By Grace Alone

John tells us “At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.” (1 John 2:8, ESV) This “old commandment” of love that we discussed earlier has now given birth to a “new commandment” of love. Love 2.0 if you will… Enjoy

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (72)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (22)

 All Sermons in Life in Christ Series

Sermon Notes

When reading the passage “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6, ESV) you can’t help but see the power and majesty that belongs to our God. And as His people we are also called to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. This message reflects that as we continue on in His Word. - Enjoy

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (71)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (22)

All Sermons in the Small Group Series

Sermon Notes

*Photo courtesy of www.freefoto.com

We come to this passage in Philippians ”And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians 1:14, ESV) Where Paul says my chains have caused others to become much more bold [lit. "abundantly bold"] to speak the word [logos] without fear.

The Church has the truth of the Word of God. We are not to apologize for the truth but we are to speak it in love. Here is a newsflash for you - the world will hate you when you tell them the truth from the Word of God but we have no other option other than speaking the truth in love.

Fear is the opposite of faith and has no place in a believers life. This message is about speaking the Word blodly and without fear.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (79)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (34)

All Sermons in the Series “Life of Joy in Christ”

Download Sermon Notes

As Christians we should all be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Eager to do so. We should be seeking ways to be more eager to maintain and it should be something on our minds continually.  This is part of walking in a manner worthy ot the calling in which we have been called. Ephesian 4 starts out in first three verses like this:

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3, ESV)

 Let this become a cornerstone of our Christian lives as we live out the truth of our calling. Peter makes almost the same statement by telling us to ”make our calling and election sure” by practicing the following qualities: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (2 Peter 1:5-10, ESV)

 And as each has received a gift - use it to serve one another.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (71)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (25)

All Sermons in the Small Group Series

Sermon Notes

John tells us “Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.” (1 John 2:7, ESV). This old/new commandment is a commandment to love the brethren which in turns shows we love God which in turns shows that we are truly Christians and to love God means to keep His commandments!

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”” (John 14:21, ESV)

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:10, ESV)

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14, ESV)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:34-35, ESV)

It is so easy to forget that we are commanded to love the brothers and it is a true test to see if we are of the faith. Love of the brethren furthers the Gospel, makes a clear biblical witness to a lost world and brings assurance to the believer. What more could you ask for?

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (68)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (25)

 All Sermons in Life in Christ Series

Sermon Notes

“My Imprisonment is for Christ” Paul says “What is yours for?”

“So that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”
(Philippians 1:13, ESV)

We looked at this wonderful passage in Philippians and talked about suffering for the Gospel. We also looked at God’s providence in the lives of Paul, Joseph and ourselves. Great message that needs to continue to be retold time and time again. May the Lord continue to use our suffering to advance His Gospel.

In Christ
Jeff

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (72)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (27)

All Sermons in the Series “Life of Joy in Christ”

Download Sermon Notes

 *

Discipleship is sometimes considered a “second tier” in the minds of some believers. It is considered for the “zealous” and “fanatical” rather than what it really is -  a true Christ follower! We addressed this issue Sunday with the passage from 1 John 2:6 and as I was looking for the right picture for this post I ran across this quote on Amazon and thought it was appropriate on this issue (I haven’t read the book - yet  ).

 ”When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” With these words, in The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer gave powerful voice to the millions of Christians who believe personal sacrifice is an essential component of faith.” (Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian, was an exemplar of sacrificial faith: he opposed the Nazis from the first and was eventually imprisoned in Buchenwald and hung by the Gestapo in 1945)**

This is the very thought that John tells us when he says ”whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6, ESV) To walk as Christ walked is to live, not by rules, but by an example. It is to follow Him, to be His disciple. This discipleship is personal, active and costly. Jesus said “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8, ESV) and in 1 John 2:5-6 discipleship is in view as we are told that true believers will imitate Christ.

*Photo courtesy of Themishmash
**Quote from Amazon Book Page

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (70)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (22)

All Sermons in Life in Christ Series

Sermon Notes

  ”I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12, ESV)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (77)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (28)

Trials and suffering to further the Gospel is Biblical as we see in the verse above. In fact, being tried as in fire and purified, so as to remove any impurity, runs through the entire Bible. (Job 23:10; Ps 66:10-12; Pro 17:3; Isa 1:25; 48:10; 1 Pet 1:7)

So we see, it is not a matter of the chains themselves (or any other trial), but what we do in the chains that counts. We can claim to have faith all day long but when the trial comes what really comes out of our mouths? Do we act on fear or faith? Are we trusting in Christ alone or do we trust in the things of this world to get us by? (2 Cor 4:7-10)

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, ESV)

May the Lord advance His Gospel through our suffering and afflictions…

 Jeff

All Sermons in the Series “Life of Joy in Christ”

Download Sermon Notes

*Photo Courtesy of www.freefoto.com

Do you use your cell phone in the drive thru? At the bank counter? Other places where people have placed signs and asked you not to? Why? Because “I had to take the call?” or because your phone call is more important than their “silly little sign” anyway. As Christians we are called to live a life of obedience to Christ and His kingdom and not to this world. It means we become “slaves to obedience” and share in the “sufferings” of Chirst. It means being obedient in even the smallest of things so that our Father who are in Heaven is glorified. In this message we talk alot about obedience to the Lord and His Word.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (72)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (27)

All Sermons in Life in Christ Series

Sermon Notes

“Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11, ESV)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (73)

 

 Online Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (25)

Paul finishes his prayer with the end result. That all the believers would be filled with the fruit of righteousness, that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. We studied the fact that the Christian life is a supplied life, not a produced life. The Christian life must be supplied by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And since we cannot manufacture, compose, or produce the Christian life for ourselves God gets all the glory. (John 10:10; 15; Eph. 3:17-19; Phil 4:19). I pray that we would all be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus to the glory and praise of God.

All Sermons in the Series “Life of Joy in Christ”

Download Sermon Notes