"Does The Lord's House Lie In Ruins? by Michael Reed, Haggai 1:1-15 (Click Here To Listen)

About 600 years before Christ, Judah was taken captive to Babylon.  Jerusalem with its temple was plundered and burned, seventy years later, the Jews were allowed to return. It was the Lord's intention that the Jews rebuild the temple. He stirred up Cyrus of Persia to let them do this - Ezr 1:1-5. But once the people returned to Jerusalem, other things began to take precedence. God then sent Haggai to the Jews with a simple message.  The message was "Build the temple!" The message has an application for the church today. 

Turning in our Bibles to Hag 1:1, let's take a closer look at.

"The Barren Fig Tree" by Michael Reed, Luke 13:6-9 (Click Here To Listen)

Jesus was responding to news about a calamity in Luke 13:1-5 when He was told of how Pilate (the Roman governor) had killed some Galileans (Jews from Galilee, the same region Jesus was from) and mingled their blood along with their sacrifices. He anticipated the thinking of those who brought Him this news.Were those who suffered such atrocities worse sinners than other Galileans? No, and unless they repented they would likewise perish! He reinforces His point with a reference to a similar calamity in which a tower in Siloam (in Jerusalem) collapsed and killed eighteen people. Those victims were no worse sinners than others in Jerusalem. He then repeats His warning that unless they repent, they will all likewise perish! Some understand this to be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Whether or not, it still called for individual repentance.  

"The Rich Fool" by Michael Reed, Luke 12:13-21 (Click Here To Listen)

It is amazing sometimes how spiritually dense, and worldly minded, people can be.  I've known some to habitually fall asleep, not during a long sermon, but at the beginning! On one occasion, I was sharing the gospel of Christ with a person, after presenting the gospel message and reviewing examples of conversion in the NT, I asked if he had any questions,  he only had one:  "In that passage where the Spirit caught Philip away (Ac 8:39), do you think that could have actually been a UFO?"
A similar thing happened to Jesus on one occasion.  He was teaching on the importance of fearing God, and confessing Him before others, when someone from the crowd interrupts with a request for Jesus to resolve a family dispute over an inheritance!  This prompted not only a terse response from Jesus, but a warning and parable to the crowd about the dangers of covetousness and placing one's confidence in earthly riches.

"The Importance of Faithfulness" by Michael Reed from 1 Corinthinas 10:1-13 (Click Here to Listen)

 Lessons on "The Importance of Faithfulness" are sorely needed in the Lord's church today. Many have obeyed the Gospel, but few are remaining faithful. Matt. 24:12  In view of the danger and consequence of unfaithfulness, all of us need to regularly examine ourselves regarding our standing with the Lord.  In 1 Cor. 10:1-13, Paul gives strong warning and exhortation for the Corinthian brethren to remain faithful.  He uses the example of the Israelites to show the possibility and the results of unfaithfulness.      Let us examine Paul's words in 1 Cor. 10:1-13 verse by verse.

"When The Election Is Over" by Michael Reed from Romans 13:1-4 (Click Here To Listen)

Many Christians are blessed to live in democratic countries where elections are held to determine new leaders.  Where Christians have a voice in the election process. When an election is over, feelings are often diverse. Those whose candidates won are ecstatic and hopeful, those whose candidates lost are often depressed and worried. Whether one's preferred candidate won or lost, it is important that Christians remember certain things in regards to our living among the nations of men.

                                                             Michael Reed, Minister

"The Friend At Midnight" by Michael Reed from Luke 11:1-13 (Click Here to Listen)

In studying the parables of Jesus, we have seen how He used the parabolic method of teaching on different subjects.  Mostly on the theme of the kingdom of heaven  But also in response to questions by His disciples and even His enemies. One such parable was told in response to a question related to prayer.   Jesus had been praying in a certain place - Lk 11:1 .  When He ceased praying, one of His disciples asked:  "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples".   In answering that request, Jesus did three things; 1) He first told them "how" and "what" to pray for. 2) He then told a parable to stress a crucial element in "how" to pray. 3) He followed up by elaborating on what the parable was designed to illustrate.  
The parable is known as "The Friend At Midnight" it is recorded in Lk 11:5-8.  In it we find Jesus illustrating the importance of "persistence in prayer".

"Restoring Straying Saints" By Michael Reed, from Luke 10:25-37 (Click Here To Listen)

As James comes to the close of his epistle, he stresses the importance of restoring those who wander from the truth. Restoring straying saints is a responsibility that is greatly neglected, and in most cases IS neglected! The purpose of this lesson is two fold: 1) To impress upon our minds the importance of engaging in this work of restoring straying saints. 2) To suggest how we should carry out this important work.
To appreciate the grave importance of restoring saints who have strayed, consider this question:
"What is the condition of those who have wondered from the Truth?" (John 17:17) "Your Word is Truth".
The work of restoring or correcting saints may be unpleasant at times, but it has the potential for Great JOY!
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. NIV
  
                                                                                                        Michael Reed, Minister
 

"The Good Samaritian" By Michael Reed, From Luke 10:25-37 (Click Here To Listen)

This Parable is commonly applied to allegorical interpretations; for example: The traveler represents man, who has left the Heavenly City (Jerusalem) for the Worldly city (Jericho). The robbers are representative of the Devil and sin, who leave a man dying in sin. The Priest and the Levite refer to the Law and its sacrifices, which are unable to help. But the Good Samaritan is Jesus, who provides the help needed. The wine represents the blood of Christ; the oil, the atoning of the Holy Spirit. The Inn is the Church, the Inn keeper representative of the apostles; the two coins representing baptism and the Lord's Supper.
And as interesting as such interpretation my be, it is really not what Jesus is teaching in this parable. In this lesson we shall review the setting of the Parable and then offer some lessons that I believe are more in keeping with what Jesus' original purpose is in telling it. For instance "Who is my neighbor"

I pray that this sermon will help us all understand the challenge to a higher standard of Love. Higher in that the definition of "neighbor" is more inclusive, and higher in that the definition of "compassion" is greater.
                                                                                 Michael Reed, Minister