11/22/09 Giving Thanks in all Circumstances
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• Testimony time: get up and say something that you are grateful for
• Thanksgiving should not be a tradition that we forgot why we even do it
• Thanksgiving is a unique holiday in America
• We do not celebrate a great vitory in battle or honor a great person who did many things for others
• Instead, we thank and honor God who provides all our blessings
• Blessings present, repressed by trouble and hardships
• In 1621: they celebrate as if they have everything
• Gratitude was IN someone
• Thanksgiving cannot be contained in a single day
• It didn’t become a national holiday until Abraham Lincoln
• For the believer, thanksgiving is a spirit and a way of life which should be celebrated everyday
• Thanksgiving is the quality of our lives in the good times and bad
• Paul says to “give thanks IN all circumstances”, not FOR all circumstances
• There are may circumstances FOR which we cannot be grateful
• But we can be grateful IN all circumstances
I. God’s Presence in Creation
• How can you do that honestly
• There are tragedies and we are commended to be grateful
• Deuteronomy 8:10
When you sit down to eat, look around at the world and thank God
• Its what we have, not what we don’t have
• Be grateful for what we have
There are 6 billion people in the world
4 billion people go hungry every night
There is not enough to eat to survive
• Water
3% of water in the world is fit to drink
Over half o the world has NO water
• Look at what God has done for us in food and clean water
• Psalm 103:1-5:
Begin by recognizing the presence of God in creation
II. God’s Presence in Incarnation
• Incarnation means fleshed out
• In any other faith, no deity has done that
• Only in Christianity
• God’s presence in Incarnation
• He willingly loves us
That ought to lift our spirits
• John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that He sent his one and only Son, that whoever so believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
He made a personal visit to us
• Romans: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• God loves you in that sin and He wants to cleanse you
• 1 John 2:1:
Jesus Christ died for us and He stands up for us
He intercedes for us
• Hebrews 10:11-18
We should be so grateful!
We enter into perfection in God’s sight and are being made holy
• He forgives and forgets
• Why should you worry about it or even remember it?
• Stop beating yourself up because you aren’t worthy and get where God wants you to be
• Romans 8:31-39
Who can be against us?
NOTHING can separate us
• How can you not breathe in the joy of GOD
III. God’s Presence in Tribulation
• John 14:18-20
• God’s participating presence
• God will not leave us
• Other religions try to reach their gods
• Our God participated in our lives
• He is with us
• John 14:26:
He is our Guiding Presence
• God say’s He will remind us of what He taught us
• John 14:27
Trouble and fear on every hand
• Jesus Christ said don’t let your hearts be troubled
• John 16:33: overcome the world
Final destination
• We’re just passing through
• This isn’t it (LIFE)
• Romans 8:28:
God’s healing presence
God is working with us in our circumstances
• Get to know Him
• Understand Him
• Believe Him
• Bring and Invite Him in
• The beginning of life is death
• God’s presence in Tribulation
It is good to give thanks because it will shield us from cynicism
It will keep us from criticism
It will protect us from pessimism
It will draw us closer to God
What can we do as we prepare for Thanksgiving?
1.) Read Psalm 92:1-4 every day
2.) Pray a prayer of Thanksgiving for something different every day
3.) Ask yourself: If it had not been for God, where would you be now?
4.) Think of a reason you are grateful for each and every friend and family member and Thank God for them
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Sermon: Who's Hugging You?
11/15/09 Who’s hugging you?
Hebrews 1:14
Mark 1:12-13
• There are beings with great influence
• The devil’s busy in the world
• We don’t talk about angels
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Michael is the trumpeter
• 69% of Americans believe in the existence of angels
• 46% believe they have guardian angels
• 32% said they felt an angelic presence
• Christians, Jews, Muslims believe in angels
• So do Hindus, Buddhists and many more
There are approximately 300 references to angels in Scripture
• Angels are created beings
• Their appearance in Scripture varies
• Only cherubim and seraphim are represented with wings
• Winged angels are in the courts of God
• Often in the OT angels appear as ordinary men
• Sometimes, however, their uniqueness is evident as they do things or appear in a fashion clearly non-human, such as the bright white appearance in the NT
• They are called “holy ones”, “heavenly hosts”
• Kings 22:19
• They worship God
• Isaiah (verse that says holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty?)
• Only two angels are named in Scripture
• Gabriel (messenger)
• Michael (Warrior)
• Jude 9
• Revelation 12:7
Angels belong to a different dimension
They have higher powers
They are ministering spirit and messengers
The writer explains the function of angels in Hebrews 1:13-14
His purpose is to show that angels are not equal with Jesus or God or the Holy Spirit
They are servants
The angels are commissioned to run errand for Jesus
They are commissioned to take messages to those who are part of God’s family
It is the limit of their activity
They are not to preach the gospel – that is reserved for the church – example of Cornelius being sent to Peter to have the gospel explained
Angels can aid, inspire, and guide us
I. Angels are God’s Ministering Spirits
• They are sent forth
• Sent to particular people
• Uniquely sent to those who have professed Christ
• They minister strength to God’s people
• Mark 1:12-13
• Luke 22:43
Not wanting to suffer
An angel strengthened Him
• Ministering angels strengthen us
• Acts 6:15
Being attacks
• Acts 27:23-24
• Psalm 34:7
We’re not alone
Angels encamp around us
• Daniel 6:22
• Matthew 26:53
• Acts 5:19
• Acts 12:7
• Acts 12:11
• God dispatches them to strengthen and deliver us
• Angels protect God’s people
• Psalm 91:11-12
• We could have been destroyed many times but weren’t
• Isaiah 63:9
God’s angels pursue us in love and mercy
• Matthew 18:10
Angels guard the little children
• They minister to us in death
• Matthew 28:2
• Matthew 28:5-7
Angel rolled away the stone and sat on the stone as if death isn’t the end
• People don’t transition into death like they’re alone
• They take your hand or speak to someone we cant see (as per experience of Dr Lineberger in hospital room of someone who is passing on)
• Luke 16:22
The angels carried him
• John 1:51
II. Angels are God’s Messengers
• Matthew 11:10
• Messenger: one who is sent
• We get the word “apostle” from it
• They convey message on behalf o God
• The bible doesn’t draw us a picture of what angels look like
• Tells us, rather, what message they bring
• Genesis 16:7-10:
She was driven out and was alone – the messenger tells her to go back
• Matthew 1:20
An angel came with a word of hope
• Luke 2:9
Word of encouragement
• Matthew 2:13
Warning
• Acts 8:26
Message of guidance
• Angles come to us
• Sometimes we don’t hear the message
• Acts 10:3
• Angels don’t tell us how to be saved because God uses churches and us
• Luke 15:10
• You hear the message
Messenger may not look surreal (but may look normal/ordinary)
When someone receives Christ, angels rejoice because someone listened to them
• They come from God and speak directly to us
Angels are a sign of God’s interest in His children, of His desire to give us guidance
In Scripture, God uses angels to guide people to begin new ventures, to protect themselves, to wait, and to trust
What should we do?
1.) Keep your eyes open to angels
• Don’t confine your vision to just wings
2.) Look for angels in people around you
• Hebrews 13:2
3.) Expect message to come
• Over 300 times angels are mentioned in the bible
• God sends messenger in time of trouble
• Expect he messenger to come
Hebrews 1:14
Mark 1:12-13
• There are beings with great influence
• The devil’s busy in the world
• We don’t talk about angels
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Michael is the trumpeter
• 69% of Americans believe in the existence of angels
• 46% believe they have guardian angels
• 32% said they felt an angelic presence
• Christians, Jews, Muslims believe in angels
• So do Hindus, Buddhists and many more
There are approximately 300 references to angels in Scripture
• Angels are created beings
• Their appearance in Scripture varies
• Only cherubim and seraphim are represented with wings
• Winged angels are in the courts of God
• Often in the OT angels appear as ordinary men
• Sometimes, however, their uniqueness is evident as they do things or appear in a fashion clearly non-human, such as the bright white appearance in the NT
• They are called “holy ones”, “heavenly hosts”
• Kings 22:19
• They worship God
• Isaiah (verse that says holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty?)
• Only two angels are named in Scripture
• Gabriel (messenger)
• Michael (Warrior)
• Jude 9
• Revelation 12:7
Angels belong to a different dimension
They have higher powers
They are ministering spirit and messengers
The writer explains the function of angels in Hebrews 1:13-14
His purpose is to show that angels are not equal with Jesus or God or the Holy Spirit
They are servants
The angels are commissioned to run errand for Jesus
They are commissioned to take messages to those who are part of God’s family
It is the limit of their activity
They are not to preach the gospel – that is reserved for the church – example of Cornelius being sent to Peter to have the gospel explained
Angels can aid, inspire, and guide us
I. Angels are God’s Ministering Spirits
• They are sent forth
• Sent to particular people
• Uniquely sent to those who have professed Christ
• They minister strength to God’s people
• Mark 1:12-13
• Luke 22:43
Not wanting to suffer
An angel strengthened Him
• Ministering angels strengthen us
• Acts 6:15
Being attacks
• Acts 27:23-24
• Psalm 34:7
We’re not alone
Angels encamp around us
• Daniel 6:22
• Matthew 26:53
• Acts 5:19
• Acts 12:7
• Acts 12:11
• God dispatches them to strengthen and deliver us
• Angels protect God’s people
• Psalm 91:11-12
• We could have been destroyed many times but weren’t
• Isaiah 63:9
God’s angels pursue us in love and mercy
• Matthew 18:10
Angels guard the little children
• They minister to us in death
• Matthew 28:2
• Matthew 28:5-7
Angel rolled away the stone and sat on the stone as if death isn’t the end
• People don’t transition into death like they’re alone
• They take your hand or speak to someone we cant see (as per experience of Dr Lineberger in hospital room of someone who is passing on)
• Luke 16:22
The angels carried him
• John 1:51
II. Angels are God’s Messengers
• Matthew 11:10
• Messenger: one who is sent
• We get the word “apostle” from it
• They convey message on behalf o God
• The bible doesn’t draw us a picture of what angels look like
• Tells us, rather, what message they bring
• Genesis 16:7-10:
She was driven out and was alone – the messenger tells her to go back
• Matthew 1:20
An angel came with a word of hope
• Luke 2:9
Word of encouragement
• Matthew 2:13
Warning
• Acts 8:26
Message of guidance
• Angles come to us
• Sometimes we don’t hear the message
• Acts 10:3
• Angels don’t tell us how to be saved because God uses churches and us
• Luke 15:10
• You hear the message
Messenger may not look surreal (but may look normal/ordinary)
When someone receives Christ, angels rejoice because someone listened to them
• They come from God and speak directly to us
Angels are a sign of God’s interest in His children, of His desire to give us guidance
In Scripture, God uses angels to guide people to begin new ventures, to protect themselves, to wait, and to trust
What should we do?
1.) Keep your eyes open to angels
• Don’t confine your vision to just wings
2.) Look for angels in people around you
• Hebrews 13:2
3.) Expect message to come
• Over 300 times angels are mentioned in the bible
• God sends messenger in time of trouble
• Expect he messenger to come
Sermon: Who's Bugging You?
11/8/09 Who’s Bugging You?
1 Peter 5:8-9:
There are beings around us that we are unaware of
Steve Pressfield says: there is a force resisting the beautiful things in the world and too many of us are giving in.
What’s behind such rude behavior?
Rudeness is human nature
We’re self involved jerks
The Scriptures teach us that behind every kind of jerky behavior is an unseen enemy, an adversary with powerful abilities to adversely influence each and every one of us. Our problem is that we are often unaware of the spiritual enemy behind our destructive behavior and totally unprepared to defend ourselves
How do we deal with an unseen but powerful personality?
I. Be aware of a spiritual enemy
• We put the blame on a bad day
• Things we can see, but we don’t say anything about the unseen
• People’s ability to not believe in the unseen forces goes into the devil’s plan
• The devil, next to Jesus, is the most popular
• Job 1:7
• Be aware of his presence
• The bible says that he’s an adversary
• Matthew 5:25
He lines up against you
• Zechariah 3:1
• Every day that you live, there will be opposition
• Mark 4:15
The Good Word is sewn
• Be aware of his purpose
• We need Scripture because he’s always trying to take away God’s Word
• Ephesians 4:27
• 1 Chronicles 21:1
• Spirit possessed us or others
• The spirit of pride led to the devil’s fall
• The spirit of hatred
• Where does all this evil come from?
The spirit of that one who fell
• Matthew Chapter 4
The devil shows up to stop God’s plan
He’s an influence where he controls someone’s life
• Be aware that the unseen is against us
II. Resist that enemy by faith
• Stand firm in the faith
• Scripture teaches us how to resist
• Don’t be swayed by feelings, but be led by fact
• God’s Spirit will open up Scripture exactly where we need it
• James 4:7: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• Matthew 12:29:
• Matthew 18:18:
• God can drive out evil spirits that make us upset, depressed, mad, and so on
• Interesting book: “The People of a Lie”
• Matthew chapter 5: Jesus Christ delivered the man
• Matthew 5:18-19: God wants to deliver us from a demonic adversary
III. Recognize that all believers are targets of that enemy
• 1 Peter 5:9:
• 2 Corinthians 11:14:
• We can resist the devil
• Ephesians: be strong
• There is a force resisting the beautiful things in the world and too many of us are giving in
• We don’t have to give in to this “roaring lion”, the devil, the old serpent.
• We can resist this evil one by the faith given to us in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures
• We can believe God rather than believing Satan
How can we resist the devil today?
I. Live in God’s strength
Stop living in the “world”
II. Put on the full armor of God, which is truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, Scripture (take it with you), and prayer
Take the armor of God
Stand firm with God’s Truth
Ephesians 6: 10-18
Be in constant prayer
We have God’s strength
By doing this your standing strong and resisting evil
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
1 Peter 5:8-9:
There are beings around us that we are unaware of
Steve Pressfield says: there is a force resisting the beautiful things in the world and too many of us are giving in.
What’s behind such rude behavior?
Rudeness is human nature
We’re self involved jerks
The Scriptures teach us that behind every kind of jerky behavior is an unseen enemy, an adversary with powerful abilities to adversely influence each and every one of us. Our problem is that we are often unaware of the spiritual enemy behind our destructive behavior and totally unprepared to defend ourselves
How do we deal with an unseen but powerful personality?
I. Be aware of a spiritual enemy
• We put the blame on a bad day
• Things we can see, but we don’t say anything about the unseen
• People’s ability to not believe in the unseen forces goes into the devil’s plan
• The devil, next to Jesus, is the most popular
• Job 1:7
• Be aware of his presence
• The bible says that he’s an adversary
• Matthew 5:25
He lines up against you
• Zechariah 3:1
• Every day that you live, there will be opposition
• Mark 4:15
The Good Word is sewn
• Be aware of his purpose
• We need Scripture because he’s always trying to take away God’s Word
• Ephesians 4:27
• 1 Chronicles 21:1
• Spirit possessed us or others
• The spirit of pride led to the devil’s fall
• The spirit of hatred
• Where does all this evil come from?
The spirit of that one who fell
• Matthew Chapter 4
The devil shows up to stop God’s plan
He’s an influence where he controls someone’s life
• Be aware that the unseen is against us
II. Resist that enemy by faith
• Stand firm in the faith
• Scripture teaches us how to resist
• Don’t be swayed by feelings, but be led by fact
• God’s Spirit will open up Scripture exactly where we need it
• James 4:7: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• Matthew 12:29:
• Matthew 18:18:
• God can drive out evil spirits that make us upset, depressed, mad, and so on
• Interesting book: “The People of a Lie”
• Matthew chapter 5: Jesus Christ delivered the man
• Matthew 5:18-19: God wants to deliver us from a demonic adversary
III. Recognize that all believers are targets of that enemy
• 1 Peter 5:9:
• 2 Corinthians 11:14:
• We can resist the devil
• Ephesians: be strong
• There is a force resisting the beautiful things in the world and too many of us are giving in
• We don’t have to give in to this “roaring lion”, the devil, the old serpent.
• We can resist this evil one by the faith given to us in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures
• We can believe God rather than believing Satan
How can we resist the devil today?
I. Live in God’s strength
Stop living in the “world”
II. Put on the full armor of God, which is truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, Scripture (take it with you), and prayer
Take the armor of God
Stand firm with God’s Truth
Ephesians 6: 10-18
Be in constant prayer
We have God’s strength
By doing this your standing strong and resisting evil
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sermon: Offering God Something That Cost me Nothing
11/1/09 Offering God Something that Cost me Nothing
2 Samuel 24:18-24 – On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped." Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you." But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
• Rather than living by faith, David was living on sight
• Repentance: Is to change directions
• David repented because of God’s mercy
How do we respond when God offers us an opportunity to get in on His work and the opportunity comes with a cost?
We see from the life of David how he handled one of these opportunities. He was instructed by his seer or Prophet Gad to purchase a threshing floor to build an altar.
The seer Gad came to David to tell him what he should do as a result of his repentance and God’s mercy.
Go up and build an altar. The altar was not built simply to please God but to serve as a reminder to David and the Israelites of the presence of God.
Because of David’s sin, the people were suffering.
When david made his proposal to Araunah, Araunah quickly asked to give the land to David. But David, recognizing his stewardship before God, said, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God Burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
(Araunah felt there were things David wouldn’t give up)
The truth is something that costs you nothing is worth nothing. To offer something which costs one nothing would contradict the essential idea of sacrifice. It is like serving God on the cheap.
The word “sacrifice” means to “make sacred”. If we do give up something as a sacrifice, it is only so that we may take it back in a new transfigured way.
• What are we tied to?
• What would we not even give up to God?
• What are you not willing to sacrifice?
• God’s opportunities come at a cost
• The altar is a reminder of the presence of God
• In the message of the bible for the Scriptures here: to offer sacrifices that aren’t sacrifices
• 2 Chronicles 3:1 – Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.
• We have sinned, and we continue to sin every day
• Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 1 John 1:10 – If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
• We are given the opportunity to repent
• John 1:12-13 – Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
• We are children of God, and Stewards
• Every thing is a gift from God
• Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
• 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
•
• We are living in Thanksgiving not obligation
• Now as children of God, everything is the stewardship of God
• 2 Corinthians 8:8-9
• What cost us nothing is worth nothing
• When we sacrifice, we are willing to live a balanced life and understand the obligation to God
• Do in the service to the Lord
I. Sacrifice honors what Jesus Christ has done for us
• You obey God because you love Him
• 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 – I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
• Philippians 2:5-8 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
• Sacrifice in our society is like swimming upstream
• Its difficult for people
II. Sacrifice reveals what is important to us
• The question is: How much do we keep? And not what we give
• Reveals what is important to us
• Matthew 19:21-22 – Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus Christ only told him that because this man could not live by faith, but by sight
• Luke 21:1-4 – As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
•
• Our sacrifices reveal what is important
• Luke 7:44-47 – Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
•
• When people love what God has done
• When they understand that Jesus Christ said that He is preparing a room for us, that He gives us life, then you love much!
• A high price is paid
III. Sacrifice promotes spiritual growth
Matthew 16:24-26 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
What does that mean?
Grace is free, discipleship is costly
The best time to learn to grow, is when you think you cant
IV. Sacrifice brings God
Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Applies to all that we do in life
When we’re givers, our hands are open
Acts 20:35 – In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Giving spirit results in living longer and healthier
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Give away what God has given to you
Give freely
God always provides ability to give something
David understood that his sacrifice had to cost something
Every day God gives us opportunity to get in on His work and the opportunity always comes with a cost. We should never entertain the thought that we as believers can offer God something that costs us nothing. To offer God something which costs one nothing contradicts the essential idea of sacrifice.
How can I avoid offering God something that cost me nothing?
• Pray the Scriptures concerning giving and sacrifice
• Plan how to be a giver, saver, and spender
• Put your prayers and plan into action
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
2 Samuel 24:18-24 – On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped." Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you." But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
• Rather than living by faith, David was living on sight
• Repentance: Is to change directions
• David repented because of God’s mercy
How do we respond when God offers us an opportunity to get in on His work and the opportunity comes with a cost?
We see from the life of David how he handled one of these opportunities. He was instructed by his seer or Prophet Gad to purchase a threshing floor to build an altar.
The seer Gad came to David to tell him what he should do as a result of his repentance and God’s mercy.
Go up and build an altar. The altar was not built simply to please God but to serve as a reminder to David and the Israelites of the presence of God.
Because of David’s sin, the people were suffering.
When david made his proposal to Araunah, Araunah quickly asked to give the land to David. But David, recognizing his stewardship before God, said, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God Burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
(Araunah felt there were things David wouldn’t give up)
The truth is something that costs you nothing is worth nothing. To offer something which costs one nothing would contradict the essential idea of sacrifice. It is like serving God on the cheap.
The word “sacrifice” means to “make sacred”. If we do give up something as a sacrifice, it is only so that we may take it back in a new transfigured way.
• What are we tied to?
• What would we not even give up to God?
• What are you not willing to sacrifice?
• God’s opportunities come at a cost
• The altar is a reminder of the presence of God
• In the message of the bible for the Scriptures here: to offer sacrifices that aren’t sacrifices
• 2 Chronicles 3:1 – Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.
• We have sinned, and we continue to sin every day
• Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 1 John 1:10 – If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
• We are given the opportunity to repent
• John 1:12-13 – Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
• We are children of God, and Stewards
• Every thing is a gift from God
• Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
• 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
•
• We are living in Thanksgiving not obligation
• Now as children of God, everything is the stewardship of God
• 2 Corinthians 8:8-9
• What cost us nothing is worth nothing
• When we sacrifice, we are willing to live a balanced life and understand the obligation to God
• Do in the service to the Lord
I. Sacrifice honors what Jesus Christ has done for us
• You obey God because you love Him
• 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 – I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
• Philippians 2:5-8 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
• Sacrifice in our society is like swimming upstream
• Its difficult for people
II. Sacrifice reveals what is important to us
• The question is: How much do we keep? And not what we give
• Reveals what is important to us
• Matthew 19:21-22 – Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus Christ only told him that because this man could not live by faith, but by sight
• Luke 21:1-4 – As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
•
• Our sacrifices reveal what is important
• Luke 7:44-47 – Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
•
• When people love what God has done
• When they understand that Jesus Christ said that He is preparing a room for us, that He gives us life, then you love much!
• A high price is paid
III. Sacrifice promotes spiritual growth
Matthew 16:24-26 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
What does that mean?
Grace is free, discipleship is costly
The best time to learn to grow, is when you think you cant
IV. Sacrifice brings God
Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Applies to all that we do in life
When we’re givers, our hands are open
Acts 20:35 – In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Giving spirit results in living longer and healthier
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Give away what God has given to you
Give freely
God always provides ability to give something
David understood that his sacrifice had to cost something
Every day God gives us opportunity to get in on His work and the opportunity always comes with a cost. We should never entertain the thought that we as believers can offer God something that costs us nothing. To offer God something which costs one nothing contradicts the essential idea of sacrifice.
How can I avoid offering God something that cost me nothing?
• Pray the Scriptures concerning giving and sacrifice
• Plan how to be a giver, saver, and spender
• Put your prayers and plan into action
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
Sermon: Why Missions?
October 25, 2009 – Why Missions?
Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
• Why are we so involved in missions?
• Several Baptists in the past didn’t think the bible spoke about missions
• Acts: Church is scattered through Jerusalem and the world
• It is the scattered message of Jesus Christ
• It should be done on purpose
• We are going with His Presence
• Luke 11:46 – Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Jesus condemns the religious people
Where you go should make a difference in people’s lives. In fact, Jesus said that “as we go, we should make disciples.”
From the time of Christ to the year 300, the center of Christianity moved from its epicenter in Jerusalem to Armenia, which is the oldest Christian country. By AD 500, the center of faith had moved west to Greece and Rome. In the next 500 years, the center of gravity of the church continued to move further west in Europe, where it became synonymous with culture and art. In the next 1000 years, the center of the Christian Church moved even further west, into North and South America. While the Pope remained in Europe, all the cultural action, innovation, change and life in the Church was focused in the Americas. By AD 2000, the United States in particular came to see itself as the headquarters of Christian belief, now removed halfway around the world from its origins. In other words, for the past 2000 years, the center of Christianity has steadily moved west.
These huge demographic swings already in motion suggest several things. One, unless Christianity in the United States does a better job of evangelization and discipleship, what happens in North American Christianity in the next 500 years will simply be a slideshow. The main event will happen elsewhere around the globe. (The Fermi Project)
I. Going on Purpose
• Missions will not turn somebody to be just like you
• We want them to have a purpose in Jesus Christ
• Matthew 23:15 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
• Making disciples involves a heart and a head
A personal encounter with Jesus Christ
• The Great Awakening was about falling in love with Jesus
• Romans 8:1-4 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
God doesn’t condemn you
So why condemn yourself?
• God’s laws are met because of Jesus Christ who resides in us when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior
• Jesus Christ becomes God’s righteousness
• We don’t go for one thing – we go to help the people be set free
• We tell them they are set free
• Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Not just saved to go to Heaven, but saved to serve
Share the Good news with someone else
• Teaching “all” things
• John 14:25-26 – "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
• John 16:12-13 – "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
• We’re afraid to witness because we may not have an answer
But realize that the Spirit of God leads you
Have to Love God and love each other
Matthew 22:36-40 – "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Teach to love God with all their hearts
• We are afraid to go witness
• All laws, prophets hang onto loving God and your neighbor
• John 13:33-34 – "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
• When we disciple ,tell them to love and serve God
• Matthew 8:5 – When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
• The bible tells us that when we welcome a child in the name of Jesus Christ we welcome Him in as well
• John 13:14-17 – Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• Being blessed means to be happy and healthy
• If you serve others and God, then you’ll be a happy person
• God instructed us to be more blessed when we give
• Many Christians done know who God is
II. Going with His presence.
• John 14:18-20 – I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
• Received Christ – His presence is in us and always will be
• Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• All we have to do is release the power
• You are going on purpose and you will go with His presence
Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples are relevant to every believer today: As you go make disciples – where you go make disciples! When we go on PURPOSE, we have HIS PRESENCE AND HIS POWER as we share the Good News of God’s Love in Jesus Christ.
- Dr Phil Lineberger
Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
• Why are we so involved in missions?
• Several Baptists in the past didn’t think the bible spoke about missions
• Acts: Church is scattered through Jerusalem and the world
• It is the scattered message of Jesus Christ
• It should be done on purpose
• We are going with His Presence
• Luke 11:46 – Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Jesus condemns the religious people
Where you go should make a difference in people’s lives. In fact, Jesus said that “as we go, we should make disciples.”
From the time of Christ to the year 300, the center of Christianity moved from its epicenter in Jerusalem to Armenia, which is the oldest Christian country. By AD 500, the center of faith had moved west to Greece and Rome. In the next 500 years, the center of gravity of the church continued to move further west in Europe, where it became synonymous with culture and art. In the next 1000 years, the center of the Christian Church moved even further west, into North and South America. While the Pope remained in Europe, all the cultural action, innovation, change and life in the Church was focused in the Americas. By AD 2000, the United States in particular came to see itself as the headquarters of Christian belief, now removed halfway around the world from its origins. In other words, for the past 2000 years, the center of Christianity has steadily moved west.
These huge demographic swings already in motion suggest several things. One, unless Christianity in the United States does a better job of evangelization and discipleship, what happens in North American Christianity in the next 500 years will simply be a slideshow. The main event will happen elsewhere around the globe. (The Fermi Project)
I. Going on Purpose
• Missions will not turn somebody to be just like you
• We want them to have a purpose in Jesus Christ
• Matthew 23:15 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
• Making disciples involves a heart and a head
A personal encounter with Jesus Christ
• The Great Awakening was about falling in love with Jesus
• Romans 8:1-4 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
God doesn’t condemn you
So why condemn yourself?
• God’s laws are met because of Jesus Christ who resides in us when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior
• Jesus Christ becomes God’s righteousness
• We don’t go for one thing – we go to help the people be set free
• We tell them they are set free
• Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Not just saved to go to Heaven, but saved to serve
Share the Good news with someone else
• Teaching “all” things
• John 14:25-26 – "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
• John 16:12-13 – "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
• We’re afraid to witness because we may not have an answer
But realize that the Spirit of God leads you
Have to Love God and love each other
Matthew 22:36-40 – "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Teach to love God with all their hearts
• We are afraid to go witness
• All laws, prophets hang onto loving God and your neighbor
• John 13:33-34 – "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
• When we disciple ,tell them to love and serve God
• Matthew 8:5 – When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
• The bible tells us that when we welcome a child in the name of Jesus Christ we welcome Him in as well
• John 13:14-17 – Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• Being blessed means to be happy and healthy
• If you serve others and God, then you’ll be a happy person
• God instructed us to be more blessed when we give
• Many Christians done know who God is
II. Going with His presence.
• John 14:18-20 – I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
• Received Christ – His presence is in us and always will be
• Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• All we have to do is release the power
• You are going on purpose and you will go with His presence
Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples are relevant to every believer today: As you go make disciples – where you go make disciples! When we go on PURPOSE, we have HIS PRESENCE AND HIS POWER as we share the Good News of God’s Love in Jesus Christ.
- Dr Phil Lineberger
Sermon: The Kingdom of Non-Sense
10/18/09 Sermon by Griff Martin: The Kingdom of Nonsense
“If the Lord is indeed our shepherd, then everything goes topsy-turvy, losing becomes finding and crying becomes laughing. The last become first and the weak become strong…if the Lord is our host at the great feast, then the sky’s the limit.” ~ Freerick Buechner
Mark 10:32-34
• Jesus explains that He will die, the final time they are walking down to Jerusalem
• We avoid dealing with death because it hurts
Mark 10:35-37
• James and John are yearning to ask Him something
• How do we react to this great request
• Do we pray for “ourselves”?
Protect me
Fix me
Make my prayers come true
• Maybe we get angry with that request
Perhaps because we feel that is our place
• Every time that Jesus talks about death, he also talks about denial
• Maybe the disciples don’t understand because they were expecting an earthly king
• We cannot judge because we do not know everything
• Maybe we were sad because of the faith they had and the courage they had
Mark 10:38-40
• Our Jesus Christ of love and grace doesn’t rebuke them
• Maybe Jesus Christ see their faith too
• Jesus then asks, “can you be like me”
• Jesus listens to the questions, asks a question and they says “yes”
• Perhaps its empathy in His voice
• Love will do anything form hurting someone they love
• His answer is that they will have to suffer, but yet the choice isn’t His to make
Mark 10:41-45
• Jesus Christ says they are asking for power in a powerless world
• Power isn’t good, we shouldn’t be involved in it
• We have worked hard to get somewhere, and then realize that is a treadmill we are one, since we have to work harder and harder to keep going
• The powerful one’s are the ones whose names we do not know
• To be like Jesus Christ is to be a salve
• God didn’t come into the world to be served, but to serve
“This much is for sure: whether we can make sense of it or not, serving is how we will transform the world, not from top down, but from bottom up. The ultimate trickle up effect. Our leaders can be servants, and the best ones will be, but we must never surrender our power to the powerful. The power of God has given us is the strongest stuff in the world, the power to serve.” – Barbara Brown Taylor
• May you let go the need for power
• May you see that real power is found in service
• May you see that the way of the Lord is not the way of this world
• May you be called to a life of serving, a life that will make a difference, a life of the Servant
• May you go and serve, and in serving, find life and love
We can either go home, or Follow Jesus Christ
Pastor Griff Martin
“If the Lord is indeed our shepherd, then everything goes topsy-turvy, losing becomes finding and crying becomes laughing. The last become first and the weak become strong…if the Lord is our host at the great feast, then the sky’s the limit.” ~ Freerick Buechner
Mark 10:32-34
• Jesus explains that He will die, the final time they are walking down to Jerusalem
• We avoid dealing with death because it hurts
Mark 10:35-37
• James and John are yearning to ask Him something
• How do we react to this great request
• Do we pray for “ourselves”?
Protect me
Fix me
Make my prayers come true
• Maybe we get angry with that request
Perhaps because we feel that is our place
• Every time that Jesus talks about death, he also talks about denial
• Maybe the disciples don’t understand because they were expecting an earthly king
• We cannot judge because we do not know everything
• Maybe we were sad because of the faith they had and the courage they had
Mark 10:38-40
• Our Jesus Christ of love and grace doesn’t rebuke them
• Maybe Jesus Christ see their faith too
• Jesus then asks, “can you be like me”
• Jesus listens to the questions, asks a question and they says “yes”
• Perhaps its empathy in His voice
• Love will do anything form hurting someone they love
• His answer is that they will have to suffer, but yet the choice isn’t His to make
Mark 10:41-45
• Jesus Christ says they are asking for power in a powerless world
• Power isn’t good, we shouldn’t be involved in it
• We have worked hard to get somewhere, and then realize that is a treadmill we are one, since we have to work harder and harder to keep going
• The powerful one’s are the ones whose names we do not know
• To be like Jesus Christ is to be a salve
• God didn’t come into the world to be served, but to serve
“This much is for sure: whether we can make sense of it or not, serving is how we will transform the world, not from top down, but from bottom up. The ultimate trickle up effect. Our leaders can be servants, and the best ones will be, but we must never surrender our power to the powerful. The power of God has given us is the strongest stuff in the world, the power to serve.” – Barbara Brown Taylor
• May you let go the need for power
• May you see that real power is found in service
• May you see that the way of the Lord is not the way of this world
• May you be called to a life of serving, a life that will make a difference, a life of the Servant
• May you go and serve, and in serving, find life and love
We can either go home, or Follow Jesus Christ
Pastor Griff Martin
Sermon: Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
October 11, 2009
Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
One of the criticisms of the Baptist Church centers around the meaning of baptism. Some people think that Baptists do not believe in salvation apart from baptism. In fact, the people who broke away from the Anglican Church in England in the 17th century, Separatists who eventually were called Baptists struggled with the mode of baptism for decades. In reading the Scriptures for themselves, they came to believe that salvation resulted from a personal profession of faith, and baptism to symbolize salvation occurred after that profession of faith. For that teaching Baptists were persecuted, imprisoned and killed.
What do the Scriptures Teach? Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?
I. The history of Baptism
• First profess your faith, then you get baptized.
• History of baptism goes back into most religions.
• Most religions have some sort of ritual to indicate cleansing as a new form of a new life
• Lustration: form of Baptism used by the Jews on the Gentiles and they were henceforth admitted to all the privileges
Immersed in water
• Taught that Baptism washes away the old life symbolically
• It was never taught as effective, that baptism made the person a Jew
• It was a symbol that the old life has been washed away
• John was Baptizing as a Jew, baptized for the repentance of sins
• Mark 1:4
• It was a symbol that they repented and were preparing for the messiah
• Jesus came meeting all the right requirements
• Came and got baptized, and sacrificed, He was the messiah
• Final commandment from Jesus:
• Matthew 28:19-20
Make disciples and baptize them
Did not say, make disciples by baptizing them
• Sacramental baptisms are practiced by other Christian faiths:
They baptize to bring in grace of life to the children
Way of saving that child
Sin of child is forgiven
Its effective, not symbolic
Predestination b/c they were predestined by God to be saved
• Church of Christ:
teaches that you don’t have a complete experience with Christ to be saved until you are obedient to get in water and when you come up out of water, then you are saved
use Acts 2:38 as authority for Baptismal regenerates
Baptism regenerates you
Teach at same time, when you come out of water, then the Holy Spirit dwells in you
Alexander Campbell forms disciples of Christ in Church of Christ in 1830’s
• Early Baptists didn’t believe that you cant sing in church, no music
• Campbell: formed Church of Christ, based theology on Mark 1:1-10 (Jesus came out of water, saw Heaven and Spirit descend on Him)
• See that Holy Spirit doesn’t come to life till you come out of water, b/c that is what happened to Jesus Christ
• Jesus was Father, Son, Holy Spirit all at once
Holy spirit was giving testimony
Acts 2:38 – repent and be baptized
II. Is Baptism necessary for salvation?
• Some don’t want to be dunked
• Does that mean you are not save?
• No
• Not according to scripture
• John 3:16 -
You profess your faith, you are saved
• Luke 23:43
2 thieves on Cross, says to Jesus, remember me
And Jesus says, that he’d be in Paradise
That man never had the opportunity to be baptized
That one incident that person does not have to be baptized to be saved
• Nothing about baptism in John 3:16
III. Why is baptism important to believers?
• Baptists were called “dunkers” at first
• Because purpose behind baptism is to declare publicly one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ
• Acts 2:41 –
Those who accepted message were baptized
Believe, then were baptized
• Acts 8:12-13
Believe, then baptized
• Acts 16:13-15
• Acts 18: 7-8
• Opened heart to message, then were baptized
• Anglican church says sprinkling and they are believers
• But the bible doesn’t teach that
• The book of acts is the history of the early church
• The early church never baptized before they believed
• Romans 6:3-5 (baptism is symbolic)
Cant get that out of sprinkling/pouring water
Get that out of dunking someone
• Baptize: created by those who translated by KJV
• Baptizio: to dip, immerse, or submerge (never says pour, sprinkle)
• When translators were translating, they recognized they could not translate it or they would have to start dunking believers, they made new word
• Resurrection: to stand and again (to stand again)
Will die, but will stand again
• Baptism: depicts death, burial and resurrection
• Symbol of passing from death to life
• Cant get that symbol out of sprinkling
• Baptism: (John 5:24)
Go Down: death
Up: Resurrection
• Galatians 3:26-27
• Baptism is at the heart of the Christian faith
• It is a symbol that one belongs to Jesus Christ; included being into the church
• It gives us a new identify
• Baptism is identified with the belonging to Christ
• Important because it is being Obedient to the command of Christ
• Last command by Jesus was to baptize
Very important because it comes from Jesus Christ
• We don’t have to be baptized to be saved
• It acknowledges the inward grace outwardly
• It is your choice
• Baptism symbolizes that it is God who has saved us
• It is not the water nor the act of baptism that saves
• The outward act does no produce the inward grace
• Grace is not something we ear, but something we receive as a gift
• Baptism simply acknowledges that inward grace in an outward symbol
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
One of the criticisms of the Baptist Church centers around the meaning of baptism. Some people think that Baptists do not believe in salvation apart from baptism. In fact, the people who broke away from the Anglican Church in England in the 17th century, Separatists who eventually were called Baptists struggled with the mode of baptism for decades. In reading the Scriptures for themselves, they came to believe that salvation resulted from a personal profession of faith, and baptism to symbolize salvation occurred after that profession of faith. For that teaching Baptists were persecuted, imprisoned and killed.
What do the Scriptures Teach? Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?
I. The history of Baptism
• First profess your faith, then you get baptized.
• History of baptism goes back into most religions.
• Most religions have some sort of ritual to indicate cleansing as a new form of a new life
• Lustration: form of Baptism used by the Jews on the Gentiles and they were henceforth admitted to all the privileges
Immersed in water
• Taught that Baptism washes away the old life symbolically
• It was never taught as effective, that baptism made the person a Jew
• It was a symbol that the old life has been washed away
• John was Baptizing as a Jew, baptized for the repentance of sins
• Mark 1:4
• It was a symbol that they repented and were preparing for the messiah
• Jesus came meeting all the right requirements
• Came and got baptized, and sacrificed, He was the messiah
• Final commandment from Jesus:
• Matthew 28:19-20
Make disciples and baptize them
Did not say, make disciples by baptizing them
• Sacramental baptisms are practiced by other Christian faiths:
They baptize to bring in grace of life to the children
Way of saving that child
Sin of child is forgiven
Its effective, not symbolic
Predestination b/c they were predestined by God to be saved
• Church of Christ:
teaches that you don’t have a complete experience with Christ to be saved until you are obedient to get in water and when you come up out of water, then you are saved
use Acts 2:38 as authority for Baptismal regenerates
Baptism regenerates you
Teach at same time, when you come out of water, then the Holy Spirit dwells in you
Alexander Campbell forms disciples of Christ in Church of Christ in 1830’s
• Early Baptists didn’t believe that you cant sing in church, no music
• Campbell: formed Church of Christ, based theology on Mark 1:1-10 (Jesus came out of water, saw Heaven and Spirit descend on Him)
• See that Holy Spirit doesn’t come to life till you come out of water, b/c that is what happened to Jesus Christ
• Jesus was Father, Son, Holy Spirit all at once
Holy spirit was giving testimony
Acts 2:38 – repent and be baptized
II. Is Baptism necessary for salvation?
• Some don’t want to be dunked
• Does that mean you are not save?
• No
• Not according to scripture
• John 3:16 -
You profess your faith, you are saved
• Luke 23:43
2 thieves on Cross, says to Jesus, remember me
And Jesus says, that he’d be in Paradise
That man never had the opportunity to be baptized
That one incident that person does not have to be baptized to be saved
• Nothing about baptism in John 3:16
III. Why is baptism important to believers?
• Baptists were called “dunkers” at first
• Because purpose behind baptism is to declare publicly one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ
• Acts 2:41 –
Those who accepted message were baptized
Believe, then were baptized
• Acts 8:12-13
Believe, then baptized
• Acts 16:13-15
• Acts 18: 7-8
• Opened heart to message, then were baptized
• Anglican church says sprinkling and they are believers
• But the bible doesn’t teach that
• The book of acts is the history of the early church
• The early church never baptized before they believed
• Romans 6:3-5 (baptism is symbolic)
Cant get that out of sprinkling/pouring water
Get that out of dunking someone
• Baptize: created by those who translated by KJV
• Baptizio: to dip, immerse, or submerge (never says pour, sprinkle)
• When translators were translating, they recognized they could not translate it or they would have to start dunking believers, they made new word
• Resurrection: to stand and again (to stand again)
Will die, but will stand again
• Baptism: depicts death, burial and resurrection
• Symbol of passing from death to life
• Cant get that symbol out of sprinkling
• Baptism: (John 5:24)
Go Down: death
Up: Resurrection
• Galatians 3:26-27
• Baptism is at the heart of the Christian faith
• It is a symbol that one belongs to Jesus Christ; included being into the church
• It gives us a new identify
• Baptism is identified with the belonging to Christ
• Important because it is being Obedient to the command of Christ
• Last command by Jesus was to baptize
Very important because it comes from Jesus Christ
• We don’t have to be baptized to be saved
• It acknowledges the inward grace outwardly
• It is your choice
• Baptism symbolizes that it is God who has saved us
• It is not the water nor the act of baptism that saves
• The outward act does no produce the inward grace
• Grace is not something we ear, but something we receive as a gift
• Baptism simply acknowledges that inward grace in an outward symbol
~ Dr. Phil Lineberger
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