1 Kings 9: Choosing for God
Introduction: When you woke up this morning, or every morning this week, did you consecrate yourselves to God? Did you remember that God has bought you at a price, that He is your Father and Lord, that you are here to fulfil His purposes? Did you remember that you are a sinner that battles a sinful heart, and look to God for the strength He provides so that you can do your duty? On our good days we recommit ourselves as living sacrifices to God. On a bad day we just drift into out duties out of habit and...
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Romans 14:5-6: Liberty of Conscience
Introduction: When I say the words, ‘Liberty of Conscience’, what comes to mind? I hope you have two distinct ideas in your minds, Christian Liberty, and then the world’s wrong definition of it. Freedom of conscience is not the freedom to believe whatever I want or determine to be true, nor to sin in any way I please and you are not allowed to judge. Today’s definition of freedom stands on very different foundations to the Christian one. We believe that we are free by virtue of our humanity, being made in the image of God and our freedom...
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Romans 14:1-3: Gospel Based Community
Introduction: Welcoming people of differing convictions is a hot topic today. Inclusivism is the politically correct thing to. Divisions among Christians are a perennial problem and the new sub-section we are beginning in Romans speaks to these matters. Paul has been talking to us about being living sacrifices as our response to God’s mercy to us in Christ. He has covered several areas of ethics. He has spoken about our minds, our attitudes, our body life and use of gifts, the love we ought to have to various parts of society, and our responsibility to the government. Out of...
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