The pursuit of sinners supersedes the need to disciple the church and fellowship with the saints. Yes we all love being together and worshipping together and sharing our lives together, the early church did the same. And yes, we need to be in small groups and D-groups so that we can grow in our maturity together as believers. We must never neglect intentional discipleship. But, when it comes to prioritizing the purposes of the Church, reaching the lost with the Gospel takes precedence.
- Jun 5, 2022The Stories of Jesus Part 4: Lost & Found (Luke 15:1-10)
The Stories of Jesus Part 4: Lost & Found (Luke 15:1-10)
The pursuit of sinners supersedes the need to disciple the church and fellowship with the saints. Yes we all love being together and worshipping together and sharing our lives together, the early church did the same. And yes, we need to be in small groups and D-groups so that we can grow in our maturity together as believers. We must never neglect intentional discipleship. But, when it comes to prioritizing the purposes of the Church, reaching the lost with the Gospel takes precedence.
- May 22, 2022The Stories of Jesus Part 2: The Kingdom of Heaven is Like… (Matthew 13:24-52)
The Stories of Jesus Part 2: The Kingdom of Heaven is Like… (Matthew 13:24-52)
We are in a series talking about the Stories of Jesus. Don't you just love stories? I like a good story just as much as the next person. Sometimes the plot is pretty straight forward, but sometimes they catch you off guard. Have you ever read a book or watched a movie that you thought was going in one direction and then at the end it goes a totally different way? We call that a plot twist.
Think about the most famous plot twist you can think of. For me it is the fact that in Star Wars, Darth Vader is set up to be this notorious villain which Luke must face in order to destroy the evil Empire. It's a pretty straight forward plot. But plot twist (and spoiler alert for all of those who have yet to see Star Wars, I mean its only 50 years old now), Darth Vader turns out to actually be Luke's father. Crazy right?
But even more crazy is the fact that the Jewish people thought that the story of the Messiah was also pretty straight forward. When he came, they thought that he would come with great power, overthrow the Roman occupation, and reestablish Israel as the world's greatest kingdom! But, plot twist! Jesus, the true Messiah, didn't come to establish his kingdom here on the earth, but rather in the hearts of his followers. And guess what; some people couldn't understand this; they couldn't grasp it. So to explain it to them, Jesus gave them parables.
Last week Jesus explained the Kingdom of God like this; “a sower went out to sow seeds.” In that parable the Kingdom of God is revealed to be Jesus the sower and the Gospel His seed. Those seeds which fall on good soil; good and faithful hearts, will grow to be a part of His kingdom.
This week we are going to look at the remainder of the kingdom parables in Matthew 13. A kingdom parable is a story used by Jesus to explain the differences between men's expectations of Christ's kingdom and it's actual spiritual realities. And as we look at them we will find that too often what we expect from Jesus and what we get from Him are quite different, but in the end it is exactly what we need. Though The Kingdom of Heaven May Be Different Than What We Had In Mind, It Is Still The Greatest Kingdom We Could Ever Hope For.
- May 15, 2022The Stories of Jesus Part 1: Weeds & Seeds (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20)
The Stories of Jesus Part 1: Weeds & Seeds (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20)
How many of you have a garden? How many of you have ever sown seeds in the ground before? Does every seed that you plant grow up? No. Some get eaten by the birds don't they? Some seeds sprout up and then immediately die. Some seeds sprout up but get entangled with weeds and don't ever mature. But some seeds do what they are supposed to do; grow up and provide food or shade or beauty.
And what Jesus is trying to convey is this... we, humans are just like those seeds. When we hear the Gospel we are susceptible to the enemy coming and snatching away our faith, or the troubles of the world snuffing it out, or the riches of the world choking it out. So what we must have is a good soil for our faith.
Which seed are you this morning? Which soil are you sown into? Remember this; In This Life, Though It May Be Filled With Weeds, God Always Provides Good Soil For The Gospel Seed To Grow.
- May 8, 2022Come and See Part 10: The Second Coming (Matthew 24:27-50)
Come and See Part 10: The Second Coming (Matthew 24:27-50)
When Jesus comes back, the time to decide whether to follow him or not will be gone. The Master Is Soon Returning. Blessed Will Be Those Who Are Ready To Serve Him When He Arrives.
One day, we don't know the day or the time, but one day Jesus is coming back to rapture his followers for the final time. At that he will judge the whole world for their sins. Only those who know Christ will be spared. There will be no more chances to follow him. Rather, you must be ready before he comes. The only way to be assured that you are awake and ready is to be saved today! So are you ready? Do you want to be today?
As C.S. Lewis once said, “the doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when the world drama will end. The curtain may be run down at any moment; say, before you have finished [hearing] this paragraph.”
- May 1, 2022Come and See Part 9: The End Times (Luke 21:5-37)
Come and See Part 9: The End Times (Luke 21:5-37)
We are in the end times and have been for the last 2000 years. But as we move closer to the end it is becoming all the more apparent that we are in the end of the end times. And so, the question isn't whether or not we are near the end, the question is, how does the end change the way the church ministers. The church must endure, and the church must evangelize! Now is not the time to close up shop, now is the time to get after it like we've never gotten after it before! In the shadow of Easter we don't need rest and relaxation. No, more than anything we need revival! We may be rejected by the world but we still hold the cure for the world. Now is the time we are needed most and so we must rise up, find our strength in the power of the Holy Spirit and charge the gates of hell. The End Is truly near, but so is a new beginning in Christ. From the ashes of this world a new world Is being born. Our prayer is this: as the world falls down around us, let it fall, as all things must, at the feet of Jesus Christ.
- Apr 24, 2022Come and See Part 8: The Ascension & The Promise Of The Holy Spirit (Luke 24:48-53)
Come and See Part 8: The Ascension & The Promise Of The Holy Spirit (Luke 24:48-53)
Jesus continually encourage his disciples with the aspect that though he is leaving them, he will not be gone for long for he is coming in the form of the Holy Spirit to not live with them but to live in them.
Perhaps you need that encouragement too? Perhaps the fact that you cannot be with Christ in the flesh is a source of frustration. Perhaps you, like many others, have thought of how much easier it would be to have a strong faith if you could only see him with your eyes and touch him with your hands. How quickly we forget the words from John 20:29; “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” And we are blessed. We are blessed that we have the opportunity of faith in believing and not seeing. We cannot see, therefore our faith is all the more real. But we are also blessed in that we have a helper and comforter to give us even greater faith when our faith runs dry.
This message is for those who long to see him, to see him with eyes of faith through the power of the promised Holy Spirit. The Ascension gives us a greater opportunity to see through the Spirit what we could never see with our eyes.
- Apr 17, 2022Come and See Part 7: The Resurrection (Luke 24:1-49) – Easter
Come and See Part 7: The Resurrection (Luke 24:1-49) – Easter
The evidence for Jesus' resurrection is overwhelming. This is why the authorities had to engage in a major cover up. Look at our final portion of scripture this morning in Matthew 28:11-15. They paid the soldiers to say that the disciples had stolen his body. But even this lie did not work. After the resurrection, belief in Christ's resurrection skyrocketed. In just a few short days the Church would have over ten thousand followers.
The point is clear; immediately after rising from the Grave Jesus showed himself to his followers who were in doubt. To the women at the tomb. To the men on the road to Emmaus. And finally to his disciples. And now he has revealed himself to us.
Even though the resurrection may be the most scrutinized event of all time, the risen Christ has revealed himself to us through his Word, his Holy Spirit, those in the Church, and through academic means. Why? Because he reveals himself to those who seek him, those who walk with him, and even those who may have doubts about him.
- Apr 10, 2022Come and See Part 5: The Triumphant Entry (Mark 11:1-11)
Come and See Part 5: The Triumphant Entry (Mark 11:1-11)The city of Jerusalem explodes in adoration for Jesus. They accept him as the Messiah and Savior. They lift him up on the donkey of peace and they lay down their possessions at his feet. This is the most correct response ever to the most famous person who ever lived. But have we forgotten that he still lives. Have we lost sight of the fact that we no longer need to wait for him to arrive, he's here... in our hearts through His Holy Spirit. We can worship him anytime, and should worship him all of the time. We must worship him as he deserves. So, how are you worshipping him? How are you carrying the king of peace with your life? How does your daily actions reveal that Jesus is the famous one? What might you need to change about how you live in order to be a better representation of Christ's fame? What are you laying down at the feet of the messiah? What possessions have you given him? Are you tithing and giving offerings in honor of him? What are you holding onto that you should lay down for his fame? How are you vocally declaring his fame? Are you so quiet that those around you have never heard you praise him? Would those who know you know that you think Jesus is the most famous person in your life? Have you ever praised Jesus in public? How can you do a better job of vocally lifting up your savior? Does your worship of Christ show others how famous He is? Jesus is the famous one and he is worthy of your praise!
- Apr 3, 2022Come and See Part 4: The Trial of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:1-26, Luke 23:1-25)
- Mar 27, 2022Come and See Part 3: The Prayer In Gethsemane (John 17, Luke 22:35-46)
Come and See Part 3: The Prayer In Gethsemane (John 17, Luke 22:35-46)When we see Jesus praying in the garden in Luke 22:35-46 and John 17, we see five specific things we should take so seriously that we set aside time to pray for them daily; 1) The temptation of the flesh, 2) The Will of God, 3) The Glory of Christ, 4) The Purity of the Church, and 5) The Salvation of the Lost. Click the link below to hear the entire sermon.
