Sunday, September 28, 2008
CHRISTIAN FREEDOM
FREEDOM IN CHRIST
John 8:21-37
INTRO: As Jesus continues His ministry, some seem to believe in Him. He encourages them to abide in His word to be really free. They question what He means about freedom. What is this freedom that He talks about?
THE SOURCE OF FREEDOM
It does not come from ancestry.
It does not come from being religious.
It does not come from being good.
It is from/through Jesus Christ. Then, now, and forever!
John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
IT IS FREEDOM FROM:
It is freedom from bondage to sin.
It is freedom from bondage to legalism.
It is freedom from bondage to tradition.
IT IS FREEDOM TO:
It is freedom to live out the will of God.
It is freedom to abide in His word.
It is freedom to sit at His feet. (Remember Mary.")
It is freedom to live under His authority.
In Jesus Christ we are free! But this freedom is not simply to do as we please, without regard to any regulations. We must be responsible in the freedom we have been given. Remember that the freedom we are talking about cost Jesus the pain of the cross. He has earned the right to be called Lord. Real freedom is to choose who is Lord in our life. Who is your Lord?
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While in the early chuch, there was a great danger of thinking of this freedom as a license to sin, perhaps the more danger today is not experiencing the blessings of the freedom that God wants to give us through Jesus Christ.
As we experience freedom through Jesus we owe allegience to Him as Lord. As such He wants to give us a full meaningful life. (John 10:10)
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Preached at Greenville Southern Baptist Church
September 28, 2008
Pastor Fred D. Kerr
Sunday, September 21, 2008
FAITH
Matt. 17:14-21; Mark 11:20-24
INTRO: In these passages, we find Jesus using "faith to move mountains" to teach the apostles and us. In the one we find the disciples inability to heal a demoniac. In the other we puzzle about the cursing of a barren fig tree. In both Jesus calls them to faith and promises the moving of mountains.
LET'S FIRST REFLECT ON THE ACCOUNTS
In Matthew we have the story of the powerlessness of the disciples over the demons. Jesus calls for prayer and fasting and then He talks about mustard seed faith moving mountains.
In Mark the setting is the Triumphant Entry, the Cleansing of the
LET'S CONSIDER SOME MOUNTAINS IN OUR LIFE
The fear of speaking out on Jesus' behalf
Trusting God in difficult places and situations
Waiting on God's timing.
ACTION STEPS
Recognize the problem
Call on God for help. He will be waiting.
Watch for God to be at work around you.
Expect Him to bring deliverance.
POWER FOR MOVEMENT
Zecharia 4:6, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord almighty." This is God's promise of the return of the Israelites return to
2 Timothy 1:7, "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of sound mind."
So the issue is faith and the source of power.
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by Fred Kerr, Greenville Southern Baptist Church
September 21, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
PRIVILEDGE BRINGS RESPONSITILITY!
I Peter 2: 4-12
INTRO: Peter talks about our being built into a spiritual house with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone. He quotes OT scriptures to show that Jesus was to be the chief cornerstone. He would also be a stumbling stone to those who reject Him. In contrast to those, Peter affirms several things about our position in Jesus:
We are A
Several passages talk about this. "Elect" is another term.
In Romans 8, Paul uses the term "predestined".
God chooses to save for Himself those who believe in Jesus.
We are A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
Priest had three functions:
Direct access to God
Represent people to God
Bring sacrifices to God
Each one of us can now do that.
We are a HOLY NATION
Holy = sacred, set aside, sanctified
We are set aside for God!
We are PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD
We are His family.
He takes responsibility for us.
All this brings blessings to us.
OUR PURPOSE
"to declare the praises of God
Who called us our of darkness
Into His wonderful light."
We must declare His praises.
By telling others about Him,
By living out the Christ life,
By servant ministry.
REMEMBER
OUR PRIVILEDGES BRING RESPONSIBILITY!
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Preached September 14, 2008
Greenville (CA) Southern Baptist Church
Pastor Fred D. Kerr
dialogue welcomed!
Sunday, September 07, 2008
FORGIVENESS
THREE DIMENSIONS OF FORGIVENESS
John 8:1-12
INTRO: Some say this passage does not belong here. Some say John could not have written it. Some say it is out of place, etc. But I hope you agree with me that it is the Word of God and God is capable of putting His word together and preserving it!
Instead of quibbling about its authenticity, let's rather seek the message it has for us.
On the surface it appears the Pharisees are just trying to uphold the Law of Moses. But John says they were trying to trap Jesus!
They have debated about who He is. His brothers have rejected Him. The crowds debate his heritage. The Pharisees reject Him and try to destroy Him.
In the midst of it all, we see some things about forgiveness:
FIRST WE SEE JESUS' COMPASSION (FORGIVENESS)
He is in control. His initial response is to ignore them.
Then He calls for their judgment. The one without sin
Jesus extends compassion (forgiveness) to the woman,
And tells her to sin no more!
THEN WE SEE THE ACCEPTANCE OF FORGIVENESS
The woman needed forgiveness and probably accepted it.
Forgiveness must be accepted.
John 3:16 "... whosoever believeth
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Romans 10:9: "if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
The Pharisees missed Jesus' offer of forgiveness.
FINALLY, WE SEE THE NEED TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER
Ephesians 4:32: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
The Pharisees knew only judgment. If they had accepted forgiveness, they might have been more forgiving.
The Lord's Prayers says, " forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." DO WE???
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Preached September 7, 2008, Greenville Southern Baptist Church
Pastor Fred D. Kerr
