Author Archives: John Sanzone

Please click here for the audio link and click here for the video links of this message.. Please click here to view the bulletin.

CORRECTION and NOT QUARRELSOME. II Timothy 2:23-26. #8, Oct 30, 2022.

²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

1. Avoiding futile arguments

                a. Paul warns Timothy to avoid (turn away from) vain and ill-informed disputes

                                a1. Not to be sucked into useless discussions

                                a2. There is a difference in dialoguing with a seeker versus a scorner

                b. Can only witness to those open to hearing truth

                                a1. The disputer and mocker is not ready to listen to gospel (I Corinthians 14:38)

                                a2. Argumentation doesn’t lead people to Lord

                c. Paul labels disputers as foolish and ignorant

                                a1. Foolish = the English word “morons” (those who promote folly over wisdom)

                                a2. Ignorant = literally, peculiar to oneself (English words idiot, idiosyncrasies, idiocy)

                d. Often it is hard to avoid the disputer, but you can avoid disputing with the foolish (Proverbs 26:1-12)

                e. Several types of foolish and ignorant people:

                                a1. PRIDEFUL – believes he knows all things and possesses all wisdom

                                a2. SPECULATOR – one who expresses opinions without facts and makes assertions

                                      without evidence

                                a3. TOPPER – tries to demonstrate that he has superior knowledge, experience, and wisdom

                                a4. DOMINATOR – shouts down opposition and talks over others, not allowing discussion

                                a5. SCORNER – seeks to mock, tear down, and disparage any witness presented them

                f. Disengage from scorners, the prideful, and disputer

2. The gentle witness

                a. Believers are not to be quarrelsome or combative

                                a1. Our witness needs to be gentle, kind, patient, instructive, and humble

                                a2. We discuss and not argue; teach and not berate; testify and not badger

                b. Persuasiveness is not confrontational

                                a1. We lead people to Christ, not drive them to Christ (testifying, not arguing)

                                a2. The Spirit, not our arguments bring people to the Lord

                c. A combative witness is counterproductive

                                a1. People are not brow-beaten into the kingdom or shamed into it

                                a2. An aggressive witness turns more people away than draws them (boldness is not the same as aggression)

3. God grants repentance

                a. Timothy was not likely to be aggressive

                                a1. He was likely to be reluctant

                                a2. Timothy had to teach those who were more direct than him how to witness winsomely

                b. Paul describes unbelievers as the opposition

                                a1. Until we come to Christ, we oppose God

                                a2. Some who learn the truth are led by God to repent and come to the truth

                c. Some will “come to their senses” (recognize truth that is both rational and reasonable)

                                a1. The gospel is reasonable and demonstrable

                                a2. God opens the eyes of men to truth

                d. Satan attempts to keep people ignorant of truth

                                a1. To enslave them by many untenable lies (evolution, Marxism, hedonism, superstition)

                                a2. The Holy Spirit and not our persuasiveness frees men from Satan and error (John 8:31-36)

                e. Our job is to present the truth that corrects errors taught be godless men

                                a1. The Spirit convicts and draws to Christ

                                a2. The divine partnership wins souls

Key Verse: Proverbs 26:1-12

¹ As snow in summer and rain in harvest,

So honor is not fitting for a fool.

² Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,

So a curse without cause shall not alight.

³ A whip for the horse,

A bridle for the donkey,

And a rod for the fool’s back.

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest you also be like him.

⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

⁶ He who sends a message by the hand of a fool

Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

⁷ Like the legs of the lame that hang limp

Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

⁸ Like one who binds a stone in a sling

Is he who gives honor to a fool.

⁹ Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard

Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ The great God who formed everything

Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

¹¹ As a dog returns to his own vomit,

So a fool repeats his folly.

¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The links to the audio and video portions of this message are not yet ready — please check back on Sunday afternoon for further updates.

Please click here to view the notes for this message.

Please click here for the audio link and click here for the video portions of this message.

1 Kings 11:41-43

⁴¹ Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? ⁴² And the period that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. ⁴³ Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

Please click here to view the bulletin. (Due to technical difficulties encountered on the morning of Oct 23rd, the video and audio recording of this services is not available)

HONORED VESSELS. II Timothy 2:20-22. 10/23/2022. #7.

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1. Vessels in God’s house

                a. II Corinthians 4:7 Paul describes as treasure in earthen vessels (I Corinthians 6:19-20 temples of God)

                b. Paul compares us to vessels again

                                a1. Each house has common vessels (trash cans, soup bowls, mugs…) and honored vessels (fancy vases, heirlooms, art…)

                                a2. In God’s house, there are common vessels (those who did not bear much fruit) and honored vessels (spiritual servants)

                c. Moses, Daniel, Paul, and John are honored vessels

                d. Many of the Cor. believers were common vessels

                e. We choose whether to be an honored vessel or not by our obedience or disobedience to God (I Corinthians 3)

2. The honored vessels

                a. Three qualifications to be an honored vessel:

                                a1. Self-cleaning – repents of sin and follows a moral, obedient, godly life

                                a2. Sanctified life – a life set apart from sin to God and holiness (dedicated to serving God)

                                a3. Useful to God – God can use the sanctified life to accomplish his purposes

                b. God accomplishes his will through us

                                a1. He involves his followers in his work

                                a2. We are rewarded for being his tools

                c. All believers will be with the Lord eternally

                                a1. Some will be more rewarded than others

                                a2. Regrets for not serving the Lord fully

                                a3. Romans 8:18 trials for serving God are worth it

                d. We are prepared by God to do good works (a choice)

3. The third warning

                a. Paul warned Timothy to stay away from three pitfalls:

                                a1. Avoid timidity or cowardice – he had not been given a spirit of fear (reticence), but of love (charity), power (dynamism), and a sound mind (solid reasoning)

                                a2. Avoid error – to guard the truth in yourself and protect the flock against error

                                a3. Avoid immorality – flee youthful lusts

                b. Paul doesn’t say to teach others to flee youthful lusts (a part of it), but tells this to Timothy directly

                                a1. Did Paul know that Tim. struggled with this?

                                a2. Or…is this a universal problem of all men?

                c. There is a particular temptation for church leaders

                                a1. Dealing with women in the church could produce compromising situations

                                a2. We are not told it Tim. was married or not

                                a3. Temptation doesn’t stop for the married man

                                a4. A young single minister (I Timothy 4:12) is particularly vulnerable (older men are not immune to having temptation issues)

                d. Paul has only one solution to enticement: FLEE!

                                a1. Hormonal temptation can’t be reasoned with

                                a2. Genesis 39 Joseph fled from Mrs. Potiphar

                e. Paul gives five traits to guard against temptation

                                a1. Pursue righteousness – must be an intentional focus to seek out Word and godly living

                                a2. Pursue faith – an increasing in knowing and serving God (Romans 10:17; II Peter 3:18)

                                a3. Pursue love – doing what is right by others

                                a4. Pursue peace – lust causes disharmony with others, disrupting the body of Christ

                                a5. Seek a pure heart – must guard our motivations, treating others with respect (1 Tm. 5:2)

                f. Guarding against immorality is full time (II Samuel 11)

                                a1. Staying away from compromising situations

                                a2. Philippians 4:8 guarding one’s thoughts

                                a3. I Corinthians 7 guarding one’s heart

                g. Timothy and all of us must focus on loving and serving Lord

Please click here for the audio and click here for the video portions of this message. Please click here to view the bulletin.

BATTLING FALSE TEACHING. 2 Timothy 2:14-19. 10/16/2022. #6.

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

1. Worth remembering

                a. This is a summary statement: all that I have just taught, believe, pass on to others, and remind them

                                a1. Not to fear standing for Christ

                                a2. Not to be ashamed of Christ before ridicule

                                a3. Hold onto sound truth

                                a4. Live a stellar life for Christ

                                a5. Trust the Lord for guidance and strength

                                a6. Teach others how to know and stand for him

                b. Diligence in study, faith, and godliness is key to be approved of the Lord

                                a1. Very few believers are diligent students of the Word and can defend their beliefs

                                a2. I Peter 3:13-17 be able to instruct others in the faith

                c. Bible study is not just for preachers and professors

                d. Rightly dividing the Word of truth

                                a1. Knowing what the Bible actually says

                                a2. Understand how the Bible is to be applied

                e. Many ways to err in studying the Bible

                                a1. Superficial context – gaining meaning from a passage without considering its context

                                a2. Proof texting – lifting verses out of context

                                a3. Misapplication – not applying vs. properly

                                a4. Misappropriation – applying passages out of their setting (things that apply to OT Jews versus the church or to apostles and not us)

2. Bible babble

                a. Paul warns not to argue over trivia and speculation

                                a1. Errors occur when we impose our ideas on the Word (how we think truth should be)

                                a2. 3 areas of foolish arguments: (1) philosophical speculation (2) methodology differences  (3) conformity to form and control

                b. Divisions lead to sins of strife and ridicule

                                a1. Fighting in an assembly is a poor testimony

                                a2. Some differences do not matter

3. Damaging discourse

                a. Speculation leads to heresy

                                a1. Asserting unproven or unknown things pulls the church into error

                                a2. Hymenause and Philetus claimed that the rapture had already passed = many followed their error

                b. The weak are subject to being led into error, particularly by forceful men

                                a1. False teaching divides the church and dilutes gospel (truth mixed with error)

                                a2. There is judgment on false teachers and those who lead others to stray

                c. Paul gives three solutions to guard our hearts

                                a1. The Word of God still contains the truth, so study the truth and make it your own

                                a2. Those who are truly in the faith, God keeps and knows (can stand for truth in midst of error and confusion)

                                a3. Depart from sin and error—most false teachers seek a following for themselves as a matter of pride and self-importance, often teaching error to support their own sin

                d. Knowing, believing, following, and teaching truth are key to protecting self and others

                                a1. All spiritual truth can be biblically supported

                                a2. If someone uses confused logic = not true

Key verse:   1 Peter 3:13-17

¹³ And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶ having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Please click here to view the notes for this lesson.

Please click here to view the Scripture passage.

Please click here for the audio link and click here for the video portions of this message.

Please click here for the audio and click here for the video portions of this message.

Please click here to view the bulletin.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE ELECT. II Timothy 2:8-13. 10/09/2022. #5.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,

We shall also live with Him.

¹² If we endure,

We shall also reign with Him.

If we deny Him,

He also will deny us.

¹³ If we are faithless,

He remains faithful;

He cannot deny Himself.

1. Proclamation and persecution

                a. Paul centers everything on the truth of the gospel

                                a1. Jesus is the promised Messiah

                                a2. He fulfilled all the prophecies

                                a3. Jesus is of the seed of David

                                a4. Jesus’s resurrection = final proof of deity

                b. Since Jesus proved that he was the Son of God

                    who takes way sin, Paul will pay any price to

                    share this news so some may come to faith

                                a1. Evil men reject Christ and Paul’s message

                                a2. Evil men persecute message bearers

                c. One of the unique concepts of the founding of the American republic is freedom of religion

                                a1. Everyone should be allowed to freely worship or not according to choice

                                a2. Men will not tolerate freedom to believe and share the gospel (hatred of God)

                d. Paul suffered trouble (endured hardship) because he shared the gospel with others

2. Worth the cost

                a. The Word of God is not chained, even though Paul was put in chains

                                a1. The gospel spread despite persecution

                                a2. God uses the testimony of the persecuted

                b. Paul states that he suffered for the elects’ sake

                                a1. To bring people to Christ = worth the price

                                a2. Paul expected persecution, considering it a small cost to pay for eternal dividends

                c. The cost does not seem trivial at the time of trials

                                a1. Pain is short-lived compared to eternity

                                a2. Eternal view is important (Romans 8:9-18)

                d. Paul endured (“remained under”) all things so that some would come to Christ

                                a1. A predetermined conviction to pay whatever price was necessary to preach Christ

                                a2. Paul focused on the task and not the cost

                                a3. The joy of spiritual gain swallowed up the suffering of fleshly pain

                e. Paul’s concern for the lost outweighed the concern for his own safety (Christ and other focused)

                f. To be saved is to die with Christ (Romans 6:1-12) and to also live with Christ

                                a1. To endure hardship is to be able to reign with him in his kingdom

                                a2. Matthew 24-25 rewards attend faithful service

3. Denial peril

                a. To deny (renounce, reject, or repudiate) Christ is to make manifest we don’t know him (Matthew 10:32-33)

                                a1. Could be a backslidden state as when Peter denied that he knew Christ (later repented)

                                a2. Could be as a false Christ (I John 2:19) as with Demus, false teachers, or cultists)

                b. Christ will deny (reject, not acknowledge) any who deny him (no secret believers allowed)

                                a1. Even when persecuted saints hide, they do not deny Christ when found out

                                a2. To be embarrassed by Christ and fearful of men is to deny him so that he denies us

                c. Timothy is warned not to deny his Lord

                d. Christ remains faithful, even if we are faithless

                                a1. He forgives the repentant (David, Mark)

                                a2. The pretender is lost with no hope

                e. The test of our faith in witness before scorners

                f. Being hesitant or shy doesn’t mean that you are not saved, but outright denial of Christ does

Key verse: Romans 8:9-18⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Please click here for the link to the audio and click here for the video link of this message.

Please click here to view the sermon notes.

Please click here to view the Scripture reference.

Today is the 2022 Missions Conference, please be sure to join us online via our YouTube Channel at 10:00 AM this Sunday.

To view this week’s bulletin, please click here.

Please view the Morning Sunday School Service on YouTube.

Please view the Closing Service on YouTube.

(No audio or video links for this message)

PASS IT ON. II Timothy 2:1-7. 9/25/2022. #4.

² You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

1. Strong in Christ

                a. Paul once again addresses Timothy as his son (“child”)

                                a1. Paul’s admonition = like a father to a son

                                a2. He moves now from the negative side (don’t be a coward or ashamed…) to + (stand strong)

                b. “Strong” = empowered (endunamou) = God was infused you with his power to do his will

                                a1. The power does not come from within us

                                a2. God infused Timothy with power, love, and the ability to use sound reasoning

                c. Strong in grace of Christ = along with salvation comes giftedness granted us by the Holy Spirit

                    in order to accomplish his will (Romans 12:1-8)

                d. Paul urges Timothy to avail himself of the strength that the Lord has already given him

                                a1. This is part of his salvation (gifted to serve)

                                a2. By obeying he is empowered to succeed

2. From trainee to trainer

                a. As Jesus poured his teaching into his disciples, Paul poured his teaching into Timothy

                                a1. Even though Paul also trained Titus, Luke, and others, he concentrated on Timothy

                                a2. Timothy’s potential was great

                b. Paul now turns over the ministry to Timothy

                                a1. Everything Timothy heard from Paul => teach

                                a2. Take faithful men and commit all that Paul taught Timothy to them

                                                b1. Teach them how to teach others

                                                b2. The gospel and discipleship message must be passed from generation to generation

                c. Enduring the hardships of the ministry is the price we pay for serving Christ

                                a1. We owe the Lord everything

                                a2. The price we pay is small compared to what we actually owe

                                a3. Must change from fearing opposition to expecting opposition

3. It will be worth it all

                a. Uses 3 examples of enduring trials to reach a goal

                                a1. The soldier lays aside all worldly concerns in order to be an effective soldier for his commander (focuses on task at hand)

                                a2. The athlete trains vigorously in order to compete lawfully for the top prize

                                a3. The farmer endures much labor and crop threatening pests and weather to grow crops

                b. The rewards are greater than the sacrifices

                                a1. The soldier participates in the victory over enemy and the pleasure of his superiors

                                a2. The faithful athlete gains the crown

                                a3. The farmer is the first to eat of his crops

                c. Timothy will be amply rewarded for faithful service

                                a1. Timothy’s reward = far greater than a battlefield victory, a perishable crown, or crops

                                                b1. Eternal rewards never fade or devalue

                                                b2. He won’t remember any of the trials

                                a2. Whereas men labor for temporal gain, we are to labor for eternal gain

                d. Consider (noeo = bring to mind, ponder, reflect) on what Paul has said (think through the implications)

                                a1. Important to evaluate our goals and actions

                                a2. Lasting commitment from serious reflection

                e. Don’t stop pondering until your reach resolution

Key verse: Romans 12:1-8

¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

(No audio or video links for this message)

Please click here to view the sermon outline.

Please click here to read the scripture reference.