Why Trust the Bible?
Proverbs 30:5-6; Psalm 12:6; Psalm 119:140 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
My faith journey halted by one question.
Is the Bible the Word of God?
- It is not like book.
a. The span of .
b. The of authors.
c. The of literary styles and forms.
d. not found elsewhere.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Deuteronomy 4:35
I Corinthians 8:6
Romans 3:21-22 - The Bible people.
John 5:24-26
a. His Word is . Hebrews 4:12-13
b. His Word is a . James 1:22-25
c. His Word is . Luke 8:11
d. His Word is a . Ephesians 6:17
e. It is the -giving Word. I Peter 1:23
Five minutes to remember – Bear Justice
Personal Notes
Are You Doing It?
Matthew 25:31-46 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
Poverty – “not having enough resources to satisfy basic needs”
Jesus began his first public message saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18) Proverbs 14:31, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
- The Throne Judgement – Matthew 25:31-34
The Bema Seat Judgement is for and is about . - The core of Jesus’ parable is : Matthew 25:35-40
Love for is evidenced by love for . - Jesus’ astounding concept – Matthew 25:40
To serve those in poverty is to .“If they had a social gospel in the day of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home.” -Vance Havner
What does providing the means mean?
For the Christ-follower, good works includes the life-changing gospel of and .”An individual gospel without a social gospel is a soul without a body and a social gospel without an individual gospel is a body without a soul. One is a ghost, the other a corpse.” – E. Stanley Jones
“Talk of love without acts of love denies the life transformation of being in Christ.” – Pastor Terry
”The Gospel of Christ knows no religion but social; no holiness, but social holiness.” -John Wesley
- Might poverty also include: the , the , the .
In Basel, Switzerland is St. Martin’s Church. On the front wall is a sculpture depicting Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier with Christian faith.
The store behind it is that one cold, winter day, entering a city, he was stopped by a beggar asking for alms. Having no money, Martin took off his coat, cut it in two, and gave half to the beggar. That night he had a dream of heaven, and Jesus was wearing half of a Roman soldier’s coat. An angel asked him, “Master, why are you wearing that battered old cloak?” And Jesus answered, “My servant Martin gave it to me.”
Personal Notes
In Christ Alone
Philippians 3:19 | Rev. J.R. Hutchinson
In Christ alone there is righteousness
In Christ alone there is peace and rest
When we stand before His throne
Then we will know it is Christ alone
-Excerpt from “In Christ Alone” sung by Carroll Roberson
- In Christ alone is righteousness
Our righteousness is as – Isaiah 64:6
In God there is no . – Psalm 92:15
Our of the righteousness of God is .
Abraham God and it was imputed to him for . – James 2:23 - In Christ alone is peace and rest.
The Kingdom of God is and and . – Romans 14:17
Being justified by faith we have with God. – Romans 5:1
Reckon yourselves to be unto . – Romans 6:11 - When you stand before His throne, then you will know it is in Christ alone
We stand in Christ, the righteous man.
God’s is one of righteousness. What is a scepter?“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”IT IS CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE
Personal Notes
Christmas Ponderings
Pastor Terry Wilcox
History and traditions:
December 25, 336 – “natus Christus in Betleem Judeae”
The thirteenth century – Christmas Carols
The sixteenth century –
John 1:14 NKJV
Galatians 3:13-14
Ponderings
- A virgin’s pregnant
Luke 1:26-34 - A message from God via shepherds
Luke 2:16-20 - In the Father’s house
Luke 2:49-52
Personal Notes
Christmas: Who, What & Why
Pastor Jon Betz
John 3:14-16 KJV
Isaiah 7:14 KJV
Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV
Personal Notes
Christmas: Who, What & Why
John 1:1-18 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
- Who? John 1:1-5
“Logos” – A Greek word meaning the power or function by which the universe has , coherence, and .
John also calls Jesus the . – John 1:5 - Why? John 1:9-13
Illustration – “But Daddy, I want someone I can .”
John 14:9 - What? John 1:14, 16-18
A SUMMARY YOU CAN SHARE
- He is God the , the of the world.
- He came so we can God and His love and forgiveness. (Become His .)
- He made known to us God’s love, forgiveness, and by His death and resurrection.
Personal Notes
Tell Me About “Plan B”
I Peter 1:3-9 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
You paint a picture and I’ll take a photograph.
We live in a world messed up by sin.
Matthew 16:33
Four Types of Suffering
- That which is to everyone.
Romans 8:22-23 - That which results from ours and others .
- Suffering which brings to Jesus.
Philippians 3:7-11 - Suffering resulting from the .
Luke 22:31-32
As a man Jesus lived totally obedient to God. He suffered: persecution, , sorrow for unbelievers, and .
We can only act to alleviate suffering of number 2 & 4.
How suffering is a restorative part of God’s sovereign plan is a mystery. Our experience of spiritual authority requires the direction of the Holy Spirit lest we presume it is a guarantee against pain or trouble.
Romans 8:35-39
Let’s celebrate this truth with communion.
Personal Notes
Satan Needs Partners
Ephesians 6:10-18 TPT | Pastor Terry Wilcox
- Understand Satan’s authority
His authority depends on the of people.
Luke 17:20 NKJV - Spiritual authority depends on the Ephesians 1:18-23
Definition: Spiritual authority is the God-given right of rulership, rooted in a relationship with Him through Christ, whereby we superimpose the rules, order, and impact of His world (the kingdom of God) over our world.
Remember: Authority trumps . - How do we use spiritual authority?
Psalm 94:22
A. and shelter.
John 10:7-11
Satan wants to destroy everyone .
Excerpt from
THE LORICA OF ST. PATRICK
Go today with God’s strength to uphold you.
God’s wisdom to guide you.
God’s eye to look before you.
God’s ear to hear you.
God’s word to speak for you.
God’s hand to guard you.
God’s way to lie before you.
God’s shield to protect you.
God’s hosts to save you
From the snares of the devil,
From the temptations of vices,
From everyone who desires you ill,
Afar and a-near, alone or in a multitude.
Personal Notes
Authority VS Power
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15; 3 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
We are in the midst of the greatest of spiritual wars.
Daniel 10:12-14; Ephesians 6:10-13
- Humanity began with God-given . Genesis 1:26-28
This “ruling” and “subduing” is rooted in . - God’s gift of authority is for . Genesis 2:15
Hebrew verb “abad” and “shamar.” - Choosing to obey Satan was a surrender of authority to . Genesis 3
Results are:
- relationship expressed in hiding and . Genesis 3:8-10
- Life rooted in power rather than . Genesis 3:16
- Work becomes rather than . Genesis 3:17-19
Scripture tells of Satan – John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; Ephesians 2:2; II Corinthians 4:4; I John 5:17.
Takeaways:
- Satan’s authority is given by .
- Satan does not have God’s .
- Jesus is about .
Personal Notes
The Respectability of Work
II Thessalonians 3:6-15 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
- Correcting the behavior of those in the church – II Thessalonians 3:6-15
Some were:- Disruptive – II Thessalonians 3:6, 11
- Not living the ‘tradition’ – II Thessalonians 3:6
- Not living quiet lives – I Thessalonians 4:11-12
- Interfering in the affairs of others – II Thessalonians 3:11
- Choosing not to work
The problem person is not an , but a
We are to be – I Peter 2:9
- Paul, Silas, and Timothy modeled generosity – II Thessalonians 3:7-9
This is balanced by I Corinthians 9:3-15 & II Corinthians 9:14 - The apostle’s command does not exclude charity – II Thessalonians 3:10-13
- II Thessalonians 3:10 is often misused
- Consider James 2:15-17 & Matthew 25:31-46
- Kingdom work is more about going out than outcomes
Personal Notes