Tom Claibourne's sermon preached on November 7th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

I. "Christian" means Christ-follower.

II. "Christian" means Christ above all. (Gal. 2:20)

4 types of people

Galatians 3:26-28

Tom Claibourne's sermon preached on October 31st, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

I. God intends for us to use discernment. (Gen. 1:26-28; Proverbs)

- We are created in the image of God.

II. We must use discernment.

A. Satan is a deceiver. (Gen. 3; John 8:44; II Cor. 11:13-15, 3; 4:4; I Pet. 5:8-9)

B. Falsehood is rampant. (Isa. 59:12-15; I John 4:1-3)

C. Life is full of choices.

1. Seek it from God. (James 1:5)

a. Prayer. (I Kings 3:9)

b. The Bible. (Ps. 119:66; Hos. 4:6; II Tim. 3:16-17)

2. Don't trust your heart alone. (Jer. 17:9-10; I Cor. 4:3-4)

3. Seek and honor truth.

4. Don't believe everything you read or hear. (Prov. 14:15; 18:13, 15, 17; Matt. 7:6, 15ff; John 7:24; Acts 17:11; I Th. 5:21-22)

5. Seek counsel from godly, wise people. (Prov. 12:15)

Tom Claibourne's sermon preached on October 24th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

I. "Weird" and "normal" are relative terms.

- A. It depends on surrounding realities in culture.

- B. When "normal" violates Biblical principles, it's time to be weird! (Romans 12:1-2)

II. Some Biblical models of weirdness.

- A. Noah (Genesis 6)

- B. Ruth & Boaz (Book of Ruth)

- C. Daniel (Daniel 1)

III. A Bible guide for living weird in a sin-filled world. (1 Peter 2:9-12; 20-25)

- A. Live as a special light. (9-10)

- B. Live as an alien. (11; 1:1)

- C. Live as an abstainer. (12)

- D. Live above the accusations. (12)

- E. Live like Jesus. (20-25)

Tom Claibourne's message preached on October 17th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

I. What religion is and is not.

II. Religion can be bad or good.

III. Biblical religion was always intended to enhance our relationship with God.

Is your hope in religion or in Jesus Christ?

Tom Claibourne's sermon preached on October 10th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

I. The Faith was given by an unchanging God.

- "I AM" (Ex. 3:14)

- "The God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob."

II. The Faith responds to an unchanging problem: Sin. (Rom. 5:12; 6:23)

III. The Faith offers an unchanging solution: Grace. (Gen. 3:8-9, 21, 15)

IV. The Faith is communicated through an unchanging message. (Matt. 24:35)

V. The Faith explains an unchanging response.

The Faith -> confession

-> repentance

-> baptism

Baptism and the Lord's Supper honor and celebrate the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. And Satan hates the blood.

VI. The Faith is perpetuated through an unchanging mission. (Eph. 1:4; Rev. 7:9)

VII. The Faith culminates in the changing of lives. (Rom. 1:16; I Cor. 6:9-11; II Tim. 2:9)

Tom Claibourne's sermon preached on October 3th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

I. God spoke a powerful Word.

II. God spoke a consistent Word.

III. God spoke the saving Word. (Genesis 3:15; John 1; Rom. 5:12-14, 17; I Cor. 15:21-22; 15:45-47)

IV. God spoke a Word of warning. (II Pet. 3:3-7)

Three important events: creation, the worldwide flood, the day of judgment.

V. God spoke a Word of hope. (II Pet. 3:9, 13-15; Gen. 3:15; Rev. 20:10; Heb. 12:22-29)

Christian Martin's sermon preached on September 26th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

Luke 5:27-32

“What if, instead of going to the doctor’s office for an illness or an ailment, we went because we had a spiritual illness or ailment?”

“Because I think if we really had a spiritual check-up and we diagnosed some spiritual ailments, quite a few of us would be scared of the lab results we would get back.”

Serious Question: WHY are you HERE? (John 14:6)

Luke 5:27-32 (our text)

WHO is LEVI?

Luke 5:28

o “LEAVING EVERYTHING”

Luke 5:29

Luke 5:30-32

“He came (as the PHYSICIAN) to call sinners to repentance (the SICK) and he (the PHYSICIAN) did not come for the righteous (the WELL).”

- Romans 3:9-12 (the pandemic)

“Maybe just going to the waiting room at the doctor’s office will make me better, or maybe just calling and speaking with the receptionist will fix me.”

o Seeing the DOCTOR makes you BETTER. (John 14:6)

Tom Claibourne's sermon preached on September 19th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

1. Gen. 35:19-21 - A death at Bethlehem: Rachel (See also Jer. 31:15-17)

2. The Book of Ruth - A Godly family at Bethlehem: (1:1, 2, 6, 22; 4:17)

3. I Sam. 16:1, 13 - A hero at Bethlehem: David (See also Jer. 23:5, 6)

4. Micah 5:1-5 - A promise at Bethlehem: A Savior / King

[interlude : Luke 1:26-33; Matt. 1:1, 5-6; 16; 21-23]

Right family; wrong city

5. Luke 2:1-7, 10-11 - A birth at Bethlehem: Jesus (See also 2:15-18)

6. Luke 2 & Matt. 2 - A beginning point at Bethlehem: Jesus' rescue mission.

7. A.D. 30 to A.D. 2021 - A rocky history at Bethlehem: Battles and disputes. (Acts 17:24-25)

8. A church called "Bethlehem": You and Me. What now?

Tom Claibourne's sermon preached on September 12th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

I. A city to study over.

II. A city to look over.

III. A city to fight over.

IV. A city to weep over.

V. A city to celebrate over.

Tom Claibourne's sermon preached on September 5th, 2021 at Bethlehem Church of Christ in Winchester, OH.

Outline:

Blessing Others on the Journey of Life (The Panama Canal)

Genesis 12:1-4

I. Let's bring people joy. (Rom. 12:9-18)

II. Let's meet people's needs. (Rom. 12:13; Mk. 2:1ff; I John 3:16-18)

III. Let's help people grow. (Heb. 10:24; II Tim. 3:16-4:3)

IV. Let's protect people. (Eph. 6:18-20; John 17:15; James 5:16)

V. Let's offer hope. (Heb. 10:23-25)

Jesus was the ultimate people-blesser. This week I will open my eyes and heart to bless others.