The Power of the Spirit

9th Sermon in the Series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians
Dr. Timothy Keller - 27 November 2011

Ephesians 3:14-21
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen.

• The fullness of God is in you as a Christian


• Knowing Christ intellectually vs the experience of Christ in our hearts


• Pascal Fire


• Power of the Spirit gives is the ability to deal with life.


• Spiritual inner sensitivity to the gospel truth.


• Christ's love is more real than all others.

1. Regular sustained seeking through prayer---Jesus make thyself to me a reality


2. Obedience--kneeling and submitting to the authority of the Father.


3. Community--together with all saints.

Deterined meditation---grasping and wrestling for God's love against the inner flaws of our heart.
Abstraction of God needs to be understood through the gospels which is a prism of Jesus' experience on Earth.

We are an collection of sin but purified through Christ. Isaiah 1:18
John 17:1-4

A Foretaste of the Future

8th Sermon in the series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians
Dr. Timothy Keller - 20 November 2011

Ephesians 3: 1-13
1For this reason, I, Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles----2Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelations, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7Ibecame a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. 8Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unserachable riches of Christ, 9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11accroding to his enternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

• Life is hard and there is suffering all around us.


• The mystery of the Gospels is salvation through the wonder of grace.


• Salvation by adhering to rules doesn't work because we always fall short.


• The final purpose of God is to sum up things in Jesus Christ.


• Every church is riddled with flaws.


• No suffering is for nothing....everything we do counts.


• No suffering can hurt you because we have the freedom to approach God and since that can't be touched, that becomes our treasure in this life.

A New Humanity

6th Sermon in the Series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians?
Dr. Timothy Keller - 06 November 2011

Ephesians 2: 11-18
11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away and have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostilty, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpse was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

• People look down on others


• Time oriented culture vs event oriented (why certain groups are late)


• Do I feel good about myself by making fun of others?


• People of different races who are brought into Christianity are brought in to a new and common identity.

Alive with Christ

5th Sermon in the Series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians
Dr. Timothy Keller - 30 October 2011

Ephesians 2:1-10
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trangressions---it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God---9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• Being sinful is to be enslaved by something.


• 2Timothy3 speaks of material things we cling to


• Self-centeredness is human nature.


• Martin Luther - Human heart uses everything to serve oneself.


• Do I help others for my sake or for their sake? Do I just do it to feel good about myself or look good in front of others?


• Everything is a gift from God.


• Boasting-We are all looking for something to face life---some kind of validation for ourselves.


• Anger vs Contentment--Am I always annoyed about something? If I am, then I don't see life as a gift from God


• Disdain vs Acceptance--Do I look down on others? Am I too proud of my accomplishments?


• Can I forgive? Do I keep grudges when I'm wronged because I feel superior. I shouldn't lose sleep over people that snub me.


• Only God should be at the center of our lives.


• Look at Christ's selflessness


• We should boast through him - Galatians 6:14

Living in Wonder

4th Sermon in the Series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians
Rev. Leo Schuster - 23 October 2011

Ephesians 1:15-23
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the siants, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

• A sensory and illuminating understanding of God--not just an intellectual one.


• Connection to God is uniqe to you.


• Only invest in hope with God (not material things)


• Church is the group of people that have hope of the future of God through Jesus.

Marked as Possession

3rd Sermon in the Series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians
Dr. Timothy Keller - 16 October 2011

Ephesians 1:11-16

11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

• Post Modernism deprivleges meaning which says everything is ok---But by getting rid of absolute Truth, it's hard to object to anything.


• Christianity starts with the Truth through the Gospels


• Gospels are the news of what God has done for you.


• Hope is life changing belief about the future--Ultimate redemption is definitely coming.


• We are God's possessions through His Glory.


• If God is perfect---then anything is worth doing to be on His side---ie, even the stuff we may disagree with that's in the Bible.

Everyone with a Gift

1st Sermon in the Series: Every Member Ministry
Dr. Timothy Keller - 18 September 2011

Romans 12: 1-8

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pelasing and perfect will.

3For by grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than others, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently, if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

• The essence of Christian life is a perpetual living sacrifice; we have to put to death the idea that we are in control of our lives and should give ourselves over to God.


• The aspects of a Christian life affects our whole life including our inner selves


• We should be a servant to Christianity and share the gospels (directly and through how we live)


• We don't live a good life so that we can seek God's favor, but the Essence of Christian life is why we live a good life---this allows you to be consistent even when nobody is looking.


• It's a voluntary submission that allows the new life to flow into you.

Isaiah and the Crisis

11th Sermon in the Series: Theophany:
Anticipations of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament
Dr. Timothy Keller - 11 September 2011

Isaiah 6:1-8
1In the year that King Uzzah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

6Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am, Send me!"

• Evil is boring because it is self-centeredness to an extreme degree


• God and good is electric and decimating--Jesus's actions are unpredictable.


• How do you when you've met God? -- By realizing how worthless you are


• Peace and Inspiration comes from inner conflict--and leads to real authenticity.


• Power of God comes through repentence and admitting weakness.

Hagar and the Angels

2nd Sermon in the Series: Theophany-Anticipations of Jesus in the Old Testament
Rev Scott Sauls - 10 July 2011

Genesis 16:1-16
1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me free from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her."

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.

When she knew she was preganant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering, I put my servant in your arms, and now she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me."

6 "Your servant is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar, so she fled from her.

7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?"

"I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.

9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." 10 The angel added, "I will also increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."

11 The angel of the LORD also said to her"
"You are now with child
and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,
for the LORD has heard of your misery.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers."

13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." 14 That is why the well was galled Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, betweem Kadesh and Bered.

15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishamel to the sone she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

• Polygamy is recognized in the Bible as an existing condition, but not condoned as the stories of polygamy throughout the Bible always end badly.


• Sarai--to be barren is a stigma as children were women's wealth similar to how we experience the cultural pressures asked upon us to fit in with society.


• Hagar is treated as a disposable asset.


• God sent Hagar back to endure the misery with her mistress.


• We need to shift our identity to a redemptive status, instead of deriving it from cultural status.


• Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal.

The Triune God - Rev. John Lin

29th Sermon in the Series : To Know the Living God
12 June 2011

Matthew 28:16-20
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When the saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make discuples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)

• Because the disciples doubted the resurrection, this gives it a sense of authenticity.


• Can't know God by yourself--HE needs to be experienced through community.


• Go without fear, because on the other side, Jesus is always there.

The Compassion of God - Dr. Timothy Keller

27th Sermon in the Series: To Know the Living God
29 May 2011

Jonah 4:1-11
1 But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD and said, “Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.

3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.” 4 The LORD said, “Do you have good reason to be angry?” 5 Then Jonah went out from the city and sat east of it. There he made a shelter for himself and sat under it in the shade until he could see what would happen in the city.

6 So the LORD God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant. 7 But God appointed a worm when dawn came the next day and it attacked the plant and it withered. 8 When the sun came up God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, “Death is better to me than life.”

9 Then God said to Jonah, “Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to death.”

10 Then the LORD said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight.

11 Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”

Love of Attachment - we bind ourselves up with something or someone and we become dependent on them---we live and die through them.
God doesn't need us, but He voluntarily binds himself to us.
God is also moved by our problems.
God shows compassion for us.
God forgives readily
Jesus forgives readily for us by going to the Cross

Ways that we can show compassion
Don't take pleasure criticizing others and don't avoid self criticism.
Love cities and the diversity that it provides.
Forgive readily
Jesus forgives people without repentence---Can I be like that?
Expect trouble
Take time to weep - Seek others that are suffering.

Mark 11:25
25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.

The Beauty of God - Dr. Timothy Keller

24th Sermon in the Series: To Know the Living God
08 May 2011

Psalm 27: 1-14
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation--
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life--
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies an my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Through an army beseige me,
my heart will not fear;
4 One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.
10 Through my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my opressors.
12 Do not turn me over to then desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out of violence.
13 I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

• When you experience the Evil and Terror of Life or the Rumble and Panic of Life, it is time to seek the Beauty of God.


• Gazing at God's beauty while we are surrounded by Evil.


• Awareness of God's beauty gives us pleasure and saties us; a satiation of joy.


• Beauty is about excellence, attractiveness and restfulness (in that we are satisfied)


• St. Augustin - Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in thee!


• Jesus came to us unattractive, poor, and on the cross, he was beaten to a pulp.


• His resurrection makes us all beautifulWe should build an altar to God through prayer and good works.
  
  

The God Who Makes Alive - Rev John Lin

22nd Sermon in the Series : To Know the Living God

Easter Sunday 24 April 2011

Ezekiel 37: 1-14

1 The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”

• Ezekiel tells the story of the Babylonian assault of Israel.
• Resurrection is reinterpreting the pain of the past; its a transformation.
• Resurrection is coming back as if there is no death---not just a guy coming back to life.
• Death is not the end--Resurrection is just the beginning.
• You are forever free

The God Who Reconciles Sinners - Dr. Timothy Keller

21st Sermon in the Series : To Know the Living God

17 April 2011

Hebrews 9: 11-14

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

• Cleansing our guilt and our shame
• Freud, in Civilization and Discontent, tells us that we are all egocentric. It is our guilt and our conscience that controls our egocentricity and allows civilization.
• Is there a feeling that something is wrong with us?
• God is repulsed by our sins which make us unclean.
• On the cross, Jesus is covered by our filth so that we can be part of his cleansing.
• Romans 8:1 - God Justifies the condemned
• See Cate Blanchett in Heaven
• The heart condemns us, but JC as the high priest cleans us.

The Holy One - Dr. Timothy Keller

20th Sermon in the Series : To Know the Living God

10 April 2011

Joshua 5:13-16; 6:1-5

13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

15 The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

• Holiness of God is an incomparable transcendent perfection.
• It is unmatched and unrivaled.
• Only when you really believe in God, do you find his Holiness beautiful because its the hardest concept to grasp as it calls us out for our shortcomings.
• We are the servant and are obedient exclusively to God.
• Something is holy when used solely for the service of God--like a pot---like we try to be.
• "Be holy as I am holy"
• Jesus gave utterly for us, so we should return the favor.

The Jealousy of God - Dr. Timothy Keller

19th Sermon the the Series : To Know the Living God

27 March 2011

Exodus 20:1-6

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

• Bad jealousy is basically envy as in Saul and David; its about ego and anger.
• Godly jealousy is angered love that stays love--It's a love that rescues and fights extinction.
• Love is dead in bad jealousy.
• Loving anything more than God is an idol and incurs the jealousy of God.
• Fidelity is a holiness of behavior.
• Love forgives the most and confines the least.
• Intimacy is the essence of love---I want to give it all to you because your love is my command--This is how we should serve God.
• How do we achieve it? God's love will die for us as did Jesus.
• John Dunn poem about chastity.

The Shepherd-King - Dr. Timothy Keller

18th Sermon in the Series: To Know the Living God

20 March 2011

Ezekiel 34:11-17, 23-29

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

17 “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.

23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.

25 “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. 27 The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. 28They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. 29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations.

1) The Problem - We are all sheep and we get lost; we are helpless and foolish and it's difficult to hand over authority to someone else.

2) The Inadequate Solution - Human shepherds like parents or church officials; bad leaders can be self-serving and selfish. Neglectfulness or abusiveness flows out of selfishness.

Good leader makes people see reality

John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Revelations 7:17 - The Shepherd becomes the Lamb.

¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne

will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

Sin is the spiritual predator and it can destroy you.

Jesus is the ultimate shepherd because he has the ultimate servant's heart and ultimate leadership skills in truth in love.

1) Jesus as the shepherd radically critiques Western ideas of leadership in that we should give ultimate control and authority over to him.

2) We don't trust human shepherds enough; we should try to open ourselves to church leaders.

3) Trust Jesus as the shepherd comprehensively and give spiritual dependence over to him.

The Glory of God I - Dr. Timothy Keller

16th Sermon in the Series : To Know the Living God

06 March 2011

Ezekiel 1:4-18, 22-28

⁴ I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, ⁵ and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, ⁶ but each of them had four faces and four wings.⁷ Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. ⁸ Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, ⁹ and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.

¹⁰ Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. ¹² Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. ¹³ The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. ¹⁴ The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

¹⁵ As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. ¹⁶This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. ¹⁷ As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. ¹⁸ Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.

²² Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. ²³ Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. ²⁴ When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

²⁵ Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. ²⁶ Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. ²⁷ I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. ²⁸ Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

What is the Glory of God?

It's described as being "like" something, because it is an infinite, indescribable, and superlative of the Glory of God.

What matters to you the most?

God or some other more meaningless stuff.

How does a Spiritual Grasp of God manifest itself in us?

1) Peaceful Humility---self righteousness and scorn generally disappear.

2) Unconditional Duty - We are here to serve God, not the other way around.

3) Enjoying His Beauty

How do we get the Glory of God?

By giving up all our freedoms to know how to live.

Prayer of Confession

Father, teach us not to sin with such abandon.

We do it all so easily

Pretend, lie

envy, lust

criticize, brood

ignore, deny

consume, hoard

defame, distort

make excuses

and then expect an easy forgiveness for the asking

God, forgive us for our negligence of your holy character. Let us not misinterpret your patience with our sin as though it were permissiveness. Loving Father, astonish us with a wholesome, godly fear which will not drive us to despair, but cause us to number our days and give our hears of wisdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Omniscience of God

27 February 2011 - Reverend Leo Schuster

15th Sermon in the Series - To Know the Living God

Hebrews 4:12-16

¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

• Perseverance through Faith.
• God is omniscient and comforting - to be completely known and loved.
• Plato - Be kind because everyone is fighting a great battle.
• God's love is attained by feeling his Sword of Criticism.
• Bible should filter our behavior instead of us filtering what we want to believe.
• Jesus brings this word to us to clear the way and provides a Throne of Grace that we don't have to fear.

The God of Truth

20 February 2011 - Dr. Timothy Keller

14th Sermon in the Series - To Know the Living God

Psalm 119 - Partial

¹ Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
² Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
³ they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
⁴ You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

¹⁴ I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.

²⁹ Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me and teach me your law.

³⁸ Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.

⁴⁵ I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.

¹³⁵ Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.

¹⁵¹ Yet you are near, LORD,
and all your commands are true.
¹⁵² Long ago I learned from your statutes
that you established them to last forever.

• All of the Bible is authoritative and considered Law.
• In the Modern world, truth is subjective as opposed to the authority of God's Law.
• The entire book of Psalms 119 contains 176 things that the Truth can do for you.
• Truth frees you to think independently and helps you escape the tyranny of the cultural moment.
• Hospitals and orphanages are Christian based, not Greek---preaches compassion for the disaffected.
• The Truth empowers you to act decisively.
• Jane Eyre doesn't go off with the married guy.
• Believing in absolute truth gives you a humility.
• Study the Bible text closely and make it a part of you.

The Sovereignty of God

06 February 2011 - Rev. David Bisgrove

12th Sermon in the Series: To Know the Living God

Ephesians 1:4-14

⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

• There is a plan and purpose to this world under Jesus' leadership.
• Love God and our neighbor.
• Coming to church is a rehearsal for the story of God.
• We are part of his story and glory.

The Unchanging God

23 January 2011 - Dr. Timothy Keller

10th Sermon in the Series : To Know the Living God

Psalm 102: 1-4; 18-28

¹ Hear my prayer, LORD;
let my cry for help come to you.
² Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.

³ For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
⁴ My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food.

¹⁸ Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
¹⁹ “The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
²¹ So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem
²² when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the LORD.

²³ In the course of my life he broke my strength;
he cut short my days.
²⁴ So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on through all generations.
²⁵ In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
²⁷ But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
²⁸ The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you"

God doesn't Change.

• We all, at some point, experience a sense of isolation from one another and a sense of radical impermanence.
• Time takes everything away and is ultimately meaningless.God is unchanging - Plato: How can we know anything if everything changes.
• Hebrews 1 says this psalm points to Jesus.