Just a quick note to provide the links to last Sunday's sermon:
Title: Shaking Things Up?
Text: Mark 10:1-31
Links:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/334011-mark-10-1-31-dec-13-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYcaF6E03AU
Blessings,
PT
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Friday, November 13, 2015
Flashback Sermon
Hello Everyone,
Due to technical difficulties it is flashback sermon this week at FBC...we are rewinding to April, 2014 and my message overview of the book of Nehemiah...you can listen at:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/324132-lessons-from-nehemiah-apr-16-2014
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6MmITbWjA
My you live by His Grace and for His Glory,
PT
Due to technical difficulties it is flashback sermon this week at FBC...we are rewinding to April, 2014 and my message overview of the book of Nehemiah...you can listen at:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/324132-lessons-from-nehemiah-apr-16-2014
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6MmITbWjA
My you live by His Grace and for His Glory,
PT
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Sermon title: A Question of Faith
Text: Mark 8:10 - 26
Sermon links:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/317306-oct-18-2015-mark-8-10-26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk3AnFIaIzE
Quotes from The Pillar NT Commentary: The Gospel According to Mark by James Edwards
Discussion Questions:
- What is the leaven of the Pharisees?
OT Parallel: The antagonism of Israelites to Moses in the wilderness (Ex. 33:5, Psalm 95:10-11, Deut. 32:18 - 21)
"The word asked = attempt to gain control of." The Pharisees were in essence attempting to gain control of Jesus.
"The word test = obstacle/stumbling block." The Pharisees were in essence not only attempting to control Jesus, but also trying to place a stumbling block in front of Him. The use of this word also occurs in Mark with Satan's temptation of Jesus...
"Faith that depends on proof is not faith but veiled doubt...Faith, like love itself, cannot be proven; it can only be demonstrated by active trust and commitment."
- What mistake were the disciples making?
Their failure to comprehend can produce a hard heart. They were in essence seeing, but not understanding, which predisposed their hearts to being hardened.
- Is Jesus _____________? How do you fill in that blank? I would encourage you to ask yourself if Jesus is enough. "The disciples who have witnessed baskets full of bread doubt Jesus' sufficiency in the boat."
- Why did Jesus have to touch the blind man twice?
Basically I believe that God did this miracle this way so Mark could place it in his gospel here to foreshadow that the disciples faith would be healed. They see and over time their understanding will become clearer.
Application Question:
- Where are your eyes of faith failing you?
There you have the rough outline please go and take a listen.
Blessings,
PT
Text: Mark 8:10 - 26
Sermon links:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/317306-oct-18-2015-mark-8-10-26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk3AnFIaIzE
Quotes from The Pillar NT Commentary: The Gospel According to Mark by James Edwards
Discussion Questions:
- What is the leaven of the Pharisees?
OT Parallel: The antagonism of Israelites to Moses in the wilderness (Ex. 33:5, Psalm 95:10-11, Deut. 32:18 - 21)
"The word asked = attempt to gain control of." The Pharisees were in essence attempting to gain control of Jesus.
"The word test = obstacle/stumbling block." The Pharisees were in essence not only attempting to control Jesus, but also trying to place a stumbling block in front of Him. The use of this word also occurs in Mark with Satan's temptation of Jesus...
"Faith that depends on proof is not faith but veiled doubt...Faith, like love itself, cannot be proven; it can only be demonstrated by active trust and commitment."
- What mistake were the disciples making?
Their failure to comprehend can produce a hard heart. They were in essence seeing, but not understanding, which predisposed their hearts to being hardened.
- Is Jesus _____________? How do you fill in that blank? I would encourage you to ask yourself if Jesus is enough. "The disciples who have witnessed baskets full of bread doubt Jesus' sufficiency in the boat."
- Why did Jesus have to touch the blind man twice?
Basically I believe that God did this miracle this way so Mark could place it in his gospel here to foreshadow that the disciples faith would be healed. They see and over time their understanding will become clearer.
Application Question:
- Where are your eyes of faith failing you?
There you have the rough outline please go and take a listen.
Blessings,
PT
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Control? (Mark 5:21 - 43)
Text: Mark 5:21-43
Links:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/285634-mark-5-21-43
Main Point: Christians are to live by faith.
Intro Questions:
- T or F Faith is a one time event?
Everyone quickly answers this "false" but we make our salvation a one time event and by default that makes faith a one time event...if we just express faith this one time and pray this prayer one time you won't have anything to worry about anymore and you can go back to doing whatever you want...over and over I challenge that line of thinking but it creeps into the church. Faith is not a one time event. The expression of faith should lead to action, transformation, new birth...should lead to an ever growing and expanding faith. And yet I wonder if we allow the cares of this world to slip in and instead of ever growing and expanding it slowly becomes an ever diminishing/shrinking thing...which ties us back to the Parable of the Sower...faith needs to be an ever expanding vibrant part of our lives...faith is something that ought to control our lives...renewing us and refreshing us...
- What do you fear? Or what drives you emotions? While it should be faith, the challenge is that for most of us if we are honest it doesn't.
The stories in today's text are here to challenge us to evaluate our lives and make certain that our faith is in Jesus and him alone...we are to live by faith in Jesus and him alone. So often we take our eyes off of Jesus and focus in on our circumstances forgetting that Jesus is standing right there. Our emotions rise and fall on our circumstances when our emotions should rise and fall on Jesus and our acceptance by him, his grace and mercy in our lives....we take our eyes off of Jesus and focus in on this world as if it is the be all end all...like this is the best we are going to have it...no my friends this is the worst we are going to have it..."Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relived...."
Give a listen to the sermon and then ask yourself: "Where in my life does my circumstances control me?"
Blessings,
PT
Links:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/285634-mark-5-21-43
Main Point: Christians are to live by faith.
Intro Questions:
- T or F Faith is a one time event?
Everyone quickly answers this "false" but we make our salvation a one time event and by default that makes faith a one time event...if we just express faith this one time and pray this prayer one time you won't have anything to worry about anymore and you can go back to doing whatever you want...over and over I challenge that line of thinking but it creeps into the church. Faith is not a one time event. The expression of faith should lead to action, transformation, new birth...should lead to an ever growing and expanding faith. And yet I wonder if we allow the cares of this world to slip in and instead of ever growing and expanding it slowly becomes an ever diminishing/shrinking thing...which ties us back to the Parable of the Sower...faith needs to be an ever expanding vibrant part of our lives...faith is something that ought to control our lives...renewing us and refreshing us...
- What do you fear? Or what drives you emotions? While it should be faith, the challenge is that for most of us if we are honest it doesn't.
The stories in today's text are here to challenge us to evaluate our lives and make certain that our faith is in Jesus and him alone...we are to live by faith in Jesus and him alone. So often we take our eyes off of Jesus and focus in on our circumstances forgetting that Jesus is standing right there. Our emotions rise and fall on our circumstances when our emotions should rise and fall on Jesus and our acceptance by him, his grace and mercy in our lives....we take our eyes off of Jesus and focus in on this world as if it is the be all end all...like this is the best we are going to have it...no my friends this is the worst we are going to have it..."Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relived...."
Give a listen to the sermon and then ask yourself: "Where in my life does my circumstances control me?"
Blessings,
PT
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Mark 2:1-12
Link: Mark 2:1-12
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyDqJTJ_9pI
As we look at New Testament letters the opening verses give you the themes that will be unpacked throughout the rest of the letter. Many weeks ago in my intro sermon to Mark I laid out 3 major themes that will be unpacked in the Gospel of Mark:
- Insiders vrs outsiders
- Jesus' Authority or Who is Jesus and where does His authority come from?
- Faith, not in what you know, but in Jesus
Last week four words that I used to sum up Mark 1 were: repent...believe....follow....serve. As a model for us to live out. As we walk through the Gospel of Mark, if I am correct on those 3 themes and 4 words, what follows will support and re-enforce that. The first 12 verses of chapter 2 do just that. In essence Mark is saying remember those themes that I spelled out over here I am now going to unpack them for you in this story.
As I dive into this message I asked two questions:
- How do you respond when things don't go your way?
- How do you respond when Jesus doesn't act or respond the way you want Him to?
For many of us we respond in the same way to those two scenarios and if we are honest it's not real pretty. In today's story I have to imagine that when Jesus first says, "Your sins are forgiven" the friends had to be going "What????" As I walk through this message we'll look at how the themes play out in this story and what our response should be as we mature...
Take a listen.
Blessings,
PT
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyDqJTJ_9pI
As we look at New Testament letters the opening verses give you the themes that will be unpacked throughout the rest of the letter. Many weeks ago in my intro sermon to Mark I laid out 3 major themes that will be unpacked in the Gospel of Mark:
- Insiders vrs outsiders
- Jesus' Authority or Who is Jesus and where does His authority come from?
- Faith, not in what you know, but in Jesus
Last week four words that I used to sum up Mark 1 were: repent...believe....follow....serve. As a model for us to live out. As we walk through the Gospel of Mark, if I am correct on those 3 themes and 4 words, what follows will support and re-enforce that. The first 12 verses of chapter 2 do just that. In essence Mark is saying remember those themes that I spelled out over here I am now going to unpack them for you in this story.
As I dive into this message I asked two questions:
- How do you respond when things don't go your way?
- How do you respond when Jesus doesn't act or respond the way you want Him to?
For many of us we respond in the same way to those two scenarios and if we are honest it's not real pretty. In today's story I have to imagine that when Jesus first says, "Your sins are forgiven" the friends had to be going "What????" As I walk through this message we'll look at how the themes play out in this story and what our response should be as we mature...
Take a listen.
Blessings,
PT
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Mark 1:29-48
Text: Mark 1:29-48
Link: Mark 1:29-48
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIJkODFeMXA
This message was one last walk through Mark chapter one. I had a seminary professor who told the story of how Dr. Howard Hendricks had his class take a segment of Scripture and list out 50 observations from that passage. They discussed it and then Dr. Hendricks gave them the same assignment again. To a certain degree that is what we have done with Mark chapter one as well. I gave an intro, then Pastor John came in and preached for me and then I came back and did one more walk by with this sermon as well.
So with that back drop take another look at Mark chapter one and ask yourself: "How would you some it up in 2-3 sentences or maybe 3-4 words.
The four words that I would use are: Repent....Believe....Follow....Serve.
Take a listen to the message and see how these four words provide not only an overview of Mark chapter one, but the whole book as well.
Blessings,
PT
Link: Mark 1:29-48
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIJkODFeMXA
This message was one last walk through Mark chapter one. I had a seminary professor who told the story of how Dr. Howard Hendricks had his class take a segment of Scripture and list out 50 observations from that passage. They discussed it and then Dr. Hendricks gave them the same assignment again. To a certain degree that is what we have done with Mark chapter one as well. I gave an intro, then Pastor John came in and preached for me and then I came back and did one more walk by with this sermon as well.
So with that back drop take another look at Mark chapter one and ask yourself: "How would you some it up in 2-3 sentences or maybe 3-4 words.
The four words that I would use are: Repent....Believe....Follow....Serve.
Take a listen to the message and see how these four words provide not only an overview of Mark chapter one, but the whole book as well.
Blessings,
PT
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Intro to the Gospel of Mark
Title: Intro to the Gospel of Mark
Text: 1:1-7
Link to message: Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
Link to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPeiKCw_njk
We live in a world that tries very hard to compress everything into short, little sound bites. As we have moved from writing letters to emails to tweets, Facebooking and texts we have forgotten the art of letter writing. The Gospel of Mark is in the end a letter and as such there are major themes that Mark is going to go over and re-enforce. This message was designed to be a 10,000 to 20,000 foot flyby of Mark or a big picture view of the book, so we can lay out some of the major themes that will be unpacked as we walk through it.
Intro Questions:
- Who is Jesus and what did He do?
- What is a disciple and what do they do?
How do you answer that first question? So often our answers drill back to "Jesus died on the cross and rose again" while that is key and extremely important if we drill in an focus on just that we miss an important message from the Gospel of Mark. One of the major themes that Mark focuses in on is Jesus humanity and His modeling for us what it means to be human. Jesus said "Follow me" in saying that he is inviting us to become what we were created to be...
How do you answer the second question? The interesting thing is to walk through Mark and note the answer to those questions...As you walk through Mark ask yourself: who is "getting it" and who isn't? Who is on the inside and who is on the outside?
Give a listen to this message and the overview of Mark as we get ready to walk through this Gospel in the upcoming weeks and months.
The message contains multiple quotes from Pillar's The Gospel According to Mark by James R. Edwards.
Blessings,
PT
Text: 1:1-7
Link to message: Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
Link to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPeiKCw_njk
We live in a world that tries very hard to compress everything into short, little sound bites. As we have moved from writing letters to emails to tweets, Facebooking and texts we have forgotten the art of letter writing. The Gospel of Mark is in the end a letter and as such there are major themes that Mark is going to go over and re-enforce. This message was designed to be a 10,000 to 20,000 foot flyby of Mark or a big picture view of the book, so we can lay out some of the major themes that will be unpacked as we walk through it.
Intro Questions:
- Who is Jesus and what did He do?
- What is a disciple and what do they do?
How do you answer that first question? So often our answers drill back to "Jesus died on the cross and rose again" while that is key and extremely important if we drill in an focus on just that we miss an important message from the Gospel of Mark. One of the major themes that Mark focuses in on is Jesus humanity and His modeling for us what it means to be human. Jesus said "Follow me" in saying that he is inviting us to become what we were created to be...
How do you answer the second question? The interesting thing is to walk through Mark and note the answer to those questions...As you walk through Mark ask yourself: who is "getting it" and who isn't? Who is on the inside and who is on the outside?
Give a listen to this message and the overview of Mark as we get ready to walk through this Gospel in the upcoming weeks and months.
The message contains multiple quotes from Pillar's The Gospel According to Mark by James R. Edwards.
Blessings,
PT
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Keeping It Fresh
Title: Keeping It Fresh
Text: Psalm 98
Link: http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/263444-keeping-it-fresh
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaGMssuMt-c
We recently celebrated the most important event in history...Jesus' resurrection from the dead, but what did you do the Monday following Easter? For most of us we went back to work and slipped right back into the routine of the daily grind....What happened the next day? Over time every day kind of looks the same doesn't it? In fact, I would bet that most if not all of us several weeks past Easter are going through the motions and haven't given Easter much thought.
What did the disciples do after seeing Jesus face to face? At the end of the Gospel of John we see them doing what? Fishing...they did what was familiar...they were waiting and in the midst of waiting they slipped back into the routine of the familiar...
Psalm 98 challenges us that our worship of God and our relationship with Him should remain fresh. Our relationship with the living God is dynamic...what happened with the disciples when the Spirit was poured into them? They couldn't keep quite...all who believe in Jesus have the Spirit poured into them and yet we remain silent...
Read through Psalm 98 and take a listen to this message on keeping our relationship with Jesus fresh...
Blessings,
PT
Text: Psalm 98
Link: http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/263444-keeping-it-fresh
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaGMssuMt-c
We recently celebrated the most important event in history...Jesus' resurrection from the dead, but what did you do the Monday following Easter? For most of us we went back to work and slipped right back into the routine of the daily grind....What happened the next day? Over time every day kind of looks the same doesn't it? In fact, I would bet that most if not all of us several weeks past Easter are going through the motions and haven't given Easter much thought.
What did the disciples do after seeing Jesus face to face? At the end of the Gospel of John we see them doing what? Fishing...they did what was familiar...they were waiting and in the midst of waiting they slipped back into the routine of the familiar...
Psalm 98 challenges us that our worship of God and our relationship with Him should remain fresh. Our relationship with the living God is dynamic...what happened with the disciples when the Spirit was poured into them? They couldn't keep quite...all who believe in Jesus have the Spirit poured into them and yet we remain silent...
Read through Psalm 98 and take a listen to this message on keeping our relationship with Jesus fresh...
Blessings,
PT
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Hosanna: The Word, The Message
Title: Hosanna: The Word, The Message
Palm Sunday Message delivered by Guest Pastor John Mancusi
Link: http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/259228-hosanna-the-word-the-message
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzPULy0Ab8L87dtGXZM6Mvg
As I shared yesterday I was out for several weeks and during that time FBC was blessed to have several guest preachers fill in for me. On Palm Sunday, a friend of mine, Pastor John Mancusi, spoke on the story we know as the Palm Sunday narrative. A huge "Thanks John" for expounding on Hosanna and challenging us to truly wait upon the Lord and His timing...
I love what John says about the Palm Sunday crowds: "They did what they could to make what they expected to happen, happen..." Great line and so true of us today as well. How often do we pray, seek God or expect God to respond in certain ways and then instead of waiting upon Him start doing whatever we can to make happen what we want to happen? I don't know about you but that line of thinking has gotten me into trouble in the past and I try to avoid it now.
Give a listen to John as he shares about waiting upon the Lord.
Blessings,
PT
Palm Sunday Message delivered by Guest Pastor John Mancusi
Link: http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/259228-hosanna-the-word-the-message
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzPULy0Ab8L87dtGXZM6Mvg
As I shared yesterday I was out for several weeks and during that time FBC was blessed to have several guest preachers fill in for me. On Palm Sunday, a friend of mine, Pastor John Mancusi, spoke on the story we know as the Palm Sunday narrative. A huge "Thanks John" for expounding on Hosanna and challenging us to truly wait upon the Lord and His timing...
I love what John says about the Palm Sunday crowds: "They did what they could to make what they expected to happen, happen..." Great line and so true of us today as well. How often do we pray, seek God or expect God to respond in certain ways and then instead of waiting upon Him start doing whatever we can to make happen what we want to happen? I don't know about you but that line of thinking has gotten me into trouble in the past and I try to avoid it now.
Give a listen to John as he shares about waiting upon the Lord.
Blessings,
PT
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
A Doubter's Diary
Title: A Doubter's Diary
Guest Preacher: Dr. Phil Sell, TEDS, Deerfield, IL
Text: Psalm 73
Link:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/257236-a-doubter-s-diary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE3gm505HwQ
Recently I spent several weeks away from FBC ministering in El Paso, TX and one of my seminary professors came up and delivered a message titled "A Doubter's Diary." I want to say a huge "Thank You" to Dr. Sell for opening up the word and teaching on a topic that many Christians wrestle with (doubt), but hide or feel like they can't express. Take a listen as Dr. Sell has great wisdom in dealing with doubt.
Blessings,
PT
Guest Preacher: Dr. Phil Sell, TEDS, Deerfield, IL
Text: Psalm 73
Link:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/257236-a-doubter-s-diary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE3gm505HwQ
Recently I spent several weeks away from FBC ministering in El Paso, TX and one of my seminary professors came up and delivered a message titled "A Doubter's Diary." I want to say a huge "Thank You" to Dr. Sell for opening up the word and teaching on a topic that many Christians wrestle with (doubt), but hide or feel like they can't express. Take a listen as Dr. Sell has great wisdom in dealing with doubt.
Blessings,
PT
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The Eternal Essence of a Deep Relationship - Love
Text: 1 Corinthians 13
Link: The Eternal Essence of a Relationship - Love
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/
Main Challenge: Love needs to be central to everything we do
Originally I was going to title this message: 50+ Shades of Love, because I believe that books/movies like 50 Shades of Grey demonstrate that world has a warped understanding of love and we in the church have allowed that warped understanding to creep into our understanding as well. Which leads me to my intro questions:
- Do we really understand love?
- How do you define it?
A good portion of my message is taken from the book Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham, Jr. In the book he sheds light on how fiction (myth) skews and impacts our understanding of love. What follows is an outline from the book...I would encourage you to listen to the message and take your own notes.
The Cupid Myths
Myth 1: Love is a random force
Myth 2: Love is an overwhelming force
Myth 3: Love is an uncontrollable force
Myth 4: Love is a sensual force
The result of this understanding: Love does not translate
A Biblical understanding of Love: "Love is an act of the will accompanied by emotion that leads to action on behalf of its object."
The Biblical Model of Love is volitional
The Biblical Model of Love is transferable
The Biblical Model of Love is secure
The Biblical Model of Love satisfies
Application or So What?
"If you want to know whether or not someone truly loves God, watch what he or she does."
When individuals encounter Christians they should feel love, because we understand the Biblical Model of Love. When we have a Biblical understanding of Love the so what will be easy...love should be the driving essence of everything we do...read 1 Corinthians 13...
Blessings,
PT
Link: The Eternal Essence of a Relationship - Love
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/
Main Challenge: Love needs to be central to everything we do
Originally I was going to title this message: 50+ Shades of Love, because I believe that books/movies like 50 Shades of Grey demonstrate that world has a warped understanding of love and we in the church have allowed that warped understanding to creep into our understanding as well. Which leads me to my intro questions:
- Do we really understand love?
- How do you define it?
A good portion of my message is taken from the book Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham, Jr. In the book he sheds light on how fiction (myth) skews and impacts our understanding of love. What follows is an outline from the book...I would encourage you to listen to the message and take your own notes.
The Cupid Myths
Myth 1: Love is a random force
Myth 2: Love is an overwhelming force
Myth 3: Love is an uncontrollable force
Myth 4: Love is a sensual force
The result of this understanding: Love does not translate
A Biblical understanding of Love: "Love is an act of the will accompanied by emotion that leads to action on behalf of its object."
The Biblical Model of Love is volitional
The Biblical Model of Love is transferable
The Biblical Model of Love is secure
The Biblical Model of Love satisfies
Application or So What?
"If you want to know whether or not someone truly loves God, watch what he or she does."
When individuals encounter Christians they should feel love, because we understand the Biblical Model of Love. When we have a Biblical understanding of Love the so what will be easy...love should be the driving essence of everything we do...read 1 Corinthians 13...
Blessings,
PT
Thursday, February 26, 2015
The Communication of a Deep Relationship w/God-- Prayer
Text: John 15:1-17
Link: Going Deep Through Prayer
Main Challenge: Effective Prayer arises out of a plugged in life.
Rate the following on a scale from 1 to 10
- How you relationship with God is? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
- How your prayer life is? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Effective prayer is in-line with or connected to God
- How do you define the following words?
- Know?
"Probably the best word for intimacy is the word 'know.' But this knowing goes much deeper than knowledge. The Bible first uses this word to describe a relationship in Genesis 4:1. The Hebrew word here for "knew" is Yada. But some translations translate the word a little differently, because it puts it in the context of what's happening. So your Bible probably says in Genesis 4:1: Adam lay with his wife Eve...You get the picture? That is our context for Yada. Now don't just giggle and brush past this. This is not a 'yada, yada, yada' moment, okay? This is a YADA moment between husband and wife. It's this intimate connection on every level. To know and to be known completely. It's a beautiful picture that helps us get to know what it really means to know Christ. There are other Hebrew words that could have been used to describe the sexual intimacy that is taking place. These words for sex are used later in Scripture and refer to the physical act or even procreation. But the word in Genesis 4 is Yada, the Hebrew word for 'know.' Clearly when the Bible uses this word for 'know' it means much more that knowledge. It describes the most intimate of connections. One Hebrew scholar defines the word this way: 'A mingling of the souls.' That's more than knowledge, that's intimacy."
From Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
When we say that we "know" Christ it is not that we just know facts and figures about Christ, but that we know Him and are known by Him. And the challenge for us is to cultivate our lives in such a way that we are getting to know Him better and more fully...He already knows everything about us, so its not about Him getting to know us, but rather us getting to know Him...when you understand "know" in this way it takes on a whole knew meaning...its not that I just have 50 verses, 500 verses or all of Scripture memorized, but rather as I read it I hear Him speaking to me...he is comforting and guiding me...and He's taking me to that intimate place with Him...Why? So that I can abide in Him.
- Abide?
Think through some of the synonyms that come to mind when you hear the word abide...
When you combine know and abide together there is the idea of an intimate connection that calls us to a deeper place in/with God and John 15 is painting a picture of what that looks like and the outcome of that is effective prayer.
Does John 15:7 say "Ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you?" No, it says; "If you abide in me and my words abide in you then ask..." Effective prayer is in-line with God's heart and that arises out of a relationship that knows God intimately and abides in Him. Stop and think about the Lord's prayer...to many of us have changed it to be "Thy Kingdom come, my will be done..." We pull back at that thought, but how many of our prayers are just that? If we know God deeply our prayer life will be asking for His Kingdom to come and be advanced here/now and for life here to look like it does in Heaven...not that I get that bright, new shiny object...
Effective prayer is constant and a two-way street.
If you are abiding in Christ there is a constant on going inter-change...that involves both speaking and listening. If we are in a deep relationship with God we will be guided and carried along by the Spirit. Too often we throw up our prayer requests and then we are off and running, but we need to be waiting and listening. I confess that there have been times in my life where I have prayed for something for years and then when it looks like the answer has arrived I go with it...instead if I am abiding I should be praying and listening to verify that it is of God...all good communication is two-way.
Effective prayer utilizes Scripture
Effective prayer utilizes Scripture both in the listening and talking piece. If what you are hearing does not line up with Scripture run the other way...if it does then go down that path...this is where "test the spirits" comes into play. That is part of listening, but we also should be praying Scripture back to God as well. That keeps your prayers in-line with God. How often do your prayer line up with Scripture or does it line up with the desires of your flesh?
An effective use of John 15 would be to pray that you and others would abide in Christ and to know Him more fully...praying that we are speaking and demonstrating the love of Christ to those around us...pray in such a way that says God help me to love others as You love them...
Application
- Spend an extra ________ minutes reading the Bible and praying this week.
Link: Going Deep Through Prayer
Main Challenge: Effective Prayer arises out of a plugged in life.
Rate the following on a scale from 1 to 10
- How you relationship with God is? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
- How your prayer life is? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Effective prayer is in-line with or connected to God
- How do you define the following words?
- Know?
"Probably the best word for intimacy is the word 'know.' But this knowing goes much deeper than knowledge. The Bible first uses this word to describe a relationship in Genesis 4:1. The Hebrew word here for "knew" is Yada. But some translations translate the word a little differently, because it puts it in the context of what's happening. So your Bible probably says in Genesis 4:1: Adam lay with his wife Eve...You get the picture? That is our context for Yada. Now don't just giggle and brush past this. This is not a 'yada, yada, yada' moment, okay? This is a YADA moment between husband and wife. It's this intimate connection on every level. To know and to be known completely. It's a beautiful picture that helps us get to know what it really means to know Christ. There are other Hebrew words that could have been used to describe the sexual intimacy that is taking place. These words for sex are used later in Scripture and refer to the physical act or even procreation. But the word in Genesis 4 is Yada, the Hebrew word for 'know.' Clearly when the Bible uses this word for 'know' it means much more that knowledge. It describes the most intimate of connections. One Hebrew scholar defines the word this way: 'A mingling of the souls.' That's more than knowledge, that's intimacy."
From Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
When we say that we "know" Christ it is not that we just know facts and figures about Christ, but that we know Him and are known by Him. And the challenge for us is to cultivate our lives in such a way that we are getting to know Him better and more fully...He already knows everything about us, so its not about Him getting to know us, but rather us getting to know Him...when you understand "know" in this way it takes on a whole knew meaning...its not that I just have 50 verses, 500 verses or all of Scripture memorized, but rather as I read it I hear Him speaking to me...he is comforting and guiding me...and He's taking me to that intimate place with Him...Why? So that I can abide in Him.
- Abide?
Think through some of the synonyms that come to mind when you hear the word abide...
When you combine know and abide together there is the idea of an intimate connection that calls us to a deeper place in/with God and John 15 is painting a picture of what that looks like and the outcome of that is effective prayer.
Does John 15:7 say "Ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you?" No, it says; "If you abide in me and my words abide in you then ask..." Effective prayer is in-line with God's heart and that arises out of a relationship that knows God intimately and abides in Him. Stop and think about the Lord's prayer...to many of us have changed it to be "Thy Kingdom come, my will be done..." We pull back at that thought, but how many of our prayers are just that? If we know God deeply our prayer life will be asking for His Kingdom to come and be advanced here/now and for life here to look like it does in Heaven...not that I get that bright, new shiny object...
Effective prayer is constant and a two-way street.
If you are abiding in Christ there is a constant on going inter-change...that involves both speaking and listening. If we are in a deep relationship with God we will be guided and carried along by the Spirit. Too often we throw up our prayer requests and then we are off and running, but we need to be waiting and listening. I confess that there have been times in my life where I have prayed for something for years and then when it looks like the answer has arrived I go with it...instead if I am abiding I should be praying and listening to verify that it is of God...all good communication is two-way.
Effective prayer utilizes Scripture
Effective prayer utilizes Scripture both in the listening and talking piece. If what you are hearing does not line up with Scripture run the other way...if it does then go down that path...this is where "test the spirits" comes into play. That is part of listening, but we also should be praying Scripture back to God as well. That keeps your prayers in-line with God. How often do your prayer line up with Scripture or does it line up with the desires of your flesh?
An effective use of John 15 would be to pray that you and others would abide in Christ and to know Him more fully...praying that we are speaking and demonstrating the love of Christ to those around us...pray in such a way that says God help me to love others as You love them...
Application
- Spend an extra ________ minutes reading the Bible and praying this week.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
The Fruit of a Deep Relationship with God--Contentment
Title: The Fruit of a Deep Relationship with God--Contentment
Text: Philippians 4:11-13
Link: Going Deep - Contentment
Note: Portions of this message where shaped by a RBC Ministries booklet: Cultivating a Heart of Contentment by Gary Inrig
Here is the note taking outline:
Intro Questions:
- Why is the Gospel good news?
- What was the original sin?
- What is the 10th Commandment?
Main Point: Because we have everything in Christ we can be content no matter what.
- What is your definition of:
Covetousness?
Contentment?
Covetousness = a very strong desire to have something you do not have
Contentment = a state of happiness and satisfaction (synonyms: comfort, well being, peace)
"True godliness always travels with 'contentment.' For the Greek and Roman philosophers, this was a significant word, one that described an attitude of self-sufficiency, the ability to rely on one's resources and not on others. For the Stoic philosophers, the ideal man was an independent man, in need of nothing and no one else. In Paul's view however, contentment took a different meaning. As he wrote to the Philippians from a prison cell, 'I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:11-13). Contentment, then, is not about self-sufficiency but Christ-sufficiency."
- Gary Inrig
"The more abundantly the benefits of civilization come streaming our way, the emptier our lives become. With all its wealth and power, it only shows that the human heart, in which God has placed eternity, is so huge that all the world is too small to satisfy it."
- Herman Bavnik
Other places in Scripture that talk about contentment in the midst of trials...it is all over but I reference these: 2 Corinthians 11:16-28, James, Habakkuk 3:16-19
Application:
- What is your heart set on?
- Do you desire to have more of God? (This is a healthy form of covetousness)
- Remind yourself daily of everything you have in Christ
- Develop a lifestyle of limits, not luxury
- Put covetousness to death in your life with contentment
- Invest in eternity not the temporal
Text: Philippians 4:11-13
Link: Going Deep - Contentment
Note: Portions of this message where shaped by a RBC Ministries booklet: Cultivating a Heart of Contentment by Gary Inrig
Here is the note taking outline:
Intro Questions:
- Why is the Gospel good news?
- What was the original sin?
- What is the 10th Commandment?
Main Point: Because we have everything in Christ we can be content no matter what.
- What is your definition of:
Covetousness?
Contentment?
Covetousness = a very strong desire to have something you do not have
Contentment = a state of happiness and satisfaction (synonyms: comfort, well being, peace)
"True godliness always travels with 'contentment.' For the Greek and Roman philosophers, this was a significant word, one that described an attitude of self-sufficiency, the ability to rely on one's resources and not on others. For the Stoic philosophers, the ideal man was an independent man, in need of nothing and no one else. In Paul's view however, contentment took a different meaning. As he wrote to the Philippians from a prison cell, 'I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:11-13). Contentment, then, is not about self-sufficiency but Christ-sufficiency."
- Gary Inrig
"The more abundantly the benefits of civilization come streaming our way, the emptier our lives become. With all its wealth and power, it only shows that the human heart, in which God has placed eternity, is so huge that all the world is too small to satisfy it."
- Herman Bavnik
Other places in Scripture that talk about contentment in the midst of trials...it is all over but I reference these: 2 Corinthians 11:16-28, James, Habakkuk 3:16-19
Application:
- What is your heart set on?
- Do you desire to have more of God? (This is a healthy form of covetousness)
- Remind yourself daily of everything you have in Christ
- Develop a lifestyle of limits, not luxury
- Put covetousness to death in your life with contentment
- Invest in eternity not the temporal
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Into the Depths of God Through Forgiveness
Title: Into the Depths of God Through Forgiveness
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 6:9-15, Genesis 50:20
Link: Going Deep - Forgiveness
Link to YouTube audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFmsl2MsFJw
Today's verses are very familiar passages...we see them on T-Shirts, bracelets...etc...we love to quote them, but they are some of the most difficult to internalize and live out...this is in large part because of unforgiveness in our hearts...take a listen to this message as we walk through how God healed Tammy's heart, took her to a deeper place with Him and freed her from the hurt she had buried and had enslaved her for so long....
Thanks for sharing Tammy.
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 6:9-15, Genesis 50:20
Link: Going Deep - Forgiveness
Link to YouTube audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFmsl2MsFJw
Today's verses are very familiar passages...we see them on T-Shirts, bracelets...etc...we love to quote them, but they are some of the most difficult to internalize and live out...this is in large part because of unforgiveness in our hearts...take a listen to this message as we walk through how God healed Tammy's heart, took her to a deeper place with Him and freed her from the hurt she had buried and had enslaved her for so long....
Thanks for sharing Tammy.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Depths of God's Grace (Titus 2:11-14)
Title: Depths of God's Grace
Text: Titus 2:11-14
Sermon Link: Going Deep Through Grace
We need to understand the Gospel and wrestle with how it applies to everyday life. The Gospel is everything...it isn't just for cracking the door to Heaven open, so that we can get our foot in the door, but rather it is for everyday life...as Tim Keller says: "It's not just the A,B,Cs of Christianity, but rather the A through Z of Christianity."
I used the following video with the below definition of the Gospel....
Opening Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIhGxEdez98
God
Our
Sins
Paying
Everyone
Life
What does it look like to preach the Gospel to yourself? A good starting place is to ask: "Why do we need God's Grace?" (Verse 11)
One way to clarify this is to ask: Why do you do good works? Do you do them to earn God's favor? That isn't how it works...that goes against Scripture...no you do good works, because you have God's favor... We need to own the depth of our sin and live in the depths of God's grace. In the midst of sin there needs to be points in time where we just stop and ask: "Why am I running after that and rejecting the greatness of God and His glory?" If that doesn't convict you...I as a pastor can't help you...in the end the only hope for you (and me) is the Gospel...apart from Jesus and His righteousness applied to you, God doesn't want you on His team...you can't earn his righteousness...Check out Ephesians 2:8-10...we need God's grace because of the depths of our sin...until you feel the weight of that you will love God little...we need God's grace and we need it every day...
Verse 12 challenges us to be trained by the Gospel...How does the Gospel train you? We easily fall into the trap where we think: "I'm saved, I'm set...I don't need to be trained...I'm right with God...I'm good." The Gospel ought to be the good coach training you, motivating you, challenging you, helping you see your weaknesses and then strengthening you, so that you get better...in essence becoming more and more like Jesus, but where many of us get hung up is that we think that the Gospel is only for eternal life...many of us converted to avoid Hell...is the Gospel only for eternal life or is it for everyday life? Paul is challenging Titus to not forget that it is for everyday life. It is there to train us and when we start to stray the Gospel should be there to leading us to ask "Why am I trading the glory of Christ for that? Why am I turning my back on God when He loves me deeply? If I turn my back on God and pursue that, it is like another hammer blow on the nails that put Jesus on the cross..." That should pull us up short...but if we do not preach the Gospel to ourselves daily...how can it train us? I also expanded on how the Gospel trains us to take our thoughts captive...you'll have to listen find out about that.
Verse 13 challenges us that we ought to be disciplined to wait...is it passive or active waiting? We are disciplined by the Gospel to wait upon Jesus return...actively. Our eyes need to be focused on Jesus return...look for and longing for Him...but that isn't a sitting around waiting...marriage becomes an illustration of what it looks like...one individual shared how when they first got married they couldn't wait until their spouse's return...but then over time it changed to "Oh, they're home....can I find a reason to leave now?" Too many of us are paying lip service to waiting and when the bride groom shows up we'll be caught not ready...no the Gospel preached to ourselves daily should challenge us to actively wait for Him with delight, but we don't just sit there, we go and do the works that are laid out before us...the Kingdom can be experienced now....wherever Jesus went He said "The Kingdom of God is at hand"...guess what He is here and now via the Spirit...that should lead to action...and that should lead us to be disciplined to wait for His full return...
That leads us to verse 14...We are to be purified and zealous for good works...we are to be zealous to be His hands and feet...we have been purified, so that when people brush up against us people should see Jesus...too many of us have too much flesh yet for that too happen...the Gospel purifies us if we allow it...it is how God washes (purifies) our hearts, so that the light of God shines through us so they can see Jesus...but to many are sitting back saying "I've got eternity secure...I don't have to worry about the everyday life." No Jesus came and paid a price, so that you could be "purified and zealous for good works."
God has called us, equipped us and given us everything that we need in the Gospel...everything...the challenge for us is are we going to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily and allow that to motivate us to line up what our heads know with what our hearts believe and let that lead our hands to action...love God, love others and touch/transform the world.
We closed the service with communion after watching the following video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNVW5iWqzCQ
By His Grace and For His Glory,
PT
Text: Titus 2:11-14
Sermon Link: Going Deep Through Grace
We need to understand the Gospel and wrestle with how it applies to everyday life. The Gospel is everything...it isn't just for cracking the door to Heaven open, so that we can get our foot in the door, but rather it is for everyday life...as Tim Keller says: "It's not just the A,B,Cs of Christianity, but rather the A through Z of Christianity."
I used the following video with the below definition of the Gospel....
Opening Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIhGxEdez98
God
Our
Sins
Paying
Everyone
Life
What does it look like to preach the Gospel to yourself? A good starting place is to ask: "Why do we need God's Grace?" (Verse 11)
One way to clarify this is to ask: Why do you do good works? Do you do them to earn God's favor? That isn't how it works...that goes against Scripture...no you do good works, because you have God's favor... We need to own the depth of our sin and live in the depths of God's grace. In the midst of sin there needs to be points in time where we just stop and ask: "Why am I running after that and rejecting the greatness of God and His glory?" If that doesn't convict you...I as a pastor can't help you...in the end the only hope for you (and me) is the Gospel...apart from Jesus and His righteousness applied to you, God doesn't want you on His team...you can't earn his righteousness...Check out Ephesians 2:8-10...we need God's grace because of the depths of our sin...until you feel the weight of that you will love God little...we need God's grace and we need it every day...
Verse 12 challenges us to be trained by the Gospel...How does the Gospel train you? We easily fall into the trap where we think: "I'm saved, I'm set...I don't need to be trained...I'm right with God...I'm good." The Gospel ought to be the good coach training you, motivating you, challenging you, helping you see your weaknesses and then strengthening you, so that you get better...in essence becoming more and more like Jesus, but where many of us get hung up is that we think that the Gospel is only for eternal life...many of us converted to avoid Hell...is the Gospel only for eternal life or is it for everyday life? Paul is challenging Titus to not forget that it is for everyday life. It is there to train us and when we start to stray the Gospel should be there to leading us to ask "Why am I trading the glory of Christ for that? Why am I turning my back on God when He loves me deeply? If I turn my back on God and pursue that, it is like another hammer blow on the nails that put Jesus on the cross..." That should pull us up short...but if we do not preach the Gospel to ourselves daily...how can it train us? I also expanded on how the Gospel trains us to take our thoughts captive...you'll have to listen find out about that.
Verse 13 challenges us that we ought to be disciplined to wait...is it passive or active waiting? We are disciplined by the Gospel to wait upon Jesus return...actively. Our eyes need to be focused on Jesus return...look for and longing for Him...but that isn't a sitting around waiting...marriage becomes an illustration of what it looks like...one individual shared how when they first got married they couldn't wait until their spouse's return...but then over time it changed to "Oh, they're home....can I find a reason to leave now?" Too many of us are paying lip service to waiting and when the bride groom shows up we'll be caught not ready...no the Gospel preached to ourselves daily should challenge us to actively wait for Him with delight, but we don't just sit there, we go and do the works that are laid out before us...the Kingdom can be experienced now....wherever Jesus went He said "The Kingdom of God is at hand"...guess what He is here and now via the Spirit...that should lead to action...and that should lead us to be disciplined to wait for His full return...
That leads us to verse 14...We are to be purified and zealous for good works...we are to be zealous to be His hands and feet...we have been purified, so that when people brush up against us people should see Jesus...too many of us have too much flesh yet for that too happen...the Gospel purifies us if we allow it...it is how God washes (purifies) our hearts, so that the light of God shines through us so they can see Jesus...but to many are sitting back saying "I've got eternity secure...I don't have to worry about the everyday life." No Jesus came and paid a price, so that you could be "purified and zealous for good works."
God has called us, equipped us and given us everything that we need in the Gospel...everything...the challenge for us is are we going to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily and allow that to motivate us to line up what our heads know with what our hearts believe and let that lead our hands to action...love God, love others and touch/transform the world.
We closed the service with communion after watching the following video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNVW5iWqzCQ
By His Grace and For His Glory,
PT
Friday, January 2, 2015
2040? (1 John 4:7-14)
Title: 2040?
Text: 1 John 4:7-14
Link: 2040? 1 John 4:7-14
What will 2040 look like? Do you ever think about that? It is now 2015 and many of us are left questioning where 2014 went. But at the end of the 2014 and beginning of 2015 I brought this challenge about what 2040 will look like, b/c if we are going to shape 2040 we will need to make the right investments in 2015. I also laid out our vision to spur us on to 2040.
So what do you think the church in America will look like in 2040? Do we really believe that it will look the same as it does today? Do we really think that we will be meeting in buildings like we do today?
FBC's mission is to "Transform lives for the glory of God"
FBC's vision is "That everyone in the greater Delavan area and beyond has an opportunity to experience a life transforming relationship with Jesus that leads them to love God, love others and touch (or transform) the world.
If we own that vision we better get moving. We better be asking ourselves "What do we need to be doing to accomplish this."
Here we took a walk through 1 John 4:7-14
Transformation begins in the heart of God...flows to us as demonstrated on the cross...should lead us to loving God, others and testifying about that love. B/c of God's love your transformation can happen and from there the world. If you do not understand how much God loves you, you will love Him and others little....
I encourage you to take time to listen and wrestle with these verses.
Application:
1. We are called to radically re-orientate our lives
Our Head, Heart and Hands need to line up. If our head knowledge lines up with what our hearts believe our hands will be moved to action.
2. We are called to invest our lives
The deeper you go with God the higher level of commitment...
How old will you be in 25 years? Who will be the leaders of the church in 25 years? Many of us at FBC will be in our 60s...who do we need to be investing our lives in now, so that they are ready for leadership in 2040? Costly choices paid now equals a return in 2040....
We at FBC are in a paradigm shift to becoming a Missional/Incarnational Church. In that the lowest level of commitment is the Sunday morning Gathering...from there the next level of commitment is being in a Missional Community or Community Group and the deepest level is being in a Life Transformation Group...there is a cost going deeper in that model...but if we radically re-orientate and invest our lives this is the path to depth and the way to accomplish our vision...
3. We are called to be on mission together
We are sent ones...as sent ones we need to ask some tough questions. If we were suddenly dropped into Timbucktoo as missionaries what would you do? You would figure out where the food and restrooms were, seek to learn the language and understand the culture. The sad thing is that most of us think we understand the culture around us and yet in reality the culture around us is in flux and changing...we need to be asking do we understand it and what do we need to keep doing and what do we need to do differently. To fulfill our vision we are going to need to ask tough questions.
If we are going to be on mission together we need more individuals to become "Company people." I do not know how to say it other than that...We are going to need to get on the same page and communicate/sell where we are going. To help us get on the same page Pastor Ross is going to start doing training on Saturdays...
Again take a listen...we can shape 2040 by the choices we make today...
Blessings,
PT
Text: 1 John 4:7-14
Link: 2040? 1 John 4:7-14
What will 2040 look like? Do you ever think about that? It is now 2015 and many of us are left questioning where 2014 went. But at the end of the 2014 and beginning of 2015 I brought this challenge about what 2040 will look like, b/c if we are going to shape 2040 we will need to make the right investments in 2015. I also laid out our vision to spur us on to 2040.
So what do you think the church in America will look like in 2040? Do we really believe that it will look the same as it does today? Do we really think that we will be meeting in buildings like we do today?
FBC's mission is to "Transform lives for the glory of God"
FBC's vision is "That everyone in the greater Delavan area and beyond has an opportunity to experience a life transforming relationship with Jesus that leads them to love God, love others and touch (or transform) the world.
If we own that vision we better get moving. We better be asking ourselves "What do we need to be doing to accomplish this."
Here we took a walk through 1 John 4:7-14
Transformation begins in the heart of God...flows to us as demonstrated on the cross...should lead us to loving God, others and testifying about that love. B/c of God's love your transformation can happen and from there the world. If you do not understand how much God loves you, you will love Him and others little....
I encourage you to take time to listen and wrestle with these verses.
Application:
1. We are called to radically re-orientate our lives
Our Head, Heart and Hands need to line up. If our head knowledge lines up with what our hearts believe our hands will be moved to action.
2. We are called to invest our lives
The deeper you go with God the higher level of commitment...
How old will you be in 25 years? Who will be the leaders of the church in 25 years? Many of us at FBC will be in our 60s...who do we need to be investing our lives in now, so that they are ready for leadership in 2040? Costly choices paid now equals a return in 2040....
We at FBC are in a paradigm shift to becoming a Missional/Incarnational Church. In that the lowest level of commitment is the Sunday morning Gathering...from there the next level of commitment is being in a Missional Community or Community Group and the deepest level is being in a Life Transformation Group...there is a cost going deeper in that model...but if we radically re-orientate and invest our lives this is the path to depth and the way to accomplish our vision...
3. We are called to be on mission together
We are sent ones...as sent ones we need to ask some tough questions. If we were suddenly dropped into Timbucktoo as missionaries what would you do? You would figure out where the food and restrooms were, seek to learn the language and understand the culture. The sad thing is that most of us think we understand the culture around us and yet in reality the culture around us is in flux and changing...we need to be asking do we understand it and what do we need to keep doing and what do we need to do differently. To fulfill our vision we are going to need to ask tough questions.
If we are going to be on mission together we need more individuals to become "Company people." I do not know how to say it other than that...We are going to need to get on the same page and communicate/sell where we are going. To help us get on the same page Pastor Ross is going to start doing training on Saturdays...
Again take a listen...we can shape 2040 by the choices we make today...
Blessings,
PT
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