The Problem of Indwelling Sin

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 7:15-8:23

Our inclination to sin is an internal disposition, with pride, a critical spirit, resentment, inordinate desires, and other deep issues continually pestering us. But the Spirit of God can give us substantial freedom (though not complete elimination in this life) from our indwelling sin. If we have a relationship with God, we must appreciate that our sins have been forgiven, then focus each day on the Spirit's moral guidance, His assurance of the Father's love, and His help in prayer.

The Sin of Cynicism: Its Causes and Cures

James Rochford

Proverbs 9:12

Cynicism is the belief that people, organizations, and authorities are mainly driven by selfish motivations. But if we adopt this worldview and live by it, we and our loved ones will pay the price. As Proverbs 9:12 says "If you scoff at wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." Although we shouldn't be na?ve or gullible regarding the dangers of a fallen world, God shows us a different way: By transforming our minds, God can grow us into men and women who can courageously love others in a fallen world.\r\n

True Freedom

Gary DeLashmutt

John 8:31-36

God Speaks

Mike Sullivan

Psalms 19

Psalm 19 describes how all of creation declares the glory of God. He has revealed Himself through general revelation in the world he has created, not just earth but all of creation and the heavens above. He has also shown Himself through the words He has spoken, the Bible. In His Word there is both warning and great reward.

Paul's Greatest Secret

Dennis McCallum

Philippians 4:10-20

Paul's greatest secret was having learned to be content in all circumstances. He didn't learn this secret in one momentous moment but it came to him over time, bit by bit. God had to stress his faith in order to make it grow. Growth comes in the areas of life when no one is watching. Your little steps of faith grow over time and you learn to to trust God with the bigger things. When we learn to trust God with our money and start giving it away as a "sweet-smelling offering" God will reimburse us. Just as the Philippians had no idea their simple monetary gift resulted in untold number of people benefitting from the prison epistles Paul wrote, we have no idea how our giving freely may be used by God to bless people we have never met.

Final Judgment

Mike Sullivan

Revelation 20:11-15

Many people, Christian and non-Christian alike, are uncomfortable with the idea of final judgment, or hell, but it is a reality. Hell is necessary because sin is a reality that must be dealt with. God loves people and sin hurts the people God loves. Because God values free will, he honors our choices. Because God is righteous and just, he must punish sin. Because he is loving, he offers an alternative to hell for anyone who chooses to receive the forgiveness Jesus offers through his death on the cross.

Have the Same Attitude as Jesus

Conrad Hilario

Philippians 2:5-11

The person of Jesus demonstrated that he was both fully human and yet still fully divine. He chose to set aside his divine abilities to live as a human so that he could fully experience all the things we experience. The work of Jesus on the cross was necessary because real forgiveness is costly suffering. The one who forgives bears the cost of the sin. God humbled himself to identify with us and die for us.

Jesus and Nicodemus

Ben Foust

John 2:23-3:21

In John 3, John describes an encounter with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a leader and teacher to the Jews. Nicodemus visits Jesus under cover of darkness. He is a man of power and commands great respect in his community, unlike the woman at the well from last week's teaching. John has these two very different encounters back to back perhaps to contrast Nicodemus' apparent righteousness and the woman's obvious sinfulness. They both need God's forgiveness. Nicodemus could never be righteous enough to earn entrance into heaven on his own and the woman is not so far down the road to sin that God can't forgive her, too. Both are equally under judgment and both are equally offered forgiveness.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

Ben Foust

John 4:1-42

One might suppose the Samaritan woman at the well would be the least likely person to ever follow Jesus. She is the wrong gender, race, religion, and morality. The barriers are numerous. Yet, Jesus pursues the unlikely, like this sinful woman who doesn't even know she is thirsty. She learns she is very thirsty, and the only thing that will quench that thirst is a relationship with God. Jesus has removed every barrier to receiving the living water he offers.