Free in Christ (LD 33; Ephesians 5:10)

Billy Joel says, "I would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints." This is a line in "Only the Good Die Young" that has always intrigued me. This would mean that living for God is a life fully of mourning, sorrow, and pure misery. The Apostle Paul does not command us to weep, but to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. In fact, as a Christian we would say that living for God is the source of our joy. In this sermon we consider what it means to live for God and discerning what pleases him.

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?