Author: Alan Holden

Why Do Christians Suffer? Introduction Paul is still in prison after two years in Caesarea. He was guilty of no crime except that of preaching the Gospel to Gentiles as well as to Jews. Undeserved Sufferings A. Not all suffering is the result of sin committed by the sufferer. B. There are many causes for…

Introduction When it comes to accountability, people would rather ignore it. Each year, taxpayers shove the 1040 tax forms aside each day until the fateful day of April 15. Why do people procrastinate? Simple: they believe the philosophy of “what they don’t know, won’t hurt.” When they find out the amount of tax they owe,…

Four Petitions Introduction A pastor and a bus driver went to heaven. The bus driver got a big beautiful mansion with large rooms. The preacher got only a one-room bungalow, so he went to St. Peter and said, “How come I got a very small place and the bus driver got that beautiful house? I’ve…

Be Doers of the Covenant, James 1:22 Introduction The Israelites gathered at Mount Sinai were terrified of God and needed to know how to please a God Who is a Consuming Fire. How does one please a holy and terrifying God? We Please God by Worshiping God Alone. A. Exegesis Commandment 1, vv. 2-3–>No other…

The Awesome God Introduction The God that made Sinai smoke and tremble is still around. The picture yielded by the text is of a God so powerful that the mountain on which He descends is filled with fatal attraction; like moths to a flame, we want to draw near despite the danger. God is an…

Prepare to Meet Your God! Introduction Events are not coincidences; they are the work of Providence. We do not discover God; God reveals Himself to us and prepares us for a relationship with Him. God, in His grace, delivered the Israelites and prepared them to enter into a covenant relationship with Him. Thesis: God prepares…

and Deuteronomy 20:1-4 How to Deal with Daily Hassles Introduction All of life’s hassles and battles are spiritual battles. However, we do not fight these battles under our own power–the battle is the Lord’s. God taught Israel that they must depend on Him to win their battles, not their own strength or ingenuity. That does…

Axioms of Christian Maturity Thesis: Maturity in the Christian life is dependent on three things: an intimate and accountable association with other Christians; witnessing; and hearing Jesus speak to you. Introduction An axiom is a truth that is so self-evident that it needs no proof. In this passage God gives examples of these axioms of…

The Assurance of God’s Commission Introduction Have you ever felt like your life was adrift? Ever felt like your life was in the middle of a raging hurricane? What did it feel like: were you calm as if in the eye of the storm, or were you panicked, nervously sick, terrified? God’s pledge of deliverance…

Christian Leadership Introduction Aesop’s fable of the frogs epitomizes the world’s view of leadership. Frogs pestered Jupiter for a leader. Jupiter gave them a log. Frogs were happy. They realized they could jump up  and down on the log and run all over him. The log offered no resistance. It did not have any direction…