First Presbyterian Church Pascagoula, MS

FOUNDATION Series: Alive in Christ

2012-02-12T09:03:00.001-08:00

On Sunday, February 12, Rev. Matt Mitchell continued his Foundation Series with a message entitled, "Alive in Christ," based on Romans 6:1-14. This message focused on the process of sanctification.

To listen to this message, click the following link:
Alive in Christ

Rev. Mitchell concluded this message with seven questions to help clarify how sanctification impacts one's life:

Are you increasing in your knowledge of God and the things of God? Colossians 1:10
Is your faith increasing? Luke 17:5
Do you have hope in the Lord and is that hope increasing? Romans 15:13
Is your desire to do sinful things diminishing as your desire to do Godly things increasing? 1 Corinthians 7:1
Is your love for others increasing? 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Are you growing in your service and work to the Lord? 1 Corinthians 15:8
Is your desire to see other people know Christ? I Corinthians 9:19

Romans 6:1-14

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Romans 6

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

¹ What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ⁵ If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Footnotes:

Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless

UNITY: In Light of Our Current Congregational Concerns

2012-02-05T18:28:00.000-08:00

From Rev. Matt Mitchell regarding the message on February 5, 2012: "This sermon came about as a result of our Session’s recommendation that our church leave the PC(USA) and seek to affiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. I have been preaching through the book of Romans and was planning on finishing Chapter 5, but felt led to talk about what true Unity in the church could and should look like. This sermon is focused on our specific church and our situation, but I believe it also holds truths for the church universal as it seeks to come to grips with a growing secularization and a desire for unity at the cost of truth."

To listen to this important message, click on the following link:
UNITY: In Light of Our Current Congregational Concerns

John 17:20-26

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³ I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

FOUNDATION Series: The Final Proof of Love

2012-01-29T08:32:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, January 29, Rev. Matt Mitchell continued the Foundation message series, with this Sunday's message based on Romans 5:6-11.

To listen to this message, simply click on the following link:
The Final Proof of Love

Romans 5:6-11

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

FOUNDATION Series: "Why We Can Rejoice"

2012-01-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, January 22, 2012, Rev. Matt Mitchell continued the FOUNDATION series with a message, Why We Can Rejoice, based on Romans 5:1-5.

To listen to this message, click on the following link:
Why We Can Rejoice (Romans 5:1-5)

Romans 5:1-5

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Romans 5

Peace and Joy

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Footnotes:

Romans 5:1 Or let us
Romans 5:2 Or let us
Romans 5:3 Or let us

FOUNDATION Series: The Picture of Faith

2012-01-15T19:09:00.000-08:00

Rev. Matt Mitchell continued his Foundation series from Romans on January 15 with a message entitled The Picture of Faith, based on Romans 4:13-25.

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The Picture of Faith

Romans 4:13-25

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹³ It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ¹⁴ For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, ¹⁵ because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^[b] ¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ²² This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ²³ The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Footnotes:

Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5

FOUNDATION Series: Justified by Faith

2012-01-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, January 8, Rev. Matt Mitchell returned to his Foundation series with a message entitled "Justified by Faith," based on Romans 4:1-12.

To listen to this message, click on the following link:

Justified by Faith

Romans 4:1-12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Romans 4

Abraham Justified by Faith

¹ What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? ²If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. ³ What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[a] ⁴ Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. ⁵ However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. ⁶ David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
⁷ “Blessed are they
   whose transgressions are forgiven,
   whose sins are covered.
⁸ Blessed is the man
   whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”^[b]
⁹ Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. ¹⁰ Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! ¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. ¹² And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Footnotes:

Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2

ADVENT SERIES: Angels We Have Heard On High

2011-12-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Day worship service included the conclusion of The Drama of Christmas series by Rev. Matt Mitchell with a message entitled "Angels We Have Heard On High."

To listen to this message, click on the following link:

The Drama of Christmas: Angels We Have Heard On High

Luke 2

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to his own town to register. ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. ²² When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”^[b]), ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”^[c]
²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss^[d] your servant in peace.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹ which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
³³ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
³⁶ There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸ Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
³⁹ When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹ Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” ⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Footnotes:

Luke 2:11 Or Messiah. “The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “the Anointed One”; also in verse 26.
Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2,12
Luke 2:24 Lev. 12:8
Luke 2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss
Luke 2:37 Or widow for eighty-four years

Matthew 2

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a]from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east^[b] and have come to worship him.” ³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’^[d]”
⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt

¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” ¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”^[f]
¹⁶ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”^[g]

The Return to Nazareth

¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” ²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Footnotes:

Matthew 2:1 Traditionally Wise Men
Matthew 2:2 Or star when it rose
Matthew 2:4 Or Messiah
Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:9 Or seen when it rose
Matthew 2:15 Hosea 11:1
Matthew 2:18 Jer. 31:15

ADVENT SERIES: An Inconvenient Child

2011-12-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

During services on Christmas Eve, Rev. Matt Mitchell continued The Drama of Christmas series with a sermon entitled "An Inconvenient Child," returning to Matthew 2 and Luke 2 for the scripture reading.

To listen to this message, click the following link:

The Drama of Christmas: An Inconvenient Child

Matthew 2

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

The Escape to Egypt

The Return to Nazareth

Footnotes:

Matthew 2:1 Traditionally Wise Men
Matthew 2:2 Or star when it rose
Matthew 2:4 Or Messiah
Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:9 Or seen when it rose
Matthew 2:15 Hosea 11:1
Matthew 2:18 Jer. 31:15

Luke 2

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

The Shepherds and the Angels

Jesus Presented in the Temple

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

Footnotes:

Luke 2:11 Or Messiah. “The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “the Anointed One”; also in verse 26.
Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2,12
Luke 2:24 Lev. 12:8
Luke 2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss
Luke 2:37 Or widow for eighty-four years

ADVENT Series: The Drama of Christmas

2011-12-11T18:52:00.000-08:00

Rev. Matt Mitchell continued his Advent Series of messages on December 11 with the focus scripture Matthew 2:1-12.

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An Audience With a King

Matthew 2:1-12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east^[b] and have come to worship him.” ³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’^[d]”
⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Footnotes:

Matthew 2:1 Traditionally Wise Men
Matthew 2:2 Or star when it rose
Matthew 2:4 Or Messiah
Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:9 Or seen when it rose

ADVENT Series: The Drama of Christmas

2011-12-04T08:57:00.000-08:00

Rev. Matt Mitchell continued his ADVENT Series, "The Drama of Christmas," on Sunday, December 4, with the focus scripture Luke 2:8-20.

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While Shepherds Kept Their Watching

Luke 2:8-20

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

The Shepherds and the Angels

Footnotes:

Luke 2:11 Or Messiah. “The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “the Anointed One”; also in verse 26.

ADVENT - The Drama of Christmas: "O Little Town . . ."

2011-11-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

Rev. Matt Mitchell started the Advent Season on November 27 with a message entitled The Drama of Christmas: "O Little Town . . ." Accompanying scripure readings are from Matthew 2:1-8 and Luke 2:1-7.

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"O Little Town . . ."

Luke 2:1-7

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

Matthew 2:1-8

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

Footnotes:

Matthew 2:1 Traditionally Wise Men
Matthew 2:2 Or star when it rose
Matthew 2:4 Or Messiah
Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2

THANKSGIVING Service - Where Are the Nine?

2011-11-20T20:04:00.000-08:00

Our special Thanksgiving worship service held the evening of Sunday, November 20, 2011, included Rev.Matt Mitchell's message, "Where Are the Nine?" based on Luke 17:11-19. Do you remember to be thankful for the blessings in your life?

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Where Are the Nine?

Luke 17:11-19

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Ten Healed of Leprosy

¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy^[a] met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” ¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Footnotes:

Luke 17:12 The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin—not necessarily leprosy.

FOUNDATION Series - Righteousness Revealed

2011-11-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

Rev. Matt Mitchell continued the Foundation Series based on Romans on Sunday, November 20, 2011.

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Righteousness Revealed!

Romans 3:21-31

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,^[a] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. ²⁷ Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. ²⁹ Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰ since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. ³¹ Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Footnotes:

Romans 3:25 Or as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away

FOUNDATION Series: All Together Now

2011-11-13T09:58:00.000-08:00

Rev. Matt Mitchell continued in Romans 3 with a message entitled "All Together Now" on Sunday, November 13.

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All Together Now

Romans 3:9-20

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

No One Is Righteous
⁹ What shall we conclude then? Are we any better^[a]? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:   “There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹ there is no one who understands,
   no one who seeks God.
¹² All have turned away,
   they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
   not even one.”^[b]
¹³ “Their throats are open graves;
   their tongues practice deceit.”^[c]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”^[d]
¹⁴ “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”^[e]
¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶ ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.”^[f]
¹⁸ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”^[g]
¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Footnotes:

Romans 3:9 Or worse
Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7
Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1

FOUNDATION Series: Why Bother?

2011-11-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

Rev. Matt Mitchell returns to the FOUNDATION Series with "Why Bother?", based on the scripture text Romans 3:1-8.

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Why Bother?

Romans 3:1-8

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Romans 3

God’s Faithfulness

¹ What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? ² Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. ³ What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? ⁴ Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”^[a]
⁵ But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) ⁶ Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? ⁷ Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” ⁸ Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved.

RICH Stewardship Series: The Eternal View of Wealth

2011-10-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Rev. Matt Mitchell wrapped up the RICH Stewardship Series on Sunday, October 30, with a final look at 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

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The Eternal View of Wealth

1 Timothy 6:17-19

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

RICH Stewardship Series: Dollar Cost Living

2011-10-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

The RICH Stewardship Sermon Series was continued by The Rev. Matt Mitchell on October 23, 2011, again based on 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

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Dollar Cost Living

1 Timothy 6:17-19

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

RICH Stewardship Series: Where's Your Lean?

2011-10-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Matt Mitchell continued the RICH Stewardship Series focus on October 16, 2011, again looking at 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

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Where's Your Lean?

1 Timothy 6:17-19

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

RICH Stewardship Series: Congratulations!

2011-10-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

During October, the Rev. Matt Mitchell's breaks from the Foundation series on Romans to concentrate on the importance of stewardship. The series is based upon 1 Timothy 6:17-19. The first sermon in the RICH series was on Sunday, October 9, 2011.

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Congratulations!

1 Timothy 6:17-19

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

FOUNDATION Series: The Dangers of Religion

2011-10-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Matt Mitchell continued his Foundation series based on the book of Romans on October 2, 2011, exploring Romans 2:17-19.

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The Dangers of Religion

Romans 2:17-29

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

The Jews and the Law

¹⁷ Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; ¹⁸ if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹ if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴ As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”^[a] ²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. ²⁶ If those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? ²⁷ The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the^[b] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
²⁸ A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ²⁹ No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.

FOUNDATION Series: No Escape

2011-09-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

The fifth installment in the Foundation sermon series was on September 25, 2011, by the Rev. Matt Mitchell. The scripture lesson for this day was Romans 2:1-16.

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No Escape

Romans 2:1-16

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Romans 2

God’s Righteous Judgment

¹ You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? ⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”^[a] ⁷ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.
¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, ¹⁵ since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

FOUNDATION Series: The Abandoning of God

2011-09-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

The fourth installment of the Rev. Matt Mitchell's Foundation sermon series wraps up the end of chapter one of Romans.

The Abandoning of God

Romans 1:24-32

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
²⁸ Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

FOUNDATION Series: First: the Bad News . . .

2011-09-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Matt Mitchell continued his Foundation sermon series on September 11, 2011, basing his sermon on the scripture lesson Romans 1:18-23.

First: The Bad News

Romans 1:18-23

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

God’s Wrath Against Mankind

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

FOUNDATION Series: I Am Not Ashamed . . .

2011-09-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Matt Mitchell continued the series on Romans with his second installment on Sunday, September 4, 2011.

I Am Not Ashamed . . .

Scripture Lesson: Romans 1:8-17

Romans 1:8-17

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. ⁹ God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. ¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,^[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”^[b]

FOUNDATIONS: Introduction to Romans

2011-08-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Matt Mitchell began a sermon series taking the congregation verse-by-verse through Romans on Sunday, August 28.

Foundations: Intro to Romans

The scripture lesson to go along with this sermon is Romans 1:1-7.

Romans 1:1-7

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Romans 1

¹ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit^[a] of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God^[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. ⁶ And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.