Christ Our Redeemer Community Church

All hope is grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it all began with the scandalous challenge Joseph faced when his betrothed wife was found pregnant. Providing us a lesson in how we are to mercifully respond to challenges and hurts, Joseph exemplified faith in God and obedience to his word as God continued to work out his redemptive plan by sending his Son as...

In a letter that could be written to much of the Western church today, Jesus addresses a congregation that has measured its standing before God by their experience of material blessing, safety, and acceptance by the world. Like all the letters, Jesus offers mercy and grace before judgment for all churches (and people) who “have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”   Outline: ·     T...

We arrive at the letter to the church in Philadelphia, a church for which Jesus offers only words of encouragement and comfort. His rebuke is reserved for and directed toward those who reject Jesus as Lord and Savior. The message to the first century Christians is the same as the message to us: rest in the glorious promise of salvation and eternal life by holding fast to the faith once for all del...

Lulled to spiritual complacency by an appearance of vibrancy and peace, the church at Sardis presents us with the grave dangers of Nominal Christianity. Jesus provides warnings and the remedy, which are as applicable to the church today as they were almost 2,000 years ago. Outline: ·     An Encouraging Introduction ·     The Walking Dead ·     Reviving a Dead Church ·     Comforting Truth

The issues Jesus addressed in his messages to the first centurychurches are no different than the issues faced by the Christian church today. We only pray for ears to hear “what the Spirit says to the churches.” The church at Thyatira was inviting and had much to commend; however, Jesus gave very direct warnings about its choice to permit a false teacher and to embrace sin as a cultural accommodat...

Jesus addresses his bride, calling her to faithful application of Scripture as believers assemble to worship Christ and provide a witness of his power and grace to the unbelieving world. He offers no quarter to false teachers or those who choose to sit under and follow their teaching; rather, he generously offers grace to those who will repent and the promise of a new andeternal life. Outline: ·  ...

The message to the church at Smyrna challenges the concept of faith so often taught and loosely practiced in the West. To these Christians suffering for their faith, Jesus promised eternal glory but commanded them to be faithful, even if it resulted in death. Outline: ·     The Speaking Sovereign Lord ·     The Church and the City ·     The Persecuted Church ·     The Command and the Promise

If your love of Jesus, his church, or fellow believers has grown cold, Jesus provides a strong warning and a loving remedy in the message given to the church at Ephesus. The letter to the church reminds us that while we must strive for holiness, stand for truth, and be uncompromising when it comes to biblical fidelity, we must never forget our first love and blessed hope, the Lord Jesus Christ. Ou...

As Jesus closed his High Priestly Prayer, his words are a cause for every believer's hope and the great assurance of Christ's never-ending love for those who belong to him by faith. Outline: The Glorious Reunion The Grand Invitation The Mark of His People

When Jesus prayed for all people, past, present, and future, who are and will be saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, he did not pray for health, wealth, and prosperity. Jesus prayed for unity. Unity initiated by the Holy Spirit. Unity in truth and unity that witnesses the power and love of God and his redeeming work to the world. Outline: ·     Foundations of Christian Faith...

Jesus prayed that those who follow him savingly be sanctified by the truth, which is all of Scripture. As he sends us into the world with the amazing message of God’s saving grace, we are to do so always living for the glory of Christ in accordance with his perfect word. Outline: ·     The Danger ·     The Mission ·     The Source of Strength

How comforting it should be that no matter what comes our way in life, the risen Son intercedes always for his people! As we return to John 17, we read how the Lord Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest for those who belong to him by faith, giving all believers great assurance of being kept and united by the Father. With this comes inexplicable joy that is not a result of circumstances. Instead,...

For the glory of God, he displayed his amazing attributes to all humanity in the outworking of the eternal plan to redeem sinners through faith in Jesus Christ. As Jesus begins to pray on the evening of his arrest, we are reminded of the love of God and the outworking of salvation for his glory. ·     Redemption Planned ·     Redemption Power ·     Redeemed Relationship ·     Redemptive Reverence

Jesus concludes his teaching on the night of his arrest with words of great encouragement that point to the finished work on the cross and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He reminds us that no matter what we may face in the world for holding fast to the faith once-for-all delivered to the saints, we must take heart. Our life is in Christ, and Jesus has overcome the world. Our joy and peace is founded...

How do you know when the Holy Spirit is present and active? When Jesus Christ is glorified and proclaimed! In the Farewell Discourse, Jesus teaches us about the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the world and to the church, assuring his disciples that it is better that he ascended to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could come.

Jesus continues teaching his disciples in preparation for alife lived in faith and without the physical presence of Jesus among them. In a teaching pertinent to all Christians today, Jesus encourages his disciples to not lose heart when they become the focal point for the unbelieving world’s hatred. Just as light hurts the eyes of those who have been sitting in a dark room, the light of Christ see...

Jesus makes a most amazing declaration—he calls those whotrust and follow him “friends”! How can sinners who are alienated from God be reconciled to him and be his friends? Only by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus not only grants this wonderful privilege, he explains the characteristics of his friends.  Outline: ·       Friends of Jesus Love Each Other ·       Friends of Jesus Obey Hi...

Throughout the New Testament, those who possess saving faith in Jesus are referred to people who are “in Christ.” Jesus illustrates what it means not just to profess faith but to possess the faith that saves in the Parable of the Vine. The resultant experience of God’s love and the fulness of joy in Christ is available to all who will heed the command to abide in Jesus. Outline: ·     Fruit of Sav...

In the last of his “I Am” statements, Jesus proclaims the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan in sending the Son to seek and to save the lost. Using the imagery of a grape vine, we learn that God loves his children and never ceases to work in our lives as we are drawn to Jesus and prepared for a glorious eternity.

The only way to understand love is to look to God. God is love, and he has called us to love as Jesus loves us. This week, we finish our exploration of the exposition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Jesus said the world will know who are his by how they love one another. Love is commanded and mentioned throughout Scripture. This week and next, we consider a popular passage that helps us understand what it means to love.

Peace is not possible without following Jesus as Lord, but for those who follow Jesus as Lord, peace is promised and freely given. The peace that surpasses all understanding is the peace in Christ Jesus that characterizes Christians, even Christians navigating through perilous storms.   Outline: ·     Peace from God ·     Peace of the World ·     Receiving the Gift of Peace

God’s greatest gift entails the giving of himself. In love he sent the Son to fulfill all righteousness and make the once-for-allsacrifice for the sins of all who will believe and follow Jesus as Lord. In Part 1, we considered what it means to love Jesus savingly. In Part 2, we learn how this is possible as we rest in the comfort and assurance that God dwells with and in those who belong to him. H...

We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone; however, the evidence of saving faith is a transformed heart that eagerly seeks to please God and abides by his Word. Contrary to many claims today, obedience and love are not enemies. They are close friends who always walk hand in hand in the life of a believer. We turn to the Word of God and read the clarity with which Jesus speaks, leaving no room fo...

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible” (1 Peter 1:8). This reflects the experience of all Christians today, but the 11 Apostles needed to be preparedfor life and ministry without the physical presence of Jesus. As people who live by faith not sight, our encouragement comes from knowing God by knowin...