Last week at Laurel Canyon, Don Wright presented a special series of lessons on Overcoming Adversity. Resources from each sermon are available below.
PART 1 – Understanding Why
PART 2 – Anchors for the Storms of Life
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- Edwin Crozier reveals his #1 struggle: “I don’t really want forgiveness.” Powerful article. Continue Reading...
Before Birth, Dad’s ID, The New York Times (6/20/12)
It is an uncomfortable question that, in today’s world, is often asked by expectant mothers who had more than one male partner at the time they became pregnant. Who is the father?
With more than half of births to women under 30 now out of wedlock, it is a question that may arise more often.
Now blood tests are becoming available that can determine paternity as early as the eighth or ninth week of pregnancy, without an invasive procedure that could cause a miscarriage.
Besides relieving anxiety, the test results might allow women to terminate a pregnancy if the preferred man is not the father — or to continue it if he is.
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Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (Heb 2:1)
Scripture plainly indicates the possibility of churches conducting themselves in such a way that the Lord disowns them (Rev 2:4-5). This sermon considers five distinct changes congregations experience along the drift to unfaithfulness.
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There are frequent mentions of Mormonism in the national, political and cultural news. But what exactly is Mormonism?
Christians are given a clear charge and warning in 1 John 4:1.
Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This sermon provides a brief survey of Mormon history and evaluates seven distinctive points of Mormon doctrine (view of history, man, God, Christ, atonement, salvation, and revelation).
Thousands of years ago, God’s people were encouraged to evaluate the accuracy of one who would claim to prophetically speak in the name of the Lord (Deut 18:20-22). And so this sermon asks:
- Do the doctrines of Mormonism harmonize with God-revealed Scripture?
- Have Mormon prophecies come to pass?
Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits…
For more sermons, visit the Sermons archive.
Engage (verb) — to involve oneself in or commit to something; to pledge oneself; to assume an obligation or responsibility; to enter into conflict.
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2)
Having discerned God’s will for our lives, adopted God’s way of thinking as our own, experienced the renewal that is available by casting off the old man of sin and clothing ourselves with Christ, our responsibility for the rest of our lives is straightforward—engage the world around us as living representations of the will of Christ, for the glory of God.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice… (Romans 12:1)
I love Romans 12 because the Spirit does more than simply say, “Be living sacrifices.” He moves from the straightforward divine expectation to the realm of clear practical application. What does a living sacrifice look like? What is the face of transformed engagement?
- Let love be genuine (12:9).
- Abhor what is evil (12:9).
- Hold fast to what is good (12:9).
- Love one another with brotherly affection (12:10).
- Outdo one another in showing honor (12:10).
- Do not be slothful in zeal (12:11).
- Be fervent in spirit (12:11).
- Serve the Lord (12:11).
- Rejoice in hope (12:12).
- Be patient in tribulation (12:12).
- Be constant in prayer (12:12).
- Contribute to the needs of the saints (12:13).
- Seek to show hospitality (12:13).
- Bless those who persecute you (12:14).
- Rejoice with those who rejoice (12:15).
- Weep with those who weep (12:15).
- Live in harmony with one another (12:16).
- Do not be haughty (12:16).
- Associate with the lowly (12:16).
- Never be wise in your own sight (12:16).
- Repay no one evil for evil (12:17).
- Give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all (12:17).
- So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (12:18).
- Never avenge yourselves (12:19).
- If your enemy is in need, provide for them (12:20).
- Do not be overcome by evil; overcome evil with good (12:21).
Know God. Love God. Show God.
Know God with your head. Love God with your heart. Show God with your actions.
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Don’t just acknowledge that Christ has a will; involve yourself in it. Commit yourself—heart, soul, body and strength—to be a living representation of the good news of Jesus. Pledge your wholehearted allegiance to the King whose kingdom is not of this world. Enter into holy conflict for the joy of others and the fame of God’s name.
Engage the world around you today as a living sacrifice.
Renew (verb) — to begin or take up again; to restore to a former state; to replenish, revive or reestablish; to make new.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, I have been given a fresh start.
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27)
God has made me new. Having discovered God’s will for my life and adopted his way of thinking as my own, I find that my perspective has changed. By his grace and mercy, I have been renewed. The old sinful self is put off.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. (Galatians 2:20a)
A new self has been put on.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20b).
Now, the crucifixion of my old self of sin must translate into practical transformation of conduct.
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24)
Christians of the first century needed ongoing encouragement, and so do Christians of the twenty-first century.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5-10)
In the interest of growth and maturity, with the goal of transformation into the image of your Creator, take some honest inventory today.
- What “old self” practices am I continuing to selfishly gratify?
- What aspects of discipleship have I been leaving undone?
- Where am I slipping into unholy conformity with the world?
- Where are the battle fronts of spiritual warfare in my own life?
- What areas of my daily life need specific attention in 2011?
- If 2010 was more like a desert than an oasis, how much of that has to do with my allowing the old self of sin to remain in control?
Adopt (verb) — to choose or take as one’s own; to make one’s own by selection or assent; to choose and follow; to take on; to assume for oneself; to accept and put into effect.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)
It’s one thing to discover God’s will for my life. It’s quite another thing to personally apply what I’ve learned. The second step to genuine transformation is to adopt God’s way of thinking as my own.
Have you made that choice? The choice to follow, to assume for yourself, to accept and put into effect?
In John 6, Jesus delivers a “hard saying.” One day after feeding the five thousand on the shores of Galilee, Jesus rebukes the crowd. ”Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (John 6:26). He declares himself to be “the bread of life” (6:35), speaks of raising people “on the last day” (6:44), claims to have “come down from heaven” (6:51), and draws a line in the sand between those who are willing to “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” and those who are not (6:52-58).
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69)
Transformation is not a spectator sport. Transformation does not come as a result of “going to church.” Real transformation doesn’t rub off on me as a result of having parents, a spouse, or friends who follow Jesus. Transformation is not the fruit of simply hanging around Jesus, especially when I want something from him.
- Transformation begins with a posture of desperation. ”Lord, to whom shall we go?”
- Transformation demands discernment. ”What is God’s will for my life?”
- Transformation requires adoption. The choice to make my faith my own. The personal choice to follow, wherever the Savior I so desperately need leads.
Seek the things that are above today. That’s where Christ is. You know what it means to “set” something. You set your DVR yesterday and your alarm clock last night. Set your mind on things that are above today, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Think like Jesus today. Love people like Jesus loved people today. Be committed to holiness like Jesus was committed to holiness today. Wholeheartedly adopt and live for the will of the Father today. Like Jesus.
Discern (verb) — to perceive by the sight or some other sense; to recognize or apprehend; to distinguish mentally; to recognize the true value of a thing or opportunity.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)
If the personal transformation of Romans 12:1-2 is to become a reality for your joy and God’s glory in 2011, you must exercise discernment. You must consistently and eagerly ask the question, “What is God’s will for my life?” God’s written revelation to mankind, the Bible, is your compass. God is your true north—your focal point—and your destination.
As you experience the variations and intricacies of the day, your task is to recognize. Apprehend. Distinguish mentally. To recognize the true value of a thing or opportunity. Your task is to discern—to test what you encounter with the guiding power of the living and active word of God (Hebrews 4:12).
- Temptations will come, but test their deceptive value with the promised cost of indulgence (James 1:13-15).
- Trials will come, but test their severity with what King Jesus has already endured for your sake (Hebrews 12:3-4).
- Distractions will come, but test their true worth with the value of the eternal kingdom and your calling (Matthew 6:33).
- Opportunities will come, but test their potential with a clear recognition of the brevity of earthly life (James 4:13-15).
- Good things will come, but test your allegiance to them so that you do not treasure the gift as more precious than the Giver (James 1:17).
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
Exercise your God-given power of discernment today. What is God’s will for your life? Where and when are the opportunities in 2011 to study and grow in your grasp of God’s Word? If you live in the Columbus, Ohio area, we would love to study and grow together with you in 2011 at Laurel Canyon.
Let’s walk carefully today. Not in aimlessness but in wisdom. Let’s make the best use of our time. The days are evil. Don’t live like a fool today. Understand what the will of the Lord is for your life.
Proverbs 10:25 is the inspiration for today’s meditation.
It may be that you didn’t get much sleep last night. Why? You’re living in the midst of a tempest. It’s possible that a terrible storm is on the horizon of your life, and you don’t even know it. Or, perhaps you’re a seasoned veteran of the strong winds and frightening waves of life, and you’ve lived to tell about it.
Whomever you are, take a moment to commit the wise statement above to memory. Do your best to reflect on it throughout the day. Above all, remember that God has not promised a tempest-free existence. What He has promised is that if you welcome Him into the boat of your life, the tempest will eventually pass, and peace in Him will reign.
