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SERMONS

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
-- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Remaining Matters (Titus 1:5-16)

10/30/2016

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Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good
5The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7Since an overseer manages Godʼs household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.8Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

  • Big Idea
    • God wants us all to live under and out of the leadership of His Son.    
  • The Standard                                                                                                                             
    • Paul draws attention to the importance of calling men to lead, whose lives reflect a right heart. 1 Timothy 2:12
    • Paul turns to some things that an elder must avoid.  Ephesians 5:18                                                                                                                       
    • Paul turns to some positive qualities to look for in a Christian leader.  Job 31:32;                                                                                                                    1 Timothy 3:2; Job 4:3-4
  • Deception                                                                                                                                                
    • The big problem in Crete was false believers, not unbelievers. 
    • Motive is everything.
  • Respond                                                                                                                                
    • Pray for us.  Hebrews 13:17-18
    • Keep the main thing the main thing. 
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In Hope (Titus 1:1-4)

10/23/2016

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1Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of Godʼs elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
4To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

  1. Big Idea
    1. Living as slaves to Christ leads to confidence as sons and daughters of God
  2. Further                                                                                                                                              
    1. Paul desires to leave a strong impression, not only on Titus, but on all the believers. 2 Corinthians 5:20
    2. The elect are simply those who have responded to the gospel. 
  3. Promised                                                                                                                                            
    1. Biblical hope is a confident expectation.  John 17:24
    2. Paul's message isn't about Paul.  1 Timothy 1:15
  4. Common Faith                                                                                                                      
    1. God calls us to lean into His promises, and to treat each other with the family love that exists between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Galatians 2:15                                                                                                                                                     
    2. Paul wanted his friend to experience God's unconditional favor, and His shalom. 
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Bless: Share (Acts 26)

10/16/2016

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1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4“The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lordʼs people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’the Lord replied. 16‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24At this point Festus interrupted Paulʼs defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

  • Big Idea
    • Sharing our story is simply about pointing people to the Savior we've met, and trusting Him with the results.
  • Background                                                                                                                                  
    • Festus couldn't just send Paul to stand before Caesar without a clear reason.                                                                                          
    • Agrippa wanted to hear Paul.  Acts 25:22-23
  • Permission                                                                                                                               
    • Ask a simple question. 
    • Paul begins to tell his story humbly and respectfully. 1 Peter 3:15-16
  • Sent                                                                                                                                                                
    • Paul describes who Jesus is and how he met Him. Romans 1:20  
    • Paul told his personal story but also included the gospel. 
    • Finally, Paul recounts how Christ's presence affected him.
  • True and Reasonable                                                                                                            
    • Paul challenges Festus to respond to what he knows.
    • Paul trusted the results of what he shared to God, leaving room for the people to decide for themselves.                                                                                          
Describe…
What your life was like before you met Jesus.
How you met Him.
His impact on you.  
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Serve (Matthew 20:20-28)

10/9/2016

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A Motherʼs Request
20Then the mother of Zebedeeʼs sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 “What is it you want?”he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
22 “You donʼt know what you are asking,”Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

  • Big Idea
    • When we humble ourselves in serving our neighbors we can all experience the life of God's kingdom.
  • A Favor                                                                                                                                    
    • Jesus was open to the mother of sons of Zebedee's request.
    • Mrs. Zebedee wanted to have an if-then relationship with her Savior.
  • The Cup                                                                                                                             
    • The cup as a metaphor meant different things.  Psalm 16; Psalm 23; Isaiah 51:17; Matthew 20:11-19
    • The two disciples wanted the glory, but not the cross.                                                                                                          
  • Prepared                                                                                                                    
    • As disciples we take up our cross daily. Luke 9:23; Philippians 4:12-13; Ephesians 2:10
  • Ransomed                                                                                                                                  
    • We're meant to bless others as a body in Christ. 
    • Service in the kingdom is all about the focus of our hearts. 
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Bless: Eat (Matthew 9:9-13)

10/2/2016

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The Calling of Matthew
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

  • Big Idea
    • Eating with people outside our circles is a way for all of us to grow in the grace of Christ.
  • Following                                                                                                                            
    • Jesus reached out to the least likely person we’d think to invite over.                                                                                                                                           
    • If a rabbi said “follow me” it meant he believed you could become like him.
  • Two Tables                                                                                                                               
    • Matthew invited people like him over to meet and eat with Jesus.
    • The Pharisees excluded sinners from their gatherings. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
  • The Good Doctor                                                                                                                     
    • No one is righteous, except the ones Jesus makes righteous.
    • True righteousness comes from responding to the compassion we’ve found in Christ. Romans 2:24           
  • Feast                                                                                                                                     
    • Our vertical devotion needs to also have a horizontal focus.                                                             
    •  Have dinner with a sinner. 
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