Raintree Community Church

One of our Midwestern Seminary students, Gebriell Sierra, preaches from Genesis 22:1-19 and unfolds the story of Abraham and Isaac. This is a story about sacrifice as well as salvation.

Text:  Mark 12:38-44   The Critical Warning Against False Worship (Mark 12:38-40) Jesus warns His disciples about the scribes who were full of pride, greed, and hypocrisy. Jesus pronounces condemnation on the scribes for their false worship.   The Contrasting Example of True Worship (Mark 12:41-44)   Jesus points out that the poor widow gave significantly more than those who were rich. The widow d...

Text:  Mark 12:35-37   Jesus is the Expected Son of David Jesus' question points us back to the Old Testament (Psalm 110). Jesus' question reminds us that all of Scripture points to Him.   Jesus is the Enthroned Lord of All Jesus' identity is revealed as the Son of David who is the Son of God. Jesus' question is one of eternal significance that all must answer.  

Text:  Mark 12:28-34   A Most Crucial Question (Mark 12:28) The scribe questioned Jesus on the most fundamental of levels. This question gets at the heart of how we are to glorify God.   A Most Comprehensive Answer (Mark 12:29-31) Jesus summarized the Law and the Prophets by pointing us to love God supremely (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and love others sacrificially (Leviticus 19:18).   A Most Convicting C...

Text:  Mark 12:18-27   Ignorance Personified in the Sadducees (Mark 12:18)     The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. The Sadducees' authority was sourced in Moses and the Pentateuch. Ignorance Portrayed by the Sadducees (Mark 12:19-23) The Sadducees' absurd question about Levirite marriage in heaven came out of a heart of unbelief and deception. This scenario is played out vividly in...

The Question of Earthly Allegiance (Mark 12:13-17a) The Pharisees sought to bait Jesus into a trap of choosing between Caesar and God. In the end, the Pharisees' goal was to discredit Him in the eyes of the people and put an end to His influence. Our earthly allegiance to the government includes paying taxes as citizens; however, we must remember that our true citizenship is in heaven. The Priorit...

We Serve in a Gospel-centered Partnership (Philippians 1:3-11, 27-30) We are saved into a partnership with one another through the Gospel. This partnership manifests itself in a life worthy of the Gospel that strives side by side together.   We Serve in a Gospel-centered Culture (Romans 15:1-7) We are called to unity and harmony by Christ. We are called to welcome one another as Christ has welcome...

Texts:  Colossians 2:6-10; Ephesians 4:11-16   We are Rooted in Christ Together for Gospel Growth We look to Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are given new life in Christ. We rest on Christ as our foundation and fulfillment.   We are Equipped in Christ Together for Gospel Ministry We are equipped by the Word through gifted shepherds. We are matured by the Word through Christ's working. We are dis...

Texts: Psalm 95; 2 Corinthians 3-4   Worship: The Attitude of the Heart (Psalm 95:1-7) Worshipping God is about an internal attitude before it is an external activity. Worshipping God reframes our reality around God's Word.   Worship: The Transformation of the Heart (2 Corinthians 3:18) Worshipping God leads to hearts being transformed by God. "Corporate worship must be God-centered, Christ-center...

Travis Thompson preaches from 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

Text: Romans 12:1-2   The Mercies of God are the Basis For the Challenge of Total Commitment GRACE, is when we get what we don't deserve. MERCY, is when we don't get what we DO deserve.   Total Commitment Means Being Totally Transformed The word we get transformed is where we get the word metamorphosis. It's continual and gradual. We should allow the Holy Spirit to help.   In order to know the wil...

Text:  Psalm 100   Praising the One Who is Truly God (100:1-3) We must praise God with our lips and with our lives. We must praise God with the knowledge that He alone is God. We must praise God by remembering who we are and whose we are.   Praising the One Who is Truly Good (100:4-5) We must come before God with a thankful heart. We must cling to God's unchanging goodness and unfailing love.

Text:  Psalm 63   Our Single-minded Pursuit of God (63:1-4) We must earnestly desire God above everything else. We will discover God's love to be better than everything else.   Our Superior Pleasure in God (63:5-8) We must find our delight and satisfaction in God alone. We will discover that God is the One who helps us and holds us.   Our Sovereign Protection in God (63:9-11) We can trust that God...

Text: Psalm 56   Trusting God Through Fear (56:1-4) We can only overcome our fears through faith in God and His Word.   Trusting God Through Affliction (56:5-11) We must trust God alone to do what is good and right for His glory and our good. We must remember how deeply God cares for us and how He will carry us through our trials.   Thanking God For Deliverance (56:12-13)   We can thank God in all...

Text:  Psalm 46   Our Omnipresent God is Strong Through it All (46:1-3) Because God is our strength, we do not need to be given over to fear. Because God is our salvation, we will be kept through eternity.   Our Omnipresent God is Sovereign Over All (46:4-7) God's eternal plan cannot be changed. God's continual presence is our fortress.   Our Omnipresent God is Supreme Above All (46:8-11) God is s...

Text: Psalm 40   The Savior's Work Demonstrated (40:1-4) The testimony of God's deliverance is seen in His rescuing grace The outcome of God's deliverance is seen in heart transformation   The Savior's Character Proclaimed (40:5-11) God's unparalleled faithfulness and unfaltering love deserves unending worship and unswerving devotion to Him.   The Savior's Work Completed (40:12-17) God's saving wo...

Text: Psalm 32   From Sinner to Forgiven (32:1-2) The blessing of forgiveness is extended to sinners who have their sins covered by the Lord. The blessing of imputation is extended to sinners who have their sins covered by the Lord. From Conviction to Confession (32:3-5) In His grace, God convicts us of our sin to lead us to our confession and His forgiveness. From Judgment to Deliverance (32:6-7)...

Text: Psalm 27   A Steady Trust in God Alone (27:1-3) We can have confidence in God's presence as our Light - We can have confidence in God's ability to save. Therefore, we can be confident in the face of fear and doubt. A Single-minded Worship of God Alone (27:4-10) We must desire God above all things (attitude). We must seek God above all things (action). When we belong to God, we find in Him al...

Text: Psalm 13 God's Apparent Absence (13:1-2) David's perspective is that God has abandoned him as he cries out, "How long?" We need to filter our feelings of God's absence through the truth of God's omnipresence. God's Apparent Indifference (13:3-4) David's perspective is that God is not at work for His good. We need to filter our feelings of God's indifference through the truth of God's omnisci...

Text:  Psalm 8   God's Universal Praise Displayed (8:1) The majesty and glory of God's name fills all that He has made. This universal praise is the purpose for which we were created.   God's Strength Declared through Man's Weakness (8:2-4) God has chosen to display His strength toward His enemy through the weakness of man. God, the Preeminent One has chosen to condescend to us and care for us.  ...

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-30

Text:  Mark 12:1-12   The Parable Describes Israel's Recorded History in Scripture (12:1-9) The vineyard in this passage refers to Israel. The vineyard owner refers to God. The servants of the vineyard owner refer to the prophets who were sent by God to the people. The vineyard tenants refer to the Israelites who rejected the prophets Consider these passages: Is. 5:1-7; Jer. 7:21-26; Matt. 23:29-3...

Text:  Mark 11:27-33   The Serious Challenge to Christ's Authority (11:27-28) The religious leaders questioned Jesus on His authority over the Temple and His teaching. The religious leaders' aim was to discredit and destroy Jesus.   The Stunning Consequence of Christ's Question (11:29-32) Jesus confounds the religious leaders with a question regarding John's baptism. The religious leaders are no m...

Text:  Mark 11:20-25   Faith in God Demonstrated (11:20-25) Jesus commands us to put our faith in God alone Jesus portrays the powerful results of praying with bold faith. Jesus points to the necessity of forgiving others as we pray in faith.  

Text: Matthew 6:5-15   What should our attitude be in prayer?   As God's children, prayer begins with a focus on God's name, kingdom, and will. As God's children, we recognize God's holiness and desire that He would receive the glory He deserves. As God's children, we desire to see God's kingdom expand and come in its fullness. As God's children, we agree with God's commands and pray that they wou...