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In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus diagnosed Christians in Laodicea as “lukewarm.” In light of the call of 2 Corinthians 13:5, our question is a practical one: what does lukewarm Christianity look like? Why is it dangerous? And if I’m struggling with a lukewarm mindset, how can I rise above it?

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In 1 Corinthians 6:18, the Spirit of God straightforwardly commands, “Flee from sexual immorality.”

Keep living and temptation will keep coming. What’s your plan for your next encounter?

This sermon is an encouragement to remember a simple acronym drawn from 1 Corinthians 6:18 — F.L.E.E.

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We recently noted that Titus 2:11-14 draws a Scriptural connection between the grace of God and the zeal God wants to see in his people.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Zeal is defined as “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.” In the Bible, zeal (zelos) is presented as a burning desire to please and glorify God.

The question brought up by this sermon is a very practical one: HOW? How do we build and maintain a spiritual fire for the Lord?

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Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. (2 Tim 4:9-11)

Demas and Mark are contrasts in failure. One example continues to provide words of warning; the other example, words of hope. As people who stumble in many ways (James 3:2), we need both.

This sermon explores what we can know about both men and emphasizes a powerful point: whatever your past failures, your trajectory can be changed at the foot of the cross.

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Titus 2:11-14 draws a Scriptural connection between the grace of God and the zeal God wants to see in his people.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Zeal is defined as “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.” In the Bible, zeal is presented as a burning desire to please and glorify God.

This sermon explores God’s revelation to mankind in an effort to understand zeal: what it is, where it comes from, and why it matters.

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Nothing in the universe matters more than knowing God. He has revealed himself in striking ways that call for complete realignment of our lives around him.

Jude 24-25 speaks to the IDENTITY of God

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

  • He is the eternal God — “before all time and now and forever.”
  • He is the absolute and exclusive God — “the only God.”
  • He is the saving God — “our Savior.”
  • He is the reconciling God — “Jesus Christ our Lord.”
  • He is the approachable God — “through.”
  • He is the caring God — “him who is able to keep you from stumbling.”
  • He is the sanctifying God — “to present you blameless before the presence of his glory.”
  • He is the fulfilling God — “with great joy.”
  • He is the exalted God — “be glory, majesty, dominion and authority.”

Romans 16:25-27 speaks to the ETERNAL PURPOSE of God

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Famous “last words” are a special form of quotation and perspective that fascinate many people. Have you ever considered the last words of Jesus and what we can learn from them?

Words from the Cross

  • Luke 23:33-34 — words of forgiveness that encapsulate his entire mission.
  • Luke 23:39-43 — words of assurance that there is more than meets the earthly eye.
  • John 19:25-27 — words of compassion that reveal his concern for his loved ones.
  • Matt 27:45-46 — words of anguish that convey the horrific consequences of sin.
  • John 19:28 — words of suffering that demonstrate his relatable humanity.
  • John 19:30 — words of victory that reflect the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose.
  • Luke 23:45-46 — words of submission in anticipation of a reunion with his Father.
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Our culture and its dialogue are absolutely immersed in two enormous lies.

  1. If you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must either hate them, fear them, or be intolerantly and irrationally prejudiced against them.
  2. If you love someone, you must agree with or silently tolerate everything they believe and do.

These are lies that disciples of Christ simply cannot afford to believe. Why?

  1. These lies fail to acknowledge the objective standard given by our Creator.
  2. These lies elevate our definition of happiness above God’s prescription for holiness.
  3. These lies distort the nature of God’s written revelation to mankind.

This sermon seeks to hold these increasingly common lies under the microscope of divine revelation.

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Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD. (Hos 6:3)

In 2 Peter, an inspired “servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1) shows us why our knowledge of God matters.

Grace and peace are multiplied to us in the knowledge of God and Jesus (1:2).

  • Vital God-breathed connections to knowledge in the Bible:
    • Acknowledging God’s existence and authority (Rom 1:28; Prov 1:7).
    • An indispensable compliment to zeal for God (Rom 10:1-3;  2 Tim 3:6-7)
    • Putting to death what is earthly and putting on what is godly (Col 3:5-17)
    • An escape from the defilements of the world (2 Pet 2:20)
    • Experiencing the unity of the faith and spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-16)
    • Manifestations of abounding love to the glory and praise of God (Phil 1:3-11)
  • In these real-life ways, grace and peace are multiplied to those who are of Christ.
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Little boys often pretend to be cowboys, policemen, or firemen. Little girls frequently pretend to be mothers, teachers, or princesses. Too often, we as adults are guilty of “playing God.”

  • God is omnipotent; I am not.
  • God is omniscient; I am not.
  • God is omnipresent; I am not.

I get myself in trouble when I act like I am. The good news? I don’t have to be omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent! I need to let God be God and fight to stay in my God-appointed place.

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