Summary
I think of Christmas I mentioned that in my sermon today we took a look at a portion of the great great hymn joy to the world so it's not surprising that perhaps Christmas was on my mind as I came to prepare this class there are there are so many great hymns aren't there and remember great hymns are those hymns that preach one of the great hymns associated with Christmas is the hymn what child is this just a beautiful rich hymn lifting up the imagery of Mary and the infant Jesus it's so beautiful there's a tranquility and a peacefulness about it but one of the stanzas that you sing some of the words are nails spear shall pierce him through the cross be born for me for you hail hail the word made flesh the babe the son of Mary it can be almost a shock when one comes to those words you surrounding the services of Christmas Eve it's such a beauty and the and the scene of the birth of the long anticipated Messiah of the world seen Mary and Joseph and the baby and there's this beautiful beautiful tranquility that surrounds that service service ending with silent night and the candles reminding us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world and so when you have a hymn associated with Christmas and oftentimes sung on Christmas Eve that talks about nails and spear piercing him through the cross be born for me and you it is almost a shock isn't it but that hymn is so helpful for us because it reminds us of why Jesus Christ came why there was the incarnation why there was the inflection of the second member of the Trinity Jesus came he was born to go to the cross he was born to bear our sin upon the wood of the cross that tree towers above all other trees in Holy Scripture is one was through the seasons of the church here I think also not only of Christmas I think also of a particular week holy week and one of the services of holy week is good Friday such a contrast isn't it the service on Christmas Eve the gradual extinguishing of lights the removal of the linens and the paramins the draping in terms of the black cloth that goes upon the pulpit and upon the altar we leave in silence we leave in darkness having been reminded in a special way of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ that service called good Friday which begs the question what what's good about it it is just as an incredible event that happens it is so unfair to the Lord Jesus Jesus never sinned and yet there he is receiving the death penalty on a cross between two guilty criminals looked at it from the human point of view one would have to say what is good about that how one how unjust is that that's why Friday has to be understood from the vantage point and the perspective of God because when we see it from God's perspective that's why we call that day good turn over please to the book of Hebrews the 12th chapter good way to find Hebrews is just a turn to the last book revelation start working your way slowly back towards Matthew you're going to cross over the Johns Peter James and then you come to the book of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 12 please verse 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross disregarding its shame and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God the joy that was set before our Lord was the joy of winning salvation for us remember when the Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross he took our sin upon him he took the wrath of God that should fall upon us he took it upon himself he paid the penalty he cried out to tell the story paid in full the sin death paid and the joy that was set before him was the end result then of the cross forgiveness reconciliation redemption turn please to Isaiah the 53rd chapter good good way to find Isaiah is open up to the middle of the Bible you'll find Psalms and then start moving right Psalms Proverbs ecclesiasties song of Solomon and then Isaiah Isaiah chapter 53 verse 10 Isaiah 53 verse 10 yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain I like how the N.A.S.V the new American standard version translates that it says but the Lord was pleased to crush him and so this verse here that looks ahead to the Messiah on the cross the Lord was pleased to crush him because it's pleasure that which is born of what would come about because of the cross this incredible incredible act of God born of grace turn it with me now please to Matthew chapter 26 because I'd like to explore this with you this the greatest tree the cross of the Lord Jesus let's go to Matthew chapter 26 the first book in the New Testament Matthew chapter 26 and picking up in verse 36 then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and he said to his disciples sit here while I go over there and pray he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebede and began to be grieved and agitated then he said to them I am deeply grieved even to death remain here and stay awake with me and going a little farther he threw himself on the ground and prayed my father if it's possible let this cup pass from me yet not what I want but what you want then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping and he said to Peter so you could not stay awake with me one hour stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak again he went away for the second time and prayed my father if this cannot pass unless I drink it your will be done again he came and found them sleeping for their eyes were heavy so leaving them again he went away and prayed for the third time saying the same words then he came to the disciples and said to them are you still sleeping and taking your rest see the hour is at hand and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners get up let us be going see my betrayer is at hand the very beginning of that reading is the reference to the place called Gethsemane to the garden Gasemani Gasemani had trees they were all of trees so here in a garden surrounded by trees there we find the Lord Jesus with that image in mind think back to what we studied in Genesis with the two trees in the garden for there in the garden our first parents Adam and Eve there they were surrounded by trees and it was there that all suffering began let's turn back there please to Genesis chapter 2 Genesis chapter 2 verse 16 Genesis 2 verse 16 and the Lord God commanded the man you may freely eat of every tree of the garden but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it you shall die then now please to Genesis 3 picking up in verse 16 to the woman he said I will greatly increase your pangs and childbearing in pain that you shall bring forth children yet your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you just a little to side on that this of course is after the fall the desire here your desire shall be for your husband that word there in the Hebrew it means a hungering intent upon in other words because of sinfulness the the woman will want to dominate the man but notice the the same sin here that dominates the man it says yet your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you so born out of sinfulness what can so often manifest is a husband and a wife trying to trying to dominate the other that's all the result of the fall that is it that's the opposite of submitting to one another as servants back then again please to Genesis 3 verse 17 to the man he said because you've listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you you shall not eat of it curse it is the ground because of you in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you and you shall eat the plants of the field by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground for out of it you were taken your dust and to dust you shall return jumping out of verse 22 then the Lord God said see man has become like one of us knowing good and evil and now he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken he drove out the man and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life in the garden surrounded by trees there is Adam and Eve and there is the beginning of suffering born out of the fall into sin the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ came to undo what the first Adam did let's go to Romans chapter 5 Matthew Mark Luke John Acts and then Romans Romans chapter 5 verse 14 yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam who is a type of the one who was to come so you've got the first Adam and you've got the second Adam the second Adam is the Lord Jesus the first Adam is considered a a type in other words he said a pattern that in some way would be followed by Christ let's examine that let's go to Luke the third chapter Matthew Mark and then Luke Luke chapter 3 verse 38 Luke 3 verse 38 here you have a long genealogy with regard to Jesus notice the last phrase son of enus son of Seth son of Adam son of God so you've got God and then by God's creative touch there is Adam now let's go to Luke the third chapter verse 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove and a voice came from heaven you are my son the beloved with you I am well pleased so there's the reference to Adam son of God notice the small letter S there of course and then you have reference to the son of God my beloved the father says Adam was created as a son of God God is or Jesus is God's beloved son he's a type Adam was tempted by Satan back into Genesis the third chapter again Genesis chapter 3 verse 6 so when the woman saw that the tree was good for food that it was a light to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise she took of its fruit and ate and she also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate Adam was tempted by Satan a type pointing ahead to the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ is tempted by Satan let's go to Luke chapter 4 Matthew Mark and then Luke verse 1 Jesus followed the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan was led by the Spirit in the wilderness where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil and remember with every temptation what Jesus did he kept saying it is written it is written it is written oh that is such a powerful word for us when we face temptation to say it is written in other words what is God's will for us Adam created as a son of God Christ is God's beloved son Adam was tempted by Satan the Lord Jesus was tempted by Satan Adam's response to the temptation was sin which led to death Jesus's response to the temptation obedience which leads to life through the cross let's go to Romans the fifth chapter Matthew Mark Luke John Acts and then Romans Romans chapter 5 verse 15 but the free gift is not like the trespass for if the many died through one man's trespass there's the first Adam much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man Jesus Christ abounded for the many and the free gift is not like the effect of one man's sin for the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification if because of the one man's trespass death exercised a minion through that one much more surely were those who received the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercised a minion in life through the one man Jesus Christ here's the point the second Adam began his greatest suffering in the garden surrounded by trees and in the garden of Gethsemane surrounded with trees there we find the Lord Jesus Christ who has come to deal with the sin and death and misery that is a result of the sin of humankind it's really Genesis 3 all over again isn't it but now the outcome has a joyous joyous ending turn please to Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 verse 7 he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he did not open his mouth like a lamb that is led to the slaughter and like a sheep that before its shears is silent so he did not open his mouth oh the love of God for us in the Lord Jesus Christ Romans the 8th chapter verse 32 Matthew Mark Luke John Acts and then Romans he who did not withhold his own son but gave him up for all of us will he not with him also give us everything else it is the picture and the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ carrying on his back the very wood that his blood would soon stand to John 19 now please Matthew Mark Luke and then John John the 19th chapter picking up with verse 6 and halfway through that verse John 19 picking up in verse 6 all right let's just start right at the beginning when the chief priests and the police saw him they shouted crucify him crucify him Pilate said to them take him yourselves and crucify him I find no case against him and now to verse 16 then he handed him over to them to be crucified so they took Jesus and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the place of the skull which in Hebrew is called golgotha there they crucified him and with him two others one on either side with Jesus between them Pilate also had an inscription written then put on the cross it read Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews golgotha golgotha typically is identified today because of this rocky outcropping near Jerusalem that resembles a skull interestingly tradition says that golgotha was so named because it was the place of Adam's skull or his grave now let me underscore that is not scripture that is tradition in the church so we can't say with any scriptural authority that that is the case but that is the tradition in the church therefore according then to this tradition the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified over the grave of the first Adam Luther talked about it this way quote thus the center of paradise was where Jerusalem Bethlehem and Jericho were located later on the places where Christ and John spent the greater part of their life it is possible Luther says that later on Calvary where Christ offered himself for the sins of the world was located where the tree of the knowledge of good and evil had been while paradise was still standing thus so far as the place is concerned death and destruction through Satan would be matched by life and salvation one through Christ and when Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world on the cross paradise was regained go to John the third chapter please John chapter 3 verse 14 Matthew Mark Luke and then John John 3 will pick up in verse 14 and just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him may have eternal life remember we had studied about that wooden pole upon which that bronze serpent was placed Luther referred to the Lord Jesus Christ as the serpent of salvation what he was drawing on was was this verse that on good Friday a new serpent was lifted up Luther said it was the serpent of salvation the Lord Jesus Christ and we look unto him for salvation well of course the story does not end with Jesus dead on the cross does it look turn with me please to Luke the 24th chapter Matthew Mark and then Luke Luke chapter 24 picking up in verse 1 but on the first day of the week at early dawn they came to the tomb taking the spices that they had prepared they found the stone rolled away from the tomb and when they went in they did not find the body while they were perplexed about this suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground but the men said to them why do you look for the living among the dead he is not here but has risen remember how he told well he was still in ghettily that the son of man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again then they remembered his words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the 11 and to all the rest the resurrection is the validation that the sacrifice for sin had been accepted look with me please at 1 Corinthians the 15th chapter Matthew Mark Luke John, Acts and Romans 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians chapter 15 beginning with verse 12 now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead there is no resurrection of the dead than Christ has not been raised and if Christ has not been raised then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain we are even found to be misrepresenting God because we testified of God that he raised Christ when he did not raise if it's true that the dead are not raised for if the dead are not raised then Christ has not been raised if Christ has not been raised your faith is futile and you're still in your sins and those also who have died in Christ have perished if for this life only we've hoped in Christ we are of all people most to be pitied but in fact Christ has been raised from the dead the first fruits of those who have died for since death came through a human being the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being for as all die in Adam so all will be made alive in Christ the gospel what a glorious glorious word from the trees of Eden's garden to the burning bush on Sinai to a wood pole lifted up that had a bronze serpent upon it to which the people were called to look from the tram family tree of the Lord Jesus all the way to the cross our heavenly Father uses trees and wood to bless his people and the tree of trees the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ I pray these weeks of study have been a blessing to you the Lord be with you Good morning and welcome to adult education. We talked about how family idolatry and really all idols can come from two different directions we pulled the old testament text that talked about the gods of our ancestors we applied that to how sometimes in family systems parenting from grandparents or parents can be brought into the system poor parenting and that becomes then part of how that system how that family operates or the gods of the Amorites how sometimes that which comes from our culture can influence how a family operates and so family idolatry can result from two different directions it can result from within it can result from without we took a look of course at the gracious word that is the forgiving word of God for us through Jesus Christ if we are convicted of the idol becoming or the family becoming an idol we hear of God's gracious word to us through the cross that is a word to cling to that is the word that gives us to light that is that gracious word that embraces us today I'd like to take a look at the idol of religion the idol of religion it's important as we come to this topic for us to define some terms so let me define what we're talking about when we talk about religion religion is the belief of the world religion is the is the human heart in its natural state religion is the belief that human beings can make themselves right before God religion is human beings going to God to affect this righteousness it's about what we do it's about either being good or bad those are components of religion how different that is from the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ the good news that Jesus Christ has born our sin on the cross that the tomb is empty that the world has been reconciled that we are a forgiven people claimed in the waters of baptism given a wonderful today and a glorious tomorrow life abundant life eternal it's the good news of the gospel how different that is how different it is from religion is what are the components of the gospel the components of the gospel is we can't make ourselves right before God we can't do that that God descended to humanity see the direction change it's not us trying to affect our own righteousness before God know it is God descending to us it is God who makes human beings right it's about not what we do it's about what Jesus did it's the fact that we are born bad Jesus is good and because of Jesus we have a glorious glorious future so here the distinction is then between religion and Christianity between religion and the gospel important point to remember is this Christianity should not be classified as a religion let me say that again Christianity should not be classified as a religion in fact when Christianity first arose it was never recognized as a religion it was understood as a non religion so with those terms then as the backdrop let's explore how religion can become an idol and remember the distinction between religion and Christianity to explore this let's go to Luke the 15th chapter please Matthew Mark then Luke Luke the 15th chapter and this is a parable of our Lord remember parables were earthly stories with heavenly meanings and this is a just an incredibly rich parable perhaps you are familiar with it it's a little bit on the longer side but I think it's important for us to take a fresh look at this parable and so we're going to pick up in verse 11 and I'd like to read through verse 32 so picking up in verse 11 of chapter 15 of the gospel of Luke then Jesus said there was a man who had two sons the younger of them said to his father father give me the share of the property that belongs to me so he divided his property between them a few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country and there he squandered his property in disillute living when he had spent everything a severe famine took place throughout that country and he began to be in need so he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs he would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating and no one gave him anything but when he came to himself he said how many of my father's hired hands have bred enough and to spare but here I am dying of hunger I will get up and go to my father and I will say to him father I've sinned against heaven and before you I am no longer worthy to be called your son treat me like one of your hired hands so he set off and went to his father but while he was still far off his father saw him and was filled with compassion he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him then the son said to him father I've sinned against heaven and before you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son but the father said to his slaves quickly bring out a robe the best one and put it on him put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet and get the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate for this son of mine was dead and his alive again he's lost and he's found and they began to celebrate it now his elder son was in the field and when he came and approached the house he heard music and dancing he called one of the slaves and asked what was going on he replied your brother has come out has come and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound then he became angry and refused to go in his father came out and began to plead with him but he answered his father listen for all these years I have been working like a slave for you and I've never disobeyed your command yet you've never given me a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends but when this son of yours came back who has devoured your property with prostitutes you killed the fatted calf for him then the father said to him son you're always with me and all that is mine is yours but we had to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life he was lost and has been found this parable is historically understood as the parable of the prodigal son but notice back in verse 11 it says then Jesus said there was a man who had two sons I think really a better title for this parable would really be the parable of the two sons or perhaps the love of the father people will oftentimes define sin as immoral living they'll they'll define it in that category we're inclined to see the younger son here then as the only one who's guilty of sin but the older brother who was really highly moral was really far from a loving relationship with his father jump back into verse 1 of chapter 15 now all the text collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him and the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying this fellow welcomes sinners and eat with them so that's the occasion of this parable the Pharisees were just disgusted at Jesus welcoming sinners Pharisees were the most moral group around but their hearts were still far far from God Jesus was not seeking to make the Pharisees more moral now Jesus was seeking repentance by the Pharisees the older brother was just as far from the father as the younger brother the older brother was just as far from the father as the younger brother neither neither brother displayed that he actually loved the father or really cared about the father's happiness now they were both just using him to get the inheritance right the younger basically approaching it by saying I wish you were dead and the older was seeking to get the inheritance through being the upright upright son the one who did everything right but you see he's just trying to get the inheritance by his good behavior what's interesting is that at the end of the story the younger brother is at the feast and the older brother is outside with the Pharisees have understood that point would they have gotten what Jesus was trying to communicate you bet you bet they would the older brother the older brother had not come to the reality that the inheritance was by grace by grace look again with me please at verse 18 I'll get up and go to my father and I'll say to him father I've sinned against heaven and before you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son treat me like one of your hired hands this was a three-tiered plan then right from the younger a three-tiered plan he's going to go and say I've sinned against you I'm not worthy to be your son and now he's going to work his way back into his father's good graces work his way back into his father's life but what does his father do father cuts him off at the first two go on in to verse 21 then the son said to him father I've sinned against heaven and before you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son but the father said to his slaves quickly bring out a robe the best one and put it on him put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet get the fat of calf and kill it let us eat and celebrate for this son of mine was dead and alive he's lost in his fawn and they began to celebrate the father refused to let the son attempt to work his way back in the read admittance into the family was absolutely entirely by grace ponder with me for a moment Jesus is the true older brother he's the true older brother Jesus finds us he gives us read admittance into the father's family through the cross Jesus is the brother who paid our way and who gives us access to the banquet of the father grace grace not one one does but grace grace let's go to Galatians the fourth chapter Matthew Mark Luke John Acts and Romans first and second Corinthians and then Galatians and we'll pick up in chapter four Galatians chapter four the Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes this my point is this airs as long as they are miners are no better than slaves though they are the owners of all the property but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father so thus while we were miners we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world but when the fullness of time had come gods sent his son born of a woman born under the law in order to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as as children and because you are children god has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts crying abba father so you are no longer a slave but a child and if a child then also an air through god formally when you did not know god you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods now however that you have come to know god or rather to be known by god how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits how can you want to be enslaved to them again you were observing special days and months and seasons and years I'm afraid that my work for you may have been wasted note the words here in this section the words here that highlight that our right relationship with god is entirely by grace and not by works remember the distinction again between religion and Christianity between religion and the gospel religion is all about works Christianity is about god's action to redeem us gods grace look again at verse one notice these words here that give us this gracious gracious message my point is this airs as long as our minor are no better than slaves you see an air means that something is unearned you are given you don't earn it go on to verse five in order to redeem redeem means to to buy back it indicates that we can't save ourselves god has to act to save us going on again into verse five the last part so that we might receive adoption as children adoption is not something for which a child deserves credit air redeemed adopted wonderful wonderful words verse nine now whoever that you've come to know god are rather to be known by god how can you return back again to the weakened beggarly elemental spirits how can you want to be enslaved to them again you're observing special days and months and seasons and years the Galatians had become enslaved by old religious customs they had forgotten that they were saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and that is not their own doing it is the gift of god they were assuming you see that it was Jesus plus something else it was Jesus plus adhering to religious rights it was Jesus plus works you hear it that's a slide that's a slide right into religion the idol of religion instead of Christianity so let me ask you a few questions today this can be questions that can test for the idol of religion in our lives here's the first do you ever feel uncertain about the status of your relationship with god how about this one are you often anxious worried and struggling with feelings of personal condemnation this one do you frequently condemn others especially on the basis of issues that are neither commended or condemned in scripture or forth do you feel like your life only has value when you're faithfully adhering to your religions moral codes and accomplishing its recommended activities see those are questions that can get at this whole issue for us about whether we are perhaps even in a subtle way sliding into the idolatry of religion what's the good news for us the good news is that through Jesus Christ we are forgiven that we're forgiven when we try and make Christianity into an idol of religion Christianity you see grace religion just a bunch of works but we can be tempted to slide and even in the subtlest of ways making Christianity into an idol of religion well as we've studied in these five weeks idolatry certainly continues to be an issue today that idolatry just wasn't that which occurred in ancient day no idolatry can take various forms we've talked in these weeks about how success can become an idol how technology can become an idol how the family can become an idol and how religion can become an idol but thanks be to God for the forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ because Jesus is so much more lovely he's so so much more beautiful than all the idols well I pray that this class has been a blessing to you next Sunday I'm going to start a new class it's going to take a look at biblical prophecy we're going to take a look at the wealth of prophecy in holy scripture and how do you understand it we're going to take a look at several different topics we're going to take a look at principles of prophecy we're going to take a look at prophecies that were fulfilled before Christ prophecies that were fulfilled by Christ prophecies that are being filled today and prophecies that will be fulfilled at Christ's return so we'll move into biblical prophecy next Sunday God bless you may you be used by him to boldly proclaim the gracious proclamation of Jesus Christ crucified and risen Good morning and welcome back to our study on idols. Now putting our fear aside I do have to stress and this is really important that it does not mean when we put our fear aside it does not mean that we stop with discernment right caution is always justified when dealing or encountering strangers it's really important that we don't just cast all caution all discernment aside because we are just not going to fear right we need to be smart we need to work in wisdom and and know people wisely when we set aside our fear we're really setting aside or aiming to set aside our timidity we can make all sorts of excuses not to speak to someone but it's often our own insecurities that are bubbling to the surface so when we're when we're timid right instead of fearful because most of us don't fear fear our neighbor right but we're a little timid about reaching out and meeting our neighbors but that's often our own insecurities that are bubbling to the surface you know this is going to be awkward I don't want awkwardness or maybe I'm an introvert so someone else would really be better at this than me what about my neighbor is going to think I'm really weird or what if my neighbor rejects me can you imagine going to the door knocking with something in hand brownies or or a pie and and they just say nope bye bye right that that's a little scary it's it's a little cause for timidity but let's go to Timothy second Timothy chapter one I keep closing my Bible and then reopening it I just need to leave it open but first Timothy so we were in Ephesians you're going to keep going to the right and you're going to find the tea books so after Thessalonians you'll have first Timothy we want to go to second Timothy chapter one verse seven God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self discipline in the ESV it says that God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control we have absolutely no need to be timid or fearful because God empowers us and enables us to be bold and to take that first step with our neighbors we can remind ourselves all the time as we feel those feelings of fear or feelings of timidity starting to bubble or rise we remind ourselves that getting through the weirdness or getting through the awkwardness is probably going to be the most difficult part in the process of neighboring so if we can make it through the awkwardness if we can make it through that weirdness that's probably going to be the worst part of it which really isn't too bad is it go to the next page so now we're going to talk about taking the first steps and then the steps after that so we want to be a good neighbor we want to reach out to our neighbors but how how do we do this J and Dave who wrote the book The Art of Neighboring they compare this perplexity to cleaning the garage I love this metaphor so if you ever stared into a garage and you think to yourself I know I need to spend the day cleaning this I know I do but I just don't know where to begin right where do I start and you're overwhelmed with the starting point how do I tackle this situation how do I tackle what I know I want to do what I know I need to do but I just don't know where to start or how to do it the thing is is that when we don't know where to start or we're overwhelmed a lot of times we'll give up another neighbor can talk to that one I don't want to do this I give up I quit right but we don't want to quit we want to continue to reach out to our neighbors and we want to continue to have that opportunity to connect and grow in relationship to the impact and glory of God's kingdom right so there's a simple framework that we can use as a helpful tool of where to start and then continue to grow in relationship with our neighbors and that is yep there we go so we are strangers and then we take that next step into acquaintances and then that from there we can build relationships so stranger acquaintance relationship stranger acquaintance relationship so how do we take this first jump from stranger to acquaintance all right we're going to get out that block map again lots of flipping here get out your block map because we're going to use this okay so the people that you don't know as you're filling this in the people that you don't know their names those are the strangers okay those are the strangers those are the ones that you have to meet so the first step as we discovered last week is to learn your neighbors names make it a point to have a conversation with a neighbor who you don't know his or her name so you can you can learn the name now right now that's going to look a little bit differently than it would under normal circumstances when we are not distancing ourselves from people and if we're unable to find a person's name or number right now some of these meetings or getting to know your neighbor some of that might might have to be on hold a little bit until we're able to actually go over to someone's house in person but if there's someone that you don't know their name but you do know their number or you don't know their name and when we're done with the quarantines the shelter in place the social distancing that you actually can get out and meet people a conversation might look at like this hi I'm Carrie I know you've told me your name before I got to be honest I am terrible with names can you please give it to me again right so you're you're telling them I know you've told me your name I can't remember it but I want to know it I want to remember it right and so you're learning their name and you're being honest and they know when you're being honest with them they can trust you more right that that builds right there just a little bit of trust or maybe if it's someone that you've never known their name you can you can approach them say hey you know we wave to each other all the time I'd love to know your name my name's Carrie and you'd say your name of course right um so now you have your names you've got your names what next well the first step is to after you learn their names write it down write it down on your block map you don't have to throw this out right keep your block map write their names down on it and then hang it on your fridge or hang it somewhere that's prominent enough that you will see it every single day this not only reminds you of your neighbor's names right now you know their names but it also keeps that neighbor at the top of your mind it keeps you thinking about the neighbors you know and the ones that you have yet to meet it's a tangible way for you to remember who God has placed you in the midst of right so keep that um and if you want to take it a step further with the block map you can do what one of the authors wife's did wife did she used this block map to make a block directory I love this she went door to door around this block and she ended up doing it for her whole neighborhood it depends on how big your neighborhood is but she went door to door she gathered contact information and she made copies for all of these other neighbors so she had addresses cell phone numbers email addresses and when she then distributed it to all the other neighbors that meant that they could connect with one another too that they all had means of building those relationships with their neighbors it'd be a very very handy tool to have something like a block directory at a time like this right where you could call your neighbor up really easily you have their name you have their number you have their email address and it's already there for you so that's a great way to use the block map um what they found was that by doing the block map where then they they made it a directory they found that the contact information it actually began to facilitate and further new relationships that the neighbors started contacting one another and they would say oh yeah it's laid out and I see your garage is still open I don't know if you want to close that or one woman had used the information to invite all the women of the neighborhood for a girl's night out so they started to see that by taking that step of of using their block map and then gathering the information and sharing it as a block directory they were seeing the fruits of that within their own neighborhood not everyone is going to be more than an acquaintance for us and that's okay but what relationships are we opening the door for if we take these little steps so the next step after learning names is to move into well after learning names and then work acquaintances right so we're strangers we know someone's name now we're acquaintances so now we want to move into that relationship realm we can't force relationships as much as I would love to do that as much as I sometimes try to do that be my friend we can't do that we can't force relationships but we can create the opportunity for relationships to develop right so one couple found that even though they didn't know how to take the first step in meeting people one of the things that they did to open the opportunity for relationships is that they moved their family's center of activity from the backyard to the front yard they put a swing in the front yard they put some chairs out there and instead of staying in the backyard fenced in where no one could access them they couldn't see who was walking on the street they moved everything to the front yard after a short while the other kids in the neighborhood were coming over to play with their kids people walking their dogs would stop to say hi they would be chatting they would get to know their neighbors and then all of a sudden these people were starting to share meals and these block parties were kind of forming out of just moving to the front yard block parties or parties are also a really great tool that can be used in creating warmth and opening that atmosphere for friendship within the neighborhood parties really create a safe space and an easy space for us to talk with others in a relaxed atmosphere this is what we do or attempt to do with the life groups too right we're not inviting someone to a very structured thing that they'll feel out of place it's it's a social time we're wanting people to be able to connect in a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere let's turn our bibles to Luke chapter five so you're going to go back towards the beginning of the New Testament Matthew Mark Luke and then John so Luke chapter five if I can find it which I think I can Luke chapter five we're going to start in verse 27 so after this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth and he said to him follow me and Levi got up left everything and followed him then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples saying why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners Jesus answered those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick I have come to call not the righteous but the sinners to repentance Levi threw a party there were all sorts there and Jesus used that banquet that time of party of fellowship of togetherness to show his solidarity with sinners not that he is okay with sin not that he encouraged sin but his solidarity that he came for the sinner he came for you and I he emphasized that his mission was to call the sinner to repentance so a block party a block party is not or should not be held with the intent of a bait and switch right we're not inviting people to come and mingle with us so that we can have an agenda and coerce them into hearing the good news of the gospel of course if it comes up if the topic arises we certainly want to bring a word of faith we certainly want to bring the good news to those people but to have that specific agenda to have any agenda it really has a false ring to it people can tell when we have agendas people can tell when we are not sincere or authentic in how or why we are connecting with them we don't want to give a false sense of interest because we are interested in these people certainly as human beings and we do want them connected with Christ we do want them we want everyone connected with Christ but we can't have a weird agenda about it if that makes sense right so it's just not new really so don't have an agenda allow for the godly relationship to develop naturally because it will the Lord will open the time or present the time for those conversations to happen we don't abandon our faith in order to fit in with the sinner we are all sinners right but we don't just throw it all away we don't throw our faith to the wind in order to feel like we fit in with the world but we don't use that false connection because it feels and it will be fake you have in the priesthood of all believers you have every right and you have every authority to speak of your faith and to speak of Jesus Christ as our Savior as our Redeemer you absolutely have that right and don't shy away from it that is not at all what I'm saying do not shy away from sharing your faith but use wisdom in how you bring it to your neighbor I want to encourage you if you have not yet taken the everyday missionary course that everyone has witnessed course or the everyday boldness workshop with Steve if you've not taken those witnessing workshops I really encourage you to do so you will find that in those classes and workshops you are going to find really natural ways of talking with people where you know you want to share the gospel with this person but you also know how to share it and when it's the appropriate time and when it just might not be yet and that's okay the door will open when God is ready for that door to be opened we have to trust that the Lord will work when and where He chooses when and where He wills right we we are open to being used as His vessel but we need to trust the Lord in where He's taking us with that the only way that we can start filling out these block maps that we can start actually moving from stranger to acquaintance and at least opening up the opportunity for relationship is by starting to get out and meet people right we need to actually meet people in order to know people right so for the most part people are not going to be knocking on your door saying hey you I think you need a friend I need a friend let's be friends most people don't do that there are the random occasional extroverts you know who you are who will do that who will knock on a door just to make a friend but for the most part that's not going to happen right but you can be the person to do that with your neighbors not necessarily knocking on everyone's door hey do you want a friend but when you're walking your dog or they're walking a dog or you see someone out waving greeting them saying hi meeting them speaking with them look for opportunities to meet your neighbor go on walks host or co host a block party right now at this time we can offer to get groceries or medicines for our neighbors we can offer to walk our neighbors dog right what if they can't get out and walk their dog maybe that's a service that we can offer for them we can find little ways of connecting all these little ways of connecting that truly truly have everlasting impact I look forward to continuing and wrapping up this study on the art of neighboring with you next week until then I invite you to put into practice your own neighborly selves and have an impact for Jesus in your world bye Hey, good morning. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate he ascended into heaven is seated at the right hand of the Father same thing he will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead his kingdom will have no end then moving over to the Athenation creed we read that the Father is one person the Son is another the Spirit is another but the deity of the Father Son and Holy Spirit is one equal in glory co-eternal and in majesty what the Father is the Son is and so is the Holy Spirit uncreated is the Son the Son is infinite eternal is the Son Almighty is the Son the Son is God the Son is Lord the Son was neither made nor created but was alone begotten of the Father he has taken humanity into himself he does not transform deity into humanity it's very important again that's holding those two full natures with one another as complete and whole truth those are from the creeds but those words that we hear from from that the the only Son we hear that in scripture and that's exactly where we're going to turn now let's go to John the the gospel of John that's the fourth gospel and we're just going right to that first chapter this first chapter when you really sit there and think and read through it and ponder and meditate on what it means and what is really being written and said here it can become overwhelming just the the heavy truth of it it's absolutely gorgeous so John the first chapter we're going to look first at verses one through three in the beginning was the word so in the beginning we have that in another place in scripture Genesis in the beginning in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God he was in the beginning with God all things came into being through him and without him not one thing came into being so here we have it set up that there's this word the word was not only with God but the word was God that is absolutely trinitarian in in its nature and it's in its patterns words that this word which in the Greek is logos or logos this is held up as as that that which is with God in the beginning and not only with God but was God this is where we get that from the Athenation Creed the Sun is infinite eternal is the Sun right we have this uncreated that he is with God continuing on with verses 14 through 18 the word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory the glory as of a father's only son full of grace and truth John testified to him and cried out this was he of whom I said he who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace the law indeed was given through Moses grace and truth came through Jesus Christ no one has ever seen God it is God the only son who is close to the father's heart who has made him known so we know God and God is revealed through the person of Jesus Christ Jesus himself tells us this which we will get to let's look at the birth of Christ we had this reading earlier today in service or we'll have it in a little bit in service Matthew 1 so go over you're going to flip backwards to the first gospel which is Matthew and this is about the birth of Jesus the Messiah bless you so skipping down into into verse the last verse in or last sentence in verse 18 she was found this Mary was found to be with child from the holy spirit then jumped down to verse 20 when Joseph had resolved to to dismiss Mary quietly an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for the child conceived in her is from the holy spirit you are to name him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins and this is what fulfills the prophet the words of the prophet look the virgin shall conceive in baris son and they shall name him in manual which means God is with us so again we have that set up right from the beginning in this birth telling or retelling of Christ that he is conceived of the holy spirit that he will be named Jesus that he will be called Emmanuel which means God is with us let's go over to the gospel of Luke the first chapter that's the third so you're going to go through Matthew past mark and find yourself in Luke the first chapter and starting in verse 30 this is where the angel has come to Mary to tell her well we'll read it the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God and now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you will name him Jesus he will be great and will be called the son of the most high and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom there will be no end Mary said to the angel how can this be since I am a virgin the angel said to her the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you therefore the child to be born will be holy he will be called son of God again that birth story or the coming birth story the angel stating this is this is the son of God he will be called holy name him Jesus so we're getting before he's even born we're getting this set up by the angel through the holy spirit that that Christ will be conceived by the holy spirit and that he will be indeed the son of God here God with us in the solid declaration in the formula of concord so that's part of the book book of concord the confessions the Lutheran confessions it says it reads that he demonstrated his divine majesty in his mother's womb in that he was born of a virgin without violating her virginity I thought that was very poignant that even before birth Christ was proving himself to be God in that he was conceived within a virgin by the power of the holy spirit but she in her virginity was not violated right I think that's that's a really poignant poignant remark there so that was one demonstration of his divine nature he had humbled himself and he was found to be in human form but Jesus did reveal his divine nature in his earthly ministry let's go back oh you know what let's stick in Luke because we're here already and we're just going to go down to Luke 2 verses 41 or picking up in 41 and we're going to we're going to kind of skip ahead this is where Jesus was lost and I say that with air quotes they thought he was lost in Jerusalem so Mary and Joseph turned back to find him they found him on verse 46 after three days they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers listening to them and asking them questions and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers when his parents saw him they were astonished and his mother said to him child why have you treated us like this look your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety he said to them why were you searching for me did you not know that I must be in my father's house but they did not understand what he said to them then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them his mother treasured all these things in her heart and Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor so he knew he was in his father's house can you imagine a 12 year old speaking with such authority and such wisdom amongst these learned rabbis that there was even in his young age it he was already revealing his divinity just by his wisdom so now let's go over to John the second chapter where we have Jesus first miracle at the wedding at Cana John chapter 2 on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding when the wine gave out the mother of Jesus said to him they have no wine and Jesus said to her woman what concern is that to you and me my hour has not yet come his mother said to his servants do whatever he tells you now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rights of purification each holding 20 or 30 gallons Jesus said to them fill the jars with water and they filled them up to the brim he said to them now draw some out and take it to the chief steward so they took it when the steward tasted the water that had become wine and did not and did not know where it came from though the servants who had drawn the water new the steward called the bridegroom and said to him everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after their guests have become drunk but you have kept the good wine until now Jesus did this the first of his signs in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him so this is his first miracle that he performed he is revealing his glorified nature he's revealing his divine nature through that miracle if we go over to John 11 we see another incredible miracle in the raising of Lazarus we're going to start with verse 25 because I think this is a really important I don't think I just think but this is period a really important statement that Jesus makes about himself in verse 25 Jesus says to Lazarus's sister I am the resurrection and the life those who believe in me even though they die will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die he is declaring himself to be the resurrection let's go down to verses 38 through 44 Jesus again greatly disturbed came to the tomb it was a cave and a stone was lying against it Jesus said take away the stone Martha the sister of the dead man said to him Lord already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days Jesus said to her did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God so they took away the stone and Jesus looked upward and said Father I thank you for having heard me I knew that you always hear me but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here so that they may believe and that that you sent me when he said this he cried out with a loud voice Lazarus come out the dead man came out his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth Jesus said to them unbind him and let him go this only God could do the man had been dead and I know that that Paul does call someone back to life but this it's done in the name of Jesus right and here we have Jesus praying he's saying this is done to show his glory to show the Father's glory rather and it's it's very important to realize and this is something that I like to draw attention to when we're called into faith it is just as Christ called Lazarus right he said come out Lazarus didn't him and ha he didn't sit in the cave saying I don't know is this the choice I want to make right he just came he was called and he came and that is that is how we are called into faith we are dead in our sin we are dead in our trespasses we may as well be Lazarus physically dead we're dead and then Christ calls us into faith and we respond not because we make a choice but Christ has made that choice for us and has called us into faith by name we're about out of time I've got some more okay hold on okay I know I've got so in John 14 it tells us that Jesus is the revelation of the Father Philip Jesus is talking to Philip and Philip is saying where are you going and where are you going and and he says that Philip could believe because of all the works that Jesus had performed through his divine nature he was able to perform all of these works and that Philip could believe through those works by witnessing those works if not by the words alone but again those works always point to the word they always point to the truth that Christ is God in Philippians 2 6 through 11 it says though he was in the form of God he did not require a regard equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself taking the form of a slave being born in human likeness he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name so at that name of Jesus every knee should bend in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father in collagens to verse 9 it says in him in Jesus the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily second Peter has more we're going to go into this more next next class period where we'll also look at the transfiguration where Jesus glory is shown and revealed before three of his disciples so if you have questions ha ha that's the there you go no time for questions today ha ha ha ha if you have questions email me and we will pick up here on the first of January so not next week but the following week in 2020 we will pick up with the divinity of Christ Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for this morning, for calling us into gather, to hear Your Word, and to receive Your sacrament. Here Paul writing under the inspiration of the Spirit says this, now you have observed my teaching my conduct my aim in life my faith my patience my love my steadfastness my persecutions and my suffering the things that happen to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra what persecutions I endured yet the Lord rescued me from all of them indeed all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted but wicked people and imposter will go from bad to worse deceiving others and being deceived but as for you continue in what you have learned and firmly believe knowing from who you learned it and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus all scripture is inspired Greek there means exhaled by God all scripture is exhaled by God and is useful for teaching for reproof for correction for training and righteousness so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient equipped for every good work the scripture then is trustworthy for doctrine for our faith and for our life and we're going to see in this class how God balances truths we'll see how one truth makes another truth more clear and we're going to example that we're going to examine the narrow middle of scripture and how if error is made you wind up in the ditch on either side the devil tries to manipulate our struggle to stay on the narrow middle so Satan is at work with regard to this let's go to Matthew the fourth chapter please Matthew chapter four very first book in the New Testament Matthew chapter four verse five Matthew four picking up in verse five and there we read then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle that's Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple saying 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 dash your foot against the stone Jesus said to him again it is written do not put the Lord your God to the test notice here how Jesus fights temptation he fights temptation by the work look again here at at verse five if you're the verse six if you're 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 dash your foot against a stone well there's a promise here in scripture right there's a promise that God will protect his people God will protect his people that's a truth isn't it however look how Satan uses the word here turn over please to Psalm 91 an easy way to find the book of Psalms is just open up the scriptures to the middle Psalm 91 verse 11 and it's interesting here that when Satan quotes scripture Satan just leaves out a little bit here of Psalm 91 that he's quoting so when Psalm 91 verse 11 it says for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways on their hands they will bear you up so that you will not dash your foot against a stone interesting there in Matthew the fourth chapter that what Satan eliminates is to guard you in all your ways the assumption here in Psalm 91 is that our ways will be in accordance with God's word God does not promise to protect me if following the 11 o'clock service I say I'm going to blindfold myself and walk across northwest highway as an expression of faith in the protective hand of Almighty God no that would just simply be dumb right that would be dumb so we've got the promise God will protect you but Satan leaves out the part in all of your ways assuming that you will enact in accordance with what God wants you to do which would not be put a blindfold on and walk across northwest highway faced with the promises of scripture faced with the truths of scripture we can be tempted to overemphasize one truth and thereby fall into air for example we can overemphasize the grace and love of God so that we then say since God is so loving filled with grace there is no hell you see that's where you overemphasize one promise and you fall in the ditch of air we can overemphasize the grace and love of God so that we wind up in the ditch of the error of universalism that says everyone in the end will be saved no matter what it is they believe or don't believe that's universalism in the end God's going to save everybody and the argument of the universalists is because God is so loving and gracious see what happens that's not dismissal of scripture denial you make arguments that it is but it's an overemphasis of one truth to where one falls then in the ditch of air why do we wind up in so many ditches the reason why one can wind up in so many ditches why one can stray from the middle of scripture where we see God balancing truths and we have to hold those truths together one of the reasons why we can wind up in the ditches is we listen to reason where reason takes control where the word of God should be in control now is is reason a blessing well sure it is is reason a gift of God absolutely reason provides order in life by helping us make reasonable decisions have you ever heard the phrase or used to use it yourself what would you use your head use your head here or I didn't use my head when I when I made that decision well that's just simply referring to reason reason is helpful in the study of of scripture as you're comparing passages as you're looking at the meaning of words as you're tracking down things in scripture reason is helpful but when it comes to theology and remember what theology is the Greek word for God is Theos T-H-E-O-S so you've got God written in theology is the study of God when it comes to theology reason must have the role of servant to the word of God reason doesn't want to accept that role why because our reason is corrupted by sin so we want to elevate our reason above the word of God have you ever heard as you're talking about something a matter of faith with someone and they say to you I don't care what the scripture says I know what I think you see that's the elevation of a person's reason above the scripture where the person says well what seems sensible to me the sharpest conflict between the fallen reason and the word of God is found in the doctrine of salvation that is the sharpest conflict between our fallen reason and the word of God it's right at the doctrine of salvation let's go to first Corinthians the first chapter Matthew Mark Luke John, Acts and then Romans first Corinthians first Corinthians chapter 1 will pick up in verse 18 for the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it's the power of God for it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart where's the one who's wise where's the scribe where's the debater of this age has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world for since in the wisdom of God the world did not know God through wisdom God decided through the foolishness of our proclamation to save those who believe or in Romans the third chapter Romans the book right before first Corinthians Romans chapter 3 verse 5 pull dismantles reason here so Romans chapter 3 verse 5 but if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God what should we say that God is unjust to inflict wrath on us I speak in a human way by no means for then how could God judge the world but if through my falsehood God's truthfulness abounds to his glory why am I still being condemned as a sinner and why not say as some people slander us by saying that we say let us do evil so that good may come their condemnation is deserved Paul is addressing the absurdity that we should go ahead and sin so that God has opportunities to show his grace and love to us see that's a fallen reason who says this is fantastic forgiveness to God God likes to forgive so I'll give him opportunities to forgive me it's a win win right it's a win for us and it's a win for God we're all happy we'll just sin up a store you see Paul takes reason in correct use and dismantles it he knew the narrow middle between contempt for God's gift of reason on the one hand and enthronement of reason over God's word on the other hand and he avoids the ditch by holding to the truth think of think of Satan's blatant attacks just blatant attacks on the word with regard for example to the Ten Commandments the murderer who reasons that his own life will that his own life and well-being are somehow threatened by the continued life of his enemy therefore his enemy should be murdered see that's reason go on a stray the two people having sex outside of the marital union or the adulterer who says but we love each other we love each other how about doctrine Jesus says this is my body this is my blood reason says Jesus could not have meant that so plainly so is doesn't mean is because it doesn't fit reasonably how can you have bread and wine and say this is my body and this is my blood that doesn't fit reason and so reason leads you then into a symbolic understanding with regard to holy communion because it's more compatible to reason to say that when we come forward to communion what we're receiving is a little bit of wine or grape juice and bread and that is a reminder of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross that seems reasonable but Jesus did not say did he he didn't say let this piece of bread remind you of the cross ahead let this wine remind you of my blood that will be shed he said this is my body and this is my blood and he refers to bread and wine so we take scripture then at face value and we say if scripture says bread and wine body and blood we say what is communion Luther wrote holy communion is the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ given with bread and wine for the forgiveness of sin is that hard for our head to wrap around sure but is that what the scripture says yes and so we bow to the authority of scripture and reason becomes the servant of the word we see in scripture where the word is ignored all together in Catholic doctrine you have the creation it is non-scriptural of purgatory where one goes to work off their sinfulness to make themselves worthy enough for heaven that the sins are forgiven prior to baptism but now you've got to work off the sins with regard to after baptism and so you go to purgatory to work that out that makes sense to the reason right it makes sense to a reason that's used to works righteousness works righteousness is all about us around us in our society it makes sense to us that indeed we then have to work off our salvation is it scriptural absolutely not absolutely not reason says well Mary must have been without sin after all her womb held the savior that sounds reasonable is it scriptural no praying to the saints to intercede for us that sounds reasonable because why not get a few friends here that can kind of help us out before the Almighty right does it sound reasonable sure is it scriptural no reason can act even more subtly reason can pretend to defend one truth of God in order to dismiss another for example Kelvin held up the truth that indeed our salvation is totally the work of God we contribute nothing to it it is totally the work of God what Christ has done for us on the cross totally the work of God faith is a gift Kelvin held up that we contribute absolutely nothing to our salvation but Kelvin falls in the ditch because he then says God chose some to be saved and some to be damned so he falls in the ditch of error why because there's the overemphasizing of one truth and that is God's action in our salvation what Kelvin ignores is what scripture says that if we don't believe then it's totally our own fault and so by overemphasizing one truth you wind up in a ditch what what's the Lutheran middle what is what does Lutheran say if you believe it's totally the work of God if you don't believe it's solely your own fault well how do you resolve that by reason well you don't because if you resolve it by reason you're gonna you're gonna let go by overemphasizing one truth over the other so you let the word stand as it is and you know God has got it figured out in God's own mind and that's good enough for me you too we just let God be God so then you have Arminius who comes along Arminius reacts to Kelvin Arminius says that we are the ones that are responsible for our salvation because we accept what Jesus Christ did on the cross with our free will we accept what Jesus Christ did on the cross what happens with Arminius Arminius just falls on the other ditch right just falls on the other ditch and what Arminius denies is our original sin how scripture says we are fallen and blind and dead and enemies of God period so what can happen then is Satan can work very subtly and can lead to the over-emphasis of truth which actually winds you up in air where reason comes in and says what is reasonable for us instead of reason submitting to the authority of the word Luther said this when something in the Bible conflicts with my reason I simply doth off my doctor's cap and assume that the Holy Spirit the ultimate author of the scriptures is a little smarter than doctor Luther got it right right he puts reason in place in the weeks ahead by God's grace we're going to stay on the on the middle road affirming the truths of scripture so that the ditches we don't wind up in because our eyes are riveted on the word of God so we're going to take a look at the Lutheran middle between doubt and presumption between carnal security and despair between an exclusive emphasis on God's providence or on God's promises concerning prayer the middle between good works and bad works the middle between idolatrous love of the world and ungrateful contempt for the world the middle between the universal priesthood of all believers and the office of the minister the middle between the doctrine of election and the great commission the middle between our anticipation of heaven heaven and serving Christ in the here and now it's great to have you as part of this class we'll continue next week We continue today in our study on bringing comfort to others and we've come to the last class of this particular class and also of this particular teaching cycle. Would you open your bios please to Matthew the 22nd chapter if you're using a Pew edition of God's Word you're going to find that on page 21 for our time of study today Matthew chapter 21 the trap the trap you ever noticed how many times when Jesus was asked a question it was a it was a trap question it wasn't a question that was generated out of wanting to know more or having something clarified or gaining more knowledge it was a question that was a trap for him for example take a look as we're in Matthew chapter 22 go down to verse 35 five please there we read this in one of them a lawyer asked him a question to test him teacher which commandment in the law is the greatest what was the motive test him was a trap or turn over please to chapter 19 of Matthew verse three Matthew 19 verse three some Pharisees came to him and to test him they asked is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause or back in Matthew chapter 22 picking up in verse 23 the same day some sadgesies came to him saying there is no resurrection and they asked him a question saying teacher Moses said if a man dies childless his brother shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother now there were seven brothers among us the first married and died childless leaving the widow to his brother the second did the same so also the third down to the seventh last of all the woman herself died in the resurrection then whose wife of seven will she be for all of them had married her let's a convoluted test question isn't it a trap question we see in Scripture that when we are in heaven we are not married and interestingly the question is coming from the sadgesies who didn't believe in the resurrection the trap questions trap questions soul also in our text for today the trap look please adverse 15 then the Pharisees went and plotted to and trap him in what he said so they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians so there's two groups here the Herodians was a group of Jews they had allegiance to wrong who is the people in power so the Herodians Jewish group they had their allegiance with wrong the Pharisees another Jewish group they hated wrong hated wrong they wrong rule over them so you've got the Pharisees and the Herodians interestingly in mark the third chapter it says the Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him that being Jesus how to destroy him but typically typically you don't see this this alliance between the Herodians and the Pharisees because they saw things differently going on the very next verse verse 16 so they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians saying teacher we know that you are sincere and teach the way of God in accordance with truth and show difference to know what for you do not regard people with parciality all of the things of the Herodians and the Pharisees were saying is absolutely true isn't it it is absolutely true that Jesus is sincere and teaches the way of God in accordance with the truth that he shows difference to no one that he didn't regard people with parciality but all of this flattery here for Jesus is absolutely laughable is there was no greater critics of the Lord Jesus than the Pharisees this is all simply a setup for the trap verse 17 tell us then what you think is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not the tax here that they're getting after it was called the whole tax it was the most hated tax of the Jews in ancient day it was literally a tax on every single head and the Jews they hated it just a little aside here remember when Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem because a census was taken the purpose of the census being taken was to get an accurate count of the heads for what purpose the poll tax the poll tax they hated it now if Jesus answers no to this question then the Herodians will say not he's being disloyal to Rome he wants to overthrow Rome if he answers yes to the question then the Pharisees will say he's in love with Rome how could he possibly be in love with Rome you see it's a trap it's a trap question of two different groups that already have their answer to the question it's a trap and Jesus sees right through it verse 18 but Jesus aware of their malice said why are you putting me to the test you hypocrites show me the coin used for the tax and they brought him a the Narius memorandonarius is equivalent to a day's worth of wages for a common labor so Jesus turns and says your bunch of hypocrites here show me the coin used for the tax they brought him a denarius the coin would have been silver on one side of the coin it would have had the image of the emperor tibirius Caesar and on the other side of the coin there would be an inscription and the inscription on the coin that was given to Jesus it read tibirius Caesar son of the divine Augustus pretty heavy stuff for the seizures of all to guard themselves as God and you understand here what tibirius Caesar is saying on the coin right that he is the son of God very next verse verse 20 then he Jesus said to them who's head or you translated image who's image is this and who's title they answered the empers everybody would know that then he said to them give therefore to the emperor the things that are the empers give there in the Greek it it's a word that means you owe something pay the debt Jesus says will who's those images on the coin well let's see's as well then pay the debt you have a debt you owe pay it pay the tax hold picks up on this in Romans 13 chapter Paul writing on the inspiration of the spirit writes this let every person be subject to the governing authorities for there's no authority except from God and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God he goes on to say therefore one must be subject not only because of wrath but also because of conscience for the same reason you also pay taxes for the authorities our gods servants busy with this very thing pay to all what's do them taxes to whom taxes are due revenue to whom revenue is due respect to whom respect is due honor to whom honor is due it's the same thought of Jesus isn't it okay then back in chapter 22 of Matthew verse 20 Jesus says he said to them who's head is this and whose title they answered the empers then he said to them give their fork to the emperor the things that are the empers you need to pay the Jesus says you need to pay the tax whose image is on the coin but notice where Jesus goes next in Colossians the very first chapter Paul writes that this speaking of Jesus he says he is the image of the invisible God you want to know what God is like you look at Jesus he is Paul says the image of the invisible God he goes on to say the first born of all creation that's a word that doesn't mean that Jesus was created it's a word that means preeminence for him all things in heaven and on earth were created that's the first chapter of the gospel of John right that through Christ everything was that is was made through Christ for in him all things in heaven on earth were created things visible and invisible with a thrones or dominions or rulers or powers all things have been created through him and for him he owns it all he himself is before all things and in him all things hold together what is Scripture tell us that all of God's promises have their yes in Jesus Paul saying everything holds together through Christ verse 18 he's the head the source the origin he's the origin of the body the church he's the beginning the first born from the dead Jesus was raised out of the tomb he is the cause for the resurrection so that he might come to have first place in everything for in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things whether on earth or in heaven by making peace through the blood of his cross it is a glorious and rich section and how does it all begin he is the image of the invisible God the Pharisees and the Herodians they recognized the image on the coin but they didn't recognize the image of the one who was standing before them the son of God they recognized the image on the coin but not the image of the these son of God standing right before and the son of God says verse 21 give therefore to the emperor the things that are the empowers and that he sets and to God the things that are God's he turns to them and says pay the debt to Caesar pay the debt pay the taxes and the very one that tells them to do that the very one is the one who paid the debt of our sin all of those thoughts all of those words all of those deeds all of the things done and all of the things left undone he paid our debt of our sin on the cross to win for us the absolute the word of forgiveness Jesus said give therefore to the emperor the things that are the empowers and to God the things that are God's and the father sent his son the Lord Jesus Christ to the cross to win salvation and that victory of the cross and the empty tomb is put with the water and we are washed in the victory we are washed in the declaration we are washed in that promise and what does God say in the waters of baptism to us but your mind your mind for all of the turn it your mind give therefore to the emperor the things that are the empowers and to God the things that are God's and may we buy his grace yield absolutely everything in our life every area in our life may we yield it by his grace yield it all to the one to whom we belong first twenty two when they heard this they were amazed and they left him and went away there were amazed for the word means marveled see only time the only time in the entire new testament that this word for amazement is used it's the only time Jesus has schooled them he's schooled them it is concise it is clear it is absolute truth and they are marveling at what they have just heard but what did they do they walked away they walked away from the Lord Jesus Christ they walked away by God's grace let us continue to walk each and every day amazed and marveling at the love of God for us by his grace let us be amazed and marvel at the Lord Jesus Christ the image of the invisible God and by God's grace may we yield everything and free to the one who owns all to the one to whom we belong Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study this morning?
Video citations
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- Glory: Glory in Humility — Good morning. Let's join in prayer, please. Grant us forgiveness, O Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. For our stubborn sinful pride and false humility, Jesus' humble willingness to lay aside the…
- Glory: Glory in Our Union with God — Good morning. Let us pray together, please. We praise you, Jesus, for the glorious unity between us and the Holy Trinity, that you made possible by your cross. Help us more fully understand and…
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- Twelve Ordinary Men: Lesson 5 — And we'll begin with prayer. Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for calling the 12 men that you called. We thank you for showing us their flaws and their weaknesses, as well as their strengths…
- Twelve Ordinary Men: Lesson 3 — Good morning. All right, so we are going to be jumping back into the 12 ordinary men, though today we will be looking at one ordinary man, Andrew, but before we do, let us open in prayer. Heavenly…
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- Numbers in the Bible: Lesson 1 — Well, good morning and welcome. Let's join in prayer, please. Blessed lords, since you have caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark,…
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- Biblical Prophecy: Lesson 4 — Welcome back to our study on biblical prophecy. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for this time and your word. And especially, we want to thank you, O Lord, for the…
- Biblical Prophecy: Lesson 3 — Good morning and welcome back to our study on Biblical prophecy. And today I'd like to cover with you the topic on prophecy fulfilled by Christ. Prophecy fulfilled by Christ, but just a review where…
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- Idols: Lesson 4 — Good morning and welcome back to our study on idols. We've come to the fourth in the fifth of this series as we are studying all about idols and perhaps understanding in a new way that we have idols…
- Idols: Lesson 2 — Good morning. We continue today with our study on idols, but before we begin, let us devote this time to our Lord through prayer. Gracious Heavenly Father, how precious it is to open up your Holy…
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- Eyes on God: Lesson 4 — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Grace of Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time and your word, your word is truth. We give you thanks, O Lord, that you continually lift our…
- Eyes on God: Lesson 3 — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time in your word. We thank you for who you are, the Lord. We thank you, the You are there amidst the…
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- Blessings in Disguise Lesson 3 — Good morning. Good morning, let's pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessings that abound, the blessings that you pour out. We thank you also, Lord, for these blessings, some so…
- Blessings in Disguise- Lesson 2 — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, how precious is your Word, and what a joy it is to come into your house as you feed us with your very Word. Blessed now we pray…
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- The Lutheran Middle 4 — Well, last week we took a look at despair and carnal security and we said, what's the middle road between the two of them? Those that fall into the ditch of carnal security fall into a ditch in…
- The Lutheran Middle 3 — Well, last week we talked about the middle road between doubt and presumption, between doubt and presumption. And remember, we had talked about how reason grasps on to what it knows. So when a…
- The Lutheran Middle 1 — One of the emphasis of this congregation because it is an emphasis of Scripture is doctrine. It is incorrect to say that whenever the Bible is taught there's no theology. There's always theology.…
- Comforting Others Session 5 — We continue today in our study on bringing comfort to others and we've come to the last class of this particular class and also of this particular teaching cycle. We'll resume again on September…
- Comforting Others Session 1 — Well, welcome to this new class that's going to carry us through the end of this cycle of teaching. We move into summer on Memorial Day weekend and so this is going to keep us through up until that…
- Heresies 1 — Well, good morning. Let's pray together, please. Grace is heavenly Father, it is such a joy to be in your house. We thank you that you call us together as your people. We thank you that you have…
- Heresies 3 — Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this opportunity to be in your word. We thank you for the truth of Holy Scripture and the wonderful privilege that belongs to us to plummet's depths…
- Heresies 4 — Gracious Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to be on your house on this the Lord's Day. What a joy because you've called us together because you have something to give us. Word and sacrament. So as…
- Heresies 5 — Races seven, they father, thank you for this time now in your word, your word is truth. Thank you for the privilege of delving in to your word and by your Holy Spirit, plumbing the depths of it, the…
- Heresies 6 — Grace the Heavenly Father, we with joy, we approach today. We approach it in your promises. We know of your constant presence with us. We know indeed that you form our days, that all occurs, passes…
- Heresies 7 — Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the beauty of this day. We thank you for your promises that continually surround us and for the privilege of joy and joy of being your people. Commissioned…
- Heresies 9 — Well, we pick up in our study on the heresies of old, last time that we were together, we studied about what is called a nosticism. Nosticism is the belief that God speaks to us apart from his word,…
- Heresies 10 — Well, we continue along in our study looking at some ancient heresies and how they apply today, where we see the expression of those. The purpose, of course, is so that when you hear these, you'll…
- Heresies 11 — Two weeks ago, we studied about a group called the Judiizers. And the Judiizers, you will recall, were those that said, that in order for a Gentile to become a Christian, they had to adhere to all…
- Heresies 12 — Well, we studied last week about the Sadducees and the Corinthians, and in particular, they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. We hear this expressed in the modern-day form of when…
- Education Witness Style 1 — I want to break this down a little bit as we study this. In verse 13, for it was you who formed my inward parts. All of our bodies are made by God with this intricate complexity to them. And the…
- Education Witness Style 2 — Gracious Heavenly Father, it is a joy to be in your house on this year day. We thank You, O Lord, that You command us to come, for You have something to give us, word and sacrament. We thank You, O…
- Education Witness Style 3 — Well, we have been taking a look here at this little class entitled witnessing within your own personality style and just to review a little bit from whence we have come. Last time we talked about…
- Education Witness Style 4 — Well, welcome back from our little break last week. We were studying last time we got together two weeks ago about how Jesus witnessed to people. We noticed that sometimes Jesus was the one that…
- Education Witness Style 5 — Well, we have come to the last of our witnessing within your personality style classes. It's just a little bit of review where we were last time we got together. We talked about how God gives us…
- Justification 1 What Do We Mean By Justification — We give you thanks, O Lord, that all throughout this your house now and this hour, people from the youngest among us are gathering to receive your word. And we know that when your word is sent…
- Justification 2 Why Do We Need To Be Justified — Father, we confess how difficult it is to see our own sin and unworthiness. Pride runs deep in our sinful hearts. The devil works tirelessly to convince us that we're not desperate beggars before…
- Justification 3 What Moves God To Justify Us — Father, we have failed to obey Your Holy Law. We know that we deserve only Your wrath and punishment. Make sure us today that Your own Son kept Your law perfectly in our place and has given us His…
- Justification 5 Who Benefits From Justification — Jesus, you have carried out the work of our salvation perfectly and completely. Send the Spirit to give a simple trust in you as our Savior. May you receive all the praise for our salvation. May it…
- Justification 6 How Long Does It Take To Be Justified — O spirit, you alone have produced faith in us. The credit for us being believers is all yours. Help us now, O Lord, as we study to acknowledge your grace in giving us the gift of faith, in keeping…
- Justification 8 What is the Current and Final Status of the Justified — Father, assure us today that no matter what our hearts may tell us, no matter what the world may say to shake our confidence in the full and free nature of our salvation, that they're wrong. Renew…
- Dependency on God: "Handling Things" 4-19-26 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the Gospel of Matthew the 18th chapter for our study today, you're using a Pew Bible in the rack in front of you or underneath you, that is on the New…
- Tears of Jesus: John 20:1-18 (4-5-26) — Would you open your Bibles, please? With me, too, the gospel of John the 20th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, that you'll find in front of you or underneath you, the 20th…
- Change in the World: "Leaven Response" 3-15-26 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the Luke 13th chapter if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture this morning? You're going to find that in the New Testament page 66. Luke 13th…
- “Intentional” 3-8-26 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, the 16th chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of this Bible, you will find it on page 68 in the New Testament. We're in Luke, chapter…
- Obtaining Eternal Life- "The Test" 3-1-26 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 10th chapter of the gospel of Luke. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you will find that in the New Testament page 62. Luke the 10th…
- "Rooted" 2-22-26 — Please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew 13th chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 12 in the New Testament. We are in Matthew 13th chapter. I'm from…
- "Patches and Wineskins" 2-19-26 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me this evening, to the ninth chapter of the gospel of Matthew, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, that you'll find in the Pew Rackin front of…
- Our Value: "Face to Face" 2-15-26 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the Gospel of Matthew the 13th chapter. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find in front of you or underneath you, the 13th…
- Waiting - "Confidant Waiting" 2-8-26 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to mark the fourth chapter for our time and God's Word if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find the fourth chapter of Mark on page 33…
- Jesus' Stories - “Parables’ Purpose” — What you open your Bible's please with me to the 13th chapter of the gospel of Matthew, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament on page 12.…
- Restlessness - What Are You Looking For? 1-18-26 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to John the first chapter for our time in God's Word today, if you're using a Pew Edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New…
- "Fulfilled" 1-11-26 — Would you please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew the third chapter? If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 3 in the New Testament. We're in the Gospel of…
- Second Coming: "Left Behind" 12-7-25 — Who's your open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our time of study. Today, if you're using a Pew edition, you'll find in the rack in front of you or…
- "Greater Than" 11-30-25 — Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets. These prophets, great prophets of old Jeremiah, Elijah, Elijah, Micah, Isaiah. They came prophesying oftentimes a very…
- Thankfulness: Saying Grace (11-16-25) — What you open your Bibles, please, with me for our time and gods were today to the gospel of John the sixth chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find the sixth…
- God's Will: Unyielding Trust 11-9-25 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the 11th chapter of the gospel of Matthew? If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find in front of you or underneath you,…
- "Grace" - Finding Grace 11-2-25 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture in front of you or underneath you, you're going to find that in…
- Jesus- Light of the World: "Reflections" 9-28-25 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the eighth chapter of the Gospel of John. If you're using a Puedition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find the eighth chapter of the Gospel of John…
- Words of Jesus.- “Hearing and Acting” 9-7-25 — Would you open your Bibles Please with me to Matthew the 7th chapter if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture you'll find in the Pew rack in front of you or underneath you you'll find that in…
- Good Fear- When Fear is Good. 6-15-25 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to Proverbs 9th chapter for our time in God's Word today? Proverbs 9th chapter of using a Pew edition, you're going to find that on page 554 in the Old…
- "Discipleship" 5-25-25 — Do open your Bibles, please, with me to the 14th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 67 in the New Testament. Luke, the…
- "Tell" 5-18-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Book of Acts chapter 4, if you're using a Pew edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 104 in the New Testament, or in the Book of Acts 4 chapter.…
- "Made and Molded" 4-27-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Book of Acts, the second chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, that can be found in the New Testament on page 104. The Book of Acts chapter…
- "Say What?" 3-30-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the letter to the Romans, this is on page 133. If you are using a Pue edition of the Bible, page 133, we're in Romans chapter 1. While you're looking for…
- "The Norm" 3-2-25 — I would call me a conversation with a lovely young lady and she shared with me a major, major controversy. And this is a controversy that has affected every single one of us that speaks the English…
- Alone: "Fear of Being Alone" 2-9-25 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to Psalm 139? Psalm 139, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the Old Testament on page 540, Psalm 139. It was…
- “Treasured and Pondered” 12-24-24 — Would you open your Bibles please with me to the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. If you're using a copy of the Scriptures in the Puehrack in front of you or underneath you, you're going to…
- "Blessings" 12-8-24 — Would you open your Bible's please with me, too? The Gospel of Luke, the first chapter, for our study today, if you're using a pure edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New…
- Culture: "No Jellyfish" 10-6-24 — Zuma Beach, California. As a boy, during the summer we would take frequent trips to Zuma Beach. We lived in the San Fernando Valley, and so the drive wasn't too terribly far. We would go through the…
- Disagreements: "Rift" 9-29-24 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 15th chapter of the book of Acts for our study today. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 118. Acts…
- Witnessing: "Come and See" 9-15-24 — Gracious Heavenly Father, indeed, may we bring you glory. You have given us breath and time this side of heaven for the soul purpose of bringing you glory. And so Father we ask, in Word and deed, in…
- Believing in God 8-25-24 — With your Bible's please, to first Kings the 18th chapter for our study this morning, first Kings the 18th chapter. If you're using a Puedition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page…
- “But...But...But…” 7-14-24 — For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the…
- "Prayer" “Cause and Effect?” 5-12-24 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 11th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, for our study today, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that New Testament…
- “Beyond Opinions” 5-5-24 — Would you open up your Bible's please for our time and gods word today to first Corinthians the seventh chapter. First Corinthians chapter seven, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture,…
- “But I Say to You…” 4-21-24 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the fifth chapter of the gospel of Matthew. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that page 4 in the New Testament.…
- "UnForgiven" 4-14-24 — If you would have opened your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew, the 12th chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you can find this on page 11 in the New Testament, we're in Matthew…
- "1-2-3" 3-31-24 — Would you open please your Scriptures to the 28th chapter of the gospel of Matthew? You'll find a copy of Holy Scriptures in the Pew Rack in front of you or underneath you. The 28th chapter of the…
- :Three Crosses" 3-29-24 — Which you open your Bible's please this evening to the 23rd chapter of the Gospel of Luke, beginning with verse 39, we read these verses. One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him…
- Doing the Right Thing 3-17-24 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the 23rd chapter of the Gospel of Luke for our study today? If you're using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 76 in the…
- Wandering from the Lord.: Do You Also....? 2-11-24 — Would you open your Bibles, please, for our time of study today, to the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New…
- "Real Fruit" 2-4-24 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew 7 chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you will find this on page 6 in the New Testament where Matthew chapter 7. If it…
- Signs from God : The Ultimate Sign 1-28-24 — Would you open your by those please with me to the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Mark? If you're using a Puedition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament on page 37.…
- "A Mystery" 1-14-24 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of John the 8th chapter, if you're using a Puedition of Scripture, you can find this on page 87 in the New Testament, we're in the Gospel of John…
- “New Year” 1-7-24 — What you open your Bible's please with me to the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study this morning. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page…
- "Family Business" 12-31-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, the second chapter, we will be reading out of Luke the second chapter. If you want to use a Pue edition of the Bible, it is on page 51 in…
- The Heart and Words: "Trees and Hearts" — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the 12th chapter of the gospel of Saint Matthew? If you're using a few edition you'll find in the rack in front of you or underneath you, that's on page…
- Status: "Greater Than" 12-3-23 — Do you open your Bible's please with me to the 11th chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew. For our study today, if you're using a Pue edition, you'll find that in the New Testament page 10, Matthew…
- "Known by God" 11-19-23 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the 14th chapter of the gospel of John, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 95 in the New Testament, the…
- The Most Important Family Relationship: "Family by Rebirth" 11-5-23 — You open your Bibles, please, with me to the 12th chapter of the gospel of Saint Matthew. If you're using a few edition, you'll find that page 12 in the New Testament. Matthew the 12th chapter for…
- Replacing Worry 10-22-23 — Would your open your Bible's please with me to the sixth chapter of the gospel of Saint Matthew for our study today? We're using a Pewadition of Holy Scripture. You're going to find that in the New…
- Freed from Bringing Glory to Ourselves "Regarding Glory" 10-15-23 — Would you open your Bible's please for our time of study this morning to the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page…
- "Image" 9-24-23 — Would you open your bios please to Matthew the 22nd chapter if you're using a Pew edition of God's Word you're going to find that on page 21 for our time of study today Matthew chapter 21 the trap…
- “Love Who?” 9-17-23 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study this morning? Matthew the fifth chapter if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture,…
- “Who Do You Say?” 9-10-23 — We'll open up your Bibles Please with me for our time of study today. To the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, if you are using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on…
- “Regarding Idiocy” 8-20--23 — Would you open up your Bibles, please, with me, for our time of study today to Romans the 8th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition, you'll find that in the New Testament on page 138, Romans the…
- "All of the Above" 8-13-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew, the 22nd chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, it is on page 22 of the New Testament. Okay, we're going to start with a…
- “Non-Judgement?” 7-23-23 — Let us pray. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. We praise you, gracious God, that as you gather us today in this your house, you gather us together as your…
- “Calming the Sea and Rocking the Boat” 7-16-23 — Let us pray together, please. Grace is Heavenly Father, we are indeed a people who buy your grace, sing the words that you are our Redeemer. Lord Jesus, we praise you for the cross and for the empty…
- “Jesus is Coming—Look Busy” 7-9-23 — If you would please open your vivals to Paul Bledert at Titus, it's on page 190 in the New Testament. If you're using the Pew edition of the Bible, we'll be in Titus chapter 3. Our bumper sticker…
- "Sin Posse" 7-2-23 — Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Texas as a whole is steeped in the old West. And in Western lore, we read a lot and hear a lot about bandits, about outlaws, riding the range. And…
- “Christology” 4-23-23 — Do you want your Bibles please with me to the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. If you're using a few additional this morning, you're going to find that on page 78 for our study. Luke the 24th…
- "See the Place" 4-9-23 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the gospel of St. Matthew 28th, chapter if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find that on page 29 in the New Testament. Matthew…
- “Reactions” 3-26-23 — Do you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 12th chapter of the gospel of John. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find that on page 92 in the New Testament. The 12th…
- "Hidden" 3-12-23 — Do you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 18th chapter of the Gospel of Luke for our study this morning. Luke the 18th chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going…
- “Kyrie Eleison” 2-22-23 — On this holy night, the church gathers. Ash Wednesday is one of the most somber of services. Good Friday, Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday begins that walk for the church of the 40 days leading to Holy…
- "Submit to One Another" 2-5-23 — Would you open your Bibles please with me to the book of Ephesians the 5th chapter for our study today page 172 Ephesians the 5th chapter? It is called the rule of three, the rule of three. The rule…
- “Patience and Walking Humbly” 12-4-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me? To the Old Testament, to the Book of Micah, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, Micah's on page 819, 819, for our study today. We continue…
- “Gratefulness in Service” 11-13-22 — What you open up your Bibles, please, to Colossians III chapter. If you're using a few additional Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 178 in the New Testament. Colossians III chapter…
- “Praying for the City” 10-9-22 — With your Bibles, please, with me to Jeremiah the 29th chapter for our study today. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find Jeremiah the 29th chapter on page 690 in the…
- "Merciful" 10-2-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, the sixth chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, that's on page 56 in the New Testament, we're in Luke the sixth chapter.…
- "Pure in Heart" 9-18-22 — Would you open your Bibles please with me today to Matthew the fifth chapter for our study? If you're using a Puedition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find the fifth chapter of Matthew on page 3…
- "You Are" 9-11-22 — What you're open your Bibles please with me for our study this morning to Matthew the 5th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find the 5th chapter of Matthew in the New…
- “Longsuffering” 9-4-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to second Peter, the third chapter, second Peter, the third chapter. Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. It's such a big, long part of life. We wait and we wait…
- “Omnipotence” 8-21-22 — Would you open your Bibles' plays with me to Numbers the 11th chapter this morning? That is in the Old Testament and if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on…
- "The Ending" 4-17-22 — Would you open up your Bibles, please with me today to mark the 16th chapter, Mark chapter 16 for our study on this Easter day. Easter Sunday, it's good for the soul, isn't it? The soul is such an…
- "Fingerprints" 4-15-22 — Would you open your Bible's please to this portion of Scripture on this holy night? Mark the 15th chapter. Page 47, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, Mark the 15th chapter.…
- "Significance" 3-13-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me this morning to this portion of God's Word from Mark 9th chapter? You'll find that if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture on page 39, Mark 9th…
- "Mercy on Us" 3-2-22 — Would you open your Bibles please with me this evening? To mark the eighth chapter for our study, if you're using a few addition, you'll find that on page 38. Mark the eighth chapter. The liturgy…
- “A New Way” 1-16-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark the 2nd chapter, we will be in the Gospel of Mark the 2nd chapter. Have any of you ever tried to learn a new language or a 2nd language or…
- "The Need" 1-9-22 — Would you open your Bible's please with me this morning to the gospel of Mark chapter 2, if you're using a few addition, you're going to find that on page 31 in the New Testament, mark the second…
- “Immediate Rest” 1-2-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark the first chapter, the Gospel of Mark the first chapter. We are beginning a new sermon series today on Mark, an highlighting what is the…
- “Grace to Serve—Serve to Glorify” 10-31-21 — Open to the gospel of Matthew, we are going to be diving into this parable. We have been going through Jesus' teachings, Jesus' parables for the past four weeks. I said, this is the fourth week. And…
- "Entrusted" 10-24-21 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew, the 25th chapter, the Gospel of Matthew, the 25th chapter. Right now, we are in a sermon series on life management. And I don't know if…
- “A Mustard Seed, Yeast and Flour” 10-17-21 — What you're open your Bibles, please, with me this morning to Matthew the 13th chapter. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 13 in the New Testament.…
- "Entrusted" 10-10-21 — Who's your open your Bibles, please, with me for our study today to Matthew the sixth chapter, the very first book in the New Testament, Matthew chapter six for our study today. We begin today a new…
- “Gentle and Humble” 9-12-21 — Would you open your Bibles please with me to the 11th chapter of the gospel of Matthew? If you're using a few additional this morning, you're going to find that on page 10 for our study today.…
- "Who Are the Saints?" 9-5-21 — If you would, please open your Bibles to Colossians, the first chapter will be studying out of Colossians, the first chapter. St. Christopher. This is the patron saint of Bachelors, Transportation,…
- “What is God’s Strategy for Anxiousness?” 8-15-21 — Would you open your Bibles please with me for our text of study today to first Peter the first chapter if using a Pew edition? You're going to find that on page 208 first Peter the fifth chapter for…
- "What is Bridled Speech?" 8-1-21 — Would you open your Bible's place with me this morning to James the first chapter for our study? If you're using a copy of Holy Scriptures, you'll find in the pew you'll find that on page 200 and 2…
- "Did Jesus Conceal Something?" 7-18-21 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the letter to the Church at Philippi? Philippians, the second chapter of using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture this morning, you're going to find that…
- "What is the Purpose of Angels?" 7-11-21 — If you would, please open your Bibles to the book of Hebrews the first chapter. We're going to be studying Hebrews the first chapter. Okay, so I'm going to ask a question. We're in a Q&A sermon…
- "Does God Hear the Prayers of Unbelievers?" 6-27-21 — If you would please open your Bibles to Psalm 139, we're going to be studying Psalm 139. So in this Q&A series of taking questions to Scripture and seeing what God's Word has to say and using…
- "Should We Repeat Prayers?" 6-20-21 — Let's open our Bible's please to Matthew the sixth chapter for our study today. Matthew chapter six as we study God's Word. Solomon, first Kings the third chapter, and there we find Solomon praying.…
- "New Heaven and Earth" 5-23-21 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the very last book of Holy Scripture? Revelation, the 21st chapter for our study today. Revelation, chapter 21. Today is the final sermon in this…
- "New Song" 5-9-21 — Let's open our Bibles today to the book of Isaiah, the 42nd chapter. Isaiah 42 for our study today is we continue on in this series simply entitled New as we celebrate that which God makes new. Game…
- "The Beautiful Feet" — Good morning and welcome to worship. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us sing His praise. God Himself is present, let us know our joy in and with our baby for…
- "The Golden Rule" 2-21-21 — Let us pray. Holy and gracious God, we give you thanks now for this time when you're word, your word is truth. We praise you, O Lord, for the treasure that you have placed in our hands for Holy…
- "With You" 12-27-20 — In this sermon series, we are talking about resolutions, God's, that is God's resolutions, and how he acts towards us, how he is resolved to act toward us. We have talked about how God was resolved…
- "Joy of Repentance" — The familiar. We are born with a sense of the familiar, of familiarity. We're born drawn to those voices that we could hear when we were in the womb. We are drawn to faces that we know well. We love…
- "Lois and Eunice" — Would you open your Bible please with me for our study today? The Book of Second Timothy, Second Timothy, the very first chapter for our study this morning, Second Timothy, Chapter 1. Sluggins,…
- "Salome" — The other morning when I woke up, I looked at my pedometer watch and it had a nice little message of motivation for me. It said, grab the glory, grab the glory. I'm going to go ahead and grab that…
- "Bartimaeus" — Let's open our Bibles, please, this morning for our study to the 10th chapter of the gospel of Mark, Mark the 10th chapter for our study this morning. As one moves through the various gospels of…
- Rufus — Would you open your Bible with me this morning to the book of Romans? Please, the 16th chapter for our study this morning, Romans the 16th chapter. When you're watching a movie, there are some…
- "Rock and Sand" — Let's open our Bibles, please. This morning to the 24th chapter of the gospel of Luke for our study on this Easter day. When one comes to Easter day, it is such a joyous day for so many reasons. And…
- "Conditional vs. Unconditional Love" — Would you open your Bible's place with me this morning to the 11th chapter of the gospel of Mark for our study this morning? Throughout the season of Lent, we have been focusing on the theme of the…
- Mistaken Identity: 3-29-20 — I'd like to invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Acts the 21st chapter. The Book of Acts the 21st chapter. Have you ever looked for stories on mistaken identity? There are some really…
- A Cleansing Love — Our text for this evening is one of my, and I go back and forth, because I have a lot of favorites. But, but this I think I can really boil it down to this is my favorite, just don't quote me on…
- "Instructions" — Instructions these days seem to be coming more and more with pictures. And sometimes the pictures don't exactly fit what it is you're putting together. Sometimes you long for words don't you? To go…
- "Awestruck" — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 19th chapter of the Book of Acts? The seven sons of Skiva. Those band of boys were bad news. They were exorcists that went around, traveling…
- "11 to 4, and Evenings" — Schedules, we all have them, rhythms to life. Sometimes those schedules are kept in our phones or in our daytimeers or maybe sometimes even just in our minds. But we all have the rhythms that we…
- Gathered In — Let us pray together. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for your infelible word. We give you thanks, O Lord, that as we open up the pages of Scripture, the voice that we hear is your…
- Going to Any Lengths — I'd like to invite you to open up your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew the second chapter. All right. What would you do for a... Condeck Bar? Yes. Okay. We all know that. What would you do for a…
- "Focus" October 27, 2019 — As you turn the pages of Scripture, and you meet various folks, it becomes evident, right? A little bit about their personalities. You've got extraverts, Scripture, you've got introverts, you've got…
- "Driven to the Knees" — It is my favorite math problem. Take whatever number you want, whatever number you want. Double it, then add 10 to it. Divide it in half, and then take the original number, and subtract it, and you…
- Rejoice Reaction — reactions. Reactions. We all have them. Don't we? That's sometimes the best thing is just not to react, right? But if you want to press the point, even not reacting is a reaction, right? Reaction…
- "Who Was Right?" — Don Driesdale, he was a fantastic pitcher with the LA Dodgers a few decades ago. He ran a consecutive scoreless innings of 58 consecutive scoreless innings he pitched. Now when you ponder that, a…
- "Two Fold Witness" 8-11-19 — As one studies the miracles of our Lord, we see various reactions that occur. I think for example of the miracle in which Jesus comes the wind. He's walked on the sea. He's then with the disciples…
- "Entrance Hymn" Palm Sunday Sermon — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 19th chapter of the Book of Luke? We're going to pause our study and Acts as we enter into this holy week. As we follow the texts, this great…
- " Presented Alive" March 3, 2019 — So in today's text, we have two stories of miracles that are performed by Peter. The last that we had heard about Peter or seen Peter was when he was evangelizing in Samaria. In chapter eight before…
- After Some Time February 24, 2019 — You're open your Bible's please with me to the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts as we continue our study in this wonderful book. The Book of Acts is filled with action. Is it not? Why there are…
- Now Is The Time February 3, 2019 — So we're going to have a really quick confession moment. This is not rhetorical. You don't have to shout it out. But raise your hand. Who here is a procrastinator? Yep. It is always good to know…
- Intensely Personal February 10, 2019 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts? His name was John Newton. And John Newton penned the hymn that we just sang, amazing grace. Before John Newton…
- "Purchased" Christmas Eve 2018 Sermon — Several years ago, I served the congregation, and we had our Christmas Eve services at 4 o'clock and 11 o'clock. So there were quite a few hours in between the worship services, and it really helped…
- "Prepared" 12-23-18 — I can't believe it. Two days. Two days. Christmas is in two days. And one of the best things about Christmas. Let's be honest here are the gifts. We all like getting gifts. Even if you're not a…
- "Light" October 28, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me, to the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. We are in a four-week study that I have entitled the Mission. Leveraging off of our study in the Book of…
- "Not Just A History Lesson" Acts 7:9-16 — We are working through Act still and we're in Chapter 7, looking at Stephen's sermon picking up in verse 9, but we will get there. First I want to tell you a little story. When I was in ninth grade,…
- The Bridge — Would you open your Bible, please, to the sixth chapter of the Book of Acts for our study together? I did my internship when I was in seminary in a place called Navato, California. It was 30 miles…
- Sermon September 9, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fifth chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study this morning from this great book. You recall as we were in the fifth chapter last week,…
- Sermon September 2, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fifth chapter of the book of Acts? As an old children song, the lyric is simply this. I am the church. You are the church. We are the church…
- "When Does God Judge Us?" Mt:25:31-46 — To open your Bible, please, with me to the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study this morning. Throughout this summer, we have been dealing in the sermon series, questions and answers.…
- Are We a Success Yet Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75 — You're open your Bible, please, with me to the 26th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. Success. Success. There really is a great emphasis upon being a success in life, isn't there? Why we tend to…
- Predestined in the Promise Eph. 1:3-4 — Do we all know who Mr. Rogers is? Mr. Rogers' neighborhood, snapping new day, right? We know who Mr. Rogers is. I watched his documentary, or the documentary made about Mr. Rogers a couple of weeks…
- Why Do We Worry Mt 6:25-34 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study today? The couple is up late at night and they're thinking about the reorganization of the…
- Sermon June 17, 2018 "Maturity" — The Department Store was relatively quiet, save a few customers, a mother, and a couple of for kids. The kids were being, well, as kids can be, in a Department Store when they're trying to pass…
- Sermon June 10, 2018 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the third chapter of the book of Romans? Are people basically good? Are people basically good? It's an interesting question, isn't it? For we hear the…
- Sermon June 3, 2018 "Love Your Neighbor as Yourself" — Do you open your Bible, please, with me to the 22nd chapter of the book of Matthew. Questions? We all have them, don't we? And there is no better place to look for the answer than the infelible word…
- Sermon 4-22-18 — You open your Bible, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study in this great gift that God has given us this great book of Acts. In the first chapter of the…
- While We Wait — Let's open our Bible's please to the very first chapter of the Book of Acts. We began our journey in this incredible book last Sunday and I just want to recap what we went over. Because the first…
- For The Price — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the very first chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study, has last we left the early disciples. They were obeying and praying, weren't…
- The Single Reason — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the second chapter of the Book of Acts? Will we gather on Christmas Eve, a glorious Christmas Eve service? We studied from the second chapter of the…
- Devoted — Okay, we're going to start with some church statistics. Yes, statistics. But this is important. This is important to know and to think about this is from the 2016 Barner Report on the state of the…
- Validation — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the third chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study in this great book, healings. Healing's. We see in Holy Scripture great, great healings.…