Pause and Ponder

How To Celebrate Christmas

Treasure & Ponder

Click here to watch pastor Rob's sermon on this.

Take Time every day between now and Christmas. 

• Before getting out of bed

• During morning coffee

• Hide in the bathroom for a few minutes

• Pull over in a parking lot along the way

Whatever it looks like..

Pause

Treasure these things

Ponder them in your heart.

Read Luke 2:8-20

Contemplate the Six Celebratory Principles in these verses:

1. It’s Good News of Great Joy

It’s eternally good news

It should bring great joy

2. It’s For All the people. 

This is a universal proclamation

Everyone needs to hear this message.

3. It’s About Jesus

While it’s become a cultural holiday, it’s still

fundamentally about Jesus.

4. The Gospel is Central

The Gospel is about the Glory of God

Peace with God is only possible because of 

Jesus who was born to die so that we

might have life by trusting in Him.

5. We Must Make it Known

This message must be proclaimed

Capitalize on the CHRISTOCENTRICNESS

of this time of year. 

6. Be Like Mary.

Treasure and ponder

This was of great value to Mary

She spent much time considering & 

contemplating it all.

How to Treasure and Ponder

Isaiah 9:1-7

7 points from 7 verses

1. Gloom to Glory

the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali is a reminder of the beginning of the dark days for the people of Israel.

Beautiful reminder: God is in Control!

And He is rescuing His people.

2. Darkness to Light

Jesus is the light that broke into the darkness.

Whatever the darkness is in your life

Whether it’s simply not knowing Christ, or some current situation, Jesus drowns it out.

3. The Big Picture Plan

It is the Lord who is doing everything. 

This has been God’s plan all along. Everything.

4. Freedom

Your burden, the yoke of your slavery to sin, the rod of your taskmaster, the oppressor…

The LORD defeats it.

He breaks you loose from your bonds

Without Christ, we’re slaves of sin (under the yoke of the burden). When we understand that we are sinful and confess our sinfulness and great need for salvation, and obey from the heart the command to repent and place our faith in Christ alone, He saves us!

5. Peace

Peace is the Absence of War

When you trust in Christ, you’re at peace with God. This is a forever thing. If you’re truly saved, your salvation is secure. You can burn all the trappings of your former enmity with Him.

6. The Pinnacle of the Story

This is the high mountaintop of praise and worship.

Jesus is the:

• Wonderful Counselor - the King who has supernatural wisdom. He’s omniscient

• Mighty God - the most powerful King - the most powerful warrior - none can defeat Him

He is the Most High God! (Daniel 4:34-35)

• Everlasting Father

He is a Father to His people. He cares for us like a loving father cares for his children. 

• Prince of Peace

The only One who brings peace with God or bring peace to our lives.

These are also radically personal titles!!!!

–> He is YOUR Wonderful Counselor

He will always lead you and guide you 

in the ways of truth as you trust Him

following and obeying His Word

(Psalm 119:105)

–> He is YOUR Mighty God

You have the most powerful Being in the 

universe on your side

He’s got your back! (Romans 8:35-39)

–> He is YOUR Everlasting Father

God deals with us as with sons. He disciplines us for our benefit, so that we may share His holiness. It yields the peacefulfruit of righteousness in our lives. (Hebrews 12:7-11)

(Romans 8:15)

–> He is YOUR Prince of Peace

He can still the turmoil in your heart.

(Philippians 4:6)

7. The Eternal King

Jesus is the rightful heir to David’s Throne

The King of kings

The Lord of lords

Soli Deo Gloria!

Pastor Rob

How to Celebrate Christmas

In 1871Charles Spurgeon said, We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas… because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour

While the Bible does not command us specifically to celebrate the birth of Christ, as a culture, we’ve set aside an entire month called “Christmas.” How do we rightly celebrate Jesus’ birth during this holiday season?

The entire sermon is avaialble here

Read Luke 2:1-20 (click here to read online)

The angel of the Lord declared this event to be:

• Good News of Great Joy!

So why wouldn’t we celebrate it?

If God saw fit to send an angel - and as we’ll see in a couple of verses a multitude of the heavenly host to announce something - the coming of the Messiah, 

It’s absolutely appropriate for us to celebrate it

2,000 years later - it’s still good news

No greater news has ever been proclaimed

It’s still the source of great joy

• For All the People!

Ever wonder why Christmas is so all-encompassing even everyone wants to make it about everything BUT Christ? Because from the very beginning it was to be for all the people. 

This doesn’t mean that all the people will be saved, but it does points to the universal proclamation of the gospel.

• It’s About Jesus! (vv. 11-12)

With all the “stuff” of Christmas, we need to intentionally plan to keep it about Jesus. Think through it on the front end

• The Purpose of Christmas (vv 13-14)

Glory & Peace

The whole purpose of literally everything is to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 96)

One of the primary ways we can glorify God in our daily lives is to point to Jesus, speak about Jesus, and obey Him.

Peace means peace with God

You can have peace with God through repenting of your sin and trusting in Jesus alone for salvation.

Don’t be someone who professes to know God, but by [your] works they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and unfit for any good work.

As we move into the Christmas season

Remember, refocus on the message of the gospel and whether or not you’re in Christ.

Click here for an explanation of what it means to repent of your sins and trust in Jesus. 

The Pattern/Example (15-21)

Follow the example of the Shepherds

They went in a hurry

And they were loud about the message.

All who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds

Be like the shepherds - everyone should know what you’re all about.

Also be like Mary, who

was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Treasure the Christmas story

Treasure the reason for the Season

It’s absolutely ok to enjoy the “stuff” of the season as long as what you’re treasuring is Jesus Christ - who was born to die so that you might have life by trusting in Him.

Two final thoughts:

1. Use this time as a gospel reminder.

Plant in your head and heart the phrase;
Born to die that we might have life by trusting in Him

How can you use this season as an opportunity for evangelism?

Pick up some of the little “Christmas Cards” in the foyer. Attach them to a small ornament, candy cane, etc. and hand them out everywhere you go. 

2. Don’t just celebrate the incarnation one month a year. 

It’s an every day thing. Celebrate the gospel daily. 

Be intentional

Think through it

You do that for presents, decorations, travel, food, budget, vacation days, etc.

Do it for the spiritual aspect of your life as well. as well. 

Celebrate and share the gospel continually during the Christmas season and beyond.

That’s how you should celebrate Christmas

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob

A High View of God's Word...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 is about a high view of God’s Word, It's connected directly to 2 Timothy 4:1-2, the first implication of that. 

A high view of God’s Word leads directly to a high view of preaching. 

View the Sermon HERE

The Sermon Subtitle:

Priorities of a Faithful Pastor

There are implications for believers within the instructions to pastors. 

1. Serious about Preaching

Preaching is the most profound responsibility that a pastor has.

If the preacher is to be serious about preaching

You must be serious about preaching

How to be serious about preaching:

A. Be in church. In the service. 

Unless you’re providentially hindered, you should be in church on Sunday mornings. 

B. Come Prepared

Get plenty of sleep. Read the passage ahead of time. Pray. Be on time. Sit strategically. 

C. Bring Your Bible

Follow along in the Bible you use devotionally. Make notes - highlight - underline.

D. Engage &

E. Follow Up

Take Notes is extremely helpful. As you go through your week, refer back to your notes as you strive to apply the sermon and prepare for the next Sunday. 

2. Preach the Word

The central command: Preach the Word. It’s the most important a pastor does. It’s also of critical importance for every believer. 

Also - the entire Bible is important. There is no “unhitching” from the Old Testament. 

If you’ve never read through the entire Bible, you need to start on that path today. 

3. Broad in Scope

…be ready in season and out of season

This points to regularity and consistency. 

Be ready to bring God’s Word to bear on any situation.

Here’s the question: Are you a student of theology?
We’re all theologians. Are you a good one, or a bad one?

You need to know the basics of the Christian faith - AND be growing in your knowledge of the Bible

4. The Role of the Word

Reprove - STOP! That’s sin

Rebuke - You need to go that way instead

Exhort - let me help you get there - I’ll walk alongside you.

God’s Word is:

5. Incredibly Important

because people are wanting to have their ears tickled…

Every single one of us has this tendency. We want to hear what we want to hear. 

The more you listen to the lie, the harder it becomes to accept the truth. 

6. A Steady Disposition

sober in all things

Reminder of 1 Timothy 3 - an overseer must be temperate, sensible, respectable…

A pastor must not be someone who reacts harshly

Not quick to anger, constantly irritated,  aggravated, or easily frustrated

He must be level-headed, well balanced, stable, and consistent

That should be everyone’s goal.

7. A Costly Thing

A faithful ministry that’s not costly - does not exist.

When you’re faithfully following Jesus

Radically obedient to a passionate pursuit of knowing Him and making Him known….

It will mean difficulty, struggle, trials, tribulation. 

8. A Gospel Task

Do the work of an evangelist 

Every church everywhere on every Sunday

Needs to hear the gospel.

The Gospel is that God is redeeming the world through Christ and that He calls everyone everywhere to repent of their sin and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. 

Each of us has sinned against God, breaking His law and rebelling against His rule. The penalty for our sin is death and hell. 

BUT because of His great love, God sent His Son, Jesus, who lived, the perfect, obedient life God requires and that we could not. He died on the cross in our place enduring the punishment that we deserved. 

On the third day, Christ rose bodily from the grave and now reigns in heaven. He offers forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life in God’s presence to everyone who repents of their sin and trusts in Him alone for salvation.

The call right now is:

repent and believe in the gospel

trust in, rely on, and cling to Christ

The final thing Paul says to Timothy:

9. Committed to Completion

Paul says fulfill your ministry

We don’t always know what the fullness of our calling is, so we stay steadfastly committed to serving Jesus as passionately until He calls us home.

May we all faithfully pursue having a high view of God, His Word, and preaching for the sake of our own sanctification. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob

Being a better follower

 

Watch the sermon here:  SERMON VIDEO

This passage is primarily about:

The Kind of Men we are to NOT Follow!! (2-9)

This will be an ongoing thing until Jesus comes back. Paul is talking about people inside the church who claim to be followers of Jesus.

In Ephesus, some of them were certainly elders.

Today, it refers to many of the popular TV preachers (anyone on TBN), even some SBC pastors fall into this category.

No church is immune to this danger. 

These are things to NOT be.

This is the “anti-elder” list. The opposite of the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-13.

For men will be lovers of self

They’re winsome

You’ll like them

They communicate well. 

They’ll make compelling arguments.

But they’re self-centered, and it spreads deep and reaches to every corner of a person. 

A. Lovers of Self

The summary characteristic.

his whole thing has invaded so much of our 

lovers of money - having money or things isn’t wrong, but do you love things? Or do you love God?

Boastful - Look what I have done!

Arrogant - I’m just a little better - a notch above

Revilers - insulting, slanderous,

disobedient to parents - always a bad thing

ungrateful - a lack of thankfulness

unholy - not consecrated to God

unloving - a hardhearted person.

irreconcilable - unwilling to be at peace with others

malicious gossips - greek: diabolos. Slander with evil intent

without self-control - Self controls is a fruit of the spirit.

without gentleness - again, it’s a fruit of the spirit rather than, not gentle.

without love for good - no interest in the good of those around you

treacherous - someone who will turn on you reckless - impulsive, rash, The opposite of wise, measured carefulness.

conceited - You’ll never convince them they’re being prideful about anything

lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

A mindset. Their pursuits are all self oriented.

While we all struggle with these things to some degree, when you see them consistently, or they begin to be a pattern, there’s cause for concern.

Ultimately, these people are

B. Charlatan Christians

holding to a form of godliness, but having denied its power. 

They can wear the mask quite well. They have the form, but no substance

The Command is crystal clear

Keep away form such men as these

They’re dangerous because they

C. Prey & Draw Away

They prey on the spiritually weak

John MacArthur says it very well:

Just as wrong doctrine leads to wrong living, so can wrong living easily lead to embracing wrong doctrine.

When you get stuck in this trap, whether you’re leading or following, you’re always learning and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth.

Spinning your wheels and never getting anywhere

Someone who’s goal is not your sanctification cannot lead you where you need to go. (Repeat)

But don’t despair…

Verse 9 – But they will not make further progress, for their folly will be obvious to all, just as theirs was also.

God ultimately will protect His church

He will hold on to His people.

When we’re focused on Him, passionately pursuing knowing Him and making Him known…

false teachers will become obvious.

The solution?

God’s plan for discipleship.

The Family - the foundation

The Church - God’s plan for every believer

A Mentor - you need to be discipled.

you are Timothy

Who’s your Paul?

BUT you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings…

How to Be a Better Follower

Physical Presence

You have to be in physical proximity. You can do some things at a distance when necessary, but only because the foundation has been laid with physical presence.

Mental Presence

You need to intellectually engage. Listen, think, and learn.

Spiritual Engagement

Your heart must be involved

The Holy Spirit is what enables/causes this

How can you be a better follower?

A. Theologically

Teaching - those worthy of following are teaching you. Are you following what they teach?

2. Practically

Conduct

What routines do you need to put in place? 

Purpose (focus, motivating passion)

Can you clearly articulate your purpose?

A fired up follower of Jesus Christ. Radically obedient to a passionate pursuit of knowing God and making Him known.

Faith - Faithfully serving the Lord

If you only follow when it’s convenient

You’re not following Jesus, you’re following self.

Patience - Are you a patient person? 

Staying calm when provoked or when misfortune comes your way.

Not complaining - not getting irritated

It’s more than an attitude.  It’s a determined way of life

Love - Do you genuinely deeply love people?
Is it obvious?

Perseverance - expanding on patience to include suffering

We can have a settled confidence in the Lord because:

What persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!

We can trust in Him. 

So follow Him more closely every day. Find a mentor to help you follow Him better. Do all you can to help others follow Him as well. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob

How to Be Useful to God

 If you didn't get a chance to watch the sermon, check out our YouTube channel. Here's the link:

Sermon Video

As you listen to the sermon, or after you've listened to it, here's a quick outline to help you remember and apply the passage:

The passage begins with a picture:

1. A Large House

The large house is the church. 

Gold and silver - the nice dishes - the ones on display

Vessels of honor - The ones you pull out for a dinner party

Wood and earthenware - The daily use vessels.

Vessels of dishonor - the one that’s in the bathroom.

The vessels are believers.

• Honor - faithful believers

• Dishonor - unfaithful/compromising believers

We should aim to be vessels of honor. Useful to the Master. To be useful to the Master, you need to be sanctified.

A Guide to Usefulness

Usefulness begins with a Passionate pursuit of knowing God

2. FLEE & PURSUE (v. 22)

FLEE is a command. It should be the ongoing pursuit. Like a fugitive who never stops running.

Basic immaturity is in view here

When we’re less mature, we tend to focus on wealth,  power, having influence.

Ambition is often overemphasized.

Jealousy, envy and an argumentative spirit  fall into this category.

PURSUE has the same imperative force.

Pursue Righteousness - synonymous with obedience to God’s Word.

Pursue Faith(fulness)

Basic loyalty to God. An unwavering commitment to following Him.

Pursue Love

Agape love - a love that prioritizes the other person over yourself.

Pursue Peace

1. Peace with God

2. Peace with other Christians

Verse 22 concludes - with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart - a reminder toward unity.

The basic definition of discipleship is this: 

Helping one another follow Jesus better.

3. DISCERNMENT (v. 23)

Something that’s sadly lacking in many Christians today. (Basic spiritual maturity)

There are things that need to be filtered out. 

books you should avoid

preachers you should’t listen to

blogs/podcasts that not only not helpful

but harmful.

Discernment is necessary. 

Maturity precedes discernment. 

If it leads to a quarrel - avoid going down that path.

Reminder:

4. YOU’RE A SLAVE (v. 24-25)

These things are not optional for a slave. Slave applies to both Timothy and every believer.

the Lord’s slave must not be quarrelsome,

Instead of that: (another both flee and pursue)

Patient when wronged

Be kind to everyone. - this is certainly the opposite of quarrelsome. Spiritual maturity and humility are necessary

Able to teach

Reminding us about elders and their role in the Body, but this also applies to everyone. 

The idea is that we need to bring Scripture to bear on all situations. Chapter and verse is the first thing every time.

Patient when wronged

If you stay at any church for any length of time, you will be wronged at some point. You will also wrong someone eventually.

What do you do in that situation?

Be patient. Correct with gentleness.

Because: God has been, and is being abundantly patient with you. 

Read Colossians 3:12-15

Unforgiveness is just UNacceptable

Correction must be done in the right spirit, with the right heart attitude, or you’ll need correction yourself.

(Church discipline is certainly in view here)

The goal of discipline is discipleship. 

DISCIPLine. DISCIPLeship

4. The Aim: REPENTANCE (v. 25-26)

The hope of any correction, the hope anytime you’re corrected is repentance.

Principles for correction:

1. You cannot correct in self-righteousness. 

You must have compassion for them. It must be done in love and kindness with gentleness

It’s not about difference of opinion or preferences, but disobedience to Scripture.

Actual sinful behavior. 

Heart attitude is key: Humility must be the foundation 

2 - God Grants Repentance

It’s God that does the work in your heart, and in theirs. The Holy Spirit has to be at work. 

We can’t do this on our own

God Grants Repentance. It:

• Starts in the mind - with understanding

• Moves to the heart - acknowledgement - You own it.

• Leads to outward change. A new direction. A different attitude. Behaving differently.

3 - Full knowledge of the truth

God’s Word coming to bear on the situation.

If the error is a brother/sister wronging you, the gospel is the answer because without the work of Christ and His forgiveness, without the forgiveness that He extended to you, you would never extend that forgiveness to someone else. His forgiveness is the foundation for our forgiveness.

Let’s remain committed to digging deep into God’s Word and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, bring it to bear on all aspects of our lives!

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob