REGENERATION and RENEWAL

By

Shelby G. Floyd

Many of the Old Testament ordinances and institutions were typical of the ordinances and institutions of the New Testament; for instance, the tabernacle and later the temple, along with its ordinances and institutions, were typical of the New Testament temple of God, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Surrounding the tabernacle and the temple was a large enclosure in which anyone might congregate: this was typical of the world at large. Beyond this, the Jews were allowed to assemble, but still, there were further restrictions. Only the priests could pass into the court of the tabernacle. As they faced the tabernacle proper, there was first the brazen altar on which they offered their sacrifice to expiate their sins and the sins of the people. Next, they passed from the brazen altar to a laver, or as it is sometimes called a bath; it was also called the laver of purification. Every priest had to wash and to cleanse himself in these waters of purification before entering into the sanctuary to offer up his worship to God. Continue reading “REGENERATION and RENEWAL”

VICTORY AVENUE

By

Shelby G. Floyd

What a great song service today! There is nothing like a great song service to lift a preacher up and cause him to do the best job he can in presenting a sermon (Ephesians 5:18-19). We appreciate so much all of you singing out on those beautiful songs in praise to our God.

I am sure that all of us are very happy with the good weather and the Thanksgiving holiday we’ve had this past week. We were blessed last week to have our daughter Cheryl and Greg with us. And today we’re glad to have our daughter Teresa and John with us. We are also glad that many of you have family and visitors with you today.

Some time ago I preached a series of lessons based on the streets in the neighborhood around our church building. The people who planned this neighborhood must have been religious, because they named the streets after biblical concepts. I presented sermons on Faith Street, Melody Avenue, Hope Court and Love Avenue. The Bible declares that there is “faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). But I overlooked one of the streets around our church building-and that is the street called Victory Avenue. That is the title of this lesson. Continue reading “VICTORY AVENUE”