Tag Archives: criticism

Lifeway Explore the Bible: John 12:1-11, “Why Wasn’t This Sold?”

(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 12:1-11, for Sunday, March 5, 2023 with the title: “Why Wasn’t This Sold?” A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

“America’s Verse” — “Judge Not” (Matthew 7:1-5 sermon)

If each of us in our church shared our favorite football teams this morning, I’d think the Carolina Panthers might be at the top of the list. We also have a few die hard Washington Redskins fans, like Josh Peterson … Continue reading

Posted in Current Events, Matthew sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t “Sit In the Seat Of Scoffers”

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, not sit in the seat of scoffers.” (Psalm 1:1) Psalm 1 opens with a blessing for the person … Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Compassion, Not Criticism

“But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’”  (Matthew 12:2) “When (they) saw … they said …”.  Seeing, and then being critical, was a mark … Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Responding To Correction

In II Samuel 19, King David is mourning the death of his rebellious son, Absalom, while his victorious army comes “by stealth” back into the city because of his grief. In :5-7 David’s general, Joab spoke a spoke difficult truth … Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Blessed Wounds of Godly Criticism

In Psalm 141:5 David prays: “Let a righteous man strike me – it is a kindness; let him rebuke me – it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.” Psalm 141 is evidently an evening prayer … Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Missing the Blessing

Many are familiar with the opening words of Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.” But … Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fleeting Laughter, Lasting Pain

Most of us have been guilty at some point of poking fun at someone without thinking of the pain it might be inflicting on them.  In Peter Ackroyd’s Dickens, he tells the story of John Coleman, who lived opposite the … Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Home & Family Life, Sermon Illustrations, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Charles Dickens on Criticism

“ … one of the reviewers [of Dickens’ books] suggested that ‘it does not appear certain to us that his books will live …’.  But what did Dickens make of such criticism?  A few weeks later he was walking with … Continue reading

Posted in Sermon Illustrations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment