Romans 8 begins Paul's explanation of the lifted condemnation in Paul's argument to the Romans. Previously Paul has been laying the foundation for the condemnation we all face as sinful humans, but here is the hinge in Romans where Paul spells out how Christ takes that condemnation away from us. Pastor David offered a summary of the process of our salvation in that God has saved us (justification), is saving us (sanctification), and will save us (glorification), then pointed us to Romans 5:18, explaining that our salvation comes "in Christ." Christ is the link that binds us all together in equal justification (everybody including Moses, Paul, and you and me). How? When God sees us, He sees His adopted children because of Christ. Christ's blood is the marker of our salvation, just as the lamb's blood marked the Jews for salvation in the Passover. There is no other way to salvation; not through works, not through a good attitude, not even through love (though those are the marks of salvation), but only through the mark of Christ's saving blood.
This proves to be an easy concept for me to grasp intellectually, but much more difficult to practically apply in my daily life. My problem is the culture in which I live and in the preconceived mindsets I have about individuality and work ethic. I have only to wait inside and in faith for the Spirit to pass over me, yet I am often uncomfortable in sitting still. I want to move, out of the safety of a blood-stained door frame, and take my chances against God in the world. I too often ask the foolish question, "How mad will Pharaoh be if our God does what He says He's going to do?" I worry about my success in this world, and how I might be able to overcome it. And when I might turn my thoughts to Heaven, I wonder how I can insure my entrance there by proving myself to God. What I must realize is that "trying to be a Christian" is not just futile; it's fatal. I am a Christian only because of Christ, and I did nothing, nor can I do anything, to insure it. God is the merciful giver; all I can do is set my thoughts on Him and glorify Him in all that I do. I fail often, but God has looked over my shortcomings on account of Christ, and He is sanctifying me into the Image He intends me to be. And then I simply love because Christ first loved me.
--Chris Ramos - C3 Student
Monday, May 2, 2011
Student Sermon Reflections::Matt 17:1-8
Easter weekend at C3, Pastor David preached through Matthew’s account of the transfiguration found in the first 8 verses of chapter 17. This is the special time in the life of Christ when he took some of his closest disciples to get a sneak peak of his full glory and splendor. The same kind of thing happened with Moses, when he received the commandments on Mt. Sinai and his face literally radiated from being in the presence of God. We learn that it is no coincidence that these two events are so similar, because what Jesus came to do was the fulfillment of what Moses was sent to do so many years before. Moses came to free the people of God from bondage and slavery to Egypt, which was to foreshadow what Jesus came to do. That is, Jesus came to free the people of God not from bondage to a national or political power, but from spiritual slavery to sin and death.
So what does that mean for me? Well, it means that the radiance of Jesus is something so powerful that it breaks the power of cancelled sin, and sets the sinner free, as one of my favorite hymns says. It means that our exodus from sin is found when we turn our eyes upon Jesus and watch the things of this world grow dim.
[1 Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another]
--Ryan Shelton - C3 Student
Monday, April 11, 2011
Student Sermon Reflections::Matt 16:24-28
This week, we returned to the study of Matthew that was begun when C3 first started. In chapter 16 now, Pastor David began with a recap, explaining the context leading up to our passage (v. 24-28). Here’s the rundown:
• Peter has proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ, God come to Earth to save mankind (16:16)
• Immediately after, Jesus begins to “show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (v. 21)
• Peter takes Jesus aside and basically lets him know that this kind of talk is bad for morale (v. 22)
• Jesus chastises Peter and tells him that “You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (v.23)
I am reminded of Colossians 3:2 which commands this very thing: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.” What a challenge in today’s society! That has probably been one of the greatest ‘hindrances’ in my life to Christ doing his work. I allow so many things to get in the way of seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). Jesus goes into more detail in verses 24-28 of Matthew 16 with exactly what we should be doing instead of being ‘hindrances’ or ‘stumbling blocks’ to Christ - in short, losing our lives to seek His kingdom. Makes sense, right? If I am going to come earnestly to seek God and his righteousness, I have to give up everything else. Nothing else matters enough to take the place of that. So, taking all that into account, David posed the question “How are you doing at following Jesus in imitating the life that He led?” which is one of total devotion and sacrifice for the gospel. How am I doing? Horribly. But God gives me mercy to try again today. Lord willing, He will give me mercy to try again tomorrow too. I’m starting by looking at how I live and seeing what things I spend most of my time doing. From there, I have to decide what to do about the things that have no kingdom seeking significance and either find ways to turn them into gospel motivated things or eliminate them from the picture. If I am to live life like Jesus, I can’t let anything get in the way of that. Not homework, my boyfriend, my family, my artwork, or even my everyday necessities. If my mind is on things that only pertain to my little life on this earth, my mind is not in the right place.
-- Heather Bowshier - C3 Student
Monday, March 21, 2011
Student Sermon Reflection::Heb 13:1-6
On Sunday Pastor David taught us about the 5 characteristics of the believer in Hebrews 13:1-6 - about being insiders through Christ and having a relationship with the Lord, how it looks to others, what an insider is and what they do. As insiders to Christ’s plan and works we are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ continually, that while we may not have warm and fuzzy feelings towards all of our brothers and sisters, we need to let Christ’s love show through actions. That really made me think of how words are meaningless without actions to back them up. Romans 12:9-10 says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
In response to the text, we ought to:
a) Help others without expecting anything in return; reciprocity is not something that Christians need to prioritize when helping others.
b) Rely on God to show you who to help and know that your reward is greater in Heaven.
--Serena Jenkins - C3 Student
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Student Sermon Reflections::Heb 13:15-16
This week we covered 3 sacrifices found in Hebrews 13:15-16. These sacrifices will emerge in the life of believers in response to the gospel in our lives. The first was praise to the Father and the author of Hebrews explains to us that this is done by “lips that acknowledge His name”. The second is not neglecting to do good. This is a bold and broad statement with no limits to who this good is to be done to/for. David then emphasized that our enemies are to be counter-culturally loved according to this and other verses (Matthew 5:43-45). The last sacrifice is sharing what we have with others. We were encouraged from this verse to not forget to love the stranger, knowing that it serves as a picture of what Christ did for us. Our love for these enemies and strangers in our lives will shine as proof that we belong to the One whose Son displayed perfect love for us (Romans 5:6). Before we began going over these three ways of sacrificing we acknowledged that our trust in his perfect Son gave us access, making our sacrifices worthy to bring to the Father. We closed by talking about how all of this is not only a response to the love of Jesus, but also because it pleases the Father. We should seek to run delightedly to do these things because of the love we have for our Shepherd who made us for himself.
In the sermon David asked us the question, “Would you still acknowledge his name considering your past week?” The week that I had leading up to spring break was a bit of a tough one. I didn’t suffer for the Lord in some big mighty way however trial “scraped up against my heart” and has caused me to look at the woman I am and allow the Lord to deal with my confusion, sin, and restless heart. A moment of honesty….I applied for a job back several months ago at a camp and I wanted it very badly. I got that lovely letter in the mail however that said I wasn’t going to be hired. It hurt and now my plans are looking quite different than expected. I am, however, beginning to see the Lord work and teach me through all of this, and believe it or not He extended grace and has allowed me to still love others and head forward in a limping sort of fashion despite this bump. I hope that as disappointments, trials and persecutions come, my faith grows and that these moments of confusion will only make me more and more excited for the city to come, knowing that only then will disappointments flee in an eternal way.
I think for me, application of this text involves evaluating my ways of sacrificing to the Father and the motives behind it all. The entire Outsiders Series has made me want to understand how I can better represent the Lord and what my life as an outsider should specifically look like. I can hope that as I learn to better sacrifice to the Lord according to the text that the world will see the blood of my Redeemer that makes any of it worthy and that the glory of my Father will be the ultimate outcome.
--Abby McQueary - C3 College Student
In the sermon David asked us the question, “Would you still acknowledge his name considering your past week?” The week that I had leading up to spring break was a bit of a tough one. I didn’t suffer for the Lord in some big mighty way however trial “scraped up against my heart” and has caused me to look at the woman I am and allow the Lord to deal with my confusion, sin, and restless heart. A moment of honesty….I applied for a job back several months ago at a camp and I wanted it very badly. I got that lovely letter in the mail however that said I wasn’t going to be hired. It hurt and now my plans are looking quite different than expected. I am, however, beginning to see the Lord work and teach me through all of this, and believe it or not He extended grace and has allowed me to still love others and head forward in a limping sort of fashion despite this bump. I hope that as disappointments, trials and persecutions come, my faith grows and that these moments of confusion will only make me more and more excited for the city to come, knowing that only then will disappointments flee in an eternal way.
I think for me, application of this text involves evaluating my ways of sacrificing to the Father and the motives behind it all. The entire Outsiders Series has made me want to understand how I can better represent the Lord and what my life as an outsider should specifically look like. I can hope that as I learn to better sacrifice to the Lord according to the text that the world will see the blood of my Redeemer that makes any of it worthy and that the glory of my Father will be the ultimate outcome.
--Abby McQueary - C3 College Student
Monday, March 7, 2011
Student Sermon Reflection::Heb 13:14
This past Sunday we continued our study of "Outsiders" as Pastor David led us into Hebrews 13:14: "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." As a Christian we are not meant to act as the world around us, and we must continue to check our motivations, expectations, etc. Are your motivations fueled by the world's norms? Or through the Word and Holy Spirit? As we abide by His law we are to follow him fully, dropping all that may hold us back, all that we may believe that defines us because He is who defines us. In this, we are to live for Him today, while living for that Day when He returns.
Pastor David made a reference to the cheesy questions that people ask us: What drives you? What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in ten years? Etc. But the cheesy-est question that came to my mind: "How would you describe yourself in three words?" This question people often focus on their greatest qualities, but I have been convicted that I need to be transparent in my everyday life: In the flesh, I am a woman who is prone to worry, to plan, to seek security. In the flesh, I am a student who continues to worry, who has learned to plan my time (or plan too much), and is working toward the day that I will be my own security (through a simple piece of paper that is a diploma). But I am eternally grateful to my redeemer and savior, Jesus Christ that my flesh does not define me. My worries do not add a single hour to my life (Matthew6:27, Luke 12:25), His perfect time beats out any of my own plans for the future (Jeremiah 29:11), and His security is better than anything I could hope to achieve (Hebrews 13:6). So my answer does not include three words, just one: I am a Christian.
As Christians, my brothers and sisters, will you go with me outside of the city gates? We will not be alone, for God will be with us. What can man do to us? For as we live for Him today and however many days are to follow, we are called to live as aliens in this land (just as Abraham). We are not of this world, we are HIS.
-- Rachel Evans – C3 Student
Pastor David made a reference to the cheesy questions that people ask us: What drives you? What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in ten years? Etc. But the cheesy-est question that came to my mind: "How would you describe yourself in three words?" This question people often focus on their greatest qualities, but I have been convicted that I need to be transparent in my everyday life: In the flesh, I am a woman who is prone to worry, to plan, to seek security. In the flesh, I am a student who continues to worry, who has learned to plan my time (or plan too much), and is working toward the day that I will be my own security (through a simple piece of paper that is a diploma). But I am eternally grateful to my redeemer and savior, Jesus Christ that my flesh does not define me. My worries do not add a single hour to my life (Matthew6:27, Luke 12:25), His perfect time beats out any of my own plans for the future (Jeremiah 29:11), and His security is better than anything I could hope to achieve (Hebrews 13:6). So my answer does not include three words, just one: I am a Christian.
As Christians, my brothers and sisters, will you go with me outside of the city gates? We will not be alone, for God will be with us. What can man do to us? For as we live for Him today and however many days are to follow, we are called to live as aliens in this land (just as Abraham). We are not of this world, we are HIS.
-- Rachel Evans – C3 Student
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Student Sermon Reflection::Heb 13:10-13
David began preaching this week from Hebrews 13:10-13 by stating simply: “people in love will go to great lengths to be with, and enjoy, the person that he or she loves”. This isn’t a lofty concept, as we have close loved ones for which we will spend greatly of ourselves to be with. In verses 10-13 God likens His Son to the sacrificial lambs to be burned outside the camp, after the shedding of blood for the covering of the sins of the people. Vs. 12: “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood.”
As one that’s stirred up by missionary biography, I love the story of the missionary to Ecuador, Jim Elliot. As I read through hundreds of pages of his journal entries, it was clear that Christ was his treasure, the love of his life. How so? In Jim Elliot’s words and actions he craved to join Christ where He is, outside the camp. For Elliot, this meant his physical death, for the sake of the Gospel, for his great Joy and God’s Glory.
If our love is Jesus, we will yearn to be close to Him. Lord, may we be a church that begs: “Let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured.”
-- Lanny Jones – C3 Student
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