The Goal of the Christian Life- Part 2

Posted on Jan 9, 2021 by admin in General | 2

January 10, 2021-Sermon Notes

“The Goal of the Christian Life,” Part 2

Philippians 3:10-11

“My goal is to know Him (Christ) and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11, CSB).

The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we will become different.

1. To be like Christ requires knowing the power of His resurrection (v. 10).

God’s resurrection power is required to raise believers from spiritual death to spiritual life.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He has raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-6, CSB).

We are spiritually blind until God opens our eyes by His mighty resurrection power.

“I am sending you to them (the Gentiles) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in Me (Acts 26:18, CSB).

God’s resurrection power rescues us from Satan’s domain and transfers us to Christ’s kingdom.

“He (God) has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Col. 1:13, CSB).

Resurrection power is necessary to sustain believers as we walk in victory over sin.

Paul prays for the Ephesians to know “what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of His strength. He exercised this power in Christ by raising Him from the dead…” (Eph. 1:19-20, CSB).

Resurrection power is necessary to sustain believers as we walk in victory over sin.

Paul prays that God “may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph. 3:16-17, CSB.)

The Holy Spirit indwells every believer to give us power over indwelling sin.

“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you” (Rom. 8:11, CSB).

2. To be like Christ requires knowing the fellowship of His sufferings (v. 10).

We must learn to entrust our souls to a faithful Creator in times of suffering, continuing to do what is right (1 Pet. 4:19; 2:21-23; Rom. 8:17-25).

Jesus “learned obedience from what He suffered” (Heb. 5:8, CSB).

“Fellowship” points to closeness or intimacy.

“Don’t be afraid but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10, CSB).

3. To be like Christ requires being conformed to His death (v. 10).

“In Christ” means, to be identified with Him in His death and resurrection.

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, CSB).

Scripture exhorts us to “put to death what belongs to your earthly nature” (Col. 3:5; also,

Rom. 6:1-11).

Jesus always lived by denying temptations to live in His own power or for His own ends.

“Whoever wants to follow after Me must deny self and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23).

4. To be like Christ will be realized in the resurrection from the dead (v. 11).

“…assuming that I will somehow I may attain to the out-resurrection from among the dead ones” (Phil. 3:11, literal).

Two views:

1. Paul is expressing his hope that he will fully realize what it means in this life to experience the resurrection life of Christ being lived out fully through him.

The words “assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from the dead” reflects Paul’s humility and recognition of the weakness of his flesh.

2. Paul is referring to the future resurrection of the righteous at the return of Christ, when our mortal bodies will be transformed into the likeness of Christ’s resurrection body, free from all sin.

The words “assuming I will somehow reach the resurrection from the dead” refer to the manner in which Paul would attain the resurrection, whether he would be alive or dead when Christ returns.

One day, we will be like Jesus Christ, totally apart from sin, sharing in His glory throughout eternity (Rom. 8:17-21, 30; 9:23).

“We know that when He (Christ) appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure”

(1 John 3:2, 3, CSB).

Jan '21

1-10-21 Weekly Bulletin

Posted on Jan 9, 2021 by admin in General | 19

Jan '21

New Hope Baptist Church exists to make disciples who:

Know God– through weekly worship and teaching

Find Community– in weekly LifeGroup gatherings

Make Disciples– in yearly Discipleship Groups (D-Groups)

Change the World– through missions, evangelism, and volunteering.

New Hope Kids

Join us for Zoom Game Night Wednesdays at 6:30.

Watch Virtual Sunday School on our Facebook page on Sunday mornings.

Altitude Student Ministry

Sunday morning LifeGroups at 11:45 on Zoom.

Altitude meetings are now Sunday nights from 6:30-7:30pm on Zoom.

Disciple Now Weekend- January 29-31 here at New Hope. More details to follow.

Disciple Training

There will be a D-group training on Sunday, January 31 at 4:30pm.

Quarterly Business Meeting

We will have our quarterly business meeting on Wednesday, January 27 at 6:15pm

Pastor Search Team

Please be in prayer for Pastor Search Team members: Terry Dawson. Jim Ezell, Kasey Greene, Patricia Murphy, Beth Pulley, Pat Scales and Jason Thomas.

Dec '20

The Goal of a Christian Life

Posted on Dec 31, 2020 by admin in General | 11

Dec '20

“The Goal of the Christian Life”

Philippians 3:10-11

“My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11, CSB). PRAY

The goal of the Christian life is to know Christ (v. 10).

“This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the one You have sent—Jesus Christ” (John 17:3, CSB).

All relationships begin with an introduction.

“Breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” he was on his way to Damascus to arrest men and women who were followers of Jesus, when “a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ He answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ The Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting’” (see Acts 9:1-6).

All relationships grow through cultivation.

Cultivation requires time. You must spend time together.

To know Christ in a more intimate way, you must open your heart to Him, so He can confront you, cleanse you and make you more like Himself.

Christ reveals Himself through His written Word (Heb. 1:1-3).

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Heb. 1:1-3, CSB).

The goal of Bible study is growing obedience.

“The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him” (John 14:21, CSB).

Dec '20

1-3-21 Weekly Bulletin

Posted on Dec 31, 2020 by admin in General | 11

Dec '20

New Hope Baptist Church exists to make disciples who:

Know God– through weekly worship and teaching

Find Community– in weekly LifeGroup gatherings

Make Disciples– in yearly Discipleship Groups (D-Groups)

Change the World– through missions, evangelism, and volunteering.

New Hope Kids

Virtual Sunday School- Facebook.com/newhopekid Sunday mornings.

Zoom Game Night- Wednesdays at 6:30

Altitude

Life Groups- Sundays on Zoom at 9am

Altitude Zoom Meeting- Wednesdays at 6:30pm

Pastor Search Team

Please be in prayer for our Pastor Search Team members: Terry Dawson, Jim Ezell, Kasey Greene, Patricia Murphy, Beth Pulley, Pat Scales, and Jason Thomas.

Dec '20

Where Are the Wise Men?

Posted on Dec 26, 2020 by admin in General | 15

Dec '20

Where Are the Wise Men?

Matthew 2:1-12

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.’

When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So, he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

‘In Bethlehem of Judea,’ they told him, ‘because this is what was written by the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.’

After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route” (Matthew 2:1-12, CSB).

The appropriate response to Jesus is seen in the faith of the Wise Men.

1. Those who are wise seek the King, and they find the King (v. 9).

“After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was” (Matt. 2:9, CSB).

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell facedown, worshiped Daniel, and gave orders to present an offering and incense to him. The king said to Daniel, “Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan. 2:46-48, CSB).

The Wise Men followed the star. Our star is the Scriptures.

“Your Word is lamp for my feet and a light on my path” (Ps. 119:105, CSB).

2. Those who are wise rejoice when they find the King. (v. 10)

“When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy” (Matt. 2:10, CSB).

3. Those who are wise worship the King. (v. 11).

“Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matt. 2:11, CSB).

The inappropriate response to Jesus is seen in the unbelief of the priests and the scribes (vv. 4-6).

“So, he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

‘In Bethlehem of Judea,’ they told him, ‘because this is what was written by the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel’ (Matt. 2:4-6, CSB).

The chief priests and scribes believe in a sense and yet do not believe.

“This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matt. 15:8, CSB).

Dec '20

12-27-20 Weekly Bulletin

Posted on Dec 26, 2020 by admin in General | 11

Dec '20

New Hope Baptist Church exists to make disciples who:

Know God– through weekly worship and teaching

Find Community– in weekly LifeGroup gatherings

Make Disciples– in yearly Discipleship Groups (D-Groups)

Change the World– through missions, evangelism, and volunteering.

New Hope Kids

Zoom meeting: Wednesdays at 6:30pm

Teaching video Sunday mornings on Facebook.com/NewHopeKid

Altitude

Life Groups- Sundays at 9am on Zoom

Altitude: Wednesdays at 6:30pm on Zoom

Pastor Search Team

Please be in prayer for our Pastor Search Team member: Terry Dawson, Jim Ezell, Kasey Greene, Patricia Murphy, Beth Pulley, Pat Scales, and Jason Thomas.

Dec '20

The Gospel in a Grumble

Posted on Dec 20, 2020 by admin in General | 3

Dec '20

December 20, 2020

“The Gospel in a Grumble”

Luke 15:1-10

The Christmas story is about the seeking love of God and we see that love incarnate in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who “came to seek and to save the lost” (Lk. 19:10).

SETTING THE STAGE (Lk. 15:1-2)

“All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’” (Lk. 15:1-2, CSB).

THE SHEPHERD’S JOY (Lk. 15:3-7)

“So, he told them this parable: ‘What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance’” (Lk. 15:3-7, CSB).

THE COIN A WOMAN LOST AND FOUND (Lk. 15:8-10)

“Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents” (Lk. 15:8-10, CSB).

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 3:15; 4:7, CSB).

“See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20, CSB).

“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21, CSB).

Merry Christmas!

Dec '20

12-20-20 Weekly Bulletin

Posted on Dec 20, 2020 by admin in General | 18

Dec '20

New Hope Baptist Church exists to make disciples who:

Know God– through weekly worship and teaching

Find Community– in weekly LifeGroup gatherings

Make Disciples– in yearly Discipleship Groups (D-Groups)

Change the World– through missions, evangelism, and volunteering.

Christmas Eve Service

You are invited to a special celebration of the King of Kings, Please join us for our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 4:30pm as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Sunday Prayer

The Pastor Search Team would like to invite you to join them each Sunday right after the morning worship service to pray for our church and the call of our new pastor. We know this is the most important part of the process and we can’t do it without you. Let’s join together to pray as the body of Christ.

New Hope Kids

Team Kid- Wednesday nights at 6:30pm

Women’s Bible Study

Wednesday night Bible study, “28 Day Prayer Journey, Enjoying Deeper Conversation with God” written by Chrystal Evans Hurst, If you have any questions please contact the church office at (615) 883-6709.

Altitude

Sunday morning Life Groups at 9am

Altitude meets on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm

Pastor Search Team

Please be in prayer for our Pastor Search Team members: Terry Dawson, Jim Ezell, Kasey Greene, Patricia Murphy, Beth Pulley, Pat Scales, and Jason Thomas.

Dec '20

12-13-20 Weekly Bulletin

Posted on Dec 14, 2020 by admin in General | 23

Dec '20

New Hope Baptist Church exists to make disciples who:

Know God– through weekly worship and teaching

Find Community– in weekly LifeGroup gatherings

Make Disciples– in yearly Discipleship Groups (D-Groups)

Change the World– through missions, evangelism, and volunteering.

Christmas Photo Booth

Come and have your picture taken each Sunday before and after worship. Photos will be emailed to you FREE of charge.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the Newborn King!

You are invited to a special celebration of the King of Kings. Please join us for our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service December 24 at 4:30pm as we celebrate the birth of Jesus

Sunday Prayer

New Hope Kids

The Gospel Project- Wednesdays at 6:30pm

Children’s Ministry Christmas Party- December 13 from 3pm-5pm

Women’s Bible Study

Wednesday night Bible Study

“28 Day Prayer Journey” by Chrystal Evans Hurst. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at (615) 883-6709

Altitude

Life Groups- Sundays at 9am

Altitude- Wednesdays at 6:30pm

Pastor Search Team

Please be in prayer for our new Pastor Search Team members: Terry Dawson, Jim Ezell, Kasey Greene, Patricia Murphy, Beth Pulley, and Jason Th0mas.

Dec '20

Broadcasting the Gospel

Posted on Dec 6, 2020 by admin in General | 6

Dec '20

“Broadcasting the Gospel”

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

We are to be broadcasters of the gospel not salesmen.

We have a choice as to what kind of soil we will be for the seed.

“On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown. Let anyone who has ears listen” (Matt. 13:1-9, CSB).

1. We are to sow the seeds of the gospel indiscriminately (vv. 3-9).

**Show video of IMB missionary Eric Maroney in Zagreb, Croatia

2. The seed of the gospel grows persistently (v. 18-19a).

“So listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the kingdom…” (Matt. 13:18-19a, CSB).

The Word of God has the power to change lives.

“For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do” (Isa. 55:10-11, CSB).

“Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. For

‘All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you” (1 Pt. 1:22-25, CSB).

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12, CSB).

We are broadcasters, not salesmen.

“How can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher…As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Rom. 10:14-15, CSB).

3. The soils react differently to the gospel (vv. 19-23).

“When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown” (Matt. 13:18-23, CSB).

· Some may be hardened (v. 19).

“When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.”

· Some may be shallow (vv. 20-21).

“And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.”

· Some may be disillusioned (v. 22).

“Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

· Some will be multipliers (v. 23).

“But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”

We have a choice as to what kind of soil we will be for the seed.