by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew 5:1--26

Reading the Beatitudes

Do the reading indicated at the top, then come back and read slowly the introduction to The World's Greatest Sermon. Read the Beatitudes carefully and thoughtfully. Read each one like this:

Blessed are [pause] [now, with emphasis] the poor in spirit, [pause] For theirs [pause] [again, with emphasis] is the kingdom of heaven.

See if the introduction to this sermon immediately fills you with hope.

Preachers, how do you start out your sermons?

Congregations, what do you expect from the preacher for the introduction to his messages?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read Genesis 13--15

When There Is Strife between Brethren

It is inevitable. There is going to be strife between members of a congregation. The issue is how are we going to deal with it. Pay attention to the way that Moses reveals a problem and how he shows Abraham dealing with it.

7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. 8 So Abram said to Lot, Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren (Gen. 13:7, 8).

Did you see what Moses inserted between his statement that there was strife and what Abraham said about it? Moses says, The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. Now why did he say that? Think of what Abraham does. The Canaanites and the Perizzites were witnessing the strife and this was not good. Lot and Abraham were relatives. Moreover, they were believers in the one true God. The people in the land were not. Therefore, what would happen if they witnessed fellow believers of Yahweh God fighting?

Abraham sought the way of peace and, as the rest of the story shows, he was willing to give up things to accomplish that peace. He was not interested in telling everyone else how wrong he thought Lot was.

Friends, if strife arises between you and another in the church, please look at your actions and follow the way of Abraham, who was the friend of God.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew Chapter 4

How Man Lives

Jesus goes without food for 40 days! Afterwards, the devil approaches Him, tempting Him, saying, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread (Mat. 4:3). Is Jesus the Son of God? Yes, He is the Son of the living God! Is He hungry? How many meals do we miss before we get hungry? Yes, Jesus was hungry. What does Jesus do?

4 But He answered and said, It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' (Mat. 4:4).

Nothing can get Jesus to take His attention off the word of God. Let us look at ourselves today. Can something divert my attention from living by the words that God speaks to me?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read Genesis 10--12

It Works Better to Follow God in the First Place

After the Flood, all the earth was of one language. Then the people engaged in a project that did not glorify God and attempted to circumvent His command to fill the earth with people. What God says He wants done He is going to do. Therefore, this is what He did,

7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech (Gen. 11:7).

The natural consequence of the people speaking different languages was to separate. This insured that they would spread over the earth and fill it. That is what happened and it is still happening.

What would it be like, if the earth was still of one language? Many activities of the earth would speed along faster, including evangelism. I went to Russia twice to preach and to teach, but it was a very slow process because of the need to go through a translator.

What was done by God centuries ago, we cannot undo, but we can learn from this experience that we must think about our actions beforehand. If there is a proposal, how will it affect generations to come?

While the earth will never be one language again, in the next chapter of Genesis, the story shows us Abraham, a man through whom God desires to bring unity to the human race. God promised this man that through him, God would bless all the families of the earth. This is fulfilled in the descendent of Abraham, Jesus Christ. All of us through Jesus may once again be united.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read Genesis 7--9

Noah, It Is Time

Noah spent decades building the ark. Finally, it is time for him to enter the ark. God says,

1 Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation (Gen. 7:1).

Noah knows the spiritual condition of the earth, that it is very evil. Did he wonder when it was time to enter the ark? Nevertheless, he does not move into it, until the Lord says that the time is right. Noah is a man of faith, which means believing that God knows the perfect timing for everything. Therefore, faith waits until commanded. When it is time to move, faith no longer waits.

God issues an invitation, so to speak, and it appears that the invitation is coming from inside the ark. God does not say, go into the ark, but come into the ark. Eight humans enter the ark, but if the human eye could see in the spirit, would Noah see that there is a ninth individual on board the ark? Likewise, what could we see in the spirit? Are we alone or are there others with us?

Why does God invite Noah and his family into the ark? He is righteous before God in that generation, meaning that God sees the righteousness of this man and his family. The rest of the world is wicked, and the world refuses to repent. Therefore, God turns His full attention to this one man. Yes, the world is wicked around us, but God sees you and knows what you do, that you are striving to walk with Him. Do not despair.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100