February 10, 2013 | Matthew 18:1-4 - Children Only: The Secret to being great in the Kingdom of God

Last Sunday we began one of five major discourses in Matthew's Gospel. We've already looked at a few of them. These include the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and the Kingdom Parables (Matthew 13). Now we look at this discourse that uses the imagery of children to describe what it means to be citizens of the Kingdom of God. We begin with the truth that in order to enter the Kingdom, we must be like children and humble.





Audio
Notes


January 27, 2013 | Matthew 17:24-27 - We Are Free Indeed: The Glorious Truth of the Gospel
Matthew 18:1-4 | Children Only: The Secret to being great in the Kingdom of God


For more:
We Are Children: MacArthur Introduces Matthew 18:1-4
Come Like Children: MacArthur Explains the Riddle
Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5
Matthew 8-12 - The King Has Come: The Gospel According to Matthew Series
The Last Week of Jesus: From Triumphal Entry to Triumphal Grave Series

September 30, 2012 | Philippians 2:5-11: The Joy of Holy Condescension

After exhorting the Philippians to be unified and to be humble, Paul then turns to the perfect example of Christ who condescended Himself by becoming a man and a man who was put on a cross.  If we can grasp both the Incarnation and the Passion of Jesus, we would do ourselves some good. Christians, by name and nature, are called to imitate and to follow Christ. If we do that, we will find joy in the place called Unity and Humility and Obedience.

⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.




Notes
Audio


September 2, 2012 | Philippians 1:1-11 - The Joy of Thanksgiving & Prayer 
September 16, 2012 | Philippians 1:19-30 - The Joy of the Future
September 23, 2012 | Philippians 2:1-4: The Joy of Humility


For more:
Theology Sings: Thoughts on the Hymn of Philippians 2:5-11
Philippians 2:5-11 & Kenotic Theology
Book Recommendation: "Humility" by CJ Mahaney
Grudem on the Deity of Christ 
The Gospel Coalition on the Deity of Christ 
Mahaney on the Person and Work of Christ:  Christ Our Mediator  
Stomach Virus' and the Humanity of Christ:  Moore on the Suffering and Sick Servant
Sayers on the Incarnation of Christ  
If Jesus Were Born in Our Digital Age
December 26, 2010 - Jesus is Human
December 19, 2012 - Jesus is God
Basic Christianity: Daniel 4:29-37 - Humility Before God
Basic Christianity: James 4:1-10 - Humility Before Others

September 23, 2012 | Philippians 2:1-4: The Joy of Humility

Paul now shifts from looking specifically at his situation - in chains yet with joy - to the situation of the Philippians. He begins by exhorting the Philippians to be humble for the purpose of unity. Unity brings with it joy. Division brings with it chaos. Sin always divides. Bitterness, jealousy, envy, pride, anger, and malice all bring division thus robbing us of joy. Humility, on the other hand, brings unity and joy. This is an important message, not just for our homes and our work lives, but for our church. Will we love one another with a humble love reflective of Christ (particularly Christ on the cross) or will we be controlled by our selfish, divisive lust and demands?

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.


Notes
Audio (unavailable at this time) 


September 2, 2012 | Philippians 1:1-11 - The Joy of Thanksgiving & Prayer 
September 16, 2012 | Philippians 1:19-30 - The Joy of the Future

Book Recommendation: "Humility" by CJ Mahaney

Originally published December 9, 2008.

Currently, we are walking through the basics of Christianity at church. We began with submission, moved to servanthood, and are now discussing humility (selflessness to keep the alliteration going). And I can think of a no more simpler and yet profound book on the subject than CJ Mahaney's book simply titled, "Humility: True Greatness."

Mahaney has written a short book that anyone can read and understand. It reminds me of the apostle John's writings: very simple to read and understand yet rich in content, theology, and depth. Mahaney walks the reader on the importance of humility and how we can live humble lives.

I want to briefly discuss what was perhaps the most compelling part of the book. In one chapter, Mahaney discusses the importance of seeing evidence of God's grace in everyone. His example for this is the Apostle Paul and his letter to the Corinthians. Though Paul had to deal with a lot of difficult issues in this letter (and in his 2nd letter, not to mention the letters that we do not have that he wrote), he nonetheless begins the letter thanking God for them.

Why? They certainly didn't deserve it. Paul knew that God had saved them and He was sanctifying them. Therefore, Paul was grateful for their, though infantile, knowing that God was still working in them. As a minister, I am constantly confronting with people whom I want to ignore and write off. Not so with Paul. Though the Christians in Corinth were struggling, Paul leaned on God nonetheless.

Paul saw in himself the same selfishness that characterized the Corinthians and thus points them to the cross. There is nothing more humbling than the cross. It is a constant reminder that God is good even though I am so bad. The cross means that I can not save myself, I must fully rely on someone else to get me out of the mess that I have made. That is humility.

More could be said about this fascinating and much needed little book, but this should suffice. I believe, and so does Scripture, that pride is the root of every sin. As CS Lewis wrote, pride is what made the devil the devil. Lewis also considers pride to be the great sin, and he is exactly right. As Christians, we must slay this dragon and live lives that reflect God's glory and we can do that by being humble Christians always reminded of the cross.


For more:
Mahaney on the Person and Work of Christ: Christ Our Mediator
Basic Christianity: Daniel 4:29-37 - Humility Before God
Basic Christianity: James 4:1-10 - Humility Before Others

Basic Christianity Sermon Series Online

The full sermon series on Basic Christianity is online. I have mostly just the .pdf of my notes. I pray that they will help. My notes are very detailed and not vague. On some I have a manuscript and on others I have audio. This is the foundation by which everything else we do will be built upon. If we want to be faithful Christians, we must learn to submit, to serve, and to be selfless.

Basic Christianity Series

We just finished our first series discussing what Basic Christianity is. Here are all of them in order:

Submission

• Basic Christianity: Psalm 81 - Submit to God
• Basic Christianity: Romans 13:1-7 - Submit to the Institutions Established By God
• Basic Christianity: Ephesians 5:22ff - Submit to Others

Slavehood

• Basic Christianity: Romans 6 - Slaves of Christ
• Basic Christianity: John 13:1-17 - Jesus As the Model of Service

Selflessness (Humility)

• Basic Christianity: Daniel 4:29-37 - Humility Before God
• Basic Christianity: James 4:1-10 - Humility Before Others

Basic Christianity: James 4:1-10 - Humility Before Others

Here is the last installment on our series on Basic Christianity. The three parts have been Submission, Slavehood, and Selflessness (Humility).

To download the notes, click here.

Basic Chrsitianity: Humility Part 1 Sermon Notes

To download my sermon notes, click here.

Basic Christianity: Daniel 4:29-37 - Humility Before God

To download my sermon notes, click here.

Weekly Recommendation: 'Humility'

Over the past 2 months, we have been looking at Basic Christianity. What does it mean to be a Christian? We have answered that in 3 ways: Submission, Servanthood, and Selflessness (humility). We are currently discussing humility. Over the past 2 weeks, I have been re-reading my favorite book on the subject, "Humility: True Greatness," by C J Mahaney.

I had the opportunity to meet Mahaney and have him sign my copy of his book. He wrote:

Kyle,

With Appreciation

C J

James 4:6

What is interesting is that we will be looking at James 4 this upcoming Sunday as we conclude our discussion on Basic Christianity. I highly recommend this book. It is simple, short, and yet, profound. I have recently written a short review of the book. If it helps, I encourage everyone to read it and to check out this book. Mahaney is one of the best public examples of what humility looks like. Pride is a constant battle we fight. We all fight it, and this is a great resource to help us in that struggle.

His best advice: remember the cross.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." -James 4:6