The first sermon at Flushing Bible Church. www.flushingbiblechurch.com

1. Welcome to Flushing Bible
Church
Simple yet Sound
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our
God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8

2. Keep It Simple Saints
 Our Goal as a Church
 The Plan to get there
 The Outcome of the Plan

3. Our Goal
 Maturity as Believers
◦ Ephesians 4:11-16, specifically vv 14-16
 Teaching and learning are the key
◦ Ephesians 4:11-13
 Only after learning are Believers
stable and equipped
◦ Ephesians 4:14-16

4. The Plan: Keep It Simple
 Keep our interpretation of the Bible
“simple”
 Keep our Gospel “simple”
 Keep our Christian lives “simple”

5. Bible Interpretation
 Consistent literal hermeneutic
◦ Simple doesn’t mean easy
 Study God’s word; and apply it
◦ Romans 12:1-2
 The Word is perfect and inspired
◦ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

6. Bible Interpretation
 If it’s perfect, how do we interpret it?
◦ Literally, because every word is important
◦ Every word is truth, John 17:17
 “If the plain sense, makes sense, seek
no other sense.” Dr. Cooper
 Audience of the author
 Context of the passage
 Simple doesn’t mean “easy”

7. Bible Interpretation
 Don’t all Christians do this?
◦ NO!
 Pre-Tribulation Rapture
 Literal 1,000 year Kingdom on Earth
◦ Not a kingdom in our hearts, i.e.
Augustine
 “Limited atonement”

8. The Gospel
 Good news: ευαγγελιον
 All are sinners (Rom 3:23), penalty for
sin is death (Rom 6:23a)
 God provided a way of salvation (Rom
6:23b)
 God desires all people to be saved (2
Pt 3:9, Titus 2:11, John 12:32…)
 Every person can be saved, i.e.
“whosoever will may come!”

9. Simple Sanctification
 Sanctified by grace John 15:1-5
◦ Abide in Christ to be sanctified
◦ Only bear fruit, we do not produce fruit
◦ Christ produces fruit through us
 Our minds must be transformed
Romans 12:1-2
 Expository preaching: Colossians

10. The Outcome
 Stability Ephesians 4:14
 Maturity Ephesians 4:15
 Ability Ephesians 4:16