April 26, 2009 "What Grace Means (Part 1)"

“What Grace Means (Part 1)”

Ephesians 2:4-7

April 26, 2009

 

 

 

1. Grace originates in God’s heart, not our beliefs or actions.

Jesus and Matthew the tax collector: Matthew 9:9-13

 

2. Grace truly meets our need.

Romans 6:4, 6:13

 

3. God’s grace accomplishes more than we ever could accomplish.

Colossians 3:1-4

 

“remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare…”

-C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

 

4. God’s grace lasts forever.

 

 

The Living Dead - April 19, 2009

Ephesians 2:1-5

Definition of Dead:

Webster: “Deprived of life, no longer alive... Lacking power to feel, move or respond... No longer producing or functioning.”

(source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead)

The spiritually dead:

Matthew 8:22

Luke 15:24, 32

John 5:24-25

Romans 8:6

Colossians 2:13

Jude 1:12

Also (not on the handout):

John 12:40 - God has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, because they would not believe

1 Timothy 5 – the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives 

This world (meaning the sinful world systems, not the good things in the world that God created):

Does not know God (John 17:25)

Hates Jesus (John 7:7)

Is full of corruption (2 Peter 1:4 & 2:20)

Listens to false teachers (1 John 4:5)

Is under Satan’s control (1 John 5:19)

 

Don’t Be Conformed to or Love The Ways of This World

John 15:18-20

Romans 12:1-2

1 John 2:15-17

James 4:4

Also see Genesis 11:1-9 - a world system united together against God.

 

The Ways of Satan:

Accuser – Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10

Murderer and Liar – John 8:44

Arrogance & Greed - Isaiah 14:12-22

Pride/Self-Worship – Ezekiel 28:17 

Easter Sunday April 12, 2009

Notes from Sunday's sermon plus some more thoughts:

More about Jesus' resurrection:

Josh McDowell's article for Leader U

Click here for the Got Questions article on the Resurrection.

Scriptures on Resurrection:

Isaiah 26:19

Daniel 12:2

John 5:28

John 6:39

John 6:54

Acts 24:15

Romans 8:23

Scriptures On First Fruits:

Leviticus 23:9-14

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

The Jews for Jesus article on First Fruits:

Some Effects of Jesus' Resurrection:

1. Jesus cannot die again, death no longer has mastery over him (Rom. 6:9). In the same way, when we are resurrected, we will not be able to die again.

2. We are "in Christ." We have already been raised with Him spiritually (Eph. 2:6), so we do not have to fear that we won't be raised with new bodies.

3. We have been given spiritual life. We are made alive spiritually, but we have to wait for our "adoption" to be complete, and the redemption of our bodies. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). 

4. Jesus is at the right hand of God (the place of power and authority) and is interceding (praying) for us (Romans 8:34).

5. Death is not able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:38), but it would have, if Jesus had not been raised.

6. God has proved Jesus' credentials as Messiah by raising him from the dead. As a result, God will judge the world through Jesus, and commands everyone to repent (Acts 17:29-31).