GRACE UNVEILED: “All Under Sin,” #7 | Jim Hammond
Pastor Jim delivered his seventh installment in his series on the book of Romans, entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The first three chapters of Romans focuses explicitly on the definition of sin. “Because,” as Pastor Jim says, “if you don’t understand what sin is, you will not understand the solution to the sin problem.” Paul wanted them to understand that all of mankind has a sin problem, and no matter who you are, you will never, ever be able to achieve righteousness through your own merit. If doesn’t matter if you’re a secular pagan who worships Zeus or a religious Jew who strictly follows the law, God will never see you as righteous through your own effort. Pastor Jim has much more to say in this message subtitled, “All Under Sin.”
Your Vision | Pastor Mac Hammond | January 15, 2023
This past weekend, Pastor Hammond taught on a subject that should interest every believer: your own personal vision. He talked about how to set vision as an individual and then how to set a vision for your family. Pastor Mac shared why he wanted to teach about setting your own personal vision by saying, “The truth is that our ability to achieve the corporate vision is really dependent to a degree on you making the vision God has for your life, which will involve the ability to supply what you are required to supply to the vision of God through this ministry.”
Dive Deeper:
Pastor Hammond made it clear that in order to have an effective vision, it first has to be based on the Word of God. Your vision will be shaped by your choices; therefore, your choices need to be shaped by the Word of God. God says that He’s set before us life and blessing, death and cursing. Therefore, choose life. We are to make choices based on choosing life and blessing.
A vision must always include steps or marks in which you can press toward. If your vision doesn’t have steps and goals, then your Christianity will become stagnant because you’re not moving forward.
It is wise that all people, whether single or married, create a personal vision, i.e. personal goals with objectives like fitness or eating issues. However, if married, the couple should come together to discuss and agree on creating goals and objectives for the family. Pastor Hammond stressed that it is not just the husband’s duty to create a vision for the family. The husband and wife must do it together.
Then Pastor went on to discuss how commitment is vital to anyone’s success in achieving the goals in his or her success.
All of us should have physical and relational goals, but the most important goal is the financial aspect, what we do with our money. Pastor Hammond quoted Luke 16:11 that says your management of money is the least in which you’re required to be faithful. If you’re not faithful in that which is least, you won’t be faithful in that which is much. He said, for that reason, it’s important to start with money in the personal goal-setting process.
With regard to money-setting goals, you must distinguish between what is a “need” and what is a “want.” This involves being honest with yourself. Don’t buy a boat when you don’t have enough money to purchase groceries for your family. Also, don’t set a vision that is too lofty, where you know you don’t have the faith to believe for it.
Pastor Hammond also discussed the role of tithing in your vision setting.
Read About It:
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Luke 16:11–12 “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?”
Discussion Questions: