Calvary Church | Sunday Service | Habakkuk: The Turning Point

Main Idea:  In this teaching we’ll discover God’s principles for Biblical alignment in marriage.

God’s ways are higher than ours, the book of Habakkuk helps answer the question of God’s sovereignty, that His plans are not to harm us and we can trust Him.

Homework Assignment: Does Habakkuk’s revelation and trust in God cause us to reevaluate our own views?

Message Notes: http://bible.com/events/48756464

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Prayer: https://bit.ly/37op26d

Paul closes out his second letter to the Corinthians with a plea from his heart for their spiritual growth.  Why do we today so seldom see that at a practical level in our churches?  Read 2 Corinthians 13:7-14

2 Corinthians 13:7-14 (NLT) 7We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. 8For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 9We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature. 10I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down. 11Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet each other with Christian love. 13All of God’s people here send you their greetings. 14May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Three Points Paul Makes in Our Text

1.      Paul’s goal for them was their spiritual maturity

2.      Their spiritual growth was more important to Paul than his reputation

3.      Everything Paul did was for building them up

Why don’t we push each other toward Spiritual Growth in the American church?

1.         Individualistic society

2.         Void of belief as the norm

3.         Spiritual Maturity is not what we think the church is about

4.         Spiritual Maturing has not been modeled well

What might Spiritual Modeling look like if we were to do this for others?

1.     Spiritual mentoring

2.     Weekly meetings

3.     Higher expectations

4.     Revised pastor job description

Calvary Church | Sunday Service | The Kingdom Wife

Main Idea:  In this teaching we’ll discover God’s principles for Biblical alignment in marriage.

Homework Assignment:  Regarding Biblical alignment in marriage, what do you as a husband or a wife need to focus on to more fully experience God’s purpose in your marriage.  If you’re single, what spoke to you about alignment?

Message Notes: http://bible.com/events/48752749

GIVE: https://bit.ly/3dGnBRU

Prayer: https://bit.ly/37op26d

Calvary Church | Sunday Service | The Kingdom Husband

In this teaching we’ll learn that the marriage covenant works when it functions in God’s ordained order as husbands come under Kingdom authority and love their wives.

Message Notes: http://bible.com/events/48746790

GIVE: https://bit.ly/3dGnBRU

Prayer: https://bit.ly/37op26d

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NLT) 5Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 6As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority. 

There are some questionable boundary markers for the Christian faith.  What are some of the false boundary markers that we put up?

1)    Praying certain MEMORIZED prayers

2)    Having an EMOTIONAL experience in church

3)    Feeling CONVICTED of sin

4)    Getting BAPTIZED

5)    ATTENDING a church service

6)    Trying to lead a MORAL life

7)    Knowing FACTS about Jesus

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) 5aExamine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine…

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NLT) 28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NLT) 31But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

Hebrews 2:1-3 (NLT) 1So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?

 Why should we examine our faith?

To ensure we have a Biblical faith and not find ourselves just believing what we’re TOLD or what others around us BELIEVE without careful consideration. 

There’s no good reason why people should ever be in DOUBT as to whether they themselves are His STUDENTS or not.

Questions to consider as we examine our faith

1.        What have we done because Jesus COMMANDED it that we wouldn’t have otherwise?

John 8:31-32 (NLT) 31Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

2.        Who are the people our Christian life has IMPACTED?

John 13:34-35 (NLT) 34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

2 Corinthians 13:6 (NLT) 6As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.

3.        Are we EAGER to serve?

John 15:8 (NLT) 8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Main Idea:  In this teaching we want to share the importance of understanding the covenant of marriage and the importance of family.

Homework Assignment:  If you’re single or married, what are repairs that need to be made to the foundation of your life and/or marriage?

Message Notes
GIVE
Prayer

Main Idea:  In this teaching we’ll learn God’s Kingdom view of singleness.

Homework Assignment:  If you’re single or married, how would you explain your Biblical value in God’s Kingdom?  Is there work to be done in this area?  (Maybe you could write down two or three) 

Message Notes: http://bible.com/events/48741832
GIVE: https://bit.ly/3dGnBRU
Prayer: https://bit.ly/37op26d

In this teaching we’ll see how the Corinthians continued to sin despite Paul's repeated warnings and how they had taken his patience for weakness?  Read 2 Corinthians 13:1-4

Message Notes

2 Corinthians 13:1-4 (NLT) 1This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”). 2I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them. 3I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. 4Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.

Misunderstanding Weakness and Power in Jesus’ Kingdom

1.        Jesus’ crucifixion was not a sign of weakness, but of LOVE

2 Corinthians 13:3b-4a (NLT) 3bChrist is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. 4Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God.

Ephesians 2:14-18 (NLT) 14For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

2.        Our weakness in Jesus leads to our DEPENDENCE on Him

2 Corinthians 13:4b (NLT) 4bWe, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.

John 14:10 (NLT) 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.

3.        Paul is not focused on his POSITION, but seeing Christ’s power change them

2 Corinthians 13:4 (Amp) 4For even though He was crucified in weakness [yielding Himself], yet He lives [resurrected] by the power of God [His Father]. For we too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak], yet we are alive and well [in fellowship] with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

Calvary Church | Sunday Service | Mindset

Message Notes: http://bible.com/events/48739105

GIVE: https://bit.ly/3dGnBRU

Prayer: https://bit.ly/37op26d

2 Corinthians 12:9b (NLT) 9b…So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Pastoral Sacrifice in Pursuit of Souls

2 Corinthians 12:12-14a (NLT) 12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 13The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong! 14Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you.

2 Corinthians 12:14 (NLT) 14Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT) 8But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

Caught in a Contradiction?

2 Corinthians 12:16-19 (NLT) 16Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. 17But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? 18When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way. 19Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

2 Corinthians 12:19 (NLT) 19Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

Concern about Unmet Expectations

2 Corinthians 12:20-21 (NLT) 20For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.