We are excited to announce some new features to the blogsite. As more and more readers are viewing from foreign countries we have added the translate feature to the site. Our readers can also now choose to have the blog emailed to them, and they can search the blog by keywords on various topics. We hope that this makes the site more manageable for you. God Bless.

Hear current audio messages by Pastor Scott Burr at:
http://sermon.net/dayspringchurchag

Friday, April 18, 2014

"Father, Forgive Them"


“Two other men both criminals were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals-one on the right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

                                                                                                Luke 23:32-34

Father, forgive them! These words take on a whole new meaning when we consider the circumstances surrounding Jesus when they were spoken. Jesus had been sentenced to death, rejected, beaten, mocked, and scourged. A crown of thorns cut deep into His brow while nails pierced His hands and feet.

Yet, through the physical and emotional trauma, Jesus was able to see past the pain to convey two valuable truths regarding forgiveness.

The first truth is very simple: We are all in need of forgiveness. Romans 3:23 declares that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The end result of our sinfulness is death (Romans 6:23).  Sin separated us from God. In order for us to be reconciled, we had to be forgiven. Hebrews 9:22 declares that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. So while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). His forgiveness opened the door to our reconciliation. The only thing remaining to be done, in order for our relationship with God to be restored, was for us to repent of our sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, this is not the full expression of forgiveness! Jesus’ statement was not merely a proclamation of God’s desire to reclaim our broken fellowship. It was also a model of how we are to steward the forgiveness that has been extended towards us. If we are to experience the fullness of forgiveness we must express to others what we have received. The link between the forgiveness we receive and the forgiveness we show is captured for us in Matthew 6:12:

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Jesus goes on to tell His disciples that to withhold forgiveness from those who offend us demonstrates that we have not yet experienced the fullness of His forgiveness:

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

                                                                                                Matthew 6:14-15

Our perception of forgiveness is very shallow and selfish if we believe that we are worthy to receive forgiveness for our sins from a perfect, almighty God; while at the same time withholding forgiveness from someone who has offended us.

You cannot grasp the fullness of God’s forgiveness, until you have forgiven someone who has crucified you! That is the message of the cross!

(To listen to the full sermon visit: http://dayspringchurchag.sermon.net/main/main/20033917)

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

 

Thursday, April 17, 2014

"Faith and the Workplace (Pt. 3)"


(Part 3)

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as is you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”

                                                                                                Ephesians 6:5-84

Sometimes our biggest challenge in the workplace isn’t the job, but rather the people in authority over us. However, before you get too excited about that statement I challenge you re-read the above passage.

In this passage, Paul uses the absolute worse working relationship he could imagine, to drive home truths that are important for us to remember in our own work environments. The relationship between a slave and master was not a pleasant, fair, or desirable relationship. As bad as you may perceive your working relationship with your boss to be; slavery is worse! So if Paul expected slaves to apply these truths to their lives, how much more should we?

Paul gave them four primary applications in passage to put into practice. The first is to obey their masters with respect, fear, and sincerity of heart as they would obey Christ. This isn’t always easy, especially if your boss does not exemplify Christ in their words, deeds, and attitudes. However, the demonstration of proper respect for the position they hold, coupled with godly fear and proper motivation, are the hallmarks of maturity.

Our response and actions in the workplace are not dependent upon the uprightness of our bosses, but they ought to be directed out of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Secondly, Paul encouraged them to work hard in order to please God, not to win the favor of their bosses.  This is very much a selfish pursuit, for the favor they seek is typically an attempt to make their own lives more manageable; not to communicate the character of God.

Thirdly, Paul cautioned them to avoid duplicity. Don’t work hard only when the boss is watching, and then pursue your own self-interests when they are not around.

Finally, Paul concludes with this “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” Whatever we do, we ought to work at it with all of our hearts! We should consider what we are doing as being a reflection of God, Himself! How would people describe God, based on your work ethic?

 

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Faith and the Workplace (Pt. 2)


(Part 2)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

                                                                                                            Colossians 3:23-24

The reality of work is this; work has nothing to do with what you do, but rather your attitude toward doing it.  The Apostle Paul had a tremendous amount to say about work and he, himself, demonstrated a strong work ethic:

“And because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.”

                                                                                                            Acts 18:3

While ministering Corinth, Paul would spend his days working as a tentmaker and his evenings preaching the gospel. Paul understood the value of hard work even going as far as to say in 2 Thessalonians 3:10:

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

Paul made this very bold statement after warning the Church at Thessalonica against the dangers of idleness:

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.”

                                                                                                2 Thessalonians 3:6-9

Paul cautions them about spending too much time with idle, lazy people. Work is about creating, producing, and serving. Lazy people don’t produce, they consume. Rather Paul told them, to follow his example. Paul modeled and promoted a strong work ethic:

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you.”

                                                                                    1 Thessalonians 4:11

By working hard, Paul exemplified God’s character. He recognized that when he was working, he was working for the Lord and proclaiming the creative nature of God!

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/