HI, I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THIS WEEK’S TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
I NEED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
AS IT RELATES TO THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION.
WE’RE THANKFUL TO OUR LORD FOR THE GAINS THAT WERE MADE IN THIS
ELECTION FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE,
AND GOD’S DESIGN FOR SEX AND GENDER, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
NO CANDIDATES OR PARTIES ARE PERFECT,
BUT THE DEFEAT OF SECULAR LEFTISM AT THE POLLS
IS A VICTORY TO BE CELEBRATED.
BUT AS ALWAYS, WHILE WE DO OUR PART AT THE BALLOT BOX,
JESUS IS LORD,
AND THE COURSE OF OUR NATION IS IN HIS SOVEREIGN HAND.
AS PRESIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ONCE SAID,
YOU AND I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE,
AND WE’RE CALLED TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS,
TEACHING THE NATIONS ALL THAT GOD HAS COMMANDED.
AS WE WRAP UP 2024 AND HEAD TOWARD 2025, IT
WILL BE A HUGELY CONSEQUENTIAL YEAR IN OUR COUNTRY.
WE SAW THAT EVEN AMONG THE GAINS, THERE IS MUCH WORK TO DO.
I WANT TO ASK YOU TO STAND WITH CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES
IF YOU’VE BEEN A REGULAR SUPPORTER OF OURS,
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE KINGDOM.
FOR OTHERS OF YOU, PERHAPS YOU’VE BEEN TUNING IN WEEKLY,
ENJOYING AND BENEFITING FROM THESE PROGRAMS,
BUT YOU HAVEN’T GIVEN IN A WHILE.
THIS WOULD BE A GREAT AND STRATEGIC TIME TO COME BACK
AND GIVE A GENEROUS GIFT.
WHICH HAS BEEN GENEROUSLY ESTABLISHED BY
FRIENDS OF THIS MINISTRY.
GOD IS REIGNING, HIS WORD IS TRUE,
AND WE HAVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
SO JOIN US IN THAT HOPE, AND IN HELPING US SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.
I’M SO THANKFUL FOR YOU, AND I WELCOME YOU
TO TODAY’S TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS
“CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH, PROCLAIMING HOPE TO THE NATION.”
THAT’S BEEN TRUE SINCE D. JAMES KENNEDY
FOUNDED US IN 1974.
IT BEGAN IN FORT LAUDERDALE,FLORIDA,
AND GREW OUT OF HIS MISSION TO IMPACT HIS CITY,
HIS STATE, HIS NATION, AND ULTIMATELY HIS WORLD
WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
AS HIS SUCCESSOR, IT’S MY PRIVILEGE TO FOLLOW IN HIS
FOOTSTEPS TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND HOW WE ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION.
THAT BEGINS, AS THIS WORLDWIDE MINISTRY DID,
WITH CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
JOIN US, FOR A CLOSER LOOK.
THIS ICONIC STRUCTURE IS A SYMBOL OF ONE MAN’S DREAM
TO START A CHURCH THAT WOULD BE A FORTRESS OF FAITH
FOR BELIEVERS TO BE SALT AND LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD...
THAT VISIONARY WAS DR. D JAMES KENNEDY.
“AND IT SHOULD BE THE GREAT PASSION,
AND ZEAL THE CONSUMING VISION OF OUR HEARTS
THAT JESUS CHRIST MIGHT BE KNOWN THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE EARTH.”
CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONTINUES EXPANDING UPON
DR. KENNEDY’S TIMELESS LEGACY OF ADVANCING
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN CREATIVE AND PRACTICAL WAYS
TO THIS DAY WITH DR. ROB PACIENZA.
“THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU”
“THANK YOU ROBERT, VERY ARTICULATELY SAID..
MAYBE HE OUGHT TO PRAY THAT THE LORD
MIGHT WANT TO USE HIM AS ONE OF THOSE CHRISTIAN LEADERS
OF THE 21ST CENTURY PERHAPS, RIGHT HERE WHERE I’M STANDING.”
HE WAS MY MENTOR.
I WAS A FIRST GENERATION CHRISTIAN.
AS I CAME TO FAITH,
MY PARENTS DIDN'T COME TO FAITH TILL LATER ON.
SO, HE NOT ONLY BECAME MY SPIRITUAL FATHER,
BUT HE BECAME MY MENTOR.
AND DISCIPLED ME AND REALLY STARTED TO HELP ME TO THINK
ABOUT FULL-TIME MINISTRY AND HOW I COULD USE THE GIFTS
THAT GOD HAD GIVEN ME TO REALLY ADVANCE THE KINGDOM.
TO LEAD AS A CHRISTIAN AND TO THINK AS A CHRISTIAN,
D JAMES KENNEDY WAS THE MODEL FOR THAT.
AND WHAT I LOVE IS THAT WE ARE NOW AT CORAL RIDGE
LIVING OUT MORE THAN JUST HIS LEGACY,
WHICH WAS MARVELOUS AND AMAZING.
WE'RE TAKING IT FURTHER THAN HE,
I THINK COULD HAVE REALLY IMAGINED.
IT'S HARD TO EXAGGERATE THE IMPACT OF D JAMES KENNEDY
AND CORAL RIDGE ON MY LIFE.
COUNTLESS LIVES HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY DR. KENNEDY,
INCLUDING GLADYS ISRAELS, A CURRENT MEMBER WHO WAS PRESENT
AT THE BIRTH OF CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 1959.
WHEN THERE WERE 17, MAYBE 20 PEOPLE IN THE CONGREGATION
STILL MEETING IN THE SCHOOL IN POMPANO,
JIM KENNEDY SAID TO THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE
WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. AND THEY DID.
THEY ABSOLUTELY CHANGED THE WORLD.
JIM KENNEDY NEVER HAD A SMALL VISION ABOUT ANYTHING.
DR. KENNEDY WAS AS VISIONARY OF A MAN AS I'VE EVER MET,
AND HE HAD THIS MYRIAD OF DESIRE,
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SEE THE GOSPEL GO FORWARD.
AND WHEREAS SOMEBODY MIGHT'VE STARTED ONE OF THE MINISTRIES
THAT DR. KENNEDY STARTED, OR MAYBE TWO,
HE STARTED 11 MINISTRIES WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT
AVENUES FOR ADVANCING THE GOSPEL.
BUT IT'S AN ODD PERSON THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO COME ALONG
AFTER HIM AND HAVE THOSE SAME PASSIONS THAT STRETCH
ACROSS ALL THESE DIFFERENT AVENUES.
EVANGELISM EXPLOSION INTERNATIONAL COULD EASILY BE
CALLED DR. KENNEDY’S FLAGSHIP MINISTRY WHICH HE BEGAN IN 1962.
THIS GLOBAL OUTREACH TRAINS BELIEVERS TO BOLDLY AND LOVINGLY
SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH ANYONE WHO WILL RECEIVE IT.
EVANGELISM EXPLOSION HAS EQUIPPED 67 THOUSAND CHURCHES
AROUND THE WORLD TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.
AND IN 2022 ALONE, OVER 17 MILLION PEOPLE
HAVE PROFESSED FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST THROUGH EE.
WHEN I HEARD THE GOSPEL FROM JIM KENNEDY,
IT WAS LIKE A REVELATION THAT IT DIDN'T HAVE TO DEPEND
ON MY GOOD WORKS BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST HAD DONE IT ALL,
HAD PAID THE FULL PRICE.
MY LIFE TOTALLY CHANGED AND MY FAMILY,
JIM KENNEDY CAME TO VISIT ME ON A TUESDAY MORNING.
HE CAME BACK ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND PRESENTED THE GOSPEL
TO MY HUSBAND AND IT WAS LIFE TRANSFORMING FOR HIM AS WELL.
DR. KENNEDY WAS A GREAT VISIONARY,
AND IN THE SAME WAY I REALLY SEE ROB
AS INHERITING THAT CHARACTERISTIC.
HE'S A GREAT VISIONARY WITH THE SAME LOVE FOR THIS MYRIAD
OF WAYS TO CARRY OUT TAKING THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE TERM MEGA-CHURCH WAS APPLIED TO
CORAL RIDGE FOR ITS RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE
DURING EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE IN 1983.
TODAY, DR. KENNEDY’S LEGACY LIVES ON
THROUGH DR. ROB PACIENZA WHO STILL CALLS DR. KENNEDY
... HIS PASTOR.
HE WAS THE ONE THAT DISCIPLED ME INTO UNDERSTANDING
WHAT IT MEANT TO LOVE AND HAVE A PASSION
FOR EVANGELISM AND THE GREAT COMMISSION.
HE GAVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING AND A FRAMEWORK FOR WHAT IT MEANT
TO UTILIZE THE PULPIT AND STEWARD THE PULPIT
TO TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE COUNCIL OF GOD,
BUT ALSO TO APPLY IT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CULTURE,
TO DEVELOP PEOPLE WITH A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW AND
TO ALSO FULFILL AND PREACH ON THE CULTURAL MANDATE.
AND SO HE GAVE ME A PASSION FOR MINISTRY,
GAVE ME A PASSION FOR THE CHURCH,
AND GAVE ME A PASSION FOR WHAT IT MEANT
TO BE A YOUNG CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE WORLD,
BUT NOT OF THE WORLD.
I THINK JIM KENNEDY WOULD BE THRILLED TO SEE WHAT THE LORD
HAS CONTINUED TO DO HERE AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
UNDER THE MINISTRY OF ROB PACIENZA.
IT HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.
BECAUSE THIS CHURCH WILL ONLY HAVE POWER
AND IT WILL ONLY GROW WHEN THE WORD OF GOD
IS PREACHED FAITHFULLY.
YOU DO NOT COME TO THIS CHURCH TO HEAR ME PREACH,
YOU DO NOT COME TO THIS CHURCH HEAR GLORIOUS MUSIC,
YOU COME TO THIS CHURCH ULTIMATELY
TO SEE JESUS AND TO SEE HIM HIGH AND LIFTED UP.
APPLAUSE
AND SO TO KNOW HIS MINISTRY AND BE SO IMPACTED BY IT
AND TO KNOW DR. ROB PACIENZA IS REALLY GLORIOUS
BECAUSE I SEE THAT LEGACY COMING THROUGH ROB.
HE'S ADDING HIS OWN TONE TO IT.
I SEE THE MENTORING OF D. JAMES KENNEDY.
I SEE THE WORK OF CORAL RIDGE.
I SEE THE WORK OF GOD FLOWING THROUGH HIM
IN A WAY THAT TAKES IT TO A NEW GENERATION.
THE INSTITUTE FOR FAITH AND CULTURE,
FOUNDED BY DR. ROB PACIENZA
CROSSES GENERATIONAL AND CULTURAL LINES
TO EQUIP BELIEVERS AND ADVANCE GOD’S KINGDOM.
I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING
AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
ENGAGING OUR CULTURE AND BEING FAITHFUL TO THE CALL
TO NOT JUST HAVE A PRIVATE FAITH,
BUT A PUBLIC FAITH
THAT GOES INTO ALL THESE DIFFERENT SPHERES OF CULTURE
WHERE YOU CAN HAVE INFLUENCE,
WHETHER IT'S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT,
IT'S ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS OR SOME OTHER SPHERE
LIKE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
PASTOR ROB HAS REALLY CARRIED THAT TORCH AND THAT LEGACY
FORWARD THAT DR. KENNEDY STARTED SEVERAL DECADES AGO.
IN ORDER TO BE A CHURCH
THAT REMAINS COMMITTED TO BIBLICAL TRUTH,
IT REMAINS COMMITTED TO GOING AGAINST THE CULTURAL TIDE.
WE ARE DOING A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS HERE AT CRPC
SUCH AS THE INSTITUTE FOR FAITH AND CULTURE,
WHICH IS A NATIONAL MOVEMENT
BORN RIGHT OUT OF OUR CHURCH THAT IS EQUIPPING LAY PEOPLE
EVERYWHERE IN THE NORTH AMERICAN CHURCH
TO BE EQUIPPED FOR THIS CULTURAL MOMENT.
THE INSTITUTE HOST ANNUAL CONFERENCES LIKE KINGDOM COME
WHERE WE HAVE WORLD RENOWNED THOUGHT LEADERS COMING TO HELP
EXPLAIN NOT ONLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS CULTURE,
BUT HOW DO WE PUSH BACK WITH TRUTH AND LOVE.
THE INSTITUTE FOR FAITH AND CULTURE EXISTS TO EQUIP
CHRISTIANS FOR THIS CULTURAL MOMENT,
AND WE DO THAT THROUGH THE CREATION AND
CURATION OF BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW RESOURCES
THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICAL TRAINING.
AND BY CONNECTING THE BODY OF CHRIST WITH LIKE-MINDED
BELIEVERS TO BRING KINGDOM OF GOD HERE ON EARTH,
WE BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE A LACK OF TRAINING
OR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND HOW TO CONNECT WHAT THEY BELIEVE
WITH HOW THEY ACT WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF CHURCH.
SO INSTEAD OF LIVING A SUNDAY MORNING FAITH,
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS
TO LIVE A FAITH THAT'S SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,
WHETHER THAT'S AS A STAY AT HOME MOM OR A CEO OF A MAJOR COMPANY.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE'RE CALLED TO BE MISSIONARIES
IN EVERY SPHERE OF INFLUENCE THAT WE HAVE.
AND CORAL RIDGE HAS EMBARKED ON A CAMPUS EXPANSION
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A NEW GENERATION.
THE GENERATION TO GENERATION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
IS A CULTURE SHAPING MOVEMENT
THAT WE BELIEVE WILL REDESIGN AND REPURPOSE
THE CAMPUS OF CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TO CONTINUE
TO BE A BEACON OF HOPE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME.
MORE THAN BRICK AND MORTAR.
WE WANT TO REDESIGN A CAMPUS THAT CONTINUES TO CHAMPION
THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE CULTURAL MANDATE TO BRING
THE NEXT GENERATION INTO THE CHURCH FOR THE PURPOSE
OF SENDING THEM OUT AS MISSIONARIES
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY
CONTINUES TO GO AGAINST THE CULTURAL TIDE.
AS OUR NATION BECOMES MORE SECULAR,
AS WE SEE WOKE IDEOLOGIES
THAT ARE PERVASIVE IN OUR CULTURAL MOMENT,
WE BELIEVE THAT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
HAS BEEN UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO CONTINUE TO BE
A BEACON OF HOPE AND AN UPSIDE-DOWN WORLD.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE LORD FOR THE WORK
HE’S DOING HERE AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
AND AT OTHER GOSPEL-PREACHING CHURCHES AROUND OUR NATION.
FOLLOWING THE BOLD MISSION BEGUN BY D. JAMES KENNEDY,
WE AIM TO BE A BEACON OF LIGHT
IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS,
EQUIPPING GOSPEL-CENTERED, CULTURE-SHAPING CHRISTIANS.
THE EVENTS OF CHRISTMAS ARE CENTRAL TO THAT GOAL, BECAUSE
THE ADVENT OF JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR WORLD ALLOWS US TO GO
FROM BEING ENEMIES OF GOD TO BEING HIS FRIENDS
AND EVEN HIS CHILDREN.
I RECENTLY SHARED MORE ABOUT THAT WITH OUR CONGREGATION HERE,
AS WE LOOKED AT “THE HOPE OF ADOPTION.”
THIS MORNING, WE'LL LOOK AT GALATIANS CHAPTER 4,
VERSES 4 THROUGH 7,
AND THE GRASS WITHERS AND THE FLOWER FADES,
BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD, IT STANDS FOREVER.
AMEN. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CHRISTMAS TIME
THAT REMINDS US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY.
THERE'S A REASON WHY MARKETING PROFESSIONALS SPEND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITH THOSE SAPPY COMMERCIALS,
WITH THE STORIES OF ESTRANGED FAMILY MEMBERS
THAT COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS,
A DAD THAT GOES OFF TO MILITARY AND FIGHTS IN WAR
AND SURPRISES HIS CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS TIME,
MAYBE A FATHER AND SON THAT HAVE BEEN ESTRANGED FROM EACH OTHER,
ALIENATED FROM EACH OTHER, RECONCILING AT CHRISTMAS.
WELL, THEY'RE NOT FAR OFF.
THE REASON IT MOVES US IS BECAUSE
THERE'S SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THAT MESSAGE.
YOU SEE THE STORY OF REDEMPTION AND THE STORY OF THE SCRIPTURES
IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ESTRANGED AND ALIENATED FROM GOD,
OUR FATHER, AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
WE INITIATED THE ALIENATION WE CHOSE.
IN GENESIS THREE, WE READ
TO LIVE OUR LIVES INDEPENDENT FROM GOD,
THE GOD THE FATHER CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE
AND WE CHOSE TO LIVE APART,
TO LIVE ESTRANGED, TO LIVE ALIENATED,
AND ALL THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES.
THE STORY OF REDEMPTION EXPLAINS THIS LONG JOURNEY OF FIGURING
OUT HOW IN THE WORLD COULD I EVER BE RECONCILED?
HOW COULD I EVER COME BACK HOME?
HOW COULD I EVER BE REUNITED WITH THE GOD OF CREATION?
PAUL SAYS THERE'S GOOD NEWS AT CHRISTMAS
IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME,
GOD SENT HIS SON,
BORN OF A WOMAN SO THAT WE MIGHT BE ADOPTED AS SONS OF GOD.
THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTMAS THAT WE CAN COME HOME,
THAT WE CAN BE RECONCILED TO GOD, OUR FATHER,
AND WE COULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD.
MANY PEOPLE ASSUME AND MANY PEOPLE SPEAK
AS IF ALL OF HUMANITY ARE CHILDREN OF GOD.
WE SPEAK OF GOD IN TERMS OF GOD IS THE FATHER OF ALL HUMANITY.
BUT PAUL DOES NOT SAY THAT HERE.
PAUL SAYS, BY NATURE, WE'RE ACTUALLY SLAVES, BY NATURE,
WE'RE ACTUALLY ORPHANS.
YOU SEE, BECAUSE OF SIN, WE HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM GOD.
AND SO BY NATURE, OUR HUMAN NATURE SAYS
THAT WE ARE ALIENATED FROM GOD THE FATHER
SO THAT WE ARE NOT BY NATURE,
CHILDREN OF GOD, BUT INSTEAD ORPHANS.
INSTEAD SLAVES.
AND YOU SEE THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD THAT PAUL SPEAKS OF HERE
IN GALATIANS CHAPTER 4 SPEAKS OF HIS INTIMATE FAVORED AFFECTION
THAT IS ONLY RESERVED FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD,
BUT NOT RESERVED FOR EVERYONE
WITHOUT EXCEPTION NATURALLY NOT SONS BUT SLAVES.
AND PAUL SAYS THAT THE REASON WE'RE SLAVES IS
BECAUSE WE'RE HELD CAPTIVE TO THE LAW.
BECAUSE OF SIN, WE ARE ALL TRYING TO,
ACCORDING TO OUR OWN WORK AND OUR OWN SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS,
PERFECTLY OBEY THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW.
EVERY ATTEMPT TO SELF JUSTIFY
EVERY ATTEMPT TO MANUFACTURE A NEW IDENTITY,
EVERY ATTEMPT TO WIN SOMEONE'S APPROVAL IS AN ATTEMPT
ULTIMATELY TO ACHIEVE SALVATION ACCORDING TO YOUR WORK,
ACCORDING TO YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
AND SO BECAUSE OF SIN, WE ARE HELD CAPTIVE TO IT.
BUT THIS IS WHERE THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL AND THE GOOD NEWS
OF THE INCARNATION COMES IN BECAUSE WE ARE TOLD THAT GOD
AT CHRISTMAS TIME HAS DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
IT SAYS IN VERSE 4 AND 5, WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME CAME,
GOD SENT HIS SON.
PAUL REVEALS TO US THAT JESUS IS FULLY GOD.
HE IS THE SON OF GOD.
BUT THEN HE SAYS, BUT HE'S BORN OF A WOMAN.
DO YOU SEE WHAT PAUL'S DOING HERE?
HE'S REVEALING THE MIRACLE OF INCARNATION.
HE IS BOTH FULLY AND TRULY GOD
AND HE IS BOTH FULLY AND TRULY MAN.
HE IS THE SON OF GOD AND THE SON OF MAN IN ONE PERSON,
FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN,
BORN OF A WOMAN, BORN OF A VIRGIN,
BUT TO BECOME JUST LIKE US.
HE'S BORN UNDER THE LAW.
BECAUSE WE COULD NEVER OBEY THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW PERFECTLY,
IT REQUIRED JESUS, FULLY GOD, FULLY MAN,
BORN UNDER THE LAW,
TO REDEEM THOSE THAT WERE BORN UNDER THE LAW
SO THAT WE MIGHT EXPERIENCE FULL FORGIVENESS AND FULL GRACE.
YOU SEE THE JUDGE, GOD, NOT ONLY AT SALVATION
PRONOUNCES US NOT GUILTY,
BUT HE ALSO WELCOMES US HOME INTO HIS FAMILY AND
JESUS EARNED IT ALL; OUR FORGIVENESS, OUR JUSTIFICATION,
AND OUR ADOPTION.
IT WAS COSTLY.
IT COST JESUS' LIFE IN ORDER FOR US
TO BE REDEEMED AS CHILDREN OF GOD.
THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTMAS
AND THE GOOD NEWS OF THE INCARNATION,
MAKE NO DOUBT THAT CHRISTMAS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
THAT YOU CAN BE A CHILD OF GOD, NEVER ALONE,
FULLY SECURE, FULLY GROUNDED
IN THE GOOD NEWS OF WHAT JESUS CHRIST DID FOR US;
COMING INTO THIS WORLD, BORN OF A WOMAN,
UNDER THE LAW SO THAT WE MIGHT
EXPERIENCE REDEMPTION NOW AND FOREVERMORE.
IS THAT YOUR STORY TODAY?
YOU CAN GO FROM BEING AN ORPHAN TO HAVING THE FAVORED CHILD
STATUS WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED, NOT ACCORDING TO
WHAT YOU'VE DONE OR WHAT YOU'VE LEFT UNDONE,
BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE,
HE OBEYED THE LAW PERFECTLY ON YOUR BEHALF.
AND IF YOU CONFESS TODAY AND REPENT, YOU WILL BE SAVED.
THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS.
DO YOU BELIEVE IT?
DO YOU KNOW IT?
IS IT TRANSFORMING YOU?
IT SHAPING YOU AND CHANGING YOU IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME.
HEAR THIS GOOD NEWS, GOD SENT HIS SON, BORN OF A WOMAN,
UNDER THE LAW TO REDEEM THOSE THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW
SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE CALLED A SON OF GOD.
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
WHAT PRECIOUS TRUTH IT IS THAT GOD ADOPTS US AS HIS OWN
CHILDREN WHEN WE COME TO HIM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST HIS SON.
THAT IS LITERALLY A TRUTH THAT TRANSFORMS.
IT’S A TRUTH THAT MILLIONS NEED TO HEAR SO
THAT THEY TO CAN BE SET FREE FROM THEIR SINS
AND BE FILLED WITH CHRIST AND CHANGED.
THAT’S WHAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS RIGHT NOW,
AND THAT’S WHAT OUR WORLD NEEDS.
WE CELEBRATE AND ARE ENCOURAGED BY
THE OUTCOME OF THIS YEAR’S ELECTION.
BUT WHAT MAKES THE MOST LASTING DIFFERENCE
IS HEART TRANSFORMATION
THAT COMES FROM THE WORD OF GOD.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS
AND WE’RE DOING IT THROUGH TELEVISION, RADIO, PODCASTS,
AND OUTREACHES LIKE OUR CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP
ON CAPITOL HILL,
WHICH IS TAKING THE TRANSFORMING TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL
DIRECTLY INTO THE OFFICES OF SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN.
THAT’S HOW YOU “FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM” A NATION.
BUT WE CAN ONLY DO IT WITH YOUR HELP.
THIS IS NO TIME TO BE SHRINKING BACK.
SOME GENEROUS FRIENDS OF THIS MINISTRY HAVE ESTABLISHED THE
YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED, DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR,
UP TO $250,000-BUT YOU NEED TO ACT NOW.
WE’LL THANK YOU BY SENDING YOU THE INSPIRING AND ENCOURAGING
NEW BOOK BY DR. ROB PACIENZA, ENTITLED:
TRUE, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL: GOD’S DESIGN FOR A FLOURISHING WORLD.
OUR WORLD IS UNRAVELING BECAUSE WE’VE MOVED
FURTHER AND FURTHER FROM GOD’S DESIGN.
OUR CULTURE THINKS THAT IT CAN ASSUME THE PLACE OF GOD AND
REMAKE REALITY ACCORDING TO ITS OWN SINFUL DESIRES.
BUT THAT ONLY BRINGS MISERY AND EVEN DEATH.
BUT AS DR. PACIENZA SHOWS US IN TRUE, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL,
GOD OFFERS US SATISFACTION AND FLOURISHING
WHEN WE OPERATE ACCORDING TO HIS DESIGN.
THIS BOOK IS EXACTLY WHAT’S NEEDED IN A TIME LIKE OURS,
AND WE’LL SEND IT TO YOU AS THANKS
FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A DONATION OF $100 OR MORE,
WE’LL SEND YOU THE BOOK PLUS
THE TRUE, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL STUDY SERIES,
WHICH INCLUDES DR. PACIENZA’S EIGHT-PART SERMON SERIES,
“GOD’S DESIGN,” ON DVD,
AS WELL AS A NEWLY CREATED STUDY GUIDE WITH VIDEO.
IT’S IDEAL TO USE AS A SUNDAY SCHOOL CURRICULUM,
OR FOR SMALL GROUP OR PERSONAL STUDY.
SO CONTACT US RIGHT AWAY WITH YOUR DONATION,
SO WE CAN SEND YOU DR. ROB PACIENZA’S NEW BOOK,
TRUE, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL:
GOD’S DESIGN FOR A FLOURISHING WORLD,” AS THANKS.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A YEAR-END,
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION OF $100 OR MORE,
WE’LL SEND YOU THE BOOK PLUS
THE TRUE, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL STUDY SET,
FEATURING EIGHT FULL-LENGTH MESSAGES ON DVD,
A STUDY GUIDE, AND VIDEO CURRICULUM.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, PHILOSOPHERS, POETS,
AND THINKERS HAVE LOOKED FOR THE THINGS
THAT GIVE LIFE MEANING AND PURPOSE.
THE ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS, SUCH AS PLATO AND ARISTOTLE,
SPOKE OF THREE TRANSCENDENT IDEALS
TRUTH, GOODNESS, AND BEAUTY
AS GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT INFORM HUMAN FLOURISHING.
LATER, CHRISTIAN THEOLOGIANS SUCH AS AUGUSTINE AND AQUINAS,
BUILT ON THIS HERITAGE AND DUG DEEPER TO THEIR CORE,
FINDING A FOUNDATIONAL REALITY BENEATH ALL OF THEM
THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.
TRUTH, GOODNESS, AND BEAUTY COULD ONLY BE
FULLY UNDERSTOOD THROUGH A CHRISTIAN LENS.
CHRIST HIMSELF DECLARED,
UNITING THESE TRANSCENDENT IDEAS IN HIS VERY BEING.
THE FIRST IDEAL, TRUTH IS FULFILLED IN CHRIST
BECAUSE HE REVEALS THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE AND MEANING OF LIFE,
WHICH IS FOUND IN HIS DESIGN.
GOODNESS IS FULFILLED IN CHRIST BECAUSE
HE EMBODIES PERFECT MORAL VIRTUE AND SACRIFICIAL LOVE.
THE GOODNESS OF CHRIST IS SEEN IN HIS COMPASSION FOR THE WEAK,
HIS MERCY FOR SINNERS, AND HIS SELF-GIVING LOVE ON THE CROSS.
AND BEAUTY IS FULFILLED IN CHRIST BECAUSE HIS LIFE,
DEATH, AND RESURRECTION DISPLAY THE BEAUTY
OF GOD’S GLORIOUS REDEMPTIVE PLAN.
THE CROSS, AN INSTRUMENT OF SUFFERING AND SHAME,
BECOMES, IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH,
THE ULTIMATE SYMBOL OF BEAUTY
THE BEAUTY OF A LOVE SO DEEP THAT
GOD HIMSELF WOULD TAKE ON HUMAN FLESH
AND SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF HIS CREATION.
THE RESURRECTION, IN TURN, REVEALS THE BEAUTY OF NEW LIFE,
OF HOPE RESTORED, AND OF CREATION REDEEMED.
THAT BEGINS IN HISTORY AT THE NATIVITY IN BETHLEHEM,
WHICH WE CELEBRATE THIS MONTH.
AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE REFLECTS THE BEAUTY OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM,
WHICH IS BREAKING INTO THE WORLD EVEN NOW--MARKED BY WORSHIP,
VIRTUE, AND THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS.
THE BIBLE REVEALS THAT GOD CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE,
PLACED US ON EARTH TO HONOR HIM, AND EQUIPPED US
WITH EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LIVE ABUNDANTLY.
IF WE WANT TO FLOURISH, WE MUST FUEL OUR BODIES,
FEED OUR SPIRITS,
AND CONFORM OUR VALUES TO GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN.
TODAY’S SECULAR CULTURE HAS ADOPTED THE FALSE AND DANGEROUS
VIEW THAT REALITY IS WHATEVER WE WANT TO MAKE IT
THAT WE GET TO SUBJECTIVELY DETERMINE FOR OURSELVES
WHAT IS GOOD, TRUE, AND BEAUTIFUL.
BUT GOD AS THE SOVEREIGN CREATOR OF YOU, ME,
AND THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE IS, BY DEFAULT, THE CHIEF DESIGNER.
AS GOD’S CREATION, WE HUMANS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO TINKER
WITH THE CREATOR’S DESIGN,
BUT INSTEAD ARE TO DISCOVER AND HONOR IT.
BY SO DOING, WE CAN FLOURISH,
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS SHALOM,
AND COME TO EXPERIENCE THE ABUNDANT LIFE JESUS PROMISED.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS
PLEASE STAND WITH US TO HELP US TO FULFILL THAT MISSION
AS WE NEAR THE END OF 2024 AND BEGIN A PROMISING NEW YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY,
AND IF YOU’RE EVER IN SOUTH FLORIDA,
COME VISIT US FOR WORSHIP AT CORAL RIDGE.
AND YOU CAN WATCH OUR LIVESTREAM AT:
ALSO MAKE SURE TO CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT:
AND FINALLY, MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS,
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AND NOW, HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
I WAS IN THERE SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN
DEAD AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO HOPE FOR ME AND
FOR THE MANY MANY MEN THAT HAVE COME TO CHRIST
THROUGH WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN MY LIFE.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES