To all the saints in Christ Jesus, together with the overseers, deacons, and ministers:

Grace and peace and love to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.

 -Philippians 1:3-11

Now I want you all to know that you and I will be persecuted for being Christians. But always have the hope of heaven for heaven is where we will be going in the next life! It is the place where there will be no more death. The place where sorrow is no more and there’s no crying. Have faith and continue to walk in the light and be in Christ despite the pain and suffering!

The Lord has blessed us; therefore, we should thank God for our blessings! Count your many blessings and name them one by one. It will surprise what the Lord hath done.

Love the Lord and obey his commands. Christ said that if you love him, you will obey his commands, so trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey! Love the Lord!

In order to love the Lord, you must first love your brother. How can you love someone you can’t see if you hate someone you can see? For it says that you can’t love someone you can’t see if you hate someone you can see in 1 John 4:19-21. So whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Brothers, have study groups and preach the good news!

Brothers and sisters, evangelize and recruit people to Christ and study the Bible for it says that without the Word it’s like going to war without armor or weapons. Put on the armor of God so that you may defend the Word and hopefully convert someone into Christ!

The Lord is near and you are safe with him. Always follow him! Let him into your hearts and let him make you into the image of God. Let him make you heart be like a servant’s heart.

Encourage one another! Tell each other how much you love them for if you don’t tell them that you love them, how will they know?

God is so great and powerful! He is truly amazing! Love him!

May God bless you and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Love, Your Brother in Christ,

Robert

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This sermon is about whether or not Easter is a pagan holiday.

Is it Biblical?

No. The Bible doesn't mention the holiday.

Is There a Verse That Commands/Examples Us To Remember Christ's Death?

Yes. Matthew 26:17-30. Luke 22:7-30. Acts 20:7.

Should We Celebrate This Holiday?

No. It's not mentioned in the Bible.

How Often Should We Remember Christ's Death?

Every day of every week. We should break the bread every week to follow th example of the early church (Acts 20:7).

Is There a Benefit In This Holiday?

Oddly enough, yes. Most of the world is focussing on Christ's death on this holiday so it gives us a chance to tell them about the good news.

Conclusion

We should share our faith not only on this holiday, but everytime we get the chance according to Matthew 16:15-16. Thank you for reading this and may God bless you as you share your faith!

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For quite some time I have been debating against instruments. In this sermon, you will see my points and beliefs on this topic. Please don't judge this sermon based on the first few points I make. This sermon changes view as it goes along…So please read the WHOLE sermon, not just the points.

Argument for Instruments:

1. The Bible says in the Old Testament that instruments are okay. (Many verses support this and the more commonly known ones are in Psalms.)
2. The New Covenant commands us to in Ephesians 5:19; psalms, which came from the Greek word “Psallo”, means to twitch or twang, i.e. to play on a stringed instrument.
3. Revelations gives examples of people using instruments.
4. If you don’t use instruments, you will be taking away from the Bible; therefore, you will be sinning.
5. Why would God change His mind (used instruments in the Old Covenant, but didn’t in the New)?

Argument against Instruments:

1. Instruments were a part of the Old Covenant and the Old Covenant is no longer binding (Romans 7:1-6, Ephesians 2:13-15, Colossians 2:14, and Hebrews 8:7-13).
2. The New Covenant DOES NOT command us to use instruments in Ephesians 5:19; psalms means sing a hymn (in many dictionaries; don’t just look in one.) It only said sing throughout the New Covenant.
3. Every example in the New Covenant of worshiping only said “sing” but didn’t say instruments.
4. Revelations is metaphorical.
5. If you add instruments into worship, you are adding on to the commands of the New Covenant; therefore, you sin.

I believe that instruments shouldn’t be used in worship, because of the following:

1. I’m not sure if instruments are okay or if they are wrong to be used in worship.
2. If we add instruments in worship, we could have the possibility of sinning; and that can equal condemnation.
3. If we condemn instruments, we could have the possibility of sinning; and can equal condemnation.
4. We don’t have the authority to authorize nor do we have the authority to condemn instruments in worship; God does.
5. The Old Covenant WAS completed when Christ died and the New Covenant was set up.
6. The New Covenant is virtually silent on instruments in worship.

I conclude with the following:

We don’t know what will happen to those who use instruments in worship; therefore, why use them?-especially if there is no command in the New Covenant. I won’t use them because we don’t know if it is okay nor do we know what will happen to those who use them.

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WHO AM I?

Instructions

Answer the questions with the names in the word box below. Write your answers on a sheet of paper. Then, check your answers. Be honest.

Word Bank:

Eve      Noah    Cain     Nehemiah         David

Esther   Josiah   Enoch   Balaam Saul

Jeremiah           Joseph  Moses  Hannah Adam

Elijah    Abraham          Samson            Solomon           Gideon

Questions

1. I was the first man God made.
2. I was the first woman God made.
3. I was the first murderer because I killed my brother Abel.
4. I walked with God for many years and one day He just took me with Him.
5. God told me to build an ark.
6. God told me to sacrifice my son Isaac on a mountain.
7. My father made me a coat of many colors and my brothers were jealous.
8. I led the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.
9. I disobeyed God and He made my donkey talk to me.
10. God led my small army into battled armed with pitchers, torches, and trumpets.
11. God made me the strongest man on earth, but I misused my gift.
12. I prayed to be able to have a son named Samuel, and when I did I gave him to the Lord to serve in the temple with the prophet Eli.
13. I was a head taller than other men in Israel and became their first King.
14. I killed a giant and became the second king of Israel.
15. I was the third king of Israel and the wisest man on earth.
16. I was a prophet who had a contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
17. I was eight years old when I became king of Israel.
18. I have been called the weeping prophet and lived in a time of great sorrow.
19. I won a beauty contest and became a queen.
20. I led the people when the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt.

Answers

1. Adam
2. Eve
3. Cain
4. Enoch
5. Noah
6. Abraham
7. Joseph
8. Moses
9. Balaam
10. Gideon
11. Samson
12. Hannah
13. Saul
14. David
15. Solomon
16. Elijah
17. Josiah
18. Jeremiah
19. Esther
20. Nehemiah

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