Monthly Archives: February 2025

February 27, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Careful Worship

1 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. 2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

Worship and generosity occupy Solomon’s musings In Ecclesiastes 5 as he considers life on this planet. This passage is filled with warnings and exhortations. Let’s take these seriously as we study this week’s lesson.

The first warning from the preacher deals with our worship. He exhorts us to be careful in how we approach and worship God. Evidently, many words and large-scale activities do not make for true praise. Worship is always a matter of the heart first. Prudence and wisdom are needed for effective adoration.

The same warnings apply to us. Worship can become mindless and routine if we allow it.  Our goal should be to come before God with longing and yearning to worship. Let us not allow our praise to denigrate into mere songs, words, and deeds which have no meaning. May our hearts, minds, and souls be engaged as we worship the one, true God.

Tony French

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February 24, 2025 · 9:00 am

Gracious God

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.

Psalm 145:8

As we study God’s Word, we find much encapsulated within this particular verse. This writing tells us something of the nature and character of God. What does it say to us?

**God is Gracious

God grants to us gifts and blessings which we do not deserve. He loves us when we are un-loveable. And He calls to human beings everywhere to repent and receive salvation.

**God is Compassionate

He doesn’t cast us aside and He continually seeks relationship with us. God is much more compassionate than we are. When our compassion wanes, God’s compassion is just beginning.

**God is Patient

God is “slow to anger.” He patiently waits and pursues, at the same time, those who are far from Him. This is not to say that God never becomes angry, for we know He does and rightfully so. Yet, His patience and longsuffering are astounding and wonderful to behold.

**God is Merciful

When we repent and trust Christ as our Savior, God graciously forgives us and spares us from what we truly deserve. His wrath was poured out upon Jesus. Therefore, He is just in mercifully keeping us from eternal separation from Himself and granting to us eternal life. (John 3:16)   Mercy tells us that God withholds from us what we truly deserve.

Friend, you are blessed!

Tony French

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February 20, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Anxiety

13 Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. 14 For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. 16 There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

Characteristic 4—Power Does Not Bring Peace

Solomon concludes this portion of text by reminding everyone of the meaninglessness of human power and authority. God does raise up leaders and He ordains human governments. But, power and prestige do not bring lasting peace and joy.

Only Christ can bring these gifts to us.

Kings come and go and kingdoms will ultimately cease. To trust in human power and authority is a foolish venture. It is certainly “vanity and vexation of the Spirit.”

There is more to the story. The good news of the gospel tells us that Jesus entered into “life under the sun.” The Word of God teaches us that Christ lived for our righteousness, died for our sins, and was raised again on the third day. And that all who believe in Him and trust in Christ shall be saved.

It is life in Christ that brings ultimate joy, peace, and hope. Life under the sun is helpless, senseless, and totally unfulfilling. Life in Christ gives us God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s promises. Life on this planet does not have to be dull and monotonous. Through Christ, we can have strength, love, and abundance. As Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 15:57, “thanks be to God who gives us the victory.”

Tony French

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February 17, 2025 · 9:00 am

Love One Another

“Love one another.” (John 13:34)  This command is given 15 times in the New Testament. Over and over again, we, as Believers, are commanded to love one another. It is one of the most oft-repeated directives in all of Holy Scripture.

We should love one another because Christ first loved us. (1 John 4:19)  Jesus’ love was shed abroad through His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. He loved us when we were far from Him. (Romans 5:8-11)  Therefore, we should love one another as God has loved us. Christ’s love for us should serve as an impetus for loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let us also love one another because it reflects the character of God. The Scriptures teach us that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8)  Love is not optional if we desire to accurately reflect the truth of God as we seek to minister and witness to the lost. Our love for one another is a most powerful “proof” that we are in Christ. (John 13:35)  People can argue with many things. But, they can’t argue with our love for one another when it is portrays the nature of God.

We ultimately love one another because it is commanded by the Word of God.  The command is clear and direct. If we are Christians who take the Scriptures seriously, we must love our fellow believers.

Yes, we are called to love all people. Learning to love all people begins with learning to love our fellow Christian. It is not always easy, but, it is always worth the cost.  Will you make a commitment to grow in your love for one another today?

Tony French

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February 13, 2025 · 9:00 pm

People Need People

9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

The third characteristic of “life under the sun” is the dependence of human beings on other human beings. No one is truly autonomous and solitary. Every person needs people.

Characteristic 3—We Need Others

Life “under the sun” reveals our great need for one another. No one is truly an island unto themselves. We need others in so many ways.

We need others to help us, comfort us, and walk with us. We need other people in our lives because no one can do everything. The interdependence of the human race is seen in our economy, our homes, and churches.

Let’s give thanks that God places people in our lives to help get through this life. Family, friends, and neighbors are vital to sustaining us until we see Jesus.

The church is important to Christians as we seek to live out the principles of God’s Word each day. Be faithful and be in fellowship with the church. We need the church, and we need each other more than we will ever know.

Tony French

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February 10, 2025 · 9:00 am

New Heaven, New Earth

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4

The New Heaven and the New Earth will be………………………

**Eternal

**Beautiful

**A Place of Togetherness

**Complete Contentment for All

**Forever New

**For Believers

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Tony French

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February 6, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Under The Sun #2

4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. 5 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. 6 Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: 8 There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-8

We are examining the second characteristic of “life under the sun” from the book of Ecclesiastes this week. And that second characteristic found in chapter 4 is the dearth of lasting peace. Life without God does not lead to peace and contentment. Let’s examine.

Characteristic 2—No Lasting Peace

Another feature of life on this earth is a lack of peace. Nothing in this life can fulfill us for very long. 

Our work doesn’t lead us to peace. Instead, it leads to bitterness, envy, and covetousness. Solomon laments the meaninglessness and vanity of labor under the sun.

Don’t misunderstand the point. Work is good and is given by God. God provides for us through our work and labor. It is far better to work and be productive than to be lazy and ineffectual.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that though work has a purpose, it can never bring lasting peace. Labor when seen outside of the sovereignty and the purview of God, is mere drudgery and monotony. But, when work is kept in its proper perspective as a gift from God, it becomes something altogether different. Keep this in mind when the alarm clock rings next Monday!

Tony French

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February 3, 2025 · 9:00 am

Unchanging

God is immutable. In His essential nature and person, God never changes. He works in different ways at different times. But, He never alters or wavers in His attributes and in who He is. Consider the following…….

**God’s Power Never Changes

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

Romans 1:16

**God’s Word Never Changes

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:8

**God’s Character Never Changes

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

**God’s Promises Never Change

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 

2 Corinthians 1:20

Tony French

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