Flourish
June 16, 2019
June 16, 2019 • Pastor Josh Kee
[1] Psalm 107 1. The glory of God is the goal of the grace of God (vv. 1-3) 2. Structure a. Condition b. Cry of faith c. God's work of grace d. Response to grace 3. Wanderers (vv. 4-9) 4. Rebels (vv. 10-16) 5. Fools (vv. 17-22) 6. Swindlers (vv. 23-32) 7. God's glory (vv. 33-42) 8. Exhortation to respond (v. 43) [2] "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." (Westminster Shorter Catechism) 1. Our Christlikeness "both glorifies God and enables our enjoyment of him" (Chapell) a. "In Jesus Christ we have our most complete definition of the glory of God." // Chapell b. Colossians 1:15-17 - the image of the invisible God c. Colossians 2:9-10 - the fullness of God dwelling bodily d. Hebrews 1:2-3 - the radiance of the glory of God, the exact representation of his being e. "In this present age, God restores his glory in us through our union with Christ. By this union what is true of our sins and penalty was placed on him, and what is true of his righteousness and status is imputed to us (Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:11)." // Bryan Chapell, "A Pastoral Theology of Glory" f. The grace of God is the most compelling motivation for obedience to God in all the world 2. Jesus glorified the Father by redeeming sinners: a. The woman at the well b. The woman caught in adultery c. Zaccheus - greedy traitor, betraying the nation of Israel to enrich Rome d. Matthew - a tax collector e. The demon possessed man restored to a sound mind f. The thief on the cross - guilty and condemned to death but rescued by grace g. Thomas who struggled with doubt and unbelief h. Peter who kept getting in his own way and denied Christ i. Saul - persecutor of the church and Christ himself [3] A community resolved to give God praise in response de to his grace (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17; Titus 3:3-7) The Point: "Glory comes to us through the generosity of Jesus (John 17:22), and glory returns to him through the faithfulness of his disciples (John 17:10). We find our greatest fulfillment, highest aim, and truest humanity in living for and in Christ." // Bryan Chapell, “A Pastoral Theology of Glory” 1. "Oh give thanks to the LORD for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 107:1) On what basis do you determine whether you will give thanks/ praise to God? (circumstance, feeling, mood, comfort, etc.) 2. Are you withholding thanks and praise? What implication do verses 1-3 have on our duty and delight to give thanks? 3. How have you experienced the steadfast love of God? How has he "delivered you from [your] distress"? (vv. 6, 13, 19, 28) 4. Which of the four types of people do you relate with most: the Wanderer (vv. 4-9), the Rebel (vv. 10-16), the Fool (vv. 17-22), or the Swindler (vv. 23-32)? 5. "The glory of God is the goal of God's grace." How can you give glory to God in response to the grace he has shown you? 6. Are you prone to try and repay God for his grace to you? How does this Psalm instruct us as to the proper response (What kind of sacrifices are commanded in v. 22?)? 7. What does this Psalm teach us about the kind of people that make up the Christian community? How should this shape our disposition toward those in the community we are trying to reach?
June 9, 2019
June 9, 2019
June 2, 2019
June 2, 2019 • Pastor Josh Kee
All past sermons may be easily found on our website: https://subsplash.com/cccflsermons/sermons Passage(s): Genesis 1-3; Jeremiah 29:4-7 Title: Doing Good through Work Summary: We spend most of our lives working, but many Christians have an under-developed theology of work. Too often we make work about ourselves and in doing so we ruin a good gift that God has given us to glorify him and serve others. Tim Keller suggests that good work is done "to the glory of God and for the good of others." Is the work you do good? Outline: A (brief) Biblical Theology of Work // Genesis 1-3 a. Good work represents God (1:26-27) b. Good work is a blessing (1:28) c. Good work bears fruit d. Good work multiplies e. Good work fills the earth f. Good work subdues and exercises dominion g. Good work has limits (2:1-3) h. Good work is collaborative (2:18-23) i. Even good work will be toilsome (3:16-19) Not all good work is enjoyable The enjoyment of the work does not determine its goodness Work Fulfilled in Christ // Philippians 2:1-10 a. Jesus accomplished through his work what we could not in ours b. The gospel redeems our work Theology of Work Applied // Jeremiah 29:4-7 a. Good work is not restricted by favorable circumstances b. Good work benefits the entire community c. Good work is not partial Doing good through work // Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31 The Point: The gospel is either adorned or marred by the quality of work followers of Jesus do. Therefore, the church should be filling the world with excellent workers who do their work for the glory of God and the good of others. Discussion Questions: 1. How would you evaluate the quality of your work (whether paid or not)? 2. What motivates (or demotivates) you in your work? 3. Are there any areas of idleness or empty busyness that can be turned into fruitful work? What can you do? 4. How is your witness for Christ helped or hindered by the kind of worker you are? 5. How can you make your work more about God's glory and the good of others and less about your personal enjoyment or fulfillment? 6. Who in your life has served as an example of one who does good work? Why did that person come to mind? Is there something about them you can emulate in your own work?
May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019 • Pastor Phil Burggraff
Passage: Matthew 20:20–28 Theme: Seeking Good through Service Principles we need to learn about service: 1. Service resists self-promotion (20–21). 2. Service results in suffering (22–23). 3. Service rejects the world’s standards of power (24–25). 4. Service responds with humility (26–27). 5. Service reflects Christ’s sacrifice (28). Main Idea: Members of CCC serve one another and with one another so that this community may see Christ’s work in us. Application Questions: • In looking at the different characters in this story, what motivates their actions? In evaluating your own motivations, why do you follow/serve Christ? • How do you typically respond to suffering? From what Christ says in this text, what would we he tell you to do in response to suffering? • How does the world’s system measure and determine power? Living in such a system, how should we balance doing our best and succeeding with what Christ calls us to here in this passage? • In what ways can you humble yourself in order to serve Christ here at CCC? • How does your service individually here at CCC reflect Christ’s sacrifice? How does your connections to others here at the church reflect Christ through service?
May 19, 2019
May 19, 2019 • Pastor Phil Burggraff
Theme: Hospitality toward those who need salvation Passage: Luke 19:1–10 What the actions of the 3 characters in this story teach us: 1. Jesus seeks the lost. His example calls us to … a. live life focused on the will of God. b. engage people based on need rather than reputation. c. enter into relationships with the lost to bring salvation. 2. Zacchaeus demonstrates true repentance. Sinners who come to true repentance … a. show interest in and search for Jesus. b. gladly follow Jesus call to them. c. do what is necessary to make things right with those they have wronged. d. begin to see the needs of others. 3. The crowd misses out on what God is doing. a. Self-righteousness isolates us from those who need Jesus. b. A subtle sense of superiority keeps us from Jesus’ mission. Main Idea: Hospitality connects us with people who desperately need Jesus’ saving work in their lives. Application Questions: • Why is it that we as believers fail to engage people who need Jesus? What is the proper balance between engaging sinners who need Christ and being separate from the world? • How have you entered into relationships with the lost people that God has brought across your path? What can you do over the next weeks to engage them? • How does Zacchaeus’ response challenge the way that you think towards those whom you have wronged? What do you have to do to make restitution toward those you have wronged? How do you tend to manifest the same attitudes the crowd does toward the lost? What can we do individually and corporately as a church to address these attitudes and begin changing a culture of isolation?
May 12, 2019
May 12, 2019 • Pastor Phil Burggraff
Theme: Seeking the good of the community Passage: Jeremiah 29:1–14 Conviction #5: A Christ-centered community seeks the good of its community through hospitality, work, and service, for the glory of God. As we seek the good of our community, 1) Remember that God called us to this task (4). a) He is in control. b) He can use disaster to accomplish his purposes in our lives. 2) Carry out his mandate in but not of the world (5–7). This includes a) Acquiring the necessities of life (5) b) Raising a family (6a) c) Participating in the family of God (6b) d) Bettering the community (7a) e) Praying for its prosperity (7b) 3) Reject the message of those who would tell you otherwise (8–9). Why should I seek the good of my community? Answer: God is accomplishing his plans for his people and the world through this mandate (10–14). Main Idea: God accomplishes his plans for his people as they follow his commission in the context in which he has allowed them to live. Application Questions: • When disaster or difficulty comes in life, how do you determine what God is wanting you to learn and do through it? (4) Can we distinguish whether this is God chastening us for sin or allowing us to suffer so that we he can be magnified through us? How so? • How can we seek the prosperity and peace of our community? How can we pray for our community? (5–7) • In what ways may people attempt to persuade us from keeping these commands by God? • How does the context of this passage (29:1–14) and what Israel was experiencing affect the way that we should interpret 29:11? How might it change the way that you use that verse?
May 5, 2019
May 5, 2019 • Pastor Phil Burggraff
Theme: Members Helping Others Flourish Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5 Question: Are you ready for Christ to return? (vv. 1–10) As a follower of Christ, we can be ready for his return by encouraging and building up one another (v. 11). How? 1. Appreciate and support your leaders (12–13). Why? a. They work hard. b. They care for you. c. They challenge you spiritually. 2. Look for ways to meet the needs of your fellow members (14–15). How? a. Admonish the lazy. b. Encourage the discouraged. c. Help the struggling. d. Be patient with all. e. Don’t retaliate but respond with goodness. 3. Pray for your fellow members (16–18). How? a. Rejoice in who God is and what he has done. b. Depend continually on God to accomplish his plans. c. Thank God for what he is doing in his church. 4. Discern carefully the truth (19–22). How? a. Don’t dismiss the power and work of the Spirit. b. Test and accept that which is good. Main Idea: Because he is coming again, Christ calls his followers to remain ready for his return by investing their time and efforts in their fellow church members. Application Questions: • Since this passage begins by calling us to remain alert and ready for Christ’s coming, what tendencies have you seen in your own life that distract you from this or are causing you not live in readiness for his return? According to v. 8, how do we ready ourselves individually? • In what ways can you show your appreciation and support for your church leaders? (vv. 12–13) • Why does Paul place the meeting of needs of those struggling in the congregation on their fellow church members rather than simply on leadership? (vv. 14–15) • In looking at how Paul calls believers to pray in vv. 16–18, in what ways does your prayer life need to change? • How do we quench the Spirit (individually and corporately)? What should testing all (prophecies) and holding to what is good look like in our lives and church?
April 28, 2019
April 28, 2019 • Pastor Josh Kee
Title: Thriving in Purity and Love Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4 Summary: This week we will look at Paul's exhortation to the believers at Thessalonica to live holy lives and to love one another in light of the reality that Jesus is coming again. Our understanding of the end times should, 1) have a purifying effect on us as individuals and 2) compel us to excel in loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have the true great hope as Christians and it serves us well now to consider what God has revealed about the end of this life. Outline: I. Living to please God (4:1-12) A. God's will for sexual purity (vv. 3-8) 1. Self-control is the expectation of every believer (vv. 3-5) 2. Individual sexual conduct effects the community (v. 6) 3. Somber warning (vv. 6-8) 4. Glorious call to holiness (v. 7) B. God's will in loving the community of faith (vv. 9-12) 1. Excel in love (vv. 9-10) 2. Live wisely (vv. 11-12) a. Live quietly b. Mind your business c. Work hard II. Living with the end in mind (4:13-18) A. Informed hope B. Confidence for the end C. Encouragement for today Discussion Q's: 1. Is there any area where you are confused about God's will for your life? 2. Are you living a sexually pure life (in thought, desire, and behavior)? a. Where are you not sexually pure? Where are you justifying impurity? b. How should Paul's exhortation and warning motivate sexual purity? c. If the Holy Spirit has brought conviction in any area, you should be encouraged that you are treated as a child of God and God's desire is to apply grace and forgiveness as you repent of, or turn from, your sexual sin. Who can help encourage you and provide accountability for the areas you are tempted to give into sexual sin? 3. How would you evaluate the depth of your love for other Christians? What evidence is there for or against your love? 4. Are you prone to struggle in any of these areas?: a. Living a quiet life (humility, meekness, gentleness) b. Minding your own business c. Working hard If you struggle, confess honestly before the Lord and ask him to change you by his grace in whatever area you struggle. 5. How does your understanding of the end of this life give you hope? a. How can you grow in your understanding of what God has told us is to come? b. Is your knowledge purifying you in the present to live holy and love others?