United In Christ · Growing In Grace · Reaching Out In Love

Sunday Morning Sermon Summary

Note to the visitor:  These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.  They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the service.  Feel free to contact Pastor Paul if you’d like more detailed information.
For past sermons, please visit the Sermon Archive. 

►“Rest Stops”

1 John  3:10-15

Sunday, June 21, 2009

The issue is belief that saves vs. the kind of belief the “devils have and tremble.”

We’re on a journey. We need to know that the direction we take will get us where we want to go.

►HOW DO I KNOW I’M SAVED AND GOING TO HEAVEN?

            3 TESTS: Belief, Behavior, Brotherhood

Three legs to the trip: Belief, Behavior and Brotherhood (first and second nights of our trip to Washington – we weren’t there until the third night; Carden and Dee: 3 stops in Italy and Croatia; the goal is Slovenia – Kocevje, not Ljubljana)

►Test of Belief (involves the answer to 3 QUESTIONS: from, by, for)

►Test of Behavior: ►Can I say I believe something that hasn’t changed me?

►Test of Brotherhood: ►Can I say I believe something with which I’m not intimately connected?

►(alt) Can I say I believe in someone if I’m not intimately connected to what matters to Him?

What are my relationships (in here and out there?)?  How deep are they? What do we have in common with each other? The world?

►1 John 3:10-15 This is how we know who the children of God are  (it’s how you can tell) who the children of the devil are: (Rest for a while and reflect on where we’re going and whether we’re on the right road)

►Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God (behavior);

►nor is anyone who does not love his brother (brotherhood). This is the message you heard from the beginning (Sermon on the Mount): We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

►We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

►Matthew 5:13  "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. (Christian to Unbeliever)

►Matthew 5:44-45 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. (Christian to Unbeliever)

►Mark 9:50  "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." (Christian to Christian)

Take a moment to reflect: BELIEF, THEN BEHAVIOR AND BROTHERHOOD

►1)     Love needs to be VISIBLE; that they have salt in themselves, a living principle of grace in their hearts, which works out all corrupt dispositions, and every thing in the soul that tends to putrefaction, and would offend our God, or our own consciences, as unsavoury meat doth.

TAKE STOCK OF OUR BEHAVIOR AND BROTHERHOOD

ILLUSTRATION: sort of like a TB test – it’s readable

►2)     Love needs to be AUDIBLE, that no corrupt communication may proceed out of our mouth, but we may loathe it as much as we would to put putrid meat into our mouths.

As this gracious salt will keep our own consciences void of offence, so it will keep our conversation with others so, that we may not offend any of Christ's little ones, but may be at peace one with another.

An evidence is our language (“void of offense”)  seasoned with grace

      Evil of the tongue (James)

      “Speak the truth in love…” (Paul)

      “If you speak… serve…” (Peter)

►3)  Love needs to be SUSTAINABLE; for if this salt lose its saltiness, if a Christian revolt from his Christianity, if he loses the savour of it, and be no longer under the power and influence of it, what can recover him, or wherewith will ye season him?

YOU:  “Show the love of Jesus in a tangible way.” (Literally a cup of cold water)

►Mark 9:41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. (REWARDS: Christian to Christian)

Our chief concern on the road is to present ourselves living sacrifices to the grace of God ►(Romans 12:1), and, in order to our acceptableness (what rest stops do), we must be seasoned with salt, our corrupt affections must be subdued and mortified, and we must have in our souls a savour of grace.

Romans 12:9-21 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:  If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 1 John 3:10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right (behavior) is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother (brotherhood).

►Platinum Rule ►Titanium Rule: (Just Show Up!) (Character Counts)

Would you really lay down your life?  It’s the kind of love that saves

►“Our secular pursuits have more kingdom potential than our religious ones.  It’s in the realm of secular pursuits that secular people are watching.” (Andy Stanley)

(Family Matters)

Legend:

Green: Mission and Vision
Blue: Illustrations and quotes
Red: Scripture

Note to the visitor:  These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.  They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the service.  Feel free to contact Pastor Paul if you’d like more detailed information.
For past sermons, please visit the Sermon Archive. 

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