Author: Alan Holden

A Forgotten Promise Introduction Novelist Ayn Rand has mesmerized a student audience at Yale University with her prickly ideas. Afterward, a reporter from Time magazine asked, “Miss Rand, what’s wrong with the modern world?” Without hesitation, she replied, “Never before has the world been so desperately asking for answers to crucial questions, and never before…

The Sign of God’s Promise Introduction More and more people see the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. What Alzheimer’s does is to change a person into the basest human being. Often the person suffering from Alzheimer’s is mean and vile, and cannot control their actions and functions. When a Christian gets Alzheimer’s disease and that person’s…

The Infection of Sin Introduction Two high school girls in California, both well liked, both talented and ambitious, both usually at the center stage of the school’s social activities, came to the cheerleading tryouts together. It was a friendly rivalry. One was selected, but the other didn’t make it. That night a beast came out…

The Curse of Sin Textual Idea: Adam and Eve fell from God’s presence and were cursed with sin and death because they distrusted God’s goodness and disobeyed His command. Thesis: Every person is cursed by sin and death because we are sinners by nature and choice. Interrogative: Why are we sinners? The text suggests 3…

The Creator of Creation Human Need: All of us know that meaning and purpose in life comes from personal relationships. Life is meaningful because of the people we know and love. Some people believe that the universe had an impersonal beginning, that it is the result of pure, blind chance. Their conclusion is that the…

The Towering God and the Babbling People Human Need: People are tired of “just surviving”; they want to live. You have worked and strived for that ever elusive “success” and “life-style” that the world says you must have “to be somebody.” Perhaps your plans have failed, and you wonder, “Why keep trying?” What is God’s…

Enoch Enoch Pleased God A. We please God when we trust Him, Hebrews 11:6. B. We please God when we praise Him, Hebrews 13:15. C. We please God when we help others, Hebrews 13:16. Enoch Walked with God A. We walk with God when we agree with God, Amos 3:3. B. We walk with God…

Noah Introduction His name means “comfort.” His destiny was to comfort and strengthen humanity. Noah Was Holy, v. 9 A. He was righteous; he did right. B. He was blameless; he was not guilty of doing wrong. C. He walked with God. Noah Was Obedient, 6:14, 22 & 7:5 A. He received a God-sized task:…

Adam God Gave Adam Life A. Physical life (soma) B. Psychological life (psyche / soul) God Gave Adam Responsibility A. Responsible to comply B. Responsible to call C. Responsible to cultivate D. Responsible to clan God Gave Adam Promises A. Promise of death, Hebrews 9:27 B. Promise of judgment C. Promise of eternal life, Genesis…

A Forgotten Vow Thirty years have passed since Jacob made his vow. Fifteen to twenty years since he has returned home. Notice that he is in no hurry to fulfill his vow, but has settled down in Shechem and bought land. He seems to have forgotten all about his vow at Bethel. The Lesson of…