The Tempter and the Tempted: Overcoming Temptation With the Gospel of Christ Sermon Series

A few weeks ago we finished our series looking at temptation emphasizing the temptation of Jesus. Here are all of the links, sermons, and other resources from that series.

Sermons:

July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It 
July 8, 2012 | 1 John 2:15-17 - Gone Fishing: The Bait & Hook Strategy of Temptation  
July 15, 2012 | Luke 3:18-4:22 - Who's Your Daddy?: Our Christian Identity and the Nature of Temptation
July 22, 2012 | Matthew 4:1-4 - Hungry? Why Wait?: Learning to Feast When on a 40 Day Fast
August 8, 2012 | Matthew 4:5-7 - Don't Jump: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Self-Vindication
August 15, 2012 | Matthew 4:8-11 - My Kingdom Come: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Kingdom Building Idolatry
August 22, 2012 - Isaiah 55 | Come & Seek A God Who Forgives - Audio & Notes





Articles:

Using God's Gifts As Weapons: Dr. Moore on the 3rd Temptation
"Tempted and Tried": A Review
Trip Lee "War" (lyrics)
Brad Stine on Fishing and Fishermen
"Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin


Others:

Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
Still Surviving The Storm


Other Series:

Ruth: Where Providence and Grace Kiss Sermon Series
Faith in the Midst of God-Ordained Storms Sermon Series 
God: Proper Theology Proper Sermon Series  
The Sermon on the Mount Series
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
Fruitie-Tales: Living By the Fruit of the Spirit
Basic Christianity Series
Revelation Study

August 15, 2012 | Matthew 4:8-11 - My Kingdom Come: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Kingdom Building Idolatry

Sunday we discussed the third and final temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:8-11 emphasizing how easy it is for us to build our kingdoms through the means of idolatry. I believe that if you can understand idolatry, you can overcome temptation. When we crucify our idols, we can be freed from sin. But first, we need the cross.

⁸  Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; ⁹ and he said to Him, “ All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘ You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” ¹¹ Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.







Audio
Notes


July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It 
July 8, 2012 | 1 John 2:15-17 - Gone Fishing: The Bait & Hook Strategy of Temptation  
July 15, 2012 | Luke 3:18-4:22 - Who's Your Daddy?: Our Christian Identity and the Nature of Temptation
July 22, 2012 | Matthew 4:1-4 - Hungry? Why Wait?: Learning to Feast When on a 40 Day Fast
August 8, 2012 | Matthew 4:5-7 - Don't Jump: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Self-Vindication
August 15, 2012 | Matthew 4:8-11 - My Kingdom Come: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Kingdom Building Idolatry


For more:
GBC - Using God's Gifts As Weapons: Dr. Moore on the 3rd Temptation
GBC - "Tempted and Tried": A Review
GBC - Trip Lee "War" (lyrics)
GBC - Brad Stine on Fishing and Fishermen
GBC - "Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm

Using God's Gifts As Weapons: Dr. Moore on the 3rd Temptation

The book that inspired our current series on the temptation of Jesus is Dr. Russell Moore's wonderful book, Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ. Regarding next Sunday's temptation, the third temptation, Dr. Moore has the following to say:

When Eve, and then Adam, turned from the world of God to believing th word of Satan, they acted as though Satan could be the guarantor of their exaltation. They worshiped him. The nihilism of the fall wasn’t simply tat the primeval couple a from the wrong tree. They worshiped the wrong god and thus attacked the entire structure of the divine economy.

The further the Israelites went away from their merciful rescue from Egypt, the more they showed the same idolatrous instinct. The golden calf incident sums up perfectly the nihilism of human pride. The calf was made of gold, of course, but the Scripture insists that we acknowledge where this gold had come from in the first place. Aaron had taken up an offering of “the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters” (Ex. 32:2). Now where did these “rings of gold” come from? The Israelites had plundered this gold jewelry from their Egyptian taskmasters, right before their flight into the night (Ex. 12:35) They did so at the direction of the word fo God. And how did it come about? It was because “the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked” (Ex. 12:36).

The Israelites used the very gifts God had given them as a weapon against him, the height of entitlement and hubris. This was, of course, precisely what our first ancestors did as well. God created the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He gave the vegetation to the man and woman to eat. They used the one as a means of insurrection and the other as a hiding place from communion with God. In their pride they’d forgotten they were creatures and subjects and sons and daughters. As the Israelites danced around the golden calf, and in every other instance of worshiping a thing rather than God, they showed they loved their kingdom more than their King. By offering praise to a crated thing made out of their own stuff, they were “rejoicing in the works of their hands” (Acts 7:41).

Satan was willing to give away his territorial rights to the kingdoms of this world partly because he knew he wouldn’t be giving up a kingdom but rather would be gaining another subject. Satan knew from millennia of experience that seeking the kingdom while rejecting the King means losing both. -140-141


July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It 
July 8, 2012 | 1 John 2:15-17 - Gone Fishing: The Bait & Hook Strategy of Temptation  
July 15, 2012 | Luke 3:18-4:22 - Who's Your Daddy?: Our Christian Identity and the Nature of Temptation
July 22, 2012 | Matthew 4:1-4 - Hungry? Why Wait?: Learning to Feast When on a 40 Day Fast
August 8, 2012 | Matthew 4:5-7 - Don't Jump: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Self-Vindication
 

For more:
GBC - "Tempted and Tried": A Review
GBC - Trip Lee "War" (lyrics)
GBC - Brad Stine on Fishing and Fishermen
GBC - "Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm

July 22, 2012 | Matthew 4:1-4 - Hungry? Why Wait?: Learning to Feast When on a 40 Day Fast

I just realized that I forgot to post the notes of our study of Matthew 4:1-4. Better late than never. I do have the recording, but it is on another device. As soon as I can figure it out, I will posted it here.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. ³ And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘ Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”


Notes


July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It 
July 8, 2012 | 1 John 2:15-17 - Gone Fishing: The Bait & Hook Strategy of Temptation  
July 15, 2012 | Luke 3:18-4:22 - Who's Your Daddy?: Our Christian Identity and the Nature of Temptation
July 22, 2012 | Matthew 4:1-4 - Hungry? Why Wait?: Learning to Feast When on a 40 Day Fast
August 8, 2012 | Matthew 4:5-7 - Don't Jump: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Self-Vindication
 


For more:
GBC - "Tempted and Tried": A Review
GBC - Trip Lee "War" (lyrics)
GBC - Brad Stine on Fishing and Fishermen
GBC - "Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm 

August 8, 2012 | Matthew 4:5-7 - Don't Jump: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Self-Vindication

We continued our series looking at the second temptation of Jesus Sunday focusing on Matthew 4:5-7. Here are the notes and the audio from that message.

⁵ Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘ He will command His angels concerning You’;

and

‘On their hands they will bear You up,
So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘ You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Audio
Notes


July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It 
July 8, 2012 | 1 John 2:15-17 - Gone Fishing: The Bait & Hook Strategy of Temptation  
July 15, 2012 | Luke 3:18-4:22 - Who's Your Daddy?: Our Christian Identity and the Nature of Temptation

August 8, 2012 | Matthew 4:5-7 - Don't Jump: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Self-Vindication


For more:
GBC - Trip Lee "War" (lyrics)
GBC - Brad Stine on Fishing and Fishermen
GBC - "Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin
GBC - "Tempted and Tried": A Review
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm 

July 15, 2012 | Luke 3:18-4:22 - Who's Your Daddy?: Our Christian Identity and the Nature of Temptation

Sunday we discussed how the root and nature of temptation is to question our true identity. We are children of God and joint-heirs with Christ, but when tempting, that identity is challenged. As is argued in the sermon below, our father moves from God - the Creator and Lord - to the belief that I am god and I am an animal.





Audio 
Notes 


July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It 
July 8, 2012 | 1 John 2:15-17 - Gone Fishing: The Bait & Hook Strategy of Temptation  


For more:
GBC - Trip Lee "War" (lyrics)
GBC - Brad Stine on Fishing and Fishermen
GBC - "Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin
GBC - "Tempted and Tried": A Review
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm

July 8, 2012 | 1 John 2:15-17 - Gone Fishing: The Bait & Hook Strategy of Temptation

Sunday morning we continued our study of the temptation with special emphasis on the temptation of Jesus. Last week we made the point that we must make war against sin. This past Sunday, we saw how the flesh, the world, and the devil wages this war; through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.

Let's make war!


¹⁵ Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.





Audio
Notes


July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It


For more:
GBC - Trip Lee "War" (lyrics)
GBC - Brad Stine on Fishing and Fishermen
GBC - "Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin
GBC - "Tempted and Tried": A Review
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm

July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It - Part 1

Sunday we began a new series called The Tempter and the Tempted: Overcoming Temptation With the Gospel of Christ The Tempter and the Tempted: Overcoming Temptation With the Gospel of Christ. We begin with a two part sermon looking at the greater cosmic war that surrounds us. We are at war and it is time that we, like our Savior, invade enemy territory and fight. Fight against temptation, fight against sin, fight against the flesh, fight against the world, and fight against the devil.

Make War!!





Audio
Notes


For more:
GBC - "Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin
GBC - "Tempted and Tried": A Review
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm

"Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin

Sunday we begin a new series looking at the Temptation of Christ. We'll begin by highlighting Mark's brief account in order to highlight the greater war behind His temptation and ours. In short, we will declare war over sin, temptation, the flesh, the world, and the devil himself.

In preparation, I strongly encourage you to listen to the following sermon by John Piper on Romans 8:10-17 called How to Fight Sin, Part 2. The money quote is:

I hear so many Christians murmuring about their imperfections and their failures and their addictions and their short-comings, And I see so little war! ‘Murmur, murmur, murmur… Why am I this way?’ MAKE WAR!” 


Listen to the sermon here.


This sermon and the quote above inspired one Christian rapper to write a song simply titled "Make War." Here's the video.




For more:
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm


More on Piper:
GBC - Repost | "A Sweet & Bitter Providence" by John Piper 
GBC - Repost | The Critical Question For Our Generation: Piper on Heaven & the Satisfying Presence of Christ 
GBC - Bloodlines: A Documentary About Racism 
GBC - The Gospel Animated

November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation

Sorry it has taken me so long to post the audio and notes of last Sunday's sermon. The Thanksgiving holiday has kept me busy. I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving.


Audio
Notes

Still Surviving The Storm

The more I think about it, the more that title sounds like a gospel song.? Anyways, I just wanted to updated everyone one Amanda, Elijah, and I's situation in light of the recent winter storm that we have been experiencing all week. Tuesday our power went out, as it did for most Kentuckians. And being that Elijah is only 3 1/2 months old, we sought refuge and found it at Betty Phillips house. We remained there until Friday morning when the power at the house came on. Shortly upon arriving at the parsonage, the power went out again due to the melting ice on the power lines.

Therefore, we fled to Owensboro to my great-uncle's house. In fact, this is where we are right now. It is late, everyone is asleep, and I finally have some time to try to update some of the people at the church. The three of us plan on returning home early Sunday morning (by the way, church is cancelled)

I pray that God has protected and provided for everyone during this difficult week. I realize that most will not have any power for perhaps another week or so. Virtually all of the county's phone lines are down. Even cell phones aren't hardly working. And though I don't suspect many will be able to access this site, I wanted to update anyone I could on our situation and encourage everyone to persevere through this difficult time.

All week, I have been struck by the amazing beauty of outside. I love ice storms, especially whenever the sun is setting. I just really enjoy walking outside and enjoying God's creation and His gift of ice. The problem, however, is what happens during an ice storm: power outages, freezing weather, no water, etc.

I am reminded on this one thing: many of the things that we find so attractive can be the most deadly. In life, we find ourselves attracted to the things that we should fear rather than celebrate the things that are pure and lovely. I love ice storms, but I would much rather it always be spring (minus the tornadoes) and remain safe. Praying for an ice storm and getting it is not always the best thing in the world. Like all people, this has not been a fun week.

And so as we continue to clean up and get our power turned back on, let us learn the lesson that throughout all of life, sin is oftentimes the most attractive thing, but at the same time, the deadliest. Just like winter storms.

I pray that everyone is doing well and we will see each other soon in worship!