GraceUnlimited: Recent Episodes
Sermon outline 1.Jesus provides a clear criteria on who is his opposition 2.Jesus engaged his opposition respectfully 3.Jesus led by example and did not follow in the sins of his own people Israel. 4.Jesus used Scripture as the foundation for settling all disputes. 5.Jesus warns his opposition about the dangers of rejecting the truth 6.Jesus invited his opposition to receive eternal life
Sermon outline: 1.The Accused Calls His Witnesses 2.The Heart of the Problem is Exposed 3.The Accused Calls His Final Witness/Judge
Sermon outline: 1. The charges laid against Jesus 2. Jesus makes his defence A. Jesus clarifies the misconception concerning his identity B. Jesus confirms his equality with the Father
Sermon outline: 1. The message (v5) 2. The application of the message (v6-7) 3. The clarification of the application (v8-10)
Sermon outline: 1. it is a commitment to surrender your comforts(vv57-58) 2. It is a commitment to put Him first above family(vv59-60) 3. It is a commitment to forget your old life( vv61-62)
Sermon outline: 1.know Gods blueprint for marriage (Genesis 2:18-24)-oneness-Companionship 2.Know a husbands calling(Ephesians 5:25) 3. Husbands should live with their wives 4. Husbands should seek to know their wives well, so they can be considerate and caring towards her 5. Remember:Christian husbands and wives are joint heirs of grace 6. Remember how a husband treats his wife affects his prayers
Sermon outline: 1. The command: Wives should submit to their husbands (v1) 2. The goal: Winning the husband for Christ (v1) 3. The means: Godly Conduct (vv1-2) 4. How?: Wives should cultivate true, inner beauty (vv3-6) - A gentle and quiet spirit (v4) - Hoping and trusting in God (vv5-6)
Sermon outline: 1. Slavery, difficult circumstances, and the Christian life (v18) 2. Be submissive and hard-working in your work (v18) 3. Endure in doing good while suffering unjustly (vv18-20) 4. Follow in Jesus' steps (vv21-23) 5. Remember the gospel (vv22-25) Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Christ's ministry in the very presence of God (vv.1-2) 2. Christ's ministry surpasses that of earthly priests(vv. 3-6) 3. Christ's ministry fulfils God's new covenant promises (vv.7-13) Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1) Honour everyone (v17) 2) Love the brotherhood (v17) 3) Submit to governing authority (v17, v13-14) 4) Fear God (v17, v13, v15-16) Submit to government for the Lord's sake: - Honour the institution - Vote for just, righteous government - Honour the image of God - Honour all that is right and good - Pray for government (1Timothy 2:1-4) - Obey government when it does not ask you to sin - Disobey and respectfully confront what is sinful Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: How we live while we are in exile is important: 1. For our spiritual well-being (v11) 2. For our gospel witness (v12) Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus is rejected by the world, but chosen and precious to God. (v4, 7b) 2. Whoever believes in Jesus will not be put to shame. (v6-7a) 3. Whoever does not believe in Jesus, will stumble and fall. (v7b-8) 4. Our Identity as Christians (v5,9-10) - Corporate (united together) - Holy - Special to God - By mercy / grace alone 5. How should we live out this identity? (v5b, 9b) - Offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus - Proclaim His excellencies Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Put away harmful ways of viewing and treating one another (Because we are called to sincere brotherly love) (2:1) 2. Crave the life-transforming Word of God so that you can grow (2:2) a) Read the Bible b) Meditate and renew your mind with the Bible c) Bible-centred church (expository preaching, singing, equipping, counsel) d) Bible-centred fellowship 3. Remember God's goodness to you in your salvation (2:3) Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus reveals His identity through what He does A. Jesus provides legitimate healing on His own initiative. (v1-8) B. Jesus heals on the Sabbath deliberately. (V9) 2. Jesus Reveals His identity through what He says: "My Father is working, and I am Working" v17 Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. We have been saved for brotherly love 2. We are commanded to love one another earnestly from a pure heart 3. We should love one another because we have been given new life that will last forever The connection between new life that lasts forever and loving one another: a. New desires b. New power to change c. We are an eternal family in exile together, looking forward to the return of Christ. Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. BE HOLY (v14-16) a) What is holiness? b) Remember what you have been called from c) Remember Who has called you, and what He has called you to 2. Be Fearful (vv17-19) a) Remember our holy God judges impartially b) Remember this God is your Father c) Remember what you were ransomed from d) Remember how much your ransom cost e) What Fear are we talking about? - Motivation to live as I should, given my salvation and who my Father is -Fear of Discipline - Motivation of Reward 3. Set your confidence in God Himself (vv20-21) Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: Text: 1 Peter 1:13 Title: Living In God's Glory Preacher: Donovan Drew Sermon outline: 1. Remember God's salvation plan 2. Set your hope fully on the return of Christ: A) Gird up the loins of your mind B) Be sober minded 3. What might keep us from this?: A) Hardships B) Distractions C) Competing passions and priorities Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 4 Biblical Perspectives to Embrace When being Tempted: 1. When tempted, beware, your sinful desires want to control you. 2. When tempted, don't think it's a unique experience. 3. When tempted, remember that there are limits. 4. When tempted, look carefully, there is always a way of escape. Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1.Believers Have A New Identity. 2.Believers Have A New Empowered Capacity To Live For God. 3.Believers Have A Glorious Eternal Future With Christ. Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Precious Salvation Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za
Sermon outline: 1) The Undeserved Sufferer 2) Suffered for the undeserving Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za
Sermon outline: 1) God in Christ showed love for us while we were still sinners. v6-8 2) God in Christ justified and saved us from His wrath. v9 3) God in Christ reconciled us to Himself. v10-11 Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus condemns false faith 2. Jesus rewards real faith Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Trials are real, and they hurt (v6) 2. Trials are temporary (v6) 3. Trials have a purpose from God (vv6-7) 4. Looking beyond your trials to the return of Jesus (v7b, 9) 5. Joy in your trials (vv8-9) Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: Praise be to God: 1. For our gracious salvation a) By His great mercy b) He has caused us to be born again c) To receive an eternal inheritance d) Through Jesus' death and resurrection 2. For the rock-solid stability and permanence of our hope a) Imperishable b) Undefiled c) Unfading d) Kept in heaven for you 3. For giving and empowering our faith, to ensure we make it all the way home. a) Perseverance b) Preservation Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1.The Letter of 1 Peter (1:1) a) Author b) Original Readers 2. Who are Christians? (1:2) a) Exiles / Strangers b) Elect / Chosen c) Foreknown by the Father d) Sanctified / set apart by the Spirit e) For salvation by the Son. Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (v1-22) 2.Jesus as the eternal High Priest (v23-25) 3.Jesus as the perfect High Priest (v26-28) Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Be warned: sin lies to you! It can seem very enticing, but it leads to destruction. (5:1-6, 9-14, 21-23, 7:21-23 2. Stay far away from sexual temptation. (5:7-8, 6:25, 7:6-9, 7:25) 3. Enjoy the goodness of God's design in exclusive, commited, lifelong marriage. (5:15-19) 4. What if I am single? - See marriage for the gift it is, and appropriately aim for it - Appreciate, and pour yourself into God's good design for the Christian life _______________________________________ Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: A. What is the heart, biblically? - The inner you. Your thoughts, desires, values, will. What you treasure and love. - The real you - The control centre for your life. B. What is the heart like? - Image of God - Broken and warped by sin - A new heart - Progressive Sanctification C. An illustration: Two Fires D. How do you "Keep your heart with all vigilance?" 1. Use God's Word as your guide 2. Put off: - Sin - Temptation (radical amputation) - Thoughts, feelings, loves, joys, and desires that are NOT according to God's Word... Both sin, and what tempts you to sin or fuels your sin. 3. Put on: - Obey God's commands - Means of grace (cultivate godliness) - Thoughts, feelings, loves, joys, and desires that ARE according to Gods Word... Both what is commanded, and what fuels godliness... - Especially, seek to grow in your knowledge of God and all He has graciously given you in Jesus (present and future), so that your awe of Him grows, your trust in Him grows, and your love for Him grows. E. Remember, God is at work within you - Dependance - Hope
Sermon outline: Background: King David, Bathsheba, and the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 11:1 -12:15) 1. Go to God for forgiveness, approaching Him on the basis of His mercy (vv1-2) 2. Own the sinfulness of your sin (vv3-6) 3. Believe, and ask for, God's forgiving and transforming grace (vv6-12) - Ask God to teach you integrity (v6) - Ask God to wash you completely clean (v7) - Ask God to restore your joy (v8) - Ask God to delete your sin record (v9) - Ask God to give you a pure and steadfast heart (v10) - Ask God for a restored relationship, and for Him to continue to work through you (v11) - Ask God for a love for Him that flows into a life that honours Him (v12) 4. Respond to God's grace from the heart (vv13-17) 5. Aim for a God-honouring future, dependant on God's blessing (vv18-19)
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus responds to the Pharisees and Scribes (vv 1-3) 2. A pattern in three Proverbs: - Lost - Looked for and found - Rejoicing and calling others to celebrate too - A connection made to the joy that God and heaven takes in salvation 3. The lost sheep (vv 4-7) 4. The lost coin (vv 8-10) 5. A lost son: - Lost (vv 11-19) - Looked for and found (v 20) - 1 Celebration (vv 25-32) 6. A son who refuses to celebrate (vv 25-32) 7. Jacob and Esau 8. Salvation is only ever by grace Application: - Believe in God's graciousness and go to Him for grace. - Rejoice in God's joy to save! - Share the Gospel - Aim to embody God's grace and the welcome of the Gospel
Sermon outline 1. Remember the grace and faithfulness of God 2. Serve the faithful God 3. Repeat
Sermon outline: A believer's heart follows a correct path 1. The path of non response: a) It begins with sluggishness (5:11-6:3) b) It ends with apostasy (6:4-8) 2. The path of response a) It produces service (6:9-11) b) It imitates Godly examples (6:12) C) It hopes in God's promises (6:13-20)
Sermon outline: Introduction: Ephesians 4:4-6 We follow Jesus together by: 1. Growing Together (Ephesians 4:11-16) 2. Serving Together (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 14-22, 1 Peter 4:10) 3. Persevering Together (Hebrews 3:12- 14, Hebrews 10:23-25) Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus is the caring high priest; seek His help (4:14-16). 2. Jesus is the appointed high priest; acknowledge His exclusivity (5:1-6). 3. Jesus is the obedient high priest; obey His gospel (5:7-10). Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 4 Pictures: 1. Citizens 2. Family 3. One Man/ One Body 4. Temple - We are part of something bigger. We are one. - We have been made insiders. We belong. Application: 1. Gather together 2. Commit to one another 3. Love one another 4. Preserve unity Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus Pursues sinners with His Love 2. Jesus confronts sinners with the Truth. Know more about the church here: https://www.pretoriawestchurch.co.za/
Texts: Mark 10:35-45, John 10:11-13, Acts 20:28-31, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Ephesians 5:25-30, 1 Peter 3:7) Sermon outline: 1. A different mindset about authority (Mark 10:35-45) 2. TWO Specific Examples: a. Pastors (John 10:11-13, Acts 20:28-31, 1 Peter 5:1-4) b. Husbands (Ephesians 5:25-30, 1 Peter 3:7) 3. Application: Using Authority to serve.
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus' original high position 2. How much Jesus humbled Himself 3. Jesus' motivation: a. Serving us b. Obeying God and bringing HIM glory c. Eternal reward 4. How can we follow Jesus' example? a. Don't live for self promotion b. Be a servant c. Obey God and live for His glory d. Remember eternity (let God exalt you). e. Set your eyes on Jesus.
PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT The prevention and cure to the sin of pride and competition is found in having a clearer, bigger, and majestic vision of who Jesus is and what he has accomplished. Sermon outline: 1.The foolish motto of pride and competition says: I MUST INCREASE 2.The wisdom of humility says: HE(JESUS) MUST INCREASE AND I MUST DECREASE 3.The ultimate proof of your faith is obedience to Jesus
Sermon outline: 1. Remember Jesus' authority. 2. Remember all we have in the gospel. 3. Recognise the weighty responsibility we have been entrusted with. 4. Recognise the immense privilege we have been given. Concluding encouragement: 1. The Power of the Gospel 2. The Presence of the Saviour
Title: Practical Implications of the Gospel(Part 5) Stability and Trust Romans 8:14-39 Sermon Outline: Introduction: Why can we Trust God? 1.Because He is all powerful 2.Because He is perfectly wise 3.Because He is perfectly good And even better: Because He loves us. Implications of God's love for us: 1.The hope that comes from knowing God's love for us (vv14-25) 2.The trust that comes from knowing God's love for us (vv26-30) 3.The stability that comes from knowing God's love for us (vv31-39) Conclusion: The Gospel is how we know God's love for us. (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 5:8, 8:32)
Sermon outline: If you seek to attain true rest: 1. You must heed God's warning (3:7-19). 2. You must believe God's promise (4:1-10). 3. You must obey God's word (4:11-13).
Practical Implications of the Gospel #4: Eternal Perspective Sermon outline: 1. Whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:11-14) 2. All the sacrifices we make to follow Christ are worth it (Mark 8:34-35, Mark 10:28-30) 3. Persevering in the Christian life is worth it (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Sermon outline: #3: By God's empowering grace, you can live a godly life (Ephesians 2:1-5, Romans 8:28-30, Philippians 2:12-13) 1. Our condition before salvation 2. Brought from death to life 3. God has begun a work to make you like Jesus, and God will bring it to completion. 4. How can you change? a. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling b. In full dependence on God c. With confidence that you will make progress because God is at work within you
Sermon outline: You have a New Allegiance (Mark 8:34-35, Ephesians 4:1, Romans 12:1-2) 1. Rightly respond to Jesus' Authority Mark 8:34-35 2. Rightly respond to God's amazing grace to you in Jesus Ephesians 4:1 Romans 12:1-2
Humble, Rock-solid Confidence in Jesus Alone (Ephesians 2:1-9; Romans 3:10-28, Hebrews 10:19-22) Sermon Outline 3 Questions: 1: Can I come into the presence of God because of something I have to boast about? - Ephesians 2:1&5 - Ephesians 2:8-9 - Romans 3:10-12 - Romans 3:27: 27: "Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded." 2: Is there anything I can do about this? 3: What difference does Jesus make? - Philippians 3:9 - Romans 3:20-22 - 2 Corinthians 5:21 I am not righteous. I have nothing to boast about in myself. But I have the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus! What are the practical implications of this truth? A. Humility B. Rock-solid Confidence in Jesus C. I should draw near to God in full assurance of faith (Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 10:19-22)
Sermon Outline 1. You must be born again! 2. Salvation is found by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone. 3. Be warned! You must be born again!
Sermon Outline: 1. Jesus is the only one we are called to consider (v. 1). 2. Jesus is more glorious than any great leader (v.2-4). 3. Jesus is the unique and faithful Son of God (v.5-6).
Sermon Outline: Four reasons not to lose heart in spite of your sufferings as a Christian living in obedience to Christ: 1. The extension and strengthening of the church (v. 15) 2. The sustaining presence of God (v. 16b) 3. The resurrection from the dead (v. 14) 4. The glorification of the saints (v. 17-18)
Sermon outline: Three reasons why we shouldn't be ashamed of the Gospel: 1. Because the Gospel is God's power for salvation (v. 16a) 2. Because the Gospel is for all believers without distinction (v. 16b) 3. Because the Gospel is the revelation of God's righteousness (v. 17)
Sermon outline: 1. Jesus condemns corruption at a place of worship. 2. Jesus rejects pretentious religious elites. 3. Jesus exposes false belief.
3 Goals: 1. To be reminded of Biblical Lament, and that God wants to hear from us and will help us in our affliction. 2. To strengthen our faith in the truthfulness of the gospel. 3. To encourage us with the hope of the gospel, and Christ's amazing love for us. What is Biblical lament? - A prayer, in pain, that leads to trust. - A journey of the heart, in faith, with God from beginning to end. The "journey" of Biblical Lament has 4 parts: Turn, Complain, Ask, and Trust 1. Turn: Turn to God in prayer, and be honest with Him about how you feel 2. Complain: Tell God your reasons for pain and confusion The "journey" of Biblical Lament has 4 parts: Turn, Complain, Ask, and Trust 3. Ask: Boldly ask God to act, according to His character and promises 4. Trust: Reaffirm Who you know God to be, and choose to trust Him The "journey" of Biblical Lament in Psalm 22: 1. Turn: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (vv. 1-2) 2. Complain: "I am scorned and despised" (vv. 3-10) "A company of evildoers encircles me" (vv. 12-18) The "journey" of Biblical Lament in Psalm 22: 3. Ask: "Be not far from me" (v. 11) "Save me!" (vv. 19-21) 4. Trust: "He has not despised the afflicted, and has not hidden his face from him, but He has heard." (vv. 22-31) Goal #2: To strengthen our faith in the truthfulness of gospel. Goal #3: To encourage us with the hope of the gospel, and Christ's amazing love for us. 1. Remember what Jesus endured for you. 2. Remember the hope of the resurrection. (Hebrews 5:7) 3. Remember that Jesus knows what it feels like to face affliction and feel like God has forsaken you. (Hebrews 4:15
Jesus' victory through the Incarnation Hebrews 2:14-18 1. The Incarnation ended the devil's supposed reign. 2. The incarnation rescued trapped humanity. 3. The incarnation satisfied all the requirements of God.
Proposition: Observing the glory of Jesus being revealed at a weeding and recognizing the uniqueness of Jesus as one we should put our faith in , for eternal salvation. Outline: 1. Wine runs out at a wedding 2. The mother looks to the son for help 3. The miraculous intervention of Jesus.
Step 3: Gently Restore(Galatians 6:1-2) Questions we should be asking when addressing a conflict. 1. Is this person in sin? 2. What should my goal be? 3. Have I done what I need to do FIRST, before I address their sin. 4. How should I go about this? 5. What should my motivation be? 6. What if this doesn't work?(Matthew 18:15-17)
Sermon outline: 1. Glorify God - By obeying God - By dying to your "rights" to Honour God, further the gospel, and serve others(To die to self to the Glory of God and service to others) - By helping others pursue peace - By rejoicing in God and all that Jesus has secured for you - By depending on God and trusting Him 2. Get the log out of your eye - Be alert to your prideful, selfish tendency - Guard against hypocrisy - Address your own sin first Questions to ask yourself: - What do I KNOW, for sure, is true? - Am I judging according to God's standard? - Am I being overly sensitive?(Am I taking this too personally?) - Am I allowing my idolatrous desires to make this into a bigger thing than it is? - Am I making this worse with my own sinful actions? - Is this person going through a difficult time? - Have I sinned in this situation? - Are there any other ways I have been unhelpful in this situation? How to confess your sin(The 7 A's of confession) 1. Address everyone involved(all those whom you affected) 2. Avoid if, but, and maybe (Do not try to excuse your wrongs) 3. Admit specifically (Both attitudes and actions) 4. Acknowledge the hurt(Express sorrow for hurting someone) 5. Accept the consequences 6. Alter your behaviour(change your attitudes and actions) 7. Ask for forgiveness
Sermon Outline: 1. He gloriously represents humanity(verse 5-9) 2. He gloriously saves humanity(verse 9-10) 3. He gloriously identifies with humanity(verse 11-13) Application 1. Keep Jesus at the centre of your life everyday. 2. Find your identity in Jesus and not in anything else. 3. Constantly remind yourself that the glory of God is better than fame, wealth, health and comfort.
Sermon Outline: 1. Declaration of His Praise (Verses 1-2) 2. The Impediment(hinderances) of Praise (Verses 3-4) 3. The motivation of Praise (Verses 5-10)
The credible testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus. Outline: 1. The humble character of John the Baptist revealed during his cross examination. 2. The testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus to his interrogators.
The dark can be scary. It makes us think of evil. But where there is light, there is clarity. Walking with Jesus means we walk in the light because we are the light. He is the true light that came into this dark world to save us from a life of evil. But to walk in the light, we have to walk in constant worship of Jesus. We also walk by displaying the fruit of light, doing what is good and right and true. And we expose the darkness...because when you are full from walking with God, then your life of light is going to be a persuasive influence on the dark world around you. So join us as we consider what it means to walk in the light as the children of light.
James 1-26-27. The Marks of true religion. What does it mean to be a Christian-- The answer to this question depends on who you are talking to. James wants to help us see what true religion is that is acceptable to God. If you think you are a Christian, then consider your words, your compassion toward the vulnerable and the way you keep yourself pure.
It is easy to think that you are a loving person by hiding behind the way you do things for other people, but is it really coming from a heart of love-- Paul shows us that we can walk in love because we have God's love poured into our hearts. But what does that look like-- Jesus shows us the way of unconditional, sacrificial, sweet smelling love that we should imitate. Join us as we consider what it means to walk in love as God's people.
Why is it important to be thankful-- Psalm 9. If you look back at this past year, you might have many up's and down's. You might feel exhausted as you wait for December to arrive...you might be tired from all the opression and hardships you have faced this year. So how do we find the strength to go on-- By being thankful people- It is important that we are intentional about giving thanks because it makes the good times even better. It helps to keep God and who he is and what he has done on our lips and it causes us to sing his praises- Because when we are thankful, we realise that God is in control and He is coming soon- All of this helps us to fight against grumbling and complaining when we can be worshiping instead. Join us as we consider 4 reasons why it is important to be a thankful person.
Walking in worthiness and unity. Ephesians 4-1-3. Walking with God is a privilege of every believer. However, many people want to walk with God but not with God's people. Paul helps us see that those who walk with God will be eager to protect the unity they have in Jesus Christ. For that to happen we need to walk in a way that is worthy of the gospel. Having the right attitude toward one another. Instead of conflict, anger or being annoyed with others, God calls us to be humble and patient with one another. Join us as we consider the importance of walking in worthiness and unity.
The mystery and majesty of the Trinity-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-unfold a profound narrative of salvation and glory, intricately woven from eternity to eternity. The Father's grand design, the Son's magnificent accomplishment, and the Spirit's enduring application converge in a cosmic tapestry of divine love and justice. As we delve into the depths of this divine plan, we find ourselves awestruck by the promised transformation of our frail, earthly existence into a state of eternal, spiritual glory. This hope, grounded in the resurrection and the ultimate revelation of God's kingdom, calls us to a life of worship, anticipation, and deep reflection on the profound truths of Scripture. Let us embrace this journey with faith and joy, anticipating the fulfillment of God's glorious promise, where pain, sin, and death are vanquished, and we, in perfect unity with the Triune God, experience the fullness of His presence and love forevermore.
Let's deeply appreciate the magnificent roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our faith and lives. The Father's plan, the Son's sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit's guidance are not distant concepts but vibrant realities that shape our existence. Remember, as temples of the Holy Spirit, we carry God's presence in every moment. Let this truth comfort and guide us, especially in times of loneliness or temptation. Embrace practical methods to keep this awareness alive-a memorized verse, a daily reminder, a note-and let them be anchors in your spiritual journey. In our struggles with sin and doubts about our faith, let's recognize the Holy Spirit's transformative work within us, a sure sign of God's active presence. As we part today, let's live confidently, uplifted by the knowledge that the Triune God is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. May this assurance inspire us to live fully and faithfully, in harmony with His divine plan.
This sermon journeys through the profound mystery and motivation of the Trinity, emphasizing the Son's role in fulfilling the Father's grand plan. We see the Son's involvement in creation, His embodiment in human life, and His ultimate victory over sin and death. This divine accomplishment invites us to worship with gratitude and live in the temporal and eternal freedom Christ has secured. As believers, we are called to embrace this freedom, share our hope, and look upward, finding glory in the ordinary. If you have not yet received Christ as your Saviour, the urgency of finding refuge in Him is clear. It is only through the Son that you can find true rest and escape the eternal condemnation of sin.
As we reflect on the awe-inspiring reality of God's existence as a Trinity and His meticulous planning in both creation and redemption, we are drawn into a deeper understanding of our purpose and calling. This knowledge is not merely theoretical- it profoundly impacts our daily lives, offering us both comfort and challenge.-Firstly, the realization that our lives are part of God's grand design brings immense comfort. We are not adrift in a chaotic universe, but are held in the steady hands of a loving Creator who plans and preserves. This understanding should fill us with a profound sense of security and purpose, even amidst life's uncertainties and struggles.-Secondly, this knowledge challenges us to live intentionally. Recognizing that we are part of God's intricate plan, we are called to actively participate in His work, using our unique talents and opportunities for His glory. This involves thoughtful planning and reflection on how our lives align with God's purposes. It means setting goals, seeking growth, and being willing to stand against cultural norms that conflict with God's design.-Finally, this understanding of the Trinity and God's sovereign plan should drive us to a life of worship and gratitude. As we ponder the depths of God's wisdom and love, our hearts should overflow with praise. Let us therefore embrace our role in His story, trusting in His plan, living with purpose, and glorifying Him in all we do. Remember, in the grand tapestry of creation and redemption, each thread - including yours - is woven with divine intention and care.
Our focus on the Trinity today highlights the profound and mystical nature of God's existence as three distinct Persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - who are each fully God, yet collectively form one God. This doctrine is central to the Christian faith, influencing our understanding of sin, salvation, grace, and other key concepts. The unique roles and functions of each Person of the Trinity in creation and redemption exemplify a harmonious relationship marked by deep love, mutual glorification, and interdependence. This theological truth calls for worship and awe, as it reveals a God of compassion and glory, offering a solution to the world's ills. It also serves as a model for believers, encouraging them to emulate the Trinity's selfless love, reliance on one another, and contentment within their God-given roles, fostering unity and harmony in their relationships and communities.
We must take the task of discipleship seriously. We need to be reminded that God has called us as Christians, as followers of Jesus - to be engaged in the work of making disciples. Both by being a disciple yourself and discipling others.
The Bible tells us that God is the mighty Creator and owner of everything...so why should we give back to him-- Why is it important to give to your local church-- Because its where I get to train my heart, and invest in what will last forever and where I get to increase my joy the more I let go of the world and make Jesus my treasure.
Jesus goes against the expectations of self-righteous religious people and eats with sinners. He is not defiled by them, rather he calls them to himself. As Jesus prepares to die for the sinners he loves, he has a meal with them and tells them to have a meal like this again and again until he returns in glory to take every one of them, and all who would be saved, away to eternal glory. So in communion, we remember and proclaim that Jesus died, that he died for us-his people, that just as our Lord loves each one of us, so we also love each other, that we are totally dependent on Christ, that Christ still loves us, that all of the blessings Christ purchased for us are still reserved for us. Because communion-Jesus' meals with sinners-means so much, we respond in faith and abandon ourselves again to his wonderful intentions for us, his people.
God is actively engaged in one glorious activity. He is removing individuals from the family of Adam that is terrified by death and the continual misery of the consequences of sin. Where pain and destruction last forever. And he is adopting those individuals into the family of Christ, where overwhelming grace flows continually. A household of endless life, light and joy. Because this reality is so significant, God has given us the symbol of water baptism by which an individual can declare to the world that this is true of them- Everyone who knows them can see they have new life in them and are convinced by their joyful profession of faith. We baptise them by full immersion because God has already baptised them into Christ fully. Today we celebrate the wonderful work of God in the lives of those to be baptised-
There is something unspeakably heroic about the man who deliberately steps forward into great calamity because he knows it is the only way to secure the safety of others.
This is a rarely personal, open and theologically thoughtful sermon on personal suffering. Doug's sermon will meet you in your crisis and bring beautiful biblical hope.
God has not saved us to go through the struggles of the Christian life alone. A family or church that is filled with the Spirit, will be helping those who have fallen into sin get back up. We will help to carry each others burdens and consider others more important than ourselves. As we offload our burdens on Christ, we are able to help those who are struggling around us. Join us as we consider what a Spirit filled church family looks like...
A look at the storyline of the Bible and specifically God's heart for the nations revealed through all of scripture. A biblical theology of missions. God's heart for the nations shows that there is one mission of God, one story, one purpose and one plan of God from eternity past and for all time. And as you understand the mission of God as unfolded throughout the pages of scripture this will help you to then appreciate and rightly interpret individual events and passages of scripture.
What hope do we have that we as believers can change-- That the sinful desires we have will not control us-- Examining our lives in light of Paul's list of virtues, can cause us to wonder if we can in fact gain victory over our sinful fleshly desires. Today Paul is helping us see that God is not fighting a losing battle within us. There are important truths that give us hope in the middle of the war. We belong to Christ. Our flesh has been crucified and we have the Spirit living in us. But we need to keep in line and march according to his voice...Join us as we consider the hope we have in the middle of the fight...
As believers, we see in Scripture that self-control is required for every season of life. But we continue to fight against the fleshly desires that want to control us...Join us as we look at three important questions for us all if we are going to grow in self-control.
How many of us think that being gentle is being weak-- As we look at the gentleness of Jesus, it helps us see how strong and powerful this fruit of the Spirit is in the lives of those who embrace the gentleness of Jesus in their lives. As we consider the gentleness of Jesus, it helps us to confess our sin, confront sin and to persevere with one another. Join us as we consider this mighty fruit of the Spirit.
We can have confidence that we can grow in the fruit of the Spirit, not because of us, but because God is a faithful God. He gave us Jesus to die for us, His Spirit to sanctify us, now we can live faithfully for him. But what does a faithful follower of Jesus look like-- Join us as we consider 4 marks of a faithful believer.
We like to say -God is good- when things have turned out well for us...but what if they dont-- Is God still good-- If we see how his very nature is goodness, then we see how all of his other attributes flow out of that goodness. And because he sent Jesus to rescue us, by faith in Him, we are filled with his goodness and can respond to the evil of this world by seeking the good of others. Displaying the fruit of goodness requires that God's goodness be the anchor of our souls...
How can we grow in the fruit of kindness-- Being kind is more than just being a nice person. Being kind flows out of the kindness we have received in Jesus. So, if we are going to grow in displaying the fruit of kindness, we need to identify how God has been kind to us, how we are not being kind and how we can show kindness to others even when it is hard.
Today we enter a new year. Over Christmas we have remembered the angel Gabriel announcing Mary's coming pregnancy and birth. The fact that God had chosen to pour out his favour on her was too wonderful for her. She gave birth to a fully human son whom she treasured all the way through his life until his shocking death by crucifixion. Yet darkness is turned to light for her and for you, believer in Jesus, when the crucified Christ rises from the dead in a display of power this world has never seen. His resurrection is a demonstration of the fact that he is fully God. As the God-man he now reigns in glory and will return to bring his people into his glory forever. This is your story today Christian. Embrace it. Find your identity in it. Find pleasure in it. Convince other people of it.
So in this surprise moment where Gabriel appears to Mary, we discover that we struggle to grasp and surrender ourselves to the vast kindness of God in the gospel. God proved his intentions to Mary, a virgin, were good in granting her that miraculous pregnancy. The son born was a thrilling blessing and advantage to Mary and you you and I by extension. The son born was fully human as well as fully divine. It is important that the son is fully human because he is the true Christian's representative obedience, substitute sacrifice, mediator between God and men, ruler over creation, example in life, pattern of glorification, sympathetic high priest, and all of these forever- So you are called upon to worship and trust this Son with joy today because he is everything you need to live a well-adjusted life before God and men, forever.
Regardless of how dark your life has grown, you can hope in the Lord. Your love has already failed, not only your love for the Lord, but your love for other people as well. And God Himself, oh what a glorious fact, will come to you personally, in your distress, and He will buy you out of your sins and distress, right down to the very last sinful thought. Forever.
If you are a true believer in Christ, you can know for certain that God is working every single aspect of your life and this universe for your good and his glory. How can I know this is true- Because God has already completed many of the actions required to make that happen. He has known you affectionately forever. He has chosen you to be his own. He has chosen to make you like his glorious Son. He has chosen to include you in a glorious new, eternal family, being like his Son, with the Son being the heroic first. If you exist, believer, that is evidence that God has already taken vast action to ensure your glorification. All that remains for God to do now is to actually glorify you. Let this be your motivation in the moments of your days.
How do we respond to life when things don't go the way we want them to go- What is testing your patience- We can cultivate patience when we look at the example of Jesus's patience, when we understand that God is in control of all that happens in our lives and that forbearing with others is a way to make the gospel look beautiful. Join us as we consider the next fruit of the Spirit...patience-
We live in a world where things are not as they ought to be. Sin causes us to be at war with God, with others and with ourselves. True peace grows in dependance on God. Join us today as we consider what peace is and why we need it, where we can find it and how we should guard it. Because we have a peace that is eternal and out of this world that causes us to move toward other people to resolve conflict, to have a calmness of the soul when life gets hard.
The Bible teaches that church discipline has three purposes. The first is to restore and reconcile believers who are falling into sin. The second is to keep sin from spreading to others in the church. The third is protect the purity of the church and the honour of Christ. All worthy motivations. The Bible also gives us examples of sins that were disciplined in the New Testament. These sins have three commonalities- they are publicly known, they continue over a period of time, and they are destructive to the believer and other believers. The Bible also gives us a clear process for church discipline. Christians should restrict information about the sin to the smallest group, apply measures in increasing strength either if someone has sinned against you or if you have sinned against someone else. Christians should confront lovingly, gently, humbly, tentatively, ready to forgive and exhaustively. The two possible outcomes of this process are either generous restoration or being removed from fellowship as an unbeliever. Church discipline is a very serious process because if a church faithfully follows this process, God agrees with the outcome.
We can sometimes have our own definition of what love is...But God not only commands us to love others like Jesus loves us, but He pours his love into our hearts to make that possible. But in order to love others biblically, we need to define love the way God does and understand what that looks like. Because the more we see how much God loves us, the more we can display the fruit of real love...
Introducing the fruit of the Spirit. God is busy transforming this world back into a fruitful garden that displays His glory. And the church is to be a picture of lush orchard of grace in the midst of this present evil age, where the fruit of the Spirit touch the lives of others and point them to Christ. As we come to study the fruit of the Spirit, we see that God has always planned for us to be fruitful. That being fruitful only comes from the Holy Spirit and not our own efforts, and that this is how God is changing the world. But do you want to be fruitful-
How can we as Christians freely offer forgiveness when we are sinned against in terrible ways- How can we forgive when we are sinned against repeatedly- Is this really possible-
God wants us to walk in His Spirit, but some of us are daily walking in the flesh. Paul says that the person who is constantly living a sinful, fleshly life will be evident. But we need an accurate view of ourselves. God shows us how much he hates sin, through the warning that those who live in constant sin, will not be part of His kingdom. He also shows us his hatred for sin through the death of His only son. Will you turn from a life in the flesh and turn to Christ, the only one that can set you free from that kind of life- True repentance shows its fruit in those who truly grieve their sin.
If you had walked with Jesus on earth throughout his earthly ministry, if you had gone with him into Gethsemane, if you had been selected to come closer to him while he prays in agony, if you had heard the unspeakable tones with which he pleaded with his father in bloody agony, would you have been able to stay awake as he asked you to- Would it have changed your life- If even Jesus' disciples fell asleep, how much more do you and I need the empowering grace of God to honour him with our lives.
God commands us to walk in the Spirit. And it is our responsibility to follow Him where ever He leads us. Too often we have confusing ideas of what it means to be led by the Spirit. Paul shows us that in the context of Galatians, God is leading us in our daily desires which means he is leading us into holiness. It also means he is not leading us into the flesh. But what hinders God's leading in our lives- Join us as we consider what Paul says to the churches in Galatia.
Are you frustrated or discouraged with your own fight against sin- Do you wonder sometimes, 'why do I keep doing this wicked stuff-'...Paul is helping us understand what it means to be controlled by the Spirit. Because if we are walking in the Spirit, we are walking in the same way Jesus walked. Paul is showing us that the Spirit of God is sufficient for our sanctification...but we do not always believe it. If we yield to the Spirit, then we are guaranteed that we will overcome our sinful, fleshly desires. But there is a serious war going on inside of us every single day- Our flesh is against the Spirit, so God understand our context, but he promises us victory by the Spirit because we have victory in Christ. Join us as we consider what walking in the Spirit means and why its so important.
The church can be a messy place. People can hurt each other because we do not understand the freedom we have in Christ. Some people think that because Jesus paid it all, we can continue living for whatever we want. Paul knows this causes tension in the church. He therefore wants the Galatians and us to understand the purpose of our freedom, which is not to serve ourselves, but to serve others in love. God made you free to serve other people. Because when you do, you avoid abusing your freedom, you fulfill the law of God and you avoid hurting other people. Join us as we consider how understanding the purpose of our freedom in Christ helps us to deal with messy relationships in the church.
What is stopping you and I from progressing- It is a sinful, self-exalting heart. The OT prophets showed how shocking, idiotic, irrational and sad it is to pursue what you want with disregard for God. The NT shows that to love God and love your neighbour sum up the law. But instead we love ourselves and want what we want above what God wants or our neighbour needs. When the sinful self-exalting heart doesn't get what it wants it becomes depressed or angry or anxious and responds in destructive ways. This way of life is painful and drives you away from true progress. The way out is to identify the source of your strong emotional struggles in the sinful self-exalting heart and come to honour God in true submission, humility and resulting joy.
As we see people stumble and fall and even stop running in the race of the Christian life, what makes us confident that they can get back up and start to run on the right path and make it to the end- Paul shows us how our confidence is not in ourselves, but in the Lord. The He is the one who will get his people home. We can be confident that he will judge those who are leading others astray and that as we run for Christ, our lives will be offensive to the world around us. But let us make sure its the cross that is offensive, because that leads people to meet the Savior-
We can easily think that what we do or don't do, makes God happy with us. Paul shows us today that what you believe, impacts what you do. What matters to God is whether you are trusting in Jesus alone for your right standing before him, and if you do, it will lead to a faith that loves other people in practical ways. There has always been a tension between faith and works, but Paul helps us see that faith alone is never alone because true faith is a loving faith.
What will God say about you when you stand before him on judgement day- This question might make you afraid or it might make you long for Jesus even more-Paul shows us the importance of listening to the warnings of Scripture when it comes to the truth of the gospel to make sure we are only trusting in Jesus and not in anything we have done. Believers long for the day when their faith will be made public to the whole world, where the righteousness they have by faith in Christ is declared to the whole universe. Paul helps us to have the right perspective as we wait in hope of that future day-so that we can live for what matters most.
The Servant of Jehovah, Jesus, was called, named, prepared, hidden, and promised glory. Yet he still struggled with a sense of failure when he looked at the ordinariness of his life and accomplishments. Yet, even though his sense of failure, he maintained his faithful dependence on his Father. And through a life that seemed ordinary and purposeless, God brought about the greatest and most glorious victory in history. Like the Servant of Jehovah, you, Christian, have been called, named, prepared, hidden and received glorious promises. You, too, will likely experience a sense of failure. Yet, like the Servant of Jehovah, God will accomplish his purposes in you through faithfulness in ordinary life.
Death finally drives all to the grave. It is at that point that reality becomes most clear. Those whom God has called to himself rise to shine like the sun in his kingdom while those whom he has not descend into endless misery. Child of God, the journey before the grave can be terrifying. Yet you have every reason not to fear. Look at your future. Be motivated by your eternity today.
Do you want to reach people with the good news of Jesus- Then we must get ourselves out of the way and put the cross of Jesus on display. Paul encourages us that it's not about our clever words that will convince people to follow Jesus, its having the approach to point them to the cross, to depend on God and to see others depend on God. Join us today as we consider 3 fundamentals to being an effective witness for Christ-
Peter sees the beauty of the suffering Jesus, the Chief Shepherd and desires to imitate him. He also desires all pastors and elders to imitate Jesus, as well as you who are church members. This involves learning to care for other people, serving them eagerly and willingly. This is not easy, but God works in you to bring this about. At the heart of this lifestyle is humility that helps you to avoid the pride of lording it over other people. You are probably lording it over people if you become harsh with them, if you think you know their intentions, if you are concerned about control, and if you are not open about your own sin. Ask God to help you to see the beauty of the suffering Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, as Peter did. Ask God to help you appreciate Jesus example in your pastors-elders. Ask God to forgive you for lording it over other people and ask him to help you to start cultivating a God-honoring, humble life.
Freedom is not simply being able to go where you want and doing what you want. Gospel freedom is something supernatural that no matter what your circumstances, you can be the most free person in the world by faith in Christ- Jesus came to liberate us from sin, death, and a life of trusting in our own performance. Join us today as we consider what true freedom is and how we persevere in that freedom by standing firm in the grace we have in Christ.
If we are going to enjoy the freedom of the gospel of grace, we need to make sure we are listening to what the bible says about not turning back to the law. Paul is working on his communication by trying to paint a picture to help the Galatians see how they need to listen to what the law says about the law, rejoice in what God is doing and to cleanse themselves from the evil false teachings that want to get them to a life back under the law. You might be surprised that its not just that Abraham should be your father, but who is your mother- Join us as we look more at this picture that Paul illustrates so that we too can listen, rejoice and cleanse.
What is your life all about- Is it you- The lies of this world seek to feed the self-monster which causes people to turn away from the gospel of grace and turn to a life of self. This affects our relationships. Paul wants to get his relationship back on track with the Galatians, but he is perplexed about them. He shares with us three desires of a passionate pastor who will not rest until he sees Christ formed in the people that he loves. He is a striking contrast of what selfless love does based on the love we have received in Christ. Do you want to give up on people- Is communication hard- Keep going-God's grace will sustain us through love-
God has a glorious intentional purpose for the church. God the Father planned it, God the Son accomplished what the Father required. God the Holy Spirit applies what the Son accomplished. Everything in creation relentlessly serves God's purpose. But God intends for you to serve his purpose daily by seeing it and continually falling in love with it. He wants your life of worship to become an eternity of worship. Ask him to make this your experience now.
There are times in our lives where moving forward seems too hard and moving backward seems more familiar and easier. Paul is helping us see the kinds of conversations we need to have with the backward moving Christian. Conversations that help them see if they are living in the same way before they came to know Christ, that help them see God knows them more than they know God and the investment God has already made in their lives. Join us as we consider each of these conversations to help each other move forward in the Christian life-
There is a difference between knowing that God is your father and that he wants to be your father. Biblical adoption helps us understand what we were like before God adopted us into his family. It helps us see the great lengths God went to in order to make us part of his family, but it also shows us the privileges of being part of God's family. We don't choose God, he chose us and he gives us a distinctive new cry that confirms to us and the world around us, that we belong to Him- Join us as we consider the wonderful truth of being adopted by God-
The gospel of Jesus Christ really changes all our relationships. Not only are we united to Christ, but we are also united in Christ- God can take people who are radically different and make them one person in Him. But there are threats to this new unity we have-Paul shows us that the same issues he had to deal with, still threaten our unity today. Race, social class and gender issues prevail in our society, but what about in the church- Instead of putting up division, we should embrace what makes us one- Join us today to find out how we can celebrate the unity we have in diversity-how we can be one for all and all for one-
Christians get excited about Easter because this historical event changes our entire future. But not just our future, the historical person named Jesus changes our lives today- What is your connection to this man Jesus- Paul shows us that being a son of God means that you are so connected to Jesus, that you died with him, you were raised with him, and you are now wearing him- And being clothed in Christ has practical implications for our everyday lives-join us today to find out how God looks at his newly resurrected children in Christ and the confidence that gives us to live for His glory as we await that guaranteed, future resurrection.
What do you think God thinks about you right now- People get the gospel wrong when they forget who they are in relation to God as their Father. This results in either legalism, where people go back to rely on their own efforts to fix the relationship with God, or some think they have a license to keep doing whatever they want. The book of Galatians helps us to get the gospel right and to know who are in Christ by faith. Join us to see the important status we receive once we have trusted in Jesus-
The 9th commandment reminds us that God hates lies and deception because His very nature is Truth. It is the truth that sets us free from living a life of deception. As we consider the 9th commandment, we are looking at how we lie and give false witness against others today, what motivates that kind of falsehood and how we can rather use our words to edify others and be a faithful witness of the gospel. The gospel we have been entrusted with to the ends of the earth-
The 8th commandment helps you evaluate if you are a generous person- One of the realities of being a new person in Christ is that you don't take what does not belong to you but rather you look for ways to be generous with what God has given you. Stealing reveals our lack of trust in God's providential care. But what does that look like today- The Bible shows us what a converted thief looks like, being someone that has been made free to be generous toward others, working hard to provide for others and being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Join us as we consider the freedom we have to love others by not robbing God of His glory-
The Bible encourages us as we talk about evil spirits. They are powerful and have caused damage throughout the world and history. They fell with Satan and will finally be destroyed by God. They cannot marry people or live in Christians. Christ's atonement destroys their evil attempts. They cannot read your mind or know the future. Their final target is God, his truth and his people. They cannot damage God's purposes because they are limited by God's character and purposes. Christians who are living a faithful Christian life are best protected from Satan and demons. If you are determined to be obsessed with the spirit world, be obsessed with God himself-
Every time we think about church planting, we are reminded of the mission of the church. It helps us see the real needs around us and to look at how we are helping to meet those needs in reaching other people. Paul is helping us see why it is an absolute privilege and opportunity to support the work of the kingdom...You will be surprised in what he says...join us in finding out how you can partner in kingdom work...
God has made us for relationships...and he wants us to trust him for His good design...Marriage is so much bigger than just waking up to the same person in the morning...it has a glorious purpose. But we recognize that we live in a time where the world is opposing God's good design for purity. Join us today as we explore what God says about adultery and the importance of trusting Him with our relationships.
The 6th Commandment- God has made humans uniquely in His image. This makes being a human being different from any other created creature on the planet. We are the only ones who will one day share in the glory of Jesus. This means we are to protect the sanctity of life- But the murderers are not just out there in the world...Jesus says that just look in your heart, the anger and hatred you carry also makes you a murderer. So where does this leave us- Join us today as we consider the implications of the 6th Commandment for our day...
Honor your father and mother. Sounds like a simple command, but we all naturally resist authority in our lives. Today we explore what it means to honor your parents, why its so important and how we can do it. Join us as we continue our study of the 10 Commandments and God's unchanging moral law.
What does your prayer life look like- Are you tired of saying the same things about the same things to God- Do you struggle to get through one prayer without drifting into other thoughts- Well there is a solution-today we are looking at 3 motivations for why we should pray the Bible-Because we see the example from others in the Bible, because it helps us know what is most important to God and it helps us pray truth as we learn to follow His will. Join us today as we look at this important subject about communicating with God-
What are you aiming for in 2022- We need to get more specific if we are going to hit the target- Our first target is to make God's word the centre and priority of our lives-but why- Why make such a big deal about the Bible- Paul is going to help us see that its because of what the Bible is, what it can do and what God wants to do through it. Our attitude toward the Bible impacts everything we do. God wants to equip us for every good work. So let us make the most of the Lord's day as we come to study God's life-giving word together-
Like Christian and Hopeful, you can fall into despair by failing to deal with personal sin properly, minimizing your sin, failing to trust God, talking about your despair. You need to to depend on hopeful and truthful Christian friends who will bring you back yo God's promises, prayer and personal discipline in godliness. Once you have escaped despair, you need to encourage other struggling Christians.
The millennial kingdom is a 1000 year kingdom where Christ will reign as King. You, Christian, will reign with him over nations in a renewed paradise, in wealth and full joy in interpersonal relationships. God will show the intended glory of his original creation. At the end of that time Satan will try to destroy it all again and will be completely defeated forever. Heaven and earth will then be joined and we will live with God forever.
Breathtaking, holy, glorious and beautiful- Isaiah's glimpse of the preincarnate Christ-
Throughout the world people create their own Jesus. Africa is no exception. This sermon overviews and briefly critiques four predominant views on who Jesus should be in Africa, before touching on the moralistic, therapeutic deism sweeping the west. The sermon concludes with a contrasting biblical view of Jesus- the same Jesus of whom Gabriel spoke to Mary and Joseph before Jesus' birth.
How much have you changed- God's grace is at work in peoples lives. It is good to stop and reflect how much He has changed you and Christmas is the reminder of the reality of change, the message of change and the agent of change. Because of Jesus, there is hope for anyone to be changed and for any believer to keep on changing- Jesus came to save sinners...thats us- Let us go into this Christmas season worshipping God for the gift of His Son who makes all this possible.
Life is busy- There are so many things to do and so little time. But God's solution to this is giving us a weekly rhythm so that we can stop, reflect and find true rest in His grace. God gave the Sabbath to Israel to be a witness that there is a greater rest coming- Jesus is that greater rest- He invites us to come to Him and Him alone to find that eternal rest. How important is it for you to rest in God's grace-
The 2nd Commandment- Keeping our worship pure. Exodus 20-4-6. God wants us to worship Him according to what His word says, not according to what we think. We are therefore not to make any idols or images of Him because no image in this world can capture the majesty of who He is. Rather God saves us through Christ so that we can be His image in this world, showing people His love and grace through how we worship Him in our daily lives.
Names are important to us, but how much more is that true of God. If people use God's name in the wrong way, then they show what they really think of God. But God does want us to use his name, but in the right way- God is serious about his name because its the name that brings us salvation-- Let us learn how to defend the honour of His name by living faithful lives that represent our new family name in Christ.
Who do you really worship- Do you know what God expects- His moral law has not changed because God has not changed-In this short series we will try to discover who God is through his law and how we can serve him freely as believers in Jesus. But first we have to remember that God does not share the stage with anyone or anything else-He demands exclusive worship-
Have you ever wondered what we are suppose to do with the law of God- It was given to Israel for a purpose...but what is that purpose- One of the most important things we need to understand is the relationship between the law and the gospel. Paul has been arguing how the law cannot justify anyone, its only faith in Christ that justifies. So why then the law- Today we look at 5 aspects of the law to help us understand its purpose.
What is your attitude toward the law of God- Paul explains in this text how the promise God made to Abraham is superior to the covenant he gave to Israel through Moses. Because a promise is a promise and the Mosaic covenant did not change what was promised to Abraham. But Paul goes on to explain that the promise was actually made to Jesus and it can only find its fulfilment in Jesus. The promise does not change, but the implications changes everything- We are under grace and not under the law...freedom is found in how we read our Bibles...
Imagine the world without laws. Clearly every person is born with a desperate need for law. Our brokenness is contrasted, in Scripture, to the perfect law of God. God's law, however, shows us how far we fall from his faultless standards. God's grace, therefore, accomplishes in the hearts of broken sinners what the law could never do- produce a heart that desires to do what is right.
Taking God at His Word. We believe many things in this life so easily. We even believe some remarkable things as Christians. Why- Because of faith in God and what He has promised. Abraham is a great example of someone who trusted God for the impossible and as a result, he was given the righteousness he needed to be in a right relationship with God. That is why Paul uses Abraham to defend justification by faith alone- And we need faith like Abraham to be a son of Abraham...but more importantly, we need to trust God and what He has done in Jesus to be a son of God. So ask yourself, do I trust God- Do I trust what He says is true-
Do you want to be blessed by God- God has made a promise to Abraham that indicates that he has one plan to bless all people and nations in the world. God is the evangelist who preached the gospel to Abraham in the Old Testament, showing us that if you want to share in Abraham's blessing, you have to look to Jesus by faith. It has always been through faith.
Why are we stirred by a hero story- Because there is glory in suffering. Why are we stirred by Jesus humiliation and exaltation- Because in God's world there is glory in righteous suffering. Why can you have joy in suffering- Because as a Christian, there is glory in your righteous suffering.
God is calling you to be his ambassador to confront the world with the glory of Christ. This will require both the right attitude and focus. Jesus humbled himself before he was exalted. Believers who serve as Jesus did in humility also look forward to exaltation as Jesus was exalted. This, however, is not a casual opportunity that can be easily declined. Christ will return as Lord to judge the living and the dead. Is he your Lord or your Judge-
The danger exists that you can become bewitched or deceived through mental laziness. This is what Paul accused the Galatians of. They were not thinking properly. Have you been taken in by error through your laziness- Your solution is exactly the same as Paul's solution for the Galatians. get back to the cross. Discover it's reality. Depend on the Spirit of God to help yousee the cross of Christ as beautiful. Remember how you experienced this in the beginning. This will require you to make a meal of the word of God.
The experience of nakedness can be far more than the state of being unclothed. It involves shame and a sense of failure at a deeply personal level. Man lost so much in Eden when he disgraced himself before God. He also gained a whole world of misery. The glorious gospel is that God is giving everything back and far more through Jesus nakedness and shame for his people.
Are you living each day by faith in what Jesus has done- Paul tells us this is the reality for the true believer. To live by faith each day because of what Christ has done, we need to understand how dead we are to the law and sin, how united we are to Jesus Christ and how alive we are. We have a new nature with new motives....but the old person has to die in order for us to live...How are you living out the realities of your justification-
God has been overwhelmingly merciful to you. This is the only and most powerful motivation to serving him joyfully with a renewed mind rather than being trapped in a morbid cycle of godless and self-destructive living.
How is your walk with God now- Is it joyful- Is it real- Is it marked by confession and forgiveness- The confessing life is a happy life. the confessing life is also an open and transparent life. It is a motivated and confident life. It is a life in which obedience toward God is easier.
There are possibly no issues in the world that have caused quite as much friction and misunderstanding as access to resources. Facing the disparity of access to resources has led people to think that if they had more they could be more effective in their faith. This, of course, is disproved by the effectiveness of the early church and Jesus himself. Yes, Christians are encouraged to give according to their capacities, but this is giving that exceeds monetary giving. A generous heart is a beautiful thing that we see in God himself in Jesus. Jesus' effectiveness is proven in poverty. Although he deserved more, he never claimed the right to more. Jesus' gospel is a gospel of future grace that has an impact on our current living. Do you realise God's plan is to use the poor right now- So how should we then give- This sermon will help you wit ha series of principles that will guide you to give well by extending grace.
We talk about grace a lot. but so many misunderstandings of grace about. Do you have a clear understanding of what grace is- In Paul's view, grace is evidenced in the sharing of the true gospel and the related mentorship that goes with it. This togetherness in the gospel overflows boundaries of age, gender, ethnicity, culture, and any other. God often does unexpected work in this way through unexpected people. Look at the way God sent Paul, the educated Pharisee to the gentiles while he sent Peter, the uneducated fisherman to the academic Jews. Christians who understand grace continually watch for these opportunities and evidences.
Do you seriously believe there is only one way to be saved- Paul certainly did. He even defended it against Peter's error. Every Christian is saved by faith alone through grace alone through Christ alone. Every truly saved person is truly unified through this reality. False teachers who oppose this truth are sneaky and slippery. They want to cramp true believers' freedom in Jesus and make them slaves to self-helpism. True believers fight against this destructive heresy and cling to the gospel of grace.
You may be longing for the ability to change. So many people desire it. The good news is that god is currently changing people by grace. This what God did for Paul. God's work in people glorifies God. On the way to Damascus, Paul was one way, but on the way back he was dramatically different. God crash-coursed him with direct teaching- As a result, Paul shared the gospel wherever he went- By the time returned to Jerusalem some time later, it was obvious that his gospel was the same as that of the other apostles. I was clear that he was taught by Jesus himself. This is still the type of transformation God is effecting in lives today. When God transforms you, there is no doubt that you life, like Paul's, will be strikingly different to what it was before.
Radical transformation is at the heart of Paul's story and his gospel. It is a story of hope for you and me because it is a story of hope for you and me because it is a story of how God saves his people by grace. He cultivates our past in order to show the greatness of his grace in our future. God calls his people according to his own pleasure and he calls us to eternal pleasure. This is unspeakable grace that carries us through every challenge and into his very glory. This gives life now purpose and motivation. A difficult life with purpose is far better than an easy life without purpose. It was this God-centred purpose that electrified Paul In order to have any hope or purpose at all, you need to be transformed by God.
A man responded to an online advert for a job. They asked for an admin fee. After paying, they let him know he had secured the job. He resigned from his old job and arrived for his first day at work to discover he had been scammed. More tragically, countless people consider themselves true believers but have deceived themselves into thinking they are safe when they are not. To consider yourself saved without true repentance is to deceive yourself. If this repentance does not lead to a changed life you are deceiving yourself. And if this change doesn't include new motives, you are deceiving yourself. One new motive is gratitude for God's past, present and future grace. Another is the glorious kingdom of the King- A new glorious order into which I will be brought forever. Without such a worldview you will be neither salt nor light in this sin-infected and darkened world.
The gospel sets you free from the slavery of pleasing other people. One of the most significant moments of history--Pilate's trial of Jesus--was swayed by Pilate's fear of man. And it was Jesus' conviction and enduring of Pilate's condemnation that sets Christians free from this very fear. You cannot be both a man-pleaser and a servant of Christ. Paul's boldness in the gospel clearly offends many people. His motive is clear-he wants to see the gospel rescuing lost souls, which is a far cry from people-pleasing. Rather, Paul proves himself a God-pleaser. Pleasing God frees you from pleasing everyone else. Paul's past religious life was a life of man-pleasing but that was destroyed when he apprehended the gospel. The power of knowing that God already approves of you cuts away the need to win other people's approval. There is a cost involved in throwing off the expectations of people in order to embrace the fear of the Lord. A cost that returns inestimable dividends that you can never lose.
Paul's passion for the gospel is clear in his passionate appeal to the Galatians. His is astounded that they can see the breathtaking beauty of the gospel of grace then turn back to a performance religious treadmill. Strangely, there are people who want you to incrementally return to this miserable gospel by trying to disguise it as the truth. They want you to return to performance slavery- Are you guilty of this kind of reversal of the gospel- The gospel is not about being nice, it is about God's total provision of objective righteousness for the wicked sinner. Can you identify this error in your thinking and drive to perform- Do you realise that those embracing such an error deserve to be eternally cursed- If you know someone who is attracted to, or is trapped in this anti-gospel performance slavery, does your heart go out to them because you know they have placed themselves in a damnable position before God- It is salvation by Christ alone or it is no salvation at all. It is self-destruction. Never lose sight of the gospel of grace or the authority of Scripture through which it comes. Turn back to grace now.
Have you ever experienced true freedom- Do you know what true freedom is- Do you know how it feels- If you don't know Christ as Saviour, you have never experienced true freedom. Only Christ can grant you true freedom. Freedom is found in understanding grace. Galatians explains this freedom in a comprehensive way. A key principle for Paul is that if it is not Christ alone, we should leave it alone. Another thing Paul shows is that a common attack against the truth is to attack the messenger. This is not logical. But even under attack, Paul shows that he is a messenger who can't be discredited. he was accredited by God himself. But Paul's message focuses on the cross of Christ. Paul preaches to the glory of the Christ of Calvary. It is Jesus whose life, death and resurrection that god accepts as the merits of the wicked sinner. True freedom is found only in being a recipient of this treasure. This is true liberation-
David enjoys God's protection at a time when it seemed he had come to the end of his life. Yes, David conducted himself in a foolish way, but god kindly rescued him. Critically, even though he ran to the enemy physically, in his heart he called out to the Lord. The ruin that David had seen behind him presented real danger and it was from this danger that the Lord extracted him. God amazingly commits himself to keeping his people according to his purposes. Joy comes from deliberately worshiping God for the riches of his deliberate commitment to his people. Deliberate commitment includes controlling what comes into your mind and heart. It declares war of self-sufficiency and boasts in the God of all strength. This destroys the fear of death. It also boasts in the strength Christians have in Christian community. This is a start to what it means to boast in the Lord.
God's design for the local church is beautiful. Where else in the world do you find a whole group of skilled people motivated to support you because they care. The church is a body fed by godly elders. Eldership is a position to which God calls men. This answers the WHO question. We then consider HOW these men shepherd the church before asking WHAT it is that sustains and motivates these men. Men whom God calls to this office represent God's authority in the church. They wield that authority as shepherds, not bosses. They feed the sheep so they can discern for themselves. This shepherding resembles the shepherding of God. It is also a shepherding of God's sheep. Because they are God's sheep they care and are powerfully motivated to love them sacrificially. They serve with an eye on the world to care when they see the chief shepherd. The manner in which they have cared for the sheep will become a crown that will never fade away.
It is so easy to mock people who simply share the truth of Scripture instead of trying to make it look impressive by embellishments. Yet there is such beauty in the face of Christ that God enables dead souls to see, in a work that resembles the act of creation. Satan is doing everything in his power to prevent you from seeing the glory of God in the face of Christ. But for God, this opposition is a small thing. He grants beautiful life at the moment of his choosing. Do you see the beautiful face of Christ-
Priceless treasures have descended on true Christians because of Jesus our Lord. As new standing before God results in a new loving lifestyle that is in harmony with regeneration. We learn to love other people in a God-like way- earnestly, sincerely, purely. Christians who hope in Jesus can love like Jesus loves.
It is certainly possible for a true believer to start well and then forget how amazing the gospel is. The way back is to be moved again by the beauties of the gospel. You need to fill your mind with the aroma of gospel truth, rather than the odour of your own personal performance. For Christians, there are glorious things promised. We will come into the full experience of the grace of God- Worshiping at the level motivates your change in living. Beautiful holiness is our perpetual aim. This refocusing of the mind also helps us to fear the right things. There is so much to fear in this world. But ultimately we come to fear God alone. It is our grasp of the seriousness of this reality that motivates us to love and honour him in our lives.
While struggling in the darkness of a trial, Christian, it is difficult to remember that suffering is not the only thing going on during that suffering. God is also giving you the opportunity to rejoice. Our faith has a great Champion- Jesus Christ, who won unspeakable glory through his dreadful suffering. In Jesus, we see that suffering and joy can co-exist in our hearts. Another reality in your suffering is that your faith perseveres- is it real or fake- Trials either purify or destroy you. True faith always shines. Suffering produces a deeper love for Christ in the person who has true faith. True faith endures in hope through suffering.
Hopelessness all around us crushes our hearts. Is there any real hope- There sure is- Christians have a living hope- We have a guaranteed inheritance and a guarded through faith so that our salvation is absolutely certain. There is no challenge in this world that can overcome the foundations of this hope. You, believer, need to take hope in these facts.
It is often hard to know what to say when meeting a new person or when you are confronted with people in crushing circumstances. What do you say- Where do you go after saying hi- What are you aiming at achieving in your relationship or conversation- In this sermon the focus is on how church members can start and progress in caring relationships with other people, It is shamefully compressed but is a one-sermon summary of Ed Welch's principles, found in his book Caring for One Another. My aim, as a biblical counsellor, is to help you know where to start and where to move next in your relationships.
Are you lost when you wonder what you can believe is true. African Psychology, for example, bases its procedures upon fourteen different sources of truth. However, these very uncertain sources of truth only support one of four different views of African Psychology. This is a tiny field of study when looking at the larger field of psychology, let alone all other fields of academic study worldwide. Yet the church has one source. One book. One perfect source that is described in Psalm 19 by six titles, with six characteristics and it performs six different functions. Come back to truth. Come back to God. Come back to revival. Come back to joy. Come back to wisdom.
To drift in the Christian life is an easy thing. You can do it by simply failing to pay attention. You can do it by giving up fighting with constant vigour. This is an encouragement to use the resource of Christian fellowship in the church to keep fighting for victory in the faith. Constant self-counsel leads to counselling one-another. We take part in the life of the body and sing out truth together with hearts that all desire the same glory of God from our lives. We hold onto one-another and help each other keep going. In the end, there is glory that is more than worth the untiring effort.
Christians pray because we have a powerful and attentive God. We pray because we have a Mediator between us and God- Jesus Christ. Our Mediator continually prays for us, and Christians pray for those who are not yet saved. We pray with Gospel confidence through God's own motivating power. One reason we can pray is because Jesus has given his life in order to purchase those for whom we pray. One obvious reality here is that the unbeliever who hears this must come to Christ themselves. We have received and unspeakable gift of grace, so we should be eager to see others receive this gift too.
God desires all people to be saved. Therefore we need to pray. This is in line with God's priority, scope, purpose and intention for our motivation. There is a dreadful tide heaving in this world. It is shifting untold millions into the abyss of eternal damnation. Against this tide stands the saint. The praying saint. The pleading saint. The motivated saint. he prays on behalf of the whole range of damned souls. He intercedes before God for political leaders. The saint prays in order that the church can love peaceful and quiet lives- in order to accomplish his mission. in this dark tide, you, Christian, encounter individuals and your responsibility is is care about and pray for them. Paul's call is intended to help Christians to realise how serious the situation is and how powerful is the gift of prayer.
Our perspective of Christ from both before and after creation is breathtaking. Yet what we see in his incarnation takes our appreciation for him to greater heights. He completely embraces and owns his identity as fully God. Yet he who is fully God becomes fully a human slave. The mystery is that he remains fully God while remaining fully man. In order to become man, the Son had to both empty and humble himself. His self-humbling drove him to the depths of experiencing the cruel death a criminal would normally experience. Yet as he dies in shame, he also bursts into glory that will remain eternally undimmed. This beautiful presentation of Christ in Philippians 2 is attached both to a direct command and an implicit warning. The command is to adopt the same attitude that drove Jesus through his saving mission. The implicit warning is that while Jesus is not worshiped now in the way he ought to be, the day will come when he will. In that day, his enemies will not be received into his glory but will be crushed beneath his feet.
We shift our focus from Christ before creation to Christ in the Old testament. Creation is the dividing line between the two eras, and it is creation where we first see the Son of God in this study. Unfortunately this audio does not include all of the images used in the original preaching of the sermon, but hopefully enough comes through so you can again appreciate something of the wonder of what the Son made. From creation it becomes clear that someone has to sustain everything brought into existence. The Son does that too. Then personally, we see the Son of God appearing in physical form throughout the Old Testament, driving history at pivotal points to God's intended purpose. After such a consideration of Christ, we have no other recourse but to stop and worship.
Before his miraculous conception, before Mary and Joseph, in fact, before the whole of Old Testament history or even the creation, the Son of God existed as the second member of the Trinity. He lives in heaven endlessly. His existence is not a monotonous drone but an existence of unique quality and fullness. In a word, it is glorious. Not only does the Son exist eternally in heaven in glory, but he exists as an active participant in relationship. A relationship from which he is also chosen and sent. Such a glorious Son rightly deserves the remarkable titles given to him in Scripture. Take this moment to look again at the Son of God in his preincarnate glory. Be motivated by his grandeur to daily love and devotion.
Paul provides a good example of how to say goodbye. In Acts 20 he finally greets his dear fellow-workers in the gospel as he passes by Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem. He encourages and warns the church elders. His encouragement came from a heart of love and compassion. Christ is at the heart of Paul's passion for his fellow ministers. Paul's confidence to leave was based on the fact that he had taught thoroughly God's word. He served humbly and in weakness, in the power of God. It is God to whom Paul has commended the church, therefore, he has every confidence it will continue to flourish after his departure.
The resurrection of Christ, and therefore the physical resurrection of believers is critical to living the Christian life. Is is because of this that Paul can command Christians to stand immovably strong in Christ- completely committed to Gospel work. Let's face it, starting well is not a problem. Continuing well is a huge problem. It is when you believe you have reasons to give up that this command matters most. Doing right doesn't always turn out right for you now. But ultimately your hard work in the Lord is always profitable. How do I know whether my labour will be profitable- Did you do what Jesus wanted you to do- Did you do it in faith trusting he is for you- You will stand in front of Christ on the day of rewards and he will lavish rewards on you for every single act and motive from your whole life. Everything is worth it because there will be a resurrection. You, Christian, have no reason to give up. Quite the contrary-
Center your whole life on Christ. How do you get back when you've gone off track- And you know that you can get off track--that's why the Bible warns you about it. You need to focus your whole life on Christ. It is Christ who is at the centre of the saving revolution when your walk of faith begins. Have you been saved in this striking way, or is the whole concept still very small and remote to you- Saving grace does not rest, it transforms every area of your life, both in an initial burst, and then over your lifetime. It places God's people into a whole body of believers destined for glory- Such believers walk in Christ- he is their Lord and Master. If you get off track, this is the place you come back to. Paul says that cultivating gratitude to God for Christ is a good starting point. Reflect on the glorious identity and achievements of Christ for you. Paul goes on to list many practical ways in which Christians can work toward appreciating and living in a Christ-pleasing way, but cultivating gratitude is a key starting point.
God is at work even when it feels like he isn't. In the heart of the Judean exile, the ruthless king Xerxes ruled from India to Ethiopia. God brought Esther, a young virgin, into his life as his Jewish wife. Even this was the result of Xerxes' anger at his own wife Vashti. Esther's prominence depended on seemingly random details- her relationship with Mordecai, her beautiful figure, Mordecai's overhearing a plot to kill the king, Haman's irritation at Mordecai and his irrational desire for genocide. Moreover, this was not just any genocide, it was the genocide of the Jews, the progenitors the promised Messiah. Vulnerable Esther faces the world's most tyrannical ruler to rescue the Jews, whom he has already condemned. She is prepared to die. Haman's interpretation of the sequence of events that led to his downfall was gravely flawed. At the bleakest moment, the king could not sleep. His insomnia led to Haman's execution, Mordecai's exaltation and the liberation of the Jews. A huge national reversal demonstrated that God is at work in every detail of events that appear to be beyond recovery. God is on the move in your life too. Do you see him-
To you, what does it mean to be great- Do you see greatness reflected in being a servant- Do you feel offended when people don't thank you or when they treat you like a servant- We need to look at Jesus' view of greatness. Although he is God, he specifically chose to be made a human servant. the glorious Son of Man humbled himself. Even an angel changed into a fly does not come close in comparison. Jesus chose a life of pain, difficulty and poverty. He chose death for those he came to save. Saints may be afraid to die and enter glory. Christ had courage to enter into a world of death. This is true greatness. Do you envy other people- It is time to evaluate your understanding of greatness. Lose your life for Christ and save it or grasp for your own life now and lose it.
Do you know who you are- If you do know who you are, do you actively and regularly remember your identity- The New Testament is loaded with the concept of Christians being -in Christ-. Colossians 2-10 is a good example. It is actually a very unusual way to speak because we can't really understand the concept of one person being inside another. To be in Christ is therefore an astounding reality. How can one person be in another person- God has not only saved but has placed the saved person inside the Saviour. The God looks at that saved person through the person of Christ. Everything that Christ has earned as a man has become the possession of those in him. Christians have a purpose that is hugely greater than themselves. This is what it means to be a Christian. Do you keep this identity foremost in your mind as you face the challenges of your day-
Who can condemn you as a believer- It must be clear that if anyone chooses to try, he must understand that Jesus, the Son of God has accomplished enough to free you completely from such attempts at condemnation. Christ has died as you Christian. He has risen from the dead as you. He has ascended to the right hand of the Father as you. He intercedes for you to the Father for you. What possibility of condemnation exists that can touch you when all of these facts are true- Jesus' death was evidence of God's full wrath against you being exhausted on his Son. His resurrection demonstrates God's completed acceptance of his sacrifice for you. His ascension and intercession guarantees your acceptance before the Father forever. What more can be said- These are facts that you need to know Christian. These are facts that you need to embrace as you own. These are facts upon which you must base your worldview as you live through this dark world and persevere against your own sin, guilt and shame. When you see Jesus, you will finally understand how true it is that he really has been enough for you through it all and will be forever.
The first of the last words is this- You must be born again- But in view of all of the fake views on salvation, you must understand salvation in an accurate way. Nicodemus had a wrong idea of salvation and was gently and effectively counselling by Jesus. Salvation is not moral reform. It is a matter of being born again. Such a dramatic change in a person becomes consistently obvious in their behaviour and attitudes. Being born again is also no something you can do to yourself. You need god to perform this life-giving miracle for you. The best thing to do, if you realise you are not born again, is to ask him for this new life.
God will make you holy. He does part of the work at regeneration. He does part of it progressively throughout your Christian life in conjunction with Christian effort. He completes the work in the moment of glorification.
Corrie Ten Boom tells the story of how she and other prisoners struggled to thank the Lord for the fleas in their prison cell. Later, she could thank God for the fact that they were able to hold Bible studies unhindered because the guards didn't want to be among the fleas. There is always something to be grateful for. That's Paul's point in 1 Thessalonians 5-18. Christians should always give thanks. Are you a tankful person or do you simply expect people to do things for you- Gratitude also flows into Christians' prayer lives. god desires you to be grateful. When God's desire are your desires, you don't full into the trap of moaning about your circumstances. Swim in his grace in your heart.
Christian relationships need to be real in the local church. It is not surprise that these relationships are set among a huge variety of people. But also by people who all have one dramatic commonality--they are redeemed by the blood of Christ. Therefore, different Christians need to live in peace because of their commonality. This will require warning those who are out of line, encouraging the discouraged, helping the weak.
In these final verses of Luke, we see the apostles worshiping Jesus. He receives that which belongs to God alone. Worship and huge joy walk hand-in-hand. What filled their thoughts was Jesus' blessing and ascension. His blessing resembled the blessing of the priests after they had offered a sacrifice for the people. Here is the God-man, the final Priest and Sacrifice, giving the ultimate blessing. His is then wholeheartedly received by the Father into the glory. His acceptance and glory is the glory and acceptance of his people. This unspeakable reality is the core motivator in the returning apostles and in the heart of every Christian. This sparks and sustains our lasting confidence and joy in Christ.
Salvation is not a small word. Especially when you know that the salvation we are speaking about is God's eternal plan of salvation- Vast, secure, glorious- The reality of the resurrection makes God's salvation an undeniable fact. The world at large remains in disbelief that resembles the inability of the disciples to perceive the reality of God's salvation before Jesus revealed it to them. This kind of eye-opening by God is necessary for any individual to be saved even today. Once Jesus opens the apostles' eyes, they come alive and set the world alight with their eyewitness testimony. They had come into the cosmic salvation narrative foretold throughout the Old Testament- God promised salvation and he never breaks a promise. You will one day die and in that day this promise is your only hope. God's plan of salvation is the only solid reality in this uncertain world. Wisdom requires you to listen to the final words of Jesus.
Does Jesus' death put an end to his illustrious projections- Many people think so. How can his promises come to anything if he dies in the end- Ironically, all who were mocking Jesus while he was dying were actually witnessing Jesus saving. The Old Testament explains how. Jesus had stood against the agenda of the Jewish leaders. Among them was a a secret disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, who comes out after Jesus' death. He acquires Jesus' body from Pilate and places it in his own new tomb. He was so sure of Jesus' illustrious future, in spite of his death, that he does this as an act of worship. The Old Testament foretells Joseph's surprise coming to do this. The tomb was necessary to prove his death and resurrection-as opposed to his body being thrown into a field or being left of the cross, as was the Roman norm. His death was obvious. His death makes his resurrection a thrilling truth.
The cross is central to Christianity. It is the glorious victory that declares Christ's identity as Saviour. While this declaration presents Jesus as a failure, it turns out to be the exact opposite. This is how the criminal dying beside Jesus saw it--Jesus is dying, but the criminal asks Jesus to remember him. In addition to this, creation declares the unique nature of Jesus' death, as the earth is darkened. The Old Testament often connects the moral order to the natural order. The day of the Lord will also be marked by darkness. God also speaks by tearing the temple curtain open. An end of a phase has come and a new one has started. Another remarkable fact is that Jesus is able to call out with a loud voice after hours on the cross. Jesus died with confidence in his Father. In the face of all of these evidences, a soldier praises god for what he had witnessed. The irrefutable final aspect of Jesus' unique death has his resurrection. Until you understand the cross as central to Christianity, you have not understood Christianity.
If your mind was a mug of hot water and the truth a teabag, the truth would have to steep in your mind in order for the flavour of truth to permeate your whole mind. David's meditation on truth had such a pervasive influence on his heart and mind. David found joy in the fact that God knew, understood and loved him deeply. His knowledge extends beyond the details of our physical bodies to our individual selves. he knows our imperfections and fallenness. he knows your longings and pain. His knowledge of all things and his power to rule over them is quite overwhelming. These things also have an overwhelming effect on the Christian who steeps these truths in his heart and mind .such a mind and heart incrementally hates sin and sinful manifestations in people. This is a true indicator of knowing that you are both truly loved and known by God.
Jesus, whom the disciples had been excited to see crowned king, hide in dismay as the is crucified. A dreadful turn of events. Mockers take advantage of the hours that appeared to be a sadly ludicrous surprise reversal. Christians see Jesus as everything--but this picture of failure is how Jesus' enemies still see him and the hopelessness of the subsequent Christian faith. One man--the criminal dying next to Jesus--in the chaos of the cross, sees the true identity of the Christ. He sees Jesus in relation to his own sin. The astounding hope of mercy when there is obviously no other hope. His worst day becomes his best when Jesus promises paradise to him in that very day- This instant mercy is the instant possibility for every person who turns to Christ in faith today.
The degree to which Jesus suffered after his trials at the hands of the soldiers is unspeakable. Dripping with blood, they then forced him to carry the cross bar of his cross. Simon, who was later known to the church, is compelled to carry Jesus' cross. God even used this experience in Simon's whole family. As the King is forced out of the city to his place of execution, it is the Jews who are on trial, not him. Look closer at the King and the cross. God is doing something far greater here than you can ever imagine.
Crucifixion was a gruesome statement to anyone who dared to stand up against the Roman government. The Jewish leaders pushed Jesus forward as one who stood in this position. The greatest act of injustice of all time. Even modern Jewish apologists acknowledge that this, if they believed it was true, would have been completely unjust. Quick, illegal, nighttime trials aim at punishment rather than justice. Jesus must die. Now they only need to work out how. Without a clear charge they depend on the power of mob rule. Pilate, Jesus' Roman judge, couldn't extricate himself from the pressure without negative consequences to himself. Jesus, an innocent man, is ultimately condemned. Perfection bears the penalty of perversion.
We often don't know what current events mean. There may be more going on than you think. This was especially true with Jesus. What the disciples saw had to interpreted. Jesus has been arrested and it seems all of his talk of the kingdom is coming to nothing. but all of the things that are happening to him are proving that he is who he said he was. he is who the Old Testament prophesies said he would be. The Jews' deception to cover up his murder is a fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus is the Messiah and their action are getting God's plan for Christ's exaltation in motion. The more Jesus holds to his argument, the more they oppose him and perpetuate God's purpose. In the current calamity in this world, don't do by what you see. Things are not what they seem. God will do everything he said he will do through Jesus, therefore, the true reality will soon be seen as well as known.
it is easier to learn from other people's failure than from our own. So let's learn from Peter. One moment he is swinging his sword and the next he is following at a distance, then sitting, then denying Jesus. For Jesus, Peter's denial is a huge social taboo. Was Peter trying to satay alive at all costs- Will you stand up before men at the risk of you life in order to own Jesus- Peter's failure began with over-confidence. Temptation cam as a surprise and his confidence was damaged. Like people who neglect the means of grace. He became focused on the wrong things. Jesus warned Peter, and by extension, me and you, but Peter did not take that warning seriously. have you become over-confident and started fallowing further behind- You have sent yourself up for failure. You have an opportunity now to come back to Christ.
As goes the father, so goes the family, it has been said. Every man should be restrained. Not only is he able to restrain his habits, but his personal desires too. He is also to be dignified. That doesn't mean he is only dignified, it means he can be light-hearted and fun, but his family knows that he is serious at the core. he is also sensible. He uses words that line up with reality. he can do this by toning his mind to think realistically. This is not equal to education. You can be highly educated but not think realistically. Men need to think biblically. God loves to help and change a repentant sinner. Have you gone to him and asked him to help you change. Have you then worked toward becoming a godly person. Say no to desire. Be eager to imitate. Think realistically. You will be God's kind of man.
Following Jesus is a different experience depending on what you are living through. For Jesus' disciples, being with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane must have been very confusing. Keeping their eyes on Jesus himself is the key in this confusion. the experience of tragedy is always different to knowing about it before it happens. Judas' betrayal was one of these intensely different experiences for the disciples. Immediately thereafter, it seemed obvious to the the disciples that it was time for them to start fighting with their swords. How bewildering it must have been to them when Jesus puts an end to the rebellion. How could evil be succeeding over Jesus- The soldiers who came to arrest him must have been surprised too when they realised he wasn't actually a dangerous criminal against whom they were armed with swords and clubs. Jesus' response is beautiful. He was the only one not surprised. Clearly, the disciples needed to trust him, even when it seemed he was not in control. Look at him quickly, before you struggle, trying to work it all out by yourself. Look out. Look up.
Jesus asks his disciples to pray as he prayed because he is not only the object of our justifying faith but also the example of our justifying faith. Jesus suffered more than anyone else. This can be said because Jesus was the sole person in the world who faced the greatest injustice. He was also betrayed by his close fiend. These are intensified by Jesus' agonies in the garden of Gethsemane as he anticipated the dreaded cross. The physical pain of astounding proportions precedes the overflowing enduring of the wrath of God against the sins of his people. Jesus' horror at being made sin was exactly the right response to that prospect. This is a demonstration of all of the attributes of God. As an equal expression of those attributes, Jesus sets up and faces those terrors alone. As you watch him moving resolutely toward the cross as your object of faith, do you imitate him as the example of your faith- You may pray and you may still suffer.
Our minds are filled with thousands of thoughts ever hour. When we combine this with the human propensity to constantly choose the wrong rather than the right, it is obvious that we can easily spirial down into a miserable funk. Simple positive thinking is not sufficient. Only God-centred thinking is sufficient to drive such a flow of thinking. Combine this with the purifying work of the indwelling Holy Spirit and you have a progressively God-like thought life. Voices in the world war against this and our minds are strongly influenced by our own unholy desires. They drive us to believe lies that urge us to turn away from God and to the lie. Paul has actually catalogued some broad categories of thought in which Christians should excel. The light of a God-centred worldview needs to overwhelm the darkness of convincingly self-serving lies. Some discipline in explaining this thinking is your lifeline in combination with prayer. Paul has also given the Philippians an example of such thinking and the living that resulted. What do you think-
The world is anxious under lockdown. But anxiety is nothing new. Paul, in Philippians 4, even commands Christians in his day not to worry. This is in contrast to the world, that, in so many ways is tilling you to worry. Paul issues God's command while imprisoned- circumstances that could easily tempt him to become anxious. Anxiety wants you to take your eyes off God and rest them on you and people and circumstances around you. You live as if God doesn't exist. We trust him for his greater external provision, but not for the next few days. How are you dealing with your anxiety- God requires you to come to him in prayer when you are worried, but also, at any time too. In addition, cultivate thinking from which you can draw encouragement and gratitude. This is he opposite of continuing in silent, ungrateful pride. It is also God's way of bringing you true peace. Do you have this peace- If not, what burden are you trying to carry alone- If you are worrying, are you praying-
What would it take to destroy your life fast- What would it take to destroy the life of a powerful king fast- Uzziah was such a king- very powerful and destroyed very fast. What was the force that was able to take him down so quickly- Actually, it was something that lives inside each one of us. Uzziah failed to hear the warnings and his destruction should be a warning for us too.
A momentous event is about to take place and Luke wants us to pay attention. The Passover is imminent. The Jews had celebrated the Passover for approximately 1500 years before this particular Passover, and Jesus uses this meal to explain the meaning of his coming death. He prepares his disciples for what is about to take place. Jesus' crucifixion was God's fulfillment of the Passover. Jesus is God's Lamb. Is He your Lamb- Take some time to approach God on the basis of His Lamb.