Sermons on 1 Peter 2:4-10:4:

Is God With Us, Or Not? (Exodus 17:1-16) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 4, 2022

How you answer that question, determines how you will go through life. Here, God is teaching them how good life can be, if God is with you.

This morning, we will read two separate, but connected stories from Exodus 17. And as we read, eventually, we are going to find ourselves focusing on one main question: "Is God with us, or not?" In the first story, we will see what life looks like, when you don't know for sure if ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-16, Luke 22:20

Provoking Thoughts From First John (1 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

1 John is called one of the “General Epistles,” because it was not sent to a specific church. Rather, it was sent to churches in general.

The three books of John are referred to as “letters, however, the first was not written in the form of a letter. For example, it has no salutation nor conclusion. In fact, it has all the characteristics of a sermon in which a pastor is revealing his love for God’s people. To have a good ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (2 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In the first sermon it was mentioned that in order to understand the books of 1, 2, and 3 John, we first needed to understand some things about the place John wrote from, Ephesus.

Because this is essential, I would like to refresh your memory before we get into the heart of this sermon. We dealt with these FOUR things about the Ephesian Christians: (1) THEIR HERITAGE. They were second and third generation Christians. Their parents and grandparents had been in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (3 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In chapter two we see why many think John was a “softy.” Look at verse 1. We read, “My little children...”

As we read these words, we can not help but think of an old, gray-haired man expressing concern for his children. This was exactly what John was doing. In a pervious sermon we dealt with the two sides of John’s personality. • That is, he had the intestinal fortitude to be able to look at the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (4 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In 1 John, chapter one, John had the audacity to tell some of those who claimed to be saved that they were liars.

Evidently John never took a course in “HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE”. If he had taken it, he would have had a hard time passing the course. We know this because we see he called those people liars five times. He used “liar(s)” in: • 1 John 1:10. • 1 John 2:4. • 1 John 2:22. • 1 John ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (5 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In a previous sermon we dealt with what John had to say about how we can KNOW that WE KNOW THE LORD.

We discovered that anyone can say that they know the Lord...anyone! All one has to say is, “I know the Lord.” John used the word, “saith,” numerous times. He referred to it in: • 1 John 2:4. He said, “HE THAT SAITH, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (6 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

John gives us seven tests to take to see if we KNOW the Lord. Today we come to the FIFTH test.

So far we have taken FOUR tests: I. The Attitude Test II. The Action Test III. The Affection Test IV. The Actuality Test Today we want to look at this FIFTH test. V. THE ADULTERY TEST WHAT KIND OF TEST IS THIS? This is a test that deals with our relationship with the world. That ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (7 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

This will be a message about the sixth of the seven tests John proposed Christians take to see if we REALLY KNOW THE LORD.

So far we have taken: I. THE ATTITUDE TEST II. THE ACTION TEST III. THE AFFECTION TEST IV. THE ACTUALITY TEST V. THE ADULTERERS TEST But today we want to look at the SIXTH test which is VI. THE ANTICHRIST TEST These will be men who will claim to know God and some of them even claim to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (8 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

Today we want to take the seventh test that John gave us to see if we really know the Lord.

So far we have taken: 1. THE ATTITUDE TEST 2. THE ACTION TEXT 3. THE AFFECTION TEST 4. THE ACTUALITY TEST 5. THE ADULTERY TEST 6. THE ANTICHRIST TEST So many folks may say they KNOW THE LORD, but, if they can not pass the tests John gives, they do not really know the Lord. The Lord Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (11 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

Some of the physical problems we hear much about people having are heart problems. Anyone can be a victim of heart disease or attack.

Illus: A man in Columbia, South Carolina went to a doctor because he was tired most of the time. The doctor examined him and found out he was only getting 20% use of his heart. They did open heart surgery on him, opened up some valves and today he feels like a new man. There are many people in our ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (12 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

We see many differences in God’s church today when we compare it to the New Testament church.

For example, I am sure that if the apostle Paul could come back today and see the excellent buildings we worship in, he would marvel over them and see them as a big improvement compared to what they had worshipped in. But, as big a contrast as that might be, there is a greater difference he would ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (13 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

We have all heard the proverbial expression The proof is in the pudding." For example, someone might say, "This is real good chocolate pudding."

For example, someone might say, And so someone might say, "I really love God!" But, these are only words. They might be true or they might not be. Just saying something does not make it so! In fact anyone can say anything he wants to say, but that does not make it true. In this passage ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (14 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

There are very few people that we come into contact with who say, "I do not believe in a God.”

What surprises us about these folks, when we do come into contact with them, is that they will take God's name in vain, using His name when they curse. If they believe there is no God, why bother using His name like that, or at all? We may not know why they use God's name along with curse ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Do The Right Thing (Exodus 23:1-9) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 9, 2022

Instructions on being a witness, and judge/jury. A broader point, about doing the right thing for rich and poor, citizens and aliens.

It's hard to be a good neighbor (Exodus 23:1-9) I'd like to start today by taking a step back, and helping us remember where we are in the book of Exodus. Let's turn to Exodus 19:1-9 (NRSV updated no reason). This passage is one of the keys to understanding Exodus as a whole. This ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 23:1-9, Exodus 19:1-9

Zechariah (The Practical Prophet) Part 1(Nasb)

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on May 30, 2025

notes from Marilyn Hickey Ministries, footnotes by biblegateway.com; based in Jerusalem, from 520-518 BC, a month after the Temple foundation was completed

A Call to Repentance (myrtle trees and 4 horns/craftsmen) 1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying, 2 “The Lord was very angry with your fathers. :( 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard