Grace Bible Church, of Seabrook, MD Sermons

2 Samuel 11:1-17, 12:11-15

1. My Sin separates me from a Holy GOD
   1. Lust of the flesh (11:2)
   2. Acts upon the flesh (11:3)
   3. Sin against GOD & flesh (11:4)
   4. Death – spiritual & physical
2. My Pride & Idleness make me resist a Holy GOD
   1. Temptation & selfishness (11:1)
   2. Premeditation & covering up sin (11:6-13)
   3. Innocent souls are sacrificed (11:14,17)
3. My sin will never be remembered, but forgiven a Holy GOD
   1. Consequences to my sin (12:11-12,14)
   2. Confession of my sin (12:13)
   3. Repentance (12:13-15)
4. My Response

Isaiah 6:1-8

• What do you ultimately want? Happiness or Holiness?
• You Must Encounter God Personally
• Then, You Will See Things Accurately
• God’s Opportunity To Create Holiness In You
• Our Opportunity To Cooperate With Him
• What Does God's Holiness Look Like???
• You Are Never More Holy Then When You Are Loving God and Others!

Isaiah 6:1-8

• What do you ultimately want? Happiness or Holiness?
• You Must Encounter God Personally
• Then, You Will See Things Accurately
• God’s Opportunity To Create Holiness In You
• Our Opportunity To Cooperate With Him
• What Does God's Holiness Look Like???
• You Are Never More Holy Then When You Are Loving God and Others!

1 Corinthians 3:1-4:7

1. Followers have attachment issues

• Stop focusing on a specific teacher or group (3.1-4)
• Ask yourself why you are so attached (3.18-23)
• Start learning to hear God for yourself (3.5-8)

2. Followers have avoidance issues

• Stop justifying your critical spirit (4.1-5)
• Ask yourself why you are being so critical

3. Leaders must have a healthy ego (They have attachment & avoidance issues too!)

• Stop being an affirmation junkie  (4.1-5)
• Understand your role as a builder(3.8-10)
• Keep the foundation essential (3.11)
• Remember: you will be judged by how you build (3.12-15)
• Toxic teachers will reap what they have sown (3.16-17)
• Limit yourself to what is written (4.6-7)

1 Corinthians 3:1-4:7

1. Followers have attachment issues

• Stop focusing on a specific teacher or group (3.1-4)
• Ask yourself why you are so attached (3.18-23)
• Start learning to hear God for yourself (3.5-8)

2. Followers have avoidance issues

• Stop justifying your critical spirit (4.1-5)
• Ask yourself why you are being so critical

3. Leaders must have a healthy ego (They have attachment & avoidance issues too!)

• Stop being an affirmation junkie  (4.1-5)
• Understand your role as a builder(3.8-10)
• Keep the foundation essential (3.11)
• Remember: you will be judged by how you build (3.12-15)
• Toxic teachers will reap what they have sown (3.16-17)
• Limit yourself to what is written (4.6-7)

1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4

When we divide from others, we as a matter of course are making a judgment. We are presuming the rightness of our own side or position. While we might admit that our own side or position has problems, we gloss over them because the other side’s problems are “so much worse.”  Such thinking, often under the guise of “rightness” or “righteousness” or even “holiness,” is actually hellish.  It can never lead to a just and merciful end.

We like to start with why we are right. Healing starts with discovering where we are wrong.

It is not that we should stop making all value judgments... It is that the nobility of character and clarity of vision required to make good judgments only comes by owning our own issues first, working diligently and endlessly to address them, NOT looking at anybody else, and through such awareness and purging of spirit eventually reaching a place of peace.

Then, our judgments can actually end in justice, in mercy, and in the humility that makes both possible.  That is simplicity. That is grace.

This is not a graceful age. But we can be graceful people. Truly holiness is impossible without such grace.

WE NEED WISDOM!!!

1. Know where true wisdom comes from (2.6-10)
2. Understand three kinds of thinking (2.11-3.4) (Natural, Spiritual, Carnal)
3. Define “spirit” and “spiritual” (2.11-13)
4. Judge well (2.15)
5. Stop inappropriate judging (4.3-5)

1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4

When we divide from others, we as a matter of course are making a judgment. We are presuming the rightness of our own side or position. While we might admit that our own side or position has problems, we gloss over them because the other side’s problems are “so much worse.”  Such thinking, often under the guise of “rightness” or “righteousness” or even “holiness,” is actually hellish.  It can never lead to a just and merciful end.

We like to start with why we are right. Healing starts with discovering where we are wrong.

It is not that we should stop making all value judgments... It is that the nobility of character and clarity of vision required to make good judgments only comes by owning our own issues first, working diligently and endlessly to address them, NOT looking at anybody else, and through such awareness and purging of spirit eventually reaching a place of peace.

Then, our judgments can actually end in justice, in mercy, and in the humility that makes both possible.  That is simplicity. That is grace.

This is not a graceful age. But we can be graceful people. Truly holiness is impossible without such grace.

WE NEED WISDOM!!!

1. Know where true wisdom comes from (2.6-10)
2. Understand three kinds of thinking (2.11-3.4) (Natural, Spiritual, Carnal)
3. Define “spirit” and “spiritual” (2.11-13)
4. Judge well (2.15)
5. Stop inappropriate judging (4.3-5)

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Threats to Holiness in 1st Corinthians

1. Personality cults/source issues/divisions (1,3)
2. Worldly wisdom/oratory/public speaking (1,2)
3. Controlling/authoritarian behavior by going beyond what is written (4)
4. Disrespect of apostles and apostolic teaching (4,9)
5. Polarity of inappropriate tolerance and inappropriate judgmentalism (4-5)
6. Looking to the secular world to make judgments (6)
7. Self-absorption/lack of self-restraint/sexual immorality. (6,10)
8. Divorce, marriage, singleness. (7)
9. Disputable matters/questionable things and the value of one’s conscience (8-10)
10. Carnality & lack of commitment to discipleship (10)
11. Role of women in the church (11,14)
12. Abuse of spiritual gifts (12-14)
13. Living for earth versus living for heaven (15)
14. Giving (16)

1. Overcome Personality Cults, Source Issues, and Division (1,3)

• Give People the Benefit of Doubt (1.1-9)
• Speak the “Same Word” (1.10)
• Grow Beyond Source Issues (1.11-16)
• Build on the Right Foundation (1.17)

2. Why Personality Cults & Source Issues Cause Division

• A. We put to much faith in reason to find ultimate truth (1.18-25)
• B. We have faith/trust issues (1.22)
• C. We don’t put enough faith in God’s “Upside Down” Kingdom (1.26-31)
• D. We put too much faith in the rhetoric of strong personalities (2.1-5)

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Threats to Holiness in 1st Corinthians

1. Personality cults/source issues/divisions (1,3)
2. Worldly wisdom/oratory/public speaking (1,2)
3. Controlling/authoritarian behavior by going beyond what is written (4)
4. Disrespect of apostles and apostolic teaching (4,9)
5. Polarity of inappropriate tolerance and inappropriate judgmentalism (4-5)
6. Looking to the secular world to make judgments (6)
7. Self-absorption/lack of self-restraint/sexual immorality. (6,10)
8. Divorce, marriage, singleness. (7)
9. Disputable matters/questionable things and the value of one’s conscience (8-10)
10. Carnality & lack of commitment to discipleship (10)
11. Role of women in the church (11,14)
12. Abuse of spiritual gifts (12-14)
13. Living for earth versus living for heaven (15)
14. Giving (16)

1. Overcome Personality Cults, Source Issues, and Division (1,3)

• Give People the Benefit of Doubt (1.1-9)
• Speak the “Same Word” (1.10)
• Grow Beyond Source Issues (1.11-16)
• Build on the Right Foundation (1.17)

2. Why Personality Cults & Source Issues Cause Division

• A. We put to much faith in reason to find ultimate truth (1.18-25)
• B. We have faith/trust issues (1.22)
• C. We don’t put enough faith in God’s “Upside Down” Kingdom (1.26-31)
• D. We put too much faith in the rhetoric of strong personalities (2.1-5)

2 Corinthians 5:14–21

What counts? How Can I Make A Difference?

1. New Creation Counts! (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)
   1. The Love of Christ (14)
   2. How We Look at People (16)
   3. God’s Reconciling Heart (19)
   4. Being an Ambassador for Jesus (20)
   5. Emotionally Connecting with Jesus’ Heart (21)
2. Baptism Counts! (Matthew 28:18-20)
   1. Jesus Authorized It! (18-19a)
   2. It Is the First Outward Sign of Discipleship (19b)
   3. Making Disciples Counts! (19)
3. Children Count! (Matthew 18:10-14)
   1. They Have a Close Connection with God (10)
   2. Scandalizing Them Really Angers Jesus!
   3. In Key Ways, We All Need to Remain Children
4. Church Counts!
   1. Love and Good Works Are Enhanced by Community (Hebrews 10.24-25)
   2. God’s Plan “A” for People Is Community (1 John 1.5-7)
   3. God’s Community Will Never Fail (Matthew 16.15-18)