Jesus stated on many occasions that He and God were one since before the beginning of time. In Exodus 3:13, Moses asked God what to say when the children of Israel would ask what the name was of the One who sent him. In the next verse, God’s answer was, “I AM.” In John 8:58, “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM’” (NKJV). After He stated this, the Jews attempted to stone Him. Jesus later gave a list of “I AM” statements to show that He came to bear the sins for all mankind and the only way to Heaven is through Him. In John 6:35 and 48, Jesus stated, “I am the bread of life.” In verse 51, we read that this bread gives eternal life. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” If you follow Christ, you will be in the light. In Psalm 119:130, we find that God’s words give light. In John 10:9, Jesus said, “I am the door.” Back in verse one, we find that He is the only Door. When one is baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27), he goes through the correct door. In John 10:14, Jesus exclaimed, “I am the good shepherd.” As a shepherd, He is responsible for the flock, and Jesus cares for and loves His flock. Our Lord loves it so much that He gave His life for the flock (John 10:15). In John 11:25, Jesus declared, “I am

In Luke 14, we see a picture of a great multitude following Jesus (vs. 25). The crowds were gathering to hear Him, and they continued to follow Him as He spoke. One could imagine the excitement they felt. However, they apparently were not fully considering what following Jesus meant. Hence, Jesus said to them, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27). Jesus was informing these people that there is a price to be His disciple. To truly be a disciple of Jesus requires a commitment on our part; we may even lose family members over deciding to follow Jesus. He, then, used two parables to help solidify His teaching on counting the cost of discipleship. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or

One might ask the question, “Why preach?” There are many preachers who have been asked this very question by family members, friends and even those in the community. To some, preaching may seem foolish (1 Corinthians 1:21), but to God it serves very important purposes. First, preaching is the means used to demonstrate God’s power to save (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16). God has commissioned Christians to deliver the Gospel message so men can hear God’s power to save and to be converted (Romans 10). Second, preaching is used to edify. Paul indicated this purpose when he wrote, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16). One preaches to build the body up, which is confronted by a sinful world on a daily basis. The pressures that the Christian must face in everyday life are hard. Hearing God’s Word can help bear the weight of those trials and tribulations. Third, the Word of God must be preached to convince and

Honesty as far as the Christian is concerned is very important. As a matter of fact, it should be a great concern for non-Christians as well. Dishonesty is a problem confronting our society. Honesty, sincerity, integrity and openness of life are absolutely essential if the church is to stand high in the thinking of our neighbors and friends. If Christians are to have any influence for Christ, they must be genuine Christians. I want to discuss with you some aspects of the vital subject of honesty. What is honesty? How important is honesty? How many people are really honest? Webster defines “honesty” as “honorable; characterized by integrity and straightforwardness in conduct, in thought and in speech; free from fraud; genuine, fully unadulterated; open; frank; sincere.” Then, he gives some opposites: “Dishonest; fraudulent; false; deceitful; crooked.” First, let us note that Jesus is our supreme example of honesty. Jesus is the personification of truth. In John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” He possesses the attributes of God, and God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). If Jesus was not honest and truthful, we would not have a perfect example (1 Peter 2:21-22), forgiveness of sins (Revelation 1:5), hope beyond the grave (1 Corinthians 15:19) and assurance of our heavenly home (John 14:1-2). Second, notice the high cost of dishonesty. The Bible says many things about dishonesty (Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 6:17-19; 11:1; 12:22; Revelation 21:8). It also

In the Old Testament some people chose to tithe. In Genesis 28:20-22, “Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You’” (NKJV). In the Law, the Israelites were commanded to tithe (Numbers 18:21-32). These Scriptures prove that tithing was practiced. However, in the New Testament, Christians are not commanded to tithe. Referencing the Law, Paul wrote, “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). The apostle Paul also wrote, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). These passages are proof that we are no longer to tithe after the manner of the Old Testament. Instead, we are commanded, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Also, we must do this in