Sermon Reflection::1John 4:7-12

Tweet

David preached last Sunday on 1 John 4:7-12 which is about how we know love because God first loved us by sending His son to die for us, and a call for us to display that love to one another. This morning’s message was so good for me to hear. I was getting to a point that I felt, in a way, that the Lord had taught me all that He wanted to in the last month, but I was certainly wrong. I didn’t think that there was much else that I could learn from my situation. David talked about believers being known by their fruits and I had heard that 100 times. Every time I thought of all the decent things that I had been doing that was fruitful. This was the first time that it felt real though. I could apply it and feel like there is without a doubt fruit in my life. I don’t say this to discredit those times in my past, I still feel like my life was bearing fruit, but for some reason this really hit home. I can’t completely explain it without divulging every detail of my life in the last month so I will spare you, but I can tell you that the Lord is so good. He has been teaching me several things about trusting Him fully and not half-heartedly, fleeing from sin, and recognizing that a bond with another person in Christ is so much stronger than the everyday relationship. The sermon today helped to reinforce these things even more so.

The first point that we focused on was that we are to love one another because it is in God’s nature to love. I realized that I do not trust easily which comes from years of baggage that I have held onto but in the last month the Lord has been revealing this to me. He has been peeling away layers of armor that I used for so long to protect myself so that I could feel truly loved and cared for. He has used many of you (C3) to show me that love as well as other believing friends. I cannot begin to express how much I love my church family. Having brotherly love for each other is something that I can say I feel often from y’all. It is genuine and not selfish and that is so amazing. But what the Lord has been showing me is that the foundation of love is because of the love given to us from God. Love reflects our Creator; it is in His very nature to love. The Lord has been so good to continue teaching this to me because often times I fear rejection and I compare the love I receive now, that is good, to the love that I have received in the past. The difference is that (as David explained) it is the true love that flows from God. That true love has been shown to me through my church family and I am so thankful that the Lord revealed the barrier that I had so that I could feel His love for me. I praise God for this time in my life and I want to share the love of God with others. I want to bring glory to His name. I hope that I would be so filled by His love for me that it would overflow from me to reflect God’s love to others and convey the brotherly love that we are called to.

​The second thing that I took away from the message this morning is that since love is God’s nature, and the ultimate form of love ever shown was Christ dying on the cross for sinners, God shows His love to me every day. That seems really simple but for me it was huge. When I consider my trial, and how difficult it is often, I feel God’s love for me. God has used times like this in my life to reveal more of His loving character to me. It is so loving for God to use hard times in our lives to reveal sin and draw us closer to Him. I would not have this any other way because I’ve learned so much. To the world it is strange to be so thankful for hardships, but I am. What the world doesn’t understand is that I have gained so much from it and that is why I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel like a new person because I want to pursue holiness and flee from sin with a whole new passion that I didn’t have before. I am humbled by looking and seeing what the Lord has done in one month to reveal sin in my life and draw me closer to Him. I want to seek His kingdom and be fruitful with what I have because God loves me and sent His son to die the death that I deserved. I want to live a life that brings glory to God and run as fast as I can away from worldly desires. God uses trials not necessarily as a means for punishment of sin, rather to convey His love for us. How loving is it that God would use these times to bring light to sin so that we don’t continue to walk in sin? Praise God for trials because He shows His love for us.


--C3 Member - Lauren Bullard

Sermon Reflection::Matthew 22:41-46

Tweet

Last Sunday Pastor David preached over Matthew 22:41-46, to which he tied the question, "who/what is Lord over your life?" Ouch. That question hit me pretty hard. I felt the Lord whispering something similar to that this past week, so thanks, David, for confirming that one!

The area that affected me most is in our view of ourselves, and how He has the last word in who we are. I find myself so wrapped up in what I think others think of me that I lose sight of everything else. Moments that should be sweet fellowship are drowned out by fears of possible rejection. I tend to see myself as the person I was before He took over, and assume that is what others see as well. But if I actually spent time in the Word instead of on Facebook (that's an area that needs lordship as well!), I would be reminded that He does not see the old me anymore. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that I am a "...new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Why is that so hard to remember? Because I haven't given Him lordship there.

Romans 12:2 reminds me to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." This week, I want to focus on renewing my mind and giving God the power when it comes to how I see myself. So, when I am tempted to grab my phone and do a little Facebook stalking, I'll pull up my handy dandy ESV app instead. Susan Gregory, who wrote a book on the Daniel Fast, says to pick five verses to use like the five stones David chose to fight Goliath in order to win the battle for our minds. I'm going to find five verses this week to use to get the Lord back on His throne in my fickle little mind to see myself not as the wretch I once was, but as the clean and whole person He created.

--C3'er - Amanda Barrow

Sermon Reflection::Matthew22:1-14

Tweet

I found myself a bit surprised as we reached the end of the parable in Matthew 22:1-14. My memory apparently fails me in how I read this parable before, but I wasn’t expecting the ending that came. Jesus talks of a king and a wedding feast. The king sends out servants and invites all the people you would think he would, doctors, lawyers, leaders. But none of them come; there’s too much to do. So the king, angry, has them all killed and invites everybody else from the streets, complete strangers if you will. However, one of the guests is found lacking in wedding garments. He is bound and thrown into the dark place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many are called, says the Christ, but few are chosen. Dreadful it is, I say, to fall into the hands of the living God!

I must ask myself, in which group do fall?

Am I too busy being the perfect university student? James rebukes me. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” And then John comes in behind him. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I wonder, who rules the world? Paul answers, Satan. No wonder the king had all those distracted people killed. They were lost in an entertainment they would never snap out of (at least of their own accord). Am I wandering around like a fool keeping myself entertained as I wait for my death?

Am I part of that blessed group saved from destruction on account of those who did not accept the invitation (Romans 11)? If so, how thankful I am! Brought to my knees by grace and kindness, and forever loyal to my King. I cannot boast. It is not my own doing that brought me to the feast, and it is because of others’ rejection that I am here. This has nothing to do with me. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!...To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Am I part of that third group? Am I just pretending to be a child of God? Am I working hard to look like I belong to the Bride of Christ? As a community group leader, this would be a frightening position. John warns against “anti-Christs,” false teachers and prophets. Paul tells us to rid ourselves of them. Shepherds must kill wolves. And rightfully so. God will have His judgement, and I cannot stand before Him naked and expect His mercy. Only the clothing of Christ will save me from the King’s wrath. Blessed is the man who has put on Christ as his Protector, Savior, Lord.

“God is in the heavens. He does what He pleases.”

Sola Gratia
(Sola Scriptura)
Sola Fide
Solus Christus
Soli Deo Gloria!

--C3 Member - Chris Ramos

Sermon Reflection::Matthew 21:33-46

Tweet

This week David preached on “The Parable of the “Tenant” (Matthew 21:33-46), the second of three parables that Jesus preached to the religious leaders. In this parable Jesus introduces us to the master of a vineyard who leased his vineyard to tenants while he was away. These tenants eventually became possessive over the vineyard, and when the master sent his servants to collect his fruits, the tenants killed the servants. After the tenants had killed three of the master’s servants, the master decided to send his one son to collect the fruits. The tenants rebelled and killed the master’s son as well. As he spoke, Jesus gives a history of Israel while also shedding light on what was to come. We learned that the master of the vineyard was God, while the vineyard was God’s people. The tenants represented the religious leaders, and the servants were the prophets of old.

Throughout this narrative, God is patient and slow to pass judgment. But we also see a side of jealousy; Jealous for HIS people, HIS first fruits. Ultimately, while God was patient, the religious leaders underestimated how committed God was to getting what was HIS.

Too often we become like the tenants. We take ownership of things that are not ours, ultimately seeking to steal the glory from God. Even as the first fruits we should not treat God’s grace cheaply. With that, seek out sin in your life that offends God. By continuously divulging in a sin, we are “cheapening” HIS grace in our lives, which is a dangerous way to live.

--C3 Member - Rachel Evans

Sermon Reflection::Matthew 21:12-22

Tweet

Can I just start by saying how blessed I am to be a part of a church body who loves the Word and like David said, “Doesn’t shy away from difficult texts.” Using scripture to bring conviction and transformation of the heart is painful and dirty, but so necessary and I am so grateful for this mindset that our church body has helped to shape in our minds.

Last Sunday's sermon comes from Matthew 21:12-22 and we are presented with 2 major events:
Jesus cleansing the temple and Jesus cursing the fig tree. In the first section we see Jesus’ righteous anger caused by the manner the temple has been treated. It was no longer a place of worship but had become a bank and shopping mall. David presented us with the question then, “are you a trader (one that gives to God only as much as God “gives” to them), buyer (makes educated purchases and wants the purchase to benefit them in some way), seller (seeking others' praise, they are there not to worship but to be worshiped), or worshiper?” Man, if I really examine my heart, I think it is easy for me to fall into the category of seller, as difficult as that is to admit. I want people to see what I am doing or what and who I know, as opposed to entering with a heart of pure worship. I want to be liked, I am a people pleaser. I think we need to often check our hearts and our intentions in why we are doing things. We must beg that the Lord would remove those stumbling blocks that hinder us from genuinely worshiping our Creator.

In the second section that we studied (Matthew 21:18-22) we see this story of Jesus cursing a fig tree because it did not have fruit. From a distance the tree looked appealing and full of life. In my head I picture this tree with lots of bright vibrant green leaves. When Jesus approached the tree to find fruit to eat, he finds that there isn’t any. The tree that looked so promising from the distance had nothing to offer because there was no fruit. The purpose of the tree was to produce fruit and it had none. So Jesus curses this tree and it withers instantly. The disciples were confused as to why the tree would wither. They did not realize what Jesus was teaching them given what had happened just before at the temple. Jesus was giving the disciples a visual about how our lives must produce fruit. John 15:8 says “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” Like the seemingly thriving tree but lack of fruit, the Jews at the temple looked good from the outside, but when Jesus approached the temple he was able to see what was really going on.

From these verses (Matthew 21:12-22) we see the condition of the temple and can assess what role one might play; trader, buyer, seller, or worshiper. Then we see that Jesus is saying, if there is no fruit, there is no proof of being one of HIS disciples. That is scary. Especially if we can walk in and out being a seller or buyer. A seller or buyer uses the temple for their benefit and self-righteousness not as a place of worship. That is “me” centered. David mentioned that scripture says, if a tree does not bear good fruit it is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10). I remember the first time this concept really started clicking with me. We were at the first iGoglobal.org conference a few years back and it wrecked me. I thought I had understood it before but for some reason that night, it hit me. Our lives must bear fruit in order for it to be known that we are disciples of Christ. It is not about a prayer or an experience one summer, it is a continual process of growing and bearing fruit. I think of friends and close family members that don’t seem to produce any fruit but claim Christ. It is the hardest thing to watch them be so content with their lives when they are dead. Like David said, we need to be praying “God, I want to be more joyful, seeking the good of others, kind, loving toward my co-worker, gentle with a frustrating friend.” We need to pray that the Lord would cut out the diseased parts of our hearts so that we will produce good fruit. Verse 22- “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

--C3 Member - Lauren Bullard

Sermon Reflection::Matthew 21:1-11

Tweet

This week David preached on Matthew 21:1-11, the story of Jesus’ “triumphant” entry into Jerusalem just shortly before his trial and crucifixion. The manner of Jesus' entrance is quite extraordinary for the King of Kings with His choosing to ride a small donkey. Of course, this is the fulfillment of prophecy, and the crowd’s reaction is similarly extraordinary (and unfortunate). While the crowd cheers in shouts of affirmation, they unfortunately affirm a misunderstanding of who it is who rides this donkey into Jerusalem. Their cries of “Hosanna to the Son of David!” while ringing with truth, are a far cry from the most important truth about Jesus, that He comes to save them from their own unrighteousness (not from the oppression of Rome). The Jews believed He had come as a political savior rather than a spiritual one, a belief that leads them to destruction in the end. When the question is asked, “Who is this?” their answer again is truthful, yet incomplete. Yes, Jesus is the Son of David, a Prophet of the Lord, but what they fail to give Him is the most important title, that of the Christ. Such a deadly misunderstanding leads them into disappointment when He does not free them from Rome, sending them to attempt to free themselves, and sending Rome to come down upon the Jews with capital force. This is why in Luke 19 we find Jesus weeping after His entrance, because He knows their halfhearted exuberance for Him is the sign of their coming destruction.

We must ask ourselves the same question, “Who is this?” And we cannot underestimate the significance of our answer. Is He a prophet? A savior? A teacher? A friend? Can He be all of these and more? We must think carefully and answer truthfully and completely, for our answer means the difference between life and death.

--C3 Member - Chris Ramos

Sermon Reflection::Matthew 20:1-16

Tweet

The message from Sunday was from Matthew 20:1-16, in which Jesus teaches a parable designed to further explain what he’s just said in Matthew 19:30 and will say again in Matthew 20:16, “the last will be first, and the first last.”

The parable paints the picture of a man who hires laborers to work in his vineyard. The vineyard owner hires laborers throughout the day, resulting in some workers being in the vineyard all day, some half of the day, and others just a few hours. When the day is over and it comes time for all the workers to get paid, they find the vineyard owner paying each one of them equally despite the amount of time they worked. The workers who had labored all day begin complaining, which results in the owner asking, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me” and “Do you begrudge my generosity?” At this the parable comes to a close and Jesus states, “So the last will be first, and the first last.”

From this parable David gave two lessons: (1) God always gives his children more than what they deserved, (2) God has the right to do what he wants with what belongs to him. With the first lesson came the question, “Are you happy with what God has given you, or do you feel like you deserve more?” My well formed theological argument says, “Of course I don’t deserve more, I don’t deserve anything. I am totally depraved and everything I’ve received from the Lord, specifically salvation, is by his grace,” and then I trust my knowledge of that will produce gratefulness for what I’ve received from God and absolute contentment. Yet, though I may know one thing in my mind, so often I feel in my heart a different answer. I know I don’t deserve more but I desperately want more. Being content is hard, and fighting for joy in all my circumstances is just that - a fight. I’d be lying to you if I told you it was a fight that I find myself winning more than I do losing, but I trust God will grow me. I can say that as I fight it’s the truth I find in the second lesson that I use for a weapon. God has the right to do what he wants with what belongs to him. I belong to God, and I’m very grateful for that, and because I belong to God I know that what he wants to do with me is for my good, because he’s working all things together for my good. God is infinitely more wise than me, plus he loves me, and it’s knowing and believing this that helps me to fight for joy in God over and above anything else. It also helps to be surrounded by people who are fighting the same fight with the same weapon.

--C3 College Minister - Justin Turner