Archive for the ‘by Tony Marra’ Category
God Brings His People Home!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Assistant Pastor Tony Marra, Discipleship, Evangelism, Evangelizing, Ezra 1:1-8, Ezra 3: 1-13, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's love, God's Power, God's Protection, God-Father-Son-and-Spirit Wants to Be Known, Goodness, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Grace Communion Seminary, Inclusion, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission With Jesus Christ, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Relationships, Sent by Jesus, Sent Out by The Holy Spirit, The Coming King, the Coming of Jesus, the Coming of the Lord, Unconditional Love, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worshipping Jesus
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Part 1a: 24 min
Part 1b: 21 min
Full Message
Main Passages: Ezra 1:1-8; 3:1-13
“God kept His promise to bring His people out of exile and back to the promised land. As God’s people gathered in Jerusalem, they made their worship of God their first priority and proclaimed God’s faithfulness through their actions. As Christians, we celebrate and give thanks to God for bringing us out of our exile to sin and death. In our worship, we proclaim the goodness of the Lord so that others might taste and see that He is good.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
Worshiping God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit should be the first priority of His people.
Christ Connection:
God kept His promise to bring His people out of exile in Babylon and restore their freedom to worship Him. Since Adam and Eve sinned, all humans have been in exile from the garden and are in need of deliverance. Jesus came to end this exile, bring His people home, and restore our freedom to worship.
“It is only when we grasp God’s unyielding desire to be with us that we begin to see the ultimate purpose of the cross. It is more than a vehicle to rescue us from death; it transports us into the arms of Life.” –Skye Jethani
Missional Application:
God The Holy Spirit calls us to make worship our first priority so others will see the goodness of the Lord.
“The primary reason the church gathers is to glorify God. We gather together for corporate worship to ascribe unto God the worship that is due Him.” –Matt Boswell
*Picture courtesy www.callieharbin.org
The God Who Deserves Our Allegiance!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Prayer, relationship with God, Sermons, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, Uncategorized, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Abednego, Assistant Pastor Tony Marra, Daniel, Daniel 3, Faith, Faithfulness, Fiery Trials, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Power, God's Protection, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Jesus Christ, Meshach, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Obedience, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Power, Shadrach, Suffering, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus
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Part 1: 24 mins
Part 2: 23 mins
Full Message: 47 mins
Main Passage: Daniel 3
Theological Theme: God – Father, Son and Spirit alone deserves our ultimate allegiance.
Christ Connection: The same God who was faithful and present with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the flames will also deliver us through His Son, Jesus the Christ, who is with us in the fiery trial and who saves us from sin and its consequences.
Missional Application: God the Holy Spirit calls us to embrace a countercultural lifestyle with full confidence in His power, regardless of what the immediate outcome may be.
*Picture Courtesy of livingmyfaith.blogspot.com
The Great Fall Of Jerusalem!
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, 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: 2 Chronicles 36: 11-21, Bible, By Tim Brassell, Celebration, Christian Living, Christianity, David, David and Goliath, Faith, Gideon, God Father Son and Spirit, God pursues You, God reveals himself, 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, God's Return, God's songs, God's Words, God's Work, Goliath, Gospel, Grace Communion International, inspiration, Jeremiah 17, Jeremiah 31, Jeremiah 38: 14-18, Jeremiah 38: 24-28, Jesus Christ, Jesus Transforms, King, life, Love, Messiah, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Overcoming Fear, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Timothy Brassell, redemption, Relationships, self-worship, Sermons, The Gospel Project, The Suffering Servant, The Triune God Who Whispers, the Truth, Timothy Brassell, Triune God, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Witness, Worship, Worship The King
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Full Message: 31 min
Main Passages: 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 Jeremiah 38:14-18, 24-28
“One of the most important events in the Old Testament era was the fall of Jerusalem and the capture of God’s people. Due to the hard-heartedness of the people and their leaders, including the despising of His Word, God displayed His justice and wrath through His punishment of His people. Yet even here, in this display of God’s justice, we see how God preserves a remnant of people who will carry the hope of His promise to make all things new through a Messiah.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
God [ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] patiently pursues sinners, but His patience will one day come to an end.
Christ Connection:
God righteously punished His people for their sin, but He remained faithful to them and kept the promise He made to David to preserve a remnant and provide a king. Ultimately, God punished our sin through His Son, Jesus, and made Him our King forever.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to listen to His Word and proclaim His patience and righteousness to others while there is still time.
Photo Compliments: https://biblicaltruthresources.wordpress.com
God Reveals The Coming Victory!
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, Prayer, Relationships, 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: 2 kings 19: 32-37, 2Kings 19: 8-20, Bible, By Tim Brassell, Celebration, Christian Living, Christianity, David, David and Goliath, Faith, Gideon, God Father Son and Spirit, God reveals himself, 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, God's Return, God's songs, God's Words, God's Work, Goliath, Gospel, Grace Communion International, inspiration, Isaiah, Isaiah 52:13 53:12, Isaiah 6, Isaiah 6:1-8, Israel, Israel's first King, Jesus Christ, Jesus Transforms, King, life, Love, Messiah, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Overcoming Fear, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Timothy Brassell, redemption, Relationships, self-worship, Sermons, The Gospel Project, The Suffering Servant, The Triune God Who Whispers, the Truth, Timothy Brassell, Triune God, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Witness, Worship, Worship The King
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Part 1a: 23min
Part 1b: 22min
Full Message: 45min
Main Passages:
“God’s glory is personally beneficial to those who follow Him. Understanding God’s glory reveals the certainty with which we can receive His promises. There is never a dichotomy between displaying God’s greatness and resting in His love. The ancient story of Assyria’s calloused threats against Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah illustrates that God saves us for the glory of His name and for our good. We, in turn, make known His glory so that others will rest in His grace.”– The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
God the Father saves us for the glory of His name and for our good.
Christ Connection:
Hezekiah prayed for God to manifest His glory by saving His people from the pagan kingdom that was rising against them. God exalted His name by answering Hezekiah’s prayer. Jesus also prayed for the salvation of His people, and through His death and resurrection, He accomplished the ultimate manifestation of God’s glory through defeating the enemy and saving His people.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to live on mission for His kingdom because we know that God is victorious over His enemies.
Photo Compliments: http://soul-candy.info/2017/04/victory-of-the-cross/
“God Reveals The Way To Healing!”
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, 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, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Gospel Project, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Worship | Tags: 2Kings, 2Kings 5:1-19a, Bible, By Tim Brassell, Celebration, 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, God's Return, God's songs, God's Words, God's Work, Goliath, Gospel, Grace Communion International, inspiration, Israel, Israel's first King, Jesus Christ, Jesus Transforms, King, life, Love, Messiah, Ministry, Naaman, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Overcoming Fear, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Timothy Brassell, redemption, Relationships, self-worship, Sermons, The Gospel Project, The Triune God Who Whispers, the Truth, Timothy Brassell, Triune God, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Witness, Worship, Worship The King
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Part 1a: 22min
Part 1b: 21min
Full Message: 43min
Main Passage: 2 Kings 5:1-19a
The prophet Elisha healed a foreigner named Naaman. This story gives us a beautiful illustration of our need for salvation and healing from God as well as the humility required to receive that healing. Unless we are humble enough to receive God’s salvation in the way He has planned, we will not be healed of our spiritual disease. Once we humbly receive His grace, however, we are then set free to testify to His goodness and reflect glory back to Him through our obedience.- The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
Unless we are humble enough to receive God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit’s salvation in the way He has planned, we will not be healed of our spiritual disease.
Christ Connection:
Naaman was sick with a skin problem, and his disease went away only after he obeyed God’s instruction to wash in the river. All people are sick with a sin problem and in need of healing. God calls us to humbly repent and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior so that our sin can be washed away.
Missional Application:
Like the servant girl in this story, we (through The Holy Spirit) are to point others to the place where their disease can be washed away.
No amount of effort, resources, or human connection can rescue us from the deadly prognosis of our moral infection. Left to ourselves, we will die in our trespasses and sins despite our attempts to the contrary. Apart from the compassionate interruption of the cross, our lives spiral toward certain death and judgment (Rom. 1:18-19).
The good news is that Jesus Christ bore the leprosy of our soul by sacrificing Himself for us (Isa. 53:4). Jesus is not the best hope we have; He is the only hope we have. Receiving the grace of God through His Son in no way diminishes the offense of our fallen existence. If anything, Christ’s insistence that He must do for us what we cannot do for ourselves reinforces how painfully wicked we are apart from God’s rescue.- The Gospel Project
Photo Compliments: unboundbylove.com
Job And The Dilemma Of Suffering!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, 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, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Gospel Project, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union with Christ, Witness, Worship | Tags: Called, called to belong to Jesus Christ, Celled to belong, Christian Living, Christianity, Faith, Fellowship, 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, Gospel, Grace Communion International, humanity, I will be your God, inspiration, Jesus Christ, Jesus Transforms, Job 16: 1-5, Job 16: 18-22, Job 1: 20-22, Job 1: 6-12, Job 40: 1-5, Job 42: 7-9, King, King who fights, life, Love, Luke 11, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Overcoming Fear, Participation, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Reconciliation, redemption, Relationships, Resurrection, self-worship, Sermons, Solomon, Temple, The Gospel Project, the Truth, Timothy Brassell, Tony Marra, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Wisdom, Wisdom of God
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Part 1a: 25min
Part 1b: 31min
Full Message: 56min
Main Passages
“The story of Job confronts us with the question “Why do good people suffer?” And the story offers us insight into right and wrong ways to pursue the answer to this question. The suffering of Job points us forward to the ultimate answer to the problem of evil—the redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ and the promise of a world made new. And as Jesus’ followers, we seek to alleviate suffering as we walk alongside others.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme
God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, does not give us the answer to why we go through suffering, but He does give us Himself.
Christ Connection
In his time of suffering, Job yearned for a mediator—someone to stand between him and God. Jesus is the mediator who suffered, even though He had never sinned, in order to pay the price for human sin and to put an end to suffering on earth.
Missional Application
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to comfort people going through a time of suffering, not by answering every question but by assuring them of God’s great love.
“Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is Himself the way”
― Karl Barth
Photo Compliments http://www.krexy.com
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
