Sermon Supplement
11 July 2021
Sermon Supplement
11 July 2021
Under the Tree
Under the Tree
Gary Henry – Reaching Forward – July 11, 2008
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
2 Cor. 5:14, 15
One of life’s marvels is the redemptive power of love. There probably aren’t many of us who haven’t experienced the difference that it makes to know that somebody loves us. We can be discouraged and about to give up, but when we remind ourselves that there are those who love us, we find new hope.
Paul the apostle is a fascinating figure from may viewpoints, but one of the most interesting things about him is his motivation. We don’t have to wonder what caused him work as hard and suffer as courageously as he did. He tells us. It was, he said, “the love of Christ” that compelled, or con-strained, him. The love of Christ governed his thinking and pulled his ac-tions in the right direction.
But was Paul thinking about Christ’s love for him or his love for Christ? I think he was talking about both, because it’s not really possible to separate the two. Christ’s love for us moved Him to die for our sins, and in response to that love, we love Him and live our lives for His sake. Christ died “that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them.” That was the key to Paul’s motivation. Every move he made was an effort to show gratitude for the One who loved Him enough to die for him. And friend, if that motivation doesn’t move you, you can’t be moved. Motivation doesn’t get any stronger than that.
As long as we live in this world, we are going to have days of discour-agement. We can’t fight on the front lines and not get wounded. But a dif-ference it makes to remember that Christ died for us! The thought that Some-body loved us like that can turn us around no matter what ditch the devil has dragged us into.
But there is a catch: we have to think about what Christ did for us. The redemptive, refreshing, strengthening power of that thought is not automatic. We have to think it. And not only do we have to think it, we have to let it have its proper effect on us. We have to go to the cross and get the point of what happened there.
Acknowledging God's Role
Acknowledging God's Role
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things un-der his feet… 9 O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8:3-6 & 9
Have you ever asked, “When does a Christian’s confidence be-come arrogance? What does humility look like in a Christian’s life?”
Psalm 8 answers those questions. It shows Christians how to balance their identity with their self-esteem. Consider how David perceives his identity and maintain both confidence and humility:
1. David sees his own weakness and humanity. David realizes that in the sweep of the galaxy, man accounts for only a very small part.
2. David sees his God-given position and privileges. David knows that God had made humankind a little lower than Himself.
3. David sees a balance by giving all glory to God. David closes the psalm the way he began. He magnifies the Lord and gives Him the credit for the good that has come from his life and leadership
Is Gossip Good for You?
Is Gossip Good for You?
1 Tim. 5:11-16
I. Destroys the Speaker
a. Prov. 18:7-8
b. Prov. 21:23
c. Matt. 12:36-37
II. It Destroys the Lives of Others
a. 1 Thess. 4:11
b. Matt. 7:12
III. It Destroys Relationships
a. Prov. 16:28
b. Prov. 26:2
This is a Day of Good News
This is a Day of Good News
2 Kings 7:1-11
I. We Must Not Sit Around
a. 2 Kings 7:3
b. Matt. 28:19-20
c. Luke 14:16-19
II. Our Lord Gave Us His Invitation
a. Luke 14:17-18
b. Rom. 1:16
III. Paul Turned His Life Around
a. Matt. 19:29
b. Psalm 96:2
c. Isa. 52:7