The Road to Calvary
The End of One Journey Means the Beginning of Another
April 1, 2018 • Collin Monger
There are milestones in life which constitute a pivotal change in a person. Coming to faith in Jesus causes the believer to be changed because… • Truth is revealed: The Hebrew law was confusing, it was ambiguous and resulted in doubt and uncertainty. Christ died to remove doubt and replace it with faith. • Prisoners are released: Religion cannot save a person, man is not saved by works but by faith. Jesus frees people from bondage and directs them into a relationship with God. • Believers are received: Because of Jesus we can have fellowship with God. He wants to receive all of us, making us heirs to eternity with Him.
Riding in Style
March 25, 2018 • Collin Monger
The mode of transportation for a person speaks volumes about who that person is. Jesus chose to ride a humble donkey. I. The donkey carried Jesus; Jesus carried the weight of the world: Jesus bore the responsibility for repairing a relationship which was broken since the fall of creation. II. Sincere religion is not the same as a saving relationship: People often want cheap religion, not a changed life, just enough to make them feel good. III. Life may be chaotic, God is always in control: Our God can see what’s coming. Faith requires a relationship but God has done the heavy lifting. (Verses Cited: Revelation 6:2, 6:4; Psalm 50:10-12; Philippians 4:19; 1 Kings 3:13; John 1:29; Matthew 5:9; Revelation 19:11-13; Matthew 27:45; Genesis 1:1; Matthew 27:46; John 18:36; 1 Chronicles 28:2-3; Luke 19:41-42; 1 Timothy 1; 2 Timothy 1:7)
Time Is Precious, Spend It Well
March 18, 2018 • Collin Monger
Money is valuable however, time is infinitely more precious. The best way we can invest our time is with God. • Time with God should be cherished: Life is short, we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Spend your time in the service of God. • Time with God should be valued: Your time with God is worth more than anything. Is there evidence that you value God by how you spend your time? • Time with God should be protected: The world will try to draw you away from God even with legitimate excuses. Do not feel guilty about guarding your time with God. • Time with God should be enjoyed: Do not be a robot to life. Enjoy the time God has given you! (Verses Cited: James 4:14; Psalm 144:4; Psalm 84:10; Luke 10:40-41; John 9:4; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Matthew 6:33; 1 Samuel 1:19; Luke 5:16; John 6:15; Luke 9:18; Mark 2:27)
Visions of Things to Come II
March 11, 2018 • Collin Monger
As Christians, our faith is not based on a list of rules. We are in a relationship of trust with a God who has proven to be trust worthy. I. Trust in God overcomes fears: Without faith in Jesus there is no hope in life. Through Christ we overcome fears and do the impossible. II. Trust in God overcomes doubt: We all experience doubt, uncertainty about our ability to accomplish the tasks from God. Jesus helps us overcome our doubts through faith. III. Trust in God overcomes death: Lazarus coming back from the dead had nothing to do with his own ability. It is through faith we receive the assurance of our resurrection. (Verses Cited: Joshua 1:9; Psalm 28:7; Genesis 2:17, 3:15; Galatians 4:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:8; John 11:32; Mark 9:18, 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 2:5; Exodus 4:10; Matthew 19:26; Mark 5:28; Ephesians 2:1, 2:5, 2:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 4:19; Luke 5:32)
Thy Will Be Done
March 4, 2018 • Collin Monger
Submission sometimes feels like a dirty word. However, Christian submission to God’s grants freedom and joy. I. Submission requires action righteously: Our desires are not always what God wants for us. Sometimes, we must submit our wants to God’s plan knowing it is for our benefit. II. Acknowledge God work counter culturally: God’s will is counter cultural; telling believers to seek after the things of heaven and neglect the desires of the world. III. Requires spiritual accounting: What is worth more, the things of this world or the things of God? Following God requires intentionally neglecting the things which pull us away from Him. (Citations: Matthew 5:5; D.L Moody; Philippines 4:13; Colossians 3:23; Acts 16:6-7, 16:9-10; James 4:13-15; Matthew 26:39, 6:9-13; James 1:17; John 1:1; Matthew 5:10; John 17:5; 1 Peter 1:3-4)
A Man On A Mission
February 25, 2018 • Collin Monger
Following God’s will is not always easy. We often will face trials or obstacles, sometimes from people with the best of intentions. I. Doubt eliminates trust: When we lose faith in the plan of God we are acting out of fear, not faith. We need to trust in God’s plan and provisions. II. Don’t get deterred: If Satan cannot cause us to doubt God, he will try to scare us away from Him. Peter meant well when he confronted Jesus but Peter was focused on the world, not God. III. Determination to the calling: Christ never lost sight of his mission, he stayed true to the cross. Stayed focused on Christ and God’s mission! (Verses cited: 2 Corinthians 11:24-26, 12:7-9; Philippians 3:14; James 1:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Romans 1:16; Job 2:9; Ephesians 6:11; Colossians 3:2; Matthew 26:39; Romans 8:28)
Walk With Me A While
February 18, 2018 • Collin Monger
Achieving goals requires commitment and devotion. The disciples did not know everything required of being a follower of Christ but they stepped out in faith. I. The disciples were called abruptly: The disciples would have known Jesus and were primed to follow when he called. II. The disciples followed immediately: They did not hesitate when Christ called them, neither should we. III. The disciples committed totally: By leaving their boats and nets the disciples showed complete faith in Jesus. We need to let go of the world and cling to Christ. (Verses cited: Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 4:12; Hebrews 10:37; 1 Peter 1:6; Revelation 20:3; Hebrews 11:1; John 20:29; Luke 2:9, 9:50-60, 15:20; Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 3:5; Matthew 6:24; Psalm 23)
The Lesson of A Lifetime
February 11, 2018 • Collin Monger
There is a value in learning a difficult lesson. I. God does not care about social status: Nicodemus, be worldly standards, had everything. However, his formal education did not impress Jesus. II. Everyone has something to teach you: We cannot have too high an opinion of ourselves that we miss Jesus’ teachings through others. III. Truth is not relative: When truth is seen as opinion, people drift away from God. God does not change nor does His truth or character. (Citations: Proverbs 4:27; Romans 12:1-2; John 18:31; 1 Samuel 16:7; Acts 10:34; 2 Timothy 3:5; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Matthew 5:31-32; Hebrews 13:8; John Adams)
The GreatEST Commission
February 4, 2018 • Collin Monger
All disciples of Christ have a common commission, to go and make disciples of the nations. Jesus’ commission was unique, He was ordained to be the savior. • This is a relational commission: Jesus was intentional about his mission, he related with people on a personal level. • This is a prophetical commission: Jesus baptism symbolized freedom from sin. Our baptism demonstrated the changes of the Holy Spirit in our lives. • This is a personal commission: Jesus’ ministry demonstrated a personal relationship with God the father. Our commission is also successful through the Lord’s power. (Verses cited: John 21; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:15; 1st Timothy 1:15; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Luke 15:22, 3:11, 3:21; Hebrews 4:15; John 11:21; Luke 4:24; John 8:41, 5:6; Titus 3:5; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Luke 2:49; John 3:16; Proverbs 1:7)
The Family Business
January 28, 2018 • Collin Monger
Many people struggle determining what they want to be when they grow up. Jesus never had this dilemma, he was destined to do the Father’s will. I. We have a spiritual calling: When we are in relationship with Jesus He causes us to desire the things of God. God has a plan for everyone. II. We need devotional commitment: We need to set aside everything not of God to become closer to Him. III. We need faithful confidence: Trusting God can be difficult. Jesus was confident God had a plan for Him and we should be confident too! IV. Faithful confidence does not preclude confusion: Faith requires following God’s plan even when we don’t know where we’re headed. (Verses cited: John 6:38; Matthew 6; Luke 19:10; John 18:37; John 9:4; Psalm 37:4; Proverbs 25:2; Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:23; Matthew 5:14-16; Proverbs 3:5; Genesis 17:18-19; Luke 1:32-33; Hebrews 11:1)
Visions of Things to Come
January 14, 2018 • Collin Monger
Human predictions of the future rarely come true. Jesus was the greatest prediction in the Bible, fulfilling more than 400 Old Testament prophecies. This prophecy in Isaiah looks at how Jesus SAVEs believers. I. Substitute: Jesus took our place on the cross, showing us mercy instead of perfect justice. II. Absolve: Because of Jesus we no longer face a guilty verdict, we are righteous before God. III. Voluntary: Jesus’ actions on the cross were of his own volition. God wants us to choose him but never forces us to. IV. Extraordinary: Jesus did not come from a wealthy, prominent family. God uses ordinary people to do unbelievable things. (Verses cited: Genesis 8:22; 1 John 4:1; John 13:6-7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Deuteronomy 20:16-18; Romans 15:4; Luke 23:41; 2 Peter 3:15; Psalm 25:11; Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 103:12; Mark 15:31-32; Matthew 6:7; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Corinthians 1:27; Ecclesiastes 3:11)
A Journey of a Thousand Miles
January 7, 2018 • Collin Monger
All Journeys begin with a single step. Christ’s death on the cross was the culmination of events ordained by God at the creation of the universe. • The reason for the journey: Sin enters the world in Genesis 3 and as a result all creation becomes imperfect. Christ’s work at Calvary atoned for our sins. • The route for the journey: Throughout the Bible there are over 400 prophecies about the Messiah. All of scripture leads to the cross. • The result of the journey: God’s plans always come to fruition. The result of this journey is Christ overcoming Satan and giving us victory over sin and death! (Verses cited: John 19:11; Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-2, 1:14, 1:3; Genesis 1:31, 5:1-3; Romans 5:12, 3:10; Matthew 5:21-22, 5:27-28; Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; James 4:13-14; Isaiah 46:10; 1 Corinthians 15:55; John 3:16)