Responding to Academic Oppression, Pastor David Doster...October 11 2015

Responding to Academic Oppression

(Colossians 2:6-15)

I. Tides of challenge                                                                                                   (Introduction)

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."                       2 Corinthians 10:3-5

II. Shifting tides                                                                       (Historical Perspective)

     A. Impactful decisions

     B. Early days

     C. Messengers of change

III. Navigating change                                                             (Colossians 2:6-15)

     A. Loyalty to Christ

     B. Captive to deceitful spirits

     C. Sufficiency in Christ

IV. The gospel settles it!                                                          (Application)

Exposing Idols and Strongholds in the 21st Century... Pastor David Doster September 27 2015

Exposing Idols and Strongholds in the 21st Century

(Selected Passages)

I. Gateway of grace and truth                                                                             (Introduction)

II. History of deception

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that theLord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”                                                                                                                                            (Genesis 3:1)

   And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."  Genesis 2:16-17                                                                                    

 

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him."   john 3:17

III. Overcoming captors                                                                                             (Application)

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."                                                                         C.S. Lewis

 

September 20 2015..."Gateway of Grace and Truth," Pastor David Doster

"Gateway of Grace and Truth"

I. Convinced to the core                                                                                       (Introduction)

II. Church growth formula

     A. Grace and Truth

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."                                                                 1 John 1:1, 4

     B. Penetrating paradox

III. Gospel foundation

    A. Redeems us

    B. Reforms us

    C. Rewards us

IV. Unleashing grace and truth                                                                                          (Application)

September 13 2015; Lecherous Longings.... Pastor David Doster

"Lecherous Longings"                

I. Raging war                                                                                               (Introduction)

II. God's gift

     A. Goodness of God

     B. Our good and God's glory

        1. Oneness before God

        2. Procreation of children

        3. Mutual delight

III. Lust: the idolatry of sex

     A. Disordered desire

“Lust is a disordered and idolatrous desire that is both enslaving and destructive.”                                                                                                                                                                Brian Hedges

     B. Idolatrous desire

     C. Enslaving desire

        1. Perverted will                                                                                                                                                  2. Disordered lust                                                                                                                                              3. Habit                                                                                                                                                                  4. Compulsion

     D. Destructive desire

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”   1 Corinthians 6:9-10

IV. Rescue for sinners

September 6 2015, Tasty Idol, John 6... Pastor David Doster

Tasty Idol (John 6)

I.  Great meals                                                                                                             (Introduction)

“The sin of gluttony goes beyond overeating. It reflects a disordered appetite and flabby thinking about what the Scriptures teach about food."                               Pastor David

II. Gift of food

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.”    Genesis 1:29

 

“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”            Genesis 9:3

“You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart."         Psalm 104:14-15

III. Idolizing food

     A. Missed the significance

“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”                                              Philippians 3:18-19

     B. Too much importance

     C. End in itself

     D. Potential enslavement

IV. Bread of Life                                                                                                             

V. Looking forward to the feasts of all feasts                                                            (Application)

“If you don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great. God did not create you for this. There is an appetite for God. And it can be awakened. I invite you to turn from the dulling effects of food and the dangers of idolatry, and to say with some simple fast: This much, O God, I want You.”                                 John Piper

August 30, 2015, Releasing the Grip of Greed, Pastor David Doster

Releasing the Grip of Greed

I. Covetous culture                                                                                     (Introduction)

 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."                                                                                        Exodus 20:17

II. Subtle enslavement

     A. Root sin

     B. Disordered love

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you."                                            Hebrews 13:5

     C. Deceptive and destructive

III. Cultivate contentment

     A. Content

     B. Learned

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”

                                            Philippians 4:11b-12

     C. Christ

IV. Abiding release

August 23, 2015, "Sloth... No Viable Pulse" Pastor David Doster

“Sloth… No Viable Pulse”

(Selected Passages)

I. Growing fever of apathy                                                                                                (Introduction)

II. What is sloth?

     A. Unpacking its essence

“The sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, loves nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive only because there is nothing it would die for.”

                                                       Dorothy Sayers

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”

                                   1 Corinthians 13:11

     B. Characteristics

          1. Carelessness

          2. Unwillingness to act

          3. Halfhearted effort

         4. Downcast countenance

 

III. Treacherous realities

 

     A. Hindered growth

     B. Inclined to quit

     C. Never neutral

     D. Dry seasons

IV. Dig down deep                                                                                                              (Application)

 

Do not quit

Resist resignation

Do not resort to artificial stimulants

Stand fast in your pursuit of assurance

Embrace the promises of God

 

 

August 16, 2015, "Anger... Quelling its Fury" Pastor David Doster

“Anger… Quelling its Fury”

(Selected Passages)

I. Dangerous contagion                                                                                                     (Introduction)

II. Diagnosis of anger

     A. Be angry

     B. Difficulty in discerning

        1. Hot anger

        2. Cold anger

III. Dissecting idolatrous desire

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.”                                                                                                                                                              James 4:1-2

IV. Finding His release