Jesus – First Baptist Church Dunkirk NY: Recent Episodes
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Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10DeadBad News!
Sin is our natural condition.
When you’re dead you can’t do anything about it!
We can’t save ourselves.
Alive“But God”
Rich in mercy and love…
Brought us to new life in Christ.
Rom 6:4-5, 10-11, 23
Faith AloneSaved by grace through faith in Christ alone.
The solas of the reformation include Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Christus, Sola Scriptura, and Sola Deo Gloria.
They emphasize that works and our own merit were not part of our salvation.
- By God’s grace He chose you
- Our forgiveness is by faith in Christ
- Life’s purpose = God’s Glory
God’s Word is our playbook for life.
- Who God is
- What He expects from us
Take Aways* Are you still dead in your sins? * If you are alive, are you still hanging on to the old life? * Does God’s love forgiveness, mercy, patience flow out of you to the people around you?
Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23
Faith in ChristThankful for their faith
- Saving Faith
- Practical Faith – seen through love for all the saints
Knowing JesusPhil 3:8 – unsurpassing worth
John 17:3 – eternal life
2 Pet 1:3 – everything we need
Hope of your calling
Great riches in His inheritance
Great power – endurance & patience to live joyful and pleasing to God
Our Glorious InheritanceRaised
Seated
Right hand of God
Above all
Head of All
Church is the fullness of Christ
“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
-Blaise Pascal
“The God of the Christians is a God of love and consolation, a God who fills the soul and hearts of His own.”
-Blaise Pascal
Knowing Jesus deeper and deeper results in our lives being transformed more and more into His likeness – thinking, speaking and acting like Jesus (Glorifying God)
Take AwaysDo you have faith in Jesus Christ?
Is your faith obvious to everyone around you?
Do you know about Jesus or do you know Jesus, personally?
Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-14Inheritance from God“In Him” (Christ)
Inheritance is money, property, or a title
God’s Inheritance is spiritual blessings
Given by God – not earned
“Faith is man’s response to God’s elective purpose. God’s choice of men is election; men’s choice of God is faith. In election God gives His promises, and by faith men receive them.”
- John MacArthur – Ephesians Commentary
Heard, Believed & SealedSoteriology – doctrine of salvation
Subject: “You”
Verb: “were sealed”
“In Him”
When you heard and believed”
The Gospel (1 Cor 15:3-4)
Christ died for our sins
He was buried
* He rose again
You were sealed – when you believed
By the Holy Spirit (living in you)
Secure
Authenticated
Ownership
Authority
“This person belongs to Me (God) and is an authentic citizen of My divine kingdom and member of My divine family.”
- John MacArthur – Ephesians Commentary
Holy Spirit is the GuaranteeGuarantee = down payment
Psalm 150
Deuteronomy 7:9
Psalm 136:2
Romans 8:17
Take AwaysAre you “in Christ?”
Do you rest in your inheritance?
Are Fruits of Spirit evident? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control…
Do you praise & thank God?
Do your thoughts, words, & actions bring Him glory?
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-10IntroWho wants to be blessed this morning? The word “blessed” appears three times and the word “blessing” appears once in the opening verses of chapter one. We often think of the word blessed to mean “I’m getting something.” But blessings are not always physical things we can touch or hold. In fact, the most important blessings are spiritual.
The first time Paul says Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here blessed means praise or commend. We can’t bless God by giving Him anything He doesn’t already have, but we can praise and glorify Him. That is blessing God.
Then Paul says God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Here, blessing means to bestow favor or give beneficial gifts. The blessing is a work of God. We are blessed in Christ. Any time a word is repeated in a passage it is worth noting. As we want to understand the original meaning of the passage, we see that blessing is the main idea.
If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your savior, then all of these blessings are yours as well. They define you. And they should greatly encourage you.
I don’t want to rush through this opening chapter of Ephesians because it is foundational for the rest of the message to the early church and to us today. This morning, we will see three ways God blesses us. They are all verbs – He chose us; He predestined us; and He lavished grace on us. Those are going to be our main points if you are taking notes. We will also see the trinity on full display as each person, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is deeply involved in our salvation.
Last week I encouraged our church to try to memorize this first chapter of Ephesians together. Did anyone work on the first verse this week?
Let’s say Eph 1:1 together.
READ Ephesians 1:3-10
He Chose UsHow do you feel about yourself today? Some of you maybe came in feeling a little down. Anyone? The weather and lack of sunshine can do that. The Christmas bills can bring us down. Maybe the year-end bonus was not there or not as good as the year before. You might feel underappreciated at work. Our relationships with family, coworkers, friends may not be what we want them to be, and we don’t feel loved or cared for. Maybe now that half of January is over, your Bible reading plan, daily devotions and prayer are not what you wanted them to be. You feel like you are letting God down.
God the Father blessed you in Christ the Son with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. While things here on planet earth may not be going exactly according to your plan, God has secured your righteousness, your position, and all the power and resources you need for spiritual growth and well-being.
God, the creator of the universe, calls himself your Father and chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world. He looked out over all creation and all time and chose you. You are loved with God’s eternal, never ending, unconditional, all forgiving, all saving love. How does that make you feel?
Our feelings spring out of our hearts. So you need to know, deep in your heart (your inner being), that you are loved by God.
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
When we are only looking at the things we can see and hear around us, and we lose sight of God and who we are in Him, we can get discouraged and worry. Jeremiah 17 says the person who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted near the water. You will have a strong foundation in God and you will not worry or be anxious. You will thrive in the heat and hard times instead of withering and no longer producing fruit.
Why did God choose you? He didn’t choose you because you were better than everyone else. He chose you because He wanted to display His love and care for you. As Sean read for us earlier in Deut 6, God chose Israel because He loved them and covenanted to show His glory through them. It was not because they were the greatest people or nation. It wasn’t because they had the greatest wealth or power. God chose Abraham and made a covenant to bless him and the world through him. And God chose to love you and keep His promises to you.
- 4 says He chose you to be holy and blameless before Him. You were chosen to live a life set apart for His glory. Say 1 Cor 10:31 with me. Blameless is another way of saying righteous. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God finds no sin on your account. You stand before Him in the dazzling white robe of Jesus’ own righteousness. Nothing you say or do will change that in God’s eyes. God sees you already seated in heaven with Jesus Christ. That is your eternal position, and even though you are not there yet, physically, God, who sees the past, present, and future envisions you there – and so you are there.
This is a great truth. This encouragement doesn’t make all of our day-to-day problems disappear, but it should greatly change your perspective. The way you see yourself, the people around you, the world. It means the trials you are facing will not last. Satan will not destroy you. God will not give up on you. He is always with you and His Word will continue to remind you of the blessings you already have and ones you look forward to.
“A God who chose you before time, when only he existed, will not leave you victim to the time and tides of life.” – R. Kent Hughes Ephesians—The Mystery of the Body of Christ (The Fact of Election (v. 4))
God’s blessings to us in the heavenly places remind us that our true citizenship is in heaven not earth. If you drive over the border to visit Niagara Falls or go up to Toronto, you are still a U.S. citizen with all the rights, privileges and protections that entails. You don’t stop being a US citizen. While you may enjoy the views or the authentic poutine, you are not a Canadian and you know you are headed home when the trip is over. This world is not our ultimate home. That’s waiting for us in heaven.
He Predestined UsVerse 5 says “in love the Father predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.”
This was one of the Ask the Pastor questions a few weeks ago. Predestined means predetermine or to decide on something beforehand. This same word appears six times in New Testament writings, in Acts 4, Romans 8, 1 Cor 2, and twice here in Ephesians 1. It is not a word made up by John Calvin or other theologians. We don’t have to be afraid of it or argue about it. It was already here in God’s Word.
God decided in advance to adopt men and women into His family to become his sons and daughters through Salvation in Jesus Christ.
Why? Because it is the purpose of His will. In other words, God wanted to do this, so He did.
Psalm 115:3 “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”
What about our will and our choice? That still exists. Romans 8:30 says those God predestined He also called. God in His sovereignty, sent someone to share the Gospel with you – to call you to repentance.
This is one of those deep doctrines that can be hard to fully understand. For me, it’s a matter of accepting what God has said even if I cannot wrap my head around it. I believe what God said is true and I am thankful that He predestined me to be part of His family.
Jesus helps us understand this duality of wills. God chose you to come to Him, and when you come Jesus will accept and save to the very end.
John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
And those who answer that call will be adopted into His family with all the rights and privileges of a son or daughter. In Bible times, a son was an heir of His father’s property and all his belongings. Romans 8:16 says as adopted children, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
An adopted child takes the name of his new parents. He becomes part of the family and may over time sound like other members of his family. When we are adopted by God, we have God’s spirit living within us, and we actually become more and more like God the Son. We take on, not only his manner of speaking, but we begin to think, speak and act like Jesus. We are being conformed or molded into His very image and likeness.
God determined all of this before you were even born. He has always planned for you to be part of the family. Repenting of your sins, trusting Jesus as Savior is the answer to the call of the Gospel and it is like a great homecoming to a family you never knew you had. We will talk more about this later, but the church is where you meet your brothers and sisters in Christ. It is your spiritual home. What a blessing!
He Lavished Grace on UsVerse 8 says God lavished grace on us.
Grace is God giving us something good we have done nothing to deserve. And lavish means to give in great abundance – more than enough. God is not stingy with blessings. Eph 3:20 says God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.
What are these blessings of God’s abundant grace?
Redemption through His blood. You sins have been paid in full. The blood of Jesus Christ bought you back from the prison of sin and death. Do you remember the example of Hosea buying his unfaithful wife, Gomer? That is what God has done for you. He paid the price for your freedom and He knows you were unable to pay that debt.
He forgives our sins past, present and future. At the time of salvation, all of your sins have been forgiven. Jesus paid it all according to His riches not ours.
Colossians 2:14 “by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
Verse 9 says God made known the mystery of His will. This means God lets believers in on His grand plan for all time. In His Word, the Bible, we have an over-arching story that tells of God’s perfect creation including people bearing His image, that were marred by sin, but He will send a Messiah, a Savior to redeem people separate from Him by sin, and he will again unite all things in heaven and earth together again, restored to perfection through His Son, Jesus Christ.
When we are stressed about the big problems in our own lives, with our children or families or worried about our nation and global issues, we can find peace and comfort knowing that God has a master plan including us, and nothing will keep that from being carried out to its perfect end.
God plan includes you! Isn’t that amazing? He wants to see you come to know His Son as Savior and He wants to see you become more like Jesus – being remade in His image just as we were meant to be. And He wants us to share this with the world, bringing His glory to ends of the earth.
In R. Kent Hughes commentary on Ephesians, he points out that Paul celebrates our spiritual blessings in a very specific order – starting with the past selection, sanctification, adoption, and praise, then our present redemption, forgiveness, grace, and spiritual discernment, and ending with the future as everything will be brought together under Christ for all eternity.
Take AwaysDo you struggle with your identity? Worrying that you are not being the best son or daughter? You’re not measuring up as a star employee? Comparing yourself to others on social media and feeling like you’re just not enough? If you have been called by God and you have responded in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior – then your identity is firm and secure as a daughter or son of God. Chosen by God before time. Predestined to be adopted into His family. Lavished in the grace of redemption, forgiveness, and an inheritance in heaven. Thank God for His blessings right now, and ask Him to remind you when you are struggling and feeling weak.
If you haven’t trusted in Christ as your Savior, what’s stopping you? Just like everyone else in this room, you a sinner and you can’t save yourself. We can only be redeemed and saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Come talk to me afterwards if you are ready to be adopted into God’s family.
Our response to God’s blessings is to live holy and blameless before Him. Is your life different? Are you set apart from the world so you can serve Him and be a light to others? What needs to change for you to be holy and blameless?
We need a fresh awareness of the Gospel and all that God has done for us. We need to be reminded of who we are in Christ. Daily, we need to be listening to the voice of God as He speaks to us through His Word.
You are blessed by God your Father in Christ Jesus the Son. And the Spirit of God is alive and at work in you to bring glory to Him and shine His light for others to see.
Benediction“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24–26
Scripture: VariousIntroMy hope and prayer for 2025 is for First Baptist Church – Dunkirk to be a healthy, growing church. Is this a good thing? Well, the opposite of a healthy growing church would be a sick dying church and I think we can all agree that is not good.
When I say healthy growing church what comes to your mind? More people attending. People becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Baptisms. New members. People serving. More growth groups. More outreach ministry to our community.
It is impossible for a church to be healthy and growing unless its members are healthy and growing. And that does not mean just a few people who are growing and serving. Our prayer is for all of the members of the body to be healthy and growing.
Growing to be Like JesusJohn 15:5-8
Stay connected to the vine. Jesus said, “Abide in Me.” You cannot grow without me, just like a branch will not keep growing when it is cut off from the tree. It no longer gets water and nutrients. It’s leaves dry up and fall off and it will never produce flowers or fruit.
John 15:9-14
Jesus goes on in these verses to explain that we abide in His love and the Father’s love when we keep his commandments. Jesus’ own example for us was that they kept the Father’s commandments, just as He expects us to keep His. We will experience God’s love and joy instead of his judgment and disapproval when we keep His word. The Bible is the Word of God. It teaches us who God is and what He expects us to do. Jesus’ life is fully on display in the Gospels so we can read and follow His example.
At FBC, you will hear expository preaching – that mean sermons that come from the Bible – not the news or self-help books. Our Sunday School classes and Growth Groups are also centered on the Bible because it is not some old dusty archaic book – it is living and active and powerful. It changes peoples’ lives.
2 Tim 3:15-16
What is the Bible good for? Why is it profitable? Why should we read it and follow it every day?
It teaches us. It reproves or tells us where we are wrong in our thinking or doing. It corrects us by telling us what is right, and it trains us in righteousness – being like Jesus. Then we will be growing to be more mature, complete in Christ and we will be equipped to serve.
Philippians 1:6
Our transformation of growing to be like Jesus ends only when we see Jesus face to face in heaven. Keep on growing!
What are you doing to grow to be more like Jesus? Devotional. Bible reading plan. Prayer. Scripture memory.
Ordinary Means of GraceMany people look for these big break through moments in their spiritual walk. Often these are more emotional than they are spiritual. We feel great at a Christian concert or when we make a big commitment at summer camp or a revival meeting. These moments can be encouraging but they are just not sustainable.
The ordinary means of grace are the day to day times when we hear and see God’s grace on display. We need to be reminded often of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ because that is the source of our salvation. We grow and change to be more like Jesus because His death and resurrection set us free from sin and our own spiritual death. Reading the Word individually will keep the Gospel fresh in your mind, but God also calls us to participate in the ordinances or commands to the local church. There are only two commanded by Jesus and they are part of what makes our Baptist faith distinct from most others. Do you know the two commands of Jesus? We celebrated one of them today.
Yes, communion. Jesus said, do this in remembrance of me. He also commanded His followers to go into all the world and preach the Gospel and baptize new believers.
Every time we celebrate communion, we remember what Jesus did on the cross. He died in our place. His blood paid the price for our sins. He was buried and then came back to life, offering forgiveness and salvation to all who believe. We need to be reminded that our salvation is entirely based on what Jesus did for us. It has nothing to do with us earning our way by good works, or giving to the poor.
Ephesians 2:8–9
We are also reminded of God’s grace when we celebrate the baptism of a believer. We hear their testimony of how they came to accept Jesus as their Savior and we are strengthened by their courage to share the Gospel with their family, friends, and other church members.
Baptism is also a visual reminder of God’s grace and new spiritual life we experience.
Romans 6:4
We believe that anyone who wants to become members of a local church should first be saved by God’s grace and then baptized as a testimony to proclaim their new life in Christ.
Have you been baptized since becoming a follower of Jesus? I was sprinkled when I was a baby, but that is not what the Bible teaches. Every instance of a person being baptized in the New Testament was following trusting Jesus as Savior. And then the person connected with a local church and became a member.
Participate in the Local ChurchSpeaking of the local church, the Bible makes it very clear that there are no lone ranger Christians. We are given the example in Acts 1 of the first church who listened to the apostles’ preaching and teaching, and fellow-shipped and ate together and prayed together.
We are commanded to gather together regularly.
Hebrews 10:24–25
Ephesians 4:11-14 tells us that God gives the local church pastors, shepherds and teachers to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry, to build up the body or church of Christ so that we are all growing in Christlikeness. We do this through unity in the faith and greater knowledge of who Jesus is and what He taught. This passage says the goal is spiritual maturity for all the church members. When we do this, we will be joined together and equipped to work and serve properly together that we all grow together in love.
How do you participate in the local church? Attend. Join in worship. Read Scripture. These are ways we are reminded weekly of God’s grace and the Gospel.
Join up with a growth group and get to really know, love, and care for others. Serve somewhere based on your spiritual gifts. Give your time and a portion of your income.
We just finished the year behind budget in giving. Thankfully we kept our spending down. We don’t expect guests to give. We don’t have fundraisers. If every one of our members gave consistently and regularly we would be able to do even more outreach and fix up more of our facilities. The Old Testament tithe of ten percent was the beginning level. In the New Testament Jesus said God loves a cheerful giver who recognizes all God has blessed him with and wants to give back. The Apostle Paul asked the local church members to give as they were able, meaning give some percentage of your income. Those who are blessed with more can give more, but even the widow with little gave what she could.
If you want to learn more about being baptized or becoming a member of First Baptist, please sign up for the Intro Class at the Welcome Center. We have a free book for you and a short two-hour class next Sunday including lunch!
Look to Jesus’ ComingIn the New Testament passages about Jesus’ return, most of the time there is also an exhortation or command to holiness and purity.
In Matthew 24 & 25 Jesus shared teaching about end times and several parables about His return and the warning to be watchful and ready with righteous living and making the best use of your time and abilities.
Titus 2:13–14 “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Verse 15 goes on to say declare or teach these things, tell people to live pure and holy lives, rebuke or correct believers who are continuing in sin. The church has the authority from Christ to encourage our members to become more like Jesus as we look forward to His return.
In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul calls his fellow brothers in Christ to live lives that please God. His will is that we be sanctified or made holy – set apart to serve Him and live for Him. He goes on to say we need to love each other, live quietly, work to earn a living so that our outsiders will see our lives.
Our testimony is worthless, if we say we are followers of Jesus and our lives don’t look any different than the world of unbelievers around us. If we are really His disciples – we should look more and more like Jesus every day.
The next verses 13-20 talk about how Jesus will return with the sound of a trumpet and the church will be raptured or taken up to heaven to meet Jesus. Encourage each other with these words!
Take AwaysA healthy church is made of growing church members. People who are growing to be more like Jesus through holiness and spiritual maturity.
What steps do you need to take?
Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior?
Are you abiding in Him through prayer and time in the Bible?
Do you participate in communion to be reminded of God’s Grace?
Have you been baptized?
Are you a member of our church? How are you actively participating? Regularly worshipping, Serving, giving, etc.
Every day, we should say “Come quickly Lord Jesus.” That will change our focus from ourselves to becoming more like Him and sharing the Good News with others.
NOTE: Main Points from this Sermon came from Nine Marks book “What is a Healthy Church Member?” by Thabiti Anyabwile
Scripture: VariousLove in the MangerLove is not a squishy feeling.
Love is choosing the do the best thing for another because you choose to love them.
Love is action, not just words.
Love on the CrossJesus came to seek and save the lost.
Jesus wept over lost people.
Jesus loved His disciples and prayed for them.
Jesus forgave those who tortured and crucified Him.
Jesus gave His own life to provide salvation.
Jesus suffered and was tempted like us.
Jesus forgave Peter who betrayed Him.
Love for OthersLove God & Love others.
Our response: Love God and keep His commandments.
Share the Gospel with others.
Love brothers & sisters in Christ.
Test of salvation:
- Doesn’t keep sinning the same
- Loves brothers & sisters in Christ
- Obeys God’s Word
Take AwaysShow God’s love to others.
God demonstrated His love by Jesus’ dying on the cross.
Have you accepted the greatest Christmas gift of all?
Are you growing to be more like Jesus?
Are you reading God’s Word and following it?
Peace in ProphecyGod’s redemption plan promised peace.
Peace Proclaimed in the NativityStarting with birth of John the Baptist
Romans 5:1; 8:6; 14:17; 14:19
Peace is promised to all the world – but only those who believe in Messiah
Peace in JesusJesus promises peace to His disciples
Peace in the midst of tribulation
Live in Peace – 2 Cor 13:11
Peace is fruit of Spirit – Gal 5:22
Jesus is our Peace – Eph 2:14-17
Peace part of armor – Eph 6:15
Peace rules our hearts – Col 3:15
Seek Peace – 1 Peter 3:11
Real peace comes from a relationship with Go through Jesus Christ
Don’t worry.
Thank God.
Pray for your needs.
Jesus guards our hearts and minds.
Change the way you think.
Live by God’s Word.
Scripture: Micah 6Introduction Overview of Micah – Justice & Mercy. Micah’s name literally means “Who is like Jehovah?”We see a holy God who first warns His people and then brings judgment on continued sin through His perfect justice. We find hope in a God whose merciful character forgives sin and pardons rebellion. And we find hope in God’s promises to show His covenant love to Abraham’s offspring (Israel) and ultimately to restore His creation through the Messiah’s kingdom.
Through His prophet, Micah, God calls Israel and people everywhere to repent of their sin and authentically worship the one true God. Worship should be a life oriented completely around God and not something we do on Sundays. God points out the failures of Israel and Judah’s leaders and calls people to act with justice, to love showing mercy, and humbly walk or live with God. Because of God’s perfect justice, judgment will fall on those who disobey His Word, but there is mercy for those who repent and ultimate hope for God’s final restoration of His creation.
Two weeks back, when we were in chapter 5, Micah told the people that a ruler from ancient days is coming to shepherd His people in strength and majesty of God Himself. He is again referring to the Millennial Kingdom. Today in chapter 6, we reach the famous verse about justice, kindness, and humility and we see what the punishment for sin is all about. Ultimately, God is looking for a changed heart.
A Case against God? Mountains, Hills, and foundation of earth are witnesses
An indictment – formal charge against
* Remember what God has done
A Changed Heart What does God require?
v. 8 True or real religion
Not burnt offerings, oil, or my children
Human efforts = legalism
Do Justice – James 4:17, Psalm 82:3-4
Love Kindness – 2 Cor 3:18
Walk humbly with God
Rod of JusticeJerusalem – judgment is coming
God’s justice is perfect
You will suffer lack
* Omri & Ahab – wicked kings
- Our sin has a cost – a price to be paid
- Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:11-12
- Forgive others – Ephesians 4:32
- Jesus paid the price for your sin
Take Aways* Have you repented and trusted Jesus?
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Believers, do you make excuses for your sin?
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Do justice, love to show kindness, humbly follow God?
Scripture: Micah 5IntroA Ruler from Bethlehem* Muster = gather your army, prepare for war * “But you” * Bethlehem = house of bread * Ephrathah = from Ephraim * God uses the small and insignificant * From of old, from ancient days “I am” * He will stand firm * He will shepherd his people * His strength and majesty are from God * Jesus is the Shepherd King who lays down his life for the sheep
A Remnant Gathered Remnant = small amount left over * Jewish people today are scattered throughout the world * God will avenge His people + Battle of Armageddon + Final Battle * Book of Life = chosen and saved by Jesus’ righteousness * Is your name in the Book of Life?*
Summary* True Christians will become a smaller and smaller remnant * God uses the small and insignificant to do big things + 1 Corinthians 1:28-30
Take Aways* Have you repented and trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior? * Have you felt small and insignificant? * Do you see biblical views becoming a smaller minority? A remnant? * Tell others the Good News!
Scripture: Micah 4Coming Kingdom* Abrahamic Covenant – Gen 12:1-3 * Davidic Covenant – 2 Sam 7:12-16 * New Covenant – Jer 31:31-34, Ezek 37 * “Mille” means thousand * “Ennial” means year
Aspects of this Kingdom1. Unity
2. Come to hear God’s Word
3. Justice
4. Peace
5. Prosperity
6. Faithfulness of God’s people
The Bible (Old & New Testaments) presents the pre-tribulation rapture of the church and the pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ to reign on earth for 1,000 years.
First Baptist Church What We Believe
Premillenial Position Article
God will save His People* Gather those driven away and afflicted. * Lame will be a remnant. * Cast offs will becoming a strong nation. * Lord himself will reign over them in Zion forever.
Facing Hard Times
God can sovereignly bring pain and suffering into your life, but that does not contradict His goodness or His faithful mercy and love for you.
Rest in our Redeemer
Fight Back
Take Aways* Have you repented and trusted Jesus? * Are you living like a citizen of God’s kingdom? * Do you believe God can sovereignly bring pain and suffering into your life? * Do you believe that does not contradict His goodness or His faithful mercy and love for you? * Are you resting in your Redeemer? * Are you fighting back against sin and fighting to remain constant in faith?
Scripture: John 17Jesus Glorified GodThose given to the Son are saved
Not universalism – “all are saved”
John 1:1-2 The Son always existed
Glorifying God: Showing people what God is like through your own thoughts, words, & actions.
God gives disciples to Jesus“Gave” repeated 3x
“Given: repeated 6x
Disciples (believers) are given to the Son by the Father
Eph 1:3-5 Predestined to be saved
“Kept” & “Keep” repeated 2x
Mal 3:6 & Heb 7:21 – Unchanging
Disciples/Believers are kept and guarded by God. You salvation cannot be lost.
Jesus Prayers for Usv. 20 “Those who will believe”
Jesus prays for unity like in the Trinity
– that we will be with Him to see Him glorified
– that we will know the Father
– that the love of God will be in us
Take AwaysHave you confessed your sin and asked God to forgive you?
If God is keeping and guarding you, who can take you away?
Do you share the love God shows you with others?
What is one thing you can do to show love this week?
Do you ask God to be glorified in your trials or just to escape?
Scripture: John 15SeriesOur current sermon series is based on Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. His three-year earthly ministry was coming to a close, and He knew that his death, burial, and resurrection were imminent. He wanted to prepare His disciples for what was coming next and for how they should continue His ministry.John 13-16 is the basics of being His follower – like a 101 Intro Class at school. These were the last most important things Jesus wanted to share with his disciples, so I want to share them with you.
In today’s message from John 15 and 16, Jesus warns his disciples that the road ahead would not be an easy one, but he also promised peace in the midst of those trials. We all experience times of struggles and we look forward to times of peace. Let’s see what Jesus had to say.
You will be Hated“World” means unbelievers and what Satan currently “rules over”
Disciples are not “of this world”
Hated because they hated Jesus
Hated because your holiness condemns their sin
You will StruggleSorrow and struggles like childbirth
You will have tribulation
It won’t be easy
The Bible does not say you will be healthy and wealthy
Promises of Peace & MoreJesus will abide (stay) with you
You will glorify God and bear fruit
God – the Father and Son love you
Your joy will be full
Holy Spirit will guide you in truth
Sorrow will become joyJesus will bring us to heaven
The Father’s love is forever
I will be your source of peace
Jesus overcame the world (sin)
God has mercy on sinners and offers us forgiveness, peace, and eternal lifeTake AwaysHave you confessed your sin and asked God to forgive you?
- Have you taken the step of being baptized?
- How do you handle suffering?
- Do you have a church family?
Scripture: John 15:1-17SeriesOur current sermon series is based on Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. His three-year earthly ministry was coming to a close, and He knew that his death, burial, and resurrection were imminent. He wanted to prepare His disciples for what was coming next and for how they should continue His ministry.John 13-16 is the basics of being His follower – like a 101 Intro Class at school. These were the last most important things Jesus wanted to share with his disciples, so I want to share them with you.
In today’s message from John 15, Jesus says His disciples, his followers, are like branches that must remain deeply connected to Him, the one true vine.
Vine & BranchesJesus starts out by saying He is the true vine – the Messiah from Israel, God’s chosen people. Then He describes God, the Father, as the caretaker of the vineyard. And his disciples are branches that are supposed to bear or produce fruit. They can only do this when they stay connected.Jesus is the True Vine
God, the Father, is the Caretaker
Disciples are the Branches
1 John 2:24-25
2 Cor 5:21Eph 2:8
1 John 3:9-10
Romans 7Love one another:
Sacrificially
Generously
Selflessly
Compassionately
Patiently
SupportivelyWarningsGod prunes the vine to protect it and help it produce more fruit.
Matt 5:12 – Not real disciples
2 Pet 1
Obey My commands – God’s Word
PromisesStay connected & bear fruit
Created for good works
Prayers will be answered
Remain in God’s love
Your joy will be full
Jesus is your friend
Take AwaysAre you connected to God?
Are you connected to other disciples at church?
The Trellis and the Vine by Marshall and Payne
The mission of First Baptist Church is to develop missionary disciples who worship God, grow spiritually, and share the Gospel and their spiritual gifts.
Scripture: John 14:15-31 and John 16:6-15SeriesWe have been in a sermon series for the summer based on Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. His three-year earthly ministry was coming to a close, and He knew that his death, burial, and resurrection were imminent. He wanted to prepare His disciples for what was coming next and for how they should continue His ministry.
John 13-16 is the basics of being His follower – like a 101 Intro Class at school. So if these were the last most important things Jesus wanted to share with his disciples, I think they are worth spending our time reading, studying, and learning from them. Don’t you?
In today’s message from the
John 14, Jesus encourages his disciples, who are stressed and worried about his departure, that Help is on the way.
IntroDo you ever feel like you could get more accomplished, like you would be less tired and stressed if you had just a little more help? Do you sometimes feel like you’re the only one doing things and no one else seems to notice that you’re just barely keeping your head above water? At work, at home, at school, even here at church we often feel overwhelmed and we just want some help.
In today’s message, Jesus knew that His disciples would feel that way when he left – Overwhelmed and wondering if they can do it alone. Jesus answer and encouragement for his original disciples and for us His followers today is that we do not need to go it alone. We should not feel overwhelmed and unable to do what He’s called us to do. We have a Helper, with a capital “H.”Who is the Holy Spirit?The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God and an equal part of the godhead or Trinity. The word “trinity” doesn’t appear in the Bible, but it is helpful for us to understand and talk about one God in three distinct persons. One of the early church fathers, Augustine said “the Trinity is the one, only, and true God, and that one rightly says, believes, and understands that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are of one and the same substance or essence.”Blessings (or Attributes) of the Holy Spirit* First, the Spirit will teach and help you remember God’s Word. * Secondly, the Holy Spirit is a huge part of salvation. In 16:8 the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. * Third, The Holy Spirit leads us. * Fourth, the Holy Spirit gives every believer spiritual gifts for the purpose of serving others for the common good of the church. * Fifth, when we are so distraught, confused, and unable to pray clearly, the Holy Spirit is with us. * Sixth, the Holy Spirit develops in believers, evidence that there has been a change, spiritual new life. Jesus said, the world will know you are my disciples by your love for each other. * Finally, the Holy Spirit is involved in our resurrection. The Holy Spirit will give our mortal bodies eternal life or immortality. Not because of anything we have done, not by our education, or money, or family background, or even church attendance and good deeds – it’s only by the Holy Spirit in us that we will see heaven and be with Jesus for eternity.
This is not a complete list, but I wanted to give you a picture of how important the Holy Spirit is in our every day lives as believers and disciples of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not someone new the disciples had to meet and get to know. They knew the Spirit because they knew Jesus, just as Jesus said you know the Father because you know me.Our ResponseSo what is our response to all of this? Do we choose to have the Holy Spirit or not? For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.1 Corinthians 12:13 ESVAll believers have the Holy Spirit in them, because it is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin and the Holy Spirit who brought our dead hearts back to life. After the initial arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, new believers were automatically filled with the Holy Spirit. There is one unusual situation in
Acts 19 where Paul met disciples who had not heard of the Holy Spirit. We can talk about that more in Growth Group.
So, if you are a forgiven, saved disciple of Jesus Christ, you have the Spirit of God living in you. He is there to convict, to lead, to guide, to teach, to encourage – all the things I just talked about, but how much you listen and follow is up to you.Ephesians 5 says we should walk and live by the Spirit not be led by our physical desires. Paul says in verse 25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” being led by the Spirit has to do with our personal spiritual lives and our relationship with God, but it also has an impact on the church body. Remember the emphasis in 1 Corinthians on how our spiritual gifts are meant to build up and encourage others in the church? A church of believers who are filled by and led by the Spirit will be alive, worshiping, growing, serving, and sharing the Gospel with others.
In Bible-preaching, Bible-believing churches like ours, there is sometimes a fear of talking too much about the Holy Spirit because we don’t want to sound pentecostal or emotional. From what we heard today, I hope you saw that the Holy Spirit is simply God’s Spirit living in and through us. We should welcome and celebrate God with us and I hope when someone says you must be filled with the Spirit – you say “Praise God, I am!”Take Aways Do you have the Spirit of God in your life? Scripture is clear that ALL who confess their sins and trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Savior, will have the Holy Spirit living in and with them. When God said I will never leave you or forsake you, when Jesus said, I will be with you always even to the end of the age, the Holy Spirit is who they were talking about. Now that the original apostles are gone, there is no second baptism or proof of the spirit through sign gifts – God promises His Spirit to all who believe in the Son, Jesus Christ. If you have questions about your salvation come talk to me. * Have you given over your heart, your mind, your desires, your life focus to God? His Spirit will fill you, lead and guide you, and help you grow and serve when you allow Him to work in your life. * Are you reading God’s Word regularly?* The Holy Spirit, using the Word of God will transform and conform us into he image of the Son, Jesus Christ when we keep coming back again and again to the Word. Make a start, no matter how small. And if you miss a day, or a week, don’t quit – keep going back to the Word.
Scripture: John 14:1-14SeriesA Place for You 1 Cor 15 – Death is swallowed in victory
God prepared a home
Don’t worry! Luke 12:29,
1 Peter 5:7, 1 Peter 3:14
Victory! 2 Cor 4:14, Phil 3:20
The Only Way to Go “How can we know the way?”
I am the Way
I am the Truth
I am the Life
* Jn 20:30, Acts 16:31, Pro 14:12, Jn 1:1, Eph 2:8-9, 1 Tim 2:5, Jn 5:24, Jn 11:25, Jn 10:10, 1 Jn 2:25
Ask in My Name Not a magic word
In my name = in agreement
My Father will be glorified
Rom 8:26 – Holy Spirit helps us pray
* Heb 4:15-16 Jesus knows how we feelWhy this is such good news?1. It is so clear – Rom 10:9
“Confess and you will be saved”
2. It works!
a. Jesus rose from the grave
b. Disciples with changed lives
3. It’s for everyone! Rom 10:13 “Everyone who calls will be saved”Take AwaysDoes your life have a purpose and direction? Do you know where you are going now and more importantly, when you die?
Have you accepted God’s gift of forgiveness? God says the only way we can be saved is by believing that Jesus was the only Son of God, and that His death and resurrection are the only way you can be forgiven and made right with God?
Judas knew all of Jesus’ claims. He saw the miracles. But he did not choose Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Many people today have heard about Jesus and may even to try to live a good life, but God clearly said that is not the way to heaven.
If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior by faith alone, do you still live in fear of death? Do you still question why you or your loved ones experience illnesses and even death?
When you pray, are you seeking the growth of God’s kingdom and His will or are you just asking for what you want for yourself?
The Gospel is clear, it works and it is available to absolutely anyone. Share the Good News!
Scripture: John 13: 31-35SeriesWe are in a series for the summer based on Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. His three-year earthly ministry was coming to a close, and He knew that his death, burial, and resurrection were imminent. He wanted to prepare His disciples for what was coming next and for how they should continue His ministry.John 13-16 is like Jesus’ Discipleship 101 class. You know – the basics of being His follower. So if these were the last most important things Jesus wanted to share with his disciples, I think they are worth spending our time reading, studying, and learning from them. Don’t you?In today’s message from Jesus in John 13, Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment. This was important that they listen to and follow through.A New Commandment* Deut 6:5 Love God * Lev 19:18 Love your neighbor * Matt 26:28 New Covenant * Sacrificial Love * Empowered Love
The Proof* Your love for each other proves you are my disciple * 1 John – Tests of genuine disciples * 1 John 3:11-24
The Power* Ephesians 4:1-7 * God’s love abides (lives) in us * The Holy Spirit in brings unity * Holy Spirit empowers us to love * Focus on unity not division
How to Show Love1. Apologize sincerely and ask for forgiveness.
2. Grant forgiveness quickly
and without holding a grudge
Take Aways* Do you see other disciples the way God does? * Do you feed on God’s Word * Do you welcome new brothers & sisters? * How can you show love this week? * Do outsiders know you are Jesus’ disciple?
Scripture: John 13:21-30, 36-38SeriesWe are in a new series for the summer based on Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. His three-year earthly ministry is coming to a close, and He knows that his death, burial, and resurrection are imminent. He wants to prepare His disciples for what is coming next and for how they should continue His ministry.John 13-16 is like Jesus’ Discipleship 101 class. You know – the basics of being His follower. So if these were the last most important things Jesus wanted to share with his disciples, I think they are worth spending our time reading, studying, and learning from them. Don’t you?
In today’s message from the John 13, Jesus tells the disciples that there is a traitor in their midst. Not everyone who says they are a disciple or a Christian is genuine. Besides this example from the original twelve disciples, there are a number of warnings from Jesus’ and the apostles. We should not be surprised if we find fakers, but more importantly we need to be prepared to protect the church family.
A Traitor Among Us* Psalm 41:9 fulfilled * John’s Gospel gave clues about Judas * 1 Tim 6:9-10 “love of money” * Some look & play the part * Anyone can give in to fear
Seeds & Weeds* Jesus taught about fakers in some of his parables * Matthew 13:24-30 * Good seed is the Gospel * Weeds are followers of Satan * Not everyone who looks like a disciple is real * Phil 2:12 – Work out your own salvation * Gal 6:1 – Watch out for each other and help restore
Wolves in Disguise* Sheep/flock represents believers – the Church * Wolves represent false teachers * Matthew 7:15-16 * Acts 20:38-30 * Pastors protect your flock. Watch your own life too.
Take Aways* Are you one of God’s sheep? * Are you part of a local flock (church)? * Do you watch your own spiritual life? * Do you carefully test and explore what you read and listen to? * Are you watching out for others in the flock? * Are you thankful when someone questions you?
Scripture: John 13:1-20SeriesWe are starting a new series for the summer based on Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. His three year earthly ministry is coming to a close, and He knows that his death, burial, and resurrection are imminent. He wants to prepare His disciples for what is coming next and for how they should continue His ministry.John 13-17 is like Jesus’ Discipleship 101 class. You know – the basics of being His follower. So if these were the last most important things Jesus wanted to share with his disciples, I think they are worth spending our time reading, studying, and learning from them. Don’t you?
In today’s message from John 13, Jesus sets the standard for serving as a disciple and we will see that it requires lots of humility.
Motivation: LOVE* God is sovereign – always in control * Jesus thought about His disciples more than Himself * Godly love is putting others first; wanting best for them
Example: SERVING* Foot washing was cultural * Lowest servant’s job * Cleansing by Jesus was a symbol of righteousness * We can’t clean up our own sin
Requirement: HUMILITY* Humility means thinking of yourself less often * Knowledge is good but action is even better * A disciple humbly recognizes God’s love and serves others
Take Aways* How have you responded to God’s love for you? * Have you accepted His gift of salvation or have you rejected it like Judas did? * Do you humbly love and serve others?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58IntroWho can go to heaven? Have a done enough good things to outweigh the bad? Do I think I’m at least a little better than half the people? Am I worthy? I don’t really deserve to go to hell, do I?I really believe this question, “Who can go to heaven?” is the most important one you must answer in your lifetime. It will change everything.In last Sunday passage, Paul’s focus was on answering questions related to what our heavenly resurrected bodies would be like and today he answers this vital question. “Who can go to heaven?”SeriesWe are continuing our series in 1 Corinthians called Living in Light of Eternity. We have heard the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Corinth about some very serious problems they were dealing with like divisions, fighting, sexual morality, marriage, and singleness. Then he taught about using their spiritual gifts humbly and properly, and the need for everything to be done in love. Paul ends his letter by giving the church encouragement about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our future resurrection as believers. That’s where the series title “Living in Light of Eternity” comes from. With our view of eternity, knowing that our souls will go on forever and ever, knowing that God will judge our behavior, and knowing that His Son Jesus died so that we can spend eternity with God – how should we think, live, and act today?
The Focus of chapter 15 is the resurrection – its centrality and vitality in the Gospel, the hope it gives us in this life and eternity, what resurrected bodies are like, and finally the victory we find in Christ.
A MysteryVerses 50-53Paul starts out referring back to Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus in John 3. “How can someone enter God’s kingdom and ultimately heaven?” Jesus answered, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” In other words, “no human being can go to heaven.” We cannot become part of God’s kingdom physically. Jesus said, you must be born again spiritually. Spiritual rebirth is necessary for someone to be ready for heaven because we are born separated from God by our sin. You may be thinking, well, maybe that’s some terrible person somewhere else. I was born in a Christian home. We always went to church. I’m a pretty good person. Surely, I must be ready for heaven. Paul wrote in the book of Romans to answer this really clearly.
Victory!
Romans 3:10-12Romans 3:23Romans 6:23Who can go to heaven? Only people who are changed by faith in Jesus Christ. Do you remember the three points of the Gospel from a few weeks ago?1. Jesus died2. He was buried3. He rose on the third dayVerses 54-57 In verse 54, Paul says when this happens, when your perishable body is replaced by the imperishable or eternal body, the words of the prophet Isaiah will be fulfilled. Do any of you have Bibles with little letters above certain words or verses? This is a cross-reference. What verse is listed by the word “Death?” Mine says Isaiah 25:8Not only do we have victory over death and the grave, through Jesus we have victory over sin. It no longer has power or complete control over us. Back in Romans 6
How do we say”No” to sin? Let me share a helpful picture with you.This “Y” Chart helps us see that our decisions begin in our heart – what we want and desire.Now What?Verse 58Paul really made the closing of this message easy for me. Verse 58 starts with “Therefore, my beloved brothers.” It’s the “Now What summary of his teaching about the resurrection of Jesus, our future resurrection, our victory over sin and death, and our eventual immortal bodies. So what should you do?* Be steadfast and immovable. * Always abounding in the work of the Lord. * Our work for God is never in vain. We all need a regular Spiritual Checkup.
Take AwaysDo you know the answer to today’s question: Who can go to heaven? Are you going to heaven because you have new life in Jesus Christ or are hoping you will make on your own merits? God’s Word says if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ You will be saved. You need to confess your sinfulness and ask for God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. By faith alone, you need to accept his free gift of eternal life through God’s grace and mercy.How are you doing in the battle with sin? Is your desire to please God or please yourself? He promises to transform our hearts and change us as we yield our lives to Jesus as our Lord. If you are struggling with a particular sin or area of your life you may want to check out some of the booklets in our lobby. There is also a brochure to help identify idols or desires in our hearts. Talk to another brother or sister. Ask for prayer. Ask for help. Don’t stay alone.Are you stead, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord? If you are not involved in a ministry or serving, we have opportunities for you. Take a look at the “serve” flyer at the Welcome Center.Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-49SeriesWe are continuing our series in 1 Corinthians called Living in Light of Eternity. We have heard the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Corinth about some very serious problems they were dealing with like divisions, fighting, sexual morality, marriage, and singleness. Then he taught about using their spiritual gifts humbly and properly, and the need for everything to be done in love. Paul ends his letter by giving the church encouragement about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our future resurrection as believers.That’s where the series title “Living in Light of Eternity” comes from. With our view of eternity, knowing that our souls will go on forever and ever, knowing that God will judge our behavior, and knowing that His Son Jesus died so that we can spend eternity with God – how should we think, live, and act today?The Focus of chapter 15 is the resurrection – its centrality and vitality in the Gospel, the hope it gives us in this life and eternity, what resurrected bodies are like, and finally the victory we find in Christ.
What Kind of Body?Verses 35-41Paul’s explanation comes directly from Jesus’ own teaching inJohn 12 Paul answers the question four ways. First with an illustration from nature. Second with a description of resurrection bodies. Third, he contrasts the difference betwen earthly and resurrection bodies, and finally he points us back to the firstfruits of the resurrection – Jesus himself.
Verses 36-38 give the examples from nature and he compares dying and being buried to a seed being sown or planted in the soil. The seed first has to die before it can come back to new life.All of these illustrations point to the fact that God created different kinds of bodies. Our earthly bodies will die and be raised as new heavenly bodies that are what we were ultimately meant to be.
Raised in PowerVerses 42-44Our earthly bodies are sown or planted in the earth when we die and they are perishable. This means they will decay and decompose. God explained this principle to Adam and Eve as a result of their sin in
Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”” This reality exists for almost all of humankind. There were just a few exceptions – Enoch, who walked with God did not die – he was taken directly to heaven. The prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
Psalm 16:10 prophesied that the Messiah, the Holy One, would not see corruption. Jesus was resurrected and his body did not decay. The last group of people whose bodies will not perish are the believers who are taken up to meet Jesus in the clouds in the Rapture of the church. This is the next event that will happen in the last days time line. The body that we have in resurrection will not be perishable, it will be imperishable or eternal. Sickness and death will have no effect on our new bodies.
Image of ChristVerses 45-49The Christian life is one of becoming more and more like Jesus and less and less like Adam. The miraculous transformation of sanctification is complete when we are raised with our new resurrected bodies.Followers of Jesus should care for the bodies we have here on earth. While we know that they will not last forever, we should steward what we have so that we can be useful instruments in the Redeemer’s hands. And when our bodies wear out or are facing fatal illness, we are not hopeless. We don’t need to cling to this life as though it is all there is. We have a better home and a better body waiting for us. We can face our own death with confidence, and we can lovingly let our loved ones go to heaven without prolonging the days or years.Notice all the things Paul didn’t say. What these bodies look like. What age they will be. What our powers and abilities will be. Those are mysteries that will remain unanswered until we reach heaven. But Paul told us what is most important. Our resurrected bodies will be imperishable, glorified, powerful and spiritual. We will finally be free of the curse of sin and will bear the image of Christ. I can’t wait!Take AwaysMemorial Day honors those who were willing to give up their lives fighting for freedom showed great love and care for others. The Good News is that Jesus, the Son of God, was willing to do that for you and for the sins of the whole world.Have you confessed your sins and accepted Jesus’ death on the cross for your forgiveness and new life? Being a Christian is not about just going to church or following a bunch of rules. It is about peace with God; new life in Jesus; and an eternal home in heaven. If this sounds new, please come talk to me.Are you tired of your body and can’t wait for a new one? If you’ve trusted Jesus as your Savior, be patient. It’s coming. The Bible ends with Jesus saying “Surely I am coming soon.” And we say “Come Lord Jesus!”
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12–34No Resurrection?If there is no resurrection then..
Christ was not raised
Our preaching is pointless
We are lying about God
Your faith is useless
You are still dead in sin
Those who died have perished
Alive in ChristBut Christ has been raised from the dead…
He was the firstfruits of those who died
Resurrection of dead who are in Christ
Believers are alive in Christ
Death is destroyed
All are subject to Christ
Christ is still subject to God
Wake Up!Why be baptized to new life if we are still dead?
Why risk danger daily?
Why not live it up?
Avoid “Bad Company” – unbelievers
Wake up & stop sinning
Take AwaysDo you know and believe the Gospel? Say it with me: Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, buried, and in three days raise again. Scripture says knowing and believing that truth will cause a person to be convicted of their sins, will want to confess them to God, asking for forgiveness and new life in Jesus Christ. If you have never confessed your sin and accepted Jesus as your Savior, please come talk to me.Are you convinced of the resurrection? Not only of Jesus, but of believers? Are you living in light of eternity? Are you living it up for yourself or living for Christ?Are there people in your life who will not listen to the Gospel, but continue to have an impact on you – keeping you from living for Jesus?If someone asked you why you have real hope – what would you say? Are you telling others the Good News?
Scripture: Matthew 26:6-16 (The anointing of Jesus at Bethany)How we use our life for Jesus matters.Psalm 90:10
James 4:13-15
WHAT IS YOUR LEGACY?* What will people remember you for? * Is your life one that serves others or is only seeking your own interest?
WHAT CAN YOU OFFER?* Giving worth to the one who is most worthy. * True worship is an offering. * Worship that honors God is costly.
WORSHIP OR WASTE* Is a life of service to God worthy or a waste of a life? * Is your Christian life one of worship or a cultural tradition? * Where your heart is, that is what you value will be.
ONLY ONE LIFE – C.T. STUDD“Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, ‘Thy will be done’;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ’twas worth it all;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11IntroWhat happens when we die remains a fuzzy unknown for many people. A recent Arizona Christian University study found that slightly over half of Americans believe that God will accept them into heaven based on their actions in life. Or in other words, salvation can be earned. Twenty percent believe God will let simply let everyone into heaven. Only one third believe the Gospel according to the Bible, God’s Word. In today’s sermon, the apostle Paul says, this is what is most important.The church in Corinth was located in a major city in Greece. And as we have seen, the church was greatly influenced by Greek culture, religion, and philosophy. The Greeks did not believe in the resurrection of the dead or a physical after-life. When Paul first preached about the resurrection in Athens people mocked him. Most of their philosophers considered the human body like a prisoner of the soul and welcomed death as the deliverance of the soul from the bondage of the body. While they accepted the eternal nature of the soul, they could not believe the body could be resurrected or have eternal life. Paul takes time in chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians to remind and encourage the believers about this important topic – resurrection. First, as he clearly states the Gospel message, he verifies the primary importance and truth of Christ’s resurrection, and then he teaches about the believers’ resurrection and our place in heaven.
SeriesWe are continuing our series in 1 Corinthians called Living in Light of Eternity. We have heard the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Corinth about some very serious problems they were dealing with like divisions, fighting, sexual morality, marriage, and singleness. Then he taught about using their spiritual gifts humbly and properly, and the need for everything to be done in love. Paul ends his letter by giving the church encouragement about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our future resurrection as believers.That’s where the series title “Living in Light of Eternity” comes from. With our view of eternity, knowing that our souls will go on forever and ever, knowing that God will judge our behavior, and knowing that His Son Jesus died so that we can spend eternity with God – how should we think, live, and act today?The Focus of chapter 15 is the resurrection.
First ImportanceThe Gospel is so much more than that. Paul says it is of first importance. The primary thing. And he spells out the Gospel clearly in verses 3-5.Christ died for our sins. Christ means means Messiah. Jesus is the Son of God. The Good News of Salvation has bad news first. Our sins separate us from God.
Romans 3:23“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” We fall short. We cannot have peace with God and the payment for our sins is eternal death or separation from God.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death,. And here is where the good news begins! The verse goes on to say “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God died for our sins.
1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” This big word propitiation means atoning sacrifice. God wrath or judgement on sin was paid for by Jesus’ sacrifice of himself on the cross. Paul adds the phrase, “in accordance with the Scriptures.”
Isaiah 53, Daniel 9, and Zechariah 13 all prophecy that the Messiah, the chosen one would carry our sins, be pierced and would die.He was buried. Jesus actually died. He didn’t faint from pain or blood loss. He died and was buried.
John 19:34 says, the Roman soldiers pierced his side with a spear and blood and water poured out. This not only fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be pierced, but that his bones would not be broken which is what happened to the two criminals crucified with Jesus. It also showed that Jesus was already dead.
He was raised on the third day. Jesus told his disciples on numerous occasions that he must die but he would rise again in three days. This proves that he was speaking on God’s behalf – remember the test of a prophet of God was that His prophecies would actually happen. But it also proves he was God, because no one could come back to life on their own. The phrase “in accordance with the Scriptures” is used again.
Psalm 16, and Isaiah 53 speak out the Messiah not experiencing decay and living again.Jesus AppearedAfter coming back to life, Jesus lived on earth for forty days, and was seen by the women who came and found the empty tomb, the disciples, five hundred more, and Paul. He walked with them, talked with them, even cooked and ate with some of them. This was further evidence that all he said and did during his ministry on earth was true. He proved that he was a prophet of God because his prediction of his death and resurrection in three days was true. His miracles proved he had power from God over sickness, blindness, physical elements, and even over death. The angels sang at his birth for the shepherds to hear and proclaim as witnesses. He said himself he was the Messiah, the Son of God. And the Father at his baptism and his glorification announced for all there to hear, “this is my beloved Son.” And now over five hundred eye witnesses saw him alive again.Least of the ApostlesThe last eye-witness to see Jesus on earth was Paul. In verse 9 Paul humbly calls himself the least of the apostles. This is another indication that this letter to the Corinthians from Paul is authentic. If the early Christians wanted to get a bigger audience, they would have made themselves out to be heroes. Peter clearly denied Jesus and John was not willing to cover that up, by leaving it out of the Gospel accounts. Paul calls himself unworthy of being called an apostle. Not only are these books of the Bible authentic, but their authors and the people they wrote about were real, flesh and blood, humans with good days and bad days. They made mistakes, they committed sins, but they also followed Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, were able to write true accounts of Jesus’ life, and real messages from God.Take AwaysDo you believe the Gospel according to God’s Son, Jesus Christ? What’s more important, is “have you confessed your sins and accepted Jesus as your Savior?” This may sound too good to be true, but Jesus himself, said, the way to hell is wide and most are headed that way. The pathway to heaven is narrow. There is only one way. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to God the Father except through me.” This narrow way to heaven is traveled by fewer people. People who are willing to humble themselves and admit they are sinners in need of a Savior. Are you one of those few?Can you explain the Gospel, the good news?
- Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins.
- He was buried.
- He came back to life after three days – offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe. Have you ever told someone else the good news? One of the surveys of Christians uncovered that only one in ten believers had told even one person about their faith in Jesus. Why are you hiding the Good News?Each believer should have their own story of a changed life because of Jesus. That is your story to tell. If you’ve never thought about that, I would encourage you to write it out.
Here is an outline for sharing your story.
Before: My life before Jesus.
Gospel: How I heard the Gospel and how I was saved.
After: What my life has been like since then. How has it changed and how is it still changing?
Scripture: VariousMatthew 7:7-11Communication with a Loving Heavenly FatherGod is a perfect Father who knows what is best and is able to provide all we need.
ASK – with confidence
SEEK – matures, teaches, strengthens us
KNOCK – persistence and humbling
Aligns us to God’s WillYes, No, or Not right now.
God knows what is best for us all the time.
Matthew 26:36-46Jesus brought his troubles and sorrow to his heavenly Father.
Jesus accepted the Father’s perfect will and aligned His heart with the Father’s.
Philippians 4:5b–7From Anxiety to PeaceOur anxiety and worries are replaced by peace we can’t fully understand.
Our thinking changes to align with God’s will.
Take Aways* Do you believe God is your heavenly Father? * Why don’t you pray more regularly? * Are you persistent in your prayer? * Do you come to God with demands? * Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Have you personally confessed your sin and accepted his death as payment for your sins? Have you accepted God’s gift of eternal life? Come talk to Pastor Mark.
How to Pray BrochureHow to Pray PDF
Finishing Common Good sermon from Feb 11 2024Purpose of GiftsSympheron – common good; mutually beneficial, good, profitable, helpful, bringing together
1 Peter 4:10 – serve each one another
Take AwaysSigns of a Church lead by the Holy Spirit (source: John MacArthur)
- Unity of the mission of the church
- A deep and honest fellowship
- Genuine, God-centered worship
- Evangelism is the top priority
- Selfless and sacrificial love
- Believing and obedient to the Word of God
- Willing submission to Jesus as Lord
- A church full of ministers who serve each other
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-19No Less Foot
Ear
* Eye
No less a part of the body
Where are YOU serving the body?
God ArrangedAll given by God through Holy Spirit
Each one individually
Matthew 25 Parable of Talents
“Well done good and faithful servant.”
Take Aways* Do you know what your spiritual gift or gifts are? * Do you have talents and abilities to serve others in our church? * The mission of First Baptist Church is to develop missionary disciples who worship God, grow spiritually, and share the Gospel and their spiritual gifts. * Where are you serving?
Scripture: Galatians 4:4-5, Ephesians 1:3-14, 1 Corinthians 13GOD’S GIFT WAS RIGHT ON TIMEIn the fullness of time, Christ came.
It was the exact precise moment in history to send the promised Messiah, his Son, to make the way for the world to be restored.
WE ARE LOVED INTO THE FAMILYWe are offered spiritual adoption into God’s family.
“Adoption is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification. To be right with God, the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God, the Father is greater.”
J.I. Packer
LOVE FREELY RECEIVED IS LOVE FREELY GIVENSo, this Christmas see the arrival of Jesus as the ultimate gift from God. The kind of gift where the only proper response is to receive it. And then may that immeasurable love you receive from God cause you to live it out and give it out every day of the year.
Take AwaysHave you accepted God’s gift of his Son, Jesus Christ?
Do you believe God loves you unconditionally? Go back and read Ephesians 1 again to remember how much he loves you and lavishes his grace on you. What stands out to you most?
How are you doing at sharing God’s love with others? Love is patient, kind, does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, it doesn’t insist on its own way, it’s not irritable or resentful. What is one specific thing you can do this week for a specific person to show him or her the love of Christ?
You can text me and I will be praying for you to follow through.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 1:22-23; Romans 15:4DARKNESS THREATENS OUR HOPEThe center of the Christmas story is focused squarely on the birth of Jesus. He is the fulfillment of Israel’s hope that God would push back the darkness and shine a bright light into the world.
One of the reasons Christmas resonates in our hearts is because we, too, live in a world that is similar to Israel. Our world is dark and corrupt because of the sin in every corner of the globe. There is war, disease, conflict, and oppression all around us. We, too, are in need of the Messiah, the Christ to bring light to push back the darkness around us. If all our focus is on the world’s darkness we will live in constant fear and anxiety. We may even lose hope.
Christmas is a reminder that whatever it is we hope for in our lives—healing, restoration, forgiveness, or a fresh start—it is available to us through Immanuel – God with us. Hope does not come because we have it all figured out. Hope does not come from other people or even from scientific advancement. Those things we hope for may be resolved here and now or it be later in heaven. All true hope is a result of the presence of God. And because God is trustworthy and keeps all his promises our hope in Him is sure and steady.
GOD’S PRESENCE GIVES US HOPEThe hard part about hope is that it often takes longer than we would like to be fulfilled. Like the Jewish people experienced, hope requires patience.
How many enjoy waiting for things? Next day delivery has kind of taken away our need for patience. We order things and they show up in a day or two. And if they don’t we are tracking the package around town on our delivery app. It’s not like the old days when shipping was typically 6-8 weeks. We would almost forget something in that time and then be so excited and surprised when the package showed up two months later. Can you imagine?
Paul said everything that had been written in the past — all of the prophecy and fulfillment —is meant to teach us how to hold onto faith in God to answer our prayers. What has been written gives us endurance and encouragement that we might have hope. It is important that we revisit the prophetic words of the Old Testament and the fulfillment that comes through the birth of Jesus because it reminds us that God can be trusted to come through and meet us in our greatest times of need.
THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS IS HOPEThough there are many distractions during the Christmas season, this message is a reminder that hope is offered to us through Jesus’s arrival in the manger. The hoped for Messiah finally arrived right on time.
Our God is always right on time. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. He can be trusted to reveal the light of Christ in order to push back the darkness in our lives. In a land full of deep darkness, the light has truly dawned. And each Christmas as we remember the hope that came with Immanuel, God with us, we can be encouraged to look to that hope that Christ will return, bring us home to heaven, and set all things right again. God will fully restore His creation.
SummaryThrough the ages people have placed all their hope in a wise leader, or in a larger army, or in science and medicine. But after several global wars, many horrific acts of hatred and terrorism, changing weather patterns, many people lost hope. Children have lost hope as parents abandoned them and spouses lost hope as marriages dissolved. Even trusting solely in your own knowledge and abilities will lead you to hopelessness.
We were created by God to know Him and to be known and loved by Him. Without that connection to your creator, your heavenly Father there is no lasting hope for this life or the next. The good news that we celebrate at Christmas time, is that God the Father sent His son into the world to offer forgiveness of sin, redemption, peace with God, and eternal life. You can find real hope only in a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Take HomesAre you looking to people, government leaders, science, or a really big retirement account to bring you hope? Your faith and hope belong in God.
Have you confessed your sin to God, and trusted Jesus as your Savior? Put your hope in God alone. Contact Pastor Mark if you want to talk more about this.
You can find real hope at the heart of Christmas.
Modified from an Original Series Written by Trevor Miller. Published by OUTREACH. © 2022 OUTREACH All Rights Reserved.
Scripture: John 3:1-8Psalm 51:5
Exodus 34:5-7
Romans 3:24-26
Romans 8:7-8
Galatians 5:17
Revelation 14:10
Ezekiel 36:26
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 Series We are coming back to our series in 1 Corinthians called Living in Light of Eternity. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about some very serious problems they were dealing with like sexual morality, marriage, using our spiritual gifts, and the need for everything to be done […]
Scripture: Jonah 2Our FailureJonah admits his guilt
Jonah reached the bottom
Failure & suffering often comes before salvation.
Matthew 10:39
All have sinned – Romans 3:23
Our sin-broken minds cannot see truth – Romans 1:28
We Cannot Save ourselvesAll our attempts at good works are like filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6
Ephesians 4:17-19
We cannot understand or even seek God on our own – Rom. 3:10-11
Salvation is a gift from God. It is by His grace alone. Eph. 2
Without blood there is no forgiveness of sins – Heb. 9:22
The blood of Jesus saves us – Heb 9:14
Three Truths1. We are sinners and God is holy.
2. We cannot save ourselves.
3. God’s grace means Jesus’ blood on the cross is the only way we can be saved.
Take Aways1. Have you admitted your sin?
2. Do you see you can’t save yourself?
3. Will you accept God’s grace – trusting in Jesus’ death on the cross?
Christian have you wandered far from God?
Are you struggling with self-righteousness?
Lacking in compassion?
Scripture: Jonah 1:11-17Jonah’s SacrificeFear?
True goodness?
Die & get it over with?
The PatternParents’ example
God described as a parent
- Psalm 103:13
- Proverbs 3:12
- Hebrews 12:7
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
- Isaiah 49:15
- Ephesians 1:5
- Romans 8:15-17
God’s grand Redemption Plan
Love others God’s way
Greater than JonahMatthew 12:38-41
Wrath was SatisfiedSea was calmed
Storm showed God’s wrath
Jesus sacrifice was a propitiation for sin
Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Romans 8:1
Take AwaysHave you come to see yourself as sinner who needs to forgiven and saved?
Do you live your life to serve others, as Jesus did, or are you waiting for others to serve you?
Based on God’s love and mercy to you, do you have compassion for the lost and are you willing to share the Gospel with them?
Scripture: Matthew 27 & 28INTROHe is Risen! Happy Easter everyone. Today we join with churches from all across the world, and throughout the centuries, in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It WAS the love of God that sent Jesus to earth, to offer himself as a sacrifice on the cross to forgive the world of its sins. And it IS the love of God that continually offers us new life through this risen Savior. So, today we celebrate. Today we worship the risen Lord, Jesus!
If you’re from my generation, or you just like the awesome 80’s, you may recall Huey Lewis and the News singing about the Power of Love. Some people underestimate love as a just a second-hand emotion, but it actually may be the most powerful force on earth. The men in the room may be able to relate to the kind of things that love drove them to do in order to win the hearts of their girlfriends or wives. Love makes us write poetry, watch romantic movies, sing epic songs, pass on tickets to the game so we can keep a date, change our hairstyle, wear different clothes. We’ll do just about anything. How many of these were you guilty of?
Love is the driving force behind our sacrificial actions for our spouse, our family and our friends. We will gladly pay any price in order to demonstrate how just much we care. Love is powerful, and it moves us to do amazing things. Before there was ever an Easter Sunday, there was a Good Friday. Before there was a resurrection, first there had to be a death. And that was about all about love.
Only One KingIf Jesus is dead, then none of this matters, but if he is rose from the dead, then that changes everything! He is the ultimate King of kings. When Jesus is on the throne of our lives, His love reigns instead. His authority is the one we follow.
Love Overcame DeathJesus’ resurrection confirmed his word was true. Though many doubted him and mocked him, death did not have the last word and final say. Love did. This is the real power of love! Scripture tells us this is true in one of the most famous passages in the Bible.
Let Love Reign in YouJesus’ love reigns or controls my life because he died to give me eternal life. My life is no longer all about me. I am no longer the one fighting for control over myself and everything around me. I am living for him and so that others would know him too.
Three Place or Choices1. Trust Jesus as your Savior 2. Come back to your Father 3. Give God full reign in your heart
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:15-21IntroBut today, is Palm Sunday. It’s the day we remember when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey; as the humble king of Israel. Just like we did, the people in Jerusalem waved palm branches.
What did they say? “Hosanna” which means “Save us” Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” The people recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah. But he didn’t immediately claim the throne in Jerusalem and save them from their Roman oppressors. And because of that, most of the people rejected him.
While many expected Jesus to be military hero, He came first to reign in our hearts as king of a spiritual kingdom. “Reign” R-E-I-G-N not the rain that comes from Clouds. It means when a king sits on his throne and he’s in charge of all the people and everything in all the kingdom. Today, we will consider the ways that the love of God reigns over our past. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross in our place, we do not have to be defined or controlled by our mistakes and sins, or the events that happened in our past.
Many people believe that their past is a constant hinderance to their present and future. It can be a heavy burden to bear when you feel weighed down by past choices you made.
OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEWEphesians 4 and Colossians 3 are encouraging passages about inviting the Holy Spirit to help us clean house and make room for His control and reign in our lives. As we stay in God’s Word, He keeps showing us areas to turn over to His control.
Reconcile means to restore good relations between people.
This is all God’s gracious gift. And it means that getting past your past is not something you can do on your own. We cannot overcome our sins or make up for them by simply doing good things. Though our sin broke our relationship with him, his love reigns over and removes our sin, making us right with him. God has reconciled or restored a good relationship between us and himself.
When we confess our sin against God and receive his forgiveness, we experience a restored relationship with him. God declares us free and we are made new.
Not only that, but we then become part of God’s plan for reconciling others around us. When we see ourselves forgiven and loved by God, by His grace we can love and forgive others and help them become new creations too.
GOD’S LOVE FOR US AND GOD’S LOVE THROUGH USJesus wants to make his invitation to the world through the way we live and the things we say. It has all been made possible through Jesus Christ.
READ 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus took on our sin, our mistakes, our brokenness, and even our past shame and nailed it to the cross. Even though he was perfect and sinless, He became sin in our place. It was an act of love for him to die for us, even as we were still sinners and not looking for God.
OUR WRONGNESS IS REPLACED BY GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESSTake AwaysFor many people, hearing the truth that God will forgive all our past seems just too good to be true and far too simple to trust. Most people want to add their own hard work and effort to earn God’s approval. But the Bible says salvation is a priceless gift. God invites people to simply receive His forgiveness and grace or love and simply allow it to reign in our lives. Then, and only then, will we experience the joy and freedom of new life.
If you’ve never confessed your sin to God, admitted that you need a Savior, believed that Jesus died in your place and came back to life, do that today!
If you are not doing much to share that good news with others, then search and pray to see what’s missing. Why is God’s grace not what you’re passionate about and excited to share? Spend some time in God’s Word remembering what He has done for you and what you were before He saved you. Then share it!
Note: Sermon title & main points from Outreach.com
Scripture: Mark 16:14-20IntroSeries1. Unbelievable Message (v. 14)The unbelievable message is that God, the creator, came to earth as Jesus, the Son of God, lived a perfect, sinless life, called people to repent of their sins, died on the cross paying the price for our sins, and then came back to life conquering the hold of sin and death. Forgiveness of sins, a right relationship with God, and eternal life are free gifts from God for anyone who believes in Jesus.2. An Unlimited Mandate (vv. 15–18)Jesus gave his disciples an official order or command. And it was something really really important.
Jesus told his disciples to Go and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. This good news was not limited to the Jewish people alone. Even though they were God’s chosen people – God was offering salvation to everyone – the whole created world. All the way back in Genesis 12 when God called Abram to Go to a new promised land, in verse 3, God said through you and your family all the families of the earth will be blessed. That was the promise of the Messiah – Jesus.
v. 16 tells us that salvation is by faith or believing; it is not based on our works or good deeds. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Faith justifies or makes people right with God and unbelief condemns people to eternal separation from God. Baptism is a symbol or outward showing of that faith – it is not what saves us or condemns us.John 3:16““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Those who don’t believe in Jesus will have eternal life, but those who don’t believe will perish – that means eternity in hell – separated from God, from light, from love, from everything good and righteous.
Sharing the Good News, the Gospel, should be the most important thing for us. Go and tell everyone!Except for the deadly poison, all of these other signs are recorded in the Book of Acts. There is a historical writing that mentioned Justus Barsabas drinking poison and not being harmed. He was the disciple not chosen to replace Judas in Acts 1:23.
Verse 20 gives us the key or the reason for these signs – it confirmed the message. They didn’t have a Bible like we do. They could tell people that they saw Jesus do miracles, they saw him die, and they saw him alive again. But just like the prophets in the OT, their message was confirmed or proved by these miraculous signs.
Paul referred to these miracles as the “signs of an authentic apostle”
(
2 Cor. 12:12 “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.”
After Acts, as you continue to read the New Testament, miracles appear less and less while living out a life that glorifies God became more important and the focus of the Scripture.
Our church statement of faith says “that the sign gifts were concluded with the completion of the canon of Scripture.”
Now that we have the complete Bible, there are no more apostles and there are no new messages from God. The Bible is how God speaks to us.3. An Unchanging Ministry (vv. 19–20)V. 19 Jesus went up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
His ascension showed that his earthly ministry was completed just like David wrote in
Psalm 110
Psalm 110:1 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.””
Being seated at the right hand of a king was a place of honor and authority. Jesus the Son of God is in that place in heaven.
Jesus is now in heaven as our High Priest and Advocate. Christ is literally praying on our behalf (Heb. 7–10; 1 John 2:1–3).
Our unchanging ministry is to share the Gospel with everyone around the whole world. God placed you and I here in Chautauqua county, in New York, in the United States in North America. Our command is to share the Gospel right here. And some of us may even be called to another state or another country to live and share the Gospel. I hope you are willing to go when God calls you. And Jesus promised to work with us and give us the power to do things we can’t do alone.
Take AwaysIn Genesis, God called Abram to Go to the Promised Land and become my people. In Isaiah, God said, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And Isaiah answered “Here I am! Send Me.” And God said “Go and tell the people about me.”
Will you pray that today? Here I am God. Send me anywhere! God may want you to stay right where you are, but we should be willing to do whatever He calls us to do.
Ask God to give you boldness so you are not afraid to share your faith. It’s the best news in the world – don’t keep it to yourself.
Maybe you’ve never believed the Good News. If so, today, you need to pray and admit you are a sinner and you need a Savior. Ask God to forgive your sins and ask Jesus to save you. If you are ready to do that come talk to me.
If you have believed, have you been baptized to let everyone know about it? We are getting ready in two weeks. You can join us that day.
You are invited to come up to one of the front rows during the last song or after the service to pray or to talk to a deacon. If you need to make one of these decisions come pray and talk to God. Bring someone with you or we will pray with you.
We have an unbelievable message of Good News. We have an unlimited mandate or command from Jesus and we have an unchanging ministry with Jesus helping us. Lets Go!
Scripture: Mark 16:1-13Intro“I’ll believe it when I see it.” This has been my doubtful response when someone says they will do something, and they failed many times over. Promises from politicians or your kids may fall into this category. You may not say it out loud, but you are thinking it. Hmm. I doubt it.
People let us down and we lose faith in them. We doubt their words. We want to see action. Follow-through. We want to see it to believe it.
Jesus had never given a false promise. Everything thing he said was true. He was the picture of trustworthiness. And he said over and over I must die, but I will rise on the third day. Why was this so hard to believe? Let’s find out.
He has RisenThe three women arrived at the tomb just after sunrise and brought spices to anoint his body. Because the body was wrapped in linen and laid on a stone bed in a carved out tomb not buried underground in a coffin like we do, the bodies were covered in aromatic spices to cover the smell of death.
On the way there they realized they weren’t strong enough to roll the giant stone from the entrance. Matthew 27, tells us there stone was sealed shut and guards were watching to make sure the disciples didn’t try any funny business – like stealing the body and claiming he rose from the dead. The women were apparently not thinking anything like that. They fully expected to find the dead body of Jesus.
But when they arrived the huge stone was already rolled away. Who would have done this?
When they entered the tomb, they were alarmed – frightened and amazed. Jesus’ was not there, but a young man dressed in white said “Don’t be alarmed.” The other Gospels confirm that he was an angel. Everyone that meets an angel is afraid. Their first words are typically “fear not!” He know why they are there. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here.” These were the greatest words they could hear. You don’t have to worry about moving the stone. You don’t have to worry about adding spices to his body. Jesus is not here.
He shows them where Jesus’ body had laid. And then gives them a mission. “Go, tell his disciples and Peter that He is going ahead to Galilee and will meet you all there.”
Jesus Appearsverse 9 Tells us that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Again this is so amazing that Jesus would choose Mary, a woman, one who had been possessed by demons, but one who loved Jesus because of her great salvation. She went to tell the disciples and found them mourning and weeping after Jesus death. The didn’t believe that Jesus was alive or that she had really seen him.
verse 12 Tells us about the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. There’s much more detail in Luke 24. They didn’t realize it was actually Jesus walking and talking with them until he disappeared. But when they returned to tell the other disciples they had seen the Lord, they did not believe them.
verse 14 Jesus finally appears to the eleven disciple as they ate and he scolded them for not believing and for having hard hearts.
The other gospels tell us about hundreds of others who saw Jesus alive again after his crucifixion. Mark wrote this Gospel twenty to thirty years later. There were still eyewitnesses alive who had seen Jesus perform miracles, died, and come back to life. Many tried to refute the resurrection, but they could not ignore the facts. There was no body in the tomb and Jesus was alive!
ResponsesFirst the three women expected to find Jesus still dead in the tomb. They forgot or ignored his teaching that he would die and then come back to life. Their response to the empty tomb and seeing the angel was fear and trembling. They initially told no one.
When Jesus appeared to Mary she went to tell the disciples the good news, but they did not believe her. They also did not believe Jesus who said he would rise from the dead.
Even after two more eye witnesses saw Jesus and talked to him, the disciples did not believe.
The greatest of all signs – an empty tomb, an angelic messenger, even eyewitnesses who saw Jesus were not enough to produce faith in his closest followers.
Faith comes by hearing the Gospel – the good news that Jesus was crucified and died for our sins and then rose from the dead conquering sin and death. Seeing is not believing it’s faith and that comes by the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples about this in John 16:8.
John 16:8 (ESV): And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
Ephesians 2 tells us our salvation is completely by faith which comes through God’s grace. Nothing we can boast about, not even believing on our own. This passage tells us we were spiritually dead in our sins until we were awakened and given enough life to respond to the Gospel and believe.
Eph 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
So what’s your response?
SummaryOne of the many reasons the Bible is credible and believable is its complete honesty. If you were writing this story, you would have made the disciples heroes. They would not have run away when their leader was arrested and condemned. The women would have come to the tomb rejoicing because they believed Jesus had risen. As the good news of the resurrection was shared everyone would have immediately believed.
But instead the Bible shows us the truth, that people are flawed, we lack faith, we are fearful, we struggle with doubt and we sin. But God loves anyway and offers salvation to the humble, the poor in spirit, the outcasts, the overlooked, the marginalized.
The Apostle Paul summed up the Gospel this way in 1 Cor. 15:3-4
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Because Jesus rose from the dead there is hope of all things being made new again. The perfect world God created was broken by sin and peace with God was impossible. So God promised a redeemer, a messiah who would suffer and die in place of sinful people, and rise again the everlasting Prince of Peace. Our sin breaks everything – our relationship with God, our relationship with others around us – even our own family is pushed away by our sinful pride and selfishness. But the cross and the resurrection changed everything. Jesus is our peace and he offers forgiveness, salvation, and peace with our Father, God. The Bible also promises with the hope of eternal life, the hope of a full restoration – our broken hearts mended, our broken bodies made whole, our broken world made new. Eternity with God.
Our modern era is the first in history where happy endings are viewed as childish and bad story telling. We have bad guys who do good, and good guys who fail. Our stories end with no resolution or worse nothing really matters. They leave us hopeless and helpless.
The Gospel – Tim Keller quoteWithout the resurrection –
Life ends and it’s over. It’s meaningless and sad. And it doesn’t really matter what you do or don’t do in this life. Enjoy it, endure it, end it. It makes no difference.
With the resurrection –
There is a perfect hero who saves us when all hope is lost. A future exists where brokenness is made whole, wrongs made right, relationships mended.
The resurrection brings real hope for this world and the future.
Only salvation in Jesus brings real hope
1 Cor 15:54 “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.””
verse 57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Take AwaysYou’ve heard the good news. If the Holy Spirit has convicted you to believe that you are a sinner and you need a Savior, then I would encourage you to respond. Come meet me at the front of the church and we can talk and pray together to begin your new life with Jesus Christ. Come right now. If you’re watching on line that will be a little harder. You can contact me through the church website or office and we can set up a time to talk.
It doesn’t matter how far you feel from God. Jesus’ own disciples deserted him and didn’t believe. But God welcomes everyone. He wants you to have peace with Him and eternal life.
The Bible says, now is the right time to be saved. Don’t wait another day.
If you are already a believer, is the gospel of “first importance” in your life? Do you want to share it with everyone you care about?
Does God’s love for you, his unconditional forgiveness, his daily grace and mercy change the way you respond to the people all around you? Can they see and hear how Jesus changed your life?
Do you feel like you have wandered too far from Jesus? Our loving Father welcomes back his prodigals with open arms. Pray right now. Confess your sins. Ask Him to renew a right spirit in you. And commit to walking with Him daily.
Scripture: Mark 15:20-32IntroMost Important Book is the BibleThe Bible is the most important book of all time. It still remains the most copied and best selling book ever.1. THE BIBLE HAS TRANSFORMED THE WORLD
2. PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DIE FOR THIS BOOK
3. IT’S THE MOST ACCURATE BOOK OF ANTIQUITY
4. IT CONTAINS A LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE OF FREEDOM
5. IT CONNECTS YOU TO HISTORY’S MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE
In today’s passage in Mark 15, we reach the crucifixion of Jesus, the climax of the Gospel narrative. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the author, Mark is telling this historical story because he wants the reader to come face to face with Jesus and respond. It is not just a bunch of facts and opinions.SeriesWe are continuing our sermon series from the Gospel of Mark – called The Crown & The Cross. Mark shows us Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Jesus’ life on earth helped us all better understand God’s heart and what His kingdom is like.In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah – the King who deserved the crown. The second half’s focus is on Jesus in Jerusalem fulfilling His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross – and to rise from the dead. In last week’s sermon, we saw Jesus rejected by the religious leaders who should have recognized the Messiah; rejected by the crowds; and rejected by the Romans. He was sentenced to death by crucifixion.Today as we continue in Mark 15 , Jesus will be crucified with two common criminals. The promised Messiah, the Son of God, will be brutally nailed to a cross. But God had a plan for it all.Our parallel passages are in Matthew 27, Luke 23 , and John 19
You can find notes and watch the rest of this series on our website or YouTube page. Carry the CrossNothing LeftMockingCounted with CriminalsTake AwaysJesus was innocent of any sin, but guilty of the charge “The King of the Jews” That is what hung over his head as the charge against him.What will you do with Jesus? Mark calls us to a response.Have you mocked Jesus? Do you use his name as a meaningless phrase? Do you still need to see something more before you will believe?Have you accepted Him as your King, your Lord, your Savior? He suffered the agony of the cross, he endured mocking and shame all for you all for me. So that we could be saved. It was the only way.Jesus called people to repent of their sins, and accept the gift of salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.Brothers and sisters, will you carry the cross of discipleship? Will you accept hard things and do them joyfully? Will you put down your own earthly treasures and possessions to focus on treasure in heaven? Spiritual prizes? Will you say no to sin and yes to obedience? Let’s take up the cross of Jesus and share the Gospel with our community. Let’s die to sin and live to righteousness.Let’s love people the way God does. Because Jesus showed His love for us by enduring the cross for our sins, we can have victory and eternal life.
Scripture: Mark 15:1-20IntroHave you been rejected? It never feels good. In fact, it really hurts.
Jesus knows this pain and he welcomes you to bring it all to him. He cares about you and your pain.
Questioned & AccusedJesus delivered to Pontius Pilate the Roman governor.
RejectedPilate asks the Crowd what they want done with Jesus. They shout “Crucify Him!”
Beaten & MockedJesus is Mocked and beaten by Roman soldiers
Jesus was RejectedThe Jewish Sanhedrin rejected Jesus because 1. He was a threat to their power2. He did not fit their ideal of a warring messiah King3. He exposed them and showed their true hypocritical nature – their sin and shallow obedience to lawThe Jewish Crowd rejected Jesus and choose Barabbas instead because:1. They were disappointed in Jesus as Messiah2. They wanted a violent patriot instead of a serving spiritual leaderThe Roman Soldiers rejected Jesus – they didn’t care about a Jewish messiah, but they tasted blood and joined in the violence.Take AwaysHow do you respond when someone falsely accuses you? Do you get angry, fight back, argue, defend yourself? God tells us to leave vengeance to him. To respond to hatred with love. This is something we can only do through the Holy Spirit in us.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31–32)
Have you been rejected by your family or people you counted as friends? Jesus knows how you feel.Jesus is everything you need. He will never let you down. He will never leave you alone. He also gives us a new family – the church where we can be loved, accepted, encouraged, and helped to grow.Have you rejected Jesus as Son of God and your Savior? Will you listen to religion; listen to the majority; listen to the people around you?Or will you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit calling you to repent of your sins and accept Jesus as you king and Savior?If you have trusted him as your Savior, are you still rejecting him daily?When you hurting, lost, looking for answers – where do you turn? Experts or therapists?Are you running to other people to tell you you are loved and good enough? Family, friends?Are you still choosing things to make you feel better – buying more stuff, drinking, eating, inhaling, something to take away the pain, the guilt, the heart ache? Jesus promises to fill all of those needs and to give you real peace, real comfort, real belonging, real love.
Scripture: Mark 5:1-20Recognising Our Greatest ProblemChrist’s Example: Care & CompassionGospel Confidence Found In Christ’s Authority
Scripture: Mark 14:53-72Jesus before the CouncilFalse AccusationsJesus’ ResponseJesus Condemned to DeathPeter watching from a distanceTrue AccusationsPeter’s ResponseSummary – A Tale of Two RocksAfter the Passover meal, Jesus knew the difficult road that lay ahead of himself and his disciples. That is why he spent hours in prayer in the garden. He poured out his heart to God his Father and he submitted to the Father’s will no matter what. He also told Peter, James, and John to watch and pray as well so that they would not give in to temptation. The disciples fell asleep three times just as Peter failed Jesus these three times.
We saw Jesus the sold rock. He relied completely on the Father. He didn’t speak when unreliable testimonies and false charges were brought against him. He only answered when the high priest asked the right question “Are the the messiah, the Son of God?” And then Jesus gave a clear testimony that he was the Son of God and the rightful Messiah. Jesus stood firm.
Sadly we also saw Peter as a crumbling rock. The servant girl and several other people all claimed to see Peter with Jesus. Unlike Jesus’ accusers, their testimonies were ultimately true and they all agreed. He was relying on his own courage and afraid to die. He denied being a disciple. He denied even knowing Jesus. And he failed to even name Jesus the Lord. Peter swore that all of these true statements were lies. And when heard the rooster crow he realized he had failed the test of discipleship. He broke down and cried.
Thankfully, Peter’s story doesn’t end there with defeat. He confessed his sin and pledged to follow Jesus faithfully. He preached the powerful Gospel to the newly gathered church in Acts 1 and Christian tradition says that Peter was crucified for his testimony of Jesus in Rome during the brutal persecutions of emperor Nero.
Hudson Taylor – “God chose me because I was weak enough. He trains somebody to be quiet enough, and little enough, and then uses him.”
The Apostle Paul in 2 Cor 12:9-10 said, “For the sake of Christ I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Jan read 2 Cor 4 for us before the message. Paul describes believers as fragile jars of clay with the greatest treasure of God’s grace inside us so that we can show that the power and glory belong to God not us.
Take AwaysJesus is the Son of God, and even though perfectly innocent, He was willing to be falsely accused and die for us. His followers should be ready to do the same for His name.
Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? The Son of God was falsely accused, mocked, beaten, whipped, and nailed to a cross to die in your place. He paid for our sins because he was sinless. And he came back to life after three days to offer you eternal life and peace with God. Come to talk to me.
Most of us will not become martyrs for our faith in Jesus. But are you willing to endure ridicule when someone laughs at our beliefs?
Are you willing to ignore false personal attacks for the sake of Jesus?
Will you show his mercy and grace to those who don’t deserve it? Will you give only your best to your family, your spouse, your co-workers because God gave his best for you?
Will you give a true testimony of who Jesus is and how he has changed your life when given the opportunity?
Scripture: John 13-17Our Mission
The mission of First Baptist Church is to develop missionary disciples who worship God, grow spiritually, and share the Gospel and their spiritual gifts.
WORSHIP – Our lives are made to glorify God and recognize Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We love God by glorifying him through obedience and showing others what Jesus is like in our words and actions. (Luke 10:27)
GROW – Developing Disciples, Spiritual Growth & Maturity, Fellowship. We love each other as we mature to become more like Jesus and we help disciple each other to grow and mature spiritually. We do this through intentional fellowship and living life involved in each other’s lives. (1 Thessalonians 4:3 and Ephesians 4:13)
SHARE – Called to share the Good News of the Gospel and God’s love with our community & the world and to share our spiritual gifts and abilities. We love our local community and communities around the world by serving them and sharing the Gospel with them. God places believers together in local churches to be part of a living body each doing one or more parts. (Matthew 28:19-20 and Ephesians 4:15-16)
Series: Mission 2023Our three-week series will be looking more closely at how we put this into actions of love – again individually and together as a church family. Worship and Love God. Grow and Love each other. Share and Love our community.
Today we will look at the third command: Share or Love Our Community
Share the GospelFirst we are called to share the Gospel. We love our community by sharing the life-giving message of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection with them.
Divine Love – John 13:1When we love our neighbors and people in our community, we show them God’s divine love.
Sacrificial Love – John 13:14When we are willing to sacrifice our pride or even giving something up for the people in our community, they will see and better understand Jesus’ sacrificial love on the cross.
Exemplary Love – John 13:34-35People will know you are my disciples when they see your love. What is First Baptist known for in our community? A nice building. A small but caring school? Are we known for love?
Expectant Love – John 14:1-2People won’t come ask for help or see answers when all they see is anger, pride, self-righteousness, or despair and loss of hope for the world. But they just might come when they experience first-hand God’s love through you.
Supernatural Love – John 14:16; John 15:8-9We cannot love our community in our own strength, but when we experience God’s grace and forgive love, He will be glorified as we live and love others.
Obedient Love – John 14:15To keep loving even when they don’t love back. We love our community because Jesus commanded us to.
Realistic Love – John 15:18We don’t love our communities because we want them to love us. We love our neighbors and the people in our community because God loves them and we hope that they will over time come to know Jesus as Savior, and better understand and love God themselves.
Anticipatory Love – John 17:15, 20We love our community anticipating that souls will be saved as we show God’s love and His glory to the people around us.
Challenges to Loving Our Community1. Hatred 2. Apathy 3. Self-Righteousness
Share your spiritual gifts and abilitiesIn addition to sharing the gospel and God’s love we are called to share our spiritual gifts and abilities within the local church and our community. As we are each unique parts of the body of Christ, we have been supernaturally equipped for one or more areas of service.
“The Bible’s story is about a God of love invading the world in the person of his Son of love to establish his kingdom of love by a radical sacrifice of love, to forgive us in love and draw us into his family of love, and to send us out as ambassadors of the very same love.”– Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies
Take Homes* Do you fully know and accept God’s unconditional love for you? Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation? * Do you really know and appreciate God’s grace in your own life? It’s hard to show others grace when you don’t see it first hand. * How is our church doing on a scale of 1 to 10 in loving our community? * What could we be doing better? * Where would you like to be involved personally? * Where could you be serving in our church? Turn in your “Share” form at the Welcome Center.
Four QuestionsWhat is God Like?
Why Do You Need God?
How Did God Come?
How Did God Do It?
Thin IceIt’s not just a matter of more faith
The object of your faith matters most
God’s Gift to You
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 6:23
Once in Royal David’s CityBegins with history
Clearly states Jesus’ divinity
He entered history as a human
Jesus’ is destined for majesty
Scripture: Luke 2:25-35IntroToday is the fourth and final week of advent – or waiting. Next Sunday is Christmas Day. We have been exploring a Christmas Playlist from the familiar Gospel of Luke. These may not be the songs we regularly sing, but these first songs of Christmas are meant to make us think. They are meant to change us as they ask and answer four important questions about Christmas. Last Sunday in the Angels’ song we will answer the question “How did God come?” It was miraculous but very unexpected.
Today, in Simeon’s Song we will answer the final question How Did God Do It? How did He do what? How would God save and redeem His people?
If you pull out the insert in your bulletin, you can jot down some of your own thoughts and questions as we go along. If you’re watching on-line today, you can find the notes at Faithlife.com/DunkirkBaptist.
Today’s question: “How Did God Do It?”Two weeks ago, we answered the question, Why Do You Need God? We wouldn’t have a Christmas to celebrate if Jesus, the Son of God, did not need to come to earth to be the Savior and Redeemer. And so, today’s question of How Did God Do It? is related directly to the question why we need God. Romans 3:23 says All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are all born as sinners separated from God and desiring to be fully in charge of everything. You know that feeling right? We see it in our children from a very young age. They want what they want. And with their actions and words scream “Give it to me, Now!” But God is the true authority, and He calls us to be righteous and holy. We need our sins to be forgiven. We need to be set free from that constant pull to do things our way. We need to be saved because we can’t do it ourselves. And we need to be redeemed or freed from slavery and the control of sin in our lives. Today we will hear in Simeon’s song a glimpse at how this little baby would change the world forever. We love seeing little baby Jesus in the manger, but we can’t forget that He grew up to save the world through his greatest sacrifice.
Our fourth singer is a man named Simeon. Today’s Scripture passage in Luke 2 tells us he was righteous and devout. That means he obeyed God’s laws and wanted to please God with his life. He was also waiting his whole life for the consolation of Israel. That means he was waiting for the promised Messiah to come and save his people. For Israel’s pain and suffering to be relieved. Listen to what happens when he sees baby Jesus in Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph.
Prophecies FulfilledIsaiah’s prophecies in chapters 24, 40 and 66 were fulfilled in Jesus’ birth.
READ Isaiah 40:1-5
Heartbreak is ComingSimeon, also said to Mary, “And a sword will pierce your own soul.” John 19:25 tells us that Mary was standing at the foot of the cross watching her son Jesus suffering and dying on the cross. Any mother that loses a child knows that heart breaking pain.
Your Bill is PaidJesus was crucified on a Roman cross and Mary watched that happen. The perfect man, who committed no sins, was also the Son of God, and He alone could pay for your sins and mine. He said from the cross “It is finished.” But he didn’t remain in the grave. Three days later, he came back to life and proved that He really was the Son of God. You can read about that in Luke 23-24. Just as the angels proclaimed Jesus’ birth, angels returned and sat on the empty tomb to tell the good news. “He is not here; He has risen! Just as He said He would.
So How Did God Do It?How did God offer salvation to His people? How did He fulfill the promises He made to Simeon, Mary, Zechariah, and the shepherds? How did He offer forgiveness and full payment of the sins of the world? He sent His Son to die in our place. To make the payment for our sins with His own blood, His own life. He did all of this because of His unbelievable, unconditional, redeeming love for us.
READ John 3:16-17
That’s the Gospel. That’s our advent theme today. God’s great love for you.
If you have never confessed your sin to God; if you have never accepted Jesus’ payment for your sins; if you have never placed your faith in Him as your Savior; let today be the day! Come talk to me after the service. If you’re watching on-line, contact me through the website Dunkirkbaptist.org or through the church office. This could be the best Christmas you’ve ever experienced because you will know the Savior personally and you will begin a new life in him.
Scripture: Luke 2:8-14A Christmas PlaylistWe are halfway through the four weeks of advent – or waiting. We are exploring a Christmas Playlist from the familiar Gospel of Luke. These may not be the songs we regularly sing, but these first songs of Christmas are meant to make us think. They are meant to change us as they ask and answer four important questions about Christmas. Last Sunday in Zechariah’s song, we addressed the question Why do you need God? And we saw that the answer was our sin. We need God because we cannot do anything about our sin. Today, in the Angels’ song we will answer How did God come?
Today’s question is “How Did God Come?”The Baby’s DetailsBirthplace – Bethlehem
Purpose (job) – Savior & Redeemer
Title – Christ (Messiah)
True Identity – The Lord (God Himself)
Three Big SurprisesThe Virgin Birth
The Birthplace
The Audience
Great Joy & Peace on Earth
“While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief and envy; he cannot give peace of heart, for which man yearns for more than even outward peace.”
– Epictetus
Take HomesWill you accept God’s gift today?
Is there room for Jesus in your life?
Jesus is Lord!
Scripture: Luke 1:26-56 Over the next four weeks of advent – or waiting, we will explore a Christmas Playlist from the familiar Gospel of Luke. While these four songs may not be one’s we regularly sing, they are meant to change us as they help us answer four important questions about Christmas. Today in Mary’s […]
Scripture: Mark 14:26-52 You Will Deny Me Jesus Prays, Disciples Sleep Jesus Betrayed and Arrested
Scripture: Mark 13:14-37 Intro Hermeneutics = proper interpretation and understanding of Scripture Rules of Good Hermeneutics 1. Historical and cultural context 2. Purpose of the book 3. Understanding immediate context 4. Literary form & word meaning 5. Theological analysis Abomination of Desolation “Standing were he ought not be” (Let the reader understand) Multiple fulfillments • […]
Scripture: Mark 13:1-13 Intro Series Temple Destruction Prophesied (vv. 1-2) Two Questions: When will this happen? What will be the sign? Warnings (vv. 3-13) Don’t be mislead or deceived Don’t be alarmed Be on your guard Don’t be anxious You will be hated Enduring Encouragement (vv. 11, 13) Confidence in God’s sovereign purposes His presence […]
Scripture: Luke 9 Luke 9:18-20, Isaiah 53:3-7, Luke 9:23, Luke 9:24-26, Luke 9:57-62, Luke 14:25-33 My hope and prayer is that we all take up our cross, we all keep the plow straight, because the gospel needs to be spread. And it needs to be the true Gospel of repentance not a counterfeit one of […]
Scripture: Mark 12:38-44 Intro How American use spend their time and money. We worship God most when we sacrificially love Him and love others more than ourselves. Series The Crown and the Cross – Jesus in the Gospel of Mark Beware the Hypocrites Warnings against their self-righteousness and lack of real love for God and […]
Scripture POINT #1 – Hope In God’s Plan For Your Life Jeremiah 29:11-13 Wherever you find yourself today, I want to encourage you that God has a plan for your life. When you begin to know God through His Son Jesus Christ, and you live your life according to his Word, your steps start to […]
Scripture: Mark 12:18-27 Intro We here a lot about science today. Trust the science. I only believe what I can see and prove. The Bible and the Christian faith are often discounted as wishful thinking or fuzzy nice thinking, but unproveable. For all of those criticisms, there are sure a lot of people who believe […]
Scripture: Mark 12:13-17 Intro When two polar opposites come together its either a miracle of peaceful negotiation or a time to really worry about their motives. Imagine the far left and the far right in New York or Washington working together against a perceived common enemy. After the 9-11 attacks, the war on terrorism seemed […]
Scripture: Mark 12:1-12 “Entitlement is the belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges or special treatment.” Characters in the Parable Warning for Israel Warnings for the Church What does God expect? God requires that our place of worship be a house of prayer for all nations (11:17). God also requires our […]
Scripture: Mark 11:27-33 Intro Jewish Leaders Challenge Jesus vv. 27-28 Jesus Asks a Question vv 29-30 Leaders Can’t Respond vv 31-33 Jesus’s Final Word v 33 Summary The Jewish leaders were caught in a dilemma of their own making. They were not asking “What is true?” or “What is right?” but “What is safe?” This […]
Scripture: Mark 11:12-25 Jesus looks for fruit vv. 12-13 Jesus curses the fig tree v. 14 Fig tree was dead vv. 20-21 Jesus teaches faith & forgiveness vv. 22-25 Take Aways
Scripture: Mark 11:15-19 Intro Do you remember a few years back when IHOP announced it was changing its name to IHOB? The International House of Pancakes known for its 24-hour pancakes and waffles wanted to improve their lunch and dinner business by changing the P for pancakes to B for burgers. It was a marketing success […]
Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 Intro In today’s message from Mark 11 Jesus will enter Jerusalem, the capitol of Israel and the center of worship, for the first time. And he also, doesn’t simply show up. There are preparation and pageantry befitting a king. Series As we continue our series: The Crown & The Cross sermon, Mark’s […]
Scripture: Mark 10:32-52 The Wrong Question (vv. 32-34) Jesus, will you give us whatever we ask? Servant of All (vv. 35-45) Servant Leaders who are willing to do the lowest tasks are needed in God’s Kingdom. The Ransom (v. 45) Ransom in Jesus’ times was the payment to get out of jail. Jesus paid the […]
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31 Intro Series A Man’s Life-changing Question What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus’ Answer & Warning about Dangerous Treasure “Go sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” The task of selling all his possessions would not, of […]
Scripture: Mark 10:1-16 Pharisees’ Test Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? Jesus’ Response • What did Moses command you? • God’s Original Marriage Plan from Genesis 2 • Mystery of Marriage & the Gospel from Ephesians 5 Disciples Questions • Jesus’ answer indicates they may have asked about remarriage • Matt […]
Scripture: Mark 9:30-41 Intro How many of you are Pride & Prejudice fans? If you like great drama and romance there are plenty of movie and mini-series versions and spin-offs out there of this classic Jane Austin novel – including Pride & Prejudice and Zombies a few years ago. If you want to save watching […]
Scripture: Mark 9:1-13 Intro Are you the kind of person who hates silence? If no one is talking, you feel like you should? Even if you’re wrong or not sure what to say, you just have to say something. Or maybe you’re the person who sits quietly listening and learning – watching and waiting for […]
Scripture: Mark 8:27-38 Who Am I? vv. 28-30 What I Must Do vv. 31-33 I must suffer many things I must be rejected by elders, chief priests, and scribes I must be killed I must rise from dead after three day What You Must Do vv. 34-38 Deny yourself Take up your cross Follow me […]
Scripture: Mark 8:11-26 Pharisees look for a sign vv. 11-13 Jesus warns about unbelief vv. 14-21 Jesus heals blindness vv. 22-26 Take Aways Be ready to share the Gospel As Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15 always be prepared to answer anyone who asks for the reason you have hope. You may be asked to […]
Scripture: John 20 HOPE APPEARS WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT READ John 20:11-14 EASTER COMES AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME READ John 20:15-18 READ Genesis 3:8-10 THE RESURRECTION IS VICTORY OVER DEATH READ John 11:25 TAKE HOMES Knowing Jesus as Savior is not only hope for eternal life, it’s hope in all of life’s hardest […]
Scripture: Mark 7: 24-37 Series We are continuing our series: The Crown & The Cross sermon. Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus as a man of decisive action with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Mark divides Jesus’ life into two parts: his identity as Messiah and […]
Scripture: Mark 7:1-23 Intro Today in Mark chapter 7, a group of religious leaders seek out Jesus looking to discredit Him and his teaching with accusing his disciples of disregarding the traditions of the elders. Jesus responded by pointing out the problems caused by people focusing more on outward actions than on their hearts. We […]
Scripture: Mark 6: 45-56 Intro In this morning’s message from the Gospel of Mark, we see that the disciples hearts were hardened and they didn’t understand what Jesus was doing. Many people refuse to accept God’s gift of salvation because they’ve judged Christians they know or even Christians they see in the news or social […]
Scripture: Mark 6:30-44 As Mark continues to present Jesus as the Messiah worthy of the crown, in this passage we see Jesus’ compassion for the lost, the disciples seeing a problem but unable to solve it, Jesus blessing what was available and feeding and satisfying the people’s needs. Just as the crowd two thousand years ago […]
INTRO Our sermon series is called Rediscover Church – why the body of Christ is essential. We are posing nine key questions about church. And as we consider the answers, I hope you take the next step in deepening your relationship with Christ and our church. Maybe you have been watching on-line and waiting to […]
Hope The result of hope in your life should be praising and thanking God and then encouraging others with that same hope. Peace When the shepherds heard this message of peace they ran to see the newly born Messiah and left glorifying and praising God telling everyone they met about Jesus. Do you take credit […]
God’s Promises of Hope Peace Joy Love were all fulfilled in the nativity of Jesus Christ. The Son of God was born in a manger, Emanuel – God with us. He lived a perfect, sinless life, and offered his own life on the cross to pay for our sins. All who repent, seek God’s forgiveness, […]
Scripture: Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:26-38 How many of us have a nativity scene set up in the living room or on the mantle of the fireplace. Ours is on a radiator cover in the Dining Room. What is a nativity? And what does that word even mean? Our word nativity comes from the Latin word […]
Scripture: Luke 1:8–20, 39-45, 57–66; Isaiah 40:3–5 1: Jesus’ Birth is the Source of True Joy
God’s Glory will be revealed in the Messiah Jesus Christ
2: It is a Joy to Share God’s Plan
The name “John” means Graced by God – or – God has been Gracious
3: Our Joy Comes from the Grace of God
Salvation through Jesus Christ is a GIFT from God.
Conclusion Will you decide to live with joy as a testimony to the good news of Christ’s birth? Joy comes from trusting God and His promises. We choose joy instead of choosing worry, despair, or disappointment in our immediate situation.
Are you someone who is known for displaying joy? Ask your family or close friends if they think of joy when they think of you.
Are you someone who knows the joys that come at Christmas? What is one way you can display the good news of this season by the way you live your life?
Scripture: Luke 2:8–14; Isaiah 9:6–7; Romans 8:6–7 Nativity Person(s):the Shepherds THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS FOR EVERYONE Maybe you could use some good news today because your spirit does not know real peace. In the arrival of Jesus Christ, we are given good news. The good news is this: you have not been forgotten by God. In fact, He has come to be with you in the midst of your struggle. He was born in the city of David, and He is the Messiah and the Lord. He is in charge. He is King. He is the one you have been waiting for.
PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT; IT IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD. True peace can be experienced in the midst of the chaotic when we recognize that peace is not about our immediate circumstances, it is about the sovereign God who is faithful to walk with us through even the most difficult times.
GOD’S FAVOR COMES FROM BEING AT PEACE WITH GOD The birth of this promised king is the coming of a new rule for the entire world, and that rule begins inside each and every one of our hearts. This baby grew up to be a man who offered Himself on the cross as atonement or payment for our sins. The peace that we find at Christmas comes from submitting to the leadership of Jesus Christ. It reorients our hearts, and it makes us friends of God. So, though the world may be in chaos around us, we find a comfort and a confidence in knowing that we have been made right with God through the blood of Jesus and that He is with us. His presence in our lives brings us peace.
I want to encourage you today, if you’ve never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior to begin that relationship with Him and truly know the peace of God. Come talk to me after the service or contact me through the church if you’re watching on-line.
If you are already a believer, are you trying to find peace in the people around you? Or maybe in the things you hope can protect you? Just like Hope, peace can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. Are you growing deeper in your relationship with Him? Are you letting His peace protect your thoughts?
Scripture: Mark 6:14–29 Jesus and his followers are compelled to speak the truth about sin and the need for repentance regardless of the consequences.
Intro It’s almost Thanksgiving and the Christmas countdown begins. That means lots of good food and often lots of parties. There are school parties, work parties, friends parties, family parties, community parties. Who likes going to parties? Who would rather be home with just a few people?
Have you heard “it’s not a party until something is broken”? That’s definitely not something you want to hear when you are the host or hostess. Today’s passage in Mark 6 includes a party that got way out of hand. The Jewish people typically only celebrated the feasts that God prescribed. But Herod, the ruler of a quarter of Israel, was following the Roman tradition of a birthday party, and he used it as an excuse to impress people with his wealth and power. Things went from bad to worse ending with a dead body. You know that’s a really terrible ending for any party!
Series This morning in the Crown & Cross series from the Gospel of Mark we are continuing in Mark chapter 6.
Mark shows Jesus as a man of decisive action with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message.
Mark divides Jesus’ life into two parts: his identity as Messiah and King over all things in chapters 1-8a (the crown) and then we see His purpose in suffering and dying on the cross in chapters 8b-16.
Last week we saw Jesus call the twelve disciples and send them out in twos to carry His message of the Gospel and His ministry to people. In verse 30, they disciples return to tell Jesus what happened, but sandwiched in between is this narrative about the death of John the Baptist, the proclaimer of Jesus as Messiah and Son of God.
Jesus and all of His followers, including John, are compelled to speak the truth about sin and the need for repentance as they share the good news of the Gospel, regardless of the consequences. In this passage, Mark also provides some foreshadowing and comparisons to Jesus and his mission at the cross.
PRAY
READ Mark 6:14-29
Herod Heard & Feared vv. 14-20
King Herod heard about Jesus and His miracles and His message of the Kingdom. His name was spreading. And the twelve disciples going out certainly expanded the spread of the Gospel message.
Mark calls him King Herod, but the other Gospels refer to him as Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch. His father Herod the Great was the king from Matthew 2 who heard from the wise men about the new King born in Bethlehem. Herod feared losing his position and had all the baby boys two and under murdered. This is his son, also called Herod – as a title. His father set him and his brothers as rulers over a quarter of Israel. Tetra means four parts.
There were several theories about Jesus and his miraculous powers to heal, cast out demons and even raise the dead. Some people were saying Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Other said He is Elijah. Others said he is a prophet like the old days.
Herod superstitiously decided he must be John, whom I beheaded, raised from the dead. It didn’t really make sense because John introduced his followers to Jesus and even baptized him. But Herod may have been feeling guilty and was afraid that John was back to haunt him. He may also have recognized that this message of another king and a coming kingdom was not silenced even by John’s death.
Back in Mark 1:14, after John baptized Jesus, it says “now John was arrested” then Jesus began proclaiming the Gospel. Now Mark fills in the rest of the story about John’s arrest.
vv. 17-19 Herod had John arrested and imprisoned for the sake of his wife.
Earlier, Herod was visiting his half-brother, Philip, and desired Philip’s wife for himself. He divorced his own wife, Herodias divorced Philip, and married Herod Antipas. It appears to be lust on Herod’s part, but Herodias may have just wanted to move up the political and societal ladder.
John, unafraid of the consequences, told Herod his marriage to his brother’s wife was sinful according to the Law in Leviticus 18:16. John’s message, like Jesus’ was to repent because the Kingdom of God was at hand.
Like the courageous prophets before him, John understood that the proclamation of God’s word included moral responsibility. He did not read the polls before speaking and acting; he protected no special interest groups. The Gospel message was not changed based on the wealth or influence of the audience. He spoke the truth in love. The message of repentance was necessary for someone to humbly accept God’s gift of salvation. John’s courage came at the great cost of his freedom and eventual death.
Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to see him put to death. She didn’t want to be told by anyone how to live her life. And perhaps as a queen, thought she was above the law. Herod feared John, knowing he was righteous and holy and kept him safe. He didn’t let his treacherous wife kill John but he did put him in prison to silence his call to repent of sin.
This godless couple reminds us of Ahab and Jezebel, who were also called to repent by the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 21. Jezebel made it her mission in life to see Elijah destroyed, but God prevailed and both were killed.
v. 20b Herod apparently continued to listen to John’s message and was greatly perplexed yet heard him gladly. Do you know people like that? They want to hear more about God and His love but they don’t want to hear anything about their sin and guilt.
Herod Partied & Promised vv. 21-25
One day, Herod threw a big party for his birthday. He was in power only because the invading Romans allow him to rule. And in keeping with Roman traditions, he celebrated his own birth inviting his nobles, military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. So he had the nobility the government officials of the Jews, the Roman army officers, and the upper crust – wealthy men from the surrounding area. These were men he wanted to impress and influence. In following with a pagan banquet, there would have been lots of rich food, lots of wine, and wild entertainment. Think of Roman orgies with gluttony and worse.
Imagine allowing your young daughter to come dance in front of a bunch of drunk men? It’s implied by the passage that her dancing was erotic as it entertained and please her father and his guests. One commentary said It was culturally unthinkable for a princess to appear as a dancing girl in front of a male audience. Queen Vashti refused to dance before King Ahasuerus and his friends in Esther 1.
Herod bragged for all to hear, “Ask me for whatever you wish and I will give to you.” He repeats, maybe drunk and forgot? Now with a vow a promise – “whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”
As a puppet king, he really had no control over his territory. It was not really his to give. But it was culturally expected that a successful entertainer would be given an extravagant gift to flaunt the giver’s wealth.
This boast again echoes Esther 5 and 7, when King Ahasuerus was please with Esther and promised her anything she asked even to the half of my kingdom. This appears to be a hyperbole – an exaggerated figure of speech.
The girl, named Salome in other passages, went out to ask her mother what she should ask for. And Herodias seized her opportunity to get back at John replying “the head of John the Baptist.” Just what any girl would love to have!
The girl rushed back in and immediately said “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” There was no thank you or polite manners. She sounds like the rich overly spoiled Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who demanded “Daddy I want an Oompa Loompa!” And Salome gruesomely ordered the head served up on a platter as though it was part of the feast! This daughter was as sick as her mother.
Herod Agonized & Complied vv. 26-28
The king was exceedingly sorry. He had been protecting John even though he was in prison. He recognized that this was a man of God. A righteous and holy man.
But because of his oath, his promise in front of all these influential men, he could not go back on his word. He didn’t even try to argue with the girl or talk her out of it.
Immediately he sent an executioner to kill John.
John the baptist was killed for calling out sin and remaining faithful to the Gospel message. That’s what disciples are called to do.
When it came down to it, Herod feared people and what they thought of him more than he feared God.
Romans 14:10 “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;”
Are you more worried about what your friends, coworkers or family say about you than about what God calls you to do? Remember, they won’t be standing there with you on the judgment day. It will be just you and God. And He will look to see if your name is written in the Book of Life. It lists every person who has repented and trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Those whose names are not listed will be judged for every sin they committed and every wrong word they said.
We need to be more concerned with what God says and thinks about us instead of what other people say and thinks.
Later when Jesus was being tried in front of Pilate, he was sent to Herod who it says greatly wanted to see him and maybe see some miracle done by him. Jesus would not perform for Herod and the weak ruler had Jesus beaten before returning him to Pilate. His conscience had been seared beyond repentance even when standing face to face with the Son of God.
Disciples Heard & Buried v. 29
When John’s disciples heard about this they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. They wanted to honor the holy prophet and man of God but properly burying him.
Comparisons to Jesus Mark spends more time than other Gospel’s on the death of John the Baptist. It shows the potential cost of discipleship and highlights similarities in Jesus’ own death later. Both include a secular ruler unwilling to execute John/Jesus. Both give in the pressures of the people and their own reputation. Both included people scheming to have the man silenced. Both were buried in a tomb afterwards by their disciples.
Spiritual life cannot be nurtured on thrills alone; any more than faith, in the true sense, can be created by signs.
King Herod’s degenerate birthday feast stands in stark contrast to Jesus compassionately feeding 5000 in the next passage. Jesus is a king worth following – worthy of all honor and praise.
Take Homes What are you willing to sacrifice? John was willing to risk social, religious, and political fallout by sharing the Gospel.
He was imprisoned and even lost his life. John knew that this world was not his final destination. He looked forward to eternal life through Jesus Christ.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, what are you willing sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel?
Friendships, popularity, a promotion or a bonus at work that required unethical behavior.
What is the cost of your obedience to Jesus Christ?
Does pride keep you from doing the right thing? Are you worried about your reputation and what others think about you more than you are concerned about obeying God?
Over and over Scripture says the humble person will draw closer to God. Pride gets in the way of us seeing our own sin and our need for forgiveness and a Savior. Don’t let pride keep you from God or from doing the right thing.
Do you fear man or fear God? Jesus and his followers are compelled to speak the truth about sin and the need for repentance regardless of the consequences. We are called to speak the truth in love. We don’t condemn people or judge their sins. And remember Peter said be ready to give an answer for the hope but with gentleness and respect.
Scripture: Mark 6:1-6
Intro Last week we saw two women who reached the end of all hope be healed and saved by faith.
Today’s message from Mark 6 is something unbelievers and doubters would never expect to find in the Bible. This account appears in all three synoptic Gospels – That’s Matthew, Mark, and Luke if you’ve never heard that term before. There is no doubt this really occurred and because God included it in three Gospels it is a key event.
If the Bible was written by mere men who wanted to fake the stories of Jesus and get people to believe then they would never included an account like this. If they were not true, this and many other passages, like the failures of apostles like Peter would never have been included in the Bible. This is a good apologetic or proof for the truth and authenticity of our Bible.
Series We are continuing our sermon series from the Gospel of Mark titled The Crown & The Cross.
Jesus is presented as a man of decisive action with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message.
Mark divides Jesus’ life into two parts: his identity as Messiah and King over all things in chapters 1-8a (the crown) and then we see His purpose in suffering and dying on the cross in chapters 8b-16.
As we are seeing, the Gospel of Mark is very real and honest. It was written by Mark with direct input from Peter one of Jesus’ closest disciples. In chapter 4, we read that the disciples were terrified in the sinking boat and asked Jesus why He didn’t care about them.
Today’s passage is only six verses, but there are some key truths we can see and apply to our lives.
PRAY
READ Mark 6:1-6
Mark 6:1–6 ESV
He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.
And he went about among the villages teaching.
Did you catch the enormity of this story? Why it is so challenging to the Gospel?
Jesus who claimed to be the Messiah; claimed to be the Son of God; was rejected by his home town and even his own family. They were offended by his claims and his humanity. It shows a complete lack of faith in Jesus and His amazing message and ministry.
Why would this be in the Gospels if it wasn’t true?
This passage establishes the key truth that not everyone will believe and accept the free gift of salvation. Even those who grew up around church may only know the facts of Christianity but actually deny Jesus as Lord of their lives.
Invited (v. 1-2) Jesus left Capernaum and for the first time recorded, he returned to his hometown. Even though it is not named here, Luke 4 confirms that it was Nazareth, where he was brought up. Jesus is called a Nazarene and on his cross, he was identified as Jesus of Nazareth.
Nazareth was a town of approximately 500 people.
Jesus was invited to speak at the synagogue. That indicates he was well-known as a teacher.
Luke also tells us he was reading from the prophet Isaiah chapter 61.
Isaiah 61:1–2 ESV
Then he said “Today this scripture has been fulfilled.” In other words, I am the promised Messiah.
Astonished (v. 2) Many were astonished. Luke says they spoke well of him and marveled at his gracious words. This type of reaction came from most people who encountered Jesus. Last week after Jesus healed the sick woman and raised the girl from death people were overcome and amazed. He was not just a man with a unique message. He spoke with authority as they had never heard before. John 1 says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God was communicating directly through His Son.
As we will continue to see through Marks Gospel, Jesus is presented as the Messiah and King of Kings. The reader is expected to react to this just as the people who met him face to face did. The Gospel is not something you can choose to ignore or push aside. You either accept with joy or you reject it.
Acceptance means forgiveness, redemption, peace with God, eternal life. Rejection means suffering in your sin, living in opposition to God and His kingdom, and eternal separation from God and everything good.
Questioned (v. 2) The people quickly move from astonishment to doubt. They begin questioning just who Jesus is and how he could possibly be the Messiah.
Where did this man learn these things? – How could he be an expert about Scripture? He never studied to be a rabbi. He doesn’t have the credentials.
What is the wisdom give to him?
How could he know the deep things of God? Who does he think he is?
How are such mighty works done by his hands? How Jesus heal people? How could he raise the dead? These stories must be fake news.
Isn’t this the carpenter? He’s just a common laborer. His hands make things out of wood they can’t be the hands that heal and save! You must have confused him with some other guy called Jesus.
He’s the son of Mary not the son of God! Here are his brothers James, Joses (Joseph), Judas and Simon. He’s just another man like his brothers. And his sisters are here too! We know him. We grew up with him. What makes him so special?
Joseph was not mentioned. He was likely already dead before Jesus began his ministry.
Offended (v. 3) They took offense!
They were staggered by such an equation; they took offence or ‘stumbled’ at him, as the Bible says. The people of Nazareth ‘knew all the answers’ about Jesus: they were not prepared for anything new.
The word translated “took offense” is skandalizomai, from which the English word “scandal” is derived. This same word was often used to describe the reaction of Jews to Jesus’ death (Rom 9:33; 1 Cor 1:23; Gal 5:11). Mark’s choice of the word is further evidence that he saw in the event a typical Jewish rejection of Jesus.
Isaiah 8 says the Lord will become a stone of offense and a rock they stumble or trip over. They will fall and be broken. God knew His people would not listen – that they would be offended by His Son.
Rejected (v. 4-5) Jesus responded to their offense with an old adage, a proverb that appears in many different cultures.
“A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”
You may know this as “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Or as Dave Ramsey, the finance guru says, “ It’s hard to take advice from someone whose diapers you changed .”
Psalm 118 prophesied that the stone that would be rejected became the cornerstone. This passage tells us about the nation of Israel rejecting their promised Messiah.
Later in Mark’s Gospel, when Jesus calls disciples to carry their own cross and be ready to suffer they begin to reject him. And eventually deny that he is their Messiah and King. When given the choice to free Jesus or free a known murderer, Barabbas, they reject Jesus and shout crucify him!
Sadly, most Jews today, are still rejecting Jesus and many have given up on the promise of a messiah.
The Jews would not accept Jesus as the Messiah because He did not meet their expectations of a conquering King. He did not meet the expectations of the religious leaders as someone just like them – self righteous.
- 5 Because of their lack of faith – he was unable to do mighty works – except healing a few sick people.
As we consider the purpose of Jesus’ miracles – they were not to gain popularity, impress people, or make money from people as so-called faith-healers do today. Jesus performed miracles because of his godly compassion to heal and to point to his claims of divinity and his offer of salvation. Some people would not believe, even if Jesus raised a person from the dead right in front of them. Doing a miracle in these circumstances could only harden hearts and make a mockery of the gracious God who heals physically and spiritually.
Faith was a component of being healed and there were only a few who believed and they alone were healed. It’s not that the crowd gave him power, but without believing they could not be healed or saved.
Moving On (v. 6) Jesus marveled – he was astonished at their unbelief.
Even though God prophesied their offense and rejection – Jesus was astonished that with all of the miracles, the message of the kingdom proclaimed with authority and power – they still would not believe.
He didn’t stay and argue with them. He didn’t try to prove he was God by doing something amazing like moving e a house with his power. He moved on. He kept teaching and preaching the message of repentance and the kingdom of God throughout the other villages in the area.
Take Aways Are you offended by Jesus?
Jesus had no formal training; he was not a scholar. And the people in his hometown knew this.
Maybe you are thinking “How can all these “smart” people be wrong about the Bible?” They say it’s just a big old-fashioned book written by corrupt religious leaders to take people in – control them – get their money. Are you thinking “I don’t want to be fooled too!”
Is your pride keeping you from accepting the Gospel – the gift of salvation?
Is it just a little too simple? Too easy? It’s a crutch for the weak or feeble-minded?
We have lots of excuses and questions we want answered. Questions like Who made God? Hasn’t science totally disproved the idea of creation? How can I believe the Bible when it is so old and doesn’t match modern truth? If God is good and able to do anything, why is there so much suffering in this world? Why are all the Christians I know hateful judgmental hypocrites? My God would never allow that to happen?
Faith and humility are required to believe and to be saved.
We need to humbly accept Jesus because we need forgiveness, we need salvation, we need peace with God. Our questions may not all be perfectly answered and our expectations may not be met – But Jesus alone is the one who can save us.
Are you embarrassed by other Christians who seem to be a little too believing?
Maybe they are not as smart, polished, and acceptable as you? Do you have a hard time humbling yourself to learn from someone who you think is just not quite what you expected. Remember, Jesus typically chose those the world had skipped over to be his disciples and spokespeople.
Jesus was rejected by His own people and He is rejected by most people today, but He is the only way to peace with God.
Not everyone will believe. Even those who grew up around church may deny Jesus.
Benediction In the name of Jesus who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the Chief Cornerstone, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and God the Father who no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Scripture: Mark 5:21-43 Intro Last week, Dan Jones so clearly preached Jesus’ power over the spiritual realm and his ability to radically change the life of a dangerous outcast to society. Today’s passage as we finish Mark 5, shows us how Jesus brings new life to the hopeless and the humble.
Do you feel hopeless this morning? Have you been waiting and waiting for God’s help and you’ve just about given up? Or maybe you’ve never humbled yourself to the place where you can admit that you need help. You need forgiveness. You need restoration. You need peace.
Even if neither of these describe you, let’s pray that God would speak to our hearts this morning through the work of His Holy Spirit.
PRAY
Series We are continuing our sermon series from the Gospel of Mark titled The Crown & The Cross.
Jesus is presented as a man of decisive action with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message.
When you see the word “Immediately” in the text say it out loud with me.
Mark divides Jesus’ life into two parts: his identity as Messiah and King over all things in chapters 1-8a (the crown) and then we see His purpose in suffering and dying on the cross in chapters 8b-16.
Jesus met people where they were. Even if they were considered unclean and untouchable. Even if they were considered insignificant – like the women in our story. Even if they might be viewed as an unwanted interruption. Even when everyone else thought there was no hope.
The Gospel of Mark provides two amazing accounts of healings with many parallels between them. Listen and jot them down as I read.
And remember to say “Immediately” along with me.
READ Mark 5:21-43
Urgent Plea Jesus and his disciples crossed back over the Sea of Galilee after he cast the legion of demons out of the wild man of the tombs.
And again there is a huge crowd surrounding him. Some want to be healed. Some want to see if he’s really the Messiah.
Jairus, a ruler of the local synagogue, fell at Jesus feet and begged for His help. He said, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her to make her well and live.”
If you recall, just a few days earlier, in Mark 3, the religious leaders from Jerusalem were accusing Jesus of demonic power. They totally dismissed the possibility that He could be the Messiah. So, asking for help was humbling for the local ruler – to bow before Jesus, the son of a carpenter. He humbled himself and he believed Jesus could help his daughter. And Jesus agreed to go. His ministry was not to the crowd but to a single girl.
But while they were on the way to his home, there was a major interruption. The crowd kept following Jesus and it says they thronged around him. A better translation means they pressed in on Him from on every side.
Last Hope Mark tells us about a woman in the crowd who also desperately needed help from Jesus.
It says she had a discharge of blood for twelve years. This is referring to severe menstrual bleeding that would not stop. She tried doctors, but it says she suffered under their care. They could do nothing to help. In fact, her condition worsened and she had run out of money. There was nothing else for her to do. She felt hopeless.
Have you ever faced that situation? We tend to think doctors will always have an answer there is always a cure. Our son Will suffered for years with the effects of a concussion that came from a minor car accident. We visited doctors, specialists, had all kinds of cat-scans and evaluations, but there were no solid answers or positive results. This was really hard for us as parents – and of course for Will as he finished his senior year of high school, got married and started college in a hazy fog. He still has little memory of much of that time. Thank God for medical advances and treatments, but we need to recognize that not everything has a cure. There are not always answers. In times like that we can trust our sovereign, all knowing, ever present God to give us hope and peace in uncertainty. Because we know that believers have a better home and will be completely whole when we are in God’s presence for eternity. We also know that God allows these trials for us to grow closer to him, to trust him in everything, to strengthen our faith. Will realized that Mom and Dad can’t fix everything. Even doctors don’t always have an answer. There is something bigger and greater outside ourselves that is in charge. God!
The woman’s last hope was Jesus. She had heard about the healing of the paralytic man and others in the area and thought hopefully he can do something for me.
To make matters worse for her, her bleeding made her ceremonially unclean according to the law. She was banned from corporate worship and social gatherings. She was alone in her suffering.
She was to embarrassed to face Jesus or even talk to him, so she got close enough behind him to touch his outer robe thinking that alone could heal her.
- 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped and she could feel that she had been healed.
Matthew 9:20 Parallel passage
Fringe refers to a Tassel. The OT called for men to wear a tassel and blue cord on each of four corners of their outer robe as a reminder of God’s covenant. Faithfulness. (Num 15:38-39, Deut 22:12)
Saved by Faith 1. 30 tells us Jesus could also feel something. Healing power had left his body and immediately turned to look at the crowd.
“Who touched my garments?”
The disciples’ response in Mark is more raw and realistic than the other Gospels where it is polished to sound a little better. Just like their response in the sinking boat – they are honest with Jesus even to the point of doubt. Jesus, you are surrounded by people, everyone is pressed around you and you want to know who touched you? Everyone!
Jesus kept looking at the crowd with questioning eyes.
- 33 The woman came to face Jesus, with fear and trembling, and humbly fell at his feet and told him the whole story. Did Jesus not know? That’s unlikely. By asking “Who touched me?” He gave this socially invisible, unloved and un-cared for woman an opportunity to tell her story. To share her testimony. If you have been saved and your life transformed by Jesus than you also have a unique story to tell. Do you share it?
And just to make it clear that he was not wearing a magic robe, Jesus said “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease.” Not only was she healed but she was saved! She had peace with God, because she trusted in the Messiah, God’s Son, Jesus.
Don’t Fear – Just Believe 1. 35 In the middle of this joyful healing, while Jesus was still speaking to the woman he healed, painful news came from Jairus’ house that his little girl, his daughter was dead. “Why trouble the Teacher any further?” they said. Jairus had just witnessed a healing with his own eyes. He heard this woman’s testimony of years of suffering and now being made whole by Jesus. He must have had such hope that his daughter would also be saved. But now, it’s too late. She’s gone.
Jesus overheard this side conversation and encouraged Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” Don’t be afraid. Have faith!
Jairus had waited through this interruption, knowing that his daughter was close to dying. And Jesus says Trust me. Be patient. There no need to hurry. God’s timetable is seldom ours. I have impatiently waited many times for God to act, to answer my prayer, to make things clear. But over and over in the Psalms we hear these words “Wait patiently on the Lord.” God calls us to have faith and wait for His perfect plan to unfold.
Just as God allows trials to test our faith, do you think he uses delays as well?
Are you afraid or are you trusting Him?
Saved by faith! Doctors couldn’t help her when she was sick and now that she was dead, there was nothing more anyone could do. Except for the Creator. The Giver of life! This girl would be saved by faith!
- 37 Jesus stopped the crowd and even the rest of his disciples from following. He brought with him the faithful three: Peter, James and John.
- 38 When they arrived at Jairus’ home there was a commotion – people weeping and wailing loudly.
Matthew 9:23 adds a detail about flute players, common in public mourning.
The Mishna quotes Rabbi Judah that for a burial “even the poorest in Israel should hire not less than two flutes and one wailing woman.” Of course, the ruler of the synagogue was not likely a poor man.
What is the Mishnah? Compiled around 220 AD by Judah the Prince, the Mishnah, meaning ‘repetition’, is the earliest authoritative body of Jewish oral law.
Jesus next statement leaves us with some questions and it brought in appropriate mocking laughter from he crowd.
- 39 Jesus said “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”
The presence of noisy mourners is a clear indication that there was no doubt about the girl’s death, and Jesus’ response assumes that this is why they are there. The context here indicates that Jesus recognizes that the girl’s death is real, but temporary. He uses the word sleeping, just like in 1 Thess. 4:13 where it says we don’t want you to be uniformed about those who are asleep, that you don’t grieve as others who have no hope.
This is not a new doctrine of soul sleep, but a way of describing the first death as temporary because all will be awakened to eternal life in heaven or eternal suffering in hell.
- 40 Jesus sends the mourners and the mocking crowd out of the home, and takes the parents, Peter, James, and John inside to the girl. Jesus tenderly takes her by the hand and in Aramaic says “Talitha kyumi” which means little girl, arise!
The word Talitha literally means “lamb”. This was a loving name for a child, and Jesus is our Good Shepherd who cares for every one of his flock. He didn’t have to say a prayer to God or perform any ritual. He just took her hand and spoke to the dead girl and she obeyed!
- 42 How long did it take? Say it with me “Immediately” she got up and began walking – she was twelves years old. Not an infant who could not walk.
Response: Overcome and Amazed Again, we see our dramatic action word – they were immediately overcome with amazement. They were amazed!
Jairus, his wife, Peter, James and John had just witnessed Jesus bring the girl back to life. He had power over the grave. They were probably thinking “who could do this but God!”
- 43 Jesus told them not to tell anyone else and give the girl something to eat.
He didn’t need more mobs surrounding him. and He was concerned for the girl’s welfare. She needs some food after her illness. God cares about every part of our lives!
Summary Were you keeping track of the similarities in these two healings?
Similarities in the these two healings. Both were women – not important in middle eastern society, but important to God. As followers of Jesus, we are called to treat all people with respect and compassion. Both were called daughter – by God the loving Father. Both situations mentioned twelve years – the woman suffered for twelve years with the disease and the girl was twelve years old. Both faced hopeless situations and were close to death – medical doctors could do nothing for them. Both involved humbly falling at the feet of Jesus and recognizing that He alone could save them. Both required faith to be healed. Both required Jesus to break ceremonially law and touch the untouchable. Both were healed and made whole by Jesus, the Son of God.
Both were saved by Faith. Not by their own works, or actions, or anything other than God’s grace.
Take Aways Hope for the hopeless is found in Jesus Christ. It’s never too late to reach out to Jesus. He offers hope for eternity and healing from our sin for those who call out to him by faith.
Humility shows us we need a Savior We need to recognize our sin before a holy God, and humbly admit that we can’t fix ourselves. No matter how hard we try. We need a Savior. Acts 4:12 says, ‘There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. The name is Jesus Christ.
Jesus cares about your worries and fears. He knows what you are going through. Only He can bring you peace.
God’s love reaches beyond our unworthiness or uncleanness. He reached out to us while we are still dead in our sins. Do you judge people and decide whether they are good enough or worthy of your mercy, love, and grace?
Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? Come talk to me! Are you waiting for God to do something? Don’t fear. Trust Him. For we wait for His Son from heaven, who God raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. We wait eagerly for the hope of righteousness.
Benediction Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us all from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son in truth and love. In the matchless name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Scripture: Mark 5:1-20 1. Introduction Sometimes talking about evangelism can give people a knot in their stomach, but the bible is clear that the Gospel or good news is something that needs to be shared. Unbelievers need to hear the good news! Romans 10:17 says; “So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” and in the great commission, Jesus told the 11 remaining Apostles to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. We as the church and as individual believers, play an important part in sharing the good news with others.
This morning we are going to continue with our series, “The Crown and the Cross”, from the book of Mark. We will be in the 5th chapter, looking at versus 1 through 20. Parallel passages of this account of the demon possessed man can be found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke as well. Let’s pray as we get into God’s word
This morning I would like to read through the whole passage to get a sweeping view of Jesus’ encounter with the demon possessed man. Then we will break the text down into four sections so that we can look at this account in greater detail.
Mark 5:1:20
This passage gives the most extensive account of Jesus’ interaction and casting out of a demon included in scripture. It shows his dominating power over the spiritual world.
As we heard last week, in the passage that proceeds today’s account, Jesus and his disciples after spending time teaching the crowds, he and his disciples took an evening cruise across the Sea of Galilee or known by its other names, the Lake Gennesaret or the Sea of Tiberius. During their trip they encountered a threatening storm which Jesus had to calm so that they could safely make it across. They set sail from the area of Capernaum in the evening and ended up on the eastern shore of the lake. The sun finally comes up as they make it to the other side of the lake and here is where our story starts.
Verse one says that where they landed on the eastern shore was in the country of the Gerasenes. This area was generally considered inhabited by gentiles. Luke 8:26 says that the country of the Gerasenes was opposite of Galilee. Having left Capernaum, it would have been over a 5 mile journey to arrive in that area. In the account found in the Gospel of Matthew, he says that they arrived in the country of the Gaderenes. Bible scholars explain this apparent contradiction by noting that Mark and Luke most likely use the term “country of the Gerasenes” because this story took place by the small town of Gerasa, while Matthew identified it as the “country of the Gaderenes” because the town of Gerasa was under the jurisdiction of the larger city of Gadera which was south east of the lake.
Just as we have seen throughout the earlier chapters of Mark, he says that when Jesus got out of the boat, Immediately, a man with an unclean spirit met him. Once again, we see what might be considered a discrepancy between the Gospel accounts of this story. Mark and Luke both describe the scene with one demon possessed man while Matthew’s account has two demon possessed men. In Matthew Henry’s commentary and others that I have read, he states, and I will paraphrase here, that “Mark does not say that there was only one man possessed with an unclean spirit; so that this difference alone cannot cause us any problem; it is probable that one of them was much more remarkable than the other, and they just called it as they saw it.” The “unclean spirit” that possessed the man as described in verse 2 can be interchanged with the word demon.
The Condition Verses 3 through 5 give us details on the condition of the demon possessed man. Luke says that he was not living in a house, he tells us that the man was naked, and that “he had not put on any clothing for a long time.” Mark in verse 3 said that he had his “dwelling among the tombs”. In biblical times tombs were outside the cities in generally desolate places. These tombs were either single or multi chambered rooms cut out of rock cliffs or hillsides. The tombs were used for primary burial which involved placing a newly deceased person’s body inside, on a slab or niche, until their body had decomposed. Then a secondary burial, where their bones would be collected and placed in a box called an “ossuary”, then stored within the tomb for permanent internment. I am not sure who had the final task, but they could have been featured on an episode of Dirty Jobs.
Just living among the tombs would cause a person to be defiled or unclean. In such a person a Jew would have no part. Ezekiel 44:25 says; “They shall not go to a dead person to defile themselves”. In Matthew 23:27, Jesus in speaking about this type of ceremonial uncleanliness says; “Woe to you. Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanliness.”
Mark begins to describe the man’s horrific state of being and speaks to the power that the demon physically has over him. The text says that the man was both violent and had supernatural strength, possibly physically harming or even trying to kill himself or others that passed by the tombs. Verse 4 says that the demon possessed man was so violent and out of control that over time the people of that area had tried, multiple times, to bind him.
Specifically, it says that “he had often been bound” with chains and shackles in an attempt to keep him from harming himself or others. The shackles would have been used to bind the feet and hands while chains were used to restrain the rest of the body. However, the demon that possessed this man manifested the physical strength that gave him the ability to tear apart the chains and break the shackles to pieces. Mark says that no one was strong enough to subdue him. Matthew says that in this final condition “that no one could pass by that way”. The people of the area basically gave up on trying to restrain this man.
Let’s take a quick detour here and think about how they tried to bind this man. When we hear the description of how this demon possessed man was chained and shackled, our first thought may be that we think of it with a negative connotation, like how this man was being held captive or bound by the demon. However, the chains and shackles used by the people of the area, were to benefit the man. It was an attempt to keep the man with the unclean spirit from hurting himself and others. At that point in his life being bound would have been beneficial to that man.
In a similar way, God gave us his moral law, along with its blessings and curses, for our benefit. They serve as a restraint for mankind, designed to keep us from harming ourselves and others. We, as unregenerate people, work to break away from the restraints of God’s law so that we can live our own way, potentially leading to the hurt of others and our own ultimate destruction.
Verse 5 says that he spent his days and nights “constantly” screaming among the tombs and mountains. This restlessness and insomnia that Mark describes shows us the frenzied mental state of this man, with his inability to rest or think clearly. It also says that in this constant state of mental turmoil he was “gashing himself with stones”. Perhaps this self-cutting was a ritualistic action of the demon like was done by the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:27-28; speaking of the Prophets of Baal it says, “It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened”. So they cried out in a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out of them. Possibly the demon possessed man was cutting himself as a form of self-harm such as we see today among some teens and young adults, where they cut themselves is an attempt to cope with frustration, anger, emotional turmoil or an effort to relieve pressure. Or maybe he was just trying to kill himself so that he could finally free himself from the demon forever. If this were the case, the demon would have kept the man from that final drastic action for fear that he would lose his host home.
Finally, in verse 6 the text says that the man; “Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before him.” So, imagine the scene, it’s a nightmare scenario, the stuff horror movies are made from; Jesus and his disciples, having traveled all night, through a “fierce storm”, in fear of perishing, land at the other side of the lake. Having retreated from the crowds and expecting a time of rest, Jesus steps out of the boat and immediately a naked, dirty, unkept and bloody man runs up to him. This man that Mark describes as screaming, violent and out of control, drops to the ground and bows down before him.
The Confrontation The New American Standard Bible says that the demon possessed man “bowed down before” Jesus. The Greek word used here is “proskuneo” (pro-scan-neo), which means to “do reverence to”, “worship”, or “show respect”. This may seem to be an odd thing for a demon to do when meeting Jesus, but as we will see in a minute, the demon is fully aware of who he is addressing. Luke says that the man shrieked or cried out as he fell down before him. In verse 7 of Mark, it says that the demon shouted in a loud voice; “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” The text says that the demon possessed man was “shouting with a loud voice” the Greek word used here for shouting is “krazo” (kra-zo) which means to scream or cry out.
The unclean spirit that possessed this man, as well as all such demons and unclean spirits, are eternal creatures. John Macarthur says that demons are orthodox in their theology, their Christology and their eschatology. They were created by God and have been around from the beginning. They have an orthodox theology, meaning that they know God to be who he is as a trinitarian, “Most High” God. They also have an Orthodox Christology because they are fully aware of Jesus’ place in that trinity, that he is the “Son of the Most High God ” They have an orthodox eschatology because the demons also know that their ultimate fate is to be thrown into hell and eternal fire. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says, “Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels”. The sense we get from the parallel passage in Matthew is that demons were perplexed by the timing of their judgement and not the judgement itself. Matthew 8:29 says; “Have you come to torment us before the time?” As we can see from the demons themselves, orthodoxy, or the correct knowledge of Jesus is not enough to save you or me from eternal judgement and hell.
We see in verse 8 that the reason the demon was crying out as he bowed down to Jesus was because he commanded him; “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”. Up to this point the man or the demon is referred to in a singular tense, but Jesus asks a question that brings the true nature of the possession into focus. In verse 9, Jesus asks; “What is your name?’. The unclean spirit answers, “My name is Legion; for we are many”
This declaration shows the magnitude and gravity of this man’s situation. In 1st century Palestine, the word “Legion” would be known in military terms as a Roman military unit with up to 6,000 men. This lead demon speaking for the “Legion” was saying that like a Roman Legion, there are a lot of us, we’re organized, we are unified, and we are ready to fight. This man was possessed with not just one unclean spirit but multitudes of them.
The Cure Having been commanded by Jesus to come out of the man, verse 10 says that demons “implored him earnestly no to send them out of the country”. John Trapp, a 17th century bible commentator says, “they did not want to become inactive, it is hell for the devil to be idle, or doing things other than evil possession of a human”. He also surmises that the demons knew the area and there were a lot of people that were open to demon possession.
In Luke’s account, we get an additional detail, it says; “They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. They also knew that Jesus had the power to send them to the abyss, where they would be held for their final judgement. 2 Peter 2: says that “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgement.” Obviously, being bound and cast into the abyss would not allow the demons to actively work at thwarting the plan of God or work to torment men.
As a compromise, the demons begged to be sent to a herd of pigs that were feeding in the distance. We can assume that this was a way that the demons figured that they could stay in the area and might save them from being locked away until judgement. Verse 13 says that Jesus gave them permission, but the text does not give an explanation as to why he granted their request. It may be that Jesus knew that the time was not right to bring a total defeat to the enemy, or that he wanted the people of that area to visibly see the physical destruction of the demons. However, we do know that God is sovereign, and he has a plan for everything.
After Jesus gave the demons permission to enter the herd of pigs, we all know the story of what happened next. John MacArthur describes it eloquently, by saying; “The herd of pigs took a swine dive off the cliff and committed sueycide.” This act shows the evil intent and brutal behavior of the demons, just the act of entering the pigs caused them to go into a violent frenzy leading to their destruction. This scene would have been a visual lesson for the herdsmen as to the evil that had possessed the man and the awesome power of Jesus to make the man well.
This was jarring to the people that witnessed the casting out of the demons and the resulting drowning of the pigs, the herdsmen were scared by what they saw. Verse 14 says that the herdsman “ran away” to the city and country to report what had happened. The Greek word for run away is pheugo (fyoo-go) which means; to flee something, seek safety by flight, flee something abhorrent, or escape safely out of danger.
Having told people in the cities and surrounding areas what had happened, regarding the man and the pigs, the people came to see for themselves what had occurred. Matthew says that the herdsmen “reported everything” and that the “whole city” came out to see Jesus. A large group of people gathered at the scene, they wanted to see for themselves the 2000 pigs that drowned themselves after the demons came out of the notorious man of the tombs.
Verses 15 through 17 describe a scene where the people from the area have gathered by the side of the lake. When they arrive, they see Jesus and the formerly demon possessed man. However, this time instead of seeing him naked, violent, screaming and uncontrollable, they find him “sitting down, clothed and in his right mind”. Just seeing the change in this man frightened them.
It is interesting that we saw this same kind of reaction from the disciples, they were frightened, when Jesus calmed the storm in the passage that we studied last week. Being witness to Jesus’ awesome power over the natural or spiritual world must have been fear inducing. Then the eyewitnesses to the event begin to tell the whole story to the gathered crowd, about how it had happened to the demon possessed man and all about the swine. They go from being just afraid, to begging Jesus to leave their region.
The Commission As Jesus was getting into the boat to leave, verse 18 says that the man who had been demon possessed was begging to go with Jesus. However, Jesus did not let him go with him, instead in verse 19 Jesus says; “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.” This man was commissioned by Jesus to share the good news to his relatives and the people that lived in his neighborhood.
Jesus didn’t tell him that he needed to learn more theology, he didn’t first need to spend more time with other believers or attend the Jerusalem Bible College. All he needed was to be armed with the testimony of what his life was like when he was possessed by the legion of demons and how Jesus, the Lord, Son of the Most High God had delivered him. He was a man with a well-known past, that bore the scars of demon possession and was effective in reaching others. Just think, we don’t know this man by his name, Bill, Kevin, or Clarence, instead he is forever known as the demoniac. Verse 20 says that; He went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis the great things that Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
Takeaways Tell Your Friends
* People need to hear the Gospel!There is a saying, falsely attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, heard in many Christian circles that says: “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary”. That saying is intended to say that proclaiming the Gospel by example is more virtuous, or easier, than actually proclaiming it with our voice. This is a saying that believers need to drop from their memory because it borders on heresy. While our actions as believers do reflect on our relationship with God, the bible is clear that the Gospel needs to be proclaimed with words. Romans 10:13 & 14 says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?”. And again, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
* You are already equipped!Just like we saw in the account of the demon possessed man, Jesus commissioned him without him having any special training. He was a man with a very sketchy past, a past that included violence, deviancy, self-harm, and lunacy. Jesus sent him out to share his story, armed only with his past and the account of his supernatural deliverance by Jesus. This man was well known in that area, notorious actually, and I can just imagine his excitement every time someone would come up to him and say; “aren’t you that lunatic that used to live in the tombs?”. It would just give him the opportunity to tell the story again.
We all have our story to tell! While I don’t think any of us were in as bad physical shape as the demon possessed man, we were all in the same spiritual shape. While not demon possessed, we were spiritually dead. If you are a Christian, you have received redemption from Christ and are a new creation. It says in 2 Corinthians 17; “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature; the old things passed away and the new things have come.
* The amount of time doesn’t matter!The formerly demon possessed man had only been free of the demons for a matter of hours before Jesus commissioned him. As soon as Jesus left, he went away to the cities in that area and shared what had been done for him. The result was that “everyone was amazed”. You don’t need to be a “seasoned saint” before sharing about Jesus, you are ready now. Last week we heard Jake and Matt give their testimonies, their stories about how their lives were changed after Jesus redeemed them. They shared their stories with excitement just like the formerly demon possessed man must have. We all have our own stories of how we were redeemed through faith in Jesus. Share your story.
Do you Believe?
* Orthodoxy can’t save youIf you are listening today and profess to be a Christian, is it difficult to think of how your life has been transformed by your encounter with Jesus Christ? Are you afraid that the story you tell about your redemption or the life you live would not draw others to Christ? If this describes you today, examine yourself. 2 Corinthians 13:5; Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test?”
We saw that the demons that possessed this man, and all demons, were orthodox in their beliefs. They have a correct knowledge of the “Most High God”, they know that Jesus is the second person of the trinity, “Son of the Most High God” and they know that they have an ultimate place in the abyss and then hell. However, just knowing those things does not save them from that ultimate fate. James says it well in Chapter 2:19 when speaking of someone that professes faith in Jesus but shows no fruit; “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe that God is one.
* Sin will steal your storyThe story of your redemption might be ineffective because of unconfessed sin in your life. Sin creates a distance between us and God which can affect our relationship and our story. In Psalm 38, David laments over his sin against God and it describes his physical and emotional state; “There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin.” and then; “Yes, I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth are no arguments.” Confess your sin, repent and ask the father for forgiveness so that you can be restored to a right relationship.
* Preach the Gospel to yourselfMy friend, Dr. Bob, a brother in Christ, used to say that we needed to preach the Gospel to ourselves every day. This was a common thing that he would say when we would meet in our small group. Preaching the Gospel to yourself involves remembering where you came from, our life before knowing Christ, the desperation of being separated from God and then the joy and excitement of being brought into a right relationship because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Remembering this every day, will always bring back the thankfulness and excitement of when we first believed.
Holly has heard me say this many times. God has done many great things in my life, saved me, comforted me in great sadness, and like Job, restored to me the things that the enemy had taken, to bring me great joy. I never wanted to be like the Israelites that were part of the exodus from Egypt. After seeing all the miracles that God had done, the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, manna in the wilderness and so many more, they constantly grumbled and rebelled because they forgot what God had done for them.
If you love me
* Breaking the RestraintsAny loving father puts in place rules for his children because he knows what is best for them. This is even more true of God, he not only loves us, but knows us intimately because he created us. God has given us his moral law as a way of showing us how to conduct our lives in relation to him and others. He restrains us so that we won’t harm ourselves or others.
However, as human beings our sinful nature causes us to rebel against God and his law. Romans 3:23; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” We break the chains and shackles of the law that are meant to protect and restrain us because we think that we know better than our creator and want to go our own way.
* The consequencesBy going our own way, we sin against a Holy God and deserve punishment. Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life”. Everyone will spend eternity somewhere, either in the presence of God or in the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
* A Loving God – Good NewsThe good news is that God loves us just like he did the demon possessed man, while still in his desperate state Jesus came and saved him. The Father offers the same for us, Romans 5:8; “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God put all our sins on his son so that Jesus could take our punishment on our behalf.
* The responseIf you are here today or listening online and know that God is speaking to you, he does that because he is a personal God that draws men and women to himself, then I urge you to listen to his effectual call. Romans 10:9 says; “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. Making Jesus Lord puts him at the center of your life and changes your desires and priorities. It will give you your own story to share with your friends of how meeting Jesus changed your life. If you take that step today, I encourage you to tell someone and find other believers that can help you grow in your faith.
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 Intro Peace is typically defined as an absence of conflict. But I think there is even more to it. Having true internal peace means we are not afraid right now and we have a strong belief that things will be OK going forward too.
Fear can stop people in their tracks. It can keep you from getting out of bed. It can keep you from walking out the door. It can keep you from speaking to someone. It can really be debilitating and keep people from moving forward in life – keeping them from doing things they want to do or even need to do.
Are you afraid this morning? Coming to church can be a fearful thing for many people. Fear about not doing or saying the right things. Fear about being judged. I’m really glad you had the courage to come out and worship with us.
British mathematician, philosopher and famous atheist, Bertrand Russell had this to say about fear and faith. “Religion is based mainly on fear … fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the basis of the whole thing.… Science can help us to get over this craven fear in which mankind has lived so long.”
Bertrand Russell in Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects
What do you think about that statement?
I totally agree with Russell on the first part about religion being based on fear. All of the world religions leave people in fear of death with no certainty only a hope that they are good enough.
Religion is man’s attempt to bind himself to God – to figure out what God or the gods want from me and then try to do that.
But Christianity is not a religion – that’s what makes it different from every other faith. It’s God reaching out to people and inviting them to a relationship with Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. And it is all based on what Jesus did for me – dying on the cross for my sins. It is all about God’s mercy and grace offered through salvation. It is not about me trying to be good enough to earn God’s favor. Sadly, Russell did not know the God who created him and loved him.
I definitely don’t agree with his last statement. “Science can help us get over fear.” Yes, observable science can help us predict what will happen the next time. But it really hasn’t helped people with the fear of COVID when scientist didn’t know what would happen next. Many people still haven’t returned to work, to church, to visit family, to go back to school, because they are still afraid. They are afraid of getting sick and they are afraid of dying. And they are afraid of what happens after they die. Science does not have all the answers. It does, however, have lots of unanswered questions.
Only the God who created us can provide peace and overcome our fears in the midst of uncertainty.
Series We are continuing our sermon series from the Gospel of Mark titled The Crown & The Cross.
Jesus is presented as a man of decisive action with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message.
Mark divides Jesus’ life into two parts: his identity as Messiah and King over all things in chapters 1-8a (the crown) and then we see His purpose in suffering and dying on the cross in chapters 8b-16.
Jesus drew people into the parables, imagining themselves in the story and compelling his listeners to respond to the events of the story by making a judgment about the characters and in doing that they realize that they must make a similar judgment in their own lives.
This morning the disciples are asked why they were so afraid in a storm and then why don’t you have faith? Mark leaves those questions hanging for us. Are you still afraid? Who do you believe Jesus is? Where is your faith? Do you trust Jesus Christ to save you?
Mark 4:35-41
Let’s Go! (vv. 35-36) * v. 35 So this was a really long day! Jesus dealt with the scribes accusing him of being possessed by Satan. The crowds were so big, that Jesus had to get into a boat and preach from there. He shared a number of parables about sharing the Gospel, the Good News about God’s Kingdom and then explained about how just a tiny seed could grow into a tree big enough for shade and to house birds. Now it’s evening or what we would call late afternoon and Jesus said “Let’s go across to the other side.” * v. 36 Leaving the crowd they left “just as he was.” Jesus didn’t go back to shore to prepare anything. There was a sense of urgency. Jesus said “Let’s Go” and the disciples immediately responded by setting sail for the other side of the Sea (approximately 5 miles). Several other boats followed them out into the deeper waters of the Sea of Galilee. So far, the disciples are doing great. They obeyed without question or needing to know where they were going or why.
Galilean Fishing Boat (First Century AD) This was not a little two-person row boat or a even a bass tracker. It was probably a 27’ fishing boat with a mast and two sets of oars. It had room for fifteen people on board.
Back in 1986, the hull of a fishing boat was recovered from the mud on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, about five miles south of Capernaum – where Jesus and many of his disciples lived. The boat—26½ feet long, 7½ feet wide, and 4½ feet high—corresponds in design to a first-century mosaic of a Galilean boat preserved in Migdal only a mile from where the boat was discovered. This matched the descriptions from the Bible and helped people understand the types of boats used in Jesus day.
So we have historical evidence that Jesus and the disciples would all fit together in one boat. You can trust God’s Word to be true and accurate.
Asleep * v. 38 But Jesus was in the stern asleep on a cushion.
Q: What part of the boat is the stern? A: The back.
A number of Bible scholars have compared the sleeping of Jesus on the stormy waters to the prophet Jonah. Like Jesus, sleeping on the boat, Jonah was sleeping below deck while a huge storm raged outside.
The ship’s crew asked Jonah to pray to his God for deliverance. The men on Jonah’s boat were saved from the storm only when Jonah was thrown overboard. God calmed the seas and then provided a way for Jonah to be saved from the sea – God planned for Jonah to be swallowed up by a great fish for three days before being spit up on the shore.
But Jesus was able to control the storm himself without calling on anyone else for help. He simply commanded the storm to stop and it did.
Jesus provided ultimate salvation by sacrificing Himself.
Jesus’ sleeping through the storm shows His complete confidence in God the Father.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
It is also one of many indications in Mark of his humanity. He was tired after this really long day of ministry and he needed to rest. We see his complete weakness and exhaustion. This is in fact one of the few times the Gospels mention Jesus sleeping so we know it is purposeful. Because when he is woken by the disciples he displays omnipotent power. Here is God incarnate. Fully human and fully God.
Don’t You Care? (vv. 37-38) A great wind storm rose up and the waves were breaking into the boat. The Sea of Galilee is set in a bowl with high hills all around it. The colder air of the mountains surrounding it clash with the warmer air rising from the lake and that produces violent weather. The people who live there today explain that it is subject to sudden storms with high winds and waves. An open fishing boat with low sides could easily be swamped and in danger of sinking. Many of the disciples were experienced fishermen. They knew when they were in trouble. They feared for their lives.
The disciples woke Jesus up and said “Teacher, don’t you care that we are going to die?”
Each of the synoptic Gospels records Jesus words slightly differently.
Matthew softens the reproach to a prayer – Matthew 8:25 says “Save us Lord we are perishing.”
Luke 8:24 to a plea for help.
The rudeness of Mark’s wording reflects the way frustrated and desperate people speak and is probably a verbatim reminiscence of the disciples’ response in the crisis. Remember Mark wrote this Gospel from Peter’s first-hand knowledge. Peter was there in the boat and he remembered how terrified they were. It is probably the most honest.
Have you ever asked God if He cares? The Psalms are filled with cries of Why is this happening God? Don’t You care? Please God remember me and rescue me. Peter learned this lesson well in that boat. He encourages us in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all our cares on Jesus, because He cares for you.
Peace! Be Still! (v. 39) Humanity has long recognized its inability to control the forces of nature and the elements. Even today, when a powerful storm happens it is referred to as an act of God.
Cornell Law School’s definition of Act of God:
“At common law, an overwhelming event caused exclusively by natural forces whose effects could not possibly be prevented (e.g., flood, earthquake, tornado).”
Jesus simply speaks to the storm like he is correcting a misbehaving child. Winds stop and be at peace. Waves – be still. When a storm stops the wind and rain will die down, but the waves often continue for quite some time.
Deep Sea fishing story in NJ The waves immediately stopped and the sea was like glass. This could only be the creator controlling his creation.
Storms of problems come into our lives and just like the weather we have no control.
But because of God’s Word and the life of Jesus we can face the storms differently.
What do we know about these storms?
God is with us through the storm. Jesus was in the boat with the disciples. He felt the winds they felt; He saw the waves crashing into the boat. He knew they were facing and what they were afraid of.
Jesus cares about our problems. He knows exactly what you are dealing with and he understands your weakness and struggles.
God uses them to test our faith and help us grow spiritually.
Without them our faith would remain small and weak.
After going through them our faith grows. We trust God more as we see His power, mercy, and purpose through our trials. We are prepared for the next storm and we are not afraid.
Why are you so afraid? (v. 40) After rebuking the storm, Jesus now turns to His disciples to rebuke or challenge them about their fear and panic.
Where is your faith? what are you trusting in?
Your boating skills? Can you control the wind and the waves? I can!
Imagine you fell down a steep river bank and were sliding faster towards a deep drop into raging waters. If you saw a branch sticking out would you grab it? Do you have to know how strong it is? No. You just need to reach out and hold on for dear life. It’s not the quality of your faith, but the object of your faith. Jesus is able to save you. You just need enough faith to reach out to Him and accept his strong arm of salvation. Our faith may be small, but we can ask for more and God will give it to us. He will also give us opportunities to see it grow stronger and stronger.
Are you facing a terrible storm right now? How does God want you to respond? If you trust Him you will grow and be more prepared to help others or to face something bigger down the road. God will never leave you alone in the midst of your storms.
Who is this? (v. 41)
The disciples are now more afraid than they were of the storm. Yes, the winds and waves could capsize or sink the boat. Yes, they could even lose their lives. But they were realizing that this teacher they have been following is really God. They are sitting in a boat with the Holy One. The Almighty God.
And they are fearful for their very souls. Who can see God and live? Remember Isaiah’s response to being in God’s presence? I am unclean and You are Holy, Holy, Holy.
You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. Psalm 89:9 (ESV)
Only God can control the seas. Only God can control the weather.
Mark wants the reader to clearly see that Jesus is God. The Messiah. Wearer of the Crown. King of Kings.
The purpose of the storm is for the disciples to witness Jesus’ power of nature and see that He is God. It is for their benefit.
The question before the disciples and Mark’s readers is this: Will their fear lead them also to “put their trust in him”?
Take Aways We question God’s plan and care for us
We have fear instead of having faith
Storms or trials in our lives are for our benefit. They help us see God’s power and control. They help build our faith.
If you are in the middle of a storm – are you turning to Jesus or abandoning ship?
Reassures believers that Jesus is always with you.
Jesus Brings Peace in the midst of life’s storms.
Jesus cares
Jesus saves
You can trust Him
God is in complete control and never leaves you, so instead of fear we can have faith and trust Him. He is our peace.
Peace with God comes only with a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son.