Sermons

Am I Saved?

Pastor Andrew Watkins

Download

1 John 2:1-6

Big Idea: Genuine Salvation Is Secured By Jesus And Seen In Christlike Living

1) Take comfort: Jesus died for your sins. (1-2)

2) Take caution: Your life reveals your heart. (3-6)

Sermon Notes

The Assurance Of The Cleansing Of Our Sins

Pastor Dan Hammer

Download

1 John 1:5-10

Big Idea: By The Grace Of God We Can Have Fellowship With God As We Confess Our Sins Through Believing In Jesus Christ As Our Lord And Savior

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
– 1 John 5:13

“In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
- John 1:4-5

Two conditions for experiencing fellowship with God:

1) The cleansing of our sin by Jesus through faith (v. 6-7)

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.”
- Colossians 1:21-22

2) The confessing of our sin to Jesus in faith (v. 8-10)

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”
– Mark 1:14-15

Sermon Notes

The Assurance Of Jesus Christ As Eternal Life

Pastor Dan Hammer

Download

1 John 1:1-4; 5:13

Big Idea: Our Confidence In Eternal Life Is Anchored In Our Assurance Of The Divinity, Humanity, And Sufficiency Of Jesus Christ Who Reveals And Provides Our Eternal Life

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
– 1 John 5:13

Our assurance of eternal life (1 John 1:1-4; 5:13)

1) Jesus Christ reveals it: trust and proclaim Him (v. 1-2)

Two ways eternal life is revealed (v. 1-2):
1) Through the incarnation of Jesus

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
– John 1:14

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
– Galatians 4:4-5

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
– 1 John 3:9-10

2) Through the apostles’ proclamation of Jesus

2) Jesus Christ provides it: fellowship and abide in Him (v. 2-4)

Two purposes of the apostles’ proclamation of Jesus as eternal life:
1) So that we will share intimate fellowship with Jesus and other believers (v. 3)
2) So that we will experience completed joy in Jesus (v. 4)

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
- John 15:11

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
- John 15:5

Sermon Notes

Walking Worthy

Pastor Dan Hammer

Download

Ephesians 4:1-16

Big Idea: Walking Worthy In Response To The Gospel Means Faithfully Building The Church Of Jesus Christ As We Collectively Pursue Full Spiritual Maturity In Jesus Christ

In response to who Jesus is to us and what Jesus has done for us:

1) Walk eagerly maintaining the unity that comes through Christ (v. 1-6)

How to walk eagerly maintaining gospel unity daily:
1) Remember the gospel’s impact on me (v. 1)
2) Embrace humility (v. 2)

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
- Philippians 2:5-11

3) Let gentleness define me (v. 2)
4) Live patiently (v. 2)
5) Bear with one another lovingly (v. 2)
6) Unite in the gospel doctrinally (v. 4-6)

2) Walk faithfully building up the body of Christ (v. 7-13)

3) Walk wholeheartedly pursuing full spiritual maturity in Christ (v. 13-16)

4 pursuits of growing in spiritual maturity:
1) Embodying Christlikeness (v. 13)
2) Established in doctrinal stability (v. 12-14)

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
- Colossians 2:6-7

3) Expressing God’s truth lovingly (v. 15)
4) Embracing kingdom responsibility (v. 15-16)

Sermon Notes

Decision Time

Pastor Andrew Watkins

Download

Hosea 13-14

Big Idea: Continuing To Walk In Sinful Foolishness Leads To Destruction, But Turning To Walk In Godly Wisdom Leads To Life

Option #1: Walk in sinful foolishness that leads to destruction. (13:1-16)

How to walk in sinful foolishness:
- Forget God. (13:4-5, 6c)
- Embrace your idols. (13:6)
- Experience sin’s consequences. (13:7-16)

Option #2: Walk in godly wisdom that leads to life. (14:1-9)

How to walk in godly wisdom:
- Return to the Lord through repentance. (14:1-2)
- Reject your idols for good. (14:3)
- Receive the grace of God. (14:4-8)

Sermon Notes

How Can I Give You Up?

Pastor Dan Hammer

Download

Hosea 10-12

Big Idea: There Is No Limit To The Redeeming And Pursuing Love Of Our Heavenly Father For His Children

The limitless and redeeming love of our Heavenly Father (Hosea 11:1-11):

1) The Lord graciously redeems His children out of slavery (11:1-2)

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for this treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were

more in number than any other people that the Lord set His love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that He swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
- Deuteronomy 7:6-8

“This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’”
– Matthew 2:15

“In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
– Galatians 4:3-7

2) The Lord tenderly cares for His Children with kindness (11:3-4)

3) The Lord lovingly confronts the disobedience of His children (11:5-7)

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. ... But He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
- Hebrews 12:5b-6; 10b-11

4) The Lord compassionately restores His children (11:8-11)

Sermon Notes

What Shall I Do With You?

Pastor Dan Hammer

Download

Hosea 6:4-9:17

Big Idea: God Will Lovingly Do Whatever It Takes To Restore And Heal Sinful People

God will do whatever it takes to restore and heal sinful people:

1) God clearly declares His desire (6:4-6)

“And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.'”
– Matthew 22:37-38

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
– Revelation 2:4-5

2) God lovingly reveals sin (7:1b-16)

4 types of sinful unfaithfulness God reveals (7:4-16):
1) Smoldering sin like an oven (7:4-7)
2) Cultural compromise like a burned cake (7:8-10)
3) Fleeting faithfulness like a dove (7:11-12)
4) Warped weapons like a treacherous bow (7:13-16)​

3) God justly executes judgment on sin (8:1-9:17)

4) God graciously restores and heals (6:7-7:1a)

Sermon Notes

The Lord Has A Case

Pastor Dan Hammer

Download

Hosea 4:1-6:3

Big Idea: Our Sin Earns God’s Wrath, But God’s Grace Freely Offers Us New Life

The Lord Has A Case:

1) The Indictment: Because of our sin we deserve God’s wrath (4:1-5:15)

“The Lord, The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty …”
- Exodus 34:6

Our Sin:
1) You sin when you turn from the word of God (4:1-6)
2) You sin when you turn from devotion to God (4:7-11)
3) You sin when you turn to worthless idols (4:12-5:7)
4) You sin when you turn to worldly partnerships (5:13-14)

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
– Romans 1:18

2) Our Defense: Because of God’s grace we can receive new life (5:15-6:3)

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
– 2 Peter 3:9

“but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. 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. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
– Romans 5:8-11

Sermon Notes

A Redeeming God For An Adulterous People

Pastor Dan Hammer

Download

Hosea 1-3

Big Idea: Even Though We Are All Spiritual Adulterers, God Is Our Faithful Redeemer

This Is Our Redeeming God:

1) Even when we are unfaithful, God keeps His covenant promises faithfully (1:1-11)

“I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
- Exodus 6:7

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
- 1 Peter 2:9-10

2) Even when we pursue idolatry, God pursues us lovingly (2:1-3:1)

“Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
- Romans 2:4

3) Even when we are in slavery, God pays our price fully (3:1-5)

Sermon Notes

Are You Governed By God's Word?

Pastor Andrew Watkins

Download

James 1:22-29

Big Idea: Spiritually Healthy Hearts Are Governed By God’s Word

1. Spiritually healthy hearts examine themselves. (22-24)

3 ingredients to a profitable time in God’s Word:
- Have a plan.
- Have a help
- Have an aim.

2. Spiritually healthy hearts exercise themselves. (25)

I-O-U-S for approaching God’s Word:
I - “Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain.” (Psalm 119:36)
O - “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18)
U - “Unite my heart to fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11)
S - “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love.” (Psalm 90:14)
(Piper, John. "Chapter 9." In When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy. 137-54. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013.)

Sermon Notes