The Word from Mountain View

Unity in the Family of God - May 2, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Ryan

Unity in The Family of God

Text: Ephesians 1: 15-16; 1 Peter 4:7-11

Thesis: As Christians we are called to “Put our faith in the Lord Jesus and to love the saints.”

1. The Apostle Paul loves the family of God.
2. There is an excitement in his writings about this Church!

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith…Your love…I have not stopped giving thanks for you…”

1. There are reasons to get excited about. Hopefully, they are seeing spiritual progress in our church family.
2. In the Church we will find Christian’s with a variety of spiritual maturity levels.
3. There will be those seeking to know Christ, babes in Christ, spiritual toddlers in Christ, spiritual teenagers in Christ, and spiritually mature Christians.

“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.” (Philippians 1:6)

2. Christians must extend grace to others based on their spiritual maturity level.
3. Granted, some should be more mature than they are. Paul acknowledges this problem in the Corinthian Church.

“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (1Corintians 3:2)

1. Paul’s excitement stemmed from their evidence of maturity.

“…I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for the saint (born-again believers).”

1. The Ephesian Christians had matured to the degree that they were able to put “their faith in the Lord Jesus and to love all of the saints.”
2. We can put our faith in all sorts of things (money, intellect, government, other people, health, etc.) but real maturity is when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus.
3. We must learn to make Jesus our Lord and Savior.

“For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Mathew 6:32-33)

1. The maturity level of the Ephesians was also recognized in “their love for the saints.”
2. Jesus gave this new command to His disciples, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:12-14)
3. Jesus was speaking to His disciples. (His mobile Church family)
4. God calls us to be “our brother and sisters’ keeper.”
5. There are some people that will require you to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to love, but still, you must love them!
6. Love makes it possible to forgive!!!

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1Peter 4:8)

 

 

Worship Service Video Podcast - April 25, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "Those He Foreknew He Predestined"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.

Those He Foreknew He Predestined - April 25, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Ryan

 

“Those He Foreknew He Predestined”

 

Text: Ephesians 1:3-14

Thesis: Our relationship with God is a dynamic, encompassing both God reaching down to mankind through Jesus Christ (See John 3:16), and the need for each individual to accept Jesus as their personal savior. (Revelations 3:20)

 

1. Every Spiritual blessing comes from “God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (vs 3)
2. The writer to the Book of James affirms the words of the Apostle when he says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
3. Luke states the Holy Spirit is the greatest gift.

 -“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13)

1. The Apostle not only begins this passage proclaiming God’s Spiritual blessings but concludes by saying, “Holy Spirit is promised Seal, guaranteeing our salvation.” (Read verse 11)
2. Jesus asked God the Father to send the Holy Spirit.

-“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

1. The Apostle Paul acknowledges both God’s Sovereignty and man’s Freewill. (vs 4-14)
2. “He chose us in him before the creation of the world.” (vs 4a)
3. God is “all-knowing”, and his foreknowledge is aware of us before we were born.

-"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)

2. The Apostle Paul explains that God’s “foreknowledge precedes his predestination of believers in Romans 8: 28-29. Paul also speaks of “Foreknowledge and Predestination as two separate activities of God’s Divine nature.

-“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

3. Foreknowledge does not equal control but awareness.
4. God is totally aware of those who will accept his Son and Predestines them “to conform to the image of his Son.”

-“in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ” (s vs12a)

-“And you also were included in Christ Jesus when the word of truth, the gospel of salvation. Having believed… (vs13b)

1. Our relationship with God is a dynamic, encompassing both God reaching down to mankind through Jesus Christ (See John 3:16), and the need for each individual to personally accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. (Revelations 3:20)
2. God does not force anyone to serve him but respects every person’s right to choose him or reject him.

 

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Worship Service Video Podcast - April 18, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "Grace Extenders"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.

Grace Extenders - April 18, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Ryan

Grace Extenders

Text: Ephesians 1:1-2

Thesis: We are called to allow God to love people through us.

 

1. The Apostle Paul reveals his Spiritual credentials. (1a)

 

1. Paul was making it clear, to all who would listen, that he “was sent out” (Apostle) by Jesus Christ “by the will of God.”

-“Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” (1Corintians 15:8)

1. We need to know God has called us.

-“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

2. We need to be able to explain to the unchurched that it is God’s will that we proclaim Jesus Christ.

-“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 Corinthians 5:20)

-“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Mathew 28:19)

 

1. The Apostle Paul addressed the Ephesian Christians as “saints” and “the faithful in Christ Jesus. (1b)

 

1. If you are a “born-again” (John 3:7) believer, you are a “saint” Spiritually and not morally.
2. In this life, by the power of God we can be “Saved” and “Sanctified” but not “Glorified”. When we die in Christ Jesus we will experience “Glorification”.

 

2. Our righteousness is because of the saving and cleanse work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

-“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

3. 
   This is the reason, as “Saints”, we remain humble.

 

1. Paul’s assessment of the Ephesian Christians is that they are “faithful in Christ Jesus.”

-“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” (Matthew 24:45-46)

 

III. The Apostle Paul extends grace and peace to the Ephesians Christians on behalf of God. (Read vs2)

 

1. The Apostle Paul was a “Grace Extender” and a peace maker.
2. There are many opportunities to extend grace to fellow believers and non-believers alike.
3. These opportunities to extend grace can become God-Moments!
4. To “turn the other cheek”, show respect, love the unlovable and being kind to those that are unkind is to be like Jesus.
5. Grace and Peace have their capital in Christ Jesus.

-“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” (John 17:14-16)

Worship Service Video Podcast - April 11, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "Meet With Jesus"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.

Meet With Jesus - April 11, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Ryan

Meet With Jesus

Text: Matthew 28:1-10

Thesis: In our prayer times we must learn to talk with Jesus instead of just talking at Jesus.

 

1. The Angel shares the message of God. God wants the ladies to seek Jesus!

“He has risen from the dead and is going into Galilee, ‘There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (vs 7c)

1. There may be a need for you to restructure your prayer time.
2. There are morning prayer times, evening prayer times, prayer times when you pray with others, but do you have a time when you meet with Jesus alone for a conversational prayer time.

• And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place and was praying there. ( Mark 1:35)
• And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, he departed to the mountain to pray. ( Mark 6:45-46)
• And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them. ( Luke 4:42)
• But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. ( Luke 5:16)
• And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12)

 The Ladies sought Jesus out with all their hearts. (read vs7-8)

“Suddenly Jesus met them.” (vs9a)

1. Scripture is consistent throughout the Bible that if we want to experience God we must seek Him with all our heart.

• “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
• “Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find and knock, and the door shall be open.” (Matthew 7:7)

1. Meeting with Jesus will produce richness in your relationship!

1^stSecurity- because you will know Jesus exists and he saves you now!

2^ndWisdom-because you will learn how best to go about your day, how to address your problems, how to deal with a difficult person or steps to accomplish a task.

3^rdJoy-because there is an excitement to encountering the living God.

 

Easter Video Worship Service - April 4, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "Up from the Grave He Arose"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.

Up from the Grave He Arose - April 4, 2021

Easter Sunday

with Pastor Chuck Ryan

Up From the Grave He Arose

Text: Matthew 27:50-28:7

Thesis: Jesus Christ Destroyed the Power of Death

1. “Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior, waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!” (Matthew 27:50-56)
2. The death of Jesus brought darkness on the land from noon until 3pm.
3. The death of Jesus was observed by many.

- ‘When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the           earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

- “Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.”

1. The death of Jesus was a reality!

 

1. “Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior, vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!” (Matthew 57-66)
2. Joseph of Arimathea, who became a disciple of Jesus obtained the body of Christ from Pontius Pilate.
3. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, and he demonstrated great courage in seeking Jesus’ body.
4. Joseph was wealthy and placed Jesus in a first-class tomb.

Tomb came complete with a large stone to provide proper securement of the body.

“He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance of the tomb and went away.”

3. The ladies observed the secure burial of Jesus.
4. The Pharisees, in fear of Jesus’ body being stolen, went to Pilate and requested Jesus’ tomb be heavily guarded.

- "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

III. “Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior; vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!” (Matthew 28: 1-7)

1. Even with the confirmation of death, the best of Tombs, complete with a large stone, and an elite Roman guard Jesus could not be contained in the grave!!!

 - “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”

1. The women went to anoint the dead body of Jesus but were met by an Angel of God.

“The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

“Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!”

 

Worship Service Video Podcast - March 28, 2021

WORSHIP SERVICE

video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church.

Sermon by Pastor Chuck Ryan, "The Rocks Will Cry Out"

Find Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here.