1. Oxos – Greek for sharp Moro – Greek for dull, foolish

2.  Jumbo Shrimp  Old news  Working vacation  Numb feeling  For golfers – Metal wood  Negative growth  Clearly misunderstood  Military intelligence

3.  Freezer burn  Fresh frozen  Expanded briefing  Almost Perfect  Exact estimate  Unbiased opinion  Plastic glasses  Oddly appropriate  There are also some Biblical Oxymornons

4.  38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. John 19:38-39

5.  Disciples are not ashamed  Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ  Disciples share their faith – not hide it  Are you a disciple of Jesus?  Are you trying to be a “secret disciple”?

6.  13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." Acts 10:13-15

7.  Peter was sure he was doing the Lord’s will  But, he refused to obey the command  Lord = Master, the one to give the commands, we are to obey  Is Jesus your LORD?  Do you obey the commands of your LORD?  "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? Luke 6:46

8.  1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. Acts 5:1-2

9.  Giving should be done willingly  6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:6-7

10.  Are you giving with some other motive? Honor and praise from others? As a tax deduction?  Are you lying about your giving?  Are you a selfish giver OR a cheerful giver?

11.  Parents often treat their children this way  Give them everything they want, ask for, desire  Make sacrifices for them to have it all  HOWEVER – Children must also learn to appreciate what they have, have gratitude, show responsibility  FAILURE TO DISCIPLINE IS “CRUEL KINDNESS”

12.  He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.  Proverbs 13:24  As parents, we want what is best for our children, sacrifice for them.  Don’t do that without teaching them gratitude and responsibility and showing them discipline.

13.  In some ways we created the “generation gap” that exists in many churches  Sometimes it is good to mix the ages for a combination of wisdom and zeal.  The church is a family – with toddlers and grandparents.

14.  Holy = sacred, set apart, sanctified, special  Sweat = hard work, effort, energy  Holy – is what we want to be  Sweat – is how we get there  Holy is not perfect.  Sweat is not salvation.  Sweat shows the dedication it takes to be holy.

15.  15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Revelation 3:15-16

16.  How can an active, alive, growing Christian be lukewarm?  Sing 7+ songs, pray 5+ prayers, give to the Lord, remember the death of Christ in communion, read and study from the Word of God – HOW CAN YOU BE LUKEWARM?

17.  Christian for 5 years?  Attend twice on Sunday (average 48 times a year) [time for sickness, work, and other reasons for absence]  SONGS – 7 X 2 X 48 X 5 = 3,360  PRAY – 5 X 2 X 48 X 5 = 2,400  COMMUNION – 48 X 5 = 240  GIVE – 48 X 5 = 240  STUDY – 2 X 48 X 5 = 480  HOW CAN YOU BE LUKEWARM?

18.  Is your life an “oxymoron” of contradictions?  No – we are not “PERFECT CHRISTIANS” - which is another oxymoron.  Our lives and example should be consistent with our claim.  What will it take to remove the oxymorons from your life?