CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

He is Good | Letting Go to Follow Jesus | Mark 10:17-31 | Coleton Segars

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2025 42:19

Text: Mark 10:17–31 Coleton taught from the story of the rich young ruler, highlighting how a man who seemed to have everything—morality, status, and wealth—still lacked the one thing that truly mattered: Jesus. His story shows us three important lessons we must learn if we want to experience eternal life and freedom. 1. Good Moral Behavior Cannot Earn Eternal Life The rich man did everything right—he kept the commandments, approached Jesus with humility, and even received Jesus' love—but he still lacked something. Jesus identified the issue: the man didn't want Jesus, he wanted eternal life on his own terms. Eternal life isn't a reward for good behavior; it's a relationship with Jesus. Jesus made this clear: “You still lack one thing… come, follow me.” (v. 21) Eternal life is not about what you've done; it's about who you're with. Jesus offers Himself, not a checklist. And many religious people today are in danger of missing Jesus because they substitute routines for relationship. “Eternal life is life with Jesus, not just doing things for Jesus.” 2. You Will Always Sacrifice for What You Worship Jesus asked the man to give up his wealth because it had become his god. But the man walked away sad. Why? Because even though he said no to Jesus, he still sacrificed something—his joy—for his idol. Coleton showed how everyone sacrifices for what they worship: money, power, approval, comfort—all demand sacrifice. The question isn't will you sacrifice? but for whom or what will you sacrifice? The promise of Jesus is that any sacrifice for Him is always worth it. He gives back more—both in this life and the one to come. 3. Many People Stay Trapped Because They Choose To The man recognized something was missing in his life. He came to Jesus looking for answers. Jesus gave him one—but the man chose to walk away sad. Like a monkey caught in a trap holding onto rice, the man wouldn't let go of what was trapping him. His imprisonment was a choice. Many of us are the same. Jesus offers freedom, joy, and life—but we reject it because we won't let go of control, sin, pride, or pain. Coleton challenged the listeners to stop choosing captivity when Jesus offers freedom. ⸻ Discussion Questions: 1. In what ways are you tempted to treat eternal life like a reward instead of a relationship? 2. Are there areas in your life where you're “doing the right things” but missing closeness with Jesus? 3. What are you currently sacrificing for the thing you worship most? Is it worth the cost? 4. Jesus promises more than what you sacrifice—do you trust Him to provide in the places you feel afraid to let go? 5. Is there something you know Jesus is calling you to let go of—but you've been holding onto it? What's keeping you from releasing it? 6. Have you ever felt like the rich man—sad, stuck, or spiritually dry—despite doing everything “right”? What do you think Jesus might be inviting you into instead? ⸻ Quoted Authors and Illustrations: • John Maxwell “A wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others' mistakes.” • David Foster Wallace (from his 2005 Kenyon College commencement address) “There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships… Worship money and you will never have enough… Worship your body and beauty and you will always feel ugly… Worship power and you will feel weak… Worship your intellect… you will end up feeling like a fraud.” • Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance “There's an old South Indian Monkey Trap… The only reason [the monkey] can't be free is because of his own choices.” ⸻ Key Takeaways: • Eternal life isn't earned—it's received through a relationship with Jesus. • Everyone sacrifices for what they worship. The only safe place to direct that sacrifice is Jesus. • Sometimes the reason we stay stuck is not because there's no way out—but because we won't let go of what's trapping us.

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Adoption | Romans 8:1-17 | Andrew Banker

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2025 32:05

Pastor Andrew Banker delivered a deeply personal and theologically rich message rooted in Romans 8:1–17, emphasizing our identity in Christ as adopted sons and daughters of God. Sharing from his family's journey through foster care and adoption, Andrew illustrated the transforming power of God's love and how it redefines us. He began by recounting how his family, including five biological and foster children, embraced the call to foster care. Their decision to adopt a Guatemalan baby boy, Elias, was framed not just as an act of love, but as a spiritual metaphor for how God adopts us. Andrew described the day in court when Elias's legal documents were changed—his name, identity, and parental records now fully under Andrew and his wife, Savannah. This experience mirrored what happens spiritually when we accept Christ: we receive a new name, a new identity, and full inheritance as God's children. Andrew taught that this adoption means we are no longer slaves to sin or fear, but children and heirs of God. He noted that in Roman culture, adoption was a powerful legal act—more binding and honorable than even biological inheritance. Paul's use of adoption language in Romans would have had immense significance to his audience. The second point focused on transformation. Once adopted, our desires begin to shift. Citing Romans 8:5, Andrew explained that those who live by the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. This change is not manufactured by effort but occurs naturally as we spend time with our heavenly Father. He used the analogy of coffee—how deeper understanding leads to new appreciation—to show how knowledge and relationship with God lead to changed desires. Andrew then illustrated how trauma and brokenness are not disqualifiers from God's love. Quoting testimonies and referencing stories of abuse and sin, he stressed that God says “I'll take that one”—the wounded, the addicted, the insecure. No past sin or present struggle can separate us from God's love. In Christ, our old record is erased, and a new life begins. Finally, Andrew emphasized that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in believers. This power equips us for a new life filled with hope, identity, and joy. He likened this to giving a child a bicycle—while there may be falls and pain, the ride is worth it, and the Father is always there to guide, protect, and lift us. Discussion Questions Adoption Identity What does it mean to be spiritually adopted by God? How might your life look different if you truly lived out of that identity? Changed Desires What old desires do you struggle with that reflect the “flesh” instead of the Spirit? How can time with God reshape those desires? New Life in Christ Where in your life have you experienced the “new life” Jesus offers? What are some areas where you still need to trust in that transformation? Living Like Sons and Daughters Do you relate to God more like a child or like a worker trying to earn approval? What can you do this week to rest more fully in being God's beloved child? Engagement with Others How might understanding your spiritual adoption empower you to engage with others who feel unworthy or unloved?

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He is Good | Become Like a Child | Mark 10:13-16 | Coleton Segars

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2025 43:34

In this message, Coleton explores what it means to receive the kingdom of God like a child. Using the moment when Jesus welcomes little children while His disciples try to turn them away, Coleton highlights Jesus' radical teaching: only childlike people can experience the life of the kingdom. Coleton frames the teaching around three key qualities children naturally possess, which Jesus wants His followers to imitate—not childish immaturity, but childlike virtues: ⸻ 1. Be Dependent Like a Child Children depend on their parents for everything—food, comfort, direction, and provision. Coleton humorously illustrates this with a barrage of questions his son Teddy asks in just a few minutes, revealing how constant and uninhibited children are in their need. In contrast to earthly parents who eventually encourage independence, God never asks us to grow out of needing Him. Jesus invites us to stay needy, to come to Him when weary, and to cast all our cares on Him (Matt 11:28; 1 Peter 5:7). The quality of life we experience is directly connected to who or what we depend on—Jesus or ourselves. “Whoever or whatever we depend on determines the kingdom or kind of life we experience.” ⸻ 2. Trust Like a Child Children are quick to believe. Coleton recalls how children after seeing Peter Pan jumped off beds thinking they could fly. While not endorsing naivety, he urges us to trust Jesus like that—not because the logic always checks out, but because He is trustworthy. The Bible is full of people who experienced the kingdom of God because they took God at His word: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Mary, and more. They didn't understand everything, but they obeyed—and saw God move. Many of Jesus' commands—love your enemies, forgive freely, give sacrificially—don't make sense to the adult mind. But childlike trust leads to experiencing divine results. The more we rely on our understanding, the less we see of God's kingdom. ⸻ 3. Submit to His Authority Like a Child Children live under authority. Their lives are shaped by rules and boundaries from parents. Coleton points out that while kids grow up and grow out of their parents' authority, we are never meant to grow out of God's authority. In Scripture, the people who experience miracles are those who do what Jesus says. Submission isn't loss—it's gain. Life under Jesus' authority leads to peace, joy, and blessing. “If you will let me lead you, submit to my authority—you will experience my rule and reign over your life. My rule and reign is peace and joy and love and hope.” ⸻ Final Contrast: The Childlike vs. The Adultlike Mark's story ends with a rich young man who walks away from Jesus sad because he can't be childlike. He can't depend, trust, or submit. He clings to his wealth and control. In contrast, the children in the story are scooped up into Jesus' arms. They receive more than they came for—His love, His blessing, and His presence. The message is clear: you can walk away sad or walk away scooped into the arms of Jesus. It depends on whether you're willing to be childlike. ⸻ Discussion Questions 1. Dependence: • What's one area of your life where you're trying to be independent when Jesus is asking you to depend on Him? • What would it look like to cast your cares on Him this week? 2. Trust: • Is there a command from Jesus that doesn't make sense to you right now—but you feel called to obey it anyway? • What keeps you from trusting Jesus fully? 3. Authority: • Where in your life are you resisting Jesus' authority? • How might your life be different if you submitted that area to Him? 4. Childlikeness vs. Adultlikeness: • In what ways have you grown out of childlike faith? • What would it look like to return to a posture of humility, dependence, and obedience? 5. Jesus on the Cross: • How does seeing Jesus on the cross give you confidence to depend on, trust in, and submit to Him? ⸻ Author Quotes Used in the Sermon “After the first production of the play, Peter Pan, The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up (1904), I had to add something to the play at the request of parents. It was that no one would be able to fly until they received fairy dust. This was because many children had gone home and tried flying from their beds and needed surgical attention.” – J. M. Barrie ⸻ Scriptures Referenced • Mark 10:13–16 – Let the children come; receive the kingdom like a child. • Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me… I will give you rest.” • 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast your cares on Him…” • Philippians 4:6 – “Don't worry, pray about everything.” • Luke 18:1 – “Pray and never give up.” • John 15:5 – “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” • Isaiah 40:29–31 – “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” • Hebrews 4:16 – “Approach the throne of grace with confidence…” • James 1:5 – “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God…” • Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” • Matthew 5 – “Love your enemies.” • Ephesians 4 – “Forgive as Christ forgave you.” ⸻ Closing Challenge Where in your life are you too adult for the kingdom of God? Jesus is inviting you back into His arms—into a life of dependence, trust, and obedience. The path to joy, freedom, and blessing is not found by being stronger, smarter, or more self-reliant—but by becoming childlike once again.

Choose The Fruit Of The Spirit | Galatians 5:22-23 | Shari Ray

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2025 49:06

In her sermon, Shari uses the metaphor of the Camino de Santiago—a long spiritual pilgrimage—to illustrate the Christian journey of moving continually toward peace and away from chaos. She reflects on her own experience walking the Camino, emphasizing that the daily, intentional choices made on the trail mirror the spiritual decisions we make in life. Life, like the Camino, is not static. Everything is always in motion—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Shari ties this constant movement to the second law of thermodynamics, highlighting humanity's natural tendency toward disorder unless we intentionally choose otherwise. Spiritually, we're always moving toward either peace (shalom: wholeness, well-being, safety) or chaos (slavery, disorder, retaliation). Shari contrasts biblical peace with today's culture of “my truth” and ethical relativism, which echo the times of the Judges when "everyone did what was right in their own eyes." She argues that freedom in Christ means intentionally choosing the path that leads to peace, even when it is counterintuitive or difficult. The lie from the Garden of Eden—that we are the exception to the rule—still misleads us today. We often believe we can harbor resentment, avoid forgiveness, or justify sin without consequences. Shari emphasizes that choosing chaos—like revenge, bitterness, and pride—leads us back into spiritual slavery. Through examples from both Scripture (Gideon, the Exodus, Judges) and literature (Nietzsche's philosophy, Crime and Punishment, Macbeth, Hamlet, East of Eden), she shows how refusing to forgive, holding onto bitterness, or believing ourselves exempt from consequences always results in suffering. Forgiveness, though often seen as illogical or undeserved, is the path to freedom. She tells real-life stories—like her friend Bob who justifies meanness because “they started it”—to show how childish and harmful these justifications are. True peace begins with us, not with others. We often claim we want peace but refuse to let go of pride, pain, or perceived justice to get it. Shari closes by urging the congregation to choose the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as the “good fruit” in contrast to Adam and Eve's wrong choice. Like the biblical figures and literary characters she referenced, we too stand at a crossroads daily: toward peace and freedom in Christ, or chaos and slavery in sin. The Gospel gives us the power through the Holy Spirit to undo our wrong choices and walk “The Way” that leads to true peace. Discussion Questions Shari says we often believe “we are the exception to the rule.” How have you seen that idea play out in your own life or culture? What does the word “shalom” (biblical peace) mean to you? How is it different from simply not fighting or being calm? Are there any areas in your life where you are choosing chaos (bitterness, revenge, pride) instead of peace? What would it look like to choose differently? Who is someone in your life that you feel “started it”? What would it take for you to forgive them anyway? Which of the fruits of the Spirit do you most need to grow in right now to walk in peace? What's one practical way you could pursue it this week?

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He is Good | Marriage & Divorce | Mark 10:1-12 | Coleton Segars

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2025 39:12

This week Coleton guided the congregation through Jesus' teaching on marriage and divorce, helping listeners understand not just the law, but God's heart. 1. The Context Behind the Question (vv. 1–4) The Pharisees weren't genuinely interested in truth—they were trying to trap Jesus, either in conflict with Moses' law or in political danger (like John the Baptist, who spoke against Herod's divorce).  Their question: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus' counter: “What did Moses command you?” They referenced Deuteronomy 24, where Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce due to “uncleanness.” But that term was debated. Rabbi Shammai: interpreted it as sexual immorality. Rabbi Hillel: made it overly broad—even burning dinner qualified. Rabbi Akiba: said divorce was valid if a man simply found someone more attractive. The takeaway: People were more focused on when they could exit a marriage than how they could honor it. 2. Jesus' First Hard Truth: There Is No Godly Reason for Divorce (vv. 5–9) Jesus said divorce was never God's idea—it was permitted due to the hardness of people's hearts. God doesn't celebrate divorce; He allows it in certain circumstances (sexual immorality – Matt. 19; abandonment – 1 Cor. 7). But no one is being godly by divorcing. God remains faithful even when we are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13). Jesus is calling us to a higher view of marriage: “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” 3. Jesus' Second Hard Truth: Marriage Was Designed to Be Permanent (vv. 6–9) Jesus brings it back to Genesis: marriage is one man and one woman, united by God to become one flesh. Not just a legal contract or emotional connection—it's a covenant. Jesus says: If you're not ready for that kind of permanence, don't get married. Coleton used a powerful analogy: If you could only live in one house forever, you'd be incredibly picky. You'd inspect it. You'd ask questions. You'd think about the future. That's how we should approach marriage—slowly, wisely, and with deep respect for the lifelong nature of the covenant. Key Insight for Singles: Go slow. Be picky. Don't marry because of pressure, fear, or impatience. Culture says marriage is everything—Jesus says it's weighty and sacred. 4. How the Disciples Responded (Matthew 19 parallel) The disciples said, “If this is how serious marriage is, maybe it's better not to marry.” Jesus agreed: singleness can be a gift. Some are called to it. Others choose it for the sake of the Kingdom. Either way: marriage isn't the only path to purpose and joy. 5. What This Means for Married People (vv. 10–12) Jesus challenges the popular belief that divorce was fine as long as you remarried “legally.” But He says plainly: Divorcing and remarrying without biblical cause is adultery. Jesus was confronting a culture of easy outs. Instead of working on marriages, people were walking away. Instead of staying faithful, they found loopholes. Coleton gave a stinging but important critique: People say they don't have money or time for counseling—but they find the money and time for lawyers and mediation in their divorce. If the same effort and energy put into divorce was invested in the marriage, many could thrive. Just like we care for our own permanent bodies—seeking healing, not amputation—we should treat marriage the same. You don't discard your body when it's weak. You work on it. That's how we treat our “one flesh” partner. Final Word: Hope for the Broken (Romans 3:22–25) Coleton closed by acknowledging the reality: many in the room have been through divorce, some in ways Scripture would call sin. But he declared the good news of the gospel: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.” Jesus calls sin what it is, but He also took our punishment on the cross for our sin. For those who believe, we are judged not by our brokenness, but by Christ's faithfulness. He will never divorce His bride. He is always faithful. Discussion Questions for Personal or Group Reflection Understanding the Message Why do you think Jesus pointed the Pharisees back to the creation account rather than simply debating Mosaic law? What are some common ways our culture treats marriage more like a contract than a covenant? Reflecting Personally If you are single, how does Jesus' teaching on the permanence of marriage shape the way you view dating or engagement? If you're married, what is one way you can invest in your marriage this week—time, money, energy, or attention? Living It Out Are you currently placing more effort into avoiding marital difficulty or addressing it? What step can you take—counseling, prayer, a conversation—to move toward healing and strength in your marriage? Quoted Authors and Sources Søren Kierkegaard: “Everything essentially Christian needs to be presented in a way similar to the way a physician speaks to someone on their sickbed.”  David Guzik on Deuteronomy 24:1: “Rabbi Shammai said that uncleanness meant sexual immorality… Rabbi Hillel understood uncleanness to mean any sort of discretion, even burning breakfast.”  William Barclay: “Rabbi Akiba said uncleanness meant ‘if a man found a woman who was fairer in his eyes than his wife was.'” Verses: The Apostle Paul (Romans 3:22–25): “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.”  The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:13): “If we are faithless, He remains faithful.”