Cross Church Winnipeg Sermon Podcast

Solomon makes it very clear that wisdom is not just for the elite and the learned and for people of noble birth. He says, Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. 21 She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: 22 “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? 23 Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. -Proverbs 1:20-23” According to Solomon, the simpleminded are not merely handicapped and unfortunate. No, he is being bold in his proclamation. He is saying that anyone may be wise. The simpleminded are stupid people. The fool has made a decision to reject wisdom and personal responsibility for his or her life. The Gospel message declares that through Christ we may be wise if only we will take responsibility for our life. Wisdom is crying out for us. It is God himself. All we have to do is cry out

Solomon continues his warnings against being a fool. He says, “My child, don’t go along with [assassins]! Stay far away from their paths. 16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder. 17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. 18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. 19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life. -Proverbs 1:15-19” Solomon shows us how foolish we are when we are greedy for money. The fate of the greedy is that while they may gain financially, they are robbed of life! Think about it, what good is wealth if you have no life? To press the foolishness of this way of living, Solomon says that even simple birds are wise enough to avoid being trapped. Are you wise enough to avoid the fate of the greedy? God will help everyone who cries out for wisdom.

Solomon understands too well the temptations that every human experiences. And so he gives warning, “My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! 11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.” -Proverbs 1:10-14 There so many ways that we kill people. Jesus said that hating people is like murdering them. Then there is gossip and character assassinations that happen in and out of the Church—a disgrace to be sure! We think that we can somehow gain something from destroying others. How shocking and how sad that there are people who call themselves Christians who act like this. Thankfully, wisdom protects us from such evil.

When we speak of the wise we can’t help but contrast them with the foolish. The foolish stand out like a sore thumb. So often they look foolish and sound foolish and make foolish decisions. But the wise stand out as exceptional. The wise seem to be in another class. Solomon says, “My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. **9** What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. -Proverbs 1:8-9” Yes, the wise are noble people. They stand out as extraordinary people. Wisdom is not necessarily the fruit of education or privilege or fame or fortune. Wisdom is the fruit of the man or woman who has taken to heart the godly instruction of parents, teachers, pastors and mentors. John Adams once said, “there is a natural Aristocracy among men…” To be a virtuous person who is naturally honored and respected by all, we must humbly learn from the wise.

Solomon continues with his opening statement about the power of wisdom. He says, “Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. -Proverbs 1:5-7” The fear of the Lord is an old idea that is usually very much misunderstood today. “The fear of the Lord” means that we have a personal bias, and passion, to submit to the Lord’s will above all else. Can you say that about yourself? It is impossible to be wise if you don’t care about doing God’s will. The fool is the one who gives lip service to God but is intent on pursuing his own will. Let us pray that the Lord will give us the grace to be wise through fearing God. Remember fools despise wisdom and discipline.

No one likes to talk about discipline. Discipline is a difficult thing to embrace because it requires personal sacrifice and we by nature are self-centred. We don’t like to be deprived of what we want. Solomon begins the book of Proverbs with these words: “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.” Well, it’s not just the young that need discernment and knowledge. Sadly, too many of us have never really grown up. We are still infantile in our thinking and in the way that we live. Let us pray that the Lord will do a profound work in our lives as we seek to gain the wisdom of God.

Today is the international day of prayer for the persecuted church. Today we are focusing on our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith and obedience to Christ. There is a saying, “Out of sight; out of mind.” But the scriptures don’t permit us to use this excuse. The author of Hebrews says, “Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.” And our Lord Jesus Christ warns us in Matthew 25: I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

Pastor Chris Zielke, Discipleship Pastor at Cross Church, shares a special Father's Day message.

The wisest man who ever lived said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” This is one of the most inspiring and mysterious proverbs. Imagine this for a moment. GOD, the creator of the Universe, is available to all and any who will look to Him for guidance in their lives. The Lord knows the way of the righteous. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He has promised to not leave us like sheep without a Shepherd. No! He is the Good Shepherd and He will faithfully lead us home. But not so the wicked. “The way of the wicked will perish.” Life is very difficult and we need help to navigate it. Thanks be to God, He gave us His Son who leads us home. And by the way, God’s definition of a righteous man is not what you think. A righteous man is the man who puts his total trust in Jesus Christ. The evidence that you have put your faith in Jesus is this: you believe everything HE says and you are committ

The saddest thing in all of the world is the waste of a human life. Why? Because humans were created in the image of God, with dignity and a capacity to do great things for God’s glory and honour. We were all created for sweet communion with God and His people. Pity the one who rejects the path of God and chooses the way of sin and rebellion and wickedness. His life is a string of sorrows, pain and suffering. Because of his sin, he cannot enjoy the beautiful fellowship of righteous people, instead he is left wretched and fearful, knowing that terrifying judgment awaits him. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The wicked may come to God at any time and repent and be set free from the horrifying path they are on. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, will not die, but have eternal life.”

Those who love the Lord and obey Him enjoy an unusual level of prosperity and flourishing. Why, because we are plugged into the streams of living water. Israel’s first King, Saul, was jealous of David. David was righteous and loved God’s law. 1 Samuel 18:14 says, “David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him.” However, King Saul did not have a love for God or His Word. He was rebellious. 1 Samuel 18:15 says, “When Saul saw that David was prospering greatly, he dreaded him.” When you and I are focused on seeking God’s will and His Kingdom, we become a powerhouse for God. We become a blessing to all who know us. We cause our spouse and children, and our friends and family to be blessed. 3,500 years ago, God said to His people in Deuteronomy 30:15, “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity.” There are two paths before us. One leads to destruction and the other leads to life. We must decide which path we shall take.

Meditation has more than one definition. The pagan’s idea of meditation is emptying one’s mind and then focusing on an object, a person, or an activity. God’s people have a very different understanding of this ancient practice. Mediation for a Christian is thinking about a passage of scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to apply it to our lives. Joy always comes to those who love scripture and love to commune with Almighty God. Why meditate on God’s word? Because it is God’s Word! God speaks through His word. He speaks to all who hunger and thirst for truth. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. And so all who take the time to reverently reflect on what God says in His word will have utter satisfaction and joy.

C.S Lewis once wrote, “Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God, which will make him happy.” God broke into human history to reveal the way of life and the resulting joy and peace that comes to us if only we would believe in Him and obey. Psalm one tells us of two paths; one is righteous, and one is evil. This simple Psalm gives us clear instruction on what will bring us joy and what will bring us despair. Charles Spurgeon said, “…every man is seeking after happiness. If it is so, then every man should read Psalm one, for this directs us where happiness is to be found in its highest degree and purest form.” We begin with verse one: Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. We have a path before us. We must choose which we will take.

Mother's Day 2021 message

What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So, my dear

But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. 45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. 48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, Adam, we will someday be like the heavenly man, Jesus.

And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.

For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

,000 years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ taught us how we as Christians ought to live. Our Lord never sugar-coats or backs away from tough. Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with these words of wisdom that will carry us through to Eternity if we will do what he says. Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Will you choose to live wisely, on the solid rock of His teachin