Archive for the ‘by Tony Marra’ Category
The King Who Befriends
Filed under: by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Faith, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Inclusion, Love, Ministry, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Gospel Project, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Worship | Tags: 1 samuel 18, 1 samuel 19, 1 samuel 23, Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, David, David and Goliath, Faith, Gideon, God Father Son and Spirit, God speaks, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faithfulness, God's good news, God's Grace, God's love, God's Power, God's Presence, Goliath, Gospel, Grace Communion International, inspiration, Israel, Israel's first King, Jesus Christ, Jesus Transforms, King, King who fights, life, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Overcoming Fear, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Timothy Brassell, redemption, Relationships, Richard Andrews, self-worship, Sermons, The Gospel Project, the Truth, Timothy Brassell, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Witness
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Main Passages:
1 Samuel 18:1-3
1 Samuel 19:1-7
1 Samuel 23:15-18
Part 1a: 19min
Part 1b: 22 min
Full Message: 41 min
“One of the greatest examples of friendship in the Bible is in the relationship between David and Jonathan. Jonathan shows us what it means to be a true friend by being utterly committed to David’s well-being, by risking his own welfare for the sake of David, and by strengthening him in his faith. The example of Jonathan points forward to the truest and best friend of all—Jesus Christ Himself, who redefines friendship and transforms us into the kind of people who can be true friends to our brothers and sisters in Christ.” – the Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
God – Father, Son and Spirit’s people need godly friendships.
Christ Connection
The story of David and Jonathan gives us an example of true friendship and offers us a picture of God’s covenantal love for people. Because of Jesus’ commitment to us, His sacrificial love, and His strengthening grace, we are called the “friends of God.”
Missional Application
God calls us to befriend others in the way He has befriended us: by committing to one another, sacrificing for one another, and strengthening one another through the power of the cross – by participating, literally, with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
““I have called you friends.”John 15:15 – It is a friendship based on the new life created in us which has no affinity with our old life but only with the life of God. It is unutterably humble, unsulliedly pure, and absolutely devoted to God.” – WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS – My Utmost For His Highest
“[Spiritual friendship] is eagerly helping one another know, serve, love, and resemble God in deeper and deeper ways.” – Timothy J. Keller
A Glimpse Of God’s Love
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Church, Faith, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Inclusion, Love, Ministry, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Gospel Project, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Worship | Tags: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Faith, Gideon, God Father Son and Spirit, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faithfulness, God's good news, God's Grace, God's love, God's Power, God's Presence, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Jesus Christ, Judges 14 - 16, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Overcoming Fear, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Pastor Tony Marra, redemption, Relationships, Sermons, The Gospel Project, Timothy Brassell, Trust, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Witness, Worship | Tags: Facing Fear
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Part 1a, 21min: “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/2017-01-15-a-glimpse-of-gods-love-pt1a-ruth-1-4-tah-guest-marra.mp3”
Part 1b, 21 min: “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/2017-01-15-a-glimpse-of-gods-love-pt1b-ruth-1-4-tah-guest-marra.mp3”
Full Message, 42min: “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/2017-01-15-a-glimpse-of-gods-love-ruth-1-4-tah-guest-marra.mp3”
Main Passages
Ruth 1:1-9,16-18, Ruth 2:1-3,8-12, Ruth 4:13-17
Theological Theme
The steadfast love of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is seen in the love of Ruth for Naomi and in Boaz’s kindness to redeem his family.
Christ Connection
Boaz was a family redeemer who showed undeserved kindness to Ruth, a foreigner. In a similar manner, Jesus is our Redeemer who has shown unmerited kindness to us and adopted us into His family.
Missional Application
God, through The Holy Spirit in us, calls us to respond to His love toward us by extending the same kind of unyielding, welcoming and redeeming love to others.
In Light Of God’s Salvation
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Faith, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Relationships, The Gospel Project, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Assistant Pastor Tony Marra, Commitment to God, God's Faithfulness, God's Mercy, Idolatry, Joshua 24, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Obedience, Serving the Lord, Sin, sin of idolatry, Sincerity and Truth, Truth, Worship
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Theological Theme: Our best efforts at obedience are bound to fail unless we have first experienced God – Father, Son and Spirit’s salvation through Jesus.
Christ Connection: Joshua was God’s chosen servant to bring the Israelites into the promised land. His story points forward to Jesus Christ, God’s chosen servant who will bring God’s people to their eternal inheritance.
Missional Application: God our Father, through Jesus, and in the Spirit, calls us to put away our idols, participating with Him and displaying for the world a new way of living, made possible only through Jesus, our Salvation.
Jesus is the Ultimate Atonement and Sacrifice, Part 2
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Love, Ministry, Relationships, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Atonement, Faith, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love, Mercy, Offerings, Sin, Trust
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Theological Theme: The sin offering represented the purification of the people before Our Father. The restitution offering addressed the damage of depriving others of their rightful due, and it served to cleanse the offender’s conscience.
Christ Connection: These offerings point forward to Christ, whose work purifies our hearts, cleanses our consciences, and frees us to do good deeds for His glory.
Missional Application: God the Holy Spirit calls us to offer others the hope of purification and cleansing that comes only through trusting in Jesus Christ.
*picture courtesy of velocity.net
Rebellion Against The Redeemer
Filed under: by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Gospel, Love, Ministry, Relationships, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Assistant Pastor Tony Marra, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Exodus, Exodus 32, Faith, Forgiveness, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, good news, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Idolatry, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Love, Moses, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Preaching, Rebellion, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Salvation, Scriptures, Sin, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Worship
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Theological Them: Idolatry is putting something or someone in the place of God – Father, Son and Spirit.
Christ Connection: The children of Israel needed a mediator to intercede on their behalf. Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and sinful humanity; He intercedes on behalf of His people.
Missional Application: God calls us to intercede for people who need Him, appealing to His character and His will as we pray for their salvation.
*photo courtesy of av1611.org
The Redeemer Reveals His Glory
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Gospel, Love, Relationships, Sermons, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, comfort, Faith, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, good news, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Hope, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Love, new life fellowship, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation, Pastor Tim, Relationships, Sin, Suffering, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity
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Theological Theme: God is God alone, and He demonstrates His glory by comforting His people and confronting those who oppose Him.
Christ Connection: Jesus Christ is the sovereign King who promises to return, rescue His people, and put an end to all suffering and oppression.
Missional Application: God calls us to war against the principalities and powers of this world that keep people in bondage to sin and suffering.
The Covenant-making Triune God Tests Abraham
Filed under: by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Relationships, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Abraham and Isaac, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, Faith in God, Genesis 22, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God will provide, Gospel, Grace, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Love, new life fellowship, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Pastor T, Pastor Tim, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Pastor Tony Marra, Relationships, sacrifice, Salvation, Timothy Brassell, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Trust
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Theological Theme: Faith is trusting in God to keep His promise to provide salvation.
Christ Connection: Isaac’s question “Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” echoes through the pages of the Old Testament and is ultimately answered at the beginning of the New Testament when John the Baptist sees Jesus of Nazareth and declares, “Behold the Lamb!”
Missional Application: God calls us to be people of faith who, like Abraham, are so filled with confidence in God’s resurrection power that we are willing to sacrifice for His mission.
Identity Christus!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Love, Ministry, Perichoresis, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Christus, Church, Evangelism, Faith, Followers of Jesus, Gary Deddo, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, Good Works, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Hope, identity Crisis, identity in Christ, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Love, Ministry, new life fellowship, Participation, Prayer, Preaching, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Salvation, Sermons, Suffering, Theology, Tony Marra, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, TRUE identity, Uncategorized Bible, Worship
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On this 5th Sunday of Lent, Pastor Tony Marra of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the Good News of the God revealed in Jesus and shows through Ephesians 2: 1-10 and John 3: 14-21, that our TRUE identity is in JESUS CHRIST! God’s will is that ALL would come to know him through Jesus Christ and that our identity Crisis is something that needed to be overcome and accomplished ONLY through Jesus Christ!
Hear in this message that:
- God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. We are FREE in CHRIST!
- We no longer find our identity in the dead life of sin and darkness. God the Father sent His one and only Son to rescue us from our false identity inherited from Satan the father of lies.
- We were blind to our identity until our Triune God of love broke through our darkness and revealed our true identity in Christ. Through Jesus and the Spirit we now know who our real Father is and are raised up to our eternal home where we were always meant to be.
- The whole world needs an “Identity Christus“. In Christ we find our true identity as beloved children of God seated at the right hand of the Father and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
photo compliments christcenteredstudentministry.com
Ascending To Glory With Jesus
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Love, Ministry, Perichoresis, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Commandment, Discipleship, Evangelism, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, Gospel, Grace, Holy Spirit, Incarnation, Jesus, Love, new life fellowship, Obedience, Pastor Tim, Perichoresis, Relationships, Ridgedale Baptist Church, Rublev's Icon, Son Jesus, Tim Proclaims, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Trust
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In this Good News Message entitled “ Ascending To Glory With Jesus,” Pastor Tony Marra of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Maryland, affirms that Jesus came to bring all of humanity to Glory. All of creation is United through Jesus Christ. There is nothing you can do to stop God’s plan and purpose for you. You are HIS WORKMANSHIP! Nothing can separate you from him and nothing you can do to earn his love. It is all freely given by his Grace.
God is unifying all things in Christ, so even when we get frustrated and angry because we may not see his plan, because of his gift of faith he has given us as his children, we know that it will all get worked out according to his plan and will.
*Photo by Calvary Pentecostal church.
He Gave Gifts To Men (All People!)
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Gospel, Love, Relationships, Trinity | Tags: Christian Living, Gospel, Jesus, Love, Ministry, Relationships, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity
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Do you know where you fit in?! Because God the Father is “over all and through all and in all” through Jesus, and by the Spirit, you most definitely fit in and have a Gift! At the very least your Gift is the Relational God Himself, Who never gives you something apart from Himself being involved! But this Relational God shares some of Who He is and what He has with YOU, in all of His creativity and talent, so that you can share in Him and His variety with others! Gifts aren’t simply a “churchy”, “religious” experience, they are a love experience of people in relationship with God and others!
