All posts by JT

Christian. Husband. Dad. Preacher. Baseball fan. Music nerd. Bookworm.

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 186/260: Haggai

September 20, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Ezra 4; Haggai 1-2

Finish What You Started

The people who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity began rebuilding the temple, but they were met with opposition. The Lord sent word to the people through the prophecy of Haggai: “‘Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest,; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:4).

Brother Roy Deaver astutely commented on this incident, “Obligations do not disappear merely because opposition appears.” This statement remains true today. Christians are faced with opposition on all sides—false denominations posing as truth, false religions that deny the Deity of God, atheism that denies any sort of higher power at all. What is our responsibility in light of all the error we face? “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Our responsibility is not diminished one bit by error! There is work to be done, and we are the soldiers to do it! Just as God told the men of Israel to “be strong,” He tells His church today the same: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

Our focus must be on the things of God despite all the evil that surrounds us. Let us not become so distracted by the temporal that we lose sight of what is truly important. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

Don’t give up when there is work left to be done. Don’t leave undone what you have the ability to do. Even when opposition comes, be strong, knowing that God will give His faithful children the strength to endure and overcome. Finish what you started!

Sermon Outlines

The Example of Paul (Acts 20:17-38)

September 19, 2021 JT Leave a comment

The Example of Paul Acts 20:17-38

Acts 20:17-38

I. His work in Ephesus

C. The foundation laid for the church (Acts 20:22-24) – the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:25-27; Ezekiel 3:16-19)

II. His charge to the elders

Sermon Outlines

I Am Gentle and Lowly in Heart (Matthew 11:28-30)

September 19, 2021 JT Leave a comment

I Am Gentle and Lowly in Heart I am Meek and Lowly in Heart Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28-30

I. An invitation for all (Matthew 11:28)

II. An invitation to learn from Christ (Matthew 11:29a)

III. “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29b)

IV. His easy yoke and light burden (Matthew 11:30)

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 185/260: Jeshua and Zerubbabel

September 17, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Ezra 1-3

When God Works, His People Get Emotional

How incredible is the foreknowledge of the Almighty? He inspired His prophets to speak of the events that are recorded in the book of Ezra. Through Jeremiah, the Lord said, “After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10). He uses Isaiah to identify the Persian king Cyrus through whom He would accomplish His will (Isaiah 44:28). Isaiah prophesied more than 150 years before the birth of Cyrus! How could he possibly have known his name, except by the divine foreknowledge of God?

It was in Cyrus’ first year as king of Persia that “the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus” (Ezra 1:1) to proclaim that the Israelites should return to their homeland and “build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:3).

The second chapter lists “the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his own city” (Ezra 2:1). Among them were Jeshua and Zerubbabel, who worked together to restore the worship of the Lord in Jerusalem.

The third chapter of Ezra details what these two men accomplished: they built the altar of God to offer burnt offerings upon it, as commanded in the Law of Moses. They kept the Feast of the Tabernacles, offering daily burnt offerings in accordance with what was revealed. They offered regular burnt offerings during the New Moons and all consecrated feasts, and several offered freewill offerings to the Lord. All of this was accomplished “though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries” (Ezra 3:3).

The third chapter ends with the laying of the foundation of the temple. The occasion was marked with the priests and Levites with their trumpets and cymbals, and much weeping and shouting for joy by the people. They were overwhelmed with emotion at the work of the Lord.

When is the last time you were overwhelmed with emotion because of what God is doing through His church today?

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 184/260: Daniel

September 16, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Daniel 6

Communicating With God

In the first chapter of Daniel that he had many good qualities as one of the “young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand” (Daniel 1:4). He conducted himself in such a way as a faithful child of God that “God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs” (Daniel 1:9).

Several years later, when Darius the Mede rose to power, Daniel had been promoted. “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss” (Daniel 6:1-2). Daniel performed his duties in such a way that he “distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm” (Daniel 6:3).

With great responsibility and authority, however, comes the jealousy of those over whom you serve. They sought some fault in him, but could find none, and settled for creating a new law that they knew Daniel would not obey. They convinced Darius to sign a law that forbade prayers or petitions of any god or man other than the king.

Of course, Daniel would not obey such a law. As a faithful child of God, he needed to communicate with God daily. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, Daniel knew that God would deliver him from any punishment, even if he were “cast into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:7).

Exactly how committed are we to God? Are we so dependent upon Him that we feel the great need to communicate with Him every day? Jesus taught His disciples to pray for “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Paul encouraged the church in Thessalonica, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This is not an activity that is occasional for the Christian. The faithful child of God will pray to God every day, and many times every day!

Have you prayed to your Father in heaven today? If not, take a moment now to do so, and make a concerted effort each day from now on to spend time in prayer communicating with Him.

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 183/260: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego

September 15, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Daniel 3

Submit to the Government, Unless…

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). When Paul wrote these words to the church at Rome, he referred to matters that do not conflict with the faith. Today, this verse may be summed up in six words: “Obey the laws of the land.”

There is an exception to that rule, however. When a government decrees that you disobey God, do not submit to that decree. This is the situation in which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego found themselves in Daniel 3. King Nebuchadnezzar made a great golden image and ordered that all should worship that image. Those who disobeyed the king’s order would be thrown into the fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, as faithful servants of God, had no choice but to disobey the king. Word of their rebellion reached the king, and he reacted with “rage and fury” (Daniel 3:13). He brought the three men before him, recounted the accusation against them, and gave them a second chance to bow down or be burned alive.

These men responded, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

Those who have read this account are well aware of the outcome: God’s servants were thrown into the fire but not burned. In fact, when the king looked into the furnace, he saw not only these three, but a fourth man whose “form…is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25). The king acknowledged the power of the God of Israel, saying “there is no other God who can deliver like this” (Daniel 3:29).

When the government tells you to do something, do it—unless doing it is a violation of God’s higher law.

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 182/260: Ezekiel

September 14, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Ezekiel 18

Stop Blaming Adam

We love to shift the blame of our shortcomings to other people, don’t we? In our own minds, we can do no wrong…it’s always someone else’s fault! We see examples of this going all the way back to Eden. God asked Adam why he ate the forbidden fruit, and Adam said, “It’s the woman’s fault!” God turned His attention to Eve, and she said, “It’s the serpent’s fault!” It’s never our own fault; it’s always someone else’s fault.

This way of thinking has even crept into religion with the false doctrine of “Total Hereditary Depravity.” This doctrine, popular among those who adhere to the teachings of John Calvin, purports that all men have inherited the guilt of Adam’s sin. In other words, “It’s not my fault!” But is this what is revealed by God in His Word?

The prophet Ezekiel relayed this message from God: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20).

You are only guilty of your own sin, and your sin is a result of your own decision. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, ti gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). Do not try to shift the blame to someone else, whether friend or foe, and certainly don’t try to blame Adam and Eve who sinned because of their poor decision thousands of years ago.

The main points of Calvinism are false doctrine. In addition to “Total Hereditary Depravity,” other aspects of John Calvin’s teaching are “Unconditional Election,” “Limited Atonement,” “Irresistible Grace,” and “Perseverance of the Saints.” If you currently worship with a group of people that teach these things, please study the doctrines in light of the Scriptures and learn the truth that God reveals.

Daily Devotional

Monday through Friday with People of Faith: Day 181/260: Ezekiel

September 13, 2021 JT Leave a comment

Read Ezekiel 2-3

“I Sat Where They Sat”

Ezekiel was called by God to deliver warnings against the people of Israel. He was, in God’s view, “a watchman” (Ezekiel 3:17). The responsibility was great: if God issued a warning, and Ezekiel failed to relay that warning to the people, not only would the wicked die but Ezekiel would be guilty as well. As long as Ezekiel was faithful in his duty to deliver the warning, his soul would be delivered, regardless of the wicked man’s response to the message.

While God was commissioning Ezekiel, the prophet says, “Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days” (Ezekiel 3:15). Consider how much more powerful would his ministry prove to be since he “sat where they sat”! He was able to empathize, to put himself in their place, to understand their experiences and environment so much better. Christians would do well to learn this lesson from this great prophet.

There are several axioms that describe what Ezekiel did here. “Do not judge another man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” “Do not judge a book by its cover.” What you observe in another person does not always tell the whole story. Be very cautious before you jump to conclusions about another’s situation.

Did you notice anyone sleeping in the worship services on Sunday? Do you know why they were sleeping, or did you assume the worst? Perhaps they worked a late shift Saturday night, perhaps even into Sunday morning, and got very little sleep. But they still showed up to worship God. Perhaps they are taking medication that causes drowsiness. But they still showed up to worship God. Maybe they were young parents who had dealt with infants crying through the night. But they still showed up to worship God.

Rather than passing judgment, ask how you might be able to help. At the very least, commend them for their faithfulness and their example of being present—even when they may not feel like being there. In your mind, do your best to “sit where they sit” and understand their situation.

Sermon Outlines