Arrogance smiles at sin, but God expects us to mourn over sin and remove it from our midst.
Right doctrine leads to right conduct. Those who have believed God's gospel will prove it by honoring Him with their words and behavior, showing His power to change lives for His glory.
-I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me- -1 Corinthians 4-14-16 LSB-.
We know about the suffering of Christ to purchase salvation for His people. His subsequent glories include His resurrection, ascension, victory over Satan, and physical return to Jerusalem to rule in His earthly kingdom.
Followers of Christ should expect difficulties and opposition in this world. As our Lord Jesus endured harsh treatment, and His apostles suffered for His sake, so believers now should welcome the reproach of this world as we represent our crucified and resurrection Savior.
Godly pastors, mature older men and women in the church, and faithful parents are key to the evangelism and discipleship of the next generation. -Recording started a few minutes into the sermon.-
God graciously gives all things to His people, so we must not boast in ourselves but only in Him. We may serve one another in humility, doing our very best and leaving the results to Him.
Our Lord Jesus invites us to come after Him through denying self, bearing a cross, and following Him. Through this death we find that which is truly life- knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God has provided in His word sufficient instruction regarding the practices of a congregation. We must honor the biblical mandates and models for worship, instruction, fellowship, and prayer.
Strife in the church comes in part from an unjust criticism and even condemnation of one another. Followers of Christ must be found faithful, but it is ultimately the Lord who makes this determination. Do your best and leave the results-and the vindication-to God.
God opposes all thoughts that supplant Him and place humanity at the height of wisdom. We may not deceive ourselves by false claims of wisdom apart from His word. Neither should we attach ourselves to any teacher of His word but seek to exalt Christ over His church to the glory of God.
God regards His church so highly that He has chosen to dwell among His redeemed people and display His holiness through them. But beware-God will destroy those who seek to destroy His church.
Each Christian contributes to the building up of the church, but the Lord will evaluate our service according to Christ and His word. Therefore, we must be careful how we build to ensure our work remains after the Lord's testing.
God has entrusted different tasks to different Christians throughout time to advance His gospel and build His church. Each one has a role to fulfill under our Lord's scrutiny, asking Him for the fruitful reward for our labor.
Jealousy and strife permeate the world, but they have no place in the lives of Christians. The Spirit of God has established peace and unity among believers, and believers must maintain that unity through humility and sound doctrine.
Christians have received the wisdom of God as revealed by His Spirit to the prophets and apostles. Instead of the spirit of the world which is perishing, Christians can receive the Spirit which is from God to know the saving gospel of His Son.