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Weekend Recap 1/17 – OT Story

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Last night, we began a series of sermons highlighting the Old Testament story. The first sermon, using various references but springing from John 5:39-40, entitled Jesus: The Point of the OT is now online.

One application I pressed toward the end, of which I have been guilty in the passed is to avoid moralizing. What is moralizing? “reading the Old Testament not to learn about Jesus, but only to learn principles for how to live my life as a good person by following the good examples of some people and avoiding the bad examples of others” (as defined by Driscoll in A Book You’ll Actually Read on the Old Testament).

Another application I pressed was to look for Jesus in the OT. An interview with John Sailhamer on his latest book, the Meaning of the Pentateuch, was very helpful is seeing a balance and avoiding overspiritualizing.

At any rate, I hope you are encouraged to see how every page of the Bible “whispers His name” and ask God that through this series, we would have spiritual eyes to behold Jesus in the Old Testament.

AM Recap from 1/17 – Reconciled!

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Today’s sermon, Before and After, from Colossians 1:21-22 is now online. The sermon sought to highlight snapshots of God’s reconciling work for us. Before Christ, we were in need of reconciliation. We are reconciled through Jesus’ death on the cross and the result of this is positive – we are presented holy, blameless and above reproach before Him. I thought the sermon got to some good truth for me. I need to be humble and patient with unbelievers who don’t necessarily understand the truth of the Gospel. And, I can have confidence for the future only because of Christ, not my performance.

Any thoughts from anyone else?

Weekend Wrap Up – Small Groups…

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Our Sunday PM message, In One Body, from Colossians 3:12-15 is also online. This sermon was my attempt to answer the question, Why do we do small groups? This extraordinary passage calls us to put on Godly characteristics, Godly actions and to pursue Godly unity. To have a context to do these things with other believers, we have small groups. We had a great response of people getting plugged in to relationship with one another. This winter/spring, we will be studying the Gospel Centered Life curriculum from Serge. I am very excited about this curriculum which deals with three questions:
1) What is the Gospel?
2) What does the Gospel do in us?
3) How does the Gospel work through us?

I hope you can be plugged into a small group and grow in grace.

Weekend Wrap Up – Scripture Memory…

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Yesterday’s AM sermon, Indwelling Word, from Colossians 3:16 is online. After our Week of Prayer, we take time to consider how God’s Word can be a part of our lives each year and this year, we decided to launch a Scripture Memory Program church wide. We hoped that our lives individually, our lives in families and our life as a corporate body would all benefit. It was exciting to see how people grabbed onto this. We ran out of books (which meant over 1/2 of our congregation will be involved in this). Here’s what I wrote to introduce the book:

As a church, we are embarking on a new emphasis here. Beginning Sunday, January 10, 2010, we will be seeking to memorize a verse of Scripture each week. All of our publications will use the ESV, since that is the translation we use in the pulpit ministry of Crestview.

This emphasis comes for a few reasons:
1) We want to be characterized by widespread Scripture memory together. As God’s Word is hidden in our hearts, the spiritual benefits we can pursue collectively will undoubtedly multiply.
2) We wanted a simple way to promote family worship. By encouraging our people to be hovering over a particular verse each week, we will be encouraging families to be hiding God’s Word in their hearts together.
3) We wanted to create a simple way to deepen relationships we have with one another in spiritual ways. When you get together for coffee, to exercise, for fellowship or study, we can simply ask, “Do you know this week’s verse?” and be able to transition into spiritual discussions.
4) God’s Word being hidden in our hearts should help us fight against sin week in and week out.
5) Many of us believe this is a great thing, but we need a plan. We are implementing a plan, then, to help us remain disciplined in this.

Dallas Willard has said, “Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our mind with what it needs. The book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it. How does it get in your mouth? Memorization.”

It is in this spirit, then, that the Elders recommend this pursuit to you. May it inspire you and encourage you to glorify and enjoy God, forever.

I hope you have a great week storing up God’s Word in your heart. (Our verse for this first week is Genesis 1:1.)

Wrap Up on Prayer

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Today’s sermon, which was overview from Colossians on Prayer, is now online. This sermon helped to serve our church by kicking off the Week of Prayer. We were encouraged to pray:

– gratefully
– for growth
– for the Gospel’s progress
and – with discipline

I was encouraged by the example of Epaphras in Colossians 4:12, who of whom it was said his prayers were striving for the growth of others. I hope you practice prayer this week and you are encouraged to depend on God for all things in 2010.

Preeminence

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Today’s sermon, Preeminence, from Colossians 1:19-20 is online. I thought we had a great morning. The sermon itself focused on Jesus’ incarnation as well as His death to reconcile sinners. It was encouraging to look at these truths, because I know in my sin, I don’t focus on Christ the way I need to during this season.

Anything stick out to anyone out there?

Who Is Jesus (2)

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Had a great Lord’s Day today yesterday. The sermon, Who is Jesus? (2), from Colossians 1:17-18 is now online. The two aspects of Christ’s person that I developed were the fact that He is the sustainer of all creation and that He is the leader of the church.

I was personally encouraged that Jesus is Savior worth hoping in. He is holding all things together. When it seems like my life is crumbling and falling apart, Colossians 1:17 reminds me that He is in control. Any other applications out there?

Transferred…

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Yesterday’s sermon, Transfer Orders, from Colossians 1:13-14 is now online. The text is simple review for those of us who have tasted and seen the Lord’s goodness in the Gospel — we are delivered from darkness to the kingdom of Jesus, receiving redemption and forgiveness. My charge to believers was, using the context, to increase in knowledge of these truths more and more and, in so doing, live a life pleasing to the Lord characterized by gratitude.

What emotions does the Father’s saving work in your produce?

Sunday Recap – Pleasing God

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Yesterday, we look at Colossians 1:11-12 in a sermon entitled Pleasing Him. This sermon really focused our attention on our need of grace from God and how He’s shown such amazing grace in giving us the Gospel. These points flowed from the general theme of what it looks like to walk in God’s will or in a manner pleasing to Him or walking in a manner worthy of Him.

I was encouraged to see how God is able to give us strength in circumstances and with people. These are situations in which many of us feel helpless. But, God is there to give grace. I hope your heart was encouraged.

Weekend Recap – The Church and Her God

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Today’s sermons are now online. In the AM, I entitled the sermon Ecclesiology 101. We were looking at Titus 2:1-8 and how a church that glorifies God ought to function. Specifically, churches ought to teach doctrine so that lives are affected, have specific ministries that equip men and women to be who God intended them to be and, finally, churches are to be godly examples and adorn the Gospel through their actions. It was good to be reminded of how God thinks the church ought to function.

In the PM, we finished up Hosea, looking at Hosea 13:4-14:9 in a sermon I entitled “Love and Justice.” In these two chapters, God’s attributes are on display for us to behold. As we beheld, them, though, I was driven to marvel at the Gospel implications that are found therein. Hosea has been a great study. It is the first time I marched through a prophet, which was a challenge but a very rich thing.

All in all, it was a great Lord’s Day being with the church, learning about the church and marveling at her great God.