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Showing posts from February, 2024

“New Testament Overview, Part 7: The Rest of Paul’s Epistles”

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New Testament Overview Part 7 : T he Rest of Paul’s Epistles I. Introduction We’ve looked at Romans, the first of the Pauline writings. This Session: The remainder of the Pauline Epistles 1 & 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon These were believers, just like us, struggling against the sin, the world, and the devil as they put their faith into practice. Breaking them down further: General Epistles Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon [c. ad 61], Philippians [c. ad 62]) Pastoral Epistles (1& Timothy, Titus) II. 1 & 2 Corinthians “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Cor. 2:12–16). AUDIENCE: Saints at Corinth (They wrote Paul, 1 Cor 7:1) DATE: ad 56 & 56 (as well as the “severe letter,” 2 Cor 2:4) THEME: I — Correction (factions and sin plagued the church) II — Def

SERMON: “Heeding Christ’s Words” (John 12:44–50)

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  “Heeding Christ’s Words” ( John 1 2:44–50) Series:               “John: Life in Christ’s Name”           Text:                 John 12:44–50 By:                    Shaun Marksbury                         Date:                February 25, 2024 Venue:              Living Water Baptist Church             Occasion:             AM Service   I.               Introduction We’re always interested in the final words famous people have spoken.   For instance, Sir Isaac Newton, the famous physicist, said, “I don’t know what I may seem to the world.   But as to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore and diverting myself now and then in finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than the ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”   Such words cause us to reflect upon the character of the lives which accomplished so much. In this passage, we read something of a last-words moment with our Lord.   While we have

SERMON: “New Testament Overview, Part 6: Romans”

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New Testament Overview Part 6 : Romans I. Introduction We’ve completed the historical section of the NT. The question for new believers (and old) in the church is: What should we believe?  This Session: An Overview of the Book of Romans II. Romans AUTHOR: Paul Apostle to the Gentiles Wrote this letter from Corinth, Cenchrea (16:1) A marvelous treatise which demonstrates his intelligence and theological training (cf. Phil. 3:4–6). Yet, humble, written by the chief of sinners (cf. 1 Tim. 1:12–15) AUDIENCE: Roman Christians  Jewish and Gentile Not unbelievers — Rom. 1:6–7 “Called” “beloved” “saints” DATE: AD 57 at the close of Paul’s third missionary journey during the “three months” he was in Greece (Acts 20:3) THEME: Righteousness of God OUTLINE I. Revelation of God's Righteousness (1 – 8) II. Vindication of God's Righteousness (9 – 11) III. Application of God's Righteousness (12 – 16) Some call this “The Gospel According to Paul” What is his gospel? — Romans 1:16

SERMON: “Judicial Hardening” (John 12:34–43)

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  “Judicial Hardening” ( John 1 2:34–43) Series:               “John: Life in Christ’s Name”           Text:                 John 12:34–43 By:                    Shaun Marksbury                         Date:                February 18, 2024 Venue:              Living Water Baptist Church             Occasion:             AM Service   I.               Introduction We have a difficult subject.   It deals with the sovereignty of God, which can be quite controversial in many circles.   Moreover, we see themes of reprobation, a doctrine which is even more controversial.   The reason for this controversy is because many people see the need to preserve autonomous human free will above all else.   God sitting as a judge and deciding to harden the hearts and blind the eyes of potential converts seems to be a bridge to far for many to believe. Yet this is the reality of the text.   Now, this doesn’t require us to understand that all of human interaction with God is merely d