Sermon Central
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Satisfied With Christ
Contributed by Doug Johnston on Apr 23, 2001 (message contributor)
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1. What The World Needs Now...
Contributed on Apr 23, 2001
What the world needs most is the impact joyful Christians make; that’s one of the best ways we show God’s love in a practical way.
Introduction - There are many joy-robbers: IRS Form 1040s, pink slips, overtime, unexpected changes. Paul the Apostle experienced many more things than these (2 Corinthians 11) and still rejoiced (Philippians 4). Joy is: A result of trusting Christ that makes us able to see life from ...read more
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2. What Does God Really Want From Us
Contributed on Apr 23, 2001
God eliminates our guilt, wrath, distance from Him, and bondage to sin when we trust Christ; we need to take advantage of what He’s already given and do His wishes now.
Introduction: The Bible describes people who haven’t trusted Christ as Savior as- Guilty Awaiting wrath Distant from God In bondage to sin God answers these needs Himself in the gift of Christ’s life on the cross for us. Christ’s atonement for sin answers guilt by paying the price of ...read more
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3. A New Name
Contributed on Apr 27, 2001
As Paul praised God when he heard how the Ephesian believers lived, we too will bring God praise by impact our lives have on ourselves and others.
We must cause God to be praised. These things in the Ephesian believers’ lives caused Paul to give thanks to God and praise Him for His work in them; as we do the same things, we too can cause people around us to praise God for His works in us. 1. Our Faith in God (15a) Faith is obviously ...read more
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4. Building Faith We Can Use
Contributed on Apr 27, 2001
Understanding God’s words and gifts helps the Spirit strengthen our faith to withstand things we may not understand.
We must strengthen our faith with God’s truths. Strong faith rests on understanding God’s words and works. 1. Understand what God Did when He Saved Us (18a) Gave us the best future we could have Gave us hope we could live as other “saints” do Freed from bondage to the past 2. ...read more
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5. Fighting For Peace
Contributed on May 13, 2001
God’s work for us in Christ can give us the tools to fight against despair that may set in from dealing with people, circumstance, or our own selves.
Our feelings make us go crazy! We need to compensate for things that can drive us nuts! Complex challenges can limit any of us Our views affect the ways we view life; safe with God or building lives without God. We must depend on God’s love for us. 1. God chooses to love us as He finds ...read more
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6. Satan: The Prince Of The Power Of The Air
Contributed on May 13, 2001
Knowing how Satan works and making plans to stand firm against him are important and practical parts of our faith.
...In time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Ephesians 2:2 Detecting Satan at Work: Wants us to Disobey God (Eph. 2:2; Gen. 3; Matthew 4) Accuses (Rev. ...read more
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7. Death Into Life
Contributed on May 30, 2001
Just as Memorial Day reminds us of the advantages the deaths of others in armed struggle have brought us, we must take advantage of Christ’s death and the benefits it brings us.
Memorial Day reminds us fallen heroes still speak. Established in 1868 as a day to honor the fallen soldiers of the just concluded Civil War, Memorial Day has grown into a recognition of all our nation’s war dead and the high price of our freedoms. We must make Christ’s death for us ...read more
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8. The Fellowship Of The Mystery
Contributed on May 30, 2001
Paul wrote part of his prayer journal for these believers to read, so they would know he believed God could work in them to do His wishes. God can make them able; they need to be ready to act, not just talk and agree.
Martin Luther wrote a short letter to his barber in response to his desire to learn more about prayer. Paul too records part of his prayer journal for these Ephesian believers to read, so they can see how firm his confidence is that they can overcome the natural tendencies self pushes us to, ...read more
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9. E Pluribus Unum
Contributed on Jun 2, 2001
We must take the common building blocks of unity God provides us all and use them constructively to produce the kind of church He wants all of us to share together.
Since we have so much in common, sharing one: Body—Church together Spirit—His powerful influence Hope-Of heaven Lord-Our Master, not mother Faith-From truth that changes us Baptism-Public result of faith Our God and Father – Over us all And, since our unity is based on our own ...read more
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10. 99 44/100 % Purity Is No Accident
Contributed on Jun 2, 2001
Just as federal agencies work to ensure our food and medicines are held to high standards of purity, God wants us to hold ourselves to His high standards of purity in living.
The creation of what we now call Ivory Soap was an accident; more air was beat into the vats than anticipated when a worker forgot to turn off the mixing machine. Later, calls for this mystery floating soap created tremendous orders. Its creation was an accident. Holy living for us is no ...read more
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11. A Clean Mirror
Contributed on Jun 7, 2001
If we are to imitate Christ as Paul asks us to in 5:1, we must keep our lives clean by allowing nothing to dirty the mirror that is our life so we may reflect Christ clearly.
Paul tells these people to follow (5:1), or mimic, God as they demonstrate a worthy walk (4:1) that should be part of every Christian’s lifestyle. We must mirror God’s ideals in daily living. Controlling My Wants (2-3) Is my attitude one of giving, or taking (2) ? Is what consumes me ...read more
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12. Light In The Darkness
Contributed on Jun 7, 2001
Instead of hiding our eyes from God’s light, we should approach it and take it for our own use and to light the lives of others.
Living in darkness: Seen by unclean acts [here, primarily immoral] (1-5) Makes one an object of God’s wrath [active punishment] (6) Joining with disobedient people (7) Is a description of a believer’s former condition (8) We must light the darkness we live in. Approach God’s Light ...read more
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13. How Can I Be Spirit-Filled If I've Never Spoken In Tongues?
Contributed on Jun 14, 2001
Instead of the demonstration of a miraculous special gift, Paul indicates our Spirit-filling can be tested by much simpler means.
1 Corinthians 12:29-30 Q: Does every believer have the role or gifts going with an apostle? Prophet? Teacher? Miracle worker? Heal? Tongues? Interpret tongue-speaking language? A: The answer to all those questions is: “...no…” (Greek term for question with an assumed answer of "no" is ...read more
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14. Marital Dominoes
Contributed on Jun 25, 2001
Paul teaches that Spirit-filling plays out in a practical way in our personal relationships, keeping our lives from knocking down the things that are most important instead of building them up.
Introduction The following game, Marital Dominoes, is an effective way for a husband to cause a negative chain reaction in his wife. The “benefits” of this game then are double. Not only does the husband enjoy his own sins, but he also gets to put up with his wife’s. Everybody loses! The ...read more
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15. Why Can't Everyone Be Nice Like Me?
Contributed on Jun 29, 2001
When we realize we’re the ones who should be the greatest influence for good in all our relationships, our frustrations will ease.
We must serve God in all our personal relationships we are in now. I. Follow and Respect Your Parents (1-3) A. We’re obliged to obey B. We can’t honor God and dishonor parents C. One reason parents speak is to make us think 1. Escape sin 2. To avoid danger and disappointment II. ...read more
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16. How To Raise Happy Parents (And Be One Too)
Contributed on Jun 29, 2001
Being a responsible child (or adult) is a full-time job, a job that is much easier when we follow some relationship guidelines.
Four Principles for Raising Happy Parents (These keys work for parents, too.) I. Be Understanding A. Parents feel responsible for you B. Pressure from others (comparison) brings frustration C. Rejection brings a mix of loneliness or pride D. Guilt often results from teaching/living an ...read more
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17. The Traitor
Contributed on Jul 11, 2001
As a traitor truly serves only himself, we serve only ourselves if we refuse to take a stand with Christ against Satan and his influences
We must stand firm in the fight for God in our world today. I. Stand Up for God and Ourselves (10-12) A. As salt and light in the world around us B. As we daily check in with the enemy around us 1. Fight God’s fight, not just our own battles 2. We are not so much a hospital as a ...read more
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18. More Important Than Your Cholesterol
Contributed on Jul 11, 2001
More important than our health at middle age is our ability to find and use God’s armor now at any age as we prepare to take a stand for God.
We must wear God’s armor to survive life’s battles. I. Truth (14) A. Know and understand B. Practice living in truth C. Seek and Desire God’s words II. Righteousness (14) A. Christ’s righteousness gives boldness B. Our righteousness gives confidence III. The Gospel’s Impact ...read more