How many of you believe in resurrection? How many of you know someone who doesn’t? Our answers to that question divide us into two groups: Those who do and those who don’t. They did the same years ago. If you have your Bibles, please open them to Acts 23.

We’ve been following Paul through the book of Acts. A few Sundays ago we saw him arrive back in Jerusalem from his third missionary journey and give report to James and the other Christian leaders there. In an attempt to bring unity between the Jewish and Gentile Christians, Paul goes to the temple to satisfy some Jewish regulations, gets arrested and falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the Jewish Temple area.

Follow along in Acts 23 – Download the Sermon Notes– Download the Sermon Text

The Washington Redskins are no more. Mr. Potato head is no longer a Mr. Four of Dr. Seuss’ books have now been discontinued. And about a week ago, after a Florida Congressman quoted from the Bible in the US House of Representatives, Jerry Nadler said, “What any religious tradition describes as God’s will is no concern of this Congress.” We are all very familiar with the term cancel culture and it’s obvious some want to cancel God. Although the term is fairly new, the practice is very old as we’ll see today. Please open your Bibles to Acts 21:40

Follow along in Acts 21 – Download the Sermon Notes– Download the Sermon Text

How many of you watch Andy Griffith? Of course everyone’s favorite character is Barney Fife. How many times Barney hears a rumor, makes an assumption, and jumps to a wrong conclusion only to be bailed out later by Andy, saving him from humiliation and embarrassment. Sadly, rumors and assumptions don’t always end that well as we’ll see today. Please open your Bibles to Acts 21.

Follow along in Acts 21 – Download the Sermon Text

Guest Speaker, Stafford Frederick shared this message, Making a Difference in Your World, at Antioch Church of the Brethren on Sunday, February 21, 2021.

Follow along in Luke 10: 25-37 

Conflicting Opinions – How many of you have ever had a really big decision to make and people you respected greatly were on opposite sides of the question – giving you conflicting opinions? Maybe it was the choice of a job or a house. Maybe the choice of a mate. When Antioch called me to become your fulltime pastor, I sought advice from various people whose opinions I valued highly. Some said I should, others said I shouldn’t. What’s up? All of them were close to God and all of them offered godly advice, but they conflicted with each other. Ultimately I had to make the decision.

Follow along in Acts 21 – Download the Sermon Notes – Download the Sermon Text

This episode was recorded on Saturday February 6, 2020, due to an impending snow storm, for presentation on and after February 7th.

You may have heard about the Brethren preacher back in the days of Prohibition who said one Sunday: “If I had all the beer in the world, I’d take it and throw it in the river”. The congregation cried, “Amen!” “And if I had all the wine in the world, I’d take it and throw it in the river”. The congregation cried, Amen!” “And if I had all the whiskey and rum in the world, I’d take it all and throw it in the river”. The congregation cried, “Amen!” Finally the preacher sat down and the song leader stood up and said: “For our closing hymn, we’re going to sing, Shall we Gather at the River.” And the congregation cried, Hallelujah!We laugh about this and we should. We need all the humor we can get these days for sure. That’s one reason I post a number of jokes on Facebook. Prov 17:22 says a merry heart does good like a medicine.

Unfortunately, the issue with alcohol is not as comical. One recent article shocks us into reality with the headline that alcohol is killing more people today than opioids. Who knew? Back before COVID hit, a January headline in the NVD stated, Americans drinking more now than just before Prohibition. According to the Associated Press article, Americans are drinking 2.3 gallons of alcohol a year which is about nine drinks per week on average. Just before Prohibition, it was only 2 gallons each and less than 113 years later when it was repealed.

Thankfully, we’re still below the all-time high in 1830 of 7 gallons per person. Wow! Since COVID hit, alcohol sales have skyrocketed as many people seek comfort and escape in their bottles. Wine sales are up nearly 36% compared to last year while beer and cider have risen over 28%. Overall, statistics indicate that alcohol use has increased 88%. So the January figures are now very outdated and we may be approaching the 1830 mark. Is there any danger in this? Well, yes there is. Alcohol overdoses are up 35% and all alcohol related deaths are the 3rd leading cause of preventable death not to mention the various problems and abuse they cause in marriages and families. Some of you grew up in homes with an alcoholic parent or maybe live with an alcoholic now. These are more than just figures for you for you’ve been hurt badly by alcohol.

Please open your Bibles today to Ephesians 5. I know alcohol is a touchy subject but we’re going to see what the Bible has to say about it. At the end of the message, I may not have any friends left, but I do think it’s important to hear from God on this important topic. As your pastor, to not address it in these times would be negligent.

Follow along in Ephesians 5: 1-20 – Download the Sermon Notes– Download the 

For the last couple weeks, we’ve watched as rioters have torn down statue after statue here in Virginia, Washington DC, and across our nation. But today my concern is not about our nation’s statues, but rather about God’s statutes. Not physical monuments, but God’s laws and commands! A statue is a carved or cast figure of some person or animal. A statute is a command, principal, law or decree.

God’s statutes are like mighty pillars He erected to support human civilization. Imagine the Greek Parthenon with its mighty pillars supporting the entire building. When you weaken or remove them, the house will come crashing to the ground. God’s pillars once stood tall and strongly influenced our land, but most have been removed or severely weakened in virtually all of American society. We have largely rejected God’s statutes, torn them from our schools and courts and sadly even from our homes and our churches. Don’t wonder, then why America’s house should fall. We may complain about statues being torn down, but we’ve already torn down God’s statutes which causes the collapse of society and the reign of lawlessness. Please open your Bibles today to Psalm 50.

Follow along in Psalm 50 – Download the Sermon Notes – Download the Sermon Text

Have you ever seen a crowd turn on someone? An individual is being admired and praised by the crowed one minute and being trashed or even beaten by them the next? Jesus, you’ll remember, was joyously welcomed into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday just a few days before those crowds shouted, “Crucify!” on Friday. A very similar thing happened to Paul and Barnabas and can even happen to us. Let’s see how we can handle that as we read from Acts 14:1.

Follow along in Acts 14 – Download the Sermon Notes – Download the Sermon Text

Have you ever wondered how the Old Testament and the New Testament fit together? Has anyone ever asked you that? You’re not the first to have those questions. About the year 140AD, a man by the name of Marcion concluded that the God of the New Testament was different from the God of the Old Testament. That the New Testament one was kind and gracious and forgiving and the Old Testament one was harsh, cruel, and judgmental. He went on to develop his own “Bible” which only included 11 books. These included ten of Paul’s letters and the Gospel of Luke. It wasn’t the whole gospel of Luke, however, for he removed any references to the Old Testament. The early church fathers recognized Marcion for the false teacher that he was and denounced him for it. Still today many people never recognize Jesus in the Old Testament. He’s all over it!

Follow along in Acts 13 – Download the Sermon Notes – Download the Sermon Text