Mike Riley Sermon Outlines, Articles, Lessons, etc.

Ignorance Is Not Bliss!

Is there really a blessing in not knowing? Are we better off to “tend to our own affairs” and pass through life blissfully unaware of facts and obligations that might “bother us”? Many have this selfish attitude, and some even offer scriptural “proof” (It is nice to know just enough to know one does not […]

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Nothing Less Than Our Best

Sadly, we live in a society today where the quantity of a product is emphasized over quality. In trying to cut costs, many companies are sacrificing quality and using second-hand or even defective materials.

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How We Dress Reflects The Attitude Of Our Heart

There’s a growing tendency among God’s people to “dress down” when coming to the assembly to worship God, rather than to “dress up.” “Dressing up” definitely requires more thought and effort in our maintaining a right atmosphere and attitude in our worship to God. In this writer’s view,

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WANTED:

Members who are as interested in attending the worship services of the church on Sunday and Wednesday night as they are on Sunday morning (Hebrews 10:25).

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What About The Word “Day” In Genesis 2:4?

A querist asks, “When the latter part of Genesis 2:4 – KJV says, “in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,” is it speaking as we would when we say

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What Is Pure Religion?

James gives us the definition of what pure religion is in James 1:27 NASB , “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” 

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Nehemiah: A Heart For The City

I love Nehemiah. I love his determination, his ability to lead, and most of all, his heart. Nehemiah has the heart of Jesus. When he heard the news about Jerusalem’s condition and that the walls were broken and the gates

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Showing Respect To God

In Asia, children are taught respect by giving objects to their parents and elders with both hands. It is also impolite to use only one hand to give a business card to someone.

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On “Walking” With God

Some who die will be remembered for having possessed profound skill, such as Babe Ruth’s ability to hit 60 home runs in a single season. Virtuous leaders of countries are mourned universally when they pass from this life – they are missed because of the good influence they had on the lives of millions of […]

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What Biblical Principles Can We Learn From A Dog?

What biblical principles can we learn from a dog you ask? Those of us who are dog “lovers” (my wife and I have a miniature dachshund), will tell you that there are several Bible principles we can learn from our canine

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Let's “Grow A Little New Wood”

The story is told that when the great poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was well along in years, his head was white as snow, but his cheeks were as red as a rose. An ardent admirer asked him how it was the he was able to keep so vigorous and write so beautifully. Pointing to a […]

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Flee From Idolatry

In ancient times, men took pieces of wood or metal and carved or fashioned them into gods (Isaiah 44:9-20; Jeremiah 10:14-16; cf. Exodus 32:1-6,19-24). They literally fashioned gods to meet their own selfish desires.

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Our Content — Of Far Greater Importance Than Our Cover

It’s been reported that interior designers are now purchasing numbers of antique leather-bound books, putting them in their homes solely for their covers — not for any content they possess. Affluent clients are placing them in rooms that match a

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Twenty-Four Hour Days Or Ages Of Time?

A querist asks, “Is the evolutionary allegation that the ‘days’ referred to in Genesis 1 are simply figures of speech referring to ages of time rather than 24 hour days correct?”

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Does God Cause An Individual To Believe A Lie?

A querist asks, “In 2 Thessalonians 2:11, it states that God will send people a strong delusion that they should believe a lie. My question is, Does God cause an individual to believe a lie?”

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So Little Time

So little time to say the things You’d really like to say  — Before you even find the words, The time just slips away.

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The Church Of God Grill

In one of his books, Charles Paul Conn recalls the beginning to an unusual phone call. Conn had seen a Yellow Pages listing for a restaurant in Atlanta called Church of God Grill.

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Do We Have A “Bus Schedule” Philosophy?

Several years ago, there was a news story of a man who had set some kind of a record by having been married and

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Drop A Pebble In The Water

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone; But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on, Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea. And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

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Obedient Discipleship

The upper level Brahman class in India never stoop to do any menial labor. So, after spending time at Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram (a spiritual retreat center for Hindus), a

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