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Be Faithful to God’s Word, Your Wedding Covenant, and The Gospel (Luke 16:16-18)

Dr. Deric Thomas

[16] “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it ( or everyone is forcefully urged into it). [17] But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. [18] “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

Notes:

[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable… [2Tim 3:16 ESV]

[20] …no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. [21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. [2Pet 1:20-21 ESV]

[7] The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul… [Psa 19:7 ESV]

[3] …Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” [4] He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, [5] and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? [6] So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” [7] They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” [8] He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. [9] And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” [Matt 19:3-9 ESV]

[32] …everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. [Matt 5:32 ESV]

[13] If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. …[15] But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. [1Cor 7:13, 15 ESV]

[14] …the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. [15] Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. [16] “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.” [Mal 2:14-16]

[32] He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. [33] He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. [Pro 6:32-33 ESV]

Message Summary:

1. God’s moral law is a reflection of His character, and is therefore unchanging and good.

2. God’s spokesmen are called to speak His truth in love. They should be full of both grace and truth.

3. John the Baptist was the prophet used by God to shift His emphasis to an even greater degree onto the good news of Jesus Christ and God’s eternal kingdom.

4. You should passionately and earnestly give your entire life and heart to Christ an...

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Faith and Finances Luke 16:10-15

Dr. Deric Thomas

[10] “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. [11] If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? [12] And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? [13] No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” [14] The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. [15] And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Notes:

Summary:

1. God desires for us to be faithful with all He has given us, particularly money.

2. God desires for us to walk in honesty from the depths of our hearts.

3. God blesses those who are faithful with money with true and better riches.

4. If we can’t faithfully manage another person’s things, we will not be able to manage our own things. 5. We must decide between serving God and serving money, there is no in-between.

6. We will either live for what is exalted among people or we will live for what matters most to God.

[14] “…it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. [15] To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. [16] He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more… [21] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’… [24] He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, [25] so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ [26] But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant!… [29] …everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away… [Matt 25:14-30 ESV]

[2] …God, who never lies,… [Tit 1:2 ESV] [18] …it is impossible for God to lie,… [Heb 6:18 ESV]

[44] …the devil, …He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [Jhn 8:44 ESV]

[25] …they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator… [Rom 1:25 ESV]

[3] They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the LORD. [4] Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. [5] Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity. [6] Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.

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God’s Faithful Manager Luke 16:1-9

[1] He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. [2] And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ [3] And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. [4] I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ [5] So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ [6] He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ [7] Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ [8] The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. [9] And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

Notes:

Life, relationships, time, money, gifts, possessions, etc. are all gifts from God. We are called to manage/steward them all faithfully out of love for Him and love for people.

God wants His people to be shrewd (wise, clever, astute, sharp in practical matters, keen, sagacious).

God wants His people to shrewdly use their temporal and earthly money to make forever friends that will greet them in eternity.

[4] He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, [5] for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? [1Tim 3:4-5 ESV]

[14] So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households… [1Tim 5:14 ESV]

[16] “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise (shrewd) as serpents and innocent as doves. [Matt 10:16 ESV]

[19] “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [Matt 6:19-21 ESV]

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Receiving and Entrusting 

Bradley Pinkerton

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. 6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.  (Psalm 148:1-13)

1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (2 Tim. 2:1-7)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20)

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. (Acts 20:26-31)

18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience–by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God–so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; (Romans 15:18-19)

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The Story of 3 Sons (Part 3): And the 3rd Son is…

Dr. Deric Thomas

[11] And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. [12] And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. [13] Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. [14] And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. [16] And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. [17] “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘ [20] And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. [21] And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. [23] And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. [25] “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. [27] And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ [28] But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, [29] but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. [30] But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ [31] And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. [32] It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'” [Luke 15:11-32 ESV]

 

[32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all… [Rom 8:32 ESV]

[4] Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. … [10] Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief;… [Isa 53:4, 10 ESV]

[23] For rebellion is as the sin of divination (witchcraft)… [1Sam 15:23 ESV]

[14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. [15] This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. [James 3:14-16 ESV]

[4] Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

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The Story of 3 Sons: The Danger of Angry Religion (Luke 15:25-32)

[25] “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. [27] And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ [28] But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, [29] but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. [30] But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ [31] And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. [32] It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'”

[3] …God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [1Tim 2:3-4]

Message Summary

* God the Father is after our hearts.

* We can be in the Father’s “house” but not share the Father’s heart.

* Neither irreligion nor religion can bring us true life.

* Neither rebellion nor mere external righteousness can free us from ourselves.

* Duty for God without delight in God is dangerous.

* Is your service driven by your love for God or your desire to get things from God? Is it driven by your love for Jesusor your desire to be honored, recognized, and praised by people?

* Beware of the fact that pride and self-righteousness can blind you from the true condition of your soul.

*  It’s easier to see other peoples’ external sins than it is to see our own internal sins of the heart.

*  When you sense sinful jealousy, envy, ingratitude, sinful anger, and bitterness in your heart, don’t let it go unconfessed and unrepented of.

*  Sinful anger and grateful joy toward God can’t coexist.

* If you don’t love your repentant brothers and sisters in Christ something is wrong with your soul.

* Whether it’s prostitutes or pride, gluttony or greed, narcotics or narcissism, binge drinking or bitterness, unfaithfulness or unforgiveness; All of these sins can only be paid for and forgiven through Christ’s death and resurrection.

* God the Father pursues even the prideful, self-righteous, and angry people of this world so that they might experience His eternal goodness, love, and blessing.

* Will you come home to the Father and share in His heart?

 

 

 

 

 

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The Beauty of Marriage

Dr. Jeff Fairchild

[25] And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. [26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. [Gen 1:25-27 ESV] 

[5] When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up–for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, [6] and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground– [7] then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. [8] And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed… 

…[18] Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” [19] Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. [20] The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. [21] So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. [22] And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. [23] Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” [24] Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [Gen 2:5-8, 18-24] 

[10] Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. [11] And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. [12] And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. [13] Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. [14] Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’–let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” [15] Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. [Gen 24:10-15 ESV] 

[4] For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, [5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. [6] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; [Rom 12:4-6 ESV] 

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The Story of 3 Sons (Part 1: From Shame to Honor) (Luke 15:11-24)

Dr. Deric Thomas

[11] And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. [12] And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. [13] Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. [14] And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. [16] And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. [17] “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘ [20] And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. [21] And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. [23] And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Notes:

*When the lost and rebellious son came home the father was waiting for him with __________________ in his heart.

Message Summary:

1. Do you want God, or just the things He has made?

2. You can never go so far away from God that you are beyond the reach of His grace.

3. If You live for yourself you will eventually loose everything.

4. Other people will never be able to give you all you truly need.

5. Living a life of sin and selfishness will eventually bring you great shame, guilt, and sorrow.

6. Do you recognize your need for God, have you turned from sin and self to come home to Him as Father, and have you told Him all you have done wrong?

7. God delights in showing compassion to people, and blessing them with abundant and lavish gifts.

8. God takes our shame and gives us His honor.

9. God is a holy, happy, and loving being, and we, as beings He has made, find our happiness, holiness, and true love in Him alone.

[25] …the fleeting pleasures of sin. [Heb 11:25 ESV]

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BORN AGAIN TO LIVE IN HOPE

Eric Johnson

● What is biblical hope?

1 Peter 1:3 – Born Again to a Living Hope.

John 11:25-26 – I AM the resurrection and the life.

● How do we relate to it?

1 Peter 1:13 – Grace becomes the object of hope.

● A Growing in Hope to Greater Assurance!

1. Growing Hope – Looking to Him – Future Aim (5 times 1 Peter 1:3,5,7,9 & 13).

2 Cor. 3:18 – Beholding the glory of the Lord.

2. Growing Hope – We are guarded by faith.

 1 Peter 1:5 – The power of God.

 Rom. 10:17 – Faith come by hearing.

3. Growing Hope – We are tested by trials.

1 Peter 1:7 – Trials point us to reliance on Christ. 4. Growing Hope – You are here!

1 Peter 1:8 – You haven’t seen Him yet you believe!

4. Growing Hope – You are here!

1 Peter 1:8 – You haven’t seen Him yet you believe!

APPLICATION

1. Living Hope Produces Living Community

a. 1 Peter 1:22 – Love one another from a Pure “selfless” heart.

2. Living Hope Produces Living Sacrifice.

a. 1 Peter 2:19-21 – Our calling is to endure suffering while doing good.

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Learning to Love God The Most (Luke 14:25-35)

Dr. Deric Thomas

[25] Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, [26] “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. [28] For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? [29] Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, [30] saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ [31] Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. [33] So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. [34] “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? [35] It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:25-35)

 

[13] “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. [Matt 5:13 ESV]

[18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [Matt 28:18-20 ESV]