Category: Christ
Subject: Christ
Advocacy & Propitiation
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).
John’s words reveal two different (though connected) blessings we have as believers in Jesus Christ. And, as we will later emphasize, these blessings are only available to those who are believers in Him (cf. John 14:6). Having said that, the terms used by John are challenging, and need to be explained to those who are not familiar with the language of scripture.
Sermon: The Good Fight of Faith
In order to fight the good fight of faith (cf. 1 Timothy 6:6), we must first identify the enemy, and second utilize all of the help and weapons at our disposal.
The Patternists: Christ as Savior, but not Lord?
The apostle Peter proclaimed at the climax of his sermon on Pentecost, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
Unanimously, those who purport faith in Jesus trumpet Him as their Christ. He is the anointed of God, the Savior of mankind. They claim a “personal relationship” with Him, and give Him credit for securing the forgiveness of their sins, and their relationship with God the Father. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6), and they believe it.
Much less common is the willingness to accept the Lordship of Jesus. The greek word translated “Lord” (kurios) denotes authority. The question Jesus asked of His listeners 2000 years ago is relevant today, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Many who claim Jesus to be the anointed of God routinely disregard His will for them in matters of worship, work, morality and relationships. In so doing, they show their claim that Jesus is their personal Savior is fraudulent.
Simply put, you can’t accept Jesus as your Christ unless you accept Him as your Lord! Do His will!
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Sermon: The Mind of Christ
Sermon by Brantley Gallman
The text of Philippians 2:1-11 to explain what it means to have the mind of Christ.
Sermon: The Christ Entering Jerusalem
The events of John 12 are discussed, with a special emphasis on the part Lazarus’ resurrection played in amassing the great crowd of worshippers as Jesus entered Jerusalem.
Invitation: Salvation by the Hem of His Garment
Invitation delivered by: Brantley Gallman
In Luke 8:43-48, the account of divine healing of a woman teaches us a wonderful lesson concerning the Power of Jesus. First to heal, but also to save the souls of men!
Mining the Scriptures: John 1:15-18
In the previous verse, the apostle John affirmed that Jesus, the Word, came to earth and lived among us. He now states that John the Baptist testified that Jesus is indeed the Son of God (cf. vs. 34).
John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus, prophesied about in Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” (vs. 23). His ministry heralded the coming of the Christ.
The apostle now affirms that we have received the unmerited favor of God in the sending of that Christ, Jesus (16). Just as Moses was the means through which God gave Israel His law, Jesus is the means through which God grants salvation by Grace (17). It is through Jesus that God is manifested to man. Without Jesus, we can not know God. With Him, all things are made clear, including His plans for our redemption.
Invitation: The Judgment Seat
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In numerous places in scripture, there are references to a Judgment Seat. Pilate sat on one (John 19), as did Gallio (Acts 18). Paul reveals that one day Jesus will sit on the Judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:9-11), so we should aim to please Him!
Sermon: Spring 2015 Meeting Sermons – Heath Rogers
Below are the links to the audio and powerpoint presentations from Heath Rogers, who held a meeting at the West Side church on May 9-14, 2015.
Lesson 1: “Whom Are You Seeking?”
Lesson 2: Help in Times of Trouble
Lesson 3: Lessons from Hezekiah’s Prayer
Lesson 4: Making Evangelism a Priority
Lesson 5: The Grace of God
Lesson 6: Mediocrity
Lesson 7: A Man After God’s Own Heart
Lesson 8: Can We Understand the Bible Alike?
Lesson 9: The Second Coming of Christ
Invitation delivered by: Stan CoxSermon: It was God’s will that Christ Die
An exegetical lesson covering the material in Hebrews 10:1-10. Animal sacrifices were not sufficient to take away sins, so God sent His son as a perfect and effectual sacrifice.
Mining the Scriptures: Matthew 2:1-6
Our text describes a group of men called “magi,” or wise men, from the east who had observed astronomically a sign which led them to believe the King of the Jews had been born. We can only speculate concerning the nature of that star. It is evident that the sign convinced both these wise men and Herod the Great that the promised Messiah had come.
Herod was a usurper of the throne of Judah, and no doubt this event caused him great anxiety. He was “troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (3). This was the first, but not the last time that the Savior would experience the opposition of men who were more concerned with their status than with the truth.
The place of Jesus’ birth was predicted by Micah (5:2). It was Bethlehem of Judea, the home town of Jesus’ earthly father Joseph. Herod’s inquiry of the scribes was for the purpose of locating and killing the child he perceived to be his rival (cf. 2:13).
Mining the Scriptures: Revelation 4:1-8
In his salutation to the seven churches of Asia, identified by name in chapters 2 & 3, he pronounces blessings upon them from the Father “Him who is and who was and who is to come”, the Holy Spirit “the seven Spirits who are before His throne”, and the Son “the firstborn from the dead.”
(Note: some believe the phrase “seven Spirits” refers to the spirits of the seven churches, but it seems the context is referring to each person of the Godhead, in turn. As such, the number seven would have symbolic significance as a reference to the Holy Spirit).
Regardless, John affirms Jesus as our Lord and Savior (6), and promises His second coming (7). The central theme of the book is our victory through the power of God. He is the “Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End… who is and was and who is to come, the Almighty” (8).
The Gospel of Mark (Witness of the Christ)
The first three gospels are known as synoptic. The term is defined: “of or forming a general outline or synopsis.” Each of these gospels contain a generally chronological snapshot of the life of our Lord. They are not exhaustive. Though similar, they are written from different perspectives. As would be expected, they emphasize different aspects of Jesus’ life, ministry and teaching.
It would be improper to refer to the gospels as either biographies or histories, though there are elements of each in all four of the books. Too often the works are criticized because they do not make a formal and verifiable effort to document the life of the Lord. Such attacks are unfair in imposing modern standards upon ancient writings, and in failing to recognize the theological motivations of the writers. As John wrote in John 20:30-31, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
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