The Value of Valentines Day
I’m sure there’s some story on how Hallmark has made “Valentines Day” into the bustling bonanza that it is. However, like a lot of Americanized pop-culture holidays (i.e. Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving)…at the root of it all is Jesus and he or some of his people did something worth note to be remembered, celebrated and focused on for a day each year.
Valentines day was started and named after a 3rd century pastor, Valentio who Pastored a church in Interama of Rome (modern Terni, Italiy). Like most history that’s over 1700 years old, details are sketchy and questionable. Yet, the basic story is that the Roman Emperor at the time, Claudius II, didn’t approve of Valentio marrying Christian couples. After being imprisoned for it, the Emperor questioned him and Pastor Valentio shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with him. Instead of converting, the Emperor decided to have him beheaded.
Pastor Valentine believed deeply in the gospel and its call for Jesus centered marriages as described in Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Thus, essentially “Valentines Day” is about the opportunity for husbands to express this kind of love for their wives.
Psalm 36 – “Steadfast Love for Transgressors”
This is part of our summer Psalms series in 2009, where we are preaching through some of Pastor Duane’s favorites Psalms. This week is an exegetical sermon on Psalm 36 titled Steadfast Love for Transgressors. This sermon looks at how transgression works itself out in the heart, God’s steadfast love for transgressors, and how to pray against transgression. This sermon was originally preached July 12th, 2009 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Forgiveness Costs
Maybe you’re familiar with some of these phrases: “Just forgive and forget.” “Let it go.” “Don’t worry about it.”
Those are some of the most frustrating words of advice I have ever heard. I am not some on and off switch…and on top of it, forgiveness just doesn’t work like that, I can’t just forget something or make the pain immediately disappear when I am wronged.
Medical research says we ought to forgive because it lowers blood pressure, strengthens our immune system, and can alleviate back pain, stomach problems, and headaches. Sounds great, but you can’t just make yourself be forgiving, something must happen.
A lot of times I’m asked, “Why Can’t God just forgive us for our sin out of his love?” The reason is forgiveness costs something. Consider the story of Corrie Ten Boom.
Viva La Vida Christus: Living the Life of Christ (Part 8)
This is the eighth week of our fall sermon series, “Viva La Vida Christus: Living the Life of Christ” dealing with Romans 12-16. Part 8, this week, is titled “The Principle of Preference” and works with Romans 14:13-15:3 addressing how walk to relationally walk through a disagreement with a fellow Chrsitian. This sermon was originally preached November 9th, 2008 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
The More Excellent Way
This sermon works with 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8 addressing the nature of love driven words, love driven knowledge, love driven faith, love driven hospitality, love driven death, and how the Bible defines love itself. This sermon was originally preached October 19th, 2008 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Viva La Vida Christus: Living the Life of Christ (Part 5)
This is the fifth week of our fall sermon series, “Viva La Vida Christus: Living the Life of Christ” dealing with Romans 12-16. Part 5, this week, is titled “Life Under Eternal Law” and works with Romans 13:8-10 addressing financial debt, the nature of love, fulfilling the law, and being neighborly. This sermon was originally preached October 5th, 2008 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Genuine Love
Lately there has been a Television commercial airing quite frequently for Pepsi, picturing a number of people who are in a zombie like state until they get energized by the drink. Throughout the commercial the song, “What is Love?” by Haddaway is playing. Definitions for love these days usually only gets processed as a emotional feeling often accompanied with the particularly erotic feelings. English, unfortunately, only has one word for love. In Greek there are three main words for love: eros, philia, and agape. Eros is etroic, sexual, physical body attraction love. Philia is friendship or family love wherein there is distinct commonality. Agape love is distinctly sacrificial and committed through and through.
Viva La Vida Christus: Living the Life of Christ (Part 3)
This is the third week of our fall sermon series, “Viva La Vida Christus: Living the Life of Christ” dealing with Romans 12-16. Part 3, this week, is titled “The Life of Genuine Love” and works with Romans 12:9-21 and issues of love, humility, authenticity and 16 characteristcs of of the Christian life and behavior. This sermon was originally preached September 21th, 2008 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
