Raintree Community Church

Text: Colossians 1:15-18   He is Preeminent in Creation (1:15-17) Jesus is the eternal Son of God who is the exact image of God Himself. Jesus is the supreme and sovereign Creator, Sustainer, and focal point of all things.   He is Preeminent in the Church (1:18) Jesus is the Founder and Leader of the church. Jesus' death and resurrection secured our entrance into the church. Nothing can compare to...

Text: Colossians 1:13-14   The Work of Redemption Accomplished (1:13) God the Father accomplished His saving work through Christ. This saving work delivered us from darkness and brought us into the kingdom of Christ.   The Work of Redemption Applied (1:14) Through Christ's sacrificial death, we have been set free from the power of sin. Though Christ's sacrificial death, we have been forgiven of th...

Text: Colossians 1:9-12   Gospel-Centered Prayer Prioritizes God's Will (1:9) We must seek to be filled with the knowledge of God's revealed will so that we will live according to His wisdom.   Gospel-Centered Prayer Produces Godly Fruit (1:10) Knowing God's revealed will leads to a life that is pleasing to God and bears godly fruit.   Gospel-Centered Prayer is Powered by God's Strength (1:11) We...

Text: Colossians 1:3-8   The Foundation of Gospel Work (1:3-5a) The foundation of the Gospel is God Himself as He saves us by His grace. The evidence of God's saving grace is true faith in Christ and genuine love for the saints that is grounded on eternal hope in Christ.   The Fruitfulness of Gospel Work (1:5b-6) The Gospel has a global impact as the truth is preached and heard. The Gospel has a f...

Text: Colossians 1:1-2   The Author of Colossians The human author of this book is the Apostle Paul, who also penned 13 letters of the New Testament. Paul was redeemed by God's grace and became a missionary for the Gospel's sake.   The Audience of Colossians Paul wrote this letter to the church at Colossae from prison in Rome between A.D. 60-62, before his eventual martyrdom in A.D. 64. Paul was c...

Text:   Philippians 2:5-11   Jesus, Our Suffering Servant (2:5-8) These verses center on the humiliation of Jesus as He came in the flesh and died on the cross. Jesus, Our Exalted Lord (2:9-11) These verses center on the exaltation of Jesus where every earthly and heavenly being will bow at His feet and give Him the worship He deserves.

Text: Isaiah 9:6-7 and other selected passages   Jesus Makes Peace With God and Man Jesus broke down the wall of hostility between God and man through His atoning work on the cross. Jesus brings wholeness and reconciliation to our relationships. Consider these verses: Psalm 85:8-10; Isaiah 55:10-11; Ephesians 2:12-18; Colossians 1:19-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24   Jesus Brings Peace Within our Hear...

Text:  Isaiah 9:6 and Selected Passages   Jesus is the Father of Eternity Jesus is the self-existent Son of God who is the unchanging author of eternity. Consider these passages: Psalm 90:1-2; Isaiah 40:28-31; 1 Timothy 1:14-17; Hebrews 1:10-12, 13:8.   Jesus' Fatherly Care is Everlasting Jesus' fatherly care toward us is never-ending and overflowing. Jesus calls us to come to Him as weak, burdene...

Text:  Isaiah 9:6 & Other Selected Passages   Jesus is Mighty in Creation Jesus is our mighty fortress, present help, and comfort. Consider these passages: Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6-9; Psalm 95:1-6; John 1:1-4   Jesus is Mighty in Salvation Jesus is mighty to rescue us from our bondage to sin and give us new life in Him. Consider these passages: Psalm 40:1-4; Zephaniah 3:17; Luke 1:46-55; Galatians...

Text: Isaiah 9:1-6   The Light That Shines into Spiritual Darkness (9:1-5) Jesus is the promised Light that brings deliverance and hope to those living under sin's tyranny.   The Child Who is Born with a God-given Destiny (9:6) Jesus is the promised Son who was born as our Savior, but also as our King.   The Counselor Who Comes with Divine Wisdom (9:7) Jesus is the promised Counselor in whom all w...

Gebriell Sierra preaches to us from James 4:8 on drawing near to God.

Text:  Titus 3:12-15     We must intentionally provide for the needs of our Gospel ambassadors (3:12-13). The Gospel points us outward to encourage and support fellow laborers in the ministry.   We must lovingly support the needs of our Gospel community (3:14-15a). The Gospel points us inward in addressing the urgent needs of the church by devoting ourselves to good works.   We must willingly rely...

Text: Titus 3:9-11   Pursue Gospel Unity by Avoiding Divisive Behavior (3:9) We are called to keep the Gospel central, not give ourselves to unprofitable disputes that oppose the Gospel.   Preserve Gospel Unity By Confronting Divisive People (3:10-11) We must guard our Gospel unity by not tolerating those who stir up division within the church.   The Application of Gospel Unity Preserving Gospel u...

Text:  Titus 3:3-8   Before Christ: Our Sinfulness (3:3) Before Christ, we were entrenched in our rebellion against God and enslaved to our desires.   After Christ: Our Salvation (3:4-7) After Christ, we are saved by His mercy, given new life through the Spirit, and justified by His grace.   Through Christ: Our Service (3:8) Through Christ, we are equipped and compelled to do good works for the sa...

Text: Titus 3:1-2   Grace-Filled Submission (3:1a) Our life must be characterized by a submission to God and His ordained authority in this world.   Grace-Filled Service (3:1b) Our life must be characterized by an eagerness to serve the Lord and carry out His will.   Grace-Filled Speech (3:2) Our relationships must be characterized by speaking evil to no one and giving courtesy to everyone with ge...

Text:   Titus 2:11-15   Grace Appeared to Us in Christ (2:11) God's grace is personified to us in Christ's coming to us. God's grace is dispensed to us through Christ's work of salvation.   Grace Trains Us to Live For Christ (2:12) God's grace trains us to say no to self-centered living. God's grace trains us to say yes to Christ-centered living.   Grace Motivates Us to Serve Christ and Look For H...

Text:  Titus 2:9-10   Our Work Should Reflect the Gospel (2:9-10a) We should be submissive in every way that is God-honoring. We should excel in working well without argument or opposition. We should excel in being trustworthy and faithful as opposed to dishonest and deceptive.     Our Work Should Adorn the Gospel (2:10b) We need to view our work as a platform for Gospel proclamation. The way we w...

Text:  Titus 2:6-8   Sound Doctrine Produces Sound Men Who are Self-Controlled (2:6). God calls older men to life-on-life discipleship that culminates in the sanctification of younger men. God calls younger men to a life of self-mastery in thought and deed.   Sound Doctrine Produces Sound Men Who Lead and Teach By Example (2:7-8) God calls the leaders of the church to lead by example in good works...

Text:  Titus 2:4-5   Sound Doctrine Leads to Sound Training in Christlikeness (2:3-4a) God calls older women to life-on-life discipleship that culminates in the sanctification of younger women.   Sound Doctrine Produces Sound Women With Christlike Character (2:4-5). God calls younger women to cultivate a love for their family. God calls younger women to guard their minds and desires. God calls you...

Title: "God's Instructions for Older Men & Women" Text:  Titus 2:1-3   Sound Doctrine Must Be Taught Faithfully by Christlike Elders (2:1) Sound Gospel doctrine feeds the church. Sound Gospel doctrine counsels the church.   Sound Gospel doctrine protects the church.   Sound Doctrine Must Be Modeled Faithfully By Older Men (2:2). God calls older men to be Christ-focused. God calls older men to be w...

God's Love Defined - "God's love is an exercise of His goodness towards individual sinners whereby, having identified Himself with their welfare, He has given us His Son to be their Savior, and now brings them to know and enjoy Him in a covenant relation." (J.I. Packer, Knowing God) - God declares Himself as the One who abounds in love (Exodus 34:6-7). - God is declared as the very essence and def...

Text: Romans 8:31-39   What then shall we say to these things ? Our Justification, sanctification, and our glorification is tied back to "No condemnation." "Nothing" – What can we say? "Everything" – We should be in continuous praise and live for Christ.   If God is for us, who can be against us ? "If" God is for us? This can mean "Since" or "Because" Psalm 118:6 "…What can man do to me?"   He who...

God's Love Defined "God's love is an exercise of His goodness towards individual sinners whereby, having identified Himself with their welfare, He has given us His Son to be their Savior, and now brings them to know and enjoy Him in a covenant relation." (J.I. Packer, Knowing God) God declares Himself as the One who abounds in love (Exodus 34:6-7). God is declared as the very essence and definitio...

Title: "The Providence of God, Part 3" Text Matthew  6:25 -34 God's Providence Defined God's Providence Displayed God's Providence Demonstrated (Matthew 6:25 -34) Submit to God as the Provider and Sustainer of your life (verses 25-30) Surrender your life to God's care and His Kingdom purposes (verses 31-34)

God's Providence Defined "The providence of God is seen in His purposeful and pervasive sovereignty" (Piper) "The providence of God is the almighty, everywhere-present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth with all creature, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches a...