Eastside Baptist Church, Winfield, Alabama

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday AM, October 25, 2015
Philippians 2:5–11 (NIV)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“Holy Space and Holy Time” – Chapter ElevenHere and NowOur culture is fixated on the here and the now, with little awareness of the holy or transcendent. Still, even in our fallenness, there is a longing for the transcendent.Sacred SpaceGod is transcendent, the high and exalted One.But He also bridges the gap between heaven and earth and reveals Himself, becoming immanent.God sanctifies space with His presence.OT ExamplesGod’s appearing to Moses in the burning bush.Call and promises to Abraham.Visions to Jacob at Bethel.Theophanies are also hierophanies, because they are manifestations of the holy.Absolute RealityContact with the holy is an encounter with Absolute Reality.The Christian faith is theocentric, meeting with a holy God, who forms the center of our existence.God defines our entire life and worldview.The SanctuaryThe sanctuary is a holy place, but it is made holy only by the presence of God.The “church” is the people, but the people must gather. Where the church gathers is sacred space as we worship God together in his presence.Transcendent & ImmanentGod is omnipresent, dwelling everywhere in his universe.But the Bible also speaks of sacred places where God is immanent with his people.The consecration of sacred space does not end with the OT.Sacred TimeGod’s holiness touches not only space but also time.Sacred time occurs within the never ending flow of ordinary time.Some moments are set apart by God’s holy presence and activity.Redemptive HistoryThe Christian faith is rooted in sacred moments and events that take place within normal history.Events like Creation, Fall, Flood, Exodus, Captivity, Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, & Pentecost.Redemptive moments in history.SabbathThe Sabbath was set apart by God as sacred time.Commemoration of creationCelebration of redemptionCelebration of future promise of the consummation of redemption when we enter our Sabbath rest in heaven.Corporate WorshipWe gather as the church at appointed times for worship.These times become sacred times, because we gather in God’s holy presence.The worship service is a marking of special liturgical time.PassoverThe celebration of Passover was sacred time for the Israelites.Jesus changed the liturgy of Passover at the Lord’s Supper by infusing it with New Covenant meaning.The Lord’s Supper is sacred time for the church.The Lord’s SupperPast: instructing believers to remember and to show forth Christ’s death in the observance.Present: Christ meets with his people to nurture and strengthen them in sanctification.Future: certain hope of reunion with Christ in heaven.Sacred Space & TimeWhere Christians find the presence of the holy.When we fail to seek sacred space and sacred time, “we exchange the holy for the profane and rob both God of His glory and ourselves of His grace.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday PM, October 18, 2015
Genesis 12:1–9 (NIV)

The Call of Abram

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing. 

3 I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
1. Faith responds to the call of God.2. Faith responds with obedience.3. Faith responds with worship.4. Faith responds with hope in what cannot be seen.Main Idea: Faith is the response of obedience, worship, and hope to the Word of God.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday AM, October 18, 2015
Philippians 2:1–5 (NIV)

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
1. Dwelling unity is made possible by the grace we have already received (v. 1).2. Dwelling in unity is characterized by loving agreement (v. 2).3. Dwelling in unity requires humility and deference (vv. 3-4).4. The humility required for dwelling in unity is modeled for us by Christ himself (v. 5).

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“Looking beyond Shadows” - Chapter TenSmall but SignificantIn comparison to the vastness of the expansive universe, human beings are a small part of God’s creation.Yet, human beings have been “crowned with glory and honor,” being made in His image.Unseen and yet SeenGod is a spirit and is invisible. His transcendent holiness and glory makes it impossible for human beings to see Him.Yet, God can be indirectly seen through the things that he has made in creation.God’s HandiworkCreation reveals the handiwork of God.Nature makes the invisible power and deity of God Himself known.Every person who has ever lived knows there is a God and is aware of His transcendent majesty and holiness. Hiding the TruthThough all people know there is a holy God, we do not naturally wish to acknowledge it; we seek to hide or suppress the truth. We distort the knowledge of the true God with idolatry, replacing the reality with a counterfeit. Moral DishonestyThe problem is not that we fail to know that God is and who God is; it is that we refuse to believe what we know to be true.Humanity’s problem is not an intellectual one; it is a moral one. The problem is dishonesty.Holiness and GloryNot only is God’s existence revealed through Creation, but so is His holiness and His glory.God’s holiness is on display for everyone to see.But in our sin we reject God’s holiness and refuse to honor God as God.Distorted RealityOnce we refuse to honor God as God, our whole view of life and the world becomes distorted.Unbelievers live in the shadows, walking through the theatre of God’s glory wearing blindfolds.Seeing GloryWith regeneration, the scales fall from our eyes so that we can truly perceive what we see.With the spectacles of faith we look beyond the surface of things to see the glory of God that is revealed everywhere around us.Good, True, & BeautifulGod is the highest good and the standard of all ethics and goodness.God is the ultimate truth and the author and standard of all truth.God is beautiful and is the most perfect being, without any flaw.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday PM, October 11, 20151.    The Beginning of the Universe: God created everything that exists.2.    The Beginning of Humanity: God specially created human beings as the pinnacle of his creation.3.    The Beginning of Evil and its Consequences: All humanity has turned from God, chosen its own way, and has decided to determine their own versions of good/evil.4.    The Beginning of Culture and Civilization: Humanity begins to gather into communities and develop talents, skills, and occupational craftsmanship.5.    The Beginning of Nations: All nations on earth are descended from Noah and his sons. They spread out and formed their own unique civilizations and built cities.6.    The Beginning of the Covenant: God graciously enters into covenants with fallen human begins to rescue them and to initiate a plan to rescue the human race. Main Idea: Though the people God made in his image rebelled against Him and are worthy of judgment, God’s plan cannot be thwarted. He created a blessed, sanctified nation of people through whom he would bring a deliverer to rescue his fallen image-bearers.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday AM, October 11, 2015
Philippians 1:27–30 (NIV)

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

The Holiness of God – By R. C. Sproul"God in the Hands of Angry Sinners" – Chapter NineOut of StyleThe concept of a holy God who judges in divine wrath is unthinkable to most in modern society.Our age is more in tune with the quest for happiness, self-improvement, and the power of positive thinking.Holy WrathHoliness demands righteousnessRighteousness demands justice.We violate his holiness; we insult his justice; we make light of his grace.How could a holy God be anything but angry with us?Edwards on God’s WrathGod’s wrath is divine.Perfect and infinite.God’s wrath is fierce.No moderation or mercy in hell.God’s wrath is everlasting.No end to the anger of God directed at those in hell.Ignorance Is BlissMost are content to ignore or rationalize away the Bible’s teaching on the wrath of God and divine punishment.We are too good to go there.God is too loving to send anyone there.God or god?What is our reaction to a holy God who exercises divine wrath?Most in our society are repelled by it; they would rather believe in a God of love who never shows wrath.But who gets to decide what God is like or what attributes he has?Hating GodIf we hate the wrath of God, it is because we hate God himself.The unconverted naturally hate God. We are God’s enemies.By nature, we oppose God’s government and refuse His rule over us. The love of God is not in us.For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:10, NIV)The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. (Romans 8:7, NIV)Killing GodBecause of our desire to rule ourselves, God is our natural mortal enemy. When given the opportunity, people murdered God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, by crucifying him as a criminal.Vestiges of the Old MindBut what about us as believers? Don’t we love God because of his grace shown to us?Yes, but there remain vestiges of our fallen nature. We continue to struggle with delighting in God and loving him with all our heart.Who raises the dead?Many believe that sinners dead in trespasses and sins have the power to raise themselves by choosing to be born again.But only God has the power to raise dead sinners. New birth is a gift of the Spirit granted by grace.Amazing Grace“We may dislike giving our attention to God’s wrath and justice, but until we incline ourselves to these aspects of God’s nature, we will never appreciate what has been wrought for us by grace.”

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday AM, October 4, 2015
Philippians 1:18–26 (NIV)

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.  20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday PM, September 27, 2015
Matthew 5:13–16 (NIV)

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday AM, September 27, 2015
Philippians 1:12–18 (NIV)

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“Be Holy, Because I Am Holy” – Chapter EightSaintsA “saint” is not just a super-Christian or someone who has done remarkable acts of Christian service.In the Bible, every Christian is called a “saint,” meaning “a holy one.”Holy, as God Is HolyWe are called to be “holy.”We are not transcendent, above all creation, as God is.But we are “consecrated” and “set apart” from the rest of the world.We are called to “purity.”Holy Sinners?How can we be called “holy” when we still sin?We have been “consecrated” by God. We are his special possession out of the world.We are called to a life of non-conformity with the world.TransformedWe live non-conformed with the world by being transformed in our thinking and behavior.Not just external conduct, but true inward transformation.We are living sacrifices – “thank offerings” to God for his grace.Called to PurityWe are not only “consecrated,” set apart from the world; we are also called to a life of purity.In standing, we are justified by the grace of God on the merits of Christ.But our standing must also become experience through sanctification.Fruit of the SpiritTrue justifying faith is a “living faith,” a faith that works.The Holy Spirit produces his fruit in our lives:Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Pursuit of RighteousnessWe are called to seek after God’s kingdom and his righteousness.Though it is the Spirit’s fruit, the pursuit of righteousness involves our full, diligent effort in learning, prayer, discipline, and active obedience.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday PM, September 20, 2015
Matthew 5:10–12 (NIV)

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday AM, September 20, 2015
Philippians 1:9–11 (NIV)

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“War & Peace with a Holy God” – Chapter SevenWrestling with GodGod is the transcendent, exalted one; and yet the Bible contains stories of people wrestling with God.Wrestling with God does not end in victory, because God always wins – but it does result in peace.Jacob’s StruggleJacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, a manifestation of God.God was the ultimate victor. Jacob surrendered his name to God, which He changed to Israel.Jacob survived with a limp, but he was transformed by God.…for the transforming power of God to change our lives we must wrestle with Him. We must know what it means to fight with God all night if we are also to know what it means to experience the sweetness of the soul’s surrender.Job’s ChallengeSuffering in agony and accused by his friends, Job demanded answers for his suffering, and he challenged God.Job’s challenge questioned the divine justice of God.“Will you condemn me to justify yourself?”Instead of responding to Job’s challenge with answers, God responded with his own interrogation.God’s questions brought Job to the end of himself in humility.“I repent in dust and ashes.”God answered Job’s questions not with words but with himself.As soon as Job saw who God is, Job was satisfied.Once God Himself was no longer shrouded in mystery, Job was able to live comfortably with a few unanswered questions.Habakkuk’s ComplaintHabakkuk questioned the justice of God because wickedness in Israel was not punished, and then again because God was planning to punish his own people with an even more wicked enemy—Babylon.When God spoke and revealed himself to Habakkuk, he was brought to fear and humility.But he walked away with peace, trust, and joy in his God no matter what the circumstances.He understood the sovereign majesty of his God.Saul’s ArrestSaul of Tarsus thought he was doing God’s work, but he was actually wrestling against God.Christ revealed himself to Saul, and the wrestling match was over. Christ had won and Saul was “arrested” for Christ’s service. But in defeat, he found peace.Our Struggle with GodWe struggle with a Holy God because he is righteous and we are unrighteous.This tension creates fear, hostility, and anger within us toward God.The unjust person does not desire the presence of the judge.Our Peace with GodWe find peace with God by being justified by grace through faith.Christ is our mediator and peacemaker. His life, death, and resurrection reconciled us to God through faith.Only the justified person can be comfortable in the presence of a holy God.With the cleansing from sin and the declaration of divine forgiveness we enter into an eternal peace treaty with God.When we sin, our peace with God is maintained by our mediator.Our sins are now dealt with by a Father not a military commander.Inner PeaceWe have peace with God, the cessation of hostility, because of Christ’s work on our behalf.We also have inner peace that satisfies the longings of our souls.We no longer have to fear condemnation; we have peace.Our Access to GodJustification grants us peace with God; it also grants us access to the very presence of God.Christ provided the means of access for us to God’s presence.We can feel welcome in the presence of God.Questions:Have you ever struggled with God or questioned God? Have you come away with peace, even if you didn’t have all the answers?What does it mean to you to have peace with God? Or, access to God?

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday PM, September 13, 2015Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Eastside Baptist ChurchPastor Cameron JungelsSunday AM, September 13, 2015
Philippians 1:3–8 (NIV)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel
this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I
am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in
God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“Holy Justice” ­– Chapter SixStrange FireNadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, offered unauthorized incense on the altar, in rebellion to God’s instructions.In defense of his own holiness and justice, God struck down Nadab and Abihu for their sin.Uzzah and the ArkWhile the Ark of the Covenant was being transported and it was about to fall, Uzzah stretched out his hand to steady it.God killed Uzzah for touching the Holy Ark in with unholy hands.He was guilty and was punished.Holy Justice and MercyIt is impossible for God to be unjust, because his justice is holy.Punishing sin with death is an example of God’s holy justice.We can never comprehend God’s mercy until we understand his justice.Righteous JusticeGod’s justice is always in conformity with his righteous character and actions.God condemns the guilty and acquits the innocent. God’s justice is perfect justice.He may show mercy, but he is never unjust.Sin & the Death PenaltyThe OT laws for the death penalty are actually gracious compared to what we deserve.We all deserve death, because every sin is cosmic treason against a holy God.Every sin insults God’s holiness.Divine PatienceWhen we question the justice of God, we are asking the wrong question. The real question is why God patiently allows sinners to continue to live.God’s patience is designed to lead us to repentance.What about Canaan?What about the conquest of Canaan? Was God just in telling the Israelites to completely wipe them out?God’s justice is perfect. He was not ordering the murder of innocents, but the condemnation of the guilty.Deuteronomy 9:4After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. Deuteronomy 9:5It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.Deuteronomy 9:6Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. The OT vs. the NT?Is the God of the NT the same God of the OT?God’s justice hasn’t changed.The most violent display of God’s justice is in the NT, not the OT – the cross of Christ.God is able to show mercy to sinners because of the justice satisfied at the cross.

"God's Holy People" (Philippians 1:1-2)Pastor Cameron JungelsEastside Baptist ChurchSunday AM, September 6, 2015Paul
and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God's holy people in
Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:1-2, NIV)We are slaves of the Lord Jesus Christ.We are God's Holy People.We are co-laborers together in the body of Christ.We have been abundantly blessed by our Heavenly Father.

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“The Insanity of Luther” – Chapter FiveTroubled by the HolyDid Martin Luther have an oversensitive conscience or an overactive guilt complex?Or, was he perhaps more keenly aware of the holy justice of God?Do we have an accurate awareness of the holy justice of God?What do you think of Luther’s “Great Transgression,” that to fail to love God with all of our hearts is the ultimate Transgression, because it is the failure to do the Greatest Commandment?Without Christ and the grace of God, are we as sinful as Luther described?Does God grade on a curve?What about the good things that people do, even without grace?Was Luther’s overwhelming fear of the wrath of God good?From Fear to CourageLuther’s constant fear of the justice of God drove him to the Scriptures to find God’s grace.Luther’s discovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone launched the Reformation and moved him from terrifying fear to confidence in God’s grace.Holiness and MercyLuther’s life and doctrine teaches us that the more we comprehend the holy justice of God, the greater the grace of God becomes to us.In Christ, God satisfied his holy justice and showed mercy to the guilty.