Sermon20120603

1 Corinthians 16:13-24
13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints),
16 that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.
17 I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.
18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The greeting is in my own hand— Paul.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Introduction:

Theme: Four areas of exhortation for the church so we might be a strong and loving church.

I. Consistent Devotion to Christ vv.13-14
A. Be on the alert
B. Stand firm in the faith
C. Act like men
D. Be strong
E. Do all in love

II. Subjecting Ourselves to Christ-like Servants vv.15-16

III. Recognition in the Church vv.17-18

IV. Greet One Another vv.19-24
A. Greetings from
B. Greetings from

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Sermon20120527

1 Corinthians 16:1-12
CHAPTER 16
Instructions and Greetings
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem;
4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.
5 But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia;
6 and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go.
7 For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits.
8 But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost;
9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am.
11 So let no one despise him. But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren.
12 But concerning Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity.

Introduction:

Theme: Three essential principles for the church’s global ministry so you can gain a vision for ministry beyond our own walls

I. Give Generously to the Needy vv.1-4:
A. Giving is expected from Christian churches vs.1
B. Giving is to be collected in an orderly manner vs.2
C. Giving is to be properly managed vv.3-4

II. Plan Strategically and Wait Patiently on the Lord vv.5-9
Three Lessons for Strategic Planning in the Church
1 Strategic planning is for ministry vv.5-7
2 Strategic planning is subject to the Lord’s will vs.7
3 Strategic planning is aimed at spreading the gospel vv.8-9

III. Support Missionaries Tangibly vv.10-12
A. Two Import Ministry Partners
1.
2.

B. Three Reasons to Support a Missionary
1. They do the Lord’s work vv. 10-11a
2. They work in a larger network of gospel ministry vs.11b
3. They become preoccupied with their work vs.12

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Sermon20120520

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Sermon20120513

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Sermon20120506

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

The Mystery of Resurrection

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “ Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Introduction:

Theme : Three facts to understand regarding your heavenly inheritance so you may eagerly anticipate it with joy.

I. The Hinderance to overcoming in receiving it vv.50-56
A. The nature of the hinderance: Human Nature vs. 50

B. The need to overcome the hinderance: Transformation vv.51-53
1. The dead in Christ will rise, the living will be changed
2. It is a mystery
3. Death of believers is in view (sleep)
4. Some believers will undergo death, yet all will be transformed
5. This event will take place in a split second at the sounding of the last trumpet
6. This is a Devine nessecity.

C. The negation of man’s final enemy due to the hinderance:

Death vv.54-56
1. The sting of death
2. The power of the law

II. The Hope provided for receiving it vs. 57

III. The Habits you must practice before receiving it vs. 58

A. Be steadfast
B. Be immovable
C. Be always abounding in the Lord’s work.

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Sermon20120429

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?

And with what kind of body do they come?”
36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;
37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.
38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish.
40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;
43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became A living soul.” The last Adam became a life- giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.
47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.
49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

Introduction:

Theme: Three reasons why death historically precedes the resurrection body so you will maintain hope.

I. Death is the usual way to attain that body vv.35-42
Three illustrations :
-Agriculture vv. 36-38
-Animals vs. 39
-Astronomy vv.40-41

II. Death is the inevitable arrival point for this body vv. 42-44

III. Death is the primary way to appreciate the relationship between this body and that body vv. 45-49
A. Contrasts between Adam and Christ vv.45-47
B. Correlation between this body and that one vv. 48-49

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Sermon20120422

1 Corinthians 15:29-34

29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?
30 Why are we also in danger every hour?
31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
34 Become sober- minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Introduction:

Theme: Two premises why living dangerously for Christ is a reasonable risk, because of the resurrection of Christ.

I. Living dangerously for Christ requires that you assume a degree of risk in this life vv.30-32
A. Living dangerously for Christ may lead to physical danger
B. Living dangerously for Christ may involve the threat of death
C. Living dangerously for Christ may involve confrontation with fierce adversaries

II. Living dangerously for Christ remains safer than the alternatives vv.33-34
A. The danger of having your morals corrupted through evil influences
B. The danger of continuing in sin
C. The danger of lacking the knowledge of God

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Sermon20120415

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Sermon20120408

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;
14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

Introduction:
Example One
The Titanic
Example Two
Adolph Hitler

Review:

Theme: Six unbearable consequences you must face if Jesus is not risen from the dead, lest you disbelieve or devalue the resurrection of Christ in your mind.

1. The apostolic preaching is vain vs. 14
2. The Christian’s faith is vain vs. 14
3. The apostles are false witnesses of God vs. 15
4. The Christian remains in his sins vs. 17
5. Christians who have died have perished vs. 18
6. Christians are to be pitied above all men vs. 19

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Sermon20120401

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

CHAPTER 15

The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Introduction:

Theme: Three reasons why we believe the gospel so you can rejoice with confidence in its truth and share it with others.

I. The gospel is good news to be proclaimed and responded to vv.1-2
A. Belief in Christ means you received and you stand in the gospel.
B. Belief in Christ leads to salvation

II. The gospel is grounded in the promises of the O.T. vv. 3-4
Three components of the gospel.
A. Christ died for our sins
B. Christ was buried
C. Christ was raised on the third day

III. The gospel is guaranteed by the proof of His resurrection vv. 5-11
A. His early appearances to His followers
1. to Cephas
2. to the twelve
3. to more than 500 hundred brethren
4. to James
5. to all the apostles
B. His later appearance to Paul.

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