2009 April Archive at The Plowman

Monthly Archive for April, 2009

Cross-Centered & Devotion-Driven Faith

Published

Wayne

on April 27, 2009

in Galatians, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series

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Galatians #13—An exposition of Galatians 6:6-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 26, 2009.

Sermon Notes »

Introduction:
What is the Christian life all about? What are we supposed to do with our life on this earth after coming to faith in Christ? To many it seems the Christian life begins and ends with conversion. That the whole of the Christian experience is about “getting saved.” It is about avoiding Hell and gaining Heaven. Is that really all there is to it? Is there nothing more? If not then by all means live it up and do everything you want and then commit to Christ. Or better yet commit to Christ and nail down that security and then live however you want until it’s time to go! Of course if you bother to read the Scripture you know that salvation or conversion is merely the beginning. Once you are declared righteous by God’s grace because of Christ, you begin the process of being made holy through the working of God’s grace in you through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian is called to holiness of life. We are called to mature in our faith. That means we are to grow in our understanding of God, His character, His ways and our lives are to conform to His image. We are to grow in Christ-likeness as we walk with Him. After putting forth the doctrine of salvation by grace alone Paul then applies that doctrine to life. This is what that doctrine looks like on the street. This is how we live that truth. This morning we come to the end of our brief study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Our text is found in chapter 6 beginning with verse 6.

Text: Galatians 6:6-18

Last time we said that the proof of spirituality is reflected in how you live. You think you are spiritual? Prove it! Prove it by how you deal with others and their sin. Prove it by the way you deal with your own sin. Prove it by taking responsibility for your own actions. We learned that mature faith:

is compassionate and redemptive in dealing with the sins of others.
is honest and unflinching when dealing with its own weaknesses.
takes responsibility for its own conduct.

This morning we discover that:
Thesis: A mature faith is cross-centered and devotion driven.
There are two things I want to call to your attention.

A mature faith is marked by generosity, devotion and perseverance. (6:6-10)
A mature faith is anchored in the cross and glories in what the cross accomplishes. (6:11-18)

A Word to Whiners

Published

Wayne

on April 19, 2009

in Jeremiah, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series

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Jeremiah #58 - An exposition of Jeremiah 45:1-5. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 19, 2009.
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Portrait of a Mature Faith

Published

Wayne

on April 19, 2009

in Galatians, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series

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Galatians #12 - An exposition of Galatians 6:1-5. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 19, 2009.

Sermon Notes »

Introduction:
There is something I feel like a need to tell you. I’m a little uncomfortable talking about it and I wouldn’t want it broadcast but…there are some sinners present today. There are some folks present whose profession is better than their performance. There are some folks who talk a better walk than they walk. I’m just going to say it - there are hypocrites among us! I’m sure that doesn’t surprise you. I know it doesn’t surprise folks “out there.” The question is what do we do about it? Do we turn a “blind eye” and pretend that it doesn’t exist? Do we excuse it with a cavalier, “Nobody’s perfect?” Do we call for an evangelical jihad and run out the infidels? What do we do about it? How are we to respond to sinners in our midst? The church is not perfect. It is not perfect because it is made up of people. Flawed, broken, people who are saved by grace and are in the process of being made holy. We are “frail children of dust” who are stumbling toward glory and yet we are called to a higher standard. We are called to live according to a different set of rules. We are called to be separate and distinct from the world around us. According to the writer of Hebrews we are to “spur one another on to good works” (Hebrews 10:24). So how do we spur one another on without adding to our hypocrisy? Paul was writing to the churches of Galatia because they were in danger of falling away from grace. They were being pulled back into a religion of rules and losing sight of the mercy and grace of God that alone bring the hope of eternal life. In the opening chapters he unflinchingly lays down the doctrine of salvation of grace alone through faith alone. In the last half of the book he applies that doctrine to life. Here is how that truth is lived out in practical ways. He warned of the destructiveness of biting and devouring one another. He spoke of the need to walk by the Spirit rather than the flesh. He laid out the difference between the two and called on the Galatians to make a conscious choice. Note how he ends the 5th chapter - And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (5:24-26)

He is calling them to a life of genuine spirituality. He is calling them to a mature faith. Now you might expect him to lunch into a grand statement of what maturity is all about. Instead he gives two very practical illustrations of mature faith. I want us to look at the first one this morning. Our text is found in Galatians chapter 6 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Galatians 6:1-5
Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? Do you think of yourself as being mature in faith? Prove it. Show me what you got. Isn’t that the way we operate in every other area of life? Try this. Go down to the tag office and say, “I’m here to pick up my driver’s license if you’ll be so kind as to give it to me I’ll be on my way.” They won’t do it. They want some proof you know what you are doing. They make you take an exam and then send someone to ride around with you and grade you and see if you qualify for a license. If you pass (not all of us do the first time) they will give you a license. Or how about this walk into St. Francis and say, “Hi, I’m a brain surgeon and I’d like a job here.” They are probably not going to hire you. They are going to want some proof before they allow you privilege in their hospital. It’s true even at home. You are sitting in your favorite chair and your son hopes up in your lap. You say, “How’s my boy? I love you buddy.” And he says, “Daddy will you play ball with me?” Do you know what he is saying? “Prove it.” We all know that talk is cheap and the real proof is in the “doing.” That is what this passage is about. Here is what genuine spiritual maturity looks like.

Do you consider yourself to be spiritual? Do you think you are mature in your faith? Let’s see.

I want to point out three characteristics of mature faith.

Those who are mature in faith are compassionate and redemptive in their dealing with the sins of others. (6:1-2)
Those who are mature in the faith are honest and unflinching when dealing with their own fallenness. (6:3)
Those who are mature in faith take responsibility for their own conduct. (6:4-5)

So, you think you are spiritual? How do you handle the sin of others? How do you handle your own? It’s not just about how much Bible you know. It’s not about how many services you attend or how much money you give. It is about how well you live the truth of your faith.

Why All the Fuss?

Published

Wayne

on April 16, 2009

in Non-Series, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series

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An exposition of Luke 23:44-46. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday Morning, April 12, 2009.

Introduction:
It stands at the center of our faith. It crystallizes the essence of the ministry of Jesus. And yet, in the two thousand year history of the church, there has never been a time when the significance of the cross, the centrality of the cross and the question of the necessity of the cross has been so controversial. D. A. Carson has suggested that two thousand years of pious Christian tradition has “domesticated” the cross. It is a common fixture with which we have become comfortable. People are no longer concerned with questions like, “How can I be reconciled to God?” No longer are we asking, “How can I escape the judgment of God?” In fact we are questioning whether there is any need to be “delivered” from anything.

Sure, we still sing about the cross. We hang on to the “language” of the cross but it has been emptied of its meaning. It is retained as a part of our cultural heritage but we have “outgrown” its old fashion notion of a bloody sacrifice appeasing a wrathful God. Such notions are repulsive to many. Yet I would suggest that the great need of our day is a return to the preaching of the cross. We must return to a solid, biblical understanding of the cross of the Lord Jesus. We must return to the cross and force ourselves to remain there and drink it all in. We must see the horror and the agony of the cross. We must hear the sounds of the cross; the angry shouts of the mob, the cutting, sarcastic attacks of the religious establishment, the agonizing taunting of our Lord’s fellow victims and the tender, compassionate words of the dying Savior. We must tremble in the darkness and be startled by the shout that ended it all. For only then will we begin to see the beauty of the cross.

The apostle Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus.” Why would he say that? What would cause George Bennard to write, “I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown?” What would possess a man to cherish and cling to an instrument of death? Just one thing, he looked at it long enough to see its beauty. And once you see its beauty you are never the same. Our text this morning is found in the 23rd chapter of Luke’s Gospel.

Text: Luke 23:44-46
By this time in Luke’s account we have marveled at the beauty of Jesus’ life, the power of his words and the extent of his authority. We have watched him face his lying accusers with grace and dignity. We have witnessed his tender and compassion from the cross.
And now he enters behind the veil to atone for the sin of the world.

Thesis: The beauty of the cross is tied directly to the wonder of His mission.
Why did Jesus come? What was the purpose of his earthly life? He came to die.
He came to give his life a ransom for many. He came to perfectly fulfill the righteous demands of God and to atone for sin. On the night of his birth the angels declared, “Unto you has been born a Savior.” Mary and Joseph were told to name him “Jesus” for he will save his people from sin. We cannot separate his cradle from his cross.

From our text let me give you three reasons why we should glory in the beauty of the cross.

We should glory in the fact that He became sin for us. (23:44-45a)
We should glory in the fact that He secured for us an unlimited access into the Father’s presence. (23:45b)
We should glory in the fact that He sovereignly laid down his life for us. (23:46)

A Call to Worship

Published

Wayne

on April 15, 2009

in Non-Series and Sermon Podcast

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An exposition of Psalm 24. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 15, 2009.

What is worship? For answers Pastor Harris turns to Psalm 24 for the essentials of worship. It’s all about God, as we come to praise his person and his glorious works:

as creator,
as savior,
as king.

Questions

Published

Wayne

on April 9, 2009

in Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series

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A Wednesday-evening Bible study. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on April 8, 2009.

Lessons from a Battle-worn Prophet

Published

Wayne

on April 6, 2009

in Jeremiah, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series

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An exposition of Jeremiah 44:1-30. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 5, 2009.

Introduction:
Last words are important. It is common when folks gather after the loss of a loved one to talk about the last time they saw the person or their last conversation. History has often been punctuated by last words. Washington’s farewell address is considered one of his greatest speeches. When we think of Scripture we think of Paul’s last letter to Timothy and those powerful admonitions as he hands the torch to his young protege. This evening I want us to consider the last words of Jeremiah. For 40 years he was faithful to declare the glory of God’s holiness and His justice. During a time of great national crisis, at great personal cost, the faithful prophet declared God’s eternal truth calling the nation to repentance. Set apart from his mother’s womb he was called to “pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” Now vindicated by God’s judgment of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon the prophet finds himself with a group of refuges in Egypt. Faithful as always he does in his final message what he has always done - he called the people to repentance and when they refused he spoke of God’s sovereign judgment. Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapter 44.

Text: Jeremiah 44:1-30
Though not the last chapter of his prophecy this is his final sermon. Chapter 45 contains a brief prophecy given to Baruch. Chapters 46-51 contain the pronouncement of judgment given to surrounding nations. These prophecies are from an earlier period. Chapter 52 is an appendix not written by Jeremiah so chapter 44 is his final word.

Let’s think about what Jeremiah has been through:

Ignored
Rejected
Scorned
Humiliated
Beaten

Imprisoned
Put in stocks
Falsely accused
Condemned as a traitor
Twice cast into a dungeon and left to die

No wonder he is known as “The weeping prophet” and yet always faithful. Rabbinic tradition says he was stoned to death in Egypt. Perhaps the writer of Hebrews had Jeremiah in mind as he wrote: They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— Hebrews 11:37.As we explore this chapter I want us to learn some…

Sobering lessons from a tired, weary, battle-worn and yet faithful prophet.

It is easy to deal with the Old Testament as a detached historical observation. Here we find stories of ancient peoples that really have nothing to do with us or our context. A different time a different place, interesting to consider but having no practical application to my life in the modern world. That is a great mistake. From the Old Testament we learn a great deal about the character of God and how he deals with His people. He doesn’t change. What was expected then is still expected today. We haven’t changed. Times change. Circumstances change but human nature does not. There is much to learn from the Old Testament saints. In fact Paul tells the Corinthians that the Old Testament is for our benefit. We are to learn from their success and their failure (1 Corinthians 10:6).

In the opening verses of Jeremiah 44 we learn that sin clouds the vision and dulls the senses so that the sinner fails to understand the obvious. (44:1-10)
That brings us to a second lesson - God sovereignly judges all rebellion. (44:11-14)
Sin blatantly denies God’s sovereignty and arrogantly clings to its own false sense of autonomy. (44:15-19)
God’s most terrifying judgment is seen in His granting the sinful heart its desire. (44:20-27)
And it all comes down to this…
Rest assured at the end of the day the truth will be known and God will be God. (44:28-30)

Oh, there is one other thing I think is worth noting. Take a look back at 44:14.
so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to dwell there. For they shall not return, except some fugitives.

That is the grace of our God!

I Love a Parade

Published

Wayne

on April 5, 2009

in Non-Series, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series

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An exposition of Luke 19:28-44. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered a Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 5, 2009.

Introduction:
“It just didn’t make sense. It was not in keeping with what had been going on for the past three years. And it was dangerous. This was a time for laying low. This was a time to play it safe. Why take the risk? Why now? You know they are going to be looking for something like this. It’s suicide.” That must have been the confused reasoning of the disciples as Jesus made his approach to Jerusalem on the first day of that infamous week.

Weeks before, Jesus had “set his face as a flint for Jerusalem.” He resolutely determined to go there. Nothing could stop him – nothing would stand in his way. The time had come. That time established, by the Father in eternity past, had now come. God’s eternal plan of redemption was now reaching its climax. For weeks Jesus had been preparing his disciples by focusing on the Kingdom. He talked about its requirements – you must have the faith of a child, a simple, dependent faith. You must be willing to lose everything in order to obtain it. Jesus taught them that such a thing is impossible with man but possible with God. He taught them to look up for the Kingdom of God was near. He told them they would see it come and yet it is still future. The Kingdom is here now and coming later. He taught them about living in the “not yet” of the Kingdom. History’s greatest drama is about to be played out as the Sovereign Creator of the universe mounts a donkey colt and makes his way toward Jerusalem. Our text this morning is found in Luke chapter 19.

Text: Luke 19:28-44

Luke, the careful historian, has crafted his story to reveal Jesus as the Messiah of the Jews and the Savior of the world. His desire is that those who hear his Gospel might come to place their faith and trust in Jesus and Jesus alone for salvation. Throughout his Gospel he has made it clear that the people responded favorably toward Jesus while the establishment despised him. Nowhere is that any clearer than in this text.

Remember the context. Hostility has been mounting for years. The more popular Jesus became with the crowd the more threatened the establishment felt. He had to be silenced. They had to get rid of him, but how? Numerous meetings had been held. Various plots had been developed but none of them seemed to get off the ground. If only they could get him to come to Jerusalem. If they could just have him on their home turf. A few weeks earlier they tried to get him to come to Jerusalem (Luke 13:31). It didn’t work.

That’s why it didn’t make sense to his followers. Why go to Jerusalem? Why now? Jesus would be playing into the hands of his enemies. And it appears as if he did. Albert Schweitzer the 19th century theologian described the Passion Week in terms of the Lord Jesus being “crushed in the wheels of history.” What Schweitzer failed to realize was that it was the Lord Jesus, himself, who was turning the wheel! To Schweitzer the death of the Lord Jesus was the tragic end of a noble man who died before completing his great work. The fact is that his death was his great work!

As we explore this incredible story we will discover that:

Thesis: The Triumphal Entry dramatically reveals the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

There are three things I want us to note in our text.

A surprising revelation. (19:28-36)
A prophetic celebration. (19:37-40)
A shocking declaration. (19:41-44)

This is the heart of the Savior. This is how God sorrows over hearts that miss their “day” of salvation. The tears of the Lord Jesus measure the value of your soul. The question is will he weep over you?

I don’t believe it is possible to overestimate the significance of what happened that day in Jerusalem. The Triumphal Entry dramatically revealed the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

He is reveled as the Great Servant King. He is seen as the Great Priest reconciling the world to God. He is seen as the Great Prophet. Behold the Lord Jesus – Prophet, Priest and King.