The Incarnation

The Incarnation: What is it? Could it really be true?


ESV John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.


Fairest Lord Jesus
Text: Munster Gesangbuch; trans. by Joseph August Seiss

1. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

2. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.

4. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.

Introduction (outline adapted from 'Systematic Theology' by W. Grudem)

Definition

1. Direct Scriptural Claims

a. The Word God (Theos) Used of Christ (Reserved for God the Father normally)
John 1:1; 18

When Thomas believed he responded with:
ESV John 20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"


NIV Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! {5 Or Christ, who is over all. God be forever praised!

NIV Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

NIV Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.


NIV Hebrews 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

NIV 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

NIV Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, {6 Or Wonderful, Counselor} Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Calming the stormy sea, multiplying the loaves and fish, transforming real water into real wine….ctonext shows the manifested Glory of God in Jesus-not just the work of the Holy Spirit through a man.


2. Did Jesus Give Up Some of His Divine Attributes While on Earth?

Phil. 2:7 emptying Himself…means to become a humble servant (not to lay aside His divine attributes…) It was His manifest status in heaven that was laid aside, not Himself.

Emptying Himself is defined in the verse itself...it means to embrace humanity...to lay aside His throne. He could not deny Himself, He is still Divine. So He is God dwelling in Mary's womb...born in a manger.

No Jesus did not give up His divine attributes. He did give up His throne position in heaven and embraced humanity in full.

3. Is the Doctrine of the Incarnation Helpful Today?


ESV 1 John 4:1 Beloved, ado not believe every spirit, but btest the spirits to see whether they are from God, for cmany dfalse prophets ehave gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: aevery spirit that confesses that bJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit athat does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and bnow is in the world already.

4. Three Inadequate Views of Jesus

a. Apollinarianism-Zombee view
Human body, but a divine mind & spirit

b. Nestorianism-'Star Trek View' or an Alien & Human spirit battle each other
Human & Divine Natures are completely separate in Christ.

c. Monophysitism-Freak View
Human & Divine natures fused to form a completely new nature




Jesus is God. Jesus is a man. We call Him Saviour because as God he became a man
In order to save us! We worship Him because Jesus is more than a man!

Think of Jesus as more like us than we have in the past. He is a man!
Strengthen your ability to resist temptation knowing Jesus also faced temptation. Jesus was tempted, but never sinned.
Think of Jesus as fully divine. He is God.
Develop anticipation of meeting Jesus face to face.
Cultivate the hope of direct worship of Jesus!

If I put things between me and Christ it is idolatry. If I put Christ between me and things, it is victory! (Adrian Rogers)


SO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON JESUS! PUT HIM BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. YOU WILL HAVE VICTORY OVER MATERIALISM!

Is the Trinity doctrine relevant?

God in three persons, Holy Trinity

1) The word trinity comes from a Latin word, trinitas which means ‘threeness’. Since this word does not appear in the bible, it has become a controversial doctrine. Yet the doctrine of the Trinity is perhaps one of the most important teachings of the church historically and today.

The key question is this: How can God be three persons, yet one God?

A. The doctrine of the Trinity is progressively revealed in scripture.

1. Partial Revelation in the OT.

i. Gen 1:26…Let us make man in our image…
ii. Gen 3:22….Behold man has become like one of us…
These are not majestic plurality references (that is an anachronism-see
link)
iii. Psalm 45:6-7…God, your God, has set you above your companions
(not an earthly King in any sense)
iv. Heb 1:8…Your throne, O God, is forever and ever (speaking of Christ)
(it’s no OT...but fits here well)

v. Psalm 110:1…The Lord says to my Lord…sit at my right hand until I
make your enemies a footstool for your feet (Jesus identifies this
as two separate persons…Matt. 22:41-46.

vi. Isaiah 63:10…God’s people ‘rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit…

vii. Isaiah 48:16….And now the Lord God has sent me and His Spirit
distinguishing between the Lord and His Spirit. Yet the Spirit shows
traits of personality…grieving…rejoicing…willing, etc…
2. Further revelation in the NT.
i. Jesus baptismal event…Matt. 3:16-17 we see all three persons in the
Godhead manifest.
ii. Christ commands his disciples to make disciples and baptize them in the
name of the ‘Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19. The very names
Father & Son draw from family and show distinct personhood. It is
difficult to avoid the conclusion the Holy Spirit is not a person as
well because He is put in the exact same context here. So…each one is a
Person.
iii. Typically the NT uses the term THEOS for the Father.
iv. Typically the OT uses the term KYRIOS for the Son
v. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Now there are varieties of Gifts…(read it all)
vi. 2 Corinthians 13:14….”the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love
of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”
vii. Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit just as you were
called to the one hope that belongs to your call, on Lord, on faith,
one baptism, one God an Father of us all, who is above all an din
all..” In this passage all three persons of the Trinity are named again
with their usual NT terms.
viii. 1 Peter 1:2
ix. Jude 20-21
3. Summarizing the Bible teaching on this topic.
A. God is three persons.
B. Each person is fully God
C. There is one God.

The Father is Not the Son. The Son is Not the Father nor the Spirit. Each one relates independently to the other. John 1:1-2

Each person is fully God. (Each one is not one third of God for example…as each member of a family makes up a part of that family…no…each person is fully God).
Isaiah 9:6Acts 5:3-4…Ananinas was asked “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holly Spirit…? You have not lied to men, but to God” So the Holy Spirit is fully God.

Exodus 15:11 God is unique…no one like Him. Isaiah 45:5-6 (I am the Lord and there is no other)

1 Tim 2:5 There is one God…and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus! (This refers to Christ in His dual nature [God/man] with respect to the human nature).

4. Simplistic solutions must deny one strand of biblical teaching.
i. God is three persons.
ii. Each person is fully God.
iii. There is one God.

All analogies have shortcomings. There are no easy ways to describe God. It really is like an ant trying to understand human beings. God is so far beyond us that we must embrace humility in saying that these three truths are revealed to us...and we accept them because God has given them to us. We sum them up with the term Trinity (or Triune God).

Analogise that break down and are not good ways to describe the Trinity.
Water, ice, steam (never all three at once)….Man who is a farmer, mayor and elder (God is not just wearing different jobs simultaneously). Pushing analogies on this issue can be seriously misleading…so it is wise not to push analogies too hard.
Some people approach the Trinity this way and actually teach that Jesus is the Father..and that the Holy Spirit is the Father. That is completely wrong, missing the point established by the Father and Son communicating with each other.


Errors from twisting these truths:
1. One person appears in three different roles, forms or modes.
Emphasizes One God…rejects the relating of the Father to the Son or Spirit as God. UPC is an example of this.

2. Tri-theism: the famous charge of Muslims against Christians. This is a classic 'straw man' argument because Christians do not believe in three Gods. Christianity teaches One God in three persons.

Each person is NOT one third of God. Each person is not a little different from the other person and mostly the same. Each person is not a different way of looking at the One being of God. There are three distinct persons, and the being of each person is equal to the whole being of God.

This is a defining doctrine: An issue we draw lines on.
Anglicans, Methodist, Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Charismatics, (Most Pentecostals), Greek & Other Orthodox, Roman Catholics all concur with the doctrine of the Trinity.

Notes adapted from ‘Systematic Theology’ by Wayne Grudem.

Scripture meditation passage:

NIV Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."


Song as adapted by Keith Green

Holy, holy, holy! lord God almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see;
Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee
Perfect in power, love, and purity

Holy, holy, holy! lord God almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name,
In earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed trinity!

God in three persons, blessed trinity!

Is there a conflict between science & Christianity?

Is there a conflict between science & Christianity? (Adapted from Nicky Gumbel (Searching Issues).

Popular media presents a conflict between science and Christianity:

Two reasons:
1) Christians have persecuted scientific discoveries in the past.

A) Galileo’s discovery that planets revolve around the sun
Was challenged by the Roman Catholic Church with the
Result that he spent the end of his life in prison for failing to
Recant his position.

B) John Scopes was prosecuted in Tennessee for violating state law
By teaching evolution in 1925. He was fined one hundred dollars…
But was acquitted on a technicality for being fined excessively.

2) Many think that scientific study explains everything that was once explained
By belief in God, so that such belief is now redundant.

A) Some say the direct findings of science are in conflict with the bible.
B) Miracles do not happen as the bible claims.
C) Genesis 1 is not consistent with the theory of natural selection.

A) Science & the Christian faith are NOT incompatible
1) Christian worldview is the soil that modern science emerged on.
a. Monotheistic (Uniformity of nature is harmonious with this)
b. An irregular universe could not be systematically studied
2) Christian doctrine that creation exists through the work of a rational
God of order…and is worthy of investigation because the creator is
Intelligent. “Men became scientific because they expected Law in Nature
And they expectd Law in Nature because they believed in a Law Maker.

3) The Christian belief in a transcendant God, separate from nature, meant
That experimentation was justified. This would not have been possible
Or consistent with belief systems that regard forms of matter as gods….
Or if matter is evil as some believe…then science would not be possible.
Christianity teaches that matter is good (not intrinsically evil).

So Christianity provides an essential matrix for scientific research.

Historian Herbert Butterfield said “Science is a child of Christian thought.” And John MacMurray said it like this, “Science is the legitimate child of a great religious movement and it’s geneology goes back to Jesus.”

Further, much of Christian history and scientific history these two have been allies, not enemies.

Johannes Kepler, best known for his discovery of the three principles of planetary motion was a devout Lutheran who said that he was thinking “God’s thoughts after Him”.

Sir Isaac Newton, one of histories greatest scientists, formulated theory of gravity, optics, astronomy and calculus wrote theological material as well as scientific books. He believed that no sciences were better attested than the religion of the bible!

All electricians know Michael Faraday who discovered electromagenetic induction, the first electric motor said the Christian faith was the single most important influence on him. This is true of hundreds of other scientists throughout the critical centuries of the development of science in nations like England in the 19th century an before that time.

Scientists who discount miracles as violations of the laws of nature have developed their reasoning through circular logic.
The real issue is this: Is there a God?

If there is, then miracles become a possibility.

Second: Creation & evolution

Natural law describes God’s activity….BUT it does not CONTROL God’s activity. (John Stott)

1) Evolution is not scientific law. It is theory.
2) Intelligent design based on new scientific discoveries is presenting a growing challenge to the popular evolutionary theories.
3) Micro vs Macro evolution distinctions
Variations within a species (Finches developing varying beaks & colors/size) does NOT prove development of NEW species

Various View on Genesis by people who hold to the infallibility of scripture. The Hebrew word for day, YOM, has various meanings
In scripture and some hold that it means a 24 hour period of time in Genesis, while others say it is a period of time.

Some view Genesis 1 as a poetic form…not necessarily chronological history, where others view it as chronological history.
Sincere Christians hold many different views of Genesis.
Most critical to Genesis is not the How & When questions, but the Why & Who questions.

Scientists try to answer How…but cannot answer Why. The bible doesn’t really try to answer How…but answers the Why.

NAU Psalm 19:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth

NAU Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

NAU Acts 14:17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."

NAU Acts 17:22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'

Orator in Hyde Park who was arguing that God did not exist…someone threw a tomatoe at him from the back of the crowd…and he demanded who threw that? Someone replied…No one threw it…it threw itself. NOT proof, but is a pointer. Creation points to the fact that someone set this all in motion.
Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, who was an agnostic with a Hindu background has said that the odds of this well designed world coming into being are about the same as a Typhoon blowing through a junk yard and producing a completely designed 747 Boeing Jumbo Jet.

Biochemistry experts now know that ‘engines’ that are incredibly efficient and powerful drive the tiniest micro cellular organism we can see. What was once thought to be tiny blobs of jelly substance are now know to contain intricately designed high speed rotary engines that are more efficient than a trubo Jet engine. Amazing technology operatiing organically in the tiniest micro biological device….with dozens of parts…all required for any of it to exist or function properly!! Called irreducible design. These discoveries are causing many scientists to question the theories of evolution because of the statistical impossibility or mechanical impossibility of these organisms to develop piece by piece over long periods of time. Yes someone not only threw the tomatoe…but someone created the tomatoe!

Science is developing cures for diseases, new technologies, and many other wonderful things. If God is a God of order…and He created this universe with uniformity and laws of order, then we should expect scientific breakthroughs as the things He created are understood more clearly. So science & Christianity are not enemies. When properly understood they are allies.

What is the Christian attitude towards homosexuality?

What is the Christian attitude towards homosexuality?

Issues to provoke discussion:

Matthew Wayne Shepard was the 21 year old University of Wyoming student who was brutally beaten and tied to a buck fence and left to die with the constant Wyoming wind as his only companion. He was beaten and robbed because of his sexual orientation.

“What Does Gay Mean?”
is a new anti-bullying program designed to improve understanding and respect for youth who are gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (GLBT). Centered on an educational booklet, called “What Does Gay Mean?” How to Talk with Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice, the program encourages parents and others to communicate and share values of respect with their children.
The National Mental Health Association has initiated this program because we are concerned about the well being of GLBT youth. They face daily threats to their mental and physical health --
ranging from anti-gay taunts to beatings – in their schools and communities. Research indicates that 31 percent of gay youth were threatened or injured at school in just the last year. These experiences have a devastating impact on the educational success and mental health of these youth and others who witness it's process.
Anti-gay prejudice affects straight youth, too. In fact, for every gay, lesbian and bisexual youth who reported being harassed, four straight students said they were harassed because they were perceived as being gay or lesbian.


“If you’ve failed to teach your children to embrace diversity, then you’ve failed as a parent.” Is this the truth?


Turning to the source we know is solid truth.
Source: Bible

All sin except for sexual sin is outside the body.
This is why some people feel a different kind of shame when they have or are commiting sexual sin of various kinds.

NIV 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12 "Everything is permissible for me"-- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-- but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"-- but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

Guilt
Shame
Bondage
Embarassment
Rejection
Inability

1) Christian community needs to show sensitivity and understanding
Is homosexual practice an option for a Christian?

Scriptures: NIV Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

NIV Leviticus 18:22 "'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

NIV Leviticus 20:13 "'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

NIV Genesis 19:5 They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."

The men in this story were destroyed by the Lord shortly after this horrible event.

NIV Judges 19:23 The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing.

NIV 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Term generally for homosexual offenders (avrsenokoi,thj) generally means any kind of homosexual sex.

NIV 1 Timothy 1:9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers-- and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine

NIV Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
NIV Romans 1:32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

God in His great love, has given us boundaries in order to protect us

People get hurt as a result of God’s laws being broken


Can sexual orientation be changed?

1) The testimony of many people who were homosexuals is that they have been radically changed through encounters with Jesus. (see Frank's story in Searching Issues)
2) The bible says that Christ and the power of the gospel rid us of our old nature and enable us to receive a new nature which is a righteous nature.

NIV 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Keys to changing homosexuality include:

1) Belief that a real change is possible.
2) Love from the church for those choosing to wage war against their old nature.
3) Affirmation & healthy normal relationships from Christians of the same gender.

There are two errors:

1) Overly hostile towards homosexuals: ‘Shoot the whole lot of em’ thinking.
2) Condoning homosexual practice:

NIV Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-- hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

3) Determine to love homosexuals WITHOUT affirming homosexuality.
4) Hatred of homosexuality does NOT equal ‘Homophobia’ nor does it equal hatred of homosexuals. Hate homosexuality. Love homosexuals with an aim to encourage them towards a transformation through Christ…either instantly or over time.

This msg has been adapted from 'Searching Issues' by Gumbel.

How does the New Age movement relate to Christianity?

How does the New Age movement relate to Christianity?

Introduction

Age of Aquarius

New Age movement defined: Sort of
Mixture of eastern mysticism, occultic practices and western materialism.

Good nutrition, creation, peace, avoiding drugs and self-improvement techniques

2 Cor 11:14 ….even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Adapted Hinduism, Bhuddism, mixed in with some American Indian & Wicca witchcraft

TM
Reincarnation
Karma
Zen
Yoga
Levitation

Some overt practices from occult include:

Astrology
Horoscopes
Fortune telling
Clairvoyance
Consulting the dead
Mediums
Channeling
Spirit guides
Tarot cards


NKJ Deuteronomy 18:10 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 "or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 "For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.


NKJ Leviticus 19:26 ' You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying. 27 'You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. 28 'You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD. 29 ' Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness. 30 ' You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD. 31 ' Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.


NAU Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,


NAU Revelation 9:20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.


Three Keys

All is God (Pantheism) impersonal, depersonified
vs Christian truth that God is personal, is around everyone but is not everything. We can talk to Him.

All is one (Monism) rejects sin (problem is ignorance not sin)
Rejects judgment because you are God
‘Hippy values for a yuppie lifestyle’

NKJ Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

NKJ Genesis 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.



All is well

(Utopism) All religions have a different form of waiting for this to come but it is the same thing. Hindus wait for Krishna, Muslims for the Imam Mahdi, Buddhists for the fifth Buddha

NKJ Matthew 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 "See, I have told you beforehand. 26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. 27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Falls short of the glorious truth of the Trinitarian God of Christianity

God as Father
NAU Romans 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.


God made us to love and worship Him in a personal relationship. He is the Father of creation and is to be known personally and worshiped personally.

God as Son
Shirley Maclaine claims that Jesus was a member of the Essenes whose teachings, values and prioirities are similar to todays New Age movement

Some teach that salvation is found in yourself. You must look inside yourself to find the ‘God within’ and to find wholeness. Jesus claimed He was the only way truth and life and that no one can come to a living relationship with God the Father of creation apart from our outside of Jesus Christ.

We don’t work our way into healing and wholeness and salvation. It’s a free gift from God by faith in Jesus Christ.

God as Holy Spirit

What are we to do in response to all this?

A) Repent for involvement in any occult or New Age practices
B) Repent of rigid, rationalistic and irrelevant ‘church’
C) Soak in the truth (bank teller illustration) Don’t need to read all the New Age books
D) We need to share Jesus Christ’s real message in the context of loving relationships

Primary source is "Searching Issues" by Nicky Gumbel. All messages in this blogspot have been designed to present the chapters in that particular book in our congregation.

Is there anything wrong with sex before marriage?

Is There Anything Wrong With Sex Before Marriage? Sermon Notes
Adapted by David Bielby
from Searching Issues by Nicky Gumbel

Introduction
1) A major shift in the last 40 years in Western Culture regarding sexuality has occurred
2) Historically the church has had a sometimes overly strict reputation regarding
sexuality.
3) The bible affirms God created human beings as male and female.
4) Marriage is a biblical reflection of Christ and the Church.
5) Biblical context for sexual intercourse is a lifelong commitment.
A) Public act of marriage with lifelong commitment. (One man + one woman)
B) Union of the two ‘they are glued together’.
C) This context is the ‘physical one flesh’ union.
1. Physical
2. Emotional
3. Psychological
4. Spiritual
5. Social

6) Sexual intercourse is not a physical response only, but an expression inside a lifelong commitment.
7) Partnership and procreation are linked in God’s order of life.
(Love & commitment create the right atmosphere for every child to grow up in)

8) Human distortions ruin lives

A) Woman caught in adultery
B) Everyone is guilty-but we should not therefore give in to sin
C) Go and leave your life of sin

9) Some defend sex in any context
A) Most everyone agrees love should be there
B) Many defend sex in a long term relationship outside of marriage
C) The bible clearly warns against sex outside of marriage in any case
1 Cor 6:16
Mark 7:21
1 Thess 4:3-8
D) Sex is a life-uniting act meant to be between lives united for life.
Anything else cheapens it. The irrevocable public act of marriage
Is the biblical context for sexual relationship.




We risk hurting ourselves

60% more couples who cohabited during the 80’s before marriage were
divorced after 8 years than those who did not cohabit.

NIV Deuteronomy 22:28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives. 30 A man is not to marry his father's wife; he must not dishonor his father's bed.

Great regret for couples who have sex before marriage.

We risk hurting others
Children growing up in homes without two parents can be wounded or hindered

We risk hurting society
Families are a basic building block of society. Without solid families, societies
tend to crumble morally.

We hurt God

THE ANSWER IS JESUS

How to resist

Heart-Eyes-Thoughts
Being tempted is not sin.
Entertaining temptation is sin.
Submit to God & resist the devil
Give no opportunity for the flesh
Set a goal of purity
Share your goal with others who will hold you accountable

Forgiveness

Repentance & forgiveness of sins are the keys

What about other religions?

Adapted by David Bielby
Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Bloomington/Normal

(Adapted from ‘Searching Issues’ by Nicky Gumbel and teachings from Youth With A Mission’s School of Evangelism)

Introduction

The bishop of the Methodist churches in Chicago opposed publicly the Southern Baptist Conventions evangelistic outreach to Chicago-land because he said that all religions are acceptable ways to the same God. The new American Catholic Radio station in Bloomington broadcasts the Franciscans teachings on Sunday mornings. Last week they taught that all religions are acceptable and respected paths to the same God that Christians worship. More and more we hear thoughts like this from Catholics, Methodists and other traditional mainline denominations.

Is this true? Do all religions essentially offer different ways to worship God? Should each person find their own pathway? Is it wrong for Christians to promote the idea that Christianity is superior to other religions? Do we need a more modern approach to advancing the faith-as some Catholics and Methodists popularly affirm?

There was a family driving into Bloomington/Normal to find the new Shoppes at College Hills. As they traveled north from Heyworth on highway 51 they stopped for directions at the first gas station they came upon. When confronted with the request for directions to the Shoppes at College Hills, the clerk, who lived in a nearby neighborhood, and who had no car…and rarely traveled into town responded with a general comment “drive north”. One of the customers in the store confidently responded, no, you need to take I-74 and head down to Champaign because that’s where the U of I is and I’m sure all the shoppes at College Hills would be there. Another customer said to the family, just look into your own heart and you will find the Shoppes at College Hills. Finally, a customer at the end of the line said, “I just bought my wife something at Gordman’s, which is one of the shoppes at College Hills. And in fact, I have a pamphlet printed by the Shoppes at College Hills that gives directions from North, South, East or West. Would you like a copy?”.

Saying that all religions lead to God is much like saying that all of these people at the gas station were equally true. In reality only one of them was correct. It’s not arrogant or putting down of the others to say that one was correct. It’s simply the right answer. So it is with other religions. We have one person who has uniquely demonstrated that he really did come from heaven. His name is Jesus. We will look at his claims and demonstration of qualification. I think that this introduction to ‘What about other religions’? will not provide every answer you would like to have about this important question, but my hope is that it will provide the seeds of thought that will grow into a fruitful harvest for you personally. A harvest of truth that will bear fruit in your life forever.

It is a fact that there are two kingdoms which are warring against one another. The Kingdom of God advances against the Kingdom of Satan. Religions which deceive people by sending them in the wrong direction to find God also have shown evidence of demonic activity. For example, Living Water Church in Taiwan has converted close to 300 Taiwanese now from the local religions. Many of those converts have come to the church with demonic bondages, which required fasting, prayer and a strong personal ministry with real spiritual power for the seekers to be set free from the demonic bonds often established in the idol temples where they formerly worshipped. Yes, there are real demonic powers at work in 'holy' places in this world. The devil has come as an angel of light to deceive.


NIV John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

1) Is Jesus the only way to God?

A) Unique qualifications of Jesus
a. The Righteous One
b. The author of life
c. Foretold by the prophets
d. Worshipped by the early church

B) Unique achievements of Jesus
a. The Savior
b. Buddha claimed to be a teacher, but not a savior
c. Mohammed claimed to be a prophet, but not a savior

C) Unique in his resurrection
a. Christ’s resurrection is central to Christianity
b. Buddha claimed to enter into nirvana, but not to be with his followers.
c. Mohammed never claimed to be resurrected.

2) What do we say about other religions?

A) Partial revelation of God in nature
B) Foolishness of atheism
C) Law of God on the hearts of men
D) Eternity in the hearts of men
E) Expect to see good in other religions
1) Commitment
2) Dedication
3) Devotion
4) Many ideas that match general revelation to some degree
5) These commonalities do not mean they are all equal paths to God.
F) Don’t expect all religions to have the same level of truth in them.
1) How can a religion lead to God if it denies God exists personally?
2) Absurdity to say that religions which contradict each other are equally true.
3) By comparing other religions to Jesus we can see where they err.
4) The argument that this is narrow-minded fails because the opposing views are at best the minority view and must embrace a ‘narrow-mindedness of some sort to be accepted.
G) Best fits the reality of the world around us argument.

3) What about those who have never heard of Jesus?

A) We have confidence that God will be seen as completely just in the final evaluation of all people.
B) Simple faith is answered by God for those who have not heard of Jesus.
C) Those who cry out to God will find Him (as He promises).

4) Our response to other religions

A) Be humble-realize we are sinful people saved by grace…no better than anyone else.
B) Be positive-not attacking other religions but preaching Christ crucified
C) Be Spirit-filled not depending on human words of wisdom but the Spirit of God-answering everyone as the Holy Spirit enables us to speak.
D) Be respectful-realizing all are made in God’s image even if they don’t know Christ yet.
E) Be bold even if the message is rejected.

Conclusion:

The message that Christ Jesus is the only way to find God separates Christians from the rest of the world’s religions. As we’ve seen this means that the issues of ‘who is Jesus’ and ‘is Jesus qualified’ become crucial. As Christians we must boldy, humbly, positively and respectfully preach Jesus and Him crucified to the whole world. This is the message that is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

Why does God allow suffering?

Introduction-When ‘Snap, Crackle, Pop Theology doesn’t cut it…”
Part One: Human Freedom
A-Suffering because of our own sin
B-Suffering because of others’ sin
C-Suffering because of a fallen world
D-Suffering because of another world

Part Two: God Works Through Suffering
A-God can use suffering to draw us into a relationship with Jesus
The ‘S’ factor (Lucy Story)
B-God can use suffering to mature us
The ‘H’ factor (Larry Bridge)
C-God can use suffering to bring about His purpose
The Joseph illustration
Look for new relationships
Look for changes in people through circumstances
D-God glorifies His son by healing

Part Three: God’s Favor During Suffering
Look at Joseph-how God blessed him even in prison

Part Four: Our Challenge To Respond In Faith & Love
No matter how things develop, the key for us is to continue trusting in God as a loving Father, continue believing for healing or resolution of our situation favorably, and continue spreading His hope for those also in pain.

Conclusion-“….you can trust that God’s a faithful Father who does really love you even when life isn’t going well for you.”

Good books that deal with suffering (or books I hear are good on this topic-in no particular order of importance).
“Searching Issues” by Nicky Gumbel 0-7814-5259-7
“The Problem of Pain” by C.S. Lewis 0060652969
“Peace with God” by Billy Graham
“Living With Uncertainty” by John Wimber 0-9651509-0-9
“Fear No Evil” by David Watson 0-87788-255-X
“Out of the Whirlwind” by Mark Tabb 080542721-X
“Learning to Suffer Well” by Peter Fitch 0-620-26375-X
“When God Doesn’t Make Sense” by James Dobson
“Making Sense out of Suffering” by Peter Kreeft
“The Gospel According to Job” by Mike Mason
“Kingdom Suffering” by John Wimber
“Where is God When It Hurts?” by Philip Yancey
“Disappointment with God” by Philip Yancey

SUFFERING
Why does God allow suffering?
By David Bielby (adapted from Searching Issues)
November 27, 2005
Exactly three years after our son was diagnosed with leukemia