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Hebrews 1:1-2:4

Bob Deffinbaugh
Date Added: 2008-07-21
This is the second part of a audio sermon series titled Near to the Heart of God: A Study of the Book of Hebrews.

No Risks, No Rewards (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6)

Keith Krell
Date Added: 2008-07-21

There was once an elderly gentleman who loved playing golf. But he was almost eighty, and his vision was not very good anymore. He always had partners with him when he went out to play so they could watch his ball and tell him where it went. One day his buddies did not show up. It was a beautiful day for golf, and as he waited at the clubhouse he got more and more upset that he wasn't going to get to play his round. Another elderly man in the clubhouse saw him and asked, "What's wrong?" The man explained his predicament: "I was really looking forward to playing golf today. But I don't see very well anymore, so I need someone to watch the ball after I hit." The second man was even older than he was, but he said, "That's no problem. I'll be glad to ride around with you. I've got 20/20 vision. I can see like a hawk. You just hit the ball, and I'll watch it fly right down the fairway." So they went out on the first tee, and the old man hit the ball right down the center... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Wise Beyond Words (Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20)

Keith Krell
Date Added: 2008-07-18

Have you ever heard of Ed Faubert? Faubert is what you call a "cupper." In layman's terms, he's a coffee-taster. The man is so gifted that his astute taste buds are actually certified by the state of New York! So refined is Faubert's sense of taste for coffee that even while blindfolded, he can take one sip of coffee and tell you not just that it is from Guatemala, but from what state it comes, at what altitude it was grown, and on what mountain.³⁸³

If you're like me and you enjoy a good cup of coffee, you're impressed with this man's uncanny taste buds. His coffee wisdom is incomparable. But I have to ask this question: Why is it that so many Americans know so much about so many things that don't really matter? Take me for example: I know a lot about sports. I know various athlete's height, weight, strength, 40-yard dash times, and alma maters. I also know quite a bit about music. Growi... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Joseph: The Man with a Divine Purpose (Week Eight)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-18

Joseph had a lot of things going his way in life at first. He was handsome. He was the first son born to Jacob through Rachel, and therefore, he was his father's favorite son. He had great dreams that made him feel good about himself. But then one day his entire life changed. Can you imagine how it must have felt to know your brothers hated you so much that they would sell you out of their lives? He was forced to leave the comfortable life he had known, full of love from his parents, and go forth into the unknown. How frightening that must have been for a boy of 17. Yet, God had His hand on Joseph. God had a divine purpose for this young man. Joseph didn't know why God had chosen this path for his life until the very end, yet he never seemed to waver. God was always in control. Joseph kept his eyes on God, and He used Joseph greatly. What an encouragement to us. Let God use you where you are. Let Him use you in the hard times, as well as the good times.

here.)

By Faith Alone (Closing Thoughts)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-18

Faith is how we begin the Christian life, and it sustains us throughout. As believers in Christ, we are not given the option as to how we should walk. It is clearly stated in 2 Corinthians 5:7, "for we walk by faith, not by sight." And in Colossians 2:6, "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord (by faith), so walk in Him (by faith)." So what effect does living by faith have on your life?For me, it deepens my walk with God because I have to depend on Him, not myself. I have to depend on His provision and His sovereignty, not my own methods and plans. It causes me to love Him more deeply as I see Him working in my life and the circumstances around me.

I pray that as a result of this study your relationship with the Lord has grown deeper and your faith has grown stronger. Let us be women who please God by living by faith.

SELECTED BIBLIO... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Jacob, The Man Who Finished Strong (Week Seven)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-18

If I were going to pick men and women to help carry out an enormous promise, would I choose men who were liars, who were willing to deceive those closest to them, who were self-centered? I think not. However, strangely enough, that's exactly what God did. He reminds us that His ways are not our ways. He has different reasoning in choosing men through whom He would carry out His promise to Abraham. I admit that I don't understand God's thinking, but I am so thankful that He did choose imperfect men and women to fulfill His plan. That gives me great hope that God could use even me, an imperfect sinner. Last week as we studied the life of Isaac, we saw how Jacob stole his brother's blessing. Jacob had a deceitful heart. Yet as we study his life this week, we will see how God used him to carry out His promise to Abraham. As you look back over the previous weeks, every character we have studied so far in Hebrews 11, other than Abel and Enoch, had something negative in th... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Living While You Live (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12)

Keith Krell
Date Added: 2008-07-17

"DEATH!" There I said it-the infamous "d" word. Death is one of those subjects we don't like to discuss. That's why it's a subject of so many euphemisms. Instead of using the word dead, we say, "passed away," "returned home," "gone to a better place," "sleeping in Jesus," or "went to be with the Lord." At least we use those terms around the church and the funeral home. In less guarded moments, we speak of "taking a dirt nap," "kicking the bucket," "buying the farm," "cashing in the chips," "biting the dust," or the ever-popular "croaked." Whether we lean to the reverent right or the flippant left, we shy away from speaking directly of the ultimate enemy.³⁴³

It seems that we are hesitant to come to grips with our impending death. We would rather avoid any discussion about it. After all, death is a depressing subject. And who wants to be depressed? ... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Isaac, The Man Who Accepted God’s Sovereignty (Week Six)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-17

Isaac is one of those characters in the Bible who seemed to have a good life. He married a woman whom he loved. He saw God answer his prayer concerning children. He had two healthy sons and became wealthy. God continued to bless him throughout his life. Yes, he did make a mistake by being deceptive, but that allows us to see his human nature. At first glance, I wondered, "Lord, what could you possibly want to teach me from Isaac's life?"

But as I began to spend more and more time looking at his life, I saw Isaac as a man who seemed to have everything going his way, and yet, in the end, was an unknowing and unwilling participant in the deceptive plan of others who were close to him. Was it unfair? Yes. But was God in control? Definitely. What a great reminder for us of God's sovereignty in everything that happens in our lives. He is aware of it before it even happens. He has a purpose for all things that He allows to happen. Isaac accepted God'... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Abraham, The Man Willing to Make The Ultimate Sacrifice (Week Five)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-17

Have you ever thought about what kind of relationship Abraham and Isaac must have had? Abraham had waited years for God to give him a son through Sarah, a son who was the answer to God's promise to Abraham. Can you imagine what it must have felt like to be told to sacrifice that very son? Had I been Abraham, I would have been tempted to think that God was being cruel to me. I probably would have asked, "God, why did you ever give Isaac to me in the first place if you were only going to take him away from me in this way?" But it is not recorded what went through Abraham's mind during this time. We only know that he obeyed step by step. And Isaac must have loved his father so deeply that he trusted him every step of the way to Mount Moriah. He willingly let his father lay him upon the logs for the sacrifice. Can you imagine what must have been going through Isaac's mind as he watched his father raise the knife to kill him? Their relationship was obviously one of love ... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Living Under the Thumb (Ecclesiastes 8:1-17)

Keith Krell
Date Added: 2008-07-15

One day, a bus driver was driving along his usual route. He didn't encounter any problems for the first few stops; a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At one stop, however, a big hulk of a man got on. He was 6' 8", built like a bodybuilder, and his arms hung down to the ground. He glared at the driver and told him, "Big John doesn't pay!" Then he sat down at the back of the bus. The driver was 5' 3", thin, and very meek, so he didn't argue with Big John. But he wasn't happy about it. The next day, the same thing happened. Big John got on again, made a big show of refusing to pay, and sat down. It happened the next day, and again the day after that. The bus driver began to lose sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally, he could stand it no longer. He signed up for bodybuilding courses, karate, judo, and a class on finding your self-esteem. By the end of the summer, the bus driver had become quite strong and felt... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Abraham and Sarah, The Couple Who Believed God for The Impossible (Week Four)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-15

What is your favorite story about Abraham and Sarah? When God called him to leave his home and family? When God promised to bless him with descendants too numerous to count? When he and Sarah decided to "help God out" and provide a descendant through Ishmael? When they laughed at God's promise to give them a child in their old age? The lives of Abraham and Sarah are full of lessons from which we can learn much. But will we? Because Abraham believed God was faithful to His promises, he stepped out in faith and followed God's leading. Because Sarah believed God was faithful, she gave birth to a son well past her childbearing years. They believed God would do what He said He would. It was not always easy for them to believe, but, in the end, God honored them for their faith. Looking at their lives causes me to search my own heart. How will I respond when God calls me to step out in faith and follow Him? Can I wait on God's timing in my life? Am I able to trust Him for ... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Why Study Hebrews (Lesson 1)

Bob Deffinbaugh
Date Added: 2008-07-14
This is the first part of a audio sermon series titled Near to the Heart of God: A Study of the Book of Hebrews.

Noah, The Man Who Stood Alone (Week Three)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-14

What do you think of when you see a rainbow? Is it the "pot of gold" at the end? Is it the sunshine and rain and beautiful colors? Or does it remind you of God's covenant with Noah?

Noah was a man who stood alone in a godless culture, a man whom God chose to be the father of the "new world," a man who found favor in God's sight, a man who walked with God. He was most likely ridiculed for building the ark, especially since it had not rained before. Can you imagine what people must have thought about Noah? We don't know all that went through Noah's mind, but we do know that he was faithful to do what God asked of him. By faith, he stood alone in obedience to God and refused to listen to the world. How would you have responded in that situation? My prayer for you as you study the life of Noah is that you would be encouraged to stand firm for Christ, regardless of what the world is saying around you.

here.)

Wise Words for Wise Ones (Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:1)

Keith Krell
Date Added: 2008-07-11

A young man loaned an acquaintance $500, but failed to get the borrower's signature on a receipt. When the guy hadn't paid him back a year later, he realized he had probably lost the money due to lack of proof. He asked his father what to do. "The answer is simple," his father said. "Just write him and say you need the $1,000 you loaned him." "You mean $500," his son replied. "No, you need to say $1,000. He'll immediately write back that he only owes you $500, and then you'll have it in writing!"²⁷⁹

This father provided wise counsel and his son was able to receive profitable words in writing. Similarly, our heavenly Father provides wise counsel and we can read His profitable words in the writings of the Bible. And who can't benefit from a bit more wisdom? In Eccl 7:15-29 Solomon says, "Wise up by going low." By this he means biblical wisdom comes ... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Enoch, The Man Who Pleased God (Week Two)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-11

Like Abel, very little is written about Enoch in the Bible, and yet, God placed him in the chapter of great men and women of faith in Hebrews 11. Enoch's life caught God's attention. As you study his life, look at your own. Consider how God would sum up your life today.

"Lord, open my eyes and heart that I might learn what it means to walk with you. Help me to identify areas in my life that hinder my walk. I desire to be pleasing to you in all that I say and do."

DAY 1: Pleasing to God

Looking to God's Word

Hebrews 11:5-6

1. What do we know about Enoch from verse 5?

2. Enoch was pleasing to God. What is required of us in order to please God according to Hebrews 11:6?

3. Why is it impossible to please Him without it?

4. According to verse 6, what is the progressio... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Passive Men, Wild Women, Part 2 (Genesis 3:1-13)

Bill Lawrence
Date Added: 2008-07-11

Introduction

Assertion:

Nothing is more important to the health of our society than the family.

Support:

This is true because everything in our society comes from the family.

Restatement:

We can have nothing in our society that does not come from the family.

Development:

Our view of truth,

of right and wrong,

our values,

our national health,

our emotional stability,

our moral strength,

our ethical discipline,

our intellectual dedication,

our view of excellence,

our personal integrity--

the list goes on and on.

Point:

If our families are healthy our society is healthy.

Transition:

But our families are not healthy.here.)

Habakkuk 3

Jack Fish
Date Added: 2008-07-10
This is the fourth part of a four part audio sermon series on Habakkuk.

By Faith Alone (Introduction)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-10

A Personal Note

I am thankful to pastor Neil Tomba at Northwest Bible Church in Dallas, who through his series on "Developing a Real Life Faith," gave me the idea for this Bible study. I had always wanted to do a character study on the characters from Hebrews 11. As Neil took a birds-eye approach to the characters, I decided to do a more in-depth look. Thus, the concept for this Bible study was born.

God has truly shown me much about my own faith and how hard it is for me to walk by faith. When I first wrote this study, I was in the process of raising financial support for an Amazon mission trip to Brazil. It was easy to walk by faith when I saw God bringing in the support, because I could see His hand at work. But is that walking by faith, or by sight? It became much tougher when God's hand became silent, and the support stopped coming in. But God wanted me to still trust Him even though I couldn't see Him working. That is what walki... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Abel, The Man With A Right Heart (Week One)

Crickett Keeth
Date Added: 2008-07-10

If someone were to ask you, "What do you know about Abel?" how would you answer? Most of us would probably say the obvious: he was Cain's brother and was murdered by Cain. However, would you be able to say much more than that? There is very little written about Abel in the Bible, and yet, there is much that we can learn from the story of Cain and Abel. This is a story of what is in a man's heart and how that affects his life. As you look at Abel's life, look to your own heart. Do you have a heart that is righteous and pleasing to God? Is your motivation for doing "spiritual things" right? How would you know if your motivation is wrong? Ponder these questions as you study the life of Abel and contrast his life with that of his brother.

"Lord, clear away the distractions and open my heart to hear what You have to say to me through Your Word. Show me my true heart motivation. Give me a heart ... (This page has been truncated; please continue reading here.)

Who Walks on Water? (John 6:16-24)

Jeff Miller
Date Added: 2008-07-09

Abstract

Immediately after Jesus multiplied the bread for the crowd, he walked on water where his disciples could privately witness it. Although it was dark and the lake was getting rough, it wasn't the water that frightened the disciples. They were afraid of the sight of someone walking on top of the water! If there is escalation in Jesus' miracles in John, then this one ratchets up the standard! Certainly this sign teaches us that Jesus had power and authority over nature in such a way that enabled him to defy gravity, among other things. The crowds knew that something special had taken place, but they were not privy to the details. The disciples witnessed it firsthand, and grew in their understanding of the Son of God.