Category: Sunday Message

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

1. 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.
2. 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:

1. We must realize our own sinfulness
   • Romans 6:23
   • 1 John 1:8
   • Ephesians 2:1-3
   • Sin = not being who God created you to be
   • 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.
2. We must reject works
   • We can never merit/earn our way to being right with a Holy God.
   • Galatians 2:17-21
   • Ephesians 2:4-9
3. We must reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ
   • Galatians 2:20
   • 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.
   • Philippians 3:10
4. We must resolve to live in resurrection power through active faith
   • Faith isn’t just a one-time/passing thing. We need to be “faithing” it each day.
   • Hebrews 11 – in the “Hall of Faith” it is important to note that none of them were right with God by their works, but by their faith.
   • Romans 5:9-11 – we are made right/reconciled by His death on the cross; we are continuing to be saved by His life in us.
5. We must constantly remind ourselves of who we are in Christ
   • Psalm 8: what mankind was meant to be & can be in Jesus Christ

Conclusion: Putting faith in Christ is a constant lifestyle of trusting in Him to do what you can’t do for yourself. Is Christ alive in you today?

Hi all! I am attempting to get caught up (again!), so I’ll be posting the messages we have from Alan from the last few weeks over the next days, beginning with his Palm Sunday message. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included his outline and some notes, along with links to Scripture at Bible Gateway. Praying you are blessed by this message.

Jesus’ Entry to People’s Worship

Introduction: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, at the beginning of Passover week, is met by the praise of people. This event is commonly referred to as the Triumphal Entry and also referred to as Palm Sunday. Every gospel records this event. This event teaches us the reasons we should praise Jesus. I’ll only read one of the gospel recordings, but look at all of them, because there are unique words in each record. Palm Sunday is all about praise! We will look at praise from four aspects.

The four gospel accounts of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry:

• Matthew 21:1-14
• Mark 11:1-11
• Luke 19:28-40
• John 12:12-19

1. The Context of the People’s Praise: the feast of Passover
2. The Center of the People’s Praise: Jesus
3. The Content of the People’s Praise: Hosanna!
4. The Critics of the People’s Praise: the Pharisees

Conclusion: Praise is the answer to pity and the weapon against the enemy (Psalm 8:2).

Hello again! Terry’s final message in his series on Christian Living – taking us through the book of Ephesians – was given on March 19th. You can listen to it below. I’ve also posted the recording of his message last Sunday about The Kingdom based on Matthew 6:24-34. I pray these messages bless you!

To listen to a message, simply click play on the audio player below.

**Special Note regarding Easter Sunday: We won’t be holding Sunrise Service at the Cross this year (it’s still quite cold, and we’re expecting possible snow this week). However, we will be having a potluck breakfast at the church at 9:00 am, followed by Easter Sunday Service at 10:30 am. Praying you can join us for a blessed day of fellowship and worship!

Hi there! It’s been a while, but after a few missteps and things out of our control, I finally have a few of Terry’s messages in his continuing series on Christian Living from the book of Ephesians. There are five in this series, with one or two more to come. There will be some holes between these messages and the last few, due to my mistakes and Terry’s illness. But we have messages from the end of January and from February for you. I pray you are blessed by them!

Hello again! Pastor Alan’s second message he shared with us (from January 15th) was entitled “Wise Words to Live by in a Wicked World.” To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below.

I’ve also included Alan’s outline with links to Bible Gateway for the Scripture references. Enjoy and be blessed!

Proverbs: Wise Words to Live by in a Wicked World

1. Review
   • Proverbs says you cannot have wisdom without having a fear of God.
   • We must acknowledge the authority and control that God has in the affairs of our lives – that is a part of godly wisdom.
   • It is foolish to despise the wisdom and fear and instruction of God (in other words, trying to do it all on your own) – Proverbs 1:7.

Types of Fools in Proverbs

1. The Mocker/Scoffer (Proverbs 21:24)
   • Scoff at “ignorant, foolish Christians” who don’t understand the way the world “really” is.
   • The mocker may be “worldly or sophisticated” but they are really arrogant and have “overbearing pride.”
2. The Simple (Proverbs 14:15)
   • The simple/naive fool is marked by gullibility/easily led astray (“sheeple”) and are intellectually lazy
   • They tend to believe everything and remember nothing
3. The Obstinate (Proverbs 1:22c)
   • Most common and most dangerous type of fool in Proverbs.
   • Hates knowledge!
   • This person is highly opinionated: won’t listen to advice or correction.
   • Listening in Proverbs means acting upon advice or correction.
   • Proverbs 26:5, 26:17, 26:12, 26:16
4. The Troublemaker (Proverbs 6:12-15)
   • This person creates conflict, often through gossip (spreading lies) & fault-finding (pointing out others’ problems before examining themselves)
   • They cause real damage (both in the Church and in the world)
   • Think of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the Temple (Luke 18:9-14)
5. The Sluggard (Proverbs 6:6-11)
   • Lives by the motto: “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?”
   • They build their ultimate demise little by little: A day off here and there won’t hurt; a few more minutes on break won’t hurt anyone…

Proverbs 3:1-12 – Our Responsibilities (the odd verses) and God’s Promised Responses (the even verses)

1. Introduction (v. 1-4) – A human father’s instruction to his son
   • v. 1: Responsibility: Don’t forget the father’s teaching and keep the commandments.
   • v. 2: Response (Reward/Promise): Long life, well-being
   • v. 3: Responsibility: Continually practice mercy and truth. Mercy is described in Proverbs 3:27-30
   • v. 4: Response: You will have a better relationship with God and others.
2. Our Relating to God (v. 5-10)
   • v. 5-6a: Responsibility: Trust God fully and acknowledge Him. The opposite is to arrogantly say, “I did it my way…”
   • v. 6b: Response: He will make things easier to navigate.
   • v. 7: Responsibility: Be humble, fear God, and repent.
   • v. 8: Response: Healing and refreshing
     • Don’t be deceived – a man will reap what he sows. (Galatians 6:7)
     • We can shorten our lives by constantly disregarding God’s wisdom.
     • God will no be mocked.
   • v. 9: Responsibility: Honor God through what we do with our financial resources – bring Him our first fruits
   • v. 10: Response: God gives more to those who show responsibility with what they’ve been given (Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25:14-30)
3. A Warning (v. 11-12)
   • v. 11: Responsibility: to avoid loving discipline, do the above. If discipline comes, don’t despise it.
     • No discipline = total disaster
     • Punished to the 3rd & 4th generations
     • Blessed to the 1000th generation (about 30,000 years!)
   • v. 12: Response: God disciplines those He loves. It is proof we are His delight!

We had Pastor Alan back for a couple of weeks, and he continued his teaching in the Book of Proverbs. Here is the message from Sunday, January 8th. It’s all about knowing what is godly wisdom, and the process of applying that godly wisdom to your life.

To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Alan’s outline with links to Bible Gateway for Scripture references. Enjoy!

Proverbs: Instruction on How to Live Life in Godly Wisdom

1. Godly wisdom involves the learned ability to discern and then apply Godly wisdom to life’s situations and decisions. (Proverbs 4:1-9; James 1:5, 2)
   • There is a difference between common sense and godly widsom
   • You can have knowledge without wisdom, but not wisdom without knowledge
   • Wisdom is applying the knowledge of the Word of God
2. Godly wisdom is always built on the foundation of the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:7)
   • The fear of the Lord is to acknowledge God’s existence, power, and control
   • We can do nothing apart from Him (James 4:13-17)
3. Godly wisdom is an applied process of ongoing life decisions that bring life, rather than death, into a person’s life. (Proverbs 4:20-23)
   • This process involves at least five parts

The Five Parts

1. Godly wisdom operates within a framework of relationship: specifically, a relationship with Christ.
   • 1 Corinthians 1:22-31
   • Wisdom is found in Christ
2. Godly wisdom calls us to daily repentance (turning).
   • Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor, theologian, martyr, and spy, was asked in 1943 how it was possible for the Church to sit back and let Hitler seize absolute power. His firm answer: “It was the teaching of cheap grace. Cheap grace is the teaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” We live in a time and culture that not only teaches cheap grace but praises it.
   • Proverbs is a continual call to turn from folly to wisdom. (Proverbs 1:20-33)
   • Proverbs outlines the Seven Deadly Sins to turn from:
     • envy
     • gluttony
     • greed
     • lust
     • pride
     • laziness
     • wrath
   • Proverbs drives home the painful truth that moral neutrality is not a choice!
3. Godly wisdom calls us to review everyday choices.
   • The beginning of a new year is a good time to review where you went wrong before! (Proverbs 5:21-23)
   • God sees all we do, so we need to examine ourselves & make wise changes
4. Godly wisdom calls us to resolve to live a “much more” life.
   • The “Much More” Life according to Romans.
     • We are much more than just justified. Being reconciled to God allows us to live in God (Romans 5:6-11).
     • The much more life is a life of freedom from the destruction of sin’s habitual enslavement (Romans 6:8-11, 15-23).
     • The much more life stands & operates in the grace of God (Romans 5:1-2).
     • The much more life is a life of assurance, not ruled by continual anxiety and fear (Romans 8:37-39).
     • The much more life is living the resurrected life of Christ (Romans 6:4-11).
     • Galatians 2:20
5. Godly wisdom calls for daily renewal by walking in the way of wisdom. (Proverbs 10:17)

We must relate, review, repent, resolve, & renew. It’s the wise way to go!

Hello and Happy New Year! I’m trying to get caught up after a very busy and crazy few months. Pastor Alan has been away, so Terry has been teaching. Most of his messages were recorded, but not all, so I’m posting all that I have of Terry’s “Christian Living” series from the book of Ephesians. To listen to these messages, click play on the audio player of the message you’d like to hear below. Thanks!

Hello again! This past Sunday, Pastor Alan continued his lessons in the book of Proverbs by taking us through an overview of the first 9 chapters before going in depth in chapter 1. To listen to this wonderful teaching, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included is his outline with links to the verses he references. Enjoy!

Proverbs 1:1-9:18

1. Title and Preamble Proverbs1:1-7
    Writer:  Solomon Proverbs 1:1
    Genre:  Proverbs – wise sayings with moral instruction
    Purpose:  The benefits we looked at last Sunday. Proverbs 1:2-6
    Recipients:  Youths needing training.  We all need moral training though.
    Foundation:  The distinction of Hebrew wisdom is the fear of “I AM” Proverbs 1:7 
     
2. Prologue Proverbs 1:8-8:36
    Ten lectures on wisdom and two additional sermons by Lady Wisdom to easily induced youths.  We will look at part of these today.
   
3. Epilogue Proverbs 9:1-18 (to the first section)
    Two invitations, one by Lady Wisdom the other by Madame Folly, to unsuspecting youth to enter their houses.
    Note:  Chapters 1-9 are a sort of roadmap to understanding the rest of the book of Proverbs.
   
4. Today’s Message:  Don’t Join the Gang
   (the lure of peers and the quest for belonging and identity) Proverbs 1:8-19
   
   Lecture 1 of 10 – Introduction, main lesson, conclusion
   
   I. Introduction:  Proverbs 1:8-9
      An address:  my son
      An Admonition:  to listen (shema – Deuteronomy 6:4)
      Listen to your mother and father (both parents are to teach) – Deuteronomy 21:18-21
      Motivation:  If one listens to a parent’s instruction and teaching it will be a victory wreath.  A way to live above your enemy.  A life of victory, power, and order.  The idea of order is symbolized by the necklace.
   
   II. Main Lesson: Proverbs 1:10-18
      The warning here is against the lure of easy money and seduction by peers.  The warning is also against the naive idea of a community where all will share their ill-gained money equally.  Sound like some political narratives of today?  The real underlying problem is they have no fear of the Lord and no regard for law.
     1.  How to respond:  Don’t yield!  Proverbs 1:10.
     2.  Why not to yield:  Proverbs 1:11-14
          – An environment of violence and greed. All of it is premeditated with the intent of taking others’ possessions.
     3. An elaboration on “don’t yield” Proverbs 1:15-18
         Don’t even entertain the temptation.  It will drag you away. James 1:14-15
         Understand the maxim of what you sow you shall reap.  You sow a lifestyle of greed, violence and death, you will eventually become its victim.  Gangsters always turn on one another.  They don’t have the innate sense of danger that even a bird’s brain has (Proverbs 1:17).
   
   Conclusion:  A moral maxim. Proverbs 1:19.
   Greedy gain at the cost of others will take the life of the one who gets it.  A rip-off artist will be ripped apart.  Violence breeds violence.  Matthew 26:52, 1 Timothy 6:10, 2 Timothy 3:1-5
   
   Sources:  Proverbs:  A Shorter Commentary by Bruce Waltke and Ivan D. V. De Silva
   God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life by Timothy and Kathy Keller.

Hello! Since Pastor Alan finished our tour through the Gospel of John, he has now begun a wonderful series on the Book of Proverbs. To listen to the first message in this series, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included is the outline of the message with links to the verses referenced. Enjoy (I know I did)!

Wise Words for Living in a Wicked World

Proverbs 1:1-2:22

1. Introduction
   • It is absolutely necessary to gain wisdom.
     • Other words for wisdom used in Proverbs: moral instruction, prudence, righteous living
   • One way to gain wisdom is to absorb the Proverbs into our lives.
   • The starting point of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:7)
   • Those who say there is no God are described as fools, wicked, and corrupt. (Psalm 10:4, Psalm 14:1)
2. Author of Proverbs
   • Most, but not all of Proverbs, was written by Solomon (who asked God for wisdom – 1 Kings 3:4-28). He spoke 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32).
   • The actual “proverbs” are found from Proverbs 10:1-22:16.
3. Daily Proverbs
   • The book of Proverbs is 31 chapters long. So, if you read one chapter a day, it makes for a great monthly Bible reading plan.
4. What is a proverb?
   • The Hebrew word is mashal and it essentially means a wise, short saying condensing wisdom into a brief form to aid memory.
   • Sometimes the saying can be enigmatic (puzzling, like a riddle).
   • Some of Pastor Alan’s favorites:
     • Proverbs 26:11, Proverbs 30:15, Proverbs 25:28

The Benefit of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:2-9, 2:1-8)

1. To learn wisdom and moral instruction. (Proverbs 1:2a)
   • Learn: experiential learning or skillful acting upon what one knows.
   • Wisdom: to have moral skill that produces something of lasting value, leaving a moral legacy.
   • Moral Instruction: parental discipline or chastisement, verbal warnings, and moral training.
     • Our Father (Matthew 6:9)
     • Children of God (1 John 3:1)
     • Whom God loves, He chastens/disciplines/rebukes (Revelation 3:19)
   • “Smart people learn from their own mistakes; wise people learn from the mistakes of others.”
2. To discern wise counsel. (Proverbs 1:2b)
   • Discern: the ability to discern right from wrong by God’s law.
   • Wise Counsel: words of discernment. Literally, the ability to distinguish the rightness or wrongness of words of discernment.
3. To receive moral instruction in skillful living. (Proverbs 1:3)
   • Moral instruction: parental discipline or chastisement, verbal warnings, and moral training.
     • Receive: the word carries with it the idea of treasuring up something in your heart. (Proverbs 2:1b; Psalm 119:11)
   • Skillful Living: involves knowing and practicing righteousness, justice, & equity.
     • Righteousness: conforming to a standard of God’s law.
     • Justice: doing the right thing in light of God’s law.
     • Equity: the idea of walking in a straight line.
4. To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, a discerning plan to the young person. (Proverbs 1:4)
   • Shrewdness: to be prudent/to not be naive/to not be simple-minded about what the world is all about. (Matthew 10:16)
   • Morally Naive: easily influenced, enticed, or misled.
   • Young person (son): one in need of training.
5. To gain guidance and instruction. (Proverbs 1:5)
   • Guidance: a combination of two Hebrew words – for sailor and rope. It is the imagery of directing a ship, giving direction for your life.
6. To discern — live by — the truths found in the Proverbs. (Proverbs 1:6)
7. To realize how valuable the wisdom of the Proverbs is and to do what’s necessary to gain it. (Proverbs 2:1-4)

The Source Behind the Wisdom? (Proverbs 1:7-9)

1. Fear of God
   • fear/dread, awe, reverence (Exodus 20:18-20)
   • Wisdom helps us discern what is/is not sin & keeps us from sinning.
2. The Proverbs are given in the backdrop of fearing God and listening to godly parents (of course, not all parents are godly). (Proverbs 1:8)