jesus not baptizing does not point that baptism is not necessary. If baptism was not necessary, why are his disciples wasting time doing it? Jesus could use his time better teaching more people, not overseeing baptism in Judea! And why are people are submitting to it? The answer is obvious: if Jesus baptized people himself, numerous problems would occur. Verse 4 tells us that Jesus had to pass through Samaria. I do not believe this is talking about the geographical situation. To get to Galilee from Judea, many Jews would travel through Samaria. But this was not the only way to Galilee. One could cross the Jordan River to the east and travel through Perea and cross back to the west into Galilee. John's point is bigger than geography. The Lord has an appointment in Samaria. What is about to happen is not an accident, but part of the plan of God. So Jesus goes to Sychar in Samaria. Notice the emphasis that is being made because it is relevant to our story. The location is near the field that Jacob gave Joseph. In fact, this is well is Jacob's well. Jesus goes to this well and sits beside it. Please also notice verse 6. Jesus was wearied from his journey. The humanity of Jesus is being expressed. The gospel writers never hide but acknowledge the humanity of Jesus. God is in a body. Remember how this gospel began: "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 40:29 John 3:22-36, He Must Increase http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/he-must-increase.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/he-must-increase.html#comments Sun, 22 Jul 2012 23:00:54 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2732 John’s gospel continues to decisively point to the greatness of Jesus. Jesus is God who came in the flesh to deliver the people from their sins under which they are condemned. Jesus is greater than the blessings of the old covenant, as seen in the water to wine miracle. Jesus is greater than the physical [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/he-must-increase.html/feed 0 baptism,john 3 John's gospel continues to decisively point to the greatness of Jesus. Jesus is God who came in the flesh to deliver the people from their sins under which they are condemned. Jesus is greater than the blessings of the old covenant, John's gospel continues to decisively point to the greatness of Jesus. Jesus is God who came in the flesh to deliver the people from their sins under which they are condemned. Jesus is greater than the blessings of the old covenant, as seen in the water to wine miracle. Jesus is greater than the physical temple, fulfilling its symbolism. Jesus is now the place where we worship the Father. Jesus is the place where people come to meet God and find atonement for sins. Jesus fulfills the prophecies about water and spirit regeneration. Life transformation will occur for those who grasp the salvation God brought in the Son. The final verses of chapter 3 continue to teach about the superior greatness of Jesus. Glory Belongs To Jesus (3:25-30) Verse 22 reveals that the scene has changed. Jesus is no longer in a discussion with Nicodemus over the new birth and seeing the kingdom of God. Jesus and his disciples are going through the Judean countryside and they are baptizing in Judea. John the Baptizer is also baptizing at Aenon and people are coming to John for baptism. The scene is setting up for a competition. Jesus and his disciples are baptizing in Judea. John is baptizing and people are coming to him also. This sets up the question in verse 25 over purification between a Jew and John's disciples. I think it is worth mentioning at this point the connection between baptism and purification. This is not an incidental to the story. There is a reason that the apostle John introduced this dispute over purification with a description about Jesus and John baptizing. If baptism is not important and necessary, why are Jesus' disciples baptizing people? Why is John baptizing? Why is there a dispute over purification regarding these two baptisms? Even the apostle John, the author of this gospel, is highlighting the importance because he brings up this very point! Any suggestion that baptism is not necessary ignores the fact that Jesus' disciples are going around baptizing people. There must be a reason they are baptizing and the reason is tied to purification. Otherwise, why are Jesus' disciples baptizing and why does Jesus after his resurrection continue to command his disciples to go and baptize (cf. Matthew 28)? John's disciples come to him and tell him that Jesus is baptizing and everyone is going to him. His disciples see a problem. John the Baptizer is at the Jordan River baptizing people for the forgiveness of sins and toward repentance. But now that Jesus fellow that John was with is also baptizing. Even more, all the people are flocking to him. John is diminishing and his disciples see it. Everyone is going to Jesus and not to John. John's disciples seem to think this is a problem. Notice John's response: "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." (John 3:27 ESV) This is a humble and wise reply. God had granted John a particular task. John was on a mission defined by God. There is no room in the kingdom of God for jealousy. There is no room for rivalry. This is not a competition. John is making the point that he is not going to try to seize a greater position. John knows his role. He knows what he has been sent to do. This is a contrast to what we will see later in this gospel. The Pharisees are outraged that "the world has gone after him." They did not understand their position and purpose. John the Baptizer did. Servants of God know their roles. They know what they are supposed to do. Moses had the same kind of thinking as John the Baptizer. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, "My lord Moses, stop them." 29 But Moses said to him, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:41 Luke 18:1-8, Tenacious Faith http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/tenacious-faith.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/tenacious-faith.html#comments Sun, 22 Jul 2012 14:00:20 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2730 It is not too often when the narrative tells you the meaning of the parable before the parable is told. But this is the case in Luke 18. Jesus tells a parable that his disciples will pray and not lose heart. Jesus is concerned that his disciples will give up. He is concerned that they [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/luke/tenacious-faith.html/feed 0 luke 18,parables of jesus It is not too often when the narrative tells you the meaning of the parable before the parable is told. But this is the case in Luke 18. Jesus tells a parable that his disciples will pray and not lose heart. It is not too often when the narrative tells you the meaning of the parable before the parable is told. But this is the case in Luke 18. Jesus tells a parable that his disciples will pray and not lose heart. Jesus is concerned that his disciples will g... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 33:04 Paul’s Prayer, God’s Glory http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/pauls-prayer-gods-glory.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/pauls-prayer-gods-glory.html#comments Sun, 15 Jul 2012 19:00:33 +0000 Scott Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=3276 A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available.

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/pauls-prayer-gods-glory.html/feed 0 apostle paul,philippians 1,prayer A sermon from Scott Kercheville. - No text available. A sermon from Scott Kercheville. No text available. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 28:45 John 3:17-21, The Condemned http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/condemned.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/condemned.html#comments Sun, 15 Jul 2012 14:00:23 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2724 The apostle John continues his summary of the great news concerning God’s love toward the world. John 3:16 is the statement of fact concerning God’s love. This is the way God loved the world: he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life. God’s love is [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/condemned.html/feed 0 john 3 The apostle John continues his summary of the great news concerning God's love toward the world. John 3:16 is the statement of fact concerning God's love. This is the way God loved the world: he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him would n... The apostle John continues his summary of the great news concerning God's love toward the world. John 3:16 is the statement of fact concerning God's love. This is the way God loved the world: he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life. God's love is stated in a factual manner. This is the way God loved us. Verse 17 continues from verse 16 identifying God's purpose in sending his Son into the world. John is helping us grasp what God is doing through Jesus so that there is no confusion about the purpose of God's love. God's Purpose: Salvation, Not Condemnation (3:17-18) God sent Jesus to redeem humanity, not in wrath against humanity. This is an important framework to have in our minds as we think about God. God did not come against us in wrath. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world. This statement gets easily taken out of its context and used to suggest that God does not condemn anyone. But that is not at all the point of what John is saying. Verse 18 explains why God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world. The world was already condemned. Jesus did not have to come to his creation to condemn it. The creation is already condemned. We are already under condemnation from our sins. Carefully notice verse 18: not believing does not condemn us, because we are condemned already. John is moving our thinking away from believing that we are good people who are deserving of eternal life. We are not in the condition of doing nothing means that we are safe with God. We are condemned. Doing nothing maintains our condemnation. Something has to happen to change the outcome of our condemnation. If nothing else happens, then all of us will remain in the condemnation of our sins and, according to verse 16, we will perish. Jesus did not come to a morally neutral world. He came to a world of darkness already condemned from their sins. Therefore, God did not send his Son for our condemnation but for our salvation. Further, to not believe in the Son is to leave ourselves in our condemnation. Do not forget what we have learned in this chapter about belief. Belief is not acknowledgement or confession, but life transformation. Jesus described it a being "born again" and "born from above." A new birth has occurred, which is also described as being born of water and the Spirit. This is the new heart and new life that seeks to obey and desires the ways of the Lord. We must experience new birth in Jesus. Jesus is the only way out of our mess. Jesus is the only way to be set free from our condemnation. To use the imagery of verses 14-15, Jesus is the only way to be healed from the death sentence of sin. There is nothing for the condemned to do. The sentence has been passed. John reveals the verdict in verse 19. The Verdict (3:19-20) The judicial sentence has been passed. The NIV 2011 hits the picture well, "This is the verdict." The verdict is very sobering. Imagine being in the courtroom of God and listening to this verdict being declared in our trial. "The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." (John 3:19 ESV) The light is referring to Jesus. Jesus is the light who has come into the world (cf. John 1:5,9; 8:12). The light has come, but we loved the darkness because we are wicked, as seen by our actions. How sad! We would rather live for ourselves rather than be saved from our condemnation. What staggering sinfulness! The light has come into the world, and we still are living wickedly as if Jesus did not come. The light has come and there has not been life change in the hearts of the people. No transformation has occurred. There is something wrong! Let's relate this to the scene in the wilderness like Jesus did in verses 14-15. This would be like the people being bitten by the venomous snakes, the bronze snake being put on the pole for salvation from the venom, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 32:52 Isaiah 1:1-9, The Weight of Sin http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/weight-of-sin.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/weight-of-sin.html#comments Sun, 08 Jul 2012 23:00:12 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2713 The message of Isaiah begins with a declaration about who Isaiah is prophesying toward and when the prophesies were occurring. Isaiah was prophesying to Judah, the southern nation of the divided kingdom, and toward Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah. The reign of the listed kings gives us the approximate time frame of 767-686 BC. [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/isaiah/weight-of-sin.html/feed 0 isaiah 1 The message of Isaiah begins with a declaration about who Isaiah is prophesying toward and when the prophesies were occurring. Isaiah was prophesying to Judah, the southern nation of the divided kingdom, and toward Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah. The message of Isaiah begins with a declaration about who Isaiah is prophesying toward and when the prophesies were occurring. Isaiah was prophesying to Judah, the southern nation of the divided kingdom, and toward Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah. The reign of the listed kings gives us the approximate time frame of 767-686 BC. Isaiah likely began his prophetic work around 740 BC. Isaiah declares that he has received direct revelation from the Lord. This book is the recording of the things he heard and saw from the Lord. Lost In Sin The Lord begins by calling the heavens and earth to bear witness to the actions of the people. The Lord has spoken and has laid his charge. The people are not what they are supposed to be. The Father has reared his children. He nurtured and cared for them only to have them rebel against him. The construction speaks the audacity and pain of what the people of done. One literal translation is: "Sons I have nurtured and reared and they — they! — have rebelled against me!" (Motyer's translation). The audacity of turning against your own father. How painful it is to have your children rebel against you, after all you have done to rear and care for them. This is unbelievable for these people to have done in the face of God's gracious acts of adoption, election, and rearing. This is inexcusable rebellion! God cannot understand why his people do not know him or have a relationship with him. He describes two animals known for their stubbornness and speaks about how these stubborn animals have more sense than his people. The ox knows it owner and the donkey knows where he is fed and who feeds him. But God's people do not know their master and do not know who has been caring for them. They are more foolish than these stubborn animals. Our sins make donkeys look like geniuses. Unreasoning, stubborn beasts show more sense and appreciation than these people. We wander from false master to false master and are unmoved by God's love. Unbelievably, it seems that the people are unaware of their condition. They are unable to see who they are and what they have done. Verse 4 exposes the depths of their sinfulness. God declares his woe upon this sinful nation. Sadly, they had been called to be God's holy nation (Exodus 19:6). But they are not the holy people of God. They are the sinful nation. They are weighed down by sins. They are loaded down with their wickedness. Their sins are so great that God calls them children of evildoers and corrupted children. They have forsaken the Lord, despised/spurned the Holy One of Israel, and turned their backs on him, making them utterly estranged. They are like foreigners before God rather than his children. Friends, our sins are no small thing before our God. We frequently do not see our sins with the gravity with which God sees our sins. We do not see our sins as offending the holy character of God. "What is the big deal?," we think in our hearts. When someone approaches us about our sins, we become defensive and can't understand what the issue is. Listen to what you have done. You have forsaken the Lord, despised the Holy One of Israel, and are no longer his child but a stranger who is cut off from him. What is the big deal about sin? Everything! Sin is everything! Sin breaks fellowship with God. Rather than walking with God, we are worn down by our sins. God takes our sins seriously because it is an offense against him. It is a separation from him. Sin is the same as children rejecting and rebellion against their parents. We are telling God that what he has done for us as our Father is insufficient and unacceptable. Therefore we will turn to the world to find our joy and declare that there is no joy in the Lord. What an awful declaration our sins make! Look At Yourself! If this were not enough, then God tells us to look at ourselves and see our spiritual condition. God asks why we are so stubborn that we continue to experience punishment. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 26:39 John 3:16, Amazing Love http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/amazing-love.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/amazing-love.html#comments Sun, 08 Jul 2012 14:00:47 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2710 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 HCSB) Perhaps the most well known verse in all the scriptures. Perhaps the verse is so well known that it has lost its impact [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/amazing-love.html/feed 0 john 3,love "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 HCSB) Perhaps the most well known verse in all the scriptures. "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 HCSB) Perhaps the most well known verse in all the scriptures. Perhaps the verse is so well known that it has lost its impact and meaning to us. Let's come back to one of the greatest summaries of God's love in the scriptures and take a fresh look. John 3 has recorded a discussion between Jesus and a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus. Nicodemus has come to Jesus with an incomplete belief. He believes that Jesus has come from God because of the signs that he performs. But this belief was insufficient because it did not lead to life transformation, called "new birth," "born from above," "born of water and the Spirit", and "born again." Nicodemus wants to know how this new birth can occur. The answer is that God has made it possible. God has sent Jesus to the earth to deliver the people. Jesus presents a parallel to the sinful problem in the wilderness. While Israel was in the wilderness the people began to complain against God. Venomous snakes were sent as a consequence for their sins and the people were dying from the snake bites. The people acknowledge their sin and cry out to Moses and God for help. God instructs Moses to place a bronze snake on a pole so that whoever looks to the bronze snake for help would be healed from the venomous bite. Jesus says that just as the serpent was lifted up for the healing of the people, so also Jesus would be lifted up for the healing of the people. The reason for this lifting up of Jesus is explained in this famous text, John 3:16. For God Loved The World In This Way Once again we come across a double meaning in John's gospel. This verse is often understood only in terms of the intensity of God's love. "God so loved the world" is used to describe how much God loved. God's love was so deep for the entire creation. But the intensity of God's love is described in the rest of the verse as we read about what God did. A few translations like the HCSB give an alternate translation to help us understand what is being declared. "For God love the world in this way." It is not merely a declaration of the intensity of God's love but also the manner of God's love. The greater point is Jesus telling us that this is way God loved the world. This is the way we see the love of God. What we are reading is the demonstration of God's love. God made eternal life available because of his love for his creation. God loves humanity. It should truly be a shocking thought. How can it be possible for the infinite, all-powerful, holy God to love finite, weak, and sinful humanity? How can God love rebellious, sinful people? When the people of Israel were in the wilderness complaining about their journey, complaining about the food they are eating, complaining about Moses' leadership, and complaining about everything else along the way, the people were deserving of judgment and punishment. The people were even saying that God had brought them out into the desert to die. They are sinning, and not just sinning, but compounding their sins. They are not trusting in God. They are not believing in God. They are not surrendering their will to God. They are not acting like God's transformed people, but like worldly, selfish dolts. God loves this wicked world. We have to get the heart of God for the world into our hearts. This is amazing love that we have difficulty understanding. Paul tried to draw us closer to understanding this love. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us (Ephesians 2:4 ESV) …so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17–19 ESV) West Palm Beach church of Christ no 27:12 Exodus 24, The Blood of the Covenant http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/blood-of-covenant.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/blood-of-covenant.html#comments Sun, 10 Jun 2012 14:00:10 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2699 In previous studies I have observed with you the distinction in what is being remembered when the bread and fruit of the vine are taken. When Jesus took the bread he said to remember his body. Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/blood-of-covenant.html/feed 0 communion,Exodus 24,lords supper In previous studies I have observed with you the distinction in what is being remembered when the bread and fruit of the vine are taken. When Jesus took the bread he said to remember his body. Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, In previous studies I have observed with you the distinction in what is being remembered when the bread and fruit of the vine are taken. When Jesus took the bread he said to remember his body. Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26:26 ESV) And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." (Mark 14:22 ESV) And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19 ESV) For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV) Notice the consistency is what is to be remembered. Jesus said, "This is my body" in every account. Therefore, when we take the bread we are remembering the body that was sacrificed for our sins. We are remembering the cross. We are remembering the crucifixion of our Lord. But when Jesus came to the fruit of the vine he said to remember something different. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:27–28 ESV) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." (Mark 14:23–24 ESV) And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." (Luke 22:20 ESV) In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV) Notice again the consistency in what is to be remembered. In every account recorded Jesus said, "This is my blood of the covenant." This statement, "my blood of the covenant" is easy to quickly pass by because we are not Jews and have not made the Old Testament connection. In our lesson today we are going to look at what "the blood of the covenant" means and why it is relevant for us when we partake of the Lord's Supper. Turn in your Bibles to Exodus 24. The Blood of the Covenant in Exodus The scene in Exodus 24 is that the people of Israel are at Mount Sinai. The Law of God has been given, the ten commandments declared, and many other laws for the people to obey. After the law was given, God extends an invitation to Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders to worship the Lord. Moses alone was allowed to come near. This action shows an important principle: we cannot worship God without a mediator because we are sinners. Like the Israelites, we cannot approach the mountain of the Lord. When the tabernacle was constructed, no one could pass the veil into the presence of God. We need someone to go before God on our behalf. None of these actions can begin without a mediator. So Moses declares to the people all the words of the Lord and the laws. Listen to the answer of the people in verse 3, "All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do." The people understand that the grace of God constrains them to obey. Then Moses writes down all the words of the Lord and built an altar to the Lord at the base of the mountain. Watch what Moses does next. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. (Exodus 24:6 ESV) Moses takes the blood of the animal and divides half. Half the blood when into basins and the other half he throws against the altar. The blood against the altar symbolized the divine side of the transaction. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:16 John 3:8-15, New Birth – Part 2 http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/new-birth-2.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/new-birth-2.html#comments Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:20:25 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2690 We left off in the last lesson in the middle of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus about who will see the kingdom of God. Jesus has told Nicodemus that all of his righteous works and all of the works of the Law which separated him as a Jew from the Gentiles are not enough to enter [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/new-birth-2.html/feed 0 eternal life,holy spirit,john 3 We left off in the last lesson in the middle of Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus about who will see the kingdom of God. Jesus has told Nicodemus that all of his righteous works and all of the works of the Law which separated him as a Jew from the Genti... We left off in the last lesson in the middle of Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus about who will see the kingdom of God. Jesus has told Nicodemus that all of his righteous works and all of the works of the Law which separated him as a Jew from the Genti... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 51:29 My Life, His Glory http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/my-life-his-glory.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/my-life-his-glory.html#comments Sun, 03 Jun 2012 14:00:02 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2687 If there is a God who created the world and rules over his creation, then there are two questions that must be most pressing in our minds. (1) What is God’s purpose? We need to know what God is doing. Why did he make this creation? Why did he create humans? Why did he reveal [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/miscellaneous/my-life-his-glory.html/feed 0 question of life,there is a god If there is a God who created the world and rules over his creation, then there are two questions that must be most pressing in our minds. (1) What is God's purpose? We need to know what God is doing. Why did he make this creation? If there is a God who created the world and rules over his creation, then there are two questions that must be most pressing in our minds. (1) What is God's purpose? We need to know what God is doing. Why did he make this creation? Why did he create humans? Why did he reveal himself in scripture? Why did God come in the flesh to the earth? From creation to the new heavens and new earth, what is the point? What is God's purpose in these things? (2) What should our response be to his purpose? Once we learn what God is doing, then as his creation we must seek what we are supposed to do toward that purpose. To be a disciple means that I need to understand God's purpose. What is God's goal for this world? The question of life is not to first find out my purpose as if I have some sort of individual track that no one human on earth has. The question for life is to first find out God's purpose in this world so that I can understand my role in that plan. If we do not seek to understand God's goal, then we will find ourselves at odds with the very purposes of God and therefore excluded from his kingdom when he returns. What Is God's Purpose? First, let's consider the various events through time and examine the explanation God gives as to why he was doing what he did. The scriptures are clear about the purpose of the creation. Listen to the words of David as he penned one of his famous psalms. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:1–6 ESV) The creation is a proclamation to the glory of God. All that has been made has been given the purpose of displaying and proclaiming God's glory. The words of Psalm 148 validate this idea as the psalmist lists all the elements of the earth and creation giving praise and glory to God. "Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted!" (Psalm 148:13). Everything, including humans, are to be to the praise of God's glory. Everything exists for God. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:9–10 ESV) Listen to how Paul concludes his section of praise to God. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33–36 ESV) God gave Israel the same purpose: to give glory to God. Listen to Isaiah's words about how Israel had failed in its purpose of giving God glory. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. "Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! (Isaiah 43:20–22 ESV) God had formed this nation of people for himself so that they would declare the praises of God. They had a purpose, but failed in their purpose. Therefore they were worthy of judgment. In fact, West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:03 John 2:23-3:7, New Birth http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/new-birth.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/new-birth.html#comments Sun, 27 May 2012 23:00:36 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2678 Verses 23-25 of John 2 are the beginning of the scene with Nicodemus which follows in chapter 3. Notice that John once again notes the Passover, drawing the significance and symbolism of that feast into this discourse that Jesus will have with Nicodemus. John records that many believed in Jesus’ name when they saw the [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/new-birth.html/feed 0 baptism,john 2,john 3 Verses 23-25 of John 2 are the beginning of the scene with Nicodemus which follows in chapter 3. Notice that John once again notes the Passover, drawing the significance and symbolism of that feast into this discourse that Jesus will have with Nicodemus. Verses 23-25 of John 2 are the beginning of the scene with Nicodemus which follows in chapter 3. Notice that John once again notes the Passover, drawing the significance and symbolism of that feast into this discourse that Jesus will have with Nicodemus. John records that many believed in Jesus' name when they saw the signs he was doing. However, Jesus did not entrust himself to people because he knew what was in them.  The wording here is an intended wordplay. Most translations obscure the word play, but the word "believed" in verse 23 is the same Greek word translated "entrust" in verse 24. The HCSB gets close, "…many trusted in His name when they saw the signs He was doing. Jesus, however, would not entrust Himself to them…"  Jesus did not believe those who believed in him. John reveals to us that this Jesus is God because he knows the heart of every person. People are believing because of the miracles they are seeing, but there is not a heart change in these people, and Jesus knows it. Belief is supposed to lead to a change of heart. Belief is supposed to lead to the people placing their firm trust in Jesus. But Jesus knows their hearts and knows this is not happening. This is a veiled reminder that though people in Jerusalem are believing, the Passover lamb will still be sacrificed, and these people are going to be the ones to reject him and hand him over to the Romans for death. It is useful to us to remember Jesus' parable of the soils, where we see many ears receiving the word, but it seed of God's word does not take root and grow in the heart. This insight of Jesus leads us to the encounter with Nicodemus. The Necessity of the New Birth (3:1-3) Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He is a member of the Sanhedrin, the government entity over the Jews that dealt particularly with religious matters. We should be careful as we read about Nicodemus and read his words that we do not place too much skepticism on him. The reason why is because we will read later in this gospel that Nicodemus becomes a believer in Jesus and prepares Jesus' body for burial (John 19:39). Therefore I believe we should read this conversation with Nicodemus as one who is sincerely seeking to know who Jesus is rather than what we see in the other gospel stories where the Pharisees are trying to trap and discredit Jesus. Nicodemus at some point believes, whether it be at this point because of his conversation with Jesus or something later on. So I am going to give Nicodemus the benefit of the doubt as we proceed through our examination of this story. Nicodemus proclaims belief. "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." This is a great statement of belief. We know that you have come from God. Perhaps more accurately, Nicodemus believes that Jesus has come from God because no one can do the signs that he is doing and not be from God. But rather than Jesus accept this belief in him, Jesus challenges Nicodemus. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 ESV) Nicodemus has some belief, but that belief is incomplete. What I want us to recognize is that what Jesus says to Nicodemus is a complete blindside. These are words that are incomprehensible to him. Jesus just told Nicodemus that he is not in the kingdom of God. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, a man of the Pharisees, an important religious teacher was just told that he was not going to see this kingdom or participate in it. How can it be that Nicodemus, with his belief in Jesus, with all of his works, all of his effort, and his lineage to Abraham not be in the kingdom of God? How can all these things not matter? Recall that the Jews believed that this was how they knew they were in the kingdom. They were children of Abraham by blood, circumcised according to the Law, separate from the Gentiles, and striving for obedience to the Law. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 39:05 1 Kings 19, The Agony of Defeat http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/agony-of-defeat.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/agony-of-defeat.html#comments Sun, 27 May 2012 14:00:35 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2676 The eighteenth chapter of 1 Kings concludes with an enormous victory to the glory of God. God has revealed himself as the true and living God. The people of Israel are confessing, “The Lord, he is God!” The 450 prophets of Baal have been seized and slaughtered, according to the command of the Lord. Now [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/agony-of-defeat.html/feed 0 1 kings 19,elijah,king ahab The eighteenth chapter of 1 Kings concludes with an enormous victory to the glory of God. God has revealed himself as the true and living God. The people of Israel are confessing, "The Lord, he is God!" The 450 prophets of Baal have been seized and sla... The eighteenth chapter of 1 Kings concludes with an enormous victory to the glory of God. God has revealed himself as the true and living God. The people of Israel are confessing, "The Lord, he is God!" The 450 prophets of Baal have been seized and slaughtered, according to the command of the Lord. Now the drought is over. A great rain has poured down on the land of Israel. But the restoration of the nation is very short lived and the joy of victory ends quickly. Jezebel sends a message to Elijah: "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Elijah just became number one of the most wanted list in Israel. Jezebel tells him that he does not have another 24 hours to live and she has the power to do it. Verse 3 records the scene. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. He travels all the way to Beersheba, one of the southernmost cities in Judah. Then he travels another day's journey into the wilderness. We have seen the great faith of Elijah throughout this study. He trusted God to feed him by ravens. When the brook runs dry, Elijah trusted God to provide for him through a widow who is about to die. He trusted God to answer by fire on Mount Carmel. However, we see the spiritual dullness of the human heart, not of Elijah, but of Ahab and Jezebel. Rather than seeing the power of God revealed by fire consuming the altar, Ahab tells Jezebel that Elijah killed the prophets of Baal. Rather than seeing the miracle, rather than seeing the true and living God, he simply sees that God has taken away his fun. This is not what Ahab wanted and Jezebel is going to rectify the situation by killing Elijah. Once in the wilderness, Elijah asks God to take his life because he is not better than his fathers. I want us to consider that this is not a prophet wallowing in self-pity. We are not reading about a prophet like Jonah who is running away from the Lord. Rather, he is admitting defeat. I have been unable to turn the hearts of the people and leaders like those before me. Elijah's time has come. Lord, rather than letting Jezebel get her hands on me, please take my life instead. We are reading a broken prophet who has "hit bottom," as we would say. The revival for the Lord has failed. Wickedness still reigns. Elijah's life is in jeopardy. If Elijah returns to the nation, he is dead. Dealing With Defeat I want us to see the graciousness of God in dealing with Elijah. As Elijah is going into the wilderness, God does not strike him dead. He does not unleash wrath on Elijah. Notice the prescription for Elijah after hitting bottom and seeing no hearts turn to the Lord. First, notice God affords Elijah the opportunity to regroup. Notice that Elijah goes to sleep for awhile. An angel wakes him up and tells him to eat. There God provides baked bread and a jar of water. These are not things found in the wilderness. God is being compassionate and gracious toward Elijah. Then the angel tells Elijah to eat again for the long journey ahead of him. It is time to go to the mountain of the Lord. When dealing with spiritual defeat and spiritual letdown, take a breath, regroup, and turn to the Lord. Once Elijah reaches a cave in Mount Sinai, the Lord comes to him and asks him what he is doing there. Clearly, God cannot be asking why Elijah is in the cave at Sinai because the angel told him to go to Sinai. This is not a question of physical location, but a question of spiritual location. Elijah's response helps us understand where Elijah is at. "The people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword!" I'm zealous for the Lord, but no one else around here is! And they are going to kill me because of my zeal for you! We are reading the spiritual frustration of Elijah. No one is giving their lives to the Lord. They are all following after idols. No one is making sacrifices to serve the Lord. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 32:32 John 2:18-22, Destroy This Temple http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/destroy-this-temple.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/destroy-this-temple.html#comments Sun, 20 May 2012 23:00:28 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2669 Jesus has declared that those ruling the temple had profaned the temple complex because of the commerce they were conducting. Jesus challenges their authority and drives the animals, sellers, and moneychangers out of the temple courts, the Jews demand to know by what authority he does these things. The question is not a request for [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/destroy-this-temple.html/feed 0 john 2,life of jesus Jesus has declared that those ruling the temple had profaned the temple complex because of the commerce they were conducting. Jesus challenges their authority and drives the animals, sellers, and moneychangers out of the temple courts, Jesus has declared that those ruling the temple had profaned the temple complex because of the commerce they were conducting. Jesus challenges their authority and drives the animals, sellers, and moneychangers out of the temple courts, the Jews demand ... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 29:50 1 Kings 18, The Thrill of Victory http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/thrill-of-victory.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/thrill-of-victory.html#comments Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:56 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2666 The first verse of 1 Kings 18 tells us that we are in the third year of the drought. God tells Elijah to reveal himself to Ahab because it is time to bring rain upon the earth again. But it is not just going to rain. The rain is going to accompany a battle of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/thrill-of-victory.html/feed 0 1 kings 18,elijah,faith,king ahab The first verse of 1 Kings 18 tells us that we are in the third year of the drought. God tells Elijah to reveal himself to Ahab because it is time to bring rain upon the earth again. But it is not just going to rain. The first verse of 1 Kings 18 tells us that we are in the third year of the drought. God tells Elijah to reveal himself to Ahab because it is time to bring rain upon the earth again. But it is not just going to rain. The rain is going to accompany a ba... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:18 John 2:12-17, Zeal For Your House http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/zeal-for-your-house.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/zeal-for-your-house.html#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 23:00:49 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2655 The apostle John begins this section by pointing out that it was the time of the Jewish Passover, and therefore Jesus went up to Jerusalem. It is important to keep in mind that John is not recording his gospel in chronological sequence. The other gospel accounts place this event toward the end of Jesus’ ministry. [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/zeal-for-your-house.html/feed 0 john 2,ministry of jesus The apostle John begins this section by pointing out that it was the time of the Jewish Passover, and therefore Jesus went up to Jerusalem. It is important to keep in mind that John is not recording his gospel in chronological sequence. The apostle John begins this section by pointing out that it was the time of the Jewish Passover, and therefore Jesus went up to Jerusalem. It is important to keep in mind that John is not recording his gospel in chronological sequence. The other gospel accounts place this event toward the end of Jesus' ministry. There is no reason to assume that there were two temple cleansings, since each gospel only records one temple cleansing event. John has moved this event to the front of his gospel with the purpose of generating belief in Jesus (John 20:31). Therefore John is not merely offering another retelling of this event (I believe the other three gospels were already written and circulated by the time John's gospel was written). John does not have to write his gospel like a newspaper reporter, recording facts in chronological sequence. His purpose is to proclaim and persuade about Jesus. John is trying to teach us something more about Jesus in this scene. John moves this event toward the front of his gospel to emphasize how this event teaches us about the ministry of Jesus. Bearing in mind that since John is not recording the events in his gospel in a chronological sequence, but a theological sequence, then marking Jesus' life by counting the Passovers in this gospel is a mistake. To count the Passovers mentioned in this gospel and determine that Jesus' ministry lasted two and half or three years is a superficial reading of this profound and rich book. Stating that it is the Passover is not an offhand statement. We will consider the meaning of the Passover and its relation to the temple as we go through this lesson and next week's lesson. Temple Court Scene Jesus enters the temple complex and finds people selling oxen, sheep, and pigeons. Further, there were money-changers sitting there. Now we need to ask why there is this marketplace in the temple courtyard. For the Passover, a male Jew was to bring his animal as an offering. But one can readily see the impractical nature of bringing an animal a long distance to offer. How were you going to bring a lamb from Asia Minor or Italy and keep it without blemish on the long journey to Jerusalem? The pigeons and doves, which were the sin offering for the poor, were also made available for sale at this time. So this marketplace was set up as a convenience to the Jews who were coming to the city to offer their sacrifices. It was also at this time that the temple tax was collected (Exodus 30:13-14). Every male Jew who was 20 years old and older had to pay this each year. Since they were coming into the city for the Passover festival, it was an appropriate time to also collect this tax. The payment of this tax could not be made in foreign currencies like the Roman denarii, which contained pagan symbols and the images of emperors. Therefore the money had to be exchanged for the appropriate temple currency (apparently Tyrian coinage because of its pure silver content). Jesus' Response Jesus turns this situation into quite a scene of upheaval. Jesus makes a whip out of cords and drives the sellers and moneychangers, along with the animals, out of the temple complex. Further, he poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. Verse 16 contains the key to understanding Jesus' actions. Notice that Jesus does not call out the exorbitant fees and exchange rates that these vendors were charging for this service (cf. Matthew 21:13; Luke 19:46). That is the observation of the other gospel accounts, but not John. Notice what John records Jesus saying, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." Jesus' actions were not directed against the merchants' or moneychangers' profits but against the fact that business was being done in the temple courts. This activity was likely being done in the Court of the Gentiles. This was the place designated for the Gentiles to come to the temple and worship God. This was to be the place of prayer and thanksgiving. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 36:10 1 Kings 17, Trusting God’s Word http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/trusting-gods-word.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/trusting-gods-word.html#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 14:00:49 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2658 It is the darkest of times in the history of Israel. First Kings 16:30 records that Ahab is king over Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, more evil than all who were before him. Baal worship is increased, a false, pagan god of the land and Ahab also established Asherah worship [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/1-kings/trusting-gods-word.html/feed 0 1 kings 17,elijah It is the darkest of times in the history of Israel. First Kings 16:30 records that Ahab is king over Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, more evil than all who were before him. Baal worship is increased, a false, It is the darkest of times in the history of Israel. First Kings 16:30 records that Ahab is king over Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, more evil than all who were before him. Baal worship is increased, a false, pagan god of the land and Ah... West Palm Beach church of Christ no 34:33 John 2:1-11, Water To Wine http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/water-to-wine.html http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/water-to-wine.html#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:00:11 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/?p=2634 Unfortunately the second chapter of John is used and interpreted for all the wrong reasons. This text is frequently used as a battleground over whether Christians are able to drink alcohol. The apostle John did not include this story about Jesus turning water to wine so that we could argue over the Christian use of [...]

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]]> http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/john-new-testament/water-to-wine.html/feed 0 alcohol,john 2,ministry of jesus,miracles of jesus Unfortunately the second chapter of John is used and interpreted for all the wrong reasons. This text is frequently used as a battleground over whether Christians are able to drink alcohol. The apostle John did not include this story about Jesus turnin... Unfortunately the second chapter of John is used and interpreted for all the wrong reasons. This text is frequently used as a battleground over whether Christians are able to drink alcohol. The apostle John did not include this story about Jesus turning water to wine so that we could argue over the Christian use of alcohol. Rather, the next three chapters of this gospel, beginning in chapter 2, will show Jesus fulfilling and surpassing Judaism. This is critically important for understanding this section of John's gospel properly. As we examine the whole of the story please observe three key points that the apostle John makes about this event. (1) This is the first sign that Jesus performed. John does not call this a miracle, but a sign. A sign is different from a miracle in that the supernatural event performed is to be a distinguishing mark or indication for something. Signs represent something. Think about how traffic signs represent various actions: from no parking, to yielding, to stopping. A green traffic light is a sign telling the driver to proceed through the intersection. So John is telling us to examine this event. This is an event with a deeper meaning. There is a message to the sign. This is the first sign that Jesus performs. (2) Verse 11 tells us that this sign revealed Jesus' glory. This sign unveils Jesus to our eyes so that we may believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God. (3) The sign had its intended effect. Verse 11 records that Jesus' disciples believed in him. The disciples saw the sign, the glory of Jesus as the Son of God was revealed, and the disciples believed. With these things in mind, let us proceed with a closer examination of the sign. The Place and the Problem (2:1-3) Jesus and his disciples are invited to a wedding in Cana. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also at this wedding. It is believed that Cana of Galilee was about 9 miles north from Nazareth. The problem is clearly stated in verse 3: the wine ran out. For us, we probably do not see the big deal about this. Today a wedding with reception lasts a few hours at most. Running out of a drink would be embarrassing but not that big of a problem. However, a wedding and reception typically lasted a week. The wedding banquets were prepared for many guests, and the week would be spent celebrating the new life of the married couple. Often the whole town would be invited and it was considered an insult to refuse an invitation to a wedding. Further, wine was a primary drink at that time. It was not only an enormous social disgrace to not provide wine, but wine was an important staple beverage. We should not read the problem as a mild inconvenience. People do not get in cars and go home early. They are staying for the week and have come from various distances. This is a big problem. The Discussion (2:4-5) Mary, the mother of Jesus, brings the problem to Jesus. Jesus' response seems harsh and is very startling to our ears. "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." (John 2:4 ESV) However, Mary's response indicates that Jesus is giving a positive response. She tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. So it is imperative on our part to take great care in how we understand what Jesus is teaching. First, calling a person "Woman" is not harsh (cf. Matt 15:28, Luke 13:12; John 4:21; 8:10; 19:26; 20:15). It was a normal, polite way of addressing a woman. It would be something similar to us using the word "madam" or "miss" today. What is unusual, however, is that Jesus said this to his mother. It is not that the word is harsh, but that Jesus used that word for his mother rather than calling her, "mother." There must be a reason for this, which needs to be considered. Second, the response Jesus gives is an idiom, making translation into English a bit difficult. If you pick up a number of translations you will notice that they have different readings from each other. West Palm Beach church of Christ no 35:39