A Tim Keller Sermon Summary In the story of Jekyll and Hyde, Jekyll takes a potion and becomes the completely selfish and wicked Hyde, who takes control of Jekyll. We also have both good and bad sides in us that are constantly at war. Let’s learn from Romans 7:1-25.
In the passage, Paul describes our having desires for evil and good, and our inability to beat our evil desire. God told Adam and Eve not to take the fruit. But with the devil tempting them, and with the fruit seemingly good to them, they ate it (v5, 8). The law showed Paul what he ought to do. Before Paul relied on Christ, Paul’s evil desire used the law to tempt him, enticing him to do what he should not do. Paul knew he could not beat this evil desire (v9-11). Similarly, our evil desire could use Christ’s teaching to tempt us, enticing us to do what we should not. Before we rely on Christ, our performance defines how good or bad we are, and who we are (v1-5). But in many situations, we just do the bad and can’t do the good. To save us, God poured His wrath on Christ, punishing Christ for all our wrongs (2 Corinthians 5:21). If we rely on Christ’s sacrifice, we become perfect before God (v6). Through Christ—not through our own behavior—we become God’s beloved children. Also, God loves us to the point of sacrificing Christ, His only son, for us. We should live for and serve the one who loves us so much. We should do good to delight Him (Colossians 3:1-10). Though our evil desire is still lurking in us (Galatians 5:17), the evil desire can’t control us like before (v6, 25). This is because who we are depends on Christ, not our behavior. The Spirit that resurrected Christ now dwells within us and can help us beat our evil desires. With that, we can live a life of following God (Romans 8:11,13). Summarized from a sermon from Tim Keller, “War Between Selves 1”: https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/war-between-your-selves-part-41/
0 Comments
A Tim Keller Sermon Summary Many want others to say they are good. Some seek Botox, liposuction, or self-esteem therapy. Others fight to get into a good school or company. Some seek a trophy wife, while others go so far as to kill themselves, as in the Japanese practice of seppuku.
As we age, such desires are met differently—from being recognized as brave, smart, or good, to attaining financial or other success in the society. Many strive to earn praise from an important person. Disappointment kicks in when they find out the person is not that important, or the person is not good enough to judge them. In the end, they may not even know what they want. We want someone big to approve of us. But the biggest is God. The Bible explains that God’s approval is won in being righteous before God. Let’s learn from Luke 18:9-14, where a Pharisee considered himself righteous. The Pharisee prayed. He started with thanking God, but immediately turned to declaring himself better than others. He used his own metrics to determine himself being better: He was not a robber or an adulterer, he fasted twice a week, and he gave away 10 percent of his earnings (v11-12). His metrics included fasting, which was a cultural or a personal preference. The Pharisee set his own rules, and he relied on them to feel good about himself and look down on others. Then a tax collector prayed. In those days, tax collectors were considered evil, like gangsters. He knew he was bad, and he asked for God’s mercy. In the end, the Pharisee (the good one) was lost, while the tax collector (the bad one) was accepted by God (v14). Don’t lean on your behavior. Look at Christ’s life. Our behaviors are so far off. Instead, rely on God’s mercy. Rely on the death on the cross of His only Son. Only then can we find God’s approval. In spite of all our flaws, we still can be His wonderful children! Don’t set up your own rules to determine what is good and bad. Instead, trust God and use His rules. Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon, titled, “Inside out living.” https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/inside-out-living-5319/ A Tim Keller Sermon Summary We live in a self-absorbed society, where few volunteer for the common good. But many top philosophers tell us that self-centeredness is the source of suffering. How can we fix this? Let’s learn from Isaiah 6:1-13.
In this passage, Isaiah saw the glory and holiness of God (v1-4). In Hebrew, repetition shows magnitude. Here, “holy” is repeated three times, implying infinite brilliance, beauty, and significance. The encounter changed and deepened Isaiah’s understanding of God. Isaiah was crushed and reacted by cursing himself (v5). Seeing the greatness exposed his inadequacies. Job, Moses and Peter had similar experiences. Isaiah was a skilled and intelligent communicator from a royal family. At that time, King Uzziah had died, and the society was in bad shape. It should have been his time to shine, yet Isaiah saw how unworthy he and his people were (v5). Then God cleansed Isaiah (v6-7). Isaiah was humbled by his inadequacies, but he was bold because of God’s cleansing and acceptance. After that, God offered Isaiah a job without telling him what it entailed. Isaiah immediately accepted (v8). For the rest of his life, Isaiah would preach with no results, no conversion (v9-13). The Israel nation was like a tree cut down to its stump, but God told Isaiah the stump would grow again (v13). God’s holiness might not bring earthly benefits. But after seeing His holiness, Isaiah focused on God, ignoring his own needs, fulfillment, and goals. Independent of the environment, Isaiah adored and served God for the rest of his life. We tend to treat God as our personal ATM. Meeting God would totally change us. Encountering Christ would show our inadequacies, humbling us while making us bold! Isaiah didn’t earn his self-worth through his own effort; neither do we. Christ’s sacrifice cleanses us, leading to God’s acceptance, our supreme position, and boldness. Encountering Christ changes us from self-absorbed to focused on Him. We can persevere even when our environment is terrible. We can adore and serve Him for the rest of our lives. Also, one day Christ will come back. The stump will grow. And everything will be wonderful again! Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon titled, “Gospel_and_Your_Self”: https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/the-gospel-and-your-self-5433/ 如何突破自我中心? 我们生活在一个自我陶醉的社会中,更少人愿意为大众的利益做志愿者。但许多顶级的哲学家告诉我们自我为中心是痛苦的根源。怎么从中解脱出来呢?让我们从以赛亚书6:1-13中学习。 以赛亚在这段经文中看到上帝的荣耀和圣洁 (以赛亚书6:1-4)。重复的字语在希伯来语中代表其重要性。 “圣洁”在此处重复三次,意味着无限的光彩、美丽和重要性。这次的相遇改变和深化了以赛亚对上帝的认识和理解。 以赛亚被天使的信息破碎后,他开始诅咒自己 (以赛亚书6:5)。目睹上帝的伟大暴露了他的亏缺。约伯、摩西和彼得也有类似经历。 以赛亚是一位出生于王室之家聪明而又卓越的沟通者。那时候乌西雅王驾崩,社会动荡不安,国家状况不佳。此刻本应是以赛亚崛起闪耀的机会,他却看到自己和百姓的光景何等糟糕(以赛亚书6:5)。上帝随即洁净了以赛亚 (以赛亚书6:6-7)。以赛亚因他的不足而感到卑微。因为上帝的洁净和接纳,以赛亚仍然满有勇气。 此后上帝赐给以赛亚一份任务,却没有告诉具体细节。以赛亚立即接受神的托付 (以赛亚书6:8)。 以赛亚在他的余生中传讲上帝的话语,但最终都没有结果,没有人听了就回转 (以赛亚书6:9-13)。以色列民族就像一棵被砍伐的树木。但上帝告诉以赛亚那存留的树墩有一天会再次生长 (以赛亚书6:13)。 上帝的圣洁不一定带来属世的好处。但目睹祂的圣洁后,以赛亚定睛专注于上帝,轻看自己的需要、成就和目标。以赛亚不管环境如何, 用其余生爱慕和服事神。 人们往往把上帝当作自動取款機。与上帝的相遇则会完全改变这样的想法。遇见基督会显出自我的亏缺,因此谦卑自己,同时也能放胆活出新生命! 以赛亚无法通过努力而提升自己的价值,我们也不能。基督的牺牲洁净了我们,从而带来神的接纳,使我们享有上帝儿女极高的殊荣,可以坦然无惧地面对万事。 遇见基督会使人从自我中心转向定睛关注祂,即使境况低劣也能坚韧不拔地走下去, 将终身爱慕和服事祂。 有一天基督将再来。树墩将生长,一切都会再次变得奇妙而美好! A Tim Keller Sermon Summary Many live as if they were dead, cut off with no hope, but Christ talked about being “born again.” Let’s learn from John 3:1-15. Nicodemus was a Pharisee (fervent follower of Jewish laws) and a Jewish ruling council member (v1). Christ addressed him as Israel’s teacher (v10). He was influential, rich, well-educated, and probably old. Nicodemus visited Jesus secretly at night (v2), perhaps to do some back-room politicking with Jesus. Christ told him point-blank he must be born again (v3, 7). He had to start all over again because everything he had—all his accomplishments—meant nothing. Some consider being “born again” to be reserved for the broken and outcast. Nicodemus did not fit that stereotype. If Nicodemus must be born again, shouldn’t we also? This new birth radically changes a person’s priorities and how one relates to the world (v3). One becomes a different person, like a plant with new roots and different fruits. Nicodemus addressed Jesus as “Teacher,” but Jesus corrected him, telling him that He came to save and be lifted up on a cross, so people could live again and have eternal life in Him (v2, 14, 15). Nicodemus asked how can someone receive such a thing (v4). Like a mother giving birth to a baby, one does not become a baby by trying hard (John 16:21). This new birth is brought on by looking up to Christ (v14, 15). This new birth is through God putting His Spirit into us (v5-6, 8). After Christ was crucified (lifted up), Nicodemus took 75 pounds of burial materials and wrapped Christ’s body with spices in strips of linen (John 19:38-41). In those days, this type of work was reserved for women. Nicodemus had been changed into a new person. Looking up to Christ and letting the Spirit give us a new life will totally change how we see things and relate to people. This will give us new hope in Christ. Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon, “The New Birth.” https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/the-new-birth-6568/ 重生?你在说什么? 许多人生活毫无盼望, 傷心破碎, 活得如同死人一样。基督谈到“重生”。什么是重生呢?让我们从约翰福音3:1-15中学习。 尼哥德慕去见耶稣。他是法利赛人(犹太律法的狂热追随者),也是犹太公会的成员(约翰福音3:1)。基督称他为以色列的老师(约翰福音3:10)。这是一个家境富裕,受过良好教育,极有影响力的人,也可能是位长者。 尼哥德慕夜间秘密地来找耶稣,可能想暗中与祂谈论政治思想(约翰福音3:2)。 基督直截了当地告诉尼哥德慕必须重生(约翰福音3:3,7)。他拥有的一切和一生积累的成就都没有任何意义,必须重新开始。 有些人认为重生是为破碎和被弃绝之人所预备的。尼哥底母却不符合这种刻板的形象。如果尼哥德慕必须重生,还有谁不应该吗? 这种新生活从根本上改变一个人的价值观和他与世界的关系(约翰福音3:3)。我们变成新人,就像植物长出新根,结出不一样的果实。 尼哥德慕称耶稣为老师,但耶稣更正了他。耶稣告诉尼哥德慕祂来为要拯救世人,且要被高举在十架上,使人可以得到新生命和在祂里面的永生(约翰福音3:2, 14, 15)。 尼哥德慕问耶稣如何重生(约翰福音3:4)。一个人无法通过自我努力成为一个婴儿. 宝宝是来自妈妈的(约翰福音16:21)。 这种新生通过仰望基督来实现(约翰福音3:14, 15)。上帝将祂的灵放在我们里面,使我们成为新造的人(约翰福音3:5-6,8)。 基督被钉十架以后,尼哥底母带着七十五磅的沉香和没药,将基督的身体用香料和细麻布包裹起来(约翰福音19:38-41)。在那些日子这种工作都为妇女所做。尼哥底母已经变成了新人。 仰望基督,让圣灵赐下新的生命。这将完全改变我们的人际关系和对万事的看法,带来在基督里的新盼望。 |
Categories
All
|
© 2024 Insightfulsermons. All rights reserved. Insightfulsermons® is a registered trademark.