Colossians-Paul's Purpose in Ministry

Here is the audio for one of our Sunday School class meetings as we're studying through Colossians.  I pray that you are encouraged and blessed by the discussion.

Matthew 9:35-36 Jesus and ministry--our perfect example part 1

When I was a manager for a pizza place, I would occassionally train employees how to make pizzas or specifically how to get the pizza dough ready to make a pizza.  I had a specific process I would go through.  I would show them the process from beginning to end pretty quickly.  I then would go slowly, step by step, so they could see exactly what I was explaining.  Finally I would let them do it with my supervision.  Most of the time, the results were awful.  I was also evil back then and I would make them eat what they made.

My point, however, is that I showed they how to do something before I set them to do it themselves.  As we close out of the narrative portion of Matthew chapter 9, we prepare to move into Matthew 10 where Jesus sends out His 12 apostles to preach.  Obviously, the men He called as His apostles were not professional clergy.  Levi (Matthew) was a tax collector, Simon the zelot was probably like a solider or mercenary, James and his brother were fishermen.  These guys had never been missionaries and I think that's a good thing to remember as we read these two verses.  What Jesus did is what He was going to call them to do.  Therefore, it seems reasonable that He would demonstrate what He was going to call them to do.  What a privilege they had, to see God in human flesh minister and preach the gospel.

First of all, notice in verse 35 that Jesus went where the people were.  In churches, we're often encouraged to invite people to come to worship services with us.  Rightly so, I might add, because if you're in a good church no matter what is being preached the gospel is going to be proclaimed.  However, bringing people in so someone else can share the gospel is not what we're called to do.  We're called to go out and take the gospel to the people.  Jesus did just that.  He took the gospel to the cities with lots of people and to the vilages with smaller populations.  And being that if you got somewhere in that day, you walked, he must have done a ton of walking.  He didn't stay in some ivory tower posting thoughts on social media like a blog (ouch!), but rather He went out of His way to proclaim the life changing truth of the gospel.

Notice, what He did when He went from place to place.  As we continue to read verse 35, we see He taught in their synagouges.  Man, what I wouldn't give to have been a fly on that wall.  Can you imagine what a privilage that was--to hear the very God of the universe teaching.  And what grreat compassion it shows.  Jesus, being God in human flesh, could have commanded, or even demanded, obedience and then punished immediately anyone who wouldn't submit.  Instead, He came, took His time, and taught them.  What a kind, gracious, loving act for the Savior of the world to do.  And notice, He went to the synagouges--their houses of worship.  He went to the people who thought they were reglious, or wanted to know about God, and graciously gave them precious instruction in righteousness.

Notice, He also went around proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.  Now, we don't have recorded in this text verbatium what He said, but there is only one gospel.(Galatians 1:6-8) despite what some people like Brian McLauren and Rob Bell would have you believe.  There is no question that the gospel Jesus preached is the gospel that Paul preached and the gospel that John Wesley preached and the gospel that John Calvin preached.  God is holy and man is sinful.  Because of our sin, we deserve punishment, but for those who repent of their sin and place their faith in Chirst (or in the case of the people Jesus preached to, faith in what God had promised) God has promised to save them.  When we read in scripture the exhortations to go and proclaim the truth that Jesus saves, we can know that Jesus isn't asking us to do anything that He Himself didn't do first.

Colossians-The Gospel's Scope and Purpose

Here are the links for the audio and notes from our most recent Sunday School class where we are studying Colossians.  I pray you are blessed and encouraged by our discussion.

Audio Notes

Colossians-The Cross, Christian Ministry, and Suffering

Here is the audio (in two parts due to a technical snafu on my part) from our Sunday School class a few weeks ago where we are studying Colossians.  I pray you are encouraged.

Audio (part a) Audio (part b) Notes

Colossians-The Reconciliation of the Cross

Here is the audio from our last class meeting where we are studying the book of Colossians.  You can click here for the notes and here for the audio.  I pray you are encouraged.

Sharing Your Faith pt 3

Here is the link for the audio from our lats Sunday School class.  My friend, Tim, continued the discussion about sharing our faith and used the apostle Paul as an example.  For the audio click here.  (Right click to download the file).

Acts 17:16-34 The Gospel In A Society Full of Idolatry

Here is the link for the audio of a Sunday School class I taught a few weeks ago in my church.  I was asked to be the substitute which was a real honor since I have so much respect for my teacher.  I'm so humbled that after teaching this class I was recommended to help start a new Sunday School class with a good friend.  Praise God for opportunities to serve!!!  I pray that you are encouraged.

Matthew 1:18-35 Joseph, An Example of Godliness

Here is the link for the audio of a sermon I preached at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church earlier in 2012.  I pray that you are encouraged.

Encouraged By The Gospel

Yesterday morning, my pastor was preaching out of Acts 22, and while he was preaching the text he took the time to explain the gospel.  It was a clear, simple presentation that anyone could understand.  My family and I were so encouraged because, as the old hymn says, "...those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest".

The gospel is not something that you believe and then move on from it.  No, friend.  What I've found is that the gospel is something you need just as much after you have repented and placed your faith in Christ.  It is the only thing that makes this world make sense--the only thing that gives life meaning.

What is the gospel, you ask?

The gospel is that God is holy, but man is utterly sinful. Because God is perfectly just, He must punish and condemn all sinners eternally to hell. Because God is so loving, He sent Jesus to earth. Jesus lived a perfectly obediant life, perfectly fulfilled God’s law, and was punished for sin on Calvary’s cross. He suffered God's wrath against sin in our place.  He was punished as our substitute.  He rose from the dead 3 days later. Now, if anyone repents of their sins and personally, consciously places their faith in Christ, God will forgive them of their sins and they’ll go to heaven. If someone does not repent and doesn’t personally, consciously place their faith in Christ in this lifetime, they will go to hell no matter how sweet they were, how sincere they were in another faith, and how kind they were to others.

That hurt your feelings? Good!

I'm glad that caused you pain and made you suffer.  That brings me a great deal of happiness knowing that I did that.  Thank you for encouraging me.

Truth hurts, huh Doc?

Now, that's not what Paul said in II Corinthians 7:8-12, but it's a pretty good summation of his attitude.  He had written the church to confront a sin, which is what Christians are commanded by God to do, and his letter made them sorrowful.  I suspect when they first read it, they thought his words were disrespectful and unwarranted.  I mean, they might have even thought "Way to proverbially kick someone when they're down, Paul".  Ultimately, though, the genuineness of their faith was proven.

It was proven by their repentance.  You see, when a Christian is shown that they have sinned, they don't argue "Well, no I didn't write that about you" or "I didn't have that attitude" or even "You must have misunderstood me".  The response of a Christian is "You're right.  I'm sorry". 

Let's all pray that God will give us a repentant heart that is sensitive to sin in our lives.

Book Review--The Lamb of God: Seeing Jesus in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

I'm not going to lie-sometimes reading through the Old Testament is hard for me.  That, of course, says more about me than it does about the scripture.  After all, we know all scripture is God breathed and useful for a multitude of purposes (II Timothy 3:16).  Still, I've always had a hard time making it through the first 5 books, particularly Exodus through Deuteronomy.  So, when I was sent this book by Crossway to review and comment on, I wasn't sure what to expect.

Therefore, let me stop right here and tell you to go order this book NOW.  Stop what you're doing and go buy the book The Lamb of God: Seeing Jesus in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy by Nancy Guthrie.  It's ok.  I'll wait.

Ok, you're back now.  Good.  This is a fantastic book.  Quite simply, I can't think of a better, more clear, thorough, readable explanation as to how the Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy reveal Christ.  Ms. Guthrie does a great job of pointing out how everything from the life of Moses to the wilderness Tabernacle points toward Jesus.

Not only that, but since this is a Bible study, the book provides opportunity to interact not only with the text but with other people if you're studying this in a group.  Of course, I read through the book without working through the study (yet), but the questions are thought provoking and sure to provoke thoughtful discussion.

Much scholarship (so-called) in the past 150 years has centered on the thesis that the Old Testament is best interpreted without reference to Christ.  However, as you read Ms. Guthrie's book, it becomes clear that the only way to truly understand the Old Testament is to read it the way Christ read it:

John 5:46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.

I believe this book will be a great blessing to you and would be a wonderful Bible study for any small group to use. 

You Can Tell A Live Body From A Dead One

The only time I've ever seen a dead body in person is at a funeral, but I'm pretty sure if I saw someone who had been dead for hours, certain signs would clue me that they were dead.  No, I don't mean "No pulse" or "Not breathing" because the person might have had something happen within a few minutes of me finding them in that state and could possibly be revived.  I mean something more obvious, like blue skin, blueish lips--you know, things that let you know the body hasn't gotten oxygen in a good, long time.  I'm pretty sure most people would not have to be told that a person in that condition isn't coming back from it.

So, when we read the following passage in Colossians 2:13

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, (ESV)

and this one in Ephesians 2:1

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (ESV)

we should realize that dead doesn't mean sick, or about to die, not does it suggest that people can be resuscitated by religion but they need to be resurrected by a Savior.  Our attempts to use church programs, man centered evangelistic strategies, gimmicks, or feel good self help will not lead anyone to a right relationship with God.  They're as foolish as trying to do CPR on a corpse that is cold to the touch with blueish skin.  It's only when we preach gospel that people can know what they must do to be saved.  We must prech that God is holy but mankind is sinful.  However, because God is so merciful and so kind, He decided to send Jesus, His Son, to live a fully obedient life without any sin.  God sent His Son to the cross where Jesus suffered the punishment for sin that we deserve.  Because He was our Substitute, if we have faith that He died on the cross and rose again for our sin and we repent of our sin, God will save us.  He will  save anyone who repents of their sins and trusts Christ.

Have you done that?  Do you realize you are a sinner?  Do you want to be freed from your sin?  Trust that Christ died and rose again and repent--call out to God and tell Him you've done this and He will save you.  He will resurrect you from spiritual death and make you spiritually alive.

Colossians 1:3-5 [Insert Sermon Title Here}

I was asked to come preach this past Sunday at a church near where I live.  I preached from Colossians 1:3-5.  Click here for the audio to play in your browser (or right click on the link to download to your computer). 

The sermon title is a joke--I couldn't come up with a good, catchy sermon title, so......there's that.  :-)

The Gospel and The Dark Knight Rises

Why does that clown playing me sound like he ate gravel, Robin?

The shootings that happened last week at the premier of The Dark Knight Rises are the stuff of nightmares.  Just as nightmarish have been the responses in the wake of that tragedy.  As one would expect, those on the political left cried for tougher gun control laws because, as we all know, criminals obey the law scrupulously.  I'm not in favor of further gun control laws and I think the constitution protects our right to own firearms, but for a Christian, this isn't the time to bellyache about laws concerning guns or to proclaim "You can take my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers".  Christians have a responsibility to respond to this senseless tragedy with the gospel, not with political posturing. 

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 ESV)

Folks, life is short.  Eternity isn't.  Have you repented of your sins and trusted God to save you on account of Christ's sacrifice?  If you recognize your need for a savior and pray to God to save you, it doesn't matter what you've done, where you're from, or who you are, He will save.  He won't turn anyone away who repents of their sins and trusts in Christ's sacrifice on Calvary for salvation.  You have no idea when time will run out for you.  Please don't put it off.

Acts 2:36-38 Now THAT'S An Invitation

This past Sunday, I had the chance to preach in the church I pastored before I moved to Tennessee, Matthew's Memorial Baptist Church.  Here is a link to download the audio from the sermon.  I pray that you are encouraged.

The Gospel isn't Everything-It's the Only Thing II Corinthians 5:21

I had the opportunity to preach this past Sunday.  Here is the audio from the message in II Corinthians.  I'm using free file hosting so I don't think it will play for you in the browser.  Instead you have to download it.  But come on, you've got enough room on your MP3 player for another sermon, don't you?  :-)