What is going to happen to us down the line, at the end of our lives, has to shape our current activities, choices, values, priorities, etc. We need to avoid certain things like sorrow and evil so that we will not incur unnecessary judgment at the end of our lives. We also look at a translation issue in 12:2, and the metaphors of the end of life in 12:3-5. Listen in as we study these matters in more detail.

The last half of the third chapter of 2 Timothy instruct the Christian pastor, and the believer, what to do in response to the growing threat of apostasy and idolatry that will characterize the end of the age before the Lord's return.

After reviewing last week's study, this message continues the exposition of Hosea 14. In it, the people of Israel were instructed to bring repentant words to God to draw near to Him. This is wise instruction for anyone who has strayed from the ways of God.

We began to look at Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:7 and focused on its theme of "remembering" in connection with remembering the Lord's death at the communion table. In the next Sunday evening sermon, we take a closer look at the same passage.

Warning! This is message with some gloomy content. The Bible prophesies of the growing evil and apostasy of mankind as the time grows closer to the coming of the Lord. We learn of the character and conduct of these ungodly people in verses 1 through 9. Next time we will see how to face this threat by the equipping power of the Word of God.

Our teacher reminded us from Hosea 13 that the people of Israel made idols with their own hands and worshiped them. We then continued into chapter 14 and saw that disaster awaited them if they did not turn back to the Lord their God--and ours.

The first six verses of Ecclesiastes give us great wisdom on various kinds of investments and how to live in a world where many things are outside of our control.

Last time (2:20-21) we asked ourselves whether we really want to be useful to God, like a vessel that is used for honorable purposes in God's house. Undoubtedly there are vessels in God's house that are more useful than others; and some are downright useless, like Hymenaes and Philetus.

Then we examined a key piece of wisdom from the Bible on how exactly to be such a useful person for God. What that involves is cleansing yourself from dishonorable vessels, which means to disassociate from sin and from the people who are like the dishonorable vessels. In other words, if you want to fly like an eagle, you don't hang around with a bunch of turkeys! (That's a sort of paraphrase of Proverbs 13:20!) Avoid contamination by bad fellowship, by bad input, by bad company, whether inside or outside of the church.

When you actively take this step of cleansing yourself, God will see to it that you will be sanctified, useful, and prepared for His service (v. 21).

The text carries forward with more sound counsel on how to be useful to God. This applies especially to pastors. But since pastors are supposed to be mature Christians, and all Christians want to be mature Christians, this applies to the Christian reader as well. Paul's words concern the pastor's holiness, his wisdom, and his manner of life.

This message continues the series in 2 Peter 1, particularly starting at 5. Because of what the Christian has been given, he is obligated to continually add various Christian character traits, both internal and external. We learn here about an endowed potential, an enduring project, an excelling performance, an eternal prize, and an extensive prompting.

Pastor Postiff gives an exposition of Ecclesiastes 10:8 through the end of the chapter.