September 4, 2022
September 4, 2022
The Dependable Church
#
Revelation 2:8-11
Introduction
This is the shortest of the letters to the churches.
Nothing negative is mentioned in the letter to the church of Smyrna.
Smyrna was also a wealthy commercial city. Perhaps not as great as
Ephesus, but still a wealthy city.
The message is that of encouragement through persecution. Persecution,
is not an enjoyable topic, and yet, it is given by Christ himself, who
know more about persecution, and suffering than anyone else! Jesus lived
an absolutely SINLESS life, and didn’t deserve not even one lash of
punishment, yet he took it, for our sakes. It is he, “which was dead,
and is alive;”
February 12, 2020
February 12, 2020
Stewardship
#
Prov. 18:9 ¶ He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that
is a great waster.
I. Stewardship – slothful, Diligence
#
A. Slothfulness
#
1. Physical Rest is not the same as slothfulness.
#
-
- The Bible gives us provision for rest… matter of fact, God rested
on the 7^th^ day as an example to man.
- The law even provided times for the fields to be left to ‘rest’.
- Gen. 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had
made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he
had made.
- Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a
desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and
going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
- Matt. 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest.
2. Sin of laziness (How does God view laziness)
#
- Slothful – inactive; sluggish; lazy; indolent; idle
-
- We live in a lazy society… $50 an hour, no work.
- People are lazy spiritually… Bible reading… too much work….
They have time for a ball game, friends, and all kinds of other
activities. - Preaching to the choir
- If we are not careful, laziness can creep into every one of our
lives! - boiling frogs… (Gibbs)
- Rom. 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the
Lord;
- May we not become slothful in our spiritual business.
B. Waster
#
- Waster – one who squanders, consumes or expends extravagantly a
prodigal.
- Prodigal – given to extravagant expenditure expending money or other
things without necessity; recklessly or viciously profuse; lavish;
wasteful
- Luke 15:11-13 - “wasted his substance with riotous living”
- Everyone of us know that is not right.
C. Brother – similarities
#