Good Friday 2011
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
1 The Fear of God - Keep away audio (7MB)
To truly understand the events of Good Friday we need to delve deep into the history of Israel. So let me take you back to Mt Sinai, in the first few weeks of the Exodus, the journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land. [Bible Reading: Exo 19:16-21]
As the Israelites look up at Mt Sinai, cloaked in clouds, with thunder and lightning cracking around the peaks, accompanied by a loud trumpet call, they’re reminded of the nature of God, the fear of God.
Fear of God is something we struggle with in the 21st century. We’re so steeped in the concept of a loving God who cares for his people that we forget that that same God is a God to be feared. And I do mean afraid in the sense of terrified.
The people come out to the edge of the mountain and we’re told there’s a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. They don’t actually need to have Moses tell them to stay clear of the mountain. In fact they tell Moses, we don’t need to come up with you. You just go on your own and speak on our behalf and then tell us what God says. We’ll take your word for it.
I Talk Back to the Devil: Don't Worry
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- Written by: Garrett Edwards
Matt 6:19-21; 25-33 audio (4MB)
By Garrett Edwards
When I was thinking about the new series, we’d embark on in the Youth Services this year, I was reading, in my devotions a book called, ‘I talk back to the devil’ by a dude named A W. Tozer. And I thought; why not go with this, this is filled with fantastic reminders, great insights to what it means to follow Jesus by ‘talking back to the devil’.
And for this week, the title was originally, ‘Running with Jesus’. That was until I told a friend and he burst out laughing telling me about a Christian fitness regime called, ‘Fit for a King’. And later I found out that there was a Christian Aerobics video back in the 80’s called ‘Firm Believer.’
So at the risk of sounding like CLAY was starting up a track and field program called ‘Running for Jesus’, I thought I’d change it to something fairly obvious, but right on the money, ‘Don’t Worry.’
Wisdom & Money
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Wisdom is a tricky thing. Some people think it comes with age, but then you see some older people who act very foolishly at times. We read in James 1 “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.” So wisdom is a gift of God. Yet God has also given as a complete book of the Bible devoted to teaching us how to be wise. The book of Proverbs is a textbook for those who want to be wise in this world. Yet it isn’t just a ‘how to’ book. It’s actually about learning to have the mind of God so whatever you do or think or say will be wise.
In fact one of the dangers we’ll see is the temptation to take everything we read here literally as though they were formulae rather than observations. And we’ll see that in just a moment.
Today I want us to think about how to be wise with money. What does Proverbs teach us wisdom when it comes to money and wealth?
Christian Attitude: Holiness vs. Worldliness
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- Written by: Garrett Edwards
Holiness vs. Worldliness audio (5MB)
Intro – Recap on the others: Pride vs. Humility,
Anger vs. Self control, Judgment vs. Grace
And now we come to the conclusion that in many ways is an umbrella topic which covers all those things we’ve just explored. Can you see how that’s the case?
You see worldliness isn’t a trait that God likes, everywhere you see that term in the Bible, it’s warned against. Worldliness is an attitude that incorporates the things we just looked at: pride, anger, judgment and so many other negative attitudes.
And the New Testament draws this huge distinction, between Christianity and the world, between holiness and worldliness. In 1 Corinthians 3:3 we see other aspects of worldliness where Paul criticizes the Church saying,
‘You are still worldly, for since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?’ He’s being dead serious, and we see that worldliness also incorporates jealousy and quarreling. These aren’t the traits that God wants in a follower and witness of his son!
Christian Attitude: Judgment vs. Grace
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- Written by: Garret Edwards
Judgment vs. Grace Rom. 2:1-5, Matt.18:21-35
I’ve always loved that song. Relient K are really great at expressing the wonder of grace I think. ‘Cos we’re all guilty of the same things, we think the thoughts whether or not we follow through.’ ‘I know that I have been forgiven, and I hope you can forgive me too.’
Judgment and Grace, we all know the topic well. We all know that judgment is something that we need to be very careful of carrying out. We all know that grace is the gift we’re now expected to give to others.
Do you remember looking at the difference between religion and the gospel a few weeks ago? Do you remember what that difference was?
What’s the opposite of a hard earned prize of legalistic rituals and stringent moral behavior that religion offers? The free gift0f Radical Grace! Do you remember that?
