Mike Riley Sermon Outlines, Articles, Lessons, etc.

Bearing “The Reproach Of Christ”

According to the writer of Hebrews, Moses looked ahead and made a choice based on future consequences: “By faith Moses, when he became of age ….. [chose] rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in […]

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Luck Has A Different Spelling

As a young boy, my grandmother taught me that hard work is essential to accomplishment. However, there are many folks in our world today who are quite willing to leave work for others to do.

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God Makes The Coffee!

Every once in a great while, I receive an e-mail from one of my online Christian friends that is worth repeating because of its content. The following thoughts come from such a

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This World Is Not My Home

The story is told of a prominent American who was once visiting Argentina. While there, he was asked by the president of the republic, “Why has South America gotten along so poorly and North

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Assessing Our Taxes

The story is told of a tax assessor who came one day to a poor Christian to determine the amount of taxes the old gentleman would have to pay. The following conversation

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“The Simplest Solution…”

Since growing up on a farm years ago, this writer has tried to maintain an attitude of “simplicity” toward life and it’s problems. I’m reminded of a news story about a woman in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada who received a letter in the mail. After opening it, the woman set the letter down on the table […]

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Crumbs Beneath The Table

I know that I’m unworthy, Lord Of all You’ve given me. I don’t deserve a single crumb You give me constantly.

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Refuting The Doctrine Of TULIP

It is impossible to be consistent when one holds doctrinal error. A long time ago men started believing that the human soul was corrupt at birth. As a result of this false belief, these men had to develop a whole

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“I Am” As Used By Jesus In John's Gospel

In the gospel of John, the phrase, “I Am” is used by Jesus in three different ways:

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Let’s Not Ignore The Great Virtuoso!

A few years ago, I read an interesting Washington Post news story about a young man who positioned himself against a wall beside a trash can at the L’Enfant Plaza station in Washington, DC, pulled out his expensive violin, and began to play. In the next 43 minutes, as he performed six classical pieces, 1,097 […]

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We Cannot Deceive God!

When Paul said, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked” (Galatians 6:7), his point was not whether or not men may speak evil of God, nor how much they might defy His appeal for

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A True Friend

A true friend……(John 15:14) Shares freely, (John 15:14-15; Romans 8:32) Advises justly, (Micah 6:8) Assists readily, (Luke 10:33-37) Adventures boldly, (Matthew 10:1-20) Takes all patiently, (1 Peter 2:20) Defends courageously, (Jude 1:3; cf. Titus 1:7-9) Continues a friend unchangeably (Proverbs 17:17; John 15:12-15; Hebrews 13:8) —William Penn; (above Scriptures added by Mike Riley)

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Will Evil Men Be Annihilated?

A querist asks, “Some of our religious friends suggest that from the text in Matthew 10:28, evil men will be completely annihilated (put out of existence) by God through the use of the word, destroy. Is this true?”

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God's Talent Search Criteria

In past years, entertainment talent search shows like American Idol have become a global phenomenon. Each week, millions of people anxiously wait to find out who will be the next singer eliminated in the musical talent search, and who will stay to eventually receive the top award of

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Ways Of Getting Rid Of The Preacher

An elder once told about some church members who came to him for advice. They wanted to know of a way to get rid of their preacher. Sensing that they were not being fair in their criticism, he gave them the following suggestions:

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Knowing What God's Will Is

A querist asks, “A man is reading his Bible, wanting to know what God’s will is. In what way is this man to know God’s will?”

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The Giants Of The Deep

The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived. Some are 100 feet long and can weigh over 175 tons. The largest one ever measured had a heart the size of a Volkswagen!

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Pictures Of Israel

Brother Steve Higginbotham, who preaches for the South Green Street Church of Christ in Glasgow, Kentucky, has recently returned from a trip to Israel.

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“You Are Not Far From The Kingdom Of God”

As we read the gospel accounts regarding the rising sentiment of animosity toward Jesus among the so-called “religious” leaders of His day, we see that this hostility was not unanimous. For example, we see Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council,

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To Be A Best Friend

To be a best friend is an honor we cherish, and one we should seek to live up to — but sometimes we don’t always achieve that honorable and lofty goal. For over 30 years, my wife and I have been “best friends.” In fact, it’s a joy and encouragement to hear her say, “You’re […]

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