Which Jesus Do You Believe in? | Hebrews 1:4-14

Which Jesus Do You Believe in? | Hebrews 1:4-14

Darien Gabriel

Which Jesus Do You Believe In? | Hebrews 1:4–14

There are a lot of versions of Jesus out there—the religious Jesus, the cultural Jesus, the political Jesus, even the Jesus we reshape to fit our own preferences. But it’s possible to believe in Jesus and still believe the wrong things about Jesus.

Hebrews 1:4–14 tells us to look again: See the Son.

Jesus is not merely another spiritual being. He is greater than the angels. He is the Son, the King, and the Lord. Angels worship Him. Creation is the work of His hands. His throne lasts forever. Everything else changes, but Jesus remains.

So which Jesus do you believe in?

Bottom Line: See Jesus for who He really is—and hold fast to Him.

When you’re tempted to loosen your grip on Jesus, look again at who you’re holding onto.

Series: Hold Fast
Scripture: Hebrews 1:4–14 NIV
Speaker: Darien Gabriel | DarienGabriel.com

#HoldFast #Hebrews

GraceToday.net

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Can You Trust Jesus With Everything? | Hebrews 1:1-3

Can You Trust Jesus With Everything? | Hebrews 1:1-3

Darien Gabriel

Can You Trust Jesus with Everything? | Hebrews 1:1–3 | Hold Fast

Can you really trust Jesus with everything—your future, your family, your finances, your plans, your fears, and the things you cannot control? Hebrews begins by answering two questions that are essential to trust: Can He handle it? And does He care?

Hebrews 1:1–3 gives us a breathtaking picture of Jesus. He is the One through whom God made the universe. He is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of His being, the One who sustains all things by His powerful word, the One who provided purification for our sins, and the King who now reigns. He has the power to hold everything—and the cross shows us that He loves us enough to give everything.

Hear the Word.

See the Son.

Bow to the King.

Bottom Line: The King who holds everything is the King who gave everything. So, yes, you can trust Him.

#followJesus #acts9

Preached by: Darien Gabriel Grace Christian Fellowship 🌐 https://GraceToday.net 🌐 https://DarienGabriel.com

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What Does Jesus Want Us to Do Next? | Acts 9:19b-31

What Does Jesus Want Us to Do Next? | Acts 9:19b-31

Darien Gabriel

What Does Jesus Want Us to Do Next?

Acts 9:19b–31

When Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, everything changed—including the direction of his life. The man who came to Damascus to stop people from proclaiming Jesus soon began proclaiming Jesus himself. In Acts 9:19b–31, we see what happened next: Saul told others about Jesus, learned to follow Jesus alongside other believers, and became part of a church that was strengthened, encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and growing. The same question Saul faced is one we need to ask today: What does Jesus want us to do next?

Bottom Line: When Jesus changes your life, He also changes the direction of your life.

Scripture: Acts 9:19b–31 NIV

Series: Acts

Preacher: Darien Gabriel dariengabriel.com

Grace Christian Fellowship GraceToday.net #followJesus #acts9

Don’t Waste the Wait | 2 Peter 3:11-18

Don't Waste the Wait | 2 Peter 3:11-18

Ken Dorrity

2 Peter 3:11-18
Live for What Lasts v:11-13
Wait with Purpose v:14-15
Grow & Stand firm v:16-18

Day of God - When Christ returns

Does Scripture show that the holy conduct, godliness, and prayer hasten Christ's return?  Peter seems to think so.  See also Matt 6:10; 24:14; Acts 3:19-21.  Some may feel uneasy because they worry about the understanding of the sovereignty of God being undercut.  But God knows in advance what his people will do, say, pray, and think.  He even foreordains it (Prov 16:33; Isa 46:6-9; Lam 3:37-38; Amos 4:13; Eph 1:11).  It’s okay to live in the tension between God’s divine sovereignty and our human responsibility.

What Does God Do With Our Sin? | 2 Peter 2:3-10

What Does God Do With Our Sin? | 2 Peter 2:310

Greg Gibbs

2 Peter 2:3-10

Opening story about 2 Peter

3:God has dim view of False Teachers- 

Mathew 7:15:Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

4: I don’t know but that won’t stop me.

Here and Jude references the Book of Enoch

I believe that everything that God wants us to know is in the Bible.

God is just which means he must punish sin.  Even the angels are not speared His judgment.

5: Genesis 6:5-6: The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Even the most depraved people touch God’s heart.  Noah didn’t stop warning and teaching about God’s righteousness. 

More than that Jesus died for his enemies  Romans 5:10: For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son

God’s commands us to witness and leave the results to him.

6-8: Agan we see God’s righteous judgement carried out on the ungodly and his rescuing of the righteous.

God calls Lot righteous, who am I to disagree.  Praise God what He calls righteous is righteous. 

9: God’s justice will be done.  

How does he rescue us from his Justice?  By taking on the punishment for our sins Himself.

Car example

God rescues and redeems: 

Peter saw this in 3 ways:

Heard stories about it- The prodigal son Luke 15

Saw it happen: The women at the well. John 4

Lived it- Denal and calling.

How Can I Spot a False Teacher? | 2 Peter 2:1-3a

How Can I Spot a False Teacher? | 2 Peter 2:1-3a

Chris Karpus

How Can I Spot a False Teacher?

2 Peter 2:1-3a

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers

among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign

Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  2  Many will follow their

depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  3  In their greed these teachers

will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them,

and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

- Peter reminded us in Chapter 1 that the apostolic witness and the prophetic word are the

reliable sources for the believers’ confidence in Christ’s coming.

- Chapter 2, Peter shifts his focus to remind believers about the unreliable sources: False

Teachers.

- Peter reminds us that not all prophets are from God – similar language that Jude used.

- The targets are unsuspecting people who at least profess to be part of the community of

faith.

What Do I Need to Know That I Already Know? | 2 Peter 1:12-21

What Do I Need to Know That I Already Know? | 2 Peter 1:12-21

Clay Jernigan

Sermon Title: What Do I Need to Know that I already Know?

Main Idea/Question: What if your spiritual growth is less about new information and more about obedience to what you already know? We often believe that our growth depends on learning new things. However, true growth may rely less on acquiring new knowledge and more on being obedient to what we already know. In this passage, Peter reminds his audience of truths they have heard before, knowing these reminders are vital to their maturity in Christ.

You tube Description : Message on Growing as a Christian | 2 Peter 1:12-21

Where Do We Grow From Here? | 2 Peter 1:5-11

Where Do We Grow From Here?| 2 Peter 1:5-11

Drew Nethery

Where Do We Grow From Here? | 2 Peter 1:5-11

Sermon Series: Faithful to the End

1. Intro: 4th of July – 

   1. Illustration Pilgrims- Pilgrim’s Progress  

2. Question to Answer: What do I do with what I have received? Grow in your Faith

3. Context

4. For this Reason (2 Peter 1:1-4) Take this personally- your sin, your life, claim his promise for you, spend time with him

   1. God has called you out of corruption

   2. God has equipped you to live a godly life

   3. God keeps his good and precious promises

   4. God invites you to himself to share in his divine nature.  

1. Make every Effort (Luke 5:1-11) (Listen to the Master (intake of God’s Word), Put out into deep water (make faith decisions) keep at it or leave and follow Jesus 

2. Add to - Generous and Costly Participation (Theater Patron) – What are you investing in the kingdom of God? Time, Finances, Opportunity Cost

   1. Growth

      1. Growth takes Effort (Generous and Costly Participation 

      2. Growth is Gradual (Peter’s Journey, Saved by GRACE) 

      3. Growth is effective (you will see evidence) 

   2. Faith (Hebrews 11: 1- confidence in what we hope for, assurance of what we do not see) 

      1. Faith is the foundation- virtue without it is like a screen door on a submarine (Hebrews 11:6-without faith it is impossible to please God)

      2. Faith is a Gift (2 Peter 1:1)

      3. Faith does not stand alone (verse 5-11)

1. Goodness (Mark 10: 17-18 No one is Good but God alone) | Let God’s Word be your Moral Authority, Let it come from your faith 

2. Knowledge (Gnosis, Practical Wisdom, Proverbs- the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, Listen to Wise Counsel, be Humble, Phone illustration What kind of knowledge do we seek (tree of knowledge of good and evil)

3.Self Control (1 Peter 2:11 Abstain from desires that wage war) Christian and Faithful in Vanity Fair)

4. Perseverance (Endurance- Ernest Shackleton, Romans 5:3-5)

5.Patience- Waiting on Jesus, Suffering-perseverance-Character-hope, God does not waste it. He is the God who sees you (Genesis 16:13)  But we are not meant to be alone (Genesis 2:18)

6.Godliness (godliness- Godliness- Eusebia- piety, holiness, reverence, respect) (1 Peter 2:17)

7. Mutual Affection (Philadelphia brotherly love, (1 Peter 1:22) 

6. Vulnerability of Being known, power of Christian Community – Outward- love God, love people 

   8. Mutual Affection to Love (Agape) The Fathers Bargain

   6. (John 13:35-Love one another)- We are called to love each other in this manner. 

7. Possess these qualities in increasing measure-Growth = increase in size or complexity- one of the traits used to determine if something is alive. Have these and you will be effective and productive (Living things Grow)

Epignosis knowledge of Jesus Personally. To know him. 

8. Near sighted and Blind (blind by way of being near sighted, driving example, you are a danger to others) 

9. Forgetting they have been cleansed (Pilgrim’s Progress , Christian being tempted to turn back- but remembering when his burden fell- The Gospel 

10. Therefore- make every effort (again) to confirm your calling and election

Two Plants- Because Living things grow – If you are growing – it is evidence you are alive in Christ. Consider this. How to confirm- Pursue Jesus. Repent and Believe, Continue to repent and believe

11. Stumble- What causes people to stumble? This is an eternal type of stumbling block. (lack of faith, perverted good, worldly knowledge, lack of self control, etc.)

12. Rich Welcome- Arrival at the end of the Journey- take of your pack, put down your burden- Hospitality of Heaven – Worth striving for, waiting For, dying for

    1. 2 Peter 3:18 – Read aloud

13. Gospel Presentation/Communion

I

Why Hold On if God Won’t Let Go? | Jude 24-25

Why Hold On if God Won't Let Go? | Jude 24-25

Darien Gabriel

Series: Contending for the Faith

Title: “Why Hold on if God Won’t Let Go?”

Scripture: Jude 24-25 NIV

Psalm 37:23-24

Psalm 139:23-24

Proverbs 24:16

John 10:27-30

Romans 8:38-39

Ephesians 1:13-14

Hebrews 13:5

1 John 2:19

1 John 5:13

Bottom line: We hold on because he holds us.

INTRODUCTION

CONTEXT

OUTLINE

CONCLUSION

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

OPENING STORY

"He is able to keep..."

Watch a parent walk a small child along the edge of a busy sidewalk. The child is doing real walking — short, wobbly, determined steps, working as hard as little legs can work. And then she trips. Of course she does; her foot catches the curb and she pitches forward. But she doesn’t hit the pavement. She never even gets close. Her hand is wrapped inside a bigger hand, and the instant she goes, that hand lifts and steadies and sets her back on her feet before the fall can finish. She stumbled — but she did not fall.

Jude has spent his whole letter telling us to walk a dangerous edge: in the midst of false and deceptive teachers, contend, build, keep, rescue — right alongside the place where others have already gone over and not come back.

Now, in the last two verses, he shows us the hand. “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling.” Or as the psalmist said it long before: "Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand" (Psalm 37:24).

The missteps still come. The fatal fall never does — because the grip holding you is not your own.

Said another way, we may find ourselves in the ditch along the narrow way...but he's right there pulling us out of the muck and mire back onto the highway of our God.

Too Busy in this life

A traveler once walked more than 700 miles to see Niagara Falls. As he neared his destination, he heard a distant roar and asked a nearby farmer, “Is that Niagara Falls?”

The farmer replied, “I don’t know. It might be.”

Surprised, the traveler asked, “Do you live here?”

“Born and raised here,” the farmer said.

“And you’ve never gone to see the falls?”

“No, stranger. I’ve been too busy looking after my farm.”

What a tragedy—to live within the sound of one of the world’s greatest wonders and never take the time to see it.

And yet many Christians do something similar. We know heaven is coming. We know we will stand in the presence of God’s glory. We hear about it every week. But we become so busy with the things of this world that we lose our appetite for the world to come.

Jude reminds us that God is keeping us for something far greater: to be presented before His glorious presence, blameless and with great joy.

Poem

"Some want to live within the sound

Of church or chapel bell;

I want to run a rescue shop

Within a yard of hell."

CONTEXT

The entire letter begins and ends with God’s keeping power:

• Jude 1 — “To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.”

• Jude 21 — “Keep yourselves in God’s love…”

• Jude 24 — “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you…”

• Jude 25 — Doxology praising the God who does the keeping.

That creates a beautiful tension:

Kept by God (v.1) → Keep yourselves in God’s love (v.21) → Kept by God (v.24).

The question practically preaches itself:

“If God is holding me, why does Jude tell me to hold on?”

Imagine being swept toward a waterfall.

You know you cannot save yourself.

Then a strong rescuer reaches you and takes hold of your arm.

The question isn’t whether he will hold on.

The question is: Why would you not hold on to him?

That’s the tension in Jude.

God has taken hold of us.

Therefore, we keep ourselves in His love.

Not to earn His rescue.

Not to maintain His rescue.

But because His rescue is already underway.

“Why Hold On If He’s Holding You?”

That raises one of the most important questions in the Christian life:

Is my salvation ultimately dependent on how tightly I hold onto God—or how tightly God holds onto me?

OUTLINE (Help from Shaddix/Akin)

I. God holds/keeps me. (Jude 1, 24) i.e. I am saved and secured by God's power, promise, person, and praise.

A. We are secure because of God’s power

“To him who is able…”

Not merely willing.

Able.

Cross references:

• John 10:28-29

• Romans 8:38-39

• Philippians 1:6

B. We are secure because of God’s promise

If eternal life can be lost, it was never eternal.

Cross references:

• John 6:37-40

• John 17:12

• Hebrews 10:14

C. We are secure because of God’s person

God does not change.

The One who called you is the One who keeps you.

Cross references:

• Malachi 3:6

• 2 Timothy 2:13

• Hebrews 13:8

D. We are secure because of God’s praise

Verse 25 is worship.

Jude cannot discuss salvation without ending in doxology.

The doctrine of eternal security is not merely comfort.

It is fuel for worship.

The point is not:

“Look how strong my faith is.”

The point is:

“Look how great my Savior is.”

II. I am to keep hold of God's love. (Jude 21) God keeps me by helping me hold on to him and his love.

Many people have asked:

“If God keeps me, why must I keep myself?”

Answer: Because security is not an excuse for passivity.

Illustrate: A child walking through a crowded airport.

The child holds Dad’s hand.

Dad also holds the child’s hand.

Which grip matters most?

Dad’s.

Yet the child still holds on.

The father may even let go of the child's hand in the airport to give the child a little more freedom and the child may stay close because they know that's where they're secure.

But the human condition is that we are prone to wander from his grip hurting our fellowship with him. Not that we can get away from him and his security, but that we can wander far enough to impact our fellowship and assurance negatively.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.”

“Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.”

…because relationship requires abiding

John 15.

…because obedience strengthens assurance

Not salvation.

Assurance.

…because spiritual drift is real

The false teachers in Jude prove this.

…because God uses means

Prayer.

Scripture.

Church.

Worship.

Fellowship.

…because the kept become keepers

Verses 22-23.

We rescue others.

…because God’s preserving grace produces perseverance

This is the key theological answer.

The evidence that God is keeping us is that we continue following Him.

God’s sovereignty and human responsibility are friends, not enemies.

You might even summarize:

God’s grip is the cause.

Our grip is the evidence.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: We hold on because he holds us.

As I've said, we have four daughters. All are married.

As we wait for the music to start--in those few moments where your life flashes before you--before you begin to walk down that aisle before God and all those people--I established a tradition that goes back to the days when selfies were the rage.

It was 2016. Selfies were a new phenomenon. I'm standing there with Samantha and I can tell she's excited, happy, and, well, emotional,m - on the verge of tears.

Now we can't have her makeup running at this moment! So I suggest we do a selfie together as we wait for the thumbs up. It only takes a few seconds. But it gave her a reason to focus on this pic (I'm about to give her away, remember, so I'm emotional too). She leans in with a huge smile and relief and joy swallow us as we take the picture as I miraculously press the right button on the first try. It's an amazing picture.

So, yes, I had the privilege to escort them down the aisle and move their hand from mine to another's. It's a humbling moment.

There’s a moment a father knows well — standing at the back of a sanctuary with his daughter on his arm, about to walk her down the aisle and present her, radiant and whole, to the joy of the whole room. This is a foretaste of the moment when each of us will walk an aisle with our Father and King to meet Jesus in all his glory.

Jude 24 says God will one day “present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” Notice whose joy that is. Not just ours — His.

The God you’ve been contending for, the One who kept you the whole way, doesn’t grit His teeth at the finish line. He delights to present you.

That’s where this series lands: you held on, yes — but only because He was holding you, and He was glad to do it the entire time. To Him be glory, majesty, power, and authority. Amen.

“without fault and with great joy”

Most Christians believe:

“God will tolerate me in heaven.”

Jude says something entirely different.

God will present you:

• without fault

• before His glorious presence

• with great joy

And I would emphasize:

Whose joy?

Certainly ours.

But also His.

God is not reluctantly dragging His children into heaven.

He delights to present them.

There is a moment a father knows well—standing at the back of a wedding venue with his daughter on his arm, about to walk her down the aisle and present her, radiant and whole, to the joy of the whole room.

Jude says something even greater is coming.

One day God Himself will present His children before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

The God who called you.

The God who saved you.

The God who kept you.

Will be the God who presents you.

And when that day comes, you will finally discover what Jude has been teaching all along:

You were able to hold on only because He never let go of you.

Pray

Questions (Write this down) - grab an index card and pen

What is God saying to you right now?

What are you going to do about it?

Write this down on the index card in the seat pockets.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

Read the passage together.

Retell the story in your own words.

Discovery the story

1. What does this story tell me about God?

2. What does this story tell me about people?

3. If this is really true, what should I do?

What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

NOTES

"William Booth was the founder of the Salvation Army. Booth is often credited with saying,

If I had my way, I would not send my workers to four years of college. If I had my way, I would not put them through three years of seminary. If I had my way, I would put all of my workers in hell for five minutes! That would be the best theological training they would ever receive. (Source unknown)" -Shaddix/Akin

Why hold on to God's love?

• It's a reminder to you when you doubt that you're his.

• It's evidence to others.

• It's a testimony of change in your life.

• It's a make of obedience which is a mark of your love for God.

• It's how we grow to be more like Jesus in practice.

• He calls me to! (V. 21)

• It's what faith looks like:

  • Deny self

  • Take up your cross

  • Follow Jesus

  • Cling to the cross

  • Rest in his arms

  • Walk the narrow way

  • Stand firm

  • Suit up

YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Jude" by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Jude, Shaddix & Daniel Akin

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

How to Walk God’s Way in God’s World

Series: Walking Wisely

Title: "How to Walk God's Way in God's World"

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-12 NIV

James 1:5-6

Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith [trust] it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." NIVish

Bottom line: Wisdom is learning to walk in God's way (aka wisely) in God's world.

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT

3. OUTLINE

4. CONCLUSION

5. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

6. NOTES

7. YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

Bottom line: Wisdom is learning to walk in God's way (aka wisely) in God's world.

OPENING STORY

A few years ago, our youth group had Pastor Ed Newton speak to them at camp. They loved him! Well, I at some point started following him on Twitter (back then) but X and had saved this tweet/post in my files. This was his quote:

"God's will? Find where you have been given favor, then follow favor, then be faithful to the place that God gave you favor!"

So this resonated with me. So I posted a question asking him the source of that inspiration. He replied Proverbs 3.

"Over the past several months, we walked through Book of Genesis in our series God’s Promises, Our Journey.

In Genesis, we watched God call imperfect people to trust Him with their future:

• Abraham leaving home not knowing where he was going

• Isaac learning to trust God’s covenant promises

But that raises an important question:

How do we actually walk that journey day by day?

That is where Book of Proverbs comes in.

If Genesis teaches us to trust God with the big story of our lives, Proverbs teaches us how to walk wisely with God in everyday life.

Proverbs is not primarily a book of random sayings or good advice. It is a father teaching his children how to live skillfully in God’s world.

Wisdom in Proverbs is not merely intelligence, information, or success. Wisdom is learning to see life from God’s perspective and walk in God’s ways.

At the center of Proverbs is this foundational truth:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 1:7)

In other words: true wisdom begins with a right relationship with God.

That is why Proverbs 3:5–6 is one of the most loved and well-known passages in the Bible. It speaks directly into moments of uncertainty, transition, decision-making, and future direction.

And that makes this passage especially fitting today as we celebrate our graduates.

Many of them are standing at a major crossroads:

• decisions about school

• work

• relationships

• calling

• identity

• future direction

And Proverbs reminds all of us — graduates and non-graduates alike — that our greatest need is not simply a good plan, but wholehearted trust in God." -ChatGPT

We just spend 9 weeks learning that our journey is shaped by our belief/unbelief in God's promises. We said that God's promises (rightly believed) shape our journey for good.

Proverbs 3 seems like the next right step.

Why? Because it tells us how to walk God's way in God's world. Our journey.

• “Wisdom is where knowledge and love kiss each other.”

• “Power is simply operating in Christ’s authority with his resources.”

Father (King Solomon) is discipling his Prince son. Parents, are you paying attention here?

“Genesis showed us God’s promises in the journey. Proverbs teaches us how to walk wisely in that journey.” -ChatGPT

Or

Bottom line: Wisdom is learning to walk in God's way (aka wisely) in God's world.

CONTEXT

What are the key traits of the book of Proverbs?

• "Proverbs as wisdom literature" #wisdom #promises

• "Solomon/father-to-son framework" #relationships #discipleship

• "Fear of the Lord theme"

• "Connection to Jesus as wisdom incarnate" #incarnation

-ChatGPT

"We're in Proverbs and that means wisdom literature. Why does that matter? Well, we read wisdom literature differently from other types of literature like narrative or didactic.

• Wisdom literature often communicates general patterns.

• Gospel and covenant texts often communicate definitive redemptive promises.

In other words, Proverbs teaches us the normal pathways of wisdom. Jesus announces the guaranteed promises of the kingdom."

-ChatGPT

Genesis showed us Abraham learning to trust God's audible voice with the big story of their lives.

Proverbs teaches us how to walk wisely with God's written word in everyday decisions.

“This is generally true now and will always prove true later.” -Daniel Akin

• "Proverbs describes the normal moral order of God’s world,

• but the fullness of these blessings is ultimately eschatological." -ChatGPT

Bottom line: Wisdom is learning to walk in God's way (aka wisely) in God's world.

OUTLINE (influenced by Danny Akin)

In the early 90s, Anita and I lived in Tampa Florida. Our time included joining Bell Shoals Baptist Church, where I was baptized. This is where I responded to Ministry. This is where I heard the preaching of Danny Akin for the first. I had never heard preaching like this before. It so impressed and influenced me that summer, that I went to the seminar where he was Dean of students. (SEBTS) He's now the president of the seminary. Today's outline is influenced by him and his son's efforts in a commentary I read this past week.

I. We Should Keep the Covenant PROVERBS 3:1,3,5,7,9

• The odd verses give the obligations that we are called to live up to if we

are in a covenant relationship with the Lord.

II. God Blesses Covenant-Keepers PROVERBS 3:2,4,6,8,10

• The even verses give the divine partner’s obligations.

III. This Is Generally True Now and Will Always Prove True Later

Proverbs 3:11-12

• The proverbs are generally true now, but they are always ultimately true.

IV. Jesus Kept the Covenant for You

• "The good news is that he represents us before the Father in this covenant relationship. He lived up to our obligations for us, and then

he took the curses of covenant breaking in our place." -Daniel Akin

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Wisdom is learning to walk in God's way (aka wisely) in God's world.

From ChatGPT:

The Pilot Through the Clouds (Excellent for “straight paths”)

One of the most dangerous moments for a pilot is flying through thick clouds without visual reference points.

Everything in the body starts lying:

• up feels down,

• left feels right,

• motion feels still.

Pilots are trained not to trust their feelings in that moment. They must trust the instruments.

Some pilots have crashed perfectly good airplanes because they trusted their instincts more than the guidance system.

Proverbs 3 says: “Lean not on your own understanding.”

There will be seasons where:

• your emotions will mislead you,

• your instincts will fail you,

• your understanding will be incomplete.

In those moments, wisdom means trusting the Lord more than yourself.

I found the incident you’re referring to, though the pilot’s name appears to have been spelled Vinson Kyle Perdue in newspaper reporting, not “Purdue.” The crash occurred in August 1981 near Dorchester Road in the Summerville area. 

What I could verify:

• He was a young Air Force pilot from Summerville.

• The jet crashed during a routine training mission near Dorchester Road.

• The crash happened close to the Kings Grant area you mentioned. 

I could not verify from available sources that vertigo/disorientation was officially determined as the cause, though your memory of local reporting may absolutely be correct. Spatial disorientation/vertigo is a well-known factor in military aviation crashes, especially during instrument conditions.

For sermon purposes, I would be careful not to state definitively:

“The crash was officially caused by vertigo…”

unless you locate a direct source confirming that.

But you can still use the illustration powerfully and honestly by framing it like this:

When I was growing up in Summerville, there was a military jet crash near Dorchester Road across from Kings Grant where we lived.

I still remember how sobering that was as a kid.

And one of the things pilots are trained to understand is that when visibility disappears and disorientation sets in, your senses can begin lying to you.

Up can feel down. Motion can feel still. Your instincts can become dangerous.

That’s why pilots are trained to trust their instruments more than their feelings.

Proverbs 3 says something very similar spiritually:

“Lean not on your own understanding.”

There are moments in life where:

• your emotions will mislead you,

• your instincts will fail you,

• your understanding will be incomplete.

Wisdom means learning to trust God more than yourself.

That keeps:

• the local authenticity,

• the emotional weight,

• the aviation imagery,

• and the pastoral application—

without overstating what can be historically verified.

And honestly, because this is tied to your own childhood memory in Summerville, it will likely land much harder emotionally than a generic illustration ever could.

From Claude.ai

What Was Found on Vinson Kyle Perdue

The primary verified source is a newspaper clipping from The Greenville News, dated August 26, 1981 — a clipping published in The Greenville News on August 26, 1981, mentioning Vinson Kyle Perdue in Greenville, South Carolina.  That confirms the name spelling (Perdue, not Purdue) and the August 1981 date align with newspaper reporting. The Newspapers.com record exists but sits behind a paywall, so the full text of the article wasn’t accessible — which means we can confirm existence of reporting but not the article’s specific content on cause of death.

No publicly accessible official USAF accident investigation report for this specific crash surfaced. The Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research database (which houses USAF accident reports from that era) exists but didn’t return this specific crash in searches.

Bottom line on the Perdue crash: Name, date, and general location are confirmed by newspaper record. Cause of death (vertigo/spatial disorientation) remains your childhood memory of local reporting — plausible and consistent with the era, but not independently verifiable from open sources right now.

What Was Found on Spatial Disorientation — and Why It Strengthens Your Illustration

This is where the research gets genuinely useful for your sermon. The data on spatial disorientation (SD) as a cause of military aviation fatalities is extensive and striking:

• Spatial disorientation accounted for 11% of all USAF crashes, with a crash fatality rate of 69% — and the SD rate was significantly higher in fighter/attack aircraft and helicopters than in training and transport aircraft. At night, 23% of all crashes were SD-caused.

• Even as overall military aviation accidents per flight hour decreased dramatically from 1958–1992, the rate of SD-caused crashes remained nearly constant — actually increasing as a percentage of all crashes, from 6% in 1958–1971 to 16% in 1972–1992.  Technology didn’t solve it. The problem is human physiology.

• Over a 21-year period (FY1993–2013), there were 72 spatial disorientation mishaps in the USAF, resulting in the loss of 101 lives, 65 aircraft, and $2.32 billion.

Spatial disorientation occurs when a pilot’s response to false sensations — of attitude, motion, velocity, acceleration, or position — causes the pilot to misinterpret his or her position in flight relative to the earth or other aircraft.  The instruments tell the truth. The pilot’s body lies to him.

How This Serves the Sermon

You don’t need the Perdue crash to be officially documented as an SD case to use SD as the theological hinge of your illustration. Here’s why: the statistics above are so overwhelming that you can say with complete accuracy:

“Spatial disorientation — where a pilot’s senses tell him up is down and motion is stillness — is one of the leading causes of military aviation fatalities. The pilot feels completely confident. His body is lying to him. That’s why pilots are trained to trust their instruments over their instincts.”

Then the transition to Proverbs 3 is natural and devastating: “Lean not on your own understanding” isn’t just piety — it’s survival logic. The human perceptual system is not reliable in conditions of low visibility and high stress. Neither is the unregenerate heart.

The local crash becomes the emotional anchor. The SD research data gives it theological weight that doesn’t depend on what you can or can’t verify about that specific August morning in 1981.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Pray

Questions (Write this down) - grab an index card and pen

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

• Write this down on the index card in the seat pockets.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

1. Read the passage together.

2. Retell the story in your own words.

3. Discovery the story

   1. What does this story tell me about God?

   2. What does this story tell me about people?

   3. If this is really true, what should I do?

4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

NOTES

Proverbs 3:5-6 outline by Stephen Olford, Windows of Wisdom, pp. 17-19

• The decision of trust must be foremost in our lives.

  • Starting point

  • "All" "to cling to"

  • Focal - lean NOT on anyone or anything else

• The devotion of trust must be fostered in our lives.

  • We must live in the scriptures (Rom 10:17)

  • We must lean on the Spirit (Gal 5:22)

  • Acknowledge = "To consciously know or recognize"

• The direction of trust must be followed in our lives.

  • He makes the best way forward clear by

    • Removing obstacles

    • Giving clear instructions/directions

    • Immediate obedience to his word demonstrates total and focal trust

5 Capitals that we are in charge of stewarding for God's kingdom as disciples of Jesus:

1. Spiritual Capital

   1. How much spiritual equity do we have to invest?

   2. The currency is wisdom and power.

2. Relational Capital

   1. How much relational equity do we have to invest?

   2. The currency is family and friends. 

3. Physical Capital

   1. How much time and energy do we have to invest?

   2. The currency is hours and health.

4. Intellectual Capital

   1. How much creativity and knowledge do we have to invest?

   2. The currency is concepts and ideas.

5. Financial Capital

   1. How much treasure do we have to invest?

   2. The currency is money.

YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Proverbs,” by Ray Ortland, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Proverbs, Daniel Akin

Windows of Wisdom, Stephen Olford

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

What Difference Does the Resurrection Make? | John 11:25-26 | Darien Gabriel

What Difference Does the Resurrection Make? | John 11:25-26 | Darien Gabriel

Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: “What Difference Does the Resurrection Make?"

Scripture: John 11:25-26

John 20:19-22

Bottom line: The resurrection gives us power for today and hope for tomorrow.

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT

3. SERMON OUTLINE

4. CONCLUSION

5. NOTES

6. OUTLINES

7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

How to Pray with Power by Nicky Gumbel

"I received a call from someone in our church. He wanted me to go and pray for his wife who had suddenly been admitted to hospital for an operation. 

As it happened, I myself had an appointment nearby to have an injection in my shoulder. I’d had a ‘frozen shoulder’ for almost two years. However, in the previous couple of days, it had suddenly got better. I explained what had happened to the consultant. He looked at me and said, ‘It’s a miracle!’ I said, ‘Don’t frozen shoulders suddenly get better?’ Over and over again, he repeated, ‘No, it is a miracle.’ Here was a secular doctor trying to persuade a rather faithless pastor that what had happened could only be explained by the supernatural power of God!

I thanked him very much for raising my faith, as I was about to go and pray in the hospital. As I walked through the corridors, I passed a hospital porter who was singing (quite loudly!), ‘Lay your hands on the sick and they will be healed.’ I said, ‘That is exactly what I am about to go and do.’ He looked deeply shocked and surprised. He obviously didn’t think I looked like the sort of person who could possibly believe that!

I went upstairs to pray for the woman and explained why my faith was riding high. She then said she had been reading James 5 (our passage for today), which says, ‘Is any one of you sick? Call the elders of the church to pray over you… And the prayer offered in faith will make you well’ (James 5:14–15). By now the Lord had given (even me!) enough signs to pray in faith. The Holy Spirit came upon her with great power. She was not immediately healed (although she is better now), but it gave me a greater understanding of ‘the prayer of faith’.

Watchman Nee wrote, ‘Our prayers lay the track down which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.’"

Bible in One Year 2020 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 325 • Devotional

Bottom line: The resurrection gives us power for today and hope for tomorrow.

“What Difference Does the Resurrection Make?”

Answer: It gives us power for today and hope for forever.

Big Idea: The resurrection of Jesus isn’t just a belief—it’s power for your real life.

First, Jesus reveals himself further to his disciples by announcing that he is the resurrection and the life.

I. "I am the resurrection and the life" - Jesus says he's life; his power is unstoppable

• Jesus isn't just alive--he's life itself.

• Death is only defeated by life.

Second, Jesus appears in his resurrection body to the cowering disciples following his resurrection.

He gives them his personal presence to overcome their fear, peace in the midst of chaos, their mission as the broken to the broken, and His Holy Spirit and resurrection power over darkness and evil.

1. Jesus shows up helping them overcome their fear. (John 20:19)

“The doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews.”

• Context: The disciples were terrified—Jesus was dead, they were next.

• But then: Jesus enters locked rooms. Resurrection power doesn’t need your permission—it comes through fear.

• Application:

• Where are you hiding? What fear is keeping you locked up?

• If Jesus can enter that room, He can enter yours—your anxiety, your regret, your trauma.

2. Jesus Gives Peace in the midst of chaos. (John 20:19, 21)

“Jesus said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”

• He doesn’t say “Everything’s fine.” He says, “I’m here.”

• Peace is not the absence of trouble—it’s the presence of Jesus.

• Application:

• What if peace isn’t about getting out of your situation, but inviting Jesus into it?

• Resurrection means your circumstances don’t get the last word.

3. Jesus restores their mission as the broken to the broken. (John 20:21)

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

• These are the same guys who abandoned Him—but He still calls them.

• The resurrection doesn’t just restore life—it restores calling.

• Application:

• Have you disqualified yourself in your own mind?

• Jesus doesn’t just forgive your past—He commissions your future.

4. Jesus Gives You His Spirit and resurrection power over darkness and evil. (John 20:22)

“He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

• The same breath that filled Adam with life in Genesis now fills disciples with resurrection power.

• Application:

• This isn’t about trying harder to live better. It’s about receiving the life only He can give.

• The Holy Spirit is resurrection applied—personal, powerful, present.

Conclusion: “Do You Believe This?” (John 11:26)

Back to John 11, Jesus asks Martha, "Do you believe this?"

• Jesus asked Martha that question before He raised Lazarus.

• He’s asking you the same question today.

Bottom line: The resurrection gives us power for today and hope for tomorrow.

In September 2019 I was in a coaching cohort led by pastor and author Mike Breen. He was challenging us to imitate Peter's last healing (Acts) where he said, "Jesus heals you." (Instead of seeing himself as the healer)

In preparation for that day's cohort, I wrote the following things I think would change in my life if I lived as if the sky had opened up and the resurrection power of God was available to me like it was to Jesus:

• I’d teach and preach with more authority given to me by Jesus Messiah

• I’d rely more on the Holy Spirit believing that he connects me with heaven.

• I’d be more likely to pray for healing over anyone—even a stranger.

• I’d be more evangelistically bold. I would assume that God will be putting opportunities in front of me over and over again to lead people to Christ. 

• I would spend more extended time in prayer early in the morning/late at night.

• I would take more mini-retreats.

• I would gather with the saints for prayer more often and less formally.

• I’d fast and pray more.

• I would find myself more in the harvest than I am. Away from the church building and amongst the people. Especially needy people. The least, last and lost.

• I would be less concerned with the things of this world. I would live simply and not pursue trivial pursuits.

• I would be more about making disciples and less about building the church (though in making disciples I will build the Church).

• I would be more kingdom-minded. 

• I’d constantly be looking for people of peace.

• I’d live fearlessly.

• I’d walk in truth, wisdom and love.

• I’d have a spirit of power, love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:7)

• I’d see suffering as an opportunity to fellowship more deeply with Christ instead of the pain that it is.

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

1. What is God saying to me right now?

2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

"Imitating Peter," Sept 2019, MMQB I wrote

Mike Breen asked us to consider the following in preparation for our huddle tomorrow. Here are my thoughts…

Mike points to Peter’s last healing in scripture in Acts where he says, “Jesus heals you.”

In Mark 15:33- we see the curtain in the temple torn from top to bottom after Jesus dies on the cross. This rending is symbolic of our new, unfettered access to heaven and God. An access that Jesus enjoyed while walking among us.

Jesus had direct access to heaven. If not before, he received it at his baptism when the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. (Mark 1:11) There the “sky is torn” demonstrating an opening of access to Jesus that ushered in his earthly and amazing public ministry culminating in the cross and resurrection.

Jesus lived under this open heaven enjoying a supernatural connection to God through his Holy Spirit. This rending of the curtain signified a breaking away from the Old Testament. A New Testament is at hand.

So our access is now open to heaven as well. We now seem to have the same access that Jesus had while on earth. 

Is this what Peter is trying to say through Mark in his gospel, Mike Breen asks?

Jesus removes the barrier of the sky and curtain between us and heaven. Therefore, what Jesus experienced uniquely is generally available. 

Peter is explaining what Jesus’ practice is all about through Mark’s gospel, he thinks.

This reminded me of Mark 2 and the paralytic. “Which is easier to say…”

Mike can’t leave the question unanswered why does Peter’s last healing does he say, “Jesus Christ heals you”?

Here’s Mike’s sermon question he’s going to preach soon (Luke 3 message at Apex):

“What would it be like if we left today with the actual belief that heaven is open above you and the Holy Spirit is continuously connecting to you?”

So our homework is to wrestle with my ministry practice and teaching and ask what would it look like (my practice and teaching) if I started functioning like Peter was doing? I.e. Imitating Peter in Mark and Acts

So I need to re-read Mark and Acts 1-8. 

At first blush, I think I would say the following:

• I’d teach and preach with more authority given to me by Jesus Messiah

• I’d rely more on the Holy Spirit believing that he connects me with heaven.

• I’d be more likely to pray for healing over anyone—even a stranger.

• I’d be more evangelistically bold. I would assume that God will be putting opportunities in front of me over and over again to lead people to Christ. 

• I would spend more extended time in prayer early in the morning/late at night.

• I would take more mini-retreats.

• I would gather with the saints for prayer more often and less formally.

• I’d fast and pray more.

• I would find myself more in the harvest than I am. Away from the church building and amongst the people. Especially needy people. The least, last and lost.

• I would be less concerned with the things of this world. I would live simply and not pursue trivial pursuits.

• I would be more about making disciples and less about building the church (though in making disciples I will build the Church).

• I would be more kingdom-minded. 

• I’d constantly be looking for people of peace.

• I’d live fearlessly.

• I’d walk in truth, wisdom and love.

• I’d have a spirit of power, love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:7)

• I’d see suffering as an opportunity to fellowship more deeply with Christ instead of the pain that it is.

OUTLINES

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1. What do I want them to know?

2. Why do I want them to know it?

3. What do I want them to do?

4. Why do I want them to do it?

5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

1. Read the passage together.

2. Retell the story in your own words.

3. Discovery the story

1. What does this story tell me about God?

2. What does this story tell me about people?

3. If this is really true, what should I do?

4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT

Google Gemini

What Are You Pursuing Most? | 1 Timothy 6:3-10

What Are You Pursing Most? | 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Darien Gabriel

Series: Guard the Treasure

Title: What are you pursuing most?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:3-10; Matthew 6:19-34 NIV

Bottom line: What we pursue most tells us what we really treasure in life. But true contentment is only found in pursuing/treasuring Christ and his community on mission.

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT

3. SERMON OUTLINE

4. CONCLUSION

5. NOTES

6. OUTLINES

7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

Treasure principle

Working for this life instead of the next

“When John D Rockefeller died, his aide was asked how much he left behind. The man wisely answered, ‘He left it all behind.’”

CONTEXT

SERMON OUTLINE (influenced by Willmington)

PAUL'S WORDS TO THE PEOPLE (6:1-10): Paul addresses four types of individuals.

A. The workers (6:1-2): Paul urges Christian servants to render faithful service to their masters, lest the name of God be slandered.

B. The wicked (6:3-5)

1. They deny the faith (6:3-4a).

2. They are conceited and argumentative (6:4b).

3. They cause confusion, envy, and friction (6:4c).

4. They use spiritual things for financial gain (6:5).

C. The wise (6:6-8): They realize that godliness with contentment is great gain.

D. The wealthy (6:9-10)

1. The desire (6:10): "The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil."

2. The destruction (6:9): This kind of greed, if unchecked, will result in ruin and destruction.

CONCLUSION

“…the story of a king who was suffering from a persistent malady and was advised by his wise men that he would be cured if the shirt of a contented man were brought for him to wear. The search began for a contented man, but none could be found. So emissaries were sent to the edge of the realm, and after a long search a man was found who was truly content. But he had no shirt!“ -Kent Hughes, pp. 157-8

“Contentment is a constant feast, He's richest who requires the least.“ -Barnes

The “treasure principal” says that you can’t take it with you but you can send it ahead. This is Randy Alcorn‘s take on Matthew six versus 19 through 24.

Bottom line: What we pursue most tells us what we really treasure in life. But true contentment is only found in pursuing/treasuring Christ and his community on mission.

1. What is God saying to me right now?

2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Pray

NOTES

Let’s ask some summary questions:

Q. What do I want them to know?

A.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A.

OUTLINES

Outline Bible (Willmington)

SECTION OUTLINE SIX (1 TIMOTHY 6)

Paul addresses the workers, the wicked, the wise, and the wealthy.

He closes his letter with some final instructions for Timothy.

I. PAUL'S WORDS TO THE PEOPLE (6:1-10): Paul addresses four types of individuals.

A. The workers (6:1-2): Paul urges Christian servants to render faithful service to their masters, lest the name of God be slandered.

B. The wicked (6:3-5)

1. They deny the faith (6:3-4a).

2. They are conceited and argumentative (6:4b).

3. They cause confusion, envy, and friction (6:4c).

4. They use spiritual things for financial gain (6:5).

C. The wise (6:6-8): They realize that godliness with contentment is great gain.

D. The wealthy (6:9-10)

1. The desire (6:10): "The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil."

2. The destruction (6:9): This kind of greed, if unchecked, will result in ruin and destruction.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process:

1. Retell the story in your own words.

2. Discovery the story

1. What does this story tell me about God?

2. What does this story tell me about people?

3. If this is really God’s word, what changes would I have to make in my life?

3. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

4. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

5. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

Final Questions (Write this down)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

“1 & 2 Timothy” by John Stott

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

“The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn

What the Bible Says About Slavery & Employment | 1 Timothy 6:1-2

What the Bible Says About Slavery & Employment | 1 Timothy 6:1-2

Darien Gabriel

Series: Guard the Treasure

Title: What the Bible Says About Slavery & Employment

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Matthew 11:29-30 NIV

Bottom line: Honoring God leads us to honor people. Honoring people blesses them, celebrates his message, and honors God.

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT

3. SERMON OUTLINE

4. CONCLUSION

5. NOTES

6. OUTLINES

7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

Philip Towner tells how when he and his buddies Erving int he military in England became Christians, they let their enthusiasm for Christ overcome their diligence in following the mundane rules about shined boots and clean uniforms. As a result, they quickly got a reputation from their superiors: Christians are sloppy and insubordinate soldiers.

Another true story told by Kent Hughes is about 2 seminary students who seemed to always be standing around talking about God during work hours.

“3 Chapters of John in the John”

The worst though was when he noticed one go to the bathroom for 20 min. When he came out he overheard him tell his fellow-student, “I just had the most wonderful time. I read 3 chapters of the gospel of John.” No wonder he was becoming skeptical of Christians. Hughes, p. 148

Most gospel sharing happens in the workplace. And it makes sense since we spend so much time there. People see us in action. How we work with people matters.

The question we’re answering today is what does the Bible say about slavery, employment & following Christ.

In his book about living out your last days and dying well, Bill Bright, the founder of CCC or Cru as it’s known today, talks about the day when he and his wife decided to fully surrender their lives to Christ. They changed their thinking about their lives and decided to live as a slave to Jesus Christ. They would only obey him. They would only do what he called them to do. And they did that for the rest of their lives launching a missionary ministry that would cover the globe. In 2020, they had 19,000 staff in 190 countries.

CONTEXT

50-60 million slaves in Roman Empire.

About 1/3 of the cities were slaves.

Slavery affected virtually every aspect of the Ephesian church.

Half of all slaves were freed by age 30.

Social status came by association.

Not usually a race thing but an economic and social thing.

Some stayed slaves for security (especially the poorer slaves).

Slaves were cooks, managers, medical workers, and even government workers.

Some sold themselves into slavery so that they could become legal Roman citizens getting those rights.

Slaves could save money, own property, and even own other slaves. They were usually working towards buying their freedom.

Roman slavery was similar but different from antebellum slavery. So when Paul calls slaves following Christ to respect their masters, it’s not like the slavery of the south. While slavery (as commonly understood) is still a sin against God, Paul’s focus is on even more than that. He’s not just thinking about the social evils of his day. He’s thinking on the gospel that speaks to all of those social evils at the same time.

Yoke—typically symbolizes oppression in scripture. And yet Jesus talks about his yoke in Matt 11.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”“ -Jesus in Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29-30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

SERMON OUTLINE (influenced by David Platt’s outline)

How does the Bible speak to slavery (employment)?

1. Slaves (employees) who follow Christ: Respect your masters (bosses). Why?

1. Because they are made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26-27)

2. So you don’t slander God’s name and teaching. (1 Tim 6:1)

3. Because, if they are a believer too, they are worthy of even greater service from you as your brother in Christ. (1 tim 6:2)

4. Not because slavery is legitimate.

1. Slavery means

1. We buy and sell you like property

2. We coerce you to work for our benefit

2. God is anti-slavery

1. We’re made in the image of God

2. Therefore, people are equal in value in God’s eyes (and should be in each others’ eyes)

2. Slavery today—we should care about this.

1. About 27 million slaves around the world today (more than ever)

2. Most are young girls

3. Much is for sex trade/forced prostitution

4. Much is happening in the US

5. Grateful for ministries like IJM, A21 and Doors to Freedom who work to eradicate this wickedness

3. Slavery is spiritual too.

1. We are all born into spiritual slavery—we’re born slaves to sin, that’s why we sin.

2. Christ frees us from slavery to sin and the kingdom of darkness when we believe the good news that he saves us by grace through faith in him alone.

1. He sets us free to serve him.

2. If someone saves your life, you don’t mind serving them the rest of the life you almost didn’t have.

3. We grow in Christ to the extent that we gladly surrender all to him as our King and Lord, Creator and Redeemer who ransomed us and set us free. While we are yoked to Christ (by choice), it’s not your typical slavery:

1. ”Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.“ ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

2. ”For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”“ Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

4. The Apostles referred to themselves as slaves to Christ (not just Apostles):

1. Paul introduced himself 3X this way (Philippians, Romans and Titus)

2. Peter in 2 Peter

3. Jude in his letter

4. James in his letter

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Honoring God leads us to honor people. Honoring people blesses them, celebrates his message, and honors God.

What about me?

1. Do I consider my boss/teacher worthy of full respect?

2. Am I thinking about the 27 million (mostly young) people in slavery today?

3. Have I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ?

Pray

NOTES

From David Platt’s commentary

1. Slavery in History—4 types

2. Slaves in Paul’s Day that had trusted Christ. Respect your masters…

1. Because they are made in God’s image

2. So you don’t slander God’s name and teaching

3. Because, if they are a believer too, they are worthy of even greater service from you as your brother in Christ

4. Not because slavery is legitimate

3. God is anti-slavery

4. This parallels how we are to relate to our employers as followers of Christ. We respect them too

1. Because they are made in God’s image

2. So we don’t slander God’s name and teaching

3. Because, if they are a believer too, they are worthy of even greater service from us as their brother in Christ

5. Slavery today

1. About 27 million slaves around the world today (more than ever)

2. Most are young girls

3. Much is for sex trade/forced prostitution

4. Much is happening in the US

5. Grateful for ministries like IJM, A21 and Doors to Freedom who work to eradicate this wickedness

6. Slavery is spiritual too.

1. We are all born into spiritual slavery—we’re born slaves to sin, that’s why we sin

2. Christ frees us from slavery to sin and the kingdom of darkness when we believe the good news that he saves us by grace through faith in him alone.

3. We grow in Christ to the extent that we gladly surrender all to him as our King and Lord, Creator and Redeemer who ransomed us and set us free.

4. The Apostles referred to themselves as slaves to Christ (not just Apostles):

1. Paul introduced himself 3X this way (Philippians, Romans and Titus)

2. Peter in 2 Peter

3. Jude in his letter

4. James in his letter

Let’s ask some summary questions:

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. That how we treat others reflects on God and his message.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because we’re all made in his image and therefore are worthy of full respect whether we deserve it or not.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Consider all people worthy of full respect. Consider God worthy of full allegiance.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because God deserves it and created people in his image.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Evaluate how you’re treating those who have authority over you at work or school or home.

OUTLINES

Outline Bible (Willmington)

SECTION OUTLINE SIX (1 TIMOTHY 6)

Paul addresses the workers, the wicked, the wise, and the wealthy.

He closes his letter with some final instructions for Timothy.

I. PAUL'S WORDS TO THE PEOPLE (6:1-10): Paul addresses four types of individuals.

A. The workers (6:1-2): Paul urges Christian servants to render faithful service to their masters, lest the name of God be slandered.

B. The wicked (6:3-5)

1. They deny the faith (6:3-4a).

2. They are conceited and argumentative (6:4b).

3. They cause confusion, envy, and friction (6:4c).

4. They use spiritual things for financial gain (6:5).

C. The wise (6:6-8): They realize that godliness with contentment is great gain.

D. The wealthy (6:9-10)

1. The desire (6:10): "The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil."

2. The destruction (6:9): This kind of greed, if unchecked, will result in ruin and destruction.

II. PAUL'S WORDS TO THE PASTOR (6:11-21)

A. What Timothy is to do (6:11-14, 17-21)

1. Flee from evil, and follow after good (6:11).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process:

1. Retell the story in your own words.

2. Discovery the story

1. What does this story tell me about God?

2. What does this story tell me about people?

3. If this is really God’s word, what changes would I have to make in my life?

3. Who am I going to tell about this?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

Final Questions (index cards optional)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

“1 & 2 Timothy” by John Stott

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

How to Treat Your Leaders | 1 Timothy 5:17-25

How to Treat Your Leaders | 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Darien Gabriel

Series: Guard this Treasure

Title: How to treat your leaders

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:17-25 NIV; 1:3-7

Bottom line: We care for our leaders best through rewards, discipline and wise selection.

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT

3. SERMON OUTLINE

4. CONCLUSION

5. NOTES

6. OUTLINES

7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

Even today, the day after Iran fired over a hundred missiles and drones at Israel, their prime minister is under fire from many calling for his ouster. Among legitimate critiques are character assassination attempts designed to slander or just take down that leader. This, unfortunately, is common for leaders today whether we’re talking the federal government or the local school board.

But what about leaders in the church?

Paul left Timothy in Ephesus on his behalf to confront false teachers and to call out those who are behaving sinfully. He is also to make sure that leaders are rewarded and chosen wisely as well. This is what we will deal with today.

As far as our church is concerned, we are an autonomous, non-denominational church led by a team of 5 elders (aka pastors, both lay and paid). They are the position we’re talking about today. How do we treat them? Let’s see how Paul answers that question.

SERMON OUTLINE (based on the Outline Bible):

SECTION OUTLINE FIVE (1 TIMOTHY 5)

Paul gives advice concerning older and younger men, older and younger women, widows, and church elders.

I. THE PEOPLE (5:1-16): Paul gives advice concerning church members.

II. THE PREACHERS (5:17-25): Paul's advice concerning church elders.

A. Elders in general (5:17-22, 24-25)

1. They are worthy of double honor (5:17-18).

• So in summary, "double honor" indicates these faithful elders should receive both material support as well as the utmost respect and appreciation from the church body. This ensures they are properly cared for and esteemed for their service.

2. They must never be unjustly accused (5:19-20, 24-25).

3. They must be impartial (5:21).

4. They must be proven before being ordained (5:22a).

5. They must keep themselves pure (5:22b).

B. Timothy in particular (5:23): "Drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often."

CONCLUSION

I can tell you there have been plenty of times in the past 18 years when I’ve had contentious conversations with other elders about how we should lead this church. There have been times when I’ve been slandered, misunderstood, and called out. Sometimes legitimately too.

Bottom line: We care for our leaders best through rewards, discipline and wise selection.

I can tell you from personal experience, Paul’s advice here is sound and works. Ultimately, he’s simple giving us God’s words on the subject. We would be foolish to ignore them.

Pray

NOTES

Let’s ask some summary questions:

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. How to reward, discipline and choose your elders.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because churches rise and fall on leadership.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Treat their elders well by

1. Rewarding them when they do well,

2. Disciplining them when appropriate,

3. Choosing them carefully.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because they lead the church towards or away from Christ.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. They lead the church towards Christ by

1. Overseeing the flock

2. Shepherding the flock (lead, feed and protect)

3. Preaching and teaching the flock

4. Loving the flock

OUTLINES

Outline Bible (Willmington)

SECTION OUTLINE FIVE (1 TIMOTHY 5)

Paul gives advice concerning older and younger men, older and younger women, widows, and church elders.

I. THE PEOPLE (5:1-16): Paul gives advice concerning church members.

A. In regard to older men (5:1a): Treat them as respected fathers.

B. In regard to younger men (5:1b): Treat them as brothers.

C. In regard to older women (5:2a): Treat them as mothers.

D. In regard to younger women (5:2b): Treat them as sisters.

E. In regard to widows (5:3-16)

1. Older widows (5:3-10, 16)

a. Widows who are over sixty, godly, and have no living chil-dren (5:3, 5, 9-10, 16): These are to be honored and provided for.

b. Widows who have living children and grandchildren (5:4, 8, 16): They are to be cared for by their families.

c. Widows who are carnal and live only for pleasure (5:6-7): They are to receive no help.

2. Younger widows (5:11-15)

a. The rule (5:11-12, 14): Let them remarry and raise children.

b. The reason (5:13, 15): This will keep them from immorality and idle talk.

II. THE PREACHERS (5:17-25): Paul's advice concerning church elders.

A. Elders in general (5:17-22, 24-25)

1. They are worthy of double honor (5:17-18).

2. They must never be unjustly accused (5:19-20, 24-25).

3. They must be impartial (5:21).

4. They must be proven before being ordained (5:22a).

5. They must keep themselves pure (5:22b).

B. Timothy in particular (5:23): "Drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often."

BKC Outline

I. The Salutation (1:1–2)

II. Instructions concerning False Teachers (1:3–20)

III. Instructions concerning Conduct in the Church (2:1–3:13)

IV. Instructions concerning Guarding the Truth in the Church (3:14–4:16)

A. …

C. Responsibilities of a good minister of Christ (4:6–16)

V. Instructions concerning Various Groups in the Church (5:1–6:10)

A. Concerning various age-groups (5:1–2)

B. Concerning widows (5:3–16)

C. Concerning elders (5:17–25)

D. Concerning slaves and masters (6:1–2)

E. Concerning the heretical and greedy (6:3–10)

VI. Final Charge to Timothy (6:11–21)

A. Exhortation to godliness (6:11–16)

B. Instructions for the rich (6:17–19)

C. Exhortations to remain faithful (6:20–21)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process:

1. Retell the story in your own words.

2. Discovery the story

1. What does this story tell me about God?

2. What does this story tell me about people?

3. If this is really God’s word, what changes would I have to make in my life?

3. Who am I going to tell about this?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

Final Questions (index cards optional)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

“1 & 2 Timothy” by John Stott

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

How Do You Prepare for the Return of Jesus Christ? | Part 2 | Matthew 24:36-51

How Do You Prepare for the Return of Jesus Christ? | Part 2 | Matthew 24:36-51

Darien Gabriel

Series: All!

• Jesus has all authority,

• So that all nations

• Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “How do you prepare for the return of Jesus Christ?” Part 2

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-51

Bottom line: As we watch and wait for his sudden return, we prepare by loving people in word and action.

David Platt’s main idea: “Although Christ’s delay may be long, His return in judgment will be sudden and irreversible, so we must be prepared by trusting Him now with a persevering faith that bears fruit.”

1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:

1. What differentiates unhelpful speculation from a sincere desire to understand our future hope?

2. Summarize the overarching point of Matthew 24:1-36 in one or two sentences.

3. What factors make it difficult to determine the timing and the relationship between the destruction of Jerusalem and Jesus' second coming?

4. How should we respond to those who take a different view of prophecies such as those we read in Matthew 24?

5. Explain how this passage points us away from sinful, short-term pleasures.

6. How does this text speak to the authority and divinity of Jesus Christ?

7. What kind of treatment should believers expect as they await Christ's return?

8. What does it look like for followers of Christ to be eagerly watching for Jesus and urgently working for His kingdom purposes?

9. As it concerns Jesus' return, which truths in this passage should discourage us from date-setting or from making rash judgments based on current events?

10. How should the second coming of Christ inform our witness in the world?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. Jesus is coming back any day and he will reward or judge.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because their eternity will be based on what they do with this knowledge.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Prepare for his sudden return by serving loving people in word and deed.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because that will be the fruit of true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Repent of your sins, turn to Christ for your eternal salvation, and love people as you await his sudden return.

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Today we will answer the question: how do we prepare for the return of Jesus Christ?

Illustration:

NEAR THE END OF World War II downtown Warsaw was almost completely leveled. According to one witness, the only skeletal structure remaining on the main street was the Polish headquarters of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The words engraved upon the only wall standing, which were clearly legible from the street, were the words, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." —O’Donnell

In Matthew 24:35, the passage states, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” In this context, “heaven” refers to the physical realm, the sky, or the universe. It emphasizes the enduring nature of God’s words compared to the transient nature of the material world. It signifies that God’s words and promises are steadfast and reliable, transcending the temporary nature of earthly things.

Jesus said this in the midst of talking about his return. He says what he means and he means what he says. We should take his words seriously.

SERMON OUTLINE

What do we learn about God?

• God is omniscient.

• God is sovereign.

• God is moving providentially.

• God is moving purposefully.

• God will send his son again suddenly, unexpectedly, and very publicly.

• God is holy and will judge wickedness thoroughly.

• God is holy and judges sin for eternity while rewarding with righteousness by grace through faith.

• God will rescue by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

• God commands with all authority calling for all obedience.

• God expects all allegiance from all nations for he is worthy.

What do we learn about people?

• We doubt/don’t trust God/Christ.

• We disobey his commands regularly.

• We live for the moment instead of in light of eternity.

• We are largely unprepared for his return.

• We cannot know when he will return.

• We are unfaithful servants, at best.

• We are unwise apart from God’s grace.

• We don’t do good very often.

• We don’t take responsibility.

• We are not omniscient.

• We do not fear God or the consequences of our sins.

S.P.E.C.

Sins to avoid

• Not keeping watch for Christ’s sudden return.

• Not preparing for Christ’s sudden return.

• Trying to predict when his return will be.

• Living only for today.

• Faithfully and wisely serving the Lord as we await his return.

Promises to remember

• He’s coming back and you can’t miss it.

• He’ll judge in holiness for our faithfulness and wisdom and how we prepared.

• He will gather his elect.

Examples to follow

• The one who keeps watch for his return.

• The one who prepares for his return.

• The one who is faithful and wise in serving the Lord as they await his return.

Commands to keep

• Keep watch for his return.

• Prepare for his return.

• Believe his words about the future by watching and preparing.

Illustrations in the text

Cosmic display and like lightning (that even the blind can see) and trumpet blast (that even the deaf can hear) will announce his obvious and public return.

Days of Noah

It is business as usual for most people just as it was in the days of Noah. Few are watching and preparing for God’s righteous return.

Noah watched and prepared by building the ark and preaching why for 120 years.

Christians today watch and prepare by building our salvation by grace through faith (Sanctification) so that when he returns we will not be alarmed by ready to continue love people through our words and actions.

2 men in the field; 2 women grinding grain

1. We are with others who know/didn’t know the Lord

2. No matter what else you think can save you (family, church, good works), ultimately, only faith in Christ.

3. Could be the rapture too.

What do we do while we wait?

We serve God and people

• Faithfully

• Wisely

• Well

• By grace through faith

“We live with our eyes on the clouds and on the crowds.” -Greg Stier, Dare2Share.org

Are you watching and preparing for Jesus’ return?

Conclusion

Bottom line: As we watch and wait for his sudden return, we love people with our words and actions.

The Folly of What Noah Preached

by Jon Bloom, desiringgod.org, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-folly-of-what-noah-preached

March 28, 2014

Paul wrote, “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). In Noah, we have an Old Testament illustration of this. Ponder how Noah’s warnings about fantastic “events as yet unseen” (Hebrews 11:7) must have sounded to his hearers (I’ve imagined two, Talmai and Bakbukiah).

“This is madness!” Talmai was alarmed by the huge piles of logs around the vast clearing and all the hired men cutting and hauling them. “How long will this boat be?”

Noah braced for a deluge of ridicule. “Three hundred cubits.”

“Unbelievable!” Bakbukiah laughed incredulously. “Three hundred? You were right!” he said slapping Talmai’s back. “I said, ‘No one’s that stupid.’ But I stand corrected!”

Talmai shook his head in disbelief. “Noah, you’ve lost your mind! No one can build a boat that big!”

“You are an idiot!” shouted Bakbukiah. “You’re building a three hundred cubit boat six-day’s journey from the sea?”

“It won’t need to be near the sea,” Noah replied.

“Oh, come on, Noah!” said Talmai exasperated. “You’ve been preaching about this flood of divine judgment. But look around! You seriously believe all this is going to be under water?”

“Talmai, I don’t base my faith merely on what seems plausible to me,” said Noah.

“Well, that’s obvious!” Bakbukiah scoffed.

Noah held up his hand and continued, “I base my faith on what God says he will do.”

“Whose god, Noah?” said Talmai flatly.

“The only God there is, Talmai: Elohim, the Almighty, the Creator,” said Noah.

“So Elohim is a mass murderer then?” said Bakbukiah mockingly.

“Bakbukiah, you’re speaking foolishness,” said Noah firmly.

“I’m speaking foolishness!” snapped Bakbukiah. “You’re building a colossal boat in the middle of nowhere because some bloodthirsty god told you to and you’re calling me foolish?”

“Yes, I am! because you’re assuming that what looks foolish to you is foolish,” replied Noah unwaveringly.

“Building this ark doesn’t just look foolish, Noah,” said Talmai curtly.

“Tell me what foolishness is, Talmai,” countered Noah intensely.

“Foolishness is that, my friend,” said Bakbukiah, gesturing toward the site.

“No, I want you to answer the question. What is foolishness?” said Noah.

“It’s believing something that isn’t real!” exclaimed Talmai. “Basing your life on a delusion!”

“Exactly!” said Noah. “Foolishness is basing your life on a delusion.”

Both men looked at Noah for a moment perplexed.

Talmai snorted. “You’re saying that we’re the deluded ones?”

“Yes. What makes you certain that you’re not deluded?” asked Noah.

“Common sense, Noah!” Try it! Comes in handy in boat building,” chortled Bakbukiah.

“Common sense? Whose common sense, Bakbukiah?” responded Noah. “Yours? The common sense you exercise when beating your wives when you’re angry? Or when you try to take advantage of every customer you can? Or perhaps it’s the common sense of your friend, Jobab, who extorted sex from the wife of a man indebted to him? Or the common sense of that man to cut Jobab’s throat? Or, Talmai, was it your common sense in working your slave into the ground and beating him mercilessly for petty infractions? Or your slave’s common sense in raping your daughter before he escaped? Or, Bakbukiah, was it the chief’s common sense to run your father through with a spear for laughing at him?”

“Watch your tongue, old man, if you want to keep it,” threatened Bakbukiah.

“Point made then,” replied Noah. “Depravity is rampant everywhere. We always carry our weapons because we can’t trust anyone. And when we’re honest, we know we aren’t trustworthy. The most common sense we share is our evil selfishness.”

“Listen, that’s beside the point!” asserted Talmai. “The point is there isn’t going to be any flood and this huge ark is a waste of time, money, and trees!”

“It’s not beside the point,” said Noah. “Elohim has been warning us for generations to forsake our evil, self-absorbed sin and return to him. No one has listened! We have only gotten worse. We’re consuming each other! The point is that your perception of reality is distorted by self-centeredness, Talmai. Elohim created the predictable world you know. And it’s foolish to presume that he can’t turn this plain into a sea.”

“Well, if he does, this Elohim of yours is as wicked as the rest of us. He’s just going to drown us all like dogs,” replied Bakbukiah. “Except you, of course, being so righteous.”

“Not true, Bakbukiah! It is not Elohim’s blood thirst and selfishness that is bringing the flood. It’s his justice. It’s what our sin deserves! Don’t you see? In his mercy he has been warning us over and over. But the ark is a sign that he will not wait forever. And God isn’t sparing me because my nature is any better than yours. He’s sparing me because I trust him. I believe what he says. And this ark will shelter anyone who will trust him. Join me, brothers! You don’t have to perish in Elohim’s judgment! Believe him and escape!”

Talmai looked blankly at Noah. “Build your boat, crazy man. But keep away from me and my family.”

“Me too,” added Bakbukiah. “If Elohim’s going to wipe out everyone I know and love, then I want to go where they’re going. I’m not going on a boat ride with a murderous god, religious fanatics and a bunch of wild animals!”

The clever and contemptuous mockery of those who find the gospel simply ridiculous stings us. And it can stir up fears and doubts that we might really be foolish after all and tempt us to keep our mouths closed.

God knows this and prepares us by explaining that the gospel will sound foolish to the world because he’s “[making] foolish the wisdom of the world” (1 Corinthians 1:20). Then he repeatedly tells us not to be ashamed of it (Luke 9:26; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:8).

Like Noah, who was a “herald of righteousness” in his age (2 Peter 2:5), we also are heralds of “events as yet unseen” (Hebrews 11:7). Jesus tells us that Noah’s flood was a foreshadow:

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37–39)

But in this greater judgment a greater, more perfect Ark has been provided: the crucified and risen Son of Man. All who are in him when the flood of God’s wrath comes will be saved. But only those who believe his word can enter this Ark.

If Noah’s warning and gospel sounded foolish to his hearers, how much more does our warning and gospel sound to our hearers? We must not be surprised when others ridicule it, for “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But “it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).

Our call is not to be respected by the unbelieving world. Our call is to trust our Lord’s word over the confident contempt of those who are blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4), endure the reproach Jesus endured (Hebrews 13:13), and preach the gospel for the sake of those “who are being saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Original Page: http://t.co/gdR40sj9s5

1. Repent and believe. The first way to prepare is to trust Jesus’ words, ways and works. That is the good news of the kingdom that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. To rest in that for our eternal security.

2. Serve & love. The second way is to love and serve people through your words and actions bearing the fruit of the Spirit until he returns.

Pray

Notes

Outline Bible

IV. THE CHALLENGE FROM CHRIST'S SERMON (24:36-39, 42-51): Be watchful.

A. The reason for this watchfulness (24:36, 42): No one knows when Christ will come!

B. The reminder of this watchfulness (24:37-39)

C. The reaction to this watchfulness (24:43-51)

1. The wise servant (24:43-47): He watches and is rewarded.

2. The wicked servant (24:48-51): He ignores the warning and is condemned.

D. The slaughter (24:28, 40-41): Armageddon!

1. The assembling of the victims (24:40-41): One will be taken, another left.

2. The appearing of the vultures (24:28): To eat the bodies of the slain warriors!

We've all been hopeful for some thing or some anticipated event, waiting eagerly to experience it, only to be deeply disappointed when it didn't meet our expectations. It will not be so with the second coming of Christ. Our words are inadequate to describe the glory of what that scene will be like, as well as all that will unfold in the days to come after that. In The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis gives us a rich, imaginative picture of what that eternal state will be like. He ends the last book in the series like this:

‘As Aslan spoke, he no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.’

For believers, the return of Christ and the end of this world will be the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21-22). While waiting and watching confidently, Christians urgently work. We fight deception and temptation, we persevere through tribulation, and we…”

David Platt, Matthew, P. 323

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

How Do You Prepare for the Return of Jesus Christ? | Part 1 | Matthew 24:1-36

How Do You Prepare for the Return of Jesus Christ? | Matthew 24:1-36

Darien Gabriel

Series: All!

• Jesus has all authority,

• So that all nations

• Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “How do you prepare for the return of Jesus Christ?”

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-36

Bottom line: In light of Jesus’ 2 prophecies, Jesus calls us to prepare for his imminent return.

1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:

1. What differentiates unhelpful speculation from a sincere desire to understand our future hope?

2. Summarize the overarching point of Matthew 24:1-36 in one or two sentences.

3. What factors make it difficult to determine the timing and the relationship between the destruction of Jerusalem and Jesus' second coming?

4. How should we respond to those who take a different view of prophecies such as those we read in Matthew 24?

5. Explain how this passage points us away from sinful, short-term pleasures.

6. How does this text speak to the authority and divinity of Jesus Christ?

7. What kind of treatment should believers expect as they await Christ's return?

8. What does it look like for followers of Christ to be eagerly watching for Jesus and urgently working for His kingdom purposes?

9. As it concerns Jesus' return, which truths in this passage should discourage us from date-setting or from making rash judgments based on current events?

10. How should the second coming of Christ inform our witness in the world?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. Jesus is coming back to establish his eternal reign on earth.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. So that they will make sure that they are ready for his return.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. 1) Get ready for his return, 2) Help others do the same.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because their eternal destiny is cast in stone once Jesus returns.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. 1) Repent and believe the gospel, 2) Lead others to do the same.

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Today we will answer the question: How do I prepare for the return of Jesus?

Illustration (RC Sproul):

“Imagine that you are part of my congregation at Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida. One Sunday morning, when I step into the pulpit to deliver my sermon, you hear me give the following statement:

“Last night I received a special revelation from God. I was given a vision in which God told me things that will shortly come to pass. Sometime within the next twelve months, the United States of America will fall as a nation. The Capitol Building and the White House will be destroyed. The union of the fifty states will be dissolved. America as an independent nation will be no more. I do not know the exact date. I cannot tell you the day, the week, or even the month. But I know that within the next twelve months, all these things will come to pass.”

I suggest this hypothetical scenario as a way to help you put yourself in the place of Jesus’ disciples, who heard Him speak the words in the texts of Matthew 24 that we are considering in this chapter, as well as the whole sum and substance of the Olivet Discourse, which is found in all three of the Synoptic[…]”

Excerpt From, Matthew - An Expositional Commentary, R.C. Sproul

David Platt asks us several questions to consider:

1. Are we ready for whatever may happen in our life this week or in the next year?

2. Are we prepared for what may happen in the world in the next 10 years?

3. Are you absolutely certain of where your life will be in eternity?

SERMON OUTLINE

I. Context

A. Jesus is just days from the cross.

B. Jesus shocks the disciples talking about 2 prophesies

1. AD 70

2. His return in the future

II. Jesus shares 12 imperatives they should observe as they await the fulfillment of his prophecies.

A. “Watch out” (4)

B. “Not alarmed” (6)

C. “Flee to the mountains” (16)

D. “Let no one go down” (17)

E. “Let no one go back” (18)

F. “Pray” (20)

G. “Do not believe it” (23)

H. “Do not go out” (26)

I. “Do not believe it” (26)

J. “Learn this lesson” (32)

III. Jesus shares lesson from fig tree.

IV. Jesus’ words are eternally trustworthy.

Conclusion

Bottom line: In light of Jesus’ 2 prophecies, Jesus calls us to prepare for his imminent return.

Are you ready for his return?

1. Repent and believe. The first way to prepare is to trust Jesus’ words, ways and works. That is the good news of the kingdom that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. To rest in that for our eternal security.

2. Obey, pray and discern. The second way is to obey his words, pray as he directs, and hear what other people are saying about him with great discernment.

Pray

Notes

“When” is the return or second coming of Jesus Christ is the most asked question by far.

https://answerthepublic.com/p3eqcg/reports/b0570fee-4245-4ef4-bce0-593a2362d8fe/edit?recently_searched=true

David Platt’s notes

I. Trust in the Authority of Christ.

A. Understanding the text.

1. Prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.

2. Prophecy concerning the return of Jesus.

B. Applying the text.

1. The things of this world are passing.

2. The truth of his word is permanent.

II. Persevere in the Power of Christ.

A. Followers of Jesus will face deception.

B. Followers of Jesus will face tribulation.

1. Christians are not saved from trials.

2. Christians are saved through trials.

C. Followers of Jesus will face temptation.

D. Followers of Jesus will face persecution.

1. Persecution inevitably follows kingdom proclamation.

2. Proclamation ultimately results in kingdom consummation.

III. Long for the Coming of Christ.

A. He came the first time lying in a manger; He will come the second time riding on the clouds.

B. He came the first time in humility to provide salvation; He will come the second time in glory to execute judgment.

C. Christians confidently watch: His timing will confound our wisdom.

D. Christians patiently wait: His return will exceed our expectations.

Ex. Christians urgently work: His church (our lives!) will accomplish his mission.

“His return will exceed our expectations.

We've all been hopeful for some thing or some anticipated event, waiting eagerly to experience it, only to be deeply disappointed when it didn't meet our expectations. It will not be so with the second coming of Christ. Our words are inadequate to describe the glory of what that scene will be like, as well as all that will unfold in the days to come after that. In The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis gives us a rich, imaginative picture of what that eternal state will be like. He ends the last book in the series like this:

‘As Aslan spoke, he no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.’

For believers, the return of Christ and the end of this world will be the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21-22). While waiting and watching confidently, Christians urgently work. We fight deception and temptation, we persevere through tribulation, and we…”

David Platt, Matthew, P. 323

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

What Can I Learn from Jesus' Warnings about Spiritual Hypocrisy and Blindness? | Matthew 23:13-39

What Can I Learn from Jesus' Warnings about Spiritual Hypocrisy and Blindness? | Matthew 23:13-39

Darien Gabriel

Series: All!

• Jesus has all authority,

• So that all nations

• Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “What can I learn from Jesus’ warnings about spiritual hypocrisy and blindness?”

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-39

Matthew 7:21-23

Last week we said, Jesus says the antidote to hypocrisy, pride and sin is to humble yourself and serve one another.

This week we’ll say, Bottom line: Humble yourself and ask God to open your eyes that you may see and repent of your spiritual condition.

1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:

1. Even for unbelievers, hypocrisy is despised. Why do you think this is? Define hypocrisy.

2. Why is it not enough simply to be sincere in what you believe? How does this passage serve as a warning in this regard?

3. Compare Matthew 23 to the teaching about faith and works in James 2:14-26 and the necessity of righteousness in 1 John 3:4-10.

4. What is the difference between strong, biblical leadership and leadership that is self-promoting? How might these principles apply to Christians who aren't spiritual leaders?

5. What other sins does pride lead to? How can you fight against a proud heart? Can you think of any relevant biblical passages?

6. What does it mean to neglect the "more important matters of the law" (v. 23)?

7. If purity begins in the heart, then what should our fight against sin look like?

8. In what ways do you see yourself in Jesus' indictment of the Pharisees? Be specific.

9. What counsel would you offer to someone who is not sure whether his faith is genuine?

10. How can we be diligent about holiness without being overly introspective and without expecting perfection?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Today we will answer the question: What lessons can we learn from Jesus’ warnings about spiritual hypocrisy and blindness?

Story/Illustration

I saw a tweet last week that showed me both sides of this pride/humility dynamic.

The first picture is of a line of 900 people hiking along a ridge to summit Mt. Everest. Most paying $50k to have a Sherpa (a Himalayan with exceptional mountaineering expertise and skill often hired to help others summit Mt Everest) personally help them succeed. Many doing this for personal glory (competition/pride). The comment by the tweeter was that the huge numbers put more people at risk to death than ever before.

The second picture is of Gelje Sherpa leading his client towards the top when he comes across someone laying on the ground dying. He’s only 500 yards from the summit. This Sherpa, on a job helping his client survive the same climb, runs over, wraps the man in a sleeping mattress, gives him oxygen (of which his client might need), put him on his back, and then hiked him down the mountain, a trip that took 6 hours.

The first picture is one of pride. The second, one of humility. We don’t know how many people walked past the guy on the ground. And I’m guessing few of those people could have carried anyone down with the incredible challenge that it is just to summit and descend Mt Everest without dying yourself. But to add the weight of a full grown man to your load…

I think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Who didn’t walk past the dying man on the road but instead, at great personal cost and risk of life, helped this man recover. He saw this man and humbly saw his neighbor in need and helped him.

Questions we should ask ourselves:

1. Are we hindering people’s salvation? (13-15)

1. By not practicing what we preach/teach.

2. By encouraging people to follow our ways instead of His ways.

2. Are we more concerned with biblical minutiae than we are practical ministry? (16-24)

1. Do we justify sin according to our traditions or current cultural mores or do we flee sin according to God’s truth?

2. Do we pride ourselves on following convenient laws or do we spend ourselves expressing costly love?

3. These are the “more important matters of the law.” (23:23)

1. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; Plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

2. “…And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” ‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

3. Are we focused on outward cleanliness or inward holiness? (25-28)

4. Are we sincerely following a religion but not a relationship with Jesus Christ? (29-36)

5. 3 Certainties

1. The condemnation of sinners is imminent.

2. The salvation of sinners is possible.

3. The exaltation of Jesus is guaranteed. The question is…

6. Will you see him as your consuming judge or welcomed king`? (37-39)

Conclusion

This week we’ll say, Bottom line: Jesus is a consuming judge and good king. The question is how does my life see him?

You Can Change

There was a woman who lived on the streets near our church. She would ask for money and react aggressively to those who refused. When she died, I took the funeral. I discovered afterwards that this woman had inherited a large fortune. She had acquired a luxurious flat and many valuable paintings, but she chose to live on the streets with her plastic bags full of rubbish. She could not bring herself to leave behind the life she knew and she never enjoyed her inheritance. Some people are afraid of change, while others believe change is not possible. Yet the wonderful news is that with God’s help *you can change*. This change is key to spiritual life, growth and transformation. It is not just about changing our actions or appearance; we need to change on the inside – we need a change of *heart*. How can this happen?

Applies to

1. Church leaders

2. The rest of ya’ll (ROY bus); how?

1. Hide under the shelter of Christ’s mercy (hen’s wings)

2. Walk in surrender to Christ’s authority.

3. Proclaim the supremacy of Christ’s glory.

What lessons can we learn from Jesus’ warnings about spiritual hypocrisy and blindness?

That we all have a tendency towards pride

We all have our blind spots

We tend to ignore what’s happening on the inside while pretending on the outside

We all tend to major on the easier parts and ignore the more costly way

We not only keep others from Christ, we ignore him as well.

Where’s our heart today? Are we more like those who pridefully summit Mt. Everest for personal glory? Or are will more like the Sherpa who served and loved his neighbor as himself?

What about us?

What is God saying to you?

What are you going to do about it?

Write it down right now.

Pray

Other

And then he closes with something paradoxical. He says, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret” (Ephesians 5:11–12). So, there’s a way to expose the sins of the world without being verbally contaminated. “It’s shameful even to speak of them,” Paul says. Which I think means it’s shameful to find pleasure in talking about them, lingering over them with excessive attention. It is possible to find pleasure — we’re just so deceived on things like this; we can deceive ourselves so easily — in talking about the things we hate. Isn’t that awful? It’s possible to find pleasure in talking about the things we hate. God doesn’t want this. That’s not good.

So, the right way to summarize that paradox would go something like this, I think: Expose, but don’t gloat. Expose, but don’t linger. Expose, but weep. Expose, but pray. Expose, but don’t grovel in the mire, even in the name of mocking the mire. Some people think they’re justified in lingering in the mire by spending a lot of time finding clever ways to put it down. Expose, but then return quickly to the clean, clear, holy, happy air of the mountains of Christ’s fellowship.

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/dangers-in-exposing-cultural-sins

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB)

How Do I Stop My Hypocrisy? | Matthew 23:1-12

How Do I Stop My Hypocrisy? | Matthew 23:1-12

Darien Gabriel

Series: All!

• Jesus has all authority,

• So that all nations

• Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “How do I stop my hypocrisy?“

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Bottom line: Jesus says the antidote to hypocrisy, pride and sin is to humble yourself and serve one another.

1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:

1. Even for unbelievers, hypocrisy is despised. Why do you think this is? Define hypocrisy.

2. Why is it not enough simply to be sincere in what you believe? How does this passage serve as a warning in this regard?

3. Compare Matthew 23 to the teaching about faith and works in James 2:14-26 and the necessity of righteousness in 1 John 3:4-10.

4. What is the difference between strong, biblical leadership and leadership that is self-promoting? How might these principles apply to Christians who aren't spiritual leaders?

5. What other sins does pride lead to? How can you fight against a proud heart? Can you think of any relevant biblical passages?

6. What does it mean to neglect the "more important matters of the law" (v. 23)?

7. If purity begins in the heart, then what should our fight against sin look like?

8. In what ways do you see yourself in Jesus' indictment of the Pharisees? Be specific.

9. What counsel would you offer to someone who is not sure whether his faith is genuine?

10. How can we be diligent about holiness without being overly introspective and without expecting perfection?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. That Jesus warns us about hypocrisy (in us and others) and gives us the antidote.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. To become more self-aware about how insidious hypocrisy, pride and sin really are.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Humble themselves before the Lord and each other through repentance, faith, and serving one another instead of pursuing greatness as the world defines it.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because God will humble those who exalt themselves, but he will exalt those who humble themselves.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. They

1. Confess their own hypocrisy, pride and sinful attitudes, words, and actions.

2. Repent of this sin and turn back to Jesus for forgiveness and restoration.

3. Humble themselves further by making it a priority to serve others where they live, work, learn and play.

4. Lead others to do the same.

OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Today we will answer the question: How do I stop my hypocrisy?

Story/Illustration

CS Lewis describes how insidious competition can be as seen in how competitive we are and why:

In his well-known book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis devotes an entire chapter to pride. He calls pride, or self-conceit, "the great sin." Lewis says, "If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed" (Lewis, Mere Christianity, 114). He then provides the remedy for pride: "If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud" (Lewis, 114). Finally, it is relevant for our purposes to see how Lewis links pride with competition:

Now what you want to get clear is that pride is essentially competitive is competitive by its very nature. ... Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others. If every one else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about. It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. (Lewis, 110)

This terrifies me when I think about how competitive I can be. It explains why competition feels so personal too.

Think about how we pull for our favorite school or team in athletics or anything really. We don’t just want our team to win. We want to bask in the glow of that victory in front of others (as if we did anything to make it happen).

Think about winning a board game. If you win, you did better than everyone else around the table. Your level of how much you care about that speaks to your level of pride. Because does it really matter whether you stomp somebody at a hand of Uno or not? Really!

Pride leads us to do more terrible things than that. It leads to thinks like hypocrisy. To pretend to be someone we’re not. Because we’re competing with others to be seen as relevant, popular, respectable, successful, etc. This is pride at work. And we’re all poisoned by it. The question is are we taking the antidote? Are we applying the best medicine we can to overcome it?

Hypocrisy is pretending to be someone you’re not. It originally referred to actors on a stage wearing masks in a play. It has taken on the additional meaning of people who do this in real life. Most often, it’s used in the negative sense to refer to people who are pretending to be someone better than they believe they so that people will accept them more readily.

Jesus warns the crowds and the disciples of this disease called hypocrisy for at least two reasons:

1. Because their religious leaders were extremely hypocritical and unaware of it’s sinfulness.

2. Because they (we) are all infected by this very same disease/poison.

So, how do we stop our hypocrisy?

Outline

I. What’s the disease? 23:1-10

A. Who’s this to? Crowds and his disciples.

B. Who’s this about? Teachers of the Law and Pharisees.

C. What’s this about? Their hypocrisy as seen in…

1. Their big mouths (2-4)

1. Good: They teach the word of God, which we all should hear and obey.

2. Bad: They take away from the word by not obeying what they teach. (Hypocrisy)

3. Bad: They add to the word their own rules and refs further burdening already burdened people without helping them deal with it.

2. Their big heads (5-7): Pride on display: Everything they do is to be seen.

1. They proudly display their obedience for all to see.

1. Phylacteries

2. Tassels

2. They love

1. Place of honor at banquets/parties

2. Best seat in synagogue

3. Greeted with respect in public

1. Titles can make us look more godly

2. Titles can make others look less equal

3. There’s just one teacher and head—Jesus Christ

II. What’s the remedy? 23: 11-12

A. Humble yourself and serve one another…(11-12)

1. 1 Principle: “The greatest among you will be your servant.”

2. 2 Motives:

1. “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and…”

2. “…those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

3. 3 Steps:

1. Confess their own hypocrisy, pride and sinful attitudes, words, and actions.

2. Repent of this sin and turn back to Jesus for forgiveness and restoration.

3. Humble themselves further by making it a priority to serve others where they live, work, learn and play.

4. 4th Step: How do we keep from relapsing?

1. Lead others to do the same (steps 1-3)

Conclusion

Bottom line: Jesus says the antidote to hypocrisy, pride and sin is to humble yourself and serve one another.

I saw a tweet last week that showed me both sides of this pride/humility dynamic.

The first picture is of a line of 900 people hiking along a ridge to summit Mt. Everest. Most paying $50k to have a Sherpa (a Himalayan with exceptional mountaineering expertise and skill often hired to help others summit Mt Everest) personally help them succeed. Many doing this for personal glory (competition/pride). The comment by the tweeter was that the huge numbers put more people at risk to death than ever before.

The second picture is of Gelje Sherpa leading his client towards the top when he comes across someone laying on the ground dying. He’s only 500 yards from the summit. This Sherpa, on a job helping his client survive the same climb, runs over, wraps the man in a sleeping mattress, gives him oxygen (of which his client might need), put him on his back, and then hiked him down the mountain, a trip that took 6 hours.

The first picture is one of pride. The second, one of humility. We don’t know how many people walked past the guy on the ground. And I’m guessing few of those people could have carried anyone down with the incredible challenge that it is just to summit and descend Mt Everest without dying yourself. But to add the weight of a full grown man to your load…

I think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Who didn’t walk past the dying man on the road but instead, at great personal cost and risk of life, helped this man recover. He saw this man and humbly saw his neighbor in need and helped him.

What about us?

What is God saying to you?

What are you going to do about it?

Write it down right now.

Pray

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB)

How Will You Respond? | Matthew 20: 17-19

How Will You Respond? | Matthew 20: 17-19

Ken Dorrity

How Will You Respond?

Matthew 20:17-19

Matthew 16: Christ first prediction of his death followed by Peter’s shocked response.

Christ second prediction of his death in Matthew 17 followed by the disciples being greatly distressed. (Not focusing on Jesus stating he would rise again).

Christ third prediction of his death Matthew 20:17-19 followed by the disciples seeking position and power. It was like they had become numb to Jesus’ message.

Shocked to distressed to glory seeking. May we not tire or miss the Gospel in our lives as we reflect upon the cross and the resurrection.

What Does Jesus Say About Marriage, Divorce, & Singleness? | Matthew 19:1-12

What Does Jesus Say About Marriage, Divorce & Singleness? | Matthew 19:1-12

Darien Gabriel

Series: All!

• Jesus has all authority,

• So that all nations

• Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “What does Jesus say about Marriage, Divorce & Singleness?” (Darien Gabriel)

Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12 NIV cf. Deut. 24:1-4 NIV

Heavily indebted to Douglas Sean O’Donnell’s commentary for this message. (See below)

Bottom line: Jesus calls us to submit our already high view of marriage and singleness to our highest aim or devotion: Kingdom First.

1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discussion questions for group and personal study.

Reflect and Discuss

1. List some ways that our culture's view of marriage is unbiblical (think TV, radio, advertising, etc.).

2. Why is it crucial to begin our discussion on marriage with God's design in Genesis? Discuss the idea that divorce is fundamentally an offense against God.

3. What wrong messages about Christ and His redemption are communicated to the world when Christians don't obey God's Word concerning marriage and divorce?

4. How can churches show both tenderness and courage in confronting the issue of divorce?

5. Why was the Pharisees' questioning misguided and wrongly

motivated?

6. If a friend asked, "When is it OK to get a divorce?" how would you answer?

7. Why is it so crucial for Christians to take the approach that we ought to be looking for every opportunity to reconcile?

8. What are practical steps to strengthen an existing marriage?

9. What does it mean practically for a single person to maximize his singleness?

10. What counsel would you give to someone who had been divorced and who thought their usefulness in God's kingdom had ended?

How would you counsel someone who had abandoned a spouse?

11. How might a wrong view of marriage and divorce be a precursor to other issues in society such as homosexuality, abortion, etc.?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Weekly questions I answer in preparation for the sermon:

Q. What do I want you to know?

A. That marriage, divorce, and singleness are all to be viewed in light of our highest pursuit: the kingdom of God.

Q. Why?

A. Because in God’s economy, the kingdom is most valuable. (Treasure hidden in a field; “Seek first…”)

Q. What do I want you to do?

A. Submit our highest view of marriage and singleness to the ultimate agenda of the kingdom of God.

Q. Why?

A. Because God’s agenda should be his followers agenda. “All!”

OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Not long ago, several of the elders and our wives were together and it came up that this passage on marriage and divorce was coming soon. One of the wives gave a quick sermon outline that I loved:

Wives’ Sermon outline in 3 steps:

1. Select well

2. Stay together

3. Say your sorry

Bottom line: Jesus calls us to embrace his already high view of marriage and singleness making it our highest devotion: to King & Kingdom First.

Pharisees ask 2 questions:

1. Question 1: Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause? (3)

1. Nerve—

1. Context

• Jesus just taught about forgiveness at the end of Matthew 18

• Jesus leaves Galilee marking the end of his significant Galilean ministry which began in 4:12 to “the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.”

• He’s moving towards Jerusalem. (16:21; cf. 20:17)

• He’s moving towards the cross and ultimate act of forgiveness.

• But first he stops and heals the crowds. Multiple crowds. That’s crowds plural!

• It’s after all of this healing that the Pharisees show up. Blind men with deaf and dumb question.

• Finally, his context is our highest devotion is for our king and his kingdom; even his high view of marriage and singleness fall behind that.

2. Do you see the nerve of this question?

1. Instead of asking, “Where do your miraculous powers come from?” They ask about divorce.

2. Instead of asking, “Tell us more about this death and resurrection business.” They ask about divorce.

3. Instead of asking, “Are you the Messiah, the promised one?” They ask about divorce.

4. These were audacious, wicked questions.

2. Nature—

1. These men were trying to test, tempt and trap Jesus.

2. Tricky question. They were inviting Jesus to pick a side and then pay the consequences.

1. Debate centered on interpretation of Deut. 24:1 and “some indecency” or “anything indecent” or “Any and every reason”

1. Conservative view (Shammai): taught that God required divorce for sexual unfaithfulness (adultery) focused on the word “indecent” or “reason”

2. Liberal view (Hillel): taught that God required divorce for “anything” or “any and every reason” in his wife. This could include any trivial reason like burning toast.

2. They know he’s on the conservative side of things on this issue based on Matt 5:31-32 in the sermon on the mount where he taught that lust = spiritual adultery. And that’s what they want..

3. Scenarios

1. Best case: if he sides with the conservatives perhaps he will suffer the fate of John the Baptist. (Remember his beheading and why? Conservative views on marriage and divorce)

2. Worst case: (still good for them) is that he falls into the next trap, their follow-up question about Deut. Ah, he’s a lawbreaker then! He disregards Moses. Either way, they think they have him. He either angers the powerful or the pious, or both the power and the pious.

2. Answer 1: “Haven’t you read…” (4-6) 2 Observations:

1. Jesus goes to the Bible for his answer.

1. He goes to Genesis—not the last word on marriage but the most foundational.

2. He challenges their basic Bible knowledge on the A, B, C’s of marriage. Letter A: God intended marriage between man and woman for life. There was no provision for divorce in paradise.

3. His brief commentary on Genesis emphasizing God-ordained unity: “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

4. In 4-6 “Jesus could have emphasized the equal image of the sexes, that both man and woman are made in the image of God. That’s true, but that’s not the issue at hand.”

5. Or he could have emphasized the concept of heterosexual monogamy (one man and one woman)—that these texts teach against both polygamy and homosexuality. That’s true, but again that’s not the issue at hand here. Neither fits in God’s original intent for marriage.

6. “Rather, he emphasizes God-ordained unity.

1. “be united to his wife” (5)

2. “One flesh” (5)

3. “No longer two,” (6)

4. “but one flesh” (6)

5. “Let no one separate” (6)

6. Unity, unity, unity, unity, and unity—obvious theme.

7. Not so obvious, God is the focus here.

1. While Genesis speaks of man’s action “a man will leave his father and mother…”

2. Jesus speaks of God’s action “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

1. It is God who brings people together into holy wedlock.

2. EHarmony at it’s best—E is for Elohim:-) (Hebrew for God)

3. God brings them together and doesn’t want man to separate what God has brought together—a physical and metaphysical new creation—one man/woman/flesh.

1. That’s God’s math: 1 + 1 + 1 = 1 (Trinity)

2. Marriage: 1 + 1 = 1 (Marriage)

2. Jesus gives a divinely inspired purpose statement on marriage.

3. Question 2 & Answer 2

1. Question: “Why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

1. They’re trying to prove their point that Jesus’ view of divorce is not Moses’ view.

2. Jesus responds offering 2 corrections and 1 command.

1. First correction: Moses didn’t command divorce, but rather he allowed it. (7-8)

1. NT Wright illustration: “Just as a car is made to drive safely on the road, not to skid around colliding with other cards, so marriage was made to be a partnership of one woman and one man for life, not something that could be split up and reassembled whenever one person wanted it…Moses didn’t say, as it were, ‘when you drive your car, this is how to have an accident’; rather, ‘when you drive a card, take care not to have an accident; but if, tragically, and accident occurs, this is how to deal with it.’”

2. Moses didn’t command, “go wreck your car and get a new one.” Rather, he saw all the car wrecks and felt compelled to write some rules of the road. He tried to regulate the wrecks.

3. Specific law: “If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.” Deut 24:1-4 NIV

2. Second correction: “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard.” (8)

1. Two wills of God:

1. God’s idea will—the original intention of marriage advocated in Genesis “from the beginning” and

2. God’s allowed (permissive) will—the necessary regulations due to human sin.

2. Notice Jesus’ use of “You” and “Your”

1. He doesn’t say “our” like a preacher would say—“it’s due to our sin”

2. He doesn’t say “their” referring only to the men of Moses’ day.

3. He says “your,” excluding himself (sinless savior) and including these Pharisees in the sins of their forefathers. Their hard-heartedness runs in the family.

4. Marriage is not the problem.

5. Hard-hearted men (and let’s add women, to be fair) are the problem. You and I are the problem. Not marriage.

6. Take away hard-heartedness and you can take away all divorce laws, attorneys, courts and settlements.

7. Oh that we would think first of Genesis and not Deuteronomy!

3. One Command: “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (9)

1. What’s surprising about this? Surprise 1: That, after vv. 4-6 & 8, Jesus allows for divorce at all.

2. He seems to balance the 2 wills of God.

1. He hates divorce—it’s never desirable. (Malachi)

2. But, he allows divorce.

3. Surprise 2: Jesus’ authority.

1. “The Bible says…” (4-5)

2. “The Bible says…” (8)

3. “I tell you” (9)—Remember, Jesus has “All” authority. (28:18-20)

4. Jesus is the greater Moses, greater Bible/word, greater authority!

4. Exception clause:

1. First, let’s read the command without the exception, “Anyone who divorces his wife…and marries another commits adultery.” (9)

1. Jesus is clear: To divorce your spouse (for any reason you can come up with) and marry another is to commit adultery. That behavior, so common in our culture, is clearly against Christ’s command.

2. But—adding the exception clause back in—if your spouse has been sexually immoral, you can get a divorce. It’s not required but it is permitted.

4. 4 Questions:

1. Question 1: What is meant by “sexually immorality” (porneia)?

2. Answer: “Sexual intercourse that is contrary to the moral standards of OT law—e.g. incest, bestiality, homosexuality, fornication, and adultery. In our context it primarily but not exclusively refers to adultery—that is, having sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse.”

3. Question 2: Why is adultery the one exception?

4. Answer: “Because adultery is the one sin that tears apart the “one flesh” Jesus talked about in 5-6. According to the OT law, the punishment for adultery was death (Deut 22:22). Death—that’s the end of the marriage. In Roman culture (and Jewish culture) at that time of Jesus, this punishment was not in place. So Jesus puts something similar in place: adultery = (in some cases and in many cases) death, the death of the marriage via divorce.”

5. Question 3: Is adultery the only exception?

6. Answer: It is here. However, in 1 Cor 7:15 Paul adds another exception in a very different context. He allows divorce for abandonment often called “willful desertion.”

7. Question 4: Does the sin of adultery (or any other grave sin) necessitate divorce?

8. Answer: Certainly not. Why not?

1. The lesson of Matthew 18 just prior is to forgive (70x7) because God forgave you for much more.

2. If adultery occurs, you have 2 choices:

1. Divorce. He/she has broken the “one flesh” covenant. It’s the death penalty.

2. Forgive. “To re-embrace the repentant, to offer anew the gospel of forgiveness—70x7 forgiveness for a zillion-dollar debt.”

9. For all your questions not answered here

1. Think Genesis: Be united as one flesh. Hold fast to one another.

2. Think Gospel: Forgive one another.

3. Think Goal: What God has joined together, let no one separate.

4. Higher View of the Kingdom

1. Pharisees seem to disappear.

2. Disciples step up and say, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

1. Chauvinists? “If I can’t get rid of this woman whenever and for whatever, then why marry in the first place?” Perhaps

2. Realists? “What marriage is so great that it lasts a lifetime? Come on, Jesus, lighten up.” Perhaps

3. Clueless? Their track record on the teachings of Jesus is pretty clear.

3. What’s unexpected is how Jesus shifts the conversation from marriage to singleness. He doesn’t reply to their comment.

4. “Instead, he gives a eulogy for eunuchs, a tribute to single-minded singles:”

5. A eunuch is someone who is single and not sexually active for one of 3 reasons:

1. Natural (born that way)

2. Unnatural (someone made that way), or this new category Jesus has introduced, which we’ll call

3. Willfully or Volitionally (someone who desires to be that way or stay that way) for the gospel/kingdom.

6. But his point is grander than “Esteem and embrace the gift of singleness.” “His point is this: The kingdom of heaven is so important that it should seem perfectly normal if someone would want to give up marriage for it.” P. 543

5. Context:

1. “Jesus teaches that you can’t have too high a view of marriage. It is so high the disciples are taken aback by it.”

2. “But in vv. 11-12 he adds that however high your view of marriage is, your view of the kingdom ought to be far higher.”

3. “The Church misses the point when we make marriage the point.” -543

4. Marriage & Singleness from a Kingdom Perspective (God’s perspective)

1. 16: self denial and cross bearing

2. 18:21-35 Forgiveness

3. 19:1-9 Marriage

4. 19:10-12 Singleness, but more on single-minded devotion to the king and his kingdom gospel mission

5. First focus: Always the Gospel.

1. Not against focusing on the family. He started there in v. 1

2. “But he is against focusing on the family or marriage or work or money or house or land or anything else ahead of the kingdom. Gospel first; everything else second—that’s his motto, and that’s his model.”

3. That’s how he lived

1. Denied himself marriage and the pleasures of marriage

1. Companionship

2. Physical intimacy

3. Children

2. “For the spread of the kingdom of heaven on earth. He was a eunuch for the kingdom.”

4. And He calls those who can to do the same.

5. And He calls those who can’t do the same to want the same “for the sake of the kingdom.” “Seek first…”

Conclusion

Bottom line: Jesus calls us to embrace his already high view of marriage and singleness making it our highest devotion: to King & Kingdom First.

1. Raise your view of marriage to God’s original design and intent.

2. Raise your view of singleness to God’s original purpose.

3. Raise your devotion for what matters most to God: His kingdom mission.

4. Find forgiveness and freedom from guilt in these words either by

1. Recognizing that you may not be guilty of anything, or

2. Confessing, repenting and receiving his merciful forgiveness for your sin of an unbiblical divorce.

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB)