Calvary Bible Church Grand Junction

In this sermon, Pastor Jess Miller continues his study of Jesus' prayer in John 17. Here, we see Jesus praying for three things: the glory of God, the good of his people, and the great commission. This sermon examines the last two headings of Jesus' prayer.

In John 17, we see Jesus interceeding for his people. This glorious prayer comes from the heart, mind, and will of Jesus as he prays in the hour of his suffering. At the time of deepest distress, Jesus' attention is turned up and out to the transcendent God. His prayer is for three things: God's glory, the good of his people, and the great commission.

The Lord's Supper is not only participation with Christ, but it is participation with other Christians. It serves to display the unity of Christ's church and the love we are to have for one another. However, when Christians are divided and then participate in the Lord's Supper, which pictures our unity, they dishonor Christ.

Through the cross, Jesus has inaugurated the New Covenant. The Lord's Supper is a sign of the New Covenant, and only those who have entered into the New Covenant are to participate in this sign. As we partake of the Lord's Supper, we remember the great benefits we have as members of the New Covenant. We have new hearts, a personal relationship with the Lord, and the full forgiveness of sin.

When Christians partake of the Lord's Supper, they are to do so with knowledgeable faith; that is, there are things we are to know and believe. The gospel accounts inform our knowledge of what we are to fix our minds upon as we partake of the Lord's Supper. First, we should think about the cross and the peace we now have with God. Second, we should consider Christ's suffering and that he was motivated by love to endure the suffering of the cross.

A full study of the Lord's Supper must also consider its shadow, the Passover. The Passover was a sacred, symbolic, and sacrificial meal, instituted by the Lord, given to Israel, to be observed yearly, in commemoration of his deliverance through acts of judgment on Egypt. What Israel had in shadow, the church now has in fullness. The Passover for the church is the Lord's Supper.

What is the Lord's Supper? 1 Corinthians 10:16 helps us understand the nature of the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is participation with Christ because of his body and blood. Therefore, we participate by faith, with fellow believers, and enjoy the benefits of the gospel applied afresh to our hearts.

In Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, he is correcting abuses and misunderstandings the church had about the Lord's Supper. These issues were something the entire church must be aware of and address. The church must understand that the Lord's Supper is to be taken seriously, because it is the supper belonging to the Lord, and because it is about Christ.

We were privileged to have Dr. James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries with us, presenting on the language barrier that exists between Christians and the LDS. James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries. He is Professor of Church History and Apologetics at Grace Bible Theological Seminary, and has taught Greek, Hebrew, Systematic Theology, Textual Criticism, Church History and various topics in the field of apologetics for numerous other schools. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty four books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter's Freedom, The God Who Justifiesand What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than two hundred moderated, public debates with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. Before travel restrictions James debated in such locations as London and Sydney, as well as in mosques in Toronto and South Africa. He is a Pastor/Elder of Apologia Church in Arizona. He has been married to Kelli for forty four years, and has two children, and six living grandchildren.

The Lord's Supper is a unique and central feature in the life of the church. When we partake of the Supper by faith, God works grace into our souls. The Lord's Supper is then a means through which God daily sustains us by his grace. As we work through this series, our aim is to strengthen our understanding of God's purposes in our regular observance of the Lord's Supper.

The Sermon on the Mount has four key aspects we need to keep in mind. First, Jesus preaches with authority, an absolute authority. Second, Jesus preaches about the necessity of heart righteousness. Third, the sermon is about our relationship to God and our neighbors. Finally, the sermon warns about the reality of judgment. Jesus is the Savior and Judge.

The Sermon on the Mount is essential for Christian discipleship. In this short series, Pastor Jess Miller explains how we should approach the Sermon on the Mount.

In this sermon, Pastor Jess Miller concludes our study of the book of Jude and our study of the one-chapter books of the Bible. Jude closes his letter with a glorious doxology, a praise to God. Jude's doxology sets a pattern for our doxologies as he shows us the direction of doxology, the description of God in doxology, and the duration of our doxologies.

At the end of Jude's epistle, we find one of the most glorious doxologies in the New Testament. Doxology is an essential part of Christian life. In doxology, we express praise to God with our words. Doxologies are directed to God, responding to his greatness, continue for eternity, and invite others to join in the praise.

In our lives, there are times and seasons where pain is real, and God seems silent. God's answer to our pain and suffering is not always a quick fix or immediate relief. In Psalm 77, Asaph is suffering greatly, and the relief for suffering seems far off. In this state, what does he do? He repeatedly, and intentionally, meditates on God, his Word, and his works. This is what we must do in all our pain and suffering.

What does Jude mean when he instructs Christians to "Keep yourselves in the love of God"? Christians are to keep themselves in the joy, experience, and knowledge of God's love. We do this by building ourselves up in the most holy faith, praying in the Spirit, and waiting for the mercy of Jesus Christ at his return.

Jude instructs his readers to "Keep yourselves in the love of God." In this sermon, Pastor Jess Miller unpacks what Jude means, and most importantly, what he does not mean.

Jude has a heavy emphasis on God's judgment against sin and sinners. Starting in verse 8, Jude begins to describe the types of people who had snuck in and were propagating false teaching. While Jude does not name these people explicitly, he exposes their behavior and their source of authority (their dreams).

Jude writes to remind Christians of the certainty of God's judgment. Those in the church who "pervert the grace of God into sensuality," should fear the judgment of God. Warnings of God's judgment motivate Christians to examine their own hearts for hidden reefs of sin.

Jude's letter is written with a sense of urgency. The church must be warned about attacks on the faith. This is a warning the entire church must heed, and therefore, the entire church is to be contending for the faith. As the church faithfully contends for truth, it does so with the assurance that the truth will prevail. Jesus Christ will build his church.

Jude writes this epistle to encourage the whole church to contend for the faith against an onslaught of false teaching. In his greeting, Jude reminds the church of who they are; they are called, loved, and kept.

In 3rd John, we see the change the gospel brings to a life, as well as what it looks like when a person is ruled by pride. John's confrontation of Diotrophes warns us of the danger of pride in the church and how we can deny the truth of the gospel with our actions.

In his third epistle, John uses the testimony of a man named Gaius to help us see what a person whose life has been changed by the gospel looks like. Those changed by the gospel are bound together with other Christians, walk faithfully in the truth they have believed, love others in word and deed, and support gospel proclamation.

How do we know the resurrection of Jesus Christ really happened? On what basis do you believe that it happened? In John 20, we see Thomas, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, refuse to believe that Jesus had risen. He demanded his own evidence, rather than accepting the testimony given. God wants to be believed, and he has given all the evidence we need.

In his second epistle, John exhorts Christians to be vigilant in watching out for false teachers. The church should be marked by discernment: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world." However, a church will not survive the onslaught of spiritual warfare through false teachers if she neglects the truth of God's Word, fails to love the saints, and disobeys the commands of the Lord.

Christians face the continual temptation to trust in ourselves, other people, or institutions, rather than God. Psalm 146 helps reorient us so we see that only God is worthy of our trust.

Second John, though the shortest of all the New Testament books, reminds Christians of the three inseparable elements found at the core of Biblical Christianity: a committment to the truth, love for other Christians, and obedience to God's commands.

In this session, Pastor Jess Miller wraps up the first section of our confession of faith, which explains what we believe about the Bible. Subjects covered in this lecture: the internal witness of the Holy Spirit as the chief evidence of the Bible being the Word of God and the Doctrine of Inspiration.

In Philemon, we see how the gospel changes relationships, especially when we have been wronged by someone else.

We are all weary people who need help. Isaiah 50 is written to weary people, and the help we find in this chapter comes from the Servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

What are relationships in the church supposed to look like? Relationships in the church are to be shaped by the gospel. Paul and Philemon demonstrate two critical components of gospel relationships: we pray for one another, and we refresh one another.

Why do we have the books of the Bible we do, and how can we trust we have the right ones? These questions and more are addressed by Pastor Jess Miller as he teaches through what we teach at CBC.

In this sermon, Pastor Jess Miller introduces us to the book of Philemon. This little book is important because it has much to teach us about Christian relationships and the change the gospel brings to a life. It shows us who God is and live as followers of Jesus Christ.

In this session, Pastor Jess Miller teaches on the importance of God's general and special revelation.

The Shema teaches us who our God is, and who God is demands a response—love. There is no greater command than the command to love God with all our heart, soul, and might. All other obedience and worship flow from our love for God. In the final message in this series, Pastor Jess Miller unpacks what it means for us to love God and then points us to Jesus, the only man who perfectly loved God from his heart.

The second session of our class working through the doctrine of Calvary Bible Church. *The recording starts after the class has started.

In this sermon, Pastor Jess Miller looks at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. The first Christians demonstrate for us four essential elements that all followers of Jesus devote themselves to: the apostles' teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. This sermon was preached during a baptism service, so it is preached in two parts: the first teaching about baptism, and the second part, the exposition of Acts 2:42.

In this class, Pastor Jess Miller is teaching through the doctrine taught at Calvary Bible Church. This first session is an introduction to the class, and an explanation of what the elders are doing as they craft a new doctrinal statement for CBC.

The Shema is a commandment for all of God's people. It has two elements: to know God, and to love him with your entire being. This command is to be listened to and obeyed.

At the heart of the nation of Israel's life and worship were these words: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." While these words were important for faithful Jews to hear, they're important for us to consider as well. Jesus called this command the greatest commandment. In this sermon, Pastor Jess Miller sets the context of the Shema. The context is one of grace and redemption shown to Israel. The book of Deuteronomy is in the context of covenant, covenant community, and covenant commandments.

We begin our study in the Bible's smallest books by looking at the book of Obadiah. This book, unfamiliar to many Christians, teaches us important things about God. Through God's judgment on the nation of Edom, we see that God is powerful, a just judge, and is faithful to the gracious promises he has made.

Jacob has two significant encounters with the Lord in his life, and the first is recorded in Genesis 28. In Genesis 28, the Lord calls Jacob, blesses him, makes promises to him, and gives him a new identity. Through Jacob, all the families of the earth will be blessed. However, Jacob is an unexpected recipient of God's blessing. What we see in Jacob, and have seen in the book of Genesis, is that salvation is all of God's mercy and grace, so that all the glory goes to God alone.

In Genesis 22, Abraham's faith is tested, but Genesis 22 is about more than Abraham's tested faith. Genesis 22 is designed by God to point us to Jesus Christ. In the life of Isaac, and the life of Christ, we see a son, conceived by supernatural power, the son of promise, a son who would carry the wood for his sacrifice, and then be raised from the dead.

In Genesis 15:6, we read that Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. In Genesis 22, we see that Abraham's faith is tested. A common theme throughout the scriptures is the Lord testing his people. In these tests, the Lord has good and gracious purposes. The testing of Abraham's faith is not for the Lord. The Lord knows Abraham's faith is genuine. The testing of Abraham's faith is for Abraham, and for us today. In Abraham's response to the testing of his faith, we see how true faith responds to trials.

In Genesis, as in all of the Bible, we see that salvation is a gift of God's grace. God's gracious gift of salvation is to be received by faith alone, apart from works, law-keeping, or merit of any kind. In Genesis 15:6, righteousness is credited to Abram by faith. Abram's faith is the same kind of faith all believers share. His faith was in God's Word, in God's promise, and in God's power.

In Luke 19, Jesus speaks in a parable to help Christians understand how they are to live in between Jesus' first advent, and his return. We have all been given gifts from God that are to be used for his glory: time, possessions, bodies, finances, and words. As we await the return of the King, we are to be faithful with what has been entrusted to us.

All people deserve God's judgment, and only when we understand that can we recognize the greatness of God's grace. What we see in Genesis, and the whole Bible, is that salvation cannot come from man. Salvation comes only from God's grace. The salvation God provides for sinners is founded upon and flows from his free grace.

Malachi's message from the Lord could be summarized this way: I have loved you (1:2), but you despise my name (1:6). I have loved you, but you profane the covenant (2:10). I have loved you, but you doubt my justice (2:17). I have loved you, but you have robbed me (3:8). I have loved you, but you think it vain to serve me (3:13). Therefore, return to me by remembering the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel (4:4), and know that I am bringing the day of the Lord which will bring judgment and salvation for my people (4:1; 5-6).

Satan works to deceive people into believing that there is no judgment from God. As the story of Genesis unfolds, we see that God does bring judgment. As a righteous God, he must bring judgment; sin cannot be overlooked.