Oak Grove Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
Oak Grove Baptist Church
Oak Grove Baptist is a growing church in one of the fastest growing communities in the Waco area. We are a community of believers who endeavor to love God and express God's love to others. Our desire is to make a positive impact for Christ on the China Spring community.
In “Care That Comes From Love,” 1 Timothy 5:1–16 shows us what genuine Christian love looks like as we live life together in the church. Love affects how we handle conflict, calling us to treat one another like family—with honor, gentleness, honesty, and purity rather than anger, avoidance, or bitterness. Believers are also called to care faithfully for their own families, especially those who can no longer care for themselves. Providing for our families is not merely a responsibility; it is an expression of sincere faith and a picture of the Gospel, reflecting the way God cared for us when we could not save ourselves.
Paul also teaches that the church has a special responsibility to care for widows who are truly alone and in need. Families should first care for their own relatives when they are able, allowing the church to focus its resources on those who have no one else to help them. Through conflict, family responsibility, and caring for widows, the same command ties everything together: “love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” The church demonstrates the love of Christ when its people honor one another, meet real needs, and faithfully care for each other through every season of life.
In 1 Timothy 4:11–16, Paul commands Timothy to boldly teach God’s Word while living in a way that makes its truth visible. Biblical instruction is not merely a collection of suggestions; it carries the authority of God and must be clearly taught, explained, and applied. Timothy’s leadership would not be established by his age but by the example he set in his speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. In the same way, every believer should live so that their actions confirm what they claim to believe. Scripture must remain central in the church through its public reading, faithful explanation, and practical application.
Paul also challenges Timothy not to neglect his spiritual gift but to practice these truths, immerse himself in God’s Word and work, and allow others to see his spiritual growth. Christians are not called to an “ankle-deep” faith that only engages with God occasionally; they are called to be fully committed, allowing Scripture to influence their thoughts, words, choices, and relationships. Church leaders must carefully guard both their personal lives and the doctrine being taught because false teaching can harm the entire church. As believers persist in sound teaching and faithful living, they demonstrate the reality of their salvation and help lead others toward the transforming truth of the gospel.
1 Timothy 4:6–10
A good servant of Jesus Christ is someone who is continually nourished by God’s Word, grounded in sound doctrine, and committed to living out what they believe. Paul encourages Timothy to avoid false teaching and empty ideas that pull people away from truth, and instead to “train” himself for godliness. Just as physical health requires both a good diet and consistent exercise, spiritual health requires consuming the truth of Scripture and then putting that truth into practice. Good doctrine without godliness leads to hypocrisy, while godliness without good doctrine can become legalism. Authentic faith comes when God’s Word changes us from the inside and produces an outward life that reflects Jesus.
While physical training has value for this life, Paul reminds us that training in godliness has eternal value. Believers are called to continually pursue spiritual growth through prayer, Scripture, obedience, and dependence on the Holy Spirit, even when that process includes failure and struggle. We continue to toil and strive because our hope is not in ourselves but in the living God, who has provided salvation through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus took the punishment for our sin, rose from the grave, and offers eternal life to all who believe, Christians can confidently stake their lives on the gospel and live in a way that demonstrates the reality of their faith.
This powerful message from 1 Timothy 4:1-5 confronts us with a sobering reality: we are living in the last days, a period that began with Christ's first coming and continues until His return. The core warning is clear—false teachings will arise within the church itself, promoted by those with seared consciences who present demonic doctrines dressed in religious language. What makes this particularly challenging is that these teachings often contain elements of truth wrapped in lies, making them difficult to discern. The solution? We must cling tightly to the great confession of our faith: that God manifested Himself in flesh through Jesus Christ, who was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the nations, and believed in the world. This gospel is not a starting point we move beyond—it is the deep thing we return to again and again. When teachers promise secret knowledge or higher levels of spirituality through additional rules and restrictions, they are actually leading us away from the freedom Christ purchased for us. The Christian life is not about adding human regulations to the gospel but about receiving God's good gifts—marriage, food, creation itself—with thanksgiving and proper understanding. We are called to live with sincere faith, the same person on Monday as we are on Sunday, without masks or pretense. Our battle is not to hide from a dark world but to advance the gospel boldly, knowing that gates of hell cannot prevail against Christ's church.
This sermon from 1 Timothy 3:14–16 emphasizes the weight and seriousness of how the church is called to live as the “household of God.” Paul’s instructions are not optional preferences but necessary guidance for the local church because the church belongs to the living God and serves as the “pillar and buttress of the truth.” The sermon warns that when churches rush past God’s order, sound doctrine, godly leadership, prayer, and holiness, they risk becoming disordered, spiritually weak, and ineffective in their witness. Because the church is precious to Christ, its conduct matters deeply for the good of God’s people, the health of families, and the mission of making disciples.
The sermon then turns to the “mystery of godliness,” showing that the central truth the church holds up is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit through the resurrection, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory. The message explains that Jesus is fully God, became fully man to take away sin, absorbed the wrath of God on the cross, rose again to prove His claims, and now reigns in glory until He returns. The church’s calling is to guard and proclaim this truth faithfully, calling people to submit to Christ now and receive eternal life rather than face judgment when He comes again.
In 1 Timothy 3:8–13, Paul continues teaching the church about the role and qualifications of deacons, reminding us that church order matters because the church is the household of God and a witness to the world. Deacons are not called to rule the church, but to serve as qualified servant leaders who assist in the mission and ministry of the church. Because their lives model service for the body, they must first be tested and proven blameless—not sinless, but free from ongoing patterns of unrepentant sin. This testing is a gift of time that allows the church to see whether their doctrine is sound, their character is faithful, and their lives match the gospel they profess.
The sermon also addressed the qualifications connected to deacons’ wives or possibly women who serve in the role of deacon, emphasizing that either interpretation must be handled with humility and unity. Whether applied to deacons’ wives, female deacons, or all believers, the call is to be dignified, not slanderous, sober-minded, and faithful in all things. Deacons must also be faithful in marriage and lead their own households well, because the home is a testing ground for ministry. Ultimately, those who serve well gain good standing and great confidence in the faith—not by serving in their own strength, but by depending on the strength God supplies so that Christ is glorified through their service.
In 1 Timothy 3:8–13, Paul teaches that deacons are a good gift from God to the church, set apart to serve the body of Christ with integrity, wisdom, and gospel faithfulness. While every believer is called to serve, deacons are qualified servants who are recognized by the church to help meet practical and spiritual needs within the body. They are not called to rule over the church, but to lead by serving, assisting the pastors and helping care for the people so the church can remain healthy and focused on its mission of advancing God’s kingdom and making disciples.
The sermon emphasized that the wrong church structure can slowly harm the church, just like levees that were meant to protect Louisiana ended up cutting it off from what helped the land stay healthy. In the same way, when deacons function as a governing body instead of servant leaders, the church loses the blessing God intended through that office. A deacon must be dignified, honest, self-controlled, not greedy, and firmly grounded in the gospel. Above all, deacons are to be people of character who hold tightly to the mystery of the faith and serve the church with a clear conscience, helping the body honor Christ and care for one another well.
In 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Paul reminds the church that the office of pastor, elder, or overseer is a noble and weighty calling. This role is not simply for anyone who desires it, nor should the church choose leaders based on charisma, popularity, or communication ability alone. Pastors are called to shepherd God’s people, care for the bride of Christ, equip the saints for ministry, and protect the church from false teaching. Because the work is so important, the church must take seriously who is allowed to lead.
Paul gives clear character qualifications for those who serve as overseers. A pastor must be above reproach, faithful, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy, mature in the faith, faithful in leading his home, and well thought of by outsiders. These qualifications show that biblical leadership is first about character before competency. When churches call qualified pastors, the church is strengthened, the saints are cared for, the gospel witness is protected, and the mission of advancing the kingdom by making disciples remains central.
In 1 Peter 5:6–11, believers are reminded that total surrender to God begins with humility. Peter calls us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, trusting that His plans, timing, and ways are greater than our own. This kind of humility requires us to let go of pride, stop trying to control every situation, and cast our anxieties fully on the Lord because He deeply cares for us. Rather than carrying fear, worry, grief, and disappointment on our own, we are invited to place the whole weight of our lives into the capable hands of our faithful Father.
Peter also reminds believers to stay alert because the enemy is real and seeks to destroy our faith, testimony, and trust in God. We are called to resist him by standing firm in the truth of God’s Word, relying on the Holy Spirit, and remembering that we are not alone in our struggles. Even though suffering is part of the Christian life, it is not meaningless and it is not forever. The God of all grace promises to restore, strengthen, confirm, and establish His people, using even difficult seasons to mature us, ground us, and prepare us for eternal glory in Christ.
In this sermon from Acts 2:42, the focus was on the difference between simply attending church and truly being the church. Looking at the example of the early church after Pentecost, the message challenged believers to examine what they are genuinely devoted to. The early believers devoted themselves to God’s Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, and through those commitments God used them to change the world around them. The sermon emphasized that healthy churches are not built on entertainment, preferences, or convenience, but on truth, spiritual growth, repentance, and a deep commitment to Jesus and His people. Believers were encouraged to move beyond shallow Christianity and become disciples whose lives are shaped daily by Scripture and obedience to Christ.
The message also highlighted the power of authentic biblical community and dependence on God. The early church shared meals, prayed together, cared for one another, and lived with generosity and unity that pointed people to Jesus. The sermon reminded listeners that people are not looking for perfection nearly as much as they are looking for real community, encouragement, and hope. Through hospitality, fellowship, communion, and prayer, the church becomes a visible picture of the gospel. Ultimately, the message called the church back to wholehearted devotion to Christ, trusting that when God’s people are fully surrendered to Him, He still transforms lives, builds His church, and changes the world through ordinary people empowered by the Holy Spirit.
This sermon from 1 Timothy 2:8–15 focused on how God has designed men and women to conduct themselves in worship and in the life of the church. The message emphasized that worship begins with a prepared heart, calling men to approach God with humility, prayer, and “holy hands” instead of anger or division, while encouraging women to pursue modesty, self-control, and godliness rather than outward appearance or distraction. The sermon repeatedly pointed back to the heart behind worship, stressing that both men and women are called to honor God in the way they carry themselves, speak, and serve within the gathered church. It also challenged the church to avoid judgmental attitudes toward others and instead pursue grace, humility, and spiritual maturity.
The second half of the sermon focused on Paul’s teaching regarding submission, teaching authority, and the order of leadership within the church. The message argued that Paul’s instructions are rooted not in culture but in God’s created order, using Adam and Eve as the foundation for understanding biblical roles in worship and church leadership. While affirming that men and women are equal in value and dignity before God, the sermon distinguished between equality and distinct callings, particularly regarding the office of pastor/elder. The message also highlighted that women play vital and meaningful roles in ministry, discipleship, teaching, and kingdom work, while maintaining that pastoral authority in the gathered church is reserved for qualified men according to Scripture. Throughout the sermon, the central emphasis was on trusting God’s design, submitting to biblical authority, and pursuing unity and godliness within the church body.
This sermon from 1 Timothy 1:18–20 focuses on the call for believers and the church to “wage the good warfare” by holding firmly to sound doctrine, faith, and a good conscience. Paul reminds Timothy that the church is meant to stand as a pillar of truth in the world, and that believers are engaged in a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness. The message explains that this warfare is not fought with worldly weapons, but through righteousness, faith, prayer, and the Word of God. Using passages from Ephesians 6 and other Scriptures, the sermon emphasizes the importance of daily spiritual preparation, dependence on God, and commitment to truth. The church is called to stay on the offensive by proclaiming the gospel, living faithfully, and being devoted to prayer and biblical teaching.
This sermon from 1 Timothy 1:12–17 focuses on the overwhelming grace of God displayed through calling, salvation, and daily dependence on Him. Paul reflects on his own life as proof that God does not call people because they are worthy, but because His grace makes them worthy. Even though Paul was once a blasphemer and persecutor of Christians, God showed him mercy and appointed him to ministry. The message emphasizes that every believer has been called to serve God where they live, work, and play, whether as parents, students, employees, or church leaders. The sermon repeatedly points back to the truth that God supplies the strength needed for His calling, and that believers are meant to live in daily dependence on Him rather than trying to serve in their own strength. Personal stories and biblical examples are used to show that God often works through weakness so that His power and glory are clearly seen.
The second half of the sermon highlights the grace and mercy of God in salvation. Paul calls himself the “foremost” of sinners to demonstrate that no one is beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness. Mercy is described as God withholding the punishment sinners deserve, while grace is God giving undeserved relationship, love, and eternal life through Jesus Christ. The sermon centers on the gospel truth that Jesus came into the world to save sinners through His death on the cross and resurrection. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, anyone who repents and believes can receive eternal life. The message closes by reminding believers that the ultimate purpose of salvation is the worship and glory of God. Heaven is not glorious simply because of its blessings, but because God Himself is there, and believers are called both now and forever to honor Him with their lives.
In this sermon from 1 Timothy 1:8–11, the central message is that God gave a good law for sinful people, and when it is used rightly, it reveals His goodness and points people to their need for salvation. Paul teaches that the law itself is not bad—it becomes harmful only when people misuse it as a means of earning salvation or reject it altogether. The law reflects God’s holy standards, restrains evil, exposes sin, and shows humanity where we have rebelled against Him. It is meant to lead people to humility, repentance, and loving obedience, not self-righteousness or legalism. The sermon emphasized that truth and love must stay together: truth without love becomes harsh religion, while love without truth becomes compromise that cannot save.
The second half of the sermon pointed to the good news of the gospel. While the law shows us our guilt, it cannot make us righteous. Only Jesus can do that. Christ perfectly fulfilled the law and then gave His righteousness as a gift to all who trust in Him. The sermon reminded listeners that no one is too sinful or too far gone for God’s grace. Jesus came to save lawbreakers, rebels, and broken people of every kind. Because of that, believers are called to treasure both God’s standards and God’s mercy—living in grateful obedience while boldly sharing the hope of salvation with others.
In this sermon from 1 Timothy 1:3–7, the main message is that the church must guard truth in order to grow in love. Paul instructed Timothy to remain in Ephesus and confront false teachers who were spreading myths, speculation, and teachings that distracted people from genuine faith. The sermon emphasized that doctrine matters because what people believe shapes how they live. False teaching may sound convincing or exciting, but it leads people away from Christ, promotes confusion, and often elevates the teacher instead of Jesus. Believers are called to reject teaching that goes beyond Scripture and instead value faithful, Bible-centered teaching that leads people toward obedience, discipleship, and the glory of God.
The second half of the sermon focused on the goal of sound teaching: love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. True biblical teaching should move people to love God, love others, and pursue holiness. Through Christ, hearts are purified by His sacrifice, and believers are then called to continually turn from sin and live in obedience. A clear conscience comes from walking honestly before God, repenting quickly, and trusting fully in Jesus’ finished work. The sermon closed with a warning that false teachers are often bold and confident, but confidence does not equal truth. Christians must compare every message to Scripture, looking for teaching that exalts Christ, produces godliness, and leads to genuine love.
1st Timothy 1: 1-2
In this opening message of 1 Timothy, Paul introduces a series about how believers are to live “life together” as the household of God. He reminds the church that Scripture must be understood in its proper context, and he explains that this letter was written to Timothy, a young pastor serving in Ephesus—a spiritually dark and difficult city filled with false teaching, pagan worship, and pressure from the surrounding culture. Paul establishes his authority as an apostle appointed by Christ Jesus, emphasizing that his words carry divine authority and are meant to guide the church in truth, order, and godly living.
The heart of the sermon centers on Paul’s phrase, “Christ Jesus our hope.” True hope is not found in circumstances but in God’s saving power and transforming grace. Just as Timothy needed encouragement in a hard ministry season, believers today must keep their eyes on Christ when facing struggles in marriage, family, finances, health, or relationships. God is able to redeem broken situations and do more than we can imagine. The church can only thrive when its people live together according to God’s Word, anchored in the hope of Jesus rather than becoming bitter, distracted, or defeated by the pressures of life.
Romans 5
This sermon centers on the truth that the resurrection of Jesus validates the entire Gospel and reveals that “God is the Gospel.” Because Jesus truly lived, died, and rose again, His claims to be God are confirmed, and the good news is anchored in both historical reality and divine truth . The message explains that the Gospel is ultimately about God—His holiness, justice, and love—and is summarized in three key truths from Romans 5: we are saved by God, from God, and for God. God demonstrates His love not by waiting for us to respond, but by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners, offering clear evidence of His love through the cross.
The sermon also emphasizes that salvation addresses both God’s justice and our broken relationship with Him. We are saved from God’s righteous wrath against sin because Jesus paid the penalty we deserved, satisfying God’s justice and allowing us to be justified. But salvation doesn’t stop there—we are saved for a restored relationship with God. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are reconciled from being enemies to becoming His people, able to walk with Him now and forever. The ultimate joy of the Gospel is not just escaping judgment, but being brought into a living, eternal relationship with God, which has been His desire from the beginning.
Luke 22: 17-20
This sermon centers on the significance of the Lord’s Supper as a vital act of remembrance, realignment, and celebration for believers. Drawing from Luke 22:17–20, it emphasizes that “Faithfulness Moving Forward” requires keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. The Lord’s Supper reorients believers to the reality of the Gospel—reminding them that they are redeemed, set apart, and called to live for God’s glory. Just as people easily become distracted in everyday life, Christians need intentional moments like communion to refocus on Christ’s sacrifice, declare His victory, and reaffirm their unity with Him and one another.
The sermon also highlights the theological depth of the Lord’s Supper by connecting it to the inauguration of God’s Kingdom and the New Covenant established through Jesus’ atoning death. Christ’s broken body and shed blood fulfilled what the Old Covenant could not—providing true forgiveness, freedom from sin, and a restored relationship with God based on grace rather than works. Through communion, believers not only look back at the cross but also forward to Christ’s return, celebrating both their present identity in Him and their future hope. This act calls for self-examination, repentance, and joyful reflection on the transformative power of the Gospel, making the cross the central focus of the believer’s life.
Hebrews 4: 12-13
This sermon centers on Hebrews 4:12–13, emphasizing that “Faithfulness Moving Forward” requires believers to live in full submission to the Word of God. The passage highlights that God’s Word is living, active, and powerful—able to transform lives, expose sin, and lead people into the rest that God has promised. Drawing from the example of Israel in the wilderness, the sermon warns against hearing God’s Word without responding in faith and obedience. True rest—both in this life and in salvation to come—is found when believers consistently place themselves under Scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to apply its truth, bring conviction, and produce lasting spiritual change.
The sermon also explains that God’s Word functions like a precise, healing instrument rather than a weapon meant to harm. Though it cuts deeply by revealing the thoughts and intentions of the heart, its purpose is restoration, not destruction. Believers are called to handle Scripture with care—speaking truth in love, confronting sin without harshness, and trusting God to do the convicting work. Ultimately, the Word acts as a righteous judge that exposes what is hidden and calls people to repentance and holiness. The church’s commitment to Scripture, especially in a culture that often rejects it, is essential because it is the only means by which people can experience true transformation, salvation, and the rest their souls are longing for.
Collaborating for the Kingdom from Acts 11 highlights how Jesus designed His church to live on offense by advancing the kingdom through disciple-making and gospel expansion. Jesus’ strategy, given in the Great Commission and Acts 1:8, is for believers to make disciples everywhere—from their local community to the ends of the earth—empowered by the Holy Spirit. The early church sometimes struggled with distraction and complacency, but God used events like persecution to scatter believers and spread the gospel. The church in Antioch becomes a powerful model of a church living on offense, committed to outward mission while strengthening disciples locally.
Acts 11 also reveals the pattern of kingdom collaboration among churches. The believers in Antioch responded to a coming famine by generously sending relief to the church in Jerusalem, demonstrating how churches work together through prayer, resources, and people to advance the gospel. Throughout the New Testament, churches supported one another and sent missionaries—like Paul and Barnabas—to plant and strengthen churches. This model shows that every believer has a role in God’s mission, whether by giving, going, or praying, as the church works together to reach a lost world and continue the mission of Christ.
Ephesians 4: 21-32
“Taking Back What Has Been Won” (Ephesians 4:21–32) calls the church to live on the offensive in the spiritual battle by reclaiming the ground that Christ has already won through His victory on the cross. Rather than merely making converts, the church is called to make disciples—believers who actively live under the reign of Christ and advance His kingdom. Paul teaches that believers must “put off the old self” and “put on the new self,” rejecting the sinful patterns of their former life and allowing the Holy Spirit to renew their minds. When Christians continue to allow sin to remain in their lives, they are essentially giving the enemy a foothold, surrendering ground that rightfully belongs to Christ.
Paul warns that sins such as anger, bitterness, lying, and corrupt speech create opportunities for Satan to influence believers’ lives and hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. However, Satan is already a defeated enemy, and the power of Christ in believers is greater than any stronghold of sin. Through repentance, reclaiming surrendered ground, tearing down lies, filling the mind with God’s truth, and taking every thought captive to Christ, believers can walk in the freedom Jesus purchased. When the church lives in this victory—putting away sin and reflecting Christ’s character—it becomes a powerful force advancing God’s kingdom and pushing back the darkness.
John 15
In this sermon, Faithfulness Moving Forward: A Church on Offense — A People of Prayer, the focus shifts from merely surviving as a church to advancing the Kingdom of God with boldness and spiritual power. Rooted in John 15 and Matthew 16:18, the message emphasizes that the church is called to be on the offensive against the gates of hell—but that kind of spiritual victory only comes through abiding in Christ. Using the image of the vine and branches, Jesus teaches that apart from Him we can do nothing; fruitfulness, power, and effectiveness flow from remaining in His presence. Abiding requires pruning—repentance, surrender, and cooperation with the Holy Spirit—and it produces spiritual fruit that glorifies God. The sermon calls believers away from self-reliance and distraction and into radical dependence through prayer, reminding us that prayer is not secondary but our primary weapon in spiritual warfare. If Oak Grove is going to move forward faithfully for generations, it must be a church marked by intimacy with Jesus, obedience to His Word, and unwavering devotion to prayer.
Joshua 3 & 4
In Faithfulness Moving Forward: Steps of Faith (Joshua 3–4), the message calls Oak Grove to consider what it will take to remain faithful for the next 150 years by walking in courageous, Spirit-led faith. Just as Israel had to step into the overflowing Jordan before God stopped the waters, the church must trust God with the outcome rather than cling to what has “worked” in the past or be paralyzed by fear and what-ifs. The sermon contrasts faith-filled obedience with self-reliance, warning against manufacturing results instead of depending on the Holy Spirit, and urges bold commitment to the Word, unity, prayer, evangelism, and missions. At the same time, like the twelve memorial stones in Joshua 4, faithfulness requires remembering God’s past faithfulness—celebrating Oak Grove’s 150-year legacy of evangelism, sacrificial missions giving, partnerships, growth, and innovation—so that gratitude fuels present obedience. Ultimately, the call is to honor the saints who came before, trust Christ to build His church, and step forward in faith to advance the gospel locally and globally for the next generation.
In Exodus 40, God completes His work of preparing Israel for the Promised Land by establishing the Tabernacle as the place where His presence would dwell among His redeemed people. The detailed instructions for the Tabernacle, the consecration of the priests, and the faithful obedience of Moses all point forward to the greater work God would accomplish in Jesus Christ—our true sacrifice, scapegoat, and perfect High Priest. Just as the Tabernacle was filled with the glory of God, the coming of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit reveal that God now dwells not in tents or temples, but in the hearts of His people. The book of Exodus ends with Israel on the move, guided by God’s presence, showing that salvation is not only about being delivered from bondage but about being led into a promised future. In the same way, believers today are a redeemed people journeying toward the eternal Promised Land, confident that the God who lives within us will faithfully lead us all the way home.
Exodus 34:29-35
This sermon teaches that we are shaped by what we consistently behold. Just as people are influenced by those they spend time with, believers are transformed by time spent in the presence of God. In Exodus 34, Moses comes down from Mount Sinai unaware that his face is shining—radiating God’s glory—simply because he had been with the Lord. The change was not self-produced but a reflection of God’s presence.
The message emphasizes that spiritual transformation does not happen passively. God invites us into His presence through His Word, prayer, and meditation, and over time He renews us from the inside out. As we behold God, we become more like Him. That transformation will be visible to others, even when we don’t notice it ourselves.
God’s glory both draws and repels. Some are drawn to the light of Christ reflected in believers, while others reject it. Like Moses, Christians are called to speak God’s Word plainly and faithfully without reshaping it to fit cultural pressures or seeking approval from the world. True faith cannot remain private; it is lived out publicly.
Through Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers now have greater access to God than Moses did. The call of the sermon is clear: fix your eyes on Jesus. What you behold, you become. When we consistently behold Christ, His glory is formed in us, and the world will know we have been with Him.
Exodus 34 answers one of the most important questions we ever ask: Who is God, especially when we fail? After Israel’s greatest sin with the golden calf, God does not abandon them but comes near, reveals Himself, and proclaims His own character—“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” God shows that He is both holy and dangerous to sin, yet loving, compassionate, and eager to forgive; He is patient, faithful to His promises, and rich in mercy, but also perfectly just and unwilling to ignore guilt. In Him, mercy and justice meet: He forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin, yet never compromises righteousness—a tension ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, where God Himself pays for our sin so He can truly forgive. This passage teaches us that when we fail, we do not meet a cold or fickle God, but the eternal “I AM” who is good, who comes to us, who speaks truth about Himself, and who welcomes repentant sinners with steadfast love while remaining perfectly holy and just.
Exodus 33
This series is called the Gospel of Exodus. The book of Exodus gives us shadows and pictures of the deliverance that God is going to bring to the whole world through His Son, Jesus.
Ultimately, the promise of the New Covenant, or the work of God, as we find in the New Testament, is that God is with us. We hear Him yearning for this throughout the Old Testament, looking to the day when He will do this work, and He will be our God, and we will be His people. Meaning we have God’s presence not residing in temples, synagogues, or churches, but His presence, the Holy Spirit, now dwells in us. We get God’s presence now as believers in this life, but in heaven, we are going to be in His presence.
What is God’s presence? God with-ness. His being with us. What are God’s presents? The promises and gifts of God.
God’s presence is God’s present that He gives by sending Jesus.
Exodus 32
Mercy is God not giving people what they deserve. You, like Israel, stand before God condemned because of your sins. You have made your own false gods. You haven’t given God the glory for the gifts and deliverances He has given you. You have used His gifts for sin. You have used your gift of speech to lie, be vulgar, and not give Him His due glory. You have used your sight to distract your mind from worshipping Him and looked at evil things. You have used your health to create idols of activities that draw your heart away from Him and you have used your health to pursue sexual sin. You have used the wealth that He has given to purchase things that lead you into sin.
The justice of God is that He fairly struck down Israel. But we need His mercy, not His fairness. It is not fair that He would offer us forgiveness. The point of the law is to show us our flaw and our need for the Savior.
The law brings death, but Jesus fulfills the law and brings life. I love this picture from the foot of Mount Sinai. When the law comes down, 3000 people die. This is 50 days after the first Passover. On the Passover, when Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for many, 50 days later, when the Spirit fell, 3,000 people were given forgiveness and life.
If you want the justice of God, trust in your ability to fulfill the law. If you want the mercy and forgiveness of God, trust Jesus.
John 14: 1-6
Jesus’ words still stand:
“Let not your hearts be troubled.”
Not because life is predictable.
But because Jesus is faithful.
Not because the future is clear.
But because the Savior is sure.
In Him, we don’t just face tomorrow.
We have the gift of a future.
Luke 2:8-14
Imagine your favorite Christmas as a child when you came running out of your room to see the wrapped presents under the tree. Looking at beautifully wrapped presents is incredible: the bows, the paper, the anticipation. But the point isn't to just admire the wrapping. The point is to dig in and rip the paper off so that you can discover what's actually inside.
That's where we are with the Christmas story. At Christmas, there are all the wrappings of presents, carols, lights, events, and parties, but it would be a shame not dig into the story.
I want us to understand what God is actually giving us.
Today we are concluding our study in the Ten Commandments. I hope it has been a blessing, and you have wrestled with the ethical implications of the law in your everyday life.
The Ten Commandments are the summation of all the laws. God has given us the law so that we can know how God desires His people to live. At Mount Sinai, God gave Israel His law, but only after they entered into a covenant relationship with Him. God's grace precedes the law. The law shows us how to live, but it doesn't grant us access to God.
The heart of the law is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. We have seen that the first four commands were specific to loving God, and the last six are about loving our neighbors as a result of loving God. We love God and our neighbor by honoring our parents, by loving life, by loving our spouse, by respecting their property, and by only speaking what is true, and we love God and our neighbor by being content with the gifts that God has given us.
Exodus 20:16
We have been studying the book of Exodus, and we
have slowed down to walk through each of the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments are the summation of all the laws. God has given us the law so that we
can know how God desires His people to live. At Mount Sinai, God gave Israel His law, but only
after they entered into a covenant relationship with Him. God's grace precedes the law. The law
shows us how to live, but it doesn't grant us access to God.
The heart of the law is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. We have seen that the
first four commands were specific to loving God, and the last six are about loving our neighbors
as a result of loving God. We love God and our neighbor by honoring our parents, by loving life,
loving our spouse, we love God and our neighbor by respecting their property, and we love God
and our neighbor by only speaking what is true.
Exodus 20:15.
We have been studying the book of Exodus and we have slowed down to walk through each of the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments are the summation of all the laws. God has given us the law so that we can know how God desires His people to live. At Mount Sinai, God gave Israel His law, but only after they entered into a covenant relationship with Him. God's grace precedes the law. The law shows us how to live, but it doesn't grant us access to God
The heart of the law is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. We have seen that the first four commands were specific to loving God, and the last six are about loving our neighbors as a result of loving God. We love God and our neighbor by honoring our parents, by loving life, loving our spouse, and we love God and our neighbor by respecting their property.
Our goal is to understand and apply the ethical implications of God's law to our lives as it applies to loving God and our neighbor.
Exodus 20:14
The Ten Commandments are the summation of all the laws. God has given us the law so that we can know how God desires His people to live. At Mount Sinai, God gave Israel His law, but only after they entered into a covenant relationship with Him. God's grace precedes the law. The law shows us how to live, but it doesn't grant us access to God
The heart of the law is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. We have seen that the first four commands were specific to loving God, and the last six are about loving our neighbors as a result of loving God. We love God and our neighbor by honoring our parents, by loving life, and now we are going to see we love our neighbor by loving our spouse.
Our goal is to understand and apply the ethical implications of God's law to our lives through studying the biblical command, building a theological foundation for sex and family, applying Jesus' teaching on the law, and discerning what this means for daily living
Exodus 20: 7
The Ten Commandments are the core of God’s law. God has given us the law so that we can know how God desires His people to live.
In our study, we are trying to understand the Ten Commandments and the ethical implications of the commandments, understanding that they represent categories for sins. The Ten Commandments are the summation of all the laws.
At Mount Sinai, God is giving Israel His law. He is writing these Ten Commandments on stone tablets. Before God gave Israel the Law, Israel freely entered into a covenant relationship with God where they promised Him their love, devotion, and to keep all of His laws and statutes.
I have pointed this out for the last few weeks, but I want you always to remember: God’s covenant precedes the law, the requirement to walk in obedience. This reveals that the law isn’t what gives us a relationship with God; God’s grace grants us a relationship with Him. Though the law is the standard by which all humanity is going to be judged, it is not what grants access to God.
The First Commandment is about worshipping the right God. The Second Commandment is about worshipping the right God the right way. The Third Commandment is about honoring this God in speech and deed.
Exodus 20: 4-6
In our study, we are trying to understand the Ten Commandments and the ethical implications of the commandments, understanding that they represent categories for sins without God having to enumerate every little possible thing. The Ten Commandments are the summation of all the laws.
Remember the context: Israel, 50 days free from Egyptian slavery, stands at Mount Sinai where God descends in smoke and fire.
At Mount Sinai, God is giving Israel His law. He is writing these Ten Commandments on stone tablets. Before God gave Israel the Law, Israel freely entered into a covenant relationship with God where they promised Him their love, devotion, and to keep all of His laws and statutes.
This is an important point that I want you always to remember: God’s covenant precedes the law, the requirement to walk in obedience. This reveals that the law isn’t what gives us a relationship with God; God’s grace grants us a relationship with Him. Though the law is the standard by which all humanity is going to be judged, it is not what grants access to God.
Exodus 19:16-20:20
What is True: God’s law is God’s good gift for humanity.
What We Do: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.
Exodus 19: 1-9
What is True: God saves people for His own possession to act as a kingdom of priests to the world.
What we Do: Live as God’s treasured possession by proclaiming His excellencies to the world.
Exodus 17: 8-16
What is true: Wake up from your spiritual slumber and realize you are at war, and your weapon for is prayer, and God is your warrior.
What to do: Cling to the throne of God, praying for the victory.
Exodus 17: 1-7
What is True: God is faithful even when we act unfaithful.
What we Do: Trust God’s proven provisions and daily thank Him for His blessings.
Exodus 16: 1-26
What is True: God provides us bread for today to keep us alive and the Bread of Life to give us eternal life.
What we do: Trust God’s provisions and rest in Him
Exodus 15: 22-27
What is true: Contentment comes from trusting God despite your situation.
What we do: Diligently listen to the voice of God and do the commandments of God.
Exodus 15: 1-18
What is True: We sing in response to God’s power and goodness towards us.
What We Do: We are to celebrate what God has done and is doing in our lives.
Exodus 13:17–14:31
What is True: Salvation belongs to God.
What we Do: We are to take the risk and step out in faith, not knowing how God will work.
Exodus 11 - 12:24
What is True: God plunders a people to be His possession by rescuing them from darkness and redeeming them through the blood of the Lamb.
What We Do: Put your faith in Jesus, the lamb of God, who has come to take away the sins of the world.
Exodus 10: 21-29
What is true: God is the one true God and nothing can stand against Him.
What we do: Don’t let the threats of man move you from following the call of God.
Exodus 10: 1-20
What Is True: God desires to be worshipped by every nation and generation.
What We Do: Refuse to bargain with God, worship God, and warn the lost about His coming judgment.
Exodus 9
What is True: God’s actions in Egypt are evangelical because He wants the whole world to know that He is God.
What we do: Devote your life to letting the world know of God.
Exodus 8:1-31
What is True: God created and rules over every aspect of our lives and judges the wicked who reject His rule and reign.
What we do: We cling to the righteousness of Christ, our only refuge from God’s righteous judgment.
Exodus 7
What is True: God’s sovereign will is unstoppable.
What we Do: Trust God, obey His Word, even when we don’t see the outcome.
What is True: God’s call often leads us into conflict, not comfort. Obedience does not guarantee ease; it may provoke resistance.
What we Do: Remain faithful when obedience costs you.
Exodus 4: 27-6: 13
What is True: The God who sees our suffering is the same God who sends us with purpose and supplies us with everything we need to walk in obedience.
What We Do: We trust the God who sees us, go where He sends us, and depend on Him to supply what we lack.
Exodus 3: 1-16
What is true: God draws us in with His presence so He can send us out with His purpose.
What We do: We are to live on purpose which is God’s purpose.
Exodus 2:11-25
What is True: God’s plans are perfect, unhurried, and not on our timeline.
What we Do: We must learn to rest and enjoy God in the waiting trusting God’s timing and methods.
Exodus 2: 1-10
What is True: God is working sovereignly through faithful people who trust Him with the results.
What we Do: Walk in faith and trust God with the outcome.
Exodus 1: 15-22
What is true: God is not absent in oppression; He is active, He is sovereign, and He is to be feared.
What we Do: We are to fear God more than we fear man.
Exodus 1: 1-14
What is True: God will deliver Israel so that they can have true and real freedom to serve God.
What we Do: We are to serve God in our freedom.
Have you ever considered why the bodily Resurrection of Jesus is so important? The Resurrection is essential because the bodily Resurrection is the cornerstone of the Gospel. If there is no resurrection, then there is no Gospel. I want to show you three truths about the resurrection: the resurrection brings peace, the resurrection brings understanding, and the resurrection brings salvation.
Luke 24: 36-49
Luke 23
What is True: At the Cross, Jesus extends grace in every direction: Compassion for the unaware, Conversion for the unworthy, Confession from the unexpected.
What We Do: Believe in Jesus for salvation.
John 18: 33-40
What is True: Jesus is King.
What to Do: Believe on Jesus for salvation and live for His Kingdom in this world.
Mark 14: 32-36
What is True: God is with you in your suffering.
What to Do: Make your pain known to the Father and don’t rely on yourself.
John 15: 1-11
What is True: God wants to be glorified in your life and for you to have joy.
What We Do: To glorify God you must abide in Jesus.
MATTHEW 26: 36-51
What is True: OBEDIENCE REQUIRES BEING PREPARED TO MEET JESUS
What do we do?: LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING OF CHRIST JESUS
John 2:13-22
What is True: Jesus is the true temple and desires pure worship.
What to Do: Live a life of pure worship for Jesus.
John 12:12-50
What is True: God loves you and desires you have eternal life through His Son.
What We Do: Live as servants to the risen King.
James 5: 13-20
What is True: God hears the prayers of His people and responds to our prayers.
What we Do: We are to pray in every situation because there is power in the prayer of the righteous.
James 5: 12
What is True: God and God’s Words are trustworthy and lead to eternal life.
What We Do: As ambassadors of God we are to speak truthfully.
James 5: 7-11
What is True: The Lord is coming soon.
What to Do: While we wait, we are to carry out God’s will by waiting patiently, not grumbling, and following the godly examples He left for us.
James 5:1-6
What is True: God will exalt the humble and oppose the proud.
What to Do: We are to treasure God over gold by submitting all of our earthly treasures to Him.
James 4: 10-17
What is True: God will exalt the humble.
What we do: We are to worship God by with humble hearts by being gracious in our speech.
James 4: 6-10
What is True: The humble will be exalted by God and the proud will be humbled by God.
What we Do: Humble yourself by submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God in your heart, cleansing the sin from your life, and being broken over your sin.
James 4:1-6
What is True: Living in pride prevents you from living in peace, your prayers from being answered, and pride prevents peace with God.
What we Do: Pursue God in humility and find peace.
James 3: 13-18
What is True: God promises a life of peace and blessing to those walk in the wisdom of God.
What We Do: We should walk in wisdom.
Philippians 2:5-11
What is True: Though Jesus is equal to God, He became a servant to die and purchase our salvation.
What we Do: Walk in the humility of Christ Jesus.
Luke 2: 1-14
What is True: God sent Jesus to make peace by the blood of His cross.
What we Do: Celebrate the peace that is offered in Jesus.
Luke 1: 67-79
What is True: Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins.
What we Do: We are to celebrate that God sent us the Savior Jesus Christ.
Luke 1: 26-55
What is True: Jesus came to the earth to save the world from the punishment of Hell and pay for our sins.
What we Do: Praise God for the joy of salvation that is in Christ.
James 3: 1-12
What is True: God desires to be worshipped by how you use your words.
What We Do: We are to worship God by taming our tongues, blessing others, and worshipping Him by our words.
James 2: 14-26
What is True: The evidence of living faith is love for God and loving others.
What to Do: Live out the faith you proclaim by loving God and loving others.
James 2: 8-13
What is True: We want God’s mercy, not God’s judgment.
What we Do: You are to love our neighbors as yourself.
James 2: 1-7
What is True: God shows grace, not partiality.
What we Do: We should only show partiality to God and to one another we should show love and mercy.
James 1: 23-27
What is True: God will reveal who you are, what He wants you to do, and what needs to change in His Word.
What we Do: We are to live in faithful obedience to the Word of God.
James 1: 21-22
What is True: The Holy Spirit will empower you to be a doer of the Word through the implanted Word of God in your heart.
What we Do: Immerse yourself in the Word of God and be a doer of the Word of God.
Faithfulness moving forward requires us to honor and remember what God has done for us in the past.
Faithfulness Moving Forward Requires Trusting God: Joshua 3:7
Faithfulness Moving Forward Requires Trusting What God is Telling You Now Not Trusting in the Past
James 1:19-21
What is True: The Holy Spirit will empower you to be a doer of the Word through the implanted Word of God in your heart.
What we Do: To live Godly lives, we are to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
James 1: 13-18
What is True: God is good all the time and gives His people good gifts.
What we Do: Dependency on God is what creates steadfastness in trials.
James 1: 2-12
What is True: God has promised a crown of life to those who love Him.
What we Do: We are to count all trials as joy, ask God for wisdom, live humbly, and trust in God’s unchangeable nature.
James 1:1-4
What is True: God is always at work growing us into the image of Jesus, and He often uses trials to grow us.
What we Do: In trials, ask God what it is He wants to produce in you.
What is True: God put Joseph in Egypt to preserve His promises.
What We Do: We can trust that God is going to preserve all His promises concerning us.
What is True: To receive God’s favor, you must have faith, or you will receive God’s fairness.
What We Do: Put your faith in Jesus Christ, and you will receive God’s favor on your life.
Genesis 42
What is True: 1 John 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
What We Do: If you want to make peace with your past, you are going to have to make peace with God and peace with those who have wronged you or those you have wronged.
Genesis 41
What is True: God uses affliction to prepare us for fruitfulness.
What We Do: Don’t despise affliction; instead, trust that God is using it to grow you and prepare you for what is ahead.
Genesis 40
What is True: God knows right where you are and exactly what you need.
What to Do: We are to walk by faith and not by sight, so continue to strive after holiness even when the situation seems hopeless.
Genesis 39
What is True: God grants success and brings suffering to mold you into the image of Christ.
What to Do: Walk in faithfulness and obedience to God, whether you are prospering or experiencing trials, facing slander, and suffering.
Genesis 38
What is True: God has written a story of grace for all who will repent and believe.
What we Do: When we see our sin, we must repent and trust God’s grace.
Genesis 37
What is True: God is in control of your story.
What we Do: We are to trust God through the pains and pleasures of this life, knowing that He is working all things out according to the counsel of His will.
Genesis 34
What is True: God’s justice demands satisfaction, and God provides satisfaction for His justice in Jesus.
What we Do: We are to pursue obedience to God over apathy.
Acts 4 - Acts 5: 11
God’s patience is to lead us to repentance, not to become bolder in our sin.
Genesis 32-33
What is True: We do not have to live in fear because we trust God is sovereign over all.
What We Do: Living in victory over fear comes from spending time with God.
Genesis 29
What is True: If we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
What We Do: Strive to run the race well set before you in Jesus, trust in the promises, and remember that even in your failure, He is faithful to His promises; therefore, finish well.
What is True: God will be faithful to His promises.
What we Do: Devote ourselves wholeheartedly to God.
What is True: God’s will won't be undone by man’s sin.
What we Do: We are to trust that God will work all things out according to our good and his glory.
What is True: God can deliver you from your family’s sin cycle.
What to Do: Model the faith that you want your kids to emulate.
What is True: God operates according to His will and His way, always working out His promise, and not according to the flesh.
What we Do: Trust God’s sovereignty over your situation.
Genesis 24
What is True: God fulfills His Promises.
What we Do: We walk in faith, having confidence in God’s promises because we have confidence in God.
Genesis 22
What is True: God desires our complete love and devotion.
What We Do: We are to love and devote ourselves to God over all of the gifts of God.
Genesis 21
What is True: God hears our cries and provides. God’s provision is near even when you cannot see it.
What We Do: Hold fast to the promises of God.
Genesis 18-19
What is True: God will save those who trust Him and follow by faith.
What We Do: Plead with God for the salvation of the lost and plead with the lost to accept the salvation of God.
Genesis 17
What is True: God gives signs and symbols to point our hearts to His promises.
What We Do: Trust in Jesus for salvation; don’t trust in the signs and symbols for salvation.
Genesis 16
What is True: God knows exactly where you are and what is going on, and He has a plan for your good if you love Him.
What we Do: Trust God and not our eyes.
Luke 23-32-43
What is True: By Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, He purchased salvation for all who would believe.
What to Do: Praise Jesus for enduring the cross for us to purchase our pardon.
Genesis 15: 1-19
What is True: God’s covenant is based on what He can do, not on what we can do.
What to Do: Trust God by walking in dependence and walking in obedience.
Genesis 14:1-18
What is True: Jesus is the Priestly King who gave His life for you.
What to Do: Submit your life to Jesus and experience the blessings of the King.
Genesis 12:1-7
What is True: God fulfills His promises.
What to Do: We must be faithful in what we know God wants from us and trust God with what is unknown to us.
Gen 6:5-9:17
What is True: God will deliver those who have faith in Him and will bring greater destruction on all the sons of unrighteousness than in the days of Noah.
What We Do: Put your faith in Jesus and His righteousness to be preserved from God’s coming wrath.
Genesis 4
What is True: God will always preserve His promise.
What We Do: We are to flee from sin, rejoice in God, and give to God our best as a faith offering.
Genesis 3: 1-24
What is True: God gives salvation to the sinner by the blood of Jesus.
What We Do: Believe in Jesus for salvation.
Genesis 2: 4-25
What is True: God created a people, God created a place for these people, and God created people for a purpose.
What We Do: We are to live out our God-given purpose to work and worship Him.
What is true: God created everything and made us in His own image.
What we do: Rather than finding worth in what we do, we are to find worth in being made in the image of God.
Genesis 1:1-2
What is True: God is the Creator of everything in the heavens and on earth.
What We Do: We submit to our creator and follow Him by faith.
1 Peter 5:6-14
What is True: God’s desire is that we walk in holiness, standing firm in the faith until we are united with Him in glory.
What to Do: In order to finish well, we must be humble, sober-minded, watchful, and actively resisting sin.
1 Peter 5: 1-6
What is True: God has given the local church the office of “Elder” to shepherd and lead the flock under the leadership of Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd.
What to Do: As Christians, we are to walk in humility towards one another.
What is True: God uses suffering for your good and for His glory.
What to Do:Use your trials and suffering as an opportunity to rejoice in and worship Jesus as a witness to the world of the hope that is inside you.
John 1:1-14
What is True: Jesus is the creator who became a part of His creation in order for His creatures to become children of God.
What to Do: We live this new life bought by the blood of God, allowing His love to shine through us.
Ez. 37: 1-14
Salvation is wholly a work of God. God’s work of salvation in sharing the message is only accomplished through the work of man.
Luke 10:38–42
God desires our works to be driven from our time of worshipping Him. Commit to creating daily rhythms of worship.
1 Peter 4: 7-11
God supplies everything we need to serve Him well, even in our suffering.
We are to serve one another even in our suffering.
1 Peter 4: 1-6
Living for the Kingdom of God puts you at odds with the kingdom of the world. We are to be prepared by being armed with the mindset of Jesus.
1 Peter 3: 18-22
We have been preserved by the blood of Christ to be presented to the Father in Glory. We endure and honor God in our suffering because we know that Jesus will present us to the Father.
1 Peter 3: 8-17God desires our holiness even in our suffering. Our holiness in good times and in suffering is the witness of Christ in you.
1 Peter 3:7A life lived in God's design requires a husband to understand his wife, honor his wife, lead with his eyes lookin forward to eternity, and pray for his wife.
1 Peter 3:1-6A life lived in God’s design is beautiful, powerful, and reveals who is King of your heart.
1 Peter 2: 15-25
Even when we are mistreated, we can trust that God is working all things out for our good and His glory.
1 Peter 2: 13-25
God uses people and government to carry out His will. We can trust that God is working all things out for our good and His glory.
Exodus 3; 1-6God’s holiness is one of His most defining characteristics and this Holy God desire a relationship with you.
1 Peter 2: 10-12As God's elect exiles when you walk in holiness it is for your own good, the good of the lost, and glorifies God.
1 Peter 2:9
In Christ we are a new creation and given new a new identity as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people of God’s own possession.
1 Peter 1:22- 2:3
God’s desire for all believers is that we would grow into maturity, and we grow in maturity by being in the word.
1 Peter 1:13-21We have been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus to conduct ourselves worthy of our King.
1 PETER 1:6-12GOD IS USING EVERY SITUATION IN YOUR LIFE TO CRAFT YOU INTO THE IMAGE OF THE SON AND TO PREPARE YOU FOR GLORY.
1 Peter 1: 3-5God is the source of our hope and inheritance, which means we praise God through suffering because we know we have a hope and inheritance.
1 Peter 1:1-2God desires to expand his kingdom through His elect exiles, which means we carry out His mission and calling to advance His Kingdom by making disciples at home and around the world.
Galatians 3:10-14
Sorry we lost audio for a few minutes due to a computer malfunction.. You will notice close to the end.
Lets use the law in a beneficial way. The law is a tool to point out our flaws and show us our deep and daily need for Jesus. The law is a tool we can us in evangelism to reveal the curse that is coming for those who don’t believe. The law is a tool we can use to know what God’s righteous standards are as we strive to walk in holiness and obedience. When we look at the law we should praise God for His grace and His Son’s willingness to take the curse for us.
Galatians 3: 1-9
The Galatian’s problem was there was a group who was teaching people to believe in a Jesus plus Gospel. Jesus plus works of the law and tradition to “really be saved” and Paul in this letter is combatting that mindset with a clear description of how a person is justified, or how a person is saved. We find that Justification comes by faith alone.
Galatians 2: 15-21
When we come to Christ we receive what the Bible call a new heart, we are given a new spiritual life. Before Christ you are considered dead spiritually. But when you believe, the church word is regenerated. This means the Holy Spirit comes in you and gives you a new spirit one that can love God and follow him. God gives us a picture of what He will do in us through His Spirit in Ezekiel 36.
Galatians 1: 1-10
We are to be servants of Christ and to be with Christ will set you at odds with the world. We are to preach and preserve the Gospel in a world that wishes to pervert the Gospel.
WHY? Because the Gospel has the power to save the lost, mend the broken hearted, and encourage us to endure because we have the hope of glory.
In Revelation, the only language spoken in heaven will be worship. The experience is joy, light, and amazement. The only language spoke is hell is the tongue of anguish. The experience described is that of torment, darkness, and despair.
The reality is that Christ reigns, and He will be coming back again. When you see Him if you are in Christ, you will only wish that you could have given more in your life to make His name great. Make use of what time you have left. Give your life to Christ.
I want you to see Christ as He is exalted
God sent these angels to proclaim to the world the Good News of great joy to all people. Jesus has come and he is Savior, Christ and Lord. This Christmas, Jesus is [inviting you to repent, trust, and submit to His will for your life.
This Christmas give the gift to your family of the Good News- Jesus has come and He is coming again. We are to celebrate with brothers and sisters in Christ His Birth- God came to us. And we are to celebrate and live in the reality of who He fully is until He comes again.
Because Mary was living a life with a heart that was willing to be obedient, she was humble, and she lived a life of worship when God showed up she was sensitive to His call. She wasn’t numb to direction of leading of the Lord.
The text this morning showed what happens when God uses an unlikely person in and unlikely place to do His unlikely work.
If we learn from Mary’s example of her obedient heart, willingness, and overflow of worship when we take her posture we can be expectant that God will do a mighty thing through us.
So why are we celebrating the cute baby? The baby was a King. The Baby was God in the Flesh. We celebrate this baby because Blood of this because that baby was God in the flesh coming to seek and save the lost to make peace by the blood of the Cross.
Once you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and that His plan is better. If or when you go back to living for your own kingdom, chasing relationships, climbing the career ladder, acquiring wealth, trying to find worth in your appearance- your life will start tasting like that dry cereal with no milk. You will see your life as bland. God’s life He has planned for you is not bland it is sweet. God is good, and the life He has for you is good.
Luke 15: 11-32
The Jews, the Pharisees, and the sinners alike did not understand what Jesus is about to reveal about the love of the Father. The love of the Father is not based on your ability to perform or obey. The love of the Father is based on your relationship with Him as His child.
Jesus is the Good Shephard King. He came to earth and bled and died in your place. David allowed his servant to die so that David would not have to bear shame. Jesus took our shame. Jesus took your debt. Jesus made a way if you would just repent and believe that you would be saved.