Sermon for the Sullivan SDA Church
August 27, 2005
Where do we start? Where did we start?
Our mission - our sense of what God has called us to do
Under God’s guidance, we meet people where they are, and lead them
to experience a growing relationship in Christ with us.
Our vision - what our church will look like when we are accomplishing our mission
To be a growing church that transforms our community, models
singular devotion to Christ, and is prepared for His coming.
Our core values -
principles that define how we do ministry together as we pursue our mission
1 Empowering Leadership - Many people are leaders and don’t even know it; we lead in a variety of ways. (e.g. parent/child, father/family, teacher/student, Christian/unbeliever) Leadership is influencing people toward something better in their lives. Not that we are better, but we participate with God in directing them to the happiest life possible with Him. We “empower” leaders by apprenticing new leaders. We guide and equip them so that together we multiply our influence for good and accomplish God’s mission.
Ephesians 4:11,12; 2 Timothy 2:2; RH
8/24/86; 11/6/88; 9T 82
2
Gift-Oriented Ministry - We serve the Lord in our areas of giftedness
through appropriate ministries so the Body of Christ “grows and builds itself
up in love.”
Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1,4-6; Ephesians 4:16;
1 Peter 4:10; Letter 19, 1901; 8T 186,7
3
Passionate Spirituality – We
believe continual spiritual growth should be normal for all Christians. Hence, we encourage Christians of all walks
and religious persuasions to become more devoted to Christ by taking delight in
the spiritual life. This includes daily
renewal through the personal disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and obedience.
Psalm 119:148; Mark 12:30; Romans 6:22; 13:11; 2
Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15
4
Functional Structures - Our church’s ministries, systems, programs
and policies work optimally through well-defined objectives which are regularly
evaluated to ensure functionality and excellence.
Exodus 18:14-22; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16
5
Inspiring Worship - We gather for worship first and foremost for
our heavenly Father. We worship Him in
spirit and truth because of His beautiful holiness, creative power and loving
kindness. The blending of spirit and
truth reveals our commitment to authentic expressions of praise and adoration
that are biblical, decent and orderly.
Psalm 29:2; 96:6,9; 99:5,9;
138:2; John 4:23; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Revelation 4:11; 5:9,10; 14:7
6
Holistic Small Groups - We desire everyone to be involved in a small group that ministers to
their spiritual, mental, physical, and social needs. Since leadership is vital to this ministry, we equip them through
regular training, encourage them through monthly briefings, and evaluate them
through annual reviews. While these
discipleship groups vary, they are primarily focused on life transformation and
evangelism.
Matthew 18:20; Acts 2:46-47; Philemon 2; RH 5/30/71;
9/29/91; 7T 21-22, 195
7
Need-Oriented Evangelism –
People are at the heart of our existence as a church. We authentically and intentionally cultivate
friendships with pre-Christians to lead them to become fully devoted followers
of Jesus Christ. We use Jesus’ own
method of mingling with people desiring their good, showing sympathy,
ministering to them, winning their confidence, and inviting them to follow Him.
Matthew 25:34-40; 28:29,20; Luke 19:10; Revelation
14:6; MH 143
8
Loving Relationships –
People matter - they’re the only things going to heaven. We are known for our love for all people
without regard to gender, race, social or economic status. We accept people as they are and desire for
them the happiest, highest and holiest life possible with God. We hold special regard for those who are
destitute, without loved ones, and in need of our sympathy.
Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2 The earth
was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the
Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.3 Then God said, “Let
there be light”; and there was light.4 And God saw the light, that it was good;
and God divided the light from the darkness.5 God called the light Day, and the
darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first
day. [1]
Genesis 1:26-28
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of
the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth.”27 So God created man in His own image; in the image
of God He created him; male and female He created them.28 Then God blessed
them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and
subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air,
and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” [2]
I.
Thoughts
on Creation:
A.
The
primacy of Creation
1.
Provides
the answer to the question of
i
“Where did we come from”
2.
Implies
Ownership
3.
Is
the basis of the entire Christian “World View.”
Genesis 3:9-13
9 Then the Lord
God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”10 So he said, “I heard
Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid
myself.”11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from
the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”12 Then the man
said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I
ate.”13 And the Lord God said to
the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived
me, and I ate.”[3]
II.
Thoughts
on the Fall of Man
A.
Provides
an understanding of the condition of man
B.
Describes
Rebellion
C.
Describes
Separation
D.
Provides
a Promise: The promise of a Savior, and
a plan for restoration of man’s relationship with his Creator
Genesis
3:15
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.” [4]
III.
The
Beginning of the “Plan of Salvation.”
A.
The
giving of the Law
Exodus 20:1-17
And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the Lord your
God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness
of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that
is in the water under the earth;5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve
them. For I, the Lord your God,
am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the
third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,6 but showing mercy to
thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.9 Six days you shall
labor and do all your work,10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no
work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your
female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.11
For in six days the Lord made the
heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh
day. Therefore the Lord blessed
the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long
upon the land which the Lord your
God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet
your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox,
nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” [5]
1.
The
first description of “What God was like”
B.
The
Giving of the Sanctuary Service
Exodus 25:1-9
Then the Lord spoke to
Moses, saying:2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an
offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My
offering.3 “And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold,
silver, and bronze;4 “blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’
hair;5 “ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood;6 “oil for the light,
and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense;7 “onyx stones, and
stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.8 “And let them make Me a
sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.9 “According to all that I show you,
that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings,
just so you shall make it. [6]
1.
A
“Type” of the reality in Heaven
2.
Every
detail of which pointed to Jesus Christ and the plan of Salvation
IV.
In
the Plan of Salvation there are two aspects.
A.
How
is God able to just “forgive” those who have broken his law? How is this just?
Psalm 51:1-9
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities. [7]
1.
The
concept of Justification
Romans 3:21-28
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,22 even the righteousness of God,
through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no
difference;23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 being justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,25 whom God set
forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His
righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that
were previously committed,26 to demonstrate at the present time His
righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith
in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No,
but by the law of faith.28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified
by faith apart from the deeds of the law.[8]
2.
Justification
is based on the Death of Christ on the Cross.
Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. [9]
Romans
5:8-9
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.9 Much more then, having now been justified
by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.[10]
3.
So
God, by the Cross, has provided a way to forgive sinners and still be just to
the law, to be consistent and have integrity with His own character.
B.
How
is God able to allow entry into heaven of those who have grown rebellious and
are not fit for Heaven?
1.
Scripture says that “nothing evil shall enter
there”
2.
Then
it is consistent that “that which was evil must be made pure.” Those who are
sinners, must cease to sin.
Ephesians 4:17-32
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should
no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their
mind,18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of
God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of
their heart;19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness.20 But you have not so learned
Christ,21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the
truth is in Jesus:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old
man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,23 and be renewed in
the spirit of your mind,24 and that you put on the new man which was created
according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth
with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.26 “Be angry, and do not
sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,27 nor give place to the
devil.28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working
with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has
need.29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.30 And do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be
put away from you, with all malice.32 And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. [11]
3.
Sanctification
2 Corinthians 3:18
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the
glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to
glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. [12]
2
Thessalonians 2:13
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren
beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation
through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,[13]
4.
So
God can change us from sinners through a life directed by the Holy Spirit,
immersed in the truth and person of Jesus Christ.
V.
The
Second Coming
1 Thessalonians
4:16-18
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ
will rise first.17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always
be with the Lord.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians
15:51-55
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed—52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality.54 So when this corruptible has put on
incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting?
1 O Hades, where is your victory?”
[15]
VI.
The
Final Home
Revelation 21:1-8
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.2 Then I, John, saw the
holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and
they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.4 “And
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away.”5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things
new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”6 And
He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who
thirsts.7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and
he shall be My son.8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers,
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in
the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” [16]
[1]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[2]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[3]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[4]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[5]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[6]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[7]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[8]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[9]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[10]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[11]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[12]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[13]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[14]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[15]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[16]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.