Some Good News About Jesus

We are "Christians": followers of Christ  according to the Bible. This message has three parts: The Way to Know Truth, The Way to be Saved, and The Way to Follow Christ.

I. The Way to Know Truth is: The Bible. The Bible is the sole canonical document of Biblical Christianity, serving as our only authoritative Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Statement. Therefore, all our Christian beliefs and values must come straight from the Bible.

The main focus of the whole Bible is to point us to Christ so we can be saved.

II. The Way to be Saved (straight from the Bible) is 3 points, as easy as A, B, C:

A. Admit you are a sinner

B. Believe in Jesus, that He is the Lord and He died and rose again to save us

C. Call on God by praying in Jesus' name, and ask Him to save you

(See: Romans 10:9, Acts 16:31, John 3:16, Romans 6:23, etc.)

Once someone has been saved, they need to continue to follow Christ, in a way that is fitting for the way we were saved.

III. The Way to Follow Christ (also from the Bible) is 5 points:

1. Bible: Keep on listening to and following it (John 8:31,32)

2. Prayer: Ask God for what you want His help with, and thank Him for what He does

3. Meet: Regularly get together and do these things with other followers (Hebrews 10:25, Acts 2:42)

4. Confess: Tell the truth about the wrong you've done (1 John 1:9)

5. Tell Others: Share the way to be saved and follow God with everyone, as somebody shared it with you (Matthew 28:19,20)

There are more things that can be said with a message like this one*, and variations on ways of saying them, but this this simple e is provided in hope it will be a useful outline.

*Addition: For example, as you study the Bible you will see that we have been given two "special activities" to do, to show our faith:

1. Immersion in Water

2. Taking part in The Bread and Cup of Remembrance

Also deserving of honorable mention, is: worshipping and praising the Lord, including with singing.

Notes on Matthew 28

Matthew 28

V17 Worship or doubt?

V7-9 On His side: worshipping Him having great joy, going/running to tell others/bring them Word.

V18-20 a mission and a promise. Going, teaching, baptizing. Him having all power, being with, always, even to end.

On the other side: v4 fear, v11-15 misuse of money, dishonesty--trying (in vain) to cover up what self did wrong from being exposed to others. V17 doubt.

Which side? Our foundation for the radical positive change is: v5,6 His resurrection and our true belief in that. If that's truly in our heart it changes everything, about that we do, etc.

Come hear me preach on Little Things at Hillside

You Are Invited

Please come to Hillside

On Sunday September 3, at 11:00 AM

To hear me preach a message "Be faithful in the little things"

From Luke 16:10 etc.

We are located at:

The Hills Event Venue
7040 N 102ND CIR
OMAHA, NE 68122

You are (optionally) also welcome to share a meal with us at the venue after the message. I believe this message will be a blessing. I hope to see you there.

What is the gospel?

The gospel is: Jesus is the Lord. He died on the cross in the place of our judgment for doing wrong. He became alive again on the third day. Whoever will believe in him will be saved from judgment and sin. Won't you call on him to save you, today?

That is the gospel.

Nehemiah 9 - Grace Greater Than All Our Sins

At Northwest Bible Fellowship

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Psalm 51 Summary

Outline

v1-2

Requesting to be washed from sin

v3-6

Honestly acknowledging our sin

v7-9

Wash me so I may be clean and have joy

v10-12

Wash me so that I can have You with me, and so I can have Your Holy Spirit

v13

Wash me so that I may turn others to You

v14-15

Wash me so I may sing and praise You

v16-19

Wash me so I may bring a pleasing sacrifice

Key

v13

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

If I want to have a significant positive influence on other people, I need to be washed from my sins first, then I can.

Application

I'll set aside some time on Saturday evenings to examine my life for sin, and to come up with specific practical actions to take in order to change.

Matthew 27:1-31 - Reconsidering when we're set in our ways

Outline

v1-2

"When the morning was come..."--what kinds of things do we do in the morning?

v3-10

Judas tried to repent, and the council bought a potters field with the money

v11-14

Jesus didn't argue back

v15-18

Pilate gave the people a choice between Jesus and Barabbas

v19

Pilate's wife warned him

v20-23

The council and the crowd insisted for Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified

v24-26

Pilate tried to transfer the responsibility

v27-31

The band of soldiers mistreated Jesus

Key

v19

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Sometimes we're already set in our ways to carry out a certain activity and the Lord lets something happen to warn us. We shouldn't merely dismiss the warning and continue in our sin like we had planned.

Application

1 Corinthians 10:12

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

When something happens or somebody says something to make me unsure whether I'm going the right way, I'll reconsider it before the Lord even if I was already set in my ways.

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Matthew 22:1-22 - Outline

v1-7

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who made a wedding

v8-10

The Lord used the unworthiness of some to provide opportunities for others

v11-14

One was called but not chosen because he did not have the garment

v15-22

The Lord provided a marvelous response to a very difficult situation

Exodus 16 - Outline

v1-3

Israel complained against God and His servants because they were hungry

v4-12

God told them that He would send food

v13-15

The Lord sent manna

v16-18

The Lord provided just the right amounts

v19-21

The Lord's provision was day by day

v22-30

We should rest when it is the Lord's time for us to rest

v31-36

We should prepare to tell future generations about the Lord

It Is Sin To Allow Bad Depictions From Videos

The Bible Provides Instructions That Apply To Videos

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Paraphrased from Philippians 4:8)

You might have thought that the Bible does not say anything about the videos that we watch (TV, movies, home videos, and Internet videos). However, the Bible does instruct us what kinds of things we should think about, and that applies to watching videos.

Here are four objectionable depictions that are in videos:

• violence
• immodesty
• bad language
• the occult

Various parts of the Bible warn us about each of these things. God's word instructs us not to listen to, look at, delight in, or even think about various of these. They are not pure, just, or lovely, and they are not virtues. Therefore, we should not intentionally watch depictions of these things in videos. We also should not keep videos depicting such things or display such videos to others.

We Are Affected By Listening To Things

You may argue that, "A video I watch is just an inconsequential external situation. It doesn't affect me." But paying attention to it is a decision from your heart, and it is sinful to make bad decisions about what to watch. Jesus warned that merely looking at a woman with bad motives is equivalent to immoral action in your heart.

As a matter of fact, it is reckless to pay attention to wrong messages. Proverbs warn, "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causes] to err from the words of knowledge." (19:27) "A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; [and] a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue." (17:4) "If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants [are] wicked." (29:12)

1 Timothy 4:1 warns, "Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils..." This applies directly to videos containing occult messages. Some people go away from believing in Christ, lending an ear to such messages.  So these are things that we need to make sure not to give heed to.

Fictitious Depictions Still Evoke Real Sins

You may argue that video content is not sinful because "It is not real." However, when it comes to sin, it's the thought that counts. When God sent the flood during the time of Noah, part of the problem was the wicked people's evil imaginations. When sinful ideas are portrayed in videos, the portrayals may be synthesized through special effects, but they still convey messages. Remember that Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think about virtuous things.

There Are Some Objects That Can Be Sinful To Keep

You might argue that it is OK to obtain or keep videos because they are just physical objects and "There is nothing unclean of itself..." (Romans 14:14), but that is taking that verse out of context. The videos may merely be objects, but obtaining or keeping them is an action, and actions can obviously be sins.

Generally, people keep videos to display, and people watch them to give heed to the messages they convey. Videos are effective at conveying messages and examples, and there can definitely be messages and examples that are bad. In that way, videos today are similar to books in history. As there have been books with bad content, there are videos with bad content.

Not all videos have bad content, but many do. With our videos that contain bad messages, let's take the example from the believers dealing with sinful books during the revival in Acts 19:19: "Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all [people]: and they counted the price of them, and found [it to be] fifty thousand [pieces] of silver." (paraphrased)

Matthew 16 - Outline

v1-4

The request for a sign

v5-12

A warning about leaven

v13-17

Who people say Jesus is, and who He really is

v18-19

Peter was blessed because God revealed to Him who Jesus really is

v20-28

Jesus foretold the death He would suffer and the glory that would follow

Exodus 12:1-28 - Outline

v1-20

The Lord told Moses and Aaron what to tell the congregation about how to keep the Passover

v21-27

Moses told the elders about the Passover

v28

The people worshiped and did what God commanded.

Matthew 13:1-30 - Summary

Outline

v1-2

The circumstances when Jesus told the parables to the crowds

v3-9

The parable of the sower

v10-17

The reason why Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables

v18-23

The meaning of the parable of the sower

v24-30

The parable of the tares of the field

Key

v15

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

We should be diligent to listen and do what the Lord convicts us of, even if we don't feel like it. If we don't listen, we'll lose our opportunity. If we do listen, He will give us more opportunities.

Psalm 61 - Summary

Outline

v1-2

I will cry to the Lord when my heart is overwhelmed

v3-4

The Lord is a strong tower

v5-7

The Lord will help His king

v8

I will sing praise to the Lord's name forever

Key

v2

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock [that] is higher than I.

Psalm 60 - Summary

Outline

v1-3

Asking the Lord to turn Himself back to us because He has shown His people hard things

v4

The Lord has given a banner

v5

Asking the Lord to save

v6-8

All of the families around Israel belong to the Lord for His purposes

v9-12

Who will help us do valiantly? Only the Lord, not man.

Key

v12

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he [it is that] shall tread down our enemies.

Exodus 3 - Key

v10

Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

In Matthew 9:38, it was Jesus' disciples whom he instructed to pray for laborers, and it was also some of the disciples whom He sent forth. When we pray for the Lord to do something about a situation, we should be prepared for Him to send us, personally, to do something about it.

Application

As I pray for the Lord to send forth laborers into the harvest, I'll continue to be prepared to go preach the gospel.

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Exodus 3 - Outline

v1-6

The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses

v7-9

I have surely seen

v10

I will send you

v11-12

I will be with you

v13-15

This is My name

v16-22

I will bring you up

Matthew 10:24-42 - Outline

v24-25

We should not expect to get treated better than Christ Himself was treated

v26-33

Reasons why we should not fear

v34-39

We shouldn't be shocked if we have trouble for following the Lord, even from our own families

v40-42

We should be diligent to take valuable opportunities to serve, especially to serve little ones

Psalm 56 - Key

v13

For thou hast delivered my soul from death: [wilt] not [thou deliver] my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

If the Lord has saved us, He'll help us walk with Him, too.

Application

v9

When I cry [unto thee], then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God [is] for me.

I'll pray for the Lord to help me walk with Him.

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Psalm 56 - Outline

v1-2

My enemies would swallow me up

v3-4

I will trust in God

v5-6

What my enemies do

v7-9

I cry to God

v10-12

I will praise

v13

He has delivered from death, won't He deliver us to walk before Him?