Category: Blessings

How can you make sure that you will get to heaven?

How can you make sure that you will get to heaven?

“Life” or “fire” are the only two destinations on the day of judgment:

  • Recall 20:15 .

How can you make sure that your name is “found written in the book of life” (v. 15)?

  • How can you make sure that you will get to heaven?
  • The devil is very happy when people are confused about how to get to heaven!

A sobering example

The answer is really very simple:

  1. Become a Christian!
  2. Remain/Stay a Christian!

Jesus said “I am …”

Jesus said “I am …”

Why are we gathering together this morning?

  • There are no doubt many good reasons: obedience to God (Heb. 10:25), worship of God (Jn. 4:24), encouraging one another, (1Cor. 14:26), etc.
  • But surely a very important reason is because of who Jesus is!
Jesus said “I am …”
1. I am the bread of life (John 6:35,41,48,51)
2. I am the light of the world (8:12; 9:5)
3. I am (8:58)
4. I am the door (10:7,9)
5. I am the good shepherd (10:11,14)
6. I am the Son of God (10:36)
7. I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)
8. I am the way, and the truth, and the life (14:6)
9. I am the true vine (15:1,5)

Lessons from the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)

Lessons from the Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Luke 15)

Four Lessons from the Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Luke 15)

  1. Sin leads to the opposite of what it promises
  2. Repentance and confession are essential
  3. God is compassionate and gracious
  4. Don’t be appallingly selfish like the older brother

Luke 15 is one of the most loved chapters in all the Bible!

Its “parable” (i.e., v. 3) in four parts– the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, and the lost older brother – show many wonderful truths:

  • God’s great love for the lost,
  • His great efforts to restore them to Himself,
  • and His great joy when they are returned.

God allows us all choice, but longs for us all to be with Him. God wants all to be saved.

What is the Kingdom of Heaven Like? (Matthew 13)

What is the Kingdom of Heaven Like? (Matthew 13)

What is The Kingdom of Heaven Like?

  1. The sower (13:3-9,18-23)

People will react differently to “the word of the kingdom”! Many would, in effect, reject the kingdom! But the kingdom would be made up of those with honest and good hearts, who bear fruit with perseverance (cf. Luke 8:15). [Some Christians will not make it – let it not be you!]

  1. The tares among the wheat (13:24-30,36-43)

While the King is reigning, there will be those who recognize His rule and those who oppose, and such will be the case until the end of time.  i.e., The King will not remove all evil until the end of the world. We are not to attempt to exterminate evil people (we ourselves were evil once, Eph. 2:1-3)!

  1. The mustard seed (13:31,32)

Yes, there will be rejection and opposition (see 1 & 2 above), but the kingdom would still grow great and magnificent after a small beginning.

  1. The leaven (13:33)

The kingdom would spread everywhere, but without grandiose fanfare or military warfare.

  1. The hidden treasure (13:44)

Some will not be looking for the kingdom, but would recognise it’s great value when they saw it, and would give all to be part of it.  [So keep scattering the seed! cf. Matt.13:3]

  1. The costly pearl (13:45,46)

Others will be looking for the kingdom of great value, and will give all for it when they find it.

  1. The dragnet (13:47-50)

Those in the kingdom who become unfaithful will not inherit the heavenly kingdom. Careful sorting will take place at the end of the age.

That’s what the kingdom is really “like”, according to Jesus.

Do we have to be in the church of Christ to go to heaven?

Do we have to be in the church of Christ to go to heaven?

1. Community misunderstanding of the question

2. The proper understanding of the question

3. How to recognise the church of Christ today

4. How to be in the church of Christ today

(a) How to BE saved

(b) How to STAY saved

What’s New in the New Year?

What’s New in the New Year?

God has graciously granted to us all here today the start of another new year:

  • 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

But, What’s New in the New Year?

  1. There is nothing is new under the sun
  2. But everything is new under the Son
(i) A new and living way to God
(ii) A new covenant
(iii) A new man
(iv) A new life
(v) A new creature
(vi) A new heaven and a new earth

Let’s make the most of whatever time God has graciously given us to serve Him and to help others as we should (cf. Matt. 22:36-40).

You do not have because you do not ask (James 4:2)

You do not have because you do not ask

(James 4:2)

How many good things are we, and others who we could be praying for, missing out on because we simply do not ask God?

  1. Some things to pray concerning God
  2. Some things to pray concerning others
  3. Some things to pray concerning self