The Word from Mountain View

God's Great Grace is Synonymous with Service - June 6, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Ryan

God’s Great Grace is Synonymous with Service

 

 

Text: Ephesians 3:1-13 (vs 7)

Thesis: It is because of God’s Great Grace that we are given the profound privilege of serving.

 

1. The Apostle Paul proclaims his “Apostleship” is a gift of grace from God. (vs 1-13)

 

1. In the previous verses we learned that our salvation is a gift of grace.

(See Ephesians 2:8-9)

 

1. Paul makes it clear, to be called by God into service, is a gift of grace also.
2. We have the privilege of serving God because He is gracious.
3. To serve God is a high calling.
4. When we are in God’s service, we are literally working along side the Holy Triune Godhead.

• God the Father- “Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (John 5:17)
• God the Son- “Not my will but thine.” (Luke 2:42)
• God the Holy Spirit- “But the Advocate (Counselor), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

 

1. Paul teaches in working for God, we all have been given a variety of gifts. (Turn to Romans 12:1-8)

 

1. Note, not every person has been given the same gift. (Read again verses 4-6)
2. Paul makes it clear, even though we have different gifts, we are one body, in Christ.
3. Paul also makes it clear; we belong to one another and need one another.

(Romans 12:1:5)

1. We are called to use our gifts with proficiency.
2. Let us serve God with dignity and honor!
3. We are a “Royal Priesthood”

 

-“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter2:9)

 We are “Ambassadors” of God.

  

-“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20)

 

Worship Service Video Podcast - May 30, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "Saved to Serve"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.

The End of Kingdom Barriers - May 30, 2021

By Pastor Chuck Ryan

The End of Kingdom Barriers

 

Text: Ephesians 2:11-22; Romans 1:16

Thesis: Jesus destroyed the barriers that separated mankind from God.                                            

I.  As Gentiles (non-Jewish people) we were once foreigners to the Covenant God         made with Abraham. (11-13)

1. Paul makes it clear to the Gentile people when he wrote, “remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” (vs13)
2. God made a covenant with Abraham.

     "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. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."(Genesis 12:2-3)

2. Salvation came through Abraham’s son Isaac, the father of the Jewish people.

     “Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” (Genesis 17:19)

1. As a non-Jewish person we were on the outside looking in, until Jesus came. (Read verse 13)

• Paul States, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
•  

1. “Jesus destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” that kept us                 out of the Kingdom of God. (vs 14-18)
2. The curtain that separated the Holy of Holies was “torn in two” removed.

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.” (Matthew 27:50-51)

1. In Christ Jesus we are all one.

• “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28)
•  

              III. We have been made members of God’s household, citizens of God’s King               dom and no longer foreigners. (vs 19-22)

 

 

 

Worship Service Video Podcast - May 23, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "Saved to Serve"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.

Saved to Serve - May 23, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Ryan

Saved to Serve

 

Text: Ephesians 2:1-10

Thesis: God in His great love and mercy saves us and grants us the privilege to serve Him.

 

1. Saved from Sin. (vs1-3)

 

1. The Apostle Paul states clearly that every person is born in sin, a captive of Satan and separated from God.

• “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1Cor.15:22)
• “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

1. Article of Faith V. “Sin, Original and Personal “states, (Read)
2. Article of Faith VI “Atonement” regarding children states, (Read)

 

1. Saved by Grace. (vs4-9)

 

1. We are born into the family of God.
2. Paul states because of “God’s love for us and mercy God made us alive in Christ.”

• “You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:17)
• “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev. 3:20)
• “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

2. “We are saved by Grace”
3. “Through Faith”
4. “Not from yourself.”
5. “It is a gift”

III. Saved to Serve. (vs 10)

 

1. “We are God’s workmanship”

• “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
• “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalms 139:14)

1. “created in Christ Jesus to do good works,”

• “Jesus said, ‘just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

1. “which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

• "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)

 

“What on earth are you doing for Heaven’s sake?”

Worship Service Video Podcast - May 16, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "A Noble Prayer"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.

A Noble Prayer - May 16, 2021

By Pastor Chuck Ryan

A Noble Prayer

 

Text: Ephesians 1:17-23; 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 “The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, "Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.”

 

Thesis: The prayers of a mature Christian will include Spiritual request. God wants us to be spiritually minded.

 

1. The Prayer of the Apostle Paul, for his Church family, is concerning their Spiritual needs. (vs 17-19)

 

1. Paul states, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (vs17)

 

1. The Holy Spirit can give us “Wisdom and Revelation.”

 

1. Paul’s concern is not that we have wisdom and revelation to gain temporal things.
2. Relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular.

synonyms:

secular · nonspiritual · worldly · profane · material · mundane · earthly  · nonreligious ·  

carnal · fleshly · mortal

• “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

 

1. The Apostle Paul’s desire is “that you may know him better.”
2. Our main goal as Christians is to get to know Jesus better.

• “The main thing, is to keep the main thing, the main thing!”

1. Paul also prays, “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened”
2. “That you may know the hope to which he has called you.”
3. “That you may know the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
4. “That you may know his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

 

1. The evidence of God’s power was demonstrated in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the “seating of Jesus on the right hand in the heavenly realms.” (vs 20-23)

 

1. Jesus defeated our final enemy which is death.

• “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26)
• Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

 

1. God seated Jesus on his right side and placed everything under his rule and dominion. (Read vs 21-23; Colossians 1:15-23)

 

 

Worship Service Video Podcast, May 9, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "Mom Seen through the Lens of God's Word"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.

Mom Seen through the Lens of God's Word - May 9, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Ryan

Mom Seen through the Lens of God’s Word

 Text: Proverbs: 31:10-31

Thesis: “God could not be everywhere, and so He created mothers.”                                -Jewish Proverb

 “A mother is clothed with strength and dignity.” (vss25&30)

1. Mothers, God will empower you to accomplish your calling.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

1. The Godly mother instills eternal values into her children.
2. Motherhood is an irreplaceable position.
3. A Praying mother is a powerful mom.
4. Mother’s instill confidence in their sons.
5. Mothers help little girls become women.
6. A Godly mother can “laugh at the days to                            come.”(v25b)
7. A Godly mother is “industrious.” (Re-read vs. 13-22)

There are 6 characteristics describing the industrious mom.

1. She is an early riser. (vs.15a)
2. She cooks for her family.(15b)
3. She is a business woman who makes major purchases. (vs.16)
4. She is wise in business dealings. (vs. 18)
5. She is compassionate to the needy. (vs.20)
6. She prepares for the future. (vs21)

III. Her husband and her children will sing her praise.       (vs28-29)

1. Husbands do you love your wives by showing gratitude.?

1. Children do you honor your mothers?

Worship Service Video Podcast - May 2, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "Unity in the Family of God"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.