Sermons by 2014
For a master copy of the outline, click here: Dating and Preparing For Marriage
To listen to the next sermon in the series, click here: Part 2
I. The topic of dating is important for all of us, regardless of our marital status.
1. This is a topic that we most often associate with teenagers and young men and women, but it is not ...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
14. Error #16: There are different plans of redemption and different gospels for the Jews under the law and for the Gentiles under grace (this is held by some, though not all, Dispensationalists).
A. God has only ever had one plan and means of redemption for all people: grace.
i. God has always saved His people by the election of grace, both under the OT law of Moses, and in NT times...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
5. Error #7: The kingdom of God/heaven was not set up at the first coming of Christ because of the Jews' rejection of Christ.
A. The kingdom was setup at the first coming of Christ, just as it had been prophesied to be.
i. In the days of the Roman empire (Luk 3:1-3), John the Baptist and Jesus came preaching that the kingdom of heaven (Mat 3:1-2; Mat 4:17) and the kingdom of God (Mar...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
V. The errors of Historical Premillennialism.
1. Error #1: Two bodily resurrections.
A. Historic Premillennialism teaches that the resurrection of the righteous is at the beginning of the millennium and the resurrection of the wicked is at the end of it.
B. The Bible teaches that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust (Act 24:15).
i. Jesus said that t...
I. God tells us to consider our ways (Hag 1:5).
i. If we do, and then turn from our wickedness, we will be spared death (Eze 18:28).
ii. This is true of a church, as well as individuals (Rev 2:4-5; Rev 3:1-3).
iii. It works with a nation, too (Jer 18:7-8; 2Ch 7:14).
2. We should ask God to try us (Psa 139:23-24; Psa 26:2).
A. Trying is the painful process of separating out sinful things in our lives and disposing of them.
i. Try v. - 1. a. trans. To separate (one thing) from another or others; to set...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
F. Rev 20:4
i. John saw thrones and saints sitting on them to whom judgment was given.
a. The apostles would be seated on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel when Christ would be seated on the throne of His glory (Mat 19:28).
b. This happened at the resurrection of Christ when he was raised up to sit on David's throne in the heavens (Act 2:30-31; Eph 1:20-22).
c. J...
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Millennialism
D. Rev 20:2
i. Jesus Christ laid hold on the Devil and bound him for 1000 years.
ii. In that Satan is the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:2), the "prince of this world" (Joh 12:31), and the "god of this world" (2Co 4:4), the only angel that could lay hold on him and bind him would be the Lord Jesus Christ.
iii. As was pointed out before, the book of Revelation is signified (...
I. The need for self-examination.
1. The thing that distinguishes human beings from all other creatures is our rational mind which is capable of self-reflection.
2. The spirit within man enables him to know himself (1Co 2:11).
A. We can think with ourselves (Act 26:9).
B. We can force ourselves to do something (1Sa 13:12).
C. We can keep ourselves from sinning (2Sa 22:24).
D. We can commune with ourselves (Psa 4:4; Psa 77:6; Ecc 1:16).
E. We can comfort ourselves (Psa 119:52).
F. We can consult wit...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
13. The final judgment.
A. After the heavens and the earth have passed away, all nations will be gathered before Jesus Christ at His great white throne to be judged according to their works (Rev 20:11-13).
i. This will be a general judgment of all mankind, both righteous and wicked (Mat 25:31-46).
ii. The final judgment happens at the Second Coming of Christ "when the Son of man sha...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
9. The resurrection.
A. At His Second Coming Jesus will resurrect the dead (1Th 4:16).
i. The resurrection of the dead will be both of the just and unjust (Act 24:15).
ii. There is only one general resurrection: a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
iii. There will only be one resurrection of all that are in the graves (Joh 5:28).
iv. Of all those who are resurr...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
6. The tribulation.
A. Tribulation n. - 1. A condition of great affliction, oppression, or misery; ‘persecution; distress; vexation; disturbance of life’
B. Christians have been experiencing tribulation since the first coming of Christ.
i. Jesus promised that His disciples would go through tribulation (Joh 16:33).
ii. If they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute His disciples (Joh...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
B. Jesus Christ began reigning on David's throne when He was resurrected from the dead.
i. It was prophesied in the OT that the Messiah who would proceed from David would assume his throne and reign from it forever (2Sa 7:12-16; 1Ch 17:11-14).
ii. According to this prophecy, the following would happen:
a. The coming King would be a descendant of David (2Sa 7:12).
b. The King and Hi...
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Millennialism
vi. The church is the true Israel.
a. The nation of Israel was a chosen people whom God had singled out from all the nations of the earth (Amo 3:1-2; Psa 147:19-20).
b. As long as they were obedient and kept His covenant, they were to him a peculiar people, a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation (Exo 19:5-6).
c. Israel was God's church/congregation (Act 7:38 c/w Exo 16:2).
(i) Is...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
5. The setting up of the millennial kingdom and the reign of Christ on David's throne.
A. The kingdom of God/heaven was set up by Christ at His first coming.
i. The kingdom of God was prophesied in the book of Daniel to come in the days of the Roman Empire.
a. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a dream in which he saw a great image with a head of gold, breast and arms of silve...
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Millennialism
I. The study of end times is referred to as eschatology.
1. Eschatology - The department of theological science concerned with ‘the four last things: death, judgement, heaven, and hell’.
2. This is a much debated topic among professing Christians.
3. Errant views on eschatology are very dangerous since they influence the political policies of our government, both domestic and intern...
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:57-80 in which he covered the scientific accuracy of circumcision on the eighth day, how God's redemption of His people is an accomplished fact which sinners cannot affect, how Jesus Christ is our horn of salvation who is reigning on David's throne, and how the gospel gives the knowledge of salvation (not gives eternal salvation itself) to God's children....
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:36-56 in which he covered how nothing is impossible with God, the possibility of Jesus being conceived in Hebron, election by God from the womb, and how humility comes before honor....
I. This is an exhortation to be zealous for God, His word, His church, His religion, His gospel, His truth, His commandments, His people, and His service; and to provoke you unto love and to good works (Heb 10:24).
1. Zeal n. - 1. In biblical language, rendering L. zelus (or æmulatio), Gr. fžko|, denoting ardent feeling or fervour (taking the form of love, wrath, ‘jealousy’, or righteous indignation), with contextual tendency to unfavourable implications (emulation, rivalry, partisanship). 2. In a speciali...
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:27-35 in which he covered the Roman Catholic heresy of Mariolatry including how Mary was not a perpetual virgin, the Queen of Heaven, or the Mother of God. He also extensively proved from the scriptures and reason that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in His human nature, not in His divine nature, and therefore is not "eternally begotten", as many creeds state....
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:18-26 in which he covered several examples of how faithful children of God sometimes doubt God's word and promises; how God punishes His children for unbelief; how punishment should fit a crime; how parents should teach their children to not bully and reproach their peers and discipline them when they do; and how that the wise men which came to worship Jesus in Matthew 2 did so when He was a young child under two years of age, not a new born baby, an...
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:10-17 in which he covered the nature of angels, the method of effective prayer, being great in the sight of the Lord, how a person who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist, how John the Baptist was Elijah, and the importance of fathers turning their hearts to their children and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord....
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:8-9 in which he covered the importance of worshiping God according to the due order given in scripture....
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:6-7 in which he covered how sinners are made righteous by Jesus Christ's faith, grace, blood, and knowledge, how the faith and works of God's righteous children show evidence that Jesus made them righteous, how good and bad things happen to both good and bad people, and how God doesn't forsake the barren or the elderly....
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:1-5 in which he covered the veracity and reliability of the gospel records, the ability to know truth with certainty, and the date of the birth of Jesus Christ (August/September, not December 25th)....
XV. Internet addictions
1. Internet use, like many other activities or substances, can be addictive if overused.
A. If you can't stop doing a certain habitual thing (surfing the internet, video gaming, shopping, playing a sport, gambling, etc.) or using a certain substance (alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, pain medication, sleeping medication, etc.) without having withdrawal symptoms, you are addicted to that activity or substance.
i. Addiction n. - 1. Rom. Law. A formal giving over or delivery by sentence ...
8. How to avoid the temptation to view pornography.
A. Keep your thought-life pure.
i. Think on godly things (Phi 4:8).
ii. You are what you think about (Pro 23:7).
iii. Commit your works unto the Lord and your thoughts will be established (Pro 16:3).
a. "Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling go together; by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not." (Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Infl...
XII. Internet pornography
1. "The greatest threat to the body of Christ, to the church, to families, and to the individual Christian is the pervasive, destructive pornography available through the Internet." (Josh McDowell)
2. Internet pornography is an evil invention of men which people go a whoring after (Psa 106:39).
3. Pornography used to be harder to get.
A. It required going to a store and buying a magazine in person.
B. This was a deterrent to decent people.
C. Then it became available on the...
VII. The tendency to say, share, and gossip too much online
1. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter provide an easy avenue to blab things we should not and would not normally have the opportunity to in real life.
A. The definition of twitter is telling.
B. Twitter v. - 1. intr. Of a bird: To utter a succession of light tremulous notes; to chirp continuously with a tremulous effect. b. transf. Of a person: To sing after the above manner; also (esp. of a woman), to talk or chatter rapidly in a...
V. The need for human connection.
1. This new digital world with its social networking, emails, and texts boasts itself a utopia for human connection.
A. We can now connect with long-lost relatives, friends, co-workers, and classmates from around the country or world.
B. People now have hundreds of "friends" on Facebook or LinkedIn.
C. But has all this digital connection actually improved our relationships and our fullness as individuals?
2. The scripture emphasizes the importance of face-to-face inter...
I. The dangers of technology
1. Inventions aren't always a good thing (Ecc 7:29; Psa 106:29,39).
2. "If there is technological advance without social advance, there is, almost automatically, an increase in human misery, in impoverishment." (Michael Harrington, The Other America, 1962)
3. "Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden, "Economy," 1854)
4. "Technology and producti...
I. The blessing of a pastor
1. A pastor is a gift to the church from Jesus Christ (Eph 4:8,11).
2. As God sets members in the church as it pleases Him (1Co 12:18), so he gives ministers to the church (1Co 3:5).
3. God gives pastors after His own heart to feed His churches with knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15).
4. God gives the church a pastor for several reasons:
A. For the perfecting of the saints (Eph 4:12).
i. Perfect v. - 1. a. trans. To bring to completion; to complete, finish, consummate; ...
Brother Bud Schaitberger preaches a sermon on the love of the truth....
Nonintervention Foreign Policy
I. We have discarded and forgotten the biblical position of nonintervention and nonaggression which this nation was founded upon.
1. Proponents of an interventionist and imperialist foreign policy will cite O.T. examples of where God commanded Israel to utterly destroy wicked nations and possess them as justification for their position (Jos 6:17,20-21; 1Sa 15:2-3).
A. They will say that God hasn't changed (Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8) and therefore a Christian nation such as the US...
This sermon was preached by Pastor Wagner at the Ecclesiastical Law Center Conference in Union City, IN.
Being Called to the Ministry
I. The calling, training, and ordination of a minister.
1. How do you know if you're called to the ministry?
2. The standard answers:
A. I just feel/felt God calling me.
B. God told me.
C. I have always wanted to be a preacher.
D. My mom/dad/grandma told me that they knew from the time I was a boy that I was going to be a preacher.
3. A desire to be a pastor is a...
Trusting In and Fearing Men
I. There is a tendency among people to put too much trust and fear in men.
1. People have a tendency to trust men (governments) to provide for their needs and their safety.
2. People have a tendency to fear wicked men and governments.
3. Sometimes we give wicked men too much credit.
A. We credit them with controlling the markets, elections, world events, and even the weather.
B. Even if we view what they allegedly do with contempt, we still are in effect having confidence...
52. The Apostle (Heb 3:1).
A. Apostle - I. A person sent. 1. a. (As in Gr.) One sent on an errand, a messenger. b. Applied in N. T. to Jesus Christ. 2. spec. (Now with capital initial.) The twelve witnesses whom Jesus Christ sent forth to preach his Gospel to the world; also the subsequently-commissioned Barnabas (Acts xiii. 2, xiv. 14), and Paul, the ‘Apostle of the Gentiles.’
B. As the definition states, Apostle means sent (Mat 10:2,5).
C. Jesus was that messenger of the covenant (Mal 3:1) who wa...
45. The Holy One (Act 3:14).
A. Holy adj. - 1. Kept or regarded as inviolate from ordinary use, and appropriated or set apart for religious use or observance; consecrated, dedicated, sacred. 2. ... Of a character that evokes human veneration and reverence; and thus, in Christian use, Free from all contamination of sin and evil, morally and spiritually perfect and unsullied, possessing the infinite moral perfection which Christianity attributes to the Divine character. Cf. sense 4. 4. Conformed to the wi...
39. The Bread of Heaven (Joh 6:41); Bread of God (Joh 6:33); Bread of Life (Joh 6:35,48); Living Bread (Joh 6:51).
A. Bread n. - 1. (Only in OE.) Bit, piece, morsel (of food). 2. a. A well-known article of food prepared by moistening, kneading, and baking meal or flour, generally with the addition of yeast or leaven. 5. a. Livelihood, means of subsistence.
B. Bread is food (Joh 6:5) and a means of subsistence (Mat 6:11).
C. God gave Israel bread from heaven to sustain them in the wilderness before they e...
29. Counsellor (Isa 9:6).
A. Counsellor - 1. a. One who counsels or advises; an adviser.
B. Counsel v. - 1. to counsel a person: to give or offer (him) counsel or advice; to advise.
C. Counsellor is a fitting name for Jesus Who is the wisdom of God (1Co 1:24 c/w Pro 8:1) who says "counsel is mine" (Pro 8:14).
D. Jesus gives us counsel (Rev 3:18).
E. He does so by His word (Psa 119:24).
F. There is no counsel against Him (Pro 21:30; Rom 11:34).
G. This name of Jesus shows us that He is our counselor a...
20. The Mighty God (Isa 9:6).
A. Mighty adj. - 1. Possessing ‘might’ or power; powerful, potent, strong.
B. "The Mighty God" is Jehovah (Jer 32:18; Psa 50:1).
C. Jesus is powerful (1Ti 6:15).
D. Potentate - 1. A person endowed with independent power; a prince, monarch, ruler.
E. This name of Jesus shows that He is the almighty Jehovah God.
21. The Everlasting Father (Isa 9:6).
A. Everlasting adj. - 1. a. Lasting for ever; infinite in future duration; endless; = eternal
B. Father n. - 1. a. One by w...
9. Messiah (Joh 1:41)
A. Messiah - The Hebrew title (= ‘anointed’) applied in the O.T. prophetic writings to a promised deliverer of the Jewish nation, and hence applied to Jesus of Nazareth as the fulfilment of that promise.
B. Messiah is another name for Christ (Joh 4:25).
C. The Messiah would be a Prince (Dan 9:25).
D. This name of Jesus shows that He is the Lord's anointed Christ, king, and deliverer.
10. Master (Mat 8:19)
A. Master n. - I. A man having control or authority. 1. a. gen. One having...
To learn more about dealing with life's difficulties, click here: Dealing With Problems
I. The compassion of God
1. Sometimes Christians focus on the judgment and severity of God and forget about His compassion.
2. God is full of compassion (Psa 86:15; Psa 145:8).
3. Compassion - 1. Suffering together with another, participation in suffering; fellow-feeling, sympathy. 2. The feeling or emotion, when a person is moved by the suffering or distress...
I. The importance of the name of God
1. God's name is very important to Him and should be important to us.
A. God raised up Pharaoh so that His name would be declared throughout all the earth (Exo 9:16).
B. The third of the ten commandments is "thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exo 20:7).
C. God's name is hallowed (Mat 6:9).
D. Hallowed adj.- Sanctified, blessed, consecrated, dedicated.
2. God has many names, but His memorial name is I AM THAT I AM, or I AM for short (Exo 3:14...
I. Defining the terms.
1. Unbelief n. - Absence or lack of belief; disbelief, incredulity. a. In matters of religion.
2. Belief n. - 1. The mental action, condition, or habit, of trusting to or confiding in a person or thing; trust, dependence, reliance, confidence, faith.
3. Unbeliever n. - One who does not believe; spec. one who does not accept a particular religious belief, an infidel.
4. Believer n. - One who believes. a. One who has faith in the doctrines of religion; esp. a Christian, Christian ...
Vanity of Vanities, Saith the Preacher
I. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." (Ecc 1:2)
II. Vanity, vanity.
1. Vanity - 1. a. That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value or profit.
2. Vain adj. - I. 1. Devoid of real value, worth, or significance; idle, unprofitable, useless, worthless; of no effect, force, or power; fruitless, futile, unavailing.
3. Useless adj. - 1. Of things, actions, etc.: Destitute of useful qualities; serving no...
Pastor Wagner teaches an extemporaneous Bible study on how to pray. ...
vs. 1-9.
A. Apostles (ACT 14:15) and prophets (JAM 5:17) were men of passions as other men; they were
not supermen.
1. passion: Any kind of feeling by which the mind is powerfully affected or moved; a
vehement, commanding or overpowering emotion.
2. Jonah was particularly driven by passion: displeased exceedingly, very angry (v. 1);
despondent (v. 3); exceeding glad (v. 6); despondent, angry (v. 9).
3. His emotionalism put him in a position not unlike that which he seems to have hoped
would be the f...
8. Fear of rejection by God - some people fear that God will not accept them because of their past or present sins.
A. It is true that God is holy (1Pe 1:16).
i. God can't even look on iniquity (Hab 1:13).
ii. The foolish can't stand in God's sight and He hates sinners (Psa 5:4-5).
B. God is fearful (Heb 10:31; Heb 12:29) and terrible (Psa 47:2).
i. Terrible - 1. Exciting or fitted to excite terror; such as to inspire great fear or dread; frightful, dreadful.
ii. If this was all a person knew of God, ...
6. Love of family - some people love their spouse, parents, or children more than God and can't bear the thought of hurting or angering them by submitting to Christ.
A. The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mat 22:36-38).
B. Family must take a backseat to God.
i. Jesus didn't come to bring peace between families, but division (Mat 10:34-36).
ii. Jesus said that he that loves his father or mother, or son or daughter more than Him is not worthy of...
I. There are many things which keep people from submitting to Christ, such as:
1. Reprobation - some are natural men who have not the ability to understand and believe the gospel and submit to it.
2. Pride - the pride of even God's elect can prevent them from submitting to Christ.
3. Apathy - some people just don't care about truth.
4. Accountability - some people do not want to be held accountable to God's law by a church and pastor.
5. Love of sin and self - some people love themselves and their sin ...
I'm Converted, Now What?
I. What do I mean by "converted"?
1. Converted - 1. Turned, turned back. 2. That has turned or been brought over to a religious faith or profession, whether from a different religion or from irreligious life.
2. Conversion is turning to God from a previous life of sin and false religion (Act 15:3 c/w Act 15:19).
3. A complete conversion includes being baptized and added to a local church (Act 15:3 c/w Act 14:1, 21-23).
II. So now that I've been baptized and added to a true c...
I. "Remember Lot's Wife." (Luk 17:32) is one of the shortest verses in the Bible.
1. Don't despise small things, though (Zec 4:10).
2. Some important verses in the Bible are very short. Consider the following profound, yet concise verses:
A. "Jesus wept." (Joh 11:35)
B. "Rejoice evermore." (1Th 5:16)
C. "Pray without ceasing." (1Th 5:17)
D. "Quench not the Spirit." (1Th 5:19)
E. "Brethren, pray for us." (1Th 5:25)
3. Wise men let their words be few (Pro 17:27-28).
4. Fools, on the other hand, are...
VI. God's declared will also includes guidelines that God has given in scripture of how He wants us to live and what He wants us to do.
1. This aspect of God's will can be ascertained by living according to God's laws and studying the scriptures (Rom 12:2).
2. Prove v.- II. To make good, establish. 5. trans. To establish (a thing) as true; to make certain; to demonstrate the truth of by evidence or argument.
3. We should pray for God's will to be done.
A. Jesus was our prime example of this (Mat 26:39...
IV. The permissive will of God.
1. There are some things in our lives that God doesn't decree but permits.
A. Permit v.- I. To allow, suffer, give leave; not to prevent.
B. God may or may not permit our travel to go as we have planned (1Co 16:7).
C. Even the teaching the pastor intends to do is subject to the permissive will of God (Heb 6:1-3).
D. God has allowed His ministers to be put in trust with the gospel (1Th 2:4).
E. This is why we should always preface our plans with, "If the Lord will..." (J...
