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True Christianity, pt. 16-20

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Terry wrapped up his six-month series with a few messages on Matthew chapter 7. Each of the messages is included below, although one is missing notes (Sorry!). To listen to a message, simply click play on the audio player of the message you’d like to hear. All links will take you to the Scriptures referenced at BibleGateway.

True Christianity, pt. 16

Matthew 7:1-6

Intro: Matthew 6:33 tells us how to live in God’s peace and rest. When He is our priority, everything else falls into place. It’s not an idle life; we must be disciplined and diligent. All we need to know can be found in the Word and we need to walk that out in our lives. Psalm 139 reminds us that we are continually on the mind of God; He wants you to have Him on your mind continually. To love God is to know His Word.

  • Matthew 7:1 – Don’t Judge
    • to judge is defined as criticizing or condemning others
  • Matthew 7:2 – Standard of Measure
    • checks & balances
    • the way you judge others is the standard by which you will be judged
    • James 2:13
      • if you’re not merciful to those around you, God won’t be merciful to you
      • God is willing to forgive, but He’s watching everything you do
  • Matthew 7:5 – Hypocrite Pharisee
    • thought he was better than everyone
    • couldn’t see his own faults
  • Matthew 7:3-4
    • oftentimes, we’re the last to know about the things that are wrong in our lives
    • Christians need to help each other
    • look closely at the Scripture:
      • Does it say, “Don’t judge”?
      • It says, “Don’t judge lest you be judged.”
      • If you are doing the same thing, you will be judged in the same way
  • Judge Righteous Judgment
    • John 7:24
    • 1 Corinthians 5 – sin within the Church
      • v. 3 – Paul judged the situation
      • v. 9-11 – don’t associate with those who are immoral
        • the Word tells us to judge those within the Church that they might repent and be restored (v. 5)
      • v. 12-13 – God will judge those outside the Church
    • 1 Corinthians 6 – Right Judging
      • v. 1 – don’t take your business to the worldly courts
      • v. 2 – the believers shall judge the world
      • v. 3 – you shall judge angels
      • v. 4 – you have to make righteous judgments now
        • even the least among you in the Church should be able to judge righteously by the power of the Spirit
      • v. 5 – Paul rebukes the Church for not being able to judge wisely among themselves
    • Judge the world with righteous judgment
  • Matthew 7:6 – Don’t Cast Your Pearls Before Swine
    • Be careful and discerning when handling the Word in dealing with unbelievers steeped in sin.
      • don’t use the Word flippantly
      • the Word stands forever
      • the Word is the most powerful and priceless thing we have
        • let the Spirit work through you so you can know how to share/use the Word wisely
        • Jesus spoke in parables (starting in Matthew 13)
          • so those who were receptive would receive it
          • so those who were opposed would have it hidden from them
          • Matthew 15:14

True Christianity, pt. 17

Matthew 7:7-12

Review: Judges have the power to set free or condemn. We are able to judge those in the Church; God judges those who are unbelievers. The point of judging is to bring people to repentance.

  • Matthew 7:7 – Ask, Seek, Knock
    • this is a command
    • followed by a promise – it shall be given, you shall find…
      • our portion triggers God’s response
      • present perfect tense – continually, ongoing
      • prayer, prayer, prayer
        • it’s a privilege to come directly to God Almighty
        • “Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Take it to the Lord in prayer.”
        • cast all your cares (1 Peter 5:7)
    • God is under no obligation to hear the prayer of an unbeliever
    • The example of prayer is Jesus Christ
      • constant communication with the Father
      • only spoke the Father’s words (John 12:49)
  • Matthew 7:8 – Response
    • ask, seek, and knock are action words
      • He’s waiting on us
    • Everyone!
      • that’s the love God has for us
      • All things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26)
      • don’t limit your prayers
        • ask for big things – He can do anything
        • don’t walk by sight
        • pray by faith
          • pray the Word
            • “God, you said…”
  • Matthew 7:9-10 – Man
    • Fallen man cares about his children
  • Matthew 7:11 – Man vs God
    • if an unrepentant, sinful, evil man cares about his children
    • Your Father
      • we have a relationship with the Lord to benefit from these promises
      • intimate relationship
        • praying continually
        • meditating on Him, His Word
      • we are all created by God, but not everyone is a child of God
        • when you are saved, you are adopted into His family
        • closer relationship with Almighty God allows the cares of the world to fade
        • when we come together, we grow/encourage
  • Matthew 7:12 – The Golden Rule
    • Do unto others (my part)
    • What you would have them do unto you
      • treat others the way you want to be treated
    • This is a summary of the law and the prophets
    • the Golden Rule is a barrier-breaker between us and the unredeemed
      • when we love our enemies, treat them with respect, it changes us & them
  • Hebrews 4:14-16 – Come to the Lord’s Throne
    • we have a Great High Priest
      • He is our advocate
    • because of v. 14-15
      • let us come boldly to the throne of Grace
      • direct access to God through the blood of the Lamb
        • Jesus tore the veil separating us from God
        • you will obtain mercy and grace
        • Matthew 7:7 – Ask, Seek, Knock

True Christianity, pt. 18

Matthew 7:13-14

I apologize for not having notes available for this.

True Christianity, pt. 19

Matthew 7:15-20

  • Intro: If there is true Christianity, then there is also a false Christianity. We need to be aware of false Christianity in order to not fall into it.
  • Matthew 7:15 – False Teachers
    • In the OT, false prophets spoke words that were not from the Lord (though they claimed they were).
    • In the NT, Paul speaks of teachers rather than prophets.
    • They look like they are harmless.
      • Sheep’s clothing – to get in amongst the sheep and scatter them
    • They are ravenous wolves.
      • Trying to destroy the people of God
      • Like tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30)
      • They twist the Word, etc., to fit their worldview
      • Paul said the wolves are going to come (Acts 20:29-30)
  • Matthew 7:16 – Fruit
    • You can tell whether a person is true or not by what their lives produce.
  • Matthew 7:17-18 – Trees
  • Matthew 7:19 – Bad Trees Cut Down
    • Teachers who deceive will be destroyed by the Lord.
      • Maybe not in this life, but certainly in eternity.
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – prove and test
    • 1 John 4:1 – test the spirits
    • Acts 16:16-19 – what the spirit was saying was true, but the spirit was not of God – only discernment can tell the difference
    • Right judgment
      • Discernment is judging, but it is righteous judgment
        • judge the fruit of people’s lives
          • not by worldly “success” standards
          • by spiritual standards
        • listen VERY carefully to what they are saying
      • Jude – how false teachers are deceiving the Church
      • Matthew 24:24 – even the elect can be deceived, especially in the last days.
  • Matthew 7:20 – You Will Know
    • It doesn’t say, “You will know them by their words.”
    • Their fruit = their lifestyle
      • Jesus’ life matched His message
    • Mark the false teachers and depart from them.
  • Galatians 5:16-25
    • If we abide in the Vine (John 15), we will produce good fruit.
      • the Holy Spirit will cause us to live a holy life and produce the fruit of the Spirit
    • If we are attached to a rotten vine, we will produce bad/fleshly fruit.
    • v. 16 – The power of the indwelling Spirit breaks the power of sin
    • v. 17 – tug-of-war of the spirit
      • the Christian life isn’t easy
    • v. 19-21 – the works of the flesh
      • who we are apart from the Lord
      • God takes these away by the power of the Spirit, as we ask Him to (He won’t take what we don’t give)
    • v. 22-23 – godly fruit – who our God is
      • what the Spirit brings
      • Joy
      • Peace
        • John 14:27
        • completely at rest, no striving
        • doesn’t come and go
        • is always there if we keep our eyes fixed on Him
      • Patience/Long-suffering
        • put up with a bad situation or difficult person
        • rubs the hard edges off of me
      • Gentleness & Kindness
      • Faithfulness
      • Goodness
      • Self-control
    • You can tell who has the Spirit by these fruits
      • all the fruit will increase as we grow closer to the Lord
      • the worries of the world fall away & our focus turns heavenward
  • Fruit is important to God!

True Christianity, pt. 20

Matthew 7:21-29

  • Intro: The truth of God can pierce the heart, deeply, through all the deception of the world. The truth is found in the Word of God.
  • Matthew 7:21-23 – “I never knew you.”
    • Many people think they are on their way to heaven, but they aren’t.
      • only those who do the will of the Father
        • hear what God says AND
        • do what God says
      • we are not saved by our works
        • we are saved by faith in Jesus
        • our works demonstrate what we believe
        • our lives need to match what we profess
      • Matthew 7:13, 18, 21-22, 24-25
        • Two ways:
          • 2 gates
          • 2 trees
          • 2 types of people
          • 2 foundations
      • hypocrisy – from the Greek for actor/putting on a mask
    • v. 21 – not everyone who cries out Lord
      • Lord = Master
    • v. 22 – many will call Him “Master,” but haven’t let Him be the Master of their lives
      • you must yield – turn your life over to Him
      • Matthew 16
        • deny yourself
        • take up your cross
        • follow Jesus
        • fall in love with God & He will transform you into the image of Christ
      • 2 Corinthians 13:5
        • take inventory of your life
        • religion is just adding God to your life
        • holding onto you rlife will not take you down the narrow way
      • God never knew them
        • they knew who God was, but God never knew them
        • they prophesied – knew the Scriptures
        • they cast out demons “in Your name” & performed miracles
          • were terribly deceived
          • were trusting in their works, not in Jesus
  • Matthew 7:23 – Depart from Me
    • Do you know the President of the US?
      • You may know who he is, may have heard him speak, but does he have any idea who you are?
  • Matthew 7:24-27 – The Two Foundations
    • Everyone who HEARS the Word & does it
      • nothing can destroy them
      • Jesus is the solid rock of our salvation
      • walk out salvation moment by moment
    • Your responsibility
      • What will you do with what the Lord has given you?
    • 1 Peter 1:6-7 – out faith will be refined by fire
    • Everyone who HEARS the word & doesn’t do it
      • will crumble when problems arise
      • have nothing solid to stand on
    • Exact same trials/difficulties in v. 25 & 27, but faith makes the difference in the outcome.
  • Matthew 7:28-29
    • The people were amazed.
      • overwhelmed

True Christianity, pt. 10-15

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Hello! I must apologize for taking so long to post these messages (and for the missing message and/or notes). Life gets in the way sometimes, technology fails us, but God is always faithful and good! So here are a few of Terry’s recent messages in his series on True Christianity from the Sermon on the Mount in the book of Matthew.

True Christianity, pt. 10

Intro: In this section of Scripture, Jesus is going deep on issues to help us be the salt & light – to live an upright life – to manifest true Christianity to those around us. We can’t do this on our own; Christ can do it through us. As Christians, we have to forfeit our rights and take offense without demanding retribution. Taking matters to court makes us just like the world. Don’t lose your witness/testimony over “stuff.” God uses those situations to work in the hearts of unbelievers (Proverbs 25:21-22). Be willing to lose things for the sake of His kingdom.

  • Christian Love: Matthew 5:43-48
    • This is a supernatural work – no way we could love our enemies in our own power.
    • We need to grow more like Christ every day
      • if you’re not coming closer to God, seeking Him daily, you’re falling away – there is no static place
      • we need to be moving toward holiness & godliness
      • God won’t force it on us; we must yield
    • The Christian life is hard, but it is peaceful, blessed
      • Ephesians 4
      • be obedient to His prompting
      • if we put the things of God on hold, our lives are shallow, empty
      • we come alive when we begin to be used by the Lord
    • Matthew 5:43
    • Matthew 5:44
      • LOVE your enemies
        • don’t just put up with them
        • what does this look like?
          • love manifests in action
            • God so love that He GAVE
    • Matthew 5:45
      • God loves even His opponents
      • This is true Christianity. God wants to use you and me to reach the lost, but we have to yield to Him to do that.
        • Corrie ten Boom & her sister, Betsie, are great examples.
      • In every aspect of the Christian life, we NEED God.

True Christianity, pt. 11

Intro: It’s easy to love the lovable, but Christ calls us to love our enemies. Romans 5:6-11 says that we used to be God’s enemies, but even while we were His enemies, He died for us. God exhibits His love by action. We must conform to God’s standard, but there’s a wrestling that comes with that conforming (Genesis 32). God will continue to work with us as we yield to Him.

Jesus dealt primarily with doctrine & teachings of the false religious teachers in chapter 5. Now in chapter 6, Jesus will deal with what the false religious teachers were doing.

  • Matthew 6:1-4
    • v. 1 – Take Heed!
      • pay close attention
      • don’t do what the false teachers do
      • don’t perform for men
      • give with the right motive
        • God wants us not to be stingy, but to give rightly (with the right motives in the heart)
          • don’t give just for accolades
          • don’t give just because you think you have to (that’s trying to work for salvation)
    • v. 2 – How Not to Give
      • the Pharisees, etc., made sure everyone saw them giving
        • hypocrites (actors)
        • did it to receive the praise of men
    • v. 3 – How to Give
      • don’t do it on a stage
      • give (money, time, care, love, etc.) as a part of everyday life
        • be willing/open to being a blessing at any moment
        • pour yourself out to meet the needs of others around you
    • v. 4 – Deeds in Secret
      • our charitable giving (if done with the right motives) will be rewarded by God, rather than by men
        • our needs will be met now
        • our reward will be in heaven
      • our motive in everything should be to please God because He is worthy
        • comes from a heart that has been redeemed
        • He will give us discernment when we are giving, if we yield those decisions to Him

True Christianity, pt. 12

Matthew 6:5-15

The Proper Way to Pray

  • v. 5 – Don’t Be as the Hypocrites
    • prayer is a private thing between the individual and Almighty God
      • the false religious people were praying only to draw the focus and attention to themselves
        • wanted a big audience
        • seeking the approval/accolades of man
    • How did Jesus pray?
      • He would often slip away in the evening and pray to His Father
      • He is our example
    • hypocrites
      • actors playing a part
      • Matthew 23 – the “reward” for the hypocrite
        • the core of the hypocrite is pride
        • pride has no place in the kingdom of God
    • God won’t hear your petition if your heart/motive isn’t right.
    • Prayer, which God has given us access to Himself through, is intimacy with Him.
      • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing, talk with God all the time, be in constant communication
  • v. 6 – Aspects of Proper Prayer
    • Get away from distractions
    • Pray to the Father in private
  • v. 7 – How to Pray
    • don’t babble or repeat the same thing over and over again
      • unbelievers think they will be heard if they just keep talking
      • vain repetition = not coming from the heart
  • v. 8 – The Father Already Knows
    • He knows what we need, but He wants us to talk to Him, ask Him, petition Him
  • v. 9-13 – The Model Prayer
    • Don’t pray these words in vain, unthinkingly, just repeating the words without meaning them.
    • This is the model for prayer that Jesus gave to the disciples.
      • a simple prayer
      • a comprehensive prayer
    • v.9 – How to start your prayers:
      • Our Father – who you are praying to
      • in heaven – where He is
      • hallowed be Your name – reverence for the Lord, keep God in His holy place, exalt Him
    • v. 10 – What is important to God:
      • Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
        • put God and His plan first and foremost
        • Revelation 4-5: continual worship in heaven
        • putting His plan first will help us mentally/emotionally overcome our circumstances
    • v. 11 – Our physical needs:
      • Give us this day our daily bread.
        • bless us with what we need for each day
          • we are abundantly blessed in America, but we don’t have to put our need for provision in God’s hands as much as others do
    • v. 12 – Our spiritual needs:
      • Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
        • God’s forgiveness is contingent upon us forgiving those who have sinned against us.
        • Sin is an indebtedness to God.
        • Repentance, faithfulness, and obedience need to follow forgiveness.
    • v. 13 – Keep us from transgressing:
      • And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
        • an important part of the Christian life
          • God doesn’t tempt us (James 1)
          • God does allow temptation
          • we all have to deal with temptation, but we can ask God to keep us away from temptation
        • we need protection from the devil
          • 1 Peter 5:8 – the devil prowls
          • sin brings ruin, destruction, and death.
          • it’s not something to be trifled with
          • we are commanded to live a holy life, and we can’t do that if we are mired in sin
          • 1 Corinthians 10:13
      • For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
        • exaltation sandwich – begin prayer with praising God and end prayer with the same
        • He is sovereign over everything
        • All glory is His!
    • v. 14 – Addendum
      • We have to forgive others before God will forgive us.
        • He wants to set the captives free, and unforgiveness is a hang up to the believer
          • freedom for our souls is conditional
          • yield to the Holy Spirit
          • God wants us to be in agreement with Him

True Christianity, pt. 13

Matthew 6:16-24

*Unfortunately, this message did not get recorded, and I was out of town, so there are no notes available. Sorry!

True Christianity, pt. 14

Intro: Jesus is comparing what the Word of God says to what the religious leaders were teaching. We can never meet God’s standard on our own – we need the indwelling Holy Spirit to work in and through us. Luke 19:10 No one is born saved – we are called to salvation & choose to believe, follow, yield. John 14 tells us He went to prepare a place for us (Revelation 21:1-5 describes the place) in eternity. We are in training now for dwelling with Him for eternity – the Sermon on the Mount is part of that training.

The last three messages tell us we need to do things in “secret”: 1) our giving should be glorifying to God, not ourselves; 2) our prayer life should not be about impressing other people; 3) our times of fasting are important to teach us to deny ourselves in order to get in tune with God & allow God to work in us.

  • Matthew 6:24
    • James 1:6-8
    • He’s given us all things to be used and enjoyed, but remember that it can’t be what you worship/depend on
  • Matthew 6:25 – Wean Yourself Off the World
    • what do eating, drinking, & clothing have in common?
      • they are physical and temporary
    • we need to focus on our eternal life
    • our bodies do have their needs, but the physical needs should not worry us as much as the spiritual needs
  • Matthew 6:26 – Look at the Birds
    • God takes care of them
    • you are even more important to the Father than they are, so He will take care of you, too
    • Psalm 115:12 – God knows what you need & He will bless you, if you put Him first
    • John 3:30 – should be our desire
    • Birds don’t just hang out in the nest and wait for the seeds to come – they are diligent
      • be busy about what God is calling you to do
      • don’t be idle
  • Matthew 6:27 – Worry Doesn’t Help
    • What does worry accomplish?
      • nothing
      • worry only negatively affects the body
      • when you’re anxious, cry out to the Lord
        • anxiety means you’re not trusting God
  • Matthew 6:28-29 – The Lilies
    • Why worry about clothing?
      • the lilies are beautiful without worrying about how/where they grow
  • Matthew 6:30 – Faith
    • worry is the opposite of faith
    • faith is trusting in the Lord despite how everything looks around you
  • Matthew 6:31 – Commandment
    • Do Not Worry!
      • don’t take any thought for your physical/temporary life
    • Trust in God!
  • Matthew 6:32 – The People of the World
    • the shallowness of life apart from the Lord
      • like running on a treadmill trying to keep your head above water
    • God knows we need these things
      • not pretending we don’t have needs, knowing He will meet our needs if we focus on Him
  • Matthew 6:33 – Culmination
    • Seek Him first
      • look to Him, rest in Him, grow in Him, put all of Him first
    • all these things (our physical needs) will be given to you
      • the righteous way to do things:
        • don’t worry about your life
        • seek the Lord instead
        • He will meet your needs
  • Matthew 6:34 – Another Commandment
    • Take no thought for tomorrow
      • worrying about what might happen is useless
        • physically/mentally/emotionally damaging
    • Rest in His peace
      • don’t sweat the details
      • Trust in Him
    • Luke 12:16-21 – Rich Man
      • in a few verses, the rich man focuses solely on himself 8 times
        • I’m the beginning of my life & the end of my life.
        • very superficial
          • worry about yourself, not others
      • “You fool!”
      • Be rich towards God!
    • This is true Christianity.

True Christianity, pt. 15

Intro: Last week, God was telling us about how the kingdom operates. We need to seek Him first (v. 33). We all have a tendency to worry, but worry saps your joy & puts the focus on your circumstances, instead of on the Lord (v. 34). Romans 5 tells us that the Spirit puts God’s agape love in your heart so you can manifest it back to Him and then extend it to others in His family, to those outside the kingdom, and even to your enemies. Cast your cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).

Matthew 6:33 – First is a command – seek Him & it will trigger the second part which is a promise – He will be faithful.

What God Says About His Word

  • The more time you spend in His Word, the more you’ll know/understand.
  • Put the spirit-life first
  • John 1 – The Word of God tells us about the Word of God
    • v. 1 – The Word (Jesus Christ)
      • was in the beginning of everything
      • was with God
      • was God
      • logos – the spoken words of God
        • Jesus spoke only His Father’s words (John 12:49)
    • v. 2-3 – The Word created all things
    • v. 4-5 – The Word is life & light
      • life is found in Him
      • He keeps the darkness at bay
    • v. 12 – Salvation come through the Word
    • v. 14 – The Word became flesh
      • the content of the Scriptures became a man and walked among us
      • Hebrews essentially says that sending His Son was the last thing God would do to bring salvation to mankind.
        • if the prophets couldn’t get through to you
        • if the Word can’t get through to you
        • there is no other way to salvation
    • Luke 19:10
      • God wants to use us to show others the Way to salvation
      • God is both love AND truth
    • Matthew 4 & Luke 4 – falling away from the truth starts with ignoring the WHOLE counsel of the Word
      • v. 4 (in both) – “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
    • We are sanctified (set apart for God) by the Word (1 Timothy 4)
    • Romans 12:1-2
      • the Old Testament called for dead sacrifices
      • the New Testament calls for us to be living sacrifices – offer your life to the service of God each day
        • be transformed by being in the Word
        • 1 Corinthians 2:13 – God will impart His mind to us as we spend time in His Word
    • God guides us though His Word
      • Proverbs can teach us what God wants us to do
        • turn us from fools to wise
      • Everything we need to get through each day can be found in the Word
      • As we come to the Lord, go into His Word, the cares of the world melt away.
    • Isaiah 55:11
      • God’s Word will accomplish whatever it is supposed to.
      • His words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35)
      • Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89)
    • Hebrews 4
      • v. 1-11: the believer’s rest
      • v. 12: the Word of God is…
        • living
        • active
        • sharper than any two-edged sword
          • will tell you things you may not want to hear
          • can bring salvation or condemnation
          • only the Word can penetrate the depths within us & remove what is wrong to replace it with what is righteous
      • v. 13: God knows everything about us
    • John 12:48
      • The Word is at the end of the road, and we will all stand before Him
    • Everything we need comes from the mouth of God.

True Christianity, pt. 7-9

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

Here are the most recent messages from Terry’s True Christianity series, going through the Sermon on the Mount. I’ve included notes and links for the first two of the messages, but I was not able to be there for the third and wanted to get it posted as soon as possible. Sorry for the inconvenience. ❤️

True Christianity, pt. 7

  • Intro
    • In this portion of Scripture, God is getting to the root of the commandments. In the OT, the commandments worked externally. Now, He is working on the core, the heart, the reason we break His commandments. “From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)
    • 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – We are in a spiritual war. Sin impairs us from walking with the Lord. Take control of your thoughts. Take inventory of what you are thinking about & ask God to shield you from what is against Him.
    • 11x in Matthew, Jesus warns us about hell.
  • Living in Right Relationship (Matthew 5:23-25)
    • Jesus tells us that if we are not right with our neighbor, our family, our friends – anyone we’ve offended or who has offended us – we are not right with God.
      • if you aren’t right with God, it hinders your prayer life, your other relationships, your everything.
      • give the situation to God & leave it with Him
      • “Vengeance is Mine” (Hebrews 10:30-31)
      • don’t sweat the temporary things
    • It requires diligent effort every day to be right with God.
    • Eternal things are the focus of the Christian life – you can walk the overcoming life though Jesus.
  • The Seventh Commandment (Matthew 5:27)
  • The New Seventh Commandment (Matthew 5:28)
    • Adultery is not just physical.
      • even thinking about it is sin in your heart
    • Hebrews 13:4
    • 1 Corinthians 6:13-20 – the body is for the Lord
      • we, as believers, are set apart for God, so we need to be good stewards of our bodies
      • v. 14-16: every time the physical joining occurs, the “two become one”
      • v. 18: Flee Immorality!
        • some sins are outside the body
        • the immoral man sins against his own body
      • v. 19: we belong to God
      • v. 20: You are bought, so glorify God!
    • There will always be consequences for adultery.
      • broken marriages, STDs, etc.
      • perversion
      • going further and further away from God
    • Transgressing against God through adultery is grounds for divorce.
  • Be Careful (Matthew 5:29-30)
    • The eye is the door to the soul, so be careful what you are looking at.
    • Get away from temptation.
      • temptation is not sin (James 1)
      • crossing the line is sin
      • sin leads to death
      • death leads to hell
    • Take serious action to keep yourself from sin.
  • How we live our lives should always bring glory to God – take inventory of your thought life, for that’s where it all begins. God will enable us to have victory over sin.

True Christianity, pt. 8

  • Intro: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gets to the core of our sin, and it’s down deep in our hearts – that’s where we need to be changed.
  • Marriage
    • Genesis 2:18
    • woman = “from man” (Genesis 2:20-23)
    • marriage covenant (Genesis 2:24)
      • Israel was God’s bride (Hosea 2)
      • now the Church is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5)
      • when it is God-ordained and God is the head, it’s beautiful
      • two become one in Christ
    • Matthew 5:27-28: Adultery is terribly destructive.
      • If we sow to the Lord, blessing will follow.
      • But if we sow to ourselves, we reap only temporary pleasure followed by destruction.
      • The devil knows that how to destroy a nation is to destroy the family.
    • Matthew 5:29-30: Sexual sin will drive you into the fires of hell.
      • drastic measures must be taken to keep you in line with God & out of hell.
  • Divorce (Matthew 5:31-32)
    • God sees marriage as a lifelong union.
      • the only reason for divorce is adultery
      • Matthew 19:2-9
        • divorce = adultery
      • they (divorce & adultery) are NOT unforgivable, praise God!
        • but there does need to be repentance
        • 1 Corinthians 7
          • Paul teaches about how to follow God no matter what your marital status is – no matter where you’re at, just follow God from there
      • marriage should not be entered into lightly
        • you are going to give an account before God
        • everything belongs to God; we are just stewards

True Christianity, pt. 9

The Great I Am

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

We had a few weeks of special messages around the holidays that I wanted to share with you. First is a short message from friend of Colona Community Church, Jim Juhl (the audio quality isn’t great, but it’s a lovely message). Also included is Terry’s message, entitled “The Great I Am,” from the Gospel of John.

Here’s Jim’s message:

And Terry’s message:

The Great I Am

  • Intro: We were created for relationship with God, but sin has gotten in between. There must be a second birth (John 3:3) to be saved from our sin. Jesus came to reconcile us to God.
  • God calls Himself, “I Am” (Exodus 3:13-14); Jesus has seven “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John.
  • “I Am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
    • Jesus had physically fed the 5,000 (John 6:1-14)
    • Now He is feeding them spiritually (v. 33-35)
  • “I Am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
    • We can’t exist without light
    • Spiritually, we can’t thrive without His light chasing away the darkness
    • the Word is life & light (Psalm 119:105)
    • Light coming into the darkness makes people accountable for their sin.
    • God is drawing people out of the darkness & into the light
    • the dwelling place of the believer is the Word of God
    • Matthew 6:33
  • “I Am the gate/door” (John 10:9)
    • the door to eternal life
    • John 10:10 – the thief vs Jesus
  • “I Am the good shepherd” (John 10:11; 12-15)
    • gives His life for the sheep
    • He is making intercession for us (Romans 8:34)
    • sheep have one obligation – keep your eye on the Shepherd
    • the Shepherd fends of the enemies of the sheep
      • sheep are easy marks
      • peace & joy come from knowing He’s looking out for us when we follow Him
    • the Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep
      • reversal of the Passover
  • “I Am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25; 24-26)
    • v. 24: Martha knew the Scriptures
    • v. 25-26: Jesus gave new revelation to Martha
      • John 5:28-29 – everyone that dies will be resurrected
        • to eternal life or
        • to eternal damnation
  • “I Am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; 1-7)
    • v. 1-3: He is preparing a place for us in the Father’s house
    • v. 4-5: the disciples didn’t know what He was talking about – they couldn’t truly understand until they had the Holy Spirit
    • v. 6-7: Jesus is all we need
  • “I Am the true vine” (John 15:1; 2-6)
    • If He’s the true vine, there must be a false vine.
    • Isaiah 5: Israel was the vineyard, but the fruit rotted
    • v. 2: we will be pruned for our own good
    • v. 4-5: live & dwell in the Vine & God will take care of us
      • no other way to please God than to trust & obey
    • He wants Christlikeness in our lives – can’t do that apart from Him
    • v. 6: branches not bearing fruit will be taken away and burned
  • He is all we need!

True Christianity, pt. 4-6

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

Happy New Year! Here are the next few installments in Terry’s “True Christianity” series. Enjoy!

True Christianity, pt. 4

  • Intro:
    • There’s a lot going on in today’s Christianity that is not of the Lord.
    • Jesus tells us exactly what it means to be a Christian.
    • Mountains
      • In the Old Testament, God took Moses up on Mt. Sinai to give him the Covenant of the Law.
      • In the New Testament, Jesus goes up a mountain near the Sea of Galilee to give us the new Covenant of Grace.
    • True Christianity is letting go (of things apart from God) and taking hold (of the things of God).
  • Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-14)
    • Jesus says, “You ARE the salt of the earth/a city on a hill.”
      • it’s not something you grow into
      • given at the moment of salvation
    • Ephesians 4
      • the Church is for equipping the saints
    • v. 13 – Salt
      • back in the day, salt was a treasure
        • “He’s worth his salt.”
      • flavors things
      • preserves food
        • delays decay
        • disinfects
        • this is the aspect of salt that God is referring to
      • the Church is His salt
        • to preserve, slow the decay of society
        • Colossians 1:16
          • everything was created BY and FOR God
      • destruction (in the Bible) often means “ruined for the intent and purpose for which it was created”
        • unrestrained evil will destroy everything
        • His salt is a restrainer
        • the Church is not being His salt as it should be
      • if the salt isn’t preserving, society begins to decay
        • the decaying intensifies and quickens with each passing day
      • When the Church corporately is not doing what God intended it to do, we need to be found faithful to the Lord individually.
        • Revelation 3 – Laodicean Church
          • looked great on the outside
          • lukewarm for the things of God
    • v. 14 – Light of the World
      • Come together to be encouraged to help you keep your wick trimmed and your oil filled, so your lamp won’t dim (Matthew 25).
      • we are in a constant battle
        • the enemy is trying to douse our light
        • put on the full armor of God to protect your light (Ephesians 6)
      • one of the first things God did in creation was to create light
        • separated light (things of God) from darkness (things of evil)
      • our light is to draw others unto God
        • up on a hill you can’t be hidden
      • John 1 – Light of the World
        • “I am the light” (John 8:12)
        • hope in the darkness
        • we don’t have light apart from God
          • God IN us is the light to shine on others
    • v. 15 – The Light
      • What do we do with light?
        • don’t hide it
        • set it out for all to see & be illuminated by
    • v. 16 – Individual Light
      • Let YOUR light shine before men
        • to glorify God (not ourselves)
      • Do what is important unto the Lord
        • allow Him to work through you
      • Light = Life
        • nothing grows in the darkness
        • darkness = death (spiritually)
    • Conclusion:
      • Salt causes people to be thirsty.
        • We are supposed to help people find a longing, a thirst for the things of God.
      • 2 Corinthians 12
        • the weaker I am, the more God can work through me
      • focus on eternal matters
        • so you won’t be ashamed when you come before the Lord
        • God is concerned that none should perish, but that all might come to repentance (2 Peter 3).
      • Don’t lose your flavor!
        • don’t be silent
        • don’t become spiritually dull (unyielded to the Spirit)

True Christianity, pt. 5

  • Intro: God works in our hearts to make us like Christ.
  • The Life of a Believer (Matthew 5:16)
    • Bring glory to God
    • Accomplish His purposes
      • Be salt & light
      • Lift up Christ
      • He is glorified when we live for Him
      • Don’t shrink back in cowardice
      • Listen to God’s prompting & allow yourself to be used by Him
  • The Bridge from the Old Testament to the New Testament (Matthew 5:17)
    • The diverse group of people listening to the Sermon on the Mount are under the Law.
      • Even Jesus, as a Jew, was born under the Law (Galatians 4:4)
      • The Law is God’s standard
        • none of us can keep the Law perfectly
        • Acts 15 – the Jerusalem Council
      • Jesus didn’t come to take away the Law, but to completely fulfill it (Romans 10:4)
        • Ezekiel 18:20
        • Religious leaders did a terrible job of leading/teaching the people
          • less about God’s Law
          • more about their own ideas
          • the Law is perfect (Psalm 19:7)
          • the Law cannot save (Romans 3:20)
            • it is to show us our sin & our need for a Savior
          • we must be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), because we can’t keep the Law perfectly
          • Old Testament = external religion
          • New Testament = internal relationship
      • He also took the judicial punishment for our breaking of the Law on Himself – though He never broke the Law
        • God’s Law – He kept perfectly
        • Roman law – even Pilate said Jesus did no wrong (Mark 15:14)
  • Absolute Truth (Matthew 5:18)
    • Jesus says, “Truly,” over 30 times in the Book of Matthew.
    • Even the tiniest details (the “jots and tittles”) of the words of the Law were perfectly fulfilled in Him
    • the Commandments of God vs. the traditions of men
  • Teachers Called Out (Matthew 5:19)
    • if you break the Law & teach others to do the same, woe unto you
    • if you keep & teach the Law correctly, you are doing God’s will
  • Your Righteousness (Matthew 5:20)
    • knocked the legs out from under the religious system
      • the people strove to be as “holy” as the religious leaders
      • Jesus said you have to be even better than the religious leaders
        • He has a different standard of righteousness
        • can only enter the kingdom of heaven by believing Jesus is your Savior by grace through faith
        • John 3:16

True Christianity, pt. 6

  • Intro: God gave Moses the Law in the Old Testament; Jesus gives us “the rest of the story” in the New Testament.
  • Jesus Rocks the People (Matthew 5:20)
    • the religious leaders of the time were put up on pedestals
      • appeared to be super righteous and holy
      • Jesus sees their dark hearts
    • the only way to make it into the Kingdom of God is by God imparting His righteousness & holiness unto us at salvation
    • John 8:31-32
  • Murder Explained (Matthew 5:21-22)
    • the 6th commandment (Deuteronomy 5:17; all 10 Commandments in Deuteronomy 5:1-22)
    • murder is born of anger
      • the intent is just as big a sin as the act
      • righteous anger vs. ungodly anger
      • Ephesians 4:26
    • living with anger disturbs your relationship with the Lord
    • we need to deal with these things in our hearts
      • by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we can release it
      • Hebrews 12:15
  • How Do We Restore Relationship? (Matthew 5:23-24)
    • don’t bring that baggage to church
      • 1 Peter 3 – resolve things; don’t hold grudges
      • bad heart/attitude, bitterness, unconfessed sin will affect not only you, but also the whole body of Christ in fellowship
    • 2 Corinthians 5:17
      • need a new heart that is prepared when you enter the fellowship
      • Satan is always busy on Sunday mornings!
      • his goal is to shipwreck our communion with God & with each other
    • the Holy Spirit is forming Christ in us
      • Hebrews 12 – discipline is proof you are His child
      • when we dig in our heels, we grieve the Holy Spirit
        • He needs to finish the work in us that He began
        • We need to yield to Him, because we can’t do it on our own.
  • Offenses (Matthew 5:25-26)
    • If I’m offended, I need to go to whoever offended me and work it out.
    • If I’ve offended someone, I need to go to that person and work it out.
    • humble yourself – put others first
      • it’s hard to admit you’re wrong, but that is the first step in reconciliation
    • it’s for our sake & for the sake of our relationship with God
    • holding onto the situation makes things worse
      • walk in the peace of God
    • invite God in to help us work out these situations

True Christianity, pt. 1-3

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Hello! Terry has begun a series, entitled “True Christianity,” to explore the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. The first three parts of this series are included below, with both audio and written notes. Praying this series blesses you, whether you can be with us in person or over the internet.

True Christianity, part. 1

Intro: What does true Christianity look like? Jesus tells us.

  • Jesus’ Ministry Begins
    • Matthew 4:17 is where Jesus begins to preach (His earthly ministry)
    • Jesus taught in Galilee (Matthew 4:23-25)
      • People came from all over (see map)
    • Three-Fold Ministry of Christ
      • teaching
      • proclaiming
      • healing
  • Jesus Prepares for Teaching (Matthew 5:1)
    • sees the multitudes
    • goes up a mountain
      • mountains are places where God meets His faithful
    • disciples come to Him
    • people wanted to know how to get into the Kingdom of God
      • Pharisees & teachers of the law each set their own standards of external righteousness & requirements were different depending on which teacher you followed (called the “yoke” of the law).
  • Jesus Begins to Teach (Matthew 5:2)
    • these attributes are what God will begin to manifest in the life of a believer
    • Matthew 11
  • Poor in Spirit (Matthew 5:3)
    • spiritually destitute apart from the Lord
      • recognizing you have nothing without Him, that you desperately need a Savior
      • opposite of what the world believes
      • Romans 7:18
        • you can’t obtain righteousness apart from God
        • James 1 – the anatomy of sin
      • Ezekiel 36
        • to be in the Kingdom of God, He must first exchange your heart of stone for a heart of flesh
      • Jesus is all we need (the “I am” statements of Jesus – John 6:35, 8:12, 10:9, 10:11, 11:25. 14:6, 15:5)
    • when we recognize our spiritual destitution/poverty, we turn to God for His grace and mercy
    • the reward for those who are poor in spirit
      • entrance into the Kingdom of God/eternal life
  • Those Who Mourn (Matthew 5:4)
    • we mourn for the things that break God’s heart, that grieve Him
      • is a spiritual mourning that comes when we see how sinful we are apart from Him, coming short of what God expects of us
    • shall be comforted
      • only the Lord can comfort and strengthen a broken heart
      • spiritual mourning should lead us to truly care about all the people who are hurting around us
        • take the focus off of self and put it on loving others
  • Conclusion
    • As we draw closer to the Lord (as He prepares us to join Him in eternity), we turn towards the cross & put our backs to the world more and more.

True Christianity, pt. 2

  • Introduction: Biblical Christianity means denying yourself, taking up your cross, & following Christ.
  • Matthew 5:3 – what’s important is our relationship to God through Jesus
    • The “Blessing Sandwich:
      • joy on earth comes through right relationship with God
      • joy in heaven comes from eternity with God
    • Humility – the lower you go, the closer you come to God
      • 1 Peter 5:6
      • Matthew 10:39
      • Philippians 3 – let go to take hold
        • don’t just add Jesus into your life
        • get rid of the old, grab onto the new
      • David’s sin with Bathsheba & murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11) led him to humility
        • Psalm 51, esp. verse 17
        • the word “contrite” in Hebrew (daka) can mean “deflated” or “crushed”
      • We need to see our spiritual bankruptcy before God.
        • Isaiah 64:6
        • Acts 26:18
        • Our life apart from the Lord is like a cup with a big rock in it. That rock is our pride, filling up the cup. We must empty it out (humble yourself) before we can fill it up with Christ.
  • Matthew 5:4 – mourn over the things God mourns about
    • the sin in my life
    • the hell-destined world filled with transgression against a holy God
  • Matthew 5:5 – meekness does not equal weakness
  • Luke 18:9-14 – The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Tax Collector)
    • Pharisee
      • compares himself to other people around him
      • thinks he’s better than they are
      • filled with selfishness & pride
      • self-exaltation
      • external religion
    • Publican
      • stands far off
      • wouldn’t even lift his eyes
      • beat his chest
      • “Be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.”
      • All signs of a broken and contrite heart
    • Jesus notes that the lowly, contrite tax collector was declared justified/righteous
  • Conclusion: We have been given a way to be right with God.

True Christianity, pt. 3

  • Intro: Being/becoming a true Christian is an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is a self-less life, modeled for us by Jesus Christ.
    • To be blessed is to:
      • have God in your heart
      • yield to Him daily to do His will for His glory
    • John 10:10
    • The lower we go in emptying ourselves, the higher God will raise us (1 Peter 5:6).
  • The Meek (Gentle/Humble) – Matthew 5:5
    • They will inherit the earth!
    • often overlooked/looked down on by the world
      • praised by God
    • opposite of what the world expects of successful people
    • characterized by joy & peace that can only come from God
    • can’t be shaken by the world/the enemy
      • secure in Christ
      • untouchable by the powers of darkness
  • The Beatitudes are a spiritual progression
    • recognize your need for a Savior
    • then mourn over the things God mourns
    • then we become humble
    • then we hunger & thirst for righteousness
    • etc.
  • The Hungry & Thirsty – Matthew 5:6
    • Jeremiah 29:13
      • must desire to find God & be willing to set aside the useless things of the world to yield to Him
    • We all have a God-shaped hole that only He can fill.
      • He wants us to know Him.
    • The closer we walk with Him, the more insatiable becomes our hunger & thirst to walk right with Him.
    • Matthew 6:33
    • We will be satisfied to the degree with which we hunger & thirst.
  • The Merciful – Matthew 5:7
    • We are not merciful apart from God.
    • God has unending mercy for us
      • 1 Corinthians 13:12
        • trying to figure out who this God is
      • We deserve His wrath, but He extends us mercy.
    • Keep short accounts
      • confess
      • be thankful
      • don’t hinder your rest by holding onto grudges
  • The Pure in Heart – Matthew 5:8
    • live at peace with others
      • let offenses go
      • don’t hold onto grudges
    • keep the world from defiling your heart
    • be clean spiritually
  • The Peacemakers – Matthew 5:9
    • come in the middle of those who are at odds with each other & help restore peace
      • in the world
      • in the workplace
      • in the home
      • in the heart
    • the biggest peace a believer can offer anyone is peace with God
      • we are all caught up in spiritual warfare
      • the unbeliever is at war with God
      • when we offer salvation, when someone accepts relationship with Christ, peace floods in
    • Jesus is the door (John 10:7)
      • all sin has been atoned for
        • when you accept Christ, that atonement is applied to you
    • be a peacemaker, led by God
  • The Persecuted – Matthew 5:10
    • persecuted for the sake of following Christ
      • when you are walking closely with Christ, Satan & his minions will oppose you
      • persecution (Greek: dioko – persecuted) -to pursue after; to inflict suffering
      • Jesus said that they hated Him, they hated His Father before they hated Him, and they are going to hate us (John 15).
  • The Insulted & Persecuted – Matthew 5:11-12
    • If we’re going to be His disciples, we can expect to be insulted, persecuted, and spoken falsely about.
    • Rejoice over being persecuted for living righteously, for His name’s sake (James 1).
      • great is your reward
        • not on earth, in this life
        • in the heavenly realm for eternity
    • Persecution has been happening to the people of God since He first created us.
  • Stand firm!

The Devil’s Best Kept Secret

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Since Alan is in Texas for the winter, Terry has taken the teaching reins for the next few months. He began with a four-part series on hell that he titled, “The Devil’s Best Kept Secret.” All four parts are included below with audio, notes, and links to Bible Gateway for Scripture references. Be blessed!

Hell – The Devil’s Best Kept Secret, pt. 1

  1. Intro
    • The Watchman (Ezekiel 33)
    • As God’s Church, we need to deal in truth.
    • There are two sides to the Gospel:
      • accept Christ as your Savior – go to heaven
      • reject Christ – go to hell
    • Broad is the way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7)
    • Matthew 25:41 – hell was not made for man, but that doesn’t mean man can’t choose to go there.
  2. Six Questions God Answers About Hell
    • What is hell?
    • What goes on in hell?
    • What is the duration of hell?
    • What is the experience of hell?
    • What has God done to keep us from hell?
    • Why do we need hell?
  3. We Need to Know About Hell
    • Eternity should weigh on our minds.
    • Satan (the current ruler of this world) doesn’t want people to know about hell.
      • If you don’t know about it, you don’t know you need to be freed from it.
    • As a Christian, you can’t say you love someone, if you don’t tell them both sides of the Gospel.
  4. Things the Enemy Says About Hell
    • Satan says, “You will not surely die.”
      • There’s no real consequence for sin.
      • The devil is a liar and the father of lies. He was a liar & murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).
    • There is no hell.
      • Truth has no relevance in our society anymore.
      • Hell is only figurative.
    • Annihilationism
      • The idea that in hell you just burn up quickly & it’s all over.
    • Second Opportunity
      • Reincarnation until you get it right.
      • Purgatory
        • You loved ones can pay or do “penance” to get you out of this temporary holding place.
        • Jesus never speaks of purgatory.
    • Progressive Evolution
      • We just get better and better over time.
    • Good works will outweigh the bad.
    • God is love, so He’d never send someone to hell.
  5. Things Jesus Says About Hell
  6. Conclusion
    • We are eternal beings. He created us to be with Him in this temporary life and for eternity in Paradise.
    • Everything in this temporary life pales in comparison to eternity.

Hell – The Devil’s Best Kept Secret, pt. 2

  1. Review
    • Jesus tells us more about hell than anyone else in the Old Testament or the New Testament.
      • He doesn’t want anyone to perish. What love!
    • The devil’s greatest trick was convincing the world he didn’t exist.
      • The Bible tells us there was a rebellion in heaven (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28).
      • The devil & his minions are here to steal, kill, & destroy God’s creation.
    • If you’re not in the kingdom of light, you’re in the kingdom of darkness, doing Satan’s bidding (whether you want to or not).
    • Lies of the Enemy:
      • There is no punishment for sin.
      • There is no hell.
      • The grave is the end.
      • Annihilationism.
      • You get a second (or 3rd or 4th, etc.) chance.
      • God is only love.
      • There is no God.
  2. Luke 16:19-31
    • God lets us peek into hell & see what it’s like.
      • This is not a parable – names are given (unlike all other parables).
      • Matthew 6:19
      • Matthew 25:41
        • Anyone who is rebelling against God (denying or ignoring or rejecting Him) is bound for hell.
    • v. 20-21: Lazarus
      • poor
      • covered in sores, which the dogs licked
      • longed for even the crumbs from the rich man’s table
    • v. 22: Abraham’s Bosom
      • not heaven – Jesus hadn’t died and risen again yet
      • was a temporary holding place of comfort for those who died in faith before Christ’s sacrifice
      • 2 Corinthians 5:8 applies to believers today
    • v. 23: The Rich Man
      • in hell instantly
      • 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says we are made of spirit, soul, and body
        • spirit & soul go into eternity
          • either heaven or hell
        • body goes into the grave
      • he is conscious/cognizant
        • shows there is no “soul sleep” or “annihilation”
        • is being tormented
        • has memory of his “good life” (part of the torment)
      • sees Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom
    • v. 24: Rich Man Cries Out to Abraham
      • begs for Lazarus to help him (reversal of how things were in life)
        • new priorities (not wealth/power/status anymore)
          • wants just one fingertip of water to cool his tongue
          • is in agony in the flames
        • during his life, he loved his life, the world, and his sin more than God
          • our hearts are hard and dark apart from God
          • Ephesians 2:1-3 – three things set us against God
          • 2 Corinthians 4:4 – people don’t follow God because their minds are blinded
    • v. 25: Abraham Responds
      • “Remember”
        • implies your memories will be intact in eternity
      • reversal of v. 19
        • couldn’t take all his wealth/power/prominence with him to comfort him in eternity
      • not asking for a second chance to correct his wrong against God
      • Matthew 6:33
        • Our priority needs to be God & glorifying Him
        • He will meet our needs
        • This life is temporary
        • The believer thinks about eternity
    • v. 26: Great Gulf Fixed
      • you can’t go from hell to heaven or vice versa
    • v. 27-28: The Rich Man’s Concern
      • send someone to my loved ones, so they can avoid hell
    • v. 29-31: Abraham’s Response
      • they have the Word of God, they don’t need anything else
      • even if someone comes back from the dead, those of hard hearts still won’t believe
        • Jesus died & rose again, but people still deny Him
  3. The Church’s Job
    • to reach others for Christ
    • to share both sides of the Gospel
      • believe in Christ = eternity in with Him
      • deny Christ = eternity in torment

Hell – The Devil’s Best Kept Secret, pt. 3

  1. Intro
    • If they reject God in this lifetime, they will reject God for eternity.
      • The rich man didn’t ask for forgiveness (Luke 16:19-31).
  2. Aspects of Hell
    • Mark 9:48
      • the worm does not die
      • the fire is never quenched
    • Revelation 14:11
      • the smoke of their torment goes up forever
      • no rest day or night
      • 24/7 pain, torment, remembering
  3. This lifetime is all that we have to choose where we will go for eternity:
    • At the moment of death
      • the believer goes to rest in paradise with God
      • those who reject Christ go directly into the fires of hell
        • no rest for the soul
      • Luke 23:39-43
        • Even at the 11th hour, a soul can be saved.
  4. There are Two Deaths
  5. There are Two Resurrections
    • First Resurrection
    • Second Resurrection
      • Revelation 20:11-15 – Great White Throne Judgment
        • all are on an equal playing field before God
        • courtroom scene
          • books are opened
          • spiritually dead will be judged according to their deeds
      • To have your name written in the Book of Life is to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
  6. Another Myth of the Devil
  7. Conclusion
    • We need to cry out to the Lord to mine the dark recesses of our souls, so we can be single-minded and focused on Him.
      • Let God bring us to victory over sin through the Refiner’s Fire.

Hell – The Devil’s Best Kept Secret, pt. 4

  1. Intro
    • One other aspect of hell
      • There are degrees of damnation (opposite the rewards for believers)
        • false teachers will go to deep darkness
      • Based on the amount of Light we receive (accountability)
  2. But God…
    • 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 – One day the Restrainer will be removed
    • The most important thing God has done is to send His Son.
      • We messed up in Genesis 3
      • We are renewed at salvation
        • He restores our relationship with Him
      • God broke the power of sin in the life of a believer
        • by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
      • God restored Paradise
        • it is in spirit form within believers today
        • will be manifest at His Second Coming
      • He adopted us as sons & daughters in the family of God
        • joint heirs with Jesus Christ
      • He gave us a new heart
        • central part/core of who we are
        • our hearts are deceitful apart from God (Jeremiah 17:9)
        • from our hearts comes wickedness (Matthew 15:18)
        • He takes out our heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26)
  3. What is taking place now?
  4. Our Duty
    • The Church is supposed to sound the alarm about the fires of hell.
    • We need to let our loved ones know the truth.
    • We are watchmen set on the wall, and we need to do our part, to help rescue the perishing.
    • To do this, we need to seek God first and always (Matthew 6:33).

The Power of the Resurrection

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Alan took us through a short series on the power and importance of the resurrection. The three messages are all posted below, with audio & notes for each. Praying they bless you!

The Power of the Resurrection Now and Forever 

Big Idea:  The bodily resurrection of Jesus changes everything in the world and in your life. It gives us hope for now & for eternity. The resurrection is the heart of the gospel message.  When a person encounters the resurrected Christ, they are changed.  The resurrection is the surety that this world we live in of death, chaos, and decay will one day give way to Christ’s kingdom and a new heaven and new earth.

  1. The resurrection is at the core of the gospel.
    • Paul says it is of first importance.
    • The gospel is:  the death of Jesus, the burial (empty tomb), the resurrection, the post resurrection appearances. 
    • Without the resurrection, you’d still be imprisoned in your sins.
    • 1 Corinthians 15:1-5  
  2. The resurrection means you aren’t enslaved by sin.
  3. The resurrection means we don’t have to fear death. 
  4. The resurrection frees us from all evil power and authority over us. 
  5. The resurrection is the surety of Christ’s coming kingdom that is all about restoration and hope,  
  6. The surety of Christ’s coming to make all things new calls for repentance now, “Repent for the kingdom heaven is at hand.”  Matthew 4:17
  7. The resurrection is the only reason preaching has any purpose. 
  8. The resurrection is the only reason faith has any power. 
  9. The resurrection means the Lord extends an invitation to each believer every day. 
  10. The resurrection of Christ is the surety of the bodily resurrection of all believers.  

The Resurrection and Relations

Big Idea:  In America and the world, all kinds of relationships are broken, and we are in utter chaos.  These include race relations, class relations, wealth relations, one-on-one relations, and sexual relations.  In short, it’s a big mess, and we must view all relations in light of the reality that we are new creations due to the resurrection of Christ.  

  1. The resurrection and race relations.
    • “It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is 11 o’clock on Sunday morning.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
      • It’s not WHO you are, but WHOSE you are.
      • It still happens in the Church today, thought that’s the last place it should EVER happen.
    • Galatians 2:11-21
      • Justification by faith overrides all else.
    • Isaiah 19:23-25
    • Revelation 21:22-27
    • Bottom line:  If we make an idol of our national and racial cultures, we are not putting on the new creation we are in Christ.
  1. The resurrection and class relations.
    • Luke 14:7-14 
    • Matthew 6:2
    • Bottom line:  Jesus says that those who are in Him shouldn’t play socially elitist games for their own gain. Instead, help those who have no means to repay you.  
  1. The resurrection and our relation to our finances (wealth).
    • Material possessions mean nothing if you’re not rich in Christ.
    • It’s not about the amount you give; it’s about your sincerity & willingness of heart.
    • Bottom line:  We don’t deal with our resources by the rules but by our relation to Christ.  We give in light of his sacrificial giving to us. 
  1. The resurrection and our broken relationships.
    • 1 Corinthians 6:1-6
    • Romans 2:1-4
    • Matthew 7:1-2
    • Bottom line:  Be careful not to jump to judgement. “Vengefulness, quick to litigation, and self-interest (pride) are part of the spirit of this age” -Timothy Keller. When we say, “Vengeance is mine,” we want to play God. (Romans 12:18)
  1. The resurrection and sexual relations.
    • 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
    • Bottom line:  What we do in our bodies matters.  In light of the resurrection, we are to flee porneia (sexual immorality). 

Conclusion:  The fact we are new creations through the resurrection of Christ, impacts everything we relate to.  

Living Christ Risen

Big Idea: Only in understanding the reality of the risen Lord can the way be open to live as God intends us to live. Morality alone will not save you. As Paul stated, “to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). What is sin? To fall short of the glory of God! The wages of that sin is death (Romans 6:23). The following are crucial dynamics to living life as God intends us to live it:

  1. Realize who you are in Christ.
    • Ephesians 2:1-7
    • These verses are the most ultimate before and after picture you will ever see.
      • v. 1-3: Before=the Walking Dead
        • dead
        • following the world
        • following Satan
        • disobedient
        • living in the flesh
        • children of wrath by nature
      • v. 4-7: After=Alive in Christ
        • recipients of love and mercy
        • made alive in Christ
        • saved by grace
        • raised up with Him
        • set in heavenly places (present tense)
        • a picture of immeasurable grace
        • gifted with faith
        • created in Christ (a new creation)
        • given a purpose
      • Are you in the before or after category?
  2. Reflect DAILY on who Christ is.
    • Ephesians 1:15-23
    • Ephesians 3:14-21
    • What we reflect on with our minds will affect our hearts.
    • Also, what we reflect upon will be reflected outwardly toward others.
    • What we know affects who we are.
      • gnosis – mental level
      • epignosis – knowledge that affects you
    • Romans 12:2
  3. Redirect (repent) DAILY towards Christ.
    • Ephesians 4:17-24
    • Living as we are intended calls US to put off (die to certain practices) and put on other practices. It’s an ongoing redirecting of desires.
      • If it can’t get into your mind, it will never get into you heart.
    • What are the proper motivators for putting off the old person and putting on the new? Let’s talk about improper verses proper motivators.
    • Romans 8:29
  4. Relinquish your life to Christ.
    • Philippians 1:21
    • “The only one who ever lived life fully, as God intended life to be lived was Christ. The only life we can live as God intends us to live is the life of Christ.” -Major Ian Thomas, Founder of Torchbearers International.
    • Galatians 2:20
    • What would Jesus do? Wrong question. A better question is “What would I allow Jesus to do through me?”
    • John 12:23-26
      • Lose your life for Christ so that Christ may live in you.

CONCLUSION: Christ is alive to live in us. The extent to which His living in us becomes apparent is the measure to which we die to ourselves so as to reflect the reality of Him in us. “The life that Jesus lived qualified him for the death that he died. The death that he died qualifies us to receive the life that he lives. That’s the heart of the gospel in action.” -Major Ian Thomas

All the Way with God

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Terry stepped in while Alan was away to take into the book of Colossians and teach us about persevering to the end. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below.

All the Way with God

Colossians 1:8-14

  • Colossians 1:13
    • This is salvation.
    • Believers are in the kingdom already (spiritually).
      • The kingdom will be fully realized at His return.
      • The Lord’s Prayer tells us the Father’s plan:
        • Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
  • Colossians 1:14
    • We have redemption through His blood.
      • He paid our ransom out of the kingdom of darkness.
    • Produces the forgiveness of sins
      • Restored relationship with God through His blood fulfilling the wrath of God
  • What do we do now that we’ve been redeemed?
    • Colossians 1:1-8 summary:
      • Paul wrote this letter to the church at Colossae
        • He heard that this church was being well taught by Epaphras, and that they showed love in the Spirit.
        • He prayed for the church at Colossae and all believers.
    • Step One on the Stairway to Heaven
      • Colossians 1:9
        • Be filled with the knowledge of His will.
          • The will of God is found in the Word of God.
          • When you know His will, you will gain wisdom & spiritual understanding.
          • Philippians 3:12-14
            • let go to take hold
            • leave the things of the world behind
            • take hold of the things of God
    • Four More Steps on the Stairway
      • Colossians 1:10
        • Walk in a manner worthy of Him.
          • Be uncompromising in your witness.
          • Walk very carefully.
          • Remember others are watching you all the time.
        • Be pleasing to Him.
        • Bear fruit.
        • Always grow in the knowledge of God.
          • Yield yourself & your desires to Him.
          • We’re here on God’s business, to be His representatives in the midst of the darkness.
    • Strength to Climb the Stairway
      • Colossians 1:11-12
        • You need strength to walk the Christian life.
          • Strength comes from the Holy Spirit.
        • That strength provides:
          • patience in the times of trial & times of joy
          • joyfulness
          • thankfulness
            • He has qualified us to share in Christ’s inheritance.
        • Finish the race strong

The Faith-Rest Life

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

We had a few weeks of mission reports and a special musical service before Pastor Alan began a short series on the Faith-Rest Life. Unfortunately, the first message (“Living the Sabbath Principle”) did not get recorded, but I’ve included Alan’s outline with a few notes below. The second and third messages, with their recordings, are below that, each with its outline. Praying these messages bless you.

Living the Sabbath Principle (The Faith-Rest Life)

  1. Introduction
    • Genesis 1:27-2:3
      • Adam & Eve were created on the 6th day; God rested on the 7th day.
      • Adam & Eve entered into God’s rest; sin took them out of that rest.
  2. Sabbath Principle – what is it?
  3. Four passages of scripture with Sabbath implications.
    • Exodus 17:1-6
      • God had just delivered the Israelites from Egypt, and they grumbled. He has delivered us from so much more, and yet we still grumble.
      • Key truth: God puts us in testing circumstances, the “no water” places. Will we respond in faith or fear? To not respond in faith is to in effect believe God isn’t present.
    • Numbers 20:1-13
      • This is God’s grace. He gives us living water, even when we don’t deserve it.
      • Key truth: We often will blame others, or God, and want to escape a testing circumstance. We will miss God’s blessing if we don’t follow his instruction.
    • Hebrews 3:7-13
      • Key truth: What we hear can determine how we respond to life’s tests. Do we hear God’s promises and act in faith or do we hear all kinds of other voices? If we don’t hear, we will never rest, and it’s hard to hear if we aren’t still.
      • What keeps us from being able to be at peace in life’s stormy tests? This passage says there are 5 things:
        1. An evil heart of unbelief
        2. Departing (standing off) from God
        3. Deceitfulness of sin
        4. Wandering hearts
        5. Ignorance of God’s ways
    • Hebrews 4:1-16 (Next Sunday)
  4. Conclusion
    • We can live in Sabbath rest or circumstantial chaos. There’s a choice to be made.

Sabbath Rest (The Faith-Rest Life)

Hebrews 4:1-12

  1. The dynamics of living the Sabbath rest (Faith-Rest Life)
    • God’s rest is a standing promise to stand upon. vs 1
    • God’s rest must be entered into by faith. vs 1
    • God’s rest can be missed. vs 2, vs 5
    • God’s rest if rejected angers God. vs 3a
    • God’s rest is based on His resting. vs 3b-4a
    • God’s rest, if rejected is an act of disobedience. vs 6
    • God’s rest is a time sensitive offer. vs 7-8
    • God’s rest is a rest from work as we know work. vs 10
    • God’s rest involves an effort. vs 11
    • God’s rest involves God’s word as a revealing source. vs 12
  2. Conclusion: Living the faith-rest life is available through actively resting on God’s promises. The time to start living is now.

Great Necessities for Sabbath Rest
Hebrews 4:12-16, Isaiah 40

  1. Introduction: Sabbath is not a day of rest; it is resting on the promises of God. Faith-rest is not based on our feelings, but on His promises. You’re never going to be able to say, “It is well with my soul,” if you carry around the baggage of the past.
  2. The necessity of evaluating life by God’s word.
    • Men do what is right in their own eyes.
      • This leads to unrest, anxiety, and fear.
    • The only way we know if we are obeying in faith or disobeying in unbelief, is by the evaluating power of God’s word.
    • Hebrews 4:12-13
    • God’s word has evaluating power because it is:
      1. Alive
      2. Powerful
      3. Cutting
      4. Penetrating
      5. Judging
  3. The necessity of holding to one’s profession of faith by holding on to our high priest, Jesus.
    • Hebrews 4:14-15
    • There are trials and temptations that test our faith. We can look at how Jesus responded.
      • He used the Sword of the Spirit to battle temptation
        • Three ways Satan tempts (1 John 2:26):
          1. lust of the eyes
          2. lust of the flesh
          3. pride of life
  4. The necessity of prayer.
    • Oh, what needless pain we bear…
    • We often look at prayer as a last resort.
    • Hebrews 4:16
      1. Pray with confidence (James 1:2-8)
      2. Pray for grace and mercy (Luke 18:13)
      3. Acknowledge your need!
  5. The necessity of waiting on God in dependent trust.
    • Isaiah 40:28-31
    • The idea of waiting on God has many aspects in the Hebrew language.
      • It means to believe God is reliable and can be leaned on. The Hebrew word “amen” carries this aspect.
      • It means you can throw your cares on God.
      • It can mean taking refuge in God by fleeing to Him.
      • It can mean trusting God for deliverance from pain.
    • All of these things can be involved in waiting for God. The outcome of waiting on God is we exchange the limited resources of our strength for His divine power.
  6. The necessity of trusting in God instead of idols of our own making.
    • Isaiah 40:18-20
    • How many things in our life do we put our trust in that will just topple over?
    • What makes you think you can run with the horses? (Jeremiah 12:5)
  7. Conclusion: The faith-rest life is still offered; will we enter in?