Archive for the ‘New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland’ Tag
Pentecost And The Coming Of The Holy Spirit!
Filed under: Bible, By Melvin McKee, Jr., Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Pentecost, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, God's Promise, Gospel, Jesus, Jesus' Ascension, Jesus' Death, Jesus' Resurrection, Love, Melvin McKee Jr., New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Pentecost, Relationships, The Body of Christ, The Great Commission, The Spirit's Indwelling, Trinity
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Part 1A
Part 1B
Scripture: Acts 1, 2
Introduction:
Summary and Goal:
Pentecost was the occasion following Jesus death, resurrection and
ascension when the Holy Spirit was sent as Jesus promised to his
disciples in Jerusalem. Peter proclaimed the fulfillment of the
prophecy of Joel 2:28-32.
Theological Theme:
Jesus Christ is the living Head of the Church, and to whom it looks and is
directed through the Holy Scriptures, by the indwelling Holy
Spirit.
Christ Connection:
Jesus lives in his followers through the presence of the Holy Spirit
indwelling and empowering them to fulfill the great commission of
proclaiming the good news of Jesus in the world.
Missional Application:
The Church, the body of Christ, is composed of people who trust in
Jesus and who are commissioned to make disciples of others in the world.
Photos compliments: pinterest.com
Sin and God’s Good News!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, 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, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Church, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Clothed In Christ, Defeat of Sin, God Helps Us, God Looks For Us, God's Good Creation, God's Help And Hope, God'sGrace, Grace Greater Than Sin, Guilt, Idolatry, Jesus A Better Adam, Jesus Destroys Evil, Jesus Our Atonement, Mercy In Jesus, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Pain, Rebellion Against God, Relational Conflict, Sacrifice of Jesus, Separation From God, Shame, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Unbeliuef, Willful Disobedience
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Scripture: Gen 3:1 – 4:8
Introduction:
Summary and Goal:
In the previous two sessions, we saw that God created everything good, including people as the pinnacle of creation. Adam and Eve were made in God’s image and instructed to rule over the world and worship God through their work, rest, and relationships with one another and with Him. As we will see in this session, that didn’t last. Adam and Eve chose to sin against God in open defiance of His goodness and loving provision for them. Their sin had drastic consequences as it brought death to all humanity and ruptured our created purpose. But as dark as that moment was, we will see that it was pregnant with hope—hope that could only come from God in His promise to one day send Someone who would make everything right again.
Theological Theme:
People sinned against God and ruptured our created purpose, but God has provided
forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
Christ Connection:
God promised that one of Eve’s offspring would crush the head of the serpent. Jesus
is the promised One who defeated sin and death once and for all.
“ There is more mercy in
Christ than sin in us.”
–Richard Sibbes (1577-1635)
Missional Application:
Because we have been forgiven through faith in Christ and given His righteousness,
we trust in God and His grace as we fight against sin in our lives and proclaim the
reason for our hope found in Christ Jesus.
Photos compliments: youtube.com
“JESUS: The Most Important PERSON and TASK For Everyone! Part 2” (Jesus’ Human Life / The Biblical Worldview)
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Jesus Christ, Love, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Timothy Brassell, Uncategorized, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Baptism, Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas, Church, Faith Seeking Understanding, Gospel, Grace, Human Life, Human Nature, Human Nature Renewed, Important Relationships, Important Tasks, Jesus, Jesus' Human Life, Life Priorities, Love, Luke 2:52, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Reconciliation with God, Relationships, The Baptism of Jesus, The Biblical Worldview, The Incarnation, The Incarnation of the Son, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Vicarious humanity of Christ
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Part 2A:
Part 2B:
Part 2C:
Full Message:
Bible Verses: Luke 2: 52 (Various Scriptures)
Theological Theme:
In relationship with Jesus His faith in us causes us to seek understanding about Who He is in His Person and Deeds, taking into account the entire course of His Human Life, with the help of the Holy Spirit. We’ve rehearsed Jesus’ Person and Work by grasping more of the meaning of His Virgin Birth. In this message we understand more basic and fundamentally the meaning of His Incarnate Life!
Christ Connection:
When Jesus lived He lived our life, meaning that as the Son of the Father united to us in our human nature He was the God/Man renewing our fallen human nature from the inside because he never sinned in it. Just as in Adam the human nature in which we all have shared became fallen, so in the one person of Christ the human nature in which we all shared was made right and saved! Jesus is more significant than Adam because He not only shared in our fallen human nature, but was also the One in, through, for and by Whom all things are created and made! He was both God and Man. This means that by his one human life, the human nature of everyone is now set on an entirely new basis! Where sin abounded (Adam), God’s grace in abounds even more (in Jesus!!)
Missional Application:
“Jesus embodied the unreserved presence of God with and for sinners. “Those who are well have no need of physician,” Jesus declares, “but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mt. 9:12f.). Christ’s incarnate humanity — his entire life, death, and resurrection among and on behalf of sinners — provides the basis for and the reality of reconciliation. He stands in our place and acts on our behalf to heal our humanity. His vicarious humanity — i.e., his substitutionary life and death in our place and representative humanity on our behalf — reconciles us to one another and to God. Social reconciliation is both an indicative and an imperative of the gospel of Jesus Christ, both gift and task, both command and promise.” – Ray Anderson
So, as we experience reconciliation with the Father-Son-Holy-Spirit-God that Christ accomplished, and because it is social – touching the lives of every human being – we share this Good News with others that they, too, might trust Christ and experience the gift and promise of real human life before the Father along with other believers!
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The Most Important Priority For Everyone Everywhere! Part 3 (Our Christian/Biblical Worldview)
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Being God-centered, Christ-centeredness, Christian Living, Christian Worship, Christianity, Church, Colossians, Colossians 1:8-29, GCI Baltimore, God-centeredness, Godly Ethics, Godly Worship, Gospel, Jesus, Life Priorities, Love, Loving God, Loving Our Neighbor, Mistaken Priorities, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Baltimore, Relationships, The Great Commandment, Theological Ethics, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Worship
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Part 3B:
Full Message:
Bible Verses: Colossians 1: 15 – 29 Colossians 3: 5
Introduction: Developing, then living out an ethic that is God-centered rather than human-centered is a great challenge. Why? Because the worldview (mindset) prevalent in our modern/postmodern West is fundamentally human-centered, leading to an ethic that is largely pragmatic, utilitarian and even hedonistic. So how do we as Christians, in this cultural setting, develop, then live out a truly theological ethic?
In this sermon we draw on scripture and insights from theologian Dr. Gary Deddo as a help in considering the crucial issues at play regarding our participation with Jesus in worshipping His Father in the Spirit!
Theological Theme:
According to Jesus, these two commands summarize the will of God for humankind as presented in Holy Scripture:
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 22:35-40, NRSV)
Christ Connection:
Jesus came to seek worshipers of the Father (see John 4, the account of the woman at the well). He came so that we could share in his true worship of the Father in Spirit and Truth (see the book of Hebrews). That meant he came so that we might love God as He loved God, with all he had and all he was — heart, soul, mind and strength. That worship included Jesus absolutely trusting in and lovingly obeying the Father — in our place and on our behalf. We are to serve no other Master, Jesus tells us. He came to take us to the Father and to send us his Spirit.
As Jesus tells us, eternal life is to know the Father through him (John 17:3). Jesus’ central mission was to reconcile God’s own sons and daughters to him through his atoning death and to destroy the source of all rivalry to the worship of God alone. Evil is represented by the Satan, the deceiver. Jesus is our great High priest, our Leitourgos (leader of liturgy/worship), our one true worship leader. He came to enable us to be true worshipers of the Father in the Spirit through him, the Son.
Missional Application:
In participation with Jesus we share the Gospel in word and deed with our neighbors, teaching them what Jesus is teaching us:
Though Jesus speaks of two great commandments, they are not equal. One cannot be collapsed into the other, especially the first into the second. Why? Because God is not my neighbor and my neighbor is not God. The command to love God is unique, applying to no one and nothing else. We are to love God with all that we are and all that we have — body and soul, mind and heart. There is nothing that is a part of a human’s existence that is not to be devoted to loving God.
Photo Compliments: Dr. Gary Deddo
Toward Love In Action!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, 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, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, Trinity, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: A New Identity In Jesus, Action-Oriented Love, Active Love, Active Participation With Jesus, Assistant Pastor Tony Marra, Christian Love, Commanded To Love, eternal life, God - Father-Son-and Holy Spirit, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God's love, Love, Love God - Love Neighbor, Love In Action, Love In Words And Actions, Love One Another, Love Your Neighbor As Yourself, Loving Fellow Believers, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Other-centeredness, Participation with Jesus, Prayer, Praying For Others, Praying For Your Enemies, Proclaiming The Good News, Proclaiming The Gospel, Providing For Others, Rescued From Sin, Returning Good For Evil, Sacrificial Love, Salvation By Grace Alone, Scripture, Self-giving, Sharing God's Love With Others, Spiritual Transformation, The Father's Love, The Holy Trinity, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Truth In Action, Unconditional Love, Union with Christ
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Part A:
Part B:
Full Message:
Main Bible Verse: 1 John3: 10-18
Introduction:
We cannot evade the God-Father-Son-Holy-Spirit’s command through the Bible to love. It comes through loud and clear, running throughout the pages of Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments. As those who have been rescued from our sin, we now have been given a new identity and the fruit of love will be evident in our lives. This love is not something kept within us; it will naturally be shown through our actions.
Theological Theme:
Love for the Father-Son-Holy-Spirit-God and love for others is the fruit of true Christianity.
Christ Connection:
In teaching the church about the nature of true love, the apostle John reminded Christians that love is
not merely a matter of feelings or words but of action. Love was demonstrated and defined most clearly
by God the Son’s action of clothing Himself with human flesh as the Lord Jesus and laying down His life for His people.
Missional Application:
God-Father-Son-Holy-Spirit calls us to participate with Jesus in the opening of our eyes to see who is in need and what we can give as a demonstration of His love in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Photo Compliments: pinterest.com
The Method: Missionaries
Filed under: Bible, By Richard Andrews, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Prayer, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Acts 13, Being Sent By God, Being Sent By Jesus, Commissioned By The Holy Spirit, Commitment To Jesus, Committed To jesus, Discipleship, Empowered By The Spirit, Evangelism, Evangelizing, Facing Opposition To The Gospel, God's Calling, God's Church, God's Kingdom, God-Father-Son-and-Spirit Wants to Be Known, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Jesus Wants to Be Known, Missionaries, Missionary, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission With Jesus Christ, Participating With Jesus Christ, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Proclaiming The Good News, Proclaiming The Gospel, Reaching The Unreached, Sent By God, Sent by Jesus, Sent Out by The Holy Spirit, Spiritual Darkness, Spiritual Disciplines, Suffering For The Gospel, Supporting Missionaries, The Body of Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worshipping Jesus
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Audio – Part A: 23 min
Audio – Part B: 21 min
Audio – Full message:
Bible Verses: Acts 13:1-3, Acts 14:8-28
Introduction:
God sent out some of the first missionaries through His Church. These missionaries were committed to following Jesus wherever He led them, even if that meant facing opposition to and suffering for the gospel message they proclaimed. God used these missionaries not only to bring others into His family but also to strengthen and encourage the church itself as they saw God at work.
Theological Theme:
God’s kingdom expands through mission to the unreached.
Christ Connection:
Jesus told His disciples that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church. This image helps us see God’s people as “on offense,” taking the powerful and good news of Jesus to places of deep spiritual darkness with full confidence that Jesus will build His church.
Missional Application:
God-Father-Son-and-Spirit calls His Church to send and support missionaries to those who have never heard the gospel.
Photo Compliments YouTube
Jesus The Savior Is Crucified!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, 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, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., 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, Trinity, Uncategorized, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Atonement, Death of Jesus, Faith, God Crucified, God The Father's Love, God's Atonement, God's Costly Grace, God's Grace, God's Humility, God's Judgment, God's love, Hope, Jesus Crucified, Jesus The Crucified King, Jesus' Costly Sacrifice, Jesus' Cross, Jesus' Death, Jesus' Death On The Cross, Jesus' Love, Jesus' Obedience, Jesus' Suffering, Love, Matthew 27:11-51, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Putting Death To Death, Reconciliation with God, Salvation, Salvation of Sinners, Substitution, Taking Up Your Cross, The Judgment of God, The Love of God, Unjust Death
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Audio – Part 1a: 20 min
Audio – Part 1b: 21 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Matthew 27:11-51
The crucifixion of Jesus was brutal and unjust, and yet, He willingly laid His life down in obedience to the Father and for the salvation of sinners. As the substitute sacrifice, Jesus died in our place and on our behalf. As the crucified King, He demonstrated the true wisdom and power of God. And as the forsaken Son, He endured the punishment of our sin, absorbing all of our transgressions and putting them to death so we could become the righteousness of God in Him.
Theological Theme:
Jesus is the King who willingly took upon Himself the judgment for sin.
Christ Connection:
Unjustly condemned to death, Jesus willingly took up His cross and suffered the judgment our sins deserve. At the moment He died, the curtain in the temple sanctuary was torn in two, signifying the truth that sinners have access to God through the blood of Christ. The crucifixion of Jesus is the center of history, revealing God’s holiness and justice, our sinfulness and unrighteousness, and Christ’s humility and love.
Christ Our Substitute “At the heart of the atonement is Jesus Christ substituting Himself for sinners as He died on the cross. This truth is seen against the backdrop of the Old Testament sacrificial system, which provided a picture of humanity’s need for sin to be covered and guilt to be removed by an innocent sacrifice. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with humankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of humanity from sin.” – The Gospel Project
Missional Application:
God the Father calls us to proclaim by the Spirit not only that Jesus died on the cross but also why He died and what it reveals about the Father’s heart and his going to the uttermost that we might be saved and participate in his love!
“He lost his own life in order to gain life for all; he preferred to be conquered in himself in order to be the victor in everyone.” – Maximus of Turin (circa 380-465)
Photo Compliments: media.istockphoto.com
Jesus Demonstrates The Way Through Human Suffering!
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, 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, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Accepting God's Will, Facing death, Facing False Accusations, Facing Lies, Facing Mockery, Facing Physical Abuse, Faith, Following God, God's Will, Grace, How to Embrace Suffering, How to Pray, Identity with Jesus, inspiration, Jesus in Gethsemane, Love, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Obeying God, Obeying God's Will, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Prayer, Resisting Temptation, Submitting to God's Will, Suffering, Suffering of God, Sufferings of Christ, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Union with Christ
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Audio – Part 1a: 27 min
Audio – Part 1b: 26 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Matthew 26:31-68
Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, chose to obey His Father and drink the full cup of suffering and wrath in order to purchase eternal life for believers. Even though He would be betrayed and endure false accusations, mockery, physical abuse, and death, Jesus accepted the foretold plan of His Father and fulfilled His identity as the promised Messiah sent as the Savior of the world.
Theological Theme:
Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man, sent by His Father to Be God for Man, and to be Man for God, being God’s Judgment on our sin.
Christ Connection:
In the garden of Eden, Adam failed to resist the serpent and chose instead to follow His way over God’s. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus, the second Adam, submitted fully to His Father’s purpose and plan. He willingly submitted to death upon the cross. Jesus demonstrated His identity as the Son of God through both His words and actions as He was betrayed, arrested, and put on trial.
“By saying then, ‘If it be possible, let it pass from me,’ he showed his true humanity. But by saying, ‘Nevertheless not as I will, but as you will,’ he showed his virtue and self-command. This too teaches us, even when nature pulls us back, to follow God.” –John Chrysostom (circa 347-407)
Missional Application:
God the Father calls us to embrace suffering willingly as we participate in the Life of His Son, our Savior, whose mission was to seek and save the lost, in the Spirit.
“All the oracles of God, all the scriptures both of the Old Testament and the New, describe so many scenes of divine providence…Those who bear this on their minds will easily perceive that the inspired writers never lose sight of it but preserve one unbroken, connected chain from the beginning to the end. All over that wonderful Book as life and immortality (immortal life) is gradually brought to light so is Immanuel, God with us, and His kingdom ruling over all.” 8 –John Wesley (1703-1791)
Photo Compliments: i1.wp.com
Jesus Christ Transforms Our Fallen Expectations!
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Children's Ministry, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, identity in Christ, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., 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, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Coming of Jesus, Coming of the Lord, Faith, Hope, Humility of God, Humility of Jesus, Jesus cleansing the temple, Love of God, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Praise, Praise of Children, redemption, Restoration to God, Transformed Expectations, True Worship, Worship, Worshipping Jesus
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Audio – Part 1a: 34 min
Audio – Part 1b: 34 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Matthew 21:1-21
Matthew 21 contains three scenes that occurred on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem during the week prior to His crucifixion. Jesus’ entry into the city was welcomed with great fanfare, even though He approached in humility while sitting on a donkey. He cleansed the temple of those there to take advantage of the worshipers. And as the true Son of David, He permitted and welcomed the praise of children. In these events, Jesus fulfilled Old Testament expectations and longings for the Messiah, who would redeem His people, restore true worship, and receive all praise.
Theological Theme:
Jesus is the Messiah who cleanses the temple and welcomes the unworthy into God’s presence.
Christ Connection:
By entering Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy about the coming Messiah. Through His actions in the temple, Jesus conveyed His judgment toward those who would misuse God’s house for exclusionary and greedy purposes. For the sins of His people, Jesus offered His own body as a temple to be destroyed and then raised again.
“Only the redeeming, all-powerful, transforming grace of God can raise our sin-besotted heart from the dead, give us eternal life, and set our gaze on Jesus, our blessed hope.” –Gloria Furman
Missional Application:
God calls us to put away hypocritical and hollow worship and to exalt Jesus as Savior of the world.
“Let his coming in the name of the Lord be mentioned with strong affections, to our comfort, and joyful acclamations, to his glory. Well may we say, Blessed is he; for it is in him that we are blessed. Well may we follow him with our blessings, who meets us with his.” – Matthew Henry (1662-1714)
Photo Compliments: img0.etsystatic.com
Jesus, The Christ, Raises Lazarus From Death!
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, God Father Son and Spirit, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation with Christ, relationship with God, Sermons, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, Timothy Brassell, Uncategorized, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God | Tags: Faith, Glorifying God In Suffering, God Heals, God's Compassion, God's Delays, God's glory, God's Power, God's Timing, healing, Hope, Jesus Healing Lazarus, Jesus Raises The Dead, John 11, Lazarus, Life after death, Love, Miracles, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Physical Resurrection, Power Over Death, Resurrection, Resurrection of Lazarus, sickness, Spiritual Resurrection, The Curse of Death, Trusting God
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Audio – Part 1a: 36 min
Audio – Part 1b: 36 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Mark 2:1-12
Jesus demonstrated His power over death by raising his friend, Lazarus, from the dead. This miracle story reveals the goodness and sovereignty of God, the curse of death and the power of resurrection, as well as Christ’s compassion toward those in pain. As we trust in Jesus—our powerful Friend who conquers death—we bring glory to Him in the midst of terrible circumstances.
Theological Theme:
The Son of God grieves the reality of death and overturns its power.
“A quaint Puritan writer said that if Jesus had not named Lazarus when He shouted, He would have emptied the whole cemetery!” 9 –Warren W. Wiersbe
Christ Connection:
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He showed that He has power over death. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have full assurance that Jesus will one day defeat death forever and resurrect us from the dead.
“He leads her [Mary] to the knowledge of higher truths. Even though she had been inquiring only about the resurrection of Lazarus, he tells her of a resurrection in which both she and those with her would share.” 5 –John Chrysostom (circa 347-407)
Missional Application:
God calls us to glorify Him in sickness and death, trusting in His power to raise us from the dead.
“Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ sickness or even healed it from where he was; but he chose not to. He saw in this sickness an opportunity to glorify the Father. It is not important that we Christians are comfortable, but it is important that we glorify God in all that we do.” 3 –Warren W. Wiersbe
Photo Compliments: i.pinimg.com
Trinity and Humanity 
