Malachi is particularly applicable to us today because the people struggled with many of the same issues that plague the church in 21st century America.  The people were struggling with corrupt leadership over God’s people, widespread divorce, neglected tithing and a lack of social justice.  Malachi helps us to learn how we should live and what we should be careful to avoid as we wait expectantly for God to fulfill his promises.  This Sunday I will be giving a broad overview of the book as we learn what we can expect in this powerful book.  Here is the outline:

Malachi: Living in Light of God’s Promises (an overview of Malachi)

Main Point:  God’s people can’t grow lax as they wait for God to deliver on his promises.  God expects sincere worship even when we can’t always see him at work. 

I.                    Sincere Worship Starts With Right Views of God (1:2-5; 3:13-4:3)
II.                  Sincere Worship Flows from Right Views of Ourselves (1:6-2:9; 3:6-12)
III.                Sincere Worship Demands Right Relationships With Others (2:10-16; 2:17-3:5)

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John 15:1-8

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

The doctrinal focus of this week’s sermon will be our union with Christ.  I thought that this week I would post some quotes that might provoke some thought on this subject.  For those who are looking for outlines you can download in Word format here and PDF here.

• Union with Christ is really the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation not only in its application but also in its once-for-all accomplishment in the finished work of Christ. Indeed the whole process of salvation has its origin in one phase of union with Christ and salvation has in view the realization of other phases of union with Christ. –John Murray
• We profess to think Jesus the grandest and most glorious of men, yet hardly care to be like him. When we are offered his Spirit, that is, his very nature within us, for the asking, we will hardly take the trouble to ask for it. –George MacDonald
• The Lord never came to deliver men from the consequences of their sins while yet those sins remained…Yet men, loving their sins and feeling nothing of their dread hatefulness, have, consistent with their low condition, constantly taken this word concerning the Lord to mean that he came to save them from the punishment of their sins. –George MacDonald
• There is but one salvation for all mankind, and that is the life of God in the soul. God has but one design or intent towards all mankind, and that is to introduce or generate his own life, light and spirit in them, that all may be as so many images, temples, and habitations of the holy Trinity. This is God’s will to all Christians, Jews and heathens. They are all equally the desire of his heart. Now there is but one possible way for man to attain this salvation. There is not one way for a Jew, another for a Christian and a third for a heathen. No; God is one human nature is one, salvation is one, and the way to it is one; and that is the desire of the soul turned to God. –William Law
• All our salvation consists in the manifestation of the nature, life and spirit of Jesus Christ in our inward new man. This alone is Christian redemption, this alone delivers from the guilt and power of sin, this alone redeems and renews. –William Law
• It is not thy hold on Christ that saves thee; it is Christ. It is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee; it is Christ. It is not even thy faith in Christ, though that be the instrument; it is Christ’s blood and merit. –Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• Learn to know Christ and him crucified. Learn to sing to him, and say, “Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have become what you were not so that I might become what I was not.” –Martin Luther
• If you have eternal life at all, it simply means that you have the Son, Jesus Christ ­ NOW! Eternal life is not a peculiar feeling inside! It is not your ultimate destination, to which you will go when you are dead. If you are born again, eternal life is that quality of life that you possess right now, at this very moment, in your own physical body, with your own two feet on the ground, and in the world TODAY! And where does this life come from? Of Him! He is that life! So if you have eternal life, it means that you have Somebody, Jesus Christ, and the life that you possess is of Him.–W. Ian Thomas

Now I would remind you, brothers,of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:1-9)

The Gospel: Plain and Simple

I.                   God  – The Holy and Loving Creator

1. God is Creator – Genesis 1:1
2. God is Love – 1 John 4:7-8
3. God is Holy – Isaiah 6:3

II.                Man – The Sinful Creature

1. Sin – defined in 1 John 3:4
2. Man is a Sinner By Nature and By Choice (Romans 3:9-18, 23)
3. Man Deserves Death and Hell (Romans 6:23)
4. Man Cannot Save Himself (Isaiah 64:6) (Ephesians 2:8-9)

III.             Christ the Merciful Redeemer

1. Jesus Christ is the Infinite God/Man (John 1:1, 14)
2. Jesus died on the Cross and was raised from the dead (Romans 4:23-25)
3. Jesus taught that you must be born-again (John 3:3,7) John 1:12-13

IV.             God Commands Us to Respond to Him in 3 Ways

1. We Must Repent of Our Sin (Luke 13:3)
2. We Must Trust in Christ Alone (Acts 4:12)
3. We Must Be Baptized in Obedience to Christ’s Command (Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:38)

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The simplest statement of the benefit which a truehearted communicant may expect to receive from the Lord’s Supper, is the strengthening and refreshing of our souls–clearer views of Christ and His atonement, clearer views of all the offices which Christ, fills as our Mediator and Advocate, clearer views of the complete redemption Christ has obtained for us by His substituted death on the cross, clearer views of our full and perfect acceptance in Christ before God, fresh reasons for deep repentance for sin, fresh reasons for lively faith–these are among the leading returns which a believer may confidently expect to get from his attendance at the Lord’s Table. He that eats the bread and drinks the wine in a right spirit, will find himself drawn into closer communion with Christ, and will feel to know Him more, and understand Him better.

(a) Right reception of the Lord’s Supper has a “humbling” effect on the soul. The sight of the bread and wine as emblems of Christ’s body and blood, reminds us how sinful sin must be, if nothing less than the death of God’s own Son could make satisfaction for it, or redeem us from its guilt. Never should we be so “clothed with humility,” as when we receive the Lord’s Supper.

(b) Right reception of the Lord’s Supper has a “cheering” effect on the soul. The sight of the bread broken, and the wine poured out, reminds us how full, perfect, and complete is our salvation. Those vivid emblems remind us what an enormous price has been paid for our redemption. They press on us the mighty truth, that believing on Christ, we have nothing to fear, because a sufficient payment has been made for our debt. The “precious blood of Christ” answers every charge that can be brought against us. God can be “just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

(c) Right reception of the Lord’s Supper has a “sanctifying” effect on the soul. The bread and wine remind us how great is our debt of gratitude to our Lord, and how thoroughly we are bound to live for Him who died for our sins. They seem to say to us, “Remember what Christ has done for you, and ask yourself whether there is anything too great to do for Him.”

(d) Right reception of the Lord’s Supper into hearts, has a restraining effect on the soul. Every time a believer receives the bread and the wine he is reminded what a serious thing it is to be a Christian, and what an obligation is laid on him to lead a consistent life. Bought with such a price as that bread and wine call to his recollection, ought he not to glorify Christ in body and spirit, which are His? The man that goes regularly and intelligently to the Lord’s Table finds it increasingly hard to yield to sin and conform to the world.

Such is a brief account of the benefits which a right hearted communicant may expect to receive from the Lord’s Supper. In eating that bread and drinking that cup, such a man will have his repentance deepened, his faith increased, his knowledge enlarged, his habit of holy living strengthened. He will realize more of the “real presence” of Christ in his heart. Eating, that bread by faith, he will feel closer communion with the body of Christ. Drinking that wine by faith, he will feel closer communion with the blood of Christ. He will see more clearly what Christ is to him, and what he is to Christ. He will understand more thoroughly what it is to be “one with Christ, and Christ one with him.” He will feel the roots of his soul’s spiritual life watered, and the work of grace in his heart established, built up, and carried forward. All these things may seem and sound like foolishness to a natural man, but to a true Christian these things are light, and health, and life, and peace. No wonder that a true Christian finds the Lord’s Supper a source of blessing!

Excerpted from, http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/pr06.htm

The Lord’s Supper: What, Why, How and Who

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

I.      What Does It Mean?

          a.      It is a reminder and reflection of the work of Christ.
          b.      It is a reminder of the importance of the local church. 

II.    Why Must We Observe It?

          a.      Because Jesus commanded it.
          b.      Because of its real benefits to us.

III.  How Should It Be Observed?

           a.      With seriousness, joy and reflection.

IV.   Who Should Participate?

          a.      All who are in Christ.
          b.      All who are in right fellowship with the church.

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Living With Joy in a Painful World

Hebrews 10:32-39

³² But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. ³⁴ For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. ³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

 ³⁷ FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
³⁸ BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

 ³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Main Point: Christian joy is the result of looking to a greater reward – God’s reward.  How then do we experience this joy in a world that is so obviously filled with pain.  There are three keys to experiencing this joy.

I. Look Back on Past Deliverances (32-33)

1. Looking to the past can give us strength in the present

II. Long for an Eternal Inheritance (34)

1. We must be separated from the temporal
2. We must wait expectantly for the eternal.

III. Live In Light of  a Returning Savior

1. Looking to Christ results in perseverance
2. Perseverance is possible because of his promise
3. Perseverance results in preservation

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Here are several Christmas related articles for you and a few other non-Christmas posts thrown in for good measure!

• John Piper gives “12 Reasons for Christmas” View Article
• Albert Mohler responds to the question, “Must We Believe in the Virgin Birth”  View article…
• Thom Rainer has a good word for those who are hurting during the Christmas season View article…
• Dan Barnes goes on a good rant about things that drive him crazy with Christmas View article…
• Carl Trueman helps put the season back into perspective in, “Christmas and the faith and courage to live — or die.”  View article…
• If you struggle with Anxiety you will want to read, “Worry, Anxiety, and the Kingdom of Christ,” from Dr. Russell Moore View article…
• A great article from Justin Taylor on “Thinking through Arguments in the Public Square.” View article…
• Ed Stetzer takes a look at “Fast-Growing Smaller Churches“
• Paul Tautges takes a look at “How to Write a Good Sympathy Card.” View Article…

It may help if we start with a good biblical definition of joy.  I believe that we can define joy as a delight in God and his provision that transcends circumstances.  Anyone in the world can be joyous when things are going well but only the Christian has reason to be joyous in the face of adversity.  This only becomes possible when we view the relationship between joy and suffering from God’s perspective.  Consider these words,

There is no greater sin than to hate and kill the Son of God. There was no greater suffering nor any greater innocence than the suffering and innocence of Christ. Yet God was in it all. “It was the will of the Lord to crush him” (Isaiah 53:10). His aim, through evil and suffering, was to destroy evil and suffering (emphasis mine).“With his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Is not then the suffering of Jesus Christ meant by God to show the world that there is no sin and no evil too great that God, in Christ, cannot bring from it everlasting righteousness and joy? The very suffering that we caused became the hope of our salvation. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

John Piper, For Your Joy, p. 26.

Think on these things this week as we prepare to Sunday to examine how we can have joy in a painful world. If you’re interested you can read the whole booklet here.

If you’re looking for a Bible reading plan for the new year, Justin Taylor’s list would be a great place to start.  You should be able to find something that works for you in one of these.

Read it here!