Run Hard Run Well

Life Poem 2012 lyrics

2012-01-30T17:35:00.000-08:00

These are the lyrics for the poem performed on Jan. 22, 2012 in honor of Sanctity of Life Sunday.

Life Poem 2012 lyrics

Genesis 1: God speaks revelation
Imago Dei: the peak of creation
This means that man was made in God’s image
Not vegetation, not maize, not spinach
More than a plant or a mere animal
Not a robot, not mere mechanical
Follicles, cuticles - all beautiful
Musical, unusual - all suitable
Made by the God who is inscrutable
He says, “I formed you with a job to do”

God is the shaper of our toes and our heart
He is the sower of our innermost parts
He knit us together when inside the womb
He gave us a place a space like a room
Now peep the text and examine it
We’re animate, not inanimate
And we’re not just mere matter in motion
Like a standard planet, not a rock like granite
And we’re not just more data from oceans
Destined to die from a sun that’s roasting
Glorious ruin - human - His likeness
Made to relate and love what’s righteous

You have searched me! When I sit, when I rise
When I stand, when I lay, when I live, when I die (repeat)

I think a thought but I forgot for
Not you, O Lord, You know me evermore
You hold me close and cover my soul
You know my road, so where shall I go?
Sheol? I flow back up with wings
You are there - where - in the bright morning
I stand in the plan of Your strong right hand
You knit me together and indeed I am
Your wonderful work, so fearfully made
My frame was hidden, in the womb I laid
Knit and woven but kept a secret
Unformed yet, You knew and peeped it
Believe it … Your book was written
You knew me, You know me, I was not hidden
We are dust plus life just trust in Christ
Psalm 139, all right, it’s life!

Images and Social Reform

2012-01-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday Jason Walsh of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform taught a Roosevelt Institute Class on The Use of Images in the History of Social Reform. Very dynamic stuff! Here is the audio.

This was in honor of Sanctity of Life Sunday ...
Download here at this link

iSix 5 GCU Video Footage

2012-01-28T11:08:00.000-08:00

We like to support local gospel-centered music and art.

Recently, hip hop group iSix5 (which has lots of RCC connections)
performed at Grand Canyon University.

Here is a link to check out some video footage.

Let us know if you find anymore!

Arizona Wait No More Promo Video

2012-01-26T14:57:00.001-08:00

Arizona Wait No More Promo Video from Focus on the Family on Vimeo.

Promotional video for the Arizona Wait No More event in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 11, 2012 at Scottsdale Bible Church

iSix5 @Grand Canyon TONIGHT!

2012-01-24T08:14:00.000-08:00

Basketball Game and Concert

iSix:5 will help close out Grand Canyon University’s Annual Faith & Family Night. The performance will follow the Basketball game in the new arena on Jan 24. The Concert (not the game!) itself is free, & will begin just after 9pm.

iSix:5 is in need of seven volunteers to help with their merchandise that night. If you are able to help, contact Omri Miles (omri@iSix5.com).

Jason Walsh and the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform

2012-01-23T18:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Roosevelt Community Church heard an incisive presentation on the use of images in the history of social reform. It was given during a Roosevelt Institute Class after service. Jason Walsh of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform gave the lecture. Below is his information so you can find out more about him and the ministry he is involved in.

Related Links
(Includes wonderful pro-life resources)

UnbornOutreach.org
(caution: graphic images)
AbortionNo.org
(caution: graphic images)
Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Southwest Blog
Center for Bio-Ethical Reform
Justice for All
Calendar for Life

Be sure to check out Jason's interview with Backpack Radio: "Using Images in the Abortion Debate" LINK TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD

iSix5 radio interview

2012-01-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

Jordan Jacques aka Barabbas Da Rebel of Roosevelt Community Church was recently interviewed by Tom Brown on KPXQ 1360 AM. The interview is about iSix5.

iSix 5 is a Reformed hip hop group out of Phoenix, Arizona. Christian hip hop artists and iSix5 group members, Omri Miles and JG Whitley were featured as well. Check it out here ...

OR RIGHT CLICK THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD

The interview was on SEGMENT 2 on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 2:21 PM ...

RCC MLK 2012 Promo Video

2012-01-18T13:44:00.000-08:00

RCC MLK Promo 2012 from Roosevelt Church on Vimeo.

This was our video presentation at the MLK event January 16, 2012 in downtown Phoenix.

Music - iSix:5 - My Deliverer (www.isix5.com)
Video footage from Sound and Pound 3, Nov 2011
Voiceover - Pastor Vermon Pierre
Free Track (beat) - BigJuice216

RCC in MLK Day Article

2012-01-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

RCC in MLK Day Article

Roosevelt Community Church member BISHOP ORTEGA was quoted in an Arizona Republic article on MLK Day: "The Gospel, in essence, is what heals any social injustice," Ortega said.

READ ON HERE
...

MLK Festival shares message of equality

pictured on the left are members from RCC chopping it up with folks during MLK day. Props to JJ and the crew for putting the RCC table together

Download John Piper's Bloodlines for Free!

2012-01-16T18:56:00.000-08:00

Download John Piper's Bloodlines for Free!

On this great new book, Piper says, "God is calling his people to move from the alienation of many bloodlines to the reconciliation of the single bloodline that began on the cross of Christ." and "It is close to the center of the Gospel’s relevance for perseverance in the cause of Christ-exalting ethnic diversity."

DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE

Interview w/Alden, Vocab and Jordan

2012-01-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

We forgot to link this back when it happened but back in April 2010, Alden, Vocab, and Jordan were interviewed on the Freedom Podcast by the host Jeremy.

He calls it "The theology of WOAH!!!" and we talk about how to faithfully integrate hip hop music into more traditional forms.

Here is the link to listen to the audio live
Or you can download it by right-clicking here

Helpful Quotes on the Will of God

2012-01-12T16:28:00.000-08:00

HELPFUL QUOTES:

“It is astonishing to consider what the Bible says and does not say about the will of God. It is positively loquacious concerning what God wants us to do today; it is virtually mum about what God has in store for us tomorrow. None of us, James writes, can have certainity about tomorrow, except the certainity that we will face surprises, hardships, and even death. Instead of being presumptuous about the future, we should be attentive to God’s will in the present.”

– Jerry Sittser, The Will of God as a Way of Life

“The will of God is the necessity of all things.”

-- Augustine of Hippo, On Genesis in the Literal Sense

“God’s will is made known to us by what he disposes, what he commands. This calls for no deliberation on our part; we simply carry out God’s orders. In everything else, however, we are perfectly free to make our own choice of what seems good – though it is not a question of doing everything that is permissible, but only such things as are suitable.”

– Francis de Sales, Selected Spiritual Writings

"The Reformed proceeded from ‘the will of God’s good pleasure'; they regarded this as the real, the essential will of God. That will is always fulfilled; it always effects its object; it is eternal and immutable. The’expressed’ or ‘signified’ will, on the contrary, is God’s precept revealed in the Law and in the Gospel; it is for us the rule of life."

- Herman Bavinck, The Doctrine of God

‎‎“The providence of God is like a Hebrew word – it can only be read backwards!”

- Puritan writer John Flavel

THE WILL OF GOD: AN OPEN SECRET Sermon Notes

2012-01-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

THE WILL OF GOD: AN OPEN SECRET Sermon Notes

James 4:13–17
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE
The 19th ct. philosopher Soren Kierkegaard told a story about a man who was invited to a friend’s house for dinner. On the way there, a tile fell off the roof of a house and killed the man. Obviously, the man accepted the invitation but did not show up – for reasons beyond his control. Kierkegaard wondered how the host would have responded if the man would have accepted the invitation but qualified it with I will come definitely except in case a roof tile falls on my head and kills me on the way there – then I can not come”. This comment sounds like a joke but It is actually quite serious and quite accurate. Life in this world is perilous and little things can permanently alter our plans.

JAMES SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY
-James never condemns their planning but rather their godless self-assurance!
They had a starting time, a location, a goal, a target date – all good
but they forgot the BIG IF. See Proverbs 16:9 and 19:21, then james 1:5

INTRODUCE GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL
-CERTAIN
-EXHAUSTIVE
-PERFECT
-SECRET (EXCEPT IN FORETELLING PROPHECY)

Deuteronomy 29:29
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Secret - (sātar) to hide or conceal (by covering), lit. or fig.:— keep close, (keep) secret.

Isaiah 45:15
15 Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

Revealed - (gālâ) uncover, remove. especially used of the ear by taking away the hair, of the face by taking away a veil to make naked; hence, to disclose, reveal.

Romans 11:33–34
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

Acts 2:22–23
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

-God’s eternal decree included the foreordination of evil

Acts 4:24–28
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

-Herod, Pilate, Roman soldiers, Jewish leaders

THE WILL OF DECREE is what God has ordained. This you TRUST.
Decree – refers to a divine determination, plans, counsels, purposes, the sovereign commands of the LORD of all! (see Frame 314-315). Decretive (the will of God’s good pleasure), similar to antecedent will, the real or essential will of God, secret will, hidden decrees.

Augustine – “The will of God is the necessity of all things.”

Examples:

Genesis 50:20
Joseph says to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Here God’s revealed will to Joseph’s brothers was that they should love him and not steal from him or sell him into slavery or make plans to murder him. But God’s secret will was that in the disobedience of Joseph’s brothers a greater good would be done when Joseph, having been sold into slavery into Egypt, gained authority over the land and was able to save his family. (this from Grudem)

Genesis 45:7
And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.

II. THE WILL OF DESIRE is what God has commanded – what he desires from His creatures.

This you OBEY. Preceptive (states of affairs God sees as desirable), similar to consequent will, expressed or signified will, revealed will, will of command, will of precept

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Both secret (inscrutable purposes and sovereign will) and revealed things (his commands and his word).

III. THE WILL OF DIRECTION walking in the way of wisdom and guidance

This you DO (Walk, don’t wait)

Isaiah 46:9–11
9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

Isaiah 41:21–23
Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. 23 Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified.

Grudem on the Will of God

2011-12-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

Grudem on the Will of God

Theologian Wayne Grudem on the will of God, specifically as it relates to the Lord's prayer. Good food for thought for this Sunday's sermon at RCC:

In the Lord’s prayer the petition, “Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10) is a prayer that people would obey God’s revealed will, his commands, on earth just as they do in heaven (that is, fully and completely). This could not be a prayer that God’s secret will (that is, his decrees for events that he has planned) would in fact be fulfilled, for what God has decreed in his secret will shall certainly come to pass. To ask God to bring about what he has already decreed to happen would simply be to pray, “May what is going to happen happen.” That would be a hollow prayer indeed, for it would not be asking for anything at all.

Furthermore, since we do not know God’s secret will regarding the future, the person praying a prayer for God’s secret will to be done would never know for what he or she was praying. It would be a prayer without understandable content and without effect. Rather, the prayer “Your will be done” must be understood as an appeal for the revealed will of God to be followed on earth.

If the phrase is understood in this way, it provides a pattern for us to pray on the basis of God’s commands in Scripture. In this sense, Jesus provides us with a guide for an exceedingly broad range of prayer requests. We are encouraged by Christ here to pray that people would obey God’s laws, that they would follow his principles for life, that they would obey his commands to repent of sin and trust in Christ as Savior. To pray these things is to pray that God’s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.

SOURCE: Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology : An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 1994), 214.

Christmas Myths EXPOSED [Backpack Radio Audio]

2011-12-26T15:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas Myths EXPOSED [12/25/2011]

Check out this special Christmas episode of Backpack Radio, featuring Pastors Vermon, Bob, and Vocab. Here we tell you the Christmas story you never knew yet was right in front of you the whole time.

Examples: - The inn was not an inn. - Shepherds found Jesus not by following the star but probably by going house to house looking for a newborn baby boy - Wise men came later – when Jesus was around 2 and living in Nazareth - Nowhere does it say there were 3 kings!

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Download here - http://backpack.podbean.com/2011/12/26/christmas-myths-exposed-12252011/

The Incarnation (Spoken Word)

2011-12-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

by Odd Thomas of Humble Beast Records

Odd Thomas - The Incarnation (Spoken Word) from Humble Beast Records on Vimeo.

** Official Website www.HumbleBeast.com **
Relevant social networks
www.Facebook.com/HumbleBeast
www.Facebook.com/OddThomas
www.Twitter.com/HumbleBeast
www.Twitter.com/OddThomasMusic

Spoken word piece that Odd Thomas wrote for a Christmas church service at www.TrinityPortland.com

Download Odd Thomas's entire album for free at the link below

Odd Thomas "Divine Use of Animosity and Ridicule" - https://s3.amazonaws.com/humblebeast/albums/Odd+Thomas+-+The+Divine+Use+of+An...

Let Humble Beast make your next video! Email us at videos@humblebeast.com.

A Harsh yet Beautiful Reality

2011-12-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Check out Rikki Wil's review of Chapter 8 (The Aroma of Christ Among the Nation's) of John Piper's A Holy Ambition | To Preach Where Christ Has Not Been Named at her blog STIKKI THOUGHTS http://stikkithoughts.blogspot.com/2011/12/harsh-yet-beautiful-reality.html#links

Hope Marketplace on 1360 KPXQ!

2011-12-06T13:35:00.000-08:00

Hope Marketplace on 1360 KPXQ!

On December 03, 2011, one of our members, April Hedrick, had the privilege of recording an interview with radio host Robyn Bloomquist on human trafficking and sexual exploitation. April was joined by Hope Marketplace ministry partner, Melissa Sanborn.

Download the interview here at Walk The Talk. Congratulations, April, on getting the word out!

Ancient Quotes on Crucifxion

2011-12-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

Ancient Quotes on Crucifixion

by Vermon Pierre, Lead Pastor

One of the best books I read as part of my study for “The Cross! The Cross!” sermon series in 1 Corinthians was Crucifixion by Martin Hengel. Hengel gives a number of quotes from ancient times that help convey how people viewed the crucifixion and in particular what they thought about the idea of a crucified God (hint: they didn’t think too highly of it!). Here are some of those quotes:

"They say that our madness consists in the fact that we put a crucified man in second place after the unchangeable and eternal God, the Creator of the world.”

- Justin Martyr describing the offense caused by the Christian message.

“To say that their ceremonies centre on a man put to death for his crime and on the fatal wood of the cross is to assign to these abandoned wretches sanctuaries which are appropriate to them and the kind of worship they deserve.”

- from Minucius Felix’s dialogue Octavius

"Let her continue as she pleases, persisting in her vain delusions, and lamenting in song a god who died in delusions, who was condemned by judges whose verdict was just, and executed in the prime of life by the worst of deaths, a death bound with iron."

- an oracle of Apollo recorded by Porphyry, given in answer to a man’s question about what he could do to dissuade his wife from Christian belief.

"To say ‘pleasure’ is gentle on the ears, but to say ‘cross’ is harsh. The harshness of the latter word matches the pain brought on by the cross."

- Varro, a contemporary of Cicero, on the offensive word crux

"Can anyone be found who would prefer wasting away in pain dying limb by limb, or letting out his life drop by drop, rather than expiring once for all? Can any man be found willing to be fastened to the accursed tree, long sickly, already deformed, swelling with ugly weals on shoulders and chest, and drawing the breath of life amid long-drawn-out agony? He would have many excuses for dying even before mounting the cross."

- ancient description of the gradual death of victims of crucifixion

1 Corinthians 4:6-17 STUDY GUIDE

2011-12-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

The Text: 1 Corinthians 4:6–17 (ESV)

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may
learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!
9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,
12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the
refuse of all things.
14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:1–5 STUDY GUIDE

2011-12-02T10:49:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 4:1–5

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The word translated servants (hyperetas) in 1 Corinthians 4:1 stresses subordination and responsibility to a superior (it literally means ‘under rowers’ -galley slaves who rowed on the bottom level of a ship). Why is the fact that Christian leaders are under Christ important?
What does it say about the ways they should lead and the way we should respond to them?

2. Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 13:11 that the mysteries of the kingdom were given to
them. This means they were entrusted with some of ‘God’s secrets.’ There is a similar idea here
in 1 Corinthians 4:1. Although the focus is on Christian leaders, no doubt all Christians are entrusted with the Gospel. How should your life look if you know this? If you believe you have been entrusted with the Gospel message, what kinds of things should you do … and not do? What are some things you should spend time and money on if this is really true?

3. As stewards, ministers especially are entrusted with the mysteries of God (‘mystery’ here
refers to divine truth previously hidden). They are to teach and live them out. This means that
ministry is more than a mere profession, vocation or trade. It is a calling from God for stewardship! What are some incorrect ways we can think of ministry? Inversely, how should we see
those who labor among us as leaders?

4. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says “it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” Biblically, what exactly does it mean to be faithful? What does a life of faithfulness look like? What is the significance that God desires trustworthiness more than any other quality when it comes to his preachers?

5. What are a few Bible passages you can use to help you have a more accurate understanding
about what Christian ministry is and isn’t? Please write them below as well as how they can
help you think more biblically about Christian ministry:

REFLECTION QUOTE

“A popular game played by many Christians is that of evaluating pastors. All kinds of crite-
ria are used to determine who are the most successful, the most influential, the most gifted,
the most effective. Some magazines periodically make surveys and write up extensive reports,
carefully ranking the pastors by church membership, attendance at worship services, sizes of
church staff and Sunday school, academic and honorary degrees, books and articles written,
numbers of messages given at conferences and conventions, and so on. As popular as that practice may be, it is exceedingly offensive to God. … Paul makes it dear that popularity, personality, degrees, and numbers play no role in the Lord’s perspective - and that they should play no role in ours.”

SOURCE: John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996), 95-96.

1 Corinthians 4:6-17 STUDY GUIDE

2011-12-01T13:19:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 4:6-17 STUDY GUIDE

The Text: 1 Corinthians 4:6–17 (ESV)

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. 14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Paul and Apollos both obeyed ‘what was written’; not worldly wisdom or their own ideas. Paul hoped the Corinthians would develop this same humility; the humility of the servant. In general, the Greeks believed humility was a slave’s trait. It was a sign of weakness, not a characteristic of being great (see, Plato Laws 6.774c). How do we counteract worldly notions of greatness in our own hearts? How do we develop the kind of biblical humility that Paul and Apollos possessed?

2. How do verses 6–13 speak to the attitudes and lifestyles of many modern Christians? (Remember, the Corinthian Christians had a high view of themselves, believing that they should live and be treated as kings, that the promises and blessings of heaven belonged to them right now ; we might see it as an early form of “prosperity gospel”).

How should Christians instead expect their lives to be like if they want to truly follow Jesus, according to verses 6-13? Given our tendencies to avoid difficulty at all costs, how can we remain faithful to Jesus even in the face of the difficulties we will likely face?

3. 1 Corinthians 4:7 (and Romans 9:16) greatly influenced the theology of Augustine of Hippo. Read over 1 Corinthians 4:7 again: “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

How does this verse impact your theology? How should this verse affect the way you think and speak?

4. “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat.” Paul is reflecting the teachings of Jesus here (see Matthew 5:10–12 and 1 Peter 2:23). What are ways we can imitate Paul’s practices (even towards those who have hurt us)?

BONUS QUESTION

1 Corinthians 4:12 reflects the biblical emphasis on respect for manual labor. This was devalued by Greek culture, including the Corinthians. Write 2-3 brief sentences about your view of this kind of labor and work in general. (If you desire further study on this, see Acts 18:3; 20:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 9:6 and 2 Corinthians 11:7). Is your ‘theology of labor’ a biblical one? How is a willingness to do manual labor related to humility?

PERSONAL EXERCISE

List the names of people who have had the greatest spiritual impact on you. List a few Christ-like qualities about each. Take some time to pray for them and thank God for them. If you can, contact them and let them know!

REFLECTION QUOTES

Scum and dregs are synonyms and refer to scrapings or of scourings cleaned from a dirty dish or pot and then thrown away. The words were commonly used figuratively of the lowest, most degraded criminals, who often were sacrificed in pagan ceremonies. That is the way the world looked at the apostles. They were religious scum and dregs, and no better than the criminals like whom they were often treated.

It is not hard for believers to get along in the world as long as they keep the gospel to themselves. But if they preach, teach, and live God’s full Word, the world takes great offense. … The world will attempt to scour off and throw away anyone who boldly proclaims the Word.

- John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians

Many of us are well-to-do and comfortable, with little incentive to live in vibrant anticipation of Christ’s return. Our desire for the approval of the world often outstrips our desire for Jesus’ “Well done!” on the last day. The proper place to begin to change this deep betrayal of the gospel is at the cross – in repentance, contrition, and renewed passion not only to make the gospel of the crucified Messiah central in all our preaching and teaching, but [also] in our lives.

- D.A. Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 3:18–23 STUDY GUIDE

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THE TEXT : 1 Corinthians 3:18–23

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours,
23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In 1 Corinthians 3:19, Paul references Job 5:13, which says, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.” How is this relevant to the following areas:

A) Paul’s argument -

B) Our current culture -

C) Your life and attitude -

2. Jeremiah 9:23–24 is another relevant Old Testament passage to this text ….

23 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

If the Corinthians (and by extension, our churches today!) really believed this, what would be different in the way they operate? What does it look like when God’s people live out these verses? What does it look like when we fail to do so?

3. Read the following two statements about unity and division:

“The proper view of ourselves, the godly and true view, is that apart from divine truth we are fools with empty thoughts. Recognizing this truth opens the door to true wisdom and closes the door to division.”

“We are tied together in an eternal oneness with God the Father and Jesus Christ, and thus with each other in them. How can men who are so much one, be divided? It begins with failure to understand the reality of our spiritual unity in the One who is our Possessor. With a common Possessor and possessions, common leaders and teachers, and common dependence on Scripture, there should be no cause for factions and disunity.”
(SOURCE: J. MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, 93.)

There are several good principles here which, if we apply, will lead to true unity in Christ’s Body and will help head off division at the pass. Please draw out 2-3 of these principles on unity and then elaborate/explain them below:

HINT: If you are having trouble with the exercise above, here are a few notes from the study Bible by the same commentator:

*all are yours (v. 22)—In Christ, all good and holy things are for believers’ blessing and for God’s glory. (see Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3).

*Christ’s … God’s (v. 23)—Knowing that believers belong to Christ and therefore to each other is the greatest incentive for unity in the church (6:17; John 9:9–10, 21–23).

4. The five things that follow “Paul or Apollos or Cephas” in v.21 are the basic tyrannies of life, the things that we have least control over and which largely control us. Take some time to consider each of them through the following questions:

In what ways are people controlled by the world? By life? (i.e. our desire for life) By death? By the present? (i.e. the urgency of wanting things “now!”) By the future?

How does being in Christ free us from being controlled by each of these things and instead allows us to have control over them?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Read these comments by Matthew Henry on this passage. In the space after, jot down some of your thoughts on his thoughts. In short, what do you think about what he said here?

“Do not be led away from the truth and simplicity of the gospel by pretenders to science and eloquence, by a show of deep learning, or a flourish of words, by rabbis, orators, or philosophers. Note, We are in great danger of deceiving ourselves when we have too high an opinion of human wisdom and arts; plain and pure Christianity will be likely to be despised by those who can suit their doctrines to the corrupt taste of their hearers, and set them off with fine language, or support them with a show of deep and strong reasoning. But he who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise. He must be sensible of his own ignorance, and lament it; he must distrust his own understanding, and not lean on it. To have a high opinion of our wisdom is but to flatter ourselves, and self-flattery is the very next step to self-deceit. The way to true wisdom is to sink our opinion of our own to a due level, and be willing to be taught of God.”

BONUS QUESTION
Does Christ’s subordination (properly understood) to the Father, which is seen in 3:23 (“you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s”) and later again in 1 Corinthians 15:28, mean He is not deity? If not, why not? Write out a brief outline of how you would interpret these verses in light of God’s triunity and the fact that Christ is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father.

1 Corinthians 3:5–17 STUDY GUIDE

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THE TEXT: 1 Corinthians 3:5–17

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw —
13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each
one has done.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. From the factionalism surrounding certain personalities at this church (3:4-6), we can tell that the Corinthians reflected their secular world in evaluating their leaders in terms of their talents, privileges, or status. What are some of the ways the church in America does this? Are there ways in which you realize you have personally done this (be specific)?

How should we instead evaluate Christian leaders? (Note in particular how Paul describes himself and Apollos)

2. Reports of revival or numerically successful ministries sometimes give the credit to the leaders involved. Yet we see here that Paul gives all the glory to God alone (3:7). How can we cultivate this same attitude in both our congregations and our pastors? What are things we can do to make sure we are always pointing towards God and Jesus (again, be specific)?

3. What should 1 Corinthians 3:11 - 15 inform how a Christian leader builds up the church? What are some “bad materials” upon which to build a church? What are some “good materials” upon which to build a church? How should the foundation of Jesus Christ inform how we do church and how pastor-elders lead the church?

4. How should the fact that as member of a local church you make up “God’s holy temple” affect how you act as a member of the church? For example, how should it influence how you speak to and about other church members? How should it influence how you evaluate and participate in various church ministries? How should it influence your prayer life?

BONUS QUESTION:
How would you argue against a Roman Catholic who claims that 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 refers to purgatory?

1 Corinthians 3:1 – 4 STUDY GUIDE

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1 Corinthians 3:1 – 4 STUDY GUIDE

THE TEXT

1 Corinthians 3:1–4 (ESV)

1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In distinguishing the mature from infants, Paul intimates that it IS NOT what they “know”
that is different between them but rather that the mature use and apply what they know in
regards to the gospel. One could say the difference is between gospel behavior over and against mere gospel knowledge. Think about what you know about the gospel – please write down some of the ways and areas you know your behavior needs to be more in line with your knowledge:
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2. Look over your list again. What is stopping you from living out a lifestyle that looks more
gospel-based? What are some the roadblocks, hurdles, and idols in the way? In short, can you discern the sin behind your sin?
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3. Review both of your lists. Take these things before the Lord in prayer and create some
“action steps” towards real change! Write down some of your plan below and share it with
someone who will help hold you accountable…
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4. Galatians 5:13-26 has been called a “kindred text” to 1 Corinthians 2:10-3:4. Look it over,
draw some comparisons and write down some of the connections (and their importance) below.
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REFLECTION

Reflect and comment on this quote by Gordon Fee in regards to 1 Corinthians 3:3:

“Those who do not have the Spirit are ‘mere humans’; thus they consider the cross folly. At the same time their behavior stems from a merely human, thoroughly self-centered point of view. The Corinthians have the Spirit, but are behaving precisely like people who do not …. What is intolerable is to have received the Spirit … and to continue to live as though one were nothing more [than a ‘mere human’].”

BONUS QUESTION

Within these four verses lay both hope and a warning. What is the “hope” and what is the
“warning”?

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 STUDY GUIDE

2011-11-17T12:59:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 STUDY GUIDE

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean “to know nothing…except Jesus Christ and him crucified”?

Why was Paul resolved to do this in Corinth?

2. Describe Paul’s view of preaching and teaching according to this passage.

3. In what ways has our celebrity culture (i.e. we like to set up people to be celebrities; we then glorify them or tear them down) influenced the church?

Why is a celebrity culture antithetical to a cross-shaped lifestyle?

4. What other things in our culture should we be aware of that would comprise the gospel’s
focus on Christ crucified?

5. How can we effectively relay (or “contextualize”) the gospel within our culture without
jeopardizing the essential message of the gospel? Or, to put it another way, how can you
better connect with the people in your life but do so with a firm commitment to a cross
-shaped life?

6. Do you pray that you might proclaim the gospel in such a way that people’s faith would
come as a result of a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power”?

Take some time now to pray that the Lord would give you (and our church) the kind of words and life that would result in many people believing in Christ because they have seen his power and been changed by his Spirit through your proclamation of Christ.

The Gospel and Trans-racial Adoption

2011-11-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

The Gospel and Trans-racial Adoption

Check out DAN CRUVER giving props to Dennae who gave props to Vermon!

http://www.togetherforadoption.org/?p=12347

Together for Adoption - Chicago Style!

2011-11-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

Pastor Vermon got an email a few days ago asking if he'd speak at the regional Together for Adoption conference in Chicago this weekend! Pray for him as he goes. On a similar note, here is a Backpack Radio broadcast featuring Pastor V in which he discusses the theology of adoption with Vocab and Pastor Bob.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

The Theology of Adoption [10/16/11]

When Christians speak of the benefits of salvation, they speak of adoption. When Christians speak of God's heart for the orphan, they speak of adoption. This heart felt BPR show is on the biblical theology of adoption being the foundation for 'earthly' adoption.

Reddit Andrews sermon about the Christian artist

2011-11-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

Below is a link from the Roots conference. Really good stuff! Enjoy!

If the link doesn't work, try copying it.

http://soundandpound.org/files/Reddit_Andrews_III-The_Citizenship_of_the_Christian_Artist.mp3

Pass it on...

Watch Jeff Durbin on the History Channel!

2011-11-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

Watch Pastor Jeff Durbin of Apologia in Tempe, AZ on the History Channel discussing drugs throughout history and the difference between having faith in drugs and having faith in Christ (around 4 minutes and 15 seconds in).

Even though there is a lot of poppycock in this production, it's cool to hear our friend Jeff break it down on "The Stoned Ages" on The History Channel (Part 4)

Catalyst @Sound and Pound3 [video]

2011-11-07T12:47:00.000-08:00

Catalyst "OUR GOD!"

Sound & Pound 3 - November 2011

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TODAY & TOMORROW!!!

music by iSix:5 - Great Name

Sound & Pound 3 - Urban Ministry Conference

2011-11-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY November 5, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/user/soundandpound3

1 Corinthians 2:6-16_Study Guide

2011-11-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

THE TEXT - 1 Corinthians 2:6–16 (ESV)

6Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers ofthis age, who are doomed to pass away. 7But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which Goddecreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had,they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor earheard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10these thingsGod has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.11For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no onecomprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received not the spirit of theworld, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13Andwe impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritualtruths to those who are spiritual. 14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, forthey are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15Thespiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16“For who has understood themind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Up to this point in 1 Corinthians, Paul had emphasized the “foolishness” of the gospel but in 2:6, he begins talking about the gospel as the wisdom of God. Why the change? List a few reasons you think why Paul made this transition in his argumentation and why it was important for him to do this.

2. Why would “the rulers of this age” think it strange – even foolish - to call someone who was crucified “The Lord of Glory”?

3. Do you think Paul recognizes that the world would see this title in regards to Christ as odd and silly? What is one factor in Paul’s theological equation that makes all the difference in the world in this regard (HINT: Peter expresses this missing ingredient well in Acts 2:31-32)? Another way to put it is, what event would allow Paul to call someone who was crucified the Lord of Glory?

4. The word Spirit appears 6 times in the span of 5 verses here (2:10-14) – what does this tell us about the fundamental theme to this whole passage? How does the Spirit help us according to this passage? Why is this important to realize and appreciate?

REFLECTION
Reflect and comment on this quote from the Pillar Commentary on 1 Corinthians (Ciampa & Rosner, 2010):

“The Spirit does not impart wisdom out of thin air, for the Spirit and the cross go together. The mind of Christ is not exercised by thinking about nothing. Rather, those who are spiritual habitually turn to the cross (2:8), as Paul did in the face of divisions in Corinth in 1:18-2:5. For the cross is where we find Christ’s mind-set on such behavior.”

‘BONUS’ QUESTION
What are the thematic and topical connections between Matthew 16:16-17 and our passage (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)?

1 Corinthians 3:1-4_SERMON NOTES

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TITLE: “Spiritual People”

INTRODUCTION
The War of 1812 is often overlooked but some interesting events took place during this conflict between the United States and Great Britain. For example, the White House was burned and ransacked by British troops – leading to the heroics of the First Lady, Dolly Madison, running into the flames to save as many paintings as she could. This is also when Francis Scott Key composed The Star Spangled Banner and when the coalition put together by the influential Shawnee chief named Tecumseh was defeated by William Henry Harrison. This was also the last military skirmish between these two nations which went on to become the closest of allies.

Postwar fighting
One particularly key battle during this war was called The Battle of New Orleans. It was hailed as a great victory for the U.S., making Andrew Jackson a national hero and eventually propelling him to the presidency. Here’s what happened - British forces under Edward Pakenham assaulted New Orleans on Jan. 8, 1815, and were soundly defeated by Andrew Jackson's ragtag army, an event that contributed to the notion of a U.S. triumph.

The British appeared off Mobile on February 8, confirming Jackson's fear that they planned an attack in that quarter. They overwhelmed Fort Bowyer, a garrison manned by 360 Regulars at the entrance to Mobile Harbor. Before they could attack the city itself, word arrived that a treaty had been signed at Ghent on Christmas Eve, two weeks before the Battle of New Orleans.

The Battle of New Orleans was a smashing American victory, as the British suffered 2,000 casualties: 291 dead (including Pakenham and his second and third in command); 1262 wounded, and 484 captured or missing. The Americans had 71 casualties: 13 dead, 39 wounded, and 19 missing. The commissioners signed a treaty on Dec. 24, 1814 - the Treaty of Ghent. 2 weeks before!

>SEE PICTURE ILLUSTRATIONS HERE… I use these to illustrate that even though the war is over, sanctification is still a process of spiritual mop-up battles

MAIN OUT LINE: THE SIX NAMES PAUL CALLS THE CORINTHIANS …

1. Brothers (v.1a)

2. Spiritual People (v.1b)

3. People of the flesh (v.1c)

4. Infants in Christ (v.1d)

5. Of the Flesh (v.3)

6. Merely human (v.4)

THE TEXT - 1 Corinthians 3:1–4

VERSE 1 (4 names!)

1^ST Name - Brothers (v.1a)

2^ND Name - Spiritual People (v.1b)

Spiritual men (pneumatikos) – the mature who are God-centered as opposed to being self-centered
πνευματικοι [pneumatikoi]. Spiritual persons are those Christians in whom the Spirit has really become the fundamental power of life Galatians 6:1 and they are the opposite of persons directed by the spirit of the world Ephesians 2:2. They show true maturity by the readiness to respond to the implications of the word of the Cross for life together.

Read Romans 8:4–9; 12-17

3^RD Name - People of the flesh (v.1c)

v. 1 (made) of flesh (sarkinoi) - σαρκινοι [sarkinoi]. flesh equals human nature apart from God

4^TH Name - Infants in Christ (v.1d)

Babes (nepiois) - babes (νηπιοι [nēpioi]), not adults (τελειοι [teleioi])

“Instead of mature behavior characterized by humility and concern for others—obedience to God—the Corinthians were infantile, self-centered, and therefore divisive (v. 4; cf. 1:12). They wanted lives of exaltation (4:8) without lives of humiliation (4:9-13) because they did not understand that “Christ … crucified” was a message concerned not only with justification but also with sanctification (cf. Phil. 2:1-8).” ^-The Bible Knowledge Commentary .

milk is ‘missionary preaching’ - not ‘crossless’ preaching 2.2

See 1 Corinthians 13:11 and 1 Corinthians 14:20

VERSE 2 (NO NAMES)

“For Paul the gospel of the crucified one is both “milk” and “solid food”. As milk it is the good news of salvation; as solid food it is understanding that the entire Christian life is predicated on the same reality … thus the Corinthians do not need a change in diet but a change in perspective.”

Read Hebrews 5:11–14; 6:1-2
*Not even infantile Christianity is non-doctrinal!

Flesh = unredeemed human nature. 1 ½ year stay, Apollos came, the first letter – 3 years later.

VERSE 3 (1 NAME)

5^TH Name - Of the Flesh (v.3)

Rom. 7:14 Paul says, “I am fleshen (σαρκινος [sarkinos]) sold under sin,” as if σαρκινος [sarkinos] represented the extreme power of the σαρξ [sarx]. v.3 ruled dominated by the flesh (sarkikoi) - σαρκικοι [sarkikoi] (carnal)

VERSE 4 (1 NAME)

6^TH Name - Merely human (v.4)

Ordinary men, Merely men - *but not psychikoi (natural) ψυχικοι [psuchikoi] (unregenerate).” Are you not living from the old point of view – where the cross is folly and life is self-centered…

“It is not true [that there are unspiritual Christians] in the sense that the Spirit is the crucial factor in whether one is or is not a believer; one cannot be a Christian and be devoid of the Spirit (Romans 8.8, Galatians 3.2-3, Titus 3.5-7). On the other hand, the Corinthians are involved in a lot of unchristian behavior; in that sense they are “unspiritual”, not because they lack the Spirit but because they are thinking and living just like those who do.”

Read James 3:13–18

Read Galatians 5:13–26 NOTE *15 items, 6 w/divisions!

CONCLUSION - “nothing hinders great preaching like the dulness caused by sin on the part of auditors who are impatient with the high demands of the gospel”^-A.T. Robertson, W P N T

Picture Illustrations from Today's Sermon

2011-10-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

These probably will not makes sense and may even look really strange if you were not @RCC today (10/30/11) or have not heard the sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 I (Vocab) preached called Spiritual People.

“The Crucified Lord” - 1 Corinthians 2:6-16_SERMON NOTES

2011-10-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

THEME: Paul’s solution to the divisions at Corinth is to
A) knock down human pride based on human earthly wisdom
B) point them towards the Crucified Lord and its implications

INTRO - 'ALEXAMENOS WORSHIPS HIS GOD'
3^rd ct. graffito (barely visible etching in a wall). Monte Palatino, Rome. Part of a wall from the Imperial School for slave boys on the Palatine Hill (1 of 7 hills of Rome). Salvaged in the 1857. Overlooks the Colosseum (built by Jewish slaves), the Circus Maximus, and the Roman Forums. Alexamenos may have been a Jewish convert to Christianity and may even have been a martyr under Valerian. Antiquarium Museum in Rome.

The Wisdom of God is NOT … BUT

-Doomed to pass away (2:6) -Decreed before the ages (2:7)*

1 Corinthians 2:6 Yet among the mature (teleios) we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

TWO KINDS OF WISDOM - James 3:13–17 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

* THE WISDOM OF GOD WAS FOREORDAINED (2:7) AND PREPARED BY GOD (2:9).

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

For our glory? Resurrection, glorification and the eternal state! How? Jesus is the Lord of Glory and he shares with us.

Read Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

The Wisdom of God is NOT … BUT

-What the rulers this age knew (2:8) -What God makes known (2:10)

1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

“There can scarcely be a statement in Scripture that the cross was no unfortunate historical accident; a mere act of bravery or political martyrdom later turned to good account.” – Thiselton

Read Acts 4:27–28 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

READ Acts 13:26–31 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. ²⁷ For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. ²⁸ And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹ And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.” (Paul in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch)

The Lord of Glory does not mean the Lord who doles or dishes out glory to people nor does it merely mean the glorious Lord but rather it means “the Lord to whom glory belongs” or “the Lord who is characterized by glory”.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Read Isaiah 64:4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.

“Every possible earthly source of wisdom is excluded, making it impossible for mortals, no matter how creative or innovative, to imagine what God has prepared. The eye, ear, and heart are organs of cognition in Semitic imagery. These things did not come from empirical sources (eye has not seen), traditional knowledge passed on in community (ear has not heard), or intuitive insight (heart has not conceived), nor is it accessible to them” (Kaiser, 1981).

1 Corinthians 2:10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Read Matthew 16:15–17 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Read Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“God’s wisdom and knowledge (33) refer particularly to the revelation of his purposes in Christ (Eph. 3:5, 10; Col. 2:3). These purposes, as Paul has shown in chs. 9–11, are being worked out in the context of a historical process involving both Jews and Gentiles. … Confronted with this sovereign and wise God, our response can only be Paul’s: To him be the glory for ever!” - Douglas J. Moo, New Bible Commentary.

The Wisdom of God is NOT … BUT

-What the world offers (2:12a) -What the Spirit of God gives (2:12b)

1 Corinthians 2:11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

“It is not simply that just as individuals have private thoughts not known to others, God has private thoughts too, rather, if human things are known only to human knowers, divine things are known only to God’s Spirit” – (PW Gooch, 1987).

“The point of the analogy does not turn on human spirit within/divine spirit within, but on the possession of an exclusive initiative to reveal one’s thoughts, counsels, stance, attitudes, intentions, or whatever else is ‘within’ in the sense of hidden from the public domain, not in the sense of location” – Thistelton

Gordon Clark: ‘the idea … in 2:11 [is] no one by natural theology can know the thoughts of God’

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

A QUICK NOTE … Athanasius (296-373), in his letter to Serapion, asserted the deity of the Holy Spirit from 1 Cor. 2:10-16, especially this verse because it can be translated/understood as “the Spirit who issues from God” and He –unlike creatures- also knows the thoughts of God. (Basil of Caesarea (330-379) follows him in this.

MAIN CONTRAST … Greek culture missed out on the gulf between the divine and human. Eg …Quotes from Philo plus 3 Roman Stoics: Epictetus (55-135), Seneca (1-65), Marcus Aurelius (121-180)

The Wisdom of God is NOT … BUT

-What is taught by human wisdom (2:13a) -What is taught by the Spirit (2:13b)

1 Corinthians 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (pneumatikos)

Gordon Clark says: “this passage shows clearly that spiritual matters can be explained in words”

Every Christian is a spiritual person, as they are led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This means spiritual people live and walk according to the Holy Spirit.

The Wisdom of God is NOT … BUT

-What natural humans can accept/understand (2:14) -What the Spirit enables one to discern/judge (2:14)

1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Read Romans 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

EXAMPLES: Paul a babbler in Acts 17:8. Gallio thought the Jewish/Paul dispute was silly talk in Acts 18:15. Festus thought Paul was insane in Acts 26:24.

Origen (185-254), in his commentary, says the reason why the natural person does not receive the things of the Spirit is that “unless the Spirit opens the words of the prophets, the things which are [otherwise] locked up cannot be opened”.

John Chrysostom’s (347-407) Analogy: the natural person who does not receive the things of the Spirit of God IS LIKE someone with perfect vision who is trying to see into the dark – to such a one the Spirit of God must bring light to enable them to see – otherwise they are incapable, no matter how good their “eyesight”.

1 Corinthians 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

‘There are depths and dimensions to life in the Spirit which the person who lives on an entirely human level simply cannot fathom. Aspects of Christian existence remain an enigma’ (Thiselton) … the natural man cannot adequately judge what makes the Christian what they are.

The unspiritual person INVALIDLY misjudges the cross as foolishness; believers as fools

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

READ Isaiah 40:13–14 Who has measured [or, who has directed] the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? ¹⁴ Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?

No human knows the mind of God apart from revelation. No one can serve as God’s advisor. No one gives anything to God. Everything that humans have is a gift from God.

See Philippians 2:5! The mind of Christ refers to Christ’s obedience! See also 2 Cor. 5:15.

To have the mind of Christ means to put to death selfish ambition, be humble and give of yourself!
God’s wisdom (2.7) and the mind of Christ refer to the cross applied to everyday life!

Final question: what does the wisdom of the age think about Jesus? A CRUCIFIED (false) Messiah. Crucifixion equals punishment for wrong doing. Failed Messiah, a Messianic pretender. Calling him The Lord of Glory is FOOLISHNESS to the wisdom of this age. But the resurrection!

LIVE BLOGGING from the Together for Adoption Conference 2011 - Day 2

2011-10-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

LIVE BLOGGING from the Together for Adoption Conference 2011 - Day 2

Dennae Pierre was one of the live bloggers throughout this past weekend's Together for Adoption conference. Here are the links to her great notes on this important topics by some wonderful speakers!

Tim Chester and Relaxing in Trinitarian Love

Vermon Pierre on the Gospel and Cross-Ethnicity Adoption

Jeff Vanderstelt, the Gospel, Missional Living, and Adoption

Brilliant Words on the Church as the Theater of Adoption from Bryan Loritts

Donna Theonnes on REST for the Weary Mom....

Dan Cruver on God's Eternal Love

These are stellar talks - you will not be disappointed and you will definitely want to hear more!

LIVE BLOGGING from the Together for Adoption Conference 2011

2011-10-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

UPDATE from the Together for Adoption Conference

Dennae has been keeping us up to date on her blog about the TFA Conference taking place RIGHT NOW!

Here are some of the links - read them and then find a way to get there for tomorrow!

Pre-Conference for Adoptive Mamas

The Church and Social Justice--Darrin Patrick

Gospel-Centered Parenting

Tullian on the Gospel and the Law

Together for Adoption Conference BEGINS TOMORROW!

2011-10-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

Together for Adoption Conference BEGINS TOMORROW!
by Dennae Pierre

I am so excited for the T4A conference this week. I feel really honored to be able to be a part of this great ministry and I look forward to meeting families from all over the country who are passionate about orphan care and passionate about the gospel.

I will be one of the conferences "live bloggers" throughout the conference. So if you are unable to attend, I will be writing up a summary of the different sessions along with many of my own that I am sure will be inspired by our time in worship, prayer, and the word.

I am really looking forward to hearing from Donna Thoennes,Tim Chester, Darrin Patrick, Dan Cruver, Tullian Tchividjian, Bryan Loritts, and Jeff Vanderstalt.

If you are in Phoenix and have Friday/Saturday open still...register (special rate for Arizona residents)! It's not to late and it will be such an encouraging time to ALL believers, not just those who've adopted (promise...no guilt trip will be laid on you if you haven't adopted children...this conference is first and foremost about our adoption by God!)

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 _Study Guide

2011-10-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

The Text: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

²⁶For consider yourcalling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many werepowerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose what isfoolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what isweak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸God chose what islow and despised in the world, even things that arenot, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹so that no humanbeing might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰And because ofhim you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctificationand redemption, ³¹so that, as it is written, "Let the onewho boasts, boast in the Lord.

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

Write a brief definition of the following words:

Wise -
Powerful -
Noble -
Foolish -
Weak -
Low –

Paul says the Corinthians did not possess the first three attributes in the previous list but they did possess the others. Why do you think Paul is making this comparison and what is its relevance for your local Christian community?

Verse 29 tells us God has removed any grounds we may have thought we had for boasting in our own self-sufficiency. Why has he done it this way? Is this true in your own life? If so, how? If not, why not and what should you do?
Verse 30 tells us Christ is our:
- wisdom from God
- righteousness
- sanctification
- redemption

This is deeply significant! Reflect on the truthof this. Speak with the others in your group about what the practicalimplications are for these facts. Discuss together about how our lives wouldlook if we lived as if we believed these things with our whole heart. Try notto do this in an overly negative and critical way but rather in a positive andchallenging way; focus on the potential beauty of a life lived this way!

4. After talking about the previous question openly, you are highly encouragedto thank God for this reality – celebrate these things and praise Him togetherfor the incredible benefits of being in Christ.

BONUSQUESTIONS

1. What can thechurch do practically to ensure that preaching stays cross-centered and thatany new techniques do not affect the actual substance of the message?

2. What can youpersonally do to make sure that your culture’s standards for importance(wisdom, power, money, etc.) do not make inroads into your own heart?

REFLECTION QUOTES

"Any attempt to make the gospel palatable by bringing it into line with the tastes of those to whom it is preached distorts it, because in this case the criterion is made the expectations of fallen humanity." - Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, 1 Corinthians (Glazier, 1979).

"The cross thus stands as the final negation of all human attempts to attain God. Its truth cannot be achieved through the best of human intellect and strength but must be received as a gift in the humble submission of faith and trust." - John Polhill, The Wisdom of God and Factionalism

1 Corinthians 1.18-25_Study Guide

2011-10-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 1.18-25_Study Guide

THETEXT

1 Corinthians 1:18–25(ESV)
¹⁸For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, butto us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it iswritten, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of thediscerning I will thwart.” ²⁰Where is the one who is wise? Where isthe scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish thewisdom of the world? ²¹For since, in the wisdom of God, the worlddid not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what wepreach to save those who believe. ²²For Jews demand signs and Greeksseek wisdom, ²³but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block toJews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those who are called, both Jewsand Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For thefoolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger thanmen.

OVERALL THEME
The message of the cross, which seems pointlessand irrelevant to fallen humanity’s proud and rebellious mind, actuallyexhibits God’s greatest power, love and wisdom.

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONS
The message of the Cross cuts to the heart ofself-centeredness (1 Corinthians 1:18). In what way does it do this? What does thislook like in your own life; how does the message of the cross cut to the heartof your own natural tendency towards self-centeredness?

In what way is the gospel the power of God? In whatway is the gospel the wisdom of God? What does this show us about God and whatshould our reaction be?

One commentator said this in regards to 1:21 “Godwisely established that men could not come to know Him by human wisdom. Thatwould exalt man, so God designed to save helpless sinners through the preachingof a message that was so simple the ‘worldly wise’ deemed it nonsense.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?Why?

“Godwas well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached” IsPaul saying it is the presentation or the content that is foolishness theworld? If content, then what are the practical implications for you inwitnessing situations and evangelistic relationships?

List some areas in your own life who are moreimpressed with the world’s “wisdom” than with God’s true wisdom, that is, thefoolishness of the cross. How can you play a more active role this week in trustingin God’s wisdom as opposed to worldly wisdom in all these areas?

Why did Paul say human wisdom is inadequate to meetthe needs of the world. In what ways is it inadequate - what is it unable to do?

Why did the Jews reject the gospel (fora few hints, see Matthew 12:38-44; 16:1, Luke 11:16 and Romans 9:31-33)? Why didthe Greeks reject the gospel (for a hint, see Acts 17:18-32; 26:24)?

In your current context, what are someof the reasons specific our culture rejects the gospel?

Why has God chosen to use weak peoplewith no social or intellectual standing to spread the gospel? What is the‘advantage’ to this?

1 Corinthians 10:17_Study Guide

2011-10-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 10:17_Study Guide

Most of us whohave attended church for a number of years have been in or know of a congregation wherethere was a split or at least serious quarreling. The problem has existed inthe church from NewTestament times. The Corinthian believers fell short of the Lord’s standards in many ways, andthe first thing for which Paul called them to task was quarreling.

Quarreling is areality in the church because selfishness and other sins are realities in the church. Becauseof quarreling the Father is dishonored, the Son is disgraced, His people are demoralized anddiscredited, and the world is turned off and confirmed in unbelief.

In His highpriestly prayer the Lord prayed repeatedly that His church would be one (John 17:11, 21–23). Immediatelyafter Pentecost the newly empowered believers were in perfect harmony with eachother sharing,rejoicing, worshiping, and witnessing together. Their unity bore great fruitin their ministry to each other, in their witness to the world, and in theirpleasing andglorifying God.

The first need ofthe Corinthian church was for that sort of harmony. And so Paul made a plea for doctrinalagreement, for repenting of their tendency to form factions around high profile personalities,and for remembering the great priority of the church: preaching the gospel. - John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians :Godly Solutions for Church Problems, pg 23-24

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In thissection of verses, Paul calls the Corinthians ‘brothers’ twice. The ReformerTheodore Beza made thiscomment :

“In that word[brothers] too there lies hidden argument.” What do you think Bezameant by this; what is the hidden argument in the word ‘brothers’?

2. Paul asksthree rhetorical questions in verse 13 which we could paraphrase this way:

. Christ is notdivided, so how can his people be?

. No churchleader was crucified for sin, so why would any Christian exalt mere humanauthorities?

. Christianbaptism is into the name (which implies power/authority) of Jesus, so why would a Christianact as if their allegiance is to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, etc.?

Explain what hemeans by these questions in your own words. Do you think these questions are effective? Inwhat way are they good arguments for Christian unity?

3. Onecommentator says that I Corinthians teaches us that cooperation, mutualconcern, peacefulcoexistence, and edification in love are all antidotes for divisiveness. Howcan we employ this intruly Christ centered ways? Inother words, how do we do these things in such a way that thegospel is the driving force for us to ‘get along’?

4. The real keyPaul gives here to promote unity and avoid factionalism is to focus on Christ instead ofexalting human leaders or agendas. List 2 - 3 practical waysyour local church can achieve thiswithin its community.

5. What can youpersonally do to help bring more gospel unity to our church? Are there people you need to makea better effort towards being unified with in the Lord? What steps will you

take to helpforge great unity with these people?

1 Corinthians 1:4-9_Study Guide

2011-10-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

“Paul puts himselfin the position of a father; he gives thanks for his children, the Corinthians,all the time, regardless of what they have done. They are called to be one withall believers in Christ (Origen).Paul begins with praise in order to prepare the Corinthians (Chrysostom) for the admonition that isto come (Theodoret of Cyr). Someof the Corinthians were no longer living according to their faith, so as toappear to make void the grace they had once received (Ambrosiaster, Pelagius). On the day of the Lord (Jerome), unbelievers will know the truthof what they disbelieved. Christians will find that what they believed iswonderful beyond what they had imagined (Ambrosiaster).^”

^-Bray, G. L. (1999). 1-2 Corinthians. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture NT.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and reflect on the sermonfrom Sunday September 18^th “Rich Because of Jesus.”Then work through the following questions.

⁴I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ⁶even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— ⁷so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. Beforediscussing the problems in Corinth Paul gives thanks for the evidences of God’sgrace within the Corinthian church. Why is having a spirit of thankfulness importantfor how we interact with people (especially difficult people) in the church?

2. How muchwould our church be transformed if each of us made it a practice to regularly thankGod for others and then to tell these others what it is about them that wethank God for? Set for yourself the task of faithfully praying for and thankingGod for several people you know. After you have been at it a few weeks tell thesepeople what you have been doing – and then keep on praying for them.

3. What arethe things that Paul is thankful for in the Corinthian church? What are thethings you are thankful for in our church? Using this passage as a springboardpoint out some ways that God has graciously enriched our church and thank himfor these things next time you pray.

4. How andwhy is Jesus the greatest gift of God’s grace to his church? In what ways doesJesus bring God’s grace into our lives now? In what ways will Jesus bring God’sgrace into our lives in the future? Does your life show evidence of the factthat you believe Jesus is the greatest gift of God’s grace in your life? Why orwhy not?

5. How isGod’s faithfulness and grace tied in to our remaining strong in our faith? Howshould this encourage you in how you approach and live out your daily Christianlife (especially in times of doubt or difficulty)?

1 Corinthians 1:1-3_Study Guide

2011-09-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 1:1-3_Study Guide

1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (ESV)

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In a good Study Bible or solid commentary, read the introductory section on Corinth. How does the gospel message strike against the values and practices of Corinth?

2. What would you identify as the dominant cultural values of our day? How have those values infected and affected the church today? How does the gospel help us confront these values and realign us with gospel values?

3. What makes the cross of Jesus Christ so objectionable? What should it look like for you to ―deny yourself‖ and take up the values of the cross instead of the values of our culture? For example, what would cross-centered values affect how you approach your work? your marriage? how you handle money? how you use technology (i.e. texting, Facebook, email, using the internet)? your view of sex? how you treat ―lower class‖ people? how you interact with other Christians in your church? how you interact with non Christians in your neighborhood?

Sermon Highlights from "Rich Because of Jesus"

2011-09-24T23:16:00.001-07:00

In what way are the lives of those in Christ rich?

Here is a brief audio snapshot from last Sunday's sermon, "Rich Because of Jesus."

Missionary: Who I am, Not What I Do

2011-09-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

“Mission is not just one more task of God’s people, but it is our very identity: we are sent with the good news to embody in our lives, demonstrate with our deeds, and announce with our words God’s end time salvation. This defines the meaning of our entire lives.”

–Michael Goheen

Participating in God’s mission is not an option, it is our reality. The fact is, if you are a follower of Christ, then God has adopted you and you are his son or daughter. You may be a son or daughter who is representing your father well or you may be representing him poorly, but either way you remain his child.

My children love giving credit to what they do to the fact that they are “Pierre children.” They find all sorts of creative things to attribute to being a Pierre. Throughout the week I hear my children say things like, “Pierres read” or “The Pierre family serves others” or “Pierres belong to Jesus” or “Pierres work hard.” I am not sure how this line of thinking developed in our children, but I smile every time they say it.

They are right, all of those things (among many others) are things we want to define our family. But of course, each of us often fail. I like to remind my children that remaining a “Pierre” is not dependent on living like a “Pierre.” When they fail to do one of the above things mentioned, their status does not change in our family. Our 20 month old doesn’t have to wait to be a “Pierre” until he can start serving us. When I am being lazy, I’m still a Pierre.

Of course, this is a great lead in to the fact that we are actually a part of an even better, more amazing family then the Pierre family. We are a part of God’s family and there are many, many things that we can say God’s family does. God’s family talks about Jesus. God’s family cares for the orphan. God’s family loves his Word. God’s family doesn’t gossip. God’s family is full of the fruit of the Spirit. And I could go on and on. I tell my children that once they have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, that there is nothing they can do stop being a part of God’s family.

Now the question each day is if we will bring glory to God’s name or if we will bring shame. Will we live like we are a part of God’s family or like we belong to a different family? Will we show the world that God’s family is what God’s word says it is to be or will we hide God’s family from the world? Whatever we chose each day, we remain in God’s family. And what is so precious about being God’s child is that on our most shameful day of living we will be just as much a son as the day we act most like Jesus. What a gracious God we serve!

I say all of that to say that being a Christian does not leave us with an option to join God’s mission or not. What if we lived each day fully convinced that we were to be the embodiment of the good news of Jesus Christ? What would our churches look like if we made decisions based on the fact that our life does not belong to us, but that it has been bought with a price and belongs to God and his purposes? Being a part of God’s mission is a part of our identity. It is who we are and it is to “define the meaning of our entire [life].” We cannot take a few days, weeks, or years “off” from being a part of God’s family anymore then I can take time “off” from being a mother, wife, daughter, or sister.

Thoughts from the Sermon, “Rich Because of Jesus” 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

2011-09-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

Thoughts from the Sermon, “Rich Because of Jesus” 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

by Vermon Pierre, Lead Pastor

1. Given all the problems within the Corinthian church it is striking that Paul begins this letter by giving thanks for them. Even with all their problems Paul sees evidences of God’s grace amongst these Christians and he wants to begin this letter by pointing them out.

2. Christians are a people who are richly blessed. But it is not because of anything we have done or could do. It’s not of any of the things that are commonly seen as signs of being successful or “rich” in our society. Christians are richly blessed entirely because of how God has graciously invested himself into our lives through Jesus. Thus, the Christian life is one that is ALL God, but especially it is on that is ALL Jesus.

3. What are some examples of God’s grace towards us in Jesus?

a. We have a deeper knowledge of and ability to communicate the truth about life (1 Cor 1:5-6). The result of this is that we have no present lack in any of God’s gifts (1 Cor 1:7, cf 2 Peter 1:3).

We too often settle for the dollar store quality gifts that our world gives us instead of enjoying the eternal, “never perish, spoil, or fade” gifts of God such as love, joy, peace, patience, holiness, righteousness.

b. We have all the support we need to stay strong in our faith (1 Cor 1:7-8). The result of this is that we will have no guilt in the future when we stand before God and must give an account of our lives.

So many people are imprisoned by their guilt and shame. In Jesus however we are released from our guilt and shame and ensured that when God renders his verdict about our lives he will say, “Not guilty! You are righteous. You are a holy. You are my child!”

4. Ultimately the real gift of God’s grace to us is Jesus himself. Every blessing and gift of God comes to us in Jesus. Jesus is the reason we have all of God and the riches of his grace in our lives. He is the reason the Christian life is “rich” and will remain rich all the way until eternity. God confirms us in Christ now and will confirm us in Christ in the end.

The word used to describe our union with Jesus is “fellowship” (1 Cor 1:9). The idea here is that Christians together have a common participation with Jesus. We share together in the full breadth and depth of Jesus. We participate together in his righteous life, his atoning death, and his redemptive resurrection. We participate together in his power and his love and his grace. We participate together in his Sonship and in his Spirit. We participate together in all of Jesus.

5. “Are your lives so bound up together that you draw from him forgiveness and strength and hope and guidance and joy while he draws from you faith and love and prayer and obedience?” John Piper

A Note From Pastor V about This Year's Men's Retreat

2011-09-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hey RCC family,

I'd like to encourage all of our men to register this week for our multi-church men's retreat on Oct 7-9. The speaker, Patrick Smith, is a good friend of mine but even more importantly a solid Christ-centered scholar and preacher. He is legitimately one of those "rising stars" in the evangelical world that you will be blessed to meet and learn from, I guarantee it!

The men's retreat is also a unique opportunity for men to fellowship with one another. Every men's retreat I've been on I've come away thankful for having had the opportunity to connect with guys in ways that Sunday mornings don't always provide. And it's always cool to worship God together with a bunch of guys from churches all across the valley.

If you haven't already please hand in your registration to me or Kayla. Or better yet go register online at http://cbcaz.org/men. Don't let cost get in the way of you going. For $100 you get food, lodging, a solid speaker, and multiple workshops led by experienced pastors and teachers. And we have some funds reserved to subsidize up to half the cost of this for a few guys, but that will be given on a first come first served basis so talk to me or email soon if you haven't already.

I'm thankful for Roosevelt and all the guys there. Hope to see and connect with many of you at the retreat this October.

In Christ,

Pastor Vermon

vpierre@rooseveltchurch.org
Roosevelt Community Church

924 N. 1st Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

Deadline for Men's Retreat 3 DAYS AWAY!!!

2011-09-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

Men's Retreat :: OPERATION RECLAMATION

CALLING ALL MEN! Don't miss your chance at a great opportunity to get away from everyday stress and connect with God and other Christian brothers. If you didn't get a brochure and registration form in the foyer of RCC then check out Camelback Bible Church's registration and information page. This is one of those experiences you don't want to miss.

Retreat: October 7th - 9th
Deadline: September 23rd
Online Registration: http://cbcaz.org/men

If you need financial assistance please email or see Pastor Vermon. vpierre@rooseveltchurch.org

Sermon Highlights from "Know Who You Are"

2011-09-16T11:38:00.001-07:00

What is distinct about the identity of a Christian?

Here is a brief audio snapshot from last Sunday's sermon, "Know Who You Are."

Pics from Last Night

2011-09-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some flicks from last night's event, courtesy of our friends over at Apologia Church...

Thank you again to all the hard working volunteers who helped make this happen!

PS - there is also a rough version of the audio at Apologia's Sermon.net page right here. Please note this is for those who are just dying to hear it as we will have the real audio and video up later this month!

BACKPACK RADIO presents: WHAT DOES (AND DOESN'T) THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?

2011-09-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Special guest speaker Dr. Michael Brown, nationally syndicated radio host of the Line of Fire program and author of A Queer Thing Happened to America will be discussing homosexuality with in the Bible. There is no charge but there will be a collection to support ICN ministries. The Backpack Radio hosts are hoping that you will become equipped to compassionately deal with this important cultural challenge as well as gain a greater love for God and His Word.

Date: September 14, 2011
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: 924 N 1st St , Phoenix, AZ 85004

Loving Your Friend Through Infertility

2011-09-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

Loving Your Friend Through Infertility
by Dennae Pierre

Let's just be real, Roosevelt has a RIDICULOUS amount of babies and baby showers. If you are a couple struggling with infertility Roosevelt should be an extremely hard church to be a part of. I say "should be" because I hope that we can be a church who can love and serve each other through our darkest moments and deepest pains. Infertility is a terrible thing to walk through and it can feel overwhelming and lonely. But we are called to be a community that carries each other's burdens, especially when they are suffering deeply.

We are also a church that believes in adoption and while adoption is an AMAZING way to grow your family (in my unbiased opinion) it still doesn't cure the pain and heartache that comes with infertility. It would be terrible if couples struggling with infertility were fearful to speak about their suffering because they were worried they'd be expected to "cure" it through adoption. Adoption should be seriously and prayerfully considered by all families in our church, not just ones who struggle to get pregnant...so keep that in mind if you are going to encourage someone else to do it. :)

I write all of that simply to encourage you to read the series of posts written by a gospel-centered woman struggling with infertility: Loving Your Friend Through Infertility It will help us grow in our understanding of how to lovingly encourage our brothers and sisters to look to Jesus when their world is being turn upside down. If you don't know someone who is currently struggling with this issue, I'm sure it will happen at some point.

Links to Posts on Pagan Criticism of the Ancient Church

2011-09-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

Here are all the links to the series I (Vocab) did on pagan critics of the early church. It is a follow up to our last Roosevelt Institute class on the same subject as well as a good intro to our new series on 1 Corinthians 1-4 (The Cross! The Cross!). Enjoy!

Introduction to Posts on Pagan Criticism of Ancient Christianity

A Brief Survey of Pagan Criticism of the Ancient Church from the Book of Acts

2 Quick Critics of the Early Church: Thallus and Mara bar Serapion

The Roman Mob's View of the Early Christians

3 More Old School Critics: Pliny, Tacitus, and Suetonius

Epictetus the Moralist and Galen the Physician - Critics of Early Christianity

The Slander of the Pagan Critic Cornelius Fronto

Marcus Aurelius on Dying Christians

Lucian: Producer of the First Christian Satire

Introducing THE Ancient Pagan Critic: The One and Only CELSUS!

Porphyry: The Pagan Critic Who Knew Too Much

Julian the Apostate: The Last (Pagan) Man Standing

BONUS POST:

Richard Dawkins Wrong on Early Church History?

Sermon Highlights from Remember the Mission Sunday

2011-09-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

What does it mean for a Christian community to be "on mission?"

Here is a brief audio snapshot from last Sunday's sermon, "Remember the Mission Sunday."

Notes from 'Critics of the Early Church' [Roosevelt Institute Class]

2011-09-04T16:22:00.000-07:00

ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE CLASS
“CRITICS OF THE EARLY CHURCH”

09/03/2011

Summary of some of the main pagan criticism of the early church:

1. The doctrine of the resurrection is absurd

Example: Acts 17, 1 Corinthians 15

2. There are contradictions in the Scriptures

Example: Porphyry, Thallus

3. Atheism is widely held

Example: The Martyrdom of Polycarp (8.2; 9.2; 10, 1), a trial under Domitian

4. Christianity is the worship of a criminal

Example: Early art mocking Christian worship, 1 Corinthians 1:21–25

5. Christianity is a novelty

Example: Suetonius (Nero 16.2)

6. Christianity evidences a lack of patriotism

Example: Pliny the Younger (Epistles 10.96.3-4), Tacitus (Annals 15.44)

7. Christians practice incest

Example: Cornelius Fronto

8. Christians practice cannibalism

Example: Athenagoras, Justin Martyr

9. Christianity leads to the destruction of a society

Example: Decius, Diocletian and Julian

10. Christians are ignorant and arrogant

Example: Celsus, Lucian of Samosata

*This list is adapted from the helpful “The Arguments of the Apologists” in Robert C. Walton’s Chronological and Background Charts of Church History, revised and expanded edition (Grand Rapids, MI: 2005), Chart 15.

THE KING’S COVENANTAL HEALTH CARE - Psalm 103_Sermon audio+notes

2011-08-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

Link: http://www.rooseveltchurch.org/sermons/sermon/the-kings-covenantal-health-care

Date: Sunday, August 28, 2011
Speaker: Vocab Malone
Series: Worship the Lord: A Series in the Psalms
Download

Book 4 celebrates the kingship of God (only 2 of David Psalm 101 and 103)

103.1-5 personal praise for the king’s care

¹Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless - When the Lord ‘blesses’ us, he reviews our needs and responds to them; when we ‘bless’ the Lord, we review his excellencies and respond to them.

Psalm 34:1–3 ¹I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

²My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

³Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

v.1 tells us we can choose to be thankful! “think and then you will thank”

all that is w/in me – Deut 6:5

²Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (or sufficiencies)

Calvin (4.125-126): assumes our capacity to argue with ourselves and the need and obligation to stir ourselves up to worship.
example – friend's testimony – how many times god saved him from death!

in .PP. by Bunyan “Forgetful Green” was dangerous road between City of Destruction and Mt. Zion

If you’re not thankful as you go through life, you’re like a blind man stumbling through an art gallery – except worse

³who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

Forgives – 8, 11-14 Heals – rapa (107.20, 147.3, ex 15.26)

For the connection between sin and sickness see the sermon I preached on Ps 6.

⁴who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

Redeems/saves – from the pit. Ps 103:4a – see JB Phillips pawn shop ring analogy

Pit is synonymous for sheol or death (16.1). Jerome translates it as ‘corruption’. Shachath or destruction

Crowns you – a bridegroom prepared for his wedding (Song of Solomon 3.11) or a king on ascension day

⁵who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Eagle Isa. 40.29-31 – effortless soaring strength and swiftness. Criticss tried to make it like the phoenix. 2 Sam. 1.23. Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Eg, Inward renewal by learning how to be a better disciple even yet.

103.6-18 communal praise for the king’s care

⁶The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

'ways' – goodness grace compassion as seen in Yahweh’s acts towards Israel (ex 33.13, 19)

⁸The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Ps 103:8 is exodus 34:6, 33:13

⁹He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.

¹⁰He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

Why? Ultimately, because our sin was placed on Jesus – they have been dealt with!

2 Corinthians 5:21 ²¹For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Philippians 3:9 ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

103:11-13 – 4 analogies

¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

The benefits are for those who fear him 11, 13, 17 (cf. 18)

Fear of the Lord = “those who keep his covenant, and remember to do his commandments” Ps 25.10

Those who fear him – 11, 13, 17

¹²as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

103.11-12 – a vertical measure. Like a helium balloon with a kid. Beyond the clouds, beyond the highest star. Cf Mic 7.19. Horizontal – east is always east and so is west. A vertical and horizontal line into infinity – gone! Psalm. God’s love and compassion – 4, 8, 11, 13

¹³As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.Father in v 13 – father implies election, adoption, trust and yet also training

¹⁴For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

V 14 - Genesis 2:7 and 3:19, see sermon on Psalm 90

¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;

¹⁶for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

¹⁷But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, ... Ps 103.17-18 cf Exodus 20:6

¹⁸to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

Covenant Ex 34.10, 27-28. Covenant name appears 11 times!

Why should the wonders he hath wrought / Be lost in silence and forgot? (Isaac Watts)

¹⁹The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

103.19 – vision of the heavenly throne. Isa 6 Rev 4-5 (v 13)

103:20-22 universal praise for the king’s care

Response in attitude- those who fear him 11, 13, 17

God remembers – 14

Response in actions – creatures obey 18-22

²⁰Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! ²¹Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!

All his hosts in v 21 – angels (Psalm 148:2 - ²Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!)

²²Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

SPURGEON on OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S PITY

2011-08-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Our sermon tomorrow is from Psalm 103. Below are some words by Charles Spurgeon on Psalm 103:13: "Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him.”

WHAT a blow this is for our pride! Then God’s children are pitiable objects, notwithstanding that He has crowned them with glory and honor, has given them perfection in Christ Jesus, has breathed into them the breath of spiritual life, has set their feet upon a rock and established their goings—yet they are and they always will be, so long as they are here below—pitiable objects! It is like tolling the death-knell of all our pride to talk about God pitying us!

Why, my Brothers and Sisters, we shed our pity profusely upon the ungodly—we are often pitying the wicked, the profane, the blasphemer and Sabbath-breaker—but here we find God pitying us! Even David, the mighty Psalmist, is pitied! A Prophet a priest, a king—each of these shall have pity from God, for, “He pities them that fear Him,” and finds good reasons for pitying them, however high their station, however holy their character, or however happy their position!

We are pitiable beings! Oh, boast not, Believer! Be not loud in praise of yourself! Put your finger on your lips and be silent when you hear that God pities you! The next time carnal security would creep in, or fleshly conceit would get the upper hand of you, remember that while you are boasting, God is pitying—and while you are triumphing,

He is looking down upon you with pitying eyes of compassion, for He finds reason for compassion when you can only see cause for glorying!

Amen!

Gregory Nazianzus: Human Life is Brief

2011-08-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

This Sunday we will be looking at Psalm 103, which includes the following verses:

¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass;
   he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
   and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
   and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
   and remember to do his commandments.

A well known figure in church history is Gregory Nazianzus. His brother Caesarius died around A.D. 369 and for the funeral Gregory said this as part of his speech there:

Such, my brethren, is our existence, who live this transient life, such our pastime upon earth: we come into existence out of non-existence, and after existing are dissolved. We are unsubstantial dreams, impalpable visions, like the flight of a passing bird, like a ship leaving no track upon the sea, a speck of dust, a vapour, an early dew, a flower that quickly blooms, and quickly fades. As for man his days are as grass, as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. Well hath inspired David discoursed of our frailty, and again in these words, "Let me know the shortness of my days;" and he defines the days of man as "of a span long."

Gregory takes his cues from David here. What a sobering reminder of our mortality.
Come this Sunday at 10am to hear more about this!

SOURCE: Gregory Nazianzus: Panegyric On His Brother S. Caesarius.Oration 7.19.

Understanding Obedience vs. Legalism

2011-08-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Roosevelt Community Church
Understanding obedience vs. legalism.

Go to the link for Dennae Pierre's post at Together for Adoption by clicking here

"Ephesians 1: Easy to Forget"

2011-08-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Easy to Forget by Dennae Pierre

Check out Dennae Pierre's article on why remembering Ephesians 1 matters for every detail of our life. The article is hosted at Together for Adoption's website right here

Did the Church Cease to Exist? [Backpack Radio video]

2011-08-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

According to some Mormon missionaries we recently met, the answer is YES. Check out this brief clip and relevant discussion about this with Pastors Vermon, Bob, and Vocab on Backpack Radio.

The Church Ceased to Exist? from Backpack Radio on Vimeo.

Hear the full audio here.

Psalm 91: Safe and Secure [sermon audio]

2011-08-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

Safe and Secure [sermon audio]

Date: Sunday, August 14, 2011
Speaker: Vermon Pierre
Series: Worship the Lord: A Series in the Psalms
Scripture: Psalms 91
LINK HERE
DOWNLOAD HERE

WorshipGod11 Conference Review

2011-08-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Kirsten Snyder blogs about the recent WorshipGod11 Conference she and several folks from Roosevelt went on recently read her review of the trip here.

Sound and Pound Stories - Episode 1

2011-08-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sound and Pound Stories - Episode 1
August 2011Barabbas Da Rebel - Man Kind

soundandpound.org

Sound and Pound Stories is TONIGHT!

2011-08-05T01:25:00.000-07:00

CREATED ARTIST'S CREATING STORIES AND THE MEANING BEHIND THEM.

Time	Friday, August 5 · 7:30pm - 10:30pm

Location	Roosevelt Community Church 924 N 1st st

This is a PRE-EVENT for the next 3 First Fridays leading up to Sound and Pound 3 on NOV 3rd which will be featuring J'SON from Lampmode records.

Come down to Roosevelt Community church August 5th in the Art Gallery. Listen to local artist's performing anything from spoken word to hip hop to live acoustic sets. In between sets we will be talking with the artists and get their accounts of what was going on or going through their minds while coming up with their art. This will be an inside look into the artists hearts and the grace that God has shown them through their lives.

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR AUGUST 5th SHOW

iSIX:5!

They will be performing a 2o-25 minute set with a short interview afterward, we are gonna get a sneak peak into what they have been working on as a group and ask about some of the solo projects that have been working on individually! Make sure and tell your friends!

Amber Hunter

Acoustic artist Amber comes to us from St. Georges Anglican Church here in Downtown Phoenix! Come listen to her play her heart out and share her songs with us!

Lucinda Haney

Lucinda will be doing some contemporary Christian music! We have know Lucinda for over 4 years now she has an incredible voice and a heart to serve God! She is coming all the way from Kingdom in the valley church in Litchfield AZ, Come check her out and lets get into it with her. See you then!

Facebook Event Page

Philemon: From Slave to Brother

2011-07-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

"Philemon: From Slave to Brother"

A good blog post by Kirsten Snyder:

Phriends and Phamily

(click above for link)

Thoughts from the Sermon, “Death Beats Money (Every Single Time)” Psalm 49

2011-07-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

Thoughts from the Sermon, “Death Beats Money (Every Single Time)” Psalm 49

by Vermon Pierre, Lead Pastor

1. Life is uncertain and difficult, full of occasions where you might be manipulated or taken advantage of in some way. Given this reality many look to wealth as the way to ensure that they will be safe and secure. Indeed, having “an abundance of…riches” (Ps 49:5) is for many the key to life.

2. Psalm 49 however tells us that wealth is not the key to life because wealth can’t even guarantee the perpetuity of even your own life much less anyone else’s life. It doesn’t matter how much money or power or fame you have, no one can ensure that their life will go on forever. Eventually we face death and death beats money every single time. This is true for every single person on earth, no matter who they are.

3. It is utter folly then to put your confidence in wealth. Or, for that matter, any of the things that our world identifies as being most significant and important for establishing yourself in this life. Death ultimately swallows up all our best efforts to build up our name and our bank accounts. Death is a powerful guardian to the next life; the glory and power and wealth of this world cannot get by death no matter your best attempts.

4. The only people who won’t be swallowed up by death are the upright, or the righteous. Rather than be conquered by death they will rule even in the midst of death (Psalm 49:14). How do we become part of the righteous? Our only hope is to look to the only one who can beat death – the Lord God. Only he can ransom a soul from the power of death (Psalm 49:15). Indeed God secured souls from the power of death definitively through his one and only Son Jesus. Jesus lived the one perfect righteous life and made the one perfect righteous sacrifice that was good enough to secure eternal life for any who would trust no longer in their own power and wealth but solely in Jesus. Through Jesus we are made righteous so that rather than lose our lives to the power of death we gain them forever. By faith we must believe that Jesus died for us and then was raised for us so that he might give eternal life to us.

5. Believers must reject the false reality of this world. We should not live in fear and anxiety about what we have or don’t have. Those are the false standards of this world, and living by them will only give us false security and false confidence. We will be no better than the common animal (Ps 49:20). Instead we must understand rightly. We must embrace the deeper true reality that is eternal life gained by faith in Jesus Christ. This means that rather than be ruled by fear or anxiety over money we are content whether or not we have money. This means that rather than be obsessed with being successful we live in joy whether or not we have success in this life. This means having boundless confidence and hope, because we understand fully that we have the eternal inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade.

New Roosevelt Community Church Website!

2011-07-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

New Website!

Visit our new website @ http://rooseveltchurch.org
We are the same theologically-driven, missionally-minded and urban-focused church, just with a refreshed digital front door!

2 New LDS-related Backpack Radio episodes

2011-07-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

2 New LDS-related Backpack Radio episodes

3 Mormon Missionaries, 2 Christian Pastors, and 1 LDS Bishop Walk Into a Radio Studio...[07/10/11]

Backpack pastors Bob and Vocab discuss a slew of comments from Mormon Missionaries with our guest McKay V. Jones, an LDS apologist. His bio can be found here: http://www.fairlds.org/conf11b.html

Run Time: 42:47

An LDS Apologist Critiques Backpack Radio [07/17/2011]

LDS apologist and FAIR contributor Mckay V. Jones reviews and critiques all of Backpack Radio's previous LDS-related broadcasts as Backpack hosts Pastor Bob and Vocab Malone respond to his comments and a conversation ensues.

How to Listen to a Sermon [Backpack Radio]

2011-07-18T14:52:00.001-07:00

How to Listen to a Sermon [07/03/2011]:

The Backpack pastors discuss an issue internal to the church - how to listen to a sermon. Reference: Listen Up - A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons by Christopher Ash.

Run Time: 42:55
Listen Now:

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Download here

Roosevelt Annual Camp Trip

2011-07-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATES for this annual Camp Trip. This time it's summer camping up north with fishing, lake, etc. at Woods Canyon Lake. Hope you will make it!

Friday, July 22 at 3:00pm - July 24 at 2:00pm

It is reserved for 70-100 people tent camping- you can bring pop up trailers but it is NON-ELECTRIC. Call Kirsten Snyder for any questions - 602-505-0860 or e-mail realtysnyder@msn.com The Facebook event page is here

It is head count time- we need to know by the 17th for food, crafts, etc. Talk to your home groups and sign up :) $30/person, $60/family, donations accepted. Includes site/meals.

Over age 14 needs a fishing license, for this lake they will need to get a "super conservation fishing license". As for kids below 14 no license needed. Just a pole and some power bait or worms. The parents can be with them they just cannot reel the fish in. Its cheaper to pay for the license that to pay the fee for fishing without one. As for fee's we refer you to here

If you are wanting to get husband and wife and kids over family license it is cheaper under the family license section.

Break Free @ Roosevelt Community Church

2011-07-12T12:48:00.001-07:00

Have a look at some video from the recent breakdancing event at Roosevelt, Break Free.

Break Free @ Roosevelt Community Church from Roosevelt Church on Vimeo.

Notes for Last Sunday's Sermon

2011-07-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

“SIN INDUCED SICKNESS” – PSALM 6
posted by Pastor Vocab

The early church used this psalm and six others (Pss 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143) as the “Penitential Psalms,” which were traditionally sung on Ash Wednesday.

I. SIN INDUCED SICKNESS PSALM 6:1-5
1O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.
2Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
3My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD—how long?
4Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?
(Remembrance is recounting God’s great deeds in an act of worship)

CALVIN: The meaning therefore is this: I indeed confess, O Lord, that I deserve to be destroyed and brought to nought; but as I would be unable to endure the severity of thy wrath, deal not with me according to my deserts, but rather pardon my sins, by which I have provoked thine anger against me.

How do you receive correction?

Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,
Jeremiah 10:24 Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIN AND SICKNESS…

James 5:13–16
13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

SICKNESS NOT ALWAYS SIN INDUCED …

John 9:1–3 1As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
2And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be
displayed in him.

BUT THEN AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT IS…
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”

1 Corinthians 11:27–34
27Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
28Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
30That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
31But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
33So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—
34if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

ONE DAY ALL SIN INDUCED SICKNESS WILL BE NO MORE!
Matt 8:17 “This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

Revelation 22:3 “there will no longer be any curse” (cf. 7:17, 21:4)

SHEOL? THE Psalmist suffers from being unable to share in the praise of Yahweh which characterize Israel’s worship

Proverbs 15:11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man!

Psalm 139:8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If he no longer ‘remembers’ the dead (88:5), it is not that he forgets as men forget, but that he brings to an end his saving interventions (88:12; for with God to remember is to act: cf. e.g. Gen. 8:1; 30:22)

Sheol can be pictured in a number of ways: chiefly as a vast sepulchral cavern (cf. Ezek. 32:18–32) or stronghold (Pss 9:13; 107:18; Matt. 16:18); but also as a dark wasteland (Job 10:22) or as a beast of prey (e.g. Isa. 5:14; Jon. 2:2; Hab. 2:5). This is not definitive language, but poetic and evocative; and it is matched by various phrases that highlight the tragedy of death as that which silences a man’s worship (as here; cf 30:9; 88:10f.; 115:17; Isa. 38:18f.), shatters his plans (146:4), cuts him off from God and man (88:5; Eccl. 2:16) and makes an end of him (39:13). These are cries from the heart, that life is all too short, and death implacable and decisive (39:12f.; 49:7ff.; cf. John 9:4; Heb. 9:27); they are not denials of God’s sovereignty beyond the grave, for in fact Sheol lies open before him (Prov. 15:11) and he is ‘there’ (Ps. 139:8). If he no longer ‘remembers’ the dead (88:5), it is not that he forgets as men forget, but that he brings to an end his saving interventions (88:12; for with God to remember is to act: cf. e.g. Gen. 8:1; 30:22).

-Kidner, D. (1973). Vol. 15: Psalms 1-72: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (77–79). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

II. SIN INDUCED SADNESS PSALM 6:6-7
6I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
7My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

Matthew 26:74-75
74Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.
75And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10
9As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

James 4:8-10
8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

III. GRACE BASED CONFIDENCE PSALM 6:8-10)
8Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.
10All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Verse 9
The Lord has heard my plea (tehinati)
The Lord accepts my prayer (tefilati)
In verse 11, the enemies now receive David’s lot

Matthew 7:21–23
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Luke 13:22–30
22He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them,
24“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
25When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’
26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’
27But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
28In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
29And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.
30And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

John 12:27–33
27“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
29The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.
31Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

Mortality: the essence of the human condition?

2011-07-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Great Quote Relating to this Sunday's Upcoming Sermon on Psalm 6

Mortality is of the essence of the human condition. In a life filled with uncertainty and an unknown future, there remains always one certainty, that one day we shall die. But whereas the healthy person knows this, yet learns to live with an awareness of mortality, the sick person may find that equanimity dissolves and the awareness of death becomes more vivid. Health is normal and it may result in praise, but sickness is a reminder and an anticipation of death. Life itself is no longer so good, for it is marred with pain, and the experience of imperfection in living evokes awareness of that ultimate enemy, death. In sickness, the body does not function properly; in death it ceases to function altogether. Thus it is that the psalms conceived on the sickbed are marked by a profound pathos, for though they contain the words of the living, they are haunted by the shadow of dying.

The sense of anguish and trouble which permeates this psalmist’s words was experienced by Jesus, and indeed influenced his words (v 4; cf. John 12:27); we perceive the pathos of the psalm most clearly when it is read in the context of the Passion.

SOURCE: P.C. Craigie, (2004). Vol. 19: Word biblical commentary (2nd ed.). Word Biblical Commentary (89–96). Nashville, Tenn.: Nelson.

The Power to Fight Temptation: You Can't Say You Can't SERMON NOTES

2011-06-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

The Power to Fight Temptation: You Can't Say You Can't
SERMON NOTES
by Pastor Vocab

SERMON TEXT: 1 Corinthians 10:6–13.
The context of 1 Cor 10:13 falls into three paragraphs.

ONE: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
is an apostolic directive to the Corinthians to run as those who are determined to win the prize. In 1 Cor. 9:26-27 Paul applies some of his imagery to himself, thereby giving an indirect warning to his Corinthian readers that they themselves may risk failing to win the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:27 - But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. He implies that if an apostle needs to exercise self-control, they do too.

TWO: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
Paul illustrates his warning with the case of the Israelites who, like the Corinthians, had great spiritual privileges (1 Cor. 10:1-4) but who presumed on those privileges, fell into four sins – idolatry, sexual immorality, trying God, and complaining. They were in effect disqualified from the prize (1 Cor. 10:5-10). Paul concludes the paragraph with a stern warning: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

THREE: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Paul addresses those Corinthians who are in danger of suffering the judgment incurred by the Israelites due to their insistence on engaging in idolatry in the form of attending the cultic meals in pagan temples (1 Cor. 8:7-13; 10:19-22). He argues that their practice is utterly inconsistent with the Christian faith (1 Cor. 10:20-22) and completely unacceptable to God. To avoid the judgment of God and so escape the fate of the Israelites they must "flee idolatry" (1 Cor. 10:14).

Now that we have some of the needed background info in place, what are the reasons we can’t say we can’t?

THE 3 REASONS WHY YOU CAN’T SAY YOU CAN’T

1. Your temptation is not new
Paul declares that no test is unique. Anthröpinos "common to man" (Epictetus, Discourses 1 9 28-30, "the lot of man "). But such encouragement also removes any possibility of excusing one’s self on the grounds that “my case is an exception to the rule.” I Corinthians 10:13 allows for no such exceptions.

Temptations are never unique experiences to us. We can never have a temptation that has not been experienced by millions of other people. Circumstances differ but basic temptations do not. Jesus was “tempted in all things as we are” (Heb 4:15). Because of that “He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Heb 2:18).

Because temptations are common to us all we are able to ‘confess our sins to one another’ (Js 5:16) and to ‘bear one another’s burdens’ (Gal. 6:2)

Cross to bear? Luke 9:23. Means daily denying sinful practice/desire, not carrying ‘your’ burden.

We have examples of others falling into similar temptations right in Scripture itself.

Instruction (nouthesia), more than ordinary teaching. Admonition, carries the connotation of warning. Counsel given to persuade a person to change behavior in light of judgment.

“FULFILLMENT OF THE AGES”? - We should reap the fruits of the experience of those ages.

Verse 8 Paul describes a case of sin and consequence. Here Paul uses porneuo (“We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did”). The Corinthians had a temple among them dedicated to Venus (to lust) w/more than a thousand priestesses belonging to it, all prostitutes. Lust in v6 = epithymia strong desire or longing (“that we might not desire evil as they did”.)

Romans 13:14 “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
Romans 6:12 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.”
Galatians 5:24 – “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Now we’re talking a bit about the fact that temptation is universal and transcultural. Sexual immorality and lust are especially common. But to know a bit more about the nature of temptation, let us quickly turn to James 1:2-4; 12–15.

We don’t have time to exegete this passage fully but I think it is pretty clear on its own. Especially take note of verses 14-15 … now look at verses 16-17 as well:

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

We see that not only does God not induce us to do evil, but He gives us good things. This has to do with who God is and the actions he takes, all which proceed
perfectly from his character. These wonderful trues relate directly to our next point, namely, that God is faithful.

2. God is faithful

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

This helps us realize our victory is because of his faithfulness, not ours. This is why 1 Cor 10.12 warns us as it does. Similarly, Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9).

Remember … “Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). Philippians 3:3 – “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” Our trust is not in our will power but in the faithfulness of God. It is Christ who provides. Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” The only reason we can have victory over temptation is because Jesus had/has victory over sin at the cross.

“Everything God asks us to do is possible because of what Christ has already accomplished.” - Erwin Lutzer, Living With Your Passions

We can because God says we can. To deny this is to call God unfaithful, a liar! Christians can’t say can’t because God says we can. Here’s another reason why we can’t say we can’t …

3. You can endure

God is faithful and He tells us He will not allow us to face things we can’t handle. The Greek word for temptation here –peirasmos- can mean either trial or temptation. e.g., Wilderness designed to bring out their true character as in Deut 8.2

Any trial of faith functions as a temptation to sin—since there is always the temptation to fail the test—and any temptation to sin functions as a trial of faith. Look at this verse … Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Jesus, when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, first asked, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me,” before He said, “yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39).

Way of escape = ekbasis. Means a way out of a rugged country. Suggests an army that is surrounded and needs a safety route, as in a mountain pass. Escape-hatch is defined as a way to persevere w/out sinning in the midst of temptation/trial.

2 Peter 2:9 - then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,

God provides a particular ekbasis for a particular peirasmos. God always gives us a means to conquer temptation and endure trials. Indeed, his grace is sufficient for you.

God is not throwing temptation our way, as James 1:13 tells us, Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one."

Life is full of tests that have the potential of becoming temptations. These are the kind of tests that make up life. And when they begin to entreat us to respond with evil they become temptations. Job had to face all those tests at the same time.

God provides at least three ways for us to endure temptation: prayer, Scripture, and focusing on Jesus Christ.

*PRAYER:
Matthew 6:13 - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Jesus told His disciples (Mark 14:38). “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Lk. 22:40). “Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation,” Later He found them sleeping and rebuked them for their prayerlessness. He told them, “Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).

If we do not pray, a test will turn into temptation. Our first defense in a test or a trial is to pray, to turn to our heavenly Father and put the matter in His hands.

When we pray we must pray believing that the Lord will answer and help us. We also trust that, whatever the origin of the trial, God has allowed it to come for our good, to prove our faithfulness. God has a purpose for everything that comes to His children, and when we are tested or tempted we should gladly endure it in His power—for the sake of His glory and of our spiritual growth.

He will not give us more than we can bear (examples: Job, Peter).

*SCRIPTURE:
“Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee” (Ps. 119:11). Psalm 37:30–31 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
Matthew 4:1 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

TRANSITION VERSE:
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
2 Corinthians 4:14
knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

This brings us to another way – really the key one – that the Lord gives us to endure temptation

*FOCUS ON JESUS:
How can we “run with endurance the race that is set before us”? (Heb. 12:1).
By “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2–3).

Christ endured more than we could ever be called on to endure. He understands our trials and He is able to take us through them. We can have victory, just as Christ did. Christ faced: hunger, sleeplessness, misunderstanding, hatred, discouragement, pain.

Hebrews 2:18 - For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

The foremost duty of every Christian is to have his soul satisfied in his God – George Mueller

This is the principle of replacing the inferior with the superior. Expelling sinful passions for Christ!

The Power to Fight Temptation - Sermon Preview

2011-06-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

"The Power to Fight Temptation (You Can't Say You Can't)"
Sermon Preview by Pastor John-Mark (Vocab)

Tomorrow I am preaching the final sermon in our series on temptation. Below is the text as well as a few helpful words from John Calvin's commentary on the passage:

TOMORROW'S SERMON TEXT: 1 Corinthians 10:6–13

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Calvin on Temptation:
[Paul] "exhorts them, however, to look to the Lord, because a temptation, however slight it may be, will straightway overcome us, and all will be over with us, if we rely upon our own strength. He speaks of the Lord, as faithful … The Lord is the sure guardian of his people, under whose protection you are safe, for he never leaves his people destitute."

"Accordingly, when he has received you under his protection, you have no cause to fear, provided you depend entirely upon him." …

"Now God helps us in two ways, that we may not be overcome by the temptation; for he supplies us with strength, and he sets limits to the temptation. … For he knows the measure of our power, which he has himself conferred. According to that, he regulates our temptations." (Calvin defines as ‘everything that allures us.’)

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow as we discuss the power to fight temptation!

An Audio Appetizer

2011-06-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

An Audio Appetizer
Posted by Pastor Vocab (John-Mark)

This Sunday I will be preaching on "The Power to Fight Temptation" from 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. If you want to get a taste of what the message will be like, here is a link to audio from when I preached a similar sermon at Way of Grace in Buckeye, AZ on 06/12/11.

Can't Say Can't (I Corinthians 10:6-13)

Download it here

O Magnify the Lord (Rap Lyrics)

2011-06-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

O Magnify the Lord (Rap Lyrics)

These are the two rap verses I (Vocab) will be doing as part of "O Magnify the Lord" this coming Sunday:

VERSE 1
If ya’ in the room, zoom in focus
On Jesus the Christ the freshest dopest
Controls the globe from snow to locust
Made it all, holds supernovas
In His hand, His plan is grand
The Great I Am, He is the God-Man
The captain of salvation
The Event – Advent - He’ll do it again
Smashing on sin, making enemies friends
He slayed the grave like *blow* Mack-10
Conquered death, the resurrection
He’s Everlasting, no never not been

VERSE 2
The Rock don’t stop The Rock that don’t roll
Blessed be He He rocks the soul
Rose of Sharon on the third day rose
The Lion of Judah won’t lie - no, no
So go the with palm leave raised and wave
He is worthy so praise, He saves
His people from sin, make ‘em born again
The Lord who was scorned by vile men
With violence, stayed silent
It was Atonement like a Shai Linne
LP CD or MP3
so praise the Lord for the empty tree!

Run Hard Run Well

Life Poem 2012 lyrics

Images and Social Reform

iSix 5 GCU Video Footage

Arizona Wait No More Promo Video

iSix5 @Grand Canyon TONIGHT!

Jason Walsh and the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform

iSix5 radio interview

RCC MLK 2012 Promo Video

RCC in MLK Day Article

Download John Piper's Bloodlines for Free!

Interview w/Alden, Vocab and Jordan

Helpful Quotes on the Will of God

THE WILL OF GOD: AN OPEN SECRET Sermon Notes

Grudem on the Will of God

Christmas Myths EXPOSED [Backpack Radio Audio]

The Incarnation (Spoken Word)

A Harsh yet Beautiful Reality

Hope Marketplace on 1360 KPXQ!

Ancient Quotes on Crucifxion

1 Corinthians 4:6-17 STUDY GUIDE

1 Corinthians 4:1–5 STUDY GUIDE

1 Corinthians 4:6-17 STUDY GUIDE

1 Corinthians 3:18–23 STUDY GUIDE

1 Corinthians 3:5–17 STUDY GUIDE

1 Corinthians 3:1 – 4 STUDY GUIDE

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 STUDY GUIDE

The Gospel and Trans-racial Adoption

Together for Adoption - Chicago Style!

Reddit Andrews sermon about the Christian artist

Watch Jeff Durbin on the History Channel!

Catalyst @Sound and Pound3 [video]

Sound & Pound 3 - November 2011

Sound & Pound 3 - Urban Ministry Conference

1 Corinthians 2:6-16_Study Guide

1 Corinthians 3:1-4_SERMON NOTES

Picture Illustrations from Today's Sermon

“The Crucified Lord” - 1 Corinthians 2:6-16_SERMON NOTES

LIVE BLOGGING from the Together for Adoption Conference 2011 - Day 2

LIVE BLOGGING from the Together for Adoption Conference 2011

Together for Adoption Conference BEGINS TOMORROW!

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 _Study Guide

1 Corinthians 1.18-25_Study Guide

1 Corinthians 10:17_Study Guide

1 Corinthians 1:4-9_Study Guide

1 Corinthians 1:1-3_Study Guide

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Deadline for Men's Retreat 3 DAYS AWAY!!!

Sermon Highlights from "Know Who You Are"

Pics from Last Night

BACKPACK RADIO presents: WHAT DOES (AND DOESN'T) THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?

Loving Your Friend Through Infertility

Links to Posts on Pagan Criticism of the Ancient Church

Here are all the links to the series I (Vocab) did on pagan critics of the early church. It is a follow up to our last Roosevelt Institute class on the same subject as well as a good intro to our new series on 1 Corinthians 1-4 (The Cross! The Cross!). Enjoy!

BONUS POST:

Sermon Highlights from Remember the Mission Sunday

Notes from 'Critics of the Early Church' [Roosevelt Institute Class]

THE KING’S COVENANTAL HEALTH CARE - Psalm 103_Sermon audio+notes

SPURGEON on OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S PITY

Gregory Nazianzus: Human Life is Brief

Understanding Obedience vs. Legalism

Roosevelt Community ChurchUnderstanding obedience vs. legalism.

"Ephesians 1: Easy to Forget"

Easy to Forget by Dennae Pierre

Check out Dennae Pierre's article on why remembering Ephesians 1 matters for every detail of our life. The article is hosted at Together for Adoption's website right here

Did the Church Cease to Exist? [Backpack Radio video]

Psalm 91: Safe and Secure [sermon audio]

WorshipGod11 Conference Review

Sound and Pound Stories - Episode 1

Sound and Pound Stories is TONIGHT!

Acoustic artist Amber comes to us from St. Georges Anglican Church here in Downtown Phoenix! Come listen to her play her heart out and share her songs with us!

Philemon: From Slave to Brother

"Philemon: From Slave to Brother"

A good blog post by Kirsten Snyder:

(click above for link)

Thoughts from the Sermon, “Death Beats Money (Every Single Time)” Psalm 49

New Roosevelt Community Church Website!

Roosevelt Community Church
Understanding obedience vs. legalism.