Pastor Bob Fox
Daniel 9:24-27

Palm Sunday commemorates a powerful statement by God that:

1. Creation has a destiny that evil has not thwarted.
2. Creation though fallen, has one rightful king—Jesus.
3. Jesus’ leadership is refreshingly good.
4. There is a planned course of events leading to Jesus’ rule. It’s on schedule.

We should be re-imagining our lives in light of four things we know.

1. A seven year period of intense trouble is coming at the planet (Matthew 24:15-35). Weep over this (Luke 19:41-44)!
2. Jesus will gather/transform all who have ever believed, living and dead (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Rejoice in your seat at that table!
3. With them/us He will return to earth, to conquer and rule it (Revelation 19:11-20:6). Invest in that kingdom!
4. The present universe will be destroyed along with evil. He will then create a new one (Revelation 20:11-21:1).

Listen to Bob.

Dr Hugh Ross

Sunday Morning Services, March 21, 2010

Listen to Dr Ross.

Watch the video from Sunday:

Why the Universe is the Way It Is
http://www.myrmcc.org/video/why-universe.flv

Beyond the Cosmos
http://www.myrmcc.org/video/beyond-the-cosmos.flv

Watch the video from FORUM on March 20, 2010 featuring Dr Hugh Ross.

Origin of Life
http://www.myrmcc.org/video/origin-of-life.flv

Science and Religion in Public Schools
http://www.myrmcc.org/video/science-and-religion.flv

The Q&A Session with Dr Ross
http://www.myrmcc.org/video/ross-qa.flv

Pastor Bob Fox
Colossians 2:20-23

The key question to ask when pondering rigorous spiritual routine is: why do this?

1. Spiritual rigors are irrelevant in terms of gaining standing with God.
• To believe in Christ is to die to the idea that we can impress God.
• To believe in Christ is to die to one’s past era of being alienated from God.

THEREFORE: Practicing them can be the result of thinking like an unbeliever.

2. Practicing them makes people appear wise. But they generally produce:
• Worship of willpower rather than of Christ.
• Pseudo-humility.
• Abuse of the body, without slowing down self-indulgence.

THEREFORE: They can produce pseudo-spirituality—what we had apart from Christ.

Conclusion:

1. Spiritual rigors, energized by the Holy Spirit, can stimulate tremendous spiritual growth.
2. They must be watched over, because without the Holy Spirit they promote greater self-obsession.
3. They can be a means to an end—increased intimacy with Jesus. They are not a legitimate end in themselves.

Listen to Bob.

Get Pastor Bob’s personal notes on Colossians.

Joel Mayward
John 21

Communion, March 7, 2010

Listen to Joel.

Pastor Bob Fox
Colossians 2:18-19

To think and live as if you must earn God’s favor is to be unfaithful to the truth, which brings loss of reward. Four questions will help you spot legalistic leaders/movements who tend to train you in that wrong direction.

1. What sacrifice do they insist on? Do they model the sacrifice of self-centeredness, or of physical/material comfort?
2. What do they ask me to believe? Is it a biblical pattern or a superstitious/religious one?
3. How do they see themselves? Are they claiming exclusive wisdom or are they aligned with the Kingdom’s mainstream?
4. What solutions are they proclaiming? Are routines and disciplines the end or is intimacy with Christ the end?

Listen to Bob.

Get Pastor Bob’s personal notes on Colossians.

Pastor Bob Fox
Colossians 2:16-17

1. Beware of legalists―leaders/movements that shape and judge spirituality by “to do” lists yanked out of the Old Testament.
2. The Old Testament provides a shadow (singular) of life with Christ through its rituals, laws, etc. So these things provide an incomplete and low-grade experience of life with Christ.
3. Christ is the body that cast this shadow. It is a major blunder to focus on the shadow once we can relate to the person.
4. On legalism…
• If I do something because I’m convinced it makes me acceptable or special in God’s eyes, or it makes up for some mistake I’ve made, that’s legalism.
• If I do something even though I don’t feel like it, just because I’m convinced God wants me to do it, that’s not legalism. It’s grace in action.
• If I do something because I’m convinced God wants it and I want His wind in my sails, that’s not legalism. It’s grace in action.
• If I adopt a routine or cultivate a habit because I wish to strengthen my faith, that’s not legalism. It’s grace in action.

Listen to Bob.

Get Pastor Bob’s personal notes on Colossians.