Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

Mark Twain once said, “A great, great deal has been said about the weather, but very little has ever been done.” It is a fact that we often complain about the weather and it is a fact that we can do little about a 106 degree day. About the only things we can do are: step into the shade or sit in an air conditioned room.

The same is true about a lot of things in life. How often do we complain about things that we have little or no control over? Generally, the best we can do is make adjustments.

The Bible makes it clear that we have little control over most things. The world is a bad place and getting worse. We would like to change it but it does not want to change. What do we do? The best I can figure is that, just like with the weather, we make adjustments on a personal level.

The Bible reminds us that we change ourselves and then help others change. The following list reminds us that we can only make changes within ourselves. We can:

• Consider ourselves dead to sin - Romans 6:11
• Present ourselves to God - Romans 6:13
• Devote ourselves to prayer - 1 Corinthians 7:5
• Examine and test ourselves - 2 Corinthians 13:5
• Clothe Ourselves in Christ - Galatians 3:27
• Have the mind of Christ - Philippians 2:5
• Rid ourselves of sinfulness - Colossians 3:8

I would like it if I could wave my “magic wand” and have YOU do the above things, but I cannot. I can only do them myself and encourage you. The interesting thing that happens however is that as each one of us becomes more Christ-like; the world becomes a better place.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

The American Restoration preachers used to tell this story. A man was going on a trip so he left his son in charge of building his farm. He gave him a map of where he wanted everything located and went away. His son took the map and saw the location of the house, barn, well, etc. He said, “I agree with the location of all these things except the barn, it should be in a different spot.” Then he built the farm. The preachers then asked, “How many times did the son do his father’s will? The answer was zero. He only did what he was in agreement with. If his father had a different view, he rejected it.

We might change the setting but the point is still applicable. How many times do we read the Bible and when we come across something tolerable, we will do it; yet, if we find something that puts us out of our comfort zone, we go “around the barn” to find a way NOT to do it? Then we cry, “Grace! Grace!”

When Thomas finally saw the resurrected Lord, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28. Do you think Thomas spoke those words casually? Do you think he was saying, “You are my Lord and God as long as your words please me.”? No, most likely, Thomas reverently said that he recognized that Jesus was exactly who he claimed to be; and with that he would do whatever Jesus wanted.

Legend has it that Thomas was run through with a spear as a martyr for Jesus. That is not the end of a man who would take Jesus casually. It is not the end of a man who spent his life doubting the reality of God or his son. It is not the end of a man who would expect to do as he pleased so that “grace would cover it.” This was the end of a man who sold out to Jesus - come what may.

Jesus is not our Lord and God if we are still in charge. We do not get to pick and choose. We are the servants. He is the Master.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

  “You can do more after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed” (John Bunyan).We may try to treat prayer as a magic cure-all, like the little girl who prayed, “Dear Lord, please make Boston the capitol of Vermont because that is what I put on my test.” Prayer is much more! It connects us to the will and mind of God (Matthew 6:9-13).

A reporter once asked Samuel Morse, “In inventing the telegraph, did you ever come to a place where you did not know what to do?” Morse replied, “Yes.  I asked God for knowledge. That is why I never felt that I deserved the honor I have received for inventing the telegraph. I have made a valuable application of electrical power, but it was all through God’s help. It was not because I was superior to other scientists. When the Lord wanted to bestow this gift on mankind, he had to use someone.  I am just grateful he chose to reveal it through me.”

It is no wonder that the first telegraph message Samuel Morse sent, ‘What hath God wrought?’

How do we view our prayers? What great things are we asking from God? How do we honor him?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

This is a small group lesson based on 1 Timothy 2:8-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-5. The basic concepts include the idea of modesty in appearance and the spiritual applications of being clothed in the spiritual qualities of Jesus and his Spirit.

  Open

***Please share your ideas about the following:

Think about a recent commercials or advertisements. Which was:

• Most appealing to you?
• The worst or most obnoxious to you?
• The most outrageous to you?
• Normal to you?

What do you think our culture is communicating by the things we advertise? By the contents (clothing used; products displayed; etc.) of the advertisements?

***Leaders - to enhance this exercise, you may want to have newspaper or magazine ads available for your group to look through.

Study

Please read 1 Timothy 2:8-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-5 and discuss the following:

• What do you think is the relationship of the “holy hands” and prayers?
• How do you think outward appearances match inward characteristics (see also Mark 7:20-23)?
• Why do you think God does not give us a “uniform” as some religious groups have but gives us leeway in how we dress ourselves?
• Where does “culture” end and God’s will begin?
• Why is it so important that we display spiritual qualities as though we are “wearing” them (see Colossians 3:12-14)?

Apply

• What helps you keep the value of people in perspective? How do you KNOW that the man in fine attire is no more valuable to God than the man in “regular” clothes? How does this impact your treatment of them?
• How can you keep from judging others by appearances?
• What can you do to clothe yourself with Christ and his qualities? What kind of impact will that have on those around you?

The American Restoration Movement does not care much for creeds of men. We have fought the use of creeds because of the potential for dividing believers. Rather, we have opted to “speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.” We do not always accomplish this sentiment but that is the intention.

Recently, I read about the Nicene Creed of 325 AD. The Roman Emperor, Constantine, had converted to Christianity following a military victory that he attributed to Jesus. He legalized Christianity and wanted to unite factions through a standardized creed. He ordered a council to meet and agree on key doctrines.

If you read the tenets of the Creed, you will see its influence on some of our modern beliefs. The Trinitarian view of God came from this meeting. In addition, one baptism for the forgiveness of sin; the universal church; the resurrection; and our concept of eternal life are found in it.

One of the men who helped formalize the Nicene Creed was a church leader from the area where Jesus had exorcised the demoniac in Mark 5:1-20. This unlikely preacher, in an unlikely location paved the way for a strong church to exist. You  never know the extent of your influence when you tell people what the Lord has done for you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene