“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:9) Christians must guard themselves against shortsightedness. They are to live with heaven in their view, and give diligence to be more like Christ each day. Ppt: Outline: To download, right-click on …
Continue reading Sermon: Battling ShortsightednessGrowth
Paul was thankful for the news he received from Timothy about the faithfulness of the Thessalonians. They continued in their work for the Lord even though tested by firey trials. However, Paul’s love for them is shown in his earnest desire that they “abound more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1). In chapter 4, Paul covers some areas …
Continue reading Sermon: To the Church of the Thessalonians – Their Growth (Chapter 4)Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their lack of growth in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. He did not condemn them as carnal babes in Christ at the beginning of their faith, but they had not grown, and were still carnal. This carnality led to division and strife. They had become Christians, but reverted to behaving like mere …
Continue reading Sermon: Carnality – Behaving Like Mere MenIt is important that Christians understand the need to grow, and how that corresponds to their separation from sin. Growth is never an excuse for, or tolerance of sin. It is God’s provision for one to be transformed into the image of Christ, and separate further from sin. Ppt: Outline: To download, right-click on the …
Continue reading Sermon: Growth and SinActs 12 renews some familiar themes. There is a resurgence of persecution, this time by the hand of an evil civil ruler, Herod Agrippa I. However, there is also a resurgence of God’s power, and success of the work of the church. Ppt: Outline: To download, right-click on the title in the track list and …
Continue reading Sermon: Resurgence (Acts 12)Paul prayed for the spiritual growth of the Ephesians by asking that God would grant them a “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him…that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding …
Continue reading Sermon: A Prayer for Ascending Wisdom
The church presents a wonderful image of God’s grace. Its members represent the complexities of humanity while simultaneously highlighting its simplicity. Despite the former, the latter stems from the common fact that all have sinned and need God’s saving grace (cf. Romans 3:21-26). None have anything in which to boast save the cross of Christ …
Continue reading Aiding Spiritual GrowthBefore giving a detailed consideration of Christ’s High Priesthood, the Hebrew writer had to admonish his readers for their negligence in spiritual growth (cf. Hebrews 5:12-14; 6). Ironically, the subject he would find it difficult to explain to them because of their immaturity was the very thing that could help them through their tough situation. …
Continue reading Sermon: Growth, Grace, and HopePaul admonished the Corinthians for their inability to receive spiritual wisdom due to their carnality (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). At the beginning of their faith such was understood, but as time elapsed they should have grown. Their negligence led to the divisions among them. We must grow out of our carnality into a spiritual man. …
Continue reading Sermon: Carnality – Behaving Like Mere MenMembers of the Lord’s body are a peculiar people, and everything we do has great purpose. What is this all about? Do we understand the “why” of what we do, and don’t do? Or are we missing the point? Ppt: Outline: To download, right-click on the title in the track list and select “Save link …
Continue reading Sermon: What is this all about?