Crime calls for an avenger. That’s the civil magistrate’s role as God’s minister. He is not to rehab criminals, but to bear the sword against them as a terror to evildoers (Rom. 13:3-4). So, when a man commits murder, for example, his life should be forfeit (Gen. 9:6). And justice should be swift. When it’s not, lawlessness explodes, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil” (Eccles. 8:11). When civil rulers coddle criminals, they despise God’s Word, and nations crumble. Only by acting as righteous avengers will they reverse this trend and fill their God-given role.

Sermon:

https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/68e35b84d3673935241c37b9

Young men—go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise (Prov. 6:6-8). The ant is self-motivated. She’s tireless, foresighted, team-oriented, resilient, and disciplined. She needs no boss. The sluggard, by contrast, has grand designs, but never carries them through to completion. He wastes time and money. He’s marked by procrastination, frivolous excuses, and distractions such as sports and pornography. So, go to the ant—learn from her focus and work diligently.

There's no teaching in the Christian life more unnatural to our human flesh than saying, “Bless those who persecute you” (Rom. 12:14), and do not repay “evil for evil . . . but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:17, 21). Yet this is the calling of a Christian. Thankfully, we’re not simply given a new set of rules, but a new nature—and out of that new nature comes a completely different way of living. So, when the world curses, you bless. When others succeed, you rejoice. When someone is crushed, you weep. When you're wronged, you turn and feed your enemy. This is the life of the person who has died and risen with Jesus Christ, who’s presented his body as “a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1).

Sermon: https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/68b537310d4e4f4e3cd15235