Sermon Central
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A Season Of Joy
Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 23, 2015 (message contributor)
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1. The End In Mind
Contributed on Mar 23, 2015
The work God does in you and me has three phases: a beginning, a middle, and an end. God began His “good work” in us, He “will carry it on,” and, in time, He will bring it to completion.
Recently, our daughter Catherine completed a refinishing project. Se took an old chest, worn and marred by the years and transformed it into an elegant piece of furniture, which she is pleased to display in her home. She took an object that was ruined and unsightly and restored it in such a way ...read more
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2. Advancing The Gospel
Contributed on Mar 23, 2015
Can we look at this or that circumstance in our lives and say, “As bad as my situation is, I can see a way to press it into the service of the gospel. I can bear witness to Christ even in the midst of this”?
Patsy Bonner shared with our Friday Bible study group a spoof news story that had been sent to her recently. The dateline is ostensibly Dallas, and the brief that follows says: Dallas Cowboys football practice was delayed nearly two hours today after a player reported finding an unknown white ...read more
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3. Embodying The Gospel
Contributed on Mar 23, 2015
Living in a manner that is worthy of the gospel has three conditions.
If you don’t mind, let’s go back to the beginning of this passage. We read there – in chapter 1, verse 27 – that we are to live our lives “in a manner [that is] worthy of the gospel.” This is a simple but urgent appeal to us, and if we are to respond to it, if ...read more
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4. Looking Out For Number One
Contributed on Mar 23, 2015
Jesus Christ deserves to be your Number One.
Paul, you will remember, writes these words from a Roman jail. And he is not there for committing a crime; he is there for his commitment to Christ. But, even though he is in Rome, he is concerned about his friends in Philippi, some eight hundred miles away. They are concerned about him, too. In ...read more
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5. The Greatest Gain
Contributed on Mar 23, 2015
Whatever advantage you think you have, consider it a loss, so that you may know Christ and be found in him.
Tim Keller has said that there are three ways to live. One is the way of the rebellious. The second is the way of the religious. And the third is the way of the redeemed. You can see all three of these played out in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, a story that Jesus told about two ...read more
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6. Running In A Standing Position
Contributed on Mar 23, 2015
Consider three moves of grace. Our record is cleared of sin. Our lives are conformed to Christ. And our destiny is sealed by God.
There are three great moves that God makes on your behalf – three initiatives of grace that have to do with securing and insuring your salvation. They are, first, justification, second, sanctification, and, third, glorification. In his mercy, God justifies you – that is, he pronounces ...read more
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7. Mind Your Thoughts
Contributed on Mar 23, 2015
When you "mind your thoughts," you don't have anything to worry about.
Next Sunday is Stewardship Commitment Sunday. You and I recently received pledge cards from our Finance and Stewardship Committee, and they are asking us to make a commitment about what we will give in the year 2015. There will be a time set aside in next Sunday’s service for those of us who ...read more
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8. An Acceptable Sacrifice
Contributed on Mar 23, 2015
If you give out of love for God, you will get what you desire most. You will get God's riches in Christ.
I once missed a great blessing. I was part of a student organization in college, and we were having a clothing drive. Our leader encouraged us to donate an article or two of clothing, but, when he did, he said, “Don’t give away something you won’t miss. Give something you really ...read more
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9. Thy Will Be Done
Contributed on Jun 9, 2018
When we pray, "Thy will be done," we are committing ourselves to desire, discover, and do the will of God with grateful hearts.
Warren Wiersbe says that, from time to time, he has counseled with people who were actually afraid of the will of God. They were terrified at the thought of surrendering themselves completely to him. The idea disturbed them because they had concluded that the will of God was something painful and ...read more