From One Degree to Another

Weekend Recap – Consider Jesus

July 9, 2012 by Phil Auxier

My 7/8/12AM sermon from Hebrews 12:3-4 was entitled Consider Jesus. In this sermon, we were built and further equipped in running our race of endurance by considering Jesus and His suffering. One part of this was encouragement: so that we don’t grow weary or fainthearted. And, the other part involved focusing us in our present circumstances, helping us keep our circumstances in perspective. Today, if you’re weary, fainthearted or just stumbling in running the race of endurance, consider Jesus and find hope for your perseverance.

Tweets from Revelation 4

July 4, 2012 by Phil Auxier

The Queen Mother (Happy Birthday, Mommy)

July 3, 2012 by Phil Auxier

As some of you may know, I’m at my Mom’s house in Southern Illinois this week to celebrate my Mom’s birthday (Today, July 3rd). I’ve posted a couple of times a tribute I wrote to my Mom on Mother’s Day, posting a picture of her being a queen (2007 & 2011). There’s lots that could be said about my Mom and what she means to me and my siblings. Here’s a couple of things…

1) Her Strength – when my father passed away tragically in 1998, I remember walking into my Mom’s house after driving all night and having her collapse in my arms. Those days of planning the funeral made me a man who had to be strong for my family, but I learned so much from my Mom’s strength in those days. Then, this year, after my Mom’s tireless service to her own father and his passing, I was reminded of her strength again. We know in many of our families that Mom holds much together. It is certainly true for us. Thanks, Mom, for being so strong.

2) Her Love – Never have I doubted my Mom’s love for me. Everything from being hard on me as a teenager to make right choices to calling me a few weeks ago to confess a way she might have wronged me when I was 14, my mother constantly showers me with love through her selfless life. She gives herself so much for our family and it’s hard for me to imagine life without her.

3) Her Faith – Growing up with both my grandfathers being pastors and then having a father who was a pastor, I have quite a heritage, but this also exists in my Mom’s life. When a SS teacher was needed, she learned how to teach in the youth department. When an organist was needed, she used her piano skills to learn how to play organ. She continues to live what she believes and this was even highlighted again as I interacted with Mom’s co-workers. Her faith continues to inspire me.

So, today, July 3, my Mom turns 65 years on this planet. These 65 years are a gift from God so that through her strength, love and faith, I might be pointed back to the God who blessed me with such a mother. Love you, Mom, and I’m praising God for you today.

Weekend Recap – Marathon

July 2, 2012 by Phil Auxier

My 7/1/12AM sermon from Hebrews 12:1-2 entitled The Race of Endurance is now online. While there are many directions one could go in this rich passage, I tried to woodenly stick with the main idea which is running the race (of the Christian life) with endurance. I saw the text unfold three helps for running that race of endurance more effectively.

We run in Christian community. The cloud of witnesses surrounding us aren’t there watching us run as mere spectators. They are there to provide a clear witness through their lives that running with perseverance is worth it in light of who God is.

We are also to run unconstrained. We let go of whatever would hinder our enduring. Certainly sin can keep us from running well since it clings closely and hinders our stride. But there are other weights and burdens that can keep us from running the race with endurance as well.

Finally, and most important, we run focused on Christ. He’s the aim. He’s made the race even possible for dead ones like you and me. He’s trailblazed this race before, running His own race to the cross with joy, treating all the shame as a small thing compared to honoring His Father. His ruling at God’s right hand now, makes this race all the more thrilling.

You might need to get your head in the game and run. But today, be encouraged and equipped in God’s Word: He’s given you all that you need for life and godliness, all you need to run well.

Tweets From Revelation 3

June 28, 2012 by Phil Auxier

In late May, I began 202 days of journaling through the 404 verses of the final book of the Bible, Revelation. To go along with my personal study and preparation to preach through this book in 2013, I’m trying to tweet something from every verse. Today I finished chapter 3. Here’s a compilation of my tweets followed by the reference.

Revelation 1 | Revelation 2

Jesus knows your involvement in the local church and whether or not it’s a show or for real. (Revelation 3:1)
Some of us need to WAKE UP from complacency & sloppy inconsistent living of what we believe. (Revelation 3:2)
God’s remedy: remember what you’ve learned, keep it and repent, lest He come. (Revelation 3:3)
Jesus always has a people who are set apart from the world, walking with Him. (Revelation 3:4)
As we persevere in faith, Jesus will keep us pure and persevering, commending us to the Father. #gloriousmystery (Revelation 3:5)
Not only is the Holy Spirit alive and real, He’s got something to say to the church. Listen up. (Revelation 3:6)
The church need to listen and be awed by Jesus, who is holy, true and fully of authority. (Revelation 3:7)
Jesus knows your life and is in control. Feel weak? He still calls you to honor His name. (Revelation 3:8)
Jesus will one day right the wrongs of deception out of love for His people. (Revelation 3:9)
Persevering in keeping God’s Word ensures that He will keep us, no matter what comes. (Revelation 3:10)
Because Jesus is surely returning, we ought to continue to persevere toward our eternal reward. (Revelation 3:11)
Perseverance = being established by God Himself, eternally. (Revelation 3:12)
Got ears? Listen to what God is saying…for reals. (Revelation 3:13)
When Jesus speaks, He speaks an an authoritative, reliable and relevant person. (Revelation 3:14)
Jesus knows your life and wants you to believe. (Revelation 3:15)
Casual Christianity (relating to God as it’s comfortable) isn’t appealing to Jesus. (Revelation 3:16)
Living life without an active dependence on God grossly underestimates your spiritual reality. (Revelation 3:17)
Jesus’ counsel is that we come to Him as desperately needy people. (Revelation 3:18)
Jesus demonstrates His love by correcting those He loves, so we should nurture a heart for Him. (Revelation 3:19)
Hey! Jesus longs for fellowship with His people, so give Him a warm welcome. (Revelation 3:20)
When we persevere in Jesus, in the end we are given a hero’s welcome by Him. (Revelation 3:21)
Open your ears and hear what Jesus has to say. (Revelation 3:22)

Get Your Head In the Game

June 27, 2012 by Phil Auxier

This coming Sunday, 7/1/12, we will be turning our attending to Running The Race of Endurance marked out for us from Hebrews 12:1-2. After highlighting the importance of perseverance and showing how faith relates to this, in chapter 12, our writer comes right out and tells us that we need to run the race of endurance. Sunday’s sermon will relate to how we can run this race more effectively, specifically highlighting the importance of Christian community, getting rid of obstacles and looking to Jesus.

As we prepare for Sunday, though, I thought I’d ask, are you in the race? There are way to many people in our church who treat Christianity as a casual thing. They do the church thing as it’s convenient for them. Sure, they would be quick to confess they love Jesus. But, when you press them, they don’t talk much about Jesus, how He’s working in their lives, or how He’s their passion. No, they are passionate about gardens, weather, building projects at home or a host of countless other things. As a pastor who feels the burden (like Paul felt) of presenting every man complete in Christ, I’m hoping God does a work this week to get people’s heads in the game. There’s a race to run. There’s a life to live. If we’re not aggressively centering all of it in Jesus, we can easily lose sight of the things of most importance. Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: “Let us run with endurance the race marked out for us.” Headed in that direction with you…

Building Intimacy With A Spouse Who Has Different Interests…

June 26, 2012 by Phil Auxier

Great insight here from David Powlison:

Weekend Recap – New Covenant & Faith

June 25, 2012 by Phil Auxier

My 6/24/12AM sermon from Hebrews 11:39-40 entitled Faith and The New Covenant is now online. There’s lots of excuses made as to why one can’t live a life of faith, but, Biblically speaking, we have every reason in the world to aggressively pursue it. Simply put, because of the new covenant blessings that are ours in Christ, faith should be the natural way we relate to God. In this closing passage to Hebrews 11, I try to make the case that we should live by faith because that it is a path, a way of life, that is blessed by God. Further, it’s how righteous people live. There’s no other way.

I hope you enjoyed a great Lord’s Day.

Couple of Things From Elder’s Retreat…

June 22, 2012 by Phil Auxier

As you may know, I am away on an Elder’s Retreat with our church’s leadership. We have a great time together and have spent all day praying, planning and seeking how God would particularly like us to move. We also have fun.

Here’s a video of a place we ate at last night, which was excellent:

This morning, we got rolling by working through this recent article entitled Progress In the Christian Life from the latest Life Action Revive Magazine. Two prayers, in particular, stood out to us as we began our journey today.

George Whitefield:
“God, give me a deep humility and a burning love, a well-guided zeal and a single eye, and then let men and devils do their worst!”

And a prayer at the end:
“O Lord Jesus, make me happy enough in you to avoid sin, and wise enough in you to avoid danger, that I may always do what is right in your sight. In your name I pray, amen.”

We have had a truly amazing day. Thanks for praying for us. We are humbled to be a part of God’s work and continue to praise Him as THE HOPE for our future.

Elders, Unity, Retreat…

June 21, 2012 by Phil Auxier

Starting today, the Elders I get the privilege to serve with will be taking some time to get away, pray, focus on long term vision and have unhurried discussion about many areas of the future. We are taking our wives with us for some of this, to build into them and experience good fellowship together. It really is a rich time. Psalm 133 speaks of how good and pleasing it is for brothers to dwell together in unity and likens it to rich oil dripping down the head. God is blessed when we lavish a spirit of unity on one another. This is one component of how meaningful these times are. While we are by no stretch of the imagination perfect, at the end of the day, we are in this great cause for the Gospel together.

So, if you take the time to read this, would you mention a prayer for our time together, that God would be glorified as we seek Him, seek His heart, and try to shepherd Crestview to the glory of God.