Salt River Community Church

Baptism is not the path to salvation, and it’s also not the means of salvation. Baptism is the evidence of salvation; it’s a response to salvation - showing obedience to Christ’s command to go public with our faith. • Baptism is evidence of a changed heart (Acts 8) • Baptism displays your association with Christ (Rom 6) • Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ (Matt 28)

Paul closes his letter, having proven true to being tested as an apostle, with a challenge for the Corinthians... to determine if their faith is in line with their deeds. And it’s a challenge for us today, who claim to follow Christ, to test the genuineness of our faith by examining the expression of our heart. o Test Yourself [5] o Trust Those Who Are True [6-10] o RespondHumbly[11-13] o Remember...

Have you ever felt threatened? When you hear that word, what comes to mind? An enemy? A Thief? But what about when you were a kid, and mom had that belt out because of your disobedience? What kind of threat was that? Before you can understand that kind of threat, you have to understand sin as a genuine threat. When you truly recognize the threat of Sin... you’ll want Power to deal with it. o An Ev...

A leader shaped by the cross pursues people not what people have to offer

Sometimes God may give us a supernatural experience, and sometimes he may also assign a “thorn in our side.” But in all circumstances, we need to know that He operates in our weakness, for His own glory... and our ultimate good... to keep us humble and content with Him alone Outline: o The Supernatural Experience [1-4] o The Result [5-8] o The Response [9-10]

As Christians, we need to stop boasting on those that we consider worthy of honor by standards of the World... and start boasting on those who, through their suffering and weakness, have truly verified their love for Christ and been aligned him with Him alone. Outline: o The Honor of the World [16-22] o The Honor of Christ [23-33]

We’re all created with a purpose but deception is all around us, and whether we turn to the deception or not, the truth will always remain true, and reality will always be revealed - but it’s up to us how we will respond and whether it will be too late. Outline: o Our Purpose [1-2] o Their Deception [3-4] o Our Truth [5-10] o Their Reality [11-15]

Because we’re compared to Christ alone, our bragging is on Him alone, because all of our authority, accomplishments, and commendation comes from Him alone. So let's set our hearts and eyes on Him; laying aside everything that turns us inward, or towards others, for commendation or approval.

We’re in a spiritual war, surrounded by people who don’t believe as we do; seeking their own motives; and at times attacking us personally; but in Christ, we have complete confidence that His Word and Spirit within us equips us with a battle-plan. Outline: o Know Your Place [1-2] o Know Your Weapons [3-4] o Know Your Battlefield [5] o Know Your Move [6]

When we think about giving, be honest, is our first compulsion about ROI? Or is it simply to please God without demand or dream, not to “satisfy” God, but to see Him filled with Joy because His righteousness is being multiplied through our generosity. o The Path to Prosperity [6-7] o The Purpose of Prosperity [11-14]

While it’s true that our identity and worth is determined by Christ alone, our reputation before others matters because it displays that our character is in-line with His... and that should guide the way we live.

If we could just realize that the best way to feel secure, and to know that our needs are going to be met, is to let go of what we think is required to for it, and to show our love for other believers by meeting their needs instead. o Giving Proves Love [6-9] o Love Requires Actions [10-11] o Actions Promote Giving [12-15]

Would you describe yourself as someone begging to give? Not just wanting to help, but desperate for the opportunity? Sometimes we think that giving is a responsibility of living a Christian life, but if we truly consider what Christ has done in giving himself for us, our giving should be something that we cannot be held back from; something we beg for; even when it goes beyond what we are able to...

A life shaped by the cross responds to sin with Godly grief, which produces repentance, that leads to life

Sometimes we think that loving our enemies includes becoming loyal to them and partnering with them on life decisions. But rather than joining them, we should be an example for unbelievers to find hope and salvation by how we live differently and love honestly o Be Loyal [11-13] o Be Separate [14-18] o Be Pure [7:1]

Sometimes we think that Grace is a free gift to make our lives easier. But I hope that in hearing this from Paul today, we all realize that the evidence of Grace in our lives, it’s true power, is displayed when we’re sharing it with others… even when [not if] it comes with great personal struggles. Outline: o The Day of Grace [1-3] o The Determination of Grace [4-5] o The Strength of Grace [6-8] o...

Today we're going to look at two of the most common questions in the Christian faith… o How Can I Know I’m Saved [16-19, 21] o What Am I Responsible For [19-20]

Considering God’s Word - through Paul’s words here… may we all serve the Lord persuasively but from a humble posture, controlled by love, and always remembering that grace came to us first. Outline: One statement, three parts: o Knowing Fear [11] o Produces Humility [11-13] o Controlled By Love [14-15]

Like Paul and the Corinthians, we all face death, but in Christ, we have the hope of a resurrection and eternity with Him, and that should direct us to live a life that aims to please God, in anticipation of that future and not in fear of death. Outline: How to Live in Light of Dying o Be Aware that You are Temporary [1-2] o Be Clothed by the Holy Spirit [3-5] o Be Courageous in Life Now [6-8] o B...

As believers, suffering, struggle, and even death can be hard to accept, but I hope you’ll see how it’s actually our frailty… our brokenness… that enables the world to see Christ more vividly and find hope and joy in the Gospel Outline: How to see the light of hope through the cracks of our suffering: o Jesus is Seen in Our Suffering o Our Suffering Shows Grace to Others o Our Perspective Softens...

It can be tempting to try and convince people of God’s Word by adjusting it to make it more attractive, but we need to remember that we’re in a war, with a real enemy who lies and blinds and kills. We need to humbly preach the whole truth, and trust the Spirit of God to open the eyes of the blind, to display the unveiled Gospel; which reveals Jesus as the light of God and Satan as the god of dark...

We are tempted to believe that we have to keep the law or be as perfect as possible to please God, but Paul calls this being veiled… but, by the work of the Holy Spirit, the veil is removed and we are able to see the grace of Jesus in all of the Bible; and by actively beholding Him, in His Word, we begin to reflect His glory to others Living a cross shaped life… is living an unveiled life… that bo...

A life shaped by the cross is sufficient for the work of the kingdom Has anyone been a "Paul" in your life? How did God use that person to communicate his truth to you? How are you making the letter of your life available to others? Do you ever feel unqualified to be a servant of the good news? Would anyone say you’ve played the role of Paul in their life? If yes, how so? If no, why not?

Sometimes we’re discouraged, frustrated, and distracted by others who may falsely claim all kinds of things about us... but one thing we can know - Christ has already conquered… and when we live in Him, our lives are an aroma that proclaims the Gospel; and it always elicits a response from others - we never have to sell it or seek to make it produce for us. As true believers, because of what Chris...

How does a life shaped by the cross resolve conflict? - Righteous over Right - Discipline over Punishment - Reconciled over Exiled