Terry spoke a few Sundays ago on “The Call” and the people who answer God’s call. To hear this message, simply click play on the audio player below. *The recorder was turned on a bit late, so the introductory part of the message is missing. Also included are some notes and links to Scriptures he references in this message.
Loving God with Our Soul was Alan’s fourth part of his continuing series on Living the Great Commandment. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included are Alan’s outline and links to Bible Gateway for the Scriptures he references. Enjoy!
The word translated soul is the Hebrew word Nephesh, meaning “breath of life” (Genesis 2:7).
The idea is our life as it is connected to the creator God. The concept of the soul as something separate from the body is more of a Greek philosophical concept and would have been foreign to the Hebrew mindset.
When the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) is translated, in the majority of English translations, as “love God with all your soul,” it is saying love God with the whole of your being, as it is connected to your Creator. He is the breath of life in your throat and lungs, so love Him completely.
Our lives have an eternal dynamic. If our lives demonstrate a love for God and others, that is evidence we are in right relation to God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. To be in relation to God the Father and His Son through the Spirit is to have eternal life.
Our love for God is based on His first loving us. His love has flowed to us to flow out of us. Our love for God involves seeing His mercy and lovingkindness to us (Psalm 51:1, John 17:26). God demonstrates His love in giving His Son (John 3:16).
How do we use our mind for loving God?
Have a mindset that thinks upon God & the things of God and see life from a Christ-minded perspective.
A mind that is set on the flesh has 4 characteristics:
The end is death (meaning the absence of the Spirit)
Hostile to God
Doesn’t submit to God
Cannot please God
A mind that is set on the Spirit has 2 main characteristics:
Life alive in Christ
Life lived in peace
A mindset on Christ looks after others, not just one’s own needs (Philippians 2:1-11)
Conclusion: The only life that was ever lived as God intended mankind to live was lived by Christ. Our obedience is found in being Christ-like. We bring Him glory by loving Him and loving others.
Last Sunday, Alan gave his last message on the book of Proverbs by taking us through Proverbs 31. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Alan’s outline with some notes and links to verses her references. Enjoy!
The Praise of Wise and Godly Women
Proverbs 31
Big Theme: Wisdom is personified as a woman in Proverbs. Three significant passages in Proverbs give the full picture of Lady Wisdom (1:8-33; 8:1-36; 9:1-12). Lady Wisdom was even present at Creation (Proverbs 8:22). When you look at creation, you can see the wisdom of God.
Proverbs closes with an exhortation to praise wise and godly women, specifically wives. So the overall thrust is to give godly women the respect and authority they are due. This would involve respecting their gifts, wisdom, and voices. This is the overarching theme of scripture in relation to women. One of the things Jesus obviously stood against was the oppression of women by the male-dominated religious structures of the day.
An Old Testament and New Testament Review of Women in Ministry
Old Testament
Two books named after (and centered around) women:
She earns her family’s praise for her competent strength [hayil in Hebrew] (v. 28-29)
She has earned and deserves the praise of all because she knows the principle characteristic of wisdom (v. 30-31)
Practical Application to Decide Upon
How can a community of faith show the honor and respect that is due women is an important question to answer, not only in theory but in actual practice of the church.
The right for women to teach, to vote, to serve communion, what about women pastors? Are our views on these questions in line with Jesus’ treatment and respect of women?
Paul wrote this to a specific church, at a specific time, for a specific reason – those women were causing dissension in their church. Paul didn’t write that admonition because they were women, but because they were causing problems in their sin.
It is a question worth thinking upon and answering.
Good afternoon! A few weeks ago, Terry stepped in when Alan wasn’t feeling well to teach about Christian giving. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes with links to Bible Gateway for verses he referenced. Enjoy and be blessed!
Giving
Everything we have belongs to the Lord.
In the OT, 10% of the peoples’ increase was to go to the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:22-23)
Memorial Day weekend found Terry teaching about what’s next, based ultimately on 1 Corinthians 15. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included notes and links to BibleGateway for the verses he references. May it bless you richly!
What Next?
Genesis 3 – man fell into sin & generally made a mess of everything
God, in His love and mercy, made a way for fallen, sinful man to be reconciled unto Him – the blood of Jesus Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – created in the image of God means that we are three parts (spirit, soul, body), just as He is three parts (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
Ephesians 1:13-14 – the Holy Spirit brings salvation (comes to indwell those who believe), seals/marks us as the property of God (a down payment/earnest money for eternal life)
God bought us out of sin & death at a tremendous cost to Jesus
We are a purchased possession of God
Spirit and Soul are made alive at the moment of salvation, but we are still looking forward to the redemption of the Body (which is dying every moment of every day)
It takes the grace of God to nurture this bag of bones over the finish line!
Romans 8:28 – our bodies breaking down is part of the humbling that we need to realize our need for the salvation that is found only in Christ.
The full, eternal, everlasting inheritance that we have in God includes redeemed bodies.
Our already redeemed spirit and soul are for us to be the salt and light for those who are still in darkness
Hello again. Last Sunday, Alan taught on Proverbs 27:1-22 regarding relationships. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included are Alan’s outline with some notes and links to Bible Gateway for the verses he references in the message. Enjoy!
Fools (the emotionally irrational) – avoid the vexation (frustration, annoyance, or worry) of a fool
Hotheads (the angry) – are cruel & destructive, like a torrent or raging river
Jealous people (the envious) – an angry person is bad enough to deal with, but a jealous person is on a whole other level (think of Saul’s jealousy of David)
Hi all! Alan started the month of May with a message about some of the sevens of Proverbs, going in a bit more depth about the seven perverted types of humanity that are described in chapters 25 & 26. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Alan’s outline with some notes and links to referenced Scriptures at Bible Gateway. God bless!
Hi again! A few weeks ago, Alan taught on Proverbs 10:1-16 all about the use of speech and money matters. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Alan’s outline with some notes and links to Bible Gateway for the Scripture references. Enjoy!
*Note: we didn’t get the first bit of this message recorded, so it starts in the midst of part two. Sorry!
Words have powerful effects on ourselves and others. (Proverbs 10:6-14)
Big truth: Harmful words have a boomerang effect.
v. 6 – the wicked hide their true motives, but it will come back to haunt them.
v. 7 – the words of the righteous will bring them honor, but the words of the wicked will rot (decay, make it stink) their reputation
v. 8 – the wise person is teachable, but know-it-alls come to ruin.
v. 9 – the more you lie, the better your memory needs to be! The schemer will be found out.
Some people have a long enough tongue to cut their own throat.
v. 10 – the “wink, wink guy” or people who use prayer requests as an excuse to gossip, etc. – they are troublemakers, they divide people & will come to ruin
v. 11 – the speech of the righteous is refreshing – it brings eternal life; wickedness/deception is draining/soul-sucking
v. 13 – those whose ears are closed to the truth sometimes need the rod, nothing else will get through to them
v. 12 – two ways to respond to others’ words against us:
in like kind (with hatred, baiting)
in love (which covers all transgressions)
v. 14 – need to have a knowledge base to deal with people we encounter
Wealth can give a false sense of security and poverty can be a terrifying thing. The only way to get a proper perspective is to weigh things in light of eternity.
Conclusion: Another reason to read Proverbs is to keep a proper view on the power of words and money.
While we, unfortunately, did not get the message recorded from Easter Sunday, I am posting Alan’s outline and notes with links to the Scriptures on Bible Gateway. It was a beautiful message about what it means to be a Christian. Enjoy!
Introduction
Two Aspects of the Gospel
The objective aspect, which involves the actual reality of the person and works of Christ. Specifically, this week the focus is on the cross and resurrection as actual events that occurred. The objective aspect is the Truth.
The subjective aspect, which involves how we appropriate and benefit from the realities of the person and work of Christ. One example of this aspect is understanding and appropriating the truth that the risen Christ is alive to live in and through us. But for that to happen, we need to be aware of and act upon that truth. The subjective aspect is how you apply the truth to your life.
We will focus today on five elements of the subjective aspect. In light of the crucifixion and the resurrection:
Let’s be clear: we are all sinners. There is no such things as those who sin and those who don’t. It’s a matter of whether we are repentant/justified/reconciled sinners or unrepentant/unjustified/unreconciled sinners.
We must reject works
We can never merit/earn our way to being right with a Holy God.
How do you become dead to sin? Identify yourself with the cross of Christ. Say, along with Paul, “I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.”
Know that with Christ we have the capacity to not sin.
Colona Community Church 