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Sermon20131013

2 Corinthians 11:7-15 (NASB)
7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

Introduction:
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Review:
He embarks upon foolish boasting
He demonstrates intense concern for them in godly jealousy and fear
He asserts his apostolic equality

Theme: Two contrasting portraits of an apostle so you will recognize a true servant of Christ today.

A. Four Marks of a True Apostle vv.7-12

1. His ministry He preached the gospel vs.7
2. His means: He depends on the support of generous saint’s vv.8-9
3. His method He continues to use boasting vv. 10, 12a
4. His motive : He genuinely loves them vs. 11

B. Four Marks of a False Apostle vv. 12b-15

1. Their desire : They intend to be viewed as true apostles vs.12b
2. Their deception : They are deceptive in their “work ” of “ministry” vs.13a
3. Their disguise : They masquerade as true apostles vv.13b-15a
4. Their destruction : They receive what they deserve in the end vs. 15b

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Sermon20131006

2 Corinthians 11:1-6 (NASB)

1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.

2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led

astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.

6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

Introduction:

Theme: Four convictions a pastor must hold so that the church will remain true to Christ.

Conviction #1 The fitness of folly vs.1

Conviction #2 The passion for purity vs. 2

Conviction #3 The danger of deception vv.3-4

1 Do not understand and have not accepted the Gospel

2 Not well taught in Gods word and understanding the Gospel

3 You are living in or lingering in unrepentant sin.

4 You have come under the influence of unbelievers.

Conviction #4 The assertion of authority vv.5-6

A. Assessment of authority v5

B. Assessment ability v6

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Sermon20130929

2 Corinthians 11:1-6 (NASB)
1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband,
so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.
6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

Introduction:

Theme: Four convictions a pastor must hold so that the church will remain true to Christ.

Conviction #1 The fitness of folly vs.1

Conviction #2 The passion for purity vs. 2

Conviction #3 The danger of deception vv.3-4
1 Do not understand and have not accepted the Gospel
2 Not well taught in Gods word and understanding the Gospel
3 You are living in or lingering in unrepentant sin.
4 You have come under the influence of unbelievers.

Conviction #4 The assertion of authority vv.5-6

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Sermon20130922

2 Corinthians 10:7-18 (NASB)
7 You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.
8 For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,
9 for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.
10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.”
11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.
14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ;
15 not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,
16 so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.
17 But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD.
18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.

Introduction:

Review:

Theme:Two aspects of a gospel ministry to acknowledge so you can serve Christ in greater humility

I. Understand the leverage of a Gospel Ministry vv. 7-11

leverage –
1. the exertion of force by means of a lever
2. the power to influence. Concise Oxford English Dictionary

A. He’s confident he belongs to Christ vs.7

B. He’s proud of his authority in Christ vs. 8

C. He’s effective in both his public and personal ministry for Christ vs.9-11

II. Accept the limitations of a Gospel Ministry vv.12-18

A. He avoids human comparisons in the gospel ministry vs. 12

B. He brags within the limits of his gospel ministry vv. 13-17

C. He receives commendation from Christ alone to approve his gospel ministry vs.18

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Sermon20130915

2 Corinthians 10:7-18 (NASB)
7 You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.
8 For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,
9 for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.
10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.”
11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.
14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ;
15 not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,
16 so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.
17 But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD.
18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.

Introduction:

Review:

Theme:Two aspects of a gospel ministry to acknowledge so you can serve Christ in greater humility

I. Understand the leverage of a Gospel Ministry vv. 7-11

leverage –
1. the exertion of force by means of a lever
2. the power to influence. Concise Oxford English Dictionary

A. He’s confident he belongs to Christ vs.7

B. He’s proud of his authority in Christ vs. 8

C. He’s effective in both his public and personal ministry for Christ vs.9-11

II. Accept the limitations of a Gospel Ministry vv.12-18

A. He avoids human in the gospel ministry vs. 12

B. He brags within the of his gospel ministry vv. 13-17

C. He receives from Christ alone to approve his gospel ministry vs.18

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Sermon20130908

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 (NASB)

1 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
2 I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

Introduction:

Theme: Five areas in which spiritual leaders lead so you won’t lose sight of where the war is fought

I. They lead with Christ – like character vs 1

II. They lead with candor vs. 2

III. They lead with conviction vv3-4

IV. They lead with concerted focus vs.5

V. They lead with calculation vs.6

How is the Gospel under attack
Attributes of God are misrepresented
Deity of Christ is denied
Sinfulness of man misrepresented
The Bible is under attack.

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Sermon20130901

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 (NASB)

1 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
2 I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

Introduction:

Theme: Five areas in which spiritual leaders lead so you won’t lose sight of where the war is fought

I. They lead with Christ – like character vs 1

II. They lead with candor vs. 2

III. They lead with vv3-4

IV. They lead with focus vs.5

V. They lead with vs.6

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Sermon20130825

Theme: Three reasons why Christ instituted His church so we will renew our devotion to His purposes for our existence in this world.

I. Looking up – refers to our worship of God
II. Looking in – refers to our work in the body
III. Looking out – refers to our witness in the world

Application:

A. Two Areas for Special Consideration:
1. Developing church leaders
2. Reaching our community

a. What the Bible teaches

b. Where we are struggling

c. What we can do about it

B. A Hopeful Future
Where are we heading? How will we get there?

1. Carefully identify the target group to aim at.
a. College Students
b. Children

2. Prayerfully implement a strategic outreach plan

a. College Outreach – CSUN
b. Consistent and aggressive in outreach to children
c. Sustained ministry to youth group age.
d. Developing members to sustain these ministries
e. Curtail traditional ministries.

3. Faithfully inquire as to every members role in contributing to is plan

a. Spiritual Gifts
b. Stretching Individuals

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Sermon20130818

Theme: Three reasons why Christ instituted His church so we will renew our devotion to His purposes for our existence in this world.

I. Looking up – refers to our worship of God
II. Looking in – refers to our work in the body
III. Looking out – refers to our witness in the world

A. A local or community focus
B. A global or missions focus

Application: Two Areas for Special Consideration:
A. Developing leaders
1. What the Bible teaches

2. Where we are struggling

3. What we can do about it

B. Reaching our community
1. What the Bible teaches

2. Where we are struggling

3. What we can do about it

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