Jude 4, You Must be Committed to Fight for the Truth...and Here's Why

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Jude: Fighting for the Truth
Text: Jude 4
Theme: You Must be Committed to Fight for the Truth...and Here's Why:

One: ...because error may be subtle, but it is always significant.

Two: ...because acknowledging God is the battle line.

• Is the truth of God the substance of our doctrine?
• Is the truth of God the standard of our lifestyle?

Three: ...because grace is often distorted to license.

• Love is distorted into acceptance.
• Forgiveness is distorted into indulgence.

Four: ...because many deny the lordship of Jesus.

• Jesus is the sovereign God.
• Jesus is the risen Christ.

...contend for the faith...for certain people...pervert the grace of God ~ Jude 3-4

Matthew 14:22-33, Is God enough?

Allan Heney

Speaker: Allan Heney
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Theme: Is God enough?

One: A life of obedience to God will involve storms.

• God, in His providence, will compel His children into storms.
• God is doing this for a purpose.

Two: God in His steadfast love promises His presence in the storm.

• God will come to us in our time of need.
• In the midst of the storm, God reveals Himself to us.
• God guides us through the storm.

Three: God's character provides a certain hope.

• I am the bread of life - John 6:35
• I am the Light of the world - John 8:12
• I am the Door - John 10:7,9
• I am the good shepherd - John 10:11,14
• I am the resurrection and the life - John 11:25
• I am the way, the truth and the life - John 14:6
• I am the vine - John 15:1,5

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." ~ Matthew 14:27

Jude 3, You Must be Committed to the Fight

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Jude: Fighting for the Truth
Text: Jude 3
Theme: You Must be Committed to the Fight

Four Resolutions for the Fight for Truth

One: Because I am loved by God, I should risk being hated by the world.

Two: Because I have been saved, I should be motivated by gospel joy.

Three: Because I am a steward of God's truth, I should defend and promote it.

• Contend = to agonize for
• The faith = the collection of doctrine that reveals God and His salvation in Jesus the Son.

Four: Because I am tempted by ease, I should be stirred by the challenge to fight.

...contend for the faith... ~ Jude 3

Your Standing in Christ is the Basis for Your Fighting for Truth

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Jude: Fighting for the Truth
Text: Jude 1-2
Theme: Your Standing in Christ is the Basis for Your Fighting for Truth

One: What description of a fighter is given?

• Understands the submission to Christ's Lordship
• Understands the advance of Christ's church
• Understands the wonder of God's salvation

Two: What seems missing from the definition of a fighter?

• Fiery boldness, skilled speaking, superior intellect, engaging personality
• Your call to fight flows from your standing in Christ, not your skill set

Three: Why are mercy, peace, and love multiplied to a fighter?

• To know how good God is
• To show how good God is

Conclusion:

• Stop making excuses for your fear.
• Celebrate what God has done for you.
• Believe that mercy, peace, and love empower you and your message.

...to those who are called, beloved...and kept... ~ Jude 1

Psalm 19, A Single Thread Connecting Nature, The Law and Christ

Daniel Moorehead

Speaker: Daniel Moorehead
Text: Psalm 19
Theme: A Single Thread Connecting Nature, The Law and Christ

Have You Considered My Servant Job?

Matt Hargrave

Speaker: Matt Hargrave
Text: Job 1-2
Theme: Have You Considered My Servant Job?

Demystifying the Kingdom

Dennis Clemons

Speaker: Dennis Clemons
Series: Mark
Text: Mark 4:1-20
Theme: Demystifying the Kingdom

One: The secret of the kingdom...

Two: ...is concealed from outsiders...

Three: ...through spiritual warfare...

Four: ...but revealed to insiders...

Five: ...at the discretion of the King.

..."He who has ears to hear, let him hear." ~ Mark 4:9

Keep Growing

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 3:14-18
Theme: Keep Growing

One: Work at holiness.

Two: Rehearse the gospel.

Three: Study the Bible.

Four: Look to Jesus...for...

• Sustaining grace
• Transformational knowledge
• Benevolent Lordship
• Eternal rescue
• Fulfilled promises

...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord... ~ 2 Peter 3:18

Your Beliefs About "THEN" Should Affect Your Behavior "NOW"

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 3:11-13
Theme: Your Beliefs About "THEN" Should Affect Your Behavior "NOW".

One: I should live like I belong to God.

Two: I should live to reflect the character of Christ.

Three: I should trust God to avenge sin.

Four: I should contribute to God's kingdom victory.

Five: I should believe that restoration will be better than I can imagine.

...what sort of people ought you to be... ~ 2 Peter 3:11

For a Confident Faith, You Must Understand God's Relationship to Time

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 3:8-10
Theme: For a Confident Faith, You Must Understand God's Relationship to Time

One: God has a different Perspective of time.

• Verse 8 is not a literal Equation.
• God does not Experience time as we do.

Two: God has a merciful Purpose for time.

• What v.9 can NOT mean: a god who is disappointed or Unsuccessful
• What is helpful to know: God's _ can be expressed in various ways. God's compassion for All does not contradict God's electing of Some.
• What is the contrast in our text? Patient toward Us.

Three: God will keep His Promise in time.

• The imminence of His coming should produce Urgency in evangelism.
• The justice of His coming should produce Comfort in opposition.

Know the Truth, Because the World Will Oppose It

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 3:1-7
Theme: Know the Truth, Because the World Will Oppose It

One: Continue to study the Bible...

Two: ...knowing that...

Three: ...unbelievers will attack your beliefs...

• With their words.
• With their lifesyles.

Four: ...and...unbelievers will reject God's revelation.

• They will reject the truth that God created.
• They will reject the truth that God judged.
• They will reject the truth that God will judge.

Applications

• The truth will anchor you.
• The truth is always the answer.
• The truth is powerful to change lives.

...remember the commandment of the Lord...knowing...that scoffers will come... ~ 2 Peter 3:2-3

Rejecting God's Truth Leads to Ruin.

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 2:10-22
Theme: Rejecting God's Truth Leads to Ruin.

Rejecting God's truth leads to...

One: ...stubborn arrogance.

Two: ...pervasive sensuality.

Three: ...financial greed.

Four: ...deceptive teaching.

• It lacks substance.
• It preys on the weak.
• It distorts freedom.

Five: ...self-destruction.

Six: ...eternal destruction.

• A weightier punishment.
• A diminished hope.

Conclusion: Embrace God's truth.

...forsaking the right way, they have gone astray... ~ 2 Peter 2:15

We Must Anticipate Resurrection Power

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: Resurrection Sunday
Text: Various Passages
Theme: We Must Anticipate Resurrection Power

One: Why should we anticipate resurrection power?

• Jesus said he could exercise resurrection power, and he did.
• Jesus said he would experience resurrection power, and he did.
• Jesus said we should expect resurrection power, so me must.

Two: What should we anticipate resurrection power to do?

• To redeem from unbelief.
• To restore from failure.
• To relieve from doubt.
• To ready for mission.

...that you may know...the greatness of his power toward us...that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead... ~ Ephesians 1:18-20

God Knows How to Preserve His People and to Punish His Enemies

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 2:4-10
Theme: God Knows How to Preserve His People and to Punish His Enemies

One: God knows how...

• Knowing implies ability.
• Knowing implies purpose.

Two: ...to preserve His people...

• ...in the midst of evil.
• ...by the truth.
• ...to the end.

Three: ...and to punish His enemies.

Conclusions:

• Seek to know God more fully.
• Hate sin and love Christ.
• Don't envy the wicked.

...the Lord knows how to rescue the godly... ~ 2 Peter 2:9

You Must Recognize and Reject False Teachers

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 2:1-3
Theme: You Must Recognize and Reject False Teachers

One: How to Recognize False Teachers:

• They contaminate truth.
• They undermine Lordship.
• They minimize sensuality.
• They promote self.

Two: Why Reject False Teachers:

• They slander the gospel.
• They face certain ruin.

Conclusion:

• Know the truth.
• Stand for truth.

...there will be false teachers among you... ~ 2 Peter 2:1

Give Your Attention to the Bible

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 1:16-21
Theme: Give Your Attention to the Bible

One: The Bible is true.

Two: The Bible is God's voice.

• God, through a prophetic voice
• God, through an audible voice
• God, through an apostolic voice

Three: The Bible is light for the darkness

Four: The Bible is hope for the hardships.

You will do well to pay attention.... ~ 2 Peter 1:19

Be a "Reminder" of What it Means to Imitate Christ.

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 1:12-15
Theme: Be a "Reminder" of What it Means to Imitate Christ.

One: The Essence of Reminders

Two: The Reason for Reminders

Three: The Consistency of Reminders

Four: The Content of Reminders

Five: The Intensity of Reminders

Six: The Urgency of Reminders

Seven: The Legacy of Reminders

I intend always to remind you of these qualities... ~ 2 Peter 1:12

Because Christ Has Given Us Everything We Need for Godly Living, We Must Pursue Godly Living.

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godhsall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 1:5-11
Theme: Because Christ Has Given Us Everything We Need for Godly Living, We Must Pursue Godly Living.

One: The Pursuit Itself

• Diligent effort: commanded and enabled
• In sanctification, we cooperate by God's grace with his purpose to conform us to the character of Jesus.

Two: The Pursuit of Godly Living

• A constant pursuit of...
• Faith → virtue → knowledge → self-control → steadfastness → godliness → brotherly affection → love

Three: The Benefits of Pursuing Godly Living

• The accomplishment of God's purpose
• The acknowledgement of saving grace
• The assurance of full sanctification
• The anticipation of eternal acceptance

For if these qualities are yours... ~ 2 Peter 1:8

In Christ, We Have All We Need to Live the Christian Life

Adam Godshall

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 1:3-4
Theme: In Christ, We Have All We Need to Live the Christian Life

One: God gives everything necessary for life and godliness...

• Salvation - repentance and faith for a rescue from sin and to _
• Sanctification - God's continued work of transforming us to the character of Jesus

Two: ...through the knowledge of Christ...

Three: ...as known through the promises...

Four: ...so that we can be holy in sinful world.

Conclusion

• Believe that you lack nothing.
• Pursue knowing Christ.
• Rehearse the promises.
• Choose to do right.

All things that pertain to life and godliness ~ 2 Peter 1:3

Adam Godshall

We must treasure God's gift of knowing Christ.

Speaker: Adam Godshall
Series: 2 Peter
Text: 2 Peter 1:1-2
Theme: We must treasure God's gift of knowing Christ.