January 6, 2010
Christ's Expectations for His Church
"The Salty Church'
Matthew 5:13-16
I. Sermon #1
Main Point of the Text
With this portion of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is directly challenging Christians to be infused into the world for their good and God's glory; we are to be a strong representative for Christ in a sinful and rebellious world.
Main Point of the Sermon
To challenge the church on its present disconnectedness from the world and confess that we as the body of Christ must reconnect and live the gospel before the eyes of the world.
"He Expects a Loving Body"
Revelation 2:1-7
II. Sermon # 2
Main Point of the Text
Through his words to the church at Ephesus, Jesus is calling our attention to the necessity of love and challenging his children to hold tightly to the joy of our initial faith.
Main Point of the Sermon
To challenge the church to remember their initial faith, repent of their own sin of abandoning Christ, and return to the relationship it had with Christ at the beginning.
III. The Most Excellent Quality of Life. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 LOVE
1. The great importance of Love (v. 1-3)
A. Verdict #1 Tongues without Love are meaningless.
B. Verdict #2 Gifts without love are nothing.
1) Prophecy is nothing.
2) Understanding all mysteries and knowledge are nothing.
3) Faith is nothing.
C. Verdict #3 Giving without love profits nothing.
1) Giving ones' goods.
2) Giving one's life: even for Christ
2. The Act of Love (v. 4-7)
3. The great permanence of Love. (v. 8-12)
A. It never fails, never ceases, and never vanishes. (v. 8)
B. It is perfect and complete. (v. 9 & 10)
C. It is maturity - mature behavior. (v. 11)
D. It is being face to face with God - perfect knowledge and perfect actions (v. 12)
4. The great dominance superiority of Love. (v. 13)
