28
June
2009
9:9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!
Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!
Look! Your king is coming to you:
he is legitimate and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey –
on a young donkey, the foal of a female donkey.
9:10 I will remove the chariot from Ephraim
and the warhorse from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be removed.
Then he will announce peace to the nations.
His dominion will be from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
Zechariah 9:9-10 NET
Key Point: Despite our facing distress, we can have hope in the coming of Christ’s eternal Kingdom
Eschatology = “the last things”
Point where this world and the next collide
Bible = history of judgment and salvation
Double fulfilling prophecy:
2 give depth perception; OT & NT give faith perception
4 “R’s”
R__________
R__________
R__________
R__________
Revelation >> Relationship >> Resurrection >> Return
v. 9 Humility & Victory = God’s way
Justice = sign of Kingdom (not “just for us”) & Mercy
Common ground evangelism
v. 12 “Prisoners of Hope”
Philippians 2: 11
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Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons 
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22
June
2009
Key Point: We must place our confidence in God and not in human power.
Key Text: Nahum 1:7-9
1:7 The Lord is good –
indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress,
and he protects those who seek refuge in him.
1:8 But with an overwhelming flood
he will make a complete end of Nineveh;
he will drive his enemies into darkness.
Denunciation and Destruction of Nineveh
1:9 Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will completely destroy!
Distress will not arise a second time.
Stage of history filled with noisy “larger-than-life” figures and super power nations
Responding to global jihadism
7th century BC Assyria terrorized world
Nineveh = city that Nimrod built Genesis 10:11
Centrality of God = Biblical message of hope
v. 3 God’s Justice >> Judgment;
v. 7 Covenant >> Salvation
We pay too much attention to noise & size and miss God’s still, small voice working in quietness & prayer
Imagine the unimaginable!
Call to repent and believe = put God central/first; obey/trust
Nahum = “comforter” gives confidence
Where are we in trouble?
RUN to Jesus!
Pray for the world
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14
June
2009
1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:9
Key Point: Following God’s Word is essential to Christ-like living
If we had it to do all over again, what would we do differently?
In what ways have our view of Scripture changed?
Fundamental crisis in many denominations = Authority
Bible under attack – even by evangelicals!
Different evangelical approaches:
-
Key = Trust! Theology/Ideology vs. Trustworthy Text
Evidence for the reliability of the Bible
Evidence for Message of 2 John - Truth & Love combat False Teachings and Self-centered Arrogance
Don’t tolerate humanly defined “tainted truth”
Speak the truth in love
Don’t run ahead of God!
Hold fast to incarnate Christ!
Love obediently!
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7
June
2009
3:30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who hits him;
let him have his fill of insults.
כ (Kaf)
3:31 For the Lord will not
reject us forever.
3:32 Though he causes us grief, he then has compassion on us
according to the abundance of his loyal kindness.
3:33 For he is not predisposed to afflict
or to grieve people.
Lamentations 3:30-33
Key Point: God can bring ultimate love (= real good) out of sorrow – if we trust Him!
Great mystery of faith = why/how do committed people suffer?
Faith = Living Life From God’s Perspective - Under God’s Sovereign Control
Suffering = Accepting God’s Moral Laws - Living By God’s Unmerited Grace
How Do We Discover Meaning In Suffering?
How Do We Comfort Others Through Our Comfort? 2C 1:3-7
3 WRONG Responses (even with right motives) to grieving friends:
- God wanted the presence of our loved ones in heaven
- God wanted to spare them from future pain
- God wanted to use them to bring about a greater good
Where/How do We Need To Repent?
Spiritual pride = living MY way
Where/How do we Need To Submit?
Spiritual maturity = fully devoted (despite evil)
God Promises His Loving Presence - By Faith Despite Our Suffering
The Holy Spirit Can Give Us A “Peace That Passes Understanding” (Phil 4:7)
God Promises The Ultimate Victory Over Sin, Evil, Death, satan - Through Christ!
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31
May
2009
1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 27- 13:1
Key Point: God can use our natural talents and experiences to make an eternal difference if we are committed to growing as fully devoted disciples and to using our special spiritual gifts as a congregation
Imagine what Saul/Paul’s mother thought of her son?
Idiopathic = no known origin
Iatrogenic = healer – origin (doctor caused)
Eusebeigenic = righteous – origin (sin of good people)
Talents vs. gifts? WHO?
Who benefits? Who gets credit? Who “owns” them?
God uses all/both talents/experience & special spiritual gifts
What are our talents?
What are our special spiritual gifts?
Spiritual Gifts: given by grace for the sake of others – grace comes TO us in order to pass THROUGH us to others
Unity = sign of the Body of Christ working in mission = love
How will we exercise them for the Kingdom?
Misuse; Abuse; Use = yield to Jesus’ Spirit
Outcome? Healthy, missional growth!
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