Sermon Video: When Jacob's sons repaid evil for evil - Genesis 34

 

The book of Genesis is an encouraging story about the faithfulness and grace of God. It is also an honest story about the failings and follies of the people whom God has chosen to work with, and humanity as a whole. In Genesis 34 Jacob's daughter Dinah is raped by one of the leading men of a neighboring tribe. Rather than seeking justice openly, Jacob's sons scheme like their father resulting in wholesale murder of all of the male relatives of the perpetrator living in the same town, the stealing of all of their property, and the enslavement of the now widows and orphans. Jacob's sons responded to evil with a much greater amount of evil. There are no excuses, no "what about..." deflections. They knew better, and they should have done much better than any of that. As a Church, Jesus Christ calls us to reject this human tendency toward vengeance in all its forms.

The Narrow Path (FFOZ, Torah Club) lesson #1 - Billy Graham was wrong about John 3:16??

In lesson #1 of the new Torah Club series that begins in October 2026, D. Lancaster and FFOZ present a different gospel, one opposed to that preached by Billy Graham and exemplified by John 3:16.

Instead of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus as our assurance of eternal life {as the Bible proclaims}, FFOZ is selling salvation by obedience (works) to the teachings of Jesus (Torah observance).

Let lesson #1 be a warning to anyone who is invited to join a Torah Club, let it serve as a danger sign to any pastor or church that would allow this material into their congregation. 

This false gospel offered by FFOZ is built upon the foundation of the deeply heretical, "How the Gospels Should Have Ended."  To view my two-part response to this insane rejection of God's plan to share the Good News with the whole world:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUMxme9ElkxOrTt6-kbiM3B3tOzkDvJIF

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #40 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

1 Corinthians 5:11-13 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Like an iceburg the true cost of pursuing "Christian" Nationalism may not be readily apparent, but it lies beneath the surface, doing its damage whether we see it or not.

What does the myth of a "Christian" Nation cost the Church?  {See my: The Myth of a Christian Nation - by Gregory Boyd: a summary and response}  Among its many steep costs is this: The Church becomes known for what (who) it is against, not what (who) it is for.  As Gregory Boyd rightly said, "The brutal fact is that we Christians are not generally known for our love - for the simple reason that we, like the pharisees of old, generally judge more than we love." (The Myth of a Christian Nation, Boyd, p. 133-134).  A Church focused on obtaining power over its political enemies will inevitably devolve into an us vs. them mentality.  How can we share the Gospel with them, how we can be servants, when we're busy trying to destroy them?  

In a "Christian" Nation, moral authority is reduced to a tactic, we can't (or hesitate to) criticize our 'team' for immorality, but at the same time we are incentivized to criticize "them" whether warranted or not.

But that's not at all what the Apostle Paul tells the followers of Jesus Christ to do.  We are told that judgement begins, and ends, with us.  God will deal with the rest of the world, our task is to make sure that immorality has not home within our community.

Thus "Christian" Nationalism pushes the Church in the opposite direction from what scriture commands.  Instead of cleaning our own house, we throw stones at "them", instead of having zero tolerance for sin within our community, we make room (even celebrate) unrepentant sinners who happen to be good at the political power game.

The cost of "Christian" Nationalism is far to high for the Church, the Gospel, and each one of us.

Sermon Video: What is Goof for Everyone - 1 Thessalonians 5:5-12

As he begins wrapping up his letter with a variety of instruction for the church at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul weaves his insight around the theme of, "what is good for each other and for everyone else."  In shorter form: What is good for everyone.  As a local church, this is always going to be a significant challenge.  We have to come to agreement on what is good in various situation, decide how to pursue it, and peaceably work together to try to achieve it, for everyone.  Difficult, but not impossible for a people called and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Video: Awake and Sober - 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11

In light of our foreknowledge that Jesus will return to gather his followers, both the dead in Christ and the currently living, the Apostle Paul encourages us to live our lives in a way that is awake and sober?  What does this mean?  Metaphorically, it means we have an important job to do in sharing the Gospel and making disciples, and we need to be properly focused upon it.

How do we do this?  By embracing faith, love, and hope.

Lastly, Paul ends the discussion of the impact of the return of Christ by reminding us to use this wisdom of what will one day happen to encourage and build each other up.