Sermon20130811

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Sermon20130804

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Sermon20130728

Theme : Three roles a faithful ministry partner fills so you will understand his importance in ministry.

Acts 9:27 (NASB)
27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

I. He has your back

Acts 11:22-30 (NASB)
22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;
26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.
29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.
30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Acts 12:25 (NASB)
12 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.

II. He serves at your side
A. The Ministry of Discipleship
B. The Ministry of

Acts 13-15

III. He goes out before you
A. He accepts the role he has been called to.
B. He defers to the role he must come in to.

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Sermon20130721

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Sermon20130714

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 (NASB)
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.
17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
18 We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches;
19 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,
20 taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;
21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.
24 Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.

Theme: Three stages in the proper administration of Christian contributions so you will have confidence in the stewardship of your gifts.

I. Commencing the gift vv. 16-17
A. God is the primary initiator
B. God works through men to commence the giving

II. Collecting and delivering the gift vv. 18-23
A. Accountability
B. Integrity
C. Reputations matter

III. Completing the gift v.24

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Sermon20130707

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (NASB)
1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
10 I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality —
14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15 as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”

Introduction:

Five Reasons God Grants a Surplus
1. To save up for times when we have a lack – Emergency Fund
2. To enjoy life – gifts, vacations, hobbies, etc. – Discretionary Spending
3. To give to the Lord’s work through church, missions and ministries – Tithes and Offerings
4. To generously give to other believers in need – Charity
5. To increase wealth so you can do the other four more generously – Investing

Theme: Five habits of a grace giving church and the reasons we should emulate them

I. They Did It: Five habits displayed in a grace giving church
1. They gave in the midst of their affliction vs 2a.
2. They gave joyfully and generously vv 2b-3a
3. They gave willingly and eagerly 3b-4
4. They gave themselves to the Lord first.
vs 5a.
5. They gave themselves to the ministry. 5b

II. Now you Do It: Five reasons why we should emulate those grace giving churches

1. Grace Giving is a gracious work to share in vv.6-7
2. Grace Giving proves our love for others vs. 8
3. Grace Giving is patterned after the generous gift of Christ for us vs.9
4. Grace Giving is done out of your desire and ability to do so vv. 10-12

Are you ready and willing ?
Are you able?

5. Grace Giving provides for equality among believers vv. 13-15 Acts 4:34-35

Do you understand God’s reason for granting you wealth ?

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Sermon20130630

Ezra 7:10 (NASB)

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Introduction:

This passage reveals three mandates to live by in the life of every believer in order to live Biblically.

1. Ezra set his heart to study the Word of God

Process,

Read the Word

Take notes, find answers

Memorize the Word

Meditate on the Word

2. Ezra set his heart to practice the Word of God

You must be a living testimony – no hypocrisy

You must evangelize.

You must defend doctrine.

You must exemplify by obedience.

3. Ezra set his heart to teach the Word of God

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Sermon20130623

Jude 1:24-25 (NASB)
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Introduction:

Chiastic Structure of Jude

A: Desire to Glorify God (1-2)
B: Defend Doctrine ! (3)
C: Description of Spiritual Terrorists (4-16)
B’: Defend Doctrine ! (17-23)
A’: Doxology-Glorify God (24-25)

Review:
1. Recognition of the Desires of Jude (1-2)
2. Recognition of the Directive for the Church (3)
3. Recognition of the Dangers of False Teachers (4)
4. Recognition of the Damnation of Sin and Apostates (5-7)
5. Recognition of the Description of Apostates (6-16)
6. Recognition of the Defense of the Faith (17-23)
7. Recognition of Doxology in Giving God the Glory for all things (24-26)

There are two(2) activities of God the Father that provide absolute assurance to all true believers so that they will be able to glorify God as they defend doctrine

I. The recipient of praise
1. Preservation
2. Presentation

II. The bestowing of honor
1. Glory
2. Majesty
3. Dominion
4. Authority

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Sermon20130616

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (NASB)
1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
10 I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality —
14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15 as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”

Introduction:

Five Reasons God Grants a Surplus
1. To save up for times when we have a lack – Emergency Fund
2. To enjoy life – gifts, vacations, hobbies, etc. – Discretionary Spending
3. To give to the Lord’s work through church, missions and ministries – Tithes and Offerings
4. To generously give to other believers in need – Charity
5. To increase wealth so you can do the other four more generously – Investing

Theme: Five habits of a grace giving church and the reasons we should emulate them

I. They Did It: Five habits displayed in a grace giving church
1. They gave in the midst of their affliction vs 2a.
2. They gave joyfully and generously vv 2b-3a
3. They gave willingly and eagerly 3b-4
4. They gave themselves to the Lord first.
vs 5a.
5. They gave themselves to the ministry. 5b

II Now you Do It: Five reasons why we should emulate those grace giving churches

1. Grace Giving is a gracious work to share in vv.6-7
2. Grace Giving proves our love for others vs. 8
3. Grace Giving is patterned after the generous gift of Christ for us vs.9

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Sermon20130609

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (NASB)
1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
10 I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality —
14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15 as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”

Introduction:

Five Reasons God Grants a Surplus
1. To save up for times when we have a lack – Emergency Fund
2. To enjoy life – gifts, vacations, hobbies, etc. – Discretionary Spending
3. To give to the Lord’s work through church, missions and ministries – Tithes and Offerings
4. To generously give to other believers in need – Charity
5. To increase wealth so you can do the other four more generously – Investing

Theme: Five habits of a grace giving church and the reasons we should emulate them

I. They Did It: Five habits displayed in a grace giving church
1. They gave in the midst of their affliction vs 2a.
2. They gave joyfully and generously vv 2b-3a
3. They gave willingly and eagerly 3b-4
4. They gave themselves to the Lord first.
vs 5a.
5. They gave themselves to the ministry. 5b

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