Grace Community Bible Church Sermons

Charles Sebold: The Value of Christ

In Philippians 3:2-11 Paul extols the value of what Christ has accomplished for us in three ways.

1. Contrasting people who justify themselves with God’s people
   1. The reality of those who justify themselves (v. 2)
      1. They are the opposite of what they think they are
      2. Their perceived unity with the people of God is really a “cutting off�
   2. The description of those justified by God (v. 3)
      1. They bear the sign of the people of God
      2. They worship by the Holy Spirit
      3. They exult or glory in Christ Jesus
      4. They put no confidence in human credentials
2. Contrasting self-justification with God’s justification
   1. The things which we think may justify us (vv. 4-6)
      1. His family, his religious standing (vv. 4, 5)
      2. His readiness to defend his faith (v. 6a)
      3. His adherence to all the laws, if they could save him (v. 6b)
   2. The true worth of those things compared to Christ (vv. 7, 8)
      1. Paul’s profession
      2. Paul’s example
   3. The things which justify us in Christ (v. 9)
      1. To be found in Him
      2. Not having a righteousness of his own from the Law
      3. Instead, righteousness which is through faith in Christ
      4. God’s righteousness on the basis of faith
3. Listing the assets that come from God’s justification
   1. Knowing God (v. 10)
      1. Knowing God
      2. Knowing the power of His resurrection
      3. Knowing the fellowship of His sufferings
   2. Attaining the resurrection of the dead (v. 11)
      1. Spiritual resurrection from the dead – already
      2. Physical resurrection from the dead – not yet

Pastor Rob Davis: Ephesians

In the book of Ephesians Paul expounds upon two facts about grace, the book’s over-arching theme.

1. God has acted to provide us grace (chapters 1-3).
1. Greeting: Paul greets the Ephesians by blessing them with God’s grace (1:1-2).
2. Spiritual Blessings: God gives them to the praise of the glory of His grace (1:3-14).
1. Election (1:3-4)
2. Adoption (1:5-6)
3. Redemption (1:7a)
4. Forgiveness (1:7b-8)
5. Unity in Christ (1:9-10)
6. Inheritance (1:11-12)
7. Sealed with the Holy Spirit (1:13-14)
3. Prayer: Paul prays his first prayer based on this grace (1:15-23).
1. For knowledge of Christ (1:15-18)
2. For power through Christ (1:19-22)
4. Resurrection: God has provided salvation by grace through faith (2:1-10).
5. Unity: God has, through this grace, united Jews & Gentiles in one group & provided access to the Father in one Spirit through Christ, the Cornerstone (2:11-22).
6. Stewardship: Paul, as a suffering servant of the gospel, is a steward of God’s grace (3:1-13).
7. Prayer: Paul prays his second prayer passed on this grace (3:14-21).
1. For strength through the Holy Spirit (3:14-16)
2. For comprehension of God’s love (3:17-19)
3. For the fullness of God (3:19)
8. Doxology: Paul gives God glory for this grace (3:20-21).
2. We must walk in a manner worthy of God’s grace (chapters 4-6).
1. We must walk in unity (4:1-16).
2. We must not walk in ignorance (4:17-19).
3. We must walk in the knowledge of our new self (4:20-24).
4. We must walk with each other in edification & love as imitators of God (4:25-5:2).
5. We must not walk with immoral people in their darkness (5:3-8).
6. We must walk in the Light as children of the Light (5:9-10).
7. We must walk in submission to others as to the Lord (5:21-6:9).
8. We must walk with the full armor of God, standing firm until the end (6:10-18).
9. We must walk praying for and encouraging other believers (6:19-24).

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 18:21-35

In Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus teaches us three facts about forgiving our brothers and sisters.

1. The frequency of our forgiving: Every time.
1. Peter asks: “How often?� (v. 21).
2. Jesus answers: “Every time!� (v. 22).
2. The reason for our forgiving: God’s forgiving of us in Christ.
1. God has forgiven us of incalculable offenses (vv. 23-27).
2. We must likewise forgive others (vv. 28-31).
3. The penalty for not forgiving: Death (vv. 32-35).

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 18:15-20

In Matthew 18:15-20 we are shown 2 important foundations for lovingly pursuing a sinning brother or sister for the purpose of restoration (church discipline).

1. Church discipline has a process.
1. Reprove the one in sin privately.
1. If there is sin… (v. 15a)
2. Show him/her their fault in private (v. 15b).
1. If they agree with you and repent, God has granted restoration (v. 15c).
2. If they don’t agree and repent… (v. 16a).
2. Reprove the one in sin with one or two witnesses.
1. Since the sin remains… (v. 16a)
2. Show him/her their fault with one or two witnesses (v. 16b).
1. So every fact may be confirmed (v. 16c).
2. If they agree with you and repent, God has granted restoration (implied from verse 15).
3. If they don’t agree and repent… (v. 17a)
3. Reprove the one in sin with the church.
1. Since the sin remains… (v. 17a).
2. Report the matter to the church (v. 17b)
1. If they agree with you and repent, God has granted restoration (implied from verse 15).
2. If they don’t agree and repent… (v. 17b).
4. Reprove the one in sin with excommunication (17c).
2. Church discipline has promises.
1. The promise of God’s power (vv. 18-19).
2. The promise of God’s presence (Immanuel!) (v. 20).