Coeburn Presbyterian Church Sermons - Pastor James Ensley

Intro

“What a man is alone on his knees before God, that he is –and no more.” – Robert Murray M’cheyne

While our good works, our religious attendance, may be a fruit of salvation, they are not what causes us to one day be able to stand before God and answer the question, “Why should I let you who have committed so many sins into my holy heaven and my holy presence?”

It will all come down to what we are trusting in…Are we trusting in o...

We are in Matthew Chapter 4 this morning. Where we will see Jesus’ teaching us to forsake trusting as a final authority in anything else besides the written word of God. God’s written word alone as the full, final, and sufficient guide for our faith and life.

The context for Matthew 4 is that Jesus has just been baptized by John, The Father has spoken from heaven that He is the beloved Son of God who has left heaven, taken on our na...

Intro: Every letter must have an ending…Peter has assured us of who we are in Christ Jesus. He has reminded us that we have been born again to a living Hope, we are the Temple of God, Living Stones built on the cornerstone Christ Jesus. He has called us to Holy Lives, to face suffering as a faith purifying fire and to respond to suffering with upright lives by God’s grace, we are Exiles headed to our heavenly hope but as ones who h...

Introduction: Well, I feel the weight of this passage for myself…preach to yourself first…Peter has given his instructions and as is common letters end with a word to the Leaders before final greetings…

Read: 1 Peter 5:1–5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: [2] shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exer...

Introduction: Peter has just finished encouraging us to love and serve one another with the gifts that God has Given us in Christ Jesus. Gifts that Christ suffered and died to purchase in order to pour out on us by the Holy Spirit. Peter now for the third time discusses suffering trials. He has previously said trials will strengthen our faith, trials unite us to be like Christ as those filled with the Spirit to suffer for doing goo...

Introduction: Illustration There is a whole movie genre about the world ending and everyone panicking and changing their behavior. Is this what Peter wants from us when he says, the end of all things is at hand? (So-called prophets, sell your home).

No, it’s about clear-minded, persevering love. Follow the Standard Operating Playbook until Christ returns.

Read: 1 Peter 4:7–11

[7] The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-con...

Introduction: Good morning, we’ll be back in 1 Peter next week

Today we’ll be in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 1

Context: 3 Sundays of training….then gone.

In this Letter, Paul continues to press home to the Thessalonians what living as a Believer looks like. What the life of the Christian community looks like. A community gathered around a Great salvation is necessarily a changed people. And Paul sees that change and he is exhortin...

Intro | Recap

1 Peter 4:1-6 Crossing the Pain Threshold: Having the Mind of Christ and Living for God

[1] Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm [equip with weapons] yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, [2] so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. [3] For the time that is past suffices for doing ...

This message was preached on the Acts 10 due to this being a 5th Sunday, CPC topically does chapter by chapter through the confession grounded in a scripture text. So we will return to 1 Peter 4. Next week.

A brief word on expositional preaching and note the headings of WCF 23. We ordinarily preach systematically through books of Scripture so God sets the agenda, not us. This guards against hobbyhorses, unfolds the whole counsel of ...

Peter has been teaching us to rest in our Living Hope Jesus Christ seated in heaven. That we have been born again and are secure in the life we have in Christ Jesus. In Chapter 3 he has been saying that We may suffer for righteousness’ sake “it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will than for doing evil.” Se we are called to live as a family of God, brothers and sisters. Christ will be the Lord of our lives...

Peter moves from talking about people in very particular circumstances, servants, husbands, wives, authorities, back to talking about all believers generally. Peter is teaching us how people saved by Christ ought to resemble Christ. This affects both how we treat people within the Church and the way we answer questions about our Faith to the world.

1 Peter 3:8-17 [8] Finally, all of you, have unity of mind [spirit], sympathy, brothe...

First, Broad Credit to Pastor Kevin Deyoung. I have taught on these verses previously and I want to credit everything good to him and acknowledge. Everyone ought to read his articles and books on this topic. Specifically chapter 5 of Men and Women in the Church: A Short, Biblical, Practical Introduction which is an exposition of Ephesians 5.

Second, Since it is a singular verse that gives two really broad principles dwell with under...

Recap: Suffering Christ, living as exiles in various difficult circumstances.

Read 1 Peter 3:1–6: Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, [2] when they see your respectful and pure conduct. [3] Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—[4] but ...

[Incomplete sermon outline below. So it is rough in places or misses words spoken in the audio sermon]

Recap…

1 Peter 2:21–25 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you [ya’ll], leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. [22] He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. [23] When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but conti...

Peter has said “this is who you are in Christ Jesus”

* If you are in Christ it is because you have received mercy, being born again to a living hope. (this makes you an exile)

* Having been born again by the Holy Spirit “be who you are, and you are Holy.”

* Since all of your life is now lived before the face of a holy God – vertically

* Therefore – love your neighbor, put away community destroying sins in 2:1-4; and live as the new liv...

This passage presents a picture of the various ways people respond to Jesus. Especially given salvation in Christ is brought about by simple, Humble means. Humanly speaking, there is some foolishness to the Cross as the foundation of our salvation. How are we to respond, and what are some implications for us as a Church?

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves li...

1 Peter 1:22-3:3 Love That Endures, Sin That Withers, New Life That Grows

Introduction Good morning…Peter has for this first chapter been reminding us of our certain living hope in Christ Jesus. They have been chosen, called, made alive again by the Spirit, and enabled to persevere in the suffering that this new life in Christ brings into their lives. They have the assurance of their faith in the Holy scriptures, teaching them about...

1 Peter 1:13-21 Renewing Your Mind

Introduction: Good morning, we are continuing our study of 1 Peter. So turn in your bible to 1 Peter 1:13-21. Peter has, for 12 verses, been reminding his readers of their living hope in Christ Jesus. They have been chosen, called, made alive again by the Spirit, and enabled to persevere in the suffering that this new life in Christ brings into their lives. They have the assurance of their faith in...