Homeline Blog
“Why We Need A Family Of Faith”, 6/14/2020
“Why We Need A Family Of Faith”
I Peter 1:3; I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19
I Peter 1:3; I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19
Introduction
1 Peter 1:3 “God has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family.”
I Timothy 3:15,“That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.”
Ephesians 2:19, “…you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” (TLB)
I. Benefits Of Belonging
A. A Family Of Faith…
1. …Helps Us Focus On The Lord
Matthew 20:2, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Psalm 34:3, “Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt [God’s] name together!”
2. …Helps Us Face Life’s Challenges
I Thessalonians 5:10-11, “Jesus died for us so that we can live together with Him. So encourage each other and give each other strength.” (NCV)
1 Peter 3:8, “…all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.” (NLT)
Romans 12:5, “In Christ, we who are many, form one body and each member belongs to all the others.”
3. …Helps Us Mature In Our Faith
Hebrews 6:1, “Let us go on and become mature in our understanding as strong Christians ought to be.”
Ephesians 3:10, “God’s intent was that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.”
4. …Gives Us A Place To Develop Meaningful Relationships
1 John 1:7, “But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other,” (TLB)
Psalm 55:13b-14, The Psalmist is talking about a friend and he says, “my companion and my friend. 14 What fellowship we had, what wonderful discussions as we walked together to the Temple of the Lord on holy days.” (TLB)
“Dividing Walls Healed”, 6/7/2020
“Dividing Walls Healed”
Ephesians 2:11-22
Ephesians 2:11-22
I. Bringing Us Near Through Christ – vv. 11-13
Ephesians 2:11-13, “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (that done in the body by the hands of men)– 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” (NIV)
A. The Gentiles Were…
“…separate from Christ…”
“…excluded from citizenship in Israel…”
“…foreigners to the covenants of the promise…”,
“…without hope…”
“…without God in the world.”
II. Bringing Us Peace And Breaking Down Walls
Ephesians 2:14-18, “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” (NLT)
(Word Study) Reconciliation – This is a powerful word and to understand its full meaning we need to consider it in several ways.
* A change from a hostile to a friendly relationship.
* Bringing together again, a reuniting, a re-connecting.
* The enmity is so completely laid aside that complete good will follows.
* Restoration of something that was there before.
III. Bringing A Worthy Cornerstone
Ephesians 2:19-22, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” NIV
A. The Church As A Kingdom – “…fellow citizens…”
B. The Church As A Family – “…members of God’s household…”
C. The Church As A Temple – “…built on the foundation…”
1. The Cornerstone
1 Peter 2:6, “As the Scriptures express it, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed.” NLT
2. The Living Stones
Ephesians 2:21-22
“The Wind And Warmth Of The Spirit Of God”, 5/31/2020
“The Wind And Warmth Of The Spirit Of God”
Acts 2:1-13
Acts 2:1-6, “On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. 5 Godly Jews from many nations were living in Jerusalem at that time. 6 When they heard this sound, they came running to see what it was all about, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.” NLT
I. Significant Symbol Number One = Wind
A. A Rich Biblical Background
Genesis 1:1-2, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” NASU
Genesis 2:7, “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Isaiah 2:22, “Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?” NAS
B. The Roaring Of A Mighty Windstorm
Acts 2:2-3, “…there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting.”
Acts 2:3, “Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.”
II. Significant Symbol Number Two = Fire
Ezekiel 1:4, “As I looked, behold, a storm windwas coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire.” NASU
A. Fire = The Presence of God
1. Fire Brings Light
1 John 4:4, “…greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” NASU
2. Fire Brings Warmth
“Sowing Well In Order To Not Grow Weary”, 5/24/2020
“Sowing Well In Order To Not Grow Weary”
Galatians 6:7-10
Introduction
2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” NLT
I. The Art Of Sowing Well
Galatians 6:6-8, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.”
II. The Art Of Not Growing Weary
Galatians 6:9, “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.”
III. The Art Of Doing Good For All
Galatians 6:10, “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.”
“Fixing Our Hope On Grace”, 5/17,2020
“Fixing Our Hope On Grace”
I Peter 1:13
I Peter 1:13
Introduction
I Peter 1:13, “Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” NASV
I. Fixing Our Hope Completely On Grace
I Peter 1:13
I Peter 3:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
A. Three Life Changing Choices
1. Gird Your Minds For Action
(Word Study) Minds “dianoia”, means more than mental faculties but includes that which guides and directs our actions in life.
2. Keep Sober In Spirit
(Word Study) Sober “nepho”, meaning self-controlled or clarity of mind.
3. Fix Your Hope Completely On The Grace Of God