Sermon (video): God's Design for Husbands - Part 1 (Ephesians 5:25-27)

God's Word is clear when it instructs husbands to love their wives with the kind of love illustrated in Christ's love for the Church.
What characterizes Christ's love? How would that kind of love look in a marriage? Is this kind of love even possible?

Click here to view the sermon.

Sermon (video): God's Design for Wives (Ephesians 5:22-24)

It's the text on wives and submission and it typically gets people upset. But does the text merit such a response? Is it possible that the message God is giving to us is exactly what is needed for a mutually enjoyable marital relationship? Could it be that God has a vested interest in great marriages?

Click here to view the sermon.

On trips to Heaven and writing a book about it

Have you ever wondered what Heaven is like? Have you ever wished that you had a little more information than what is given in Scripture?

What’s it like moments after death? Do our loved ones form a welcome committee upon our arrival? What does Heaven look like? Smell like? Sound like?

All of these questions and more, many of which are not answered in Scripture, are provided if you’ll just purchase the books (mild sarcasm permeated virtually every word of the previous sentence). Now, please understand me on this. I’m not standing in judgment of the authors of books like “Heaven is For Real” or “90 Minutes in Heaven.” I’m not saying that those folks didn’t experience what they say they experienced. I’m just stating that I’ve got some serious concerns about them.

First, they present as fact what is not revealed in Scripture. Doesn’t this undermine the usefulness of Scripture? Doesn’t this assume that what God has seen fit to reveal to His church for 2,000 years about Heaven is no longer good enough? 

Second, the information conveyed in these books is completely subjective. There is no possible way to “prove” that what they are saying is true. It may be true but there’s no way of validating it.

Third, it opens the proverbial can of worms. The conversation is now based not upon the authority of Scripture but upon each individual’s experiences. So, if one person who tells us that they’ve gone to Heaven expects us to believe their story, what would keep us from believing Bill Wiese’s story (“23 Minutes in Hell”) of how he was physically taken to Hell in a night’s vision. And if we believe his account, where do we stop?

Fourth, I’m concerned that those who have had an out-of-body experience may not be able to interpret what they’ve experienced. There are many who have seen the "light at the end of the tunnel" who have never claimed to have a saving faith in Jesus Christ. There are stories of those in other religions who have experienced places of bliss after their death rather than torment. 

Jesus was clear in John 14:6 when He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. Therefore, we MUST conclude that if unsaved folks are encountering similar experiences as those that claim to be Christian, we simply cannot be certain what they are experiencing post "death." To write a book about the experience means that conclusions were not only made but are then presented as fact. Dangerous, in my opinion.

I’m not saying that these things don’t happen. I’m simply, once again, stating that Christians have no biblical paradigm through which to think about these phenomena. Some may think that 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 may be a "proof text" for an out-of-body experience. However, a logical reading of that Scripture plainly shows that the Apostle Paul could draw no conclusions about whether the experience was real ("in a physical body") or a vision. Therefore, we can draw no conclusions about "out-of-body experiences" and "trips to Heaven" from this passage.

Fifth, Jesus shed some light on this subject in His parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus states that these two men died. The rich man lifted his eyes in a place of torment and Lazarus was transported by angels to the place where Abraham was (Heaven). 

Now listen closely. I want you to catch this. In verses 27 and 28 of that text, the rich man in torment begged Abraham to grant a request. “‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him (Lazarus) to my father’s house – because I have five brothers – to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’” What was his request? An out-of-body experience! He asked that Lazarus arise from the dead and warn folks of the reality of Hell. If the rich man had lived in 21st century America, he may have even asked Lazarus to write a book about his visit to Heaven while he was at it. 

Listen to the few words of interaction following the rich man’s request in verses 29-31. (When Abraham mentions “Moses and the prophets”, he’s talking about the Old Testament Scriptures written by those men.) “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ” 

The principle here is pretty clear. Abraham said that the Scriptures were sufficient. If folks weren't convinced by reading God's Word, an account of someone who had an out-of-body experience would do no good. We learn that it is not God’s pattern to send people to Heaven (or Hell) and back simply to tell others of their experience and encourage them to receive the gift of eternal life.

In conclusion, I’m not saying that those who have written such books are being untruthful. I’m not saying that they haven’t experienced what they write about. I’m just saying that a thoughtful Christian must read them with caution. A thinking Christian must base no theology upon something in those books not found in Scripture. You may want to read any of these books but here's my advice ... err on the side of safety and read them as fiction. 

If you’re really interested in a book on Heaven that handles the topic in more substantive, biblical ways, you’ll want to pick up a copy of “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn. I have read this book and absolutely enjoyed it!

Sermon (video): 911 - A Call for Help (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

On the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, what are we to think about what our country has experienced in the past 10 years? Can God simply overlook sin and insubordination by His creation or does He act? If He acts, how so? And based upon our assumptions, how should we then respond?

Listen to this sermon preached on September 11, 2011 to hear God's answers to those questions by clicking here.

Grandma Ellis (October 7, 1930 – February 19, 2010)

Grandma Ellis

Nostalgia can be a very satisfying practice! Everyone should have those special times to which they periodically retreat into the recesses of their memory to enjoy. Those are the memories that bring a warmth to the heart and a smile to the face. One of my favorite times upon which I reminisce is moments spent with my Grandma Ellis. Here are just a few of the wonderful memories I had with her.

One gift that God gave Grandma that she blessed so many with was her work in her kitchen. I remember those visits to her house. When we walked in the door, almost immediately following the welcomes and hugs, she asked if anyone was hungry. When you sat down to eat, it would be your own fault if you left the table hungry. Grandma would ask at least three or four times if she could get you anything else.

My Grandpa and Grandma Ellis

I found it advantageous to bring an appetite to Grandma's house ... especially my sweet tooth. Grandma was never without a dessert in the kitchen. Whether it was Mississippi Mud Cake in the refrigerator or Half-Moon Apple Pies as a centerpiece on the table, there was plenty occasion to earn an encounter with diabetes in my old age.

On some occasions, I would stay with my siblings at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I was never sure what time Grandma woke up. I just knew that when I opened my eyes, the house was filled with the aroma of sausage, bacon, biscuits and fresh eggs that Grandpa had gathered that morning from the chicken house out back. There was orange juice, chocolate milk and even some coffee she made in the percolator on the stove. On a rare occasion, there may even be some Red-Eye Gravy. (I had heard that earlier in Grandma's life, she wouldn't just bring eggs from the chicken house. She'd wring a neck or two and have fried chicken that evening.)
 

Another fond memory of Grandma was her love for family. I remember the joy on her face each time we visited and she opened her front door. If I made myself available for talking to her, away from Grandpa's conversation, she would ask about how things were going and would always enjoy learning everything "new" about me.

My grandma Ellis and Great-Grandma Spears

She also had a love for her mom. We took many trips to the country to visit Great-Grandma Spears. These were occasions when time seemed to stand still. It always seemed that we stepped back into time as we sat in the living room / bed room and listened to Great-Grandma talk about all that had transpired since the last visit.

I was always aware that these trips weren't really about me or my siblings. The purpose of the visit was for Grandma to give her mom some company and do anything that Great-Grandma had been unable to do on her own. (I remember on one occasion when we stayed the night with Great-Grandma. When I asked how I could get to the restroom in the middle of the night without waking Great-Grandma, Grandma gave me a bed pan. Memories.)

Another unquestionable attribute of Grandma was her devotion to the things of God. It showed up in many ways. For starters, when we got to spend the night at her house on Saturdays, we awoke on Sunday to the sound of the kitchen radio. Typically, Elton Wilson, the pastor of Grandma's church was on the radio with a message and some music. We would be invited on that broadcast to join Bible Baptist Church for worship. (I always thought that it was incredible to hear the pastor on the radio and actually get to see him later that morning. Something about being on the radio seemed to make him bigger than life to me.) 

There was never a question of whether we were going to church. I am certain that if I had ever asked Grandma if we were going, she may have checked my head for a fever or something like that. Asking such a question was ludicrous. Everyone in the Ellis household just knew that when the church doors were opened, we would be walking through them.

To keep me and my siblings quiet during church when we happened to join them, Grandma would always pull out a piece of Wrigley's Spearmint gum. To this day, when I buy a pack of Wrigley's on a whim, I smell it and it reminds me of Grandma.

Kim and me spending some time with my grandparents

In the final years of Grandma's life before age robbed her of her memory, Kim and I spent much time with them. We spent time with Grandma and Grandpa when we dated and continued to enjoy trips to their house after our wedding. One thing was clear - Grandma loved Kim. She told me so on many occasions. And Kim loved her back.

I'll never forget taking Grandpa and Grandma back home to Clarksville, Tennessee after a family member's wedding in Lexington, Kentucky. I drove with Grandpa in my car and Kim drove with Grandma in her car. When we arrived, Kim and I noted that non-stop conversation had taken place in our vehicles for the entirety of the four hour trip. We further noted that she and I had said no more than 50 words during the whole trip. Grandma's talkativeness just meant that she felt at home with Kim. Grandpa? Well, he just enjoyed another opportunity to talk.

I really miss my Grandma. I believe that my sons would have greatly benefited from getting to know her. All they remember are her final years in the nursing home with serious health problems. However, we look forward to being reunited with her again one day in Heaven.

Final note: For a very brief video clip of Grandma's house, click here. It will mean absolutely nothing to most of those who read this post. To me, every corner of that house and yard has a wonderful memory. It's fodder for nostalgia.

Sermon (video): The Exciting Spirit-Filled Life (Ephesians 5:18-21)

The Bible tells us to "be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). It sounds exciting and promising, especially when we realize just how many times we falter in our walk with the Lord. Could this verse be the key to victory in our lives?

 

Listen to this sermon preached by Pastor Matt Ellis on September 4, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of Brooksville, Florida. Hear what God's Word says about what the Holy Spirit can do in you and through you when He is allowed to fill you. Simply click here to be redirected to the sermon.