In Christ Alone: a Study in Romans - Romans 15:22-23

  I.  Honor God with our planning. 

    a.  Subject to the sovereignty of God.

-prevented = egkopto = hinder, prevent; literally to cut, to cut out

-Jer. 10:23; James 4:15 

    b.  Submissive to the will of God.

“First, God knew Spain was in Paul’s heart, just as much as it was in David’s heart to build the Temple, though that king never saw a stone of it laid. Secondly, the value of a dream is not whether we achieve it or not, but in setting out to achieve it…God is not so much interested in whether we reach our destination as in how we try to get there. To us arrival is everything, but to God the journey is most important, for it is in the journey that we are perfected, and it is in hardships that he is glorified as we trust him.”-Kent Hughes

 II.  Embrace duty with love and joy.

-II Cor. 9:7

 

III.  Genuinely place priority in prayer.

-agonizomai = struggle, fight

Show the love of Christ to a child in need this Christmas!

What are you doing this year for Christmas?

Decorating the house?  Making Christmas cookies?  Celebrating with family and loved ones?  Exchanging gifts?

What if this year you gave gifts that not only celebrated your loved ones but brought the love of Christ to a child in need?  An orphan in Africa, India, Ukraine, or Honduras?

This year Lifesong for Orphans has gifts that will do just that.  Give the new Lifesong cookbook...

  

 

or give a child in Africa food, a child in Honduras job skills training, a child in India a home... in honor of those you love... and really, what could be better at Christmas than to know your gift was given to a child who needed it more.

Check it out here.

May God bless your holiday season!  

10-11 Gifts of Purpose from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Sermon Notes: In Christ Alone - A Study in Romans

Rom. 15:14-21

 

   I.  Care for the spiritual well being of others.

-admonish = noutheteo = admonish, warn.

"The person is led away from a false way through warning, instruction, reminder, teaching and encouragement so his conduct is corrected."

-minister = leitourgos = servant, minister;

Luke 1:23, Heb. 8:1-2, 6; I Pet. 2:9

 

  II.  Boast only in what Christ has done through us.

-Phil. 3:4-8; I Tim. 1:12-14, Gal. 6:14

    a.  We have nothing in ourselves to boast about.

    b.  Do not fail to boast about what God has done.

 

 III.  Develop a Christ directed vision throughout life.

-Acts 9:15, Gal. 1:16

-aspire = philotimeomai = to be fond of or love honor.

-Acts 16:6-10

-Bruce Waltke "Finding the Will of God"

   God's Program of Guidance.

    1.  Reading your Bible.

    2.  Developing a heart for the Lord.

    3.  Seeking wise counsel.

    4.  Looking for God's providence.

    5.  Does this make sense?

    6.  Divine intervention.

 

Sermon Notes : In Christ Alone - A Study In Romans: Rom 14:1-12

Accept those with differing opinions on things not specifically commanded or prohibited.
-accept = proslambano = to take to oneself, to receive

I. God accepts them.
   a. The strong must not despise the weak.
   b. The weak must not judge the strong.
-judge = krino = condemn, pass judgment
   c. Both are servants of the Master.

II. Christ's glory is the goal of both.
-Col. 2:16-17, Heb. 8:5, 10:1

-MacArthur "In matters that are not specifically commanded or fobidden in Scripture, it is always wrong to go against conscience, because our conscience represents what we actually believe to be right. And although an act or practice in itself may not be sinful, it is treated as sinful for those who are convinced their own minds that it is wrong, and produces guilty."

   a. Those who eat meat and those who don't, both give thanks.
   b. Those who live and those who die are both the Lord's.

III. God is the Judge.
-Is. 45:23
   a. Don't judge your brother
   b. We will all stand before the Judge.
judgment seat = bema; platform on which teh Roman magistrate sat to administer justice.
-II Cor. 5:10

 

Kemah never knew her mother.  One day while she and her brother were sleeping, their home caught fire.  In a desperate attempt to save his children, Kemah’s father ran into the house for them.  After he rescued her brother, her father searched for Kemah as well.  That day, the roof of their little house caved in, leaving Kemah’s foot badly burned and killing her father.

Now orphaned, 6 year-old Kemah and her brother found refuge at Master’s Home of Champions-Lifesong Liberia.  Here she is gaining an education, is given daily, nutritious meals, and is learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Kemah can tell you that she loves Jesus and knows He loves her because He died for her sins.  Someday she hopes to be a missionary so she can tell others about the love of Christ!  

Wow...  What an amazing response to the Gospel from a young child who's already experienced more pain than many of us will experience in a lifetime.  But Kemah is not alone.  There are other children... so many children... who need our help!

We're asking for a monthly commitment of $28 for one year to help cover the costs of caring for 70 orphans in Liberia.  This donation will cover food and water, and other necessities, such as coal and kerosene, toothpaste, bathing and laundry soup, and hair oil.

A typical grocery list at Lifesong Liberia for 1 month includes:

- 8 bags of rice

- 5 gallons agro oil

- 2 bags of cornmeal

- 1 bag of sugar

- 20 gallons of red cooking oil

- 1 carton of cooking salt

Sometimes powdered milk and flour will also be purchased, but not every month.

Every 1-2 days cassava, various vegetables, fish and occasionally chicken are purchased for soup.

Typically the children at Lifesong Liberia will have cornmeal porridge for breakfast and rice with soup for lunch and dinner.

Will you help us feed and care for these children?  Children like Kemah?

Our goal is 70 people.  $28 a month.  One year commitment.

We have 17 commitments. That means 53 to go in just 4 days!

Join us in bringing joy and purpose for orphans!

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment today!

Lifesong - Liberia

Let's be the Hands and Feet of Jesus!

2010 Liberia Video from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

This week we are inviting our faithful readers and supporters to step up and help us in a time of need for Lifesong Liberia.

Lifesong has partnered with The Master’s Home of Champions orphanage and is providing a loving and safe home to many destitute and abandoned children, some of whom are deaf.  We seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and are focused on the goal of raising up champions for the good of Liberia and glory of God! 

This summer, another orphanage was in dire need, and thanks to an unexpected donation Lifesong was there.  Praise the Lord we can help more children!  But now, we need help too!  We need your help to make sure these children are fed every day!  We need your help to care for the fatherless!  Will you join us?

70 sponsors in one week is a tall order.  We know this.  We also know that we serve a big God who has told us that caring for the poor and vulnerable is at the very heart of who He is!  We believe we can make this happen! We pray that God will call hearts this week and we trust that you will answer!

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to commit!

Hear personal stories & follow the progress on our blog all this week!

 

Sermon Notes : In Christ Alone - A Study In Romans: Rom 13:8-10

  I.  Love is the debt we owe.

    a.  Love protects others against failure to repay.

-owe = opheileo = owe, indebted, obligated, ought, must

-Matt. 18:30, 34

-Luke 7:41; Philemon 1:18

-Matt. 5:42; Luke 6:34-35; borrow = danizo = to borrow money, to lend money;

-MacArthur "It is a debt we are constantly to pay against but can never pay off."

    b.  Love demonstrates itself through action.

    c.  Love sums up the law.

-summed up = anakephalaioo; comes from noun kephalaion = main point, summary; Heb. 8:1

-anakephalaioo = to summarize, bring to the main point; Rhetorical term used of summing of a speech or argument.

-Matt. 7:12

   d.  Love fulfills the law.

-Harrison "What then is the relationship between lvoe and law? In Christ the two concerns which seem to have so little in common, come together. To love others with the love of Christ exhibited is his new commandment (John 13:34). And if this love is present it will make possible the keeping of all his other commandments (John 14:15). Love promotes obedience and the two together constitute the law of Christ.

Sermon Notes: In Christ Alone- A Study in Romans Romans 13:1-7

-Robert Ottley "There is indeed significance in the fact that in spite of their ardent zeal for social reform they [the prophets] did not as a rule take part in political life or demad political reforms. They desired...not better institutions but better men."

-John MacArthur "It really does not matter whether people go to hell as policemen or prostitutes, judges or criminals, pro-life or pro-choice. The moral will persist with the immoral. Our task is the proclamation of the gospel. Neglecting it is the spiritual equivalent of a skilled heart surgeon abandoning his profession to become a make-up artist, spending his time making people look better rather than saving lives. The mission of the church is not to change society – although that is often a beneficial by-product of faithful ministry and living – but to worship and serve the Lord and to bring others to saving faith in Him.”

 

   I.  Submit to the government.

-hupotasso = to place or rank under, put in subjection

-Titus 3:1, I Pet. 2:13-15

    a.  The government is appointed by God.

-established = tasso = appoint, assign, designate.

-Dan. 2:21, 4:17, John 19:11

    b.  Resisting the government is opposition to God.

-resist = antitasso = oppose, resist;

-James 4:6, I Pet. 5:5, Acts 18:6

    c.  The government is God's minister.

-minister = diakonos = servant, helper, deacon

-Ex. 1:17, Dan. 1:12-15, 3:16-18; Acts 4:18-20, 5:28-29

-Jer. 29:7, I Tim. 2:1-2

 

  II.  The purpose of government is to maintain social order.

-Ezek. 7:23-27

   a.  Deter evil.

   b.  Restrain evil.

   c.  Punish evil.

   d.  Praise what is good.

   e.  Promote what is good.

-Eccl. 8:2-5

 

  III.  Render what is required to the government.

-Matt. 22:21; Matt. 17:24-27

Sermon Notes: In Christ Alone- A Study in Romans Romans 12:9-21

  I.  The supernatural life produces the transformation of personal conduct.
     a.  Loving without hypocrisy.
-John 13:34, 15:12, I John 4:7-1 

     b.  Abhorring evil.

-abhor = apostugeo = despise, hate bitterly
-Ps. 101:3, 119:104, 119:113, 119:128, 119:163; Prov. 8:13; I John 5:3; Zech. 8:17

              c.  Clinging to what is good.

-clinging = kollao = glue or cement
-I John 5:3, Phil. 4:8

     d.  Avoiding spiritual idleness.-lagging = lazy, idle
-diligence = zeal, earnestness, effort

     e.  Zealous in spirit.
-fervent = zeo = boil

     f.  Serving God -serving = douleo = to be a slave

     g.  Rejoicing in hope.
-Titus 2:13, I Tim. 1:1

     h.  Enduring tribulation.

-tribulation = thlipsis = trouble, distress
-persevering = hupomeno = endure, hold out, stand firm, bear
    

     i.  Unfaltering in prayer.

-devoted = proskartereo = devote self to, to continue in; Literally = to be strong toward something
 

  II.  The supernatural life produces transformation in our conduct toward God's family.

      a.  Devoted to one another in brotherly love.
-brotherly love = philadelphia; combination of phileo = to love, tender affection, and adelphos = brother
-devoted to = philostorgos = authentically loving, tenderly devoted; combination of phileo and storge. storge = natural family love.
-"It denotes the delicate affections mutually rendered by those who cherish one another with natural affection, as the innate love of a mother, or as the love of parents and children, brothers and sisters."
-I Thess. 4:9, Heb. 13:1, I Peter. 1:22
  

     b.  Honoring others above ourselves.
-giving preference to one another = proegeomai = to go before, to show the way, to consider, to esteem.
-Phil 2:3
-honor = time = honor, respect, recognition, value

     c.  Sharing with the family.

-contributing = kiononeo = share, contribute, take part
-Heb. 13:16

    d.  Pursuing hospitality.
-practicing = dioko = purse, seek after, strive for
-hospitality = philoxenia = fond of strangers, to receive strangers; combination of phileo and xenia = lodging, guest room. 
-Heb. 13:2, I Pet. 4:9
  

     e.  Sharing our lives with each other.
-Col. 3:12
  

     f.  Being unified.
-phroneo = think, have in mind
-Schreiner "Diversity of gifts and pesonality are beautiful, but they should never lead to disharmony in the church."

     g.  Staying humble.
-Matt. 11:29
-Schreiner "Those who do not associate with the humble are 'wise in their own estimation.' They refuse to associate with others because they deem themselves to be superior in wisdom. The redeemed community should be marked by humble concern for one another and all should be treated as valued persons made in the image of God and redeemed by Him."

 

  III.  The supernatural life produces transformation in our conduct toward enemies.

    

              a.  Bless our persecutors.

-persecute = dioko = to pursue, to strive for

-bless = eulogeo = bestow a blessing, act graciously toward

-Matt. 5:44, Luke, 6:27-28

   

    b.  Never retaliate

-Ex. 21:24; Matt. 5:38-44

-Deut. 32:35; Deut. 7:10

    

             c.  Do what is right.

-respect = pronoeo = have regard for, have in mind to try to do

-Prov. 3:4, II Cor. 8:21

    

   d.  Attempt to live at peace with everyone.

-Mark 9:50

    

   e.  Overcome evil by doing good.

-Prov. 25-21; II Kings 6:22

What does "heap burning coals on his head" mean?

    1) They will become more angry.

    2) They are put to shame.

    3) They are humiliated.

    4) They are under judgment.

-I Sam. 24:17

-Moo "By responding to evil with 'the good' rather than with evil, we gain a victory over that evil. Not only have we not allowed it to corrupt our own moral integrity, but we have displayed the character of Christ before a watching and sekptical world."

Sermon Notes: In Christ Alone - Romans 12:3-8

Romans 12:3-8
Our usefulness to the Lord depends on:

I. A Proper Attitude- Humility
1Tim 1:12-17, 1Cor 12:31 - 13:3  

John Calvin- "For so blindly do we all rush in the direction of self-love that everyone thinks he has a good reason for exalting himself and despising all others in comparison....There is no other remedy than to pluck up by the roots those most noxious pests, self-love and love of victory.... This the doctrine of Scripture does. For it teaches us to remember that the endowments which God has bestowed upon us are not our own, but His free gifts, and that those who plume themselves upon them betray their ingratitude." 

II. A Proper Relationship- Unity in Diversity

III. A Proper Service- Exercising our Gifts
1Cor 14:1-3, Heb 10:25, 2Tim 1:6-7 

Sermon Notes: In Christ Alone - Romans 12:1-2

Rom. 12:1-2

 

   I.  Wholly give yourself to God. 

      "The one expression (indicative) covers what God has done in terms of the gospel; it deals with the divine provision. The other (imperative) deals with what the Christian is expected to do by way of working out the salvation that has been given to him, consequently majoring on exhortation."-Harrison

-Phil. 2:12-13

-paristemi = to present; technical term for presenting a sacrifice.

-spiritual service = logikos

-logikos = reasonable, rational, spiritual 

"Our only 'reasonable' - and by implicaiton, spiritual-service of worship is to present God with all that we are and all that we have."-MacArthur 

 

  II.  Reject the mold of the world.

-world = aion = age

-Gal. 1:4

-conform = suschematizo = to form or mold after something 

"those who belong to Christ have been transferred from the old realm of sin and death into the new realm of righteousness and life."-Moo

 

 III.  Be transformed through renewal of your mind.

-Matt. 12:43-45

-transformed = metamorphoo = change in form

Lives Are Being Transformed!

“I remember the first time I saw Vanya because there was something different about him. Yes, he was the only black kid in the orphanage, but more than that, there was something about his eyes that intrigued me.

“Vanya is a smart kid.” Denis, our director, told us. “He was abandoned as a newborn. His parents were students at the university and he is very smart.”

I smiled at him and he smiled back. His outgoing personality was evident as he tried his hand at English. I met a lot of kids at that summer camp in 2004, but Vanya is the one I remember."

-Marla Ringger, Orphan Advocate

Vanya, then 13, was just learning the power of Christ’s love in his life. Recently Lifesong for Orphans had started a program at his home in Sachnovsheena Orphanage. And though Vanya resisted the Gospel at first, through the examples of volunteers and staff members, Biblical mentorship, and educational support he began to see Christ’s love in action, and knew this was something he wanted for himself.

Now at 19, Vanya continues to rise above standards and expectations. He lives in one of Lifesong’s Transition Homes in Kharkov, a home designed to support those aging out of the orphanage system, studies English at the local college, translates for Americans who come to visit, and mentors younger boys at the orphanage in the same way the Lifesong staff once mentored him!

We praise God for success stories like Vanya’s and are thankful for our partners who continue to support those like him both financially and in prayer!

Vanya from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Sermon Notes: In Christ Alone - Romans 11:28-36

Rom. 11:28-36 

 

  I.  God is faithful to His promises to restore Israel.

    a.  God will restore Israel despite their enmity.

-John 8:42

-Rom. 5:10

    b.  Israel is beloved by God.

-choice = ekloge = election

-Deut. 7:7-8, 10:15

    c.  God's promises are irrevocable.

-Gen. 15:18

 

  II.  God is gracioius to show mercy.

-Eph. 2:2

-mercy = eleeo idea of compassion to those in need to met that need.

-Deut. 10:17

 

 III.  Praise God.

   a.  His wisdom is unsearchable.

-unsearchable = anezeraunetos = unfathomable, unsearchable, unable to explain in human words

-unfathomable = anexichneiastoi = untraceable, literally not to be able to track

-I Cor. 2:14

   b.  He is transcendent.

-I Cor. 2:10-11

-Job 35:7, 41:11

   c.  He is the end of all things

"The greatest single distinguishing feature of the omnipotence of God is that our imaginatino gets lost when thinking about it." - Blaise Pascal

Sermon Notes: IN CHRIST ALONE : Romans 11:25-27

Rom. 11:25-27.

 

 I.  Israel's restoration reveals the mystery.

mystery = musterion = secret, something unknown until revealed

     a.  Israel's hardening is partial.

hardening = porosis = covering with callous, dulled perception

     b.  Israel's hardening is temporary.

     c.  Israel's hardening will end in salvation.

What does "all" mean?

Who is "Israel"?

-Gal. 3:28, 6:16

-Ezek. 20:33-38

 "God used the shepherd figureher, apt since He was their Great Shepherd. As a shepherd, God brings His sheep home their fold, has them file in, separating sheep from goats, passing under His shepherd's rod to be noted and checked for injury. He will bring them into the bond of the New Covenant by giving them His Spirit with life. This is Israel's final salvation. God will se that no rebel, no one without the renewing by His Spirit in salvation, will come back to Palestine to have a part in the messianic kingdom.  All whom He permits to return will serve Him, in contrast to those who serve idols. The purging takes place during the 'time of Jacobs distress,' during the Great Tribulaiton."-MacArthur Study Bible

-Rev. 7:3-4; 14:4

 

 II.  Israel's restoration is confirmed by Scripture.

-Is. 59:20-21, 27:9

    a.  The Deliverer will come.

-Heb. 12:22

    b.  The covenant is fufilled.

-Gen. 15:17-18

    c.  The sin of the nation will be removed.

 aphaireo = take away, remove, cut off

Matt 26:51, Heb. 10:4

Sermon Notes: In Christ Alone Romans 11:16-24

Rom. 11:16-24

 

apotheo = rejection, repudiate; idea of abandonment

apobole = loss, cast away/aside, set aside

 

Theme:  The setting aside of Israel is temporary.

 

  I.  The holiness of the firstfruits anticipates the acceptance of the whole.

 

 II.  We Gentiles must not become arrogant.

   a.  We are grafted in because of Israel's rejection.

   b.  We are grafted in as a result of faith alone.

   c.  We are grafted in only because of God's grace.

 

III.  God is able to graft Israel back in.

Sermon Notes Romans 11:11-15

Romans 11:11-15 

I. Israel's rejection is "by God", as well as "of God" v.15 

• "rejection" translated from "apobolh" meaning throwing away 
• "acceptance" translated from "proslemsis" referring to God's and Christ's acceptance of believers 

    Rom 14:31, 15:7 

II. Israel's rejection is temporary v.11 
    Jeremiah 31:31-34, Rev 7:4, Zech 12:10 

III. Israel's rejection serves a two-fold purpose v. 11b, 12 
    1. Salvation to the Gentile 
        Mat 22:1-10 
        Gen 12:1-3 

    2. Salvation to the Jew v. 11b, 13-14 
        Rom 10:19-20 

IV. Their fulfillment will be much more than riches for the world v.15 

Blogging For Orphans - Lifesong for Orphans

The school situation in the town of Ziway, Ethiopia is very inadequate. Many children simply do not have the opportunity to attend school at any level or in any facility. The government schools are overcrowded with up to 75 students per classroom. Private schools tend to be somewhat better, but usually have 40-50 students per class. Whether private or public, the schools are lacking in even the basics. Students must share textbooks and cannot take their textbooks home. Even standard items such as chalk and pencils are in short supply and must be severely rationed.

The caregivers and children recognize the value of a good education. They know that education is critical to their obtaining good employment and providing for themselves and their families. Therefore, it is a priority to Lifesong for Orphans to construct a quality grade school as quickly as possible. One of the essential ways to pull Ethiopia out of its poverty is to educate its citizens.

We all go out of our ways to give our kiddos the very best we possibly can. In Ethiopia, this looks very different than it does for you and me in the US!

Lifesong for Orphans is supporting 3 schools in the Ziway, Ethiopia area. We are currently repairing one of the schools and are in the process of building another, but are hopeful to use all three this fall.

As you start gathering school supplies for your kids, would you consider helping the children in Ziway?

We are in need of new desks, lights, and fixtures!

Current supply shelves:

Current ‘desks’:

New desks needed:

Make a donation here and indicate ‘Ethiopia school needs’ in the description.

To stay up to date on the progress, check back here.

Sermon Notes Romans 9:14-18 from May 1st, 2010

Rom. 9:14-18

Is God Unjust?
   I.  God has mercy on whom He wills.
-mercy = eleeo = show pitty, mercy; the actions resulting from compassion and mercy
-compassion = oiktiro = show pitty, compassion; inner emotions

  II.  God's mercy doesn't depend on man's efforts.
-Job 7:7, Ps. 8:4
-wills = thelo = to will, to wish, desire, to want
-runs = trecho = to run, exert oneself, make effort
-will and runs = the sum of human efforts

 III.  God justly demonstrates His glory.
-Joshua 2:10
-harden = skleruno = make stubborn, to harden

Douglas Moo "In fact, Paul never offers - here or anywhere else - a 'logical' solution to the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility that he creates.  That he affirms the latter is, of course, clear; and we must never forget that Paul will go on in 9:30-10:21 to attribute the Jews' condemnation to their own willful failure to believe. Paul is content to hold the truths of God's absolute sovereignty - in both election and hardening - and of full human responsibility without reconciling them. We would do well to emulate his approach."

Sermon Notes Romans 9:1-13 from April 24th, 2010

Rom. 9:1-13

 

 I.  Paul expresses anguish for his lost kinsmen.

-great = megale

   a. Paul longs for them to be saved.

-accursed = anathema = to be under the curse

   b. Despite their advantages, Israel is lost.

 

 II.  The promise of God has not failed.

   a. Being a member of spiritual Israel is not based upon lineage.

-regarded = logizomai, to calculate, count, reckon

   b. Being a member of spiritual Israel depends on the choice of God.

-choice = ekloge = election, choosing

Sermon Notes: Free John 8:31-36

John 8:31-36

 

   I.  In Jesus we are given authentic freedom.

     a.  Believing in Jesus. 

-D. A. Carson "Jesus is the truth, because he embodies the supreme revelation of God - He himself 'narrates' God (1:18), says and does exclusively what the Father gives him to say and do (5:19ff, 8:29), indeed he is properly called 'God' (1:1, 18, 20:28). He is God's gracious self-disclosure, his 'Word' made flesh (1:14)."

     b.  Continuing in the truth.

-continue = meno = abide, remaine

     c.  Knowing the truth.

     d.  Being set free by the truth.

-make you free = eleutheroo = to liverate, set free

-Rom. 6:17-19

 

  II.  Without Jesus sin deceptively enslaves.

-Calvin "the greater the mass of vices anyone is buried under, the more fiercely and bombastically does he extol free will."

-Ryle "the power of self-deception in uncoverted man is infinite."

-Augustine "at times a man's slave, worn out by the commands of an unfeeling master finds rest in flight. Whither can teh servant of sin flee? Himself he carries with him wherever he flees. An evil conscience flees not from itself; it has no place to go to; it follows itself. Yea, he cannot withdraw from himself, for the sin he commits is within."

-Eph. 4:22; Heb. 3:13, Rom. 6:16, II Pet. 2:19

 

  III.  Through Jesus our freedom is ensured.

    a.  Jesus makes us sons.

-Rom. 8:15, 9:26

    b.  Jesus guarantees our security.

-John 10:28-30 

Sermon Notes: Has God abandoned Israel? Rom. 11:1-10

Has God abandoned Israel?
Rom. 11:1-10

I.  God has not abandoned Israel.
        (I Sam. 12:22; Ps. 94:14; Deut. 31:17)
        forsake (Deut. 31:17) = azab = to leave; LXX kataleipo = to leave, to leave behind; Acts 16:18-19
        reject (Rom. 11:1) apotheo = push aside, reject, idea of complete abandonment
    a.  God will not reject those He foreknew.
            foreknow = prokinosko = to know beforehand
    b.  God preserves a remnant.
    c.  God graciously chose a remnant.
         (Isaiah 64:6)
 II.  God accomplished by grace what Israel could not obtain.
        "those who were chosen obtained it" = election obtained it.
    a.  God gave righteousness the chosen.
    b.  God hardened the rest.  
    c.  God gave them an inability to perceive.
            (Deut. 29:4; Is. 29:10, 14; Ps. 69:22-23)

Sermon Notes June 20th 2010 - As for Me and My House

"As For Me and My House"

Joshua 24: 14-15

 

I.  A Godly man is indwelt by the Holy Spirit

        Numbers 27:15-21

        Eph 5:18

        Gal 5:16

        IThes  5:19

        Eph 4:30

 

II.  A Godly man follows the Lord when its tough

       Num 13:1-2, 25-29

       Num 14:1-9

       Exod  6:6-8

       Gen  15:18-21

 

III.  A Godly man leads confidently

        Joshua 24:14-18, 23

        Judges 2:6-10

Sermon Notes - In Christ Alone: Romans 10:14-21

Rom. 10:14-21

 

    I.  To call on the name of the Lord, the gospel must be proclaimed.

-kerusso = preach, proclaim, to herald, to announce

-good news = euangelizo = gospel, to bring the good news

-sent = apostello = send, send out

-Is. 52:7

 

   II.  For salvation to occur, faith must result from hearing the gospel.

-Is. 53:1

-report (v. 16), hearing (v. 17) = akoe

-word = rhema = saying, that which is spoken, content

-Schriener = "For Paul faith is not merely verbal assent but entails a wholehearted commitment to God."

 

  III.  Scripture foretold of Israel's continued rejection of the gospel.

-end = boundary

-world = inhabited earth

     a.  God uses Israel's rejection to provoke them to jealousy.

-Deut. 32:21

     b.  God uses Israel's rejection to be found by others.

-Is. 65:1

     c.  God uses Israel's rejection to display their obstinacy.

-Is. 65:2

Sermon Notes Romans 10:5-13 "Righteousness is by Faith Alone"

Rom. 10:5-13

 

-Righteousness is by faith alone.

 

   I.   The righteousness of God is accessible to all.

     a.  It cannot be attained by the law.

-Lev. 18:5; James 2:10

     b.  It is not impossible to obtain.

 

  II.  The righteousness of God is available to all.

     a.  How is God's righteousness received?

        1.  Confession.

-confess = homologeo = admit; literally to say the same thing. In court, was binding and public declaration which settled a relationship with legal force.

        2.  Belief.

-psyche = soul, life, heart.

-Matt. 16:25; Eph. 6:6

-kardia = seat of emotions, mind will, decision making; place where motives generated. 

     b.  What must we believe?

        1.  Jesus is Lord.

        2.  Jesus lives.

     c.  What do we receive?

-righteousness = dikaiosune = legally innocent

-salvation = sozo = to rescue.

     d.  Who can receive it?

Sermon Audio May 30th 2010

Sermon Audio File is available here.

Sermon Notes : Romans 9:30 - 10:4

Rom. 9:30-10:4

 

-Why did Israel not attain to righteousness?

 

  I.  Israel did not purse righteousness by faith.

-righteousness = dikaiosune = forensic, right legal standing before God.

    a.  They pursued righteousness by the law.

-pursue = dioko = run swiftly after, hunt

-attained = katalambano = obtain, attain; race imagery, the pursuit of the goal.

-John 5:39

    b.  They pursued rigtheousness by works.

    c.  They stumbled over the Cornerstone.

-disappointed = ashamed, disgraced, humiliate.

 

 II.  Israel had zeal without knowledge.

-John 5:39; Luke 24:25, Acts 13:27

 

 III.  Israel sought to establish its own righteousness.

 

 IV.  Israel refused to see Christ was the end of the law.

     a.  Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law.

-end = telos = goal, conclusion, termination, end, fulfillment

-Matt. 5:17-18

     b.  Christ ended human effort in its futility.

 

 

 1.  We must pursue and receive righteousness by faith alone.

 2.  We can not make ourselves righteous by seeking to follow laws.

 3.  We must turn to Christ who has fulfilled the law for us.

Sermon Notes Romans 9:14-18 Is God Unjust?

Rom. 9:14-18

Is God Unjust?
   I.  God has mercy on whom He wills.
-mercy = eleeo = show pitty, mercy; the actions resulting from compassion and mercy
-compassion = oiktiro = show pitty, compassion; inner emotions

  II.  God's mercy doesn't depend on man's efforts.
-Job 7:7, Ps. 8:4
-wills = thelo = to will, to wish, desire, to want
-runs = trecho = to run, exert oneself, make effort
-will and runs = the sum of human efforts

 III.  God justly demonstrates His glory.
-Joshua 2:10
-harden = skleruno = make stubborn, to harden

Douglas Moo "In fact, Paul never offers - here or anywhere else - a 'logical' solution to the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility that he creates.  That he affirms the latter is, of course, clear; and we must never forget that Paul will go on in 9:30-10:21 to attribute the Jews' condemnation to their own willful failure to believe. Paul is content to hold the truths of God's absolute sovereignty - in both election and hardening - and of full human responsibility without reconciling them. We would do well to emulate his approach."

Sermon Notes Romans 9:24-29

Romans 9:23-29Why has Israel rejected Christ?

I. Israel’s rejection is historically consistent. V. 25-26

-I Sam. 8:7

II. Israel’s rejection is prophetically foretold. V. 27-28

-krazo = cry out; cry out with great emotional pain, distress, anguish

-return (Is. 10:22 of LXX) = sozo = save

III. Israel’s rejection is to allow inclusion of Gentiles. V. 24-25

IV. Israel’s rejection would be total without God’s grace. V. 29

-Sabaoth = army, warfare

-become like = ginomai = to be

-resembeled = compared to

Sermon Notes Romans 9:19:23

Why does God find fault?

I. God has authority over His creation.

-find fault = memphomai = blame

-resist = anthistimi = stand up to, oppose.

-answer back = antapokrinomai = reply, talk back to. The word implied not just an attempt to get an answer to a genuine question. The word implied disputing and resistance.

a. The pot cannot question the potter.

b. The potter has authority over the clay.

-right = exousia = authority

-honor = timas

-common use = atimen = dishonor

-Schriener "By definition the Creator has absolute freedom to do what he wants with his creatures, just as a potter exercises sovereignty over the clay he forms."

II. God demonstrates His authority over His creation.

a. He patiently endures the vessels of wrath...

-Ex. 5:2

b. ...In order to display His glory to the vessels of mercy.

Sermon Notes Romans 8:26-30

Rom. 8:26-30

I. The Spirit intercedes for us.

-Heb. 7:25

-help = sunantilambanetai = to lend a hand together with

-Ex. 18:22, Numb 11:17

a. We are weak.

b. We don't know for what to pray.

-how = ti = what

-I Cor. 2:11

c. We don't know God's will.

II. God's work guarantees our security.

a. God works ultimate good from all things.

-work together = synergeo

1. For those who love God.

2. For those who are called by His purpose.

b. Our security is assured.

1. God foreknows us.

2. God predestines us.

-conformed = summorphos = share the likeness

-firstborn = prototokos = priority and preeminence

3. God glorifies us.

-II Thes. 2:14, Phil. 1:6

Sermon Notes April 4th, 2010

I Cor. 15:20-28, John 19:17-30, and Matt. 28:1-10

Because of the resurrection of Jesus:

I. Our resurrection is inevitable. V. 20-23

a. The first fruits guarantee the full harvest. V. 20

b. In Adam all die; but in Christ we have life. V. 21-23

II. The last enemy will be abolished. V. 24-28

-abolished = katargeo = nullify, cancel out, abolish

Sermon Notes Romans 8:12-17

I. We are under obligation

a. Not to the flesh

b. but to the spirit

c. 5 imperatives for "putting to death the deeds of the body"

1. Recognize the presence of sin Ps 139: 23-24

2. Have a heart fixed on God Ps 57:7

3. Meditate on God's Word Ps. 119: 11

4. Fellowship with God in prayer 1Ptr 4:7

5. Practice obedience to God

II. The Holy Spirit confims our relationship to the Father

a. By its leading

b. By providing access to God Eph 1:3-5

c. By providing assurance

III. The holy Spirit ensures our inheritance

a. We are heirs of God

b. We are fellow heirs with Christ

Romans 8:1-11

Rom. 8:1-11

I. In Christ we are no longer condemned.

-condemned = katakrima; emphasis on the penatly for the guilty verdict

a. He has set us free.

-set free = eleutheroo = liberate, set free

b. He became our substitute.

-Matt. 26:41

-likeness = homoioma; being of flesh, but not having sinful nature

-morphe = form, Phil. 2:6; the very nature.

c. His Spirit fulfills the law in us.

II. Through the Spirit our nature is made new.

a. The old nature is set against the things of God.

1. Set on the things of the flesh.

-set mind on = phroneo = way of thinking, attitude, basic orientation. Phil. 2:5

2. Set on the things of death.

3. Set against the Word of God.

b. The new nature is set on the things of God.

1. Set on the things of the Spirit.

2. Set on the things of life and peace.

III. By the Spirit we have victory.

a. If the Spirit dwells in you, you are not in the flesh.

-dwells = oikeo = to live in, to take up residence

b. If the Spirit dwells in you, you are alive.

c. If the Spirit dwells in you, your body will receive life.