MAC KIRK

  Romans 12:1-8   "  The Christian Way of Life"   We may begin by saying that ch 11 ends and ch 12 begins with a " Therefore" Ch 11 the Apostle talks about the people of the OT that did not believe in the Christ.  " God has not cast away His people which He foreknew..."  11:2  There is a remnant according to grace and God's election.  vs. 5.  This chapter is a great mystery but ends with God's mercy and " wisdom and knowledge"  vs 33.  " For of Him, and through Him , and to Him , are all things to whom be glory for ever..."11:36 We begin our presentation of our bodies unto God a living sacrifice under the cover of His Almighty direction and control.  This gives us comfort to know that whatever happens in our world and in our lives is under His mercy.  Point 1.  What a great foundation for our Service in our lives to Him , and to others in the Church .  2.  We are to be living sacrifices , holy .  Our lives are to be transformed

  Joseph in the Old Testament    Genesis 45 is but a short part of the story of Joseph.  Most of us are well-acquainted with his life in Genesis.  He is mentioned also in Hebrews 11:22 ---in the faith hall of fame from the Old Testament.  Today we read of the discovery that his brothers found that he was actually alive and second in authority next to Pharaoh in Egypt. It is a dramatic scene.   Today I want to discuss what he says in vs 5 and repeats in vs 7.  "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life."  Vs 8 as well, " So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God and he hath ...made me lord of all Egypt ( vs 9)." So all of his experiences from the pit, to prison ( accused falsely by Potiphar's wife) were steps along the way to God's overuling plan for preserving life?  We neglected to mention most of the brothers wanted to murder him , and instead they sold him into

  Transfiguration of our Lord and our View.  ( this is more of a topical sermon on our Christian view of our lives actually)  Luke 9:28-36    You have heard the story about the big rock that slammed into our front windshield I believe---on a road in Andalusia .....  This got me thinking as I was meditating on the Transfiguration of our Lord---He was changed before them, and another Matthew's Gospel says transfigured,..Luke says he was changed, a different view ; He showed His glory and Divine nature.  Do we have a transfiguration?  If we are Christians we are to have a new windshield if I can say it that way.  A replacement for our wicked heart and a heart of stone is the spiritual view that God gives us when we see our new and now eternal life and have a new view is the answer.  But there are some things... Not all our days are mountain top experiences....Point 1.     1. First of all rocks are coming.  An article I read hit the nail on the head about our short lives...."Why D