Archive for the ‘Faith in Jesus’ Tag
The Most Important Priority For Everyone Everywhere! Part 2 (Our Christian/Biblical Worldview)
Part 2A:
Part 2B:
Full Message:
Bible Verses: Colossians ( Various Scriptures)
Introduction:
In a world:
Where people, including those in the Church, are still fighting over the various shades of color of skin,
Where people are seeking to live life in their own made up identities and pushing politicians to identify mainly with their cause,
Where people are exalting their own independence and individualism at the complete cost of their neighbors suffering,
Where the ultimate innocents and vulnerable among us are being aborted at an alarmingly high rate, and,
Where one of the scariest places in all the world to be is a nursing home, and,
Where, in our cities, the murder rate is not only high, but where research shows that most murders are meant to kill…
What hope do we Christians have to share with the world?
Theological Theme:
According to our Christian Hope shared through our Christian Calendar (following the events of God in History), we have entered the season of Advent where we celebrate the fact, specifically, that the Father’s Son came among us as Jesus 2000 years ago, as promised in scripture, and has come and is here again after his resurrection (in the Spirit), and is anticipated to come to earth again, bodily, at his Final Appearing! What does the word Advent mean? It is a word that means “The Coming and the Arrival of something great and important!” For us Christians it means the Coming of Some-One Who is The Greatest and The Most Important Someone, and that Some-One is the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God the Father, Filled with the Love, Communion and Power of the Holy Spirit!
Christ Connection:
Because of Who Jesus is not only as God, but also as Man, His ministry and comings not only have something to do with His Body the Church, but with all of creation. He is Creator, Reconciler, and Redeemer of All Things spiritual and physical within creation. In His Person and Work He holds all things together, uniting all things as they should be united and giving His entire creation His peace, all evil and destruction having been overcome in His Life, Death and Resurrection to a Life of New Creation!
Biblically this is spelled out in summary form in Colossians 1:
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
16 For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
19 For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.
Missional Application:
Like the Apostle Paul, the Church is now eager to share this Good News with the world that it might have its hope and faith in the love of God-Father-Son-Holy-Spirit, also! We encourage the world, and share with all who will listen, that it should repent of its sin and sinful perspective about God, creation and itself, and receive the gift of a new relationship with the Father, in the Spirit and through Jesus Christ, Lord of all Creation:
Colossians 1:
“21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him— 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it. 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 25 I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.”
Photo Compliments: Dr. Gary Deddo
Are You Becoming More Like Mary or Judas?
Audio – Part 1a: 36 min
Audio – Part 1b: 36 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Matthew 26:6-16
The account of Jesus’ anointing at Bethany contrasts the generosity of a woman and the greed of Judas. In their respective responses to Jesus, we see the importance of giving Him priority and honor over everything in our lives. The distinction between these two people serves as an opportunity for us to consider our own hearts in light of the opportunity we have to express our devotion through visible acts of worship.
Theological Theme:
Our heart’s condition is revealed either by our giving or by our greed.
Christ Connection:
Pouring expensive oil on Jesus was not a waste but an act of worship. By allowing Mary to anoint Him, Jesus showed that He is more valuable than anything. This act of devotion foreshadowed Jesus’ death and burial.
“Matthew’s unnamed woman is Jesus’ invitation to all women, and men and children, to come to the table of Christian koinonia… There is no hierarchy of holiness upon entrance, and there is no pedigree and no degree requirement for entrance. The only prerequisite is faith in Jesus. All who have faith in Jesus can come for a meal.” 4 –Sean Douglas O’Donnell
Missional Application:
God calls us to treasure Christ above all wealth and to express our devotion through visible acts of worship.
“Jesus’s teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day…That can only mean one thing. If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did.” –Timothy Keller
Photo Compliments: thumbs.dreamstime.com
NLF Baltimore 2018 Gospel Intensive with Dr. Gary Deddo, pt. 2 (Videos)
Dr. Deddo is Special Assistant to GCI President Joseph Tkach. He is the president of Grace Communion Seminary and is the doctrinal advisor of GCI.
This year was the 5th Gospel Intensive event led by Dr. Deddo., and it’s Specific Purpose was to proclaim:
“Jesus Christ, Lord of all of Life”
“We will look into what it means to live as if Jesus Christ is Lord of all of life. It’s often said that we are to live in the world but not of the world. But what does that mean? How can we be the church in our secular world? How can we be witnesses to the Triune God and his coming Kingdom in “this present evil age,” as Paul calls it? Is the church really called and equipped to “turn the world upside down” or right side up? What kinds of difference can we individually and as a church make in our communities? Our schools? Our work? Our families? Is the church to be a social change organization? What does the Gospel have to say to our culture? We will especially focus on exploring what can we do with our education and vocations. We will not come up with all the answers but gain some very specific biblically based and theologically grounded direction.”
Jesus Christ, Lord of all of Life – Video 1: 60min
Jesus Christ, Lord of all of Life – Video 2: 58min
Jesus Christ, Lord of all of Life – Video 3: 60min
Jesus Christ, Lord of all of Life – Video 4 – Part a: 50min
Jesus Christ, Lord of all of Life – Video 4 – Part b: 50min
Sermon: Jesus, a Towel, a Basin and Our Feet, the Real Lesson to be Learned Video 5: 60min
God – Father, Son and Spirit of Unusual Victories!
Full Message, 27mins.: “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/16-11-06-god-father-son-and-spirit-of-unusual-victories-joshua-6-tah.mp3”
Theological Theme: God – Father, Son and Spirit achieves victory through the faithful obedience of His people, no matter how unusual His commands may seem.
Christ Connection: God’s ultimate victory over His enemies, and ours, takes place through the faithful obedience of His Son – Jesus Christ.
Missional Application: God calls us to battle against evil in this world using the weapons of prayer, His Word, and our testimony in the Holy Spirit.
*picture courtesy of pinterest.com
When Faith In God Fails
Part 1, 25 mins : “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/16-10-09-what-happens-when-faith-in-god-fails-part-1-numbers-13-14-tah.mp3”
Part 2, 25 mins : “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/16-10-09-what-happens-when-faith-in-god-fails-part-2-numbers-13-14-tah.mp3”%5D%5B/audio%5D
Full Message: “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/16-10-09-what-happens-when-faith-in-god-fails-numbers-13-14-tah.mp3”
Theological Theme: Our Lord Father disciplines and redeems the faithless for the glory of His name.
Christ Connection: When Israel was tempted in the wilderness, the people failed to trust the Lord and faced 40 years of wandering. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, He remained faithful. Through His obedience, He became the representative who pleads for all humanity before the Lord.
Missional Application: God the Holy Spirit calls us not to conquer the nations but to take the gospel to them no matter the obstacles, knowing that His power and wisdom is greater than our own.
*photo courtesy of tbjfansuk.wordpress.com
The Law’s Blessing and Curse
Part 1, 24 mins : “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/16-10-02-the-laws-blessing-and-curse-part-a-deuteronomy-10-11-tah-guest-andrews.mp3”
Part 2, 24 mins : “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/16-10-02-the-laws-blessing-and-curse-part-b-deuteronomy-10-11-tah-guest-andrews.mp3”
Theological Theme: The law is God the Father’s good gift [holy, just and good], but it cannot save us from the penalty of disobedience.
Christ Connection: Obedience to God-Father, Son and Spirit’s law brings a blessing. Breaking God’s law brings a curse. Jesus is the One who took the curse of our law-breaking humanity in order that we might experience the blessing of His law-keeping humanity, all of Grace!
Missional Application: In response to the awesome works He has accomplished for us Jesus sends us His Holy Spirit, conforming us to Himself as we participate in and reflect His character toward others.
*picture courtesy of knowing-jesus.com