Category: Preaching in Shorts
Developing a Disciple’s Heart – Part 10
God can do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. That is why you always need to keep Him in the equation. So, don’t be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, keep God in the equation by presenting your requests to Him, because He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
Galatians Chapter 4
As we start chapter four, Paul also tells us that now that Christ has come, those who have faith in Him are no longer under the supervision of the law. In Christ we all—male and female, slave and free—have received the “full rights of sons.” The full rights of sons is more of a Roman concept that a Jewish one. In the Roman culture, what the father possessed was considered to belong to the child as well. Paul is saying that all the resources of God become ours as heirs of God, and we are able to draw directly on them to live our new lives.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
Developing a Disciple’s Heart – Part 9
When we are truly rejoicing in the Lord, we will be gentle. When we are connected, experiencing His presence in our lives, gentleness will be a result. It is hard to be selfish and rude when you are experiencing His new and living way. Both rejoicing and gentleness demonstrate a focus on the eternal over the temporal. Gentleness means, at times, losing arguments, giving up so-called rights, foregoing last words, letting others get their way.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
Galatians Chapter 3
Paul says that Abraham “believed God” and it was his faith that credited to him as righteousness.
It has always been about faith. The law cannot and does not bring life. The law condemns and actually puts all who do not “do everything” written it under a curse. It is Jesus death on the cross that releases us from the “curse of the Law” so that we can relate to God through faith.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
Developing a Disciple’s Heart – Part 8
As the people of God we are to be joyful. I don’t mean that we are supposed to run around pretending that we are happy all the time, but once we are focused on the love God has for us, that Jesus is coming back for us, that we have access to the Most Holy Place, that we are His pearl and treasure, we should experience a measure of joy, regardless of the circumstances in our lives. And yet, many Christians are not experiencing a lot of joy.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
Galatians Chapter 2
Is real life found in Christ or in observing the law? Are we justified by following the law or having faith in Christ? This is one of the main threads of this letter to the Galatians. Last week we introduced in Chapter 1 the Judaizers, who were Jewish believers that were going around to the Gentile churches and insisting that the Gentiles needed to become Jewish (under the law) in order to really follow Christ. Paul is saying that they are wrong.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
Developing a Disciple’s Heart – Part 7
When you are in trouble or in need of assistance, or someone is messing with you, and a law enforcement officer arrives on the scene, it is a good thing. You are happy to see them, they are going to help you. They are a hero, yay! But, if you are doing something that maybe you shouldn’t be doing, you may not be excited to see that very same law enforcement officer. They didn’t change, the only thing different is what you are up to.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
Galatians Chapter 1
Apparently, the Judaizers had accused Paul of presenting an “easy message” because Paul wanted to be a people pleaser and was trying to avoid conflict.
That does not sound anything like the Paul we have been studying for the last six months or so. Paul doesn’t shy away from conflict and he isn’t going to shy away from conflict with the Judaizers either.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
Developing a Disciple’s Heart – Part 6
Christianity is all about involvement, demonstrated by a little thing called the incarnation. Talk about involvement. As recipients of the gifts and blessings of His incarnation (forgiveness of sin, eternal life, throne room access) we are to be involved as well. We cannot just sit by on the sidelines and watch as the enemy deceives people and keeps them from coming to know Jesus and thereby experiencing real life, now and forever.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
1 Corinthians Chapter 16
Paul apparently stops dictating the letter and takes the pen himself for the last few remarks. He takes a quick shot at the false teachers who had been causing problems in Corinth, and then looks forward to Christ’s return. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.
The letter to the Corinthians serves as a reminder to all of us that our Christian walk and growth is a process. He is working in us to transform by His Spirit, but the process takes time.
As Paul wrote to the Philippians
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
