Daily Devotional 9.20.11

We shall be like Him

“That we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things.” (Ephesians 4:14-15) “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3)

Our destiny is the highest possible–“We shall be like Him.” For this we were created, redeemed, and sanctified, that we should be conformed to the image of God’s Son, that He might be the First Born among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

The Apostle says that those who have this Hope will purify themselves. A young friend of mine once asked me if I would try to see her lover, as my train stopped at a wayside station in a far-distant western State. It was a dark night when we arrived, and a hurried conversation took place on the steps of the great Pullman car. I found that amid the many temptations of a rancher’s life, this young fellow was holding on to purity and truth. He said that he had very infrequent opportunities of attending any religious services, but that the letters which came from the old country had been his sheet anchor. Continue reading …

Daily Devotional 9.19.11

Glory on Earth

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)

The prosperity of King Uzziah’s reign seems to have weakened the national character; a deep-seated degeneracy was eating out its vitals. The unbroken summer of fifty years of prosperity and wealth had induced a moral decay which filled the heart of the prophet with dismay. It was in this depressed frame of mind that Isaiah entered the Temple, where the ceremonial of the priests and Levites, the offering of the sacrifice, the antiphonal chanting of the choirs, appear to have further moved his spirit.

The Vision (Isaiah 6:1-4). The limitation of the earthly fabric faded from his sight, and he became aware of the worship of the Seraphim, their faces veiled before the Divine Majesty, their persons clothed with humility, and their remaining wings prepared for immediate obedience. Continue reading …

Weekly Sunday Sermon

A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts. Elements of preaching include exposition, exhortation and practical application.

In Christianity, a sermon (also known as a homily within some churches) is often delivered in a place of worship, most of which have a pulpit or ambo, an elevated architectural feature. The word “sermon” comes from a Middle English word which was derived from an Old French term, which in turn came from the Latin word sermō; (“discourse”) Although, links have been made between the Latin word serere, which means ‘to join together’, so this leaves the modern Latin definition open to interpretation . The word can mean “conversation”, which could mean that early sermons were delivered in the form of question and answer, and that only later did it come to mean a monologue. In contrast to this, is the examples from the Bible, where sermons are speeches without interlocution: Moses’ sermon in Deuteronomy 1-33 [1]; Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7 [2]; Peter’s sermon after Pentecost in Acts 2:14-40. Continue reading …

Daily Devotional 9.18.11

The Practice of God’s Presence

“Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy Presence? If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalms 139:7, Psalms 139:9, Psalms 139:10)

It was in the sixteenth century, one winter’s day, as Brother Lawrence was walking in the forest, he found himself standing beneath a tree stripped of its foliage. The thought suddenly flashed on him that before very long that same tree would be covered with the leaves and glory of spring. “Then God must be here,” said he to himself, and his whole being became awed and filled with the thought of God. That impression remained with him for the rest of his life, and he said that he was more deeply impressed with the actual sense of God’s Presence in the kitchen, when he was preparing the food for his brother monks, than when he was kneeling before the Sacrament.

It is a blessed experience when the soul lives in this awareness of God; when we live, and move, and have our being in Him; whether we take the wings of the morning, and go with the sun in its passage to the western sea, or descend into the valley of the shadow of death. Continue reading …

Children’s Bible Lessons

Free Bible lessons for teaching small children, elementary school students, and pre-teens.

A free lesson series packed with ideas to help prepare kids to receive Jesus. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, Sunday school teacher, or friend – these free Childrens Bible Lessons and ideas can help you impart the truth of God’s Word in creative, meaningful ways to the youngsters in your life.

Our prayer is that the children’s Bible lessons found on this website will help children experience the peace that passes understanding and equip them to be living representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. Continue reading …