Sunday Messages at Calvary Bible Church

How do we know we have the Holy Spirit? The Spirit’s presence is confirmed in our lives as we experience… - New Life vs 12 …if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live - New Leading vs 14 …for all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. - New Liberty vs 15 …you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear - New Longing vs 23 …we wait eagerly for...

How can we be sure of life beyond the grave? Five BIG Truths About the Resurrection - Jesus: The Eternal God…Became Man (Col.1:19). - Jesus: The Eternal God…Died for our Sins (1 Cor.15:3; Isa.53:6) - Jesus: The Eternal God…Rose Bodily from the Dead (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:38-43) - Jesus: Having Risen…Has All Authority in Heaven and Earth (Rom 6:9) - Jesus: Having Risen….Will Raise You Too! (Rom.8:11)

How is our spiritual vitality sustained? (How do we not fall asleep on the job?) - The Holy Spirit Sustains Us in Trouble (37,38), “…he began to be sorrowful and troubled…remain here and watch with me…” (37,38) - The Holy Spirit Sustains Us in Isolation (39-44), “…The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak…” (41) - The Holy Spirit Sustains Us in Betrayal (45,46), “…See, the hour is at hand...

What are the unmistakable signs of the Holy Spirit’s work? - Humility (13), “Then Jesus came to Galilee…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire…” (13,14; c/f 2:11) - Submission (15), “…this is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness…” (15) - Favor (16,17), “…he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming to rest on Him…this is my beloved Son…” (16,17)

The Dangers of Legalism: - Legalism Damages Gospel Unity – Vs. 11-12 - Legalism Develops Contagious Hypocrisy – Vs. 13 - Legalism Distorts the Gospel – Vs. 14 Application: Embrace the Transformational (not Transactional) heart of the Gospel where God is changing us from the inside out by the Power of His Spirit in us. - Embrace the Gospel of Grace - Walk in step with the Spirit

How can we embrace the real gospel for a life of true freedom and unity?  - Affirm the Truth (Unity in Truth) - Break away from the Chains of Gospel+ (Legalism) - Consider the Poor (Unity in Diversity) God redeemed us to be united in our commitment to the same truth while carrying out our diverse callings to accomplish the same mission for Jesus. 

How do I know I am on God’s side? A True Servant of Christ… - Proclaims a God-breathed gospel (v.11-15) - Prioritizes a God-given mission (v. 16-21) - Produces a God-glorifying disciple (v. 22-24)

How do we test our fidelity to the Gospel of grace? - The Purity Test (6,7), “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him…they want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (6,7) - The Popularity Test (8,9), “…even if an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (9) - The People-Pleasing Test (10), “…If I were still trying to please m...

What motivates someone to walk in the gospel of grace? - Our Gospel Confession, “…through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead" (1) - Our Gospel Companions, “…and all the brothers who are with me…churches of Galatia” (2) - Our Gospel Commission, “…who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil age…” (3-5)

What's so important about the Church and why is it powerful? - Confession of the Christ (16:13-16) - Keys of the Kingdom (16:17-20) - Power of Prayer & Presence (18:18-20)

Why does Jesus bring his peace to our lives? - Jesus’ Assignment: To Deliver the Lost (10-15), “…he shall speak peace to the nations, his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth…” (10) - Jesus’ Aim: To Display God’s Glory (16-17), “…On that day the Lord their God will save them…for how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty…” (16,17)

What does the Bible say about the Devil? - Who is he? (1 Peter 5:8; Eph. 2:2) - What does he do? (2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Cor. 11:3) - How will he be defeated? (1 John 3:8; Heb. 2:14)

Is God ok with our pride? - God Opposes the Proud (1-8), “…Behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire…I will cut off the pride of Philistia…” (4,6) - God Gives Grace to the Humble (9; Jam. 4:10), “…your King is coming to you…humble and mounted on a donkey; Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (9; J...

How does God use our waiting? - God Trains You in the Waiting (1-17), “Thus says the Lord of Hosts, I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy…” (2,4,6,9,11) - God Transforms You in the Waiting (18-23), “…The fast…shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore, love truth and peace” (19)

Is your heart in it? - When the Heart is Wrong, the Worship is Wrong (1-7), “…when you fasted and mourned…was it for me that you fasted?…” (5) - When the Heart is Right, the Worship is Right (7-14), “…but they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder…stopped their ears and they made their hearts diamond hard…” (11,12a)

How can we stay anchored to truth in a world full of distraction and deconstruction? - Be Humbled by the Generosity of the Gospel vs1-3…such a great salvation…was declared. - Be Convinced of the Exclusivity of the Gospel vs1, 3…what we have heard…lest we drift away from it…how shall we escape? - Be Confident in the Reliability of the Gospel vs 2-4…declared by the Lord…attested by those who heard…G...

Big Idea: Jesus is coming soon. v. 12-13 - What will Jesus do at his second coming? v. 14-15 - Would I be ready if Jesus came back today? v. 16-18 - Do I long for Jesus’ second coming?

How do we intensify our joy in Jesus this Christmas?      - As We Encounter the Condemned King, “Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns…’Behold the Man’” (v.5) -    As We Embrace the Crucified King (14-22), “Behold your King…they cried out, “Crucify him!…The King of the Jews” (14,15,21) 

How do we intensify our love for God? - As We Tremble (8,9), “…keeping watch…they were filled with fear…” (9) - As We Trust (10-16), “Let us go to Bethlehem…the Lord has made known to us…” (15) - As We Treasure (17-20), ”…and when they saw it…they made known the saying that had been told them…” (17)

How can you and I experience God’s peace in this age of anxiety? - We Are A Satisfied People (21-27, Simeon’s Secret), “…It was revealed to him …that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ…” (26) - We Are A Singing People (28-35, Simeon’s Song), “…Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace…” (29)

How can we find hope when our lives are so broken? - The Hope God Gives is Supernatural (18), “…she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (18) - The Hope God Gives is Personal (19-21), “…Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife…” (20) - The Hope God Gives is Invitational (22-23), “…and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)…” (23)

Is saying, “God’s got this” enough? - Essential Truth #1: God uses all things to accomplish his purposes. - Essential Truth #2: God unveils his purposes to awaken our obedience. . -Obeying God’s commands keep us from being idle in our relationship with him. . -Obeying God’s commands keep us from being rebellious in our relationship with him. . -Obeying God’s commands keep us from being fake in our...