TerryReese

Is life worth living--even in the face of suffering? Our 2nd message on Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide is also the 10th message in our Sanctity of Human Life Series. As families face growing dilemmas in today's evolving medical culture, our focus in this message is upon where our hearts as Christians need to be as we are called upon to place our trust in the will of the Lord.

Is life worth living--even in the face of suffering? Our 2nd message on Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide is also the 10th message in our Sanctity of Human Life Series. As families face growing dilemmas in today's evolving medical culture, our focus in this message is upon where our hearts as Christians need to be as we are called upon to place our trust in the will of the Lord.

God is a God of LIFE--but today, we are burdened with a "Culture of Death." In this message, we begin looking at Euthanasia--the deliberate & active termination of a human life, which follows the wicked course suggested by Job's wife: "Curse God and die! (Job 2:9)"

We continue our discussion on the dark world of abortion, a shameful blight on a nation that has slain 65 million innocents since 1973. While our sinful & self-absorbed culture continues to posture and lie to young women, offering its absurd and hypocritical high-sounding rhetoric about "reproductive rights," the LORD has spoken with uttermost clarity upon this matter: hands that shed innocent blood are an abomination unto the Lord (Prov. 6:16-17). Nonetheless, forgiveness can be found for those who have erred in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World! Hear His gracious word unto sinners: Isa. 1:18: “…though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” 1 John 1:7: “and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

God is a God of LIFE--but today, we are burdened with a "Culture of Death." In this message, we begin looking at Euthanasia--the deliberate & active termination of a human life, which follows the wicked course suggested by Job's wife: "Curse God and die! (Job 2:9)"

In biblical times, parents made the pragmatic profit/loss calculation to offer their babies as sacrifices to the false god Moloch, with the expectation that such a choice would ultimately procure various lifestyle benefits, including the enhancement of their economic prosperity. In modern times, parents likewise make the pragmatic profit/loss calculation to offer their babies as sacrifices to the altar of Self-Interest, with the expectation that such a choice will ultimately procure various lifestyle benefits, including the enhancement of their economic prosperity. This is the first of two messages focusing on the grisly matter of abortion--a disgrace to our modern civilization.

WHAT must we know in order to be saved? WHAT is the Gospel? It is my hope that this message will be a blessing unto a mixed company: namely, a blessing to both 1) those who know the Lord, and wish to share Him with others, and 2) to those uncertain seekers who desire to understand for themselves exactly what the Bible teaches concerning the Way of Salvation. If we are to communicate the Gospel Plan of Salvation clearly, accurately, and effectively, there are certain truths that MUST be understood and internalized. Our instruction here is based upon the Evangelism Explosion method for sharing the Gospel, which underscores the salient points that must be communicated as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. Let us be mindful that EVERY believer is called to be a missionary (Mark 16:15), and to be able to lovingly and accurately share the basis for the hope that is within them (1 Pet. 3:15)!

"God-Breathed & Profitable." This message was preached by Terry Reese at the 66th Allegheny Conservative Grace Brethren District Conference at Camp Albryoca on 5/13/23. Our Conference theme was based upon 2 Tim. 3:16-17. Pastor Christopher Knight (Listie GBC) masterfully served as our piano accompanist, and our District Vice Moderator Pastor Thomas Johnson (Somerset GBC) provided the saxophone solo. What a blessing it was for the Allegheny Brethren to come together! We are thankful to everyone who came and participated, including all of our District Officers. Special thanks also to our Ladies' President, Peggy Reese, and our special Ladies' Workshop speaker, Mrs. Cathy Johnson. A special thanks also to the camp caretaker, Pastor John Townsend. The video montage accompanying this recording includes some photos from the event (taken by Pastor Knight), as well as some random photos of Camp Albryoca and of our District Ministerium.

Lev. 19:15: "You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness." As we continue our discussion on the sin of partiality, we focus upon various common manifestations of this gross error as seen within the general society--as well as within the context of our local churches.

"But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors" (James 2:9). The sin of partiality is enormously offensive to God, and represents a debasement of human life, which is created in the Image of God. Part 1 of this message reminds us that while there are legitimate distinctions amongst men, which are regulated by Scriptural admonitions and directives, these distinctive categories do not nullify the fact all men are created equal.

"But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors" (James 2:9). The sin of partiality is enormously offensive to God, and represents a debasement of human life, which is created in the Image of God. Part 1 of this message reminds us that while there are legitimate distinctions amongst men, which are regulated by Scriptural admonitions and directives, these distinctive categories do not nullify the fact all men are created equal.

The dignity of man's existence is being undercut in many ways in our modern post-Christian culture. As we begin analyzing some of these broader, disturbing societal trends, we focus this week upon the matter of Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Retributive Justice... and what God's Word has to say about it.

James 3:7-10 admonishes us not to curse that which was created in the image of God with our tongues. Employing the last six of the Ten Commandments (i.e., those dealing with how we treat our fellow man), we illustrate in this message how often we fail to honor the Image of God in our neighbors and thus debase the sanctity of human life on a daily, habitual basis.

Gen. 9:6: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man." This is our second message on the Sanctity of Human Life--centering largely upon those provisions of the Rainbow Covenant (Gen. 9) which God, in His mercy, instituted to ensure that man's existence would not be as violent or chaotic as it had been prior to the Flood.

Our Founding Fathers, guided by bright star of Biblical revelation, affirmed the following: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Today, the west faces a crisis, rooted in its denial of the Creator and its denial of creation of Man in the Image and Likeness of God. In this message, we ponder what it means, specifically, to be created in the Imago Dei.