ARCC Sermons

As a new year rolls in, we seem to be confronted by two equal states of awareness. The first being the grace that comes with a new day and new mercies that invoke new inspiration, new passion, and new vitality to life. On the other hand, we can't help but feel the weight of the time we will never have back and the time that is quickly coming to an end. James gives us great insight as to how we are to approach this dichotomous situation. In the end, our greatest joy and fulfillment in these days will come from living out God's will for His pleasure resulting in His glory.

Additional Scripture References:

Lamentations 3:22-23, Job 7:6-7, Job 9:25, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Ecclesiastes 10:19, Ecclesiastes 7:12, Isaiah 46:9-10, Isaiah 14:27, Job 42:1-2

After Jesus was born and was being cared for in a house in Bethlehem, several "wise men" came to worship him bringing gifts with them. These astrologers from the east, most likely Mesopotamia, recognized God's sign that Christ had been born and responded. What do we learn about them in Scripture and what do they teach us doctrinally? Here we begin to see the significances and relationship between God coming to us and us going to Him.

The first half of Paul's final chapter to the Philippians leads the believer down the rod to an honest look at his or her prayer life and time spent in the Word. This week Paul asks us to take an honest look at our giving. Like the first part of the chapter we have two great motivations to make givig a part of our lives as followers of Christ. The first is the disobedience that we walk in when we neglect this discipline and the second being the promise that comes with our obedience. What is this missionary trying to tell us as a local body of Christ both collectively and individually?

Additional Scripture References:

2 Cor. 9:8, Heb 13:16, 1 Pet 2:5, 1 Cor 6:19-20

According to scripture, God's promises were meant to be a firm foundation on which we are to stand. Paul implies, however, that in order to stand firm on the promises of God our Savior we must toil and srive and passionately take hold of them. It is the very struggle that God allows us to go through that makes the promise so comforting and worthy. Holding firm to God's promises is holding firm to his faithfulness and not to our own strength. Let us struggle and strive together, as "the Church", for the gospel, enjoying and resting in the promises that God has made.

Additional Scripture References:

Hebrews 10:24-25, Psalm 57:2, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 145:18-19, Proverbs 15:29, Deuteronomy 4:7, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:22-23, Matthew 22:37, 2 Corinthians 10:5

Contemporary Authors:

John Piper, J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan, Tim Keller, David Platt, Beth Moore

Something or someone will have our affections. If we aren't straining towards Godliness with the mind of Christ then something else will steal our affections away. Paul warns the believers of the consequences of being an "enemy of the cross of Christ". It would be of utmost importance for us to figure out what it looks like to be an enemy of the cross considering Paul said that those people would end up in hell. Who is your savior?... You and all your stuff or the creator of it all?

Additional Scripture References:

Philippians 2:4, Galatians 5:11, Galatians 6:12-14, Romans 14:17, Romans 16:18, Romans 8:16-19, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 2 Cor. 4:17-18, Rev. 21:1-5, John 14:2-3, Ephesians 3:20-21

Something or someone WILL have our affections. If we aren't straining towards Godliness with the mind of Christ then something else will steal our affections away. Paul warns the believers of the consequences of being an "enemy of the cross of Christ." It would be of utmost importance for us to figure out what it looks like to be an enemy of the cross considering Paul said that those people would end up in hell. Who is your savior? ... You and all your stuff or the Creator of it all?

Additional Scripture References:

Philippians 2:4, Galatians 5:11, Galatians 6:12-14, Romans 14:17, Romans 16:18, Romans 8:16-19, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Revelation 21:1-5, John 14:2-3, Ephesians 3:20-21

Paul continues to paint a picture for the believers at Philippi of a journey that we are on towards Christ-likeness. It is clear that Christ's purpose was not only to save us from hell, but also bring us back to reflecting the glory of God the way we were originally intended. Paul uses terms like "press on" and "strain forward" to describe the appropriate response for someone who has been claimed by Christ and now walks as a new creation with a regenerated heart.

Additional Scripture References:

2 Corinthians 7:10, Romans 7:14-25, Hebrews 12:6, Romans 16:18, Romans 6:21

The predicament of the prophet Jonah continues to get worse as he finds himself in the belly of a fish in the Mediterranean. What we begin to hear is the prayer of a prophet who did not obey God. Then we see how even still the gospel is illustrated and carried out in a powerful way.

Additional Scripture References:

Matthew 12:38-40, 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 16:10

Paul has spoken many times thus far about joy and how it is to be a part of the believer's life. This time Paul commands us to rejoice "in the Lord." This little phrase, "in the Lord" changes everything for the believer. Paul speaks about the kind of joy, freedom, and power that we can walk in when we "glory in Christ and put no confidence in our own flesh."

Additional Scripture References:

Romans 12:15, Deuteronomy 30:6, Ezekial 36:26, Psalm 51:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 2:25-29, Romans 12:1-2, Luke 18:11-14, Jeremiah 9:23-24, 1 Timothy 6:17, 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

We really begin to see the inner workings of a relationship between a missionary and his church. What we need to begin to realize is that there is unity in the sending out and the bringing back in. The church at Philippi has been so inspired by the gospel in their own lives that they have a great interest in what impact the gospel is having on the lives of others around the world. This church is a great example of a culture within a church that is truly seeking first the kingdom.

Additional Scripture References:

Matthew 6:33, Matthew 10:37-38, Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29-30, Luke 14:26, Luke 9:57-62, John 4:34-35, Numbers 11:12-15, 1 Kings 19:4, 2 Corinthians 1:8, Ecclesiastes 7:1-2