Acts 4:12 says of Jesus Christ, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Beginning Sunday evening, March 23, our Student Ministry will be starting a study called Christ against the World. Our aim is to show the uniqueness and superiority of Christ and Christianity to all the other world religions by measuring the truths of who Christ is and what He accomplished verses all world religions. Here is a list of the world religions we will be considering and comparing to Christ:
March 23 – The Non-Negotiables of the Christian Faith
March 30 – Christianity vs. Roman Catholicism
April 6– Christianity vs. Mormonism
April 13 – Christianity vs. Jehovah's Witness
April 20 – Christianity vs. Islam
April 27 – Christianity vs. Christian Scientology
May 4 – Guest Speaker
May 11 – Christianity vs. Buddhism
May 18 – Christianity vs. Hinduism
May 25 – Summary Sermon
I hope this study will help you better understand the "exclusiveness" of the Christian gospel compared to all world religions and you will boast in Christ alone.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Your Marriage as an Example
The most important thing your child can observe in your home is the love you have for each other as husband and wife. If your child knows you love one another they will feel comfortable and secure in the home. They will feel free to open up their hearts to you because of what they observe in your marriage. If they see their dad reacting in sinful anger toward their mom or the mom reacting in sinful anger toward the dad, they will probably not bring their concerns to you because they think this is the way you will react against them as well. The point is that your children are watching and observing and taking mental notes and their relationship with you is dependent in a lot of ways on how they see their parents treat one another.
Therefore, let me encourage all parents to take some time if you have a computer and go to http://www.truthforlife.org/ and listen to the current series called We Two Are One. You can click on recent broadcasts and start at the beginning. They are 20-25 minute sermons by a great Bible teacher named Alistair Begg that will be insightful and encouraging to you in your marriage. What kind of legacy are you leaving for your children? Please take some time and think through the implications your marriage is having on your children.
Therefore, let me encourage all parents to take some time if you have a computer and go to http://www.truthforlife.org/ and listen to the current series called We Two Are One. You can click on recent broadcasts and start at the beginning. They are 20-25 minute sermons by a great Bible teacher named Alistair Begg that will be insightful and encouraging to you in your marriage. What kind of legacy are you leaving for your children? Please take some time and think through the implications your marriage is having on your children.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Spirit-Filled Family
Ephesians 5:15-6:4
"Therefore (Those who have awaken from their sin to life in Christ - v. 14) be careful how you walk (Live life), not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
What is God's will for believers?
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ."
God's will is for believers to be Spirit-filled. Just as a person can tell the effects of alcohol, the effects of the Spirit should control the life of the believer and lead to a changed life in specific relationships, all as a result of living in the fear or reverence of Christ.
What does the Spirit-controlled Christ fearing life look like in marriage?
"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her with the washing of water with the Word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."
Wives are to submit to their husbands just as the church submits to Christ and husbands are to provide sacrificial leadership by providing for their wives, protecting their wives from error and loving their wives, leading her to blessing as she submits. The same result is true for believers who submit to Christ as they ought.
What does the Spirit-controlled Christ fearing life look like at home?
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Father's do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Children obeying parents as unto Christ and parents not using their leadership role in the home to make unreasonable demands and structures that drive their children to anger, despair and resentment, but training them in God's word to love and obey Christ.
"Therefore (Those who have awaken from their sin to life in Christ - v. 14) be careful how you walk (Live life), not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
What is God's will for believers?
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ."
God's will is for believers to be Spirit-filled. Just as a person can tell the effects of alcohol, the effects of the Spirit should control the life of the believer and lead to a changed life in specific relationships, all as a result of living in the fear or reverence of Christ.
What does the Spirit-controlled Christ fearing life look like in marriage?
"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her with the washing of water with the Word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."
Wives are to submit to their husbands just as the church submits to Christ and husbands are to provide sacrificial leadership by providing for their wives, protecting their wives from error and loving their wives, leading her to blessing as she submits. The same result is true for believers who submit to Christ as they ought.
What does the Spirit-controlled Christ fearing life look like at home?
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Father's do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Children obeying parents as unto Christ and parents not using their leadership role in the home to make unreasonable demands and structures that drive their children to anger, despair and resentment, but training them in God's word to love and obey Christ.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Sports - A Great Opportunity For Instruction
Many of you men are familiar with the words of NFL football coach Herman Edwards postgame speech several years ago when he proclaimed, "You play to win the game!" I can still picture him leaning over the podium and passionately proclaiming this to reporters. While from a coaching assessment I agree with Edward's, from a Christian standpoint I think there is far more to learn from sports than just, "You play to win the game!"
As many of you know, a Christian man I look up to is named C.J. Mahaney. One thing I have learned from C.J. that I wanted to include in this post is how C.J. uses sports to teach his teenage son humility. I have learned from C.J. that sports is a great opportunity for training our children, and possibly ourselves in righteousness. This is what C.J. wrote in his blog after watching the super bowl with his son, Chad:
"Obviously my prediction of an easy win by the Patriots was slightly off. Personally, I didn’t think it was a great game -- but it was a great 4th quarter. And I can’t believe I was rooting for the Giants. And I can’t believe I am happy they won. Actually, I was more interested in what would take place after the game. I was leaning forward as the game ended, eager to observe what Bill Belichick would do. How would he respond to this test of adversity and his first taste of defeat this year? Would he be humble and gracious in defeat?
Sadly, he didn’t appear to be. Before the game officially ended he had already left the field. Sure, he did make his way across the field to congratulate Tom Coughlin, but then he left the field and the game was not over! He should have returned to the field to take his place as coach for the final play of the game. He should have humbly returned to the sideline and set an example as the leader of this team. This game will be difficult, if not impossible, for the Patriots to forget, but Belichick could have set an example for his team that would have transcended the game. He could have set an example of humility they would never forget.
I stayed up after the game for one reason. I knew they would interview Belichick, and I wanted to hear what he would say. I hoped he would at least congratulate the Giants on their victory. He did not. He missed yet another opportunity to provide a compelling and humble example of how to conduct oneself when one has lost the game.
Though many will write about what took place on the field during the game, I thought his actions at the end of the game and after the game were the most disappointing aspects of the game. And this is the stuff I review and emphasize with my son as we talk about the game. This is what I want him to remember and learn from this game."
Parents, when was the last time you sat down with your child and used sports, either the particular sport they are competing in or the sport you view on television, and used it as a teaching tool? I think if we are honest we approach sports with a Herman Edwards approach more than a Christian apporach that does not minimize competing with all your heart, but also embraces this aspect of life as a unique teaching tool.
As many of you know, a Christian man I look up to is named C.J. Mahaney. One thing I have learned from C.J. that I wanted to include in this post is how C.J. uses sports to teach his teenage son humility. I have learned from C.J. that sports is a great opportunity for training our children, and possibly ourselves in righteousness. This is what C.J. wrote in his blog after watching the super bowl with his son, Chad:
"Obviously my prediction of an easy win by the Patriots was slightly off. Personally, I didn’t think it was a great game -- but it was a great 4th quarter. And I can’t believe I was rooting for the Giants. And I can’t believe I am happy they won. Actually, I was more interested in what would take place after the game. I was leaning forward as the game ended, eager to observe what Bill Belichick would do. How would he respond to this test of adversity and his first taste of defeat this year? Would he be humble and gracious in defeat?
Sadly, he didn’t appear to be. Before the game officially ended he had already left the field. Sure, he did make his way across the field to congratulate Tom Coughlin, but then he left the field and the game was not over! He should have returned to the field to take his place as coach for the final play of the game. He should have humbly returned to the sideline and set an example as the leader of this team. This game will be difficult, if not impossible, for the Patriots to forget, but Belichick could have set an example for his team that would have transcended the game. He could have set an example of humility they would never forget.
I stayed up after the game for one reason. I knew they would interview Belichick, and I wanted to hear what he would say. I hoped he would at least congratulate the Giants on their victory. He did not. He missed yet another opportunity to provide a compelling and humble example of how to conduct oneself when one has lost the game.
Though many will write about what took place on the field during the game, I thought his actions at the end of the game and after the game were the most disappointing aspects of the game. And this is the stuff I review and emphasize with my son as we talk about the game. This is what I want him to remember and learn from this game."
Parents, when was the last time you sat down with your child and used sports, either the particular sport they are competing in or the sport you view on television, and used it as a teaching tool? I think if we are honest we approach sports with a Herman Edwards approach more than a Christian apporach that does not minimize competing with all your heart, but also embraces this aspect of life as a unique teaching tool.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Agape Love
Agape Love
I John 3:10-18
Purpose of John's letter:
1.) Assurance of salvation - "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." 5:13
2.) Joy - "And we are writing these things that our joy may be made complete." 1:4
- Knowing you have eternal life is what provides true and lasting joy in this life
- John provides three "tests" or signs to show who indeed has eternal life and a reason for joy
- a. Doctrinal Test - A belief in the incarnation of Christ (100%God - 100%Man) 1:1-5
- b. Moral Test - Realization and confession of sins and an obedience to Christ 1:6-2:6
- c. Love Test - A peculiar love for other Christians that causes the believer to not love the world and sacrifice himself/herself for the good of others (2:7-16)
- We believe the truth about Christ, show we believe by putting His word into action which causes us to sacrifice our lives for the good of others
- This morning we are looking at the third test of authentic Christianity – Brotherly Love
- Love today is understood as that which makes me feel good – “Falling in or out of love”
- The Bible defines love as self-sacrifice – Opposite than the world
- John’s word for love is agape – Turn and read I Corinthians 13:4
- Agape love is divine love, what God is in His essence, and the love Christians are to have
- Could you substitute your name for love in I Corinthians 13:4-8?
- Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside a believer (Galatians 5:22)
- Is this the love you have for other Christians? Patient, kind, not envy or boastful, etc.
- John turns and applies the love test to the two groups in this church
1. Jealousy and envy have no place among believers – 3:10-15 - John referring to "the beginning" of the New Testament when Christ came into the world
- Christ commanded His disciples to love one another as He loved them
- Cain and Abel represent envy and jealousy believers are not to have toward one another
- Abel’s works were righteous and Cain’s weren’t and so Cain rose up and killed him
- Jealousy or envy among God’s people has led to serious problems in the church
- Where do fights and quarrels come from in the church? “Your own lust” – James 4:1-2
- How do we turn from jealousy and envy to being the children God wants us to be?
2. Understand God’s Agape Love and Apply It To Life – v. 16-18 - We said earlier that John’s thoughts are going to be clearer the longer we read and this is one of the clearest descriptions of the work of Christ in the Bible
- The thought here is that although we do not purchase salvation by doing good to others, the way we know a person understands the love of God is the good they do for others
- To be forgiven much is to love much, and not to love is to abide in death; to love is to do
- Turn and read the story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37
- The lost religious leaders of that day looked on this man in need and thought, “What will happen to me if I stop and help this man.” The Good Samaritan looked on this man in need and asked, “What will happen to this man if I don’t stop to help him.”
- Look around you at all the needs in the lives of your friends and family
- If you are like the religous leaders of Jesus' day, you only think about what helping others will cost you
- Christ teaches that true love for our neighbor means asking what will happen to this person if I don't reach out to them in love
- The way someone shows they know the love of Christ is by sacrifically loving others
- “Many people preach Christ; my aim will be to live Christ.” – Robert Chapman
Follow Through
1. How do we truly know the love of God from verse 16?
2. How do we know we have understood that love in verse 17?
3. Is it easier to talk about love we have for other believers or to put it into action (v. 18)?
4. How are we as a student ministry demonstrating the love of Christ?
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