Untitled Sermon

Sabbath 3/11/23

Matt Smith:

Teaching about going to heaven by a rapture. raptureready.com

An event in the near future. Christ will come and collect christians prior to the tribulations.

Paul said the dead in Christ will rise first and those who are alive later. To be reunited with those who died in Christ before them. The rapture is not a part of God’s word.

Wickipedia: Many views as to the timing. They don’t believe many will be on the earth after the tribulation. The rapture was promoted by John Darby. It’s been very pervasive.

Pre tribulation; mid tribulation etc.

I Thes 4:15-18 Used to support the rapture. A closer look reveals that Christ will return with the trumpet of God. He descends from heaven--come down from heaven to the earth.

It doesn’t happen quietly: It’s announced with a trumpet verse 16. Cloud literally means cloud. Air is the lower air we breath. Heaven is above the clouds where there is no air. It clearly does not say we go to heaven.

Verse 17 always with the Lord. Doesn’t mean in heaven.

Revelation: 5:8-10 We, those who are Christ’s will reign on the earth not heaven. Matthew 25 says Christ retunrs to earth.

Revelation 21:1-2 Holy City comes down from heaven--tabernacle of God is with men. Christ returns to earth and establishes God’s kingdom on earth. This clearly refutes the teaching of a rapture.

We can be so thankful there is no secret rapture. Let’s rejoice in that truth and a part of God’s plan for mankind.

Sermon: Brandon Sexton “Making Good Decision”

We think we make decisions but turn out bad. We’re talking about decisions for those of us in God’s Church. We are in a training ground where we learn how to make good decisions

Heb 5:13-14 Solid food is for those trained to make right decisions - to discern both good and evil.

We talk about these things on the Feast of Pentecost.

We have an incredible resource that will help us make good decisions. The bible covers thousands of years of human life and activity. It has good examples and bad ones.

1 Corinthians 10:11 We have many examples to learn from.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 God is the source. For instruction in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:12-14 A true statement. It’s part of the process. Scriptures able to make one wise to salvation. Paul is instructing Timothy personally, but it’s good instruction for us as well. The things we learn in Church help us to know what to do.

Three Examples from Scripture about making good decisions.

Point 1. Try to find an example in scripture that applies to your situation.

There are always examples covering every situation.

2 Kings1:2 Ahaziah and what not to do. Did not go to God for healing. god of Ekron involved the worship of flies.

I Sam 5:2-10 They send the ark to Ekron.

1 Sam 6:2, 6 The god of Ekron was far inferior to the God of Israel the true God.

Ahaziah should have known this.

2 Kings 1:3-8 There was opportunity for Ahaziah to change his ways. The story of Nineveh would have been helpful to Ahaziah as well. He knew about Elijah as well. So Ahaziah should have known better.

Point 2. Remember what happened the last time.

John 6:1-3, 5-8, 10-14

Matthew 15:29-38 Not much time passes. The disciples forgot what had happened at previously.

Matthew 16:5-12 They had forgotten to take bread.

Ahaziah had forgotten some things. Elijah had been threatened with death many times and delivered. Ahaziah sent troops to arrest Elijah.

2 Kings 1:9-17 You get the idea that Ahaziah is hard headed. The third captain of 50 is a good example. Is it possible Ahaziah could have repented any part of the way

Point 3. Get good counsel and apply it. Sometimes people get counsel and don’t apply it. Sometimes they don’t get counsel because they think it will be not what they want.

Jeremiah 38:14-23 If seeking counsel had been done properly things would have turned out better. King Zedekiah was apprehensive. Jeremiah told him what to do. Zedekiah did not surrender.

Jeremiah 39:4-5 Jerusalem was then captured and destroyed.

Another example--same time period.

Jeremiah 42:1-6, 9-16 It seems to be going well here.

Jeremiah 43:1-2, God does what He says He will do always. In this example those who counseled with God didn’t follow what He said. We always can correct bad decisions.

We have access to a lot of examples to follow in order to make good decisions.