Absenteeism
“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so
much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:25

Indifference
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:
I would thou wert cold or hot.”
Revelation 3:15

Worldliness
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the
Father is not in him.”
1 John 2:15

Unfaithfulness
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left they first love.”
(Revelation 2:4).

Selfishness
“Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others.”
Philippians 2:4

Neglect
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.”
Hebrews 2:3

Compromise
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you.”
2 Corinthians 6:17

Contention
“...that ye all speak the same thing, and that there
be no divisions among you.”
1 Corinthians 1:10

Ignorance
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at;
but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.”
Acts 17:30

Jim Martin, Mountain Home Messenger, Mountain Home, Arkansas

Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found:
Was blind, but now I see.

It is truly regrettable and tragic that something so wonderful as the grace of our loving God should be so grossly misunderstood by the religious world. Let us briefly note some facts concerning Jehovah’s marvelous grace.

First, the grace of God is universally available to the human family through His Son. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). Indeed, our Creator is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). And that is why He bade us to preach the gospel to every creature throughout all nations (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15).

Secondly, the Bible clearly teaches that the Lord’s grace is conditional. In the Old Testament it is revealed that Noah’s salvation from the destruction of the flood was due to the fact that he “found grace in the eyes of Jehovah” (Genesis 6:8). And yet it is positively certain that he would not have been spared had he not been obedient “to all God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22). Obedience to our Maker does not in any sense mean that we have merited salvation. But it does mean that we are willing recipients of His favor.

But thirdly, if it is to avail, the grace of God must be continued in. On the first missionary journey, in Antioch of Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas urged those who had been responsive to their preaching to “continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43). It is possible to “receive the grace of God” in vain (2 Cor. 6:1); to fall away therefrom (Galatians 5:4), and thus to be severed from Christ and lost. May it not be so in our case. — Copied

WHY SOME SERMONS FAIL
Foster L. Ramsey

All sermons are not masterpieces. Even preachers admit it. Even a sermon that is a masterpiece to some will not be so recognized by others. Even the very best sermons fail to some extent. There are many reasons for such failures.

Some sermons fail because people give no heed. Paul was an inspired preacher. He was a “master pulpiteer,” but Eutychus went to sleep (Acts 20:9)!

Sermons fail because people ridicule that which is preached. In the city of Athens, Paul preached of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Athenians mocked the sermon (Acts 17:32).

Sermons fail because people consider themselves to be unworthy of eternal life. In Antioch of Pisidia, the Jews were so envious of Paul and Barnabas that they contradicted the sermons that were preached (Acts 13:45).

Sermons fail because the hearer will not endure sound doctrine. They want to hear words and lessons that “tickle” the ears. They resent reproving and rebuking, and they reject the truth of sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:2-3).

Sermons fail because false doctrines and fables already have been accepted, and the hearer has no room for the truth (2 Tim. 4:4).