Rockport Baptist Church

Because family matters and is central to God's purpose of bringing up godly children and securing the stability of society, we must train our children to honor their parents into old age and to do the same ourselves. I. Because Family Matters, the People of Israel were Commanded to Honor Father and Mother. Ex 20:12 II. Because Family Matters: We must forge a biblical culture that values and upholds parenthood III. Because Family Matters, Our Homes Must be Centers of Faith-filled Discipleship. Ex 6:1-4The sermon emphasizes the vital role of family in God's plan, drawing from Exodus 20 and Ephesians 6 to highlight the importance of honoring parents and fostering a faith-filled home. It asserts that healthy families are foundational for individual well-being, societal stability, and national flourishing, urging both children to obey and fathers to discipline with grace, ultimately pointing to Christ as the source of redemption and guidance for navigating the complexities of family life and resisting the destructive influences of a secular culture.

Because the Sabbath command was given as a sign of the old covenant that has been fulfilled with the coming of Christ, we must now rest our faith in Him, submitting the whole of our lives to His Lordship. I. The Law of the Sabbath Was Central to God's Old Covenant with the Nation of Israel Ex 20:8-11 (1) It was the Law of the Land (2) It was a Sign of the Covenant (3) It was a Test of their Faith II. The Sabbath Principle of Rest from Labor Points Us to the Goodness of God (1) The Gift of Work and Rest (2) The Grace of Compassion to Others (3) Our need to find rest in Christ by Faith III. We are no longer under the Law of the Sabbath because we have something far better in Christ! Col 2:16-17 (1) Jesus is the Substance of Salvation the OT Shadows like the Sabbath only pointed to! (2) We Keep Sabbath, not by resting on a Day, but by resting by faith in Christ! (3) In the New Covenant we don't have a Sabbath Day to keep, but a Lord's Day to Celebrate!

Turning from trust in yourself to trust in Yahweh brings His comprehensive holiness, and turning from your wisdom to the fear of Yahweh brings complete renewal.

Because God's Name represents Who He is and we are commanded to love God, we must love and honor His name, using it and wearing it with respect. I. Israel Was Commanded to Take God's Name Very Seriously in All They Did v 7 II. We must Take God's Name Very Seriously in the Way We Speak of Him! III. We Must Take Christ's Name Seriously in the Way We Wear It Before Others! 2 Tim 2:19b

Because every man-made image used in worship obscures God's glory and misrepresents him, his people are commanded to have no images in worship but instead to give their full attention to Him as He has revealed Himself in His Word and above all in Christ. I. The Second Commandment Prohibited Images of God Used in Worship vv 4-5a II. God is Zealous for His Glory, and Images Always Obscure His Glory v 5b III. God Warns of Dire Consequences for Those who Exchange His Glory for Images vv5b

In this message we see the principles for how to read, understand and apply Old Covenant Commands in the life and faith of a New Covenant Believer in Christ. From the First Command we learn that, because God alone is God and thus worthy of all worship and allegiance, we must submit to Him alone our full and unmixed loyalty, loving and obeying Him in all things. I. Read the Command in it's Original Old Testament Context vv 1-3 II. Consider What the Command Reveals about God that Never Changes Rm 15:4, etc III. Apply the Command in Light of the New Testament Fulfillment in Christ 1 Cor 8:4-6

Because God called Israel into covenant faithfulness under the old covenant through Moses, we must learn to see both the continuity and discontinuity in what he required of them as we seek to apply these same words as God's word in our lives under the new covenant in Christ. I. Covenant Context Matters II. The Old Covenant Context of the Ten Words vv 2-6III. The Purpose of God for Israel Under the Old Covenant vv 5-6

Because God gave the Ten Words to reveal Himself and His ways to them His people as part of the old covenant people, we in the new, though not under these commands as a law, still benefit from them as God's revelation of Himself and His ways.INT: It All Started with a Question. (Galatians flashback) I. God Spoke These Ten Words to Reveal Himself to His People. v 1II. God spoke These Ten Words in the Specific Context of His Covenant with Israel v 2

Because God is our almighty, saving God who has promised to keep His people to the end, we can and must trust Him and praise Him for His faithful goodness with extravagant joy.I. We Must Praise Him Because of Who He is and What He Does! v 24 1) He is able to keep you from stumbling 2) He is Able to Present You Blameless and Joyful in His Presence Forever! II. We Can Entrust Ourselves to Him Fully Because of Who He is! v 25 1) Who is this God trust? The only God our Savior 2) What does this great God abound with? Glory, Majesty, Dominion and Authority 3) What is the extent of His power and authority? All time and eternity 4) What is our response? Amen!

Because we have a Redeemer who lives, we have a hope that triumphs over all despairI. Sorrow and Suffering are realities we cannot avoid in this present life! vv 13-22; II. We Can Have Real Hope, no matter what is happening, because we have a Living Redeemer! vv 23-25III. There is Hope for You in the Promise of Your Own Coming Resurrection vv 26-27

Because God has given us a faith that keeps us in His love, we must keep keeping on in that faith, holding fast by the means of grace, even as we hold out to others the promise of redemption.I. Keep Yourselves in God's Love by Keeping Hold of Faith in Christ vv 20-21 (1) By building yourselves up in your most holy faith (2) By regularly praying in the Holy Spirit (3) By waiting in Hope for God's promised mercy CC: Keep Yourselves in the Love of GodII. Reach Out to Those Whose Faith Has Been Perverted by False Teaching vv 22-23 (1) To those limping along in doubt, show merc! (2) For those who are following false teachers into judgement, Go after them (3) To those in the midst of soul-killing sin, continue to hold our redemptive mercy

The 6th message from Grace Bible Conference 2025 "Biblical Counseling: Gospel Solutions for Life" by Nathan Currey. From the Sunday School hour "Living the Gospel with One Another"

The final message from Grace Bible Conference 2025 "Biblical Counseling: Gospel Solutions for Life" by Nathan Currey. "Grace Trained Lives"

The third message from Grace Bible Conference 2025 "Biblical Counseling: Gospel Solutions for Life" by Nathan Currey. "How We View the Heart"

The fourth message from Grace Bible Conference 2025 "Biblical Counseling: Gospel Solutions for Life" by Nathan Currey. "How We Engage the Heart"

The fifth message from Grace Bible Conference 2025 "Biblical Counseling: Gospel Solutions for Life" by Nathan Currey. "Common Heart Struggles"

The first message from Grace Bible Conference 2025 "Biblical Counseling: Gospel Solutions for Life" by Nathan Currey. "Every Christian is a Counselor"

The second message from Grace Bible Conference 2025 "Biblical Counseling: Gospel Solutions for Life" by Nathan Currey. "Gospel Solutions from Scripture"

The value of what we claim is seen in what we do. But, as in everything in life, the doing is in the details. As James continues pressing the idea of being a doer of the Word and not merely a hearer, he presses obedience into the specifics of our speech, our mercy, and our purity

Because we have been warned that false teachers will come and try to influence the church, we must be on our guard against them and able to identify and expel then when they try show up. I. Remember the Warnings Christ Gave You through His Apostles v 17 II. Beware of the Scoffers Who Seek to Influence the Church v 18 (1) When they will come? (2) What will they be like? (3) How will they live? III. Be Alert to the Impact Such People Have on a Church v 19 (1) They Bring Division (2) They Import Worldliness (3) They Are Unregenerate

Because Christ will return in power to judge the ungodly who continue to oppose him in word or deed, we must not give in to their teaching and must warn them and others that his promised judgement is coming so that all will flee to Christ by faith.I. Jude's Use of this Prophesy of Enoch Concerning Coming Judgement v 14aII. The Coming Judgement of Christ Against the Ungodly v 14b-15 1) It is the Lord Jesus Who is Coming in Power for Judgement 2) The Purpose of Christ's Coming Will be Judgment for the Ungodly! 3) The Ungodly will be judged for their God denying actions and Christ belittling words!III. Beware These Ungodly Sins that Bring God's Judgement v 16

Because false teachers mislead those who follow them and can even lead them to destruction, we must beware of them, refusing to tolerate them or their message within Christ's church.I. "Woe to Them!" A Warning We Must Take Seriously v 11aII. Beware of Them! Because Their Path Leads to Judgement v 11III. Don't Tolerate Them in the Church Because Their Presence Is a Danger to you! vv 12-13

Because God in grace has forgiven you and accepted you through faith in Christ alone and not on the basis of your own merits, you have a foundation for an everlasting joy. I. This Joy comes from the fact that we as Xns are now counted righteous in God's sight. v 6II. It Brings Us Joy to Understand as Believers that Our Sins Really are Forgiven vv 7-8; Ps 32III. Justification by Faith alone brings us the Joy of Fellowship with Christ and One Another Ps 32:7

Christians sometimes get nervous talking about obedience. Though we know we're saved by God's grace, we slip into thinking we are defined by our works. What we have done and left undone becomes the measure of our identity. James corrects this picture, showing that who we are does not flow from what we do; what we do flows from who we are. Doing what God says is how we confirm, express, and enjoy who we truly are.

Because those who look for authority within themselves to justify their sins live in opposition to God, we must refuse to follow them into the spiritual arrogance and folly that will destroy them.I. Those Who Are Spiritually Arrogance Look Within Themselves and Justify Their Sin v 8 (1) They Justify Their Sexual Immorality (2) They Reject Christ's Lordship (3) They Presume an Authority They Do Not HaveII. An Interesting Illustration of Spiritual Humility v 9III. The Spiritual Arrogance of Those Who Look to Themselves Brings Destruction v 10

Because we know God will judge all who persist in their sin and unbelief, we must be willing to heed his warnings and hold fast to Him in the faith and holiness which save. I. We need to be Reminded about God's Judgment v 5aII. Three Examples of God's Judgment that Serve as Warnings for Us vv 5b (1) Exodus: God's Judgment falls on would-be believers who do not continue in faith v 5b (2) Angels: God's Judgement falls on those who reject His creation order and go their own way v6 (3) Sodom: God's Judgement falls on those who persist in sexual immorality and perversion v 7

To become what we are, God's people need to understand who they are as God's holy temple, where God's Spirit dwells.

Embracing the good life means embracing meekness. This is the mindset that says, "I am not enough" and positions our heart to receive from God. When we set aside our reliance on what we think we know, what we think we can do, and how we think we will gain life, we are ready for the good life God gives as he makes us more like Jesus. This life comes to us as we meekly receive wisdom, meekly receive power, and meekly receive rescue.

Because there are many who seek to undermine or "update" our Faith in Christ in a way that would pervert it into something other than the biblical Gospel given by God, we must fight to hold on to this faith and defend it against all efforts to dilute or change it. I. The Reason Jude Has to Write this Difficult Letter v 3aII. We Must Contend for the Ancient Faith of the Gospel v 3bIII. The Danger Comes from Those Who Want to Pervert this Gospel Faith v 4

Because our faith is always under attack, we must stand firm in it, knowing Who we are and to Whom we belong that we may contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. I. The Identity of Jude: Who is this man? v 1a II. The Identity of the Christian: Who are we as believers? v 1b III. The Prayer of Jude: What does he pray our lives will be filled with? v 2

Because God knows us so completely, we ought to submit ourselves to his heart-searching gaze that our sin might be exposed and we might be led into a life of greater holiness. I. God Truly Does Know Us Through and Through! v 1fII. God's Knowledge of Me Can Be Used to Change Me! v 23III. The Goal of God's Gracious Gaze in Our Lives Is the Sweet Grace of Repentance!. v 24

Because God has proven his faithfulness in sending the promised Messiah, we should trust Him and celebrate Him for the salvation Christ has won.I. Zechariah Praises God for Keeping His Ancient Promise of Salvation vv 67-75 (1) God has taken action as He promised vv 68-69 a. He has visited b. He has redeemed c. He has raised up (2) God has done what He promised through the prophets vv 70-73 a. He is the God who speaks v 70 b. He is the God who saves v 71 c. He is the God who keeps His covenant promises vv 72-73 (3) God has saved us into a life of fellowship and service vv 74-75 II. Zechariah is Amazed that God would use his son to prepare the way for Messiah vv 76-77III. Zachariah's Joyful Declaration of God's Deep Mercy in Sending the Savior vv 78-79

Because of God's gracious gift of a Savior, we can rejoice with Mary in His undeserved mercy. I. Mary Praises God for the Gift of Salvation. vv 46-48II. Mary Praises God for His Faithful Character vv 49-50II. Mary Praises God for His Mighty Acts of Salvation! vv 51-53 Con: God is a faithful promise keeping God vv 54-55

Because it is so easy to be distracted by the pressures and pursuits and controversies of this world, we as believers must come back to those things that really matter and form the foundation and center of our faith in Jesus.I. Boast Only in the Finished Work of the Cross v 14II. Trust Only in the Power of the New Creation v 15III. Keep Walking in the Blessing of this New Life as God's People v 16IV. We Who Follow Christ must Bear the Scars that Come from Him v 17V. Keep Resting in the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ v 18

Because man-centered "show" religion is hypocritical and powerless to save, our only hope and our only boast must be in the finished work of Jesus on the crossI. Paul's Passionate Warning to his friends in Galatia v 11II. Paul warns them to Watch Out for the Empty, "Show Religion" of the Legalists vv 12-13 (1) This kind of religion is all for show (2) This kind of "show religion" is motivated by a desire to avoid persecution (3) This kind of "show religion" leads to boasting in self, and yet brings no change of heart III. The Christian's Only Boast and Only Hope is in the Finished Work of Christ on the Cross! v 14 (1) The cross is the only thing worth boasting about for the Christian! (2) The Cross has changed everything, bringing new life in union with Christ!

Because we belong to Christ by faith and are led by His Spirit, we must continue to follow Him in the good works He produces within us, no matter the opposition, with confidence that it will be worth it when he reward us in the end.

Those who keep in step with God's gracious Spirit will follow Him in a life of open-handed generosity and holiness that refuses the fleshly self-centeredness that brings God's judgement, and instead will reap the grace-given reward of eternal life.

God made men to be strong and to use our strength for the good of others. Particularly in the home, husbands and fathers must recognize our critical role in leading our families to worship the Lord. If we fail to lead well, we fail to love well. Drawing on a number of passages, the message is a call to own our role and lead in family worship.

Because we belong to Christ and live by His Spirit, we must follow Him in a life of service to others, rather than a life of self-centered pride that judges and condemns others, knowing we will one day stand before Him.I. Be a Burden-Bearer for Others as You Walk in Christ-like Love. v 2II. Don't be a Selfie-Stick Christian with Eyes Focused on You. v 3II. Evaluate yourself with the Mirror of God's Word, rather than Nit-picking others with a Magnifying Glass of Self-Righteousness. vv 4-5

As those who belong to Christ and walk by the Spirit, we are called to care for one another's needs by restoring those who sin and helping each other bear life's heavy burdensI. When your Brother or Sister stumbles into sin, Go after them! Restore them! v 1II. When your Sister or Brother has a heavy burden to carry, help them carry it! v 2aIII. This is "Love in Action" that fulfills the Law of Christ! v 2b

The devil is a liar, and one of his most common lies is that God is not good – or, at least, not good to us. In this passage, James points us to a world full of goodness to demonstrate that God is not merely good, but is lavishly good, reliably good, freely good, and victoriously good.

Because every person is made with loving care by God who knows them from the womb, we must understand that every little life is precious to God and resist the heinous evil of abortion.I. The Precious Value of Every Little Life Made by God Psa 139:13-18II. The Biblical and Historical Opposition of God's People to the Heinous Crime of Abortion III. "For Such a Time as This": Our Moment to Stand Against the Evil of Abortion.

Because we have been united to Christ in His death to sin and given new life by the indwelling Spirit, we can have victory over our sin by following the Spirit's lead day by day.--I. We have a New Identity with Christ that Gives Us Power over Sin v 24-II. We must Keep Following the Holy Spirit Who is leading us into this New Life. v 25-III. We have a Precious Fellowship that must be Protected as We Follow Him v 26

Because we have been united to Christ in His death to sin and given new life by the indwelling Spirit, we can have victory over our sin by following the Spirit's lead day by day.I. We have a New Identity with Christ that Gives Us Power over Sin v 24II. We must Keep Following the Holy Spirit Who is leading us into this New Life. v 25III. We have a Precious Fellowship that must be Protected as We Follow Him v 26

Practical advice for men in bringing up children, preparing yourself to bring up children, helping others bring up children

Because the Spirit of Christ lives in us to produces the power of Christ-like holiness in our lives, we must give ourselves to following Him in the power of this new life-I. This is the Power of Christ's Own Life in Us to Bring Us to Holiness vv 22-23a-II. This Fruit Brings a Power for Holiness that is Greater than the Law v 23b

Because the Spirit of Christ lives in us to produces the power of Christ-like holiness in our lives, we must give ourselves to following Him in the power of this new lifeI. This is the Power of Christ's Own Life in Us to Bring Us to Holiness vv 22-23aII. This Fruit Brings a Power for Holiness that is Greater than the Law v 23b

The sixth and final in our Family Camp series on -The Fruit of the Spirit- -Self-Control- by Aaron Sutton.

The fourth message in our Family Camp series on -The Fruit of the Spirit- Patience by Mike Booker

The fifth in our Family Camp series on -The Fruit of the Spirit- -Goodness and Faithfulness- by Jason Woelm.

The third message in our Family Camp series on the Fruit of the Spirit. -Peace- by Warren Kesselring