tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15643227013666755592024-03-08T12:58:18.093-06:00Growing in God's Word through the Ministry of the WordThe purpose of this blog is to help people understand the Word of God better, because it's only when we understand what God has to say (as opposed to what man has to say) that we are saved from sin and discipled by Christ. The Church is the bride for whom Christ died and therefore this blog is not a substitute for the local church, but a supplement to what every gospel church seeks to do.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-63538951951069662752019-11-12T15:17:00.002-06:002019-11-12T15:21:15.105-06:00November 10, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 20:19-26 - God and the Government</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay
hands on Him, but they feared the people[fn]—for they knew He had spoken
this parable against them.<br />
20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous,
that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power
and the authority of the governor.<br />
21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach
rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of
God in truth:<br />
22 “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”<br />
23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?[fn]<br />
24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”<br />
25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”<br />
26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.</span><br />
Related verses:<br />
Mark 12:<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.</span><br />
Romans 13:<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is
no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are
appointed by God.<br />
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.<br />
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want
to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have
praise from the same.<br />
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be
afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s
minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.<br />
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.<br />
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.<br />
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due,
customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.</span><br />
Acts 4:<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right
in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.<br />
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."</span><br />
Acts 5:<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."</span><br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. What did Jesus do after the authority of Jesus was questioned by the Jewish religious leaders? What was the emphasis? <br />
2. What kept the religious leaders from laying hands on Jesus at that
time? What were the possible feelings of the crowds towards Jesus?<br />
3. What were the differences between the Jewish religious leaders and the Jewish government leaders (Herodians)? <br />
4. Why did they form an alliance? What was their plan? What was their objective?<br />
5. Why do we need to pray for discernment, especially during the upcoming political season?<br />
6. What should we do when the ultimate authority of God clashes with
the less than ultimate but still powerful authority of the government?<br />
7. How did these Pharisee and Herodian spies design the question so
that no matter how Jesus answers someone will get offended and kill Him?<br />
8. Why was the method Jesus used to answer the question so impressive? <br />
9. What was significant about the coin itself and the tax law connected with it?<br />
10. What does Christ’s answer teach us about when the authority of God and the authority of the government clash?<br />
11. Why did God give us governments in the first place?<br />
12. What two things does God say we owe our government? Why?<br />
13. Does this mean we must honor the government no matter what? <br />
14. What are some examples the Bible gives us to think through as we
consider these difficult decisions? What do we need to remember when we
make our choices?<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion:</b> <br />
In the end Christ’s teaching about rendering or giving “to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” is a
masterful response when it comes to dealing with clashes between God and
the government because while this statement rightly recognizes the
authority of both God and the government it also recognizes God’s final
authority over the government. And so Luke 20:26 concludes by saying,
“they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people.
And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.” Using His unrivaled
wisdom Christ’s answer didn’t offend God or the government, because
Christ’s answer appropriately honored both. We as Christ’s people must seek to do the same.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nMdwLCsk53TeerF-vVQJkxPt39_AqjCO/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nMdwLCsk53TeerF-vVQJkxPt39_AqjCO/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-54143047666826586822019-11-07T18:26:00.000-06:002019-11-08T10:20:59.850-06:00November 3, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 20:9-19 - Your Responsibility to Trust the Divine Cornerstone</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a
vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a
long time.<br />
10 “Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they
might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers
beat him and sent him away empty-handed.<br />
11 “Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.<br />
12 “And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.<br />
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send
my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’<br />
14 “But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves,
saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance
may be ours.’<br />
15 “So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?<br />
16 “He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to
others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”<br />
17 Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:<br />
‘The stone which the builders rejected<br /> Has become the chief cornerstone’? </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">18 “Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”<br />
19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay
hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken
this parable against them.</span><br />
<br />
Related Scripture:<br />
Matthew 21: 40-41<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”<br />41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. What is the point of the parable?<br />
2. Who is the intended audience of the parable?<br />
3. What is important to note about the two very different
reactions that are given at the end of this parable according to Matthew
and Luke?<br />
4. Why is the setting of this parable in a vineyard significant?<br />
5. Although sending representatives to collect the owner's share of a
harvest was typical of how things were done in the ancient world, what
was atypical in the actions of the tenants?<br />
6. While the owner hoped that the tenant farmers would recognize
the authority of the beloved son, what did the tenant farmers hope to gain by doing what they did?<br />
7. When Jesus asked the question about what would the owner do to those
who had killed his son, what did the people say? Why did the Jewish
leaders have a different reaction?<br />
8. What is the break down of the symbolism from this parable. In what ways did Jesus applies Psalm 118:22-23 to Himself? <br />
9. What are some verses where God is identified as a Rock or a Stone?
Where does the New Testament say that Jesus Christ is the same as that
Old Testament Rock or Stone? How does this apply to today's lesson?<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion: </b><br />
<br />
And this brings us back to the main point of Christ’s Parable of the
Vineyard. Every single human being has a responsibility to trust and
obey Jesus Crist. And one of the reasons why is because we are sinners.
Your sin separates you from God even though you need God in order to
obtain eternal life. Therefore you need the forgiveness of sins that
only comes through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. But if
you come before Christ without faith your sins will cause His holiness
to either break you or crush you. And you will be left out of the
glorious kingdom that is coming with the new heaven and the new earth.
So quite being obstinate like the tenant farmers in this text! Humbly submit yourself to the Lord Jesus and He will save you.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rjI8jNR1cpV02r0xAbFdXSmFcvy9r6Xi/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-211872582087669702019-10-29T15:17:00.001-05:002019-10-29T15:17:10.607-05:00October 27, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 20:1-8 - By What Authority?</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the
temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes,
together with the elders, confronted Him<br />
2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”<br />
3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:<br />
4 “The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”<br />
5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then[fn] did you not believe him?’<br />
6 “But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”<br />
7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.<br />
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. What is one of the most important characteristics about each of us? Why?<br />
2. Which authorities are fallible? By what authority does Jesus Christ do all the things that He does?<br />
3. What is significant about the day as it marks the second day of
Jesus Christ teaching publically in the temple of Jerusalem.<br />
4. What is the most important teaching Jesus had to share as well as the most important teaching that we could ever share?<br />
5. With what questions do the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders confront Jesus at the end of Luke 20 verse 1? Why does it matter?<br />
6. How does that relate to some current political messages?<br />
7. Why is it important to know what kind of authority Jesus has when we are challenged when sharing the gospel?<br />
8. Where does Christ’s authority come from?<br />
9. What pressures are being applied to Christians today? What can we
learn from Jesus in his response to those trying to trap him and get him
into trouble?<br />
10. Instead of being weighed down by this pressure to either cave in or remain silent, what should we do? <br />
11. What are some current trends in government making decisions without God and what does the falling birthrate have to do with them?<br />
12. What were the concerns of the Jewish leaders when Jesus asked the question about John the Baptist?<br />
13. Why would saying John’s baptism and ministry were from heaven be problematic?<br />
14. What was their response and why did that give the answer to where Jesus got his authority?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
<br />
Jesus has the authority to clear the temple of corruption and He has the
authority to share the gospel by telling people to repent of their sins
and trust in Him in order to receive salvation from sin, death, and
hell because He is the Son of God. And Hebrews 1:1-4 speaks of the absolute authority of the Son of God when it says,<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,<br />
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed
heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;<br />
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His
person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had
by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on
high,<br />
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.</span><br />
<br />
So who is your final authority? Who has the final say when it comes what
you think, what you say, and what you do? Everybody has a final
authority, but only one has the power to comfort you on your deathbed.
And that’s Jesus Christ the one who conquered death itself. So if you
have not yet begun to trust in Jesus today is the day. As 2 Corinthians
6:2 says, “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of
salvation I have helped you.</span>" Behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.”
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BLeIWtCXEM6_WAm8t1h83fzYOjpSBLaB/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BLeIWtCXEM6_WAm8t1h83fzYOjpSBLaB/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-59661468721109418962019-10-29T13:28:00.003-05:002019-10-29T13:28:52.035-05:00October 20, 2019<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 19:41-48 - Weeping and Cleansing</h1>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,<br />
42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the
things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your
eyes.<br />
43 “For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an
embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,<br />
44 “and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they
will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know
the time of your visitation.”<br />
45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,<br />
46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”<br />
47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the
scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him,<br />
48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
1. What are the two events at the end of Chapter 19?<br />
2. What are some things told in Luke 19:41-44 that the other three Gospels do not mention?<br />
3. Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?<br />
4. What does this say about the people’s knowledge of God’s Word? How
is this like people of today? What is the reason for this? <br />
5. How does the Great Commission apply to all of us? Why is what we do important?<br />
6. How does verse 43 match what happened during the
Roman siege of Jerusalem that occurred 37 years later in 70 AD?<br />
7, What does “the stones will cry out!” signify about the Roman siege?<br />
8. What were the renovations on the temple that Herod the Great made? For what reason did Jewish religious leaders welcome the
use of the marketplace? <br />
9. Why was Jesus upset with how it was being used? How does this lesson relate to us?<br />
10. Beside knowing what God's Word says, what others things do we need
to do to help us live as we ought to live? What can we do to help
others?<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion: </b><br />
<br />
Are you captivated by the Word of God? Do you see the Bible for what it
really is: Words of life? Do you see in Jesus the forgiveness of sins
and the hope of conquering death? You need to.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nHZZ7poghQvGxCPTDmlNNqTmOGjJ-Yp0/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nHZZ7poghQvGxCPTDmlNNqTmOGjJ-Yp0/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-71436613214925499042019-10-29T12:28:00.001-05:002019-10-29T12:28:56.685-05:00 October 13, 2019<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Why We Believe What We Believe About Baptism</h1>
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. How did Baptists affect some early history of the US?<br />
2. What are some precursors of baptism mentioned in the Old Testament?
According to some verses in the New Testament, what do these actions
anticipate?<br />
3. How does the story of Naaman’s leprosy in 2 Kings Chapter 5 relate to baptism?<br />
4. How is the baptism of the Old Testament different from the baptism of John the Baptist?<br />
5. To whom was John the Baptist referring in Matthew 3:11? What changes in the practice of baptism was he predicting?<br />
6. What are the types of baptism Jesus instituted? How do they differ?<br />
7. What does it mean to baptize? What does Romans 6: 4-5 mean?<br />
8. Who is baptism for?<br />
9. What must precede baptism? What about babies?<br />
10. Can physical baptism save or is it necessary for salvation? What about the invisible baptism of the Holy Spirit?<br />
11. What about the two robbers who were crucified with Jesus? Where did
Jesus say he would go between His death and resurrection?<br />
12. Why is physical baptism important?<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion: </b><br />
<br />
Now there’s a lot more that could be said on the topic of baptism, but
the most important point is one that has already been made and that’s
how baptism points to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Baptism points to the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross
for your sins. And when the Bible says that Jesus was dead it really
means He was dead. So dead in fact that Jesus was buried. But thankfully
Jesus didn’t stay dead. He came up out of the grave alive so that you
too could have hope of life after death. All you have to do in order to
receive this forgiveness and this hope is
repent of your sins and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And should you make that decision I hope you will also take a step of
obedience and step into the waters of baptism just like Tucker did.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture references:</span><br />
Ceremonial laws contained in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and
Numbers; Mark 7:4; Luke 11:38; 2 Kings Chapter 5<br />
Acts 19:1-7<br />
John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming
after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.</span>"<br />
1 Corinthians 12:13 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body––whether Jews or
Greeks, whether slaves or free––and have all been made to drink into one
Spirit.</span>"<br />
Matthew 28:19 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit</span>,"<br />
Mark 1:9 Jesus “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">was baptized by John in the
Jordan</span>”; Mark 1:10 talks about them “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">coming up from the water.</span>” <br />
Acts 8:38 says, “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,
and he baptized him.</span>” Acts 8:39 adds that “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">they came up out of the
water.</span>”<br />
Romans 6:4-5 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death,
that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His
death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,</span>"<br />
Act 2:37-38 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and
said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what
shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you
be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'</span>"<br />
Act 2:41 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.</span>"<br />
Acts 18:8 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all
his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were
baptized.</span>"<br />
Psalm 51:5; Romans Chapter 5; 1 Corinthians Chapter 15<br />
When David’s infant son died he said in 2 Samuel 12:23 “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.</span>”<br />
Deuteronomy 1:39 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be
victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in
there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.</span>"<br />
Matthew 19:14 “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Let the little children come to Me, and
do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.</span>”<br />
Romans 8:9 "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of
God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he
is not His.</span>"<br />
Baptism by the Holy Spirit “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">which now saves us</span>” according to 1 Peter 3:21<br />
Matthew
27:38: "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">two robbers were crucified with Him</span>"; Matthew 27:44: At
first, "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him</span>"<br />
Luke 23:39-43: "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed
Him, saying, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.' But the
other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing
you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we
receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing
wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into
Your kingdom.' And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today
you will be with Me in Paradise.</span>'<br />
John 16:16: "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little
while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.</span>"
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wrwdl3NrgTspAjJAffREmJ3XefiaiogG/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wrwdl3NrgTspAjJAffREmJ3XefiaiogG/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-31641303234706218762019-10-28T21:57:00.001-05:002019-10-28T21:58:38.075-05:00October 6, 2019<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 19:28-40 - The Entrance of a King</h1>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage[fn] and Bethany,
at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you
will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring
it here.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">31 “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives,
the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God
with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’[fn]</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. How do we know the exact dates in history when the Passion Week or Suffering Week of
Jesus Christ took place? Why is this important?<br />
2. What did Jesus send two of His disciples to do? What was the reasons for the mission? What is the lesson in this?<br />
3. What is an additional piece of instruction which Jesus gives to His disciples? Why is this important? How does it relate to us?<br />
4. What are the acts of service towards Christ in these verses? Who were performing these services? What does it signify?<br />
5. What does the death of the body mean for believers?<br />
6. How did the Pharisees react to people gathering and praising Jesus? Could our culture react in the same way?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion: </span><br />
<br />
If Jesus really is who He is. If He really is King of Kings, LORD of
Lords, and Savior of the World… How can we not confess and praise Jesus
as such before a watching world? Because if we don’t; nature itself will
testify to this fact. As Romans 1:20 says,<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal
power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,</span> Creation itself proves that there is a Creator God. And this God has
further revealed Himself to us by becoming a Man named Jesus Christ. Yes
it may cost you something to confess Jesus for who He really is, but
remember this: It cost Jesus His life in order to save yours. Jesus
entered into the city of Jerusalem on Sunday, March 29, 33 AD in
order to take the punishment of your sins and die on the following
Friday. He did this so you could have “Peace in heaven and glory in the
highest!” And since Jesus did that for you, how could you not confess and praise Him before others?
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DhpFL2a2GTAbqcOMfpDj_VahlL5Qva9f/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DhpFL2a2GTAbqcOMfpDj_VahlL5Qva9f/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-26729916083919775852019-10-28T21:13:00.000-05:002019-10-28T21:17:13.347-05:00September 29, 2019<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 19:11-28 - Responsibility while Waiting for the King</h1>
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He
was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would
appear immediately.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">13 “So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas,[fn] and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">14 “But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he
then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be
called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by
trading.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">16 “Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">18 “And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">19 “Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">21 ‘For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">22 “And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you
wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I
did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">23 ‘Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. Despite Jesus clearly telling his disciples what would happen, what did they expect to happen?<br />
2. What does Jesus tell us in Matthew 24:14? How does that relate nations or people groups? What are some misconceptions about the end times?<br />
3. What are the differences between the Parable
of the Minas in Luke 19:12-27 and the Parable
of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30?<br />
4. How did the Herod family come to have control over Jewish lands when
those lands were under the authority of the Roman Empire? What does that
have to do with the text? How does that compare to what Jesus will be
doing?<br />
5. What hope does Jesus give us? What should we do in the meantime?<br />
6. The Bible teaches that every person in the world is a slave. Who are you a slave to?<br />
7. What does “Do business till I come.” mean for us?<br />
8. Why do some people not receive this gospel as good news?<br />
9. What happened after the death of Herod? How did Jesus apply Archelaus’ situation to His own? How does that relate to what is going on today?<br />
10. What are the lessons to be learned from the Parable of the Talents and the
Parable of the Minas?<br />
11. How is the person who hid what he was given like people who refuse to believe in Jesus?<br />
12. How can we apply these lessons to our lives today?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion: </span><br />
In Genesis 18:25 (NRSV) Abraham asks, “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Shall not the Judge of all the
earth do what is just?</span>” The answer is, “Yes!” The love of God and the
justice of God are not compartmentalized. All the attributes of God work
together. And when a person spends their whole life in rebellion
against God,
despite God proving His existence through nature and showing His saving
grace through the Scriptures then God has no other choice. Unrepentant
sin against an eternal God justly deserves eternal punishment. And we
know that the love of God and the justice of God both work together
because the cross is picture of both. After Jesus says these things,
Luke 19:28 says Jesus went on ahead going
up from the valley of Jericho to the mountains of Jerusalem. And Jesus
goes to Jerusalem in order to go to the cross. And when Jesus goes to the cross He does so both because of His love and His justice.<br />
<br />
The cross demonstrates Christ’s love because it was His love for you
that compelled Christ to go there. Yet the cross also demonstrates
Christ’s justice because by dying on the
cross Jesus takes the punishment for your sins upon Himself. God’s love
and God’s justice are not separate from each other. Instead they are
united in the cross. So what is your response to Christ? Will you be
about the business of discipleship until He comes or will you be
destroyed in your ungrateful laziness? The decision is yours.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j_7AUiJ3ZnmyXZpAfPbGJDe_ZGOwlHYK/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j_7AUiJ3ZnmyXZpAfPbGJDe_ZGOwlHYK/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-76949461565955020362019-10-24T21:34:00.000-05:002019-10-24T21:36:11.780-05:00September 15, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 19:1-10 - The Salvation of Zacchaeus</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him,[fn]
and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must
stay at your house.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give
half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone
by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
1. What are some interesting things the Bible has to say about Zacchaeus?<br />
2. How does Proverbs 14:12, "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.</span>" relate to Zacchaeus’ misdeeds and to the sins of us all?<br />
3. What is Zacchaeus looking for? What does he need? How does that relate to us?<br />
4. What are some interesting things about sycamore trees? What is the important reason that Zacchaeus climbed the tree?<br />
5. What important lessons do we learn from Luke 19:5 and John 1:12-13?<br />
6. How do these verses relate to Luke 19:5?<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Acts 17:30-31 says,<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world
in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given
assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.</span></div>
Acts 3:19,<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Repent therefore and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord,</span></div>
Acts 2:38,<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and
let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."</span></div>
Mark 1:15 Jesus says,
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”</span></div>
</div>
7. What is the timeline of the stories of Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus?<br />
8. How does Luke 19:8-10 relate to the following verses?<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
Ephesians 2:8-10 <br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.</span></div>
</div>
9. What are the requirements in Leviticus 6:5 and Numbers 5:7 and Exodus
22:1 about how much thieves are required to restore? What might we
learn from what Zacchaeus chose to do?<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion: </b><br />
Soon Jesus will be in Jerusalem where He will suffer, die, and rise
again, but before that happens Zacchaeus becomes the fulfillment of many
things has Jesus taught earlier. Let me give you some examples: What does Zacchaeus’ name mean again? It means “pure” or “innocent.” What did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:8? Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Zacchaeus’ heart wasn’t pure at first, but it became pure through
Christ’s forgiveness and He saw God just like all believers will see God
after we take our last breath.<br />
<br />
Here’s something else the Bible teaches us that is fulfilled in
Zacchaeus: In Luke 19:9 Jesus says salvation has come to Zacchaeus
because he is a son of Abraham. Now we know that all Jews (including
Zacchaeus) are physically descended from Abraham, but near the beginning
of our study of this book we read in Luke 3:8, "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Therefore bear fruits
worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have
Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up
children to Abraham from these stones.</span>"<br />
<br />
This teaching is further explained in Galatians 3:6-9,<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying,
"In you all the nations shall be blessed."</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.</span></div>
According to Jesus whether or not you are physically descended from
Abraham is irrelevant when it comes to salvation. What matters instead
is you being a spiritual descendant of Abraham in that you have faith in
God just like Abraham did, because only faith can save you. Salvation
comes to Zacchaeus because he is a spiritual son of Abraham. Are you?<br />
What else have we been taught that is fulfilled in Zacchaeus? Not long ago we studied Luke 18:16-17 which reads,<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">16 But Jesus called them to Him
and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them;
for of such is the kingdom of God.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."</span></div>
Zacchaeus climbed a tree just to see Jesus. And as I said before
climbing a tree was considered childish behavior back then especially
for someone of Zacchaeus’ status. Yet Zacchaeus did it. He looks toward
Jesus as a little child looks toward their parents and that’s exactly
the level of faith and trust it takes in order to be saved.<br />
But there’s one more thing Jesus taught that is fulfilled in Zacchaeus. Look at Luke 18:24-27,<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">24 And when Jesus saw that he
became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have
riches to enter the kingdom of God!</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">26 And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">27 But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."</span></div>
The rich young synagogue ruler walked away from Jesus without
salvation showing just how hard it is for the rich (as well as everyone
else for that matter) to be saved. Indeed it is easier for a literal
camel to go through the literal eye of a needle than for a rich person
to find eternal life. And a camel going through the eye of needle alive
is impossible, but things that are impossible for us are possible for
the Almighty God who made us. The rich young synagogue ruler didn’t get
saved, but by the almighty power of God the rich thief Zacchaeus does. And if Jesus Christ can forgive him, what makes you think that He can’t forgive you?<br />
Jesus “has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” And if that doesn’t make you praise God I don’t know what will.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hVevdD7uljE1dZrciSauT7vZy_B6UzNF/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hVevdD7uljE1dZrciSauT7vZy_B6UzNF/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-55022371957672909592019-09-11T18:41:00.003-05:002019-09-11T18:47:27.939-05:00September 8, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 18:35-43 - Blind Bartimaeus</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:<br />
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.<br />
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.<br />
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.<br />
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his
peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on
me.<br />
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,<br />
41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.<br />
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.<br />
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying
God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. How are the four Gospels alike? How are they different?<br />
2. Can some details that at first glance may sound contradictory be explained?<br />
3. What is Satan’s favorite question to use to attack us?<br />
4. Matthew Chapter 20, Mark Chapter 10, and Luke Chapter 18 all speak of
the same event. How does Mark Chapter 10 help explain the perceived
difference between Matthew 20:29 and Luke 18:35 about where the event
happened?<br />
5. What is the explanation for the perceived difference in Luke 18:35 and Matthew 20:30? How does Mark 10:46 support the explanation?<br />
6. How can many of the so called contradictions in the Bible be explained?<br />
7. How can you find answers? Who is John Gill and how can his commentaries help us?<br />
8. What do two articles, one from Christianity Today and the other from
The Gospel Coalitio, tell us about Christian Colleges and Universities?<br />
9. What does this text have to say about who Jesus is?<br />
10. What does the text teach us about the timing of our prayers being answered?<br />
11 What happened immediately after the prayers of blind Bartimaeus and his companion were answered? Why is this important?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
Even if God isn’t answering a prayer you are praying right now He has
answered other prayers. Indeed as soon as you prayed for the forgiveness
of your sins because you believe in the person and work of Jesus
Christ, that prayer was answered as soon as you made it. Blind
Bartimaeus and his companion had that level of faith when they called
Jesus the Son of David. Most translations of Luke 18:42 say, Then Jesus
said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." But a
more literal translation of Luke 18:42 (NRSV) reads, Jesus said to him,
"Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." Because of their faith
in Jesus, Bartimaeus and his companion weren’t just healed from their
blindness; more importantly they were saved from sin, death, and hell.<br />
<br />
You can be too, so long as you repent of your sins and trust in Jesus.
And if you’ve prayed that prayer and received this great gift of
salvation then you understand why everyone in this text is praising God
and also why you need to praise Him. God is worthy of worship because of all the great things He has done.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
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<br />
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-33575866338850132292019-09-11T17:40:00.001-05:002019-09-11T17:40:02.771-05:00September 1, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 18:31-34 - Predictions of Christ’s Suffering, Death, and Resurrection</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go
up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets
concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.<br />
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:<br />
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.<br />
34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. Why were those who were following Jesus fearful during this
climactic journey to Jerusalem? What were some of their concerns and
beliefs?<br />
2. What was Jesus predicting in verses such as Luke 5:34-35; Luke
9:21-22; Luke 9:44; Luke 12:50; and Luke 17:25? Did the disciples
understand?<br />
3. According to the Bible the Messiah or Christ is the true representation of what? In what ways? What are some examples?<br />
4. How does Psalm 106:4, many verses in Psalm 22, and Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 relate to Luke 18:32?<br />
5. Why do these bad things happen to Jesus? What things happened?<br />
6. What was predicted in Psalm 22:14-18 and Isaiah 52:14 about the Messiah?<br />
7. What was predicted in Isaiah 53:4-9?<br />
8. Luke 18:34 uses three different phrases that all communicate the same thing in order to demonstrate what?<br />
9. Who is really to blame for Christ’s death?<br />
10. How should Jews and Christians interact despite our huge disagreement as to who Jesus is?<br />
11. What did the last part of Luke 18:33 predict about Christ? How does Psalm 16:9-11; Psalm 22: last part of 21-31; and Isaiah 53:10-12 relate?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
This is what the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus is all
about. It’s about our sin. It’s about the suffering and death we deserve
because of our sin now as well as the eternal suffering in hell we
deserve later. And there’s nothing you or I can do to make up for the
evil things we’ve done. Therefore what all of us desperately need is a
sinless substitute. Someone who can take our place and take the
punishment for our sins even though He Himself is sinless and deserves
no punishment. And that’s exactly what Jesus Christ did and He did it
just as the prophets predicted hundreds if not thousands of years ahead
of time.<br />
<br />
And while some will say this is all either a coincidence or a
conspiracy, it’s not. Because when we found the Dead Sea Scrolls we
found copies of these prophecies that are older than the first coming of
Jesus. So if all of this is true and the evidence says that it is, then
you have to make a decision. What are you going to do with Jesus? You
can’t stay blind anymore because now you’ve heard the truth. So are you
going to keep ignoring Him? Are you going to keep fighting against Him?
Or are you going to surrender to Him as your Lord and Savior? The
decision is yours. I hope and pray you make the right one.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-56314354506588943112019-09-10T22:47:00.000-05:002019-09-10T22:51:33.574-05:00August 25, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 18:24-30 - The Impossible Becomes Possible</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard
it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all[fn] and followed You.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has
left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of
the kingdom of God,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">30 “who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. Why is eternal life in God’s kingdom of heaven so hard for the wealthy to obtain?<br />
2. What are the things God cares about?<br />
3. Why is Christianity shrinking in Europe and North America and flourishing in the poorer continents of Africa and Asia?<br />
4. What are some explanations of what Jesus meant by “it is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter
the kingdom of God.”? What is Jesus actually saying?<br />
5, What is one of the biggest threats to the gospel of Jesus Christ
today? How did false teachers twist the meaning of some Old Testament
Scriptures and how does that relate to what some are doing today?<br />
6. Did Israel perfectly obey God’s commands? Do any of us? What is one false teaching both then and now about being rich?<br />
7. Why did the disciples respond to Jesus the way they did?<br />
8. The human impossibility of salvation from sin, death, and hell becomes possible because of what?<br />
9. According to the Bible the blessings of God are tied to what?<br />
10. How were the disciples obedient? <br />
11. Our lives are a mixture of obedience and
disobedience so our lives are also a mixture of what? What are some examples?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
<br />
This isn’t the prosperity gospel. This isn’t about multiplying mansions
for yourself. This is about Christian brothers and sisters rallying
together despite our faults to serve the One Great God who saved us.
This is about the blessings of Christian fellowship both in this life
and in the life to come. The only question is: Do you have these
blessings? It’s so hard to get to heaven it’s actually impossible for
you to earn your way in. But you can still get in because of the work of Christ so long as you repent of your sins and trust in Him.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
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<br />
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-76864980396934035672019-09-10T20:33:00.000-05:002019-09-10T20:33:56.966-05:00August 18, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 18:18-23 - The Rich Young Ruler</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”<br />
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.<br />
20 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not
murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father
and your mother.’ ”[fn]<br />
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”<br />
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one
thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”<br />
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. How does the story about the interaction between Jesus Christ and a
person known as the rich young ruler illustrate the need for good Bible
study habits as well as good Biblical teaching and preaching? Why is this important?<br />
2. Why are there some slight differences in the story told in Matthew,
Mark, and Luke? What are those finer details? How is the meaning still
very much the same?<br />
3. In what way was this man a ruler? <br />
4. What was the rich young ruler’s question? How important is this question?<br />
5. What is the big assumption in the question that can be problematic? How do you know what is truly good?<br />
6. What does the secular world try to tell us about what is good?<br />
7. Why does Jesus answer the way he does ? Why doesn’t Jesus quote commandment number ten?<br />
8. What are the dangerous assumptions in the young ruler's statement:
“Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth up; what am I still
lacking?” How do we make the same assumptions today?<br />
9. How is commandment number ten (do not covet) different from
commandments 5 - 9? How does it deal with our thoughts in regards to
other commandments?<br />
10. What is the biggest problem the rich young ruler has? <br />
11. What does the response of Jesus to the young ruler's statement (correcting him) show us about true love?<br />
12. The gospel only requires repentance of sin and faith in Christ, so
why does Jesus ask the rich young ruler to sell all that he has?<br />
13. How does this apply to us? Does Jesus want us to sell all that we have?<br />
14. What are examples of things we might need to do to bring us to a place of repentance and faith?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
<br />
Don’t make the mistake of the rich young ruler. Because the three
Gospels record that after he heard what Jesus said he became very sad,
his facial expression fell, and he went away grieved, for he was
extremely rich owning much property. The rich young ruler weighed his
current lifestyle in balance against eternal life in God’s heaven and
decided that his best life now was better than eternal life in paradise
in the future, but he was dead wrong. The problem is the rich young
ruler’s mistake is very common. You and I love our sins and we don’t
want to give them up even though they hurt us. We convince ourselves
that life in the pig sty is good and we put any thoughts of death and
eternity out of our minds. We don’t think about things like the fact
that George Washington will have been dead for 220 years this coming
December. George Washington has already been dead more three times
longer than he was alive. How much longer does he have to go?Wouldn’t
you agree that the place where George Washington is spending eternity is
much more important than how he lived his life? And if that’s true for
George Washington it’s also true for you. Where will you go? Will you
experience eternal life in heaven or eternal death in hell? The rich
young ruler made the wrong choice while the ones who came for baptism
today made the right one. What about you? No one knows when death will come for them.<br />
<br />
Are you safe in the hands of Christ?
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-1359354328505026332019-09-10T19:03:00.001-05:002019-09-10T19:03:25.517-05:00August 11, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 18:9-17 - Responses to the Gospel</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:<br />
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.<br />
11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You
that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even
as this tax collector.<br />
12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’<br />
13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise
his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to
me a sinner!’<br />
14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than
the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted.”<br />
15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.<br />
16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come
to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.<br />
17 “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
1. What is the most persistent type of challenge the Church has faced in every era? Why is this not surprising?<br />
2. What is one of the oldest and most persistent challenges to the gospel?<br />
3. What are the two responses to the gospel in this parable?<br />
4. How did the Pharisees, Samaritans, Sadducees and tax collectors differ? <br />
5. The Pharisees better understanding of what was right and what was wrong made the vulnerable to which more subtle sins?<br />
6. What’s wrong with the prayer of he Pharisee? How do we fall into the same trap?<br />
7. Fasting and tithing
can be good. When is it bad? What does legalism add to the law?<br />
8. Who is Joshua Harris and how does he relate to legalism?<br />
9. Rather than be self-righteous or a legalist, what type of person should we be?<br />
10. What do the verses about Jesus and the little children have to do with your proper response to the gospel?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
<br />
There are a lot of challenges to the gospel. There are a lot of improper
responses to the gospel. These include self-righteousness, legalism,
pride, and among many other things. But what is your response? Is it a
response of humble repentance of sin? Is it a response of complete
dependence and trust? If your response hasn’t been along those lines, it needs to be starting today.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-90613684645772337232019-08-05T14:57:00.001-05:002019-08-05T14:57:46.532-05:00August 4, 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Luke 18:1-8 - The Power of Persistent Prayer</h2>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">
1. Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,<br />
2. saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.<br />
3. “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’<br />
4. “And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,<br />
5. ‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”<br />
6. Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.<br />
7. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?<br />
8. “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the
Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
1. What does Christ teach us in the prayer he gave us as a model (Matthew 6:9-13 & Luke 11:2-4)?<br />
2. Jesus teaches us to pray for His kingdom to come, so why don’t we pray for that as often as we should?<br />
3. Jesus tells us the meaning of this parable right up front. What is it?<br />
4. How did the Lord answer Paul's prayer that He would take away the thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)?<br />
5. Continual prayer is the antidote to what?<br />
6. What can we deduce about the character and position of the judge and
the widow from the parable? What did the widow do instead of giving up
in despair? Why does Jesus tell us in verse 6 to pay attention? <br />
7. What point is Jesus making?<br />
8, How will people behave in the last days? What about those of faith?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
<br />
The truly faithful are few in number. And again part of the reason for
this is because the world is totally committed to the injustice of
discouraging you from following Jesus. This is why we need this text.
Don’t get discouraged. No matter what the world throws at you don’t get
discouraged. Keep praying for Christ’s return. Keep praying for Jesus to
come back and fix this broken world. He will keep all of His promises.
Promises to not only give you justice, but also to give you eternal life
so long as you have repented of your sins and truly trusted in Him.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-86768746508427623382019-08-02T14:34:00.001-05:002019-08-02T15:11:22.813-05:00July 28, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Luke 17:20-37 Teachings about the Kingdom</h2>
</div>
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would
come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with
observation;<br />
21 “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”<br />
22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will
desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see
it.<br />
23 “And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them.<br />
24 “For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven
shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in
His day.<br />
25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.<br />
26 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:<br />
27 “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came
and destroyed them all.<br />
28 “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;<br />
29 “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.<br />
30 “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.<br />
31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the
house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who
is in the field, let him not turn back.<br />
32 “Remember Lot’s wife.<br />
33 “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.<br />
34 “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.<br />
35 “Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.<br />
36 “Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”<br />
37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them,
“Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. What do we know from passages such as Matthew 24:36? What does Jesus
tell us in Luke 17:20-37 that let's us know that questions about the
Kingdom of God are even more complex than we might think? What does
Jesus mean by saying the Kingdom of God is now (in its incomplete form)
“within you” or “in your midst”?<br />
2. What are some things Jesus does give His disciples or students to
consider about when the Kingdom of God is going to come in its
fullness? <br />
3. What are some statistics about Christians and "people groups" that relate to these verses: <br />
Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all
the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”<br />
Revelation 7:9 going into verse 10 (ESV), 9 After this I looked, and
behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation,
from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne
and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their
hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our
God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"<br />
4. What are some examples of people saying Jesus (the Messiah) has
already returned? How does the end of verse 23 going into verse 24 (ESV)
let us know these were false messiahs and crackpot prognosticators? “Do
not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up
the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his
day.”<br />
5. What was Jesus referring to in Luke 17:25 that “first He must suffer
many things and be rejected by this generation.” What are the goals tied
to each of His visits to earth?<br />
6. What are some other things we need to know in regards to His second coming?<br />
7. What other events does Jesus compare to His second coming? <br />
8. How do the words of 2 Peter 3:3-7 describe our present situation?<br />
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,<br />
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the
fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning
of creation."<br />
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the
heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the
water,<br />
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.<br />
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the
same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition
of ungodly men.<br />
8. What should we do when the end of all things finally comes upon us? What should we not do? Why? <br />
9. How does Luke 17:34-37; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Matthew 24:27-31 & 37-42 relate?<br />
10. What is the significance of Jesus giving examples of some people
doing daytime activities and some people doing nighttime activities when
he returns again? (17: 34-35; Matthew 24: 40)<br />
11. What will happen to believers when Jesus returns? What will happen to those left behind?<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion:</b> <br />
Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin (what we earn from sin) is death and
the only way we can be saved is if we receive the free gift of God which
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.<br />
<br />
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says,<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
those who have fallen asleep (or died), lest you sorrow as others who
have no hope.<br />
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God
will bring with Him those who sleep (or are dead) in Jesus.<br />
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are
alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede
those who are asleep (or dead).<br />
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the
dead in Christ will rise first.<br />
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall
always be with the Lord.<br />
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.</span><br />
<br />
Believers in Jesus aren’t perfect (I’m not perfect), but we are forgiven
of our sins and thus we have hope. But those who do not believe in
Jesus have no hope, because there is no way to overcome death apart from
Christ. So what’s going to happen to you? Will you be taken or will you be left?
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12avl5FvlpK2Jv5zw8ce-qn_fepCMJHhp/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12avl5FvlpK2Jv5zw8ce-qn_fepCMJHhp/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-72336044224628751922019-07-22T16:31:00.000-05:002019-07-22T16:31:59.380-05:00July 21, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Genesis 11:1-9 The Relevancy of the Tower of Babel</h2>
</div>
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.<br />
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.<br />
3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them
thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.<br />
4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose
top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be
scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”<br />
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.<br />
6 And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one
language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they
propose to do will be withheld from them.<br />
7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”<br />
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.<br />
9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused
the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them
abroad over the face of all the earth.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. Why is the story of the Tower of Babel significant? What is its continuing relevancy?<br />
2. What events lead up to the Tower of Babel?<br />
3. What does true love require? What does God want? What happened because when choices were made by some angels and by Adam and Eve?<br />
4. What was God's promise to Eve?<br />
5. What are the main points of Genesis Chapters 1-3? What are the main
topics of Genesis Chapters 4-5? What happens about 1,600 years after
creation? How does this relate to sedimentary rock layers and fossils?<br />
6. Where did the descendants of Noah decide to settle? Why did they
build the city and the tower? How was this rebelling against God? How
does this relate to events in that happened later? Biblically speaking,
Babylon is the definition of what? <br />
7. What other things does the Tower of Babel signal? How are the Table
of Nations related to the nations of today? How does the approximate
number of language families compare to the number of people who
scattered in Genesis 10 after the Tower of Babel?<br />
8. What does God say to Abraham after the nations scattered from Babel
about 300 years earlier? What was God's plan in this directive?<br />
Who is the major focus of God’s plan (the seed or descendant) who will bless all the nations or all the families of the earth? What is the blessing?<br />
9. Babel not only confused languages, but divided people in what other ways?<br />
<br />
Conclusion:<br />
Thankfully by the power of the Holy Spirit the sin of Babel is overcome. It’s overcome at Pentecost as Acts 2:9-11 says,<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,<br />
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,<br />
11 Cretans and Arabs––we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.</span><br />
<br />
But even greater still is how Babel is overcome in the end according to Revelation 7:9-10,<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no
one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing
before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with
palm branches in their hands,<br />
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"</span><br />
<br />
If America is a melting pot of many different peoples the Kingdom of
Heaven is an even greater one. So why do a VBS on the Tower of Babel? Because salvation history goes through the Tower of Babel all the way to every nation and people group on earth.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EWAOYedvZ5JHWLagXZemCXLp_e9-S2CH/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EWAOYedvZ5JHWLagXZemCXLp_e9-S2CH/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-71755955902315449872019-07-21T16:13:00.001-05:002019-07-21T16:13:41.165-05:00July 14, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Luke 17: 11-19 - The Ten Lepers</h2>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.<br />
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:<br />
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.<br />
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the
priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.<br />
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,<br />
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.<br />
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?<br />
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.<br />
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
1. What was the response of the Pharisees to Jesus raising Lazarus from
the dead? How is the resurrection of Lazarus, the widow of Nain’s son in
Luke 7:11-17 as well as Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8:49-56 related to the
main point of the passage today?<br />
2. How does the map of Israel today compare to the area 2,000 years ago?
What was the typical route Jews would take to travel from Galilee to
Judea? Why did Jews take this roundabout route?<br />
3. What did Solomon do that caused problems when he drifted away from
God? Although Solomon got right with God shortly before he died, he
didn't have time to undo his mistakes. What happens when Solomon's son,
Rehoboan continues with the same path making the problems worse instead
of changing course and fixing the problems?<br />
4. Who were the Samaritans and how did they fit in?<br />
5. Where did Jesus meet the ten lepers? What is leprosy? What were lepers expected to do to keep from spreading the disease? <br />
6. What is the significance of the lepers addressing Jesus as Master?
What did Jesus instruct them to do? Why would this be unusual for one
member of the group? <br />
7. What actions of the ten show that each has some level of faith? What
actions showed one had a faith that saves from sin? How does the
different levels of faith in the story relate to what goes on today?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
<br />
But verse 19 is really the key verse for this entire passage (listen to
what Jesus says), <span style="color: #3d85c6;">"And He said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith
has made you well.</span>"' The NAB translates it this way: <span style="color: #3d85c6;">"Then he said to him, 'Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.'"</span> Both translations work,
but the last one is better because while all ten had faith to be healed
only one had faith to be saved from sin. When it comes to salvation your
ethnic background isn’t ever an issue. The only issue is what kind of
faith do you have? Who is Jesus Christ to you? Is Jesus just a genie in a
bottle that you call upon to grant your wishes? Or is Jesus Christ your
Lord and Savior who died to forgive you of your sins and rose again to
give you the hope of everlasting life? Do you try to obey the commands
of Jesus in order to try to get points to earn you favor? Or do you seek
to obey the commands of Jesus out of gratitude for what He has done for
you? One faith saves, but the other does not. What kind of faith do you
have?
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YL9SgtecQmBUzdPhEv35Jo1UBis7OI8z/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YL9SgtecQmBUzdPhEv35Jo1UBis7OI8z/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-54074135377856846452019-06-28T18:20:00.001-05:002019-06-28T18:20:20.854-05:00June 23, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Four Lessons for Disciples</h2>
</div>
Luke 17:1-10<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!<br />
2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck,
and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these
little ones.<br />
3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.<br />
4 “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a
day returns to you,[fn] saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”<br />
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”<br />
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to
this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the
sea,’ and it would obey you.<br />
7 “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say
to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down
to eat’?<br />
8 “But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper,
and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and
afterward you will eat and drink’?<br />
9 “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.<br />
10 “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are
commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our
duty to do.’ ”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
1. Why does Jesus tell us that it is impossible that no offenses or stumbling blocks will come?<br />
2. How do people react when a scandal comes? How should we react?<br />
3. How serious is it to offends or scandalizes the "little ones"? What does that mean? Who are the "little ones"?<br />
4. What should you do when someone sins against you? What should be our
goals when we confront someone? What are some things we should not do?<br />
5. What is possible for you and I to do with only faith the size of a mustard seed? How?<br />
6. How is the slavery (indentured service) mentioned in these verses
different from the chattel slavery practiced in early American history
and the sex trafficking slavery of today? How are verses 7 - 10 like
what many of us experience today? How should we view what we do?<br />
<br />
<h3>
Conclusion: </h3>
<br />
There is honor in serving others for Christ. There is honor in serving
your family for Christ. So quit looking for ways in which you can be
thanked or praised. Instead think about how you can honor Christ in your
work and in your family and you will live a much more fulfilled life.<br />
<br />
What a tremendous duty and honor it is to serve our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ since He is the one who loved us so much that He died to
forgive us of all our sins.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mMT6tb5kMcy3Oou237NzISTV6IxQTkDA/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mMT6tb5kMcy3Oou237NzISTV6IxQTkDA/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-58114110838639717492019-06-27T21:43:00.001-05:002019-06-27T21:43:54.368-05:00June 16, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus</h2>
</div>
Luke 16:19-31<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.<br />
20 “But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,<br />
21 “desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[fn] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.<br />
22 “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.<br />
23 “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.<br />
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my
tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’<br />
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received
your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is
comforted and you are tormented.<br />
26 ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf
fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can
those from there pass to us.’<br />
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,<br />
28 ‘for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’<br />
29 “Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’<br />
30 “And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’<br />
31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
1. How is this parable different from other parables?<br />
2. How do we know the Lazarus of this parable is not the Lazarus in
John Chapter 11?<br />
3. What is the main point Jesus is making in Luke 16:19-21?<br />
4. What happens after a believer dies? What happens to non-believers?<br />
5. How do some people misunderstand the Parable of the Rich Man? What is humanity’s biggest problems?<br />
6. What is hell like? In what areas does it appear Jesus is using figurative language?<br />
7. What is the most important point Jesus wants to teach us?<br />
<br />
<h3>
Conclusion:</h3>
This is the biggest of the many teaching points here in Christ’s
parable. Do you want to encourage people to repent? Do you want people
to come to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you want people
to go to heaven instead of hell? Give them Scripture. Teach them God’s
Word. Preach what the Holy Bible has to say. Because if the Bible
doesn’t convince people to repent and believe, nothing else will. Not
even a miracle. Without faith in God’s Word even miracles will be
misinterpreted. It is only when you believe in Scripture to begin with
that miracles make sense and strengthen your faith. So if you want to
see the Holy Spirit move in a genuine way give people the Bible the Holy
Spirit inspired. Yes it is a stumbling block to some. Yes it is
foolishness to others. But to the rest it is the power of God to
salvation. So don’t focus on the fluff. People need the Lord and they only get to Him through the Word.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hv7hE5HkotPavUg08zAJOiFz4AIxCvF1/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hv7hE5HkotPavUg08zAJOiFz4AIxCvF1/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-54539996877269065212019-06-11T23:15:00.000-05:002019-06-12T14:14:52.017-05:00June 9, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
The Mystery of the Gospel</h2>
</div>
Ephesians 6:18-20<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being
watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the
saints—</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak </span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
1. What is the mystery of the gospel? What is one reason people didn't
understand the gospel when Jesus came to earth the first time?<br />
2. How far back does the mystery of the gospel go? What happened in the beginning?<br />
3. What is God’s plan of salvation? <br />
4. What is the relationship of what God told the serpent in Genesis 3:
15 "And I will put hostility between you and the woman, between your
seed and her Seed; He will crush your head, and you will strike His
heel." and Romans 16:20 "And the God of peace will crush Satan under
your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Amen." written 4,000 years later? <br />
5. In Genesis 3: 15, what is the significance of the words "her Seed"? How does this verse relate to Christ's crucifixion and what is the significance of the words "strike His heel"?<br />
<br />
Related Texts<br />
Genesis 12:1-3,<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your
family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you..</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name
great; And you shall be a blessing earth shall be blessed."</span><br />
<br />
Genesis 18:18,<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">“… Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.”</span><br />
<br />
Questions Continued:<br />
<br />
6. How will all the families of the earth be blessed through Abraham?<br />
7. How does Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of Isaac point to Christ?<br />
8. What is the significance of God repeating his promise to Abraham, then to Abraham's son Isaac, the to Isaac's son Jacob?<br />
9. Why does the list of potential candidates who could
be the promised seed who will bring this blessing narrow? In the mystery of the gospel, who is the ultimate authority?<br />
10. How do the prophecies contained in the following verses from the Old Testament relate to Jesus?<br />
<br />
1 Chronicles 17:11-14 <br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">11 And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be
with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be
of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">13 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My
mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">14 And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.</span><br />
<br />
Psalm 22: 6-8; 16-18<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.</span><br />
<br />
Psalm 16:10 <br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">“you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.”</span><br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
<br />
These are the mysteries of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A mystery that
has now been fully revealed in the New Testament. A mystery that is now
fully revealed to you. Do you believe it? And if you do believe will you reveal this mystery to others?
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
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<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a31G1ZApcG6pYTEAYp1CStOcar6HRUTy/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-85766494144524347262019-06-11T22:03:00.000-05:002019-06-11T22:04:38.869-05:00June 2, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Luke 16:14-18 - The Inability of the Word of God to Fail</h2>
</div>
Luke 16:14-18<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.<br />
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before
men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is
an abomination in the sight of God.<br />
16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the
kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.<br />
17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.<br />
18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and
whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. How does today's text relate to last week's sermon about the Parable of the Unjust Steward?<br />
2. How have some states been jockeying for position when it comes to the issue of abortion? How have
the responses to pro-life legislation of some people shown that abortion
has become their god? How is this like the Pharisees of 2,000 years
ago?<br />
3. If we were to prioritize all the greatest problems of the world today, what would be near the top according to Christ?<br />
4. How do many get off track in understanding the relationship between
the Old Testament and the New Testament? What is the most important
issue?<br />
5. The Old Testament contains three different kinds of laws. Which two
kinds are no longer in effect? Why? Which one law code in the Old
Testament is unchanging and still in effect? How can you tell which is
which?<br />
6. Where are we now when it comes to ethics and morality? What "truths"
have we come up with on our own? What are some examples from Bible times?<br />
<br />
Related Texts<br />
<br />
Matthew 19:3-9:<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him,
"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"<br />
4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’<br />
5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and
mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?<br />
6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."<br />
7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"<br />
8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts,
permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not
so.<br />
9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual
immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries
her who is divorced commits adultery."</span><br />
<br />
1 Corinthians 7:15: <span style="color: #3d85c6;">"But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a
brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has
called us to peace."</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Questions Continued:</h3>
7. So what is Jesus teaching us? About marriage? About divorce? About repentance and reconciliation? About abandonment?<br />
8. Southern Baptists believe that divorce is only allowed Biblically for
two reasons: sexual immorality and abandonment. But beyond that each
Southern Baptist Church has some additional stances that will vary from
local church to local church. What are some of these stands and what are
some held by JBC?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
We don’t take stands just to take stands. We take our stand upon God’s
Word, because as Psalm 119:160 says, “The entirety of Your word is
truth.” It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one
stroke of one letter in this entire Bible to fail. The Word of God truly is both a guide and a gift.
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Fv9M1_rhFGkiPKmY--p0HEhcq1lRASK/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-77350429861737547862019-05-29T17:04:00.000-05:002019-05-29T17:04:50.901-05:00May 26, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Luke 16:1-13 - The Parable of the Unjust Steward</h2>
</div>
Luke 16:1-13<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 1 He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a
steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting
his goods.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 2 “So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you?
Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my
master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am
ashamed to beg.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 4 ‘I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 5 “So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 6 “And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to
him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 7 “Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A
hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and
write eighty.’</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 8 “So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt
shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation
than the sons of light.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon,
that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one
and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
</span><br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. How does the topic and target audience of this parable differ from the previous parables in Luke?<br />
2. Why is the topic about money? Why do we need to know what Jesus says about money?<br />
3. In what ways have our assumptions made this parable difficult to
understand? How have some Bible study notes or commentaries about this
parable been a bit misleading or confusing? How does this parable reflect the world's method of handling money.<br />
4. How should we approach the parable to find meaning only where Christ
intends for us to find meaning? What is some background information
about indentured service - the kind of slavery most often described in the Bible?<br />
5. What crimes today are comparable to what the steward did while
managing the rich man's financial affairs? What benefit did the setward
anticipate from further defrauding his master by changing the record of
debts? Why would the debtors now be beholden to the steward?<br />
6. Why did the rich man respond the way he did? To what does this
example of shrewdness compare? Is it always evil to be shrewed or
calculating?<br />
Can one make careful calculations for the good as well?<br />
7. What is mammon? What did the ancients believe about the false god Mammon? <br />
8. What does Jesus mean by "make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon"? Since the fall, people have
had a tendency to worship money, wealth, or possessions. What should we do instead?<br />
9. What are the true riches?<br />
<br />
Conclusion: <br />
<br />
In Luke 16:13 Jesus brings all of this to a dramatic conclusion when He
says, “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">No servant can serve two masters</span>.” You could also translate this
as, “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">No slave can serve two Lords.</span>” Jesus is saying that in the end this
is a battle of gods. And we’ve seen this before at the end of Exodus
12:12 where we read, “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">against all the gods of Egypt I will execute
judgment: I am the LORD.</span>” Later in 1 Kings 18 we see another battle of
gods as Elijah represents the LORD against the 450 prophets of Baal. But
this time Jesus says the battle of gods is in your own heart. Who will
you voluntarily enslave yourself to? Because everyone will pick
something. Will you serve Jesus or mammon? Will you trust in Christ or
will you trust in money, wealth, or possessions? Jesus says in the end
you will love one and hate the other or you will be loyal to one and
despise the other. So who are you going to trust in? Who are you going
to be faithful to? Who will be your god? Everybody picks at least one. I
hope and pray that you pick the right one: Jesus Christ.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
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<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-60926341618435069342019-05-24T16:52:00.001-05:002019-05-24T16:52:30.568-05:00May 19, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Luke 15: 11-32 - Parables of the Lost: Part II</h2>
</div>
<br />
Text: Luke 15:11-32<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.<br />
12 “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the
portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his
livelihood.<br />
13 “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together,
journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with
prodigal living.<br />
14 “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.<br />
15 “Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.<br />
16 “And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.<br />
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired
servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!<br />
18 ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,<br />
19 “and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’<br />
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great
way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his
neck and kissed him.<br />
21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and
in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’<br />
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.<br />
23 ‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;<br />
24 ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.<br />
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.<br />
26 “So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.<br />
27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has
received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’<br />
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.<br />
29 “So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have
been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and
yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my
friends.<br />
30 ‘But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’<br />
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.<br />
32 ‘It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother
was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. The parable of the lost sheep, a lost coin and the lost son (prodigal
son) all compare the relationship between two or three of the entities
found in Luke 15:1-2 - Jesus Christ the seeker; scribes and Pharisees
who think they are righteous and people who know they are lost sinners.
What kind of a relationship do you have with Jesus? Are you counting on
your own good works or your own self-righteousness to save you? Or do
you realize that you are hopelessly lost in your sins and you need Jesus
to come find and save you?<br />
2. Luke 15:11: What was the purpose of the "right of the first born"
(Deuteronomy 21:17) and how does it relate to the story? What can we
surmise from this passage about the attitudes of the two sons? How did
the father respond to the disrespect shown by the younger son?<br />
3. Luke 15:13: What constitutes prodigal living? <br />
4. Luke 15: 14-16: Why would feeding pigs be humiliating? Why did he
consider eating what he was feeding the pigs? What was it that they were
probably feeding the pigs during the famine? <br />
5. Luke 15: 17-19: Who does the younger son say he sinned against first?
When we sin, who is the primary offense against? (David in Psalm
51:4;Ezra 9:6) When the younger son recognizes what he has done becomes
humble and repentant, what does he decide to do and say?<br />
6. Luke 15: 20: What is the significance of the father running to meet the son?
And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way
off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck
and kissed him.<br />
7. Luke 15: 21-24: What happens as soon as he confesses his sin to his
father? What did the father's reaction signify? Why is the language so
striking? How does that relate to Romans 7:9-11?<br />
8; Luke 15: 25-28: How does the older son represent the scribes and
Pharisees from Luke 15:2 How does he react to see a sinner's repentance?
<br />
9. Luke 15: 29-30: What words and actions indicate the older son's inability to see his own sin and self-righteousness? <br />
10. Luke 15: 31-32: What happens next?<br />
<br />
Conclusion:<br />
If you are consumed by your own self-righteousness (like the older
brother and like the scribes and the Pharisees), you are in very real
danger of dying without Christ and going to hell forever. And it’s all
because you have swallowed the lie that you are good and that you are
righteous because of your own efforts. It’s not true. Romans 3:23 says,
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” You need to come
to your senses like the younger son did. You need to repent of your sins and come to the Savior Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
Following Christ is not always easy. When you decide to make Jesus
number one in your life, there are going to be growing pains. How you
lived life before is going to conflict with how Jesus in His Word is
teaching you to live now. And the struggle is real.<br />
<br />
You might be thinking, “If it gets so hard so quick, why would I even
want to follow Christ?” Well, that’s simple. It’s because the story
actually doesn’t end with self-righteous people killing Jesus and
persecuting His Church. The story continues with an empty tomb. It
continues with the resurrected Jesus later flying up to heaven promising
to one day come back to judge the living and the dead. It continues
even now with Jesus Christ interceding between us and our Heavenly
Father while we are in the middle of our struggles here on earth. It
continues with Jesus one day returning to the earth in glory raising up
and perfecting His Church, preparing us for eternal life in the new
heaven and new earth where Revelation 21:4 says, And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow,
nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away. That’s how not just this story, but the story of human
history really ends. And that’s why repenting of your sins and coming to
Jesus is worth it. That’s why any struggle or sacrifice you have to go
through to follow Christ is worth it. So please… Please repent and follow Christ today.
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="150" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KvODPUPlyCO-E-7Jo5w4sRpFMYkPFd48/preview" width="400"> </iframe>
<br />
<br />
If the player doesn't work, you can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KvODPUPlyCO-E-7Jo5w4sRpFMYkPFd48/preview" target="_blank">listen to the sermon on Google Drive.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-10094976621439247362019-05-24T16:43:00.000-05:002019-05-24T16:43:54.711-05:00May 12, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Luke 15:1-10 - Parables of the Lost: Part I</h2>
</div>
Luke 15:1-10<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.<br />
2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”<br />
3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:<br />
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one
which is lost until he finds it?<br />
5 “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.<br />
6 “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors,
saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was
lost!’<br />
7 “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one
sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no
repentance.<br />
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin,
does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she
finds it?<br />
9 “And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors
together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I
lost!’<br />
10 “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Main Topics/Questions</h3>
Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:<br />
<br />
1. The crowds, which included despised Jewish tax collectors and those who were ethnically, but non-practicing Jews,
continued to gather around Jesus even though he had given them some hard
teachings. How does this relate to the"seeker sensitive movement" which
is becoming popular today? Does this movement follow the intent of the
Great Commission?<br />
2. In what ways do the parables relate to the relationship between Jesus
and the two groups: the tax collectors and sinners and pharisees and
scribes? How do they focus on the relationships you and I have with
Christ today?<br />
3. In the parable of the lost sheep, what does Jesus mean when he says,
"persons who need no
repentance" Are there people who do not need to repent? Are you a lost
person who has been found or do you think you’re found when actually you
are still lost?<br />
4. What might be a possible reason for sentimental value as well as
monetary value of the silver coin? How might that relate to something we
could value and what we might do to find it if it was lost?<br />
5. Both the shepherd and the woman do all the work to find that which is
lost. The lost coin (as well as the lost sheep) can do nothing to save itself. How does that relate to our salvation?<br />
<br />
Conclusion:<br />
Although you and I might like to think that we can do something to save
ourselves from our lost and sinful condition and think we can save
ourselves from death and hell; we can’t. Instead we need Jesus Christ to
do all the work of living the perfect life which we cannot live. You
and I need Jesus to take the punishment for our sins by dying on a
cross, and then we need Him to come back to life in order to give us
hope for our own resurrection. So don’t count on your own
self-righteousness. It will get you nowhere. Instead trust in the
righteousness of Christ to both find and save you. And if you have been found praise Jesus for finding you!
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
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<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564322701366675559.post-35881868016081443192019-05-03T17:09:00.000-05:002019-05-03T17:09:23.881-05:00April 28, 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
Luke 14:1-35 - Hard Sayings of Jesus </h2>
</div>
<br />
<br />
Luke 14:1-35<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 1 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers
of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him
closely.<br />
2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy.<br />
3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”<br />
4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go.<br />
5 Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a
donkey[fn] or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately
pull him out on the Sabbath day?”<br />
6 And they could not answer Him regarding these things.<br />
7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:<br />
8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit
down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by
him;<br />
9 “and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place
to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.<br />
10 “But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so
that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up
higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at
the table with you.<br />
11 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”<br />
12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a
supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor
rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.<br />
13 “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.<br />
14 “And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”<br />
15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these
things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread[fn] in the
kingdom of God!”<br />
16 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,<br />
17 “and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’<br />
18 “But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said
to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I
ask you to have me excused.’<br />
19 “And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’<br />
20 “Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’<br />
21 “So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then
the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out
quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the
poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’<br />
22 “And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’<br />
23 “Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and
hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.<br />
24 ‘For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”<br />
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,<br />
26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife
and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he
cannot be My disciple.<br />
27 “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.<br />
28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down
first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—<br />
29 “lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,<br />
30 “saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’<br />
31 “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit
down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him
who comes against him with twenty thousand?<br />
32 “Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.<br />
33 “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.<br />
34 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?<br />
35 “It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”</span><br />
<br />
Luke 14 features teachings
from previous chapters because Jesus is in Perea and His
new audience hasn’t heard everything He has taught in the past.<br />
<br />
<b>I. Luke 14:1-6 - doing good on the Sabbath </b>(Also Luke 13:10-17; Matthew 12:12)<br />
A. Differences<br />
1. Not in synagogue, but in leader's home after morning worship<br />
2. Man present with dropsy or edema<br />
B. When Pharisees were asked “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?</span>” ...
“<span style="color: #3d85c6;">they kept silent</span>". <br />
C. Deuteronomy 22:4 (helping a neighbor with his fallen
donkey or ox) making point - if we would help animals on
the Sabbath, we should help people too.<br />
D. Even with the switch to the Lord’s Day on the first day of
the week because of Christ’s resurrection, Christians should be more
focused on the good things we should do as opposed to focusing on all
the things we shouldn’t do<br />
1. Worshiping God with other believers must be our top priority.<br />
2. Helping people - Jesus helped people on the same day He
worshiped (Luke mentions Jesus performing miracles on the Sabbath day
five times) and
therefore we shouldn’t hesitate to help someone in need on the
Lord’s Day so long as corporate worship isn’t neglected. <br />
3. Resting - but should never be used as an excuse not to help someone<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">II. Luke 14:7-11 </span><br />
A. Parable about being invited to a wedding feast - “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">whoever exalts
himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted</span>.”<br />
B. Prosperity theology very different from the true gospel Jesus and
the apostles taught.<br />
1. Financial Times<br />
a. Reporter
Edward Luce noted that at Osteen’s Church in Houston the words
“optimism, hope, destiny, harvest, and bounty” have largely replaced
other words such as “guilt, shame, sin, and hell.”<br />
b. Paula White
was also quoted as saying, “Anyone who tells you to deny yourself is
Satan.”<br />
(1) Jesus told us to deny ourselves in Luke 9:23<br />
(2) Paula White
attributed the works of Jesus to Satan as the Pharisees did in Luke 11:15<br />
C. Jesus promoted a life of selfless humility over a life of selfish pride.<br />
1. If we don’t repent of our great pride we will be greatly humbled.<br />
2. Better way - Live a life of
humility; love God with everything you got and love others the way you
love
yourself <br />
3. We’re not living for our best life now; we’re living for our best life later.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">III. Hard Sayings of Jesus</span><br />
A. Be careful not to soften too much or not soften enough<br />
B. Luke 14:12-14 Invite poor, crippled, lame, and
blind rather than neighbors, friends, or relatives because needy
can't repay<br />
1. Doesn't mean never invite neighbors, friends, or family to a meal.<br />
a, Last Supper -
invited friends (not too poor to invite Jesus over to their own
house because Jesus stayed at Simon Peter’s house - Luke 4:38)<br />
b Wanted to emphasis to give a meal to someone who can’t pay you
back.<br />
c. Doing things for the sake of the gospel results in a
blessing that God will repay at the resurrection of the just.<br />
C. Two different resurrections.<br />
1. John 5:29 - “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">resurrection of life</span>” and the “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">resurrection of condemnation</span>.”<br />
2. Acts 24:15 - resurrection of “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">the just and the unjust</span>.”<br />
D. Faith and Works<br />
1. Ephesians 2:8-10 teaches that we are saved by grace
through faith not by works, but at the same time it also says that faith
will produce good works.<br />
2. The good works we do for the sake of the gospel will be rewarded at
the resurrection of the just which Revelation 20:5-6 calls “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">the first
resurrection.</span>" Over such the second death has no power.”<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Teachings_of_Jesus_28_of_40._invitation_to_the_great_banquet._Jan_Luyken_etching._Bowyer_Bible.gif#/media/File:Teachings_of_Jesus_28_of_40._invitation_to_the_great_banquet._Jan_Luyken_etching._Bowyer_Bible.gif"><img alt="Teachings of Jesus 28 of 40. invitation to the great banquet. Jan Luyken etching. Bowyer Bible.gif" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Teachings_of_Jesus_28_of_40._invitation_to_the_great_banquet._Jan_Luyken_etching._Bowyer_Bible.gif" /></a><br />By Phillip Medhurst - Photo by Harry Kossuth, <a href="http://artlibre.org/licence/lal/en" title="Free Art License">FAL</a>, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7550846">Link</a></center>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">IV. Great Banquet</span><br />
A. Luke 14:15 - “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!</span>”<br />
B. Jews look forward to a great
banquet with God in the end times just as much as Christians do.<br />
Isaiah 25:6-9 (NASB) says,<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">6 The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples
on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And
refined, aged wine.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is
over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will
wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His
people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">9 And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for
whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we
have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."</span><br />
C. Luke 14:16-24 - not
everyone who is invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will taste
it (slightly different version in Matthew 22:1-14)<br />
1. These parables involve a Master or a King (who is God the Father) who
sends out His servant or servants (ministers of the gospel) to invite
people to a wedding feast for the King’s Son (Jesus Christ).<br />
2. first invitation- something like an RSVP - Wedding feast is a
very big deal yet people invited first don’t want to come.- gave dumb excuses:<br />
a. Having to check out land or oxen recently bought - why would
you buy something without checking it out first - but if you did, why
not wait just
a little bit longer?<br />
b. “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I have married a wife, and
therefore I cannot come.</span>”- wouldn't she want to attend fancy banquet?<br />
3. second invitation - something
akin to an official
escort. After invitations turned down at last minute; master sends his
servant to the streets and
alleys of city and highways and fences of rural areas to bring guests to banquet.<br />
D. God sends His good
news of the gospel everywhere because the people of Israel largely
refused to respond. None of those who were invited yet refused to come
will taste the Marriage Supper of the Lamb according to Luke 14:24.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>V. Cost of Discipleship</b><br />
A. . Hate Family?<br />
Luke 14:26-27<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he
cannot be My disciple.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.</span><br />
1. Jesus does not want you to literally hate your family. We know because Jesus loved His.<br />
a. When on the cross, He told John to
take care of His mother after He died - John 19:25-27.<br />
b. Jesus appeared to James after His
resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7) and apparently to Jude so that these half-brothers would not remain in
unbelief as they had been before (John 7:5).<br />
2. . Bible speaks of hate in two different ways.<br />
a. In one sense the Bible speaks of “hate” in the same way we
traditionally think of that word which is to “despise” someone. (Amos 5:21; Matthew 6:24; and Luke 16:13).<br />
b. In a few
other places the Bible uses the word “hate” much differently. (Genesis
29:31 - KJV, ESV) <br />
(1). “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Leah
was hated</span>” by her husband Jacob who “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">loved</span>” his other wife Rachel “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">much
more</span>” according to Genesis 29:30.<br />
(2). Jacob didn’t despise Leah he just loved
Leah less than Rachel and had six sons and a daughter with her (Genesis
30:20-21).<br />
(3). We are to love our
family less than Him <br />
Matthew 10:37-38,<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Luke 14:33,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.</span><br />
B. Sell everything we own and become monks and nuns?<br />
Colossians 2:20-23 says,<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of
the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject
yourselves to regulations––</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">22 which all concern things which perish with the using––according to the commandments and doctrines of men?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in
self–imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are
of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.</span><br />
1. Giving up
everything and owning nothing is “self–imposed religion, false humility,
and neglect of the body” which ultimately has “no value.”<br />
2. With Colossians in mind, Jesus
is saying in Luke that we need to love Jesus more than our family, more
than our life, and more than our stuff.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion: </b><br />
Anyone who has ears to hear should listen! (Luke 14:35 HCSB) There’s
nothing wrong with loving your family. There’s nothing wrong with
guarding your life. There’s nothing wrong with owning stuff so long as
you love none of those things more than Jesus. Because if you love Jesus
the most His love will help you love your family more than you would
otherwise. If you love Jesus the most He will make your life a bright
and shining
witness for Him as you become the salt of the earth acting as a
preservative in a dead and rotting world. And if you love Jesus the most
you will see your stuff in a proper light. Yeah you may get enjoyment out of it and that’s fine, but ultimately we
should hold on to our stuff loosely because in the end it’s all going to
burn, but what we give to Christ for the ministry of the gospel – that
will last forever.
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.</h4>
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<br />
<br />
<img alt="Pray" src="https://i.imgur.com/BrJ6ySR.jpg" /></div>
<br />
Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but
don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good
enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, <a href="https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/" target="_blank">"Four Things You Need to Know About God"</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please <a href="mailto:churchjoyb@yahoo.com?Subject=Sermon%20uestions" target="_top">s<b>end an email to the Pastor</b></a> if you have
questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com