August 18, 2024Series: Hot TopicsSermon: Jesus and the Transgender MovementScripture: John 1:14 & Ephesians 4:14-16'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 'John 1:14'Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 'Ephesians 4:14-16INTRODUCTION: You don't have to feel the weight to decide your gender when God has already designed it for you. God's Design:'So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 'Genesis 1:27'Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 'Genesis 2:22-23Gender is not a social construct that can be changed but a biological fact designed by God. What makes a biological male or female?ReproductionExternal AnatomyPresence or absence of a Y chromosomeGod's design for our BODY is GOOD.God saw all that he made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31'For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 'Psalms 139:13-14Sex:Male or female, Typically with reference to chromosomes, internal reproductive anatomy, and external genitals. -Mark YarhouseUndersrtanding Gender DysphoriaGender Identity:A persons self-perception of whether they are male or female, masculine or feminine.-Andrew WalkerWhat Does The Bible Say About Gender Identity...Gender Dysphoria:the sense of mismatch between physical sex (body) and phychological gender identity (mind).-Nancy PearceyLOVE THY BODYTRANSGENDER:An umbrella term for many experiences of gender identity that do not align normatively with a persons biological sex.-MARK YARHOUSE AND JULIA SANDUSKYEMERGING GENDER IDENTITIESWhat is PERSONHOOD? The World's View of Personhood:Person (mind)... Has moral and Legal StandingBody (doesn't matter)... An Expendable and Biological OrganismThe Word's View of PersonhoodCreated in the image of God...Body and soul are connected.Genesis 1:26-27If I feel like my mind and body are out of alignment, what should I do? World: Listen to your mind and change your body.Word: Embrace your body and change your mind. 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 'Romans 12:1-2CONCLUSION: 'Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.” For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant— to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever. 'Isaiah 56:3-5'But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 'Isaiah 53:5 ★ Support this podcast ★

Dec 16, 202433 min

Ep 34Hot Topics: In the Image of God: Race and Racism - Jed Hill

August 11, 2024Series: Hot TopicsSermon: In the Image of God: Race and RacismScripture: Genesis 2:7 & Acts 17:24-27Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. '-Genesis 2:7'“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ '-Acts 17:24-28INTRODUCTION: Before we RACE to any conclusions about RACE we must look at what God says about the subject. What is race?Secular Definition: Race is a worldview and social classification that divides humans into groups based on their appearance and assumed ancestry, and that has been used to establish social hierarchies. Biblical Starting Point: Race is not plural but singular. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. '-Genesis 2:7What is racism?Secular Definition: Racism is “systematic discrimination by a powerful individual or institution against individuals based on their perceived membership in a socially defined racial group.” Biblical Understanding of Racism: The more biblical term for racism would be HATE!! Hate is a strong dislike or ill will toward persons or things. As an emotional expression, a person may oppose, detest, or despise contact with a thing or a person. What is God's solution?God Formed...(Gen. 2:7)God Breathed... (Gen. 2:7)God Gave... (John 3:16)Oneness in Christ Jesus...(Gal. 3:26-29)You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:26-29) CONCLUSION: In Christ we are ONE brand new creation. Jesus is the solution. ★ Support this podcast ★

Dec 16, 202426 min

Ep 33Hot Topics: Can a Christian Drink Alcohol? - Jed Hill

August 4, 2024Series: Hot TopicsSermon: Can a Christian Drink Alcohol?Scripture: Proverbs 23:33-35'Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”'INTRODUCTION: Should a Christian Drink Alcohol? Dangers...Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;whoever is led astray by them is not wise.- Proverbs 20:1'Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. '-Proverbs 21:17'Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. '-Proverbs 23:19-21'Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. '-Proverbs 23:29-32“Wine has robbed my people of their understanding. '-Hosea 4:11Boundaries...A boundary is a limit and the purpose of setting a healthy boundary is, of course, to protect and take good care of others and yourself. 'Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.'-1 Corinthians 6:19-20"Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” -Luke 21:34-36The Christian Witness... 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” '-Acts 1:8'Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, '-Ephesians 5:15-18CONCLUSION: Our Christian witness is formed by the word of God and our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. ★ Support this podcast ★

Dec 16, 202434 min