A Famine Not of Bread

Click here to listen to this sermon. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works ” (James 2:18). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! As the delegates drove onto the campus where the district convention would take place, an unlikely figure appeared. The woman was obviously out of place. She was not dressed properly for her surroundings, nor were her advances asking for help welcomed. Throughout the week, she moved among the delegates, who rarely even acknowledged her presence. Occasionally, someone might talk to her, but only long enough to get her to move on. More than one person asked: “What is she doing here?” Or, “Why doesn’t security escort her off campus?” As they gathered for a final day, the delegates’ thoughts were focused on finishing up and going home. Suddenly, there was a commotion near the back door of the auditorium. It was the bag ...

Click here to listen to this sermon. “Then they said to Him, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent’” (John 6:28-29).   Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! I’m sure you’ve heard this before: “There’s no such thing as a stupid question.” It’s my experience that this is the kind of thing said at a question and answer session when nobody is asking questions. It’s meant to encourage more interaction between the speaker and listeners. And it’s been said so often that it’s become a truism—an “accepted fact of life.” But is it true? Some people ask questions just to gain attention. Others like to “play devil’s advocate” or “stir up the pot a bit.” A few already know the answer but want to test the speaker or to prove their own expertise. And some people just plain don’t think before they speak. So, yes, there are stupid questions—at least questions...

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I’m sure you’ve heard this before: “There’s no such thing as a stupid question.”   It’s my experience that this is the kind of thing said at a question and answer session when nobody is asking questions.   It’s meant to encourage more interaction between the speaker and listeners.   And it’s been said so often that it’s become a truism—an “accepted fact of life.”   But is it true? No, there really are stupid questions—at least questions that have less merit than others.   Some people seem to ask questions just to gain attention.   Others people like to “play devil’s advocate” or “stir up the pot a bit.”   A few already know the answer but want to test the speaker or to prove their own expertise.   And some people just plain don’t think before they speak.   So, yes, there are stupid questions.   But have you ever noticed how a skillful teache...