Easter Sermon From March 23

Paradise Regained
Easter 2008

Ephesians 2: 1 - 10

1. When we chose sin we lost paradise and became objects of God's wrath. The penalty for that wrath is death. Romans 6:23
2. Jesus' death satisfied God's wrath.
3. When we believe in Jesus and place our trust in him, we receive the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. In other words, we will be resurrected from the dead.
4. Death is separation from God and I will never again be separated from God.
5. This doesn't mean we won't have trials, but it means we live our lives knowing we are alive forever in paradise.
6. God has work for us to do. We are not puppets or pets, we are participants in his Kingdom.

Sermon from March 16

The Messiah and King
Palm Sunday 08

Matthew 21: 1 - 17

1. (review) God has provided a way to return to paradise for those who trust him. The price is going to be high, but God has provided a substitute sacrifice. Only those who have faith will enter.
2. Jesus entered Jerusalem as our King and Messiah. A King with the power to bring us into heaven, and a Messiah who paid the price with his own blood.
3. The way back to paradise is not through religion; it is through a relationship with God himself. (Jesus was angry toward the religious leaders of the day because they were pious, but their hearts were far from God...)
4. Being religious will never be enough to get us back to paradise.
5. The only way back is by being born again. John 3:3
6. Our church must always be called a house of prayer.

Sermon from March 9

Third Redemption
God Will Provide a Rest

Exodus 12: 31 - 42

1. One of the most important events in the History of Israel was when God set them free from Slavery.
2. This symbolizes that God will use supernatural means to set us free from slavery to sin. John 8: 34 - 36 (The Israelites were not enslaved because they were sinful, but Jesus says we are a slave to sin if we commit sin...)
3. The enemies of God will face his wrath.
4. There is another warning attached to this story: Almost every adult Israelite died in the desert because of his unbelief. Numbers 14:29
5. There is a desert of testing between when we are set free and when we arrive in paradise. Do not abandon your faith or harden your heart toward God. Hebrews 3: 12 - 15
6. Jesus died to set everyone free, but only those who put their trust in him will enter his rest. Hebrews 3: 16 - 19

One of the points I am making here is that we are not taken directly to heaven (paradise) when we accept Christ and become Christians. We have a life to live here on earth first. I believe true salvation is secure in Christ, but many prove that their trust in Christ is not authentic because they do not stick with it when it gets tough. The testing we go through as Christians is not to make us fail, but to show us and others that our faith is real.

Sermon from March 2

Second Redemption
God will Provide a Substitute Sacrifice

Genesis 22: 1 - 19

1. Our return to paradise is going to be costly.
2. The price must be paid in blood. Hebrews 9:22
Bloodshed means a life is given. Romans 6:23
3. This story shows that we must put God first in our lives, even above the gifts he has given us. Exodus 20:3
4. We must have faith to satisfy God, even if it doesn't make sense to us. Hebrews 11: 17 - 19.
5. The good news is that God has provided a worthy sacrifice who shed his blood so that we return to paradise. Hebrews 10:14
6. Our part of the covenant is to believe and obey.

Sermon from February 24

The First Redemption
God Will Provide a Way for Salvation

1 Peter 3: 17 - 22

1. The story of Noah shows us that God will punish the disobedient. Genesis 6: 6 – 8
2. Remember, God loves us and created us for paradise. But paradise requires holiness and only the perfect may live there. Jude 24
3. This story also shows that God will save those who put their trust in him.
John 6: 28, 29, Hebrews 11: 7
4. God is Holy, but extends his mercy to the righteous, and that comes by placing our faith in him.
5. The water is symbolic of baptism. Noah was saved in the water, we are saved by making a pledge to God. A pledge to accept the gift of salvation because of the resurrection of Christ.

Notes: There was no February 17th sermon because my wife, Jodi, had another seizure on Saturday. She's okay, but we weren't able to go to church.

I'm preaching a series about how and why we lost Paradise and how the Bible teaches we can regain it. This series will conclude on Easter Sunday.

Sermon from February 10

Paradise Lost

Genesis 3: 8 - 24

1. You were created to live in paradise. God loves you and wants you to be completely happy.
2. If God hadn’t given us the choice to sin, we would be his puppets, or pets.
3. Love is only real if it is given freely. God had to give us the choice so our love would be real.
4. The price we pay is living in a cursed world.
5. But we can regain paradise by humbling ourselves and, by faith, accepting God’s grace. Ephesians 2: 8, 9
6. The Bible shows us how to get back to the Garden. Revelation 22:2 - 3

Sermon from February 3, 08

Many Parts, One Body

Romans 12: 1 - 8

a. There are many of us, and we are all different, but we form one body.
b. Not all body parts are the same, but each one has a purpose.
c. God has given each of us gifts to use in building the Kingdom.
1. Prophesying is basically preaching.
2. Service. Jesus said the greatest of all is a servant of all. Matthew 20:26
3. Teaching. James said not everyone should teach. James 3:1
4. Encouraging. Our words should always edify one another. Ephesians 4:29
5. Contributing. God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
6. Leadership. We should lead by example. Philippians 3:17
7. Showing mercy. Be a “good Samaritan”. Luke 10: 30 – 37