My sermon from 10/16/11AM entitled Better Sacrifice (2) from Hebrews 9:11-14 is now online. We don’t like people claiming to be the best. When it comes to Jesus, as C.S. Lewis famously said, “He’s either a liar (not the best acting as if He is), lunatic (acting like He’s out of His mind) or Lord (He is the best).” The stakes could be any higher for the writer of Hebrews. Jesus is the best. He is the Lord. And, He’s proven that His work is way better than Old Testament sacrifices and law keeping by giving His own blood to secure freedom from sin and a pure conscience. This sermon unpacks these types of truths. Hope it’s a blessing to you.
Weekend Recap – Better Sacrifice (1)
My sermon from 10/9/11AM entitled Better Sacrifice (1) from Hebrews 9:1-10 is now online. The sermon really unpacked the bad news on the limitations that were in place for the OT worshipper. There wasn’t access to God, but barriers and even the priests work was continual and dealt with outward realities. We need words like this occasionally to see the brightness of the Gospel.
I saw a good summary of my sermon on Google+ in a quote from John Bunyan:
“Run, John, run, the law commands but gives us neither feet nor hands;
Far better news the Gospel brings: it bids us fly and gives us wings.”
Hope you have a great week standing in awe of what God has provided for you to draw near to Himself through His Son.
Better Ministry – For Real!
My sermon from 10/2/11AM is online. The sermon was entitled Better Ministry and was out of Hebrews 8:6-13. This section of Scripture, which included the longest quote of the OT in the NT, pointed us to the ways in which Jesus’ ministry was better than the old covenant way of relating to God, since it was built on relationship and offered forgiveness for sins.
I trust it will help you to rest in the final work of Jesus alone for your sanity, but deeper, for your relating to God.
Weekend Recap – Heaven Is For Real
Yes, my sermon from 9/25/11AM entitled In Heaven from Hebrews 8:1-5 is now online and yes, it did talk about the reality of heaven. It seems the writer of Hebrews is bent on encouraging our perseverance, so he urges us to consider our present in light of eternity, or, specifically, in light of the reality wherein Christ serves. I hope the sermon was encouraging.
In the evening, my small group looked at the lack of gratitude we exhibit in the church and sought to fought that in the Gospel. I need to update my Facebook status accordingly: “God, thank you for the gift of Facebook and how it allows me to stay in touch with so many friends. Thank you also for the trials that come when they change things, knowing that you are working on my character through it.” Something like this should be our heart in everything.
Weekend Recap – Better Priest
Well, Sunday is complete and Monday Labor Day holiday has begun. We had a great morning yesterday singing about Jesus’ finished work, fellowshipping together and looking at Hebrews 7:11-19 in a sermon entitled A Better Priest. The sermon sought to show reasons why Jesus is a better high priest than the old order of Aaronic priests. It was pretty compelling that because of the power of Jesus’ indestructible life and the better hope He gives in our drawing near to God that He is better hands down.
I hope your Lord’s day was rich and rewarding as you sought the Lord. Blessings to you this week.
Weekend Recap – Pointer and Small Groups…
Happy Monday everyone. Hope you all are doing well as we get off and running on another week. I thought we had a tremendous Lord’s Day yesterday. God was so gracious to move and act in many ways and I continue to stand in awe of what we are learning about Him (and Jesus) through the book of Hebrews. Yesterday’s sermon, Pointer, from Hebrews 7:1-10 tried to hop on a trajectory or course that pointed us to Jesus as the main theme of the Bible. As I mentioned in the introduction, I wanted to dazzle everyone with Jesus’ character and superiority. I hope you found yourself delighting in Him. In the evening, we had great time in small groups, continuing to work our way through Jerry Bridges book Respectable Sins. My group looked, specifically, at the chapter on Anxiety, Worry and Frustration, which proved to be very fruitful for good Gospel application. Hope you have a blessed week!
Weekend Recap – Hoping in Promises
My sermon from 8/21/11 entitled Promise from Hebrews 6:13-20 is online. It was a great morning for us to see the hope that is ours in Christ. The picture of Christ being our anchor for today and having our security tied to His work for us in the holy place behind the veil was pretty stunning. I hope the reality of this helps you live this week.
In the evening, we had an encouraging report from our Immanuel Mission Team (they traveled to Arizona from July 31-August 7. Here’s the video from the Team:
All in all, we had a tremendous and amazing Lord’s Day and I hope you were blessed as well.
Weekend Recap – Confidence
Another weekend is in the books and we had a great one. I was coming off a 3 day/2 night retreat with our elders. We discussed 2012, future leaders, future plans, current visions and strategies and how we can be more effective in serving Crestview. Very good stuff.
On Sunday AM, my sermon Confidence came from Hebrews 6:9-12. The writer of Hebrews wrote to encourage these he had called out as spiritually immature by encouraging them to have confidence for the future based on how they lived today, not based on something in the past. Hope would be found as they rested in God’s promises and continued to trust Christ. I hope the sermon was encouraging to you. It said much about encouragement, serving others and assurance of salvation.
In the evening, our church met in small groups. We continue to discuss Jerry Bridges book Respectable Sins. My group discussed ungodliness. We thought about ways that we can repent of this by centering more on God throughout our daily lives.
It was a full day and weekend and we’re off on another one. Blessings to you as you seek to honor God in it.
Weekend Recap – The Hard, But Good, Work of Ministry…
Enjoyed a full Lord’s Day. The hard, but good, work of ministry included:
Preaching Hebrews 6:1-8 (which some consider to be one of the most difficult texts in the Bible) on Spiritual Immaturity, Part 2. We also enjoyed a visit from Wayne and Dianna Penner, who are transitioning from Brazil to South Africa this Winter.
In the evening, I presented a talk on why we are changing our strategy on ministering to children on Wednesday nights, including presenting our new curriculum God’s Story.
It’s hard to deal with difficult texts and change long standing programs but it is a good work. I trust that God will honor my attempts at faithfulness.
Weekend Recap – Full Day, Oh and…
…we dealt with immaturity as well. The audio from 7/31/11 is now online: Spiritual Immaturity (1) from Hebrews 5:11-14. The sermon sought to unpack the writer’s intent in moving people out of immaturity into maturity by centering them on the proper foundation of the Gospel.
On top of the sermon, we enjoyed a report from a missionary, commissioning of our Arizona mission team and the Lord’s Supper. It was a glorious and full morning. I hope you had a rich day of worship, as well.
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