Archive for the ‘Relationships’ Category
Jesus Turns Water Into Wine!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, 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, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: commands, Faith, first miracle, God's Calling, God's Faithfulness, God's glory, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, God's Mercy, God's Power, God's Unconditional Love, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Humble, Humility, Jesus Christ, Jesus' identity, Jesus' Miracles, John, John 2: 1-12, Love, Miracles, Mission, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Rebellion, Reconciliation, Religion, responsibility, Resurrection, Salvation, Self-righteousness, Sin, Sinners, Stewards, Stewardship, The miracles of Jesus, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trust, Unconditional Love, water into wine, wine
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Part 1a: 26min
Part 1b: 30min
Full Message:
Main Passage: John 2:1-12 NLT
“John did not recount the story of Jesus turning water into wine for our entertainment; by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he intentionally presented the truth that Jesus’ miracles reveal God the Father. Through the details of this miracle, we see Jesus’ compassion for our needs, a glimpse of His identity, and His ability to reveal God in all He does.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
The miracles of Jesus were part of His purpose in bringing glory to God. – [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit]
“With [Jesus], nothing is incomplete or done at the wrong time, just as with the Father there is nothing haphazard.” –Irenaeus
Christ Connection:
Sin has disrupted our relationship with God, leading to spiritual barrenness and sorrow in our lives. Christ’s miracles are a sign that joyful reconciliation with God is possible again through faith in Jesus’ glorious life, death, and resurrection.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to do whatever Jesus tells us to do as we seek to display His glory and lead others to faith.
“Now this transformation of the water from its own substance into another, testified to the powerful presence of the Creator. Only he who had made it out of nothing could change water into something whose use was quite different.” –Maximus of Turin
“By this first sign, Jesus revealed His glory, ‘the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth’ (1:14). His glory would be revealed in greatest measure in his cross, resurrection and exaltation, but every step along the course of his ministry was an adumbration of that glory.” –D. A. Carson
“So what does this have to do with me?” you might ask. “Jesus is not on earth anymore; I don’t get to see His miracles.” Correct. But you are a miracle of Jesus, pointing others to God.
“Me?” you might ask, “I’m a sinner saved by grace.” Exactly. And when you tell others how Jesus won your heart, called you by name, and changed you from the inside out, you are just as amazing and awe-inspiring to unbelievers as the turning of water into wine.
Just as Jesus considered His purpose before each miracle, we should consider our purpose before each conversation, each lunch meeting, each relationship, and each trial: Am I reflecting Christ? Do I point others to Him? Can others tell by my words and actions that Jesus is King of kings, Lord of lords, and the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world? – The Gospel Project
Photo compliments: BLCF: thefirstmiracle
Contending For The Faith Delivered To The Saints! – Part 8
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Humor, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, The Church, 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: Bigotry, Communion, Costly Grace, Divorce, Faith, Faithfulness, Fellowship, Fighting For Truth, Gender, Genesis 1-2, God Fights Against Us, God Fights For Us, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, human relationships, Idolatry, Image of God, Immorality, Intimacy, John 4, Jude, Jude 1, LGBTQI, Love, Love Your Neighbor, Male and Female Relationships, Marriage, Neighbor, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Pop Theology, Prejudice, Race, Race relations, Racial Reconciliation, Racism, Relational Intimacy, Relationship Cure, relationship with God, Relationships, Religion, Rodney King, Sensuality, Sexual Perversion, Sexuality, Single, Singleness, The Great Commandment, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Unconditional Love
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Part 8a: 32min
Part 8b: 26min
Full Message:
Main Passages: Jude 1 John 4 Gen 1-2
This message of God’s Good News urges believers to contend FOR the faith once delivered to the Church, in participation with Jesus Christ!, and AGAINST the ungodly cultural pressures and influences of our current times!
This is a Gospel message to a specific congregation of our times facing issues similar to congregations in other times as seen in the scriptures, particularly the Books of Jude and John. In this series, we make Christ-centered comparisons with the congregation in Jude and the Samaritan woman of Jesus’ time in John 4 to our particular congregation. You may see that the Church in general (especially if in the United States!), faces these same issues and also be helped by WHO and HOW He is proclaimed!
In the light of Jesus and the God revealed in Him (and over the course of 12 messages), we address today’s big questions regarding relationships, race, marriage, love, gender/sexual identity, politics, and worship and witness as it relates to the Christian God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Photo Compliments: http://www.tclministries.org/nt-scripture-gallery/
Contending For The Faith Delivered To The Saints! – Part 7
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, 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, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, 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: Communion, Costly Grace, Divorce, Faith, Faithfulness, Fellowship, Fighting For Truth, Gender, Genesis 1-2, God Fights Against Us, God Fights For Us, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, human relationships, Idolatry, Immorality, Intimacy, John 4, Jude, Jude 1, LGBTQI, Love, Love Your Neighbor, Male and Female Relationships, Marriage, Neighbor, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Pop Theology, Prejudice, Race, Race relations, Racial Reconciliation, Racism, Relational Intimacy, Relationship Cure, relationship with God, Relationships, Religion, Rodney King, Sensuality, Sexual Perversion, Sexuality, Single, Singleness, Stay Woke, Tags: Bigotry, The Great Commandment, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Unconditional Love
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Part 7a: 25min
Part 7b: 27min
Full Message:
Main Passages: Jude 1 John 4 Gen 1-2
This message of God’s Good News urges believers to contend FOR the faith once delivered to the Church, in participation with Jesus Christ!, and AGAINST the ungodly cultural pressures and influences of our current times!
This is a Gospel message to a specific congregation of our times facing issues similar to congregations in other times as seen in the scriptures, particularly the Books of Jude and John. In this series, we make Christ-centered comparisons with the congregation in Jude and the Samaritan woman of Jesus’ time in John 4 to our particular congregation. You may see that the Church in general (especially if in the United States!), faces these same issues and also be helped by WHO and HOW He is proclaimed!
In the light of Jesus and the God revealed in Him (and over the course of 12 messages), we address today’s big questions regarding relationships, race, marriage, love, gender/sexual identity, politics, and worship and witness as it relates to the Christian God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Wicked Tenants!
Filed under: Bible, By David Stonesifer, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Humor, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, 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: commands, God's Calling, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, God's Mercy, God's Power, God's Unconditional Love, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Humble, Humility, Judgement, Love, Matthew 21, Matthew 21:33-46, Mission, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Parable, Parable of Jesus, Parables, Rebellion, Religion, Religiosity, Religious Observance, repentance, responsibility, Salvation, Seeking The Lost, Self-righteousness, Sin, Sinners, Stewards, Stewardship, the parable of the wicked tenants, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trust, Unconditional Love, warnings
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Part 1a: 19min
Part 1b: 21min
Full Message:
Main Passage: Matthew 21:33-46
“One of Jesus’ most famous parables about judgment was the parable of the wicked tenants. In this story we see the privilege and responsibility that comes with God’s calling on our lives. We also see the grace of God in His warnings to sinners and the judgment of God in His retribution toward those who reject His Son. This parable’s stark imagery reminds us that we are called to bear the fruit of repentance and mission and thus fulfill our purpose as God’s people.” -The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
Judgment comes on those who reject the commands, warnings, and Christ, The Son of God- [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit].
Christ Connection:
Jesus’ parable of the wicked tenants is one of the clearest denunciations of the religious leaders in His day. The story implies that God is the vineyard owner, Jesus is the owner’s son, and the religious leaders are the ones who have rejected God’s Word. Applying Psalm 118 to Himself, Jesus saw Himself as the cornerstone—the person in whom God’s judgment and salvation come together.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to bear the fruit of repentance and mission, fulfilling our purpose as His people.
“Jesus teaches that seemingly endless patience of God is extended toward those who oppose him. But when this patience ends at the rejection of his Son, God’s swift retribution is sure to follow.” –Simon J. Kistemaker
“The portrait of a mild Jesus who spoke only of grace and never of judgment is a figment of the imagination. We serve a Savior whose scandalous grace was matched with the ferocious roar of judgment. In this parable, we see a glimpse of God’s patience but also His swift retribution. Let this story from Jesus shock your senses and lead you to see yourself as a steward of His blessings” -The Gospel Project
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The Pharisee and the Tax Collector!
Filed under: Bible, By Richard Andrews, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, The Church, 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: compassion, False Pride, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, God's Mercy, God's Power, God's Unconditional Love, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International Regional Superintendent, Holiness, Humble, Humility, Love, Luke, Luke 18, Luke 18:9-14, Mercy, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Parable, parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Parables, Pride, Rebellion, Religion, Religiosity, Religious Observance, repentance, Seeking The Lost, Self-righteousness, Sin, Sinners, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Unconditional Love
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Part 1a: 29min
Part 1b: 29min
Full Message:
Main Passage: Luke 18:9-14
“In Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, we see the danger of self-righteousness, our human need for mercy, and what it means to be justified by faith. God calls us to recognize our sinfulness and our need for His mercy and in humility to proclaim the gospel of grace to those who trust in themselves. “-The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, exalts the humble and humbles the exalted.
Christ Connection:
The tax collector’s cry was for God to turn away His wrath from a sinner. Through His life and sacrificial death as our substitute, Jesus was the Wrath of God that our sins deserved. Like the tax collector, we too can cry out to God to have mercy on us! We can receive Jesus as the Wrath of God Who absorbed and put our sin to death in his suffering and death! We can also receive the forgiveness he grants full and free in his abundant grace!
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us not to look down on others but to look up to Him for salvation so that our participation with Him in humility and grace would be attractive to those who are still trusting in themselves.
“All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual: the pleasure of putting other people in the wrong, of bossing and patronizing and spoiling sport, and backbiting; the pleasures of power, of hatred…A cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute.” –C. S. Lewis
“Self-righteousness wears many disguises. The scary thing about self-righteousness is that we usually don’t recognize it in ourselves. We think because of our religious practices that we are okay with God. We think because of how we pray that we are trusting in Him, not in ourselves. We think because of how we live that we are doing better than the people around us. Self-righteousness stinks; unfortunately, we are the last to smell it on ourselves….
But even when our self-righteousness is cloaked in words of gratitude or manifested in actions that, on the surface, appear to be done out of a desire for God’s glory, self-righteousness is still self-justification. It is misplaced trust that leads to misplaced judgment. As it has been said, “We judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.” We judge people around us more harshly than we would dare judge ourselves….
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector gives us a vivid portrait of pride versus humility, of justification by works versus justification by faith. As Darrell Bock comments:
Pride preaches merit; humility pleads for compassion. Pride negotiates as an equal; humility approaches in need. Pride separates by putting down others; humility identifies with others, recognizing we all have the same need. Pride destroys through its alienating self-service; humility opens doors with its power to sympathize with the struggle we share. Pride turns up its nose; humility offers an open and lifted-up hand.
According to the gospel, we are to trust in God alone for our salvation, and we trust in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,” the old hymn goes. The gospel cuts to the heart of our tendency to trust in ourselves and in our own righteousness. The gospel also shatters the sense of superiority we may feel toward others. As long as you are looking up to God for salvation, you can’t look down on anyone else. Once you know how much you need the mercy of God, how in the world can you look down your nose on someone else in need of the same mercy?” -The Gospel Project
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Contending For The Faith Delivered To The Saints! – Part 6
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Communion, Costly Grace, Divorce, Faith, Faithfulness, Fellowship, Fighting For Truth, Gender, Genesis 1-2, God Fights Against Us, God Fights For Us, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, human relationships, Idolatry, Immorality, Intimacy, John 4, Jude, Jude 1, LGBTQI, Love, Love Your Neighbor, Male and Female Relationships, Marriage, Neighbor, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Pop Theology, Prejudice, Race, Race relations, Racial Reconciliation, Racism, Relational Intimacy, Relationship Cure, relationship with God, Relationships, Religion, Rodney King, Sensuality, Sexual Perversion, Sexuality, Single, Singleness, Stay Woke, Tags: Bigotry, The Great Commandment, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Unconditional Love
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Part 6a: 30 min
Part 6b: 26min
Full Message:
Main Passages: Jude 1 John 4 Gen 1-2
This message of God’s Good News urges believers to contend FOR the faith once delivered to the Church, in participation with Jesus Christ!, and AGAINST the ungodly and cultural pressures and influences of our current times!
This is a Gospel message to a specific congregation of our times facing issues similar to congregations in other times as seen in the scriptures, particularly the Books of Jude and John. In this series, we make Christ-centered comparisons with the congregation in Jude and the Samaritan woman of Jesus’ time in John 4 to our particular congregation. You may see that the Church in general (especially if in the United States!), faces these same issues and also be helped by WHO and HOW He is proclaimed!
In the light of Jesus and the God revealed in Him (and over the course of 12 messages), we address today’s big questions regarding relationships, race, marriage, love, gender/sexual identity, politics, and worship and witness as it relates to the Christian God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Father Of Two Lost Sons!
Filed under: by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, 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: Celebration, Faith, Faithfulness, Fatherly Love, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, God's Mercy, God's Power, God's Unconditional Love, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Humble, Humility, Love, Luke, Luke 15: 11-32, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Parable, Parable of Jesus, Parables, Rebellion, Religion, Religiosity, Religious Observance, repentance, Seeking The Lost, Self-righteousness, Sin, Sinners, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Unconditional Love
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Part 1a: 23 min
Part 1b: 18 min
Full Message:
Main Passage: Luke 15:11-32
“Jesus told a famous parable of a loving father with two lost sons. In the characters’ attitudes and actions, we see a picture of human sinfulness, the grace-filled posture of God, and the deadliness of self-righteousness. Like the original listeners of this parable, we are called not to resent God’s grace but to celebrate God’s goodness in embracing any sinner who repents. ” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
God- Father, Son, and Spirit, rejoices whenever a sinner returns to Him in repentance.
Christ Connection:
The Pharisees and scribes criticized Jesus for His practice of welcoming and dining with sinners. The stories He told in response to their criticism focused on God’s joy over sinners coming to repentance. The God who seeks and saves the lost is Jesus, the Savior whose search-and-rescue mission is accomplished at great personal cost to Himself.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us not to resent His grace toward others but to celebrate the Father’s goodness in welcoming any repentant sinner home.
“A banquet of great joy is provided by this waiting [Father], who is none other than the waiting, running, embracing, partying, and kissing God. The parable describes God’s goodness, grace, boundless mercy and abundant love.” –Paul John Isaak
“Whoever departs from the Word of God hungers… Whoever leaves treasure lacks. Whoever departs from wisdom is stupefied. Whoever departs from virtue is destroyed. It was fitting that he begin to be in need, because he abandoned the treasures of wisdom and the knowledge of God.” –Ambrose (circa 339-397)
Photo Compliments: Yesterday’s Prophecy, Today’s News
The Unmerciful Servant!
Filed under: Bible, By Ann Vinson, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, 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, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, 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: Costly Grace, Death of Jesus, Faith, Faithfulness, Following Jesus, Forgive, Forgiveness, Forgiving Others, God's Faithfulness, God's Forgiveness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, God's Power, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Life of Jesus, Love, Matthew, Matthew 18: 21-35, Mercy, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Participating with Jesus, Receiving Forgiveness, The Father's Love, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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Part 1a: 21 min
“https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/2018.08.19-the-unmerciful-servant-matt18.21-35-part1a-guest-vinson-tah.mp3”
Part 1b: 22 min
Full Message:
Main Passage: Matthew 18:21-35
“Jesus taught on forgiveness through the parable of the unmerciful servant. Jesus’ followers are invited to forgive others because they have been forgiven a much greater debt. Forgiveness of others is an overflow of God’s good news, not simply an occasional act when it feels appropriate. To follow Jesus means to remember we are forgiven and to extend that forgiveness to others.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
Those who receive forgiveness of God- Father, Son, and Spirit, must, in turn, extend forgiveness.
Christ Connection:
Though our debt before God was too great to be paid through our good works or effort, we have received forgiveness through the grace of Jesus Christ, who paid our debt through His death on the cross. God has wiped the slate clean with the blood of His Son.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to model forgiveness in our relationships in order to put on display the nature of God’s forgiving heart.
“We reveal the true condition of our hearts by the way we treat others. When our hearts are humble and repentant, we will gladly forgive our brothers. But where there is pride and a desire for revenge, there can be no true repentance, and this means God cannot forgive.” –Warren W. Wiersbe
Photo Compliments: Jimmy Larche
Contending For The Faith Delivered To The Saints! – Part 5
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, 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 Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Communion, Costly Grace, Faith, Faithfulness, Fellowship, Fighting For Truth, God Fights Against Us, God Fights For Us, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, human relationships, Idolatry, Immorality, John 4, Jude, Jude 1, Love, Love Your Neighbor, Love Your Neighbor As Yourself, Luke 10, Neighbor, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Pop Theology, Prejudice, Race, Race relations, Racial Reconciliation, Racism, Relational Intimacy, Relationship Cure, Stay Woke, The Great Commandment, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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Part 5a: 26min
Part 5b: 31min
Full Message:
Main Passages: Jude 1 John 4 Luke 10
This message of God’s Good News urges believers to contend FOR the faith once delivered to the Church, in participation with Jesus Christ!, and AGAINST the ungodly and cultural pressures and influences of our current times!
This is a Gospel message to a specific congregation of our times facing issues similar to congregations in other times as seen in the scriptures, particularly the Books of Jude and John. In this series, we make Christ-centered comparisons with the congregation in Jude and the Samaritan woman of Jesus’ time in John 4 to our particular congregation. You may, of course, see that the Church (maybe your local congregation!), especially in the United States, faces these same issues in general, and also be helped by WHO is proclaimed.
In the light of Jesus and the God revealed in Him (and over the course of 12 messages), we address today’s big questions regarding relationships, race, marriage, love, gender/sexual identity, politics, and worship and witnessing to the Father and Son through the Christian faith.
The Sower And The Soils!
Filed under: Bible, By Richard Andrews, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Faith, Faithfulness, Fruit of the Spirit, Fruitfulness, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's Power, Good Works, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Jesus' Parable, Jesus' Parables, Mark 4, Mark 4: 1-9, Mark 4: 14-20, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Parable, Sower and the Soils, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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Full Message:
Main Passages: Mark 4:1-9, 14-20
“Jesus taught His disciples about how God’s kingdom actually comes. Jesus’ message is spread liberally, like the casting of seed by a sower, but people’s responses are not determined by the content of the message but by the condition of their hearts. Jesus’ parable of the sower and the soils helps us understand why, as we share the gospel, some people respond in faith and others do not.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
People respond in different ways to the message of the gospel of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Christ Connection:
Jesus is the Sower who scattered the seed (God’s Word) through His ministry on earth. Today, He continues to proclaim the gospel through His disciples, and the gospel continues to bear fruit among those who receive the message.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to sow the seed of His Word with reckless abandon, trusting that the Lord of the harvest will bring fruit from the gospel.
“I would put it to you, my dear hearer, have you been fruitful? Have you been fruitful with your wealth? Have you been fruitful with your talent? Have you been fruitful with your time? What are you doing for Jesus now? Salvation is not by doings, you are saved by grace, but if you are so saved, prove it by your devoted life. Consecrate yourself anew this day wholly to your Master’s service. You are not your own, but bought with a price, and if you would not be like these thorn-choked seeds, live while you live, with all-consuming zeal.” –Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“The seed of God’s Word does not bounce off the surface of this heart. It does not momentarily flourish only to shrivel under adversity. It is not divided by its competing desires and strangled. It is a heart that allows God’s Word to take deep root in it. It produces first a harvest of character: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law’ (Gal. 5:22-23). Then it produces a harvest of good works (Eph. 2:10).” –R. Kent Hughes
Photo Compliments: 1BCC
