Sermons
We have a large collection of recorded sermons for your edification.
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:6-7 in which he covered how sinners are made righteous by Jesus Christ's faith, grace, blood, and knowledge, how the faith and works of God's righteous children show evidence that Jesus made them righteous, how good and bad things happen to both good and bad people, and how God doesn't forsake the barren or the elderly....
Pastor Wagner preached an extemporaneous sermon on Luke 1:1-5 in which he covered the veracity and reliability of the gospel records, the ability to know truth with certainty, and the date of the birth of Jesus Christ (August/September, not December 25th)....
XV. Internet addictions
1. Internet use, like many other activities or substances, can be addictive if overused.
A. If you can't stop doing a certain habitual thing (surfing the internet, video gaming, shopping, playing a sport, gambling, etc.) or using a certain substance (alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, pain medication, sleeping medication, etc.) without having withdrawal symptoms, you are addicted to that activity or substance.
i. Addiction n. - 1. Rom. Law. A formal giving over or delivery by sentence ...
8. How to avoid the temptation to view pornography.
A. Keep your thought-life pure.
i. Think on godly things (Phi 4:8).
ii. You are what you think about (Pro 23:7).
iii. Commit your works unto the Lord and your thoughts will be established (Pro 16:3).
a. "Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling go together; by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not." (Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Infl...
XII. Internet pornography
1. "The greatest threat to the body of Christ, to the church, to families, and to the individual Christian is the pervasive, destructive pornography available through the Internet." (Josh McDowell)
2. Internet pornography is an evil invention of men which people go a whoring after (Psa 106:39).
3. Pornography used to be harder to get.
A. It required going to a store and buying a magazine in person.
B. This was a deterrent to decent people.
C. Then it became available on the...
VII. The tendency to say, share, and gossip too much online
1. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter provide an easy avenue to blab things we should not and would not normally have the opportunity to in real life.
A. The definition of twitter is telling.
B. Twitter v. - 1. intr. Of a bird: To utter a succession of light tremulous notes; to chirp continuously with a tremulous effect. b. transf. Of a person: To sing after the above manner; also (esp. of a woman), to talk or chatter rapidly in a...
V. The need for human connection.
1. This new digital world with its social networking, emails, and texts boasts itself a utopia for human connection.
A. We can now connect with long-lost relatives, friends, co-workers, and classmates from around the country or world.
B. People now have hundreds of "friends" on Facebook or LinkedIn.
C. But has all this digital connection actually improved our relationships and our fullness as individuals?
2. The scripture emphasizes the importance of face-to-face inter...
I. The dangers of technology
1. Inventions aren't always a good thing (Ecc 7:29; Psa 106:29,39).
2. "If there is technological advance without social advance, there is, almost automatically, an increase in human misery, in impoverishment." (Michael Harrington, The Other America, 1962)
3. "Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden, "Economy," 1854)
4. "Technology and producti...
I. The blessing of a pastor
1. A pastor is a gift to the church from Jesus Christ (Eph 4:8,11).
2. As God sets members in the church as it pleases Him (1Co 12:18), so he gives ministers to the church (1Co 3:5).
3. God gives pastors after His own heart to feed His churches with knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15).
4. God gives the church a pastor for several reasons:
A. For the perfecting of the saints (Eph 4:12).
i. Perfect v. - 1. a. trans. To bring to completion; to complete, finish, consummate; ...
Brother Bud Schaitberger preaches a sermon on the love of the truth....
Nonintervention Foreign Policy
I. We have discarded and forgotten the biblical position of nonintervention and nonaggression which this nation was founded upon.
1. Proponents of an interventionist and imperialist foreign policy will cite O.T. examples of where God commanded Israel to utterly destroy wicked nations and possess them as justification for their position (Jos 6:17,20-21; 1Sa 15:2-3).
A. They will say that God hasn't changed (Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8) and therefore a Christian nation such as the US...
This sermon was preached by Pastor Wagner at the Ecclesiastical Law Center Conference in Union City, IN.
Being Called to the Ministry
I. The calling, training, and ordination of a minister.
1. How do you know if you're called to the ministry?
2. The standard answers:
A. I just feel/felt God calling me.
B. God told me.
C. I have always wanted to be a preacher.
D. My mom/dad/grandma told me that they knew from the time I was a boy that I was going to be a preacher.
3. A desire to be a pastor is a...
Trusting In and Fearing Men
I. There is a tendency among people to put too much trust and fear in men.
1. People have a tendency to trust men (governments) to provide for their needs and their safety.
2. People have a tendency to fear wicked men and governments.
3. Sometimes we give wicked men too much credit.
A. We credit them with controlling the markets, elections, world events, and even the weather.
B. Even if we view what they allegedly do with contempt, we still are in effect having confidence...
52. The Apostle (Heb 3:1).
A. Apostle - I. A person sent. 1. a. (As in Gr.) One sent on an errand, a messenger. b. Applied in N. T. to Jesus Christ. 2. spec. (Now with capital initial.) The twelve witnesses whom Jesus Christ sent forth to preach his Gospel to the world; also the subsequently-commissioned Barnabas (Acts xiii. 2, xiv. 14), and Paul, the ‘Apostle of the Gentiles.’
B. As the definition states, Apostle means sent (Mat 10:2,5).
C. Jesus was that messenger of the covenant (Mal 3:1) who wa...
45. The Holy One (Act 3:14).
A. Holy adj. - 1. Kept or regarded as inviolate from ordinary use, and appropriated or set apart for religious use or observance; consecrated, dedicated, sacred. 2. ... Of a character that evokes human veneration and reverence; and thus, in Christian use, Free from all contamination of sin and evil, morally and spiritually perfect and unsullied, possessing the infinite moral perfection which Christianity attributes to the Divine character. Cf. sense 4. 4. Conformed to the wi...
39. The Bread of Heaven (Joh 6:41); Bread of God (Joh 6:33); Bread of Life (Joh 6:35,48); Living Bread (Joh 6:51).
A. Bread n. - 1. (Only in OE.) Bit, piece, morsel (of food). 2. a. A well-known article of food prepared by moistening, kneading, and baking meal or flour, generally with the addition of yeast or leaven. 5. a. Livelihood, means of subsistence.
B. Bread is food (Joh 6:5) and a means of subsistence (Mat 6:11).
C. God gave Israel bread from heaven to sustain them in the wilderness before they e...
29. Counsellor (Isa 9:6).
A. Counsellor - 1. a. One who counsels or advises; an adviser.
B. Counsel v. - 1. to counsel a person: to give or offer (him) counsel or advice; to advise.
C. Counsellor is a fitting name for Jesus Who is the wisdom of God (1Co 1:24 c/w Pro 8:1) who says "counsel is mine" (Pro 8:14).
D. Jesus gives us counsel (Rev 3:18).
E. He does so by His word (Psa 119:24).
F. There is no counsel against Him (Pro 21:30; Rom 11:34).
G. This name of Jesus shows us that He is our counselor a...
20. The Mighty God (Isa 9:6).
A. Mighty adj. - 1. Possessing ‘might’ or power; powerful, potent, strong.
B. "The Mighty God" is Jehovah (Jer 32:18; Psa 50:1).
C. Jesus is powerful (1Ti 6:15).
D. Potentate - 1. A person endowed with independent power; a prince, monarch, ruler.
E. This name of Jesus shows that He is the almighty Jehovah God.
21. The Everlasting Father (Isa 9:6).
A. Everlasting adj. - 1. a. Lasting for ever; infinite in future duration; endless; = eternal
B. Father n. - 1. a. One by w...
9. Messiah (Joh 1:41)
A. Messiah - The Hebrew title (= ‘anointed’) applied in the O.T. prophetic writings to a promised deliverer of the Jewish nation, and hence applied to Jesus of Nazareth as the fulfilment of that promise.
B. Messiah is another name for Christ (Joh 4:25).
C. The Messiah would be a Prince (Dan 9:25).
D. This name of Jesus shows that He is the Lord's anointed Christ, king, and deliverer.
10. Master (Mat 8:19)
A. Master n. - I. A man having control or authority. 1. a. gen. One having...
To learn more about dealing with life's difficulties, click here: Dealing With Problems
I. The compassion of God
1. Sometimes Christians focus on the judgment and severity of God and forget about His compassion.
2. God is full of compassion (Psa 86:15; Psa 145:8).
3. Compassion - 1. Suffering together with another, participation in suffering; fellow-feeling, sympathy. 2. The feeling or emotion, when a person is moved by the suffering or distress...
I. The importance of the name of God
1. God's name is very important to Him and should be important to us.
A. God raised up Pharaoh so that His name would be declared throughout all the earth (Exo 9:16).
B. The third of the ten commandments is "thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exo 20:7).
C. God's name is hallowed (Mat 6:9).
D. Hallowed adj.- Sanctified, blessed, consecrated, dedicated.
2. God has many names, but His memorial name is I AM THAT I AM, or I AM for short (Exo 3:14...
I. Defining the terms.
1. Unbelief n. - Absence or lack of belief; disbelief, incredulity. a. In matters of religion.
2. Belief n. - 1. The mental action, condition, or habit, of trusting to or confiding in a person or thing; trust, dependence, reliance, confidence, faith.
3. Unbeliever n. - One who does not believe; spec. one who does not accept a particular religious belief, an infidel.
4. Believer n. - One who believes. a. One who has faith in the doctrines of religion; esp. a Christian, Christian ...
Vanity of Vanities, Saith the Preacher
I. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." (Ecc 1:2)
II. Vanity, vanity.
1. Vanity - 1. a. That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value or profit.
2. Vain adj. - I. 1. Devoid of real value, worth, or significance; idle, unprofitable, useless, worthless; of no effect, force, or power; fruitless, futile, unavailing.
3. Useless adj. - 1. Of things, actions, etc.: Destitute of useful qualities; serving no...
Pastor Wagner teaches an extemporaneous Bible study on how to pray. ...
vs. 1-9.
A. Apostles (ACT 14:15) and prophets (JAM 5:17) were men of passions as other men; they were
not supermen.
1. passion: Any kind of feeling by which the mind is powerfully affected or moved; a
vehement, commanding or overpowering emotion.
2. Jonah was particularly driven by passion: displeased exceedingly, very angry (v. 1);
despondent (v. 3); exceeding glad (v. 6); despondent, angry (v. 9).
3. His emotionalism put him in a position not unlike that which he seems to have hoped
would be the f...
8. Fear of rejection by God - some people fear that God will not accept them because of their past or present sins.
A. It is true that God is holy (1Pe 1:16).
i. God can't even look on iniquity (Hab 1:13).
ii. The foolish can't stand in God's sight and He hates sinners (Psa 5:4-5).
B. God is fearful (Heb 10:31; Heb 12:29) and terrible (Psa 47:2).
i. Terrible - 1. Exciting or fitted to excite terror; such as to inspire great fear or dread; frightful, dreadful.
ii. If this was all a person knew of God, ...
6. Love of family - some people love their spouse, parents, or children more than God and can't bear the thought of hurting or angering them by submitting to Christ.
A. The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mat 22:36-38).
B. Family must take a backseat to God.
i. Jesus didn't come to bring peace between families, but division (Mat 10:34-36).
ii. Jesus said that he that loves his father or mother, or son or daughter more than Him is not worthy of...
I. There are many things which keep people from submitting to Christ, such as:
1. Reprobation - some are natural men who have not the ability to understand and believe the gospel and submit to it.
2. Pride - the pride of even God's elect can prevent them from submitting to Christ.
3. Apathy - some people just don't care about truth.
4. Accountability - some people do not want to be held accountable to God's law by a church and pastor.
5. Love of sin and self - some people love themselves and their sin ...
