On Sunday, April 9, I preached the final sermon in the 4 G’s series. This series sought to connect truth we know about God with how we live. God is Gracious is the sermon from 4/9. This sermon helped us see that because God is gracious, we don’t have to prove ourselves. We did a lot of work in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. I hope it encourages you to find freedom in the amazing God and what God has done for you through His Son.
My 3/26/17AM sermon in the 4 Gs series, God is Good, is now online. This sermon helped to unpack how if God really is good, then we should seek all the satisfaction for our lives in Him. I hope it encourages you and helps you grow in your love for Him.
In John 7, Jesus gives a picture of what believing in Him looks like. It’s coming to Him and drinking. The result, out of our lives flow rivers of living water. Today, if you know Jesus, rejoice that living water flows in you and will for eternity.
In Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Wicked Queen asks the mirror, “Magic mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” The answer, of course, until Snow White is 7 years old is that she is. But, there’s a deeper reality, we’ll dig in to at Crestview this coming Sunday, 3/26. When it comes to your soul, who is the fairest of them all? Is God? And, if God is good, what does that mean for your soul’s satisfaction (or where it’s finding satisfaction). This is where we’re headed. Join us this coming Sunday at 10:15AM as we explore God is Good in our 4 G’s series.
My 3/19/17AM sermon, God is Glorious, is now online. It continues a series that we’re in called The 4 G’s. This series is about taking high theological realities (like some characteristic about God) and showing what the implications are for our lives. To put it another way, there’s a gap between what we profess to believe and how we live. This series is seeking to shorten that gap.
In the God is Glorious sermon, we were helped to see how because God is glorious we don’t have to fear others. It really got at why we should fear God. I’m hoping it serves you well. Enjoy.
This coming Sunday, 3/19/17, I hope to continue preaching a short series entitled the 4 G’s (#t4gs). This particular Sunday, Lord willing, we’ll be looking at how God is glorious. Because He is glorious, we should fear Him, not man. There are all kinds of expressions of how we fear other people and can even be paralyzed by their opinions at times. The remedy isn’t to simply forsake this sin (although that is part of it). We should see that because God is glorious, we need not fear others. So, come this Sunday expecting God to reorient our lives around His amazing character. Hope to see you there.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about “lesser” things that easily drift into priorities for many who claim to love the Gospel. I’m thinking of people who claim the Gospel is the priority for them getting caught up in Facebook arguments about political issues or a host of other things. We all have things that can easily turn us from our priorities (remember there’s warning in Hebrews 2:1-4 to not drift from our priorities). I really appreciated the wisdom unpacked by Ray Ortlund in his sermon from 3/12/16 entitled “Boldly Free” from Galatians 2:11-14. (You might remember that has to do with Peter and Paul disagreeing about Gospel application to a situation). Here’s what Ray says in 16:10-17:35 marks…
We’re seeing how the Apostle Paul thought about everything. When Paul was working through the issues of life, for him it wasn’t simply the question of right vs. wrong, or of wise vs. foolish, or of effective vs. inefficient and so forth. Those are all legitimate questions, they all have their place. But, Paul was simply thinking in a deeper way, in a different way. Here’s how Paul was thinking moment by moment: here I am poised at this decision, I’m at a fork in the road, I’m going to go one way or the other. How can this decision I’m going to make right now, whatever it’s about, align most clearly with the Gospel? What difference does justification by faith alone make in my life right now with this decision I am facing. So, Paul didn’t simply ask himself “What’s the right thing to do?” He certainly didn’t ask himself, “What’s the popular thing to do?” The real question for all Gospel people always is this: “what course of action is in the closest alignment with the grace of God and the purpose of the cross?” (Emphasis mine)
Get it? The question at the end here is the calibration for our decision about a situation: “what course of action is in the closest alignment with the grace of God and the purpose of the cross?” I hope you start thinking about your life, especially if you’re a believer, in this way. The world desperately needs a people set apart to this kind of reality. Will you showcase the grace of God and the purpose of the cross in your actions? Listen to Ray’s sermon for more insight into this.
My 3/12/17AM sermon, God Is Great, is now online. This sermon began a series on the 4 G’s (#t4gs) and will continue for four weeks. In the God is Great sermon, we explored that since God is great, we don’t have to be in control. I’m hoping it encourages you to relinquish your alleged “control” over life and trust in Him.
First off, don’t forget to adjust your clock before going to sleep tonight (and yes, your phone will automatically adjust)
Then, I’m excited to start a new series tomorrow on the The 4 G’s. #t4gs
The idea behind this series is to get after all the ways we don’t really believe in God. And, when we see Him as great, glorious, good, and gracious, then we will adjust our lives accordingly. I’m hoping this series is a good jump into practical theology – how what we believe affects how we live. Join us at 10:15AM for this.
Here the promise of Jesus: “Behold, I’m making all things new” (Revelation 21:5)
I’ve been thinking about this in Hutch, as the devastation of the fires is being realized…this isn’t the end of the story. But, the deeper hope and truth is that our lives can be made new. Spend some time today marveling at His creative, redemptive power being displayed in you.
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