Category: Bible

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date November 17, 2019

Last night I finished writing what will be my next sermon to preach to my church family – “Habakkuk & Forth”. It’s all about the minor prophet Habakkuk from the land of Judah some 600 years before Christ. He’s a minor prophet not because he was irrelevant (quite the opposite), but simply because there’s only 3 chapters in his book in the Old Testament. (Compare that with 66 chapters for Isaiah, 52 chapters for Jeremiah, and 48 chapters for Ezekiel – the 3 major prophets.)

I wrote this sermon in just a couple of weeks, and I think that it flows well from beginning to end. I’ll be enhancing and tweaking it over the next couple of weeks. Following the conclusion of today’s service our Lead Pastor told me that I’ll be preaching 2 weeks from today on Sunday December 01ST 2019. So I’ll be preaching on Habakkuk.

I actually finished another sermon previously, but I’m not fully satisfied with it. It will (eventually) be a groundbreaking sermon for me unlike anything I’ve ever done before – and unlike anything my church family has ever seen before. For a message that different it needs a bit more work.

So back to Habakkuk where Chapter 3 is a prayer that was sung to the LORD by Habakkuk. After his conversation with the LORD (Chapters 1 and 2) Habakkuk praised and worshipped Him. Here are some of the highlights of his psalm to the LORD:

I am filled with awe by Your amazing works. (3:2)
His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with His praise. (3:3)
His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. (3:4a)
Rays of light flash from His hands – where His awesome power is hidden. (3:4b)
When He stops – the earth shakes. When He looks – the nations tremble. (3:6a-b)
He shatters the everlasting mountains, and levels the eternal hills. (3:6c)
He is the Eternal One ! (3:6d)
You split open the earth with flowing rivers. (3:9)
The mountains watched and trembled. Onward swept the raging waters. (3:10)
You went out to rescue Your chosen people – to save Your anointed ones. (3:13)

Tags Habakkuk

Bible Christian Church God Humor Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date November 10, 2019

This weekend it’s something a little bit different. I’m a big fan and regular reader of “The Babylon Bee” – a satirical web site mostly on Christianity and Politics. It’s been around for almost 4 years. They are also on Facebook and Twitter.

A couple of nights ago they reran a classic post from 2 years ago. I loved it the first time. I loved it the next time. I loved it again. Check it out:

https://babylonbee.com/news/pastors-pulpit-says-theology

Recently as part of a major remodeling project of our church sanctuary (new stage, new lighting, new carpet, new chairs, new paint) I was asked to select a brand new pulpit for my use. (Our Lead Pastor doesn’t use the pulpit. He preaches on both sides of it, and in front of it, but never at it.)

I picked-out a really nice plexiglass pulpit, and it was purchased, and I use it every week. I love it. (You can see my reflection in it taking a picture of it.)

Well apparently The Babylon Bee says that (because of my pulpit) I’m transparent (yes), and I’m vulnerable (yes). Oh yeah – and my theology is lightweight. (OK – I’ll take that one too.)

I essentially preach what I know. I don’t try to preach above my knowledge and skills level. I don’t try to preach like anyone else. I just preach on my 13 years of salvation, and I compare it with my 39 years of life before Christ. I preach a lot on repentance and salvation. I preach on the God that I’ve known since 2006. So yeah you can see right through my sermons. I testify and preach. (That was actually the title of an early sermon of mine from 2017 – “Testify & Preach”.)

All of my sermon titles are two words separated by an ampersand. I’m currently working on two sermons for the next couple of months – “Ways & Memes”, and “Habakkuk & Forth”.

As for the NLT – um – well – guilty as charged ! #BushLeague

Preach the Word of God. Be prepared – whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2 NLT)

2000s Bible Christian God Ministry Music Radio Scripture

My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 2004

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date November 8, 2019

Every Friday I post the Top 5 of one of my classic hit music charts based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from either 10, 15, 20, or 30 years ago this weekend (rotating each week).

It’s the 2ND Friday of the month, so I go back 15 years ago. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday November 07TH 2004:

“Lose My Breath” – Destiny’s Child
“Over And Over (Again)” – Nelly Ft. Tim McGraw
“Dare You To Move” – Switchfoot
“I Don’t Want To Be” – Gavin DeGraw
“Breakaway” – Kelly Clarkson

15 years ago this weekend Switchfoot were trying to tell me all about God, but I wasn’t really listening to the lyrics. I was rockin’ out to the melody. That was 21½ months before salvation began for me. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dared me to move. He dared me to lift myself up off the floor – out of the pit of despair – out of the mud and the mire – and reach for Him. I did. It was a new day – a day that never happened before. A day that I never imagined before. Salvation began on that day. That was the start of my fantastic journey, and it’s in the lyrics:

♫ Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself ?
Where you gonna go ?
Where you gonna go ?
Salvation is here !

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself
To lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before ♫

It’s halftime my friends. I’ll be back on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday with 3 more blog posts for this weekend. Enjoy your Saturday. Enjoy this long holiday weekend here in the U.S.A. Thanks for going RETRO with me !

Tags 2004, Switchfoot

Bible Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date November 3, 2019

Today I led my church family in our monthly observance of Communion. I shared God’s Word from Romans 3:22-26:

Communion

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes – no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned. We all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God – with undeserved kindness – declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life – shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.

We are made right with God – despite the fact that we are sinners. We have always been sinners. We will always be sinners. But Christ took all of our sins to the cross, so that we may live eternally with Him – because we believe in Him – because we follow Him – because we have faith in Him.

God has declared us righteous through Christ Jesus. We didn’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. With undeserved kindness. With unmerited favor. With grace. With mercy. With love. Christ Jesus is God’s greatest gift to us – now and forevermore.