Northwest Church of Christ Sermons

Ten Wonderful Words Pt 1

The 2nd of Moses' three sermons in Deuteronomy features the Ten Commandments. And while we often think of them as important rules to live by, they are in fact much more. The Ten Commandments are anchored in the story of God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and invites them to respond with gratitude and loyalty UPWARD to God and OUTWARD to others. As Christians, our story of deliverance from sin and death should move us to give our love and loyalty UPWARD and OUTWARD as well. 

Stay Close to God

This week we continued studying the three sermons that make up Moses' farewell address to Israel in Deuteronomy. This week we focused on how once you acknowledge that God is King and is in charge you should orient your life around this truth by staying close to God. According to Moses, we stay close to God through obedience and relationship. Most people lean towards one or the other, but true connection with God requires both. 

Moses' Farewell Address

We are beginning a study on the book of Deuteronomy called "When God was King." It looks at Moses' three sermons at the end of his leadership of Israel as he reflected on all he did with God and Israel, what it means for his legacy, and more importantly, what it means for the future of Israel as God's people in the Promised Land. This week we considered the Farewell Address of George Washington, the last sermon of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the early themes of Moses' first sermon as we think about what it means to have great leaders reflect on their legacy and consider the implications for their peoples' future.

Do Something

So often, Christians think that faith is about believing something. But when it comes to being the body of Christ in this world, Christianity is really about figuring out what you can do to be the hands, mouth, and body of Jesus. Truly, to be a fully mature Christian you need to "do something." So you don't have to do everything, but what are you going to do to be Jesus to the world?

Living in Babylon

Finishing up our series on tough faith for tough times, this week focused on how to live in a "foreign land." The Prophets often wrote to Israel and Judah while they were in exile, trying to sort out how to live and have faith when you are in a world you never wanted to be in. This year, as many of us feel like we are living in a place and time we didn't want, we still need to live as people of faith. So we take Jeremiah's instructions from God to just keep living a good life where we are, add in Daniel's example to remain holy even while living among foreigners, and then see how Peter gives similar teaching to early Christians undergoing persecution. This gives us a great map for living at God's people among those who aren't. 

How Can We Sing?

In our series on Tough Faith for Tough Times, this week focuses on how we can praise God and pray to God in the midst of suffering. This study of several lament Psalms helps us see that suffering with God in an honest way is a faith-filled and Scriptural practice that shows we trust that God is in charge and that he is our Father who loves us. While 2020 has been a tough year, most people have likely had worse years in the past. Remember with thanksgiving how God has delivered us in the past helps us have confidence in the present and hope for the future. This is how we sing, even in tough times. 

Incredible Faith

Today we are looking at the incredible faith of the criminal on the cross in Luke 23. While everybody else at the scene (who should have had great faith) struggled to understand of believe, the criminal recognizes his own guilt, but more importantly recognizes that Jesus is actually the King. But most importantly, when all seems lost for both Jesus and the criminal is when he makes he most remarkable statement of faith when he asks Jesus to let him join him when he comes into his Kingdom. Certainly we can learn from this example how we too must focus on the eternal Kingdom of God and not our temporary bad circumstances.

The Jesus Clique

Not only did Jesus have close friends because he understood their spiritual value and importance in his own life, but focusing on the very small intimate group of Apostles and disciples who followed him was core and essential to his entire Kingdom building strategy. Jesus often sent crowds him, avoided the spotlight, allowed tough teachings to thin the crowd, and asked those he healed to keep his secret. All of this was to give him the time to focus the few years of his ministry on those few who would build the Kingdom once he returned to the Father. Now it's our turn to continue building the church by focusing on relationships and small groups.

Spiritual Friendships

Too often Christians today get the idea that their faith is only between them and God. They speak of a personal relationship with Jesus and don't think that they need other people to be part of their faith journey. But this study of Peter, James, and John show that they were more than just Jesus' Apostles and even more than his inner circle. Jesus depended on them and shared his most intimate and vulnerable moments with them. They were his friends that helped him in his life and ministry. Perhaps Jesus learned of the importance and value from a special friendship in his family, Ruth and Naomi. Regardless, if even Jesus needed Spiritual friends to walk with him, what makes us think we don't need friends to walk with us?

Three Paths to Missions

On this, our March for Missions Contribution Day in June, Kent talks about how there are examples in Acts of people who resisted the Spirit's call to mission, people who were reluctantly faithful, and then there is Philip who ran where the Spirit sent him. Philip preached the Gospel to an Ethiopian Eunuch while running next to his chariot until he was able to join him and lead him to accept the Gospel. When we give to and support God's mission in the world, which kind of Christian are we: resistant to outsiders, reluctantly faithful, or chasing the Spirit where ever it sends us?