Bread of Life

John 6:35-51 - "Bread of Life" (click the link to listen)
08/24/2008
Sermon by Pastor Chad DeGraff



This sermon made me think that I should do a review on what is TULIP (or the Five Points of Calvinism).

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved)

Calvin's take

R.C. Sproul's Latest Book - Now Available

Dr. R.C. Sproul is well-known as a first-rate theologian. With Five Things Every Christian Needs To Grow, he has penned a book that is meaty and rich, while digestible by any layman, and particularly well suited to a newer believer. A good friend Alex Chediak had the privilege of proof-reading this short book and highly recommend it.

John 6:25-34 - "Our Desire To Be Satisfied" (click the link to listen)
08/17/2008
Sermon by Pastor Chad DeGraff

Look deep into the heart of the people in this text.

The common theme throughout the text that defines these people is that they are a people who make demands of Jesus Christ. These continued demands unveil where their heart is at. These people were focused on what Christ could do for them in the physical now.

Q:Why did these people need to see more miracles, when they know of the amazing works that Christ had already done?

Notice in v31 how the people try to use scripture against Christ.

God is not about successfully fulfilling our earthly desires.

What is your true bread? Is it v33?

This is a significant statement and what Christ is saying here is quite bold. That one needs to have the true bread (insert Christ here) in order to have true spiritual life. Wow that is not like the manna that they received under Moses.

These people where not getting it though...there statements continued to try to get Christ to fulfill their immediate physical concerns.

Q: How does our life compare to these people? Is our quest for satisfaction in this world?

The great news of the gospel is that we can be freed from this because we can say all we need is Christ and it is all there.

Q: Are you coming to church to get your physical needs met? Or are you coming serve, worship, learn and to give thanks?

Let us (Riverside) serve, worship, etc in a way that says thank you and make it be our joy, our delight.


Calvin's take

-John Piper also covered this in a sermon titled "Do Not Labor for the Food Which Parishes". It is good and greatly supports Pastor DeGraff's sermon.

"Fighting for Faith with God's Word"

An encouraging message (Click here to listen) by John Piper

Fighting for Faith with God’s Word. Drawing upon 1 Timothy 6:12, 1 Corinthians 9:26, and 2 Timothy 4:7 and the call to fight the fight of faith, Piper issued 5 observations and clarifications regarding the fight of faith and 2 practical ways of implementing these observations.

1. Sanctification isn’t always progressive, it can be regressive.

“I used to think that the life of faith was a more or less straight line at a diagonal from total lostness to perfection...I’m 62 now and I’ve scraped that vision.”

“The fight is a mortal fight to the death. Never get to a point where you say, ‘I have fought valiantly for thirty years, I’m going to coast now.’ You won’t! You’ll go backwards.”

2. The fight for faith is a fight for joy.

“Saving faith includes as part of it (not all of it), a treasuring of Christ, a being satisfied in Christ, a delighting in Christ.”

“Conversion is stumbling upon the treasure who is Christ, King Christ, and treasuring him.”

The gospel has at least 5 components:
1) Gospel is Event: Christ died
2) Gospel is Accomplishment: Christ died for our sins
3) Gospel is a Free Offer
4) Gospel is Applied: Though faith, by the Holy Spirit, the gospel gets applied to individual sinners
5) Gospel is Treasuring: Why you want to be forgiven is because you want God--you want your sins taken away so that you can treasure God

“Believing the gospel in its fullness means treasuring God through Christ.”

3. Joy in Christ is not the opposite of suffering.

4. We fight for faith not to get God to be 100% for us, but because he is 100% for us.

“This one is so hard to live by because of the devil, our flesh, and the whole legalistic scheme of our Universe.”

“You cannot make any progress in the Christian life until you believe that God is 100% on your side, not just 99% on your side.”

“If you believe that God is withholding from you, withholding being fully on your side, you don’t understand justification.”

5. The fight for faith is a fight to see Christ.

“What happened in the new birth is that the eyes of the heart were illumined so that the cross ceased to be foolish.”

Practical Implementation #1: Major in your life on the Word of God.

Practical Implementation #2: There are two ways to major you life on the Word of God: 1) a disciplined way and 2) a spontaneous way.

The notes are courtesy of Roshon who blogged the conference.

Why Are You Seeking Jesus?

John 6:22-27 - "Why Are You Seeking Jesus?" (click the link to listen)
08/10/2008
Sermon by Pastor Chad DeGraff

Here are some thoughts and notes from this weeks sermon:

In this text the people a re seeking Jesus because he benefits their worldly desires. A means to their physical ends.

Q: How does this apply to you?

In verse 25 the people ask Jesus "when did you get here?". These people traveled all the way over to Capernaum. However they went over there for the wrong reason. Pastor Chad then went onto challenge the congregation to be careful on to who you look up to or follow for just may be going in the wrong direction.

Pastor Chad ask this questions regarding Jesus response to their question: What is going on with Jesus' answer?

Here are his three responses:

1. It is good that they are seeking heaven though their actions were for selfish desires only. Are we coming to the Lord for things or for selfish reasons? The Church and the body is not for ourselves and it is not a support group. The church is for those seeking the Lord.
   
2. They focused on material things. We as a people are far to easily pleased by things of this world. Material things are needed and are good and do serve their purpose. God knows that and He will give you what you need. Don't allow these things or your quest for material goods dethrone God. Stay focused on the giver not the gifts.
3. They did not seek Christ with their whole heart. How is your walk? Is it strong in time os desperation? What peril has God put you through? How did you react?

What causes you great pain in your life?
-Look at that pain and think, what God has done for your/us through it.
-God knows that what you need most is Him. This is why he gave us his only son.

This song came to mind: "How deep the Father's Love for us"

Stuart Townend

Lyrics:

How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom (REPEAT)

Calvin's Take

Jesus Walks On Water

John 6:16-21 - "Jesus walks on water" (click the link to listen)
08/03/2008
Sermon by Pastor Chad DeGraff

Here are some thoughts and notes from this weeks sermon:

-John's gospel is chronologically written after th other gospels.

Q: While the apostles were out in the middle of the sea (as directed by Christ) do you think they thought about Christ and what he was doing?

It is worth noting that this event was directly after the miracle where Jesus fed the 5000. Where Christ takes the physically impossible and supernaturally provides food for everyone out of virtually nothing.

Pastor DeGraff asked the following questions and followed with answers here is the summary:

Q1: What do these verses say about Christ?
A1: Christ will not leave his people.
A1: Chris presence alone is cause for immediate relief in my circumstances.
Q2: What does it tell us about us or the disciples?
A2: Christ will command you to go into difficult circumstances.
A2: He is with us (Matt 10:20, Matt 28:20)
A2: As His disciples He will get you where you need to go

This series of events goes back to the physical body limitations and our dependence on the almighty miraculous working hand of Jesus Christ.

In v20 as he was approaching the boats Jesus says "It is I; do not be afraid" the disciples reaction was that they were glad. Here are some other points were Christ claims his presence.
-John 8:58-59 In this verse he was not so gladly welcomed as the reaction the people had was to stone him.
- John 18:5 In this verse all bowed down when he claimed that he was Jesus.



Calvin's take

The Sufficiency of Jesus Christ in Feeding 5000

John 6:1-15 - The Sufficiency of Jesus Christ in Feeding 5000
07/27/2008
Pastor DeGraff

Here are some thoughts and notes from Pastor Chad's sermon:

The purpose in asking Phillip "How do we feed these people?" is that it is a test. Physical problem with spiritual ramifications. V7 is Phillip response "there is not enough". Phillip is up against the impossible physical request. He has been brought to the point where his physical resources will not suffice. The point of this is to show that it is not you or Phillip that can achieve the impossible but Christ. Until this is recognized you are useless to Christ kingdom. .

When are you seeking God? When we are not going to the Lord we are saying that we can do it essentially on our own and that we do not need God.

Sufficiency of Christ is all we need. Below are to links by John Piper and John MacArthur.


What is the "Health and Wealth" or prosperity gospel?
John Piper discusses the heresy involved in this Gospel.



Calvin's take