Coat Pocket Homilies

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Hello;

Heavyweight evangelists like Billy Graham and Luis Palau usually preached
lengthy sermons during their crusades; which wasn't a bad method
considering their venues. But here on an internet forum, I think we can
better serve a world-wide public with concise messages that cut to the
chase, so to speak, viz: strive to present some of our materials with an
economy of words.

Buen Camino (Pleasant Journey)
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Moses & The Fiery Serpent

● John 3:14-17 . . As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in him have
eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

That's Jesus making use of an incident that took place in Numbers 21:5-9

Long story short: Moses' people became weary of eating manna all the time
at every meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning
their divine benefactor for a different diet, they became indignant and
confrontational; angrily demanding better accommodations.

In response to their insolence, and their ingratitude for His providence; God
sent a swarm of deadly poisonous snakes amongst them; which began
striking people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions.

After a number of people died, the rest came to their senses and begged
Moses to intercede. In reply; The Lord instructed Moses to fashion a replica
of the snakes and hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying
from venom could look to it for relief.

The key issue here is that the replica was the only God-given remedy for the
people's bites-- not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church
attendance, not scapulars, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not
the Sabbath, not rosaries, not weeping, not the golden rule, not charity, not
Bible study, yeshiva, catechism, and/or Sunday school, not self denial, not
vows of poverty, not the Ten Commandments, nor even one's ideology of
choice, i.e. it wouldn't have mattered whether somebody was Muslim, Hindu,
Jew, Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant, Baha'i, Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan, or
whatever-- the replica was it; nothing else would suffice to save their lives.

As an allegory, the replica speaks of Christ's crucifixion for the sins of the
world as the only God-given rescue from retribution and perdition; and when
people accept it, then according to John 3:14-17 and John 5:24, they qualify
for a transfer from death into life. Those who reject his crucifixion as the
only God-given rescue from the sum of all fears, are on the docket to face it.

● John 3:18 . .Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does
not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the
name of God's one and only son.

FAQ: How might one go about looking to Jesus like those folks back then
looked to that replica?

REPLY: I recommend RSVP.

Find a quiet place; anywhere will do. Cover you face with your hands for a
sense of connection, and tell God-- under your breath or out loud if you like
--that you have never yet measured up to His standards and you're pretty
sure you never will. Tell Him you would like to take advantage of His son's
death to protect yourself from judgment.
_

 

[Magenta]

Post number two violates the principle put forth as ideal in post number one,

 

[Webers.Home]

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The Sermon On The Mount

Jesus' instructions aren't something to be admired; no, they're something to
be feared.

● Matt 7:26-27 . . Everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not
act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the
floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house; and it collapsed
and was completely ruined.

As for those who know the Sermon, it will be used against them because it
channels the mind of God.

● John 12:48 . . He who rejects me, and does not receive my sayings, has
one who judges him: the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day;
because I did not speak on my own initiative, but the Father himself who
sent me has given me commandment, what to say, and what to speak.

God offers mankind His own son's life and safety to compensate for their
failure to fully comply with Jesus' instructions.

● Matt 20:28 . .The Son Of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

● John 3:16-17 . . God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did
not send His son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

Of course if folks consider themselves pious enough to skip the cross, well
more power to them, but I highly recommend they take God up on His offer
just in case their estimation proves faulty; especially seeing as the Bible
says no one yet has measured up to His own personal standards of sinless
perfection.

● Rom 3:23 . . All . . . fall short of the glory of God.
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[Lynx]

Post number two violates the principle put forth as ideal in post number one,

Yeah. After the initial premise I was expecting something more like a Reader's Digest Condensed Books version.

GONE WITH THE WIND
Scarlet was a pampered pet
She wanted all that she could get
The thing she couldn't get was Rhett
The End!

WAR AND PEACE
Napoleon did not beware
He tried to fight the Russian bear
They kicked him in the derriere
The End!

But no... These sermons are not short at all.

 

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The Good Shepherd

Jesus has been tasked with managing a number of very special sheep.

● John 10:29 . . My sheep . . my Father gave them to me

Jesus' Father expects His son to be conscientious about the sheep's safety.

● John 6:39 . .This is the will of the One who sent me: that I should not lose
anything of what He gave me.

Jesus never fails to give the One what He wants.

● John 4:34 . . My food is to do the will of the One who sent me.

● John 8:29 . . I always do what is pleasing to Him.

Now the thing is: were Jesus to lose even one of the sheep that his Father
entrusted to his care-- just one --then Jesus would not be able to say that
he "always" pleases the One who sent him. He could say that he pleases the
One most of the time, but certainly not always without fail.

People are actually casting a nay vote in regard to Jesus' competence when
they insist it's possible for him to lose some of the sheep that his Father
gave him. Were Christ an ordinary guy I would be inclined to agree with the
skeptics; but his miracles demonstrate that the good shepherd has all the
powers and abilities of the supreme being at his disposal to insure he
succeeds at keeping the sheep right where his Father wants them kept.

● John 10:9 . . I am the door; whoever enters through me shall be saved.

Were Christ an ordinary guy; then he wouldn't dare say "shall be saved" no,
he'd have to tone it down a bit and say they shall be safer instead of shall be
saved. That would leave him some room for error. But when Christ says
shall be saved, he's claiming a 0.0% failure rate. That's how confident Christ
is that he will lose nothing of those that the One gave him.

FAQ: Why can't the sheep change their minds about following Christ and
leave him to follow someone else?

REPLY: Animal husbandry isn't democratic, on the contrary: it's quite
despotic.

The thing is: a rancher's free will trumps his herd's free will; and the
rancher's brand burned into the animals' skins indelibly identify them with
their owner. So be advised: once someone makes the decision to unify with
Christ, they relinquish whatever sovereignty they had as a beast at large,
viz: they become Christ's property, and there's no going back because he
and his Father play for keeps. In other words: in order for the sheep to free
themselves from Christ, they would need to overpower not only him but his
Father also; which isn't likely.

● John 10:28-29 . . No one can take them out of my hand-- my Father, who
has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one can take them out of
the Father's hand. I and my Father are unified.

● 1Cor 6:19-20 . .You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

● Eph 1:13 . . In him you also-- who have heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him --were sealed with the
promised Holy Spirit.
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[Magenta]

The Good Shepherd

John 10 verses 14-16 ~ I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

 

[Magenta]

John 10:9 . . I am the door; whoever enters through me shall be saved.

John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved

 

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Living Water

● John 3:5 . . I say unto you: except one be born of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The salient characteristic of the water in that verse is its purpose as a
beverage rather than washing.

● John 4:10-14 . . If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for
a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living
water. Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the
water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal
life.

● John 7:37-38 . . If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water
will flow from within him.

● Rev 22:17 . . Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him
take the water of life freely.

FAQ: The water of life is supernatural?

REPLY: Yes. (Rev 22:1)

FAQ: And it's a free-bee?

REPLY: Yes.

FAQ: How might an interested inquirer obtain it?

REPLY: By means of a clear and concise RSVP.

I recommend finding some privacy; cover your face with your hands for a
sense of connection, and then simply tell Christ-- in your own words under
your breath or out loud --that you'd like to take advantage of his offer.

* Be courageous. If Jesus was favorably inclined to give the living water to
that hussy he encountered by the well outside the town of Sychar, then I
think it safe to be confident he'll give it to just about anybody. At any rate;
it's a requirement so don't neglect it.
_

 

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Piety For The Naturally Impious

I was baptized very young into Roman Catholicism. When older, my mom
enrolled me in catechism where I eventually completed First Holy
Communion and Confirmation.

I was very satisfied as a Catholic until I came of age and began to realize
the extent of the challenge I was facing. The thing is: even were I to
succeed at being pious enough in this life to obtain Heaven, I was pretty
certain I could not keep up the good work for eternity. It would only be a
matter of time before I did something really stupid and got kicked out.

● Ps 15:1-2 . . Lord: who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on
your holy hill? "He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous"

Long story short: it occurred to me that it would be the cat's meow if I were
as naturally pleasing to God as His son Jesus always is, because then it
would be very easy to not only obtain Heaven, but also very easy to stay in
Heaven without fear of being kicked out:

"He that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do
always those things that please Him." (John 8:29)

I was surprised, and excited, upon discovering that something similar to the
very thing I wished for is contained in a promise that God made to Moses'
people.

● Ezek 36:24-27 . . I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you
home again to your land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you
will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship
idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will
put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a
new, obedient heart. And I will put My spirit in you so you will obey My laws
and do whatever I command.

That benefit was originally intended for the Jews but anon became available
to Gentiles too.

● Isa 49:5-6 . . And now The Lord says-- he who formed me in the womb to
be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I
am honored in the eyes of The Lord and my God has been my strength --He
says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of
Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light
for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

And sure enough, the benefit is reiterated in the New Testament per 2Pet
1:3-4 which says:

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that
through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the
corruption that's in the world."

I should think it goes without saying that the divine nature would be a whole
lots more successful at producing an acceptable level of piety than the
human nature could ever wish for because even at its best the human
nature is corrupt; which is translated from a Greek word basically pertaining
to damaged goods, i.e. broken.

● Jer 13:23 . . Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.
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[Lynx]

Again, not at all short.

This thread premise is false advertising. I demand a refund!

 

[Lynx]

I just got some good news!

Hello;

This is to inform you that I don't have the patience to be distracted by your
remarks so I've placed you on my ignore list. Others will still be able to view
your content; just not me. Sorry.

Don't worry. He can't see this.

So now I can say what I REALLY think! Bwahahah...

Wait, I already did. Rats! What a waste of a good opportunity.

 

[Magenta]

to that hussy

 

[Lynx]

You actually READ all that?

I like that hussy. She was doing what society of the day told her a woman was supposed to do - find a man - but it kept not working. But she showed what was in her heart when she realized Jesus was at least some kind of prophet... Her first question was "What's the REAL way we're supposed to worship God?"

What society said women were supposed to do kept letting her down, but she still wanted to do what was right, if only she could find it. Gotta respect that. I know a lot of people who have given up WAAAAAY before reaching the point where she was when Jesus talked to her.

Good thing Weber can't see this. It would totally disillusion him...

 

[Magenta]

You actually READ all that?

I like that hussy. She was doing what society of the day told her a woman was supposed to do - find a man - but it kept not working. But she showed what was in her heart when she realized Jesus was at least some kind of prophet... Her first question was "What's the REAL way we're supposed to worship God?"

What society said women were supposed to do kept letting her down, but she still wanted to do what was right, if only she could find it. Gotta respect that. I know a lot of people who have given up WAAAAAY before reaching the point where she was when Jesus talked to her.

Good thing Weber can't see this. It would totally disillusion him...

One thing we can be sure of is we do not know WHY she had been with so many men, so to call her a "hussy" like that just comes across as crass and judgmental when it could by any means of rational reasoning been the fault of any of the men involved for abandoning her.

Women had little recourse. Perhaps none. They were treated as property and even in our "modern" times it is not much better.

 

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The Living Dead

Not everyone will be spared the wrath of God via Jesus' crucifixion because
the benefit is limited to believers.

● John 3:16 . . For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only
son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

● John 5:24 . . I assure you, those who listen to my message, and believe in
God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their
sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

● Eph 1:13 . . In him you too trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise.

● 1Tim 4:10 . . Our hope is in the living God, who is the savior of all people,
and particularly of those who believe.

So; how many disbelievers might we reckon are affected by that
requirement. Well, as of mid 2020 there were approximately:

50,000 . . . . . . . . Scientologists
16,500,000 . . . . .Mormons
8,200,000 . . . . . .Practicing Jehovah's Witnesses
8,531,000 . . . . . .Baha'i
545,584,000 . . . .Buddhists
468,411,000 . . . .Chinese Folk Religionists
8,606,000 . . . . . .Confucianists
269,498,000 . . . .Ethnic Religionists
1,062,595,000 . . .Hindus
6,135,000 . . . . . .Jains
14,779,000 . . . . .Jews
1,893,345,000 . . Muslims
64,549,000 . . . . .New Religionists
2,788,000 . . . . . .Shintoists
28,000,000 . . . . .Sikhs
14,851,000 . . . . .Spiritists
9,078,000 . . . . . .Taoists
1,757,433,000 . . .Non Religious/Atheists/Agnostics

The grand total of just those categories is 5,710,522,000

If those figures are in the ball park, and if conventional Christianity is the
reality; then at least 72.4% of the earth's 2020 population of 7,887,001,292
people was on a road to perdition; and no doubt some of them were folks we
cared about: our BFF, our loved ones, and our favorite celebrities.
_

 

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Cooking The Books

● Rev 20:12 . . And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and
the books were opened . . . and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works.

Many of us have a lot to answer for, but God has made a way to get it all
wiped.

● Rom 4:25 . . He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to
life for our justification.

The Greek word translated "justification" in that passage means acquittal;
roughly defined as an adjudication of innocence due to lack of sufficient
evidence to convict, viz: exoneration. In other words: by means of Christ's
crucifixion and his resurrection, God closes the believer's case and it's never
reopened-- not because it's a cold case, but because all charges against
them-- those past, those now, and those pending --were transferred to
Christ.

● Isa 53:6 . .We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to
his own way; and The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

● 2Cor 5:19 . . God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not
counting their trespasses against them

● Rom 8:33-34 . .Who will bring any charge against those whom God has
chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns; Christ Jesus, who
died?

If perchance someone out there believes God had you in mind when Jesus
went to the cross, and are confident his crucified dead body was restored to
life; then RSVP God and let Him know you want in on this remarkable benefit
to protect yourself from retribution because we definitely do not want our
sins showing up in those books.
_

 

[Lynx]

Still false advertising. Still definitely not short.