5.1K
Downloads
324
Episodes
First Alliance Church Weekly Sermons
Episodes
Saturday Apr 04, 2020
Saturday Apr 04, 2020
“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”
John 9:5 (Part 2)
I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).
VII Seventh, sickness is a work of the kingdom of darkness; healing is a work of the Kingdom of light (9:5).
This verse makes 4 very important points:
A. First, Jesus came to this world to be our light.
B. Second, healing is a work of the kingdom of _____________.
1. If we looked at all the occasions in the Gospels when Jesus healed the blind, we would be doing Bible study for ____________.
2. Some argue, not without reason, that Jesus actually spent _______ time _____________ than doing anything else.
3. If healing was a major component of the work of the Kingdom of Light 2,000 years ago, it must ___________ be a major component of the work of the Kingdom of Light ___________.
4. What we need to state clearly is how _______________ the work of “faith healers” is from what Jesus did.
For example:
a. Jesus healed ________________ individuals. There is a tremendous difference between “___________ healing” and _____________ healing.
1. Divine healing is healing that is carried out by __________ in accordance with his ________. “Faith healing” is healing instigated by a human being who claims to somehow be the _________ of God in healing people.
2. Divine healing depends on the power of _________, while “faith healing” is said to depend on ___________.
b. Jesus never asked a person to stand and give a testimony about a healing that had _______ _______ happened.
c. The people Jesus healed never had to worry about their sickness _____________________.
d. Jesus never attempted a healing which was __________________.
e. Jesus never ____________ or asked for ___________ to heal people.
5. There is a d________ s__________ to the ministry of healing. Or, there is a dark side to the _________________________ ministry of healing.
6. For everything that is real and genuine, there will always be the ______________________.
7. We should not put our hope in ______________; we should put our hope in __________.
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”
John 9:5 (Part 1)
I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).
VII Seventh, sickness is a work of the kingdom of ______________; healing is a work of the Kingdom of ___________ (9:5).
This verse makes _________ very important points:
A. First, Jesus came to this world to be our ____________.
-This is a truth which John has already made clear in several passages:
1. First, John ____:______. At the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus used a dramatic o__________ l___________ to declare the truth that he came to this world to bring light.
2. Second, John ___:___-___. John says it was the life of Jesus, the way he lived with ________ and the way he lived with ________, that brought light to us.
3. Third, John ___:___-___. John begins his Gospel thinking about the light of the world, but that is not his only concern. Beginning in verse 9 John describes what we call the i_______________, or the Son of God coming to this earth as a ___________ __________.
4. In the beginning of John the evangelist is concerned primarily about two things:
a. First, how Jesus, who is the Word of God, is our _________.
b. Second, how Jesus ________ to this world, born as a man so that he could bring his light into the world.
5. But notice this: in the account of the healing of the blind man, Jesus himself make the __________ two points that John did in the beginning of the Gospel.
6. This means that what Jesus is doing in John chapter nine is not superfluous or un_______________.
7. Jesus healed because that _____ who _______ is and that is what he came to this earth to ______.
Saturday Mar 28, 2020
Saturday Mar 28, 2020
Beautiful One
Verse 1
Wonderful so wonderful is Your unfailing love
Your cross has spoken mercy over me
No eye has seen no ear has heard
No heart could fully know
How glorious how beautiful You are
Chorus
Beautiful One I love You
Beautiful One I adore
Beautiful One my soul must sing
Verse 2
Powerful so powerful Your glory fills the skies
Your mighty works displayed for all to see
The beauty of Your majesty awakes my heart to sing
How marvelous how wonderful You are
Bridge
You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
'Cause nothing on earth is as beautiful as You
Tim Hughes
© 2002 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
For use solely with the SongSelect®. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 1631159
Saturday Mar 28, 2020
Saturday Mar 28, 2020
“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”
John 9:4 (Part 3)
I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).
A. The first thing this verse tells us is that we are living in the day.
B. Second, this verse says that we are workers with Jesus.
C. Third, ministering healing to the sick is a responsibility of the ______________.
1. Many see the church’s calling as solely and totally the work of _______________ proclamation.
2. The church is called, not just to tell people about Jesus, but to _______ what Jesus did, and here we see him ______________.
a. I say that for two reasons – the first reason is _______________.
1. Jesus didn’t only say that we would repeat his m_______________, but he said that we would repeat his a_______________.
2. In fact, Jesus said we would do _________ than he did.
3. We also know that the ministry of healing did not stop when Jesus _______ the earth – It continued after he returned to heaven.
4. Then, in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the gifts of the Spirit and he identifies one of those gifts in verse 9 as “gifts of _____________.”
b. The second reason I say healing belongs to the ministry of the church is ________________.
1. There was a time in history when the only place to find health care for the body was the _____________.
2. Many Christians, without realizing it, are better defenders of __________ than we are defenders of the __________.
3. We believe that the ___________ is what is crucial to life and the __________ is only a throw-away item.
4. Why did Jesus spend as much time healing people as he did preaching the Gospel? Because Jesus knew the creation account, and he knew God saw the physical body as something “_______ _________.”
5. It is amazing how so many Christians have completely d_______________ the care of our physical bodies from the care of our soul.
-This accounts for two things:
a. First, it explains why many “conservative Christians” seem to have so little interest in the issue of __________ _________.
b. Second, this explains why “liberal Christians” seem to have so little interest in _____________ healing.
D. Fourth, this verse teaches us that the ministry of healing is _________________.
1. There are two indications of urgency in this verse:
a. First, Jesus says “we _________ do the work.”
b. Second, Jesus says n________ is coming and when this happens all work will s___________.
2. Sick people need for the church to be ___________ as they face the darkness of disease and disability.
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”
John 9:4 (Part 2)
I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).
A. The first thing this verse tells us is that we are living in the day.
B. Second, this verse says that we are ____________ with Jesus.
1. We would expect Jesus to say, “______ must do the work of him who sent me.”
a. At first glance we might expect that the “we” is Jesus, the ______ and ______, the Father.
b. That makes ______ sense because “him who sent me” is clearly God the Father and so Jesus would be saying, “God the Father and I must do the work which God the Father sent us to do.”
2. If the “we” isn’t Jesus and God, who is it? The “we” is Jesus and his ______________. Why do I say that?
a. It is to his followers that Jesus is ____________.
b. It was the followers of Jesus who _________ his attention to the blind man’s situation in the first place.
c. Jesus knew his followers were ________________ him into the blind man’s circumstances, and it is to them that Jesus says, “We must do the work of him who sent me.”
3. The disciples followed Jesus as ___________ following a ___________. They learned from him how to minister to _______ ___________.
4. Like the disciples we ________ _______ needy people to Jesus by bringing them to him in ___________.
5. We, _______ and ______, are the “we” who join Jesus in his work.
6. The truth is, all of our life is _____________. God has directions for us _________ day of our life.
7. When we encounter the sick, we have a calling to be agents of ______________ to them.
8. When believers tell us about their illnesses, not only can we pray for them, we can also encourage them to follow the instructions found in ______________ _____:_____-_____.
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing” John 9:1-38
What does John 9 teach us about sickness?
I First, sickness gets our a____________ and it gets the a______________ of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us un_________________ (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by a__________________ (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best t________________ or c__________________ explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a g_________ r_____________, so that God can be g______________ in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help _______ people find _____________ (9:4).
A. Jesus’ answer stopped the disciples from b____________ anyone for the man’s blindness, but Jesus has much m________ to say about the subject of sickness.
1. The disciples wondered who was to blame for the man’s blindness, but Jesus expands the discussion to what should be done for those who are s___________ and d________________.
2. Jesus begins, “As long as it is d_________....”
B. The first thing this verse tells us is that we are living in the __________. How can we say we are living in the day?
1. First, in verse 4 Jesus says while night is coming, it is ______ here yet.
a. Yes, there is darkness around us, but we can c___________ to look to the light.
b. We are not to be focused on the ___________ darkness – we are to be s____________________ focused on the light that is all around us now.
2. Second, we know we are living in the day because Jesus defines “night” as the time when “no one can work,” but this is a time when we, believers in Jesus, ________ working.
a. The church is at work today d______________ the good news of the Gospel.
b. And, the church is ministering God’s grace to those who are burdened by s___________, f_________________ needs, and f_________.
3. Third, in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 Paul shows us that it is day because people can _____________ to believe in Jesus.
a. This is day because a person can h_____ the Gospel and can d___________ to believe in and follow Jesus.
b. Because this is day, and because the light is now shining, _______ are invited by Jesus himself to trust in him and to become his c_______________.
4. Finally, this is day, not only because Jesus is now i___________ people to him, but because his children are now r_____________ his glory.
a. By reflecting Jesus, you and I make it _______ for the people around us.
b. We do that, not by b___________ light, but by r______________ the light of Jesus.
Saturday Mar 14, 2020
Saturday Mar 14, 2020
Pastor Kevin's message to the congregation re: closing due to COVID-19
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
“Anatomy of an Illness”
John 9:1-38
Last Sunday we said that John 9 gives us an anatomy of illness. An anatomy is a study of how something works. This chapter shows us how sickness works and how people respond to it. What does John 9 teach us about sickness?
I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by _________________________ (9:2).
A. Alienation comes from the word alien which means s____________ or o____________. Alienation is the act of ____________ someone into a stranger or an “other.”
B. There are _________ forms or kinds of alienation that we see in Genesis:
1. First, there is ________________ alienation.
a. Why was there a tree of the knowledge of good _____ evil? Why didn’t God __________ allow them to know good?
b. To be good you must be able to choose good, but you cannot choose good unless you can also choose __________.
c. Because of their sinful choice, Adam and Eve were __________ from the Garden of Eden, which was the place where God used to walk and talk with them.
2. Second, there is __________________ alienation.
-What does social alienation do? It creates ______________; it leads to crime and war and hatred and racism and acts of violence, and it endangers our _____________.
3. Third, there is _________________ alienation.
a. Before the fall Adam and Eve didn’t fight animals or eat animals – instead they ______________ the animals.
b. Now, because of sin we are alienated from the ___________ kingdom and from the _____________ earth, and that alienation has made us __________.
4. Lastly, there is _______________ alienation.
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
“Anatomy of an Illness”
John 9:1-38
In 1979 Norman Cousins wrote a groundbreaking book entitled, Anatomy of an Illness. He wrote that book because he was suffering from a connective-tissue disease which had crippled him and he had to try and make sense of it. We may not be at the mercy of such a disease, but sickness is so common that we must make sense of it. The Bible can enable us to do that.
I John devotes an entire chapter to the healing of a blind man so that we can see an illness in all its d________________.
A. You and I cannot afford to see the healing miracles of Jesus in a shallow and superficial way because sickness is a terrible _____________ to everyone.
B. Two decades ago the U.S. ranked eleventh in terms of life expectancy, but we have now fallen to __________-_____________ in the world.
C. There is another statistic we cannot ignore: the mortality rate, and the mortality rate still stands at ___________ percent.
II What do we learn about sickness in this chapter?
A. First, sickness gets our __________________ (9:1).
1. The disciples noticed the blind man, but what John emphasizes in verse one is that Jesus noticed ___________.
2. Why would Jesus go to the trouble of noticing another sick person? Because that was his God-given _______________.
3. According to Isaiah, the work of Jesus in saving us from sin, and his work as healer, are somehow ____________ _________________.
4. That means that just as Jesus could not help but notice s____________, so also he could not help but notice the s___________.
B. Second, sickness makes us ________________________ (9:2).
1. The disciples needed an explanation for the man’s blindness that could keep them from seeing him as a _____________.
2. We are so threatened by the idea that terrible imperfection can exist in our world that we try to find someone to ____________.
3. We feel that something is wrong with a world in which people are born blind and children die of cancer, and the Bible says we are _________.
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
“The Discipline of Fasting” (Conclusion) Matthew 6:16-18
For the past month we have been looking at how we can grow in our relationship with God by using the spiritual discipline of fasting. In Matthew 6 Jesus first emphasizes the negatives of fasting and then he focuses our attention on the positives of fasting:
I First, fasting allows us to reach up to God as whole persons.
II Second, fasting gives us a concrete way to express repentance.
III Third, fasting provides a way to share in the sufferings of Christ.
IV Fourth, fasting helps our prayer.
V Fifth, fasting helps us overcome __________________.
A. Practicing the discipline needed to say “No” to our appetite for _______ gives us practice in saying “No” to __________ appetites.
B. If we cannot say “No” to our appetite for food, what makes us think we can say “No” to _______ other appetite?
VI Sixth, fasting helps us express our _____________.
____________ of the first _________ times fasting is mentioned in the Bible, it is an expression of grief for someone’s death.
What do we typically do when someone is grieving? We bring them ___________.
VII Seventh, fasting provides a way to respond to the ________ of others.
A. Since fasting is a blessing that comes from God, we can expect that it will benefit more than just _________________.
B. The early church practiced fasting in the light of __________ ____.
VIII Lastly, fasting provides a means to experience God in a ______ ______.
A. If our appetite for physical food, comfort, or pleasure is not under control, it will _______________ our spiritual appetite.
B. Occasional fasting from ___________ can enable us to hear _______ things from God.