First Baptist Church Canoga Park Podcast

Here is the outline for today's sermon: 1) Don't do what does not fit (vs 3-7) 2) Do the light thing (vs 8-10) 3) Shine to uncover (vs 11-14)

Here is the outline for today's sermon: 1) God Decides Our Role, Not Us 2) Jesus is the Savior, Not Us 3) Joy is in Jesus Being Magnified, Not Us Here is what John the Baptist said, a) John 1:15 - "He ranks before me." b) John 1:23 - "I am the voice to point to Jesus." c) John 1:26 - "Jesus is worthy" d) John 1:29 - "Behold, the Lamb of God" Jesus came to take away our sins.

Here is the outline of today's sermon: 1) We are grace-built gospel changed individuals. 2) Grace builds a new community 3) Grace calls us to build up not break up community 4) Grace makes us walk in love

This week we will see Paul telling us how to live "Christianly." Here is the outline: 1) We must walk differently. 2) What futility looks like. 3) Learning Christ. 1) Put off the old self 2) Be renewed in our minds 3) Put on the new self

Here is an outline for today's sermon: 1) Gives grace to each one (vs 7-10) 2) Gives gifted leaders (vs 11-12) 3) Gets us to a common goal (vs 13-16)

After hearing doctrine, we are now entering the part of Ephesians that tells us how we are to live. Here is the outline of today's sermon: 1) A calling worthy to walk in (verse 1) 2) The ways of walking together (verses 2-3) 1) Walk with humility and gentleness 2) Walk with patience (longsuffering) 3) Bear with one another in love 4) Be eager to maintain unity in the bond of peace 3) Why we walk together (verse 4-6) 1) One body, one spirit, one hope 2) One Lord, one faith, one baptism 3) One God

How are we doing at putting Jesus first in our lives? Here is the outline for today's sermon. 1) Exposing Disordered priorities 2) Calling for a whole-hearted faith

Here is the outline for today's sermon: 1) Paul's Posture (vs 14-15) 2) Paul's Petition (vs 16-19) A. That they might have inner strength B. That they have deep knowledge in love C. That they be filled with the fullness of God. 3) Paul's Source (vs 20-21)

Here is an outline of today's sermon, 1) Don't loose heart 2) Different way of seeing a. Where we see prison, Paul sees privilege b. Paul gets insight into the heart of God c. The mystery - the gentiles are fellow heirs d. Where we see suffering, Paul sees mission e. The purpose of the church - the wisdom of God

Here is an outline for today's sermon: 1) The Women - Came with Failed Faith 2) The Women - First Witnesses 3) The Guards - Afraid

Here is the outline for today's sermon: 1. The Temple Leaders Meet the Temple Himself 2. Jesus Reveals the Temple's True Purpose 3. Jesus Confronts Disbelief

Here is the outline for today's sermon: 1) We're in His kingdom and family 2) He dwells in us collectively

Here is the outline for this week's sermon: 1) Remember in order to appreciate 2) Understand in order to be re-oriented

Salvation is by grace, not by works. Today's sermon is in two parts.... 1) Salvation is a gift of God Ephesians 2:8-9 2) Salvation is a creative work of God Ephesians 2:10

Today's sermon is titled, "The Kindness of God" by Tim Pickard Here is the outline: 1) God's Kindness in the everyday. 2) God's Kindness in salvation. 3) God's Kindness into eternity.

Here is the outline for today's sermon: 1. Know what you were. (vs 1-3) (and how bad it really was) 2. Realize what God did. (vs 4-6) (and what that says about Him) 3. Understand what you are now. (vs 7) (and live by it)

This sermon has three parts: 1) What Paul prays for 2) What Paul wants the Ephesians to understand 3) What this means for us.

Today's sermon is about the two blind men who asked Jesus to heal them. Their persistence shows their faith. Jesus' response shows his compassion.

Here is the outline for today's sermon... 1. The basis of our salvation - God's will. vs 11 2. The purpose of our salvation - God's glory. vs 12 3. The proof of our salvation - The Holy Spirit. vs 13 4. The hope of our salvation. vs 14

Here is the outline for today's sermon: 1. What we have in Him 2. What will happen in Him 3. Encouraging Implications

This sermon is based on Luke 2:8-14, especially verse 14. There are two points, 1) Glory to God 2) Peace on Earth

When looking at the Christmas story we see the sovereignty of God... 1) Unseen Sovereignty- it looked like Caesar was sovereign but in reality God was in control of everything happening. 2) Mysterious Sovereignty- God's sovereignty in these circumstances was mysterious- no doubt it didn't make sense to Mary and Joseph- the same is true in our lives. 3) Beautiful Sovereignty- in the end God's sovereignty is beautiful for his children. It brought about our Savior and our salvation.

We are at the culmination of the book of Exodus as God dwells with his people. The two points for today are: 1) Completion 2) Communion

There are four parts to this message: 1) Rage against God (vs 1-3) 2) God's Throne, God's King (vs 4-6) 3) God's Anointed and His inheritance (vs 7-9) 4) A Sober Invitation (vs 10-12)

Today we talk about the golden calf. Three parts.... 1) An Idolatrous People 2) An Angry God 3) A Faithful Intercessor

This sermon is from Romans 15:1-7. The sermon can be broken down into three parts: 1) A Command vs 1-3 We have an obligation to invest in the weak so they can become strong. 2) A Prayer vs 4-6 The scriptures are written to give us hope vs 4 We are to put others first, Why? For Unity. 3) The Foundation vs 7 We are to welcome one another as Christ welcomed us. Jesus said, "come and I will give you rest."

Here are six observations...What it means to approach God as a people: 1) Approaching God as Prayerful People 2) Approaching God as Ransomed People 3) Approaching God as Purified People 4) Approaching God as Holy People 5) Approaching God as Gifted People 6) Approaching God as Covenant People

Today we talk about priests: Priests Are: 1) Appointed- the priests were specially chosen and set apart by God for this role. This points to Jesus as the anointed/chosen One whom God the Father appointed as prophet, priest and king to save and rule the world. 2) Set Apart- not just anyone could enter God's presence only the priests. They were clothed in special clothing, cleansed, made holy for this role. Their whole lives and persons were to be set apart for God. This is a reminder of how our entire selves and lives are to be set apart for God now that we have been redeemed. 3) Representatives- they represent the people of Israel before Yahweh- they carry their names as they offer sacrifices, as they pray, as they worship, as they enter God's presence. This is a pointer to Christ and all that he has done for us.

Why are the instructions to build the tabernacle important to us today? Here are four reasons... 1) The Tabernacle Speaks to Yahweh's Worth- the materials, the detail, etc. all point to God's worth- that he is worth all of this time and material wealth. The question is whether we see God's worth and live in light of it. 2) The Tabernacle Speaks to Yahweh's Holiness- there is a separateness built in- in the attention given, in the curtains and dividers, in the altar- its clear that sin couldn't enter- the common couldn't draw near. Yahweh is holy. Now, we as his temple are to be holy. 3) The Tabernacle Speaks to Yahweh's Provision- we see the provision in the ark, in the table/bread, in the lamp stand, with the altar. In all of it he is providing for the needs of h is people. All it though ultimately points to his provision in Jesus Christ. 4) The Tabernacle Speaks to Yahweh's Goal- the goal of all of this is that God would dwell in the midst of his people. That they would get to draw near and that they would know him and live in relationship with him. This is what we have in Christ- full access- an uninhibited relationship.

God is establishing a covenant with His people in Exodus 23-24. God asks for obedience and the people agree. 1) Covenant Conditions- the conditions for this covenant were obedience and specifically worship of God alone. We cannot live in relationship with God if we do not keep these conditions. 2) Covenant Commitments- the commitment that Israel made was to keep this covenant and obey God's commands. They failed miserably almost immediately and throughout their history. 3) Covenant Consequences- the consequences for breaking the covenant involved blood and death. The person who broke the agreement would die. This was all of the Israelites and this is us. We could never keep a covenant with God. We could never live in relationship with him on our own. This is why we needed Jesus to shed his blood for us- to keep the conditions of the covenant for us- so that we could live in relationship with God. 4) Covenant Communion- the final step of the covenant ratification ceremony is the elders of Israel seeing God and eating a meal with him. This was the goal- fellowship with and relationship with God. This was a pointer to what we celebrate in the Lord's Supper- fellowship with God through Christ- forever.

Today we look at the "law." The four points are: 1) God Cares About All of Life- these laws cover almost everything you can think of. Its a reminder that God cares about all of it and that living as his people involves all of life. 2) God Cares About Worship- this section is bookended with sections on worship. Its a reminder that our vertical worship is the foundation for our horizontal living. Everything flows from our worship of God. 3) God Cares About Justice- God cares about what is right- about restitution for wrongs- etc. You see this in the cross where God doesn't just forgive- he also satisfies justice in Christ. 4) God Cares About the Vulnerable- there were certain people in Israelite society that were particularly vulnerable of being taken advantage of. God is especially concerned that these people receive justice and are taken care of. This is his heart and we see this also in the gospel- he cares for us- the vulnerable.

Today we have a message from Jason Matossian from Mount Ararat Bible Church, Northridge. He covered the last of the Ten Commandments, "Thou Shalt Not Covet." The 4 points are: 1) The Tenth Commandment is the No Escape Clause. 2) It is about the heart. 3) Coveting includes contempt for others. 4) The Ten Commandments point us to Christ alone.

Here is the ninth commandment. We divide this sermon into four parts: 1) The Original Command- a courtroom setting where there were high stakes on the issue of whether someone's testimony was correct or not. It highlights the power of words and the way they can impact other people- people made in the image of God- neighbors whom we are to love. 2) The Broader Application- the broader application is to any use of our words that harms others- lying, gossip, reviling, harsh words, etc. It can also apply to written words- think social media. There are all kinds of ways we can harm people with our words. 3) The Positive Application- the positive application of this command would be found in speaking words of truth- words that build up and give grace. When we do this we reflect Christ who was the true word who gives life to the world. 4) The Key to Change- the key to change in this realm of our words is not more law- the key is to go back to the heart and to who we are now in Christ. Our old self died with him and we are new. Now, through the power of the Spirit we are to live like it in the way we use our words.

One of the basic commandments has two parts: 1) Taking: the command against stealing is broad and includes all kinds of activities where we take from others to try to gain for ourselves. It is evil because 1) we are harming our neighbors- no matter if its a corporation or organization or whatever. 2) it is rebellion against God's sovereignty. It's trying to take the throne and say that his decisions fo what we have are wrong and that we should have what he has given our neighbor 2) Giving: the positive side of this command is to 1) work and 2) give. This reflects the gospel where Jesus worked and gave in order to benefit us. This is the very opposite of stealing.

Two parts today: 1) Marriage as Covenant Making- marriage is 1) a part of God's good design from the beginning 2) is from God 3) is between one man and one woman 4) involves a deep commitment and bond. It is a covenant- a personal, whole-life commitment before God to each other. Sex is the sign of this covenant. From a positive perspective this command is a call to honor and protect and cultivate marriages. 2) Adultery as Covenant Breaking- adultery is to break the covenant by engaging in a kind of oneness that only belongs in marriage. It tears the one-flesh union apart. And it goes beyond the outward manifestation- Jesus said it happens in our hearts. We're called to battle adultery/sexual immorality.

There are two foundations of for life: 1) The Value of Life- this commandment conveys the value of life- this is based on the fact that human beings are created in God's image. Therefore, they are valuable to him and we are called to value life in the way we treat other people. 2) The Authority Over Life- God is the authority over life. He gave life and he has the right to take life. We do not. We cannot take life into our hands. We are not God. This makes Jesus' giving of his own life for us even more astonishing. He had authority over life and death and chose to use it to give his own life for us.

The Ten Commandments tells us to honor our parents. How do we do this and what is the result? There are two points to today's sermon. 1) The Obligation- the command to honor one's parents is a command to give them weight, importance, significance in the way you view and treat them. This looks like different things at different ages but it looks like something. This command is foundation and extends to other sorts of authority. 2) The Outcome- the promise with this to the Israelites was that they would remain long in the land promised to them in the covenant. While we are not under the old covenant there is a sense in which blessing comes as we follow God's design. Ultimately though, we fall short. There is only one perfect Son and we look to him and his righteousness.

Since keeping the Sabbath is one of the ten commandments, do we need to keep the Sabbath as Christians today? 1)The Sabbath in Exodus- in Exodus the Sabbath was a command to rest from work (and in order to love your servants- have them rest) and to worship. It was a sign that Israel was created by and redeemed by God. 2)The Sabbath in Christ- the Sabbath is a shadow- Christ is the substance. It pointed to him- to the need for rest in him. It pointed to the fact that he would bring us into the rest of our salvation- both now and fully in eternity. This in turn frees us and enables to use this command as wisdom- to take the principle that we need rest and that it should be a part of the rhythm of our lives.

Here we look at the 4th commandment: 1) Name- a name means something when it comes to human beings- how much more when we talk about God. It stands for his glory and perfection. It represents him. 2) Vain- there is potential to treat God's weighty name like its light- like its meaningless- not worth much- not useless. 3) Take- we think of words- and these are certainly included- but it also spreads over the rest of our lives. The word speaks of bearing the name and highlights that the Israelites were to represent God. 4) Guilt- to take God's name in vain is a big deal because God is a big deal. It incurs real guilt before a real God that pushes us to see we need a real Savior.

Three points for today: 1)The Content of the Command: do not make an image- this was the common practice- make an image of your god. The problem was that this would distort Yahweh. No image they created could reflect him rightly. 2) The Reason for the Command: God is a jealous God- he cares about being represented and reflected rightly. He cares about receiving the worship he deserves from his people. He will punish those who distort him and disobey him. 3) The Application of the Command: for us this command is maintained and we are called to have a right view of God- we are called to avoid distorted understandings of God that fit our own preferences. Instead, we look to the true image of God in Jesus Christ- he shows perfectly what God is like because he is God in the flesh.

Today's sermon begins a series on the Ten Commandments 1) The Law and the Christian- how should the Christian relate to/read/apply the law? 2) One God Worship- the first commandment- God's command for us to worship no other gods before him.

We have access to the God of the universe. Why do we take this for granted? The two points for today are: 1) The Privilege of Being God's People: God has redeemed Israel and chosen them to be his treasured possession, kingdom of priests, holy nation. In essence God saved them so they could draw near to him and represent him. This is a call also a certain kind of living and heart- one of holiness. One that Israel failed at- one that Christ fulfilled and that in Christ we get to be a part of. 2) The Danger of Being In God's Presence: Drawing near to God is a privilege but it also presents a problem- how can sinful people be safe in the presence of an infinitely holy God. This is why there are so many warnings and instructions- and still they can only come so close. This is only resolved in Jesus who cleanses us and takes on God's wrath for us so that we can now draw near to God safely.

In today's sermon Moses meets with his father in law and receives advice from him. 1) Jethro's Worship: Jethro was probably a pagan polytheistic priest. And yet, as he hears what Yahweh has done in delivering Israel from Egypt, he comes to worship and seek Yahweh as his God. Main application here is how powerful it is to simply tell people about what God has done- in the history of redemption and in our own lives. 2) Jethro's Wisdom: Jethro gives Moses practical wisdom and real help in the task he was facing in governing and judging the people. It begins a pattern of shared leadership and delegation we see at other places in the OT and clearly in the NT Church. The result is the blessing and good of the church.

How much should we depend on God? How much should we depend on ourselves? Here are the three main points? 1) You Have an Enemy- there may be human enemies of a sort but ultimately we do not fight against flesh and blood but against Satan and the forces of darkness. We need to be aware of his existence and the danger we face. 2) You Can't Win On Your Own- the Israelites were to fight and not sit by passively but they were also to depend on Yahweh- this is the point of the raised staff- utter dependence. And that's us too- we cannot win- we cannot finish without God's help. 3) You Have Someone Who Fights for You- God is committed to and passionate about his people- so, he gives victory and declares that he will bring his judgment on the Amalekites. We need someone who loves us like this and we have someone. The cross itself shows us God's commitment to and passion for his people.

God calls us to reach out to people in the world, especially the lowly and oppressed.

Many scriptures talk about 1) Put off the old self 2) Put on the new self

We have changed as we are "in Christ." We have died to sin and have raised again. We now need to learn how to live in Christ. In this sermon we will look at: 1) You Have Died 2) You Were Resurrected

As the Israelites left Egypt and moved to the Promise Land, God tested them, they failed but then received God's grace. Tests- the Israelites undergo two kinds of tests- 1) tests of need- a. for water b. for food c. for water and 2) tests of command- to obey God's commands surrounding the gathering of Manna. They were tests of whether they would trust and obey God. Failures- the Israelites failed the tests- all of them- they did not trust God's plan and goodness and provision and they did not obey his commands. Instead, they grumbled and put God on trial and questioned his goodness and his presence with them. Grace- God showed immense grace towards his people- instead of punishing them he provided for them- he healed the water (pointing to Jesus as the healer), he gave them bread (pointing to Jesus as the bread of life) and he gave them water out of the rock (pointing to Jesus as the Rock that was struck for us).

This week we look at the song Moses and the Israelites sang after the crossing of the Red Sea: 1) What About the Song It's a Celebration Song It's a Personal Song It's a Corporate Song It's a Godward Song It's a Formative Song 2) What the Song is About Yahweh's Power Yahweh's Wrath Yahweh's Salvation Yahweh's Sovereignty Yahweh's Love

Today we will be talking about the parting of the Red Sea. Here are some things to think about: What Israel Does Fears Questions Forgets Doubts What God Does Leads Protects Fights Saves What Israel is called to do Do not fear Stand Firm See Salvation Be Silent Key verse- 14:14- “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

Today we will look at the Passover Lamb. There are three points: 1) The Passover Experienced- God's warnings, instructions, the killing of the firstborn and the deliverance of God's people from Egypt. 2) The Passover Remembered- in the Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Redemption of the Firstborn 3) The Passover Fulfilled- in Jesus- he is the true and better Passover Lamb who delivers us from our slavery to be God's holy people.