Sermons by Brad Barrett (Page 4)

Sermons by Brad Barrett (Page 4)

Pastor

A Life Pleasing to God

What is God’s will for my life? This question is frequently asked by Christ’s followers. In our passage today, Paul addresses this question broadly with some specific answers that center on a life that pleases God.

You, Our Glory and Joy

In one of the most uplifting letters in the New Testament, Paul is overjoyed at the faith of this young church in the midst of suffering. We who follow Christ can share in a similar joy as we walk by faith and help others do the same. When Christ comes again, those whom we have helped will be our glory and our joy!

Our Story in Christ

We all know the importance of being an example, not a hypocrite, to others—someone whose words and actions generally line up. And this becomes a noticeable and powerful influence to everyone who sees. The New Testament letter, First Thessalonians, tells us the story of Christians who believed the gospel, lived it in powerful ways, then spoke of it. What is our story?

Faith, Hope, and Love

Core virtues of the Christian life are the well-loved triad of faith, love, and hope. The Apostle Paul was concerned for the health of the very young Thessalonian church in the face of persecution. But he discovered they remained on a solid foundation with a genuine faith that led to action, an exemplary love that prompted service, and a sure hope that resulted in endurance. In our daily trials, including these strange and stressful days of COVID-19, we can be inspired by the exemplary lives of these Christians from ancient times.

Ministry Partnership

Christ followers are called to walk in pure devotion to the Lord in our faith and actions. God’s appeal to us for this way of living, as shown in the Apostle Paul’s heart, is through his loving, fatherly relationship with us, his children in Christ.

The Marks of a Minister + Q&A session

As a minister of the New Covenant, Paul gave his heart and life to the proclamation of the good news about Jesus. He demonstrated his authenticity by his perseverance through great affliction and through his sacrificial, loving, and Spirit-filled actions. As we look at Paul’s life we can have confidence that Jesus really did appear to him, radically transforming his life. And, along with Paul, we should wholeheartedly believe in what God has one in Jesus Christ and give of…

The Marks of a Minister + Q&A session

As a minister of the New Covenant, Paul gave his heart and life to the proclamation of the good news about Jesus. He demonstrated his authenticity by his perseverance through great affliction and through his sacrificial, loving, and Spirit-filled actions. As we look at Paul’s life we can have confidence that Jesus really did appear to him, radically transforming his life. And, along with Paul, we should wholeheartedly believe in what God has one in Jesus Christ and give of…

Motivation for Ministry

Eternity. As Christians we believe in “forever,” not just as cute words in a love song, but as our future reality in the kingdom of God. The challenge we face is, do we live every day like “forever” is true? Is it on our minds? Do we see people in light of eternity? The Apostle Paul had deep, deep convictions about such things, and these convictions motivated him in his ministry for Jesus Christ. He walked by faith, not by sight. Future judgment, the fear of the Lord, and the love of Christ—all such things compelled him to speak of Christ to the church and the world, and to persevere in this life of faith.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

A walk of faith is a life that is truly convinced of certain things about God and eternity. Such a confidence transforms us, strengthening us from the inside out and changing our perspectives on life here on earth and beyond. While Paul’s role as an apostle has some differences from our roles in the church, the principles remain unchanged. Paul fully intends that what he believes with all his heart will be passed on to us, and that we, too, will live our lives fully devoted to Jesus for the sake of his people, all to the glory of God.

Saints on Parade

The message of the gospel of Christ is perplexing: God offers life forever and ever through his Son, yet mankind reacts against it so commonly and strongly. How could this be? Our Lord Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and millions of Christians since then have contended with this gospel, a message that smells good to some but stinks to others. Similarly, this is our assignment from God, to spread this fragrance everywhere with God as he parades the glorious message of life, and he calls us to join him.

Stewarding our Money

Money can seem like a necessary evil at times: we need and want more of it; we stress over it; we argue about it. Yet we also see good from money: providing for needs; giving it away to good causes. What is the Lord’s view on money? He is our Creator and heavenly Father, so what does he tell us? What heavenly perspectives and solutions does he have?

Stewardship of our Time

Time is short and the days are evil. How will we live? How will we spend our time? In light of the glorious calling from God into his eternal kingdom, we are to carefully examine our lives and to spend them in wisdom.

Joy to the World

In this season we celebrate the Advent, i.e., the Coming, of Jesus Christ to earth. While we may think primarily of his First Coming to earth, we also ought to consider his Second Coming. A favorite song, Joy to the World, has relevance in the days leading up to celebrating the birth of Christ, but its author, Isaac Watts, wrote it 300 years ago with the Second Coming in mind. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” will be the shout of every Jesus follower on that glorious day when he returns to earth. He comes to judge and reign as King and Lord, and all things will be made right on that day. Joy to the world! Amen.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Jesus Christ has come. And he is coming again. Advent means “coming,” so the Advent season looks both backward and forward to the eternal work of God through his Son. Emmanuel has come. We gratefully remember the past. We patiently wait in the present. We longingly hope for the future.

To You, O Lord, I Lift up My Soul

SERMON POWERPOINT Sunday, November 17, 2019  Brad Barrett David’s Psalms:  Mirror of the Soul–Week 5  To You, O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul 150 years ago, a classic hymn was penned.  What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Ev’rything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry        Ev’rything to God in prayer! Author…

Cast Your Burden

Life occasionally, or even often, brings us “hits,” that is, intense trials of all sorts. Some of these we bring on ourselves through foolishness or sin. Some of these are brought upon us by others, whether unintentionally or maliciously. And there are some trials that just seem to happen for no apparent reason or cause. David of Israel took many hits in life, and his legacy to us is, in part, the psalms he wrote expressing his anguish, complaints, and a thirst for justice—and he did this by faith as he prayed to the Lord. What can we learn from David’s prayers when life bring us some hits?

Praise Him!

Having completed 1-2 Samuel which largely looks at David’s life, we are beginning a series on the Psalms that David wrote. Psalms is a unique book in the Scriptures, teaching us to pray, becoming like a mirror that reflects back to our souls. We learn from David (and other psalmists) how to be honest with God in prayer with all our praise, joy, sorrow, grief, anger, needs, and confusion. Today our focus is learning to praise God for who he is and what he has done. And the more we know the Lord, the more our hearts will find praise to be fitting and satisfying.

Rise and Fall – The Aftermath from David’s Sin

David, a great man of faith, fell from the glorious heights of intimacy with God to the lowest point of rebellion, even despising God and his word. Yet he repented and rejoiced in his forgiveness, and even though some devastating consequences from his sin followed him to the end of his life, he continued walking with the Lord. How did he endure in the midst of those consequences? For us today, David’s life and the gospel inspire us to walk with the Lord, even in the “aftermath” of sin.

Rise and Fall – The Fall of David

David was a “man after God’s own heart,” and we can be inspired by his faith and many good qualities. Yet David was also a mere mortal like us and capable of sin, and in fact he sinned greatly against the Lord. But he later repented and found great joy in God’s mercy and forgiveness. So we are both warned by David’s sin and inspired by his response to it.

Rise and Fall – David the Refugee

Only in his 20’s, David was a great warrior and a man after God’s own heart. And because the Lord was with David, King Saul was afraid and jealous of him, which quickly turned into a demonic pursuit to kill him, his own son-in-law. But even through years of running for his life, David remarkably doesn’t grow bitter or vengeful. Instead he keeps his heart fixed on the Lord.

Consider the Great Things

When we lack strength for the Christian life, 1 Samuel 12 points us to the answer. In his final days, Israel’s leader Samuel called the people to follow the Lord with all their hearts. His appeal was to look to the Lord and consider all the great things he had done for them, not only then but over the centuries. Similarly, we Christians are called to consider what great things the Lord has done for us—the greatest of these is the death and resurrection of the Son of God—and so find motivation and strength to love the Lord with all our hearts.

Rise and Fall – Man of Faith

From childhood to the end of his life, Samuel walked by faith in the Lord. His consistent life is a stark contrast to the people of Israel who, though they had brief periods of faith, generally rejected the Lord as their king.