Hope Church Toronto West: Recent Episodes
Hope Church Toronto West
Audio sermons from Hope Church Toronto West. Seeking to glorify God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), in the spirit of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-38).
Title: Truth for the next 10 yearsText: Ephesians 3:20-21Rock solid truth for the next 10 years:1 – GOD CAN DO ANYTHING: WE MUST DREAM BIG – V.20The Pyramid of God’s Enablement: Ephesians 3:20God is ableGod is able to doGod is able to do far more abundantlyGod is able to do far more abundantly than all that we askGod is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think2 – GOD DESERVES THE GLORY: WE EXIST FOR HIM – V.20-21a
TITLE: The Word, The World, and My SanctificationTEXT: John 17:14-19SUBJECT LINE: Jesus prays for his followers, that we would be...POINT 1: Kept from the evil one (Vs 14-16)POINT 2: Sanctified in the truth (vs 17-19)
TITLE: At the Empty TombTEXT: Luke 24:1-12JC Ryle – “The fact of our Lord’s resurrection rests on evidence which no infidel can ever explain away. It is confirmed by testimony of every kind, sort, and description. The plain unvarnished story which the Gospel writers tell about it, is one that cannot be overthrown… If we choose to deny the truth of their account we may deny everything in the world. It is not so certain that Julius Caesar once lived, as it is that Christ rose again.”At the empty tomb:1 – WE FEEL THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFUSION – V.1-4aMatt Perman – “When we look at the evidence, the truth of the resurrection emerges very clearly as the best explanation. There is no other theory that even comes close to accounting for the evidence. Therefore, there is solid historical grounds for the truth that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.”Clearing up the confusion…Strong historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ:2A. The Empty Tomb – Luke 24:32B. The Resurrection Appearances – 1 Corinthians 15:3-81 Corinthians 15:3-8 - For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”2C. The Origin of the Christian FaithJC Ryle – “Let us cling firmly to the resurrection of Christ, as one of the pillars of the Gospel. It ought to produce in our minds a settled conviction of the truth of Christianity. Our faith does not depend merely on a set of texts and doctrines. It is founded on a mighty historical fact which the skeptic has never been able to overturn.”2 – WE FIND THE PLACE OF HOPE – V.4b-83 – WE FACE A POINT OF DECISION – V.9-12Two responses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ:Are you a believer? Go tell the rest – V.9-10Are you a doubter? Go see for yourself – V.11-12
Your Saviour’s Place of prayerText: Luke 22:39-46Luke 21:36-37 … “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet.PRAYER WAS YOUR SAVIOUR’S PLACE OF:1) SUBMISSION (v42)Is 51:17:Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering. --Matt 26:39And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”--Phillip Ryken: “This was a sacred space within which a radical decision is made that reverses the course of human history.” PRAYER WAS YOUR SAVIOUR’S PLACE OF:2) AGONY (v43-44)BB Warfield: “In these supreme moments our Lord sounded the ultimate depths of human anguish.… The scope of these sufferings was very broad, embracing that whole series of painful emotions which runs from a consternation that is appalled dismay, through a despondency which is almost despair, to a sense of well-nigh complete desolation. In the presence of this mental anguish the physical tortures of the crucifixion retire into the background, and we may well believe that our Lord, though he died on the cross, yet died not of the cross, but of a broken heart, that is to say, of the strain of his mental suffering.”--Jn 19:33-34 … But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.--Matt 26:27b-28 … “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” --Phil Ryken: “When we see the blood on his sweaty brow, it is almost as precious to us as the blood he shed on the cross, because here in the garden we see how much Jesus suffered in choosing to die for our sins—a choice he made over against his own will.”PRAYER WAS YOUR SAVIOUR’S PLACE OF:3) RISING (45-46)I.H. Marshall (in the New Bible Commentary): Only the one who had prayed remained strong during the next few hours.--Luke 23:34a … And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”--Luke 23:46 … Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.--
TITLE: Jesus the KingTEXT: Luke 19:28-40Understanding the theme of the Kingdom of God[From “God’s Big Picture” by Vaughan Roberts]The Pattern of the Kingdom - Genesis 1-2The Perished Kingdom - Genesis 3The Promised Kingdom - Genesis 12The Partial Kingdom - Genesis 12 - Exodus 18, 1 Samuel - 2 ChroniclesThe Prophesied Kingdom - The ProphetsThe Present Kingdom - Jesus is bornOn Palm Sunday, we see Jesus…1 – THE PROPHESIED KING – V.28-35Zechariah 9:9 - “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”2 – THE WORSHIPED KING – V.36-383 – THE REJECTED KING – V.39-40
TITLE: The Great ReversalTEXT: Luke 18:35-43Jesus reverses our ideas about…1 – THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE – V.35-39Jesus reverses our ideas about the way things should be…Luke 18:9-14 - The Pharisee and the Tax CollectorLuke 18:15-17 - Jesus welcomes the little childrenLuke 18:18-30 - The rich young rulerLuke 18:31-34 - Jesus predicts his suffering2 – WHAT IT MEANS TO REALLY SEE – V.39-43
Title: The Truth about Testing and TemptationText: James 1:12-15Outline:1. The truth about testing... If I keep trusting God in my trials, He will reward me forever! (vs 12)2. The truth about temptation... I can’t blame God! My desires are the problem! (vs 13-15)
Sermon Outline - Tim Hamer - Sunday March 5, 2023Text:“But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and youwill be my WITNESS in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the endsof the earth”. Acts 1:8Sermon Title: Mission: The King’s witness to the world.Point #1: My witness is Holy Spirit Powered – Acts 1:8aPoint #2: My witness is Christ Commissioned – Acts 1:8bPoint #3: My Witness is God’s plan to reach the world – Acts 1:8cSermon Length: 35-40 Minutes (Lord Willing)Main Idea:The aim of this message is to demonstrate from scripture that we are all called to bea power-filled witness of Jesus Christ, the King, to the world around us. We are theKing’s witness to the world. That is our mission.
TITLE: When Prayer Changes Me TEXT: Habakkuk 3:17-19Colossians 2:6- “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…” Hebrews 12:1 – “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” 1 Peter 2:5 – “… you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house…”Prayer changes me: Prayer…1 – PREPARES US FOR HARD TIMES – V.172 – PRODUCES IN US THE PERSPECTIVE OF JOY – V.18Waylon Bailey - “In a world which sees almost everything in economic terms, believers need to consider the profundity of Habakkuk’s faith. Though the worst things in life happen, believers need a faith which depends on the God of the universe and worships him as the true Lord of life.”James 1:2-4 - “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”Romans 5:3-4 - “...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…”3 – POSITIONS US IN SUSTAINING POWER – V.19
TITLE: When Faith Begins to Rise TEXT: Habakkuk 3:1-16A prayer for Hope Church from the prayer of Habakkuk: Oh LORD…1 – IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, GIVE US A SONG OF DEPENDENCE! – V.1Acts 16:25 – “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Matthew 26:30 – “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”Matthew 26:31 – “Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away because of me this night.’” Psalm 77:1-2, 6 - “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted… I said, ‘Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.’”2 – REMEMBERING THE PAST, GIVE US FAITH FOR THE FUTURE! – V.2-161 Timothy 2:1-2 – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
TITLE: When Perspective Comes TEXT: Habakkuk 2:6-20When God seems slow, we need the right perspective… 1 – EVERY EVIL PLAN WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL – V.6-19When God’s activity seems slow, you must remember that God will bring down all:1A. Oppression – 6b-81B. Exploitation – V.9-111C. Iniquity – V. 12-141D. Immorality – V.15-171E. Idolatry – V.18-192 – GOD’S RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WILL LIVE BY FAITH – V.20
TITLE: When It’s Time to WaitTEXT: Habakkuk 1:11-2:5Learning to wait on God means:1 – REMEMBERING THE CHARACTER OF GOD – V.12-13aA.W Tozer – “We wonder why we don’t have faith; the answer is, faith is confidence in the character of God and if we don’t know what kind of God God is, we can’t have faith.”2 – WRESTLING WITH THE ACTIONS OF GOD – V.13b-17David Baker – “The prophet’s faith in a holy God is challenged by the reality of Yahweh’s choice of the Babylonians as an instrument of punishment. This causes Habakkuk again to ask ‘why?’”3 – WATCHING FOR CLARITY FROM GOD – Chapter 2:1-5Watching for clarity from God…You cannot force His hand, watch & pray - Chapter 2:3aIf his answer seems slow, be patient – Chapter 2:3bFaith is the key, trust with hope – Chapter 2:4
TEMPTATIONGENESIS 3:1-7BIG IDEA:Why is this passage in the Bible? / What question does this passage answer? What is the answer to the question? / Move from the meaning tosignificance of the passage. / What? (What does it mean?) So What? (Why does it matter?) Now What? (What should we do about it?)Knowing God’s word and trusting God’s goodness are essential for victory over temptation.OUTLINEWE FALL INTO TEMPTATION WHEN1. We DoubtGod’s Goodness2. We Denying God’s Word3. We Desire God’s ThroneINTRODUCTIONStimulate interest > Show the need > Start with the Bible > State the Big Idea > Summarize OutlineWhat’s wrong with the world?- social- economic- poiticalSin is what’s wrong with the world.POINT 1 - DOUBTING GOD’S GOODNESS[1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” [2] And the womansaid to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, [3] but God said, ‘You shall not eat of thefruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”EXP(1) THE SERPENT- No background or details given, - no explanation as to why this creature can talk(1) MADE - the serpent and the devil that the serpent represents or that has possessed the serpent are bothcreatures created by God. - there is no dualism (it’s on like the light side and dark side of the force in Star Wars)Original Audience- Uraeus (god of protection) on Pharoh’s headdress.For usRevelation 12:9[9] And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the wholeworld—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (ESV)(1) DID GOD ACTUALLY SAY - causing doubt, bringing confusion(1) YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF ANY TREE2- Exaggerates the prohibition and excludes to the provision- Made God seem harsh and restrictive and unreasonable- Invites Eve to evaluate whether or not God’s commands are appropriate or not (flatters her)(2) WE MAY EATi. Omitted “freely”ii. Added “touch”Iii. omitted surely- De-emphasized God’s generosity, made God seem more strict and less generous, made the punishmentless definite.ILL“Are you out of your skull? Look around! This is Eden; this is paradise! God knows exactly what he is doing. Hemade everything; he even made me. My husband loves me and I love him—and we are both intoxicated with thejoy and holiness of our beloved Maker. My very being resonates with the desire to reflect something of hisspectacular glory back to him. How could I possibly question his wisdom and love? He knows, in a way I nevercan, exactly what is best—and I trust him absolutely. And you want me to doubt him or question the purity of hismotives and character? How idiotic is that? Besides, what possible good can come of a creature defying hisCreator and Sovereign? Are you out of your skull?” (D.A. Carson - what Eve should have saidAPP- Do you think God is holding out on you?- God is not here to make sure no ones having too much fun (turn down the music)POINT 2 - DENYING GOD’S WORD[4] But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it youreyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”EXP(4) YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE- Satan just flat out liesJohn 8:44… He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaksout of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.Satan tells three lies1. You will not die2. Your eyes will be open3. You will be like God- He denies the doctrine of judgement - that there are consequences for actions and punishment for sin- Satan gets Eve thinking she can judge the appropriate of GOd’s commands and then he gets her thinkingthat He can’t judge her.-Adam and Eve needed to remember that they were already made in God’s likeness and image (they are like God)- they have been given the privilege of having dominion, of being fruitful and multiplying, filling the earth andsubduing it.POINT 3 - DESIRING GOD’S THRONE3[6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that thetree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husbandwho was with her, and he ate.EXPEve was drawn by three lures1. Good for food2. Delight to the eyes3. Desired to make one wiseGenesis 2:9And out of the ground the LORD God made to springup every tree that ispleasant to the sightand good for food…Genesis 3:6So when the woman saw that the tree wasgood for food,and that it was a delight to the eyes,and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise- The thing that lured Eve was not that it was good for food (delicious, nutritious) or that it was a delight tothe eyes (beautiful) since these attributes were true of every tree in the garden. What lured her in wasthat it was desired to make one wise. - it was her own self-fulfillment - that she would become wise. - thatshe would become like God.(6) TO BE DESIRED- Original audience - same word as “covet”Exodus 20:17[17] “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant,or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (ESV)(6) WISE- We can’t be wise apart from GodRomans 1:21–22For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and theirfoolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools,Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 3:5–7Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths.Be not wise in your own eyes;fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.(6) HUSBAND THAT WAS WITH HER - Adam was there the whole timeILLWhen God says “Don’t” - He means “Don’t Hurt Yourself”We want to define what’s right and wrong?APP4- Do you think you know better- Do we think our society has progressed and that we’re more intelligent than Adam and Eve? Than God?- The myth of progress[7] Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves togetherand made themselves loincloths.[8] And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and hiswife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. [9] But the LORD Godcalled to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” (ESV)EXP(7) every lie is a half truth - some of what Satan said would happen, actually came true(4) YOU WILL SURELY NOT DIE(5) YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED(5) KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL- they didn’t die instantly(7) THEN THE EYES OF BOTH WERE OPENED(7) THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED(7) LOIN CLOTHS - hiding from one another(8) COOL OF THE DAY - wind or Spirit(8) HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORDAdam and Eve were supposed to reign like Kings and Queens as they obeyed God. But they ended up obeyingone of the very creatures they were supposed to subdue.“In light of their royal status and their divine commission to rule over the animals, it is especially note-worthy thatAdam and Eve obey the serpent’s instructions rather than those of god. By submitting to the serpent, Adam andEve fail to exercise their God-given dominion over this craft animal.” (T. Desmond Alexander)ILLAPPCONCLUSIONThink, Feel, Do / Gospel MotivationJesus tempted- Not in a garden surrounded by food, but in a barren wilderness without eating for 40 days.Luke 4:5–8And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give allthis authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all beyours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,and him only shall you serve.’”- Who delivered the kingdoms of the world and their authority and glory over to Satan?- Adam and Eve did.5Hebrews 4:15–16For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been temptedas we are, yet without sin.Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace tohelp in time of need.
TITLE: When God Seems InactiveTEXT: Habakkuk 1:5-11When God seems inactive, remember & be amazed…1 – GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING, EVEN WHEN WE CAN’T SEE IT – V.52 – GOD IS NEVER CONFINED, HE WORKS IN UNBELIEVABLE WAYS – V.6-11Waylon Bailey – “God raising up the Chaldeans showed that he is sovereign over the whole earth. He is not confined to one nation or one people. God can work through other peoples to accomplish his purpose. God used the Assyrians as the ‘rod of his anger’ to punish Judah at an earlier time (Isaiah10:5-15). He chose Cyrus to deliver the people of Judah from the exile imposed by the Babylonians (Isaiah 45:1). In Habakkuk’s day God would use Babylon to punish Judah for it's rebellion against the Lord.”ESV Study Bible – “The perversion of justice in the triumph of the wicked prefigures the temporary triumph of the wicked in the crucifixion of Christ…The unbelievability of God’s use of a wicked people, the Chaldeans, prefigures the unbelievability of the way in which the injustice of the crucifixion of Christ is used by God for salvation.”
TITLE: When Your Heart is BurdenedTEXT: Habakkuk 1:1-4When your heart is burdened…1 – TAKE IT TO GOD IN PRAYER – V.1JC Ryle - I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, Do you pray? The question is one that none but you can answer. Whether you attend public worship or not, your minister knows. Whether you have family prayers in your house or not, your relations know. But whether you pray in private or not, is a matter between yourself and God. I beseech you in all affection to attend to the subject I bring before you. Do not say that my question is too close. If your heart is right in the sight of God, there is nothing in it to make you afraid. Do not turn off my question by replying that you say your prayers. It is one thing to say your prayers and another to pray. Do not tell me that my question is unnecessary…I cannot see your heart. I do not know your private history in spiritual things. But from what I see in the Bible and in the world I am certain I cannot ask you a more necessary question than that before you - Do you pray? There is a way by which any man, however sinful and unworthy, may draw near to God the Father. Jesus Christ has opened that way by the sacrifice he made for us upon the cross….There is an Advocate and Intercessor always waiting to present the prayers of those who come to God through him….There is the Holy Spirit ever ready to help our infirmities in prayer….There is a friend ever waiting to help us, if we will unburden our sorrow to him…Jesus can make those happy who trust him and call on him, whatever be their outward condition…Prayer can lighten crosses for us however heavy. It can bring down to our side One who will help us to bear them.”2 – SEEK GOD WITH HONEST QUESTIONS & REVERENT COMPLAINTS – V.2-4
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEYPsalm 81IntroductionI can’t do it Lord – I NEED STRENGTHSTRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Recognizing the source of our strengthSTRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Passionate worshipSTRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Remembering the works of GodSTRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Listening to God’s voiceSTRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Considering the consequencesSTRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY comes from: Finding satisfaction in God’s promisesSo What!?
Title: the boy jesusText: Luke 2:41-52 RC Sproul:This was the age at which the Jewish boy became a man, and went through the bar-mitzvah, which simply means ‘son of the commandment’, entering into the full measure of adult commitment to the covenant of Moses.--RC Sproul:“It was customary in ancient Israel for boys to be taken to the temple a year or two in advance of their bar-mitzvah, so that they might become familiar with the operations of the temple and of the educational programmes of the rabbis there. It was almost like a trial run, a time of orientation, so that a child, when he did reach thirteen, would have had some preparation. So Jesus went to Jerusalem at twelve, perhaps for his initial orientation of the structures and customs of the temple.”Phillip Ryken:“Going to Passover must have been a great experience for a twelve-year-old boy. The streets of Jerusalem were crammed with as many as two hundred thousand pilgrims and one hundred thousand sheep for sacrifices. At that age Jesus may well have had the run of the city, with all its sights and sounds. He would have feasted with friends. He would have gone up to the temple to pray and sing psalms. On the night of Passover he would have worshiped with his family. As his father prepared the sacrificial lamb, Jesus would have heard the story of salvation all over again. Joseph would have reminded his eldest son how God rescued his people from slavery and delivered them from death in Egypt.”1) JESUS WAS FULLY BOY (v41-46, 48)2) BOY JESUS was FULLY GOD (v46-49)RC Sproul:After the feast it was the custom for the theologians of Israel to remain there for a few days to have what they called ‘theological disputations’, in which they would share the latest ideas and insights into theology. The students of the rabbis would sit at their feet, for their learning process was very similar to that of Socrates and Plato at the Academy: it was through questions and answers. The students would ask the rabbi questions, and at times, as a teaching technique, the rabbi would return questions to the students. It was in that situation that Jesus was found, astonishing everybody with his unbelievable understanding and insight to these things, and all who saw him were amazed.Phillip Ryken:Jesus referred to God as “my Father.” This intimate expression was totally new. No one had ever said anything like it before. To be sure, the fatherhood of God is present in the Old Testament. There are at least a dozen places where the Scripture refers to God as Father. However, those who are speaking always refer to themselves in the plural. That is, people spoke of God as “our Father,” but no one ever called him “my Father.” God’s paternity was more a general concept than a personal relationship. Even men like Moses and David, who enjoyed special intimacy with God, never dared to claim that he was their Father. But Jesus said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. If the temple was God’s house, then it was his Father’s house, because he knew that God was his Father.--RC Sproul:How significant that the first recorded words of Jesus are ones that go to the heart of his own destiny, to his vocation and calling as the Messiah. Here Jesus is consciously identifying himself as the Son of God, because it was his Father’s house.--Phil Ryken: He wanted to stay in his Father’s presence, lingering at the place where his heart could echo the joy he had always experienced as the eternal and preexistent Son.--John 17:5 – “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” --John 17:24b – “ You loved me before the foundation of the world.”3) THE HYPOSTATIC UNION IS A PROFOUND MYSTERY, BUT ALSO A PROFOUND TREASURE (v50-52)Incarnation: "Incarnation is the word used to explain how the second member of the Trinity entered into human history in flesh as the God-man Jesus Christ."[Same as previously made slide]Hypostatic Union- JESUS CHRIST HAS TWO NATURES: HUMANITY & DEITY- JESUS IS NOT TWO PERSONS: BOTH NATURES ARE MYSTERIOUSLY & MIRACULOUSLY UNITED IN ONEPERSON[Same as previously made slide]A.T. Robertson:Luke gives us the only glimpse that we have of the boy Jesus, with a boy’s hunger for knowledge and yearning for future service, this boy who already had the consciousness of a peculiar relationship to God his Father, and yet who went back to Nazareth in obedience to Joseph and Mary to toil at the carpenter’s bench for eighteen more years.--Apollinarianism (from Phillip Ryken): The false teaching that Jesus had the mind of God in the body of a man.--Phillip Ryken: “Like his body, the mind of Christ had to develop. If we doubt this, all we need to do is look again at the Scripture, which says that Jesus “increased in wisdom” (Luke 2:52). Here Luke “expressly tells us that the intellectual, moral and spiritual growth of Jesus as a Child was just as real as His physical growth. He was completely subject to the ordinary laws of physical and intellectual development.” As he submitted to the very laws that he had created, Jesus was taught things that he did not know.”--Kenosis theory (from Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology): The theory that Christ gave up some of his divine attributes while he was on earth as a man (from the Greek verb kenoo, which means to “empty”).--Phillip Ryken: Perhaps some examples will help put this into perspective. Consider some of the things that Jesus did not know. When Jesus was two, he was not able to perform the complex computations of differential calculus; he couldn’t even “solve for x.” When he was six, he did not know the percentage of hydrogen in Jupiter’s atmosphere, or the distance from Earth to Alpha Centauri… With respect to his divine nature, these were things that he had always known, but with respect to his human nature, they were among the many things that he did not know during his time on earth. John Calvin went so far as to say that there would be “no impropriety in saying that Christ, who knew all things, was ignorant of something in respect of his perception as a man”… These statements stagger the mind. If we sometimes take the incarnation for granted, it can only be because we have not wrestled with its full implications.--Incarnation Summarized (from Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology):Remaining what he was, he became what he was not.
TITLE: Incarnation HumilityTEXT: Philippians 2:5-7Matthew 20:26-28 – “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”John 13:14-15 – “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”“Incarnation”Incarnation is the word used to explain how the second member of the Trinity entered into human history in flesh as the God-man Jesus Christ.Incarnation Humility…1 – EMULATING, NOT IGNORING CHRIST’S EXAMPLE – V.5Philippians 2:3-4 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but [notice it] in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.”2 – YIELDING, NOT GRASPING FOR POSITION – V.63 – SERVING, NOT INSISTING ON PROMINENCE – V.7a J.I Packer – “For the Son of God to empty himself and become poor meant a laying aside of glory; a voluntary restraint of power; an acceptance of hardship, isolation, ill-treatment, malice, and misunderstanding; finally, a death that involved such agony—spiritual even more than physical—that his mind nearly broke under the prospect of it. It meant love to the uttermost for unlovely men…” J.I Packer – “It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians—I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians—go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord’s parable, seeing human needs all around them, but averting their eyes and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. But it is the spirit of some Christians—alas, they are many—whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the marginalized of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on as best they can. The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob.”4 – DECREASING, NOT INCREASING IN SELF-PROMOTION– V.7bC.S Lewis – "In the Christian story, God descends to re-ascend. He comes down; …down to the very roots and sea-bed of the nature he has created. But he goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him… One has the picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden. He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders… In this descent and re-ascent everyone will recognize a familiar pattern: a thing written all over the world. It is the pattern of all vegetable life. It must belittle itself into something hard, small and deathlike, it must fall into the ground: thence the new life re-ascends…The doctrine of the incarnation, if accepted, puts this principle even more emphatically at the center. The pattern is there in Nature because it was first there in God."
TITLE: Incarnation HopeTEXT: John 1:14a“Incarnation”“Incarnation is the word used to explain how the second member of the Trinity entered into human history in flesh as the God-man Jesus Christ.”Incarnation Hope…1 – FOR EVERYONE LONGING FOR A MIRACLE – V.14aJI Packer – “The incarnation is more of a miracle than the resurrection because in it somehow a holy God and sinful humanity are joined, yet without the presence of sin. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation. In Jesus, God enters the human realm. He walks on water, calms storms, heals the sick, feeds the hungry, raises the dead, and conquers the grave.”The hypostatic union:- Jesus Christ Has Two Natures: Humanity & deityColossians 1:19 says, “In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…”- Jesus is NOT two persons: Both natures are mysteriously & miraculously united in one personIsaiah 9:6 - “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given ; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”Hebrews 4:15…“we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:16 – “ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”…2 – FOR EVERYONE LOOKING FOR MEANING – V.14aIsaiah 57:15 – For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”Ligonier Ministries - “The incarnation is a deep mystery, for we cannot fully understand how God could take on our humanity without giving up any of His deity. We can, however, understand that the incarnation reveals God’s infinite love and grace. He did not leave us alone in our sin but entered into the misery of this fallen world without becoming a sinner Himself in order to rescue us from eternal damnation. We will never tire of thanking and praising Him for this throughout all eternity.”
TITLE: MARVELOUSLY DISTINCT MEANINGText: 1 Pet 2:9-10---1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.1 Pet 1:1-5YOU HAVE A MARVELOUSLY DISTINCT1) IDENTITY: A PEOPLE CALLED INTO MARVELOUS LIGHT (V9)Sam Storms: Irrespective of ethnicity, believers have been united by faith in Jesus to be a new people, a new race. This kind of “race” (genos) has nothing to do with ethnicity precisely because this race is composed of every ethnicity. It is a spiritual race, a chosen race, defined not by color or culture but by creed. This race is defined by the One in whom we believe: Jesus.--6 “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.Deut 7:6-8--John Piper: “What gives us our identity is not colour or culture. But CHOSENNESS”--D. H. Wheaton: Throughout the OT, kings and priests were separate individuals. Only Melchizedek and the Messiah combined both offices. Saul sinned when he tried to discharge both functions (1 Sa. 13:5–15). In Christ the Christian can be both.--ROYAL PRIESTS OFFER SACRIFICES:a)Of Holy Living (Rom 12:1-2)12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.b)Of Praise & Generosity (Heb 13:15-16)15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.---John Piper: You are called now to minister in the presence of God. All your life is priestly service. You are never out of God’s presence. You are never in a neutral zone. You are always in the court of the temple. And your life is either a spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1–2), or it is out of character.--5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Ex 19:5-6 --21 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness. – Is 8:21-22--The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. – Is 9:2--Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12--6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. – 2 Cor 4:6--He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Col 1:13-14--8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light – Eph 5:9 YOU HAVE A MARVELOUSLY DISTINCT2) PURPOSE: PROCLAIM GOD’S EXCELLENCIES (V9)YOU HAVE A MARVELOUSLY DISTINCT3) STORY: ONCE NOT …, BUT NOW … (V10)
TITLE – The Family: Restored by the Gospel TEXT – Matthew 1:18-2:16
Adoption…
1 – REFLECTS THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD – Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 1:18-25 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” … When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”
Ephesians 1:5 – “…he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…”
2 – RESISTS THE PLANS OF SATAN – Matthew 2:1-16
What can you do today?
Attend the Adoption Info Night: Friday Dec. 2nd @7pm Give to the Hope Adoption Fund: Christmas offering online/In person Dec.24th Pray for the orphans of the world: Prayer Meeting, Sunday, Dec.4th
TITLE – The Family: Devastated by Sin TEXT – Psalm 139:13-16
What is Abortion? Abortion is the procuring of premature delivery so as to destroy offspring. - Oxford English Dictionary
Foundational to the health of the family & the society is the understanding that all human beings are made in the image of God, all human life is precious to God and all human life begins at conception
From the moment of conception…
1 – GOD IS CREATIVELY FORMING THE EMBRYO – V.13-14
2 – GOD IS INTRICATELY BUILDING THE FRAME – V.15
3 – GOD IS SOVEREIGNLY ORDAINING THE DAYS – V.16
Nancy Pearcey - “Virtually no professional bioethicist denies that life begins at conception.”
Two arguments/lies at the center of the abortion debate today… ARGUMENT/LIE #1 – There may be life in the womb, BUT there’s no personhood
ARGUMENT/LIE #2 – The issue is mainly about a woman's right to choose
Joni Erickson-Tada - “Our society has a fundamental fear of disability, and we are letting that fear drive everything from laws and policies to the quiet hints in ob-gyn offices that an unborn child is ‘better off dead than disabled… True, disability is hard – but it can also powerfully unite a family. It can refine a family’s character and set of values. It can force one to see the joy in simple achievements and pleasures. A disability can foster faith, a deeper prayer life, and a respect for God and his Word. Most of all, it can force us into the arms of the Lord of grace. And that’s a good thing. A very good thing.”
Need Help? Email: grace@hopechurchtw.ca
TITLE – The Family: Commissioned to Have Children…Physically & Spiritually TEXT – Genesis 1:28
Jefferey Johnson – “The family as God has designed it, is the backbone of society. How is the next generation to be properly raised up to maturity? How will society function without responsible, disciplined, educated citizens? It is the family that God designed to raise up, discipline, and educate the proceeding generations of individuals.”
The Family: The Foundational Institution of Society….Commissioned to have children:
1 – HAVING CHILDREN IS GOD’S GOOD & NORMAL PLAN – V.28
Three countercultural truths from God’s Word for families:
1A. Children are a blessing, NOT a burden – Psalm 127:3-5
Psalm 127:3-5a - Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
1B. Jesus loves the little children – Mark 10:13-16
Mark 10:13-16 - And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”
Mark 9:36-37 - And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
1C. Parents must bring their children to Jesus – Mark 10:13, Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
2 – HAVING PHYSICAL CHILDREN IS NOT ULTIMATE, HAVING SPIRITUAL CHILDREN IS – Genesis 1:28, Matthew 28:19
Genesis 1:28 - “…Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…”
Matthew 28:19 - “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
Genesis 12:2-3 - And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Galatians 3:13-14 – “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit [notice] through faith.”
TITLE – The Family: Established through Marriage TEXT – Genesis 2:18-25
Jefferey Johnson – “The family as God has designed it, is the backbone of society. How is the next generation to be properly raised up to maturity? How will society function without responsible, disciplined, educated citizens? It is the family that God designed to raise up, discipline, and educate the proceeding generations of individuals.”
George Gilder – “The condition of marriage and family in any given society describes the condition of the entire society. If the family is troubled, then society is troubled. Encouraging and building up the God-ordained institution of marriage and family is, therefore, critical to society.”
The Family: The foundational institution of society, established through marriage…
1 – DESIGNED, ORDAINED & BLESSED BY GOD – V.18-20
Bruce Watke – “Why does God determine that it is not good for Adam to be alone and then give him animals? Should he not have given the woman first? In fact, Adam must realize that it is not good to be alone. Rather than squandering his most precious gift on one who is unappreciative, God waits until Adam is prepared to appreciate the gift of woman.”
2 – ONE BIOLOGICAL MAN, ONE BIOLOGICAL WOMAN – V.21-23
Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Alistair Begg – “In order to build a woman, God had to make man incomplete. He took something out of the man so that the man was now incomplete. He was then made complete by receiving back what was taken out of him.”
Bruce Watke – “The intimacy and harmony that should support the marriage relationship is captured perfectly with this image. In the famous words of Matthew Henry, ‘the woman is not made out of his head to top him, not out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved…. Just as the rib is found at the side of the man and is attached to him, even so the good wife, the rib of her husband, stands at his side to be his helper-counterpart, and her soul is bound up with his.”
3 – MARKED BY LEAVING ONE AUTHORITY STRUCTURE & FORMING A NEW ONE – V.24-25
4 – A POWERFUL PICTURE OF CHRIST & THE CHURCH – Ephesians 5:22-25
Ephesians 5:22-25 – “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…”
TITLE – What’s up with Giving? TEXT – 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
John MacArthur – How people view money is an effective barometer of their spirituality. Money is neither good nor bad in itself; corrupt people can put it to evil uses, while good people can put it to righteous uses. Though it is morally neutral, what people do with their money reflects their internal morality. In the words of Jesus, ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’”
The Heart that Gives…
1 – IS AMAZED BY GRACE – V.1
2 – IS NOT HINDERED BY DIFFICULTIES – V.2a
3 – IS FILLED WITH JOY & OVERFLOWING – V.2b
4 – IS EARNESTLY SACRIFICIAL – V.3-4
5 – IS AMAZED BY GRACE – V.9
Fred Craddock – The offering for the saints in Judea was for Paul a definite implication of the Incarnation. It is no surprise that the discussion of the one should bring to mind the other. The offering, in fact, provided an occasion for teaching the meaning of Christology, and Christology informed and elicited the offering.”
What we need to know about giving that glorifies God & advances His purposes:
Where to start? Everything belongs to God – Psalm 24:1
Psalm 24:1 , "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein...”
1 Corinthians 4:7 - "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"
- When to give? Consistently – 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
1 Corinthians 16:1-2a– “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”
- Who should give? All Believers – 1 Corinthians 16:2
1 Corinthians 16:2b– “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”
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How to give? Through the local Church – 1 Corinthians 16:2c 1 Corinthians 16:2c– “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”
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How much to give? Amazed by grace, you decide- 1 Corinthians 16:2d 1 Corinthians 16:2d– “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”
TITLE: What is Baptism? TEXT: Various Scriptures
John Piper – “Baptism gets its meaning and its importance from the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in our place and for our sins, and from his triumph over death in the resurrection that guarantees our new and everlasting life. Baptism has meaning and importance only because the death and resurrection of Jesus are infinitely important for our rescue from the wrath of God and our everlasting joy in his glorious presence….We are not mainly talking about religious ritual here. We are not mainly talking about church tradition here. We are mainly talking about Jesus Christ and his magnificent work of salvation in dying for our sins and rising for our justification.”
2 questions to help us understand baptism: 1 – WHAT IS BAPTISM? – Various Scriptures
Ephesians 2:8-9 say - “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
What exactly is Baptism? Baptism is…
1A - An Ordinance of the Christian Faith – Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
1B - A Symbol of Salvation through Water - Various Scriptures
Genesis 8:1-3a - “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth continually.”
Exodus 14:21-22 - “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”
Joshua 3:14-17 - “So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people… and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water… the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away…And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.”
Tim Chester – “John the Baptist has been baptizing people – immersing them in water. We’re told he was ‘proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ Gentiles had not been part of the nation that had passed through the waters of the Sea with Moses, nor through the waters of the river with Joshua. So they had to pass symbolically through the water to join God’s people – a kind of accelerated catch-up. But now John is baptizing Jews. These Jews recognize that, in effect, they are like Gentiles. They are wicked. They face God’s judgment. They need forgiveness. They need to be re-born by the Spirit through water. They need to reenter a renewed land. Then Jesus steps forward from the crowd… He is perfect, sinless, spotless…He doesn’t need to repent. He doesn’t need forgiveness. He doesn’t need to be reborn. And yet he steps into the water – the water that symbolizes our sin and our judgment. Jesus steps into our mess, our wickedness, our judgment. He identifies with us….Jesus is symbolically engulfed by the waters of judgment. All those stories from the Old Testament were setting us up for this moment. In his baptism, Jesus identifies with his people and expresses his intent to take the judgment we deserve.”
Tim Chester – “In the Jordan River, Jesus was symbolically baptized into our sins. On the cross he is actually and really baptized into our sins. He is immersed in our sin – completely covered. He dies and is buried. He bears our judgment in full.”
1C. A Picture of Union with Christ, Death to Sin & A New Life - Romans 6:3-4
Romans 6:3a – “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus…”
Romans 6:3b-4a – “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death…”
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Romans 6:4b – “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
2 – WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED? – Various Texts I must be baptized BECAUSE: - Baptism is Commanded
Acts 22:16 - “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”
Jesus Sets the Example
- The Apostles taught Baptism
Acts 2:38 – “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…’”
I am not ashamed of Jesus Christ!
Matthew 10:32 – “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
TITLE: What is the Purpose of the Church? TEXT: Acts 2:42-47
The Purpose of the Church is…
1 – THE EXALTATION OF GOD – Various Scriptures
Our Mission – “To glorify God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the Spirit of the Great Commandment.”
Isaiah 43:7 – [bring] everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
The Westminster Catechism “What is the chief end of man?” ANSWER: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
Ephesians 1:3-6 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace…”
Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
2 – THE EDIFICATION OF THE SAINTS – V.42-47a
The assembly of the saints grow & are edified through: 2A. Right Preaching – V.42a
John Stott – “The Church depends on the truth for its existence; the truth depends on the Church for its defense and proclamation.”
1 Timothy 3:15 – “The church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
2B. Intimate Fellowship– V.42b,44
2C. Fervent Prayer– V.42c
2D. Generous Mercy – V.43-45
Matthew 25:31-40 - “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
2D. Authentic Worship – V.47a
3 – THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE WORLD – V.47b
Matthew 28:18-20 –”And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Romans 10:14-17 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Ephesians 3:10 – “...so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
TITLE: What about Deacons in the Church? TEXT: Acts 6:1-7
Juan Sanchez – “The world thinks greatness corresponds to power, but in Gods eyes greatness corresponds to service – particularly serving the people of God.”
What’s the role of Deacons in the Church? Deacons…
1 – PROTECT THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH - V.1
Matt Smethurst – “Of the many lessons for deacons from Acts 6, perhaps the most overlooked is their strategic role in preserving congregational unity. The seven weren’t merely deployed to solve a food problem. Food was the occasion, sure, but it wasn’t the deepest problem. The deepest problem was a sudden threat to church unity.”
2 – CARE FOR THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THE CHURCH - V.2
3 – SUPPORT THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH - V.3-7
TITLE: Who Leads the Church? TEXT: 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Paul Trip – “For every celebrity Pastor exiting the ministry in the spotlight, there are many more lesser-known pastors leaving in the shadows… for every public falling, there are hundreds of unknown pastors who have lapsed, have left both their leadership and their church in crisis, or are spiritual shells of the pastors they once were. I am convinced from conversation after conversation with pastors and their leadership that we have a leadership crisis…The church is experiencing a leadership crisis.”
Leadership in the church: 1 – GOOD & FROM GOD - V.1
Dave Harvey – “We live in an age of exaggerated autonomy and independence. People want to be independent from absolutes, and their skeptical about anyone who inhabits a position of authority. Cynicism breeds suspicion toward all who bear the responsibility to lead ….The trouble with such cynical thinking is that authority is hardwired into the creation order. God made people to be kings and queens over creation. He mandated that they rule the world(Genesis 1:28). Jesus is revealed to us in Scripture as the Son of God who empties himself of his preincarnate glory and prerogatives and submits to his Father(John 5:19; 6:38; 17:18; 22-26, 1 Corinthians 11:3; Philippians 2:5-11), and we can assume that since we’ll be gathering around God’s throne in heaven, redeemed people will forever live within the borders of authority(Revelation 4). The implications are clear. Leadership is not a consequence of the fall but rather God's good design for human flourishing in a well-ordered world.”
2 – ELDER/PASTOR/OVERSEER - V.2-7, VARIOUS TEXTS
Tim Challies - “We cannot overemphasize the primacy of character. A great many of the problems we see in the local and global church today are caused by the failure to heed this simple principle. So many Christians could be spared so much trauma if only their churches would refuse to put a man in leadership who is lacking such character. So many congregations would be spared so much pain if only they would remove men who prove they don’t have the kind of character God demands. This failure to heed what God makes plain is a terrible blight upon the Christian church.”
D.A Carson – “The criteria mentioned are demanded of all Christians everywhere. Which is another way of saying, elders are first of all to be exemplars of the Christian graces that are presupposed as mandated on all Christians.”
Richard Baxter – “Take heed, therefore, brethren, for the enemy has a special eye upon you. You shall have his most subtle insinuations, and incessant solicitations, and violent assaults. As wise and learned as you are, take heed to yourselves lest he overwit you. The devil is a greater scholar than you, and a nimbler disputant; he can transform himself into an ‘angel of light’ to deceive (2Co 11:14). He will get within you and trip up your heels before you are aware; he will play the juggler with you undiscerned, and cheat you of your faith or innocence, and you shall not know that you have lost it—no, he will make you believe it is multiplied or increased when it is lost.”
What’s the job of Elders/Pastors/Overseers?
2A. SHEPHERD THE FLOCK – 1 PETER 5:1-2
1 Peter 5:1-2 - So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you…”
2B. TEACH THE WORD – TITUS 1:9
Titus 1:9 - “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
2C. KEEP CLOSE WATCH – ACTS 20:28
Acts 20:28 - “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
TITLE: Who Belongs to the Church? TEXT: Acts 2:41-47
Answering 2 Crucial Questions:
1 – WHO BELONGS TO THE CHURCH? – V.41
Acts 2: 42-47 – “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
CH Spurgeon – “I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present time has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church. Put your finger on any prosperous page in the Church’s history, and I will find a little marginal note reading thus: “In this age men could readily see where the church began and where the world ended.’ Never were there good times when the church and the world were joined in marriage with one another. The more the Church is distinct from the world in her acts and in her maxims, the more true is her testimony for Christ, and the more potent is her witness against sin.”
2 – WHY MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH? – V.41b-42
WHY MEMBERSHIP? Because of the biblical pattern:
SALVATION → BAPTISM → MEMBERSHIP So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand.
More specifically…why the need for formal membership? Because…
2A. It’s how we live out the biblical images & the one another’s 2B. It’s how we obey the command to submit to our leaders - Hebrews 13:17 2C. It’s how leaders can obey the command to lead & care – Acts 20:28 2D. It’s how we exercise church discipline when there is unrepentant sin - 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 9-11 - It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you….I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
2 Thessalonians 3:6,11-15 - Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us….For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
What’s your next step?
Step 1: Discern if Hope is the local church for you - Next Sunday! Step 2: Learn to follow Christ with us here! - October 1st, 9:30 am Be Baptized! Visit hopechurchtw.ca/baptism Become a Member! Visit hopechurchtw.ca/membership
TITLE: What is the Church? TEXT: Matthew 16:18, Various Texts
John Hammet – “In designating themselves ekklesia, the early Christians were taking a word already in use by Greek speaking Jews to refer to the people of God in the Old Testament, and thus making a claim to some degree of historical connection to that earlier people; they were also using a word that reinforced the idea that the church is made up of those summoned or called by God.”
THE CHURCH IS … The assembly of the called-out people of God”
THE CHURCH: The assembly of the called out people of God are:
1 – THE FAMILY OF GOD
John Hammet - “When the references to the church as a household, the references to God as the Father of believers, and the references to believers as brothers and sisters are added together, they become so pervasive that the comparison of the Christian community with a ‘family’ must be regarded as the most significant metaphorical usage of all.”
JI Packer– If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.”
Joseph Hellerman– “In the New Testament, the group took priority over the individual…in light of ancient Mediterranean cultural sensibilities, the use of sibling terminology indicates that Jesus wanted his followers to interact with one another like members of a strong group, surrogate family characterized by collectivist solidarity and commitment on every front.”
Joseph Hellerman - “Long-term interpersonal relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life. People who stay also grow. People who leave do not grow. We all know people who are consumed with spiritual wanderlust[a strong desire to travel]. But we never get to know them very well because they cannot seem to stay put. They move along from church to church, ever searching for a congregation that will better satisfy their felt needs. Like trees repeatedly transplanted from soil to soil, these spiritual nomads fail to put down roots and seldom experience lasting and fruitful growth in their Christian lives.”
[Insert Ministry Year Kick Off Graphic here]
2 – THE BODY OF CHRIST
Romans 12:4-5 – “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
1 Corinthians 12:14-19, 24-26 - For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body….But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Ephesians 4:15-16 – “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Colossians 2:18-19 – “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
Title: The way of blessing or a wasted life Text: Psalm 1:4-6
Psalm 1 confronts us with…
1 – THE TRAGEDY OF A WASTED LIFE – V.4
Three stages of harvesting grain (top of slide above picture)
2 – THE INEVITABILITY OF A FINAL JUDGMENT – V.5
“In the case of the final judgment, God assumes the role of both prosecutor and judge of the wicked. The books bearing witness to the resolute rebellion of the unrepentant are opened. They will collapse under the weight of the damnation they have been laying up for themselves. Their lack of legitimate defense results in their being cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15)”
“The activities and outcome of the courtroom scene differ for believers. God is still judge. Satan is now cast as the prosecutor. His accusations are answered and silenced and Satan himself is rebuked by the defense that Jesus offers on behalf of his own. The righteous also fall, but in praise and adoration under the weighty realization that they are in the presence of the Judge of the Universe (Revelation 4:10-11; 19:4)”
GOSPEL: The single key to the blessed life (top of slide)
God created | We rebelled | Jesus came | We are invited (These can come out all at once)
3 – THE BEAUTY OF THE WAY OF BLESSING – V.6
Title: The way of blessing Text: Psalm 1:1-2
The way of blessing is marked by:
1 – A LIFE THAT IS SET APART – V.1
The way of blessed DOES NOT:
1A. Pursue ungodly counsel - V.1A 1B. Partner with open sinners - V.1B 1C. Participate in total rebellion – V.1C
(Please create the following diagram from top to bottom vertically):
The progressive path of the empty life (Title of slide)
The pursuit of ungodly counsel | Growing partnership with open sinners | Full participation in total rebellion | = The empty, frustrated life
2 – A HEART THAT LOVES GOD’S WORD – V.2
“The contrast between the two ways may be put like this: It is the difference between those who are in love with sin and those who love God. The first class love sin’s ways and follow it. The second love God and seek him in Scripture where he may be found.” - James Montgomery Boice
The heart that loves God’s Word understands that: 2A. God’s ways are best – V.2A 2B. God’s ways are inexhaustible – V.2B
“God My Strength When Life Is Hard”
Psalm 73
Introduction
When life is hard – I don’t forget God’s goodness -
When life is hard – I don’t lose focus The danger of losing focus
The desire comes from a right focus
When life is hard – I trust God’s design
The human heart will fail
The spiritual heart will fail
The hope of a failed heart – God’s story
When life is hard – I will not give up
So What?!
Title: Our Conquering Priest-King Text: Psalm 110
The Lord Jesus Christ: 1. IS SEATED - v. 1 Verse 1 YAHWEH says to my ADONAI: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” God’s Right Hand is a symbol of: Power (Psa. 89:13) Protection (Psa. 16:8; 63:8) Presence (Psa. 16:11; 48:10) Salvation (Psa. 60:5; 20:6; 138:7) Victory (Psa. 18:35; Isa. 41:10) Defeat of God’s enemies (Exo. 15:6, 12; Psa. 21:8; 74:11) His mighty works (Psa. 45:4; 118:15-16; Isa. 48:13) Judgment (Lam. 2:4) “[God] raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:20-22) “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) 2. WIELDS THE SCEPTER - v.2-4 Verse 2 (NIV) “Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.” “The Gospel creates new people, who are committed to Christ in every area of their lives. People like these will change the world. They will fill and rule the earth for the glory of Jesus. They will plant churches and establish godly families, and they will also establish hospitals, schools, arts, and sciences. That is what has happened, by God's grace. And that is what will continue to happen until Jesus comes.” (Dr. John M. Frame) What does this mean for us? WE’RE IN WAR-TIME - v. 2b “We are in a war. There is an enemy. That enemy is no gentleman, prepared to play by rules and on a level playing field. When the world around us is relinquished to a supposedly neutral "common kingdom," that enemy will seize control, and in many ways has done so and is increasingly advancing.” (Robert Letham) WE’VE FREELY ENLISTED - v. 3 “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:2-4) WE HAVE SALVATION - v. 4 Our Great High Priest… Can empathize and helps us in temptation (Heb. 2:18) Represents us to God (Heb. 5:1) Enters the Most Holy Place (Heb. 9:24) Makes one sacrificial atonement for sin (Heb. 10:11-14) Brings us close to God (Heb. 10:19-22) Perfects believers (Heb. 10:14) Intercedes for us continually (Heb. 7:24-25) Is a steadfast Anchor for our soul (Heb. 6:20) 3. WILL SHATTER HIS ENEMIES - v. 5-7
TITLE: Too Wonderful For Me TEXT: Psalm 139
SUBJECT LINE: God knows me intimately and that is…
- Intimidating when I know who God is. SUBPOINTS SLIDE: God’s intimate knowledge of me is intimidating because God is… 1a. All-knowing - His knowledge of me is invasive (vs 1-6) 1b. All-present - His presence with me is inescapable (vs 7-12)
SCRIPTURE SLIDE: Amos 9:1-4 1 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said: “Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake, and shatter them on the heads of all the people; and those who are left of them I will kill with the sword; not one of them shall flee away; not one of them shall escape. 2 “If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down. 3 If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search them out and take them; and if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them. 4 And if they go into captivity before their enemies, there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them; and I will fix my eyes upon them for evil and not for good.” 1c. The sovereign creator - He made me intricately (vs 13-18)
QUOTE SLIDE: The third stanza brings together and carries forward the thought of the first two: God not only sees the invisible and penetrates the inaccessible, but is operative there, the author of every detail of my being. - Derek Kidner
- Wonderful for I know God is with me. SUBPOINTS SLIDE: When I am with my wonderful God, it creates in me… 2a. Affection and Awe for God (vs 17-18) 2b. Anger when God’s name is taken in vain (vs 19-22) 2c. Urgency for God to search, know and lead me (vs 23-24)
TITLE: Finishing the Ministry Year Right TEXT: Romans 16:25-27
Finishing the Ministry Year Right:
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ALL GLORY TO GOD… V.25a
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…WHO SECURES US BY THE POWER OF HIS GOSPEL… V.25b-26
Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Romans 8:31-38 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are secure by the power of His Gospel…
2A. Christ has been made known & personal to me! - V.25b-26a 2B. God has accomplished His greatest purpose in me! - V.26b
- … ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! - V.27
TITLE: Final Words TEXT: Romans 16:17-23
Final words…There’s:
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A WARNING: FALSE TEACHERS ARE DANGEROUS - V.17-19
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A PROMISE: THE GOD OF PEACE IS VICTORIOUS - V.20a
3 A PRAYER: THE GRACE OF JESUS BE WITH US - V.20B-23
Greet One Another
3 Preliminary Observations
1: THIS IS A GREETING PASSAGE
2: THIS IS PAUL’S MOST COMPREHENSIVE GREETING PASSAGE
3: PAUL IS AFFECTIONATELY PERSONAL
-- In Christ, Affectionately GREET: 1) Dedicated Workers (v1-5a) Grey Barnhouse: “Never was there a greater burden carried by such tender hands. The theological history of the church through the centuries was in the manuscript which she brought with her. The Reformation was in that baggage. The blessing of multitudes in our day was carried in those parchments.”
John Piper: “A choice lies before you: Either waste your life or live with risk. Either sit on the sidelines or get in the game. After all, life was no cakewalk for Jesus, and he didn’t promise it would be any easier for his followers. We shouldn’t be surprised by resistance and persecution. Yet most of us play it safe. We pursue comfort. We spend ourselves to get more stuff. And we prefer to be entertained.”
In Christ, Affectionately GREET: 2) Dear Friends (v5b-9)
In Christ, Affectionately GREET: 3) FELLOW SAINTS (v10-11) Gal 3:23 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
John Piper: The foundation of Paul’s profound affection for these people is that he knows that he stood with them on the precipice of the wrath of God called hell, where he and they deserve to be today, and that he and they were snatched to safety by the Son of God as he went over that precipice. And they stand trembling, happy, hugging on solid ground, namely, in Christ. That’s why he says in Christ and in the Lord eight times. That’s where Paul lives with them. We were in as much danger as we could possibly be in—together. And now, we are as safe in Christ as we can possibly be—together. This was so real for Paul he could still smell the flames. He could feel still feel the ice in this thighs as he looked over the edge of the abyss into the wrath of God. And now, rescued by Christ, and living in Christ, nobody looks the same anymore. Everybody here in Christ is blood-bought and safe. If we don’t feel a kind of trembling, deep affection for each other in Christ, it’s probably because we don’t feel very deserving of hell and we don’t feel amazed at our rescue. And, therefore, the safety we enjoy together doesn’t feel very precious. In Christ, Affectionately GREET: 4) Newfound Family (v12-16) Mark 10:29-30 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
TITLE: Strive with us in prayer TEXT: Romans 15:30-33
John Piper “Until you know that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for.”
An urgent invitation:
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COME…STRIVE WITH US IN PRAYER - V.30
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COME…SEE HOW GOD ANSWERS PRAYER - V.31-33
God answers prayer! 2A. According to His will - V.32 2B. In His own purposeful way - V.31-32
TITLE: The providence of God & the plan for ministry TEXT: Romans 15:22-29
Three questions to help us follow Paul’s example of ministry to our church, to our city & to our world:
- WHO’S ORDERING MY STEPS? - V.22
Romans 15:20-21 - “…thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”
The Heidelberg Catechism on “PROVIDENCE”
Question: “What do you understand by the providence of God?”
Answer: “The almighty, everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were, by his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.”
- WHAT’S MY PLAN FOR MUTUAL MINISTRY? - V.23-24
John MacArthur – “Contrary to how it may seem on first thought, sensible and careful planning by God’s people does not necessarily indicate lack of trust in His providence.“
So what’s your plan for mutual ministry? A few practical steps: Plan for…. - The Hope Kids Relaunch information session: Sunday June 5th [after the morning service] - The Church-wide prayer meeting: Sunday June 5th, 7pm - Meals for the City: Saturday June 11th - Hope Essentials: August 27 - “Times of Refreshing” drop in bible study: Every Tuesday night
- WHAT AM I DOING RIGHT NOW? - V.25-29
TITLE: Ambition OUTLINE: Romans 15:14-21
OUTLINE:
Three lessons from Paul's ambition to preach the gospel… in our ambition we should:
- Serve others so they can grow in holiness & worship. (vs 14-16)
Subpoint Slide: A couple practical ways we serve others:
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT (vs 14) REMINDERS OF TRUTH (vs 15)
- Acknowledge the grace & power of God in our lives. (vs 15, 17-19)
Scripture Slide: 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Subpoint Slide: A few practical ways to glorify God in our ambition:
WORK HARD STAY FOCUSED DEPEND ON THE LORD
- Spread the name of Christ everywhere & beyond. (vs 19-21)
TITLE: Hope is Here TEXT: Romans 15:8-13
Hope is here…There’s…
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A PROMISE: HOPE FOR THE WORLD - V.8-12
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A PRAYER: HOPE FOR OUR HEARTS - V.13
A prayer for our hearts & for our church: Oh Lord, we need…
2A. A Single Focus: You are the God of Hope! – V.13a 2B. A Supernatural Filling: Joy & Peace by the Power of the Spirit! – V.13b
TITLE: Pursuing unity when we disagree PART 2 TEXT: Romans 14:13-15:7
Two highlights from last week to get us all up to speed: RIGHTLY PLACE THE ISSUE HUMBLY WELCOME THOSE WHO DISAGREE
Pursuing unity when we disagree about disputable matters:
- DON’T LET YOUR FREEDOM HURT THE FAITH OF ANOTHER - V.13-15
Andy Naselli – “The concern here is not merely that your freedom may irritate or annoy or offend your weaker brother or sister. If a brother or sister simply doesn’t like your freedoms, that is their problem. But if your practice or freedom leads your brother or sister to sin against their conscience, then it becomes your problem. Christ gave up his life for that brother or sister; are you unwilling to give up your freedom if that would help your fellow believer avoid sinning against conscience?”
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DON’T GET DISTRACTED FROM WHAT’S TRULY IMPORTANT - V.16-21
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DON’T FLAUNT YOUR FREEDOMS & DON’T IMPOSE YOUR RESTRICTIONS – V.22-23
4 . DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF THE EXAMPLE & THE HOPE OF JESUS - 15:1-7
TITLE: Pursuing unity when we disagree PART 1 TEXT: Romans 14:1-12
Pursuing unity when we disagree about disputable matters…Three truths for today:
- WELCOME ONE ANOTHER & DON’T FIGHT OVER OPINIONS – V.1-4
Andy Naselli– “First level issues are most central and essential to Christianity. You can’t deny these teachings and still be a Christian in any meaningful sense. For example, there is one God in three persons; Jesus is fully God and fully human; Jesus sacrificially died for sinners…”
“Second level issues create reasonable boundaries between Christians, such as different denominations and local churches. These issues will have a bearing on what sort of church you are part of. For example, what’s your view on baptism or church government or God’s Sovereignty in salvation…you don’t have to hold one particular view to be a Christian, but it’s challenging for a church to have a healthy unity when its leaders and members disagree on these matters.”
“Third level issues are disputable matters (also called matters of indifference or conscience). They might involve how you interpret particular passages of the Bible. For example, who are the ‘sons of God’ in Genesis 6? There’s more than one viable view. Third level issues also include many practical questions. For example, how should a Christian view the Sabbath? Is it okay on Sundays to go to a public restaurant? Or watch a football game? Or mow your lawn? Disputable matters aren’t unimportant, but members of the same church should be able to disagree on these issues and still have close fellowship with each other.”
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PEOPLE WITH OPPOSING VIEWS CAN BOTH HONOR GOD – V.5-6
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THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST IS THE KEY TO OUR UNITY – V.7-12
TITLE: It’s Time to Wake up! TEXT: Romans 13:8-14
It’s time to wake up to….
- THE PRIMACY OF CHRISTIAN LOVE – V.8-10
Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
Leviticus 19:18 – “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself…”
Matthew 22:37-40 - “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
- THE URGENCY OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – V.11-14
Douglas Moo – “In a society governed by the sun rather than by the convenience of artificial lighting, people rose at dawn. Only slackards would keep to their beds after the first glow of daylight. Early rising was especially necessary in the Near East, where the bulk of work needed to be done before the heat of midday. Paul wants no slackards among his readers. Christians are to be alert and eager to ‘present their bodies as a living sacrifice.’”
TITLE: Resurrection Hope for Hopeless Times TEXT: John 21:1-7
There is Resurrection Hope…
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WHEN WE’RE STRUGGLING WITH FAILURE – V.1-3
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WHEN WE’VE FALLEN INTO FORGETFULNESS – V.3b-7
Luke 5:4-11 - 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
WHY OUR CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED Text: John 18:38b - 19:16 HE WAS CRUCIFIED BECAUSE OF… 1) THE PEOPLE’S SENSELESS ANGST (18:38B-40)
HE WAS CRUCIFIED BECAUSE OF… 2) THE PRIESTS’ BLIND ENVY (19:1-7) - D.A. Carson:
Once more Pilate steps out of the praetorium (cf. 18:28) to address the Jews. He delivers his verdict (cf. 18:38), and then dramatically presents Jesus—a sorry sight, swollen, bruised, bleeding from those cruel and ridiculous thorns. Aware as he is that it is the people who must choose the man who will receive the governor’s amnesty, he presents Jesus as a beaten, harmless and rather pathetic figure to make their choice of him as easy as possible. In his dramatic utterance Here is the man! (in Latin, Ecce homo!), Pilate is speaking with dripping irony: Here is the man you find so dangerous and threatening: can you not see he is harmless and somewhat ridiculous?
- ESV Study Bible: “There are stories of Roman soldiers cruelly playing with different postures for crucified victims (e.g., Josephus, Jewish War 5.449–551), though the use of nails and a crossbar appear to have been common. Modern medical explanations for the cause of death on a cross have focused on either asphyxiation or shock. Crucifixion was widely believed to be the worst form of execution, due to the excruciating pain and public shame. Hanging suspended by one’s arms eventually caused great difficulty in breathing, which could be alleviated only by pushing up with one’s feet to take the weight off the arms. But that motion itself would cause severe pain in the feet, arms, legs, and back, causing the exhausted victim to slump down again, only to be nearly unable to breathe once more. Eventually, the victim would succumb to suffocation, if he had not already died as a result of the cumulative effect of the physical trauma inflicted on him.” HE WAS CRUCIFIED BECAUSE OF… 3) PILATE’S SELF-INTERESTED COMPROMISE (19:8-16)
2 HE WAS CRUCIFIED BECAUSE OF… 4) GOD’S AUTHORITY (19:10-11) John Stott: Herod and Pilate, Gentiles and Jews, [the apostles] said, had together conspired against Jesus (Acts 4:27). More important still, we ourselves are also guilty. If we were in their place, we would have done what they did. Indeed we have done it. For whenever we turn away from Christ, we are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace' (Heb. 6:6). We too sacrifice Jesus to our greed like Judas, to our envy like the priests, to our ambition like Pilate. "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?' the old spiritual asks. And we must answer, ‘Yes, we were there.' Not as spectators only but as participants, guilty participants, plotting, scheming, betraying, bargaining, and handing him over to be crucified. We may try to wash our hands of responsibility like Pilate. But our attempt will be as futile as his. For there is blood on our hands. Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us (leading us to faith and worship), we have to see it as something done by us (leading us to repentance). Indeed, 'only the man who is prepared to own his share in the guilt of the cross', wrote Canon Peter Green, "may claim his share in its grace'. -- Horatius Bonar:
Twas I that shed the sacred blood; I nailed him to the tree; I crucified the Christ of God; I joined the mockery.
Of all that shouting multitude; I feel that I am one; And in that din of voices rude; I recognize my own.
Around the cross the throng I see; Mocking the Sufferer's groan; Yet still my voice it seems to be; As if I mocked alone.
Octavius Winslow: Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy; - but the Father, for love!'
John 10:18 - No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.
John Stott:
3 It is essential to keep together these two complementary ways of looking at the cross. On the human level, Judas gave him up to the priests, who gave him up to Pilate, who gave him up to the soldiers, who crucified him. But on the divine level, the Father gave him up, and he gave himself up, to die for us. As we face the cross, then, we can say to ourselves both ‘I did it, my sins sent him there' and ‘He did it, his love took him there'.
Series: FIRST IMPORTANCE
Title: We Need A Saviour Text: Mark 8:31-38
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Clarity about the crucifixion
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Confrontation of pride and selfishness
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Call to discipleship
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Considering the implications
TITLE: Chaos, Christianity & The Government – Part 3 TEXT: Romans 13:1-7 | Various Scriptures
Since God is the Absolute, Sovereign & Supreme Authority over all other authorities, resistance to the government…
- IS CLEARLY REQUIRED WHEN THEY COMMAND WHAT GOD FORBIDS OR FORBID WHAT GOD COMMANDS - Various Scriptures
Acts 5:29 - “We must obey God rather than men.”
Exodus 1:17 – “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”
Esther 4:16 - “I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish”.
[Insert the attached Corrie Ten Boom Photo here]
- MAY BE PERMITTED WHEN THEY INTRUDE ON OTHER GOD-GIVEN INSTITUTIONS IN A WAY THAT THE SCRIPTURES DO NOT ALLOW - Various Scriptures
Douglas Moo - Paul demands a “submission” to government: not strict and universal obedience. “Submission”... denotes a recognition of the place that God has given government in the ordering of the world. The Christian submits to government by acknowledging this divinely ordained status of government and its consequent right to demand the believer’s allegiance. In most cases, then, Christian submission to government will involve obeying what government tells the Christian to do. But government does not have absolute rights over the believer, for government, like every human institution, is subordinate to God himself. This means, then, that Christians may continue to “submit” to a particular government even as they, in obedience to a “higher” authority, refuse to do, in a given instance, what government requires.
Balance is needed. On the one hand, we must not obscure the teaching of Romans 13:1-7 in a flood of qualifications. Paul makes clear that government is ordained by God - indeed every particular governmental authority is ordained by God - and that the Christian must recognize and respond to this fact with an attitude of “submission”....On the other hand, we must not read Romans 13:1-7 out of its broad NT context and put government in a position relative to the Christian that only God can hold. Christians should give thanks for government as an institution of God; we should pray regularly for our leaders; and we should be prepared to follow the orders of our government. But we should also refuse to give government any absolute rights and should evaluate all its demands in the light of the gospel.
What can we do and how?
Appeal with knowledge – Acts 25:1-12
Confront with courage – Matthew 14:4
Pray with faith – 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Resist & accept to the consequences – Acts 5:29
TITLE: Chaos, Christianity & The Government – Part 2 TEXT: Romans 13:1-7
The authority of the government is:
1 LIMITED BY GOD – V.1
2 DELEGATED BY GOD – V.1b-2
Exodus 9:16 – “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”
Daniel 2:21 – “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings…”
Isaiah 44:28 – “Thus says the Lord… who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’”…
Proverbs 21:1 – “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”
3 DEFINED BY GOD – V.3-7
Since God is the sovereign, supreme, & absolute authority over all, our total allegiance belongs to Him first. Therefore, resistance to the government…
3A. Is clearly necessary when they command what God forbids or forbid what God commands
Acts 5:29 - “We must obey God rather than men.”
Exodus 1:17 - “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”
Esther 4:16 - “I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish”.
Daniel 6:10 - “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
Daniel 9:16-18 - “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’”
3B. Must be carefully discerned when they step outside of their delegated sphere of authority
FAMILY [all 3 verses below on one slide please] Genesis 2:24 - Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Ephesians 5:22-25 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…”
Colossians 3:20 - Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
CHURCH Hebrews 13:17 - Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
GOVERNMENT Romans 13:1 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
How? Appeal Confront Pray
TITLE: Chaos, Christianity & the Government Part 1 TEXT: Romans 13:1-7
How Christians must relate to the governing authorities… We must understand:
1 THE COMMAND: BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES - V.1a
John Piper - Paul is probably writing to be read by government officials as well as by the church in Rome. In other words, he knows that this letter will find its way into Caesar’s household and into the hands of the civil authorities. He wants them to understand two truths. One is that Christians are not out to overthrow the empire politically by claiming Jesus, and not Caesar, is Lord. Christians submit to laws and pay taxes and show respect and do good in the community…. The other truth he wants the civil authorities to see is that their authority is based on God’s sovereignty and God’s moral law. Listen to that the way Caesar would, not just the way Christians would. It is a powerful statement that Caesar is not God…He is secondary not primary.
2 THE REASON: THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE INSTITUTED BY GOD – V.1b-7
Everyone must be subject to the governing authorities BECAUSE…
2A. Resisting the authorities is resisting what God has appointed –V.2 2B. The governing authorities serve Gods purposes for our good–V.3-7
RC Sproul - “Christians in every generation must learn how to apply the Word of God in their specific circumstances, and the existing disagreements among believers testify to the fact that this task is often easier said than done. One issue that arises again and again is the extent to which believers are permitted by God to disobey the civil magistrate. Based solely on passages such as Romans 13:1–7, we might conclude that there is no circumstance under which Christians may defy the secular authorities. However, Romans 13:1–7 is not the only set of instructions we have on how to relate to the government from Paul, or even Scripture as a whole…. Rightly discerning when civil disobedience is lawful is no easy task.”
TITLE: When Persecution Comes TEXT: Romans 12:17-21
When persecution comes…
1 NEVER TAKE REVENGE: LEAVE IT WITH THE LORD – V.17,19
1 Peter 2:22-23 - He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten….
1 Peter 2:22-23 - “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
Wayne Grudem – “When Peter calls God the one who judges justly it suggests that Jesus was conscious that God, as Judge, would either repay the wrongdoer justly, or would forgive because the punishment would be taken by Jesus himself on the cross. This knowledge that God will ultimately right all wrongs is essential to a Christian response to suffering…”
2 PURSUE PEACE: AS MUCH AS IT DEPENDS ON YOU – V.17-18
3 BE LIKE JESUS: OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD – V.19-21
TITLE: Real Transformation, Radical Christianity TEXT: Romans 12:14-16
The Gospel compels us to… 1 RESPOND RADICALLY – V.14
Luke 6:28 – “…bless those who curse you, [here it is] pray for those who abuse you.”
John Piper– “If we are going to be treated unjustly, and even hurt unjustly for Christ’s sake, and yet bless our adversaries and pray for them, then our natural obsession with self-preoccupation and self-infatuation and self-exaltation must die. But that death will accomplish nothing by itself. It must be replaced by Christ-preoccupation and Christ-infatuation and Christ-exaltation. That’s what faith is: beholding and embracing the all-satisfying treasure of Christ.”
2 SHOW SYMPATHY – V.15
3 PRACTICE HUMILITY – V.16
Three convictions that flow from V.16…Convictions of a church that is serious about humility:
CONVICTION #1 - WE WILL NOT BE DIVIDED, WE WILL HAVE THE MIND-SET OF UNITY - V.16a
CONVICTION #2 - WE WILL NOT BECOME PROUD, WE WILL ASSOCIATE WITH EVERYONE EQUALLY - V.16b
CONVICTION #3 - WE WILL NOT BE FOOLISH, WE WILL SUBMIT OURSELVES TO BIBLICAL AUTHORITY - V.16c
JUDE 17-25 “Finishing Well As God’s Beloved” February 20, 2022
Text: Jude 17-25
Title: Finishing Well As God’s Beloved
Outline: Beloved... Remember God’s Warning (17-19) Remain in God’s Love (20-21) Reach out with God’s Mercy (22-23) Rejoice in God’s Greatness (24-25)
Detailed Sermon Slides:
Beloved… Ephesians 1:5–6 “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Titus 3:4–7 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Romans 5:5 “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
Remember God’s Warning (17-19)
1 Timothy 4:1–2 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared”
2 Timothy 3:1–5 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
Matthew 24:11–13 “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Remain in God’s Love (20-21)
by Growing in the Word
Acts 20:32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
by Praying in the Spirit
by Waiting for Christ’s Coming
Titus 2:11–13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”
Reach out with God’s Mercy (22-23)
To those who are doubting
1 Thessalonians 5:14 “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
To those who are deceived
To those who are defiled
Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
Rejoice in God’s Greatness (24-25)
1 Peter 1:3–5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:8–9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
TITLE: A Powerful Church in a Chaotic World TEXT: Romans 12:12-13
A powerful church in a chaotic world… We must:
1 REJOICE EXPECTANTLY – V.12a
2 ENDURE PATIENTLY – V.12b
3 PRAY CONSTANTLY – V.12c
4 SHARE GENEROUSLY – V.13
TITLE: Our Opportunity TEXT: Romans 12:10-11
Our opportunity…We must be:
1 A FAMILY DEVOTED – V.10a
2 EAGER TO HONOR – V.10b
3 FERVENT IN SPIRIT – V.11
TITLE: Let’s be Real TEXT: Romans 12:9
Let’s be real…
1 LET’S LOVE GENUINELY – V.9A
2 LET’S HATE WHAT IS EVIL – V.9B
3 LET’S CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD – V.9C
TITLE: Chaos versus Christianty & the Life God Uses TEXT: Romans 12:3-8
The life that God uses:
1 CHOOSES HUMILITY – V.3
2 PURSUES UNITY – V.4-5
3 SERVES WILLINGLY – V.6-8
TITLE: The Chaos of Conformity & the Power of a New Mind TEXT: Romans 12:1-2
In order to live a Christian life of authenticity & clarity I must understand:
1 THE CALL TO WORSHIP – V.1
Tim Keller - “The secret to freedom from enslaving patterns of sin is worship. You need worship. You need glorious worship. You need to sense God’s greatness and to be moved by it — moved to tears and moved to laughter — moved by who God is and what he has done for you.”
2 THE CHAOS OF CONFORMITY – V.2a
Insert Wisdom Pyramid here(attached in email)
3 THE POWER OF A NEW MIND – 2b
Romans 12:1-2 in summary:
Surrender your Life Resist Conformity Renew your mind Be Transformed Know God’s will Live with greater power & clarity
TITLE: Recovering the Greatness of Christ’s Commission SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:16-20 Quote Slide (centered): OUR MISSION “To glorify God by the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment.” New Slide: BIG IDEA: We greatly underestimate the greatness of the Great Commission Sermon Points We must recover the conviction that Jesus Christ sends us as his ambassadors with 1. His Divine Power | He has ALL Authority (v.18)
1A. A Present Reality Scripture Slide: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him [the Son of Man] was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14) 1B. A Pervasive Reality Quote Slide: “Who can fathom this brief utterance of Jesus? The kingly authority of Jesus embraces heaven, all that lives and has its being there, angels and archangels, powers, principalities, might, dominion, thrones, and the saints in glory. This authority is exercised also over the evil spirit world, whose prince is conquered and despoiled, and whose hosts lie in abject submission beneath Jesus’ feet. All the powers of heaven are in his hand to do his bidding without question or pause. This the disciples are to realize as Jesus sends them forth. Never did a human army have such resources behind it. All the earth is also subject to him, its inhabitants, both friend and foe, and all the powers that are in the earth.” (R.H. Lenski) 2. To Accomplish His Purpose | Make Disciples of ALL Nations (v.19a) Quote Slide: “The life of a disciple is different because of his attachment to Jesus. The Master is not giving a command that will merely secure nominal adherence to a group, but one that will secure wholehearted commitment to a person.” (Leon Morris) Quote Slide: “His "all authority" over "all the nations" demands we preach His crown rights over all men and all their institutions, cultures, societies, and nations. The saving of multitudes of individuals must eventually lead to cultural Christianization under Christ's rule and to His glory by His providence, in conformity with God's creational purpose.” (Kenneth Gentry) 3. According to His Plan | Baptizing and Teaching Obedience to ALL His Commands (v.19b-20a) Quote Slide: “A piety which concerns itself only with man’s soul and leaves the world to the devil is a profane piety.” (R.J. Rushdoony) Expectations of the Kingdom Growth The Mustard Seed (Matt. 13:31-32) The Leaven (Matt. 13:33-34) Mixed responses Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-23) Weeds and Wheat (Matt. 13:24-30) The Net (Matt. 13:47-50) Joy Hidden Treasure (Matt. 13:44) Pearl of Great Price (Matt. 13:45-46) Rewards for Faithfulness & Increase Faithful & Wicked Servant (Matt. 24:45-51) Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) 4. With the Promise of His Presence | He will be with us ALWAYS! (v.20b) Quote Slide: “The God of Israel, the Saviour, is sometimes a God that hideth himself (Isa. 45:15), but never a God that absenteth himself; sometimes in the dark, but never at a distance.” (Matthew Henry) New Slide: We must recover the conviction that Jesus Christ sends us as his ambassadors with His Divine Power to accomplish His Purpose according to His Plan with the Promise of His Presence.
MY eyes have seen your salvation TEXT: Luke 2:22-38 1) Lord, fill all of me with your Spirit (v22-27) -- And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Eph 5:18-21
2) Lord, Open my eyes to see your salvation (v28-33) Phyllip Ryken quote: All [Luke] tells us is that once Simeon had seen Jesus, he was ready to die—to be released from his watch post. This was partly because of the special promise that he would not see death until he had seen the Christ. But the principle also has a wider application. Anyone who has seen Jesus with the eyes of faith is prepared to die. And anyone who has not seen him—whether young or old—is not ready to die at all. When we see Jesus and his salvation, we are ready to be dismissed from this life in peace and enter the life to come. Have you seen Jesus by faith? Have you seen him crucified for your sins? Have you seen him raised for your salvation? It is then and only then that you are prepared to die. 3) Lord, Ready my soul to receive the sword (v34-35) Phillip Ryken quote: With these words, Simeon offered the first hint of the great suffering that Jesus would endure to bring salvation. From the former prophecies of Mary, Zechariah, and the angels, we have learned about the glory and greatness of Jesus Christ. We have heard of his royal kingship, his divine lordship, and the peace he brings to his people. But here we learn that he will also be the object of opposition. Jesus is the “sign that is opposed” (Luke 2:35). People will despise him, reject him, and take their stand against him. In the end, of course, they nailed him to a tree and left him to die. This was the sword that pierced Mary’s soul. --
Matt 10:34-39 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
TITLE: Everyone responds to Christmas TEXT: Matthew 2:1-12
Dr. John Koessler – “The miracle of Christmas is the miracle of Christ’s Incarnation. The Incarnation is one of the foundational truths of the Christian faith. The doctrine of the Incarnation is the good news that, at an appointed moment in human history, God became flesh and lived among us (Gal. 4:4; John 1:1, 12). Because He is the Creator, Jesus Christ has first place over all created things and holds them together by His power (Col. 1:17). Yet in the Incarnation, the One who always existed as God entered His own creation, was conceived in the womb of a virgin, and took upon Himself a human nature (Phil. 2:6–7). Poet Richard Crashaw captured the mystery of our Lord’s birth with these words: Welcome, all Wonders in one sight! / Eternity shut in a span. / Summer to winter, day in night, / Heaven in earth, and God in man.”
Everyone responds to Christmas…Some respond with:
1 – HOSTILITY – V.1-4
2 – APATHY – V.4-6
3 – WORSHIP – V.1-2, 7-12
A Christmas prayer:
- Lord Jesus, be the source of my joy
- Lord Jesus, be the center of my affections
- Lord Jesus, I offer you ________________________
Sunday December 12th 2021
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TITLE: The Holy & the Lowly TEXT: Isaiah 57:15 Our great need today… 1 – A RENEWED VISION OF GOD: TRANSCENDENT & HOLY – V.15A Paul Tripp – “Awe means that you will look at everything in your life through the lens of Gods existence and glory, and you will surrender all your life to his purpose , humbly recognizing that, when you do this, you are not offering what is yours to him but returning what he already owns back to him for his use.” A.W Tozer – “Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. She can never escape the self-disclosure of her witness concerning God.” 2 – A RIGHT VIEW OF SELF: BROKEN & LOWLY – V.15B
SERMON: DISTRACTION AND DEVOTION TEXT: Luke 10:38-42
LUKE 10:38-42 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Eight observations from this Story
Martha loved to serve
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
Mary loved to listen
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.
Martha was distracted with details
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. Mary was focused on Jesus. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. Martha was emotionally overwhelmed with her responsibilities. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
Your identity as a Christian is not found in what you do but rather it is in who you belong to. Remember that you are a child of the King and that you belong to Him. Remember that He loves you and that you are His.- Rev. Bill Lippman (SLIDE ON ITS OWN) Mary chose the most important thing. 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
The Lord is our portion Psalm 72:26- My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 119:57- The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words (SLIDE ON ITS OWN) Jesus cared about Martha and taught her. 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
Jesus reminded both Mary and Martha that His words will last forever. 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
“BROKEN BY HIS GLORY” Isaiah 6:1-8
You must see His Glory
You must feel the weight of His glory
You must be broken by His glory
Sin
Repentance
Reconciliation
You must respond to His Glory
Salvation
Surrender
Worship
Obedience
Service
So What!?
TITLE: At His Feet and Desperate TEXT: Mark 5:21-43 OUTLINE: God is my HELPER.. 1.) I must AKS (21-24) 2.) I must BELIEVE (24-34) 3.) I must NOT LOSE FAITH (37-39)
Text/title: Who is Like Our God! Acts 16:16-40
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Who is like our God…Who brings freedom out of slavery! (v16-18)
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Who is like our God…Who brings worship out of pain! (19-26)
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Who is like our God…Who brings life out of death! (27-40)
Worthy of Our Worship Mark 14:3-9 Introduction What we treasure occupies our hearts. Jesus warned uw that there is only room for one true treasure in our lives. Matthew 6:21-“where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The battle for our hearts is over whether Jesus is our true treasure. Today we are looking at Mark 14:3-9 and turning our attention to the town of Bethany before the Passover Big Idea: When Jesus becomes invaluable (priceless, precious, treasured) your worship of him will be incredible PRAY Context: 14:1-2 – 2 days before; CP and Scribes plot to kill Jesus 14:10 – plan to betray Jesus (Judas) READ 14:3 – woman celebrating Jesus at Simon the Leper’s house John 12:1-3 ON SCREEN – parallel story 6 days before Passover; Lazarus (raised), the disciples, Martha (serving), and Mary (the woman) “They gave a dinner for him there” - guest of honor, appreciation dinner Why? - John 11 – Lazarus resurrection (11:25 – I am the resurrection and the life; 11:43 – Lazarus come out). This house is full of joy, celebration, and love towards Jesus! The mood in this house is that Jesus is worthy of our worship . . . .He is worthy of … Extravagant Worship, 14:3-5 READ 14:3 What do we learn about her worship . . . It was Expensive – very costly Imported perfumed oil from India Street value is 300 denarii – worth over a year of wages – could have fed at least 300 families food for a day. Where did she get it from? Family heirloon passed down, dowry, did they all pitch in? We do know it is expensive! It was Sacrificial Not only very expensive but it cost her something. It was Excessive/Elaborate Poured it over his head Not unusual to anoint the head of the guest of honour (Psalm 23:5) (John 12) flows down to his feet; hair to wipe with oil There is a totality and completeness in this – from head to toe! No holding back – full out honor, celebration and worship of Jesus. It was Misunderstood/ Challenged/Condemned READ 14:4-5 Wasteful - Why was the ointment wasted like that? She is doing this to Jesus; wasted; indignantly (angry) Under the disguise of wisdom they express condemnation Almsgiving to the poor during Passover time They scolded her (snorted like horses at her) – What are you doing? Application When it comes to Jesus are you more like Mary or more like the disciples? Mary – full out, no holding back extravagant worship of Jesus Disciples – they don’t see worship or celebration but a lack of wisdom and waste. Examples: Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44) – she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. Worship?/Wisdom?/Waste Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-31); - Go sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. Worship?/Wisdom?/Waste? Adoniram Judson’s request to his Father in Law to marry Ann Hasseltine; 1812 would be married and then 2 weeks later off to India and then Burma Quote ON SCREEN – Worship?/Wisdom?/Waste? We need wisdom but there are times that we use “wisdom” as a disguise for our idols of security, significance, acceptance, love and meaning! THE QUESTION: Why aren’t more of us worshiping Jesus like Mary? Where does this extravagant worship come from?? All-Encompassing Worth, 14:6-8 BIG IDEA: When Jesus is invaluable our worship becomes incredible READ 14:6 Jesus rebukes his disciples, 14:6 Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? . . . Stop bothering her! Jesus reveals her worship as beautiful, 14:6 Wouldn’t you love to have Jesus say, you have done a beautiful thing to me? “Beautiful” – pure, noble, perfect, complete Jesus tells his disciples this is what you should be doing – don’t stop her What makes this so beautiful to Jesus? The cost of the sacrifice - pouring out this expensive oil on Jesus?? NO – it’s not the size of the cheque but it is her heart Her worship reveals that Jesus is her PRIORITY, READ 14:7 Jesus is not against ministry to the poor. - Luke 4:18 – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor; The Scriptures: God loves the poor and calls us to care for the poor Point is that Jesus is her priority – she has made me her priority Play on you always have you will not always have It is beautiful because Jesus is her priority – he is worth everything to her. That should not be too surprising: She had experienced the grace and mercy of Jesus in her own life. She a disciple of Jesus sat at his feet and listened to his teaching She loved Jesus and he loved her She had experienced the power of Jesus in the resurrection of her brother – when you see your dead brother walking out of a grave – it is going to bring great affection, thankfulness, and wonder. Yet not all disciples who experience the same things respond in the same way. Jesus is everything to her! He is her priority. This is what makes her worship beautiful. And it is beautiful because . . . Her worship was PREPARATORY, READ 14:8 Did she know? Not sure. Jesus recognizes what God is doing. Her act of anointing is God’s sovereign way of preparing him for what is about to happen next. Attributes her act as an act of preparation for his burial. It is a Gospel act: death, burial and ultimately resurrection Application: Many/Some – admire Jesus, appreciate Jesus, respect Jesus This does not lead to beautiful, extravagant worship. Our hearts have to be full of delight in, devotion and dedication to Jesus and that comes from his all-encompassing worth to us. REALITY CHECK – for some of us the good news of Jesus has become old news. We can’t let that happen. What happens in Mark 14-16, what really happened over 2,000 years ago changed everything. Where would /we be without Jesus? He rescued us/me from . . . Judgement – Romans 3:23 – all have sinned …we all disobey God, live for ourselves and our glory and not God’s. There is none that are righteous. God’s holiness demands judgment – God saves sinners; Jesus took my place – died on the cross and on took on God’s judgment – my Lets rejudgment. Restlessness – no one is righteous – he rescued me from trying to earn God’s favour and acceptance. There is nothing I can do for God to love me more or love me less. By grace through faith. Lostness – I am convinced that without Jesus I would be living a life addicted to feeling good and living for the moment . . . my heart on its own Jesus saved us/me to New life – because I am in Christ and he is in me I am able, in his power in my life, to say no to ungodliness Eternal Family – Father who loves me, protects, provides, guides, is good to me; brothers and sisters from every nation by grace through faith Hope – Meaning and Purpose – live on mission for him Let it be known that in Christ alone my joy is found! She has done what she could. , 14:8 No hesitation just a complete and total response in her life . . . she looks around and grabs the one thing that she believes will express to Jesus how much she loves him! What about us? What about you? Are we doing what we could in worship? In response to the all encompassing worth of Jesus are we worshiping Jesus extravagantly? Is our worship beautiful. What can you do? The one thing that you can give in response to Jesus? Romans 12:1-2 (ON SCREEN) – our alabastar flask - ourselves Parents – offer your kids as an act of worship to God Students – offer your dreams of the future to seek first God’s Kingdom . . . to go and make disciples of all people groups Retired – Live your days for the Kingdom of God This leads to . . . An Enduring Witness, READ 14:9 Jesus loves this extravagant/beautiful worship so much so that he memorializes her worship.(WOW!) Jesus loves extravagant worship of him that responds to the all-encompassing worth of Jesus. Conclusion: No holding back because when Jesus is invaluable our worship becomes incredible Some of us – like the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2 – abandoned the love that they had at first. YES – good works, orthodox in doctrine - testing false teachers, persevering – patient endurance. But there was no extravagant worship of Jesus because they had lost the all encompassing worth of Jesus – Jesus warns us “repent”! Lord help us to repent and rejoice along with all the saints in the throne room of heaven where the worship of Jesus is eternally extravagant. Sermon Title – Worthy of Our Worship Text – Mark 14:3-9
Slide One When Jesus becomes invaluable your worship of him will be incredible!
Slide Two Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound[a]of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:1-3 Slide Three (Main Point #1) Extravagant Worship, Mark 14:3-5
Slide Four I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?” – worship? Wise? Adonirum Judson
Slide Five (Main Point #2) All-encompassing Worth, Mark 14:6-8
Slide Six I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect Romans 12:1-2 Slide Seven (Main Point #3) Enduring Witness, Mark 14:9
Bring them here to Me! Matthew 14:13-21
Intro:
JESUS is our SUFFICIENCY! JESUS is therefore our SATISFACTION! JESUS is our SUBSTANCE!
PSALM 84
LEARNING FROM OUR LONGING
the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance.
1 Chronicles 9:19
Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
2 Chronicles 20:18–19
Longing for God’s PRESENCE
You may have noticed that the books you really love are bound together by a secret thread. You know very well what is the common quality that makes you love them, though you cannot put it into words… Again, you have stood before some landscape, which seems to embody what you have been looking for all of your life…
All the things that have ever deeply possessed your soul have been but hints of it – tantalizing glimpses, promises never quite fulfilled, echoes that died away just as they caught your ear. But if it should ever really become manifest – if there ever came an echo that did not die away but swelled into the sound itself- you would know it. Beyond all possibility of doubt you would say, ‘Here at last is the thing I was made for...’
It is the secret signature of each soul, the incommunicable and unappeasable want, the thing we desired before we met our wives or made our friends or chose our work, and which we shall still desire on our deathbeds, when the mind no longer knows wife or friend or work…All your life an unattainable ecstasy has hovered just beyond the grasp of your consciousness. (CS LEWIS)
[Nest pics]
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You..”
(Augustine, Confessions)
Relying on God’s STRENGTH
Trusting in God’s GOODNESS
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Ephesians 2:22
...In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Revelation 21:3
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately and forever. O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. (AW TOZER)
Growing Up and Working Properly Ephesians 4:15-16
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Every part of the body needs to keep growing. Am I growing? (vs 15)
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Every part of the body needs to keep working. Am I working properly? (vs 16)
July 18th 2021 (3rd in Re-Turn series after Earl) 2 Chronicles 20:1-23 Return Requires RELIANCE PRAY Thank you for gathering us, thank you for loving us and giving us your son and your word that we may know you. This morning would you help us have a proper understanding of our need for you. Forgive us for self reliance and not trusting you, help us to RELY on you... and RETURN to how you want us to live both FOR and WITH you...
When God tries to get your attention, HE ALWAYS has a good reason. 2 Chron-20 I haven’t been able to stop thinking through this YEAR how I don’t want to miss whatever it is the Lord is trying to teach me (and us)... and not just because I don’t want to have to go through a nother wave of the class... I want whatever it is that God wants for me. Are you like that, would you agree... if sovereign, almighty, loving, merciful and gracious God has something for you, do you want it? we should -The problem is we get focused on the NOW and the “BACK TO NORMAL” we forget that the best it ever was, all the good or plenty, all the freedom and abundance was always only ever GRACIOUSLY by God’s design... like it or not we are reliant! -For the nation of Israel God works in exile, captivity, he works in our lives through difficult circumstances, job loss, illness, relational breakdown, pandemic to help us more accurately see how RELIANT we are on HIM!... All that it was, was because of HIM for Israel and so for us, SO like them RETURNING REQUIRES RELIANCE... Maybe you are thinking, I know I am reliant!! It’s desperate... but maybe like me so often, you need a reminder of how IN NEED we really are & how then we should live! This is our 3rd week in our RE-TURN series. In this series we are looking at KINGS and EVENTS from 2 Chronicles, that were recorded for GOD’S PEOPLE IN EXILE: (((1&2 Kings-How did we get here 1&2 Chronicles- Can we restore what we had?))) So what are we looking to RETURN to? Are we looking to get life back to all that we provided and produced... cause apart from GOD’s GRACE that was nothing The lesson here is about: FULL RELIANCE on GOD... Israel ((LIKE US)) needed God’s PROVISION and for Him to PRODUCE... All the Blessings we want, all the end of restrictions, all the restoration of relationships, provision of work, physical healing, purpose in life, SALVATION FOR A LOVED ONE, emotional peace.. IT IS and was ALWAYS and ONLY FOUND IN THE LORD. If that is what we want, then RELIANCE on the one who can provide & produce is Required & Jehoshaphat is our example Read along with me vs.1-2-Now you might be thinking.. OT Narrative, sounds about right. But for Jehoshaphat and Judah this is a surprise. For starters Jehospaphat had been doing a good job trying to get rid of idol worship, pointing the nation to God, he had an alliance with the King of Israel (remember the kingdom is divided) and that guy was not good and God wasn’t pleased with that. But he had recently been promoting justice, putting in good government and judges and promoting worship ... Now all of a sudden this Coalition from across the Jordan valley is coming in fast and ready to battle. (((MAP- they got real close real fast, so no time to prep 35iskm away))) Notice this isn’t a small COALITION vs.2 a great multitude, that’s the Bible’s way of emphasizing they had NUMERICALLY OVERWHELMING SUPERIORITY -This is the stage for us to learn 3 important PRINCIPLES of RELYING on GOD. vs.3-4 Here is the first practice that RELYING on GOD requires... we must 1.) SEEK THE LORD (vs.3-4) hopefully you can see that all 3 times in these 2 verses Exp. SEEK THE LORD.. Everything has just changed, over night, and it’s bad -Jehoshaphat’s reaction is a PERFECT EXAMPLE for us!.. Now it says he was afraid, which is understandable, but he doesn’t stay in this place of worry and fear and anxiety. It says He set his face to seek the Lord, There is a seriousness in his pursuit of divine help... PAUSE: is that what we do when trouble comes? He seeks: “the LORD” title there, all caps, is the word Yahweh- which reminds original readers of who He is seeking specifically The Promise keeping God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... that is who Jehoshaphat, in this moment where God has made his DEPENDANCE very clear... that is who he is seeking to RELY ON. Now he proclaims this immediate fast throughout all of Judah (vs.13 tells us this even involved kids) EVERYONE is to SEEK THE LORD, that is why it’s recorded 2 more times in vs.4, incase we weren’t sure what they were doing when trouble came, In chp.19 they had made an alliance with another king instead of going straight to the Lord, the other king didn’t want to hear from the Lord, he was punished, Jehoshaphat was spared, he is not risking anything this time around they were seeking the Lord to Rely on Him Illus. What a great example for all of us “To humble oneself before God in the face of insurmountable odds humanly speaking and to trust him fully for deliverance are the essence of biblical faith” Andrew E. HIll Jehoshaphat’s reaction was right: PROBLEM--->SEEK THE LORD What is your reaction time like when it comes to seeking the Lord? I am one of these people when the gas light comes on in my car to tell me it is low, I immediately am looking for a gas station, no risking it. Sadly I am often quicker to respond to get gas for my car for something that might be a problem... then I am to get on my knees, call out to God, SEEK THE LORD for help when difficulty, challenge, trial, fear or worry enter my life. App. It’s important we don’t miss the urgency and the desperation Jehoshaphat shows us in his pursuit of the Lord here. If we are going to SEEK THE LORD and that word seek=desire, search, beg of the Lord... It can’t be something that we kind of do when we remember. Relying on the Lord requires FOCUSED: sincerity, determination to receive favor, blessing and help from GOD... Jehoshaphat wants to make sure God is with Him How do we do that? Definitely by SEEK HIM IN HIS WORD know who He is and how he works and learn what He wants us to know about Him. SEEK HIM IN PRAYER Jehoshaphat will show us this more in a minute, but making our needs known to God, calling out to Him, laying our worries before Him and “inquiring of the Lord” all help us RELY ON HIM, NOT US You can’t seek the Lord without His WORD and PRAYER- key to relying What is the GREAT MULTITUDE, coming at you today? Is it temptation to sin, is it fear of the world’s pressures on your kids, is it worrying about your job, your marriage, your health, the health of a loved one, is it anxiety for our country and the political climate of the world right now? The only source of HELP is the LORD, the Promise keeping God of Abraham, Isaic and Jacob, who loved us enough to send His son even while we were still sinners to make a way that we may be saved... We are reliant on God, if we are to live how HE wants us to, we must recognise our RELIANCE & HH SEEK THE LORD
So vs.5 a National prayer meeting is healed and the King prays, vs.6-12 This leads us to the second practice Required for us to Return to Relying on the Lord: 2.) DEPEND ON THE LORD (vs.5-12) This is a prayer of DEPENDENCE Exp. Our requests of God reveal our helplessness and display our faith in the one who is always able- What we ask of God demonstrates what we believe about God! So Jehoshaphat prays, notice some things about His prayer, that help us see what HE BELIEVES about GOD and show us how he is depending on the Lord. In vs. 6 and 7 Jehoshephat asks rhetorical question that emphasize the certainty of these things, see them: He is God of their fathers (faithful for generations) He is GOD in Heaven, in His hand are power and might and none is able to withstand... that’s just vs6 7-11 Jehoshaphat reminds God of His faithfulness and their desire to honor God and His promise to care for His people by repeating the idea from ch.6 when solomon dedicated the temple you will hear and you will save, vs.10-11- he essentially prays BUT GOD... this TRANS JORDAN COALITION this great horde returns good with evil and has now come to destroy us... Which leads us to the display of dependence, a beautiful acknowledgment of RELIANCE in vs.12 we are powerless against this great hoarder that is coming against us. We do now know what to do, but our eyes are on you I love the honesty and the accuracy. Jehoshaphat’s self awareness of his and the nation’s ability is on display... They need SUPERNATURAL / DIVINE intervention... they are FULLY dependent! The enemy is a day’s journey away... there is nothing they can do but DEPEND Illus. We know dependence, our kids are dependent on us, we are dependent on income, maybe you are dependent on someone specific to help you... maybe you have an unhealthy dependency on something... But all those things can be lived without... We can’t LIVE / SURVIVE, without the Lord CLOSEST: illustration I can think of is rock climbing when I was younger and you fall and you are dependent on that rope... but even that can frey or break or be done wrong... BUT GOD... Well “He is God in heaven, he rules over all the kingdoms and peoples of the earth, in His hand are power and might and there is no problem to great for Him HE is RELIABLE App. Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Jehoshaphat knows this & so declares to God his position and need The number one enemy to reliance and dependence is PRIDE and a false sense of independence. The problem is we think: our strength, wisdom, might, creativity, drive, ability will be enough and if not, then we might look to God. But that means we aren’t RELYING on the Lord, we aren’t exercising faith, we aren’t allowing the Lord to move, lead or love us... as we should and need Him to. We need to pray verse 12, words like Psalm 16:1 need to come from us all the time Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. Not in SELF, in YOU GOD I DEPEND and RELY... So if Our requests of God reveal our helplessness and display our faith in the one who is always able-What does your/ my prayer life say about our reliance on God? We all have a great hoard coming against us, but are we learning not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. as Philippians 4:6 says?We need to TALK TO GOD and declare our DEPENDANCE and express OUT LOUD to ourselves and to God our RELIANCE... exercise our faith Jehoshaphat didn’t know what to do, but His eyes were on the Lord, are ours? or do we need to confess our sinful desire of independence and declare to God... I NEED YOU, I depend on you oh Lord...Psalm 121:1–2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. HH Jehoshaphat shows us Relying on the Lord requires us to fully Depend on the Lord
vs.13, Meanwhile... this national prayer meeting is going on and the Lord brings a prophet, vs.15-17 Now I don’t know about you, but that sounds AWESOME: Don’t be afraid x2, the battle is not yours but the Lord’s, stand firm, The Lord will be with you! Oh and here is the time and location the Lord will do this. Listen: The assurance of God’s presence is more than a theological statement, it’s a source of strength. The Lord is with you friend... That should grow faith, confidence in the one you RELY on... here is what we are to do....3.) STAND FIRM IN THE LORD (vs.13-23) Exp. God hasn’t asked them to do anything but have faith and STAND/WAIT The Battle is the Lord’s, HE IS WITH THEM! JUST Stand Firm in the Lord Psalm 147:10–11 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. This is king JO-& Judah!! -vs.18-19 they worship the Lord for HIS PROMISE PRESENCE with them -20- Jehoshaphat is calling on the people to have faith in God and you will find Him to be faithful. That is for us to... we need to trust HIM, STAND FIRM, don’t run, don't’ look for other help, but TRUST the LORD WAR CRY TIME...vs.21 This is full reliance, this is complete Dependance, this is STANDING in the LORD in FAITH, their secret weapon is worship! vs-22-23 This is amazing, the BATTLE BELONGS to the LORD, He is in control and He set an AMBUSH of INFIGHTING, that led to total self anilaition for this coalition army. Jehoshaphat and Judah only had to RELY on the LORD... have faith, the Lord is faithful, the Lord is always faithful for those who rely on Him Illus. Really the only other story like this is ripture is in Exodus 14, Moses has the nation of Israel at the edge of the red sea, Egypt is coming in fast Exodus 14:13–14 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” App. This is how God’s people fight battles, this is how we face trials, difficulties, worries, temptation, hostility, sickness, sadness, humanly impossible odds... -We STAND FIRM in FAITH, SEEKING THE LORD, DEPENDING ON HIM... we rely on Him and worship Him...highlight in vs.5&17 the battle is not yours but God’s... the Lord will be with you This is why WORSHIP is so key for believers in trials, look at what they sing in vs.21... They remind themselves of God’s character which echos words of David and Solomon from 1Chr16 and 2Chr5... Trusting God, STANDING FIRM in FAITH in Him doesn’t mean doing nothing, RELIANCE is hard to do. Our sinful flesh tries to tell us to intervene, but it is the Lord we need to intervene! So we worship to remind ourselves and each other of who THE LORD is who is with us and fighting for us. Now the Lord doesn’t always swoop in and make perfect right away or even this side of heaven... every difficulty... but that doesn’t change how we are to view Him, worship Him, depend on Him and seek Him Our most impossible problem is just an example to remind us of HIS VICTORIUS power over our ultimate problem of SIN... and Jesus won that battle for us! if we have put our faith in HIM...and you can. He battled, we just BELIEVE The winds of discouragement, the waves of sin, the crush of difficulty and heart break may be overwhelming... but the LORD is what we need, Psalm 37:7a says Be still before the Lord And wait patiently for Him And like the nation of Israel, while we wait, while we STAND FIRM IN THE LORD... We worship Him, we pray to Him... we strengthen ourselves with the TRUTH of HH HIM, so we can Stand firm in the Lord
GOD IS ABLE, GOD IS ALWAYS__RELIABLE... we need to rely on Him. Today maybe you need to: -Confess your reliance by actively seeking the Lord: Word & Prayer -Be reliant by depending on the Lord in Prayer: not resting on your self -Wait in faith, standing firm in the LORD: and worship Him, look to Him, remind yourself of Him... that He will take care of you That we may return to know and live the RELIANT LIFE He has for us... PRAY: great hordes coming / Seek you/ depend on you/ stand firm... in the hope
TITLE: CHRIST IN US, THE HOPE OF GLORY TEXT: COL 1:27-29 1) CHRIST IS IN YOU (V27)
Tim Keller quote: In Matthew 27:51 we are told that the moment Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom as if by two mighty hands from above. At his death Jesus dismantled the old temple, and at his resurrection he established the new one. Now when we unite with the risen Christ by faith, through the Holy Spirit, the Shekinah glory presence of God that had dwelled behind the veil, inaccessibly, is now available to us. And what this means for the church is remarkable. It means that a Christian is not primarily a nice person who subscribes to certain beliefs and codes. Christianity is instead a radical regeneration of the heart and a reorientation of the life. We are regenerated when we believe (John 3:3), because now the same divine presence that once shook mountains, terrified people, and killed living things on contact lives in us. That means that we who believe in Jesus are now temples in which the Holy Spirit of God dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16). It means that being a Christian gives us access to the presence of God through prayer. Moses’s unrealized yearning to see the light of God’s glory and face (Exodus 33:18) is now our privilege (John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6). --
2) CHRIST IN YOU IS THE HOPE OF GLORY (V27) 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col 3:3-4 -- Elizabeth Elliot quote: “God came down and lived in this same world as a man. He showed us how to live in this world, subject to its vicissitudes and necessities, that we might be changed—not into an angel or a storybook princess, not wafted into another world, but changed into saints in this world. The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” 3) SO TOIL IN PROCLAIMING CHRIST (V28-29)
IMPLICATION #1: PROCLAIM CHRIST IMPLICATION #2: TOIL WITH CHRIST’S POWER
BIBLICAL BALANCE: WE PROVIDE THE TOIL GOD PROVIDES THE POWER
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure Gives unto each day what He deems best, Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest. Lina Sandell
Truly Transformed // Rom 12:2 // Mike Armstrong // 9.26.21 // T-WEST
I can truly be transformed when I… 1. Determine the ways I’ve conformed to this world (v.2a) 2. Renew what I think about and actually believe (v.2b) 3. Experience that God’s will really is the best thing ever (v.2c)
Rom 12. Have u ever gotten 2 the place in your life where u just knew — something’s gotta change here [diet/exercise — sin that’s become a runaway train — anxiety — spiritual discipline] — all of us face these types of moments where it hits us that, ‘man, I need 2 get this thing fixed/growth — I need 2 b transformed.’
Well 2day we’re gonna explore how 2 do that & do it well/biblically. How do u & I actually change? Practically speaking, how do we grow in an area that’s been a problem — what’s our responsibility & what’s the Lord’s responsibility in this process? How can we get 2 a place where we truly live/function as God intends us 2 — w/ joy/gratitude/peace/confidence in the Lord — & out of a strong realization of the identity he’s given us as believers?
So what we’re gonna do here is look at Rom 12:2 — Now it’s just 1 v but it’s a very helpful 1 b/c it actually tells us quite a lot about this idea of transformation — READ & PRAY
I can truly b transformed when I… 1. Determine the ways I’ve conformed 2 this world. This is the 1st step 2 transformation — if u & I really wanna change, then we need 2 b properly aware of what the problem is exactly — v.2a: Do not b conformed 2 this world — conformed means “in compliance w/ (rules/standards/laws)“ — meaning here that the world has its ways of thinking/beliefs/behaving/driven by certain desires that r out of line w/ how Christ-followers r 2 think//believe/behave/& even the desires we’re 2 have inwardly — simply put — the world’s way of doing things is contrary 2 God’s ways & as believers we’re not 2 become like/conform 2 that. Now in the original language that word conformed carries w/ it the sense that when u conform 2 something, an inner change has occurred — which makes sense — what we do/how we act/behave on the outside is never just an external thing — it always flows from what’s going on inside (heart/mind) [going 2 your favorite coffee shop every day…] — what we do flows from what we think/believe.
So think about it like this — if u wanna b transformed in the area of anger/sexual immorality/fear/addiction/bad eating habits/watching too much TV — the issue is not just the external act of giving in2/doing those things outwardly — the issue is that somewhere inside you’ve conformed 2 this world in your thinking/beliefs/desires — & out from those inner thoughts/beliefs/desires you’ve chosen 2 act/live outwardly in world-conforming ways, instead of God-conforming ways — which r always best.
So as u consider where you’re at spiritually this wk, start thinking carefully & determining the ways you’ve conformed 2 this world — & while you’ll likely come up those outward issues like gossip — impatience w/ my kids — coldness 2wards my spouse — (outward actions) — really start 2 think about what’s going on inside — the thoughts/beliefs/desires behind those actions — cuz that’s where the root of these issues r found. It takes some careful thought 2 determine what those things r — cuz remember — how u & I r conformed 2 this world begins internally — in what we think/believe/desire — we discover where those things r off/out of line w/ what’s true/good/right in God’s eyes, then we can attack the problem at the root & begin 2 see transformation begin 2 happen outwardly in how we actually live — Rom 8:6: 4 2 set the mind on the flesh is death, but 2 set the mind on the Spirit is life & peace. Now all this sets us up 4 this next thing:
I can truly b transformed when I… 2. Renew what I think about & actually believe. So if the 1st step 2 transformation is determining what’s biblically off about our thinking/beliefs/desires — then the 2nd step is 2 get those thoughts/beliefs/desires set on the right things — that’s what this is getting at, v.2b: but b transformed by the renewal of your mind — notice the responsibility placed on us in this v — we’ve been tasked by God 2 put 4th the effort required 2 ensure that our minds get renewed — there’s an action there that u & I r 2 engage in — now along w/ that the HS enables/brings in2 effect the transformation we’re working 2wards — it’s us & the Lord engaged in the process 2gether (divine-human cooperative) — that’s what it means 2 b in a relationship w/ God — 2 parties at work, w/ grace making it happen. So keep in mind here that it’s not just pray & then sit back passively & expect God 2 do all the work of transformation. Nor is transformation some sort of self-help endeavour where u do all the work by sheer exertion in your own strength.
So what does the effort we put 4th look like? What we’re shown here is that being transformed happens as our minds r renewed — meaning that it’s crucial that u & I learn 2 think about & make the choice 2 believe & then act upon what is actually true/good — a couple vs that I’ve found immensely helpful: Phil 4:8-9: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What u have learned & received & heard & seen in me—practice these things, & the God of peace will b w/ u. Rom 6:11: So u also must consider (think carefully) yourselves dead 2 sin & alive 2 God in CJ. Eph 4:22-23: 2 put off your old self, which belongs 2 your former manner of life & is corrupt thru deceitful desires, & 2 b renewed in the spirit of your minds. So u see there the critical importance placed on thinking about what is actually true — y do we need 2 do that? Well b/c u & I have the unfortunate tendency of thinking about & believing things that aren’t actually true — we believe a shocking amount of lies — let me give u a few eg — ‘if I don’t look attractive I’ll never have true value or b worth loving’ — wrong — ‘this crisis I’m in will leave me permanently destroyed & beyond repair’ — incorrect — ’dating an unsaved person isn’t that big a deal & probably won’t have any serious consequences’ — false — ‘this thing I’ve been praying 4 hasn’t gone the way I’d like, so it must mean that God isn’t truly good or care about my well-being’ — once again, not true — 2 b transformed by the renewal of your mind means 2 learn 2 consciously/intentionally think about & actually choose 2 believe what is true instead — not giving in2 what r just straight up lies.
Now u might b thinking, ‘man, I’ve been a Christian 4 a long time — & I’ve read all these vs b4 — I already know the truth — I get it’ — do u? Cuz my push-back 2 that would b that we tend 2 “know truth” in a very surfacy/head-knowledge type way — but in many cases it doesn’t go deeper than that — where it genuinely governs our hearts & directs our emotions & transforms our desires & leads 2 practically behaving/living in ways that align w/ God's design/will.
Listen, I’m excited 4 u as u wade in2 some of these things more deeply — cuz this has been so good 4 me — thru my times w/ the Lord & some timely conversations w/ good friends that deep down I believe a lot of lies & those lies gotta go — I need 2 replace them w/ what’s true/pure/lovely — I’ve gotta b transformed by the renewal of my mind by thinking about & actually choosing 2 believe God’s truth instead. & again, I think this is exciting b/c it’s very doable — this transformation is not out of reach 4 any of us — remember — it’s 1st determining the lies I believe that have me conforming 2 the world’s ways — then it’s renewing my thinking & my deep down beliefs so that they’re anchored 2 the truth of Scripture — so that I can then discover the awesomeness of what living according 2 God’s will is like — that’s really the last thing here:
I can truly b transformed when I… 3. Experience that God’s will really is the best thing ever. v.2c: Do not b conformed 2 this world, but b transformed by the renewal of your mind — k we’ve looked at that, now this — that by testing u may discern what is the will of God, what is good & acceptable & perfect. Now I think the English translation of this part of the sentence here is a touch clunky — the original language (GK) conveys the idea that as u & I r transformed by the renewal of our minds, the will of God — which itself is good & acceptable & perfect — becomes something we experience in our lives as the greatest thing ever — that’s what’s meant when it says by testing u may discern — as our minds r renewed in the truth, we’ll find/discern, thru experience/testing, that God’s will really is superior — far better than the world’s ways/lies, which we seem 2 constantly get sucked in2 thinking is best & then end up pursuing.
So if u think about it — this is such a massive part of getting 2 the place of truly being transformed in those areas we know need changing — it’s experiencing/getting a taste of how awesome God’s will is — it’s the best — here’s how J.A. Witmer puts it: “As a Christian is transformed in his mind & is made more like Christ, he comes 2 approve & desire God’s will, not his own will 4 his life. Then he discovers that God’s will is what is good 4 him, & that it pleases God, & is complete in every way. It is all he needs. But only by being renewed spiritually can a believer ascertain, do, & enjoy the will of God.”
Being truly transformed isn’t just about ridding ourselves of poor thinking or ceasing 2 do the “bad”/“wrong” things anymore (sin-avoidance mode) — it’s about also experiencing the goodness of believing what’s true deep down now & having those beliefs catapult us w/ joy in2 actually living according 2 God’s will 4 our lives, which is far better than any other path we could choose — it truly is the best way 2 live life.
Like, imagine not being an emotionally anxious train wreck all the time b/c u now live out of a proper understanding of your Gospel identity — which is God’s will — & now u experience that peace that surpasses understanding — imagine being free from the chains of anger b/c u actually believe deep down that God is Sovereign & in control of your life which is allowing u 2 release that sinful/anger-producing desire 4 control — or, imagine the healing that would happen 2 our marriages when our minds have been renewed/transformed by the truth that God is the ultimate 1 who satisfies us & gives us that inner security, instead of desperately trying 2 find that ultimate security in a spouse, but b/c they’re far from perfect we’re just left feeling insecure/disappointed — or imagine what life/ministry would b like if we lived as people who truly believed the Gospel deep down — that we’re 4given, made new & loved by God thru JC.
If you’re not a Christian, that’s what’s available 2 u right now… [GOSPEL] — now just imagine how satisfied we’d all b, grateful, bold, loving & effective in the Lord’s hands if we really believed all this stuff? — it’s what God wants u & I 2 experience — that’s his will — & it’s as truth is applied & our minds r renewed — nothing compares — it really is the best thing ever.
Listen, I wanna pray 4 us & invite u 2 begin praying these things 4 yourselves & 4 your family/church/community this wk… PRAY
Return to Prosperity 2 Chronicles 26:1-23
So far, we’ve taken looks at three kings… Solomon, Asa, and then last week Jehoshaphat. And now this week, a fourth king, Uzziah. • If Solomon was the king who built the wealth, and Asa and Jehoshaphat the ones who secured the borders, Uzziah is the king who really gets to enjoy the wealth.
Under Uzziah’s reign Judah reaches enormous levels of wealth and prosperity…almost like nothing seen before.
So I’ve been praying that as we look at these words…at this man Uzziah…that his life will give us some helpful lessons in what real prosperity looks like, and how to get it. But, it’s one thing to be prosperous…another thing entirely to KEEP it.
Uzziah is the king, the man, at a time when it was sweet to be a king. He’s the one who really enjoys the prosperity…but, the prosperity is going to burn him to the ground.
And there are lessons for us, that warn us…and ones that encourage. [PAUSE] But we’ll get to that in a second…
Let’s look at this story, and let’s see more. 2 Chronicles 26:1… And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
Ok, so this is introductory stuff…let me explain a bit… Uzziah, is made king at 16 years old after his father, Amaziah dies…normal succession stuff… But what is exceptional, for any king, is that he would reign for 52 years!
A couple more things are helpful to see… Mention of the city Eloth in v2. That’s a port city on the gulf of Aqaba – why is that important? Port city – means water – means ships – means trade – wait for it…means $$$$$ Translation: Uzziah is taking the nation UP!
See this also…more importantly… v5… He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper. Zechariah (not the guy who wrote the book of the Bible…someone else, same name) instructs him in the fear of the Lord…which is a good thing…because he’s just eligible for his G2! Any 16-years old here? Wow, right?! I’m sure most 10th graders can do a great job as a king…maturity is rock solid in place. But just in case, he’s got help. BTW. How amazing to be raised this way…in the fear of the Lord…what a starting place…
But notice…this results in Uzziah seeking the Lord…and this terrific statement: as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper That last word…v5…prosper…you wanna hear something neat about that word? In the Hebrew, it carries with it the idea of forced entry. In other words, any would-be obstacles in Uzziah’s path to success, the LORD would kick down the doors. The Lord is battering down the walls of any opposition to his man, Uzziah.
Modern day battering rams are small [SLIDE]…
The hand of the Lord with you…now that’s some kind of Prosperity… Here’s the first point of today’s message: When it comes to prosperity, we must remember… 1. Prosperity comes from the Lord (v6-15) The Lord chooses to blow down any walls that stood in Uzziah’s way… Let’s look the next few verses and see what the Lord does…v6 6 [Uzziah] went out and made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. I won’t do the map thing for you this time, but that’s South, West, and Eastern borders… Battles…border security…we are safe…and we will be safe… 9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them. Those are battlements, defensive measures…Now that we’re secured, let’s develop! 10 And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. Now my people will be safe, and fed well…now let’s raise an army… 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war…v1212 The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. Manpower in place, now we need weapons… 14 And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. Maybe even battering rams… Uzziah has developed the nation into a dangerous, and prosperous country. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.
That’s a success story. That’s a story of prosperity. Everything you need:
Wars won, Battlements built, Agricultural development, Armies raised, Weapons tech.
Bookending this success story…YOU SAW IT… …God made him prosper (v5) …for he was marvelously helped… (v15)
This is why you succeeded, Uzziah. This is why you’re strong, Uzziah. This is why you are prosperous, Uzziah…because the LORD kicked down the doors for you. Uzziah had all that he had, because of Someone else’s effort. In some ways we see this rather obviously in the world around us… It’s a very different thing to be born into wealth, and actually earn the wealth. Sometimes the family is blind to how good they have it, because they’ve nothing else. They were born on 3rd base, and sometimes they brag like they hit a triple.
They have all that they have, because of Someone else’s effort. But once we add the Lord to the picture, this blindness becomes true of us all. What do you have today? What’s in your life now? Wealth, health, family, career, home, cars, investments, clothing, skills, brains…a heart that is actually beating.
Can I ask you this question? Name 1 good thing you have that wasn’t given to you by God? Here’s what I came up with…on the screen for you [NO SLIDE, BLACK SCREEN] I know how this works though: • But I worked hard for what I have! I went through school, I put the investment, I made the risks, I worked the late hours… • I lifted the weight… I was dedicated when other weren’t… I figured it out, when others didn’t. • I was disciplined…I get some credit, right?
BUT …but how did you have the strength? How did you have the mind? Did you choose to be born where you were born? And when you were born? Did you choose to have the brains you have, the height you have, the muscle density you have, the gender you have, the skin color, the culture, the parents you have? Who beat your heart, and filled your lungs, while you used the body you didn’t make, with the mind you didn’t design, in the country you didn’t choose? WHO THEN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PROSPERITY? WHO THEN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE? The apostle Paul hits this truth to the rich, cosmopolitan Corinthians…[SLIDE] What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Cor. 4:7)
Understand this, Prosperity comes from the Lord. If there’s boasting, it belongs to the Lord.
Earlier in the Old Testament, even before the ransomed Israelites from Egypt put their first sandal into the Promised Land, the Lord warns them… The Lord, who smashes the global superpower of the day, who plunders Egypt and delivers his once enslaved people, by the singular power of his hands…he warns his people…that time will pass…and they may forget all he’s done for them… [SLIDE] "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. 17 Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' (Deut. 8:11-17) The Lord says to them, “Do not forget, that your prosperity comes from ME!” “I am the source…don’t think for a second that where you are is anything but because of my kindness and generosity to you.” “DO NOT THINK THAT IT’S BECAUSE OF YOU.”
But they forgot. Just like Uzziah forgot. Just like We forget.
2 Chronicles 26:16… [SLOWLY]16 But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. Uzziah became strong. Life was going really well. And then his heart started to lie to him. His heart told him that he, Uzziah, was the reason why he was so successful. Literally, his heart became high…He looked out at what he had done… He had won the wars, he had built the battlements, he built the army, and grew the crops. He had the cars, the cottage, the money, the success. He had the followers, he had the fans, He had the fame of nations. He had all the honor that could be given… But it wasn’t enough. He wanted more… But he would lose the most important thing, he could lose. Look what he did v16… Watch where his heart takes him… For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. Wait what? To our eyes, this looks like the king walked into the temple and turned on the aromatherapy machine. What’s the big deal?
The offering of “incense” was explicitly a priestly role. This is not in a King’s job description. The incense symbolized the appeasing of divine wrath and justice and symbolized his presence.
On rare occasions, Kings may make provision for such offerings, but taking on a priestly role was forbidden, and not the way to gain “honor from the Lord God.”
In fact, the Old Testament was filled with occasions, where the offering of sacrifices was treated with disrespect with disastrous consequences!! Stories Uzziah would have grown up with! Think Saul, or the Sons of Korah, or Aaron’s sons, or Eli’s children…
But here’s Uzziah, thinking he can do whatever he wants! With all he’s accomplished, it’s not enough. He wants more. He’s treating the sacred with profanity, he’s making what’s holy into something common. He’s doing what he wants to do regardless of what God has said. MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE… His pride leads him to destruction…(Pr 16:18) The priests understand the gravity of what’s going on…and they rush to stop this! They rush to stop the king…v17… 17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor, 18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God." These brave priests stand against the man…THE MAN of the nation… The man who can do anything is being told he can’t do something… Confronted, Uzziah has a decision to make: get out, or get mad. He chooses poorly. v19… 19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and [Uzziah] himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him. Immediately he’s judged. Immediately leprosy appears on his forehead. No denying you’ve got it. It’s right there in the center of your face. A sign of judgment…to everyone for the rest of his life. It startles the priests, and the king, and they all run out. This is a panicked fleeing from the scene. Like a lightning bolt on a soccer field, it’s a wakeup call, and they run because they know it can get much worse.
Now watch this…for all his prosperity…for everything he’s accomplished… The man who wanted MORE, MORE, MORE… the Bible tells us that now Uzziah has lost the greatest thing he had…v21… 21 And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.
v21 records three losses, 1. He lost his house. He had to live alone. 2. He lost his position. Now his son Jotham becomes the public figure of the monarchy… And worst of all… 3. He lost access to the presence of the Lord in his life.
Still got the borders, the troops, the money, the weapons… but he’s lost access to the presence of the LORD. He’s lost the real prosperity in his life. And this is the second thing I’ll say… When it comes to prosperity, we must remember… 2. The LORD, Himself, is the Highest Treasure (v16-20) Uzziah’s pride took hold. His heart was lifted high. All the accomplishments, all the battles won, all the wealth, all the power…everything that God had broken down doors for the king to receive…all the prosperity…Uzziah takes and says, LOOK AT WHAT I’VE DONE!
All of that leads his heart to forget the Lord.
Does your first name have a meaning? Uzziah’s name meant, The Lord is my strength. But he didn’t believe that anymore. He believed that Uzziah is Uzziah’s strength.
And in a moment, he became one of the poorest men in his great kingdom.
Here’s the thing though…Uzziah knew what he lost. We don’t have much of the story, but we know he fled when the leprosy appeared…Lesson learned! And there’s good indication to believe there was repentance. The writer assesses his life as one of the good kings in the end, after all. Uzziah knew what he lost.
Here's my fear: That we may be in the same place, but unlike Uzziah…we don’t realize it. They’re lepers distanced from the presence of God, and they don’t even know it!
With hearts lifted up. Taking credit for what was given to us. Never satisfied, hearts are wanting more, more, more. And not knowing that we are living impoverished lives… • Prayer life is weak, and ineffectual…is God even there? • Time in the Word is nil…just opening it on Sundays…if even. • No community with other believers…no thanksgiving or worship to God… • No real joy…or peace…or stillness…lots of anxiety…lots of anger You could be a leper separated from the presence of God…and not even know it. [PAUSE]…Hold on a second…because there’s so much hope for you today if that’s you… Slowly realizing that there’s leprosy on your forehead… So much hope… Let me summarize what we’ve seen so far… Here’s some truth from Uzziah’s life for you: [SLIDE] 1. Everything you have comes from God. Stop taking credit for gifts you were given. a. Stop taking credit for the money you have, the home you have, the children you have, the brain you have, the body you have…GIFTS!!!!! Who opens up a gift on their birthday, and thanks themselves for the gift? “Aren’t I awesome!” Thankfulness is the only response that’s appropriate…thankfulness 2. You could have millions, and miss it all. You could be a leper…and not even know it.
Locked out from the presence of God. Still wealthy, still powerful, but without the greatest treasure.
Uzziah’s pride led him to reach beyond his role as king, to lay hold of the priesthood also. But that’s now how it works. Uzziah couldn’t be king, and priest. There was only One who would fill that role.
And here’s the good news for you…Quick story Mark 1 [SLIDE] And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. (Mk. 1:40-42)
Listen, there is grace for you today IN JESUS. Grace for you who have left the greatest treasure to be found. Grace for those who’ve never found it. There is grace for the one who is seeking true prosperity! Not the money and the stuff this world offers…that’s not prosperity…real prosperity, real wealth, because your heart is set upon the Lord. Your treasure is the Lord.
If you come to him, implore him, confess your sins to him… God I’ve lifted my heart high…I’ve forgotten you…my thankless heart is ruining me…my pride is destroying me…I am far from you…please God help me… If you come to Jesus… even now…There is grace. The hands of a savior to touch you and make you clean.
Not just for you who are coming for the very first time…but for you who know this, who know better…God is calling you to RETURN TO REAL PROSPERITY. 3. You don’t have to have a penny to your name to be the wealthiest person in this world. a. If you have the Lord…and by that I mean…IF THE LORD IS THE GREATEST TREASURE OF YOUR LIFE…you have more than all the kings of this world. b. Because your delight is in the Lord, you can seek him, and he meets your needs…and even greater…LISTEN… You will understand, more than others, that your God will supply every need according to his riches…and so you seek him. You see…prosperity isn’t about how much you have…it’s about who you have. When the Lord is all you have…you come to the beautiful truth that the Lord is all you need. You don’t have to have a penny to your name to be the wealthiest person in this world
Let’s pray… For the searching heart…there’s nothing better than you!
TITLE: When we are weak TEXT: 1 Corinthians 4:7-9
Keys that unlock a life of endurance that does NOT lose heart:
1 – WE ARE NOTHING, JESUS IS EVERYTHING – V.7
2 – WHEN WE ARE WEAK, THEN WE ARE STRONG - V.8-9
2 Corinthians 12:10 – “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
When we are weak, then we are strong because of Christ’s surpassing power working in us:
2A. Even under tremendous pressure – V.8a
2B. Even in the midst of great loss – vs.8b
Philippians 3:8 – “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
2C. Even when enemies pursue us – vs.9
2D. Even when we get knocked down – vs.9b
TITLE: Jesus’ Prayer for our Unity TEXT: John 17:20-23
Jesus’ prayer for our unity: 1 – GOD’S WORD AT THE CENTER – V.20
D.A Carson - “[Unity]… is not achieved by hunting enthusiastically for the lowest common theological denominator, but by common adherence to the apostolic gospel, by love that is joyfully self-sacrificing, by undaunted commitment to the shared goals of the mission with which Jesus’ followers have been charged.”
2 – GENUINE ONENESS AS OUR MARK – V.21-23a
Romans 12:4-5 – “ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
3 – GREAT IMPACT AS THE RESULT – V.21b, 23b
2 final exhortations: - We need to help one another
Ephesians 4:1-3 – “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
- We need God’s help together
Title Slide: Grace for the Repentant Luke 23:39-43
Slide 1: There is grace for those who repent.
Slide 2 (definition): Repentance is the inward change of mind, rooted in the fear of God, which, when accompanied by faith in Jesus results in an outward change of life.
Scripture Slide: Acts 2:38 ESV And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Slide: Luke 17:3-4 “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Main Point Slides: Evidence of grace in those who repent…
Bold rejection of Unbelief (vs. 39-40) Humble recognition of Sin (vs. 41) Remarkable faith in Christ (vs. 42-43)
TITLE: The People With You Are Too Many TEXT: Judges 7:1-22
[together on one slide] Psalm 138:6 - For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. 1 Peter 5:5 - …God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Big Take Away: We should embrace weakness, because it protects us from pride In our weakness… the LORD protects his glory (v1-8) - God loves to do things in a way that seems foolish to men, but displays his glory more clearly. Build an ark in the desert. Escape through, not around, the Red Sea. Speak to a rock when you need water. March around a walled city and blow trumpets when you want to defeat a city. Send a boy with a slingshot when there is a giant in the land. Pour water on the wood at Mount Carmel before you ask for fire to fall from heaven. Tell twelve men to feed five thousand with five loaves and two fish. - John Piper
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1 Corinthians 1:22–24 - For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
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Ephesians 2:8–9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
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Deuteronomy 20:8 - And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’
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2 Corinthians 12:9–10 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. the LORD gives his assurance (v9-14)
- 1 Corinthians 15:56–57 - The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
the LORD provides his strength (v15-22)
- Judges 21:25 - In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
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Zechariah 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
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Matthew 21:6–9 - The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
The Purity of Unity
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Ephesians 4:1-16 (please arrange passage on a few slides as I read the passage in full)
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“Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church” Walter Liefeld
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Big Idea: Our goal in Christ is to pursue and maintain unity for the glory of Christ and the growth of the church.
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- We are CALLED to Unity in the Spirit (vs 1-6)
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Ephesians 4:1-6 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
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Unity of the Spirit 1:4- God Chose Us 1:5- God Predestined Us 1:7- God Atoned for Us 1:13- God Sealed Us 2:7- God is Rich Toward Us 3:10- God has Given Us Mission 3:17- God has Given Us Power
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- We are to PURSUE Unity of the Faith (vs 7-14)
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Ephesians 4:7-14
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
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- We are to PRACTICE Unity of Truth (vs 15-16)
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Ephesians 4:15-16 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
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Colossians 3:12-14
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
- REVIEW: Big Idea: Our goal in Christ is to pursue and maintain unity for the glory of Christ and the growth of the church.
- We are CALLED to Unity in the Spirit
- We are to PURSUE Unity of the Faith
- We are to PRACTICE Unity of Truth
TITLE: Our Great High Priest Scripture: Leviticus 9
[Insert slide for Law of Moses class]
[QUOTE] “Are you bored by the repetitious descriptions in Leviticus 1-9…? ...in a sense, we are meant to be bored. It goes on and on. The process never suffices. Animals could never be an adequate substitute for human beings made in the image of God. The very inadequacy of these sacrifices confirms the inadequacy associated with the tabernacle structure.” - Vern S. Poythress
[Insert picture of Tabernacle & High Priest’s garments]
In order to have fellowship with God, we must see that… 1. We Need A High Priest The High Priest must: 1A. Prepare the people to encounter God (v.4 & 6) [QUOTE] “These sacrifices are not offered just once; they have to be repeated, because sin is deep-rooted in human nature and often recurs. There is no once-for-all cleansing known to the Old Testament.” - Gordon Wenham
1B. Make atonement and intercession (v.7)
- Sacrifice must be made (v.8-21) [QUOTE] “The worshipper has raised the animal himself or paid for it with his earnings, so that the animal represents a ‘sacrifice’ in the modern sense of the word. It costs something to the worshipper, and a port of the worshipper’s own life is identified with it. The worshipper lays his hands on the head of the animal, signifying his identification with it. He then kills the animal at the entrance way into the courtyard, signifying that the animal dies as a substitute for the worshipper.”
- Vern S. Poythress
Notice: 2A. The Meaning of the Sacrifices (chapters 1-5) I. The Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1) - total destruction & judgment II. The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4) - punishment & cleansing III. Guilt/Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5) - removal of guilt & restitution IV. Grain/Food Offering (Leviticus 2) - giving back to God in gratitude V. Fellowship/Peace Offering (Leviticus 3) - celebrating restored fellowship
2.B The Order of the Sacrifices (v.15-18) 2C. The Response in Worship (v.22-24) 3. Christ Fulfills it All God has provided! Jesus Christ is our… 3A. Great High Priest Who sympathizes with us (Hebrews 4:15-16) and intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:23-25) 3B. Substitutionary Sacrifice Who perfectly atones for sin (Hebrews 9:12-14) once for all (Hebrews 10:11-14) 3C. Everything [ONE SLIDE] He is: The Greater Moses (Deut. 18:18) The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) The Sin offering (Heb. 13:13) The Burnt offering (Eph. 5:2) The Guilt offering (Isa. 53:10) Our peace (Rom. 5:1) and fellowship with God (1 John 1:7) True Israel (Matt. 2-4) The Tabernacle & Temple (John 1:14 & 2:19) Abraham’s Promised Seed (Gal. 3:16) The Seed of the woman who crushes the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15) The Eternal Davidic King (Isa. 9:6-7 & Matt. 1:1) All the promises of God in the Old Testament find their “yes” and “amen” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20)!
TITLE – I Saw The Lord TEXT – Isaiah 6:1-8
I saw the Lord…
1 – HE IS HIGH AND LIFTED UP – V. 1
2 – HE IS “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” – V. 2-3
3 – HIS HOLINESS WOUNDS ME – V. 4-5
4 – HIS GRACE HEALS ME – V. 6-7
5 – HE SENDS ME – V. 8
Sermon Title: Salvation Belongs to the Lord Scripture: Jonah
Jonah 1:1-3 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
Slide 4 Hosea 7:11 Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria
Slide 5 Psalm 139:7-10
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Slide 6 Jonah 2: 8-9 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
Slide 7 Exodus 34:6 “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
Slide 8 The story of Jonah shows:
God’s boundless compassion
Slide 9 Exodus 33:19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
Slide 10 The story of Jonah shows:
God’s boundless compassion God’s relentless grace
Slide 11 Matt 12:38-41 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Slide 12 Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
The CRUSHED KING Text: 2 Chronicles 34 Mike Cosper: “It’s often said that we tell stories to know who we are—to understand ourselves and our place in the world. It’s as though all of our stories are a way for the imagination to poke at the human condition, testing its borders and depths, looking for ways to understand the why behind the what of our lives. In his memoir, author Salman Rushdie describes how his father told him old folk tales and legends, teaching him that “man was the storytelling animal, the only creature on earth that told stories to understand what kind of creature it was.”
Mike Cosper: “We were made in the image of a storytelling God.”
Source: Bible Project
Tim Keller: “There are two ways to read the Bible. One is it’s a set of stories about what you must do, sort of a set of Aesop’s Fables, a set of stories that say, “Here’s Abraham. He was tested. He failed. Don’t fail like him,” or, “He came through. Come through like him.” It’s a set of Aesop’s Fables. If you read the Bible like that, it will crush you. Mark Twain had a recurring nightmare in which he is lying in bed, and this huge Bible is on his chest pressing down and crushing and suffocating him. … Basically the Bible is about you, what you must do, how you have to live in order to have God bless you. It will crush you.
There is another way to do it. Yes, David fought Goliath. Good for him. Yes, Adam was thrown out of the garden. Bad for him. Yes, Abraham did some good things (good for him) and bad things (bad for him). So there are a bunch of stories, except when we get to the New Testament. If you start to look up the references, you will see that the New Testament writers say Jesus Christ is the true Israel. He is the true Adam. He is the true Moses. He is the true David. In other words, the Old Testament is not just a set of stories about how you ought to live; it’s a plan of salvation Jesus Christ fulfilled.”
2 safety tips: The Bible is NOT a series of disconnected stories, but a single story of redemption The Bible NOT primarily about YOU and what you should DO, but about GOD and what he has DONE
Josiah was A KING WHO: crushed idols (v1-7)
Josiah WAS A KING WHO: Was crushed by the book (v19-21) [25] Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. [26] But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, [27] because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD. 2 Chron 34:25-27 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Isa 53:5
TITLE: Elder Commissioning TEXT: Acts 20:28
Pete Scazzero – As go the leaders, so goes the church….The overall health of any church or ministry depends primarily on the emotional and spiritual health of its leadership.
Elders/Pastors must understand... 1 –THE URGENCY OF OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION – V.28a
2 – THE STEWARDSHIP OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP – V.28b
Acts 14:23 – “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed, with fasting they committed them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.”
TITLE – Life on Mission TEXT – 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Two sobering expectations for a life on mission…
1 – PREACHING THE GOSPEL WILL BE PAINFUL – V. 12-13
SUBPOINT 1A: Open doors come with opposition (V. 12) SCRIPTURE SLIDE: 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 – But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
SCRIPTURE SLIDE: 2 Corinthians 1:8 – For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
SUBPOINT 1B: People come with concerns (V. 13) SCRIPTURE SLIDE: 2 Corinthians 2:1,3a – For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you...And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice...
LIST SLIDE: We are painfully concerned for their… Repentance over Sin (2 Corinthians 7:9) Reconciliation to God (2 Corinthians 5:20) Recognition of our Love (2 Corinthians 6:13)
2 – GOD WILL USE YOU TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL – V. 14-17
SUBPOINT 2A: God uses our suffering (V. 14) SCRIPTURE SLIDE: 2 Corinthians 1:5-6 – For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
SUBPOINT 2B: God uses our sacrifice (V. 15-16a) SCRIPTURE SLIDE: Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
SUBPOINT 2C: God uses our insufficiencies (V. 16b-17) SCRIPTURE SLIDE: 2 Corinthians 12:10 – For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
SCRIPTURE SLIDE: 2 Corinthians 5:5-7 – For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
Finding Peace 1) Peace is paid for: joyfully unite (v2-5a) Eph 3:14: 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility Tim Keller: “Sisters, remember where you’re from. You’re citizens of heaven. Remember where you’re going, the glory. Realize and remember what Christ has done so this could be true. If your minds are filled with that, where’s the pettiness coming from? How could there be divisiveness in the presence of those ideas. If you think about that, how could you be petty? How could you be divisive? How the moroseness? Lift up your thoughts,” he says. “Lift up your eyes. You’re not seeing the big picture. That’s the only possible way you could be so upset with each other.” 2) The Peace of god is near: don’t be anxious. pray. (v5b-7) D.E. Garland: The anxiety Paul warns against is the kind that unhinges, paralyzes, and incapacitates one—“anxious, harassing care”. Paul is not calling for them to be indifferent toward life. The root idea of the verb “to be anxious” (merimnaō) is “to be pulled apart.” Martin Luther: “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair” - Michael Hugh: The way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything
3) The God of peace is here: IMMERSE YOURSELF (v8-9)
TITLE – The End of the Matter TEXT – Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
The words of Ecclesiastes, & all of God’s Word is given to us …
1 – FOR OUR DELIGHT – V.9-10
David Gibson – “It is a sad irony that many find Ecclesiastes to be a gloomy and pessimistic book, or are left unable to make any sense of it, when it was actually written to bring us pleasure.”
Psalm 40:8 – “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Jeremiah 15:16 – “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart…”
Psalm 119:16 – “I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”
Psalm 119:47 – “…for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.”
John 15:10-11 - “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
2 – FOR OUR DIRECTION – V.11-14
TITLE – Facing the Facts & Finding Hope TEXT – Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
Facing the facts…
1 – LIFE IS RANDOM BUT GOD IS SOVEREIGN – V.1-6
Warren Wiersbe – “While it’s generally true that the fastest runners win the races, the strongest soldiers win the battles, and the smartest and most skillful workers win the best jobs, it is also true that these same gifted people can fail miserably because of factors outside of their control. The successful person knows how to make the most of “time and procedure” but only the Lord can control “time and chance”.
ESV Study Bible – “No one knows whether a person’s life in this world will be pleasant or difficult, regardless of whether the person is righteous or wicked. Nevertheless, in spite of this apparent ‘randomness’ one can be assured that the godly person is in the hand of God.”
2 – DEATH IS CERTAIN BUT CHRIST IS RISEN – V.2-3, 7-10
TITLE – How to live better TEXT – Ecclesiastes 7:1-9
How to live better…by understanding that:
1 – SORROW IS BETTER THAN LAUGHTER – V.1-4
2 – A REBUKE IS BETTER THAN FLATTERY – V.5-6
Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”
3 – PATIENCE IS BETTER THAN PRIDE – V.7-9
TITLE – Wisdom for our Worship TEXT – Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
The Westminster Catechism - – “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”
Matt Papa – “We exist to celebrate, admire, hide in, and confide in something greater than ourselves. Someone stronger than ourselves. Look around the world. We love to praise athletes, musicians and actors who seem larger than life. The fact is, they are not, but we love to make them larger than life. And we get disappointed when they appear human. Why? Because we were made for a God who is larger than life. We were made to admire His power.”
William MacDonald – “Man is instinctively religious, but that is not necessarily good. In fact, it may be positively bad. His very religiosity may hide from him his need of salvation as a free gift of God’s grace. In addition, mans own religion may be nothing more than a charade, an outward show without inward reality.”
Wisdom for our Worship…
1 – LISTEN CAREFULLY – V.1-3
2 – SPEAK AUTHENTICALLY – V.4-7
TITLE – Better Together TEXT – Ecclesiastes 4
The condition of being alone is widespread in the world for at least 5 reasons…BECAUSE OF:
1 – THE REALITY OF OPPRESSION – V.1-3
2 – THE HYPOCRISY OF ENVY – V.4
3 – THE TRAGEDY OF BEING LAZY – V.5
David Gibson – “Laziness is a way of hating your neighbors. You have nothing to give them. … Instead of embracing life and giving himself to others, the sluggard gives himself to himself, so in the end all that he has left is himself. Now you’ve never seen a lazy person actually eat himself, but you might have seen a lazy person erode his self-control and capacity for care and, in the end erase even his self-respect. They ruin themselves.”
4 – THE FUTILITY OF BEING GREEDY – V.6
5 – THE FOLLY OF AN UNBIBLICAL MENTALITY – V. 7-16
TITLE – Thinking Clearly About Time TEXT – Ecclesiastes 3
Our times & seasons are:
1 – FILLED WITH COMPLEXITY – V.1-10
2 – UNDER GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY – V.11-22
David Gibson – “…now the Preacher adds a wonderful perspective, and it’s one we’re meant to have with us as we read the rest of the book: the times of my life are not the only times there are.”
David Gibson – “There is a time to be born and a time to die and there is a time for judgment.”
David Gibson – “Living well in God’s world means recognizing that when it comes to our own lives, we are not mini-gods, and this is his creation, not ours. We have all the pieces of our life given to us, and things come and go and seasons change, and it is only God who knows exactly where everything is meant to go, in which order, at what time, and why.”…& one day, the small, tiny piece of the puzzle which is your life will make sense in the grand scheme of God’s good & Sovereign plan.”
TITLE – The Pursuit of Happiness, the Problem of Death & the Potential for Joy TEXT – Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26
Today we are confronted with: 1 – THE EMPTY PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS – CH. 1:12-2:11
Four ways we try to find happiness & meaning in our lives… through: 1A. Wisdom & Knowledge – Chapter 1:16-17
1B. Pleasure & Fun – Chapter 2:1-3
1C. Work & Accomplishments – Chapter 2:4-6
David Gibson – “He discovered that although we pursue happiness in every corner of our lives, in the same corner lurks the darkness of diminishing returns. In the end, achievements and pleasures do not last. Happiness is a vanishing vapor.”
1D. Money & Possessions – Chapter 2:7-8
2 – THE UNIVERSAL PROBLEM OF DEATH – CH.2:14-16
3 – THE BEAUTIFUL POTENTIAL FOR JOY – 2:24-25
Title: Thats a good word about wisdom Text: James 3:13-18 Big Take Away: True wisdom is revealed in the things that we do 1. True wisdom acts in a certain way - 1 Peter 2:12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 10 ways we can live with good conduct (List derived from “A Letter to Diognetus”, Chapter 5: The Conduct of the Christians) 1. By storing up treasure in heaven 2. By being invested in the good of the city around us 3. By loving our children and considering them a blessing 4. By being hospitable to others 5. By being faithful in our marriages 6. By obeying the law of the land - through obedience to God 7. By loving our neighbours 8. By being content with little 9. By responding to insult with honour, patience, and prayer 10. By being patient and joyful in hardship - James 1:21 - Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. - This Christian meekness, or humility, comes from understanding our position as sinful creatures in relationship to the glorious and majestic God. It recognizes how unable we are in and of ourselves to achieve spiritual fulfillment or to chart our own course in the world. And this humility before God should then translate into humility towards others. - Douglas Moo - 1 Corinthians 15:10 - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 2. True wisdom brings certain results False wisdom is… 1. earthly - isn’t concerned about the things of God or his will and purposes (Phil. 3:19) 2. unspiritual - ruled by human reasoning and human feeling (Jude 19) 3. demonic - from the devil - in conflict with the purposes and people of God (Eph. 2:2) - Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. - Ephesians 2:14 - For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. True wisdom is… 1. Pure a. Peaceable - peace making b. Gentle - not imposing strict measures on others c. Open to reason - a willingness to yield to others, to be persuaded d. Full of mercy and good fruit - a love for neighbour displayed in practical action e. Impartial - fair treatment of others f. Sincere - transparent and consistent in character - Galatians 5:22–24 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. - James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Together on the same slide: - 1 Corinthians 1:24 - …Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. - Colossians 2:2-3 - …Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Ephesians 3:10 - so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
TITLE – Real Talk for Real Life TEXT – Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
Real Talk for Real Life:
1 – LIFE IS SHORT & ELUSIVE: YOU CANNOT MASTER IT – V.1-3
Psalm 39:5 says – “Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath (hevel)!”
Psalm 144:4 says – “Man is like a breath (hevel); his days are like a passing shadow.”
David Gibson – When we consider the brevity of our lives set against the millennia of the earth, we know that what the Preacher says is true. Except, of course, in everyday life we pretend it isn’t. We imagine we will live forever, or at the very least that someone else will get cancer, not us. We think our lives are built with granite, not sand. We pretend we’re in control.”
2 – LIFE IS CYCLICAL & REPETITIVE: YOU CANNOT BE SATISFIED BY IT – V.4-10
David Gibson – “The Preacher’s perspective is this: humans long to come across something in their lives that will break the constant repetitive cycle, something to say or see or hear that will be truly new and therefore significant – but there is nothing. No such thing exists.”
3 – DEATH IS INEVITABLE & IMMINENT: LIVE WELL BY ACCEPTING IT – V.11
TITLE – The Resurrection is Personal TEXT – 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
4 personal implications of the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1 – OUR MESSAGE IS TRUE – V.14a,15a
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 – “ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
2 – OUR FAITH IS SECURE – V.14b, 17a
3 – OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN – V.17
Romans 4:25 – “…was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
4 – OUR ETERNAL HOPE IS SURE – V.17-19
BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR WHO STAYED Text: Mark 15:15-39 1) HE STAYED (v15-20) Don Carson: Immediately after sentence of crucifixion was passed, Jesus was flogged again. [The flogging] was standard procedure; it was customary to flog prisoners before taking them out to be crucified. But what takes place in verses 16-20 is not standard procedure. It is more like barracks-room humor. The governor’s soldiers gather around, strip Jesus of his clothes, and drape some sort of scarlet robe on him, pretending he is a royal figure. Then they wind together some strands of vine thorns, the spikes of which are 15 to 20 cm long. They crunch this down on his head to make a cruel crown of thorns. They put a staff into his hand and pretend it is a scepter. Alternately bowing before Jesus in mock reverence and hitting him in brutal cruelty, they cry, “Hail, king of the Jews!”—and complete the acclamation by spitting in his face and hitting him again and again with the mock scepter. Raucous, mocking laughter keeps the room alive until the soldiers tire of their sport. They have finished laughing at him as the king of the Jews. Now they put his own clothes back on him and lead him away to be crucified. -- “Mighty cross” verse: On His brow, a crown of sorrow For a King whose weakness was our strength No word He spoke, His love was shown For all to see 2) So we’re saved (v29-39)
“How Great the Father’s love for us” verse: Behold the man upon a cross My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers --
Don Carson: The truth of the matter is that Jesus could not save himself, not because of any physical constraint, but because of a moral imperative. He came to do his Father’s will, and he would not be deflected from it... It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father’s will—and, within that framework, it was his love for sinners like me.
--
“And Can It Be That I should gain” verse: And can it be that I should gain An int’rest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
-- Andreas Kostenberger: In some mysterious way beyond our human understanding, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is cut off and separated from God because he is bearing the sin of humanity and enduring God’s wrath as a substitute for and in place of sinful humans... Jesus’s cry does not indicate that he was bewildered or confused—as if he actually expected God to rescue him from the cross and was disappointed—but rather expresses the terrifying cost of his sacrifice. He knew beforehand that he must die in order to fulfill his mission. Jesus could endure the pain, but the terrifying weight of utter separation from God and God-forsakenness are something he has never experienced before and which, in the actual moment of suffering, seem unbearable. --
TITLE – Palm Sunday TEXT – Luke 19:28-41
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…”
Palm Sunday themes: 1 – AUTHORITY & CONTROL – V.28-34
Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
CH Spurgeon – “There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all…. When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.”
2 – ANTICIPATION & CONTROVERSY – V.35-40
3 – AGONY & COMPASSION – V.41
TITLE SLIDE: To Love Like God - Ephesians 5:1-2 MAIN IDEA SLIDE: I can imitate God’s love only when I am immersed in God’s love. Subject Sentence: I can love like God because I have received… Point 1: The adopting love of God… I am a beloved child (vs 1) Point 2: The atoning love of Christ… I am a forgiven sinner (vs 2)
SCRIPTURE SLIDE: Ephesians 1:4-6 (To appear between Point 1 and 2) ...In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
SCRIPTURE SLIDE: Ephesians 2:4-5 (unsure if I am using this slide, but create it in case..thank you!) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
TITLE – A Heart Quieted: Silence & Solitude TEXT – Various Texts
A.W Tozer – “Retire from the world each day to some private spot, even if it only be a bedroom (for a while I retreated to the furnace room for want of a better place). Stay in the secret place till the surrounding noises begin to fade out of your heart… Give yourself to God…learn to pray inwardly every moment….Gaze on Christ with the eyes of your soul…. Lacking these, nothing will help us; granted these, the discipline recommended will go far to neutralize the evil effects of externalism and to make us acquainted with God and our own souls.”
SILENCE Voluntarily & temporarily abstaining from speaking to pursue certain spiritual goals SOLITUDE Voluntarily & temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes
We must regularly quiet our hearts for the purpose of…
1 – FOCUSED PRAYER – Mark 1:35
Mark 1:35 - And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
2 – SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE – Luke 1:20
Luke 1:20 – And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
3 – SALVATION & SUPERNATURAL HELP – Lamentations 3:25-28, Psalm 62:1-2
Lamentations 3:25-26, 28 – “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord…. Let him sit alone in silence…”
CH Spurgeon – “I commend solitude to any of you who are seeking salvation…To study one’s self in the light of God’s Word, and carefully to go over one’s condition, examining both the inward and the outwards sins, and using all the tests which are given us in the Scriptures would be a very healthy exercise; but how very few care to go through it!”
Psalm 62:1-2 – “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”
Jim Elliot – “I think the devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, crowds… Satan is quite aware of the power of silence.”
TITLE – A Heart Overflowing: Giving TEXT – 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
It’s possible to give without loving, BUT it’s impossible to love without giving
John MacArthur – How people view money is an effective barometer of their spirituality. Money is neither good nor bad in itself; corrupt people can put it to evil uses, while good people can put it to righteous uses. Though it is morally neutral, what people do with their money reflects their internal morality. In the words of Jesus, ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’”
The Heart that Gives… 1 – IS AMAZED BY GRACE – V.1
2 – IS NOT HINDERED BY DIFFICULTIES – V.2a
3 – IS FILLED WITH JOY & OVERFLOWING – V.2b
4 – IS EARNESTLY SACRIFICIAL – V.3-4
The heart that gives is sacrificial because it has been given completely to the Lord & surrenders then to His will and is used powerfully in the lives of others.
5 – IS AMAZED BY GRACE – V.9
Fred Craddock (The Poverty of Christ) – “The offering for the saints in Judea was for Paul a definite implication of the Incarnation. It is no surprise that the discussion of the one should bring to mind the other. The offering, in fact, provided an occasion for teaching the meaning of Christology, and Christology informed and elicited the offering.”