Be Prepared

I saw a news report indicating that, for the first time in its history, the Boy Scouts of America is considering a proposal allowing local chapters to set their own policy on permitting openly gay Scouts and Scout Leaders.  Perhaps the proposal will be rejected, but should it pass it will be a major acheivement for Big Gay (as in Big Tobbaco, Big Corporations, Big Oil, etc.).

What God Has Done

Date: December 11^th, 2011

Text: Romans 8:1-4
Preached by: Pastor Van Morris

Introduction

Having explained the frustrating reality that, Christians are not completely free from sin’s presence in their life (Romans 7), Paul goes on to declare in Romans 8:1 that there is therefore now no condemnation…In Romans 8:2-4 Paul explains how God accomplished this.

What God Has Done Involved God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Vs. 1-4)

Paul mentions each member of the Trinity in verses 1-4.  The work of salvation was planned/initiated by God the Father; carried out by God the Son; and applied to us by God the Holy Spirit.

What God Has Done the Law Could Not Do. (Vs. 3)

The Law cannot put us in right standing before God; the law cannot justify us, cannot sanctify us and cannot see to it that the righteousness which it demands is fulfilled in us, nor can it save us.  What God has done is to justify us, not by law but by grace (through the death of Christ); and He is sanctifying us (making us more like Jesus) not by the law, but by giving us His Spirit to dwell within us.

What God Has Done Required an Incarnation. (Vs. 3b)

The only difference between Christ’s flesh and ours is this – he is sinless, we are sinful.  The condemnation that our sins deserve was poured out on Jesus.  Therefore, He condemned sin in the flesh.  Illustration: Isaiah 6:1-8.  How did Isaiah move from “Woe is me” to “Send me”?  Was it by something Isaiah did, or something God did?

Application Questions

1.     Review Romans 7:18.  Paul says “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”  How is this inner conflict apparent in my own life?

2.     Identify and discuss the differing aspects of salvation attributed to the three members of the Trinity in Romans 8:1-4.

3.     When I consider the effort required by God to secure my salvation, what does that tell me about my sin?  About God’s grace?  How am I moved to worship God differently as a result?

4.     Consider Isaiah 6:1-8.  How is the transition from “woe is me” to “send me” apparent in my own life?  How do I need to respond today to God’s grace?

5.     How does the truth of this passage affect how I minister to others in need?

Let Me Hear

Reading
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God,
For the word of the Lord will stand forever;
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
For he will speak peace to his people.
(adapted from Isaiah 40 & Psalm 85)

Response
Give me ears to hear your voice, O Lord.
May my heart be inclined to your word
And my mind be fixed on your ways.
Let me not listen to the voice that fails,
or pay heed to the words that falter,
But let me stand on that which stands forever,
Your Word.  Amen.

God’s Declaration – No Condemnation!

Date: December 4^th, 2011

Text: Romans 8:1
Preached by: Pastor Van Morris

Introduction

Satan’s primary temptation strategy is to try and make those who are in Christ forget what God has declared about them so that they evaluate their standing before God by some other criteria.

Romans 8:1 – Is True in Spite of What Paul Had Done

Acts 26:9-11

Before being converted Paul actively opposed Jesus, locking up many of the believers in prison, participating in their executions, and persecuting them unmercifully.  Yet Paul, being in Christ Jesus, was not subject to condemnation for his sin.

Romans 8:1 – Is True in Spite of What I Have Done

There is most likely a particular sin that Satan uses to paralyze you.  He holds it up and says, “You can never be forgiven for doing this.  You are still under condemnation for it.”  David asked God to not remember the sins of his youth (Psalm 25:7).  God’s answer to Satan’s accusations and David’s prayer is Romans 8:1.

Romans 8:1 Is True In Spite of the Realities of Romans  Chapter 7

Romans 7:13-25

Though the Christian does not perfectly manifest in practice what is true of them in principle, and they experience a daily battle against  indwelling sin, sometimes experiencing failure, God’s declaration is still true.

Application Questions

1.     What’s the “scandal of grace” when Romans 8:1 is compared to Acts 26:9-11?

2.     Explain the basis for God’s declaring us innocent in Christ (e.g. 2 Cor. 5:21)?

3.     Without being too specific about the particular sin, how do Satan’s accusations affect you?  In light of Romans 8:1, how will you respond differently in the future?

4.     If experiencing failure in our Christian walk does not bring condemnation, what might be a more appropriate response to our sin (e.g. 1 Jn. 1:9, 2 Cor. 7:10)?  

5.     Develop a Gospel “tweet” (i.e. 140 characters or less) and post it on the group’s facebook page.

What the Bible has to Say about Children

Date: November 13^th, 2011
Text: Proverbs 22:6
Preached by: Pastor Van Morris

Main Idea: The Bible tells us important things about the nature of children.

Introduction

In our desire to see our children make a true confession of faith in Christ, we should consider certain facts about the nature of children as revealed in the Scriptures.

The Intellectual Immaturity of Children

1 Corinthians 13:11; 14:20

Paul is not saying anything insulting about children.  He is pointing out a fundamental difference between children and adults: namely, that a child is one whose thinking, speaking, and understanding of things is generally less mature than that of an adult.

The Changeableness of Children

Ephesians 4:14

Children are easily influenced and can be swayed from one idea to another quickly.  Encouraging a child to have faith in Christ should be balanced with patience in looking for evidence of true faith, especially when considering baptism.

Opportunities for Patient Cultivation

Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:1-2 Timothy 3:14-15

“To this end, parental instruction must be persevering and continuous.  The entrance of Divine truth into the mind and heart, the formation of habit and the training of character, are not formed by sudden and isolated efforts, but by regular and unceasing repetition.  This is the law of all growth in nature.”  (Andrew Murray)

Application Questions

1.     What are the prevailing beliefs about children based solely on the messages put out by modern culture?  Does the Bible support or contradict these beliefs?

2.     What are some of the characteristics of immature thinking?  Of mature thinking?

3.     Consider your own experience in coming to faith in Christ.  How old were you?  What were your thoughts at the time?  How has your faith changed or deepened as you’ve matured?

4.     The parents of a four year old child come to you and say, “Our son says he loves Jesus and we want him to be baptized.”  How would you answer them?

5.     What can parents do in the home to ensure that their efforts to teach their children about God are “persevering and continuous”?

Cultivating Your Child's Vision of God's Glory

Date: November 6^th, 2011
Text: Psalm 145:1-13
Preached by: Pastor Van Morris

Main Idea:  Parents are God’s agents, commissioned to point their children to the glory of God.

Introduction

We are born into this world with a distorted vision of God’s true glory.  Glory signifies importance, excellence, worth, significance, beauty or weight/heaviness. Compared to God, everything else in the universe has no weight.  We were created to be dazzled by God, but our vision is clouded by sin.

How Do Parents Cultivate a Vision for God’s Glory in Their Children?

God has purposefully created the world so that everything He made is a visible finger pointing to His glory (Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:19-20).  He has provided an accurate, reliable record of His glorious deeds to commend to the next generation (Psalm 145:1-13).  Parents need to cultivate their own vision of God’s glory so that they can pass it on to their children. There is an urgent need of a vision for God’s glory (Judges 2:10).

The Plot of God’s Glory

Children must be helped to see their place in God’s plot (Read Eph 1:1-18).

Application Questions

1.     Read Psalm 145:1-3.  How is this a reality in your own life?  What attitudes and/or actions need to change in your life for this to deepen?

2.     How would you explain the glory of God to a child?

3.     What messages of modern culture undermine the declaration of God’s glory in creation?  What would you do to counter those messages in your children?

4.     How would you use the Bible to demonstrate God’s glory to someone?

5.     Read Ephesians 1:1-18.  What truths do you see here about who you are in Christ?  How does this impact your vision of God’s glory?

The World Your Child Was Born Into

Date: October 30^th, 2011
Text: Genesis 3:1-7
Preached by: Pastor Van Morris

Main Idea:  Children are born into a world that is in rebellion against its Creator.

Introduction

In this text, the “world” is mankind organized in rebellion against God; a spiritual force that is the antithesis of the kingdom of God.  It is the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, and pleasures which, although hollow and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God, and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.

Your child was born into a world that has been blinded through deception.

Genesis 3:1-7

Your child was born into a world that sin has invaded.

Romans 5:12

Your child was born into a world that goes contrary to the will of God.

Ephesians 2:1-3

Your child was born into a world that is passing away.

1 John 2:17

 Your child was born into a world that belongs to and is loved by God.

Psalm 24:1; John 3:16

By giving His Son to a deceived, broken world, God is saying that we were meant for Jesus, and that only in Jesus can all that has fallen apart be healed.

Application Questions

1.     Though you may not have children yet, what were your thoughts as the reality of the kind of world we live in was presented?

2.     What are some of the messages the world tries to deceive children with?  What are the gospel truths they should know to protect them?

3.     What life experiences have you had that have helped you understand the fact that the world is an impermanent place, already subject to passing away?

4.     How does knowing that the world belongs to and is loved by God help you when you are confronted with the world’s obvious brokenness?

5.     How would you offer the gospel to a child?  How might it be different from  presenting the gospel to an adult?