Public and Private Sin

All Was Fair Game for John the Baptist and for Christians Today

 

Sunday, we looked at the way John the Baptist was uncompromising about sin wherever he saw it at work.  We in the church have tended to focus mostly on private or personal holiness and have ignored prophetic judgment against public behaviors.  We didn’t have time Sunday, but I’d originally included examples of what would have been public sins back in the time of John and Jesus...

The Rest of the Story

          I mentioned Russell Conwell in Sunday’s message.  He was a famous preacher, educator, and lecturer.  His sermon/lecture “Acres of Diamonds” was turned into a book and sold rather well.  I used Conwell’s illustrations to talk about sharing the good news of Jesus with those closest to us first—family, friends, coworkers, and church family.  The wider world is our ultimate aim, but until you invest in the people God has already put in your life, you are unlikely to have much success. 

Archived Posts

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

There are several powerful and evocative artworks that depict the scene from Mark 9:14–29, where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit... Some of the following have internet links, the others are worth googling.  Enjoy!

The Gift of Ourselves As A Gift of Love

  The more the giving of myself costs me something, the greater the power of the gift. You know I love quotes, so after a little research, let me share a few of my favorites on this very subject:

The Loss of a Great Christian Leader

         The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter.  As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world.  It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.

Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)

Jesus Hears A Who

         Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew.