God, Humans, Hatfields and McCoys

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
June 25, 2023

2 Corinthians 5:18-21: All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Sermon Outline

1. Hatfields and McCoys

• Who were they?

• The Civil War

• The hog incident

• Roseanna and Johnse

• Other incidents

2. Our distance from God is like the Hatfields vs. McCoys in that there is real hostility from both sides

• Hostility from humans toward God

• God at odds with humans

3. How our distance from God is unlike the story of Hatfields and McCoys

• H&M hated each other for the other's wickedness; humans dislike God for his righteousness

• Because of his love, God's desire is to restore friendship with us

Benediction

To every follower of Jesus

Colossians 1:21-22: Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

To every not-yet follower

Revelation 22:17: Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen

The Life of a Genuine Christian

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-17
June 18, 2023

2 Corinthians 5:11-17: Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Sermon Outline

1. The life of a genuine Christian — particularly of a genuine minister — is fueled by the fear of God

2. The life of a genuine Christian — particularly of a genuine minister — is fueled by a sense of Christ's love

• Text speaks of Christ's death as a substitutionary one

• Result of Christ's death: We sense his love and change how we live

3. The life of a genuine Christian — particularly of a genuine minister — will sometimes be attacked

• Said directly elsewhere in 2 Corinthians

• Hinted at in this passage

• Paul's goal in defending himself

4. A genuine Christian — particularly a minister — should be defended by other Christians who know him well

• It's right for a minister to defend/explain himself

• It's right for Christians to defend other Christians — particularly ministers — when those Christians are slandered

• Only a change in the heart by Christ will give Christians the insight and courage to act this way

Christians on Judgment Day

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
June 11, 2023

2 Corinthians 5:9-10: So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Sermon Outline

1. Christians live holy lives to bring pleasure to Christ

2. Christians also live holy lives for another reason

• There will be a day of reckoning

• Judgment can be negative or positive

• Christians, safe and secure in heaven, will enjoy more/fewer rewards based on how they have lived

3. Christians lead holy lives to avoid loss and enhance their own joy in heaven

• Appearing before the judgment seat of Christ

• Who will appear?

• In what manner will we appear?

• Purpose of appearing

• What will be the general standard of judgment?

• What will be the particular standard of judgment?

4. Some observations

• Our presence in heaven is based 100% on God's grace and mercy

• Our status in heaven will reflect our faithfulness and diligence

• Faithful Christians will be rewarded appropriately. Less faithful Christians, though not punished, will forfeit rewards

• Neither our presence nor our status in heaven is based on merit

• Do you struggle with a besetting sin?

• David's big sins

• Perhaps the tears God will wipe away will be tears shed on Judgment Day

• Regarding those above you in heaven

• Regarding those below you in heaven

• Final thought

Departed Christians: What Do They Experience?

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
June 4, 2023

2 Corinthians 5:1-8: For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Sermon Outline

1. Our future bodies will be far superior to our current bodies

• Current bodies are likened to mere tents

• Future bodies are likened to buildings

• What we were created for

• Applications

2. A seeming problem

• When do we receive these bodies?

• Until then, what do we do in the meantime?

• Some commentators, troubled by this answer, propose some "creative" ideas

3. Solution to the problem

• Our groaning is positive, not negative

• Paul expresses longing, not horror, over heaven

• Why talk about "nakedness"?

• God's whole plan is this...