The following article came from citizenlink.com. I found it heartening that most Americans still believe that there is such a thing as sin. It's heartening because if people believe in sin the gospel can still penetrate their hearts. The challenge of our time is to convince people that they need Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. He is the only one that can fix our sin problem.
Study: Americans Still Know Right from Wrong
by Devon Williams, associate editor
'Humans are created with a sense of conscience …with a sense of right and wrong.'
The majority of Americans — 87 percent — believe in the concept of sin, according to a new study by Ellison Research. Sin was defined as “something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective.”
The study, conducted in August, asked more than 1,000 adults to decide whether 30 behaviors were sinful. Adultery was most often described as sinful behavior (81 percent), followed by racism (74 percent), and drug use (65 percent).
“It's encouraging to know that in this day of moral relativism, that a majority of Americans still recognize and believe that there is such a thing as sin,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.
Other behaviors considered sinful by a significant portion of Americans included abortion; homosexual activity; pornography; gossip; swearing; and sex before marriage.
Predictably, 94 percent of Americans who regularly attend church believe in sin. Yet, 80 percent of those who do not attend church also believe in sin.
Pastor John Barner, manager of pastoral care at Focus on the Family, said the study verifies that people are struggling with their behaviors.
“It is good to see that the research is confirming that humans are created with a sense of conscience, which implies that we are made in the image of God, with a sense of right and wrong,” he said.
Barner said he is disturbed that among Christians, people don't always look to the Scriptures for their standards of right and wrong.
“The message of Holy Week and the Easter season,” he said, “is that God was so concerned about the sin problem among humans that He sent His Son into the world to take the punishment for those behaviors and attitudes.
"Our belief in what He did for us at the Cross and in the Resurrection, that belief and our gratitude for His gift of eternal life, should then motivate us to live in such a way as to avoid as many of these sinful behaviors as possible.”
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
It's Time to Believe
This week we have been remembering Jesus death and celebrating the resurrection. Thank God for the blood! Thank God for our Savior! Easter is about the death, burial, and resurrection but we must not forget the reason that Jesus came. It is about our death, burial, and resurrection.
Romans 6:3 through Romans 6:5
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
It’s time to believe!!!
It’s time to believe in miracles!
The resurrection of Jesus was a miracle that affects every human being ever born. His blood reached back for the righteous of old. Without Jesus sacrifice they could not be made perfect. His blood still flows for whosoever would make Jesus their Lord and Savior. Because Jesus rose from the dead we can experience the miracle of salvation. Believe that God can deliver you from sin today. God’s blessings aren’t just for others, they can be yours.
It’s time to believe that Jesus is the way to salvation!
Acts 4:8 through Acts 4:12
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Note that it was mentioned that Peter was “filled with the Holy Ghost”. Why? Because it is by the power of the Holy Ghost that we live an overcoming life. Peter preached with boldness that there was no other way of salvation. Many want to make all religions of the world equal. That, if you are a good person it doesn’t really matter what you believe. But Peter stood before the powers of the day and proclaimed the there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
It’s time to believe in the life changing power of the gospel!
You can have a new beginning. The disciples felt defeated because of the crucifixion. It seemed that all was lost. How could they go back to their previous lives? Jesus told them many things about what was to come but they just couldn’t grasp it. Even though Jesus told them that He would be given to men to be crucified they couldn’t believe that it was happening. They couldn’t see past the darkness just before them. But a new day was coming. The grave couldn’t keep hold of Jesus. The despair that filled their hearts melted away because of Jesus resurrection. Are you troubled about the things in your life? Is there a dark veil that keeps you from seeing the promises of God are for you? Does is seem that there is no hope to escape sins grip on your life? He did what He did for you. It’s time for you to believe in the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ.
A song by Bill Gaither came to my mind this week. It is “Because He Lives”.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future. Life is worth the living just because He lives.
Romans 8:10 through Romans 8:11
10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
It’s time to believe that God will hear our prayers and will speak to us!
God always responds to the cry of a hungry heart. He speaks to us in many ways. Tune in to what God is trying to say to you. God will speak through His word. Don’t ignore this great treasure that we have. God will speak through our prayers. Prayer is important because God desires to have a relationship with us. He wants to speak into your heart right now. There have been times in my life that I have been in a great need of a touch from God. I needed to feel His presence in my life. I can tell you that there are times we need to call out to God from the depths of our hearts. If you seriously seek God He will respond to you. There is nothing like a touch from God.
It’s time to believe because heaven is at stake!
I want you to know that sin separates us from God. To many, today is just another day.
Many are making excuses about why they have to live in their sin and that they can’t change or God will accept them the way they are. They say I was born that way, whatever sin they are trying to excuse. I think of something I heard once from Rev. G.E. Patterson. He was addressing this very issue and made a simple, but profound, declaration: However you were born, Jesus said be born again! We all have sins that we could never overcome without being born again. We don’t have to struggle with the sin that would destroy us. We can be raised to newness of life because Jesus had new life.
The apostle Paul stood before a king named Agrippa in a trial pleading his case. As Paul always did, he brought the subject around to the gospel. In a powerful way Paul presented the case for Christ. Agrippa told Paul “You almost persuaded me to be a Christian”. What a tragedy that Agrippa “almost” believed. When faced with a decision will you believe? The decision is here today. Do you believe?
Romans 6:3 through Romans 6:5
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
It’s time to believe!!!
It’s time to believe in miracles!
The resurrection of Jesus was a miracle that affects every human being ever born. His blood reached back for the righteous of old. Without Jesus sacrifice they could not be made perfect. His blood still flows for whosoever would make Jesus their Lord and Savior. Because Jesus rose from the dead we can experience the miracle of salvation. Believe that God can deliver you from sin today. God’s blessings aren’t just for others, they can be yours.
It’s time to believe that Jesus is the way to salvation!
Acts 4:8 through Acts 4:12
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Note that it was mentioned that Peter was “filled with the Holy Ghost”. Why? Because it is by the power of the Holy Ghost that we live an overcoming life. Peter preached with boldness that there was no other way of salvation. Many want to make all religions of the world equal. That, if you are a good person it doesn’t really matter what you believe. But Peter stood before the powers of the day and proclaimed the there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
It’s time to believe in the life changing power of the gospel!
You can have a new beginning. The disciples felt defeated because of the crucifixion. It seemed that all was lost. How could they go back to their previous lives? Jesus told them many things about what was to come but they just couldn’t grasp it. Even though Jesus told them that He would be given to men to be crucified they couldn’t believe that it was happening. They couldn’t see past the darkness just before them. But a new day was coming. The grave couldn’t keep hold of Jesus. The despair that filled their hearts melted away because of Jesus resurrection. Are you troubled about the things in your life? Is there a dark veil that keeps you from seeing the promises of God are for you? Does is seem that there is no hope to escape sins grip on your life? He did what He did for you. It’s time for you to believe in the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ.
A song by Bill Gaither came to my mind this week. It is “Because He Lives”.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future. Life is worth the living just because He lives.
Romans 8:10 through Romans 8:11
10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
It’s time to believe that God will hear our prayers and will speak to us!
God always responds to the cry of a hungry heart. He speaks to us in many ways. Tune in to what God is trying to say to you. God will speak through His word. Don’t ignore this great treasure that we have. God will speak through our prayers. Prayer is important because God desires to have a relationship with us. He wants to speak into your heart right now. There have been times in my life that I have been in a great need of a touch from God. I needed to feel His presence in my life. I can tell you that there are times we need to call out to God from the depths of our hearts. If you seriously seek God He will respond to you. There is nothing like a touch from God.
It’s time to believe because heaven is at stake!
I want you to know that sin separates us from God. To many, today is just another day.
Many are making excuses about why they have to live in their sin and that they can’t change or God will accept them the way they are. They say I was born that way, whatever sin they are trying to excuse. I think of something I heard once from Rev. G.E. Patterson. He was addressing this very issue and made a simple, but profound, declaration: However you were born, Jesus said be born again! We all have sins that we could never overcome without being born again. We don’t have to struggle with the sin that would destroy us. We can be raised to newness of life because Jesus had new life.
The apostle Paul stood before a king named Agrippa in a trial pleading his case. As Paul always did, he brought the subject around to the gospel. In a powerful way Paul presented the case for Christ. Agrippa told Paul “You almost persuaded me to be a Christian”. What a tragedy that Agrippa “almost” believed. When faced with a decision will you believe? The decision is here today. Do you believe?
Sunday, March 9, 2008
It's Worth It
In life, we have to examine whether or not the things that we do are worth the effort. Is being a Christian worth it? I’m not talking about a church affiliation, but a commitment to Jesus Christ and a lifestyle that fits the commitment. I know that there are many that think that if we live a life of commitment we are fanatics or that we are missing out on all of the “fun” things that life has to offer. As I often do, I thought of a song that we used to sing in church when I was a younger man.
It’s gonna be worth it all
It’s gonna be worth it all
It’s gonna be worth it all some beautiful happy day.
It’s gonna be worth every long mile
Every heartache and every trial
It’s gonna be worth it all some beautiful happy day.
The history of Christianity is filled with enduring hardship. The martyrs are a testimony of enduring through the worst of times. Many church songs are about enduring through troubles and trials. But there are always also songs of deliverance and blessing. I believe that the truly committed are in tune with the blessings, even through times of trouble.
Psalm 34:15-19 tells us that “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.……Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” God watches over His own. If you have committed your life to God don’t ever think that God doesn’t care about what is happening to you. God delivers the righteous out of their trouble, if not in this life in the life to come. God is near the broken hearted, the contrite. Prosperity preachers of today say that you have a right to riches in this world because you are a Christian. It’s too bad they weren’t part of the early church. Perhaps the early Christians could have escaped the persecution they endured for Christ. Who wouldn’t rather be rich than suffer persecution? Of course I speak in jest. God never promised to make us rich or even give us all of the comforts of life. But he did promise that He would never leave us or forsake us. I have complete security in my relationship with God. There have been times in history where Christians have suffered and been burdened because they stand in their faith. The Apostle Peter tells us of the many temptations and trials of the early church. Their faith was tried with fire, things weren’t made easy for them. They believed in Jesus Christ though they had not seen Him. Remember that Peter had seen Jesus Christ, he walked with Jesus on this earth. He believed, partly, because he had seen. Peter reminded them that the end of faith is the salvation of their soul. This is also our encouragement today. It is worth it to commit our lives to Jesus Christ.
As a small group, trying to establish a church, we face many challenges. It is our great desire to share the life changing gospel message of Jesus Christ with our community. We pray that our efforts are impacting people in a meaningful way. There is sometimes disappointment when we don’t see the results that we would like. But we don’t do this for the praise of men, we do it for the love of God. I hope you will visit us this Sunday and see why “it is worth it”!
It’s gonna be worth it all
It’s gonna be worth it all
It’s gonna be worth it all some beautiful happy day.
It’s gonna be worth every long mile
Every heartache and every trial
It’s gonna be worth it all some beautiful happy day.
The history of Christianity is filled with enduring hardship. The martyrs are a testimony of enduring through the worst of times. Many church songs are about enduring through troubles and trials. But there are always also songs of deliverance and blessing. I believe that the truly committed are in tune with the blessings, even through times of trouble.
Psalm 34:15-19 tells us that “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.……Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” God watches over His own. If you have committed your life to God don’t ever think that God doesn’t care about what is happening to you. God delivers the righteous out of their trouble, if not in this life in the life to come. God is near the broken hearted, the contrite. Prosperity preachers of today say that you have a right to riches in this world because you are a Christian. It’s too bad they weren’t part of the early church. Perhaps the early Christians could have escaped the persecution they endured for Christ. Who wouldn’t rather be rich than suffer persecution? Of course I speak in jest. God never promised to make us rich or even give us all of the comforts of life. But he did promise that He would never leave us or forsake us. I have complete security in my relationship with God. There have been times in history where Christians have suffered and been burdened because they stand in their faith. The Apostle Peter tells us of the many temptations and trials of the early church. Their faith was tried with fire, things weren’t made easy for them. They believed in Jesus Christ though they had not seen Him. Remember that Peter had seen Jesus Christ, he walked with Jesus on this earth. He believed, partly, because he had seen. Peter reminded them that the end of faith is the salvation of their soul. This is also our encouragement today. It is worth it to commit our lives to Jesus Christ.
As a small group, trying to establish a church, we face many challenges. It is our great desire to share the life changing gospel message of Jesus Christ with our community. We pray that our efforts are impacting people in a meaningful way. There is sometimes disappointment when we don’t see the results that we would like. But we don’t do this for the praise of men, we do it for the love of God. I hope you will visit us this Sunday and see why “it is worth it”!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Added Blog Features
I have added a couple of features to my blog for your listening enjoyment! I have added a one minute mp3 file called "This Weeks Audio Blessing by Pastor Steve". I have also added a feed to the "Breakpoint" broadcast by Chuck Colson. You can either watch the archived video or listen to the archived radio broadcast. The feed list shows the 3 latest broadcasts. I hope you enjoy these new features.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Soon We'll be coming to Your TV
We've been considering doing some TV advertising and set the wheels in motion yesterday for Redemption Ministries to hit the air waves. This is quite a step for our small church but we want to get the word out that we are here and have something important to offer our community. I'm excited about the commercials we will be running. They are professional and attention grabbing. Pray for Saginaw that these efforts will touch hearts and help people see their need for God.
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