What a Friend We Have in Jesus! - Nathan Rages

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15:13-15) Outline: 1. Two proofs of Christ's friendship love to us: (1) Laying down His life for us and (2) Telling us all that He's heard from the Father. 2. One test of our friendship with Christ: Obeying His commands. 3. Application to: The lonely believer. The suffering believer. The backslidden believer. The death-fearing believer. The non-believer.

Thinking Biblically About Nature, Science, and Technology - Nathan Rages

Five basic guiding principles: 

1. God’s original creation was very good (Gen. 1:1-31, Is. 45:18).

2. People should exercise dominion over creation (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:15, 9:2-3, Ps. 8:5-8).

3. Creation is now badly damaged because of human sin (Gen. 3:16-19, Rom. 8:19-22).

4. People must overcome nature’s brokenness (Gen. 3:17-19).

5. We look forward to the full redemption of ourselves and creation (Gen. 3:15, Rom. 8:21, Acts 3:21, 2Pet. 3:13).

How Jesus Looked (at People) - Nathan Rages

1. Looked with compassion at suffering people (Luke 7:12-14).

2. Looked with anger at hard-hearted religionists (Mark 3:1-5).

3. Looked with welcome at new converts (John 1:40-42, Luke 19:2-5).

4. Looked with love at those rejecting Him. (Mark 10:17-23).

5. Looked with discernment at givers’ contributions (Luke 21:1-4).

6. Looked with conviction at a believer’s sin (Luke 22:60-62).

7. Looked with tears at people facing God’s judgement (Luke 19:41-44).

Church Discipline: The Process to Apply it and Restore the Repentant - N...

Matt 18:15-17 15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." 

The Process of applying discipline

1. Talk one-on-one.  (gently, humbly, Scripturally)

2. Involve one or two others.

3. Tell the church.

4. Remove from fellowship. 

Frequently Asked Questions about the process:

1. Must the process always include these four steps?

2. How quickly should we move to the next step?

3. How do we discern true repentance?

4. How should repentant individuals be restored after discipline?

Freely You Received, Freely Give! - Nathan Rages

Matthew 10:8b "Freely you received, freely give."  In these few special words the Lord Jesus joins two concepts: (1) Gratitude for all that we've received and (2) Motivation for generosity in ministry to others.

Church Discipline: Who Applies it and Receives it?

Question 1: Who administers church discipline?

Answer: All church members are involved, though elders have a major role in some cases.  

Scriptures cited: Matthew 18:15, Luke 17:3, Matthew 5:23-24, Romans 15:14, Colossians 3:16, Matthew 7:55, 3John v9-10

Question 2: Who receives church discipline?

Answer: Fellow church members who display (1) heresy, (2) schism, or (3) misconduct.  This includes church elders.

Scriptures cited: Romans 16:17, 2John v9-11, Titus 3:10-11, 1Corinthians 5:11, 2Thessalonians 3:6, Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 19:11, 1Thessalonians 5:14, 1Timothy 5:19-20

Church Discipline: Why do it? - Nathan Rages

Key Scriptures about church discipline: 

Matthew 18:15-20, 1Corinthians 5:1-13, 2Corinthians 2:3-11, Psalms 141:5, 

Proverbs 27:5-6, Matthew 3:8, Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 28:20, Romans 2:23-24, Romans 16:17, Galatians 6:1-2, 1Thessalonians 5:14, 2Thessalonians 3:6,14-15, 1Timothy 1:19-20, 1Timothy 5:19-20, 2Timothy 2:16-18, Titus 1:12-13, Titus 3:9-11, Hebrews 12:11 and 2John v10-11

Reasons WHY we do it:

1. Because Christ commands it. 

2. Because His church must be holy.

3. Because sin is infectious.

4. Because discipline deters future sin.

5. Because it benefits the wayward.

6. Because it yields peaceful, loving relationships.