Notes from 9-13-2009 PM Sermon – God’s Alluring
Hosea 2:14
== God's drawing the unworthy ==
"Behold, I will allure her."
Man's evil is so complete impending judgment (what Hosea has been talking about so far, and what will still come) could never turn man back. (cf. Gen 8:21) Instead of giving up, God lovingly entices us back. This is grace. (cf. Rom 5:20)
- This means God will gradually unfold before them the majesty of his excellence. He opens their eyes.
- God will out love all former lovers combined. More love, honor, respect than any other has ever been able to give. The pleasures of God are greater than the pleasures of sin.
- It comes by surprise. The people weren't expecting it. (eg. Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis). (cf. John 6:41-44)
== God's bringing to the truth ==
"And bring her into the wilderness."
When God saves you, he puts you into a new wilderness - a new awareness of sin and guilt. He lets you see the truth about yourself. (cf. Luke 7:40-47)
== God speaks to the heart ==
"And speak tenderly to her."
(cf. John 16:8-11) The root of sin is unbelief. God speaks kindly to the heart, convincing sinners they have been given the credit of God's righteousness - unconditional forgiveness. It is God's work, and his means is the ministry of the gospel.
The full kindness of God is beyond our ability to comprehend. (this morning's sermon)
Notes from 9-13-2009 Sermon – Idolatry
Hosea 2:8-13
Idolatry's Punishment
== Israel's Sin ==
- (v. 8a) Deepest ingratitude: (They do not know.) God had lavished wealth on Israel, but their hearts were so hardened in sin, they did not recognize that it was God. (cf. Hebrews 3:13, 2 Cor 4:4) Wealth is dangerous, but poverty is not a virtue. The issue is your heart. (v. 13) "She forgot me."
- (v. 8b) Most offensive use: They turned their unmerited blessings and used them openly in betrayal. Idolatry is in the heart. 'Do you misuse blessings by looking TO them for your joy, rather than looking THROUGH them for your joy?' (cf. Prov 22:2)
- It is the converted heart that causes genuine worship. It can not be codified through extra-biblical rules and laws.
== God's Response ==
- (v. 9, 12) He will remove their blessings to get their attention.
- (v. 10) He will bring public humiliation to demonstrate his power and the impotence of their false gods. Not all humbling is a response to sin. Occasionally it is to bring about maturity.
- (v. 11) He destroys false worship. Why do you go to church? (cf. Amos 8:5)
- (v. 13) Imagery (not meant to be legalistically interpreted) of a wife dressing up erotically for an affair, rather than for her husband. (cf. Ezekiel 16:10-13)
Christ has adorned us with grace. We are married into royalty. Repent of spiritual adultery.
Sermon Notes: Resting – Mark 6:30-32
5/31/2007. AM service. Jeff Noblit.
It is biblical to rest from ministry. It can be prideful to think that you do not need rest.
*** The Commission for the Disciples ***
Integrity. (Mark 6:30) The disciples reported everything they had *done* - not just what they taught. We ought to be doing what we are teaching. Today there is a lot of great writing (a lot of bad too), but the doing seems disproportionately behind - even though we are getting good instruction.
Accountability. (1 Corinthians 4:3 "It's a small thing that I'm examined by you.") (Mark 6:7 - the disciples were sent out two by two.) (Ecclesiastes 4:9) (Proverbs 27:17)
*** The Concern for the Disciples ***
Mark 6:31 - As much of a command of the Lord as it was to go out a preach the gospel. The context is mostly preachers and preaching, but it applies to all saints. Some call it a hobby, or an escape, but really it is a mandated spiritual discipline.
We are encased in weak flesh. We have a limited physical capacity and a limited emotional capacity. Jeff: "You have to rest, or people don't want to be around you the next day. God does not have to rest, and he's wonderful everyday." (Genesis says God "rested" but this is an anthropomorphic illustration to say that God was done with the creation work. The Bible also says that he never rests.)
However, when the work gets tough, don't let this be an excuse to drop the work of the gospel first. Take all matters to the Lord and allow him to judge.
*** Conclusions for Practical Application ***
#1 - Get away WITH Jesus, not from Jesus. Don't let God only remind you of your work boots. Associate him with your slippers as well.
#2 - Don't turn yourself into a sloth. (Proverbs 6:6-11) (Mark 6:31 "... for a while")
#3 - Expect it to be difficult. Even as he went to rest, crowds would still follow Jesus. We probably won't have that problem. We may deal with guilt.
#4 - You can take mini breaks to draw closer to God while separating from the world.
Notes from 2-8-2009 Sermon – Remember
Anecdote: The church is in trouble. Adultery and worse. Believers suing others and arguing over pastor's pay, as a result the pastor takes no salary. Factions in the church - power struggles... Would you look to the church as a model? God did...
2 Corinthians 9:1-7
*** Principles of Giving ***
** Purpose of Offering **
* Missions (2 Corinthians 9:1)
History of the faith offering. Founder of (?) church: A.B. Simpson. Also, Dr. Oswald J. Smith of The People's Church in Toronto, Canada.
* Motivation (2 Corinthians 9:2)
To motivation Corinthians to give, and to use them as a model for Macedonians.
2 Corinthians 3:2 commentary: "The best proof of Paul's ministry validity."
Acts 17:11.
** Plan for Offering **
2 Corinthians 9:3 - Sent team ahead to prepare the people for the offering.
Titus (2 Cor 8:6,16), and two others (2 Cor 8:18-19,22).
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9.
Bro Jeff: "Did Paul lose his mind here? This is a very pragmatic - I don't even like that word in church - pragmatic approach... to getting people to give."
The Bible allows for great flexibility in how a church supports their ministry. "Give it all to the Lord" - don't make needs known - that's ok too. But so is Paul's pragmatic approach here.
** The provisions for the offering **
2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
Founded by men who faithfully tithed: Colgate, Heinz, J.C. Penny, Quaker Oats Cereal.
"If you can't give joyfully, don't give... Our God honors not the size of your gift, but the greatness of your sincerity."
* Moonlighting for missions
* Lifestyle adjustments for missions
... examples: coke a day, family eating out, turning cable off, not buying a boat.
* Caution: 'Money from nowhere' - if you really feel led to do so, giving on complete faith.
Notes from 2-1-2009 Sermon – Remember
Angels anecdote (grace).
Hebrews 13:7-8. Context: the people embraced Christ, but their culture was anti-Christ. They were asking themselves "Is this ok?"
How often have you sat down with someone who is backslidden and asked "How much time have you spent remembering?"
Jeremiah 6:16
"The chrurch should be reformed and always reforming back to the ancient paths."
Jeff: "I don't encourage alliteration in the outline, but this one just fell into place."
## 1: the divine office they held
Hebrews 13:7
Role of pastor: "lead" = guide / chief / governor. Bishop and overseer - same word.
1 timothy 3:1, Ephesians 4:11 (Pastor whose job is Teacher) (Whatever they have it's a gift given by God so they can give to the church.
The pastor is an extension of Christ's authority and rule - the office of Christ. (My thought: "mini pope?")
FBC Dallas, tx: "a benevolent dictator"
Matthew 20:25-28, 1 Peter 5:2, 2 timothy 4:2.
** "The pastor has no legislative power. The church doesn't even have a legislative branch. The legislation has been laid down... in the Bible... Someone should tell the Catholic church this."
Hebrews 13:7
Honor them not for their person but for their position - it's the office of power that God has ordained.
## 2: the doctrine doctrine they preached.
"Remember those who 'spoke' the word." the great business of the church is the speaking of the word of God.
2 Cor 4:2.
Some people piece together the Bible in a man centered way - this is adulterating the word.
Should be proper historical and grammatical context.
"The church shouldn't develop and appetite for clever, seasoned speech that is only sprinkled with the word of God."
1 Cor 2:1
## 3: Remember the discipleship they preached.
Acts 6:11-14, Acts 7:54-60
My thoughts: Proof that the office of pastor isn't, however, inerrant - Jeff: "More pastors read Spurgeon than any other book ever written."
Bro Jeff also says that a lot of the modern biographers skew the doctrinal beliefs of prominent calvinists because of the market favors non-calvinistic books right now.
Translated to Glory
Revelation 12:5-13
Revelation 7:14-17
## 4: Divine presence they possessed.
Immutability of God. Martyrs and heroes of the church's past had the power of Christ, and he's the same Christ today that he was then.
Jeff: "People say funny things about us. No, they say mean things about us, let's be honest." (because of the church's commitment to historical Baptist doctrines and uniqueness apart from others)
----
random Tollie thought:
What is the purpose served by the "audience cam"?
Is it to provide relevance, so that viewers can relate to and connect subconsciously with others in the church? If so, is this biblical? I don't know. The gathering of believers is certainly black-and-white ordained. The question is "why" is it ordained. Perhaps part of the reason for gathering together is that there is a tangible rationale - sociological reinforcement that others are also participating, which leads to greater participation and involvement. If so, digitally, the audience cam may be a way to help augment the subconscious sociological influences, thus digitally providing more of the "nutrition" provided by attending a biblical church than would be provided by preaching alone.
On the other hand, is it for aesthetics alone? If so, then this is biblical as God is certainly pleased by Christ honoring art (like the art of music used in musical worship), but I would contend that perhaps this aesthetic worship is better provided for by the artful portion of worship (the singing/music), and not necessary during the preaching/teaching portion of worship.
Notes from 1-25-2008 Sermon – Our Bible Driven Church part 2
Rick Warren anecdote, c. 20 years ago. Rick: "people know they're sinners, you don't have to tell them that."
my thoughts: why do we count attendance numbers?
Purpose Statement: God's will for any church in any generation.
Grace Life's wording: "To glorify God, by obediently making and equipping disciples of Christ, in the Shoals and throughout the world, by the power of the Spirit."
"If you focus on glorifying God, you meet men's needs more than if you focus on meeting men's needs."
II: "obediently"
my thoughts: do we *really* not need to "learn anything" about modern culture? I think we do. It's how we apply it that makes it a moral issue.
"Our goal should be obedience, not success" - Consider how many followers _left_ Jesus as he announced he was going to Israel to *die*.
John 14:15, Acts 5:23, Romans 16:19
III: "making and equipping disciples"
Matt 28:18-20
Does not say "get decisions" or "get responses" or "mark cards" by "make disciples" (which is beyond just baptism).
Gospel is in the message, not the method.
Anecdotes about fire-truck baptisms (lights, sirens go off when kids are baptized), and magician evangelists. "If it takes a magician to get them to accept Christ, what does it take to keep them serving Christ? Barnum and Bailey?"
III-a: Difference between "using the Bible" and "preaching the word"
Example of "the difference between using the Bible to reach a conclusion of their own, and those who preach the word and let the word be the conclusion? The difference between Rick Warren and John MacArthur."
Romans 10:14-15
"Usually when you go multimedia and drama the preaching goes down... and the entertainment quotient goes up."
III-b: Small Groups
"There is no place for a spectator in the church" - ever member a ministry.
- Moses organized the OT Jewish nation, - The way Jesus organized his followers - The way Paul organized the NT church (Acts)
Promise Keepers anecdote: "If the church would be the church, you wouldn't need Promise Keepers."
III-c: Family Discipleship
me: Judging a kid based on pink hair and piercings, etc is wrong. As a general rule, I agree with Bro Jeff's idea that it's a cry of insecurity, but I say that's not an absolute truth, and that when it is a cry for help, it's not always prideful/sinful - some people do not know how to ask for help in a non-self-centered way, just like a baby is not sinful for crying when it's hungry.
IV: In the Shoals and throughout the World
The church has a global calling. It's the only command given in 5 books of the NT.
John 8:12, 4:42, 3:16
1 John 2:2
"Get the gospel right, or don't do missions."
Acts 13:1-4
V: By the power of the Spirit
Matt 28:20
"This gospel will not sell to the modern generation, but it will save them, if God's in it."
Col 1:28-29
Learned: when people at GLiCoS are baptized, they don't have to read what they share (as all I've seen have), they just normally choose to do so. What they're reading is the testimony they submitted to their counselors to demonstrate that their regeneration is real. (Meaningful membership.)
Notes from 1-18-2008 Sermon – Our Bible Driven Church part 1
The glory of God is everything. He is most glorified through his church. Churches need revival and reformation (in that order). This means suffering for God's shepherds and God's people.
Matt 16:13-18, 21-23
Peter: "home run" on getting right who Jesus is.
Upon the rock of the _truth_ that Peter recognized, God would build his church.
Peter: "strike out" on trying to override God's interests with man's.
Many churches have only the form of Godliness but not the power of: The prominent pattern of those who walk by the spirit is God worshiping, treasuring, humble, self-denying, sacrificial people.
"Just when we need the church the most, it has become just like us."
How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus told them "I'm going to leave you to go die?"
16.4 million people labeled "Southern Baptist" because they marked a card, one-third of them go to church, and most of those don't behave like Christians.
I disagree: "We need to repent of freudian, atheistic psychology. We need to repent of our esteem of the studies of sociology..."
I agree: "We don't need psychology and sociology and the study of community demographics to design His church."
Purpose Statement: God's will for any church in any generation.
Grace Life's wording: "To glorify God, by obediently making and equipping disciples of Christ, in the Shoals and throughout the world, by the power of the Spirit."
* To Glorify God
Ephesians 3:21.
Be bought the church with his own blood. Acts 20:28
The church is the body, Christ is the head. Consider: does a report ask the legs how they accomplished the task when they've run a race? The head gets the attention.
The church is his bride. Ephesians 5. This is not our church - it is his church. Everyone is expendable to the end of the glory of God.
Sermon Notes 1-4-2008
Sunday Night (didn't blog the AM service. May add it later.)
Hebrews 13:4
Fornication and Adultery.
We live in a day of deluge of sexual immorality.
Bible: "whoa to those who call evil good and good evil."
World: Christians are Narrow minded self righteous biggots.
1) Deep wickedness
One of marriages purposes is to eliminate fornication. Adultery comes from root word meaning "to destroy." Fornication as replacement for marriage is anti-God.
Against all 3 persons of the trinity, against neighbor, against society in general, against church.
1 Thes 4:3
1 Cor 6:15, 19
2 Sam 12:10
Hosea 4
Prov 6:3
1 Cor 3:18
Prov 6:26
When you go home and turn on the tv you will see these sins at least condoned and likely celebrated. This should disturb us knowing how greatly it disturbs God.
2) adultery the greatest evil?
In 10 commandments
Breaks firmest bond we have on earth- Marriage. (Genesis 2, Matthew 5)
Malachi 2:14
Prov 6:32-35
Consider Deut 22:22 - get rid of it by purging.
3) How God judges these sins.
Temporal Judgements
Ephesians 5:5-6
In many prominant ancient cultures without the scriptures, adulterly was a capital crime.
Lev 18.
Often, God's judgement may be to turn you over to sins and allow them to destroy you. If you are struggling with it, be glad that God's spirit is still working in you to condemn you. If you feel no guilt, tremble in fear that God may have turned you over to those sins.
Ecle 7:26
Prov 5:3-4
4) God's reasons for judgements.
They are often done in secret, so God must expose them. Nothing is secret to God.
2 Samuel 12:12. Proverbs 15:3.
To bring down mighty men who think they are above God's law.
Luke 1:51-52.
Because mankind (civil and churches) is so lax to judge them itself.
1 Samuel 3:13-14.
Because men advance these sins, and so God wants to act stronger to stop them.
2 cor 5:11
Luke 12:4-5
5) God's remedies (some) for these temptations.
Fight sin early. Consider David and Bathsheba.
Marriage. Better to marry than to burn.
1 cor 7:2-3. "Young people should not be trying out one another like clothes."
Live a disciplined life. "The devil is least idol when we are most idol."
Avoid obvious snares. (eg. Alcohol lowers inhibition.) "We don't discipline against so called moderate drinking, although we do teach against it. We do discipline the clearly unbiblical drunkeness."
Bad company. Avoid those who celebrate sin and make crude jokes.
Impure entertainment. Not just that the sins are their- it's that they applaud and celebrate it, rather than show its true consequences.
Avoid mixed sex intimate (alone) settings. Prov 7. Don't go near the door.
Avoid improper dress that makes you look like a whore. Avoid the personality of being whoreish.
Prov 2:16
Closing point) isa 42:3, 1 cor 6:9-11.
Notes from 12-28 Sermon – Showing Brotherly Love
Hebrews 13:1 - Showing brotherly love
Point 1: What is brotherly love?
Romans 5:5. 1 John 3:1,14.
Matthew 25:31-40. Note the word 'brothers' in v. 40. (Similar to how I noted that the "prodigal sons, on the streets they run, searching for shelter" in Leeland's song - 'prodigal' indicates that they are Christians.)
1 Thes 4:9. If you are born again, you don't need someone to tell you to love. You have Christ's love for them.
Point 2: Some specific duties of brotherly love.
* Show hospitality to strangers (v.2). In context, probably means to Christian travelers. Hospitality is lovingly meeting the legitimate needs of a brother or sister in Christ. Don't confuse it with fellowship socials.
- Interesting. Bro. Jeff in his early Christian years picked up a homeless guy and let him live with he and his mother for 2 weeks - then he stole lots of stuff from them and ran off. Jeff mentions there is discernment involved. He also wonders if maybe the homeless man was genuinely ministered to, and perhaps if he will get to meet him in Heaven. Jeff also says he regrets not having taken this sort of risk more often.
1 John 3:16. 1 Cor 12:20,26.
Point 3: Superior Excellence of Brotherly love.
* Love: a liking (depends on object of the love if it's good or bad)
* Common love: brings two together.
* Brotherly love: it's special, limited. (PS. Jeff used Christmas china this year. The plate has a deer head on it.) It has specific duties, and has a stronger bond.
Galatians 6:10. 1 Timothy 4:10.
Point 4: How are you doing in continuing?
1 - Time? Be intentional.
2 - Service? Find what service can you do.
3 - Unity. Do you work at maintaining the unity?
Notes from 12-14 Sermon – Don’t go back to earthly religion.
Heb 12:25-29. Don't go back to earthly religion. If you add anything to Christ: you lose Christ. Why devise a system of "church" for the purpose of making a check-list that people can feel good (or guilty) about checking (or not checking) off.
Point 1: v.25. There is a true voice from Heaven. John 1:1.
Point 2: Your judgment will be severe. v.25-26. James 2:10. Jesus said even if you break the law in your heart, you're as guilty. Heb 10:25-26. We have not been given Moses; we've been given Christ.
Point 3: Because the new Kingdom can not be shaken. v.27. 2 Peter 3:10. Rev 21:8.
Investigate further: seismologists and preliminary tremors. cf. Has shaking already begun?
Point 4: Because the new Kingdom is received by grace. v.28. "received"- only means to enter into Kingdom. Can't be born into, buy into, or battle into it.
4-a: Receive with gratitude and rest.
4-b: Serve with gratitude and rest. Consider parent directing a child to do a task. What blesses the parent more? A child who does it out of fear of punishment and unhappily, or a child who does it out of love and respect joyfully.
4-c: Serve with caution and fear. ie. Balance. v.28. With rest balanced with reverence and awe.
This seeming paradox is not lost on the pastor. "Oh the wonder of it all."
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