Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of the sermon from September 21, 2008:
1. Five truths from Genesis 21:1,2 (A.W. Pink, Gleanings in Genesis)
-God is in no hurry in working out His plans
-Nothing can hinder or thwart God’s working out His plan
-God is faithful to perform what He as promised (no matter how impossible it seems to us)
-Faith is tried and tested (“A faith that is incapable of enduring trial is no faith at all.”)
-God has set a time for the accomplishing of His will and the fulfilling of His Word.
2. If you’re going through a desert time in your life (what some describe as a time of “waiting, hoping, longing”):
-take time to grow near to God, grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus
-give yourself to service
-keep up your daily responsibilities
-don’t withdraw, give up, or get locked in self-pity
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
God Delivers, Part 2
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of September 14, 2008:
1. “To be afraid is to not fully trust God… Fear and lack of trust go hand in hand; where you find one you will find the other. So if we are to understand why we do fear, we must understand why we don’t trust God.” (Patrick Morley).
2. When we are consumed with fear because we believe we are at the mercy of other people we are entrapped by that negative emotion. The answer is to trust that God is ultimately in control of our lives, nothing can touch that He doesn’t permit. Fear must give way to faith (Psalms 56:3; 94:19).
3. How do we explain Abraham’s (and our) lapse into an old and familiar sin:
-even after salvation, the sin nature remains in us seeking to enslave us; we must yield instead to the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:18; Galatians 5)
-older believers (who should know better) as well as young, inexperienced believers are subject to failure. We must always be vigilant.
-sin we haven’t dealt with will come back to exert its power over us
-we may have a particular weakness (i.e. a “besetting sin”) (Hebrews 12)
-we all face circumstances/challenges/reversals/trials that stress us and cause us to revert if we aren’t careful
-we have a tendency toward self-sufficiency, independence. Scheming instead of believing God
-Satan seeks to make us ineffective (even destroy us physically) to silence us.
4. We must resist sin; confess it when we fail; cry out to God for help (1 Corinthians 12:13); learn scripture dealing with our sin; memorize and meditate upon it; and ultimately see that sin is a violation of our love relationship with God.
Recap of September 14, 2008:
1. “To be afraid is to not fully trust God… Fear and lack of trust go hand in hand; where you find one you will find the other. So if we are to understand why we do fear, we must understand why we don’t trust God.” (Patrick Morley).
2. When we are consumed with fear because we believe we are at the mercy of other people we are entrapped by that negative emotion. The answer is to trust that God is ultimately in control of our lives, nothing can touch that He doesn’t permit. Fear must give way to faith (Psalms 56:3; 94:19).
3. How do we explain Abraham’s (and our) lapse into an old and familiar sin:
-even after salvation, the sin nature remains in us seeking to enslave us; we must yield instead to the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:18; Galatians 5)
-older believers (who should know better) as well as young, inexperienced believers are subject to failure. We must always be vigilant.
-sin we haven’t dealt with will come back to exert its power over us
-we may have a particular weakness (i.e. a “besetting sin”) (Hebrews 12)
-we all face circumstances/challenges/reversals/trials that stress us and cause us to revert if we aren’t careful
-we have a tendency toward self-sufficiency, independence. Scheming instead of believing God
-Satan seeks to make us ineffective (even destroy us physically) to silence us.
4. We must resist sin; confess it when we fail; cry out to God for help (1 Corinthians 12:13); learn scripture dealing with our sin; memorize and meditate upon it; and ultimately see that sin is a violation of our love relationship with God.
Monday, September 08, 2008
God Delivers
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of the September 7, 2008 sermon:
1. Abraham lapses into a 25 year old sin when he once again passes off Sarah as his sister, instead of as his wife. In doing so he, humanly speaking, puts in jeopardy God’s promise of a son, the son of promise through Sarah (Gen 17:19).
2. These incidents seem to be the basis for Peter’s praise of Sarah as an example of a woman of faith who, despite her husband’s unwise actions, trusts God with her fear. (1 Peter 3:1-6).
3. As with Abraham, who earlier interceded for the righteous in Sodom (Gen 18:23), Abimelech (king of Gerar) intercedes for his innocent people. Only in this instance, Abraham is the wicked one and Abimelech and his people are the innocents. This is a rebuke from God to Abraham for his actions. As a writer said: “He certainly stumbled in his walk of faith and caused God’s judgment to come on Abimelech.”
4. Abraham who was to be a blessing to the nations, instead in this instance he is having a negative impact. Instead of upholding righteousness, he is holding God up to ridicule.
5. Based on Gen 20 we must: deal decisively with sin in our lives (especially with the world watching); deal with fear; affect the world positively, not just negatively.
Recap of the September 7, 2008 sermon:
1. Abraham lapses into a 25 year old sin when he once again passes off Sarah as his sister, instead of as his wife. In doing so he, humanly speaking, puts in jeopardy God’s promise of a son, the son of promise through Sarah (Gen 17:19).
2. These incidents seem to be the basis for Peter’s praise of Sarah as an example of a woman of faith who, despite her husband’s unwise actions, trusts God with her fear. (1 Peter 3:1-6).
3. As with Abraham, who earlier interceded for the righteous in Sodom (Gen 18:23), Abimelech (king of Gerar) intercedes for his innocent people. Only in this instance, Abraham is the wicked one and Abimelech and his people are the innocents. This is a rebuke from God to Abraham for his actions. As a writer said: “He certainly stumbled in his walk of faith and caused God’s judgment to come on Abimelech.”
4. Abraham who was to be a blessing to the nations, instead in this instance he is having a negative impact. Instead of upholding righteousness, he is holding God up to ridicule.
5. Based on Gen 20 we must: deal decisively with sin in our lives (especially with the world watching); deal with fear; affect the world positively, not just negatively.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Remember Lot's Wife & Other Good Advice
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Recap of August 31, 2008 sermon:
1. Genesis 19 is a warning to unbelievers about sin and judgment. God’s patience with sinners has an end.
2. Genesis 19 is a warning to believers about getting too cozy with the world and its tragic consequences.
3. The chapter describes the tragic unraveling of Lot’s family. From his first leering look at Sodom and the cities of the plain (Gen 13:10), to pitching his tents near Sodom (Gen 13:12), to living in the city (Gen 14:12), to becoming a leading citizen of it (Gen 19:1), Lot’s life was a lie. He had no positive spiritual influence over the city or even his own family. As one writer said: “…it was difficult to get Lot out of Sodom, and Sodom out of Lot’s family.”
4. As with Lot, so much of life is made up of small decisions that have momentous impact on the course of our lives and on the lives of our families. A commentator said: “Where did Lot lose his dignity and faith? Not in big earth-shaking decisions but in making numerous small choices that left God out of his life.”
Recap of August 31, 2008 sermon:
1. Genesis 19 is a warning to unbelievers about sin and judgment. God’s patience with sinners has an end.
2. Genesis 19 is a warning to believers about getting too cozy with the world and its tragic consequences.
3. The chapter describes the tragic unraveling of Lot’s family. From his first leering look at Sodom and the cities of the plain (Gen 13:10), to pitching his tents near Sodom (Gen 13:12), to living in the city (Gen 14:12), to becoming a leading citizen of it (Gen 19:1), Lot’s life was a lie. He had no positive spiritual influence over the city or even his own family. As one writer said: “…it was difficult to get Lot out of Sodom, and Sodom out of Lot’s family.”
4. As with Lot, so much of life is made up of small decisions that have momentous impact on the course of our lives and on the lives of our families. A commentator said: “Where did Lot lose his dignity and faith? Not in big earth-shaking decisions but in making numerous small choices that left God out of his life.”
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Let's Make A Deal, Pt 2
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Recap of August 24, 2008:
1. In Genesis 18 we learn about the justice of God:
-He never acts capriciously (never in haste, never rashly, never ill-informed)
-He will withhold judgment for the sake of the righteous
-He will judge the unrighteous and preserve the righteous in the midst of judgment
-we must intercede for the righteous and unrighteous in our culture
2. Abraham is an example for us of intercession
-He began by acknowledging God’s justice (the rightness of His actions, He always acts rightly)
-He prays for the preservation of the righteous
-He prays for the unrighteous to be spared
-He prays boldly and persistently
-He prays on the basis of his knowledge of God’s character
Recap of August 24, 2008:
1. In Genesis 18 we learn about the justice of God:
-He never acts capriciously (never in haste, never rashly, never ill-informed)
-He will withhold judgment for the sake of the righteous
-He will judge the unrighteous and preserve the righteous in the midst of judgment
-we must intercede for the righteous and unrighteous in our culture
2. Abraham is an example for us of intercession
-He began by acknowledging God’s justice (the rightness of His actions, He always acts rightly)
-He prays for the preservation of the righteous
-He prays for the unrighteous to be spared
-He prays boldly and persistently
-He prays on the basis of his knowledge of God’s character
Monday, August 18, 2008
Let's Make A Deal
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of August 17, 2008:
Suggestions from the Compact Guide to the Christian Life by K.C. Hinckley about the things what parents should teach their children and how they should go about it:
-We must train our children: to pray, to worship, to read the Bible with understanding and benefit, to turn to Jesus when in need, to know the central truths of the faith, to love others, to love self, to obey authority, to control their impulses (i.e. to learn to delay gratification), to act responsibly, to deal with the moral conflicts of secular life, and to manage the practical skills of living on the earth (e.g. pay bills on time, managing a checkbook [or debit card], washing cloths, cooking, driving, living within their means, etc.)
-Training them starts with giving them lots of affections (eye contact, attentive listening, time alone with you); we must be an example of what we are trying to teach them (not “do what I say, not what I do”); we must teach them verbally, in both planned times and teachable moments of life; we must be consistent in discipline; as spouses we must be united in discipline; we must seek support from other Christians; and we must take the long view (realizing there may be set backs along the way).
Recap of August 17, 2008:
Suggestions from the Compact Guide to the Christian Life by K.C. Hinckley about the things what parents should teach their children and how they should go about it:
-We must train our children: to pray, to worship, to read the Bible with understanding and benefit, to turn to Jesus when in need, to know the central truths of the faith, to love others, to love self, to obey authority, to control their impulses (i.e. to learn to delay gratification), to act responsibly, to deal with the moral conflicts of secular life, and to manage the practical skills of living on the earth (e.g. pay bills on time, managing a checkbook [or debit card], washing cloths, cooking, driving, living within their means, etc.)
-Training them starts with giving them lots of affections (eye contact, attentive listening, time alone with you); we must be an example of what we are trying to teach them (not “do what I say, not what I do”); we must teach them verbally, in both planned times and teachable moments of life; we must be consistent in discipline; as spouses we must be united in discipline; we must seek support from other Christians; and we must take the long view (realizing there may be set backs along the way).
Monday, August 11, 2008
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? (Pt 2)
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of the sermon from August 10, 2008:
1. As He had done previously with Abraham, God now stretches Sarah’s faith in announcing that at the age of 90 she would have a son.
2. Sarah’s response of laughter brought God’s rebuke and statement of His power, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (vs. 14). The repeated assertion of Scripture is that nothing is too hard or impossible with God (Luke 1:34-37); He can do all things, no plan of His can be thwarted (Job 42:2). Nothing is too hard for the God who by His power and hand made heaven and earth (Jeremiah 32:17).
3. We must believe, along with Sarah and Abraham, that God can do the impossible, that no matter what situation we face, however hopeless it seems, nothing is too hard for Him.
4. God revealed His plans to Abraham concerning Sodom and Gomorrah because of Abraham’s influence over the nations, but especially because of his influence over his own household. It was his responsibility (as it is parental responsibility today) to teach them to live righteously and justly. What would happen to Sodom would be an example to them of that need.
Recap of the sermon from August 10, 2008:
1. As He had done previously with Abraham, God now stretches Sarah’s faith in announcing that at the age of 90 she would have a son.
2. Sarah’s response of laughter brought God’s rebuke and statement of His power, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (vs. 14). The repeated assertion of Scripture is that nothing is too hard or impossible with God (Luke 1:34-37); He can do all things, no plan of His can be thwarted (Job 42:2). Nothing is too hard for the God who by His power and hand made heaven and earth (Jeremiah 32:17).
3. We must believe, along with Sarah and Abraham, that God can do the impossible, that no matter what situation we face, however hopeless it seems, nothing is too hard for Him.
4. God revealed His plans to Abraham concerning Sodom and Gomorrah because of Abraham’s influence over the nations, but especially because of his influence over his own household. It was his responsibility (as it is parental responsibility today) to teach them to live righteously and justly. What would happen to Sodom would be an example to them of that need.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of August 3, 2008:
1. Two key questions dominate Genesis 18:
-“Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (18:14)
-“Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (18:25)
2. Abraham receives three visitors: The Lord (a Christophany: a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ), and two angels.
3. Verses 1-8 illustrate the life of intimate fellowship with Jesus. Jesus made Himself at home with His friend Abraham (James 2:23). He ate with him, He revealed future plans with Him.
4. As believers, we are to have that same intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ. Paul prays for believers that Christ may be completely at home in our hearts.
5. Author Robert Boyd Munger raises the question “Is Christ at home in every part of our lives hearts)? (Article: “My Heart Christ’s Home,” Navpress). Is He at home in our thought life; in our appetites, desires, and motivation; in our devotional life; in our talents and gifts; in our entertainment; is hidden sin marring His comfort?; does He have title to our hearts?
Recap of August 3, 2008:
1. Two key questions dominate Genesis 18:
-“Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (18:14)
-“Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (18:25)
2. Abraham receives three visitors: The Lord (a Christophany: a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ), and two angels.
3. Verses 1-8 illustrate the life of intimate fellowship with Jesus. Jesus made Himself at home with His friend Abraham (James 2:23). He ate with him, He revealed future plans with Him.
4. As believers, we are to have that same intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ. Paul prays for believers that Christ may be completely at home in our hearts.
5. Author Robert Boyd Munger raises the question “Is Christ at home in every part of our lives hearts)? (Article: “My Heart Christ’s Home,” Navpress). Is He at home in our thought life; in our appetites, desires, and motivation; in our devotional life; in our talents and gifts; in our entertainment; is hidden sin marring His comfort?; does He have title to our hearts?
Monday, July 28, 2008
What's In A Name?
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“What’s in a Name?” - Pastor Joe Ricchuiti
Reference: Genesis 17:1-15 and Psalm 107:23
I. A new name vv. 1-8
II. A new sign vv. 9-14
III. A new son vv. 15-22
IV. A new obedience vv. 23-27
Recap of July 27, 2008:
1. “God’s opportunity does not come until man’s extremity is reached. This is a lesson we sorely need to take to heart, for it is of great practical importance. The Lord has a reason for all His delays. God not only does that which is right and best but He always acts at the right and best time.” (A. W. Pink)
2. God had to wait to fulfill His promises until Abram and Sarai had gotten to the end of themselves, “at their wit’s end” (Psalm 107:23-32), so to speak.
3. God introduced Himself to Abram with the name “God Almighty” (El Shaddai), which means “the God Who is sufficient.” He has the might to accomplish all He promises, so that He is sufficient for my crisis/challenge, my marriage, my family/children, my needs, my career, and my hopes and dreams.
4. God calls Abram to complete surrender. He is not interested in half-hearted obedience.
5. Abram’s obedience was immediate (vv. 23-27). It is not enough to say that we love God, to sing it or to pray it. We must show it in our actions. (Lawrence Richards)
“What’s in a Name?” - Pastor Joe Ricchuiti
Reference: Genesis 17:1-15 and Psalm 107:23
I. A new name vv. 1-8
II. A new sign vv. 9-14
III. A new son vv. 15-22
IV. A new obedience vv. 23-27
Recap of July 27, 2008:
1. “God’s opportunity does not come until man’s extremity is reached. This is a lesson we sorely need to take to heart, for it is of great practical importance. The Lord has a reason for all His delays. God not only does that which is right and best but He always acts at the right and best time.” (A. W. Pink)
2. God had to wait to fulfill His promises until Abram and Sarai had gotten to the end of themselves, “at their wit’s end” (Psalm 107:23-32), so to speak.
3. God introduced Himself to Abram with the name “God Almighty” (El Shaddai), which means “the God Who is sufficient.” He has the might to accomplish all He promises, so that He is sufficient for my crisis/challenge, my marriage, my family/children, my needs, my career, and my hopes and dreams.
4. God calls Abram to complete surrender. He is not interested in half-hearted obedience.
5. Abram’s obedience was immediate (vv. 23-27). It is not enough to say that we love God, to sing it or to pray it. We must show it in our actions. (Lawrence Richards)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Waiting Inpatiently
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Today's message is from Genesis 16:1 - 15
A recap of the notes is as follows:
July 20, 2008:
1. Dr. Allen Ross identifies in Abraham, in Genesis 1,6 a cycle of events which occur when we get impatient over God’s delays:
-there are moments of weakness, which lead to
-alternative plans (to God’s) not characterized by faith, which result in
-human efforts to assist God in fulfilling His promises, which causes
-complications in our lives
2. When we take matters into our own hands and do not wait for God:
-we fail to take proper leadership
-we hurt those we love
-we hurt those we use
-we cause lingering complications in our lives and the lives of others
Today's message is from Genesis 16:1 - 15
A recap of the notes is as follows:
July 20, 2008:
1. Dr. Allen Ross identifies in Abraham, in Genesis 1,6 a cycle of events which occur when we get impatient over God’s delays:
-there are moments of weakness, which lead to
-alternative plans (to God’s) not characterized by faith, which result in
-human efforts to assist God in fulfilling His promises, which causes
-complications in our lives
2. When we take matters into our own hands and do not wait for God:
-we fail to take proper leadership
-we hurt those we love
-we hurt those we use
-we cause lingering complications in our lives and the lives of others
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Faith Conquers Fear, Part 2
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The sermon recap from July 13, 2008:
1. In tough situations of delay or discouragement we must remember Whose we are. God will protect us and provide for us. “God is our protection and provision, so we need not fear the enemy without or our feelings within.” (Warren Wiersbe)
2. God had to once again get Abram to look up (vs. 5 cp. with Genesis 13:4). We are too often focused on ourselves, our circumstances, or those around us; all the while God is trying to get us focused on Him and His blessings/promises.
3. The Hebrew word translated “believe” in vs. 6 is related to the word translated “amen.” To believe is to say amen to what God has said.
4. Paul uses Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4:1-5,20-24 and Galatians 3:6-9 to illustrate the great truth that justification (a standing of positive righteousness in God’s sight-God sees us with the righteousness of Jesus) on the basis of faith, not on the basis of works. We began the Christian life by faith and we continue to please God by faith, not by works.
5. “Faith gave Abraham his security. God would be Abraham’s protector; God would prosper his life; God would take fear from Abraham’s heart and give him courage.” (Life Application Bible)
The sermon recap from July 13, 2008:
1. In tough situations of delay or discouragement we must remember Whose we are. God will protect us and provide for us. “God is our protection and provision, so we need not fear the enemy without or our feelings within.” (Warren Wiersbe)
2. God had to once again get Abram to look up (vs. 5 cp. with Genesis 13:4). We are too often focused on ourselves, our circumstances, or those around us; all the while God is trying to get us focused on Him and His blessings/promises.
3. The Hebrew word translated “believe” in vs. 6 is related to the word translated “amen.” To believe is to say amen to what God has said.
4. Paul uses Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4:1-5,20-24 and Galatians 3:6-9 to illustrate the great truth that justification (a standing of positive righteousness in God’s sight-God sees us with the righteousness of Jesus) on the basis of faith, not on the basis of works. We began the Christian life by faith and we continue to please God by faith, not by works.
5. “Faith gave Abraham his security. God would be Abraham’s protector; God would prosper his life; God would take fear from Abraham’s heart and give him courage.” (Life Application Bible)
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Faith Conquers Fear
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Selecting today's sermon will open a file of the July 6th sermon already in progress.
Recap from July 6, 2008:
1. In Chapter 15 Abram is fearful. His fear may have been caused by: fear of reprisal by the Eastern Kings he had just raided; by second thoughts about having refused the spoils of the victory of Chapter 14; or by the delay of God giving him a child, on which the promises of God hinged.
2. As God does throughout the Scripture for His people, He encouraged Abram (other Scriptures where God encouraged the discouraged are John 9:35 and Acts 23:11).
3. God told Abram to focus on Him. He was his shield (protection, safety) and his reward (no earthly material gain could compare with what Abram had in God).
4. When we find ourselves fearful and discouraged we are, in effect, doubting God’s character and His provision for us. Abram was “… as safe as God Himself could keep Him” and “… as happy as God Himself could make him.” (Matthew Henry)
Selecting today's sermon will open a file of the July 6th sermon already in progress.
Recap from July 6, 2008:
1. In Chapter 15 Abram is fearful. His fear may have been caused by: fear of reprisal by the Eastern Kings he had just raided; by second thoughts about having refused the spoils of the victory of Chapter 14; or by the delay of God giving him a child, on which the promises of God hinged.
2. As God does throughout the Scripture for His people, He encouraged Abram (other Scriptures where God encouraged the discouraged are John 9:35 and Acts 23:11).
3. God told Abram to focus on Him. He was his shield (protection, safety) and his reward (no earthly material gain could compare with what Abram had in God).
4. When we find ourselves fearful and discouraged we are, in effect, doubting God’s character and His provision for us. Abram was “… as safe as God Himself could keep Him” and “… as happy as God Himself could make him.” (Matthew Henry)
Monday, June 30, 2008
What's Appealing About Right Living? Part 2
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Recap of the message from June 29, 2008:
1. Lot illustrates the futility of living for riches. Though he chose the best of the land (Genesis 13) here he and his family and possessions are taken captive. (Matthew 6:19-21,24)
2. When Abram learns of Lot’s predicament he springs into action to rescue him, despite their negative earlier dealings.
3. We must be ready to restore fellow Christians caught in sin or carrying crushing burdens. We must be ready to restore even those who have wronged us. As we have opportunity we must do good to believers first and then unbelievers. (Galatians 6:1-4,9-10)
4. At the moment of temptation God will send a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:16). The King of Sodom attempts to compromise Abram and at just the right moment God sent Melchizedek (King of Salem, King of Righteousness) to remind Abram who gave him the victory and to whom he was committed.
5. Abram made sure that only God alone would receive credit for his successes. God alone would receive the glory.
Recap of the message from June 29, 2008:
1. Lot illustrates the futility of living for riches. Though he chose the best of the land (Genesis 13) here he and his family and possessions are taken captive. (Matthew 6:19-21,24)
2. When Abram learns of Lot’s predicament he springs into action to rescue him, despite their negative earlier dealings.
3. We must be ready to restore fellow Christians caught in sin or carrying crushing burdens. We must be ready to restore even those who have wronged us. As we have opportunity we must do good to believers first and then unbelievers. (Galatians 6:1-4,9-10)
4. At the moment of temptation God will send a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:16). The King of Sodom attempts to compromise Abram and at just the right moment God sent Melchizedek (King of Salem, King of Righteousness) to remind Abram who gave him the victory and to whom he was committed.
5. Abram made sure that only God alone would receive credit for his successes. God alone would receive the glory.
Monday, June 23, 2008
What's Appealing About Right Living?
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The June 22, 2008 message is taken from Genesis 14:1-24
Recap:
1. The historicity of Genesis 14 was questioned until archaeologists found evidence supporting the content of the chapter. “This story, perhaps more than any other from patriarchal times, was challenged by liberal scholars for its historical value until recent years. The thinking was that kings as far away as lower Mesopotamia did not make military expeditions this far from home. However, archaeological research has prompted marked change in the viewpoint today. The facts of the story are now found to fit conditions of Abraham’s time.” (A Survey of Israel’s History,” p. 51).
2. The reliability of the Bible is verified by six lines of evidence illustrated by the acronym UFACTS: Unity & consistency, fulfilled prophecy, archaeology, canonicity, transmission, and self-testimony.
3. The Bible warns the believer against: friendship with the world (by “world” we mean the world system which is anti-God and under the control of Satan) (James 4:4); loving the world
(1 John 2:15-17); and being conformed to the world (Romans 12:2).
The June 22, 2008 message is taken from Genesis 14:1-24
Recap:
1. The historicity of Genesis 14 was questioned until archaeologists found evidence supporting the content of the chapter. “This story, perhaps more than any other from patriarchal times, was challenged by liberal scholars for its historical value until recent years. The thinking was that kings as far away as lower Mesopotamia did not make military expeditions this far from home. However, archaeological research has prompted marked change in the viewpoint today. The facts of the story are now found to fit conditions of Abraham’s time.” (A Survey of Israel’s History,” p. 51).
2. The reliability of the Bible is verified by six lines of evidence illustrated by the acronym UFACTS: Unity & consistency, fulfilled prophecy, archaeology, canonicity, transmission, and self-testimony.
3. The Bible warns the believer against: friendship with the world (by “world” we mean the world system which is anti-God and under the control of Satan) (James 4:4); loving the world
(1 John 2:15-17); and being conformed to the world (Romans 12:2).
Monday, June 16, 2008
The God of New Beginnings, Pt 2
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of June 15, 2008 message:
1. One thing that we can count on in our Christian life is that our faith will be tested. God allows tests to bring us to maturity (James 1:2-4) and to purify our faith and prove its genuineness.
2. Living by faith allows us to be generous with others, generous in forgiveness, in love, and in material things. Living by sight causes us to be grasping and stingy.
3. “Eyegate is one of the avenues through which temptations assail the soul…” (Arthur W. Pink) “Eve saw that the fruit was good for food, pleasing to the eye, desirable for gaining wisdom.” (Genesis 3:6) Achan in Joshua 7:21 explaining his disobedience: “I saw…I coveted…I took.”
3. The choice that is best for us in the decisions of life is the one that is best for our souls. Our decisions are often made on the basis of economics, promotion, opportunity, temporal advantages.
4. What God has to offer to us is better by far than anything the world has to offer.
5. How faith resolves conflict: faith trusts God’s Word; faith doesn’t demand its’ own way; faith doesn’t manipulate or scheme; faith calls us to risk being wronged.
Recap of June 15, 2008 message:
1. One thing that we can count on in our Christian life is that our faith will be tested. God allows tests to bring us to maturity (James 1:2-4) and to purify our faith and prove its genuineness.
2. Living by faith allows us to be generous with others, generous in forgiveness, in love, and in material things. Living by sight causes us to be grasping and stingy.
3. “Eyegate is one of the avenues through which temptations assail the soul…” (Arthur W. Pink) “Eve saw that the fruit was good for food, pleasing to the eye, desirable for gaining wisdom.” (Genesis 3:6) Achan in Joshua 7:21 explaining his disobedience: “I saw…I coveted…I took.”
3. The choice that is best for us in the decisions of life is the one that is best for our souls. Our decisions are often made on the basis of economics, promotion, opportunity, temporal advantages.
4. What God has to offer to us is better by far than anything the world has to offer.
5. How faith resolves conflict: faith trusts God’s Word; faith doesn’t demand its’ own way; faith doesn’t manipulate or scheme; faith calls us to risk being wronged.
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