First Irving Sermons

Main Point. Our faithful service to earthly masters reflects Christ and honors His name.

Driving Question. Why should we be faithful to honor earthly masters?

1. Christ’s Name is Protected (v. 1)

2. Christ’s Church is Strengthened (2)

Gospel Application.

1. Your identity is not your role—it's your union with Christ.

2. Christ redeems and dignifies humble service.

3. We serve not to earn, but in response to being fully loved.

Takeaways

1. Our service to the Lord and masters upends the cultural norm.

2. Our witness of the Lord is crucial.

3. Our earthly service is an imperfect reflection of Christ’s perfect service to us.

Question. To what extent do you actually believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Main Idea. The risen Christ provides us peace, fulfilling all Scripture, and sends witnesses to proclaim this truth.

Jesus makes clear 3 things that bring his disciples peace:

1. His presence in risen flesh (vv. 36–43)

2. His purpose to fulfill all Scriptures (vv. 44–46)

3. His proclamation is for all nations (vv. 47–49)

Responses.

Do not be troubled, for Christ has been raised from the dead (v. 38).

Repent and be forgiven, for Christ has offered you grace (v. 47).

Go tell the nations, for Christ has commanded our obedience (v. 48).

Worship and rejoice, for Christ is worthy of our praise (v. 53).

Main Point: For its good, the church must honor, hold accountable, and appoint elders with discernment.

1. For our good, consider the elder’s honor (v.17-18)

2. For our good, hold the elder accountable. (v.19-21)

3. For our good, appoint the elder with discernment. (v.22-25)

Takeaways:

For the Pastor:

· Remember Christ is the head of the church, not us.

· Pursue faithfulness, not praise, in your leading out and in your ministry of the Word.

For the Church

· Be on guard against the sin of partiality, honor where honor is due and rebuke when sin is persistent.

· Pray for new elders that we can ordain, not hastily, but with wisdom, discernment, and confidence.

Note: The first minute of this sermon was not recorded.

Main Point. Caring for the members of God’s household.

Driving Question. How do we care for God’s household?

1. Words of care (1–2)

1 Jn 3:14–15. 14

Exodus 22:22-24.

Deuteronomy 10:18.

2. Widows cared for (3–16)

Three marks of the true widow.

1. True widows are without family care (4–5, 8).

2. True widows are godly (5, 9–10).

3. True widows are of a certain age (9).

Takeaways.

The church is now a family and we care for our own.

The church is to care for widows and this pleases God.

The church is to be filled with families willing to care for their parents.

The church is to be filled with godly women.

Widows, you are loved by God and your church.

Main Point. Faithful pastors are essential for the spiritual health of the church.

Driving Question. What is God’s pastor to be?

1. He must be an example (v. 12)

2. He must be wholeheartedly devoted (vv. 13–14)

3. He must be ever watchful (vv. 15–16)

Application.

1. Identify and point out the spiritual growth in your brothers and sisters.

2. Examine yourself.

Takeaways.

The pastor is to be different in all areas of life.

The pastor must be in proximity and accessible.

The pastor must live a life that is aligned with his teaching.

The pastor must be wholly devoted.

The pastor must bring a Christ centered, God-glorifying focus to the church.

The congregation must be wholly willing to consider the word taught and the life lived by their pastors.

Main Point. The whole Church is to train for godliness with hope in the living God.

Driving Question. What does our spiritual training entail?

1. Train in the words of faith (6)

Applications: Godly ministers who teach: feed others with the word, and feed themselves on the word.

In what particular ways is the word nourishing you these days?

2. Train for godliness (7–9)

How do you train yourself for spiritual growth?

Recognize that God says you should give conscious attention to your spiritual growth (this is important).

Regather for Lord’s Day worship with your brothers and sisters (nourishment and communion with saints).

Run alongside others (communion with saints).

Read the Bible (know and learn about God).

Respond with obedience and good works (practice his character).

Regular prayer in communion with God (talk with God).

Remember your efforts don’t justify you before God (trust in Christ).

3. Train with hope set on the Living God (10)

Takeaways.

Confession and repentance.

Christ is our righteousness.

Consider the corporate application (v.6).

Condition the heart for godliness.

Main Point. Some will be deceived and depart from the faith, but the faithful embrace God's goodness with thanksgiving.

Driving Question. How must the church guard against deception?

1. Expect apostasy (v. 1)

Application.

Be prepared for some to deconvert and abandon the faith.

2. Expose deceitful teaching (vv. 2–3)

Attributes of false teaching:

Demonic (v. 1)

Deceitful (v. 1)

Distorted (v. 2–3)

Applications:

Be ready and remember:

Satan attacks God’s character and changes God’s word.

Always reject your own works as God rejects them.

Self-denial cannot change your heart, nor your position before God.

3. Embrace God’s goodness by the word and prayer (4–5)

Responses.

Repent from holding on to anything but Christ.

Rest in the centrality of Christ’s work.

Remember the certainties and warnings of God's Scriptures.

Recognize the difference between legalism and godliness.

Receive Christ and all things with gratitude from God.

Main Idea: Proper behavior in the church both promotes and protects the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1) Why does our behavior matter? (vv. 14-15)

a. We are the household of God

b. We are the church of the living God

c. We are the pillar and buttress of the truth

2) What is our behavior rooted in? (v. 16)

Takeaways:

1) Are you united with Christ?

2) Are you prioritizing the local church?

3) Will you help us stay committed to the gospel?

Main Point. God protects his church through qualified deacons.

Driving Question. Who must deacons be?

1. The Deacon's Faithfulness (8–12)

Personal character.

Dignified (8).

Not double-tongued (8).

Proper steward.

Not addicted to much wine (8).

Not greedy for dishonest gain (8).

Persistent faith.

They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience (9).

Publically tested.

Tested first (10).

Pious wife (or women).

Faithful in all things (11).

Private household management.

Husband of one wife (12).

Manage his own household well (12).

Driving Question. What are the results of faithful deaconing?

2. The Deacon’s Favor (13)

Two simple rewards:

Good standing for themselves (13).

Great confidence in Christ (13).

Responses.

Remember that though deacons “do” faithful work, The Chief Deacon’s work is “done.”

Reflect the attributes of the deacon.

Respond to the physical needs of the church.

Main Point. God protects his church with qualified overseers.

Driving Question. What is an overseer?

1. The Work of the Overseer (1)

a. He aspires to the work. Not only is it good and noble, but Paul says it’s good to aspire. There should be a willing desire to do this work, to shepherd God’s flock [1 Pet 5:2].This isn't to be done out of compulsion, nor out of pride.

b. His work is an office.

c. His work is noble.

Acts 20: 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.

Application.

Do any of you aspire to this office?

Do you love Christ’s church?

Are you already "pastoring" in the church?

Driving Question. How do we identify overseers?

2. The Walk of the Overseer (2–7)

Four areas of life that are to be evaluated.

1. Personal faithfulness.

Above reproach (3:2).

Sober-minded (3:2).

Self-controlled (3:2).

2. Private fidelity.

Husband of one wife (3:2)

Manage his own household well (3:4,5)

3. Pasroral fitness.

Hospitable (3:2)

Able to teach (3:2)

Not a recent convert (3:6)

4. Public favor.

Respectable (3:2)

Not a drunkard (3:3)

Not given to violence, but gentle (3:3)

Not quarrelsome (3:3)

Not a lover of money (3:3)

Well thought of by outsiders (3:7)

Responses.

Do you see God’s protection for his church through this office?

Are any of you wanting to do this work?

Who do you see in the congregation that is walking in these qualifications?

What are we doing to increase our candidate pool and ready our men?

How many elders do we want here?

Would you pray for us?