The Slippery Slope
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The slippery slope argument doesn’t view moral (ethical) changes in isolation, but as the beginning of a trend. In general form, this argument says that if we allow something relatively harmless today, we may start a trend that results in something currently unthinkable becoming accepted. Many treat this argument as a fallacy in our modern world; because very few want to be held accountable when changes lead to unintended failings. For many, fulfilling once perverted lusts, is more acceptable than repercussions or personal responsibility.
True Greatness is the Least You Can Do
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
You are reborn to be great... that is the least of your possibilities. Someone (Jesus), has already died to give you the best possible chance to succeed and his disciples have spent 2000 years building upon this truth. The battle for the church is not to keep you in fellowship at all costs, rather to encourage you to honour the will of God. LUK 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. All those born of God are already greater than the greatest of all humans... this is our starting point as born again Christians.
God Uses a Different Measure
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
Serving God is easier than you think... because he doesn’t think like we do, nor does he measure life and its problems in the same way that we do. His values are far different; his rewards seem far too great for the small amount of effort required. On the other hand, some of the great things we think are exceptional, God sees as a daily norm: something he expects... who can know the mind of God? 1COR 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord; who has advised him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Seeing and Hearing the Invisible
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
What would we miss without sight and hearing? Even though our eyes and ears provide the vast majority of our perceptions of the world we live in; we still only see and hear, a very small portion of that which surrounds us. To give you a better picture of this, let's consider our sight. We only see 2.3% of the entire electromagnetic spectrum (97% is invisible to us). The same types of observations can be made with our senses of hearing and smell as well. We are aware of light and sound outside our senses through observation, logic and discovery. We use machines to reveal those parts of our world that our senses cannot process.
Absolute Proof
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
It is of great value to compare the signs, contained within the God given ministry of Moses, with the signs based gospel of Jesus Christ... Moses story is complete, while the Christian age is still underway. By comparing the two sign based ministries, we learn of the absolute proof being offered to God's people today.
First Priority
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The rapid expansion of technology, knowledge and materialism, has made it more confusing for Christians to get their scriptural priorities in order. As a result, many are fighting the wrong battle, investing their time in natural rewards rather than spiritual blessing. The Lord knew of the problems of this age long before it arrived. As a result, he has offered clear and logical scriptural directions, to help us live according to the very personal priorities, which are prepared for us. Not surprisingly, we have a job to do for God. The bible defines that our greatest priority must relate to maintaining a spiritually active life (this is our top calling... all the time). God's truth and strength need to be revealed to the world... billions of lives are exposed to needless death every minute of every day. The teachings of Jesus reinforce his personal concerns...on of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. The first priority (our God given role), is to offer to save people from certain death.
The Conscience
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
Everyone has a conscience: the sense of right and wrong that governs a person's thoughts and actions. This varies from person to person with parental and family input shaping the majority of values, followed by education and society inputs. Collectively this generates a moral compass to determine what is good and what is bad. Just as our body has nerve endings that signal our brain when things are wrong, ie., hot, cold, pain, etc,. Our conscience acts like nerve endings in the areas of the working of the mind... from which our life morals are formed. To give you an example... when I say 'smoking, drinking, lying, lazy, road rage, prayer, reading, fellowship, etc.,' Those parts of your conscience which are negatively affected, light up at the mention of certain words, but not all of them. This is a simple demonstration of our conscience at work. It also helps determine what choices we make, when personal gain or desire clash with our values. Our conscience offers a value and our mind may try and find an escape clause... the choice reveals our integrity.
The War Against Death
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
This Anzac Day weekend, has reminded us of the never ending battle for freedom and the huge cost of human lives to bring it about. We do well to face the reality that national freedom isn’t free at all... sacrifices (many beyond rational human understanding) have been made, some by family members and friends. Sadly the human race has also been fighting another battle that it has never won... the fight between life and death. Every human ever born, despite selfless acts of courage and sacrifice by soldiers and civilians alike, still end up in the grave.
You are the Light of the World
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The following scriptures reveal some simple, yet powerful metaphors about God's revelations to the human race. Most have never seen nor heard of the true Gospel of salvation with its miracles and signs as defined in the bible. You are the agent of light to this world in the same way that a torch might show a path in the darkness of the night.
The Search for a Better Life
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The quest for 'new and better', is a never ending human addiction, stimulated by world wide inventions... where even the poor have access to the latest mobile technology, television and scientific applications. Knowledge is doubling at the rate of every twelve months and will jump to every 12 hours with faster and more diverse internet access. Despite the obvious benefits of much of todays increase in technology, 'new and improved' is not always better. The bible predicted such advances over 2,500 years ago. DAN 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Sadly, our modern world is failing in more areas than it is excelling, because all the emphasis is on the natural and not the spiritual. Ignoring the creator of the universe, making unskilled spiritual decisions; will lead to the extinction of almost all human life (also scripturally predicted).