Psalm 38 & 32

Learning From David About Dealing With Our Sin 1. Sin is serious because it is against God. - it is rebellion against Him personally. - it is falling short of His requirements. - it defiles and corrupts His image in us. - it breaks our fellowship with Him. - it causes eternal separation from God for those who refuse to repent.

 

2. Sin is serious because it can impact every part of our being/life. - soul (heart, mind, will and emotions) - body (sickness and even death) (1 Cor. 11:30) - conscience - relationships (friends and enemies) For the believer, God intends the sorrow caused by sin to bring us to repentance and reconciliation.

 

3. Sin is serious because there is only one possible solution...and God had to die to provide it. Blessed is the one: - who owns their sin (and all its results). - who humbly, repentantly, confesses it openly to God. - who entrusts themselves to the mercy of God. - whose righteousness is by faith in Jesus Christ. When we bring people to the cross, we love them. When we give them any other option, we hate them.

New Years Sermon - Fear (Part 6)

 

 

GOOD THEOLOGY is the best cure for FEAR

TRUTH is the best cure for FEAR

BELIEVING LIES is the best cause for FEAR

 

 

Lie #1:

I am alone, unseen, unassisted;

and what I do/say for Christ is meaningless.

 

Truth #1:

Everything hidden will come into the light,

and those “in Christ” will be vindicated.

 

 

Lie #2:

The seen is more powerful than the unseen.

The body is more important than the soul.

The temporary is more valuable than the eternal.

 

Truth #2:

Those who have a faith-filled fear of God,

that produces obedience…

need fear nothing else.

 

 

Lie #3:

I am insignificant to a far-off, invisible God.

 

Truth #3:

God’s care for you is as a Father who knows how to love perfectly.

 

 

Lie #4:

Even if God cares for me, He is not actually able to keep me from harm.

 

Truth #4:

There is not one tiny corner of creation that is not cared for and controlled by my Father.

New Years Sermon - Fear (Part 4)

 

Matthew 10 - Jesus tells His disciples...What to Expect

 

How were Jesus’ disciples strengthened from His teaching in vs. 16-25?

1. They knew going in what the true cost of following Jesus would be.

2. They were able to embrace the tension of...going in the strength of the LORD,...and going in the vulnerability of sheep.

3. They were forced to see themselves as dispensable parts of a whole.

4. They could know that the message they preach is true by the world’s response to it.

5. This shows the power and the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

New Years Sermon - Fear (Part 2)

 

 

Came after 400 years of slavery.

Led them into the wilderness.

Took place 3 days after the Passover.

Pillar of Cloud went behind them.

They were commanded to stand still.

The water opened and then they went.

Was a defensive maneuver.

Their enemies were behind them.

It saved them from their enemies.

They were afraid of their enemies.

They left dead Egyptians on the bottom.

They left their enemies behind.

Were very afraid.

 

Came after 40 years of judgement.

Led them into the Promised Land.

Took place 4 days before the Passover.

The Ark went before them.

They were commanded to step in.

They went and then the water opened.

Was an offensive maneuver.

Their enemies were before them.

It enabled them to conquer their enemies.

Their enemies were afraid of them.

They left 12 stones on the bottom.

They left themselves behind.

Were strong and courageous.

 

... not a fix, a system, a technique, a plan to follow

... to kill it (to crucify it)

... by faith (to reckon that God’s truth is true)

... daily

... by losing all that is “mine”

... by taking hold of all that is His

Christmas Sermon – Why Did Jesus Come

 

Why Did Jesus Say That He Came?

 

Nine Reasons Jesus Gave for His Coming

1. To Fulfill the Law and Prophets

- To complete them or satisfy their conditions

- To keep the Old Covenant and finish it

 

2. To Preach the Good News of the Kingdom

- He was the Living Word that came from God

- God speaks things into being through His words

 

3. To Bring a Sword (Division)

- To preach a message that will divide people

- To distinguish between the two seeds

 

4. To Seek and Save the (really) Lost

- To seek out those who are not seeking Him

- To save those whom the world sees as unsavable

 

5. To Judge (Divide) the World and Give Sight to Some, and Blindness to Others

- To hide truth from the proud and self-trusting

- To reveal truth to the humble and child-like

 

6. To Humbly Serve Others And Give Himself as a Ransom for Many

- The nature of the Kingdom is upside-down

- The rulers self-sacrificially serve their people

 

7. To Give Eternal Life and Abundant Life

- To give His sheep a great quality of life

- To give His sheep unending, everlasting life

 

8. To Bring Truth to the Earth and Identify Those Who Belong to the Truth

- The language of the Kingdom is truth

- The people of the Kingdom listen to truth

 

9. To Glorify the Father by Dying on the Cross

- To shed His blood as a sacrifice for many

- To glorify His Father with His death on the cross

1 Peter 1: 13-16

 

Prepare your minds for Action

Stop Sinning

Be Holy

Serve the Lord

 

1 Peter 1

 

 

1. Gospel foundational thinking

2. Biblically disciplined thinking

3. Apocalyptic, hope-filled thinking

4. Not old, but new creation thinking

5. ‘Imitating Father’ thinking