How can we properly give thanks, to the One who gave us everything? How can you possibly repay someone who saved your life? The best way to give thankfully to Christ is to live thankfully for Christ. During this season of Thanksgiving, let’s focus on the reason for Thanksliving.
Some of the last words the Apostle Paul ever wrote charge the younger and more timid Timothy to preach the word — always being ready — and to fulfill his ministry before God the Father and Jesus the Coming Judge and King.
Since false teachers had infiltrated the church in Ephesus, scratching the itch of those who wanted their ears tickled with something new, Paul commands Timothy to correct, rebuke, encourage with great forbearance and thorough instruction.
Timothy must also endure hardship and do the work of an evangelist, spreading the Gospel to nonbelievers.
He must preach the word, teach the word, and reach the world — as should we.
The Gospel is always good seed. But it doesn’t always fall on good ground. In the Parable of the Sower (a.k.a. the Parable of the Four Soils), Jesus explains four different reactions to His message: (1) Hard-Hearted Hearers, (2) Fairweather “Fans”, (3) Backburner “Believers”, and (4) Fruitful Followers
After the miraculous catch of fish, Jesus calls Peter and the others to (metaphorically) catch people — that they also may follow Christ. In response to the grace of Christ, let’s respond with faith in Christ. Since we’ve been caught by God’s amazing grace, let’s seek to catch others — with God’s amazing guidance.
Ever have to ask someone, “Did you hear what I just said?” Often, we know that they heard us, but they’re acting as if they didn’t. There’s a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing means audibly perceiving something with one’s ear. Listening means responding to what was heard with appropriate action. In light of all that He has said previously, at the end of the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus makes it clear that it is necessary not to just hear His words, but to do them. For there are essentially two ways to live upon hearing Christ’s words. The wise both hear and do — metaphorically building their house on the rock. The foolish hear but don’t — metaphorically building their house on sand. Those who listen to Christ can stand when the storms come; those who don’t can’t stand the rain. Will we listen to the LORD? Did we hear what Jesus just said?
We’re familiar with the concept of: “My House, My Rules”. The first step of true knowledge is that this world is God’s house; thus, we should follow His rules. The fear (i.e., reverence) of the LORD is the beginning knowledge, but fools despise godly wisdom and instruction. We must keep first things first.
![Get Ready for Christmas; Celebrate the Presence | Lk 1:5-17 Sermon [Video, Text+]](https://catchforchrist.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Get-Ready-For-Christmas-Celebrate-the-Presence-Luke-1-5-17-Sermon-Tagged-326x245.jpg)
What Does It Mean to Get Ready for Christmas? Too often, in our American society it means preparing to celebrate the presents… instead of celebrating the Presence (of the Lord). John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare his people for the Presence of the Lord. Before they could follow the Way (cf. Jn 14:6), they had to stop going their own way. They had to turn around, to turn back… to repent.
![Ambassadors For Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) Sermon [Video, Text]](https://catchforchrist.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ambassador-For-Christ-Sermon-2-Corinthians-5-11-21-326x245.jpg)
Christians are called to be ambassadors — authorized agents of the message of reconciliation to God through Christ. In this sermon, shared on the 17th anniversary of Pastor…
![Lost & Found | Luke 15:11-32 Sermon (Parable of the Prodigal Son) [Video, Text+]](https://catchforchrist.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Lost-and-Foud.jpg-326x245.jpg)
God’s grace is so amazing because, like the younger son, we don’t deserve it. We have all sinned and separate ourselves from God. And we cannot earn our reconciliation back to God simply by doing what we should have been doing in the first place. We need grace – unmerited, undeserved favor. We need grace that says: no matter what you’ve done, no matter how far you have fallen, no matter how many mistakes you have made, if you turn back to your Heavenly Father, He is not only waiting for you, He will run out to greet you, to throw His arms around you, and to kiss you tenderly as His child.
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After Peter’s great messianic confession and great messianic misunderstanding, Jesus clarifies the nature of His Messiahship and the nature of Christian discipleship. Anyone who wants to follow (behind) Him, must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow. His followers must deny their self-centered desires, be willing to endure persecution/shame/death, and dedicate their lives to Him and the Gospel
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