Accountability and Stewardship

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 25:14-30

In the parallel accounts of Matthew and Luke, Jesus tells the parable of three servants who were entrusted with money while their master was away. He teaches the principle of stewardship, that we do not own what we have been given. We will be held accountable to God at the end of our lives for what we chose to do with the things given to us. Two servants act wisely and make smart investments for the master with the stewarded money while the third servant buries it in the ground and receives the master's wrath for being irresponsible and lazy. With the stewardship God has given to us, we have the opportunity to achieve something lasting with our lives that will affect eternity.

Christian Community (Part 5) - Confess to One Another

Gary DeLashmutt

1 John 1:7

The Bible calls us to confess our sins to one another to help us overcome the destructive power of sin in our life. Verbally acknowledging our own wrong behaviors or attitudes to another person can bring us healing and reconciliation in relationships. Confession is a crucial part of Christian community and a powerful way to experience God's merciful grace.

Cleansing from a Guilty Conscience

Gary DeLashmutt

Psalms 51

The Psalms often provide empathy and instruction, and in this case David writes about cleansing oneself of a guilty conscience. When he took Bathsheba and had her husband killed, his sin was called out by the prophet Nathan. In response to his crime and its revelation, David cried out to the Lord. Through his Psalms we learn that the only way to cleanse a guilty conscience is to sincerely seek out God's grace.

Salvation by Faith Apart From Works

Dennis McCallum

Romans 3

Writing to both Jews and Gentiles in Rome, Paul explains that no one is made righteous by the Law. Rather, one's righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, animal sacrifices were used to atone for sin. Christ's death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice of atonement, where Jesus took upon himself the punishment deserved by all of humanity - separation from God. It is only through this act of sacrifice that anyone can be made right with God.

The Sin of Self-Righteousness

Dennis McCallum

Luke 18:9-14

The religious paradox is that people who believe they are righteous commit wrongdoing when they pass judgment on others who do not meet their standards. In this way, religious self-righteousness is sinful and self-contradictory. Paul addresses the problems of the religious mindset that had permeated Judaism in Rome.

God and the Problem of Evil

Dennis McCallum

Romans 1:21-28

The problem of evil in the world requires an answer. Biblical theism differs from other worldviews in that it offers both acknowledgement of evil and assurance of future justice. The Biblical view is that evil was chosen by personal beings who had the free will to make that choice but now stand under the judgment of God as a result. In His love, however, God chose to offer a way for every person to be justified before Him despite sin and evil.\r\n

Requisites for Relational Closeness

Gary DeLashmutt

2 Corinthians 2:4-11

The Corinthians had trouble with addressing a member of their body who was in a deep non-repentant sin, Paul himself had to visit them about it. Through this, we see how forgiveness and a relational closeness between each other and God impacts our walk with Him. This relational closeness is characterized by 4 requirements: agree on God's moral absolutes, be willing to discipline, be willing to repent, and be willing to forgive.

Matthew's Party

Dennis McCallum

John 9:39-41

Jesus showed compassion and love to the despised and sinful people of his day. Jesus partied with Matthew, a despised tax collector, and invited him to become a disciple. Jesus came to heal the sinners, rather than saving those who thought they were righteous.

Sermon on the Mount (Part 3): Jesus and the Law

Dennis McCallum

Romans 3:19-24

Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees that their interpretation of the Law fell way short of God's. The Law wasn't meant to show people the path to righteousness, but to show people their sin and that they need God's grace. God's Law isn't something we can bend to fit our moral inclinations, but a strong moral law that shows people their moral inadequacy compared to God's perfect moral standard.