From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

Connect

Weekend Recap – Noah’s Faith

by

My 4/22/12AM sermon from Hebrews 11:7 entitled Faith Obeys is online.  The sermon sought to draw some application from Noah’s faith.  Specifically, faith takes God’s Word seriously before an unbelieving world in light of the inheritance that is ours in Christ.  I hope you have a good week reveling in these and other truths from God’s Word.

Weekend Recap – Faith Pleases God

by

We enjoyed another great Lord’s Day at Crestview yesterday.  My sermon, Faith Pleases God, from Hebrews 11:5-6, got at Enoch’s example of faith and how faith must draw near to God, who exists and rewards those who seek Him.  Another big takeaway is that it is impossible to please God without faith.  One who draws near to God must believe.  Faith is vital.  Or, to put it another way, faith is our pathway to pleasing God.

In the PM, my small group got together and discussed faith.  All in all, it was a great day.

Weekend Review – Faith Understands

by

My AM sermon from 3/18/12 entitled Faith Understands from Hebrews 11:3 is now online.  The sermon sought to unpack some aspects of faith, but specifically helped us see that what we believe about the creation of the world is a matter of faith.  Whether we accept the Bible’s teaching on it or deny it, we are exhibiting faith in something.  For the believer, it is by faith that they understand the origin of the world, taking God at His Word.

Hope you have a great week.  I’ll have a post tomorrow summarizing our men’s ministry Collision Course.

Faith Is…

by

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, for by it the people of old received their commendation (Hebrews 11:1-2).  This was my text for my sermon yesterday, 3/11/12.  The sermon was entitled Faith Is.  Many misrepresent Christianity by claiming that it is just a leap into the dark unknown, but the Bible itself doesn’t allow for such a construct.  The Bible sees faith as stepping with full confidence and assurance, dare I say proof, into all that God’s promises, which is unseen to the natural eye.  This is the time-tested path for those who relate to God.  For more info, give my sermon a listen.  Hope you have a good week.

Your Brain, Memory & God’s Word…

by

There was a great post a couple of days ago entitled Hidden In the Heart.  The writer, in my estimation, was seeking to sound a wake up call for us to not be numbed to the effects that technology has on us, but to redeem them for the glory of God and the good of the Gospel.  Here’s a sampling of this:

If we are to be holy we need to hide the word in our hearts, and that means a deliberate commitment to memorisation and meditation. It means a refusal to allow our brains to be trained by the world, a resistance to the laziness that the interweb can breed in our all-too-susceptible minds; it means a commitment to holiness that is willing to re-train and develop the faculties of our hearts contrary to the trend and tendency of the age in which we live, and to make sure that we pack into the armoury that array of weaponry necessary for the constant fight against ungodliness, temptations within and without. We must love that truth, know that truth in its sense and substance, in its particular words and phrases, understand it as a treasure and as a weapon, and learn how to use it in the combat with sin.

I invite you, then, to fight the effect of technology in your heart and soul and fight to renew your mind.  With you in this fight…

Weekend Recap – Pursuing Endurance

by

We enjoyed a great Lord’s Day at Crestview yesterday.  My AM sermon from Hebrews 10:36-39 entitled Pursuing Endurance is now online.  The sermon sought to unpack the amazing call to endure found for these early believers.  Specifically, because of the promises of God and the urgency of Christ’s return, we should pursue God’s will for us: endurance.  I hope it was helpful to you.

We didn’t have any PM activities on the night of 3/4.

Hope you have a great week.

Weekend Recap – Lessons in Suffering

by

My sermon from 2/26/12 entitled Lessons in Suffering from Hebrews 10:32-35 is now online.  The sermon sought to unpack the reality of the situation these early believers faced and then help give us encouragement for the sufferings we might face.  Put simply, because of the realities that are ours in the Gospel, we can endure suffering with joy and confidence.

In the evening, my small group studied “Sins of the Tongue” in Bridges’ Respectable Sins.  We had good discussion and were helped by the standard for speech found in Ephesians 4:29.  Again, we are driven to the Gospel for help.

Hope you had a great Sunday.

Weekend Recap – Draw Near

by

My sermon from 2/5/12AM entitled Draw Near from Hebrews 10:19-22 is online.  The sermon sought to revel in great Gospel truth.  My aim was partly to unpack the access that we have to the Father because of Jesus.  Far too many Christians live as if they are distanced from God somehow.  God, though, according to this passage has brought us near through the finished work of Jesus Christ our Lord.  The hymn Arise, My Soul Arise speaks of with “confidence I now draw nigh” and this is what is ours because of Christ.

Hope this sermon was a blessing to you.

Weekend Recap – Christ’s Work Is Done

by

My sermon from 1/22/12 entitled Christ’s Finished Work from Hebrews 10:11-18 is online.  In this sermon, I sought to provide listeners assurance, much like the author undoubtedly did for his original hearers, of the comfort and rest that are ours in Christ.  Specifically, because of what Christ has done, we are wholly adequate to God and have forgiveness of our sins.  That’s something real and tangible that resonates with us today.  I hope it’s an encouragement to you this Monday morning as well.

In the evening, we gathered in small groups.  What a blessing to experience community on the Lord’s day.  Hope you had a profitable day.

Holiness Is Possible…

by

It’s amazing that most of our conversations about holiness begin with what needs to be done.  For instance, someone comes and asks, how can I pursue holiness?  The answer we give (in the church) is typically read your Bible, pray, enter community.  And, while all of these things are worthwhile things in pursuing grace, I’m convinced we need to start by looking to the Gospel.  My sermon from 1/15/12 was entitled Holiness Is Possible from Hebrews 10:1-10.  I tried to show from God’s Word that holiness is possible not in shrewd rule keeping, but in Christ and His once for all sacrifice for sinners.  Hope you enjoy it.