The Gospel of the Risen Christ

He is risen!

Tomorrow I plan to preach from Peter’s sermon at Pentecost which is a great model of the gospel message proclaimed by the apostles.
Peter proclaims Christ’s unique life, His atoning death and His resurrection. His message brings conviction of sin to his hearers who respond in repentance and faith.
My prayer is that every believer will be blessed by Peter’s gospel message and that we will be encouraged to share it with others.
Also we pray that the Lord will save many among us, just as He saved a multitude at Pentecost.

Your Words and God’s Word

Having completed the first major section of James, which deals with trials and temptations, tomorrow morning we begin a new section which deals with putting the Word into practice.
1:18 serves as a transition to the next section which goes from 1:19-2:26. God, who has given us he great gift of the new birth seeks to transform our lives by the same Word which has been implanted within us (1:21). James makes several very practical applications, beginning with our speech and our anger. “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger, for he anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

This is a very challenging text because we are prone to be slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to anger. I personally have been deeply convicted about how much I talk (though I can’ promise you a shorter sermon tomorrow). While many philosophers and religions may agree that it is wise to talk less and to control anger, the biblical approach to these issues is radically different in that we gain the power to change through God’s Word which is supernaturally implanted within us (1:21). Christ is the only one who has perfectly kept these commandments. Through union with Him we can be forgiven for our sinful failures and transformed by His Word and Spirit. Scripture also provides practical instruction on how we can change.

Psalm 84

An evening service sermon from GBC elder Mike Kelley.

God Gives All the Best Gifts

Sunday, Lord willing, we will complete James’ extensive section about trials and temptations.
James has taught us to respond to trials with joy and faith because God uses these difficulties in our lives to mature us.
Last week we saw that God does not tempt us (entice us to sin) because God, by nature, is not attracted to evil.
Rather, we are tempted by our own sinful desires which draw us into sin and death.

In verses 16-18 James further affirms God’s goodness in that He is the giver of every good gift, including our salvation.
When we are tempted we must overcome by remembering God’s goodness.

Verse 18 is one of the most theologically profound verses in the book of James.
We are told that our new birth was through the exercise of God’s will (not ours) by means of His Word.
This truth should motivate us to praise Him who has saved us and to use the means He has appointed (proclamation of the gospel truth) to bring others to faith.

Missions Update and Prayer Requests

An update at our evening service from GBC missionary Nathaniel Hutchison.

Temptation’s Source, Course, and Cure

James warns, “Let no one say when he is tempted I am being tempted by God” (James 1:13).
Your initial reaction might be, “I would never blame God.”
Have you ever excused your sin by saying, “I am just a born worrier”, or “I have a short fuse because I am from a family of angry people”, or “I would be a better wife if my husband were more Christlike.”
If so, you are guilty of blaming God by saying that He made you that way, or He put you in circumstances which tempted you beyond what you can bear.
James explains that because God is perfectly good He does not tempt people to do evil. Instead, you are tempted by your own lust which leads you to sin which results in death.

James also teaches us how we can overcome temptation as we understand how sin operates, and through the new nature we received in our new birth.

Thirsting for God

Psalms 42-43 go together. They are Psalms of lament with an almost identical refrain. 42:5 42:11 43:5.
These Psalms are of special value to believers who feel overwhelmed or struggle with depression.
We can relate to the Psalmist as he describes his own spiritual drought, longing for God to satisfy his thirst.
He also describes his situation as being overwhelmed by the floods of sorrow.
Yet within this Psalm we find the answer to our despair. “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones used Psalm 42 in the first chapter of his famous book, “Spiritual Depression”.
He tells us that a key to overcoming depression is to stop listening to ourselves (complaining and worrying) and to start talking to ourselves (about the hope we have in God).

Please read Psalms 42-43 before coming to church.

God Speaks Through His Word

This Sunday I plan to complete our consideration of Psalm 19.
Last week we looked at the first six verses which declares how God speaks to all humanity through His creation (General Revelation)
This week we will consider the Lord’s speech to His people through the Scriptures (Special Revelation) in verses 7-11, and then our response in verses 12-15.

As you read over Psalm 19 before coming to church consider the following questions:

Do you notice that the first six verses use the name God and verse seven and following use LORD. Why do you think that this is?
How are general revelation similar to each other? How are they different?
Where can you see the gospel in this Psalm?