Sermon: The foremost condemnation (2 Thess 1:6-7,9)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Condemnation (2 Thess 1:6-7,9)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

When charged with wrongdoing, quick thinking can sometimes figure a way out.

The owner of a small New York sandwich deli was being questioned by an IRS agent about his tax return. He had reported a net profit of $80,000 for the year. "Why don't you people leave me alone?" the deli owner said. "I work like a dog, everyone in my family helps out, the place is only closed three days a year. And you want to know how I made $80,000?" "It's not your income that bothers us," the agent said. "It's these travel deductions. You listed six trips to Florida for you and your wife." "Oh, that," the owner said. "It is a legitimate business expense...because we also deliver."

When charged with wrongdoing, quick thinking can sometimes figure a way out. Such a tactic, however, will not help those who face The Foremost Condemnation.

Paul's first letter to the congregation at Thessalonica may be his earliest epistle (51), offering a glimpse at what challenges the church faced only a few years after Jesus' ascension, including resistance to the gospel message¹ and uncertainty about Jesus' return.² Paul discusses the expectation of that return and its implications for believers, both those who have died and those who remain alive. Paul wrote his second letter to the congregation a few months later (52), again addressing persecution of the believers as well as speculation about the return of Jesus. Paul wants to encourage his readers that the opposition they face will not go unanswered and that Jesus, when he does come, will provide a reckoning and will redress their suffering. In fact, his advent will trigger...

Sermon: The foremost confrontation (Rev 19:19-21)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Confrontation (Rev 19:19-21)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

We all have to make decisions in life, some decisions more difficult than other decisions.

Four friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night, one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an impressive eight-point buck. "Where's Henry?" the others asked. "Henry had a stroke or something. He's a couple of miles back along the trail," his partner replied. "You left Henry lying out there and carried the deer back?" they asked, stunned. "It was a tough call," the successful hunter said, "but I figured...no one's gonna steal Henry!"

We all have to make decisions in life, some more difficult than others. One decision that should not be difficult is what side we will be on in The Foremost Confrontation.

The book of Revelation opens with seven messages to seven churches, then describes a series of divine judgments that will take place against the wicked. This will enrage the opposition, which will gather all its forces in a last ditch effort to gain supremacy. That effort will fail, and it will lead to...

Sermon: The foremost congregation (Rev 7:9-12)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Congregation (Rev 7:9-12)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

People are naturally curious about the future, both the immediate future and the ultimate future. What will they be doing down the road?

Bob and Doug were not only best friends, they were the biggest of baseball fans. They spent much of their time discussing baseball history, checking the scores, and went to as many games as possible every season. They promised each other that whoever died first would come back and reveal if there was baseball in heaven. One night Bob passed away in his sleep. A few nights later, his pal Doug woke up to the sound of Bob's voice from the beyond. "Is that you Bob?" Doug asked. "Of course it's me," Bob replied. "I can't believe it!" exclaimed Doug. "Tell me, is there baseball in heaven?" "Doug," his friend answered, "I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?" "Tell me the good news first," Doug replied. "Well Doug, the good news is, you bet there's baseball in heaven.... The bad news is...you're pitching tomorrow."

People are naturally curious about the future. What will they be doing down the road? While the immediate future may be unclear, the ultimate future is not. One day, you will be part of The Foremost Congregation that John describes in his Revelation.

Sermon: The foremost conflagration (2 Pet 3:10-11)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Conflagration (2 Pet 3:10-11)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

One of the many challenges we face these days is how to deal with a changing world.

A shipwrecked sailor spent several years on a deserted island. Then one morning he was thrilled to see a ship offshore and a smaller vessel pulling out toward him. When the smaller boat grounded on the beach, the officer in charge handed the marooned sailor a bundle of newspapers and told him, "With the captain's compliments. He said to read through these and let us know...if you still want to be rescued."

One of the many challenges we face these days is how to deal with a changing world. At times we might prefer avoiding the challenge altogether. While avoidance might be possible in some situations, it will not be possible when God unleashes The Foremost Conflagration.

We noted last week that in Peter's second epistle, the apostle addresses doubts some people are raising about "the day of the Lord," when God will wrap up His program. Given the delay since Jesus' departure, perhaps the divine plan has changed.¹ Peter assures his readers that the plan is still on track and that any perceived delay is not a problem with God's program but with man's perception, because the Lord's view of time is very different.

Sermon: The foremost consideration (2 Pet 3:9,13)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Consideration (2 Pet 3:9,13)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

Patience is an important virtue, but it is sometimes difficult to practice, unless what you are looking for is worth the wait.

A prisoner in jail received a letter from his wife: "I want to plant some corn in the back garden, and I'm anxious to get started. The mere prospect of fresh corn makes my mouth water. Would next week be too soon to start?" Her husband, suspecting that the prison guards might be reading the mail, wrote back: "Dear Wife, whatever you do, don't touch the back garden! That is where I buried the money from that last bank heist." A few days later, he received another letter from his wife: "You wouldn't believe what happened. Some law enforcement officers came with shovels and dug up the whole back garden." Her husband replied: "Dear Wife...now is the best time to plant the corn!"

Patience is an important virtue, but it is sometimes difficult to practice, unless your priorities are clear, as God's are in exercising The Foremost Consideration.

As time passed since the period of Jesus' ministry, and as the mission he entrusted to the apostles reached farther into the Roman Empire, some people were beginning to wonder at the delay in the completion of God's program.¹ A few were even raising serious doubts that He would complete it.

2 Pet 3:4 They...say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

In response, Peter reminds his readers that God operates on a different timetable, a difference these skeptics intentionally ignore.

Sermon: The foremost configuration (1 Pet 1:2)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Configuration (1 Pet 1:2)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

Three is a simple number,¹ a number we associate with simple concepts and simple calculations... usually.

Three elderly men are visiting the doctor for a memory test. The doctor says to the first man, "What is three times three?" "274," the man answers. Turning to the second man, the doctor asks, "What is three times three?" "Tuesday," the man answers. Turning to the third man, the doctor asks, "What is three times three?" "Nine", the man answers. "Good," says the doctor. "How did you get that"? "Simple," the third man says.... "I subtracted 274 from Tuesday."

Three is a simple number, a number we associate with simple concepts and simple calculations...usually. Another use of three also involves a simple calculation but not a simple concept, that is The Foremost Configuration in its description of God.²

Sermon: The foremost conformation (Phil 3:21)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Conformation (Phil 3:21)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

When we enter a new stage in life, such as a new place to live or a new job, we may have certain expectations of how things are or should be, expectations that require some adjustment.

A social worker had recently transferred from the big city to the mountains and was touring her new territory. She came upon the tiniest cabin she had ever seen. Intrigued, she knocked on the door. "Is anybody home?" she asked. A child's voice answered, "Yep." "Is your father there?" "Pa? Nope, he left before Ma came in." "Well, is your mother there?" "Nope, Ma left just before I got here." "Are you never together as a family?" she asked. "Sure we are, but not here.... This is the outhouse!"

When we enter a new stage in life, we may have certain expectations that require adjustment. There is a stage of life we will all enter one day, The Foremost Conformation, and it is best to review whatever expectations you may have sooner rather than later.

On Paul's final trip to Jerusalem, after his third missionary journey, he encountered such opposition that he decided to take his case up the political ladder from the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem to the emperor in Rome. Critics, including those sympathetic to Paul's mission, may have thought that the apostle should keep a low profile and conduct his mission of spreading the gospel under the radar of imperial scrutiny. Apparently he felt differently,¹ opting for a more public stance. Taking advantage of his Roman citizenship,² he said to Festus, the procurator in Judea...³

Sermon: The foremost contention (1 Cor 2:9)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Contention (1 Cor 2:9)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

Whenever opinionated people get together, there is potential for argument, and the challenge is deciding whether or not the disagreement is worth the debate, especially when the future may hold something quite different.

Three hunters were walking through the woods when they came upon a set of tracks. The first man said, "These are deer tracks." The second man said, "No, these are elk tracks." The third man said, "You're both wrong; these are moose tracks." The three men were still arguing...when the train hit them.

Whether in the woods or in the church, the challenge is deciding whether or not the disagreement is worth the debate, especially when the future may hold something quite different. That is Paul's concern as he tries to focus his readers' attention on their future as God presents it in The Foremost Contention.

Paul opens his first letter to the Corinthian church, as he does others, with an expression of gratitude for what God has done among the believers there.¹

1 Cor.1:4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

The apostle commends and encourages his readers, reminding them how they have benefited.

1 Cor 1:5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.... 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

Sermon: The foremost contradiction (Rom 5:7-8)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Contradiction (Rom 5:7-8)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

Sometimes, you have to make a substitution, and usually it is not particularly consequential.

• The restaurant does not have the one item you were craving, and you have to choose a different entre.
• The road to your destination is blocked by construction, and you have to find a different route.
• The shirt you were going to wear has a spot on it, and you have to select a different garment.

A Wisconsin couple decided to take their winter vacation in Florida, and they planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of different responsibilities, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Wisconsin and flew to Florida first. His wife would fly down the next day. When the husband checked into the hotel, he noticed a computer in the room, so he decided to send a brief email to his wife, but he accidentally substituted one letter for another in her e-mail address and sent the note without realizing his error.

Meanwhile.....somewhere in Texas, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory. The woman decided to check her e-mail, expecting condolences from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, though, she fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother revived but flustered and pointing to a message on the computer screen which read:

To my loving wife,
I've arrived. I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now, and you're allowed to send e-mails.... Everything has been prepared for your arrival...tomorrow.... P.S. It sure is hot down here!

Sometimes, you have to make a substitution, and usually it is not particularly consequential...although it may be. One time, God made a substitution, and it was very consequential. It was also both unlikely and unexpected, certainly undeserved, and may even have seemed to be The Foremost Contradiction.

Sermon: The foremost continuation (Matt 25:46)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Continuation (Matt 25:46)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

It is generally wise to plan ahead. That may not be possible, though, in every situation.

An insurance agent was teaching his wife to drive when the brakes suddenly failed on a steep, downhill grade. "I can't stop!" she shouted. "What should I do?" "Brace yourself," her husband replied... "and try to hit something cheap."

Planning ahead may not be possible in every situation, especially when events are suddenly moving rapidly to an unpleasant end. If there is time, however, and that unpleasant end is in sight, it may be critical to make a decision sooner rather than later. That is certainly the case with The Foremost Continuation.

Matthew organizes his gospel by alternating between sections of what Jesus did and what he said, between narrative and discourse. In the narrative sections, Matthew relates (among other things) some of the more significant events in Jesus' life, especially his many miracles. In the discourse sections, Matthew records a few of Jesus' extended periods of instruction to his disciples, such as the Sermon on the Mount. As Jesus earthly ministry draws to a close, he gives one more extended discourse to his disciples, this one on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple in Jerusalem. That view of God's house prompts the disciples to ask about God's plan for the future

Matt 24:3b "Tell us," they said, "...what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

Sermon: The foremost confiscation (Matt 13:12)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Confiscation (Matt 13:12)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

When something goes missing, if it is important, it can cause some anxiety, especially if it is taken from us.

As Joe left the meeting and walked toward the parking lot, he hunted for his keys. They were not in his pockets. A return to the meeting room revealed nothing. Then it dawned on him; he must have left them in the car. He headed for the parking lot again, remembering how his wife would often scold him for leaving the keys in the ignition. His usual response was, "The ignition is the best place not to lose them." "Some day," she would reply, "that car will be stolen." Reaching the parking lot, Joe came to a terrifying realization. Her prediction had come to pass. The parking lot was empty. He immediately called the police, gave a description of the stolen vehicle, and confessed that he had left his keys in the ignition. Joe waited a bit, then made the most difficult call. "Honey," he stammered—Joe always called her "Honey" at times like these—"I left my keys in the car, and it's been stolen." There was a period of silence. Then he heard her voice. "Oh, Joseph!" She always called him "Joseph" at times like these. "I dropped you off!" ...Now it was Joe's turn to be silent. Embarrassed, he said, "Well, would you please come and get me." "I will," she replied... "as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car."

When something goes missing, it can cause some anxiety. Jesus describes something far more important than a vehicle as we continue to answer the question of our series What Is Foremost? This morning we will consider The Foremost Confiscation.

One of the most common rhetorical devices Jesus used in his preaching and teaching was the parable, and the gospels record over forty of them. While the majority of parables appear in only one of the gospels, six parables made a significant enough impression that all three synoptic writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—recorded them.¹ One of those six, "The Different Soils," Jesus tells to a large group that has gathered to hear him, now well into his public ministry.

Sermon: The foremost constellation (Matt 2:1-2)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Constellation (Matt 2:1-2)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

Of the many lessons children need to learn, one of the most important is expressing gratitude for what others do.

After Christmas, the children were not always faithful in discharging their thank-you note responsibilities. As a result their grandmother rarely received acknowledgment of the generous checks she gave them. One year, however, things were different. "The children came over in person to thank me," she told a friend triumphantly. "How wonderful!" her friend exclaimed. "What do you think caused the change in behavior?" "Oh, that's easy," the grandmother replied. "This year I didn't sign the checks."

Of the many lessons children need to learn, one of the most important is expressing gratitude for what others do. Thankfully, when God gave His son to pay for our sin, He did not wait to sign the check. He even provided another kind of sign.

Part of the infancy narratives of Jesus is the brief account of a visit by distant travelers. It is an unusual event that raises the question: What interest would a group of affluent gentiles have in a Jewish family of modest means?

Sermon: The foremost conception (Matt 1:20-21)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Conception (Matt 1:20-21)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

Some things you hear are difficult to believe, no matter how long you ponder them.

On a trip to Italy, the tour group stood inside St. Peter's Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. The guide explained, "This church is so large that no man on earth could hit a baseball from one end to the other, not Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron or even Mark McGuire." The group stared in silence at the beautiful marble sculptures, intricate paintings, and glorious mosaics all around the enormous building. Then one tour member asked... "You mean, they actually let them hit baseballs in here?"

Some things you hear are difficult to believe. Some people might find that to be so for The Foremost Conception.

Matthew's task in his gospel is to establish the case for Jesus' being the messiah, and he begins by detailing the rabbi's impressive pedigree, tracing his genealogy back countless generations, a thousand years to David, then two thousand years to Abraham. After that, Matthew takes a completely different tack, indicating that Jesus has another, even more impressive pedigree, that derives from...

Sermon: The foremost construction (Ezek 37:7,10)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Construction (Ezek 37:7,10)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

When Linda and I first began our monthly visits to Snow Hill, the most direct route crossed a small bridge. At some point, the county decided to renovate the bridge and closed it to traffic, which required us to take a longer and less direct route. Every month we looked to see if the "Road Closed" sign was still up. After three years, that sign was a permanent a fixture.... Some construction projects seem to take forever. Perhaps we should have done what another driver did.

The off-ramp of a freeway in Long Beach, CA, has been torn up for years. Eventually, someone put up a handmade sign reading, "Scientists tell us that the sun will burn out in one and a half billion years. It's sad that this contractor...will have to finish working in the dark."

God also has a building project in mind, but once started, He will not stop until it is complete. Much more than a small bridge, it will be The Foremost Construction.

In 586 B.C., the Babylonian army invaded Judah for the third and final time. Each of the three incursions penetrated increasingly deeper into the heart of the Southern Kingdom, finally attacking and destroying the capital itself. The Babylonians probably would have preferred to avoid this campaign, if only the Judean king had cooperated. Alas, he did not. Having refused to pay the required tribute and seeking an alliance with Egypt, King Zedekiah was the last in a series of rulers who defied Nebuchadnezzar, who then saw little choice but to suppress the revolt and to make an example of Judah, lest other vassal states follow.

The situation that precipitated this final attack was actually Judah's persistent failure to heed the warnings of God's prophets. His spokesmen first inveighed against idolatry, which was rampant among the people and had penetrated even the temple. Ezekiel describes the extent of corruption there.¹

Sermon: The foremost conceptualization (Ezek 1:26-28)

WHAT IS FOREMOST?
The Foremost Conceptualization (Ezek 1:26-28)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)

How do you get your information? The answer probably depends on the kind of information you want. If you watch TV, you can check the Weather Channel to know what the forecast will be or a news channel to get the day's headlines. If you are an internet user, there are sites for that information and more. There are even sites to determine if the symptoms you are experiencing match a particular illness.

Mori was a hypochondriac, always assuming he had some dreaded disease, and he would often check his symptoms on internet web sites, which only fueled his paranoia as his imagination would find connections with some new malady. His alarm grew ever greater with each self-diagnosis but reached its peak as he was researching liver disorders and found himself identifying with every symptom listed: loss of appetite, restless sleep, lethargy. He did feel somewhat better, though, when he read the last symptom.... "No longer enjoys romping and wagging its tail."

How do you get your information? The answer probably depends on the kind of information you want. If you want to know about God, it is best to go directly to the source, as Ezekiel does in The Foremost Conceptualization.

Ezekiel was among a group of Israelite captives that enemy forces relocated to a settlement by the Chebar River in Babylon. He is best known as one of the major prophets, but that was the job God gave him in exile. Before his capture, he was a priest at the temple in Jerusalem, and much of his initial writing concerns the decline of religion back home, among those Judeans the invaders left behind.