http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org Lakeside Bible Church Podcasts en Lakeside Bible Church Podcasts Lakeside Bible Church no Lakeside Bible Church Sermons blakeboys@gmail.com ℗ & © 2009 Lakeside Bible Church 720 1 Samuel 17 At times througout our lives we face giant obstacles. What do you do in the midst of such obstacles, when your back is against the wall or when you are terrified? At times like these, we can find great encouragement in the study of David and Goliath. But, the hero of this story is not David. The hero is the same as for all other stories in the Bible - our almighty God. The seventeenth chapter of 1 Samuel is really a story of God's almighty hand in delivering the Israelites from the hands of His enemy. In tonight's message, Pastor Tyson teaches us 12 ways to conquer the giants in our lives based on the verses in 1 Samuel 17: 1. Do not listen to the voice of the Philistine. (vv. 1-11) 2. Do not be afraid of the enemy. (vv. 12-24) 3. Ask the right questions. (vv. 25-27) 4. Don't get involved in domestic disputes. (vv. 28-30) 5. Remember past victories. (vv. 31-37) 6. Don't wear other people's armor. (vv. 38-39) 7. Be prepared. (v. 40) 8. Speak with confidence, not with arrogance. (vv. 41-45) 9. Give glory to God. (vv. 46-47) 10. Run to the battle. (v. 48) 11. Strike it down. (v. 49-50) 12. Finish what you started (vv. 51-58) The deliverance of God's people serves as an example of God's faithfulness. When we put our trust and faith in our almighty God, He is faithfull to deliver us from our trials and to help us endure them, just as He has been faithful to deliver the Israelites from their trials and to help them endure them over the centuries. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/david-and-goliath-facing-the-giants-in-your-life http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/david-and-goliath-facing-the-giants-in-your-life.mp3 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:13:58 UTC Adam Tyson Classics - Legendary Stories From The Old Testament 1_samuel_17,david_and_goliath,conquering_giants,god's_faithfulness,god_delivers,trials_of_life 72:32 Acts 11:19-30 A 'beachhead' is a military position that serves as a landing point and staging area for preparing a larger, coordinated attack or invasion. When implemented, it is critical to the successful launch of a war. In Acts 11, Luke provides a description of the church in Antioch, which was the most strategic church of the three that are described throughout the Book of Acts. The church at Antioch is considered the first great 'missions' church in that it was the first to proactively reach out to the Gentiles. From the example of the church in Antioch, we discover five foundations of a great church that can serve as a strategic beachhead to advance the gospel in its community and around the world. A missions-minded church will have: 1. Aggressive Outreach - Is Gutsy in Evangelism (vv. 19-21) 2. Supportive Leaders - God Men in Charge (vv. 22-26a) 3. Intensive Instruction - Grounded in the Word (v. 26b) 4. Distinctive Members - Growing More Like Christ (v. 26c) 5. Responsive Giving - Generous to Meet Needs (vv. 27-30) A beachhead has been established at the church at Antioch so that the gospel can be advanced throughout the world. These verses provide a comparison for our church so that we may examine ourselves and improve in order that we may more effectively impact our community here in Montgomery, Texas. It is by God's grace that we shall be able to do that. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/a-beachhead-for-the-gospel http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/a-beachhead-for-the-gospel.mp3 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:20:58 UTC Ken Ramey Acts acts_11:19-30,church_at_antioch,evangelism,sharing_the_gospel,beachhead,outreach,missionary,christian 53:34 Judges 13-16 Our 'achilles heel' signifies the weakest or most vulnerable part of our lives, and if left unguarded, can become the means to our spiritual downfall. It is imperative that we know what our achilles heel is so that we can stave off Satan's attacks, which are very pointed and accurate. Although the term 'achilles heel' was taken from the mythical tale of Achilles, there is a story of a real man who lived during Old Testament times who had an achilles heel that led to his spiritual downfall. This man was Samson, and his achilles heel (moral weakness) was his lust for women. In these four chapters of Judges, we see that Samson made the choice of satisfying himself and his lusts, rather than satisfying God. Tonight, Pastor Ramey reads from Judges 13-16 to give us a look at Samson's life and his downfall, which is a picture of the nation of Israel - the nation that he was supposed to be leading. Both squandered a rich spiritual heritage, which eventually led to lives of spiritual decline as they were spread into foreign lands. The saga of Samson can be divided into four episodes: Samson's destiny (Ch. 13), his degeneration (Ch. 14), his downfall (Ch. 15), and his death (Ch. 16). The story of Samson is a story of a man who was called by God for a very special purpose , but who failed to reach his true potential because he never fully understood his true purpose. Samson illustrates much wasted effort pursuing self-serving goals that don't have any eternal value. Nevertheless, God used Samson to carry out His sovereign purpose. Are you doing all that God intended when He put you on this earth? Are you sowing things in your life that will one day lead to your downfall? Stop, before they lead to a shameful end! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/blinded-by-lust http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/blinded-by-lust.mp3 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:07:38 UTC Ken Ramey Classics - Legendary Stories From The Old Testament spiritual_downfall,lust,moral_weakness,achilles_heel,samson,judges_13-16 64:01 Acts 10:1-11:18 As unforgetable as the dismantling of the Berlin Wall was for Germany and the world in the 1980's, there was an even more monumental event over two thousand years ago that involved the tearing down of a different kind of wall. It was during the period of Acts that God tore down the spiritual barrier that had existed between the Jews and Gentiles since the time of Genesis 12. In Acts 9, we saw how God began to open the door of faith to the Gentiles through Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. Then, in Acts 10, we see how He continued to open that door as Peter is summoned to share the gospel with Cornelius and his family in Caesarea. Luke continues in the rest of chapter 10 through Acts 11:18 by giving an account of Peter's explanation of the mystery of the inclusion of the Gentiles in the church. In today's message, Pastor Ramey uses the passages from Acts 10-11 to outline five stages of inclusion that mark God's method for introducing the Gentiles into the body of Christ. The 5 Stages of Inclusion are marked by: 1. Coinciding Revelations (vv. 1-22) 2. Corresponding Explanations (vv. 23-33) 3. A Compelling Proclamation (v. 34) 4. The Confirming Manifestation (vv. 44-48) 5. The Convincing Justification (Ch. 11, v. 1-18) As we study these verses, we (as Gentiles), should be ever greatful to God that we have been included in His glorious plan of salvation. As such, we have been granted the privilege of sharing the hope of salvation with all the gentiles of the world who have yet to be saved. We need to share the gospel freely with all men because God shows no partiality among us. May none of us stand in God's way when it comes to those who the Lord wants to save! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-mystery-unfolded http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-mystery-unfolded.mp3 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:20:33 UTC Ken Ramey Acts acts_10:1-11:18,spreading_of_the_gospel,conversion_of_gentiles,gentiles_included_in_the_body_of_christ,peter,cornelius,saul,paul,jews_and_genties_brought_into_the_body_of_christ 64:01 Genesis 22:1-19 It is hard enough for children to obey simple commands, but as they grow, they will learn to obey much more complex commands. Have you learned to follow commands? Even those that don't make sense? Did your training stop when you became an adult, or are you a good and obedient child to your heavenly Father? Tonight Pastor Tyson teaches from Genesis chapter 22 about the faithful obedience of Abraham. We see that Abraham demonstrated immediate, complete, and joyful obedience. But, this event had far deeper meaning than the faithfulness of one of God's servant's, it is a story of redemption, substitution, and salvation. It is a forshadowing of the faithful obedience of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, as our Holy sacrifice. These verses in Genesis demonstrate five characteristics of faithful obedience. Our obedience must be: 1. immediate (v. 3) 2. enduring (vv. 4-8) 3. complete (v. 9) 4. dependant (v. 13) and 5. your obedience will be rewarded (vv. 16-19) Although obedience doesn't come easy, it is easier than disobedience because the cost is much greater. May we all experience the extreme and wonderful blessings that come with joyful obedience to the Lord! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/abraham-and-isaac-faithful-obedience http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/abraham-and-isaac-faithful-obedience.mp3 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:33:39 UTC Adam Tyson Classics - Legendary Stories From The Old Testament genesis_22:1-16,abraham,isaac,faithful_obedience,obiedience_to_god,obedience_to_the_lord,sacrifice 67:12 Acts 9:32-43 Even though Paul was commissioned as the "Apostle to the Gentiles", God used Peter to make the initial transition of the gospel from the Jews to the Gentiles. In this passage, Luke recorded two miraculous healings that God used to spread the gospel further among the Jews and to prepare Peter for an even greater spread of the gospel to the Gentiles. The first was the healing of Aeneas in Lydda (vv. 32-35), and the second was the raising of Dorcas (Tabitha) in Joppa (vv. 36-43). As wonderful as these miracles were, we must always remember that saving faith comes not from the witnessing of miracles, but from hearing of the Word of God! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/peters-preparation http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/peters-preparation.mp3 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:55:53 UTC Ken Ramey Acts acts_9:32-43,peter's_preparation_for_ministry,miraculous_healing,spreading_of_the_gospel,aeneas_in_lydda,dorcas_in_joppa 58:21 Genesis 4:1-16 In Chapter 4 of Genesis, we see many 'firsts' that characterize both pagans and believers. Perhaps the most important 'first' was that of the unbelieving Cain. Cain serves as the prototype of a pagan and is a testimony to every person who has ever rebelled against God. In verses 1-16 of Chapter 4, Pastor Ramey outlines seven characteristics of an unbeliever as illustrated by the behavior of Cain. An unbeliever 1. receives the gift of life from God (vv. 1-2) 2. fails to offer God what He requires of them (vv. 3-6). 3. resents God and responds wrongly to His Word (vv. 7-8). 4. refuses to admit their sin to God (v. 9-10). 5. receives the due penalty of their sin (vv. 11-12). 6. protest against God's judgement (vv. 13-14). 7. fails to appreciate God's common grace (v. 15). Cain rebelled against God and was thus consigned to wander in the land of Nod. Such is the life led by those who travel the way that seems right to men instead of the way God intends. Are you traveling the way of Cain? The way that seems right to a man but actually leads to death? This road will only consign you to a miserable existence and an even more miserable eternity. Cain chose the way for Cain instead of the way of life. The way of Christ should be our way. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-prototype-of-a-pagan http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-prototype-of-a-pagan.mp3 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:30:07 UTC Ken Ramey Classics - Legendary Stories From The Old Testament genesis_4:1-16,cain_and_abel,cain,unbelievers,rebellion_against_god 56:29 Psalm 73 Summary Pending http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/when-all-you-have-is-not-enough http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/when-all-you-have-is-not-enough.mp3 Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:50:40 UTC Ken Ramey Psalms psalm_73,satisfaction_with_the_lord 44:23 Luke 22:54-62 Few saints have fallen to the depths and denial that Peter did on the day Jesus was brought to the house of the high priest Caiaphas. But few saints have been been used so powerfully by God after being restored. In verses 54-62 of Luke, we see the sad but stirring account of when Peter momentarily fell away from the Lord and then later repented and was restored to useful service by the Lord. So, what causes a Christian to deny Christ? In this message, Pastor Ramey outlines the five things we need to avoid so that we may not fall into denying Christ. These are demonstrated by the five steps that Peter took that got him to the point of denying Christ. Peter was: 1) prideful 2) unsubmissive 3) lacking in prayer 4) impulsive, and 5) in the company of unbelievers Under these circumstances, its not a matter of if, but when we will fall into the temptation that leads to denial. And, 1 Corinthians 10:12 tells us that we all have the potential to fall away from the Lord.. But, we are ever thankful because Jesus intercedes to the Father on our behalf - even now. So, if we confess our sins and repent of them, Christ is faithful to forgive and restore us (1 John 1:9). Proverbs 28:13 also tells us that those who confess and repent will find compassion., This is exactly what Jesus provided Peter. Jesus used this process to prepare and strengthen Peter so that he could encourage, strengthen, and lead others. The Lord uses the same process today to strengthen and encourage us so that we may also usefully serve Him. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/when-you-blow-it-big-time http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/when-you-blow-it-big-time.mp3 Sun, 31 May 2009 18:40:55 UTC Ken Ramey Luke restored_by_the_lord,repent,confess,fall_away_from_the_lord,peter_denies_jesus,denial_of_the_lord,luke_22:54-62 54:00 Jude 24-25 The greatest survival story ever was not that of famed Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton at Elephant Island in 1916, but that of our Lord Jesus Christ, as written by Jude between 64 and 66 AD. In this, the final message from the series on Jude, Paul Ikard teaches from verses 24 and 25, in which Jude gives us four reasons for our hope of eternal survival. We have hope in the person, the power, the preservation, and position of our hope. The person of our hope is God and the person of Jesus Christ. If Jesus is not our Lord, then he cannot be our assurance of salvation. And, the higher our view of God, the greater the assurance of our hope and the assurance of our eternal survival. Our response to the reasons for our hope should be an attitude of joy and courage, and our action should be to confront the perpetrators of false teaching and rescue the victims of false teaching. Be joyful, for our salvation is secure in the Lord! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-greatest-survival-story-ever-told http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-greatest-survival-story-ever-told.mp3 Wed, 27 May 2009 01:11:43 UTC Paul Ikard Jude jude_24-25,eternal_survival,the_person_of_our_hope,our_hope_is_jesus_christ 39:31 Mark 14:26-52 The experience of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane can be very convicting to us. When Jesus grieved, it was indeed the most sorrowful, solemn moment of His life on earth. But no matter how deep the sorrows we have experienced in our own lives, it does not compare, nor can we comprehend the depth of Jesus's sorrow as He prayed on the night of His betrayal. In this passage, Mark records six pressures that Jesus faced in the Garden of Gethsemane that overwhelmed Him with grief. He was grieved by the thought of being 1. separated from His Father (vv. 32-36) 2. tempted by Satan 3. disappointed by His closest friends (vv. 37-42) 4. betrayed by Judas (vv. 43-45) 5. rejected by His own people (vv. 46-49) 6. being deserted by His disciples (vv. 50-52) God leads us all to our own personal Gethsemanes - it is where we learn to completely surrender everything to Him. But we know that we do not have to suffer alone because of the life led by His only son. Jesus Christ knows every trial that we could ever face. Are you in the midst of a Garden of Gethsemane - being squeezed by life's trials? Then go to the Garden and meditate about what Jesus went through to deliver you from your sin. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/garden-of-grief http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/garden-of-grief.mp3 Sun, 24 May 2009 17:29:35 UTC Ken Ramey Mark mark_14:26-52,jesus's_betrayal,garden_of_gethsemane,jesus_grieves 53:43 Jude 17-23 In tonight's message, Mike Goins teaches from the Book of Jude in verses 17-23. Here, Jude gives the beloved three tactics to fend off false teaching so that they can earnestly for the faith. As believers, we must first remember the repeated warnings of the apostles about the apostates to come, so that we may not be taken by surprise. Second, we must remain in the truths of the Christian faith by building up the body of Christ and by praying with eager anticipation of the Lord's return while living in obedience through God's grace. Finally, we must also reach out to those who fall prey to apostates, are doubtful and susceptable to be led astray from the truth, and those who are committed to the errors taught by apostates. Jude concludes his message with a beautiful doxology (verses 24-25) that captures his theme of salvation, which was meant to bolster the courage of his fellow believers, and is equally encouraging for believers today: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who is alone wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever, Amen" http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/fending-off-false-teaching http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/fending-off-false-teaching.mp3 Wed, 20 May 2009 01:07:06 UTC Mike Goins Jude jude_17-23,false_teaching,contend_earnestly_for_the_faith,fending_off_false_teaching 50:07 Deuteronomy 4:32-40 Pastor Donato teaches from Deuteronomy 4 about the two things that prevent us from sin. Verses 32 through 40 give us two proofs of God's uniqueness so that we may not sin against Him. First, we must look at what God has done in the past. This is the History of Revelation. Through the history of God's revelation, we find that He is unique in all His attributes. This is a re-establishment of what God wants from His people. Just as God's people sat on the plains of Moab in preparation to enter the promised land, we have seen that there is no other god or worshiped man who has made men aware of His attributes through the things that He says. Second, we must consider the History of Redemption. God delivers His people, and He will care for us as long as we do not violate His uniqueness. This uniqueness was exemplified prefectly through the life lived by Jesus Christ. For there is no other name under the heavens by which men are saved. 1 Peter 3:15 speaks of the preciousness of God through Christ. We abstain from sin, not for the sake of keeping external law, but because we are to be conformed to the Lord - the one Who is holy (set apart from the world). We are preserved by a right concept of God through Christ. So, the question for us is, are we being preserved by a healthy preservative? Are we being preserved by the right perspective - a right perspective of Jesus Christ? http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/what-prevents-me-from-sin http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/what-prevents-me-from-sin.mp3 Sun, 17 May 2009 17:17:04 UTC Adrian Donato Deuteronomy deuteronomy_4:32-40,sin,god's_uniqueness,god's_attributes,god's_history_of_revelation,god's_history_of_redemption 36:37 Proverbs 31 http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/wanted-worthy-women http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/wanted-godly-women.mp3 Sun, 10 May 2009 16:24:07 UTC Lou Schneider Proverbs 31 45:06 http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-ascension-of-jesus-applied-today http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-ascension-of-jesus-applied-today.mp3 Wed, 06 May 2009 14:48:15 UTC Dr. Michael Boys Acts 51:28 Luke 5:27-32 Through the account of Levi's conversion and subsequent celebration party, Luke shows how Jesus befriended unbelievers in order to lead them to repentance. Among the twelve apostles called by Christ, Levi (later referred to as Matthew) sacrificed the most to answer His call to follow. He forsaked his entire livlihood as a tax collector to follow Jesus. He understood that in order to follow and obey Christ, he had to die unto himself, which is what Christ requires of all of us.That is what the gospel call is all about. The call to Christ is to become a Christian! However, as maturing Christians, we must never forget that Jesus came to be known as a "friend of sinners" because He had a great compassion for the lost, which was in direct contrast to the attitude of the Pharisee religious ruling class of Jesus' day. Let us pray that God would help us to not be self-righteous like the Pharisees, but to remember that we are the worst sinners we know. We should also ask God to give us a greater compassion for lost sinners and greater interaction with them so that we can lead them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/friend-of-sinners http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/friend-of-sinners.mp3 Sun, 03 May 2009 17:14:54 UTC Ken Ramey Luke luke_5:27-32,levi's_conversion,jesus,friend_of_sinners,repentance,matthew,reaching_unbelievers 56:09 Jude 12-16 In these verses of the Book of Jude, we learn how false teachers are profiled so that we may identify the false teachers in our midst. This is crucial because they can creep into the church undetected. In tonight's message, Charlie Willis teaches from verses 12-16, which describes the characteristics of false prophets using five metaphors that are based on nature. We see that false prophets are like: 1) hidden reefs 2) clouds without water 3) autumn trees without fruit 4) wild waves of the sea 5) wandering stars An understanding of the nature of false prophets and false teachers can equip us to measure their words and deeds by the trustworthy standard of God's Word - the only truth available to men. We need to know God's Word initimately, so that we may know Him better. May we grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/how-to-profile-false-teachers http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/how-to-profile-false-teachers.mp3 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:14:10 UTC Charlie Willis Jude jude_12-16,false_teacher,recognizing_false_teachers,apostates 38:41 Nehemiah 8 Sadly, seminaries, and churches can become places of spiritual death. Sometimes believers can slide, fall, or drift so that we take for granted the riches of God's Word. As is common in other aspects of life, familiarity can breed contempt in our spiritual life as well. In today's message, Pastor Jeremy Smith teaches from the Book of Nehemiah to show us how we should respond to the Word of God. Verses 1-10 give us three responses that can, by God's grace, innoculate us from complacency when taking in His Word. The first response is that we should hunger for the Word. Second, we should respond with joyful celebration; and third, we should exercise practical obedience. May we respond to God's Word in a Godly way and submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit, and ask the Lord to lead us through the brokeness and repentance to the joy of forgiveness that He offers in abundance! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/three-right-responses-to-the-word-of-god http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/three-right-responses-to-the-word-of-god.mp3 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:14:45 UTC Jeremy Smith Nehemiah nehemiah_8,proper_response_to_god's_word,repentance,practical_obedience_to_god's_word,hunger_for_god's_word,joy 30:45 Jude 8-11 Tyler Jacobs delivers the fourth message in the series of Jude entitled "The Visionary's Violent End." This message deals with Jude's portrayal of wickedness of the false teachers of his day through their "dreaming" (vV. 8-10) and their condemnation (v. 11). http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-visionarys-violent-end- http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-visionarys-violent-end.mp3 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:30:49 UTC Tyler Jacobs Jude jude_8-11,false_teachers,apostates,unbelief,rebellion,rejecting_the_authority_of_god,wickedness_of_men 61:36 Acts 9:23-31 In this passage, Luke records how Saul was hunted in both Damascus and Jerusalem and had to be smuggled out of both places for his own safety. He became the prey as the Lord made him the primary tool to reach the Gentiles with the gospel message. Indeed, were it not for Paul's ministry, we would not be gathered together ass believers today! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-hunter-hunted http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-hunter-hunted.mp3-new Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:43:31 UTC Ken Ramey Acts acts_9:23-31,saul,paul,paul's_ministry,saul_of_tarsus,saul's_conversion 48:14 Jude 5-7 Apostasy can be defined as an act of unpardonable rebelion against God and His truth; a conscious and willing departure from the faith among those who know it and "profess" to believe it. Jude cited three well-known acts of apostasy from the Old Testament as brief reminders to illustrate their damnable outcome as declared in Jude 4. These stories remind believers about the power of God's wrath and His judgement. In this message, Tim Kemrite exposits verses 5-7, which tell stories that exemplify 1) the impartialitiy of God's wrath (v. 5), 2) God's wrath on disobedient angels (v. 6), and 3) the eternality of God's judgement (v. 7). As believers in Christ, we need to be wise, know God's Word, and be good Bereans. We also need to be watchful and be willing to stand for the gospel for those who need it. That means contending earnestly for the faith by standing firm in the gospel! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/scared-straight http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/scared-straight.mp3 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:44:59 UTC Tim Kemrite Jude rebellious_angels,contend_for_the_faith,jude_5-7,apostate,apostasy,god's_wrath,god's_judgement 50:38 Acts 9:1-22 Resurrection Sunday Christian author Josh MacDowell's well-known book "The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict" was the culmination of his desire to disprove the reurrection of Jesus Christ. But the Lord used that quest to show MacDowell that there is far more evidence supporting the resurrection of Christ than there is against it. Indeed, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the best documented events in recorded history. MacDowell found that the best evidence is the transformation of millions of people world-wide when they put their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, which was validated by His resurrection. Perhaps the most dramatic example of this transformation was that of Saul, who on the road to Damascus, was traveling north to persecute the early Christians. The significance of Saul's conversion is perhaps second only to the events that occurred at Pentecost. Acts Chapter 9 is Luke's first account of Saul's conversion. As we study verses 1-22, we see that the Lord brought Saul through four stages to bring him to Christ: 1. Conviction 2. Conversion 3. Consecration 4. Confession The conversion of Saul, who afterward came to be known as Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, serves as a powerful example of God's abundant grace and mercy. If the Lord can save a man like Saul and use him in such a mighty way, then He can surely save anyone. This should not only give us great hope, but should encourage us with great hope for anyone who is among the unsaved. God took Saul, the chief persecutor of God's people, and used him as perhaps the most powerful witness for Christ the world has ever known. If the Lord can save a man like Saul, He can surely save you! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/blinded-by-the-risen-son http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/blinded-by-the-risen-son.mp3 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:42:30 UTC Ken Ramey Acts acts_9:1-22,resurrection_sunday,christ_is_risen,easter_sunday,son_of_god,the_savior_has_risen,saul,paul,the_damascus_road 56:28 Matthew 27:15-26 Summary Pending http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-substitute http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-substitute.mp3 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:45:55 UTC Ken Ramey Matthew matthew_27:15-26,easter_sunday,substitutionary_atonement_of_christ,the_trial_of_jesus,barabbas,forgiveness_of_sin 37:32 Acts 8:26-40 Have you ever sky-dived? Those who have, describe their first experience as both terrifying and exhilorating at the same time. Telling another person about Jesus Christ is a lot like that for most people. But we have been commissioned by Christ Himself to tell others about the life He lived and the means of salvation that is through Him alone. To help Jesus' disciples, and all of us, spread the gospel, He sent the Holy Spirit so that His name would be glorified and exhalted and His glory made known to the ends of the earth. So, we should be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with the lost who share our spheres of influence. In today's message, we learn four pointers for personal evangelism from the example of Philip. These pointers will help us seize the divine appointments God orchestrates on a regular basis so that we can share the gospel with those who don't know Him. To effectively seize divine appointments, we should: 1. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading (vv. 26-29) 2. Be proactive in initiating spiritual discussions (vv. 30-31) 3. Be effective in explaining the Scriptures (vv. 32-38) 4. Be repetitive in sharing the gospel (vv. 39-40) Pastor Ramey closes this message with two practical ways to take advantage of divine appointments in everyday life. We should memorize a basic gospel presentation or a series of bible verses that can be recited as we share the gospel. And, when we wake up every morning, we can pray a prayer like the following: "God, give me a love for the lost and give me an opportunity to share the gospel with at least one person today." http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/seizing-divine-appointments http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/seizing-divne-appointments.mp3 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:11:43 UTC Ken Ramey Acts having_a_love_for_the_lost,ethiopian_eunuch,philip,preaching_jesus_christ,sharing_the_gospel,divine_appointments,acts_8:26-40 59:47 Jude 3-4 In chapters 3 and 4, Jude dsounds the clarion call to every believer to earnestly contend for the faith. In this call, he answers four questions - the questions that believers must have answered to wage war on apostacy: 1. Who to fight? 2. How to fight? 3. What to fight for? 4. Why fight? In the war on apostacy, we are reminded by John MacArthur that the means by which we are to wage the campaign includes studying and obeying God's Word, proclaiming and defending His Word, encouraging the teachers of His Word, and training the next generation of keepers of His Word. Pastor Boys stated well the protocol that believers must follow to remain vigilant in the fight using God's Word. We must read to know, know to obey, and obey so as to stand up under adversity. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-call-to-fight http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-call-to-fight.mp3 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:23:22 UTC Blake Boys Jude jude_3-4,fighting_for_the_faith,contending_for_the_faith,apostacy,enemies_within_the_church 39:03 Acts 8:4-25 Luke records the encounter Philip and Peter had with Simon the Sorcerer to show that not everyone who claims to be a Christian and/or appears to be a Christian is a Christian. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-evangelist-vs-the-illusionist http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-evangelist-vs-the-illusionist.mp3 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:20:12 UTC Ken Ramey Acts acts_8:4-25,evangelism,counterfeit_christian,authentic_christian 62:06 Jude 1-2 Summary Pending Note: Due to a series of power interruptions that occurred during the service, a portion of the audio content for this sermon is missing. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/fight-for-the-faith http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/fight-for-the-faith.mp3 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:25:16 UTC Ken Ramey Jude apostates_in_the_church,secure_in_christ,apostates,defending_the_faith,false_teachers,christianity,jude_1-2 55:33 Daniel 5 Emperor Napoleon Bonapart represents the French effort to rule the world during the early part of the 19th century, but he eventually met his defeat at the battle of Waterloo. Like Napoleon, every great leader will someday meet his final defeat too. Indeed, every leader, no matter the capacity in which he leads, must constantly guard against pride, for it was pride that inevitably led to the downfall of Napoleon. This was the fate of King Belshazzer, as written about in the 5th chapter of the Book of Daniel. In today's message, we learn about five scenes from Daniel 5 that will teach us to heed the handwriting on the wall, which is the warning given to King Belshazzer by God Himself. These scenes are 1. The Revelry is Delighted (vv. 1-4) 2. The Writing on the Wall (vv. 5-12) 3. The Request is Made (vv. 13-16) 4. The Reply is Given (vv. 17-29) 5. The Revelation is Fulfilled (v. 30-31) If God is sovereign of King Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, he is certainly sovereign over our lives as well. Be careful that your pride is not your downfall. Learn to submit to and acknowledge God's power. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-handwriting-on-the-wall http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-handwriting-on-the-wall.mp3 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:11:38 UTC Adam Tyson Daniel acknowledge_god's_power,god's_power,pride,god's_sovereignty,king_belshazzer,daniel_5 61:27 Mark 4:26-29 The parable of the mustard seed, which is only recorded by the apostle Mark, compliments the parable of the sower by explaining in more depth the results of spiritual growth accomplished in good soil. This parable of the mustard seed pictures the kingdom of God beginning with a small influence and then becoming worldwide in its scope. In this message, Pastor Tyson delivers three thoughts about the power of the seed: 1. To Man, Growth Is A Mystery (v. 26-27) 2. The Seed Reveals Its Potency (v. 28) 3. The Harvest Time Spells Victory (v. 29) Just as Christ commissioned His apostles to spread the gospel to the far corners of the earth, we in the church today are called to that same commission. And, the Word of God cointinues to grow within each believer just as the parable of the mustard seed describes! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-mysterious-power-of-the-seed http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-mysterious-power-of-the-seed.mp3 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:12:18 UTC Adam Tyson Mark mark_4:26-29,parable_of_the_seed,spiritual_growth,god's_word 51:37 The Church: God's House Knowing that our life and ministry will one day be tested by the discerning eye of God should motivate us to faithfully follow the blueprint He has clearly laid out in His Word for building His church. In today's message, Pastor Ramey unfolds God's spiritual blueprint for building His church, which is based on eight foundational principles that are scripturally-based. These principles collectively demonstrate that the church exists to glorify God by proclaiming the truth of His Word in the power of His Spirit so that people will know His Son and grow to be like Him. And, what an honor it is to be God's fellow workers - working alongside Him to build His church! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-church-gods-house http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-church-gods-house.mp3 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:20:25 UTC Ken Ramey Acts acts,the_church,god's_house,god-honoring_church,blueprint_for_god's_church,evangelization,edification,exaltation 58:01 Luke 10:38-42 An intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is of the utmost importance to every believer, yet our devotion to Him is all too often less than His priority deserves. Daily our tendency is to succumb to lesser priorities and a false sense of priority that robs us of a full sense of devotion to what matters most in life. In Luke 10:38-42, we see that the story of Mary and Martha is really a story of two different prioities, rather than a story about two sisters. One priority was work, as demonstrated by Martha; the other was a priority of worship, which was demonstrated by Mary. Both priorities are important, but clearly, one is more important than the other. The story of these two sisters teaches us that Martha was distracted from the best thing by all the good things she was doing to serve Christ and His apostles. She was so busy serving Christ that she didn't have any time to spend with Him! Time spent with Jesus Christ should be the most important thing we do every day! Is your relationship with Christ defined by your service to Him or to your time spent with Him? http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/undistracted-devotion http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/undistracted-devotion.mp3 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:10:19 UTC Ken Ramey Luke 10:38-42 An intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is of the utmost importance to every believer, yet our devotion to Him is all too often less than His priority deserves. Daily our tendency is to succumb to lesser priorities and a false sense ... luke_10:38-42,devotion_to_the_lord,intimate_relationship_with_christ,martha_and_mary,priorities,time_spent_with_the_lord,serving_the_lord_versus_worshipping_him 50:52 Nehemiah's account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem serves as a blueprint which lays out seven timeless principles that we must follow if we want to experience God's good hand of blessing on our present building project. In Part 1 of this message, we learned that 1) we must be greatly concerned for God's work (verses 1:1-4), and 2) that we must practically plan ahead (Chapter 2). Today, Pastor Ramey continues this message by laying out the remaining five steps to a successful building project. In addition to having great concern and exercising practical planning, we must: 3. Practically plan ahead and work hard (Ch 2) 4. Willingly work together (Ch 3) 5. Tenaciously persevere despite opposition (Ch 4) 6. Generously give regardless of the economy (Ch 5) 7. Humbly give God all the glory (Ch 6) The Lord provided Nehemiah as an example for us to follow as we go about building His church here at Lakeside. From his leadership, we see clearly that the hand of God works through the hands of men. We should pray as if our entire building project depends on God and work as if it all depends on us. This is the kind of glorifying attitude which is pleasing to the Lord. Through this, God graciously lays His hand of blessing upon the endeavors of His people, and all along the way, and in the end, all the glory goes to God. We are fortunate to be given the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with God to accomplish His glory. It is only then that we know that our work was not done in vain! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/gods-building-blueprint-part-2 http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/gods-building-blueprint-part-2.mp3-new Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:26:38 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah god's_blessings,successful_building,fasting_and_prayer,spiritual_leadership,nehemiah 45:31 Nehemiah Nehemiah's account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem serves as a blueprint which lays out seven timeless principles that we must follow if we want to experience God's good hand of blessing on our present building project. In this message, Pastor Ramey discusses two of the seven steps to a successful building project. To begin, we must be greatly concerned for God's work (verses 1:1-4); and secondly, we must prayerfully depend on God (verses 1:5-11). From these two verses alone, we learn that unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor will labor in vain! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/gods-building-blueprint http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/gods-building-blueprint.mp3 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:48:53 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah god's_blessings,successful_building,fasting_and_prayer,spiritual_leadership,nehemiah 40:25 Nehemiah 13 The bible shows repeatedly that the memories of God's people tend to be short and they tend toward waywardness. And, just like the people of Judah, we have a propencity to lapse into old habit patterns. As such, we must constantly examine our hearts and maintain a state of repentance. In Chapter 13 of Nehemiah, we see how Nehemiah took on the sinful disobedience of the people of Judah. These were precisely the sins that the people had sworn to repent of in Chapter 10. Nehemiah's dealings with the people under his governorship might seem especially harsh, but as the verses in Chapter 13 illustrate, his zeal for God was very great. His actions were pursued with prayerful dependence on the Lord. Nehemiah acted with great zeal to bring his people to repentance for renewal and reform, much like Jesus had acted in His Father's house (John 2:13). Nehemiah took on the reform of 4 abuses by the people of Judah: 1. God's house was defiled; Nehemiah expelled Tobiah. 2. God's servants were neglected; Nehemiah restored the tithe system. 3. God's day was being misused.; Nehemiah enforced the Sabbath. 4. God's law was being ignored; Nehemiah condemed mixed marriages In summary, Nehemiah is best remembered as the man who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. But, we should also remember that he was the man chosen by God to prepare Judah for the arrival of the Messiah. His leadership was powerful and effective because he was on his knees in prayer to God, offering himself to be used as a mighty instrument in His hands. We should all put ourselves at God's complete disposal - just as Nehemiah did. The life and leadership of Nehemiah is a mighty demonstration that he who kneels before God can stand before anyone! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/walking-tall-on-your-knees http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/walking-tall-on-your-knees.mp3 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:30:35 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah nehemiah_13,prayer,leadership,repentance,renewal,reform,zeal_for_god 53:18 Selected Scriptures Every now and then it is important to revisit what the Bible says about baptism, for what we believe about baptism is based soley on what the Bible teaches rather than on the traditions or denominations of men. In this message, Pastor Ramey covers the five most important questions regarding baptism. In answering these questions, we see that what the Bible doesn't say about baptism is just as important as what it does say. The Five Important Questions: 1. What is baptism? 2. Why should we get baptized? 3. Who should get baptized? 4. How should we get baptized? 5. What are the benefits of baptism? As Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Nothing is more plainly taught in the New Testament than that it is the duty of every believer in Christ to be baptized." http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/what-the-bible-says-about-baptism http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/what-the-bible-teaches-about-baptism.mp3 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:04:59 UTC Ken Ramey Selected Scriptures Every now and then it is important to revisit what the Bible says about baptism, for what we believe about baptism is based soley on what the Bible teaches rather than on the traditions or denominations of men. In this message, ... baptism,what_is_baptism?,who_should_we_get_baptized?,how_should_we_get_baptized?,what_are_the_benefits_of_baptism? 56:50 Selected Scriptures Summary Pending http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/hungry-for-god http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/hungry-for-god.mp3 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:51:30 UTC Ken Ramey Above & Beyond - Phase 2 fasting,spiritual_discipline,fasting_and_prayer,seeking_the_glory_of_god 57:43 Exodus 15:22-27 Margaret teaches from Chapter 15 of the Book of Exodus about why every believer, regardless of circumstance or trial in life, should live with abundant joy because of the sacrifice made by our Lord Jesus Christ. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/out-of-the-wilderness-and-into-an-oasis http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-joy-of-your-salvation.mp3 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:49:37 UTC Margaret Ashmore Exodus 15:22-27 Margaret teaches from Chapter 15 of the Book of Exodus about why every believer, regardless of circumstance or trial in life, should live with abundant joy because of the sacrifice made by our Lord Jesus Christ. exodus_15:22-27,salvation,joy,joy_in_the_lord 50:57 Hebrews 11:1-35 Summary Pending http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/a-passion-to-live-differently http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/a-passion-to-live-differently.mp3 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:41:49 UTC Shannon Hurley Missions hebrews_11:1-35,missions_work,faith,serving_in_faith,radical_living 58:11 2 Corinthians 8-9 Summary Pending http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-model-of-biblical-giving-pt-2 http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-model-for-biblical-giving-pt-2.mp3 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:50:42 UTC Ken Ramey Above & Beyond - Phase 2 2_corinthians_8-9,biblical_giving,sacrificial_giving,joyful_giving,building_god's_kingdom_on_earth,church_of_corinth,churches_of_macedonia 52:01 Nehemiah 10:1-39 Preachers can take advantage of shaping church culture within the churches they are heard by applying the principles taught in chapter 10 of the book of Nehemiah. However, Ezekial 33:31-32 tells of how people were impressed by the sermons they heard, but experienced no change in their lives. This was because they did not put into practice the things they heard preached. James 1:22 teaches us that in order for people to do what they learn in sermons, they often need to be challenged. Hopefully, in addition to exalting the glories of God and His Son Jesus Christ, every sermon is calling people to do something that is glorifying to God in their own lives. We honor God's Word by listening to what the Lord wants us to do through His Word. The remaining six chapters of Nehemiah describe how the people of Jerusalem were consecrated in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah. In verse 38 of chapter 10, we see how the people were convicted and committed following the great prayer of the Levites (Ch 9) and how, following the prayer, the people made a written public promise to God that they would honor His covenant from that moment on. As we see later in Nehemiah however, conviction and confession is no substitute for obedience! Today's message by Pastor Ramey outlines three evidences of spiritual revival based on Chapter 10 of Nehemiah: 1) We should commit to submit to God's Word; 2) We should commit to separate from the world; and 3) We should commit to support God's work. These commitments, which mark spiritual obedience to God, are embodied by those who are truly committed to honor and serve the Lord. The degree of our commitment to the Lord will, therefore, be reflected by these three evidences as they manifest in our lives. Beyond that, we must remember that change in our lives happens not by chance, but by choice and by the grace of God. So, we ask our Lord to grant us true change! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/cultivating-a-culture-of-commitment http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/cultivating-a-culture-of-commitment.mp3 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:47:47 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah living_to_support_god's_work,living_in_obedience_to_god,submitting_to_god's_word,ezra,culture_of_commitment,nehemiah_10:1-39 53:13 2 Corinthians 8-9 As we continue the 'Above and Beyond' giving campaign, dedicated to the expansion of building facilities at Lakeside Bible Church, we must keep in mind that the building project is merely a means to an end, for it is the hope of this church that the new facility be used to seek the Lord's Kingdom and His righteousness through eternal investment in the lives of others in the Montgomery-Lake Conroe community. This message builds upon the 3 principles discussed in the January 18 message entitled "Making An Eternal Investment". God gives each of us a portion of His money to use while we're here on earth (1 Chronicles 29:14), He advises us to wisely invest the money He gives us in things that will last (Luke 12:33; 1 Timothy 6:7), and He determines our eternal reward based on our faithfulness with the money He entrusts to us (Luke 14:12; 19:12). These three principles help us to wisely and responsibly manage our money in light of eternity. Therefore, we should seek to understand what the bible says about giving so that we can excel still more in giving. 2 Corinthians Chapters 8 and 9 deals with Paul's instruction to the church in Corinth about a particular collection for the saints in Jerusalem. His letter provides the richest, most detailed model of Christian giving in the New Testament. Paul also instructs that the dynamic of giving, which was based on the principle of tithing throughout the Old Testament, had changed completely after the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. As such, giving in the New Testament period was governed by grace instead of strict obedience to the Law. The principle of grace should remain our guiding principle for giving today. 2 Corinthians 8 makes reference to the churches of Macedonia, which were located in the northern Roman province of Greece. These included the churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. This was an impoverished area that had been ravaged by many wars and plundered by Roman authority and commerce. Paul's letter illustrates that the generosity of the churches of Macedonia was motivated by God's grace. In fact, he did not merely commend those churches for noble work, but gave the credit and glory to God for what He did through them. Today's message by Pastor Ramey deals with chapters 8 and 9, which introduces two of the 12 principles for biblical giving. First, we should give regularly. This includes everyone in the church, and we should be teaching our young children this principle as soon as is practical. It should also be our desire to give on the first day of every week, so that we may never come to the house of the Lord empty-handed! Our giving should be a responsible act that is done in a systematic way. Second, We should give liberally. Even in the impoverished churches of Macedonia, the believers were eager and joyful through their giving to provide for the needs of the saints in Jerusalem. We see that giving is not about what is in our bank accounts, but what is in our hearts. The people of Macedonia gave with generous hearts out of pure motivation, and indeed, did not want to be denied the blessings that come with joyfully providing for the needs of others through sacrificial giving. May the single-minded devotion for the needs of others shown by the believers at Macedonia stir our hearts to excel still more when it comes to sacrificial giving at Lakeside Bible Church. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-model-of-biblical-giving-pt-1 http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-model-of-biblical-giving.mp3 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:43:33 UTC Ken Ramey Above & Beyond - Phase 2 2_corinthians_8-9,churches_of_macedonia,church_of_corinth,churches_of_macedonia,building_god's_kingdom_on_earth,joyful_giving,sacrificial_giving,biblical_giving 35:59 Matthew 6:9-15 Summary Pending http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/living-the-lords-prayer http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/living-the-lords-prayer.mp3 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:38:31 UTC Dr. Michael Boys Matthew 6:9-15 Summary Pending 48:46 What In The World Is Going On? Selected Scriptures In light of current global events, are we seeing signs today that something different is going on? Our world is in an uproar and we have been commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to discern the times (Luke 12:54-56). As we near the end of the post-resurrection age, and the world as we now know it, we should evaluate the Scriptures and attempt to understand prophecy of the coming of Christ. Our only reliable source of information in these turbulent times, and our only reliable standard of discernment, is the Bible. Did you know that over one third of the Bible talks about the end times? As such, we should be aware of the events that develop in our times, for the return of Christ draws near (Matthew 24:32-41). There are three questions about the end of the world that should help us to understand what to expect regarding end times events to come. 1) What nations will probably be involved? 2) What is the natural understanding of the events of End-Time prophecy? and 3) What do we need to do in response to the message given throughout the Bible concerning the End Times? http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/what-in-the-world-is-going-on http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/what-in-the-world-is-going-on.mp3 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:34:38 UTC Adam Tyson What In The World Is Going On? Selected Scriptures In light of current global events, are we seeing signs today that something different is going on? Our world is in an uproar and we have been commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to discern the times ... end-time_prophecy,eschatology,end_times,rapture,second_coming,return_of_jesus_christ,tribulation,antichrist,millenial_kingdom 59:45 Restoring God To His Rightful Place Selected Scriptures As Pastor Ramey embarks on his ministry trip to Uganda to share with young pastors a message on the subject of God, it is appropriate that we devote prayer to them and focus our attention to the cause of restoring God to His rightful place - both in our church, and in our own lives. A. W. Tozier characterized it well: What enters our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. In fact, every person who has ever lived has lived their life based upon their view of God. Literally, every aspect of our lives is a reflection of our view of God. Therefore, the greatest need of everyone, and of every church, is a proper view of God. Indeed, every sin ever committed can be traced back to an improper view of God. This includes the first sin, recounted in Genesis 3, which happened when temptation by Satan caused Eve to doubt the goodness of God. Romans 1:21-23 also tells us that people were living out their sinful lives based on their improper views of God and that "... [they] exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man." The same can be said of people of today, that the world is immoral and confused about who God is. Our image of God should include all that the Bible says about Him, and, God's word clearly says that believing wrong things about God is considered idolatry. In other words, idolatry can be defined as any mental images that are inaccurate or erroneous about God. Unfortunately, people often see God the way they want Him to be - as some form of crafted image that is inaccurate and woefully incomplete. According to Arthur Pink, author of The Sovereignty of God, "God is too often a figment of human imagination... the God of modern humanity is not the God of the Bible." Pink follows by warning that we must once more elevate our view of God to one that is worthy of Him, for we tend to think grand things about ourselves and small things about God. R. C. Sproul also recognized that the greatest issue facing the church of today is knowing and understanding the character of God. This manifestation of idolatry is the most hateful offense toward God because nothing is more dishonoring to Him than idolatry. In spite of this, our tendency is to take God down from His glorious throne and make Him less ominous, and in doing so, we become more blasphemous (Psalm 50:21). In contrast, God refers to Himself in scripture as "great." But even this adjective, which should be reserved for God alone, is routinely (and inappropriately) applied to a myriad of worldly objects and people. Scripture says of God: "there is none like Thee" and such a definition is the only one that is appropriate for defining the true character of God (Isaiah 40:12). Because God is incomparable, He is therefore incomprehensible (Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33). So, the first thing we need to understand about God is that He is incomprehensible. And, incomprehensible character is the 'price' we pay to have a God Who is worthy to be worshiped. But, through His grace, God has revealed Himself through His word in the Bible. He condescended Himself to us in this way so that we might understand Him in such a way as to allow us to better relate to His glorious attributes. In addition, God sent himself in human form through His son. He did so because we cannot have a saving relationship with the one true God except through the One Who was sent - His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6). And, because He was sent by the Father as God in human form, Jesus must be acknowledged as such before our relationship with God can be established. It is God's deep desire that we have a personal relationship with Him - through His Son, Jesus Christ! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/restoring-god-to-his-rightful-place http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/restoring-god-to-his-rightful-place.mp3 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:37:57 UTC Ken Ramey Restoring God To His Rightful Place Selected Scriptures As Pastor Ramey embarks on his ministry trip to Uganda to share with young pastors a message on the subject of God, it is appropriate that we devote prayer to them and focus our attention to ... a_high_view_of_god,god'_rightful_place,supremecy_of_god 48:58 2 Corinthians 9:8 Philippians 4:19 As we at Lakeside Bible Church unveil plans for the new education/worship building, it is an appropriate to reflect on how the Lord has already blessed our church body. God blesses us as we build the body, and the goal for building the body is to reach more people for Christ in the community of Montgomery, Texas. This desire should be our motivation as we seek to add more building space at Lakeside. The larger facility is merely a tool in the process of reaching those in our community, for God is up to something much bigger than we realize. Though it is not necessarily wrong to borrow money when undertaking expansion projects for a church, nowhere in the Bible do we find such a precedent. The resources to build the church have always been provided by God's people through generous and joyful giving, so borrowing was not necessary. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us that it is God Who will provide the resources through His way, in His time, for His purpose. As a faithful body of believers, our assurance is that God's work, done God's way, will never lack supply! This fundamental biblical principle is evidenced by a long list of like-minded churches who practice a "no debt" policy. In the midst of our own "Above and Beyond" giving campaign, we should each prayerfully ask God how He will use us to accomplish His will and ask the Lord to stir our hearts that we may respond joyfully and purposefully in giving. As each of us consider our level of giving in this campaign, it is good to review the biblical principles of stewardship. Stewardship encompasses much more than just money. It involves the consideration of our time, treasure, time, and the temples that are our bodies. As such, we must always remember that we will someday stand before God to account for how we managed the resources and treasures He gave us. Indeed, there is an inexorable link between how we spend our money here on earth and how we will spend eternity in heaven. Today's message teaches us 3 principles to remember to help us wisely and responsibly manage our money in light of eternity: 1. God gives each of us a portion of His money to use while we're here on earth (1 Chronicles 29:14). Another way to think about this is that whatever we give belongs to God in the first place. We are simply giving back to God what He has given to us. Further, God blesses us financially, not necessarily to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving. 2. God advises us to wisely invest the money He gives us in things that will last (Luke 12:33; 1 Timothy 6:7). Wherever we invest our money, there our heart will be. 3. God determines our eternal reward based on our faithfulness with the money He entrusts to us (Luke 14:12; 19:12). We should not seek payback for money or resources given while here on earth. In summary, our goal should not be to get rich while here on earth, but rather, to store up treasures in heaven. It is a glorious prospect to consider that God, through His grace and mercy, may be using your joyful giving to lead someone to His Son. There is sure to be eternal gratitude and thankfulness from the many who have benefited from the faithful stewardship and giving by God's people, for the rewards of eternal fellowship with our Lord and Savior are certainly beyond any cost. Will there be anyone waiting in heaven to thank you for the investment you made while here on earth? http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/making-an-eternal-investment http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/making-an-eternal-investment.mp3 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:52:22 UTC Ken Ramey Above & Beyond - Phase 2 2_corinthians_9:8,pilippians_4:19,eternal_investment,god's_work,building_the_kingdom,stewardship,storing_up_treasures_in_heaven 53:54 A Women's study on the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-10 by guest speaker Margaret Ashmore of Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas and the Missio Dei speaking ministry. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-beatitudes http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-beatitudes.mp3 Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:47:56 UTC Margaret Ashmore A Women's study on the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-10 by guest speaker Margaret Ashmore of Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas and the Missio Dei speaking ministry. margaret_ashmore,sermon_on_the_mount,beatitudes,matthew_5:1-10 45:59 Nehemiah 9:1-37 One of the fundamental characteristics of God is that He loves to forgive sin. More specifically, God loves to forgive us when we sin. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/a-forgetful-people-and-a-forgiving-god http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/a-forgetful-people-and-a-forgiving-god.mp3 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:24:31 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah 46:52 Haggai 1 The primary theme of the Book of Haggai is the rebuilding of God's temple, which had been lying in ruins since its destruction by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. Haggai used five messages from the Lord to exhort the people of Israel to renew their efforts to rebuild the temple and he motivated them by noting that the drought and crop failures were caused by misplaced spiritual priorities. The body at Lakeside Bible Church can take lesson from the story of Haggai as we make plans to embark on our Phase II building campaign. As such, the time for discussion about finances is most appropriate, and in spite of the challenges of the current economic climate in our country (and the world over), there is good news in giving. Generous congregations respond to clear vision, and on this basis, the church body must not be afraid to discuss its financial and material needs because this enables a clear vision to be established, which in turn allows for godly decisions to be made regarding funding priorities. Everything that people do is based on matters of priority, and the same is true with a church body. Priorities will almost always be funded, for it is priorities that define who we are, how we spend our time, and how we spend our money. For this reason it is helpful to regularly evaluate our priorities as individuals and as a church. This is what the Book of Haggai demonstrates - Haggai's rebuke of the people for losing their sense of priority and the refocus and recommittal of the people as a response. Although a direct parallel cannot be drawn to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, we can make one conclusion regarding the story of Haggai: the state of our facility at Lakeside Bible Church affects (and reflects) the priorities of its body. G. Campbell Morgan stated it well when he noted that when a church's enthusiasm is dying out, it will be reflected by the state of decay of its building. In such circumstances, the Godly response is that something be done to stir up the congregation - just as was done through the rebuke of Haggai in the midst of the temple that lay in ruins before God's people. Then and now, ambitious building campaigns that are waged in challenging economic times provide opportunities to vindicate God before the world. God uses the achievements of men in such times to demonstrate that He is in no way affected by difficult economic times. Just as for the people of Israel, it represents an opportunity for us to glorify God and to minister to those who need it. Matthew 5:16 encourages us - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." May our comfort in difficult times be that God is with us. God demonstrates that He is with us by His providence through His people who do His work. Jesus said it best in Matthew 6:33 "but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." God is glorified when His people make Him their highest priority and sacrificially give to carry out His work! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/stirring-up-gods-people-to-do-gods-work-for-gods-glory http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/stirring-up-gods-people-to-do-gods-work-for-gods-glory.mp3 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:12:31 UTC Ken Ramey Haggai 1 The primary theme of the Book of Haggai is the rebuilding of God's temple, which had been lying in ruins since its destruction by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. Haggai used five messages from the Lord to exhort the people of Israel to ... why_are_we_here?,stirring_up_god's_people_to_give,god's_word,god's_work,sacrificial_giving_by_god's_people,glorifying_god,haggai_1 55:37 Nehemiah 8:1-18 When we think of the Book of Nehemiah, we typically think of the walls of Jerusalem being rebuilt in a mere 52 days. But the work of Nehemiah had just begun because his ultimate goal was to reconstitute the people of Jerusalem. Chapter 7 of Nehemiah marks the transition between the conclusion of the construction phase and the introduction of the reconstitution stage. This important chapter tells of spiritual revival among God's people through the public reading of the Scriptures. Hence, Ezra becomes the main character in the next few chapters of Nehemiah and Nehemiah is referred to in the third person during this period. The seventh chapter of Nehemiah demonstrates that the key to the reconstitution of God's people - their consecration, is the exposition of His Word. In other words, consecration comes by way of God's Word working in people's lives. And, history has shown that there is nothing more powerful that God uses to bring revival to the people than the anointing of Godly men to accurately exposit Scripture. To exposit the Word is to accurately explain what is contained in scripture so that it can be understood by the people. Preaching, in turn, is the process of expositing God's Word so that it speaks forth His heart. Chapter 8 of Nehemiah is one of the best examples of expository preaching in all of the Bible. Ezra and his helpers were the first in a long line of preachers who exposited from the Bible. God has used this means to bless many generations through the centuries and continues to save sinners and bring Christians to spiritual maturity even today. Sadly though, expository preaching is becoming obsolete in the church of today. Topical and thematic preaching, such has become common in "seeker friendly churches" and the "emergent church", are often inspiring and seemingly practical, but lack the spiritual benefits do not compare with those resulting from a preaching ministry like Ezra's. As Dr. Donald Campbell of Dallas Theological Seminary notes: "Blessed indeed are the believers who are privileged to sit under expository preaching of the Scriptures." In this sermon, we learn of four marks that characterize "people of The Book". People of The Book: 1) revere the Word, 2) receive the Word, 3) rejoice in the Word, and 4) respond to the Word. We never honor God more than when we reverently listen to what He has to say about what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do! This should draw us to loving obedience to His will and God promises His blessings to those who respond in loving obedience to His Word! This by grace through faith in His son Jesus, who is the living Word! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/people-of-the-book http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/people-of-the-book.mp3 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:31 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah ezra,expository_preaching,exposit_the_word,preaching,nehemiah_8:1-18 51:57 1 Corinthians 10:31 Have you made a resolution for the new year? How about more than one resolution? Consider the 18th century preacher and theologian Jonathan Edwards, who shortly after his conversion, established 70 resolutions for himself. Edwards put forth so many resolutions because his desire was to glorify God in every aspect of his life. Seldom do contemporary Christians exercise such self-examination. The glory of God was clearly Jonathan Edward's all-encompassing passion and this matched up precisely with the overriding theme of all scripture in the Bible - the glorification of God and God glorifying Himself through His creation. The universe is the theater that God uses to put on His glory (Psalm 19:1, Isaiah 6:3, Romans 1:20), and, He deserves to receive glory, honor, and praise (Romans 11:36) because He is the author and creator of all that is (Isaiah 43:7); everyone was created for the glory of God, which is why all was created in the universe. Indeed, the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But sadly, we seek to glorify ourselves all too often instead. It is the essence of sin that causes us to fall short of God's glory and His glorious standards, and thereby deny Him glory. But Isaiah 48:11 tells us that God doesn't share His glory with anyone! Everything that God does is to bring glory and honor to himself. Jonathan Edwards recognized this and this is what prompted him to self examination and to establish 70 resolutions for his life. These resolutions clearly reflected his passion and desire to glorify God in every aspect of his life. Edwards used them in a deliberate and systematic manner- to gauge his progress in accomplishing his goals. Edward's overall goal was to be the best Christian on the planet every day of his life. He felt that this was achievable if he dedicated every aspect of his life - every day, to the glorification of God. As we move into 2009, we need to ask ourselves what will glorify God the most as we pursue our daily endeavors. The more we consider this, the more we realize that the glorification of God should permeate every aspect of our lives, no matter how trivial. God is honored or dishonored by everything we say and do. As the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Finally, we should always remember that we cannot hold to our resolutions without God's grace and the help of the Holy Spirit. It is by God's will, by His grace, and for Christ's sake that we even desire to do so. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/glorifying-god http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/glorifying-god.mp3 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:03:56 UTC Ken Ramey 1 Corinthians 10:31 Have you made a resolution for the new year? How about more than one resolution? Consider the 18th century preacher and theologian Jonathan Edwards, who shortly after his conversion, established 70 resolutions for himself. ... 1_corinthians_10:31,glorifying_god,resolutions,jonathan_edwards 43:10 2 Peter 1:1-4 In terms of submitting to the authority and will of the Lord, Peter began his apostleship somewhat 'rough around the edges', or lacking the maturity that he would be given later in his ministry. In spite of this, Peter was used eloquently by God to demonstrate how maturity comes to a believer when they trust and grow in Christ. At the outset of this chapter, Peter exhibits humility by declaring himself a 'bondservant' and apostle of Jesus Christ. As a servant, he was on an equal basis with other Christians, an obedient slave of Christ and having the same faith in Him as other disciples. This is in spite of the fact that his authority and commission as an apostle was established by his eyewitness to Jesus's earthly ministry and resurrection. In the first four verses of 2 Peter, we are given four reasons why maturity as a Christian is possible in this life. First, maturity is possible because we have been given a model. The basis of Peter's maturity was on knowing the truth of God and he demonstrated this maturity through his desire that the faith and peace of others be multiplied on the basis of knowing the one true God. The attributes and wisdom of God were on display for the apostles through Jesus Christ's perfect obedience to the Father. Second, maturity is made possible because we have a mighty Master. We must have divine power in order to live our lives for Christ and we know that we have been given everything we need to enable us to live godly lives. Third, verse 3 tells us that "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." True knowledge of Christ means to understand His glory and excellence. Finally, Maturity is possible because we have our Lord's precious and magnificent promises, which gives us great motivation. God promises to complete the work that He began in us at the moment of salvation, meaning that He promises to bring each one of His children to fullness of spiritual maturity (Gal. 2:20). By this promise, God's children are privileged to share in His nature by the possession of His eternal life. As such, Christians do not become "little gods", but become new creations with the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. If you are a child of God, are you looking toward Christ's divine power for spiritual maturity in your life? Let us never forget the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, which guaranteed the power upon which we can (and must) rely. Let us also remember that God did not make maturity possible without giving us responsibility to mature. Our responsibility should be spurred by reminders like Peter's that we are called by Christ to mature, and maturity is made possible by the will of God the Father. Let us go forth in the new year not on our own power, but on the grace and power of our Lord Jesus Christ! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/maturity-is-possible http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/maturity-is-possible.mp3 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:56:44 UTC Bryan Payne 2 Peter 1:1-4 In terms of submitting to the authority and will of the Lord, Peter began his apostleship somewhat 'rough around the edges', or lacking the maturity that he would be given later in his ministry. In spite of this, Peter was used ... 2_peter_1:1-4,spiritual_maturity,maturing_as_a_christian,sanctification 45:26 Matthew 1:18-28 Of all the men written about in God's Word, perhaps none faced a more difficult challenge of faith and obedience than Joseph, for the prospect of a virgin birth surpassed his ability to understand. Likewise, the birth of Jesus, and the life that only He could live, surpasses all human understanding to this day. In Matthew 1:18-28, the story of the virgin birth is told from Joseph's perspective. Matthew uses this perspective to show that Jesus is the rightful heir to the throne of David, and the perfect fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy concerning the arrival of the Messiah. An angel, believed to have been Gabriel, made such an announcement when he explained to Joseph that the One who would be born would be the Holy Ruler of the world and the One who would save the people from their sins - the Son of God, Jesus. This role is embodied in the name Jesus, which means "Jehovah the Savior." The birth of Jesus is at the heart of the Christmas story because the greatest problem in this world is the sins of men. It is the sins of men that separate us from God the Father and makes reconciliation with Him through the atoning death of His Son necessary. And, we know there is no other name under Heaven by which men are saved but the name Christ Jesus. Because Jesus was not born of Joseph, but of Mary, God was able to satisfy His divine purpose in a way that only He could. Indeed, had not the birth of Jesus been a virgin one, salvation of men would not be possible, for only the divine could accomplish such a feat. In contrast, had Jesus been born of a human father, He would have inherited the sins of Adam as all men have, yet had He not been born of Mary, He would not have been qualified as a member of the human race. So, this uniquely divine combination enabled God to provide His Son as an unblemished (perfect, Holy) sacrifice for the atonement of sins against a Holy God. Therefore, the Son had to be both fully God and fully man. If Jesus would have been anything less that God Himself, such a sacrifice would never have been (and could never be) sufficient to atone for all the sins of men. For this, we have great cause to celebrate because only God could offer Himself as a sacrifice sufficient to atone for sins against One who is Holy! And we rejoice in Jesus, who at Christmas time is often referred to as Emmanuel, meaning "God with us." Even though Joseph knew that no one would believe the story of the virgin birth, he and Mary did believe because they knew God's will, and that's all that mattered. This was proven out unequivocally by the way in which Jesus lived out His life - to perfection. Only God could do the things that Jesus did and only God could have lived a perfect life. The life led by Jesus substantiated the supernatural virgin birth and gave undeniable witness to His role as the Son of God. As we once again celebrate the birth of Christ, our Lord and Savior, let us ponder the magnitude of His humbling sacrifice and rejoice in the wonders of the virgin birth because it is only through the life of Christ that men can be brought back into fellowship with their loving creator. May the true meaning of Christmas be the true meaning of joy in your life! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/christmas-through-josephs-eyes http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/christmas-through-josephs-eyes.mp3 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:50:19 UTC Ken Ramey Matthew 1:18-28 Of all the men written about in God's Word, perhaps none faced a more difficult challenge of faith and obedience than Joseph, for the prospect of a virgin birth surpassed his ability to understand. Likewise, the birth of Jesus, and ... birth_of_christ,christmas,matthew_1:18-28 39:46 Ephesians 3:14-21 One of the greatest prayers issued by a pastor for his church was the one Paul gave for the church at Ephesus. In this pastoral prayer, Paul outlined the 5 steps to spiritual growth that every believer must take in order to grow spiritually strong and healthy. The prayer contains 5 basic requests, which are linked together and build upon one another - like steps that climb higher and closer to God. These are the five things that need to happen in the lives of believers in order to grow spiritually. In Part 1 of this sermon (Dec. 14 message), the first two of the five steps were explained: 1) We are strengthened by the Spirit's power (v. 16), and 2) We need to be surrendered to Christ's control (v. 17). In this sermon, Paul goes on to explain that 3) We must be sustained by Christ's love, 4) saturated with God's character, and 5) stunned by God's power and glory. To be sustained by Christ's love (Step 3) means that we ought to demonstrate His love through our witness and character. The foundation of the Christian life is to love the Lord and loving each other, including the lost. This love is based on a deep comprehension of the sacrifice and incredible love that Christ has for us. This comprehension can at best be partially realized collectively in the context of a body of believers (a church body) and with the help of the Holy Spirit. In Step 4, we see that we must be saturated with God's character. God will not rest until we are conformed to the likeness of His Son, and this process will only be complete when we get to Heaven. As His creatures, we will in a small way reflect the eternal, unlimited glory of God, just as we are to grow to reflect the likeness of His Son by glorifying Him during our life in this world. Finally, when we are stunned by God's power and glory (Step 5), we can be inspired and confident that He will not cease to do great things in our lives - greatly surpassing all humanly expectations, which ultimately serve to glorify Him. The prayer that Paul issued for the Ephesian church is a prayer we can all pray ourselves - for our church and for those we know personally. It is only when we meet the level of growth and maturity demonstrated through Paul's prayer, which is ultimately his prayer for us, that we can fully glorify God through our lives while in this world! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/a-pastors-prayer-for-his-people-pt-2 http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/a-pastors-prayer-for-his-people-pt-2.mp3 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:40:00 UTC Ken Ramey Ephesians 3:14-21 One of the greatest prayers issued by a pastor for his church was the one Paul gave for the church at Ephesus. In this pastoral prayer, Paul outlined the 5 steps to spiritual growth that every believer must take in order to grow ... ephesians_3:14-21,pauls_prayer_for_the_church,spiritual_growth,god's_character,christ's_love 59:17 Nehemiah 7:1-73 Although the walls of Jerusalem were essentialy finished, Nehemiah's work was far from done. His job then shifted from rebuilding the wall to rebuilding of the Jewish people. Nehemiah viewed this task as being just as important as constructing the wall, for he knew that one day, according to the words of the prophets, God's only son would one day walk the streets of Jerusalem and would die outside the same walls. Chapter 7 of Nehemiah concludes the construction of the walls around Jerusalem and begins the re-construction and consecration of the city itself. Just as it takes many many people to make a modern movie, there were thousands of ordinary people behind Nehemiah who worked to make the events accounted for in the book of Nehemiah happen. The underlying theme of Nehemiah Chapter 7 is community, and Nehemiah's census of the people under his governership was intended to account for those who would repopulate the city of Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem came together under Nehemiah to form a Godly community. The list of these people serves as an acknowledgement (and a reminder) that no one who works in the name of God is forgotten. This passage is also a reminder that God is sincerely interested in each of us in the services that we carry out in His name. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/constructing-a-community http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/constructing-a-community.mp3 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:24:16 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah nehemiah_7:1-73,godly_community,biblical_leadership,walls_of_jerusalem 50:23 Ephesians 3:14-21 In the book of Ephesians, we see how the amazing mystery called the church brought Jews and Gentiles together in a manner that combined them into one community. As members of a church ourselves, we also know that the supreme purpose of the church is to glorify God. As leaders of churches, faithful Pastors fulfill two roles - They not only preach and teach the Word in order to equip the saints, but they also serve as an intercessors, praying faithfully for the flock that they shepherd. In this pastoral prayer for the Ephesian church, Paul outlined the five steps to spiritual growth that every believer must take in order to grow spiritually strong and healthy. We must 1) be strengthened by the Holy Spirit's power, 2) surrender to Christ's control, 3) be sustained by Christ's love, 4) be saturated with God's character, and 5) be continually stunned by God's power and glory. Paul prayed that the lordship of Jesus Christ would spread and fill every aspect of of the lives of the Ephesian believers and it is surely his prayer for the believers of today. We must each ask ourselves daily whether or not we are relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and surrendering all aspects of our lives to the control of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/a-pastors-prayer-for-his-people-pt-1 http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/a-pastors-prayer-for-his-people.mp3 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:00:02 UTC Ken Ramey Ephesians 3:14-21 In the book of Ephesians, we see how the amazing mystery called the church brought Jews and Gentiles together in a manner that combined them into one community. As members of a church ourselves, we also know that the supreme ... ephesians_3:14-21 47:38 Nehemiah 6:1-19 All of us have at one time or another have come under personal attack based on decisions we have made or through leadership we have shown. A well-known example of personal attacks in the face of leadership is President George W. Bush. Through his entire presidency, President Bush has responded well to personal attacks, and remained committed to his priorities. Such a position can be lonely at times, for the average person doesn't realize the amount of pressure put upon the leaders who are in service to us. Nehemiah 6:1-19 describes personal attacks launched against Nehemiah by scoffers and enemies. These enemies had initially attacked the workers who labored to construct the wall around jerusalem and having failed, had turned their attention to the leadership, Nehemiah. These attacks were perhaps the most difficult for Nehemiah as he led his people in the reconstruction of the wall. Like President Bush, Nehemiah responded to personal attacks in an admirable way and provides us with a model that shows us how to respond to personal attacks in a godly way . If we fail to follow the model of Nehemiah, we can lose our focus and become distracted from our priorities in the face of intimidation. Nehemiah remained gracious in the face of his attackers, which is a testament to the way he maintained the proper priorities and showed the love and devotion for God that was in his heart. His example provides us with great encouragement to draw upon when we are faced with attackers in our own lives. We can be comforted in that God works through faithful people, but it is God who works! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/responding-to-personal-attack http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/responding-to-personal-attack.mp3 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:32:46 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah nehemiah_6:1-19,leadership,personal_attack,responding_to_personal_attack 57:20 Acts 6:8-7:60 The theme of Acts begins with an account of how the apostles were commissioned to remain in Jerusalem until the day that the Holy Spirit would be sent by the risen Christ to indwell them for service to spread the gospel to the rest of the world. In Acts 6-7, Luke records how the radiant testimony of Stephen, the first and perhaps one of greatest martyrs of the early church, was the climax of the church's witness to the Jews and how his death propelled the church to spread the gospel beyond Jerusalem. This account in Acts illustrates for us how Stephen lived out the end of his life as a faith-filled and Holy Spirit-filled man. More significantly, the martyrdom of Stephen poiniantly illustrates the fact that the end of his life mirrored that of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Indeed, like Christ, Stephen confronted Jewish leaders, was falsely accused, arrested, sentenced, and executed in the same manner. Stephen's response to this accusation was to deliver an apologetic, one of the longest and most significant sermons found in the Bible, which served as a history-based defense that he was not guilty of blaspheming God, Moses, the Temple, or the Law. His stance in the face of such persecution, and ultimately his execution, was to exhalt God and the name of the Lord. Stephen's martyrdom should leave a lasting impression on us just as it did for the apostle Paul, and as it has been said, "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church" - Tertullian. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/the-first-martyr http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/the-first-martyr.mp3 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:29:52 UTC Ken Ramey Acts acts_6-7,stephen's_martyrdom,stephen,apologetic,early_church 53:06 Romans 6 God has promised that through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, sin's curse no longer has a grip on His children. Knowing this, may it never be that the truth of God's word fails to move us emotionally. For it is only when we fully grasp the magnitude of God's sacrifice that we can truly learn what it means to live outside the bondage of sin. In light of this, Romans 6 shows us how to gain freedom from sin. Just as in the early days of our nation, the practice of slavery came into question and was eventually settled by the outcome of a civil war, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ brought about freedom to sinners who place their faith and trust in Him. However, in much the same way that freed slaves were reluctant to begin living out their newly won freedom after the Civil War, many who have been liberated from sin by the blood-bought freedom provided by Jesus Christ are hesitant to leave the shackles of sin that tend to keep them enslaved. In the verses of Romans 6, Paul teaches us three things we need in order to experience freedom from slavery to sin in our lives. We need to 1) Know (comprehend) that we have actually died to our sins when we are saved. In a practical sense, we must break the habitual cycle of sin by the grace of God; 2) Consider that we really are dead to sin, which includes acting on God's promise that we have already been freed from sin at the moment of justification.Christ not only conquered death, but sin as well; 3) Present (consecrate) our lives to sacrificially serve Christ Jesus. This is the key to liberation in that one cannot present the sinful members of your body to two masters. By doing these things, we can match up our lives with what is true about us and claim the promises we have in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As Paul cautions however, we are not freed to sin because of this, but rather, we are freed from sin so that we may fully serve Christ as our rightful master. For when we were saved, we exchanged masters - from Satan and sins of the flesh to our Lord Jesus Christ, Who we serve with love. It is through the demonstration of our love that we present and consecrate the members of our body to Him. The Lord Jesus Christ not only frees us from sin but keeps us from sin, so we must flee from sin and run to Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. We should place all of our trust in Him so that we might know the joy of living to sin less! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/freedom-from-sin http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/freedom-from-sin.mp3 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:47:38 UTC Ken Ramey Romans 6 God has promised that through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, sin's curse no longer has a grip on His children. Knowing this, may it never be that the truth of God's word fails to move us emotionally. For it is only when we fully ... romans_6,sin,freedom_from_sin,slave_to_sin,emancipation_from_sin,jesus_conquered_sin 51:54 1 Peter 5:6-11 Many times we try to find victory in life by trying harder, working more diligently, and being more disciplined. However, we must not forget the 1st step which is to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God trusting that He will establish us in His grace to overcome the evil one. In 1 Peter 5, Peter challenges his fellow apostles to humble themselves so that they will begin their churches on the basis of God's grace - by placing their reliance not on their own abilities, but on the grace and mercy of the Lord alone. As products of the faithfulness of Christ's apostles, we can benefit from the teachings of verses 6-11 of 1 Peter 5, which shows us three ways to find victory over Satan and the enemies of the Lord's children by relying on the mighty hand of God: 1) Be Humble - trust God's power and plan; 2) Be Heedful - watch out for the enemy; and 3) Be Hopeful - stand firm in God's grace. Behind all of these lessons, we should remember that God is stronger than any trial, and although we battle the sin in our hearts as well as the enemy, our Lord has conquered sin and freed us from slavery to it. Let us be thankful that as God's children we have His promise that He will perfect us, strengthen us, and establish us through His Son Christ Jesus. To Him be all glory and honor forever! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/humility-the-1st-step-to-victory http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/humility-the-1st-step-to-victory.mp3 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:45:38 UTC Adam Tyson 1 Peter 5:6-11 Many times we try to find victory in life by trying harder, working more diligently, and being more disciplined. However, we must not forget the 1st step which is to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God trusting that He will ... mighty_hand_of_god,victory_over_the_enemy,humble_yourself,humility,1_peter_5:6-11 51:36 Romans 8:15 As children of God, we should no longer live on this earth to seek our own agenda, but to seek the agenda of the Lord. He has purchased this right with His sacrificial blood. What is more significant to us, however, is that through this purchase the Lord has in essence 'adopted' those who He calls His own - His children. And, this adoption is not as much a physical adoption as it is a spiritual one. Adoption by God is also something very personal in that He makes us members of His family. It is perhaps the highest blessing bestowed by God upon His children because through it He offers a deeper relationship with Him. It is by His grace that we are not simply made children of God, but we become children desired by Him. As great as God's blessing of forgiveness is, this is undoubtedly greater because it is founded on His infinite love. With a proper understanding of what it means to be spiritually adopted, we can more effectively live out our priviledge as children of Christ. And we should do so because we are not merely His children, but inheritors of His kingdom - considered by Him sons and daughters of the Lord! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/adoption-a-good-reason-to-cry-abba-father http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/adoption-a-good-reason-to-cry-abba-father.mp3 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:49:23 UTC Adam Tyson Romans 8:15 As children of God, we should no longer live on this earth to seek our own agenda, but to seek the agenda of the Lord. He has purchased this right with His sacrificial blood. What is more significant to us, however, is that through this ... romans_8:15,thanksgiving,doctrine_of_adoption,adoption,children_of_god 57:30 A turning point in King David's life came when he committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the sin of murder against her husband, Uriah. Even though David was a man after God's own heart, his sins were ultimately committed against God. This is true of all sin in a depraved world. The tragedy of this phase of David's life is that he tried to cover his sin, and as a consequence, his life thereafter was anything but joyful. How common this is for unrepentant sinners. But, David shows us that only those who feel the weight of their sin feel the need to cry out to God! In Psalm 51, the spirit of God, through the example of David, illustrates the four steps that every sinner must take to get back into a right relationship with God. These steps require that we 1) cry for mercy, 2) confess our sin, 3) call for forgiveness, and 4) commit to obey. Moreover, Psalm 51 is the classic illustration of repentance in the Old Testament. It is a 'sinner's guide' on how to get back to a right relationship with God. It should be our model - one that we should turn to at all times as our lifetime roadmap. It is only the greatness of God's compassion that allows us the confidence and boldness to approach Him for forgiveness. And, we should always remember that God's grace will always be greater than our greatest sin. So, we should not refuse to confess nor hesitate to ask for forgiveness so that we can continue to enjoy all the blessings of God's forgiveness. Genuine repentance is marked by true brokeness which leads to complete obedience. http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/roadmap-for-repentance http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/roadmap-for-repentance.mp3 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:40:03 UTC Ken Ramey A turning point in King David's life came when he committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the sin of murder against her husband, Uriah. Even though David was a man after God's own heart, his sins were ultimately committed against God. This ... psalm_51,king_david,repentance,grace,sin 60:35 Today's financial crisis is a testament to the consequences America is now suffering for violating biblical financial principles. As a nation set apart by God, Israel was also called to follow biblical financial principles. In Chapter 5 verses 1-19, we see that after Nehemiah had finished building the wall around Judah, his role turned to one of economist to his nation. With the knowledge that most successful attacks on the church had come from within, Nehemiah turned his attention to the internal conflict that had developed throughout the city. In the face of greed and oppression, Nehemiah reacted with moral outrage and righteous indignation, which he then channeled into positive leadership for his people. Unlike many of the wealthy people who had succummed to greed, it was the fear of God that motivated Nehemiah to refuse exacting usury upon those whom he had loaned money or property. He knew that ungodly behavior in the face of crisis does not reflect positively on God. He also knew that the cancellation of debt - a demonstration of humility and generosity, would have a tremendous unifying effect on his people. This is precisely what was required to get things back to the way they were prior to financial crisis in Judah. Thus, Nehemiah exemplified the Law by demonstrating his love for God and his love for his neighbors. We can take lesson from Nehemiah's leadership and must ask ourselves: Are we committed to being served or are we committed to service and generosity for the glory of God? http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/fearing-god-in-financial-crisis http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/fearing-god-in-financial-crisis.mp3 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:12:54 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah financial_principles,serving,leadership,financial_crisis,nehemiah_5:1-19 49:51 If Satan cannot destroy the church from the outside by persecution, he will seek to disrupt it from within by pitting believers against each other. Experience throughout the church age demonstrates that one complaint, not dealt with in a godly way, is all it takes to divide a church. In Acts 6:1-7, Luke explains how the twelve apostles wisely managed the rapidly expanding ministry of the early church by delegating the temporal tasks of the church to capable, qualified men so they could maintain their spiritual priorities to pray and preach. As D. L. Moody once said, "It is better to put ten men to work than try to do the work of ten men." http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/managing-the-ministry http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/managing-the-ministry.mp3 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:13:33 UTC Ken Ramey If Satan cannot destroy the church from the outside by persecution, he will seek to disrupt it from within by pitting believers against each other. Experience throughout the church age demonstrates that one complaint, not dealt with in a godly way, ... early_church,delegation,church_management,ministry,acts_6:1-7 38:51 Sometimes it seems we either pray and don't work or we work and do not pray. But in the eyes of God, prayer without work is presumption and work without prayer is pride. If we do not want to tend toward either of these extremes, we must cultivate an ethic of practicality in our lives - particularly in the face of opposition, and knowing that no work of God goes forward without some sort of opposition from Satan. We ought to exercise the same practicality as Nehemiah, for it was this practicality that made his leadership so powerful. Nehemiah 4:1-23 teaches us four things that we need to keep in mind when we find ourselves under attack so that we can remain steadfast in the work of the Lord. We must remember that opposition is innevitable, prayer is crucial, determination is essential, and most importantly, God is invincible! http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/sermon/prayerful-practicality http://www.lakesidebiblechurch.org/mediafiles/prayerful-practicality.mp3 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:14:08 UTC Ken Ramey Nehemiah steadfastness,determination,opposition,practicality,prayer,nehemiah_4:1-23 54:51 Most Christians living in the United States and in Western nations don't realize that over 200 million Christians around the world face persecution. But this persection is not unlike the persecution that was faced by the apostles, for it was caused by the same societal and cultural dynamics that are in play today. The verses in Acts 5 illustrate how the state responded to the burgeoning growth of the early church by enacting and enforcing no-witnessing laws. This marked the 'second wave' of p