Sunday Sermon
April 26, 2009
Rhema Community Church
Sermonic Skeleton
Sermonic Scripture: ESV Matthew 10:1-15 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Sermonic Theme: The Lord’s Judgment
Sermonic Subject: Discipleship (This is an eclectic, diverse mixed group of men. However, they all were hand selected by the Lord.)
Sermonic Sentence: The Lord has called us as His disciples to go minister to lost people.(Ministry starts at home. First, you are to import it then you are to export it.)
Sermonic Tension: Being a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ may put you on the receiving end of bitter rejection. (The disciple’s life is an intense adventurous journey. Doing God’s will is a major undertaking essentially you are living by His word.)
Sermonic Background: DISCIPLES from the Greek mathetes and the Latin dicipulus, literally “a learner.” Often used to refer to the twelve Apostles (Matthew 10.1; Luke 22.11), it is also one of the names given to Christians in the NT; the meaning is that Christians are learning or followers of Jesus. In the Bible the word “disciple” implies a personal adherence, a living out of, the teachings of the Master Teacher. In the NT one is known as Jesus disciple by abiding in His Word (John 8.31; 13.35; 15.8). In Acts, those who have believed upon Him and confessed Him are called disciples (6.1-2, 7; 14.20-22, 28; 15.10; 19.1).
Sermonic Structure:
I. Minister with The Lord’s Power (verse 1)
II. Minister with The Lord’s People (verses 2-4)
III. Minister with The Lord’s Plan (verses 5-11)
IV. Minister with The Lord’s Peace (verses 12-15)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Why Johnny Can't Preach
What would make a difference would be Christian proclamation that was less concerned with “how-to” and more concerned with “why-to,” why humans are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. (Snippet from “Why Johnny Can’t PREACH” pg 60- T. David Gordon)
NLT Psalm 139:14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-- and how well I know it.
NLT Psalm 139:14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-- and how well I know it.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Looking for Jesus
Sunday Sermon
April 12. 2009
Rhema Community Church
Sermonic Skeleton
Sermonic Scripture: ESV John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Sermonic Subject: The Resurrection (Jesus has power over death.)
Sermonic Theme: The Glory of God, Eternal Life & Living Faith (The stewardship of time and relationships)
Sermonic Tension: Death (Death always comes at an inconvenient time.)
Sermonic Sentence: I am the resurrection and the life.
Sermonic Background: RESURRECTION The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important doctrine of the Christian faith. Christians since the NT have argued for the centrality of the doctrine, convinced that it proved Jesus deity and the efficacy of His death for our sins. Paul, for example, considered the resurrection to be the cornerstone of the Christian faith: If Jesus did not rise from the dead, the whole structure of Christianity collapses. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15.14-17: “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.”
The Christian faith and its claim to be Truth exist only if Jesus rose from the dead, because the heart of Christianity is a living Christ. See: Philippians 3.20-21; II Corinthians 5.1-5; I Thessalonians 4.16-17.
The fact that Jesus rose bodily (in a real physical body) from the grave has been fundamental to Christian teaching from the beginning. In the NT Jesus, appearance is depicted as spiritual in the sense of being independent of the ordinary laws of nature but also as material or physical. He invited them to touch His hands and feet “for a spirit does not have flesh and bones” (Luke 24.39-40; see also: Matthew 27.61-66; 28.1-20; Mark 16.1-20; Luke 24.1-53; John 20.10-31).
Resurrection of the Dead From the Latin resurrection, from resurgere, “to rise again,” from re, “again,” and sugere, “to rise.” Both the OT and NT teach that the dead will come back to life. From the Christian the resurrection will be a complete redemption, with a new body that will be immortal and incorruptible. See: Isaiah 25.6-8; 26.19; Daniel 12.1-4; I Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4.14-17.
Christian doctrine those who are redeemed in Christ are destined to live again in renewed, transformed bodies after death. The pattern for the resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus, whose body was raised from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. The nature of resurrected bodies is mysterious, but the church has traditionally taught that there will be both continuity and discontinuity between our current earthly bodies and our “spiritual” resurrection bodies. (This is the seventh and greatest sign-miracle of Jesus. God’s delay is not synonymous with God’s denial.)
Sermonic Structure:
I. Look for Jesus to help you deal with the reality of Death
II. Look for Jesus to help you respond appropriately to Death
III. Look for Jesus to help you rise after Death
April 12. 2009
Rhema Community Church
Sermonic Skeleton
Sermonic Scripture: ESV John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Sermonic Subject: The Resurrection (Jesus has power over death.)
Sermonic Theme: The Glory of God, Eternal Life & Living Faith (The stewardship of time and relationships)
Sermonic Tension: Death (Death always comes at an inconvenient time.)
Sermonic Sentence: I am the resurrection and the life.
Sermonic Background: RESURRECTION The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important doctrine of the Christian faith. Christians since the NT have argued for the centrality of the doctrine, convinced that it proved Jesus deity and the efficacy of His death for our sins. Paul, for example, considered the resurrection to be the cornerstone of the Christian faith: If Jesus did not rise from the dead, the whole structure of Christianity collapses. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15.14-17: “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.”
The Christian faith and its claim to be Truth exist only if Jesus rose from the dead, because the heart of Christianity is a living Christ. See: Philippians 3.20-21; II Corinthians 5.1-5; I Thessalonians 4.16-17.
The fact that Jesus rose bodily (in a real physical body) from the grave has been fundamental to Christian teaching from the beginning. In the NT Jesus, appearance is depicted as spiritual in the sense of being independent of the ordinary laws of nature but also as material or physical. He invited them to touch His hands and feet “for a spirit does not have flesh and bones” (Luke 24.39-40; see also: Matthew 27.61-66; 28.1-20; Mark 16.1-20; Luke 24.1-53; John 20.10-31).
Resurrection of the Dead From the Latin resurrection, from resurgere, “to rise again,” from re, “again,” and sugere, “to rise.” Both the OT and NT teach that the dead will come back to life. From the Christian the resurrection will be a complete redemption, with a new body that will be immortal and incorruptible. See: Isaiah 25.6-8; 26.19; Daniel 12.1-4; I Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4.14-17.
Christian doctrine those who are redeemed in Christ are destined to live again in renewed, transformed bodies after death. The pattern for the resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus, whose body was raised from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. The nature of resurrected bodies is mysterious, but the church has traditionally taught that there will be both continuity and discontinuity between our current earthly bodies and our “spiritual” resurrection bodies. (This is the seventh and greatest sign-miracle of Jesus. God’s delay is not synonymous with God’s denial.)
Sermonic Structure:
I. Look for Jesus to help you deal with the reality of Death
II. Look for Jesus to help you respond appropriately to Death
III. Look for Jesus to help you rise after Death
Friday, April 10, 2009
Crucifixion
CRUCIFIXION was used by many nations of the ancient world, including Assyria, Media, and Persia. Alexander the Great of Greece crucified 2,000 inhabitants of Tyre when he captured the city. The Romans later adopted this method and used it often throughout their empire. Crucifixion was the Romans’ most severe form of execution so it was reserved only for slaves and criminals. No Roman citizen could be crucified. Before being impaled, the victim was stripped naked and scourged with a flagellum, a whip with rock and bond bound to leather thongs, and act which tore the skin and muscle down to the bone.
Often, victims to be crucified were disemboweled during the scourging process, yet their bodies were still publicly displayed on the cross. After being scourged, the victim was forced to carry the cross-beam of his cross outside the city to the place of crucifixion. During the process, the victim was led by a herald with the “title,” the written accusation against the victim. Upon reaching the place of execution, the victim was laid on the ground, the beam placed under his shoulders, and his arms or hands tied and/or nailed to it. This cross-beam was then attached to an upright beam just high enough so the victim’s feet could not touch the ground. The victim’s feet were then tied and/or nailed to the upright beam; the main weight of the body was supported by a peg projecting from the upright beam called a “sedile.”
The victim was usually left to die of starvation or exhaustion, though sometimes the death process was hastened by breaking the victim’s legs. This hastened the death process; during scourging, the diaphragm was usually damaged, forcing the victim to physically lift himself in order to breathe. Breaking the victim’s legs prevented this, so in effect the victim would die of suffocation.
THE SUFFERINGS IN THE PASSION The sufferings of Christ in His death have been labeled His passive obedience in classical Protestant theology. This passive obedience stands in contrast to Christ’s active obedience which refers to the obedience exhibited during His lifetime. His life was, of course, one of obedience, beginning with His willing acceptance of the Incarnation (Heb. 10:5-10), and continuing throughout His entire life on earth (Luke 2:52; John 8:29). Through suffering He learned obedience (Heb. 5:8).
The sufferings of Christ’s life, though real, were not atoning. Nevertheless, the merit of His atoning death is inseparable from the sinlessness and perfection of His life which was attested to by His life of obedience. Thus while theologians have made this distinction between life and death sufferings (active and passive obedience), it fails to be very significant, since only the sufferings of His death and His obedience in being the sacrificial Lamb were atoning.
Strictly speaking, then, only the sufferings on the cross were atoning. It was during the three hours of darkness when God laid on Christ the sins of the world that Atonement was being made. The abuse and scourgings that preceded His time on the cross were part of the sufferings of His life (Isaiah 53).
NLT Deuteronomy 21:23 the body must never remain on the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone hanging on a tree is cursed of God. Do not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession.
ESV Mark 15:13-15 And they cried out again, "Crucify him." 14 And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him." 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
KJV Mark 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
NLT Mark 15:25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place.
NIV Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
NLT Mark 15:37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.
ESV John 19:31-33 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
NLT 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God.
ESV Hebrews 10:5-10 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" 8 When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
NLT Hebrews 5:8 So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
Often, victims to be crucified were disemboweled during the scourging process, yet their bodies were still publicly displayed on the cross. After being scourged, the victim was forced to carry the cross-beam of his cross outside the city to the place of crucifixion. During the process, the victim was led by a herald with the “title,” the written accusation against the victim. Upon reaching the place of execution, the victim was laid on the ground, the beam placed under his shoulders, and his arms or hands tied and/or nailed to it. This cross-beam was then attached to an upright beam just high enough so the victim’s feet could not touch the ground. The victim’s feet were then tied and/or nailed to the upright beam; the main weight of the body was supported by a peg projecting from the upright beam called a “sedile.”
The victim was usually left to die of starvation or exhaustion, though sometimes the death process was hastened by breaking the victim’s legs. This hastened the death process; during scourging, the diaphragm was usually damaged, forcing the victim to physically lift himself in order to breathe. Breaking the victim’s legs prevented this, so in effect the victim would die of suffocation.
THE SUFFERINGS IN THE PASSION The sufferings of Christ in His death have been labeled His passive obedience in classical Protestant theology. This passive obedience stands in contrast to Christ’s active obedience which refers to the obedience exhibited during His lifetime. His life was, of course, one of obedience, beginning with His willing acceptance of the Incarnation (Heb. 10:5-10), and continuing throughout His entire life on earth (Luke 2:52; John 8:29). Through suffering He learned obedience (Heb. 5:8).
The sufferings of Christ’s life, though real, were not atoning. Nevertheless, the merit of His atoning death is inseparable from the sinlessness and perfection of His life which was attested to by His life of obedience. Thus while theologians have made this distinction between life and death sufferings (active and passive obedience), it fails to be very significant, since only the sufferings of His death and His obedience in being the sacrificial Lamb were atoning.
Strictly speaking, then, only the sufferings on the cross were atoning. It was during the three hours of darkness when God laid on Christ the sins of the world that Atonement was being made. The abuse and scourgings that preceded His time on the cross were part of the sufferings of His life (Isaiah 53).
NLT Deuteronomy 21:23 the body must never remain on the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone hanging on a tree is cursed of God. Do not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession.
ESV Mark 15:13-15 And they cried out again, "Crucify him." 14 And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him." 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
KJV Mark 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
NLT Mark 15:25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place.
NIV Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
NLT Mark 15:37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.
ESV John 19:31-33 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
NLT 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God.
ESV Hebrews 10:5-10 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" 8 When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
NLT Hebrews 5:8 So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Cross from a Black Mans Perspective
Sunday Sermon
April 5, 2009
Rhema Community Church
Sermonic Skeleton (Ronald's Classic Collection)
Sermonic Scripture: ESV Mark 15:21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
Sermonic Theme: Ministry
Sermonic Subject: Crucifixion/ the Passion of Christ
Sermonic Sentence: This text is tailored to teach us how to serve God under pressure.
Sermonic Tension: God uses pressure to thrust human beings into service.
Sermonic Structure:
I. This Black Man was FORCED to go the Way of the Cross
a. Jesus was weary
b. Jesus was weak
c. Jesus was wounded (Isaiah 53.5)
II. This Black Man was FORCED to feel the Weight of the Cross
a. It was heavy (physically & historically)
b. It was humiliating
c. It was honorable
III. This Black Man was FORCED to see the Wonder of the Cross
a. He was transfixed at the cross
b. He was transformed by the cross
c. He was transparent after the cross (Romans 16.13)
April 5, 2009
Rhema Community Church
Sermonic Skeleton (Ronald's Classic Collection)
Sermonic Scripture: ESV Mark 15:21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
Sermonic Theme: Ministry
Sermonic Subject: Crucifixion/ the Passion of Christ
Sermonic Sentence: This text is tailored to teach us how to serve God under pressure.
Sermonic Tension: God uses pressure to thrust human beings into service.
Sermonic Structure:
I. This Black Man was FORCED to go the Way of the Cross
a. Jesus was weary
b. Jesus was weak
c. Jesus was wounded (Isaiah 53.5)
II. This Black Man was FORCED to feel the Weight of the Cross
a. It was heavy (physically & historically)
b. It was humiliating
c. It was honorable
III. This Black Man was FORCED to see the Wonder of the Cross
a. He was transfixed at the cross
b. He was transformed by the cross
c. He was transparent after the cross (Romans 16.13)
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