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We have stopped putting the outlines online. A Makeover For 2005 Psalm 77 Turn on your television or pick up a magazine and you see houses and people being made over! It seems that almost everyone wants to be poked, sculpted, dressed up and shown off. Makeovers aren’t just physical. We need to treat ourselves and our church to a makeover of biblical proportions. We can learn new strategies for growing our church family. We can stretch our spiritual muscles and look at “doing church” in a fresh, exciting way. We can learn to be disciples who are trained for a spiritual marathon and not just a Sunday sprint. A start is to recommit ourselves to a study of the Word.
READING THE PSALMS AS THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS DID. We know from the way the New Testament writers used the Psalms that the Psalms were the book of praise and meditation for the early church. They saw Christ in the Psalms and they saw their own experiences in the struggles and triumphs of the Psalmists. Christ didn’t come to abolish the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them. (Matt. 5:17) CHRISTIAN LIVING MEANS LIVING ON THE WORD OF GOD. It is the means of our relationship to God If one doesn’t read, memorize and meditate daily on the Word, he/she will be a weak Christian at best. In true Christian living, our relation to the Word is intentional and not haphazard. It’s active not passive. The Christian life is a joyful project that calls for energy and aim and resolve and determination. Our delight is in the Word of the Lord, and we meditate on it day and night. (Psalm 1:3)
Let’s see this way of life at work in Psalm 77 and the step back and do some planning for living this way in the Word in 2005.
I. Reading Soaked in Prayer II. A Strategy for Living III. Conscious, Determined Effort IV. Making a Plan for the New Year May the Lord help us to see that this not marginal. This is the appointed instrument of God by which he sustains and grows the faith and fruit of His children. Amen and Amen.
REASONS WE DO THE LORD’S SUPPER 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 It is apparent today that many people do not understand the Lord’s Supper. So let me again share why we do this and what it means. We have two ordinances. One is baptism which shows the beginning of life in Christ by symbolically burying a believer in water and raising him up again to new life in Christ. And the other is the Lord’s Supper, which is our subject today. Why we call them “ordinances” rather that “sacraments.” Looking at some historical events that help our understanding and realizing what was at stake by the stance some of our forefathers took. Today I want to deal with what Jesus meant by “This is my body” (1 Corinthians 11:24) and “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (1 Corinthians 11:25). Four Reasons Why “This is My Body” Does Not Mean Jesus’ Physical Body Materializes in the Bread. 1. The natural understanding: Representation.
2. The Parallelism
between bread/body and cup/new
covenant. 3. Jesus explains that he is speaking figuratively (John 6:63). 4. Jesus says that eating and drinking in this case are spiritual acts. John 6:35 So if the words, “This is my body,” does not mean, “the physical body of Jesus materializes in this bread,” what then is the positive meaning of “This is my body” and “This is my blood?” Let me share three of the things the words mean. 1.Proclamation (1Corinthians 11:26). 2. Remembrance (1 Corinthians 11:24,26). 3. Feast by faith (John 6:35). Therefore, even though I think it is wrong to say that the bread and the blood turn into the physical, incarnate body of Jesus, I am not saying that what happens in the Lord’s Supper is mere, intellectual recall of facts. The Supper proclaims. And by faith it is a time of spiritual feasting on all that Christ is and has given to us that satisfies our soul and sweetens our love for Him. 19 Dec 2004 CELEBRATING A PURPOSE DRIVEN CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:4-7
I am indebted once again to Rick Warren, our teacher through 40 Days of Purpose for ideas about celebrating a purpose driven Christmas. The last phrase of our scripture this morning is: “there was no room for them in the inn.”
Each year it seems that the Christmas season begins earlier, causing us to work harder, rush faster and spend more in an effort to make this the best ever. How can we get off this horrible treadmill and have a simple, more meaningful and significant Christmas celebration?
Illus. Little boy in the Christmas play and his part was: “there is no room.” Planning a purpose driven Christmas could develop by planning around five key purposes and a commitment to making room for them.
I. Making Room For Joyful Worship. Isaiah 61:10, Psalm 66:1-2, 1 Peter 1:8 A. It is a time of praise, joy giving thanks, celebrating a Savior’s birth and praying for peace on earth. B. Attend and participate in special services during this season.
II. Making Room For Reconciliation. Eph. 4:32, 2 Cor. 18-19 A. Because all families are composed of imperfect people, we hurt one another; sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally. B. The most significant gift you can give anyone this Christmas is forgiveness. C. Jesus came to restore our broken relationship with God. Can we do any less? III. Making Room For Meaningful Fellowship. Heb. 10:22-25 A. Most of the parties and gatherings occur at a very perfunctory and superficial level. B. Set aside a time for real sharing. Ask questions like: What are you most thankful for this past year? What have you learned from the past year? How would you like to grow this next year? How can I bet a better friend? IV. Making Room For Serving Others. Psalm 100:2, Matt. 25:21 A. The best gifts are often ones you can’t wrap in paper. B. Look for opportunities to do simple acts of kindness.
V. Making Room For Sharing The Good News. Matt. 28:18-20 A. The good news is that God loves you. He cares about what happens in your life. That you are not an accident. You were made for a purpose and you were made to live forever. B. Christmas time still finds more people willing to discuss spiritual things.
Dec 12, 2004 HOW TO KEEP SPIRITUAL MOMENTUM This morning I want to start by asking a question -- if you could have been around for any single event in the life of Jesus, what would you choose? Bethlehem, Bethany/Lazarus, Garden/Resurrection, what would it be? I believe that I might choose Matthew 17 -- the story of Jesus being transfigured. There where for one brief fleeting moment, the glory of God, which had been contained by the flesh of Jesus leaked out. What an unbelievable experience. As we studied last week, we have come off a spiritual high -- 40 Days of Purpose. So how do we keep (sustain) what God ahs started in us over the last Forty Days. I want us to look at a group of people in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 12:1-2 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. How Do I Keep My Spiritual Momentum?
Dec 5 2004 HOW TO SAFELY LAND AFTER A SPIRITUAL HIGH Welcome if you are here and have not been a part of the 40 days of purpose study that we have just concluded. Today we study how to come back to the valley after being on the mountain and next week we look at how to sustain spiritual momentum. Learning that life is comprised of highs and lows. In life one finds both good and bad. The Bible is full of stories of highs and lows and good and bad. Revelation 2:2-5 "2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. ..." What is First Love Like? What Can Happen To That Love? First Steps On This Journey Motion will lead to emotion
When You Fail, God Never Does! His love will
never fail. His care will never fail.
Nov 28, 2004 WHAT HAVE WE
LEARNED? "Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through you experiences with Him." Deut. 11:2 (TEV) ABOUT GOD?
ABOUT LIFE?
ABOUT SPIRITUAL GROWTH?
ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY?
NOW WHAT? START LIVING WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED! "Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do." Eph. 5:15 (Ph) "Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it!" Phil. 3:16 (MSG) PASS IT ON! "Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others." 2 Tim. 2:2b (CEV) "I thank my God through Jesus Christ for everyone of you because the news of your faith is spreading throughout the whole world." Rom. 1:8 (GW) Nov. 21, 2004 MADE FOR A MISSION The Purpose Driven Life-Part6 Jesus: "In the same way that you gave Me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. " John 17:18 (MES) "As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." John 20:21 (NIV) "The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me - to tell people the Good News about God's grace." Acts 20:24 (NCV) MY 5TH PURPOSE IS TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS "Evangelism" "You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV) "Jerusalem" = the people closest to me "Judea/Samaria" = people near but different from me "Ends of the earth" = everybody else "This was God's plan for all of history which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord." Eph. 3:11 (GW) "This was God's plan for all of history which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord." Eph. 3:11 (GW)
COMPLETING MY MISSION
Nov. 14, 2004 SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD The Purpose Driven Life-Part 5 "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph. 2:10 (NIV) "Your hands shaped me and made me." Job 10:8 (NIV) Shape Heart Abilities Personality Experience "Each one should use whatever gift he's received to serve others." 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) MY 4TH PURPOSE IS TO SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS "Ministry" "Jesus: Your attitude must be like My own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve..." Matt. 20:28 (LB)
1. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE "Two blind men...shouted, 'Lord, have mercy on us!'...Jesus stopped and called them. 'What do you want Me to do for you? ' He asked." Matt. 20:32-32 (NIV) "Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now." Prov. 3:28 (TEV) 1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS "Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." Phil. 2:4 (MSG) 2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done." Ecc. 11:4 (NLT) 3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM "No servant can serve two masters...You cannot serve both God and money." Luke 16:13 (NIV) 2. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING GRATEFUL. "Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here...."John 11:41-42(NIV) "Serve the Lord with gladness." Ps. 100:2 (KJV) "It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work not because we deserved it but because that was His plan..." 2 Tim. 1:9 (LB) 1st Barrier: COMPARING & CRITICIZING "Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful." Rom. 14:4 (GW) 2nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS "When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from Your Father in heaven." Matt. 6:1 (CEV) 3. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING FAITHFUL. " I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do." John 17:4 (NIV) "The one thing required of servants is that they be faithful..." 1 Cor. 4:2 (TEV) "Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort." 1 Cor. 15:58 (MSG) "He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other Christians.." Heb 6:10 (NLT) "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things so, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." Matt. 25:21 (NIV)
Nov 7, 2004 CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST The Purpose Driven Life - Part 4 "From the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him - and He knew who would - should become like His Son..." Rom. 8:29 (LB) "God wants us to grow up...like Christ in everything." Eph. 4:15 (Msg) MY 3rd PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST "Discipleship" "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Rom. 8:28 (NIV) THREE UNEXPECTED TOOLS
October 31, 2004 FORMED FOR GOD'S FAMILY The Purpose Driven Life - Part 3 "God is the one who made all things, and all things are for His Glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory.." Heb 2:10a (NCV) "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ." Eph. 1:5 (NLT) "Love your spiritual family!" 1 Pet. 2:17b (MSG) MY 2ND PURPOSE IN LIFE IS FELLOWSHIP. "The person who loves God must also love other believers." 1 John 4:21 FELLOWSHIP is loving God's Family. "I'm writing.....so you'll know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church..." 1 Tim. 3:14-15 (NCV) FOUR LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP LEVEL 1: MEMBERSHIP: CHOOSING TO BELONG "...You are members of God's very own family...and you belong in God's household with every other Christian." Eph 2:19 (LB) "In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others." Rom. 12:5 (NIV) "This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized. Each of us is now a part of His resurrected Body." 1Cor. 12:13 (MSG) "That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus." Rom. 6:3 (MSG) LEVEL 2: FRIENDSHIP: LEARNING TO SHARE "All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other." Acts 2:44 (LB)
"People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron" Prov. 27:17 (TEV)
"Open your homes to each other." 1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)
"Share each other's troubles and problems." Gal 6:2 (NLT) "Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead, let us encourage one another............." Heb. 10:25 (TEV) LEVEL 3: PARTNERSHIP: DOING MY PART "We are partners working together for God." 1Cor. 3:9a (TEV) "The whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work. It helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Eph 4:16 (NLT) "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40 (NRSV) LEVEL 4: KINSHIP: LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY "...they were like family to each other." Acts 2:42a (CEV) "Be devoted to each other like a loving family." Rom. 12:10 (GW) "We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for Christian brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16 (NLT) "Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35 (LB) "You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26 (NLT)
October 24, 2004 PLANNED FOR GOD'S PLEASURE The Purpose Driven Life - Part 2 "You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created." Rev. 4:11b (NLT) "Love the Lord your God... This is the first and greatest commandment." Matt. 22: 37-38 (NIV) MY 1ST PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO WORSHIP GOD "Because God's great mercy to us...Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that you should offer." Rom 12:1 (TEV) 1. WORSHIP is MY RESPONSE to God's love. 2. WORSHIP is GIVING BACK to God. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength." Mark 12:30 (NCV) GOD WANTS ME TO LOVE HIM.... THOUGHTFULLY "with my mind" PASSIONATELY "with my heart and soul" PRACTICALLY "with my strength" 1. WORSHIP IS FOCUSING MY ATTENTION ON GOD. " You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working... You notice everything I do and everywhere I go." Ps 139: 1-3 (CEV) "Focusing on yourself is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, and ends up thinking more about self than God." Rom. 8:7 (MSG) "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God." Rom 12:21 (MSG) "Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-ply before God. Just be there as simply & honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace." Matt. 6:6 (MSG) "Worship Him continually." Ps. 105:4 (TEV) "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!" Isa. 26"3 (NLT) 2. WORSHIP IS EXPRESSING MY AFFECTION TO GOD. " We love Him, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19 (KJV) "I don't want your sacrifices - I want your love! I don't want your offerings - I want you to know Me!" Hosea 6:6 (LB) "He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you." Ex. 34:14b (NLT) "Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life." Rom. 6:13 (NLT) 3. WORSHIP IS USING MY ABILITIES FOR GOD. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people." Col. 3:23 (TEV) "Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and work-around life - and place it before God as an offering." Rom. 12:1a (MSG) "So we make it our goal to please Him..." 2 Cor. 5:9 (NIV)
October 17, 2004 WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? The Purpose Driven Life - Part 1 LIFE'S THREE GREAT QUESTIONS 1. QUESTION OF EXISTENCE: WHY AM I ALIVE
GOD: I WAS CREATED TO BE LOVED Y GOD. 2. QUESTION OF SIGNIFICANCE: DOES MY LIFE MATTER?
GOD: I WAS MADE TO LAST FOREVER
3. QUESTION OF INTENTION: WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?
GOD: I FIND MY PURPOSE BY GETTING TO KNOW GOD.
October 3, 2004 DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE Preparing for 40 Days of Purpose Rick Warren/Price Mathieson "Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do." Eph. 5: 15-17 (NLT) THREE BASIC QUESTIONS 1. WHAT DOES GOD WANT? MY WHOLE LIFE. "Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life and use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God." Rom 6:13 (NLT) "This is what the Lord your God wants you to do: Respect the Lord and do what he has told you to do. Love him. Serve the Lord your God with your whole being." Deut. 10:12 9NCV) "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matt. 6:24 (NIV) "In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Prov. 3:6 (LB) 2. WHAT DOES IT TAKE? DISCIPLINE "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. 1Tim. 4:7 (LB) "Spend your time and energy in the exercise of kepping spiritually fit." 1Tim. 4:7b (LB) "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down. Especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress." Heb. 12:1b (NLT) "Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; but there is need of only one thing and Mary has chosen the better part." Lk. 10:40-42 (NRSV) "God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own purpose." Phil. 2:13 (TEV) 3. WHY SHOULD I DO IT? THE CROSS "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Cor. 5:15 (NIV) "Through the blood of the Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness." Eph. 1:7 (GW) "Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices dedicated to God and pleasing to him." Rom 12:1(GW) "We beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us!" 2 Cor. 6:1(Msg) "Lord, I have heard the news about you; I am amazed at what you have done. Lord, do great things once again in our time; make those things happen again our own days." Hab. 3:2 (NCV)
September 26, 2004 Deeply Loved & Living Life Lovingly Ephesians 5:1&2 1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Do you know who authorities say is the most impersonated person ever? It is a man, and his impersonators come in all sizes. I'll tell you in the sermon who it is. Some people look at imitation as pretending to be something you're not. But others view imitation as a way to be the best you can be. The fact is that research shows that the quickest way to become good at something is to imitate someone who has already mastered it. So the best way to master something is to imitate a master. The Apostle Paul understood this principle. Throughout his writings he challenged his readers: "Imitate me....do what I do...follow my example." He could say this because he was imitating Christ. Sometimes he leaves himself out of the picture and urges believers to imitate God directly as our text today states. What is 'love'? Love is probably the most misused, overused, and abused word in the English language. One author states that there are two kinds of love. First, there is love as an emotion. The second kind of love is called, " a deep attitude of the heart." The Bible says LOVE MUST BE: I. SACRIFICIAL - John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." II. SINCERE - Paul writing to the church in Rome wrote: "Love must be sincere Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Rom. 12:9 III. SHARED - John writes; "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God." I John 4:7. IV. FOURTH, LOVE MUST BE SUBMISSIVE. Paul says, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21. God's law is summed up with one word, LOVE. Read Matt. 22:37 - 40. The "How-to" - applying biblical love. 1. Be kind. 1Thes. 5:15. Dealing with everyone with an attitude of love. 2. Be Compassionate. Mark 6:34. This means to be not only kind but to take an active role in helping others. 3. Be Forgiving. Col. 3:13. Forgiveness is almost always individually. YOUR CHALLENGE: GO FROM HERE BEING IMITATORS OF
CHRIST.
September 19, 2004 LET US BOW DOWN IN WORSHIP Psalm 95: 1-7 1 Come, let us sing
for joy to the LORD ; Worship is something that we were created to do. From the very beginning God created us to know, love and worship Him. This is the very reason we exist. "You are worthy, and Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Rev. 4:11 Many of us are not fulfilling the purpose for which we were created. We are like some people who own sport utility vehicles. They are built for off road driving, but most owners have them "off roading." When we fail to worship and to glorify God, we are not doing what we were made to do. We are to glorify Him in all that we do with our lives. "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor 10:31(b) Illus.: A lady had finished her shopping and returned to her car & found four men inside the car. She dropped her bags, drew a gun & screamed, "I have a gun & I know how to use it! Get out of the car." The men did not wait, they got out and ran like crazy. The woman, somewhat shaken, loaded her bags and then got into the car. But no matter how she tried, she could not get the key into the ignition. Then it dawned on her. This was not her car. Hers was parked four cars away. You see, she thought it was her car but it really belonged to someone else. We think that our lives are our own but they really belong to God. He gives us great freedom what we do with our lives. ----Let me put it more plainly. If you profess to be a believer, you need to be a worshipper of God. 1. What is Worship. The word worship comes from the old English "worth-ship," meaning to ascribe worth or value to something or someone. "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise." Rev. 5:12 A. There are a number or words translated "worship" in the Bible. 1. "To bow down, to do homage." It is first used in Genesis 18"2, where Abraham bowed down before his three visitors. 2. "To kiss toward." It coveys the idea of affection. Perhaps like when we blow a kiss to someone. 3. "To serve and minister," which speaks of our service to Him. Jesus said "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." Matt. 4:10(b). II. Why Should We Worship. Because God is worthy--even if we are not in the mood. When crisis and hardships come, we still need to worship. A. Paul and Silas had been arrested for preaching the gospel. 1, They were beaten severely, feet put in stocks, and put in the inner cell. 2. The jailer was warned to guard them carefully. 3. What would you have done? A. Asked, "How could God let this be?" "I've been faithful." 4. What did the two worshippers do? "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." When you are in pain God gives songs in the night. Job 35:10 (b) 5. What happened? A. There was an earthquake, and the prison doors flew open. B. Paul and Silas didn't leave the prison. They witnessed to the hailer and he became a believer and he and his entire family were baptized. There is a lost world watching us as Christians. When we can worship and glorify God even in difficult circumstances, they will hear a powerful testimony. III. We Worship Because God Promises His Presence. "Where two or three come in my name, there am I with them." Matt. 18:20. A. God shows Himself in a special way when His people gather for worship. B. There is nothing else like that special bond, that blessing of God, that sense of fulfillment, that we have when we do what we were created to do. C. Our times on the 'mountaintops' prepare us for life in the 'valleys'. D. Our time in worship strengthens us to be refreshed to go back into the world. IV. When We Worship God Helps Us To Put Our Lives In Perspective. A. Problems seem so big, because we have things out of perspective. Whatever I am facing I must remember that He is listening to me. He may not answer me the way I want it answered, but He has promised to be near me and give me peace. "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:5-7 When we remember to give God thanks and to worship Him, our problems, challenges and questions are often resolved, or at lease we gain a better perspective on how to deal with them. Yes, He is so worthy of our praise and worship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 12, 3004 EVANGELISM STARTED WITH GOD Rom. 1: 18 - 20 Psalm 19: 1-4 The father watched as his 2 1/2 year old daughter try to tie her shoes. She tried and tried and the father asked if he could help and she went back to trying some more. Finally, in exasperation she said, "Daddy, I can't do it." The father spoke quickly, "Honey, I know but I can." He quickly tied her shoes. We can't do it. Evangelism is a God thing from the beginning. It is something only the Father can do. I. GOD GOES AHEAD OF US SPEAKING. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth." (vs.18) "For what can be know about god is plain to people because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world, His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things that he has made. So people are without excuse." (Vs. 19 - 20) II. GOD IS THE PRIME SEEKER. Ezekiel 34:11 "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them." Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." You might think you don't have to evangelize. I wouldn't be here if I thought that. III. GOD INCLUDES US IN THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL. "Every square inch in the universe is being fought for--taken by Satan and counter taken by God." A. We are included through the work of prayer. The mystery of the gospel occurs in the supernatural realm, and it's a war waged for believers and non-believers. (2 Cor. 4:4) In 1 Tim. 2:1-2, "I urge you first of all to pray for everyone. Why, because God desires everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." Prayer changes things. The great Moravian prayer movement brought people from all over Europe. They started a prayer meeting that went 24 hours a day for over 100 years, because God was telling them to do it. That birthed the 'The Great Awakening.' B. We are included through divine appointments. (Cor. 3:5) "..as the Lord has assigned to each his task." It is no mistake that you are where you are. It is no mistake that you run into the people you run into. Illus. Three Christian friends had met at a Denny's restaurant with another friend who was not a Christian but had come to a group meeting they attended. They shared and finally asked him if he was ready to give his life to Christ and the friend said "no." "Well, keep coming to the group. Okay? Keep listening. Kepp hanging with us." He left and they got up to leave. As they started to leave the man sitting alone in the next booth stood up and said, " I couldn't help overhearing the things you talked about. I wonder if you could help me come to know this Jeus?" Right restaurant, wrong booth!!! IV. God is responsible for the results. John 6:44. " No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." "There is no one who is righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, not even one. And there is no one who seeks God, not even one." So the seeking God and the mystery of the gospel and the free grace of Christ draw people in. Wow!!!!!!!!! What a great truth!!!!!!!!
September 05, 2004 DEALING WITH FEELINGS OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY 1 CORINTHIANS 12: 21-27 21The eye cannot say
to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I
don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body
that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts
that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the
parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while
our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined
the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that
lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body,
but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If
one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored,
every part rejoices with it. There are few things in Texas in the Fall that get the attention that football does. We deal with one of the most important aspects of this sport or of any sport that involves more than one person. It is called teamwork and it is essential to success. It is interesting that God foresaw that there would be differences between people. It makes me feel cared for by our Father in Heaven. I hope you have the same response. Some truths for us: I. LET US NEVER SAY, "I HAVE NO NEED FOR YOU." II. LET US HAVE THE SAME CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. LET US SEEK OUR WORSHIP UNITY AROUND THESE PRIMARY CONVICTIONS.
GOD COMPOSED THE BODY; USING EVERY PART IN SOME IMPERFECT BUT NECESSARY WAY FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF THIS CHURCH.
August 29, 2004 LORD, OPEN MY EYES Psalm 119:17-24 (Key verse 18) This verse (Vs 18) helps us to see three things that we should learn.
Let me close with a little tour of Psalm 119 where the Psalmist gives us seven kinds of prayer with which we can soak our Bible study.
August 22, 2004 LEARNING HOW TO DO GOOD SO GOD GETS THE GLORY
Let us look at a couple of scriptures which show shat happened when they tried to deceive God and failed to give Him the praise or glory: Acts 5:1-11 and Acts 12:21-23. Not everyone who tries to deceive God like Ananias and Sapphira drops dead on the spot. Not everyone who fails to give God glory like Herod is struck down and eaten by worms and dies. But God has brought such judgments upon some in this life to warn us all that in the age to come there is a judgment which will be infinitely more severe upon those who have not lived for God's glory. Our key verse this morning along with a couple of companion passages go a long way toward answering the question of our message title. There are some truths for us to look at.
August 15, 2004 Living Under the Lordship of Jesus for The Common Good 1 Corinthians 12: 1 - 13 It is very important as we study this passage that we see it's application for us here at Lawn. The central truth seems to be captured in verse 7. "Now to each one the manifestation of the spirit is given for the common good." There are four words I want us to study. I. "Each One" - The each ones of verse 7 are the ones who once were pagans led astray by idols but because of the work of the Spirit, that has changed. The key sentence is at the end of verse 3: "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord ' except by the Holy Spirit." People who live under the lordship of Jesus-who aim to think the way He thinks, and who aim to feel the way He says to feel and who aim to do what He says to do. So the real issue is "practicing the lordship of Jesus" not just saying that He is lord. II. "The Spirit"-"To each one is given the manifestation of the Sprit..." that's God, the same God that brooded over the waters of Genesis 1:2 and joined in the creation of the universe. I want us to look at verse 11-"All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines." This verse emphasizes two things: One is that there is one and the same Spirit behind all the varieties of gifts. The other emphasis is that the Spirit is the one who decides who will have what gift and ministry and effectiveness. The Spirit is sovereign. III. "Manifestation"-"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit..." The reason the Spirit gives the gifts and ministries and the effectiveness that He does is so that He will be manifested in the church. A manifestation is a showing. When you manifest something you bring it to light. The work of the church is a thoroughly supernatural work. Whatever one does should be in the power of the Spirit so that the Spirit might be seen among us more and more. IV. "The Common Good"-"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." The spirit does not give gifts and ministries so that we can boast in our spiritual powers. He gives gifts and ministries for two reasons: To manifest Himself and to help us do good to each other in the church. So, here we have one of the basic convictions of our ministry here at Lawn; the pursuit of God's glory (the manifestation of God) and the pursuit of what is good for us are not two separate pursuits. If you want to do good for people, you manifest God to them. If you want to manifest God and make Him known, you do good to others, because that is the way He wills to manifest Himself.
August 8, 2004 LIFE'S DISRUPTIVE MOMENTS Sometimes we come to life's crossroads and we view what we think is the end. But God has a much wider vision and He knows that it's only a bend-- The road will go on and get smoother and after we've stopped for a rest, The path that lies hidden beyond us is often the path that is the best. So rest and relax and grow stronger. Let go and let God share your load. And have faith in a brighter tomorrow. You've just come to a bend in the road. Dr. David Jeremiah We have all encountered an unexpected bend in the road. Suddenly you are faced with circumstances you never expected or would ever have wanted to encounter. Life's disruptive moments! The Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn understood the implications of this idea. He suffered long years of solitude and suffering in prison for writing a few words of truth about his government. "It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it came to me that the line separating good from evil passes, ...right through my human heart, and through all human hearts. So bless you, prison for having been in my life." - Can I say, "Bless you prison," about my deepest trials? Can you bless the prison that looms in the bend of your road? It takes a deep spiritual wisdom to grow this ability - a genuine faith that God loves us and that His purposes are truly to empower and grow us.
August 1, 2004 MISTAKES MADE ABOUT THE LORD'S SUPPER The Lord's Supper is precious beyond words as a gift from Jesus to His church not only as a reminder of His death for us, but also as an occasion when He draws near to nourish our intimacy with Him and strengthen us by His shed blood and His broken body. It is however, possible to overestimate the power of the Lords Supper and actually make it an opportunity for sinning. In our text we read about how the Corinthians had overestimated the power of the Lord's Supper by seeing it as a sacramental antidote to any ill effects that might come from tasting the poison of idolatry. Also they failed to see that the reason for eating the bread and drinking the cup was to share in the life of Christ and to fellowship with Him as one body. So their overestimation of its power to immunize, and their underestimation of its purpose to nourish fellowship with Christ, made them vulnerable to sin and entanglement with demons. So, let us look carefully at these two mistakes that the Corinthians were making, in order that we not make them ourselves.
July 25, 2004 FINDING GOD IN THE DARKNESS Job 23:16-17 I still remember as the lights went out in Carlsbad Caverns a small, quivering voice was heard saying, "Daddy, I can't see you. Please hold my hand." How are we to live when it seems that darkness has descended upon us? It seems that Satan has launched an all out assault on our church family. We need someone to hold our hand. --- What do you do when you have prayed & prayed and it does not seem to have made any difference? When God seems very distant and He doesn't seem to hear our prayers? George Buttrick describes it as, "beating on heaven's door with bruised knuckles in the dark." These lessons can be learned about praying in the dark:
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