http://bible.com/events/48743010

Redeemed and Restored

Pastor Kerry Willis brings the word from Mark 2:1-12

[1] Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum and the news of His arrival spread quickly through the town. [2] Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn’t room for one more person, not even outside the door. [3] Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. [4] They couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above His head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. [5] Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.“ [6] But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there said to themselves, [7] “What? This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins!” [8] Jesus knew what they were discussing among themselves, so He said to them, “Why do you think this is blasphemy? [9] Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? [10] I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, [11] “Stand up, take your mat, and go on home because you are healed!” [12] The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers. Then they all praised God. “We’ve never seen anything like this before!“ they exclaimed.

Capernaum was the town where Jesus set up His Galilee ministry. It was His new “hometown.” 

The faith of the 4 friends pleased God the Son. (Note Hebrews 11:6 — “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”)

The doctrine of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark is recorded in Mark 10:45, Jesus speaking: “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served, but to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

Will we be friends, even in these days, with a fervent faith that will focus on bringing our lost and “paralyzed friends” to encounter the Savior and Healer, Jesus Christ? 

Do we have faith to begin bringing our friends back to church — to our Jesus gatherings?

http://bible.com/events/48740911

Sorry I didn’t send these along earlier in the week. See you in the morning! 

Burning Questions: I’m a Christian but I still sin…what’s wrong with me?

When Jesus sees your sin, He doesn’t condemn you; He says, “I can help with that.”

Week 1:Would a loving God really send someone to Hell?

Week 2:Do you actually believe the Bible is true?

Today’s question: I’m a Christian but I still sin…what’s wrong with me?

Why this question?-We are ALL sinners. We talked about that in the first week of the series, and it’s true. The Bible says, each and every one of us sins.-The good news is, through Jesus, we can be forgiven. But even after we are forgiven, struggling with sin makes many believers doubt…doubt themselves or even doubt God.-Some question whether they are really a Christian, others may feel constant guilt and shame that God is disappointed, even angry with them.-We must understand clearly what the Bible says about this question so we can experience victory and joy in our lives.

So what do we do when we sin? How do you face your own sin?

That’s really the important question we must answer.

1 John 1:8-9NIV

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Here we see an incredible promise with a condition.-What is our part? “If we confess our sins” (verse 9)-What is the promise? He forgives!-There is one more part to the promise: he longs to purify us from all unrighteousness.

“I’m a Christian but I still sin…what’s wrong with me?”-The answer is “NOTHING.” There’s nothing wrong with you.-Here’s what WOULD be wrong: to entertain sin, to dabble in it, to accept it as “normal” or to believe that God winks at it. Living this way would be to make grace cheap.

Bottom Line:When Jesus sees your sin, He doesn’t condemn you;He says, “I can help with that.”

As believers in Christ, we desire to expose the sin in our lives. We do not desire to hide it or explain it away.We desire to be brave enough to share our struggles with someone else.And most importantly, bringing it to the Lord.

Romans 2:4NIV

4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Romans 8:1NIV

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Burning Questions:

I am a Christian but i still sin…what’s wrong with me?

Words matter, we all know that. But we also recognize words can mean slightly different things to each one of us.
To un-pack our question today we will look at what we mean when we say “Christian” and “sin”.

To begin, what do we mean when we say “I am a Christian”?
What do you think you know about someone that tells you they are a Christian?
How would you define what it means to be a Christian?

For our understanding today, we need to see being a Christian, as being in a personal, intimate, genuine relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.

This relationship changes everything!

Being a Christian means…
We live Transformed lives 
“Whoever claims to live in Him must life as Jesus did”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:3-6‬‬
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Being a Christian means…
Transformed relationships with others

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:9-10‬‬
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.

Being a Christian means…
A renewed outlook on the world.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15-17‬‬
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

What do we mean by “sin”?

Greek- Hamartia- To fall short, to miss the mark.

“Sin is not only wrong doing, it is wrong being” N. T. Wright

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:8‬‬
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

“The great swindle of shame is what keeps us away from what we so desperately need, what we long for in our heart of hearts. Forgiveness and reconciliation with Christ”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:4-6‬‬
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

We cannot with sincerity say that we are serious about our relationship with Christ, while freely choosing to sin.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬‬
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Not only does God forgive us, but scripture also says he desires to purify, to cleanse our hearts from that sinful nature that causes us to betray him.

So, I am a christian and i still sin…Whats wrong with me?
– There is nothing wrong with you, that is not wrong in every single person. A sinful nature.
– By Grace through Faith in Christ, He longs to forgive you and to cleanse your heart from the nature of sin.