Cahaba Park Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Cahaba Park Church
Welcome to the Cahaba Park Church Podcast! Here, you can access sermons and messages from our worship services and special events.
1. WE ALL HAVE SPIRITUAL BLINDSPOTS
a. SIN'S CONSEQUENCES ARE OFTEN WORSE THAN WE EXPECT
b. WE ALL NEED OTHERS TO KEEP BRINGING US TO CHRIST
- CHRIST IS ABLE AND WILLING TO RESTORE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGHT
a. HIS METHODS ARE OFTEN STRANGE AND UNEXPECTED
b. HIS METHODS OFTEN ARE LONGER AND MORE INVOLVED THAN WE EXPECT
- WE MUST TRUST CHRIST AND HIS METHODS THOUGH WE DON’T LIKE THEM
a. IF WE TRUST CHRIST WE FOLLOW CHRIST WHEREVER HE LEADS
b. IF WE TRUST CHRIST WE SUBMIT TO CHRIST WHATEVER HE DOES
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If you've been fed by Christ, He expects you to help feed others.
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He will keep bringing us back to the same lesson until we learn.
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We do the natural part, He alone does the supernatural part.
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It is sin to proudly ask God to prove himself to you with a sign.
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You can be in close proximity to Jesus and totally miss him.
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Focus your heart and mind on spiritual, not earthly, issues. \
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Mark 7:24-37
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Persevere in prayer past obstacles
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Have honest humility
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Have humble boldness
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Pray for others
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Bring others to Jesus
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Scripture: Mark 7:1-23
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Don't make your personal application everyone's application.
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Continually align your life, lips, and heart.
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Don't neglect God's word for men's traditions
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Don't cover your clear inner sin with external ceremony
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Focus on the internal, not the external
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When we focus on manmade external rules, we miss God
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Mark 6:45-56
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Prioritize personal prayer
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Obedience to God sometimes makes life harder in the short run
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God drawing near to use can sometimes confuse and terrify us
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God is always acting to bless and help his people
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We must make time to meditate on God's work to gain insight
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Mark 6:1-13
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Mark 5:1-20
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Mark 4:35-41
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Mark 4:21-34
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Mark 4:1-20
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Sermon Scripture: Mark 3:22-30
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I. Introduction - The Call to Come Close
II. The Call to Comfort - vs. 1-11
III. The Call to Comprehend - vs. 12-27
IV. The Call to Climb - vs. 28-31
V. Conclusion
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I. Introduction - Psalm 125:2; Hebrews 11:13-16; 13:8
II. What is the Gospel?
a. The Gospel Addresses and Answers My Greatest Need: Sin -
Romans 3:10-12, 23
b. The Gospel Is about a Father’s Love for His Chosen Child -
Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16
c. The Gospel Centers on the Sinless Life, the Punishing Death, and
the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ -
2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15
d. The Gospel Affords Me the Status of Sonship - 2 Corinthians 5:17
III. Who Is Jesus?
a. Jesus Is the Image of the Invisible God - Colossians 1:15; John 3:16; 14:9
b. Jesus Is Preeminent - Colossians 1:13-20
c. Jesus Is Worthy - Revelation 5:9, 10, 12, 13b
d. Jesus Is YOUR Savior - Matthew 1:21
IV. CONCLUSION
a. Rehearse Gospel Texts - John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; I John 4:10;
Isaiah 61:1-3
b. Sing Gospel Hymns
c. This is Who God is; this is what I am; this is what Jesus did for me;
this is how I received it
d. My Father loves me and always has loved me…because HE
ransomed me with the blood of His Son
e. It’s all about Jesus
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I. God will build the house
II. God will protect the house
III. God will give rest to the house
The Wonderful Jesus
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His wonderful birth
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His wonderful life
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His wonderful death
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His wonderful resurrection and ascension
The Wonderful Counselor
I. The Leading and Guiding of the Holy Spirit
A. His Word
B. Prayer
C. Fasting
D. Patience
E. Following
F. Closed Doors
G. Interruptions
II. The Reason and Motive for Following the Holy Spirit
A. We are happiest when we are found in God’s will.
B. We want to be God’s man or woman in God’s place at God’s time.
C. Jesus is the Head of the Church, and He commands it.
D. Someone is crying.
E. The love of Jesus compels us.
I. Paul's Aim: Make Disciples and establish churches
II. Paul's Reward: Going home to Antioch
I. The healing of a man born crippled
II. The pagan superstition of the people of Lystra
III. The urgent, revival preaching of the work by Paul
IV. The faithful servant resists the flattery of the world
I. The initial reaction on the first sabbath
II. Rejection on the next sabbath
III. The reaction of Paul and Barnabas
IV. Gentile faith and gentile joy
I. The Church at the Antioch - A Model for Missions
A. A Sound Church in every respect
B. A multi-staffed, well- taught church
C. A diverse yet unified
D. A worshipping, fasting, and praying church
II. The Model: God calls, the church confirms
III. The Task of the church: Evangelism and missions
I. Thankful for the hand of the Lord ON my life.
II. Thankful for the Barnabas' IN my life.
III. Thankful for the title UPON my life.
Westminster Shorter Catechism question #26: How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
Answer: Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
I. Christ's power over earthly kingdoms
II. Christ's authority over earthly kings
III. Christ's immutable decrees
I. God delivers us from our oppressors
II. God delivers us in improbable ways
III. God's deliverance through prayer
I. Giving is a personal decision
II. Giving is a joyful duty
A. There is an element in giving that is joyful.
B. It is joyful and rewarding to give to the body of Christ.
C. It is joyful to meet a need.
D. It s is joyful when we know the cause is worthy
E. It is joyful when we know we are trusting God.
F. It is joyful when there is sacrifice included.
I. The Gentiles receive the same message
II. The Gentiles receive the same spirit
III. The Jewish-Christians "back home" must concede the same conviction
"Prayer si the autograph of the Holy Ghost upon the renewed heart." - Spurgeon
I. A Change in Sauls' Heart
II. A New Direction for Paul
III. A Behavioral Change in Paul
I. Hostile hearts are seeking hearts
II. God reveals himself to seeking hearts
III. God reveals himself through restriction
I. Living by the Spirit makes us Bold
II. Boldness (often) leads to persecution
III. Persecution strengthens the Church
Introduction
I. Stephen: A Godly Man and a Brutal Death
A. A Man Full of Faith
B. A Man Full of the Holy Spirit
C. A Man Full of Grace
D. A Man Full of Power
E. A Man Who Baffled His Opponents
II. The Unbelieving World: Confused and Antagonistic
Conclusion— The Reflection of the Glory of God
I. The Blinding Jealousy of the Jewish Leadership
II. The Immediate Encouragement of God to the Apostles
III. The Profound Call of God Upon the Apostles
IV. The Stunning (Almost Humorous) Discovery of the Council
V. The Uncompromising Commitment of the Apostles to Obey God
VI. The Simple Yet Enduring Message of the Gospel for All
I. They gathered together with God's people
II. The prayed together as God's people
A. They begin with praise for who God is
B. They end with petition of boldness to articulate to Gospel
III. God answers the prayer of His people
IV. God is building them into His People
A. They depended on the power of God
B. They were one in purpose and vision
C. They had all things in common
D. The preached the Gospel
I. My. Most Pressing, Ever-Present Need
A. I Need a Merciful Savior
B. I need a Sovereign Lord
II. His Gracious, Most-Convincing Proof
A. Evident of His Sovereignty
B. Evidence of His Mercy
Tenebrae, which is a Latin word meaning “shadows,” has been observed in the church of Jesus Christ since the fourth century. On this Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus and recall his seven last words on the cross. As we remember the last words, we will extinguish the candles on the communion table, one by one. The gradual extinguishing of the candles will be accompanied by prayers and songs that cause us to contemplate Christ’s sufferings for us.
I. The Meaning Behind Palm Sunday
II. The Ironic Misinterpretations
A. The Religious Leaders
B. The Crowd
C. The Disciples
I. A Truly Miraculous Story
II. An Amazing Biblical Sermon
III. A Startlingly Christ-Centered Sermon
I. Commitment to the Word
II. Commitment to Fellowship
III. Commitment to the Lord's Supper
IV. Commitment to Prayer
V. Commitment to Evangelism
I. The Portrait of Pentecost
II. The Wonder of Pentecost
III. The Opportunities of Pentecost
I. Practice Obedience
II. Experience LIke-Minded Fellowship
III. Commit to Prayer
IV. Study God's Word
V. Choose Godly Leaders
I. The Church Belongs to Jesus
II. The Task Belongs to Us
III. The Realm Belongs to Jesus
IV. The Power Belongs to Jesus
V. The Glory Belongs to Jesus
I. The Wonderful Jesus
A. His Wonderful Birth
B. His Wonderful Life
C. His Wonderful Death
D. His Wonderful Resurrection and Ascension
II. The Wonderful Counselor
I. Obstacles to Peace
II. Antidotes to the Barriers
III. The Reaction of the Recipients: Fear
IV. Too Simple to Fear
I. The Principle
The pleasure of God is wrapped up in His love; therefore, we get a glimpse of God's pleasure in His demonstration of love in the sending of His Son and subsequent offering of Him up for our salvation.
II. The Plan
Because of love for you (known only to a God as to WHY He would love YOU), He sent His Son, born in a manger wrapped in flesh to this end; that 33 years later He would die an unthinkable, cruel, harsh death to give YOU life... You and a number no one can count from every tribe, nation, tongue, and people group!
III. The Peace
The Beauty in believing in the sovereignty of God is not that the doctrine magically makes sense out of all life; rather the beauty lies in the fact that God's sovereignty gives me peace when life doesn't make sense.
I. Thankful for a Family of Genuine Believers
II. Thankful for a Growing Faith
III. Thankful for an Increasing Love
IV. Thankful for Enduring Hope
II. The Biblical Benefits of Being a Steward of My Money
A. God Owns Everything You Own—I Chronicles 29:11–12
B. Giving Is an Act of Worship—Philippians 4:18
C. Giving Reflects Faith in God’s Provision—Mark 12:41–44
D. Giving Should Be Sacrificial and Generous— II Corinthians 8:1–5
E. Giving Reflects Spiritual Trustworthiness—Matthew 6:21; Luke 16:13b
F. Giving—Love, Not Legalism—II Corinthians 8:9
G. Give Willingly, Thankfully, and Cheerfully—II Corinthians 9:7, 12
H. Giving—an Appropriate Response to Real Needs—Acts 2:43–45; 32–35; 11:27–30
I. Generous Giving Results in Bountiful Blessing—Proverbs 11:24–25; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 6:3–4; II Corinthians 9:6
I. The Biblical Benefits of Being a Steward of My Time
A. Use Time Wisely “Because the Days Are Evil”—Colossians 3:1–4
B. Wise Use of Time Is the Preparation for Eternity— Psalm 90:12; II Corinthians 6:2; Romans 6:23
C. Time Is Short—James 4:14
D. Time Is Passing—I John 2:17
E. The Remaining Time Is Uncertain—Proverbs 27:1
F. Time Lost Cannot be Regained—Philippians 3:13–14
G. You Are Accountable to God for Your Time
H. Time Is So Easily Lost—Proverbs 24:33-34; 26:13–14
I. We Value Time at Death—Proverbs 5:11-13; cf. John 5:22–29
J. Time’s Value in Eternity—Revelation 21:1–7; Hebrews 4:7
I. Revival of the Preaching and Teaching of the Word
A. Preachers in Pulpits with Divine Unction
B. The Message in the Pulpit is the Cross of Christ
II. Revival of a Deeper Fellowship
A. A Spirit-led Purging takes place
B. A Spirit-led Crumbling of Sinful Barriers to Membership
III. Revival The Importance of the Lord's Supper
IV. Revival of the Ministry of Prayer
A. A Brokenness Evidenced in Confession and Repentance
B. A Concerted Effort buy Ministers to Call the People to Prayer
V. Revival of Mighty Leadership
VI. Revival in the Area of Stewardship
VII. Revival of Simple, Reverence of Worship
VIII. Revival of Outreach
I. Reformation of the Ministry of the Word
-There is Preaching of the Gospel
-There is a Commitment to Expository Preaching
-There is a Commitment to Biblical Doctrine
II. Reformation of the Ministry of Fellowship
-Camaraderie among Like-Minded People
-Biblical Accountability
III. Reformation of the Ministry of the Lord’s Supper
-The Importance of the Lord’s Supper
-Sabbath Keeping
IV. Reformation of the Ministry of Prayer
V. Reformation of the Ministry of Leaders
-Ridding the Clergy from Professionalism
-Leadership Standards
VI. Reformation of the Ministry of Stewardship
VII. Reformation of the Ministry of Worship
-Biblically Based Worship
-Joy in Family Worship
VIII. Reformation of the Ministry of Outreach
-Purposeful Evangelism
-World Missions
-Ministry to Other Churches
-Mercy Ministry
I. Christian Fellowship Requires Walking in the Light
A. God is Light
B. Walking in the Light
C. Fellowshipping in the Light
- Unity, Service, Koinonia, Acceptance, Grace, Love Fellowship, Longing, Sincerity, Fervency, Familial
II. Christian Fellowship Grounds Itself in Gospel-Centered Friendship
A. Gospel-Centered Friendships Start at the Cross
B. Gospel-Centered Friendships are Present in the Moment
C. Gospel-Centered Friendships are Our Glory and Joy
D. Gospel- Centered Friendships are Always Under Attack
E. Gospel-Centered Friendships Sharpen My Faith
I. The Disciples' Two Questions
II. The Christian's Life Between the now and not yet
III. The Worldwide Spread of the Gospel
A. The Message
B. The Means
C. The Object
D. The Outcome
IV. Conclusion
I. Satan Will Attack a Vital Church: Division— Acts 6:1
(For Further Study & Edification: Ephesians 6:10–20)
II. God Will Provide the Vital Church with Godly Leadership: Spirit-filled and Wise— Acts 6:2
(For Further Study & Edification: Proverbs 9:10; Ephesians 4:1; 5:15–21)
Conclusion— Acts 6:7
(For Further Study & Edification: Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:7)
I. The Apostle Paul: A Model of Elder Character
A. Consistency
B. Humility
C. Ministry with Tears
D. Faithful
E. Self-Sacrificing
II. The Biblical Elder: A Model of Male Leadership
A. Social Qualifications
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Above Reproach
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Of good reputation with outsiders
B. Moral Qualifications
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The husband of but one wife
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Temperate
C. Mental Qualifications
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Prudent
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Respectable
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Able to Teach
D. Personality Qualifications
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Not pugnacious, but gentle
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Hospitable
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Not covetousness; Not a lover of money
E. Domestic Qualifications
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He must manage his own household well
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His children should show proper respect; obey
F. Maturity Qualifications: Not a New Convert
III. The Cahaba Park Church Elder: A Model of Spiritual Oversight
I. The Warning— Revelation 2:1-7
(For Further Study: John 21:15-17; Acts 19:9-11, 19-20)
II. The Commandment— John 15:12
(For Further Study: I John 14:21; Romans 12:10; I Thessalonians 3:12; II Thessalonians 1:3; I Peter 1:22; 3:8; 4:8; I John 2:7-10; 3:11-18)
III. The Standard— 15:13
(For Further Study: Proverbs 10:12; John 13:35; Ephesians 5:2; I Corinthians 13; I Peter 4:8; I John 3:16; 4:10-11)
IV. The Motivation— John 15:14-15
(For Further Study: Exodus 33:11; II Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; John 11:1; James 2:23)
I. Prayer Makes a Difference in God's Eternal Design
II. Prayer Makes a Difference in My Life
A. Prayer Humbles Me.
B. Prayer Builds My Faith
III. Prayer Makes a Difference In the History of the World
Remember Your Calling— II Timothy 4:1
(For Further Study: Psalm 145:4; John 13:34–35; Romans 1:16; 12:16; Hebrews 8:10–12)
Remember to Preach the Word— II Timothy 4:2
(For Further Study: Romans 1:16; Hebrews 13:7; II Thessalonians 2:15; II Timothy 2:2)
Remember to Be Faithful in Season and Out— II Timothy 4:2b
(For Further Study: Isaiah 61:1–3; 1 Thessalonians 5:14)
Remember to Correct, Rebuke, and Encourage— II Timothy 4:2c
(For Further Study: Proverbs 17:17 #4)
Remember Not to Compromise in Difficult Times— II Timothy 4:3–4
(For Further Study: Rev. 2:5; 13:14)
Remember to Be Sober in All Things— II Timothy 4:5a
(For Further Study: II Samuel 7:18)
VII. Remember to Endure Hardships— II Timothy 4:5b
(For Further Study: Psalm 115:1; I Cor. 10:3; II Cor. 5:15. The Hymn: Faith of Our Fathers)
VIII. Remember to Do the Work of an Evangelist— II Timothy 4:5c
(For Further Study: Romans 14:7-8, 12; I Peter 3:15)
IX. Remember to Fulfill Your Ministry— II Timothy 4:5d
(For Further Study: Romans 8:32; Isaiah 53:5, 6)
The Very Essence of Our Relationship Together as Believers
I. No Other Name
II. No Other Provision
III. No Other Entrance
IV. No Other Welcome
I. The nature of the Royal Law
II. The integrity of the Royal Law
III. The freedom in the Royal Law
I. How we take life.
II. How Christ brings life
III. How we become ambassadors for life
I. What does obeying and honoring our parents look like?
II. Where do we get the ability to obey and honor are parents?
III. To What end do we obey and honor our parents?
I. The Lord's Day is to be Dedicated
II. The Lord's Day is to be Different
III. The Lord's Day is to be a Delight
I. God as the Object of our Love and Trust
II. How to Love and Trust God
III. The Blessing of Loving and Trusting God
I. The Motivation for Obedience
II. The Mandate for Obedience
III. The Means for Obedience
I. The cause of blessed persecution
II. The Nature of blessed persecution
III. The hope in blessed persecution
I. The humility of Jesus' heart.
II. The brokenness of Jesus' heart.
III. The hope of Jesus' heart.
I. Mercy Defined
II. The Motive for Being Merciful
III. The Implications for Being Merciful
I. Becoming poor in spirit
II. The like of one who is poor in spirit
III. The blessing of being poor in spirit
I. A warning from Jonah II. Wise counsel from Jonah III. The one to whom Jonah is pointing us
I. The Lord's work in the lives of the sailors. II. The Lord's work in the life of Jonah III. The Lord's work through the One greater than Jonah.
Watch out!
I. Satan wants to destroy the church through false teaching A. Know the Gospel... no compromise! B. Apple the Gospel...no complacency! II. How you'll recognize the false teachers A. They serve themselves B. The teach falsely III. What are we to do? A. Keep going B. Christ wins you win
We who are in Christ must do the work of Christ.
I. What the church is A. Diverse B. Unified II. What the church is to do A. Worship B. Community C. Mission
We are all prone to "Gospel Amnesia." As such, we must fix our gaze on Jesus, what He has done, is doing, and will do in the time to come.
God fills his people so that they may hope in him.
Believe The Gospel Build Each Other Up
Following Christ in His Strength
The example: live in unity for the sake of Christ
Outside the church Inside the church
II. The strength: recognize your unity as the work of Christ
The work of the Son The plan of the Father The hope of the Spirit
Pursue Peace
I. What causing someone to stumble looks like A. Tempts them to judgment B Destroys the work of God
II. What the strong in faith must remember A. Christ died for all his people B. The majors not the minors C. You do you
Remember: We are accepted not because of what we do or do not do, but because of Christ.
I. The Issue II. What we must remember III. Who we must serve
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
Subject Yourself to authority as to the Lord
I. Submit. They are placed by God A. Authority comes from God B. God rules over authorities II. Remember. They are for your thriving. A. Blessing of government B. Blessing from government III. Honor. They are laboring. A. Governing is hard work B. As long as it doesn't violate God's command.
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
The Gospel say evil is defeated with good.
I. New Disciples A. Sacrifice me-first B. Invest in others II. New Posture A. Resist avoiding B. Serve to save III. New Hope A. There is a judge B. He will make all things right
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
I. In Christ II. In Faith III. In the Body
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
How am I able to do what I must do? Do it by the mercy of God.
I. Saves us A. From ourselves B. By mercy II. Reminds Us A. Who we are B. How we are to live III. Transforms Us A. New understanding B. New Power
Praise God.
I. He is faithful to his promises A. To Israel B. To the Nations II. Our response to his faithfulness A. Humility B. Worship
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
God's Plan for God's People
I. Jewish Rejection II. Gentle Blessing III. Jewish Blessing
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/givex
Preach so that other will believe the Gospel I. Preach the Gospel II. So others will believe the Gospel
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
Since God saves, come to Jesus!
I. How do I know if I am rejecting it? A. Living as if I am in the place of God B. Living as if God owes me C. Living as if God doesn't owe them
II. How do I know if God is Saving me? A. God reveals your need B. God gives you faith C. God gives you love
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
I. Is God Unjust? II. Is God Unfaithful?
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
God saves those he calls.
I. The Benefits of God II.The Choice of God III. The Love of God
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
God saves full those who are his.
I. Pray A. The mystery of prayer B. The people of prayer II. Rest A. What is true B. Who we are
I. Present Adoption A. Identity, Security, Love Assurance, Inheritance, Discipline, Future
II. Future Glory A. Creation 1. Not faded but grand 2. Not decaying but strength 3. Not Suffering but worship B. Us 1. Not moments but forever holy 2. Not partially but fully adopted 3. Not hope but sight
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
God has adopted those he saves to be his children. I. Present Adoption A. Identity B. Security C. Love D. Assurance E. Inheritance F. Discipline G. Future II. Future Glory A. Creation B. Us
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
I. From Condemnation II. In Christ III. From the Flesh IV. By The Spirit
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
We need rescuing from ourselves.
I. The Law A. Shows sin B. Shows sin in me C. Shows depth of sin in me II. The Battle A. True love B. Affair with sin III. Sure Hope
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
Released from the Law and Married to Christ Christians are Married to Christ
I. New Identity A. How B. Result II. New Service A. New Love B. New Power
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
No One Is Free We will either be obedient to sin leading to death, or obedient to God leading to life.
I. Beginning II. Middle III. End
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
Union with Christ
Since believers are united with Christ, we must grow in obedience. I. Dead to sin A. What it means B. How it happened C. Result II. Alive to Christ A. Sure hope of certain future B. Be who you are
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
Because of Christ, Christians rule with him.
I. The problem and blessing of federal headship a. Problem b. Blessing II. How Adam and Christ contrast and compare a. Desire b. Immediate Result c. Eternal Result
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
Suffering is the proof of God’s love. Psalm 88
I. The experience of suffering A. Pain B. Unending pain C. Punishing pain II. How to suffer A. Avoid petty answers B. Tell the Lord in prayer III. The hope in suffering A. Suffering is the tool God uses to make us more like Him B. There is an ultimate end to suffering
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
Keeping the Eternal Perspective Psalm 53
Wee need an eternal perspective of our lives.
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
My God: My Hope and My Salvation Psalm 42 & 43 God has met our greatest through sending His Son Jesus Christ.
I. Feeling our Need for God II. Addressing our Need for God III. How God Meets our Need for Him
True Worshippers - Psalm 15 True worshippers are made by God not found by God.
I. True worshippers are not found by God II. True worshippers are made by God
At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
Focus on the Father 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Keep your eyes on God. I. Giving reflects the heart of theFather II. Giving is the desire of theFather III. Giving brings glory to the Father
_ At Cahaba Park Church, we are living life as mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and the good of the city. Cahaba Park serves the Birmingham area as a church that focuses on Worship, Mission, and Community.
To learn more about Cahaba Park Church, visit www.cahabapark.org Watch previous sermons and more on Youtube: www.youtube.com/CahabaParkChurch Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CahabaPark Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cahabaparkchurch To give online, visit www.cahabapark.org/give
The Grace of Giving 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
I. An Example of Giving (vv.1-5) II. The Empowerment for Giving (vv.6-10) III An Exhortation for Giving (vv. 11-15)
www.cahabapark.org
Credited Righteousness. Romans 4 (ESV)
Since God credits his righteousness to us, we must grow in faith. I. Set aside faith in yourself A. Righteousness is a gift B. Not because we are special C. Not because we are good
II. Grow in the gift of faith in God A. Who God is B. Who we are in Him
God gives us his righteousness. Romans 3:21-31
I. How are we made righteous? (21-26) II. How are we to respond? A. To ourselves and others? (27-30) B. To God’s law? (31)
The Darkness of Sin (Romans 3:1-20)
I. Reality of Sin II. Degree of Sin III. Result of Sin We must be rescued.
What If Being Religious Isn't Enough? Romans 2
I. Rule keeping is not better than rule breaking (1-5) II. All are judged by works (6-11) III. Believing the Bible isn’t enough (12-16) IV. Relying on “being Christian” isn’t enough (17-24) V. We are right with God because Christ was cut off from God (25-29)
Romans 1:18–32 (ESV) You’ll never love the Gospel if you don’t know your need for the Gospel.
I. Why is the wrath of God directed towards man? II. How is the wrath of God directed towards man? III. How do we escape the wrath of God?
Reverend Jim Hatch Luke 9:43-56 Jesus turns our idea of greatness on its head.
I. We can find greatness in status over people who don’t matter to us... .... Jesus values those who don’t matter! (like us!)
II. We can find greatness in significance over those I don’t agree with... ...Jesus gives the benefit of the doubt and draws outsiders into his circle (like us!)
III. We can find greatness in superiority over our enemies by judging them... ... Jesus endured injustice and gives out mercy and compassion to enemies (like us!)
Romans 1:16–17
Give thanks to the Lord for He has done great things. 1. The offense of the Gospel 2. The power of the Gospel 3. The result of the Gospel
The people of God need to hear the Gospel:
- Strengthening Faith
- Mutual Encouragement
- Spiritual Conversion
What will it cost to follow Jesus? That is the question with which Luke 5:1-16 forces us to wrestle. Cultural Christianity is acceptable in Birmingham, Alabama, but what happens in Luke 5 does not leave us with that option. The King of all the universe desires relationship with us because he loves us.
After an initial wave of popularity, Jesus comes home to Nazareth. While there he preaches in his local synagogue and gives the people good news: the long-awaited Messiah is here. It’s him. Though the people didn’t have a problem with the kingdom coming, they had a problem with how it was coming and refused to bow to Jesus. Jesus demands a choice, and only through his choosing us can we be a child of God.
If you were the author of Nehemiah, wouldn’t you want to end the story of great revival in chapter 12 and not 13? Chapter 12 is filled with the glorious revival of the people of God. And chapter 13 takes us back to cycles of sin. God, in his most wise counsel saw fit to include chapter 13, which makes us long for things to be made right: it makes us long for Jesus.
If the Christian’s proper response to God’s faithfulness is joy, how are we to be joyful? The people of Israel in Nehemiah 12 show us how we are to be joyful by painting one of the most beautiful worship services in all of Scripture. And in so doing tell us this very important truth that we must know: Joy is God-powered.
Nehemiah 11-12:27 is a long list of the names of people who repopulated Jerusalem. Since we believe that all Scripture is about Jesus, what do we learn from Nehemiah 11? God was faithful to fulfill his promises to bring an earthly people into the city of Jerusalem. He will one day show how this is a foretaste of his ultimate promise to bring a spiritual people into a holy city.
The people of Israel in Nehemiah 10 provide a beautiful picture of resolving to obey God’s Word in the face of failure. The only problem is, they too will fail. What will God do to stop the coming judgment for disobedience? He will send his son as a Rescuer to stand in their and our place.
Worship of the God of the Bible must lead us to repentance of our sin, reliance on him, and resolve to walk in his ways.
For the first time in generations the people of God hear from the Word of God as the curtain draws on Nehemiah 8. In the newly walled city they gather, 50,000 strong, to hear from God’s Word. As they hear it they learn one of the most important truths of Scripture: the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Jesus came to us on a quiet night in Bethlehem 2000 years ago and his mother wrapped him in strips of cloth and lay him in a feeding trough for animals. He who could robe himself in all the galaxies of the universe came robed in cloth. He who sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty who rules in his rightful place where all the saints cast their golden crowns at his feet, came lying in a manger. Why a manger? Because God’s people needed rescuing.
Like a sunrise that lights the darkness, Zechariah’s prophecy in Luke 1:67-79 shines the hope of the coming of Jesus into the darkness of a sin-wrecked world. Here we learn how the Father’s work through Jesus is used to save us and enable us to serve him with joy.
After 400 years of silence from God, he sends the angel Gabriel to visit Mary to give her the most climactic news of all time: Jesus is coming. King Jesus is coming to rescue his people out of the world of loneliness, hopelessness and sin and to bring them into his kingdom of relationship, freedom and holiness. Rejoice!
Is there anything wrong with living comfortably? This is an important question in our context as the economy grows and many are advancing in their careers, which results in promotions and salary increases. Is there any danger in living comfortably? The story of the rescue of Lot tells us that it isn’t easy to live righteously among the wicked, but God is able to rescue his people.
Abram has chosen personal security over following God’s promises and so failed in what God called him to do. Genesis 13 presents us with two very important trials: the trial of failure and the trial of success. We learn about ourselves: t is really easy to let our circumstances take our eyes off of trusting in God’s promises. We learn about God: a relationship with him is greater than anything else in this world.
God’s generosity must lead to generous worship. Genesis 12 teaches us that we have a remarkably generous God who provided far more than Abraham could imagine. It also points us forward to God’s generous provision of his only Son, Jesus Christ whose sacrificial death becomes the ultimate demonstration of generosity. How then, must we respond? In generous worship.
It’s easy to allow our fears to control the decisions that we make. Fears come in all shapes and sizes: relational or professional; internal or external. And the Devil desires to use those fears to cause us to lose faith in God. But God has defeated the Devil and has secured us through his faithfulness. Nehemiah 6 shows us how.
Life is hard. The Christian life is not characterized by going from victory to victory as if life with Christ means no more suffering. Nehemiah 5 shows us this in big ways. Not only is life hard, but we, like the people of Nehemiah 5 are in desperate need of a rescue. Jesus is that Rescuer.
At first glance, Nehemiah 3 is a long tedious list of people and projects. In reality, it is a beautiful description of the holiness, shared identity and giftedness of God’s people as he builds his church through all kinds of people he has redeemed in Jesus.
Nehemiah’s four-month prayer has led to this moment. King Artaxerxes knows Nehemiah is sad because Jerusalem is in ruins and asks Nehemiah what he wants. Nehemiah responds in saying that not only does he want the King’s resources to rescue the people of God, but he himself wants to go and be apart of the rescue plan. Sound familiar?
The book of Nehemiah teaches us that God is faithful to accomplish his purposes even when all seems lost. In chapter one, Nehemiah receives news that the reconstruction project of the city and walls of Jerusalem is brought to an abrupt and violent halt. Without a city or walls, the people of Israel who’ve returned from exile are open to attack, and it seems as though the future of God’s people is in peril. How will God’s promises of bringing a Messiah out of the people of Israel come to pass if there is no more Israel? Nehemiah’s prayer teaches us what we need to know about ourselves and our God.
To those who experience difficult circumstances in this life, Jesus is coming again. To those whose circumstances cause them anxiety, worry and pain, Jesus is coming again. To those who are oppressed, downtrodden, and full of sorrow, Jesus is coming again. The promise of Jesus coming again brings hope for the future as well as the present. God is not merely concerned with the end. He is also concerned with today. And he tells us in James 5:13-18 that whatever season of life you find yourself in, believers are to pray.
James has warned the wealthy non-Christian landowners in the first six verses of chapter five that their hoarding of money brought about by fraud and oppression to feed self-indulgence commits violence against the poor and will not go unpunished. God is coming to judge those who oppress his people and the riches laid up in storage to guard against potential catastrophe will serve to fuel their inevitable catastrophe. Beginning in verse seven, James speaks to those who are oppressed: be patient, the Lord is coming soon. Why do we need to hear this? Because life’s circumstances cause anxiety and worry. But knowing the Lord is coming gives strength to the Christian to persevere.
James 5:1-6 tells us that the abuse of wealth leads to the judgement of God because God defends the oppressed. James is rough in his wording, and rightly so. God’s people were experiencing the systematic abuse from the money-hoarding wealthy non-believers. James writes warning to comfort God’s people that he knows of their suffering, he will defend their cause, and one day their suffering will end.
With the gospel as the foundation, James lays out ways for us to live our life guided by heavenly wisdom.
James 3:13-18 puts two kinds of wisdom side by side and says, choose. If we choose earthly wisdom which is concerned with self, it will lead to chaos and evil. If we choose heavenly wisdom which is concerned with others, it will lead to peace and purity. The choice seems easy, but James says wisdom from above cannot be attained through human strength, but is a gift from God.
James sounds harsh when he says in 1:26: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Chapter 3 begins with a discussion about taming the tongue. Why is James so concerned about the tongue? Because it is a window into our hearts. And so he says that the tongue must be tamed. He also says no human being can tame the tongue. What are we to do?
Life is full of trials. James instructs his readers to count it all joy when they encounter trials because the purpose of the trial is to mature the Christian. To negotiate the trial, Christians need wisdom, and are therefore to ask God who will give it to anyone who asks. In our passage this week, James 1:19-27, he says when Christians contemplate various life trials what they need most is the Word of God which has the power to give eternal life as well as mature them into disciples of Jesus. But Christians aren’t just to hear the Word of God but to do it as well.
Let no one say they are being tempted by God. It is our own sinful desires that cause us to fall into temptation and sin. Let us fight against temptations with steadfastness in our faith in God, who promises to those who love him the crown of life!
James says that life is full of various trials that are designed by God to produce maturity in faith in the Christian. In order to negotiate those trials, the Christian is to ask for wisdom and God will give it generously. One of the most pressing trials is money. For the poor, the trial is believing that God isn’t good. For the rich, the trial is believing that God isn’t needed. The wisdom that God provides the poor and the rich is to glory in the heights of heaven and the depths of rescue, and the grip of money will fade from holding the Christian’s heart captive.
The Bible says that Christians must serve as catalysts for change in the world. In order to do so, personal maturity of faith is necessary. James 1:2-8 discusses how faith grows through trials that are ordained by God in order to produce steadfastness. In order to navigate those trials, God gives wisdom generously to all who ask.
We live in a world full of brokenness and sorrow. Sin and its effects touch every aspect of our lives. Through Jesus Christ, Christians, are given an eternal hope that one day they will be with Him and He will make all things right and new. Until then, how will positive change happen in this world? James 1:1 tells us that God’s people are the catalyst for change in this world.
The sorrows of this world will not last forever. One day Christians will be in the presence of all believers across all time and God himself will be among them. He will make all of the sad things untrue and shepherd them in perfect relationship with Him. That’s what the Bible says Heaven will be like. Live today with that day in mind.
Because Christians are reconciled to God by the love of Jesus, they must persuade others to know and love him too. 2 Corinthians 5:10-15 provides us the reason we are to persuade, the strength to persuade and the extent of those whom we are to persuade. The text gives us three very practical takeaways: A Christian is safe with God. Because Christians are safe with God they are responsible to love their neighbors. To love their neighbors, they must be moved by the love of Christ.
We begin our study of Gospel Reconciliation with an exploration of Genesis 4 and the very first sin of hatred against neighbor. In this account, we see the breakdown of relationship with God, the breakdown of relationship among image bearers, and what God does about it. Out of the shadows of a dark passage come glorious rays of promise: God is reconciling the world to Himself.
What do you want Jesus to do for you? In John 12 we are faced with the reality that following Jesus is costly. If we follow Him as the crowds did, pretending that He is a magician who grants us wishes as we please, we will be disappointed. If instead we follow Him with a desire that puts the love of Christ above all other affections, we will find our hearts’ greatest longing and eternal rest for our souls.
The curtain of Deuteronomy 34 opens as we, along with Israel, watch Moses walk the 10-mile journey to the mountain from which God will allow him to see the Promised Land and die. We silently witness one of the most remarkable event in all of Scripture: the death of Moses and his burial by God Himself. There was never anyone like Moses either before or after. It makes us wonder - if Moses isn’t getting into the Land on his own mertis, how will we?
In Deuteronomy 15, we read the instructions for the Sabbatical year of God's people. This Sabbatical year was a time for people to reflect on God's grace and to respond to others in a gracious manner. It is a reminder for us that as Christians, we should be some of the most gracious and generous individuals around, for we have a God who has been abundantly gracious with us.
The book of Deuteronomy is a sermon preached by Moses on the eve of his death and Israel’s entering the Promised Land. Moses recounts God wondrous work of salvation and calls the people to love God in return. In Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Moses gives what Jesus Christ will call the greatest and most central commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
The Israelites are complaining again. All of the first generation that came out of Egypt, except Joshua and Caleb, have died in the wilderness, and now their children are traveling into the land God promised them. When they rebel, God sends fiery serpents among them, and many of the people are dying. The people of Israel, recognizing their sin, call out to Moses to plead with God to take the serpents away. God does not take the serpents away immediately; rather, He provides salvation in the midst of the suffering.
If you’ve ever thought about how your sins as a parent affects your children, or how you’ve been affected by the sins of your parents, Numbers 20:1-9 provides us a realistic picture of the impact of generational sin as well as the infinite mercy of God given to us in Jesus Christ.
The Israelites are nearing the end of their wilderness travels as they begin the third and final journey before entering the Promised Land. As they enter this journey we see one of the saddest events unfold in the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible). It begins with the death of Miriam, Moses' sister, and ends with the death of his brother, Aaron. In between these deaths, Moses loses his cool with the grumbling, complaining Israelites by striking the rock to produce water instead of speaking for water to come forth as God had commanded. In the midst of death and judgment pervading this passage, we still see the fingerprints of God in the chaos and pain.
In Numbers 16, God strikes the people of Israel with a plague because of their persistent sins. But the plague is averted when Aaron, the high priest, takes coals from the altar and stands in between the wrath of God and the people of God. As God smells the aroma, his wrath is assuaged and the plague stopped. What happened? In Numbers 16 we get a dramatic foreshadowing of the work of Jesus Christ.
Sandwiched in between two stories Israel’s rebellion are four curious verses that speak of tassels of blue that the people of Israel must wear. Seemingly out of place, the words actually assure us of profound truths that we must know: We are a holy nation of priests that the Lord has called to himself. And since the Lord is our God, we must remember who we were, act like who we are, and hope in who we will be.
Numbers 12 presents a different type of complaining by the Israelites. This time Moses’ own siblings, Aaron and Miriam, challenge his authority. In their ignorance they are levelling complaints against God Himself, and He will come down and judge these two. What can we learn from this text? Our sin is remarkably similar to Miriam and Aaron’s sin. Moses’ meekness and God’s judgement teach us something that we must know about our Savior.
Why does God give us spiritual leaders? The people of Israel have lived at the base of Mt. Sinai for a year and still they long for the good ol' days in Egypt. Now, God provides the people with elders: men who will shepherd of the hearts of God's people and point them back to Him. Why we have spiritual leaders? We, too, need reminding that God is the True Shepherd of our souls.
700 years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, Isaiah prophesied about His coming, giving the Messiah four distinct names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. In this Advent series, we will look at one name each week, and this first week we see Christ as Wonderful Counselor. He is Wonderful in His being, power, and holiness, and He himself is a wonder. He is the Counselor in His knowledge, wisdom, and execution of His decrees of providence. He consults with no one, takes counsel with no one, and needs nothing outside of Himself. Why should we know this about Jesus? Because He came to rescue His people and to give His glorious wonder to us.
It’s that time of year where children and some adults are cleaning up their Christmas list with items of perceived needs and wants, but it can be easy to forgot our greatest need has already been given to us. The Christmas story is the reminder that God sent His Son into the world to accomplish the greatest need of His people, the removal our sin from His people so that we can draw near to God with the full assurance of the forgiveness of sin. In Leviticus 16, this description of the Day of Atonement gives us a glorious picture, a glorious type, and a glorious foreshadowing of what was to come with Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection.
When the people of Israel built and worshipped a golden calf, they demonstrated a link between us that is far closer than any of us would like to admit: being different isn’t something that comes easy for Christians. Though God has made us holy and called us to be holy, living and acting differently than the non-believing culture is hard. Exodus 32 teaches us that God cares so much about our holiness that He will come down from heaven Himself to rescue those He loves.
The people of Israel have at last arrived at Mt. Sinai, the mountain where God met Moses in a flaming bush. It is here that they will receive the Law from God. The giving of the 10 Commandments is one of the most well-known passages in all of Scripture. While it is tempting to think of the 10 Commandments as an everlasting set of boring rules, what if we came to learn that they are a verbal description of God’s own character? When we study them, we study God Himself.
Whether you choose to live a moderate or a generous life, you cannot avoid sacrifice. Mark 14:1-11 begins and ends with an insider, Judas, and his plot to betray Jesus. Between these verses is a contrasting story of a woman, an outsider. We are presented with these two people taking two different paths, with each leading to different kind of sacrifice. Jesus forces our hand and says, “Choose.”
As believers, we ought to consider what we should be doing until Jesus returns. To answer that question, Jesus tells a parable of a master and three servants. The master gave great gifts to each servant. The ones who used their gifts to advance the master’s kingdom were rewarded. The man who did not use his gift but buried it, revealing that he did not know his master, was punished. This parable teaches us many things, the foremost of which is that believers must use their gifts to serve the Lord. Generous living involves every aspect: money, time, and talent.
It’s easy to serve God in ways that are not costly. What happens when God requires something that is hard? The people of Jerusalem in Malachi’s day learn that partial obedience is no obedience. In fact, God calls it robbery. How can we be free of greed? We are freed when we treasure something else more than money: our Savior.
Greed has a particular way of blinding you because it prevents you from asking the key question: “How do I, who is the treasure of Christ, reflect his sacrifice in how I give generously?” Jesus speaks about money more than any other social issue because he knows something that we must know: money can either serve us, or we will be enslaved to it. There is no other option. How can we be rid of the anxiety caused by giving it away? Every need you have is met by the King.
One month has passed since the people have left Egypt. After witnessing the Egyptian army drowning in the Red Sea, they are now in the wilderness. There’s only one problem in the wilderness: Where will they get food? In light of all that God has provided, Israel complains and wishes they were back in Egypt. What God does in Exodus 16 by providing bread from heaven begins the story of God’s provision of bread for his people that will not only nourish them physically during their journey in the wilderness, but ultimately will point to the person of Jesus Christ who will feed us with the bread of his body and word.
Throughout the Bible, God uses seemingly insignificant people in desperate situations to get glory for Himself; Exodus 14 is no exception. The Israelites find themselves in a situation where they have nowhere to turn but to God Himself. As we see, God shows up in a powerful way, not only providing a way out for His people and but also crushing His enemies in the process. To what end does God do this? That His people might be worship Him and be a blessing to the nations.
Over and over God has called Pharaoh to release the people of Israel. From an earthly perspective, it has not worked. The plagues have accomplished nothing but a hardening of Pharoah’s heart, and the people are still slaves; it seems as though Moses and the Lord have failed. To make matters worse, God tells the people of Israel that He will deliver them by the blood of a lamb. How will God deliver the people of Israel with a wooly pet? Exodus 12 forms the very central theme of the story that God is writing, and at the very center of the chapter is a lamb.
We know that God is holy: he is set apart beyond all creation. What does his holiness do? Does his holiness have a purpose? Moses, a wayward shepherd son of the people of God encounters God’s holiness in the form of a burning bush in Exodus 3 and learns that God’s holiness is far more powerful than he can possibly imagine. God does not hoard his holiness but gives it to his people.
Through the 21 chapters of his book, John has a distinct purpose in mind. He wants the readers to come away with a clear understanding of who Jesus is—the promised Messiah from the Old Testament. John’s book is the Gospel clearly before us and chapter 21 will cause our hearts to be thrilled and filled as we dwell on Christ love for us. John is saying don’t miss Jesus as the Savior for our sin wrecked lives.
How can Christians who have experienced the grace and mercy of God have hard hearts? This week we look to Jonah to show us what a hard heart looks like and how to fight the sin that plagues the righteous. As we consider Jonah’s condition, we will ask God to give us insight into our own lives because it is so easy to have a hard heart. But we can rejoice that God provides a way out.
Isaiah 6 paints the picture of our awesome, holy and majestic Lord seated on a throne whose robe fills the temple so that none can stand. Those who attend them veil their faces from his glory as they call out to him in praise. His glory is transcendent. Isaiah is undone. But Isaiah discovers that the Lord’s transcendent glory leads him to do something radical: to transfer his glory in order to make the broken holy.
How does God want us to live? Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 tells us that to “fear God and keep his commandments” is our whole duty. But what if we don’t fear God nor obey him as we ought? Christ provides what he requires, and as we learn about what he’s done, we gain wisdom for obedience that leads to worship.
Nehemiah 8 is a story about the importance of God’s Word. Nehemiah, a Jewish exile in Babylon and cup bearer to the King of Babylon, learns of Jerusalem’s ruinous condition. After seeking God in prayer for 5 months, Nehemiah asks the king of Babylon to allow him to return and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He is given permission and so begins the rebuilding process. The king also allows the people of Israel having been in captivity for 70 years to return to Jerusalem. The wall is completed and chapter 8 tells of the far more important work of Nehemiah: the spiritual renewal of God’s people. The theme of chapter 8 is clear: since the Bible tells us of God’s relentless pursuit of his people, we can rejoice!
Jerusalem has fallen. The temple, palace and homes are plundered, burned and destroyed. The people are taken captive to Babylon, and it seems as though all hope is lost. This deportation is what God promised would happen, and God always fulfills his promises. The text is devastating in its description of loss, but even in the loss, the seeds of the hope of Christ are sewn.
In spite of our sin and the mess it makes, God remains in control and true to His promises.
God desires a relationship with his people. To prove it, he will go to great lengths. He will give us the tabernacle to show us that his presence is with us. But the tabernacle serves as the primary bridge between the presence of God in the Old Testament and the New Testament presence of God in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. God wants a relationship with his people so badly, he will take on flesh and undergo the penalty of sin so that he can be among his people.
The power of God through Jesus Christ breaks down the hardest of hearts. In Acts 9 we are told of the conversion of Saul: a religious terrorist who will go on to become one of the greatest instruments of God’s mercy the world has ever known. Is your heart hard toward the Gospel? Christ can break through. Is your heart hard towards those who are resistant to the Gospel? Christ can break through.
The Book of Acts is viewed by many church plants and churches as the script for building a healthy church. There are many scenes in Acts that leave the church of today with a desire for the same thing to happen. The way in which the early church grew is the same way God builds His church today—by the preaching of the Gospel. As the church preaches the Gospel, the Holy Spirit will form healthy hearts in a congregation that is distinct from the world as it displays the greatness of God.
Growing churches are targets for spiritual attack. Satan will use any means necessary to distract and destroy the church: whether external pressures or internal tensions. The church in Acts 6 faced it, and from this passage we learn not only to expect tension, but how to remain healthy through it.
There is no such thing as a perfect church, and that is due to the fact that it is made up of imperfect people. One way our imperfections reveal themselves is our attempting to take what rightfully belongs to God, namely His glory. In this passage we see God’s jealousy for His glory when His people try to rob Him of it, but we see His love and grace toward the church in the midst of its sin as well.
When the Holy Spirit accompanies the preaching of the Word, conversions take place. Gospel conversions bring Gospel community, and Gospel community brings hope and healing for those in that community. But, as we discovered in Acts 4, the advance of the Gospel brings persecution as well. When the persecuted church prays for strength to continue proclaiming the Gospel, God answers those prayers, and the church flourishes with outward deeds of love and mercy. Acts 4:32–37 is a visible demonstration of church health in the midst of persecution.
The people in Matthew 21:12-22 tell us a great deal about the main message. It’s a curious story, filled with contrasts. The blind, lame, and broken are made healthy while a healthy-looking fig tree is made to wither. The children and uneducated outcasts of society get it right while the professional religious folks and disciples get it wrong. God is telling us that no amount of good works will earn us good standing with God. Instead, the belief we need is a gift.
In our study of the book of Acts, we have discovered that when the Holy Spirit accompanies the preaching of the Word, people come to know and love Jesus. When people come to know and love Jesus, community is born. Gospel-centered community brings hope and healing. We have also seen that wherever the Spirit is at work, there is opposition. What do we do when we are faced with opposition? Acts 4:23-31 teaches us to pray!
With the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the first followers of Jesus, the Church in Acts has been gathered into community and is thriving. Now, in Acts 4, they face their first significant opposition. It is in the face of such opposition that Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, empowers His Church to do His work of restoration in the world. The most compelling proof that Jesus Christ is risen is that His people resemble Him as He lives and works through His Church. The Church that resembles Jesus will be attractive and thriving even as it faces opposition.
So far in our study of the early chapters of Acts we have seen how Spirit-filled preaching produces conversions and conversions leads to community. In Acts 3, we see how Gospel community leads to hope and healing. As we read Acts 3:1-10 remember that despite our physical condition, we are all spiritually broken like the lame man portrayed in this passage and are in desperate need of Jesus.
In Acts 2:42-47 we discover what the early church believed and did, and how God was at work among them. In this passage we see a beautiful picture of putting other people’s needs ahead of your own and the resulting community that comes from the Spirit’s presence among a people group. Our church can look like that church because we have the same Spirit at work in us.
New churches are born when the Spirit of God accompanies the preaching of the Word. He produces believers who are born not by what they do but by repenting of what they do. Those believers receive forgiveness of their sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and genuine Gospel community.
It often is tempting to do the work of God without the power of God. In Acts 2:14-36, we discover that the power at work in the church is the Holy Spirit. Why should we remember this truth? The Spirit reminds us of the hope we have in Christ, of the eternal plan of God, and of the person we worship. The Spirit is the power of God in the work of the church.
The book of Acts is glorious! This is not because the individuals were glorious; rather, because we see our great and glorious God build His church through the most unlikely group of people and in the most unlikely of ways. It is from these meager beginnings (little money, few proven leaders, no technological truths for propagating the Gospel, persecutions, hatred, and obscure newness) that the church explodes. This book provides truths for the way the Lord will continue to build His church as He redeems Birmingham and beyond.
Reverend Sergey Betin Evangelical Presbyterian Church Belgorod-Dnestrovsky, Ukraine
Salvation history reflects the sovereignty of God, who through his providence makes us active participants in this wonderful work.
The church at Antioch plays a prominent role in the Apostle Paul’s various missionary journeys. This church loved Paul, this church sent Paul, and this church received Paul. The reality of the Resurrection had so impacted the people of Antioch that not only were they converted to Christianity, but their relationships were transformed. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ gave them an eternal perspective concerning their relationships with those closest to them, and a very present perspective concerning their relationships with surrounding communities.
Our Advent sermon series focuses on the way Christ fulfills the the Old Testament offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. After considering the ways Moses, Aaron, and David were called by God to minister to His people, we will look to Christ, for it is to Him that the prophets, priest, and kings of Israel point. Christ reveals to us, by Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. He offered Himself up as an atoning sacrifice to reconcile us to God, and He makes continual intercession for us. He subdues us to Himself, rules and defends us, and conquers all His enemies.
Our Advent sermon series focuses on the way Christ fulfills the the Old Testament offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. After considering the ways Moses, Aaron, and David were called by God to minister to His people, we will look to Christ, for it is to Him that the prophets, priest, and kings of Israel point. Christ reveals to us, by Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. He offered Himself up as an atoning sacrifice to reconcile us to God, and He makes continual intercession for us. He subdues us to Himself, rules and defends us, and conquers all His enemies.
Our Advent sermon series focuses on the way Christ fulfills the the Old Testament offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. After considering the ways Moses, Aaron, and David were called by God to minister to His people, we will look to Christ, for it is to Him that the prophets, priest, and kings of Israel point. Christ reveals to us, by Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. He offered Himself up as an atoning sacrifice to reconcile us to God, and He makes continual intercession for us. He subdues us to Himself, rules and defends us, and conquers all His enemies.
Paul is writing to wealthy Christians exhorting them to see their wealth as a gift from God and to be grateful. Gratitude is the opposite of pride and must lead to generosity. Being generous and eager to share provides a foretaste of glory.
Paul is writing to wealthy Christians, exhorting them to see their wealth as a gift from God, and to be grateful. Gratitude is the opposite of pride, and must lead to generosity. Being generous and eager to share provides a foretaste of glory.
What is wrong with pursuing wealth? With money we can do lots of good things. We can purchase food and clothing, and care for those we love. Money can facilitate fun vacations and help create memories. The Bible never condemns having money. The Bible condemns the pursuit of wealth, because the pursuit of wealth creates a mindset that influences our affections and ultimately our worship. Rather, we must pursue Christ. There is freedom in Christ to find security in Him alone.
Most of our serving is aimed at what we can do for others, without developing a relationship with them. The only way to move beyond this isolation and insulation is in messy relationships where we desperately need Jesus. Everything God has done for us stems from the foundation of His love and desire to be with us. This reality moves our service away from merely providing stuff into relationships with others.
In Paul’s brief letter to Philemon, we witness the way God orchestrates events in our lives to reconcile people to Himself. We get to participate in relationships being restored. It is an impossible assignment. Apart from Christ, we cannot do it, but by the power of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to see God work in real ways in people’s lives - including our own. The church is revived, and non-believers are intrigued.
How are we to think about those who serve as spiritual and economic leaders? In 1 Timothy 5:17-6:2, Paul describes a variety of reasons and ways we are to honor leaders. In this portion of Scripture, we continue to learn practical applications of the Gospel as we seek to live our lives as mission.
God cares for the widow because He cares for the helpless. In 1 Timothy 5, Paul shows us that if we are caring for the widow, then we are practicing faith that is real. But if our Christianity does not work at home in practical ways, then it is not Christianity, and our religion is worthless. True Gospel Hope is modeled in the way we care for those who cannot care for themselves.
Paul, after equipping the church in Ephesus to detect and deal with false teaching, now turns his attention to truth and the way we can commend it through our behavior. Paul exhorts believers in the community to act in such a way that the cross becomes the only offense.
How do Christian leaders grow in discernment? In 1 Timothy 4:1-10, Paul warns us of the traps that lead our hearts and affections astray. He encourages us as believers to train ourselves in holiness by immersing ourselves in the Word of God, remembering that we belong to Jesus.
Sermon Outline:
- The trap A. Diabolical B. Hypocritical C. Moral
- The training A. Word B. Holiness
The Bible tells us that the greatest manifestation of our faith is the way that we serve others. God cares so deeply about service that He instituted the diaconate, an office within the church devoted to merciful service. As deacons serve the body of Christ, not only do they teach us how Christ serves us, but also how we serve one another.
How do we think about the elders who are called by God to shepherd us? Are they superheroes of the faith, with a different communication line to God than the rest of us? What does the Bible say about elders? We are beginning a new series called “New Leaders.” Through it, we hope that all of God’s people will grow in their understanding of how the Gospel changes everything, including how to lead in the Kingdom.
Sometimes, it is tempting to compartmentalize our faith and work into separate categories of the sacred and secular. The Gospel corrects us, for as far as the curse is found, the Resurrection reaches farther. Throughout this series, the way that the Resurrection affects our work has been a part of each sermon; yet it is important to dwell on this point further, drawing some very practical conclusions. The Resurrection affects our work because the Resurrection changes everything.
Last week, we learned that we work not for our glory but for God's. How do we work for His glory? In 1 Corinthians, St. Paul writes that we bring glory to God by trying to please everyone, seeking many to be saved, and imitating Christ.
In our work, it is easy to focus on seeking our own security and glory. In Genesis 11, the people of Babel sought those things when building the tower. Through this Scripture, the Lord reveals to us this problem with our work and the rescue that we need.
How do we find joy in work that feels pointless? We are designed to work, but we are not created to find our worth in it. When we build our life on the Lord, we are able to rejoice and find contentment in the life He has given us.
All the work we do in our broken, fallen world has varying degrees of frustration. However, the frustrations we experience are there by God’s design. They remind us of our need for Him and the perfect, finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ.
How we think about our work reveals our understanding of the Gospel. Are we so busy that we think our work is at best tangential, and at worst unrelated, to the Gospel? The Apostle Paul teaches that Christians must learn to ask new questions about our work and to see our work in a different light, as a reflection of our understanding of salvation.
Many times, we are unable to articulate how our work participates with God in the cultivation of His creation. The reason for this is that we focus on bearing God's image in the kind of work we do, rather than in the act of work itself. When God's people fulfill the basic and specific work God gives us in Genesis 1 and 2, we participate with Him in the cultivation of creation.
What does the Bible say about work? Does it tell us that work is a necessary evil that we must do so that we can make money to support our lifestyles? Does it teach that our worth is tied to our position at work, or that there are more and less important jobs? No. The Bible shows us that as we work, we model God, we bring beauty to His creation, and we experience freedom and rest.
A new chapter is starting right now at Cahaba Park. As we see the Lord building this church, we are reminded in Scripture that we do not exist for ourselves but to be a blessing to others. At Cahaba Park, our desire is to be a church for Birmingham. As you, the people of God, live your life as mission–in the ways you conduct business deals, study for class, relate to your neighbors–you are making Birmingham a better place. God is redeeming the city for Himself through your obedience to live your life missionally. As we begin this new chapter, let us start by praying this prayer: “How should I live my life as mission so that You will use it to Redeem Birmingham for Yourself?”