Archive for the ‘Song’ Category
Contending For The Faith Delivered To The Saints! – Part 9
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, 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, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, 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: 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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Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL6FScyA_Jc
Audio Part 1a: 20 min
Audio Part 1b: 21 min
Audio Full Message:
Main Passages: Jude 1 John 4 Gen 1-2
This Specific Message in the Series Points to the Truth in Christ that: To be made in the image of God in Christ is to be male and female, to be in union, distinction, and with equality. It emphasizes how man corresponds to woman and how woman corresponds to man as created by the Father-Son-and-Spirit-God!
This series 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 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
Comments (1)
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
Comments (1)
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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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
Contending For The Faith Delivered To The Saints! – Part 1
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, 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, 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: Faith, Faithfulness, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's Power, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, John 4, Jude, Jude 1, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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Part 1a: 29min
Part 1b: 30min
Full Message:
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.
Foundational to this message is the urgent call for us to contend for the Christian faith (in which we participate in with Jesus Christ!) primarily by continuing to ask for and receive together from our Father – His Holy Spirit! He is WHO the Father most desires to pour out upon his human children! Even so, come Holy Spirit of the Father and Son, come!
Photo Compliments: http://www.tclministries.org/nt-scripture-gallery/
Nicodemus And The New Birth!
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, 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, 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: Faith, Faithfulness, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's Power, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, John 3, John 3: 1-21, Matthew 4, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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Part 1a: 24min
Part 1b: 28min
Full Message:
Main Passage: John 3:1-21
“In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus taught this religious leader about the mystery of regeneration, what He described as being “born again.” As Christians, we have been born again by the Spirit of God through faith in God’s Son. The new birth is the basis of our confidence that God is at work transforming us and all who believe in the gospel.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
Regeneration is God’s [Father, Son, and Spirit] supernatural transformation of believers IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.
Christ Connection:
Nicodemus was a religious man who was interested in Jesus’ teaching. Jesus told him that he needed new life, not more religious activities. Jesus’ teaching on the new birth reminds us that there is no spiritual life apart from Jesus. God loved the world in this way: He gave His Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to trust in His power to supernaturally transform us and those with whom we share the gospel.
“The work of regeneration is a supernatural work of God, not the natural work of man. Nevertheless, the responsibility of getting the message of the gospel out is the work God has called every believer to participate in. We should never assume that because people are familiar with religion, Christianity, or even the church that they know Jesus as their Savior. God has called every believer to trust in His power as we are transformed by the Holy Spirit.” – The Gospel Project
Photo Compliments: http://www.slideshare.net
What Jesus Christ Being Tempted Means For Us!
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, 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, 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 In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Faith, Faithfulness, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's Power, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Luke 2:52, Matthew 4, Matthew 4: 1-11, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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Part 1a: 22min
Part 1b: 29min
Full Message:
Main Passages: Matthew 4:1-11 Luke 2:42
“Jesus demonstrated faithfulness in the wilderness of temptation. Unlike Adam and Eve in the garden and unlike the children of Israel in the wilderness, Jesus refused to gratify His desires apart from God’s will or to test God and His promises. Instead of taking the path of earthly exaltation, Jesus fixed His eyes on the cross and triumphed over the temptations of the Evil One. As Christians, we can resist temptation by trusting in the Savior who overcame temptation in our place. ” The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
In the wilderness, Jesus, relating intimately with His Father, and in the Holy Spirit’s power, triumphs over temptation at the point that Adam, and Israel, and all of us have failed.
Christ Connection:
In order to undo the consequences of Adam’s sin, Jesus steps into our world and overcomes the temptation to which Adam succumbed. In order to fulfill the purpose of His people, Israel, who doubted God in the wilderness, Jesus overcomes temptation on behalf of His people. Jesus’ temptation is connected to His cross, the place where He conquered sin as our Savior.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to resist temptation by resting in our identity in Christ, the One who overcame temptation in our place.
“In each of the three neverto-be-forgotten pictures which our Lord has given us, the temptation of Satan centers round this point—‘You are the Son of God, then do God’s work in Your own way; assert Your prerogative of Sonship.’ Jesus deliberately rejected the suggested ‘short cut’ and chose the ‘long, long trail,’ evading none of the suffering involved.” – Oswald Chambers
“The first Adam sinned by eating. Christ prevailed by self-control. He thus teaches that there is no need for us to stay far away from God.” –Theodore of Heraclea
“The wilderness temptation represents an all-out assault on the identity of Jesus, which was revealed at His baptism. It was a threefold attack. First, Satan sought to tempt Jesus to satisfy His desires apart from the will of God. The temptation was to make Him rely on Himself apart from the Father in sustaining His own life with physical bread. Jesus triumphed when He spoke of relying on the word of God for life. Second, Satan sought to tempt Jesus to doubt God’s protection and to test that promise by jumping from the roof of the temple. Once more, Jesus displayed His total trust in the Father. Third, the Devil tempted Jesus to abandon the identity the Father bestowed upon Him at the Jordan, the radical identification with the world that would finally lead Him to the cross. Jesus’ final triumph in the wilderness occurred when He determined to serve and worship the Father alone and triumphed over the temptation of Satan. This is not simply an ancient story of a struggle between good and evil. It is a battle plan for those who long to remain obedient to God. Jesus’ victory in the wilderness matters because it is a foretaste of the victory He will achieve for the world on the cross. He is always the pattern and the paradigm. We have failed to engage or understand this narrative if we have not realized that His victory can be echoed in our own experience. His victory is ours! In light of Christ’s work, our appropriate response is following His pattern of obedience as worship.” – The Gospel Project
Photo Compliments: http://www.biblewaymag.com
The Son Of God Is Baptized!
Filed under: Bible, By Ann Vinson, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, 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, 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: Faith, Faithfulness, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's Power, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Matthew 3:17, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
Comments (4) 
Part 1a: 25 min
Part1b: 21 min
Full Message:
Main Passage: Matthew 3:17
“John the Baptist was the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus’ public ministry. John prepared the way by preaching a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and by baptizing people as a sign of their allegiance to God. Jesus chose to be baptized, even though He was sinless, in order to identify with His sinful people and provide an example of righteousness. Similarly, Christian baptism symbolizes our union with Christ in His death and resurrection and marks us out as God’s people.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
In His baptism, The son of God, Jesus the Christ, through The Spirit’s power, identifies with His sinful people.
Christ Connection:
Jesus’ baptism shows us that Jesus completely obeyed God and identified with sinners by being baptized like sinners are baptized. His baptism points to His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. For those of us in Christ, the words spoken over Jesus at His baptism are also true of us— we are the Father’s beloved children in whom He takes delight.
Missional Application:
God through His Holy Spirit, calls us to repent and be baptized as a sign of our identification with Jesus and His people.
“Every day presents another opportunity to realize afresh our need for the forgiveness that only Jesus can give—the One who identified with us through His baptism. Baptism is an act with several layers of meaning. John’s baptism focused on repentance and preparation for the coming kingdom. Christian baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit goes further—symbolizing our sins being washed away; representing death, burial, and resurrection in Christ; and marking one’s formal entrance into a community of believers in Jesus.”
“Both by the words of the prophets and by John’s own preaching, this one thing is clear: he had arrived, making a way and preparing it beforehand. John was not bestowing the gift, which was the remission of sins, but preparing beforehand the souls of those who would receive the God of all.” –John Chrysostom
