Salt River Community Church: Recent Episodes
Dave Wiley
We are a young growing Community Church (SBC) in Tempe AZ that is focused on making disciples of Christ who first love and serve our city, and second consider planting other disciplemaking churches who will love and serve their city.
If you want to see more of God, start giving God more of youThink about it: If you know that you need to give God more of your life, how will you start making that happen?
Heaven is not about a place but a person, whose presence makes everything paradise; so, He must be our priority here if we want to be there. Think about it: If you carry the presence of the Person who makes Paradise what it is, would you say your life reflects Heaven?
s an act of rebellion that leads to destruction. Think about it: How can you determine if there is there a golden calf in your life and what will you do about it?
Our most incredible personal experiences with God are often for other people. Think about it: Can you be alone with God and be satisfied with that alone?
God acts justly, for all people and without bias, so we are responsible to live that way also.Think about it: Are there ways that you withhold Justice from certain people, or ignore it, for what feels like valid reasons?
s to be done His way and not ours.Think about it: What areas in your worship are more about your comfort and less about honoring God?
s laws are not meant to cause the world to behave, but to separate His people from itThink about it: Can you identify how someone would see Jesus in the way you live?
God has given a code to live by that enables us to exercise our faith and preserve our families. Think about it: How difficult would it be for you to stop everything, even digital devices, one day each week for God and Family?
Meeting God is a Holy experience, where we hear His Word so that the FEAR of God should move us to obey it.Think about it: Have you ever considered what it might sound like if God responded to one of your prayers audibly? Would it change the way you talk to Him?
We meet God by presenting ourselves to Him, as His, and He presents us to the world, as His, so His Kingdom grows.Think about it: Are you intentional about meeting God regularly, or have you assumed your salvation was it?
If we let humility and respect lead our lives, we can expect freedom in ways we may never have thought ofThink about it: Are you keeping family, friends, or colleagues from gaining freedom because of your determination to control things?
God has given us a gift of rest so that we can test our own faith and know that He is our Lord who provides.Think about it: Have you ever considered that a time of rest for you might be a spiritual need and not a physical one?
God displays for Israel that He can be trusted to provide our needs, day by day, and salvation for eternity, fulfilled in Christ.Prop: Remember that God can be trusted to provide our needs, day by day, and salvation in Christ and His Word for eternity.
s led us into, to reveal more of Himself to us.Think about it: Are the things in your life, that cause you to complain, a matter of life and death, or first world problems?
God never delivers us from bondage, or leads us into wilderness, to leave us alone. Think about it: If you feel like God is not leading you right now, can you define how you would know when He does?
ve come from a victory straight into a struggle, what might God be trying to teach you?
We can face even what seems impossible because our God is personal and always present. Think about it: If God has introduced Himself to you, how well could you introduce Him to others?
Making Disciples matters most because a disciple lives like Christ and intentionally models Him for others to followThink about it: If you are not making disciples or being discipled, what are you doing?
Christmas (the birth of Christ) was not a random act of God but designed by Him from the beginning, to provide the hope of Salvation for those who seek it.
Point: Christmas (the birth of Christ) was not a random act of God but designed by Him from the beginning, to provide the hope of Salvation for those who seek it. Think about it: If Christmas was not a random act of God but designed for the Salvation of those who seek it, then how should you approach sharing that with others?
If we want to please God, then we need to live for each other rather than living to please ourselvesThink about it: Have you ever considered why God would push us not seek our own personal pleasures?
re struggling with repeating sin, or addiction, is your focus more on Christ or trying to stop?
re a Christian, then Living Undefeated includes humbly serving those who appear to burden or defeat you. Think about it: Is there someone in your life, who you feel owes you something, that you can bless in some way instead?
If we believe the Gospel has saved us, that God causes all things for good and He is for us, why do we hide it?Think about it: If Christ tells you to offer others the same Gospel that saved you, can you explain what makes you comfortable with saying no?
s actions on your behalf are already past tense, while still holding present and future power, then why do you feel defeated, depressed, or condemned?
s return, with patience, by living your life for the growth of His KingdomThink about it: If you are saved, anticipating Christ return, what evidence is in your daily life that would affirm that about you?
Because God has a plan for His children, connected with all of creation, even suffering cannot destroy our hope.Think about it: If you are connected to the creation around you, does that make you responsible for it in any way?
re a child of God, adopted into His family, your life should reflect Him as your Father and not the sins that you left behind.Think about it: When people see you, listen to you, hang out with you; what should they see/hear that might give them reason to believe God is your Father?
If we aim to please God, then our lives must belong to Him, so that His Spirit lives within us and directs our steps. Think about it: Which comes first - your actions causing your thoughts or your thoughts causing your actions?
s already done for us.Think about it: Christian, you need to KNOW who you are so you can BE who you are.
Love defined by anything other than God, will always allow for disappointment and division.
God is not hidden, but seeing Him comes through desire, expectation, and devotion to do so.
There are times when, by faith, we should take charge of situations for the benefit of others who may suffer if we do not.
Faith that finds forgiveness comes from a humble love for God so deep that tears speak where words won’t suffice.
If you feel like you’re less important to God, remember that He sent His Son because He loves you personally.
When we’re persistent in our faith, despite feeling ignored or disregarded, it becomes evidence for others and can move God’s heart to respond.
When we’re brokenhearted, afraid, or feel invisible, God sees, hears, and seeks to comforts us with His promises.
If your value comes from anything or anyone other than Christ, you will always feel inadequate.
EASTER. Today we celebrate something that’s gripped the world in disbelief and unbelief for millennia; the Resurrection of Christ. There's a difference between disbelief (doubt) and unbelief (settled). Which one describes you?
Because Jesus is God, He alone holds the power of life and offers us the Hope of resurrection from death
Because Jesus is God, He alone holds the power of life and offers us the Hope of resurrection from death
God works sovereignly through all kinds of people and His eternal power echoes beyond our lives.
God is faithful to accomplish all he sets out to do, his word is not bound by any human limitations. “Because God has given his word and time is short we need to be empowering disciples to carry his truth and trust him with the outcome”
Because God has given His Word and time is short, we need to be empowering disciples to carry His Truth and trust Him with the outcome.
God may use suffering to lead us to trust Him; our response will determine our condition when the hardship has ended.
No matter how large or small the issue, God is always present to hear our concerns and give us hope.
For those who are growing His Kingdom, God is powerful to provide, even in famine and threat of death.
If you want God’s power to move when you’re desperate and broken, then you need to go directly to Him with it.
God rewards hospitality when it comes from a genuine desire to honor to Him through caring for others.
Our hope for the hopeless is to point them to the One who, by faith, provides all that they need.
It’s only God’s mercy that may deliver us when our decisions expect our dominance without his Word
As Jesus’ disciples, we have the Word & Spirit of God which makes us a cure to the broken and a curse to the defiant.
Because God has been with us through our struggles, providing for us and blessing our faithfulness, we go on.Deuteronomy 2:7–87 For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.” ’ 8 So we went on...”
God’s salvation is a miracle of grace, and no matter how strange it sounds, we accept it by faith and trust Him with our lives
God gets all glory when He uses impossible situations [miracle] to prepare His people for His Kingdom
Being a disciple of Christ means accepting authority and responsibility from Him and entrusting it to others.
When you face death, can you expect God to take you to Heaven and will there be disciples who carry on your investment in them?
It’s easier to hate someone who confronts you with truth than it is to hate what is in you that is rejecting the truth.
If you seek to take what is not yours, or what God has given to someone else, you should expect His justice
Though depression, loneliness, or feeling like a failure may overwhelm us, God is always near to His children and always has a plan.
Prayer that changes things comes from faith, with persistence, expecting God to respond.
When we’re in doubt about God’s presence or intentions in our life, we need to remember that He’s sovereign, even over death, and has proven to be good to us.
When God provides for those who serve Him, He leads us to share it so others can trust in Him also.
When you stand on God’s Word and walk by faith, God provides even when it seems impossible
Power to speak God’s Word with authority comes from knowing Him and living intimately close to Him.
True Christians are never meant to be alone because we gain confidence, encouragement, love, and God’s presence through our church family
As true Christians we face a life of spiritual warfare, and we need to arm ourselves daily to withstand the battles that come.
Regardless of your position in life you are called, as Christians, to serve God by way of serving others.
Because God has built sacrificial love and submission into His design for marriage, we need to embrace it so the world can see Jesus through it
Paul is telling the church that the relationship between children, parents, and the Lord has a direct impact on life and society.
Stop wasting time and start allowing the Holy Spirit to fully lead you, so that your life is filled with joy and thankfulness
Our life should be so different from the unbelievers around us that it shines like light in the darkness so that they can see
What you say, what you seek, and how you live reveals whether your heart is imitating God or the world
Being a Christian means your behavior toward each other should be different from how the world behaves.
Being a Christian is not just behavioral, it’s who you are; and the way you live should display your true identity.
God has given leadership and structure to the church so that WE do ministry and grow in spiritual maturity; individually and collectively
As Christians, through Christ’s victory, we’ve all been given gifts that serve His church.
If God’s power, at work in us, truly goes beyond our wildest expectations, then others should see us celebrating Him for it.
When the Holy Spirit shows us the love of Christ within us, our spirit is strengthened and our life changes as we become filled with His presence.
Am I willing to suffer to share the Gospel with people who aren’t like me, so they can be welcomed into my Church equally with me?
Through the Cross, God created peace between Jews and Gentiles so that all people have equality within His church.
Finding your purpose in life begins with realizing the immeasurable distance God’s grace traveled to save you, because He already loved you.
Celebrating our Salvation should lead Christians to access the power of Christ in us, so we can apply it in our lives.
Christians should praise God and press on, knowing that He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit and secured our future according to His Sovereignty
As Christians we need to stop questioning our salvation because we’re already eternally secured, by grace, through the plan and will of God in Christ.
As a Christian, we’ve been adopted and given blessings that should cause us to praise God for His grace, rather than arguing over how He accomplished it.
If God’s call on your life is displayed by your identity in Jesus, then people will know what it means to be a Christian.
Salvation comes by faith, but requires the obedience of God’s people to go and explain it to those who need to hear the Gospel
Jesus tells us to love unconditionally because it’s the best expression of God’s presence and reality in our lives
Because God’s Word never changes, we make it the subject of our voice, rather than what the ever-changing world wants to hear.
Biblical reflection gives insight into our current reality, provides clarity to our understanding of God, and guides our next act in following Jesus.
Our worship should magnify Christ through remembering His Word and what He’s done in our lives, celebrating that His Kingdom is for all His people and His glory.
Our worship should always Magnify Christ through remembering His Word and what He’s done in our lives.
Being truly thankful to God compels us to worship by giving Him our lives, as He transforms us to display Christ.
All we need in order to worship is a moment to consider what Jesus has already done in our lives
If Paradise is eternity in the presence of God, then everything we do now should be drawing us closer to Him
What you believe about Jesus is crucial, because He will come again; not to rescue but to conquer and to judge.
Be encouraged! Regardless of the headlines, or what may come, there is a throne in Heaven and all creation belongs to the One seated on it.
Until you feel the weight of your sin, you will never appreciate the amazingness of God’s Grace
Finding hope in despair comes from trusting that God has a plan and accepting that you’ve already entrusted your life to Him.
Jesus is not a magic word. If you claim His name, you better know Him. And if you do know Jesus, you better know your enemy as well.
Sharing the Gospel should come from a desire to tell others the truth about God regardless of the response we may get.
At times our own traditions, beliefs, and practices can hinder us from participating fully in the mission of Jesus
God uses the most unlikely to accomplish his purpose so that when His will is accomplished no other explanation can be given…but God.
We can do the right things and believe in displays of God’s power, but true faith causes us to know Jesus, receive His Holy Spirit, and follow Him.
We can expect the Holy Spirit to give us a defense for our faith, but it may include a martyr’s death, which always advances the Kingdom of God
All disciples of Christ are given the Holy Spirit so that we can share the Gospel with all nations and grow local Churches.
Realizing that Jesus is alive should fill our heart with overflowing hope and joy so that we can’t help sharing it.
Jesus’ death on a Cross shows how far God will go to save us and reminds us how far we are from saving ourselves.
Jesus’ death on a cross shows how far God will go to save us, also reminds us how far we are from saving ourselves
We follow Jesus, not because of physical or material blessings, but because we know that He is the Truth
If you believe that Jesus is able to raise the dead, then there’s nothing in your life that you can’t trust Him with
Your present life determines your eternal destiny; so it matters now what’s in your heart and how you live.
The Father longs to embrace his children who are lost and without understanding our current position, we are left without a clear direction of travel.
Eternal life doesn’t result from a one-time action, but from overflowing love for God that makes loving others a pattern of life
Understand that salvation is in Christ alone through grace alone, but not without personal cost
Becoming a disciple of Christ sets us free because we recognize His Identity, live in His Word, and walk in His Light
Sometimes sorrow, sickness, and defeat can weaken our faith, but Jesus is ready to make the impossible possible when we decide to seek Him in prayer
Jesus has authority over all of Creation, including demons, but spiritual warfare is real, and the battles are not insignificant.
Sharing God’s Word with everyone is our responsibility, but it’s God who reveals it to the heart that’s prepared for it.
Sharing the hope of Christ with the world includes those that might require us to sacrifice our own prejudices for the sake of them hearing the truth, in love.
Baptism matters because it unites us with Christ in symbolism, in spirit, and in obedience.
Making disciples should always be about pointing people to Jesus in a way that empowers them to point others to Him also.
God has loved us through all our rebellion, and when we repent, He is always there because He never changes, therefore, our love for Him should be pure and obvious.
God directs His people into unique and bold opportunities to impact His Kingdom, but those times require action and come with risk and cost.
Our worship and service to God should be evident in our lifestyle and not just in response to threats or dangers.
Faith that has power is not displayed through our rescue, but in knowing the One who is able to rescue - well enough to both trust and worship Him even if He doesn’t rescue.
God calls us to preach His Word and carry His Spirit for the redemption of His people, no matter how impossible that may seem.
Because God created us uniquely with a purpose, we can speak His Word without fear of others, or concern over our own limitations
If we want God to answer our prayers and grow our church, we have to Love and not just claim to. We're taking one more week to focus on moving into the new year.
As we move into the new year, we want to take some time and focus on what will define our vision for the upcoming year. This year that word is SEEK. Because we are certain that Jesus is alive and loves us, we want to seek more of Him and seek to make Him known.
Trusting God’s plan can be difficult when it seems impossible, but if we remember His Word and expect His salvation, it should empower our faith.
If angels find joy in delivering the news of Messiah, even when it means that lives will change, then may it bring the same joy for us to do it!
If we can trust God is good and has a plan, then we can praise Him with joy knowing He’s worthy in ALL situations
If God can love us so deeply, redeeming us even though He’s hurt by our sins, we should love and forgive others just as patiently.
God may call any of us at any time to proclaim His Word, and we need to be faithful to do it accurately without compromise.
God can use us, even though we may rebel, to display His Son and the Gospel; but it matters for us how He does that
We need to sharpen our spiritual eyes to see the sovereign protection of God so that when battles come, we won’t fear what our natural eyes see.
Salvation from death comes from the Word of God, through the people of God, when we act by faith on what seems impossible.
Your life can be characterized by one who walks with the Lord or as one who limps from challenge to challenge
When we fail to respect God’s Word, especially in times of prosperity, we may be led towards practicing sin, but our heart will determine God’s response.
Our hearts tend to fill with desire for the wrong things; and when we reach for one then we desire more, exposing the condition of our heart, unless we repent and remain close to Christ through His Word.
Our life should be shaped by the realization that, though we deserve death, by grace Jesus saves us, restores us, and adopts us into His family.
When we feel like we can’t gain wisdom from God, we may be tempted to consider spiritual sources, but the danger is great... and it may even lead to death.
When we face opportunities to take something, we should first be clear about God’s plan, and then approach the moment with humility and respect for His design
When we face powerful threats, we tend to put our faith in the wrong things, but it should grow our faith to remember that God alone has already defeated death for us, through the work of His Son.
Often times we ask God to give us the desires of our heart and go after the wrong things, but if we make Him the desire of our heart, we’ll never be disappointed.
What if hearing from God wasn’t about getting an answer, but about giving Him one? Rather than wanting to hear an answer for ourselves, what if it was about going with answers to BE His Word for others?
When we persistently go to God from an honest, devoted, and broken heart, we’ll find the power of prayer is peace.
Despite the sin or loss that may come in our lives, if our faith is in Christ and we return to Him, He’s a Redeemer who restores hope and a future to us, regardless of who we are or where we come from.
God’s has the strength to overcome any obstacle we face, including ourselves. Are you working to fulfill God’s purpose for your life or are you just living life according to what’s right in your own eyes?
When we follow Christ there will be doubts, but we can expect that He’ll use us for His kingdom, in spite of them, if we continue to seek Him and not our own agenda
When we repent, God is gracious to provide deliverance; and when we learn to know God through His Word, He may even use us to provide it for others
No matter how impossible it may seem, if you’re following God faithfully, even the highest walls can’t stand between you and the promises of God
The secret to being fearless is having God’s presence in your life through consistent meditation on His Word
God knows our intentions, so we need to be careful to hear and speak His Word for His glory and not our gain
Though our sin is lethal, God has provided salvation from death, if, by faith, we look to Christ’s death on the Cross for our Hope.
Because Christ saves us by Grace alone, and reveals Himself to us as God alone, we should live like we’ve met Him and have His Word.
God uses us (His people) to represent Him before the world, in order to display His power and Sovereignty over Satan, Sin, and Death; and to deliver those who put their faith in Him.
In the same way that God revealed his identity to Moses, for the mission of salvation, Jesus reveals His true identity to us, so we’ll carry the Gospel of Salvation to others
If we recognize that God’s “hidden” plan in our lives - through struggle and privilege, sin and faithfulness, joy and regret - is to paint a picture of His Son while shaping our character, it will give us the strength to be faithful through any situation.
Sometimes we struggle with God - in faith, in prayer, in seeking blessings from Him - but often times what He’s battling for is our confession, and recognition of who He is
Though God may answer our prayer, it will always be for His purposes, even if it confuses us at times; so we have to trust that His plan is bigger than our prayers.
Though we may face seemingly impossible tests, we should always be looking for the way that God is using those moments to display His own Son to the world, through us - for His glory, not our praise
When we live our lives close to sin, we risk being swept into the suffering that comes with it, and then dependent on God’s mercy and the prayers of others for our deliverance.
We have the opportunity to come to God in prayer, and to plead for His mercy - on us and others - but in doing so, we’re learning how to align ourselves with his plans, rather than attempting to re-direct them.
If we respond to God’s call and become his disciples, then we have the opportunity to walk with Him into a future that He’s designed for us, but we have to listen and keep walking.
If God is sovereign over our pain and suffering, then how we respond to it will display what we really believe about Him being worthy of worship
It should push us to share our faith without reservation when we remember that God has a limit to His patience, but not to His grace, and that He will keep His Word because He is powerfully able to.
We need to keep our heart seeking God, because sin is anxious for us to give in; and if we do, it’s always worse than we thought it would be, for ourselves and others.
As we experience the reality of living in fallen world, now more than ever, we need to be learning to know God’s Word and how to trust Him completely with our lives.
When we understand our image is God’s design, to reflect Him, it makes our creation and our purpose have great meaning, and we can serve God and others without shame, domination, or disappointment.
When we shape our lives around God’s definition of Good, it changes our worldview, and empowers us to effectively share the love of Christ and the hope of the Gospel
When you realize that our beginning is not God’s beginning, it gives meaning to life and shapes our hope for whatever we deal with in life; past, present, and future.
Today I want to pause and put God’s eternal plan back in front of our eyes, so that when we walk into this new year, having already set up markers for our 2021 God-moments, we can Trust His plan as each day comes in 2022
- What’s the plan?
- Where’s it leading?
A memorial always faces both directions in time - it both remembers what has been and hopes for what’s to come… moving forward based on what is memorialized from the past. It’s important for us to set markers to honor times when God powerfully moves in our lives, so that it will be a reminder of His character as we head into our future.
When the Holy Spirit leads us to see the Messiah, it should bring us to celebrate Him, thanking God for answering our prayers, and then speaking about Him with everyone who seeks the hope of redemption. Especially this time of year!!
When the Holy Spirit leads us to see the Messiah, it should bring us to celebrate the Hope of Salvation, promised in God’s Word, and to proclaim Him to all people. Especially this time of year!!
We were created as human beings to serve God by ruling over His creation, animals and land, and glorifying Him through it, but when we begin to believe that creation is our triumph, He is able to set us in the stable just as easily as we set animals there.
Outline • I am Human; no need for God • I am Animal; God has made me so • I am Human; God has made me so
When we let anger and hate find a place in our heart it will direct us towards irrational behavior, even at God, and it either exposes our true nature or causes us to defy it; ultimately hurting us as equally as the one being hated
Outline: • Hate That’s Learned • Learning To Hate
Biblical Principles for Defeating Discontentment ● Reposition ● Re-evaluate ● Repent ● Re-engage ● Refocus
Maybe you feel hopelessly trapped in addiction, like a beast has taken control of your life, but God tells us there is hope, if we battle to please Him and not ourselves
Outline: • The Beast • The Battle
Maybe, like this woman we’re looking at today, you’ve found yourself facing a hopeless situation, but there Is a path to escape and it begins with acting on your faith
Outline: • The Pit of Depression [1-2] • The Path of Escape [3-7]
Though Fear is often seen as negative, a weakness, the Bible displays it as something that produces wisdom and blessing; when we put it in proper perspective and direct it towards the Lord.
Outline: o Fear Gives Us Wisdom (111:10) o Fear Grants Us A Blessing (112:1)
● Are you satisfied with simply walking with Jesus? ● Would you prefer a system or set of rules? ● Are you currently being discipled by anybody? ● Are you currently discipline anyone else? ● Do you find the prospect of discipleship a challenging commitment?
Though you enter by a Relationship with Christ, God’s Church is Religion - because by definition it’s faith-based and involves acts of worship to Him... and it is also Organized because the God of the Church has always directed His corporate worship to be that way.
• What is Church (14-15) • Why Church (16)
Baptism is not the path to salvation, and it’s also not the means of salvation. Baptism is the evidence of salvation; it’s a response to salvation - showing obedience to Christ’s command to go public with our faith.
• Baptism is evidence of a changed heart (Acts 8) • Baptism displays your association with Christ (Rom 6) • Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ (Matt 28)
Paul closes his letter, having proven true to being tested as an apostle, with a challenge for the Corinthians... to determine if their faith is in line with their deeds. And it’s a challenge for us today, who claim to follow Christ, to test the genuineness of our faith by examining the expression of our heart.
o Test Yourself [5] o Trust Those Who Are True [6-10] o RespondHumbly[11-13] o Remember Your God [14]
Have you ever felt threatened? When you hear that word, what comes to mind? An enemy? A Thief? But what about when you were a kid, and mom had that belt out because of your disobedience? What kind of threat was that? Before you can understand that kind of threat, you have to understand sin as a genuine threat. When you truly recognize the threat of Sin... you’ll want Power to deal with it.
o An Evaluation of Sin [12:20-21] o A Threat to Deal With Sin [13:1-4]
Sometimes God may give us a supernatural experience, and sometimes he may also assign a “thorn in our side.” But in all circumstances, we need to know that He operates in our weakness, for His own glory... and our ultimate good... to keep us humble and content with Him alone
Outline: o The Supernatural Experience [1-4] o The Result [5-8] o The Response [9-10]
As Christians, we need to stop boasting on those that we consider worthy of honor by standards of the World... and start boasting on those who, through their suffering and weakness, have truly verified their love for Christ and been aligned him with Him alone.
Outline: o The Honor of the World [16-22] o The Honor of Christ [23-33]
We’re all created with a purpose but deception is all around us, and whether we turn to the deception or not, the truth will always remain true, and reality will always be revealed - but it’s up to us how we will respond and whether it will be too late.
Outline: o Our Purpose [1-2] o Their Deception [3-4] o Our Truth [5-10] o Their Reality [11-15]
Because we’re compared to Christ alone, our bragging is on Him alone, because all of our authority, accomplishments, and commendation comes from Him alone. So let's set our hearts and eyes on Him; laying aside everything that turns us inward, or towards others, for commendation or approval.
We’re in a spiritual war, surrounded by people who don’t believe as we do; seeking their own motives; and at times attacking us personally; but in Christ, we have complete confidence that His Word and Spirit within us equips us with a battle-plan.
Outline: o Know Your Place [1-2] o Know Your Weapons [3-4] o Know Your Battlefield [5] o Know Your Move [6]
When we think about giving, be honest, is our first compulsion about ROI? Or is it simply to please God without demand or dream, not to “satisfy” God, but to see Him filled with Joy because His righteousness is being multiplied through our generosity.
o The Path to Prosperity [6-7] o The Purpose of Prosperity [11-14]
While it’s true that our identity and worth is determined by Christ alone, our reputation before others matters because it displays that our character is in-line with His... and that should guide the way we live.
If we could just realize that the best way to feel secure, and to know that our needs are going to be met, is to let go of what we think is required to for it, and to show our love for other believers by meeting their needs instead.
o Giving Proves Love [6-9] o Love Requires Actions [10-11] o Actions Promote Giving [12-15]
Would you describe yourself as someone begging to give? Not just wanting to help, but desperate for the opportunity?
Sometimes we think that giving is a responsibility of living a Christian life, but if we truly consider what Christ has done in giving himself for us, our giving should be something that we cannot be held back from; something we beg for; even when it goes beyond what we are able to give.
A life shaped by the cross responds to sin with Godly grief, which produces repentance, that leads to life
Sometimes we think that loving our enemies includes becoming loyal to them and partnering with them on life decisions. But rather than joining them, we should be an example for unbelievers to find hope and salvation by how we live differently and love honestly
o Be Loyal [11-13] o Be Separate [14-18] o Be Pure [7:1]
Sometimes we think that Grace is a free gift to make our lives easier. But I hope that in hearing this from Paul today, we all realize that the evidence of Grace in our lives, it’s true power, is displayed when we’re sharing it with others… even when [not if] it comes with great personal struggles.
Outline: o The Day of Grace [1-3] o The Determination of Grace [4-5] o The Strength of Grace [6-8] o The Struggle of Grace [8-10]
Today we're going to look at two of the most common questions in the Christian faith…
o How Can I Know I’m Saved [16-19, 21] o What Am I Responsible For [19-20]
Considering God’s Word - through Paul’s words here… may we all serve the Lord persuasively but from a humble posture, controlled by love, and always remembering that grace came to us first.
Outline: One statement, three parts: o Knowing Fear [11] o Produces Humility [11-13] o Controlled By Love [14-15]
Like Paul and the Corinthians, we all face death, but in Christ, we have the hope of a resurrection and eternity with Him, and that should direct us to live a life that aims to please God, in anticipation of that future and not in fear of death.
Outline: How to Live in Light of Dying
o Be Aware that You are Temporary [1-2] o Be Clothed by the Holy Spirit [3-5] o Be Courageous in Life Now [6-8] o Be Anxious to Stand Before Christ [9-10]
As believers, suffering, struggle, and even death can be hard to accept, but I hope you’ll see how it’s actually our frailty… our brokenness… that enables the world to see Christ more vividly and find hope and joy in the Gospel
Outline: How to see the light of hope through the cracks of our suffering:
o Jesus is Seen in Our Suffering o Our Suffering Shows Grace to Others o Our Perspective Softens Our Suffering
It can be tempting to try and convince people of God’s Word by adjusting it to make it more attractive, but we need to remember that we’re in a war, with a real enemy who lies and blinds and kills. We need to humbly preach the whole truth, and trust the Spirit of God to open the eyes of the blind, to display the unveiled Gospel; which reveals Jesus as the light of God and Satan as the god of dark deception
Outline: o Staying Faithful to God’s Word o Seeing the little god’s lie o Shining God’s Glory
We are tempted to believe that we have to keep the law or be as perfect as possible to please God, but Paul calls this being veiled… but, by the work of the Holy Spirit, the veil is removed and we are able to see the grace of Jesus in all of the Bible; and by actively beholding Him, in His Word, we begin to reflect His glory to others
Living a cross shaped life… is living an unveiled life… that boldly reflects Christ in us
o Greater Glory o Hidden Glory o Seeing Glory
A life shaped by the cross is sufficient for the work of the kingdom
Has anyone been a "Paul" in your life? How did God use that person to communicate his truth to you? How are you making the letter of your life available to others? Do you ever feel unqualified to be a servant of the good news? Would anyone say you’ve played the role of Paul in their life? If yes, how so? If no, why not?
Sometimes we’re discouraged, frustrated, and distracted by others who may falsely claim all kinds of things about us... but one thing we can know - Christ has already conquered… and when we live in Him, our lives are an aroma that proclaims the Gospel; and it always elicits a response from others - we never have to sell it or seek to make it produce for us.
As true believers, because of what Christ has already done: o We Carry A Burden o We Cast An Aroma o We Come With Sincerity
How does a life shaped by the cross resolve conflict?
- Righteous over Right
- Discipline over Punishment
- Reconciled over Exiled
Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where people question our decisions and doubt our integrity, maybe suggesting our walk doesn’t match our talk, but we can have a clear conscience and expect to be taken at our word if we…
o Preach ONE Word o Follow ONE Direction o Accept ONE Identity
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” [1 Cor 2:2]
When we face suffering, we need to recognize that God provides comfort and deliverance that draws us nearer to him, so that our life will be an example to others who are experiencing, or will experience, the same thing
- God Comforts the Suffering
- God Delivers the Dead
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” [1 Cor 2:2]
When we think of who we are, who we want to be, how we live, I hope the cross is at the center; that our entire lives are a mirror of Christ crucified, and that our language is filled with it, even in the way we greet others.
Jesus’ Resurrection was not the end of the plan… it WAS the plan… that moment when the stone rolled away and He walked out of the darkness was not the finish, it was The Beginning
Despite the rumors and slander that we hear and see around us all the time, Jesus has risen, and because of that our faith is a solid foundation with hope and a message of hope that we should be proclaiming to a lost world
• if No Resurrection / No Gospel • if No Gospel / No Messiah (Christ) • if No Messiah / No Hope
Part one of our Easter message from God's Word. Jesus famous words from the cross "It is finished" are well known, but what was finished and what about Christ's death gives us joy for the future?
Jesus’ death on the cross, for those who witnessed it, including Roman soldiers who placed him there, displayed that He was exactly who He claimed to be; Son Of God. He IS God Among Us - and even in His death He testified to it… and I pray that even in our death there would be a witness to who Christ is.
- The Voice of God
- The Response of Creation
- The Voice of Confession
It’s that scary moment when God defends His honor… when His long-suffering comes to an end… and the question for us is, can we be loyal to His Word and tell the truth, even when it may be devastating or damning to those who hear it? God doesn’t need us to defend His honor… that’s not our responsibility… our challenge is to accurately proclaim His Word, even when it may be a curse to some of those who hear it… and we do this because of the hope that there might be some who repent and believe in Him
I want to encourage you to see His Word as the greatest tool you have to accomplish the greatest mission ever given, that you as a believer in Christ are created and chosen for; to speak the Gospel and making disciples
- [When] God’s Word challenges us
- Our Words aren’t good enough
- [But] His Words are more than enough
I think it would change our lives if we realized the closeness of God when we pray; His position as King; our sinfulness; and His desire - based on Christ’s sacrifice - to use us in His Kingdom plan.
- Realize (that God is present)
- Recognize and Repent (sin)
- Respond (send me)
If God came and spoke to you today, would you know it? Would you recognize His voice, hear His Heart? Or could God tell you “never-mind” and walk away without you caring? Samuel learned to Hear from God and he honored that privilege by sharing God’s Word completely, clearly, and truthfully. How bout you? Are you truly listening to God’s Words? What are you doing with it?
- No Word From God
- God’s Word to One
- One’s Word to All
What if God actually has a plan?... not simply a solution to each problem as they systematically pop up… but a plan, a strategy… what if you were tailor made for that plan?! Ask yourself… Is God Among Us, and has He designed a plan for my life? And if you determine, as you should, that He has… then what does your response need to be?
God approaches Gideon, someone who is completely unlikely and unexpecting, and calls him to take a lead role in the revealing of God’s Kingdom on Earth...And I want you ask yourself… Is God Among Us, calling ME to action?? … and maybe today is the day that you need to respond… challenge Him if you need to, but maybe it’s time… to say yes… to Worship… but the kind of Worship that allows Him to use you to reveal His Kingdom to others.
Here’s the outline of how this moment goes down 1. The Encounter 2. The Call 3. The Challenge 4. The Response (Worship)
Think about this… Is God Among Us, and does He fight for us, or against us; through us, or in-spite of us? Maybe today, you need to change your perspective… He fights for His Glory, to make His Name known, to lead others to Worship Him, and, yes, that does involve us acting in obedience by faith.
I’ll be honest with you, I’m feeling challenged this week by the fact that God’s presence is with His people here in Exodus, and they all worship, but not in equal measure… only Moses has a friend-to-friend time with God… and I’m praying that my life would be like his, not just standing in the doorway worshipping at a distance.
I hope that as you read and study this today, you allow it sit on your mind and your heart and consider just how much God has done in making Himself known to us, providing salvation for us, and entering a loving covenant with us… and I hope it changes you; to walk more certain, to talk of Him more often, and to celebrate grace more openly.
We may find ourselves, by faith, following God into places that make no sense and seem hopeless, and it’s my prayer that we are able, in those moments, to depend on His protection and to anticipate His deliverance.
- God Leads Us, when the path isn’t clear
- God Defends Us, when we’re overwhelmed
- God Delivers Us, when hope is lost
Lets talk about the year ahead… 2021… the things that can be anticipated and also what could never be anticipated …and a word that God continues to put forward: Courage
Did GOD become a CHILD?
No outline… no comprehensive exposition of a passage… today I want to just take you to a place OF QUESTIONS… and LEAVE you with them… today I want to remind you just how amazing CHRISTMAS really is… How UNBELIEVABLE what we BELIEVE is… and I want you to find yourself in AWE of God... so that maybe Christmas night you find yourself looking at the stars and being without words... other than Thank You!
Moses finds himself face to face with God, and being charged by God to do the impossible, but it is in his weakness that God’s character is magnified. So… if we’ve had that life-altering encounter with Jesus, then when He calls us to do what is impossible, we should be excited to see how it will reveal His Character!
Is God Among US… In Our Weakness
- God Displays His Holiness
- We Display Our Weakness
- Our Weakness Amplifies His Holiness
Jacob faces one of his greatest fears, and his struggle turns to prayer, yet he also tries to solve things himself, as he’s always done before. But this time, God becomes the one Jacob actually wrestles with and it’s God who reminds him that He keeps His Word and can change everything.
And if we look to God when our struggles are real, we can expect that His presence may bring a wrestle, but it will remind us of His Word and return our focus to faith in Him
• The Struggle • The Prayer • The Plan • The Visit • The Answer
Abraham recognizes God when He comes to him, invites the Lord to stay, and when Abraham questions His decisions, it reveals Abraham’s own identity in God’s plan. And for us… When we recognize God’s presence, and seek to spend time with Him, our questions open the door for deeper prayer and may also reveal more about who we are in God's plan
Is God Among Us... When We Question Him • No Question About Who He Is • Questions Promote Prayer • Our Questions May Reveal Who We Are
God called Abram to make a life-changing decision, based on faith, and his response became a blessing for all the earth, and resulted in a personal relationship with God.
If we’re faithful with what God calls us to do, one step at a time, we can be certain that His plan will produce eternal results that impact His Kingdom (globally) and also provide us with a growing personal relationship with Him.
Is God Among US… When Following Him is Life-Altering? For Abram it looked like this • Listen to His Word • Learn to Follow His Call • Look for His Presence
What does “walk with God” mean? He’s not just a voice in the sky - He’s knowable, relatable, and involved in our lives. And because of that, we can share our lives with Him, walking out each day, as friends. He is Among Us… walking with us
God walks with the righteous because He desires to be with them… as a friend desires a friend Looking at 3 examples • Enoch • Noah • Jesus
Too often we forget… we’re saved by Grace alone… and that, even in our sin, God still pursued a relationship with us… and that should be an encouragement to us when we feel far from Him because of sin that we may struggling with now. The fact is, He is Among Us… even When We Sin
So today we’re looking at this very practically… keeping in mind that when we struggle with sin in our own lives: 1. Paradise Doesn’t Prevent Sin 2. God’s Presence is Not Restricted By Sin 3. Sin Doesn’t Produce Paradise
REVELATION 21:3
As Christians, we need to begin anticipating God’s presence now, here among us on Earth, day to day, because being among His people physically, personally, and relationally is already the ultimate goal of His plan of redemption for Creation.
And as Christians, we’re ALREADY part of His Kingdom… That same future Kingdom that is already present here and now… Do we live like it?
When we say "making disciples" is our mission, that means something very specific... At SRCC, a Disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ, displaying the character of Christ, fully equipped with the Word of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to make other disciples that support the maturity of their local church and serve their community while considering opportunities to support planting other churches.
At Salt River Community Church we have a mission and vision that we hope will help change this community… but rather than just having a program, hosting events, and hoping for a building with people in it… we want to be able to answer WHY Making disciples is important to us… WHY planting churches matters… and be able to answer WHY Tempe AZ /PHX East Valley should care that Salt River CC is here?
We need to be reminded that we are not the only believers in God’s Kingdom… that we have family in other places… sister churches… and as PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER, we should be an encouragement to each other… and consider how we can share the burden of ministry Here in the text, we’ll look at some different ways to do that:
• Prayers (12-13) • Position (14) • Resources (15-16) • Ministry (17) • Chains (18)
How great is it that we, like Paul, have brothers and sisters who can come and encourage us, and also stay and comfort us, when we need it. I hope that you’ll understand the need for this kind of discipleship… so that you become a comfort to others and allow others to encourage you as well. No believer is alone in the Kingdom of God.
• Encouragement to send to you (7-9) • Comfort to stay with you (10-11)
Paul’s point is that “Power in Your Words” comes from Prayer, then making Christ's Word your words, and speaking them with clarity, and spice... so that God's Word finds open doors in your life for changing other peoples lives
Power in Your Words • Speak With Clarity (2-4) • Speak With Spice (5-6)
When you accept serving each other through loving submission and respect, as an act of worship to God…then you’ll find your true purpose… and you can have a life that is FULL of meaning… leaving an impact on others even after you’re gone.
Finding your purpose in: • Marriage (18-19) • Family (20-21) • Work (22-23, 4:1) • Worship (23-25)
For us, in light of knowing who we are in Christ, we need to represent Christ in how we live… with each other and in front of the world… so people will see Christ in us, and be drawn to Him. Paul notes 3 areas of adjustment for the lifestyle of believers… 1. Living Proactive (12-14) 2. Living Reactive (15-16) 3. Representing Christ in All Actions (17)
Set Your Mind Above / Put Self to Death / Embrace Transformation
If you are a person whose faith is in Christ, then your old life is dead and your new life, which is secure in Christ, should reflect His Kingdom by the way you live it.
Self-Doubt / Self-Satisfaction / Self-Denial There are so many voices suggesting that behavior, obedience, sacrifice, etc. is what will grant us “true” salvation. However, in Christ we are fully saved, by His grace alone, through His finished work on the Cross; and that should build such love for Him that it drives our behavior, obedience, and sacrifices.
When you’re living life in anticipation of seeing God, your entire perspective will change - even if your situation doesn’t… and that anticipation will change the way you live out each day.
Paul is explaining to the Colossians that their faith is not in spiritual forces or traditions or words of so-called wisdom, but in the one God Jesus Christ… and that their salvation is a result of His victory over all… and His complete work in their redemption
So when we say that we’re saved by Grace, we want people to know that means our salvation, new identity, is a result of the completed work of Jesus Christ alone.
As Christians today, we need to look to see that our talk is matched by the way we walk out each day - with full assurance in our hearts, deeply grounded in His Word, being thankful for His grace, and fighting for the faith and discipleship of others
Paul explains that he is linked to Christ, for the sake of Jesus’ church expanding to all nations… and that means having the power of God, united with hard work and suffering. As Christians today, we need to realize the power that comes from Christ IN US… and fully embrace the suffering, the struggle, and the hard work of sharing the Gospel and making disciples of all nations.
Paul reminds us that our salvation came entirely from the grace of God… through the work of Christ… and so, our deeds aren’t earning it, but proving it true... So we should make every effort to live our life in a way that reflects the ONE who died to save us… not to earn His love, but because of His love.
Paul explained that Jesus is First, Above All Creation. Now he adds that Jesus is also First above All New Creation; pointing out 1st that the man Jesus is all God and Created all, and now 2nd that God became entirely man in order to redeem mankind. Stop to considering this, and thank Him for your Salvation. Let it drive your behavior rather than attempting to earn His favor with good deeds.
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” [Colossians 3:3]
To understand our nature, our identity, we need to consider His. To know who we are, you have to know who He is. Paul takes a moment from directly addressing the believers in Colossae to point out, or remind them, that Jesus is First, Above All; Creator Ruler and Sustainer. I want you to see that our identity in Christ is only effective because of WHO HE IS, and our Hope is based on the same.
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” [Colossians 3:3]
As believers in Christ, we should desire to walk in a manner worthy of the Name we bear, because He has made us His own… so that our lives will bear fruit and bring us into greater intimacy with God.
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” [Colossians 3:3]
Know that, as believers in Christ, you are prayed for - as part of a brotherhood of love... and remember that you are saved by Grace... and have been served by faithful disciples... so let that encourage you... and move you to share the same Gospel, serve others by making disciples, and see the same fruit of the Gospel spread here in our own community.
When culture invades Christianity (the church) we need to recognize the Authority of God’s Word to correct and guide our lives... and when we share it with others, we need to approach them with respect and love.
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” [Colossians 3:3]