Forty-fifth Street Baptist Church Weekly Sermons

"Secrets & Lies Ruin Lives" 8/9/20

Sermon Series:

“REAL LOVE”

A Relationship Rehab Series

Speaker: Pastor Sparks

Text: Joshua 7:24-26

-Withholding information is just another form of lying (a half-truth is a whole lie)

-Intimacy means to be “fully-known” & it is a by-product of truth-telling

Waterlines in our lives:

* Image waterline is what we want the public to see & it’s what we work hard to make impressive

* Spouse waterline is a step beyond the image waterline because our spouse knows a deeper level than the public; while the public sees the nice outfit, our spouse knows we got holes in our socks!

* “Hiddenness” waterline is the line that holds the stuff we don’t want/allow anyone else to really see or know

Learn to tell the truth to three people:

1. Yourself - It’s foolish to try to deceive ourselves! 1 John 1:8 says that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth isn’t in us. When I believe the lies I tell myself, I’m in a dangerous place

2. Your Spouse (Friends) - You need someone to keep you accountable!

3. God - He already knows, so why not have a conversation with someone who knows you FULLY...yet loves you DEEPLY?! 1 John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful & will forgive us and cleanse us!

We gotta go thru a heart change to get better:

1. Value truth-telling more than image-building (it’s ok to not have it all together!)

2. Value transparency more than accountability (there can’t be true accountability without transparency first)

3. Value intimacy more than the absence of conflict ”

Sermon Notes courtesy of Deacon Anthony Sparks

Aug 2, 2020

"These Three Words"...7/26/20 PART 3

PART 2 - https://youtu.be/KfIhHZ-ggoM

"These Three Words"...7/26/20

Sermon Series:

“REAL LOVE”

A Relationship Rehab Series

Speaker: Pastor Sparks

Text: 1 Samuel 25

-There are times in relationships where we simply just don’t get it right

-Sometimes it’s not the act, but the discussion after the act that hurts the most. We gotta know HOW to talk to each other!

-While the words “I love you” are uber important, “I am sorry” are just as important

-There’s no way you can join two lives together without stepping on each other’s toes at times

-In this scripture, Nabal—and a ton of people—were spared because Nabal’s wife, Abigail, stepped in and apologized to David on Nabal’s behalf, thus saving the lives of her entire household

-Do you know how to apologize?

WHY APOLOGIZE?

* Because it’s a way of recognizing & acknowledging our wrongs, and by doing so we clear the air with others to help restore relationship

-Understand though, that apologies don’t automatically equate to forgiveness. Do your part and let the other person come around when they’re ready

ELEMENTS OF A HEALTHY APOLOGY

* Address everyone involved

* This includes the innocent bystanders that heard/saw/experienced the junk you did

* Avoid “if”, “but”, & “maybe”

* When we use these terms, we lessen what we’ve done and put the responsibility on the other person

* Admit specifically what you’ve done

* Acknowledge the hurt

* Empathy goes a long way; it’s hard to acknowledge hurting someone when you don’t put yourself in their shoes

* Accept the consequences

* The person may not forgive you...but that’s their right. Do your part and give them space to process it as they see fit

* Alter your behavior

* If your apology isn’t combined with changed behavior, it’s a hollow, ineffective, insincere apology

* Ask for forgiveness & allow time

* “I’m sorry” acknowledges behavior; “will you forgive me?” requests righting the relationship.

* Time is a healer

3x5 Apology Rules

* Express regret

* Accept Responsibility

* Make restitution

* Genuine repentance

* Request forgiveness

Sermon Notes courtesy of Deacon Anthony Sparks

July 19, 2020

7/12/2020

Part One of the "I Only Have Eyes For You Relationship/Refresh Series"

7/5/2020

June 28, 2020

- June 14, 2020

This is Week 2 of The Shades of Fatherhood Series

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June 7, 2020

Sermon Series:

“Shades of a Father“

Speaker: Pastor Sparks

Text: Matthew 3:16-17

1. A Father ANNOUNCES His Son

• Good fathers are never ashamed of their children!

• Regardless of how a child is brought here, once he/she is here, don’t ever let them know a time that you aren’t thankful to have them in your life!

• A Father ADORES His Son

• Children can live without a lot of things, but love isn’t one of them

• Next to giving your child the knowledge of having a relationship w/ The Lord, the best thing a father can give his child unconditional love

o Unconditional means that if no one else affirms, likes, appreciates them, daddy will

o Unconditional means you love them thru their mistakes

o Unconditional means we love them like God loves us!

• You can love your child unconditionally without approving of the junk they sometimes do

• Don’t starve your children of your love and affection! We are physical beings created for physical interaction; how you nurture your children plays a significant role in how they respond to the world around them

• Make telling your children “I love you” a regular occurrence

• A Father ACCEPTS His Son

• God said “I’m well pleased”, which signified God’s approval of His Son; when’s the last time you told your child “I’m proud of you”?

• A child’s responsibility is to be what God has created them to be, not be what parents think they should be

• Don’t hold your children hostage with your expectations

• Don’t hold the mistakes of your children over their head

• A Father APPRENTICES His Son

• A good father gives his son some work to do

• If you want your children to have a meaningful life, teach them how to do some work

• Your children may not want to follow in your footsteps, but they should pick SOMETHING up from you that makes them better!

• Do your children want to follow Jesus based on your relationship with Jesus?

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-Deacon Anthony D. Sparks