http://www.nlccoe.com New Life Christian Church of Emporia Podcasts en New Life Christian Church of Emporia Podcasts New Life Christian Church of Emporia no New Life Christian Church of Emporia lhayes@emporia.edu ℗ & © 2010 New Life Christian Church of Emporia 720 As followers by of Christ what Christians are to do is clear. We are to love people (cf. Mk12:28-34). How that looks is another issue... http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/what-must-we-do- http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/what-must-we-do.mp3 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:31:24 GMT Brent McCrory Who am I? We find out who we are by looking at Jesus because His Acomplishments (as The Christ) give us our identity. “Why am I here?” is an OK question…but answering it only gives you a list of things to do...and let's face it, no one likes those lists (unless we are the one giving them). A better question is “Who am I?” because when that is known (in the fullest sense of the word) then the other things fall into place. The Bible says much about our identity, but a general problem within Christianity is what ought to be our identity is really only a label or title. We have to own what the Bible says we are... http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/what-is-your-identity- http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/what-is-your-identity.mp3 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:21:15 GMT Brent McCrory Who am I? identity,model,label,title,seeking_jesus,giving,mark_10.45,beginning,serve APOLOGY - the first two and a half minutes of the audio are very low...the sound is corrected/normal after that... Who am I? There is only one way for a Christian to answer that question... Jesus' Works --> Jesus' Identity --> Christ's Accomplishments --> Our Identity --> Our Works [that flow of words is from Shane Wood's "The Christian Life" class] The flow of words can also be arranged as a chiasm… Jesus’ Works Jesus’ Identity Christ’s Accomplishments Our Identity Our Works …but if we do that (which highlights “Christ’s Accomplishments” as the rightful focal point) we must make sure and realize “Our Identity” flows out of “Christ’s Accomplishments”… I.e., “Our Identity” is shaped by “Christ’s Accomplishments” – but more on that next week. This week we looked at some of what Christ's Accomplishments (i.e., the cross and empty tomb together) indicate. Together they make a powerful and compelling picture, but first we need to take another look at the cross. No first century Jew (or anyone for that matter) would have worn one on their necklace, shirt, or anywhere else. A cross meant only one thing... In 1 Corinthians Paul said the cross was a “stumbling block” for Jews and “folly” for Gentiles. We are missing the essence of the cross if we think it is no longer a “stumbling block” for God’s people (i.e., Christians) and “folly” for those who are not yet God’s people (everyone else – basically the equivalent of ‘Gentiles’ in Paul’s thoughts here). Will we take to heart the words of Jesus in Mark 8:34? http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/what-did-the-christ-accomplish http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/what-did-the-christ-accomplish.mp3 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:09:31 GMT Brent McCrory Who am I? cross,revolution,rome,execution,empty_tomb,resurrection,cursed,salvation,corrupt,die,mark_8.34 The first couple of minutes of this part is not recorded. http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/what-wasis-jesus-pt2 http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/who-wasis-jesus-pt2.mp3 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:15:50 GMT Brent McCrory Who am I? Jesus' Works - Jesus' Identity - Christ's Accomplishments - Our Identity - Our Works We are in week two of the above pattern. While looking at Jesus' Identity is certainly worthy of more than one week we were able to touch on some areas of importance in the gospel of Mark (some not all...). Note: at 34 minutes or so the audio fades out...due to technical difficulties part 2 of the sermon joins "in progress" and a few minutes are missed (at the beginning of part 2). http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/who-wasis-jesus-pt1 http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/who-wasis-jesus-pt1.mp3 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:11:12 GMT Brent McCrory Who am I? mark,son_of_god,messiah,servant,slave,mark2.1-12,christian_life,identity “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” - CS Lewis. When a person considers the number of people who claim to be Christian in our culture, and then actually looks at our culture it is obvious something does not compute. Unless, of course, that is Christianity is only moderately important for many (i.e., we have a very ungodly culture…is this due in part to a stance with Christianity that Lewis says “cannot be”?). How do we move Christianity to a higher level of importance? While a well-intentioned question, it is also the wrong one. A more fitting question is the title of this series - "Who am I?" We begin to figure that out by looking at what Jesus DID (not WWJD). http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/what-did-jesus-do- http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/what-did-jesus-do.mp3 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:53:12 GMT Brent McCrory Who am I? jesus,controversy,god,salvation,christian_life,early_church,love_god,love_others,mark_12,salvation,jesus,identity,jesus'_works,jesus'_deeds,jesus'_words We live in a fast paced culture. One example is how this sermon series, with a focus on some select psalms, is finished as of today. Where does the time go? I pray this series has been and will continue to be helpful for everyone as we take seriously our need to be honest with God. One way of doing this is by composing our own laments. As we continue to develop our relationship with God we will learn to live as if He is always with us...which is good because He is. http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/living-as-if-god-is-now-here http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/living-as-if-god-is-now-here--july2510.mp3 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:09:46 GMT Brent McCrory When God is NOWHERE psalm_30,psalm_22,psalm_23,psalm_42,psalm_43,grace,forgiveness,forsaken,money,christmas,lament The psalms are so informative for us. They show us we can be honest with God when we feel down, are angry, or confused (e.g., laments). They also show us we need to praise God in response to what He has done and trust He will continue to work on the behalf of His people (e.g., laments and psalms of thanksgiving). This week we see a fact that is confusing in our culture - that of physical healing. While physical healing may be an area of confusion within Christianity - our response to it should not be. http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/living-with-pes http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/living-with-pes--july1810.mp3 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:29:21 GMT Brent McCrory When God is NOWHERE psalm_30,healing,forgiveness,praise,pride,chiasm,addictions,physical_healing,spiritual_healing,god's_anger,god's_grace,god's_mercy There is a false belief that has plagued Christianity long enough. Many promote this false belief (with good intentions) when talking about the seriousness of sin. Most everyone has been impacted by it in one way or another. It manifests itself in our actions when we run from God instead of toward Him when we sin; when we punish ourselves before accepting God's forgiveness when we sin; when we run from Christian community instead of to it when we sin. What is this false belief? Stated simply, God cannot be in the presence of sin... A proof of this is Jesus' words on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mt27:46; Mk15:34). Yet Context is King and the King of kings was NOT abandoned on the cross... http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/god-and-sin http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/god-and-sin.mp3 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:57:10 GMT Brent McCrory When God is NOWHERE psalm_22,god,forsaken,jesus,forsake,abandon,matthew_27.46,mark_15.34,faithfulness,god_and_sin A picture of God as our shepherd (last week’s sermon) gives us an anchor, which is a very good thing because our faith is tested on a daily basis. As we continue to learn we can be honest with God (about everything) we open the door for His work in our lives. Yet part of being honest with God is being honest with ourselves… This means we are honest not only about our present circumstances, but also what God has done for us in the past, as well as what the true desires of our hearts are. Image is nothing...thirst is EVERYTHING!! http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/obey-your-thirst http://www.nlccoe.com/mediafiles/obey-your-thirst-7410.mp3 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:31:38 GMT Brent McCrory When God is NOWHERE lament,psalm_42,psalm_43,pant,soul,chaos,irony,worship,salvation,faith,trials,community,community_groups,thirst,obey_your_thirst