King’s Grant Online

Live in Christ - 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

On August 15, Pastor Ken continues his summer teaching series on overcoming discouragement with this message, Live in Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:10-12.

Discovering the “what”, “how”, and “why” of living in Christ. 

The "WHAT" – (an explanation, v. 10) – The issue of identity (‘in Christ”)

• Person
• Practice
• Purpose
• Promise

The "HOW" – (an application, v. 11) – The issue of certainty (‘in Christ”)

• There will be sufferings
• There will be opportunities for the life of Christ to be seen

The "WHY" – (a manifestation, v. 12) – The issue of ministry

• death in us
• life in you

Recognize the Power of God - 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

 

On August 8, Pastor Ken continues his summer teaching series on overcoming discouragement with this message, Recognize the Power of God, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9.

 

Overview:

 

1. Resolves
2. Results

 

3 RESOLVES THAT MOVE YOU PAST DISCOURAGEMENT (“the great paradox”)

 

• WEAKNESS
• TREASURE
• POWER

 

4 DEFINITE RESULTS (“but not”)

 

• hard-pressed but not crushed
• perplexed but not in despair
• persecuted but not abandoned
• struck down but not destroyed

 

Prioritize Spiritual Understanding - 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

On August 1, Pastor Ken continues his summer teaching series on overcoming discouragement with this message on Prioritizing Spiritual Understanding, from 2 Corinthians 4:5-6.

Introduction. “The Emphasis upon Knowledge”

• A Spiritual Knowledge
• An Understanding of What God has Accomplished in Christ
• An Expression of the Relationship

 Two Necessary Responses:

• A Proper Perspective of Self
• Prioritizing Spiritual Understanding - “truly knowing”

“We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Christ’s sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)

A Proper Perspective of Self - (“why Paul said what He said”):

• A Defense (the human context)
• An Understanding that Leads to Surrender
• The Motive of Selflessness

Prioritizing Spiritual Understanding - (the Journey of the Knowledge of Him):

• Under His Lordship
• Self Out of the Way
• Growing in the Knowledge of His Glory

Lessons Learned Along the Way

• Lesson #1 – Apathetic Knowledge
• Lesson #2 – the Mind of Christ
• Lesson #3 – God Alone Brings the Change

Focus on the Glory of Jesus - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6

On July 25, Pastor Ken continued his summer teaching series on overcoming discouragement with this message challenging us to focus on the glory of Jesus, from 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6.

Today, Ken made 2 observations:

The Human Context

1. Paul’s Critics
2. Paul’s Calling
3. Paul’s Concession
4. Paul’s Conclusion
5. Paul’s Community

A Personal Reality (What do we see?)

1. We see the Gospel
2. More significantly, we see the Light of the Gospel
3. Ultimately, we see the Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ

Emphasize the Truth - 2 Corinthians 4:2

On July 18, Vince continued Ken’s summer teaching series on OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT, called, Beyond the Faint Heart, from 2 Corinthians 4:1-16… with a message called, Emphasize the Truth:

1. Paul’s Place
2. Preaching Problems
3. Paul’s Power

^{Vince discusses Paul's teaching on the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in 2 Corinthians 3:1-18, including the veil and fading glory.}

Realize What We Have Received - 2 Corinthians 4:1

On July 11, Ken began his new summer teaching series on OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT, called, Beyond the Faint Heart, from 2 Corinthians 4:1-16...

Realize What We Have Received

A Human Context:

1. Paul had opportunity for discouragement.
2. Paul experienced success in the face of discouragement.

Our Practical Application:

1. How can we not lose heart?
2. Why should we not lose heart?

5 Facts of Our Freedom in Christ - John 8:31-36

On July 4, Ken talked about 5 Facts of Our Freedom in Christ from 5 different passages in the New Testament. Let's view our country and patriotism from God's perspective when it comes to acceptable worship of our Lord and Savior.

Freedom that is Absolute - John 8:36 - “If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed”

Freedom in Knowing God Personally - 2 Corinthians 3:17 -  “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom”

Freedom from the Bondage of Sin. - Galatians 5:1 -  “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke slavery.”

Freedom of Belonging (Community) - Galatians 5:13-14 - “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’." 

Freedom to Enter God’s Presence - Ephesians 3:12 - “In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” 

Self-examination - Part 3 - Hebrews 12:1-2

On June 27, Pastor Ken concludes his mini-series on self-examination, focusing on Hebrews 12:1-2.

QUESTION #5 - Is Jesus the true orientation of your life, or have you reduced Him to only one expression of your life’s commitments?

Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

1. Contextually – how do we fix our eyes? - Let's go back one verse for some context. Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
2. Symbolically - “run with perseverance” – the narrative of an athlete
3. Practically - We keep our eyes fixed on the One who is our goal (no room for competing allegiances)

Questions Review:

• Q1 - Are you seeking God with all your heart?
• Q2 - Which best defines your life: striving to be like Christ or being in Christ? 
• Q3 - Are you spiritually hungry and thirsty, or are you easily satisfied with brief moments of religious involvement?  
• Q4 - Are you as privately committed to Jesus as much as it appears you are publicly.
• Q5 – Is Jesus the true orientation of your life, or have you reduced Him to only one expression of your life’s commitments?  

Summary question - Which perspective do you live by most: going to church or being the church?  

Self-examination - Part 2 - Matthew 5:6, Galatians 2:20

On June 20, pastor Ken delivered part 2 of the Self-examination Series called, 5 Questions for Self-Examination (5 questions we are afraid to ask ourselves.)

Review the first two questions from June 13...

Q1 – Are you seeking God with all your heart?

Q2 – Which best defines your life: striving to be like Christ, or being in Christ?

Question #3.

Q3 – Are you spiritually hungry and thirsty, or are you easily satisfied with brief moments of religious involvement? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Question #4. 

Q4 – Are you as privately committed to Jesus as much as it appears you are publicly?  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Self-examination - Part 1 - Psalm 105:1-4

On June 13, at our outdoor service, pastor Ken began a new mini-series on questions we must ask ourselves for proper self-examination. Today are questions 1 and 2 ...

Q1 - Do you truly seek God with all your heart? (Psalm 105:4) Repentance, turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14) Seeking God’s face. Recognizing our own sin. Worship, look to him. Let’s not just assume that we seek after God with all our heart. Three specific ways we are called to seek God:

a. With all our heart represents a single focus (Psalm 105:1), no competition of other affections in our life, seek God’s face is to seek his presence, left our first love (Revelation 2:4), our love of Jesus can fade and transform into works – busy serving Jesus without true affection,

b. With all your heart represents a covenant relationship (Psalm 105:2), “all of his wonderful works” among his people, all his faithfulness to us, constantly in his presence, not just in a 10-minute devotional time, checking off our task list,

c. With all your heart focuses on his name (Psalm 105:3), name represents his character and nature, drawn to him observing his greatness, manifested in the face of Christ, not seeking out of routine or participation, drawn to his beauty and majesty, seeking God alone (Thomas a’Kempis)

Q2 - Which best defines your life? Striving to be “like Christ” or “in Christ”? (2 Corinthians 5:17) We will never fully be like Christ until we’re with him. Our status – we are a new creation, right with God, brand new in Christ, not partially new, defined by status rather than striving. Seven facts of a life living in Christ…

1. New Creation – the purpose of the cross.
2. Our sin debt is cancelled – our brokenness caused by sin has been restored.
3. Christ’s righteousness has been substituted for our own failed attempts to be right with God.
4. Our faith… in the work of Christ. Faith placed in him, not a righteousness of our own.
5. Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is in us transforming us.
6. The lordship of Christ over our life – we live for him, our ultimate affection – living in response to him.
7. Our hearts surrendered to his love – that keeps us surrendering every day.