Eyes to See
preached by Pastor Steve Tompkins | 07.05.09

In this sermon, Pastor Steve shares with us from a deeply personal place as he wrestles with the idea of what the Bible means when it speaks of having eyes to see & ears to hear. The scriptures have some hard words for us as we honestly look at what our hearts desire. When we desire our idols we become like them; blind, deaf and lifeless. When we desire Jesus, we become more like him.

Listen right here by clicking the play button above. You can also listen to the audio or download audio on our Mars Hill Media site by clicking here.

You can follow along with Pastor Steve’s sermon using the text’s below.

1 Peter 1:3-12
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Job 42:5-6
5I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Isaiah 6:1-7
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

2 Corinthians 5:21
21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Matthew 13:44
44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

James 2:19
19You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Matthew 6:24
24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Deuteronomy 8:12-14
12lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Hosea 13:6
6When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.

Psalm 115:2-8
2Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. 4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18
18And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Isaiah 6:9-10
9And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Jeremiah 5:20-22
20Declare this in the house of Jacob; proclaim it in Judah: 21“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. 22Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me?

Isaiah 29:13
13The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

Malachi 1:10
10Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.

John 9:39-41
39Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

Mark 4:10-12
10And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”

Luke 8:8
As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Revelation 3:22
22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

Revelation 2:3-5
3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 3:17-20
17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

In this sermon Pastor Steve passionately and personally identifies with Peter in Luke chapter 5 as he says to Jesus “Depart from me, I am a sinful man, oh Lord”.  We find that this statement betrays a deeply religious heart and that Jesus rejects Peter’s religious posturing by calling him to catch men instead of fish.  Peter is so moved by Jesus’ grace and His willingness to associate with Peter despite his sin, that he leaves everything to follow him.

This is the crux of the message…That Jesus calls sinners, cleanses sinners, and commissions sinners.  The religious and self-righteous miss the call and reject the true righteousness of God in Jesus.  As we find in the next two verses after Peter’s calling, all that is required of the leper is faith in the context of a humble recognition of need as he says to Jesus “If you will, you can make me clean.”  It is Jesus’ response to the man that Pastor Steve so desperately wants us to hear and prays for all of us to experience… Jesus says to him “I will. Be clean.”

Listen right here by clicking the play button above. You can also listen to the audio or download audio on our Mars Hill Media site by clicking here.

You can follow along with Pastor Steve’s sermon using the text’s below.

Luke 5:1-11
¹On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, ²and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. ³Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. ⁴And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ⁶And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. ⁷They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” ⁹For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, ¹⁰and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” ¹¹And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Luke 15:1-2
¹Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ²And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 5:12-13
¹²While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” ¹³And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

John 3:16
¹⁶“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8
⁸but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:3
³For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

2 Corinthians 5:21
²¹For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

“Theme” song of the Welsh Revival of 1904

Here is love vast as the ocean
Loving kindness as the flood
When the Prince of life, our ransom
Shed for us His precious blood
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout Heaven’s eternal days

On the Mount of Crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide
Grace and love, like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above
And Heaven’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love

Matthew 13:44-45
⁴⁴“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ⁴⁵“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

Luke 9:1-2
¹And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ²and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

Luke 10:1-2
¹After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. ²And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Luke 10:9
⁹Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Luke 10:17-20
¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” ¹⁸And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. ²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Matthew 28:18-20
¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Lately I’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 from the parable of the sheep and the goats at the last judgment (v 31-46), especially where he says this “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Jesus is saying that when we in compassion serve the hurting, broken, poor, sick, imprisoned and marginalized we are in fact serving him.  When we touch them we touch him.  This is entirely mysterious to me.  But then again, experiencing God’s presence on earth is always mysterious is it not?

The thing that I have realized is that I am prone to think of God’s presence as being “up there” or “out there” and that we are most likely to touch or experience his presence in corporate worship and singing as the church is gathered.  I love gathered worship, but I am now being convicted that my thinking here is partial at best.

Should I not begin to see the presence of Jesus as being, in a way, much more earthly than I have previously imagined?  Is not touching in compassion a hurting, broken or sick person as much a mysterious experience of the presence of Jesus as singing in corporate worship on Sunday?  Jesus’ words would indicate so.  I have served the hurting and marginalized because I know Jesus calls me to, but all too often my eyes have been shut to the mystery of his presence here.

I am now being convicted of my blindness.  Lord Jesus, touch my eyes that I may see, truly see!  More than anything I DO desire to experience the mystery of your presence daily.  Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (John 9:39).  Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Being the Church in Prayer & Mission
preached by Pastor Steve Tompkins | 1.4.09

The focus of this sermon is on Paul’s two main commands in this passage, namely that we are to “continue steadfastly in prayer,” and to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders.” As the Apostle Paul speaks to the Colossians (and to us) his concern is for the advance of the gospel, and his theme is the strategic role of our prayer lives. Few realize that when Paul speaks about prayer in his letters he typically uses very strong language; language reflecting contest, battle, struggle, and perseverance. If this indeed is the context of our prayers it explains why Paul says we are to remain watchful. To be alert means we are to have our eyes open toward the invisible spiritual realm around us, seeing our enemy Satan and his demons, and our Lord and King Jesus. This brings essential life-changing perspective to the frustrating circumstances of our lives, and shapes how we pray and what we pray for.

When Paul penned these words he was in prison in Rome, and instead of praying for release he prayed for open doors of opportunity for the gospel, and boldness to walk through them when God opens those doors. If Paul needed to pray like this, how much more do we? We are called to pray bold prayers of humble faith, embracing amazing opportunities to bring glory to Jesus as we conduct ourselves wisely toward non-Christians seeing Jesus change lives through the power of the gospel. And just as Paul prayed and walked out his own words in community, so we too will find great joy and fruitfulness as we live this out in Jesus-centered community.

Listen right here by clicking the play button above. You can also listen to the audio or download audio on our Mars Hill Media site by clicking here.

You can follow along with Pastor Steve’s sermon using the text’s below.

Colossians 4:2-6
²Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison- ⁴that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. ⁵Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

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Colossians 1:15-20
¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

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Colossians 4:2-6
²Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison- ⁴that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. ⁵Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

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Colossians 4:12
¹²Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers . . .

Romans 15:30
³⁰I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf . . .

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1 Peter 5:8-9
⁸Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, firm in your faith . . .

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Ephesians 6:10-18
¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹²For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints . . .

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Colossians 4:2-6
²Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison- ⁴that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. ⁵Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

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Matthew 6:9-13
⁹Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹Give us this day our daily bread, ¹²and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

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Ephesians 6:19-20
^. . . . and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

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Acts 4:29-31
²⁹And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

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Colossians 4:2-6
²Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison- ⁴that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. ⁵Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

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Ephesians 5:14-16
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” ¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

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Colossians 4:2-6
²Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison- ⁴that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. ⁵Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

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Acts 1:14
¹⁴All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 2:42-47
⁴²And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. . . . And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

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Dead, Buried, and Raised in Jesus
preached by Pastor Steve Tompkins | 11.02.08

In this sermon Pastor Steve walks us through the Bible in order to uncover the deeply practical spiritual truths that are revealed to us through baptism. He looks at our sin, our past slavery, and our new found freedom in Jesus as we find our identities in Him and as He brings the presence of God to us in a life giving way that gives glory to the King.

Listen right here by clicking the play button above. You can also listen to the audio or download audio on our Mars Hill Media site by clicking here .

Below I’ve included all of the Scripture references from Pastor Steve’s sermon. You may use them to follow along while you listen to the sermon and/ or they make for an excellent personal study in the Scriptures.

James 4:14
14yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Psalm 103:15-16
15As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

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1 John 2:28
28And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

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Genesis 1:28
28And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

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Genesis 3:4-5
4But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

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We are all sinners

Romans 3:10-12
10as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Ecclesiastes 7:20
20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Romans 3:23
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Isaiah 53:6
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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Bad News: Slaves to sin

John 8:34
34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.

Romans 6:20-21
20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

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Good News: Set free in Jesus

John 8:36 Jesus said:
36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Luke 4:18b-19 Jesus said:
18“He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Acts 10:38 Apostle Peter said:
38God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.

John 14:6
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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1 Peter 2:22-25
22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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Romans 6:3-11
3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

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Galatians 3:26-27
26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

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John 15:4-5
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Philippians 4:13
13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Romans 15:18
18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

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John 14:23
23Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

1 John 3:24
24Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Acts 2:38
38And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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Matthew 28:19-20
19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 10:48
48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

“Until we realize we are not competent to run our own lives, we are not competent to run our own lives” Pastor Steve quotes Tim Keller as he takes us into the belly of the fish with Jonah where Jonah begins his heart felt repentance to God. It is in God’s sovereign grace that He brings us to the end of ourselves where we can either become bitter or we can surrender, laying down our own ambitions and asking God to replace them with a new heart in Jesus.

Jonah Week 2 | The Repentant Prophet (Jonah 1:17-2:10)
preached by Pastor Steve Tompkins | 8.17.08

Listen right here by clicking the play button above. You can also listen to the audio or download audio on our Mars Hill Media site by clicking here .

Below I’ve included all of the Scripture references from Pastor Steve’s sermon. You may use them to follow along while you listen to the sermon and/ or they make for an excellent personal study in the Scriptures.

Jonah 1:17
17And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2:1-2
1Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went (down) on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah 1:5 And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.
Jonah 2:6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever;

Jonah 2:4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight . . .
Jonah 2:3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.
Jonah 2:5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains.
Jonah 2:2 . . . the belly of Sheol . . .
Jonah 2:6 I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever

Romans 6:23
23For the wages of sin is death . . .

Jonah 2:4 . . . yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’
Jonah 2:7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
Jonah 2:9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

Romans 2:4-5
4Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Jonah 2:10
10And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Galatians 2:20
20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Although he wrote the book himself around 800 B.C., the prophet Jonah did not cast himself as the hero of the Story. Instead, Pastor Steve, points out that Jonah is a history lesson about the real Hero of the story, namely the living God. Through a collection of scripture and real-world examples Pastor Steve passionately reveals to us that just as Jonah ran from God’s presence, we also run from His presence and just as God pursued Jonah and brought him to the end of himself, so too, God in His grace, brings us to the end of ourselves in order to offer us Himself. Jonah is the good news of Jesus Christ for all especially those of us who find ourselves as great sinners on deck in the midst of God’s storm of pursuing grace.

Jonah Week 1 | The Rebellious Prophet (Jonah 1:1-17)
preached by Pastor Steve Tompkins | 8.10.08

Listen right here by clicking the play button above. You can also listen to the audio or download audio on our Mars Hill Media site by clicking here .

Below I’ve included all of the Scripture references from Pastor Steve’s sermon. You may use them to follow along while you listen to the sermon and/ or they make for an excellent personal study in the Scriptures.

Exodus 34:6
6The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Jonah 1:1-2
1Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”

Jonah 1:3
3But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

Jonah 1:4-6
4But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Jonah 1:7-10
7And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Numbers 32:23
23But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.

1 Timothy 5:24
24The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.

Jonah 1:11-15
11Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 13Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14Therefore they called out to the LORD, “O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” 15So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.

Mark 2:15-17
15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jonah 1:16-17
16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows. 17And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Genesis 50:20
20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Romans 8:28
28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Matthew 12:39-40
39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 16:24-25
24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

What comes to mind for you when someone mentions the book of Jonah? My guess is that from the back of our minds some cartoonish kids-bible/Sunday school type of image of “Jonah and the Whale” comes floating to the surface. What also might come to mind is the memory of some professor we heard, or book we read mocking the Bible because it contains the supposedly ridiculous story of someone being swallowed by a whale and living to tell about it. Beyond that many of us may know little about this book, and wonder how it could possibly be relevant in the 21^st century. Well for the next four Sundays we are going to unpack the four short chapters of this book at all our campuses while Pastor Mark is out of town. In Shoreline I will preach the first two weeks, and Pastor Jamie Munson will preach the last two Sundays. I believe we will see that the message of this book is deeply relevant to all of our lives in multiple ways. Let me briefly outline the story and then comment on its meaning.

Jonah was a prophet living in Israel around 800 years before Christ. God called him to go and preach to the great city of Nineveh, but instead he ran from God. He got on a ship heading the opposite direction. God allowed him to run, but pursued him by sending a great storm. Jonah ended up in the drink, and then in the belly of a great fish (as the text says). From there, at his lowest point Jonah begins to repent, and God miraculously preserves his life causing the fish to vomit him out on dry land. Jonah then obeys and goes to Nineveh to preach, and the whole city responds in repentance and God shows them mercy. At this Jonah becomes very angry revealing that what he really wanted was God to judge Nineveh rather than forgive them! As the book closes Jonah is still exceedingly angry, and God is still merciful and compassionate.

This begins to reveal the heart of the story. It is not the story of “Jonah and the Whale” but rather the story of a gracious, merciful, compassionate God who pursues rebellious sinners even when they run from him. This certainly includes the Ninevites who were among the most wicked people of their day, but it especially includes Jonah the prophet of God of the chosen people of God. Jonah was rebellious. We are rebellious. Jonah had the Word of God. We have the Word of God. Jonah ran from God. We run from God. We are Jonah. We are all Jonah. Jonah’s only hope was a compassionate, sovereign God who would pursue Jonah with love and grace. Our only hope is that God will not give us up in our rebellion and hardness of heart, but that in Jesus he will pursue us with grace and compassion that our hearts would be transformed to love and live for Jesus. God, ultimately Jesus, is the only hero of the book of Jonah.

Therefore, the message of Jonah is very hopeful and indeed deeply relevant to each of our lives in the 21^st century. As we dig into this book we will see the glory of the character and heart of the King of the universe, and by his grace we will be moved to worship him with the whole of our lives, expressing his grace and compassion through the gospel to those around us who are lost and wandering in darkness.

Painting by Stuart Roper (click image to go to website)

In the second part to this two part series, Pastor Steve uses John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” as a base text and looks at what it means to bear fruit as a Disciple of Jesus. He addresses many of the concerns we have over our daily circumstances and shows us from scripture that we should expect and be prepared for ‘fiery trials’ to come upon us. He also shows from scripture that the Christian response that bears good fruit is to ‘go deep’ into abiding in Christ when tough times come and to avoid bitterness, blame-shifting, and the naturally sinful responses of hearts.

Glory, Joy, and Living as Disciples for Jesus – Part 2

preached by Pastor Steve Tompkins | July 6, 2008

Listen right here by clicking the play button above. You can also listen to the audio in another browser by clicking here or right click and “save as” to download the mp3.

Below I’ve posted all of the scripture, definitions, and quotes that Pastor Steve referenced during this powerful sermon. As I did last week, I would highly recommend going back through all of this scripture on your own as a Bible study, as it makes for a wonderful devotion time. Looking back through all of these verses…I can’t help but think “how on earth did he keep this sermon under 60 minutes?!”

John 15:1-8
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:3-5
3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:7-8
7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

What is fruit?

Spiritual fruit is the result of supernatural change that comes from being vitally, organically connected to Jesus Christ. This change takes place in the heart, and then pours itself out into all areas of our life (words, thoughts, deeds). This supernatural change includes victory over sin, moving from unloving to loving, despairing to joyful, anxious to full of peace, impatient to patient, angry to kind, all in increasing measure.

2 Peter 1:3-4
3His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Romans 6:20-23
20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 7:4-6
4Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Galatians 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

John 15:11
11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

In verse 2: Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away . . .
In verse 5: Apart from me you can do nothing.
Verse 6: If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

1 John 2:19
19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

John 12:32-33
32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

2 Peter 1:8-10
8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

John 15:2
2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

1 Peter 1:6-7
6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-13
12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Luke 22:31-32
31“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Romans 8:18
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 4:16
16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Romans 8:28-32
28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

2 Corinthians 4:7
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

John 15:8
8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:11
11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

1 Peter 1:8-9
8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

In this sermon Pastor Steve shares from his deeply personal quest to define what it means to “see” the Glory of God and its implications in joy and defining our identities as disciples of Jesus. Using John chapter one as a foundation from which to work, pastor Steve explores ideas of light and darkness, spiritual seeing and blindness, and the expected Christian response when we actually experience “the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” and “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4,6).

Glory, Joy, and Living for Jesus as Disciples – Part 1
Preached by Pastor Steve Tompkins | July 6, 2008

Listen right here by clicking the play button above.

You can also listen to the audio in another browser by clicking here or right click and “save as” to download the mp3.

Below I’ve posted all of the scripture, definitions, and quotes that Pastor Steve referenced during this powerful sermon. Going back through all of this scripture on your own as a Bible study, makes for a wonderful devotion time, if you have an opportunity.

Hebrews 12:1-2
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

“the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God” 2 Cor 4:4
“the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” 2 Cor 4:6

Hebrews 12:2
2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalm 16:11
11You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

John 15:11
11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Psalm 4:7
7You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

John 1:1-18
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 1:14
14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What is the Glory of God?
It is God’s beauty, majesty, splendor, radiance, and goodness. It is God’s character as expressed in his grace, truth, mercy, justice etc. Above all, it is his absolutely all-satisfying infinitely praise-worthy value, whereby he is worthy of all honor, worship, praise, thanks etc.

1 Corinthians 1:18
18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:5-6
5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

James 2:19
19You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

John Piper: God is glorified in his people by the way we experience him, not merely by the way we think about him. Indeed the devil thinks more true thoughts about God in one day than a saint does in a lifetime, and God is not honored by it. The problem with the devil is not his theology, but his desires.
–When I don’t Desire God, p. 30

John Piper: The apostle Paul said, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed” (1 Cor. 16:22). Love is not a mere choice to move the body or the brain. Love is also an experience of the heart. So the stakes are very high. Christ is to be cherished, not just chosen. The alternative is to be cursed.
–When I don’t Desire God, p. 19

Hebrews 3:12-13
12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

1 Corinthians 10:1-7
1For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3and all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7Do not be idolaters as some of them were . . . .

Jeremiah 2:13
13for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Revelation 3:17
17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Hebrews 4:7
7again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying . . . “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Isaiah 6:1-8
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”