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My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Aug 15^th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided to help you follow the sermon as you listen each week. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook at TBC Facebook We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon at TBC Youtube Channel

Hebrews 4:11–13

INTRO THOUGHTS

• We continue our series on “How be the people/church of the living God”
• The foundational truths that should motivate and guide us.
• Today we take a second look at the greatness of God’s Word
• The background of this passage is Psalm 95

On the front end we see the concept of entering the rest.  On the back end we see that all of life is open and bare before the Lord. Tucked in the middle is the KEY!

The Invitation to Enter the Rest – v.11

Strive to enter the rest

• The opposite of striving is drifting
• Rest – the promise land. In Psalm 95 it refers to the presence of God. In the NT it points to the new life in Christ (Our Salvation)

So that one may not fall

• Due to disobedience

The first generation that came out of Egypt were drifters.  They FELL.  Perished in the wilderness

• The Israelites refused to trust in and obey God.
• They stood at the brink of the promise land and would not go.
• They were afraid, they thought they would be defeated.  They looked at the world/circumstances and would not trust the Word of God.
• They failed to act in faith (live out) God’s Word

May it not be that same for us today.  May we understand how great a gift the Word of God is for us today.  May we truly embrace the greatness of God’s Word.

The Word is Living and Active

• Inspired – God breathed 2 Tim. 3:16-17
• Powerful – Romans 1:16
• Effective – Isaiah 55:11
  • Does exactly what it is supposed to do.
• Sufficient – It is enough.

The Word is Sharp and Piercing

• Short dagger. Very sharp!
• Two edged
  • Judges and Sanctifies
• Pointed and Penetrating.
• Goes right through.
• Soul and Spirit – The inner man
• WORD WITHIN US
  • Not just having the WORD BUT HAVING THE WORD WITHIN US

The Word is Discerning

Discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart

• Judges, sifts, and analyzes
• Heart – Who we really are. Our motives and attitudes

CONCLUSION

Take Heed to the Invitation – v. 13

No creature is hidden from His sight

• God is all knowing (Omniscient)
• All God’s thoughts and actions are perfectly informed by perfect knowledge (ESV Study Bible)

WHAT A GREAT REMINDER.  WE ARE BARE BEFORE THE LORD.

• He knows our heart
• He sent His son
• He forgives
• WILL WE BELIEVE AND TRUST AND FOLLOW

My teaching notes for Wednesday night, Aug. 11^th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the teaching.

https://youtu.be/4UKIeYsaGlc

Philippians 1:1-2

INTRO THOUGHTS

• Written by Paul around AD. 60 to the church in Philippi while in a Roman prison. (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)
• Paul came to Philippi on his second missionary journey (the Macedonian call Acts 16)
• Lydia was the first convert
• Paul and Silas arrested…Philippian jailer
• Theme of the letter – Unity and Joy in Christ
• The first couple of verses teaches us much about the people of this special church.
  • And much about who we are IN CHRIST TODAY

Bondservants

We are a servant/slave ….to whom….to Jesus Christ.

Col. 3:23 – Do all things heartily as to the Lord, not to men.

(How do we do everything heartily… we do so because it is done out of joy and purpose)

John 12:26 – If anyone serves me let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. (WE MUST LOSE to GAIN)

• We do all because we are His
• We will have His presence and His blessings
• Bondservant – Permanent, Total, Willingly, Obedience

Saints

We are set-apart and special.  WE ARE HOLY.  Holy means different not odd or weird different.  We are different not by what we can do but rather by what He has done and who we are.

Key to being a saint is in understanding the word SANCTIFICATION

Salvation process/overview

• Justification deals with our legal standing before God.
• Sanctification is living the life out.
• Glorification is our eternal heavenly life.

Initially at salvation

• Titus 3:5 – We have been washed, regenerated, and renewed in the Spirit.
• God’s Part

Progressively throughout life

• 1 Tim. 4:7 – “Discipline yourselves for the purpose of Godliness.”
• Continuous through out life…on-going
• Not perfected in this life
• Our Part
  • Bible study, prayer, fellowship, worship, witnessing, serving

A Family

• The church is a specific place and people-Church is not a state of mind, a place in the woods or golf course.  A New Testament church has a specific location. 

• The church was established and set up to help us live the Christian life out (to help us become a better servant and saint)
  • It provides a FAMILY
    • Protection
    • Food
    • Guidance
    • Encouragement
    • Restoration

The key is Grace & Peace

It takes the grace of God for us to receive the peace of life.

• We can have a loving master
• We can be a special people
• We can have a place to live our life out

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Aug 8^th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon.  They are provided to help you follow the sermon as you listen each week. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook at TBC Facebook We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon at TBC Youtube Channel

Scripture – The Greatness Of God’s Word

Being the Church of the Living God. 1 Timothy 3:15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

Intro Thoughts

• We are…the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD
• That is something to be excited about.  We are His people, with a real purpose.
• Therefore we should be a passionate people about who we are and what God is calling us to do.
• The things that stir and drive our passions… THE GREATNESS OF GOD’S WORD

First Things First…Laying a foundation for the Greatness of God’s Word

God Has Faithfully Spoken to His People

God spoke through decrees

A decree of God is a word of God that causes something to happen

• Gen. 1:3 – “And God said, let there be light.”
• Gen. 1:24 – “And God said, let the earth bring forth living creatures.”
• Psalms 33:6 – “By the word of God the heavens were made”

God spoke through the prophets

God spoke to man through the prophets.  To disbelieve or disobey any of the words of the prophets was to disbelieve and disobey God.  Anyone who claimed to be speaking for Him, but was not was severely punished. (Ezek. 13:1-7, Deut. 10:20-22.)

Deut. 18:18-20 – “I will put my words in his mouth….”

Jer. 1:9 – “I have put my word in your mouth.”

God spoke through Jesus Christ

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (ESV)

John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Rev. 19:13 – [11] Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. (ESV)

Word

• Greek Philosophy – The meaning of life, human reasoning, wisdom
• OT – God’s powerful self-expression in creation. The wisdom, revelation, and salvation from God ( John MacArthur)
• THE WORD = The meaning of life. The human reasoning sought after man is only found in CHRIST.

In Christ we have seen THE GLORY OF GOD

• God’s character
• God’s truth
• God’s will

God SPEAKS THROUGH HOLY SCRIPTURE

• The Holy Spirit inspired the writing.
• The Spirit empowered man to write God’s Word.

There is a progressive nature of how God has spoken in redemptive history

1. Decrees
2. Prophets
3. Jesus
4. The Bible

God’s Written Word

• Ex. 31:18 “Written with the finger of God”

In the New Testament Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance the words which, He had spoken.

• John 14:25–26 – [25] “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. [26] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (ESV)

• John 16:12–14 – [12] “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. [14] He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (ESV)

Key Verses

• Psalm 19:7-11
• 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (I recently preached this text)
  • https://pastorjonbeck.com/2021/07/03/2-timothy-316-17-all-scripture-is-breathed-out-by-god/

What makes God’s Word So Great (Key Words – next week)

Authority – The Bible is God’s authoritative Word.

Infallibility – God’s word is without error.

Clarity – We can understand the Bible.

Necessity – The Bible is necessary for salvation and spiritual growth.

Sufficiency – The Word of God gives us all we need to live out the Christian life.

• Search Scripture for answers.
• Do not add to Scripture.
• Do not count outside guidance equal to Scripture.
• God has given us all He wants us to know and all we need to know.

CONCLUSION:

The Foundation of all WE NEED has been given to us by God.  Through the PERFECT WORD WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL….

• Our Salvation
• Our Sanctification

2 Peter 1:3–4 – [3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (ESV)

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Aug 1^st. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon.  They are provided to help you follow the sermon as you listen each week. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:45 on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/firstbaptistavonpark/  We also provide the services through YouTube on our website by Sunday afternoon at www.fbcap.net

2 Timothy 4:9–22

INTRO

• Looking at the lives of these individuals should teach us many things.
• The importance of the body of Christ
• The idea of each one doing their part for the Kingdom
• The importance of one another
  • All are called but not all are called to do the same thing
• Faithfulness to Christ and the Gospel is the key to finishing faithful.
• Living a legacy life… impacting others as we live for the Lord

Timothy

Come to me soon. 

• True child in the faith 1 Tim. 1:2
• Beloved child. 2 Tim. 1:2
• A man of sincere faith. 1 Tim. 1:5
• Close companion and worker with Paul
• Loved serving the Lord and His Church. 1 Cor.4:17, Phil 2:19
• Eventually imprisoned himself Heb. 13:23

Demas

• Was a fellow worker. Col. 4:14, Philemon 24
• Deserted Paul
• Loved the world
• Did not finish faithfully

Crescens

• Sent by Paul to Galatia
• Faithful and willing to go

Titus

• Longtime faithful companion to Paul.
• Pastor/Elder in Crete Titus 1:5
• Servant of God. Titus 1:1
• Sent to Dalmatia (modern Yugoslavia

Luke

• the beloved physician. Col. 4:14
• Longtime companion of Paul (SO FAITHFUL TO HIM AND THE WORK)
• Author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts

Mark

• Cousin of Barnabas
• Partner with Paul on 1^st journey. Acts 13
• Due to some issues was not allowed to go on 2^nd journey. Acts 15
• Yet here is considered “useful for ministry”
• A great example of maturing in the faith and finishing well!
• Learn from mistakes.  Never give up.  PRESS ON!

Tychicus

• From Asia. Acts 20
• With Paul in 1^st imprisonment. Eph 6:21, Col. 4:7
• Sent to Crete to relieve Titus. Titus 3:12
• Now sent to Ephesus to relieve Timothy
• Faithful, willing and able to replace others.  (Replacements may not get the glory)

Carpus

• Keeper of Paul’s cloak and books.
• A trustworthy servant

Alexander

• Did great harm to Paul and his ministry
• Opposed the message

Prisca and Aquila

• Husband and wife team
• Assisted Paul often Acts 18. Rom. 16, 1 Cor. 16:19

Onesiphorus

• Refreshed Paul and not ashamed of his chains. 2 Tim. 1:16

Erastus

• Could be the city treasure in Corinth. Rom. 16:23

Trophimus

• Friend of Tychicus. Acts 20
• From Ephesus. Acts 21
• With Paul when riot erupted. In Jerusalem. Acts 21

Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia

• Unknown to us, but faithful to the Lord

Paul

• Is at the end of his ministry and is lonely, cold, and without his possessions.
• This is not the picture of success and ending well…or is it?
• YES IT IS, BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT WHO HE WAS IN CHRIST IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

THE LORD… THE LORD… HIM BE GLORY FOREVER

CONCLUSION

A list of names recorded in history.

How would your name fit on this list?

MAY WE LIVE AND FINISH AS ONE OF FAITHFULNESS!

2 Timothy 4:6–8 – ⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (ESV)

PAUL’S LAST RECORDED WORDS

²² The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.