Dec 19
The Space Above Contains…
All your acts of kindness of which God does not see.
All your pains and sorrows of which God is not aware.
All the problems that are in heaven.
All the joys that are in hell.
All those who will be in heaven who were not Christians.
All Christians who will be in hell who lived faithful to God’s Word unto death.
All the sins a Christian can commit without needing to repent.
All the Christian virtues in which one does not need to abound.
Gary Henson
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/a-sermon-about-nothing/
Dec 12
“A leader in the church says….”
(But see: Galatians 2:11-14)
“I do not see any harm in it.”
(Proverbs 16:25)
“Look at the results!”
(1 Samuel 15:20-23; Romans 3:8)
“Civil law allows it.”
(Acts 4:19; 5:29)
“I think…”
(2 Kings 5:1-11)
“I feel…”
(Genesis 37:28-35)
“Everybody else does it.”
(1 Samuel 8:4-8)
“Other Christians do it.”
(Galatians 2:11-14; 5:4)
“Other congregations do it.”
(Revelation 2 & 3)
“Just be religious”
(Matthew 7:21-23; Acts 10:1-3 & 11:14)
“Be faithful to most of the Bible.”
(But see: 2 Corinthians 2:9)
“It’s close to the Bible teaching.”
(2 Timothy 2:15; Galatians 3:16)
“I can’t be wrong.” [Self pride.]
(Acts 10:34; Romans 12:3)
“Just be in the right church.”
(1 Cor. 5:5; Gal. 5:4; Rom. 11:22)
“No one sees me do it.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
“I just think it helps.”
(Romans 3:8)
“It just seems right.”
(Proverbs 14:12)
“Parents/Friends.”
(Galatians 6:5)
“The majority.”
(Matthew 7:13-14)
“My conscience.”
(Acts 23:1)
Gary Henson
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/more-false-standards-in-religion/
Dec 06
“It is what I like to do.”
(But see: 2 Timothy 4:3-4)
“A well known man said…”
(2 Thessalonians 3:3-8)
“An angel whispered to me…”
(Galatians 1:8-9)
“It says in my church creed book…”
(Matthew 15:9; Revelation 22:18-19)
“We have been doing it for a long time.”
(Joshua 5:2-9)
“The Bible nowhere says, ‘Don’t do it.’”
(Colossians 3:17; 2 John 9; Hebrews 1:13)
“Just be sincere in what you do.”
(2 Samuel 6:6-7)
“People in the world do it.”
(James 4:4; Philippians 2:15; 1 John 2:15-17)
“The denominations do it.”
(Isaiah 30:1-3; 31:1-3)
“Another Christian does it.”
(2 Timothy 4:10; Galatians 2:11-14)
Gary Henson
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/false-standards-in-religion/
Nov 30
When a husband has the love of which God would have him to have for his wife, then we will have husbands like:
JACOB – who will really love his wife (Genesis 29:20).
ELKANAH – who will go to worship with his wife (1 Samuel 1:3).
MANOAH – who will pray with and for his wife (Judges 13:8-14).
ZACHARIAS – who will live righteously with his wife (Luke 1:5-6).
JOSEPH – who will not embarrass his wife (Matthew 1:19).
AQUILA – who will work for Christ with his wife (Romans 16:3).
The Wife’s Responsibility To Her Husband
When a wife has the love of which God would have her to have for her husband, then we will have wives like:
SARAH – who will be in subjection to her husband (1 Peter 3:5-6).
THE WORTHY WIFE – who will keep herself attractive for her husband (Proverb 31:22).
SOLOMON’S WIFE – who will build the environment for their love to grow (Song of Solomon 2:15).
MANOAH’S WIFE – who will worship God with her husband (Judges 13:19-23).
PRICILLA – who will work for Christ with her husband (Romans 16:3).
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/the-husbands-responsibility-to-his-wife/
Nov 22
It is good that our nation has set aside a day in which to give thanks. However, with the Christian, every day should be a day of thanksgiving. Since God is the daily giver of all good things (Jam. 1:17), then we should thank God for those blessings each and every day: “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thes. 5:17-18).
Jesus was thankful. He thanked the Father for food (Mark 8:6), for the revealing of His Word (Matt. 11:25-27) and for the Father hearing His prayer (John 11:41). David, upon the retrieval of the Ark of the Covenant, gave a psalm of thanks (1 Chron. 16:7-36). Daniel, in spite of the evil civil law, “Kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did afore time” (Dan. 6:10). Paul “took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat” (Acts 27:35). Even the angels in heaven fall down before God and give thanks (Rev. 7:11-12).
Yes, the Christian gives thanks to God continually for God’s daily blessings. We are told to be “abounding with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7), to “be ye thankful” (Col. 3:15), and to be one who is “giving thanks always for all things unto God” (Eph. 5:20).
To be thankful we ought to practice what we sing: “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” We should count our physical blessings of food, shelter, clothing, our measure of health, family and friends. We should also count our spiritual blessings of God’s love and mercy, Jesus the Savior, the Holy Bible which serves as our guide of life on earth and the way to heaven, the church, one’s conversion, the hope of heaven and many, many more. Truly we see that God’s blessings overflow us daily. Thus, our thanksgiving should likewise be abounding.
May our loving God help us to see the wonderful blessings of His hand, and may we return with our deepest thanksgivings
Gary Henson
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/the-giving-of-thanks/
Nov 15
The apostle Peter is a favorite Bible character of many people. He was one to whom many can relate. Although Peter was a leader among the disciples, he had his shortcomings, yea, even a fall. Yet, he also had the heart of gold and rose from those times. It is for our benefit that the fall and rise of Peter concerning his denial of Jesus is recorded. Let’s learn.
PETER WAS OVERCONFIDENT OF HIMSELF. After Jesus said that all would be offended of Him, Peter responded, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I” (Mark 14:29). Peter did not even know what the testing trial would be! Yes, it is easy to think how simple a difficulty will be—before it is begun. May it never be forgotten: “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
PETER DROPPED HIS GUARD. Immediately following Peter’s bold claim, Jesus took Peter, James and John to a garden called Gethsemane to pray. Prayer would not only help Jesus endure the cross, it would help keep Peter from denying Jesus. At the garden, Jesus went a little way further to pray alone. Upon His return He found the three sleeping. He singled out Peter when He said, “Simon (Peter), are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch ye and pray lest you enter into temptation” (Mark 14:37-38). Yes, the time of praying which did help Jesus, could have helped Peter—but he dropped his guard.
PETER FELL. Judas led the mob to Jesus who took hold of Him (Mark 14:43, 46). Peter forsook Him, fled (:50) and followed afar off (:54). Amongst the onlookers Peter denied being a disciple of Jesus once, twice, yea thrice (:66-72). If Peter was not immune to falling, are we any different?
PETER’S RISE. Peter’s story has an honorable ending—he finally became that man he thought he was. First, he remembered the words of Jesus (Mark 14:72). We, too, need to remember the words of the Bible concerning living faithfully before God. Second, Peter was sorry for what he did, as is evident in his weeping; and his sorrow lead to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). Following the resurrection and having made the change, Peter stood without fear and boldly proclaimed Jesus before a vast multitude (Acts 2:5-40).
It is easy to identify with Peter. We, too, may think we are stronger than we really are—only to later come face to face with the bitter truth. Yet, let us have the heart of gold as did Peter who turned upon that pivot point to rise and diligently serve our God Almighty.
Gary Henson
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/the-fall-and-rise-of-peter/
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/the-chain-ofreligious-authority/
Oct 31
Extra biblical evidence that the witnesses suffered and died
for their testimony that Jesus was resurrected
Evidence from the enemies of Christianity
Tacitus (A.D. 120), a Roman historian, mentions the sufferings of Christians in the time of the emperor Nero (Annals 15.44). Suetonius (A.D. 120), a Roman historian, mentions the sufferings of Christians in the time of the emperor Nero (Life of Nero, 16.2).
Pliny (A.D. 111), And imperial legate of the province of Bithynia in Asia minor, wrote a series of long letters which gave details of how he was to conduct trials of Christians (Pliny, Epistles 10.96).
Josephus (A.D. 30-100), a Jewish historian, mentions the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth (Antiquities 18.116-119 and 20.200).
Evidences from Christian Writers
Clement (AD 95) wrote of the suffering and death of the witnesses (1 Clement 1: 5- 6). 1 Clement 1: 5- 6 “But, to pass from the examples of ancient days, let us come to those champions who lived nearest to our time. Let us set before us the noble examples which belong to our generation. By reason of jealousy and envy the greatest and most righteous pillars of the church were persecuted, and contended even unto death. Let us set before our eyes the good Apostles… Paul by his example pointed out the prize of patient endurance… Unto these men of holy lives was gathered a vast multitude of the elect, who through many indignities and tortures, being the victims of jealousy, certainly a brave example among ourselves…”
The book commonly called “2 Clement” also refers to Jesus (2 Clement 1:1). 2 Clement 1:1 “Brethren, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ, as of God, as of the Judge of quick and dead. And we all not to think mean things of our Salvation: for when we think mean things of Him, we expect also to receive mean things. And they that listen as concerning mean things do wrong; and we ourselves do wrong, not knowing whence and by whom and unto what place we were called, and how many things Jesus Christ endured to suffer for our sakes…”
The book entitled: “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” was derived from the writings of both Christians and the enemies of Christianity. This book contains vast amounts of evidence from the sufferings of the early Christians. The evidence of this book is so overwhelming that even atheists accept the truth that the early (first century A.D.) Christians suffered. Their sufferings prove that they were convinced that Jesus was a historical person.
(From: New Testament Difficulties and Alleged Contradictions, The Second Annual Gulf Coast Lectures, 1994)
Marion R. Fox
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/proof-for-the-historical-jesus/
Oct 24
Circular reasoning goes like this:
Eva: “These fossils are 100 million years old.”
Manny: “How do you know?”
Eva: “Because the rock layers in which we find them are 100 million years old.”
Manny: “How do you know the rock layers are that old?”
Eva: “Because the fossils that are buried therein are 100 million years old.”
Such a fallacy is obvious to everyone except those who are blindly bent on believing in evolution. Circular reasoning “consists in making two propositions reciprocally prove each other” (Bales, Christian, Contend For Thy Cause¸ page 91) and is such a procedure proves nothing—it is a logical fallacy.
Are we likewise guilty of using circular reasoning in proving the inspiration of the Bible by saying, “The Bible is the inspired Word of God because it tells us it is, and we believe what it tells us because it is inspired of God”? True, if that is all upon which we have to base our belief, it would be circular reasoning. However, we are able to prove that the Bible is inspired of God due to evidences and characteristics contained in the Bible itself which can only be the result of the mind of God. The logical argument is as follows: If the Bible contains characteristics which are capable only by God, then God wrote the Bible. Such characteristics include: prophecies made and fulfilled, scientific foreknowledge, and its amazing unity of numerous doctrines by forty different writers of different backgrounds and different lands during a fifteen-hundred year time span. Since such features can be accomplished only by God, and since they are contained in the Bible, then the Bible is written by the inspiration of God. Such is not circular reasoning; it is reasoning right!
Gary Henson
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/are-we-using-circular-reasoning-to-prove-the-inspiration-of-the-bible/
Oct 18
Physical exercise has become very popular as millions of people are taking up walking, biking, skating or dozens of other activities. Perhaps the major reason for this increase is the discovery of the wonderful benefits of exercise. When considering the following list of major benefits of exercising, could it be that God was mistaken when He said, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8)?
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
Increases muscle strength * Increases flexibility of muscles and range of joint motion * Produces stronger bones, ligaments, and tendons * Lessens chance of injury * Enhances posture, poise, and physique.
BODILY PROCESSES
Improves the way the body handles dietary fat * Reduces heart disease risk * Helps lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides * Raises HDL, the “good” cholesterol * Helps improve calcium deposits in bones * Prevents osteoporosis * Improves immune function * Aids digestion and elimination * Increases endurance and energy levels * Promotes lean body mass, burns fat.
HEART AND BLOOD VESSELS
Lowers resting heart rate * Strengthens heart function * Lowers blood pressure * Improves oxygen delivery throughout the body * Increases blood supply to muscles * Enlarges the arteries to the heart.
MENTAL PROCESSES
Provides a natural release from pent-up feelings * Helps reduce tension and anxiety * Improves mental outlook and self-esteem * Helps relieve moderate depression * Improves the ability to handle stress * Stimulates improved mental function * Relaxes and improves sleep * Increases self-esteem.
Julian Whitaker, M.D., Dr. Whitaker’s Guide to Natural Healing, pp. 31-32
This list certainly reveals remarkable benefits, but, no, God was not mistaken. He knew about all these things (and, no doubt, many other benefits which man has yet to learn) long before doctors discovered them. The point that God is making is that, if physical exercise gives man such extensive and amazing benefits, but are considered little in comparison to spiritual exercise, then how truly astonishing must be the benefits of spiritual exercise!
The point is easy to see. Let’s exercise spiritually!!
Gary Henson
Permanent link to this article: https://okcsbs.com/exercise/
