Emmaus Bible Church Sermons: Recent Episodes
Emmaus Bible Church
Practical Bible classes and theological lectures from Emmaus Bible Church. Sunday morning sermons are at http://emmausbiblechurch.org/sermons.
Even man's rage rebounds to God's Praise.
- God's Place (1-3)
- God's Victory (4-10)
- God's Due (11-12)
In the midst of persecution, God our King is working salvation.
Four facets of past destruction are applicable to present persecution:
- Unsettling Constrasts a. They (4-8) b. Us (1-2, 9) c. You (12-17)
- Unanswered Questions a. Why? (1, 11) b. How long? (9-10)
- Urgent Prayers a. Remember (2, 18, 20, 22-23) b. Arise (3, 11, 22)
- Ultimate Assurance (12)
- Application: Three Temples Attacked a. Christ b. Church c. Christians
When we recount the album of God’s Greatness, we can’t help but give thanks.
The Album of God’s Greatness includes:
- His Name (1)
- His Time (2-3)
- His Warning (4-5)
- His Cup (6-8)
- His Cutting and Lifting (9-10)
True prosperity is found in possessing God.
Two ways of viewing prosperity: 1. Man's Way (1-16) 2. God's Way (17-28)
The Messiah's kingdom brings eternal and universal blessing.
Five prayerful longings regarding Messiah's kingdom: 1. Equity (1-4) 2. Endurance (5-7) 3. Expansion (8-11) 4. Empathy (12-14) 5. Eminence (15-20)
Dealing with a crisis of faith
Outline: Things we can learn from a senior citizen when facing difficulties
I. The Problem a. A sense of rejection or worthlessness 9a b. Declining strength or weakness 9b c. Isolation - 11c d. Enemies - 4,10,13 e. Loss of reputation and disrespect 3, 11, 7 f. Vulnerability 10b, 11b,c g. Troubles in general- 20 II. The Panacea (remedy) a. He Prays to God (2-4, 12) as he preaches to himself: b. He first looks to the past for hope 5,6,17 c. He sees God as his only present hope 7,8 d. He then looks to the future with hope 14-24 III. Final thoughts:
Be prepared to meet Christ face to face.
Outline: Be Prepared by…
- Guarding against Lawless People (17)
- Growing in the Grace and Knowledge of Christ (18a)
- Glorifying Christ Now (18b)
Future eschatology impacts present ethics.
Future eschatology impacts present: 1. Priorities (11) 2. Perspectives (12-13) 3. Purity (14) 4. Procrastination (15) 5. Perceptivity (16)
We must learn to patiently wait the coming day of the Lord. Three hopeful reminders to comfort impatient doubters waiting for the day of the Lord: 1. His promise takes its time (8) 2. His promise allows for time (9) 3. His promise is right on time (10)
Past predictions and patters prove the Parousia. Three exhortations regarding the Parousia: 1. Remember the predictions (1-2) 2. Recognize the pretenders (3-4) 3. Recall the pattern (5-7)
Empty promises and empty professions end in punishment. Tho characterizations of false teachers: 1. Empty promises (17-19) 2. Empty professions (20-22)
False teachers are exposed by their vice.Outline: Three vices that expose false teachers: 1. Arrogance (10b-13a) 2. Lust (13b-14a) 3. Greed (14b-16)
Proposition: False teachers plague the Church, but God promises to rescue the godly and judge the unrighteous.Outline: 1. Warning about False Teachers (1) 2. Truths about False Teachers (1-3) 3. O.T. Examples of God’s Judgment and God’s Salvation (4-8) 4. Implications (9-10)
Christ’s return in glory could not be more certain.Two authoritative witnesses concerning Christ’s return: 1. Apostolic witness (12-18) a. What they saw (16) b. What they heard (17-18) 2. Prophetic witness (19-21) a. Fully confirmed (19) b. Verbally inspired (20-21)
Make every effort to grow in grace…1. ...because of Christ’s gracious provision. (5a)2. ...by supplementing Christian qualities. (5b-7)3. ...or you will forget. (8-9)4. ...and you will not fall. (10-11)
All Christian growth is grounded in grace. Peter lays the groundwork for growth through: 1. A grace-filled greeting (1-2) 2. A grace-filled reminder (3-4_
All Christian growth is grounded in grace. Peter lays the groundwork for growth through: 1. A grace-filled greeting (1-2) 2. A grace-filled reminder (3-4_
Condemnation gives way to vindication through resurrectionOutline: Four lenses to view the resurrection:1. Drama (1-8)2. Doctrine3. Doxology4. Discipleship
Jesus' Passion reveals He is the Christ, the Son of God 1. Silence of the King (1-5) 2. Satisfaction of the crowd (6-15) 3. Satire of the cruelty (16-32) 4. Significance of the cross (33-47)
Jesus alone stands on trial as the innocent Son of Man who was falsely condemned. Three Trials: 1. Jesus said, "I AM" (53-65) 2. Peter said, "I do not know this man!" (66-72) 3. What do you say?
The Faithful One forsaken by all.Outline: The passion narrative continues:I. Passion predictions: 1. Preparations (12-16) 2. Betrayal (17-21) 3. Death and Resurrection (22-26) 4. Abandonment (27-31)II. Passion proper: 1. Agony (32-42) 2. Betrayal (43-45) 3. Arrest (46-49) 4. Flight (50-52)
Wholehearted devotion knows no bounds.Outline: Three preparations for the Passion:1. Preparation for bloodshed (1-2)2. Preparation for burial (3-9)3. Preparation for betrayal (10-11)
Believers must be prepared for opposition to their faith in every ageOutline:1. Abomination of Desolation (14-23) a. Desolation b. Tribulation2. Coming of the Son of Man (24-27)3. Words of Warning (28-37) a. For those in that day (28-31) b. For those in every age until the end (32-37)
Believers must be prepared for opposition to their faith in every ageSermon Outline:1. Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Scandalous Temple (1-4)2. Jesus Prepares his Disciples for Perilous Times (5-13a) a. False Religious Movements 5-6; 21, 22 b. World Turmoil & Events 7-8 c. Persecutions 9-134. Jesus Proclaims Dominion over Dubious Terms (10-13) a. Inclusion of the Nations 10 b. Support under Persecution 11 c. Assured Perseverance to the End 13b, 22b
Discipleship entails loving the Lord with all we are and have. Four authority-revealing discipleship lessons: 1. The greater commandments (28-34)2. The greater King (35-37)3. The greater condemnation (38-40)4. The greater contribution (41-44)
Questioning Jesus’ authority exposes stubbornness in our hearts.Outline: Jesus’ authority challenged in four questions:1. From Heaven? (11:27-33)2. From the Father? (12:1-12)3. Greater than Caesar? (12:13-17)4. God of the Living? (12:18-27)
Big Idea: The withered temple warns us of being Christian in name only.Outline:1. An Apathetic Temple (1-11)2. A Deceptive Tree (12-14)3. A Corrupt Temple (15-19)4. A Withered Tree (20-25)
Discipleship requires sacrificial service as exemplified by the Suffering ServantOutline: Five necessary insights if we are to follow the Suffering Servant:1. The Prediction of the Suffering Servant (32-34)2. The Polar of the Suffering Servant (35-41)3. The Pattern of the Suffering Servant (42-45)4. The Purpose of the Suffering Servant (45)5. The Proof of the Suffering Servant (46-52)
The gospel is not defined by what I do but by what has been doneOutline: Three helpful insights that unravel misconceptions about the gospel: 1. Appealing Qualities of this Man Expressed (10:17) 2. Alarming Ignorance of this Man Exposed (10:18-20) a. About God and Goodness (18) b. About Merit for Salvation (17, 19, 20) c. About his own Heart (21, 22)3. Appealing Qualities of the Gospel Explained (23-34) a. By Divine Sovereignty (23-27) b. With Generous Blessings (28-31) c. Through a Voluntary Substitute (32-34)
Discipleship embraces Jesus’ perspective as it collides with the worldOutline: Jesus provides Kingdom perspective on two spheres: 1. Marriage : “Let not man separate” (1-12) 2. Children: “Let the children come” (13-16)
Biblical greatness is not power and prestige, but service and sacrifice.Outline: Four images that define greatness: 1. A Crucifixion (9:30-32) 2. A Little Child (9:33-37) 3. A Glass of Water (9:38-42) 4. A Living Sacrifice (9:43-50)
The Majesty of the Christ confirmed the necessity of the cross.Outline: The transfiguration in two parts:1. On the mountain: The Majesty of the Christ (1-8)2. Down the mountain: The Necessity of the Cross (9-13)
Understanding the way of the cross means embracing the cross on the way. Three obscured discoveries on the way of the cross: 1. The Statement of Simon (27.30) 2. The Suffering of the Savior (31-33) 3. The Self-denial of the Saints (34-9:1)
Big Idea: Identifying Spiritual BlindnessOutline: Three events that reveal different levels of spiritual blindness: 1. The Crowds Feasting: a Searching Blindness (1-10) 2. The Pharisees Feuding: a Stubborn Blindness (11-13) 3. The Disciples Fumbling: a Stupid Blindness (14-21)
Jesus makes a way for all people to know God.Outline: Three people that prove Jesus makes a way for all people: 1. A Gentile Widow (24-30) 2. A Deaf Man (31-37) 3. A Wretched Sinner
Defilement comes not from external things, but from within
Two conflicting visions:
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Defilement according to the Pharisees (1-13)
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Defilement according to Jesus (14-23)
If you are not trusting the right Jesus you have no eternal hope.
Four developments in the unveiling of the right Jesus who alone can give us eternal hope.
- The Abrupt Dismissals (45-46)
- The Awful Dilemma (47-48)
- The Amazing Disclosure (48c-51a)
- The Alarming Disconnect (51b-56)
The compassionate Shepherd miraculously satisfies needy sheep.
Jesus miraculously multiplied loaves…
- In a Desolate Place (30-33)
- Because He is a Compassionate Shepherd (34-40)
- To Satisfy Needy Sheep (41-44)
King Jesus overthrows sin’s reign with might and mercy
Outline: Three displays of Kingdom Authority:
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Over demons (1-20) a. The context (1-5) b. The confrontation (6-12) c. The consequence (13-14) d. The climax (15) e. The choice (16-18) f. The commission (19-20)
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Over disease (21-34)
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Over death (35-43)
A great storm reveals a great God to restore a weak faith.
Outling: 1. A Great Stork (31-47) 2. A Great Calm (38-40) 3. A Great Fear (41) 4. A Great God - "who is this?" (Psalm 95:3)
Application: 1. To Believers: - Our great God initiates the testing of weak faith - Our great God officiates the testing of weak faith - Our great God alleviates the testing of weak faith 2. To unbelievers: - Our great God entreats those with no faith
Jesus illustrates the kingdom's insignificant beginning to its magnificent end!
Three aspects of the kingdom: 1. A hidden kingdom: beyond human perception (21-25) 2. A supernatural kingdom: beyond human effort (26-29) 3. A growing kingdom: beyond human expectations (30-34)
Argument: Hearing is one thing, heeding is another.
Outline: Jesus diagnoses the hearts of hearers in three movements: 1. The Story (1-9) 2. The Secret (10-12) 3. The Significance (13-20) a. The trodden soil: a hardened hearer (15) b. The shallow soil: a shallow hearer (16-17) c. The thorny soil: a worldly hearer (18-19) d. The good soil: a heeding hearer (20)
Argument: The only way to truly see is to believe.
Outline: Four characters that prove seeing isn’t believing:
- The unclean spirits (7-12)
- Those closest to Jesus (13-21)
- The religious leaders (22-30)
- Jesus’ family (31-35)
Conflicts over the rules end up clarifying Who rules.
Three conflicts that bring clarity to the nature of:
- The kingdom (2:18-22)
- The sabbath (2:23-28)
- The opposition (3:1-6)
Jesus demonstrates kingdom authority as the Great Physician
Outline: Three more demonstrations of Jesus’ kingdom authority:
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Cleansing (1:40-45)
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Forgiving (2:1-12)
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Calling (2:13-17)
Jesus’ kingdom authority is undeniable and unignorable
Five demonstrations of Jesus’ Kingdom Authority:
- Calling (16-20)
- Teaching (21-22)
- Casting (23-28)
- Healing (29-34)
- Prioritizing (35-39)
Argument: The promised redemptive reign of God arrived in Jesus.
Five orienting aspects to the Gospel of Mark 1. Jesus' identity (1) 2. Jesus' forerunner (2-8) 3. Jesus' baptism (9-11) 4. Jesus' temptation (12-13) 5. Jesus' proclamation (14-15)
Big Idea: Christ can turn mocking into praise
Outline:
Two Groups of People:
- Those who Mock a. What they want b. Who they are
- Those who Praise a. Who they are b. What praise entails c. What praise evokes
Big Idea: We are saved from our sin and reproach by the One Who bore our sins and reproaches.
Outline: Three cries for salvation echo in the predicament of the psalmist, the passion of Christ Jesus, and the persecution of the saints.
A cry for personal deliverance from sin and reproach (vv. 1-21) A cry for divine vengeance against the enemies of God’s people (vv. 22-28) A cry for the establishment of God’s people in God’s kingdom under God’s King (vv. 29-36)
Argument: In triumphal procession King Jesus ascended Zion, the seat of His dominion.
Outline: A poetic progression following the King’s victory:
- Procession (1-14; 24-27)
- Ascension (15-23)
- Dominion (28-35)