[Sermon Summary] April 23, 2023 The Invincible Love of Christ

 Elder Greg Cox's sermon summary: 

We were back in our study of Romans chapter 8 this week. The message was titled, “The Invincible Love of God pt 3,” from Romans 8:34-37. We were covering the five things we are to say in response to this invincible love of God from Romans 8:29-30 in the immediate context, but all of Romans 8 in the larger context.

We heard in the introduction how Romans 8 is all about the Christian’s full and forever deliverance from condemnation through faith in Jesus Christ.

·         Look through chapter 8 as a group and discuss the truth of this statement found in the verses leading up to the text for this week.

o   How does this truth ground you in hope and perseverance in your walk with Christ in this life and in the hope, you have for eternal life?

We were reminded of the four points leading up to the fifth point this week. The first point was from verse 31, He is for me, and He is invincible. Discuss the peace and security that comes as you meditate on this truth and remember God is for you (see Psalm 118:6-7).

The second point was that God gave you Jesus and He will give you everything else (v.32). God saved you through the death of His Son, He won’t hold back what you need after giving you His most valuable Son.

·         Discuss this point, if God gave up His Son so you could become a part of His family with Christ, how do you think God will be with you and provide what you need from now to eternity? How does this truth help you in hard times, stressful times, loss, etc.?

The third point was God has chosen me and He will protect me from everyone (v.33). This point was that no one can bring a charge against God’s chosen ones because God has justified them through His Son and no charges could stick.

·         How does this truth bring a deep-rooted hope and joy in realizing that no charge can ever be brought against you before God? How was all of this brought about (see Romans 8:1-4)?

The fourth point was Jesus died for me and He is interceding for me (v.34). You have the Father, the Spirt, and the Son all working for you to sustain your faith and relationship with God.

·         How does Romans 8 demonstrate this truth? Look at the verses that point to the work of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son to hold you fast in your faith. How do these truths ground you further in hope and joy in salvation and your future?

This led to the fifth point on nothing being able to separate you from the love of Christ (vv.35-37).

·         We heard how this is not the love you have for Christ, but the love He has for you. Nothing can separate you from His love for you. He gave Himself up for you with His life so you could be with Him.

o   Discuss the importance of this being His love for you and not your love for Him. What are the implications of nothing be able to separate Christ’s love for you?

·         We saw in the text that there is a list of things/conditions that also have no ability to ever separate you from Christ. Look at this list and discuss what God’s word is telling you about you if these are true of you in the past, present, or future? What are you tempted to think when you encounter these things, and what is God’s word telling you about these things as they relate to the love Christ has for you?

o   Tribulation – strong pressure

o   Distress – means narrow space, like the walls of your life are closing in on you.

o   Persecution – Attack

o   Famine – extreme hunger and no access to food.

o   Nakedness – No access to clothing

o   Danger – Being under threat of harm

o   Sword – Being under threat of harm to the point of death.

·         We heard how Christ’s love is sure, but so is trouble for the Christian. See Luke 21:16-17 and discuss what this passage says about troubles as a Christian. But does this have any way of separating you from the love of Christ?

·         Look at Paul’s example in 1 Corinthians 4:11-13. What kept Paul going and persevering in spite of these troubles (see Romans 8:37)?

·         The text says you are more than conquerors (more than victorious, you are super victorious) because not only do these things have no ability to separate you from Christ, but God is using them for your good (Gen. 50:20; Romans 8:28) to grow you even more like His Son.

o   How does this truth help you with the everyday struggles you encounter in life to see it through the love of Christ?

o   How do you grow in your trust of these truths in applying them to your walk in this world? How does the Spirit help you through truth to walk by faith and not by sight? How do you deepen your relationship with God through the Spirit to more easily walk by Him and not according to your flesh (see Galatians 5:16-26

[Sermon Summary] April 9, 2023 . Do You Believe

 Elder Greg Cox's sermon summary:  

The message on this resurrection Sunday was titled, “Do You Believe.” We heard the truths from Scripture regarding Jesus’ resurrection and how we have eternal life through Jesus’ death and His resurrection. We heard how He defeated death by His perfect sinless life and that you obtain eternal life through your belief and trust in Jesus’ life and death for your sin. He has risen and He will bring those who trust in Him for their standing before God.

This week covered various Scriptures in presenting the truths of Jesus’ resurrection and the truths on why you need to believe Jesus to see eternal life with God.

The message opened with John 11:25-26:  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

·         Discuss this truth Jesus told Martha regarding Himself. What does Jesus say He is? What does He say regarding those who believe in Him? If He were to ask you the same question He asked Martha, what is your answer?

o   How do you know you believe? What does believing this truth about Jesus look like (see John 8:31-36; 1 John 3:1-10; 5:1-5)?

Look at Colossians 2:11-14. What does this passage state about your life if you believe Jesus? What has God accomplished for you by His power and your trust in Him? Looking at this passage how certain is your own resurrection if you are in Christ?

The message covered points as to why you should believe the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. The message pointed to 1 Corinthians 15 and the many eyewitnesses who saw the resurrected Jesus and also to the changed lives of the Apostles. The Apostles went from their being in hiding at the thought of their own impending deaths because of their association with Jesus to courageously proclaiming the gospel message despite the persecution. What had made the difference in their change, seeing the resurrected Jesus, and receiving His promised Holy Spirit.

·         Read 1 Corinthians 15. Discuss what Paul says to the believers in Corinth regarding the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection, the importance of Jesus’ resurrection, and the resurrection of those who believe.

·         Discuss the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection in the life of Saul becoming Paul when He saw the resurrected Christ (see Acts 9).

·         Read Mark 14:26-31; John 20:19-23. Then read Acts 1:8; 2:1-41; 3:11-16; 4:1-31; 5:17-42. We see their fear turned to boldness. Discuss how seeing and knowing that Jesus was truly alive changed these men from fearful to bold and courageous. Where was the power for boldness coming from? How is the truth of Jesus’ resurrection evident today in the lives and spread of the followers of Jesus?

o   How has your life changed through belief in Jesus and Him being alive today and His promise of giving you eternal life?

o   Considering the Apostles and their boldness to speak of what they saw and knew about Jesus being alive, how is your own witness of Jesus with those who are in your life?

§  In what ways are you growing in boldness in your witness of Jesus’ gospel and eternal life through Him?

§  What things/reasons hold you back?

§  Discuss how you can help one another to lovingly share the truth of the amazing news of eternal life and peace with God through our living Savior.

 

[Sermon Summary] April 2, 2023 The Sovereignly-Ordained Phony Coronation of Jesus. Mark 11:1-11.

 Elder Eric Moore's sermon summary:  

Today’s message was entitled “The Sovereignly-Ordained Phony Coronation of Jesus”.   While we did jump around some, our main text of study was Mark 11:1-11.

In today’s sermon, we studied how Jesus deliberately orchestrated the events leading up to His arrest and crucifixion with a specific emphasis on the Triumphal Entry, or, as Kirk put it, “the Painful Entry.”

We began with a review of the events leading up to the last week of Jesus’ life on earth, the Passion Week.  This is an eight-day week beginning on Sunday with the Triumphal Entry and ending the following Sunday with Jesus’ Resurrection.  However, before getting to the review, it is important to set the stage and this is done by studying the account of Jesus raising his dear friend, Lazarus from the dead.

·         Read John 11 together (perhaps each person in your group can read a few verses) and discuss:

o   Verses 1-3:

§  Who is Lazarus to Jesus? 

§  Who are his sisters and do they come up in the record elsewhere?

·         See John 12:1-8 and notice that when John writes about Jesus’ anointing in John 11, old John is looking back as he writes and referencing an event that had not yet happened chronologically!

·         The parallel accounts to John 12:1-8 in the other Gospels serve as narrative flashbacks that explain the “final straw” as to why Judas betrayed Jesus.

§  Why do you think the sisters appealed to Jesus?

o   Verses 4-16

§  What is Jesus’ strange reaction to hearing that this man that he loved so dearly was sick?

§  Why does Jesus wait two days?

§  Notice the disciples’ reaction in verse 8 to Jesus’ desire to go back to Judea, their incorrect understanding of what Jesus meant in verse 13, and their final resolve in verse 16.

§  Why is Jesus glad that He was not there when Lazarus died (verse 15)?

o   Verses 17-44 – the remarkable account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead!

o   Verses 45-53

§  Note the two different reactions from the Jewish religious leaders who WITNESSED this miracle with their own eyes in verses 45 and 46!

§  Discuss the decision made by the main body of Jewish leadership when they heard about this.  Note especially verse 53.

o   Verse 54

§  Where did Jesus go to hide out?  Can you find this on a map – perhaps in the back of a study Bible?

o   Verses 55-57

§  What is the main topic of conversation amongst the people in Jerusalem?

§  Why would the people be wondering this according to verse 57?

The narrative after John 11 picks up in Luke 17:11 where the text says that Jesus, “on the way to Jerusalem (from Ephraim) passed ‘through the midst of’ (literal Greek) Samaria and Galilee”. 

·         Why do modern translations have difficulty translating Jesus leaving Ephraim by going through Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem?

o   Hint: Find Ephraim, Samaria, Galilee, and Jerusalem on a map!

o   Discuss Jesus’ circuitous route to Jerusalem and why He would go this way.

o   How does travelling with a large group of Passover Pilgrims from Galilee protect Him from the designs of the Jewish leadership to execute Him?

o   When Jesus stops in Bethany on Friday afternoon, six days before the Passover (John 12:1), this crowd He was travelling with went on to Jerusalem because they would not be allowed to enter the city after sunset due to Sabbath rules.  What effect does this have on the people in Jerusalem given the buzz around the city described in John 11:56?

All this background and context sets up our Mark 11:1-11 text.  As you consider this text, keep in mind that it fulfilled at least three direct lines of OT prophecy.

·         The day was promised by God

o   Consider the “70 weeks” prophecy in Daniel 9:24-26

§  These prophetic weeks are made of 7 years of 360 days each

§  The countdown of the first 69 weeks began on March 4, 444 BC (converted to our calendar) with the decree made by the pagan King Artaxerxes in Nehemiah 2:1-8 and culminates 173,880 days later on March 29, 33 AD which happens to be a Sunday and the Sunday before Passover of that year!

o   Compare Jesus’ lament over the city in Luke 19:41-44.  The KJV/NKJV in verse 42 is more emphatic than others and points to that day being a specific day, “…would that you had known on this, thy day the things that make for peace…”

·         The donkey was promised by God

o   Consider the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9

o   Discuss the circumstances by which the donkey was made available – Mark 11:1-6.

·         The declaration was promised by God

o   Consider Psalm 118 and notice verses 24-26.  Note that the book of Psalms is Israel’s hymnal and Psalm 118 is the song you sing when Messiah appears!

§  Note that verse 24 is referring to a specific day, not just any day

§  Note the words of verse 25 – “Save now” (“save us” in the ESV) is the Hebrew word, “Hosanna”.

§  Note the first half of verse 26.

§  Compare these words to Mark 11:9 and parallel accounts in the other Gospels.

·         Discuss the implications of what this means regarding how the masses of people viewed Jesus at that moment.

·         How would this appear to the disciples?

Near the end of his sermon, Kirk asked, “given Sunday, why Friday?”  In other words, how could this crowd who fully welcomed Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah on Sunday turn on Him on Friday, demand His crucifixion, and assert that they “have no king but Caesar”? 

As Kirk mentioned, the answer to “given Sunday, why Friday?” is “Monday and Tuesday”.  On Monday and Tuesday, Jesus deliberately forced the people to choose between Him and the works-righteousness preached by the Pharisees.  The people considered this over two days and responded by rejecting Jesus in the most emphatic way they possibly could. 

Obviously, the events of the Passion Week as a whole, especially Good Friday and Resurrection Day (Easter), are all absolutely critical to the Gospel.  It is appropriate for us all to evaluate how we are doing at sharing the Gospel with the unsaved people that God has sovereignly placed in our lives.

·         What motivates you to find a way or multiple ways to share the Gospel with people in your life?

·         When you do share the Gospel with people, how do you do it?  What is your method of presentation?

·         Do you think it would be beneficial to you to practice sharing the Gospel with other believers so you are ready for the “real thing” when the Lord brings opportunity into your life?

·         What are some ideas that you can employ that would help you to steer “normal” conversations towards the Gospel?

[Sermon Summary] March 26, 2023 The Incredible Love of God (Part 2) Romans 8: 31-39

Elder Greg Cox's sermon summary:  

We had part two of a message series titled, “The Invincible Love of God,” from Romans 8:31-39. We covered how Paul asks a series of questions in addressing how one should respond to all the truth of Romans leading up to these verses. We heard three of the five responses last week which were God is for me and He is invincible, God gave me Jesus and He will give me everything, and God chose me and He will protect me. The fourth response to the truth from Romans is found in verse 34, and it is that Jesus died for me and He is interceding for me.

Read the text Romans 8:31-39.

We see Paul asking the question about who can condemn you if you are in Christ, and the response we are to have is that Christ is the one who died and was raised and who is indeed interceding for us. We heard there are two aspects to this truth. One is what Jesus did when He died and was raised. The second is what He is actively doing now which is interceding for us.

·         Look at Romans 3:21-26; 4:25; Galatians 3:13; Romans 5:6-10. What do these passages tell you about what Christ did through His death? What does it mean that He was raised?

·         Discuss how Jesus’ death accomplished salvation for you. How can you confidently say there is none to condemn you because of Christ?

·         Look at John 17:4-5; John 19:28-30. What does it mean that it is finished? If Jesus fully took the punishment and wrath of God for your sin, and the proof of this is God raising Him from the dead, how secure is your salvation in Him?

o   How should this affect your worship and your life lived to the Lord?

·         Discuss the temptation we all encounter to entertain thoughts of condemnation before the Lord. Look at 1 John 3:20. What does this mean that God is greater than your own heart? How much care and thought has God given to you in and through Christ His Son?

o   How should you respond to this truth of God’s love and care for you?

o   How should you treat each other in the church and in your family relationships?

o   How much should you be for each other’s good and want to help each other glorify God more fully?

§  What does this look like lived out in the various relationships you have? What Scripture informs you how to live out loving each other the way God sees you and cares for you in Christ?

·         The second part to our response of no condemnation in Christ is that He is actively interceding for you.

o   Look at Luke 22:31-34. What does this passage tell you about Jesus’ intercession? How important is it that Jesus also is interceding for you?

o   Look at the following verses and discuss what they say about Jesus and His work on your behalf.

§  Hebrews 7:23-25; 8:1-2; 9:11-15; 24-28; 10:19-23; 32-39.

·         How do these truths give you encouragement in the Lord? How should you live in response to these truths? What does it look like to grasp the love God has given you and promised you in your life lived to Him and others?

·         We heard how we have to repeat these truths to ourselves so that we remember how much God truly cares for us.

o   Read Ephesians 3:14-19. How much does God love you and how much does He want you to know it? How should this lead to change in your life?

[Sermon Summary] March 19, 2023 The Invincible Love of God (Part 1) Romans 8:31-39

Elder Greg Cox's sermon summary: 

The message this week was “The Invincible Love of God,” from Romans 8:31-39. We heard how Paul asks a question to his audience based on all of Romans up to this point, “What then shall we say to these things?”. We heard the first three of five responses to the truths of the gospel and your changed life through God’s power, to the praise and glory of God, who are established forever as recipients of God’s grace.

The first response you should have to the truth of the power of God in the gospel for you is God is for you and He is invincible (v.31).

·        We heard how God is either fully for you or fully against you. See Romans 1:18-32; Psalm 7:11-13; Romans 5:6-10; John 3:16-21; John 3:36.

o   Discuss what these passages say about God being against you or for you. What makes the difference?

o   Based on the lessons over the last few weeks on God’s unbreakable chain of grace, how is the response of God being for you and Him being invincible help encourage you?

o   What does it mean that God is for you? What does this mean with regards to anything else that would try to be against you?

·        We heard how many Christians struggle to understand how much God is for them in the Gospel. Look at the following passages. What do they say about God’s love for you and His commitment to you in Christ?

o   John 6:37-40; 10:28-30; Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 145:18-20; Psalm 147:11

o   How do these truths help you in enduring trials and suffering?

The second response you should have to these truths of the power of God in the gospel for you is God gave you Jesus, and He will give you everything v.32. God gave us the greatest need, how will He not also provide everything else for us too.

·         Discuss how God giving you Jesus was your greatest need answered. How valuable is Jesus to God and to you who believe (see 1 John 4:10).

·         Look at Matthew 13:44-46. Do you see the value of Jesus as the greatest treasure worth having?

·         Look again at Romans 5:6-10. What did it cost God to reconcile you and bring peace between you and Him? What promises does God graciously give you (see Psalm 84:11; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Revelation 21:5-7)?

The third response you should have to these truths of the power of God in the gospel is God chose you and He will protect you from everyone v.33-34.

·         Discuss the kind of charges that can come against you from Satan, others, and yourself.

o   What does the Scripture say about any charge against you if you are in Christ?

·         How does God justify you and declare you innocent and no charge can be levied against you any longer (see Romans 3:21-26)?

·         How does God’s authority and justice met in the gospel bring true freedom from any accusation or charge against you?

o   How does this truth increase your gratitude and worship of Jesus and His work done on your behalf?

o   See Isaiah 50:8-9, what do these verses say about God and you if you are in Him?

·         Look at 1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:6-14; James 1:17-18. What do these verses tell you about God’s care for you and His forgiveness of you in and through Christ?