LAST WORDS: Truely I say to you ...

Here are some nuggets I took away from a sermon delivered by Pastor John Fuller of Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Sunday, March 3rd, 2013

Luke records two of Jesus' LAST WORDS in chapter 23 when he recounts the dialog between Jesus and the two thieves who hung with him on the cross. The first are His prayer to God on behalf of mankind when he looked over the crowd gathered at the foot of his cross and said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (34) The second LAST WORDS are found further down the passage when he responds to one of the thieves request, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (42) Jesus' response, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”; the topic of today's sermon. (43)

Before addressing the comments of the thief, Pastor John first reminded us of the role of the cross in God's redemptive plan for mankind:

 "The primary purpose of the cross is Jesus' response to us and our sin."

 

Serving the Lord by Serving Others: 4 Examples and a Warning

These are some nuggets I took away from a sermon delivered by Pat Campbell (Missionary to Peru) at Calvary Baptist Church in Manning, Iowa on February 24th, 2013.

Biblical Definition of Service:

• Romans 6:17-18 - service flows out of a heart of obedience
• Ephesians 2:10 - service is what we were created to do
• Titus 2:14 - those who serve do so with a peculiar zealousness; it is passionate in nature

4 Examples from Colossians 4:7-17

1. Aristarchus (4:10) he had joint ownership a a fellow prisoner, co-worker
2. Tychicus (4:7) was a confidant, he was trustworthy, a brother in the Lord, he delivered letters of Paul to the churches
3. Epaphras (4:12) he was called "one of you", "laboring for you", a teacher and prayer warrior
4. Archippus (4:17) was reminded that the ministry he performed was not from Paul, and not his own, but rather was a ministry from the Lord. It was God he was serving as he served Paul.

1 Warning

• Something happened to Demas he started out as a "fellow worker" (Philemon 23-24)  but ended up deserting Paul (2 Timothy 4:9-11). Why? He fell in love with the things of the world.