New Life in Christ Church: Recent Episodes
New Life in Christ Church
The sixth and last oracle of Malachi concludes this sermon series from the book ofthis prophet and reveals the distinctives of true disciples of the LORD and followersof Christ.
We need to remember what our mission is for the world. It is easy to become discouraged, to compromise, or to become fearful when basic Christian truths are rejected and ignored. We may become quiet or obnoxiously loud. As we look at 1 Peter 3 and the book of Daniel, we will remember our call to live faithfully as Christians in a hostile world by standing firm in our convictions, devoting ourselves to God, and boldly proclaiming the truth of the gospel, trusting that Christ is Lord, even when the world resists us.
God called the great King David of Isreal a man after his own heart, even after he did some very bad things in his time as king. How is this possible? And what does it teach us about our own priorities in this world. What makes a leader after God's own heart?
1 Samuel 27 (CSV)David Flees to the Philistines27Then David said in his heart, Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.2So David arose and went over, he andthe six hundred men who were with him,to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.3And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David withhis two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow.4And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.5Then David said to Achish, IfI have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?6So that day Achish gave himZiklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.7And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.8Now Davidand his men went up and made raids againstthe Geshurites,the Girzites, andthe Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old,as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt.9And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish.10When Achish asked, Where have youmade a raid today? David would say, Against the Negeb of Judah, or, Against the Negeb ofthe Jerahmeelites, or, Against the Negeb ofthe Kenites.11And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, lest they should tell about us and say, So David has done. Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines.12And Achish trusted David, thinking, He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.
Continuing a sermon series from the book of Malachi, this fifth oracle brings charges against Gods people for their robbing God, which is not simply the breaking of the eighth commandment, but their failure to give Him glory. The LORD God who does not change invites His people to test Him by their faith and see the blessing of submitting themselves to Him in every area of life, so that your light [may] shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ESV)
Psalm 2 (ESV)The Reign of theLord's Anointed2Why dothe nations rageand the peoples plot in vain?2The kings of the earth set themselves,and the rulers take counsel together,against theLordand against hisAnointed, saying,3Let usburst their bonds apartand cast away their cords from us.4He whosits in the heavenslaughs;the Lord holds them in derision.5Then he will speak to them in hiswrath,and terrify them in his fury, saying,6As for me, I haveset my KingonZion, myholy hill.7I will tell of the decree:TheLordsaid to me,You are my Son;today I have begotten you.8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,andthe ends of the earth your possession.9You shallbreak[b]them witha rod of ironand dash them in pieces likea potter's vessel.10Now therefore, O kings, be wise;be warned, O rulers of the earth.11Serve theLordwithfear,andrejoice withtrembling.12Kissthe Son,lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,for hiswrath is quickly kindled.Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Matthew 7:6 (ESV)6Do not givedogs what is holy, and do not throw yourpearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
We all face problems in this life that make us worry and anxious. We all face challenges that seem to be beyond our abilities. We all have experienced problems in the past that make us afraid of repeat situations. In our passage today, Jesus shows us a spiritual response to anxiety and worry (Matthew 6:25). Instead of looking at anxiety as purely physical, or instead of doubting God's ability to provide, or instead of disobeying God when we are anxious, we must learn to trust God by obeying His commands and loving our neighbor. Despite our natural tendency to worry, Jesus calls us to live free from anxiety, and to instead focus on His kingdom. In fact, He has provided the key to escaping anxiety. What do we need to do if we are going to get out of anxiety?
Through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows us how to live a grace-filled life built upon his finished work on the cross. While Jesus speaks of fasting as a normal course of life, it is not so normal for many of us. While Jesus addresses the problems in his day with the way the religious hypocrites fasted, we need to consider our lack of fasting and ask if there is something for us to learn here. So, today we ask, why should we fast?
Continuing in this sermon series from the book of Malachi, a fourth oracle charges Gods people with idolatry. On the surface of it, the people of Malachis time do not appear to be engaged in the gross immorality common to other times, but the answer to Westminster Larger Catechism question 105 provides a biblical perspective: The sins forbidden in the first commandment [i.e., Thou shalt have no other gods before me.] are atheism, in denying, or not having a God; idolatry, in having or worshiping more gods than one, or any with, or instead of the true God; the not having and avouching him for God, and our God; the omission or neglect of any thing due to him, required in this commandment Idolatry worships more gods than the one true God, or worships any other god with or instead of the One. And this God is jealous for His glory.
Jesus closes his teaching on prayer by reminding us to pray for deliverance from the temptationand evil that would keep us from God. Why is prayer so important if we are going to perseverein our faith and hope?
1 Samuel 21English Standard VersionDavid and the Holy Bread21 Then David came toNob, toAhimelech the priest. And Ahimelechcame to meet David, trembling, and said to him, Why are you alone, and no one with you?2And David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you. I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.3Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.4And the priest answered David, I have no common bread on hand, but there isholy breadif the young men have kept themselves from women.5And David answered the priest, Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?6So the priest gave himthe holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence,which is removed from before theLord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.7Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before theLord. His name wasDoeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen.8Then David said to Ahimelech, Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.9And the priest said,The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down inthe Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it to me.
Continuing in this (parallel) sermon series from the book of Malachi, his third oraclebrings charges against Gods people for their faithlessness. Faith is a belief or trust,along with a demonstration of commitment. On behalf of the LORD, Malachicharged the people with being faithless to one another'' and faithless to theirspouses. According to Noah Websters 1828 Dictionary, the people were notadhering to allegiance or duty; disloyal; treacherousnot true to [their] covenantnot observant of [their] promises. The Westminster Larger Catechism explains thatThe duties required in the eighth commandment [Thou shalt not steal.] are, truth,faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man andman (Q141) and that this commandment forbids, injustice and unfaithfulness incontracts between man and man, or in matters of trust (Q142)
Continuing in this series from the book of Malachi, consider the importance of aname. Many hold the background and meaning of their own name in high esteem.For others, it may be a mystery, or it may even convey disappointment. The priestsof Malachis time failed to live up to their name, thereby reflecting poorly upon theLORDs name. If you have the name Christian, as a disciple of Christ you havereceived a name that conveys the highest value for a person. Not that it makes youbetter than others, but because the name, Christian, is yours at the cost of the life,death, and resurrection of the eternally begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, who isyour King, your Prophet, and your Priest.
As we begin a new (parallel) sermon series on the book of Malachi, think about agood conversation that youve had. A good, productive conversation comes withchallenges, but also brings a sense of connection and joy. The LORD God, transcendent over and completely independent of all His creation, invites and expectsthe crown of His creation man and woman (Genesis 1:26-31) to engage withHim in a two-way exchange of ideas. Yet real dialogue must be based on truth, anddialogue with the sovereign God is therefore based on His revealed truth, the holyScriptures.
QUESTION 98. What is prayer?A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in thename of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.QUESTION 99. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer?A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but the special rule of direction isthat form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called the Lords Prayer.QUESTION 100. What doth the preface of the Lords Prayer teach us?A. The preface of the Lords Prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven, teacheth us todraw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able andready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.QUESTION 101. What do we pray for in the first petition?A. In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name, we pray that God would enable us,and others, to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known; and that he woulddispose all things to his own glory.QUESTION 102. What do we pray for in the second petition?A. In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom come, we pray that Satans kingdom may bedestroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others broughtinto it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.QUESTION 103. What do we pray for in the third petition?A. In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, we pray thatGod, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in allthings, as the angels do in heaven.QUESTION 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?A. In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread, we pray that of Gods freegift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessingwith them.QUESTION 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?A. In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, we praythat God, for Christs sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.QUESTION 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?A. In the sixth petition, which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, wepray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver uswhen we are tempted.QUESTION 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lords Prayer teach us?A. The conclusion of the Lords Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power,and the glory, forever. Amen, teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from Godonly, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and, intestimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.
In our passage, Jesus gives an important principle of dealing with evil - don'tanswer evil with evil. Experience shows that this is harder than it seems, andhow ready we are to get back at people who hurt us. While it might cost ussomething, this is the way we find victory against evil in our own lives, and in ourworld. Today, we will look at Jesus' words and consider how we should respondto the ways people hurt us?
Our words may be the most powerful thing in our lives. We make promises toothers, build others up or tear them down, and worship with our words. Becauseof their power, there is a temptation to misuse them to get what we want. Whilethe world says we should speak to mislead people, being a disciple calls for adeep-rooted commitment to honesty. Where others may be tempted to shade thetruth or make misleading promises for personal gain, Jesus challenges Hisdisciples to living a pattern of life distinguished by absolute truthfulness. Let'slook at that pattern today.
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, ahistorical reality that has implications for our faith. First of all, the resurrectionshows the historic credibility of faith. There are spiritual implications as well. Theresurrection shows us the new potential we have in Jesus Christ. Where weused to be stuck in sin and life's circumstances, now through faith in Jesus, weare set free to live the life God has for us to live. Today's passage shows us howthe resurrection transforms us and shows it's power to free us from sin and badhabits to live a life that pleases God.1. Sin, You Are Dead to Me! (Romans 6:3-7)John 8:36Freedom in Christ is freedom from the power of sin2. I am Alive to God! (Romans 6:8-11)Romans 6:23The consequences of sin is death as sin creates more sinRomans 8:1As the condemnation of sin is removed, the power of sin overus is removed3. Gods Power for You is in Christ (Romans 6:12-14)4. Uniting to Christ Knowing His PowerMatthew 28:1820 The power of Christ in us, comes from the fact Jesusis with us2 Peter 1:3We have what we need to be godly1 Corinthians 6:14 the same power that raised Jesus will be used to raiseus to life2 Timothy 1:7the Spirit of God is the power of Christ working in usPhilippians 4:13the power of Christ strengthens us to thrive inchallenging circumstancesColossians 1:11because of Jesus power, we can bear fruit
Genesis 9:18-29New American Standard Bible18Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; andHam was the father of Canaan.19These threewerethe sons of Noah, andfrom these the whole earth was populated.20Then Noah beganfarming and planted a vineyard.21He drank some of the wine andbecame drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.22Ham, the father of Canaan,saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.23But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it on both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces wereturned away, so that they did not see their fathers nakedness.24When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him.25So he said,Cursed be Canaan;A servant of servantsHe shall be to his brothers.26He also said,Blessed be theLord,The God of Shem;And may Canaan be his servant.27May God enlarge Japheth,And may he live in the tents of Shem;And may Canaan behis servant.28Noah lived 350 years after the flood.29So all the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.
Malachi 1:6-14 (ESV)The Priests' Polluted Offerings6A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I ama father, where is my honor? And if I ama master, where is my fear? says theLordof hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.But you say, How have we despised your name?7By offering polluted food upon my altar.But you say, How have we polluted you? By saying thattheLord's table may be despised.8When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says theLordof hosts.9And nowentreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand,will he show favor to any of you? says theLordof hosts.10Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says theLordof hosts,and I will not accept an offering from your hand.11For from the rising of the sun to its setting my namewill be[a]great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my namewill be great among the nations, says theLordof hosts.12But you profane it when you say thatthe Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.13But you say,What a weariness this is, and you snort at it, says theLordof hosts.You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says theLord.14Cursed be the cheat who hasa male in his flock, andvows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. ForI am a great King, says theLordof hosts, and my namewill be feared among the nations.
The Biblical sexual ethic is liberating and empowering. That's because it isdirectly connected with God's design and purposes leading to human flourishing.Just because it is good doesn't mean it is easy as the world turns the goodcreation of God into something different and constantly presses false views ofsexuality our way. Our own sinful nature is inclined to use this gift of God forsinful self-satisfaction. We need the clear vision that comes through God and HisWord, something Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount. Today we will lookat the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus Words on sexual purity.
We all have experienced the destructive power of anger, whether the feeling ofanger, acting out of anger, or receiving the outbursts of others anger. Anger hascaused us all problems in life. It has harmed our relationships and spilled into manyareas of our lives. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to a life of personalholiness that affects our whole life. In the Scriptures, God shows how His gracehelps us address anger in a way that pleases God. How should we handle ouranger and the damage it does?
Is God's Law still relevant? In a world that wants to do as it pleases and agospel that speaks to the free offer of the gospel, this is an important question for usto consider. Through His ministry, Jesus faced critics who accused Him of discarding the Law. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to revive the true nature ofGods Law and to challenge the legalism of his time, where religious leaders wereobsessed with external compliance yet blind to their sinful hearts. Jesus peeledback layers of false piety, revealing a deeper call to genuinely love God and ourneighbors. This is our call today. Jesus came to fulfill Gods Law for us so we couldgenuinely please God. How, then, can we truly embrace the heart of God'scommands in our lives?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Have you ever heard the cynical phrase, "No good deed goes unpunished"?This seems like a relevant comment as we read the final Beatitude in Matthew5:10. Why would someone who demonstrates the qualities of verses 3-9 bepersecuted in verse 10? The simple response is that the sinful flesh does notlike the righteousness of God. When individuals, or rulers of this world, believethe righteousness of God is a threat to their own ambitions, they will persecutebelievers. Yet, there is another response to these beatitudes, the response offaith as people discover God anew (verse 16). Genuinely living out our faith willelicit both of these responses from others. Is this positive response worth therisk of persecution?
How does your relationship with Jesus change the way you interact with thatannoying neighbor, or the family member who yelled at you, or the friend whogossiped about you? What does being Jesus disciple do to affect the relationshipswe find ourselves in? In these three Beatitudes, Jesus describes the actions of adisciple with the world, and each one of them describes the way that faith affectsour interactions with others. This is where the rubber hits the road in relationships,where we will see much of the practical outworking of our faith, and where we willneed the humility and motivation that comes from the gospel.
What do you really want out of life, and will it satisfy you? The world says that we canbe satisfied by money, power, fame, or success. Many have sought after those thingsonly to find themselves emptyhanded and regretful. Others have sought after thosethings and oppressed the people around them. In todays passage, Jesus showswhere true satisfaction comes from: through hungering and thirsting for righteousness(Isaiah 55:1-2; John 7:37-38). As we continue our study through the Beatitudes, wewill see how the attitudes of Gods kingdom (Matthew 5:3-5) shape our motivations(Matthew 5:6). What does it mean to hunger for righteousness, and how will Godsatisfy it?
In the Beatitudes, we learn eight qualities that are favored by God. While the world may undervalue them, God treasures these traits in His kingdom. In a selfcentric world, these qualities stand as surprising markers of God's blessing. These qualities, dismissed by the world, gain favor in the eyes of God, putting us in the place to receive God's grace.
God has built us for a life of purpose and calls us to make His purposes our passion. Today we will see why Jesus chose 12 apostles from his multitude of followers, and how He called them to a simple strategy when He said, Follow Me. He still calls His church to this same strategy to follow Him where He leads. It's a call to give up our self-rule and walk with and learn from Jesus as we fulfill His call upon our lives. The Master's plan of evangelism is the path of discipleship, of learning from Jesus, and putting it into action.
The Bible mentions the kingdom of heaven many times through the NewTestament, yet it may be a mysterious term for us. Its important to see that Jesusannounced the kingdom was at hand (Matthew 4:17) and that He calls us to repent of our sins to enter that kingdom. Today we want to see what that kingdom isand how we live in it.
How do you identify greatness? Or, how do you determine when someone is genuinely called to a certain kind of work? The baptism of Jesus is His transition from private living to His public ministry. It is also the first identification that there was something very different about Him. As we look at this event, we see the absolute uniqueness of Jesus and learn something about the way we minister to others as well.
Special events often require special preparation. In Matthew 3, John the Baptist is telling the world a special event is at hand. The kingdom of God is about to arrive. It is time to prepare, but how? Repentance. Repentance is critical for faith. Before we will believe in something new and true, we have to turn from what is old and false. Before we will take hold of a gift, we need to let go of the things already in our hands. The message is clear for us today, if we want to be part of the kingdom of heaven, then we, too, must repent. What is repentance? Why is it so important for the Kingdom of God? That's what we want to look at today.
The annals of history show how Gods people faced opposition from the world, and yet, they managed to preserve through these trials. Gods grace preserved them just as He will preserve His people in the future. Jesus Himself came under this opposition as the world tried to keep Gods kingdom of grace away, and
Even though our world is more secularized, that doesnt mean it is less religious. It means that the religious focus of many Americans has moved toward non-Christian practices, and usually individualistic practices and beliefs. Yes, people are seeking spiritual fulfillment, just not in the Christian faith. Today, we will take a lesson from those who sought after spiritual truth, found it, and did something about it. It is a reminder to us that the spiritual hunger we all have can only be rightly answered in Jesus Christ. The question before us is whether we will believe that and submit ourselves to Him, or will we be threatened by the revelation of God and suppress the truth?
While you may purchase your juice from a grocery store, everyone knowsthat fruit juice comes from some kind of fruit. The taste of that juice is determined by many factors, not least of which is the quality of the fruit from which it was sourced. And the juice wont flow out of the fruit in quantity unless pressure is applied: the fruit is squeezed. All of this comes at a cost, hence the saying: Is the juice worth the squeeze? Is what you get worth the cost and effort you are putting in? What is the juice for which you are living your life? Is it worth it?Today we continue a series from the book of Proverbs, looking in chapter 4 and considering the cost of a relationship. There are many counterfeits and distractions, yet mankind is created in the image of God for a relationship with Him. Only a vital relationship with the living God satisfies your hearts deepest longings, meets, supplies its every need, compasseth me round with blessings: Thine is love indeed! Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting by Jean Sophia Pigott (1876)
Is obedience to God risky? When confronted with a command from the Lord, many do a risk-reward analysis to determine whether they should believe and obey. They ask if obedience is compelling enough to do, rather than responding to the authority of the Word of God. Before Jesus was born, God called Joseph to be His earthly father and to take Jesus virgin mother as his wife. What compelled his obedience? Here is the answer we get from this passage - Immanuel, which means God with us. God was with Joseph. God was with Mary. God is with His people and God is with us. Will we respond in obedience and faith, knowing that God is with us? If we dont believe God or trust Him, we will not be able to obey or please Him. Lets consider how God is with us and how that affects the way we live.
If we trace back our family history through our family tree, we can learn a lot about how we got here. While so many of the names will be unknown to us, they tell our family history, the highlights and the challenges, the heroes and the scoundrels of our past. Where did we come from? What is our background? How does that affect us now? The gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus genealogy to show us His connection with Gods promises, and to show us how He was the One who would fulfill Gods promises on our behalf. He is the Savior God has sent, and He is the Savior we need.
Genuine faith in Christ is a devoted faith. We are called to be living sacrifices to God. As many have pointed out, a living sacrifice may get off the altar. Our devotion may waver at moments from fear, habit, or our own desires, and we face the temptation to compromise or withhold obedience to Gods commands. Following Jesus will require devotion to God, an orientation of life that keeps us directed toward God. Today we will look at three attitudes that help us grow in our devotion to God.
The fruit of the Spirit consists of nine virtuous qualities that God cultivates in His people as they are united to Jesus Christ by faith. These qualities grow as the power of God works in them, making them into the people God created them to be. So, what will keep us from knowing this power? James answer in todays passage is pride. James 4:6 says that while God opposes the proud He gives grace to the humble. When pride is present, we resist the power of God available to us. In pride, we think we are more important than others and find ourselves in new conflicts. When humility is present, we realize that only through His power will we produce fruit that pleases Him. In humility we see the image of God in others and treat them with the respect they deserve. We need humility to have a fruit-filled life.
When we say the Christian life is not easy, we mean that the Christian life will require us to do things we are not naturally inclined to do. We will be called upon to stop doing certain things we may want to do as well as to break bad habits. The Christian life requires us to fight sin and to love God and others, and if we are going to do those things, we must develop self-control to carry us through that battle. If we are going to live a life that pleases God and loves others, we must develop self-control that sets aside our worst qualities and moves us to the best. Gratefully, God does not leave us to develop this quality by ourselves, but He has sent His Holy Spirit to cultivate this quality in our lives as a spiritual fruit.
Gentleness may be one of the most neglected, misunderstood and undervalued fruit of the Spirit. And, it is probably the fruit that the world undermines the most with a special antipathy. And yet, it is a virtue that God calls and requires believers to grow in.Today we will look at 2 examples of gentleness: The Apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians 2:7) and the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:2830). How do we see it in their lives?
Jesus words in Luke 16:10-13 are very clear, even if we are confused by the parable leading up to them. They remind us that faithfulness in small things is the best predictor of faithfulness with the bigger things of life. We shouldnt think that we can cut corners now and yet have the strength to meet the demands of highpressure situations. Faithfulness matters whether we are talking about the big things or the small. Today we will consider the places God calls us to be faithful and the critical elements we need in our lives to grow in it.
As we conclude this three-part series in Proverbs chapter 3, we see one more aspect of living in covenant with the Triune God. First we explored the basis for confidence: never to be found in ones own reasoning or understanding, but in covenant with the LORD. Such Covenantal Confidence provides confidence for living. Then we followed the theme of godly wisdom as it flowed outward to the blessing of the nations: Covenantal Blessing is Gods favor upon His people for the good of all the nations. Today we consider Covenantal Endurance, which supplies strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow (to quote Great Is Thy Faithfulness; written by Thomas O. Chisholm [1923]) on your walk along the paths of righteousness for His Names sake (Psalm 23:3)
Gods commands are covenantal stipulations given in relationship to Him. All mankind is created in relationship to Him. Upon condition of obedience, the lord promises the blessings of both spiritual and physical health, as well as temporal and eternal benefits. Such blessing is based upon living confidently in covenant to the lord Covenantal Confidence. Conversely, to neglect Gods commands is to be deserving of His curse and your own destruction.
Most people in the world think they are good people. At least they think that the good things in their lives outweigh the bad. When the Bible speaks about the spiritual fruit of goodness in Galatians 5:22-23, it focuses on the performance of actions that benefit others. While kindness is a godly response to an individual near us, goodness is the frame of heart that obeys the commandments of our good God for the benefit of our family, community and the world we live in. Today we will look at an encounter between a rich young ruler and the Only Person who truly lived a good life. Through this, we will see what a good life looks like and how we grow in this spiritual quality.
Kindness is the action point of a loving and meaningful life. It is the practical application of love to our environment (1 Corinthians 13:4). And yet, there are points of friction that discourage kindness existing inside our world and our own hearts. Apart from kindness, it is easy to end up alone and despondent. Apart from kindness, the world descends into a cold ruthlessness. But kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, something God develops in His people to bless the world even as he commands it (Micah 6:8). How does He do that? That is what we want to look at today.
Its not just negative events that cause us trouble, it is the way we interpret them and respond to our trials that causes our trouble. Impatience with either small inconveniences or significant trials worsens our trial and increases the likelihood that we will say or do something that hurts others. But patience is a fruit of Gods Spirit - something He builds into us by faith. As we grow in patience, we can be faithful and love others during trials, regardless of the problem we face. Today we will look at how we grow in patience.
Galatians 4:8-22 New International Version
Pauls Concern for the Galatians 8Formerly, when you did not know God,you were slavesto those who by nature are not gods.9But now that you know Godor rather are known by Godhow is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslavedby them all over again?10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. 12I plead with you, brothers and sisters,become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.13As you know, it was because of an illnessthat I first preached the gospel to you,14and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.15Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.18It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.19My dear children,for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Puritan John Bunyan wrote: Why then should we think that our innocent lives willexempt us from [our] sufferings, or that troubles shall do us such harm? For verily itis for our present and future good that our God doth send them upon us. I counttherefore, that such things are necessary for the health of our souls, as bodily painsand labor are for [the health of] the body.(Acts 14:22...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.)
No one likes to feel anxious. We don't like the way it makes us feel and we don't like the things we do to cope with our anxiety. We wish we could live anxiety-free lives. One of the great promises of Jesus to His church is the promise of peace (John 16:33). It is a fruit of the Spirit, something God gives us as we trust Him by faith (Galatians 5:22-23). In our passage today we will see how we enter into the peace that God promises, and how our worries regularly remind us of our dependence upon God.
Everyone seeks joy, but there is a great difference in the places where people seek that joy. In the Bible, God shows us the only sufficient source for our joy in God Himself. Yet, the fallen human heart seeks joy almost everywhere else, refusing the offer of God Himself. Outside of a reconciled relationship with God, joy will be elusive as we struggle with discontent, ingratitude, and insecurity. But through a relationship with Christ, joy becomes more than a possibility, but a fruit that God grows in our lives.
Puritan John Flavel (Triumphing Over Sinful Fear) observed that there are three different kinds of fear. Natural fear is a response to approaching evil or impending danger. While not necessarily sinful, it exists because of sin (it is a result of the Fall). Sinful fear arises from unbelief, which is an unworthy distrust of God. Godly (or religious) fear is described in the Scriptures as the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is both prevention and antidote to sinful fear. Proverbs chapter 2 illustrates a conversation between a father and a son, with an invitation to find the fear of the Lord.
Some people say, If you dont accept my choices then you dont love me! Is this actually true? Can we love people and still object to their decisions and actions? As we continue our study on love as a fruit of the Spirit, we need to consider the moral parameters of love and weigh our own actions against the actions and behaviors God says are truly loving.
This world so desperately wants love and so regularly looks for in the wrong places. While sin deflates love from our world, God sent Jesus into the world bring genuine love to the world. As those who have received Gods love, Christians should be especially loving people. The love of a Christian is a fruit that God develops in His people the outworking of faith in Christ. How does God grow love in us? Why is it so important? What should we do with that love? Thats what we will look at today.
How many of the difficulties we have in life come from the decisions we make? How often do we get stuck in patterns that we wish we could put away and live more loving, joyful and fulfilled lives? Today we start a series on the fruit of the spirit, nine qualities that God develops in His people as they live by faith. Today we want to see how that fruit grows so that we would please God and love others instead of gratifying ourselves when it leads to sin.
Today we will look at the life of Isaac, one of the most significant people in the Bible, but a man who oddly has only this one chapter to tell us about his life. There is an ordinariness to his life, and an ordinariness that describes each of our lives even the greatest celebrity. The gospel reminds us that Gods love comes through faith in Christ, not what we do; and even if we change the world for the good, it wouldnt make Him love us any more than He does in Christ. God does much of His work through ordinary believers in ordinary situations.
The promises in the gospel are precious to every person who truly receives them. In those promises we have reconciliation with God, restoration to our purpose, and reasons for love and joy. Still, there are many who hear those promises that fail to value them for what they are. Even with the enormous value, they will dismiss them as irrelevant because they fail to see the need. What about us? Will we be the ones that value faith in the gospel or dismiss it? In our passage this morning, we will hear the account of Jacob and Esau and the importance of receiving the gospel promises for ourselves by faith. How will we experience the promises of God? How do they become ours?
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by theprophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his SonHebrews 1:1-2a (ESV)It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. Forwhat son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left withoutdiscipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children andnot sons. Hebrews 12:7-8 (ESV)1. The Invitation of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:20-23, 32-33)A. Who is Wisdom? (Proverbs 1:20-21)B. Three types of people are at risk of missing out on what Wisdom has tosay. (Proverbs 1:22)C. Expect reproof and instruction to go hand-in-hand.(Proverbs 1:23, 32-33)2. The Threats of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:24-31)A. threat is a declaration of an intention or determination to inflictpunishment, loss or pain on another. (Webster 1828)B.The Case is Built (Proverbs 1:24, 25, 29-30)C. Judgment is Decisive (Proverbs 1:26-28, 31)How do you know if you love Jesus? Jesus Himself gave us a test: Whoeverdoes not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is notmine but the Father's who sent me. John 14:24 (ESV)How do you know Jesus loves you? Reproof is the proof of love: Those whom Ilove, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:19 (ESV)
Unless Jesus comes back soon, we will all die. Most people dont want to think about death, but failing to at least remember death keeps us from thinking about how we should live now. We will face the judgment of God and our names will face some judgement of history. (See Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:12 and Revelation 14:13.) When Abraham died, he died, in a good old age, an old man and full of years. One translation says he died satisfied with life. While we cannot control when we will die, we have some control over how we live, and whether our life is full and satisfying or not. Our death is certain, but a satisfied life is not. That is why we need to live intentionally. Our passage today highlights three aspects of a full and satisfying life.
The world does not see the reality and power of the living God, and the necessity of coming to Him. Personal sin, guilt and shame, peer pressure, and ignorance of the truth keeps people from walking with God. How is it that people, under the power and influence of this world and the sins of the flesh, would come to know the power and caring love of God? How will the Families of the Nations Worship the Lord? (Psalm 22:27) The servant of God would suffer to bring His people back into worship. His victory came through His suffering, where He defeated His enemies and won the hearts of the nations back to God. How does suffering bring people from separation from God to worship of God? That is what our passage is about, and points us to the work of Jesus and our own role in Gods plans for the nations.
Most of us have made a relationship that we later regretted making. We know we need relationships, but we also can be nervous about which ones to take, and then we may wonder how we can even find good ones. We need godly wisdom in choosing our closest relationships. Our passage this morning tells how Abraham helped his son Isaac find a wife. As we study it today, we will see key principles in finding and forming good relationships, and learn a bit of the love of Jesus along the way.
Have you ever found yourself with nowhere to turn? Have you faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable, without even knowing where to begin? Our passage today tells us about Abraham and his quest to lay his beloved wife Sarah to rest after many years of marriage. Where will he bury her, given that he doesn't have a single square inch of land to call his own? Although God had promised Abraham a vast and prosperous land, it did little good when it came to burying Sarah. But could it? Just like Abraham, we all struggle to apply God's divine promises to the problems we encounter in the tangible world. How do we bridge the gap between Gods promise and what we need right now?
We are told that success comes when we make the right sacrifices. How many times do people make a sacrifice but it doesnt work out? How many times do people sacrifice something really important for something less important? Is success in life dictated by our ability to make the right sacrifices? Is Gods love for us dependent on whether we make the right sacrifices? How much sacrifice is needed for God to love us? We will look at that today.
One of the biggest challenges to the Christian faith is knowing how to relate our faith to life in the world, especially when our faith comes under attack. The Bible is clear that this world is not our home, we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven (1 Peter 1:1, 2:11). The worlds beliefs, values, and convictions conflict with the kingdom in which we live. Even though the message is not always appreciated, we are called to be witnesses, to be salt and light, and to pray for Gods kingdom to come and will be done. Jesus said we need to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16). How do we do that? Even though he lived thousands of years before Jesus said this, Abraham demonstrated this way of living as he sojourned in Canaan. Its an important example for us as we consider the hostility of our own day.
Have you ever had to wait a long time to see the fulfillment of a dream? If so, you can imagine the experience of Abraham and Sarah in the birth of their longanticipated child Isaac. You might also be able to imagine the conflict it would create as Isaac took his place as Abrahams heir, instead of 13 year old Ishmael. But for us, this account provides a metaphor to help us better understand our faith and how to live in the grace of God.
Have you ever been run over, ignored, stabbed in the back, persecuted, or taken advantage of? This will happen in a world where people only look out for their own interests, and it may especially happen to believers because of their faith. How do we serve God in this kind of a dog-eat-dog world? Jesus calls us to be different (Luke 6:2731; Hebrews 12:14). How do we interact with our world when we are taken advantage of?
What is an adequate prayer to start off the year? Ephesians 3:14-21 provides one of the richest prayers for Gods people namely that they would be strengthened by the power of God. When we are separated from His power, we live lives without purpose, focus, or fruitfulness. By our own strength, we will never have the spiritual change or do the kinds of work that pleases God. But as God works in us by His grace, we will experience His power that helps us meet the opportunities and demands of our day. Today we want to see three ways that God strengthens us, and to see how we can position ourselves to enjoy the power he gives.
A new year, a time to pause and give thanks for the Creator, Preserver and Captain of our souls who has entrusted us with time to serve Him in this life. We do so in full confidence of Gods promises to us. Promises become real in the midst of suffering.
Merry Christmas! Consider the common tradition of the Christmas tree, and the expectation of gifts placed under it. What do you hope to find under your tree? Dont think only of a physical tree, with tinsel and lights, and presents wrapped with ribbons and bows gathered neatly under the tree. Think about your hopes and dreams, and the things you really want in life. Think of them as unopened gifts under your tree. Because you are created to be in a relationship (It is not good that the man should be alone Genesis 2:18), the greatest gift of all is found in a relationship with the Creator of all, God the Heavenly Father, through faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, applied by the person of the Holy Spirit.
Many believe they can live at peace with a world antagonistic toward God and His word. As we read about the destruction of the city of Sodom, we have to deal with the unsettling comfort Lot had within the city. From all appearances Lot attempted to straddle the fence between God and the world, compromising what was right and good for the sake of comfort and wealth. In the end, he and his family lose everything, showing that we cannot straddle the fence like this. Lives built upon the unrighteousness of sin will crumble in due time (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). What will last? Jesus Christ and His kingdom. This sinful world will not lead to life, we must choose Christ lest we are taken in by the world and we lose everything. Looking through the life of Lot, we will learn how we choose Christ over the world.
What is the role of Christian faith in a sinful and evil world? We dont always know what to do with the sin and evil around us. Do we move into our prayer closet and pray about it? Do we get busy in solving and addressing it? Not knowing what to do with it leaves us in a spot of inaction or the wrong kind of action. It leaves us with anxiety or worry, with hopelessness or cynicism, with complacency or angry violence. The enemy does not want a kingdom of righteousness. He wants to separate people from God, to generate hatred of our neighbors, and to become inactive or unproductive. The call of the Christian is to love the people of the world and to light the world up with the hope of the gospel. But to do this, we must not get entangled with the world. God is building His kingdom within this sinful and fallen world. This is the kingdom we are called to be part of, and the kingdom we are called to make known.
We often think of fear as something that keeps us from performing; something that hinders progress. And it is true that ungodly fears can paralyze us and even tempt us to run away. But what if fear is a necessary ingredient to success? We need a solid, biblical perspective and worldview to understand and act rightly: to face the ungodly fears that limit us, and moreover, to see that godly fear is a necessary ingredient to living a successful life before a holy God.
Its easy to become disappointed when things dont go the way we want. Many people deal with disappointment by becoming cynical or numbing themselves from the pain. Some give up hope that things can be different, dismissing the powerful hand of God in their lives. As we look at Genesis 18 today, we can see how cynicism grows from bitter disappointment, and we can see important steps in addressing that disappointment. Most of all, we see an invitation out of cynicism with two critical ways that we make space for God and His promises.
Gods people are supposed to be distinct, and different from the world. They are described by different priorities and different purposes. They have different hopes than the world offers. In order to remember this call, God has given ordinances that show His people that they belong to Him and are steered by different promises. The nation of Israel was given circumcision and the church has been given the sacrament of baptism. Today we want to look at the significance of these gifts.
God has a plan for Abram and Sarai, but that plan took decades to develop. In Genesis 17, we see God renew them for their mission. It is easy to get distracted from our focus, and times and events of restoration can be very helpful. New knowledge, new challenges, new promises, and new practices can refuel us for what we are called to do. God provides these for Abram and Sarai in our passage this morning. What does God provide us for our renewal?
Many people have said God wants me to be happy, only to follow that statement with a decision that is outside of Gods will and outside of His blessing. It hurts them and the people around them. Today we will look at some decisions of Abram and Sarai made from a lack of faith. Not only was it mistrust in Gods commands, but it also hurt them, their descendants, and one of their closest earthly relationships. What is the danger of thinking we can do Gods job better than He does? What do we need for a joy that endures through our circumstances?
God, how am I to know you will fulfill your promises? If we are going to base our entire life on the promises of God, we want to know that He will fulfill those promises. This was also Abrams question. God had made promises of land, children and descendants (Genesis 15:1-6) but none of those had materialized for Abram by this point. Abram had left so much to follow Gods call; he had followed God by faith; he had done what was required of him. How did he know that God would fulfill His promises? (Genesis 15:7-8) Our willingness to obey Gods commands is directly related with our view of Gods trustworthiness (Hebrews 11:6). Are Gods promises trustworthy?
Are Gods promises real? Is there substance to them or are they simply sentimental, pie-in-the-sky wishes. Is God leading us on with them? As his life went on, Gods promises seemed less real to Abram. They may seem that way to us as well. Today we want to see how God works with us in our doubts, bringing assurance that His promises are real
In this last section of Pauls letter to Philemon, consider your motivation for discipleship. Pauls life shows that he has been boldly loved, which enables him to love boldly.
We cannot help but be affected by the sin and evil of the world around us (Genesis 14:1-10). Engagement in the world is necessary; entanglement is not. In todays passage we will see how we need to be a witness to the world without being consumed by the world. Some may compromise with the world, being overcome with the foolishness of sin. Others let the world set the agenda for their lives. As followers of Jesus Christ, we live in this world, but we belong to another kingdom the kingdom of God. As we have been rescued from the world of sin, we need to live for the kingdom God rescued us to. What do we need to be ready to jump in for the building of Gods kingdom?
What is it that causes faith to falter? Of all the reasons we can think of, fear may be at the top of the list. When our fears for the future outweigh our confidence in the promises of God, there is no limit to the bad decisions we can make. Todays story is a cautionary tale as we follow Abram from the initial excitement of Gods call (Genesis 12:1-9) to a sin that could have derailed Abrams future (Genesis 12:10-20). As we go, we must ask ourselves what fears are overriding our faith, and look to the promises of God to strengthen us in addressing them. What happens when we allow fear to override faith?
Many of us have lost out on some opportunity because we are not ready to jump on it. Maybe we don't even know about the opportunity. Maybe we do know, but we don't do anything about it. Maybe we start to act, but we fail to follow through to the end. Not Abram. He took advantage of the opportunity God gave to him in Genesis 12. He didn't see the price tag (Genesis 12:1) as much as he saw the opportunity (Genesis 12:2-3) and God blessed him in his obedience. Today we want to see 3 things we need for a faith that enjoys the blessing of God.
In this second section (verses 8-16) of the letter, Paul appeals to Philemon to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8) by demonstrating the fruit of Gods goodness (Galatians 5:22) as a brother in Christ.
Are you engaged in the mission God has for you? There are many voices in the world who would like you to get involved in their mission, to take on their focus, but at the expense of Gods mission for you (Titus 3:8; Ephesians 2:20). As we look at our passage this morning, we see some of the forces working to distract us, to take us from Gods purposes for us, and how we need to stay on task for the bigger calling God had for us.
The Celebration of the Lords Supper is central to our worship of the Triune Savior. The mark of a church of Jesus Christ is the proper administration of the Lords Supper. The key to properly doing so is the call to self-examination and repentance and renewing faith in Christ.
Have you ever thought the people around us have lost their minds? Our passage today shows us our need to remain faithful to God through good works, even when people around us act badly (Titus 3:1-2). To do this, we need to keep two things in mind:
In the Christian life, God calls us to live differently than the world, and to glorify God through it. How is that possible? Its not simply a matter of setting our mind to doing right, improving ourselves, or just changing our behavior. Neither can we live an authentic Christian life and think we will stay the same. When we fail to understand the primary way of growth, we end up feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or prideful. What is the key to living the life that pleases God? Living in the grace of God. Today we want to see how the grace of God transforms us into the people God created us to be.
The Christian faith should make the biggest impact in the ordinary places of life. Many look for high emotional experiences to validate their faith, but the power of the gospel shows itself in shaping our character in our families, in our choices, in our relationships, and in our work. Faith in Jesus Christ has the power to make us into better people, we need to live out our faith in the ordinary parts of life. Today we want to look at a few ways that our faith should shape who we are to become the people God calls us to be.
Ideas have consequences. Bad doctrine and bad ideas upset families (Titus 1:11) and leave us with a bad conscience before God (Titus1:15). The church of Jesus Christ is supposed to be a place with doctrine that leads to eternal life, greater purity, conformity with the truth, a clear conscience and stronger families. Churches dont automatically steer toward good doctrine, so Titus needed to silence false doctrine (verse 11). Its the same with us. We need to be diligent if we will be grounded in truth and the life that comes from God. How do we stay in the truth?
Any group that wants to accomplish something of significance requires good leadership. This is equally true for the church (Titus 1:5). If we want to worship God in truth and do good works, we need godly leadership. Without it the wrong example is set forth, people end up trapped in past sins being stuck in unproductive labors, and the work of the church is hampered by the leaders own toxic behaviors. In our passage this morning, the Apostle Paul describes the spiritual qualifications for church elders. As he does this, he gives a model of character and conviction that should inspire us all. What qualities matter for an elder?
Any group that wants to accomplish something of significance requires good leadership. This is equally true for the church (Titus 1:5). If we want to worship God in truth and do good works, we need godly leadership. Without it the wrong example is set forth, people end up trapped in past sins being stuck in unproductive labors, and the work of the church is hampered by the leaders own toxic behaviors. In our passage this morning, the Apostle Paul describes the spiritual qualifications for church elders. As he does this, he gives a model of character and conviction that should inspire us all. What qualities matter for an elder?
In this first section (verses 1-7) of Pauls letter to Philemon, consider the cost ofdiscipleship under these three points.1. Pauls Greeting and Prayer: The Basis for Discipleship (v1-3)For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your owndoing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one mayboast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In theworld you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.(John 16:33)Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not cometo bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)2. Philemons Love and Faith: The Fruit of Discipleship (v4-5)And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and allknowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love,I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is nolaw. (Galatians 5:22-23)3. Pauls Prayer and Encouragement: The Expectation of Discipleship (v6-7)(Douglas Moo paraphrases of verse 6): Philemon, I am praying that themutual participation that arises from your faith might become effective in leadingyou to understand and to put into practice all the good that God wills for us andis found in our community, and to this for the sake of Christ.And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it tocompletion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)
Does the church matter? As the church in western nations struggle with decreased participation, we can see the cultural effects around us. Atheists may celebrate, agnostics dont pay attention, but do we as believers see the importance of the church and its work? If we see it, are we walking in health so we can effectively fulfill Gods mission for us? The apostle Paul and his apprentice Titus had started new churches in Crete, a morally corrupt Mediterranean island. Paul wrote the epistle to Titus to ensure the health of the church in Crete, for the continued mission of the church to this dark nation. Lets look at three critical elements God gives for a healthy church.
Have you ever misunderstood someone? Jesus did not want His disciples to underestimate Him, so He challenges them to consider His real identity. Rightly understanding Him is key to knowing His power for our lives and His power on the world. A strong faith is built upon the true understanding of Christ. Because we have a powerful Savior, we must rest in His power. How ought we to live in response to His identity?
The eternal Son of God came down from heaven to enable us by His sacrifice to enter into heaven (John 3:13). He came so that we might always be with Him (John 14:1-4). All of creation is moving toward that great day when Jesus returns in glory (Matthew 24:30-31). Yet as contemporary Christians we push into the background the thought of that great day instead of eagerly longing for it. The Father is in heaven (Matthew 5:16; 6:9). Jesus Christ is at His right hand in heaven (Ephesians 1:20).
Jesus came to make us fruitful, to change us into better people who please God and love our neighbors. The history of man-made religion has not brought about a more loving group of people, which is why Jesus came not just to start a new religion, but to empower His people in a whole new way of living. Spiritual change doesnt come so much from our efforts to change, but from abiding in Jesus Christ. It doesnt come from rituals or resolutions to do better, but in being vitally and organically connected to Jesus. When we abide in Christ, we will bear fruit by His working in us. Today we want to look at what Jesus teaches about abiding in Him.
While the world tells us that there are many ways to God, in our passage today, Jesus makes His most exclusive statement about the way to heaven. While the world may think this is narrow, Christians realize just how wide Gods grace is to make any way available. God didnt have to make a way, but He did! The way to God is not found in human reasoning, human religion, or human righteousness the way to God is found in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Only He did what needed to be done to get us to that destination. Only He could do enough. What do we mean that Jesus is the only way to heaven?
History is full of leaders who failed in their responsibility and took advantage of others instead of leading them. Where can we find good leadership? Jesus answers by telling us, I am the good shepherd. He is the standard of Gods perfect leadership. Shepherding has a long history in Israel, with God promising to correct the failures of poor leadership by being a shepherd to Gods people (Ezekiel 34:1-24). This I am statement of Jesus shows that He is the shepherd who cares for us in Psalm 23, the one who has already proven His love for us. The question is: will we live under His care? Or will we do our own thing? Once we know what His care looks like, how could we want anything else?
Romans 8:28-39 (ESV)
28And we know that for those who love God all things work togetherfor good,[a]forthose who are called according to his purpose.29For those whom heforeknew he alsopredestinedto be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might bethe firstborn among many brothers.30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he alsojustified, and those whom he justified he alsoglorified. God's Everlasting Love 31What then shall we say to these things?If God is for us, who can be[b]against us?32He who did not spare his own Son butgave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?It is God who justifies.34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who diedmore than that, who was raisedwho is at the right hand of God,who indeed is interceding for us.[c]35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?36As it is written,
For your sakewe are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
37No, in all these things we are more thanconquerors throughhim who loved us.38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39nor 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.
Where do we find an abundant and meaningful life? In Jesus third I am statement, He says, I am the door (John 10:9). He goes on to say that, through that door, we will have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). Contrary to Jesus, the world says there are many doors to abundant life and that each one leads to equal possibility of happiness. Sadly, this does not work out and many choose doors that leave them in quiet desperation. They have gambled with a door that led only to spiritual poverty, not to abundance. Today we want to look at the abundant life that Jesus provides His people, and how we can dwell in Gods abundant life.
We dont usually like being in the dark. Darkness leaves us confused and fearful; it leaves us vulnerable to hidden things; and it leaves us feeling alone and isolated. How then do we see? By bringing light. This is the same spiritually. While the world promises ways of enlightenment, it fails to fulfill its promises, leaves us in spiritual darkness. Jesus says He is the light of the world, bringing light so we can know the joy of fellowship with God. What does Jesus, Light of the World, reveal to the world?
He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Even before His own death and resurrection, Jesus promised that He would conquer death. He did this by resurrecting the dead, and He called his followers to live in the promise and hope of the resurrection. You and I live in the light of an historical resurrection. How should this change the way we should live? Lets look at five ways the resurrection shapes our life.
How can we be satisfied? So many of our sins, our bad habits, and our deepest regrets come from trying to find satisfaction. On the other hand, how many have settled for less than God offers, being filled up with the world, but not with God? In our passage today, Jesus shows how He is the way to being genuinely filled, filled so that we hunger for righteousness, filled so we overflow with love for God and others. The world will not satisfy us, but Jesus Christ does. Today we want to see three ways that people miss out on being truly filled and how Jesus answers each of these to make us truly filled.
Before we can really know ourselves, we need to know the God who has created us. Despite what the world says, we do not create our own identity, we receive it from God. The brokenness, sin, and evil of the world come from people making an identity apart from what God has revealed. In this new sermon series, we want to see how Jesus reveals His identity with his I AM statements. As we look at this, we will see that we can really only become who God created us to become when we receive Jesus Christ for who He was
God promises to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death Luke 1:79. And again in Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death upon them a light has shined.
Who does God work with to accomplish His purposes? We are often surprised to see God doing big things through people we have never heard of. What about us? It is easy to get stuck in the past, to get comfortable, or to doubt our ability to accomplish anything of significance. We can feel useless. The sins of our past make us feel unusable. Our background makes us feel less than others. We think other people, more gifted than us, should take up the issues before us. When God calls us to His work, He equips us for that work. As it has been said, God doesnt just call the equipped (because he calls us to faith and stretching ourselves) but God equips the called. He can turn your past story into a story of His future grace. Lets see how today, looking at the life of Abram.
Our heroes from history have feet of clay. They were prone to their own sin. In many ways, they were products of their time who stood out in one or a few notable areas. It's the same with us. So while we emulate their virtues, we eradicate their vices. Noah was one of these heroes a righteous man who walked with God, a man who obeyed God's commands and saved humanity (Hebrews 11:7), and yet a man who committed a sin that ended up shaping the future of the world. God's grace is greater than our sin. He uses sinners. He even turns sin around and uses it to accomplish His plan. When we are confronted with the sin of others, how do we deal with it?
We like the idea of a reset or a do over, but unless we make changes, we are bound to have the same results. God blotted out life on the earth, except for Noah and the others on the ark. But even the flood could not change human nature. Because Noah and his descendants were still sinful by nature (Genesis 8:20-22), and because they still have the same responsibilities and blessings (Genesis 9:1-4), something needed to be done with sin and evil. God had no intention of letting it grow like it did before the flood. Instead, God gives gifts of mercy and grace to deal withsin and evil. What has God given to deal with sin and evil?
Have you ever felt forgotten or abandoned? Noah might have felt that way after 150 days on the Ark. Thats why Genesis 8:1 is so striking But God remembered Noah. God remembers. He remembers His promises (Genesis 6:18). He remembers Jesus. He remembers you (Genesis 30:22; Exodus 2:24; 1 Samuel 1:19). When we face long trials, we may want to give up or despair. Its at these times we need to remember the certainty of His promise and live by faith in what He will do. How do we live in light of future grace?
When catastrophe hits, we want to be sure our loved ones are safe. When catastrophe is coming, we want to be sure we have a way of escape. The greatest catastrophe the world has seen was the worldwide flood of Noahs day, and God provided Noah a way of escape. There will be another catastrophic day in the future, the day of Gods judgment. By His grace, He has provided a strong and secure way of salvation through Jesus Christ. What does Noah and the ark teach us about escaping judgment?
Many people think that sin isnt that big of a deal, that they can play around with it, and it wont affect them. They act like sin is not a big deal to God. Today, in Genesis 6, we see that sin is a big deal to God. In Genesis 6, God deals with the mounting sin and evil in the world with a pronouncement of worldwide judgement. We dont like to talk about Gods judgment, but we need to. It makes us uncomfortable, but it is a reality we need to face head on. God will judge the sin of the world and the only escape is the grace and favor of God. What is Gods judgment like? Today we will see.
Much of the news around the world is bleak. With the things that happen in this world, and grab our headlines, it is hard to have much hope for humanity. That is the story of Genesis 4. But the bad news isnt the full story. Our hope isnt in humanity, but we have full hope in God. He has promised He will have a light in the world. God redeems people and sets them as witnesses of His glory, worshipping Him in holiness, and doing good in the world. This is Gods story, and it is first pictured in Genesis 5, as He redeems a group of people by grace, bringing hope into our world. Today, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be characterized as people of hope. Lets see how this works out in our passage today.
The Sermon on the Mount is like the sign that proclaims, You Are Here: it shows where you stand in relation to the whole. But make no mistake: the course of this world tells you to look elsewhere; the desires of [the] flesh point you in another direction; and Satan asks the question, Did God actually say? Yet by faith in the Word of God, the believer can joyfully thank God, ...to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13), knowing with confidence, You are Here for greater purpose, and the Lord is with me (Psalm 23:4).
Can Jesus help us? Even us? Even with our past, our problems, our sin? Believe it or not, even Jesus genealogy shows His ability to help us. Every way you look at Him, Jesus is qualified to redeem all sinners no one is beyond Jesus ability to save. He is Gods perfect gift given to the world. What qualifies Jesus to be Redeemer? Today we will look at three things that show that Jesus can save anyone.
Why be good if being bad is better? Many people have wondered that through history, especially when they see people do wrong and still prosper. The world has no fear of God and yet so many prosper even when living defiantly (Psalm 73:1-3). The Bible is clear, God is sovereign over all history and He accomplishes His purposes through a variety of actors. We are called to live as witnesses to the plans and purposes of God, as well witnesses to His grace. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers hope in contrast to the violence and depravity of our world. What do we need to know about life in this world to be a witness to Jesus Christ?
As we move from Genesis 3 to Genesis 4, we move from the garden to the wilderness, and we notice that it didnt take long for the effects of sin to appear the next generation was consumed by it. From the first moment that sin came into the world, fallen human nature has resisted Gods presence and Gods law. For Cain, it meant murdering his own brother. Unbelief was not a small thing for Cain unbelief brought him further into sin, further into the unthinkable, and further from God. He ignored Gods ways of blessing and belonging: through repentance, faith, and worship. Cain gives us a picture of unbelief, a path that God warned him from, and warns us from it so that we may walk in the newness of life. Today, lets look at three marks of unbelief, and remember the goodness of God that leads us from sin to faith.
Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV)
Children and Parents 6Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.2Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise),3that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes 5Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up onthemountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.2AndHe opened His mouth andbeganto teach them, saying, 3]Blessed are the poor in spirit, fortheirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed arethose who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed arethe gentle, for they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed arethose who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7Blessed arethe merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8Blessed arethe pure in heart, forthey will see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, forthey will be called sons of God. 10Blessed are those who have beenpersecuted for the sake of righteousness, fortheirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Will You not revive us again that your people may rejoice in You? (Psalm 85:6). What are we praying for when we ask God to send a revival to our church, community, nation, and world? A revival is not just stirring up interest in the local church or religion in general. Revivals cannot be organized or controlled by any people. God alone sends revival. Almighty God brings profound repentance and gives great cleansing of conscience.
Life is full of difficulties. Why? The introduction of sin also introduced great difficulty into the world. Its part of Gods imposed consequences for sin. While we cant choose the consequences for our actions, we can choose our actions. The curse of sin has already entered our world, which must change our expectations of life in this world. Should we expect an easy life in a world so deeply affected with sin and curse? We will all face difficulty. Lets look at five consequences of sin coming into the world.
We all experience guilt and shame and feel uncomfortable in it. Because sin brings guilt and shame, we need to look to God for grace and not hide in our sin. Owning our sin is the first step to finding grace. How do we own our sin?
Hebrews 4:1-6 (NASB)
The Believers Rest 4Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to havecome shortof it.2For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they alsodid; butthe wordthey heard did not benefit them, becausethey were not united with those who listened with faith.3For we who have believed enterthatrest, just as He has said,
As I swore in My anger,They certainly shall not enter My rest,
although His works were finishedfrom the foundation of the world.4For He has saidsomewhere concerning the seventhday: And Godrested on the seventh day from all His works;5and again in thispassage, They certainly shall not enter My rest.6Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because ofdisobedience,
take as seriously as it should. It is also something which God created to bring good to married couples and their children. Despite all the challenges of marriage and relationships, we know there is something good in intimacy that we need. Marriage shows us something about Gods ultimate purposes for His church and His ongoing demonstration of love. God has created us for companionship. Why are relationships so important for thriving?
In Genesis 2, we see what life in paradise looked like, and we learn about receiving God's gifts and Gods call to develop them by faith. All Gods gifts come by grace, even in the garden. Adams responsibility in the garden, and our responsibility today is to cultivate Gods gifts to draw out God's blessing. Will we do it? Coming before sin, the garden was a perfect environment, but now we live in a world that has been deeply affected by sin. What do we learn from life in the garden that transfers to our life now, what do we learn about Gods initial intentions, and what do we learn God requires of us?
Today we want to look at Gods creation of the human race, It is the final step and apex of His work. As we review the creation of Man, we see that the Bible is clear that God created man in His own image. This means that God infusedAdam with dignity and value not seen anywhere else in creation (even with the angels!). Without a right sense of identity, we devalue others and even ourselves and fall short of Gods purposes for us. When we have the right understanding, we are equipped to live for God and His purposes. What does it mean to be created in Gods image?
The world is a big place, and we often feel overwhelmed by the difficulties around us. Our doctrine of creation directs us to put our hope in the God who created the world and everything in it, instead of putting our trust in idols, objects, and animals who cannot help us. God is the sovereign Creator, and our doctrine of Creation shows why we can trust Him. How does creation show we can trust God?
We describe certain times of our lives as dark times. These are periods of time of little joy, feelings of oppression, and distance from God, His purposes, and others. On the first day of creation, God spoke light into existence. On the fourth day, God spoke the sun, moon, stars and every other celestial body into existence. In these two acts we see Gods providential care for us, and His call to believe in Him by faith. God spoke light into existence, He brought it into the world, and we need to choose His light if we are going to know Him and know the joy and love of God in this world. How do we live in Gods light?