First Alliance Church ATL

05-13-18 Kevin Goins - The Tests of Motherhood

05-06-18 Kevin Goins - Eating Flesh and Drinking Blood

“Eating Flesh and Drinking Blood”   John 6:53-59

Christians make it our practice to regularly participate in the Lord’s Supper. Some of us, however, have been doing this for so long that we may have forgotten what it is all about. The text we’re looking at today gives us a refresher course in the theology of the Lord’s Supper.

I First, we need to begin by pointing out that not all Christians see the Lord’s Supper in the s____ w____.

A. T________________
B. R________ P___________, or Consubstantiation
C. R_______________ view

II Second, we need to point out that despite what some churches and traditions believe, John 6:53-59 is not focused on the Lord’s Supper.

A. First, John does not ____ what he could easily have _____ to show us that this text is about the Lord’s Supper.

1. John, of all the Gospels, gives ___ account of how Jesus established the Lord’s Supper.

2. John uses language in chapter six which, though it s________ a bit like Lord’s Supper language, is _____ the language of the Lord’s Supper.

B. Second, a focus on the Lord’s Supper would not fit the c_________ of the chapter.

C. Third, a reference to the Lord’s Supper at this point in time would be an a__________.

III Third, what can we learn about the Lord’s Supper from John six?

A. First, when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we r__________ how Jesus gave his life to take away the sin and shame of the world.

B. Second, when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we a_________ that Jesus’ death is what gives us life _____ and life _________.

C. Third, when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we p________ that we will stay with Jesus no matter what.

04-29-18 Kevin Goins - Rejection, Part 2

“Rejection” (Pt 2)  John 6:33-51
No human being finds rejection easy.  Imagine, then, what it was like for Jesus.  He was the long-awaited Messiah, but when he came to this earth most of the nation of Israel rejected him.  The
early church was also challenged because while some accepted their preaching, others rejected it. As the church today we must also deal with rejection.  But while Jesus experienced rejection, he was not undone by it. What did Jesus know that enabled him to keep going in the face of rejection?
I Jesus knew that it is all about God (6:37).
II Jesus knew that while it’s all about God, he also has a crucial part to play, and Jesus knew he would do his part (6:38-40).
III Jesus knew that even those who reject him cannot u___________ God’s plan, because God is in c________ (6:41-51)

A. This is predestination:  God acts to bring into his Kingdom those he c_________.

B. What can we say about predestination?  
1. Both the w______ and the t__________ are found in the Bible.
a. Ephesians __:___-___
b. Romans __:___-___

2. It is a controversial topic both i________ and o________ the church.
a. Calvin said we become believers by God choosing ___.
b. Arminius said we become believers by our choosing ________.

3. It’s a topic which people tend to discuss with a great deal of p_________.

4. It’s a topic people tend to argue about without fully exploring the c_____________ of their position.

5. It’s a topic that does not fit with our western fondness for “_______/____” statements of truth.

C. So, the Bible teaches both that we are _________ by God and that we have ______ ______.  How can both be true?

04-22-18 Kevin Goins - Rejection

“Rejection”  John 6:33-51

No human being finds rejection easy. Imagine, then, what it was like for Jesus. He was the long-awaited Messiah, but when he came to this earth most of the nation of Israel rejected him. The early church was also greatly challenged in knowing that the one they preached as God’s answer to the needs of people was refused by many. The rejection of Jesus was hard to explain then and it is hard for us to explain today. Fortunately, the Bible has an answer.

I. We need to understand that the rejection of his people ______ Jesus. But Jesus was not u__________ by their u__________.
-What did Jesus know that enabled him to keep going the face of unbelief? What did he know that gave him victory in facing rejection?

II. First, Jesus knew that it is all about _______(6:37).
-What do I mean by “It’s all about God?”
A. First, it’s all about God because God is the s_________ of everything.
B. Second, it’s all about God because God is the one who is responsible for everyone who c_______ to f_______ in Jesus.
1. Jesus says, “Those who come into the Kingdom are God the
Father’s g_______ to ____.”
2. This is a different emphasis than we are used to: Normally we talk as if salvation is all about ________.
3. Everyone who belongs to God’s Kingdom is a l______ g______ given by the Father to the Son.
C. Third, it’s all about God because we are not responsible for m________ people come to Jesus.
-There are two things here that are important:
1. First, Jesus takes the l______ of ______ off our backs.
2. Second, Jesus directs our attention to the f________.

III. Second, Jesus knew that what God asked him to do, he w________ do, and n_________ could keep him from it (6:38-40).

 

04-15-18 Kevin Goins Understanding the Crazy Crowd

“Understanding the Crazy Crowd”  John 6:22-32

It is often difficult for Christians to understand the crowd that surrounds us as we go about our daily lives. On the one hand, the crowd seems to be getting less religious, but, on the other hand, there is evidence that the crowd is getting more religious, though not according to the way that word used to be understood. But as hard as it is to understand the crowd today, it was just as unfathomable in Jesus’ day. Nevertheless, Jesus understood the crowd and in our text this morning he gives us insight which helps us understand our crowd. What does Jesus teach us about the crowd?

I First, not everyone in the crowd is on the s_______ s______ (6:22-24).

A. So, we have two groups: Jesus, with his own s______ crowd of twelve disciples, and the h______ crowd which had been fed by Jesus.

B. Crowds today are not only separated spiritually, we are p_________ in other ways as well.

II Second, not everyone is even a_______ the right q____________ (6:25).
-If the crowd had asked the right question, it could have r________ c_________ the way they looked at Jesus.

III Third, not everyone w________ the same thing (6:26-27).

IV Fourth, not everyone is willing to b_______ the t_______ when they encounter it (6:28-31).

V Fifth, not everyone wants a p__________ S__________ (6:32).

04-08-18 Jon Ritchey 1 Peter 2:9

I Peter 2:9

Jon & Jessie Ritchey are with the Christian & Missionary Alliance working within Latin America in the area of training and sending Latin American cross-cultural missionaries. They work closely with the National Missions Directors throughout the region, participating in camps, conferences and workshops. 

04-01-18 Kevin Goins - A Basic Guide To Easter

“A Basic Guide to Easter”

I “Easter,” bunnies, eggs, and candy

A. The word Easter comes from Astra or Ostara who was the goddess of the d_________.

-But Christians do not worship the dawn and so there is a much better name for our holiday: R____________ S___________.

B. Bunnies and eggs belong to the s___________ celebration of Easter.

C. Candy is _______ because Resurrection Sunday is a f_______ d_______ and feasting means f_______.

II What is this day really all about? It all comes down to four words:

A. The first word is _______ and there are two things about _______ we must understand:

1. God e_______; God is r______.

2. God is __________ in every way.

B. The second word is ___________. The problem is that while God cannot shut his eyes to wrong, we have ____ done wrong.

C. The third word is __________. Jesus died for us, which means two things:

1. God is not o___________ our suffering.

2. God, in Jesus, has already endured the punishment that all our wrongs deserve and, because he has done that, he can grant f___________ to all who ask.

D. The last word is ________.

03-25-18 Dunked on Palm Sunday

“Dunked on Palm Sunday!”   Luke 19:35-40

Today is Palm Sunday, but it is also the day for several believers in Jesus to obey the Lord by being baptized. So, should we talk about Palm Sunday and the triumphal entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem? Or, should we talk about baptism and what being baptized means for believers in Jesus? Why not do both? This is really not as strange as it sounds because Palm Sunday and baptism actually have a lot in common:

I First, both Palm Sunday and baptism involve people who b__________ in ________.

A. At the triumphal entry no one had to m________ up; no one had to meet any q_____________.

B. “In Acts no one who decided to follow Jesus a___ or s_______ before being baptized.”

C. The Bible says we can never measure up; we can never p_______ we are w________ of being baptized, because baptism is not for worthy people.

II Second, both Palm Sunday and baptism attract people who claim that Jesus is the ________ of their l______.

A. When you take off your j______ and place it on a dirty road so someone can walk on it without getting their shoes dirty, you are saying that that person means e________ to you.

B. The disciples of Jesus took off their c_________ and made out of them a s_________ for Jesus to ride on.

III Third, both Palm Sunday and baptism can stir up c____________.

IV Lastly, both Palm Sunday and baptism are meant for c____________ v____________.

 

03-18-18 The Terrible Problem That No One Has, part 2

“The Terrible Problem That No One Has” (Part 2)   Proverbs 1:8-19

Surveys show that when asked, “What is the most urgent problem in the U.S. today?” people respond, “Greed.” Strangely enough, however, when asked about their own personal problems, people rarely, if ever, talk about greed. The book of Proverbs lets us know that greed is not only everyone’s problem, it is a potentially deadly problem. Fortunately, Proverbs has some help for us. How does Proverbs help us with greed?

I First, Proverbs teaches us that if we want to escape the slavery of greed, we need to be taught how in the family (1:8-9).

II Second, Proverbs teaches us that if we want to escape the slavery of greed, we need to avoid the w_______ kind of relationships o___________ the home (1:10-14).

A. First, this warning isn’t just about greed itself, it is about being t_________ by p__________.

1. Notice, in verses 8-14 two very different kinds of i_________ are given to the person Solomon is addressing.

2. Notice, the invitation from the gang has two promises
intended to attract new members: the two promises are m________ and e___________.

3. Notice, the invitation from the gang is focused, not on g________ something to the one who joins, but on g______ something from him.

B. Second, this warning is e___________. Why?

1. Solomon’s target audience, on this occasion, is an a_______.

2. Solomon wants us to know that greed is d__________.

C. Third, this warning is r_________.

03-11-18 The Terrible Problem that No One Has

“The Terrible Problem That No One Has”  Proverbs 1:8-19

Surveys show that when asked, “What is the most urgent problem in the U.S. today?” people respond, “Greed.” Strangely enough when asked about their own personal problems people rarely talk about greed. It seems that greed is the predominant national problem which affects no one individually. This strange phenomenon calls for some study and that is what we want to do today.

I. Greed is a significant problem for human beings because greed is energized by d___________.

A. Greed is a big problem, not just for Americans, but especially for American _______________.

B. Not only does greed keep its presence secret, there are few sins that so c______________ our heart as greed.

II. How does Proverbs help us with greed?

A. First, Proverbs teaches us that if we want to escape the slavery of greed, we need to be taught how in the ________ (1:8).

B. There are two questions we need to ask of this verse:
1. First, Who is the t________?
a. The fact is, children learn from mother and father how to view ________ and __________.
b. Here is the challenge: not only is it necessary for ____ parent to have their greed under control, ____ must have their greed under control.
2. Second, who is the r___________ of the teaching?

III. Look at how Solomon reinforces his teaching: he says we have a powerful i___________ for listening to our parents (1:9).

IV. Solomon says, “Parents, we must inoculate our children against the world’s lie that money, and what it can buy, will make life w_______ l________.”