Sermon from September 30

The Five Purposes of the Church

Matthew 25: 31 - 46

1. One of the purposes of the church is ministry.
2. Because the church is the body of Christ, we must continue what be began.
3. We do not earn salvation by doing good, but the righteous will do good.
4. Jesus gives specific examples of what we must be about as a church:
5. Feed the hungry and thirsty.
6. Being kind to strangers, to the point of welcoming them into our space.
7. Providing clothing to those in need.
8. Visiting the sick and those in prison.

The purposes are: ministry, fellowship, worship, evangelism and discipleship.

Sermon from September 23

The Temptations of Christ

Matthew 4: 1 - 11

1. Temptation 1: To be our own god.
a. Instead of trusting God, we take matters into our own hands.
2. Temptation 2: To test our God.
a. To ask God to protect us, then behave foolishly, forcing God to intervene.
3. Temptation 3: To worship another god.
a. To get our fulfillment from the world and not from God. To worship or create any idol, including materialism.

How do we defeat these temptations?
1. Know the scripture.
2. Know how much God loves us.
3. Understand that our purpose is to walk with God.

Sermon from September 16

Joseph: A Man of Dreams

Genesis 45: 1 - 11

1. God uses all circumstances for his ultimate purposes.
2. God's ultimate purpose is to save us and make us like Christ. (Romans 8: 28 - 30)
3. Joseph was treated horribly by his brothers, deceitfully by Potiphar's wife, and unfairly by Potiphar. God allowed it.
4. Joseph was forgotten by the cupbearer for two years. But God did not forget him.
5. Joseph suffered for about 15 years, but he ruled over Egypt for 80 years.
6. Joseph had to suffer, but it saved his entire family.
Genesis 50: 19, 20

Sermon from September 9

I preached this sermon because I got a visit from the Jehovah's Witnesses last Saturday morning. These were the arguments I used to show them that Jesus is not an archangel, but God in the flesh. This is my listening guide from the sermon.

The Ancient of Days

Mark 2: 1 - 12

1. Only God can forgive sins. Jesus is clearly claiming to be God.
2. Jesus said he was I Am (John 8:58) (See Exodus 3: 14)
3. John said Jesus was God (John 1:1)
4. Paul said nothing was created that Jesus didn't create. (Colossians 1: 15 - 17) This also means that Jesus was not created - He is the creator.
5. Jesus accepted worship (Matthew14:33)
6. The Son of Man is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13) Jesus referred to himself this way 83 times in the Gospels.
7. Stephen prayed to Jesus. (Acts 7:59) Jews know you are only to pray to God.
8. Why does it matter what we believe about this? First, we do not want to call Jesus a liar. Second, this shows the true penalty for sin and the price God paid for it.

Sermon from September 2

The Temptation to Look Down

Galatians 2: 11 - 21

1. It is difficult, even for Christians, to stop looking down on others.
2. It makes us feel better about ourselves to think of others as sinners or wrong.
3. Legalistic people tend to think of themselves as more righteous than others.
4. Paul says God's Law shows us that we are sinners too.
5. Following the Law cannot save us; only faith in Christ could ever do that.
6. Placing our faith in Christ means we trade our old lives for the new one He gives.
7. When someone demands that you be perfect, he is saying the Jesus' death means nothing.
Romans 6: 1 - 4