Depths of God's Grace (Titus 2:11-14)

Title: Depths of God's Grace

Text: Titus 2:11-14

Sermon Link: Going Deep Through Grace

We need to understand the Gospel and wrestle with how it applies to everyday life.  The Gospel is everything...it isn't just for cracking the door to Heaven open, so that we can get our foot in the door, but rather it is for everyday life...as Tim Keller says: "It's not just the A,B,Cs of Christianity, but rather the A through Z of Christianity."

I used the following video with the below definition of the Gospel....

Opening Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIhGxEdez98

God
Our
Sins
Paying
Everyone
Life

What does it look like to preach the Gospel to yourself?  A good starting place is to ask: "Why do we need God's Grace?" (Verse 11)

One way to clarify this is to ask: Why do you do good works?  Do you do them to earn God's favor?  That isn't how it works...that goes against Scripture...no you do good works, because you have God's favor... We need to own the depth of our sin and live in the depths of God's grace. In the midst of sin there needs to be points in time where we just stop and ask: "Why am I running after that and rejecting the greatness of God and His glory?"  If that doesn't convict you...I as a pastor can't help you...in the end the only hope for you (and me) is the Gospel...apart from Jesus and His righteousness applied to you, God doesn't want you on His team...you can't earn his righteousness...Check out Ephesians 2:8-10...we need God's grace because of the depths of our sin...until you feel the weight of that you will love God little...we need God's grace and we need it every day...

Verse 12 challenges us to be trained by the Gospel...How does the Gospel train you?  We easily fall into the trap where we think: "I'm saved, I'm set...I don't need to be trained...I'm right with God...I'm good."  The Gospel ought to be the good coach training you, motivating you, challenging you, helping you see your weaknesses and then strengthening you, so that you get better...in essence becoming more and more like Jesus, but where many of us get hung up is that we think that the Gospel is only for eternal life...many of us converted to avoid Hell...is the Gospel only for eternal life or is it for everyday life?  Paul is challenging Titus to not forget that it is for everyday life.  It is there to train us and when we start to stray the Gospel should be there to leading us to ask "Why am I trading the glory of Christ for that? Why am I turning my back on God when He loves me deeply? If I turn my back on God and pursue that, it is like another hammer blow on the nails that put Jesus on the cross..."  That should pull us up short...but if we do not preach the Gospel to ourselves daily...how can it train us?  I also expanded on how the Gospel trains us to take our thoughts captive...you'll have to listen find out about that.

Verse 13 challenges us that we ought to be disciplined to wait...is it passive or active waiting?  We are disciplined by the Gospel to wait upon Jesus return...actively.  Our eyes need to be focused on Jesus return...look for and longing for Him...but that isn't a sitting around waiting...marriage becomes an illustration of what it looks like...one individual shared how when they first got married they couldn't wait until their spouse's return...but then over time it changed to "Oh, they're home....can I find a reason to leave now?"  Too many of us are paying lip service to waiting and when the bride groom shows up we'll be caught not ready...no the Gospel preached to ourselves daily should challenge us to actively wait for Him with delight, but we don't just sit there, we go and do the works that are laid out before us...the Kingdom can be experienced now....wherever Jesus went He said "The Kingdom of God is at hand"...guess what He is here and now via the Spirit...that should lead to action...and that should lead us to be disciplined to wait for His full return...

That leads us to verse 14...We are to be purified and zealous for good works...we are to be zealous to be His hands and feet...we have been purified, so that when people brush up against us people should see Jesus...too many of us have too much flesh yet for that too happen...the Gospel purifies us if we allow it...it is how God washes (purifies) our hearts, so that the light of God shines through us so they can see Jesus...but to many are sitting back saying "I've got eternity secure...I don't have to worry about the everyday life."  No Jesus came and paid a price, so that you could be "purified and zealous for good works."

God has called us, equipped us and given us everything that we need in the Gospel...everything...the challenge for us is are we going to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily and allow that to motivate us to line up what our heads know with what our hearts believe and let that lead our hands to action...love God, love others and touch/transform the world.

We closed the service with communion after watching the following video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNVW5iWqzCQ

By His Grace and For His Glory,
PT

2040? (1 John 4:7-14)

Title: 2040?

Text: 1 John 4:7-14

Link: 2040? 1 John 4:7-14

What will 2040 look like?  Do you ever think about that?  It is now 2015 and many of us are left questioning where 2014 went.  But at the end of the 2014 and beginning of 2015 I brought this challenge about what 2040 will look like, b/c if we are going to shape 2040 we will need to make the right investments in 2015.  I also laid out our vision to spur us on to 2040.

So what do you think the church in America will look like in 2040?  Do we really believe that it will look the same as it does today?  Do we really think that we will be meeting in buildings like we do today?

FBC's mission is to "Transform lives for the glory of God"

FBC's vision is "That everyone in the greater Delavan area and beyond has an opportunity to experience a life transforming relationship with Jesus that leads them to love God, love others and touch (or transform) the world.

If we own that vision we better get moving.  We better be asking ourselves "What do we need to be doing to accomplish this."

Here we took a walk through 1 John 4:7-14

Transformation begins in the heart of God...flows to us as demonstrated on the cross...should lead us to loving God, others and testifying about that love.  B/c of God's love your transformation can happen and from there the world.  If you do not understand how much God loves you, you will love Him and others little....

I encourage you to take time to listen and wrestle with these verses.

Application:

1. We are called to radically re-orientate our lives

Our Head, Heart and Hands need to line up.  If our head knowledge lines up with what our hearts believe our hands will be moved to action.

2.  We are called to invest our lives

The deeper you go with God the higher level of commitment...

How old will you be in 25 years?  Who will be the leaders of the church in 25 years?  Many of us at FBC will be in our 60s...who do we need to be investing our lives in now, so that they are ready for leadership in 2040?  Costly choices paid now equals a return in 2040....

We at FBC are in a paradigm shift to becoming a Missional/Incarnational Church.  In that the lowest level of commitment is the Sunday morning Gathering...from there the next level of commitment is being in a Missional Community or Community Group and the deepest level is being in a Life Transformation Group...there is a cost going deeper in that model...but if we radically re-orientate and invest our lives this is the path to depth and the way to accomplish our vision...

3.  We are called to be on mission together

We are sent ones...as sent ones we need to ask some tough questions.  If we were suddenly dropped into Timbucktoo as missionaries what would you do?  You would figure out where the food and restrooms were, seek to learn the language and understand the culture.  The sad thing is that most of us think we understand the culture around us and yet in reality the culture around us is in flux and changing...we need to be asking do we understand it and what do we need to keep doing and what do we need to do differently.  To fulfill our vision we are going to need to ask tough questions.

If we are going to be on mission together we need more individuals to become "Company people."  I do not know how to say it other than that...We are going to need to get on the same page and communicate/sell where we are going.  To help us get on the same page Pastor Ross is going to start doing training on Saturdays...

Again take a listen...we can shape 2040 by the choices we make today...

Blessings,
PT

Living in Grace (1 Peter 5:6-11)

Text: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Sermon Link: Living in Grace 1 Peter 5:6-14

I started this message out with 2 illustrations and than incorporated them later in the message.

The first was a 1 minute sit-up competition between me and one of the other men from the congregation...because I was laughing I only did 45...he did something like 22.

The second was a football one.  I selected 3 individuals to be my O linemen (2 pushing 300 lbs), a receiver and 3 defensive players (2 kids and 1 adult). I was the QB.  The defensive players were to try and get me. Eventually I threw the ball to the receiver.  As long as I had the ball the defense was going to try and get me...but what happens when you throw the ball?  The game changes...the defense moves from trying to attack the QB to going after the receiver...

Intro Questions: How do you define faith?  Does faith always make sense?

Faith = Total Trust in God

Main Point:  Christianity is a life of total trust in God's grace (or His gracious character)

Vrs. 6 Humble

In the midst of pain what do you want to do?

Get away from it?
Control everything? Arrange the team or stack the deck in your favor? I did that in my illustration by selecting two 300Lb. guys to be my O linemen...seems smart, but I am trying to control it...also if God is our wide receiver and He is standing there wide open saying "Throw me the ball" our tendency is to say "Nah, I got this"  Again it comes down to control...

Vrs 7 Cast

Do we really trust grace or God's gracious character?  If we do we will throw or cast the ball to Him

Vrs 8 - 9

What does it mean to be strong?  I think the following picture illustrates what we typically think of...

But that is not what Peter is talking about...or going back to the football illustration if a 250 Lb guy is rushing at me do I brace myself?  Again this isn't what is being talked about here, but rather total trust...check out Zephaniah 3:17 and the surrounding verses.

Vrs 10 - 11 Living in Restoration

The secret to this is, as Toby Mac says, keep our eye on it...or keep our eyes fixed on the prize...this life is a vapor...keep eternity in sight...

Think of 3 inter-connected circles one titled Head, another Heart and the other Hands....we can know something in our heads, but not believe it in our hearts, which then means our hands are not moved to action...where is what you know about God not really lining up with what your heart believes about God...chances are there is a buried hurt...we need to have all 3 of these circles lined up if we are going to be strong...the other thing we have to be careful of is taking Scripture out of context...for instance saying "God is my rear guard" (Isa 58:8)...then something happens and we say "I thought God was my rear guard  why did..." But if we look at Isa 58:5b-11 there are some huge conditions (hand things) that are in play in those verses...the head, heart and hands need to line up. Or Psalm 100 was another example I used.

In the end we need to live in the light of grace....

Check out the message for more...

By His Grace and for His Glory,

PT

1 Peter 1:1-3:7 Review

Here is a quick over view of the Main and sub Points of 1 Peter 1:1 to 1 Peter 3:7

1 Peter

1:1-12                 Everything

              Main point: In Jesus I have everything

              1-2         God’s choice should lead to my obedience

              3-4         Praise for benefits (Born again, Living Hope/inheritance, Guarded)

              6-9         Trials equal testing (Future Glory, Obtaining Salvation)

              10-12    What you are experiencing prophets and angels only dreamed to

              Application:        What are you willing to trade your salvation for?

                                           Are you trying to live in isolation?

1:13-25               Transparent

              Main point: When people see you/us they should see the Father

              13          Set your hope on God’s grace (Your future hope is guaranteed by a past truth)

              14-16    The call to be holy

              17          Live in reverent fear of God, your judge

              18-21    Live in light of the high price paid

              22-25    Live in love

2:1-10                 Chosen or Rejected?

              Main point: Realizing their high calling, Christians are to be more than fans.

              1-3         Training for the team (What does it mean to feed the new life?)

              4-8         On the team (Which team are you on? The Christian life cannot be lived in isolation)

              9-10      Our calling

-          Chosen: Are we tempted to play up or down?

-          Royal: Do we really understand that we are children of the King?

-          Holy: Are we living set apart?

-          Treasured possession: Does this excite you?

-          God’s people: Mercy filled or not?

2:11-12               Winning the War

              Main point: Christianity is a call to live a radically different life in the midst of hostile opposition.

              A Two Front War:

-          Internal struggles and internal fruit

-          External struggles and outward fruit

Application: People are looking for Kingdom are you revealing it?

2:13-25               Free & Healed

              Main point: Christians are called to a life of service

              Key verses 16 & 24

              Key words: Free & Healed

              Maintaining status quo =

                             Missed ministry opportunities

                             I am comfortable

                             I’m not sent

                             I’m in rebellion

              Application:

-          What do I need to keep doing?

-          What do I need to stop doing?

-          How can I serve?

3:1-7                   Christian Marriage

              Main point: Dying to self is the key to submission and understanding

              For coal to become a diamond it need pressure…

              The Todd and Heidi Story

              Application:  How are you doing supporting your spouse in the following areas:

-          Spiritual

-          Emotional

-          Physical

-          Mental

Submission is an Attitude 1 Peter 3:8-13

Last Sunday our Executive Pastor, Ross preached. He did a good job reviewing the ground that I had covered and starting to wrestle with the second half of 1 Peter 3.

Here is the link and his outline.

Title: Submission is an Attitude

Link to Sermon: Submission is an Attitude

Our actions come from our attitude.

So if our actions are wrong our attitude is usually wrong.

In order for us to act differently, we must think differently!

1 Peter 1:13-14: Prepare your minds to think differently

In order to think differently, you need to:

- Understand who you are (Called) 1 Peter 1:15-16
- Understand whose you are (Chosen) 1 Peter 2:9-10
- Understand where you are (Not Home) 1 Peter 2:11
- Understand what you are to do (Live Godly lives) 1 Peter 2:12
- Understand how you are to live 1 Peter 3:8

Application:

Which area is God telling you to change?

 Harmony....Sympathy....Love....Compassion....Humble Yourself.

Christian Marriage 1 Peter 3:1-7

Text: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Link to sermon: Christian Marriage (1 Peter 3:1-7)  (Note: my wife, Heidi co-taught this lesson and you may have to turn up the volume to hear her)

Main Point: Dying to self is the key to submission and understanding

Submission and understanding are two key words in today's text.  They are also words that people have a hard time with.

Take a look at the following 3 pictures and decide which one represents your marriage or which one you want to represent your marriage.

Coal? Cubic Zirconia? or Diamond?  

Heidi and I have had couples from time to time look at our marriage and say "I want the marriage you have."  Put that on the shelf for a minute and ask yourself "What does a diamond start out as?"  Coal.  What does it take to make one?  Pressure.  Heidi and I have a great marriage, but you wouldn't want to go through what we have to produce the marriage that we have.  Let you trials be enough. When pressure comes into your marriage what are you allowing God to produce?  A diamond or two piles of coal dust?

Does a diamond come out of the ground ready to be set in a ring?  No it has to be cut.  (Note: This diamond illustration is a retweek of Eric Thomas' Shine Like a Diamond talk, he doesn't apply it to marriage). Everybody wants a great marriage, but most aren't willing to allow God to use the pressure/trails to produce the diamond.  Most aren't willing to die to self, so that the two can be come one.  Again, that take dying to self, living to Christ, so that you can both submit and live in an understanding way.

What you hear the word submit do you think negatively?  What does submission equal?  It doesn't equal slavery.  Peter is saying in the midst of your freedom submit.  Think of Jesus.  He submitted to the Father's plan to serve you.  People tend to get a little sideways when they hear the word submit, because they have a negative connotation of the word.  But it can be viewed in a positive light.  Heidi doesn't have a problem with submission, because in the end all the responsibility rests on my shoulders.  Let me translate that for you...she doesn't have a problem with submission, because it is my head that is on the chopping block...But I would add she also doesn't have a problem with submission because I live with her in an understanding way, take her advise and needs into consideration when making decisions.  If the two have died to self and become one submission is easy.

When you hear the term weaker vessel what do you think of?  Is this burly man and wimpy girl?  Or is it more the difference between these two pictures?

 Both hold water, but one is a little harder, firmer and stronger and one is more delicate, fancy and beautiful.  Men and women are equal, but different.  Peter isn't trying to belittle women, but rather point out there differences and challenge men that they are to cherish and delight in their wives rather than kick them around...

Here we transitioned to the Todd and Heidi story.  Two principles that have always been at the center of our marriage that have helped us live out these passages is communication and unity.  Take a listen...

We concluded with a challenge to explore your marriages asking how you are supporting one another in the following areas:

- Spiritual

- Emotional

- Physical

- Mental

Are you and your spouse one?  Are you dying to self, so that you can live in submission and unity?

Live Transformed 1 Peter 2:13-25

Text: 1 Peter 2:13-25

Link to sermon: Live Transformed 1 Peter 2:13-25

Main Point: Christians are called to a life of service.

Key Verses: 16 & 24

Key Words: Free & Healed

You have been set free and healed...why? So that you can live a life of service...

What does freedom mean to you?
 Some answers:
- free from bondage
- nothing in the way
- able to make your own choices
- discipline (if you are free, be careful that you do not use your freedom to become enslaved again....that takes discipline to avoid)
- tyranny

When one stops and thinks about freedom how often to they stop and think or ask what is the meaning/purpose of life?  Why do I exist? That typically doesn't even show up on the radar screen does it?  And yet if we are to be disciplined we need to ask ourselves that.  If we have been set free we need to ask ourselves the question: What have I been set free to do?  If we fail to ask that question then it is very easy to go off it a wide variety of directions and end up failing to use our freedom in the way we are supposed to do.  You have been set free to fulfill your calling and purpose...One could therefore say: "Hey wait a minute that means that I am not truly free...free to make a choice yes, but not truly free..." We were created with a purpose...but that purpose comes from outside of ourselves...we do not readily like that do we?  But God has set us free and called us for a purpose namely to serve Him and namely to serve Him through our service of others...

What does it mean to be healed?

- no more pain

What if by being healed you were going to feel more pain?  Peter's first hearer/readers were facing this.

- being whole
- being delivered

We have been healed and are now becoming whole.

How does Jesus provide both?

That is where the Gospel comes in...

How are we to use our freedom?

Ask yourself "How did Jesus?"  He submitted and served others.  Jesus did not consider equality with the Father something to be grasped, but rather stepped down into time/flesh...why?  To set the captives free.  He submitted himself to the Father's plan to serve you...what an example. See verses 21-23.

Humble yourself, trusting God to set things right in His time.

Application:

If we are free to serve, so what?

Managing status quo = ?

Managing status quo = missed ministry opportunities
Managing status quo = I am comfortable
Managing status quo = I'm not sent
Managing status quo = I am in rebellion

Action step:

- What do I need to keep doing?
- What do I need to stop doing?
- How can I serve?