Note: This is from a sermon I heard at the Greater Reno church of Christ on July 19, 2009:
Hebrews 10:19-31
-We must continue to spur one another on.
vv.23-25
-In order to draw near to God, we must "clean out our stalls"(using the analogy of a horse stable). In other words, we must open up about our sins and repent.
Hebrews 1:3-6
-Do We have a worldly view of Jesus? Do we view Him as a "Mister Rogers" type or someone who He expects to hold to His teachings (John 8:31-32)
Hebrews 4:15-26
-Jesus was tempted in every way during His earthly ministry, so we aren't immune to sin either.
-What sins are holding you powerless?
Ephesians 2:10
-We were created to be spurned for good works.
-God has to break us (allow the Spirit to control us) in order for Him to lead us (using the analogy of horse training).
Hebrews 10:26-31
-Realize the consequences of deliberate and unrepentant sin.
-We all must seek help and allow God to work through us.
Comment: I would like top thank the Greater Reno Church for putting together a worthwhile and thought provoking service. In the meantime, if I do not get open, sin will mount up and it will cause me to lose my faith.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
You Can't; God can; We Will!
Note: This is a sermon delivered by Don Splitt on July 5, 2009. Don is a potential canidate for a ministry position in the Sacramento Church.
Judges 6:1-6
-Do you tend to drift away from God upon Him giving you a great victory?
-When you ask for God's help, do you cry out to Him?
vv.7-21
-Do you really believe that Go is with you regardless of dire circumstances?
-Do you realize circumstances worsen when you are not close to God?
-Do you use your weaknessws as an excuse to not do God's will or will you allow Him to work with the strength you have?
Bottom Line: Quit waiting for the right circumstances to be great!
Judges 7:1ff
-God gives us challenges to show us that He is the reeason for our victory.
Luke 24:49
-Remember the power of the Holy Spirit in you life.
John 12:23-26
Will you continue to give up your life to produce friut?
I Corinthians 3:5-9
Remember, we are fellow workers with God; everyone must do our part in spreading the Gospel.
Comment: I would like to thank Don and Jennifer Splitt for spending Independence Day Weekend with the Sacramento Church and especially the Campus and Singles Ministries. This lesson is a reminder that we must remain close to God in order to grow and draw people to Him. If it is His will for the Splitts to join our staff, pray that God can use them powerfully to help bring hope in the Sacramento Region through Christ Jesus.
Judges 6:1-6
-Do you tend to drift away from God upon Him giving you a great victory?
-When you ask for God's help, do you cry out to Him?
vv.7-21
-Do you really believe that Go is with you regardless of dire circumstances?
-Do you realize circumstances worsen when you are not close to God?
-Do you use your weaknessws as an excuse to not do God's will or will you allow Him to work with the strength you have?
Bottom Line: Quit waiting for the right circumstances to be great!
Judges 7:1ff
-God gives us challenges to show us that He is the reeason for our victory.
Luke 24:49
-Remember the power of the Holy Spirit in you life.
John 12:23-26
Will you continue to give up your life to produce friut?
I Corinthians 3:5-9
Remember, we are fellow workers with God; everyone must do our part in spreading the Gospel.
Comment: I would like to thank Don and Jennifer Splitt for spending Independence Day Weekend with the Sacramento Church and especially the Campus and Singles Ministries. This lesson is a reminder that we must remain close to God in order to grow and draw people to Him. If it is His will for the Splitts to join our staff, pray that God can use them powerfully to help bring hope in the Sacramento Region through Christ Jesus.
Monday, June 15, 2009
A New Day is Dawning
Note: This is from a sermon delivered by Drew Nitchoff to the Sacramento Church on June 14, 2009:
I. The Call to Follow Jesus
-Mark 1:16-20-Jesus call us to follow Him (relationship is we are His students [disciples]).
-Hebrews 12:12-We must fix our eyes on Him.
-Luke 9:18-27-Do we really deny ourselves and carry the cross as He expects us to do?
-Matthew 16:21-28-Revival cannot happen unless we're willing to follow Jesus. (Question: Do you follow Jesus?)
II. The Call to Radical Change
-Matthew 6:24-34-Which Master do you love? Hate?
-What do you run after (vv.32)? Happiness? Comfort? Status? Material gain?
-Do you continue to seek the Kingdom (vv. 33-34)?
-James 4:1-4- Worldliness makes us enemies of God!
-James 1:22-2:11-Do you (as believers) have genuine faith in Christ?
-Matthew 18:1-4; It takes humility, faith and action for radical change.
-Isaiah 58:8- We all need revival in our lives.
Comment: This is tough to swallow, but it is Sculptural . In order for me to change, I must make radical decisions based on the Word.
I. The Call to Follow Jesus
-Mark 1:16-20-Jesus call us to follow Him (relationship is we are His students [disciples]).
-Hebrews 12:12-We must fix our eyes on Him.
-Luke 9:18-27-Do we really deny ourselves and carry the cross as He expects us to do?
-Matthew 16:21-28-Revival cannot happen unless we're willing to follow Jesus. (Question: Do you follow Jesus?)
II. The Call to Radical Change
-Matthew 6:24-34-Which Master do you love? Hate?
-What do you run after (vv.32)? Happiness? Comfort? Status? Material gain?
-Do you continue to seek the Kingdom (vv. 33-34)?
-James 4:1-4- Worldliness makes us enemies of God!
-James 1:22-2:11-Do you (as believers) have genuine faith in Christ?
-Matthew 18:1-4; It takes humility, faith and action for radical change.
-Isaiah 58:8- We all need revival in our lives.
Comment: This is tough to swallow, but it is Sculptural . In order for me to change, I must make radical decisions based on the Word.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Training is the key
"You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine." -Titus 2:1 NIV
The Pastoral Letters in the New Testament gives us practiclas on how to be an effective leader in the Lord's church. Titus, a protege of the Apostle Paul and a partner in the gospel, was instructed how tro train and raise up new leaders. The foundation of such training is teaching the correct doctrine, which is to say to not distort the Truth about Christ.
In verses 2 through 11, Paul instructs Titus to teach believers about specific areas in their character. Verses 3 through 5 are especially eye-opening, because Titus is instructed to not only work with the womwn of the church, but in teurn train them to teach other women about specific needs of the home (specifically, how these women can be better wives and mothers). In the past it is interpreted to men that the men in the church lead the women lead the women. However, if you look closely, this passage has nothing to do with leadership, but training and meeting specific needs. While each individual Christian has different area of their character to deal with, the Point to Paul's instruction to titus is to train other believers and facilitate spirtual growth.
Training is the key to growth. It all starts with proper teaching of the Word and our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Pastoral Letters in the New Testament gives us practiclas on how to be an effective leader in the Lord's church. Titus, a protege of the Apostle Paul and a partner in the gospel, was instructed how tro train and raise up new leaders. The foundation of such training is teaching the correct doctrine, which is to say to not distort the Truth about Christ.
In verses 2 through 11, Paul instructs Titus to teach believers about specific areas in their character. Verses 3 through 5 are especially eye-opening, because Titus is instructed to not only work with the womwn of the church, but in teurn train them to teach other women about specific needs of the home (specifically, how these women can be better wives and mothers). In the past it is interpreted to men that the men in the church lead the women lead the women. However, if you look closely, this passage has nothing to do with leadership, but training and meeting specific needs. While each individual Christian has different area of their character to deal with, the Point to Paul's instruction to titus is to train other believers and facilitate spirtual growth.
Training is the key to growth. It all starts with proper teaching of the Word and our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Glory Days
Note: this is an outline of a sermon delivered by Don Split of the San Diego church of Christ to the Sacramento Church on May 3, 2009:
Nehemiah 4: 1-5
-Is the church where you want it to be?
-Are your glory days ahead of you or behind you?
-Are you weeping or rejoicing?
There is NO deadness in God; it is time to build a new wall! It is time to thrive and not merely exist!
John 12:23-34
-Do you want to be one seed or many?
-Are you "sold out" for God?
II Peter 1:5-11
-Progress, NOT perfection! (it is all about spiritual growth).
-Examples: digging deeper in the Word, intimate prayer, sharing the gospel with new people, etc.
-Time to move on from the hurts of the past and make progress!
II Corinthians 4:16
-Focus on the unseen.
-Believe God has a lot in store for you and His church.
Personal thoughts: In the wake of the continual recovery from the hurts of the past, we as believers need to move forward. It is not only for the sake of our own salvation, but to touch people's lives through Jesus Christ. It all starts from reading the Scriptures daily, prayer, and devotion to one another (Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:23-25). Growth starts NOW!
Nehemiah 4: 1-5
-Is the church where you want it to be?
-Are your glory days ahead of you or behind you?
-Are you weeping or rejoicing?
There is NO deadness in God; it is time to build a new wall! It is time to thrive and not merely exist!
John 12:23-34
-Do you want to be one seed or many?
-Are you "sold out" for God?
II Peter 1:5-11
-Progress, NOT perfection! (it is all about spiritual growth).
-Examples: digging deeper in the Word, intimate prayer, sharing the gospel with new people, etc.
-Time to move on from the hurts of the past and make progress!
II Corinthians 4:16
-Focus on the unseen.
-Believe God has a lot in store for you and His church.
Personal thoughts: In the wake of the continual recovery from the hurts of the past, we as believers need to move forward. It is not only for the sake of our own salvation, but to touch people's lives through Jesus Christ. It all starts from reading the Scriptures daily, prayer, and devotion to one another (Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:23-25). Growth starts NOW!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Hearing what you need to hear (not what you want to hear).
This is an outline of a lesson I gave on March 27, 2009 to the Sacramento church's Campus Ministry:
1. 2 Timothy 4:1-5
-Many will rather hear a lie to make themselves feel good than the truth to make them feel uneasy (and eventually change for the better).
2. Jeremiah 27-28
-God warns His people about trouble ahead (and assures them that He will deliver them).
-There are dire consequences for lying to people in His Name. A distorted report on His truth will actually cause more harm in the long run.
3. John 8:31-32
-The truth will set us free for those who believe it. It may be hard at first, but it will draw us closer to God (and even save our soul).
Simply put it: listen to the truth!
1. 2 Timothy 4:1-5
-Many will rather hear a lie to make themselves feel good than the truth to make them feel uneasy (and eventually change for the better).
2. Jeremiah 27-28
-God warns His people about trouble ahead (and assures them that He will deliver them).
-There are dire consequences for lying to people in His Name. A distorted report on His truth will actually cause more harm in the long run.
3. John 8:31-32
-The truth will set us free for those who believe it. It may be hard at first, but it will draw us closer to God (and even save our soul).
Simply put it: listen to the truth!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Excuse Making
This is an outline from a sermon I preached to the Campus Ministry of the Sacramento Church on March 20, 2009:
I. Jeremiah 20:7-18, Ezekiel 33: 1ff
-Do not allow the lack of (positive) response from others be an excuse to challenge poeple to
obey God. Ultimately, if you fail to point out sin, it will be your responsibility as well as the
offenders.
II. Judges 6:1ff (Gideon)
-Do not allow status to be an excuse for not allowing God to work powerfully through you.
-Just as Gideon was called by God to deliver the Isrealites from Midian despite his low staus,
all of us are called to serve Him regardless of ou status (whether high or low).
III. John 5:1-8
-Do not make the excuse of circumstance to disobey God.
-The man at Bethesda was told by Jesus to simply get up!
-Jesus told all of us to get up and follow Him, but why allow ailments and tough
circumstances to prevent us from answering His call?
IV. Anectdotes
- My personal backgound and negative attitude (especially after being burned in a fire)
- Learned how to turn negativity to service to the Lord's Church (i.e. this blog).
Challenge: There is no excuse for all of us as believers to ignore the will of God.
I. Jeremiah 20:7-18, Ezekiel 33: 1ff
-Do not allow the lack of (positive) response from others be an excuse to challenge poeple to
obey God. Ultimately, if you fail to point out sin, it will be your responsibility as well as the
offenders.
II. Judges 6:1ff (Gideon)
-Do not allow status to be an excuse for not allowing God to work powerfully through you.
-Just as Gideon was called by God to deliver the Isrealites from Midian despite his low staus,
all of us are called to serve Him regardless of ou status (whether high or low).
III. John 5:1-8
-Do not make the excuse of circumstance to disobey God.
-The man at Bethesda was told by Jesus to simply get up!
-Jesus told all of us to get up and follow Him, but why allow ailments and tough
circumstances to prevent us from answering His call?
IV. Anectdotes
- My personal backgound and negative attitude (especially after being burned in a fire)
- Learned how to turn negativity to service to the Lord's Church (i.e. this blog).
Challenge: There is no excuse for all of us as believers to ignore the will of God.
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