Liberti Church Mermaid Beach Sermons

The significance of the incarnation of Jesus Christ can be lost under the pile of activities we undertake during this festive season. Three things to consider in this season: God had been preparing to give us this gift long before Bethlehem, Jesus is a gift that we desperately need and the first advent is preparation for a second advent. Christmas means that God wants to be near us.

King Nebuchadnezzar has another frightening dream, and calls on Daniel to provide an interpretation. The dream shows him that he must either renounce his self-righteousness and control to God, or be cut down like the great tree in his dream. Like King Nebuchadnezzar, we are given a warning of judgement coming our way. The good news is we are also given a way out, by heeding God’s warning and returning to His ways.

In this world Christians can be sure of two things: 1) They will have many fiery trials; 2) God will meet them in the fire. A gospel-shaped people have been given the power to love the world, without bowing to it.

Daniel and his friends faced a seemingly impossible situation. Removed from their homeland and taken away as captives to Babylon, they now find themselves facing a powerful combination of isolation, indoctrination, seduction, and oppression. Babylon was dedicated to eradicating any remembrance of their true homeland, their true identity, and the true God. And yet in the midst of the most hostile city in the world, Daniel and his friends thrived. Like Daniel, believers today can thrive in cultural exile when we remember that God is in control and that God is with us. When we remember that God is in control, we grow in humility. When we remember that God is with us, we grow in courage. If we are to bless our surrounding culture without bowing to it, God’s people need both.viber

If you’ve been around church you’ve probably heard the concept of tithing. Is tithing to be seen as an obligation to endure or rather an opportunity to embrace? The good news is, the principle of tithing is no longer a religious requirement to fulfil the law but rather a joyful responsibility to support the gospel. Because God did not withhold himself from us, we will not withhold ourselves or our money from Him. Through a lens of Christ, we are able to give joyfully, regularly and sacrificially to support the work of the gospel and the word of God advancing forward. No longer are we restricted to a tithe but freed to reveal with our finances where the grace of God has reached us so we can reach others.

The reality of suffering and evil has scraped and shaped every single one of us. Each of us has shaken our head at the state of the world and wondered, “Why, God?” And yet the problem of suffering and evil is not unique to Christianity; it demands an explanation from every worldview and religion. In this message we see that not only does Christianity give the best explanation of why there is suffering and evil, but that Christ alone gives the resources we most deeply need in order to face them without despair. While we are not always clearly shown the answer to our individual questions of ‘why?’ when suffering invades our lives, God does give to all who trust in Jesus a ‘what’, a ‘who’, and a ‘when.’

Have you ever wondered if you can really trust the Bible? Questions covered: 1. How do you know you can trust the bible when the gospels weren’t even written down until somewhere between 40-60 years later? 2. How can you be sure that the bible says what it originally said? 3. How did the bible come into being?