Thursday, February 23, 2012
Update
I will not be posting the Weekend Sermon this week. I've had pneumonia all week, and I feel terribly. Hopefully I can post on the blog next week.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Weekend Sermon--Mark 4:1-20
The parable of the sower and the seed is one of my favorite parables Jesus told. Jesus not only tells this parable, He also provides the disciples an interpretation. I'm glad that I've had the privilege to teach about this parable on several occasions.
Jesus, as He did many times, uses agricultural and pastoral themes in His parables to illustrate the points He wants to make. The image of the sower sowing a field would have been very familiar to Jesus' audience.
Jesus begins by saying that a sower went to sow his seed. In Jesus' day, a field was planted by a farmer going into a field and casting the seed out by hand. It would land in a haphazard way.
Some of the seed the sower sowed never got a chance to grow. The birds came and ate it up.
Some of the seed fell on hard and stony ground. The seed sprouted and began to grow, but there was no depth for the roots. The sprouts dried up and quickly died away.
There was some seed that actually began to grow, and it grew fairly well. This seed looked good, but it never produced anything of benefit.
Finally, a portion of the sower's seed fell on good ground. It sprang up, grew and actually produced a crop. Jesus said that some brought forth thirty, others sixty, and still others one hundred.
After finishing the parable, Jesus went off to be alone with His disciples. They didn't understand what the parable meant, so they asked Jesus to give them the interpretation. Jesus was frustrated with His disciples for not understanding Him--as He often was. However, Jesus gave them the interpretation.
Jesus said that the sower sowed the Word of God. This is what Jesus did while He was on earth, and this is the ministry believers have been given now especially those who have been called to be pastors, teachers, and evangelists. Our job is to preach the Word. When I post these sermons, I don't know who will read them or what impact they have. It's my responsibility to get the Word out, and that's what I try to do here and with my other writing and ministry opportunities. One thing I know is that when ministers preach the Word, we never know who's life will be changed. That's what makes it so worthwhile.
Jesus continued by saying that sometimes when people hear the Word, it is stolen away by Satan, and the people who hear the Word don't respond to the gospel. I've seen this happen so many times. Often you will preach sermon after sermon, yet there are certain people that never respond. They hear the Word, and they leave the church without a change ever taking place in their life. They reject the message, and it is stolen away from them.
Sometimes people hear the Word, but it doesn't take root. They respond and it looks as if they are making real progress in the faith. Yet, a bit of time passes and they're gone from the church and back living their old lives.
I've seen this happen many times in evangelism campaigns. People will respond to an invitation, and for a short time they will be on fire for the faith. Then their friends and family make fun of them or criticize them or the newness wears off. These people fall away and their Christian life comes to an end. It is my opinion that people like this didn't really down deep in their heart fully place their trust in the Lord. They weren't really ready to let Jesus be the Lord of all.
Jesus goes on to say that sometimes the Word take root in people's lives and it begins to grow. However, as time goes by, they are drawn away from the things of God by worldly things like the accumulation of earthly treasures. Then they are choked out and they are unfruitful.
There are two distinct interpretations of this passage. Some Bible scholars believe that the people Jesus is referring to here have turned their backs on Christ and have lost their salvation. Others believe that this refers to those who are Christians, yet they never produce anything of value for the Kingdom of God because they are not totally yielded to God.
I hold to the latter view. I don't believe that it is possible to lose your salvation by sinning it away. However, I do believe that a Christian can consciously of their own free will decide to no long follow Christ and apostatize. This passage, though, I think is talking about the millions of people who have been in church for years, but their lives aren't fruitful for the Kingdom.
Finally, the Word of God really does powerfully impact the lives of countless people. Their lives are transformed, and they go about trying to do everything they can for the Lord. They grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord through prayer and Bible study. And they work hard to make this world a better place by standing up for what is good and challenging the forces of darkness.
I hope that it is your desire to be someone who produces a great amount of fruit for the glory of God.
Maybe you have heard this message and have not put your trust in Jesus. Do it today. Maybe your Christian life isn't what you want it to be. Turn it around. Cast off those things which keep you from devoting your life fully to Jesus. May God bless you. Amen.
Jesus, as He did many times, uses agricultural and pastoral themes in His parables to illustrate the points He wants to make. The image of the sower sowing a field would have been very familiar to Jesus' audience.
Jesus begins by saying that a sower went to sow his seed. In Jesus' day, a field was planted by a farmer going into a field and casting the seed out by hand. It would land in a haphazard way.
Some of the seed the sower sowed never got a chance to grow. The birds came and ate it up.
Some of the seed fell on hard and stony ground. The seed sprouted and began to grow, but there was no depth for the roots. The sprouts dried up and quickly died away.
There was some seed that actually began to grow, and it grew fairly well. This seed looked good, but it never produced anything of benefit.
Finally, a portion of the sower's seed fell on good ground. It sprang up, grew and actually produced a crop. Jesus said that some brought forth thirty, others sixty, and still others one hundred.
After finishing the parable, Jesus went off to be alone with His disciples. They didn't understand what the parable meant, so they asked Jesus to give them the interpretation. Jesus was frustrated with His disciples for not understanding Him--as He often was. However, Jesus gave them the interpretation.
Jesus said that the sower sowed the Word of God. This is what Jesus did while He was on earth, and this is the ministry believers have been given now especially those who have been called to be pastors, teachers, and evangelists. Our job is to preach the Word. When I post these sermons, I don't know who will read them or what impact they have. It's my responsibility to get the Word out, and that's what I try to do here and with my other writing and ministry opportunities. One thing I know is that when ministers preach the Word, we never know who's life will be changed. That's what makes it so worthwhile.
Jesus continued by saying that sometimes when people hear the Word, it is stolen away by Satan, and the people who hear the Word don't respond to the gospel. I've seen this happen so many times. Often you will preach sermon after sermon, yet there are certain people that never respond. They hear the Word, and they leave the church without a change ever taking place in their life. They reject the message, and it is stolen away from them.
Sometimes people hear the Word, but it doesn't take root. They respond and it looks as if they are making real progress in the faith. Yet, a bit of time passes and they're gone from the church and back living their old lives.
I've seen this happen many times in evangelism campaigns. People will respond to an invitation, and for a short time they will be on fire for the faith. Then their friends and family make fun of them or criticize them or the newness wears off. These people fall away and their Christian life comes to an end. It is my opinion that people like this didn't really down deep in their heart fully place their trust in the Lord. They weren't really ready to let Jesus be the Lord of all.
Jesus goes on to say that sometimes the Word take root in people's lives and it begins to grow. However, as time goes by, they are drawn away from the things of God by worldly things like the accumulation of earthly treasures. Then they are choked out and they are unfruitful.
There are two distinct interpretations of this passage. Some Bible scholars believe that the people Jesus is referring to here have turned their backs on Christ and have lost their salvation. Others believe that this refers to those who are Christians, yet they never produce anything of value for the Kingdom of God because they are not totally yielded to God.
I hold to the latter view. I don't believe that it is possible to lose your salvation by sinning it away. However, I do believe that a Christian can consciously of their own free will decide to no long follow Christ and apostatize. This passage, though, I think is talking about the millions of people who have been in church for years, but their lives aren't fruitful for the Kingdom.
Finally, the Word of God really does powerfully impact the lives of countless people. Their lives are transformed, and they go about trying to do everything they can for the Lord. They grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord through prayer and Bible study. And they work hard to make this world a better place by standing up for what is good and challenging the forces of darkness.
I hope that it is your desire to be someone who produces a great amount of fruit for the glory of God.
Maybe you have heard this message and have not put your trust in Jesus. Do it today. Maybe your Christian life isn't what you want it to be. Turn it around. Cast off those things which keep you from devoting your life fully to Jesus. May God bless you. Amen.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Verse For the Day
Revelation 5:9--"And they sang a new song saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."
P.S.--The weekend sermon may be delayed until Saturday. This is always a hard time of the year for me because my Dad passed away at this time two years ago. So, I'm getting around to things a little slower than usual.
P.S.--The weekend sermon may be delayed until Saturday. This is always a hard time of the year for me because my Dad passed away at this time two years ago. So, I'm getting around to things a little slower than usual.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Weekend Sermon--The Romans Road
The last couple of weeks, I've talked about how I use to go out with evangelism teams and explain the plan of salvation to people. One of the methods we used to explain the gospel was to present the Romans Road plan of salvation. This week, I'd like to go through the Romans Road plan. those who are interested in sharing the gospel many benefit from knowing this information. If you have never come to faith in Christ, the verses I'm going to share will clearly explain why we need a Savior and how to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life.
The first thing we all need to recognize is that everyone no matter who they are needs salvation. A person must recognize that they have sinned in order to come to salvation. They have to know there is something they need to be saved from. Romans 3:23 makes it clear when it says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the the glory of God." We need to explain to people that everyone has fallen short of God's righteous standard.
Romans 5:12 states, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
This verse reiterates the fact that everyone has sinned. This verse makes it clear to people what the consequences of sin are. Because of Adam's sin, death entered into the world just as God said it would. When Adam and Eve were in the garden, God told them they could eat from any tree except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said that one the day they ate of that tree, they would surely die. And that is what happened. Because of Adam's sin, everyone born has inherited a sin nature which leads to physical death which then leads to eternal death if someone dies in their sin apart from Jesus Christ.
The next step along the Romans Road continues to make this point clear. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Because of sin, everyone deserves death. But we as believers need to proclaim the message that God has provided a way to eternal life.
God gave the world a great gift. God gave us his Son in order that we might pass from death into life through the redemption provided by Jesus Christ.
God loved us, and He wanted to provide a way where we could find forgiveness and reconciliation. As Romans 5:8-11 states, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we should be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement."
Jesus Christ came to this earth out of love even though we were enemies against God. This truth always amazes me. Jesus was willing to suffer and die and shed His blood on the cross for those who had turned their backs on Him and done everything contrary to the will of God. Thanks be to God, the blood of Jesus provides reconciliation. God's wrath against sin and His love for humanity were satisfied through the atoning death of Jesus. It is always important to point this out when showing the plan of salvation. Because of what Jesus has done, we can be justified. We can be declared righteous by receiving the imputed righteousness of Christ.
This leads to the final step along the Romans Road. What must a person do in order to receive the gift of salvation freely offered to the world by Jesus. Romans 10:9-10 and 13 give the answer when they say, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
To be born again, one needs to believe in what Jesus did on the cross, and one must believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the grave. At this point, if someone is willing and feels the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, lead them is a prayer of salvation. If you have read this message and have never asked Jesus into your life, you might want to pray this prayer.
Lord, I realize that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I repent of my sins, and ask that you will forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died for me and rose again. Jesus, please come into my life and be my Savior and Lord.
Thanks be to God that anyone can pray to receive Christ. I've had the privilege of leading people in this prayer, and I hope that you will share your faith and be blessed by seeing people come to know Jesus. Amen.
The first thing we all need to recognize is that everyone no matter who they are needs salvation. A person must recognize that they have sinned in order to come to salvation. They have to know there is something they need to be saved from. Romans 3:23 makes it clear when it says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the the glory of God." We need to explain to people that everyone has fallen short of God's righteous standard.
Romans 5:12 states, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
This verse reiterates the fact that everyone has sinned. This verse makes it clear to people what the consequences of sin are. Because of Adam's sin, death entered into the world just as God said it would. When Adam and Eve were in the garden, God told them they could eat from any tree except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said that one the day they ate of that tree, they would surely die. And that is what happened. Because of Adam's sin, everyone born has inherited a sin nature which leads to physical death which then leads to eternal death if someone dies in their sin apart from Jesus Christ.
The next step along the Romans Road continues to make this point clear. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Because of sin, everyone deserves death. But we as believers need to proclaim the message that God has provided a way to eternal life.
God gave the world a great gift. God gave us his Son in order that we might pass from death into life through the redemption provided by Jesus Christ.
God loved us, and He wanted to provide a way where we could find forgiveness and reconciliation. As Romans 5:8-11 states, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we should be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement."
Jesus Christ came to this earth out of love even though we were enemies against God. This truth always amazes me. Jesus was willing to suffer and die and shed His blood on the cross for those who had turned their backs on Him and done everything contrary to the will of God. Thanks be to God, the blood of Jesus provides reconciliation. God's wrath against sin and His love for humanity were satisfied through the atoning death of Jesus. It is always important to point this out when showing the plan of salvation. Because of what Jesus has done, we can be justified. We can be declared righteous by receiving the imputed righteousness of Christ.
This leads to the final step along the Romans Road. What must a person do in order to receive the gift of salvation freely offered to the world by Jesus. Romans 10:9-10 and 13 give the answer when they say, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
To be born again, one needs to believe in what Jesus did on the cross, and one must believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the grave. At this point, if someone is willing and feels the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, lead them is a prayer of salvation. If you have read this message and have never asked Jesus into your life, you might want to pray this prayer.
Lord, I realize that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I repent of my sins, and ask that you will forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died for me and rose again. Jesus, please come into my life and be my Savior and Lord.
Thanks be to God that anyone can pray to receive Christ. I've had the privilege of leading people in this prayer, and I hope that you will share your faith and be blessed by seeing people come to know Jesus. Amen.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Weekend Sermon--Matthew 19:16-29
I had a hard time deciding what message I wanted to deliver this week. There are so many parables and teachings of Jesus I want to talk about it's often hard to decide which one is the right one for the right time. Today, I've decided to focus on Jesus' encounter with the rich, young ruler recorded in Matthew chapter 19.
One day, while Jesus was teaching a rich, young ruler came to Jesus and asked Him a question. The ruler said, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" This rich, young ruler wanted an answer to a question which is in the soul of every person. He wanted to know how he could live after death. He wanted to live forever.
What I find interesting is that the first assumption this young ruler had about obtaining eternal life is the same assumption that so many people make today. People believe that eternal life is obtained by doing good. Somehow, if the good outweighs the bad; then Heaven will be your eternal home.
Last week I mentioned that at one time I use to do a lot of evangelism work, and we would often initiate conversations by asking if people were 100 percent sure that if they died today they would go to Heaven. Most often people without Christ would say no. But sometimes people would say that they were 100 percent sure. Then we would ask them why. Probably 99 percent of the time people would respond by saying they were a good person or they were just as good as anybody else. Like the rich ruler, they thought that they could earn their way to Heaven.
Jesus responded to the young ruler's query by asking why the man called Him good. Only God is good. Only Jesus, God come in human flesh, has lived a life without sin. He is the only one who has ever done it, and that is why Jesus could be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. In order to know eternal life, one has to know Jesus.
Jesus said to the ruler that if the ruler was going to to good he would have to keep the commandments. At this point, the ruler asked Jesus which commandments to keep. Jesus responded by saying, "Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." I think Jesus was saying that one has to keep them all.
This foolish young ruler responded by saying that he had kept all the commandments. He then wanted to
know what else he had to do. He didn't recognize his own selfishness. He'd never examined his life to realize that there is none righteous. As the Scripture clearly states, everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's righteous standard. If you break just one of the commandments, it is as if you've broken them all.
One of the reasons the ten commandments and the other laws of the Bible were given was to show people their sinfulness. They show us that we need a righteousness not our own. We need the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 19:21, Jesus continued His conversation with the ruler. Jesus was trying to bring the man to an understanding of his own inadequacy and his need to make Jesus the Lord of his life. Jesus told the man to sell everything he had, give it to the poor, and then to come and follow Him. This is something the man was unwilling to do. He was a man of great wealth, and when it came right down to it, the man loved the things of this world more than eternal things.
What Jesus was pointing out to the young man was that this man didn't really love his neighbor as himself, or he would have been willing to give away his wealth and follow Jesus. By violating the commandments to love God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love one's neighbor as himself the ruler was guilty of breaking every commandment. There was no way he could be good enough. He couldn't be righteous enough. He needed Jesus.
As the rich man walked away from Jesus, Jesus said that it was hard for a rich man to enter Heaven. It was easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven.
When the disciples heard Jesus' words about the wealthy, they wondered who could be saved. In Jesus' day, if someone was wealthy and healthy it was seen as evidence of righteousness and that a person was right with God. Jesus turned this way of thinking on its head. Throughout His entire ministry, Jesus showed that wealth and health weren't the signs of favor with God. God is looking for those with a humble heart who want to follow Him
Jesus told His disciples that with God all things are possible. Through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, God can bring anyone to the foot of the cross. As I said last week, there is no sinner God cannot save.
Don't put your trust in yourself, your good works, or your wealth to obtain eternal life. Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As I conclude this week, I'd like to just say a few words about wealth and Jesus statement about giving away all of one's possessions. If those who are wealthy would give more of their income to help the poor and suffering what a difference it could make. How much money does someone really need? How much is enough? There are many who could give away 90 percent and live on 10 percent and still have enough to live like a prince for years.
Also, look at how much oppression occurs in this world so others can obtain wealth. It is not necessarily wrong to be very wealthy. But how was that wealth obtained? Are you paying your workers a living wage? Are you helping the world? Just realize, one day both rich and poor will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Amen.
One day, while Jesus was teaching a rich, young ruler came to Jesus and asked Him a question. The ruler said, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" This rich, young ruler wanted an answer to a question which is in the soul of every person. He wanted to know how he could live after death. He wanted to live forever.
What I find interesting is that the first assumption this young ruler had about obtaining eternal life is the same assumption that so many people make today. People believe that eternal life is obtained by doing good. Somehow, if the good outweighs the bad; then Heaven will be your eternal home.
Last week I mentioned that at one time I use to do a lot of evangelism work, and we would often initiate conversations by asking if people were 100 percent sure that if they died today they would go to Heaven. Most often people without Christ would say no. But sometimes people would say that they were 100 percent sure. Then we would ask them why. Probably 99 percent of the time people would respond by saying they were a good person or they were just as good as anybody else. Like the rich ruler, they thought that they could earn their way to Heaven.
Jesus responded to the young ruler's query by asking why the man called Him good. Only God is good. Only Jesus, God come in human flesh, has lived a life without sin. He is the only one who has ever done it, and that is why Jesus could be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. In order to know eternal life, one has to know Jesus.
Jesus said to the ruler that if the ruler was going to to good he would have to keep the commandments. At this point, the ruler asked Jesus which commandments to keep. Jesus responded by saying, "Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." I think Jesus was saying that one has to keep them all.
This foolish young ruler responded by saying that he had kept all the commandments. He then wanted to
know what else he had to do. He didn't recognize his own selfishness. He'd never examined his life to realize that there is none righteous. As the Scripture clearly states, everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's righteous standard. If you break just one of the commandments, it is as if you've broken them all.
One of the reasons the ten commandments and the other laws of the Bible were given was to show people their sinfulness. They show us that we need a righteousness not our own. We need the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 19:21, Jesus continued His conversation with the ruler. Jesus was trying to bring the man to an understanding of his own inadequacy and his need to make Jesus the Lord of his life. Jesus told the man to sell everything he had, give it to the poor, and then to come and follow Him. This is something the man was unwilling to do. He was a man of great wealth, and when it came right down to it, the man loved the things of this world more than eternal things.
What Jesus was pointing out to the young man was that this man didn't really love his neighbor as himself, or he would have been willing to give away his wealth and follow Jesus. By violating the commandments to love God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love one's neighbor as himself the ruler was guilty of breaking every commandment. There was no way he could be good enough. He couldn't be righteous enough. He needed Jesus.
As the rich man walked away from Jesus, Jesus said that it was hard for a rich man to enter Heaven. It was easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven.
When the disciples heard Jesus' words about the wealthy, they wondered who could be saved. In Jesus' day, if someone was wealthy and healthy it was seen as evidence of righteousness and that a person was right with God. Jesus turned this way of thinking on its head. Throughout His entire ministry, Jesus showed that wealth and health weren't the signs of favor with God. God is looking for those with a humble heart who want to follow Him
Jesus told His disciples that with God all things are possible. Through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, God can bring anyone to the foot of the cross. As I said last week, there is no sinner God cannot save.
Don't put your trust in yourself, your good works, or your wealth to obtain eternal life. Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As I conclude this week, I'd like to just say a few words about wealth and Jesus statement about giving away all of one's possessions. If those who are wealthy would give more of their income to help the poor and suffering what a difference it could make. How much money does someone really need? How much is enough? There are many who could give away 90 percent and live on 10 percent and still have enough to live like a prince for years.
Also, look at how much oppression occurs in this world so others can obtain wealth. It is not necessarily wrong to be very wealthy. But how was that wealth obtained? Are you paying your workers a living wage? Are you helping the world? Just realize, one day both rich and poor will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Amen.
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