Ashland Grace Church Sermons

"Drawing Near to the Holy God"Exodus 19:1-25God is Near: We are His treasured possessionGod is Holy: We must be perfectly pure to be near GodGod is Savior: We are represented by our faithful Mediator, Jesus Christ!

"Seven Essential Traits of Godly Leaders"Exodus 17:8 - 18:271. Godly leaders rely on God's strength2. Godly leaders show honor to others3. Godly leaders love to tell what God has done4. Godly leaders listen to wise counsel5. Godly leaders know their limits6. Godly leaders don't lead alone7. Godly leaders fear God more than man

“Doubting God's Presence”Exodus 17:1-7A Life-Defining Question:“Is the LORD among us or not?”Common Responses…1. Atheism: “I don't believe in God!”…No hope!Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; Ephesians 2:122. Individualism: “I don't need God!”…No rest!Psalm 95:6-11; 127:1-2; Hebrew 3:123. Theism: “I trust the Rock!”1Corinthians 10:4; Psalm 46:1-2; 71:3; Isaiah 26:3-4…Never alone!Exodus 33:12-15; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20

“Doubting God's Provision”Exodus 16:1-36Main Point:We can trust God for our daily bread and must trust God's Son, for our eternal life.Significant Questions:1. Do you realize who you “grumble against”?2. Do you recognize your need for “testing”?3. Have you eaten “the bread of life”?4. Do you see “Sabbath rest” as a gift?5. Are you looking toward the “glory of the LORD”?

"Bitter or Sweet?"Exodus 15:22-271. The nature of the problem: Grumbling in unbelief2. The nature of the solution: A tree that makes sweet that which was bitter3. The nature of the lesson: True freedom is found in following God

"The Song of Moses"Exodus 15:1-21Sing for what God has done: Christ has triumphed!Sing for what God is doing: Christ is my strength!Sing for what God will do: Christ will reign forever and ever!

"Fear Not!"Exodus 14:1-31Main point: Because our God fights for us, we can live by faith and not by fear!

"By His strong hand!"Exodus 12:33 - 13:22Can I trust God?1. God sets us apart for Himself2. God provides for us3. God goes with usI can trust God with __________

"Behold, the Lamb!"Exodus 11:1-12:32Our greatest problem: Death is the ultimate judgment for sinOur only hope: The blood of the Lamb, shed for us

“The Plagues, Part 2”Exodus 9:1-10:29 Plague 5: Livestock Plague 6: Boils Plague 7: Hail Plague 8: Locusts Plague 9: Darkness The meaning of the plagues: Will you submit to God?

“The Plagues, Part 1”Exodus 7:14-8:32 Plague 1: Blood Plague 2: Frogs Plague 3: Gnats Plague 4: Flies The meaning of the plagues: what are you trusting in?

"The First Sign"Exodus 7:1-13The first step: Growing in obedienceThe first sign: God has no rivalsThe first hardening: God's righteous judgmentThe only hope: God's wonderful mercy

"The Spiritual Discipline of Remembering"Exodus 6:1-301. Remember who God is2. Remember what God has done3. Remember what God has promised4. Remember what God can doDo you have ears to hear?

"Who is the Lord?"Exodus 5:1-23A Picture of UnbeliefA Picture of SinA Picture of Lament

"Trust and Obey"Exodus 4:18-311. Follow God's leading2. Receive God's Word3. Obey God's commands4. Worship God

"But I Will Be With You"Exodus 3:11 - 4:17Objection 1: "I won't be enough"Objection 2: "I won't be certain"Objection 3: "I won't be heard"Objection 4: "I won't be able"Objection 5: "I won't be going"

"I Am Who I AM"Exodus 3:1-22Good question: who am I?Better question: who is God?1. Our God wants to be known2. Our God is entirely self-sufficient3. Our God is the most supreme reality in the universe4. Our God is unchanging5. Our God became flesh to deliver us

"And God Knew"Exodus 2:23-25What do we do with our groaning?1. God hears you2. God remembers His promises3. God sees you4. God knows

"An Unlikely Hero"Exodus 2:1-221. We need to learn God's salvation through Jesus Christ2. We need to learn to trust God's plan, and live like it3. We need to learn to rely on God's strength, not our own4. We need to learn what God can do with flawed people who put Him first

"Dark Days in Egypt" Exodus 1:1-22 The story so far... 1. God's people experience opposition because of their faithfulness 2. God's people grow through affliction 3. God's people fear God more than man "Because I fear God, I will not ____________"

"The Honor of Age in a Youth-Obsessed Culture" 1. Those who are older deserve honor 2. Those who are older have a purpose 3. Those who are older testify to God's faithfulness

"How the Image of God Opposes Abortion" Psalm 139 1. God intimately forms every human being in the womb Genesis 2:4-7; Psalm 139:13-16; Job 31:15 2. The unborn in the womb are human  Psalm 139; Luke 1:15, 1:41; Exodus 21:21-25 3. All human beings are made in God's image  Genesis 1:26-27 4. Children are a gift from the Lord  Psalm 127:3; Mark 10:14-16 5. The Lord cares for the helpless  Exodus 22:21-24; Psalm 68:5, 82:3-4; James 1:27; Proverbs 24:11 6. God strictly forbids taking innocent life  Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:13; Proverbs 6:16-19; Psalm 106:38 7. Therefore we should lament abortion  Psalm 94:3-7 8. The gospel offers a beautiful contrast, a blessed hope, and a brighter future  John 10:10 9. Therefore the church ought to be a counter-cultural community of life  Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

"The Image of God" Genesis 1:26-27 Where do we find our identity? We are made in the image of God Five implications for our lives: 1. Your identity is received, not created or found 2. You matter - more than you know 3. You must treat others with dignity 4. You should tell others of their true value 5. You need to look eagerly to the hope of heaven

"Rejoicing in our relationship with God" Revelation 21:1-7 1. LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN ALL THINGS ARE NEW! (vv. 1, 4-5) Hebrews 11:13-16 2. THE BEST PART ABOUT THE NEW JERUSALEM… --The relational intimacy. (vv. 2-3) John 14:1-3 Psalm 73:25-26 --The soul satisfaction. (vs. 6) Psalm 42:1-2 --The privileged status. (vv. 3,7) 1Peter 1:3-5 3. LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN WORD ABOUT THE FUTURE? (vv. 5-6) Luke 21:33

“Rejoicing in the return of God” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “STOP! LOOK BOTH WAYS!” Look back…”Merry Christmas!” Luke 2:10-11 Acts 1:9-11 Look forward…”Stay awake!” Matthew 24:42 Titus 2:11-13 “TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY!” 1. Mankind Has a Storyline. Hebrews 1:1-2 Revelation 21:5 2. Grief and Hope are real. 1Peter 5:10-11 3. Rejoice in the Rapture and the Reunion! Philippians 3:20

"Rejoicing in the reign of God"Matthew 2:1-12Threats to true worship:1. True worship cannot be prideful2. True worship cannot be overcome by troubles3. True worship cannot be indifferent Marks of true worship:1. True worship seeks Christ2. True worship rejoices in Christ3. True worship submits to Christ

"Rejoicing in the glory of God" Luke 2:8-20 The message of the angels 1. The birth of Jesus is good news 2. The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy 3. The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy for all the people 4. The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy for all the people, for the glory of God and the good of His people The response of the shepherds 1. Look to Jesus! 2. Rejoice in Jesus! 3. Tell about Jesus!

"Rejoicing in the salvation of God" Matthew 1:18-25 The scandal of the incarnation The purpose of the incarnation The meaning of the incarnation Trust God enough to bow before Him for salvation. Trust God enough to rest in Him for comfort. Trust God enough to follow Him in obedience.

"Rejoicing in the faithfulness of God" Luke 1:26-55 1. God is powerful 2. God is faithful 3. God is gracious 4. God is praiseworthy Embrace that God is good in all He does Believe that God will do what He says Rejoice that God is worthy of all praise

"Stand Firm!" 1 Peter 5:6-14 1. Stand firm by resisting pride 2. Stand firm by resisting worry 3. Stand firm by resisting the devil 4. Stand firm by embracing one another 5. Stand firm by embracing gospel hope

"Faithful Shepherds" 1 Peter 5:1-5 1. Who are the elders? Elders are a plurality of Godly men who exhibit Christlike maturity as they lead a local church into understanding and embracing God's call for their lives.  2. What do elders do? Elders are called to shepherd the flock of God among them, which they do through knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting the sheep. 3. How do elders shepherd? Willingly - not because they have to Eagerly - not because they want to get rich By example - not because they want power 4. What is the reward for elders? 5. What is the response to elders? Pray for your elders Submit to your elders Follow your elders to the Good Shepherd

"How do Christians suffer?" 1 Peter 4:12-19 1. What kind of suffering should you avoid? Avoid suffering because of sin (v.15 Avoid suffering by surprise (v.12) 2. What kind of suffering should you rejoice in? Rejoice in suffering like Christ (v.13) Rejoice in suffering for Christ (v.14) Rejoice in suffering as a Christian (v.16) Rejoice in suffering for God's purposes (v.19) 3. How will you endure suffering? Entrust your soul to your faithful Creator - while doing good

“The Time-Sensitive Life” 1Peter 4:7-11 …How much time do I have? “The end of all things is at hand…” (v. 7) 1. A Life with Priorities. --Pray about everything! Romans 12:12 --Love people fervently! Philippians 1:9-10 --Serve the Church! Hebrews 10:24-25 2. A Life with Purpose. “…In everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (v. 11)

"Armed for Holiness" 1 Peter 4:1-6 Main point: Christians must be willing to be weird for the sake of Christ. This kind of living is rooted in the love and hope we have from God. What is the will of God? Think like Jesus Endure like Jesus Live like Jesus How do Christians fight sin? Remember you are loved by God Remember you are on the winning team Remember you have the hope of eternal life

"Victory in Jesus!" 1 Peter 3:18-22 Main point: Jesus has triumphed over all! Main application: Endure suffering now, for you will reign with Jesus forever! 1. Christ has died! 2. Christ has risen! 3. We are one with Christ! 4. Christ has triumphed!

"Relational Strategies" 1 peter 3:8-17 ...Who is your "Relational Coach"? 1. How do you live the "good life"? (vs. 8-11) -- Be intentional with people. Matthew 7:12 -- Check your "wake". 2. Why do you treat people that way? (vs. 12-17) -- The reason of your heart. 1 Peter 2:9, 11-12 Isaiah 8:11-13 --The reason for your hope. Matthew 5:11-12 2 Corinthians 4:13-14, 16-18

"The Beauty of a God-honoring Marriage" 1 Peter 3:1-7   Wives, submit to your husbands               Missional purpose               Inner beauty               Trusting submission   Husbands, honor your wives

"Slavery, Suffering, and Salvation" 1 Peter 2:18-25 What do we do about the Bible's teachings on slavery? 1. The Bible's teaching of the Imago Dei utterly destroys systems of slavery 2. The Old Testament's main story is about slaves being freed 3. The Old Testament contains radical protections for slaves 4. Slavery in Biblical times often wasn't like American slavery 5. The New Testament encourages freeing slaves and treating them as equals What does this text have to say to us today? Submit to your employers (v.18) Endure unjust suffering (v.19) Why do we endure unjust suffering with submission and respect? 1. Because you are subject to God (vv.16, 19) 2. Because God will judge justly (vv.19, 23) 3. Because there is a future reward (vv.19-20) 4. Because you are following in the footsteps of Jesus (vv.21-25)

"Living Free by Submitting to Authority" 1 Peter 2:11-17 Main Point: Because Christians fear God, we are free to submit. God's designed roles: Christians are philanthropic exiles (vv.11-12) Governments are divinely-appointed enforcers of good (vv.13-14) God's commands on how to live: 1. Submit to authorities (v.13) 2. Do good to all (v.15) 3. Serve God (v.16) 4. Honor everyone (v.17)

“Resident Aliens” 1 PETER 2:1-12 Remember…this is not your home! (vv. 11-12) 1. You are “hungry babies”. (vv. 1-2) --Are you longing for more…of the Word? 2. You are “living stones”. (vv. 3-8) --Are you focused on building up…the church? 3. You are “God's people”. (vv. 9-10) --Do you talk about how good…God is?

"Hope and Holiness" 1 Peter 1:13-25 Main point: Because the holy God has made us His, we are to live wholly devoted to Him by setting our hope fully on Christ 1. Change your thinking to reflect your gracious hope 2. Conform your desires to those of your heavenly Father 3. Conduct your actions with reverent fear of the holy Judge 4. Commit to love others like God has loved you