When Mercy Cleans the Soul - Psalm 51 - Pastor Tito Lyro

When Mercy Cleans the Soul - Psalm 51 - Pastor Tito Lyro If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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Scrubbed Clean - Ps. 51 (Based on Essay by Sam Storms)

Introduction  This psalm has a special message for several groups of people.  · First, Psalm 51 is for those who have never come to grips with the horror of human sin and the magnitude of divine grace.  · Second, this psalm is for those who think some people are too high or too holy to fall.  · Third, this psalm is also for those who think that once you have fallen, you can never get back up again.  · Fourth, Psalm 51 is for those who think that if you have fallen and have actually gotten back up, perhaps even forgiven, you are still useless from that point on both to God and the church.  I. The historical setting for this psalm is stated in the title.  None of us likes to have our struggles and problems broadcast publicly, much less our sins of the flesh.  Yet here we are told that this psalm was written "To the Chief Musician"! How would you like for your worst sins to be projected on the screen at church and set to music for the corporate worship of God's people?  II. On what basis does David ask for acquittal, 1-2?  Does he appeal to his track record as King over Israel? Does he remind God of how many psalms he has written and how much of a blessing they've been to God's children? Does he cite his faithful service or marshal forth a long list of character witnesses? Not in the least. He doesn't expect to be forgiven based on his sincerity or spiritual intensity or deep pain for having sinned or fervor of heart or promise not to sin again or his depth of determination to somehow "make it up" to God. Note the three words David uses in vv. 1-2 to describe his sin. Equally vivid are the three words he uses in his plea for forgiveness  III. When David turns, in vv. 3-4, to confess the magnitude of his sin, his language is no less graphic.  David makes no excuses, offers no rationalizations, and refuses to shift blame. There's no insanity plea or appeal to diminished capacity. My sin, he says, "is always before me" (v. 3b). David's confession is not simply to "get things off his chest", as if confession were merely a therapeutic release of sorts. His confession is designed to tell everyone that God was in the right all along, that God's judgment was true, just, and that the Almighty is blameless (v. 4b).  IV. How long has David had this problem with sin?  Did it start with puberty? Was he turned to the "dark side" by some childhood or teen-aged trauma? "The problem," says David, "isn't so much that I sin. The problem is that I'm sinful, and always have been. These deeds of the flesh are symptomatic of a much deeper problem. The fact is, 'I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.' (v. 5). My transgressions are not of recent vintage. This was no freak, one-off event. I've been a sinner from my mother's womb!" So, David confesses his sin nature (v. 5) as the root cause of his actual sin (v. 4), but makes no effort to excuse himself on that basis. Psalm 51 is a refreshing and heart-warming reminder of the hope of forgiveness.  V. David not only prays for pardon from past sin but also for the power to walk in future purity.  He makes an impassioned plea for ceremonial cleansing, 7. But David longs for more. Sin can be as spiritually devastating and painful to the soul as broken bones are to the body, thus his cry: "That the bones You have broken may rejoice," 8b. David's desire is that his entire being, body, soul, and spirit might once again revel and rejoice in the blessedness of communion with God. Once more he prays: "Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities," 9.  VI. With verses 10-12 David's prayer gets even more specific. He petitions the Lord for spiritual power (v. 10), spiritual presence (v. 11), and spiritual pleasure (v. 12).  Simply asking for pardon isn't enough. One must also have the power by which not to commit the same sin again. No mere "makeover" will do, no matter how "extreme"! David can't bear the thought of the loss of intimacy of fellowship and its accompanying joys, and thus prays that he not be cast from God's "presence" or suffer the loss of God's Spirit, 11. God's power, God's presence, and yes, even God's pleasure is at the heart of David's prayer: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation," 12a!  VII. David concludes with a vow of commitment in vv. 13-19.  It is possible for the fallen to be forgiven and used of God in ministry to others. Note also the relationship between testimony and praise in 13-15. People have often misunderstood the concluding verses of Psalm 51 (particularly vv. 16-17), thinking that God has rejected his own appointed sacrifices.  Conclusion God is in the business of rebuilding cracked lives and shattered dreams. His "lovingkindness" (v. 1a) is a soul-cleansing power, his "multitude of tender mercies" (v. 1b) a force for restoring long lost hope. All he asks of you is a "broken spirit" and a "contrite heart" (v. 17a). These, says David, he will "not despise" (v. 17b).

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Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord - Psalm 107 - Pastor Tito Lyro

Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord - Psalm 107 - Pastor Tito Lyro If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord - Psalm 107

Introduction Thankfulness in our hearts is a key component of godly living and of joy. Yet, it is contrary to the lusts of our flesh. Psalm 107 helps us re-focus our hearts on the God to whom we are to be thankful and on the things we are to be thankful for. I. Giving Thanks to the Lord Is a Responsibility of His Redeemed People, 1-3. A. In this psalm, the redeemed are the ones giving thanks to the Lord, 2-3. B. There are two core reasons in this psalm why we, as the redeemed of the Lord, should thank the Lord. 1. He is good. 2. His mercy endures forever. C. The several cycles of troubles that culminate with the Lord's deliverance and an exhortation to thanksgiving (5 stanzas) challenge our natural tendency to forget the goodness of the Lord and to thank him. II. The Redeemed People of the Lord Have Abundant Reason to Give Thanks to Him, 4-32. A. The proof of God's covenant faithfulness to us and his goodness to us is in the pudding of his wonderful works to the children of men, 8, 15, 21, 31. B. God brings satisfaction to the soul, 4-9. C. God brings freedom to the captive, 10-16. D. God brings life to the dying, 17-22. E. God brings peace to the troubled, 23-32. III. If These Weren't enough Reasons, Here Is more, 33-42. A. The psalmist breaks the pattern here because he can't contain himself any longer. B. He needs to declare the goodness of the Lord! C. There is so much for him to be thankful for; there is so much for us to be thankful for. D. Even the judgments of the Lord are a reason to praise him. E. The great Baptist preacher, C.H. Spurgeon said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that strikes me against the Rock of Ages." Conclusion & Applications, 43. The more we give thanks for whom God is and what he has done, the more we will understand his lovingkindness, his goodness, his covenant faithfulness, his steadfast love, his mercy toward us. That's wise thing to do. So let me give you some action points for this week that flow from this psalm: · Mediate on Psalm 107 – spend time reading and thinking about it; · Make a list of the deliverances God has brought to your life – it can be as little as giving you air to breathe; · Mediate on what God has done for you in Jesus Christ; · Take time to praise him because of what he has done for you; · Tell somebody of the goodness of the Lord in your life – it can be in your family devotions. May our great God teach us to praise him for all he has done for us!

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God Sanctioned Boasting - Galatians 6.11-15 - Mr. Kris Kord

God Sanctioned Boasting - Galatians 6.11-15 - Mr. Kris Kord If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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The Power of the Gospel - Romans 1:16-17 - Pastor Tito Lyro

The Power of the Gospel - Romans 1:16-17 - Pastor Tito Lyro If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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The Power of the Gospel - Rom. 1:16-17

Introduction We like powerful things. We like the best things. That's one of the things that attracts us to the Olympics. There, we see the most powerful, the fastest, the most skilled competing against each other. In this passage today, we have the most powerful thing at work in our lives: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul is ready to preach the Gospel in Rome (15) because he is not ashamed of it. And Paul is not ashamed of it because it is the power of God unto salvation. He is confident that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation because in it the righteousness of God is revealed. Since this last truth is really the foundation of Paul's argument, we are going to start with it and work our way back up the passage. I. In the Gospel, the righteousness that comes by faith is revealed. A. Literally, "The righteousness of God is being revealed." B. The question that comes to our minds now is, "What is the righteousness of God?" C. It is in the Gospel that we discover this alien righteousness, this foreign righteousness to us. D. That is what we call the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ. E. Paul says that this is not a new doctrine that is now coming to light. F. No one has ever been justified or will ever be justified apart from faith alone in Jesus Christ. II. Because it is in the Gospel that God's righteousness is found, it is powerful to save. A. Salvation refers to the entirety of redemption – from effectual calling to glorification. B. The Gospel is powerful to save everyone who believes. III. Therefore, Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel A. Why does Paul even bring this up? B. Why start the thesis statement of the greatest theological book ever written with this negative statement? C. Because we have a tendency to be ashamed of the Gospel! D. How are we ashamed of the Gospel? Peter's denial of the Lord really illustrates well how we can Conclusion May God convince us of the power of the Gospel.

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Speaking Under the Influence - 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 - Pastor Tito Lyro

Speaking Under the Influence - 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 - Pastor Tito Lyro If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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Comfort for Heaven - Luke 18:18-30 - GUEST SPEAKER - Elder Jason Anspach

Comfort for Heaven - Luke 18:18-30 - GUEST SPEAKER - Elder Jason Anspach If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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SAVE THE DATE: Men's Campout August 17-18

Men, be sure to save Friday and Saturday, August 17-18 for our annual Men's Campout.  More details coming soon!

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The Power of the Gospel in Evangelism - Romans 10:1-14 - Pastor Tito Lyro

The Power of the Gospel in Evangelism - Romans 10:1-14 - Pastor Tito Lyro If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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The Power of the Gospel in Evangelism

Introduction It seems weird to talk about the power of the Gospel in evangelism. Isn't evangelism by definition and etymology the proclamation of the Gospel to those who have not believed in Jesus Christ? Yes, evangelism is just that. However, the Church in North America has struggled a bit with that concept lately. The Church has labeled evangelism things that are good things and we must be involved in, but that are not evangelism. Things such as social action and holy living have become the end all in evangelism. I am sure you have heard the saying attribute to Francis of Assisi often repeated in Christian circles, "Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words." It sounds really good. The only problem with it is that it is a false statement. Holy living may be a means to get to the gospel and evangelism, but it is not the same thing.  Not only the Church in general has struggled a bit with actually evangelizing, but also we as individuals. Telling people about Jesus tends not to be at the forefront of our minds. It is not the type of activity that we generally look forward to. So we too need to be awakened to the power of the Gospel in evangelism.  I. Why is it that we are not so into evangelism? A. I think it is fair to say that we are not naturally inclined to it. B. We are not so eager to share Christ with other and there might be several reasons for that, which may be brought under two major categories: the fear of man and unbelief. C. In each case, we need to repent from unbelief and turn to Christ. D. Our testimony must be that of Paul: I am persuaded of the Gospel. 2 Tim. 1:12 – For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. II. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation Rom. 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. A. This Gospel is even powerful enough to save you and me! 1 Tim. 1:15 – This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. B. So we proclaim the Gospel to those who don't believe because, if we don't, they will perish in their sins, 10:14, 17. C. What is it exactly that we proclaim? The word of faith, 10:8. D. In all of this, we see the power of the Gospel in saving people: whoever believes will not be put to shame, and the Lord is rich to all who call upon his name, and whoever calls on the name on the Lord will be saved, 10:11-13. III. So we must proclaim the Gospel, 10:14. A. We are fast approaching a post-Christian culture in which people have no notion of what the Bible says. B. So, just saying that Jesus is the answer may not be enough. C. Even today's atheists are different than a few decades ago. D. So, we must give them the whole storyline of redemption. Conclusion Paul was certain of the power of the Gospel to save people. We must be convinced of it as well. If we going to disciple the nations, we must be sold out to the power of the Gospel in evangelism.

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REMINDER: Campers Leave Tacoma on Thursday Morning

Just a reminder: If you're going to the Youth Summer Camp, be at the Tacoma church no later than 6:40am tomorrow, Thursday, July 12.

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The "Christ-Crucified" Preacher - 1 Corinthians 2:1-10 - Pastor Tito Lyro

The "Christ-Crucified" Preacher - 1 Corinthians 2:1-10 - Pastor Tito Lyro If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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The Christ-Crucified Preacher - 1 Cor. 2:1-10

Introduction We live in a world where image is almost everything. How one looks, how one sounds, is of the utmost importance. Some of the leading pastors in contemporary evangelicalism seem to spend more time on their looks before they preach, than in preparing the sermons (or talks as they refer to them) that they are about to preach.  Looks weren't a big thing with Paul. In one hand he was not the most impressive specimen of humankind. In 2 Cor. 10:10 he says that one of the accusations that the super apostles brought against him was that he didn't very good and didn't sound very nice ("'For his letters,' they say, 'are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible'"). The earliest description of Paul says that he was "a man of small stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and a nose somewhat hooked." And this is the opinion of someone who liked Paul! On the other hand, his own personal abilities and looks were that important to Paul because Paul was not all about Paul. Paul was about Christ. He exemplifies for us the Christ-crucified preacher.  This passage helps us see the character, the message, and the goal of the Christ-crucified preacher. I. The Character of the Christ-Crucified Preacher. A. Christ-Centered, 2. B. Determination, 2. C. Plainness, 1, 4. D. Humility, 3. E. Reliance on the Spirit, 4, 10. F. Love for the people, 5. II. The Message of the Christ-Crucified Preacher. A. The testimony of God, 1 B. The person and work of Christ, 2 – Christ and him crucified. C. The wisdom of God, 6. D. This message can only be understood by those whom God reveals it to them, 7-9. III. The Goal of the Christ-Crucified Preacher, 5, 7, 10 A. Paul preaches Christ and him crucified so that faith is not in the arguments about faith, but in the power of God, 5. B. Glory, 7, 10. Conclusion So, here we have the character, the message, and the goal of the Christ-crucified preacher. Christ at the center. Christ at the front. Christ everywhere!

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REMINDER: No Wednesday Service Tonight - July 4

Because of the Independence Day holiday we will not be having Wednesday Evening Services tonight, July 4.

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The Word of the Cross - 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 - Pastor Tito Lyro

The Word of the Cross - 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 - Pastor Tito Lyro If you find these lessons helpful, or if you have questions please write to us at contact@olympiabp.net. We would love to hear from you and learn how we can serve you.

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