Sunday, June 29, 2025
Education Sunday
Brother Joshua Pollard
Do You Remember?
Sermon in a sentence: Remember well.
Matthew 12:3-9; 18-23
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
There are 3 ways to Forget and one way to Remember.
Forget:
1. You hear and not understand
2. You receive the Word with joy but when trouble or persecution comes because of the Word you falls away quickly
3. You hear the Word but the Word gets choked out by the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth.
Luke 8:14
14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Remember:
He hears the word and understands it.
English: Understand
Greek: συνιείς
Transliteration: Synieis
Meaning: To bring together or put together
REMEMBER (a new definition):
· To remember is to take things that have become dismembered and putting them back together again.
· Remembering is more than recalling.
· Remembering is taking what you’ve heard, learned and experienced, putting it together in a way that equals application.
· You have the choice to remember well or remember poorly.
Application: Remember well with the help of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.
John 14:25-26
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Resurrecting Hope in the Church
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
June 22, 2025
Sermon in a Sentence
Be the Church!
Sermon in a Sentence
The way to Resurrect Hope IN the Church is to BE the Church!
What is “The Church?”—Clarifying the confusion about what we are and are not
Matthew 16:15-18 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Church = Ekklesia—a body of called-out citizens with governing authority and responsibility for their community's welfare - a revolutionary way to describe His followers' assignment to advance the Kingdom of God (i.e., His will being done on earth as it is in heaven)
a. We are God’s family
1 Timothy 3:14-15 14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these
instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
b. We are Christ’s Body—
Romans 12:4-5 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Colossians 1:18 And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
c. We are Christ’s Bride
Ephesians 5:25-27,32 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
d. We are God’s Embassy
Embassy—a diplomatic delegation from one country to another Ambassador—a high ranking diplomatic representative and spokesperson of a country
to another country
Chancery—a building that houses a diplomatic delegation (the office of an embassy)
Functions of Embassies
To advance the policies, goals and interests of their country with a foreign country’s government
Assist its citizens abroad
Engage host governments, local business, nongovernmental organizations, media,
educational institutions, private citizens, etc.
The Church is Christ’s embassy (i.e., citizens of heaven, assigned to earth)
Philippians 3:20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Our Priority
Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
A Portrait of the Church
Acts 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day
they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Disclaimer: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s Word — His opinion — and provides His instruction for how to live life under His rule (i.e., the Kingdom of God).
