Woodland Hills Church of Christ

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The post Jeremiah 5 – 9 : Disaster Looms – The Temple Is Not The Answer appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Jared Partain Proverbs 3:1-12 The post What Does Faith Look Like? appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Freedom! Detachment from Sin Introduction: Romans 12:9 “Abhor what is evil; cleave to what is good.” How are you doing with that command? Please note, Paul's inspired command does not say, “Don't do what is evil,” it says, “Abhor it.” There are many temptations to sin that we try not to do and succeed in not doing, but that does not mean we abhor the sin. You will notice, the text contains an extreme contrast: “abhor” and “cleave” (“glue, weld together, adhere, attach oneself to”).  To the extent that we cleave/hold fast to what is good, the more we are able to abhor what is evil. The word detachment, though not specifically used, is a good description of the verse. The only way to abhor something is to become completely detached from it. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). Jesus admonition is, your love for him is to be so great, that to challenge that love or in any way suggest a competing love, should have a reaction of hate.  Matthew 6:25-33 Even though Jesus is dealing with things we need to live on this earth, notice how he turns our minds away from those needs to concentrate on the Kingdom and righteousness. Again, there is abhorring anxiousness in favor of seeking first the kingdom. The Battle with Our Desires Why are we tempted? Why does the desire seem so strong? We were created to seek inner fulfillment (Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 “And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.”). Satan urges us to seek fulfillment with empty promises. The sin or diversion from God never meets up to the possibilities the mind has created. In fact, every time the sin is committed, it disappoints more than it did previously. We are using a person or a thing to fill an inner void which never can be filled apart from God. Look at it rationally, we can realize that these uncontrolled appetites damage us in two ways: They deprive us of enjoying God and what truly satisfies. These desires torment us and corrupt our minds until we are enslaved by them. The problem is: “It is extremely difficult to deny ourselves what we truly desire.” We may occasionally have success in overcoming our desires, but it is unlikely that we will consistently conquer those desires. What can be done?  What if we could rid ourselves of those appetites? If the appetite is extinguished, there will no longer be a desire to feed on those sinful pleasures. But is that possible? It is not possible to escape all temptation, but it is possible to no longer have an appetite for that which Satan tempts us.  That is exactly what God argues we can do (Colossians 3:1-7; Ephesians 4:17-24). In fact, did Jesus really want to jump off the temple, turn the stones to bread, or fall down and worship the devil? No! He conquers the temptation because his desire for the Father is intensely passionate beyond any other desire. Our problem and humanity's problem is that we think we can overcome by simply refusing a pleasure that our heart desires. We are trying to fix the wrong thing. It is the heart's desires that need fixing, not simply the will-power (Matt. 5:21-28). We will never be successful in fighting a sin if we do not stop the craving. The problem with our present cultural arguments:  Our culture celebrates their attractions/desires and identifies with them as special and so compelling that anything but fulfillment is unfair and cheating them out of a fulfilling life.  In regard to sexuality, regardless of one's sexual attractions, every human has had to deal with sexual sins and fight the desires of the mind.  God made us with desires! He also gave us right and wrong ways to fulfill the desires. All desires can partially be fulfilled now but ultimately fulfilled in eternity with the Lord — “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). God's argument in scripture is not that temptations to sin will go away, but that we are able to conquer those desires through Christ.  Genesis 4:7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  Every Earthly Desire Disappoints (Isaiah 55:1-3) Only God is a sure thing. Only God can and will provide for our emotional and physical needs. God intentionally made it this way!  But what do we do instead?  We follow the example of Eve. Satan convinced her that the tree could give her something more and better than what God gave her and would give her. That is the nature of every temptation. Subtly, this our default path to all our stresses, desires, and life's trials.  If a friendship, marriage, or family, spouse, child, or parent does not respond to our expectations to fulfill certain emotional or physical needs, we may react by lashing out, withdrawing, demanding, threatening, and in general becoming frustrated and miserable. We desperately need to understand that our demands of things and people ruin relationships, destroy joy and pleasure, and detach us from God. Let's say this plain and simple: When I expect an activity, a recreation, a job/career to fill my emptiness and give me what I believe is denied me in this life, I have created an idol. Whatever these unfulfilled desires are, they have become my Baal and my Asheroth—a substitute god to provide what I believe I deserve that the Lord God will not provide! When I expect my job or career to give me inner fulfillment, I am elevating work to a level never intended. Again, Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 warns us of this through the example of Solomon. He did more than any other in great accomplishments through his labor. He fulfilled every desire of his heart. And yet when it was all done, he said it profited nothing, all was vanity and striving after wind!”  When a man expects his wife, or a woman her husband to fill their inner emptiness and give them the meaning and security they expect for their lives, they have replaced the God with their spouse and have elevated their spouse to be their idol/god. This damages our spouse and puts him/her in an impossible position. She cannot be my god and fulfill my deepest needs and desires any more than the idols of Israel could be for Israel. Can we see the result of this in friendships, in parents with children and children with parents, in churches, careers, and marriages?  Only God can ultimately fill us with what we really need. Through love, we provide for one another, we comfort one another during trials, we stir one another up to be better than what we have been, but none of us can replace God. When a person expects anything from an object, an activity, or a person that only God can supply, they have rejected God and turned to idolatry. Detachment: Freedom from Uncontrolled Appetites When Teresa and I married, we vowed, “…forsaking all others, cleave unto you and you alone until death do we part.” When we marry, we are rejecting the romantic love of all others and all other things because of the intense love for one another. That reminds us of an important biblical principle: Intense love for something, especially God or spouse, leads to the rejection of something else. Seeing this from our earthly marriages, consider an immediate application: Husbands, what does this covenantal promise imply? Proverbs 5:18-21 “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.”  Wives, what does this promise imply? Proverbs 31:10-12, 28-29 “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life…Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” What then is the key to joy and pleasure in an earthly marriage? What keeps both husband and wife pure and deeply attached to one another? How do they reject any attractions/desires that would compete with their love? Appetites for all else and anyone else are eliminated by pursuing and growing an intense love for each other. With that, every competing desire or appetite is disgusting. Hey Solomon, the Lord proclaimed through you that one wife would fulfill you, while a 1000 wives would empty you. The same is true with God.  Colossians 2:8-10, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Cf. Colossians 3:5–6, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”  How can we be free of the bondage earthly desires and fleshly sins? How can we stop finding our meaning and security in people, things, positions, money, and power? It is by increasing love and adoration for God! Someone says, “But why would I give up my pursuit to fill my emptiness and find contentment and pleasure?” Because when you worship Baal and Asheroth, they aren't real and they won't fulfill you or give you pleasure! It is like saying to a hungry man, “Here, eat this dirt, it will fill your stomach.”  Thus the words of the Messiah's invitation, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” (Isaiah 55:2) Critical Question: Do you trust God? Do you truly believe in him? If we put that to a public response, we would likely hear a resounding “Yes!” I'm sorry, but I have a hard time believing you. Trusting God means, I am willing to wait for him to heal and provide for my needs, my desires, my hurts, and my emptiness. And I am content to know that he will not disappoint me. Now do you trust God?  I know myself well enough to know that is not always the case. Sometimes it may even be rarely the case. Conclusion: You will not grow your love for God by simply assembling with Christian and being at worship, though the more devoted we are to our gatherings to worship and study, the more motivated to pursue an intense love for God. The primary discipline needed for intense, passionate love is your combination of one on one time with God in prayer and study and your sharing that love and joy with fellow Christians. What will not work, and what will never work, is simply telling yourself to not give in to those desires and hound you. If you detach yourself from the desire by pursuing the affections that are above, you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Berry Kercheville The post Romans 12:9 Freedom! Detachment From Sin appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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Topical Sermons / Speaker:David Desloge The post Homosexuality, The Gospel, and You appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The Gospel of Christ Crucified 1 Corinthians 1–2 Introduction: If you were asked what the primary sin-problem confronting the Corinthians, I'm sure most of you would immediately answer that it was a problem of being divisive. Paul said it plainly in the opening of his letter (1:10): “I appeal to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” That solved it! Well, no. How can a church that won't even eat the Lord's Supper together, just be told to stop it, and then it happens? Even if you are very familiar with our text, Paul's teaching about the wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of man usually diverts our attention away from the subject of division. In other words, if a church called you and said, “We need help. Our church is full of division, would you come and help,” would you do a study of chapter two of 1 Corinthians with an exposition of the gospel of the cross?  Quickly notice some of Paul's key statements that will give you a feel of his foundational message on division: 1:17-18 “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  1:20-21 “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”  2:1-4 “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”  2:6-9 “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”  Now, having read those texts, would you say that Paul is correcting the divisions of the Corinthian church? Everything in this text has to do with the gospel of Christ crucified. But how is that an answer to division? That is the message we want to discover this morning. It is a message that will expose and correct every division within a church. Becoming Familiar with the Message of the Text First, Paul's emphasis is on the cross of Christ and that the message of the cross is foolish to those who hold to worldly wisdom including both Jews and Greeks. But the cross is our power to salvation (1:22-24). Second, Paul admits that it was God's intention to preach a “foolish” message to save the world (1:21).  Third, this foolish message preached is a revelation of the thoughts and words of God, and could never have been thought of or discovered by a human mind. Not even the most exalted human could have understood what was hidden in the mind of God “before the ages for our glory” (2:7).  Fourth, the thoughts of the mind of God have only been revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit alone has access, and he alone chooses to whom the message will be revealed (2:10-13). Further, God has used the Spirit to reveal to the apostles and prophets the words of the Spirit, not the words of human thought. Fifth, Paul stresses a contrast between two kinds of “wisdom.” There are those who are wise according to this world's standards, and there are those who have rejected the wisdom of this world in favor of the “foolishness” of the wisdom of God, the foolishness of Christ crucified (2:6). These two “wisdoms” are opposed to one another. Sixth, those who hold to the wisdom of the world cannot understand, nor will they accept the wisdom taught by the Spirit (2:13-14). Seventh, only the “mature, spiritual person” (one who has accepted the things of the Spirit) can understand and receive the words of the Spirit because those words are spiritually discerned. A “natural man” cannot understand the hidden message of God because he is not spiritually discerning (2:14-15).  Eighth, and possibly most importantly, Paul refused to preach this message with lofty speech or wisdom or plausible words of wisdom as was being done by the Corinthian sophists. Though Paul's preaching was considered unimpressive, the power of the sophists was in themselves, while the power of Paul's preaching was in the Spirit of God. The contrast was boasting in the man or boasting in the message of God—faith in the man or faith in the power of God. (2:2-4) Knowing Nothing Except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified As we briefly noted, Paul's concern is to rid the church of preaching that lifts up human wisdom and calls attention to the eloquence of the preacher instead of presenting the message of Christ crucified (2:2). We must get the significance of those words: “Jesus, the Christ (Messiah, King) crucified.” That really is foolish! It makes no sense!  Combine 2:2 with 1:17. Paul was sent to preach a gospel that is grounded in Jesus Christ/King being crucified. Thus every part of Paul's message had as its foundation crucifixion. Anything else would empty the message of its power.  But why is a crucified Messiah/King so important? Sure, we need to teach people why Jesus died and was raised and that he is enthroned as King. Yes, we want to urge them to obey Jesus, to repent of their sins and be baptized so they can be free from the bondage of sin. All of us get that point. But why does Paul say, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified?” In fact, in 1:18 Paul refers to the gospel as the “word of the cross,”  or the “message of the cross.” Paul is obviously magnifying the word “cross” to the extent that anything taught about Jesus or any teaching of Jesus would go right back to the cross! The problem wasn't so much that “Jesus died for our sins,” but the implications of Christ crucified. The message of the cross is that if we believe in Christ crucified we must also accept the teaching of disciple–crucified. In 2:7, this is the hidden wisdom God decreed “before the ages to our glory.” That is in contrast to 1:27, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise…even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” Do you see the message? The world seeks glory in themselves, boasting in their mental acuity, strength, and wealth. But a life of disciple–crucified seeks no glory in this world, but only the glory God has promised.  Paul will later summarize the message of the cross in 2 Corinthians 4:11-12, “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.”  The Gospel of Christ Crucified Applied, Chapters 3-4 What does Christ crucified have to do with division in the church and solving the Corinthian problem? In chapters 3-4 Paul transitions from his explanation of the gospel to how that gospel (disciple-crucified) message should be lived. When we read these first seven verses it is not difficult to see that the Corinthians are living out the wisdom of the world instead of what was considered the “foolishness of Christ crucified.” Look at Paul's directness! Imagine it read to the church! “You are still of the flesh!” I'm feeding you like an infant (Greek for “baby”) sucking on “milk!” You are “behaving in a human way” practicing jealousy and strife, exalting one teacher over another and boasting in them! “Are you not being merely human!”  “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants…!” Vs. 6-7, “…but God gave the growth. Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth!” Vs. 16-21 Listen to the power in Paul's words as he drives home how these Christians are to act in accordance with Christ crucified:  You are God's temple. Destroy God's temple and God will destroy you! (17). “If anyone thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” How dare any Christian to act independently of the rest of the body! Ephesians 5:22, “Submitting to one another out of reverence to Christ.” “For the wisdom of this world is folly to God. The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile!”  “So let no one boast in men!”  4: 1: Regard us as servants and stewards. It is a small thing that I should be judged by you! 6-21 Mic drop!  Conclusion: The Gospel of Christ Crucified Is Lived as a Disciple Crucified “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'”  (Matt. 16:24) Berry Kercheville The post 1 Corinthians 1-2 The Gospel Christ Crucified appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Jeremiah: God's Call to Repentance 3:1—4:4 Introduction: “Repentance,” how often do you think about it? The whole concept probably does not cross our minds very often. However, repentance is one of those commands that should be an ongoing, regular part of our lives. If we ask God for forgiveness every day, repentance should be on our minds. Possibly our major problem with the concept of repentance is that we think it means being sorry for something we did. We could only wish it was that easy! It is not. Repentance is changing the very core of who we are, and change is not easy.  This section of Jeremiah calls upon God's people to change. But their challenge comes from the fact that they have been practicing their lifestyle for generations. Mom and dad lived this way and so did grandma and grandpa. Day to day life is embedded in who they are, and their culture continues to reinforce their failures.  Nothing has changed. Everyone of us has faults, flaws, weaknesses and habits that are not in favor with God. And we ignore these things within us, even nurture them and protect them.  God's Call to Repentance: Overview God gives no doubt as to the message of this section. The key Hebrew word used 17 times in this section in different forms is sub (pronounced ‘shoove'). Depending on context, the word means to “turn or return.” Used negatively it is Israel “turning away” from God. It is also translated “faithless.” For example, 3:22 read more literally, “Turn, you turning away sons, and I will heal your turnings.”  Used positively, the word is translated “return,” as in repentance. Israel had turned away, but now they are called upon to “turn back.” 4:1 gives an example of this turning, “If you return, O Israel…to me you should return.” You can see God's point. Israel had a tendency to “turn” in this way and that, from one idol to another and from one nation to another for help. God's plea is, if you are going to turn, turn to me! God Exposes Israel's Turning Away, 3:1-20 1-5 The Lord quotes from Deuteronomy 24:1-4. This law was given to stop the misuse of wives trading them back and forth to other men and then bringing them back. It was considered an abomination. This was the way Israel was treating God: “you have played the whore with many lovers and would you return to me?” (3:1). Did this mean it was impossible for them to return to God? Obviously not because this is God's plea. But their return must be with their whole heart 3:10, and not in pretense. Oh how this is still done today! How can we even think of paying homage to God, pretending to be thankful in the eating of his body and the drinking of his blood, but then giving ourselves to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and then in the pride of our hearts act as if God is accepting us!  2-5 describes the lustfulness of the nation toward their idols. They have been a brazen prostitute, sitting alone like in a wilderness, willing to be ravished by anyone who passed by. They have the “forehead of a whore,” indicating their boldness in their sins and refusal to be ashamed.  And yet they are so brazen that they will speak to God with words of love as if their harlotry has been a minor issue and that God's anger should not endure. 3:5b indicates how God is appalled at their words, “Behold you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.” We would say, “You are a joke, Israel!”  6-14 Notice how God refers to Israel as “faithless one,” that is, “Turning away” one. God had hoped that after she had her fill of her whoredoms that she would “return” to me.” But not only did she not turn back to God, her sister Judah saw what she did, and in spite of God divorcing Israel by sending her away, Judah followed in the path of Israel's harlotry. Judah became so bad that she was worse than Israel. So much worse that God even calls Israel to “return, faithless (turning)” Israel. God would happily have her back if she would “acknowledge her guilt.” 15-20 The Lord looks ahead to speak of future blessings if his people will truly repent. This section obviously sees God's blessings in the Messiah and his kingdom. God will provide good shepherds who will feed them with spiritual knowledge and understanding.  God will multiply them and they will be fruitful (clearly and evangelistic blessing).  The loss of the ark of the covenant will no longer be a care because the new Jerusalem will be the throne of God (not the throne of a physical, temporary king).  When this happens, the nations will be gathered to the Lord in the new Jerusalem.  The people's hearts will be changed. They will no longer stubbornly follow their own evil heart.  They will be united as one nation; no longer a divided kingdom. 19-20 The previous blessings remind God of what he had originally planned for the nation. They would be his sons and daughters and they will call him Father, and they would not “turn” from following him. But instead they had been as a treacherous wife who left her husband. True Repentance Defined: 3:21—4:4 This section is either the hopefulness of Jeremiah or the future picture of the restoration of Israel as seen in the Messiah's disciples. I favor the latter view because there are similar pictures given by Isaiah and Ezekiel.  Notice the ingredients of true repentance: 21: “weeping and pleading” is the result of two signs of a changed heart.  (1) The realization that to be accepted back would be completely undeserved. As in the parable of the prodigal, he would have been thrilled just to be considered his father's servant.  (2) Weeping and pleading is evidence of a heart that despises and loathes self for the sins committed. There is no ambivalence that is typical in a half-hearted repentance in which sin is grudgingly given up but the deep desire to continue the sin is still present. (Israel in the wilderness) 22: Their desire to return to God, to repent, is because he is the Lord our God and only in the Lord our God “is the salvation of Israel (23b). As Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, “Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” A sure way to “lose life” is to try to live life for ourselves. 23: Repentance requires the recognition that all sin is but a delusion—a deception or lie. In other words, sin promises life, but its wages are misery and death. There is no fulfillment or satisfaction. There is only greater misery and despair.  24: Illustrates the deception & confession of sin. All that they have has been devoured. The result of their sins have been shame and dishonor. 4:1-4 God's call to an active repentance: This section plainly illustrates that repentance is not simply sorrow for sin. There must be an active pursuit of getting right with God.  1: “If you return, O Israel, to me you should return.” Make sure your change is truly a return to God. Stopping former sins will be short-lived unless the return is actually to God. Repentance is not just stopping sin. It is a passionate turn to God.  2: Our words of allegiance to God must be lived out in truth, justice and righteousness. 3-4: Start sowing good seed to produce fruit in your life. Get rid of the thorns—those things that hinder the process and choke out the word. Further, get your heart right! This is not something that happens instantly, but progresses as you pray and study regularly so that your heart can be transformed (Rom. 12:1). In the beginning, your heart will not “feel” like changing, but God repeatedly emphasizes a principle that always succeeds: “circumcise your hearts” is just another way of saying, act yourself into a new way of feeling. Berry Kercheville The post Jeremiah 3:1–4:4 God’s Call to Repentance appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The Call and Message of Jeremiah Chapters 1-2  Introduction: Jeremiah is a unique prophet in many ways. God called him when he is young, at least in his early twenties. He is called to live a hard and difficult life. He is hated by his own people, and kings desired to kill him in spite of the fact that his message was intended to save them.  The heart of Jeremiah is what is most moving. In reading the book, it is not long before your heart becomes wedded to his and that every emotion he feels and every hurt he endures, becomes your emotion and your hurt. Soon you realize that what you are experiencing is not just Jeremiah's heart, but the heart of God himself reflected in his prophet.  Please participate in the readings this year. You will travel through great valleys, but in the end you will ascend to the mountain top with God. Overview of the last kings of Judah during Jeremiah's ministry Reigns of the final kings of Judah  Manasseh: 696–642 Amon: 642–640 Josiah: 640–609 (Jeremiah's ministry begins in the 13th year of Josiah: 627–586) Jehoahaz: 609 (3 months). Deported to Egypt by Pharaoh Necho Jehoiakim:  609–597  Put on the throne by Necho 605: Babylon defeated Egypt at the battle of Carchemish Jehoiakim served Nebuchadnezzar until 597 when he rebelled and is killed Jehoiachin 597 (3 months): taken and imprisoned in Babylon for 35 years until Evil-merodach mercifully freed him (2 Kings 25:27) Zedekiah 597–586: Puppet king to Nebuchadnezzar. Rebels in 588 and after an 18 month siege, Jerusalem and the temple are overthrown. Though the first half of Jeremiah's ministry is during Josiah's reforms, it is evident by Jeremiah's message that the heart of the people is unchanged. The message: External reforms did not achieve the change of heart God demands.  The last half of Jeremiah's ministry (chapters 21ff) are the worst for him since he is now dealing with the wicked sons of Josiah as kings. Jeremiah is treated as a traitor and accused of treason for urging Zedekiah to submit to Nebuchadnezzar according to the word of the Lord. But Zedekiah's advisors believe that Jerusalem cannot be conquered, and therefore their rebellion becomes the demise of the nation. Key Messages & Lessons: Chapter One 1:4 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…I consecrated you…” Do you believe that could be said of you? Has God formed you, knew you, and consecrated you before you were born?  “…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6) Go home and look in the mirror. Look deeply and carefully. You have a purpose. You were created for a purpose. Consider the amazing blessing God desired for you and planned for you. He specially appointed and chose you to be a part of an eternal plan and to exalt you above the angels.  You may look in the mirror and see someone you do not like, someone who you know has failed the purpose for which God created you. We've all been there. Now is the time to step up and meet that purpose. One day at a time, rebuild your life to please God.  The above is so easily said, but the effort needed is very difficult, especially in the beginning as you change old habits. Here is a “simple” daily schedule that must be followed if you are to succeed: Prayer! “Ask and you will receive…”  Read one chapter a day with a pencil, with notes of discoveries in a journal. Uncomfortable at first? Yes, if you've never done it. But this is absolutely necessary if God is going to renew your mind! 1:6-8 “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth…do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.” God accepts no excuses! Jeremiah was young, very young—barely in his twenties. He had a lot of reasons why he shouldn't be the one who challenged kings. But that is the point! God never has looked for the “mighty” and the “talented.” God uses those who know that the power resides in God alone. We are nothing. But with God and the faith of the grain of mustard seed, mountains are moved. Do not look to yourself. That will only demoralize you and cause you to lose hope. Look to God. There is no failure with God. Never has been!  1:16 “And I will declare my judgments against them; for all their evil in forsaking me.” It is important that we always ask ourselves this question: Am I forsaking the Lord? There is a simple rule of thumb here—when our hearts are turned to other things, and the Lord is not our priority, we are forsaking him. The only outcome is our own failed idolatry. Key Messages & Lessons: Chapter Two 2:1-3 The violation of love and the marriage covenant This is a picture of love and the initial covenantal marriage of God with Israel. It is important to feel the Lord's heart and love as he looks back on the time in which he called the to follow him and be wedded to him. It is a heart-breaking scene. “Israel was holy…” This statement indicates the special purpose God had for Israel. They are set apart beyond all other nations. They are intended to display the holiness of God so that the nations would also turn to him. “…the firstfruits” changes the metaphor to picture why Israel was chosen. “Firstfruits” were a special offering to God of thanksgiving. “All who ate of it incurred guilt…”— thus Israel is God's and enemy nations would not be allowed to devour them. To be “Israel” was truly an unparalleled blessing.  “Firstfruits” also indicated a greater harvest to come. What could this greater harvest be? It is the nations—a picture of God's promise to Abraham that through his offspring all nations would be blessed. The failure of Israel should be a strong reminder to us of our calling and purpose. “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.” (1 Peter 2:9) The failure of Israel should also remind us of the deep love God has for us and the extreme hurt we cause the Lord when our love for him wanes in favor of following earthly and worldly desires. To emphasize this God even required Hosea to endure the adulteries of his wife so that he could relate to Israel the deep hurt and anger God felt by Israel's adulteries. Summary of God's Message God remembers these early days in which he delivered them from bondage and made them is own at Sinai. Their hearts had trembled when he spoke to them and they made a promise to him that all he commanded they would do. But the contrast is seen in the rest of the chapter. They completely turned away, from kings, to priests, to prophets (2:8), “on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore” (2:20). 2:11-13 It is unheard of that a nation would change gods. But Israel was unique among the nations, not only changing gods but rejecting the true God who done so much for them in favor of gods that cannot give them anything. They gave up the fountain of living waters and instead dug out cisterns that cannot hold water. Will we learn from this? How foolish to turn to the worldly, idolatrous desires that are based on the weakness and do not last and reject the God who has never failed us and brings us through every trial.  Question: Are you drinking from the fountain of living waters? Did you drink from that fountain each day last week? Or are you digging your own cistern and expecting your thirst to be quenched?  2:26-27 is a vivid illustration of this foolishness. God is our Creator. Should not that which is created turn to the One who formed him? 2:27-28 illustrates the day of need and calling to God for help. Ha! Turn to the idols you have served and see if they can save you! 2:34-35 The callousness of sin is illustrated by their claim of innocence in spite of their utter wickedness and murder. 2:23-25 A good illustration of the addictiveness of sin. Israel is like a restless camel, never content. She is like a wild donkey in heat sniffing the wind and eager to mate with any males that are willing—it will not be difficult to find her. Look at her! A holy nation turned to animal instincts!  When Israel is told to repent, her answer is that it is hopeless, she loves strangers and after them she will go. This is exactly what Satan does to us when we persist in sin! It doesn't have to be “a lot of sins.” Just one sin will do. Just one sin that eats at our minds and corrupts our hearts. Soon we look at ourselves and say, “It is hopeless. I am what I am and I cannot turn away!” Conclusion: Just as in Jeremiah's day, it is time to make a choice. Judgment is coming. In spite of Israel's many denials that the Babylonians would enter the city and massacre them, God's word held true. Will we ready ourselves for our coming Judgment? Or will we keep living in denial?  Berry Kercheville The post Jeremiah 1-2: The Call and Message of Jeremiah appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville “And He Gave Evangelists…” (2) Introduction: What would you say are the top four greatest needs in God's kingdom today? I'm sure we could all come up with good answers to that question. I will give you my top four: The first is obvious: Christians who are passionate about knowing God, loving God, and loving lost souls.  Moms and Dads who raise their children to pursue the one true God and bring all other pursuits in service to him. Elders who equip and shepherd the flock, not “exercise authority of them” (Matthew 20:25, 1 Peter 5:1-4). Evangelists who actually “do the work of an evangelist” as outlined by Paul in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Paul told us that these last two needs, along with the apostles and prophets, were gifts Christ gave to the church for the equipping of the saints, to bring them to maturity in order to cause the growth of the body (Ephesians 4:11-16). These lessons are about gaining a better understanding of  the need for evangelists in God's kingdom and what we can do to encourage a desire to do this work.  Recap from the First Lesson When we study Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, we cannot miss the challenge and the extensive nature of the work. Just as God set aside the tribe of Levi to spend their lives teaching Israel, so he gave “evangelists, shepherds and teachers” to the church to equip and grow the body. The failure of the Levites to fulfill their purpose led to the failure of the whole nation to live up to God's purpose. Today, God did not appoint a whole tribe, he appointed individuals who give their lives to bring the gospel message both to equip Christians and to spearhead reaching lost souls. But the shortage of evangelists is becoming more and more apparent.  Paul's Overview of the Work: 1 Timothy 4:6-16  Vs. 6: “…trained in the words of faith…”  7-8: “…train yourself for godliness”  11: “Command and teach these things.”  12: “Set the believers an example…”  13: “Devote yourself to the public reading of the Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching”  14: “Do not neglect the gift…” 15: “Practice these things, immerse yourself in in them…”  16: “Keep close watch…Persist in this…” Conclusion: These are not things that can be done by men who hold a secular job.  Why Not Be Content with the Men Preaching? “Preaching” is not “doing the work of an evangelist”  It was not God's design (Ephesian 4:11-12) Who will go out at night to teach the lost? Who will teach the lost in the daytime? Who will train and equip the church to do their part in evangelism efforts? Who will train more men to be evangelists? The Result: whole churches are being trained to neglect the lost and be content with the “99” (Matt. 18)  What Keeps Men from Preaching? First, the increasing wealthiness of our culture, which is enticing to young, college age men. The possibilities of living a comfortable and prosperous life are all around them. In conjunction with the above, relying on a church for wages feels uncomfortable and unstable to a man who plans to be married and raise a family. This is especially true when these same young men have repeatedly witnessed churches discharge a preacher every few years. (Of course that is not exclusive to preaching!) Relying on churches for support to work at a church that is not self-supporting. I have had preachers tell me they could never do what I have done and be in a church where they needed outside support. “How can I be confident that the support won't be dropped on a moment's notice?”  Second, preaching is often not a draw to younger men when they consider the whole church can become their “boss and critic.” Further, they have often seen preachers mistreated. Talk to any older preacher—their greatest trial will have come from their own brethren. Therefore, there are many who have decided to work a secular career job while utilizing opportunities to “preach a sermon” as the need arises. That certainly shouldn't be considered wrong, but it does contribute to the lack of evangelists. Third, preaching is not a “job,” it is a passion. Paul said it well in 1 Corinthians 9:16-17, “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.”  I trained one man who had wanted to preach from the time he was 14 years old. He went to FC and majored in Bible (not a good idea), and then asked to train with me. I had known him from childhood, and therefore accepted him. After six months I said to him, “I think you would be happier doing something else. What do you think?” He agreed, and went back to school for a secular job. The problem wasn't that he couldn't preach a sermon. It was that it wasn't his passion. Frankly, he hadn't even learned what it meant to love God with all his heart. Too many young men see preaching as a job. Another young man possibly could have become a good evangelist, but he submitted to his wife's insistence that his working hours be only 9 to 5.  Which brings up another hindrance: wives must be passionate about their husband's work.  Fourth, embedded in preaching are hardships and choices we would rather not make: There is a very interesting “American culture” problem that has seriously affected preachers and potential preachers. When a preacher is looking for a church, it is natural to do “background checks” on the church and how they have treated former preachers. We certainly do not want to go to a place where the elders or members are abusive. On the other hand, if you were a preacher, would you want to go to a church like Corinth? No, no! Paul sent Titus to “churches” on the island of Crete who were, “…always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.” Paul basically said, “Titus, I want you to go a fix that!” Oh my. Consider “the Law of the Lid”  How many churches today are in the category of needing good elders and a good evangelist to “put in order the things that are wanting?” There is certainly a great need, but who wants to do that!!! The first place I preached, there was one faithful member, a lady named Bernice. I was told by elders that I would be foolish to go there. “It's a retirement community and no one is interested in the gospel. And besides, over the past seven years, 50 men have gone out there and preached sermons, to no avail.” But in the first three years we baptized 60 people, and one of the same elders then said to me, “Well, it must just be fertile ground.” For seven years, Bernice could not get a preacher to go and live there and do the hard thing (not just go preach and sermon and go home). Fifth, parents rarely prepare their sons to consider preaching or talk to them about the importance of the work in God's kingdom. I'm not suggesting that parents badger their sons to preach; that is not appropriate. Instead, I would recommend two approaches: Instill in your boys and girls our identity as disciples of Christ. Instill God's love for all people and his desire for them to be saved. And help them feel the weight of our responsibilities as Jesus' disciples — Jesus appointed us, only us, to bring the saving gospel to the world. If we don't do it, no one else will! (Parable of Lost Things & our identity as the Offspring of Abraham) Prepare them, and not just your sons, but also your daughters.  How to answer commonly asked questions using the scripture (Why does worship matter? Salvation, etc. Teach them to open their mouths and explain biblical texts! That is done far better by parents than it is in our Sunday/Wednesday classes. Teach them to give a speech, not a biblical speech, just a speech. [story of Dad and the speech of Spartacus to the Gladiators]  Sixth, a lack of training and mentoring.  In other words, how many churches and preachers are intent on obeying 2 Timothy 2:2 or followed the pattern of training that we see Paul doing?  Erik, Brent, Andy, and I have all turned down young men who desired to preach because they didn't understand the extent of the work. “I didn't know I'd have to work this hard.” “I don't like you telling me what I'm doing wrong in my preaching. I just want encouragement.”  In many cases, there are those who can preach a sermon, but the work described in Ephesians 4:11-16 and the “pastoral epistles” is not being done, and therefore understandably intimidating. Why shouldn't it be? It is often not seen/practiced among evangelists, shepherds and teachers. I personally cannot count the number of young preachers who have come out of one–two year programs, moved to a church, but haven't the slightest idea what to do other than “preach.” What about reaching the lost? What about engaging the church in the effort? What about moving the church to maturity? What about equipping the saints?  The need for patience on the part of the elders and the members, and humility to learn on the part of the preacher. Berry Kercheville The post Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Gave Evangelists… (2) appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Be Careful How You Hear (2) How to Understand the Message  Introduction: Last week we looked at the emphasis Jesus placed on hearing. He accused the multitudes of having the same dullness and hard heart as their forefathers in Isaiah's time. However, it is a peculiar rebuke considering the sermon was merely 5 stories without any mention of explanations or applications. Therefore, in this lesson we will explore the method of of the Master Teacher. Jesus used a method that is uncommon today but was common in the first century.  Consider Luke 2:46-47 when Jesus at age 12 was in the temple. “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” The text reflects the method of teaching and learning. The scribes are questioning Jesus; they are not simply giving him information. It is not a one-way street. Jesus is listening and asking, but the teachers are also asking Jesus questions. They are testing his knowledge and his desire to learn. Why continue a conversation if he loses interest? Therefore, to understand Jesus and the biblical message, we must understand Jesus' method of teaching, a method that is usually unfamiliar to the modern reader.    Understanding Begins with How Jesus Taught There are many messages in the Parable of the Sower. One of those messages is how aggressive our minds must be in order to learn. Television and other types of media have caused us to be lazy listeners. It is noteworthy that Jesus refers to the secrets/mysteries of the kingdom. When we read a mystery book or watch a mystery movie, what happens? The joy of the mystery is trying to see the clues given in the story in order to find the answer to the mystery. That is what Jesus has done in telling parables, not just the Sower, but 9 parables, five to the multitudes and four more to those who came in the house wanting answers. Add the parables up, meditate on them, and we come to a very good picture of what Jesus has planned for his kingdom. Therefore, this sermon of parables was used by Jesus to engage dull minds in discovering a secret. Isn't that in many ways the whole method in scripture? There are always embedded messages. Why did God rest on the seventh day? What is marriage about? Why do we read an elaborate story of the Exodus? Mysteries and secrets are echoed time and again and God is urging us to work at discovering the answer. We should say to ourselves, “Wow! How exciting! The God and Creator of the universe is bringing us into an eternal reality show. Want to play?  Consider Mark 4:13, “And he said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?'” Obviously, it was not impossible to understand the parable without Jesus giving an explanation. Challenging, yes, but not impossible. Jesus gave them clues: this is a parable about the coming kingdom (of which the Jews had the wrong belief) and it is a parable about “hearing.” The only other ingredient needed was a knowledge of farming—seed responds differently to different soils and that's the way the kingdom of God is! That's not rocket science, but it does need careful meditation.  The point is, the possibility of understanding was present in the parable. One of the themes of Mark's account is the dullness of the apostles and the Jews in general. However, though Jesus gives a mild rebuke to the disciples in the house, he commends them for asking in order to learn and condemns the multitude for not pursuing an answer. With the above knowledge, “why did Jesus speak to them in parables?” Did he expect the multitude to understand? No way! Not even the apostles understood. In fact, at the moment Jesus does not intend for the multitude to understand: “but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may indeed see but not perceive, hear but not understand…” (Mark 4:11-12). He is looking for people who desire to know and learn; people who will come and ask and pursue the greatest offer made to mankind, the Kingdom!—“to you it is given to know, but to those outside it is not given!”  Therefore, Jesus purposely does not make everything perfectly understandable to every person on every point.  Does that surprise you? We would be appalled if a preacher today gave a sermon of five parables without explanation! The expectation was and is that each person would bring their brain to the study and go into discovery mode and draw conclusions from what they heard and then ask questions and seek answers. Jesus was testing their hearts, testing their desire for the Kingdom of God! Consider some examples; Example: Exodus 3:6 “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Jesus strongly rebuked the Sadducees for not understanding the resurrection based on this verse. Listen to his words, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?” (Mark 12:24). And in Matthew's account, “Have you not read what was said to you by God?” (22:31). Example: Matthew 22:41-46 Jesus asked the Jews a question they could not answer. Why didn't the Master Teacher go beyond the question and give them the answer? We would never have left the conversation at that point! When Jesus went away after the question, there would have been two kinds of soil left behind. Some would have been so predisposed to the Messiah being a mere human, they wouldn't have cared. They had already made up their minds. But others would not have been able to get the question off their minds and they would have gone to the scriptures to find the answer. It is these latter people who would be saved and who Jesus was interested in saving. Therefore, the message for us is critical—we need to learn aggressive listening, not simply with a sermon, but primarily with our own personal study. Jesus' Expectation of Aggressive Listening, Mark 4:21-25 This is Jesus' immediate followup to the interpretation of the parable of the Sower. Do you understand verses 21-23? This is such an interesting few verses because we easily skip them in favor of the simplicity of Jesus' explanation of the parable in the previous verses. But is Jesus finished with his explanation? Obviously not. He is giving the final explanation point on the message of the parables. The purpose of the parable is to bring everything that is hidden to light. In the Lord's Kingdom everything that is secret must be revealed. Nothing will be hidden any longer. Therefore, in the parable what is hidden that is being brought to light? It is the hearts of men and women! When Jesus preached his word throughout the entirety of scripture, it became a lamp. And the purpose of a lamp is to reveal and expose all that is in the room. When Jesus again repeats the words, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” we are able to get the primary message of the parable. The parable illustrates exactly what happened after Jesus preached it. Some went away without a thought of what Jesus said (wayside ground). Some had a measure of belief, but never pursued any further so that they became “rooted” in Jesus' teachings (stoney ground). Others believed, but allowed the other desires and cares in their life to take precedence over the pursuit of the kingdom (thorny ground). And those who came into the house and asked for more and put following Jesus and bearing fruit the priority in their lives are the good ground. Do you see it? Jesus has exposed hearts—all of our hearts. And of the four types of soil/hearts only one is good. With this we can conclude that Jesus' is not trying to keep people from being saved by giving the parables, he is weeding out people who do not have the heart he desires. Therefore, consider what Jesus is doing—and I would say is always doing in his preaching and in the biblical text—he is testing us as hearers and revealing our hearts! Just think how much God has revealed in his word. But how often have we looked briefly just like the multitudes and just shrugged it off because it did not immediately peak our interest or we did not immediately understand. There are eternal consequences to dismissing biblical truths that do not interest us or we do not understand. Verse 24 “Pay attention to what you hear.” Jesus is the teacher and the Holy Spirit revealed everything in our Bibles. Pay attention to what you hear! If we don't, we have failed the test, and even what we have will be taken away from us. Jesus Destroys Our Excuses, Luke 11:5-13 The context is Jesus teaching the apostles how to pray. We read it easily; we read it simply, but we miss the point!  The parable: God is not like a friend who does not want to be bothered by another friend seeking bread at midnight. The friend gives the bread, but only because his neighbor won't stop banging on the door!  God is different. He loves people who ask, seek, and knock. And to those who do, it will be given, they will find, and the door will be opened. What kind of Father do you think God is! He is ready to give! Oh goody, we say. I can ask God for “things,” the things I've always wanted. That's not what Jesus is talking about. Verse 13 “…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Jesus just took away all our excuses. “It's too hard! It's too deep! I'm not a scholar!” Sorry, that doesn't work. Jesus just gave us two keys to understand even the most obscure of his teachings. The best Bible student always asks questions while reading. Don't just read and don't just listen. Ask questions—that's what a seeker does. If you are not asking questions and desiring a fuller understanding, then you are not seeking. God rewards seekers—that is the promise Jesus gives in his application of the parable.  Most importantly, when you have the desire of a seeker, nothing in scripture becomes too “deep” or too hard for you. Two reasons: Jesus just made a promise to us that if we ask, seek, and knock, he will give abundantly to us. Therefore, the seeker is not trusting his or her own mental intelligence, but trusting God. Further, to convince ourselves that there are parts of scripture “too hard” for us, is to indict God. We are accusing God of not delivering his word in an understandable way. Is this not the the main point of the parable? There is nothing wrong with the seed! It is the ground that is the problem! We simply cannot buy into the idea that there are books of the Bible that are just too deep, too hard to understand. [Harrison is a new Christian, but nothing is too deep for Harrison. David and I can teach him anything and everything that is in a text. Harrison doesn't know that something in the Bible is too hard—and so he asks, seeks, and knocks, and the result is he always understands. And when he understands, he asks for more.  A hungry person eats differently than a person who has filled themselves with cake, pie, and deserts. Conclusion: The Bereans (Acts 17:11) are the perfect example of proper connection between teacher and listener. Paul preached a message to them that they had never heard before in spite of their knowledge of the scriptures. Their response is what made them more noble than the Jews in Thessalonica. Those Jews immediately rejected preaching that was new and different. But the Bereans searched the scripture. That is what Luke is commending and that is what God is commending when he inspired Luke to record those words.  Berry Kercheville The post Be Careful How You Hear (2): How To Understand The Message appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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