Sermons By Ed

Study Notes James Live Your Faith! Ed Underwood But be sure to live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. (James 1:22) The nine General Epistles point to the person and work of the resurrected Christ. They encourage Christians to cling to Him and exhort them to serve Him faithfully because He is the only source of life. Written primarily to persecuted Jewish Christians, the truths apply to every believer from every culture and in every age of church history. James, the half-brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19), shepherded the church at Jerusalem. His passionate speech at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:13-21) affirmed the gospel’s offer to Gentile nations, but warned the church against lifestyles that would undermine the message of the Son of God. His passion for godliness is evident in the letter he wrote to his Jewish brethren dispersed throughout the New Testament world. “As you receive the Good News that saved you from your sin be sure to live out that message, reg

Study Notes Ed Underwood Hebrews: Jesus is Better Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The nine General Epistles point to the person and work of the resurrected Christ. They encourage Christians to cling to Him and exhort them to serve Him faithfully because He is the only source of life. Written primarily to persecuted Jewish Christians, the truths apply to every believer from every culture and in every age of church history. In A.D. 64 Nero initiated a cruel and comprehensive persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. It was costly to follow Jesus, but it was especially demanding for Jewish converts to follow their Messiah-Savior. Somewhere in the empire there was a discouraged home church composed primarily of Jewish converts who were being tempted to stop following Jesus as His devoted disciples and return to the practices of Judaism. I don’t believe they were abandoning their faith. They were simply reasoning that following Jesus was t

Study Notes Ed Underwood Philemon Bondage to BrotherhoodTherefore, if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. (Paul to Philemon, concerning Onesimus, Philemon 17) The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. Philemon is one of the most unique books of the New Testament. Much like Ruth in the Old Testament, Paul’s letter to his friend is an illustration of some of the greatest themes in Scripture. Philemon was a wealthy citizen of Colossa

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Study Notes 2 Timothy Protect the treasure that has been entrusted to you. David Anderson Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately (2:15). On Paul’s 2 missionary journey, the church in Lystra and Iconium highly recommended a young man named Timothy (Acts 16:1-2). Paul heeds their recommendation, circumcises Timothy and takes him on missionary journeys where he trains him. At the end of Acts, Paul is imprisoned in Rome and probably released around AD 62. After Paul travels towards Macedonia, he leaves Titus in Crete (which we will study next week) and leaves Timothy in Ephesus for a very difficult assignment (1 & 2 Timothy). Unfortunately, Paul’s prediction to the Elders of the Ephesian church was realized, I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truths to draw the disciples a

Study Notes David Anderson First Timothy Conduct in the household of God I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you in case I am delayed, to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth. (3:14-15) Family/Friends Work/School Neighborhood Church Other nd On Paul’s 2 missionary journey, the churches in Lystra and Iconium highly recommended a young man named Timothy (Acts 16:1-2). Paul heeds their recommendation, circumcises Timothy and takes him on missionary journeys to train him. At the end of Acts, Paul is imprisoned in Rome and probably released around AD 62. Paul then travels towards Macedonia and leaves Titus in Crete and leaves Timothy in Ephesus for a very difficult assignment. Unfortunately, Paul’s prediction to the Elders of the Ephesian church was realized, I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from

Study Notes Ed Underwood 2 Thessalonians Prophetical Expectations Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him... (2 Thessalonians 2:1) The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. Since Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians, false teachers have confused the believers in a way that shook their faith. He had told them that the Lord could return at any moment (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18) and that the Day of

Study Notes Ed Underwood 1 Thessalonians Christ Is Coming Soon!   And so we will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. In one of the warmest of Paul’s letters he writes his beloved church at Thessalonica to encourage them to walk with Christ until He returns. Enemies of the gospel had forced Paul to flee the city, but they couldn’t prevent the Apostle from loving these people he had poured his life

Study Notes Ed Underwood Colossians Christ is Enough! Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. All is not well at Colosse. Epaphras, the founder of the Colossian Church, reports to Paul in Rome that a dangerous heresy—saying Jesus is neither central nor supreme—is undermining the work. False teachers were presenting a type of “advanced” spirituality combining spiritual mysticism with legalistic tab

Study Notes Ed Underwood Philippians: Outrageous Joy “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain” (Philippians 1:21) The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. Philippi was a Roman military colony in the province of Macedonia. The Spirit called Paul to Macedonia on his second missionary journey (Acts 16). The church met in Lydia’s home at first and Paul left Dr. Luke there to help establish the assembly. The Apostle visited the church again on his

Study Notes Ed Underwood Ephesians: Our Riches in Christ “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. No epistle emphasizes that core truth more than Ephesians. His phrase “in Christ” (or its equivalent) occurs about thirty-five times, far more than in any other New Testament book. And no church was ric

Study Notes Ed Underwood Galatians Free at Last! “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1, NASB). The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. In 49 AD a delegation of Judean religious teachers came to the predominately Gentile church at Syrian Antioch and started teaching the Christians that those who were not circumcised as followers of the law of Moses coul

Study Notes Ed Underwood 2 Corinthians Triumph in Trials “For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.” (Paul to the Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 4:5-6) The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. Corinth was one of the most influent

Study Notes Ed Underwood 1 Corinthians You Were Bought with a Price—Live Like It! “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own. For you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.” (Paul to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) The thirteen Pauline Epistles develop the foundational truths of Christianity introduced in the Gospels. Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to individuals. He writes from the perspective of the Apostle to the Gentiles, church-planter, pastor, and friend. His letters contain instructions, exhortations, and corrections that were real-time—messages to real people, gathered in real churches, with real problems as they endeavored to follow Christ and make a difference in their world. One consistent theme undergirds all of Paul’s teaching—the reality of every believer’s position in Christ. Corinth was one of the most influential cities in the Roman Empire and the cap

Study Notes Ed Underwood Romans: Give it your all! For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes ... For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith. (Romans 1:16-17) Strategic—necessary or important to the initiation, conduct, or completion of a strategic plan; of great importance within an integrated whole or to a planned effect. God’s wise plan for building the church is a simple strategy—save the lost and build the saved among all the nations. God uses strategic Christians to execute the plan—those willing to give it their all to reach the world for Jesus Christ. He places these believers in strategic churches with great potential to bring revival that will literally turn entire cities and cultures to His Son. In the first one hundred years of Christianity there was no more strategic community of believers than those living in Rome. “All roads lead to Rome” was a reminder that the city of Rome was the cultural,

Study Notes Ed Underwood Acts of the Apostles Against All Odds! But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Luke’s sequel to his gospel, the Book of Acts, begins where he left off—the ascension of Christ. The emphasis is different. The Gospel of Luke stresses the work of Christ while He walked on earth; Acts highlights the work of Jesus done by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. Without Acts we would have no record of the beginning and growth of the early church. Luke traces the birth and expansion of the church to strengthen the faith of Theophilus, a fellow Christian who may have helped finance Luke’s missionary and writing ministry (Luke 1:1-4). The Holy Spirit had a much broader audience in mind—the church of Christ throughout the age of grace. Luke’s selective but accurate history of the first 30 years of the church answers Theophilus’s questions i

The Gospels Jesus: King, Servant, Son of Man, Son of God “But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” ―John 20:31 THINKING ABOUT THE TRUTH Even in Hub groups that have been together for a long time, it is amazing how few opportunities we have to share how we came to Christ. How did you come to Christ? What were the circumstances, people, beliefs that led you to Christ? What is your Gospel story? REVIEWING THE TRUTH 1. What has stood out to you about our study in the Gospels? Observations? Questions? Insights? Matthew Mark Luke John Received by Picture of Christ Highlights of the Gospel View of the Apostle Theme Verse Jewish Christians King of Israel Long Discourses Romans Suffering Servant Miracles Mark relied on Peter Mark 10:45 Greeks Son of Man Parables Luke relied on Paul Luke 19:10 All mankind Son of God Personal interviews John (eyewitness) John 20:31

I. Logos as God and Man (1:1-18) III. Son of God’s ministry to His disciples (13:1-17:26) II. Signs of the Son of God (1:19-12:50) Washing of the disciples’ feet (13:1-17) Prediction of betrayal (13:18-30) New Commandment & prediction of denials (13:31-38) Comfort and instruction: heaven, the Way, sending of the Spirit (14:1-31) Vine & branches (15:1-17) Hatred of the world (15:18-16:4) Work of the Holy Spirit (16:5-16) Sorrow to joy: He has overcome the world (16:17-33) Jesus’ prayer for Himself (17:1-5) Jesus’ prayer for His Disciples (17:6-19) Jesus’ prayer for all believers (17: 20-26) John the Baptist’s witness: Denial of being the Christ & affirmation that Jesus is the One (1:19-34) First Disciples—James, John, Phillip, & Nathanael (1:35-51) Sign 1: Water to Wine (2:1-12) Cleansing of the Temple (2:13-25) What do the signs show: Jesus & Nicodemus (3:1-21) John the Baptist: “He must increase” (3:22-36) Jesus and the Samaritan Women (4:1-42) Sign 2: Healing the Off

—Luke’s purpose (1:1-4)—”orderly account” for Theophilus “so that you may know for certain the things you were taught” John’s Mission —”Preaching a bap- tism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (3:3) 4:18-19, 21 & Isaiah 61:1-2--The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to pro- claim the year of the Lord's fa- vor....Today this Scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read. “Now when the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set out resolutely to go to Jerusalem.” (9:51) “It is impossible that a prophet should be killed outside Jerusalem” (13:33) —“Son of Man” (25x in Luke) Describing Jesus as perfect represen- tation of humanity & King Dan. 7:14—To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is

Study Notes Ed Underwood Mark Follow Jesus; Serve Others “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Jesus Christ, Mark 10:45) The four Gospels are corresponding accounts that provide a complex portrait of the person and work, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel, Savior of the world, and Son of God. These historical books encompass about 46% of the New Testament. Though they were not the first books written, the early church placed the Gospels at the beginning of the New Testament because they are the bedrock upon which the book of Acts and the Epistles are constructed. The Gospels are written as biographies with a purpose. They are thematic portraits of the life of Christ focusing on the brief public ministry of the Son of God. Each author selects distinctive events and teachings of the Lord Jesus to present a purposefully skewed account to accomplish their purpose: Matthew, a Jew, writes to persuade His count