Hardin Valley Church Sermons

There Must Be Death, Before There’s Life John 12:23-28

God’s Instructions for Work Genesis 2:15

Home Improvement Building a Godly Life in a Bad Neighborhood “Transformed by Grace” Romans 12:1–2 Joshua 24:12–26 “The key to spiritual victory and true happiness is not in trying to get all we can from God but in giving all that we are and have to Him.” You will never consistently live for Jesus until you are consistently in the Word and the Word is in you. 1. As followers of Christ, we are to offer ourselves to God because He saved us. Beseech Mercies of God 2. As followers of Christ, we must present our bodies as a “living sacrifice” Living Sacrifice Holy Acceptable Service or Worship 3. As followers of Christ, we must be transformed by the Word of God and not the world so we can do the will of God. Conformed vs. Transformed Get in the Word until the Word Gets in You

Using the Scripture as Your Guide for Life Philippians 4:8

Home Improvement Blueprint for Courageous Living “Every Home a House of Worship” Joshua 24:12–26 3 Movements 1. Remember What God Has Done – vss. 1-13 2. Choose to Serve the Lord vss. 14-21 Personally Publicly Devoutly 3. Demonstrate Your Commitment – vss.22-26 Deal with known sin. Bow your will to His How Can I say, “I will Serve The Lord”? 1. Personal – “Me” Personal Experience with God– Saved Personal Walk with God 2. Plan – “My House” 3. Principles – “We Will” Teaching and Learning Taught and Caught Decision 4. Purpose – “We will serve the Lord” Willing Worship Holy Worship Family Worship

Home Improvement Building Future Homes “Blueprints for Success” Ephesians 6:1-4 Every Child Should Honor and Obey. Every Parent Should Provide the 3 Components Every Child Needs 1. “Bring Them Up” - Nourish / Gentleness Provide for their Physical Mental Emotional Spiritual Needs 2. “Nurture” – Training / Discipline / Reward / Punishment Luke 23:16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. Proverbs 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 3. “Admonition” Verbal instruction, Verbal warning. The word “instruction” literally means “to place before the mind.” It implies Counsel, exhortation, and correction. What should you place before their minds? 1. Creation God created everything. God created them. 2. Jesus Virgin Birth – Sinless Loves them Died for the them Rose again 3. Sin / 10 Commandments Sin hurts – God and them. Sin take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, and keep you longer than you want to stay. Sin can be forgiven. Application Read the Bible to them and with them. Pray for them and with them. Take them to Sunday School and Church when the doors are open. Encourage them to walk with the Lord on their own. Refuse to let them miss the things of God. Don’t let them goof off during church. Pray for them to saved early and live for Jesus all their days.

Jesus - Our Example for Ministry John 6:1-15 https://www.facebook.com/groups/3054889218002972 https://bootsonthegroundinmontana.com/

The Ups & Downs of Sharpening Iron 1,700 miles on the Appalachian Trail Kevin Orr Psalm 27:17

Home Improvement Storm Damage - Calling in Help “When the Unexpected Won't Leave” Psalms 3 1. Everywhere I Look is … Trouble. A. Family – Absalom 2 Sa 15:7-14 “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” B. Enemies 2. Everywhere I Look is … Help. Peaceful Sleep Prayer Praise

Home Improvement Tearing Out Bitterness, Installing Forgiveness “Repairs & Ongoing Maintenance” Ephesians 4:31-32 1. Six Normal, Wrong Natural Responses (vs.31) “Bitterness” reflects a smoldering resentment. “Wrath” has to do with rage, the passion of a moment. “Anger” is a more internal, deep hostility. “Clamor” is the outcry of strife out of control. “Evil speaking” is slander. “Malice” is the general term for evil, the root of all vices 2. Three Right Supernatural Responses Kind - unconditional goodness Tenderhearted - compassionate/empathetic Forgiving ? 3. What Happens When I Don't Forgive? Unforgiveness imprisons people in the past. Secondly, unforgiveness inevitably produces deep bitterness. 4. What Does it Mean to Forgive? Matthew 18:21–35 I will not hold it against you I will not bring it up again I have asked the Lord for grace in my heart to not be bitter toward you. Forgiveness is not restoration/reconciliation. It has little to do with the relationship of the other person and everything to do with our relationship with God. 5. Do I have to Forgive? No As long as what the person did to you is greater than your sins against God.

Home Improvement Some Assembly Required Ephesians 6:1-4 Spiritual Parents are to lead their children to be Spirit-filled adults. Spiritual Leaders Spiritual Examples – As Disciples and Spouses Children need wisdom, guidance, and protection Children need to be trained. Fathers according to the Bible have the primary role in childrearing “Parents are meant to be teachers of truth and trainers in righteousness” - Swindoll 1. Who Is a Child? What Does God Expect of Children? Obey Honor Immediately Completely Sweetly 3. What is the Warning to Fathers? Negative Don’t Provoke to Wrath – seething, swelling anger Positive Bring them Up – nourish, feed. "Bring them up with words. "Gentleness Mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs Nuture– training, Discipline, punishment Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. Proverbs 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 3. Admonition – verbal instruction and/or warning 4. What is the Promise to children?

Home Improvement Catastrophic Rot of Sexual Sin Call in the Professionals 2 Samuel 12:1–14 ; Psalm 32:3-4 2016 Survey Pornography Use up 16% Nationwide Christians – 54% Women 44% Christian Women 34% Over 49% Respondents said no problem with amount of pornography they consume 82% said no one helping them in their sexual brokenness (secret/shame/shunned) “Online betting, only fans, video gaming, never ending dopamine inducing scrolling apps – some of the most corrosive, addicting, soul-killing creations ever invented and we give them to people in a way to fit in their pockets.” Why Should We Care about this Rot? 1. THERE IS CONSTANT CONVICTION Psalm 32:3-4 "You will never go any further in your walk with God than your last unrepented sin.” 2. THERE IS AN EMOTIONAL CONFRONTATION When sin is not dealt with swiftly and privately, there is almost always a confrontation. Kinds of Confrontation • Public Humiliation • Private Rebuke • Piercing Judgment of God 3. THERE IS A BROKEN CONFESSION • Not sorry he was caught, sorry for sin • Part of repentance is confessing accurately 4. THERE CAN BE A GLORIOUS CLEANSING Psalm 51:7-12 5. THERE ARE ALWAYS HEARTBREAKING CONSEQUENCES

The Prodigal Son  ​Luke 15:11-32

Home Improvement Demo Day: Tearing Down Debt, Rebuilding with Biblical Principles “The Finances” Psalms 24:1; Proverbs 22:7 Does the Bible give instruction about Finances? Do you want peace and freedom? 1. True wealth is measured by relationships, not by dollars. Proverbs 23:4–5 4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Relationship with God Relationships with others. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. Your faith and your family is always more valuable than your paycheck, so don’t compromise what matters most in the pursuit of wealth. – Peter Anderson It’s okay to have money, but never let money have you! 2. Debt is a form of slavery, so get rid of it as fast as you can. Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 3. Lasting wealth comes from consistent discipline and work, not “get-rich-quick” schemes. Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. 1 Timothy 6:6 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 4. It’s ALL God’s money. We’re just managers of it. Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein 5. Money is NOT evil, but greed is. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 6. Generosity blesses both the giver and the recipient. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. The happiest people I know are generous people and the most miserable are misers. 7. You can’t take it with you, but you can make an impact for eternity. Matthew 6:19–21 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Invest in eternal things. Commit to using your money to making a difference that will outlive you! • God owns everything, you are the manager. • God expects you to manage it well. • God expects you to be generous and faithful regardless of your situation. 2 Corinthians 8 • God will evaluate what you did with what He allowed you to manage.

Constructing a Life of God-Honoring Faith Home Improvement Series Exodus 2:1–6; Hebrews 11:23 Who is Jochebed? Mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses Mentioned in Hall of Fame of Faith Model of God-Honoring Faith 1. Her faith was Courageous Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. Her name means Jehovah is glory. She is the first person in the Bible to have a name with the divine YAH element. (Carol Myers, Women in the Bible.) 2. Her faith was Practical (real world) She trusted God in the midst of persecution, unlawful rulers, and fearful crocodiles. Her faith went beyond the walls of an auditorium. She trust God in the day to day affairs of life. 3. Her faith was Rewarded God not only saved her youngest son, but got the daughter of Pharaoh to pay to raise him! “Moses spent his youth in Pharaoh's court, where he learned law, rhetoric, mathematics, hieroglyphics, and even the art of war (Acts 7:22). And then Moses led two million people through a desert, putting all of these disciplines to work.” - Mark Mitchell Jochebed, the pattern and the model Defended her children from Evil Faithful to do what is right in face of death. Trusted God with her life and her children to an uncertain future. Changed her story, changed a nation’s story, changed our story.

Home Improvement Four Keys to Every Relationship “The Foundation” Ephesians 5:18-22 1. Be Spirit- filled Colossians 3:16 Let Word Control Us Pursue pure lives Confessing all known sin Dying to self Surrendering to God's will Depending upon His power * MacArthur Filled with the Spirit = Walking in the Spirit Filled = Controlled Filled with the Spirit - The Spirit of God using the Word of God to help me act like I am in the presence of God 2. Be Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs Praise Worshiping Life 3. Be Saying Thanks Gratitude to God enables a heart filled with joy Conflict and Gratitude don't belong together 4. Be Submitting ourselves one to another Military Term - rank under. willingly submit I will “out serve” you

The Reason for Our Hope - Share the Gospel Story 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 The Wondrous Story: Easter 2025 1. The Source of the Gospel Scriptures Priority Bad News The Penalty of Sin The Pollution of Sin The Power of Sin Good News 5 Words “Jesus died and rose again” * Chuck Swindoll 2. The Power of the Gospel The Saving Power The Sanctifying Power 3. The Hope of the Gospel It Extends to Every Person It Extends to Every Place It Extends to Every Problem * Adrian Rogers

The Parade before the Pain - The Wondrous Story - Easter 2025 Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–10, Luke 19:28–38, John 12:12–18 Why Celebrate Palm Sunday? 1. Celebration of Passover – What God did in the past 2. Celebration fulfilled Prophecy – What God is doing now, what God can do now He is a promise keeping God. He is Faithful - He will bring it to pass. • Eternal • Omnipotent • Omniscient • Faithful 3. Certainty Jesus is King The King of the universe kept his appointment to be ultimate sacrifice - “our Passover” “Hosanna - Blessed is the one comes in name of Lord” “a shout of praise” and literally means “‘help’ or ‘save, I pray,’” “He’s our King” Same crowd cried Hosanna - jeered “crucify Him!” Palm Sunday is the start of the path to ultimate victory over • Disease • Depression • Death • Sin • Penalty of sin • Presence of sin • Power of sin How can I celebrate His Triumphal Entry? Helps to Foster heart of worship Helps me not to fear - John 12:13 Helps me to share the gospel - good news Helps me want to spend more time with Jesus

The Wondrous Story Dead… but not for long “Tell about His Burial” Matthew 27:50–66 Whom Did Christ Die for? Ephesians 2:14–16 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: How Did He Die? Contusion Laceration Abrasion Penetration Perforation Incision Jesus Really Died and Really Was Buried and Really Rose Again from the Dead 1. The Problem of the Empty Tomb Theories The Disciples Stole the Body The Authorities Stole the Body The Women went to the Wrong Tomb Christ did not die, he merely fainted from the pain. 2. The Problem of the Broken Disciples Did they Hallucinate? No - The disciples were persuaded against their will! Luke 24:36-37 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. [37] But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. John 20:26-28 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. [27] Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. [28] And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The Wondrous Story Preach The Cross Isaiah 53:5; 1 Corinthians 1:23 Review The Kingdom of Heaven is Not So Much a Place as it is a Person. When they repented, they followed Him. We preach only about going to Heaven as essential and living for Jesus as optional. Fruit of the Spirit Fisher of Men Faithful Follower of Jesus Fanatical even to the Cross/Death How can a criminal pay for my own sins when He is paying for His? How can someone found guilty by the state be the savior of the world? If He could not save Himself, How can He save others? 1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; The Message of Easter is about the Death and Suffering of Jesus Christ Why Did Christ Die? Mark 8:31–32 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. Mark 10:32–34 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. Genesis 3:15 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Who Did Christ Die for? Ephesians 2:14–16 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: How Did He Die? Contusion Laceration Abrasion Penetration Perforation Incision