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THE FOUR KINDS OF DEATH

The following is a sermon on death that gives a biblical perspective on death.

1. THERE IS PHYSICAL DEATH
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

John 11:12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well. 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

In the epistle of James, if you look carefully, you will find there the biblical definition of death:

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. THERE IS SPIRITUAL DEATH
This is the condition of the living person who does not have eternal life.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

3. THERE IS THE SECOND DEATH
Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

4. There is a fourth death that is mentioned in Scripture as well. Visit Sermon Seedbed to learn about this fourth kind of death and see in this sermon death in its completeness.

This article written by Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. who is a pastor, author and overseer of Sermon Seedbed a free resource site for Pastors and Bible teachers. There you will find lots of sermon ideas and sermon outlines.

Love may be an unrestrained emotion which provides no assurance. If a weak person is madly in love, then he or she may lose all the wisdom and may act blindly. When someone is deeply and madly in love with someone without knowing anything, then the repercussions may be quite devastating.         

Powerful love spells should be used cautiously and not regularly. They must be used at the right place and at the right time. There are instances of such powerful love spells coming with severe damage which can be avoided. One should always analyze such powerful love spells and chalk out their motives. Attempting to break up a loving relationship to acquire egocentric love necessitates a powerful love spell, as the intense energy to break up the immense loving relationship between two adults has to be much stronger and greater than love.

The consequences that the energy administered by a stronger love spell generates can never be predicted. At times, the repercussions may be quite harmful, resulting in tragic deaths and casualties. Even when the powerful love spell is victorious in attaining the love he or she desired, supporting the love against the free natural wish of an individual requires a massive constant effort.

At times, when an individual feels that the love spell targeted to a specific person is not the perfect person, then in that case the spell has to be diverted to avoid the unwanted love. A powerful love spell may be good or bad, depending upon the current situation.  

Christian fiction books are becoming more and more popular every day. However, there are many people voicing out their concerns that Christian fiction is not what it used to be. To make it easier, let’s define what Christian fiction means.

Christian fiction is a lot more difficult to define than contemporary fiction books since most of the time the themes are not always obvious. However, as a general definition, it is any writing that showcases a Christian theme and incorporates the whole Christian world view or belief.

These kinds of books not only help the readers become enlightened about the Christian faith, but some authors have also used it to further explore their faith; asking philosophical, moral, and ethical questions in hopes of finding answers.

For example, C.S. Lewis’ books were considered to be Christian fiction books because of the allegorical references made in his stories. Of course, there is the argument of whether Christian authors automatically churn out Christian writings. This depends entirely on the reader.

Even though there are plenty of critics when it comes to the content of Christian fiction books and novels, there is no denying that it serves one important and powerful purpose which is to share the Christian idealogy.

Ultimately, the foremost Christian book would have to be the Bible. For believers, it is more than just a book about stories, but it is one of the most important pieces of their belief.

Christian fiction books can create a huge impact on the reader and change their perspective and point of view for the better.

If you are looking for great classic Christian fiction books to read, here are some that you might want to check out.

The Screwtape Letters

This is considered to be C.S. Lewis’ most popular outside of the books of Narnia. This was considered to a favorite among evangelical writers. The book is about an exchange of conversation and advice, mostly from the administrative assistant of hell, Screwtape, to his young assistant, Wormwood.

Wormwood is assigned to corrupt a young man and is getting advice and admonitions from Screwtape. Lewis’ witty presentation, taken from the perspective of hell and devils, makes the bookinteresting to read.

It is packed with great insights into the depth and rationalizations of sin.

The Lord of the Rings

Most young people might be surprised that this book is classified as Christian fiction. The truth is that J.R.R Tolkien was a key instrument in influencing C.S. Lewis as a Christian.

Tolkien was a devout believer and spent much of his time developing his books. Of course, one of them would be the ever popular Lord of the Rings. This story tells the tale of Frodo Baggins inheriting a ring from his uncle, Bilbo Baggins. This ring can control the world, but it also has the power to take over its bearer.

A great council has decided that the ring should be destroyed, but only the fire where it was created can destroy it. It lies beyond the evil plains of Mordor. Although Frodo is determined not to use the ring, he is weak and struggles to overcome the rings power on his personality and behavior.

This has allegories about Christ as well as the lesson that goodness cannot come from evil.

These are just some of the famous classic Christian fiction books that you might want to cuddle up and read.

If you are not much of a reader but still wants to know what the book is all about , there are christian bookstores that sell Christian Audio Books. This serves as an alternative way to enjoy Christian readings for those who are quite busy with work and always on the go.

For the ordinary layman hearing about communion cups, the first thing that comes to mind is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Popular culture has depicted some of the most significant religious artifacts in a very unorthodox manner, but the good thing is that it helps ordinary people to get acquainted with these religious items.

In the movie, Indiana Jones was looking for Jesus’ cup. For believers, this is called the Holy Grail, the ultimate communion cup which was used by Christ himself.

In literature and some Christian traditions, the Holy Grail did not just mean that cup of Christ, but also stood for the dish and plate used by Jesus at the Last Supper he had with his disciples.

Throughout centuries, this Holy Grail came to be represented as a communion cup that we are now familiar with.

Of course, the use of communion cups varies all over the world. Many cups are made of different kinds of materials depending on the country and the people celebrating it. For example, some of the Christian peasants in Mexico created a communion cup from baked clay while some Christian Palestinians created one from olive wood.

Today, we have come a long way from the glass communion cups that were used before during communion masses. Some small congregations still use glass cups, but it’s a very time consuming process to have to wash each cup after service. Hence, most churches, especially big ones, go for plastic communion cups instead.

No matter what communion cups are made for, they serve one major purpose, and that is to symbolize the faith that people have in Christ.

Communion cups have had a long history. From the Holy Grail to the silver chalices used by the Egyptians and Sumerians to the plastic communion cups we use today. They are all significant for the people that use them in their practice.

As mentioned, the Holy Grail or Chalice is celebrated as one of the most sacred vessels in the Church and it is often blessed prior to using it.  

Even if the Bible does not offer the cup during the Last Supper dinner or make any significance about it, believers still uphold it as a sacred item. Pilgrims in Jerusalem believed that another significant cup was still venerated in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

It supposedly contained the sponge that was used by Christ at Calvary. This was apart from the tradition and belief surrounding the cup from the last supper.

Out of this faith came the belief in the legends of the cup, from Indiana Jones to Merlin and Dan Brown, the story of the ultimate Communion Cup or the Holy Grail is still alive and celebrated.

Of course, legends and stories about the exact Holy Grail have sifted through and became muddled through the years. Whatever the truth may be, there is no denying the fact that the significance of communion cups in today’s Christian celebrations and among believers is still as strong as ever.

Over the years , there are many changes in the designs of communion cups , its not far any different when we talk about communion plates and even church candles.

Preachers  grow to appreciate the comfort and friendship of a good sermon outline. As a pastor myself, I have discovered through the years that having a good outline is a tremendous benefit to aid in presenting your topic in an organized and educational manner. Allow me to encourage you to make writing out sermon outlines something that you work on regularly. If you do, then over a period of time you will amass a wonderful storehouse of ideas and inspiration that will always be there for you when you are searching for that “just right” message to preach. Following are four brief ideas to help you.

1. Read your Bible slowly.
Here is my preface– first and foremost read your Bible to feed your soul. But then have times when you take a section of Scripture and break it a part in a way that you could teach or preach it. Often, I simply read the verse slowly noticing each separate thought. I then begin to notice how those thoughts are connected and ask why are they connected in the way they are. It is the connectivity of the thoughts that will allow your outline to begin to form. Sequence is your friend in outlining a bible text. It also helps the audience when your thoughts flow in the order that the passage flows.

2. Observe people.
Preaching must be biblically centered, but it is delivered to people. Yes the heart of human beings is the target of the wise preacher. Some sermon topics will flow from the Bible text, others the topic will flow toward the text. Let me explain. As you observe people you will begin to amass a ton of things that need to preached about. Ask questions as you see people involved in everyday life. “What is causing him to be so angry?” may be a question that leads you to the Bible to see what it has to say about anger.

The very place and situation that birthed the question can also serve as your introduction. For example, “The other day I was at the Pharmacy and I heard a man losing his temper at the checkout. He was very irate and giving the young girl at the register as piece of his mind. I could not help but wonder what was going on his life that caused him to vent on a teenager who was just trying to earn extra money to help her family. What does the Bible say concerning why people become so angry?” As you can see, the people around you are telling you what their struggles are and the answers they are looking for, just learn to observe. Ideas for sermon outlines are all around you.

3. Think in simple terms.
One of the dangers for the preacher is that he often studies a passge very extensively and learns so much that he feels pressed to share it all. The result can be a very long sermon that is overly complicated, to analytical, and boring. A simple outline will help you greatly in delivering a more targeted sermon that will be more effective in actually helping people. Points that have sub-points with sub-points can confuse people about what the point is.

There are certainly many other suggestions that could be added to this list but I want to keep it short so I that I will practice what I just preached. I appreciate it if you check out the free sermons and sermon outlines I have posted on Sermon Seedbed which is a dot com site.

Eddie Lawrence is a pastor and oversees Sermon Seedbed, a site for pastors and Bible teachers.

If you are not a Christian or just vaguely familiar with the religion, then you might have wondered what communion wafers are and what it’s for.

To let you know, these wafers are used during the Holy Communion to represent the body of Christ. Even though the symbolism is a bit complicated, the ingredients for the piece are actually quite simple.

It has hardly any taste at all, but it is this lack of taste that makes it such a great ritual piece. Since it hardly has any taste, you are allowed to focus on the meaning when you consume the wafer.

There are plenty of manufacturers for the communion wafer. Each of them have special ways of creating the wafer, however, most of them use the same basic ingredients.

These two common ingredients include water and pure wheat flour. Of course, as mentioned, other communion breads are created with more complex ingredients than the two, but this depends on the manufacturer.

Some of the other ingredients used in these recipes could include yeast or salt so that it can have a small hint of flavor.

However, there is one very special ingredient that is sometimes added when making these holy wafers and that is holy water.  

There are instances when makers would sprinkle a small amount of holy water on the dough. It is incorporated into the dough and then made into the holy wafers that we know and use today.

Most Christians are familiar with communion wafers, however, not everyone knows where or who makes them.

However, this isn’t very surprising since back in the day, the work of creating these wafers fell only to a select few.

History dictates that churches used to pick out only one baker that was tasked to create the wafer. Apart from that, there was a special oven designated for this purpose only so that the ritual of making the wafers was kept sacred.

As time passed, traditions changed and so did the secrecy to creating the wafers.

Today, there are several large manufacturers that create these wafers. They are no longer exclusively created by nuns or special bakers from the church.

Although there are plenty of manufacturers in this industry, there are still companies that hold a monopoly when it comes to being a supplier for these church wafers.

In fact, there is one company that is said to be the primary supplier for over three quarters of the churches in the US.

The history and significance of these holy wafers cannot be underestimated. Even though most non Christians might not be familiar with them, there is no doubt that it is an essential part of the faith as well as the ceremony of these churches.

If you are a Christian, taking part of the Holy Communion and taking in communion wafers should signify something far beyond the bland taste of this sacramental bread, it should symbolize and signify your faith in the Lord and his undying love for you as his child.

Now that you are aware of the importance of communion wafer, you may also consider the benefit and importance of having your personal communion cup or perhaps you may want to own a portable communion set.

Four Suggestions on How to Preach A Sermon

Imagine it! Knees wobbling! Heart racing! Sweat popping! Mind Swirling! What has happened? Are you in love? No, you have just been asked by your pastor to preach a sermon in an upcoming worship service. Yikes! What do you do? Quickly say “No!” and make up an excuse; or, pray for courage and seize the moment? Let me encourage you to go for it. Whether you have been called to be a preacher or not, it can be a very rewarding experience for you. Here are some preaching and sermon preparation pointers for you to consider:

1. Start Praying for Wisdom and Courage

This should go without saying, but I am saying it just the same. Ask God to help you, direct you, and use you for His glory. Pray for the people who will be there when you preach. Pray for yourself to be calm and courageous. Pray for the message to be meaningful and memorable.

2. Select a Relevant and Helpful Topic

Since you are going to preach, use the opportunity to give people a message that will help them in their daily lives. By all means, avoid the temptation of trying to impress people.

You will make a greater impression by giving them instructions that will help them live their lives more fully.

You can easily select a topic that will help people by simply considering the problems they face and the struggles they have to go through in life. Everyone needs encouragement. Everyone needs to know how to handle wrong emotions. Everyone has to learn how to forgive, and on and on the list could go. The Bible is a great resource manual for life and will give you the instruction you will need to pass on to others.

3. Use Stories that Clearly Illustrate Your Points

People remember and relate to stories,especially personal stories. Don’t shy away from speaking about your own struggles or triumphs. This makes for good sermon material.

Sharing how God helped you or blessed you will encourage others as well. This is the power of testimony at work. The introduction or beginning of the sermon is a good place for a personal story.
Even a humorous event that happened to you can be very impacting. Just make sure you are able to weave the aim of your sermon into the particular story you tell.

4. Keep it Moving and Keep it Short

It will be far easier than you think to have more to say than you have time to say it. Use a clear and simple outline and flow through it in a timely manner.

If you finish with people wanting more, you have done well. Even a great start can be lost in a long tedious sermon. Try to keep it around 25-35 minutes maximum.

There are many more suggestions that could be made, but take these four simple ones I have shared and keep them in mind when you preach a sermon for people who like you, need lifting up and blessed.

This article writtenby Eddie Lawrence who is a pastor, author and overseer of Sermon Seedbed, a site that offers free sermons and sermon outlines for pastors and Bible teachers.

I love the quote, “The journey of a thousand begins with one step.  Likewise, the preaching of a great sermon begins with one thought. In this article I will share with you three simple methods of getting ideas for your sermon starters folder. These are not meant to replace your Bible study at all, but just ways to lead you into the Bible for a relevant preaching idea. Having a seedbed of starters is a great resource for any preacher or Bible teacher.

Idea Number 1: Record That Thought!
I wish I had all the great ideas for those sermons that never got preached because I failed to record the inspiration that whizzed through my mind. These are the big fish that got away because I did not set the hook. Writing down that inspired thought is the way the preacher sets the hook to reel in a good sermon.

Keep a little notebook with you, record it into your cell phone, send yourself a text message….just get a record of the thought some way. Have you ever awakened in the middle of a night having had a dream that was very vivid. You thought of getting up and writing down the details, but you thought it was so vivid and clear that you could never forget it. The next morning when you got up, you could not remember it to save your life. Where did the dream go? It went to the same place those great sermon starting ideas go that you didn’t write down.

Idea Number 2: Read That Title!
I have been amazed at the times I have read the title or headline of a newspaper article, an internet news story, the title of a book, and of course, the titles of other people’s sermons and gotten an idea that started me on a quick jog into sermon building paradise. Just the title which is the leader board of a story to follow can set your imagination in motion. With the idea that a title pops in your mind, you will often begin imagining what it is about before you ever read further. Your mind will begin building your own sermon just from the title. Notice these things and consciously think about them as sermon starters. Even billboards can stuff a sermon starter into your cranial cavity form time to time.

Idea Number 3: Research that Question!
This one will unleash an avalanche of sermon ideas for you. Think of questions that people ask about life, love, and problems and then research them. You will be swamped in an hour with a mountain of sermon ideas, sermon illustrations, and starting points for topics that people are hungry to hear about. Then you can add what the Bible teaches on that subject and you are on your way to helping others through a relevant heart touching Bible based sermon.

Now that you have three simple ideas for sermon starters, all that is left for you to do is to get started. That great sermon is just waiting to be thought of, inspired with creativity, and launched to waiting ears. God bless you as you get going.

Written by Eddie Lawrence, who is an author, pastor, and overseer of Sermon Seedbed a resource site for pastors and Bible teachers which provides free sermons and sermon outlines.

Billy Graham once said that some people will miss heaven by eighteen inches, the distance between their head and their heart.” We all get the point. If God is after the heart, then we need to preach sermons from the heart and sermons that aim at the heart. Consider the following comparisons.

1. The Head Preacher
This is the cranial preacher who is intellectually well prepared and who has a keen mind for theology and its accompanying terminology. Deep truths are mined out and served up that are wonderful to hear. Every preacher should strive to have such a mind and knowledge. It is not to be criticized in and of itself.

2. The Heart Preacher
I will call this the cardiac preacher. His heart is totally in what he is doing. He is enthusiastic and his emotions are engaged in his preaching.

3. The Head and Heart Preacher
This is the preacher we should desire to be. He loves God with all his heart and mind, just as we have been commanded to do. He studies and his mind engages the Word and is renewed by it. As his mind discerns and discovers truth, his heart is moved.

When he preaches, he feeds the congregation the deep truths of God’s Word. As he shares, his heart is poured out in concern and compassion. the spirit and the truth are both at work in a powerful way. His heart is moved and so are the hearts in the path of his heartfelt message. God help us all to utililize our hearts and our minds when we preach from the Bible the truths of God.

It behooves us all to do inventory on our preaching. We should ask of  ourself, “Is my preaching more from the head for the head or from the heart for the heart?” Be a man of the heart going after hearts.

This article written by Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. who is an author, pastor, and also oversees Sermon Seedbed which is a resource site for pastors and Bible teachers that offers free sermons and sermon outlines.

Pastor Resources for Preachers and Bible Teachers

Time is a precious commodity for everyone. As a minister who has been preaching the Bible for over 25 years, study time is extremely important. It is no different for the business man or woman who teaches a bible class at their local church. It is easy to spend hours studying a bible passage, reading commentaries, and going deeper in Bible dictionaries and word study books.

The internet offers tremendous opportunities, insights, and time saving helps. These pastor resources are great! I have had my eyes opened wide to this in the past year after I decided to begin offering my bible studies and sermon outlines to people over the web. I build a site called Sermon Seedbed for pastors and Bible teachers to visit and enjoy. I have been amazed at the response and the encouragement I have recieved from users of the site from over 120 different nations. What a way to expand what you do!

Another benefit I have gained is added knowledge of other great sites on the web for students of the Bible. Sites like Bible Gateway, The Blue Letter Bible, and Sermon Central are amazing and very helpful. Sure there are sites that are too far left and too far right for a lot of us, but don’t allow a bone here or there to keep you from eating fish. There are tons of sites for people who desire to grown in their knowledge of the Bible and hopefully as a result, in their lives.

This article addresses people who have a formal preaching position or those who lead small group bible studies. Let me share with you three tips on making your study time more productive for you and those whom you teach.

1. Don’t bury your audience with endless details.

You purpose should be to open up the Word so it becomes relevant to their everyday life. When someone is struggling with their marriage, fighting an addiction, or coping with anxiety, knowing what those winged beings in Ezekiel’s vision may not be as helpful as knowing how David dealt with being deeply discouraged.

2. Keep it moving and engaging

Similar to the above tip, we preachers and teachers after spending hours studying a verse are tempted to share everything we have mined out of a verse. As a result, we can become bogged down and people begin feeling that it will take forever to cross the finish line. Overcome the temptation to stay at a place too long and keep a steady pace moving toward the end. By keeping it engaging, I suggest that you make a concerted effort in your presentation to connect with the people. Afterall, that is the purpose of it all, to transform lives through sharing God’s Word. Engage them with a story or illustration or question.

3. Be enthusiastic about what you are sharing.

Wow, if you don’t seem to care, then why should they? Notice I said, “If you don’t seem to care…” The actual words you share with people are important but there is so much non-verbal communication that takes place when preaching or teaching. Your listeners are looking at the whole package. Being excited about what you are doing will be contagious. I am not saying overhyped or ramped to explode. Just be yourself with a smile on your face, a spring in your step, and a song in your heart and it will shine through.

You can check out my pastor resources and sermons site at www.sermonseedbed.com.