First Baptist Church of Ojai, California

Sermon Rewind

Series:  "Humbug!  The Scrooges of the Bible"

Scrooge #2:  Herod

Text:  Matthew 2:16

Herod represents perhaps the greatest human Scrooge of them all.  He hated Christmas with a violent rage.

What could possibly drive a man to murder all of the boys in Bethlehem two years old and under?

Herod relentlessly pursued two things:

1. Security

2. Control

There is a little bit of Herod in all of us.  We too tend to relentlessly pursue security and control.

We are only truly secure in Jesus Christ.  Our lives only make sense under the control of the Holy Spirit. 

The one who tried to destroy Christmas would have found all that he was missing in the Christ of Christmas.  The same is true for you and me.

Sermon Rewind

I. On October 6, 1536 William Tyndale was burned at the stake for translating the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English.  Was his sacrifice in vain?

II. Stats
16% of Christians read the Bible daily.
22% of evangelical Christians do not read the Bible at all. 

III. There is a desperate need for us to restore the priority of God's Word in our lives. 
A. In God's Word there is power. (1 John 2:14).
B. In god's Word there is direction. (Psalm 119:105)

Without God's Word we are like a boat adrift at sea with no engine and no rudder. 

IV. "Let me be homo unius libri (a man of one book)." John Wesley.

First Baptist needs to create a Bible institute to train people in the study of God's Word. 

We must stop dabbling in God's Word and immerse ourselves in it.  (Col 3:16)

Sermon Rewind

The hit TV show "Dirty Jobs" has overlooked the dirtiest job of them all--to love another human being. 

Love is so much more than syrupy sentimentality or warm emotion. 

Love is gut-wrenching work that will leave you battered, bloodied, and soiled. 

Jesus demonstrates this reality in John 13:1-17 where He washes the dirty feet of His disciples, even the one who would betray him. 

The background to this story is the disciples arguing about which of them is the greatest. 

They were unwilling to wash feet. 

Jesus decided it was time to get dirty. 

Who are you unwilling to serve?

What are you unwilling to do in service to someone else? 

Why would anyone be interested in such a filthy job as loving someone else?  Because John 13:17 says, "That is the path of blessing." 

Sermon Rewind

"Open Doors"
Revelation 3:7-13

I. The Church At Philadelphia
A. The only church of the seven Jesus assesses that does not receive a rebuke. 
B. There are special blessings reserved only for those who walk faithfully with Christ.

II. The Blessing of the Faithful
A. Opportunity
1. [8] "See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut."
2. God has provided wide open doors for ministry for every one of us.
3. Do we see the open doors?

B. Provision
1. [7] "who holds the key of David..."
2.  The key of David references Isaiah 22:22 and symbolizes access to all of God's resources. 
3. Do we focus on obstacles or opportunity?
4. "Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity.  They seem to be more afraid of life than death."  -- James F. Bymes.
5. The God who provides the open door will also provide the resources. 

C. Reward
1. [12] "I will make a pillar in the temple of my god."
2. A pillar is a symbol of strength, permanence, and security.
3. Philadelphia was a city that lived in constant fear of earthquakes. 
4. God promises a reward which is permanent and secure.

"We are all faced with innumerable opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."  -- Chuck Swindoll. 

What seems impossible in your life today?

Sermon Preview

Rev. 3:7-13 (NIV)  "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. [8] I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. [9] I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. [10] Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. [11]   I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. [12] Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. [13] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The city of Philadelphia was plagued by violent earthquakes.  Everything was unstable.  But the church at Philadelphia was rock solid.  This is the only church of the seven assessed by Jesus in this portion of Revelation that receives no rebuke.  He promises to open doors of opportunity before them that no one can shut. 

What are the keys of David mentioned in verse 7?
What doors does Jesus want to open for the church at Philadelphia and for us?
Does verse 10 teach a pre-Tribulation rapture?
What is the significance of the pillars in verse 12?

Podcast

Sunday's message "While You Were Sleeping" from Revelation 3:1-6 is now available via podcast at www.fbcojai.org.  If you missed this past Sunday, you are highly encouraged to give it a listen.

Tolerant or Intolerant?

Sunday's message is on the church at Pergamum in Revealation 2:12-17.  Here's a little true/false quiz to get you thinking:

1. Jesus was known for being tolerant.  T or F?

2. Jesus was known for being intolerant.  T or F?

3. The church should be tolerant. T or F?

4. The church should be intolerant.  T or F?

5. It is unloving to be intolerant.  T or F?

Sermon Rewind

Series:  Revelation Revealed

Text:  Revelation 2:1-7

Title:  When Love Grows Cold

I. Do you remember?
A. What it was like when you and your spouse were dating?
B. What it was like when you first gave your heart to Jesus?
C. It is amazing how over the years, love that once was so hot can grow so cold.

II. The Church at Ephesus knew what it was to have a love for God that once was hot but over time had grown cold.
A. Revival in the time of the Apostle Paul brought economic and religious revolution to the city.
B. Now, 40 years later the passion that once burned so brightly had become dim.
C. By all outward appearances, this was a great church. 
D. But there was something very wrong on the inside.
E. God did not send His Son to die so that we could do righteous acts out of obligation.
F. He sent His Son to die so that He could have our hearts.
G. Churches that lose their first love cease to be recognized as churches in God's sight--their lampstand is removed. 

III. What do you do if you find that your love is cold?
A. Remember what it once was like.
B. Repent - Make up your mind that you will not settle for cold obligation and change direction.
C. Redo - Do the things that you once did when love burned brightly in your marriage and relationship with Christ.  Emotions follow actions. 

IV. Christ walks among us evaluating our hearts.

Listen to the full message podcasts at www.fbcojai.org

The Deep End of the Pool

Get your water wings on.  It's time to swim!  Like many Christians I have kept the book of Revelation at a safe distance, overwhelmed by my perceived inability to understand it.  Not good enough.  God has given this book to us as a wonderful gift.  The word "Revelation" itself means "an uncovering," "an unveiling," or "a disclosure."  The book is there to give us greater understanding, not greater confusion.  Perhaps our struggle is the result of asking the wrong questions.  Starting this Sunday we are going to begin a series on this incredible section of God's Word.  Come prepared by reading chapter 1.  It is time to explore the deep end of the pool. 

Sermon Rewind

"The Parable of the Grouchy Neighbor"
Luke 11:5-13

In Luke 11:1-4 Jesus teaches us "what" to pray in The Lord's Prayer.

In this passage Jesus teaches us "how" to pray. 

This is a parable of both comparisons and contrasts.

When we pray, we are to pray with...
1. Boldness
2. Persistence
3. Confidence

God loves to give good gifts to His children.

Hear the podcast at www.fbcojai.org.