Friday, January 31, 2014

Humpty Dumpty & Grace

A few weeks ago we used the famous children's riddle Humpty Dumpty as an illustration of who we are as sinners. We have fallen and no matter how hard we try, we cannot put ourselves together again. Not even all the king's horses or all the king's men. That is our state as sinners. But that is not where the story ends. Christianity believes, not in religion, but in grace where the Savior, Jesus Christ the risen one, puts us back together again.

Thus, instead of reciting a riddle about unrepairable brokenness, perhaps we should recite something very different.
Jesus Christ came to our wall,
Jesus Christ died for our fall;

So that regardless of death and in spite of sin,
Through grace, He might put us together again[1]

[1] Taken from Charles Swindoll,Swindoll's Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

January 26, 2014 | Matthew 19:13-30: What Must One Do to be Saved?

Sunday we continued our long walk through Matthew by meeting three people: children, a rich young man, and the disciples. Jesus' message to all of them is shocking.
13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, 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.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.





Audio
Notes






January 12, 2014 | Matthew 19:1-9: All the King's Horses: Marriage, Divorce & the Gospel
January 19, 2014 | Matthew 19:10-12 - What's the Point?: Marriage, Singleness, & Living for the Glory of God
January 26, 2014 | Matthew 19:13-30: What Must One Do to be Saved? 




For more:
I Am Yours, Save Me


Matthew 1-18 | The King Has Come: The Gospel According to Matthew Series

Friday, January 24, 2014

I Am Yours, Save Me

This is a great scene from the biographical film Luther which illustrates our passage for Sunday (Matthew 19:13-30).

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

January 19, 2014 | Matthew 19:10-12 - What's the Point?: Marriage, Singleness, & Living for the Glory of God

After dealing with the issue of marriage and divorce, Jesus then turns his attention to the question of marriage and singleness in Matthew 19:10-12.
10 The disciples *said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” 11 But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”


Audio
Notes



January 12, 2014 | Matthew 19:1-9: All the King's Horses: marriage, Divorce & the Gospel


For more:
Matthew 1-18 | The King Has Come: The Gospel According to Matthew Series

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

January 12, 2014 | Matthew 19:1-9: All the King's Horses: marriage, Divorce & the Gospel

Its a new year and that means we are returning to the life and ministry of Jesus. This year we are picking up, yet again, where we left off last year. Before Resurrection Sunday last year we finished chapter 18 and so this year we begin with Matthew 19:1-9.
When Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 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’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They *said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” He *said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”



Audio
Notes


January 12, 2014 | Matthew 19:1-9: All the King's Horses: marriage, Divorce & the Gospel


For more:
Matthew 1-18 | The King Has Come: The Gospel According to Matthew Series

Friday, January 17, 2014

Colossians: The Incomparable Sufficient Jesus Series

For several months we studied verse-by-verse through Paul's letter to the church in Colosae. Of all the books we have studied, this might be the one I have enjoyed the most. In it, Paul makes it clear that Jesus is enough. Jesus is all we need. Who can compare? Below are all of the sermons and articles associated with the series.

Sermons
 
August 18, 2013 | Colossians 1:1-8 - Faith, Hope, and Love: The Greatest of These is Hope?
September 1, 2013 | Colossians 1:9-12: The More You Know
September 8, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Salvation is Creation: A Biblical Theology
September 22, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-29
October 6, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Tear Down This Wall: Tearing Down the Secular & the Sacred Divide
October 13, 2013 | Colossians 2:1-7 - Walk in the Lord: A Call to Agonize for the Christ’s Bride

October 20, 2013 | Colossians 2:8-15 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 1 
October 27, 2013 | Colossians 2:16-23 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 2
November 3, 2013 | Colossians 3:1a - “Raised with Christ”: Why the Resurrection of Jesus is More than HisStory
November 10, 2013 | Colossians 3:1-4 - Putting on Christ or You Ain’t From Around Here Are You?
November 17, 2013 | Colossians 3:5-17
November 24, 2013 | Colossians 3:18-19 - The New Man and Marriage
December 1, 2013 | Colossians 3:20-21 - The New Man and the Home
December 15, 2013 | Colossians 3:22-4:1
December 29, 2013 | Colossians 4:2-6
January 5, 2014 | Colossians 4:7-18


Articles 

"Now We're Both in the Hole"
“Children Learn What They Live” by Dorothy Law Nolte: A Poem
10 Ways to Irritate Your Child
"Take My Life and Let It Be"
All You Need is Christ: MacArthur on the Sufficiency of Jesus
Ravi Zacharias' 12 Arguments For the Historicity of the Resurrection  
Jim Monroe: I Am Second
Strengthen Your Hearts: Fun With Mark Lowry
The Secular vs the Sacred: Brand on the Influence of Luther
The Secular vs. the Sacred: Wax on the Lordship of Christ
Martin Luther on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy 
Nancy Pearcey on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy
Is Colossians 1:15-20 a Hymn?
"That's My King"
Faith, Hope, and Love: An Early Christian Confession 
MacArthur on a Faith that Saves 
 


Other Series

The Sermon on the Mount Series
Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5
Matthew 1-18 | The King Has Come: The Gospel According to Matthew Series
The Last Week of Jesus: From Triumphal Entry to Triumphal Grave Series
The Tempter and the Tempted: Overcoming Temptation With the Gospel of Christ Sermon Series
Jonah: Salvation is From the Lord Sermon Series
Faith in the Midst of God-Ordained Storms Sermon Series
Ruth: Where Providence and Grace Kiss Sermon Series
Haggai: Consider Your Ways Sermon Series
God: Proper Theology Proper Sermon Series
Fruitie-Tales: Living By the Fruit of the Spirit
Basic Christianity Series
Revelation Study

January 5, 2014 | Colossians 4:7-18

After over three months of study, we have come to the end of Paul's wonderful letter to the Colossians.
As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. 17 Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.



Audio
Notes


August 18, 2013 | Colossians 1:1-8 - Faith, Hope, and Love: The Greatest of These is Hope?
September 1, 2013 | Colossians 1:9-12: The More You Know
September 8, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Salvation is Creation: A Biblical Theology
September 22, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-29
October 6, 2013 | Colossians 1:13-23 - Tear Down This Wall: Tearing Down the Secular & the Sacred Divide
October 13, 2013 | Colossians 2:1-7 - Walk in the Lord: A Call to Agonize for the Christ’s Bride

October 20, 2013 | Colossians 2:8-15 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 1 
October 27, 2013 | Colossians 2:16-23 - Beware of Counterfeits: Why Jesus is Better. Period. - Part 2
November 3, 2013 | Colossians 3:1a - “Raised with Christ”: Why the Resurrection of Jesus is More than HisStory
November 10, 2013 | Colossians 3:1-4 - Putting on Christ or You Ain’t From Around Here Are You?
November 17, 2013 | Colossians 3:5-17
November 24, 2013 | Colossians 3:18-19 - The New Man and Marriage
December 1, 2013 | Colossians 3:20-21 - The New Man and the Home
December 15, 2013 | Colossians 3:22-4:1
December 29, 2013 | Colossians 4:2-6
January 5, 2014 | Colossians 4:7-18


For more:
"Now We're Both in the Hole"
“Children Learn What They Live” by Dorothy Law Nolte: A Poem
10 Ways to Irritate Your Child
"Take My Life and Let It Be"
All You Need is Christ: MacArthur on the Sufficiency of Jesus
Ravi Zacharias' 12 Arguments For the Historicity of the Resurrection  
Jim Monroe: I Am Second
Strengthen Your Hearts: Fun With Mark Lowry
The Secular vs the Sacred: Brand on the Influence of Luther
The Secular vs. the Sacred: Wax on the Lordship of Christ
Martin Luther on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy 
Nancy Pearcey on the Secular/Sacred Dichotomy
Is Colossians 1:15-20 a Hymn?
"That's My King"
Faith, Hope, and Love: An Early Christian Confession 
MacArthur on a Faith that Saves