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?

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…

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.

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.

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"

080910: Marriage

Matthew 5:27 "Adultery"
Matthew 5:31 "Divorce"
Matthew 19:9 "Divorce"
Mark 10:10 "Divorce"

Video: Perry Stone's "Jewish Wedding and Its Relation to the Rapture"
- Jewish wedding = pre-Tribulation of the Rapture (Revelation 19:7-8)
- God married Israel; Israel is God's bride : Christ married His Church; the Church is Christ's bride
- Stages of the Jewish Wedding
1. Man asks for Woman's hand; Woman accepts : God proposes to protect Israel; Israel accepts God's proposal (the mutual understanding is then sanctified)
2. Man takes Woman to Father's house, and they draw up a "marrital contract" (i.e. engagement) : the marrital contract between God and Israel can be found in Exodus 19:5; Israel accepts the engagement, thus entering a convenant relationship with God (Exodus 19:7-8, 19:10-11, 19:18; Deuteronomy 33:2)
3. Man and Woman separates; they will not see each again until Man and his father finish preparing a place where the Man and the Woman will live as husband and wife --> only the Father would know specifically when this will be accomplished : Only God, the Father, knows the exact date of the Rapture
4. The preparations are done, and the Man goes to receive his Bride : When God finishes preparing a place for Christians in the Heaven, Christ will come and gather all Christians (i.e. the Rapture)
5. The marriage ceremony is one big party : 7 years of Tribulation is a time of great joy for all Christians who have been received up to Heaven

more on marriage:
1 Corinthians 7
Ephesians 5:22

080903: Meaning of the Death of Jesus Christ

bMatthew 26:17
Mark 14:13
The Lord's Supper
- bread is broken = broken body of Jesus
- wine = blood of the new convenant

Exodus 24
The Convenant Confirmed
- God seals agreement with His people with blood

Leviticus 4
Sin Offering
- Blood is used as a Sin Offering to wash away sins

Malachi 1:6-14
Blemished Sacrifices
- only the best (perfect) can be used as sacrifices

Hebrew 9 sums up today's discussion:
1. Since the times of the Old Testament, people have tried to wash away sins with blood in order to make things right with God
2. Blood is important b/c it marks the acceptance of an inheritance, the inheritance of forgiveness (as with a will, its inheritance is legitimized by death, which is symbolized by blood)
3. when Jesus shed His blood for us, His blood washed away our sins once and for all (hence no need for any more animal sacrifices); and with His death, it signifies the start of a new convenant, one whose sins have been completely sanctified with the purest sacrifice of all (Jesus Christ's blood)