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Weekend Preview – Victory…!

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If I were going to ask you about how you would wage war to fight the evil of our world, what would you give as the key component of the battle?  Some of us might rush to politics, money or power.  But, the Bible paints this entirely different.  This coming Sunday, 1/3/16, we will explore 1 John 5:1-5, which says,

“And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. [5] Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”


Come this Sunday and see how your faith in God changes things.

Weekend Preview – Love Perfected

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This coming Sunday (12/27/15), we’ll be back in 1 John again, studying 1 John 4:17-21.  The big idea is God perfecting love in us and what it means.  I love how Paul Tripp summarizes it: “the longer you walk with God…the more loving you become.”  What a great way to end the year, thinking about God working love in His people.  I hope to see you this Sunday.

Weekend Preview – Advent on the Brain

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This coming Lord’s Day, 12/13/15, will be a full day at Crestview with our Children’s Christmas Program, Annual Member’s Meeting and Small Groups.  I thought I’d post this photo:

Seriously, I think we’ll be blessed as our children help focus us on what Christ as has done in coming to earth to save sinners like us.  I hope you come ready to enjoy Him together with others.  After all, the Father has sent His Son as the Savior of the world, and this calls for our praise.  

Weekend Preview – Loving One Another Because God Is Love

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This coming Lord’s Day (11/22 to be precise), I hope to be preaching from 1 John 4:7-12.  This passage repeatedly (see vv.7, 11 and 12) calls us to love one another because God is love.  Here is a great action step to take as you think about this passage from Steve Lawson:

“Pause for a moment and take a hard look at your life.  
Behind your claim to be a Christian…
Do you posses a genuine love for other people?
Do you really?  
Are you a kind and forgiving person?
Do you consider the interests of others more important than your own?
Do you see yourself reaching out to people who are hard to love?”
(from Absolutely Sure, p.97).  
I hope you come eager to hear God’s Word this Sunday.  

Coming This Sunday – Test The Spirits

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This coming Lord’s Day, we plan to look at 1 John 4:1-6 and it’s call to test the spirits.  If you have time, here’s the passage: 

[1] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. [4] Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. [5] They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. [6] We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

  I love what Piper says this means for believers in his sermon Test The Spirits to See Whether They Are From God:

For believers the lesson is twofold.

  1. Do not take credit for your listening ear or your confessing heart or your correct view of Christ. Give credit to the Spirit who is in you, and give God the glory.
  2. When you are threatened by any deception of the evil one—any temptation, or discouragement, or anxiety, or cowardice—remind yourself that “he who is in you is greater than he that is in the world.” Almighty God abides within you. Trust him. For this is the victory that overcomes the world, your faith (5:4) in the sovereign indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

I hope these things encourage you to dig in to what we’ll consider this coming Sunday.  

Weekend Preview – Making Assumptions

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I came across this cartoon that relates to the passage we will look at this coming Sunday:

Making assumptions can be a dangerous thing.  This is certainly true for religious people.  Join us this Sunday as we continue to explore the book of Romans and see some assumptions people made that clouded reality.

And, while you’re at it, maybe read this week’s passage, Romans 9:1-5.

The “Backstory” of Your Call To Holiness

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From the Gospel Transformation Bible on Romans 6:20-23:

These brief verses give the “backstory” of the sanctification promised in the preceding verses. Before the gospel is received, sin has the upper hand (v. 20). There is no way out, and deep down we sense this (v.21). The gospel makes God our Master, produces his fruit in our lives, and sets us on course for the age to come (“eternal life”; v. 22). We do not dread sin’s bitter payoff. There is rejoicing in God’s “free gift” (v. 23). All is of grace.


This is part of a section of Scripture we’ll be exploring this coming Sunday.  I hope you come thirsty for more…

Weekend Recap – On Spiritual Gifts

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My sermon from 1/27/13AM entitled On Spiritual Gifts from 1 Corinthians 12-14 is now online.  This was one of those synthesis sermons or, as I described it, one in which the broad brush strokes of Scripture need to be seen.  I tried to describe the heart behind spiritual gifts using this big chunk.  So, yes, we dealt with all 89 or so verses in these 3 chapters.  What is the message?  God has given spiritual gifts to the church.  They function much like the human body.  They’re to be practiced in love.  This is applied specifically to prophecy and tongues.  Their ultimate aim is edification in the body.

I hope my musings on this furthers God’s work among us as believers.  I trust you had a good Sunday, as well.

Weekend Preview – Spiritual Gifts

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Just finished working on my sermon for this Sunday, 1/27, On Spiritual Gifts from 1 Corinthians 12-14.  It should be a fun text to work through.  I’m focusing on the big narrative and hopefully will serve people well in application and not get lost in the forest of tongues and prophecy.  At any rate, you can prepare for Sunday by praying for this message and reading 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14.  It should be a fun journey.

Also, we will be taking Lord’s Supper in the AM service.

Thanks.  Have a blessed weekend.

Weekend Preview – Jesus, The Helper

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Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh to help mankind.  For two weeks, I’ve highlighted, in my Christmas in Hebrews series, how He’s done that.  Specifically, last week, I made a connection that Jesus doesn’t merely help people — He specifically helps the offspring of Abraham (Hebrews 2:16) those relating to Him by faith.

This Sunday, Lord-willing, we hope to look at another great incarnation text from Hebrews (Hebrews 4:14-16) and see how it is exactly that Jesus helps believers.  And, we will see that Jesus comes to help us when we are most needy.  He does this as a sympathizing High Priest.  Come, then, seeing how Jesus passed through the heavens to come and help you.  He was tempted as we are when He walked on earth.  His incarnation makes His help real and tangible.  Come, ready to be helped by Him this Sunday.