“Jesus’ Gospel Detour, Part II” Sunday Worship Service (9:30 AM in the A/C Gym and after 9:45 AM Live Stream)

You are invited to experience, view or listen to our Sunday morning sermon in one of 5 ways.
1) Participate in our onsite worship service in the Air Conditioned Gym which begins at 9:30 AM, SUNDAY at 3757 Mill Street.
2) Watch live on the church Facebook page at 9:45 AM, SUNDAY by going to: facebook.com/srcmarion  There are announcement slides and music at the start of the stream while we wait for the right time to join the service in progress.  Please “like” our Facebook page for future notifications.
3) Watch the same recording later on Facebook at a time more convenient for you: facebook.com/srcmarion
4) Watch the same recording later on our newly created YouTube channel. Just type in “Second Reformed Church of Marion” when you go to youtube.com  Or you can click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo3ZNP8OgRarSQXfqzGcn-Q
5) Listen to the audio recording and see sermon outline on our church website: sermons.srcmarion.org

Title: Tenacious Faith

Text: Matthew 14:21-29

Theme: God brings one far from Himself, to sincere faith & repentance in Christ

  1. Failed attempts to fix her ______________.
    1. Speculation.
    2. The Canaanites’ inability resembles those today who try worldly cures to fix problems that have spiritual roots.
  2. Faith comes by hearing the Word of __________________
    1. She believed what she’d heard about Jesus & sought Him out.
    2. Her faith challenges us to take a hard look at our own faith.
  3. Repentance is a whole-souled _______________.
    1. Repentance & Faith = 2 sides of the same coin; each involves the other.
    2. Her earnestness & passion is so lacking in many who profess Christ.

Questions for Further Study:

One defined repentance as a change of mind leading to a change of life.  About what things does one change one’s mind?   Hint:  Psalm 32:1-5; 51:1-6; I Thessalonians 1:9-10

How often are we supposed to repent of our sins?  Just once when we receive Christ, or at other times too?  Psalm 73:13-14; Proverbs 28:13; Luke 9:23; 17:3-4; James 4:8.

God requires thoroughgoing repentance for one to be able to rightly receive Christ, I Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21.  But what of those whose repentance is weak at best or lacking?  To what does the Lord liken it?  See Matthew 13:7, 22; Jeremiah 4:3-4; James 4:1-10; I John 2:15-17.

Does the following describe your faith?  Why or why not?  True faith is not only a knowledge & conviction that everything God reveals in His Word is true; it is also a deep-rooted assurance, created in me by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ, not only others, but I too have had my sins forgiven, have been made forever right with God, & have been granted salvation.  Heidelberg Catechism A.21