06-21-06 Midweek Profitable Bible Study 1 Cor 1:10 - 3:23

We Are to Be United!

Self-will is at the center of all conflict!

James 4:1-2

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.

I. We are United In Purpose: Not Devoted to PERSONAL PREFERENCE. (1:10-17)

What is the church’s primary purpose?

What is the purpose of Martin Bluff Baptist Church?

Our Purpose is derived from the Great Commission and the Great Commandment:

The Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

The Great Commandment:

Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

At MBBC our purpose is:

1. TO MAGNIFY GOD: We demonstrate our love to God through a lifestyle of worship.

2. BE ON MISSION FOR GOD: We Evangelize the normal person by Proclaiming the

life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

3. JOIN IN MEMBERSHIP: We are called to participate in the community baptized believers known as the church.

4. FACILITATE MATURITY: We are engaged in the dynamic process of encouraging believers to develop Christ-likeness in self and others.

5. ENGAGE IN MINISTRY: We are called to a life of service to Christ and others.

II. We Are United by the Cross (1:18-25)

III. We Are United in Gratitude: Not BOASTING. (1:26-31)

IV. We Are United in Our SUPER- NATURAL Understanding of the Gospel Message. (Ch. 2)

V. We Are United in Facing a Day of ACCOUNTABILITY. (Ch. 3)

Sermon Sunday, June 18, 2006

Identifying and Eliminating

Barricades to God’s Best for Your Life

1 Cor. 10:1-13 NASBu

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3and all ate the same spiritual food; 4and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

6Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play." 8Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Five Barricades to God’s Best in Your Life:

1. Craving EVIL.

1 Cor. 10:6 (NASBr)

These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did.

2. Worshipping IDOLS.

1 Cor. 10:7 (NLT)

They worshiped idols, just as the Scriptures say, "The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance around." So don't worship idols.

Exodus 20:5 (CEV)

Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the Lord your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations.

3. Engaging in SEXUAL Immorality.

1 Cor. 10:8 (NIV)

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

4. Testing JESUS CHRIST.

1 Cor. 10:9 (NLT)

Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.

5. Grumbling.

Eliminating the Barricades . . .

By Asking God to Show you the escape. Visualize your life as God intends it!

06-14-06 1 Cor. 1 1-9

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Cor. 1:1-9

Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

 

Understanding your Identity in Christ: Who Am I In Christ Jesus?

 

1. I am CALLED!  Called and Calling  in vv 1 & 2 mean to be “appointed” or “selected.”

 

Paul was appointed or called on the Damascus Road. (See Acts 9:1-15)

Acts 9:15

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

 

Recount your Damascus Road. When were you called and numbered among the “saints?” How is your life different due to your “calling?”

 

 

Romans 1:6 (NLT) 

    You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ,

 

 

2. I Am SANCTIFIED! Literally means “to be made holy.” I am one who has been set apart to serve God’s righteous cause and I am destined to share in His eternal kingdom.

Leviticus 19:2

"Say this to the entire community of Israel: You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

 

 

 

3. I Am a Saint! A “saint” is chosen, is a priest, is a member of God’s holy nation, is God’s possession (See 1 Peter 2:4-12).

1 Peter 2:9

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

 

 

 4. I Am a Recipient of God’s DIVINE FAVOR!

His Divine Favor is demonstrated through exceptional giftedness. List the gifts delineated in the Bible passage (v. 5).

 

 

5. I Am a TROPHY of God’s Grace! My life is being changed by His Grace.

1 Cor. 1:6 (MsgB) 

    The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.

 

In What Ways Has my Relationship with Jesus Christ Changed My Life?

 

6. I Will Be  Declared BLAMELESS when Christ Returns!

 

Day of our Lord is a reference to the Return of Christ.

Joel 2:31

The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn bloodred before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.

 

Amos 5:18-20

How terrible it will be for you who say, "If only the day of the Lord were here! For then the Lord would rescue us from all our enemies." But you have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will not bring light and prosperity, but darkness and disaster. 19In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion—only to meet a bear. After escaping the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house—and is bitten by a snake. 20Yes, the day of the Lord will be a dark and hopeless day, without a ray of joy or hope.

 

 

 

7. I Am in FELLOWSHIP With Jesus Christ. (v. 9) See Acts 2:42-47. We are literally able to relate to God through Jesus Christ as personally as we can each other. As matter of Fact it is our Fellowship with Jesus Christ that enables us to be in deep relationship or fellowship with our fellow Christ-Followers.

 

 

 

 

06-11-06 hand out The Heart of God

The Heart of God

Luke 15:1-32

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people—even eating with them! LK 15:1-2

 

“The List”

Worthy                                    Unworthy

 

Examine Yourself: Do you have a list? Who is beyond God’s reach in your eyes? Why?

 

Psalm 14:2-3

The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race;

he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding,

one who seeks for God. 3But no, all have turned away from God;

all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!

 

Romans 3:10-12

As the Scriptures say, "No one is good—not even one.

11No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God.

12All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong.

No one does good, not even one."

 

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.

 

1. God Displays His Extravagant Love for His Own through His Searching!

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

  “And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost."

 

Lost - A Word Used by Jesus Christ to Describe someone who does not have a personal relationship with God.

 

Luke 15:3-5

3So Jesus used this illustration: 4"If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? 5And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders.

 

Luke 15:8

8"Or suppose a woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it?

 

2. God Displays His Extravagant Love for His Own through His Celebrating!

Luke 15:6-7

6When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. 7In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!

 

 

Luke 15:9-10

9And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin. 10In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."

 

3. God Displays His Extravagant Love through Us when We Extend His Grace to Others!

Luke 15:11-32

11To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. 12The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

13"A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. 14About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. 16The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17"When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! 18I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man." '

20"So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'

22"But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. 23And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, 24for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.

25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27'Your brother is back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast. We are celebrating because of his safe return.'

28"The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him, 29but he replied, 'All these years I've worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have.'

31"His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. 32We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!' "

 

The Gospel surrounds not a list of ideas, rules or propositions, but a Person.

 

Religion focuses on behavior (“you can’t be acceptable unless you perform and keep rules”).

 

Irreligion focuses on “personal freedom” (“you can be happy apart from God’s rule in your life.

 

The Gospel focuses on personal trust in God’s heroic rescue through His Son Jesus Christ.

06-07-06 1 Cor. Introduction

1 Corinthians an Introduction

Our exciting journey through 1 Corinthians begins as we briefly overview this book. As we begin our journey join me in asking God to reveal the deep and practical truths concerning our faith and His church. Ask Him to give you a teachable spirit, so that you will apply the truth uncovered. May our lives and His church be enriched because we are increasingly obedient to His word and the direction of His Spirit!

 

 

Quick Facts:

 

        1 Corinthians was INSPIRED by God and WRITTEN by the Apostle Paul.

        In addition to writing 13 books of the New Testament under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul was the very first CHURCH-PLANTER.

        Paul founded the church at Corinth on his SECOND missionary journey (see Acts 16:11- 18:1)

        1 Corinthians was written in 55 AD and was not actually the FIRST or ONLY letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.

1 Cor. 5:9

When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.

 

A Quick Glance at 1 Corinthians:

 

The Call to and the Benefits of Following Jesus Christ (1:1-9)

Errors, Problems, and Corrective Instructions for the Church (1:10-16:4) regarding:

Unity (1:10-3:23)

Serving (4:1-21)

Morality (5:1-6:20)

Sexual Relations, Divorce & Marriage (7:1-40)

The Responsible Use of Christian Liberty (8:1-11:1)

Men and Women in the Church (11:2-16)

The Lord’s Supper (11:17-34)

The Use of Spiritual Gifts in Public Worship (12-14)

The Resurrection (15)

Management of our Resources (16:1-4)

Paul’s personal plans and greetings (16:5-24)

 

 

Homework:

 

Read 1 Corinthians