Founders Baptist

Introduction: 
The baptism of Jesus was the launching point for His public ministry. And it was a high point. 
The forerunner serves his purpose by the baptism of Jesus. Jesus’ ministry will now emerge out of John’s. 
The mission of Jesus is on display in His baptism. He assumed a place of identification with those whom He came to save. 
The identity of Jesus as the Messiah is confirmed at His baptism. It was confirmed for John the Baptist as the Spirit of God descends and remains on Jesus. 
The identity of Jesus as servant, King, and Son of God is confirmed by Trinitarian witness — the Son, the Spirit, and the Father’s voice, as the heavens are opened when Jesus emerges out of the waters of baptism. 
Everything is at a high point. Everything is ready for launch. Everything seems set for Jesus to begin preaching and performing the signs that would demand the faith of all those waiting for the consolation of Israel. 
BUT, BY GOD’S CHOICE, SOMETHING ELSE MUST COME FIRST. AND WHAT MUST COME FIRST IS ALSO NECESSARY TO MAKE CLEAR WHO JESUS REALLY IS. 
Before Jesus would engage in His public ministry, He must be proven in private. 
What we read here, no one could have told us about except Jesus Himself, because only Jesus was there. 
There is a series of temptations that He must face, and by which He must be proven triumphant. It is an early test in His life as redeemer, but it will not be His last. 
ESV Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. 
This morning we consider the triumph of Christ in the wilderness. 
 
 • THE LOCATION FOR PROVING THE SON OF GOD (vs.1) 
Immediately following the baptism of Jesus, He makes His way out into the wilderness. 
Three things we take note of about Christ’s location in the wilderness. 
 • THE INITIATION WAS BY GOD 
Jesus heading into the wilderness reflects the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Christ always does what is pleasing to the Father. It is BY GOD’S WILL that Jesus goes into the wilderness immediately after His baptism. 
ESV Mark 1:12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. 
Right away, that should put this entire encounter into a different frame of reference for us. 
This is a situation in which GOD IS PUTTING SOMETHING ON DISPLAY ABOUT THIS SON. 
I think that is important. I think we often read of this and think about WHAT SATAN wanted to do instead of what GOD wanted to do. 
From the standpoint of Satan, it is an attempt to lead the Son of God into sin. 
From the standpoint of God, it is a demonstration of what is true about His Son. 
Note: This also speaks to us about the fact that this passage is not centered on us. 
It is often the case that people come to Matthew 4 looking for lessons about how God’s people should deal with temptations from Satan. That is not inappropriate, so long as we keep in mind that that is a helpful additional use for this passage, but not its primary purpose. 
IT IS RIGHT to see that Christ’s way of dealing with Satan has lessons for us, as we deal with temptations to sin. But IT IS WRONG to miss the design for this encounter, and to miss the message for us about our Savior. 
 • THE LOCATION WAS DESIGNATED BY GOD 
This not only makes plain that it was the Spirit of God who impelled Jesus to go somewhere following His baptism — THE SOMEWHERE IS WHERE GOD WANTED JESUS TO BE. The wilderness was the desired location. 
In other words, Jesus is in the WILDERNESS on purpose. 
The wilderness is not His destination for no reason. There is a reason He is there. We will discuss that in a moment.

Introduction:
The baptism of Jesus was the launching point for His public ministry. And it was a high point.
The forerunner serves his purpose by the baptism of Jesus. Jesus’ ministry will now emerge out of John’s.
The mission of Jesus is on display in His baptism. He assumed a place of identification with those whom He came to save.
The identity of Jesus as the Messiah is confirmed at His baptism. It was confirmed for John the Baptist as the Spirit of God descends and remains on Jesus.
The identity of Jesus as servant, King, and Son of God is confirmed by Trinitarian witness — the Son, the Spirit, and the Father’s voice, as the heavens are opened when Jesus emerges out of the waters of baptism.
Everything is at a high point. Everything is ready for launch. Everything seems set for Jesus to begin preaching and performing the signs that would demand the faith of all those waiting for the consolation of Israel.
BUT, BY GOD’S CHOICE, SOMETHING ELSE MUST COME FIRST. AND WHAT MUST COME FIRS

In The Wilderness | Matthew 4:1-11

Introduction: 
ESV 2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 
That is the preacher’s calling. That is the shepherd’s task. 
Shepherd the church with the Word of God. 
Shepherd the church with the Word of God regardless of the season. 
Reprove with God’s Word. 
Rebuke with God’s Word. 
Exhort with God’s Word. 
Do this patiently. 
Do this instructively. 
It is especially the responsibility to EXHORT that I want to practice today. I want to exhort us in light of the time that we find ourselves in. 
What is on my heart has to do with the present season that we find ourselves in, and a call that Paul issues in the 16th verse. 
THE SEASON 
The season we find ourselves in is one of great uncertainty and anxiety. 
From a human point of view our world has never seemed more out of sorts. 
Things are taking place all around us unlike anything that we have seen in my lifetime. If anyone would have described what we are seeing right now, twenty years ago, and told us that we would be seeing it in just twenty years, I think we would have had a hard time believing them. 
The world has lost its moral sanity. I do not need to offer examples; you are aware. 
Governments are acting in tyrannical fashion, and citizens that dispute with each other about whether it is tyrannical. People willing to give away their freedoms on the promise of safety. 
It is like we are living in a world that constantly bounces between two extremes. On the one end of the spectrum, you have an almost revolutionary spirit that is often rash. On the other end of the spectrum, you have a thoughtlessly compliant spirit that is often without discernment or cowardly. 
It is a time of bold-faced lies. Lies that are so blatant they seem to be designed as much to mock as to deceive. (Any American who wants to leave Afghanistan can, no one is stranded). 
And in such a time as this, when the clear voice of Scripture has never been more needed, much of the evangelical world seems as divided as the lost world around it. 
The one word that comes to my mind that most describes the moment is the word UNREST. It is a world that feels like constant upheaval, confusion, like a ship in the midst of a great storm, with waters constantly churning. 
THE CHURCH’S MARCHING ORDERS 
WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TO DO IN SUCH TIMES? 
WHAT ARE THE CHURCH’S SHEPHERDS TO EXHORT IN SUCH TIMES? 
I BELIEVE THE 16TH VERSE REPRESENTS OUR MARCHING ORDERS. 
AND I BELIEVE ITS INSTRUCTION CAN BE CHARACTERIZED WITH THREE SIMPLE WORDS: “HOLD THE LINE.” 
What you have been taught that is faithful and true. 
What you learned in times that seemed far less stressful. 
The pattern of sound words that you have been given before the present distress. 
HOLD TO THOSE THINGS. MAINTAIN THAT STANDARD. 
ESV 2 Timothy 1:13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 
That is what I want to exhort us about today. 
I want us to hear that call clearly. I want us to recognize the context in which that calling must be heard, and to recognize the only way in which it can be obeyed. 
Today, I want to share six characteristics of the spiritual life that will prove to be steadfast. 
THE CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (vs.16) 
Before we look at the characteristics of a steadfast life, I want us to understand what the 16th verse is calling for. 
The first word ties the exhortation to the previous instruction. It is the word πλὴν, and it is an adverb used as a conjunction at the beginning of a sentence, that marks a contrast added for consideration. 
Now, we will talk more about this in a moment, but what has preceded this verse is a call for PROGRESS. A mindset, an attitude, for PROGRESS. 
Which is why the first word of verse 16 has a bit of contrast in it. 
“Nevertheless,” “However,” is what this word would mean. YOU MUST STRIVE FOR PROGRESS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE IS SOMETHING THAT MUST STAY THE SAME.

Introduction:
ESV 2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
That is the preacher’s calling. That is the shepherd’s task. 
Shepherd the church with the Word of God. 
Shepherd the church with the Word of God regardless of the season.
Reprove with God’s Word.
Rebuke with God’s Word.
Exhort with God’s Word.
Do this patiently.
Do this instructively.
It is especially the responsibility to EXHORT that I want to practice today. I want to exhort us in light of the time that we find ourselves in.
What is on my heart has to do with the present season that we find ourselves in, and a call that Paul issues in the 16th verse.
THE SEASON
The season we find ourselves in is one of great uncertainty and anxiety. 
From a human point of view our world has never seemed more out of sorts.
Things are taking place all around us unlike anything that we have seen in my lifetime. If anyone would have described what we ar

Hold The Line | Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sexual Temptation & Marriage | 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

The Joy of Sexual Faithfulness In Marriage | Proverbs 5:15-23

The Nature of Genuine Faith | Luke 6:46-49

A Warning Against Worldliness | 1 John 2:15-17

The Myth of Lying Fruit | Luke 6:43-45

Introduction: 
John the Baptist was not great when measured in the way that people usually measure greatness. 
But he was great in the sight of God (Luke 1:12-15). 
That spiritual greatness meant that John still stood out in the realm of men. 
In fact, the people who will stand out in greatest contrast to this present world will be those who are most like the world that is coming. 
His presence was so unusual, and preaching so powerful, that the Pharisees sent messengers to ask who he was. Some wondered if he was the Messiah. 
At every point John made crystal clear the distinction that existed between himself — the one who was nothing but a servant — and Jesus, the one who is the King. 
He did this even when his own disciples felt that he was being surpassed. 
ESV John 3:26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 
At every point, and in every situation, John the Baptist MAGNIFIED his master. 
The question that we are faced with, in a text like this, is whether we do the same? 
Do we recognize the true greatness of Jesus of Nazareth? 
That is what is John was doing in our verses. 
HE KNEW THAT PEOPLE MUST UNDERSTAND THE MAJESTY AND THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS. 
He must decrease. 
Christ must increase. 
Two points from our verses this morning: In John the Baptist we see (1) A messenger who magnified Christ’s majesty (vs.11a) (2) A messenger who magnified Christ’s authority (vs.11b-12). 
 
 • A MESSENGER WHO MAGNIFIED CHRIST’S MAJESTY (vs.11a) 
John’s greatness is on display, believe it or not, by his clear understanding of his smallness. 
John tells them that he has a role to play with respect to the Messiah (he prepares the way with a call to repentance and with a baptism that pictures that repentance), but the one He represents is so much greater that John does not deserve to carry his shoes. 
Likely, John is referring to a common responsibility of slaves to care for the feet of those who would enter a house. To remove the sandals, to wash the feet. HE IS NOT WORTHY TO CARE FOR THE MESSIAH’S FEET. 
John recognizes the greatest of Jesus. 
John also recognizes that he is comparatively insignificant. 
GET THAT: It was not, Jesus is a big deal, and I am a big deal too. It was, Jesus is everything, and I am not worthy to be His slave. 
This has never changed. 
The way up in the spiritual realm, is down. 
The way to usefulness in the spiritual realm is to recognize that without Christ you can do nothing. 
YOU AGREE WITH YOUR LORD WHEN YOU THINK THAT WAY. 
ESV John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 
THIS WAY OF SEEING LIFE HAS TO BE EMBRACED AND APPLIED AT EVERY POINT OF OUR SELF-PERSPECTIVE AND AT EVERY POINT OF HOW WE RELATE TO LIFE. 
 • CHRIST IS MAGNIFIED WHEN WE SEE OURSELVES RIGHTLY 
WHAT ARE WE? 
How do we really see ourselves when it comes to the glory of God? 
How do we really see ourselves when it comes to the glory of Christ? 
How do we really see ourselves when it comes to being beneficiaries of the grace of God? The mercies of God? 
How do we see ourselves when it comes to any and every circumstance in life — DO WE DESERVE BETTER? 
ARE WE SMALL IN OUR OWN ESTIMATION? 
PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERY OUNCE OF MAN’S ARROGANCE IS ON GOD’S RADAR FOR FUTURE JUDGMENT. 
ESV Isaiah 2:11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 12 For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up-- and it shall be brought low; 
ESV Isaiah 2:17 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 
ESV Proverbs 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. 
If our self-perspective is right, then whatever our God allows us to do for Him, is something we are unworthy of. 
We are blessed. 
We are privileged. 
We should be thankful. 
We should be content. 
We should be humbled by our opportunities to serve him. 
WHY? BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GREAT. 
Luke tells us that John spoke these words in the context of a spiritual climate where people wondering about his own greatness.

Introduction:
John the Baptist was not great when measured in the way that people usually measure greatness. 
But he was great in the sight of God (Luke 1:12-15).
That spiritual greatness meant that John still stood out in the realm of men.
In fact, the people who will stand out in greatest contrast to this present world will be those who are most like the world that is coming.
His presence was so unusual, and preaching so powerful, that the Pharisees sent messengers to ask who he was. Some wondered if he was the Messiah.
At every point John made crystal clear the distinction that existed between himself — the one who was nothing but a servant — and Jesus, the one who is the King.
He did this even when his own disciples felt that he was being surpassed.
ESV John 3:26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unl

He Must Increase | Matthew 3:11-12

Introduction: 
John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah by proclaiming a message of repentance. 
It was repentance necessitated by truth. 
The truth about who the Messiah was. The truth about what His presence represented. The truth about man’s sinfulness and the need for the Lamb of God who takes away sins. 
It was REPENTANCE that would prepare the way for the Messiah. 
The word “repent” is the word μετανοέω (metanoeo) 
Meaning: to change one's mind or purpose 
Repentance is a change of mind, a change in the heart, that results in a turnaround, a new course, a change at the point of decision — at the point of our choices, our devotions, our ambitions, our motives, and our behaviors, we change. 
True repentance is the fruit of faith. 
Repentance in the realm of faith, in the realm of Christian belief and obedience, is turning from unbelief in sin to believe God. 
Turning from the pathway of unrighteousness, to believe God and to follow God in the pathway of truth. It all begins at the point of faith in Christ Jesus Himself as Lord. This is where the life of repentance has its genesis. 
What our verses make clear is that for repentance to be repentance it must be genuine. Indeed, it must be produced by God. Not everything that calls itself repentance, or pretends to be repentance, really is repentance. 
There is genuine repentance and there is the pretense of repentance. 
What is also made plain by these verses, is that to simply show interest in repentance, to be in its zip code (so to speak), is unacceptable when your need is to repent. 
Many people over the course of salvation history have proven interested, curious, over what God was doing in human hearts, only to have their own hearts unchanged. Benjamin Franklin’s view of George Whitfield comes to mind. 
 
 
 
Benjamin Franklin (in his autobiography) — “In 1739 arriv’d among us from England the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, who had made himself remarkable there as an itinerant Preacher. He was at first permitted to preach in some of our Churches; but the Clergy taking a Dislike to him, soon refus’d him their Pulpits and he was oblig’d to preach in the Fields. The Multitudes of all Sects and Denominations that attended his Sermons were enormous and it was [a] matter of Speculation to me who was one of the Number, to observe the extraordinary Influence of his Oratory on his Hearers, and how much they admir’d and respected him, notwithstanding his common Abuse of them, by assuring them they were naturally half Beasts and half Devils. It was wonderful to see the Change soon made in the Manners [behavior] of our Inhabitants; from being thoughtless or indifferent about Religion, it seem’d as if all the World were growing Religious; so that one could not walk thro’ the Town in an Evening without Hearing Psalms sung in different Families of every Street.” 
What kind of man gives this testimony? 
“Some of Mr. Whitefield’s Enemies affected to suppose that he would apply these Collections to his own private Emolument [profit]; but I, who was intimately acquainted with him (being employ’d in printing his Sermons and Journals, etc.) never had the least Suspicion of his Integrity, but am to this day decidedly of Opinion that he was in all his Conduct a perfectly honest Man. And methinks my Testimony in his Favor ought to have the more Weight, as we had no religious Connection. He us’d indeed sometimes to pray for my Conversion, but never had the Satisfaction of believing that his Prayers were heard. Ours was a mere civil Friendship, sincere on both Sides, and lasted to his Death.” 
JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHED A MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE, AND MADE CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT TRUE REPENTANCE REQUIRES. 
That is what we think about tonight. We think about genuine repentance. 
Tonight, we see two truths about the call for repentance in the ministry of John the Baptist. These two truths continue to be true for any call for genuine repentance at any time in salvation history. (1) The call for repentance is confrontational (2) The call for repentance is consequential. 
 • THE CALL FOR REPENTANCE IS CONFRONTATIONAL (vs.7-9) 
Who calls for repentance? 
Someone might say, “in this context, John the Baptist did.” That would be true. But what was John the Baptist? He was a voice. For whom was He speaking? He was speaking for God. He is declaring God’s message. 
The one calling for repentance, is God. 
Who is called to repentance? 
Someone who needs to change his or her ways. Someone who needs to turn in his or her thinking, in his or her disposition, to embrace God’s truth, God’s way, as it is being declared. 
To put it simply, you do not call someone to repentance who is in the right. 
When God calls for repentance, it is because you are in the wrong place. 
Your thinking is wrong. 
Your disposition is wrong. 
Your ambitions are wrong. 
Your ways are wrong. 
You CONDITION is wrong.

Introduction:
John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah by proclaiming a message of repentance. 
It was repentance necessitated by truth. 
The truth about who the Messiah was. The truth about what His presence represented. The truth about man’s sinfulness and the need for the Lamb of God who takes away sins.
It was REPENTANCE that would prepare the way for the Messiah.
The word “repent” is the word μετανοέω (metanoeo)
Meaning: to change one's mind or purpose
Repentance is a change of mind, a change in the heart, that results in a turnaround, a new course, a change at the point of decision — at the point of our choices, our devotions, our ambitions, our motives, and our behaviors, we change. 
True repentance is the fruit of faith. 
Repentance in the realm of faith, in the realm of Christian belief and obedience, is turning from unbelief in sin to believe God. 
Turning from the pathway of unrighteousness, to believe God and to follow God in the pathway of truth. It all begins at 

Genuine Repentance | Matthew 3:7-10

Introduction: 
When we think of hypocrites, we might be tempted to think only of the lost. 
One reason we might be tempted to think that way is because in the Scriptures hypocrisy is often associated with religious people who are lost. 
In a long, powerful, rebuke of the religious leaders of the Jews, Jesus identified them as hypocrites (Matthew 23). Time and again He pronounced “woes” upon them, and he called them hypocrites. Toward the end of that indictment, he said: 
ESV Matthew 23:33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 
Clearly, the scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, were lost. They are described as full of lawlessness. They were full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness (vs.27). 
ESV Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 
We could go to many other statements similar to these and make the same point. 
Just one example is a warning in 1 Timothy 4. 
ESV 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 
“Insincerity” is ὑποκρίσει noun dative feminine singular common from ὑπόκρισις 
HYPOCRITES ARE PLAYACTORS. They are mask wearers. They are duplicitous. You get an external, sanitized, version of the person, but then they are someone completely different in terms of their true character. 
PEOPLE FOR WHOM IT CAN BE SAID THAT HYPOCRISY CHARACTERIZES THEM, ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNREGENERATE. They do not know God. They do not have the Spirit. They are a believer in name only. 
But hypocrisy is a sin that believers must beware of also. 
Hypocrisy will not be the CHARACTER of a Christian, but it can become a ditch that we fall into. It can be our sin that we are guilty of in any given situation. It can be our sin for a SEASON. 
That is why BELIEVERS are warned of hypocrisy. 
ESV Luke 12:1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 
There, Jesus is warning His DISCIPLES about the leaven of the Pharisees. 
ESV Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 
Genuine is ἀνυπόκριτος (unhypocritical). 
ESV Galatians 2:12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 
The hypocrisy, of course, was acting like this withdrawal was about piety, when it fact, it was about the acceptance of men. It was about Peter gaining or retaining the acceptance of those who came from James. 
SINCERITY IS WHAT CHARACTERIZES GODLY WISDOM. 
ESV James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 
BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO PUT HYPOCRISY AWAY IN ALL ITS FORMS. 
ESV 1 Peter 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Introduction: When we think of hypocrites, we might be tempted to think only of the lost. One reason we might be tempted to think ...

The Hatefulness of Hypocrisy in Religion | Proverbs 28:9

Introduction: 
How does God respond when one of His own disobeys His clear commands? 
How does God respond when one of His own is fleeing from the presence of God? 
Running away from God. 
Running away from truth. 
Running away from spiritual obligations. 
Running away from the responsibility that is imparted when we meet with His commands. 
Running away from himself or herself as they run from God. 
What are the repercussions of such disobedience, and how does God respond to it? 
Last week we learned that this book is about God. It is not about a fish. It is not about a prophet. It is not about Ninevites. GOD PUTS HIMSELF ON DISPLAY IN THE BOOK OF JONAH. 
We saw what happened when the prophet Jonah received a ministry assignment that he had no appetite for. 
God came to Jonah. 
God commanded Jonah. 
God patiently pursued Jonah. 
Jonah ran and God allowed Jonah to run. 
Jonah was commanded to go immediately to Nineveh. Commanded to arise and go. 
Jonah arose, and he made haste, but he headed in the opposite direction. He could not have been more defiant, and his defiance could not have been more definitive. 
AND WHY DID HE RUN? He tells us. 
ESV Jonah 4:2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 
He ran because he viewed the possibility of God showing mercy to the Assyrians as something scandalous. One recent commentary I have been introduced to summarizes the message of Jonah in that way — the message of scandalous mercy. 
Note: 
The gospel has never stopped being scandalous to the natural reasoning processes of the human mind. 
The idea that salvation is a gift, not given based on merit. 
The idea that it must be free because no one born from Adam CAN merit it. 
The idea that salvation is not a commentary on the loveliness of the person who receives it but the love of the one who gives it. 
Those ideas are offensive to human beings who are wired by the fall to think that they deserve good things from God. 
THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE SO VILE AS A MASS MURDERER (FOR EXAMPLE), COULD BE FORGIVEN BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND ENTER HEAVEN, IS BEYOND SCANDALOUS TO THE NATURAL MIND. 
 BUT THE GOSPEL IS SOMETIMES SCANDALOUS TO US. 
What the gospel REQUIRES OF BELIEVERS is sometimes scandalous — even in the eyes of SAVED humanity — when saved men or women are not thinking as God would have them to think? 
The kind of forgiveness the gospel requires of us. 
The kind of patient love the gospel requires of us. 
The kind of restorative mercy the gospel requires of us. 
Seems to any person unwilling to be submitted to Scripture, as unreasonable, illogical, something that goes too far. 
THE GOSPEL IS A SHOCKING MESSAGE. 
It is shocking with respect to how God mercifully deals with men. 
It is shocking with respect to how forgiven people are to deal with other people — even their enemies. 
It is comparable to the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son wastes his half of the inheritance. He dishonors his father. He acts in a way that is shameful, and unthinkable, but then when he repents, he meets with a father ready to receive him. He meets with a father who rejoices over his return, who extends scandalous mercy. 
How did the FAITHFUL son respond? Not with the joy of his father, but with the anger of a wayward brother. 
 
ESV Luke 15:25 "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" 
Jonah is like that angry brother. But in this case, he is not angry over the possibility of a BROTHER repenting. He is angry over the possibility of HIS ENEMIES repenting — NO MERCY FOR THEM. 
SO, JONAH RAN, GOD WILL PATIENTLY PURSUE, AND NOW, in the rest of chapter one, WE SEE THE PURSUIT.

Introduction:
How does God respond when one of His own disobeys His clear commands? 
How does God respond when one of His own is fleeing from the presence of God? 
Running away from God. 
Running away from truth.
Running away from spiritual obligations.
Running away from the responsibility that is imparted when we meet with His commands.
Running away from himself or herself as they run from God.
What are the repercussions of such disobedience, and how does God respond to it? 
Last week we learned that this book is about God. It is not about a fish. It is not about a prophet. It is not about Ninevites. GOD PUTS HIMSELF ON DISPLAY IN THE BOOK OF JONAH.
We saw what happened when the prophet Jonah received a ministry assignment that he had no appetite for.
God came to Jonah.
God commanded Jonah.
God patiently pursued Jonah.
Jonah ran and God allowed Jonah to run. 
Jonah was commanded to go immediately to Nineveh. Commanded to arise and go.
Jonah arose, and he made haste, but he headed in t

The Inescapable God | Jonah 1:4-17

Observations for Evangelism | Acts 17: 15-34

Introduction: 
The book of Jonah is not about a fish. 
Though the prophet Jonah is on stage throughout this account, the book is not primarily about Jonah. 
The book of Jonah is about God. 
And the book of Jonah is about the fact that God IS God whether we want Him to be or not. 
We do not elect God. Nor do we get to vote on whether He remains in office. 
He is not a God confined to a city or a nation — even when He has covenanted with a nation. Even when He has specially blessed a nation. He is not a regional God. 
He is not a God confined to our people group. He is not an ethnic deity. 
He is not a God that we get to make in our image. We cannot make Him be what we want Him to be — He has made Himself known. 
He is not a God we can control. He will do as He pleases. 
He is sovereign over all realms. He is sovereign over judgment and salvation. He is sovereign over life and death. He is sovereign over men and kings and cities and nations. He is sovereign over the planet and the creatures that exist on this planet. He is sovereign over the skies and the seas and the land, and all the weather that affects those elements. 
He is the creator of all mankind and cares for the souls of men in every tribe, language, and nation. And He has the right to care because He made them and sustains them. 
Though He has made Himself known, He cannot be fully comprehended. He often baffles us. 
He cannot be bargained with or made to do what we think is right. 
He commands what we sometimes would not want Him to. 
He calls us to obey Him in ways that we sometimes would like to avoid. 
He cares about things that we sometimes wish He would not — and if He were like us, He would not — but he is not like us. 
He is patient with us, even when we think wrongly about Him and His world. 
He owes us no explanation, yet He often reasons with us — even when we do not deserve for Him to reason with us. 
The book of Jonah is about God. 
It is about His willingness to have fellowship with those whom He saves and uses. 
It is about how He trains them, even as He is using them. 
It is about His ability to rebuke, and convict, and teach hard lessons, even as He is being patient and good to us and patient and good to others. 
It is about what God does in response to genuine repentance and what genuine repentance looks like. 
It is about His mercy. 
It is about His willingness to save. 
And it is about a man who had to learn that this God is inescapable. 
You can try to run from Him, but you cannot avoid Him. 
You do not get to choose whether you will be in His school or when you get to graduate.

Introduction:
The book of Jonah is not about a fish.
Though the prophet Jonah is on stage throughout this account, the book is not primarily about Jonah.
The book of Jonah is about God.
And the book of Jonah is about the fact that God IS God whether we want Him to be or not.
We do not elect God. Nor do we get to vote on whether He remains in office.
He is not a God confined to a city or a nation — even when He has covenanted with a nation. Even when He has specially blessed a nation. He is not a regional God.
He is not a God confined to our people group. He is not an ethnic deity.
He is not a God that we get to make in our image. We cannot make Him be what we want Him to be — He has made Himself known.
He is not a God we can control. He will do as He pleases.
He is sovereign over all realms. He is sovereign over judgment and salvation. He is sovereign over life and death. He is sovereign over men and kings and cities and nations. He is sovereign over the planet and the creatures that e

Learning That God is God | Jonah 1:1-3

God's Character & Hope | Hosea 6:1-3

Introduction: 
Wherever the gospel is truly grasped, praise to God will be the outcome. 
Hearts that truly perceive the gospel will not be cold toward its message. 
They will not be bored with what God has revealed. 
They will not treat the subject matter as if it is unremarkable. 
This is one way to examine my current spiritual condition. Do I find the truth of the gospel amazing — as I should? 
When the gospel is truly perceived, it astounds. 
Truth goes into the heart, and praise comes out of the mouth. 
Doctrine goes into the understanding and doxology comes out of the life. 
We see that here, from the mind of the man who has been teaching us. 
How does a theological, gospel, masterpiece like the book of Romans, come to an end? 
What is a fitting way to bring such an explanation, defense, application, and celebration of the gospel to a close? 
You end such a treatise with praise. 
And, as one might expect, given what we have seen in the book of Romans, it is a rather complicated word of praise. 
This doxology is —at the same time — profoundly clear as to its main message and yet somewhat complicated in how it expresses that message. To put it simply, it is deep, and it is involved. 
It is, in many ways, what you find in any good sermon. Paul has circled back to what he started with. The themes found in the first seven verses of chapter one, are now revisited, and given as reasons for praise to God. 
And yet he does this in a way that is almost telescopic. 
He says something, and then he expands on what he says, and then he expands on the expansion. 
This morning we think about moving from doctrine to doxology. 
We move from explanation to exultation. 
We see that everlasting life results in everlasting thanks. 
 
If the message of Romans is now your story. If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You will be giving glory to God for such mercy forever and ever. 
 • THE RECIPIENT OF PRAISE RECOGNIZED (vs.25,27) 
The main message is clear. “To Him,” Paul begins, and then proceeds to describe the one to whom the praise is to be given, and the reasons for that praise, until he finally resumes his declaration of praise in verse 27. 
To Him — to the only wise God. 
Paul recognizes the one who alone deserves our praise. 
Thomas Schreiner – “This concluding doxology is so lengthy and so comprehensive that after all the material following the initial ascription, “to him,” the ascription itself must be resumed in v. 27 in order to bring it to a close, ‘to the only wise God.’” 
What is to be given to the only wise God? 
GLORY 
That is the main message. 
This is what the doxology states — that the glory for salvation belongs to God and God alone. 
We ascribe to God what He alone deserves — praise for such a salvation that puts His glorious attributes on display. 
And of all His attributes, what is especially celebrated is His wisdom, and the sovereign ways that His wisdom has been manifested. 
Give God glory for what the gospel declares and what the gospel accomplishes. 
 • THE REASONS FOR PRAISE RECITED (vs.25-27) 
Now we begin to trace out the ways that the apostle drives home the main point. 
Why should such praise be in our mouths? 
What can be said of the only wise God? 
 • GOD PRESERVES HIS PEOPLE 
“To Him who is able to strengthen you.” 
In verse 20, Paul prays for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be with these people.” 
Until the God of peace crushes Satan under our feet, we are sustained by our God and His grace. 
And now He is praised because He is able to do this. And by “able” Paul is expressing confidence. GOD WILL DO THIS! 
The people of God truly do persevere. 
But that perseverance is explained by God’s power and God’s faithfulness. 
You will remember that there was a long celebration of this in Romans chapter 8. 
This is a truth that Paul proclaims again and again in the New Testament. 
ESV Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 
ESV 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 
ESV Jude 1:24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Introduction:
Wherever the gospel is truly grasped, praise to God will be the outcome. 
Hearts that truly perceive the gospel will not be cold toward its message. 
They will not be bored with what God has revealed. 
They will not treat the subject matter as if it is unremarkable.
This is one way to examine my current spiritual condition. Do I find the truth of the gospel amazing — as I should?
When the gospel is truly perceived, it astounds. 
Truth goes into the heart, and praise comes out of the mouth.
Doctrine goes into the understanding and doxology comes out of the life.
We see that here, from the mind of the man who has been teaching us.
How does a theological, gospel, masterpiece like the book of Romans, come to an end?
What is a fitting way to bring such an explanation, defense, application, and celebration of the gospel to a close?
You end such a treatise with praise.
And, as one might expect, given what we have seen in the book of Romans, it is a rather complicated word of pra

From Doctrine To Doxology | Romans 16:25-27

Free From The Fear of Men | Luke 12:4-7

The Sweetness of Truth | Psalm 119:103

Introduction: 
I love history. And because I love history, I love to think about what life was like during the many different eras that preceded our own. 
I enjoy looking at early paintings or photographs that help us understand what normal every day life was like in previous ages. 
In terms of photographs, we cannot even go back far. The oldest surviving photograph was taken in 1826 or 1827. 
The oldest selfie was taken in 1839. 
Photographs will not take us back even 200 years. 
So, what we have are the accounts from history, paintings, statues, carvings, and our imaginations. 
I guess this is something strange about me, but when I think of wishing I could spend a day in some ancient civilization, I do not think so much about dropping in some high point in history, some famous setting. I like to think about the average, every day, experience of the average person who lived at that time. What was that like? 
Well, the verses we come to tonight represent something like that. In fact, this entire chapter represents a very unique look back into the world of the 1st century church. 
James Montgomery Boice – “What is said, though brief, is one of the most remarkable pictures of Christian life and fellowship from the ancient world or, for that matter, from all history or literature.” 
That is true. We see this as we now look at the second list in Romans 16. 
As we look at this list, we get a glimpse behind the curtain, so to speak. We get a glimpse of something of the camaraderie, the fellowship, the interest in ministry, and the various roles and abilities, that existed among Paul’s companions. 
 
 
 
 
 • THE SETTING 
Most believe that Romans was probably written when Paul was in Corinth. There he stopped before he would eventually make his way to Jerusalem. 
If you look for a corresponding section in the book of Acts, it would be the first part of Acts 20. Following the uproar in Ephesus, Paul spent some time in Macedonia, and then Greece, before some further travels that eventually lead to Jerusalem. 
We learn from this list that Paul is making use of a secretary. His name is Tertius. And, because Romans is a long letter, it is likely that Paul has dictated this over a period of days. 
He is now bringing this letter to a close, and as he does, there are other people who are with him and who want to send their greetings to the church at Rome. The way that this is worded, especially the breaking in of the greeting from Tertius, it gives the feeling that those who are mentioned are in the room with him as this letter finishes.

Introduction:
I love history. And because I love history, I love to think about what life was like during the many different eras that preceded our own.
I enjoy looking at early paintings or photographs that help us understand what normal every day life was like in previous ages. 
In terms of photographs, we cannot even go back far. The oldest surviving photograph was taken in 1826 or 1827.
The oldest selfie was taken in 1839.
Photographs will not take us back even 200 years.
So, what we have are the accounts from history, paintings, statues, carvings, and our imaginations.
I guess this is something strange about me, but when I think of wishing I could spend a day in some ancient civilization, I do not think so much about dropping in some high point in history, some famous setting. I like to think about the average, every day, experience of the average person who lived at that time. What was that like?
Well, the verses we come to tonight represent something like that. In fact, this ent

Behind The Curtain - Romans 16:21-24

Introduction: 
The Christian life requires the gracious strength that God provides. 
There is a stabilizing work, an establishing work on the part of God, an ongoing refreshment from heaven, that is necessary for our faithfulness. 
The Christian life is challenging. 
It is sometimes wearying. 
There are many times when we would not say that it is peaceful. 
It can feel overwhelming. 
But God provides peace. He provides strength. His grace is sufficient for every challenge in every season of our lives. 
ESV 1 Peter 5:10 And aafter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, bwho has called you to his ceternal glory in Christ, will himself drestore, econfirm, strengthen, and establish you 
ESV Romans 16:25 aNow to him who is able to strengthen you baccording to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, caccording to the revelation of the mystery dthat was kept secret for elong ages 
Our hope and our help are always stationed in God. 
ESV Isaiah 40:25 aTo whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? aHe who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, a"My way is hidden from the LORD, band my right is disregarded by my God"? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is athe everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; bhis understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but athey who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings blike eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 
Our text this morning speaks of that hope. It points us to a perspective, to a strength, to a peace, that is found in God Himself, and in God alone. 
God promises his church that despite her challenges, despite her enemies, despite her battles, her ultimate victory is settled. We are reminded that one day Satan will be finally defeated and under our feet. 
We are called to remember this, as we obey our God regarding the watchfulness and the spiritual battles that belong to the present. 
Today we see three hopeful remembrances for the church’s future challenges. 
 • OUR VIGILANCE EXISTS IN THE CONTEXT OF VICTORY (vs.17-20) 
Paul appealed for alertness in verses 17-19. 
He calls the church to be on the alert for sowers of discord. The warning involved challenges already on the scene, but for this church it is a warning that especially looks to the future. 
He makes plain that his warning is not because of any current problems, but precisely because of current obedience. 
He is calling for is watchfulness and readiness — “Stay on the alert for those who would sow discord in your midst.” 
He wants them to know what action is called for when those dissensions and stumbling blocks arise. 
He wants them predetermined to take that action when it is necessary. 
But immediately following that warning that considers the future, we have a benediction that provides the mindset for that watchfulness. 
In what frame of mind does the church stay on alert for divisions? 
The mindset is not one of suspicion. The mindset is not one of self-defense. Suspicion is really a kind of fear. It is the thought that I am going to protect myself by refusing to trust almost anyone. 
The mindset given to us here is not one of fear. 
The mindset is not one of anxiety. 
Our vigilance, our alertness, must exist in an attitude of spiritual confidence. 
Not a confidence that finds its source in ourselves. Rather, a confidence that finds its source in God’s faithfulness. 
WE KNOW THAT GOD WORKS THROUGH MEANS. WE KNOW THAT ALERTNESS IS ONE OF THOSE MEANS. BUT IT WILL NOT BE OUR ALERTNESS THAT ENSURES OUR ULTIMATE VICTORY, IT WILL BE GOD HIMSELF.

Introduction:
The Christian life requires the gracious strength that God provides. 
There is a stabilizing work, an establishing work on the part of God, an ongoing refreshment from heaven, that is necessary for our faithfulness.
The Christian life is challenging. 
It is sometimes wearying. 
There are many times when we would not say that it is peaceful.
It can feel overwhelming.
But God provides peace. He provides strength. His grace is sufficient for every challenge in every season of our lives.
ESV 1 Peter 5:10 And aafter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, bwho has called you to his ceternal glory in Christ, will himself drestore, econfirm, strengthen, and establish you
ESV Romans 16:25 aNow to him who is able to strengthen you baccording to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, caccording to the revelation of the mystery dthat was kept secret for elong ages
Our hope and our help are always stationed in God.
ESV Isaiah 40:25 aTo whom then will you compare

Satan Under Our Feet | Romans 16:20

Introduction: 
We come to the closing chapter of the book of Romans. The closing chapter can be divided into five parts. 
You have a list of greetings given to those currently in the city of Rome (vs.1-16). 
You have a warning given to this church, despite their current healthy condition (vs.17-19). 
You have a benediction (vs.20). 
You have greetings given by those who are with Paul in Corinth (vs.21-24). 
You have a doxology that closes the book (vs.25-27). 
Our focus this morning is on that opening list of greetings. 
I want us to focus on this list as a whole. There are some lessons to be learned by the very presence of this long list of greetings. 
These are lessons that stand out on the surface, but they are worth remembering. I want to give you six. Six lessons from a list. 
 • PAUL WAS A MAN WHO LOVED PEOPLE 
Paul was a man with many treasured relationships in Christ. 
We learn a lot about Paul through his letters. 
The book of Romans is a testimony to the fact that Paul was a thinker. 
He had a brilliant mind. 
He had a mind for theology. 
He did not simply think about theological truth in its simplest forms. He plumbed the depths of those truths and demonstrated the breadth of his understanding by showing how interconnected God’s revelation is in its multiple parts. He thought about and wrote about theological truth with profound depth and breadth. 
HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT TRAINING PRIOR TO HIS CONVERSION, WHO THEN HAD THAT TRAINING IGNITED BY THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST. 
The saving work of Christ in his life had taken a mind full of biblical information and given access to it through regeneration. 
Paul was a doer. 
But ABOVE ALL, PAUL was a shepherd. 
He was a man who CARED FOR THE SPIRITUAL WELLBEING OF GOD’S PEOPLE. 
He kept up with people. He maintained contact with people. He cared for them. He valued relationships. 
This chapter makes mention of 33 names. 24 of them in Rome, 9 of them in Corinth. 
It testifies to his remembrance, not just of their names, but as he demonstrated in many cases, what characterized each one. The contributions of each one. 
THIS IS THE KIND OF LOVE THAT SHOULD CHARACTERIZE ALL OF US. 
Each of us has our own personality. On a spectrum that runs from extreme introvert to extreme extrovert, we would each fall somewhere along that spectrum. 
Some of us are more outgoing by nature, some of us more reserved by nature. 
Some of us have our batteries recharged by being around people. Some of us need to find a quiet place to have our batteries recharged. 
BUT ONE THING EVERY BELIEVER HAS IN COMMON IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY GOD TO LOVE EACH OTHER. 
We must be a people who care about the people of God. 
We must be a people who care to invest in others, be a help to others, and to be mutually edified with others. 
 • PAUL WAS A MAN WHOSE WORK WAS THE CHURCH 
This second observation is equally important. Paul’s life of service is the work of a shepherd. 
Here is this man with a brilliant mind. Here is a man writing about theological issues with tremendous depth and breadth. And yet, Paul’s letters always reflect his concern for believers AS BELIEVERS. 
I know that the letters we have from him are inspired. I know that they are Scripture. But these letters, though the work of the Spirit, are still his work as well. And what interest, what burden, what devotion, do they represent? 
Who is he writing for? 
Where is Paul expending his mental and physical energies? 
He is writing for the church. 
He is writing for the people represented by the names in this list. 
He is writing for men and women. 
He is writing for husbands and wives. 
He is writing for households, families in Christ. 
He is writing for churches. 
He is writing for choice men and spiritual mothers. 
He is not someone living in an ivory tower, writing material for a select segment of God’s people. 
He is an apostle, a missionary, a shepherd, who lives and dies; breathes and bleeds, for THE CHURCH. For the common man or woman who has been saved by the grace of God. 
QUESTION: Does this represent a waste of such giftedness and talent? 2,000 years of church history says no. 
NOTE: By the way, this is one reason why it is absolutely wrong-headed to suggest that any portion of the NT is not really for the common man or woman in the church. Every part of God’s Word is for the entire church, including the mature and immature in the faith. That is the audience for whom these letters were penned, and all the doctrine contained in these letters. 
So, when we think of the highest heights of the book of Romans, or the deepest depths, for whom were these things written? They were written for people represented by these names.

Introduction:
We come to the closing chapter of the book of Romans. The closing chapter can be divided into five parts.
You have a list of greetings given to those currently in the city of Rome (vs.1-16).
You have a warning given to this church, despite their current healthy condition (vs.17-19).
You have a benediction (vs.20).
You have greetings given by those who are with Paul in Corinth (vs.21-24).
You have a doxology that closes the book (vs.25-27).
Our focus this morning is on that opening list of greetings. 
I want us to focus on this list as a whole. There are some lessons to be learned by the very presence of this long list of greetings.
These are lessons that stand out on the surface, but they are worth remembering. I want to give you six. Six lessons from a list.
 • PAUL WAS A MAN WHO LOVED PEOPLE
Paul was a man with many treasured relationships in Christ. 
We learn a lot about Paul through his letters.
The book of Romans is a testimony to the fact that Paul was a thinker. 
H

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