First Presb Church of Belzoni (PCA)

Solomon is truly a magnificent figure. More than that, he prefigures not only the kingdom to come, but also the king seated at -His- right hand. --Yet, there are hints that not all is well-hints that not all the glitters is really gold.

Romans 9-1-13 is a clear statement of the truth- God has the absolute right to save some and not others, but Romans 9-14-33 is Paul's defense of these truths.--How does Paul defend God against our accusations-

What happens when we fall into sin- How do -falls- happen---More to the point, how is it that Solomon, who had everything going for him and no excuse to fail, FAILED-

Should Christ's sheep ever be afraid of the voice of the Shepherd- The Shepherd's voice and commands and words are sweet to real sheep, and that's true of Romans 9 as well.--Even though people have argued, bitterly at times, over the meaning of Romans 9, it's there, clearly printed, waiting for Christ's sheep to hear his voice and find it sweet. What -is- sweet about it, though- How is Romans 9 pure spiritual milk for the sheep of Christ's flock- Perhaps many reasons, but definitely because it shows several facts of true Christian religion that must be embraced for us to -grow up- and be true sheep of a the only True Shepherd.

Are you confident you will be with God when you die- --Are you confident you'll be raised to the resurrection of the just and righteous---If so, why- And how does Romans 8 give us true assurance, and dispel false assurance-

What is 1 Kings 7-8 really about- That question is especially important when you read both -very- long chapters aloud in worship---This is part two of three sermons on the -Temple Narrative- of Solomon, which begins in 1 Kings 5 and doesn't really end until 1 Kings 9, which we'll cover next week.--These chapters are long, filled with information of weird measurements -cubits here, baths there, etc.-, odd furniture, carvings and decorations, etc. What is going on---These things are not to be dismissed. --Our God never changes, so what he does here in the Temple Narrative of Solomon, he is still doing today.

What kind of faith saves- Everyone has faith in something, and many say they have faith and believe in the Christian God. Is that sufficient- --What kind of faith saves-

What's with all the architectural and procedural details of Solomon's building of God's House in 1 Kings 5-6- And it keeps going through chapters 7-9- --It's critical to remember that what is concealed in the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed. That's the case here, too. --Especially, Hebrews 9-1-15 provides great explanations of what was really behind the Temple's building, plans, and even Solomon himself.--Here in 1 Kings we see Eden come to Jerusalem. But would Israel be able to keep it-

Is prayer compatible with God's power- If God has predestined everything, why should we bother praying---That's a valid question, but our obedience to pray even without the answers is more important than having the answers and not praying.--There are, then, temptations in this debate that will rob us of fruitful Christian living. What are these temptations we should kill in our hearts in order to live fruitful lives of prayer in 2022-

Thomas Goodwin famously called the incarnation the -kiss of heaven upon earth.- He meant that, for God, who is Spirit, to take flesh upon himself-and that forever-was a true act of love and mercy and compassion and joy. It was a kiss-it is.--What is the significance of this for us- --Paul reflects on that first Advent of the Christ-child in Galatians 4-4-7, which is our text for this evening's service on Christmas Eve 2021.