January 2018 Archive
Sunday Summary
Miss service this Sunday? No problem. Below is a summary Rev. Macon's sermon.
January 21, 2018
How to Come to Church
Luke 18: 9-14 (NIV)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
How much do you prepare to come to church? Not doing your hair, tie, make-up or selecting your outfit, but getting your mind right and ready for service? Do you pray for the service? Do you seek God and ask him to stop by your church service? Do you ask him to move in a powerful way during service? In this scripture, Jesus is provides a parable of the pharisee and the publican. We see two people that couldn't be any different entering the temple to pray. The pharisee is part of a deeply religious and respected movement and the publican is part of a hated community. Side note: All pharisees aren't dead. We'll come back to that. While in the temple, the two men prayed. The pharisee prayed with himself. He thanked God that he's not like the other people beneath him, particularly the publican. Remember how we said all pharisee's aren't dead? You know those folks right now. They present themselves as more Christian than you, act better than you, and can recite more scripture than you. Sound familiar? Heads up, God is not impressed. Remember, without us, God is still God. Without God, we are nothing. Then we have the publican. The publican, the hated man, showed humility during his prayer. He stood in the back of the temple and wouldn't even raise his eyes to God because he knew he wasn't worthy. And, he asked for God's mercy because he's a sinner. That man, the text tells us, should be exalted. So, how do you come to church - as the pharisee or the publican?
Be blessed!
January 14, 2017
The Vocabulary of Praise
Romans 16: 24-27 (NIV)
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel,the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Church or aerobics class? It's getting hard to tell the difference. You have to high-five 10 of your neighbors and jump around because someone tells you too. It's becoming more therapeutic and less theological. It's not a bad thing, it just seems that people need more prodding to give God some praise. Here's the thing though...You can't get to Heaven on someone else's praise. You must praise Him for yourself. In this text, we find a few words that explain God's love for you and should make you jump out of your seat with praise.The first word is GRACE. We should immediately praise and thank God for undeserved favor. It's that sovereign grace. God came to find us because He knew we could never reach Him. It's saving grace. The only reason God sent His son was to save us. Man, is that love or what! The second word is GOSPEL. While we have our therapeutic and motivational moments during service, the Gospel, the Word of God, the message from God is what deserves our praise. The Gospel tells us exactly what Jesus did and how he died for us. How wonderful and we should thank and praise God for Jesus. Hopefully, you're shouting by now while you're reading. Be blessed!
How to Come to Church
Luke 18: 9-14 (NIV)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
How much do you prepare to come to church? Not doing your hair, tie, make-up or selecting your outfit, but getting your mind right and ready for service? Do you pray for the service? Do you seek God and ask him to stop by your church service? Do you ask him to move in a powerful way during service? In this scripture, Jesus is provides a parable of the pharisee and the publican. We see two people that couldn't be any different entering the temple to pray. The pharisee is part of a deeply religious and respected movement and the publican is part of a hated community. Side note: All pharisees aren't dead. We'll come back to that. While in the temple, the two men prayed. The pharisee prayed with himself. He thanked God that he's not like the other people beneath him, particularly the publican. Remember how we said all pharisee's aren't dead? You know those folks right now. They present themselves as more Christian than you, act better than you, and can recite more scripture than you. Sound familiar? Heads up, God is not impressed. Remember, without us, God is still God. Without God, we are nothing. Then we have the publican. The publican, the hated man, showed humility during his prayer. He stood in the back of the temple and wouldn't even raise his eyes to God because he knew he wasn't worthy. And, he asked for God's mercy because he's a sinner. That man, the text tells us, should be exalted. So, how do you come to church - as the pharisee or the publican?
Be blessed!
January 14, 2017
The Vocabulary of Praise
Romans 16: 24-27 (NIV)
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel,the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Church or aerobics class? It's getting hard to tell the difference. You have to high-five 10 of your neighbors and jump around because someone tells you too. It's becoming more therapeutic and less theological. It's not a bad thing, it just seems that people need more prodding to give God some praise. Here's the thing though...You can't get to Heaven on someone else's praise. You must praise Him for yourself. In this text, we find a few words that explain God's love for you and should make you jump out of your seat with praise.The first word is GRACE. We should immediately praise and thank God for undeserved favor. It's that sovereign grace. God came to find us because He knew we could never reach Him. It's saving grace. The only reason God sent His son was to save us. Man, is that love or what! The second word is GOSPEL. While we have our therapeutic and motivational moments during service, the Gospel, the Word of God, the message from God is what deserves our praise. The Gospel tells us exactly what Jesus did and how he died for us. How wonderful and we should thank and praise God for Jesus. Hopefully, you're shouting by now while you're reading. Be blessed!