Good News for People with Bad Credit

Sunday Sermon
December 27th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV 2 Kings 4:1-7 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves." 2 And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?" And she said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil." 3 Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside." 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another." Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest."

Sermonic Theme: God’s miraculous power (Miracles)

Sermonic Subject: Prophetic Ministry

Sermonic Tension: Elisha can’t be wrong. (Stop using credit, start using cash)

Sermonic Disclaimer: This sermon presentation is not intended for “Wall Street” this sermon is intended for “Y'all Street”.

Sermonic Objective: This OT story teaches us how to live after a love one dies and leaves us in financial debt.

Sermonic Sentence: God wants us to live debt free.

Sermonic Question: Is there any oil in your house? (What have you in the house?)

Sermonic Title: “GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WITH BAD CREDIT”

Sermonic Structure:

I. USE YOUR RESOURCES (v.1-4)
A. Pain is a resource
B. Prophetic ministry is a resource
C. People are a resource

II. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY (v.5-6)
A. Obey God’s word
B. Go to work

III. LIVE ON THE REST (v.7)
A. Work toward paying off your debt
B. Pay off your debt
C. Stay out of debt

Who are you walking with?

Sunday Sermon
December 13th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 5:16-26 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Theme: The Fruit of the Spirit

Sermonic Tension: The desires of the flesh are against the Spirit.

Sermonic Sentence: Walk with the Spirit it’s the right choice.

Sermonic Subject: “WHO ARE YOU WALKING WITH?”

Sermonic Structure:

I. Are you walking according to the flesh? (V. 16-21)

II. Are you walking according to the Spirit? (V. 22-26)

Free to Love

Sunday Sermon
December 6th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 5:2-15 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Subject: Faith working through love. (Saved by faith alone not works.)

Sermonic Tension: The works of the flesh.

Sermonic Sentence: Love set us free.

Sermonic Help: In Christian theology, the ability to love is a vital aspect of being created in God’s image and regenerated by the Holy Spirit’s power. In 1 John 4.7-11, we read, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this love of God was manifested in us that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Love luv (אָהֵב, ’āhēbh, אַהֲבָה, ’ahăbhāh, noun; φιλέω, philéō, ἀγαπάω, agapáō, verb; ἀγάπη, agápē, noun): Love to both God and man is fundamental to true religion, whether as expressed in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Jesus Himself declared that all the law and the prophets hang upon love (Mt 22:40; Mk 12:28-34). Paul, in his matchless ode on love (1 Cor 13), makes it the greatest of the graces of the Christian life—greater than speaking with tongues, or the gift of prophecy, or the possession of a faith of superior excellence; for without love all these gifts and graces, desirable and useful as they are in themselves, are as nothing, certainly of no permanent value in the sight of God. Not that either Jesus or Paul underestimates the faith from which all the graces proceed, for this grace is recognized as fundamental in all God’s dealings with man and man’s dealings with God (Jn 6:28 f; Heb 11:6); but both alike count that faith as but idle and worthless belief that does not manifest itself in love to both God and man. As love is the highest expression of God and His relation to mankind, so it must be the highest expression of man’s relation to his Maker and to his fellow-man.

(John 3.16, 13.34-35; 14.21; 17.26; Romans 5.8; 1 Thessalonians 3.12; 1 Corinthians 16.14; II Peter 1.7; 1 John 4.18. See Matthew 5.44-46; John 15.12-13; Romans 13.8-10; Galatians 5.6, 22; 1 John 4.7-20; Revelation 3.19)

Sermonic Title: “FREE TO LOVE”

Sermonic Structure:

I. WE ARE SET FREE TO LOVE CHRIST COMPLETELY (V.2-6)

II. WE ARE SET FREE TO LOVE TRUTH CONFIDENTLY (V.7-12)

III. WE ARE SET FREE TO LOVE OTHERS COMPASSIONATELY (V.13-15)

Forever Free

Sunday Sermon
November 22nd 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Subject: Christian Liberty (The Doctrine of Faith alone)

Sermonic Tension: Freedom always entails danger. (W.E.B. Du Bois, 1868-1963 Intellectual & Activist)

Sermonic Sentence: To be saved is to be set free.

Sermonic Objective: The sermonic objective is to instruct against the dangers of religion for religion works to enslave Christians.

Sermonic Help: Liberty, Christian NLT Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies.

The NT clearly shows that God gives Christian’s liberty, a freedom to choose that grows out of a person’s own commitment to Christ and understanding of Scripture. Yet this freedom has obligations. Christians have a responsibility to learn of God from the Bible and to pattern their lives after His character, relating to others in a way that witnesses effectively to a lost world.
In 2 Corinthians 3:17 (Amplified Bible) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).

Colossians 1:13-14 (Amplified Bible) Col 13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Col 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

1 Corinthians 6:12 (Amplified Bible) Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.

1 Corinthians 10:23 (Amplified Bible) All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

Christian liberty is vast, yet it is not license. It recognizes that not everything is constructive, for when we engage in activities harmful to others or ourselves, we actually destroy the freedom God has given us.

Freedom of the Will: The freedom to act and to be responsible for our actions. In creating us in His own image, God made us rational creatures, which necessarily means that He has delegated sovereignty to us. Our very experience of life tells us we have free choice: We can consciously deny ourselves even to the extent that we can willfully starve to death. Human freedom places no restriction on God’s power. Exactly the opposite is true: We are free only because God chose to give us free will. A God who is truly sovereign must be able to create free creatures. It would be a greater threat to God’s power were He unable to delegate freedom.

Sermonic Title: “FOREVER FREE”

Sermonic Structure:

I. I AM SET FREE (Christ has set us free…)

II. I AM STANDING FIRM IN MY FREEDOM (Stand firm therefore…)

III. I AM BY FAITH STAYING FREE (do not submit again to a yoke of slavery…)

Be who you are

Sunday Sermon
November 16th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 4:17-31 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband." 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Subject: Saved by faith alone not works.

Sermonic Tension: Hagar or Sarah (Slave or Free)

Sermonic Question: Who are you moreover; whose are you? Are you a child of Hagar or Sarah?

Sermonic Objective: The objective of this sermon is to affirm the fact that Christ Jesus has set us free to live genuinely.

Sermonic Help: apologetics from the Greek apologia or apologetikos, “to speak in defense of.” The word is used eight times in the NT: Acts 22.1; 25:16; 1 Corinthians 7.11; Philippians 1.17; 16; 2 Timothy 4.16; & 1 Peter 3.15 the classic text: (Amplified Bible) But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

Apologetics is the area of Christian theology, or philosophy, which aims to intelligently defend the Christian faith in areas such as the relationship of faith and reason, proofs for the existence of God, miracles, the problem of evil, evidence for the resurrection of Christ, the inspiration of Scripture, prophecy, and the defense of creation. It includes both positive arguments for the truth of Christianity and rebuttals of criticisms leveled against it.

Occasionally called eristics, apologetics is the formal defense of the Christian faith. Historically, Christian theologians have differed as to whether apologetics is appropriate to the presentation of the gospel, and if so, how it should be accomplished. Depending on how they have answered these questions, apologists have appealed to rational argumentation, empirical evidence, fulfilled prophecy, authorities of the church or mystical experience in defending such beliefs as the existence of God, the authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ and the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection.

Sermonic Title: “BE WHO YOU ARE”

Sermonic Structure:

I. WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST JESUS (V. 17-20)

II. WE PROTECT WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST JESUS (V. 21-25)

III. WE PRAISE GOD FOR WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST JESUS (V.26-31)

When we first met

Sunday Sermon
November 1st 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 4:12-16 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of the blessing you felt? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Subject: The dynamics of Pastoral ministry

Sermonic Tension: The honeymoon is over. (The local church has a moral obligation to live in harmony with her Pastor.)

Sermonic Question: What causes people to relate to you differently than when you first met?

Sermonic Sentence: There’s a fascinating phenomenon associated with first. (First impressions are lasting impressions.)

Sermonic Objective: Let’s get back to the way we were at first. (The church at first is the church at best.)

Sermonic Title: “WHEN WE FIRST MET”

Sermonic Structure:

I. WHEN WE FIRST MET YOU DID ME NO WRONG (V.12)

II. WHEN WE FIRST MET YOU RECEIVED ME & THE WORD (V.13,14)

III. WHEN WE FIRST MET YOU WERE SO WILLING (V.15)

IV. WHEN WE FIRST MET WE WERE AT PEACE NOT WAR (V.16)

Fearing the Worst

Sunday Sermon
October 25th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 4:8-11 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Subject: Back Sliding or Sliding Back (Choosing that which is inferior over and against that which is superior.)

Sermonic Tension: Have I labored in vain. (Your Pastor’s greatest fear!)

Sermonic Sentence: You can't fix it if you want face it! (Spiritual emancipation is hard work)

Sermonic Help: IDOLATRY/IDOLS: In the OT the word “idol” means “vanity” (Jer. 14.22; 18.15); idols were made of wood, stone and precious metal (Isaiah 40/Jer.10). While such idols continued into NT times, especially in Greek culture, the NT also recognizes that anything treasured more than God is an idol. In Romans 1.22-25; idolatry is a sin against God and idolater is a slave to whatever has taken the place of God. (Acts 17.16/ Corinthians 5.11; 10.7, 14/ Galatians 5.20/ Philippians 3.18-19; Colossians 2.18; 3.5; Titus 3.3.)

IGNORANCE: A state of lack of knowledge or comprehension. In the Bible, ignorance is never honored by God and can even be the basis of sin. (Acts 3.17; 1 Peter 2.15; Heb 9.7; I Co 14.16, 23-24.)

IGNORANCE, ARGUMENT FROM: In Latin, Argumentum ad ignorantiam. An example: there must be ghosts because no one has ever shown that they do not exist. The fallacy of Argument from Ignorance is committed whenever a person asserts that a proposition is true simply because it has not been proven false, or that it is false merely because it has not been proven true. This mistaken logic often occurs is arguments where there is no clear cut evidence either for or against an issue.

Sermonic Title: “FEARING THE WORST”

Sermonic Structure:

I. THEIR FORMER LIFE HAS PAUL FEARING THE WORST (V.8)

A. They were ignorant
B. They were idolatrous

II. THEIR FEET HAS PAUL FEARING THE WORST (V.9)

A. They're turning back to that which is weak
B. They're turning back to that which is worthless
C. They're turning back to that which is worldly

III. THEIR FOCUS HAS PAUL FEARING THE WORST (V.10-11)

A. They're focusing on days
B. They're focusing on months
C. They're focusing on seasons
D. They're focusing on years

An Heir of Salvation

Sunday Sermon
October 11th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 4:1-7 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Salvation)

Sermonic Subject: Redemption (The Gospel Explained)

Sermonic Tension: If I am, an heir that means a wealthy friend/relative has died.

Sermonic Question: Since I am an heir, why do I feel so poor?

Sermonic Sentence: I am set for life.

Sermonic Help: REDEMPTION from the Latin redemptio, from redimere, “to redeem,” “to buy back again.” In theology, the idea that Christ “redeemed” or “bought back” humanity by delivering us from sin and its punishment, therefore making salvation possible. Jesus came to redeem all of fallen creation and to pay the price for human sin. ESV Luke 24:21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. ESV Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ESV Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us- for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"- NLT Galatians 4:27 That is what Isaiah meant when he prophesied, "Rejoice, O childless woman! Break forth into loud and joyful song, even though you never gave birth to a child. For the woman who could bear no children now has more than all the other women!"

Sermonic Title: “AN HEIR OF SALVATION”

Sermonic Structure:

I. AN HEIR OF SALVATION LIVES LIKE A SLAVE (V.1-3)

II. AN HEIR OF SALVATION IS AN ADOPTED SON (V.4-5)

III. AN HEIR OF SALVATION HAS SIBLINGS (V.6)

IV. AN HEIR OF SALVATION IS SAVED (V.7)

Promises, Promises, Promises

Sunday Sermon
October 4th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 3:15-29 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Saved by Faith alone (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Tension: The promise is greater than the law however; God gave the law to guide me to genuine living faith in Christ Jesus.

Sermonic Sentence: It is impossible to carry water on both shoulders.

Sermonic Help: Galatians 3.24 “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” The law is meant to lead the sinner to faith in Christ by showing the impossibility of any other way. It is the black dog to fetch the sheep to the shepherd, the burning heat which drives the traveler to the shadow of the great rock in a weary land. (Spurgeon at his best)

Sermonic Title: “PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES”

Sermonic Structure:

I. THIS PROMISE IS MADE BY GOD (V. 15-18)

II. THIS PROMISE IS AN ACT OF GRACE (V. 19-25)

III. THIS PROMISE IS FOR JEWS & GENTILES (V. 26-29)

Living by Faith

Sunday Sermon
September 20th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 3:10-14 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." 12 But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us- for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"- 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Justification by Faith alone not works (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Tension: Without Christ Jesus, there is no cure for the curse. (Living has consequences.)

Sermonic Sentence: Our church teaches people to put their entire trust in Jesus Christ.

Sermonic Question: Are you convinced that faith in Christ Jesus alone is sufficient for salvation?

Sermonic Help: Galatians 3.13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse…being made a curse for us.” You must either be cursed by God or else you must accept Christ as bearing the curse instead of you. This is the truth which the apostles preached, and suffered and died to maintain. The Reformers struggled for this. The martyrs burned at Smithfield for this. It is the grand basic doctrine of the Reformation, and the very truth of God. (Spurgeon at his Best)

Sermonic Title: “LIVING by FAITH”

Sermonic Structure:

I. LIVING BY FAITH DESTROYS THE CURSE (V. 10)
a. Faith Destroys the Curse of Sin
b. Faith Destroys the Curse of Separation
c. Faith Destroys the Curse of Self Reliance

II. LIVING BY FAITH DEVELOPS CHRISTIANS (V. 11,12)
a. We place no confidence in the Flesh
b. We live Faithfully
c. We are Free

III. LIVING BY FAITH DRAWS US CLOSER TO CHRIST (V. 13,14)
a. Because of Christ we are Redeemed
b. Because of Christ we are Righteous
c. Because of Christ we are Regenerated

Foolishness or Faith

Sunday Sermon
September 13, 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 3:1-9 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain- if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith- 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Justification by faith alone not works. (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Tension: There’s a thin line between foolishness and faith. (Our Church must put an end to Biblical illiteracy.)

Sermonic Question: Is your relationship with God based on foolishness or faith? (The good news is God saves the foolish.)

Sermonic Sentence: There is so much foolishness being proclaimed from American pulpits today. (The depravity of humanity)

Sermonic Title: "FOOLISHNESS or FAITH"

Sermonic Structure:

I. ADDRESS THE FOOLISH (V. 1-3)
a. Paul is filled with indignation because of them. (O foolish Galatians!)
b. Paul interrogates them. (Who has bewitched you?)
c. Paul corrects the ill-advised teaching received by them. (Are you now being perfected by the flesh?)

II. ARTICULATE THE FACTS (V. 4-6)
a. Remember the pain (Did you suffer so many things in vain?)
b. Remember the process (by hearing with faith)
c. Remember the principle (believe God)

III. AFFIRM THE FAITH (V.7-9)
a. Examine the family of faith (the sons of Abraham)
b. Examine the foundation of faith (the Scriptures)
c. Examine the father of faith (Abraham, the man of faith)

Justified

Sunday Sermon
September 6, 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 2:15-21 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Justified by Faith not works. (We enjoy a peaceful relationship with God because of Christ Jesus alone.)

Sermonic Tension: Our Faith in Christ Jesus will be tested. (Sola Scriptura)

Sermonic Question: Do you know in whom you believe? (Sola Fide)

Sermonic Sentence: Evangelizing loss people is the priority of our church.

Sermonic Help: Galatians 2.20 “I am crucified with Christ.” The Roman Catholic hangs the cross on his bosom; the true Christian carries the cross in his heart. Moreover, a cross inside the heart is one of the sweetest cures for a cross on the back. If you have, a cross in your heart Christ crucified in you all the cross of this world’s troubles will seem to you light enough and you will easily be able to sustain it. (Spurgeon at His Best)

Sermonic Title: "JUSTIFIED"

Sermonic Structure:

I. CONSIDER PAUL’S CONDUCT (V. 15)
a. Paul Stands Up
b. Paul Speaks Out
c. Paul Strives Forward

II. CONSIDER PAUL’S CONVICTIONS (V. 16-18)
a. Paul is convinced that God is Just
b. Paul is convinced that Jesus Christ alone is our Justifier
c. Paul is convinced that we by faith alone, not works are Justified

III. CONSIDER PAUL’S CONVERSION (V. 19-21)

Confrontring Hypocrisy

Sunday Sermon
Rhema Community Church
August 30th 2009

Sermonic Skeleton:

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 2:11-16 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?" 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Justified by Faith not works. (Genuine faith in Christ Jesus confronts hypocrisy.)

Sermonic Tension: Paul the apostle stood face to face with the apostle Peter. Hypocrisy lurks in every one and it must be dealt with. (Hypocrisy is motivated by fear and it is contradictory
to our faith.)

Sermonic Sentence: Our faith in Christ Jesus enables us to freely fellowship with every nationality. (There is no partiality in God.)

Sermonic Question: Who do you fear man or GOD? (Your behavior reveals what you truly believe.)

Sermonic Title: “Confronting Hypocrisy”

Sermonic Structure:

I. CONFRONT HYPOCRISY IT’S AN ENEMY TO OUR FREEDOM

II. CONFRONT HYPOCRISY IT’S AN ENEMY TO OUR FELLOWSHIPS

III. CONFRONT HYPOCRISY IT’S AN ENEMY TO OUR FAITH

How to handle Revelation

Sunday Sermon
August 23rd 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 2:1-10 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in- who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery- 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)- those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace/ Justification through Faith alone)

Sermonic Subject: Special Revelation (Allow no one the opportunity to devalue what God is doing in your life.)

Sermonic Tension: Christian ministry is not designed to do alone. (Although you are justified by God however, you still need people.)

Sermonic Sentence: Revelation that cannot be tested is revelation that ought not to be trusted.

Sermonic Question: The gospel you preach did it derive from human aspiration or holy revelation.

Sermonic Help: SPECIAL REVELATION: God’s divine self-revelation evidenced specifically in salvation history and culminating in the incarnation as understood through Scripture. Although the Bible seemingly affirms both general and special revelation, only special revelation can disclose completely our sinful predicament, as well as God’s promise of salvation and its fulfillment in Christ.

Sermonic Title: "HOW TO HANDLE REVELATION"

Sermonic Structure:

I. RUN IT BY SPIRITUALLY MATURE PEOPLE (…I was not running or had not run in vain. V 1-2)

II. RECRUIT A TRAINABLE PROTÉGÉ (…Titus V. 3-9)

III. REMEMBER THE POOR (…the very thing I was eager to do. V. 10)

Change

Sunday Sermon
August 16th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 1:13-24 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Justified by Faith not by works

Sermonic Tension: People always try to take credit or try to discredit what God has done.

Sermonic Question: Do you want to change?

Sermonic Sentence: Christ Jesus has the power to change you.

Sermonic Help: JUSTIFICATION from the Hebrew sadeq, the Greek dikaioo and the Latin justificare, “to justify,” “to pronounce, accept and treat as just.” In theology, God’s pardoning sinners and restoring them to a state of righteousness. Paul develops the doctrine of justification by faith in Romans and Galatians.

Sermonic Title: "CHANGE"

Sermonic Sub-Title: Yes, HE can

Sermonic Structure:

I. CHRIST JESUS CHANGED PAUL (V. 13-14)
a. He changed Paul’s profession (my former life in Judaism…v13)
b. He changed Paul’s purpose (I was advancing in Judaism…v14)
c. He changed Paul’s passion (so extremely zealous was I…v14)

II. CHRIST JESUS CALLED PAUL (V. 15-20)
a. Consider the Genesis of the call (set me apart before I was born…v15)
b. Consider the Grace of the call (who called me by his grace…v15)
c. Consider the Goal of the call (that I might preach him…v16)

III. CHRIST JESUS COMMISSIONED PAUL (V. 21-24)
a. Paul shows us where he was preaching (Syria, Cilicia & Judea…v21-22)
b. Paul shows us to whom he was preaching (persons that are in Christ…v22)
c. Paul shows us what he was preaching (preaching the faith…v23)
d. Paul shows us how they responded to his preaching (they glorified God…v24)

Who are you trying to please?

Sunday Sermon
August 9th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Scripture: ESV Galatians 1:10-12 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Sermonic Theme: Saved and Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Motivation for Christian Service (What’s yours?)

Sermonic Tension: You cannot please God and man at the same time.

Sermonic Sentence: Free yourself from the opinion of men so that you may freely serve God.(This lesson teaches us how we are set free from all anxiety.)

Sermonic Question: Who are you trying to please God, man or self? (The question every Christian must answer.)

Sermonic Help: REVELATION Refers both to the process by which God discloses the divine nature and the mystery of the divine will and purpose to human beings, and to the corpus of truth disclosed. Some theologians maintain that revelation consists of both God’s activity in salvation history through word and deed, culminating in Jesus (who mediates and fulfills God’s self-revelation) and the ongoing activity of God to move people to yield to, accept and personally appropriate that reality. General revelation maintains that God’s existence and particular attributes can be ascertained through an innate sense of God’s reality and conscience as well as through observation of the universe and history. Special revelation refers to the more specific divine self-disclosure to and through certain persons that brings about human salvation.

GENERAL REVELATION: A term used to declare that God reveals something about the divine nature through the created order. This self-revealing of God through creation is called general because it only gives “general” or “indirect” information about God, including the fact of God’s existence and that God is powerful. This is in contrast to special revelation, which is more “specific” and “direct,” and includes the appearance of the living Word (Jesus Christ himself) and the written Word of God (the Scriptures), revealing a holy, loving and just God who graciously provides forgiveness of sin. General revelation is likewise “general” in that it is available to all humankind, in contrast to the divine self-disclosure that God revealed to certain persons.

SPECIAL REVELATION: God’s divine self-revelation evidenced specifically in salvation history and culminating in the incarnation as understood through Scripture. Although the Bible seemingly affirms both general and special revelation, only special revelation can disclose completely our sinful predicament, as well as God’s promise of salvation and its fulfillment in Christ.

Sermonic Title: “Who are you trying to please?”

Sermonic Structure:

I. PLEASE GOD WITH YOUR MINISTRY (V.10) … a servant of Christ.

II. PLEASE GOD WITH YOUR MESSAGE (V.11) … not man’s gospel.

III. PLEASE GOD WITH YOUR MEMORY (V.12) … received through a revelation

a. The fact that Christ was revealed to Paul says Jesus is real.
b. The fact that Christ was revealed to Paul says Jesus has risen.
c. The fact that Christ was revealed to Paul says Jesus reigns.
d. The fact that Christ was revealed to Paul says Jesus is soon to return.

Christian Immaturity

Sunday Sermon
August 2nd 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Scripture: ESV Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Grace/ the Gospel)

Sermonic Tension: Spiritual Chastisement (Apostolic Authority/Christian Leadership)

Sermonic Question: Do you know Gospel Preaching when you hear it? (Biblical illiteracy robs the Christian church of its authentic power.)

Sermonic Sentence: Christian immature people are hard to Pastor. (The business of the Pastor is to preach salvation to humanity.)

Sermonic Help: Gospel gos´pel (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, tó euaggélion): The word gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word which meant “the story concerning God.” In the New Testament the Greek word euaggelion, means “good news.” It proclaims tidings of deliverance. The word sometimes stands for the record of the life of our Lord (Mk 1:1), embracing all His teachings, as in Acts 20:24. But the word “gospel” now has a peculiar use, and describes primarily the message which Christianity announces. “Good news” is its significance. It means a gift from God. It is the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins and sonship with God restored through Christ. It means remission of sins and reconciliation with God. The gospel is not only a message of salvation, but also the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works (Rom 1:16).

The gospel differs from the law in being known entirely from revelation. It is proclaimed in all its fullness in the revelation given in the New Testament. It is also found, although obscurely, in the Old Testament. It begins with the prophecy concerning the ‘seed of the woman’ (Gen 3:15), and the promise concerning Abraham, in whom all the nations should be blessed (Gen 12:3; 15:5) and is also indicated in Acts 10:43 and in the argument in Rom 4.

In the New Testament the gospel never means simply a book, but rather the message which Christ and His apostles announced. In some places it is called “the gospel of God,” as, for example, Rom 1:1; 1 Thess 2:2, 9; 1 Tim 1:11. In others it is called “the gospel of Christ” (Mk 1:1; Rom 1:16; 15:19; 1 Cor 9:12, 18; Gal 1:7). In another it is called “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24); in another “the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15); in another “the gospel of your salvation” (Eph 1:13); and in yet another “the glorious gospel” (2 Cor 4:4 the King James Version). The gospel is Christ: He is the subject of it, the object of it, and the life of it. It was preached by Him (Mt 4:23; 11:5; Mk 1:14; Lk 4:18), by the apostles (Acts 16:10; Rom 1:15; 2:16; 1 Cor 9:16) and by the evangelists (Acts 8:25).

We must note the clear antithesis between the law and the gospel. The distinction between the two is important because, as Luther indicates, it contains the substance of all Christian doctrine. “By the law,” says he, “nothing else is meant than God’s word and command, directing what to do and what to leave undone, and requiring of us obedience of works. But the gospel is such doctrine of the word of God that neither requires our works nor commands us to do anything, but announces the offered grace of the forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation. Here we do nothing, but only receive what is offered through the word.” The gospel, then, is the message of God, the teaching of Christianity, the redemption in and by Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, offered to all mankind. And as the gospel is bound up in the life of Christ, His biography and the record of His works, and the proclamation of what He has to offer, are all gathered into this single word, of which no better definition can be given than that of Melanchthon: “The gospel is the gratuitous promise of the remission of sins for Christ’s sake.” To hold tenaciously that in this gospel we have a supernatural revelation is in perfect consistency with the spirit of scientific inquiry. The gospel, as the whole message and doctrine of salvation, and as chiefly efficacious for contrition, faith, justification, renewal and sanctification, deals with facts of revelation and experience.

Sermonic Title: “Christian Immaturity” (Notice Paul isn’t shocked that another gospel is preached, proclaimed, promulgated or published however he is shocked that they so quickly deserted God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.)

Sermonic Structure:

I. Their Departure Points to Christian Immaturity (V. 6)
a. The Apostle Paul is astonished that they listen to it!
b. The Apostle Paul is astonished that they left God for it!
c. The Apostle Paul is astonished that they were so willing to live with it!

II. Their Doctrine Points to Christian Immaturity (V. 7)
a. They had a doctrine without God
b. They had a doctrine without Grace
c. They had a doctrine without the Gospel

III. Their Disobedience Points to Christian Immaturity (V. 8-9)
a. Transforming immature Christians is hard work
b. Teaching immature Christians is hard work
c. Task setting for immature Christians is hard work

Greetings from an Authentic Apostle

Sunday Sermon
July 26th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Scripture: ESV Galatians 1:1-5 Paul, an apostle- not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead- 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (How to respond when you’ve been lied on.)

Sermonic Tension: The Mosaic Law verses the doctrine of Grace.

Sermonic Sentence: Glorify God alone for the wonderful things He has done.

Sermonic Help: Galatians 1.4 “Who gave himself for our sins.” Christ died for our sins, not for our virtues. It is not your efficiencies, but your deficiencies which entitle you to the Lord Jesus. It is not your wealth, but your lack. It is not what you have, but what you have not. It is not what you can boast of, but what you mourn over that qualifies you to receive the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Spurgeon at His Best)

Grace, Irresistible: Grace which cannot be rejected, since God always achieves His aims: “The work of the Holy Spirit in bringing men to faith never fails to achieve its object.” The doctrine of irresistible grace teaches that a person cannot resist God’s choice to save him, a choice to save him a choice determined before the foundations of the world. Also known as, “Effectual Calling,” irresistible grace is one of the five points of Calvinism.

Grace (common, efficacious, prevenient) One of the central concepts of the Scriptures, grace speaks of God’s loving actions toward creation and toward humankind in particular. Grace is the generous overflow of the love of God the Father toward the Son, Jesus Christ. This love is most clearly demonstrated to humans through God’s selfless giving of Jesus to enable people to enter into a loving relationship with God as the Holy Spirit enables them. Common grace speaks of God’s extension of favor to all people through providential care, regardless of whether or not they acknowledge and love God. Efficacious grace refers to the special application of grace to a person who comes by faith to Christ for salvation. It is the special act of God that brings about the true salvation of a person. Prevenient grace, though often thought to be synonymous with common grace, refers more specifically to the Wesleyan idea that God has enabled all people everywhere to respond favorably to the gospel if they so choose.

Sermonic Cross Reference: NLT Acts 9:1-9 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath. He was eager to destroy the Lord's followers, so he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them-- both men and women-- back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" 5 "Who are you, sir?" Saul asked. And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 7 The men with Saul stood speechless with surprise, for they heard the sound of someone's voice, but they saw no one! 8 As Saul picked himself up off the ground, he found that he was blind. 9 So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days. And all that time he went without food and water.

Sermonic Title: “Greetings from an Authentic Apostle”

Sermonic Structure:

I. Paul The Apostle has God given Authority (V.1)

II. Paul The Apostle has a Gentile Audience (V.2)

III. Paul The Apostle has a God centered life, Amen (V. 3-5)

Living under the Sun

Sunday Sermon
July 12th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Scripture: ESV Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

Sermonic Sentence: You’ve been given a season and opportunity so live to the glory of God.

Sermonic Tension: Live life to the fullest for tragedy may strike at any moment. (Take no day for granted.)

Sermonic Theme: The providence of God (God will provide.)

Sermonic Help: Proverbs: Sayings and Themes The books of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes are commonly classed as the Wisdom literature of the OT, and together they form a significant and distinctive literary and theological strand within it. In Jer 18:18 (Ezek 7:26; Mic 3:11), the “counsel” of the wise is set alongside the “law” (torah) of the priest and the “word” of the prophet as sources of divine authority and guidance for the life of the community. It is significant that this threefold division is reflected in the canonical division of the Hebrew into the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings—the latter of which includes the Wisdom literature.

Proverbs is generally recognized as the earliest and most representative deposit of Israelite wisdom. The question of the original setting of the material it contains has occasioned some debate. It has many points of contact in form and content with Egyptian Wisdom literature, notably with the Instruction of Amenemope, whose thirty chapters may have been adapted to produce the “thirty sayings” in Prov 22:17-24:22. Egyptian wisdom instruction was centered in the royal court and was designed for the training of the royal princes and state officials. It has, therefore, been suggested that Israelite wisdom originated among royal scribes at the Israelite court in dependence on Egyptian instruction and thus reflected an “upper class” ethos. Others have argued that wisdom had native Israelite roots in the early Israelite clans. While the book evinces close connections with the royal court (1:1; 25:1) and contains sayings dealing with the king and his officials, the majority is concerned with the community at large. Therefore, it seems most likely that wisdom flourished in a variety of settings and had a number of different exponents: e.g., the father, the elder, the royal scribe and counselor of the monarchic period, and the lay scribe of the postexilic period (Sir 51:23, 26, 28; cf. Eccl 12:9). That more than one such influence has been at work in the production of Proverbs helps to explain the richness and diversity of the material it contains and the many facets of the wisdom it inculcates.

Providence Although providence is not a biblical term, both the OT and NT set forth an understanding of God’s gracious outworking of the divine purpose in Christ within the created order in human history. The world and humanity are not ruled by chance or by fate but by God, who directs history and creation toward an ultimate goal. Providence therefore refers to God’s superintending activity over human actions and human history, bringing creation to its divinely determined goal. Providence from the Latin providere, “to provide.” The word “providence” does not occur in the Bible. It refers, however, to the three biblical concepts: (1) In theology, providence is the general foresight, love, and care of God for people. Romans 8.28 Providence can also refer to the idea that (2) God has divinely ordained or preordained certain events, or that (3) the universe is under God’s control so that ultimately good will be produced.

Sermonic Title: “LIVING UNDER THE SUN”

Sermonic Structure:

I. The frustrations of life lived under the sun. (V.11)

II. The finality of life lived under the sun. (V.12)

The Act of Redemption

Sunday Sermon
July 5th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Scripture: Ruth 4

Sermonic Theme: The Providence of God. (God will provide)

Sermonic Subject: Redemption (Boaz the kinsman redeemer)

Sermonic Tension: Ruth’s concern is who’s responsible for perpetuating her dead husband’s name? (According to the social mores of the ancient near east, Ruth could have publically humiliated the first redeemer who will remain nameless.)

Sermonic Sentence: Redemption is a journey made by foot. (Don’t worry God will make away.)

Sermonic Title: "The Act of Redemption"

Sermonic Structure:

I. The act of redemption is revealed through this legal contract (V. 1-12)

II. The act of redemption is revealed through this loving consummation (V. 13)

III. The act of redemption is revealed through this little child (V. 14-22)

Father your Family through the Famine

Sunday Sermon
June 21st 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Scripture: ESV Ruth 1:1-3 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.

Sermonic Title: "Father your Family through the Famine"

Sermonic Theme: The providence of God (God will provide.)

Sermonic Subject: Fatherhood (Our paternal Christian responsibility to our family.)

Sermonic Tension: You may die before you complete your assignment as father.
(The ironic providence of God. The irony of this narrative is revealed in verse one it says “a man … went to sojourn in the country of Moab” however verse two says “they …remained.”)

Sermonic Sentence: How you handle your paternal assignment will shape your families image of God.

Sermonic Structure:

I. Father your family by leading them through the famine.
a. Legally there’s a famine. (Lawlessness Judges 21.25)
b. Naturally, there’s a famine. (Ruth 1.1)
c. Spiritually there’s a famine. (Judges 21.25/Ruth 1.1)

II. Father your family by laboring for them in the famine.
a. Naomi name means “pleasure, pleasant and my delight”
b. Mahlon name means “sick”
c. Chilion name means “pinning”

III. Father your family by preparing them for the day you may leave them and the famine.
a. Leave your family real-estate. (Ruth 4.3/ 4.9)
b. Leave your family riches. (Proverbs 13.22)
c. Leave your family connected to the redeemer. (Ruth 2.1)

Redemption

Sunday Sermon
June 7th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton: I had trepidation concerning chapter three of the book of Ruth therefore, I build a sermon on the subject of chapter three to familiarize our congregation on the biblical concept of kinsman redeemer.

Sermonic Text: Ruth 3

Sermon Title: Redemption

Sermonic Theme: The Providence of God (God will provide)

Sermonic Subject: Redemption (Boaz the redeemer)

Sermonic Tension: This narrative is not about romance it’s about redemption. (Therefore we are not to read into this ancient near eastern text twenty first century social mores of manipulation, scheming, raunchiness and or sex this is about the redemptive work of God.)

Sermonic Sentence: We have a song that the angels cannot sing, “I am redeemed.”

Sermonic Cross Reference: NLT Exodus 6:6 "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will free you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with mighty power and great acts of judgment.

NIV Exodus 15:13 "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

NLT Isaiah 41:14 Despised though you are, O Israel, don't be afraid, for I will help you. I am the LORD, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel.'

ESV Isaiah 51:10 Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?

ESV Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; 6 but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. 7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. 8 For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.

NIV Job 19:25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

NLT Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

NIV Romans 3:24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

NIV Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

ESV Romans 8:23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Sermonic Structure:

I. We are redeemed by God’s love

II. We are redeemed according to God’s law

III. We are redeemed through God’s son for eternal life

Gleaning in the Field

Sunday Sermon
May 31st 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Ruth 2:8-23 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn." 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?" 11 But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" 13 Then she said, "I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants." 14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her." 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz." 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her, "The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers." 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, "Besides, he said to me, 'You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.'" 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted." 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Sermonic Title: “Gleaning in the Field”

Sermonic Theme: The Providence of God (God will provide)

Sermonic Subject: Relationship (Your most valuable possession in life is your personal relationships.) God uses people to bless people. Whom are you blessing today?
Bless someone today! Instead of looking for a blessing, become a blessing.

Sermonic Sentence: This lesson is tailored to teach us how to live on leftovers. (The provisions of God cannot be stopped by the famine past, present or future.) You can make it on a little.

Sermonic Tension: If you are in a famine right now, keep the faith our God will provide. NLT Psalm 37:25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread.

Sermonic Structure:

I. Ruth finds a fruitful field in the famine (Vrs 8-9)
A. Boaz tells Ruth to stay in the field
B. Boaz tells Ruth to stay close to his female field hands

II. Ruth finds favor in the famine (Vrs 10-13)

III. Ruth finds fulfillment in the famine (Vrs 14)

IV. Ruth finds a friend with a fortune in the famine (Vrs 15-23)
A. Boaz insures that no one reproaches Ruth (Vrs 15) Boaz insures that Ruth is physically protected.
B. Boaz insures that no one rebukes Ruth (Vrs 16) Boaz insures that Ruth is verbally protected.

Now the question arises who found whom? Did Ruth find the fruitful field or did the fruitful field find Ruth? Did Ruth find favor or did favor find Ruth? Did Ruth find fulfillment or did fulfillment find Ruth? Did Ruth find a friend with a fortune or did the friend with the fortune find Ruth?

Who's Carring You?

One night I dreamed of walking along the shores of different lands.I could tell that You were with me by the footprints in the sand.As I gazed upon the heavens, I saw pages of my life.It was then I realized that You remained there by my side.When the clouds began to gather and the rains came falling down,I looked to only find one set of footprints on the ground.I said, "Lord, why did You leave me in the troubled times of life?I believed that You would always walk beside me day and night." (Then I heard:)"My precious child, I'd never leave you.I have carved you on the hollow of My hand.It's then I carried you in My arms,When you see one set of footprints in the sand"Dear Lord, will You be with me as I travel through the years?Will You be there in the struggles? Will You wipe away the tears?As my eyes turn toward the ocean and the shores of distant lands,I'm still thinking of the single set of footprints in the sand. (I heard Him say:)"My precious child, I'd never leave you.I have carved you on the hollow of My hand.It's then I carried you in My arms,When you see one set of footprints in the sand."Will I hear the angels singing, as my life comes to an end.Oh Lord, I long to see You. Will You be there once again?My eyes turn toward the heavens, along the path of foreign lands,Once more, I'm thinking of the set of footprints in the sand. (Jesus said:)"My precious child, I'd never leave you.See your name carved on the hollow of My hand.I'm here to carry you to your home.You will see one set of footprints in the sand. (by Mark Hargrave)

The text describes a dream, in which the person is walking on a beach with God (in some versions, specifically identified as Jesus). They leave two sets of footprints in the sand behind them. Looking back, the tracks are stated to represent various stages of this person's life. At some point, the two trails dwindle to one, especially at the lowest and most hopeless moments of the character's life. When the person questions God about this, believing that God must have abandoned his follower during those times, God gives the explanation: 'During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you'.

Not a Chance

Sunday Sermon
May 24th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Scripture: ESV Ruth 2:1-7 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, "The LORD be with you!" And they answered, "The LORD bless you." 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?" 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, "She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.' So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest."

Sermonic Theme: The Providence of God (God will provide)

Sermonic Subject: Chance or Providence (Though there be no such thing as Chance in the world; our ignorance of the real cause of any event has the same influence on the understanding, and begets a like species of belief or opinion. David Hume)

Sermonic Sentence: God will provide what you need when you need it where you need it how you need it, and who you may need to achieve it. (He may not come when you want Him, but you are going to want Him when He comes.)

Sermonic Tension: There are no accidents in the life of believers. “Chance, when strictly examined, is a mere negative word, and means not any real power which has anywhere a being in nature.” David Hume

Sermonic Background: Providence from the Latin providere, “to provide.” The word “providence” does not occur in the Bible. It refers, however, to three biblical concepts: (1) In theology, providence is the general foresight, love, and care of God for people. (Romans 8.28) Providence can also refer to the idea that (2) God had divinely ordained or preordained certain events, or that (3) the universe is under God’s control so that ultimately good will be produced.

Redemption from the Latin redemption, from redimere, “to redeem,” to buy back again.” In theology, the idea that Christ “redeemed” or “bought back” mankind by delivering us from sin and its punishment, therefore making salvation possible. Jesus came to redeem all of fallen creation and to pay the price for human sin.

NLT Mark 10:45 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

NIV Luke 2:38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

ESV Luke 24:21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

KJV Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

NIV 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

ESV Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us- for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-

NIV Galatians 4:5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Hume clearly acknowledges that chance has no existence: there is “no such thing as chance in the world.” He also speaks of the real cause of any event. We may be ignorant of the real cause, but it emphatically does not follow that there is no real cause. We know that chance can never be the real cause of anything because there is no such thing (res) in the world as chance. Speaking of “chance” in a causal way is begotten from ignorance of real causes. Chance is an unreal cause, which is no cause.

Sermonic Structure:

I. The family you have do you think that’s by chance. (Verse 1)

II. The friends you have do you think that’s by chance. (Verse 2)

III. The field you’re in do you think that’s by chance. (Verse 3-5)

IV. The footsteps you’ve made do you think that’s by chance. (Verse 6)

V. The favor you are receiving do you think that’s all by chance. (Verse 7)