Christ Church StL: Recent Episodes
Christ Church StL
A catalog of sermons for Christ Church StL, 2400 Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood, MO ChristChurchStL.com Christ Church exists to equip people in the Great Commission by disciples making disciples (Matthew 28)
Jud Brooks continues our series on Parables with a message on the Friend at Midnight from Luke 10:38-11:13.
Jud Brooks, Logan Miller, Mel Davis, and Jacob Duncan share updates and vision around the core ministries of Christ Church: gatherings, group life, kids ministry, and missions.
Jud Brooks preaching the final message of our Easter series, Remember His Resurrection.
“The Advent of Joy”
Jud Brooks
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Psalm 126 12/17/23
Advent Action:
Question:
What does continuing to dream and know the joy of the Lord look like for you when the darkness won’t lift or when trials come?
How, this Advent, are you experiencing joy in Christ?
“A Tale of Two Hearts” Malachi 3:13-18
Jud Brooks – 11/12/23
The hardened heart - “it is vain to serve God” – (v13-15)
-Consistently questions God (v13)
-Sees faith in God as being primarily about personal gain (v14)
The softened heart - “those who feared the Lord” (v16)
-Seeks the wisdom of others (v16)
-Has a humble fear of God (v16)
The Lord pays attention to the humble – “the Lord paid attention and heard them” (v17)
-God observes and is honored by humble service (v18, Heb 13:16)
The Lord will make the humble His treasured possession – “they shall be mine, they will be my treasured possession” (v17)
-He will give them new hearts. (Jer. 31:33)
“Return to Me”
The Heart of God in Giving Malachi 3:6-12
Jud Brooks – 11/5/23
1-Robbing
“Wearied From Our Words”
Malachi 2:17-3:5
Jud Brooks – 10/29/23 The people’s words (2:17):
1-We weary God when we ignore God.
2-We weary God when we only talk to one another.
3-We weary God when we make decisions contrary to God’s character.
4-We weary God when our actions cause others to reject Him.
God’s response (3:1-5):
1-I will send a messenger.
2-He will prepare the way before me.
3-I will send Jesus.
4-He will perfectly embody the "God of justice" you are asking for.
"Who can stand?" (Phil. 2:10)
Marriage and Covenant “Guarded” – Malachi 2:10-16 Jud Brooks – 10/22/23
Charge: Faithless to one another. (v10) "Have we not all one Father?"
Charge: Faithless to the Lord. (v11-12) "Profaned the sanctuary of the Lord."
Charge: Faithless in marriage. (v13-16)"Let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth."Favor for the Faithless. (v16)"Guard yourselves in your spirit and do not be faithless."
Jud takes a break from the series on Malachi this week to address the attack in Israel, focusing on a Biblical perspective and the Christian response.
Malachi“I Have Loved You” – 1:1-5 Jud Brooks
Malachi = "my messenger"The purpose of Malachi is two fold; 1-Look back on the OT and apply its messages. 2-Look forward to the NT and the promise of the coming reign of God.1-"The word of the Lord."2-"I have loved you, says the Lord" 3-"How have you loved us?" 4-Jacob or Esau (Israel or Edom) 5-You shall say, "Great is the Lord.""God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way." - Leighton Ford
“The Disciple – Awaken Us O God” Matthew 4:5-7
Jud Brooks
1-The disciple consistently seeks the will of God.
2-The disciple does not presume on God.
3-The disciple humbly points everyone to God.
“A Look Back” Philippians Jud Brooks
Christ in Philippians:
-Friendship with Christ (3:8,10, 4:9) -Unity with Christ (1:27,2:1) -Suffering with Christ (3:7-8) -Eternity with Christ (4:20)
"A Generous Offering" - Philippians 4:14-20
1-Generosity Expressed – v14-16 “.... except only you”
2-Generosity Received – v17-18
“I am well supplied.... having received the gifts you sent”
3-The Standard – v19
“my God will supply every need of yours”
4-Our Response – v20
“....to our God and Father be glory”
“Think About This” Philippians 4:8-9 Jud Brooks
1-Thinking is expected - (Gen.1:1, Gen 1:27, Isaiah 55:8-9)
Where do they come from?
2-Thinking is instructed - (Phil. 4:8, 2 Cor. 10:5) How should we think?
Your thoughts matter to you (.... and the God of peace will be with you)
Your thoughts matter to others (.... practice these things)
Your thoughts matter to God (....anything worthy of praise)
“Therefore, Stand Firm” Philippians 4:1-9
Jud Brooks
Stand firm with others (v1-3)
Stand firm in discipline (v4-7)
Stand firm in the peace of God (v8-9)
A Blueprint For Following Jesus Philippians 3:12-21
Jud Brooks
1-We love and follow Jesus because he first loved us. (v12)
2-We do not dwell on the sins of our past. (v13)
3-We focus on how God has called us to live. (v14-16)
4-We live our lives in community with others. (v17)
5-We pray for our enemies. (v18)
6-We run from idols. (v19)
7-We celebrate our future hope. (v20-21)
“WHATEVER MY GAIN, I COUNT AS LOSS” Philippians 3:1-11
Jud Brooks
“You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. 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." - J.I. Packer
1-Circumcision of the Heart (v1-3) 2-Confidence in What? (v4-6) 3-Counted As Rubbish (v7-8)
"We say, then, to anyone who is under trial, give Him time to steep the soul in His eternal truth. Go into the open air, look up into the depths of the sky, or out upon the wideness of the sea, or on the strength of the hills that is His also; or, if bound in the body, go forth in the spirit; spirit is not bound. Give Him time and, as surely as dawn follows night, there will break upon the heart a sense of certainty that cannot be shaken." - Amy Carmichael
4-Compared to Knowing and Being Found in Christ (v9-11)
“Happy Servants, Humble
Encouragements” Philippians 2:19-30 Jud Brooks
v19- Who is Paul's hope always found in?
Observation # 1 - Aim to be someone others want to keep company with.
v20 - Paul really believed that Timothy had concern for the welfare and good of others.
Observation #2 - Loving one another while recognizing our limitations.
v22 - There is a certain affection and love Paul had for Timothy; like that of a father towards a son.
v23-24 - Paul desired to go visit the Philippians at some point, but also trusts it will happen at the right time.
Observation #3 - Sometimes our plans align with God's plans, other times they don't; how are we called to respond?
v25 - Paul had five titles for Epaphroditus; all of them having special meaning.
v26-29 - Clearly the Philippians love Epaphroditus and will be grateful God was gracious to heal him.
v29 - There is an honor that is appropriate for men and women who serve Jesus faithfully.
"Salvation, Joy and Light” Philippians 2:12-18
Jud Brooks
v12 - Discipleship; absence vs. presence.
v13 - Not "white knuckled holiness;" the work of God in you is what makes you able to work for his good pleasure.
v14 - Grumbling can reveal our distrust in God’s sovereign rule over our lives.
v15 - Transformed men and women become lights in the world.
v16- Feasting on the word of life.
v17 - Paul rejoices knowing that whatever happens to him, he will be proud of their faith and light.
v18 - Rejoice with those who rejoice.
Philippians“Worthy of the Gospel”1:27-30Jud BrooksV27a - "Only let your manner of life be worthy of thegospel of Christ."Five uses of “worthy” we find in the NT:-3 John 1:6, "You will do well to send them on their way ina manner worthy of God."-1 Thessalonians 2:12, "Walk in a manner worthy of theGod who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."-Colossians 1:10, "Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, toplease Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good workand increasing in the knowledge of God."-Ephesians 4:1, "Walk in a manner worthy of the callingwith which you have been called."-Philippians 1:27, "Only let your manner of life be worthyof the gospel of Christ."1-Living a life worthy of the gospel, requires that we striveside by side. (v27b-28)2- Living a life worthy of the gospel, requires that we suffertogether for the sake of Christ. (v29-30)
Philippians
“Gospel Movement” – 1:12-18 Jud Brooks
The advance of the gospel (v12-14)
"So that it has become known".... Paul's imprisonment was worth it as he believed in its necessity.
The gospel focuses on Jesus and His sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection. It reveals the power of God—a force capable of transforming sinners into saints. Knowing we are incapable of saving ourselves, we trust the gospel, which reveals the righteousness of God, who saves all who believe.
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple. - Psalm 27:4
Paul is proclaiming eternal liberation while he is temporarily imprisoned - no wonder he wasn't terribly concerned.
What matters to Paul? That Christ is proclaimed and the gospel of the Kingdom goes forth.
Philippians“I Thank My God” – 1:1-11 Jud BrooksA Greeting and a Prayer (v1-2)
1-Remembrance yields thankfulness (v3-4)
2-Thankfulness yields joy (v4)
3-Joy yields partnership (v5)
4-Partnership yields mission (v7)
5-Mission yields glory to God (v11)
Pause – “Betrayal”
Mark 14:10-50 Jud Brooks
Betrayal = to mislead.
Per contra to betrayal is constancy. 1-Judas represents us.
2-Judas wanted a Messiah who would punish the “bad” and “reward” the good. Jesus says “no one is good except God alone.”
3-Judas wanted a Messiah who would give him “the good life.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
“The man on the middle Cross said I could come.” –
Alistair Begg
Pause – “The Lord Of the Storm”
Mark 4 & 6 Jud Brooks
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
-Jesus
Why did Jesus sleep during the storm in Mark 4?
-Jesus humanity (he sympathizes with us)
-Jesus divinity (he didn’t fear)
In Mark 6, Jesus teaches us that:
- The Lord of the storm often sends us into the storm (v45)
- The Lord of the storm prays for us while we’re in the storm (v46-48)
-The Lord of the storm commands the storm and delivers us from the storm (v48-50)
-The Lord of the storm brings us peace in the midst of the storm (v51)
Pause – “Wilderness”
Mark 1:12-13 Jud Brooks
When you wake up to kingdom realities, you find that you are tracing the steps of both the Israelites and Jesus himself into the wilderness ... The wilderness is the place where God meets his people, Satan attacks, and kingdom allegiances are revealed. — Ed Welch
Temptation one - confronts desire Temptation two - confronts pride Temptation three - confronts power Wilderness seasons:
1-Are not always welcome
2-Always change us
3-Can leave us with renewed purpose
Belong – “For Your Forever Peace”
1 Peter 5:12-14 Jud Brooks
1-Peace from fellowship with the Saints 2-Peace from the true grace of God 3-Peace from being hid in Christ
The key to shalom is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence and favor of God. The theater in which God has chosen to display this blessing is His redeemed community, the church. That is, as men and women, boys and girls find pardon and peace with God through His redeeming grace, their relationships with one another are transformed by that same grace. The church, in both its old covenant and new covenant expressions, is marked by peace and reconciliation.
– Mark Johnston
Belong – “For The Fame Of Jesus”
1 Peter 3:13-18 Jud Brooks
In your suffering:
-Make much of Jesus (v15) -Share your hope (v15b)
-Remember just as Christ suffered for us all, we too are called to suffer alongside one another (v18)
Who might come to trust Jesus, as they observe the church suffering and enduring well together?
What if suffering together, plodding together, enduring together and struggling together are some of the most powerful evangelistic tools we have?
Belong – “For Your Appointed Leaders”
1 Peter 5:1-11 Jud Brooks
“An elder is a pastor is a shepherd is an overseer is a teacher is a leader, and in many ways the unifying concept underlying the biblical material is that of guardian. Our job, as elders, is to protect the church from harm – from danger, dispersal, division, drift, deviant doctrine, disobedience, destruction and ultimately the devil – while we wait for the day when Jesus returns, conquers the accuser, and takes his rightful place as the Shepherd to end all shepherds. Until that day, we are called to be not just gatherers, growers and governors, but also guides, gospellers and guardians; not in mere pragmatism, professionalism or presentation, but in preaching, protection and prayer. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
- Andrew Wilson
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