Daniel 3: “The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace”
Daniel 6: “Daniel in the Den of Lions”
Joshua 5:13-6 “The Fall of Jericho”
Bottom line: Believe in your God. Period.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
081026: The Discipline of Daily Communion with God
Sermon by Pastor Don Willeman
Luke 24:44-49 "Jesus Appears to the Disciples"
- experience vs. genuine education
- Spiritual Discipline does not bring about moral righteousness
- Spiritual Discipline contains details of the rules Christians abide by
2 Timothy 3 "Godlesness in the Last Day"
How Christians should carry out personal communion with God:
1. Read the Bible for ourselves
2. Read it under historical and cultural context; mine it for its trans-cultural truth
3. Read it amongst a community
4. Read it in its redemptive context--ask "Where's Jesus?"
There is no such thing as a lone-ranger Christian. All Christians need to be remain in check by other Christians, in the community of Christians.
The Bible is not "just" about morality. It is about Jesus and His sacrifice for His Kingdom.
Luke 24:44-49 "Jesus Appears to the Disciples"
- experience vs. genuine education
- Spiritual Discipline does not bring about moral righteousness
- Spiritual Discipline contains details of the rules Christians abide by
2 Timothy 3 "Godlesness in the Last Day"
How Christians should carry out personal communion with God:
1. Read the Bible for ourselves
2. Read it under historical and cultural context; mine it for its trans-cultural truth
3. Read it amongst a community
4. Read it in its redemptive context--ask "Where's Jesus?"
There is no such thing as a lone-ranger Christian. All Christians need to be remain in check by other Christians, in the community of Christians.
The Bible is not "just" about morality. It is about Jesus and His sacrifice for His Kingdom.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
081019: The Discipline of Hearing the Gospel
by Pastor Don Willeman
Mark 4:1-20 "The Parable of the Sower"
- Jesus: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
- Jesus: "The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
In this story, there are 4 types of "listeners"--which one are you?
Mark 4:1-20 "The Parable of the Sower"
- Jesus: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
- Jesus: "The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
In this story, there are 4 types of "listeners"--which one are you?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
081015: The Cost of Being a Disciple
Luke 14:25-34 “The Cost of Being a Disciple”
- Jesus: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate (Matthew 10:34-40) his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
John 1:35-50 “Jesus’ First Disciples”
Mark 1:14-20 “The Calling of the First Disciples”
- Men leave everything behind to follow Jesus (leave family and job behind to follow Jesus)
Matthew 8:18-22 “The Cost of Following Jesus”
- Jesus: “Let the dead bury their own dead.”
Acts 7:54-8:1 “The Stoning of Stephen”
- Christians may be punished for their beliefs
John 3:1-22 “Jesus Teaches Nicodemus”
- Jesus: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
- Born again: born first of flesh, born again of spirit (1 Peter 1:22-25)
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no gods before me.”
Matthew 22:34-40 “The Greatest Commandment”
- Jesus: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…”
Matthew 10:34-40
- Jesus: “For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household…”
Summary:
The Cost is death of old self and possibly the loss of family ties, past friends, work…
- Jesus: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate (Matthew 10:34-40) his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
John 1:35-50 “Jesus’ First Disciples”
Mark 1:14-20 “The Calling of the First Disciples”
- Men leave everything behind to follow Jesus (leave family and job behind to follow Jesus)
Matthew 8:18-22 “The Cost of Following Jesus”
- Jesus: “Let the dead bury their own dead.”
Acts 7:54-8:1 “The Stoning of Stephen”
- Christians may be punished for their beliefs
John 3:1-22 “Jesus Teaches Nicodemus”
- Jesus: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
- Born again: born first of flesh, born again of spirit (1 Peter 1:22-25)
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no gods before me.”
Matthew 22:34-40 “The Greatest Commandment”
- Jesus: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…”
Matthew 10:34-40
- Jesus: “For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household…”
Summary:
The Cost is death of old self and possibly the loss of family ties, past friends, work…
081012: Christ Our Servant
Christ Redeemer Church (CRC) Sermon by Pastor Don Willeman
Mark 10:32-45
Jesus: "Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Don: Think about it. Just think about it.
Mark 10:32-45
Jesus: "Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Don: Think about it. Just think about it.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
081008: The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:1-7 "Parable of the Lost Sheep"
- there is great rejoice in receiving what has been lost
Luke 15:11-32 "Parable of the Lost Son"
- Father : God
- Older Son : Christians
- Younger Son : non-Christians
- Servants : Angels
Luke 19:1-9 "Zacchaeus the Collector"
- "The Son of Man came to SEEK and to save what was lost."
1. referring back to the "Parable of the Lost Son," Jesus's role would come into play around the time when the younger son was wasting away his wealth and essentially not living "the way"; Jesus would be REACHING OUT (i.e. SEEKING) his lost soul and attempt to save it
2. this story also eludes to how Jesus saves anyone and everyone, regardless of his/her past deeds, which is more clearly stated in James 2:1-13
James 2:1-13 "Favoritism Forbidden"
- God does NOT how favoritism and neither shall man kind
- in the eyes of God, all sins are sins. period. be it murder or petty theft, once a sin has been committed, the person has sinned. and so, in the eyes of God, Christians are Christians. there are no Bad vs. Good vs. Better Christians. those who put their faith in God are Christians. period.
- there is great rejoice in receiving what has been lost
Luke 15:11-32 "Parable of the Lost Son"
- Father : God
- Older Son : Christians
- Younger Son : non-Christians
- Servants : Angels
Luke 19:1-9 "Zacchaeus the Collector"
- "The Son of Man came to SEEK and to save what was lost."
1. referring back to the "Parable of the Lost Son," Jesus's role would come into play around the time when the younger son was wasting away his wealth and essentially not living "the way"; Jesus would be REACHING OUT (i.e. SEEKING) his lost soul and attempt to save it
2. this story also eludes to how Jesus saves anyone and everyone, regardless of his/her past deeds, which is more clearly stated in James 2:1-13
James 2:1-13 "Favoritism Forbidden"
- God does NOT how favoritism and neither shall man kind
- in the eyes of God, all sins are sins. period. be it murder or petty theft, once a sin has been committed, the person has sinned. and so, in the eyes of God, Christians are Christians. there are no Bad vs. Good vs. Better Christians. those who put their faith in God are Christians. period.
091001: Perry Stone on Demonic Possesions
- places where idology runs amok are often where the most demonic possessions are found
- bondages open doors to spirits (e.g. Act 13)
to be healed by faith:
- Matthew 5 "The Faith of Centurion"
- Mark 5:1-20 "The Healing of a Demon-Possessed Man"
- Luke 9:42 "The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit"
- Mark 16:18 "The Resurrection"
- Matthew 9:18 "A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman"
- Mark 9:29 "The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit"
- bondages open doors to spirits (e.g. Act 13)
to be healed by faith:
- Matthew 5 "The Faith of Centurion"
- Mark 5:1-20 "The Healing of a Demon-Possessed Man"
- Luke 9:42 "The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit"
- Mark 16:18 "The Resurrection"
- Matthew 9:18 "A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman"
- Mark 9:29 "The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)