Speaker: Gary Cox

The older generation in America is very familiar with the “Golden Rule.” Still, the younger generation will likely have a quizzical look on their faces if you ask them what it is. But it does sum up the second greatest commandment in the Bible, which is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Yet, you may wonder if there is more to it than meets the eye, and indeed, there is. Pastor Gary will help you gain a fuller understanding of Matthew 7:12 and how it applies to our lives every moment of the day.

Do you ever get tired of praying for the same people or issues or “stuff” only to hear silence
from heaven? How does God command us to respond in such disappointing times? And when
we get impatient with the “God who is there,” to borrow a book title from Francis Schaeffer,
how should we view our sovereign Lord and trust Him regardless of the seeming lack of
response to those prayers? In this sermon on Matthew 7:7-11, Pastor Gary unfolds the answers
to these very questions.

How does the Christian make appropriate discernments about someone without becoming judgmental? That is clearly a fine line to walk, but Jesus gives us some direction in this matter. However, in this passage He is really speaking against the practice of the legalist Pharisees who disdained everyone who was not a fellow Pharisee. That is still a big problem in the Church of Christ on earth. We almost always wonder about the “spiritual credentials” of those who are not a part of our group especially with the proliferation of denominations and independent churches that dot the landscape of Christendom. Pastor Gary seeks to make biblical sense of all this in today’s message entitled, “Judges, Specks, Dogs & Pigs”/Holy Introspection in a World of Judgementalism.

Almost everyone has experienced anxiety and worry in their lives. For some, it is debilitating. We finite human beings have no idea what the future holds, whether that be tomorrow or twenty years from now. It seems the more news we ingest from a myriad of sources, the worse our anxiety becomes. Many take pills to help them cope. But God’s people can simply turn to passages in Scripture such as Matthew 6:25-34, among many others, for wisdom, comfort, strength, and peace of mind. Pastor Gary delves into exactly what Jesus was saying to his disciples about this issue, and the application today is just as pertinent as it was then.

Did you know that everyone has a “world & life view?” Most have no clue what that is, but it shows up in how we spend the resources God has given to us. That’s especially true in what we spend money on beyond the necessities. We are commanded to be generous, but how much is too much, and how does our attitude reveal whether Jesus has the place of preeminence in our lives, or maybe something else does? And what does Zacchaeus, Galatians 5 (fruit of the Spirit), along with Galatians 2:20, have to do with our text in Matthew 6:22-24? Find out as Pastor Gary continues our series on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

Is wealth a blessing or a curse? You likely know people who have money, but money does not have them. How can we be good stewards of the wealth God has blessed us with and not get caught up in the rat race to accumulate more and more while enjoying that pursuit less and less? It seems the more we have, the more fearful we become of losing it. Find out what Jesus has to say about this topic in Gary’s message, “Living with Eternity In View.”

Is fasting something a Christian should do? Is it ever mandated or just assumed in the New Testament? If we do fast for biblical reasons, what should we fast from? Will fasting assist us in becoming spiritually mature, or is it just to get God’s attention to show Him how serious you are about some issue or problem you are facing? These are just some of the questions we will consider in this sermon sub-titled, “Fasting in a Fast-Food World.”

Have you ever wondered if Jesus really did walk the streets of Jerusalem, preached on a large hill overlooking the north shore of Galilee, or even if the resurrection really happened as the Bible claims? These common thoughts and questions are highlighted in the sermon today as Gary gives us five reasons that you can have deep confidence that the resurrection really did take place just as God’s Word affirms and prophecy promised long before He was even born much less returned from the dead.

The Lord has given us seven “sayings” that Jesus uttered while He was on the cross. Some are very understandable, such as, “I thirst.” And some are beyond our finite minds to fully comprehend especially when he cried out to His Father, “why have You forsaken Me?” As Martin Luther said, “God forsakes God! How can it be?” Join us for our Good Friday service and find out more about these seven sayings and how they can powerfully enhance your worship as you consider the last words of our Savior before committing His spirit into the Father’s hands.