What Did You Learn In Church Today?

[DragonFox91]

The sermon was on the 10 Plagues. Each Plague corresponded to a god the Egyptians worshipped, so a plague of each shows the True God is bigger than their gods. The Plagues show God’s sovereignty, just judgement, & mercy.

 

[Lost4words]

What i learnt at church today is that they are no longer going to fill up the water bowl by the entrance!

 

[DragonFox91]

Sunday School was on 1 Peter 2. Who we are affects how we live.
In Christ, we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, & people for God's own possession.
Without Christ, we were not a people, & we were without mercy.
This affects our new identity. We aren't to forget our homeland & the war within our soul. We are not to forget the world is watching, & the coming judgement.

 

[DragonFox91]

This was the Easter message.
Jesus wants to untangle our past, bring hope of future, into present

Mary comes to Jesus upset about past, he wasn’t there to heal Lazarus
“How can God be loving based on what happened in the past? Where were you?”

Then Mary says she knows Jesus can do all things – But does she really believe that?
We say true statements but don’t really believe it all the time when we’re upset

Mary is looking to the future when she says she knows Lazarus will be resurrected in the last days
But Jesus says “I am the resurrection & the life.” The resurrection is NOW.

He’s saying he’s the solution to broken pasts & unknown futures
Doubts of God’s goodness & anger gone when Jesus resurrects Lazarus

 

[DragonFox91]

I took very brief notes on Palm Sunday. I'll re-listen to sermon later this week.
Sunday School was on submission. We should submit b/c it's a witness to others. Suffering while working can be comendable. God placed us to work. Even before the Fall Adam was asked to work. Okay not be taken advantage of, seek wise counsel.

I took very brief notes on Good Friday. The sermon is unavailable to re-listen to, but thru it we get:
1.) Proficiation
2.) Redemption
3.) Reconiliation
4.) Victory over sin
5.) The ultimate answer to 'why doesn't God do anything about pain'

 

[DragonFox91]

Palm Sunday:
Big parades for kings common but Palm Sunday establishes Jesus as a different kind. He’s gentle, no war prisoners, no war horse, no train of soliders.
Part of God’s plan: During Passover week when people were choosing lambs to sacrifice -> Jesus is the sacrificial lamb.
Human solutions can be helpful short-term but the Curse brings out ugly evil sinfulness. Jesus only qualified to be savior
Jesus does more than solve our problems, he conquers sin & death
Could’ve had up to 1 million people in Jerusalem that week

Answers who is Jesus. Newly crowned kings would’ve ridden on baby donkeys like Jesus did
Switch! For most of his ministry Jesus declined being king, here he’s knowingly playing it up, presenting himself as the Messiah.
Passover lambs just covered sin for a year, Jesus got rid of it

Jesus presenting himself here as God & man.
Whoever pays for sin has to be human to represent humanity, & God to infinitely pay for sin. We downplay sin & it’s infinite blot so can’t
Palm Sunday it’s clear people are calling him just a prophet.
See his diety -> he is accepting praise meant for God alone
“Hosanna” – praise for God, they’re ascribing to Jesus

 

[DragonFox91]

Kingdom of heaven is not far off, is right here
New creation is now
Mustard seed (kingdom) grows into something big
Kingdom isn’t something you see & immediately say ‘there’s God at work’
Moses stutterer, David almost forgotten, Paul persecuted
Your perception is God will show up in a big way (lot of people getting saved at once, etc.)
Small moments include: calling someone by name who feels unseen, Bible studies you’re expecting 20 people & only 4 show up,
Kingdom was cherished hope by Jews, expected king would be established to overthrow Rome,
Instantenous, something big & flashy -> Jesus says kingdom is small & hidden, bringing in with mustard seeds.
Even Jesus came as baby from Nazareth, didn’t spend time w/ the successful, but fisherman who didn’t make it as rabbis, & other brokens on the outside.
Forces us to lay aside how we think God should work
Not looking for next big thing but looking at little things & thinking God’s at work there
Small decisions – suddenly there’s a breakthrough - > that’s where the kingdom is
Believe in the big things & pray big & God will show up in big things – but believe in smallness

 

[DragonFox91]

Listened to this sermon online from church I attend:

What is manliness? Shooting guns, drinking, athletic, beard? ‘thug’. Now demasculinated
Non Biblical masculinity hurts women
Need Biblical masculinity -> not traditional
For all men -> including Single Men
“Be courageous” (Greek word means be manly)
Paul compares how they were acting to children -> “I want what the world has now” -> act like men
“Be alert” -> step up! Not whatever you want! Fight the flesh! Know your family! Singles, we’ll take others down too
“Stand firm in faith” -> pray & be in Word, be able to answer questions. Train yourself!
Will have problems -> you are not a victim, you are called & strengthened!
“Love” -> habitual, not rude or overly critical, laying down yourself. Opens door for ministry
Keep growing
e responsible, not run from hard things.
Think w/ godly wisdom -> how to handle situations
Serve. “you’re a servant or a thief”
Jesus is perfect masculinity (was a single)
Single women encouraged to look for godly men

 

[DragonFox91]

From Sunday am service (I listen again & take expanded notes)
Train & prepare children!
We’re concerned our children will make it in changing world – Jacob wondered same – answer: train & prepare
Children are watching us so we must model
Jacob took immaturity, deceit, & selfishness all around w/ him – God only around to fix his messes
Jacob’s selfishness passed onto his children -> learned from him, they suffered
We think others will teach them truth
What am I passing on? Am I fully grown? Fear of how to do it right.
Joy in selflessness – misery in selfishness
Let them see yourself in the Word, repent, in church, progressing spiritually
Get rid of ‘boyness’ in your heart!
Jacob knows he has to get Joseph’s sons to live in land of idolatrous Egypt
He adopts 2 of Joseph’s sons. Why? -> Guarantees their descendants who are ½ Egyptian will leave in the Exodus
Jacob reiterates God’s promise to his grandfather Abraham to them -> Faith!
Very important for fathers to be there – modern stats back this up

 

[DragonFox91]

Week ending Friday June 30:
‘Good Samaritan’ hijacked by the world
Hear & obey – not just hear & know
Greek word neighbor – “someone who is near”
Lawyer would’ve thought just Jews
Route man took ‘Way of Blood’ – common to take, common to get robbed b/c of cliffs
So narrow Priest & Levite literally would have to step over him
Hero in Jewish stories would always be a Jew
Many Jewish texts (extra-Biblical) said how much God hated the Samaritans
“if you’re gonna eat with a Samaritan, you might as well eat pig”
Jesus asks ‘who proved to be the neigbor’ – go be the neighbor
Lawyer says ‘one who showed mercy’ – not ‘the Samaritan’ – too hard for him
“We believe all Samaritans are like this” – blanket statements we make. We stereotype & categorize ‘who’s in & who’s out’. Called to love enemies
This is NOT blanket tolerance!!! NOT “what everybody does is right, who am I to judge?’
Does NOT mean tolerating unhealthy pain or abuse. Boundaries can lead to a place where we can Most us don’t have enmies, have ‘hard’ people
Jesus is Good Samaritan, we are the traveler. The priest & the Levite can’t save us. We can’t always be the Good Samaritan – too hard

 

[DragonFox91]

7/2 am notes

The sermon was on Malachi 1.
God is burdened when we lose our awe & grow cold. (what does God is burdened mean???)
Guard against losing awe!
It's replaced by awe for ourselves. The alternative to living for God is living for myself.
It's a short step from boredom to despising!
Restore the awe! Take it to heart. Plead for his grace to revive! Don't tolerate personal hypocrisy. Rekindle your love & see him w/ renewed eyes.
Has your love grown cold?
"Return to me & I will return to you" - Malachi 3
"Remember where you've fallen, & repent & do what you did at first" - Revelation 2
Return to your first love for the Lord
Does God's love captivate you? W/ wonder? W/ awe?
Does the world captivate you?
Do you accuse him of being unfair?
Do you genuinely & regularly repent?
Do you think God is stingy?
Do you think it's worth it to serve?
Have you lost hope for the future? (His plan for you)
Do you find it tiresome or boring?
Are you enamored with the rules? Or a deep heart change?
Do you tolerate sin? Do you judge others but not yourself?
Do you complain? Or have a bad attitude?
Genuinely obey, trust, & love

 

[DragonFox91]

7/16
Sermon:
Genesis essential to make sense of everything that follows, gives purpose
Genesis confronts us w/ a radical & exclusive worldview -> Who God is, who we (mankind) are, & how we relate to world
The Genesis worldview is different from all others. It was written against the backdrop of different worldviews.
Different worldviews include materialism, humanism
Genesis written initially for Israelites who had been exposed to all of Egypt’s worldviews & were ready to be exposed to Caananite gods, were aware of God but most didn’t know him
They had to learn who true God was, not vindictive, didn’t need babies to be sacrificed. Needed Gen to be bold
If Moses was making it up, he would’ve included how God got there -> all other worldviews did that, how gods got there. No explanation needed!
The overwhelming message of Genesis is there is one God, the eternal creator to whom we owe worship.
In Gen God makes himself known – means he wants us to know him!
God doesn’t just make you feel good -> it’s lasting!
Moses wrote in the plural to refer to God b/c that’s how Hebrew language was when referring to majesty
Never lose awe!!!!
All other gods, religions, & worldviews are man's imaginations, Satan's counterfiets, or both.
"We are disquieted by one who doesn't answer to us. To admit one beyond us requires a great deal of humility. So we save face by thinking God down to us......Yet he eludes us."
“My god wouldn’t…….” Everything distorted
Genesis shows us mankind is the apex of God's creation, & we are created in God's image but have fallen & are in need of redemption.
“In our image” -> personhood, self-awareness, conscious, abstract, meaning & purpose, deep emotion, eternity in our hearts, reflect who God is
Per Gallup poll – approval of pride stuff down 7% from last year-> lots of depression -> it’s not solving anything.
Need a Gen moment! Defend truth like Christ would! In Christ we find our true identity!

Sunday School was on 1 Peter 5.
Be humble.
---affects wisdom decisions
---affects our ability to fight excuses
--- Be teachable
Hebrews 12: 1-2 the verses I've almost learned by heart. It's a weight!
"Respectable Sins" book by Jerry Bridges
Be sober-minded - means self-control. Not overpowered
Why depression & anxiety? -> No Jesus!
"Kill your sin or it'll kill you"

 

[DragonFox91]

7/23 am
If hold tiny penny (trouble) in front of your eye, it’s gonna dominate your vision. Lower trouble from eye, you see God & all that he’s doing.
Worth defending, & called to defend.
No matter where you are in life or what you have in life, you need this truth.
Defend courteously & w/ no fear -> (will be, or can be, intimidating)
Something happened to Peter after he saw the resurrected Christ……..
Being a witness various opportunities, various different ways. No matter what’s going on in your life
Scilitan martyrs, early church history, offered to explain faith (not allowed to sacrifices for governor)
Apologetics must include the hope given in Jesus.
Without truth of Genesis, hope of Christ makes no sense -> why we need a Savior
“The river of the water of life…..flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb……..Stood the tree of life………No longer will there be any curse. …..They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” Rev 22
Gen apologetics is a reasoned defense for the message of Gen which leads up to Christ.
Missions used to share Gospel starting w/ Christ – now we know we need to start w/ Gen.
Early church gives examples how to be apologists
Many believers died for faith, many more did not, like us, general life struggles
Biggest critics against early church: philosophers, intellectuals, government -> people w/ influence. Superstitious. “God doesn’t care”. Contradictory
3 pagans....powerful attempts to destroy Christianity thru reason....Celsus, Porphyry, & Julian.
Apologists wrote to defend & explain faith to hostile world (Tertullian, Origen, Ireaneus)
Majority of defense would’ve come thru 1 on 1, not writings


SS was on 1 Peter 5: 5-14
Pride vs Humility (humility to God)
You're not alone! (enemy wants you to think you are)
Praise for growth process!
Restore you. Perfect you (means sanctify you)
Encourage! (point to God) (comes from God)
Accountability! Confidence asking for help!

 

[DragonFox91]

2 Sunday

7/30 am
Luke 18 – how a Pharisee & a tax collector pray different
Contempt means “I’m better than”, does not mean hostility or being mean, a mindset
Problem of righteousness – desperate for being accepted, approved, & passing scrutiny
Goes back to beginning of Genesis – naked & unashamed, didn’t have to hide & spin. Lost that certainty
2 possible solutions to this problem illustrated. 1 outside in (doesn’t work) 1 inside out (does)
Pharisee prays about himself, not about his heart or character. Approval based on what he does. No thanksgiving.
Creates a mentality ‘us vs them’
Don’t rob, don’t commit adultery, tithe, asked by God. Why is Pharisee adding ‘I fast twice a week’????? Fasting he’s saying ‘God wants this for you & I do it so I’m better’, elevates his preference
“If I focus on the external, I’ll feel better & get approval & find satisfaction” – this doesn’t work!
From what we can tell Pharisee living according to God’s law, but prayers are about God – his isn’t, about himself
Better translation for tax collectors prayer ‘I’m the sinner’ – means he’s probably not comparing himself to others. “What everyone else does doesn’t matter, all that matters is I’m lost & broken”
Word for ‘have mercy’ here better translated as ‘atone for me’
Inside out -> Jesus gave atonement – gives you approval
Stop external approach! Start daily w/ knowing Jesus accepted you! Will live in a way that reflects that. Acceptance by people a cistern w/ holes -> doesn’t satisfy!

7/30 pm
Missionaries going to Tajikistan (99% Muslim).
Goals: Bring the Gospel, Plant a healthy church, Translate the Bible
Walls: A closed country, Unwritten language, Hard to access
Less than 100 out of population of 300K believers (saved in Russia usually)
Going to dedicate 20 years to Life for this mission
9 months of training
General philosophy: Genesis thru Christ
Isn't concerned about bitterness towards him financially good, but most will want him to help them to come to USA which they can't help w/
Revelation 6: I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain b/c of the word of God & the testimony they had maintained (hard to read writing, is it 5, 15, or 6? 6 sounded right)
Isaiah 40: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.
---Nick

 

[DragonFox91]

On Romans 8
Answer to ALL uncertainties: in WHATEVER circumstance – God is for us – nothing can separate us
No matter what, God is on our side & we have incomparable hope
Not self-made so therefore not wishful thinking – based on God’s infiniteness
Sometimes feels God’s against us, leaves us alone
Proof he is: new strength to resist sin, Spirit living in you, can call God Father, Spirit praying for us, didn’t withhold his Son, turns bad for our good!
Forknew us, calls us, Spirit works in us, we understand it, can’t resist it, don’t want to resist it!
Past, present, future promises, can’t be lost then.
Psalm 56: “When I cry out to you, my enemies will turn back. This I know because God is for me.”
Strengthen your heart with hope (truth)
Hebrews 6: “We have this as a sure & steadfast anchor, a hope………Jesus has gone has a forerunner on our behalf.”
Doesn’t withhold things we need - He freely gives us all things we need to see fulfillment of his promises
Psalm 84: “…No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
We feel separated from God’s favor - but we are free of guilt. His win is your win,
“Your works were not the cause of his beginning to love you….. so they are not the cause of his continuing to love you……” – Charles Spurgeon
God won’t stop loving us, not even for a little time
Can’t separate: tribulation, distress, danger & the sword,
II Corinthians 12: “therefore I am well content with weakness…….with difficulties…….”

 

[DragonFox91]

6/13 am
James 1
Will you obey God & draw near to him, or rebel & run away from him? Are you feeding & fueling desires, or feeding Holy Spirit dwelling w/in you?
You can escape sin as you draw near to God
Temptations are unavoidable.
Can’t escape it anywhere, is everywhere, only way to master it is power of Jesus in you thru indwelling Spirit
They start somewhere. Not from God, but from your flesh.
Is no one’s fault but your’s.
Temptations are personal, different people struggle w/ different temptations
They lead to more. Start with your desires. You are drawn out, then in danger, then trapped in death
Word study: dragged away, pulled, drawn out, (like a baited animal)
Takes you back to yourself pre-Christ, right responses take you to full maturity, wrong responses decline (apathy)
They are defeatable. Run from them. Enjoy God’s goodness & meditate on his Word
Don’t be confused. God will show you way to escape. Plan
We are dec’d by temporary counterfeit – but God does give good & perfect gifts!
If it comes from God it must be good even if we don’t see the goodness immediately, & the way he does it is good. Keeps coming
How to view progress: what used to trap us every time barely gets a response, fall less frequently, repent quicker

Sunday School was on Romans 12
God’s will can be discerned.
Self-sacrifice -> it’s worship!
Think good, pure, & truth
God does not use still small voice – uses the Bible, prayer, Holy Spirit & other believers
Discussed what we’d like to see in group: going thru a Bible book, character study, sermon review, more group participation

PM
Romans 1
Paul’s unfunished task – go to Rome w/ the Gospel, says he’s on his way
Romans is an envangelizing book
Paul’s heart is for the Romans, & God answers that prayer! He preaches 2 years in Rome
He writes later he can’t believe how much the Gospel’s being advanced
The mission & heart is to be a faithful witness, it’s a commitment
Possibly the Book of Romans is what Paul preached, sent it ahead
The Message: All are guilty. Grace declares you righteous. So live in gratitude at all times.

 

[DragonFox91]

8/20 am
Romans 8
You are in the flesh or in Christ – no middle ground
3 indicators of the Spirit's indwelling work in someone's life: He enables us to live a new life in Christ, frees us from the domination of our sinful flesh, & gives us a new mindset.
Unmistakable evidence of salvation: you have the Holy Spirit living w/in. Life-transforming
Keeping moral code not genuine, doesn’t change us, don’t care, not a big deal, can’t fake it, superficial, preoccupied w/ fleshly things, hostile to God
Genuine: not okay w/ sin, fight it, convicted, don’t live in it, changes mindset, ambition, how you look at life, what motivates you, attitudes, concentration, patterns
Frees us, not one bit of guilt, so don’t expect condemnation: expect him to reveal to us redemptively, push us forward to live new life in Christ
For those who are in Christ, being apart from the Spirit is scary b/c we have grown to love his presence
"I will be captive……recommitting…...tormented by sin's guilt..........Gospel says sin……liberates me from its guilt.......nullifier of sin's power.......Overwhelming such things w/ daily rehearsals of the Gospel." – Milton Vincent
Rivers of living water!

Sunday School
Philippians 2
United b/c otherwise transformation by the Spirit is lost
Vain conceit & selfish ambition vs humility
(in relation to others) Not just thinking less of yourself, but not of yourself
Homework: serve unexpectedly

PM
Camp counselor served in a Mormon area. Interested in it & sees benefit in it b/c challenges her to learn why she believes what she does
Elder Young & Elder Smith (Mormons) need prayer
Message on 1 Timothy 1
Not everything that calls itself a church is a church, so know church history.
But Knowing isn't enough -> Share truth!
Gnostics believed matter (physical) is bad & wrote false Gospels. Early church wrote against them, but their beliefs continue today.
Early church wrote defenses against: deniers of the Trinity, of Jesus's diety, virgin birth & people who’d say it's allegory. Not new!
Greek philosophy would mix in

 

[anetazo]

I'm not knocking churches down. Theirs few decent churches left. Traditions of men and false doctrine are taught by many hirelings
Jesus taught against traditions of men in mark chapter 7.
First Peter 1:17
Colossians 2:8. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Matthew chapter 15:1 to 15:9. Jesus exposes traditions of men.
Romans chapter 10:3. For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish thier own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
Lot of hirelings withhold the truth from congregations. Sadly, the flocks are still on milk bottles. Deprived of the meat of God's word.
The congregation should be teachers of God's word after 20 years.
We see traditions of men and false doctrine contaminate God's truth.
Some churches won't teach revelation or old testament. Or lie about what happened in garden of eden.
Many people in churches dont have gospel armory on. They lack knowledge of Gods word.
Satan sends false preachers to contaminate God's word. This answers why theirs no spirtual growth !.
Ephesians chapter 6. Christians
need the gospel armour on. Satan used fake shepherds to strip off armour on Christian people. Biblically illiterate is another example.
After 40 or 60 years, the congregation is still spirtualty dead.
No spirtual growth !.

 

[DragonFox91]

I agree there’s a lot of bad churches. I’ve attended them, some regularly (due to circumstances out of my control)
They preach it watered down. Christ is more or less just a good teacher to them. It's all just parables or metaphors. They pick & choose the same popular verses. Many preach false Gospels like the Social Justice Gospel or Prosperity Gospel. They conform to the world’s patterns, whatever is hip, whatever the pagans are saying.
But there are good churches. Some really good. (I see a lot of people say there's no good churches left so they don't go -> no, there are, seek them out, you won't regret it!)
& sometimes there are people craving genuineness or know what genuineness is at churches not teaching correctly. (I believe the body of believers can't be counted at churches teaching correct or incorrect -> I see that, that's why I believe it)

 

[DragonFox91]

am on Matthew 11
We are encouraged to take the Sabbath for rest.
To get to joy you first have to recognize shame. To get to rest you first have to be weary.
Lives take unexpected & quick turns, one after the other. Weariness: depression, anxiety. From commitments we want to do & circumstances we can’t control.
Weariness not absent from God’s story (his people): Hebrews thought they’d be free of weariness after slavery to Egyptians -> they weren’t, were still weary: in the wilderness, fighting for the land, then exiled.
Jesus’s yoke sounds like an oxymoron because we want him to take burdens. We need to readjust our burdens. Rest in Jesus looks like taking his yoke.
Why Jesus specifically uses yoke comparison: there are multiple holes in a yoke, it’s not meant for just 1 ox! You’re not holding it alone! Jesus says he’s carrying it with you
Greek for soul refers to ALL parts of you -> Jesus is offering rest for that
If we want this: we have to change our minds & our lives. It’s an invitation! As Christians if we refuse it & make excuses, eventually we will break down
Called to do bold & courageous things for the kingdom, but resting in Jesus gives you gratitude & joy. Prioritize with him at the top!


pm on Hebrews 1
Says radiance of God. Or reflection of God
Arius said Christ was created & only like God, b/c believed Christ’s divinity conflicts w/ God being one.
Not just cults downplay or deny Christ's deity!
Examples supporting Jesus's deity in Bible:
1.) Prophecy said God is coming when speaking of the Messiah
2.) Jesus claims to be eternal
3.) "I am" - he identifies himself as Yahweh
4.) He claims authority
5.) He has power over disease & storms
6.) He claims ownership of things that belong to God
7.) He claims unity w/ the Father
8.) A lot more beyond the Gospels!
Early church leaders pulled from the Bible alone & not philosophy.
"Let Scripture be our umpire" - Gregory of Nyssa
The Council of Nicaea declared Christ's divinity for the whole empire (was not a new teaching!)
Defend truth!