Receive One Another

Grace Community Bible Church, Tomball TX

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Receive One Another

June 2, 2024 • Romans 15:1–7

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As we look at Romans chapter 15:1-7 and ask ourselves these questions:

* What is it that we need to keep us unified as a body of Christ, and why is it so important?

* What should cause us to be unified in a way that truly brings glory to God?

We’ll see Paul’s teaching on these questions by covering three main points & asking ourselves how we should respond in our lives.

1. The Obligation to Edification

2. Our Example and Motivation

3. The Prayer for and Call to Unity

APPLICATION - How should we respond?

1. Pray for Unity: As Paul prayed, we should pray for unity in our fellowship.

2. Rely on the Scriptures: Submit to the Spirit working through His word in our lives.

3. Look to Christ: He is our example and motivation. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith

Closing Prayer

Father, you are so rich in mercy. Even as we sang earlier, what a merciful God you are. You don’t judge us according to our sins; you haven’t held us responsible for what we’ve done. Instead, you put our sins upon the person of Christ. Lord, may we also be merciful to others, gracious to others, and desire to put the interests of others before our own because that’s what Christ has done for us. Help us, Lord, to rely on the power of your word through your Spirit, that we might be changed and have hope. May we grow, as Paul prayed, in the grace and knowledge of Christ, unified according to Christ, that with one mind and one voice, we might glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and receive one another as Christ did. For Your glory and praise, in Jesus' name. Amen

The Lightly Esteemed Shepherd

September 29, 2024 • Matt Becker • Zechariah 11:4–17

My question this morning for you is: What value would you place on the thing you value most? What price would you fix upon it? Today, we’re going to see two main points in the text of Zechariah 11:4-14: 1. The Faithful Shepherding of the Doomed Flock 2. The Rejection of the Shepherd Let’s get some context about the book of Zechariah. Zechariah 1:1 says: "In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, ‘The Lord was very angry with your fathers. Therefore, say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.’" The name Zechariah means "The Lord remembers." This book was written by Zechariah, who was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo. He is also referenced in Nehemiah and Ezra. Zechariah was likely raised by his grandfather, as his father probably died early. He was part of the Great Synagogue, a sort of proto-Sanhedrin, and, alongside Haggai, prophesied during the time of the rebuilding of the second temple around 520 BC. The book of Zechariah can be divided into two parts: Chapters 1-8 cover the first two years of prophecy, coinciding with Haggai’s time. This period was a call for the people to repent and rebuild the temple. Chapters 9-14 look forward to future messianic and eschatological events, making Zechariah the second most messianic book in the Old Testament after Isaiah. This context sets the stage for understanding Zechariah 11 and the events described therein. The Faithful Shepherding of the Doomed Flock (Zechariah 11:4-7) Let’s turn back to Zechariah 11 and consider our first point: The Faithful Shepherding of the Doomed Flock. In verse 4, God says to Zechariah: "Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter." This flock is already condemned, and God is using this vivid image to illustrate the impending judgment on the people of Israel. The shepherds—those in positions of leadership—are corrupt and show no pity on the flock. The buyers slaughter the sheep and go unpunished, and the sellers praise God for their prosperity, even though they are complicit in the evil. Zechariah takes on the role of a faithful shepherd despite knowing that the flock is doomed. He names his two staffs Favor and Union. These represent God’s grace and the unity of His people, but both will eventually be broken as part of the coming judgment. The Rejection of the Shepherd (Zechariah 11:8-14) The second main point we see in this passage is The Rejection of the Shepherd. In verse 8, Zechariah says that in one month, he destroyed three shepherds. The identity of these three shepherds is debated, but they likely represent corrupt leaders in Israel who opposed God’s will. Zechariah became impatient with them, and they detested him in return. Zechariah, serving as a symbolic shepherd, announces his resignation: "I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die; what is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed." He then breaks his staff Favor, annulling the covenant God had made with the people. The rejection becomes even more striking when Zechariah asks for his wages. The people give him thirty pieces of silver—the price of a dead or injured slave (Exodus 21:32). This act of undervaluing their shepherd symbolizes the people's lack of regard for God’s appointed leader. God tells Zechariah to throw the thirty pieces of silver "to the potter" in the house of the Lord. This dramatic act foreshadows Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, which he later threw into the temple (Matthew 27:3-10). Zechariah then breaks the second staff Union, symbolizing the end of the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. So, how should we respond to this passage? Zechariah’s role as the shepherd foreshadows Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Just as the people of Israel rejected Zechariah, humanity rejected Christ, valuing Him at thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave. But Jesus, in His grace, still laid down His life for His sheep. The key question for us is: How do we value Christ? Do we, like the Israelites, lightly esteem Him? Or do we value Him as the most precious thing in our lives? Christ came to seek and save the lost. He was rejected by men, but to those who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God. Let us not make the same mistake as those who rejected Zechariah’s leadership, and ultimately, God’s leadership.

The Trustworthy Deliverer

August 4, 2024 • Matt Becker • Psalm 40:9–17

What is the proper behavior during your trials? God has promised to deliver, and we can remember and think on those things. The Grateful Proclamation of the Delivered Prayerful Trust in the Deliverer Grateful Proclamation: David has praised the Lord. Now he's saying, "I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord." Positive statements: "I have told," "I have spoken," "I have not concealed." Prayerful Trust: David acknowledges that God’s mercy and faithfulness are unrestrained. He trusts that God's steadfast love will always preserve him, regardless of the trials he faces. David describes how he is encompassed by evils and overtaken by his own iniquities, which are more numerous than the hairs on his head. Despite these overwhelming circumstances, his heart remains steadfast in crying out to God for deliverance. In his plea for help, David calls upon God to act against his adversaries. He prays for those who seek to harm him to be put to shame and dishonor, not out of vindictiveness, but in the hope that such experiences might lead them to repentance and turn them towards God. David’s prayerful trust also extends to the faithful. He prays that all who seek God may rejoice and be glad in Him, and that those who love God’s salvation may continually proclaim, "Great is the Lord." This communal aspect of prayer highlights the importance of supporting one another in faith, encouraging collective worship and trust in God's deliverance. Ultimately, David concludes by humbly acknowledging his own neediness and God's attentive care. He reaffirms that the Lord is his help and deliverer, urging God not to delay in providing aid. This teaches us that in the midst of our trials, we should maintain a prayerful trust in God, confidently seeking His deliverance, and supporting one another in faith. God's unending mercy and steadfast love will see us through every challenge, turning our trials into opportunities for deeper reliance on Him and greater expressions of His glory.

The Praiseworthy Deliverer

July 28, 2024 • Matt Becker • Psalm 40:1–8, Hebrews 10:5–10, Proverbs 15:8, Amos 5:21–24, Deuteronomy 17:18–20

What is the proper response to God's deliverance? If you have experienced God's hand of deliverance in your life, what is the proper response you should give? Today, we'll see three points in the text as David teaches us: The Deliverance by the Praiseworthy One (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/ps%2040.1-3) The Trust of the Delivered (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/ps%2040.4-5) The Delight of the Delivered (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/ps%2040.6-8) Deliverance: We can see David's patient waiting and cry for help. God's response is David's deliverance from the pit of destruction and the miry bog. The new song of praise and its impact on others in some supporting references: https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20sam%2030.6 - The Amalekites raid on Ziklag and capture of David's people. David's distress and strengthening in the Lord. Jeremiah 38 - Jeremiah rescued from the cistern. Jonah 1 - His experience with the sailors. https://biblia.com/bible/esv/exod%2014.31 - Israel's deliverance and fear of the Lord. Trust: Those who trust only in God are blessed. Trusting in the Lord means not trusting in other things. John Calvin says, "David here relates what ground for good hope his deliverance would give to all the faithful, inasmuch as setting aside all the elements of the world, they would thereby be encouraged to commit themselves with confidence to the protection of God, persuaded not only that they are happy who trust in Him alone, but that all other expectations at variance with this are deceitful and cursed." Delight: David acknowledges that God is not delighted in sacrifices and offerings but in an open ear. What should our Response be? In conclusion, we've seen deliverance by the praiseworthy one, the trust of the delivered, and the delight of the delivered. Our response should be to praise God for His deliverance, trust Him in our trials, and proclaim His deeds and thoughts toward us. God's thoughts toward us are beyond number, demonstrating His love. His desire is not in sacrifices but in open ears and hearts desiring Him. Proclaim the Excellencies of Christ, who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.