Guided Question

How can we move beyond merely possessing spiritual gifts and knowledge to experiencing a daily, intimate fellowship with Jesus that transforms our lives?

Summary

The message highlights the spiritual condition of the Corinthian church, which had been richly blessed with grace, teaching, spiritual gifts, and the hope of Christ’s return, yet struggled to live out a truly transformed Christian life. Their sainthood was based on calling, not conduct, revealing that true Christian identity depends on relationship with Christ, not personal merit. The key issue was a lack of intimate, daily fellowship (koinonia) with Jesus, which is essential for godliness and effective Christian living. The message challenges believers today to examine their own fellowship with Christ as the foundation for a vibrant, powerful faith.

Outline

• Introduction: The Reality of Our Calling

  • We are saints by calling, not by conduct (1 Cor. 1:2)

  • Conduct often falls short, but calling is the foundation

• The Spiritual Wealth of the Corinthians

  • They had grace (1 Cor. 1:4)

  • They were enriched with knowledge and speech (1 Cor. 1:5)

  • They had every spiritual gift (1 Cor. 1:7)

  • They eagerly awaited Christ’s return (1 Cor. 1:7-8)

• The Tragic Gap: Lack of Changed Lives

  • Despite all blessings, their lives did not reflect transformation

  • They failed to develop a real, intimate fellowship with Jesus

• The Key to Christian Life: Fellowship with Christ (1 Cor. 1:9)

  • God calls us into communion, communication, partnership with Jesus

  • True godliness flows from daily fellowship and obedience

  • Without this, spiritual gifts and knowledge remain ineffective

• Application: Self-Examination and Encouragement

  • Are we living in daily fellowship with Jesus?

  • Is our faith more than ritual or knowledge?

  • Fellowship fuels godliness and spiritual power

• Conclusion

  • An impressive beginning does not guarantee spiritual maturity

  • Intimate fellowship with Christ is the key to fulfilling our calling

Key Takeaways

• Sainthood is a position by calling, not by our behavior or merit.

• Spiritual gifts, knowledge, and hope are valuable but not sufficient alone.

• Intimate, daily fellowship (koinonia) with Jesus is essential for real transformation.

• Without genuine communion with Christ, spiritual life becomes weak and ineffective.

• True Christian living requires ongoing relationship and obedience to Jesus, not just rituals or knowledge.

• Regular self-reflection on our fellowship with Christ can help us grow in godliness.

Scriptural References

• 1 Corinthians 1:2 — Saints by calling, not by conduct

• 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 — Grace, knowledge, gifts, and hope of Christ’s return

• 1 Corinthians 1:9 — Called into fellowship (koinonia) with Jesus Christ

• John 15:5 — "I am the vine; you are the branches..."

• 1 John 1:6 — Fellowship with Him and walking in darkness is a lie

Recorded 3/15/81

Guiding Question:

How can believers remain faithful and passionate in their walk with Christ from beginning to end, especially when facing hardship, cultural opposition, or spiritual fatigue?

Summary:

In this powerful and pastoral message, the speaker challenges Christians not just to begin well in their faith journey but to finish strong. Drawing from 2 Timothy 4:1–8, the sermon highlights Paul's final exhortations to Timothy, urging him to preach the Word, endure hardship, fulfill his ministry, and do the work of an evangelist. It offers a contrast between faithful endurance and spiritual dropout, emphasizing the value of perseverance and commitment in a world eager to embrace falsehood over truth.

The message is both a call to spiritual endurance and a warning against cultural myths that divert believers from the truth. Using stories, illustrations, and scriptural insight, the speaker paints a vivid picture of a life fully poured out in service to God—encouraging all believers to evaluate where they stand and recommit to a long obedience in the same direction.

Outline:

I. Starting Strong in Ministry (2 Timothy 4:1–2)

• Charge to preach the Word

• Be ready in and out of season

• Reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience

II. Challenges to Faithfulness (2 Timothy 4:3–4)

• The time will come when people reject sound doctrine

• Desire for “ear-tickling” teaching

• Accumulation of false teachers according to personal desires

• Turning aside to myths

III. Call to Endure and Fulfill Your Ministry (2 Timothy 4:5)

• Be sober-minded

• Endure hardship

• Do the work of an evangelist

• Fulfill your ministry

IV. Examples of Faithful Finishing (2 Timothy 4:6–8)

• Paul’s life as a drink offering

• “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith”

• Anticipation of the crown of righteousness

V. Contrast Between Starters and Finishers

• Many start strong but fall away

• The difficulty of sustaining enthusiasm and discipline

• Cultural distractions and spiritual attrition

VI. Application and Encouragement

• Personal reflection on spiritual growth and perseverance

• Avoiding superficial Christianity

• Staying excited about the faith and sharing the gospel

• Learning from older saints who have finished well

Key Takeaways:

• Preaching the gospel is often hard and may lead to rejection, but we are still called to be faithful.

• Evangelism is work, not just an occasional event left to professionals.

• The Christian life requires endurance, especially when truth becomes inconvenient or unpopular.

• Our culture increasingly rejects sound doctrine in favor of comfort and self-justification.

• Many drop out of faith not for intellectual reasons but because they refuse to change their lifestyle.

• Paul serves as a model of finishing strong, having kept the faith through trials and ultimately receiving the reward.

• Believers should strive not only for a passionate start but for a lifelong commitment that finishes well.

Scriptural References:

• 2 Timothy 4:1–8

• Acts 14:19–20 (Paul stoned at Lystra)

• Jeremiah 5:30–31 (False prophets and people’s delight in lies)

• Isaiah 8:19 (Warning against seeking mediums instead of God)

• Romans 12:1 (Living sacrifices)

• Philippians 3:12–14 (Pressing on toward the goal)

• Romans 1:25 (Exchanging the truth for a lie)

• Eugene Peterson’s book: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

Recorded 2/22/81

Guiding Question

What does it look like for Christianity to transform our lives in real ways?

Summary

Dr. Robert Lewis challenges Christians to move beyond mere theology and live lives marked by spiritual transformation. Drawing on Ephesians 4:25–32, he identifies five clear indicators that the life of God is present in us:

1. Promptly resolving anger

2. Rejecting sin and resisting Satan’s foothold

3. Working to give rather than simply get

4. Speaking words that build up others

5. Extending forgiveness as we have been forgiven

Through vivid anecdotes—such as the pastor’s personal struggle with unresolved anger and domestic statistics—and practical reflections, Dr. Lewis urges us to ask: is our Christianity evident in our daily actions?

Outline

1. Ephesians 4:26 – “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

   • Acknowledge righteous anger but resolve it daily to prevent bitterness.

2. Ephesians 4:27 – “Do not give the devil an opportunity.”

   • Reinforces the danger of unresolved conflict as a foothold for evil.

3. Ephesians 4:28 – “Let him who stole steal no longer… so he may have something to share.”

   • Introduces a proactive ethic of work used to bless others.

4. Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no unwholesome talk proceed from your mouth… good for edification.”

   • Contrasts decayed speech with timely words that uplift and heal.

5. Ephesians 4:31–32 – “Forgiving each other… just as in Christ God forgave you.”

   • Calls us to live forgiven lives by forgiving others, reflecting the cross.

Key Takeaways

• Unresolved anger poisons relationships and opens the door to deeper sin and spiritual attack.

• Generosity, not self-centered labor, is the hallmark of a Christian work ethic.

• Words have power—they either groom community or corrode it.

• Forgiveness is non-negotiable for Christians; if we’ve been forgiven so much, we must forgive in return.

• Transformation matters—a faith that doesn’t change us remains merely theoretical.

Scriptural References

• Ephesians 4:25–32

• 1 Timothy 6:17–19

• Proverbs 15:23

• James 2:17

Recorded on 2/15/81