Untitled Sermon (20)

WHY SOUND DOCTRINE?

(Read to pg 34.)

GOSPEL-CENTERED DOCTRINE AND PREACHING We believe that the gospel—the good news of God’s saving activity in Jesus Christ—is the pinnacle of His redemptive acts (), the center of the Bible’s story (), and the essential message for our faith, life, and witness (). We are committed to preaching the gospel, singing the gospel, praying the gospel, and building our churches upon the gospel (; ; ). Our ultimate hope in all that we do is not our plans and labors, but the perfect life, substitutionary death, victorious resurrection, and glorious ascension of Jesus Christ.

Biblical doctrine is to be the necessary foundation and source of Christian living, and holy living was the necessary implication of sound doctrine.

God’s holy truth, which counters the devil’s false doctrine, is sound doctrine (; ), by which the Spirit of God powerfully and gladly leads those who walk in godliness into truth ().

Read / . When the form of the word is delivered to him, he delivers up himself to be molded and assimilated to the nature of it; as a piece of paper which is put into the fire is changed into the color, heat, and properties of fire. So where the word is incorporated and rooted in us, the heart is assimilated to the object seen and discerned therein; the image of God is stamped and impressed us.

(Read to pg 34.)

Teellinck, W. (2003). The Path of True Godliness. (J. R. Beeke, Ed., A. Godbehere, Trans.) (p. 100). Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books.

(Start in pg 44 “Ears to hear”).

ESSENTIALLY REFORMED

(Read pg 46-48)

REFORMED THEOLOGY Scripture presents the all-glorious, triune God as the source and end of all things (), sovereignly working all things according to His will (). At the center of God’s purposes in the world is the exaltation of His glory through the redemption of sinners (). To this end, we believe that God sovereignly chooses men and women to be saved in order to display His immeasurable grace and glory (; ). God’s sovereign grace in salvation humbles us, fills us with gratitude, and compels us to worship Him and share the message of His grace to all people.

(pg 65, “Why we’re essentially reformed)

EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT

(Read pg 66-69)

(bottom of pg 73-76 Pursuing God’s Empowering Presence)

THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION

(pg 77-83)