The Fire and the Attributes of God

This has been an amazing week. Who would have imagined last Sunday that in the coming week over half a million people would be evacuated from their homes as hundreds of thousands of acres burned and over a thousand homes were destroyed? Many from our church were evacuated. Almost all of us were ready to flee the fires with our cars packed full of photo albums and important papers. What would you take? As you are aware, our family was deeply touched by the events when two of our friends perished in the flames.

We are in the midst of a series on the attributes of God, so I have decided to merge our study with the events of this week as we consider how God’s attributes are displayed in the firestorm of 2007. Some people get angry with God when disaster strikes. Instead, we should be put in our place as feeble, finite sinful creatures and should thank God for his kindness and patience with us and our community. Some deny that God has anything to do with the fires, instead attributing everything to ‘mother nature’ or ‘chance.’ Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases (Ps. 115:3). He was not caught by surprise when the fires struck. Actually He was working out His plan in our community and in the lives of many individuals and families. Finally, fire is a reminder and a warning of the coming judgment, while pointing us to Christ who withstood the fires of judgment for us!

The Attributes of God Part 1

This Sunday we are continuing our study of God as we embark upon a consideration of the attributes of God, which will last at least a few weeks. God’s attributes are what makes God, God. Though God is infinitely above us, He has chosen to reveal much about Himself to us both in creation and in the Bible.

This week we will focus upon:

1. God is Spirit.
2. God is self-existent and self-sufficient.
3. God is immutable (He never changes).
4. God is eternal.

The Trinity

Why study the Trinity? There is no more fundamental doctrine than the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity is of great practical importance because nothing is more important than to know, love, and worship God as He truly is. The gospel can only be properly understood in light of this doctrine.

Jesus As A Model For Personal Evangelism

In this sermon Jim Newheiser examines what John’s account of Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well can teach us about personal evangelism.

Satisfaction for the Thirsty

Spurgeon called Isaiah 55 a chapter of gospel invitation. He preached from this passage at least eighteen times.

Isaiah 55 pleads with the lost to abandon their worthless idols. The Lord offers abundant pardon and rich kingdom blessings to those who turn to Him.

Isaiah 55 also speaks to believers who sometimes waste their time and money seeking to find joy and satisfaction in worldly things instead of finding their fulfillment in Christ.

Isaiah 55 also points to Christ who offers Himself as our spiritual food and drink.

Liberty and Love

Are you strong?

Last week Paul began his discussion of the issues over which Christians differ by encouraging all of us to accept one another without judging in these difficult matters.

In this week’s text Paul focuses upon those who consider themselves strong - because they believe they have liberty to do things in which the weak cannot participate without violating his conscience.
Rather than looking down on the weak, the strong should forego the use of his freedom for the sake of those who don’t enjoy the same sense of freedom.
In so doing he is living out the gospel by imitating Christ who gave up His rights for us.