A study of the book of John. Click here to download the sermon.
Recap of the sermon from October 30th:
1. The Gospel of John gives a distinctive portrait of Jesus Christ. Ninety-two to ninety-three percent of the content of the book is unique to John as compared with the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Dr. Edwin Blum writes: “When one compares the Gospel of John with the other three Gospels, he is struck by the distinctiveness of John’s presentation. John does not include Jesus’ genealogy, birth, baptism, temptation, casting out of demons, parables, transfiguration, instituting of the Lord’s Supper, His agony in Gethsemane, or His Ascension. John’s presentation of Jesus stresses His ministry in Jerusalem, the feast of the Jewish nation, Jesus’ contacts with individuals in private conversations, and His ministry to His disciples.”
2. John’s purpose in writing is seen in the key verses of the book, 20:30,31. Walter M. Dunnett writes: “Thus, John has stated his purpose. In writing the story of Christ, he has sought to bring his readers face to face with this person who by His words and His works confronts men and women with a great decision. From first to last Christ is described as deity (1:1; 20:28). Yet He has come in human form (1:14) so that He might give Himself to bring life to those who sit in the shadow of death (12:23,24). No only did Christ die, but He rose again (chap. 20). As the living Lord, He calls forth the devotion and loyalty of His followers (21:15-19).
3. The outline of the book is as follows:
Prologue 1:1-18
Public teaching and miracles 1:19-12:50
Private teaching 13-17
Passion and Resurrection 18-20
Postlude (or epilogue) 21
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Marks of a Cult
Click here to download the sermon.
Recap of the sermon from October 23, 2011 (I John 4:1-6):
The nine marks of a cult (sources: Understanding the Cults by Josh McDowell & Don Stewart; The Four Major Cults by Anthony A. Hoekema):
1. A source of authority other than, or in addition to, the Bible (including new truth or new interpretation of Scripture).
2. Salvation by works, denial of justification by faith.
3. Devaluation of the person of Christ (denying His deity or His humanity).
4. Denial of the Trinity or an inadequate view of the Trinity.
5. The group as the exclusive community of the saved.
6. A strong, charismatic leader.
7. False prophecy.
8. Changing theology and subsequent practices.
9. Deceptive double talk, saying one thing in public and another in private.
Recap of the sermon from October 23, 2011 (I John 4:1-6):
The nine marks of a cult (sources: Understanding the Cults by Josh McDowell & Don Stewart; The Four Major Cults by Anthony A. Hoekema):
1. A source of authority other than, or in addition to, the Bible (including new truth or new interpretation of Scripture).
2. Salvation by works, denial of justification by faith.
3. Devaluation of the person of Christ (denying His deity or His humanity).
4. Denial of the Trinity or an inadequate view of the Trinity.
5. The group as the exclusive community of the saved.
6. A strong, charismatic leader.
7. False prophecy.
8. Changing theology and subsequent practices.
9. Deceptive double talk, saying one thing in public and another in private.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Choosing What Is Better
Click here to download the sermon.
Recap of the October 16, 2011 sermon (Luke 10:38-42):
1. There are three incidents recorded in Scripture involving Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. They are found in John 11:17-37; John 12:1-8 (and its parallels in Matthew 26 & Mark 14); and Luke 10:38-42. In each incident we find Mary at Jesus’ feet in devotion to Him.
2. The point of Luke 10:38-42 is that activity for Jesus (life, ministry) must be built upon time with Jesus. As a writer put it to be occupied with Jesus is more important than to be occupied for Jesus. It is a call to a balanced life with right priorities.
3. “The great enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ in the present day is the conception of practical work that has not come from the New Testament, but from the systems of the world in which endless energy and activities are insisted upon, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. We have to get rid of the plague of the spirit of the religious age in which we live. In Our Lord’s life there was none of the press and rush of tremendous activity that we regard so highly, and the disciple is to be as his Master.” (Oswald Chambers)
4. Gordon MacDonald, in Ordering Your Private World, put it this way: “If my private world is in order, it will be because I am convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity.”
5. Dr. Stanley Toussaint suggested the following six priorities for the Christian: persons before things; home before occupation; partner before children; children before friends; partner before self; and spiritual before material.
Recap of the October 16, 2011 sermon (Luke 10:38-42):
1. There are three incidents recorded in Scripture involving Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. They are found in John 11:17-37; John 12:1-8 (and its parallels in Matthew 26 & Mark 14); and Luke 10:38-42. In each incident we find Mary at Jesus’ feet in devotion to Him.
2. The point of Luke 10:38-42 is that activity for Jesus (life, ministry) must be built upon time with Jesus. As a writer put it to be occupied with Jesus is more important than to be occupied for Jesus. It is a call to a balanced life with right priorities.
3. “The great enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ in the present day is the conception of practical work that has not come from the New Testament, but from the systems of the world in which endless energy and activities are insisted upon, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. We have to get rid of the plague of the spirit of the religious age in which we live. In Our Lord’s life there was none of the press and rush of tremendous activity that we regard so highly, and the disciple is to be as his Master.” (Oswald Chambers)
4. Gordon MacDonald, in Ordering Your Private World, put it this way: “If my private world is in order, it will be because I am convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity.”
5. Dr. Stanley Toussaint suggested the following six priorities for the Christian: persons before things; home before occupation; partner before children; children before friends; partner before self; and spiritual before material.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Previews of Coming Events, Part 3
Click here to download the sermon.
Recap of the sermon from October 9th (Daniel 12:2-13):
1. In Daniel 12:2 Daniel mentions the resurrection to everlasting life and the resurrection to shame and everlasting contempt. Resurrection refers to the re-animating of a physical body sometime after death and re-uniting it with a person’s spirit. The biblical order of the resurrections is as follows:
-Church-age saints will be raptured and resurrected before the start of the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
-Tribulation saints and Old Testaments saints will be resurrected at the second coming following the Tribulation but before the Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6), though some scholars believe Old Testament saints will be resurrected with the church or at the conclusion of the Millennium.
-All unbelievers of every age (Old Testament, Church age, Tribulation) will be resurrected at the end of the Millennium; they will be judged at that time and cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:5, 11-15). The Bible describes Hell or the Lake of Fire as a place of torment, of darkness, of the complete absence of God and of good, and a place where there will be anguish, despair, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2. Those who survive the Tribulation period, living Jew and Gentile alike, will face a judgment to determine if they go alive into the Millennium or are cast into Hades (temporary abode of the dead). Living Israelites will be judged on the basis of faith in the Messiah (Ezekiel 20:33-44). Living Gentiles will be judged on the basis of their treatment of the Jews during the Tribulation thus showing their faith or absence of faith (Matthew 25:31-46).
Recap of the sermon from October 9th (Daniel 12:2-13):
1. In Daniel 12:2 Daniel mentions the resurrection to everlasting life and the resurrection to shame and everlasting contempt. Resurrection refers to the re-animating of a physical body sometime after death and re-uniting it with a person’s spirit. The biblical order of the resurrections is as follows:
-Church-age saints will be raptured and resurrected before the start of the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
-Tribulation saints and Old Testaments saints will be resurrected at the second coming following the Tribulation but before the Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6), though some scholars believe Old Testament saints will be resurrected with the church or at the conclusion of the Millennium.
-All unbelievers of every age (Old Testament, Church age, Tribulation) will be resurrected at the end of the Millennium; they will be judged at that time and cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:5, 11-15). The Bible describes Hell or the Lake of Fire as a place of torment, of darkness, of the complete absence of God and of good, and a place where there will be anguish, despair, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2. Those who survive the Tribulation period, living Jew and Gentile alike, will face a judgment to determine if they go alive into the Millennium or are cast into Hades (temporary abode of the dead). Living Israelites will be judged on the basis of faith in the Messiah (Ezekiel 20:33-44). Living Gentiles will be judged on the basis of their treatment of the Jews during the Tribulation thus showing their faith or absence of faith (Matthew 25:31-46).
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Previews of Coming Events, Part 2
Click here to download the sermon.
Recap of October 2, 2011 (Daniel 12:1,2):
1. Daniel is a prophetic book; a revelation of things to come. Prophetic revelation should have the following effect upon us:
2. “Revelation of the future is for encouragement and the development of hope, faith, and love, rather than for speculation. The godly will always find comfort in the revelation of God.” (Willem A. VanGemeren)
3. Dr. Charles C. Ryrie, in his book Basic Theology, writes: “For the believer, the knowledge of prophecy
(a) provides joy in the midst of affliction (2 Corinthians 4:17)
(b) cleanses and encourages holy living (1 John 3:3)
(c) is profitable, like all Scripture, for a number of important needs in the Christian’s life (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
(d) gives facts about life after death (2 Corinthians 5:8)
(e) gives truth about the end of history
(f) gives proof of the reliability of all Scripture, for the number of prophecies that have come to pass precisely as predicted cannot be accounted for by chance but only by God
(g) draws our hearts out in worship to the God Who is in complete control and Who will accomplish His will in history. To slight prophecy is to miss these benefits.”
Recap of October 2, 2011 (Daniel 12:1,2):
1. Daniel is a prophetic book; a revelation of things to come. Prophetic revelation should have the following effect upon us:
2. “Revelation of the future is for encouragement and the development of hope, faith, and love, rather than for speculation. The godly will always find comfort in the revelation of God.” (Willem A. VanGemeren)
3. Dr. Charles C. Ryrie, in his book Basic Theology, writes: “For the believer, the knowledge of prophecy
(a) provides joy in the midst of affliction (2 Corinthians 4:17)
(b) cleanses and encourages holy living (1 John 3:3)
(c) is profitable, like all Scripture, for a number of important needs in the Christian’s life (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
(d) gives facts about life after death (2 Corinthians 5:8)
(e) gives truth about the end of history
(f) gives proof of the reliability of all Scripture, for the number of prophecies that have come to pass precisely as predicted cannot be accounted for by chance but only by God
(g) draws our hearts out in worship to the God Who is in complete control and Who will accomplish His will in history. To slight prophecy is to miss these benefits.”
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