Randy Johns – Lamar Avenue Church of Christ – Paris, TX https://lacoc.org A community of people who strive to live lives that please God. Mon, 11 Apr 2022 19:15:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.8 https://i0.wp.com/lacoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-LamarAvenue-1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Randy Johns – Lamar Avenue Church of Christ – Paris, TX https://lacoc.org 32 32 180485810 “Do Not Judge!” (Matthew 7:1-5) https://lacoc.org/sermons/do-not-judge-matthew-71-5/ Mon, 11 Apr 2022 19:15:14 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1556

Jesus’ words are related to how we treat each other.

“To judge” has two meanings in the New Testament:

  1. It can mean discerning between things.
  2. It can also mean to sit in a place of superiority to condemn.

The humorous metaphor Jesus uses teaches that “judging” can lead to hypocrisy.

Become a “one another” church.

  • “One another” implies a certain sense of responsibility to one another.
  • “One another” offers the potential for belonging.
  • “One another” calls for us to recognize our interdependence.

Build social capital at Lamar Avenue—make relationships a priority!

]]> 1556 “Don’t Be a Worrywart” (Matthew 6:25-34) https://lacoc.org/sermons/dont-be-a-worrywart-matthew-625-34/ Sun, 03 Apr 2022 17:11:33 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1547 In our text this morning three times Jesus plainly says, “Do not worry!” (6:25, 31, 34)

Jesus says not to worry about three things:

  1. Life
  2. Life’s Necessities
  3. And, the future

Jesus gives three illustrations of why worry is silly.

  1. We are more important than birds.
  2. What can worry change?
  3. We are more important than flowers.

Jesus gives the corrective to worry in verse 33, which becomes the pivotal verse of this section.

Not only must the kingdom of God be first on our priority list, the kingdom of God must also determine our priority list!

]]> 1547 “To Fast, or not to Fast” (Matthew 6:16-18) https://lacoc.org/sermons/to-fast-or-not-to-fast-matthew-616-18/ Wed, 23 Mar 2022 13:30:24 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1544 Fasting is deliberate and sustained abstinence from food.

Fasting in the Bible was usually done for one of the following reasons:

  1. As an act of mourning;
  2. As an act of repentance;
  3. As an auxiliary to prayer;
  4. As an act of preparation to encounter God.

Fasting was only commanded once in the Law of Moses.

Fasting was primarily a voluntary activity.

The Pharisees fasted twice a week, on Monday and Thursday.

Jesus was concerned that fasting had turned into a show for praise of others and all its spiritual value was ruined.

Applications from This Text:

  1. Think of fasting as often as you think of praying.
  2. Recognize and respond to sacred moments in life.
  3. Embrace the pathos of God.
  4. Consider observing the liturgical calendar.
  5. Resist the temptation to appear better than we are.
]]> 1544 “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:5-15) https://lacoc.org/sermons/the-lords-prayer-matthew-65-15/ Sun, 13 Mar 2022 17:03:17 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1539 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Applications from This Text:

  1. The first phrase of the prayer establishes the relationship in which the prayer can be meaningful.
  2. The second extended phrase establishes that the purpose of prayer is not to get my will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth, to bring the reality of His kingdom into my life, and into the lives of those I encounter.
]]> 1539 “A Giving Attitude” (Matthew 6:1-4) https://lacoc.org/sermons/a-giving-attitude-matthew-61-4/ Sun, 06 Mar 2022 16:05:22 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1514 6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Applications from This Text:

  1. Be “guilty” of committing “random acts of kindness.”
  2. Desiring to matter to others doesn’t matter—you matter to God.
  3. Don’t toot your own horn!
  4. Don’t pretend to be a Christian—be authentic.
  5. Am I defined by my followers or who I follow?
]]> 1514 “Pursuing Perfection” (Matthew 5:38-48) https://lacoc.org/sermons/pursuing-perfection-matthew-538-48/ Sun, 27 Feb 2022 18:13:39 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1510

Applications from This Text:

  1. The Christian must resist the temptation to retaliate and seek revenge.
  2. Christians must exhibit love toward others.
  3. The Christian must imitate God.
  4. Love is defined by how God loves.
  5. To love humans is to love all humans.
  6. The righteousness that surpasses focuses on demonstrating divine character rather than merely keeping divine commands.
]]> 1510 “Honesty Is the Best Policy” (Matthew 5:33-37) https://lacoc.org/sermons/honesty-is-the-best-policy-matthew-533-37/ Sun, 20 Feb 2022 17:44:18 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1473

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. But make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin.” (Matthew 5:33-37)

Applications from This Text:

1. Truthfulness is a core value because our relationships depend upon it.

2. Lying becomes a vice because it damages relationships.

3. Oaths arise because people so often are liars.

4. Oaths imply that one is normally untruthful or that one needs only to be truthful when swearing an oath.

5. Jesus’ emphasis is that honest people do not have to resort to oaths; it is not that they should refuse to take an oath if asked to or required to do so.

6. The greater righteousness does not look for loopholes.

]]> 1473 “Uphold the Sanctity of Marriage” (Matthew 5:27-32) https://lacoc.org/sermons/uphold-the-sanctity-of-marriage-matthew-527-32/ Sun, 13 Feb 2022 17:57:36 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1470

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble,  gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30)

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32)

Applications from This Text:

  1. Jesus’ use of hyperbole emphasizes the seriousness of sin.
  2. Anything that can morally or spiritually trap us must be avoided.
  3. Eternity is more important than a moment in this life and purity is more important than our culture’s permissiveness, and any sacrifice is worthwhile to please God.
  4. We are responsible human beings who have a choice in what we do with our natural desires—make good choices!
  5. Divorce is a terrible option permissible in only the ugliest of marital situations and should never be the preferred option by Christians.
  6. We must exert every effort to divorce-proof the church.

]]> 1470 “Anger Is One Letter Short of Danger” (Matthew 5:21-26) https://lacoc.org/sermons/anger-is-one-letter-short-of-danger-matthew-521-26/ Sun, 06 Feb 2022 18:09:30 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1463

“But I tell you” communicates God’s intent for the Law.

Jesus indicates authoritatively the real direction toward which Scripture points.

Applications of This Principle:

  1. Not only does anger hurt others and ourselves, but it also affects our relationship with God.
  2. Worship is compromised when people try to love God while hating each other.
  3. Estranged relationships must be resolved not avoided.
  4. The time for reconciliation is now!

]]> 1463 “The Thesis Statement” (Matthew 5:17-20) https://lacoc.org/sermons/the-thesis-statement-matthew-517-20/ Mon, 31 Jan 2022 15:23:21 +0000 http://lacoc.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=1450

Keys to Understanding

  1. Remember the original audience.
  2. Know the historical context.
  3. Understand the continuity between “not abolish” and “fulfill.”
  4. Realize the meaning of “the law.”
  5. The purpose of the thesis statement and the following teaching is to promote a “greater righteousness.”

Application

  1. Jesus is the essence of Scripture. (5:17)
  2. The value of Scripture stretches to eternity. (5:18)
  3. Life is to be lived in submission to Scripture. (5:19-20)

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