Topic: Christian Living

How are Christians supposed to wait for the second coming of Jesus? What does this waiting time look like? Should they do nothing and be passive as they wait for the master, or are Christians called to do something? What is God’s mission and purpose for the church awaiting His return? What does repentance, revival, reformation, faith, and works have to do with our waiting experience? How did Jesus describe our responsibilities in his farming parables? In what ways do our roles differ and what should be our attitude toward sowing, reaping, and nurturing?

Christians are to seek the peace and prosperity of the cities we live in. How does this peace and prosperity help our mission? How did Paul minister to the needs of the various ethnic groups, cultures, personalities, and languages of his time? Is God really concerned with the hurting and suffering of humanity? What impact should the suffering of others have on believers? What are the different ways people may respond to the gospel and how can the church respond? How did the parable of the sower relate to our end time mission to reach the cities of the world?

How did Jesus lead people to follow Him? How can we do the same today? Does God use flawed people to draw people to Jesus? What role does the church play in bridging the gap between humanity and God? How does God speak to people today? How can we discern the voice of God amid all the other voices which compete for our attention? How does the story of Zacchaeus show that God is often seeking out us when we think it’s difficult for us to seek him? Is God still reaching out to people today? Should we be passive or active in reaching people?

How did Jesus win the confidence of people who came in contact with Him? How should the church do the same today? What does confidence mean? What are Biblical examples of confidence and lack of confidence in God? Why is there a great danger in placing too much confidence in people? Is the Church perfect? What are some dangers in placing too much confidence even in church members? How can we point people to Christ in an church that is not perfect? How does God bring people into favor with Him and with others? Why are traits like integrity so important?

How did Jesus minister to people's needs? How did He know their needs? How did Jesus show respect to people he wanted to help? How can we show genuine care and concern for those we seek to help today? Is it appropriate to ask how we can help? Does God ever force His help on us? What do you do when plans to help or to minister get interrupted by the unexpected? Why is it so important for Christians to love one another? How did Dorcas exemplify this and what impact did her love for people have on her ministry? What are the different ways we can approach ministry?

How did Jesus show sympathy, compassion, mercy, empathy, pity, and genuine concern for people during the course of His earthly ministry? How can Christians do the same in the world we live in today? Is the God of the Old Testament less compassionate than the God of the New Testament? How can we understand God's compassion in acts of judgment? What does the Old Testament show us about God's reaction to human suffering? Does God ignore human suffering, or does it impact Him? Why is it important for Christians to learn to walk in the shoes of others?

Jesus mingled with people and genuinely desired their good. What message does this have for the church today? How can we genuinely desire the good of others? How does scripture contrast how Jesus cared about people compared to His disciples or prophets like Jonah? How did Jesus treat people who were sick and out-casted? Why did some healings Jesus did occur in more than one stage? What does the Bible teach about selfishness, loving others, and the needs of our neighbors? How does this compare with the deeds of many professed Christians throughout history?

How did the Old Testament show how important God views justice and mercy? What did the OT prophets have to say about this? Who is deserving of compassion? Should a person show kindness to enemies? What laws existed for the Israelites to show mercy on others and prevent oppression? How were the Israelites to relate to the have-nots among them? What powerful message does this send to Christians today? How did the different types of sabbaths reinforce the principles of equality and freedom? How might the principles of God's government compare with our own today?

How does the Old Testament teach the theme of mercy and justice? How did God's mercy and justice play a role in the way the Israelites were to treat and relate to one another? What message might that have for God's people today? How does God want us to show kindness to those around us? What is the proper relationship between religion and practical faith? Can a person focus so much on religious rituals that they undermine the very principles which God stands for while seeming to practice aspects of their faith? How do the Old Testament prophets speak to this situation?

Have you ever been asked to do something by a friend or family member that you didn't want to do? Have you eve been asked to do something and, although you didn't want to do it, you couldn't say no? Have you ever said you were going to be somewhere and purposely didn't show up? This sermon is about doing God lip service. There are times when we say things we don't mean and honor God with words, but we don't follow through with action. What kind of service does God expect from His people? This sermon talks about sanctification, God's power to transform our lives, and how to avoid hypocrisy.

In what way were Adam and Eve given dominion? Is dominion always a bad thing? Was man designed to take advantage of and plunder the earth's resources? Or was humanity entrusted with the Creation to care for and look after it? How much of man's dominion was lost after the fall? Are there ways in which we can still exercise it today? Can the restoration of dominion be experienced now? In this lesson we talk about stewardship of the planet, animals, and all of the earth's resources as well as relationships with others and God.

John Spellman speaks at the Patchogue SDA church on the story of Daniel in the lion's den and it's connection to our time today. Is it possible for unjust laws, policies, or rules to be made which threaten God's faithful followers? What would you do if you had to choose between standing for your faith or compromising with the world? Can a Christian always get along with everybody? Does God still deliver people in times of trouble today? Discover how the worst things can begin with good intentions.