Mike Riley Sermon Outlines, Articles, Lessons, etc.

Just My Thoughts For The Day

While getting a few items at the local grocery store today, a lady came up to me and told me about a discount grocery coupon for three pounds of strawberries that I had just placed in my grocery cart. She told me that the discount coupon for three dollars off the regular price of six […]

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The Refiner's Fire

There was once a group of women studying on the book of Malachi. As they were studying Chapter three, they came across verse three which says, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” (Malachi 3:3). This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature […]

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Praise God …… It's Easy!

There are so many prayers of praise in the Old Testament that I could spend a year writing about them. My favorites are those found in Psalms. What a glorious book of prayers! Praising the Lord isn’t always easy for us. We suffer, our families suffer, the world suffers…,but that is nothing new. Jesus reminds […]

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The Perfection Of Worship

I read the book of Hebrews with slight knowledge of the author’s real world. His readers are most likely Jews of the Diaspora or those who are living outside of the land of Israel.  These readers are fully aware of the rituals, sacrifices and temple services. But here, the writer of Hebrews is building up their faith in […]

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Today Is My Choice

It’s quite. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. the stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the […]

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Walking With God

Walking is good exercise for strengthening the physical heart. “Walking with God” is the only method of keeping the spiritual heart alive. If we love God with all our heart, mind and soul as commanded in the first and great commandment (Matthew 22:37), “walking with God” will be our goal in life. The Bible has […]

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Are You Keeping The Greatest Commandment?

On a certain occasion a scribe asked Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all?” — or which is the most important commandment? “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy […]

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Life Is A Gift

Today before you think of saying an unkind word — think of someone who can’t speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food — think of someone who has nothing to eat. Before you complain about your husband or wife — think of someone who is crying out to God for a companion.

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Can You Trust His “No”?

So God doesn’t seem to be answering your persistent prayer. It just isn’t working out. Perhaps you are thinking …. is some special sin in my life that prevents His answer? Or perhaps God is just capricious. He is sitting on His big white throne passing judgments on who gets help and who doesn’t. I also have […]

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Learning To Think For Ourselves

Brother Rick Liggin, preacher for the Paris Avenue congregation in Peoria, Illinois, has written a thought-provoking above titled article in the current “Think On These Things” publication (scroll down page) on how preachers and elders (and yes, even Bible class teachers) should help people to “think for themselves.”

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“Super” Bowl Or “Stupor” Bowl?

The news media hype over the upcoming 47th Super Bowl causes more of a sense of “stupor” rather than something that is “super“ (after all it‘s just another football game with highly overpaid players, is it not?).

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Thoughts On Evangelizing The World

From his article entitled, “Beneath The Praise Hides A Malaise,” comes the following profound statement made by my good missionary friend in Brazil, Randal Matheny:

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“Have A Good Day!”

The above titled expression has become a popular way of conveying one’s good wishes toward others. However, in a real sense, every day is a “good day” for the Christian.

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A Lack Of Repentance

Repentance is a change of heart resulting in a change of mind or mindset (Jonah 3). Even though we know we have sinned beyond any doubt, how difficult it is for us to change because our pride is at stake. But pride is the territory of small children. As

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A New Beginning

Would you like a challenge? Take a garment, any garment that is scarlet or crimson, and try to dye it white. If you have any luck, let me know. Yet, that which is impossible with man is possible with God (Matthew 19:26).

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It All Begins With Me

Since 2012 is drawing to a close and 2013 is just about to begin, we as God’s children can make 2013 a spiritually better and more productive year, not only for our country, but for our world as well.

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Proverbially Speaking

In the 2012, volume 50, number 4 edition of The Sword and Staff publication, pg. 2, comes the following proverbs of wisdom (appropriate Scriptures and related articles have been added):

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“An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure”

Our prayers go up to the God of heaven in behalf of those grieving families affected by the recent Newtown, Connecticut shootings. We can’t imagine the mental anguish brought about as a result of a young man’s senseless decision to end the lives of twenty-six innocent people, including school-age children.

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There’s Only One Faith — “The Faith”

The Bible plainly states that there is “one faith” (Ephesians 4:5). So when men ask the question, “Of what faith are you?” they are displaying an ignorance of God’s Word. Nowhere in the Bible is faith spoken of in the plural form. The denominational world may have many “faiths,” but in the eyes of God […]

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“I Live To Serve”

A few weeks ago, a local cell phone representative was demonstrating the various capabilities of the Apple iPhone5 to me. One of those capabilities is that of the intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator known as “Siri.” Using your own natural language, Siri can answer

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