Sunday, June 26, 2022

Fellowship in Three Directions - Nathan Rages


The keyword of 1John 1:3-7 is "fellowship", and John says every Christian has fellowship with three parties:
1. With the Apostles.  v3 "so that you too may have fellowship with us"
2. With the Triune God.  v3 "indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" and v6 "we have fellowship with Him"
3. With other believers. v7 "we have fellowship with one another"

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Certainty About the Gospel - Nathan Rages


In this introductory message to an anticipated preaching series from the first epistle of John, we focus on the first three verses.  The Apostle John begins his letter by encouraging confident certainty about the Gospel message concerning Jesus Christ by emphasizing these five things about it:     
1. Originated in eternity - v1,2.
2. Manifested in time - v2.
3. Observed by witnesses - v1.
4. Proclaimed to many - v2,3.
5. Gives life to believers - v1,2.

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Wearing Your Humble Clothes - Nathan Rages


1Peter 5:5 says, "...all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another..."  This sermon explores how we do that, how we put on our humble clothes and the situations in which we most need to wear them: 

General exhortations to humility within the church body: 1Peter 3:8-9, Colossians 3:12-13, Philippians 2:3, and Ephesians 4:2-3.

Five particularly challenging areas, where humble clothes are vital:
1. Authority relationships - 1Peter 5:3,5.
2.  Christian service - John 13:14-15, Mark 9:35.
3.  Ministry success - 1Sam. 18:7, Proverbs 27:21, Genesis 41:16, Daniel 2:30, Acts 3:12,14:14-15, 1Corinthians 3:7. 
4. Devotional practices - Matthew 6:1-6,16-18.
5.  Spiritual knowledge - Romans 12:16, 1Corinthians 8:1-2, 13:9-12.

Sunday, June 5, 2022

Humbling Yourself Under God's Mighty Hand - Nathan Rages


1Peter 5:6 exhorts us to "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God".  Here are six areas in which we must do so:
1. Salvation - Luke 18:13-14, Matthew 18:1-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1Timothy 1:15.
2. Election - Romans 9:20-21, 11:18-25, 1Corinthians 1:26-29.
3. Providence - Amos 3:6, Job 1:20-21, Psalm 18:30, Isaiah 45:9, James 4:13-16.
4. Scripture - Isaiah 66:2, Philippians 2:12-13.
5. Prayer - Revelation 3:17, 2Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 10:17, Matthew 15:21-28.  
6. Worship - Psalm 95:6, 8:3-4, Isaiah 6:1-5, Job 40:4, 42:4-6, Psalm 115:1.