Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ!
Panel Discussion on the hurdles of our culture
““Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””Matthew 22:36-40 NIV
https://www.bible.com/events/49575323
Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus
Hurdles Part 2
A little dance with darkness…
We are continuing in our 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”.
Throughout this series we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ.
Today we are talking about the hurdle of “little sins”.
It can be easy for us to think that the smaller consequences of some sin, means they are not that big of a deal. But that’s not a biblical view of sin. In fact, the bible knows nothing of “little sins”. The bible says that all sin is serious and it is always a hurdle in our relationship with Jesus.
Sin shows up in the human story in chapter 3 of Genesis.
In Genesis 1 and 2, God has created all things. All of creation and the cosmos, the land, the sea, and everything in them. He has created Adam and Eve, male and female, in his image. God has given them an identity, a calling and purpose for their lives. They are his co-agents, in creation, they enjoy perfect intimacy together.
This is God’s vision for humanity- for your life and mine. That hasn’t changed.
In this relationship, God gives them a choice. For a relationship to be loving, for it to be real intimacy, there has to be choice. Without a choice, Adam and Eve would have been God’s Robots, not sons and daughters.
So God has given them unlimited freedom with only one rule, one choice to obey him.
The devil comes into the story as a snake, and he goes after Eve at the point of this choice. He convinces her that God is holding out on them, that he cant be trusted.
Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Sin enters our story.
Sin wasn’t just the eating of a forbidden fruit, the breaking of a rule. It was the failure to be fully human as God intended. It was a fracture of trust and relationship with God, it was outside of his planned design for their lives. Friends that’s sin.
In the Old Testament Hebrew Language, the word for sin is Khata (Ha-tah). In the New Testament Greek the word is Hamartia. Both words carry the same idea of missing the mark, or a failure to make the goal, or coming up short.
The bible pictures sin as a failure to live into our calling as image bearers of God, a coming up short of our truest calling as his sons and daughters.
Genesis 3:8-9
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
We choose sin, it continually separates us from relationship with God and distorts our lives. God in his mercy and grace continually comes after us, inviting us to turn away from our sin and into right relationship with him.
To be transformed, to be healed, and remade into the design he has for our lives and our flourishing.
And the healing and renewal is a critical part of God’s mercy because sin, according to the bible, is not just wrong actions, a list of rules broken. Sin has distorted our humanity- it’s a nature, a drive within us. Sin is part of our nature now as a result of Genesis 3.
Romans 8:7
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
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.
The Good news for us today, is that Jesus came to deal with both. The guilt of our wrong actions, and the corruption and impurity of our heart.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Dealing with sin on our own seems hopelessly impossible, and to be honest, it pretty much is. But God does not expect us to deal with it alone, he invites us to surrender out life to him, including our sin, and allow him to come into our lives and make us new.
To literally restore and renew his image witin us, that we wouldn’t even desire sin anymore.
That’s the hope today friends- that’s the invitation.
1 John 1:5-9
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we will confess our sins- that is we agree with the Lord that what we are doing is wrong, that it is sin and falling short of who he has called us to be, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purity us from all unrighteousness.
Are you ready to clear the hurdle of sin in your life? Walk in the light, as he is in the light.
HURDLE DEFINED
READY FIRE AIM
PUT YOUR BOAT IN WATER- NO PLUG IN IT
HOSE IN YOUR GAS TANK GO PULL AWAY
Putting sanctification before salvation (justification)-SPIN WHEELS
SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:22
22. THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GIVEN THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE.
SCRIPTURE 3:23
23. FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:24
24. AND ALL ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME BY CHRIST JESUS. (JUST AS IF I NEVER SINNED)
SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:25
25. GOD PRESENTED CHRIST AS A SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT, THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD-TO BE RECEIVED BY FAITH
SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:25
25. HE DID THIS TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS FORBEARANCE HE HAD LEFT THE SINS COMMITTED BEFOREHAND UNPUNISHED.
SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:26
26. HE DID IT TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AT THE PRESENT TIME.
SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:26
26. SO AS TO BE JUST AND THE ONE WHO JUSTIFIES THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN JESUS.
SLIDE 12: SIN
WILLFUL VIOLATION TO THE KNOWN LAW OF GOD
YOU ATTEND CHURCH – READ SOME SCRIPTURE
KNOW SOME OF THE SONGS – TOOK COMMUNION
NOT BECAUSE WE WERE BAPTIZED
HAVE YOU REPENTED OF YOUR SINS?
SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH-
GRACE CALLS US TO REPENANCE, WHICH IS MORE THAN SIMPLY BEING SORRY FOR OUR SIN, BUT TURNING AWAY FROM OUR SIN. TURNING FROM OURSELVES TOWARD GOD. WHEN WE RESPOND TO GODS GRACE WE ARE ABLE TO REPENT AND BELIEVE.
ROY: FORMER CHURCH
SO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO LIVE A LIFE LIKE JESUS
HAD HE GENUINELY REPENTED OF ANYTHING?
I ALSO WONDERED IF HE HAS BEEN SAVED- HAS HE EXPERIENCED ANY REAL LIFE CHANGE
SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 4:17
17. “FROM THEN ON JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH, “REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND TURN TO GOD, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.”
JAREDS STATEMENT ON REPENTANCE- DIDN’T MEAN IT
SCRIPTURE 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 UNRIGHTEOUSNES
SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21
21. GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21.
21. FOR GOD TOOK THE SINLESS CHRIST AND POURED INTO HIM OUR SINS. THEN IN EXCHANGE, HE POURED GODS GOODNESS INTO US.”
STATEMENT ON SALVATION
SALVATION IS A THRESHOLD SO LOW ANYONE CAN COME ACROSS IT
STATEMENT ON SALVATION
BUT ITS SO HIGH NO ONE CAN CLIMB IT
SALVATION IS A GIFT- SAVED BY GRACE- FAITH
COACH BILL MCARTNEY
JAMES RYLE
PROMISE KEEPERS
MACHINE
POSSIBLE TO LOOK LIKE A GRAPE AND NOT BE ATTACHED
JUSTIFICATION
IS THE FREEDOM FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN
SANCTIFICATION
IS THE FREDEDOM FROM THE POWER OF SIN
GLORIFICATION
IS THE FREEDOM FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN
SANCTIFICATION– A SCRIPTURE FROM PAUL
SCRIPTURE 1 THESALONIANS 5:23
23. “MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH.” (PARTIALLY)
SCRIPTURE 1 THESSALONIANS 5:23
23. MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY BE KEPT BLAMELESS AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
SCRIPTURE 1 THESSALONIANS 5:24
24. THE ONE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL, HE WILL DO IT.
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
BRENNAN MANNING- CATHOLIC PRIEST- RETREAT
ROMANS 7:25
SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND ME WHEN YOU SEEK
COMMUNION
DO YOU BELIEVE TODAY JESUS DIED ON A CROSS FOR YOUR SINS THAT SOMEHOW THAT HAPPENED FOR YOU- IF SO THEN DECLARE IT TODAY
SCRIPTURE ROMANS 10:9
9. “IF YOU DECLARE WITH YOUR MOUTH, “JESUS IS LORD, AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED.
SCRIPTURE ROMANS 10:10
10. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU PROFESS YOUR FAITH AND ARE SAVED.
WHAT IS NECASSARY
BELIEVE IN JESUS ENOUGH TO FOLLOW HIM
HOLINESS IS INSTANTANEOUS AND ALSO PROGRESSIVE
REPENTANCE IS NOT A ONCE AND DONE- ITS AN ENTRANCE
SURRENDER ISN’T A ONE AND DONE EVENT
PAUL SAID I DIE DAILY
MAKING A DECISION TO STAY AN ARTIST OR ANSWER CALL
MENTORED BILLY GRAHAM
1 All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
SOME TO JESUS I SURRENDUR
SOME TO HIM I BEGRDUGINLY GIVE
2 All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
SOME OF US NEED TO JUST REPENT AND BE SAVED
SOME OF US NOT TO SURRENDER AFRESH AND NEW
WE NEED A NEW FILLING
WE DON’T GET A PIECE OF GOD-
HE GETS ALL OF US
https://www.bible.com/events/49571732
Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus
Hurdles Part 1
Ready. Fire. Aim
We are starting a new 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”.
Over the next few weeks, we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ.
Today we are talking about the hurdle of having things out of order in our approach to relationship with Jesus.
This can happen when we commit to trying to be a better person, to attending church, to doing all those good things, without ever first committing ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior.
Certainly the bible teaches that we need to live a good and moral life, but that commitment to good works is not what saves us.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
The life and salvation that Jesus came to offer, does not come by our efforts, our attempts to be a good person and help other people or any other good work.
It comes by grace, through faith, believing in the person of Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9-10
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
When we believe good works are what saves us, we are trusting in what we can do.
Whereas when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are trusting what he has done.
When we believe in Him, in his life, death, and resurrection, we are what the bible calls justified. That means that every sin, every wrong thing we have ever done, said, or thought, is wiped clean.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
When we place our faith in Jesus, turn away from our sin and place our faith in him. We are made new. The life of Christ is birthed within us by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
We are justified, regenerated, and adopted into the family of God, all by grace through faith. Those are things that our good works simply can not earn us.
So let me ask you, is this what you are experiencing?
Can you identify a time and place in your life where something so dramatic changed that you would have to use words like “Born again” or “new creation” or “adoption into a new family” to describe it?
This is way beyond a question of do you go to church? Are you a nice person? Do you help other people? Or even if you pray and read the bible sometimes. All of those are great and even necessary things, in the right order.
But if we get the cart before the horse in thinking those things come first, or even if we think that’s all there is to being a Christian. We are going to live a pretty frustrating and unfulfilling life.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Today is the day of your salvation. Today is the day to get your spiritual life in order, to know that it is by faith in the person of Jesus that you are saved.
Today is the day to repent, to have a distinct and definite change in your life in regard to sin.
Today is the day to be made new!
“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!””
Mark 10:17-23
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:20-22, 27-28
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 3:23