How Should We Respond to This Living Hope? | 1 Peter 1:13-25
How Should We Respond to This Living Hope? | 1 Peter 1:13-25

Series: A living Hope in a dying world

Title: How should we respond to this living hope?

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Bottom line: We respond to this living hope in 2 ways: Be Ready. Be Holy.

  1. SERMON OUTLINE

  2. NOTES

  3. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  4. OUTLINES

  5. MAIN REFERENCES USED

SERMON OUTLINE

Introduction

V Formation

Picture the V formation of a flock of geese. V. 3 and v. 21 are the back and v. 13 is the point (pun intended). The point of this is to fully set your hope on the grace to be revealed through Jesus Christ.

Context

“Last week, we saw Peter open his letter by laying out the nature of our future hope, our imperishable and unfading inheritance. We marveled at the fact that we are able to understand the good news we have received in a way not even God's prophets and heaven's angels could comprehend.

This week, Peter will transition from description to prescription. Having described our salvation, Peter will now tell us how we should respond to the good news of grace, even as we endure opposition and trial during our time of exile.” -Jen Wilkin

Crows Nest

So the picture is of Peter up in the crow’s nest of a large sailing vessel during a long, turbulent journey, where he can see land before anyone else. So he can shout down to the crew hope because land is near. This helps the crew persevere through the storms because they believe that land (hope) is near.

So Peter is in the crow’s nest. We’ve been at sea for months searching for a new land. We’re nearly out of food and water. We’re discouraged and on the edge of mutiny. The captain sends Peter up to the crow’s nest to see if there’s any sight of land. And sure enough Peter spots land. Land-ho!

Immediately, hope springs from despair. Our circumstances have not changed at all. But our belief that Peter sees land changes everything about how we see life. The captain goes from enemy to hero.

God is allowing trials and tribulations to come our way to test our faith and to make us better (not bitter) through persevering in a living hope.

Verse 13 helps us persevere.

Trials/tribulations

“A picture from ancient Roman times shows the method by which grain was threshed. One man can be seen stirring up the sheaves, while another rides over them in a crude dray equipped with rollers instead of wheels.

Attached to the rolling cylinders are sharp stones and rough bits of iron. As they grind over the recently tossed sheaves, the stones and iron help separate the husks from the grain. The simple cart was called a tribulum.

This agrarian piece of farm machinery is the object from which we get our word tribulation.

Do you ever feel as if you are under the inescapable weight and force of the tribulum? If so, Peter wants to remind you that no thresher ever operated his tribulum for the purpose of tearing up his sheaves.

The thresher's intentions were far more elevated than that. The farmer only wanted to cull out the precious grain. And as it is with the ancient farmer, so it is with God.

Understanding that God's purposes for us include various trials is important, for by them we are tempered. The extracts of this world are removed from us, and we are made fit for Heaven. A simple bar of iron ore, pulled from the earth, might be worth $5.00. However, that same bar, when made into horseshoes, would be worth $10.50. If the owner decided to make the bar into needles for sewing, it could be worth as much as $3,285. And if he turned it into springs for watches, its value could jump as high as $250,000.

What made the difference? Simply the amount of heat by which the iron bar was tempered and honed.

What Peter is saying is that our faith is far more precious to God than a bar of iron. According to the text it is even more precious than gold! So be encouraged. You may find yourself on the anvil of suffering, but God is at work. He is testing the genuineness of your faith. And for him, that faith has eternal value.”  -Helms, p. 41

Outline

Last 2 weeks

I. The SOURCE of our Hope. (1:1-2)

II. The GUARANTEE of our Hope. (1:3-5)

III. The JOY of our Hope. (1:6-9)

IV. The PROPHETS and our Hope. (1:10-12a)

V. The ANGELS and our Hope. (1:12b)

This week

VI. The RESPONSE to our Hope. (1:13-17) aka “The 2 Marks of a Decided Hope” (Helms)

A. In regard to ourselves (1:13): We are to be

    1. Alert, and

    2. Fully sober

    3. The idea is the “gird up your loins of your mind” (literally)

B. In regard to our Savior (1:14-17)

    1. We are to be holy before God. (1:14-16)

    2. We are to be respectful toward God. (1:17)

VII. The COST of our Hope. (1:18-21)

A. The price (1:18-19)

    1. Negative (1:18): It was not purchased with silver or gold.

    2. Positive (1:19): It was bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

B. The planning (1:20-21): Christ was chosen before the foundation of the world to do this.

VIII. The VEHICLE of our Hope. (1:22-25)

A. The new birth (1:22-23a): One must experience regeneration to be saved.

B. The old book (1:23b-25): It is God’s word that bring this about.

Conclusion

Bottom line: We respond to this living hope in 2 ways: Be Ready. Be Holy.

“Peter’s cry from high above the ship’s decks now comes to rest. He has finished his early call. He wants us to do one thing: set our hope on the grace that is to be brought to us at the revelation of Christ. He has shown us the two distinguishing marks of those who are doing so—a healthy mind and a holy life. And he put forward three reasons to motivate us to it—God’s holy character demands it, his impartial judgment warns us to it, and Christ’s sacrifice compels us in it.” -Helm

So Peter is in the crow’s nest. We’ve been at sea for months searching for a new land. We’re nearly out of food and water. We’re discouraged and on the edge of mutiny. The captain sends Peter up to the crow’s nest to see if there’s any sight of land. And sure enough Peter spots land. Land-ho!

Immediately, hope springs from despair. Our circumstances have not changed at all. But our belief that Peter sees land changes everything about how we see life. The captain goes from enemy to hero.

God is allowing trials and tribulations to come our way to test our faith and to make us better (not bitter) through persevering in a living hope.

Do you believe that Peter, in his letter, sees land? Do you believe that your circumstances, which haven’t changed, can be seen and persevered through in a different light? The light of the living hope of God!

I pray that right now you’d surrender your lives to Jesus Christ trusting him with your immediate future and your eternal future. He has risen from the dead. He has proven that he creates and sustains life. Rest in that truth today!

Pray

NOTES

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

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. What 1 Peter is all about.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because I want them to have a living hope in a dying world.

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

A. Stand firm in the grace of God and persevere through trials as they share the good news with those around them.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because this will sustain them through any trial.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Ask someone today, “How can I pray for you today?”

OUTLINES

The Visual Word - 1 Peter

“Paradoxes fill 1 Peter. It is a letter written to encourage a slandered and marginalized minority living in the midst of the Roman Empire. They live in the world but are not of the world. They dwell in the cities, but as sojourners. They look, speak, and dress like everyone, but they pass their days on earth as exiles waiting for their inheritance.” (See the Epistle to Diognetus 5)

Peter seeks to encourage believers in Asia Minor in the midst of suffering to stand firm as they consider the blessings of being in Christ, who is the primary example of one who suffered well and now has received glory and honor. If they also continue in their good conduct, become the true household of God, and don’t revert to their old idolatrous practices, they too will receive the crown of life. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10), live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11), and stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11). Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side. (P. Schreiner)

  1. Hope as Exiles 1-2

    1. Elect Exiles 1:1-2

    2. New future 1:3-12

    3. New family 1:13-2:10

  2. Exile Identity 2-4

    1. Submit 2:11-3:7

    2. Suffer well 3:8-4:11

  3. Stand Firm 4-5

    1. Suffer joyfully 4:12-19

    2. Resist the devil 5:1-11

    3. In Babylon 5:12-14

I. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10)

II. They need to live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11)

III. They need to stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11)

“Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side.” - P Schreiner

  1. Hope as Exiles - The church has hope amidst trials because of their new future and new family. (1-2)

    1. Elect exiles (1:1-2)

    2. New future - Their new birth grants them an inheritance that can never be taken away. (1:3-12)

    3. New family (and new calling) - Their new birth grants them the rights and responsibilities of God’s people. (1:13-2:10)

  2. Exile Identity - In the midst of the world, they are to live as chosen exiles. (2-4)

    1. Submit - They are to submit to authority figures because this is how Christ acted. (2:11-3:7)

    2. Suffer well - Like Christ, they are to suffer for good because suffering leads to life. (3:8-4:11)

  3. Stand Firm - To keep their exile identity, they must stand firm to the end. (4-5)

    1. Suffer joyfully - They are to entrust themselves to God while doing good. (4:12-4:19)

    2. Resist the devil - The elders should shepherd the people, recognizing the danger they are in. (5:1-11)

  4. In Babylon (5:12-24)

Elect Exiles (1:1-2)

“Peter presents the paradox in the first two verses. The God, those in Asia Minor are chosen, but to the world, they are exiles and sojourners. This becomes the theme of the letter (1:17; 2:11; 5:13). It also ties their story to Abraham, who was chosen but also a sojourner on the earth (Gen. 15:13), and Israel, who were God’s wandering people. These elect exiles are dispersed across Asia Minor and living in societies not friendly to the new Christian faith. They are elect exiles according to God’s foreknowledge, but His sanctifying works, and chosen for obedience. This is God’s wonderful plan for their lives.”

Hope as Exiles (1-2)

“After labeling them as elect exiles, Peter’s first section bolsters their hope by praising God for their new future, new family and new calling. Those scattered have been born again and promised a new land. But this new hope cannot be taken away from them because it resides in heaven. Though they suffer now, they a re being guarded for this future (1:3-12). Not only do they have a new future but a new family and calling (1:3-2:10). They are the new exodus people, the new covenant people, and the new temple people. In all of these they have not only a new identity but a new vocation.”

According to the New Testament of the Bible, what is the difference between faith and hope?

“In the New Testament of the Bible, faith and hope are distinct but interconnected concepts. Faith is often described as a firm belief or trust in something, particularly in God or His promises. It involves having confidence in what is unseen or yet to be fulfilled. Hope, on the other hand, is the optimistic expectation or anticipation of something good. It involves looking forward to future blessings, both in this life and the next. 

While faith is focused on belief and trust, hope is centered around expectation and anticipation. Faith provides the foundation for a relationship with God and is essential for salvation, while hope sustains believers through trials and challenges, keeping their focus on the promises of God. Both faith and hope are important aspects of the Christian life, working together to inspire and strengthen believers in their journey of following Christ.” -ChatGPT 

SUMMARY SO FAR

1 Peter, “Live Such Good Lives”

Let’s live such good lives in this world today that, though they think we’re wrong, they’ll see how we live and follow Jesus anyway because…

  • They’ll see who we are and that’s we’re different. A new identity: As chosen exiles scattered around the world until Jesus returns+ (1:13-2:10)

    • Chosen

    • Exiles/Holy people in the wilderness

    • New people

    • New covenant with God

    • New temple/a people

    • Kingdom of priests

    • What else?

  • They’ll see us living for what matters even though it costs us. Suffering as a witness to Jesus multiplying and magnifying his kingdom (2:11-4:11)

  • They’ll see us willingly suffer because of our living hope in the future. Suffering in light of an unshakable hope in the future. (4:12-5:9)

From Schreiner:

“To encourage believers to persevere in their suffering as exiles and strangers because of their future eternal reward in Christ.”

“Called to suffer (like Jesus) but suffering characterized by hope.”

“Their lives would demonstrate that they belonged to another king and another kingdom.”

Schreiner is thankful to God who has reminded him through 1, 2 Peter, & Jude of our

  1. “Unshakable hope in Christ,

  2. Of the grace poured out on his people, and

  3. Of the call to live holy and beautiful lives for the glory of his name.”

Though “spiritual exiles” “recipients of a great salvation” “gave them a future hope and inheritance”

“They were homeless spiritually, but they were also bound for a home and an inheritance from which they would never be displaced.”

“As believers, most lived on the underside of society—under:

  • the authority of Rome

  • Unbelieving and cruel masters

  • Unbelieving husbands

From Helms:

“Theme of Christian identity and conduct in light of a settled hope.”

3 biblical correctives for why and how to respond to life’s difficulties.

God’s plan for his followers: “We are (therefore, live as) the elect (chosen) exiles of the dispersion (scattering).”

Peter’s inversion theme: “the way up comes by going down.”

Suffering always proceeds glory. Christ exemplified this.

So, Peter calls these scattered Christians to live  as God’s chosen exiles/strangers/foreigners/sojourners with unshakable hope because of you great salvation through Jesus Christ. (My summary)

Questions answered by Peter:

  1. How are Christians supposed to bear witness to Christ’s glory?

  2. How are we to live in the wilderness world?

Peter’s answers to these questions center on the word “conduct” or “live” and it’s various forms.

THE BIBLE PROJECT

I. Greeting (1:1-2)

II. Song of praise (1:3-12)

III. A New Family Identity (1:13-2:10)

IV. Suffering as a Witness to Jesus (2:11-4:11)

V. Suffering & Future Hope (4:12-5:9)

We have a new family identity that propels us to bear witness to a living hope that leads us to live such good lives that we willingly suffer for his glory in light of our glorious future.

We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live such a good life that it demands a gospel explanation.

We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live like no one else because we will live like no one else in the future

We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live a life that includes suffering but that leads to glory—for God and us.

HELMS

Life is hard even for Christians.

3 biblical correctives for why and how to respond to life’s difficulties.

God’s plan for his followers: “We are (therefore, live as) the elect (chosen) exiles of the dispersion (scattering).”

So, Peter calls these scattered Christians to live  as God’s chosen exiles/strangers/foreigners/sojourners with unshakable hope because of you great salvation through Jesus Christ. (My summary)

Peter’s inversion theme: “the way up comes by going down.”

Suffering always proceeds glory. Christ exemplified this.

“Peter begins his letter with these 2 seemingly incompatible truths:

  1. Our status in Christ AND

  2. Our sufferings on earth.”

Questions answered by Peter:

  1. How are Christians supposed to bear witness to Christ’s glory?

  2. How are we to live in the wilderness world?

Peter’s answers to these questions center on the word “conduct” or “live” and it’s various forms.

Be holy (1:15)

live out (1:17)

Way of life (1:18)

Live such good lives (2:12)

Behavior (3:1)

Your lives (3:2)

Behavior (3:16)

“Theme of Christian identity and conduct in light of a settled hope.”

Turning point 2:11-12

Peter continues to encourage through examples and exhortation.

He appeals specifically to elders before the community.

“God has

  1. Established our salvation,

  2. Given us our identity,

  3. Conformed our present-day calling,

  4. Secured our future inheritance by means of an inverted irony—namely, the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. Therefore, just as the exaltation of Jesus followed a season of humiliation, so too our share in his eternal glory will appear after we have learned to follow in his true and gracious ways.”

Subtitle? How to live as God’s fireproof children in this dumpster fire world.

“We are the elect exiles of the dispersion.”

As God’s chosen, I am encouraged and reminded of his great love for me. And I need this as I live in this broken world.

Elect = chosen, those whom God loves

Israel was sent into exile by God because of their presumptuous sin.

Exiles of a different sort? Peter doesn’t mean it wrt Israel’s ancient sin—or their own—for they were living faithful and fruitful lives at this time. Peter means this is simply “the normative state of any follower of Jesus, so long as he or she remains in this world.”

CS Lewis quote, p. 26

Schreiner

OUTLINE OF 1 PETER

1 Opening (1:1-2)

2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)

3 Living as Exiles to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (2:11-4:11)

4 Persevering as Exiles in Suffering (4:12-5:11)

5 Concluding Words (5:12-14)

1 Opening (1:1-2)

2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)

2.1 Praise for Salvation (1:3-12)

2.2 The Future Inheritance as an Incentive to Holiness (1:13-2.3 Living as the New People of God (1:22-2:10)

3 Living as Exiles to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (2:11-4:11)

3.1 The Christian Life as a Battle and Witness (2:11-12)

3.2 Testifying to the Gospel in the Social Order (2:13-3:12)

3.3 Responding in a Godly Way to Suffering (3:13-4:11)

4 Persevering as Exiles in Suffering (4:12-5:11)

4.1 Suffer Joyfully in Accord with God's Will (4:12-19)

4.2 Exhortations to Elders and the Community (5:1-11)

5 Concluding Words (5:12-14)

SECTION OUTLINE

2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)

2.1 Praise for Salvation (1:3-12)

2.1.1 A Promised Inheritance (1:3-5)

2.1.2 Result: Joy in Suffering (1:6-9)

2.1.3 The Privilege of Revelation (1:10-12)

2.2 The Future Inheritance as an Incentive to Holiness (1:13-21)

2.2.1 Setting One's Hope on the Inheritance (1:13-16)

2.2.2 A Call to Fear (1:17-21)

2.3 Living as the New People of God (1:22-2:10)

2.3.1 A Call to Love (1:22-25)

2.3.2 Longing for the Pure Milk (2:1-3)

2.3.3 The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4-10)

Schreiner is thankful to God who has reminded him through 1, 2 Peter, & Jude of our

  1. “Unshakable hope in Christ,

  2. Of the grace poured out on his people, and

  3. Of the call to live holy and beautiful lives for the glory of his name.”

1 Peter “sets forth what it means to be Christians in a hostile world, in a world where Christians were persecuted for their faith…”

Though “spiritual exiles” “recipients of a great salvation” “gave them a future hope and inheritance”

“They were homeless spiritually, but they were also bound for a home and an inheritance from which they would never be displaced.”

“As believers, most lived on the underside of society—under:

  • the authority of Rome

  • Unbelieving and cruel masters

  • Unbelieving husbands

They suffered both in:

  1. Every day life

  2. From imperial authority”

IDENTITY

“People of God” “The Lord’s new temple” “priests”

“They are exhorted not to live in fear of human beings but in fear of the Lord, and such fear, paradoxically, would give them confidence and hope.”

“Called to suffer (like Jesus) but suffering characterized by hope.”

“Obedient children”

“Their lives would demonstrate that they belonged to another king and another kingdom.”

“God’s chose race” “royal priesthood” “holy nation”

PURPOSE

“To encourage believers to persevere in their suffering as exiles and strangers because of their future eternal reward in Christ. They demonstrate their hope in this future by standing firm despite injustice and persecution by living holy, blameless lives submitting to their authorities with patient endurance. This shows their belief that this is temporary and that they are citizens of another kingdom and see Jesus as their Lord and king.

MAIN REFERENCES USED

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

“1 & 2 Peter ” by RC Sproul

“1 & 2 Peter and Jude” by Thomas Schreiner

“The Message of 1 Peter” by Edmund Clowney

“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner

“1 Peter: A living hope in Christ”, Jen Wilkin Bible study

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

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

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

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

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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

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Is There Any Hope for Me? | 1 Peter 1:3-12
Is There Any Hope for Me? | 1 Peter 1:3-12

Series: A living Hope in a dying world

Title: Is There Any Hope for Me?

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-12

Bottom line: Stand firm in God’s grace, even in the midst of trials.

Peter encourages suffering Christians to stand firm in God’s grace because of the living hope of the cross and resurrection that they have received through the new birth.

  1. SERMON OUTLINE

  2. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  3. NOTES

  4. MAIN REFERENCES USED

SERMON OUTLINE

New series through 1 Peter called “A living hope in a dying world.” Today we’ll answer the question, “Is there any hope for me?”

Context

Peter is writing from Rome to encourage persecuted Christians suffering in the region of Galatia (Asia Minor aka Modern Turkey). He wants to encourage these new Christ-followers about 30 years into Christianity max. They are a mix of Gentiles from the region and Jews who’ve immigrated there due to the persecution in Palestine. Peter wants to give them a living hope to sustain them in their cruel, dying world. This is the letter that he writes them.

Introduction

“Twenty-one-year-old Matthew had been homeless for three years. Mark Russell (who was appointed head of the Church Army aged only thirty-one) met him on the streets of Charing Cross in London, bought him some food and led him to Christ. As he was getting up to leave he said, ‘Matthew, over the next month I am going to be on platforms speaking to thousands of people. What piece of advice do you want me to give to the Church of England today?’ Matthew replied, ‘The church’s job is to stop arguing and *to bring people hope*.’

Mark Russell commented, ‘I have never heard a better definition of what we should be about: Don’t we have a gospel of hope? A gospel that brings hope? A gospel of life, a gospel of transformation and above all a *hope of eternal life*, *the* *hope of Jesus*.’ Many people see only a *hopeless end*; but with Jesus you can enjoy an *endless hope*.”  --Nicky Gumbel

THE QUESTION we need to answer for those in the church and those in the world is this: Is there any hope for me?

For the UNBELIEVER, the answer is that there is no hope for you in eternity apart from the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You find and receive that hope when you humble yourself, trust and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Otherwise, the Bible teaches, there is no hope. You are hell bound.

For the BELIEVER, the answer is that is a living hope guaranteed for you. This is what 1:1-12 is all about.

Hope in what? I’m talking about hope in my eternal destiny. That is salvation from sin and death, shame and guilt, and hell itself. I’m talking about what the Bible calls salvation. There is hope that you can be saved from God’s holy wrath. And, mercifully, it is God himself who gives you this living hope.

Peter opens with the source of our salvation or hope. It’s found in the triune God: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. God the Father chose the plan, God the Son did his part by atoning for the sins of the world and absorbing the Father’s wrath for those who trust and believe, and God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us throughout the entire journey.

Peter then moves to the guarantee of our salvation/hope. He praises God thoroughly for this living hope we find. He gives us proof of this living hope in showing he resurrects his people into salvation. He did this with Jesus and proof that he will do it for Jesus’ followers. Not only is there proof but there is a permanence to this hope. It will “never perish, spoil or fade”—guaranteed! And we see the power behind this proof in God’s shielding us until Jesus returns and reveals himself as the resurrected Son of God to the whole world—not just his disciples.

Peter then talks about the joy of this salvation/hope. It’s a promise (and God keeps his promise) that he’ll finish what he started. And this promise yields 2 kids of produce or fruit: 1) The fruit of faith in God and 2) The fruit of love for God.

Peter then moves to the prophets. Beginning with the OT prophets he talks about how their ministry in prophesying (orally and/or in writing) was more for us than for their generation. It’s amazing how God does this. He starts with the OT prophets and their attempts to figure out what God was doing both then and in the future. But he also does this with the NT prophets—preachers. Both spoke of the grief of God and the glory of God. We mentioned this last week: the way God chose to do this was the cross before the crown. And this is how he works in our lives too.

So while we find ourselves in suffering and trials, God is using these to make us “Mature and complete not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). It’s incumbent on us to remember that there’s hope for us because of the source, guarantee, joy and prophetic voice of God in the past for our salvation. The angels give us another reason in that they are peering over the wall, so to speak, to get a glimpse of what God is up to in his redemption story. His story. History.

Conclusion

Bottom line: Stand firm in God’s grace, even in the midst of trials.

“Hope is one of the three great theological virtues – the others being love and faith. As Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa writes, ‘They are like three sisters. Two of them are grown and the other is a small child. They go forward together hand in hand with the child hope in the middle. Looking at them it would seem that the bigger ones are pulling the child, but it is the other way around; it is the little girl who is pulling the two bigger ones. It is hope that pulls faith and love. Without hope everything would stop.’”  -Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel: Day 213 • Devotional

Is there hope for us? Absolutely? The key? Believe that this living hope is available to all who would trust and follow the Lord Jesus. Does that mean all my problems will go away? Absolutely not. God uses our trials to make us mature and complete in Christ. He uses our trials to test our faith and refine our faith. This gives us greater confidence and grows our faith as we deal with the struggles in this dying world.

God gives us a living hope in a dying world through the Living Hope, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross so that we could join him in his kingdom.

So don’t lose hope. Keep the Son in your eyes.

Pray

Outline heavily influenced by Wilmington’s Outline Bible

1 Peter 1:

I. The SOURCE of our salvation/hope. (1-2) LAST WEEK

A. We’ve been chosen by the Father.

B. We’ve been made holy by the Spirit.

C. We’ve been cleansed by the blood of Christ.

II. The GUARANTEE of our salvation/hope. (3-5) THIS WEEK

A. The PROOF: It’s guaranteed by the resurrection of Christ. (3)

B. The PERMANENCE: It’s kept in heaven for us. (4)

C. The POWER: God shields us until we get home. (5)

III. The JOY of our salvation/hope. (6-9)

A. The PROMISE: This joy can be yours even in the midst of trials. (6)

B. The PRODUCE: Our trials produce a two-fold fruit:

    1. They increase our faith in God. (7)

    2. They increase our love for God. (8-9)

IV. The PROPHETS of our salvation/hope. (10-12a)

A. What they didn’t understand (10-11): They couldn’t fully comprehend all their prophecies concerning the future work of the Messiah:

    1. In regard to his GRIEF. (10-11)

    2. In regard to his GLORY. (12a) They knew that their prophesies would not be fulfilled until after they died.

V. The ANGELS and our salvation/hope. (12b) They long to know more about this!

NOTES

None

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

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. The reasons why we should praise and bless God.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because they all revolve around him giving us a living hope in a dying world.

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

A. Stand firm in the grace of God, holy and blameless, persevering through trials until he returns.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because of the living hope you have in Christ Jesus.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Embrace the trials you find yourself in and remind yourself that this will pass and you’ll find your living hope with Jesus forever.

MAIN REFERENCES USED

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

“1 & 2 Peter ” by RC Sproul

“1 & 2 Peter and Jude” by Thomas Schreiner

“The Message of 1 Peter” by Edmund Clowney

“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner

“1 Peter: A living hope in Christ”, Jen Wilkin Bible study

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

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

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

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

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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, 1 Peter, Hope, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, bible believing, church, non denominational
How to Be a Living Hope in a Dying World | 1 Peter 1:1-2
How to Be a Living Hope in a Dying World | 1 Peter 1:1-2

Series: A living Hope in a dying world

Title: How to be a living hope in a dying world

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-2

Bottom line: Stand firm in God’s grace as a living hope in a dying world.

Peter encourages suffering Christians to stand firm in God’s grace because of the living hope of the cross and resurrection that they have received through the new birth.

  1. SERMON OUTLINE

  2. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  3. NOTES

  4. MAIN REFERENCES USED

SERMON OUTLINE

A New series!

New series through 1 Peter called “A living hope in a dying world.” Today we’ll talk about, “How to be a living hope in a dying world.”

Context

Peter is writing from Rome to encourage persecuted Christians suffering in the region of Galatia (Asia Minor aka Modern Turkey). He wants to encourage these new Christ-followers about 30 years into Christianity max. They are a mix of Gentiles from the region and Jews who’ve immigrated there due to the persecution in Palestine. Peter wants to give them a living hope to sustain them in their cruel, dying world. This is the letter that he writes them.

Introduction

You may have heard it said that the Church is the hope of the world. This was popularized by Bill Hybels at Willow Creek CC in Chicago. Some have criticized that by saying that Jesus is the hope of the world. I ask you, why do we have to choose? Isn’t it both?

Jesus is our living hope and as the body of Christ we should be a living hope as well. And yes we live in a dead/dying/dark world that hungers and thirsts for life, light and love. We get the privilege of sharing that with them.

Peter is one of the twelve disciples. Now that Jesus sends them out with authority, he is one of the twelve Apostles. (13 when you include Paul)

This letter is from Peter. It’s to God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout…

Elect means chosen. Now you may remember that the Jews are God’s chosen in the Old Testament. But this New Covenant is for all nations!

Think back to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”

What’s an exile? It’s someone not in their homeland (for whatever reason) sojourning or traveling through on their way back home. Peter calls Christians this as he writes them to encourage them in the midst of persecution. And while Peter sees a lot of persecution in Rome (where he’s writing from), he hears that it’s bad in Galatia/Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) as well.

Exiles/Sojourners

“My wife, Vesta, and I were traveling from Hungary into Romania right after the breakup of the Soviet Union. We were warned about the great dangers of going across the border, as the border guards tended to be overtly hostile toward Americans. We were riding in an old train from Budapest to Cluj-Napoca in Romania, and we came to the border between Hungary and Romania. Two burly border guards got on the train where there were four of us: Vesta, me, and another couple. In gruff and broken English, the guard told us to empty our suitcases. Just as we were about to follow his command, their leader “looked at our friend, who had her Bible in a brown paper bag on her lap. He grabbed the Bible from the bag and said in broken English, “You no Americans.” We had our passports that identified us as Americans, but he questioned us about our citizenship. He pointed his finger at the Bible text and said, “Look what it say.” We are pilgrims and citizens of heaven. He was a Christian. He turned to the other guards and said, “These people okay. Leave them alone.” We made it through the checkpoint, but we experienced what it means to be pilgrims, sojourners, in a foreign land yet members of the kingdom of God and citizens of heaven”

Excerpt From 1-2 Peter - An Expositional Commentary, R.C. Sproul, This material may be protected by copyright

Hughes quotes Clowney when he writes that exiles give us the key to Peter’s whole letter.

“He reminds them that their hope is anchored in their homeland. They are called to endure alienation as strangers, but they have a heavenly citizenship and destiny.” -E Clowney

Some translate this as pilgrim, sojourner, or foreigner. And those are all a part of what is in play here. But exile includes that characteristic of we don’t really belong here and so we’re just passing through on our way home. But as we do, we’re going to be who we are and live out our identity as chosen travelers.

So how do we live as a living hope in a dying world?

We stand firm in the grace of the foreknowledge of God who saved us through the blood of Christ and is saving us through the sanctifying work of his Spirit who lives in us encouraging, equipping and empowering us to be this living hope.

What does that look like?

It looks like confidence in the face of scary things happening in this dark, dying world.

It looks like peace in the midst of the growing chaos in our nation.

It looks like joy in the midst of physical suffering.

Global Catalytic Ministries describes it this way on behalf of the persecuted church in parts of Asia today:

We are Disciples

WE ARE THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH.

We don't just tell stories of the underground church, we are the underground church.

WE OFFER OUR BODIES AS LIVING SACRIFICES.

To love Him so much that nothing else matters. He is worth it all.

WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO REACH PEOPLE IN THE DARKEST PLACES.

To reach people no one is reaching, we'll have to do things no one is doing.

WE ALWAYS BRING OUR BEST THROUGH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.

To be set apart with integrity honors God and inspires people.

WE GIVE UP THINGS WE LOVE FOR THINGS WE LOVE EVEN MORE.

It's an honor to sacrifice for Christ.

WE ARE DISCIPLE-MAKERS AND WE EXIST FOR THE WORLD.

If we don't love radically and live with integrity then we have nothing.

WE ARE FAITH-FILLED, MULTIPLYING, OBEDIENT RISK-TAKERS FOR JESUS.

We won't insult God with small thinking and safe living.

WE WILL LEAD THE WAY WITH PROFOUND GENEROSITY.

Unconditional love and family are our heartbeat. Generosity is the blood flow.

WE DON'T JUST SURVIVE PERSECUTION, WE THRIVE.

Whether well fed or hungry, rich or poor, in persecution or freedom, east or the west, we will be content in Jesus and make disciples.

WE WILL MAKE FAMILY, NOT DESTROY THEM.

Nothing is more fun than serving God with the people you love.

DEAD PEOPLE DON'T HAVE OPINIONS.

Our opinions are His opinions, we will seek first and represent His Kingdom always.

Standing firm in God’s grace is bearing the fruit of the sanctifying Spirit of the living God even when we’re tempted to give in to our fear, doubts and impulsive behaviors.

May the Lord give us the grace we need to faithfully do this.

Stand firm as a living hope in a dying world.

Amen.

NOTES

Working Outline (based on P Schreiner Visual Word outline)

As elect exiles scattered in this dying world…

  1. We embrace our living hope as exiles - The church has hope amidst trials because of their new future and new family. (1-2) We do this because

    1. We are Elect exiles (1:1-2)

    2. We have a New future - Their new birth grants them an inheritance that can never be taken away. (1:3-12)

    3. We have a New family (and new calling) - Their new birth grants them the rights and responsibilities of God’s people. (1:13-2:10)

  2. We live faithfully as exiles - In the midst of the world, they are to live as chosen exiles. (2-4)

    1. Submit humbly like Christ - They are to submit to authority figures because this is how Christ acted. (2:11-3:7)

    2. Suffer well like Christ - Like Christ, they are to suffer for good because suffering leads to life. (3:8-4:11)

  3. We stand firm as exiles - To keep their exile identity, they must stand firm to the end. (4-5)

    1. Suffer in faith joyfully - They are to entrust themselves to God while doing good. (4:12-4:19)

    2. Resist the devil faithfully - The elders should shepherd the people, recognizing the danger they are in. (5:1-11)

  4. We (currently) live In Babylon (5:12-24)

I. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10)

II. They need to live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11)

III. They need to stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11)

OUTLINE Bible + my additions/modifications

1 PETER 1—Peter opens his first letter with an overview of some glorious facts concerning salvation.

I. THE SOURCE OF OUR SALVATION (1:1-2)

From: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

  • One of the twelve disciples

  • The one who first confessed Jesus as the Christ, the son of the living God (Matt 16)

  • The one who first rebuked Jesus to his face (Matt 16)

  • The one who denied Jesus Christ 3 times after his arrest

  • The one who walked on water

  • The one who preached the first Christian sermon at Pentecost and saw 3,000 conversions and baptisms

  • The one called out by Paul

  • The one crucified upside-down

  • Apostle = sent one from the king

To: God’s elect, exiles (pilgrims, sojourners, immigrants, foreigners) scattered (because of persecution) through modern-day Turkey and who have found salvation through the triune God by

A. Being chosen by the Father (1:1-2a).

B. Being made holy (sanctified) by the Spirit (1:2b).

    1. Have been justified (past) - declared right with God

    2. Are being sanctified (present) - being made holy/Christ-like

    3. Will be glorified (future) - will be completely saved and go home

C. We are cleansed by the blood of the Son (1:2C).

Warren Wiersbe’s commentary is entitled: “Be Hopeful.” Jen Wilkin titled her study “A living hope in Christ.”

I’ve titled our series a living hope in a dying world to encourage, comfort and strengthen us to live full of hope and grace as we persevere in this difficult world that is dying because of sin. We stand firm in his grace because we know that the best is yet to come. Christ Jesus, the hope of glory, will return.

So we look at the 2 key verses briefly to give some overall context per W. Wiersbe:

Key theme: God’s grace and the living hope

Key verses: 1 peter 1:3; 5:12

Are you seeing how this all fits together?

Last week we talked about why God created and saved us and yet leaves us here in this dying world. He did so to encourage us to flesh out the good deeds he prepared in advance for us to do. Good deeds = fruit that will last.

We do this by:

  • Giving every man, woman and child multiple opportunities to hear, see and respond to the good news.

  • We do this where we live, work, learn and play—around the corner and around the world.

  • We do this by loving God and loving people by making disciple-makers.

  • We do this by being the best neighbors ever where we live, work, learn and play.

  • This is the way. This is the truth. This is the life.

How can I get started today?

By asking at least one person a day, how can I pray for you today? And then praying for them (and with them if led).

“How can I pray for you today? [pause] May I pray for you right now?”

Globally

3 of 8 billion say they are Christians. What about the other 5?

https://twitter.com/visualcap/status/1647012029159309313?s=12&t=idl32xYvZ1Ibm1ALWyhYlg

Locally

Our good news team will be going out 5 pm Sunday, Oct 8. They will walk the streets of Tall Pines behind our church campus. See Michelle or I for details.

I would add that

  • People should know you’re in the neighborhood.

  • They should be glad you’re in the neighborhood.

  • They should be better because you’re in the neighborhood.

How can I pray for you today? This is the way.

Pray

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

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. What 1 Peter is all about.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because I want them to have a living hope in a dying world.

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

A. Stand firm in the grace of God and persevere through trials as they share the good news with those around them.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because this will sustain them through any trial.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Ask someone today, “How can I pray for you today?”

MORE NOTES

The Visual Word - 1 Peter

“Paradoxes fill 1 Peter. It is a letter written to encourage a slandered and marginalized minority living in the midst of the Roman Empire. They live in the world but are not of the world. They dwell in the cities, but as sojourners. They look, speak, and dress like everyone, but they pass their days on earth as exiles waiting for their inheritance.” (See the Epistle to Diognetus 5)

Peter seeks to encourage believers in Asia Minor in the midst of suffering to stand firm as they consider the blessings of being in Christ, who is the primary example of one who suffered well and now has received glory and honor. If they also continue in their good conduct, become the true household of God, and don’t revert to their old idolatrous practices, they too will receive the crown of life. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10), live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11), and stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11). Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side. (P. Schreiner)

  1. Hope as Exiles 1-2

    1. Elect Exiles 1:1-2

    2. New future 1:3-12

    3. New family 1:13-2:10

  2. Exile Identity 2-4

    1. Submit 2:11-3:7

    2. Suffer well 3:8-4:11

  3. Stand Firm 4-5

    1. Suffer joyfully 4:12-19

    2. Resist the devil 5:1-11

    3. In Babylon 5:12-14

I. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10)

II. They need to live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11)

III. They need to stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11)

“Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side.” - P Schreiner

  1. Hope as Exiles - The church has hope amidst trials because of their new future and new family. (1-2)

    1. Elect exiles (1:1-2)

    2. New future - Their new birth grants them an inheritance that can never be taken away. (1:3-12)

    3. New family (and new calling) - Their new birth grants them the rights and responsibilities of God’s people. (1:13-2:10)

  2. Exile Identity - In the midst of the world, they are to live as chosen exiles. (2-4)

    1. Submit - They are to submit to authority figures because this is how Christ acted. (2:11-3:7)

    2. Suffer well - Like Christ, they are to suffer for good because suffering leads to life. (3:8-4:11)

  3. Stand Firm - To keep their exile identity, they must stand firm to the end. (4-5)

    1. Suffer joyfully - They are to entrust themselves to God while doing good. (4:12-4:19)

    2. Resist the devil - The elders should shepherd the people, recognizing the danger they are in. (5:1-11)

  4. In Babylon (5:12-24)

Elect Exiles (1:1-2)

“Peter presents the paradox in the first two verses. The God, those in Asia Minor are chosen, but to the world, they are exiles and sojourners. This becomes the theme of the letter (1:17; 2:11; 5:13). It also ties their story to Abraham, who was chosen but also a sojourner on the earth (Gen. 15:13), and Israel, who were God’s wandering people. These elect exiles are dispersed across Asia Minor and living in societies not friendly to the new Christian faith. They are elect exiles according to God’s foreknowledge, but His sanctifying works, and chosen for obedience. This is God’s wonderful plan for their lives.”

Hope as Exiles (1-2)

“After labeling them as elect exiles, Peter’s first section bolsters their hope by praising God for their new future, new family and new calling. Those scattered have been born again and promised a new land. But this new hope cannot be taken away from them because it resides in heaven. Though they suffer now, they a re being guarded for this future (1:3-12). Not only do they have a new future but a new family and calling (1:3-2:10). They are the new exodus people, the new covenant people, and the new temple people. In all of these they have not only a new identity but a new vocation.”

According to the New Testament of the Bible, what is the difference between faith and hope?

“In the New Testament of the Bible, faith and hope are distinct but interconnected concepts. Faith is often described as a firm belief or trust in something, particularly in God or His promises. It involves having confidence in what is unseen or yet to be fulfilled. Hope, on the other hand, is the optimistic expectation or anticipation of something good. It involves looking forward to future blessings, both in this life and the next. 

While faith is focused on belief and trust, hope is centered around expectation and anticipation. Faith provides the foundation for a relationship with God and is essential for salvation, while hope sustains believers through trials and challenges, keeping their focus on the promises of God. Both faith and hope are important aspects of the Christian life, working together to inspire and strengthen believers in their journey of following Christ.” -ChatGPT 

SUMMARY SO FAR

1 Peter, “Live Such Good Lives”

Let’s live such good lives in this world today that, though they think we’re wrong, they’ll see how we live and follow Jesus anyway because…

  • They’ll see who we are and that’s we’re different. A new identity: As chosen exiles scattered around the world until Jesus returns+ (1:13-2:10)

    • Chosen

    • Exiles/Holy people in the wilderness

    • New people

    • New covenant with God

    • New temple/a people

    • Kingdom of priests

    • What else?

  • They’ll see us living for what matters even though it costs us. Suffering as a witness to Jesus multiplying and magnifying his kingdom (2:11-4:11)

  • They’ll see us willingly suffer because of our living hope in the future. Suffering in light of an unshakable hope in the future. (4:12-5:9)

From Schreiner:

“To encourage believers to persevere in their suffering as exiles and strangers because of their future eternal reward in Christ.”

“Called to suffer (like Jesus) but suffering characterized by hope.”

“Their lives would demonstrate that they belonged to another king and another kingdom.”

Schreiner is thankful to God who has reminded him through 1, 2 Peter, & Jude of our

  1. “Unshakable hope in Christ,

  2. Of the grace poured out on his people, and

  3. Of the call to live holy and beautiful lives for the glory of his name.”

Though “spiritual exiles” “recipients of a great salvation” “gave them a future hope and inheritance”

“They were homeless spiritually, but they were also bound for a home and an inheritance from which they would never be displaced.”

“As believers, most lived on the underside of society—under:

  • the authority of Rome

  • Unbelieving and cruel masters

  • Unbelieving husbands

From Helms:

“Theme of Christian identity and conduct in light of a settled hope.”

3 biblical correctives for why and how to respond to life’s difficulties.

God’s plan for his followers: “We are (therefore, live as) the elect (chosen) exiles of the dispersion (scattering).”

Peter’s inversion theme: “the way up comes by going down.”

Suffering always proceeds glory. Christ exemplified this.

So, Peter calls these scattered Christians to live  as God’s chosen exiles/strangers/foreigners/sojourners with unshakable hope because of you great salvation through Jesus Christ. (My summary)

Questions answered by Peter:

  1. How are Christians supposed to bear witness to Christ’s glory?

  2. How are we to live in the wilderness world?

Peter’s answers to these questions center on the word “conduct” or “live” and it’s various forms.

THE BIBLE PROJECT

I. Greeting (1:1-2)

II. Song of praise (1:3-12)

III. A New Family Identity (1:13-2:10)

IV. Suffering as a Witness to Jesus (2:11-4:11)

V. Suffering & Future Hope (4:12-5:9)

We have a new family identity that propels us to bear witness to a living hope that leads us to live such good lives that we willingly suffer for his glory in light of our glorious future.

We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live such a good life that it demands a gospel explanation.

We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live like no one else because we will live like no one else in the future

We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live a life that includes suffering but that leads to glory—for God and us.

HELMS

Life is hard even for Christians.

3 biblical correctives for why and how to respond to life’s difficulties.

God’s plan for his followers: “We are (therefore, live as) the elect (chosen) exiles of the dispersion (scattering).”

So, Peter calls these scattered Christians to live  as God’s chosen exiles/strangers/foreigners/sojourners with unshakable hope because of you great salvation through Jesus Christ. (My summary)

Peter’s inversion theme: “the way up comes by going down.”

Suffering always proceeds glory. Christ exemplified this.

“Peter begins his letter with these 2 seemingly incompatible truths:

  1. Our status in Christ AND

  2. Our sufferings on earth.”

Questions answered by Peter:

  1. How are Christians supposed to bear witness to Christ’s glory?

  2. How are we to live in the wilderness world?

Peter’s answers to these questions center on the word “conduct” or “live” and it’s various forms.

Be holy (1:15)

live out (1:17)

Way of life (1:18)

Live such good lives (2:12)

Behavior (3:1)

Your lives (3:2)

Behavior (3:16)

“Theme of Christian identity and conduct in light of a settled hope.”

Turning point 2:11-12

Peter continues to encourage through examples and exhortation.

He appeals specifically to elders before the community.

“God has

  1. Established our salvation,

  2. Given us our identity,

  3. Conformed our present-day calling,

  4. Secured our future inheritance by means of an inverted irony—namely, the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. Therefore, just as the exaltation of Jesus followed a season of humiliation, so too our share in his eternal glory will appear after we have learned to follow in his true and gracious ways.”

Subtitle? How to live as God’s fireproof children in this dumpster fire world.

“We are the elect exiles of the dispersion.”

As God’s chosen, I am encouraged and reminded of his great love for me. And I need this as I live in this broken world.

Elect = chosen, those whom God loves

Israel was sent into exile by God because of their presumptuous sin.

Exiles of a different sort? Peter doesn’t mean it wrt Israel’s ancient sin—or their own—for they were living faithful and fruitful lives at this time. Peter means this is simply “the normative state of any follower of Jesus, so long as he or she remains in this world.”

CS Lewis quote, p. 26

SCHREINER

OUTLINE OF 1 PETER

1 Opening (1:1-2)

2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)

3 Living as Exiles to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (2:11-4:11)

4 Persevering as Exiles in Suffering (4:12-5:11)

5 Concluding Words (5:12-14)

1 Opening (1:1-2)

2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)

2.1 Praise for Salvation (1:3-12)

2.2 The Future Inheritance as an Incentive to Holiness (1:13-2.3 Living as the New People of God (1:22-2:10)

3 Living as Exiles to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (2:11-4:11)

3.1 The Christian Life as a Battle and Witness (2:11-12)

3.2 Testifying to the Gospel in the Social Order (2:13-3:12)

3.3 Responding in a Godly Way to Suffering (3:13-4:11)

4 Persevering as Exiles in Suffering (4:12-5:11)

4.1 Suffer Joyfully in Accord with God's Will (4:12-19)

4.2 Exhortations to Elders and the Community (5:1-11)

5 Concluding Words (5:12-14)

SECTION OUTLINE

2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)

2.1 Praise for Salvation (1:3-12)

2.1.1 A Promised Inheritance (1:3-5)

2.1.2 Result: Joy in Suffering (1:6-9)

2.1.3 The Privilege of Revelation (1:10-12)

2.2 The Future Inheritance as an Incentive to Holiness (1:13-21)

2.2.1 Setting One's Hope on the Inheritance (1:13-16)

2.2.2 A Call to Fear (1:17-21)

2.3 Living as the New People of God (1:22-2:10)

2.3.1 A Call to Love (1:22-25)

2.3.2 Longing for the Pure Milk (2:1-3)

2.3.3 The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4-10)

Schreiner is thankful to God who has reminded him through 1, 2 Peter, & Jude of our

  1. “Unshakable hope in Christ,

  2. Of the grace poured out on his people, and

  3. Of the call to live holy and beautiful lives for the glory of his name.”

1 Peter “sets forth what it means to be Christians in a hostile world, in a world where Christians were persecuted for their faith…”

Though “spiritual exiles” “recipients of a great salvation” “gave them a future hope and inheritance”

“They were homeless spiritually, but they were also bound for a home and an inheritance from which they would never be displaced.”

“As believers, most lived on the underside of society—under:

  • the authority of Rome

  • Unbelieving and cruel masters

  • Unbelieving husbands

They suffered both in:

  1. Every day life

  2. From imperial authority”

IDENTITY

“People of God” “The Lord’s new temple” “priests”

“They are exhorted not to live in fear of human beings but in fear of the Lord, and such fear, paradoxically, would give them confidence and hope.”

“Called to suffer (like Jesus) but suffering characterized by hope.”

“Obedient children”

“Their lives would demonstrate that they belonged to another king and another kingdom.”

“God’s chose race” “royal priesthood” “holy nation”

PURPOSE

“To encourage believers to persevere in their suffering as exiles and strangers because of their future eternal reward in Christ. They demonstrate their hope in this future by standing firm despite injustice and persecution by living holy, blameless lives submitting to their authorities with patient endurance. This shows their belief that this is temporary and that they are citizens of another kingdom and see Jesus as their Lord and king.

MAIN REFERENCES USED

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

“1 & 2 Peter ” by RC Sproul

“1 & 2 Peter and Jude” by Thomas Schreiner

“The Message of 1 Peter” by Edmund Clowney

“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner

“1 Peter: A living hope in Christ”, Jen Wilkin Bible study

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

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

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

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

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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, 1 Peter 1:1-2
Why Did God Save Us? (But not take us home yet)? | Ephesians 2:1-10
Why Did God Save Us? (But not take us home yet)? | Ephesians 2:1-10

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10; Mark 12:28-34; Matthew 28:18-20; John 15:16

Bottom line: God created us to do good works which he prepared in advance for us to do.

  1. SERMON OUTLINE

  2. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  3. NOTES

  4. MAIN REFERENCES USED

SERMON OUTLINE

Introduction

  • People should KNOW your church is in the community.

  • They should BE GLAD your church is in the community.

  • And they should BE BETTER because your church is in the community.

-Dave Adamson, MetaChurch

Bottom line: God saved us to do the good works that prepared in advance for us to do.

Why did God create us? Ephesians 2:1-10

  • To love and know and be loved and known 

  • To bless others through good works. 

What kind of good works?

  • Good works done in uniqueness.

    • We all have a unique S.H.A.P.E.

      • Spiritual gifts

      • Heart and passions

      • Abilities and talents

      • Personality

      • Experiences in life

    • But we all are part of one body--the body of Christ.

  • Good works done in unity.

    • We all are part of the same body or family. 

    • We all became family the same way--by the grace and mercy of God (Eph 2)

    • We've all been prayed for by Jesus to do good works in unity (John 17)

  • Good works out of love (Mark 12:28-34) "Great Commandment"

    • Love God, love people - It's over our front doors for all to see

    • What's the best way to do that?

  • Great Commission

    • Go and make disciples...(Matt 28:18-20)

    • Bullseye--fruitfulness (John 15:16)

How does our local church fit into all of this?

Our church exists to help each of us become the best neighbors ever where we live, work, learn and play so that every man, woman and child in those places has multiple opportunities to hear, see and respond to the good news.

This is our good work. 

This is where it happens.

Our church does this in two ways:

  1. We equip each other to do this where we live, work, learn and play.

  2. We model this by doing some of this together, even as we teach the what, how and why.

Examples:

  1. The Shirzads: We helped Lutheran Services "Welcome" a refugee family a year and a half ago. 

  • We housed them

  • We fed them

  • We helped them get their legal benefits

  • We taught them ESL

  • We helped them get drivers licenses and a job

  • We became friends.

This was probably too big for any one family in our church to do. But together we were able to do it. This not only showed us how to do it, but it equipped us to know how to do it better. Not to mention the joy it was to do. 

  1. Gloo: We trained a team of people to respond to requests for prayer online. Team members prayed for these requests and in some cases began conversations that led to in-person encounters. Because most of these are now people from the Charleston area, we were also able to invite some to worship with us. As a result, some took us up on it and are reconnecting to the Lord through our local church. 

Our people were already praying for others in person and online. But we expanded that to people we've never met. As a church, we still do this. But each of us can pray for someone online that we have never met. We could pray for 1 person a day online simply by interacting through social media. 

As a result of the praying for hundreds online for the past 3 years, we will start our first online bible study dedicated to them Sunday night at 6:30. 

  1. Homeless: We helped a young, unmarried couple that was homeless and living out of their car along with their puppy. We helped them with a campsite at the KOA, get food and car repairs, and map out a plan to move forward. He has a better job now than he did. One of our families gave the puppy a good home relieving them of the burden of caring for it. And they are doing well.

  1. We have multiple families who have or are fostering caring for children. We have multiple families who have adopted children from this country and from others. These children have a much brighter future than they did. 

Why did God create us? To do good works. 

What good works? The ones he created in advance for us to do? The ones that lead people from death to life through Christ Jesus.

Am I doing this? Am I doing what God created me to do? On purpose for a purpose?

One of the responsibilities of your church leaders is to discern how to equip, encourage, and empower our church to do good works--individually, as families and as a church family. These conversations are always happening. 

What's next for Grace? Here are some things that we are currently zeroing in on:

  • Praying like it all depends on God. (Starting tonight at 6:30)

  • Starting more Friends & Family groups next spring.

  • "Welcoming" another refugee family. But this time through World Relief.

  • Unofficially "adopting" a mom-to-be who elected to keep her baby instead of aborting. We would pick up where the pregnancy center leaves off. We would help needy moms who choose this practically for up to a year.

  • We want to double-down on knowing and loving our 8 closest neighbors by name; prayer-care-share

  • We want to do identify a circle of influence similar to that around our church campus in Ladson. This means we'd identify a 1-5 mile radius and would take responsibility for lostness in that area. Our mission to that area would be to saturate it with the good news so that every man, woman, and child would have multiple opportunities to hear, see and respond to the gospel. This would be accomplished in many ways including:

    • Local ministry projects in the schools; especially tutoring grades 1-3 to read and do math well

    • ESL in homes and/or in our building

    • Prayer walking neighborhoods

    • Serving local businesses

    • Sharing the good news in neighborhoods and public spaces

    • Looking for ways to bless the poor

    • Championing life at all stages

    • Working towards racial reconciliation

    • Teaching a biblical sexual ethic

    • Being peacemakers

    • Sports ministry

    • CSU/college ministry

  • We will continue to encourage and help families foster children.

  • We will continue to encourage and help families adopt children.

  • Continue to champion biblical literacy and training up our children and adults in disciple-making. Discipleship Pathways are in our future.

  • Invest in strengthening marriages in and outside of the church through conferences, sermons, and mentoring couples

  • We will continue to flesh out the great commission around the corner and around the world focusing on places like Uganda, Pakistan &  Curacao; upcoming trips to both on the horizon

  • We will continue to reach out to the Charleston area through our online tools as well. The Charleston area will top 1 million people by 2030.

Why did God create us? To do good works. I call them God-works. Because these are good works that HE prepared in advance for us to do in light of Ephesians 2, Mark 12, and Matthew 28.

Conclusion

Bottom line: God saved us to do the good works which he prepared in advance for us to do.

How can I get started today?

By asking at least one person a day, how can I pray for you today? And then praying for them (and with them if led).

“How can I pray for you today? [pause] May I pray for you right now?”

3 of 8 billion say they are Christians. What about the other 5?

https://twitter.com/visualcap/status/1647012029159309313?s=12&t=idl32xYvZ1Ibm1ALWyhYlg

At the beginning we said that 

People should know your church is in the community.

They should be glad your church is in the community.

And they should be better because your church is in the community.

-Dave Adamson

I would add that

  • People should know you’re in the neighborhood.

  • They should be glad you’re in the neighborhood.

  • They should be better because you’re in the neighborhood. 

How can I pray for you today? This is the way.

Pray

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

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. That God saved them to do good works that will last.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because I want them to orient their lives around this truth.

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

A. Flesh out their new life by living out the good deeds that God prepared in advance for us to do.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because this is why we’re still here.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Ask people how we can pray for them.

NOTES

What percentage of 3rd graders passed the reading comprehension test in sc in 2022?

According to the South Carolina Department of Education, 47% of third graders passed the reading comprehension test in SC in 2022. This is an increase from around 42% in 2020-2021 and 45% in 2018-2019.

The SC READY assessment is used to measure student progress in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics in grades 3-8. The ELA assessment includes a reading comprehension subtest, which assesses students' ability to understand and analyze text.

The percentage of third graders passing the reading comprehension test has been increasing in recent years, which is a positive sign for education in South Carolina. However, there is still room for improvement, as nearly half of third graders are still not meeting expectations.

The South Carolina Department of Education is committed to helping all students succeed in reading. The Read to Succeed program provides additional support to struggling readers, and the state is working to improve early literacy instruction.

In Dorchester County?

According to the South Carolina Department of Education, 48% of third graders passed the reading comprehension test in Dorchester County in 2022. This is slightly higher than the state average of 47%.

The Read to Succeed program is available in Dorchester County, and the district is also working to improve early literacy instruction. These efforts are likely contributing to the success of third graders in the county.

In Berkeley County?

According to the South Carolina Department of Education, 46% of third graders passed the reading comprehension test in Berkeley County in 2022. This is slightly lower than the state average of 47%.

The Read to Succeed program is also available in Berkeley County, but the district is still working to improve early literacy instruction. These efforts are likely contributing to the success of third graders in the county, but more work is needed to ensure that all students are meeting expectations.

More

The reading score goals for South Carolina schools are outlined in the South Carolina State Reading Plan. The goal is to have all students reading on grade level by the end of third grade. To achieve this goal, the state has set a number of sub-goals, including:

  • Reduce the percentage of students scoring at the lowest achievement level on the SC READY reading assessment by 50% by 2025.

  • Increase the percentage of students scoring at the highest achievement level on the SC READY reading assessment by 25% by 2025.

  • Ensure that all students have access to high-quality reading instruction.

The state is working to achieve these goals through a variety of initiatives, including:

  • Providing additional support to struggling readers in the early grades.

  • Investing in professional development for teachers on effective reading instruction.

  • Developing and implementing a rigorous reading curriculum.

  • Working with families to support their child's reading development.

The state has made some progress towards its reading score goals in recent years. For example, the percentage of third graders passing the SC READY reading assessment has increased from 42% in 2020-2021 to 47% in 2021-2022. However, there is still room for improvement.

The state is committed to achieving its reading score goals and ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed. By working together, the state, schools, families, and communities can make sure that all students become strong readers.

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

“The Visual Word,” Pat Schreiner

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

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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

...


Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ephesians 2, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, bible believing church
What is the Great Commission? | Matthew 28:16-20
What is the Great Commission? | Matthew 28:16-20

Series: All!

  • Jesus has all authority,

  • So that all nations

  • Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20, Title: “What is the Great Commission?

Bottom line: Based on Christ’s authority and promised presence, his followers are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands. (Largely based on David Platt’s main idea)

  1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

  3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

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

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. What the Great Commission is.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because we’re called to follow it all our life.

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

A. Obey it to the fullest.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because it’s for our good, the world’s good, and God’s glory.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. By asking people how you can pray for them.

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Kevin at Chickfila

Today at Chickfila (8/25/23), former member (?) Kevin Darby came out from the kitchen to catch me as I walked through to tell me that he’d been a part of leading someone to Christ (not sure if in person or online). He said that this person called themself a former Christian for a time. Kevin discerned that he was probably never a Christian but an intellectual or false Christian. Anyway, over time, Kevin challenged him to move from the head knowledge to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He eventually did and reached out to tell Kevin. He also told Kevin that he was the main reason. Kevin had tears in his eyes as he told me.

Kevin is one who likes the intellectual debates about scripture and faith. He and I have had our debates over the years. But what seems to have gotten Kevin’s attention is that God used him to change a life. And he somehow associated his years at Grace as a reminder and impetus to point people to a saving relationship with Jesus. And after all these years he wanted to affirm me and our ministry by testifying to what God did for that young man.

I told Kevin how happy I was for him to have been a part of that. I told him that I wasn’t surprised because he’d been so faithful to share Christ wherever he went. His tears told me he needed to hear that—to be affirmed.

Isn’t that interesting. God saves a young man through the testimony of one of his followers. And he ministers to the one who shared as much as he did the one he saved. God is always at work. And he’s working in so many ways at the same time. It’s never just what’s in front of us.

What is the Great Commission? It is the greatest of missions that God could call his people to. It’s not just a command—it’s a way of life. It’s the way to true life. It’s the way, the truth and the life. It’s our greatest calling! It’s the great adventure!

Last week we saw the victory of resurrection with a hint towards this week which is his authoritative command to make disciples and promise to always be with us.

It’s Jesus’ final words to his disciples before leaving to sit in the place of ultimate authority at the right hand of the Father. It’s why when we are saved we are not immediately swept up to heaven. It’s unfinished business—the unfinished task of the Church today.

It will get finished, however. One day someone from every tongue and tribe and nation will know the Lord. And then the end will come. Our task is to pray, send, give and go to the nations with the gospel until this task is finished.

So it’s a commission—a mission we do together. It’s what follows Jesus’ earthly ministry because Jesus leaves it to us to become our earthly ministry. We won’t do this in heaven, after all.

Bottom line: Based on Christ’s authority and promised presence, his followers are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands.

Nicky Gumbel wrote: “Matthew’s Gospel starts by stating that Jesus is ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23). In the very last verse of the Gospel, Jesus affirms his eternal ongoing presence with all of his followers. To those who believe and obey Jesus’ command, he promises, ‘I am with you always’ (28:20b).”

Conclusion

Bottom line: Based on Christ’s authority and promised presence, his followers are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands.

We are Disciples • catalyticministries.com

WE ARE THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH.

We don't just tell stories of the underground church, we are the underground church.

WE OFFER OUR BODIES AS LIVING SACRIFICES.

To love Him so much that nothing else matters. He is worth it all.

WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO REACH PEOPLE IN THE DARKEST PLACES.

To reach people no one is reaching, we'll have to do things no one is doing.

WE ALWAYS BRING OUR BEST THROUGH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.

To be set apart with integrity honors God and inspires people.

WE GIVE UP THINGS WE LOVE FOR THINGS WE LOVE EVEN MORE.

It's an honor to sacrifice for Christ.

WE ARE DISCIPLE-MAKERS AND WE EXIST FOR THE WORLD.

If we don't love radically and live with integrity then we have nothing.

WE ARE FAITH-FILLED, MULTIPLYING, OBEDIENT RISK-TAKERS FOR JESUS.

We won't insult God with small thinking and safe living.

WE WILL LEAD THE WAY WITH PROFOUND GENEROSITY.

Unconditional love and family are our heartbeat. Generosity is the blood flow.

WE DON'T JUST SURVIVE PERSECUTION, WE THRIVE.

Whether well fed or hungry, rich or poor, in persecution or freedom, east or the west, we will be content in Jesus and make disciples.

WE WILL MAKE FAMILY, NOT DESTROY THEM.

Nothing is more fun than serving God with the people you love.

DEAD PEOPLE DON'T HAVE OPINIONS.

Our opinions are His opinions, we will seek first and represent His Kingdom always.

Maybe you need help with your next step. Here’s a suggestion for everyone:

Take out a welcome card or any piece of paper you have handy.

You can do this in the chat online as well.

You can text this to me as well at 843-830-2464. My name is Darien Gabriel.

Put your name on it. Then put a letter at the top:

A- Already believing and following Christ.

B- Believing today for the first time.

C- Considering believing and following Jesus Christ.

D- Declining to follow Jesus Christ at this time.

E- Exploring full-time missions or ministry.

Add your name and cell and I will personally follow up with you to see how I can help.

How can I get started today?

By asking at least one person a day, how can I pray for you today? And then praying for them (and with them if led).

“How can I pray for you today? [pause] May I pray for you right now?”

3 of 8 billion say they are Christians. What about the other 5?

https://twitter.com/visualcap/status/1647012029159309313?s=12&t=idl32xYvZ1Ibm1ALWyhYlg

People should know your church is in the community.

They should be glad your church is in the community.

And they should be better because your church is in the community.

-Dave Adamson

Pray

NOTES

David Platt notes

Main idea: “Based on Christ’s authority and His promised presence, His followers are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe Jesus’ commands.”

I. We will believe in the authority of Christ. His authority compels us to go!

II. We will obey the command of Christ.

  1. Not a comfortable call to come and sit.

  2. An costly call to go, baptize and make disciples of all nations

    1. We share the word; in word AND deed

    2. We show the word; “baptizing” is public profession

    3. We teach the word; “to obey/follow”

    4. We serve the worLd; “nations”

  3. Around the corner and around the world; cf. Acts 1:8

III. We will depend on the presence of Christ.

Nicky Gumbel notes

I have found that there is nothing greater in life than to experience the sense of the presence of the resurrected Jesus.

The risen Jesus commissions his followers to ‘go and make disciples of all nations’ (v.19a). This is our calling as individuals and as a church community. The vision statement of our church is ‘to play our part in the evangelisation of the nations, the revitalisation of the church and the transformation of society’. It is based on this command of Jesus.

Together with the command comes a promise: ‘I am with you always’ (v.20b). The resurrection isn’t just an historical fact or religious idea; it is a life-changing reality. God promises that as you go about fulfilling his commission, the presence of the resurrected Jesus goes with you.

When the women see the empty tomb the angel tells them, ‘He is not here; he has risen… you will see him’ (vv.6–7).

Filled with ‘great joy’ they ran to tell the disciples. As they did so, ‘Jesus met them’ (v.9). They experienced the presence of the risen Jesus (vv.8–10), ‘clasped his feet’ (v.9) and worshipped him as God (vv.9b,17a).

The attempts of others to explain away the empty tomb began very early on (v.13) and, in spite of all the evidence, not everyone believed (v.17b). It was suggested that ‘his disciples… stole him away while [the soldiers] were asleep’ (v.13). Some people still postulate this explanation. But it does not fit the evidence:

  1. The disciples were discouraged and frightened. Only the miracle of the resurrection could have transformed them

  2. They did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead. They had no motive to steal the body

  3. The tomb was heavily guarded (27:62–66)

  4. They were not the only ones who saw Jesus. Many others saw him after the resurrection and interacted with him over a period of forty days (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:6)

  5. If the disciples did steal the body, their whole lives thereafter were based on a lie. My friend Ian Walker, a Cambridge scientist, became a Christian because he could not believe that the disciples would have been willing to be tortured and put to death for something they would have known was not true.

It really is true. Jesus is risen. Death and burial are not the end. In Christ, you too will be raised from the dead.

It was women who were the first to be entrusted with the message of the resurrection. This is particularly noteworthy since women at the time were not considered valid witnesses in court…

Matthew’s Gospel starts by stating that Jesus is ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23). In the very last verse of the Gospel, Jesus affirms his eternal ongoing presence with all of his followers. To those who believe and obey Jesus’ command, he promises, ‘I am with you always’ (28:20b).

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

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

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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, bible believing, Darien Gabriel, Grace Christian Fellowship, Matthew 28, Great Commission, ALL, Ladson, SC, church
What About the Resurrection of Jesus? | Matthew 28:1-15
What About the Resurrection of Jesus? | Matthew 28:1-15

Series: All!

  • Jesus has all authority,

  • So that all nations

  • Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15, Title: “What about the resurrection of Jesus?

Bottom line: The resurrection of Jesus shows us the power of God to change our lives.

  1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

  3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

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

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. That the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ really happened.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. 1. Because it means that we can be resurrected too when we die and live forever with Jesus.

  1. Because it means we don’t have to fear sin and death. The cross shows us the love of God. The resurrection the power of God.

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

A. Believe, worship, and obey Jesus.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. So that they can live the life God created them to live in the first place.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Like the women did: Believe Jesus, worship Jesus, and tell others about Jesus.

Introduction

Not a Mickey Mouse Religion

In 1998 when a little girl in Mablethorpe, England died of Batten's disease her graveside was marked by a simple cross. Soon afterward the local authorities asked her family to remove it due to a new local ordinance that stated "Crosses are discouraged, as excessive use of the supreme Christian symbol is undesir-able." In lieu of the cross, the family was allowed to erect a headstone with Mickey Mouse on it.?4 No joke.

The cross will always be an offense to the world. But let's not change the symbol from a cross to the head of a harmless make-believe mouse. Mickey Mouse couldn't save a fly or hurt one. But Jesus will come again in power to judge the living and the dead, and his judgment will be based on what you thought of this scene in Matthew. Is Christ crucified a stumbling block for you, or is Christ crucified your only hope of salvation? I pray that "that old rugged cross, so despised by the world" would have "a wondrous attraction" for you.25

Let’s start with the cross.

The Most Important Question in the World

“The brilliant professor of philosophy at London University, C.E.M. Joad, was not a Christian. He was asked on a radio programme, 'If you could meet any person from the past and ask them just one question, whom would you meet and what question would you ask? 'Professor Joad answered without hesitation: 'I would meet Jesus Christ and ask him *the most important question in the world* - "*Did you or did you not rise from the dead?*"'

“There came a day in Professor Joad's life when he assessed the evidence, encountered Jesus himself and wrote a book called, *Recovery of Belief*. If Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, this changes everything.

When the New Testament writers speak of God's love they point to the cross. When they speak of God's power they point to the resurrection. God's 'incomparably great power' was 'exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead' (Ephesians 1:19-20). The risen Jesus says to his disciples, 'All authority (*all power to rule*) in heaven and on earth has been given to me' (Matthew 28:18, AMP).

The resurrection means that the risen Jesus is present with you now. Jesus continues, 'I am with you always' (v.20).

The result of the resurrection is not only his power and his presence but also his provision.”

Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel: Day 45 • Devotional

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Bottom line: 

28:1 Faithful, courageous women continue to serve Jesus. Up early Sunday morning (Easter first sunrise service) they go trusting that God will make a way for them to get into the tomb.

28:2-4 “And behold” (implied in NIV) is Matthew’s way of saying, “Watch this!” Another earthquake but this one is caused by the angel moving the gigantic stone from the opening of the tomb. This “violent earthquake” might have been caused in part by the angel’s arrival. I imagine they are quite ticked off at humanity at this point. The appearance of this angels reminds me of the appearance of Christ at the mount of transfiguration. It’s funny to me that there is no dead Jesus there but that the guards become “like dead men” at the sight of the angels. They would have been terrifying to see.

28:5 Here we see the first of 3 commands by the angel to these courageous women. This first command is what angels have to tell every person they meet: “Don’t be afraid.” People realizing they were seeing angels assumed that what followed was death. Because angels are holy and we aren’t. Holiness does not put up with wickedness. Wrath and divine judgment are appropriate. But the angel’s job is to pass along his message from God.

Note that the angel confirms that Jesus was crucified. He died by asphyxiation (and more) on a Roman cross as he said he would.

28:6 He also rose from the dead as he said he would! And now the second command from the angel: “He has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Don’t take our word for it—come and see. Use your senses. He didn’t rise spiritually and his body is still here. No, he rose bodily/physically from the dead. And they are about to see that for themselves!

28:7 The third command is to, “Go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’” They become the first evangelists post resurrection!

O’Donnell tells us that if you were trying to make this up, the last person you’d use as a witness would be a woman. The Jews wouldn’t even take their testimony about anything in a simple court of law. Yet here God provides the biblical “two witnesses” and makes them women. No man creating a myth would do this. Yet all four gospel writers share this.

28:8 The women hurry away afraid but in joyful obedience when they run into none other than Jesus himself! Another “And behold” to get our attention.

28:9 Jesus greets them cheerfully and so human-like. Their response is powerful and instructive:

  • They grab his human feet. They cling to him because they are ecstatic he’s really alive and there. Notice that when people draw ghosts, they never seem to have feet. (Think Casper or Ghostbusters) Here we have no ghost.

  • They bow with their faces to the ground in worship. They know he’s divine too. God in the flesh. God with us!

28:10 Jesus repeats the angel by telling them not to be afraid but instead to go and tell his brothers (not traitors) to meet up in Galilee (at the mountain they probably spent a lot of time at before) where they too will see him.

28:11 We go from a joyful scene of resurrection truth to a wicked plan of more deceit covering up the truth that they were trying to prevent. The irony is that everything they do just strengthens the case for the resurrection. Nicky Gumbel writes:

“The attempts of others to explain away the empty tomb began very early on (v.13). It was suggested that ‘his disciples… stole him away while [the soldiers] were asleep’ (v.13). Some people still postulate this explanation. But it does not fit the evidence:

  1. The disciples were discouraged and frightened. Only the miracle of the resurrection could have transformed them.

  2. They did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead. They had no motive to steal the body.

  3. The tomb was heavily guarded (27:62–66).

  4. They were not the only ones who saw Jesus. Many others saw him after the resurrection and interacted with him over a period of forty days (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:6).

  5. If the disciples did steal the body, their whole lives thereafter were based on a lie.”

28:12-15 So the guards go to the chief priests and report what happened. The truth, actually. Notice that they are not cross-examined. Everyone responds as if this is what actually happened. Damage control. Not challenging the guards that it didn’t happen. Just a cover up of the truth. Instead, they just pay off the guards so that they story they want out there comes from those who were there.

And some buy this even today despite the overwhelming evidence.

What are we supposed to do with the resurrection?

Conclusion

The apostle Paul writes that if the resurrection isn’t true, then we as Christians are to be pitied because all we believe is a lie. Everything rises and falls on the resurrection.

This is why atheists like Lee Strobel, reporter at the time of the Chicago Tribune, decided to prove it was a hoax. His wife had recently started following Christ. He could not deny the real change in her towards him and in life. Yet he couldn’t buy into this religious gobbledygook. So he interviewed bible scholars and asked them the most difficult questions like any investigative reporter would and should do. In the end, he was compelled to believe. He follows Jesus Christ now. He has written books. He now has a movie. All so that others can see that the overwhelming evidence that God became man so he could die for humanity’s sins.

“For God demonstrates his love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

  • The cross shows us the love of God.

  • The resurrection the power of God.

So what are we supposed to do with the resurrection?

Look at how the women responded:

  1. Believe it. They saw Jesus bodily and they fell at his feet in worship. They went from fear to joy to worshiping the one who conquered sin and death, shame and guilt, and hell itself.

  2. How do we believe?

    1. Repent = goes beyond just confessing (agreeing with God) to resolving to let God change by grace through faith.

    2. Believe = Trusting that God can and will forgive sin in Jesus’ name.

Pray

NOTES

Nicky Gumbel notes

I have found that there is nothing greater in life than to experience the sense of the presence of the resurrected Jesus.

The risen Jesus commissions his followers to ‘go and make disciples of all nations’ (v.19a). This is our calling as individuals and as a church community. The vision statement of our church is ‘to play our part in the evangelisation of the nations, the revitalisation of the church and the transformation of society’. It is based on this command of Jesus.

Together with the command comes a promise: ‘I am with you always’ (v.20b). The resurrection isn’t just an historical fact or religious idea; it is a life-changing reality. God promises that as you go about fulfilling his commission, the presence of the resurrected Jesus goes with you.

When the women see the empty tomb the angel tells them, ‘He is not here; he has risen… you will see him’ (vv.6–7).

Filled with ‘great joy’ they ran to tell the disciples. As they did so, ‘Jesus met them’ (v.9). They experienced the presence of the risen Jesus (vv.8–10), ‘clasped his feet’ (v.9) and worshipped him as God (vv.9b,17a).

The attempts of others to explain away the empty tomb began very early on (v.13) and, in spite of all the evidence, not everyone believed (v.17b). It was suggested that ‘his disciples… stole him away while [the soldiers] were asleep’ (v.13). Some people still postulate this explanation. But it does not fit the evidence:

  1. The disciples were discouraged and frightened. Only the miracle of the resurrection could have transformed them

  2. They did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead. They had no motive to steal the body

  3. The tomb was heavily guarded (27:62–66)

  4. They were not the only ones who saw Jesus. Many others saw him after the resurrection and interacted with him over a period of forty days (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:6)

  5. If the disciples did steal the body, their whole lives thereafter were based on a lie. My friend Ian Walker, a Cambridge scientist, became a Christian because he could not believe that the disciples would have been willing to be tortured and put to death for something they would have known was not true.

It really is true. Jesus is risen. Death and burial are not the end. In Christ, you too will be raised from the dead.

It was women who were the first to be entrusted with the message of the resurrection. This is particularly noteworthy since women at the time were not considered valid witnesses in court…

Matthew’s Gospel starts by stating that Jesus is ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23). In the very last verse of the Gospel, Jesus affirms his eternal ongoing presence with all of his followers. To those who believe and obey Jesus’ command, he promises, ‘I am with you always’ (28:20b).

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

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

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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, ALL, resurrection, Matthew 28, Bible-believing
How Love Affects Suffering | Matthew 27:32-66
How Love Affects Suffering | Matthew 27:32-66

Series: All!

  • Jesus has all authority,

  • So that all nations

  • Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “How Love Affects Suffering”

Scripture: Matthew 27:32-66

Bottom line: “The one who loves much suffers much.”

  1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

  3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

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

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. The one who loves much suffers much.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because of the loss you feel when personally invested.

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

A. Recognize this so that as you suffer you embrace it knowing that love is what amplifies this.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because this is how Jesus lived…and died. It’s how we should live.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Letting empathy propel us to serve others who are suffering with compassion.

Introduction

It’s hard to imagine the loss of a loved one until you lose someone. The more you loved them, the more it hurts. There’s great emotion because the loss is felt so deeply. In contrast, going to the funeral of someone we didn’t know does not move us the same way. Why? Because loving much leads to much suffering.

Today I want you to see the relationship between love and suffering as it relates to God and to people. My hope is that this will comfort you and propel you to serve others who are suffering even as you suffer. Because love compels us to.

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Bottom line: “The one who loves much suffers much.”

Today we’re just walking through these passages recognizing what’s happening along the way and seeing how love and suffering intermingle.

Conclusion

The one who loves much suffers much

In this newsletter, Nanette Palm reflects on the suffering she is experiencing as she grieves the loss of her teenage son. In 2014, 3 from Grace went to Kazakhstan to serve alongside of this missionary family. There we got to know Isaiah as a 6 year old. He is who died.

Newsletter, 8/22/23

“A graduating student from Belize Christian Academy presented Nannette with a special painting. It was truly a special moment!

‘Grief is a special kind of suffering. It’s intensely wanting what you know cannot be.’

 

The past 4-5 months have been the hardest in my life. I want to crawl into bed and never get out again. I don’t have that luxury. I have found that the simple responsibilities overwhelming. Cooking a meal felt like too much. I am so thankful for all the meals that were brought.

I have come to grasp that the one who loves much suffers much. Isaiah is an amazing kid. He gives the best hugs and he loves his family and others well. The only time I ever saw Isaiah upset is when he was concerned about his dad in the hospital or his dog Teddy being attacked by another dog. I love him so much, and I didn’t even realize how much until he was gone.

I stand at a moment in time that is crucial. I can walk this path of suffering and allow it to make me bitter or I can allow God to draw me closer to Him. The temptation is great, deep inside I want to sit and wallow in self-pity and pain. Some days are excruciating.

I have so many amazing beautiful memories of Isaiah. He brought joy, creativity and enthusiasm for life. He truly completed our family. Yet at this moment, the pain of his loss feels greater than the gratitude of having him in my life for 14 and half years.

In reading, Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff, I have been thinking about the connection of love and suffering. Nicholas writes, “If I hadn’t loved him, there wouldn’t be this agony. ‘This,’ said Jesus, ‘is the command of the Holy One. You should love your neighbor as yourself.’ In commanding us to love, God invites us to suffer.”

I have never connected the words loving and suffering. It is truth. God loved me so much that he was willing to suffer. Nicholas states. “God is not only the God of the sufferers but the God who suffers. The pain and fallenness of humanity have entered into his heart. Through the prism of my tears, I have seen a suffering God.” God is with me. I know this fact to the very core of my being. Isaiah changed my life and his loss will be felt in my heart until we are reunited in heaven.

Elijah and I traveled to Belize in the beginning of June. We went to participate in Belize Christian Academy’s graduation. We felt so loved and we were given the freedom to just cry. My pastor looked at me and said, “You lost your baby, it’s ok to weep!” Of course the streams of tears raced down our faces. Everywhere we looked, there were memories of Isaiah. We were presented with a painting of Isaiah from the student council. They had led a candlelight vigil in April.”

Pray

NOTES

My personal notes

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

CSB Christ Chronological (Harmony)

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

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

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

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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, Matthew 27, ALL
How to Live With No Regrets | Matthew 26:69-75; 27:1-31
How to Live With No Regrets | Matthew 26:69-75; 27:1-31

Series: All!

  • Jesus has all authority,

  • So that all nations

  • Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “How to live with no regrets”

Scripture: Matthew 27:1-31; 26:69-75; John 21:15-19; 2 Cor 7:8-11; John 15:1-16

Bottom line: Don’t regret sin—Repent of it.

  1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

  3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

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

Q. What do I want them to know?

A.

  1. God’s mercy is available to all—but not automatic. (26:69-75; 27:1-10)

  2. There’s a difference between godly and ungodly sorrow. (26:69-75; 27:1-10)

  3. Jesus was innocent—yet he embraced the justice our sin deserved as our substitute in the shadows of the prophecies he fulfilled. (27:11-31)

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A.

  1. Because we all deny Jesus and need his forgiveness. Godly sorrow is key ingredient. (26:69-75; 27:1-10)

  2. Because it’s our sin that put him there. We need to know what it cost for our freedom.  (27:11-31)

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

A. Repent of your sins and turn fully to Jesus. (26:69-75; 27:1-10) (27:11-31)

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because it leads to no regrets. (26:69-75; 27:1-10) (27:11-31)

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. By repenting right now for your sins—especially those he brings to mind right now—and resolving to reorder your life around not repeating them so that you can live with no regrets. (26:69-75; 27:1-10) (27:11-31)

Introduction

No regrets

There was a time when I yelled at Samantha. She was 3 at the time. I felt a lot of guilt. I apologized and she quickly forgave me and hugged me. No regrets. Imagine if I hadn’t apologized…

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Bottom line: Don’t regret sin—repent of it.

Peter denies Christ (Matthew 26:69-75)

Judas betrays Christ (Matthew 27:1-10)

Peter (later) is restored to Christ by Christ (John 21:15-19)

Judas is not restored to Christ (Matthew 26:24)

Why not?

Godly remorse/sorrow vs worldly remorse/sorrow. (2 Corinthians 7:8-11)

How does this happen?

When we don’t abide in Christ, we die. (John 15:1-

Conclusion

Illustration?

Don’t regret sin—repent of it.

How?

Pray:

  1. Confess = agree with God that what you’re being convicted of needs to be repented of.

  2. Repent = goes beyond just agreeing with God to resolving to let God change you through a plan with accountability. #kairoscircle

  3. Believe = Belief that God can and will forgive repentance in Jesus’ name

  4. No regrets = Believing that God forgives and forgets (effectively); that he will not waste another minute with this sin; includes forgiving yourself

Pray

NOTES

My personal notes

JESUS ARRESTED: Judas betrays with soldiers and a large crowd sent by chief priests and elders.

Betrayed with a kiss which was a signal to help soldiers ID Jesus in the dark, torch-lit night. Jesus, known for being able to just slip through the crowd and avoid arrest. But now his time has come and he does not resist. In fact, we’ll see him turn the other cheek and not resist at all.

Jesus is arrested. We see him call them out for doing in secret what they were afraid to do in public. Fulfills prophecy.

Tells Peter to holster his sword. He’s not defenseless. It’s just that this isn’t the way to save the world.

“Am I leading a rebellion” - yes, actually. “That you have come out with swords and clubs” - ah, no, not that kind of rebellion.

Jesus is not rebelling against Rome or the Sanhedrin per se. E.g. the current government systems to overpower them and replace them. Jesus is rebelling against the forces of darkness, sin and death. He’s rebelling against the status quo in culture that goes against his kingdom. But he doesn’t fight fair—he fights by his rules—kingdom of God rules. Upsidedown rules.

  • the last are first

  • Fight on our knees

  • Turn the other cheek

  • Don’t resist evil AND resist evil

  • Start small and see great transformation come out

  • Goal isn’t to take over—he already rules; goal is to lead, feed, and protect

What scriptures are being fulfilled?

V. 24 “The son of man will go just as it’s written about him.”

Ex. Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Ps 22

Peter follows Jesus to court of Sanhedrin

Sanhedrin is trying to convict Jesus to crucify him. Couldn’t convict until Jesus confessed.

Jesus finally breaks his silence and admits he’s Messiah, son of God. Then he doubles-down. This is what convicts him in their eyes. But, he’s actually telling the truth!

Peter disowns Jesus. Jesus’ prophecy is fulfilled the same night. Peter leaves devastated.

Notes from Nicky Gumbel, Matthew 26:69-27:10

“Marvel at how your freedom was achieved

Jesus is the supreme liberator. Salvation history reaches its climax in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see here a glimpse of how much that cost Jesus: he is denied by one of his closest friends (26:69-75); he is betrayed by one of his disciples (27:1-10); he is handed over to the Roman authorities (v.2) and condemned (v.3a). Yet, Matthew sees that all this was to fulfil God's plan (V.9).

Jesus was taken captive in order that you might go free. He was bound (v.2) to set you free from the things that bind you. Jesus came to set you free from your sin, guilt, shame, addictions and fears.

Have you ever really messed up in your Christian life? Have you ever felt a failure and that you have badly let the Lord down? Have you ever 'wept bitterly' (26:75) as a result? I certainly have.

Two of Jesus' closest friends let him down badly. Sadly, we will all let Jesus down at points in our lives. These two examples help us learn how we should respond to such failures and disappointments.

There are many similarities between Judas and Peter. Both were disciples of Jesus. Both were told they would let him down (vv.24-25,34). Both fulfilled Old Testament prophecies through their actions (26:31; 27:9). Both deeply regret their actions (27:5; 26:75).

Yet there are also crucial differences between the two men. Peter responded to failure in the right way. Judas did not. As St Paul writes, 'Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death' (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Judas is an example of 'worldly sorrow. He went to the religious leaders and confessed his sin, but they just weighed him down with more guilt (Matthew 27.4). He was seized with remorse but sadly he was not able to throw himself on God's mercy and receive his forgiveness.

On the other hand, Peter is an example of 'godly sorrow.

Peter must have been so frightened to deny and disown Jesus three times. Perhaps, understandably, he feared being crucified with Jesus or perhaps he had doubts before this about whether Jesus really was who he claimed to be. But the cock crowing must have removed all his doubts. It left him feeling distraught: ‘He went outside and wept bitterly’ (26:75).

There is no more terrible feeling than the knowledge that we have let Jesus down. Thankfully, this is not the end of the story for Peter (see John 21). ‘Godly sorrow’ brought ‘repentance’, and his relationship with Jesus was restored. He was freed from his guilt and shame, and went on to become a great, holy, powerful and anointed leader of Jesus’ church.

You do not need to go around weighed down by guilt or shame about past sins and mistakes. Those whom Jesus sets free are free indeed (John 8:36). However much you have messed up and failed, it is never too late. Respond as Peter did and you can have a great future ahead of you in the service of Jesus.”

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

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

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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, non denominational church, bible believing church, Ladson, SC, USA, Grace Christian Fellowship, ALL, Matthew, no regrets
How to Prepare for When All Hell Breaks Loose, Part 2 | Matthew 26:47-75
How to Prepare for When All Hell Breaks Loose, Part 2 | Matthew 26:47-75

Series: All!

  • Jesus has all authority,

  • So that all nations

  • Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “How to prepare for when all hell breaks loose, part 2”

Scripture: Matthew 26:47-75

Bottom line: We prepare for when all hell breaks loose by watching and praying as we surrender to him.

  1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

  3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

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

1. Explain why Matthew 26-27 is so crucial to our understanding of God, the world, sin, salvation, etc.

2. What impact should the cross have on our reading of the previous chapters in Matthew's Gospel?

3. Discuss how the following attributes of God are displayed in the cross: sovereignty, righteousness, wrath, and love.

4. Explain what is meant by the idea that the cross is fundamentally for God's sake.

5. How does the cross expose our sin? What does it say about the seriousness of our sin?

6. How would you explain the terms substitution and propitiation to an unbeliever with little or no theological knowledge or vocabulary?

7. Why is it important to see Jesus as our substitute, propitiation, and reconciliation, and not just a loving example?

8. How does the truth of Christ's substitutionary death impact our daily pursuit of holiness?

9. Discuss several ways in which the cross fulfills Old Testament prophecies and expectations.

10. How does the cross rule out the possibility of a works-based righteousness?

Discovery Bible Study questions:

  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?

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.

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.

Introduction

In his book King Solomon, Phil Ryken recounts a story by Robert Coleman:

It is the story of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. She was suffering from the same disease that the boy himself had survived two years earlier. The doctor explained that her only chance of recovery was to receive a blood transfusion from someone else who had conquered the same disease. Since the two children shared the same rare blood type, her brother was the ideal donor.

"Would you give your blood to Mary?" the doctor asked. Johnny hesitated at first, but with his lower lip trembling he finally said, "Sure, for my sister."

Soon the children were wheeled into the hospital room Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither one of them spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. His smile faded as the nurse inserted the needle into his arm and he watched the blood flow through the tube. When the ordeal was almost over, Johnny's shaky voice broke the silence. "Doc-tor," he said, "when do I die?"

Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated and why his lip had trembled when he agreed to donate his blood: he thought the doctor was asking for all of it! Yet out of love for his sister, he was willing to give it.

Now there is a subtle but significant difference between Johnny and Jesus. The boy was willing to die but didn't understand what was happening.

Jesus was willing to die but fully understood what was about to happen.?? He was about to drink damnation dry.

O’Donnell, pp. 800-801

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Bottom line: We prepare for when all hell breaks lose by watching and praying as we surrender to him.

In the last two weeks, we’ve seen:

A. We’ve seen the prophecies of Jesus. (31-35) (We’ll see their fulfillment in 69-75)

B. We’ve seen the prayers of Jesus. (36-46)

C. Today, we’ll see the persecutions of Jesus. (47-68)

1. He is arrested (26:47-56)

a. Jesus and Judas (26:47-50a): Judas betrays him to the soldiers by a kiss.

b. Jesus and Peter (26:50b-54): Peter is rebuked for cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant.

c. Judas and the soldiers (26:55-56a): He reminds the arresting soldiers of his innocence.

2. He is accused (26:57-66)

a. The attempts (26:57-61)

(1) The frantic efforts to locate false witnesses against Jesus (26:57-59)

(2) The futile efforts to locate false witnesses against Jesus (26:60-61): No two people can agree in their testimony.

b. The affirmation (26:62-64): Jesus acknowledges to the high priest that he is indeed the Messiah.

c. The agreement (26:65-66): The Sanhedrin votes to put him to death for blasphemy!

3. He is assaulted (26:67-68): The Jewish leaders spit upon him and strike him.

Conclusion

Kent Hughes writes as he wraps up his thoughts on this:

“Conclusion

Gethsemane was not a tragedy, and neither are our Gethsemanes. This does not do away with the wounds of affliction in this life, but it is encouraging to see that behind human tragedy stands the benevolent and wise purpose of the Lord of human history. Life may be dark at times, tragedy may come, and at times the whole world may seem to be falling apart. The wheel may appear ready to crush us. But this is not the end. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28), even in Gethsemane.”

He shares this poem:

Great Nights of the Bible, quoted in E. W. Wilcox, Poems of Power (New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury, 1953), p. 166.

All those who journey, soon or late,

Must pass within the garden's gate;

Must kneel alone in darkness there,

And battle with some fierce despair.

God pity those who cannot say,

"Not mine but thine." who only pray,

"Let this cup pass," and cannot see

The purpose in Gethsemane.

Pray

NOTES

OUTLINE BIBLE, MATTHEW 26

Jesus and disciples celebrate Passover in the upper room. Jesus predicts Judas's betrayal and Peter's denial, both of which come to pass. After supper Jesus prays in Gethsemane, then is arrested and taken before the high priest.

I. THE ACTION PRECEDING THE UPPER ROOM (26:1-16)

A. The prediction (26:1-2): Once again Jesus predicts his betrayal and crucifixion.

B. The plots (26:3-5, 14-16): On two occasions wicked plans are made to kill Jesus.

C. The preparation (26:6-13): Jesus is anointed by a woman at Bethany.

II. THE ACTION IN THE UPPER ROOM (26:17-30)

A. The instructions (26:17-19): Jesus directs two of his disciples to prepare a room in Jerusalem for the Passover.

B. The indictment (26:20-25)

C. The institution (26:26-30)

III. THE ACTION FOLLOWING THE UPPER ROOM (26:31-75)

A. The prophecy of Jesus (26:31-35, 56b, 69-75)

1. As foretold (26:31-35): Jesus makes a twofold prediction concerning the disciples.

a. All will desert him (26:31-32): He will meet them in Galilee after the Resurrection.

b. One will deny him (26:33-35): He says Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows!

2. As fulfilled (26:56b, 69-75)

a. The desertion (26:56b): All the disciples flee.

b. The denial (26:69-75): Peter denies Jesus three times.

B. The prayers of Jesus (26:36-46)

1. The assistance he seeks (26:36-38): Jesus requests that Peter, James, and John keep watch with him.

2. The agony he suffers (26:39-46)

a. His first prayer (26:39-41)

(1) The struggle (26:39): Jesus begs his Father to remove the suffering he is about to endure but emphasizes that he desires the Father's will, not his own.

(2) The sleepers (26:40-41): Returning, he finds the three disciples asleep.

b. His second prayer (26:42-43)

(1) The struggle (26:42): Similar to the first prayer.

(2) The sleepers (26:43): Again he finds them asleep.

c. His third prayer (26:44-46)

(1) The struggle (26:44): Similar to the first two prayers.

(2) The sleepers (26:45-46): Upon awakening them, he warns of his imminent arrest.

C. The persecutions of Jesus (26:47-56a, 57-68)

1. He is arrested (26:47-56)

a. Jesus and Judas (26:47-50a): Judas betrays him to the soldiers by a kiss.

b. Jesus and Peter (26:50b-54): Peter is rebuked for cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant.

c. Judas and the soldiers (26:55-56a): He reminds the arrest ing soldiers of his innocence.

2. He is accused (26:57-66)

a. The attempts (26:57-61)

(1) The frantic efforts to locate false witnesses against Jesus (26:57-59)

(2) The futile efforts to locate false witnesses against Jesus (26:60-61): No two people can agree in their testimony.

b. The affirmation (26:62-64): Jesus acknowledges to the high priest that he is indeed the Messiah.

c. The agreement (26:65-66): The Sanhedrin votes to put him to death for blasphemy!

3. He is assaulted (26:67-68): The Jewish leaders spit upon him and strike him.

My personal notes

JESUS ARRESTED: Judas betrays with soldiers and a large crowd sent by chief priests and elders.

Betrayed with a kiss which was a signal to help soldiers ID Jesus in the dark, torch-lit night. Jesus, known for being able to just slip through the crowd and avoid arrest. But now his time has come and he does not resist. In fact, we’ll see him turn the other cheek and not resist at all.

Jesus is arrested. We see him call them out for doing in secret what they were afraid to do in public. Fulfills prophecy.

Tells Peter to holster his sword. He’s not defenseless. It’s just that this isn’t the way to save the world.

“Am I leading a rebellion” - yes, actually. “That you have come out with swords and clubs” - ah, no, not that kind of rebellion.

Jesus is not rebelling against Rome or the Sanhedrin per se. E.g. the current government systems to overpower them and replace them. Jesus is rebelling against the forces of darkness, sin and death. He’s rebelling against the status quo in culture that goes against his kingdom. But he doesn’t fight fair—he fights by his rules—kingdom of God rules. Upsidedown rules.

  • the last are first

  • Fight on our knees

  • Turn the other cheek

  • Don’t resist evil AND resist evil

  • Start small and see great transformation come out

  • Goal isn’t to take over—he already rules; goal is to lead, feed, and protect

What scriptures are being fulfilled?

V. 24 “The son of man will go just as it’s written about him.”

Ex. Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Ps 22

Peter follows Jesus to court of Sanhedrin

Sanhedrin is trying to convict Jesus to crucify him. Couldn’t convict until Jesus confessed.

Jesus finally breaks his silence and admits he’s Messiah, son of God. Then he doubles-down. This is what convicts him in their eyes. But, he’s actually telling the truth!

Peter disowns Jesus. Jesus’ prophecy is fulfilled the same night. Peter leaves devastated.

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

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, Bible-believing, church, Matthew 26, hell, ALL
How to Prepare for When All Hell Breaks Loose | Matthew 26:31-46
How to Prepare for When All Hell Breaks Loose | Matthew 26:31-46

Series: All!

  • Jesus has all authority,

  • So that all nations

  • Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “How to prepare for when all hell breaks lose”

Scripture: Matthew 26:31-46

Bottom line: Prepare today for that day when all hell breaks loose.

  1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

  3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

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

1. Explain why Matthew 26-27 is so crucial to our understanding of God, the world, sin, salvation, etc.

2. What impact should the cross have on our reading of the previous chapters in Matthew's Gospel?

3. Discuss how the following attributes of God are displayed in the cross: sovereignty, righteousness, wrath, and love.

4. Explain what is meant by the idea that the cross is fundamentally for God's sake.

5. How does the cross expose our sin? What does it say about the seriousness of our sin?

6. How would you explain the terms substitution and propitiation to an unbeliever with little or no theological knowledge or vocabulary?

7. Why is it important to see Jesus as our substitute, propitiation, and reconciliation, and not just a loving example?

8. How does the truth of Christ's substitutionary death impact our daily pursuit of holiness?

9. Discuss several ways in which the cross fulfills Old Testament prophecies and expectations.

10. How does the cross rule out the possibility of a works-based righteousness?

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. What to do when all hell breaks loose.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. So they’ll be able to prepare for that day.

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

A. Prepare for the day when all hell breaks loose.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. So that they’ll respond like Jesus did when all hell breaks loose.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. 4 parts here:

  1. Remember that he is faithful and forgives even when we bail on him.

  2. Saturate our minds with his word daily.

  3. Surrender, denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following him.

    1. Not your will but mine vs Not my will but yours

    2. Eden vs Gethsemane

  4. Watch and pray as we

    1. do,

    2. remember and

    3. believe these things.

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Today we will answer the question: What do we do to prepare for the day when all Hell breaks loose?

Bottom line: Prepare today for that day when all hell breaks loose.

Illustration

The closest thing that fits this disturbing title for me is the day back in December when our family collapsed through a portion of 15 ft high deck putting 10 of us in the ER at the same time.

The very short version is that we were trying to take a family group photo. We were celebrating Christmas at my brother’s house and outside on his elevated deck. We were grouped and ready to snap the picture when the deck opened like a trap door dropping all but my mom in a pile 15 feet below. My brother and his wife, our four daughters, their husbands, and 2 grandsons. I cannot describe to you the horror we experienced looking around and see a pile of bodies of your closes family members and the wailing…it’s still pretty intense. For us, that day felt like all hell broke loose.

SERMON OUTLINE

Q1. What do I want you to know?

A. What to do when all hell breaks loose.

Jesus and the 12 are about to go through a hellacious night and day. Actually, 3 days. The disciples will suffer for bailing on Jesus. Jesus will suffer the wrath of God for humanity on the cross and wherever he goes after that. There will never be a more intense set of circumstances than the ones that Jesus will experience. The 12 will go through a lot too.

As we look at this, we’ll probably realize that while we are going through our stuff too, there are principles that we can take away from this that will prepare us for that eventuality. If you’re not going through your excruciating trauma, you might want to prepare to. Because in this life we will have trouble.

My aim today is to give you four tools to put into your prep or go bag so that you’ll be as ready as you can be for the unexpected trauma that is coming your way.

Q2. Why do I want them to know it?

A. So they’ll be able to prepare for that day.

God gives us some principles here (and next week too) that will help us prepare for the challenges ahead. To know that they are coming and not prepare is just foolish. They may not come. You may be spared. But even then the preparations you end up not needing will equip those around you for the challenges that they will encounter and your preparations will be God’s gracious provision for them.

Q3. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Prepare for the day when all hell breaks loose.

I know it seems a little silly. I don’t care. I carry a back pack in my truck that has a few snacks, bottles of water, and other various things for the unlikely chance that we have an earthquake in Charleston and I’m in Mt Pleasant at the time. If we have an earthquake, the bridges will not be safe to drive across. Of course, I will want to get home. So I will park my truck, grab my bag and start walking.

It’s a 32-35 mile walk, depending on your route. Under ideal circumstances (daytime vs night; calm vs chaos; etc.), it will take you 11-12 hours (without rest stops) to walk from Barnes & Noble at Town Center and my house in the Knightsville area. I don’t know if stores will be open after an serious earthquake or not. But I will be glad I had that backpack. And that’s just an earthquake. (We’re overdue for another, in case you’re new to the area) Hurricanes you can see coming. Tornadoes, bombs, shootings, terrorist attacks…these are no longer far-fetched. To not prepare at all is sticking your head in the sand and hoping nothing happens in your lifetime. And that’s to say nothing about how you’re preparing your kids and grandkids for a future that doesn’t look so bright.

I want us to prepare. Whether it’s a persona/family catastrophe or a national emergency, we need to prepare—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. But since we all know it’s impossible to prepare for all possibilities, I hope you will see the infinite value in preparing spiritually and will start there. You can do these simultaneously but start with spiritually.

Q4. Why do I want them to do it?

A. So that they’ll respond like Jesus did when all hell breaks loose.

I want us to respond to this. I want us to start to prepare or build on your preparations—starting spiritually. For your sake. For your family’s sake. For your neighbor’s sake. For your church family’s sake. Your preparations will help you and others in the long run.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. 3 parts here:

  1. Remember that he is faithful and forgives even when we bail on him.

  2. Surrender, denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following him.

    1. Not your will but mine vs Not my will but yours

    2. Eden vs Gethsemane

  3. Watch and pray as we

    1. do,

    2. remember and

    3. believe these things.

Conclusion

It might sound silly, but I keep a go-bag in my car (and Anita’s) in case we get stuck somewhere and have to walk home. For example, if I was at Barnes & Noble on a Friday afternoon and Charleston was hit by another earthquake like the one in 1886, the bridges would be closed (if not damaged) and I’d have to walk home or drive a long way around in gridlock. (See below for Charleston earthquake of 1886)

Bottom line: Prepare today for that day when all hell breaks loose.

The day our family fell together was traumatic for us. We’re still healing from it. Not just the physical either. In fact, the mental/emotional toil is probably the hardest to heal from.

But I can tell you that our family was prepared and came through this much better than we deserved because of God’s grace. In his grace, he prepared us by

  1. REMINDING US THAT WE ARE FORGIVEN. Even when we bail on Jesus, he forgives when we confess our sins to him.

  2. TEACHING US HOW TO LIVE SURRENDERED. Our lives are a gift. We don’t deserve our life. We don’t have to exist. But we do. And God’s grace is there for us every day whether we acknowledge it or not. Living surrendered is a life-long journey. Because our human nature wants to save our life. But God calls us to live in light of eternity. That perspective really served us well as we took those mental trips down the road called worse-case scenario. This could have ended a lot worse than it did. One daughter still has another surgery ahead. One son-in-law still doesn’t have full range of motion in his shoulder. We’re all dealing with different levels of post trauma stress. We’re still triggered at times by sounds or words. But surrendering your life to God helps with all of these things.

  3. Finally, WATCHING AND PRAYING. We are more alert on any deck now:-). We’re so glad our deck at home is only 12 inches high, I’ll tell you that. Elevators and apartment stairwells are still a challenge at times. But watching and praying remind us to be vigilant about all things in life. Not to stress out about everything but to rest in the peace of God in everything. I like to say, prepare as if it all depends on you, but pray and trust God as if it all depends on him.

    1. God is faithful.

    2. God is able.

    3. God cares. Trust him

Pray

Notes

Sweating drops of blood = Hematohydrosis

1886 Charleston earthquake

The 1886 Charleston earthquake in South Carolina occurred about 9:50 p.m. local time August 31. It caused 60 deaths and $5–6 million ($179.14 million in 2022) in damage to 2,000 buildings in the Southeastern United States. It is one of the most powerful and damaging earthquakes to hit the East Coast of the United States.[3]

Scientists have classified it as an intraplate earthquake, and said that it had an estimated moment magnitude of 6.9–7.3 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). Very little to no historical earthquake activity had occurred in this region, which is unusual for any seismic area.[3]

Earthquake

The shock was felt as far away as Boston, Massachusetts, to the north, Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to the northwest, New Orleans, Louisiana, to the west, and across water to Cuba to the south, and Bermuda to the east.[4] The earthquake was so severe that outside the immediate area, there was speculation that the Florida peninsula had broken away from North America.[5] There were at least 60 fatalities.

OUTLINE MATTHEW 26

Jesus and disciples celebrate Passover in the upper room. Jesus predicts Judas's betrayal and Peter's denial, both of which come to pass. After supper Jesus prays in Gethsemane, then is arrested and taken before the high priest.

I. THE ACTION PRECEDING THE UPPER ROOM (26:1-16)

A. The prediction (26:1-2): Once again Jesus predicts his betrayal and crucifixion.

B. The plots (26:3-5, 14-16): On two occasions wicked plans are made to kill Jesus.

1. The plot by Caiaphas (26:3-5): Jewish leaders meet at the palace of this high priest to discuss ways to murder the Savior!

2. The plot by Judas (26:14-16): He agrees with Jesus' enemies to betray the Messiah for thirty pieces of silver.

C. The preparation (26:6-13): Jesus is anointed by a woman at Bethany.

1. The dedication (26:6-7): A woman pours a very expensive alabaster jar of perfume over his head.

2. The denunciation (26:8-9): The disciples criticize her for not selling the perfume and giving the proceeds to the poor.

3. The defense (26:10-13): Jesus defends the woman, referring to two aspects:

a. The preparation aspect (26:10-12): She did this to prepare his body for burial.

b. The prophetic aspect (26:13): Her act will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached!

II. THE ACTION IN THE UPPER ROOM (26:17-30)

A. The instructions (26:17-19): Jesus directs two of his disciples to prepare a room in Jerusalem for the Passover.

B. The indictment (26:20-25)

1. Jesus' betrayal (26:20-24): The Savior announces that one of the Twelve will betray him.

2. Jesus betrayer (26:25): He then identifies ludas as the one.

C. The institution (26:26-30)

1. The supper (26:26-29): The Lord's Supper is now instituted.

a. He speaks concerning the bread 26:26): It is his body.

b. He speaks concerning the cup (26:27-29) Itis his blood, poured out to forgive sins.

2. The song (26:30): They sing a hymn, then go out to the Mount of Olives.

III. THE ACTION FOLLOWING THE UPPER ROOM (26:31-75)

A. The prophecy of Jesus (26:31-35, 56b, 69-75)

1. As foretold (26:31-35): Jesus makes a twofold prediction concerning the disciples.

a. All will desert him (26:31-32): He will meet them in Galilee after the Resurrection.

b. One will deny him (26:33-35): He says Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows!

2. As fulfilled (26:56b, 69-75)

a. The desertion (26:56b): All the disciples flee.

b. The denial (26:69-75): Peter denies Jesus three times.

B. The prayers of Jesus (26:36-46)

1. The assistance he seeks (26:36-38): Jesus requests that Peter, James, and John keep watch with him.

2. The agony he suffers (26:39-46)

a. His first prayer (26:39-41)

(1) The struggle (26:39): Jesus begs his Father to remove the suffering he is about to endure but emphasizes that he desires the Father's will, not his own.

(2) The sleepers (26:40-41): Returning, he finds the three disciples asleep.

b. His second prayer (26:42-43)

(1) The struggle (26:42): Similar to the first prayer.

(2) The sleepers (26:43): Again he finds them asleep.

c. His third prayer (26:44-46)

(1) The struggle (26:44): Similar to the first two prayers.

(2) The sleepers (26:45-46): Upon awakening them, he warns of his imminent arrest.

C. The persecutions of Jesus (26:47-56a, 57-68)

1. He is arrested (26:47-56)

a. Jesus and Judas (26:47-50a): Judas betrays him to the soldiers by a kiss.

b. Jesus and Peter (26:50b-54): Peter is rebuked for cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant.

c. Judas and the soldiers (26:55-56a): He reminds the arrest ing soldiers of his innocence.

2. He is accused (26:57-66)

a. The attempts (26:57-61)

(1) The frantic efforts to locate false witnesses against Jesus (26:57-59)

(2) The futile efforts to locate false witnesses against Jesus (26:60-61): No two people can agree in their testimony.

b. The affirmation (26:62-64): Jesus acknowledges to the high priest that he is indeed the Messiah.

c. The agreement (26:65-66): The Sanhedrin votes to put him to death for blasphemy!

3. He is assaulted (26:67-68): The Jewish leaders spit upon him and strike him.

Nicky Gumbel notes (BIOY)

Your way

The way of Jesus is to say to God, 'not my way but your way! Jesus not only taught us to pray 'your will be done', he also prayed it himself: 'My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?' (v.39, MSG). A second time he prayed, 'My father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way' (v.42, MSG).

These are not prayers of resignation, but prayers of great courage - being willing to follow God's ways, no matter what.

In this passage we see Jesus' humanity: 'He began to show grief and distress and was deeply depressed' (v.37, AMP). He has his three closest friends with him. The same three who saw Jesus in divine glory at the transfiguration now see Jesus in the depths of human sorrow. He prays for God the Father to show him if there is any alternative. Nevertheless, he is willing to do the Father's will whatever the cost.

For Jesus, the cost was of a totally different order to anything we face. He took the sins of the whole world on his shoulders. Hence his soul was 'overwhelmed with sorrow' (v.38). Three times, Jesus prays for 'this cup' to be taken away from him (VV.39,42,44). The cup refers to his impending suffering and death.

Just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus spoke of the cup at the Passover meal representing his blood 'poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins' (v.28). More than that, as is often the case in the Old Testament, this cup includes reference to God's wrath (for example Isaiah 51:22; Habakkuk 2:16). On the cross, Jesus took the cup in your place.

When you are deeply depressed, overwhelmed with sorrow, troubled or in the middle of tough times, it is such an encouragement to know that Jesus has experienced all that you face, and far more. He knows what vou are going through and vou can follow his example by submitting your ways to God.

There is an amazing contrast between what took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and in the Garden of Eden. 'Not your way, but mine' was the essence of the response of Adam and Eve to God in the first garden. However, in the second garden, 'Not my way, but yours' was Jesus' prayer to the Father. Doing it God's way meant suffering and death. But, it brought the redemption of the whole world.

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

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, bible believing, church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Matthew 26, ALL, hell, Ladson, SC
What's the Last Supper About? | Matthew 26:17-30
What's the Last Supper About? | Matthew 26:17-30

Series: All!

  • Jesus has all authority,

  • So that all nations

  • Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “What’s the Last Supper About?”

Scripture: Matthew 26:17-30

Bottom line: The Last Supper birthed the Lord’s Supper reminding us of God’s amazing love for us. (Romans 5:8 articulates this well)

  1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

  3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

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

1. Explain why Matthew 26-27 is so crucial to our understanding of God, the world, sin, salvation, etc.

2. What impact should the cross have on our reading of the previous chapters in Matthew's Gospel?

3. Discuss how the following attributes of God are displayed in the cross: sovereignty, righteousness, wrath, and love.

4. Explain what is meant by the idea that the cross is fundamentally for God's sake.

5. How does the cross expose our sin? What does it say about the seriousness of our sin?

6. How would you explain the terms substitution and propitiation to an unbeliever with little or no theological knowledge or vocabulary?

7. Why is it important to see Jesus as our substitute, propitiation, and reconciliation, and not just a loving example?

8. How does the truth of Christ's substitutionary death impact our daily pursuit of holiness?

9. Discuss several ways in which the cross fulfills Old Testament prophecies and expectations.

10. How does the cross rule out the possibility of a works-based righteousness?

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. What the Last Supper is about. (The death of Christ that brings forgiveness for those who believe)

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because this is where Jesus transforms the Passover meal to the Lord’s supper to connect the Passover to the cross which brings us 1) Forgiveness from God, and 2) Fellowship with God forever.

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

A. Confess/Repent and believe, and then (re)enter into fellowship with God forever.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. This glorifies God for his mercy poured out on those who’ve trusted and obeyed Jesus Christ.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Begin to really believe what you say you believe. This will look like someone sharing good news like they believe it’s too good to keep to themselves. Repent/believe and receive forgiveness as you step into fellowship with God and his people forever.

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

The Story

“This is my story, this is my song. Praising my savior all the day long…”

In 2010, I took our oldest daughter Kelsi to the great city of Franklin, TN (just outside of Nashville) to spend a day with our favorite author at the time, Ted Dekker and 200 of his best fans. In the course of that amazing day, we heard Ted talk to us about why he writes the stories he wrote. He said, in essence, that he writes the stories that he writes as a way to tell The Story from another angle. In other words, he wants to retell The Story in different ways to both engage it personally in a fresh way while taking others there.

It has been said that Matthew’s gospel is the Passion narrative with a very long introduction. Well, I can see that. Starting in chapter 26, THIS IS THE STORY OF STORIES. THIS IS THE STORY THAT MATTERS. We must not miss this story.

So we find ourselves looking over the disciples shoulders as Jesus begins to assert himself, dare I say, in a more kingly manner. After tall, he does have ALL kingly authority. So it’s the festival of unleavened bread, one of 3 annual feasts.

It’s the Passover so I need to explain what that is and why it matters.

SERMON OUTLINE

The Last Supper in the Upper Room (26:17-30)

I. The instructions (26:17-19): Jesus directs two of his disciples to prepare a room in Jerusalem for the Passover.

A. What’s the Passover?

    1. The Passover refers to the time when God passed-over any Hebrew who followed Moses’ instructions just before the 10th plague in Egypt. They sacrificed an unblemished lamb and painted the door frame of their home with it’s blood. This caused the angel of the Lord to Passover that house and not take the life of the firstborn male.

    2. The Hebrews were instructed in the law (Leviticus) to celebrate this festival very year in remembrance of that event so that they could connect it to Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

B. Why does it matter?

    1. This foreshadowed Jesus coming as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (J the B) by shedding his blood. All who believe his blood covers us are passed over by God as well and receive abundant, eternal life.

    2. It’s the blood of Christ that covers us with mercy when we stand underneath it by grace through faith. Ask God now to pour out his mercy on you as you trust him.

II. The indictment (26:20-25)

A. Jesus' betrayal (26:20-24): The Savior announces that one of the Twelve will betray him.

B. Jesus betrayer (26:25): He then identifies Judas as the one. (It appears; confirmed in John 13:26)

III.  The institution (26:26-30)

A.  The supper (26:26-29): The Lord's Supper is now instituted as the last supper (the last Passover meal) is celebrated and transformed all at the same time.

    1. He speaks concerning the bread 26:26): It is his body. He made it about himself instead of about the lamb and it’s blood.

    2. He speaks concerning the cup (26:27-29) Itis his blood, poured out to forgive sins. Again, Jesus makes it about himself. This is when the Passover meal becomes the Lord’s supper.

B. The song (26:30): They sing a hymn, then go out to the Mount of Olives.

Conclusion

Bottom line: The Last Supper birthed the Lord’s Supper reminding us of God’s amazing love for us.

This week I was having lunch with three guys, two of which I had just met that morning. All three are in gospel ministry in some capacity in the area. We’ll call the guy next to me Alan. In the course of our meal, Alan engaged our server and asked if she knew Jesus. It was a little abrupt and I could tell she wasn’t wanting to have that conversation right then and there. Nevertheless, he moved through a short gospel presentation. You could tell from how she answered the questions that she didn’t know the Lord nor was she interested in the implications of her answers to her questions. At least not at that time. Her responses were sad but in my mind I kind of moved on as well that didn’t go well.

Our table was very quiet. No one spoke. I turned and looked at Alan next to me and noticed his head in his hands. Then I saw the tears. He was crying. He was crying because she was lost and seemed unconcerned about the path leading to destruction she was on. What Jesus calls “The broad road that leads to destruction.” I was immediately ashamed at my lack of compassion for that young lady. I was convicted over my lack of belief that the gospel is called good news for a reason—it’s great news! And that when someone rejects it they miss out (at least for the moment) in the grace and mercy of God.

It’s this lack of feeling that infects our churches today. This lack of believing in the sacrifice of Jesus made on the cross on our behalf.

We celebrate the Lord’s supper nearly every Sunday so that this doesn’t happen. As you can see, it’s no guarantee. The spiritual gravity of this world pulls us away from believing that the good news of Jesus is really good news—for us and others. I still have a long way to go.

My prayer today is that God will rekindle our love for him so much that we’ll actually believe this news is good enough to share it (even awkwardly) because it’s such good news.

“Jesus Loves Me” song

Yes, Jesus loves me. Hear it again for the first time. Embrace the reality that Jesus took your place. Death passes over us because we’re under his blood of mercy.

How much do you love me? THIS MUCH! (Arms spread out wide)

Questions

  • Do you have trouble remembering why the good news is good news?

  • Do you believe that the good news is really good news for you?

  • Do you share the good news with others like you share other good news?

“Every time you receive communion, you are reminded both of the hostility of the world towards Jesus and of his love for that same world.” -Nicky Gumbel

Let’s pray

Notes

Understand God’s solution

Have you ever been falsely accused or betrayed by a friend? Have you had people plotting against you? Or have you ever experienced some other form of personal hostility? Jesus experienced all these things.

God has revealed himself in creation. However, his supreme revelation is in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ.

God himself has come to be part of this hostile world to do something about it. In this passage we see a glimpse of God’s solution, which he achieved through coming in the person of his Son Jesus. Yet the world was hostile even to Jesus.

Plotting

We should not be surprised by the world’s hostility to Jesus and to Christians today. Jesus knew he would be ‘handed over to be crucified’ (v.2). The chief priests and elders ‘plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him’ (v.4).

Jesus says to the Twelve, ‘One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators’ (v.21, MSG).

Accusations

When a woman came to Jesus ‘with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head’ (v.7), even the disciples regarded what was done for Jesus as a ‘waste’ (v.8).

There is something deeply moving about this incident. Jesus is given for us. The cost is beyond anything we can ever imagine, and his death is imminent. A jar of expensive perfume is only fitting, and yet the disciples are fussing about waste.

Most people understand your works of social action (for example, in response to poverty) but they find it harder to understand your worship of Jesus and all the things associated with it. They regard these things as a ‘waste’ and think that surely there is a better use of your time and money (v.9), but Jesus sees things differently: ‘She has done a beautiful thing to me’ (v.10). She showed her extravagant love for Jesus.

Betrayal

What people will do for money! Judas waited for an opportunity to hand Jesus over for ‘thirty silver coins’ (v.15). How painful this must have been for Jesus! Judas was one of his closest ‘friends’; one of the inner circle of twelve he had chosen. He knew – ‘one of you will betray me’ (v.21).

Yet Jesus in his extraordinary love, dies for them all. During a meal together, he begins to explain the meaning of his death. He explains through the breaking of the bread and drinking of wine that his blood is to be ‘poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’ (v.28). Jesus’ answer to a hostile world was to be crucified in order to make forgiveness and redemption possible.

Every time you receive communion, you are reminded both of the hostility of the world towards Jesus and of his love for that same world.

''Lord Jesus, thank you that you died for me and demonstrated how to love a hostile world.''

Outline Bible

OUTLINE MATTHEW 26

Jesus and disciples celebrate Passover in the upper room. Jesus predicts Judas's betrayal and Peter's denial, both of which come to pass. After supper Jesus prays in Gethsemane, then is arrested and taken before the high priest.

I. THE ACTION PRECEDING THE UPPER ROOM (26:1-16)

A. The prediction (26:1-2): Once again Jesus predicts his betrayal and crucifixion.

B. The plots (26:3-5, 14-16): On two occasions wicked plans are made to kill Jesus.

1. The plot by Caiaphas (26:3-5): Jewish leaders meet at the palace of this high priest to discuss ways to murder the Savior!

2. The plot by Judas (26:14-16): He agrees with Jesus' enemies to betray the Messiah for thirty pieces of silver.

C. The preparation (26:6-13): Jesus is anointed by a woman at Bethany.

1. The dedication (26:6-7): A woman pours a very expensive alabaster jar of perfume over his head.

2. The denunciation (26:8-9): The disciples criticize her for not selling the perfume and giving the proceeds to the poor.

3. The defense (26:10-13): Jesus defends the woman, referring to two aspects:

a. The preparation aspect (26:10-12): She did this to prepare his body for burial.

b. The prophetic aspect (26:13): Her act will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached!

II. THE ACTION IN THE UPPER ROOM (26:17-30)

A. The instructions (26:17-19): Jesus directs two of his disciples to prepare a room in Jerusalem for the Passover.

B. The indictment (26:20-25)

1. Jesus' betrayal (26:20-24): The Savior announces that one of the Twelve will betray him.

2. Jesus betrayer (26:25): He then identifies ludas as the one.

C. The institution (26:26-30)

1. The supper (26:26-29): The Lord's Supper is now instituted.

a. He speaks concerning the bread 26:26): It is his body.

b. He speaks concerning the cup (26:27-29) Itis his blood, poured out to forgive sins.

2. The song (26:30): They sing a hymn, then go out to the Mount of Olives.

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

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Ladson, SC, Bible-believing, Grace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, Matthew 26, last supper, ALL
Love Between Treachery | Matthew 26: 1-16
Love Between Treachery | Matthew 26: 1-16

Love Between Treachery 

Matthew 26:1-16

Matthew’s Gospel has been called “a Passion story with a long introduction.”

Passover Exodus 12

4th passion prediction (16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19)

Caiaphas and religious leaders plotting.

Unnamed woman (John says Mary) act of love (almost a year's worth of wages) directly to Jesus.

Her act will be told to many (3 of the 4 Gospels have her story).

Judas sold out Jesus for four months of wages.


Read More
Ken DorrityGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, bible believing church, Matthew, Ken Dorrity, ALL, treachery, love, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship
Am I a Sheep or a Goat? | Matthew 25:31-46
Am I a Sheep or a Goat? | Matthew 25:31-46

Am I a Sheep or a Goat? – The Moment of Truth

Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep and the Goats

31  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious

throne.  32  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as

a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his

left.

34  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your

inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  35  For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you

invited me in,  36  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison

and you came to visit me.’

37  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and

give you something to drink?  38  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and

clothe you?  39  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters

of mine, you did for me.’

41  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared

for the devil and his angels.  42  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you

gave me nothing to drink,  43  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not

clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44  “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or

sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45  “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for

me.’

46  “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

1. - Following the parables of the 10 bridesmaids and the distribution of the talents (Mikey and Clay)

A. In the last few weeks, through Jesus’ parables, we’ve learned:

- that we need be prepared in anticipation of His coming (and know the consequences of not be

prepared)

- that we need to invest the gifts talents and abilities that he’s given us in His kingdom (and know

the consequences of not investing ourselves in His Kingdom work)

- and finally (truly finally) with this parable, Jesus shows us how to respond to his grace and what

he expects to see as fruit in His followers.

- Not really a parable as much as a prophesy – we don’t find terms like “like” – the kingdom of Heaven is

like…or “like 10 virgins. Jesus is giving a statement of fact: “When the Son of man comes…”

- This is about the 2 nd coming of Christ,- Something each of us is going to experience

-The most public event of all time

- It could be today, tomorrow or in a thousand years.

- Before Jesus died and rose again, He prepared His disciples for His departure and all of us for His

return.

Verse 31

31  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 

- Jesus is confirming that He is:

The one who will be enthroned as JUDGE

Daniel 7:9

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place,

    and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

The One In the presence of angels…

Daniel 7:10

A river of fire was flowing,

    coming out from before him.

Thousands upon thousands attended him;

    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

The court was seated,

    and the books were opened.

The One who will reward the righteous…

Daniel 7:18

But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever

and ever.’

- and punish the wicked

Daniel 7:26

But the court will sit, and his (satan’s) power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

- get the picture? Jesus in all His glory…maybe this will help…

Revelation 19:11-16

11  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and

True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  12  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His

head were many crowns. He  [a] had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  13  He was clothed

with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  14  And the armies in

heaven, clothed in  [b] fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  15  Now out of His mouth

goes a  [c] sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of

iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  16  And He has

on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND

LORD OF LORDS.

Verses 32-33

32  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a

shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his

left.

-Absolute truth that each of us will be standing there with each other – all of us…ever

- He is going to separate us, one from another

- this is going to be a personal interaction. We will EACH stand, individually before Jesus, in all of

His glory. (Harkening back to the parable of the talents stressing individual gifting, responsibility

and accountability.

- He is going to place each of us either on His right or on His left…no middle ground…no fence to

sit on

Matthew 25:34-40

34  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your

inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  35  For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you

invited me in,  36  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison

and you came to visit me.’

37  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and

give you something to drink?  38  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and

clothe you?  39  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters

of mine, you did for me.’

- He will judge each of us individually, based on the life we lived – what we did or didn’t do.

- That’s a familiar theme from Matthew 16…

Matthew 16:27

  For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will

reward each person according to what they have done.

- You may ask…isn’t that a works-based salvation? NO

I am not saved by works, but works are the evidence that I’ve been saved

- The good works performed by believers aren’t the basis of salvation but should be understood

as the necessary EVIDENCE of salvation. These works are the fruit and product of our new life

in Jesus.

- We don’t do these things to be saved…we are compelled to do these things because we ARE

saved….out of our love and gratitude for Jesus

- the works, we will find, are works of LOVE

- They’re lowly, not spectacular and seemingly not religious (but maybe they ARE…)

James 1:27

27  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in

their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

- faith and hope aren’t mentioned…only LOVE.

Could it be that LOVE is the true evidence and fruit of our faith? How we love others

demonstrates how we love Jesus.

John 15:12

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

1 John 4:7-8

7  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of

God and knows God.  8  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:19-21

  We love because he first loved us.  20  Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For

whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have

not seen.  21  And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and

sister.

1 John 3:17-18

17  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how

can the love of God be in that person?  18  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with

actions and in truth.

Matthew 22:36-40

36  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your

mind.’ [a]   38  This is the first and greatest commandment.  39  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as

yourself.’ [b]   40  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Everything hangs on LOVING GOD and LOVING PEOPLE…everything

It’s not the works that Jesus rewards, but evidence that we truly KNOW HIM and LISTEN TO

HIM…that we LOVE HIM and LOVE OTHERS.

- In this case, it’s the command and also the fruit

Matthew 25:41-46

41  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared

for the devil and his angels.  42  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you

gave me nothing to drink,  43  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not

clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44  “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or

sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45  “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for

me.’

46  “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

- Those judged by Jesus meet opposite fates…

- the righteous come to Jesus, and the unrighteous depart from Him

- the righteous are blessed, and the unrighteous are cursed

- There is a fearsome finality to Jesus’ judgement – there are no second chances at this point.

- Both the righteous and the unrighteous seem surprised…maybe both are professing Christians

- Both answer…”Lord…”

Matthew 7:21-23

21  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who

does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  22  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not

prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many

miracles?’  23  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Philippians 2:10-11

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

- We shouldn’t be surprised by any of this after reading this parable – we know what Jesus is looking for

on judgment day.

- If it seems harsh, consider the fact that Jesus is giving us a 2000 year heads-up…

- Jesus will know how much we love Him, based on how much we loved the least of these.

- We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength and all our mind.

AND love our neighbor as our self.

The two have always been connected…we show God how much we love Him when we

obey this and love others. We are truly called to love God and love people, because Jesus

identifies with the least of these.

So, back to a pretty legit question is: Is Jesus teaching works righteousness here?..that we can somehow

earn our salvation through righteous works?...No

- One clue is in how the righteous reply – if they were trying to earn eternal life by feeding the

hungry, and so on, they wouldn’t be surprised when Jesus commended them for good works.

- Jesus isn’t defining FAITH in this story – He’s showing us what it looks like when it’s alive, and the

consequences of it when it’s dead.

James 2:14-26

14  What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such

faith save them?  15  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  16  If one of you says to

them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is

it?  17  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.  19  You believe that there is

one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20  You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless [d] ?  21  Was not our father

Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  22  You see that

his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  23  And

the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as

righteousness,” [ e ]  and he was called God’s friend.  24  You see that a person is considered righteous by what

they do and not by faith alone.

25  In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she

gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  26  As the body without the spirit is

dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

-In that light, Martin Luthor said this:

“ O, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works

incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has

already done them and is consistently doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an

unbeliever.”

That sounds really harsh, doesn’t it?...I mean…that last sentence…but if you think about it, isn’t that

exactly what this parable is saying? Isn’t that exactly what Jesus is saying?

That makes us have to ask: Is the neglect of service to others so wicked that it deserves separation from

God for eternity?...the fires of hell?

The answer, both fortunately and unfortunately, is YES.

James 4:17

17  If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

- In some ways, there’s no ambiguity in what Jesus is saying here…so what seams really clear in this

reading?

- What do these passages in Matthew teach us about Jesus’ return?

1. His return will be sudden

- people will be going through their daily routine

2. His judgement will be irreversible – no second chance to repent at that point

- There are servants who will not be ready when their Master returns

- There will be bridesmaids locked out of the marriage feast for not preparing

- There’s no middle ground…no fence to ride, and I believe that if there were, Jesus

would swipe left

3. Our hearts will be exposed.

- The true nature of who we are before God will come to light

4. Our sentence may be surprising

5. We must be prepared – our lives and our eternities are at stake

6. The Kingdom of Heaven is not for those who simply respond to an invitation. All of the

bridesmaids had done that…or just praying the sinner’s prayer (which is not in the Bible)

7. The Kingdom of heaven is not for those who simply make a confession – each of the

bridesmaids would have said they were part of the bridal party

8. The Kingdom of Heaven is not for those who merely express some affection – positive feelings

about Jesus wont be enough on the last day.

Where do we go from here?

- The first big application of this is that we should be grateful that Jesus will one day set the world right.

- We should be grateful that Jesus told us in advance how to show Him love...that how you treat other

people demonstrates the nature of your relationship with Jesus.

- His mercy is like a long yellow light…

- We should be grateful that Jesus loves us enough to tell us through these parables:

- how to be prepared in anticipation of His coming (and the consequences of not be prepared)

- the importance of investing our gifts talents and abilities that he’s given us in His kingdom (and

the consequences of not investing ourselves in His Kingdom work)

- and finally (truly finally) with this parable, Jesus shows us how to respond to his grace, and love

Him the way He wants to be loved.

- Now…taking care of the poor is not new to the word of God. The Bible mentions the poor over 2000

times.

Isaiah 58:10

…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

    and your night will become like the noonday.

- “spend yourselves” means give them your life! Leave it all on the field.

- but what about taking care of ourselves…retirement…for when we’re old?

Matthew 6:19-21

19  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves

break in and steal.  20  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not

destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be

also.

- So one could say that the Bible says to spend your life on behalf of the poor, not to spend your life trying

to avoid dying poor.

- and you don’t know when that is (by the way)

Moving Forward:

You serve people that God has put around you not because you want to get to heaven, but because

Jesus has changed your heart.

Are you ready for that day?

Are you ready to meet God?

Are you ready to stand before Jesus and give an account?

You might ask yourselves, or ask God: How can I be ready?

1. Trust in Jesus…give Him your heart. Don’t be close-fisted with your life

Triangle

2. Repent of your sin…

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that

hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for

us,  2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the

cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3  Consider him who

endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

3. Listen to the warnings Jesus has given us in the last few weeks, and pray earnestly for Him to show

you where your heart is.:

-The maidens (Matthew 25:1-13) consider themselves friends of the bridegroom, but they don’t

live in a way that anticipates his return.

-The wicked servant (Matthew 25:14-30) considers himself in the employ of the Master, but he’s

never offered his talents without reserve for the kingdom.

-The “goats” (Matthew 25:31-46) are surprised to be rejected by Jesus, who they thought they

were faithfully serving. But when it came to pouring themselves out for the crushed people of

God, they weren’t engaged at all.

Here’s the sobering thing about these parables: There is no middle ground. You are either committed to

the mission, all-in for Jesus, and using your resources for his people and his kingdom, or you are not. You

are either a sheep or a goat. And that puts the lukewarm Christian in a very precarious position.

- Have you offered your life and your talents, no matter your age, as an investment in the kingdom? Could

we look at your giving and say that you are all-in with the mission of God? Would your calendar back up

what your words say when you declare, “Jesus is Lord”?

- This isn’t the time to ask ourselves questions about our actions. It’s time to ask ourselves questions

about our faith…especially in light of Matthew 25

- It’s time to ask ourselves if we are giving God the first and best of ourselves, your time and your money,

or are you giving Him the leftovers.

- It’s time to stop calling our complacency, apathy or indifference to those Jesus calls us to love, a “busy

schedule” or “bills” or “forgetfulness”. Call it what it is…sin.

We sang “Open the Eyes of my Heart”…Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see you. Not only has

Jesus told us how to show Him love, but He has shown us where to find Him.

4. Go to them…the hungry, the thirsty, to strangers. Clothe the naked…look after the sick…visit a

prisoner.

5. Use the gifts, talents and abilities that the master has given you to serve Him…to love God by loving

people.

- If you don’t feel like it, do it anyway. I can promise you that when we go to Africa and look in the faces of

those kids, you bet I see the face of Jesus.

6. Seek out opportunities…don’t just sit and wait for them to come to you…

Buy food for the blessing box

If you see there’s a meal train, jump on it…or start one for someone who needs it

We’re currently putting together back-to-school items for newly arrived refugees and those less

priviledged.

Give from your time, your talent and treasure sacrificially to your church and other organizations

and people that God leads you to. Find an organization doing the work of God and help them. If you cant

find one, start one.

Go to your neighbor

Practice loving people as an outpouring of your gratitude to a loving, merciful, grace-giving God

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Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipChris Karpus, Matthew 25, sheep or goat, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, non denominational church, bible believing church
The Significance of Faithful Work | Matthew 25:14-30
The Significance of Faithful Work | Matthew 25:14-30

YOU HAVE BEEN WALKING THROUGH THE BOOK OF MATTHEW:

- You’ve seen how Jesus used parables to help provide a window into HIS KINGDOM.

- Parable would typically have a singular overarching meaning.

Kent Hughes Commentary - HELPS US CONNECT WHERE YOU’VE BEEN TO TODAY

“So we might say that readiness looks like HOPE (The parable of the Virgins), LOVE (The

Parable of the Sheep and Goats), and FAITH (The Parable of the Talents).”

In this sermon our focus is on faith, more specifically on faithful working, or even more

accurately a faithfulness that works.” -

These set of passages in Matthew are a series of parables about how we should live our

lives at his eminent return.

What we should discovery is an urgency to live out what God has put in each of us, for his

glory and our joy? And caution against not taking it serious.

READ PASSAGE: MATTHEW 25:14-30

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[c] and entrusted

to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[d] to another two, to another

one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the

five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So

also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received

the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a

long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he

who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying,

‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His

master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[e] You have been faithful over

a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who

had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents;

here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and

faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into

the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward,

saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and

gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your

talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him,

‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and

gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with

the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with

interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten

talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance.

But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the

worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and

gnashing of teeth.’

1

2 Things to Highlight in this Passage:

1) It helps us see ourselves rightly

2) It helps us see God rightly

1) You cannot know yourself without knowing God

1) You can do a deep dive and know your desires and then find a group of people with

those desires and sprinkle Jesus on top of it...but that is still not HOW YOU ARE

WIRED AND HOW YOU WERE PLACE.

First Thing We See in the Passage:

God distributes his talents and abilities not to all alike, but to each

individually.

• THIS NOT WHAT THE MASTER IS DOING -

“Here’s 5 talents for you and 5 talents for you”

• IN OTHER WORDS - WE ARE NOT ALL GIFTED THE SAME WAY?

- HE GIVES ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITIES...

• THE TRUTH IS - Some of US would get killed with 5 talents. WE would just be crushed.

The day God has for SOME US and the day he created you for YOU MAY require the 1 talent.

PROBLEM: 5 TALENT PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT

We look at the 5 talent guy and think important and then the 1 talent guy and think less

important. WHEN WE THIS THIS WAY - IT IS AN ACCUSATION AGAINST GOD.

• ACCORDING THIS PASSAGE:

• 5 TALENT PEOPLE ARE NOT:

• Loved more by God or know more of God’s pleasure

• Listen...its not about “Man I wish I had what that guy or that women has...”

• Praise God our cultural score cards are not His.

• HIS SCORE CARD IS NOT EVEN ABOUT THE TALENT!!!

His Kingdom score card is about FAITH, RISK, COURAGE, and

WILLINGNESS to step into what HE built for you...

• NOT you trying to be a cheap imitation of somebody else.

• ARE YOU WITH ME? WE HAVE GOT TO SEE OURSELVES RIGHTLY.

• He didn’t gift us all the same way.

EXAMPLES:

• America’s Got Talent

• Work Place

• There are people at your job that have a skill set that is not your skill set. And if you

tried...you might even get a B.

• But you’d be EXHAUSTED, It would ware you out, you’d hate it - It would be B level work.

• Meanwhile there’s that guy that came out of the womb asking for a spreadsheet.

• Hello - Im here to create systems and structures.

WE ARE GIFTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

• ME: If I tried to get into the weeds at that level - I can pull it off to a point. But then its like

C level work -

2

• BUT if I stay in my lane and I’m me - NOT THEM

• MY STORY - CALLING TO MINISTRY - NOT SURE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE

SAY

YOU ARE NOT THE BEST AT EVERYTHING, YOU ARE LIKELY NOT THE BEST AT MOST

THINGS - BUT YOU ARE GIFTED BY GOD...WITH A TALENT

ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT - The idea of Compound Interest

• The 1 talent guy could have sewed his - just as the 5 and 2 talent person.

• What’s at stake here is not the TALENT - BUT What you do with the talent.

DISCOVERY:

• SO WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF YOUR GIFTS:

• 1st - THEY COME FROM GOD - THERE ARE HIS

• Nature abilities God just wove into you

• Your Story - Through your story God has redeemed some things

• Kelly - Single mom who wanted to create a place for other single moms to find love and

hear about the love of Jesus.

• People would tell Kelly - you are so gifted at this - No -“I’m so broken, and know what

others are feeling and have to do something about it.”

• PIC 2 - Kelly & Ladies On Stage

• PIC 3 - Kelly & Family

* PLACE - Story of Dee & Marc

• Somethings Given At Salvation:

• When we surrender to Jesus that a manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common

good

• 1 of 2 Ways:

• Comes in and Begins Something That Wasn’t There Before

• Most Time - Electrifies What Was Already There

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of

service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same

God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the

Spirit for the common good.

DO you see what ’s happening -

Where we are prone to go - THAT PERSON’S got this really amazing thing and I got this little

baby thing... God is freeing you up...He’s saying same team, same team, same team...

Why is this so important?

• It frees us up to celebrate one another.

• Whether its the same gift or a completely different gift.

• You see what He’s doing...

- Variety of gifts, variety of services....One God, One Spirt - Same Team, Same Team....

• HE’S BUILDING THAT TEAM - to cause problems with the darkness of the world.

• SAY: Oh if we could see ourselves correctly - Our attention would be ON Him -

And you would realize just how dangerous you are to the darkness. Oh that we

might come awakened.

Some of You Get This:

- Football season is around the corner

3

- Something you will not see

- Is a 6’5 - 350 lb guy lining up in a slot receiver place

- That kinda guy was built to fight you in phone booth.

- You get him out of his spot - He looks stupid and the team suffers.

- BUT - IF HE WILL PLAY HIS SPOT - Its like a cascading effect

- He blocks/opens up a space for the guy to run or creates some protection...not we can

move the ball down the field.

- If we get him out of position - he’s a liability.

SO IT IS - IF WE WILL SEE OURSELVES CORRECTLY - AND YOU PLAY YOUR SPOT.

- Not your friends spot

- Not my spot

- Not your cousins spot

- Not your spiritual hero spot

- YOUR SPOT

- The kind of joy you can walk in that you are not walking now.

My heart breaks for some maybe today - You’ve been walking in someone else’s

spot. You are poor version of someone else. NOT the beautiful version of what

you could be.

SAY:

I’m not trying to puff up your self-esteem. This is God’s economy. He’s involved in

that. Its not you that’s amazing - Its God that’s amazing IN YOUR STORY.

WE MUST SEE OURSELVES RIGHTLY - You have been gifted.

BUT MUST SEE GOD RIGHTLY AS WELL

Now - The Guy w/ 1 Talent

- He has no eagerness and no urgency - no joy and confidence

- Rather - He makes accusations against the character of God

- The bible says to this man - You are lazy and wicked - I don’t know how you are wired - but

I’m not wanting that said about me BY GOD.

How is he lazy and wicked?

- I think this how this works.

- SAY: When you don’t see God rightly - AND you don’t see yourself rightly... You

will begin to think thoughts about God that are out of step with who he is and

what He does.

- In so doing, you will make accusations in your heart just like this servant.

- Maybe He Thought, “Man my talent is so small and God is so rich”. It just

doesn’t even matter. REPEAT —- What I have is so SMALL and God is SO

big...I don’t have to do anything.”

- Let the people with the 5 talents do it.

IF YOU WERE MADE FOR THE DAY AND THE DAY FOR YOU.

- God is intimately involved in shaping and forming you.

- Redeeming You - Redeeming your hurt, victories and losses

- Giving you a life a purpose and belonging with an unshakeable identity.

That kinda thinking - “My gift is too small, he’s so rich, he wouldn’t even miss

this...is an accusation against God.

This is why he calls him wicked and lazy.

4

What we really know - God is actually very generous.

You posses nothing that is not Gods and has been given to you to steward.

CS Lewis - 6 Pence None the Richer

- So it is - You and I have nothing that does not rightly belong to the creator

God. You don’t have a talent, you don’t have an opportunity.

- BUT I WORKED HARD FOR WHAT I GOT.

- Great - But Be Honest:

- Were there other people that worked hard-Did’t get quit as far

as you?

- Were those others that positioned themselves rightly, yet the

opportunity was not there for them?

- Is there nothing naturally not in you that gave you that edge?

GOD IS GENEROUS!

• IT IS GOD WHO:

• ...GIVES, ...SAVES, ...SETS, DRAWS, MAKES A WAY,..POSITIONS US

RIGHTLY, HE IS AT WORK

• JOB MOVING HERE - I WAS NOT THEIR FIRST CHOICE

Vs 25 - He gets real honest about why he was paralyzed- HE WAS AFRAID

- WHY BECAUE HE DIDN”T KNOW WHO GOD WAS:

- HE’S MAKING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST GOD.

- He’s saying I was afraid - of what might happen if I invest it and loose?

- At least the 5 talent guy has margin to spare - “I got 3 left - some

bitcoin got me”

HERE’S ONE OF THE BIGGER TAKE AWAYS - I’ll SAY IT AGAIN - GOD’S SCORECARD IS

NOT THE SAME AS OUR SCORECARD.

SAY: What HE delights in, what HE is honored in —- IS FAITH - Not our

metrics of success.

- I tell you - a lot of us are going to get ROCKED when we get to glory. When we see

who the big deals are. - RANDY ALCORN EXAMPLE

GOD’S SCORECARD IS NOT OUR SCORECARD:

He honors FAITH, RISK, COURAGE

- Our guy here was AFRAID

- THINK ABOUT YOU AND I:

- FEAR Will Likely Keep You From Moving Forward in Faith

- Maybe You’ve Been Hurt:

- Not doing that again, Not trusting anyone with information again,

- Fear of IT not working.

- Here’s I Guy - I WAS AFRAID - I only have 1 talent - What if I bet it and loose it. Your

powerful, so what does that mean for me?

HOW DO WE STAY ROOTED? SEE OURSELVES RIGHTLY?

SAY - Your faith and what Jesus is doing is WAY bigger than your personal

salvation. LOOK AT ME - It is not LESS than your personal salvation.

• But it is epically MORE than your salvation.

• We have been so conditioned to think when we hear Gospel (Good News)

to only think - PERSONAL SALVATION.

5

PERSONAL SALVATION:

- The transfer out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son.

- So, you want to play in the Kingdom, personal salvation is a necessity.

BUT IT IS BIGGER THAN PERSONAL SALVATION - YOU AND I ARE CAUGHT IN A STORY.

ITS THE ONLY STORY - ITS THE STORY THAT ALL STORIES FIND THEIR PLACE.

HIS STORY:

- THE CREATOR GOD OF THE UNIVERSE CREATED THE WORK IN SHALOM.

- In rhythm and beauty to reflect His glory - an overflow of his divine, triune perfection - Father,

Son, Holy Spirit overflowing on the canvas of creation.

- THE MAN AND WOMAN WERE NAKED AND UNASHAMED - Little do with nudity and

everything to do with the heart and their relationship with the Father and each other.

- SIN ENTERS THE COSMOS AND FRACTURES IT

- The man goes from WO-MAN, Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh to - Its that WOMAN

YOU GAVE to ME.

- Relational strife immediately between each other and God and man.

- HERE’S GOD’S RESPONSE: To move towards - to redeem / to save

- He makes a people - Exodus 17 - And you will be for more a Kingdom of Priests that the

Nations might see my light.

- Christ come - kills sin and death for those who would believe

- You and I by the power of His spirit are called into this Kingdom

- Uniquely wired - Uniquely Placed - Set to cause problems for a vanquished enemy who

doesn’t know He quit vanquished yet.

THAT’S THE STORY YOU AND I ARE IN.

If we are to have the urgency we need - The FAITH, COURAGE TO MOVE - WE HAVE TO SEE

GOD RIGHTLY.

If we see God Rightly, We Will See Ourselves Rightly and Place Ourselves into the Story -

There are no SMALL TALENTS?

DEEP WORK, OVER TIME, IN COMMUNITY:

DEEP WORK - IN the quite - With the Holy Spirit

ON SCREEN

TALENTS:

What do I love to do?

What motivates what I do?

What do I constantly think about?

HEART:

What would I do if I knew I wouldn’t fail?

What do I care most about in this world?

How do I hope others describe me when I die?

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Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipClay Jernigan, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, Bible-believing, church, non denominational, Matthew, ALL, Matthew 25, parable of the talents, parables
How to Prepare to Meet Jesus | Matthew 25:1-13
How to Prepare to Meet Jesus | Matthew 25:1-13

Fallen Condition Focus

Our nature is to procrastinate and not prepare.

Introduction

Do you know those people who always seem to be prepared for anything? I am not

one of those people. I am more of a, “will figure it out later” kind of person. It’s

funny because as I was preparing to preach this morning I was thinking about

preparation. Some things I have to force myself to prepare for.

Our family loves to go camping, and we really do 2 different kinds of camping.

First there is the main activity we do which is better called “glamping”. In fact,

Lucy, Joe, and I are doing this right now. My preparation for this kind of camping

is very casual. I know I will be by my truck. I know that I’m just a few minutes

drive to the nearest store. So when I go to pack for the things we need, I don’t

really sweat it too much. The worst thing that can happen is that I will need to

drive down the road a few miles and pick up whatever it is that we may have

forgotten.

On the flip side of this is, sometimes I will take a couple of my kids backpacking.

Now this is an entirely different thing. We have to pack everything we are going

to need for the trip on our back. Typically, we will find a trail and hike several

miles into the woods. We don’t have access to a car, or a store, electricity, or any

of the modern luxuries of life.

Now, even though I am not by nature a preparer, when I go backpacking, I

suddenly intentionally become a very prepared person. Spreadsheets are involved,

2

I have lists. I sit down an methodically load all the items into my packs and the

kids packs so that we have everything we might need. Why do I do this for a

backpacking trip, but not for a trip in the glamper?

The answer is, the stakes are so much higher. If we get out into the woods and

realize we don’t have anything to start a fire with, we are going to be miserable. I

can’t just jump in the truck and go get what we need.

Jesus has been teaching us this lesson on a spiritual level. And he has been

teaching it over and over again. He, gives us so many warnings on this topic,

because he knows our nature. He knows we tend to think, I will worry about it

later. I’ve got time to deal with spiritual things some other time. He knows that

some of will one day realize we never prepared ourselves to meet him.

Remember back to how Jesus closed his Sermon on the Mount. It is one of the

most troubling passages in all of Scripture. Jesus leaves his hearers in that passage

with some really troubling words about a “narrow gate” “few find it”. He really

depicts this mass of people who all think they are moving toward the kingdom of

heaven but they are deceived.

[Mat 7:22-23 ESV] 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not

prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty

works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you;

depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

This is the exact same warning that we get as we look at this parable teaching

today.

25:1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took

their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

3

Right of the bat Jesus informs us exactly what the parable is intended to illustrate.

We are talking about the kingdom of heaven. And we continue the same flow of

end times teaching that Jesus had been talking about in chapter 24.

[Mat 24:44 ESV] 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is

coming at an hour you do not expect.

The point of this teaching is to emphasize what we read in Matthew 24:44. You

must be ready. Jesus effectively gives us warning after warning after warning

about this topic.

To understand the parable we need to understand a little about ancient Jewish

wedding practices because that is the setting of this parable. It was customary in

those days for the bridesmaids and the bride to wait at the family home of the

bride. Unlike modern times there really was not a set schedule for when the events

of the wedding would take place.

What we have pictured in the parable is basically a wedding party. Those who will

actually be in the wedding ceremony.

At some point the groom would arrive at the family home of the bride. And when

he would arrive something kind of like a parade would take place as the wedding

party would move from the bride’s family home to the groom’s family home.

This parade if you will would be a great honor and a significant part of the overall

wedding celebration.

We see that the 10 bridesmaids are equipped with lamps. The same word can be

translated either lamp or even torches. It could be either, but the point is the same.

Seemingly when the bridegroom arrives they will be expected to light the torches

and proceed as a wedding party with the groom.

25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

4

While the 10 bridesmaids seem to be one unit, Jesus draws our attention to

something right in the beginning. These 10 people are not the same. Even though

they all appear to be ready for the wedding procession, they all are equipped with

lamps, but there is something very different under the surface. In fact they could

not be more different. 5 of them are wise, and 5 of them are foolish.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m an engineer, but sometimes I am tempted to

probably read too much into the mathematics of the situation. Jesus is making this

story up. He could have used any number he wanted here. He could have had 8

wise and 2 fools, or 2 fools and 8 wise, but he does a 50/50 split. I don’t know if

that is significant, but perhaps it is. Is Jesus trying to tell us that about 50% of the

people who profess to be a Christian are inwardly fooling themselves? I don’t

know, but I think it bears some consideration.

25:3 & 4 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with

them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

We find in verse 3 what separates the foolish from the wise. If it is a torch or

lamp it does not matter, because they work the same way. If it is a lamp then the

wick will pull up the oil from a well and the oil will fuel the flame. If it is a torch

then the same principle holds.

If one were to light a wick or a torch without any oil the flame would consume

the fabric in mere moments. The flame would not last.

This is common knowledge and the entire wedding party is seemingly aware of

the laws of combustion. However 5 of them have made the proper preparations.

But 5 of them have not prepared because they have brought no oil.

I think we have to be careful not to allegorize the entire parable, but it seems safe

to me to say that the oil represents a reborn heart or even the Holy Spirit living

within a reborn heart. No person will see the kingdom of God without being born

again.

5

We (overall church not necessarily GCF) have made church pretty comfortable

for worldly folks. We have dismissed books of the Bible as outdated, we have

adjusted our theology, skipped over the difficult passages, and reinterpreted the

others so that they are no longer hard to hear.

Many times the church does this with the best of intentions. We want our

congregation to grow. We want people to understand the gospel, and if we can

skip the hard stuff, then maybe they will get connected and be ready for that later.

But later never seems to come. Or even worse we start ourselves down a slippery

slope of symbolic interpretation of scripture that allows the entire bible to be bent

into whatever shape the reader wants.

What we end up with is churches full of people who are not true Christians.

Hearts that have never been reborn. These people come to church each and every

week, and they are carrying a lamp that has no oil. Can you image 5 out of 10 of

them have no oil!

25:5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and

slept.

The bridegroom is delayed. In fact we still are in a period of waiting for the

bridegroom to return. You’ll notice that the wedding party becomes tired and

sleepy. So they sleep.

This is not a negative thing. Jesus is not suggesting that they should not have

gone to sleep. Is just illustrating the point that it takes a will. So true believer or

not we all are going to sleep. Remember the verse that Jesus is really expounding

on is

[Mat 24:44 ESV] 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is

coming at an hour you do not expect.

6

Jesus is highlighting the “hour you do not expect” part of this principle. The lost

don’t know when he is coming, the saved don’t know when he is coming.

Whenever he comes again, it will be when he is not expected. And what are we to

do to with that information? We are to be ready.

25:6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come

out to meet him.'

It is at midnight when he arrives. In the darkest part of the night. When he is least

expected to arrive he shows up. (Think Matthew 24:44)

There is an interesting shift at this point in the parable. The time for preparation

has come to an end. Now is time for the wedding procession. There is no time to

get right, to gather supplies, to get oil that time has passed. It’s at this point where

we start to see some panic set in.

25:7&8 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the

foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps

are going out.'

Because these 5 foolish bridesmaids did not prepare they now realize that they

have a problem. Panic begins to set in.

I think the panic that is depicted here in verse 6 is troubling. It’s that comfort I

described, when I talked about going camping. In our minds we sort of always

think we have the chance to get what we need. But the reality is, there is coming a

day when the store won’t be open any more. The time for preparation will have

passed, and the only thing left for us will be judgement.

This is why Jesus continually reminds us to prepare.

7

25:9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us

and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves..

There is another lesson here. You cannot get your preparation from someone else.

You cannot get your righteousness from your parents, from your pastor, from

your family, you are responsible for yourself.

It’s like when you go to a theme park and the massive crowds of people are all

funneling down to the entrance. And when you get to the entrance they have that

little turnstile that only 1 person can fit in. They look at your ticket, and if it

checks out you enter all by yourself. Jesus says you can’t look to those in your

group to get you into the kingdom.

There is a problem here. The shop is closed. There is no hope at this point. And in

desperation they fill the streets to try to find oil, but they will find none. Such will

be the day for all of us.

25:10 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those

who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was

shut.

Notice the wedding party is not effected. It continues as scheduled. For those who

were prepared a feast is set and the celebration begins. The door is sealed and no

more will be allowed in.

Indeed they return in verse 11, but are not permitted to enter.

25:11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'

12 But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

We here again here echos back to the sermon on the mount. Jesus says, I do not

know you.

8

Jesus underscores the entire point yet another time at the end of the parable in

verse 13, “Watch”. We are to be watching. We are to be prepared. The day is

coming when we will be expected to go.

How then can we prepare?

1) Step 1 - You must be born again. John 3

[Jhn 3:5-6 ESV] 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is

born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which

is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

There is something supernatural that must occur in our lives. We must be born

spiritually in the same way we were born physically. In this Spiritual birth the

Holy Spirit will convict you of sin, and you must confess the sin, and repent. In

faith trusting that you are saved.

2) Step 2 – Develop Spiritual Discipline

[1Ti 4:7-8 ESV] 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train

yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is

of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the

life to come.

3) Persevere In Trials to the End

[1Pe 1:6-7 ESV] 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if

necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested

genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is

tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the

revelation of Jesus Christ.

4) Live the Great Commission

Lord’s Supper:

Invite musicians and server’s to go ahead and come.

Explain, this is the response part of the service. The covering or wedding garment

that Jesus provided, was not free. His blood was spilled, his body was broken. So

today as we partake in the Lord’s supper we remember that.

9

You don’t have to be a member here to participate, but you do have to be a

believer in good standing with the Lord. Meaning you have no unconfessed sin or

broken fellowship with others in the congregation.

Perhaps you want to come up here and pray, or pray where you are, that’s all

okay. I’ll be standing right over here if you want to come pray with me.

Read More
Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipMikey Brannon, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, Matthew, ALL, prepare to meet Jesus
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

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

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, bible believing church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, return of Christ, Matthew 24, ALL, Ladson, SC
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? | Part 1 | Matthew 24:1-36

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

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, non-denominational church, Bible-believing, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, return of Christ, prepare, Matthew 24
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

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)

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, bible believing church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, Matthew, ALL, authoity, authority, hypocrisy, blindness, Jesus' warnings, Matthew 23
How Do I Stop My Hypocrisy? | Matthew 23:1-12
How Do I Stop My Hypocrisy? | Matthew 23:1-12

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)

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Darien Gabriel, Matthew 23, hypocrisy, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, bible believing, church
What's Jesus Christ's Greatest Command? | Matthew 22:34-46
What's Jesus Christ's Greatest Command? | Matthew 22:34-46

Series: All!

  • Jesus has all authority,

  • So that all nations

  • Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “What’s Jesus Christ’s Greatest Command?”

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46

Bottom line: Jesus Christ’s greatest command is to love.

  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 were the underlying motives of those who questioned Jesus in Matthew 22:16-40?

2. What is at the root of all rejection of Jesus? (Hint: Read John 3:19-21.)

3. Explain why Jesus' question in Matthew 22:41-46 would have been perplexing to these Jewish leaders.

4. How would you respond to someone who said they rejected the authority of God's Word but they loved Jesus?

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

OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Today we will answer the question: What is Jesus Christ’s greatest commandment?

Story/Illustration:

I run a few times per week. One of the things I sometimes do is run around a pond on the sidewalk. It’s narrow and slightly higher than the grass and dirt around it. So I don’t want to run off of it or I might turn an ankle or trip.

Running forward isn’t a big deal. I can see where I’m going easily and keep my eyes on the path ahead of me. Smooth sailing.

But running backwards, which works different muscles, though a good workout, is much harder. I have to turn my head around side to side and keep looking. And since the pathway is continuously curving one way or the other, I often get near the edge. I’m constantly looking from side to side to make sure I don’t fall of the path. It’s awkward and slow.

Walking with Christ is the same way.

Bottom line: Jesus Christ’s greatest command is to love.

Outline

I. Jesus’ greatest command is LOVE (34-40)

  1. Definitions of Love

    1. Not I love pizza

    2. Not I love my brother

    3. Not I love my brother from another mother

    4. Not I love my girlfriend/boyfriend

    5. Not I love my child even

    6. I love my wife/husband…

      1. Sacrificially (costs me)

      2. Unconditionally (No strings attached)

  2. Directions of Love

    1. Vertical

    2. Horizontal

  3. God

  4. People (our neighbor as ourselves)

    1. Jesus defines neighbor in Luke 10, parable of the Good Samaritan, as anyone in our path in need

II. Jesus’ greatest identity is LORD (41-46)

  1. Son of Man (humanity)

  2. Son of God

  3. The son of God has all authority given to him by the Father

III. Conclusion

Which is easier: To walk forward or backward?

I run a few times per week. One of the things I sometimes do is run around a pond on the sidewalk. It’s narrow and slightly higher than the grass and dirt around it. So I don’t want to run off of it or I might turn an ankle or trip.

Running forward isn’t a big deal. I can see where I’m going easily and keep my eyes on the path ahead of me. Smooth sailing.

But running backwards, which works different muscles, though a good workout, is much harder. I have to turn my head around side to side and keep looking. And since the pathway is continuously curving one way or the other, I often get near the edge. I’m constantly looking from side to side to make sure I don’t fall of the path. It’s awkward and slow.

Walking with Christ is the same way.

When I try to walk backwards constantly trying to stay on the narrow way by not sinning, it takes a lot of effort, it’s awkward, it’s slow, and I still find myself getting off track sometimes.

But when I turn around and walk forwards with my eyes ahead of me on Jesus, I find I don’t need to watch the sides of the pathway. Keep my eyes on Jesus keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let’s walk in love. Our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is love manifest.

When we have a decision to make, let’s ask ourself, what would love do in this situation. And then do that.

Walk in love.

Pray

“Rules without relationship lead to rebellion.” -Josh McDowell

“Jesus’ two-fold answer should warn Christians against emphasizing either piety for God or social concern at the expense of the other.” -Craig Blomberg

Note: explore the extremes as potential strengths/weaknesses in the body of Christ

Jesus then asks about the Messiah (his identity) because who we say he is matters.

22:41-42 Jesus now turns the tables on his questioners. He has evaded all their traps, which were based fundamentally on their refusal to recognize him as Messiah. This is the topic they really should be talking about. Their problems largely stem from the fact that they are looking for a purely human, nationalistic liberator. Jesus directs his question so as to explore the scriptural nature of messiahship. From whose ancestry is the Messiah to come? The answer, at least for Jesus immediate audience, would have indisputably been "from the lineage of David" -Blomberg

22:43-44 The Pharisees' answer (v. 42b) sets up Jesus' real question. If the Messiah is merely the human offspring of David, why does David himself speak of him as "Lord" _a master or sovereign above the one who is king of Israel and the highest human authority in the land? -Blomberg

22:45-46 So how can this Christ be merely a human descendant of David? The Pharisees have no answer, nor does anyone else, and no one dares to ask him any further questions. All the traps have failed, and Jesus' listeners have in fact been trapped. Not surprisingly, Ps 110:1-4 becomes the Old Testament passage quoted more than any other in the New Testament. It points to Jesus' messiahship and his exaltation, and the first Christians take their cue from its effectiveness here for use in their later apologetic (see, e.g., Acts 2:34-35; Heb 1:13; 5:6,10; 7:17,21).

  • Blomberg

Conclusion

Bottom line: Jesus Christ’s greatest command is to love.

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. Who Jesus really is and what he considers his greatest (most important) command.

Q. Why?

A. Because the whole OT depends on them. They are how to live out our faith UP, IN and OUT.

Q. What do I want them to do?

A. Re-orient/reset their lives (further orient/reset their lives) UP, IN and OUT from Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Q. Why?

A. Because that’s the only appropriate response. It balances our love for God (who we cannot touch) with our love for people (whom we can touch) empowering us to love our intangible Creator with our tangible neighbors each day. It empowers us to thus balance piety with justice. Think Micah 6:8, what does the Lord require?

  1. Act justly (towards people) (IN & OUT)

  2. Love mercy (towards people) (IN & OUT)

  3. Walk humbly with God. (UP)

Q. How?

A. By living a life of relational balance (UP, IN & OUT)

A. Start by employing the means of grace that God gives us in his word to surrender to him in all things.

  • Learning the word

    • Regularly

    • Prayerfully

  • Obeying what you read by grace through faith

  • Leading others to do the same

I’ll go back to where we started at the beginning.

Which is easier: To walk forward or backward?

I run a few times per week. One of the things I sometimes do is run around a pond on the sidewalk. It’s narrow and slightly higher than the grass and dirt around it. So I don’t want to run off of it or I might turn an ankle or trip.

Running forward isn’t a big deal. I can see where I’m going easily and keep my eyes on the path ahead of me. Smooth sailing.

But running backwards, which works different muscles, though a good workout, is much harder. I have to turn my head around side to side and keep looking. And since the pathway is continuously curving one way or the other, I often get near the edge. I’m constantly looking from side to side to make sure I don’t fall of the path. It’s awkward and slow.

Walking with Christ is the same way.

When I try to walk backwards constantly trying to stay on the narrow way by not sinning, it takes a lot of effort, it’s awkward, it’s slow, and I still find myself getting off track sometimes.

But when I turn around and walk forwards with my eyes ahead of me on Jesus, I find I don’t need to watch the sides of the pathway. Keep my eyes on Jesus keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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)

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, non denominational, church, Ladson, SC, Grace Chrisian Fellowhsip, Matthew, greatest command