For those of you Summit scholars who follow along, you'll be pleased to know that what follows is from this past Sunday, and that there will be the previous two Sundays listed on here shortly as well. Sorry for the delay, but with people traveling and the sound system issues we've had the last two weeks, it has been difficult to stay updated. Thanks!
SERMON FROM 11/29/2009
Advent #1: Hope
“The candles are traditionally lit in the following order: purple, purple, pink, purple, and white. The first is called the "Candle of Hope.
It symbolizes faith in God keeping his promises to humanity
The second is called the "Candle of Preparation," reminding Christians to "get ready" to receive God
The third candle is the "Candle of Joy. “It recalls the angels joyfully singing about the birth of Christ.
The fourth candle, the "Candle of Love," reminds Christians that God loves them enough to send his only son to Earth. The "Christ Candle," the white candle in the center, stands for Jesus Christ himself.” (Kim Kenney, “The Meaning of Advent Candles,” < accessed November 2009 > http://www.ehow.com/about_5385336_meaning-advent-candles.html)
John Piper:
John Piper:
1, “[P]urpose...GOD be prized above all things..... You can’t praise what you don’t prize.... (“Prizing is the authenticating essence of praising” Piper)
Ex. All the South Carolina fans!
Ex. All the South Carolina fans!
2. Problem: “Sin is what [I] do when [my] heart is not satisfied with GOD. No one sins out of duty. We sin because it holds us until we believe that GOD is more to be desired than life itself.”
3. Solution:
Psalm 63:3
“Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You.”
4. What does a life captivated in GOD’s “love” look like?
a. “...the power of sin’s promise is broken by the power of GOD’s [promises]. All that GOD promises to be for us in JESUS stands over against what sin promises to be for us without HIM.” (Piper)
b. “Being satisfied with “the glory of GOD is what I call future grace.” (Ibid.)
5. Another question: What makes the satisfaction stick?
Alister McGrath: The church is “…failing to provide believers with approaches to living that keep them going and growing in spiritual relationship with HIM. ...enthusiasm fades.”
a. Not “gratitude!” It is an “indispensable CHRISTian affection. No one is saved who doesn’t have it.” (Piper)
b. But does “gratitude” inspire “obedience?” No!
c. “...gratitude for bygone grace has been pressed to serve as the power of holiness, which only faith in [the glory of GOD] was designed to perform…”
6. How do we live “…radical lives of CHRISTian love?” (Phrase borrowed from Piper)
a. Faith produces “…radical lives of CHRISTian love.”
> Faith in what? “…conditional grace…” (Piper)
James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Matthew 8:5—13
When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, "while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.
>> “[C]onditional grace” reminds us GOD will “help.”
7. “faith” in GOD’s promises (i.e., “conditional” and “unconditional grace”) “sustains the heart.” (Piper) “The promise of GOD overpowered the promise of sin, and produced a lifetime of sacrificial love.” (John Piper)
a. JESUS was “astonished” because of four things: What counted to JESUS was not his name, but his “faith!”
1. First, the “centurion” had a proper understanding of love. (vv. 5--7)
a. I mean, he could get a new “servant.” Why ask? Because he cared!
2. Second, the “centurion” knew his SPIRITual condition. (v. 8; James 4:6)3. Third, the “centurion” trusted JESUS’ “word.” (v. 8)
highest form of flattery.
highest form of flattery.
4. Fourth, the “centurion” believed JESUS had “authority!” (vv. 8--9)
a. The “centurion” knew power when he saw it.
Application: Where do I need GOD to “help” me? Do I need “help” in having sacrificial love?
Application: Where do I need GOD to “help” me? Do I need “help” in having sacrificial love?
- So what do you think about "conditional" and "unconditional" grace?
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