Sermon Snippets With Max Taylor podcast

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Revelation 3:7-13 This is the loyal church, and how we should wish to be characterized this way. This church was not impressive—they had little strength, were little in number, relatively out on their own, and misunderstood by those around them—but they are directed by God, reliant upon His strength, and assured of the destruction of the wicked. Some of the encouragements we can glean from this section are (1) God opens and closes doors in our lives, (2) we are to be an outpost for the gospel in the world, (3) God will keep us from the tribulation, and (4) we must focus on being faithful. Philadelphia: the Loyal church I. The Location (literal local church) “Brotherly love” is something Sardis lacked The city was a gateway to the east from the west, an outpost of Hellenization, small but had a big impact on spreading Greek culture It was a loyal frontier city with an over-sized reputation, it became known for surviving through resilience, going on for centuries even being built on a fault line that brought earthquakes and volcanos II. The Likeness of Christ He that is holy, true, and has the keys of David He openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) God opens and closes doors Ecclesiastes 7:13 They had little strength, but God supplied the rest We must withstand being misunderstood (by the early Jews and later by the Catholics) We will be kept from the hour of temptation 1 Thessalonians 5:9 God’s judgment of the wicked is an act of mercy to us, making our suffering not for nothing IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) Represents the missionary age from the 19th century until now V. The Lesson for us (type of church) Our job is to hold fast to what we have been given We will stand and give account for what we did with the glorious gospel…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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119. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 14: Church #5 - Sardis 15:00

8 days ago15:00

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Revelation 3:1-6 The church at Sardis teaches us lessons about formalism or dead ritualism. Perhaps this comes out most frequently in some interpretations of end times. Christ tells us to watch for His appearing and not defile our garments, and to those who do this, he promises white raiment when we are with Him in heaven. That is to be our hope in this life! Sardis: the Lifeless church I. The Location (literal local church) They were prosperous and full of immorality Located on cliffs, it was thought to be secure, but the city failed to be watchful and Cyrus king of Persia took over the city About 300 years later, the Greeks overtook the city the same way II. The Likeness of Christ Christ that has the seven Spirits of God—making alive III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) This church had grown cold and ritualistic, they were wrapped up in formalism, but they were devoid of God’s power in their lives IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) Historically, this perfectly marks the reformation era in church history The Catholic Church had become so secular and politically mainstream that people began to yearn for a return to Scripture The reformation accomplished some good things, they “made a name for themselves” in areas such as justification by faith, study of the Word of God, and a focus on the glory of God But the reformed denominations were just as ritualistic and formal as the Catholic Church, just in their own way (exercising hierarchy, persecuting dissenters, emphasizing rigid externals) They made a name for themselves but were ritualistic and dead V. The Lesson for us (type of church) A steadfast belief in the second coming of Christ is necessary for a Christian to be alive and filled with the power of God Right eschatology is necessary for living hope Many churches today teach post-millennial eschatology and interpret prophecy through a partial-preterist lens (the belief that many of the judgments prophesied in the New Testament and Daniel were fulfilled in the first century rather than in the distant future). This is the puritan or historical reformed eschatology, it looks good, but it’s dead. But watch what Christ says We are told to watch, strengthen the things that remain, remember the word of God, hold fast, and repent He repeats the instruction to watch We are called to live pure and holy lives as we wait for His coming The reward for waiting is that He will come!…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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118. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 13: Church #4 - Thyatira 15:00

15 days ago15:00

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Revelation 2:18-29 The church at Thyatira represents an age in history when the Christian church became mandatory, and that is not a good thing. In the letter to this church, Christ instructs them that He is the true Son of God, that they should not tolerate false teaching, and that we can look forward to the coming kingdom when the world will be made right. All of these things should encourage us today as we strive to live for the Lord. Thyatira: the Licentious church I. The Location (literal local church) This was a smaller city Dominated by trade guilds and commerce Religiously very pluralistic II. The Likeness of Christ Son of God, establishing deity Eyes of fire, depicting judgment Feet of brass, depicting authority III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) Commends their works, charity, service, faith, patience, and works Condemns their tolerance of false doctrine, they had an indifference towards truth, immoral mixing with the world, eating things sacrificed to idols We need to be extremely careful with those who claim to be teachers of the Bible It seems the self-proclaimed prophetess ‘Jezebel’ must have encouraged or justified participation in pagan associations and clubs We must reference the Word of God to know how we ought to live - we must study and commit to God’s commands and principles Not everyone had gone along with the undermining of Christian living To these, Jesus offered encouragement to continue holding fast IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) The Roman Catholic Church period was a time of mixing paganism with Christianity Truth became secondary to works, ungodly sacraments, and rituals Some in this time continued to guard and follow the truth V. The Lesson for us (type of church) Don’t justify or excuse living like the godless world Those who remain committed to the Lord will rule with Him when He sets up His kingdom of righteousness, we will be able to fully embrace the world when the world is made right…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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117. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 12: Church #3 - Pergamos 15:00

22 days ago15:00

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Revelation 2:14-17 The goal was to spend one week per church, but we are taking a week to catch up. Pergamos teaches us that we should not grow comfortable in the world or begin to tolerate ungodliness. The world uses harsh persecution, false teaching, subtle enticement, and many other tactics to draw us away from Christ, but we must allow the truth of God’s Word to cut through the lies of society. If we stay faithful to God, we will be filled and we will find our identity in Him. Pergamos: the Lax church I. The Location (literal local church) The capital of Asia Minor, seat of authority In the course of the world and of geopolitics The church was prone to be mixed with the world Many compromised to join the culture’s welcome (verse) One of the greatest dangers of the Pergamos mentality is the subtle lie that if you live your life totally devoted to God, it will be a waste In some ways, persecution is easier to bear because it is direct opposition, whereas the tendency to compromise and give into a welcoming environment can be harder in some cases I really think II. The Likeness of Christ God’s Word discerns our hearts III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) The good, after Christ and good examples Holding fast the name of Christ Not denying the faith Antipas, the faithful martyr - look at him, he was all-in for the Lord and look where it got him, it cost him his life… what a waste… but God praises him and uses his example as a model and a mentor that we should follow. It is good to have godly role models and be 1 The bad, described in doctrine Doctrine of Balaam - idolatry of the heart Doctrine of the Nicolaitans - clergy rules the laity IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) Following the persecution, the church became accepted in Rome This church mirrors the time period from roughly AD 300-600 The church became accepted and adopted elements of the world V. The Lesson for us (type of church) Repent of the comfortableness with the world The Word of God cuts through the error of society The saved will be filled and will find a new identity in Christ…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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116. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 11: Church #3 - Pergamos 15:00

29 days ago15:00

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Revelation 2:12-17 In some ways, persecution is easier to bear than the invitation to join the world because persecution is direct opposition, whereas compromise can seem inviting. One of the greatest dangers of the Pergamos mentality is the subtle lie that if you live your life totally devoted to God, it will be a waste. But if we follow after Christ, find clarity in His World, and look at the godly role models around us, we can have the right perspective. Don’t believe the lies and propaganda of the idolatrous world, let God’s Word divide out the truth. Pergamos: the Lax church I. The Location (literal local church) The capital of Asia Minor, seat of authority In the course of the world and of geopolitics The church was prone to be mixed with the world Many compromised to join the culture’s welcome (verse) One of the greatest dangers of the Pergamos mentality is the subtle lie that if you live your life totally devoted to God, it will be a waste In some ways, persecution is easier to bear because it is direct opposition, whereas the tendency to compromise and give into a welcoming environment can be harder in some cases I really think II. The Likeness of Christ God’s Word discerns our hearts III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) The good, after Christ and good examples Holding fast the name of Christ Not denying the faith Antipas, the faithful martyr - look at him, he was all-in for the Lord and look where it got him, it cost him his life… what a waste… but God praises him and uses his example as a model and a mentor that we should follow. It is good to have godly role models and be 1…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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115. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 10: Church #2 - Smyrna 15:00

5 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 2:8-11 The church at Smyrna was intensely persecuted because they did not conform to the idolatry that was required of them. And they suffered for it. Some of the main lessons from this church are that we have the strongest fragrance for Christ when we are pressured by persecution, riches are only found in Christ, and we have a different perspective than the world—an eternal perspective—that allows us to be faithful even unto death. May we have courage like the believers of Smyrna did. Smyrna: the Lacerated church I. The Location (literal local church) Smyrna was a thriving commercial Roman city, a center of business They had a temple to the emperor, where worship to caesar was required Citizens had to offer a pinch of incense on the altar to the emperor Christians were excluded from the economic successes of Smyrna If you have seen the movie Polycarp, it describes this city There was intense persecution here, and many Christians caved The name means “crushed” signifying the making of Myrrh, an incense When myrrh is crushed, it gives off a sweet-smelling fragrance II. The Likeness of Christ “The first and the last” - unchanging, constant, outlasting “Which was dead, and is alive” - conquered death The embodiment and provider of eternal life He died, faced the ultimate persecution, to give us life Jesus knows… III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) Works, tribulation, and poverty for their steadfastness In the world’s estimate they were in poverty, but they were rich in Christ They were courageous in the face of pain and poverty They labeled things the way that God did Nothing negative is said about this church They are told to not fear, though things would not get better physically The reality that things might never get better in this life for us They were to stay faithful and stay focused on the eternal rewards IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) There were ten Roman emperors who intensely persecuted the church This was the period of AD 64-310 (extending beyond these churches) From the apostolic time to Emperor Constantine, ten great periods It would be intense, one right after the other But there was a light at the end of the persecution There was a beginning and an end Compared to eternity, it is brief V. The Lesson for us (type of church) We serve a Savior Who is alive and the author and finisher of our faith When we face persecution or exclusion, we are an incense to God True wealth and riches are found in Christ Live for the eternal rewards, not the circumstantial…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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114. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 9: Church #1 - Ephesus 15:00

6 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 2:1-7 We left off discussing the various views of these churches, and today we jump into the letter to the first of these churches. Christ presents Himself to the church at Ephesus—who had been given premier teaching on the church from Paul and the qualifications for church leaders through Paul’s letter to Timothy—as the One who cares for the messengers of the church and walks in the midst of His body. Most of the contents of this letter to Ephesus is praiseworthy, but there is a warning issued them to return to their first love. There is much for us to learn from the letter to this church. Ephesus: the Loveless church I. The Location (literal local church) #1 Very important Roman city in the province of Asia City of Diana the pagan Greek goddess Church Paul spent the most time at Timothy ministered there, as did John, possibly as elders Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is the masterpiece treatise on the church, there were no problems addressed in this epistle, contains spiritual depth, it is in the letter to Timothy we have the qualifications for pastor and deacon Gave his parting sermon in Acts 20 II. The Likeness of Christ Christ’s relationship with His church Caring for the elders and walking in the midst of the members III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) ✅Intolerance towards evil & error ✅Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans (domineering over the people) ✅Had remained faithful and patient in their works and labor ❎Left their first love Their fervor and affection was abated over time Probably due to trials due to their location IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) #3 Represents the Apostolic Age AD 70-170 This is a call to patience, to bear under great trials, to continue long in obedience V. The Lesson for us (type of church) #2 Wilmington’s helpful outline: Remember the faith they had loved (give their heads to Christ) Repent (give their hearts to Christ) Repeat their first works (give their hands to Christ)…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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113. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 8: Intro to the Churches 15:00

7 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 2-3 This is a really important part of Revelation because this is where we are living right now. This is the things which “are” so we should take note because it is written to our current time frame. In this first episode on these two chapters, we are introducing the seven churches and the three aspects of these churches as (1) literal local churches, (2) symbolic or types of churches, and (3) historic representative churches throughout the church age. Looking forward to jumping into the church of Ephesus next week!…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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112. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 7: The Layout of Revelation 15:00

8 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 1:17-20 John is here given the outline for the revelation he would record (1) the things which he had seen, (2) the things which were, and (3) the things which would be hereafter. When these last remaining things begin to happen, they will take place suddenly and in rapid succession (1:1). May we meditate on these things of eternal value and long to see the Lord face to face.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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111. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 6: Getting a Glimpse of Jesus 15:00

9 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 1:13-16 These verses give us a glimpse of Jesus, as He will be in the day of the Lord. For now, we can see Jesus as we study the truth of His Word, watch prophecy line up for His return, interact with other believers who are part of His Bride, and meditate upon Him personally. We need but to listen and turn and look as John did. And one day we will see—not just a glimpse of Jesus—but we will see Him as He is. That is what motivates us to purity and hope (1 John 3:2-3).…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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110. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 5: Christ In Our Midst 15:00

10 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 1:11-16 At the beginning of John’s vision, he hears the voice of God telling him to record the things he would see (beginning with a vision of Jesus Himself) to spread to the churches in the region. We then get a window into the voice and description of Jesus here. These verses remind us of how we have come to possess the Word of God and the privilege of being the church of God. Next week, we will pick up with this seven-fold vision of Jesus.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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109. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 4: On the Island But In the Spirit 15:00

11 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 1:9-10 In these two verses, we get a window into the life of John and what he was experiencing after his imprisonment and exile to the Isle of Patmos. But even there, his mind was on the Lord’s Day. They can imprison our bodies, but they cannot capture our hearts and minds. The important truth for us is that even when we feel exiled in this world and on an island spiritually, we can meditate on the culmination of God’s plan in our spirit.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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108. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 3: Seeing Christ 15:00

12 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 1:7-8 We will all see Christ return to earth, the question is how will we respond. Some will mourn over not believing Christ sooner, others will be angry that God is coming to crush wickedness, and those of us who are saved right now will actually return with Him and watch Him set up His kingdom. So how should we live right now? We should live with trust in God, believing that His way is best and that He will keep His promises. He is eternal and almighty, and nothing can interfere with His designs for human history. Ours is only to trust Him and live for Him.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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107. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 2: Behold, He Cometh 15:00

15 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 1:4-7 This closing book of prophecy was written in response to the question the disciples repeatedly asked Jesus while He was here. What mercy from God! And yet, how much time do we spend reading and analyzing our Lord’s long-awaited response? We pick up with some information on the Author, the audience, and the announcement in the next few verses. I'm really looking forward to getting deeper into this study!…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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106. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 1: A Blessing… If You Want It 15:00

16 weeks ago15:00

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Revelation 1:1-3 I am excited to go through the book of Revelation relying on my education at Christian college and great commentaries such as the one by Clarance Larkin. The purpose of this book is to reveal to us Jesus through His letters to the churches and His revelation to John. There is an unequivocal blessing to those who read, hear and keep these things… if you want it.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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105. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 21: Four Stabilizing Truths in the Silence 15:00

17 weeks ago15:00

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Inter-testamental Period I have these four statements written in my Bible between the books of Malachi and Matthew. These truths are mine! Whatever your silent period might be and however long it might last, you can cling to these four things relentlessly! If this has been a help to you, consider sharing this episode.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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104. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 20: The Final Word: Curse 15:00

18 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 4:5-6 In John the Baptist, we learn the encouraging lesson of how to deal with our struggles and doubts. And he may not be the entire fulfillment of this prophecy, the tribulation will tell whether Elijah will be one of the two witnesses in the final days. The alternative to heeding the message of repentance and the hope of the gospel is the curse, which is the last word of the Old Testament. May we heed the law spoken by God’s servant Moses and turn to Christ instead!…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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103. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 19: The Doubts of John the Baptist 15:00

20 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 4:5-6 John the Baptist came up back in Episode #97, or Part 13 of this study, where we mentioned his birth, life and ministry, and message of judgment. Today we see him mentioned again (as a type of Elijah) at the end of Malachi. This brings us to Matthew 11:1-15, where we see his doubts of Christ. Jesus lovingly responds by telling the people about John the Baptist and how he fulfilled the prophecy of the coming of Elijah. To those who might be struggling with doubts, this passage teaches us to deal with doubts by (1) looking to Christ - whether it be in the still small voice as with Elijah or in seeing the miracles and teachings of Jesus as with John, (2) not being offended at Christ- Paul said I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, we are called to endure hardness, and (3) quietly serving God where He has you, even if that is in waiting.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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102. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 18: Dawn of a New Day 15:00

21 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 4:1-3 The day is coming when we will be tried by fire to see what will really last. And at that time, all that we will have done in this life will be over. The opportunities past. Time will be up. There will be only two outcomes—being consumed away by God’s holiness, or being cherished as a tender calf. The wicked have their day coming, but those who follow God will be refreshed with the healing presence of the Son of Righteousness.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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101. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 17: Crown Jewels of Jesus 15:00

22 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 3:16-18 We didn’t quite get to these final verses last time, but that’s okay because I would love to spend the whole episode today looking at them! This is an interesting passage that mentions such things as God’s book on the righteous and important matters related to end times doctrine, but the greatest reward is being with God. Be mindful of Christ’s imminent return throughout this week. We are trophies!…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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100. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 16: Accusations, Apathy, and Awards 15:00

23 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 3:13-16 We look at our last accusation today, statement #8 in which the children admire the works of the wicked. It might seem like a long way away from where we are, but this progression starts small. Don’t get to the point where you are apathetic in your walk with God, it leads to departure from Him altogether. Thankfully, we don’t have to be part of that crowd, we can be the faithful who are described at the end of chapter three, who receive rewards for staying true to God.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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099. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 15: God’s Promises to Us and Israel 15:00

24 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 3:10-12 We are challenged here to give God the little bit that we have (rather than trying to keep it for ourselves) and then see how He will bless us. There is nothing more fulfilling than living for the Lord and trusting His promises. This does not mean life will be easy, but we can depend upon God’s promises to meet our needs, just as Israel can trust God’s promises to make them a blessing and cause the land to be fruitful.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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098. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 14: Back-to-Back Questions 15:00

25 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 3:7-10 We’re covering questions six and seven in our episode today. And we are learning that when we are not close to God, we are often confused, accusatory of God, and stubborn in our ways. Rather than resorting to these reactions, we should return to the Lord, and we will find that in humble and simple obedience to Him, He will richly bless us with spiritual sustaining grace.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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097. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 13: Preparing People for the Lord 15:00

26 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 3:1, 4-6 This is the first of two times we will look at John the Baptist in our study through the book of Malachi. John is really a near type of messenger of God and Christ is the ultimate messenger sent from the Father. When Jesus began His earthly ministry, John was subordinate to Him in every way, shifting the focus and the attention onto Him. That is exactly how we should be.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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096. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 12: Setting the Stage for Hope 15:00

27 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 2:17-3:3 After a quick recap of the Lord’s accusations against the Israelites, we zero in on the weariness of God with the people. It is important that we properly understand the indifference and apathy as the backdrop against which God gives hope in the coming prophecy. Jesus shows us God’s faithfulness, justice, and His ultimate desire for restoration. God’s desire is for us to be made righteous so that we can serve Him in a way acceptable to Him. Can’t wait to dig in deeper in the coming weeks!…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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095. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 11: The Magnitude of Marriage 15:00

28 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 2:14-17 We close off the chapter by looking at God’s purpose and the beautiful spiritual picture of marriage to represent our union with God made possible through Christ. There are some good lessons on marriage from these verses that we should glean, as well as a warning about divorce or viewing marriage too loosely. Then Malachi closes out with a description of God’s weariness at the people’s apathy and indifference. Looking forward to starting into chapter 3 next week!…

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094. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 10: When God Denies Offerings 15:00

30 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 2:10-13 We see two sad realities concerning the children of Israel in today’s verses, their callousness towards each other and their lack of commitment to God. They took awful advantage of one another and they arrogantly refused God’s love and instead pursued a strange woman as it were. These acts were not taken lightly by God. He denied their offerings and did not regard their cries to Him because of their insincerity. May these things not be true of us. May we worship God supremely and repent sincerely so that our service to Him would be acceptable in His sight!…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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093. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 9: …Which He Ought to Have Loved 15:00

31 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 2:10-11 Today we are just beginning to look at these verses, and we are seeing that how we treat one another is directly linked to how we treat God, just as New Testament books like 1 John teach. Their cold treatment of their brethren (brethren in a spiritual sense) was connected to their abandonment of God to pursue their own selfish desires. We will continue to unpack these thoughts next episode.…

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092. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 8: The Covenant of Levi 15:00

32 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 2:7-11 This rebuke is relevant for us because as New Testament believers, we are all priests. We have been dedicated to God just as the Levites and the firstborn of the Israelites before them. So when we read this indictment, we ought to read it from the viewpoint that it could be addressing us as priests. What are we doing with the covenant of Levi that we have inherited?…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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091. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 7: Will You Take It to Heart? 15:00

33 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 2:1-7 I love that God’s Word is personal, its messages are directed to us individually. And it is also sufficient to meet our deepest needs and speak into our deepest problems. The question is, will we take His Word to heart? The Levites of this time failed that question, but it didn’t have to be that way. We can take God seriously. We can share Him with others and be a mouthpiece for truth in our communities. May we pray for strength to do just that.…

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090. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 6: A Great King 15:00

34 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 1:12-14 In the final verses of Malachi chapter one, God contrasts the sad condition of Israel with His own greatness. The people are described as defiling and destroying God’s name, calling the table of the Lord marred, and counting God a weariness, and God will not accept their offering. But then we get a glimpse of Him. Perfect, exalted, loving, holy, a great king. May we fix our thoughts on Him and shift our gaze to Him for the year ahead.…

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089. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 5: Exchanging God for Gain 15:00

35 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 1:10-11 As we continue to unpack accusations two and three, God traces the root of their problem to covetousness. It is our love for other things that creep in and redirect our love for God that causes us to offer unworthy service to Him, profane His name, and ultimately question His love for us. God shows His people here that their greed and desire for gain is what caused contempt for the Lord to fester. And as a result, God had contempt for the people. In the end, the Lord will be glorified in the earth, the question is will He accept our worship?…

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088. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 4: Stop Justifying Yourself! 15:00

36 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 1:6-9 We cover the next two questions against God today. The people’s offering showed what they really thought about God’s name. Their thoughts of God corrupted their service for God. Because they didn’t appreciate His love, they didn’t view Him as a loving Father, and therefore they did not offer Him their best. Are we offering God less than we would offer someone else? We need to stop justifying ourselves and humbly accept God’s assessment of our lives before Him.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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087. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 3: Doubting God’s Love 15:00

37 weeks ago15:00

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Malachi 1:1-5 When God describes you as having a certain attitude, you do. It is so important that we realize it is only by being near to God that we can actually discover ourselves. We must spend time with Him, not only to know His thoughts towards us, but so that He can reveal our true thoughts towards Him. If you are struggling with knowing God loves you (and you might not have even realized it), just think on the cross of Calvary and let God’s love astonish you all over again. He does love you! And He proved it when Jesus died for your sin. If you would like to hear the poem “Let the Stable Still Astonish” by Leslie Leyland Fields, the Breckenhorst Singers have quite a nice version of it. You can listen at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RIDYrtvn6Y…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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086. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 2: On Questioning God 15:00

38 weeks ago15:00

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Outline of Malachi There are eight rebuttals against the children of Israel in this short book, and God describes the people as having these views: “Wherein hast thou loved us?” (1:2) “Wherein have we despised thy name?” (1:6) “Wherein have we polluted thee?” (1:7) “Wherefore?” (2:14) “Wherein have we wearied him?” (2:17) “Wherein shall we return?” (3:7) “Wherein have we robbed thee?” (3:8) “What have we spoken so much against thee?” (3:13) It is significant that there are eight of them since the number eight in the Bible symbolizes a new era, which certainly took place during the silence that was implemented after this book. We will get into the details more in our next episode as we dive into the first accusation.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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085. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 1: My Messenger 15:00

39 weeks ago15:00

15:00

Background to Malachi Welcome to the last words of God before the coming of the Messiah to the world. These writings precede over four hundred years of silence from God before the He broke the silence with the glorious announcements that the promises of the Messiah (and of this prophecy) were being fulfilled. Today we lay the groundwork for this book and introduce the theme of these special words from God to mankind.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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084. 10x Consolation 28:58

40 weeks ago28:58

28:58

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 The words “comfort” and “consolation” appear ten times in this short passage. In today’s bonus episode, we are going to pause and reflect on Christ’s consolation in the midst of our suffering in this life. And we also remember the imminent rapture of believers which will end all suffering for the followers of God.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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083. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 26: Suffering—the Challenge to Endure 15:00

41 weeks ago15:00

15:00

1 Peter 5:5-14 Hope is the thread that runs through the entirety of this epistle, and it goes all the way to the end. In the concluding statements, Peter instructs us believers to continue in the daily disciplines listed here, to understand the duration of our suffering, and to keep our eyes on the final destination. May we be able to say as Paul did that none of these things move us when we are faced with suffering. When we have the hope spoken of here, we will surely be filled with peace as he wishes in his final verse.…

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082. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 25: Suffering—the Command to the Elder 15:00

42 weeks ago15:00

15:00

1 Peter 5:1-4 When it comes to pastoral qualifications, many of us turn to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, however I have grown to treasure this section in 1 Peter 5 as one of the best passages on God’s expectations for a pastor. Unfortunately, many pastors have “cared more about the mission than the people. And they [don’t] realize that the people are the mission (July Roys Report Podcast ‘The Body of Christ Keeps the Score,’ 28:10).” We need far fewer superhero pastors and far more pastors who are willing to be servants. May we all learn to follow Christ in servanthood, even in our suffering as He did.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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081. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 24: Suffering—the Call to Everyone 15:00

43 weeks ago15:00

15:00

1 Peter 4:12-19 The end of chapter four and the majority of chapter 5 contains some of the best condensed teaching on suffering, in my opinion. We have already mentioned suffering several times as we have gone through this book, and I think that is one of the major themes God had in mind for this book. Chapter four closes with some helpful reminders and straightforward charges on how to handle suffering. Next week we will look at the pastor’s role in helping people walk through suffering.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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Taking a Short Break 1:33

45 weeks ago1:33

1:33

We are taking some time to both reflect back and also plan for future episodes. We plan to be back next week with our regular episode as we study through the book of 1 Peter. Thank you for listening to the weekly Bible study!

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080. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 23: The Stories of Suffering 15:00

46 weeks ago15:00

15:00

1 Peter 4 There is suffering all around us in real, bitter, even sickening ways that make our hearts sink and our stomachs turn. And there are disappointments and hardships and sorrows that we all carry with us. I don’t have the answers to all of the heartaches people face, but I do know that God gives us hope in the midst of all of it. Look to Him in your suffering, He is the source of hope. “Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:19-26…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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079. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 22: Blessings of Suffering 15:00

47 weeks ago15:00

15:00

1 Peter 4:1-11 Before we get into how to handle and deal with suffering, the text takes a look at some benefits to suffering. This in no way minimizes or marginalizes the suffering and pain that it brings, but it does help us to see that God works all things out for good according to His will. May these verses help our outlook and inspire us to live holy separated lives for the glory of God!…

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078. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 21: A Theological Prelude to Suffering 15:00

48 weeks ago15:00

15:00

1 Peter 3:18-22 The last several verses in 1 Peter 3 are tricky because they involve some deeper theological topics such as (1) Penal Substitutional Atonement, (2) Christ preaching to Spirits in prison, (3) the days of Noah, (4) the figure of baptism, and (5) the authority and power of Christ. We will touch on each of these only briefly in order to get an overview of how the theology ties into the overarching theme of suffering. This episode really lays the groundwork for what we will be getting into in chapter 4. It is also important to note that hope really begins with theology and doctrine. So if we want to learn how to endure suffering, we must start here.…

Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

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077. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 20: Compelled to Live for Christ 15:00

49 weeks ago15:00