Christian Life Center Sermons
Web Site: Christian Life Center
Total Sermons: 67
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What Makes a Great Church
When asked to explain the secret of his remarkable ministry, the British preacher, Charles Spurgeon replied, “My people pray for me.†Warren Wiersbe states that prayer is not an escape from responsibility; it is our response to God’s ability. Our text presents an historical account of the persecution that resulted from the ministry of the early church. The Council (Sanhedrin) opposed the preaching of the Gospel because it had “great†impact upon the people and that impact “greatly disturbed†them (vv. 2, 16). The Apostles defended the name of Jesus Christ with a “living example†of its power to save (v. 10). The Council in Jerusalem brought pressure to bear in an effort to silence the witnesses. In response to this persecution the church (v. 23) united once again in prayer and the Lord Jesus Christ responded to their prayer and praise with the “great†things that God gives to those who ask. What makes a great church? A great church is made up of believers that are united in heart and soul (v. 32), united in worship and prayer, focused in presenting the Truth, and living witnesses of the great things that result in the Christ-centered life.
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Excellence: Living a Life of Worship (2)
Paul in the first eleven verses of Colossians 3 heralds the separation of the old man and the new man. He tells us to focus on things above in verse 1. Paul in verses 2 and 3 tells believers everywhere of their separation from the Old Man, through identification with Christ’s Death, and their connection to the New Man (which is the Spirit of Christ or the Holy Spirit) through being “hidden with Christ in Godâ€. It is absolutely essential for us to understand, individually and corporately, our separation from the “Old Man†and joining with the “New Man†in order that we may live out, individually and corporately, the “New Life†in which “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.†This is a life lived individually and corporately that leads others to want Jesus, rather than choke him down like bad medicine!
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Excellence: Living a Life of Worship
It is absolutely essential for us to understand, individually and corporately, our separation from the “Old Man†and joining with the “New Man†in order that we may live out, individually and corporately, the “New Life†in which “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.†This is a life lived individually and corporately that leads others to want Jesus, rather than choke him down like bad medicine!
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Peter...In Conclusion
God had a plan for the salvation of mankind from eternity, and, yet, He never forces us to respond to it. Man, in his free will, may embrace it fully or he may act in opposition to it. Regardless of the response of man, God will always accomplish His divine will and purpose for His creation.
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Declaring God's Glory pt. 4
Acts 3:11-26 The healing of the lame beggar drew a crowd around Peter and John and set the stage for Peter’s second sermon. Here on Solomon’s Porch, where the early church would often meet for worship, Peter again sets a standard for the preaching of the Gospel. Peter begins his sermon by identifying the source of the miracle and develops the truth that, now, God Himself, has glorified His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The sermon centers on God’s Servant, Jesus Christ, whom Israel had disowned and crucified and whom God had raised from the dead. Peter stresses the various titles of Jesus and identifies “the name of Jesus†as the powerful agent in the miracle and “the name of Jesus†as the source of forgiveness and Salvation. In Peter’s call to repentance, he identifies the far-reaching grace of God that will even bring forgiveness for Israel’s sin of crucifying the “the Prince of Life†and transform the lives of those who believe in Him. Peter goes on to identify the beauty of God’s salvation through faith in Jesus by pointing to the “times of refreshing that come from the presence of Jesus†and the future hope of “the times of restoration of all thingsâ€.
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Declaring God's Glory pt. 3
We have considered the declaration of God’s glory from several perspectives. We witnessed the “favor†of God in Mary’s life and her willingness to embrace the message of Gabriel and participate in God’s redemptive plan. We also considered God’s grace and glory declared and experienced by the “ranch hands†(shepherds) of the Bethlehem hills. Of course, the greatest declaration of God’s glory was found in the revelation of Jesus Christ as Mary’s “first born†from heaven who came to save us from our sins. Today we will see God’s glory manifested from several very different sources. It is interesting to find that the incredible glory of God declared to a group of scholars from Persia led to the fulfillment of prophecy and extended God’s salvation to the Gentile world. We find that God’s salvation not only reached the lowest of the low (shepherds) but also the elite of the elite in our world (Wise Men). These wealthy and influential students of history, science, and astronomy discovered God’s glory and pursued it at great cost. The end result of their long and arduous search brought them to Jesus Christ the Lord and the Savior of all mankind. It was at His feet that these men, society’s elite, bowed in humble and meaningful worship of God’s Son and the World’s Savior.
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Declaring the Glory of God Pt. 2
Within the Gospel of Luke we find the familiar story of the birth of Jesus Christ. In each of its varying scenes we see and hear the declaration of God’s glory both by supernatural beings as well as human beings. Into this simple and delicate narrative Luke weaves deep and profound theological meaning. Last week we considered the theological “summit†of the Incarnation and the favor of God we experience when Jesus Christ is born in our hearts. This week we will attempt to scale another theological “summit†as we consider Mary’s “â€first-born†Son. We celebrate the occasion of Mary’s first-born as the supreme event in history, the central act of God for the redemption of Mankind. We must detach ourselves from the local and the historical and see this birth of God’s first-born as the incredible demonstration of God’s glory that it is… timeless, eternal, and far reaching in both scope and impact. As we consider Jesus Christ, God’s “first-bornâ€, we begin to realize and better understand the love of God for His Creation and His desire for His redeemed sons and daughters.
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Ranch Hands
These were men like the cowboys of our more recent history. This was a motley crew, hard, independent, rough cut, day laborers, here today and off somewhere else tomorrow. It was to these men that God sent an angel, first to announce Jesus’ birth and then a choir to sing of the glory, and grace that would come through His life, ministry, death and resurrection.
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Declaring the Glory of God
Isaiah wrote that all of the blessings of God are designed to lead to the declaration of God’s glory (Isaiah 60:21). . . . as a witness let us live in such a way that our lives declare the glory of God!
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The Comfort of Christmas
The Comfort of Christmas Isaiah 40:1-31 The celebration of Christmas stands out in stark contrast to the circumstances and conditions that exist in our world. Even as we approach the winter solstice when the sun is at the greatest distance from the equator and ushers in the dark days of winter, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ adds the light and sparkle to our hearts and lives. For many at Christmas the thoughts of joy, peace and plenty seem like far-fetched dreams in the light of the conflict, hatred and desperation that we find in the world. Even the closer personal reality of the stress, pressure and business of the season belies the purpose for the celebration. We find little joy or peace in the rush to celebrate and we are left exhausted and depressed. I’m sure that it will come as no surprise that we will find no lasting joy or peace when we are pressed to celebrate Christmas as our society does. We must look higher and deeper into the realm of the Spirit [God’s reality] in order to find what we are seeking. The reason for Christ’s coming into this world was, in fact, to offer us the hope of deliverance from our human dilemma. Jesus came to release us from the bondage and curse of sin. He came to lighten our darkness, ease our burdens, to save us from the sin and death that plague our lives. We celebrate His birth, His purpose, His sacrifice, His life, death, and resurrection, our salvation, and therein we discover the joy, peace, and blessing that is ours in Jesus Christ.
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