Grace Community Bible Church Sermons

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 18:1-14

In Matthew 18:1-14 Jesus begins His 4th discourse by answering a question about greatness in the kingdom (v. 1) and revealing six realities about life in the kingdom community.

1. Entrance into the kingdom community has requirements.
   1. Repentance (vv. 2,3a).
   2. Faith (v. 3b).
2. Greatness in the kingdom community requires humility (v.4).
3. True entrance into the kingdom community will be marked by acceptance (love) of other members of the community (v. 5).
4. False entrance into the kingdom community will be marked by being a stumbling block to other members of the community (vv. 6,7).
5. Daily life in the kingdom community requires personal holiness (vv. 8,9).
6. The grounds for life in the kingdom community is God’s love and care for individuals in the kingdom community (vv. 10-14).

Pastor Rob Davis: Assurance

Scripture teaches us at least four truths about having assurance of our salvation.

1. The pursuit of our assurance is commanded.
   • 2 Corinthians 13:5
   • 2 Peter 1:10, 11
2. The foundation of our assurance is the work of God in Christ Jesus.
   • 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
   • Philippians 1:6
   • 2 Timothy 4:18
   • 2 Timothy 1:12
   • 1 Peter 1:3-5
   • Jude 24-25
   • 2 Peter 1:1-4
3. The knowledge of our assurance can be realized.
   • Romans 8:16
   • Hebrews 10:19-22
   • 1 John 5:13
   • 2 Peter 1:5-11
4. The characteristics given by John (“so that we may know”) provide an objective test for our assurance.
   1. A love for and fellowship with believers (1:6,7; 2:9-11; 3:10-15; 4:7,8,20,21).
   2. A change in one’s affections (2:15-18)
   3. A deep awareness and confession of sin (1:8-10).
   4. A lifestyle of willing obedience (2:1-6,29; 3:4-10; 21-24; 5:2,3)
   5. A witness of the Spirit within (3:24; 4:13; Rom. 8:9-17).
   6. A hunger for God’s word (4:6; Acts 2:42; 1 Peter 2:2,3).
   7. A willing confession of and identification with Christ and His church (2:19,4:1-3).

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 17:22-27

In Matthew 17:22-27 we are shown 4 facts concerning Jesus as the Messiah offering Himself as a ransom for His people.

1. The cost of the ransom was the Messiah’s life (vv. 22-23a).
2. The affirmation of the ransom was the Messiah’s resurrection (v. 23b).
3. The result of the ransom is freedom for His people (vv. 24-26).
4. The implication of the ransom is servanthood for His people (v. 27).

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 17:14-20

In Matthew 17:14-20 we are shown 4 examples of faith through which Jesus teaches us about living a life in which all things are possible.

1. The father’s faith was effective.
1. The object of his faith was Jesus (v. 14a).
2. The attitude of his heart was humility (vv. 14b, 15).
3. The state of his situation was helpless (v. 16).
4. The power of Jesus fulfilled his request (vv. 17c, 18).
2. The crowd’s faith was ineffective.
1. They did not believe in Jesus (v. 17a).
2. They had perverted thoughts about Jesus (v. 17b).
3. They incurred the anger of Jesus because of their unbelief (v. 17c).
3. The disciples’ faith was ineffective.
1. The object of their faith was themselves (v. 19).
2. The quality of their faith was weak (v. 20a).
4. An effectual faith makes all things possible in Christ (v. 20b).