Following Jesus Son of God …

Welcome to 2015!

For the four Sundays in January I am going to preach a “Love God, Love Your Neighbor” series from selected texts. I thought to myself several months ago, “What a good way to begin the new year!” So here we are.

Did you know that the instruction, the teaching, to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength was Bible doctrine?

We do this weird thing sometimes. We have “love” and “doctrine” in separate categories. Someone asked me one time if I thought love was more important than doctrine.

Doctrine in its most basic form is teaching, instruction, what is taught. The word used predominantly is διδαχή (didachē) in various forms in the Greek.

DOCTRINE … διδασκαλία (didaskalia), teaching, instruction; διδαχή (didachē), teaching.

Jesus was a “doctrine” man.

• He taught doctrine (Mark 1:21).
• People were astonished at his doctrine (Mark 1:22).
• People were amazed at Jesus and his doctrine (Mark 1:27).
• Jesus rebuked those who were teaching the rules of men as the doctrines of God (Matthew 15:9).

But somehow when the scribe approaches Jesus in Mark 12:28, and Jesus calls us to the love of God, our image of Jesus morphs from powerful teacher of the Word of God to this gentle man who wants us to be nice to each other.

This question that the scribe approached Jesus with in Mark was a hotly contested theological issue among the religious experts of the day. They were determined to test Jesus’ theological mettle.

• (Mark 12:28–34 ESV) And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

They wanted to know out of the 613 commandments (their number), Which one was the most important?

This was a test. They wanted to see how Jesus would interpret the law, their Bible. They wanted his view on doctrine.

So when Jesus began with the Shema (see Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and then called them to love the Lord their God, he was saying, “You want the most important doctrine of all, then here it is. Love God first and love him with everything you have.”

Message Title: “First Love, First Doctrine!”

Message Text: Mark 12:38-34, Revelation 2:1-7

• PDF First Love, First Doctrine : 010415 : FFC : dave scott : Mark 12-28-34 : HANDOUT ONE
• PDF First Love, First Doctrine : 010415 : FFC : dave scott : Mark 12-28-34 : HANDOUT TWO

• ▶︎ Great or small, heavy or light … Which one is most important?
  The question asked by this scribe, this expert in the knowledge of the whole body of Jewish religious literature—God’s written law and its oral interpretation and application, could be expected of him. The rabbis, devoted to hairsplitting legalism, carried on lengthy debates about the commandments, arguing whether a particular one was great or small, heavy or light. It was natural, therefore, that they debated the question, “Which of the 613 commandments, 248 of them positive, 365 negative [according to their count] is foremost of all?” (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S.J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark (Vol. 10, p. 492). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)

Good Monday Morning to You,

Forgiveness! Right with God!

We should be thrilled. How exhilarating! What joy and peace! Right with God through Jesus Christ now and forever! In this age and every age to come!

Message Title: Forgiveness … Right with God!

Message Text: Luke 7:36-50

• MP3: Forgiveness – Right with God : FFC : dave scott : 122814 AM EDITED

FORGIVENESS IS CROSS-WORK!

Hello All,

Forgiveness! Do you ever wonder why we as Christians struggle with forgiveness the way we do? Forgiving others … Allowing God to forgive us … ?

Do we realize what forgiveness is? What it means?

Try this on for size. Forgiveness means “right with God.” Right with God. Are you following me? Right with the Supreme, Omnipotent Ruler of the Universe. Right with God Most High. Totally fitting into God’s holy plan and purpose.

The “Consuming Fire” has welcomed us with outstretched arms to his family.

Message Title: Forgiveness … Right with God!

Message Text: Psalm 32:1, Luke 7:36-50 & Selected Texts

• PDF Forgiveness : 122814 : FFC : dave scott : Luke 7-36-50 : HANDOUT ONE
• PDF Forgiveness : 122814 : FFC : dave scott : Luke 7-36-50 : HANDOUT TWO

Last message from Romans until we come back to that study on February 1, 2015.

Message Title: If God Is for Us …

Message Text: Romans 8:31-39

MP3: LESSON 21 If God Is for Us : Romans 8:31-39 : FFC : dave scott : 121414

While still in the praying part of planning my preaching schedule and thinking very seriously about preaching through Romans, I was somewhat intimidated by the challenges. How to handle this? Explain that?

And then I realized (God spoke to me?) that my approach was wrong. Why be concerned with covering all the variations and interpretations? Really. Look at the long lists of scholars who don’t have it all figured out. They can’t agree. Why would I put myself under the pressure to make these things clear to everybody.

So I decided that I would study and preach the text to the best of my ability.

AND … I decided that I would not try to answer the “unanswerable” questions in this amazing letter. It was encouraging for me to note as I have progressed through the study that I have very good company with this thought.

Preach the text and don’t try to say more than what God says.

Part of my dilemma came from my background. Too often as evangelicals and fundamentalists we believe ourselves to be THE answer people. We can answer everything. Just give us a Bible and we will show you.

Now we are answer people in that we do have the answer in Christ and in God’s Holy Book. But we tend (in our pride and misunderstanding?) to come up with more answers than are presented in “the Book.”

What a blessing this study has been! I worship and praise God every week as he “blows my doors off” with the amazing truth of his word.

And now a note from Leon Morris on predestination. A wonderful, strengthening doctrine so clearly taught by the Apostle Paul.

• Paul goes on to predestination. [1] This is an important New Testament concept and one which some people find difficult because they are so sure that we have free wills. This is not the place to go into a discussion of the relative places of the two; it must suffice to notice that the meaning of the word is plain. We must not allow ourselves to be sidetracked by modern notions of what is or is not possible for God. Paul is saying that God is the author of our salvation, and that from beginning to end. We are not to think that God can take action only when we graciously give him permission. Paul is saying that God initiates the whole process. As Barrett puts it: “The history and personal make-up of the Church are not due to chance or to arbitrary human choices, but represent the working out of God’s plan.… Our own intentions, like our own virtues, are far too insecure to stand the tests of time and judgement.” He sees it as “the most comfortable of all Christian doctrines, if men will accept it in its biblical form, and not attempt to pry into it with questions which it does not set out to answer. It is … the final statement of the truth that justification, and, in the end, salvation also, are by grace alone, and through faith alone.”[2]
• [1] 138 προορίζω means “set the boundary (ὅρος) beforehand” and clearly points to what we mean by predestination.
• [2] Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 332–333). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Hello Friends,

I know I am repeating myself, but God is amazing. Kind of learning why we will spend so much time worshiping and praising him when we get to heaven.

Sometimes as we wrangle with our theological issues and try to answer questions which are unanswerable, we forget the WHO and the WHY of our salvation.

God so loved the world …

Sound familiar? Maybe too familiar because we sometimes miss the power and glory of God’s salvation plan.

• HE SAVED US BECAUSE HE LOVED US!
• AND …
• HE WILL SAVE US!

Message Title: “If God Is for Us …”

Message Text: Romans 8:31-39

• PDF 21 If God Is for Us : Romans 8-31-39 : FFC : dave scott : 121414 : STUDY SHEET ONE
• PDF 21 If God Is for Us : Romans 8-31-39 : FFC : dave scott : 121414 : STUDY SHEET TWO

Make no mistake! God’s love is strong! God’s plan for our lives as believers in Jesus Christ makes us more than conquerors!

• Some think there is a careful division into subsections, others that it is a fine rhapsody, paying little attention to the sequence of thought. Be that as it may, it will suffice to notice that in the first half Paul is concerned with … the impossibility of any charge against the believer being sustained before God (vv. 31–34), and in the second with the impossibility of anything separating us from God’s love (vv. 35–39). [Morris, Leon (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 334). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.]

How do we do face the hostility of life?

More specifically, what do we do when faced with attack by our enemies?

And … even more specifically, what do we do when the people attacking were once our supporters and friends and have now become our enemies?

This evening we turn to Psalm 3 for some solid, biblical direction to this spiritual and emotional turmoil.

The historical context of the psalm: “A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” We find this account in 2 Samuel 15.

I began a new study in the Psalms three weeks ago, but only began recording yesterday.

Message Title: Salvation Belongs to the Lord

Message Text: Psalm 3

Message MP3: Psalm 3 Salvation Belongs to the Lord FFC dave scott 120714 PM

Message Outline …

(1) NO SUGAR COATING: DAVID BRINGS HIS SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE THE LORD, 3:1-2.

• I have many foes / I have many people rising against me / I have many people saying that my cause is hopeless, 3:1-2.
• How did Absalom almost topple David’s kingship? He built a conspiracy based on the unhappiness and dissatisfaction of the people, 2 Samuel 15:1-12.

(2) KNOW WHERE GOD IS: DAVID PUTS HIMSELF IN GOD’S HANDS, 3:3-4.

• The LORD is his shield / his glory / his Savior.
• The LORD spoke to David from his holiness, 3:4.
• How did David defeat Absalom’s conspiracy? He didn’t, but God did.
• David still had some loyal friends, 2 Samuel 15:13-22, 27-27.
• ***David honored God by trusting him, 2 Samuel 15:23-26.

(3) RELY ON YOUR SALVATION: DAVID MOVES FORWARD BASED ON THE SAVING NATURE OF GOD, 3:5-8.

• He did what was physically necessary, 3:5.
• He determined to be courageous no matter the odds, 3:6.
• He asked God for help, 3:7.
• He proclaimed the LORD’s salvation and blessing, 3:8.

Hello to You,

Thank God It’s Friday! Right? And thank him for every day. 🙂

Sometimes (probably often) we need to place our lives in the perspective of eternity. The Bible teaches us that we are mere vapors, mists, frames of dust.

AND YET … the tremendous opportunity that we have in our time on the planet which is less than a speck on the scale of eternity.

You dig, man? Yes our time here is so brief, but God in his grace gives us opportunity to impact eternity AND … to partner with him in doing this.

If you are not blown away by now, you should be. (Like “blown away” as in awestruck at the greatness of God and his grand and glorious plan.)

Our lives are on “the big screen” for less than a moment in time, and there is no rewind. No do-over. As Dr. Ken Nichols would say, “Life is not a rehearsal.”

So fully equipped by God himself, let’s turn full face to God and live in view of the coming glory!

God has given us amazing roles as fellow servants of Jesus Christ in his grand production:

The Great Day of God!

Wow!

• PDF 20 Those Whom He Justified, He Also Glorified : Romans 8:18-30 : FFC : dave : 120714 : STUDY SHEET ONE
• PDF 20 Those Whom He Justified, He Also Glorified : Romans 8:18-30 : FFC : dave : 120714 : STUDY SHEET TWO

Hello to You,

Do you ever wonder where we get such a spirit of fear as we listen to each other within our evangelical and fundamental circles? I hope we are not in denial. Surely we see it. A fear that sometimes grows into an angry and bitter spirit.

• Fear and anger from that fear that cause us to disobey God when it comes to honoring those in authority over us.
• Fear and anger from that fear that rob us of the peace of Christ.
• Fear and anger from that fear that make us forget who we are and forget the powerful, amazing truth that God has brought to us.

Where did the fear come from? From a spirit of slavery. Where did the spirit of slavery come from? From our following our humanity – sinful and otherwise – instead of following the word of God and the Spirit of God.

We are not to be a fearful people. We are told to fear God and tremble before him, but never are we told as believers in Christ to fear man, or fear his political systems, or fear his anti-God legislation.

No! We are exhorted to be strong and courageous! So isn’t it about time that we embraced the truth about ourselves as children of God per the holy word of God and start living it?

Message Title: The Spirit of Adoption as Sons!

Message Text: Romans 8:12-17

• MP3: LESSON 19 The Spirit of Adoption As Sons : Romans 8:12-17: FFC : dave scott : 113014

Hello to You,

And Happy Thanksgiving! Is it pizza tonight? 🙂

——————

Have you ever noticed the amount of fear that we spread to each other within our evangelical, fundamental circles? Where does that come from?

Multiple times throughout Scripture God exhorts us to be strong and courageous, not to be afraid, Old Testament, New Testament.

So where does the fear come from? We really do need to ask.

Does God really want us trembling in our boots because a Democrat is president? Or that your state legislature passed pro-homosexual or pro-abortion laws?

We have done this to each other for so long that we have begun to think this is the right thing to do. But what would God say about our “spirit of fear?”

So I ask, “What would God say about the fear-mongering that prospers in the pulpits and the Christian media in our country?”

What happened to “be strong and courageous” and “don’t be afraid?” Is courage no longer possible? And what about the peace that Christ promised? Is our day just too dark and overpowering for us to anchor our hearts and minds in Christ’s words of peace and assurance? Did he not take this into account? Didn’t realize how bad things were going to get?

C’mon, man!

Scripture tells us …

• (1 John 2:8 ESV) At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

But you could never tell it by listening to us. I know it isn’t all gloom and doom in our pulpits and in our Sunday School classes and on Christian radio. But way too much of it is. And I cannot imagine that God approves as I read his word.

Today’s text is crucial in reeling us in to the truth of God’s word. Time to stop listening so much to each other and start listening more to God.

• (Romans 8:15 ESV) For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Message Title: The Spirit of Adoption as Sons!

Message Text: Romans 8:12-17

• PDF 19 The Spirit of Adoption As Sons : Romans 8-12-17: FFC : dave scott : 113014 : STUDY SHEET ONE
• PDF 19 The Spirit of Adoption As Sons : Romans 8-12-17: FFC : dave scott : 113014 : STUDY SHEET TWO