Hello all! Here is the video of the sermon that I preached at the Praise night this Saturday. The sermon is on Unity and is around 40 minutes long. I pray you would be encouraged and blessed by it!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
03-23-08 Sermon Review
This past Sunday was a joyful day celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The following sermon is an abridged transcript from Sunday's message.
The Significance of the Resurrection
Resurrection Sunday, what a precious day to celebrate the Resurrection. But it always saddens me that many come through the doors of our churches in America to celebrate Resurrection Sunday as if it was any other Holiday. It's a day to celebrate life, procreation, age, and on the list goes. And in this culture where Resurrection Sunday is trivialized, and the meaning of it all has been eclipsed with marshmallow bunnies and cadberry eggs, we must stop and ask ourselves, why do I celebrate, why do I rejoice in the resurrection. I pray that there is a reason why you want to rejoice in the resurrection.
To help us answer this question, why we rejoice, we'll look to the Word of God to reveal us great truths of the resurrection. Our text is in Romans 4:19-25
"Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification."
Here in this text, Paul is explaining to us why the story of Abraham's justification was written in Scripture. He writes that it was for our sake. Why? Because we believe in the Lord Jesus who died and resurrected for our justification. And it was for this that Jesus went to the cross and was raised from the dead, for our justification. Verse 25 states that He was "delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification." If there was no need on our part, no need for justification, there was no need for Christ to die and be raised. No need for justification, no need for the resurrection. Nada.
Christ did not die and resurrect from the dead simply because he wanted to. Christ did not die and resurrect from the dead for the sake of resurrecting. Christ did not die and resurrect from the dead to show that He was mighty and powerful. Christ did not die and resurrect from the dead to show us a moral example of how to live for others. Christ died and resurrected from the dead for our justification.
So then I conclude: We will celebrate and rejoice in the resurrection as much as we celebrate and rejoice in our justification.
So then, what is justification? Everyone has a personal relationship with God, but not everyone has a right relationship with God. There's only two kinds of relationships with God, one that embraces Him as Father and LORD, and one that fears Him as Judge and awaits His fierce wrath. Everyone of us by default fall into the latter group and face the anger of God. Do you recognize your need to be justified before God? That your relationship with God is twisted and needs to be corrected? You can try replacing your need to be justified by other things, but nothing will satisfy. You need to be justified before God.
How then are we justified? For this Paul gives us the example of Abraham. It can be outlined in three statements.
He contemplated his dead body (vs 19). Abraham knew it was impossible for him to attain what God has promised, that he would have a son. It was physically impossible. In the same way, we need to recognize our deadness spiritually. We are in no way capable of attaining justification on our own. We need to contemplate that and recognize that.
He continued in faith (vs 20-21). Though it was impossible in the flesh, Abraham knew all things were possible with God. He did no waver. He knew that His God was able. It is the same for us! Though we are incapable, we believe in the God who is able! "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt 19:26).
He captured the prize (vs 22). The faith that Abraham has was not vain. He actually received the promise that He put His faith in. How much more so for us who actually have the cross, who actually know the risen Savior! The product of our faith, justification, is a reality!
Justification is a gift of mercy upon sinners by a loving God. Do you embrace this merciful act by God? Do you embrace God enough to value your justification? If you do, then you recognize the significance of the resurrection. No resurrection, no justification. So much so that Paul would write in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19:
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied."
Notice what the problem for Paul is if Christ is not raised: we are still in our sins. We are still in need of justification without the resurrection. This is the significance of the resurrection. In the resurrection, we find our justification. The results of having this justification, the results of believing and attaining justification by faith is the joy of the believer. Romans 5:1-11 explains that in great detail. Now, whenever you think about the resurrection, I pray you'll closely tie it with your justification. Just meditate on this thought: There was no reason why Christ should have to die and resurrect if not for your need of justification. Keep asking why did He do it? why? why? And fall in love with the mercy of God, fall in love with the resurrection. Stay strong and God bless!
The Significance of the Resurrection
Resurrection Sunday, what a precious day to celebrate the Resurrection. But it always saddens me that many come through the doors of our churches in America to celebrate Resurrection Sunday as if it was any other Holiday. It's a day to celebrate life, procreation, age, and on the list goes. And in this culture where Resurrection Sunday is trivialized, and the meaning of it all has been eclipsed with marshmallow bunnies and cadberry eggs, we must stop and ask ourselves, why do I celebrate, why do I rejoice in the resurrection. I pray that there is a reason why you want to rejoice in the resurrection.
To help us answer this question, why we rejoice, we'll look to the Word of God to reveal us great truths of the resurrection. Our text is in Romans 4:19-25
"Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification."
Here in this text, Paul is explaining to us why the story of Abraham's justification was written in Scripture. He writes that it was for our sake. Why? Because we believe in the Lord Jesus who died and resurrected for our justification. And it was for this that Jesus went to the cross and was raised from the dead, for our justification. Verse 25 states that He was "delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification." If there was no need on our part, no need for justification, there was no need for Christ to die and be raised. No need for justification, no need for the resurrection. Nada.
Christ did not die and resurrect from the dead simply because he wanted to. Christ did not die and resurrect from the dead for the sake of resurrecting. Christ did not die and resurrect from the dead to show that He was mighty and powerful. Christ did not die and resurrect from the dead to show us a moral example of how to live for others. Christ died and resurrected from the dead for our justification.
So then I conclude: We will celebrate and rejoice in the resurrection as much as we celebrate and rejoice in our justification.
So then, what is justification? Everyone has a personal relationship with God, but not everyone has a right relationship with God. There's only two kinds of relationships with God, one that embraces Him as Father and LORD, and one that fears Him as Judge and awaits His fierce wrath. Everyone of us by default fall into the latter group and face the anger of God. Do you recognize your need to be justified before God? That your relationship with God is twisted and needs to be corrected? You can try replacing your need to be justified by other things, but nothing will satisfy. You need to be justified before God.
How then are we justified? For this Paul gives us the example of Abraham. It can be outlined in three statements.
He contemplated his dead body (vs 19). Abraham knew it was impossible for him to attain what God has promised, that he would have a son. It was physically impossible. In the same way, we need to recognize our deadness spiritually. We are in no way capable of attaining justification on our own. We need to contemplate that and recognize that.
He continued in faith (vs 20-21). Though it was impossible in the flesh, Abraham knew all things were possible with God. He did no waver. He knew that His God was able. It is the same for us! Though we are incapable, we believe in the God who is able! "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt 19:26).
He captured the prize (vs 22). The faith that Abraham has was not vain. He actually received the promise that He put His faith in. How much more so for us who actually have the cross, who actually know the risen Savior! The product of our faith, justification, is a reality!
Justification is a gift of mercy upon sinners by a loving God. Do you embrace this merciful act by God? Do you embrace God enough to value your justification? If you do, then you recognize the significance of the resurrection. No resurrection, no justification. So much so that Paul would write in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19:
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied."
Notice what the problem for Paul is if Christ is not raised: we are still in our sins. We are still in need of justification without the resurrection. This is the significance of the resurrection. In the resurrection, we find our justification. The results of having this justification, the results of believing and attaining justification by faith is the joy of the believer. Romans 5:1-11 explains that in great detail. Now, whenever you think about the resurrection, I pray you'll closely tie it with your justification. Just meditate on this thought: There was no reason why Christ should have to die and resurrect if not for your need of justification. Keep asking why did He do it? why? why? And fall in love with the mercy of God, fall in love with the resurrection. Stay strong and God bless!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Preaching Engagement Confirmed!
I previously announced that I might be preaching at the DKC/DCC praise night in Davis this coming Saturday. The engagement was confirmed today. I will be speaking on the topic of Christian Unity. If you would like to go, please do contact me and we will try to arrange rides. Please do pray for me and for the event! Stay strong and God bless!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Radical Christianity pt. 3
Today's post in the series Radical Christianity will pertain to Church Membership: Radical Christianity point #2, Radical Commitment to the Church. I believe this is a foreign concept to many churched people and in American Christianity. The John Wayne Christian has taken America by storm and the Lone Ranger has become the model Christian. There is a dangerous mentality that is pervasive in America: You can be a Christian without involvement in the local church. I will not simply propose today that a true Christian will be a member of a local church, but also that his membership to the church will be marked by a radical commitment.
After studying the Scriptures for some time, I noticed that there are five clear commitments that Christians make with one another in the context of the local church. I guess it is even accurate to say that Christians are commanded to make these commitments to the local church. This by no means is a comprehensive list, but it shows how radical our commitment ought to be to our local churches. Here are the commitments:
Commitment to edify the church through the practice of individual gifts. Every individual is given a gift by the Holy Spirit to be used for the good of the church. Every individual needs others to practice their gifts in order to grow and be built up. The church therefore, is dependent on each other, and if the Christian separates himself from the body, he cannot grow as he ought (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).
Commitment to purify the church through the practice of church discipline. Matthew 18 clearly defines how the church must practice church discipline. The church should not only practice this for sin, but also for false teaching. The church is called the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). This is not simply a task for the pastor, but involves the whole church and therefore requires the commitment of the church to uphold these practices.
Commitment to sacrifice for the church through expressions of love. The members of the church are to have a unique and special love for one another that far exceeds that of other human relations. Here is the beauty of this love: A while back I was meditating on 3:16-17 and noticed two things. First, the verse commands us to have a unique love that parallels the love which Christ has for the church for the brethren. Second, the love we have for the brethren requires our active involvement in their lives. This command to love the brethren requires a great commitment to fulfill.
Commitment to evangelize as a church through the witness of the body. The church is also active in spreading the gospel of Christ, but not through words. The love that the church members have for one another is the greatest witness to the world that Christ lives. Jesus, speaking to specifically His chosen disciples says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:25). The church members must be committed to being a light and testimony to the world.
Commitment to glorify Christ in the church through corporate worship. The author of Hebrews writes that the believers ought not to be"forsaking our own assembling together" (Hebrews 10:24). The church members ought to be committed to the regular assembling. This simply does not mean Church on Sundays, though it does include that. It also means all the other efforts to assemble together as a body and have worship through fellowship and bible study and prayer, kind of like the first church (Acts 2:42).
Just taking a look at these five commitments Christians make with one another in the context of the local church shows how radical the commitment is. Indeed, the world would think we're radically committed to the body. I pray this small look at the commitments within the local church has stirred you to have a greater love for the local body and that it was some sort of a catalyst to start a deeper study of the value and worth of the local body. And when in doubt if you're too committed to the body, remember that you can't love the body too much. Stay strong and God bless!
*** edit ***
Tim Challies recently wrote a post on this issue that I thought would be helpful.
Click here to read his article.
After studying the Scriptures for some time, I noticed that there are five clear commitments that Christians make with one another in the context of the local church. I guess it is even accurate to say that Christians are commanded to make these commitments to the local church. This by no means is a comprehensive list, but it shows how radical our commitment ought to be to our local churches. Here are the commitments:
Commitment to edify the church through the practice of individual gifts. Every individual is given a gift by the Holy Spirit to be used for the good of the church. Every individual needs others to practice their gifts in order to grow and be built up. The church therefore, is dependent on each other, and if the Christian separates himself from the body, he cannot grow as he ought (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).
Commitment to purify the church through the practice of church discipline. Matthew 18 clearly defines how the church must practice church discipline. The church should not only practice this for sin, but also for false teaching. The church is called the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). This is not simply a task for the pastor, but involves the whole church and therefore requires the commitment of the church to uphold these practices.
Commitment to sacrifice for the church through expressions of love. The members of the church are to have a unique and special love for one another that far exceeds that of other human relations. Here is the beauty of this love: A while back I was meditating on 3:16-17 and noticed two things. First, the verse commands us to have a unique love that parallels the love which Christ has for the church for the brethren. Second, the love we have for the brethren requires our active involvement in their lives. This command to love the brethren requires a great commitment to fulfill.
Commitment to evangelize as a church through the witness of the body. The church is also active in spreading the gospel of Christ, but not through words. The love that the church members have for one another is the greatest witness to the world that Christ lives. Jesus, speaking to specifically His chosen disciples says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:25). The church members must be committed to being a light and testimony to the world.
Commitment to glorify Christ in the church through corporate worship. The author of Hebrews writes that the believers ought not to be"forsaking our own assembling together" (Hebrews 10:24). The church members ought to be committed to the regular assembling. This simply does not mean Church on Sundays, though it does include that. It also means all the other efforts to assemble together as a body and have worship through fellowship and bible study and prayer, kind of like the first church (Acts 2:42).
Just taking a look at these five commitments Christians make with one another in the context of the local church shows how radical the commitment is. Indeed, the world would think we're radically committed to the body. I pray this small look at the commitments within the local church has stirred you to have a greater love for the local body and that it was some sort of a catalyst to start a deeper study of the value and worth of the local body. And when in doubt if you're too committed to the body, remember that you can't love the body too much. Stay strong and God bless!
*** edit ***
Tim Challies recently wrote a post on this issue that I thought would be helpful.
Click here to read his article.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Silent Saturday
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday... and Silent Saturday? Well actually that term does not exist (some call it Holy Saturday?), but I thought it should. We so often times forget that Jesus actually... laid there in the tomb for a day. His torn and scarred body, wrapped in linen, void of breath and life, it was there in that tomb just like any other dead body. Of course, our Lord was in Paradise with the thief by His side, but is that a means by which we excuse ourselves from meditating upon His death, His real state of death on this precious Saturday? His disciples and the others were probably mourning this day, an interesting mix of feelings as they celebrated God's faithfulness in bringing them out of Egypt, while also mourning the death of their Precious One. Only a day later would the significance of His death bring full light unto the Passover, and there on after these men and women will celebrate the Passover in its full intended meaning. Nonetheless, they mourned the death of Jesus, the innocent one crucified. Maybe the weakness in our church is that we don't mourn, we don't meditate on the significance of the death of Christ. We do not see, so therefore we do not care to see with our minds, and feel with our hearts. I pray these Saturdays will be filled with meditation upon the real death of Jesus, that it will stir us up to drink richly from the well of truth that Jesus died for us. The joy that was brought to Mary and the others on Sunday in the Resurrection, I believe, was only in relation to the depth of their mourning of His death on Saturday. Oh, that much love and joy would be stirred in our hearts as we reflect this Saturday on the death of Christ and await the full power of His resurrection this Sunday. Stay strong and God bless!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Email Subscription now available!
Hello all!
Our blog now has email subscriptions available. Click here
to subscribe!
Also, just a reminder that there will be no YG bible study this Sunday, as it is Resurrection Sunday, and that our Lock-in will be the coming Friday to Saturday 3/28-29. Stay strong and God bless!
Our blog now has email subscriptions available. Click here
to subscribe!
Also, just a reminder that there will be no YG bible study this Sunday, as it is Resurrection Sunday, and that our Lock-in will be the coming Friday to Saturday 3/28-29. Stay strong and God bless!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
03-15-08 Sermon Review
It's Wednesday, so it's time for our sermon review!
This week, because it is passion week, I thought it would be nice to take a break and hear from a renown preacher, CJ Mahaney, on the topic of the cross*. As we remember the cross and look forward to Good Friday, I pray CJ Mahaney's sermon on the Suffering Servant was helpful to keep your mind focused on the mercy and grace revealed to sinners like us on the cross.
The Suffering Servant - CJ Mahaney
Mahaney started the sermon by taking us to the Chronicles of Narnia. After describing the death of Aslan, the girls are terrified. But when they see Aslan, that He is still alive, they ask an interesting questions, "But what does it all mean?" Mahaney states that there could be no more significant question to ask. We ourselves, must ask of the cross, what does it all mean?
Mahaney then took us to the passage of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53. He outlined his sermon thus: The appearance, the reality, and the significance.
The Appearance - The Messiah did not come in splendor and glory according to Isaiah; He was quite normal. Mahaney stated that if he could manage to re-create a picture of Jesus and His disciples, we would all be guessing which one was Jesus. Isaiah clinches this thought by saying, "we esteemed Him not." Our King had come, our Savior was there, our Lord was crucified; yet, we esteemed Him not.
The Reality - Though the appearance was not impressive and seemed insignificant, the reality was quite the contrary. What occurred on the cross was the pinnacle of human and divine history. The man Christ Jesus did not die on the cross for His own sins. He was innocent; yet, He died a criminal's death. The Son of God was hanging on a tree on behalf of the sinner. Mahaney gives three points to describe the reality: 1) He died for us, 2) He died for our sins, and 3) He died as our substitute. Mahaney reminds us that we are responsible for Jesus' death. Our sins put him on the cross. It is because of this great act of mercy and grace, that sinners are saved and praise the Savior. Mahaney clearly, forcefully, and passionately reminds us that the Cross is the song of the redeemed, not only on earth, but even more so in heaven.
The Significance - Mahaney ends his sermon by showing the significance of Jesus bearing the cross for our sins as our substitute. He takes us to 53:10 which states, "Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer." God crushed His Son. To show the world that He loves sinners, God crushed His Son. Mahaney gives a provocative thought for meditation: One might think the Father loved us more than Jesus. Oh the extent the Father went to show His love for the world.
In closing, Mahaney asked that we all consider the cross and how great a love that was shown. Mahaney pleads, and I add my voice to His, that we come not only to trust in the cross for our salvation, but also to cherish the cross, for it was there that God's love was shown most vividly, dynamically, and emphatically. Indeed, I pray that we might all be freshly amazed at the Father's love for us! Stay strong and God bless!
* The sermon was originally preached during the 2007 Resolved Conference. I have the dvd set for the whole conference, so if you're interested in watching this video yourself, or watching any of the other sermons, please just ask me for the dvds!
This week, because it is passion week, I thought it would be nice to take a break and hear from a renown preacher, CJ Mahaney, on the topic of the cross*. As we remember the cross and look forward to Good Friday, I pray CJ Mahaney's sermon on the Suffering Servant was helpful to keep your mind focused on the mercy and grace revealed to sinners like us on the cross.
The Suffering Servant - CJ Mahaney
Mahaney started the sermon by taking us to the Chronicles of Narnia. After describing the death of Aslan, the girls are terrified. But when they see Aslan, that He is still alive, they ask an interesting questions, "But what does it all mean?" Mahaney states that there could be no more significant question to ask. We ourselves, must ask of the cross, what does it all mean?
Mahaney then took us to the passage of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53. He outlined his sermon thus: The appearance, the reality, and the significance.
The Appearance - The Messiah did not come in splendor and glory according to Isaiah; He was quite normal. Mahaney stated that if he could manage to re-create a picture of Jesus and His disciples, we would all be guessing which one was Jesus. Isaiah clinches this thought by saying, "we esteemed Him not." Our King had come, our Savior was there, our Lord was crucified; yet, we esteemed Him not.
The Reality - Though the appearance was not impressive and seemed insignificant, the reality was quite the contrary. What occurred on the cross was the pinnacle of human and divine history. The man Christ Jesus did not die on the cross for His own sins. He was innocent; yet, He died a criminal's death. The Son of God was hanging on a tree on behalf of the sinner. Mahaney gives three points to describe the reality: 1) He died for us, 2) He died for our sins, and 3) He died as our substitute. Mahaney reminds us that we are responsible for Jesus' death. Our sins put him on the cross. It is because of this great act of mercy and grace, that sinners are saved and praise the Savior. Mahaney clearly, forcefully, and passionately reminds us that the Cross is the song of the redeemed, not only on earth, but even more so in heaven.
The Significance - Mahaney ends his sermon by showing the significance of Jesus bearing the cross for our sins as our substitute. He takes us to 53:10 which states, "Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer." God crushed His Son. To show the world that He loves sinners, God crushed His Son. Mahaney gives a provocative thought for meditation: One might think the Father loved us more than Jesus. Oh the extent the Father went to show His love for the world.
In closing, Mahaney asked that we all consider the cross and how great a love that was shown. Mahaney pleads, and I add my voice to His, that we come not only to trust in the cross for our salvation, but also to cherish the cross, for it was there that God's love was shown most vividly, dynamically, and emphatically. Indeed, I pray that we might all be freshly amazed at the Father's love for us! Stay strong and God bless!
* The sermon was originally preached during the 2007 Resolved Conference. I have the dvd set for the whole conference, so if you're interested in watching this video yourself, or watching any of the other sermons, please just ask me for the dvds!
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