Cross Ethics (4) (Matthew 18:21-35)

Our Lord concludes the second sermon on the mount with a parable that answer’s Peter’s question: how many times do we forgive?  Christ speaks of us bearing our cross before the Lord by showing this forgiveness.  What is the standard of forgiveness and how does this depth of forgiveness assure us of Christ’s mercy? 

Our Holy and Approachable God (Ex 34:4-9)

Our God is a God who created this world, is above this world, and the one who sustains this world.  If all this is true then how can we approach such a Holy God?  Can we really draw near to a God who is so exalted and dwelling in heavenly glory?  Moses gives us the assurance that when we call upon the Lord’s name we find that the Lord is not distant at all.  So, what does the holiness of God’s name tell us about our God?

(The video is not available for this sermon)

Cross Ethics (3) (Matthew 18:15-20)

Christ commands us to confront Christians who offend us or we see in sin.  This is an obligation for us under Christ’s cross or christian ethics.  However, Christ also commands us to have our concern fixated on the log that is in our own eyes before considering the spec in another’s eye.  So, how do we maintain a consistent application of these two commands?  How do we live out the cross ethic for the honor and glory of our God without being a busy bodied people?

Cross Ethics (3) (Matthew 18:15-20)

Christ commands us to confront Christians who offend us or we see in sin.  This is an obligation for us under Christ’s cross or christian ethics.  However, Christ also commands us to have our concern fixated on the log that is in our own eyes before considering the spec in another’s eye.  So, how do we maintain a consistent application of these two commands?  How do we live out the cross ethic for the honor and glory of our God without being a busy bodied people?

Approaching God’s Throne Room (2) (Acts 17:22-27)

When we lay out what Scripture teaches about our God we show from Scripture that God is the one who created this world.  As God is the one who created this world does that mean that he simply made. It, walked away, and allows the world to sustain itself?  If this is the case then it means that our God is rather impersonal.  However, if we make God merely a being who just communes with us then how is he distinct from this creation? 

Approaching God’s Throne Room (2) (Acts 17:22-27)

When we lay out what Scripture teaches about our God we show from Scripture that God is the one who created this world.  As God is the one who created this world does that mean that he simply made. It, walked away, and allows the world to sustain itself?  If this is the case then it means that our God is rather impersonal.  However, if we make God merely a being who just communes with us then how is he distinct from this creation? 

Cross Ethics (2) (Matthew 18:6-14)

We can say that not caring about the little people is just a contemporary problem.  However, if you look at the Old Testament and Israel’s ideal call they were a nation to be in the forefront to care for the widow and the orphan.  Are these the only little ones that Christ is expressing his concern?  Can we be a little one?  What does it mean that the Lord cares for the little ones?  Does it mean that as the little ones we have a free pass to sin because others made us stumble?  What does the cross teach us about living out the Gospel for our Lord?  

Cross Ethics (2) (Matthew 18:6-14)

We can say that not caring about the little people is just a contemporary problem.  However, if you look at the Old Testament and Israel’s ideal call they were a nation to be in the forefront to care for the widow and the orphan.  Are these the only little ones that Christ is expressing his concern?  Can we be a little one?  What does it mean that the Lord cares for the little ones?  Does it mean that as the little ones we have a free pass to sin because others made us stumble?  What does the cross teach us about living out the Gospel for our Lord? 

Approaching God’s Throne Room (1 John 5:13-15)

It is easy to think that God is distant or that God does not care about the here and now.  However, when we learn about prayer the opposite is rather true: we are those who have life in the Lord and we can talk to our Lord.  Is prayer something that is merely a psychological thing or does the Lord really hear our prayer?  How does our prayer continue to ground us in the Lord?

Approaching God’s Throne Room (1 John 5:13-15)

It is easy to think that God is distant or that God does not care about the here and now.  However, when we learn about prayer the opposite is rather true: we are those who have life in the Lord and we can talk to our Lord.  Is prayer something that is merely a psychological thing or does the Lord really hear our prayer?  How does our prayer continue to ground us in the Lord?

Cross Ethics (Matthew 17:22-18:5)

The motto for today is that one needs to be assertive, significant, and popular to have any value.  There are so many books and videos about how to rise to the top to achieve success.  This is not an American problem, but we find that this is a human problem that we struggle to put to death.  How do we put this to death?  How does Christ encourage us to walk in Christ as His redeemed people?

Competing to Conform? (Phil. 3:12-16)

The apostle Paul continues to compete for the prize.  What is that prize?  Does this mean that the Christian life is some sort of a competition?  Is there a bigger picture?  What does this tell us about conforming and struggling to our Lord as we sojourn through this age?

Competing to Conform? (Phil. 3:12-16)

The apostle Paul continues to compete for the prize.  What is that prize?  Does this mean that the Christian life is some sort of a competition?  Is there a bigger picture?  What does this tell us about conforming and struggling to our Lord as we sojourn through this age? 

Cross Ethics (Matthew 17:22-18:5)

The motto for today is that one needs to be assertive, significant, and popular to have any value.  There are so many books and videos about how to rise to the top to achieve success.  This is not an American problem, but we find that this is a human problem that we struggle to put to death.  How do we put this to death?  How does Christ encourage us to walk in Christ as His redeemed people? 

Truth Confirmed (John 20:1-18)

The resurrection is something that is radical and rather unbelievable to be honest.  However, the resurreciton is necessary for Christ to conform the grace and truth of the Lord's promise.  How does this truth come to bear on the immediate audience?  What does that teach us about ourselves today?

Coveting God (Psalm 19)

Our Lord commands us not to have a thought that would wander from His goodness.  This is a rather difficult command for us to do when we consider that our affections and desires are not set on the Lord as they ought to be set upon the Lord. So, how do we proceed in the confidence of Christ?  How do we proceed in the work of the Lord seeking to honor our Christ as His redeemed?

What is Truth? (John 1:14; 18:38)

John, the gospel writer, invites us to hear the interaction between our Lord and Pilate.  The age old question that has plagued fallen man is asked, “What is truth?”  Can we ever know the answer to this question?  Can we know truth?  If we can know truth then how can this truth be so encouraging and assuring in light of the cross’ offense?