Sermons

Titus 1:1-4

Big Idea: Spiritual Maturity Equips Me To Live Missionally And Enables Me To Live Courageously

Marks Of Spiritual Maturity:

1) Clarity Of Identity (v. 1)

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 3:11

2) Growing In Godliness Daily (v. 1)

“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) Hope Eternally (v. 1-3)

Biblical Hope = my confident expectation for the future anchored in the character of God and the promises of God

Sources For My Hope Today:
1) Placing My Confidence In God’s Character (v. 2)
2) Resting In Christ’s Righteousness (v. 2-3)
3) Trusting In God’s Truth (v. 1)
4) Finding My Peace In God’s Promises (v. 2)
5) Embracing Biblical Community (v. 3)
6) Gospel Centrality (v. 3-4)

Matthew 28:18-20

“And I tell you ... I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
– Matthew 16:18

“So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known ...”
- Ephesians 3:10

Big Idea: The Pursuits Of My Life Must Flow From The Priorities Of Jesus’ Heart

The Great Commission (From Marvin Newell’s Commissioned):
1) The Model For The Mission (John 20:21)
2) The Magnitude Of The Mission (Mark 16:15)
3) The Methodology of the Mission (Matthew 28:18-20)
4) The Message Of The Mission (Luke 24:44-48)
5) The Means Of The Mission (Acts 1:8)

A True Disciple: An authentic follower of Jesus Christ who is committed to daily worshipping Christ, walking with Christ, and working for Christ

Lord, Please Make Me A Disciple That:

1) Doesn’t Settle And Continually Pursues What Is Great (v. 18-20)

“And to Him (Jesus) was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
- Daniel 7:14

2) Doesn’t Stray And Faithfully Pursues Your Plan (v. 18-20)

3 Disciple-Making Essentials:
1) Intentional Living (v. 19)
2) Immediate Obedience (v. 19)
3) Instilling Doctrine (v. 20)

1 Samuel 31

Big Idea: The Heart Of The Matter Is That My Heart Must Be Right With God

1. The hard truth: My sin comes with a price. (1-6)

3 truths about death from God’s Word:
- God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. (Ezek. 33:11)
- God views as precious the death of His saints. (Ps. 116:15)
- All will die and then stand in judgment before God. (Heb. 9:27)

2. The hope truth: King Jesus is my only hope. (7-13)

1 Samuel 30

Big Idea: When I Don’t Know What Else To Do I Can Always Trust God To See Me Through

“Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He will act.”
- Psalm 37:5

When I Don’t Know What Else To Do:

1) Find My Strength In God (v. 1-6)

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
- Isaiah 64:8

2) Get My Answers From God (v. 7-8)

3) Follow The Leading Of God (v. 9-15)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
- Psalm 119:105

4) Experience Restoration Through God (v. 16-20)

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

5) Live Generously As A Testimony For God (v. 21-31)

1 Samuel 26 & 28

Big Idea: Hope In My Struggle Comes As I Anchor In My Savior

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
- Hebrews 6:19-20

Hope In My Struggle:

1) Anchor My Heart In God’s Promises (27:1-12)

Lies I Often Believe:
1) God’s promises can’t/won’t hold true for me (v. 1)
2) God is not enough for me (v. 1)
3) I must turn to the world for help (v. 1)
4) I must save myself (v. 2; 8-11)

“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 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. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 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.”
- Joshua 1:7-9

5) Earthly success is the ultimate remedy for me (27:12-28:2)

2) Anchor My Mind In God’s Grace (29:1-11)

“And from His (Jesus’) fullness we have all received grace upon grace.”
- John 1:16

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter out Amen to God for His glory.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:20

God’s Grace:
1) Saves me (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2) Strengthens & Sustains Me (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
3) Sanctifies Me (Titus 2:11-14)

2 Chronicles 6:1-21; 7:1-3

Big Idea: Though We Can Be Terrible Roommates, God Has Chosen To Live With Humanity Because Of His Never-Failing Love

Solomon…

1. Rehearsed God’s faithfulness. (6:4–17)

(Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 36:5; Lamentations 3:21–23)

2. Recognized God’s transcendence. (6:18)

(Psalm 11:4; Isaiah 66:1–2; Isaiah 40:18–23)

3. Relied upon God’s steadfast love. (6:14, 19–21; 6:42–7:3)

(Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 36:5; Lamentations 3:21–23)

But, is there any hope that God would dwell with humanity again? Yes!

A. In Jesus, God dwelt with humanity.

(Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14; John 2:13–22; Colossians 2:9)

B. In the church, God dwells with humanity.

(1 Corinthians 3::16–17; Ephesians 2:19–22)

C. In the earth, God will one day dwell with humanity. (Revelation 21:1–3)

The gospel is the message about God’s pursuit of you and me to dwell with us because of his never-failing love. As we rehearse God’s promises in Christ, recognize his holiness and our sinfulness, and rely upon Christ’s steadfast love for us, we get to enjoy his presence in us now and forevermore!

1 Samuel 26-27

Big Idea: In Times Of Trouble, Turning To God Always Provides Me Deliverance Through God

In My Trouble:

1) Turning To God In Surrender Leads To Deliverance (26:1-25)

Biblical Principles For My Perseverance:
1) Don’t Walk Alone (v. 6)
2) Be Led By The Holy Spirit Not By Circumstances (v. 8-9)
3) Follow God’s Word Over Man’s Word (v. 8-11)
4) Cling To God’s Character For Confidence In The Crisis (v. 10, 21-25)

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.”
– Psalm 121 1:1-3

2) Surrender Is The Heart Posture That Unleashes God’s Power (v. 9-10, 23-24)

“But He (The Lord) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
– 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

3) Turning Away From God In Rebellion Leads To Destruction (28:3-25)

1 Samuel 25

Big Idea: Wisdom Focuses On God’s Pre-Eminence In The Face Of Man’s Foolishness

Walking In Wisdom:

1) Respond Biblically & Not Fleshly To Difficulty & Hostility (25:1-13; 21-22)

“The fool says in his heart, ’There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.’”
- Psalm 14:1

2) Trust God Wholeheartedly In The Face Of Adversity (25:14-44)

Biblical Wisdom: applying the knowledge God gives me as I submit my heart, mind, decisions, & life under the authority of God’s Word & surrender every area of my life to follow & obey the leading of the Holy Spirit

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Truths I Can Trust In The Face Of Adversity:
1) God’s Promises (v. 28)
2) God’s Purposes (v. 28)
3) God’s Provision (v. 29)
4) God’s Power (v. 30)

1 Samuel 24

Big Idea: God’s Way Is Rarely The Easy Way, But It’s Always The Right And Best Way

3 Declarations Of A Disciple:

1) I Will Listen To The Words Of Christ Over The Words Of The Crowd (24:1-7)

Erroneous Excuses For My Sinful Behavior:
1) Deflections
2) Rationalizations
3) Justifications

2) I Will Look To Christ For Direction Not My Circumstances (24:4-7; Psalm 54)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
– Romans 12:2

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
– Hebrews 12:1-3

“For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
- Hebrews 4:15-16

3) I Will Let The Lord Be The Judge Not Me (24:8-22)

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
- Romans 12:12

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will reply, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’”
- Romans 12:17-21

1 Samuel 23

Big Idea: God Calls His People To Walk In The Way Of Wisdom Even When Life Gets Hard

The way of wisdom says…

1. I will do the right thing, even when it’s not my responsibility. (1-5)

2. I will submit to God’s Word, even if I don’t like what it says. (6-14)

3. I will live in biblical community, even when I find it inconvenient. (15-18)

4. I will press on in faith, even when it seems like a retreat. (19-29)