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| Audio Links | Date | Occasion | Topic | Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play | Download |
Oct 02 2005 | AM Worship | Complete service | Paul Stith |
| Play | Download |
Oct 02 2005 | AM Worship Sermon | Building Things That Last (1 Corinthians 3:10-17) | Paul Stith |
| Play | Download |
Oct 02 2005 | Bible Study | Set Apart to God: Is Progressive Sanctification Optional? | Stan Reeves |
Sermon Outline
Salvation To The Glory Of God Alone
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
1. We must have confidence in the timeless message of the cross as the foundation of all we do. (10, 11)
2. A reward is promised to those who build faithfully. (12-14)
So we should give attention to:
Our Motive
Our Conduct
Our Service
The crown which is righteousness (2 Tim 4:7-8)
The crown which is exultation (1 Thes 2:19-21)
The crown which is glory (1 Peter 5:4)
The crown which is life (James 1:12)
3. A Sober warning for the Unfaithful (15)
4. Assurance of God’s Intimate Involvement (16-17)
For Practical Consideration:
1. “Pastors and preachers move on and die; only a church built on Jesus Christ survives.” What are the implications of this quote?
2. What are the implications of the fact that the quality of our work will not be known until the Day of the Lord?
3. Why is it important to keep a distinction between the reward promised for faithfulness and our salvation?
4. What are some things you can ask yourself about your own ‘good works’ that will help evaluate them as good or bad?
5. Consider some good works you have done and use it as an opportunity to thank God for the grace that made them possible. Reflect any glory you may have received back to him by acknowledging you can do nothing apart from him. Are there opportunities you are missing to serve and honor God more faithfully? What keeps you from doing so?
6. How does it encourage you and increase your confidence to know of Christ as the foundation for all the church does (as opposed to man’s wisdom or power) and to remember of God’s commitment to His church?
Bible Study Outline
Progressive Sanctification -- Is it Optional?
Why obey if we’re guaranteed heaven?
I. Wrong answer -- carnal Christian theory
I Cor. 3:1-4
According to this theory, there are three types of people:
* natural -- the unsaved
* carnal Christians -- those who are saved but whose lives are not changed
* spiritual Christians -- those who are saved and walk according to the Spirit
Therefore, according to this view, progressive sanctification, though highly recommended, is seen as an optional part of salvation or something that doesn't necessarily begin at conversion. It is possible to be a true Christian but to live an unchanged life. Usually, the idea is taught that through a simple step one can become a spiritual Christian.
II. Biblical view -- only two types, natural and spiritual
A. Romans 6:16-23 -- either a slave of sin or righteousness. There is no middle territory.
B. Romans 8:3-14 -- those who have the Spirit belong to Christ, and these walk according to the Spirit in the basic direction and bent of their lives.
III. Problem of two-stage Christian view
A. Problems with carnal Christian
i. Downplays conversion. Rom. 8:1-4, 2 Pet. 1:3-4
ii. Denies God’s sovereignty in fulfilling His purposes. Rom. 8:32, Tit. 2:14
B. Problems with spiritual Christian
i. Downplays the struggle. Rom. 7:21-25
ii. Forces us to deceive ourselves by
- pulling down the law to an achievable level
- puffing us up & blinding us to heart sins
III. What does I Cor. 3 mean?
A. The context -- I Cor. 2:12-16
- two types, not three
B. Not a doctrinal passage
C. Not establishing a new class
- shaming them by identifying them with these other categories
- "you look like an unbeliever, and you smell like one too"
- speaking only of a point in time and a particular area of sin