The Plowman

The Hope of the World: The Joy of the Church [ 37:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (53)

The Hope of the World: The Joy of the Church: A Study of 1 John #03

An exposition of 1 John 2:1-2. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 18, 2015.

Intro:

It is one of the profound mysteries of our age.  We are well on our way to unlocking the secrets of genetic engineering.  We, through the use of technological wonders, are probing the history of far off planets.  Giant strides have been made in medicine as we plumb the depths of the mysteries of the human body.  By the time the latest and greatest electronic device rolls off the assembly line – it is outdated, old school – technology has moved on.  More information, more knowledge, more data is thrown at you every day than you could possibly assimilate or use.  Information overload is an everyday occurrence.  Yet with all this information, in spite of this wealth of knowledge and these profound insights – we still can’t figure it out.  How does the average Baptist church suck the life out of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Vance Havner asked half a century ago – “Why is it the average Baptist church begins at 11 o’clock sharp and ends at 12 o’clock dull?”  To our shame, we have allowed the Lord’s Day to become routine.  The service may well go off like clock work.  Every element in its place performed to perfection.  The music organized, selected and sung with great skill; the message sound theologically, delivered with eloquence; but no sign of life.  No joy.  No passion.  On the other hand some are determined to manufacture life, joy and passion through lighting, images and sounds.  Services complete with multi-media productions that thrill the senses and wow the imagination.  But the end result is to marvel at the technology or glory in the emotion – rather than worship the Creator!

Don’t misunderstand me.  I believe in planning and organizing worship.  I believe in doing the best we can for the glory of God.  Choirs should rehearse.  Preachers should rehearse!  Messages should be thought through, spoken out loud, reworked and honed before being preached.  I’m not opposed to technology but we must never forget that what brings joy and life and passion to worship is a gathering of people who have come to understand, embrace and delight in the Gospel.  Our text this morning is found in the second chapter of 1 John.

Text: 1 John 2:1-2

John the beloved is writing to his “little children”.
The aged apostle is writing, pastorally, to a group of folks he dearly loves.
He is writing to encourage and strengthen them in difficult days.
He is writing to instruct, encourage and reassure his readers.
Yes, they live in a world that is in the hands of the Evil One – but they belong to God!
God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
Therefore – as his children – walk in the light.
Don’t claim perfection – confess your sin – for then you will know his cleansing.

The two verses of our text remind us of an important truth.  A truth that ought to inform, instruct and guide the church in ministry.  This truth not only sets the agenda but reminds us of what ought to characterize our work and worship.  As we consider the great truths set forth in our text I remind you that:

Thesis: The hope of the world and the joy of the church is found in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus.

There are three things I want us to note as we work our way through this text.

1. The Gospel calls us to the heights of holiness.  (2:1)
2. The Gospel guarantees our deliverance.  (2:1b-2)
   The work of Christ is the basis on which the Christian approaches God with full assurance of forgiveness and cleansing.  John uses three terms to describe the work of Christ on our behalf.  Images guaranteeing our deliverance and resulting in abounding joy.
   Christ our advocate
   Jesus Christ the Righteous
   He is the propitiation for our sins
3. The Gospel embraces the world.  (2:2b)

Conclusion:
Of this I’m certain – the love of God is big enough to embrace the world.  A great multitude will be in glory and all of them will be there by the grace God to the praise of his glorious grace!

We must preach Christ.  Our mission is to live and preach the Gospel.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ – it is the hope of the world and the joy of the Church!

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Gospel Preaching: A Study of 1 John #02

This is an exposition of 1 John 1:5-10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 11, 2015.

Intro:

It is a bit overwhelming.  Our rapidly changing culture with its degenerating morals means the work of the church is more vital than ever!  The church’s role as salt and light is desperately needed today.  The Judeo-Christian worldview upon which our Republic was founded is slipping into minority status.  The ethics and values that once dominated the American landscape are fading into the background.  In its place is a rationalistic, morally neutral, worldview.  A worldview that claims tolerance as its highest virtue while seeking to silence, if not eradicate, any view that differs from the new norm.  People of faith who have deeply held convictions are seen as “dangerous.”  Robert Reich, a self-proclaimed liberal and former Clinton cabinet member, wrote a book entitled – Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America.  In the book Reich warns of the dangers of evangelical Christians and their forcing their morality down the nation’s throat.  Of grave concern for Reich and others like him – is the radical right’s (that includes those of us who hold to the authority of Scripture) views of “moral absolutes” and our “theory of evil.”  Bible-believing folk are more dangerous than Muslim extremist and our views are dangerous if allowed to prevail.

This is the culture in which we live.  The church is being marginalized.  What is the solution?  What do we do?  We are in an election cycle and by all means I believe it is your Christian duty to register and to vote.  I believe we must speak to the issues.  We must faithfully and consistently declare the truth of the Scripture with regards to moral issues.  But we are not a political machine.  We are not a political party.  We are not a special interest group – we are the church of the Lord Jesus – thus our primary function is what it has always been – to preach the Gospel.

Pressure abounds from every side to do anything but what we’ve been called to do.  While I believe the enemy of our souls is bound and determined to disrupt the work of the church by whatever means he can – I do not question the heart, the motive or the intent of those in the church growth movement who seek to win as many as possible to Christ.  I do believe however, whether intentional or not – often the result of their efforts is a watering down and thus a weakening of the Gospel.  I do not question the sincerity of those who seek to influence the political process through organizing and rallying the troops to influence the culture – but not to the neglect of our primary task.  We are called to preach Christ.  In the midst of a pagan culture hostile to biblical faith we are to preach Christ.  In an environment that seeks to silence our voice and decries “proselytizing” other faiths we are to preach Christ.  The hope of the church, indeed the hope of the world is found in Christ.  We must preach the Gospel.  Our text this morning is found in the first chapter of 1 John.

Text: 1 John 1:5-10

John the beloved is writing to some spiritual children.
These are folks he dearly loves and he is encouraging them in the face of persecution.

His purpose is to reminded them of who they are and what kind of world they live in (5:19); bring them assurance about their life in Christ (5:13); and make their joy complete (1:4).

He says in the preface (1:1-4) that he is writing that they may have fellowship with believers and with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  Now he moves to talking about how that is possible.  And what is required for such fellowship.

As we explore this passage we discover that:

Thesis: Gospel preaching demands that we declare both the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man.

Truths that are not well received in today’s world – especially the second half.
Most folks, though they do not understand the implications, would agree that God is holy.
Most are willing to grant that there is a “being” above and beyond us.
And most would allow that he is morally superior.
But, increasingly, folks balk at the second proposition – “man is sinful.”

You will note that John begins with – “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you…”

The message that was from the beginning.
The message that they heard, saw, beheld and studied.
The message that brings eternal life and fellowship.

This message begins with a two-pronged foundation.

1. Behold the beauty, the purity and the holiness of God.  (1:5)
2. The sinfulness of man.  (1:6-10)

John proceeds to set the record straight – note “If we say” – 6, 8, 10.

1. You cannot claim fellowship with God when your life is characterized by unrighteousness.  (1:6-7)
2. You cannot walk in fellowship with God and believe that you are without sin.  (1:8-9)
3. You cannot know God and deny the reality of sin.  (1:10)

The Heart of the Church's Ministry Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (47)

The Heart of the Church’s Ministry: 1 John #01. This is an exposition of 1 John 1:1-4. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 4, 2015.

Intro:

Do you find it hard to remain optimistic?  Is it increasingly difficult for you to fight cynicism?  Politics turn my stomach.  I’m tired of the finger pointing, posturing and grandstanding on both sides.  Don’t you just want to turn off the radio and the TV, lay the newspapers aside and say, “Who cares – just let me know when it’s over?”  I’m tired of living in a moral cesspool.  I’m fed up with life in general.  I’m tired of bickering within the church, the doctrinal degeneration, the loss of faithfulness and the lack of holiness.  It is getting to the point that the line between believer and nonbeliever is nonexistent.  Immorality and perversion is as common inside the church as in the culture in general.  I’m depressed about the cost of healthcare, gas, housing, education and just about anything else you care to name.  Maybe we should just all get together and go find a mountain somewhere, build a compound and just hideout until Jesus comes!  No, we’d just get on each other’s nerves.  Now, aren’t you glad you drug yourself to church today for such a positive, uplifting message?

The truth is we live in a broken world.  Our world that is dominated by sin.  Corruption reigns in the hearts of men and thus life often stinks!  That should neither surprise us, nor destroy us.  The universal verdict seems to be that the church is in trouble.  All the statistical data indicates the church is in serious decline.  Scholars and religious gurus are scrambling to find an antidote.  Worship services are being replaced with carnival acts.  Corporate worship – the gathering of the church as a united body to express the praise and worship of God – is being replaced with a cafeteria style/do as you please worship “experience.”  Dr. Phil has replaced the prophet – so instead of, “Thus saith the Lord” we ask, “How’s that working for you?”

I fully understand that we do not live in the 16th century so to worship the same as the church did in the 16th century would not be helpful.  I understand that times change and methods change.  Musical styles and musical tastes change thus we must be flexible.  While we may package it differently what is needed today is the same as what was needed in the 16th century, in fact it has been needed since Adam and Eve ate themselves out of house and home.  What we need is the Gospel.  Our text this morning is found in 1 John the first chapter.

Text: 1 John 1:1-4

John the beloved apostle, the son of Zebedee, is writing to his “dear children” to encourage and strengthen them.  This “letter” is a circular letter to the churches of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).  It is written during a time of persecution and in the face of the early stages of some heretical teachings.

The letter is notoriously hard to outline.
John’s style does not lead itself to logical outlines or thought progression.
Rather it is a free-flowing word from a pastor’s heart to people dearly loved.

Martin Lloyd-Jones suggests that there are three principle themes running throughout that must be kept in mind:
Who the believers are and the nature of the world in which they live (5:19)
the assurance enjoyed by true believers (5:13)
3) the joy that believers are to know (1:4).

Our text is a preface to the letter and serves the same purpose as the prologue in John’s Gospel.  As we walk through our text we are reminded that:

Thesis: In a world of confused spirituality, skepticism, and unbelief believers are called to boldly, joyfully and faithfully declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is our ministry.
This is our calling.

There were two heretical systems that were beginning to develop in Asia and making inroads at the time.  One was “Gnosticism.”  Gnosticism taught that there is a higher knowledge (from the Greek word for knowledge “gnosis”) that is spiritual and known only to the elite.  Gnosticism made a sharp distinction between the spiritual and the material world.  Matter was evil while the spirit was good.  The other heretical teaching was known as Docetism.  Docetism taught that Jesus only appeared to be human.  There was no incarnation, no divine savior.  Lest you think these issues do not matter today listen to the characteristics of Gnosticism:
It was an eclectic religion – cut and paste spirituality
Individualistic and subjective – self realization with your own path to God
Emphasis on God’s nearness over his distance – imminence vs. transcendence
Spirit over matter
Anti-institutional orientation
Anti-sacramental
Suspicious of the Old Testament
Feminist theology – the feminine divine
Anti-intellectual – mind is evil – you need “spiritual discernment”
Sound familiar?  Sounds an awful lot like the spiritual world we live in.  It sounds eerily like the culture we are forced to confront.  It seems to me we should be very interested in what John has to say.  It is interesting to note that what is needed is not a new philosophical outlook; not political clout; not a voting block – but the Gospel – after all the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

Let’s note some things from our text.

1. The Gospel centers around Jesus Christ – the Eternal One made flesh.  (1:1-2)
2. The very nature of the Gospel demands that the story be told.  (1:2-3)
3. The Gospel brings fellowship and unbridled joy.  (1:3-4)

Conclusion:

In a world of confused spirituality, skepticism and unbelief the need is for the straightforward, unvarnished glorious truth that God became man to pay the price for our rebellion and to purchase a people for His own glory.

Such a story must be told.

That truth brings fellowship and unbridled joy.