With the weightiness of Israel’s example, knowing Jesus is greater than Moses and the towering warning in V. 7 drawn from Psalm 95, the author of this passage in Hebrews is going to WARN,  ENCOURAGE AND CHALLENGE the people reading this letter and you and I with two action items that will serve as our two points. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Sanctification: Being Conformed to Christ
TEXT: Hebrews 3:12-13
TITLE:  Sanctification Practices
PREACHER: Tim Lambros
BIG IDEA: The gospel gives power for believers to intentionally pursue and practice sanctification.

POINTS:
I.  THE PERSONAL CALL TO CARE
II. THE CORPORATE CALL TO EXHORT

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

“…with serious Biblical history behind the author’s letter and with a small band of believers struggling to persevere in the faith, the author gives some God breathed out words to the struggling believers and to us today.”

“Once again, God’s Word targets the heart. TAKE CARE. The action here is to take care.  To persevere you will need to take care.  Take care is defined as … you guessed it, guarding your heart.  Once again, we see God’s wisdom through another Biblical author targeting the heart of the believer.”

“LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU AN EVIL, UNBELIEVING HEART. We are to personally care for and guard our hearts.  Guard from what?  From unbelief or as the author says – guard yourself from an evil, unbelieving heart. God calls us to personally guard our hearts from the worst of all situations.  An evil, unbelieving heart. God does not waste words in the Bible.  He uses two words here that are synonymous.  Evil, unbelieving heart.”

“Take a close look at Israel’s example then compare to your personal experience and if you’re honest, unbelief – or actively believing untruths about God can quickly creep in.  We are to TAKE CARE that this doesn’t happen. Taking care means to seriously guard your heart on what you take in and what you begin to believe.”

“For every believer, the enemy is sin. It’s not the American moral decline over the past two generations.  Is it the garbage that’s on the TV these days?  Is it the public school system polluting our children?  No, the greatest threat to you in persevering in God’s truths, guarding your heart is what Chris Lundgaard in our book of the quarter says “the enemy within.” Your greatest enemy to your faith is not out there, it’s your own heart.”

“Theologians call it REMAINING SIN.  We’ve heard that in the gospel the PENALTY OF SIN has been removed.  We’ve heard that Christ’s work on the cross has removed the POWER OF SIN to rule our lives but we’ve also learned that progressive sanctification is working in our lives until we have the PRESENCE OF SIN removed at glorification.”

“PC ILLUSTRATION w Mike Bullmore.  Church, the call to personally care, to personally guard what you believe about God is absolutely the wisdom of God to fight our chief enemy.  EVERY SQUARE INCH OF YOUR GROWTH IN SANCTIFICATION WILL BE HARD FOUGHT.”

“REMAINING SIN is our biggest enemy.  This letter is written to Christians.  The original audience is believers struggling to trust God at His word.  To persevere in the midst of trouble and persecution. The author doesn’t draw their attention to external realities but to calls them to personally care and guard their hearts.  REMAINING SIN is the enemy within.”

“LEADING YOU TO FALL AWAY FROM THE LIVING GOD. So we are to take care, why? Here’s the warning.  Look at the 2nd part of V. 12.  An evil, unbelieving hearthas consequences.  You must personally take care, guard your heart because there are serious consequences. What’s the worst case scenario?  An unbelieving heart leads you to fall way from the living God.”

“The gospel saves and sanctifies.  The Cross is sufficient to preserve us.  As we learned last week, God’s word is sufficient.  By God’s grace, He breaks the penalty and power of sin.  He gives us His word.  He gives us His Spirit to take up residence.  He also gives us one another.  This is the other tool the author points their attention to. Our practice begins personally, but then moves to a Biblical call to help you guard your heart.”

“V. 13 We are to exhort one another every day.  There are approximately 100 uses of “one another” in your Bible.  59 of them are in the context of living together as God’s children.  The practice of guarding vs. indwelling sin involves relationships, personal relationships.”

“EXHORT means to warn, encourage and correct.  The context here is the local Church.  You can’t EXHORT another person and fulfill this part of your sanctification by attending a conference once a year.  You can’t benefit from God’s grace through people in your local Church if you watch the Sunday sermon at your home.   In our Church, we prioritize Sundays and give ourselves to smaller, Comm Groups to build relationships and position ourselves to EXHORT ONE ANOTHER.”

“Specifically in our text the call is to EXHORT one another, every day.  This magnificent, Christ-centered letter is written to a Church, a group of believers at risk of drifting away.  Just like you and I at times are at risk, so is the recipients of this letter.  After calling them to TAKE CARE, now the author warns them to exhort one another every day.”

“This aspect of your sanctification takes some work.  The call here is to personal relationships, trusting relationships.  It’s a call to build relationally, invest in relationships.”

“You must know people and they need to know you if you expect any sanctifying fruit in EXHORTING one another. EXHORT one another EVERY DAY.  That is why God has ordained the local Church to be that place for proximity to others – proximity for doing the ‘one another’s.’”

“To EXHORT means to warn, encourage and correct.   Our relationships in the Church should be filled with consistent and regular encouragement to each other.  I hope we are a Church that is growing in both looking for and communicating to people encouraging evidences of God’s work in a person’s life.  Looking for it AND encouraging people.  That’s one aspect of EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER.”

“EXHORT also means to warn or correct.  That’s not just the job of your Pastor’s or your CG leaders.  When was the last time you called a brother or sister in the Church and asked “hey just wondering what’s going on cuz I haven’t seen you in CG for a while?” Do you love your brother or sister enough to inquire about something you’ve heard or seen that may be sinful or a distraction in their relationship with Jesus?”

“When you hear us use the phrase “living out life together” think WE’RE CALLED TO EXHORT ONE ANOTHER.  Hopefully that’s in a relationship where you’re bound together in mission, you know each other at some level. You won’t find this in an online Bible study. The para Church ministry falls short when compared to a local Church that gathers each Sunday in person, Comm Groups, outreach events, like pop up pizza stands or going out on a Sat morning to talk to our neighbors about an invitation Sunday or when you consider the times you’re together for birthdays, baby showers, Forge/Woven events, etc.”

“AS LONG AS IT IS CALLED TODAY. Israel had their now but not yet. Every Christian alive today lives in the now but not yet. As long as it is Today, we are called to exhort one another. But notice what the end of V. 13 says. READ IT. So that none will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. God’s wisdom.  God’s why.  We are to exhort one another – daily – not because this is nice religious activity.  No, this is the wisdom of God to guard us from the deceptive, hardening effects of sin.”

“Sin is subtle and deceitful.  That’s why we can drift so easily. That’s why our hearts can slowly but definitely get hard toward the things of God.  For example, your appetite for God’s Word isn’t the same as it was year ago. Your love to gather with your Church has slowly and gradually diminished.  Your conscious slowly gets insensitive to sin.  Confession is without sorrow.  Gradually, you are no longer amazed by grace.  You see, sanctification is actual growth in God-likeness.  You become more and more like Jesus.  You’ve been DECLARED righteous by God, but now, by His grace, the work of the Spirit and His Word, you actually become more holy, more Christ-like.”

“This is all done and lived out with loving brothers and sisters who are on mission together with you- your local Church.  Why do we need others?  We don’t see all we need to see.  We don’t detect when our hearts get hard.  We don’t notice that we are resistant to repentance. In most cases we are blinded to our blindedness!! That’s why we need each other.”

CREAM CHEESE IN THE MUSTACHE ILLUSTRATION

“I will believe my own lies.  I will have a flattering assessment of myself. Assume some things.  Assume you have cream cheese on your mustache.  Assume others see it.  Assume they are reluctant to say something.”

QUOTES:
Paul Tripp- “Personal insight is the product of community.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 10:6
Hebrews 3:7
James 4:1
Galatians 5:16–17
Ephesians 4:29
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

APPLICATION:
Q. How do you take care of your heart?  How do you regularly stir up affections for Jesus?

Q. What is your commitment to Sunday’s gathering?  How much do you guard your Community Group schedule?  The local Church is God’s tool to put us in proximity with one another.

Q. Have you ever intentionally reached out to a CG member, friend or spouse and given them permission to tell you that you have cream cheese on your mustache?

Take some time this week and re-examine how you guard Sunday gatherings and Community Group times in your calendar.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Reformation Song
Our Song From Age To Age
A Christian's Daily Prayer
Show Us Christ
As You Go

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
The Goal: 1 John 3:2

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

Join us this Sunday as we sing a new song that reminds us of our daily dependence on God and cries out for Him to sanctify us. 

As the song says, “Let every effort of our life, display the matchless worth of Christ!” Church, may this be our daily prayer!

Song: A Christian’s Daily Prayer
Album: Prayers of the Saints (Live)
Artist: Sovereign Grace Music. 

Listen & Learn: https://sovereigngracemusic.com/music/songs/christians-daily-prayer/

LYRICS
Verse 1
As morning dawns and day awakes
To You, I bring my need
Oh, gracious God, my source of strength
In You, I live and breathe
Each hour is Yours by wisdom planned
Each deed empowered by sovereign hands
Renew my spirit, help me stand
Be glorified today

Verse 2
As day unfolds, I seek Your will
In all of life's demands
And though the tempter tries me still
I cling to Your commands
Let every effort of my life
Display the matchless worth of Christ
Make me a living sacrifice
Be glorified today

Verse 3:
As sun gives way to darkest night
Your Spirit still is here
And though my strength fades like the light
New mercies will appear
I rest in You, abide with me
Until our trials and suffering
Give way to final victory
Be glorified today

The Holy Spirit, God's manifest presence in the world, takes people who have been transformed in Christ and progressively transforms them to Christ through the Word of God. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Sanctification: Being Conformed to Christ
TEXT: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
TITLE:  Transforming Words for Transformed People
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: God's Word is God's words for our sanctification

POINTS:
I.  God's Sanctifying Word
II. The Word's Sanctifying Work

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”(16) All Scripture is breathed out by God. This is an astounding claim—God speaks to us. Think about that—the God who…speaks to us.”

“God has been speaking since the beginning of time:
- Creation
- Adam
- To and through Moses (Ten Commandments)
- Through the OT prophets—Thus saith the Lord
- Through Jesus, the living Word of God.”

“Now, to the degree God has chosen to reveal Himself to us, the Bible is the fullness of God's self-revelation, telling us what He is like, what He has done, what He desires, and what He has promised.”

“What does breathed out by God mean? It means God breathed out (expire) His words into (inspire) the minds and hearts of chosen writers to reveal precisely what He wanted to reveal about Himself and His purposes, not as robots, but through their personalities, abilities, and experiences. Theologically speaking, this is inspiration, the work of the Holy Spirit that ensures the writers wrote precisely what God intended.”

“What does all mean? Paul and Timothy did not have the whole canon of Scripture—Paul's reference to the sacred writings in 15 references the OT. But the NT itself, and its writers, affirm that all Scripture means the Old and New Testament.  In 2 Peter 3:15-16, Peter calls the writings of Paul Scripture. In 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul quotes the words of Jesus as Scripture. Paul even speaks of his own words as the commands of God in 1 Corinthians 14:37. All means the whole Bible, the 39 books of the OT and the 27 books of the NT as originally written, every word and part is entirely and equally breathed out by God.”

“God's Word is God's Word. This is the basis for what Paul says next.”

“In 14-15, Paul reminded Timothy how the Scriptures made him wise for salvation. His point is that the Scripture reveals our need for a Savior and who that Savior is. In this way, the Bible is a powerful means by which God brings people to salvation. But Paul also points us to the Word for sanctification. In 10-12, he talks about living and continuing to live a godly life in Christ. How? (14) by continuing in the Word of God. That's the language of sanctification. If we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, how do we know, where do we go to learn what that looks like?”

“God knows exactly what we need, even more than we do. It’s right here (Bible). His promises fuel our perseverance in godliness. His commands put us back on the right path. The examples of His people that went before us affirm our faith and strengthen our hope. The Bible is God's primary tool for transformation in our lives. Jesus himself affirmed this when he prayed for his disciples after he was gone: Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth—John 17:17”

“The Word of God is profitable. Or, given the fact that the Scriptures are God-breathed and make us complete, we could say even stronger—they are sufficient. What is God's Word sufficient for? Paul mentions four things that fit in two categories.”

“The context Paul was speaking into was Timothy's battle with false teachers. So Paul tells Timothy—(16) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof. The Bible is the only true source for teaching sound doctrine. Whatever doctrinal books you enjoy learning from, they must be rooted in the Bible. Why? Because the Bible alone is breathed out by God. Not the church fathers’ writings. Not the systematic theologies. Not the creeds and catechisms. Those books deepen and broaden our understanding of God's Word, but God's Word alone is sufficient to teach us sound doctrine.”

“That makes the Bible our best ammunition for—notice what Paul says next—reproofing or rebuking the false teachers and preserving sound doctrine. This is why just a few verses later in Ch. 4, Paul tells Timothy to fight the false teachers and protect the church by doing one thing—Preach the Word!”

“Doctrine is critical if God is progressively sanctifying our hearts. Wrong doctrine leads to wrong living. So Paul's progression is intentional.”

“The word correct means to straighten out. It implies the same idea of reproof only in regard to behavior. God's Word straightens out our behavior. It puts us back on the right track, which is righteousness. In this way, as Paul says, it trains us in righteousness by correcting us and showing us the right path. The truth is we don't drift to straight, i.e., God's ways. But God is merciful, and in His deep love for us, He uses His Word to turn us right-side up when our sins turn us upside down. This is precisely what Scripture teaches: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and Spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart—Hebrews 4:12”

“The author of Hebrews reminds us that we can't escape the Word. Acting as God Himself, it exposes us. It reveals our hearts. It has its way with us, exposing and correcting our hearts. Scripture sanctifies by guarding our hearts: How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your Word….I have stored up your Word in my heart Psalm 119:9, 11”

ILLUSTRATION: Psalm 1 man like a healthy tree planted by streams of water

“It pleases and glorifies God to work through the means of His Word as we give ourselves humbly to preaching and personal time in the Bible, praying and trusting the Holy Spirit to illuminate our minds so we can understand, treasure, and obey His Word and become more like Jesus, the true Psalm 1 man.”

“This is the effect in 17. In a phrase—Spiritual Maturity. In a word—Sanctification. Capable for all that our Savior has for us and calls us to, foremost, living a life of godliness.”

“Are you confident in the power and sufficiency of God's Word for your Holy Spirit-empowered sanctification? You should be. We all should be because God's Word is God's words for our sanctification.”

QUOTES:
SGC Statement of Faith - “As we devote ourselves to God's Word, we commune with God himself and are fortified in faith, sanctified from sin, strengthened in weakness, and sustained in suffering by his unchanging revelation in Scripture.”

Sovereign Grace Catechism, Question 61 - “How do we grow to be more like Christ? A) Compelled by grace and dependent upon the Spirit, we joyfully devote our lives to God and his purposes, striving for holiness in every area of life. The primary instruments for our sanctification are the Word of God, prayer, and fellowship, which train us to glorify God, love others, and testify to Christ in the world.”

Charles Spurgeon - “This volume is the writing of the living God; each letter penned with an almighty finger, each word in it dropped from the everlasting lips, each sentence was dictated by the Holy Spirit…Everywhere I find God speaking; it is God's voice, not man's; the words are God's words, the words of the Eternal, the Invisible, the Almighty, the Jehovah of the earth…The Bible is a letter from Him, and we prize it beyond the finest gold.”

SGC Statement of Faith - “All of Scripture is breathed out by God, being accurately delivered through various human authors by the inspiration and agency of the Holy Spirit. We therefore receive the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament as the perfect, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.”

Charles Spurgeon - “The prayerful study of the Word is not only a means of instruction, but an act of devotion wherein the transforming power of grace is often exercised, transforming us into the image of him whom the Word is a mirror.”

John Stott - “Let the Word of God make you a man of God! remain loyal to it and it will lead you on into Christian maturity.”

Kevin DeYoung - “Sanctification will be marked by penitence more than perfection.”

APPLICATION:
1. Study and memorize passages that deal specifically with your besetting sins.

• Anxiety

• Greed

• Lust

• Gluttony

• Bitterness

• Impatience

Learn to ask yourself—What does the Bible say about that? 

2. Live in the indicative as you pursue the imperative

• Paul's pattern

3. Prioritize putting on righteousness—This not that

1. Colossians 3:5-17

2. Ephesians 4:25-32

3. Romans 12-14

4. Park in Proverbs
John Calvin said—Scripture contains a perfect rule of a good and happy life. You want a good and happy life? Park in Proverbs! It's a treasure for sanctification because it corrects and trains us in godliness for so many areas of life in a joyful and hopeful way. 

5. Read the Bible with a contrite spirit (Isaiah 66:2)
Repentance is a primary mark of the Spirit's work of sanctification because it's the pathway to genuine growth.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Bless The Lord O My Soul (Psalm 103)
His Mercy Is More
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery
Your Words Are Wonderful (Psalm 119)

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
The Church: Hebrews 3:12-13

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

How do Christians change?
How do we become more and more like Jesus?
How does God work in and mature a follower of Jesus?

These questions, and many others like them, emerge in our lives and in our church in many contexts: at lunch with a Christian friend who may be struggling, in our Community Groups, in our fellowship, and in counseling. In these contexts, much is discussed regarding our need for change and growth. 

In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus reveals a profound truth about us. The heart is the issue, and this is one of the hardest things to accept. We are quick to assign blame. At times, we are blind to the fundamental truth that the bad fruit we bear in our lives is the result of what is in our hearts. The core issue is not the difficult situation or trial. It is not a particular person. It is my heart, and it needs to be changed. But, trusting that God is right on this matter, we have real hope that our hearts will experience real change for His glory.

Over the years, our church has come to deeply appreciate an illustration and approach that helps us speak to Gospel hope and change in our discipleship, fellowship, Community Groups, etc. This illustration, or model, is The Three Trees. Authors Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp introduced us to this illustration, and we have used it for years. Let me be clear. The Three Trees is simply a model. It is not the life-changing word of God. No model is. With that said, The Three Trees model has at it very heart, THE “tree”... the Cross… the Gospel that is the hope for our real change. This model is Gospel-centered. 

We are providing you this graphic (created by CCEF) of The Three Trees model along with its companion application questions - “Helping People Make Gospel Connections.” We encourage you to use this in your study and application of God’s word on the matter of the heart and change.

Also, we highly recommend this outstanding book by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp - “How People Change”. Real hope for real change by the power of the Gospel is offered by the authors of this book. There they unpack the The Three Trees in depth.

A Closing Encouragement from Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp: “Our hearts, once under the domination of sin, now are the dwelling place of Christ, the ultimate source of righteousness, wisdom, grace, power, and love. Our hearts can respond to life in brand new ways because we are no longer dominated by sin, but we are liberated by the gracious rule of Christ. We base our lives on the fact that because Jesus lives in us, we can do what is right in desire, thought, word, and action, no matter what specific suffering or trial we face.”

The heart is the center of our being. The heart is the real you as you really are. There is a connection between who we are on the inside and the lives that we lead. Whatever fruit we produce is rooted in the true condition of our souls. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Sanctification: Being Conformed to Christ
TEXT: Luke 6:43-45
TITLE:  Sanctification - It’s About The Heart
PREACHER: Tom Wilkins
BIG IDEA: God’s target in his gracious work of sanctification is the heart.

POINTS:
I. Sanctification - God’s target is the heart
2. Sanctification - God’s desire is a good heart

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Last Sunday, we began a five-part series on Progressive Sanctification. Progressive Sanctification is the process described in Scripture whereby God is progressively freeing us from sin and making us more like Christ.”

“We learned that the earthly Christian life is lived out between two realities: conversion and death, and in between is a life of Sanctification that begins the moment we are saved and ends the moment we die. Sanctification is at the heart of everyday life for Christians, making it a big part of our lives together as a church, from personal fellowship to CGs to counseling.”

“Each week, we will unpack one aspect of Sanctification: 
( TODAY ) God's Target—The Heart
God’s Tool—His Word
God’s Means—His Church
God’s Goal—Our Glorification.”

“A sanctified heart produces a sanctified life. Jesus’ words to those gathered to hear some of the most important words regarding the nature of man and their desperate need for a savior! We are going to unpack this and find that THE matter Jesus now raises is IT’S ABOUT THE HEART.”

“Look again with me at verses 43 and 44. Jesus, using a horticulture illustration, reveals something about the heart of men and women that is simple yet profound. Your heart is a rooted tree that “bears/produces fruit (good or evil).” The Root of the person is the Heart. The Fruit is how we live, what we think, believe, and do.”

Illustration - the Bottle of Water. “What is inside is who we are (our hearts) - situation hits - and “we” (our hearts) spill out.”

“The heart is the center of our being. The heart is the real you as you really are. There is a connection between who we are on the inside and the lives that we lead. Whatever fruit we produce is rooted in the true condition of our souls.”

“There is no disconnect between our hearts and our actions. Sadly, we don’t see that the two are inextricably connected… after saying something ugly or hurting someone, we say, “That’s not who I really am. You know my heart.” Christ says the opposite: What you do and say, IS who you really are, because it comes from the very nature, root of who you truly are.”

“Look with me now at the end of Vs. 45 - Jesus declares: ‘...for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.’ Let’s take a moment and consider how our mouths reveal what our hearts are really like.”

“Of course, God wants our hearts, but we have to see that something is wrong, and we tend toward trying to fix it ourselves. [REMEMBER THESE TRUTHS FROM LAST WEEK’S SERMON]
Hebrews 12:14—We are to strive for holiness
2 Peter 1:5—We are to make every effort to grow our faith 
1 Timothy 4:7—Train yourself for godliness
1 Timothy 6:12—Fight the good fight of faith by fleeing unrighteousness and pursuing righteousness”

“1. Fruit Stapling is a futile (the temporary fruit will rot and the bad fruit will produce)
2. Fruit Stapling is self-deceiving (we blindly believe that this will actually work and will bring lasting change)
3. Fruit Stapling is deceptive to others (we deceive others into thinking that all is good when it’s not)
The problem is that the tree root is bad. The problem is the heart, and a bad heart will never bear good fruit.”

“Examples of our ‘fruit stapling’:
In Counseling and discipleship, we at times bypass the heart problem (the heart/root sinfulness of idolatry, evil desire and cravings, selfishness, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, self-worship, fear, worry, hatred, idleness, stealing, deception, greed) and we staple fruit on - ‘giving more,’ deleting apps, doing something nice for someone, smiling more, leaving a love note, turning off the TV earlier in the evening…
In parenting, we stop short of the heart problem (the dishonor, disobedience, selfishness, anger, loving the world, demanding their own way… and our provoking them wrath, our rage, impatience, ) and we staple fruit on - now go hug your little brother, give him your toy, be nice, say your sorry, ‘is that the way you are supposed to talk to mommy,’ … ‘I’m sorry I raised my voice son’ we effectively give them miniature pruning clippers and cute little staple guns and small bucket of staple ready apples. All the while, never getting the problem of the heart, and wondering why we continue to produce bad fruit. Wondering why when our kids get older, they wander off into the world.”

“God desires your heart bearing true everlasting goodness. He desires holiness. He wants men and women after His own good heart, in the likeness of His precious and holy Son, Jesus. Just look back a few verses in Luke Chapter 6: Vs 27-31, 35, beginning with LOVE and capping it all off with ‘Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.’”

“The doctrine of regeneration is glorious in that God, in love, calls a people to himself whose hearts cannot and will not be good, and births in us new hearts, empowered by the presence of the Spirit. Beginning with this new birth of new hearts, God begins the ongoing process of a full renovation of our hearts - His glorious work of sanctification. It’s glorious because He gets what He desires, a people with good hearts called by His glorious name, now being made holy to glorify Him forever.”

“The Cross of Christ changes EVERYTHING and has the power to restore, forgive, and redeem any situation. It is HERE at the cross that THE heart work in God’s sanctification is done. We bring the heat/situation to the cross. We behold the Son of God bearing ALL situations and sinful actions and responses on Himself, turning away the wrath of God by receiving it Himself. Through faith, our heart of stone becomes one that can change and is willing to change.”

“That Good News remembered and applied day after day is what changes you. Application of the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit and the daily promised grace brings about this change.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 15:18
Ezekiel 36:25-27

QUOTES:
Philip Graham Ryken - “...we all produce the kind of fruit that is in our hearts to grow. The heart is the center of a person’s being—the real you as you really are. Jesus said that a good life comes from a good heart, whereas an evil heart inevitably produces an evil life. There is a living, organic connection between the people we are on the inside and the lives that we lead out in the world. Whatever fruit we produce—whether good or evil—is rooted in the true condition of our souls. We can only produce the kind of spiritual fruit that it is our nature to produce.”

Paul Tripp (Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands) - “Pretend that I have an apple tree in my backyard. Each year it buds and grows apples, but when the apples mature, they are dry, wrinkled, brown, and pulpy. After several years, I decided that it is silly to have an apple tree and never be able to eat its fruit. So I decided that I must do something to ‘fix’ the tree. One Saturday afternoon, you look out your window to see me carrying branch cutters, a staple gun, a step ladder, and two bushels of Red Delicious apples into my backyard. You watch as I carefully cut off all the bad apples and staple beautiful red apples onto the branches of the tree. You come out and ask me what I am doing, and I say proudly, ‘I've finally fixed my apple tree!’ What are you thinking about me at this point!? It is clear that if the tree produces bad apples year after year, there is something wrong with the system of this tree, right down to its very roots. I won't solve the problem by stapling apples onto the tree. What will happen to those new apples? They will also rot because they are not attached to the life-giving roots of the tree.… The problem with much of what we do to produce growth and change in ourselves and others is that it is nothing more than ‘fruit stapling.’ It is a "sin is bad, so don't do it" view of change that doesn't examine the heart behind the behavior. Change that does not reach the heart rarely lasts; it is temporary and cosmetic.”

APPLICATION:
Q. What does the fruit reveal about MY life?
Q. What comes out of MY mouth?

Q. What does a good heart in God’s eyes look like?
Galatians 5:22-24
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Root, Fruit, and the Gospel Illustration and Model to Apply to Life’s Situations
1 - Heat/Situation- What happened? Who was involved? What was the effect on you?
2 - Bad Fruit- How did you react/respond? What have you said and thought?
3 - Bad Root (1st Tree) What do you want, fear, or believe? What lies are you believing about God, yourself, and others?
4 - Consequences - What are the results and consequences of MY sinful response?
5. The Cross (2nd Tree) - At the cross, Jesus paid the price for all of our sins and forgives us an immeasurable debt of sin. He sacrificed His life for us and saved us even when we were enemies. He reconciles us (former enemies) to Himself. How does this reality affect your circumstances and your heart? Will you turn from the lies you have practiced and believe? Will you believe the truth of the Gospel?
6. Good Root (3rd Tree) - What truths do you now believe about God, others, and yourself? What hope do you now have in this situation? What does Scripture now encourage you to desire, fear, and believe?
7. Good Fruit - The LOVE of God is shed abroad in your heart, molding it into a Heart of LOVE that now is able and willing to cover a multitude of sins. You now believe and trust God. You believe that He has power to change others. Forgiveness, humility, servanthood, goodness, burst forth.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Come Praise And Glorify
God Is Faithful (Psalm 114)
Your Words Are Wonderful (Psalm 119)
The Steadfast Love of Christ
O Great God

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
The Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

There are many facets to our life as a church! Our hope is that these posts will enable you to plan, pray, and ultimately rejoice in what the Lord is doing at Sovereign Grace Church. Here are a few updates for you to do just that! 

membership class

Sundays, April 27th, May 4th, May 25th, & June 1st

The Bible uses imagery like the body, a family, a building, and a household to describe the church. Our lives are being knit together. We are connected. We need one another. This is why we practice church membership, so everyone who calls Sovereign Grace Church their church can enjoy the benefits and blessings of being part.

Our Membership Class started last Sunday, April 27, but there is still time to jump in! If you are interested in membership at Sovereign Grace Church, or if you want to learn more about our church, please CLICK HERE.

woven ladies brunch

We’d love for you to join us for a WOVEN Ladies Brunch on Saturday, May 10, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

Come enjoy a morning of food and fellowship! Cathy Letkeman, who serves on our Worship Team, will be teaching our women on the topic of "A Woman's Devotion As Her Worship of God," providing Gospel hope in our struggles with the idols of our hearts that are unique to women. 

All women are invited! Bring your teen daughters, friends, and family.

mother’s day celebration

Join us after the service on Mother’s Day, May 11, for a special gift just for you.

Your kindness, patience, and sacrifice for your children are a reflection of God’s love for us! Moms, we are praying that you are encouraged and strengthened by the grace of God this Mother's Day.

sermons in the psalms: volume 3

​Over the summer, our sermon series will take us into the Psalms again with "Sermons in the Psalms: Volume 3," starting on June 1st! Join us as we dig deeper into the life-giving Psalms together.

Eastside Community Group

Please continue to pray for our Eastside Community Group! Pray that the Lord would draw our Eastside neighbors to this community group.

This special group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month at 7pm at Coffee X Change. If you know anyone on the Eastside who might be interested in visiting or joining this group, please feel free to invite them and let Derek know!

Check out our EASTSIDE COMMUNITY GROUP webpage for more details.

Today, we begin with God’s Design for Sanctification—The Roles. We start here because if we get the roles wrong, we get everything wrong. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Sanctification: Being Conformed to Christ
TEXT: Philippians 2:12-13
TITLE:  Working Because He Works
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Because God works, we work.

POINTS:
I. Our Efforts
II. God’s Power

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Today, we begin a five-part series on Progressive Sanctification. Progressive Sanctification is the process described in Scripture whereby God is progressively freeing us from sin and making us more like Christ.”

“Why a series on Sanctification? It’s simple. The earthly Christian life is lived out between two realities: conversion and death. In between is a life of Sanctification that begins the moment we are saved and ends the moment we die. Sanctification is at the heart of everyday life for Christians, making it a big part of our lives together as a church, from personal fellowship to CGs to counseling.”

“Each week, we will unpack one aspect of Sanctification: 

• God's Target—The Heart

• God’s Tool—His Word

• God’s Means—His Church

• God’s Goal—Our Glorification

Today, we begin with God’s Design for Sanctification—The Roles. We start here because if we get the roles wrong, we get everything wrong.”

“Because God works powerfully in our Sanctification, we work persistently for our Sanctification.”

ILLUSTRATION: Airplane wings

“Imagine the plane again, but this time, you’re not in it; you’re on top of it. As you look down at the wings, one wing has the word Dependent written on it. The other wing says Discipline. Two wings, two words—Dependent Discipline. Spiritually speaking, you need both wings to fly in Sanctification. You need the wing of Dependence and the wing of Discipline.”

“Our passage begins with the word Therefore, which makes it a response to 6-11. Jesus obediently condescended to save sinners, and God eternally exalted him for it. Therefore, offer your lives to God through grace-fueled, sober, and hopeful obedience—Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

“What does Paul mean? Paul is not saying—Work for or toward your salvation as if God meets us halfway. Jesus did His part, and now you do your part. He is not saying—Now that you have received the gift of salvation, work to preserve it or prepare to lose it. Paul tolerated a lot in the churches he served (Corinth), but did not tolerate a works-based approach to God. Paul excoriated the church in Galatia for their arrogant legalism, saying in Galatians 3:3—Are you so foolish, what the Spirit began in your hearts are you now perfecting with your hands?”

“The context isn’t conversion; it’s obedience (12). Jesus did two things on the cross: he paid the penalty of sin for us, and he broke the power of sin over us. But we live in a fallen world where the presence of sin remains and will remain until the glorification of God’s people at the return of Jesus. Until that day or the day we die, the Holy Spirit is sanctifying us.”

“Two distinct yet inseparable spiritual realities, two sides of the same coin, define every believer—Justification and Sanctification.”

“Justification describes your position before God in Christ. It has nothing to do with obedience. The moment you have faith in Jesus through the miracle of regeneration, you are declared righteous, holy and blameless, justified before God (Rom 5:1). Your justification is immediate, complete, and permanent. No matter how much you obey and grow spiritually throughout your Christian life, you will never be more justified than you were at the moment of your conversion, when all you knew was that Jesus saved you.”

“Sanctification describes your practice or how you live before God based on your justification. Where justification is immediate, Sanctification is a process. The moment you are declared righteous, the Spirit begins the lifelong process of conforming your life to the image of Christ. While you can never be more justified over time, you will be more sanctified as you give yourself to grace-motivated obedience. This is why we call it progressive Sanctification. In a sense, Sanctification is simply becoming who we already are in Christ.”

“IMPORTANT: Your justification always leads to your Sanctification. It is never the other way around. The moment we flip them, we enter into a legalistic works-based salvation, and we will be confused about the Christian life, frustrated with the Christian life, and unfruitful in the Christian life.”

“To work out your salvation is to live out of the good of and according to your justification. Our salvation is not something we simply possess. Our salvation is an unchanging reality we express and experience as we give ourselves to the Spirit’s work of Sanctification through joyful and sober obedience SO THAT we may grow and mature in our salvation—Become more like Christ, which is God’s ultimate pleasure for you in this life.”

“You have a hand in your spiritual growth. We must work on our walk with the Lord, constantly cultivating our salvation and vigorously aligning our attitudes and actions with Christ. In the words of John Owen—God works in us and with us, but never without us.”

“Scripture bears this out.

• Heb 12:14—We are to strive for holiness

• 2 Pet 1:5—We are to make every effort to grow our faith 

• 1 Tim 4:7—Train yourself for godliness

• 1 Tim 6:12—Fight the good fight of faith by fleeing unrighteousness and pursuing righteousness

Colossians 3 describes our work as day-by-day vigorously putting off, actually killing sin and putting on righteousness. We aren’t called to change ourselves. We aren’t self-sanctifiers. God is the Chief Sanctifier. We’re called to a life of grace-motivated obedience, which God uses to transform us into the image of Christ.” 

“Just as we begin to feel the weight of 12, that three-letter word that begins 13—for—suddenly transfers the weight and emphasis to God. To the one who spoke and things came to be; the one who set the moon and stars in place and continually sustains them in their place; the one who powerfully raised Christ from the dead, ascended Him to His side, and exalted above as Lord of all. The one who is outside of time and space and is at work in your space and time.”

“The idea here is not that God is pursuing holiness for us as if we sit back, relax, and do nothing. God’s commands are not hollow. What God calls us to we are responsible for! However—and this is a huge however because it is where we find our confidence, assurance, and perseverance for our work in Sanctification—in our working, we can be sure God is at work in us, empowering and enabling us, supplying us with the necessary and sufficient grace to make our efforts possible,  effective, and Christ-exalting.”

“Notice the comprehensive nature of God’s work in 13—God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. In any work, there are two principles: the will and the power to carry out the will. Paul says God is the lead player in both.”

“God is not only empowering my doing; He is empowering the willing behind my doing—God is at work in you, both to will and to work. God enlivens my desires to please Him with my life. God is at work transforming my affections toward Christ so that my actions will be increasingly characterized by what is pleasing to Christ.”

“Now, the effect is two-fold for us. First, you are not alone in your call to be holy. God doesn’t do the work He calls us to do. But He does promise to be with us in power. So, you rely on and rejoice in God’s empowering presence as you work hard at living the Christian life. Second, you can forget about getting any credit for the godly fruit in your life. God always gets the game ball. Our Sanctification requires conscious effort, but that effort is informed by the truth that without Christ, we can do nothing, so he alone deserves the glory.”

QUOTES:
John Murray - “God's working in us is not suspended because we work, nor our working suspended because God works. Neither is the relation strictly one of cooperation as if God did his part and we did ours so that the conjunction or coordination of both produced the required result. God works and we also work. But the relation is that because God works we work.”

J.I. Packer - “Regeneration is birth; Sanctification is growth. In regeneration, God implants desires that were not there before: desire for God, for holiness, and for the hallowing and glorifying of God's name in this world; desire to pray, worship, love, serve, honor, and please God; desire to show love and bring benefit to others. In Sanctification, the Holy Spirit "works in you to will and to act" according to God's purpose; what he does is prompt you to "work out your salvation" (i.e., express it in action) by fulfilling these new desires.”

Moises Silva - “While Sanctification requires conscious effort and concentration, our activity takes place not in a legalistic spirit, with a view to gaining God's favor, but rather in a spirit of humility and thanksgiving, recognizing that without Christ we can do nothing and so he alone deserves the glory.”

John Murray - “All working out of salvation on our part is the effect of God's working in us...We have here not only the explanation of all acceptable activity on our part but we also have the incentive to our willing and working. ... The more persistently active we are in working, the more persuaded we may be that all the energizing grace and power is of God.”

APPLICATION:
All this will be unpacked over the next four weeks. Today, I want to equip us for the series in two ways

1. Know Your Heart

   When it comes to sanctification, I think most of us fit into one of two categories:

   Legalism

   If you are aware of 12 at the expense of 13, you have probably drifted away from Christ into legalism. Legalism is relating to God through your efforts for God. It’s arrogant, deceptive, and subtle. But it is detectable. If your first response to obedience is I have to do this rather than I get to do this. If spiritual weariness and drudgery characterize you. If the Christian life seems like a joyless duty, legalism has a hold in your heart.  

   Licentiousness

   If you are aware of 13 at the expense of 12, you have probably drifted away from Christ into licentiousness. Licentiousness is an apathetic attitude toward Christian obedience in the name of grace or inability. It leads to worldliness, strips you of joy in Christ, and produces an unfruitful Christian life because it’s a perversion of grace and distortion of the gospel. It arrogantly mocks Christ and all he is and did according to 6-8; it defies God’s love, and it is a refusal to do in this life what all will do when Jesus returns according to 10—bow at the name of Jesus.

2. Anchor your heart

   Whichever category you are in, you have lost sight of the precious truth of justification.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Grace Alone
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
It's Your Grace
All I Have Is Christ
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
The Heart: Luke 6:43-45

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

On this Easter Sunday, the question is—Where is my hope? Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

EASTER SUNDAY 2025
TEXT: John 11:25-26
TITLE:  The Best Day of the Year
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet

POINTS:
I. A Hopeless Situation
II. A Hope-Filled Proclamation
III.A Hope-Giving Demonstration

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Resurrection Sunday is the best day of the year. Those angelic words—He is not here. He has risen!—thunder true hope to all the world. On this Easter Sunday, the question is—Where is my hope? Hope is critical to life. Hope keeps us moving forward. Hope gives us life and strength to carry on. Everyone is searching for something to pin their hope on. Everyone needs hope.”

“Of course, we place our hope in many things. At times out of ignorance, at other times out of desperation, but we all put our hope in something. Relationships. Leisure. Education. Medicine. Behavior. Money. Rules. Staying numb. Sooner or later, those things will leave us feeling horribly hopeless. And as Proverbs 13:12 says—Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

“In pursuit of true hope, we look to a familiar story in the gospel of John. Our passage is wedged within the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.”

“In verses 1-4, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was gravely ill. They had seen Jesus heal before, so they sent the word of Lazarus to Jesus, believing that he would come quickly and heal their brother. Jesus responded that Lazarus's illness would not lead to death but the glory of God. How encouraging is that!”

“In verse 5, it says that Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. One would think he would go to Lazarus immediately. He didn't. Jesus decides to wait a couple of days, according to verse 6. When Jesus decides to make the short trip to Lazarus, his disciples try to change his mind because of the danger to Jesus. Jesus' response is puzzling—read 9-16.”

“Jesus is speaking very cryptically. His illness does not lead to death. He has fallen asleep. Lazarus has died so that you may believe it. Something is brewing. Never a dull moment with Jesus. But Jesus finally arrives on the scene in 17; it's too late. Lazarus has been dead for four days. It seems like a very hopeless situation.”

“Not all Jews believed in a resurrection on the final day. The Pharisees did, but the Sadducees didn't. But Martha did believe, saying in 24—I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. What follows in our text is stunning; look at 25—I am the resurrection and the life. This is the fifth of seven I Am statements by Jesus. Claims of deity connected to real-life situations during his ministry. Take note: Jesus doesn't say I will raise Lazarus on the last day. He says—I am the resurrection and the life.”

“Don't miss this. Some in this story are focused on the past—Lazarus would still be alive if Jesus had come immediately. Martha is focused on the future—I know my brother will rise in the resurrection on the last day. But Jesus is focused on what is in the present. He is drawing the audience to himself by identifying, not with a theological teaching or future event, but with the very event of resurrection and the reality of eternal life.” 

“Jesus is saying—Martha, I'm glad your eschatology is sound, but believe in me today. I don't just teach the resurrection—I am the resurrection. I don't just preach God's power for life—I am God's power for life. Jesus' claim is not a job description; it's a self-revelation of the One who doesn't just do glorious things; he is glorious—I AM the resurrection and life.”

“Now, Jesus expands and explains this astonishing statement when he says in 25, look at it with me—Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. At first read, this sounds confusing and even contradictory: whoever believes, though he dies, and in the next breath, everyone who believes shall never die. Which one is it? Do we live or die?”

“Ephesians 2 says once we were spiritually dead in our sin. We were alive physically but dead spiritually. But God, who is rich in mercy, resurrects us spiritually, giving us eternal life in Jesus. The moment you are saved by grace, you have beaten death. You still die physically, but spiritually, you never die. Physical death cannot destroy the eternal spiritual life that comes by faith in Jesus. The day this body dies is not the day I die.”

“The day my physical body dies is the day I come into the most excellent and glorious awareness of reality. I will live in the majestic presence of my Savior, first in spirit, then on that great resurrection day when Christ returns, in a glorified body in the new heaven and earth.”

“This is the height of hope! We have an intuitive sense of eternity, a God-given awareness that there is something beyond this life. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says—God has put eternity into man's heart. So philosophers have philosophized, and spiritual gurus have speculated about it throughout the ages. Even the ancient man Job wondered: If a man dies, shall he live again?—Job 14:14”

“Jesus, the Giver of eternal life, says—Yes, Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

“The commanding voice of Jesus, not whispered, but the text says with a loud voice, echoed into the tomb—Lazarus, come out. The voice of God Almighty, who spoke creation into being with the power of His word, speaks with that same power—Lazarus come out.”

“At his divine command, Lazarus's brain began to work; his rotting flesh began to heal, the air started to pump through his lungs, and blood pulsing through his veins once again, strength returned to his ligaments and muscles. And even after four days in the grave,  Lazarus walked out of the tomb alive as a display of God's undeniable power and glory.”

“What a preview to an even more glorious resurrection. The Giver of Life would die on the cross to secure the forgiveness of sinners. But three days later, wrapped and sealed in his own tomb, God rolled the stone away, and Jesus walked out of the grave, defeating sin and death forever for all who believe in him. And Christ's physical resurrection is the first fruits of ours. This is why the resurrection is the most crucial event in history. The empty tomb validates all Jesus claimed about himself—like I am the resurrection and the life—and it is God's cosmic AMEN to his atoning work on the cross that guarantees our physical resurrection to glory as forgiven and justified children of God.”

“Consider the most hopeless situation in your life right now. If God can raise Jesus from the dead, he can handle your circumstance! Do you believe this?”

QUOTES:
R.C. Sproul - “The greatest enemy of man, that enemy that hangs over every human being like the sword of Damocles every day of our lives, the ultimacy of our own personal death, which threatens everything that we do, everything that we say, everything that we learn with ultimate chaos, with what the existentialists call the abyss of non-being, of annihilation—that enemy is conquered by the resurrection.”

APPLICATION:
Darkness doesn't have the last word. Death isn't victorious. Victory comes by faith in the victorious Savior. Jesus is alive and his resurrection is our resurrection and life!

Do You Believe This? Here is the question everyone has to answer. Look at the end of 26—Do you believe this?

If you are not a Christian, the question is—Do you believe in Jesus as the only one who grants and guarantees eternal life with him? I want you to notice what Jesus says at the end of verse 44. What a picture of the gospel. Like Lazarus, you are dead in your sin and without hope. You can do nothing to make yourself worthy of and alive to God. But Jesus died in your place and rose from the dead. And just as he cried—It is finished—the empty tomb is God's declaration—It is sufficient! Today, through the gospel, Jesus calls to you—Come out. Turn from your sin and trust in Jesus, the only source of spiritual life. Through faith, he will unbind and loose you from the grips of sin and hell, setting you free and making you alive forever! His resurrection and empty tomb guarantee it—Will you believe?

To my Christian friend, the application is—Keep believing! Even on this side of the cross and empty tomb, with the Scriptures in our hands and the Spirit in our hearts revealing and guiding us, hope can be elusive. Does true hope seem elusive you today? The resurrection reminds you that your hope in Jesus is real. Your faith is not in vain. Your life is not a house of cards. The tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive. That means your sins are COMPLETELY forgiven. The power of death is TRULY broken. The penalty of sin is FULLY paid. God's love is ETERNALLY yours, and one day, you WILL live in Christ's glorious presence. But that eternal perspective the empty tomb brings is not simply a promise for an amazing future; it's a gift for today:

• The empty tomb ensures you He is there! He is Faithful! He is sufficient! 

• The empty tomb ensures God's promises are Yes and Amen! 

• The empty tomb ensures His throne is approachable as the place of unfailing mercy and all-sufficient grace! 

• The empty tomb ensures your forgiveness and justification before God is full, final, and forever!

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Sing
Rise My Soul The Lord Is Risen
Christ Our Hope In Life And Death
Because He Lives

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
The Roles: Philippians 2:12-13

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

We are excited to sing a new song on Easter Sunday called, Rise My Soul The Lord Is Risen. This song celebrates the resurrection and reminds us of the hope it brings. Not only a future hope of our resurrection, but a hope that is alive and powerful as we walk out our faith today. What a hope we have in a Risen Savior!

I hope this song encourages you as we head into Easter Sunday. I cannot wait to gather with our church and sing praises to our Risen Savior!

Link to Listen & Learn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq9imtMQ3eU

Lyrics

Verse 1:
Rise, my soul, the Lord is risen
Come, behold the empty grave
See the place where darkness laid Him
Sing for only hope remains
Hallelujah, praise forever
Death defeated and life restored
By that great immortal power
Christ is risen, arise, my soul

Verse 2:
Rest, my soul, the Lord is risen
Love's redeeming work is done
Now the Father sees His children
As He sees His sinless Son
O the wonder, O the glory
That same favour is now my own
Shame behind me, grace before me
Christ is risen, arise, my soul

Verse 3:
Peace, my soul, the Lord is risen
Come and have your hope renewed
For this trial is brief and fleeting
Tears will turn to glory soon
Shout with joy and sound the triumph
Let the music of heaven roar
Let the boast of death be silent
Christ is risen, arise, my soul

Verse 4:
Rise, my soul, for I am risen
Seated now with Christ my Lord
As my life belongs to heaven
Fear shall hold its sway no more
Onward, upward, toward the treasure
Filled with courage and endless hope
For this truth is mine forever
Christ is risen, arise, my soul

The more central God's gospel generosity is in your life, the more radical your generosity will be toward others. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

TEXT: Acts 20:32-35
TITLE:  Redeeming Grace and Radical Generosity
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Radical generosity is the fruit of redeeming grace.

POINTS:
I. Keep Believing the Gospel
II. Live Radically Generous Lives
III. Paul's Personal Example

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Our section of Scripture today is known as Paul's farewell. In 25 and again 38, it says these men would never see Paul's face again. This moment marked the end of Paul's church planting work. In Ch. 21, Paul goes to Jerusalem where he is arrested, an arrest that, in God's providence, saved his life and set him on a course to Rome, where he wished to share Jesus with the Emperor. But in Ch 20, Paul summons the Ephesus pastors to come to see him in Miletus, which is a 50+ mile trip. As he leaves them, he has a few things on his heart.”

“First, in 18-27, he reviews the grace in his ministry and where the Spirit was now leading him. He was going to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen there. Sound familiar? Think eastside church plant—We are Going Not Knowing what will happen. Then, in 28-31, Paul charges them as pastors to protect the church against fierce wolves, i.e., false teachers and divisive people.”

“Finally, in our text, 32-35, and if we're honest, this is a surprise, Paul exhorts them—wait for it—to generosity. That's right, Paul's final words to these men were simple—It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

“To the degree you understand that you are an undeserving sinner saved by the infinitely generous grace of God is the degree to which radical generosity will characterize your life. The greater your grasp on the profound reality that you have an eternal inheritance in heaven that will blow your mind, the more generous you will be with your temporary earthly inheritance. The more you look up, the more open your hands become.” 

“What would your final words to friends you love dearly be? Paul says—Radical generosity is the fruit of redeeming grace.”

“The first thing I want you to see is what Paul says is in 32: I entrust you to the gospel. I set the gospel before you. I want you to remember the gospel. I want the gospel always to be front of mind and heart. I want you to be shaped by the unmerited favor God has shown you in the gospel. I want the reality that you are a sinner saved by grace to touch every area of your life. I want your short time on earth to be informed by your eternity in heaven. Keep the main thing the main thing, and the main thing is the gospel, which all of God's Word points us to—I commend you to God and the word of his grace.”

“That's the last thing Paul says to these men he loves—Live generously. Interestingly, those aren't Paul's words. According to the end of 35, they belong to Jesus. When and where Jesus said this, we don't know because, and I think it's the only instance, these words aren't recorded in the gospels. It's a simple yet powerful call to live radically generous lives. So, Paul's final message is this—Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives. Here's the question: Are those two different subjects? Are they disconnected thoughts - Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives. They are not.”

“Paul didn't live a greedy life; he lived a generous life because that's what Apostles do? No, because of the grace of God toward him in the gospel. That's the transforming power of the gospel—Saving grace produces radical generosity. We see this connection in other passages.”

“Paul's exhortation is significant. Whether it's time, money, or possessions, generosity can be pushed out by greed—I keep instead of give. As the antithesis to the gospel, greed is serious because it is the fruit of idolatry. Idolatry is treasuring something more than I treasure Christ. Greed is the expression of the treasuring.”

“Greed is also subtle. If you are committing adultery, you know it. You don't need me or anyone else to tell you. However, greed can be difficult to detect. No one has ever come to me and said—Pastor, I struggle with greed. Can we meet?  I don't think that's because we're absolutely free of greed. There's a reason Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives are Paul's final words to these pastors. There's a reason Jesus spent more time teaching about money and possessions than heaven and hell combined, including—It is more blessed to give than to receive. Greed affects us all.”

“We are prone to put the burden of proof on giving rather than keeping. Too often, our starting place is Why should I give? instead of Why would I keep? …Here's the word that exposed my greed: Effortlessness.”

“That's what greed looks like in my life. That greed reveals my idol of leisure and having nice things so I can look successful. Maybe yours is different. The call to steward what God entrusts to you is applied by saving every penny you get. Someone else can help those in need. Someone else can bless others. Someone else can financially support your church's gospel mission. You have a plan to control your world and secure the future you have always dreamed of, and nothing gets in the way. That's greed that reveals your idols of control and security. Here's the truth about idols—they control us.”

Illustration: Little Shop of Horrors— Giant Fly-trap yelling ‘Feed me

“So it goes with the greed and idolatry in our own lives. So, how do we put greed to death and grow in generosity? We could:

• Force the will—Just be generous

• Play on emotion—Think of all the sinners your church can reach through your generosity

• Work the mind—What's the best return on my money

Or we could do what Paul does—I commend you to the gospel:

• Set your mind on the things above where Christ, your inheritance sits, and one day will return to you (Colossians 3:1-4).

• Fix your focus on Jesus, who, though he was rich, became poor so that you, by his poverty, might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

• Have the mind of Christ, who left the glories of heaven, condescended to your world to become a servant and die to secure your highest good—eternal salvation (Philippians 2:5-8).

• Jesus, who was without sin, became sin, for you, so that you might know the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

• In Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing and lavished us with the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1).

“What do those passages have in common—they reveal how deeply Jesus treasures you. Let that sink in—Jesus, the sovereign and supreme Lord of all, treasures you. He came for you, was spent for you, and will return for you because he treasures you. How do you measure that? You can't. But you can treasure him back by allowing his redeeming generosity toward you to pour out in radical generosity toward others.”

“Generosity isn't ultimately about a transaction of time, possessions, or money. Radical generosity is a disposition of the heart consumed with the generous love of God in Christ.”

QUOTES:
James Montgomery Boice - “In effect, Paul says, I have not tried to build an earthly fortune. I have not coveted anyone's gold. I have not been in this religion business to become wealthy. The reason I have not done that is I have had my eyes set upon the inheritance laid up for me in heaven.”

John Piper - “If you believe that the wealth of God's grace and the glory of his inheritance are so immeasurable that giving is more blessed than getting, the root of covetousness is severed, and the branch of greed dries up and dies.”

APPLICATION:
Further Study:
- In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul links the generous giving of the Macedonians and Corinthians to the inexpressible gift of Jesus Christ.
- As the early church grew, Luke gives progress reports in Acts 2 and 4, highlighting the centrality of the gospel and the radical generosity toward one another.

Today is Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey just days before he would give himself to the most radical act of generosity to mankind—His life-giving death on the cross and his justifying resurrection from the dead.

This Easter, I invite you to evaluate your generosity in light of the cross and resurrection.  

• Where is your generosity effortless and where does it take much effort?

• Where do you put the burden of proof, giving or keeping? 

The answers will reveal your treasure and expose your idolatry. That's hard, but it's good. It will prepare you to apply the good news of God's generous love toward you so that your generosity can increasingly become a radical act of grace in response to grace. 

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
It Was Finished Upon That Cross
Man Of Sorrows
Jesus Thank You
We Receive

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
EASTER SUNDAY - John 11:25-26

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon