Taming the tongue

Here's my sermon notes from Sunday:

James 3:1-12 Taming the tongue
Intro…things we learned growing up…
• “Sticks and stones may break my bones”…(but words will never hurt me.)
• “Oh be careful little mouth what you say”…(for the Father up above is looking down in love)
• Verses from Proverbs…lots of 'em
• "Before the tongue can speak, it must have lost the power to wound."
• “Everyone should be quick to listen…(slow to speak…) James 1:19
• “No man can tame the tongue…(it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison)

Thesis: By taming the tongue, one has a much better chance of keeping the whole body in check.
Text: James 3:1-12
What James is saying is that it all starts in the mind and from there leads into what comes out of our mouths, off our tongues and into our actions.
(Then he gives obvious, practical examples)
• Horse (bits)
• Ships (rudder)
• Body (tongue)
• Fire (small spark)
• Tongue (can be a fire, setting the whole course of life on fire, set on fire by hell…
• A wicked tongue and resulting actions come straight from hell, that is sin, wicked intentions., yes it’s that serious!)

Recent example, Ukrainian parliament

• All kinds of animals can be tamed…but no man can tame the tongue.
• Yelling/arguing

What does it take to tame all these things? (Something small)
• For us humans that small thing that needs to be trained is the tongue.
• We do that by immersing ourselves in the word of God.
• Garbage in/garbage out?….godly character in/godly character out.
• Meditate day and night on the scripture, memorize it.

"The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood."
"Better slip with foot than tongue"

Now that we’ve been reminded of the deadly potential of our tongues, let’s keep a couple things in mind:
v. 3 Let’s not rush into teaching (the word of God)
• Years ago at youth camp I was asked what I fear…misrepresenting the word of God.
• This verse applies to teaching little kids all the way through adults, but especially with adults and in particular to pastors/preachers.
• James writes this because there was a prevailing desire among those to whom he wrote to become public teachers, without much regard for the proper qualifications for that office.
• Hopefully a teacher/preachers gifts are easily recognized and there are fruits to his teaching, saved souls.
• If someone feels like God has given them the gift of teaching his word, then they need to be given a chance to exercise that gift.
• The body of Christ, the church will then know if that is a true calling.
• The dilemma of volunteer SS teacher at Coastlands, those with questionable Christian lifestyles…

v. 9 Let’s not speak with a “forked tongue.”
• Just this week I had a conversation with one of my children about “cussing” and we talked about the broader subject of calling yourself a Christian but having actions that would cause someone to question that.
James once again gives such good, practical examples:
• Praise our Lord, yet curse men who have been made in God’s likeness
• We can’t get fresh water and salt water from the same spring.
• A fig tree can’t bear olives
• A grapevine can’t bear figs
• In the same way, a true Christian isn’t going to spew garbage out of their mouths.
• It just doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t sound right or look right.
• It’s easier to preach ten sermons that it is to live one.
• Some people are kind, polite and sweet spirited…until you try and sit in their pew.
Our Wed. night meeting/discussion on the changes here at church…it went well, people held their tongues….
• That will be key as we look for God’s direction.
• “God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.”
• "A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows keener with constant use."

Conclusion:
v. 2 is the theme for our section today.
• It’s a fact we will all stumble in many ways
• However, if we are never at fault in our speech, we’re perfect (that’s the goal at least)
• Then we are able to keep our whole body in check.
• A calm tongue and proper speech brings honor to God.
• "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."
• It would be better to leave people wondering why you didn't talk than why you did.
• If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?

GOSPEL
INVITATION W/MUSIC

Good words on the emerging church

Here's more wisdom from Chuck Swindoll. I've listened to his sermons for over 30 years. I think he speaks wisely in regards to the emerging church movement, and I know many of the people who have been at the forefront of this movement.

A Word about the Emerging Church
When Paul stood on Mars Hill in Athens and proclaimed the grace of God to the lost, he preached to a crowd of skeptics, critics, and those we might call “sophisticated eggheads.” Rather than beginning with the Scriptures, Paul began with the created world in which these unbelievers lived in order to introduce Jesus to them. He began with their spiritual hunger and pointed them to Jesus as the satisfaction for their longings . . . and the payment for their sins. Paul even quoted a well-known pagan poet as a means of building a bridge between the lost and the Lord (see Acts 17:16–33).

A number of ministries have adopted for their churches what I call a “Mars Hill philosophy of ministry.” Modeled after Paul’s message on Mars Hill, their goal is to connect with the unbeliever, or the postmodern, or any person they would call a “seeker.” In recent years the emerging church movement has attempted to “do church” (or be the church) in a new way amidst our postmodern world. Their purpose is “missional living,” that is, to get involved in the world in hopes of transforming it. This style of ministry engages the culture in a “conversation” rather than preaching to people like a prophet. A wide range of theologies and strategies exist within this current movement. Some individuals hold to orthodox beliefs but have adopted very unorthodox ways of communication. I have read of sermons that use language that would make most believers cringe . . . and cover their children’s ears.

Are we to minister as those in the world? Absolutely. That’s an answer to Jesus’s own prayer for His followers (see John 17:14-16). But let’s be very discerning here. Does this mean we must minister as those of the world? Do we have to adopt postmodern thinking to minister to the postmodern mind? Absolutely not. Such behavior and words are not fitting in the life of a Christian (see Ephesians 5:4). They are obviously, then, not fitting in the context of worship.

Nowhere in the book of Acts or the Epistles do we see a church called to provide a subculture for unbelievers. The lost don’t need to find at church a world that’s like their world. We must relate to the world but not compromise biblical essentials for a church.

I need to make this clear: I don’t intend to erect an “emerging” straw man and then light him on fire. I realize that in the same way our culture unfairly pigeonholes evangelicals, there is a risk of stereotyping the emerging church—or any similar movement. The danger of a broad stroke of analysis is to fail to represent everyone fairly. Or to acknowledge the exceptions.

I’m certain that not all of those who number themselves among the “tribe” of the emerging church favor liberal theology with no belief in absolutes or traditional, orthodox convictions. However, my concern is for those churches in any movement that, in an attempt to connect with the culture, actually embrace a compromise of biblical truth. Paul had the same concern as he wrote with urgency to Timothy:

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (2 Timothy 4:1–2)

It’s worth noticing that this exhortation is not addressed to the hearer; it’s for the speaker. The one who is to obey this command is the one proclaiming the message. That’s you. That’s me. That’s every elder who teaches. That’s all who are called to stand and deliver. It is to be the commitment of every church.

Let me urge you who are considering adopting the emerging church philosophy, or the “seeker church” strategies, to take a good look at what you are trying to do—and why. Be sure to look at it biblically. Be certain you can support any change you plan to implement from the Scriptures. Don’t look to Mars Hill in Acts 17 while ignoring the essentials of Acts 2:42. Instead of searching for justification in the Bible, search and pray for direction from the biblical text. When you find it . . . follow it.

I would say the same thing to any church—including my own.

—Chuck

Easter 2010 1 Cor. 15: 1-4, 12-19
The importance of the resurrection

Intro…VIDEO What does Easter mean to you?

Big Picture:The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal event in the Christian faith.

• Yes, Jesus did a lot of other great things like modeling a life of service, performing miracles, and saying some profound truths.
• Yet, the greatest thing Jesus did, the one thing he really came to earth to accomplish was to die for our sins and to be resurrected.
• Like we saw in the opening video, people have various ideas about Easter.
• I’m a bit amazed at some of the non-Christian churches I’ve seen around town that advertise Easter services. I’m not exactly sure what they are celebrating.
• Today, I’m going to remind us all of the Christian view of Easter. In church, we get to see God’s perspective...
• Yes, Easter is a big deal…

Text: 1 Cor. 15:1-4, 12-18

When we look at proofs for the resurrection, we need look no further than at those right here.
• The proof is all around us...Christians, the Christian church, changed lives!
• There are 12 scriptures in the Bible that speak of Jesus’ appearances after his death.
• One of those references is right here in 1 Cor. 15:5-6a
• I’m guessing that just by the fact that you are here this morning, you either already believe that Jesus rose from the dead or are pretty close to that assumption.
• Palm Sunday-Easter: Holy Week, the pinnacle of the Christian faith.

Why are the events of this last week critical to the Christian faith?
• If Jesus didn’t defeat death, than Christianity would be no different from all other religions. Christ’s death/rez. was necessary for our salvation.
• No other religious or philosophical leader of any of the world’s religions or philosophies has ever been proclaimed as a risen Savior. Instead, many have shrines at their crypts. They lie decayed with nothing remaining but their dust and their man-made philosophy or religious sayings and ethic.


1 Cor. 15 tells us why Christ’s death and rez. is critical:
• The book of Corinthians was written by Paul about 23 years after Christ died and rose. It was his first letter to the new believers in Corinth.
• This was/is a practical letter, helping them deal with spiritual and moral problems. Paul wants them to be rooted and grounded in their faith.
• In his letter, Paul covers divisions in the church, moral disorder, marital issues, food and idols, public worship, and then in chapter 15 the rez..
• He knew that one of the key foundational doctrines they needed to be squared away on was Christ’s resurrection.
• Most Greeks did not believe that people bodies would be resurrected after death. To them, the afterlife was something that only happened to the soul.
• Christianity in contrast affirms that the body and the soul will be united in heaven. 1 Cor. 15:35-50 (40 in particular)
• Since the church in Corinth was in the heart of Greek culture, many of the new “Christians” had a hard time believing in a bodily resurrection.
• Thus Paul’s emphasis on the importance of the rez. of Christ.

Today, we too need to be rooted and grounded in what we believe, and Christ’s rez. is KEY!
• In chap. 15 Paul covers the importance of the resurrection, the consequences of denying the resurrection, the Christian hope, the resurrection body, and the Christian’s victory through Christ.
Key points:
15:1 Gospel, preached to you, on which you have taken your stand.
15:2 “ By this gospel you are saved.”
• What are we saved from?
Ourselves, our sin, hell, a life of turmoil…God’s wrath.

Now that we realize we need to be saved, What saves us?
Vs. 2 “By this gospel we are saved.” “Gospel” (good news.) “euangelion”
That’s what makes Easter such a great thing. This is good news!

Vs. 3 The good news we celebrate today is that Christ lived, died and rose.
• Without this, we could not come to God.


Consequences for denying the resurrection? (V. 12-19)
• Vs. 14 There is literally no reason for me to preach every Sunday unless Christ rose from the dead.
• Otherwise, I’m just the latest self-help guru...spinning my own tales, selling my own ideas and goods.
• If the rez. of Christ is not true, then preaching the gospel is a lie (v. 15), the Christian faith is without meaningful content (v. 17), and Christians are hopeless concerning their prospects for the future (v.18-19)

So, what is the Christian hope? (v. 20-22)
• V. 20 Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.
• V. 21 Death came through one man (Adam), life comes through one man (Jesus).

Conclusion:
• So, you came to church on Easter, you want to do the right thing. Good for you.
• What about the rest of the year? There is a lot more to learn about the Bible.
• Kids Bible quotes..
KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.
ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AN ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.

THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.


• We can’t do the Christian life on our own. God created us for relationship and community. 15:57-58
• To me, Easter is always a good time for reflecting on your life.
• Let’s say you’re in this place, reflecting …are you living a good life, being nice to others, paying your taxes, going to church? Not good enough.
• As we celebrate life today, I also want to ask you if you are prepared to die…GOSPEL

VIDEO Second half

The paradox

Palm Sunday, “The paradox” Matthew 21:1-11
Intro…Optical Illusions…Paradox defined…

• We call Jesus, “King of Kings”, yet his whole life was a paradox. He came to serve, not to be served. He’s the greatest man that ever lived, yet his whole life was about humility.

Text: Matthew 21:1-11

I titled the sermon, ‘The presentation of the King”, yet his entrance into Jerusalem was not very noble by earthly kingly standards.

Thesis: Just as Jesus modeled a life of humility and service, we too need to remain humble and serve others in the name of Jesus.

The story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is a story of paradox. A story that seems contradictory, but is in fact true.
• We have the benefit, thousands of years later, to know that Jesus was the greatest man that ever lived. Yet, in this story, only a select few knew that.
• They wanted Jesus to be Savior of their world (oppressed by the Romans), yet Jesus came humbly to point them to a better world (as they lived with the oppression of the Romans).
• So, here comes the Savior of the world, and to those people, I’m sure they would rather that Jesus rode in on a majestic white stallion.
• Instead, his triumphal entry was on a lowly donkey/colt...
• In biblical times, the regional custom called for kings and nobles arriving in procession to ride on the back of a donkey. The donkey was a symbol of peace; versus the horse, which is the animal of war. Those who rode on a donkey proclaimed peaceful intentions.
• Jesus’ whole beginning started out humbly in a manger.
• This fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah. Zechariah 9:9 (red) written 500 years before Christ. Validation the Jesus was the Messiah.
• Jesus was a revolutionary, he came with a message of peace. He wasn’t a king coming to overthrow a government, he was the suffering servant. He came to serve...radical.




Jesus lived and preached humility, contrary to many “famous” Christians today.
• I’m trying to imagine Jesus on TV today... “I've never known a person whom I thought was truly filled with the Holy Spirit who went out and bragged about it or sought to draw attention to himself.” Billy Graham
• From today’s story in Matthew, we know that Jesus’ time had come. “The ride on the donkey, because it was planned, could only be an acted parable, a deliberate act of symbolic self-disclosure for those with eyes to see or after the Resurrection, with memories by which to remember and integrate the events of the preceding weeks and years. Secrecy was being lifted.”

Jesus approached Jerusalem willing to make a public display of his identification
with the OT prophecy of the Messiah. Ready to face what lay ahead...

The residents of the city were truly “rolling out the red carpet” with their cloaks and garments as well as waving the palm branches.
• This was a gesture of honor and respect for Jesus.
• They also shouted “Hosanna” which literally meant “save now” and was originally a cry for help.
• They were quoting Psalm 118:25-27, originally sung at the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Waving palm branches/twigs was often done to celebrate military victories. Again, their mindset was more military than spiritual, because as we know...
• This crowd wanted salvation from the oppression of the Roman government.
• The salvation Jesus offered was different, and what they really needed.
• Same for us today. We may think we need to be saved from __________, but what we really need is what only Jesus can save us from.

Then something very interesting happened. Some of the religious elite standing on the fringes hollered to Jesus: read Luke 19:39-40.
• These “religious elite,” the Pharisees (staunch keepers of the law and so very religious) had been accustomed to Jesus keeping his “messianic secret.”
• They helped pressure these same people who were wildly celebrating here, to bow to political pressure and crucify him a few days later.
• Messianic fervor was high, and perhaps this contributed to Jesus' desire to present himself as Prince of Peace, yet more paradox.


Even though Jesus knew many in the crowd were confused, he allowed the festivities to continue.
• He said that if the Pharisees tried to stop the procession, even the stones would stand up and praise him.
• Jesus was fulfilling prophecy that a Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This was all part of God’s plan and no one could stop it.
• I’m sure that at this point the Pharisees were seething with rage. “Who does he think he is?”
• From there they aggressively pursued their plan to execute the Savior (which leads us into Holy Week or the Passion Week...)
• Jesus was always a contradiction in terms. In just a few days, this same crowd who hailed him would desert him at the cross.
• Again, this was/is all part of God’s plan. So instead of getting all upset at the mistreatment of Jesus...recognize that he went through all this for us...GOSPEL

The week continues...Luke 19:28—
Monday— Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple
Tuesday— Jesus was teaching in the temple and had his authority questioned. Telling parables, where to pay taxes, proper perspectives on money, end times.
Wednesday—As Passover approached, Judas agree to turn in Jesus.
Thursday—(Maundy Thursday) The last supper, Jesus last meal with them. “Do this in remembrance of me.”
Friday—The crucifixion Good Friday
Saturday—Jesus lay in the tomb
Sunday—the resurrection...Easter. Embrace this whole week, it’ll make Easter so much more special!

What does this story of paradox say for us today?
• Like the people in today’s story, it’s too easy to get all excited when we’re “in the moment” (w/ Jesus, palms etc. or for us, at church or around other Christians).
• Don’t let political pressure taint your decisions when you aren’t “celebrating Jesus.”
• Jesus was a threat to “the establishment” the religion of the Pharisees. He had majestic royalty, as well as humility. Remember, we don’t follow a “religion” or a church, we follow Jesus.
• Sometimes we shout “Hosanna: save us” in the wrong way...God won’t necessarily take us out of this world, but give us perspective…
• We need to remain humble and serve others in the name of Jesus.

• “Because Christ Jesus came to the world clothed in humility, he will always be found among those who are clothed with humility. He will be found among the humble people.” A. W. Tozer

Conclusion:
VIDEO/SONG U2, “Pride, in the name of love.”
“one man to overthrow” “one man betrayed with a kiss”

The church is a place of grace

From Chuck Swindoll's blog...he's one of my favorites...

A Contagious Ministry Is a Place of Grace
When considering church growth, we must think strategically . . . we must preach creatively . . . and our worship must connect. Absolutely. But we must also be careful. A marketing mentality and a consumer mind-set have no business in the church of Jesus Christ. By that I mean, Jesus is NOT a brand . . . human thinking does NOT guide God’s work . . . and the church is NOT a corporation. The church of Jesus Christ is a spiritual entity, guided by the Lord through the precepts of His Word.

If we sacrifice the essentials of teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer on the altar of strategy, creativity, entertainment, and “relevancy,” we have abandoned the main reasons the church exists. We should build on those essentials, not attempt to replace them.

In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul underscored the principles of a contagious church. He began chapter two with a command that provides a church environment that is both biblical and attractive:

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)

From the verb, be strong, we glean this distinctive for a contagious church: It is always necessary to be strong in grace. That sounds simple, but it will be one of the most difficult principles to apply in a consumerist culture.

Where does the application of this principle begin? With church leaders. Paul could write this command because he himself exemplified it. He proclaimed grace. He promoted grace. His message was the gospel of grace. He modeled grace. He relied on grace. Paul never forgot the importance of God’s unmerited favor in his own life . . . and it permeated his entire ministry (Romans 3:23–25; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:4–7).

Isn’t it amazing that this former legalistic Pharisee—this violent man whose life was once characterized by making sure that Christians were wiped out—was stopped in his tracks by grace? As I’ve studied the life of Paul, I find grace woven like a silver thread through the colorful tapestry of his ministry. Paul became the preeminent spokesman for grace.

Paul’s message offers the good news of grace to the lost. Imagine the impact our churches would have on our communities if each Christian were firmly committed to sharing the gospel of God’s great grace once a week with someone who expresses a need. The lost need to hear how they can cross the bridge from a life filled with emptiness and guilt and shame to a life flowing with mercy and peace and forgiveness . . . all because of His grace. We help build this bridge when we lovingly and patiently communicate the gospel.

You don’t need a seminary degree. You don’t have to know a lot of the religious vocabulary or even the nuances of theology. In your own authentic, honest, and unguarded manner, simply share with people what Christ has done for you. Who knows? It may not be long before you will know the joy of leading a lost person from a dark dungeon of death across the bridge to the liberating hope of new life in Christ.

How exciting . . . how contagious!


—Chuck

The purpose of trials

The purpose of trials James 1:2-12

Intro… Trials are a part of life. The scale of trials….my car won’t start… to the recent deaths of the young girls here in SD county. So often the question is, “God, why am I going through this?” or, “How can you allow this to happen?”

• How many of your feel like you are going through some kind of trial in your life right now…today? Think of that as we go through this text.


Thesis: The purpose of trials in our lives is to draw us closer to God.
Text: James 1:2-12

v. 2 Consider it pure joy?
• God is not asking us to pretend to be happy, but to do our best to see things through HIs eyes as we go through trials.
• We need to consider what trials can produce in our lives, which is maturity, peace and a time of learning.

What we can learn from trials: (v. 2-4)
• God allows trials into our lives to test our faith (can we look to God?)
• which develops perseverance (learning to “handle” it)
• which brings maturity (there’s got to be something bigger to learn)
• which brings a sense of understanding (seeing God’s hand in this)
• which renders us complete, lacking in nothing. (able to share with others lessons we’ve learned, having a stronger faith in God.)

In the Christian life, we “continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.”
Phil. 2:12-16a,
• Obey, God who works in you, no complaining, become blameless and pure, hold out the word of life.
1 Peter 1:6-7, 2 Peter 1:5-11

When experiencing trials we need to ask God for wisdom, His perspective.
(v. 5-8)
• When we ask, we’ve got to be able to accept God’s answer (yes, no, wait etc.)
• When asking don’t doubt God.

On March 8, 2009, 45-year-old Pastor Fred Winters was shot through the heart by 27-year-old Terry Sedlacek as he preached to his congregation.
• His wife, Cindy Winters, spoke to the church one day before the first anniversary of her husband’s death.
• “But did you ever wonder where was God on March 8?” posed the widowed mother of two during a special service commemorating her husband’s death.
• “God was in that dark room with me. That’s where God was,” Winters later said in recalling the hospital room she waited in immediately following the death of her husband.
• Before the congregation of First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill., Winters shared about the day of her husband’s death and the struggles she encountered since.
• She also recalled the moments when she felt the presence of God, who gave her the strength to go on.
• “God was providing us with a sense of peace. And I really believe that God was right next to Fred that day and took him home to heaven,” Winters recalled

This wisdom God gives us is not just knowledge, but the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances.
• This wisdom that God gives us is a practical discernment wisdom.
• Gaining that wisdom begins with respect for God and grows into Christian maturity and being able to tell right from wrong.
• Romans 5:1-5

When God puts us in humble circumstances, we should thank him. (v. 9-11)
• This can happen by either losing money or possessions or going through a trial that helps you realize what is most important in life.
• When we are going through a trial, we are forced into a position of humility.
• Often we don’t know why this is happening, it’s humbling.
• Even when we do know why we are in this trial (if we got ourselves into it) it’s still a humbling experience.
• That’s when God can teach you a lot if you are willing to learn.
• Otherwise, if we get too full of ourselves, we will fade away like a wild flower in San Diego in August… (recent rain, flowers everywhere, gone by summer, wildfire threats…the So. Cal. Pattern)
• If we are rich in ourselves, (not willing to learn through the humility of trials), we too will fade away.
• So whether we are talking about earthly riches or humble circumstances brought on by trials, we need to remember that riches mean nothing to God.
• We find true wealth by growing spiritually, closer to God.
• Wealth, power and status mean nothing to God, so let’s focus on the spiritual growth in our lives.

God will bless us when we persevere under trial. (v. 12)
• Coming full circle in this discussion on trials, when we persevere and trust God through the trial, we will be blessed.
• Notice how this is a long, complicated process? No one said going through trials would be easy.
• Going through trials with a godly perspective helps ease some of the pain and confusion.
• Exactly how we’ll be blessed no one knows. The blessing may come in a form or at a time you never expected.
• When we continue to love God through the process and stand the test, God will give us a crown of life.
• We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure when those trials come.
• God wants us to be mature and complete, not keep us from all pain.
• Romans 8:24-28

I believe God develops our character the deepest when we are going through trials.

"One of the purposes for which God instituted prayer may have been to bear witness that the course of events is not governed like a state but created like a work of art to which every being makes its contribution (in prayer) a conscious contribution and in which every being is both an end and a means."
-C.S. Lewis

I have no doubt that God allows trials into our lives to bring us closer to him.

Conclusion: VIDEO “Haiti, a call to fasting and prayer.”

God’s love for us Romans 8:31-39

Intro…Talked with my older sister this week about some parenting issues, struggles…it’s not an easy job. I gave my parents grief, my kids will…
• I believe when you become a parent, new “senses” kick in…
• You develop this amazing love for your children, that somehow will always be there, it’s a limited, human love, but it’s there.
• Imagine how God’s love is for us…way beyond any human level.

Text: Romans 8:31-39

Thesis: If we have sincerely given our hearts and lives to God through Jesus Christ, then somehow in His amazing grace and mercy, we can never lose His love and our salvation.

Our text this morning comes from Romans 8, a chapter that reminds us that the life we live in Christ is:
• A life that is set free from the law of sin and death. 8:2
• A life that is led by the Spirit of God. 8:14
• A life where all things work out for the good, to those who love him and have been called according to his purpose. 8:28
• (And in our verses today) A life that cannot not be separated from the love of God. 8:35-39

This month, we’ve talked about how we need to love God with everything we are, heart, soul and mind.
• Today is a reminder of God’s unending love for us.
• Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. We can choose to reject it, but it will always be there. Just like a healthy parent-child relationship.
• When Paul says in vs. 31, “What shall we say in response to this?” he is referring to the previous verse taking that says we are: predestined, called, justified and glorified.
• When we are assured of this, then we can say, (v. 31) “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

• God’s love will always be there for all humans. When someone decides to accept that love and become a Christian, then they enter into a special relationship with God where they can never be separated from him.

How do we enter into this eternal, loving relationship with God? (This is how God set it up, spelled out in our verses starting in v. 32…)
• It starts by accepting Jesus’ death on the cross as forgiveness for your sins…
• V. 32 Makes that clear for us…”He who did not spare his own Son..”
• God wants to “give us all things,” that is, the things we need according to His perspective. V. 32
• We are justified, (made right) only by God and no man can bring any charge against us. V. 33
• Christ was raised to life (resurrected) and now sits at the right hand of God interceding for us. V. 34
• We make a choice to follow Jesus (although we were predestined to make that choice).

It’s a great place to be, a Christian in a loving relationship with God. But then doubt and sin enter the picture.
• When we continue to do things that displease God, we may wonder if he still loves us.
• Or if awful things happen in our lives, we may wonder it God still loves us.
• Or if someone claims to be a Christian and then chooses to live a sinful lifestyle, others may wonder if they’ve lost their salvation.

To calm our fears, Paul goes into a list of those things that seem like they could separate us from God’s love:
• Trouble
• Hardship
• Persecution
• Famine
• Nakedness (losing all)
• Danger
• Sword (facing death, led to slaughter)
• Death
• Life
• Angels
• Demons
• The present
• The future
• Any powers
• Height
• Depth
• Or anything else in all creation

v. 37 No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
So as we go through life, when we hit those times when it seems like God has abandoned us, or maybe doesn’t love us anymore, we need to remember these verses.

The bigger picture we are talking about this morning is eternal security, or can we lose our salvation?
• As human’s we are born into sin. (Original Sin)
• There is nothing we can do to earn God’s mercy and salvation.
• Not everyone will accept Jesus.
• Once you do become a Christian, there is nothing you can do to lose your salvation. This is known as:

Perseverance of the Saints (Once Saved Always Saved)
You cannot lose your salvation. Because the Father has elected, the Son has redeemed, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation, those thus saved are eternally secure. They are eternally secure in Christ.

Watchman Nee tells about a new convert who came in deep distress to see him. "No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I'm losing my salvation." Nee said, "Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir. You are Jesus Christ's heir because it is for you that He died." We are Christ's heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His grace.

A Biblical basis for eternal security:
• John 6:47 “he who believes has everlasting life”
• John 10:27-28 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
• Romans 8:1 “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
• Of course Romans 8:37-39

I know this can be a tough concept for some people to understand.
• When you wonder if someone can lose their salvation (because of a continually sinful lifestyle) what we really need to question is their original commitment to Christ.
• Did this person really ever give their heart and life fully to Jesus?
• Have they chosen to daily be filled with the Holy Spirit and live the life of a disciple of Jesus?

Predestination/eternal security is the concept that whenever God creates faith in our hearts and thereby joins us to Christ and His saving work, He will sustain that faith, that saving relationship with Christ, causing us, by His grace, to persevere in faith.

Conclusion: The Love of God, Cheri Keaggy Slide Show