Woodland Hills Church of Christ

Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The post Bernice Stories: Seeing the Work of God appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:Chad Brock The post The Miracles of Jesus (Intro) appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Resurrection! Introduction: If you consider yourself a “believer,” the very foundation of the being a disciple of Christ is the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth after three days in the tomb. As Paul argued in 1 Corinthians 15, if there is no resurrection from the dead, then… Christ has not been raised If Christ has not been raised, then all of scripture is a lie. If Christ is not raised, then our teaching and our faith is worthless and we are still in our sins eternally lost. If Christ has not been raised, we are of all people most to be pitied. Of course, if Christ was raised and reigns as King, then…Instead of the believer being “most to be pitied,” the most to be pitied are those who refuse to believe and take advantage of the resurrection by obeying Jesus. However, the resurrection of Jesus poses a greater issue than just the fact that Jesus raised from the dead. We make a huge mistake if we simply celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus every first day of the week. Jesus and the apostles taught that the resurrection carries with it power that believers are to use in their daily lives.  Paul wrote that we are to comprehend “what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:19-20).  God’s Repeated Foreshadowing and Symbology By looking too narrowly at the evidence, here is what I mean. We must not simply examine the evidence for the resurrection of Christ, though that evidence should be examined carefully. There is evidence for the power of God in resurrection throughout scripture. Ephesians 2:4-5 “But  God, being  rich in mercy,  because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses,  made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Every person who is a disciple of Christ should be acutely aware that Jesus’ resurrection was intended to bring about both a present and future resurrection. We should be able to see our present resurrection simply by comparing our lives prior to Christ to our present lives.  Therefore it is critical to be reminded that God’s resurrection power has been evident long before Christ and long before our transformation. God has always been giving life to the dead.  Genesis 2:7 “then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Until God breathed into Adam the breath of life, Adam was nothing but dead molecules formed out of dirt. We live physically because of the power of God’s Spirit breathing life into us. After the sin of the Garden and the pronouncement of the curse of death, God repeatedly illustrated his power and desire to raise us back to life.  Genesis 5 In the midst of 10 generations of, “and he died,” Enoch “walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”  When God chose Abraham and Sarah through whom the world would be blessed, God intentionally waited until both of them could not have a child before giving life to their dead bodies. Romans 4:17-19 “as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the deadness of Sarah’s womb.”  We need to consider the great impact this has on us. If Abraham and Sarah do not have offspring, there is no Israel and there is no Christ and there is no us with hope and the world remain dead. Notice! God purposely did not leave our salvation in the hands of natural reproduction. The salvation of mankind is only in the hands of God and his power to give life to the dead.  To confirm, consider Romans 9:6-8: “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”   The implications of this are profound. It is the children of the promise that are counted as offspring. In other words, we are brought to life just as Isaac, not because of “works” or by anything we could have done, but by the power of the Spirit of God implanted in us through the resurrection of Christ.  Therefore, God has tied together the two greatest miracles/signs in the life of Jesus: the virgin birth and the resurrection of Jesus. Even the entrance of Jesus into this world would not be by natural procreation, but by the power of the Spirit of God overshadowing Mary. Now we can see the importance of salvation only coming through our lifelong “obedience of faith” in Jesus Christ (Romans 16:26), and no other way!  As Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must be born from again.”  John 3:13 “…children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of he flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Disciples Are Living Proof of the Resurrection Story  If disciples’ lives do not demonstrate and reflect the resurrection, they are not disciples!  John 20:19 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” This scene represents the condition and faith of the apostles prior to Jesus’ appearance to them following his resurrection. The contrast is this scene as Peter and John all the Jewish leaders who condemned Jesus to death: Acts 4:10-13 “let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.” What caused the change? Nothing but the bodily resurrection of Jesus.  But that was not the only change: Acts 8:3-4 “But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Note the affect that the resurrection had on disciples who were under the threat of imprisonment and death. No fear! Certainly they did not stay and get unlawfully arrested. But neither were they silent. Therefore, Jesus’ foundational principle for our future resurrection is our willingness to give up our lives. Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’”  Romans 6:3-8 “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 one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”  2 Corinthians 5:14-17 “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  Conclusion:  The above texts give us a clear picture of whether we have hope of a resurrection to life with the Lord.  First, we must be united with him in a death like his as we are buried with him in baptism into death. This is the beginning of our covenant relationship with him. Second, since we have died with him, we no longer live for ourselves but for him who died and was raised.  Finally, please beware that our future resurrection can be either good news or bad news. John 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”  Berry Kercheville The post Resurrection! appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge Speakers: David Desloge, Michael Lindsey The post Genesis 1 – 11 Questions & Answers (Part 2) appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Topical Sermons / Speaker:Danny McGee The post Salvation Narrative appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge The post Genesis 1 – 11 In The New Testament appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:Michael Lindsey The post Genesis 1 – 11 Drawing Summary appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Quarterly Group Studies Class / Speaker:Adam Malone Series: Have you heard of Woodland Hills Topic: Sharpening Our Beliefs Scripture : Matthew 5:21-32 The post Sharpening Our Beliefs appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge The post Genesis 1-11 in the Old Testament appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Scott Kercheville The post Genesis 42–45 True Repentance: Joseph, Jesus and Us appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge The post Genesis 11:10-32 Genesis 11 & Beyond appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

New Testament Sermons / Speaker:David Desloge The post Luke 19:1-9 – Then Who Can Be Saved? appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The Idolatry of Scarecrows Jeremiah 10 Introduction: In Isaiah, the Lord made many arguments to the people about the foolishness of idolatry. One hundred years later and a new generation, he heightens his description of the foolishness of humans and their idols. Of course, the bad news is, our problem with idols is greater than their problem. You might say, “What are you talking about? We don’t have golden calves and female Ashtorath.” Yes, and that is what makes our idolatry worse. We love to deny we have a problem and that makes it a bigger problem. Consider a few passages: 1 Corinthians 5:11, “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or covetousness, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”  Colossians 3:5 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:   sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”  Luke 12:15 “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” In the followup parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus said the covetous man was not “rich toward God.” Simply building bigger barns was not the problem. His eyes and heart were on taking his ease and thinking his happiness would be attained through having a wealthy retirement.  In 1 Timothy 6:6-11 contrasts the love of money to being content with food and clothing. When we are not content, it is evidence of idolatry. These passages are not to suggest that specifically coveting money is the primary problem with Christians. Most Christians are very liberal with their giving. Coveting is more subtle than that.  Paul speaks of “all manner of covetousness” in Romans  7. In the most basic sense, idolatry is “inordinate desire.” It is desire that places anything above service to God or what should be given and dedicated to God.  These desires do not even have to be literally fulfilled in order to be idolatrous. Jesus said that the lust of the heart was enough to commit the sin (Matthew 5:21ff).  When lives are lived this way, what makes it idolatry is we are trying to fill an inner void with something other than God. Israel’s idols were in addition to what they believed they couldn’t or might not get from God, especially in a timely fashion.  “Learn Not the Way of the Nations” (10:1-16) 10:2 In other words, do not think the way our culture thinks. Do not be influenced by what influences people today. What could that be? Present cultural idols: Money & pleasure An automobile. And idol? Always has been. Remember how you felt with your first car? The commercials prove it. You can pretend you live like the rich and famous. Just sign up for a $700/month payment and you can ride in luxury and appear amazing. But you actually have made yourself poor and turned your eyes away from the living God (v. 10) who can give you true riches. Job/career/economy Marriage/Family/Children Sexuality (a major idol! Always has been, and especially today) A life of ease. [desires for retirement: travel, rest, enjoyment, live for self, but what are the plans for more effort in God’s kingdom? “Rich toward God.” Politics/Leaders/President/Congress (how we worry and are anxious, but they are human and not God. They may do a “little” good or a “little” bad in comparison to the King of kings, but our anxiousness proves our idolatry. 10:3-5 10:5 “…they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” They ultimately have no real power. Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 — the same things keep happening over and over. Obviously, whatever we think these “gods” are doing, they are not doing. All is vanity—just a breath. (Vs. 3: same word as in Ecclesiastes) “Like scarecrows in a field”— Consider the scarecrow. What does it do? It pretends to be a real person; it pretends to be a threat to birds and anything else that could eat the crops of a farmer’s field. But it isn’t real. It can’t do anything. A bird could land on it and do things birds do when the land on something, but the scarecrow knows nothing about it. The scarecrow is a fraud. It has nothing to do with reality. What is a scarecrow made of? Wood and other things that God has made. What are our idols made of? Only things that God has made. And we take what God has made and we form it and prop it up in our minds as if it has power and intelligence, and can fill our inner desires. But it doesn’t. If fact, our desires are always greater than the reality of having.  “Fasten it with hammers!” Instead of simply being content with what God gives us and enjoying it for the day, we think it is something to be grasped, something that has importance to satisfy out lives. But it is not the source of life. They are frauds. Verses 8-9, “They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood…beaten silver…gold…clothing violet and purple…all the work of skilled men.” In other words, our idols are glamorous. That is what draws us to them (Eve and the Tree).  10:10-11 “The Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King.” No one replaces God after four years. It is pleasing God that should be our concern, because his wrath can make the earth quake and nations fall. Only the living God can truly affect the life we live! Remember the first place you lived? Little apartment or old rundown house that was cheap enough for you to make ends meet? Would it really make that much difference if you had to go back to that? If God is your hope and dreams, not a bit!  Why would we be so foolish as to be anxious about all these idols around us and what they could do for us? These gods did not make the heavens or earth!  Notice verses 12-13. He made the earth by his power, wisdom, and understanding. Simply by uttering his voice—he just speaks—and storms and rain appear. Now where is our trust? In the wisdom of this world? No, we must “wait for the Lord.” He has the wisdom. We can pray and trust what he will do. That is true comfort!  10:14-15 When we serve an idol or these idols, we have made ourselves as fools. NLT, “The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power. Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.” Humans have become like their idols—worthless!  The Remedy of Idolatry: Prayer of Jeremiah, 10:23-25 Summation of 17-22: Gather up your belongings; you are about to be slung (Heb. “Hurl a stone from a sling”) out of the land! Your idols have failed you. You sowed to the wind and you will now reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7).  Verse 23: Jeremiah’s acknowledgment, this is not my life.  Oh how we want to choose the way our life should go and how it should be lived! In that case, the greatest idol of our life is ourself. How interesting that God did not create us to govern ourselves successfully. That may seem odd at first, but it is not odd. God created us to attain our greatest possibilities in and through him. That is true because their is nothing greater than him!  Idolatry, pure and simple, is when we think we can direct our own steps.  Verse 24: Since we cannot direct our own steps, we always need God’s correction (Hebrews 12). His correction can come many different ways, but it must be listened to if we are to be pleasing to him. None of us like correction, but it is a mark of humility. Jeremiah’s request is that God corrects “only in due measure” (NIV) and not in God’s anger, as had to be done to Judah.  Verse 25: This verse may offend the sensibilities of some, but we should rejoice when the nations who devour and consume others by wickedness are finally destroyed. Only then can righteousness prevail and the gospel spread freely. Conclusion: Let’s ask ourselves, “How serious is idolatry? How serious is it in our own lives?” The letter of 1 John says nothing about idolatry until John offers a final admonition of love to his brethren in the verse last verse: “Little children, keep yourself from idols.”  Berry Kercheville The post Jeremiah 10 – The Idolatry of Scarecrows appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge The post Genesis 10:1-11:9 Table of Nations, Tower of Babel appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:Michael Lindsey The post Genesis 9:18-29 Sin After the Flood appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville “And He Gave Evangelists…” (3) Introduction: Purpose of these lessons: Understanding the need of and the work of an evangelist is critical whether you stay at this church or must relocate. It is disturbing to often see both evangelists and shepherds who do not know or practice what God called them to do. Ephesians 4:11-16 reminds us of the importance of evangelists and shepherds in a local church as gifts God has given to equip Christians so that every part of the body can do its share, which causes the growth of the body and the edifying of itself in love. My primary purpose in these lessons has been to call attention to the great need we have throughout the brotherhood to raise up evangelists and shepherds who truly reflect God’s purposes in Ephesians 4:11-16. The work of evangelists has especially been an enigma to Christians everywhere partially because we evangelists tend not to say much about our work and also because there are considerable differences in how preachers do their work. Thus it is easy for Christians to be confused about what the word is supposed to be and what we should look for in a preacher.  In this final lesson of our series we will consider the challenges & expectations of a prospective preacher and the challenges of a church in their relationship with him and his work. The Preacher and the Local Church Woodland Hills is not a typical church, especially when it comes to preaching and teaching. Not many churches have the number of men and women who possess the drive and desire to know God’s word and the talent to teach/preach the word. Because of you, such desire and talent becomes contagious, causing others to want to join in the effort.  Ephesians 4:15-16 “…Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. That’s God’s goal and purpose for us and the elders and I love the work and progress in that regard. The church is learning to build itself up in love. Beautiful. Therefore, training other men to teach and preach (who have no plans of full-time preaching) is vital to the future and health of a church. We need future shepherds who have been trained and practiced in preaching and teaching. That has been a major failure in many congregations. Ephesians 4:11-16 includes the shepherds in equipping the saints.  Preaching and teaching creates a maturing of the church as a whole. Ephesians 4:15— Maturity is indicated by the ability to speak the truth in love.  Remember, we have a responsibility to the kingdom, not just to this church. Preparing and training men and women to teach (2 Timothy 2:2) is important for the kingdom as a whole when some of our members have the need to move to others areas (Julie is teaching a woman in Florence, AL that may never have heard the gospel if she did not move there).  However, as mentioned previously, there is more to the work of an evangelist than just a sermon. It is not uncommon for a men to get good at preaching a sermon, and then decide that qualifies them to be an evangelist. Or, the church decides we do not need a preacher because the men can just do the preaching. This has led to the increasing problem for churches who have a man who never trained and therefore does not understand the work. He can give a sermon, but does not know how to lead and equip the church in evangelism and spiritual growth. A topical sermon once a week is not going to do that.  The last two churches Teresa and I visited were clearly floundering. The goal of the church was to just to have a worship service and have someone preach a sermon. The sermons were “okay” but were not with purpose or direction to equip the church for the goal of Ephesians 4.  Two problems typically exist: Visitors will never come back for that kind of preaching, nor will members do any inviting. Evangelism is simply not on the radar. In fact, the only “evangelism” done is “church-building evangelism”—if the lost want to be saved, they know where we are!  It may surprise you, but the most important part of a good preacher training program is the amount of time the one being trained spends with the preacher! (Many preachers do not do this because it is so time-consuming) When we see training in the NT, it is on the job; it is a mentorship. When I train, the man goes with me to all studies so he can see and learn. He is with me in the “office next door” so that I’m available to him every time he has a question. Many hours are spent with me preparing him with my years of experience so that he is ready to face the work by himself.  [Recent young man was told he was “ready” after preaching a few sermons]. I know what it is like to start preaching without a mentor who can give me his experience. (1) Years of trial and error and bad mistakes. (2) Unimaginable stress. (3) A church that has to deal with my inexperience. The above also brings up the importance of a good church who is patient with an evangelist (young, but also the older!). Doctors speak of their work as a “practice,” and so it is with a preacher, there is always growth and learning that must continue. What a Church (and Preacher) Need to Know about Preaching (Seven General Abilities and Traits Needed to Preach) A passion and ability to study the scriptures—“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14-17).   A willingness and ability to teach the word both to Christians and to the lost—“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control…what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also…do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 1:6-7; 2:2; 4:5). An evangelist should always be looking for an opportunity. This is not about just teaching at the building. A passion and skill to preach—“…devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching…Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2). There are two extremes: (1) “I just like to preach,” and (2) “I would prefer to just teach the lost.” Disciplined work habits—“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:14-15). A person who loves people, is good with people; friendly, loving, and caring—“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness…” (2 Timothy 2:24-25). True also of shepherds! Some preachers are loners. Some spend too much time with members, they do not study enough. A person who has an exemplary lifestyle—“an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity…Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:12, 16). You are a Christian first, then a Christian who preaches.  A person who is able to handle the pressure and stress of the job—“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Preacher Challenges a Church Needs to Know Every preacher will occasionally fall into a “rut” that he is not aware of, whether in sermon delivery or sermon topics. Examples: Filler words: um, uh, like, “right” (at the end of a sentence), just, etc.  Length of sermon (which is usually just trying to cover more material that can be comfortably assimilated for the time period given). Over-estimating the audience given the “brief” setting of our worship. An FC lecture is 50 minutes given to people who are expecting it. Further, there is not an 90 minute worship lead up to the lecture. Wanting to tell you everything we have studied and thus, adding points into a sermon, that though interesting, are not necessary to the message of the sermon, and therefore detract from the message. Especially in this regard, a sermon must be different than a Bible class. More details can be given in a class setting than in a sermon. The above is where members can come to the rescue! “Did you realize that you have been doing “thus and so” in your preaching?  The challenge of preaching to the new Christian and the mature Christian.  Preparing a sermon is not like “making a widget” or baking an apple pie for the one hundredth time. Each week starts from scratch. Each week is a brand new creative challenge. There is no doubt sermons would be better and possibly avoid some pitfalls if we could spend 40 hours to prepare a sermon instead of 15. But that would neglect teaching the lost and other parts of the work.  Many times members are amazed with how great a “meeting preacher” is with his sermons. And I completely agree. But I can tell you that if you go online and listen to this same preacher every week at his home church, it will be good, but usually not as great as the meeting sermons. Why? If he does a lot of meetings, he will have preached and refined the meeting sermons many times.

New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville I Am the Door of the Sheep, the Good Shepherd John 10:1-21 Introduction: As we read the text before us our first thought might be, “Never have more beautiful words been uttered than these”—“I am the door of the sheepfold; I am the good shepherd.” Those words by Jesus should give us great comfort. However, a more careful examination reveals that in the original context Jesus was offering more than comfort, he was also revealing condemnation. When Jesus says, “I am the door of the sheep…I am the good shepherd,” we must remember that John proclaimed Jesus as the “Word.” With every “I AM” statement, Jesus is revealing the beauty of God, and also the very nature of God. Both statements should alert us to three truths that must be clearly accepted and acted upon by us: We are sheep. It is foolish to think of ourselves any other way. Sheep are extremely vulnerable. They are among the weakest of all farm animals and are completely unable to protect themselves apart from a shepherd. We, however, in contrast do not think of ourselves that way. As Jesus said in the conclusion of chapter 9, we think we see, when we are actually blind.  Without a shepherd, we are without wisdom or direction. Sheep have no idea how to seek good food and water for themselves. On their own, they will starve, become diseased, and die. There is no such thing as “wild sheep” who roam in the open country. We must choose a shepherd to lead us. There are other choices for “shepherds.” Many claim to be shepherds, but there is only Good Shepherd. All us are “hirelings.” Seeing the Movement through the Text As usual, seeing a new chapter division causes us to conclude that we are starting a new event in Jesus’ life. But careful reading shows that this is not so. Note the lead up to chapter 10: In chapter 5, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath who had been in physical bondage to his illness for 38 years. In chapter 6, Jesus took on the escalated role of a new Moses leading a new exodus. He portrays this by not only feeding the people, but also crossing the sea by walking on it, and then proclaiming himself to be the bread of life.  In chapter 7, during the Feast of Tabernacles, and at the time of seventh day when the priests poured out water at the altar and calling to God to give them the abundance of water, Jesus cried out, “If any man thirsts let him come to me and drink…out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”  In chapter 8, Jesus at the same time, proclaimed himself as “the light of the world,” and then followed up in chapter 9 with giving sight to a man born blind,  As we come to the end of chapter 9, we see that Jesus has not only healed the physical sight of the man, but has also brought to spiritual sight. The man was cast out of the synagogue by the Pharisees, and therefore banned him from the flock of Israel. In 9:39, after the confession of belief by the man born blind, Jesus makes a startling statement that his entrance into the world was “for judgment.” That is not that he came “to judge,” but that his entrance created a judgment between those who knew they were blind and needed sight, and those who believed they could see and therefore did not know they were  blind. As you read those final verses of chapter 9, and then into chapter 10, you will recognize immediately that there is no break. Immediately, Jesus answers the Pharisees who had just challenged his statement that they did not recognize their own blindness. The metaphor of “entering the sheepfold by the door,” and “I am the door to sheep.”  With this metaphor, Jesus speaks of a communal sheepfold that was common in the city. A large enclosed area was provided in which many different flocks of sheep were housed. There was one entrance guarded by a doorkeeper who knew the different shepherds and would only allow a true shepherd to enter. Once inside a shepherd would call his sheep, and only his sheep would respond by gathering to him. He would then lead them out and they would follow because they knew his voice. In this picture, Jesus is speaking of how one would enter this sheepfold. The only legitimate way to enter was by the door. Anyone attempting to enter another way was a thief and a robber In the second picture Jesus speaks of a temporary sheepfold that would commonly be set up for the night out in the open field. This sheepfold consisted of four walls but no door. Once the sheep were inside the enclosure and night had fallen the shepherd would lay down at the entrance of the enclosure. He literally became the door of the sheepfold. No sheep could enter or leave except through him. And no wolf or robber could enter except over his body. A true shepherd would never leave that post and leave the sheep unattended. [remember David killing the lion and bear?] But a hireling, one who was in it just for pay and did not love the sheep, would flee and save his own life at the first sign of danger. A true shepherd would literally die protecting the sheep. If the sheep were stolen or destroyed it would only be after he had given his life. In both illustrations Jesus has placed Himself squarely in contrast to the Jewish leaders as to who was the true shepherd of the flock. They were not true shepherds and did not care for the sheep. Their only interest was self-interest. They neither entered by the door of the sheepfold (were not true to God’s teachings), nor did they care for the sheep like a true shepherd. Those who followed them were not of the Lord’s flock, while those who would not hear their voice [blind man] but instead heard the voice of the Lord were of the true flock. It was no surprise that they cast out the healed blind man or that this man followed Jesus. They were not the good shepherds and he refused to hear their voice. The Primary Message in the Context Making the connection between chapters 9 and 10 allows us to see the message Jesus is giving the Pharisees. Jesus is exposing the serious condition of the Pharisees and everyone else who remains blind while they think the see.  As with the Pharisees, when a person thinks he sees, he is like a lamb who decides he can explore any part of the countryside he desires. Some sheep, and most people, think they will be fine exploring whatever they desire. Their thoughts and their ways become their shepherd. Cf. Isaiah 55:8-9. Therefore, Jesus is proclaiming that you cast this blind man out of your sheepfold because you are a thief and a robber. He has now not only entered another sheepfold, but he actually entered by the door of the sheepfold. We must hear the message today. There is only one sheepfold and there is only one door to that sheepfold, and that is Jesus. There is no other!  We often see Christians “slipping, falling away, turning in other directions, and generally no longer fully trusting in the Shepherd. The simple question is, where do you think you are going? You leave the shepherd and the sheepfold and you will lose life. You will die.  Verse 11 “I am the good shepherd.” Contrast verse 10, “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.” Jesus is the good shepherd, not a good shepherd. Jesus is clearly calling on us to choose! There is a choice. Which will you choose? Ask yourself, what happened to those leaders? What happened to the Pharisees? What happened to the Jewish nation? They followed other shepherds and they were destroyed…brutally!  The Message for Us: The Sheep Hear His Voice  That is what is unique about sheep: they follow the voice of their shepherd, and they not only will listen to his voice, they will flee from a stranger—any other potential shepherd. What is a stranger? What is another shepherd? Paul said in well in Ephesians 2:2, we followed “the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air.” Most people, and even some who call themselves Christians, do not know who they are following. If it is not the good shepherd, it is the devil. When I read this the first thing I think of is, as dumb as sheep are, in this regard, they are smarter than us. Listen to the good shepherd.  How do you know if you are in the good shepherd’s flock? You hear his voice! Please remember, Jesus is talking to the most religious people of his day. We often meet people who are very sincere in their beliefs. But sincerity is not the test. Do they hear his voice, or are they ignoring his voice and following their own voices? This is simple identity question. Follow his voice and you are his sheep. Don’t follow it, and you are not his sheep. Verse 3 “…he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” This is not, “Hey, you all can come out now!” He calls each by name. A shepherd would have a certain “voice” he would use for each animal. Jesus knows us individually. He is calling you, specifically you. Will you follow? Verse 14, “I know my own and my own know me.”  Principle: Shepherds lead, they do not drive the flock!  Shepherds must be decisive concerning the direction and needs of the flock.  It is the reason they are “elders.” They are expected to have greater wisdom and greater experience than the flock. The flock is able to lie down when the elders lead and take the flock where they ought to go. When the children of Israel wanted to go back to Egypt, Moses didn’t take a vote. The question is not what would the congregation like to do. The question is, what is the best for the spiritual welfare of the church! Many elders of churches have told me that after COVID, the church got accustomed to not meeting Sunday evening, so we went along. Really? You didn’t answer the question of where you are leading this church and how will meeting less enhance our spiritual growth. The sinfulness of shepherds who think they are cowboys. Your flock are sheep, not cows. Matthew 20:25. The Value of Following: “I Am the Door…the Good Shepherd” Those who enter will “go in and out.” — They are always safe; the wolf cannot touch th

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Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Disaster Looms: The Temple Is Not the Answer Jeremiah 5-9 Introduction: Reading these chapters we see God giving Jeremiah a justification for the destruction of the nation. In the end, Jeremiah is totally appalled as God pulls back the curtain and reveals the utter sinfulness of the people and their refusal to listen to God. Chapter Five: Introductory Description of Israel’s Stubbornness 5:1 Search the city to see if you can find a man who does justice and seeks truth. God had promised Abraham that he would spare Sodom if just 10 righteous could be found in the city. With Jerusalem, God says, “Just find one!”  5:3 No punishment or severe consequences of their sin will change them.  5:7-8 “How can I pardon you?” They are full of adultery, as lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor’s wife. 5:12-13 The people mock God. “He will do nothing…the prophets will become wind…”  5:15-17 Description of the invasion 5:19 Why will God destroy them? “As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.”  5:22-23 Even the powerful seas obey the command of the Lord, “but this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart.”  5:28 They do not give justice to the fatherless or defend the rights of the needy. 5:30-31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?”  Chapter Six: Disaster Comes! 6:1-6 Description of the invasion. God is directing the attack!  6:7 illustrates the nature of sin. As a well continues to provide fresh water, so the people continue to come up with more evil. That is the way sin is. Sin pushes back on the idea of “just a little.” Sin says, “There’s more to see; there’s more to experience; don’t miss out!” (Like Facebook) 6:10 God tries to give a warning. But his word is an object of scorn. “They take no pleasure in it.” Good question: do we take pleasure in the word of the Lord?  6:13-15 “They [prophet & priest] have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is not peace.” Prophet and priest treats the people’s sins as if they are nothing; not a big deal. There won’t be consequences. That’s because they are making money from the sacrifices! They commit abominations before the Lord, but they are not at all ashamed nor to they blush. Such callousness is the reason sin is so dangerous!  6:16 “Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is…” God doesn’t keep “revealing” his ways and his laws. They have been revealed long ago, and he has not changed. 6:20 We can’t pay God off with expensive gifts or sacrifices! This may have been the result of Josiah’s restoration. But the hearts of the people had not changed. 6:23 They are coming! They are cruel and have no mercy…against you, O daughter of Zion!  6:27-30 Jeremiah, a tester of metals. When Jeremiah preached God’s word to them, he was testing their hearts, exposing their character. God proclaimed that they are “bronze and iron,” that is, resistant and hardened, not like gold and silver that can be purified. The “fire bellows fiercely” against them and the lead is consumed, but these wicked are not affected. God has tried to purify the people, but they cannot be purified. Therefore, they all will be taken away. Chapter 7 The Temple Has Become an Idol (Jeremiah’s speech at the gate of the temple to those who enter to worship the Lord) “Worship” describes bowing down to someone higher and acknowledging total dependence on God. But the physical action of bowing and the words from the lips of proclaiming praise is not the true essence of worship. 7:3-4 Trusting in the “temple of the Lord.” How foolish and stubborn the Sanhedrin Council in the days of Stephen (Acts 7)! Do we today put our trust in, “we go to church and worship” while our ways and deeds have not changed?  7:3-4 “Amend your ways and your deeds”—now that is worship! 7:21-26 I didn’t ask for sacrifices. I commanded, “Obey my voice…”  7:25 “I have persistently sent my servants the prophets…yet they did not listen.” How persistent has God been with us? All 66 books! How many Christians have lived their whole lives only knowing a third of that? (NT is a third) Lesson: Are God’s laws and commandments something negative to you? Do you look at them as restrictions to the life you would like to live? Is seeking God in diligent study, praying and seeking his heart, and coming to worship to draw closer to him and to each other a burden? Do you evaluate serving God on the basis of finding the minimum you have to do? 7:30–8:3 They have put their detestable things in the house of the Lord and built high places of Topheth (“stove or oven”) in the Valley of Hinnom. It will soon be called the Valley of Slaughter! Chapter Eight: Sinfulness Makes No Sense 8:4-7 “when men fall, do they not rise again?” They do evil like a horse plunging into battle without considering the consequences. But even a stork knows her times. You people do not have the intelligence of a bird! 8:8 They call themselves wise, but “Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.” (KJV). Or, “the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely” (NIV. Or, “…those who teach it have used their writings to make it say what it does not say” (NET).  8:13 “…there are no grapes on the vine…”  Mark 11:12-14 Jesus made the same accusation. “On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.”  John 15:8  “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”  8:14-15 A confession made too late. “We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror.” You looked in all the wrong places.  8:18—9:3 The weeping of Jeremiah over the coming destruction. Cf. Luke 19:41-44 Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s coming destruction. Chapter Nine: When Sin Is at Its Worst 9:4-9 Societal breakdown. When sin multiplies, no one can be trusted. 9:11 “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins…without inhabitant.” Who could believe such a thing could happen?  God has given us warning after warning in the NT. Are we lazy in our preparation? Do we think, “Well, it won’t happen today or even in the near future?” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  9:13-14 Why will God do this to them? “Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it, but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.” When we don’t change, God calls us stubborn! Let’s ask the question again: what is the problem with idolatry? Why is it there two commands out of ten that forbid it? Because out trust and hope is to only be in God! Anything else, and we are idolators!  9:23-24 “…let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me…” Our wisdom, strength, or wealth will not save us! Nothing we have or can do will save us from the coming judgment. There is only one hope.  9:25-26 “…I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh.” How about merely baptized? You are no better than the pagan nations! But you go into the temple of the Lord every week! Ha!  Conclusion: Have you seen the mind and heart of God in these chapters? Have you felt his anger and wrath? Have you seen his determinations and his unfailing promise to justify himself by punishing those who do not fear him and obey him? Berry Kercheville The post Jeremiah 5 – 9: Disaster Looms – The Temple Is Not The Answer appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.