Mike Riley Sermon Outlines, Articles, Lessons, etc.

The following excerpt from C.S. Lewis’ book entitled, “The Four Loves,“ gives dramatic emphasis to the risks involved in loving others as well as loving the Lord:

The denominational concept of a preacher and his responsibility as set forth in a popular denominational creed-book that reads:

Do we notice how quickly things get old or outdated? New automobiles become old after driving them off the car lot. Computers become outdated in six months or less. Houses deteriorate and need repair. What’s new today will be old tomorrow.

Author and cartoonist James Thurber once made this insightful observation about life: “All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why”

The story is told of a young married lady who once was fixing a fancy ham dinner for her husband. As she was about to place the ham into the oven, she took a knife and cut off the end of the ham.

It’s a good thing that in our local school district libraries where I work, students are given a grace period before the computer starts charging for overdue books, because in the elementary libraries, the parents of students check out books sometimes by the dozen, and then forget to return them back before the due date. […]

Confronting people with their sins has never been a pleasant task, plus living in a feelings-based culture only multiplies that difficulty. In today’s society, hurting someone’ feelings gets us labeled “mean-spirited” and “extreme.” When the gospel message pierces a sinner’s heart by convicting him or her of sin, it will definitely contradict the world’s warm, […]

Morality — the human ability to appreciate the distinction between right and wrong (or good and evil), has always posed a problem for atheist philosophers and evolutionary theorists. If there is no God, where does our moral consciousness come from? It’s easy to see why this

Too many people are looking for a church that pleases them rather than a church that pleases God. When the standard of excellence in the church is “what I like,” there is a horrible tyranny of selfish pursuit. People deceived by this approach think they are being liberated, but they are really being enslaved. Freedom […]

The story is told of a family who constantly complained about the manner in which church services were conducted. The father complained about the long sermon; the daughter complained about how dull the announcements were; the mother griped about the song leader who sang the songs too slow or not fast enough, and about selecting […]

As people in our affluent society stock up on cell phones, iPods, and flat-panel TVs — we might call it an “affluenza” epidemic. Folks are attempting to find security in “more stuff” — “stuff” that is temporary and fleeting (cf. Proverbs 23:5; Matthew 6:19-21). The Bible calls the pursuit of more stuff as simple “greed” […]

Many sincere religious folks turn to Ephesians 2:8-9 to show that baptism is not necessary for salvation “” that grace is a “gift” based solely upon one condition “” faith.

It’s sad to report, but in recent years, some churches of Christ have introduced instrumental music into their worship services. The minister of one congregation said, “Relevance is driving it — relevance to our community — reaching out to seekers.” Another preacher said, “The instrumental service was added to reach the un-churched.” Of those being […]

The Bible offers wise counsel under every kind of circumstance. We as Christians need to realize this as we stagger under the blows of what wicked men have done to innocent lives and families in Iraq, Afghanistan, across our nation, and various other parts of the world. King David, in his old age, with inspired […]

One day I looked at myself The self that Christ can see; I saw the person I am today, And the one I ought to be.

From the Montana Street bulletin, comes the following article by Brother Jeff Jenkins, preacher for the Lewisville congregation in Lewisville, Texas.

During President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20,1961, President Kennedy said the following inspiring words supporting the many freedoms we have in our great nation: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

In looking at Scripture, I’ve often wondered how King Solomon might have summed up his life in six words. As a young man, he could have written: “God has given me great wisdom” (1 Kings 4:29-34). But in his later years, he might have said: “Should have practiced what I preached” (1 Kings 11:1-8).

After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the thinking was that more people would turn to religion. And perhaps they did — at least momentarily — to that brand of religion that offers gentle homilies and smooth platitudes while demanding no true conversion or spiritual growth.

Do we believe that God exists because of some “leap of faith” or is there real evidence for God’s existence? God “did not leave Himself without witness” (Acts 14:17). There is much evidence. It is not some “leap of faith” or some assumption as some teach! There is credible evidence for God’s existence. Here are […]