The Master‘s Class, LifeChange Church Wichita

THE IRONCLAD GUARANTEE OF THE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

THE IRONCLAD GUARANTEE OF THE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

Today, on this Easter Sunday morning, I want to talk to you about The Ironclad Guarantee of The Gospel.  Easter is not about bunnies, and baskets, and baked hams.  Easter is about the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I am not saying that we cannot celebrate Easter with candy and easter egg hunts.  To this day, as old as we are, my wife loves to hide eggs for our grown kids and grandchildren.  I feel the same way about celebrating Christmas with Santa Clause and presents.  However, I am saying that when we do celebrate these very special religious holidays, we need to remember, and make it a priority, to celebrate the real reason for the season, the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the great and wonderful things about a study of the gospels is that every sermon that Jesus gave, every parable that Jesus used, every miracle that Jesus performed, and every teaching moment that Jesus had with His disciples, was pointing toward the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is the reason that Jesus stepped out of the throne room of God and became God incarnate in man.  The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit had planned this event from the foundation of the world.  And this is the culmination of that plan.

The death, burial, and resurrection, of our Lord form the foundation of our faith.  It is imperative that each of us understand the importance these events have on our salvation.  For without the death and burial of Jesus Christ, our sins would not be forgiven; And without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, death and sin would not be conquered, we would not have eternal life with God, and we would not have Jesus Christ as our High Priest sitting on the right hand of God.  

The amazing love and power of the one true God is on display in these events as nowhere else in the Bible.  Forget, the splitting of the Red Sea, the daily miracles displayed by Jesus as he walked on this earth, or Jonah being swallowed by the whale.  When God sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, and then displayed His awesome power in the resurrection of His Son, just so that we might be able to live with Him forever, that was an act of true love and power. 

Nobody has ever, or will ever, love you like God loves you.

Click on the play button below to hear a message on the ironclad guarantee of the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

PROMISES, BLESSINGS, AND REWARDS (Genesis 47:27 to 49:7)

PROMISES, BLESSINGS, AND REWARDS (Genesis 47:27 to 49:7)

The messages over the next two weeks will talk about the blessings that Jacob gave to his sons just before he died.  This section of verses includes the promises of Joseph to Jacob, and the promises of God to each of the sons of Jacob, in the same manner that we saw Abraham and Isaac give blessings to their sons.  

As we watch Jacob give out his blessings, the scene becomes a picture of a judgment seat, where actions are judged and rewards are given, or not given out.  In fact, it looks very much like the Judgment Seat of Christ.  All of these sons are a part of the chosen family, so their place in that family is secure.  They did not earn this place, but they were given this position by the grace of God. However, what is judged are the actions and the character of each son to determine the rewards and place in the Kingdom that they, and their descendants, will receive.  

Click on the play button to hear a message about Jacob becoming the man of faith spoken of in the book of Hebrews as he shares God’s promises, blessing, and rewards to his sons. 

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

Today we are celebrating Easter Sunday.  This is a holiday that most of the western world has celebrated for centuries.  However, for most people the day is simply another holiday, it has no real meaning other than the Easter bunny, egg hunts, and candy for the kids.  

To some, it is a time to go to church for a religious ceremony of some type.  Many of us have memories of attending Easter services in crowded churches, with everyone dressed in new Easter, Sunday-go-to-meeting, clothes.  The women were dressed in hats and gloves, and the men in suits and ties.  The church was crowded with people attending for the one and only time all year that they came to church.  Yet, if you were to ask most of them why they came, why the day was important, many of them could not tell you.  

Why is Easter Sunday an important holiday to celebrate?  It is because on Easter, we are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  If you are a believer, if Jesus Christ is your Lord and Master, then Easter should be every bit as important to you as the celebration of the birth of our Savior on Christmas.  

The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that we have A master to confess. It provides us with a living Jesus Christ sitting on the right hand of God the Father.  He is sitting because He has accomplished all that God has asked Him to do.  

It also means that we have A message to convey. The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides us with a message to tell others About Eternal life.  About Power over sin in our lives.  About The hand of the One who will bring us into the presence of God when we enter Heaven’s Gate.  Where we can stand clothed in the robe of righteousness purchased with His Holy blood.  Christ wields absolute authority and power in Heaven and on Earth.  Angels and Cherubim of heaven, and Principalities and rulers of this world’s darkness, wicked spirits, demons, and Satan himself are held in check by the power and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.  No kingdom, empire, or nation exists outside of the Lord’s permissive will.  The message of the resurrection is that Jesus is on the throne, wielding all power and authority on earth as in heaven.  This is the message we are to convey.

It also means that we have A mandate to complete.  Jesus has commanded us to go out into the world and preach the gospel of His death, burial, and resurrection, baptizing them in the name of the Lord.  

Praise God that Jesus was willing to be obedient to God’s will, and Praise God that from the foundations of time, the triune God has had our salvation in mind.  God sent His Son that we might have everlasting life, and the power of God raised Him from the grave so that we might walk as a new creation in the newness of life.

Click on the link below to hear a message on why this Easter holiday is so important to us as believers.  Jesus Christ is alive, and we are going to be with Him for all of eternity.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR CALVARY (Genesis 22:1-14)

In Genesis chapter 22, we come to an absolute mountain peak in the spiritual life of Abraham.  This chapter is one of the great, great, chapters in all of the Bible.  Chapter 22 is the account of Abraham’s obedience to God’s command of offering Isaac as a burnt sacrifice. God commanded him to offer Isaac on the altar and then restrained him at the last minute when He saw that Abraham was willing to go through with it. If you were to designate the ten greatest chapters of the Bible, you would almost certainly have to include Genesis 22.  The Word of God makes it clear that God requires a life to be given up in order that He might save sinners.  And there is no one among the children of men worthy to take that place.  Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son was the only One capable of fulfilling that role. 

In terms of depicting great truths about the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, this chapter easily compares with Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. In our message today, we will see the similarity between the sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrifice of Christ.  It is no accident that this similarity exists.  The Bible is full of repeated types and symbols that point to the real event in order to prepare us for what will happen.  In this case, God is revealing the Gospel of the sacrifice of Christ for our sins to His beloved servant, Abraham.

On Mount Calvary, one day, men would see God providing Himself as a lamb. One day, on this place—this sacred place—God has provided Himself a lamb. And that’s the reason when John the Baptist saw Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh, John the Baptist pointed to Him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)—for the Lord, Jehovah Jireh, has provided Himself as the lamb.

Click on the link below to hear a message on the Word of the Cross, a dress rehearsal for Calvary. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” (John 3:16) There was no reprieve for the Son of God. There was for Isaac, but not for Jesus. And God knew that one day He would spare not his own Son, because He loved you that much.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

HE IS RISEN (John 20:11-24)

Jesus Christ rose from the grave and He is alive today sitting at the right hand of the Father. He is risen. The physical, bodily, resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave is a foundation on which our faith is based. To be a Christian means that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For that to be true then Jesus Christ must be alive, for you cannot have a personal relationship with someone who is dead. Jesus is alive, and He lives in my heart. He is my Lord and my Savior.

In fact, the resurrection of Christ was so significant that the world should have been there paying its homage. Caesar should have come from Rome. The wise men of Athens should have been there. Caiaphas and Annas and the Sanhedrin should have been there. All of the dispersed Jews should have been there, along with Herod and his men of war. Pilate and his wife should have been there. The disciples should have been there. The roads to Jerusalem should have been crowded with pilgrims, and all of Jerusalem should have been arriving with triumphant palms. Instead the world stayed away.

Click on the link below to hear a message on the events that occurred on the day of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. On this day, the world turned from darkness to light and from death to life. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the wonderful good news of the gospel message. Because He rose, you can rise to walk in the newness of life. You can have everlasting life because Jesus conquered death. He is risen.

Amen.

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? (John 11:45 to 12:11)

What would it take to make you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? What words would you need to hear Him say? What words would you need to hear from God? What sign would you need to see?

How about Jesus, himself, proclaiming to be God? Here is just one of the many times Jesus has said this in our study so far.

John 10:29-30
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
KJV

Would that be enough to convince you that Jesus is the Son of God? No? Well how about the time God spoke from heaven proclaiming Jesus to be His Son?

Matt 3:16-17
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
KJV

Would this be enough? You have the sky opening up, the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and the voice of God telling you that Jesus is His Son. Would that be enough?

Well, how about watching Jesus raise Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead for four days?

John 11:43-44
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
KJV

Would seeing a miracle of this magnitude be enough to convince you that Jesus was the Son of God?

Click on the link below to hear a message on how people who have heard the words of Jesus, they have heard the words of God from heaven, and they have seen Jesus perform thousands of miracles, and some believed, and some did not. In some respects, this lesson saddened me. I know why it occurred, I know the purpose of our Lord coming, and for that I am forever happy and grateful, but it saddens me that people could know all of this and still turn away from Christ as their Savior.

Amen.

TO LIVE ABUNDANTLY Part 2 (John 11:25-44)

This is the second part of my message on how to live abundantly. Jesus said, "I've come that you might have life, and have it abundantly." What does it mean to live abundantly? It means to live the way the Bible teaches. Well, Ok, what does it mean to live the way the Bible teaches? It means several things, but the basic foundation is that you must live before you die, and live after you die. How do you do that?

Let me ask you a question, have you exercised faith in Jesus? Have you? Well, this is the time for you to do it. I want to tell you on the authority of the Word of God that Jesus will save you today and He will keep you saved. Jesus is not a probation officer. Jesus is a Savior. He will see you through all the way. Now you might have to be unwrapped. You might have some hangover sins for a while, but He will save you. And the One who gives you life will give you liberty, and you can feast with Him and you can witness for Him. Now you might be a seasoned individual. You might think I'm too old for this. Well, it's never too late with God.

If you believe that you are dead in trespasses and sins. If you want a new life. If you want to be saved so you can have fellowship with Jesus and live with Jesus. Jesus says, I am the resurrection and the life. If you would believe me, you would never die. If this is how you feel, then exercise faith in Jesus.

Now, you may be already be a member of a church. Unfortunately, some church members never really understood how to be saved. They were good folks in their own minds and the minds of their neighbors when they joined the church, but they never really, honest-to-goodness got saved. You need today to trust Christ.

For others, it may be their first time in a church, and they might say, "Well, you know, I need Jesus, but I need to wait till I get more acquainted with the church."

Let me tell you, it's not the church that saves; it's Jesus. This may be the last opportunity you'll ever have to give your heart to Jesus. It may be your first time here, but it may be your last opportunity.

Others of you are intimidated by the devil. He whispers in your ear and says, "You'll never make it. You're too bad. You don't deserve it. You'll never be able to live it." Listen to me. Satan is a liar. Jesus died for you on the cross, and Jesus said, "Whosoever will, may come."

There is a deep desire in my heart that each of you learn to live abundantly in Jesus. That you learn to live life in the way the Bible teaches you to live.

Click on the link below to learn, if you want to live before you die, and live after you die, then you must apply these four principles to help you to have, a truly, abundant life:
1) You must exercise faith in Jesus.
2) You need to have freedom through Jesus.
3) You need to enjoy fellowship with Jesus, and
4) you need to exhibit faithfulness to Jesus.

Amen.

JESUS, THE MASTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (John 11:1-27)

Over the next few weeks we are going to be talking about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Why am I going to spend so much time here? Because we should never get tired of hearing this story. Why? Because it has so much for us to learn and commit to our hearts about death, resurrection, and the realm of darkness. It brings life where death reigns, and it robs the tomb of its terror. Jesus is going to show Martha, Mary, all of His disciples, and the entire world that He is indeed the Son of God with the power over death, and that He alone holds the keys to eternal life, heaven and hell.

Click on the link below to hear a message that will bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones. Death is not final. The grave is not final. The Bible says that for the believer to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That loved one of yours is still living, and if they had Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, then they are present with Him in heaven. If you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you will join them for all of eternity. Death is but a moment. Life with Jesus is eternal.

Amen.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION

Today, we are going to talk about why the resurrection of our Lord Jesus is so important to our faith. The simple truth is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and then on the third day, He rose bodily, physically, from the grave so that we might have everlasting life. We stand on a foundation; that foundation is the Rock, and the Rock is Christ. He came back from the dead, and Christianity rises and falls on that Rock.

It is a result of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that all of the great doctrines of the New Testament faith ring out like a church bell with truthfulness to a lost world.

Not just forgiveness, but justification.

Not just redemption, but regeneration.

Not just remission of sin, but adoption into the family of God.

We are God’s children. We are joint heirs with Christ.

This is the importance of the Resurrection of Christ. It is an undeniable and indisputable fact in history. Everything hinges on the Resurrection. Do not insult my intelligence by saying that I believe this just because I wish it were so. I would not dedicate my life to the service of a man in a grave, and if you are in a religion where the founder of your religion is still in the grave, then your hope rests in that grave. It rests in a body that has turned to dust.

My faith rests in a risen Christ. My faith rests in a living Christ, therefore, my hope is a certain hope of eternal life with Him. Christianity is not just a creed, a code, a cause, or a church. It is a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone has the words of eternal life. In Him dwells all the fullness and the wisdom of God. Only Jesus can meet the deepest desires of the human heart. Only Jesus is worthy of our faith, and it is in Jesus whom my faith rests.

Click on the link below to hear a message on why the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so important to the Christian faith. If you want to know who Jesus Christ is, ask the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t just say you must believe, but if you can’t believe that is just your hard luck. God says if you want to believe, He will help you understand and know that these things are true. If you want to know the truth about Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit will speak to you and confirm to you that Jesus is the risen Christ, the Son of the Living God.

WHAT IS THE RAPTURE (Revelation 4:1-3)

If I were to ask you to describe the rapture in two words or less, how would you respond?

For me, it would be heaven-bound. At last, I am heaven-bound. That is what the rapture means to me.

The single event that declares the church age has come to an end, is the rapture of the church. The church is defined as all those who accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during the church age, or that time from Pentecost until the rapture occurs. The rapture is that event when, at the midnight cry, Jesus will come for His own.

Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, and are still living, will be miraculously transformed with glorified bodies and caught up, or raptured, into the air to meet the Lord. Those whose bodies sleep in the earth will be raised from their sleeping place to meet their heavenly spirits that are coming down with the Lord, and they will be joined together in the air. Each New Testament believer, dead or alive, will rise up to meet the Lord in the air. This is the event that is called the rapture.

The Bible calls this the blessed hope. And you need to be ready, but you don’t have to be fearful, about the coming of the Lord to catch us up in the rapture. Remember that sorrow looks backward, worry looks all around us, but hope looks upward. We are on a collision course with destiny, and we cannot afford to be ignorant.

Click on the link below to hear a sermon on what the rapture is and when it will occur. Jesus is coming again, the question is, are you ready? Amen.