Week of 9/13/26 and Men's Breakfast
Dear Church Family,
As I sit down to write this there is a flurry of activity outside my door of folks getting ready for the RCTC Gala tonight. Then later today will be meetings preparing for Awana and Bible Studies and other things as well. It's great to have these things happening, but if I am not abiding in Jesus: looking to him, trusting him, listening to his prompting about the right heart and response in each situation, then I am missing it. We would be missing it. But these are works that we believe God has called us to, seeing those bound set free, discipling our children, meeting around God's Word to learn and grow in knowing Jesus and walking in his way. So we seek him and his heart in the work and for the people he sets before us.
Brothers and Sisters, abide in Christ as you go through today through prayer, thinking about his words, and obeying them. Meet with a brother(s) or sister(s) in the faith this week to look for and encourage the self-sacrificing and God-honoring work of sanctification in each other.
As we read together this Sunday in Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Berean Enjoyment
This week we're exploring what we believe the Bible teaches about sanctification.
Start by reading the statement and going through the verses that follow. How or where do they tie in with the statement? What questions do they raise?
Sanctification
We believe that every believer has been set apart with a perfect standing before God. As believers yield themselves to the Holy Spirit, they will experience spiritual growth in holiness but not perfection in conduct in this life. Believers will battle the world, the flesh and the devil, but living by faith in Christ results in transformation of the heart and authentic righteous living. Future rewards are determined primarily by what motivates Christian behavior. Those whose behavior is an outflow of finding their identity in Christ will be rewarded. (John 15:1-8; Rom. 6:13-19, 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 3:8-15, 10:13; 2 Cor. 3:16-18; 5:10; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph 2:1-3; Phil. 1:6, 3:12; 1 Thes. 4:3; Heb. 10:10)
For small groups - if time allows after discussing the statement above, look at one of the following sections of questions.
Being holy(perfect) in Jesus
Why is it important that we understand sanctification comes from being perfect before God through the salvation Jesus gave us?
If we had to add to what Jesus has done to be acceptable to God would we ever have assurance about his ability to get us to heaven? What would that say about the adequacy of what Jesus did for us?
What do you think John Piper means when he says 'sanctification is not debtor's prison'?
Temptation
Read Matthew 4:1-4(or through 11 if you have time.)
You see an example of Jesus resisting the world, physical desires, and Satan for the sake of obedience to the Father.
What does it look like for you to yield to the Holy Spirit? Can you think of a similar example in your own life of a temptation and choosing to follow God's Word?
Transformation
We have been saved, but still battle our old desires and are susceptible to deception about what is important from Satan and the world that is in his power.
How does believing(faith in Christ) lead to transformation of what we desire and do?
How do you recognize/discern the difference between what is of Jesus and what is of the world?
Do you remember a time when you believed something was true or important and then you realized it was not true or not important? Describe that process.
How does that compare with Romans 12:1-2.
Motivation and Rewards
What are some motivations for sanctification(holiness) mentioned in 1 Peter 1:3-5, 16-21?
What is the connection in heart motivation, what we worship and what we are rewarded for? Look at 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and Matthew 6:19-20.
Why should we seek rewards? What is the ultimate reward?
Here is a great article with other links looking at the ideas of reward vs salvation.
For personal reflection.
How does knowing you are completely justified by Jesus' loving sacrifice in your place 1) calm your fears, 2) motivate you to obey him today?
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Cor. 9:15)
Resources
Two devotionals that do a good job of pointing towards growing in sanctification based on what Jesus has done is New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp and My Utmost for His Highest - Oswald Chambers
We have many good books in our library on sanctification - Pursuit of Holiness - Bridges, Pursuit of God - Tozer, Desiring God - Piper, and many more! Check them out : )
In Christ,
Pastor Phillip
As I sit down to write this there is a flurry of activity outside my door of folks getting ready for the RCTC Gala tonight. Then later today will be meetings preparing for Awana and Bible Studies and other things as well. It's great to have these things happening, but if I am not abiding in Jesus: looking to him, trusting him, listening to his prompting about the right heart and response in each situation, then I am missing it. We would be missing it. But these are works that we believe God has called us to, seeing those bound set free, discipling our children, meeting around God's Word to learn and grow in knowing Jesus and walking in his way. So we seek him and his heart in the work and for the people he sets before us.
Brothers and Sisters, abide in Christ as you go through today through prayer, thinking about his words, and obeying them. Meet with a brother(s) or sister(s) in the faith this week to look for and encourage the self-sacrificing and God-honoring work of sanctification in each other.
As we read together this Sunday in Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Berean Enjoyment
This week we're exploring what we believe the Bible teaches about sanctification.
Start by reading the statement and going through the verses that follow. How or where do they tie in with the statement? What questions do they raise?
Sanctification
We believe that every believer has been set apart with a perfect standing before God. As believers yield themselves to the Holy Spirit, they will experience spiritual growth in holiness but not perfection in conduct in this life. Believers will battle the world, the flesh and the devil, but living by faith in Christ results in transformation of the heart and authentic righteous living. Future rewards are determined primarily by what motivates Christian behavior. Those whose behavior is an outflow of finding their identity in Christ will be rewarded. (John 15:1-8; Rom. 6:13-19, 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 3:8-15, 10:13; 2 Cor. 3:16-18; 5:10; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph 2:1-3; Phil. 1:6, 3:12; 1 Thes. 4:3; Heb. 10:10)
For small groups - if time allows after discussing the statement above, look at one of the following sections of questions.
Being holy(perfect) in Jesus
Why is it important that we understand sanctification comes from being perfect before God through the salvation Jesus gave us?
If we had to add to what Jesus has done to be acceptable to God would we ever have assurance about his ability to get us to heaven? What would that say about the adequacy of what Jesus did for us?
What do you think John Piper means when he says 'sanctification is not debtor's prison'?
Temptation
Read Matthew 4:1-4(or through 11 if you have time.)
You see an example of Jesus resisting the world, physical desires, and Satan for the sake of obedience to the Father.
What does it look like for you to yield to the Holy Spirit? Can you think of a similar example in your own life of a temptation and choosing to follow God's Word?
Transformation
We have been saved, but still battle our old desires and are susceptible to deception about what is important from Satan and the world that is in his power.
How does believing(faith in Christ) lead to transformation of what we desire and do?
How do you recognize/discern the difference between what is of Jesus and what is of the world?
Do you remember a time when you believed something was true or important and then you realized it was not true or not important? Describe that process.
How does that compare with Romans 12:1-2.
Motivation and Rewards
What are some motivations for sanctification(holiness) mentioned in 1 Peter 1:3-5, 16-21?
What is the connection in heart motivation, what we worship and what we are rewarded for? Look at 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and Matthew 6:19-20.
Why should we seek rewards? What is the ultimate reward?
Here is a great article with other links looking at the ideas of reward vs salvation.
For personal reflection.
How does knowing you are completely justified by Jesus' loving sacrifice in your place 1) calm your fears, 2) motivate you to obey him today?
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Cor. 9:15)
Resources
Two devotionals that do a good job of pointing towards growing in sanctification based on what Jesus has done is New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp and My Utmost for His Highest - Oswald Chambers
We have many good books in our library on sanctification - Pursuit of Holiness - Bridges, Pursuit of God - Tozer, Desiring God - Piper, and many more! Check them out : )
In Christ,
Pastor Phillip
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