From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

Connect

Weekend Recap – Maturity and Jesus’ Birth

by

My 12/9/18AM sermon, Jesus’ Birth: Possible with God from Luke 2:1-7, is now online.  The Advent series is With God All Things Are Possible.  This series is digging into Luke 1-2.  (By the way, I didn’t post last week’s sermon — Maturity: Possible with God, which looked at Zechariah’s maturity from Luke 1.  Feel free to check that sermon out, as well.)   We tend to easily forget that God made Jesus’ birth possible.  In this sermon, I’m hoping to provoke belief and worship through this familiar story.  I hope it encourages you.

Weekend Recap – New Series, Humility

by

You may well know that I love Christmas over all other holidays.  Most of my year is buiding in excitement for Advent being here.  On Sunday, November 25, we launched a new series at Crestview Bible Church.  For Advent this year, I’m plowing through Luke 1-2 and considering all the events that were possible with God.

The first sermon from Luke 1:36-56 was Humility: Possible with God.  We looked at Mary’s visiting her cousin Elizabeth and her song of praise (popularly known as The Magnificat).  I hope this sermon and this series encourages you.

Wrap of Ecclesiastes 2018 Series

by

This past Sunday, 11/18, I wrapped up a short 6 week series on the book of Ecclesiastes:

10/7 – Our Toil Under the Sun – Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

10/14 – Investigating Your Toil – Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26

10/21 – God’s Wisdom for Time and Life – Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:16

10/28 – God’s Sovereignty and Life Under the Sun – Ecclesiastes 5:1-7:29

11/11 – Fearing God With Joy – Ecclesiastes 8:1-9:18

11/18 – The End of the Matter – Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14

Many spoke of how this series affected them.  It was quite a challenge to condense the content to this short of a time frame, but it was enjoyable  I hope you were able to take advantage of these sermons.

Weekend Recap – Fearing God With Joy

by

We’re nearing the end of our short 2018 series on Ecclesiastes at Crestview Bible Church.  This series has been challenging to preach.  Digesting 12 chapters of Biblical truth into 6 sermons is challenging.  But, it’s been a fruitful study for our body.  My sermon from 11/11/18 Fear God with Joy (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9:18) is now online.  This sermon offered up some incentives to live life fearing God with joy.  I hope it encourages you.

H2Go Weekend with Matthew Ellison

by

This weekend, our church had a focused engagement with Matthew Ellison from Sixteen:Fifteen.  He preached Sunday from Acts 13-14 on An Audacious Mission for An Audacious Church.  On Saturday, he met with Crestview’s Leadership Pipeline and H2Go Team as we thought about engaging globally.  You can follow CBCH2Go on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.  Be in prayer, too, for God’s global plans through us as a people.  I hope it was an encouraging weekend for our body.

Ecclesiastes Sermons Oct 7 – 21

by

We are rolling at Crestview Bible Church in our Ecclesiastes.  There are lots of things happening in life right now, so I haven’t posted here lately.  So far, I’ve completed 3 sermons in the book of Ecclesiastes:

Our Toil Under the Sun – Introduction and Ecclesiastes 1:1-8 (10/7/18)

Investigating Your Toil – Ecclesiastes 1:9-2:26 (10/14/18)

God’s Wisdom for Time and Life – Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:16 (10/21/18)

What a challenging book?  I hope it’s bearing fruit in the lives of our people.  These are challenging sermons to prepare as I’m trying to move pretty quickly through this book.  I’m hoping you benefit as well.

 

Weekend Preview – Ecclesiastes

by

Lord willing, this coming Sunday, October 7, I’ll start a short series on Ecclesiastes at Crestview Bible Church.  Following up on what we learned in 1 Peter, how God provides hope for the outcasts, we think about our life in this world with appropriate wisdom.  This book will help us get there.

In preparing, I’ve been helped by the twitter feed of Ray Ortlund.  Here’s some tweets he made that relate to the entire book of Ecclesiastes.  Chew on these slowly as we begin to absorb the message of this book:

 

@rayortlund  Jun 7 2018

Ecclesiastes: You will not live long, but you can live well. You will soon die and be forgotten, with no lasting mark on this world. But in it all, God will be present, showering joyous gifts upon you in the simple experiences of daily life. Enjoy! And get ready to meet Him!‏

 

@rayortlund  Apr 19 2018

Taking two weeks off of Twitter for a deep dive into Ecclesiastes. A writing commitment beckons. Nixi joins me in bidding you a fond, lingering, achingly heartfelt farewell, y’all. ‏

 

@rayortlund  8 Nov 2017

If you’ve been defeated by life, you can’t see what’s the point, you’re giving up, good. You’re finally ready for wisdom (Ecclesiastes).‏

 

@rayortlund  8 Nov 2017

Our options: 1. Create our own meaning and permanence, and be crushed by reality. 2. Let God give us everything worth having, and enjoy the ride. (Ecclesiastes)

 

@rayortlund  8 Nov 2017

It is stunning to me how quickly even magnificent people are forgotten after they die. We just don’t last. And we are wise to accept that now (Ecclesiastes).‏

 

@rayortlund  13 Jun 2017

According to Ecclesiastes, two things stand out: (1) life is crazy; (2) God is involved. Wisdom is not mastering that, but accepting it.‏

 

@rayortlund  7 Jun 2017

Ecclesiastes invites us, out of our frantic, desperate giddiness, back into honesty, simplicity, gratitude, joy, serious thought, God.

 

@rayortlund  7 Jun 2017

If we try to make this life ultimate, we go crazy with rage. If we accept this life humbly, trusting in God, we become wise (Ecclesiastes).‏

 

@rayortlund  7 Jun 2017

Ecclesiastes: The good things of this life pass away. But momentary enjoyment is still right, if received gratefully from the hand of God.‏

 

@rayortlund 7 Jun 2017

An experience does not have to be infinite, eternal and final to be good. It can be limited and temporary and still good (Ecclesiastes).‏

 

@rayortlund  12 May 2017

Ecclesiastes strikes us as pessimistic only because our false idealism dies so hard. But if we’ve been shattered by life, it’s delightful.

 

@rayortlund  10 May 2017

Our significance isn’t in our achievements but in God who gave us our achievements. They can’t tell us we matter; he does (Ecclesiastes).

 

@rayortlund  1 May 2017

Another reason I love Ecclesiastes: it isn’t “religious.” No flowery evasions, no pious negativity. I hate religion, I love life.‏

 

@rayortlund  29 Apr 2017

I think I could be a Christian without the book of Ecclesiastes. But I’d be less realistic and honest with myself. Grateful. ‏

 

@rayortlund  29 Apr 2017

Ecclesiastes is saying, “Stop hoping this life will be The Ultimate Human Experience. It cannot be. But it’s still good. Roll with it.”‏

 

@rayortlund 29 Apr 2017

The book of Ecclesiastes proves that it’s possible to be disgusted and disillusioned with this world and still trust God and enjoy life.‏

 

@rayortlund  28 Apr 2017

Ecclesiastes frees us from two opposite errors: joyless, unsmiling grimness; and glib, giggly shallowness. We mature, and we laugh!

 

@rayortlund  28 Apr 2017

Ecclesiastes doesn’t destroy faith. It destroys misplaced faith, foolish idealism that tries to make the impossible succeed. This world!‏

 

@rayortlund  28 Apr 2017

Ecclesiastes takes an honest, unsparing look at the hard questions we ask, and it doesn’t blow us off with shallow answers. I love that.

 

@rayortlund  28 Apr 2017

If you want to understand what is happening is this world everywhere you look, absolutely everywhere, you’ll find it in Ecclesiastes.‏

 

@rayortlund  28 Apr 2017

If the book of Ecclesiastes suddenly disappeared, we would lose laser-clarity about our heartaches and God’s goodness. Huge loss.

 

@rayortlund  28 Apr 2017

More literal translations are to be preferred: NIV’s “Meaningless” versus ESV’s “Vanity” in Ecclesiastes. Vain, yes; meaningless, no.

 

@rayortlund  22 Apr 2017

Ecclesiastes teaches us an aspect of wisdom we don’t want: deeply accepting the frustrations in this life that refuse to yield to us.

 

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2017

Ecclesiastes relocates me. It moves me from unrealistic expectations to a simple, humble enjoyment of life as it really is. Grateful.

 

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2017

If we saw life with the eyes of Ecclesiastes, we’d be more tolerant of weakness and patient with failure. Just the way life is.‏

 

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2017

One reason for the angry frustration in our world: We aren’t reading Ecclesiastes. We keep expecting everyone to be smart, reasonable.‏

 

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2017

We don’t need grandiosity, mythology, self-exaltation. We need realism, humility. We need Jesus in Ecclesiastes. His peace awaits us.

 

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2017

I love the book of Ecclesiastes. Yes, it’s sobering and humbling. But in that very way it’s also freeing and relaxing. I’m better off.

‏

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2017

The rowdy exuberance of the Psalms and the meditative tenderness of Ecclesiastes are fully compatible. Both belong in the Christian mind.

 

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2017

The book of Ecclesiastes forms the rocks against which the winds of reality blow our ships of grandiosity. How else can we be rescued?‏

 

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2017

Job: wisdom for suffering. Proverbs: wisdom for success. Ecclesiastes: wisdom for mortality. Song of Songs: wisdom for sexuality.

 

@rayortlund  20 Apr 2017

We think, “When X happens, I’ll finally arrive.” But what if X does happen? It will let you down. Ecclesiastes warns us. But it’s okay.

 

@rayortlund  19 Apr 2017

Grateful for the honest realism of Ecclesiastes, without which the Bible might seem incomplete. But not a book of cynicism. Far from it.

 

@rayortlund  21 Apr 2016

We cannot buy our way out of futility, laugh our way out, think our way out, accomplish our way out (Ecclesiastes). But we can look to God.‏

 

@rayortlund  1 Jun 2015

What makes our lives worthwhile is not our impact on the world, which is fleeting, but our origin in God, who is good (Ecclesiastes).‏

 

@rayortlund  15 Oct 2014

I saw the Beatles, live, in concert. It was amazing. And I still needed salvation in Jesus. (Ecclesiastes)

 

@rayortlund  25 Sep 2013

Ecclesiastes teaches us to value our work not for its outcome (vanity) but for its source (God). Thus, gratitude.‏

 

@rayortlund  13 Jul 2013

Grateful for Ecclesiastes. Full of wise reflection, clear-eyed honesty, modest but effective remedies. Gospel preparation.

 

@rayortlund  9 Jul 2013

Proverbs articulates the “ground rules” of wisdom. Job and Ecclesiastes present the exceptions. We need both.

 

Weekend Recap – Suffering Leads To Glory for the Church

by

My 9/30/18AM sermon, Suffering Leads to Glory for the Church from 1 Peter 5:5-11, is now online.  On top of wrapping up the book of 1 Peter, this sermon helped give clarification and application for what we do with the book itself.  God is moving His people to glory, even if it takes bringing them through suffering.  And, these movements include: embracing humility, stepping into spiritual alertness, and anticipating glory.  It’s all active and calling for us to follow Jesus.  I hope this sermon encourages you.

Weekend Recap – Evangelism and Missions

by

My friend Thad Bergmeier preached for me on 9/23.  I asked him to do some training on evangelism during the Sunday School hour.  He did some My Circle Training, which is a simple method for intentional Gospel engagement.

During the AM sermon, Thad preached 1 Corinthians 10:23-31 on Glorifying God in Your Life.  I appreciated the application for how we need to think intentionally about engaging our unbelieving friends.