An All Scripture Sermon

An All Scripture Sermon

The sermon below is an “All Scripture” Sermon I delivered today, October 6th, 2019.

Each word below is part of the Holy Scriptures. I chose to use the English Standard Version as the translation.

The text of the lesson is located below the downloadable links. Feel free to give it a read and let the word of God speak for itself.

Enjoy.

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Download the Sermon Below

You may use the buttons below to download the “All Scripture Sermon. Clicking on the buttons will open the chose version in a separate window. In the separate window, you may read, download or print the sermon.

The “Readable” versions is the same message without the verse references listed. 

An All Scripture Sermon

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.

And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.

And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas.

And God saw that it was good. And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so.

The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.

And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness.

And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.

And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them.

And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations.

For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.

I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

What shall we say then?

Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

By no means!

How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Download the Sermon Below

You may use the buttons below to download the “All Scripture Sermon. Clicking on the buttons will open the chose version in a separate window. In the separate window, you may read, download or print the sermon.

The Front of a Bible

The Front of a Bible

If you were asked to describe the Bible, what words would you use?

In the front of a Bible given to me when I graduate high school, the words below are found. Let them stir your mind on how you will describe the Bible when someone asks.

This book reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is a traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Here, too, heaven is opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgement, and be remembered forever. It involves highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Owned, it is riches; studied, it is wisdom; trusted, it is salvation; loved, it is character; and obeyed, it is power.

Just thought,

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How to Have F.A.I.T.H. in the Future

How to Have F.A.I.T.H. in the Future

F – Focus on what you will do, not what you have done. There are many people who always tell you what they once did, but be the person who has their eyes on the prize has a forward focus. Focus on the actions you will do as a new creature in Christ. (Romans 6.1-9)

A – Attribute good things to God. As a child of God, every spiritual blessing you have is in Christ (Ephesians 1.3). Every good and perfect gift is from the Father of lights. (James 1.17). As we go throughout our life, let us remember is it the Lord that blesses us, let’s give Him the glory.

I – Invest your time wisely. Paul told the Ephesians church to walk as wise people; redeeming the time (Ephesians 5.15). Time passes swiftly and it will continue as long as we walk this earth. Remember, life is like a vapor that appears for a little while and vanishes away (James 4.14). Invest your time in God’s word and the fellowship with God’s people.

T – Take your cares to God. I am humbled every time I read 1 Peter 5.7, “Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” It is humbling to know the God of heaven and earth cares about us. He cares enough that you can ask Him anything and He will grant my requests according to His desire to help me get better. Remember, our faith in God is faith in His answers.

H – Humble yourself. Do not just humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, but humble yourself to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Lift them up and see how the world begins to change (Philippians 2.3,4)

Just some thoughts,

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9/11 – I Do Not Like Today

9/11 – I Do Not Like Today

I do not like today.

I know that everyday is a blessing, but I do not like today.

Today is September 11th.

Today is a day which takes our minds back to a terrifying morning that shook our nation at its core.

Many turned on the news to watch an airliner fly into the World Trade Center. The impact blew the plane part and debris tumbled to the ground.

The news missed the first plane because no one would have ever seen that happen. By the time the second plane was heading to the tower, each news reporter thought an accident had happened.

I wish it was an accident.

Instead, it was terror.

It was terror fueled by a religion that spread its numbers through violence, threats and unrighteous acts.

These unrighteous religious zealots would take innocent lives.

They would take fathers…mothers…grandfathers…grandmothers…and children.

I do not like today.

I do not like the memory of watching the news focus on men and women jumping to their death instead of deal with the flames, smoke and toxic fumes of the Twin Towers.

I do not like watching the moments unfold again.

I do not like the photos of that terrible day I see each year on the week and September 11th.

I do not like today.

I doubt I will ever like today.

But…

Today is a day our nation must not forget.

Forget the Sunday NFL, last year’s college football championship or even where you left your car keys until you find them again…but do not forget today.

Do not forget that there is an evil lurking in the world.

A potent, vile stench evil that seeks to destroy others.

The evil is not in a plane, a bomb and gun or even a book. It is in someone’s heart.

The evil has consumed them like a raging fire.

No matter what good may be in the world, the evil stench sees that everyone must be destroyed. I believe that the only opinion is there opinion. It does not care about the innocent. It just does…not…care.

We need to be reminded that no matter how many hugs we give, there is still evil in the world.

No matter how many jobs we may give people in the world, there is still evil.

This evil is deathening. (Not deafening, because this evil brings death. It is deathening.)

This evil is real.

My first thoughts on that day?

My first thoughts on that September morning were for my family. They were on the road and traveling back to our home.

My next thoughts were on those who lost the lives and the families that were unaware if their loved ones were dead or alive.

I thought of the children whose parent or parents had passed away.

Then, I became angry. What kind of evil could this be that would conjure up such a hatred toward others? Why would they desire to kill, crush and injure as many people as possible?

May anger turned to wishing those who did such evil to the worse possible level of punishment. Not even Dante’s inferno described such a place. Those cowards of terror needed to be in the place of fire, brimstone and the gnashing of teeth.

Some of those exact same emotions go through my mind on a day like today.

I do not like today.

In a perfect world, today would be another day; not the day of memories it brings.

But, this is not a perfect world. From the beginning, no one listened. From the first family hatred would take the life of another. The pattern still exists today.

So, what do we do?

We shall continue. Just as September 12th was another day. It became a day of unity, hope, faith and love. The nation those evil men sought to bring to its knees, arose from the rumble. They prayed together, sang together and neighbor helped neighbor.  The nation continued and we must continue.

We must not forget.  Every person must remember and not forget. While we must not forget the evil that caused the events of the day, we must not forget that every day is precious. Every day is a blessing, thought we may never understand. We must remember that left unprepared, we will not be ready. We must be prepared, yet we must be found in peace.

We must learn. When we stop learning, we cease to live.  Our minds must learn from the events of the past so we may experience the greatness of the future. It is up to each one of use to learn. We must learn from the evil but live in the great. We must realize we can do something with the knowledge we possess.

We must teach. Many of those we know were not alive or old enough to remember that dreadful day. We must remember that the story, the reality resides in our lives and we must teach future generations so they can learn. We must teach because it is our legacy. We must teach.

We must pray. Whether or not you are a religious person, you prayed that day. You may have even cried out to God to aid those who were perishing, those who were suffering. That day, all people were encouraged to pray. Let us not forget to pray.

We must not forget.

I do not like today.

I do not like writing on a day like today. Over the past 18 years, I struggle to write on this day more than any other.

I do not like today.

Today, I will live for the future, while learning from the past.

Today, even though I do not like it, I will use it for the best.

Today, even though it is tough, I will pray.

Today…is September 11th.

Just my thoughts,

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*This has been cross-posted on my personal blog at http://www.christophermgallagher.com

Full Victory – Bulletin Article

Full Victory – Bulletin Article

Moments of history have a way of helping us to understand spiritual truths. While we know they are different, various world events become seared in our minds and illustrate a spiritual point.

On June 5, 1944, a photograph was taken of General Dwight Eisenhower which tells a rich story as the invasion of Normandy was to come the next day.

The 101st Airborne Division was stationed in Greenham Common, England when General Eisenhower spoke to them.  During his message to the troops, the commander said, “Full victory – nothing else.”

Those words, “Full victory – nothing else” describe the life of a Christian. They also described the sacrifice of Jesus.  In Matthew 16, Jesus told his disciples that the “gates of Hell” would not prevail against the church. Those words are words of full victory – nothing else.

Christ’s death brought us full victory.

“Oh death, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15.56, 57)

Christians are preparing for their eternity in heaven because of the full victory Christ offers.

He paid the price.

He was our sacrifice.

In the end, He wins.

So, because we know the end of all things, let us…

“…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15.58)

Just some thoughts,

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Remind Text Message Announcement

Important Scripture Text Information:

Since 2011, I have been sending out a Scripture Text 6 days a week. Some days have been right on track and others have missed by a day or two. During this time, the list has grown. There have been many people added and others have dropped off.

When the list started, I did it on my personal cell phone. As you can imagine, it was difficult to keep up with subscribers and messages of normal life.

Two years into the list, I decided to utilize the Remind Text Message service that school and other organizations were using. This free service was typically available just for schools, but I contacted them and got the “ok” to use it for our service.

Using the Remind Text messages service has run well until a few months ago. Because of changes in the Terms and Conditions of the Remind service, the Scripture Text message service is limited to a certain number of subscribers.

This limitation has affected the list and the amount of people available on the list. This has left me in a search for a new service, but each one is extremely costly.

It would be good to keep in mind that I am using Remind for a few other lists: a Motivational Text list and text message list for our congregation; each of these lists have grown.

Currently, I am searching for a new option for the Scripture Text Message list, and the others, but I cannot find on that works best without a large monthly payment.

If anyone knows of any sites or services that may be of use, please let me know. You can send me a text message on the Remind App or just reply to a Daily Text.

Without finding a new service, the list will stop growing and it will limit our encouragement reach.

Pray for this effort that another option may be found.

Below are the options I am considering. Let me know if you prefer one or none.

  • Option #1 – Ask for a minimum donation of $15/year per user to keep the text going on another service.
  • Option #2 – Keep using the Remind Service, but only have a limited number of users. (We are at this point now)
  • Option #3 – Move the list back to a personal contact list.
  • Option #4 – Stop the list.

As I mentioned, these are the current options, but one of these looks to be the way to go.

Thanks for reading.

Remember, I appreciate any thoughts.