Sermons on Faith (Page 2)
As we continue our journey through God’s One Big Story of Scripture, we come to a story that for some people is impossible to understand what God was thinking. Our focus will be the story of Abraham and his son, Isaac, and the promises that God made to them. In Genesis 15:6, the Bible says that “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.” There is no doubt that the Bible teaches salvation as a free gift of God received from Him by faith alone—not by deeds we have done. This is a story about Abraham’s faith for sure, but it is even more so a story about the faithfulness of God.
In the last days of his life, the Apostle Paul found himself in a dreadful situation—imprisoned and deserted by almost all of his companions. It was in these circumstances that Paul wrote to his ‘beloved’ son in the ministry, Timothy. In spite of his own depressing circumstances, Paul sought to encourage and instruct his disciple—and every disciple of Christ since—to not be fearful but to be ever-increasing in his dependence on the Holy Spirit of God in every aspect of his life.
Science and the Bible–can the two coexist? Modern society considers science and faith to be dichotomous (opposed to one another or entirely different). When speaking of science, people talk about “thinking, evidence and rational justification of facts.” On the other hand, people consider faith to be all about “evading evidence and clinging to non-rationality.” Is it possible that the secularists are wrong and that a Christian worldview isn’t less rational but actually more rational?
Apologetics seeks to pave the way for that gospel presentation by first answering any questions or objections a person my have about Christianity. To apologize means to make a defense for something. So as we think about “Apologizing Christianity,” we are NOT apologizing FOR Christianity, but explaining the reasons behind our beliefs in Jesus Christ and the Bible.
Four events occurred in a dramatic succession on that Easter weekend: The Upper Room, The Garden, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection of Jesus. Let’s look at each of those events and their implications.
The situation facing the church in Jerusalem was seemingly hopeless. King Herod had just executed the Apostle James, and Peter was in prison awaiting execution as well. The church was praying for his release, but they really didn’t think it would do any good. How would they continue without Peter and James? Is there really power in the prayers that we pray? Can we really trust that God hears us and acts upon our prayers?
In prayer, we must focus on: Receiving God’s Word as truth; Believing God’s Word; Exhibiting unity among believers; Remaining faithful to God; Being protected from the devil; Being sanctified by the Word; Being sent into the world.
John 14:1-11 The fear of the unknown can be crippling if we do not put our faith in God.