West Laurel Baptist Church

Introduction We are going to talk about money this week. The humor of the fact that many of you recieved “stimulus” checks last week is not lost on me. but... that is not why we are talking about money this week. If you attend regularly you know that what we do is go through Scripture one verse at a…

Introduction Chapter divisions Last week talked about hypocrisy careful to tithe garden herbs, but neglected justice and love of God. Spiritual disciplines are great! Just don’t replace the biggest things with smaller things. == Jesus is still talking about hypocrisy Gives us some ways to avoid hypocrisy…

Introduction When the media talks about religious people, for the most part we are all lumped together as “people of faith.” and... increasingly, that is used to distinguish us from “people of science.” (( absurd distinction - a proper view of God only enhances one’s interest in actual science because…

Introduction Last week we heard Jesus disprove a popular theory that people have about neutrality toward God. Jesus said... 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. That should dispel the idea people get in their heads about being okay with God as long as…

During Pastoral Prayer may want to give some updates on SBC Introduction Good morning. (( recap last week )) Dirty politics is not new. Gas-lighting is not new. Definition - Gas-lighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual…

Introduction We will be talking about prayer again this week. This text makes me feel a little uncomfortable, to be honest. I think it may do the same for you when we get done. But before that... I want us to talk about prayer in general. Have you ever given serious consideration to why we pray? Do our…

Introduction Today we will look at the Lord’s Prayer. It probably won’t be the version that most of you have memorized. That one is over in Mt. 6 . Rather than this being an edited version of that prayer, this is almost certainly a different occasion being reported. It is helpful to have both of these…

Introduction Summarize last week. the question the answer the summary of the law is... love God (last week) love neighbor (this week) == God is perfectly lovely. He deserves perfect love. (we still don’t love God perfectly bc we are sinful and selfish) Neighbor is much harder to love. PRAY read passage…

Introduction We are going to deal today with a very familiar story for most of you. It is the parable of the good Samaritan. Sometimes when we deal with the familiar we tend not to listen as closely... because... we think we know all there is to know about it. Let me encourage you from the outset not…

Introduction (list 5 attributes of God - doesn’t matter how you say it - only you will see it) Did anyone write... omniscient - knows everything omnipotent - all powerful omnipresent - he’s everywhere loving wise holy == Those are all good and true. Did anyone write... joyful? (no problem - there are…

Introduction Last week we talked about Jesus sending out 70 or 72 missionaries. These were true believers. They had heard and understood the cost of discipleship that Jesus had been teaching. They knew that to follow Jesus they had to deny themselves, take up their crosses daily, and follow Him. They…

Introduction I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Recently we have studied two passages that discussed the cost of following Jesus. I hope those studies were profitable to you. I hope they showed you the real gospel... and... made obvious the corruption of the feel-good, no-strings-attached, false gospel.…

Introduction It is almost Christmas. (doesn’t really feel like it though) (church and music since i was a kid) (Christmas Eve service should help) == Today we are not going to talk about baby Jesus. I’ve mentioned before that the world loves baby Jesus. The only thing He demanded was milk and a clean…

Introduction Last week we talked about faith. Faith is believing and acting on what God says. To know what God says, you need to hear from him. Through... listening to real, biblical preaching reading the Word and mingling with the people of God - the church - church member and I talked the other day…

Introduction This week we are going to talk about faith. Faith is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the church today... and It is even more of a confusing concept in the culture. == Faith is not wishful thinking. It is not wishful thinking with some consideration of God mixed in. Some people…

Introduction Recap last week Gospel according to Jesus... 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Count the cost? Yes Now you know the cost. I really hope that sticks with you. == Today’s big idea is that Jesus is coming back…

Introduction Last week we looked very briefly at Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ of God Christ = Messiah Reign on David’s throne forever (Israel had it great under David and Solomon, but this would be even better.) Overthrow Roman oppression Heal everybody - awesome health care plan Jesuscare…

Introduction Luke has shown us lots of miracles. Ch. 4 Jesus cast a demon out of a man who was in the synagogue. Then he healed Peter’s mother-in-law and lots of other people. Ch. 5 Jesus has Peter catch this miraculous load of fish after they had been working all night for nothing. Cleanses a leper…

Introduction Good morning! Last week - Jesus told us what to do with truth. Hear it - He who has ears, let him hear. Treasure it - for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away Share it - not under bed or jar, but on a stand ==…

Introduction What is a parable? If you have been in church for a while, you probably know that a parable is a story. It’s a story that teaches a truth in a really memorable way. Once we go through this parable carefully, you will probably always remember it. What a wonderful method of teaching this is!…