Preacher: Caleb Ogle

Text: Psalm 42:1-11

Theme: Hope In God

Notes:

Why do we know that we can have hope in God?

* Salvation

* 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10

* 1 Peter 1:3-5

* Titus 1:1-3

* Available Victory

* John 16:33

* 1 Corinthians 10:12-14

* 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

* Ephesians 6:10-20

* God cares

* Psalm 55:22

* 1 Peter 5:7-10

* Rom 8:38-39

* Psalm 8:4-5

* Eternity

* Rev 21:4

* John 14:1-6

* His Word

* Psalm 119:49, 81, 114, 116

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Romans 12:1-2

Theme: We can know and do God’s will through Spirit-directed obedience to His Word

Notes:

How do I know God’s will for my life?

 

Two ditches:

* Don’t worry about it, just do what you feel

* Agonizing over every decision, mystically searching for events to provide confirmation

 

Ephesians 5:15-16, “…walk, not as unwise but as wise.”

We must make efforts to intentionally walk according to God’s word, we will not coast toward it by default.

We must walk together–within the community of the local church.

* Seek to know and do the will of God

* Seek Christ

* Through His word

* Through prayer

* Seek wise counsel

* Godly people

* Books / commentaries by godly people

* People outside of your own generation

* every generation has its own particular virtues and particular sins

* Walk in wisdom

* God has given us a conscience–though our conscience is not fallible

* Use biblically-informed common sense

 

Practical Application:

* Gather all the biblical data you can

* Gather all the informational data you can

* Prayerfully and accurately apply God’s word

* Get biblical counsel

* Walk wisely

* Don’t worry

 

Proverbs 3:5-7

Psalm 37:3-8

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 6:10-24

Theme: Christ’s work for us and in us

will help us to walk in victory against

the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Notes:

* Resist the Enemy, 6:10-12

* World

* 1 John 2:15

*

* Flesh

* Ephesians 2

* James 1:12-15

* Devil

* 1 Peter 5:8

* John 10:10

* Remember your Equipment, 6:13-17

* All theology is meant to be applied theology

* We don’t fight for victory–we fight from victory

* Isaiah 49:2, 52:7, 59:16-17

* We fight as an army, not individuals

* “All of the equipment, all of the time”

* Belt of Truth – trust in God’s character, how He has revealed Himself in Scripture

* Breastplate of Righteousness – Christ’s righteousness

* Imputed to us

* Imparted to us

* Shoes of Peace –

* Shield of Faith – absolute confidence in God in all things

* Helmet of Salvation – trust in God’s saving work in my life

* Sword of the Spirit – only offensive part of the armor

* our application of truth to every issue of everyday life

* Rely on His Energy, 6:18-20

* Continual, persistent, hopeful, Spirit-filled communion with God through prayer

* Rest in His Encouragement, 6:21-24

* If Paul needs prayer, you do too

* “I’m not chained to them–they’re chained to me.”

* The Apostle Paul was no Lone Ranger

* God gives His Spirit, His Word, and His People

* Churches get along because they choose peace

* Rehearse what you know, not how you feel

* Grace: God’s favor toward you because of Christ

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 5:21-6:9

Theme: Christ’s work for us and in us will help us to walk in harmony in our earthly relationships.

Notes:

Submission is the key to harmony.

* Ephesians 5:21, “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ”

* Romans 12:10, “Love one another with brotherly affection. wOutdo one another in showing honor.”

* Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from kselfish ambition or lconceit, but in mhumility count others more significant than yourselves”

 

Submission is how God grows us

* Sin wrecks God’s harmonious design for the family unit

* The Apostle Paul describes how Christ’s sacrifice empowers Christians to live out a new life together

 

Submission for wives

* The wife is to respect her husband

* Caveat: some men abuse the teaching of Ephesians 5

 

Submission for husbands

* The husband is to love his wife like Christ loves the church

* He is to love sacrificially

* Colossians 3:19, “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them”

* He is to protect and provide for her spiritual health

* He is to nourish and cherish her: emotionally, physically, and spiritually

* He is to model Christ to her

* If a husband is harsh, unkind, insensitive he make impediments that keep his wife from having an accurate picture of Christ

 

Husbands and wives ought to pursue Christ together through word and prayer in order to live intentionally.

Submission for children

* Obey your parents

* Honor your parents

* Obedience expires as the child grows up to adulthood

* Honoring does not

 

Submission for parents

* Not provoking your children to anger

* Training your children with discipline and instruction

* Note: God is training you even as you are training your children

* You are not ultimately to be praised nor blamed for your children’s successes or failures

* Be far more encouraging for your children’s successes / obediences

 

Submission for workers

* Obey your supervisors as if you were working for Christ

* Respect your supervisors

* Work hard sincerely–not just when you are being watched

 

Submission for supervisors

* Treating your workers well

* Respecting your workers

* Not attempting to bully or intimidate your workers

* Being just and fair

* Colossians 4:1

 

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 4

Theme: Christ’s work for us and in us will produce unity.

Notes:

“The imperatives of Scripture rest on the indicatives of Scripture.” — Bryan Chappell

* Titus 2:11-12

* 1 John 2:6

* 1 Thessalonians 1:11-12

* Colossians 1

 

Humility, Gentleness, Patience

* “What is best for the body,” instead of, “What is best for me?”

* Philippians 2:1-4

* Colossians 3:12-15

 

A person/organization that is always looking for reasons to separate is not living out the heart of the gospel.

The ordinance of baptism does not save from sin, nor does it contribute toward saving from sin.

Jude 1:3-4

The practice of unity involves:

each member

selflessly investing

their spiritual gifts

for the good of the body.

People who don’t serve others don’t realize how difficult it is to serve others.

* 1 Peter 4:10-11

* 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

* Romans 12:3-8

 

The end product of unity is a healthy, stable, and mature church.

Unity is conformance to Christ,

all who are conformed to Christ will be united on the most important things,

despite diversity in other areas.

See Richard Baxter’s prayer re: theological controversy.

“…may my zeal be more for faith, charity, and unity than for my opinions.”

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 2

Theme of Ephesians: God is redeeming His corrupted creation through Christ,

beginning with the church,

so that we might rejoice in Him forever

Notes:

* We are alive and exalted in Christ, 2:1-10

* We are reconciled to God and unified with other believers in Christ, 2:11-18

* We are now one in Christ, 2:19-22

 

We are born spiritually dead, hostile to God, obeying the will of Satan:

* Ephesians 2:1-3

* The world, the flesh, and the devil

* Romans 8:7

* 1 Corinthians 2:14

* Colossians 1:21

* Colossians 2:13

 

“But God”

* Ephesisans 2:4-6

* God, entirely through His mercy, made us (who were dead) alive in Christ

* John 15

* Ephesians 2:8, “it is the gift of God”

* What is the gift of God

* Faith itself

* Salvation is a gift, and faith is the gift that enables us to lay hold of salvation

 

We are His workmanship, created for good works

* God renews His creation–beginning with His people

 

We are now one in Christ

* Christ made this people out of disparate peoples

* Jews and Gentiles

* We as the church are One

* One people

* One household

* One body

* One temple

* Built on one cornerstone

 

We as God’s (one) people must get some things right

* John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

* We must love one another, and we must also love those that aren’t reconciled to God

* Because God loves those not reconciled to Him

* We are to reflect our Father

 

One in Jesus, by Ken Bible

“So many troubles come to us

By the way we treat each other,

But all who share Your life and love

Are my sisters and my brothers.”

 

 

 

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

Theme: I Love My Church Ministry

Thesis: You need your local church because it’s how God protects and grows our faith.

Notes:

Read Hebrews with 3 distinct groups in mind:

* The Uncommitted – those who have heard the gospel, but not yet converted

* The Wavering – those who have believed the gospel, but are wavering due to persecution

* The Faithful – those who are committed to Christ, but are suffering for their faith

 

Satan tempts with both persecution as well as prosperity.

“Cure your children’s warring madness;

bend our pride to your control;

shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

rich in things and poor in soul.” — Fosdick

2 Timothy 4:10, “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica….”

3 Commands

* To the Uncommitted – Commit to Christ–the only way to God

* To the Wavering – Cling to Christ–God always keeps His promises

* To the Faithful – Commit to God’s people – God uses it to protect and grow your faith

 

1 Timothy 3:15, “…the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

“No creeds but Christ” might sound spiritual, but many non-Christian denominations believe in Jesus, but do not believe rightly about Him. Heresy thrives in ambiguity.

 

How we commit to each other

* Consider one another

* Careful thought

* Compassionate concern

* Who can I do the most good for my church family today?

* Stir up love and good works in each other

* Assemble Together

* Exhort one another

* Get to know your fellow church members by being a good listener

* Come to church on-mission, ready to serve

 

How people forsake the church

* We make it about “me” instead of about “us”

* “If a man thinks he is not conceited, he is very conceited indeed.” –C.S. Lewis

* We don’t find time to serve in regular ministry

* Use the gifts Christ enabled you with to serve others

* We don’t take time and energy to build gospel-centered relationships

* Fear, selfishness, busyness–all impediments to relationship

 

Why people forsake the church

* They could be woefully uninformed

* They could be willfully rebellious

* They could be wicked heretics

 

Why we need the church

* We are at war

* We can drift doctrinally

* We can drift spiritually

* We were made for community

* Throughout Scripture God always calls people out into a community:

* Abraham

* Jacob

* Nation of Israel

* The Church

 

Live It Out!

* Love your church

* Make gatherings a priority

* Make building gospel-centered relationships a priority

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 20:33-35

Theme:

Notes:

Covetous and Contentment are not money issues per se–they are heart issues.

Believers find their identities rooted in Jesus Christ.

What you look to to give you security and satisfaction is what you will worship.

Colossians 3:5, “Covetousness, which is idolatry”

Sin isn’t always desiring that which is inherently evil–sometimes it is desiring a good thing too much.

A heart that is not content will use and abuse others to get it.

 

Contentment in Christ

* Enables you to live in any circumstance

* Philippians 4:12, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.

In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,

abundance and need.”

* Empowers generosity

* 1 Timothy 6:17-18, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,”

* Engenders trust in God’s sovereignty

* Hebrews 13:5-6, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have,

for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?””

 

Should Pastors Be Paid?

* Our gospel mission shapes our strategies

* 2 Corinthians 11:8, “I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.”

* The church should be generous because we are family

* Galatians 6:10, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,

and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

* The church should view vocational ministry as a gospel partnership

* 1 Tim 5:17-18, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.””

* 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, “..those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”

 

Live It Out!

* Fight covetousness with contentment in Christ

* Team leaders like family and appreciate their work.

 

 

Preacher: Cliff Swanson

Text: Matthew 2:1-12

Theme: What We Can Learn From The Wise Men

Text:

Wise men likely heard the prophecy regarding the star and the birth of the Messiah

from Daniel during the Babylonian captivity.

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 20:17-24

Theme: 5 Ways A Leader Can Love the Church Well: The Leader’s Motives

Notes:

Four Choices That Motivate Good Leaders

* Ultimate, eternal joy over temporal happiness

* Faithfulness over human success

* “Ministry is not measured in months, it is measured in decades.”

* Psalm 1

* Faithful Christian service is a marathon, not a sprint

* Christ and His people over selfish ambition

* 2 Corinthians 8:9, “…though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor…”

* We often think of God as a part of our story

* We sacrifice the most for what we consider as the most valuable

* We don’t just give of ourselves to Christ–we give ourselves to Christ

* Embrace ignorance: serve Christ and His people–

* not knowing that things are going to be OK

* not knowing that what I do is appreciated

* not knowing what the rewards will be

* Are you willing to serve God and His people

* knowing your sacrifice may not be seen

* knowing your motives may be misjudged

* knowing you may be falsely accused

* Faithful ministry includes times of pressure and discomfort

* Yet those not in leadership may be a blessing to their leaders:

* Romans 1:11-12, “…that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

* Hebrews 13:17, “…Let them do so with joy and not with grief,…”

 

Live It Out!

* Don’t just give of yourself–give yourself

* 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

* Let the hard parts of life push you toward Christ and His people

* Be part of the team