Teaching & Sermons with Ines Franklin

Nailed It!

Jesus + nothing = everything!For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NLTI am called to live in freedom.We are brothers and sisters.Use your freedom to serve!It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit gu...

RSVP YES!

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NLTAs for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! Galatians 5:12For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. Galatians 5:13akαλέω kaléō = call, name, direct, summon, invite, appointWhat does it mean to “be called?” Calling is the trut...

Welcome To The Table

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13a NLTadelphós = brethren, siblings, brothers and sisters22 “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire...

The Unlikely Way

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. John 11:17-2021 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”23 ...

Finish Well

Why would God want me?Am I where God wants me to be?Where am I going?What’s next?Why is it taking so long?Am I on a detour?Did I get lost or miss a turn?What am I supposed to do?As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-34 There is one body and one Spirit, just as...

Potholes, Sinkholes, and Dead Ends

POTHOLES, SINKHOLES & DEAD ENDSMatthew 4:1-11 Am I on a detour?An unexpected, but required turn16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1Hazards of the journey•Do it you...

Twists and Turns

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1-2By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. Hebrews 11:22Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. Genesis 37:2Now Israel loved Joseph more th...

You're Getting Closer

Where am I going?If you’re running on empty [Elijah] came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.“I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than myancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. 1 Kings 19:4-5• Food for the journeyThe angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him andsaid, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got upand ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty day...

You Are Here

Why would God want me?Am I where God wants me to be? Where are am I going? What’s next? Why is it taking so long? Am I on a detour?Did I get lost or miss a turn? Who is with me?The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6:11-12“Pardon me, my lord...

You're Invited

The wake up callWhen the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from withinthe bush, “Moses! Moses!”And Moses said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4“Here I am” –best place to startJacob (Genesis 31:11)Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4)Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8)God calls you at the right timeThe LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I haveheard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned abouttheir suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the h...

A New Song

“He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NLT Worship: Celebrating faithful love Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battl...

Between A Rock and a Stoning

The obstacle course of the Christian journeyPeaks and valleys, joys and challenges, favor and persecution A warm receptionWhen we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews h...

Our Father

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12Two wrong strategies:•measure Dad by God’s standards•measure God by Dad’s standardsIf someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. Proverbs 20:20No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:18“Righteous Father, though the world does...

Wonder God

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. Acts 17:16-17A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preachi...

Who's In, Who's Out

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47…“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey eve...

Who Is It For?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. …All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins a...

Peekaboo - Mothers Day

Why Mother’s Day?“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12Spiritual object permanence, rememberingMothering reveals God’s heart:So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 I see you“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 An...

Enemies and Foes

The lie: The church isn’t for me, I’ve done too much/sinned too big.Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2 “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” Romans 3:10-11f ...

Why Church

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:13-15Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in ...

Not As Expected

A miracle: an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing or accomplishment; an event manifesting divine intervention, a wonderful occurrence. Merriam WebsterΛάζαρος = “God helps” or “my God has helped”Now a man named Lazarus was sick. …So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” John 11:1, 3Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go ba...

Now I See

“so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” ~Helen KellerAs Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” John 9:1-2 NLT“What do you want me to do for you? “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Luke 18:4...

Beyond Belief

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. John 4:46-47 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” John 4:48-49“Go,” Jesus replied, “you...

Heaven On Earth

A miracle: an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing or accomplishment; an event manifesting divine intervention, a wonderful occurrence. Merriam WebsterOn the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. John 2:1-2When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the se...

Give, Serve and Share

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your la...

Freedom's Revival

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Galatians 6:1-3Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry...

Before & After Grace

Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:8-9…the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. Romans 4:16Before the way of fa...

Grace Is Not Weak

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia: Galatians 1:1-2[I was] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee…as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. Philippians 3:5-6…intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing...

The Price Of Freedom

FREEDOM • mariners church chapel THE PRICE OF FREEDOM Acts 13 There’s no such thing as a free lunch Our freedom fighter “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 § Jesus: The promise “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled...

Christmas Eve

It Ain’t Over 'Till It’s Over

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape LettersDo you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not l...

Don’t Miss It

Our lives are but specks of dust falling through the fingers of time. Like sands of the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. SocratesYou have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. Job 14:5 NLTBe very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s hou...

Mine, Mine Mine!

Did you know that the Bible talks a lot about money (about 2,350 verses), more than verses on faith and prayer, combined! And Jesus said more about money than about both heaven and hell. God cares a great deal about how we feel about money and possessions. God knows that we are all prone to greed, no matter how much or how little we have. God wants us to live in freedom, because He is our provider and he knows what we need.Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they ...

Love

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19“Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.” Isaiah 55:3In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world…And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the ...

Nehemiah's Generosity

PositionMoreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. Nehemiah 5:14The great outcry of the peopleNow the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Nehemiah 5:1-2The real...

Joy

Isaiah 55 reminds us that God has promised us joy, a joy that endures through the high and low moments of life. Today, Ines answers the question: How do I get and hold on to joy?As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the p...

Hope

Psalm 121 reminds us that we shall never lose hope because God is alive and he keeps his promises. Today, Ines answers the question: How do I remain hopeful, especially in the waiting? The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”–“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Mark 1:1-3In the last days t...

Rebuilding the Heart

You can’t eat walls Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain… Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards be...

Gratitude

Luke 17:3-19 tells the story of Jesus healing ten men of leprosy, and giving to one of them, the one who said, "Thank you", an even greater gift. Today, Ines answers the question: How to develop a heartfelt gratitude that is not attached to our circumstances?Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have p...

Thanksliving

In Colossians 3:15-17, Paul directs us to always be thankful through Jesus Christ. Today, Ines answers the question: How does taking communion helps us shift from occasional thanksgiving to a life of gratitude? Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God ...

Can't Stop Won't Stop

Running a Marathon On the side line: naysayers, doubters and haters But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. Nehemiah 4:7•Their weapons: ridicule, anger, attacksThey all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. Nehemiah 4:8•The aim: discourage, destroyAlso our enemies said, “Before they know it or...

When Things Get Real

And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests…The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. Nehemiah 2:8-9I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. Nehemiah 2:11-12The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15By night...

Drained At The Top

The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.” 2 Samuel 12:1-3“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from...

When the Bottom Falls Out

Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalomwould reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved inthis way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and sohe stole the hearts of the people of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:5-6…“Look your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you…If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would ...

Prayer Heals

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:13-14And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous ...

People Projects

Building for the futureThen I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. Nehemiah 2:17-18The purpose of the workBeautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the height...

Running For Our Lives

Anchor ScriptureI pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19...

Who's In Control

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38“In the past few years, I’ve observed an epidemic of sorts: patient after patient suffering from the same condition. The symptoms of this condition include fatigue, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, heartburn, bowel disturbances, back pain, and weight gain. There are no blood tests or X-rays diagnostic of this condition, and yet it’s easy to recognize. The condition is excess...

Holy Discontent

A mission from God, through us, for other peopleThe words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:1-2They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down...

The Kryptonite Of Faith

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For Godcannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. v.13But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Genesis 3:9-11The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit o...

Wisdom I.Q.

Would you rather have knowledge or wisdom?“Wisdom is, I suppose, the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” The Fourfold Treasure (1871) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13But if you harbor bitter envy and s...