Reclaiming the Gospel

Reclaiming the Gospel, "Renewed by Grace" Series - Part 1

“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?’”

                                                                                                                               - Galatians 3:1-6   

Clinging Onto Our Spiritual Inheritance

Clinging Onto Our Spiritual Inheritance, "New Year's Eve Message," Genesis 25:21-34

“And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.  22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, "If it is thus, why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.  23 And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger."  24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb.  25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau.  26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.  27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.  28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.  29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted.  30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.)  31 Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now."  32 Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?"  33 Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.  34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

                                                                                                                              - Genesis 25:21-34   

To Die and Bear Much Fruit

To Die and Bear Much Fruit, "Why Did He Come?" Series - Part 4, John 12:24-27

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.  27 "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.”

                                                                                                                                   - John 12:24-27

To Be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest

To Be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest, "Why Did He Come?" Series Part 3, Hebrews 2:17-18

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

                                                                                                                               - Hebrews 2:17-18

To Restore a Broken Relationship

To Restore a Broken Relationship, "Why Did He Come?" Series Part 2, Hebrews 10:1-10

10 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, when Christ[a] 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 does away with 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.

                                                                                                                                - Hebrews 10:1-10

To Bear Witness To The Truth

To Bear Witness To The Truth, "Why Did He Come?" Series - Part 1, John 18:33-38

“So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"  35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?"  36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."  37 Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world- to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."  38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.”

                                                                                                                                  - John 18:33-38

Show Me Your Glory: The Cry For Spiritual Renewal

Show Me Your Glory: The Cry For Spiritual Renewal, "Renewal" Series - Part 3, Exodus 33:18-23

“Moses said, "Please show me your glory."  19 And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.  20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live."  21 And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,  22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.  23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."

                                                                                                                               - Exodus 33:18-23

Praying For Spiritual Renewal

Praying For Spiritual Renewal, "Renewal" Series - Part 2, Exodus 33:7-11

“Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.  8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.  9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.  10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.  11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”

                                                                                                                                   - Exodus 33:7-11