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The Sycamore Message
The Sycamore Message episodes
- 49 min
- 49 min
- Resurrection: Body of Evidence
Pastor Eric Burton
April 20, 2025 - Easter SundayMatthew 27:57-64
As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching. The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”42 min - A Necessary Praise
The Sycamore Church - Palm Sunday: A Necessary Praise
Pastor Eric Burton
4/13/25Matthew 21:9
Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!”59 min - 39 min
- A Cure For Itching Ears
How many enjoy a good comeback story?
A Sycamore Quality: Celebration. We believe church should be a place to celebrate what Jesus is doing.Today we are on our final installment in the Romans series. We’re going to begin with Paul’s instruction and end with victory!The responsibility of believers:Romans 16:17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.49 min - 46 min
- Romans: Detours
March 16, 2025 - Pastor Eric Burton - Romans 15:23-33
But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you. I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey. But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together. Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem. Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other. And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.
51 min - Romans: Just A Reminder
Romans 15 - Pastor Eric Burton
Romans 15:14-22
I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.” In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.Romans 15:14-22
Context: Paul’s main audience here is Gentiles, or people that are not Jewish.
Vs. 14 Paul is confident in his work among the Gentiles.
He was confident they were full of goodness. Despite the many issues he had to address in the church they were ultimately full of goodness. And not their own goodness but it is believed he is referring to the same goodness as a fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians.5:22 .This goodness was not their own but the goodness of God in them.
Vs. 15 You just need a reminder.Paul is telling us why he wrote this letter to the church at Rome. He is bold in his approach because they know what they should do but may not be living them out.You are able to teach others but you just need a reminder. We don’t always need to learn something new we just need a reminder of something we
already know. There is a dynamic difference between teaching someone else what you know and actually living it out.Paul is even careful not to preach to others and miss out on the power of the gospel himself.
1 Corinthians 9:27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Vs. 16-17
“Things pertaining to God”.Paul refers to his work among the Gentiles as a minister pertaining to the things of God. This word minister is translated the same as priestly ministry.Priests made sacrifices for God so that people could be made right.Paul borrows this interesting phrase service of God, or things pertaining to God from the book of Hebrews to refer to mosaic code of sacrifices.
Paul craftily weaves this phrase here in chapter 15 to show just as God used priests in the Old Testament to make sacrifices to forgive sins, he has used him to show the Gentiles that Jesus is their sacrifice for sin.
He wants it known that I am only doing the work of a priest but it is God that does the saving.The preaching of the gospel should be confirmed.
Mark 16:20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.God uses me in spite of me.
Paul was very successful and gifted in his ministry but very careful to mention that it was God working through him in spite of himself.
The work of God was demonstrated with miraculous signs and wonders.
One of the most effective forms of evangelism is miracles, signs and wonders. Some people believe those works are over but they are what confirms the preaching of the gospel.Mark 16:20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
Paul is saying I made sure to present the gospel of Jesus Christ whenever miracles started occurring.Miracles should never be in and of themselves the pinnacle of a ministry lest we get arrogant thinking we did something great. Miracle should always be accompanied with the Good News. People should always hear about Jesus, the greatest miracle worker.
Furthermore, Paul says, “In this way” I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. Everywhere Paul preached miracles followed.
1000 miles between Jerusalem and Illyricum. No matter the race or nationality the power of God and the good news translates. It works for the Jew and the Gentile
Vs. 20-22 Paul’s ambition for mission
One of the most sobering verses in the BibleThe Apostle Paul wanted to preach the Gospel where people had never heard about Jesus. He is quoting from Isaiah 52:15 to illustrate his ministry. For they will see what they have not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about. The power of the gospel is thatJesus is revealing himself to people where a preacher has never been. He doesn’t want to build on what another man has built. He only wants to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.Bring it home
Next week we get to look at Paul's travel plans to bring the gospel and how plans don’t always turn out like we intended. Paul is reminding the church at Rome with diverse culture and demographics that God has done a work in you. Whether you were Jew of Roman you needed Jesus.Ephesians 2:17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Whether you were NEAR or FAR from Jesus we were all the same distance from hell.
50 min - Rules of Engagement - Part II
The Sycamore Church - Romans 14 - Pastor Eric Burton
Romans 14:12-23
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.Today let's see where this applies to our life in respect to other believers. I don’t want us leaving here just knowing what the observation and interpretation are but the application as well. How does this apply to my life?
Key Verse: Romans 14:12-23
Sycamore Church Value: Be loyal. Accept other believers where they are and be willing to walk with them when we don’t see eye to eye.
1. Prefer other believers. Vs. 14-21
• “ In and of itself” There are lots of things in and of themselves that are not bad. If you were to take it out of the context of it’s stereotype it’s not evil. It comes down to the context of a thing. Of course, we know there are things “in and of themselves” that are evil.• The “strong” believer has a responsibility to not exercise their liberties in front of a “weak” believer as it says in vs. 2. 1 Corinthians 8:1-32. Don't ruin what God is doing. Vs. 15.
• If we don't understand the terms of the new covenant we risk the chance of destroying the work of God. The church in Rome were in danger of destroying the work of God because of differences. (ROMANS 14: 20)• One might say the weaker believer just needs to grow up and not get offended. True, but we’re not talking about someone simply getting upset. This is about a practice that overlaps worship with God and someone’s old life. This has to do with someone that hasn’t quite come to the place where you are.• Is there anything you used to do in the world that you see being done in the church?• Don’t let your freedom ruin what Christ did to make someone else free.3. Keep your liberties to yourself. Vs. 22
4. Don’t violate your conscience. Vs. 22-23
• If you think it’s right then don’t feel guilty• If you think it’s wrong then don’t do it. If you do, You’re trespassing your own conscience thus sinning against yourself. God makes things acceptable, not man.I know we're not fighting over meat. 1Corinthians 8:4 So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.Examples of meat: Something acceptable in the church and the world. Politics, style of music, organized sports, TV, riding a Harley Davidson, dancing…5. People are not meat.
•God shows Peter a vision in Acts 10:28 of a sheet of different meats. Peter's religious custom said you can't eat those kinds of meats. But God is not talking about meat, HE'S TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE HE DIED FOR. (ROMANS 14:15)God is wanting to use you to bring people into His kingdom today. If Peter had rejected what God was doing Cornelius and his family may not have come to Jesus.Let’s go back to the beginning of our text
6. Focus on yourself.• Vs. 10-12 Every knee will bow. Everyone will give a personal account.Paul is speaking to the weaker brother here. A reference back to vs. 2 in this chapter when Paul tells those who don’t do certain things must not condemn those who do. Why do you judge each other over non-essential matters when God is going to judge us all on essential matters? Focus on yourself.• INSTEAD live in such a way that doesn’t cause other believers to stumble and fall. This stumble and fall is much more serious than just hurting someone’s feelings. It's about you causing them to leave the faith; to destroy the work God has begun in them.• It may feel unfair to watch what you do for the sake of someone else’s faith, but the sacrifice will be worth it all. These present sufferings won’t compare to the glory we will share. Romans 8:8Give Today!
https://www.thesycamore.net/giving52 min
About The Sycamore Message
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The Sycamore Message from Pastor Eric Burton, Helping People See Jesus, Know God, Find Freedom, and Discover Purpose.