Category: Messages

“No Not One”- A Sermon on Romans 3:9-20

On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MessagesLeave a comment

This week I had the opportunity to preach on Romans 3:9-20. What an incredible passage! This text is one of the clearest expressions of mankind’s universal need for a Savior. If we understand Paul’s words rightly, we will be much better positioned to understand and appreciate Christ and the salvation he provides.

Here’s the text if you want to follow along:

“9What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;
11     no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
    they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14     “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:9-20 ESV).

Anointed for Death: John 12:1-8

On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MessagesLeave a comment

As I write, we are in the middle of holy week. In the biblical timeline, Jesus has entered Jerusalem to the triumphal cries of “Hosanna.” But this exhilarating moment was short-lived. The shouts begin to fade as Jesus moves closer and closer to the hour. This transition can be seen in what takes place in the house of Lazarus shortly after Jesus enters the city. There, a familiar story occurs that reminds us of the basis of our faith and what it looks like to live it. We read in John 12:1-8,

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” (John 12:1-8 ESV)

This passage teaches us that Jesus is more valuable than anything in life because of who he is and what he accomplished in his death. Let’s take a look at it a little more closely.

1. The worth of Jesus.

    While Lazarus, Jesus, and his disciples are reclining at the dinner table, Mary brings an expensive ointment and pours it on Jesus’ feet. John notes that this ointment is made of pure nard, and that once it was poured it on Jesus’ feet, Mary began to wipe it with her hair. Why did Mary do this? Because she recognized the supreme worth of Jesus.

    First, she used an ointment that was worth three hundred denarii, about a year’s worth of wages. Second, she attended to his feet, which was servant’s work. And third, she wipes Jesus feet with her hair, a symbol of a woman’s honor. Mary’s action is one of humility, love, and intense personal devotion.

    When Matthew records the same story, he mentions not only Judas, but the rest of the disciples thought that this was a “waste” (Matt 26:8). But Jesus didn’t. He responds by saying, “she has done a beautiful thing for me (Matt 26:10). He knew what it was- a declaration that Mary knew Jesus’ worth and was ready to give up anything to follow him.

    Mary embodies Jim Elliot’s famous quote, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose.” She is the epitome of the man who sold all that he had to purchase a field that contained a great treasure (Matt 13:44). She is another example of the merchant who sold everything he had to purchase the pearl of great price (Matt 13:45-46). She recognized how valuable the kingdom of heaven was. But more than that, she recognized the supreme worth and beauty of the KING of the kingdom of heaven.

    Can I ask you- What does your devotion to Jesus look like? Does it cost you anything? Time? Friends? Hobbies? Saying what you want to say when and to whom you want to say it? Living how you want to live? A secret sin? I fear that many of us and our families are willing to follow Jesus so long as it doesn’t really cost us anything- our autonomy, our dreams for us or for our kids, our Sundays, our finances, our time, etc. What we need, then, is to recognize the areas we tend to hold back, and ask God to help us surrender them to Christ by the power of the Spirit.

    Continue reading “Anointed for Death: John 12:1-8” →

    You Should Regularly Pray This! (Colossians 1:9-14)

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Devotionals, Imago Dei Class, Messages1 Comment

    What should I pray for consistently? Aside from our immediate needs (health, jobs, direction), we often do not know what we should pray about or who we should pray for. We don’t know how or what to pray for our own spiritual lives, much less the lives of our fellow church members or friends. Thankfully, God’s Word shows us the what and the how!

    This week we continue our study of Colossians  by studying 1:9-14, where Paul moves from his opening greeting and thanksgiving to encouraging the Colossians by giving them insight into how and what he prays for them. He does this to show them that God is answering their prayers and to model for them what they are to pray for, look for, and rejoice in.

    I think Paul highlights two main prayer requests here, requests that all of us should regularly pray for ourselves and other believers in our lives:

    1. To be filled with the knowledge of God’s will (1:9)

    Paul’s first request is that the Colossians would be “filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual insight” (v. 9). The “will” and “insight” that he has in mind here is not the specifics regarding who to marry or which job to take, but God’s will for all his people- the will to know his Son and walk with Him.

    How do I know that? Because Paul tells his readers why he prays this for them, “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (v. 10).” The kind of spiritual understanding he is praying for is understanding what God wants (to trust his Son) and what kind of life is pleasing and honoring to his Son.

    Paul then describes the kind of life, or “walk,” that is pleasing to the Son. First, it is a walk that bears fruit. “Fruit” is the tangible evidence of God’s work in and through us. It includes spiritual growth, holiness, and having an eternal impact through our ministry (and yes, everyone is called to minister wherever God plants them!).

    Bearing fruit is using the gifts God has given us, in dependence upon the Spirit who dwells inside us, to impact those around us. It is becoming more and more like Jesus, and because of that, introducing more and more people to Jesus.

    “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should last,” Jesus said in John 15:16. These words were spoken to his original disciples, but they apply to all his disciples. Our Lord is pleased when we bear fruit![1]

    The second aspect of a walk that is pleasing to the Lord is a life marked by “increasing in the knowledge of God.” Jesus does not save us just so we can labor for his kingdom and see fruit in our ministries. We aren’t just servants, but friends and children of God (John 15:15). He wants us to see fruit in our relationship with God. He wants us to growin our knowledge of God. He wants to see our capacity for a relationship with God to deepen. And that happens as we grow in our knowledge of God.

    We can spend so much of our time praying about and being consumed with the little details of our life. Its not that God doesn’t care about those, but what he is primarily concerned with, as was Paul, is that we understand his will and walk in a manner worthy of Christ. If we do that, all the little things will fall into place. For example, our youth pastor regularly tells high school students to not be primarily focused on where God wills for them to go to college but who God wills for them to be wherever they go. That last piece- the who he calls us to be- that’s the knowledge of his will, and that knowledge applies to not only college choices, but to every area of our lives.

    Continue reading “You Should Regularly Pray This! (Colossians 1:9-14)” →

    The True Gospel & Worldwide Fruit (Colossians 1:1-8)

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Imago Dei Class, Messages1 Comment

    This week we will begin our Colossians series by studying the first eight verses of the book. These verses contain Paul’s opening greetings, which includes his declaration of authorship, official address, and thanksgiving. Too often opening greetings are skimmed over, but there’s plenty here to learn about the nature of the gospel, the role of faith, and the responsibility of those who are ministers of the gospel.

    1. Reason for Thanksgiving (1:3-5)

    After his customary extension of grace and peace to his brothers and sisters in Christ at Colossae, Paul tells them that he always gives thanksto Godfor them. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Col 1:3). Then he tells them why he gives thanks for them, “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (Col 1:4-5).

    Why is Paul thankful for the Colossians? First, because he has heard of their faith in Christ Jesus (v. 4). Second, because their faith in Christ has produced the natural fruit of loving each other (v. 4). And third, because their faith is not in vain, but is rooted in a sure hope that is laid up for them in heaven (v. 5).

    When we look at our own lives or the lives of believers around us, these same things should encourage us and lead us to thanksgiving. We should be thankful for genuine faith in Christ. Thankful for the Spirit bringing real fruit from our faith in our lives. Thankful that our faith will result in a future inheritance in heaven.

    Simply put, Paul is thankful that real Christianity has taken root at Colossae. People have trusted Christ, are loving one another, and are living with their gaze fixed on heaven. If we, our church, or our families are doing the same, let us thank God; it all comes from Him!

    Continue reading “The True Gospel & Worldwide Fruit (Colossians 1:1-8)” →

    Why Did Jesus Turn Water Into Wine?

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Messages1 Comment

    Why did Jesus perform His first miracle at a wedding? And why was that miracle the turning of water into wine? Was He simply demonstrating His power, helping His mother and friends out, or was something greater going on here? Could this seemingly insignificant miracle set the stage for His life and ministry? Listen and find out!

    Here’s my notes from this talk:

    Jesus Stories- Jesus Turns Water to Wine (John 2.1-11)Download

    Psalm 98- Why and How We Should Sing Praise

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MessagesLeave a comment

    Today we are going to take a look at Psalm 98 together. This psalm helps us with something that we do every week: sing worship to God. But Psalm 98 has much broader implications than just singing. Though its only nine verses, it encompasses the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation and encourages us to celebrate that story through songs of praise.

    Singing praise is central to the Christian life. We sing praise every week as the gathered body of Christ. But do we know why we sing praise? Do we know how to sing praise? Do we know how to make praise a part of our everyday life? Let’s remember, it is to the holy God of the universe that we are called to render this praise; we should not take such an endeavor lightly!

    Thankfully, we have Psalm 98 to guide our way. The big idea of the psalm is this: we should praise God in the present by remembering what He has done in the past and looking forward to what He will do in the future. Let’s consider the components of this idea in turn.

    Continue reading “Psalm 98- Why and How We Should Sing Praise” →

    The Most Important Aspect of Leadership

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Messages, MinistryLeave a comment

    What is the most important aspect of leadership? Character. God values character over every other facet of leadership. When He lists the qualifications for the leaders of His people in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, all except one are character-based. Only one is performance based- “able to teach.” So if we want to be effective leaders who bring God glory, we must pursue character. But what is character? What kind of character do we need to have? How do we pursue it? And what do we do when we fail in our pursuit of it? We discuss all of these questions and more in the recording below from our Adult Bible Study at Glen Haven.

    What Every Christian Should Believe About the Bible

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MessagesLeave a comment

    Transcript: We are beginning a new series called What We Believe, where we will be going through eleven different sections of the Baptist Faith & Message, the confession we ascribe to as a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. Last week we explained why we are a Southern Baptist Church and gave a brief history on the use of confessions in church history and specifically the Baptist Faith and Message.

    By way of review, confessions are written statements of faith that seek to clearly state what the Scriptures teach. Most confessions have sections on Scripture, God, Salvation, The Church, and so on. They are very useful because they summarize what the Bible teaches on a given topic in a clear and concise manner. These summaries can foster unity and provide doctrinal fidelity among church members, church associations, mission organizations, seminaries, etc. But they can also serve as teaching material. That is why we are using our confession of faith as the basis for a series on what we believe.

    Why should we study what we believe? Because there is no graduating beyond the foundational truths of Christianity. We need to be constantly reminded and nourished by the tenets of our theology. They encourage us, enliven us, and give us confident assurance in every season. Without knowing what we believe, we will be like a ship without a rudder, tossed around by every faddish trend or belief system. In fact, one such trend in the church is to downplay the importance of doctrine and theology and focus on the practice of Christianity. Such a trend leaves its church members like cut flowers in a vase- they may look alive for a while, but they will wither and die for lack of roots.

    We also need to know what we believe so that we can communicate those beliefs with others. It is very difficult to teach someone something that you don’t know much about. ‘Others’ may include your children, family members, other church members, your neighbors, and even strangers. Our task is to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that Christ taught us. How can we do that without knowing what He has taught us?

    I could go on, but for the sake of time, I am going to assume we’re in agreement on the necessity of studying What We Believe. Tonight we are going to begin with the foundation of all our beliefs, including the foundation of confessions like these: the Word of God.

    As we expound this article of the BFM, I want you to consider these questions: What is it that I believe about the Bible? Do my beliefs match our confession? And then: Does my life reflect my beliefs? That is where the rubber meets the road. Let’s begin.

    Continue reading “What Every Christian Should Believe About the Bible” →

    James 5:7-12: Being Patient Until Jesus Returns

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MessagesLeave a comment

    Sermon Manuscript:

    Please turn with me to the book of James, chapter 5:7-12. The main idea of our text this morning is patience. Patience is a difficult subject to discuss. It is something that we all know that we need, but we often fail to possess. It is something that we want and admire in others, but in a tough moment, we do not want it and are aggravated by those who have it. But for followers of Jesus, patience is an integral part of our faith. We are commanded to “be patient.” Patience is a defining mark of love, according to 1 Cor. 13. It is a fruit of the Spirit, according to Galatians 5. To remain impatient is not an option for the Christian.

    I confess from the outset that I have not mastered the art of patience. I struggle with impatience frequently. In fact, it may be one of the sins that I struggle with the most! So I come before you today to proclaim what James says about patience. Or better yet, what God says about patience through James. Not to tell you what I am proficient in. But it is my prayer that God, through the preaching of His Word and the power of His Spirit, may equip each of us this morning to grow in being patient for our good and His glory.

    Continue reading “James 5:7-12: Being Patient Until Jesus Returns” →