🔍 Discover the profound nature of God's infinite knowledge, presence, and power in this inspiring sermon! Elder Cecil Rudd delves into scripture to reveal what it means to be fully known and loved by our great Creator God. Learn how understanding God's omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence can transform our faith and daily lives. Join us as we explore God's greatness, our relationship with Him, and how to live boldly for His glory. #Sermon #Faith #GodsAttributes #Christianity #Inspiration #BiblicalTeaching #GodsPresence #GodsPower #SpiritualGrowth

Are you chasing happiness in all the wrong places? This message explores why those things leave us empty and how only Jesus can truly fill the void. He's not just another answer, He is THE answer. Come discover lasting peace and purpose in Jesus! #Jesus #faith #thewaythetruththelife

The Philippian church held a very special place in the Apostle Paul’s heart. Whenever he thought of them, he was filled with joy and he thanked the Lord for them. What was it that made Paul feel this way? In a word, partnership. This small church was all in just as Paul was all in. There’s something special about the people that go all in with you!

Philippians 1:3-8

#connect4QC #Partnership #Gospel #Mission #ThankYou

Some passages are easy to understand but hard to apply. This passage about overcoming evil with good and leaving vengeance to God is no exception! How is Jesus the model for obeying this easy-to-understand but difficult-to-obey command?

What we believe about God and Jesus and salvation impacts not only our worship and our individual lives, but also how we relate to fellow believers. In this section of Romans 12, Paul lays out marks of true fellowship. Fellowship is so much more than pot luck meals and social gatherings! Romans 12:9-21 pt. 1 #connect4QC #Foundation #Romans #Fellowship #Partnership #Membership

How we think and how we reason in the world is called a worldview. Christians ought to have a biblical worldview, a true worldview. Our salvation ought to impact not only what we do on Sunday mornings, but how we think and how we respond to life 24/7. Do you have a true worldview?

Romans 12:9-21

#connect4QC #Romans #Foundation #Worldview #Good #Evil #Zeal #Prayer #BlessYourEnemies

We serve a mighty God who provides us gifts and power to glorify his name and do good to others!

Episode Description: In today's episode, we delve into Romans 12:3-8, exploring God's sovereignty and how it aligns with the celebration of our graduates. This passage offers profound insights relevant to everyone in the church, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and utilizing our God-given gifts for His glory and the benefit of others. Join us as we unpack these verses and discover practical ways to apply them in our lives.

Key Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

• "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."

Main Points Discussed:

1. God's Sovereignty and Timing:
   • The significance of studying this passage on a day we celebrate our graduates.
   • Understanding that God’s sovereignty places us in specific moments for a reason.
2. The Relevance of the Passage for All:
   • Although the passage is particularly poignant for graduates, it is a message for the entire church.
   • Encouragement for everyone to discover and utilize their spiritual gifts.
3. A Call for Humility and Sober Judgment:
   • Paul’s instruction to not think too highly of ourselves but to have a realistic and humble view.
   • Recognizing that our abilities and accomplishments are by God's grace.
4. Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ:
   • The analogy of the church as one body with many members, each having different functions.
   • The importance of each member’s unique role and the interdependence of the body.
5. Exploring the Gifts Listed:
   • Prophecy: Proclaiming God’s word powerfully.
   • Service: Helping others practically.
   • Teaching: Explaining and breaking down the Word of God.
   • Exhortation: Encouraging and motivating others in their faith.
   • Giving: Generously sharing resources.
   • Leadership: Guiding and directing with zeal.
   • Mercy: Comforting and supporting those in need.
6. Practical Applications:
   • Encouragement to seek and recognize our own gifts.
   • The importance of using our gifts for God’s glory and the good of others.
   • Avoiding comparison with others and focusing on our unique contributions.
7. Final Exhortation:
   • Every believer has a valuable role in the body of Christ.
   • The call to honor God by actively using the gifts He has given us.
   • The blessings and fulfillment that come from serving God and others.

Following Jesus is not meant to be easy. But no one said it has to be drudgery! In today’s passage, we see that a person can get to a place where they want to do what the Lord wants them to do, even the really hard things. You can some to see that the Lord’s will for your life is good and acceptable and perfect. Life is sweet when you do!

Last week, we discovered that true spiritual worship entails offering our bodies as living sacrifices. Today, we delve into the significance of surrendering not just our bodies, but also our minds to the Lord.

• Worship, as we'll explore, is fundamentally a matter of the mind. It involves aligning our thoughts and perspectives with God's, willingly embracing His ways as superior and righteous.

Main Points:

1. Resisting Secularism:

• The command in Romans 12:2 urges believers not to conform to the patterns of this world, particularly to secular ideologies that deny spiritual truths.
• Secularism, driven by materialism and skepticism, promotes values contrary to God's Word. As Christians, we're called to resist conformity to these worldly standards.
• By recognizing our identity as children of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds, we can break free from the grip of secular influences.

2. Allowing Transformation:

• Transformation occurs not through our own efforts, but through the work of the Holy Spirit. It's a process of becoming increasingly like Christ, guided by the Word of God.
• As we behold the glory of the Lord, our minds are renewed and our lives gradually conform to His image. This transformation is ongoing and empowered by God's Spirit.

3. Embracing a Biblical Worldview:

• The Word of God plays a crucial role in renewing our minds and shaping our worldview. It displaces secular ideas and aligns our thinking with God's truth.
• Through consistent study, reflection, and meditation on Scripture, we deepen our understanding of God's will and develop discernment.

4. Discerning God's Will:

• Discerning God's will involves actively testing and trusting His guidance. It's a process of seeking alignment with His purposes and surrendering our desires to His.
• Four key questions aid in discernment:
  • Assessing open doors and opportunities
  • Examining Scripture for guidance
  • Seeking wisdom from trusted mentors
  • Considering personal desires in light of God's will

Conclusion:

• Delighting in the Lord and surrendering to His will are central to discerning and embracing God's perfect plan for our lives.
• As we allow our minds to be transformed and our desires aligned with God's, we find fulfillment and purpose in living according to His good, acceptable, and perfect will.
• Ultimately, the path of obedience leads to a life characterized by joy, peace, and a deep sense of fulfillment in serving the Lord.

Romans 12:2

#connect4QC #Foundation #Romans #GodsWill #BeTransformed #NonConformity #Secularism #Godliness #Holiness #RightLiving

To you know what worship is? No, really? Do you know what the bible calls worship? Spoiler alert: it’s not just singing. In fact, it’s not even primarily singing. It’s way more than that! Check it out!

Romans 12:1

#connect4QC #Romans #Foundation #Worship #FullSurrender #LivingSacrifice

Podcast Title: From Doxology to Life: Understanding True Worship

Episode Date: May 5, 2024

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Speaker: Pastor Brian Smith

Church: Wildwood Church, East Moline, Illinois

Introduction:

• Missionary update: Sending missionaries to Southeast Asia.
• Church commitment to sending missionaries to unreached people groups.
• Goal of sending 50 church members to the nations in the next 20+ years.
• Transition from doxology to living out the gospel.

Main Points:

1. An Apostolic Appeal:

• Paul's heartfelt plea to believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices.
• Appeal rooted in God's mercy and believers' identity as co-heirs with Christ.
• Emphasis on laying down lives for God's will, not just following commands.

2. From Doxology to Life:

• Right doctrine leads to right worship, which leads to right living.
• Worship defined as offering one's body as a living sacrifice, not just singing.
• True worship involves total commitment and faithful living for God.

3. Understanding Worship:

• Worship is more than singing; it's offering oneself wholly to God.
• Idolatry defined as trusting in created things over the Creator.
• True worship is giving life to God in service, finding hope and happiness in Him.

4. Shallow Theology Replaces God:

• Shallow thinking about God leads to idolatry of self-made gods.
• Danger of forming a god to fit personal preferences rather than true worship.
• Worship not about rituals or piety, but submitting to God's will.

5. Our Living Sacrifice, Imitating the Supreme Sacrifice:

• Christ's sacrifice on the cross as the model for believers.
• Offering bodies as living sacrifices includes sexual purity, wise stewardship of time, and sober-mindedness.
• True worship extends beyond Sunday gatherings to daily living.

6. From Time to Time, We're Going to Blow It:

• Acknowledgment of human imperfection and need for repentance.
• Assurance of God's acceptance despite failures.
• Commitment to gather with contrite hearts, offering imperfect worship with gratitude and repentance.

Conclusion:

• True worship involves offering our lives to God daily, not just singing on Sundays.
• Understanding worship as total commitment and faithful living for God's glory.
• Encouragement to live as living sacrifices, imitating Christ's example in daily life.

After spending eleven chapters laying out the doctrine of God’s salvation, Paul erupts with praise. That’s the way it ought to go in our lives. Right doctrine leads us to right doxology. If our doctrine isn’t leading us to praise the glory of God, we’re doing it wrong!

Romans 11:33-36

Podcast Episode Title: From Doctrine to Doxology

Scripture Passage: Romans 11:33-36

Date: April 28, 2024

Speaker: Pastor Brian Smith

Church: Wildwood Church, East Moline, Illinois

Introduction:

• Paul transitions from doctrine to doxology, moving from laying out the doctrine of salvation to erupting in praise.
• Right doctrine should lead to right doxology, praising the glory of God.

Key Points:

1. The Depth of God's Riches, Wisdom, and Knowledge (Romans 11:33)

• Paul marvels at the richness, wisdom, and knowledge of God.
• Our boasting should be in understanding and knowing God (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
• God's riches, expressed in His grace, surpass human comprehension (Ephesians 3:8).

2. The Unsearchable Judgments and Inscrutable Ways of God (Romans 11:34)

• God's wisdom is beyond human understanding, as seen in His plan to save both Jews and Gentiles.
• Attempting to counsel God reveals our limited perspective (Isaiah 40:13).
• Our prayers may not change God's plans, but they change us, drawing us closer to Him.

3. Everything Comes from God and Leads to His Glory (Romans 11:36)

• All things originate from God and exist through Him (John 1:3).
• The vastness of the universe reflects God's glory (Psalm 19:1).
• The ultimate purpose of all things, including salvation, is to bring glory to God.

Conclusion:

• Our understanding of God's depth, wisdom, and knowledge should lead us to praise Him.
• As creatures created by God, our ultimate purpose is to glorify Him.
• To God be the glory forever!

Bibliography:

• Bruce, F. F. (2008). Romans: An introduction and commentary.
• Doriani, D. M. (2021). Romans.
• Hughes, Kent R. (1991). Romans – Righteousness from Heaven.
• Kruse, Colin G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
• Longenecker, Richard N. (2016). The Epistle to the Romans.
• MacArthur, John. (1991). Romans 1-8.
• MacArthur, John. (1991). Romans 9-16.
• Moo, Douglas J. (2018). The Letter to the Romans, Second Edition.
• Mounce, Robert. (1995). Romans.
• Schreiner, Thomas R. (2018). Romans, Second Edition.
• Sproul, R. C. (2019). The Righteous Shall Live By Faith – Romans.