King’s Grant Online

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.

Five Ways Communion Impacts Our Lives - 1 Corinthians 11:17-28

On June 6, Pastor Ken talked about the Lord's Supper, from 1 Corinthians 11:17-28.

5 ways The Lord’s Supper Impacts our Lives.

1. Togetherness (v. 18, “when you come together”)
2. Thankfulness (v. 23, “The Lord Jesus, on the night that He took the bread, when He had given thanks, He broke the bread”)
3. Remembrance (v. 24, 25, “do this in remembrance of me”). 
4. Proclamation (v. 26, “you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes”). 
5. Self-examination (v. 28, “a man ought to examine himself”). 

Conversations - Christian Community - 1 John 1:3

On May 30, Pastor Ken's conversation was from John regarding Christian Community, from 1 John 1:3.

Conversations - with John …about Community - 1 John 1:3

Criteria for Community. We are a:

1. witnessing community. 
2. spiritual community. 
3. doctrinally sound community. 

Conversations - Personal Commitment - Romans 12:1-2

On May 23, Pastor Ken talked about a conversation with Paul that speaks to us today, regarding Personal Commitment, from Romans 12:1-2.

Perspectives to Refresh our Personal Commitment:

1. "Therefore” (the big picture).
2. “I urge you by the mercies of God” (the highest motivation).
3. “to present yourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship” (the depth of service).

Conversations - Leveling Self-Importance - Luke 22:24-30

On May 16, Pastor Ken talked about the disciples desire for position in this message called, A Conversation about Greatness - Luke 22:24-30

3 distorted perspectives of self

1. precedence (Luke 22:24)
2. position (Luke 22:25)
3. preference (Luke 22:26-27)

3 blessings that keep you from the distortion

1. relationship (Luke 22:28)
2. covenant (Luke 22:29)
3. kingdom fulfillment (Luke 22:30)

Conversations - Raising the Next Generation - Luke 6:40

On May 9 (Mother's Day), in Ken's absence, Scott continues our teaching series on Conversations with Jesus with this message about The Greatest Teacher – Jesus’ conversation about raising the next generation.

• Mission – Acts 1:8
• Obedience – John 14:21
• Teaching – Matthew 7:28-29
• Humility – Mark 10:45
• Evangelism – Mark 3:13-14
• Relationships – Luke 24:14-15

Conversations - Honoring Jesus Above All - Mark 14:1-9

On May 2, Ken continues his Conversations with Jesus series, this week from Mark 14:1-9, with a message called, "Honoring Jesus Above All."

3 episodes

1. honor given
2. value lost
3. reprimand came

3 common tensions

1. good / best
2. for us / for Him
3. popular thought / Truth

Conversations - Defeating Darkness - Mark 5:1-17

On April 25, Ken continues his Conversations with Jesus series with a message called, Defeating Darkness – Jesus’ conversation with demons.

1. Enter the Circumstance (3 episodes)
   1. Episode 1 (Mark 5:1-5). The Reality of Darkness
   2. Episode 2 ((Mark 5:6-10). The Presence of Jesus
   3. Episode 3 (Mark 5:11-13). The submission of darkness to Jesus
2. Embrace the Conversation (3 truths for our present moment)
   1. The enemy (Satan) means to destroy
   2. The presence of Christ always defeats the influence of the enemy.
   3. The goodness and mercy of God compels man to be with Christ.