God’s lovingkindness is oftentimes granted to us through agents of His grace.

Scripture: Ruth 2

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The book of Ruth takes place in the dark setting of the time of the judges. Everything that could go wrong seems to go wrong. What we would expect is that every person would do what is right in their eyes, but what happens is that even in the most difficult times imaginable, an unlikely person, Ruth, chooses to show loyalty to God and His people.

We are faced with difficulties, sometimes the unimaginable, and we are called to live like God’s covenant people. God has equipped us to do this through the Gospel.

Scripture: Ruth 1

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Paul brings his first and deeply affirming, encouraging letter to the Thessalonians to a close. He prays that their sanctification, God’s will for them, will be finished and through at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he promises them that their faithful, heavenly Father, the God of peace, will surely do it!

In the midst of all the rigor of this call to walk in a way that pleases God more and more, in the face of opposition that seems unrelenting, he urges them on through his prayer and his promise.

As followers of Jesus in a world broken by sin and pressing hard against our faith in Christ, and in this life with its temptations pulling on our flesh, we often feel the discouragement and a kind of futility in living this life to which we’ve been called. We feel very unfinished, with the finish line nowhere in sight. But through his prayer and promise, Paul urges them and us, not to lose heart today because on that day He (our faithful Father) will make what’s unfinished glorious!

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28; Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11

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What does it look like to be a family of believers headed to forever together? That’s the question Paul is answering in this text. He’s calling the believers in Thessalonica to walk in a way that pleases God more and more. He’s told them that it’s God’s will for them to be sanctified. And as he finishes his letter, he gives them 17 commands that we’ve grouped under three headings – think of them as three core values for the family of God:

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22; Ephesians 2:20, 3:4, 4:11; Matthew 7:15-16; 1 John 4:1

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How do people come to faith in Christ? How do Christians grow in Christ? One thing is central to both – the scriptures. Apart from the scriptures, apart from teaching the Word, disciples cannot be made, and teaching them cannot happen.

This text shows us that Paul, Aquilla and Priscilla, and Apollos all rely on the scriptures to help non-believers come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, and to help believers grow in their faith in Christ.

The text begins at the end of the second missionary journey and takes us through to Paul’s first significant stope on the third missionary journey. Luke points us, triumphantly, in verse 10 to the results of all this work in the Word, “This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”

What would it take for all the residents of Ahwatukee to hear the Word of the Lord? How many people groups are here (Jews and Greeks), because unique peoples require unique approaches. Are we raising up gospel teachers who can spread the gospel and disciple others?

Foothills was planted over 30 years ago by a group of believers who had a vision for the gospel to fill the Ahwatukee Foothills! 30 years on, do we dare dream with them again? (Acts 5:28) Do we dare believe that God has planted us here, like gospel seed, among so many who need Jesus? (Acts 8:1-2; Acts 17:26) And if we believe God has done this in His sovereign purpose, then what should we do to see that “all the residents of Ahwatukee hear the Word of the Lord… and have an opportunity to be discipled to follow Jesus?” What does it look like to engage people to put Jesus first for the sake of others through the scriptures?

Scripture: Acts 18:18-19:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 5:28, 8:1-2, 17:6, 17:26

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Rejection and failure affect all of us at some level. Who likes to share something of importance and deep personal value only to have it rejected, questioned, or mocked? When you’re being authentic and open, you’ve made yourself vulnerable. The least you hope for is a reasonable response.

Maybe you’ve faced rejection in the past when sharing your story of faith in Christ? Or perhaps you’ve been met with an antagonistic response to the gospel as you presented it and felt like you failed?

Those encounters can create a fear that keeps us quiet. The Apostle Paul wrestled with that fear as well. In this text we see how Jesus encouraged him, no matter what, to never give up!

Scripture: Acts 18:1-23

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Maybe your neighbor has this bumper sticker, “Coexist.” That was Athens when the Apostle Paul entered it on his second missionary journey. Athens was like a college town. Philosophy, art, politics, education, commerce, and religion were all part of the experience in the heart of the city, the marketplace.

As we look into this passage, we see Paul present Christ in the marketplace and learn what that might look like for us.

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

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Once again in Acts we see the Apostles proclaiming the gospel. And we see people respond much the same way as we have, some are persuaded and some are jealous and create so much conflict that the Apostolic team has to pivot to another place.

But in the midst of these verses, we don’t just see Paul give out the Scriptures, we learn something of his method for proclaiming the gospel, and we don’t just see how people respond, we learn something about how and why we should engage with the Scriptures, and the gospel.

How do we read and engage with the Bible? Does this passage teach us anything about how we should read and engage with the Bible? There is a stark contrast in the way people engage with and receive the Scriptures in this text. Where do we fall? And why should we engage with the Bible? Why should we read it, study it, and seek by the power of the spirit to respond to it as it is – the authoritative word of God.

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

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This text introduces us to a significant event in the history of the world. Today, people tour the great Cathedrals of Europe. But before there were Cathedrals, a small group of faithful followers of Jesus crossed the sea from Asia to Europe and shared the gospel on the banks of a river in Philippi.

When Paul and Barnabas introduce the gospel in Philippi a businesswoman is saved, a demon-possessed slave girl is delivered, and a jailer is also saved. At the same time, the gospel of Christ disrupts people’s lives, stirring up conflict and fights. But it also comforts hearts. Through it all, the Church of Christ is planted and God continues to unleash the gospel to the world.

Scripture: Acts 16:6-40

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The gospel can be threatened. The Good News of how a person can be saved can be threatened by persecution or obscured by false teaching. False teaching changes the good news, adding to or subtracting from God’s clear message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.

Acts 15 is the story of how the early church answered a threat to the clear message of the gospel and applied the truth of salvation by grace through faith to their lives together as believers in the church.

This passage answers some key questions for us:
What is the gospel?
What must a person do to be saved?
Who is included in the “people of God”?
How should we go about defending the truth of the gospel?
How does the gospel influence the way we show love for other believers?

Scripture: Acts 15:1-16:5; Amos 9:11-12; Leviticus 17-18; Galatians 2

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God looked down on the hopelessness of humanity, and He took action by sending forth His Son, for the intended purpose of redeeming His people, with the desired result of adoption and affection.

Christian’s are imitators of our Heavenly Father. So when we see the hopelessness of orphans, we take action by caring for them in their distress, with the desired result of their adoption and affection, for the purpose of their eternal redemption.

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7

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Today, “missions” has become any work a local church does outside of its community to improve the lives of people living in other places. But in Acts 13-14, the clear work of missions is the proclamation of the gospel. In these two chapters we see Paul and Barnabas proclaim the gospel and persevere by the Spirit, in trouble and for the church.

But is missions necessary? Why go? Why disrupt the lives of people who otherwise seem happy or satisfied with their faith or lack of faith by sharing Christ with them? Because eternal life for everyone is at stake, and because doing the work of missions is an expression of our identity as followers of Jesus.

Scripture: Acts 13-14

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We were privileged to hear from Pastor Bryan Catherman who is the pastor at Redeeming Life Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, as he talks about being Ambassadors for Christ, referencing 2 Corinthians 5:16. Listen to what he had to say about this topic.

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When a Christian shares the gospel with someone, we typically call that “evangelism.” People who are not Christians typically call that “proselytizing,” and it usually has a negative connotation. Christian missions is seen by many as a negative thing as well. “Why not do your clinics and water projects, but keep Jesus out of it? Why do you have to do a sports camp and disrupt the lives of people who already have a faith, by explaining Christianity to them, or sharing Jesus with them?” It’s a perceptive question, a common question, and sometimes a provocative one.

Acts 13-14 is the story of the first missionary journey of the early church. The Spirit initiates it, and sends representatives of the church in Antioch north into lands that were thoroughly Gentile. The majority of the people there had no knowledge of the Bible’s storyline, or of Jesus. As we study these two chapters we’ll answer three questions: what was the mission – particularly, how did they carry it out, and why was it necessary.

Scripture: Acts 13-14

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Acts 12 is like a door that closes the first half of the book, focused on the Apostle Peter and the gospel going to the Jews, and opening to the second half of the book, focused on the Apostle Paul and the gospel going to the Gentiles.

Acts 12 shows us how once again, conflict threatens to hinder the gospel, but only serves, in God’s good and wise sovereignty, to cause the work of the gospel and the word of God to “increase and multiply.”

In between, of course, are the people of God, living the experience. In Acts 12, Luke longs for us to come away with a vision of our glorious God, working out His good purposes in the world and in our lives – a vision that will shape the way we live and pray every single day.

Scripture: Acts 12:1-24

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God is a good Father who answers persistent prayer. In this passage, Jesus teaches us how to pray and the daily petitions we should bring before God. We see God juxtaposed with an unwilling neighbor and earthly fathers, both of whom are willing to meet needs, but how much more is God able and willing to answer the prayers of His children.

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

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700 years before the birth of Jesus, God promised to restore justice to the world and bring healing to the nations. He would do that through His Servant in Isaiah 42.

When you look at the world, it’s apparent the world needs saving, people need a Savior, and God sent His servant into the world that the world might be saved through Him. Jesus is God’s Servant. The Jesus of Christmas is an adorable baby, born in a stable, to poor parents. But He is more; He came to restore all things, to make all things new, to undo everything that sin had undone!

And as God’s servant, Jesus suffers for us. He takes our bruises on Himself and in return, heals our hurts, forgives our sins, and sets us free to be His people until He comes again and the world is made fully new.

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9: Matthew 3:17; Mark 10:45; Luke 22:27

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Isaiah gives hope to God’s people by describing a Glorious King who would usher in a Kingdom that would provide a glorious rest.

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

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The people to whom Isaiah speaks, the people of the northern Kingdom of Israel, have turned their backs to God. They remain spiritual people, but they no longer seek God’s will from His word, they trust in other sources, to the extent that they ask mediums to “speak to the dead about the living.” They are suffering and will suffer as a result of God’s discipline – being taken into captivity as a people. They have no light in them, they walk in darkness.

But God gives Isaiah a message of hope, that this people will not always walk in darkness. A light will come, not only for them, but also for the nations! The One who comes will be a child, a child born, a child given to them. And this child will bring them light as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. He will bring a Kingdom that will never end.

Scripture: Isaiah 8:20-9:7; Matthew 4:12-17

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Christmas is proof that God is a promise maker and a promise keeper. This is the first message in a series of four for Christmas as we study some of the promises God made and kept about the coming and work of Jesus from the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 7-12 is one unit of thought, but we will study it over three sermons. In Isaiah 7:1-8:10 the big idea is that in the midst of our greatest crisis we can experience the saving presence of God through faith in Jesus. But unbelief leads to lonely ruin.

In the midst of a terrible crisis, the King is anxious and working to save himself. God graciously promises to secure him and encourages the King to ask for a sign, an assurance that God will be faithful. But the King refuses and makes a faithless decision. God gives him a sign anyway. The promised sign is a son. “Behold a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Immanuel…” This Son, proving to Ahaz that “God is with us” would be born in the King’s day. In the end, the Son would be a sign that God is with His people, not only in salvation, but also in judgement. 700 years later, Matthew, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, sees the ultimate fulfillment of that sign in the birth of Jesus, the Son of God with us, saving us from our ultimate crisis.

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-8:10; 2 Kings 16:1-9; Matthew 1:20-23; Romams 8

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At it’s best, a model is a pattern of something to be made, a design to be followed. You use a model when you want to sew a dress, construct a freeway, or build a new car. So, before you can put on that first tire, or move any earth, or cut that first length of fabric, you start with a model.

Amazon is loaded with books providing churches and pastors with one model after another for starting or building a church. And there’s some helpful information in some of those books.

But as we look at Acts 11:19-30, and 12:25-13:3, we’re introduced to a model church, the church in Antioch. Why is it a model church? What is it about this early church that makes it a model for us today? What aspects of this church are things we should aspire to imitate at Foothills? What aspects of this church should you look for if you are ever relocated to a new city?

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30, 12:25-13:3

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This text is about how the gospel penetrates a new people – the Gentiles. It shows us the conversion of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion and his household. But it also shows us the conversion of Peter, the Apostle, and the Church.

First, God converts Peter through a vision that His grace is enough for everyone. And when the Spirit falls on the Gentiles and Peter gives an account of how it happened to the antagonistic Jewish believers in Jerusalem, God converts them as well. So that they all begin to understand and grasp that the gospel is for everyone!

There are many points of application for us, but primarily it’s an issue of our hearts. It’s sinful human nature to discriminate against others for all sorts of reasons. This text challenges us to identify and repent of our prejudices and calls us to not only be grateful recipients of God’s grace, but gracious sharers of His grace is enough for everyone!

Scripture: Acts 9:31-11:18; Galatians 3:28

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Most commentators say that Peter and Paul are the two most pivotal people in the book. This passage, Acts 9:1-31, is the story of Saul’s (soon to be known as Paul) conversion. His lust for stamping out Christianity has him pursuing the Christians outside of Jerusalem. But on his way to Damascus, he’s confronted by the risen Christ, converted and commissioned to go to the Gentiles with the gospel.

This text encourages us in a couple ways. It reminds us of the sovereign authority of Jesus to build His church and spread the gospel, no matter how strong the opposition might be.

It also shows us that no one anywhere, under any circumstances is beyond the reach of the gospel!

Scripture: Acts 9:1-31

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God is working in your life, in the foreground and background, to bring about His will for you.

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

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At this point in Acts, the church has experienced significant growth. Thousands of people have come to faith. At the same time, the Apostles have faced significant trouble: arrests, imprisonment, questioned before the authorities, threatened, and beaten.

Chapters 6-8 begin a transition of people and places. The ministry of the gospel begins to spread through the lives of everyday disciples of Jesus, not only the Apostles. And the gospel spills out of the city of Jerusalem and into the surrounding areas of Judea and Samaria, in fulfillment of what Jesus said in 1:8.

In this text we see four “people,” two who went out preaching the gospel and two who respond to the gospel. Philip is an everyday disciple; Simon is a would-be disciple. The Samaritans are joyful receivers of the gospel, and Peter and John extend the mission of the gospel.

The big idea? God uses everyday disciples sharing the word of Christ and showing the love of Christ in their community to bring great joy to all people, for God’s glory!

Scripture: Acts 8:4-25; John 4:1-42

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Jesus promised His disciples that we would be hated as He was hated. We would be mocked, misrepresented, shamed, even killed for following Him. The persecution of Christians began within days of the birth of the church, and it will continue until Jesus comes.

In this text, we read about the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Not an Apostle or church leader, but an ordinary member of the church, serving Christ, and being used by Christ in amazing ways.

His story can teach us how persecuted Christians around the world – those who suffer much more than we in America – persevere with grace. But it can also show us how, in the face of cultural shifts that challenge us and cause us to hesitate to be Acts 1:8 witnesses for Christ, how to also persevere with grace for God’s glory and the spread of the gospel.

Scripture: Acts 6:8-8:3

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Acts is an amazing history of how God unleashed the gospel into the world through the church. Yale historian, Kenneth Scott Latourette notes, “Never in so short a time has any other religious faith, or for that matter, any other set of ideas, religious, political, or economic, ever achieved so commanding a position in such an important culture without the aid of physical force, or social or cultural prestige.”

This is all the more amazing considering the gospel faced one obstacle after another. Beginning in chapter 4, there is persecution from outside the church. In chapter 5, we see corruption within the church, and more persecution from outside the church. And now in chapter 6, something new.

In verses 1 and 7, Luke shows us how the church is thriving and more and more people are coming to faith in Christ, in spite of all these obstacles. But in between verses 1 and 7, he exposes a problem that threatens to divide the church and distract her from her mission in the world.

In the end, we learn that God means to unleash the gospel and win the world through a people who say “It’s not about me. I will do whatever it takes for the sake of the mission and His glory.”

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7; Luke 17:10; Mark 10:44-45; John 13:12-17; 1 Peter 4:10

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In Acts 4-7, the Christians face a lot of opposition. This passage shows us how they handled that opposition, the threat of death, and a beating with heroic courage.

At the same time, God proves that He is not going to let anything or anyone get in the way of the Gospel going out. He intervenes not once, but twice in this text.

In the midst of it all, we learn that it takes courage to live and share in a world that will oppose the gospel. So what is courage, where did they get it, and how do we get it?

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42; Hebrews 2:10, 12:2

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Have you ever heard someone say, “I wish the Church would just get back to the way it was in the book of Acts!” If you have, you may be speaking with someone who’s never read the text for this sermon.

There are two stories in this text. One is a picture of radical, gospel driven generosity. The other is a picture of ugly, satanically inspired hypocrisy that ends in swift and severe judgement.

The overall theme is the unity of the church: how it’s established, experienced, and endangered. In the end, we learn there are three things we all need to apply.

Scripture: Acts 4:32-5:11; Matthew 10:8; John 13:35; Luke 12:32-34

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If you have shared the gospel or your story of faith with many people, then you’ve run into “trouble.” Some people are antagonistic, others can be apathetic, and a few might be accepting. It seems, however, that the negative response far outweighs the positive.

This is not new. Jesus faced trouble, He taught His followers to expect it, promised them His presence and help during it, and showed them how to respond in the middle of it.

As we study Acts 4, we see the first signs of trouble for the witnesses of the early church. And there are two questions we must answer as a result; in the face of trouble, what will we profess? And in the face of trouble, how will we respond?

An exclusive Gospel, opposed by the prevailing powers but professed by emboldened witnesses is plan A – there is no plan B.

A request for boldness, and faithfulness in the face of trouble is how we should respond.

Scripture: Acts 4; Luke 21:12

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After months of searching for the will of God, the church has now affirmed Brian McCoy as the new Lead Elder of Foothills Baptist Church. This is the installation service instating Brian into this new position.

What are the responsibilities that accompany the office of lead elder? What priorities should he establish to serve well in this position?

We can ask the same question of the church. What are the church’s responsibilities to Brian to enable him to serve well?

The ceremony of installation is meant to formally inaugurate Brian’s ministry as the new Lead Pastor and encourage both the church and Brian to thrive in this new and sacred relationship.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

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Acts 3 is an example of the “signs and wonders” being done at the hands of the Apostles Luke refers to in Acts 2:43. Peter and John, going to the temple see a lame man they likely have seen many times before, but this time it’s different. Peter speaks in Jesus name and the man is healed. A crowd gathers and Peter preaches his second sermon.

Chapter three is a miracle and a message. And this miracle is a message about the salvation Jesus can bring to our souls. It’s also about the restoration Jesus will bring to the world!

Scripture: Acts 3:1-26, 2:43; Isaiah 65:17, 35:5-6

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If we were to ask 100 active Christians about their motivations for joining a specific church, we would get a wide variety of answers. Some join for the youth program, others for the music, some join for the convenient location, and others because a friend invited them. The are many reasons why people make that decision.

While all of those factors are important, the Bible reveals the nature of a good church. What is a healthy church? What can we do to build healthy churches?

Acts 2:41-44 is a crucial passage for understanding what healthy church does.

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

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Everyone experiences defining moments, times that change the trajectory of your life. The most important is the moment of your salvation! However, other defining moments may include going to college, marriage, the birth of a child, retirement, and others.

One of the most crucial and life-changing moments in the life of the Church is recorded in Acts 2. Everything would change after that experience. What is so important about it? God’s presence and power came to indwell Christ’s followers. From this point on, God would be in us and empower us to serve Him in the person of the Holy Spirit.

This same Spirit comes to live in us when we are saved. What does that mean for our daily lives?

Scripture: Acts 2:1-41

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“How can I know God’s will?” That is a question that we ask many times in life.

What is God’s will concerning where to go to college or work? How can I know where to go to church or what house to buy? Should I do this or does God want me to do that? These are just a few of the issues that a sincere Christian will grapple with as we seek to live a life that is pleasing to and blessed by God.

The Apostles were in a time of great transition. Jesus had ascended to heaven and they were left here on earth to chart the way forward. These 11 men show us what it means to discover God’s will for our lives.

Scripture: Acts 1:12-26

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Acts is the story of the Gospel unleashed by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the people of God to the world. And Jesus teaches us that He means for that story to be continued through us. But many Christians find witnessing awkward at best, and unthinkable at worst. Perhaps that’s because we’re “giving it our best shot,” or feeling “forced” into it? But what we learn here is that Holy Spirit power is essential if the mission of Jesus is going to continue through us. In other words, this calling is bigger than anything we can do on our own, and the good news is that we don’t have to. His power is available to us now!

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

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Before a parent would die for their child, they die to self. Love is not first found in the big outward acts of dying for another person, but inwardly dying to self. Love, as demonstrated by Jesus in washing His disciple’s feet, is laying aside status and forsaking entitlement to pursue the holiness of another person.

Scripture: John 13:31-35

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Jesus calls His people to love one another with a supernatural love, so much so as to joyfully participate in one another’s pursuit of holiness.

Scripture: John 1:1-17

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David was the king of Israel. There were only three men who could make that claim and none greater than David. Among his accomplishments was the establishment of the City of Jerusalem and make it the capital of the country.

Sixty-six chapters of the Bible are devoted to him, more than any other Bible character. He is also mentioned in the New Testament more than 59 times! That shows us how important he is to us.

David was a prolific writer, musician, warrior, king, and “a man after God’s own heart.” While he did well in many areas of life, he did fail in others. He had an affair that led to the death of the woman’s husband. He appears to not have been a particularly good parent. One son tried to usurp his throne, another raped his sister, and another committed murder.

David has many truths to teach us about the way God works behind the scenes in our lives to prepare us for what He wants. In many ways, David’s life is a model for us. He was humble, reverent, faithful, obedient, and repentant. Those are amazing qualities which we all should desire.

David also teaches us from the negative aspects of his life. For example, he shows us the dangers of boredom, how none of us should believe that we are immune from sexual temptation. Finally, David shows us the heartbreaks that can come with parenting.

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Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:6-8, 13:14, 16:1; Acts 13:22; 1 Kings 2:9-10

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The temptation to compromise our faith is enormous. Television commercials often reveal a homosexual agenda. The news carries stories about the “narrow mindedness” of Christians. Educators belittle Christian faith and values. And society, in general, is decaying into the moral abyss.

What impact is this having on you? Before you say that it has not touched your life, I encourage you to consider what you are willing to compromise now that you were not willing to five years ago.

How do we remain true to our faith in the midst of a corrupt world? Daniel shows us the way.

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-10

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Achan is a biblical character that made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He made a terrible decision in the city of Jericho, and the impact of that decision reverberated not only through his family but also the Israelite people.

Finally, after years of wandering through the desert, the Israelites have crossed over the Jordan and entered into the land of Canaan. This was an event that was a long time in the making. But entering the land did not mean that the Israelites possessed the land. The Canaanites and other tribes of polytheistic idolaters stood in the way of Israel fulfilling their God-given destiny.

The story of Achan is, in a way, our stories. Here was an Israelite who ignored God. What happens when we do that? Achan provides a warning for us all.

Scripture: Joshua 6-7

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Esther is a compelling and beautifully told story in the Bible. At the same time, it’s a bit obscure for some people. The story is told with many coincidences and reversals. Perhaps most impactful is that God is not mentioned anywhere in the book. However, just because He seems to be hidden, doesn’t mean He’s absent from the story.

If you read Esther in the context of the rest of the Bible, you see God’s unconditional, covenant promises made to Abraham and David are in jeopardy. You also see God’s faithfulness to His promises as He providentially saves His people and defeats their enemies through the actions of Esther, the Queen.

The big idea from Esther 4 is this: God providentially positions His people to face defining moments and calls us to die to ourselves and act in faith for His glory and our good.

Scripture: Esther 4:1-17; Matthew 16:24-26

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Today we come to one of the most dramatic and most well-known events in the O.T. To understand Abraham, we must understand this passage. It is a one-of-a-kind story that portrays the greatest story ever told. Abraham would offer Isaac by faith and in doing so, gives us a good look at what would happen 2000+ years later on Mt. Calvary.

In Genesis 22 we find central truths that will help us better understand how we come to Christ and what is expected after we do.

Testing is one of the lessons of the passage. Testing is not the same thing as tempting. In temptation, Satan lures us to disobey God. The purpose of testing (or trials) is that God is behind it and the purpose is to build faith. Abraham was about to face his greatest test.

Jehovah Jira is one of the compound names of God. It means “God will provide.” Abraham was faced with a great dilemma. God had asked him to sacrifice his long-desired son. Would he do it? Why would God call for this to happen?

Finally, what does Abraham teach us about faith that is required for salvation?

Scripture: Genesis 22; James 1:2-4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 11:17-19; Romans 4:1-3

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Abraham is a larger than life figure in both the Old and New Testaments. He is also called the father of our faith.

What was it that made Abraham so special? Was he perfect? Far from it. Abraham had an unmistakable quality; most of the time, he trusted God even with the hard events of life.

Abraham’s life is a dramatic illustration of grace. He was called by grace, kept by grace, and remained faithful to the end by grace. What an illustration for us all.

Scripture: Genesis 12

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What does it mean to serve God successfully? Can good come from insecurity? What is better than success? Is affluence always bad? Isaiah answered all of these questions and many more.

Why is the Book of Isaiah considered by many as the best and most important of the Old Testament? His book is quoted more times in the New Testament (55 times) than any other prophet. And Isaiah teaches us a great deal about Jesus.

Isaiah doesn’t fit the mold of an Old Testament prophet. He was born with the silver spoon in his mouth; some think that he was a cousin to the king. He wrote with eloquence and fantastic skill. Isaiah is a person you should get to know.

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1; 6:1-12

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The most significant problem of both the Old and New Testaments is idolatry. And for that matter, the greatest problem that we face is also idolatry.

Elijah was a man called by God to confront idolatry in the most convincing way. It is a story like none other. But Elijah shows us that even God’s choicest servants can suffer from profound weakness.

Elijah confronted Israel’s idolatry and those who propagated it. He won the most unimaginable victory and drew the hearts of God’s people back to Him. However, he then wandered into the wilderness and suffered greatly with depression and wanted to give up.

His life shows us the reality of life in God’s service.

Scripture: 1 Kings 18

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What is it that the church has to say? We believe the message of the church is the Gospel. Paul refers to it as “the gospel of God,” “the gospel of His son,” and also “the word of the cross.” Christians are gospel people. We believe that the gospel is the message that saved us. And as followers of Christ, we obey His command to make disciples of all the nations by spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.

But it’s not always clear what people mean by the word “gospel.” It’s simply “good news,” but what passes for the gospel in some churches, online, etc. is not the good news Paul or the rest of the apostles preached. The pressure is real to “adjust” the gospel to our culture, but eternity is at stake if we get it wrong.

Scripture: Romans 1:1-1

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The idea of church membership is fading. Many churches are doing away with it altogether. Many people see it as nothing more than a bureaucratic tool for keeping track of people’s attendance and giving. In our culture spirituality has become an individual rather than community pursuit. And even “churched people” often attend more than one church at a time, depending on the speaker, the music, the setting, the programs. We’ve become consumers of spiritual goods and services.

The New Testament paints a different picture. Are there scriptural evidences for why anyone should become a member of a local church? The big idea is this: Local Church membership is the life of committed relationships and responsibilities to which every Christian is called. We are called to identify with and belong to a local church; to follow local church leaders; and want and engage in local church mutuality and accountability.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Romans 16:3-5; Hebrew 13:17; 1 Peter 5:5; Matthew 18:15-18, 16:18ff; 1 Corinthians 5

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Worship is the proper response we to make to God as He comes to us clothed in His promises throughout the biblical narrative and covenantal promises, all of which culminate in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian worship, then, is Christ-centered. It is love inspired reverence, honor and glory for the One who is the eternal word that became flesh and dwelt among us; the One in whom the fulness of God dwelt bodily; the One who has been given a name that is above every other name, that every knee should bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father; that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.

Scripture teaches that we become like whatever or whomever we worship. In worshipping God we become more godly and we learn to edify one another, forbear with one another, forgive one another, challenge one another. Worship recounts the glory of God in His attributes and actions. It helps plant within our souls a love of God that would otherwise grow cold. In this way worship renews and transforms us; it makes us one with the saints of every age; it helps us persevere as we trust in the power of the gospel to make all things new. Revelation 5 is a dramatic representation of the worthiness of Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!

Such worship exalts the One who is able to make all things new and it exults in the victory of God’s purposes for creation, while it inspires us to remain faithful until the end.  It enables us to accept the slings and arrows of life because Jesus is the divinely appointed Lord in whom all things are brought to consummation.

Scripture: Revelation 5:9-14

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Jesus told us to be sure we included two “ordinances.” An ordinance is simply something that Jesus ordered His Church to do, on an ongoing basis, as central acts of worship. These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

The origin of the Lord’s Supper stretches back about 1400 years before Jesus was born. Exodus 12 tells of Moses confronting Pharaoh and telling him to let God’s people go. This stubborn Pharaoh of Egypt resolutely refused to release the people from bondage. To get his attention, God sent 12 plagues on Egypt. Finally, God told Moses to have the people wipe the blood of a sacrificial animal on their doorposts. This sacrifice would be a signal for the angel to Passover the people of Israel and inflict God’s discipline of every Egyptian’s home.

From that day forth, the people of Israel have celebrated Passover, to commemorate God’s protection and deliverance. Then, just before his arrest, Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples and changed the meaning of the celebration. Today, we continue to observe this commemoration in the form of what we call the Lord’s Supper.

Scripture: Exodus 12 and Matthew 26

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One hazard that we share as believers is that repetition can create inattention. We become so familiar with something that it loses its meaning.

There are no biblical truths that we can afford to overlook. That is particularly true when it comes to worship. Chaucer once wrote that “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Having extensive knowledge of something or a close association with someone can lead to a loss of respect.

To protect ourselves from inattention and “contempt” we need to stop and take stock of the condition of our spiritual lives, particularly the freshness and vitality of our worship.

To help us say spiritually vital, Jesus gave His church two specific acts to remind us of what is most important. We call these acts “ordinances.” We are to repeat these ventures of faith to tell us of what Jesus has done for us.

The message today is about one of those ordinances, baptism.

Scripture: Mark 1:4; Mark 1:9–10; Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:24–36; Matthew 28:16–20; Acts 2:41

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The origin story of the deacon comes from Acts 6. Deacons were selected, not based on the present size of the church, but based on the present needs of the church. A deacon and a table waiter/waitress have a lot in common. In the Bible, they are the same word. Today, deacons keep the servant-identity of Jesus before the church. However, all Christians should be morally qualified to be deacons. Is there any reason, that after engaging at Foothills for five years, you wouldn’t be ready to deacon for a season?

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

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