Romans 2:1-17 Works and Conscience Adrian M

Romans is the first place a person needs to look for doctrine on salvation. The full doctrine of the true Christian faith. What we believe and why we believe. Rom 1:18-32 gives us the true nature of sin. No one has an excuse.

The sinner from birth is spiritually dead, self-destructive and divine justice is certain. Spiritual death leads to physical death and finally eternal condemnation.

Romans is a call for all believers to spread the gospel, pray earnestly for our city, country and our families to escape the wrath that is to come. Last week was depressing but it is only going to get worse. The truth hurts.

2: 1-4, we have no excuse. A promise that God will repay each person to the deeds we have done. The state of all unbelievers.

The world objects to being judged. Who are we to pass judgement on someone else? But God continually judges the evil deeds of the self-righteous and proud. The world thinks everyone is basically good but are we really a good person. Have we ever stolen something....have you ever taken a sick day without genuine need. That makes us a thief. Are you a liar....?

People are not good. We are thieving lying blasphemers. Everyone.

2: 7-11. There is a false conception of what justice really is. People think that justice is modelled by Lady Justice where the good endeavours of life tip the balance in a person’s favour. Reward from works. Do more good than bad, but most believe they just have to do enough to keep the balance level but this is not God's justice. Religious adherence and practices are also thought to accumulate life, good character credits.

Persistence by doing good. Seeking glory, eternal life. What is God's thought on the matter of doing good.

Ps 53:3  Everyone has turned away, there is no one who does good, not even one.  The natural position of humanity.

We turn away from God. You can only do good if you are a true believer. Everything else is piety and self-deceit.

John 5:23  We must honour the Lord Jesus Christ if we are to get honour, as God will not those who do not honour Jesus.

2 Tim 1:10 Only Jesus brings eternal life, not our goodness or self-promotion and works.

Rom 6:21 Benefits we reap lead to holiness and the result is eternal life. Works cannot reap eternal and holiness because it is only Jesus who can set us free.

Col 2:18 Worship of angels anything other than Christ disqualifies us. False religion. So many cults and religious groups worship things other than Christ.

Rom 2:7 Is not about what the individual brings. We cannot earn our way into heaven. Only those who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

The unbelieving Gentile has a God given conscience. People seek justice because it is in-built to give witness of God's law along with the witness of Creation. The world is full of people seeking justice who

The Jew has the Law and will have to give an account for their keeping and honouring of God's law. The Gentile will be shown to be a law unto themselves.

The Jew has a greater obligation to God because they have the Law but no one is without an excuse. But the believer, when we are the before the Lord, our sin is forgiven. We will be accountable for our performance, how we used the gifts and talents that God has given to us. Fire will tell the quality of each person's work and yet we will be still be saved.

Rom 2 v 17 God will judge rightly.

Our only hope is the Lord Jesus Christ, a body given, blood-shed, a price paid, a rescue offered, a deliverance assured, a redemption gained. We were the living dead without hope but if we are true believers then we await his return and justice from the Throne.

Romans 1:18-32 Jeff Coleman

Jeff outlines this section of Romans with 12 points:

1. Overview of Romans.

2. The Biblical worldview is logical and just. Faith is based on reason and logic.

3. General revelation declares that God exists.

4. We suppress the truth of God. If we let the knowledge of God expand and fill our world we are accountable so man does everything to keep truth constrained. Our reason has been corrupted. Our ability to reason about God correctly is corrupted.

5. Out of our emptiness we create idols to worship because we have to have something to worship. We exchange the truth about God for a lie. We worship the creation rather than the Creator. The most fundamental sin is our refusal to worship the one true creator God who made us; idolatry.

6. We are without excuse. In a courtroom we are unable to speak in our legal defense. We will have nothing to say. Creation puts us on notice, declaring that God exists and we refused to worship God. Through creation God has provided sufficient evidence of Himself to hold us accountable.

7. God's wrath is justified on account of our idol worship and our suppressing the truth. God's holy anger and firm resolve to destroy evil. The exercise of His righteousness and holiness. Always appropriate, measured and proportional because He is righteous and good and just.

8. God actively hands us over to sexual perversion to the dishonoring of our bodies. The just exercise of His wrath. The bad news before the good news of Jesus in Ch 3. The wrath is the handing over to practice of sexual impurity, not the cause of God's wrath.

9. God further hands us over to dishonorable same sex passions. The second 'handing over'. Men and women are inflamed with strong passion and desire but how we carry out these passions can lead to disgrace and dishonor of our bodies.

10. God hands us over to a worthless mind, 3rd handing over’’, to fulfill what ought not to be done. Twenty one different measures of becoming rebellious and evil minded.

Romans 1:29–31

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (ESV)

11. All we can humanly do is to live for today, eat and be merry and hope that God does not exist because we are without excuse or defense. We call evil to be good and good to be evil. We celebrate and approve things that are wrong to avoid being out of step with the decay in society. We want to be seen to be progressive when actually we are approving the regressive.

12. God has provided a way for us to reverse the exchange. Turn from worship of idols to worship the true and living God through faith in Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 1:9-10. We can turn back to worshiping the creator through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Rom 8:1. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans Introduction - Ross

The first of our new series for 2019 reading through Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Editors note that the sound quality here is not high as the recording accidentally came in via a laptop pinhole mic rather than the PA system, so my apologies. It comes with back of church infant noises and door squeaks.

Hebrews 6:4-12 Falling Away

As we work through the Book of Hebrews we come to the controversial and difficult topic of whether a person who has made a profession and walk of faith can, over time, fall away and it be impossible for them to be restored to repentance and lose their salvation.

The text challenges our understanding of the Perseverance of the Saints, John 10:28-29, and yet we can all bring to mind people who no longer walk in fellowship and bear no sign of the Holy Spirit working in their life.

Ross carefully unpacks the verses by going to supporting texts that are clear to help us understand that at the centre of the writer's warning is the neglect of Repentance.

Editor note; apologies for the poor recording quality during the scripture reading (Jacob).

Matthew 28 The resurrection and its significance - Andrew S

We conclude the teaching series on Matthew's gospel on the mountain top of the resurrection of Jesus. Andrew draws out the centrality and basis of our faith as a result of this truth.

When you read the resurrection accounts in all 4 gospels they all highlight different things. Not contradictory but complementary where they differ. By reading all 4 gospels we get a more complete picture of the most important doctrine and truth in Scripture.

The authors of the gospels are not working from just their own knowledge but also testimony of other witnesses.

Andrew harmonises all 4 gospel accounts of the resurrection day, 8 days later with Thomas, and in Acts, 40 days later. Matthew condenses a lot of what we see in the other gospels and appearances. Even pieced together, the gospel accounts don’t give us a whole account of the resurrection.

After Christ’s resurrection for approximately 6 weeks there were many appearances to many people.

Our first emotion when we confront the realities of Christ can be one of fear. When the Lord does what we asked for or what He said He would do, the joy is mingled with fear. An over-awed kind of response seems to be natural when the living God has met us in a personal way.

Jesus appearance is no longer abstract, the disciples were able to hold Jesus’ feet, Mt 28:9-19

Significance and importance of the resurrection:
If there is no resurrection then there is no Christianity, no faith, 1 Cor 15:12. If Christ is not raised then we are of all people to be most pitied.
If Christ didn’t overcome death then what use is He to us. Other teachers had some good ideas but if He hasn’t overcome death then He cannot set us free from the one thing that binds us; our sins that condemn us to death. 2 Cor 5:17. We are new creations.

In Christ on the cross, God was accounting our sins to Jesus so that He could suffer the death due for all the sins. He only was able to carry all of that sin to the grave and to rise again and then reconcile us to God. Because of Christ we can be free of our sin. If Christ died and stayed dead then He was only paying for His own sin but because He rose from death it proves He was sinless and is able to pay the price for our eternal life. Death could not hold him.

Because of this the resurrection is the central pillar of our faith. It is able to impute righteousness to our account because God so loved the world. Righteousness is credited to us for eternity because of the resurrection. The central pillar of our faith.

This is why people try to destroy this truth. Mt 28:11  Attempts to create untruth and lies. The guards were most likely to be temple guards, not Roman soldiers because if soldiers on watch fell asleep then that would have meant death to them.

Jesus ends His ministry in Galilee where it started in Mt 4:12. The message has now been opened up to the Gentiles. Go therefore to all nations. Jesus has all authority to tell is to GO. This is not a Jewish message anymore. Galilee is at the outer edge when compared to Jerusalem. The message has spilled over to become a global message. Even in Mt Ch1, the genealogy of Jesus begins with Abraham, not Adam. It was the promise to all peoples. 

Matthew begins with a promise to the whole world and ends with a commission to the whole world.

We are in a sense now in Matthew 29, the discourse after the narrative of Jesus resurrection. We are the living message, teaching the world around us and leading people into a living relationship with Jesus. Jesus is continuing to speak through His word and through His people.

Implications:
1. It is predicated on Jesus authority. I am telling you, “Go”. Sometimes when we share the gospel and make decisions about life choices we fear offending people or disrupting the status quo. Rocking the boat. Family and friends might not be happy but in fact the authority of the Lord is behind the instruction or opportunity. He says do this, go this way, talk to that person. We can rest on the authority of doing what Jesus wants. If the person is offended then that is up to Jesus to look after. Perhaps the person needs to be disrupted. Remember that Jesus can handle the consequences of us obeying the command to make disciples.
We have the liberty to obey. We can wash our hands of the consequences.

2. Go. There needs to be a sense of going in our life. There are go-ers and stayers. Our lives need to always be going forward in Christ. We should not put up barriers on our Christian life and protect what we have. We should always be ready to move forward on the authority of Christ. Be ready to let the word and prayer to overturn our life. We don’t have to move anywhere but always moving forward with the lord in your life. Always trying to live more holy lives or witness to more people. Phil 3:7:15 Pressing forward in the fullest experience with the resurrected living Lord.

3. The promise. Jesus is with us until the end of the age.
Jesus is with you. If we have faith in Jesus, He is with us. Heb 13:6. Now post resurrection the bond with Jesus is unbreakable. Rom 8:31-38. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Post resurrection we get the abiding continuous presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will come and make His home with us.

Therefore, what stops us obeying Christ. What stops us making him our first priority? Let all the consequences fall to Jesus. 
What should we be concerned about when our focus is on Jesus because He lives with us, and in us, because Jesus rose from the grave. Amen!

Matthew 27:27-66 The cross of Christ, the death of the King - John W

John examines the crucifixion: The cross of Christ, the death of the King

This message emphasises the things Matthew has written. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? It was an unjust trial, a cruel execution, a predicted drama (even in the smallest details), a great victory and glorious salvation.

Outline:
The ‘legal process’
The mocking of the King
Being forsaken
The surrounding events where God indicates the significance of what is happening
Surely this was the son of God
Securing the tomb
(Powerpoint notes: Mt27)

Legal process
Jesus was criticised by the authorities for no obeying the  rules or follow the traditions of the elders but they broke 22 of their own rules.

Lesson:
If you are determined to do something, it doesn’t matter what waring signs you get because you do it anyway. Warning signs come ups but you just filter them out.
The 22 broken rules were warning signs to the leaders but they didn’t want to listen.

1. No arrest was to be influenced by a bribe (Ex 23:8) [Judas].
2. No criminal proceedings should be carried out after sunset.
3. The judges (or Sanhedrin members) were not allowed to participate in an arrest.
4. There were to be no trials before the morning sacrifice.
5. All trials had to be in public. There were to be no secret trials [Jesus reminds them ‘I spoke nothing in secret]
6. Sanhedrin trials could only be performed in the Hall of Judgement in the temple compound.
7. The proper procedure was that the defence would be first, and then the accusation (opposite to our legal system).
8. All may argue in favour of acquittal, but not all may argue in favour of conviction (the accused had to have at least one defender).
9. There had to be two or three witnesses whose testimony had to agree in every detail (Deut 19:15).
10. There was to be no allowance for the accused to testify against himself [Caiaphas charges Jesus under oath to do this].
11. The high priest was not to tear his garments (Lev 21:10).
12. Charges could not originate with the judges [The judges accuse him of blasphemy].
13. The accusation of blasphemy was only valid if the name of God was pronounced [Jesus did not use Gods name, forcing them to also break this rule].
14. A person could not be condemned on the basis of his own words. There had to be two witnesses [Matt 26:65 “Why do we need any more witnesses”].
15. The verdict could not be announced at night, only in the day time.
16. In cases of capital punishment the trial and guilty verdict could not occur at the same time. They must be separated by 24 hours.
17. Voting for the death penalty had to be done by individual count, beginning with the youngest.
18. A unanimous decision for guilt shows innocence as it is impossible for 23-71 men to agree without plotting [They all condemned him to be worthy of death].
19. The sentence could only be pronounced three days after the guilty verdict.
19. Judges were to be humane and kind [spat, blindfold, beat].
21. A person condemned to death was not to be scourged or beaten beforehand.
22. No trial was allowed on the eve of the Sabbath or on a feast day.

If God gives you a warning sign, stop. Don’t do it.

Mocking of the King. 
Matthew emphasises the mocking unwittingly fulfils the prophecies of the old testament. Ps 22. They hurl insults. Pierce my hands.
They fulfilled the very words spoken 1000 years before.
Christ is silent. He does not respond. Is 53:7
King fulfils what was predicated. 

Being forsaken.
Outrage…Syrian nerve gas while victims were sleeping. Everyone is waiting for death. What sort of emotion does this horror provoke. Saturated with bad news, how does it make you feel? Angry.
From noon until 3, why have you forsaken me. Deserted, left behind. He became sin for us. Sin is serious. We forget how serious sin is. It is so common place. Through the whole bible narrative the only way to cover sin is with a blood sacrifice. At the cross Jesus took the price of sin upon himself. So that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.
Jesus took the full legal price of sin.

Another warning. A divine book written by the hand of God.
No punishment in Israel where you pierced someones hands and feet when Ps 22:16 was written by David.

Nature acknowledged what was going on even if the people didn’t.  The curtain tearing announced a new way open for those who want to come to God. Anyone can walk in to the holy of holies if they are covered by the blood of Christ.

Consequences of the Cross
Sin is defeated
Death is defeated
Satan is defeated
Jesus is our advocate
The price of our sin has been paid. 
We can be forgiven

We preach Christ crucified

Matthew 27:1-26 Making choices, what to do with Jesus - Sam M

Mt 27:1-26 Making choices: what do I do with Jesus?
A morning like no other.
Abandoned
Death sealed
Denied by Peter 3 times
Committed to destruction.

Ch27 presents Jesus set against back drop of evil
Illegal and unjust trial
Pilot’s cowardice
Herod’s cruelty
Frenzy of the mob

Matthew always presented the Messiah, presenting the King in his majesty purity and perfection. Against all this ugliness, the beauty of Jesus is seen in higher contrast.

The pain of the guilt of Judas. 

Judas had a visual experience of Jesus.  Spat upon, face bruised and beaten, bound, lead away to a man condemned to death.
Why? The leadership would have approved of his action.
Judas is confronted internally by what has been done is wrong because we are all made in the image of God. He knew what he had done was wrong.
Peter denied Christ, but was remorseful and repented and chose a saviour while Judas chose a system.
Judas hanged himself after betraying innocent blood. Against this tragedy the perfection of Jesus shines through.

The guilt of sin can weigh heavily on us. Rom 4. Who will deliver is from this body of death? Who will deliver you from the awful feeling of guilt. The guilt of sin drives us to the Saviour. We are not to seek escape but seek the saviour.

Judas’ Choice
In deciding what to do with Jesus, Judas tried to use Christ as a means for personal gain.

Pilot’s Choice
John 18:28. What accusation do you bring against this man. He took the easy way out and sent him to Herod.

Herod and Pilot became friends, Luke 23:12. Previously enemies but now bond over a common cause. They have a camaraderie of cruelty. As Herod had mocked him then he thought that perhaps Jesus does deserve to die but he cannot pin anything legally on Jesus.

Pilot’s wife, a gentile, even recognised Jesus as a righteous man and prompts Pilot to have nothing to do with the prosecution but instead he trades the life of Jesus for the murderer Barabbas.

We all have a choice as to what to do with Christ. With real choice comes real consequences and the answer to this question determines your eternal destiny.

Matthew 26:36-75 God honouring decisions - Maxon M

Maxon brings a wonderful perspective and story telling to illustrate the issue of our decision making and whether we will submit our will to those of others, even if that comes at a cost to ourselves. The point is exemplified in Jesus submitting totally to the Father in going to the cross to die so that all people might be saved.

He also considers the real life example of Peter who falls and is restored by the Lord. We can identify with Peter, who in one moment claims devotion to and Lordship of Jesus and then in the next moment find ourselves denying Jesus in the face of man's unfavourable option. Repentance is about daily living and stumbling and getting up again and setting our face back toward Jesus in obedience.

We must each day consider the consequences of our decisions regarding our rights, our time, our energy, our resources and think whether it will bring ourselves and others closer to, and into, the Kingdom of God

Matthew 26:1-30 Contrast of Characters - Ross P

Here in Chapter 26 we are presented with the beginning of the last 24 hours of the life of Jesus before His trial and crucifixion. The chapter presents contrasts and illustration on the character of people close to Jesus Christ; from the betrayal by Judas to the devotion and worship of Mary, to the fragile commitment of Peter.

Ross asks what it is in the end that decides what side of the Cross do we fall on, and concludes that it is only by repentance of our sin and faith in the Lord Jesus. While Peter repented, Judas only regretted what he did.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Matthew 25: Be Ready - Geoffrey S Ross P

For the first time in this teaching series we hear from two speakers on Chapter 25. As the end time events were summarised by Ross last week we have incorporated a review of the parables of the Wise and Unwise Virgins and the Talents from Geoffrey, and then Ross concludes the last section of 25 on the final judgement to complete the end time message begun in Ch24.

All three of the end time parables, Wise, Talents and Sheep/Goats deal with being ready or standing in the right place of character and service when Christ returns.  The first two parables challenge us to be:
1. Patient, as if the Lord's return might be long be delayed
2. Prepared, to have attended to the Lord's work and be found in His service
3. Productive, to be using the gifts and talents the Lord has given us to the increase of His Kingdom.

Have you made the decision and bowed at the cross?
Will you be rewarded for using your talent well. Believers will be judged, not for our sin but for how well we have served the Master.

Faith and Works
Do you have any doubt as to whether Faith is justified by Works? Ross unpacks this question to show that what we believe motivates our works.

Where will you stand before the Judgement seat of Christ. Will your own words will condemn you?
Avoidance of God's judgement requires repentance and faith.

Look both up and around because the Lord is returning and there is a judgement coming.

Be ready.

Matthew 24: The Clash of Kingdoms - Ross P

Ross takes us through Matthew 24 and characterises it as the Clash of Kingdoms, the show down. Clash between the leaders of the nation of Israel and the Lord Jesus.  Here, Jesus tells his disciples about the future.

In this final week of the life of Jesus Christ there are three main events, 

1. Cleansing of the temple. ch 21.
2. 3 days of teaching to his opponents. ch 22.
3. Warnings to hypocrites. ch 23.

Ch 24 teaching is about the future. As Jesus left the Temple he predicted that every stone will be thrown down. When will this happen, what will be the sign? Jesus uses a a teachable moment with his disciples. An opportunity to teach the one who asked the question is ready to be instructed.

As Chapter 24 sets out future events we need to ask what is our attitude or reaction is to Prophesy. A word that generates different reactions from some.

1 Scoffers.  Not true, ridiculous!

2 Oh no! A cause of controversy. Frightened of what it can cause, nervous. Avoid at all costs

3. MEGO syndrome, boring, My Eyes Glaze Over? Why bother.

4. Curious. I want to know more.

Why bother with prophesy. Six reasons.

1. Promotes the study of Scripture, Heb 4:12, 30% of your bible is prophetic
2. Prevents ignorance. We need to be aware of things that are to happen
3. Proclaims Christ. Look for Christ in the passages
4. Promises personal benefit.
5. Promotes holy living. Seeing all these things are going to happen, what sort of people ought we to be.
6 Persuades action now. If you know the Lord is coming soon you need to be active now. How should we act in view of what is coming.

Are you ready for the return of Jesus or are you acting like those in the days of Noah? Judgement is coming

How do we change form serving idols to serving God. Repent and turn in faith to Jesus and accept what He did on the cross for your sin

Matthew 23: What Grieves the heart of God - John W

John reviews the Gospel of Matthew up to the conflict scene with the Pharisees, starting in Chapter 21. The message examines the things that grieves the heart of God through the lens of Jesus. Specifically chapter Matt:23 challenges us on actions that:

1. Closes the door to God's Kingdom, v. 13
2. Leading people away from God to be people like the Pharisees, v. 15
3. Following man-made traditions instead of God's Word, v. 16-22
4. Concentrating on the minutia (legalism) and ignoring what is really important; Justice, Mercy and faithfulness, v.23-24
5. Putting on an act so that you look 'right', v.25-26
6. Not addressing the evil on the inside, v.27-28
7. Rejecting and murdering God's prophets and messengers, v.29-36
 

Jonah 4: God who rescues - Simon S

Repentance of the whole city is more profound a miracle than the fish

Jonah knew God would be gracious and merciful and It displeased Jonah exceedingly. He was furious and angry. His worst fear for running away was that he did not want Ninevah to repent. Even if there was a chance of Ninevah repenting then he got as far away as possible. God might even care for these hated people

How could a good God allow such evil people to be forgiven? A God who was full of steadfast love. Ex 34:6 God relented from judging Israel after they made the golden calf.

The same God delivered the enemy of Israel. Spared from the judgment they deserved. Jonah is acting the complete opposite of the God he worshiped. Quick to anger, lacking in grace and mercy, no love for his neighbour and would rather see disaster strike his enemies.

Jonah says I know who you are. I know what you are like but why do you have to show it to them. Why show THEM mercy instead of justice? Why are you showing THEM redemption instead of punishment. Nineveh deserves judgement, not mercy for their evil and their wickedness.

There is offence in the prophet’s voice. Jonah’s hatred is literally killing him inside. Rather be dead than see Ninevah saved. Jonah literally cannot live with this. Fate worse than death. Jonah only a few days earlier prayed salvation belongs to the Lord and was rescued from certain death is now enraged by the sight of salvation and rescue from certain death being shown to his enemies. A hypocrite.

Gods response to Jonah’s cry, are you right to be angry..why do you resent God’s compassion on your enemies?

Jonah went to see what would happen to Ninevah? Maybe they would repent of their repentance? Then he would have been right and justified.

Jonah hangs around to see what happens next. 

Every character in the story so far has repented except Jonah. Jonah is the prophet and yet the furthest away from God. It is the prophet Jonah who needed to be rescued from his understanding to be God’s people. Grace and mercy to Gods people and judgment and wrath to his enemies.

God cares about a city. God shows Jonah how upside down his values are. Learn to show some love and compassion to the Ninevites. Should we be concerned about our city, way more than 120,000 people?

The story is saying something to you the reader. Satire. Humour, irony. All characters act in the opposite way to what you would expect.

When we read Jonah to day it challenges us in the way God loves his enemies. Does it make us more compassionate or angrier. Its easy to point the finger at Jonah, we judge ourselves. We are exceedingly happy when grace is shown to us but not when it is shown to our enemies. Our enemies are not worthy of Gods compassion.

We are the ones needing to be rescued. Who do we deem less valuable of God's love and compassion. God loves his enemies.

What is our attitude to our enemies outside these walls?

What does Jonah say about Jesus?
A gospel story. Both from Galillee, Both in the ground for 3 days and resurrected. Both sent on a rescue mission of salvation and life. Both preached to a great city. Both had something to say to about loving your enemies. Jesus took on judgement deserved by us. Jesus died that we might live.

Jonah is the story about the The God who rescues.

Jonah 3: God who forgives - David W

Jonah tried his best to run from the missionary task God had given him but when he finally confronted the Ninevite people with the warning of impending destruction the fearsome Ninevite people repented.

David asks us to consider where our Ninevah might be and were we fear to go and witness to God's love and grace. He also asks us to consider our own repentance and to turn back to God.

Where in the community are you representing Jesus and forming friendships with people to share the good news with them? We can also be Jonah's to our society and to call out evil and wickedness requiring repentance.

Jonah is a story of grace and repentance that resonates with the world's need today.

Matthew 5:1-20 Sermon on the Mount - Ross P (*new*)

Ross brings to us one of the best know passages in Scripture where Jesus begins to teach the people about the characteristics of being a member of God's Kingdom. The message of the Gospel is that it starts with repentance. 

What does it mean to be blessed. What is happiness? Who has the greatest joy
What does it mean to be salt
What does it mean to be light
What was Jesus relationship to the Law such that he was able to fulfil the law

What makes happiness.  Not a function of a good feeling but living good lives which can include pain. Everyone has a different definition of happiness.

Four levels of happiness. 
Level 1 Immediate need fulfilled, but must be met over and over again.
Level 2, achieving a goal by denying yourself after a period of restraint. Only temporary. The anxiety of not achieving can lead to unhappiness
Level 3 Giving unconditional service and love. Only temporary.
Level 4, knowing God, changes everything and permanent.

Salt. Preservative in society. Flavour our society. Thirst inducer. Creates a desire for the living water that comes from the Lord Jesus. Essential for life. Salt solution used for resuscitation . Are we salty christians with the right level of seasoning. Does our speech always have flavour?

What are you looking for to bring you happiness.

Is our light shining. Are you hiding your light

Do you have a high view of scripture. Does your righteousness exceed the most pious person you know.

Have you been born again?

1 Repent, cannot save ourselves and turn toward God.

2 Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Principles for Giving - 1 Cor 16 : Ross P

Ross concludes our series in 1 Corinthians . The substance of all that Paul has to say is let all things be done in love. Ch 13. We can have all the spiritual gifts and talents but if we have no love then we are nothing.

Ross reminds us of the epistle outline that after establishing the Corinthian church Paul moved to Ephesus, some 200km away. While he was there Chloe’s household made a delegation to him, Ch1. They had concerns for the church over divisions, sexual immorality, law suites, disorder, and denial of the resurrection.

Stephanus also had specific matters, and Paul answered each one with: ‘now concerning’ within the letter. Marriage, food offered to idols, spiritual gifts and the last issue, collections for the saints. What should they do with money that had been given?

Ch 16 contains two sections: collection principles and practice, then some personal comments of greetings and travel plans.
Paul models to us that we should always plan with the thought that our planning will only happen if the Lord permits, Lord willing, deo volante, ‘DV’, vs 7.

Principles for Giving;
We should give regularly, individually, deliberately, purposefully, proportionately, generously, and cheerfully.

1. On the first day of every week. Giving should be regular.
2. Each of you.  Giving is an individual matter.
3. Deliberate. Each of you are to put something aside.
4. Store it up. Giving should be stored for a purpose.
5. As you may prosper. Proportionate to how much you have.
6. Accountability for the use of money. Consider where the money is being used.

Tithing
Ross shows that in Genesis tithing was voluntary. Under the Law of Moses, tithing became compulsory, in addition to voluntary offerings, but in the New Testament, we find no evidence that tithing is required concluding that tithing is not a NT principle. Instead, we need to decide in our heart how much we should give.

The Resurrection - 1 Cor 15 : Andrew S

As we contemplate Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His victory over death comes into focus.  Here in Ch 15, Paul lays out the logical argument for the resurrection and Andrew skillfully takes us through Paul's reasoning.

Rom 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Through a life of sin a wage is owed, and that debt is death.  If Christ died and did not rise again then we would conclude that Christ must have owed a debt. His death would have had to pay his own debt to sin so he couldn’t have paid debt of others. There would be no payment made so we are still our sin, and if we are still in our sin then there is no good news.

But it was not possible for death to hold Christ because he lead a sinless life and owed nothing to sin and therefore Christ can pay our debt. The resurrection of Christ demonstrates that the offering of Christ is effective in carrying away our sin.

Andrew finishes with two reflections on the impact of the resurrection on our life:
1. It changes our identity and heritage in that we no longer are connected to our forebears through the common inheritance that all men die. In the resurrection we become dead to sin and alive to God. Through our kinship in Christ we can daily seek grace from the Father to live a resurrected life.

2. It alters our future and destiny. Imperishable, glorious and powerful. Our destiny.  Death is swallowed up in victory. In a moment corruption becomes incorruptible. In a moment the struggle ends. We can endure. We can hold fast. it is the end of suffering but the beginning of all expansive joy and and thrill in heaven.

Male & Female He Created them - 1 Cor 11 : Ross P

In Chapter 11 Paul commends the Corinthian church for remembering him, and for maintaining the traditions he delivered to them, but he has to rebuke the members for their conduct when they gather together and their approach to the Lord's Supper.

In bringing us God's word Ross address the often heated topic of gender roles in society, and in the church, and shares from his own life experience regarding the changing attitudes he has observed to head covering and gender roles. He explains the distinctions of patriarchal versus matriarchal and egalitarian society, but concludes with the scriptural understanding of a complementarian view of the role of men and women. 

In this message, Ross asks the questions of:

1. Do we accept or resist the gender role God has assigned us?

2. How can we mirror Jesus as we demonstrate the gospel in the role God gives us? As male and female, do we show servant leadership as Jesus submitted to the Father. As male and female we can mirror Jesus.

3. If I disagree with God am I still willing to submit to Him?

4. Do we take the Lord's remembrance supper seriously?

Liberty and Temptation - 1 Cor 10: Geoffrey S

Chapters 7,8,9 looked at our motivation toward the furtherance of the Gospel, and effects our liberty of choices can have on the lives of others. Matters of conscience.  

In Chapter 10 Paul warns the Corinthians about the consequences of indulging their liberty leading to idol worship, sexual immorality and discontentment with God's provision. This is no different for the Church today. Chapters 7,8,9 is about the effects on others while Chapter 10 considers the effects on a christian's walk, holiness and effectiveness for service.

When we are tempted, we need to rely upon Christ for a way of endurance, rather that resisting in our own strength.

We are reminded of the prohibition of bowing down before idols through the example made of Israel in the wilderness, and that God will have no other gods before Him.

Motivation for the Gospel - 1 Cor 9: John W

John considers how our hearts should be motivated by the great Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and how it effects the choices we make.

Ch 7-10 provide principles to live by in areas of uncertainty. They help us live for the Gospel.

Some things we must do; commands of God, laws of the land that we must not breach. A lot of things we have in life we have a choice over. We need principles to guide us on moral issues.

Paul says all things are permissible but not all things are helpful.

1. Ch7 Does this choice help me keep in step with God? Living for the Lord.
Is everything beneficial. All is permissible but not all things are helpful. Will this decision help me walk closer to God?

2. Ch8, food sacrificed to idols. Living for others. Will this decision help other people? Is it good for others.
People can be destroyed by the choice of someone who has greater knowledge.

3. Ch9 Will this choice help or advance the gospel?
We should surrender our rights so that the gospel is not hindered.

4. Will this decision be helpful or advance the gospel. Will it help me in eternity in running for the prize.
All the runners run but only one person wins the prize so run the race in order to win the prize.