Four Corners Church

By Four Corners ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Four Corners Church episodes

January 03, 2021 In Pursuit of Peace
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Philippians 4:1-7
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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In Pursuit of Peace - Will Daane.
Philippians 4:1-7
Sermon Series: Stand Alone
January 3, 2021

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   [Reflection] Take some time to consider ways you’ve benefited from the pastoral care of the pastors and elders at Four Corners Church. [v.1]
2.   [Comprehension] Paul gives two aids in dealing with interpersonal strife in the church; what are they, and how can they help assist us through such difficult divisions? [v.3]
3.   [Comprehension] How can pursuit of contentment and gentleness in our lives help us to experience more joy? [vv.4-5a]
4.   [Comprehension] Why are supplication (a disposition of earnest and humble begging) and thanksgiving in prayer such important ingredients in our pursuit of peace? [v.6]
5.   [Application] What are some ways that you’ve personally seen or experienced the promised peace of God? [v.7]
Bonus: [Reflection] What are some ways you’ve experienced or participated in strife or division this year? How can texts like this help you move forward rightly?
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December 27, 2020 The First Adam
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 5:12-14
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
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The First Adam — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 5:12-14
Sermon Series: Romans (37th sermon)
December 27, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study
1.   What does it mean that Adam is a “type” of Christ? What are some other types in the Old Testament?
2.   How does biblical typology heighten our worship and reverence? How does it strengthen our confidence in the Scriptures?
3.   How does Adam’s typological role reinforce God’s sovereignty over the Fall?
4.   How did sin and death enter the world in Genesis 3? How are they described in that narrative?
5.   How does this passage support viewing Adam as a real historical figure rather than a metaphor or a myth?
6.   What does it mean to say that all sinned in Adam or that he is our federal head? Read v. 12 in light of vv. 18-19.

References: 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Genesis 2:17; 3; Romans 6:23; Acts 17:26; Romans 3:23; Joshua 7.
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December 20, 2020 The Love That Sustains Our Hope
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 5:6-11
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
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The Love That Sustains Our Hope — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 5:6-11
Sermon Series: Romans (36th sermon)
December 20, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study
1.   Comparing v. 5 with vv. 6-8, what two aspects of God’s love does Paul describe?
2.   What is the human condition, and what makes God’s love so distinctive and marvelous in light of it?
3.   How does the statement that “Christmas is about a baby born to die for his enemies” provide greater depth to your celebration this year?
4.   What does this passage teach about God the Father?
5.   How does the content of vv. 6-8 relate to Paul’s argument in vv. 9-10? How does this text speak to assurance of salvation?
6.   Where does Paul leave the reader in v. 11? How does this help us to better understand the Christian life?

References: Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:1, 4; Titus 3:3-5; Romans 1:18, 30; 8:1, 34; John 14:19.
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December 13, 2020 The Results of Right Standing
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
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The Results of Right Standing — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 5:1-5
Sermon Series: Romans (35th sermon)
December 13, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study
1.   How should the Christocentric language of chapter 5 inform our understanding of salvation and the Christian life?
2.   What does it mean to have peace with God? How does this transcend our feelings at any given moment?
3.   How does Paul describe the access that we have to God? How does it encourage you to know that this is where you “stand”?
4.   What does Paul mean when he uses the word translated “rejoice”?
5.   How does suffering produce hope in the Christian life? How should this affect the way you process trials?
6.   How does Paul present the relationship between hope and love in v. 5? What does this tell us about assurance of salvation?
7.   How does this passage help us to rightly celebrate Christmas this year?

References: Romans 1:4; 5:10; Psalm 7:11-13; Ephesians 2:18; 3:12; Hebrews 4:16; Habakkuk 2:14; Mark 13:26; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2; Romans 8:30; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Psalm 25:3.
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December 06, 2020 Abraham Applied
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 4:23-25
23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
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Abraham Applied — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 4:23-25
Sermon Series: Romans (34th sermon)
December 6, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study
1.   How does this passage fit into Paul’s overall message in chapters 1-4?
2.   To use Hodge’s language, how is Abraham a “representative person”? Discuss how vv. 23-24 relate to passages like Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11.
3.   How is the content of our faith the same as Abraham’s? How does it differ?
4.   How does this passage contribute to your understanding of the gospel? What does it teach us about the role of the Father and of the Son in saving us?
5.   What does it mean that Christ “was raised for our justification”? How does this increase your gratitude for him?

References: Genesis 15:6; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16; John 8:56; Romans 10:9; Genesis 22:1-19; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 3:24-25.
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November 29, 2020 The Faith of Abraham
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 4:17-22
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 19 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
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The Faith of Abraham — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 4:17-22
Sermon Series: Romans (33rd sermon)
November 29, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study
1.   How does Paul describe the object of Abraham’s faith? Discuss the importance of Scripture in filling out the object of our faith.
2.   What does it mean to say that Abraham’s situation was a “perfect blend of impossibility”? How do “can” and “cannot” come together in this passage?
3.   Calvin describes it, how is Abraham’s condition similar to ours?
4.   What are some of the words used to characterize Abraham’s faith in this passage? How does this challenge you?
5.   How does Paul’s description line up with the depiction of Abraham in Genesis? How does Abraham’s weakness encourage us?

References: James 5:11; Deuteronomy 32:39; Jeremiah 32:17; Genesis 17:5; 15:5, 6; Hebrews 11:17-19.
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November 22, 2020 The Promise to Abraham
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 4:13-17
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
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The Promise to Abraham — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 4:13-17
Sermon Series: Romans (32nd sermon)
November 22, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study

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November 15, 2020 Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 2
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 4:1-12
1 'What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
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Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 2 — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 4:1-12
Sermon Series: Romans (31st sermon)
November 15, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study
1.   How does Christianity compare with other religions on the question of human works? How does this contrast help in sharing the gospel?
2.   Why does Paul refer to Abraham and David in chapter 4? What role does each one serve in his overall argument?
3.   How would you paraphrase David’s quote from Psalm 32? How does each part of it point to Christ’s work?
4.   What is true happiness based on this text? How does the biblical concept of “blessedness” provide clarity in a culture focused on personal fulfillment?
5.   Why does Paul address circumcision at such length in vv. 9-12? What is his main point in these verses?
6.   As you reflect on God’s purpose in the events of Abraham’s life, how does this text encourage you to trust God’s sovereignty in your life?

References: Genesis 15:6; Psalm 32:1-2; Joshua 24:2; Genesis 17; Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:29; Galatians 3:7-9; Genesis 12:3.
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November 08, 2020 Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 1
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 4:1-12
1 'What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
NOTE: Allow 30-90 seconds after clicking the START-arrow or Download-button for playback to begin.
Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 1 — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 4:1-12
Sermon Series: Romans (30th sermon)
November 8, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study   Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 1   (Rom 4:1-12)
1.   Why should the doctrine of justification by faith humble us?
2.   Why do you think Paul chooses to use Abraham as an illustration? In general, how did the Jews view him?
3.   What does Genesis 15:6 say about Abraham’s righteousness?
4.   How does the text make clear that Abraham’s faith was not meritorious? Discuss why faith cannot be characterized as a work.
5.   What is so problematic about works-righteousness? What does this passage (particularly v. 5) teach us about the nature of saving/justifying faith?

References: Romans 3:28; Matthew 1:2; Isaiah 51:1-2; Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6; Hebrews 11:8; Romans 4:16; Ephesians 2:3; Joshua 24:2-3; Romans 3:25.
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November 01, 2020 Justified by Faith - So What?
FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
Romans 3:27-31
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
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Justified by Faith - So What? — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 3:27-31
Sermon Series: Romans (29th sermon)
November 1, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What does the doctrine of justification by faith do to human boasting?
2.   How can we identify boasting in our lives? What’s the remedy?
3.   How does the doctrine of justification by faith show the oneness of God? How does Paul appeal to Jewish doctrine to make his point?
4.   What are some implications of monotheism for how we view and relate to others?
5.   How does the doctrine of justification by faith “uphold the law” (v. 31), and how does this refute antinomianism? What other passages in Romans help us to interpret Paul’s meaning?

References: Romans 1:30; 2:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 6:14; Philippians 3:3; 2:3; Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 12:3; 3:15; Romans 2:26-29; 8:3-4; 13:8-10.
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