Reflections

Picture of the Day

Sermon Notes-Westside Church of Christ, Alvin, Tx
Matthew 6:19-21
Matthew 7:21
Matthew 7:24-27

They are connected by what one decides is the priority of their life in Christ Jesus.

What is the most important thing in your life? What priority are you giving these things?

Acts 10 – Story of Cornelius

The man Cornelius and his priorities
• Devout man
• A God feared as well as his whole household
• Gave generously to the Jewish poor
• Prayed regularly to God
• Highly regarded by the whole Jewish nation

Matthew 22:34-40

Greatest commandment and First Command- Love God with all your heart, soul and Mind.

2nd Command – love your neighbor as yourself

Sermon Notes – To be Like Jesus
What is your motivation for bearing the mark of Christ?
Philippians 2:1 – encouragement, comfort from love, any affection and sympathy, any participation of the Spirits from being a Christian.

Pay it forward – Jesus is the example and did this for us, we should do it for others if we are his disciple.

Not about glorifying ourselves but God.

What is the mind of Christ? Serving others.
Philippians 2:3-5
• Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit
• In humility count others more significant than yourself
• Look not only to your interests but also to the interests of others

How do we do this?

Philippians 2:5-8 – The Example
• Empty himself by taking on the form of a servant
• Being humble by becoming obedient to the point of death-death on a cross

John 13:14-17 – Jesus washing the disciples feet

How can I have the same mind? Is it asking too much?

Do things for other, show daily kindness and compassion, love others

We are not perfect but we strive for this as Christians.

Sermon
Parables are primary way Jesus taught.

Matthew 13:34-35
• Teaching method
• Fulfills prophecy

Treasure Parables – Matthew 13:44-46
• Being in the kingdom of God comes at a cost
• Two individuals that attained something of great value.
• One man stumbles on the treasure
• One knows treasure and seeks it
• They both gave up everything to secure the treasure
• Can we earn heaven? NO
• Salvation cannot be bought. Jesus bought our salvation.
• Not about what we do to deserve heaven but that when Jesus is our Lord there is a cost.
• Luke 9:57-62 Jesus was saying I want you to follow but it will cost
◦ Jesus asked people to follow and they had excuses
• What is true sacrifice? Today true sacrifice is understood. Things become to easy-enjoy blessings without cost.
• What does it take to make Christ first in your life?
• The cost is giving up our sinful self. We repent of our sins.
• Jesus does not ask anything from us that he was not willing to do himself. He died for me.
• Being in the Kingdom brings incredible JOY!!
• Matthew 13:44 – he sells and buys with joy
• Philippians 3:7-8 – Paul counted following Jesus gain not loss. There is a cost.
• Do we consider it an honor to follow Jesus? That the cost brings joy.

Sermon – Part 2
Hebrews 12: 11-14

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Discipline in the form of correction – to bring us back to the Lord. Discipline in the form of punishment. About our best interest-not the God likes punishment.

God reproved is when we have done something wrong.
Chastise- same word of when Jesus was flogged.

We allow circumstances to get in the way of trusting God and obeying God.
Example:
Numbers 10:11-12
• Moses disobeyed-punishment was not to go in the promise land.
• Deuteronomy 34
Psalm 119:67, 71

Discipline in NT
Matthew 16:23
1 Corinthians 11:30-32
Revelation 3:15-19

Lamentations 3:31-33
Punishment is not forever.

5 Purposes of discipline
• He loves us
• For our good
• Yields peaceful fruit of righteousness
• Share in his holiness
• We are God’s children

Sunday Sermon

Our battle against sin is a daily struggle.

How can we stay away from the entanglement of sin?

Hebrews 12:4-11

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

• In my struggle I have not shedded any blood. The main test is to fight my own sinful nature.
• God discipline the one he loves and chastises every son he receives.
• God disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness.
• In the moment discipline is painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
•

What is discipline?

• Training – παιδεία

Examples:
• Moses
• Joseph
• Genesis 50:20 -You meant it for evil but God meant it for God
• Paul
• II Corinthians 12:7-9 – Paul had a thorn in the flesh

Beta certainly making herself felt.

Brings back Harvey flashbacks.