Prairie Lane Christian Reformed Church - Audio Sermons

July 4, 2010: "Risky Freedom"

text 5:13-15

IIntroduction: Freedom and Risk Go Together

I. The Gospel of Freedom
John 8:36 “If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed.”
We are free to __________ and we are free to ___________, but our salvation does not depend on those things because Jesus saves us; we don’t save ourselves.

II. Using Freedom for Evil?? – verse 15
In verse 15 of our passage, we see what happens when our freedom is used in the ____________ ways--for selfish gain.
“If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
They are abusing their God given freedom, and as a result, they are only _____________ ________________.

III. Christian Freedom is Used Correctly When it is Used in Love – verse 13
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
Christian freedom does not mean that we can do anything that we want. We are always under the _______________ of ____________.
IV. Love Fulfills the Law – verse 14
St. Augustine wrote, ““Act as you ____________, so long as you are acting with love.”
Verse 14 “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”
It’s true that if we are acting in love, we are acting according to ___________ _________. So, it is very important for us to understand what it means to love __________________.
Romans 13:9-10: “The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Having freedom to act in love requires discernment and _________________.

V. Conclusion
Freedom is at the very center of Christian behavior. Knowing that we cannot earn favor with God keeps us from being _________-____________. Knowing that we do not earn our way to heaven keeps us from _________________. Knowing that we can only love through the example and power of Christ keeps us from ______________.

June 27, 2010: "The Great Reversal"

text: Matthew 5:1-10

Introduction: Everything is a Competition
I. The World Celebrates the Winners
The world celebrates the beautiful, the a_________, the witty, the i______________, the successful, the rich, and most of all the w_______________.

May 16, 2010: Ascension Day "The Good-Bye of Jesus"

text Acts 1:1-11

May 9, 2010: Mother's Day

text Isaiah 49:13-16

May 2, 2010: Mustard Seed Sunday "Act Like Children?!?"

text Mark 10:13-16

April 4, 2010 Easter Sunday "Hear it Again for the First Time"

Matthew 27:62-28:15

Mar. 28, 2010 Lenten Series: Through Tears to Joy, Part Six: Fear of Letting Go (Palm Sunday)

text Luke 19:28-44

Mar. 21, 2010 Lenten Series: Through Tears to Joy, Part Five: Reconciliation with God and One Another

text: 1 Corinthians 5:17-19

Mar. 14, 2010 Lenten Series: Through Tears to Joy, Part Four: Filling the Emptiness

Mar. 7, 2010 Lenten Series: Through Tears to Joy, Part Three: Faith Overcomes Disappointment

Feb. 28, 2010 Lenten Series: Through Tears to Joy, Part Two: Not Forsaken in Suffering

Feb. 21, 2010 Lenten Series: Through Tears to Joy, Part One: Regret or Repentance