Faith Baptist Church of Higginsville, Missouri Podcast Faith Baptist Church of Higginsville, Missouri Podcast

Preacher: Cliff Swanson

Text: Romans 1:17

Theme: Reformation

Notes:

What does Romans 1:17 mean?



* The just shall live by faith.

* Martin Luther climbed the stairs to Pontius Pilots throne.

* Gained the understanding of Romans 1:17 and returned home to teach on it.

* Nailed the 95 thesis to the church door on October 31, 1517.

* Reformation day started October 31, 1517.

* Luther was pressured to recant his thesis and used Romans 1:17 as his reasoning to not recant.

* Luther translated the Bible into German from Latin/Hebrew.



The Pilgrim Bible is the Geneva Bible.

The Pilgrim’s that translated the Bible into the Geneva Bible, went back to Hebrew/Greek.

They are the ones that divided the Bible into books and chapters. This turned the Bible into more of a commentary making it easier to read.

When people read the Bible, understand the Bible, accepts what the Bible says and repent. The Lord Jesus Christ saves them.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-13, John 3: 16. Christ gave himself up to save us.

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 18:1-18a

Six Things God Gives to Keep Us Going and Keep Us Growing







* He gives faithfulness



* Hebrews 11:1, 6

* Galatians 5:6

* 1 Corinthians 4

* “Most of us are 99-percenters”

* When we serve people, they are not our people but God’s people



* We are just stewards









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Live It Out!



* Seek Spirit-empowered faithfulness



* If you do not, you will either quit or trudge along in joyless ministry

* You will receive no reward

* And God will not be glorified







 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 18:1-18a

Thesis: Ministry can be difficult, draining, and discouraging–but the Lord gives us five things that keep us going.

Notes:

Context: Paul’s visit to Corinth–much different than his visit to Athens



* Athens was a city of ideas & philosophy

* Corinth was a city of commerce & pleasure



 

Paul’s ministry in Corinth was quite difficult–and yet so fruitful.

The Spirit ministered through Paul–and to Paul

Ministry Is Difficult



* “I will show you how many things you must suffer for my namesake” –Acts 9:6

* Some people think ministry is like a vending machine, but it is much more like farming in hard ground

* Those interested in instant gratification will not minister long



 

Ministry is Draining



* Serving Christ will have a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual  cost

* Ministry is WAY easier if you just don’t care–but serving without caring isn’t actually ministry at all



 

Live It Out: Why not give up?



* Because of the reality of the resurrection — 1 Corinthians 15

* Because God’s strength is greater than our weakness — 2 Corinthians 12

* Because Christ’s love motivates us — 2 Corinthians 5



 

 

 

 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 4:1-15

Theme: We Are Better Together

Thesis: God has called us to experience spiritual health together in a local church family.

Notes:



* Loving Unity



* 4:2, Unity among believers isn’t just a future “in heaven” thing

* Unity is possible here on earth, in each local body, because of Christ’s sacrifice

* Christ died not for persons–but for a people

*  Our local gathering of God’s people is a microcosmic visible picture of God’s universal, invisible church

* We meet on Sunday as a reflection of the early church meeting on Sunday to celebrate Christ’s resurrection



* Acts 16

* Acts 20

* Justin Martyr, 150 AD





* Required attitudes to create unity:



* Lowliness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, bearing with one another in love









* Grace-Empowered Ministry 



* 4:7, Every believer is equipped with spiritual gifts by Christ’s victory over sin & death

* The purpose of each gift is service to and in the local church body





* Christ-Centered Maturity 



* We all grow together

* Just as a body’s health is dependent on each part being healthy, so it is with a local church







 

Live It Out



* Commit yourself to the spiritual health of your church family through ministry and maturity

* Commit to building unity in your church family through faithfully gathering and fellowshipping with them



 

 

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 2:11-17

Theme: We Are Better Together (Week 2)

Thesis: God has called us to experience spiritual health together in a local church family.

Notes:



* God has gathered us together in a Person: Jesus Christ



* John 17

* Acts 9:4, “…why are you persecuting me“

* Acts 20:28, “…the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.”

* Titus 2, “…a people for His very own possession”

* Throughout history, when God calls a people He gathers them together

* Throughout history, when God gathers His people He gathers them to Himself



* Adam & Eve in the garden

* Tabernacle in the nation of Israel

* Christ in flesh

* Spirit indwelling

* Future state: we will be physically with God for eternity









*  God has gathered us together as His People



* Ephesians 2:19, “…fellow citizens…household of God…building, temple, dwelling place of God”

* Christ saved each of us–not just from death and Satan–but for His glory and His people

* Salvation isn’t about me, it’s about us

* We are saved by covenant–into a covenant community



* Those are inseparable





* “Like every family, we have weird aunts and loud cousins”

* God made us for community



* As humans

* As His people

* Heb 10, “…stir each other up to love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves”

* 1 Corinthians 12, “…you are a temple of God…”



* But more accurately, “…y’all are a temple of God…”

* “you” is plural













* God has called us together for a Purpose



* Ephesians 3:10, “…that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church…”







 

Live It Out!



* Make the gathering a priority



* Planning to attend church Sunday morning starts before Sunday morning

* Failing to plan is planning to fail

* Failing to plan to attend is to plan not too attend

* Prepare so that you can attend with joy