Trinity Community Church- Pastor Jim Folk: Recent Episodes
Trinity Community Church- Cary NC
Sermons and other messages from Trinity Community Church in Cary, NC. We seek to love God passionately, love others sacrificially, and share Christ intentionally.
“Don’t Give up…Don’t ever give up.” –Jim Valvano at the 1993 ESPY awards
Sermon from 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
The post “We do not lose heart”- Why Christians can keep going and not give up. appeared first on Trinity Community Church.
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The post Gospel Impact- 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 appeared first on Trinity Community Church.
Message from 2 Corinthians 3:7-11
Other Sermons from 2 Corinthians
What is New About the New Covenant?The post The Glory of the New Covenant- Part 1 appeared first on Trinity Community Church.
What is the New Covenant? What are the Key differences between the New Covenant, compared to the Old Covenant? The New Covenant is God making a way through his Son Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is sealed through Christ’s blood–so that people can be made right with Him and have spiritual, everlasting life.
The Spirit of God seals our salvation and writes His law on our hearts. So now, our motivation to obey God because we love Him. Our motivation is to obey Him out of gratitude, joy, and the pleasure of being in His will.
Paul defends his apostleship to the Corinthians, and points back to the gospel message. Their changed lives are all the recommendation he needs. Next, he reminds them of the power and assurance of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant. The letter of the law, and the law itself, could not produce new life. Only the Holy Spirit can produce new life and a new heart. Only the Holy Spirit can give us a new desire to obey God.
What’s New about the New Covenant? Crossway.orgWhat is ‘new’ About the New Covenant? DesiringGod.org He is the Propitiation for our SinsForgiveness brings a person out of darkness into lightThe post Key differences between the Old Covenant and New Covenant appeared first on Trinity Community Church.
Jesus is our Advocate before the Father. People have many ways to excuse sin. People joke, “Politicians will say anything to get elected.” Christians may say anything in order to save face or avoid admitting sin. But the good news is that Jesus is our Advocate before the Father!
Message from 1 John 1:5-2:6
We hesitate to use the word sin. It is much easier and more appealing to our conscience to refer to “misspeaking” or a “temporary lapse of judgment.” When celebrities or athletes are held to account for the language they use, they often say, “Those words don’t represent who I am.” Maybe so, but the words do represent something- at minimum your state of mind at the time. A candidate in the recent vice presidential debate referred to himself as a “knucklehead,” instead of admitting a specific discrepancy and error.
This talk obscures two bigger issues. It obscures the specific sins for which we need forgiveness. It also obscures the sin tendency deep within our hearts. We have inherited guilt from Adam, and we need forgiveness and cleansing before a righteous and holy God’s, whose wrath burns against sin ten times hotter than the surface of the sun. John identifies several false claims about sin which people use in order to avoid admitting they need forgiveness. They need someone to be the atoning sacrifice for their sins. A person cannot reconcile himself to God. reconciled Jesus is the atoning sacrifice who reconciles us to God the Father!
Click here for last week’s message:
Fragrance of Life, Fragrance of death
Jesus is our Advocate before the FatherThe post “He is the propitiation for our sins.” appeared first on Trinity Community Church.
Message from 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
What happens when God’s people proclaim the gospel? Because God stands behind them, they can be confident that some will repent and believe, and others will reject the message. Paul writes and reassures the Corinthians that whenever they speak the gospel, they are victors. Their words and their lives are the aroma of Christ leading to the knowledge of God for others.
Message from 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 on church discipline, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
After a man in the church is expelled from fellowship due to sexual immorality, Paul commands the church to welcome him back after he has repented. Otherwise, he would be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and the people in the church would become hard-hearted, playing into Satan’s evil designs.
Sermon by elder Jeff McSwain
Listen to Part 1 of this message: The Surrendered Moment- Part 1
Message from Romans 6:1-14 and Colossians 2:12-13 Click on Save PDF to view Sermon notes
Sermon from Revelation 3:14-22, the letter to the Laodiceans
Photo of Laodicea on the Lycus, Phrygia, Turkey. By Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikipedia Commons
Message from Revelation 3:7-13. Click Save PDF to view sermon notes
“To the one who conquers I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God…” Revelation 3:12 ESV
Photo by Magnus Engø on Unsplash
Exodus 18:1–15 ESV
[1] Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. [2] Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, [3] along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), [4] and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). [5] Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. [6] And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” [7] Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. [8] Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. [9] And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
[10] Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. [11] Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” [12] And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
[13] The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. [14] When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”
[15] And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; [16] when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” [17] Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. [18] You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. [19] Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, [20] and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. [21] Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. [22] And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. [23] If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
[24] So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. [25] Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. [26] And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. [27] Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.
Easter Sunday Message from Exodus chapter fifteen. Click on SAVE PDF to access sermon notes
Luke 5:27–32 ESV
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 19.1-10 ESV
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Exodus 7:1–13 ESV
Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh
[1] And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. [2] You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. [3] But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, [4] Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. [5] The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” [6] Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them. [7] Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
[8] Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, [9] “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” [10] So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. [11] Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. [12] For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. [13] Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Sermon on John 15:1-11
Week 3 of the theme “Walking with Christ”
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Psalm 80:7–15 (ESV)
[7] Restore us, O God of hosts;let your face shine, that we may be saved! [8] You brought a vine out of Egypt;you drove out the nations and planted it.[9] You cleared the ground for it;it took deep root and filled the land.[10] The mountains were covered with its shade,the mighty cedars with its branches.[11] It sent out its branches to the seaand its shoots to the River.[12] Why then have you broken down its walls,so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?[13] The boar from the forest ravages it,and all that move in the field feed on it.[14] Turn again, O God of hosts!Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,[15] the stock that your right hand planted,and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.John 15:1-11 ESV
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Message on John 10:7-30. Part of the 3 week theme, “Walking with Christ”
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Sermon from John 6:35-59. Part of this month’s theme- “Walking with Christ”
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Luke 1:26-38
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The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to Jesus the Messiah. Did Mary do anything special to deserve this honor? Many Hebrews girls would have imagined that one day, one of them would give birth to the future King in the line of David. What was it about Mary that God chose her? She and Joseph lived modestly and bravely, following God’s instructions. What is the significance of Jesus’ name and titles, “Son of the Most High”? Listen and find out more…
Mark 1:1-8
God sent a messenger- John the Baptist- to disrupt our human comfort, in order to point us to the true comforter, Jesus Christ.
Message from Matthew 24:36-51 (Week 2 of Advent)
At Christmas we celebrate the incarnation: the fact that Jesus was born as fully man and fully God: literally “God with us” which is what the word Immanuel means. However we don’t celebrate Jesus birth simply because it was miraculous. We celebrate Christmas every year because Christians are looking forward to when Jesus Christ will return in power and glory, as he himself said. (Matthew 24:36-51) He told his disciples these things so that they would be ready (not caught unaware), and faithful (busy doing the God’s will on earth (not sitting idle or speculating on when he will return). Every day is another 24 hours closer to Jesus’ return. Are you ready? Will you be found faithful?
Sermon from Exodus 6:1-13 Moses was called by God to go before Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. After declaring God’s plans to Pharaoh, the Israelites predicament worsens- they are forced to make bricks without straw. Moses finds himself opposed by Pharaoh and opposed by his own people. Often in our lives, things…
Exodus chapter five- Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and tell him to let God’s people go. Pharaoh refuses to listen and makes life harder for the Israelites. The Israelite foreman complain to Pharaoh and to Moses. Moses becomes dejected and cries out to the LORD. How do you respond when you seek to obey…
Today we baptized three people who have committed to follow Jesus. Baptism is a sign of the new covenant, which Jesus commanded his disciples to follow. It is a celebration of the work of God in someones life- granting salvation by grace through faith.
Text: Exodus 4:10-31 Moses gives God several excuses, but God graciously removes them. Moses continues in trust and obedience, with a lot to learn along the way. Zipporah intervenes because of Moses’ neglect to follow God’s command.
From Exodus 3, we see that Moses followed God’s call, by first responding “Here I am.” Despite several excuses, failures, and sins, God used Moses in a to lead God’s people. God can do the same in your life as you seek to serve Him. Remember that God is the one who strengthens and equips…
How does God tell us to live in the midst of a pagan culture? Seek the welfare (peace-shalom) of the city. Be involved in your community- seek the Lord on behalf of your city.
God graciously preserves His people in miraculous and mysterious ways. Even when it seems the messianic line of promised offspring is threatened, God sovereignly directs events to display his glorious plan of salvation.
God instructs Christian to obey governing authorities, which are placed over us to keep order and restrain evil. Even when government corrupt, we are commanded to live exemplary lives which point people to Christ-our true hope, and which point people to heaven-our true home. We must not put our ultimate hope in human government.
If you are a Christian, you belong to Jesus Christ. He is the cornerstone of Gods House- where we, as living stones, are being built into the place where God dwells with His people.
Our culture urges us to buy limitlessly, receive immediately, and dispose thoughtlessly. Where are our priorities in relation to the kingdom of God? We are part of something supernatural, which will always run counter to the cultural tide.
In this parable- Jesus teaches people the importance of humility, and not self-importance. He addresses those who went looking for the places of honor, in order to appear favored in front of others. His teaching points to his very incarnation- the fact that he made himself nothing, instead taking the form of a servant.(Philippians 2:8-9) Our very salvation is dependent on our Saviors humbler nature.
The kingdom of God operates on grace, not on merit. God is more than fair- He is gracious and compassionate.