ARRIVAL OF GOOD NEWS

Posted on September 9, 2018 by pmayfield

Sermon Series by Rev. Richard Jones

rec0909-112433

 

 

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

“Arrival of Good News”

Mark 1: 1-15

 

HERALD OF TRUTH

Mark 1:1-8 (ESV)
1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2  As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,
3  the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ”˜Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,”™”
4  John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5  And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6  Now John was clothed with camel”™s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
7  And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8  I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

 

VOICE OF AFFIRMATION

Mark 1:9-11 (ESV)
9  In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10  And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11  And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

 

DECISION OF MINISTRY

Mark 1:12-13 (ESV)
12  The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
13  And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

 

SUMMONS OF CHANGE

Mark 1:14-15 (ESV)
14  Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,
15  and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

 

 

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CONVICTION or COMPROMISE

Posted on September 2, 2018 by pmayfield

Sermon by Rev. Richard Jones

rec0902-113546

 

“CONVICTION or COMPROMISE:
When Faith Meets the Fire”

Daniel 3

 

 

LIVING WITH PRESSURE

Daniel 3:1-7 (ESV)
1  King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2  Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3  Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4  And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5  that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6  And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”
7  Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 

LIVING WITH PERSECUTION

Daniel 3:8-13 (ESV)
8  Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.
9  They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
10  You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.
11  And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
12  There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
13  Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.

2 Timothy 3:12-13 (ESV)
12  Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13  while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

 

LIVING WITH PERSPECTIVE

Daniel 3:14-18 (ESV)
14  Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?
15  Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Isaiah 12:2 (ESV)
2  “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

 

LIVING WITH PREDICAMENT

Daniel 3:19-23 (ESV)
19  Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
20  And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21  Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.
22  Because the king”™s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

John 16:33 (ESV)
33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

 

LIVING WITH PROTECTION

Daniel 3:24-27 (ESV)
24  Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25  He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
27  And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king”™s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

 

LIVING WITH PERSUASION

Daniel 3:28-30 (ESV)
28  Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king”™s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.
29  Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”
30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

 

 

 

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GIVE FIRST / RECEIVE BEST

Posted on August 26, 2018 by pmayfield

Sermon by Rev. Richard Jones

rec0826-112550

 

“Give First / Receive Best”

 

Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)
9  Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10  then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

 

Philippians 4:12-13 (ESV)
12  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 

Exodus 23:19a (ESV)
19  “The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.”

 

Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (ESV)
22  “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year.
23  And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

 

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (ESV)
1  “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it,
2  you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there.
3  And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ”˜I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.”™
4  Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God.
5  “And you shall make response before the LORD your God, ”˜A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.
6  And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor.
7  Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.
8  And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.
9  And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
10  And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.”™ And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God.
11  And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.

 

Luke 6:38 (ESV)
38  give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

 

Malachi 3:10-12 (ESV)
10  Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
11  I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts.
12  Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

 

1 Samuel 2:30 (ESV)
30  Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ”˜I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,”™ but now the LORD declares: ”˜Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

 

Theme

Not prosperity Gospel, but Provision Gospel.

 

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GOD’S GRACE ENDURES FOREVER

Posted on August 19, 2018 by pmayfield

Guest Speaker Pat Shelton

rec0819-112539

 

“God’s Grace Endures Forever”

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GIFTS OF ADMINISTRATION AND MERCY

Posted on August 12, 2018 by pmayfield

HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY FRIEND

Sermon Series by Rev. Richard Jones

rec0812-113933

 

“Gifts of Administration and Mercy”

Romans 12: 4-8

 

Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)
4  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
8  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

ADMINISTRATION: The Shoulders of the Body

Romans 12:14 (ESV)
14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

 

MERCY-COMPASSION PERSON: The Heart of the Body

Romans 12:15 (ESV)
15  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

1 John 3:23 (ESV)
23  And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

 

What God has gifted you to do, He has called you to do.

 

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GIFTS OF EXHORTER AND GIVER

Posted on August 5, 2018 by pmayfield

HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY FRIEND

Sermon Series by Rev. Richard Jones

rec0805-112806

 

“Gifts of Exhorter and Giver”

Romans 12: 4-8

 

Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)
4  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
8  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

EXHORTER: The Mouth of the Body of Christ

Hebrews 10:23-25 (ESV)
23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Romans 12:12 (ESV)
12  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

 

GIVER: The Arms of the Body of Christ

Luke 6:38 (ESV)
38  give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Romans 12:13 (ESV)
13  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

 

THEME: What you are gifted to do, you are called to do.

 

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GIFTS OF SERVER AND TEACHER

Posted on July 29, 2018 by pmayfield

HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY FRIEND

Sermon Series by Rev. Richard Jones

rec0729-1131302

 

 

“Gifts of Server and Teacher”

Romans 12: 3-8

Romans 12:3-8 (ESV)
3  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
4  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
8  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

SERVER: The Hands of the Body of Christ

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)
10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God”™s varied grace:
11  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies””in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 12:10 (ESV)
10  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Philippians 2:3 (ESV)
3  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

 

TEACHER: The Mind of the Body of Christ

Romans 12:11 (ESV)
11  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

 

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MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS

Posted on July 22, 2018 by pmayfield

HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY FRIEND

Sermon Series by Rev. Richard Jones

rec0722-112626

 

“Motivational Gifts”

Romans 12: 3-8

 

THREE CATEGORIES OF GIFTS

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)
4  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

 

MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS

Romans 12:3-8 (ESV)
3  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
4  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
8  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

GIFT OF PROPHECY/PERCEIVER

Romans 12:6 (ESV)
6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

 

SPECIAL COMMENT

Romans 12:9 (ESV)
9  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV)
22  “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,
23  but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

 

 

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GIFTS FOR THE FAMILY

Posted on July 15, 2018 by pmayfield

HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY FRIEND

Sermon Series by Rev. Richard Jones

rec0715-112252

 

“Gifts for the Family”

Ephesians 4: 4-13

 

THE GROUND OF UNITY

Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)
4  There is one body and one Spirit””just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call””
5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

THE GIFTS OF UNITY

Ephesians 4:7-11 (ESV)
7  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ”™s gift.
8  Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
9  (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
10  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

2 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)
12  The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

1 Corinthians 14:29-32 (ESV)
29  Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
30  If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.
31  For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,
32  and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

Ephesians 2:19-20 (ESV)
19  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

 

THE GOAL OF UNITY

Ephesians 4:12-13 (ESV)
12  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)
14  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith””that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

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GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Posted on July 9, 2018 by pmayfield

HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY FRIEND

Sermon Series by Rev. Richard Jones

 

rec0708-113235

 

 

“Gifts of the Spirit”

Various Texts

 

VARIETIES OF GIFTS

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV)
4  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God”™s varied grace:

 

 

MANIFESTATION GIFTS

1 Corinthians 12:4-12 (ESV)
4  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
12  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Hebrews 2:1-4 (ESV)
1  Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
2  For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,
3  how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,
4  while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

1 Corinthians 14:29-32 (ESV)
29  Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
30  If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.
31  For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,
32  and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

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