August, 2016 - Anthony R Locke Sermons ARP Synod

Synod Sermons

By Tony Locke | August 25, 2016

Retiring Moderator Jamie Hunt [embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b-7hNK4D64[/embedyt] Moderator Phil Williams [embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZtLTqOaFk8[/embedyt] Rev. Alex Campbell [embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPpuMBQABlo[/embedyt] Rev. Neil Stewart [embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pGH2HQCEuY[/embedyt] Rev. Eric Hancox [embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KegXIzzWrdo[/embedyt] Rev. Patrick Malphrus [embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWqwKqbzcpk[/embedyt]

Despise NOT Prophesying — 1 Thessalonians 5:20

By Tony Locke | August 22, 2016

August 21st, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not despise prophecies.[1][1] The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society. Everybody on this planet hears the voice of God speaking to them about His glory. Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky…

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By Tony Locke | August 12, 2016

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What Day is Evangelism Day?

By Tony Locke | August 12, 2016

The wonderful thing about sharing the Gospel is that it is the duty of every Christian, not just the job description of church officers or ministers. This year we are emphasizing the free offer of the Gospel – the idea that we are all to share the gospel constantly, with everyone, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest!

With our emphasis in mind, it’s a good time to examine your life and the life of your church, when it comes to evangelism. How intentional are the outreach efforts of the church? Please remember: there is a difference between outreach and evangelism. Reaching out into the community is crucial, it builds trust, networks and relationships, but it only affords you the structure to do the evangelism, to share you faith.

Prayer List

By Tony Locke | August 11, 2016

Please send all new prayer requests to secretary@firstprestucker.org Home Bound Church Family & Friends Robbie Blough Betty Wood Harriett Leslie Virginia Black Bunny Hardy Orchard Residents Church Concerns (August 28th, 2016) Paul Benedict fighting cancer. Betty Lovin living with significant leg pain. Louise Mickler (Barbara Welch neighbor) cancer has returned and she is taking chemo.…

Is The Bible History Reliable?

By Tony Locke | August 9, 2016

Historical Pontius Pilate was Real Virgin Birth First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Georgia Stone Mountain Gwinnett Dekalb Anthony R Locke Tony ARP Associate Reformed Presbyterian

When the early church pieced together the Apostle’s Creed, they were using the baptismal formulas previously in use by the actual Apostles. We don’t know which Apostle coined each phrase of the Apostle’s Creed, but one of the twelve was baptizing converts in the name of Jesus Christ who suffered under Pontius Pilate.

Which begs the question, “why are we confessing anything about a secular Roman governor?” This morning I am going to explain why Pilate’s name is in the creed, and I am going to suggest that it is necessary for a sound faith.

During this time period in Rome there were mystical religions that taught a variety of strange ideas. These false religions didn’t claim their teachings were real in a historic or scientific sense, but their teachings were spiritually real.

Lots of Christians understand their own faith within this context. My sermon will try to convince you otherwise.

Why Does the Apostle's Creed Profess Faith in Pontius Pilate? — Luke 1:1-4

By Tony Locke | August 9, 2016

Reverend Anthony R. Locke June 27th, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Luke 1:1-4 Apostle’s Creed Series 10 English Standard Version 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of…

Why a Trinitarian Benediction?

By Tony Locke | August 9, 2016

The Trinity is one of those distinctively Christian doctrines that separate us from other faith groups in the world. The early church tried to give a synopsis of this teaching with short Triads of Trinitarian Truth.

I’ll share one of these very early Triads of Trinitarian Truth with you.

The Father is God, but He is not the Son and is not the Holy Spirit
The Son is God, but He is not the Father or the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit is God, but He is not the Father or the Son.

The doctrine of Trinity is not explained in Romans or hidden in some secret chapter in Hezekiah, but it is the way the Bible reveals God. The whole Bible teaches Trinity.

The word TRINITY is a theological construct. We invent the word to explain a biblical phenomenon, to encapsulate in a word something unique that the Bible teaches.

There is no doubt that the Bible teaches Trinity.

The Bible identifies the Father as God.
1. in such passages like Ephesians 6:23, Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. This is more than just saying that God is like a father or that He is fatherly. Rather, there is a person who chooses to reveal Himself as THE Father and this person is Deity in the ultimate sense.
3. There are many verses like this which identify the Father as God.
4. The Bible identifies the Son as God.
  1. John opened his gospel with a powerful affirmation of Christ’s deity. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
    1. i. The only religious group in the world that describes that verse as anything less than the fullness of deity in the ultimate sense is the Mormon Church.
    2. ii. Historically they have been labeled a cult for this reason alone.
  2. The former skeptic Thomas cried out in John 20 when he saw the resurrected Christ, “My Lord and my God! Jesus did not correct Thomas for Jesus Himself had said numerous times that He was equal with the Father.
  3. Romans 9:5 labels Jesus as God blessed forever.
  4. Titus 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:1 refer to the one person Jesus as our God and Savior.
  5. The deity of Jesus is further proven by the words of God the Father Himself. God the Father refers to Jesus in Hebrews 1:8 in this way, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.
5. The Bible identifies the Holy Spirit as God.
  1. In Acts 5:3 Peter asked Ananias, Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? In the next verse Peter says, You have not lied to men but to God.

The Trinity can be summarized in a simple syllogism: The Bible teaches there is only one God. Yet it calls three persons God. Therefore, the three persons are the one God.

As the Great Shema declares in Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And this one God has revealed Himself as three distinct persons.

Why a Trinitarian Benediction? — 2 Corinthians 13:14

By Tony Locke | August 9, 2016

Reverend Anthony R. Locke May 30th, 2010 (Trinity Sunday) at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker 2 Corinthians 13:14 English Standard Version The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. The Trinity is one of those distinctively Christian doctrines that…

Each According to the Measure — Romans 12:3-8

By Tony Locke | August 9, 2016

Reverend Anthony R. Locke September 5th, 2010 www.FirstPresTucker.org at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker. Romans 12:3-8 Spiritual Gifts English Standard Version 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according…