Preached by Pastor Mike Hess Sunday evening 04/04/2010.
Treasuring Christ Together: Spiritual Disciplines
1 Corinthians 15:10
Introduction:
“No, we are not defeated: we are simply disobedient! It might be good if we stopped using the terms “victory” and “defeat” to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the terms “obedience” and “disobedience”.” Jerry Bridges (The Pursuit of Holiness)
I. Privately (1 Corinthians 9:27)
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1
“Denying sin must be chiefly directed on the affections. We must make sure our desires are directed toward glorifying God, and not satisfying the lusts of our bodies.” John Owen
Privately we must have:
1. Devotion
2. Meditation
3. Prayer
4. Worship
5. Reading
II. Corporately (Hebrews 10:25)
“not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:21
“Therefore, preaching is always relevant, no matter what a majority of people thinks in any particular culture at a given point in history.” Don Whitney
“No ministry or program can compensate for an anemic pulpit.” Don Whitney
Coming to church has other spiritual benefits as well:
1. A public proclamation of the Gospel
2. Participation in the ordinances
3. Accountability
4. Fellowship
5. You encourage the ministry of your church
6. An opportunity to hear the Word preached an taught
III. In Our Homes
“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:7
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4
Treasuring Christ at home:
1. Church is not an issue
2. The Bible is consistently read, taught and applied
3.Christian parents demonstrate growth in their home life
Application:
1. Even though you may be mature in Christ, never lose sight of what got you there - Discipline
2. Do what you can to attend the “Spiritual Disciplines Conference”
