Not Good Enough (Mark 10:17)
Many people imagine that getting to heaven is simply a matter of ensuring your good works outweigh your bad. If you try to be kind and avoid any enormous sins like murder or robbing a bank, then you are good enough to go to heaven when you die. All false religions teach this concept in one form or another.
According to this thinking, sin and good works are like plusses and minuses in your bank account. As long as you keep your balance in the positive and do not overdraft your good works account, you are fine. But the Bible teaches something entirely different. The Bible says that our good works cannot save us and our righteous deeds are worse than worthless. They are like filthy rags fit only for the garbage.
One day, Jesus encountered a young man who wanted to know how to have eternal life. He was a rich, educated, religious man who thought he was pretty good, maybe even good enough to get to heaven. And if he wasn’t, he certainly wasn’t far from it. Jesus knew what was in the man’s heart, and, in a brief conversation, He revealed a truth that our eternity hinges on: we are not good enough. There is only One who is truly good, and that One is God. The only way that we can be saved from eternal death in hell and receive eternal life is to admit that we are not good enough and trust in Jesus for our salvation.
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- Sep 1, 2024Not Good Enough (Mark 10:17)
Not Good Enough (Mark 10:17)Many people imagine that getting to heaven is simply a matter of ensuring your good works outweigh your bad. If you try to be kind and avoid any enormous sins like murder or robbing a bank, then you are good enough to go to heaven when you die. All false religions teach this concept in one form or another.According to this thinking, sin and good works are like plusses and minuses in your bank account. As long as you keep your balance in the positive and do not overdraft your good works account, you are fine. But the Bible teaches something entirely different. The Bible says that our good works cannot save us and our righteous deeds are worse than worthless. They are like filthy rags fit only for the garbage.One day, Jesus encountered a young man who wanted to know how to have eternal life. He was a rich, educated, religious man who thought he was pretty good, maybe even good enough to get to heaven. And if he wasn’t, he certainly wasn’t far from it. Jesus knew what was in the man’s heart, and, in a brief conversation, He revealed a truth that our eternity hinges on: we are not good enough. There is only One who is truly good, and that One is God. The only way that we can be saved from eternal death in hell and receive eternal life is to admit that we are not good enough and trust in Jesus for our salvation.
- Aug 25, 2024Listen Up (Malachi 3)
Listen Up (Malachi 3)
- Aug 25, 2024Why Church? For God’s Glory (Ephesians 3:21)
Why Church? For God’s Glory (Ephesians 3:21)1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” We exist to bring glory to God and have been commanded to glorify God intentionally. So, it only makes sense that a primary purpose of the church is to glorify God. The church belongs to God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He began the church and bought the church, and the church is His bride and body. He deserves to be glorified in and through the church, and we should be happy to take part in the glorification of God in the church.Sadly, churches have all too often mutated into institutions that glorify man. People remember “flagship” ministries for the men who lead them more than for the work of God done in them. The problem has been perpetuated by the Satanic philosophy that man must increase for God to increase. But John said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Many people despise the day of small things as inferior and undesirable. We must correct our thinking. We should belong to the church and be accountable to the church for the glory of God alone. We should encourage and edify each other for the glory of God. We should insist that the church preach and teach the truth and proclaim the gospel to the lost for the glory of God. God and God alone should get glory in the church. He is the One who has all power. He is the One who has saved us and works in us to change us to be more and more like Christ. He is the One who deserves glory in the church now and forever.
- Aug 11, 2024Why Loosing Everything Is The Best Thing (Philippians 3:7)
Why Loosing Everything Is The Best Thing (Philippians 3:7)
- Aug 11, 2024Why Church? For Growth (I Corinthians 13:11)
Why Church? For Growth (I Corinthians 13:11)Growing up is an odd thing. We spend much of our time as children trying to act like grown-ups, and then some grown-ups spend a lot of their time acting like kids. The difference between children and adults is maturity. However, we do not expect adults to act like kids; we expect them to act maturely. Paul summarized growing up this way, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11)In Ephesians 4, Paul wrote that God has gifted certain people to the church "for the perfecting of the saints." We are perfected as we grow and mature in our Christian life. The community in which that growth takes place is the local church. You and I need the church to help us "grow up into him." The Christian life is designed to be one where we work together, learn together, and grow together so that we all grow more and more like Jesus. When we are each in our place, lovingly doing our part for the body of Christ, the result is consistent growth, individually and collectively. We must be committed to God's plan for the local church to grow up into Christ because proper growth in the Christian life cannot happen apart from the church.
- Aug 7, 2024Wrong is never Right (1 Samuel 24)
Wrong is never Right (1 Samuel 24)Right and wrong are not determined by the circumstances we face. What is convenient is not always right. Sometimes it is easier to do the wrong thing. Occasionally our friends will mistakenly encourage us the wrong way. We must look past the immediate situation and see the will of God. We must block out the noise of other voices and listen to the Word of God. We must do right, even when doing wrong seems like a better idea.
- Jul 14, 2024Stir Up The Gift (II Timothy 1:6)
Stir Up The Gift (II Timothy 1:6)
- Jul 14, 2024Special Sunday School Class in response to the Trump Assasination attempt.
Special Sunday School Class in response to the Trump Assasination attempt.
- Jun 23, 2024The Teaching Ministry in the Church (Romans 15:6-7)
The Teaching Ministry in the Church (Romans 15:6-7)
- Jun 23, 2024Why Church? For Belonging (Acts 2:41)
Why Church? For Belonging (Acts 2:41)God created man with a need to belong. We were not designed to exist in isolation but in community with God and each other. At creation, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We need a relationship with God to be fulfilled, but we also need relationships with other people where we enjoy mutual love and acceptance.Adam’s need for belonging was met perfectly by God and Eve before the fall, but sin corrupted mankind’s relationship to God and each other. Through faith in Christ, we are restored to a right relationship with God so that when we are saved, we are restored to the right communion with God. We belong to Him.But the gospel does not only restore our relationship with God. Christians belong to a unique group of people who belong to Jesus. This is why the Bible uses such language as is found in Acts two. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:41, 47) They had a place where they belonged in the body of Christ. And God continued to add to the church so that more and more people found a place where they belonged.Each of us needs to belong. God wants to meet that need first through salvation so that you belong to Him and then through the church, a community of people that belong to Christ. The church belongs to Christ, and if you belong to Christ, then church is where you belong.
- Jun 16, 2024Deacon a Noun and a Verb (Philippians 1:1)
Deacon a Noun and a Verb (Philippians 1:1)
- Jun 16, 2024Why Church? For Accountability (Matthew 18:15-21)
Why Church? For Accountability (Matthew 18:15-21)Why would people want to avoid commitment? People do not want to make commitments because there consequences for breaking them. They want to be able to do what they please and not be held accountable.God created us to exist in committed relationships. Even before the fall, God said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” So God made Eve, brought her to Adam, and they entered into a committed relationship. God soon instituted human government as another form of committed relationship that provides accountability. We are bound to obey the laws of the land or face the consequences.Accountability was also one of the reasons that Jesus instituted the church. Church is more than a place to gather, fellowship, be taught the Bible, and worship God corporately. The church exists to hold us accountable for what we believe and how we behave. Many people today miss out on this vital purpose of the church.In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus taught His disciples about this necessary role of the church in providing accountability. The local church has a role in holding individual Christian’s accountable when they err in belief or behavior. Accountability takes place on a smaller scale as we regularly participate in the life of the church.You need accountability to help you live how God wants you to live. The church, when operating according to God’s Word, provides that accountability. Therefore, you should want to be an active member of the church and benefit from the accountability that it provides.
- Jun 9, 2024Why Church Part 2 – The Pastors Calling (Titus 2:15)
Why Church Part 2 – The Pastors Calling (Titus 2:15)Why Church?There are some things that we do without thinking about it very much. Breathing is a good example. Most likely, you did not have to consciously make yourself breathe when you woke up this morning. You do it because it comes naturally, and you don’t think much about it. But if you were forced to stop and think about it, you would remember just how important breathing is.Maybe coming to church is like that for you. Perhaps you didn’t give much thought to why you came to church or how important it really is. Maybe you came simply out of habit, or duty, or for good luck, or just out of curiosity. Or it could be that you are here today because you understand the importance of the church and want to serve God and honor Him by participating in this Divine institution ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.Beginning today and for the next few weeks, I want to ask and answer questions like, What is the church? Why does it exist? Why should we get involved in all the things that a church does? Why should we go faithfully? Why should we join? Why should we give money to the church? Why should we pray for the church?In short, I want to answer the question, “Why church?” We begin with the big answer to that big question: the church exists because Jesus wants it to. The church is so important to Jesus that He began the church, He bought the church, and He is still building the church. If Jesus is important to you, then the church should be important to you, because the church is important to Jesus.
- Jun 9, 2024Why Church? (Matthew 16)
Why Church? (Matthew 16)Why Church?There are some things that we do without thinking about it very much. Breathing is a good example. Most likely, you did not have to consciously make yourself breathe when you woke up this morning. You do it because it comes naturally, and you don’t think much about it. But if you were forced to stop and think about it, you would remember just how important breathing is.Maybe coming to church is like that for you. Perhaps you didn’t give much thought to why you came to church or how important it really is. Maybe you came simply out of habit, or duty, or for good luck, or just out of curiosity. Or it could be that you are here today because you understand the importance of the church and want to serve God and honor Him by participating in this Divine institution ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.Beginning today and for the next few weeks, I want to ask and answer questions like, What is the church? Why does it exist? Why should we get involved in all the things that a church does? Why should we go faithfully? Why should we join? Why should we give money to the church? Why should we pray for the church?In short, I want to answer the question, “Why church?” We begin with the big answer to that big question: the church exists because Jesus wants it to. The church is so important to Jesus that He began the church, He bought the church, and He is still building the church. If Jesus is important to you, then the church should be important to you, because the church is important to Jesus.
- Jun 2, 2024The Potter and the Clay (Jeremiah 18:1-11)
The Potter and the Clay (Jeremiah 18:1-11)O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
