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

I remember shortly after my conversion, reading a verse that caused me some confusion.  It said, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”  (Titus 2.14, KJV, emphasis added).  I thought calling us “peculiar people” was peculiar in itself.  The newer versions of the Bible clarify the issue.  The idea is that we are uniquely God’s people.

We do not live by the world’s standards.  So, to the world, we may appear to be odd, but we are uniquely God’s.  He has always intended for his people to be different from the world in which they live.  Jesus says that we are “salt and light.”  Paul said that we shine like stars in the universe.

One of the great stories that illustrates, “Daring to be Different,” is that of the young man Daniel.  Daniel and his friends found themselves in Babylonian captivity.  They had choices as how they would act in a difficult setting.  Daniel made up his mind to honor God with his life.  He took all of the risks associated with being different, including putting his life on the line.

Every day we have opportunities to stand up and stand out for God.  Let’s Dare to Be Different!  Let’s honor him who blesses us.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

  We often appeal to the congregation to be involved in various activities of the kingdom of God.  Many times these appeals fall on deaf or weary ears.  Perhaps a story will help explain our purpose in inviting the church to participate in God’s work.

A dentist in the National Guard sued the US Government when they called him up to serve during Desert Storm.  His reasons were: 

• He might be killed
• He would lose business if the war escalated

When asked why he joined the Guard he gave three reasons.  First, he liked to play soldier.  Second, he (and his wife) liked his uniform.  Third, he liked the benefits.

Does the dentist sound familiar?  Many Christians like to play “Weekend Warrior” on Sunday, but don’t want to fight the good fight daily (2 Timothy 4:7).  Many Christians want to wear the look of Christianity without paying the price of discipleship (Galatians 3:27).  Many Christians want the crown (the benefits) without the cross (Luke 9:23).

We are a volunteer army.  We serve under the Supreme Commander.  Where is He leading us?  Are we willing to follow?  Will we pay the price?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Yesterday was a depressing day for me — and many other Americans. To have elected a Socialist/Facist to the highest office in our land is detestable in my opinion. Mr. Obama stands for everything that America traditionally has opposed. He certainly embraces things that Christians cannot — right?

Obama is not THE Anti-Christ. He, however, is one of many that have come along through the years. He and his followers are in opposition to what Christian churches SAY they are about. Obama-ites embrace the murder of partially born infants; the right of Gays to marry; and other “basic” beliefs that the Bible opposes.

How long before post-birth infants will be sacrificed to Molech? How long before those handicapped people who are a burden on society will be put out of our misery? How long before churches will be silenced legally from teaching the values of the scriptures in the land of free speech?

It is my humble opinion that we are headed for pain as a nation. Hear the words of 1 Samuel 12:13-15, ” Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the LORD has set a king over you.  If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God-good!  But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.”

It sounds like Israel got what they asked for. We know that later they regretted getting their way. We know they went through great trials because they refused to hear God (”hear” means not only listening to his words but obeying them). They embraced foreign gods — sometimes in addition to YHWH. As a result they found themselves in dark circumstances.

America was founded upon the desire to worship the living God in freedom. It was not started so people could get rich.  People did not flock to our shores to establish an empire to rule the world. People came for freedom. They came for the freedom to worship; the freedom to speak; the freedom to write; the freedom to become who God made them.

Tyrants through the years have tried to take that freedom. Even the glorified Abraham Lincoln bypassed the Constitution and shut down newspapers who did not support his points of view. No doubt it will be tried again.

Obama and his masses will soon be in power. They will attempt to cram down the throats of America their evil agendas. They will oppose the Bible. They will oppose Jesus and be “Ant-Christ.” But there is always hope.

This scenario is exactly the world in which the church began. We have seen it before. The Caesars of old had no regard for God. They had no regard for life. They had no regard for morality. It was said of Julius Caesar that he was “every woman’s man and every man’s woman.” That was and this is the world to which Jesus came. There is hope.

When Americans feel the pinch, and we will, churches can provide the direction people will be craving. Christ once came back out of the depths of our sins. He will come again.

My appeal to Christians is from Ephesians 6:10 — “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We will be persecuted. Stand strong. We will be opposed. Rest in HIS power. They day will come when the church will once again flourish. The day will come when Americans will remember their roots. We cannot let them be cut off or pulled up.

In the pagan first century God’s kingdom spread throughout the Roman empire and beyond. Rome feared those disciples of Jesus — not because of their military might; not because of their wealth; not because of their educational systems. They feared them because of their numbers and their faith. In the midst of persecution, at risk for their lives, thousands became followers of the Son of God. Thousands denounced Caesar as a god. Thousands upheld the true God.

I had a conversation with Dr. Greg Frizzell of the Oklahoma Baptist Convention yesterday. He told me that 10% of India now claims to be Christian (of various denominations). That is 100 million people! More than that, that 10% has not only decided to follow Jesus but the vast majority of them are willing to die for their faith.

Dr. Frizzell also told me about Chinese Christians. The church in China is pretty much underground because of persecutions. Yet, those Christians have a burden for the lukewarm church in America and are sending missionaries to help us rekindle the fire of God in our lives.

Revival (maybe resurrection) is coming to our churches! Be ready. Be strong.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 A Rabbi in Jesus day said, “If all you teach your children is that they must believe in God, you are the worst of heretics. The correct way is not only to teach that they must believe in God; but with equal passion that God believes in them.”

Normally, when covenants were made, both parties kept a copy. When God made a covenant with Israel, he gave Moses both tablets of the Ten Commandments. He showed his faith in the Hebrews by giving them the copies.

Does it shock you to think that the God of heaven has faith - us? With all of our “warts” and wants, God has given to us great treasures (Matthew 13:44; 2 Corinthians 4:7). He has entrusted us with:

• The Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20)
• His word (Romans 3:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:15)
• Forgiveness (John 20:23)
• Each other’s souls - Hebrews 13:17
• And more

God believes in YOU and ME! He believes that we will do right things. He believes we will be his people in the world in which we live. Sometimes we disappoint him but he keeps on believing that we will be lights and salt.

We understand why we need to believe God. We NEED his direction. When he leads, we must follow. However, it is quite another thing to see how much God believes in US. How does it feel to join the ranks of the great heroes of the Bible whom God trusted with resources and people to accomplish his will?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

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

Americans have a view that “law” is restrictive and confining. We look in the rearview mirror, see a police car, and immediately feel like we have done something wrong. This has to do with our view of “law” and our guilty consciences.

We tend to see the “Law of Moses” as the “Restrictions of Moses” and the “Law of Christ” as a set of his restrictions. What if the Bible translators had opted to translate “law” as “instruction”? We would have the “Instruction of Moses” and the “Instruction of Christ.” Rather than a feeling of constraint, the instructions would give us a positive sense of freedom and growth.

Certainly within the instructions there are directives that we are to keep. There are consequences when we do not. God’s intention, however, is not to use his “instructions” to see how many times he can trip us up. He is not out to find an excuse to keep us out of heaven. He wants to be our “Father” now and forever and he has gone beyond the “second mile” to make it possible.

In addition to the gift of his Son, he has given us instructions (law) so that we can be the people he expects us to be. His “Instruction Manual” helps us create an intimate relationship with God. It guides our lives so that we produce the fruit of the Spirit. It helps us see people the way God does.

Let’s resolve to keep the instructions. Let’s follow the way of Christ. Let’s be his people.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

At one point during the early days of the American Restoration Movement, the whole effort almost came to an end. Momentum for the concept of the unity of believers virtually stopped. Had it not been for Walter Scott, the Movement would have died.

Scott, as other preachers of the day, held “protracted meetings” (or Gospel Meetings). He would go to schoolyards and tell the children about the “Five Steps of Salvation” using the fingers on his hand. Then he sent them home to tell their parents. As a result of this simple memory technique, many people changed from their previous denominational allegiances to unite as “Christians only.”

Scott’s five steps were:

• Faith
• Repentance
• Baptism
• Remission of Sins
• Holy Spirit & Eternal Life

Over Time, these steps have changed to:

• Hear (Rom. 10:14-17)
• Believe (Mark 16:16)
• Repent (Acts 2:38)
• Confess (Matt. 10:32-33)
• Be Baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21)
  And some like to add…
• Live faithfully until death

One way to look at the steps is to see them as our efforts to earn or gain salvation and appease an angry God. Another way is to see the steps as the process by which God saves us and creates a loving relationship with us through Jesus. One puts the emphasis on US, the other on God.

Remember - The “Steps” are not an end in themselves. They are the beginning of our relationship with God. He does not plan for us to go through the “steps” and just endure life until we get to heaven. He intends that we have abundant life now as well as forever.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

  When I was in elementary school my teachers taught me some very basic grammar. I was taught to be polite when we talk about other people and ourselves. We are to put the other person ahead of us in the sentence. For example, “Jim and I went to the store.” Typically today we say, “Me and Jim went to the store.” Not only is that terrible grammar, it demonstrates the sentiment of the day  - “ME first; it is all about ME.”

The current generation has been called the “Me Generation.” Some have criticized this age group for acting like everything revolves around them. They have been perceived as being very self-serving.

As I read the Bible, that description fits EVERY generation. From ancient times until today it seems that we have been obsessed with ourselves. Our actions have shown that we are all about gratifying the “lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.”

How often we resist our place in our relationship to God. We seem to easily forget that we are the servants and he is the King (Matthew 25:31-46). We forget our place with others. Remember Paul’s words in Philippians 2?

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

A. W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, made a significant point. If 100 pianos are all tuned to the same tuning fork, they are automatically tuned to one another. They are tuned — not to each other — but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.

The same is true of 100 worshipers. When each worshiper is in tune with Jesus the group is closer to one another than they would be if they took their eyes off of Jesus and looked for ways to develop unity through fellowship. Taking our eyes off of Jesus is never a beneficial thing.

Each Christian has a place in the body. Each Christian has been given spiritual gifts to unite and build up the body. All of this comes through Jesus. When we keep our focus on him we function as a harmonious body.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Light has always been of importance to man. Light takes away darkness. The sun’s light provides us with nutritional and energy needs. Light is also a type of security and safety for us.

Children often feel the need to sleep with a light on. They fear the darkness — which is our natural tendency. So, the nightlight takes away the fear.

In the scriptures above, Jesus tells us of our value as light to the world. Our usefulness as light helps with the direction of people’s lives. We help people see the difference between the light and the darkness.

There is another thing I have discovered about “letting our lights shine.” In Jesus time, people normally  burned oil in s small lamp all night. One of the reasons for this is to indicate that someone was home. If thieves came to break in, they were less likely to break into a lighted house. If travelers came, they would know if they might be able to enjoy hospitality.

When our lights are burning in the night, we show people that “someone’s home.” The Spirit of God is alive and well within his people. It is only when the light goes out that we lose our influence and indirectly hurt His.

So, this week — Keep The Light Burning! Let people know you are home. Give the gentle, useful direction that separates the light from the darkness. You will make a difference.

Perry Greene