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Keep Growing - For the Good Of Others and For the Glory Of God

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Thessalonians: Be Faithful Until Christ Returns
Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4
Theme: Keep Growing - For the Good Of Others and For the Glory Of God

One: Keep growing - for the good of others.

  • Model a robust confidence in God
  • Model a robust love for others
  • Model a robust endurance in hardships

Two: Keep growing - for the glory of God.

  • Faithfulness is worthy of recognition.
  • Faithfulness is rooted in grace.
  • Faithfulness is cause for praise.

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing...and that you are enduring. ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

The gospel will keep working until Jesus comes again

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Thessalonians
Text: Overview of 1 Thessalonians
Theme: The gospel will keep working until Jesus comes again.

One: Hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ = the purpose, Church, and coming of Jesus.

Two: Hope in the purpose of Jesus Christ.

  • To imitate God; 1:6
  • To walk worthy; 2:12
  • To abound in love; 3:12
  • To be holy; 3:3,7
  • To be alert; 5:6

Three: Hope in the Church of Jesus Christ.

Four: Hope in the coming of Jesus Christ.

  • Jesus is coming back to earth.
  • Until then, believe that the gospel is still turning the world upside-down.
Forgiveness Q & A

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Forgiveness
Text: Various Passages
Theme: Forgiveness Q & A

One: How do I deal with large offenses where forgiveness is never requested?

  • Leave it to God - Romans 12

Two: What if the offender is dead?

  • No one escapes the justice of God. Psalm 58:10-11

Three: What do I do with someone who takes advantage of my obligation to forgive?

  • Expect fruits in keeping with repentance; Luke 3:8

Four: Is God's forgiveness the same in the OT as it is in the NT?

  • Yes. Forgiveness is always granted on the basis of God's promise of the work of Christ.

Five: How should I respond when someone says, "I need to forgive myself"?

  • Steer the focus to understanding how God forgives us in Christ.

Conclusions:

  1. Be ready to forgive. Psalm 86:5
  2. Trust your God.
    a. To do good to you.
    b. To make all things right.
In all the offenses we suffer, bitterness is avoidable

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Forgiveness
Text: Romans 12:14-21
Theme: In all the offenses we suffer, bitterness is avoidable

How to keep from being bitter toward...the repentant:

One: Keep your promise.

  • Forgiveness = I graciously promise to release from moral liablility the repentant offender for reconciliation.
  • The 3-fold promise.
    • I will not recall this offense to you.
    • I will not recall this offense to others.
    • I will not recall this offense to myself.

How to keep from being bitter toward...the UN-repentant:

Two: Don't seek revenge.

  • Do not repay eveil for evil.
  • Do not avenge yourself.
  • Do not be overcome by evil.

Three: Love your enemies.

  • Maintain honor.
  • Seek peace.
  • Be kind.

Four: Trust your God...

  • ...to care for you.
  • ...to judge your enemies.
Justice is Essential to Understanding Forgiveness

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Forgiveness
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:19
Theme: Justice is Essential to Understanding Forgiveness

One: Justice reflects the character of God.

  • Our reflection of God's justice is marred by sin.
  • God's revelation of justice is revealed in Scripture.

Two: Justice demands more than the common appology.

  • Apologies wander through feelings.
  • Justice addresses the offense.
  • Forgiveness accomplishes reconciliation.

Three: Justice allows for continuing consequences.

  • Forgiveness does not necessarily remove consequences.
  • Consequences do not necessarily communicate continued displeasure.

Four: Justice reveals the sufficiency of Christ.

  • To reveal the true image of God's justice and mercy.
  • To address our offense and reconcile us to God.
  • To remove eternal consequences and give grace for present sorrow.
You Must Forgive Others as God Forgave You

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Forgiveness
Text: Ephesians 4:32
Theme: You Must Forgive Others as God Forgave You.

One: The Word Meanings of Forgiveness

  • To release
  • To grace

Two: The Divine Example of Forgiveness

  • God graces us with the perfect righteousness of Christ
  • God graces us wiht the substitutionary death of Christ
  • God graces us with the everlasting life of Christ

Three: The Five Elements of Forgiveness

  1. God's forgiveness is marked by grace.
  2. God's forgiveness is marked by promise.
  3. God's forgiveness is marked by release.
  4. God's forgiveness is marked by condition.
  5. God's forgiveness is marked by reconciliation.

Four: The Working Definition of Forgiveness

  • God graciously1 promises2 to release from moral liability3 the repentent sinner4 for reconciliation5.

...forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. ~ Ephesians 4:32

You must resist the invasive corruption of unforgiveness.

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Joseph
Text: Genesis 50
Theme: You must resist the invasive corruption of unforgiveness.

One: Unforgiveness indulges in the opportunity for angry revenge.

Two: Unforgiveness perpetuates distrust and fear.

Three: Unforgiveness userps the place of God as judge.

Four: Unforgiveness focuses excessive attention on the offense.

Five: Unforgiveness forgets the truth of God's sovereign benevolent purposes.

Six: Unforgiveness fails to repay evil with good.

Seven: Unforgiveness cripples faith in God's promises.

You ment evil against me, but God ment it for good. ~ Genisis 50:20

Commit to using words that are true and edifying

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Joseph
Text: Genesis 47-49
Theme: Commit to using words that are true and edifying

One: Words of covenant faithfulness

Two: Words of wise warning

Three: Words of kingdom authority

Four: Words of sanctification progress

Five: Words of God's character

Six: Words of simple faith

Seven: Words of personal worship

The God of your fathers will help you...the Almighty will bless you ~ Genesis 49:25

Be Assured of God's Faithfulness to You

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Joseph
Text: Genesis 46-47
Theme: Be Assured of God's Faithfulness to You

The Story: Jacob experiences God's faithfulness...

  • ...to reherse the covenant.
  • ...to preserve his family.
  • ...to reunite with Joseph.
  • ...to endure the famine.

Applications: Be assured of God's faithfulness to you...

  • ...through the promises of His Word.
  • ...through the evidence of covenant family.
  • ...through the glimpses of restoration.
  • ...through the kindness of unbelievers.
  • ...through the wisdom of stewardship.

Do not be afraid...I will go with you ~ Genesis 46:3-4

Opinions Vary (Part 2): Your Verdict about Jesus will Seal the Fate of Your Soul.

Speaker: Dennis Clemons
Series: Mark 3:7-35
Text: Mark 3:7-35
Theme: Opinions Vary (Part 2): Your Verdict about Jesus will Seal the Fate of Your Soul.

Various Responses to Jesus:

One: The demons shrieked with terror - Knowledge in opposition to the truth

Two: The apostles became his companions - Growing but incomplete knowledge of the truth

Three: His family misunderstood him - Confused misunderstanding of the truth

Four: The scribes slandered him - malicious indifference to the truth

Five: Disciples called him brother, Savior, and Lord - Love of the truth in humility and obedience

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." ~ Revelation 22:13

The Anchor of Forgiveness is your Confidence in God's Good Plan

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Joseph
Text: Genesis 45
Theme: The Anchor of Forgiveness is your Confidence in God's Good Plan

The Story:

  • Joseph reveals his identity.
  • Joseph points to God's sovereignty
  • Joseph demonstrates his sincerity
  • Pharoah insists on generosity
  • Jacob stunned by reality

Applications:

  • Forgiveness does not ignore the offence
  • Forgiveness addresses guilt with grace
  • Forgiveness focuses on God's purpose
  • Forgiveness calls for the fruit of repentence

It was not you...but God. ~ Genesis 45:8

God Often Speaks of Mountains to Help Us Understand the Truth He Wants Us to Know

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Text: Various Passages
Theme: God Often Speaks of Mountains to Help Us Understand the Truth He Wants Us to Know

When you look at mountains, you should consider...

One: ...the wonder of creation.

Two: ...the evidence of majesty.

Three: ...the warning of judgement.

Four: ...the promise of salvation.

Five: ...the illustration of faithfulness.

Six: ...the hope of refuge.

Seven: ...the call to faith.

Glorious are you, more majestic than the mountains ~ Psalm 76:4

As You Hope for Reconciliation, God is at Work to Accomplish His Plan

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Joseph
Text: Genesis 43-44
Theme: As You Hope for Reconciliation, God is at Work to Accomplish His Plan.

As You Hope for Reconciliation, God is at Work - in Your Life and in the Lives of Others - to Accomplish His Plan.

One: God is at work in Jacob's faith

Two: God is at work in the steward's message

Three: God is at work in Joseph's heart

Four: God is at work in Joseph's plan

Five: God is at work in the brothers' _

Six: God is at work in Judah's character

Seven: God is at work in the picture of substitution

May God Almighty grant you mercy ~ Genesis 43:14

Your Sin is Never Without Consequences

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Joseph
Text: Genesis 42
Theme: Your Sin is Never Without Consequences.

One: The Sting of Emptiness

Two: The Weight of Guilt

Three: The Fear of Judgement

Four: The Brokenness of Relationships

Five: The Undermining of Faith

Conclusion

  • Because sin always ruins,...
  • ...confess sin, forsake sin, and find God's mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

So now there comes a reckoning ~ Genesis 42:22

The Fruit of Affliction

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Joseph
Text: Genesis 41
Theme: The Fruit of Affliction

One: NOT merely temporal success

  • It is one means of God's blessing.
  • It pictures the bounty of the soul.

Two: Humility

  • I don't seek man's approval.
  • I do promote God's glory.

Three: Trust

  • I can't forget the past!
  • I can view it in the context of Biblical truth.

Four: Thanksgiving

  • I recognize God's goodness.
  • ...even in affliction.

Five: Hope

  • God can amaze us in one day.
  • God will amaze us on That Day.

The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love ~ Genesis 39:21

God Cares for You by His Presence

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Joseph
Text: Genesis 40
Theme: God Cares for You by His Presence...

...known by...

One: ...His control

Two: ...His guidance

Three: ...His peace

Four: ...His gospel

The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love ~ Genesis 39:21