Sermon Notes: "An Inheritance That Can Never Perish"

A Stable Word in an Unstable World

“An Inheritance That Can Never Perish”

Patuxent Presbyterian Church

California, Maryland

Sunday 3 May 2020

Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Scriptures: Job 19:23-27; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5; 1 Peter 1:3-9

Stability: from Latin ‘to stand’ = to be firm, constant, steadfast, fixed; lit. ‘to be able to stand.’

The source of this ability to stand is the promise of “an inheritance that can never perish.”

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

Q: How do we gain this stable inheritance in an unstable world?

1.      This inheritance involves a relationship that provides stability – Job 19:25.  

“I know that my redeemer lives…”  Eternal life is available only through Jesus Christ: John 17:3. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Q: Do you know Him?

This inheritance involves a deposit that provides stability – 2 Corinthians 5:5. “… God … who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

This Holy Spirit enters our lives when we are ‘born again,’ ‘born anew,’ ‘born from above.’ “Unless one is born … of the Spirit, they cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus – John 3:5

Q: In what ways are you experiencing the Holy Spirit in your daily walk with Jesus?

This inheritance involves an affection that provides stability – 1 Peter 1:8-9.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

And the source of our affection for the Lord? “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

Q: Affection grows over time: how are you cultivating affection for Jesus in your life?

MONDAY MORNING

Each day this week spend your quiet time reflecting on each of these three

 themes and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how they are operating in your life.

Easter Sermon Insert: "Things We Cannot See"

THINGS WE CANNOT SEE

Patuxent Presbyterian Church

California, Maryland

Sunday 12 April 2020

Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

EASTER SUNDAY SERMON NOTES

Old Testament: Job 19:23-27               

Epistle: Acts 7:54-60                    

Gospel: John 20:24-29

All of humanity lives in a context of things we cannot see:

There is a trinity of unseen traits essential to meaningful human existence:

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

The unseen brokenness within us manifests in ways that work against this trinity of traits, a brokenness that hurts us and others: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality….idolatry….hatred….anger….selfishness….envy….” Galatians 5:19-20

But there are also the unseen broken remnants of God’s image in all persons which, when  healed by the Holy Spirit, yield the unseen fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control….”  Galatians 5:22-23

And what about brilliance and the incredible invisible ability to create out of nothing great works of art, music and technology, first ‘unseen’ within the person who created them?

So it should not be difficult at all to segue from the vast realm of unseen things with which we are familiar to spiritual things with which we are unfamiliar. Indeed, is faith any different than hope or love in its constitution and function in our lives?  

In our Easter Gospel lesson the risen Lord appeared to the incredulous disciples who, though in a locked room, found Jesus standing in their midst. Here’s the gist of their dialogue: Thomas:  “…Thomas…declared, ‘Unless I see…I will not believe.” Jesus: “’…blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”

In our Old Testament Lesson Job, knowing he will someday die, declared what he would see:

“’I know that my Redeemer lives…And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh shall I see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes…’”   

In our Epistle Lesson Stephan cried out as he was dying, stoned to death by his detractors:

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ’Look,’ he cried, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”  Acts 7:55-56

MONDAY MORNING

At the end of our lives as we are dying we will see what we have believed and trusted in.

What will you see?

Offering Forgiveness to Those Who Have Hurt Us - Why? Sermon Notes

"Offering forgiveness to those who have hurt us – Why?"

Patuxent Presbyterian Church

Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Matthew 18:15-17                           

Matthew 6:9-15                              

Genesis 50:15-21

What is to be our initial response to those who have hurt us? Luke 6:27-28

“’…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…’”

Q: For whom do you need to pray who has mistreated you?

How many times are we to forgive those who have hurt us? Matthew 18:21-22

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” 

Q: Who do you need to keep on forgiving?

Why do I need to be the one who goes to the one who hurt me and offer forgiveness – shouldn’t they come to me? Matthew 18:15

“”If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.’”

Q: Do whom do you need to go and offer forgiveness by discussing with them how they have hurt you?

What can an offer of forgiveness confrontation look like?

Genesis 50:15-21

-          Sometimes a fear of vengeance – v15

“’What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’”

-          Sometimes a request for forgiveness – v17

“’Now please forgive the sins of the servants of God of your father.’”

-          Forgiveness in the context of God’s sovereignty – v19

“’Do not be afraid. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…’”

Offering forgiveness to those who have hurt us – Why? Matthew 6:12,14-15

“’Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us…For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.’”   

Q; Reflective questions:

Where in our own life, your own history, are you having trouble finding forgiveness for yourself?  

Write the names of people you haven’t forgiven. How does this relate to your answer above based on Matthew 6:12,14-15?

THIS WEEK

Each day spend time on the questions in this outline – ask the Holy Spirit to help you know what the right answer before God is for you, and to give you a humble and willing heart to do what you know HE is showing you to do. You won’t regret it.

“The only day we ever have to forgive each other in is this one.”

Lewis Smedes, 1921-2002,  Forgive and Forget © 1984