GOD’S OWN HOUSEHOLD

We come to the beating heart of Paul's letter. A passage which brings us to his primary purpose for writing as well as the main idea he wants Timothy - and us - to lay ahold of. Above all else, 1 Timothy has been written so that we’d know how to act at church. Just why is it so important how we act at church? Because of what the church is! The very household of God, a pillar and buttress of the capital "T" truth. But what makes the church what it is? What is the essence of the truth we're called to promote and protect? What creates the house, gives it life, and brings us home to God? It's the gospel we're founded upon. The "mystery of godliness" and grand story of the Savior's work. Any home is only as good as its foundation is strong. Therefore, to be a church that builds today and lasts long we must be a church that remains firmly fixed on the gospel of Christ. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

HOW DO THEY BLESS THE CHURCH?

In the church, God has purposed to extend his shepherding care to his people through his people. To perform this work, he's appointed pastors as a gracious gift for his people. But 1 Timothy 3:8-13 teaches us that they're not the only gift that he has to give. Pastors cannot do it alone. In the building project that is the church, he enlists special servants called deacons to support the ministry of pastors, strengthen the life and unity of the body, and meet the needs of members in tangible ways. Our Chief Shepherd's "earthly ministry was mighty in both word and deed (cf. Luke 24:19), and he continues this two-pronged approach [in the church] today in large part through the offices of elder and deacon. As elders serve with words and deacons serve with deeds, Christ’s holistic ministry carries on" (Matt Smethurst).

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT OF HIM?

Christ is the head of the household that is the Church - the Chief Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (Eph 5:23; 1 Pet 2:25). But in his grace he gives qualified leaders to communicate his care, equip his people, and build up his house. These leaders are called pastors. But what is a pastor? What should he do? What kind of man must he be? Listen to the sermon to learn more about what you should expect from your pastors and be encouraged by our Great Shepherd’s good design for our church.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

LIVING OUT GOD’S GOOD DESIGN

In 1 Timothy 2:8-15, we come to what's arguably the most-controversial topic in all the letter as far as our contemporary culture is concerned. In the ordering of God's household, Paul has particular instructions for how men and women should act at church. According to God's word, our sexuality is significant. Our gender matters. It's not a social construct, but a creational one. Because of this, we must reject the bad beliefs that men and women are basically interchangeable, that biblical gender roles are ancient norms we were always meant to move on from, and that our growth in Christ is gender-neutral. In order to build up God's house, we must be who he created and redeemed us to be. We must embrace the masculine and feminine strengths bound up in God's good design. We must seek God's grace for the particular masculine and feminine temptations we face.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

BECAUSE PRAYER ENTRUSTS THE SHAPE OF THE CHURCH & THE WORLD TO GOD HIMSELF

Is there anyone you don’t want to pray for? Anyone you believe is beyond the bounds of God’s reach? Or, maybe, any areas in the world or segments of society you believe God just won’t work in? 1 Tim 2:1-7 confronts our bad beliefs, cynical outlook, and hard hardheartedness by calling us to pray for all kinds of people - no matter how different they are from us. In order for the household of God that is Cross of Grace to be a healthy one, we must not only pray for those “inside the house,” but “outside” as well. For every kind of neighbor. Every kind of sinner. Every sort of person - from the homeless neighbor, to the difficult co-worker, all the way to the president of the United States. We can and should pray for all kinds of people because God desires to save all kinds of people through the person of Jesus Christ.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

GET READY TO CELEBRATE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

This Sunday, we have the privilege of witnessing 2 individuals mark the beginning of their lives in Christ. We’ll gather around as they profess their faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, signify their union with Christ’s own dying and rising, and enter into a new life in a new family which starts now and carries on forever. Christ is advancing his Kingdom, and baptism is proof. Come join us as we celebrate his saving grace, fellowship together, and enjoy lunch as a church.

BAPTISM IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE THIS SUNDAY AT THE LEE HOME

If you’re interested in being baptized or have questions about baptism, please contact one of our pastors.

CHALLENGING ONE ANOTHER WITH THE TRUTH

Every house has house rules. God's house is no exception. There are some actions, attitudes, and beliefs that just don't belong. Because of this, there comes a point when certain members become so disruptive to the life in the house that they need to be removed from the house. This was the case with Hymanaeus and Alexander. Two members of Timothy's church who had devoted themselves to "different doctrine," "made shipwreck of their faith," and were beginning to upset the faith of others as well. In order to protect those who remained inside, prevent the name of Christ from being put to shame, and, as counter-intuitive as it might seem, to promote the restoration of these men, Paul put them out of the church and "handed them over to Satan" (1:20). To our modern ears, this might seem harsh, extreme, or unloving. But God's word recalibrates our thinking and makes it clear that it's not loving to allow someone to continue in error. It's not kind, compassionate, or Christlike to never challenge one another with the truth. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

WHO REIGNS FOR OUR GOOD

Last Sunday, we heard that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim 1:15). This week, we saw what he endured for those sinners to be saved. Guest preacher, Jackson Tran, from Sovereign Grace Church of Orange, opened up the Gospel of John and took us into the last leg of Jesus' journey to the cross. Though he was, and is, and shall forever be the King of kings, he was rejected by lesser authorities, passed over by the crowds, and condemned to bear a criminal's cross. And he did it all for us. He came to die. He revealed the true way back to the God we'd rebelled against. He wields his unrivaled authority for the unparalleled good of his people. He is the King who reigns from the cross. And this might not always be the kind of king we want, but it’s the King we need. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

WE’RE SINNERS SAVED BY GRACE

If the Apostle Paul had a “daily affirmation,” it wouldn’t be, “I deserve to be loved,” “I am worthy,” or “I am enough.” It would be “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Tim 1:15). His testimony in 1 Tim 1:12-17, shouts “I am unworthy” from start to finish. While this might seem harsh, offensive, discouraging, or downright unpleasant, it’s true. And not only is it true, but it’s good. Because the extent to which we recognize ourselves to be sinners is the extent to which we’ll rejoice in Christ our Savior.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

GET READY TO CELEBRATE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

On Sunday, May 18th, we have the privilege of witnessing men and women publicly identify with Jesus Christ as they profess their faith in his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. They’ll do this through their baptism. That sacrament through which we confess with our mouths what we’ve believed in our hearts. Demonstrating outwardly what was true of us inwardly from the moment we believed. Signifying our union with Jesus in his dying and rising. Marking the end of our old life in sin and commemorating our entrance into a new life with Christ and his people - which carries on forever.

BAPTISM IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE on 5/18 AT THE LEE HOME

If you’re interested in being baptized or have questions about baptism, please contact one of our pastors.