Handling Our Conscience Differences - Nathan Rages

In this follow-up to last week's message about "Keeping a Clear Conscience", we consider five principles for navigating the challenges of interaction with Christians whose consciences differ from ours in certain areas: 

1. Distinguish differences of conscience from bigger issues. (Matt. 23:24, 1Cor. 15:3-4, Gal. 1:8)

2. Think and act graciously toward differing brethren. (Rom. 14:1-6)

3. Never cause a brother to violate his conscience. (Rom. 14:13-15,20-21, 1Cor. 8:9-13)

4. Give up your rights when love requires it. (Rom. 15:1-3, 1Cor. 9:19-23)

5. Celebrate our unity in the biggest things. (Rom. 14:17,15:5-7)

Keep a Clear Conscience - Nathan Rages

Our conscience is the internal moral monitor hard-wired into every human by the Creator.  This sermon explores eight questions about our conscience:

1. What is it? (Rom. 2:14-15)

2. How does it change at conversion? (Heb. 9:14,10:22, Rom. 9:1)

3. Is it always accurate? (Acts 23:1, Rom. 14)

4. Should you always obey it? (Rom. 14:22-23, 1Tim. 1:19)

5. Can it be damaged? (Matt. 23:24, Col. 2:16-18, 1Tim. 4:2)

6. Can it be re-calibrated? (Acts 10:12-15, 2Tim. 3:16-17, Heb. 5:14)

7. Is it possible to keep it clear? (2Tim. 1:3, Heb. 13:18, 1Pet. 3:16, 1Tim. 1:5,3:8-9, Rom. 14:22)

8. How can that “clearness” be maintained? (Acts 24:16, 1John 1:5-9, Rom. 13:5, Matt. 5:23-24)

All Things Are Possible To Him Who Believes! - Nathan Rages

Mark 9:14-29 describes Jesus healing a demonized boy after His own disciples had failed to deliver him.  From this account we can learn six practical lessons:

1. The Christian life alternates between refreshment and warfare (v14).

2. Satan is cruel to all, even children (v17-18,20-22).

3. Jesus can set any captive free (v19,25-27).

4. Jesus abhors unbelief (v19).

5. Jesus honors spiritual honesty (v24).

6. Spiritual power is obtained through believing prayer (v23,28-29).

We Saw His Glory! - Nathan Rages

Luke 9:28-36 describes one of the most spectacular events to occur on this planet: the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It happened in these fives stages:

1. Prayer (v28-29).

2. Glory (v29-31).

3. Visitors (v30-31).

4. Suggestion (v32-33).

5. Declaration (v34-36).

It accomplished three things:

1. Jesus was encouraged for the final part of His mission.

2. The Apostles were encouraged about the true nature of their Master.

3. We today can be encouraged, comforted and exhorted.

Happy Little Trees - Robert Hamilton

Psalm 1:1-3 gives extremely practical instruction regarding the influences upon our thinking, originating either from "the counsel of the wicked" or God's Word.  

1. Don'ts (v1).

2. Do's (v2).

3. Development (v3).

Jesus' Radical Discipleship Requirements - Nathan Rages

In Luke 9:23-27 Jesus gives a series of His difficult teachings, including a  list of five *requirements* for all those who would follow Him: 

1. Deny yourself (v23).

2. Take up your cross daily (v23).

3. Follow Jesus (v23).

4. Lose your life for Jesus’ sake (v24).

5. Don’t be ashamed of Jesus and His words (v26).

But intermixed with the requirements are also these *motivations* to encourage us to follow in that sometimes difficult path:

1. You obtain true life when you lose your life for Jesus (v24).

2. Your soul is worth more than the whole world (v25).

3. You’ll face Christ at His glorious Judgment (v26).

4. You’ll see Christ’s kingdom now on earth (v27).

Who Do You Say That I Am? - Nathan Rages

Luke 9:7-9,18-22 are passages in which people are trying to determine the true identity of the Lord Jesus.  From this we can learn these five lessons:

1. People have various false ideas about Jesus’ identity (v7-8,19).

2. Faith in Jesus must be personal not second-hand (v20).  

3. Certainty about Jesus comes from God’s revelation (Matt. 16:17). 

4. Christ had to suffer greatly and rise again (v22).  

5. Prejudice prevents the reception of truth (v21-22).