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This week’s Audio link: 
 
Pastors are Failing to Mature Christians
Get off the MILK and on the MEAT!
 
How to Grow in Christ Series #17
 
11/14/10
 
Purpose: To learn from Scripture alone how to begin maturing in Christ by growing in New Covenant theology
 and not holding on to Old Covenant theology.
 
“Continuity” Covenant Theology Versus “Dis-Continuity” Dispensational Theology
 
As a pastor, I have sat under other pastors in the past and as a member of their congregations I finally realized that I could not
 grow under their ministry, because these men were not mature in Christ.
 
A favorite maxim of mine is:
   you can’t impart what you don’t possess.
 
If a pastor has not got off of the milk of the Word on to the meat of the Word, then his ministry can’t grow beyond
 his own personal growth in Christ.
 
It breaks my heart to meet Christians that have been saved for many years, however, they are still on the milk of the Word.
 
They don’t know that they don’t know;
they live impoverished Christian lives because they are under pastors that are not capable of maturing them in the Word.
 
The Word of God is very clear concerning the importance of Christians becoming mature in Christ.
 

Heb 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles

 of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Heb 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses

exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 6:1  Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection,

not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Col 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present

 every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Col 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Eph 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man,

to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Eph 4:14  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

 by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the

 effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

 

From these Scriptures we can see that God wants every Christian to become mature in Christ.

Continue reading “Pastors are Failing to Mature Christians”

This week’s Audio link: 
 
Pastors are Failing to Mature Christians
Get off the MILK and on the MEAT!
 
How to Grow in Christ Series #17
 
11/14/10
 
Purpose: To learn from Scripture alone how to begin maturing in Christ by growing in New Covenant theology
 and not holding on to Old Covenant theology.
 
“Continuity” Covenant Theology Versus “Dis-Continuity” Dispensational Theology
 
As a pastor, I have sat under other pastors in the past and as a member of their congregations I finally realized that I could not
 grow under their ministry, because these men were not mature in Christ.
 
A favorite maxim of mine is:
   you can’t impart what you don’t possess.
 
If a pastor has not got off of the milk of the Word on to the meat of the Word, then his ministry can’t grow beyond
 his own personal growth in Christ.
 
It breaks my heart to meet Christians that have been saved for many years, however, they are still on the milk of the Word.
 
They don’t know that they don’t know;
they live impoverished Christian lives because they are under pastors that are not capable of maturing them in the Word.
 
The Word of God is very clear concerning the importance of Christians becoming mature in Christ.
 

Heb 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles

 of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Heb 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses

exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 6:1  Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection,

not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Col 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present

 every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Col 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Eph 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man,

to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Eph 4:14  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

 by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the

 effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

 

From these Scriptures we can see that God wants every Christian to become mature in Christ.

Continue reading “Pastors are Failing to Mature Christians”

This week’s Audio link: 
 
NOTES: For this sermon – the notes are only 50% (at the most) of what Jack teaches in the audio.
  
How to Live Your Last Day
How to Grow in Christ Series #18
11/21/10
 
If your doctor told you that you had only twenty four hours to live how would you choose to live the last day of your mortal existence?
 
Would you want to fly to Paris and have the best meal of your life? Perhaps you would want to go over how much money you have made in your life and gaze upon all of your assets?
 
Or would you want to spend your last hours watching your favorite movies?
Maybe you would call all of your family and friends to share the last few hours of your life with you. If you love wine would, you want to drink a few of the best bottles of wine and be high on the greatest wine before you die and thereby drown all of your fears?
 
We could continue this list of things that people might want to pursue before they died ad infinitum, however, the wise person that is a Christian should ask themselves, “How would my God want me to live the last day of my Christian life?”
 
I believe His answer would be that the Christian should live their last day the same way they should have been living their entire life, according to Scripture, for the glory of the Father (I Cor.10:31) through being, moment-by-moment, occupied with the life of the resurrected Christ (Gal.2:20) by means of the filling of the Holy Spirit (Ephs.5:18).
 
In other words, we should be living a Scriptural, Trinitarian Christian existence so that the world could witness what redeemed humanity looks like for the glory of God the Father.
 
Purpose: To learn from Scripture alone how a Christian should live the final day of their life.
Continue reading “How to Live Your Last Day”

This week’s Audio link: 
 
NOTES: For this sermon – the notes are only 50% (at the most) of what Jack teaches in the audio.
  
How to Live Your Last Day
How to Grow in Christ Series #18
11/21/10
 
If your doctor told you that you had only twenty four hours to live how would you choose to live the last day of your mortal existence?
 
Would you want to fly to Paris and have the best meal of your life? Perhaps you would want to go over how much money you have made in your life and gaze upon all of your assets?
 
Or would you want to spend your last hours watching your favorite movies?
Maybe you would call all of your family and friends to share the last few hours of your life with you. If you love wine would, you want to drink a few of the best bottles of wine and be high on the greatest wine before you die and thereby drown all of your fears?
 
We could continue this list of things that people might want to pursue before they died ad infinitum, however, the wise person that is a Christian should ask themselves, “How would my God want me to live the last day of my Christian life?”
 
I believe His answer would be that the Christian should live their last day the same way they should have been living their entire life, according to Scripture, for the glory of the Father (I Cor.10:31) through being, moment-by-moment, occupied with the life of the resurrected Christ (Gal.2:20) by means of the filling of the Holy Spirit (Ephs.5:18).
 
In other words, we should be living a Scriptural, Trinitarian Christian existence so that the world could witness what redeemed humanity looks like for the glory of God the Father.
 
Purpose: To learn from Scripture alone how a Christian should live the final day of their life.
Continue reading “How to Live Your Last Day”

Sermon Audio 

Wake Up! Under New Management
Discern Grace vs. Law – Series #16

 
11/7/10
 

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.

 

There is no freedom of conscience or growth in the grace of Christ, until a Christian learns the difference between the biblical doctrines of Grace and Law.
 

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

Gal 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

 

2Pe 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Luk 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

 

Joh 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

 

Purpose: To learn from Scripture alone how to develop discernment concerning the difference between Grace and Law in the Bible. So that we can serve the Father in a manner that honors His grace and show  forth the excellence and superiority of the grace of Christ in contrast to the bondage and condemnation of the Law of Moses.
 

Rightly divide the Word of Truth.

So much confusion comes from teachers not rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

When a Christian comingles law and grace they are totally confused concerning God’s purpose for His people under the dispensation of grace. Christ ushered in a totally new principle by which Christians are to manage their lives, and this grace principle i.e. dispensation, has nothing to do with the old principle of the Law of Moses. The Old Covenant as been permanently removed as a rule of life for Christians and it has been replaced by a better, greater and much superior New Covenant which is the only rule of life for the Christian. Any teacher that tries to put a Christian under the law is insulting the Spirit of Grace and they are causing Christian’s to not be led by the Holy Spirit Who is the One Who is to grow them in the New Covenant of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

Continue reading “Wake Up! Under New Management”

Sermon Audio 

Wake Up! Under New Management
Discern Grace vs. Law – Series #16

 
11/7/10
 

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.

 

There is no freedom of conscience or growth in the grace of Christ, until a Christian learns the difference between the biblical doctrines of Grace and Law.
 

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

Gal 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

 

2Pe 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Luk 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

 

Joh 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

 

Purpose: To learn from Scripture alone how to develop discernment concerning the difference between Grace and Law in the Bible. So that we can serve the Father in a manner that honors His grace and show  forth the excellence and superiority of the grace of Christ in contrast to the bondage and condemnation of the Law of Moses.
 

Rightly divide the Word of Truth.

So much confusion comes from teachers not rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

When a Christian comingles law and grace they are totally confused concerning God’s purpose for His people under the dispensation of grace. Christ ushered in a totally new principle by which Christians are to manage their lives, and this grace principle i.e. dispensation, has nothing to do with the old principle of the Law of Moses. The Old Covenant as been permanently removed as a rule of life for Christians and it has been replaced by a better, greater and much superior New Covenant which is the only rule of life for the Christian. Any teacher that tries to put a Christian under the law is insulting the Spirit of Grace and they are causing Christian’s to not be led by the Holy Spirit Who is the One Who is to grow them in the New Covenant of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

Continue reading “Wake Up! Under New Management”

  
To rightly divide the Word of God is critical to truly understand Christianity and the Christians’ relationship to the Father under the Holy Spirits’ revelation of the New Covenant.

Until a Christian comprehends the profound change that God brought about through Christ by abolishing the Old Covenant, he can not appreciate all that Christ is and what He has accomplished on behalf of the New Covenant Christian.

Heb 10:15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

Heb 10:16 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

 I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND IN THEIR MINDS I WILL WRITE THEM,”

Heb 10:17 then He adds, “THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Heb 10:18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Heb 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Heb 10:20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

Heb 10:21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,

Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from

 an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

Heb 7:15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest

Heb 7:16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to th

e power of an endless life.

Heb 7:17 For He testifies: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Heb 7:18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its

weakness and unprofitableness,

Heb 7:19  for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope,

 through which we draw near to God.

Heb 7:20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath

Heb 7:21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

“THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT RELENT, ‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK’ “),

Heb 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

Heb 7:23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

Heb 7:24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,

since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Heb 7:26  For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,

 and has become higher than the heavens;

Heb 7:27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and

then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Heb 7:28  For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath,

which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

 

Until the Holy Spirit contrasted for me the life of the Old Covenant believer with the life
 of the New Covenant believer through the book of Hebrews then and only then was I able to fully
 understand  the majesty, supremacy and uniqueness of all that Christ did for me.
 
Purpose: To learn through Scripture alone the difference between the life of the Old Covenant believer
 with the life of the New Covenant believer by means of Christ annulling the Old Covenant.
  Continue reading “The Spirit exalts Christ not the Law”

  
To rightly divide the Word of God is critical to truly understand Christianity and the Christians’ relationship to the Father under the Holy Spirits’ revelation of the New Covenant.

Until a Christian comprehends the profound change that God brought about through Christ by abolishing the Old Covenant, he can not appreciate all that Christ is and what He has accomplished on behalf of the New Covenant Christian.

Heb 10:15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

Heb 10:16 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

 I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND IN THEIR MINDS I WILL WRITE THEM,”

Heb 10:17 then He adds, “THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Heb 10:18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Heb 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Heb 10:20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

Heb 10:21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,

Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from

 an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

Heb 7:15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest

Heb 7:16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to th

e power of an endless life.

Heb 7:17 For He testifies: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Heb 7:18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its

weakness and unprofitableness,

Heb 7:19  for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope,

 through which we draw near to God.

Heb 7:20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath

Heb 7:21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

“THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT RELENT, ‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK’ “),

Heb 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

Heb 7:23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

Heb 7:24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,

since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Heb 7:26  For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,

 and has become higher than the heavens;

Heb 7:27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and

then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Heb 7:28  For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath,

which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

 

Until the Holy Spirit contrasted for me the life of the Old Covenant believer with the life
 of the New Covenant believer through the book of Hebrews then and only then was I able to fully
 understand  the majesty, supremacy and uniqueness of all that Christ did for me.
 
Purpose: To learn through Scripture alone the difference between the life of the Old Covenant believer
 with the life of the New Covenant believer by means of Christ annulling the Old Covenant.
  Continue reading “The Spirit exalts Christ not the Law”