Sunday, November 23, 2008

THANKSGIVING

 

Thanksgiving – Thanks living

Hebrews 13:12-21

INTRO: "Sacrifice of praise" in verse 15 is the take off for our Thanksgiving message. In these final verses of the letter, the writer seems to sum up what the Christian life should be.

SEPARATION (vs. 13-14)

   "Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp."

   This reminds us that we are to be separate – different!

   We are not citizens here!

SACRIFICE OF PRAISE (15-16)

   Fruit of lips that confess His name,

   Doing good,

   Sharing

SUBMISSIVE (17)

   Submit to God through leaders.

   Find mentor or two who will lead and encourage.

SUPPLICATION (18-19)

   Pray for leaders and others.

   Paul asked for prayer for boldness (Eph. 6:18)

   This gets our focus off self.

SUPPORTED BY GOD OF PEACE (20-21)

   In every good thing do His will.

   Pleasing in His sight

   Through Jesus Christ

   To whom be glory forever!!

SUMMARY: When we reflect on what God has done for us through Jesus Christ, we will want to be submitted to Him. This will lead us into a life of Thanksgiving that will set us apart from the world.

   Remember though that it is God at work in us. It is because of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ that we have life, we can serve Him, and we can be thankful.

==============

Delivered November 23, 2008 at Greenville Southern Baptist Church

Pastor Fred D. Kerr

fred.kerr@gmail.com

 


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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Great Sustainer

In Hebrews 1:1-4 we have some comforting reminders:
 
Formerly God spoke through the prophets.
Now He has spoken through His SON.
The SON:
    has been appointed HEIR of all things.
    through Him God MADE the universe.
    He is the RADIANCE of God's glory.
    He is the exact expression of God's nature.
    He SUSTAINS all things by His powerful word.
    He made purification for sins.
        Then, He saT down at the right hand of God on high.
            So He became higher in rank than the angels.
            He inheirited a name superior to the angels.
 
Since Jesus is God's Son who created us and sustains all things, why do we worry so much? We need to remembr that God is soverign in His universe, which includes this planet called Earth. He knows what is happening and has a great plan for each of His creatures. We have only to let Him work out His plan in our lives!!!!
 

// posted by Pastor Fred @ 2:35 PM 0 comments

Sunday, November 09, 2008

God's Word Understands Me!

 

A BOOK THAT UNDERSTANDS ME

Psalm 19: 7-11

INTRO: A young Frenchman entered WWI as a Naturalist, having no room for God. During long nights in foxholes, he often yearned for a book that understood him. After the war he returned to college and decided to make his own book. He copied quotes from many authors as he studied. But when it was finished he realized that it would not work because he had made it.  That very day his wife came home with a forbidden Bible. He grabbed it and ran to his study. He happened to open it to the Beatitudes. He read and read and read into the night. All of a sudden he realized that this was the book he had been searching for. He prayed to the God of the book and found what he had searched for.

   Many passages could tell us about this book, but let's look at this Psalm.

WHAT IS THIS BOOK?

   Law of the Lord (Instruction)

   Statutes of the Lord (Testimony)

   Precepts of the Lord

   Commands

   Fear of the Lord

   Ordinances of the Lord

HOW IS IT DESCRIBED?

   It is perfect  …..  trustworthy … right  …  radiant

   It is pure   …   sure (reliable) …  righteous

WHAT DOES IT DO?

   Revives the soul

   Makes wise the inexperienced

   Gives joy to the heart

   Gives light to the eyes

   Endures forever

   Warns Gods servants

WHAT DOES IT PROMISE?

   Great reward to those who keep it

===========================

Presented November 9, 2008

Greenville Southern Baptist Church

Pastor Fred D. Kerr

fred.kerr@gmail.com

 


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Friday, November 07, 2008

BE A BLESSING!

    In Genesis, chapter 12 we read of the call of Abram to leave home and become the first of a great People of God. He was promised a blessing.
   Verse 5 ends with, "and all the peoples on earth
                                will be blessed through you."
   The Israelites were to be channels of God's blessings to the whole world. They missed that part of their calling, but God was still in charge and sent Jesus to born as one of them and through Jesus all nations are to be blessed.
    God's people (Jews and Christians) are still to be channels of blessings to a lost world. So God's command today is still:
                                BE A BLESSING!
        BE THE CHANNEL OF GOD'S BLESSINGS!

// posted by Pastor Fred @ 9:37 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

CHOOSE JOY!

 

REJOICING FAITH

Romans 5:1-11

INTRO: In this passage the word "rejoice" appears 3 times, in verses 2, 3, & 11. This joy we are to have is possible because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Let's consider the various ways we are to rejoice.

 

REJOICE IN YOUR PRESENT POSITION (1-2)

   Justified by faith

   Peace with God through Jesus

   Access by faith into this grace in which we stand

 

REJOICE IN YOUR FUTURE PROSPECTS (2)

   Rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Heb. 6:19-20)

 

REJOICE IN YOUR PERSONAL PROBLEMS (3-5)

   Problems produce perseverance

   Perseverance produces proven character

   Proven character produces hope

   Hope does not disappoint.

 

REJOICE IN YOUR SPIRITUAL POSSESSIONS (6-10)

   Without Christ we were powerless.

   In Christ we are justified by His blood

       We are saved from Gods wrath through Jesus

       We shall be saved by His life. (Abundant life now.)

 

REJOICE IN GOD'S PERSON (11)

   We have been rejoicing because of what God has done.

   Now we are called to rejoice in Him for who He is.

 

REMEMBER: We have these joys because of faith in Jesus Christ. There is a contrast between the hopelessness without Christ and the joy we have through faith in Him. 

======================================

Greenville Southern Baptist Church, November 2, 2008

Pastor Fred D. Kerr

fred.kerr@gmail.com

    


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