Jesus said “I am …”

Jesus said “I am …

Why are we gathering together this morning?

  • There are no doubt many good reasons: obedience to God (Heb. 10:25), worship of God (Jn. 4:24), encouraging one another, (1Cor. 14:26), etc.
  • But surely a very important reason is because of who Jesus is!
Jesus said “I am …
1. I am the bread of life (John 6:35,41,48,51)
2. I am the light of the world (8:12; 9:5)
3. I am (8:58)
4. I am the door (10:7,9)
5. I am the good shepherd (10:11,14)
6. I am the Son of God (10:36)
7. I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)
8. I am the way, and the truth, and the life (14:6)
9. I am the true vine (15:1,5)

Biblical Leadership Tit 1:5-9

Biblical Leadership Tit 1:5-9

  • Choosing Leaders Follow Me Mat 4:18-20; Mar 2:13-14; Mat 16:24; Mat 10:38
  • A leader must serve Joh 13:12-17
  • Go and make disciples Mat 28:18-20
  • Respect your Elders
  • Appointing a Nobel task Tit 1:5; 1Ti 3:1
  • Respect/honour those who watch for your souls 1Ti 5:17-18; 1Th 5:12-13; Heb 13:17
  • Qualities of an Elder/ Overseer Personal Qualities Above Reproach 1Ti 3:7; 2Co 8:21
  • Hospitable Rom 12:13
  • A lover of Good Act 9:36
  • Self controlled/Disciplined Jas 1:12
  • Upright/Holy Job 2:3
  • Able to Teach Tit 1:9
  • A Family Man Tit1:6; 1Ti 3:2; 1Ti 3:4-5
  • What an Elder Cant be 1Ti 3:6; Tit 1:7; Pro 15:18 2Ti 2:24; 1ti 3;3

Lessons from the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)

Lessons from the Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Luke 15)

Four Lessons from the Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Luke 15)

  1. Sin leads to the opposite of what it promises
  2. Repentance and confession are essential
  3. God is compassionate and gracious
  4. Don’t be appallingly selfish like the older brother

Luke 15 is one of the most loved chapters in all the Bible!

Its “parable” (i.e., v. 3) in four parts– the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, and the lost older brother – show many wonderful truths:

  • God’s great love for the lost,
  • His great efforts to restore them to Himself,
  • and His great joy when they are returned.

God allows us all choice, but longs for us all to be with Him. God wants all to be saved.

What is the Kingdom of Heaven Like? (Matthew 13)

What is the Kingdom of Heaven Like? (Matthew 13)

What is The Kingdom of Heaven Like?

  1. The sower (13:3-9,18-23)

People will react differently to “the word of the kingdom”! Many would, in effect, reject the kingdom! But the kingdom would be made up of those with honest and good hearts, who bear fruit with perseverance (cf. Luke 8:15). [Some Christians will not make it – let it not be you!]

  1. The tares among the wheat (13:24-30,36-43)

While the King is reigning, there will be those who recognize His rule and those who oppose, and such will be the case until the end of time.  i.e., The King will not remove all evil until the end of the world. We are not to attempt to exterminate evil people (we ourselves were evil once, Eph. 2:1-3)!

  1. The mustard seed (13:31,32)

Yes, there will be rejection and opposition (see 1 & 2 above), but the kingdom would still grow great and magnificent after a small beginning.

  1. The leaven (13:33)

The kingdom would spread everywhere, but without grandiose fanfare or military warfare.

  1. The hidden treasure (13:44)

Some will not be looking for the kingdom, but would recognise it’s great value when they saw it, and would give all to be part of it.  [So keep scattering the seed! cf. Matt.13:3]

  1. The costly pearl (13:45,46)

Others will be looking for the kingdom of great value, and will give all for it when they find it.

  1. The dragnet (13:47-50)

Those in the kingdom who become unfaithful will not inherit the heavenly kingdom. Careful sorting will take place at the end of the age.

That’s what the kingdom is really “like”, according to Jesus.

Turning the Other Cheek Mat 5:38-39

Turning the Other Cheek Mat 5:38-39

  • An Eye for an Eye
  • An Eye for an Eye doesn’t have you as Judge Exo 21:1; Exo 21:22-24; Deu 16:18-20
  • An Eye for an Eye requires Witnesses Deu 19:15-21
  • Eye for an Eye for All Peoples Lev 24:17-22; Lev 19:33-34
  • Turn the other Cheek
  • How Did Jesus Respond when slapped? Joh 18:19-23; Eph 4:26-27
  • How Did Paul Respond when Slapped? Act 23:1-5; Exo 22:28
  • David’s response to Sauls Anger 1Sa 24:10-15
  • So How Should we Conduct Ourselves
  • Jesus is our example of honourable conduct 1Pe 2:20-23
  • Understand you are a child of God Rom 12:17-19
  • But, Understand you are a child of God Jas 1:19-20; Col 3:8-10

Do we have to be in the church of Christ to go to heaven?

Do we have to be in the church of Christ to go to heaven?

1. Community misunderstanding of the question

2. The proper understanding of the question

3. How to recognise the church of Christ today

4. How to be in the church of Christ today

(a) How to BE saved

(b) How to STAY saved

Abide in Me

Abide in Me

Abide in Me. John chapter 15

  • Knowledge Joined with Devotion John 15:4-5 2 Cor 5:17
  • The Lords Instructions to His Disciples John 15:4-5
  • Making the Father Known John 1:10-11 Psa 19:1-6 Joh 14:1-31 Joh 17:18-19 Luk &:11-17 Joh 11:38-44
  • Christ is our Life Gal 2:20 Phi 1:21; 4:13 Joh 15:14
  • What it Means to Abide Joh 15:1-27
  • Infused with Christ’s Life Gal5:22-23 Joh 4:35-38 Joh 15:16 2Tim 2:1-2 Joh 14:24 1 Pet 2:9 ; 4:11 Joh 15:17 Mat 28:16-18

“One Another”

One Another

The NT contains numerousone another” passages.

  • They show us different ways that we can “do good … especially to those who are of the household of the faith”.
  • These passages teach us how we should interact as Christians.
    • One another” = reciprocal, mutual, joint, shared! It should not be just one-sided.
  • Simply stated: It’s less me and more we.

We’ve been reminded of some of these Scriptures this morning:

  1. We are to love one another (Jn. 13:34,35)
  2. We are to admonish one another (Rom. 15:14)
  3. We are to serve one another (1Pet. 4:10)

[Of course, these three points overlap.]

An Attitude of Gratitude Luke 17:11-19

An Attitude of Gratitude Luke 17:11-19

The Lord is Merciful What is Leprosy? Lev 13:45-46 The Clarion Cry of the Unfortunate Mat 15:22; Mat 20:30-31; Pro 3:27 Fulfill all righteousness Mar 1:40-44 Manners Cost Nothing Being thankful for physical health Act 3:16; 1Ti 6; Ecc 2:24-26 Being thankful for Mental Health Php 4:6-7 Giving Thanks always and for Everything How not to give praise to God 2Ch 32:22-26 Being Thankful in all things Col 3:16-17 Unless I see Joh 20:25 Joh 20:27-29; Job 1:20-21

What’s New in the New Year?

What’s New in the New Year?

God has graciously granted to us all here today the start of another new year:

  • 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

But, What’s New in the New Year?

  1. There is nothing is new under the sun
  2. But everything is new under the Son
(i) A new and living way to God
(ii) A new covenant
(iii) A new man
(iv) A new life
(v) A new creature
(vi) A new heaven and a new earth

Let’s make the most of whatever time God has graciously given us to serve Him and to help others as we should (cf. Matt. 22:36-40).