Main Point/Title: Redeemed to Bless
Text: Ezra 1, Haggai, Zechariah 8:9-17
Link: The Story Pt. 19
Ezra 1: God's faithfulness and timing
Leads to:
- Revival
- Restoration
As life goes by crazy fast are we willing to trust God's faithfulness and wait on His timing?
Haggai: Need to avoid mission creep
Israel had been revived & restored, but the cares of life and the trails that they faced in the rebuilding of the temple side tracked them off what they had been revived and restored to do. Haggai calls them to get back on mission.
As life comes at us crazy fast are we staying on mission or getting sidelined...do we have a long range picture of what God is doing or are we living day to day? I think that it is safe to say that the church in America has suffered from mission creep...Last weekend I was blessed to be in a small group meeting with Gordon MacDonald where he challenged us that a church of 350+ growing numerically might be a church that is already dead, because they are off mission and not getting ready for the future/understanding the ever changing world around us. If we are truly producing reproducing disciples we will be ready.
Application (Zechariah 8:9-17, Matthew 5:1-12)
- Are we seeking God's revival and restoration?
- As life goes by crazy fast are we being a blessing?
Matthew 5:1-12 lays out what being a blessings looks like. Celebrate Recovery's "Road to Recovery" lays out steps on how to be revived/restored and how we can come along side others and bless them by walking them through those steps...
Christians are redeemed to bless...may God find willing followers that stay on mission.
By His Grace and for His Glory....Amen
Friday, March 28, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
The Story Chap 16 (King Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 30)
Text: 2 Chronicles 30
Link to Sermon: The Story Pt. 16
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to be an American?
(link to video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGJSI48gkFc)
- What does it mean to be an Israelite?
- What does it mean to be a Christian?
Main Point: God calls us to be citizens of Heaven
King Hezekiah begins his reign by cleansing the Temple, restoring worship at the Temple and celebrating Passover. I believe that Hezekiah celebrates Passover, b/c it was a reminder of where they had come out of and Whose the people of Israel where and where to be...they were a called out people, different from the cultures and nations around them and they were to live in such a way that those cultures and nations were to be drawn into worship of God. They had been liberated and set free...they did not have to fear the King of Assyria...the northern Kingdom had abandoned God and now in this part of the story the northern Kingdom goes into exile, but not so with the southern Kingdom...as long as they kept their eyes on God and their covenant relationship with Him they would not have to fear the King of Assyria...Hezekiah calls them to be the people God had called them to be.
For the Christian communion is to be a reminder of what we have been liberated from and Whose we are...namely children of the King...this should lead us to live out the 4 Ls...
- Love God and others (Matt. 22:36-40, John 15:1-17)
If you understand/feel the weight of what you have been liberated from you will love God and others deeply...if you understand that you have moved from worthless (enemy) to worthwhile (child) how can you not have compassion on those around you? Jesus calls us to live out the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-10). See Celebrate Recovery's Road to Recovery (http://www.celebrate-recovery.org/Guides/CR%208%20Principles.pdf) and look different from those around us who do not know God.
- Lead through service (Galatians 2:20, 5:13)
Need to die to self and live to Christ. Basically we need to move from "I" statements to shepherding others through service. Sin no longer owns the Christian. Hate, anger, jealousy...no longer own me, but rather a desire to serve should own the Christian. As citizens of Heaven God calls us to be a people on mission leading through serving.
- Liberate through sharing our faith (Luke 4:18-19)
You play a role in setting captives free. As Celebrate Recovery says "we need to move beyond our hurts, habits and hang ups." As we do this we need to help others be liberated and give Jesus their hurts, habits and hang ups so they too can experience freedom...What Jesus read from Isaiah was true of Him and now us as well.
- Launch Christ-followers into the world (Matt. 28:18-20)
We are all "sent ones" or missionaries. God calls us and sends us to be missionaries to our co-workers, family members and neighbors. We are all ministers we just get our pay checks from different places. The church is to be a place where we receive "Real world training for rapid deployment" into the world. The Sunday morning service is to be a celebration of what God is doing in and through us throughout the week and our Community Groups/Missional Communities and Life Transformation Groups are where we are on mission together, rubbing shoulders with one another and receiving real world training that equips us for rapid deployment...when we launch Celebrate Recovery in a couple of months it has a similar lay out...Large Group meeting that breaks into a break out group discussion that leads to Step Studies and Accountability partners. All of this is discipleship that needs to lead to disciples reproducing disciples...this is just a natural outflow of who we are and whose we are...
God loves us, He called us out of darkness into His light to be His citizens set on a hill broadcasting the Good News to the ends of the earth...we do that by loving God and others, leading through serving, liberating through sharing our faith and launching Christ-followers into the world...he made me a citizen of Heaven not just for me though, but to use me to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth...if you understand what you have been redeemed from how can you keep silent? How can you not cry out "There is salvation in our God/Jesus?" Hezekiah was basically saying "If we turn back to God, He will heal our land"...God is calling us to live our lives as His citizens in such a way that our culture is transformed for His glory not the reverse that we conform to culture for its glory...
By His grace and for His glory,
Amen
Link to Sermon: The Story Pt. 16
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to be an American?
(link to video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGJSI48gkFc)
- What does it mean to be an Israelite?
- What does it mean to be a Christian?
Main Point: God calls us to be citizens of Heaven
King Hezekiah begins his reign by cleansing the Temple, restoring worship at the Temple and celebrating Passover. I believe that Hezekiah celebrates Passover, b/c it was a reminder of where they had come out of and Whose the people of Israel where and where to be...they were a called out people, different from the cultures and nations around them and they were to live in such a way that those cultures and nations were to be drawn into worship of God. They had been liberated and set free...they did not have to fear the King of Assyria...the northern Kingdom had abandoned God and now in this part of the story the northern Kingdom goes into exile, but not so with the southern Kingdom...as long as they kept their eyes on God and their covenant relationship with Him they would not have to fear the King of Assyria...Hezekiah calls them to be the people God had called them to be.
For the Christian communion is to be a reminder of what we have been liberated from and Whose we are...namely children of the King...this should lead us to live out the 4 Ls...
- Love God and others (Matt. 22:36-40, John 15:1-17)
If you understand/feel the weight of what you have been liberated from you will love God and others deeply...if you understand that you have moved from worthless (enemy) to worthwhile (child) how can you not have compassion on those around you? Jesus calls us to live out the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-10). See Celebrate Recovery's Road to Recovery (http://www.celebrate-recovery.org/Guides/CR%208%20Principles.pdf) and look different from those around us who do not know God.
- Lead through service (Galatians 2:20, 5:13)
Need to die to self and live to Christ. Basically we need to move from "I" statements to shepherding others through service. Sin no longer owns the Christian. Hate, anger, jealousy...no longer own me, but rather a desire to serve should own the Christian. As citizens of Heaven God calls us to be a people on mission leading through serving.
- Liberate through sharing our faith (Luke 4:18-19)
You play a role in setting captives free. As Celebrate Recovery says "we need to move beyond our hurts, habits and hang ups." As we do this we need to help others be liberated and give Jesus their hurts, habits and hang ups so they too can experience freedom...What Jesus read from Isaiah was true of Him and now us as well.
- Launch Christ-followers into the world (Matt. 28:18-20)
We are all "sent ones" or missionaries. God calls us and sends us to be missionaries to our co-workers, family members and neighbors. We are all ministers we just get our pay checks from different places. The church is to be a place where we receive "Real world training for rapid deployment" into the world. The Sunday morning service is to be a celebration of what God is doing in and through us throughout the week and our Community Groups/Missional Communities and Life Transformation Groups are where we are on mission together, rubbing shoulders with one another and receiving real world training that equips us for rapid deployment...when we launch Celebrate Recovery in a couple of months it has a similar lay out...Large Group meeting that breaks into a break out group discussion that leads to Step Studies and Accountability partners. All of this is discipleship that needs to lead to disciples reproducing disciples...this is just a natural outflow of who we are and whose we are...
God loves us, He called us out of darkness into His light to be His citizens set on a hill broadcasting the Good News to the ends of the earth...we do that by loving God and others, leading through serving, liberating through sharing our faith and launching Christ-followers into the world...he made me a citizen of Heaven not just for me though, but to use me to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth...if you understand what you have been redeemed from how can you keep silent? How can you not cry out "There is salvation in our God/Jesus?" Hezekiah was basically saying "If we turn back to God, He will heal our land"...God is calling us to live our lives as His citizens in such a way that our culture is transformed for His glory not the reverse that we conform to culture for its glory...
By His grace and for His glory,
Amen
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
The Story Ch. 15 (Elijah)
Title: What in the world is going on here?
Text: 1 Kings 19:1-18
Link to the Sermon: The Story Pt. 15
If you are like me when you read this text you want to ask the same question of Elijah that God asked..."Elijah what in the world are you doing here?" He has had an extremely God empowered ministry up to this point:
- He has just spent 3.5 years praying that it wouldn't rain in Israel and it didn't
- God provided food via ravens and a stream of water
- God provided food via a jar that never ran out of flour and a jar that never ran out of oil
- He prays and God resurrects a child
- He calls fire down from heaven and the ox, altar, water and earth around the altar is consumed
- He executes 450 prophets of Baal
- He prays and it rains
- He runs with super human strength to be a chariot to Jezreel
God has used Elijah mightily and yet what do we find him doing? Running from Queen Jezebel? He has thrown in the towel. In his mind this is it. What in the world is going on here? It is at this point that I want to grab him by the shirt and say "Suck it in...what are you doing here?" But when I start analyzing my own life I come up short as I realize that from time to time I have fallen into the same trap as Elijah did. When I start to think God should be responding in a certain way to a world gone bad and He doesn't, I start to focus inward on me. When I focus inward I quickly loose sight of God and despair isn't too far away. Which leads to the main point:
- If we properly understand God's sovereignty we will find comfort
I. The first step in understanding God's sovereignty is to realize that we can rely on God's gracious provision. (Verses 1-8)
I believe that Elijah thought that when God showed up mightily by consuming the alter and all on it and he kills the false prophets that revival would break out. Baal was the god of storms therefore he should have been able to provide rain and he couldn't. Baal should have been able to provide fire from heaven (lightening) and didn't. The people cry out "The Lord is God, the Lord is God" and it is at this point that when Elijah goes to Jezreel I believe he expected one of two things to happen:
- Jezebel and Ahab confess Yahweh is Lord and lead the nation in revival
- If they force them to confess and if not they overthrow them and revival breaks out
But instead he receives a death threat...clearly God is not working the way he expects. If we are honest God is not exactly responding the way we would expect either. I do not know about you, but I want Him to send Elijah back to the front lines and finish this job. Instead God feeds Elijah and strengthens him for a 40 day trip.
Here we see God's gracious provision. If we understand that God graciously provides for us we will start to see His sovereign hand at work. If we see His sovereign hand at work in our lives we will be comforted.
How do you respond to times of trial? Do you rely on money? Self? Others? Or do you rely on God's gracious provision? Do you take comfort from God's sovereignty? How do you respond when doesn't work the way you want Him too? What if God wants to change/shape you rather than your circumstances?
II. The next step to understanding God's sovereignty is to rest in God's gracious character. (Verses 9-14)
Finally we get to the question that we have been waiting for God to ask, but Elijah does not answer it or does he? It is at this point we need to note where Elijah is. Mt. Horeb is also referred to in Scripture as Mt. Sinai. Elijah has come to the mountain where God grace his people the Law and they entered into the covenant agreement after He brought them out of Egypt. In effect Elijah is saying "remember that covenant thing???? Well I and only I am left. I have been trying very hard to remind them of this and who they are, but the rest have broken it so let me die and you can kill the rest of them. I know that I have seen some major fireworks, but I want the grand finale. Push the button and get it over with..."
Don't you want God to say "Oh ya thanks for reminding me...I'll get on that right away." But that isn't how He responds is it? Elijah wanted another mighty act of God. He wanted an earth shattering event or at least an Israel shattering event, but instead God gives Elijah a lesson in His character. Elijah wanted the grand finale and wind, earthquake and fire would have been just fine, but God came to him in a gentle breeze. Elijah needed to realize God's gracious character. Elijah focused in on one aspect of God and forgot His gracious character...lest we think Elijah is alone check out Luke 9:51-56 or Mark 10:32-45...
How are we doing? What is our picture of God...is it skewed? Are we like Elijah? Do we understand His gracious character? If we are honest the Cross was the last thing anyone expected, in fact it is the last thing we expected?
If we are to find comfort in God's sovereignty we must have a realization of God's gracious character.
III. If we are relying on God's gracious provision and if we realize God's gracious character we will take step three and respond to God's gracious plan. (Verses 15-18)
Here God reveals that His gracious character is not out of line with His holiness. Judgment will come, but it will come in His sovereign timing. God refocused Elijah, reminds him that he hasn't left him alone and that the covenant has not been broken, b/c God had a remnant of 7,000+1 intact. Elijah wasn't the last righteous person and now that he was outside of Israel, God could let the fire fly rather the covenant was still in place...
Self examination is good and we need to ask ourselves:
- Are we relying on God's gracious provision?
- Do we rest in God's gracious character?
- Are we responding to God's gracious plan?
Many of us think that "If I just could produce enough faith I could control my situation." This implies that we are sovereign and God isn't...No, if we are to find any comfort in this world we must properly understand God's sovereignty.
Text: 1 Kings 19:1-18
Link to the Sermon: The Story Pt. 15
If you are like me when you read this text you want to ask the same question of Elijah that God asked..."Elijah what in the world are you doing here?" He has had an extremely God empowered ministry up to this point:
- He has just spent 3.5 years praying that it wouldn't rain in Israel and it didn't
- God provided food via ravens and a stream of water
- God provided food via a jar that never ran out of flour and a jar that never ran out of oil
- He prays and God resurrects a child
- He calls fire down from heaven and the ox, altar, water and earth around the altar is consumed
- He executes 450 prophets of Baal
- He prays and it rains
- He runs with super human strength to be a chariot to Jezreel
God has used Elijah mightily and yet what do we find him doing? Running from Queen Jezebel? He has thrown in the towel. In his mind this is it. What in the world is going on here? It is at this point that I want to grab him by the shirt and say "Suck it in...what are you doing here?" But when I start analyzing my own life I come up short as I realize that from time to time I have fallen into the same trap as Elijah did. When I start to think God should be responding in a certain way to a world gone bad and He doesn't, I start to focus inward on me. When I focus inward I quickly loose sight of God and despair isn't too far away. Which leads to the main point:
- If we properly understand God's sovereignty we will find comfort
I. The first step in understanding God's sovereignty is to realize that we can rely on God's gracious provision. (Verses 1-8)
I believe that Elijah thought that when God showed up mightily by consuming the alter and all on it and he kills the false prophets that revival would break out. Baal was the god of storms therefore he should have been able to provide rain and he couldn't. Baal should have been able to provide fire from heaven (lightening) and didn't. The people cry out "The Lord is God, the Lord is God" and it is at this point that when Elijah goes to Jezreel I believe he expected one of two things to happen:
- Jezebel and Ahab confess Yahweh is Lord and lead the nation in revival
- If they force them to confess and if not they overthrow them and revival breaks out
But instead he receives a death threat...clearly God is not working the way he expects. If we are honest God is not exactly responding the way we would expect either. I do not know about you, but I want Him to send Elijah back to the front lines and finish this job. Instead God feeds Elijah and strengthens him for a 40 day trip.
Here we see God's gracious provision. If we understand that God graciously provides for us we will start to see His sovereign hand at work. If we see His sovereign hand at work in our lives we will be comforted.
How do you respond to times of trial? Do you rely on money? Self? Others? Or do you rely on God's gracious provision? Do you take comfort from God's sovereignty? How do you respond when doesn't work the way you want Him too? What if God wants to change/shape you rather than your circumstances?
II. The next step to understanding God's sovereignty is to rest in God's gracious character. (Verses 9-14)
Finally we get to the question that we have been waiting for God to ask, but Elijah does not answer it or does he? It is at this point we need to note where Elijah is. Mt. Horeb is also referred to in Scripture as Mt. Sinai. Elijah has come to the mountain where God grace his people the Law and they entered into the covenant agreement after He brought them out of Egypt. In effect Elijah is saying "remember that covenant thing???? Well I and only I am left. I have been trying very hard to remind them of this and who they are, but the rest have broken it so let me die and you can kill the rest of them. I know that I have seen some major fireworks, but I want the grand finale. Push the button and get it over with..."
Don't you want God to say "Oh ya thanks for reminding me...I'll get on that right away." But that isn't how He responds is it? Elijah wanted another mighty act of God. He wanted an earth shattering event or at least an Israel shattering event, but instead God gives Elijah a lesson in His character. Elijah wanted the grand finale and wind, earthquake and fire would have been just fine, but God came to him in a gentle breeze. Elijah needed to realize God's gracious character. Elijah focused in on one aspect of God and forgot His gracious character...lest we think Elijah is alone check out Luke 9:51-56 or Mark 10:32-45...
How are we doing? What is our picture of God...is it skewed? Are we like Elijah? Do we understand His gracious character? If we are honest the Cross was the last thing anyone expected, in fact it is the last thing we expected?
If we are to find comfort in God's sovereignty we must have a realization of God's gracious character.
III. If we are relying on God's gracious provision and if we realize God's gracious character we will take step three and respond to God's gracious plan. (Verses 15-18)
Here God reveals that His gracious character is not out of line with His holiness. Judgment will come, but it will come in His sovereign timing. God refocused Elijah, reminds him that he hasn't left him alone and that the covenant has not been broken, b/c God had a remnant of 7,000+1 intact. Elijah wasn't the last righteous person and now that he was outside of Israel, God could let the fire fly rather the covenant was still in place...
Self examination is good and we need to ask ourselves:
- Are we relying on God's gracious provision?
- Do we rest in God's gracious character?
- Are we responding to God's gracious plan?
Many of us think that "If I just could produce enough faith I could control my situation." This implies that we are sovereign and God isn't...No, if we are to find any comfort in this world we must properly understand God's sovereignty.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Sermon from The Story Chapter 14 (1 Kings 12-16)
Text: 2 Chronicles 15
Link to the sermon: The Story Pt. 14
Discussion Question: Is God true to His word?
Many of us quickly answer "Yes", but do we truly live like we believe it?
In 2 Chronicles 15:2 God promises that "if we seek Him, He will be found by us, but if we forsake Him, He will forsake us" We like to claim the first half of that and ignore the second, but God is true to His word. For those who seek Him we will find Him, but if we turn our backs on Him, He will let us go...but in forsaking us He doesn't beat us up rather He allows us to reap what our hearts desire in hopes that we will turn back (seek) to Him and find that He is right there waiting with open arms (Luke 15:11-32).
Main Point: God calls us to live lives trusting in His word.
If you read through 1 Kings 12-16 one can quickly become confused by all the king changes, which kingdom is being talked about (Northern or Southern) and what is going on. But the main focus is to compare and contrast whether or not the king and/or nation is seeking the Lord and the results. This can be seen if you take a map of the kingdom under David and Solomon and compare that to the size of the divided kingdoms. Please do not take me to be saying that if you just accept Jesus everything will go well and you will have everything you want, but rather if you trust in Him and His word you will have peace. In 2 Chronicles 15 King Asa is promised that if he seeks the Lord it will go well with him and the nation...he did and it did, but at the end of his life he stumbled...do not forget to press on for the long haul...
Application:
- God's word is trustworthy because......?
In the end God's word is trustworthy, because of who God is...He is the guarantor behind it. If we understand that we will live lives dependent on God's word and that will be demonstrated in our thoughts and deeds.
The following is a process to help us live transformed lives. I am indebted to Jeff Vanderstelt for the following questions.
Four Key Questions:
- Who is God?
- What has He done? (especially in the person and work of Jesus)
- Who are you?
- What are we to do?
In light of:
- Who God is
- What He has done
- Who you are in Him
How will your thoughts, actions, words be transformed?
Drilling back to God to transform your life:
- What are you feeling/doing?
- What do you believe about yourself?
- What do you believe about what God has done?
- What do you believe about God?
I, my wife and another member walked a lady who was struggling through this. This lady was feeling condemned. Now it would be easy to say go read Romans 8:1 and live it...but instead we drilled back.
- What are you feeling/doing?
Condemned
- What do you believe about yourself?
That I don't measure up
- What do you believe about what God has done?
That Jesus death was sufficient for everyone but me
- What do you believe about God?
I see an image of my day and that God is standing there recording all of my mistakes
So I said let me understand this correctly you think God is like Santa Claus on steroids and you are on the naughty list...once we drilled back to that misunderstanding of God it would be real tempting to just say well correct your view, but I challenged her that she had made an idol out of her earthly father and was worshiping him and not the Lord. I challenged her to be like David and repent and correct her view of God, so that she could live her life dependent upon Him and His word and preach the Gospel to herself. If she does that she will not feel/live like she is condemned...she quickly repented...
Is the Gospel good news just for eternity? No, but most of us live like it is. Part of the good news is that you can experience eternal life now and as you do you will live a transformed life based on His word.
Link to the sermon: The Story Pt. 14
Discussion Question: Is God true to His word?
Many of us quickly answer "Yes", but do we truly live like we believe it?
In 2 Chronicles 15:2 God promises that "if we seek Him, He will be found by us, but if we forsake Him, He will forsake us" We like to claim the first half of that and ignore the second, but God is true to His word. For those who seek Him we will find Him, but if we turn our backs on Him, He will let us go...but in forsaking us He doesn't beat us up rather He allows us to reap what our hearts desire in hopes that we will turn back (seek) to Him and find that He is right there waiting with open arms (Luke 15:11-32).
Main Point: God calls us to live lives trusting in His word.
If you read through 1 Kings 12-16 one can quickly become confused by all the king changes, which kingdom is being talked about (Northern or Southern) and what is going on. But the main focus is to compare and contrast whether or not the king and/or nation is seeking the Lord and the results. This can be seen if you take a map of the kingdom under David and Solomon and compare that to the size of the divided kingdoms. Please do not take me to be saying that if you just accept Jesus everything will go well and you will have everything you want, but rather if you trust in Him and His word you will have peace. In 2 Chronicles 15 King Asa is promised that if he seeks the Lord it will go well with him and the nation...he did and it did, but at the end of his life he stumbled...do not forget to press on for the long haul...
Application:
- God's word is trustworthy because......?
In the end God's word is trustworthy, because of who God is...He is the guarantor behind it. If we understand that we will live lives dependent on God's word and that will be demonstrated in our thoughts and deeds.
The following is a process to help us live transformed lives. I am indebted to Jeff Vanderstelt for the following questions.
Four Key Questions:
- Who is God?
- What has He done? (especially in the person and work of Jesus)
- Who are you?
- What are we to do?
In light of:
- Who God is
- What He has done
- Who you are in Him
How will your thoughts, actions, words be transformed?
Drilling back to God to transform your life:
- What are you feeling/doing?
- What do you believe about yourself?
- What do you believe about what God has done?
- What do you believe about God?
I, my wife and another member walked a lady who was struggling through this. This lady was feeling condemned. Now it would be easy to say go read Romans 8:1 and live it...but instead we drilled back.
- What are you feeling/doing?
Condemned
- What do you believe about yourself?
That I don't measure up
- What do you believe about what God has done?
That Jesus death was sufficient for everyone but me
- What do you believe about God?
I see an image of my day and that God is standing there recording all of my mistakes
So I said let me understand this correctly you think God is like Santa Claus on steroids and you are on the naughty list...once we drilled back to that misunderstanding of God it would be real tempting to just say well correct your view, but I challenged her that she had made an idol out of her earthly father and was worshiping him and not the Lord. I challenged her to be like David and repent and correct her view of God, so that she could live her life dependent upon Him and His word and preach the Gospel to herself. If she does that she will not feel/live like she is condemned...she quickly repented...
Is the Gospel good news just for eternity? No, but most of us live like it is. Part of the good news is that you can experience eternal life now and as you do you will live a transformed life based on His word.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Sermon from The Story Chap 13 (2 Chronicles 7)
Text: 2 Chronicles 7
Link to sermon: The Story Pt. 13
Main Point: God calls us to live lives dependent on Him.
Solomon dedicates the Temple, God shows up in a mighty way, promises that He will heal the land if the people humble themselves and cry out to Him in dependence and lastly He warns Solomon to live dependent on Him and if he does it will go well with him.
Discussion Questions:
- Is affluence a blessing or a curse?
(Depends on how you use it...could be both/and)
- Did Solomon finish well?
(No)
- What was Solomon's mistake?
He took his eyes off of God. He had a life of affluence, all of his needs were met...he took his eyes off of God and put them on idols...it was the same mistake David made with Bathsheba.
I Am Second Video Clip: http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/wayne-huizenga/
Application Questions:
How do you enjoy God's blessings without getting lost in them?
Guard against:
- Pride
- Busyness
- Don't forget whose you are
- Don't forget the source of your blessings
- Do not demand blessing
- Maintain a servants heart
- Live for eternity
Link to sermon: The Story Pt. 13
Main Point: God calls us to live lives dependent on Him.
Solomon dedicates the Temple, God shows up in a mighty way, promises that He will heal the land if the people humble themselves and cry out to Him in dependence and lastly He warns Solomon to live dependent on Him and if he does it will go well with him.
Discussion Questions:
- Is affluence a blessing or a curse?
(Depends on how you use it...could be both/and)
- Did Solomon finish well?
(No)
- What was Solomon's mistake?
He took his eyes off of God. He had a life of affluence, all of his needs were met...he took his eyes off of God and put them on idols...it was the same mistake David made with Bathsheba.
I Am Second Video Clip: http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/wayne-huizenga/
Application Questions:
How do you enjoy God's blessings without getting lost in them?
Guard against:
- Pride
- Busyness
- Don't forget whose you are
- Don't forget the source of your blessings
- Do not demand blessing
- Maintain a servants heart
- Live for eternity
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Sermon from The Story Chapter 12 (1 Chronicles 22:1-5)
Text: 1 Chronicles 22:1-5
Link to sermon:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/146522-the-story-pt-12
Main Point: Christians are to be living legacies
That doesn't say Christians ought to be leaving a legacy behind but rather that they are to be living their legacies now, so that when they step into eternal life they leave a legacy behind. The reality is that we are doing that, but the question is are we living a God glorifying one? King David's life gives us an example of someone who lived out a legacy.
What do you think King David's tombstone would say?
If you are familiar with Scripture the natural answer to that question would be: A man after God's own heart. One could try to make the case that it should be: Adulterer, Murder...but that isn't the case, because when ever his heart strayed from God he was quick to fall on his face, repent and plead to God to have mercy on him. Contrast that with King Saul who claimed to be obedient and pointed his finger at others saying they were the ones at fault...part of King David's legacy was living as someone experiencing God's grace and pursuing Him. At the end of his life we also see him not sitting back but continuing to pursue God and setting things in order for the temple to be built and the nation placed in order. He recognized the season he was in and lived in obedience in the season he was in, doing what he was called to do and not going any farther.
Contrast that with us always going, going, going...are we waiting upon the Lord or charging forward? Are we living legacies of obedience?
Application:
Developing an individual legacy
- Come up with a personal mission statement (It needs to be in line with the 2 Great Commandments and the Great Commission, but it will be uniquely you)
- Answer the following tow questions: How old are you? How long do you have to live? It is ok to review your life so that you know where you have come from, but don't sit back and go I haven't accomplished anything rather use that reflection to say what am I going to do in the next 20, 30, 40+ years for God's glory...
- Select life verses. Key verses for me are Isaiah 43:1-3, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Romans 6:23 and my theme verse for this year is Romans 12:12
- Who are you discipling? This is a trick question, because you are making disciples the real question is are you making disciples of Jesus?
Illustration of someone living a legacy is our friend Ken Korkow. Here is the link to Ken's testimony:
http://vimeo.com/49320900
Listen to Ken's testimony and ask yourself:
- What legacy was he living before Jesus and what legacy is he living now?
Legacy of Faith Baptist Church
- Mission statement: Transforming lives for the glory of God...that means those outside and inside our 4 walls
- People of prayer
Bob Bakke shared in an article the following:
Members of praying churches are used to hearing questions or statements like:
- Gospel Centered people
- People on mission
David gives us an example of someone living a legacy...the challenge for us is what legacies are we living? May God be glorified on our lives.
Blessings,
PT
Link to sermon:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/146522-the-story-pt-12
Main Point: Christians are to be living legacies
That doesn't say Christians ought to be leaving a legacy behind but rather that they are to be living their legacies now, so that when they step into eternal life they leave a legacy behind. The reality is that we are doing that, but the question is are we living a God glorifying one? King David's life gives us an example of someone who lived out a legacy.
What do you think King David's tombstone would say?
If you are familiar with Scripture the natural answer to that question would be: A man after God's own heart. One could try to make the case that it should be: Adulterer, Murder...but that isn't the case, because when ever his heart strayed from God he was quick to fall on his face, repent and plead to God to have mercy on him. Contrast that with King Saul who claimed to be obedient and pointed his finger at others saying they were the ones at fault...part of King David's legacy was living as someone experiencing God's grace and pursuing Him. At the end of his life we also see him not sitting back but continuing to pursue God and setting things in order for the temple to be built and the nation placed in order. He recognized the season he was in and lived in obedience in the season he was in, doing what he was called to do and not going any farther.
Contrast that with us always going, going, going...are we waiting upon the Lord or charging forward? Are we living legacies of obedience?
Application:
Developing an individual legacy
- Come up with a personal mission statement (It needs to be in line with the 2 Great Commandments and the Great Commission, but it will be uniquely you)
- Answer the following tow questions: How old are you? How long do you have to live? It is ok to review your life so that you know where you have come from, but don't sit back and go I haven't accomplished anything rather use that reflection to say what am I going to do in the next 20, 30, 40+ years for God's glory...
- Select life verses. Key verses for me are Isaiah 43:1-3, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Romans 6:23 and my theme verse for this year is Romans 12:12
- Who are you discipling? This is a trick question, because you are making disciples the real question is are you making disciples of Jesus?
Illustration of someone living a legacy is our friend Ken Korkow. Here is the link to Ken's testimony:
http://vimeo.com/49320900
Listen to Ken's testimony and ask yourself:
- What legacy was he living before Jesus and what legacy is he living now?
Legacy of Faith Baptist Church
- Mission statement: Transforming lives for the glory of God...that means those outside and inside our 4 walls
- People of prayer
Bob Bakke shared in an article the following:
Members of praying churches are used to hearing questions or statements like:
·
How did Christ confirm that to you?
·
How did he lead you to do this?
·
Tell me about how you sought the wisdom of the
Lord in this?
·
Did you fast about this issue?
·
What other people confirmed to you that, as they
sought the Lord on this
matter, it is
"good to them and the Holy Spirit"?
·
Let's stop right now and seek God.
·
Let's set aside a day (a week, a month, etc.) to
seek God on this issue. . We need to alert intercessors.
·
Before you did x, did you mobilize a
prayer-covering?
- Gospel Centered people
- People on mission
David gives us an example of someone living a legacy...the challenge for us is what legacies are we living? May God be glorified on our lives.
Blessings,
PT
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Sermon from The Story Chapter 11 (1 Samuel 16:1-13)
Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Link to the sermon:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/145051-the-story-pt-11
Main Point: The most important thing about is the condition of your heart
What is your heart? It is the core essence of who you are...
Why is it important?
- The condition of your heart determines whether you are dead or alive spiritually. Are you separated from God (dead) or are you connected to Jesus and therefore alive? (Romans 6:23)
- Proverbs 4:23
- Matthew 7:21-23
- Luke 6:43-45
- The battle of David and Goliath what did the Israelites look at? What was the Israelites mistake when they looked upon Goliath? They looked at the external whereas David looked at his heart...
Does it mean you are perfect? No...David wasn't, but when confronted with his sin he had a heart that turned back to and pursued God. Contrast that with Saul when he his heart was out of line with God...he claimed his innocence and blamed those around him...
Psalm 63: A picture of David's heart.
Application:
- If our hearts beat after God then:
- we will love the Lord our God
- we will love our neighbors as ourselves (note: if you are a follower of Christ you will have concern for those around you and social causes. Isaiah 58:5-11)
- we will strive to fulfill the Great Commission
- we will surround ourselves with people who will speak into our hearts
Link to the sermon:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/15930/145051-the-story-pt-11
Main Point: The most important thing about is the condition of your heart
What is your heart? It is the core essence of who you are...
Why is it important?
- The condition of your heart determines whether you are dead or alive spiritually. Are you separated from God (dead) or are you connected to Jesus and therefore alive? (Romans 6:23)
- Proverbs 4:23
- Matthew 7:21-23
- Luke 6:43-45
- The battle of David and Goliath what did the Israelites look at? What was the Israelites mistake when they looked upon Goliath? They looked at the external whereas David looked at his heart...
Does it mean you are perfect? No...David wasn't, but when confronted with his sin he had a heart that turned back to and pursued God. Contrast that with Saul when he his heart was out of line with God...he claimed his innocence and blamed those around him...
Psalm 63: A picture of David's heart.
Application:
- If our hearts beat after God then:
- we will love the Lord our God
- we will love our neighbors as ourselves (note: if you are a follower of Christ you will have concern for those around you and social causes. Isaiah 58:5-11)
- we will strive to fulfill the Great Commission
- we will surround ourselves with people who will speak into our hearts
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