Sermons About Faithful
Called to Be
Our text begins with a “finally” that is Peter’s way of saying that it is time to sum things up. Peter wrote this letter to prepare believers for the “fiery trials” of persecution (I Peter 4:12) but his approach is both optimistic and positive. While his last segment laid down the principles of submission, he now opens the subject of “suffering when we do good” (v. 17) and how we, as believers, are to respond to it. In the atmosphere of a loving fellowship with believers and in the world outside we are to respond to injustice and suffering as Jesus Christ did.
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The Church of Thyratira: Revelation 2:18-28
In America, most of us have not been physically threatened for our faith. However, like the church at Thyratira, I would argue that most of our greatest temptations to compromise stem from either economic or social pressures. The church today is radically tempted to compromise by valuing the same things that the culture around us values. We serve a God who calls us to consider everything rubbish in order that we might gain Christ and be found in him. We cannot cling to the values of this world and still hold fast to the righteousness of our savior. Jesus offers us himself. Jesus calls us live lives of repentance, constantly letting go of our sin and clinging to his blood, shed on the cross for our sin, to forgive us and give us his perfect righteousness.
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Joyfully Coming Down From the Tree to Meet Christ
A lesson from the familiar passage about Zacheaus in Luke Chapter 19. Zacheaus came down from his tree to meet the Lord. Are there "trees" that we need to come down to come to Christ. Be like Zacheaus and "make haste" to come down and meet the Lord. °Is there a "tree" of Pride in your life preventing you from joyfully meeting the Lord? °Is there a "tree" of Indifference in your life that is keeping you from following the Lord? °Is there a "tree" of Unfaithfulness in your life? Unfaithfulness to church, Unfaithfulness with God's tithe, Unfaithfulness with God's Word and prayer. °Is there a "tree" of an Unforgiving spirit in your life that is inhibiting your walk with the Lord?
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The Church of Pergamum: Revelation 2:12-27
The church at Pergamum, much like many of our American churches, was filled with three kinds of people: the faithful, the compromisers, and the people who didn’t know which group was correct. As the political capital of the region, emperor worship was at its zenith in Pergamum; it was the place where Satan had his throne. In this context, Jesus rebukes the faithful for tolerating people in their church who are both compromising and telling others that it is ok to compromise. He calls the church at Pergamum and us to confront sin, root it out, and fight it. Our Savior calls us to repent of everything that threatens us from knowing and experiencing the fullness of joy that he has come to offer.
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The Church of Pergamum: Revelation 2
The church at Pergamum, much like many of our American churches, was filled with three kinds of people: the faithful, the compromisers, and the people who didn’t know which group was correct. As the political capital of the region, emperor worship was at its zenith in Pergamum; it was the place where Satan had his throne. In this context, Jesus rebukes the faithful for tolerating people in their church who are both compromising and telling others that it is ok to compromise. He calls the church at Pergamum and us to confront sin, root it out, and fight it. Our Savior calls us to repent of everything that threatens us from knowing and experiencing the fullness of joy that he has come to offer.
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The Church in Smyrna: Revelation 2:8
The church in Smyrna was made up of poor people who had endured many hardships. Jesus, the First and the Last, who defeated death, knows their tribulation, poverty, and the slander from the Jews that they have endured. Jesus tells them that he hears them, and yet they continue suffering. Not only does he call the church to not be afraid, he calls them to be faithful by treasuring him above all else, even to the point of death. He promises that the sufferings we experience right now, no matter how heavy they are, will one day seem light and momentary compared to the glory that he holds in store for his people. He suffered to end our suffering. He suffered so that no matter how much we have suffered at death, it is over. We will have an eternity with him.
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The Church in Ephesus: Revelation 2:1-7
The letter to the Ephesians in Revelation begins with a commendation. Jesus commends the Ephesians for their doctrinal purity. They have fought false teachings and have remained faithful to the truth without growing weary and giving up. Yet, though they have remained doctrinally pure, they have ceased to be faithful witnesses for Jesus because they lost her first love for Jesus. Jesus calls them to remember the depths of their sin and how much they have been forgiven. Some of us are like the prodigal son or the sinful woman in Luke 7, and we know we have been saved from a life of sin. We have been overwhelmed by his grace, but over time, the memory fades and we grow prideful and self-reliant. For others of us, the danger is that we have never had a sinful woman experience. We may not have ever felt desperate, out of control, absolutely empty, and needy. Our savior walks among his people and he sees them all. He will forgive us if we will stop trying to be perfect and simply fall at his feet and beg him for mercy. Run to the one who, though his face shown like the sun, willingly took on flesh to die on the cross in our place.
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Genesis 49v3-4 Unstable as water (Faithfulness)
This sermon is on faithfulness and unfaithfulness. These words are different types of agreements, (treaty’s, vows, covenants, contracts), that we all are part of. But unfortunately many agreements are treated with contempt and are broken. Many people are unfaithful today. What is faithfulness? God is faithful. So what does this mean for you and me?
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Philippians 2:1-11
Christ's death is not only the ultimate example of humility, but also the ultimate cause for humility.
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1 Pt. 1:1a Introducing the Apostle Peter
This sermon introduces the Apostle Peter as a Fisherman who became a Follower who at the worst time became a Failure but became a Forgiven One, a Fruitful One for the gospel, and a Faithful One until the end... as well as an Apostle that we must listen to!
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