Grace Bible Church, of Seabrook, MD Sermons

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)

2 Corinthians 10.1-13

1. Practice Christ-like Leadership
2. Maintain the Church’s Prophetic Role in This World
3. Gain Biblical Clarity
   1. Deduce from 1st Principles
   2. Recognize “Einstein’s Gap”
   3. Believe in the Clarity of Scripture
      1. Know What “Clarity” Means
      2. Know What “Clarity” Does not Mean

Origen - 10-point preface to "De Principiis"

1. Jesus Christ is the Truth, the Word of God.
2. The Apostles' writings preserve that truth and should be accepted as the highest authority.
3. The Apostles' writings are clear on essential points but also require spiritual gifts in language, knowledge, and a love of wisdom. This is a subject of long exercise.
4. The clear, essential points are:
   1. There is one God.
   2. Jesus Christ, though God, became man, was born of a virgin, died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven.
   3. The Holy Spirit is associated in honor and dignity with the Father and the Son.
5. Every soul, having a substance of its own apart from the body, is free and must choose its path. The righteous shall rise to everlasting blessedness and the wicked shall rise to everlasting condemnation.
6. The devil and his angels exist.
7. This world is corrupted by evil and therefore will be destroyed.
8. The Scriptures were written by the Spirit of God, but their deeper meaning and application is not understood by all.
9. The nature of God Himself, beyond what is written in Scripture, is not clearly understood.
10. There are good angels of God that help mankind.

Gain Biblical Clarity (1 Corinthians 1:1-17)

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 Corinthians 10.1-13

1. Practice Christ-like Leadership
2. Maintain the Church’s Prophetic Role in This World
3. Gain Biblical Clarity
   1. Deduce from 1st Principles
   2. Recognize “Einstein’s Gap”
   3. Believe in the Clarity of Scripture
      1. Know What “Clarity” Means
      2. Know What “Clarity” Does not Mean

Origen - 10-point preface to "De Principiis"

1. Jesus Christ is the Truth, the Word of God.
2. The Apostles' writings preserve that truth and should be accepted as the highest authority.
3. The Apostles' writings are clear on essential points but also require spiritual gifts in language, knowledge, and a love of wisdom. This is a subject of long exercise.
4. The clear, essential points are:
   1. There is one God.
   2. Jesus Christ, though God, became man, was born of a virgin, died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven.
   3. The Holy Spirit is associated in honor and dignity with the Father and the Son.
5. Every soul, having a substance of its own apart from the body, is free and must choose its path. The righteous shall rise to everlasting blessedness and the wicked shall rise to everlasting condemnation.
6. The devil and his angels exist.
7. This world is corrupted by evil and therefore will be destroyed.
8. The Scriptures were written by the Spirit of God, but their deeper meaning and application is not understood by all.
9. The nature of God Himself, beyond what is written in Scripture, is not clearly understood.
10. There are good angels of God that help mankind.

Gain Biblical Clarity (1 Corinthians 1:1-17)

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)

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

1. Demand Holistic Holiness
2. Keep Church Simple
3. Move from Organization to Organism
4. Pursue Virtuous Living
5. Flee Your Vices
   1. Lust (Peace)
   2. Gluttony (Moderation)
   3. Greed (Simplicity)
   4. Sloth (Strength)
   5. Wrath (Contentment)
   6. Envy (Joy)
   7. Pride (Humility)
6. Speak with Clarity Regarding Problematic Issues

POWER 2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

PURITY Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

FAITH Hebrews 11:
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

ENDURANCE James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing

SELF-CONTROL Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

FORTITUDE Joshua 1:6-9 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous… This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it… Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Speak with Clarity Regarding Issues

1. Gain Biblical Clarity
2. Practice Christ-like Leadership
3. Maintain the Church’s Prophetic Role in This World

Problematic Issues in Corinth:

1. Personality cults, source issues, and division (1,3)
   1.  Give People the Benefit of Doubt (1.1-9)
   2.  Speak the “Same Word” (1.10)
   3.  Grow Beyond Source Issues (1.11-16)
   4.  Build on the Right Foundation (1.17)
2. Controlling/authoritarian behavior (4)
3. Worldly wisdom/oratory/public speaking (1,2)
4. Disrespect of apostles and apostolic teaching (4,9) 
5. Simultaneous extremes of tolerance and judgmentalism (4,5)

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

1. Demand Holistic Holiness
2. Keep Church Simple
3. Move from Organization to Organism
4. Pursue Virtuous Living
5. Flee Your Vices
   1. Lust (Peace)
   2. Gluttony (Moderation)
   3. Greed (Simplicity)
   4. Sloth (Strength)
   5. Wrath (Contentment)
   6. Envy (Joy)
   7. Pride (Humility)
6. Speak with Clarity Regarding Problematic Issues

POWER 2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

PURITY Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

FAITH Hebrews 11:
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

ENDURANCE James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing

SELF-CONTROL Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

FORTITUDE Joshua 1:6-9 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous… This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it… Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Speak with Clarity Regarding Issues

1. Gain Biblical Clarity
2. Practice Christ-like Leadership
3. Maintain the Church’s Prophetic Role in This World

Problematic Issues in Corinth:

1. Personality cults, source issues, and division (1,3)
   1.  Give People the Benefit of Doubt (1.1-9)
   2.  Speak the “Same Word” (1.10)
   3.  Grow Beyond Source Issues (1.11-16)
   4.  Build on the Right Foundation (1.17)
2. Controlling/authoritarian behavior (4)
3. Worldly wisdom/oratory/public speaking (1,2)
4. Disrespect of apostles and apostolic teaching (4,9) 
5. Simultaneous extremes of tolerance and judgmentalism (4,5)

2 Timothy 2:19-26

1. Define Virtue Accurately
2. Grasp God’s Historical Progression
3. Admit the Heart’s Resistance to True Virtue
4. Practice Virtuous Living
5. Flee Your Vices
   1. Lust
   2. Gluttony
   3. Greed
   4. Sloth
   5. Wrath
   6. Envy
   7. Pride

FLEXIBILITY 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

CHARITY Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

LOVE 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always endures. Love never fails...

2 Timothy 2:19-26

1. Define Virtue Accurately
2. Grasp God’s Historical Progression
3. Admit the Heart’s Resistance to True Virtue
4. Practice Virtuous Living
5. Flee Your Vices
   1. Lust
   2. Gluttony
   3. Greed
   4. Sloth
   5. Wrath
   6. Envy
   7. Pride

FLEXIBILITY 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

CHARITY Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

LOVE 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always endures. Love never fails...

Joshua 1:1-9

1. Define Virtue Accurately
2. Grasp God’s Historical Progression
3. Admit the Heart’s Resistance to True Virtue
4. Practice Virtuous Living

PRUDENCE Proverbs 22:3 The prudent sees danger and avoids it, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

HOPE Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…

Joshua 1:1-9

1. Define Virtue Accurately
2. Grasp God’s Historical Progression
3. Admit the Heart’s Resistance to True Virtue
4. Practice Virtuous Living

PRUDENCE Proverbs 22:3 The prudent sees danger and avoids it, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

HOPE Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…

Isaiah 42.1-8

1. Define Virtue Accurately

• In the world of Jesus and the Apostles, virtue meant excellence, courage, and right disposition.  The “virtue” of a matter is found in its correspondence to the highest ideal or quality the matter can attain.
• Jesus is virtue incarnate because he is God incarnate.
• None of us today saw Jesus with our own eyes.  We were not directly taught by Virtue Incarnate.  So, for us, the highest quality of understanding we have is the New Testament.
• The church is “virtuous” when it keeps aspiring to New Testament ideas.
• The church is departing from virtue when it adds to (zeal without knowledge; obsessive) or subtracts from (lack of conviction; addictive) New Testament ideals
• Zealotry is the choice to protect holiness by living beyond what the Bible says, and it finds in that zeal a source of immunity from being wrong. . . Zealots judge and sometimes condemn others who do not live by their rules, who explore things they are uncomfortable with — not because they’ve thought through it but because they don’t trust others to make good decisions. The freed, however, can live with the ambiguity that freedom in the Spirit creates: they can trust God to work with others, they can trust others to be responsible, and they can trust another group to discern its way in this world. -Scott McKnight

2. Grasp God’s Historical Progression

3. Admit the Heart’s Resistance to True Virtue

BALANCE 1 Cor. 6:12, 10:23 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. . . “All things are lawful,” but not all things work for the common good”

HUMILITY Prov. 18:12 Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

TEMPERANCE Eccl. 7:16-19 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

4. Practice Virtuous Living