This article was received in an e-mail from a friend of mine.  He is a man that is committed to the faithful exposition of the Word of God.

The dearth of biblically sound, expositional preaching is a sad indictment of the pulpits of our day.  It seems that too many men have too busy schedules that allow too little time in the study of God’s Word.   The results of the reduced study time are sermons that are more lung power than God’s power.

Some of the signs of needing more study are listed in the following e-mail article.  Of course, they are somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but they do present a sad truth about many pulpits.

18 Signs that You’re a Fundamentalist Preacher That Might Need to Study More for Your Sermons

1. You consider studying for sermons something that lib’rals do instead of soul winning.
2. You prepare your sermons on the way to church, which explains why you recently preached against tan lines, energy drinks, and men wearing short sleeve shirts.
3. You actually make fun of preachers who use Greek and Hebrew in their sermons.
4. You consider volume a fine substitute for substance.
5. To you, “exegete the Greek” is a funny rhyme.
6. You decide on what sins to preach against based on who’s in the congregation.
7. You consider a pulpit more of a punching bag rather than a place to rest your Bible.
8. You have 35 sermon outlines prepared and ready to preach – as soon as you find text verses for them.
9. In a 117 minute sermon, you spent 53 minutes telling stories from your childhood, 47 minutes telling stories from your early ministerial days, 15 minutes denigrating men who wear pleated pants, and 2 minutes explaining your text verse.
10. You have actually spent an entire sermon preaching against the evils of Barney the purple dinosaur.
11. Your favorite illustrations are Darwin’s deathbed conversion, the “microphone in hell” bit, and Spurgeon giving up his cigars.
12. You quote John Gill as supporting your position against Calvinism.
13. You think people who know what “supralapsarianism” means need to get saved.
14. You think it’s okay to preach a verse out of context, as long as you tell your people that you’re doing it on purpose.
15. You love to apply Messianic prophecies to yourself.
16. When you preach, you can’t help but say “evangelical” effeminately.
17. You think “expositional” is someone who doesn’t take a position on anything.
18. You’re not sure what TULIP stands for, but you know you’re against it.

“None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.”

(Proverbs 2:19)

On the second of October, as I read my Proverb for the day, I came to the passage of Proverbs 2:16-19.  Although I have read this portion of the Scriptures countless times, the first phrase of verse 19 leapt off of the page at me.  “None that go unto her return again. . . .ˆ” This is a strongly disconcerting thought.  It is disconcerting because of the untold thousands of men who have been swept to their eternal doom and damnation because of the “strange” woman.

This reminds me of some of the old scary movies.  In those moves, there would be an entrance way marked with a sign that would say something akin to, “Beware all ye who would enter it, for none dare ever return again.”  Yet, for some reason, those in the movie always felt compelled to enter in.  Of course, the hero or heroine of the movie would prove the dire warning to be untrue, for the would emerge victorious at the end of the movie.

Likewise, there are many today who count the warning of Scripture to be nothing more than a scare tactic of God, to keep man from his fun.  Oh, how wrong they are!  The entrance ramp to the highway of promiscuity is clearly marked with this warning sign. . .”None that go unto her return again” (emphasis added).  “None.”  It did not say “few,” or “not many.”  It said “None.”

As I begin to walk through the corridors of my hall of memory, I can recall the names of men who have disregarded this solemn warning.  These are men who have given themselves to the pleasures of brief moments of satisfaction.  They have been lured by the charm of the “strange woman” with her flattering lips (Proverbs 2:16; 7:21), fancy lips (Proverbs 7:13), and fluttering eyes (Proverbs 6:25).  They are deceived by her outward beauty (Proverbs 6:25).  Yet, the Word of God is plain.  Her house is the house of death (Proverbs 2:18), her ways lead to death (Proverbs 2:18; 7:27).  These men have blindly followed her path and have given their soul to that which will damn for all eternity.

This “strange” woman is not a woman of peculiar looks, or worldly actions.  Rather, the term “strange” implies a “woman not belonging to you.”  In other words, men are destroyed because they fail to permit God to give them the woman of His choice.  They are not satisfied with the plan of God.  They are not content to give themselves to chastity and holiness.  Rather, they acquiesce to the desires of the flesh, and seek fulfillment in the fleeting pleasures of the immoral lifestyle.

Thus, men willingly risk their eternal souls when they “go unto her.”  They enter into a one-way avenue that, according to the verse” has no return lane.  The latter part of the verse provides an equally disturbing thought. . .”neither take they hold of the paths of life.”  Here is seen a cause and effect relationship.  A man cannot pursue lustful fulfillment and walk in the path of life at the same time.  They are mutually exclusive.  Once men “go unto her,” they lose all desire and/or ability to “take hold” of the “paths of life.”   The Hebrew word translated “paths” communicates more than simply direction.  It speaks of the “manner of life.”  It is impossible to live two lifestyles.

Therefore, men must deliberately and carefully chose their ways.  The choices are two. . .”go unto her” or chose the “paths of life.”  Right or wrong. . .Spiritual or carnal. . .Eternal or temporal.

The following article is one written by Dr. J. Don Jennings, an excellent expositor of the Word of God.  Dr. Jennings shared these thoughts as he recently meditated on Hebrews 11:21.  They are truly challenging thoughts.

Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph

How to Die

“By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”  (Hebrews 11:21)

Jacob may not be the best example in the Hall of Faith as to how to live the perfect life of faith. However, he shows us the strength of faith at the time of death.

“By faith Jacob”
In mentioning Jacob the Holy Spirit selects a small fragment of this man’s life with which to illustrate his faith in God.   As with all the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, not all that transpired in their lives is recorded. We could say that Hebrews eleven is the chapter of “Honorable Mentions.” Just to be mentioned is an honor!

Although Jacob was in many ways the most illustrious of the Patriarchs, and the one who received from God the name “Israel”, he was, in some respects, the least attractive representative of one of God’s heroes of faith. Jacob was inconsistent in his walk with God, and perhaps, more than the other Patriarchs, shows that God is a God of grace.

Jacob was an up and down individual. Sometimes he walked by faith and sometimes he walked by sight – just like us. In spite of Jacob’s failings the principle of faith was constantly at work in His life. Faith is essential to our salvation and spiritual progress even if it be but a ”mustard” seed” faith. (Matthew 17:20) At no time in Jacob’s life was this more evident than at the end of his life.

“When he was a dying”
The threat of death has a powerful way of clarifying the mind. To the sensitive soul the incidental fades into insignificance, the essential looms large; the temporal is less important, the eternal all important.

The valley of death is a crucible that tests faith. The process of dying brings an awareness that only truth matters unless the dying one has been greatly deluded. In the face of death self-deception is forced to (more…)

The following article is an outline that was preached at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Columbus, GA.    Basically, I became very disturbed by all of the media pundits, and others, who claim to know that “God Hates War.”  It is biblically obvious that such people have never examined the Scriptures to see what God has to say.  Although, God loves peace, there are times when He justifies and calls for war.  I hope the following is a challenge and blessing.  If you would like the complete outline in downloadable format, please feel free to e-mail me at admin@pastorwynn.com with your request and I will send you the file at no cost.

When God Justifies War
Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and Selected

 America is getting ready to celebrate her 232nd birthday. We are grateful for a nation such as ours. We are thankful for liberty and freedom. We are blessed by living in a land of prosperity and peace.

However, America is engaged in a war that is dividing our nation. War is nothing new. It has been a part of history since man’s early history. For America, it took a war with England to gain our independence and freedom from a monarchy. Other wars have dotted our history. . .

• American Revolution (1775-1782)
• War of 1812 (1812-1814)
• Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
• Civil War (1861-1865)
• Spanish American War (1898)
• WWI (1914-1918)
• WWI (1941-1945)
• Korean War (1945-1953 Cease-fire)
• Vietnam War (1959-1975)
• Persian Gulf War (1991)
• Iraq War (2003-?)

The human casualties of these wars are an estimated 1.1 million (with almost half of those is WWII). There are another estimated 1.5 million wounded. Yes, war has impacted our national history.

Concerning our current conflict in Iraq, we have become a divided nation. Sadly, we are approaching days like we experienced in the Vietnam era. In WWII America, as a nation, went to war. We had been called to war by the unprovoked attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. We answered the call, and America led the world in a decisive victory. Those of the WWII era became known as the “Greatest Generation” in a book by Tom Brokaw.

In Vietnam, soldiers were sent to war but America stayed home. Protest and riots were the hallmark of a youthful generation that failed to realize the price of freedom was sacrifice. The war became a political firestorm that strangled military strategy and, for the first time in her history, America lost a war. South Vietnam was conquered by North Vietnam and placed under communist rule.

It seems that history is trying to repeat itself. Yet, the division of our country is based upon the faulty premise that war is never right. The arguments against war fall into one of three categories. These are. . . (more…)

If you are looking for Sunday School lessons, feel free to browse the SS Lessons page (on the title bar of this blog).  I hope to continue and add more lessons as time permits.  The lessons are the student’s version, with fill-in blanks.  Teacher’s editions are available by contacting my office.  Feel free to e-mail me or call our office at 706-568-7357.

All lessons are based on the King James Version, and are expositional in format.