sermon from Dec. 12

CHRISTMAS COURAGE

Matthew 1:18-25

Series on “Christmas 2010” (part 3)

Joseph and Mary are getting ready for their wedding. This can be a very stressful time, but it gets worse. Mary comes to Joseph and says that she is expecting! But she clarifies that she has not been unfaithful to Joseph, that the child in her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph’s first response as a “righteous man” (someone who kept the Old Testament law carefully) was to stay in control, save face, and quietly arrange to divorce her. This way he could perhaps save her some pain, and himself. Then the angel comes to him and tells him not to be afraid, but to marry Mary, adopt Jesus and to bet his entire life on God and His Word. Do you feel that to receive Jesus into your life is going to ruin everything? Are you afraid? How can you get the courage to receive Jesus into your life?

THREE PLACES WHERE WE AND JOSEPH NEED COURAGE TO HAVE JESUS IN OUR LIFE

• The disdain and rejection of the world, and family

1. Do you feel that to receive Jesus will not be understood by family and friends?

2. Do you feel that to receive Jesus will cost you professionally?

3. Do you tend to keep your Christianity a secret?

• The adventure of Jesus’ lordship

1. The angel says that Joseph is not to name the child. The child will be named for him. To name a child was to show your sovereignty, control over a child. The angel is saying, “You are not in charge, Jesus is in charge.”

2. Do you struggle with wondering what it might cost you to follow Jesus, for Him to make the decisions and not you?

• The courage to admit you are a sinner

1. “He will save his people from their sins.”

2. Can you admit that you are a sinner (hopeless and helpless) without Him?

HOW DO YOU GET THE COURAGE TO FOLLOW JESUS

• Joseph must have seeing Mary giving up her life for Jesus. He must have also seen Jesus giving up His life for the world. When you see his love for you it can break your love for the world, i.e. love of reputation, face, comfort.
• Consider that everyone else was forgotten except Joseph and Mary.
• Jesus says, “If you lose your life for my sake and the gospel you will find it.”
• Jim Eliot (martyr in Ecuador) said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

sermon from Dec. 5

How Can We Be Certain the Christmas Story is True?

I John 1:1-4

Series on “Christmas 2010” (part 2)

By the time John writes his first letter to some churches in what is known as modern day Turkey near the end of the first century, he is an old man. Probably many of his fellow workers have died like Peter and Paul. He has probably been released from his confinement on the Isle of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. False teachers are coming in, and he tells the young church to keep their eyes on Jesus and be confident that it is all true. Are you keeping your eyes on Jesus and do you know that it is all true?

JOHN THE MOST CREDIBLE WITNESS

• He was Jesus’ best friend and when Jesus was dying on the cross Jesus told John to look after His Mom.
• John says he was a witness of the events in Jesus’ life—“heard”, “saw”, “touched.”
• Is it wiser to believe in an eyewitness who had breakfast, lunch and dinner with Jesus for three years or someone who writes a book 2000 years later and criticizes the eyewitness testimony (as in the Da Vinci Code).

REVELATION NOT SPECULATION

• Vs. 2 – “The life appeared, we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim the eternal life, which was with the Father and appeared to us.”
• Religion is speculation about who God is, what our problem is, and how it can be solved. Christianity is revelation, i.e. it tells that God has come, explained our problem (sin) and how it is to be solved (through Jesus’ death, life and resurrection).

SO WE CAN BE FRIENDS WITH GOD, EACH OTHER AND HAVE COSMIC JOY

• Vs. 3 – “So you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”
• He also wants “our joy to be complete.”
• There are four options (1) secularism, life has no meaning; (2) religion, work hard and hope god—whoever he or she is will like you; (3) trust yourself; (4) Jesus
• Is there a more credible witness than John and the four gospels? Is there a better alternative to build your life on than Jesus. If not, what is keeping you from repenting of your sin and believing in Jesus TODAY??? If you do believe in Jesus, why do we not exhibit the joy that John talks about?

sermon from Nov. 28

Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?

Selected texts

Series on “Christmas 2010” (part 1)

Why did Jesus come from heaven to earth? How does that make Him different than all of the other founders of different religions? One time he said that he came “to seek and to save the lost.” Another time he said that he came to fulfill all of the promises in the Old Testament. Your Bible is divided into two parts—Old and New Testament or promise and fulfillment. In the Old Testament, there were prophets, priests and kings. They all looked forward to the ultimate prophet, priest and king who is Jesus. Let’s also see how practical it can be for your life.

JESUS WAS A PROPHET (ONE WHO SPEAKS FROM GOD TO US)

• A prophet is someone who speaks boldly and confronts sin. In Deuteronomy 18, Moses looked forward to a greater prophet than he was. Hebrews describes Jesus as being greater than Moses because the “builder of the house is greater than the house itself.”
• Jesus didn’t just point to the truth, He said “he was the truth.” It’s like talking about a story and having the author walk in to interpret it for you.
• One way Jesus is a prophet in our lives is that He sends the Holy Spirit to “convict of us of our sin” (i.e. living our lives as if God didn’t exist).

JESUS WAS A PRIEST (ONE WHO SPEAKS TO GOD FOR US)

• A priest would take the hopes, fears, dreams, needs, and sins of the people and bring them to God as a mediator.
• Jesus comes to earth as both God and man so he can identify with us and represent us to God the Father (Jesus is God the Son).
• Hebrews tells us because we have a good high priest (Jesus) we can go directly to God the Father and get the mercy and help we need.
• No matter what problems you have gone through, Jesus has experienced them and more so he is a faithful and sympathetic high priest.

JESUS WAS A KING (ONE WHO RULES AS GOD OVER ALL THINGS)

• Before Pilate he said that “his kingdom was not of this world.” Jesus challenges all despotic powers in the world. Desmond Tutu said that Jesus and the Bible were the biggest threat to dictatorial powers.
• Philippians 2 says that Jesus who became a humble man is exalted by God so that someday all will acknowledge His lordship.
• What it means for Jesus to be a prophet, priest and king in your life.

sermon from Nov. 21

Hope for Mature, Godly Men

I John 2:12-17

Series on “Our Mission” (part 11)

John writes letters of encouragement to a church. He talks about “little children” in the faith, “fathers” in the faith, and “young men” in the faith. The terms are somewhat generic and do not exclude women. It underscores the need for all kinds of people at different levels of spiritual maturity. It particularly underscores the importance of having “fathers” in the faith who live for more than money, sex and power and actually have a legacy that continues into future generations.

THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE THE CHURCH NEEDS

• Little children (new babes in the faith who are immature), vs. 12 – “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake and because you know the Father?” Have you been overwhelmed by the fact that your sins are forgiven and that God has become our good Dad? If you have had that experience, do you still have the “first love” of your new birth, or have you become stale and lost your amazement for grace?
• Fathers (and Mothers, the spiritually mature), vs. 13 – “I am writing to you fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.” Do you have fathers and mothers in the faith who don’t just know about God, but know God and do you aspire to be like them?
• Young Men (and women, maturing Christians), vs. 13 – “I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…. And you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” Do you have these marks in your life? Are you growing in the Word, meditating on it, and connecting with other Christians? Are you growing in Christ? Are you different today than two years ago?

THE SPECIAL NEED OF FATHERS IN THE FAITH, I.E. GODLY MEN

• Why the Chinese church is made up of 80% women
• Why modernity attacks manhood

1. The pagan view of manhood (fierce but not tender)

2. The Confucian view of manhood (scholar, breadwinner, but often emotionally detached from family)

3. The modern, western view of modern (soft men)

• Why Jesus is the only path to healing for men. He is the only man’s man (fierce) who is also tender with women and children. See him casting the money changers out of the temple and his relationship with children and people like the adulterous woman.
• Why men need to band together (“fight clubs”?) to encourage, confess and challenge each other to be adventurous, sacrificial, men who have a vision of nurturing “this generation and the generations to come”.

sermon from Nov. 14

Hope for the Church

Hebrews 10:19-25

Series on “Our Mission” (part 10)*

Some people have the idea of “going to church”, i.e. something you do one day a week and then where you live your individual life in the world. Actually, it is God’s indispensable way of growing people so they become more like Christ. Do you have a rock-solid conviction about the indispensability of the church in your life and for your family? Here is a definition of the church: The church is God’s people (who we are), who are saved by God’s power (what He has done and is doing) for God’s purpose (the good works he created us in Jesus Christ to do (Jeff Vandersteldt). If so the church is who we are and it is a 24/7 activity!!!

THE INDISPENSABLITY OF THE CHURCH

• Vs. 25 – “Let us not neglect to meet together as the manner of some is.”
• The key word is “together” (eat together, learn together, love one another together, confess sins to one another, be on mission together)
• Christianity is “good infection”. You catch it from each other...
• Why Sunday mornings are not enough.

FOUR INDISPENSABILE ACTIVITIES FOR US TO “BE THE CHURCH”

• Vs. 24 – “Let us consider one another”

1. Do you have anyone in your life who is considering how you can better grow into the likeness of Jesus?

2. Not just the job of the pastor, but everyone!

3. For men as much as women!

• Vs. 25 – “Spur one another to love and good deeds” (KJV)

1. Like a horse’s spur, we are to irritate each other in a positive way.

2. We are to give permission to one another to do this (and not give in to

Eastern “face” or Western “individualism)”.

• Encourage one another (just read the book of I Thessalonians for a great example; how do your words compare to Paul’s?)
• Be on mission together.

THE INDISPENSABLE PRIVILEGE OF THE CHURCH, vs. 19-24, “Access to God through the blood of Jesus.”

* Some material has been drawn from Jeff Vandersteldt and Tim Keller.