baptism

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Since, in two weeks, we are meeting together for a baptism service, I thought we should talk about baptism. I have found that this is a fairly controversial topic – there are different views of what baptism is, why we do it, it’s importance, etc. Fundamentally there are two different understandings or beliefs around physical baptism. At this level the differences are very important. Some believe there is salvific merit in the act of baptism – the act of baptism results in salvation or the forgiveness of sins. To be clear, this view would say that my salvation is or can be contingent on physical baptism.

the church – salt & light

First – We were meant to worship. This is our core call with all that we are and have – to worship the God of Gods. To worship the One who created all that exists and is sovereign over everything. If we do not feel this call we have missed God. God is the only necessary and free being that exists – we are contingent and dependent.

ministering to each other

As we rebuild this local fellowship we are taking a few Sundays to talk about what the local fellowship of Jesus-followers is, what we are to do, how we are to do it, what it means to be an elder, church membership and church discipline, etc. So, I’ve defined the local church, at a minimum to be – a group of born again, baptized believers who, under the guidance of biblical leadership, regularly meet to worship God through Jesus Christ, sit under the authority of Scripture, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

the primary thing – worship

Last week we started a series on the church. In this we defined the local church. At a minimum the local church is a group of born again, baptized believers who, under the guidance of biblical leadership, regularly meet to worship God through Jesus Christ, sit under the authority of Scripture, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Today I’d like to start talking about why the church is here – why we exist.

what is the church?

 

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)
[Because Christ died for ALL who believe], you [gentiles] are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with [believing Jews] and members of God’s household,  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

the jailer is saved

Acts 16:22-34 (NIV)

God in our transitions

Last week we looked at the story of Lydia. Paul thought he was going to Asia but God redirected him to Europe. Lydia was a gentile woman who believed the God of Israel was indeed God. It seems like she was a well-to-do business owner and, probably, Paul’s first European convert. When Paul spoke the gospel to her God opened her heart to receive it and her whole household was saved. And so now Paul has a base to work from – a geographic base, a core group of people to disciple, and perhaps even financial support. That had to be encouraging.

Paul encounters Lydia

Acts 16:13-15 (NIV)
¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to (the message spoken by Paul) Paul’s message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Craig Hensel – 7/12/09

Listen to Craig’s message here

God’s grace

God’s grace is his undeserved, kind, favor/action toward us (159 times in the N.T.). Pictures of God’s grace seem never-ending.

Exodus 34:6 (NIV)
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…”

Psalm 145:8 (NIV)
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

prosperity gospel

I’d like to ask you to connect with me around a VERY serious issue this morning. Before we get there, however, I want you to complete this sentence. “If I was the Christian I should be, my life would look like ________”. This is, and has always been, an important question.

clay pots

Paul, in the first seven chapters of 2 Corinthians, is attempting to do many things. He is attempting to help the readers understand his position as an apostle, his authority in bringing God‘s truth to them, and his heart in his ministry to them. He does not want them listening to false teachers. He is ALSO teaching them by his example.

marriage, divorce, remarriage – pt 3

• Every marriage is God-ordained (Matt 19:6)
• Every marriage is designed to be an example of God’s love for his children – marriage is designed to image the gospel (Eph 5:28-32)
• Every marriage is designed to be permanent (Matt 19:6)
• God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) (God hates bad marriages)

Malachi 2:13-16 (NIV) – to Judah
Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel…

marriage, divorce, and remarriage – pt2

Last week we started our brief study of marriage as we looked at Matt 19 and Ephesians 5. In Matt 19 we find that God designed marriage to be a permanent covenant – “…as long as we both shall life”

marriage, divorce, and remarriage – pt1

The Bible devotes a fair amount of space to marriage, how we should function within the marriage, the imagery around marriage, etc. The Bible also attempts to correct many of the errors and bad thinking we can easily have.