CLOSED EYES AND CHILD SACRIFICE: Leviticus 20-1-5

OUTLINE

I. The LORD has much to say concerning child sacrifice—which in our day is called abortion (v. 1-q)

II. Child sacrifice is particularly evil because it is the slaughtering of a blessing the LORD has given (v. 2b)

III. Child sacrifice invokes both the physical and spiritual wrath of God (v. 2b-3a)

IV. Child sacrifice is an attack on the worship of God and glory of God (v. 3b)

V. The LORD has something to say to you who close your eyes or remain idle concerning child sacrifice happening in your land (v. 4)

VI. Closed eyes or idleness concerning child sacrifice invokes God’s wrath upon you and your family (v. 5a)

VII. Child sacrifice is principally an act of spiritual idolatry (v. 5b)

END: Your only hope to escape the wrath of God is the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin! Turn from your sin, looking to Christ in faith, and live!

PHILIPPIANS: the surpassing worth of knowing Christ

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi is laser-focussed on “the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:8). In this letter, he reminds the Philippians who Jesus is, what He has done, and what that means for those who belong to Him. Paul is pouring his heart out while sitting in a prison cell for the sake of the gospel. To think—one of his most encouraging epistles was written while in chains!

In Philippians Paul presents Jesus as the one who makes us saints (1:1), works in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure (2:13), and as the one who will bring us to completion when He returns (1:6) having secured our citizenship in heaven (3:20-21). In other words, He has justified us, is sanctifying us, and will one day glorify us to the glory of God the Father.

But that is not all Philippians contains. In this heartfelt correspondence, Paul explicitly reveals the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus personally. He proclaims knowing Jesus is better than being free from prison or free from suffering (1:13, 29). Being like Christ is superior to being selfish or apathetic (2:3,12). Cherishing the Lord exceeds clinging to self-righteousness or obtaining worldly gain (3:3-8). Being accepted by Christ Jesus the Lord is more desirable than living in the past with regret or living now for the praise of men (3:12-19). The great promise of Philippians is this: if you know Jesus personally you have everything you need for everlasting happiness. You can suffer, hunger, be brought low or in great need—and yet joyfully face it all through Christ who strengthens you (4:12-13).

Jesus accomplished all of this by emptying himself of his glory, taking the form of a servant, and submitting to death on a cross for our sakes (2:7-8). Great was the cost and great are the promises he bought! May God use this study of Philippians to broaden our understanding of who Jesus is, grow our desire for holiness, strengthen our hands to serve one another, and deepen our love for Jesus as the one of surpassing worth.

  1. SLAVES AND SAINTS: Philippians 1:1-5
  2. HE WILL BRING IT TO COMPLETION: Philippians 1:6-8
  3. PAUL’S PRAYER: Philippians 1:9-11
  4. THE ADVANCE OF THE GOSPEL: Philippians 1:12-14
  5. IF CHRIST BE PROCLAIMED, WE MUST REJOICE: Philippians 1:15-18a
  6. TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN: Philippians 1:18b-26
  7. LIVE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL: Philippians 1:27-30
  8. COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT: Philippians 2:1-4
  9. CHRIST’S EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY: Philippians 2:4-11
  10. WORK, FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU: Philippians 2:12-13
  11. LIGHTS IN THE WORLD: Philippians 2:14-18
  12. FAITHFUL LABORERS (pt.1): Philippians 2:19-24
  13. FAITHFUL LABORERS (pt.2): Philippians 2:25-30
  14. TRUE AND FALSE CHRISTIANS: Philippians 3:1-3
  15. YOU CANNOT SAVE YOU: Philippians 3:4-7
  16. THE SURPASSING WORTH OF KNOWING CHRIST: Philippians 3:8-9
  17. THAT I MAY KNOW HIM: Philippians 3:10-11
  18. HOW AND WHY YOU MUST PRESS ON: Philippians 3:12-16 
  19. OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN: Philippians 3:17–19
  20. WE MUST STAND FIRM IN UNITY: Philippians 4:1-3
  21. WE MUST STAND FIRM BY REJOICING, TRUSTING, AND PRAYING: Philippians 4:4-7
  22. WE MUST STAND FIRM MY THINKING: Philippians 4:8
  23. WE MUST STAND FIRM MY DOING: Philippians 4:9
  24. THE SECRET OF FACING ALL THINGS WITH JOY: Philippians 4:10-13
  25. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME: Philippians 4:13
  26. SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE AND PLEASING TO GOD: Philippians 4:14-23

IN CHRIST, THINGS ARE NEW: Philippians 4:21-22

OUTLINE

I. In Christ, you have new fellows—fellow believers who cherish you

II. In Christ, you have a new identity—SAINT

III. In Christ, you have a new Family—BROTHERS AND SISTERS

IV. In Christ, you have a new King—CHRISTOS KYRIOS

DISCUSSION

1. What should we learn from the final greetings in verses 21-22?

ABORTION

A BAPTIST BODY OF DIVINITY

SERMONS ON THE BAPTIST CATECHISM

GOD WILL SUPPLY EVERY NEED: Philippians 4:19-20

OUTLINE

I. You can give generously because EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS DONE TO THE SAINTS IS AN ACT DONE TO GOD HIMSELF (v. 19a)

II. You can give generously because GOD HAS PROMISED TO MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS (v. 19b)

III. You can give generously because YOUR FATHER HAS A NEVER ENDING SUPPLY OF GLORIOUS WEALTH IN CHRIST JESUS (v. 19c)

IV. You can give generously because YOUR JOB IS TO GLORIFY GOD AND GOD’S JOB IS TO GLORIFY HIMSELF BY MEETING YOUR NEEDS (v. 20)

DISCUSSION

1. According to verse 19, what is the promise given to the generous Philippians?

2. What is the ultimate goal of all such generosity, according to verse 20?

WHY WE GIVE: Philippians 4:17-18

OUTLINE

I. GIVING IS NOT ABOUT THE GIFT AS MUCH AS THE ONE IT IS GIVEN TO—NAMELY, GOD (v. 17a)

II. GIVING PRODUCES HAPPINESS BOTH FOREVER AND NOW (v. 17b)

III. GIVING MUST MAINLY BE FOR THE ADVANCE OF THE GOSPEL AND FOR THOSE IN NEED (v. 18a)

IV. GIVING IS TO BE A SWEET FRAGRANCE TO GOD (v. 18b)

V. GIVING IS TO BE A SACRIFICE TO GOD (v. 18c)

VI. GIVING IS ACCEPTABLE AND PLEASING TO GOD (v. 18d)

DISCUSSION

1. What does Paul not mean in verse 17? What does he mean? How does Matthew 6:20 help clarify?

2. Read verse 18. What were the Philippians gifts to Paul? What were the gifts before God? What do we learn here concerning Christian generosity?

MISSIONARIES NEED CHURCHES AS PARTNERS: Philippians 4:14-16

OUTLINE

  1. Missionaries are sent and supplied in obedience to Christʼs command in the Great Commission
    (Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)
  2. Missionaries are either Church-Planters or Church- Strengtheners, sometimes both
    (Ti. 1:5, 2 Tim. 2:2)
  3. Missionaries should be approved, sent, and supplied by local churches (Acts 13:3)
  4. Missionaries should be accountable to local churches
    (Acts 14:27)
  5. Missionaries should meet the same qualifications as pastors, because they are pastors (Eph. 4:11, 1 Tim. 3, Ti. 1)
  6. Missionaries are sent and supplied for the sake of Christʼs name among the nations (Rom. 1:5, 2 Jn. 7)
  7. Missions exists because worship does not
    (1 Chron. 16:31, Is. 4996, Rev. 599-12)

I. MISSIONARIES NEED CHURCHES TO SHARE THEIR TROUBLES BY MEETING THEIR NEEDS (vv. 14, 16)

II. CHURCHES MUST PARTNER WITH MISSIONARIES BECAUSE SENDING FINANCIALLY IS JUST AS VITAL AS GOING PHYSICALLY (v. 15)

III. MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE TREATED MORE LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER AND LESS LIKE A BEGGAR (v. 16)

IV. MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE GENEROUSLY SUPPLIED EVEN AT GREAT COST TO THE SAINTS (2 Cor. 8:1-3)

DISCUSSION

1. In verses 14-16, Paul is clarifying his gratefulness for the Philippians’ generosity. What did they do for him? How does 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 shed further light on their generous spirit?

2. How does Acts 16 help us understand what Paul is referencing in verse 15?

HEBREWS 2021

LOOKING TO JESUS, THE FOUNDER AND FINISHER: Hebrews 12:1-2

OUTLINE

I. HOW TO BE FAITHFUL TO JESUS

  1. Lay aside everything that keeps you from total devotion to Jesus
  2. Be killing sin or sin will be encircling you 
  3. Patiently run the race that God has set before you

II. HOW TO GET STRENGTH TO BE FAITHFUL TO JESUS

  1. Look to Jesus alone for salvation and strength
  2. Look to Jesus, the Founder and Finisher of your faith
  3. Look to Jesus, who patiently endured the cross for you
  4. Look to Jesus, who endured the shame He despises for even you
  5. Look to Jesus, who wears the crown and holds the scepter

Ekklesia Muskogee is a reformed baptist church that gathers for worship in Muskogee, Oklahoma. We confess the 1689 second London baptist confession of faith. We affirm the five solas of the Reformation as well as the doctrines of grace (otherwise known as the five points of Calvinism), and each of our pastors would not be ashamed to be called a Calvinist. We are a church led by elders, of which there is a plurality (also called pastors and overseers in the Scriptures). Our mission is to make disciples, love cities, and plant churches.