Sermon from November 15th

The Jerusalem Council

Acts 15: 1 - 11

1. This happened 17 years after Jesus' resurrection. Christianity is spreading into Gentile territory. Since Jesus was a Jew, should Gentiles have to follow Jewish rules to be saved?
2. So how did Jesus say a person is saved?
a. He said whoever believes in Him has eternal life. John 3:16
b. He said the work that God requires is to believe. John 6: 28, 29
c. He said to repent and believe. Mark 1: 15
3. Peter said the proof that they had been saved was that they had received the Holy Spirit.
4. No one can follow all of God's Law. We would be in trouble if that was how we were saved.
5. The good news is that we are saved by the grace of Jesus.
6. We must believe to receive God's grace.

Sermon from November 8th

The Ten Commandments

8. You Shall Not Steal
9. You Shall Not Give False Testimony...
10. You Shall Not Covet

Exodus 20: 1 - 17

1. We see a progression in God's Laws: They deal with your God, your parents, your life, your family and now your personal property, your reputation, and your heart.
2. God understands the importance of owning and keeping our own possessions. Matthew 6:20
3. Paul said no Christian should be a thief, but should work so he can help others. Ephesians 4:28
4. Giving false testimony is lying to hurt someone.
5. Coveting is a matter of the heart. It means we envy others for what they have. We have already stolen from them in our hearts.
6. Paul said these Commandments can be summed up by the command "Love your neighbor as yourself" Romans 13:6, Leviticus 19:18
7. Jesus did too. Matthew 22:37 - 40

Sermon from November 1st

The Ten Commandments
6. You Shall Not Murder
7. You Shall Not Commit Adultery

Exodus 20: 1 - 14

1. Murder is deliberately taking another person's life.
2. Stopping a beating heart out of anger or convenience is murder.
3. The Bible provides for exceptions for capital punishment and war.
4. Jesus focused on the intent of the law -- we should not be so angry with someone that we want to murder him. Matthew 5: 21 - 22
5. God wants to strengthen and protect the family. The quickest way to destroy a family is committing adultery.
6. The pain of a spouse being unfaithful is one of the worst a person can face.
7. Jesus said not to commit lust in our hearts. Matthew 5: 27 - 28
These Commandments promote the sanctity of Life and Marriage. Life should never be treated as cheap, and neither should our vows.

Sermon from October 18

The Ten Commandments
5. Honor Your Father and Your Mother...

Exodus 20: 1 - 12

1. This Commandment transitions between our relationship with God and our relationship with each other.
2. Honoring and obeying our parents is practice for honoring and obeying God.
3. Our relationship with others begins with our parents.
4. God knows how important the family is. If it breaks down, so does society.
5. We obey our parents when we are young and we honor them throughout our lives. Colossians 3:20; Matthew 15: 3 – 9
6. If you must choose between obeying your parents and obeying God, you obey God. Matthew 10:37

Sermon from October 11

The Ten Commandments
4. Remember the Sabbath Day...

Exodus 20: 1 - 11

1. The commandments make us more like God himself. Genesis 2: 1 - 3

2. This commandment shows us how much God loves us.

3. Because of the resurrection, the Lord's Day changed to Sunday. Acts 20:7, Revelation 1:10

4. Jesus allowed for acts of charity, teaching, and necessity on the Sabbath, and proclaimed that He is Lord of the Sabbath. Mark, 1:21, Mark 2:27, Mark 2:28, Matthew 12:12

5. Jesus taught the true intent of the Sabbath - that it was made for man and not the other way around.

6. God commands us to rest one day per week from our normal work routine. We use that time to think about Him.

Sermon from October 4

The Ten Commandments
3. You Shall Not Misuse My Name

Exodus 20: 1 - 7

1. We should sanctify God's name. That means we keep it holy and use it only with proper respect.

2. We misuse God's name when we cheapen it by saying it without thinking about Him.

3. We misuse God's name when we use it as part of a curse word.

4. We misuse God's name when we attach it to a vow that we do not fully intend to keep.

5. Jesus said not to swear by heaven, earth or even your own head. Matthew 5:34

6. The way you use God's name shows what you truly think about him.

7. Jesus said when we come together in his name, he is with us. Matthew 18:20

Sermon from September 27

The Ten Commandments
2. You Shall Not Make for Yourself an Idol

Exodus 20: 1 - 6

1. If you create or invent a god, you are in control of what it can and can't do. You are in control of the religion.

2. It's okay to have hobbies, interests, friends and loved ones, but it's not okay to place them above God in your heart.

3. God wants an intimate relationship with us. He is jealous when we love anything more than him. Idolatry is spiritual adultery.

4. The lingering effects of idolatry effect our children and grandchildren. Ezekiel 18: 1 - 4

5. God's mercy is greater than his wrath.

6. Jesus said we cannot serve two masters. Matthew 6:24