Sermons

The Son Of God

Don Webster

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1 John 5:6-12

Big Idea: Jesus Was, Is, And Always Will Be The Son Of God And Only He Provides Salvation And Eternal Life

“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

1. The testimony of the baptism of Jesus, crucifixion of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit all prove the deity of Jesus (6-8).

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”
- Matthew 3:13-17

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.”
- Matthew 27:45

“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’”
- Matthew 27:51-54

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
- John 15:26

“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
- 1 Peter 1:21

2. The testimony of God the Father proves the deity of Jesus (9-10).

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”
- Matthew 17:1-7

“God is to be believed if all men contradict him. ‘Let God be true, and every man a liar.’ One word of God ought to sweep away ten thousand words of men, whether they be philosophers of today or sages of antiquity. God’s word is against them all, for He knows infallibly. Of his own Son he knows as none else can; of our condition before him he knows. There is nothing in God that could lead Him to err or make a mistake – and it were blasphemy to suppose that He would mislead us. It were an insult to him, such as we may not venture to perpetrate for a moment, that He would willfully mislead his poor creatures by a proclamation of mercy which meant nothing, or by presenting to them a Christ who could not redeem them. The gospel with God for its witness cannot be false. Whatever may be the witness against it, the witness of God is greater! We must believe the witness of God.”
(C.H. Spurgeon, Faith, and the Witness Upon Which It Is Founded)

3. Our personal testimony of conversion and the gift of eternal life prove the deity of Jesus. (10-12)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
- Galatians 5:22-23

Sermon Notes

An Overcoming Faith

Pastor Dan Hammer

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1 John 5:1-5

Big Idea: Children Of God Walk In Victory As They Place Their Faith Fully In Jesus: In His Sovereignty, Divinity, And Finished Work On Calvary

Our Battle Plan:

1) Right doctrine: true faith in Jesus (v. 1a, 4-5)

True faith in Jesus (v. 1a, 5):
1) Personally believes that Jesus is the Christ (v. 1a)
2) Personally believes that Jesus is the Son Of God (v. 5)

2) Right love: true faith evidenced through our love of God and others (v. 1b-4)

3) Right obedience: true faith evidenced through obeying God’s commands (v. 2-5)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
– Ephesians 2:8-10

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Easter Sunday - You Are Loved!

Pastor Dan Hammer

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1 John 4:7-21

Big Idea: The Love Of God Changes Everything!

The Life-Changing Love Of God:
1) Provides us new life through believing in Him (v. 7-10; 15-16)

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’”
– John 11:25-27

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
– John 10:10

2) Provides us a new way of life through abiding in Him (v. 11-21)

5 Resurrected-Life Realities (v. 11-21):
1) We experience the perfection of the love of God (v. 11-12)
2) We are filled with God (v. 13)

“In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.”
– Ephesians 1:13-14

3) We get to testify faithfully about God (v. 14-16)
4) We are filled with confidence for the upcoming day of judgement before God (v. 17-18)
5) We must obey Jesus’ command to love others like God (v. 19-21)

Sermon Notes

Good Friday - What Happened On The Cross

Pastor Andrew Watkins

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2 Corinthians 5:21

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:21

1. The purpose of the cross: reconciliation with God (21a)

2. The process of the cross: substitutionary atonement (21b)

3. The present of the cross: imputed righteousness (21c)

Sermon Notes

Test And See

Pastor Dan Hammer

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1 John 4:1-6

Big Idea: A True And Faithful Teacher From God Possesses The Spirit Of God And Confesses That Jesus Christ Is The Incarnate Son Of God

Test and See:

1) Truth 1: Jesus is the Christ, the incarnate Son of God, Who came to save us (v. 2-3)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
- John 3:16

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
- John 14:6

2) Truth 2: The power of God in us is greater than the one who opposes us (v. 4)

Life-Transforming Gospel Assurances (v. 4):
1) Our new identity
2) Our eternal victory

“See what kinds of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are!”
- 1 John 3:1

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33

3) Truth 3: Faithful teachers from God teach God’s truth accurately to us (v. 5-6)

Sermon Notes

How's Your Love Life?

Pastor Dan Hammer

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1 John 3:11-24

Big Idea: Loving Like Jesus Is Evidence That We Have Eternal Life Through Jesus

How’s your love life?:

1) Am I obeying Christ’s mandate of love? (v. 11-15)

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked him (Jesus), a question to test Him. ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ 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. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”
- Matthew 22:35-40

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
– John 13:34-35

“In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.’ Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.”
– Genesis 4:3-8

“’You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.’”
– Matthew 5:21-22a

2) Am I following Christ’s model of love? (v. 16)

“But God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.”
– Ephesians 2:4-5

How to follow Christ’s model of love:
1) Look Back
2) Look Out
3) Look Up
4) Lay Down
5) Live Out

3) Am I living out Christ’s mission of love? (v. 17-18)

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
– James 2:15-17

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
– Galatians 6:10

4) Am I marked by the reassurance of Christ’s love? (v. 18-24)

3 Reassurances For Our Heart:
1) Our position is secure before God (v. 19-20)
2) Our prayers are answered by God (v. 21-22)
3) The abiding presence of God (v. 23-24)

Sermon Notes

Say "No" To Sin

Pastor Andrew Watkins

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1 John 2:28-3:3

Big Idea: Jesus Has Rescued Us From Sin So We May Walk As Saints

1) Recognize the wickedness of sin. (4, 7-8a)
- Sin is defiance. (4)
- Sin is deceptive. (7-8a)

2) Remember the work of the Savior. (5, (8b)
- Jesus came to deliver us from sin. (5)
- Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan. (8b)

3) Readily walk like a saint. (6, 9-10)
- Saints experience new liberty. (6)
- Saints enjoy new life. (9)
- Saints express new loves. (10)

Sermon Notes

Living Confidently As A Member Of God's Family

Pastor Dan Hammer

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1 John 2:28-3:3

Big Idea: Children Of God Can Live Confidently As They Abide In Christ Continually, Hope In Christ’s Coming Assuredly, And Pursue Christlikeness Faithfully

As A Child Of God:

1) You can be confident at Christ’s second coming (2:28-29)

“For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His father with the holy angels.”
– Mark 8:38

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. ... Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
- John 3:3, 5-6

2 Evidences Of Being Born Of God:
1) Abiding in Jesus continually (2:28)
2) Practicing the righteousness of Jesus faithfully (2:29)

2) You can be confident in your belonging (2:29-3:1)

3) You can be confident in who you are becoming (3:2)

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:12

“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:52-53

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”
– Philippians 3:20-4:1

4) You can be confident in what you are pursuing (3:3)

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
– 1 Peter 1:14-16

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
– Colossians 3:1-4

Sermon Notes

The Assurance Of Abiding

Pastor Dan Hammer

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1 John 2:15-27

Big Idea: Abiding In God Is The Antidote To The Counterfeit Allurements Of The Ways And Words Of The World

“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

Two Loving Warnings:

1) Don’t pursue counterfeit worldly allurements: they won’t satisfy or last (v. 15-17)

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
– Matthew 6:24

3 Reasons why the world won’t satisfy you (v. 15-17)
1) The world can’t meet your greatest need (v. 15)
2) The world’s allurements aren’t sufficient for you (v. 16)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
- Matthew 5:27-28

3) The world can’t give you what will last (v. 17)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
– Matthew 5:6

2) Don’t believe counterfeit truth: it can’t give you eternal life or true fellowship (v. 18-27)

The antidote of abiding:
1) Abide in God the Holy Spirit (v. 20, 27)

“These things I have spoken to you while I am with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
– John 14:25-26

2) Abide in God’s truth (v. 20-21; 24, 27)
3) Abide in God the Father (v. 23-24)
4) Abide in God’s promise of eternal life (v. 24-25)
5) Abide in God the Son, Jesus Christ (v. 24, 27)

“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. …. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
– John 15:5,10-11

Sermon Notes

The Test Of Love

Nate Pyne

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1 John 2:7-14

Big Idea: God's Command To Love Exposes Those In Darkness And Assures Those Who Truly Know Him

1. We are commanded to love. (7-8)

2. We are exposed by our love. (9-11)

3. We are assured of God's love. (12-14)

Sermon Notes