Luke 14:25-33
1. Love Jesus above anyone else.
2. Love Jesus more than self.
3. Love Jesus above stuff.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Why Follow Christ?
With so many faiths and beliefs in the world, why choose Christ?
I. He gives Life
Background of John 6--the Bread of Life vv.41-65
John 6:63
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."
-->Our earthly bodies will do nothing for our eternal standing!
-->If you embrace the work of the Spirit you will know Eternal Life!
John 6:64-69
"But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
-->Many will follow while it suits them but will fall away as they encounter difficulty.
So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter
answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
"For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
II. He gives Purpose
2 Timothy 1:8,9
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,"
-->Our works can never gain us eternity, but ONLY His grace, and yet...
James 2:18
But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
III. He gives Rewards
Matthew 19:27-30
Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
Jim Elliot, a missionary and martyr of the mid 1900s: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
John Wesley, an evangelist from 1700s: "I value all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."
**To know Christ is to know Eternal Life, Eternal Purpose, and Eternal Rewards
I. He gives Life
Background of John 6--the Bread of Life vv.41-65
John 6:63
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."
-->Our earthly bodies will do nothing for our eternal standing!
-->If you embrace the work of the Spirit you will know Eternal Life!
John 6:64-69
"But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
-->Many will follow while it suits them but will fall away as they encounter difficulty.
So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter
answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
"For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
II. He gives Purpose
2 Timothy 1:8,9
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,"
-->Our works can never gain us eternity, but ONLY His grace, and yet...
James 2:18
But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
III. He gives Rewards
Matthew 19:27-30
Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
Jim Elliot, a missionary and martyr of the mid 1900s: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
John Wesley, an evangelist from 1700s: "I value all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."
**To know Christ is to know Eternal Life, Eternal Purpose, and Eternal Rewards
Before You Meet Prince Charming
We are looking at doing a Mother-Daughter book study this fall which deals with properly (and biblically!) relating to boys. The book follows along a fairytale storyline and offers very practical advice. Mothers are urged to join us with the study but are not required to be there! Girls should plan to be there either way as this is such an importance part of God's plan for your lives! I will give more information soon as to where to purchase the book and when we will begin. We plan to meet on Sunday nights after service.
The Day of Judgment
-->God will judge all people in the end
I. Judgment is coming
(Paul speaking at the Aeropagus)
A. Acts 17:30
"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,"
1. The times of ignorance= refers to the time before Christ when believers in God trusted Him that the Messiah would come.
2. Repent=Matthew 3:1,2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
B. Acts 17:31
"because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
1. Fixed a day=there is a day of judgment coming that God knows, but no man knows.
2. Judge the world in righteousness...=God is the ONLY righteous judge, and can accept ONLY perfection.
3. The Man God appointed is the perfect One, Jesus, and
4. Our assurance of salvation is found in Him who conquered death by rising from the dead. Whereby He has become the atoning sacrifice once and for all.
II. Believers are already safe
John 5:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."
--> this speaks of the eternal judgment/death that believers in Christ are freed from. And the eternal life that they gain!
III. Unbelievers will be condemned
Revelation 20:11-15
"11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
-->All people will be judged first by what they have done and then by whether or not their name is in the Book of Life. To explain this text, consider these Scriptures:
A. Romans 3:28
"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."
--> the law/commandments were given to expose our sin that we might recognize it.
B. Ephesians 2:8,9
"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
-->there is nothing of our own doing that can save us. It is a gift that we can never repay, and by His grace He gives us the faith to believe and repent.
C. James 2:14-24
"14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'-and he was called a friend of God.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
I. Judgment is coming
(Paul speaking at the Aeropagus)
A. Acts 17:30
"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,"
1. The times of ignorance= refers to the time before Christ when believers in God trusted Him that the Messiah would come.
2. Repent=Matthew 3:1,2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
B. Acts 17:31
"because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
1. Fixed a day=there is a day of judgment coming that God knows, but no man knows.
2. Judge the world in righteousness...=God is the ONLY righteous judge, and can accept ONLY perfection.
3. The Man God appointed is the perfect One, Jesus, and
4. Our assurance of salvation is found in Him who conquered death by rising from the dead. Whereby He has become the atoning sacrifice once and for all.
II. Believers are already safe
John 5:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."
--> this speaks of the eternal judgment/death that believers in Christ are freed from. And the eternal life that they gain!
III. Unbelievers will be condemned
Revelation 20:11-15
"11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
-->All people will be judged first by what they have done and then by whether or not their name is in the Book of Life. To explain this text, consider these Scriptures:
A. Romans 3:28
"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."
--> the law/commandments were given to expose our sin that we might recognize it.
B. Ephesians 2:8,9
"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
-->there is nothing of our own doing that can save us. It is a gift that we can never repay, and by His grace He gives us the faith to believe and repent.
C. James 2:14-24
"14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'-and he was called a friend of God.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
Sunday, August 12, 2012
For Ever and Ever
I. We are made for eternity
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
--> God put eternity in our hearts
II. We should live with eternity in mind
2 Peter 3:10-15
a. Nothing will be able to escape God's judgment. (v 10-11)
b. Righteousness will dwell in the new heaven and new earth (v 12,13)
c. We wait for the promise to be fulfilled, and there is time for all to hear the name of Christ! (v 14,15)
III. We have to prepare for eternity now
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
--> consider how you live on earth NOW!
**GIC coming up. Bring money for missionaries.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
--> God put eternity in our hearts
II. We should live with eternity in mind
2 Peter 3:10-15
a. Nothing will be able to escape God's judgment. (v 10-11)
b. Righteousness will dwell in the new heaven and new earth (v 12,13)
c. We wait for the promise to be fulfilled, and there is time for all to hear the name of Christ! (v 14,15)
III. We have to prepare for eternity now
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
--> consider how you live on earth NOW!
**GIC coming up. Bring money for missionaries.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
What will heaven be like?
The best-selling book, "Heaven is for Real," shows just how interested people are in heaven.
A. Heaven will be a paradise
(Luke 23:39-43) f3
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
-->As one criminal seemed unconcerned about his eternity, the second man confessed his guilt and accepted the punishment for it. But he also acknowledged Jesus' innocence and His authority as Messiah...
42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
-->"Paradise" means park or garden; the paradise of heaven is nothing like anything we have ever known.
B. We will be with God
Rev. 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
-->Revelation is the vision of John of the end times. This section speaks of "the holy city, new Jerusalem." We see that what God began in the garden will be perfected and made complete in heaven. God promises in Leviticus that He will be our God, and we will be His people. The sin of Adam and his subsequent separation from God had to be dealt with first. We have all "sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," but in heaven we will be reunited to Him.
C. There will be no more sorrow or pain
Rev. 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
D. We will worship and serve God forever
Rev. 22:1-5
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
River of water of Life= from the throne of God signifies life without end
Tree of Life= healing of the cross; sin no longer has a hold
No curse= the Genesis curse is overturned; we will see God and be in His presence forever!
No more night= God is the source of light
Reign forever= no longer like slaves, but sons
A. Heaven will be a paradise
(Luke 23:39-43) f3
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
-->As one criminal seemed unconcerned about his eternity, the second man confessed his guilt and accepted the punishment for it. But he also acknowledged Jesus' innocence and His authority as Messiah...
42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
-->"Paradise" means park or garden; the paradise of heaven is nothing like anything we have ever known.
B. We will be with God
Rev. 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
-->Revelation is the vision of John of the end times. This section speaks of "the holy city, new Jerusalem." We see that what God began in the garden will be perfected and made complete in heaven. God promises in Leviticus that He will be our God, and we will be His people. The sin of Adam and his subsequent separation from God had to be dealt with first. We have all "sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," but in heaven we will be reunited to Him.
C. There will be no more sorrow or pain
Rev. 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
D. We will worship and serve God forever
Rev. 22:1-5
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
River of water of Life= from the throne of God signifies life without end
Tree of Life= healing of the cross; sin no longer has a hold
No curse= the Genesis curse is overturned; we will see God and be in His presence forever!
No more night= God is the source of light
Reign forever= no longer like slaves, but sons
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
CPC Work Day
It was good to be a part of such a great ministry as the Carolina Pregnancy Center today. It was a blessing to us to be able to bless them with our time and abilities. Thank you to all the girls who were able to participate.
We enjoyed touring the facility and helping to sort baby clothes. Hopefully, we will be scheduling another work day in the near future to help stuff envelopes. Enjoy these pics of our hard workers, and I hope to see you Sunday!
We enjoyed touring the facility and helping to sort baby clothes. Hopefully, we will be scheduling another work day in the near future to help stuff envelopes. Enjoy these pics of our hard workers, and I hope to see you Sunday!
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