Christ Church (Moscow, ID)

<p>Who are you? From one vantage, the gospel is a great re-memory project. To be lost and dead in our sins is to have forgotten who we are and what we are for, and this makes us afraid. But the gospel of the cross of Jesus is God’s perfect mirror showing us our sin, showing us our Savior, showing us who we really are in Him so that we will not be afraid.</p>

<p>What do you need to succeed in a military conquest? Bigger guns, more men, better equipment, shrewder strategy, more courage than the enemy––all seem reasonable. What did Israel need to successfully conquer Canaan, a land of giants? Faithfulness to God. For Israel, it wasn’t about the size of their army or tactics or chariots but about faithfulness to their covenant God and obedience to his commands. God promises to fight for his people when they are faithful to Him. This is why in a series of sermons, Moses preaches faithfulness for the next generation––because Canaan is a land full of giants.</p>

<p>"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).</p>

<p>Proverbs 22:24-25, “Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.”<br><br>Proverbs 14:29, “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.”</p>

<p>Ready or not, a new season and a new school year is upon us. It’s good for us to review Christ Church’s mission which is “All of Christ, for all of Life, for all of Moscow.” Our mission of course is nothing short of the Great Commission that Christ gave to his Church––the evangelization and discipleship of the nations. That mission is our mission. And here we are in Moscow, Idaho attempting a small part of that Great Commission. In our sermon passage in Matthew 9 and 10, Jesus sends out his disciples on a pre-Great Commission. The way Jesus instructs and prepares his disciples exemplifies how his disciples will advance the Great Commission and how we advance Christ’s mission in Moscow. Jesus has 1) compassion on the crowd 2) calls and equips the disciples 3) commissions them to proclaim the gospel.</p>

<p>"Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.<br>Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.<br>But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.<br>I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.<br>I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.<br>I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.<br>Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.<br>Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah." Psalm 3</p>

<p>"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.<br><br>But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.<br><br>But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:1-13).</p>

<p>1. Deut. 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”<br><br>- The foundation: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.<br>- The greatest commandment: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength<br>- Can you legislate love?<br>- Heart, Soul, and Strength?<br><br>2. Leviticus 19:17-18, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.<br><br>- The second: Love your neighbour<br><br>3. The greatest commandments – not in conflict<br><br>- Mark 12:35-44 – How not to obey the greatest commandments</p>

<p>In the second half of chapter 2, Peter warns the church about false teachers. Teachers are not only those who stand in front of a class or behind a pulpit. Teachers are those who influence, who lead, who discipline, who catechize your responses. Teachers are those who you follow. And so, who is your teacher?</p>

<p>In a world gone mad, Christians can become unwitting assistants to the insanity, and therefore, it is incredibly important for Christians to keep the building blocks of civilization straight in their own heads. How are cities built? They are built on the principle of personal responsibility.</p>

<p>What pops into your mind when you think about “conversations” over doctrine? Chances are, “love” isn’t what comes immediately to mind. Shepherds love sheep by fighting wolves. Kings love citizens by fighting invaders. Husbands love their families by fighting the seduction of the workplace & the adulteress. Fences make the obligations of love clear.</p>

<p>Today we are remembering the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. We will be considering the convergence of all things in the Father, coming to Him through the Son, and enabled to do this by the Spirit. But though this must be our central focus, coming to the Father, we do not want to let this true scriptural emphasis become a superstition for us. Stephen addressed Jesus when he was dying—“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). And if we invoke the presence of the Spirit now, we do so only because we want Him to fulfill His vocation, which is that of glorifying the one who brings sinners to His Father.</p>

<p>God as chosen and call His people for a purpose – that they may be like the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And what’s more is that God desires for us to know that we have been called and chosen for godliness. So Peter says, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure.” But how are we to make our calling and election sure? Peter tells us in verses 5-7.</p>

<p>Today we are commemorating the Lord’s Ascension into Heaven, the time when He received universal dominion, absolute and unfettered, from the hand of His Father. But we must never forget that His Ascension is built on the bedrock of His Descent. We are told that He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. One of those gifts is the privilege of imitating Him in this pattern—true glorification is always set on the granite foundation of sacrificial suffering.</p>

<p>Today is celebrated as Ascension Sunday throughout the Christian Church, marking the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father as Lord and King of all. In an important sense, this celebration marks the day on which all that Jesus did in this world was fulfilled. He was born as Lord, lived as Lord, died as Lord, rose as Lord, but the ascension marks His enthronement as Lord. In this sense, we can speak of Jesus arriving where His entire life was aiming toward. Or using the language of our sermon text, in the ascension, Jesus found His life.</p>

<p>Peter is preparing is readers for a battle with false teachers, sexual invasion, persecution, corruption in the church. Peter will get to these battles in chapter 2 and 3. But we first my be armed with the knowledge of God, and what he has done for his people. Right knowledge leads to right living. The church needs courage to face these challenges. A corrupt people, both of mind and life, will not be a courageous people.</p>

<p>1. Peter’s Confidence<br><br>“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:19<br><br>2. Sense of Urgency<br><br>“...knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me." 2 Peter 1:14<br><br>3. What is coming shortly?<br><br>New Heaven and New Earth<br><br>“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;<br>And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.<br>But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;<br>For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing,<br>And her people a joy." Isaiah 65:25<br><br>End of the Age<br><br>"But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14<br><br>The Day of the Lord<br><br>"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10<br><br>4. What is Peter’s exhortation based on this urgency?<br><br>“'For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,' says the Lord, 'as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says the Lord.'" Isaiah 66:18-21</p>

<p>As Peter has done throughout the letter, he calls Christians to look to Christ, to be like Christ, to act like Christ. In this final chapter, he does this again, and we are to be like Jesus the Shepherd––humble and glorious. To imitate the Shepherd, Peter gives two primary exhortations. The elders are to shepherd the flock of God (vs. 1-4), and the flock of God is to resist the devil who is a roaring lion (vs. 8-9). How are church leaders to shepherd the flock and how is the flock to resist this lion? The answer lies in the middle verses, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (vs. 6). As the church follows our Chief Shepherd, we follow him both into his humility and into his glory.</p>

<p>"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed" (1 Timothy 4:1-6).<br><br>Teaching of Demons: The Lie<br><br>The Good Teaching of Jesus Christ: The Truth<br><br>The Good Confession: The Goal</p>

<p>The apostle Paul wanted to sing in the Spirit, but wanted to sing with the mind also (1 Cor. 14:15). In a similar way, we come here week after week to worship God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Spirit of God. But it is important for us to understand what we are doing, and why we are doing it. Otherwise we will drift into a mindless routine—which is quite distinct from a Spirit-led routine.</p>

<p>Dr. Michael McClenahan is an Irish Presbyterian minister and Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological College. He has degrees in Jurisprudence, Theology, and Ecclesiastical History from the University of Oxford, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on the theology of Jonathan Edwards. He is the author of Jonathan Edwards and Justification by Faith (Ashgate, 2012). This academic year he is the holder of the New Saint Andrews Lectureship.</p>

<p>The Problem of Pain is a well known booklet written by C. S. Lewis making the argument for why a good God would allow pain in His universe. One aspect of his argument is our culture’s confusion between kindness and love. We prize kindness with the view that we would prefer a God with more of a benign “grandfatherly” kindness over a father’s disciplinary love. The difference is mainly one of outcome. The former is seen as just watching over us to keep us content and happy, the latter is focused on making us good using whatever means are necessary to achieve that benefit. Lewis in his chapter on God’s Divine Goodness puts it this way:<br><br>“When we want to be something other than the thing God wants us to be, we must be wanting what, in fact, will not make us happy.”<br><br>Given how much Peter deals with existing and anticipated suffering in his letters, approaching this with the right calculus is extremely important. I’ve labeled it using God’s new math.</p>

<p>Peter has called Christians to be like Christ and to be like Christ even in suffering. An understandable question is whether suffering like Jesus is worth it? Peter has us consider two examples from the story of the Flood of delayed judgment and eventual salvation. This story is not only about the salvation of Noah’s family but also the judgment against the fallen angels. Peter points that both the spirits’ judgment and Noah’s salvation come through the victorious suffering of Jesus.<br><br>We learn three principles from these verses. Even though God’s judgment may delay for thousands of years, His justice will come like it was declared to the evil spirits. Even in judgment, God saves his people like he saved Noah in the ark. Even though Christ suffered unjustly to death for doing good, that suffering was not defeat but was instead a victory over all angels, authorities, and powers.</p>

<p>his section is jam-packed with commands––be of one mind, have compassion, be tenderhearted, don’t pay back evil with evil, don’t lie, turn from evil and do good…and there’s more. The summary of this section is “be like Christ.” How can we do this? Because of our Christian identity––we have been made like Christ and so we are to be holy like Christ. Peter exhorts us to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts” (3:15). Our hearts are to be holy so that the Holy God may be Lord of our hearts and our lives. As Christians we are called to be like Christ, and to be like Christ all the time, everywhere, in each relationship. We do this together as the people of God.</p>

<p>“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).</p>

<p>This sermon is really Part 3 of a series on submission or “being subject to” someone. And, for those of you with chapter subtitles in your Bible you can see that it has to do with husbands and wives. Here in Chapter 3, we are told to look back to the example set by Christ by:<br><br>Putting ourselves under submission to authorities as this is the will of God.<br>Looking to Jesus as our perfect example to follow/imitate.<br>Entrusting ourselves completely to Our Heavenly Father, just like Jesus did.<br><br>Peter is taking these principles and the example of Jesus, pushing them into the corners of all our relationships — particularly the most thorny ones. And, the thorniest of our relationships tend to be with the people we spend the most time together. It makes sense, as we consider that surely these people should know us and know our needs…but somehow they fail too in meeting all our expectations.</p>

<p>Peter has labored for his readers to know their identity as the people of God––his chosen elect, his holy children, his redeemed people, his free servants. So how do you live as God’s people in a world hostile to God and to his people? But Peter says to Christian citizens, “Submit to your government” and to Christian slaves, “Submit to your masters” in order to advance Christ’s mission in the world. Peter begs us to realize that we are all engaged in a war––a war for our souls and a war for the world. And our secret weapon in the fight is godly suffering. God uses our submission to subvert the enemies of the gospel, and even to save them. And if you don’t believe this, Peter points at Jesus Christ who is our example of our suffering Savior.</p>

<p>“So Jesus said to them, ‘The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’<br>When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: <br>“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, <br>and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” <br>39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, <br>40 ‘He has blinded their eyes <br>and hardened their heart, <br>lest they see with their eyes, <br>and understand with their heart, and turn, <br>and I would heal them.’<br>41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God” (John 12:35-43)</p>

<p>Up to this point, Peter has primarily focused on the people of God as the people of God. You are the children of the Father so be like your Father and love your brothers (but there’s no mention about the Gentile neighbor kids). You are God’s house and this is what it looks like from the inside, but how does it look from the outside? Now the front door of the house is opened up and the children of the Father are about to enter the world. But Peter warns that the world is a war zone––a war within you that has consequences for the world. And this war must be fought by those who fully submitted to the Lord.</p>

<p>Peter writes to the people of God who need to know their identity and their mission in the world. Their identity as the children of God is bundled up with Jesus, the Son of God. You are the elect of God, just like Jesus is God’s elect. Because of the Father’s abundant mercy, you to be born again to a living hope––a hope of life. This happened through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And so your salvation is union with Christ. His suffering is your suffering. His life, your life. His Father, your Father. His inheritance, your inheritance. This is the good news that the Spirit has prepared by the prophets and has been preached to you. God has made you his children. He has treated you as his children. Therefore, as his children, be like your holy Father.</p>

<p>“Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know” (Job 42:3).</p>

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<p>Enjoy session 1 of 5 from the GA22 Men's Seminar: Let's Talk About Books.</p><p><br></p><p>The last several years Christ Church as tried an experiment in grace and has not charged for the Grace Agenda conference. In keeping with this spirit of grace, we are accepting free will donations at grace <a href="http://graceagenda.com/donate." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">graceagenda.com/donate.</a></p>

<p>Preacher: Toby Sumpter<br>Texts: Deut. 6:3–9, Eph. 6:1–4<br><br>Education fills up our days and hours and weeks and spills out constantly in our community, and that is entirely on purpose. Teaching and learning is at the center of discipleship, and we are disciples of Jesus who have been given the Great Commission to disciple the nations, beginning with the ones living our own homes. But we do not want this mission to grow into anything perfunctory. What we are doing is aiming at cultural impact over generations.</p>

<p>Hebrews 12:1–17</p>

<p>INTRODUCTION<br><br>The story of Ruth isn’t fairy tale tucked away in a corner of the OT. Though there’s high drama, disaster, intrigue, even romance, this episode is more than just thrilling narrative. Rather, it’s an anticipation of the redemption of all things in the coming of the promised Seed. The literature is delightful, the story is thrilling, but the providence & purpose behind it all is glorious beyond compare.<br><br>THE TEXT<br><br>“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband…” (Ruth 1:1-22).<br><br>SUMMARY OF THE TEXT<br><br>During the wild-west days of Israel, when the judges judged, a famine came upon Israel (Cf. Jdg. 6:3-4) and the severity compelled Elimelech to resort to sojourning in the fields of Moab, along with his wife, Naomi, and his two aptly named sons Mahlon & Chilion (vv1-2). Then the hard times got harder when Elimelech died. Though Naomi’s hope arose through the marriage of her two sons to Moabitess women (Ruth & Orpah), it was soon dashed to pieces by the tragic death of the sons before they’d brought forth any sons themselves (vv3-5).<br><br>Rumor of returned abundance upon the Lord’s people reached Naomi, so she set out to return to Bethlehem, accompanied by her daughters-in-law (vv6-7). She gives them her blessing to depart without any obligation to her (vv8-9); initially, they both refuse (v10). She reasons a second time with them, remonstrating with them that she has no hope of providing them husbands, in satisfaction of the Levirate law (Cf. Deu. 25:5); this demonstrates–not for the last time–her godliness & piety (vv11-13). Ruth & Orpah are clearly affected by her speech, but whereas Orpah is compelled to return home, Ruth clings the closer to Naomi (v14).<br><br>Naomi tries a third time to persuade Ruth (v15); but Ruth wonderfully avows her steadfast resolve to remain united to both the people & God of Naomi (vv16-17). Seeing Ruth’s resolve, Naomi ends the debate; they come at last to Bethlehem, causing a great hubbub amongst the Bethlehemites (vv18-19). Naomi insists on being renamed “Mara” to reflect the afflictions which the Lord’s hand had brought upon her (v20-21). Like any good story, a clue is given to us by informing us that the return to Bethlehem took place at a specific season of the year: the barley harvest (v22).<br><br>SETTING THE STAGE<br><br>The initial crisis of this story is striking: a breadless house of bread. It’s likely that this famine came about during Gideon’s time, when the Midianites had brought ruin upon the fields of Israel. This tale (likely written by Samuel) is intended as an origin story for the house of David. That being the case, admitting to his “tainted” ancestry seems problematic. But the story “leans into” this controversy. In the end we see that God always intended the arc of Israelite history result in gathering in the Gentiles into the harvest of Redemption.<br>Moabites were descended from the incestuous union of Lot and his eldest daughter (Gen 19:37). Moses had warned against marrying “strange women” (Ex. 34:16); Solomon, later on, repeatedly warns his sons against being enticed by the “strange woman” (Pr. 2:16, 7:5). Balaam had prophesied that a scepter would arise from Israel, destroying Moab (Num. 24:17); he then concocted the scheme to seduce Israel into whoredom; this led to Phinehas’ heroic act (Num. 25:7-8). Moses died in the realm of Moab (Deu. 34:5). Moab had repeatedly persecuted Israel in the days of the judges, most famously by the tyranny of the enormous Eglon (Jdg. 3). In other words, by every token, we should be suspicious of Ruth.<br><br>THE BREADLESS HOUSE OF BREAD<br><br>Naomi had fled the breadless House of Bread full (of offspring); but now the House of Bread was full of bread once more while she had been emptied. She is barren, and is accompanied by a barren, but loyal, daughter-in-law. The hope of having their inheritance in Israel preserved hangs by a thread.<br>Namoi could have resentfully claimed that the deuteronomic blessing rang hollow: “And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye

<p>Preacher: Toby Sumpter<br><br>The only way you can have grace and peace in your heart is if God puts it there. But that is precisely why God spoke the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. God spoke grace and peace into our sorry world, and He was born at Bethlehem so that we might have grace and peace in our hearts, so that there may be grace and peace in our mouths.</p>