Brian's Sermons

Remember that when we look at the Ten Commandments, we have to start with God, Yahweh, the all-powerful Lord of Hosts, our Provider, our Healer, our leader, the One who gives us life, who is the Giver of all good and perfect gifts. The fact that He is the One who gives us the Ten Commandments is what gives the Ten Commandments their context, their power, and their reason for existence. We also pointed out that God gives us the Ten Commandments for our protection — as God wants the very best for us. In the play, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s character Juliet asks the question: “what’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.” The idea is that we are all the same; a name is just what we call something or someone. But God obviously has some different ideas. The third of the Ten Commandments is this: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. ...

Over the past month, we have been looking at the scriptures, trying to understand what it means to live life together as Christians. We’ve encouraged one another and served one another.  We’ve lived in harmony with one another and hung in there with one another.  But really none of that is important at all if we miss out on today’s lesson.  The reality is that we as a church often focus so much on doing church that we can miss out on the main point.  We emphasize numerical growth, often through powerful programming.  We teach our congregations well, making sure that we all know about God and that we actually know God. We emphasize individual spiritual growth, stressing spiritual disciplines – both inward and outward.  But without love, none of that matters.  This is what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy ...