Messages by Dolph Painter

What happens when personal conviction meets Christian liberty- One ditch is forcing others to adhere to our convictions. A second ditch is labeling the one with conviction - weak or legalistic. There is a road that lies between -them thar ditches--

A Jewish lawyer and a rich ruler engaged Jesus in conversation -Luke 10-25-37, 18-18-24-. Both asked the same question, -What shall I do to inherit eternal life-- The lawyer began his conversation with a challenge, but the conversation ended with an inquiry. The ruler began his conversation with an inquiry, but the conversation ended with a challenge. They began with different hearts, but left in a similar condition.

1Timothy 2-2 encourages saints to pray for those in authority, which includes all levels of government ... from policemen to presidents and everyone in between. This message identifies some of the specifics we can and should be praying, regarding those in authority.

Noah prepared an ark to the saving of his house, and Abraham prepared his children to inherit a land. Both exhibited faith toward that which was unseen, and their children reaped the blessing. This message attempts to describe the preparation component in faith.

Proverbs 9 personifies wisdom and foolishness as two women. Both sit in high places, promise understanding, and invite passers by to dine- however, the results of these two women differ greatly. -This was a prerecorded message-.

Six months of COVID can create distance between members of a local church. Members need to be purposeful in their efforts to stay connected with one another ... especially in the days we live.

Hebrews 10-31-39 addresses born again individuals who were in danger of backsliding. Hebrews 11 specifically names 16 champions of faith -God's A Team-- but these 16 include a former prostitute, a womanizer, several liars, two mama's boys, an adulterer-murderer, and others. Why would God use folks with pasts like these to promote faith- Couldn't He find better poster children-

The rest-s- saints experience vary in depth and length. Motive makes all the difference, and faith is intertwined with motive. For instance, the experience of persons who- -1- keep ordinances to earn heaven vs. keep ordinances to remember Jesus earned heaven- -2- forgives others to be forgiven vs. forgives others because they have been forgiven- -3- observe the Sabbath to avoid God -His wrath- vs. observe the Sabbath to be near God- ...

The manner a person defines church affects a person's priorities and behaviors. A person's priorities and behaviors affects a church's witness. A church's witness is what community members use to decide whether or not to investigate a church. Bottom line- our intellectual definition of church does not always line up with our behavioral definition of church.

God says some things are not good and He says other things are very good, but our natures gravitate toward those things which are average. Why- ... because we like convenient and comfortable. We settle for happy, when joy is possible.