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Searching for "world" in the Quiet Time Archive
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2009-06-12 - A Life of Impact - Expectation and Encouragement

Expectation

Mark 1:1

  • He expected a lot out of Himself
  • He knew he was born to save the world
  • Wallow in self-pity, to cower in fear, or simply giving up is inappropriate behavior

Mark 1:2-8 - People consistently live up to the perceptions others have of them

Encouragement

Mark 1:9-11

  • He told him that he was special
  • God is a god who initiates love
  • How would we change if we realized the amount of love God has for us


2009-06-13 - A Life of Impact - Preparation

Preparation

Mark 1:12-13

  • Jesus overcame himself first so that he could then overcome the world
  • Considered it a joy when you face many trials
  • The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare

The Message

Mark 1:14-15

  • His message was attractive – proclaimed that an intimate involvement with God
  • 'Seize the day' attitude – it was an urgent message and he called for an immediate response
  • We must be urgent with people if we want them to act urgently
  • This may be there only opportunity to respond.


2009-06-17 - A Life of Impact - Gentleness and Fueling

Gentleness

Mark 1:29-34

  • At times we need to raise our voices and push in order to get things done.
  • At the same time using gentle tone and pitching in to help will accomplish far more good.

Fueling

Mark 1:35-39

  • People who love sleep don’t usually change the world
  • Jesus slept when he had the time
  • Jesus was extremely eager to pray
  • Most of us live with only a vague idea of purpose
  • Our personal ministries – can be tempted to lose the fire, to settle down, and get comfortable
  • We laugh and patronize at younger friends who are “idealist, zealots, and radicals


2009-08-22 - Wild at Heart - Intro (part 4)
Women want to be fought for
She wants to be wanted
She wants to be pursued
Knight n shinning armor – core of the feminine heart and the life she knows she was made for
She wants an adventure to share – part of the adventure
She wants to be caught up into something greater than herself
Every woman wants to have her beauty revealed
“Do you see me?” “And are you captivated by what you see?”
World kills woman’s heart – be tough, efficient, and independent
No one is fighting for her (no adventure to swept up in) – doubts very much that she any beauty to unveil.

Man must know he is powerful and know what it takes
Woman must know she is beautiful and she is worth fighting for

2009-08-28 - Wild at Heart - Question that haunts every man (part 2)
Every man knows there is something wrong, but can not figure out what it is
Man’s deepest fear is being found out – discovered as a impostor and not really a man
Every man feels that the world is asking him to be something he doubts very much he has it in him to be

How do you see yourself as a man?
Are words like: strong, passionate and dangerous word you would choose?
Do you have the courage to ask those in your life what they think of you as a man?

Manly to – hunt, fix cars, survive in the wild

Why don’t men play the man?
Why don’t they offer their strength to a world that needs it?
  • We doubt very much that we have and real strength to offer
  •  If we did offer what we have it wouldn’t be good enough


2009-09-02 - Wild at Heart - The wound (part 2)
Adam receives his name from God
Abraham names Issac
Jesus needed to hear those words

God renames Jacob and Paul

Racheal names son “son of my sorrow”. Jacob renames him “son of my right hand”
It took intervention by the man, it always does

A boy is brought into the world by his mother
There comes a time for the shift when he begins to seek out his father’s affection – Hard for a mother

Dad coming home is biggest event in a boy’s day
Women try to fill void that an absent father has left
Father calls his son “tiger”

Turns to mom for comfort and dad for adventure
If a mother will not allow her son to become dangerous, if she does not let the father take him away, she will emasculate him.

2009-09-21 - Wild at Heart - The Enemy (part 2)
A warrior is cunning.
When to fight and when to run
Three enemies:
  1. world
  2. flesh
  3. devil
We don’t want to move unless we’re guaranteed success
We want the easy way out
Your flesh is a weasel, a poser, and a selfish pig. And your flesh is not you.

Paul knew the struggle within – my sin is not me – this not my true heart - Romans 7
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you - Ezekiel 36:26
There is a war within us, but it is a civil war. There is a traitor within who wars against our true heart fighting alongside the Spirit of God
The real you is on the side of God against the false self.
The man who wants to live valiantly will lose heart quickly if he believes that his heart is nothing but sin
We are never told to crucify our heart
We are never told to kill the true man with in us
Never told to get rid of those deep desires for battle and adventure and beauty

2009-09-23 - Wild at Heart - The Enemy (part 4)
The world is a carnival of counterfeits, counterfeit battles. Counterfeit adventures, counterfeit beauties
Men should think of it as a corruption of their strength
Battle your way to the top says the world and you will be a man

World give a false sense of security
  • Where does your sense of power come from?
  • Is it your position?
Look to be the servant of all
Want to know how the world really feels about you – start living out your true strength
Say what you think, stand for the underdog, challenge foolish polices
Many of us have actually been afraid to let our strength show up because the world doesn’t have a place for it

2009-09-24 - Wild at Heart - The Enemy (part 5)
Not every thought that crosses your mind comes from you
  • Where are those ideas coming from?
  • Where are those feelings coming from?
  • We are unaware of his schemes – 2 Corinthians 2:11
  • We look for a psychological or a physical explanation for every trouble we meet

Who caused the Chaldeans to steal Job’s herds – Satan Job 12,17
Anaias and Sapphira – Satan
Heartache keeps us from praying
Satan is behind that brutal assault on your on strength
There is a whole lot more going on behind the scenes of our lives than most of us have been led to believe

Behind the world and the flesh is an event more deadly enemy, one we rarely speak of and are even less ready to resist

2009-09-25 - One Another - Making it Clear
1 Corinthians 1-3 2 Corinthians 1
The world's wisdom The world's wisdom
God's grace God's grace

Relationships that are conducted according to the world's wisdom - have some element of self in mind

Relationships in God's grace have in mind: God's grace to us and our need to pass grace on to others

World teaches to be independent / We belong to one another -  Romans 12:5
  • One on who be independent choose not to / he emptied himself and became a slave - Philippians 2
  • We are do be devoted to one another - philostorgos = like family - Romans 12:10
When we see the grace of God, we see one:
  • who brings into his circle of friends - John 15:13-15
  • who adopts us into his family - Hebrews 2:11
  • who vows he will never leave or forsake us - Hebrews 13:5
We are to admonish one another and speak the truth in love - Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 4:15

If living with worldly wisdom  then we will:
  1. Ignore the problem
  2. Gossip about it to other
  3. Blast a person with the truth
None of these actions show grace

2009-10-14 - Wild at Heart - Eve's Wound
Question for her is: Am I lovely?
She needs to know that she is exquisite and exotic and chosen.
This is core to her identity, the way she bears the image of God
Will you purse me? Do you delight in me? Will you fight for me?
Wound says - No, you are not beautiful and no one will really fight for you
Wound usually always comes from the hand of her father

He has the power to cripple or to bless is just as powerful to her as to the son
Her heart is violated and the message is driven father in – you are not desired, you will not be protected, no one will fight for you.

If the father is passive, a little girl will suffer a silent abandonment – not noticed or pursued
Like so many unloved young women, they will to turn to boys to hear what she never heard from her father
When a woman never hears she’s worth fighting for, she comes to believe that is the sort of treatment she deserves

A hesitant man is the last thing in the world a woman needs.
She needs a lover and a warrior, not a nice guy

Number one problem between men and women is that we men, when asked to truly fight for her, hesitate
We are still seeking to save ourselves, we have forgotten the deep pleasure of spilling our life for another

2009-10-18 - Wild at Heart - An adventure to live (part 1)
A man just won’t be happy until he’s got adventure in his work, in love and in his spiritual life
God is intimately personal with us and he speaks in ways that are peculiar to our own quirky hearts – not just through
the Bible, but through the whole creation

Don’t ask yourself what does the world need. Ask yourself what make you come alive and go do that because what the world needs is people who have come alive
I realized I was living a script written for me by someone else
To go where the world takes us, to drift with whatever current happens to be running the strongest

What would have happened if Moses had listed to his mother’s advice, “never play with matches”?
Paul didn’t leave his familiar group of Pharisees?
God took a big risk in making the world

2009-10-19 - Wild at Heart - An adventure to live (part 2)
Most spend the energy of their lives trying to eliminate risk
Their children hear “no” far more than they hear “yes”
If a man succeeds in securing his life against all risk, he will wind up in a cocoon of self-protection and wonder why he is suffocating
Seizing upon some sort of competence and rejecting anything that cannot be controlled

This a refusal to trust God and reach out for control – runs deep in every man
False self’s desire is to have power over experience – to control events and consequences - Mark 8:36

Too may men forsake their dreams because they aren’t willing to risk or fear they aren’t up to the challenge or are never told that those desire of the heart are good

Soul of a man isn’t made for controlling things
His job is charter to explore, build, conquer, and care for all creation
If you had permission to do what you really wanted to do, what would you do?

"How" is a faithless question – How is God’s department… Ask "what"
What is written on your heart?
What make you come alive?
Don’t ask yourself what does the world need. Ask yourself what make you come alive and go do that because what the world needs is people who have come alive

I’ve met men who’ve used advice like it was permission
They are deceived about what they really want
Goal of Christian discipleship is the transformed heart
We move from boy who needs the Law to the man who is able to live by the Spirit of the Law
Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit then you won’t feed on compulsion or selfishness

2009-10-20 - Wild at Heart - An adventure to live (part 3)
We pay attention to our desire. Often the clues are in our past, in the moments when we found ourselves loving what we were doing

To recover his heart’s desire a man needs to get away
When a man thinks that what will really make him come alive is something unholy – ask what is the desire beneath this desire?

The greatest obstacle to realizing our dreams is the false self’s hatred of mystery

Most important aspects of any man’s world – his relationship with his God and with the people in his life, his calling, the spiritual battles he’ll face
To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways

There are no formulas with God
God is a person and not a doctrine

Joshua blowing trumpets for a week – only did it once
Gideon’s plan of attack 32000 to 300 and torches and water pots
Jesus healing not the same way twice

2009-10-26 - Repentance - What It Is (part 3)
Dictionaries of Biblical Greek - Repentance
  • a complete change of attitude, spiritual and moral, toward God
  • a change of mind
  • to change one’s way of life
  • to change one’s mind or purpose

Questions:
  • How did both John and Jesus begin their public ministry of preaching?
  • What does the prefix meta- (from metanoia) mean? What other English words do you know that have meta- as a prefix?
  • What does the root nous (from metanoia) mean? What other English words do you know that contain –noia?
  • Have you ever considered your worldview? How has the Bible shaped it?
  • Why is metanoia necessary for us to grasp the kingdom of God?
  • How has the Latin idea of paenitentia influenced your understanding of repentance?
  • Why is the author concerned with “repentance” as our English translation for metanoia?


2009-10-28 - Repentance - Illustrations (part 2)
Paradigm Shift
  • Paradigm - describes the way that scientists work within a model for making sense of the world through observed data
  • Shift/meta – changing one’s thoughts of the world
  • Since paradigm shifts represents drastic changes to the rules of game – it is rarely done by scientists

Solar system

  • Man/earth was the center of the universe.
  • As we found for planets, it was more complex to think the earth was the center
  • Copernicus (1530) put the sun in the center – leading astronomers rejected the new paradigm


2009-11-04 - Repentance - Jesus Opens Our Eyes (part 2)
The Red Pill and the Blue Pill
  • Matrix – do you know what this is, Neo?
  • Feeling we have all had – there is something wrong with the world
  • Blue Pill – You wake up and you believe what you wan to the believe (Jewish leaders chose this one)
  • Red Pill – you are only offered truth
  • Without repentance, we will remain blinded
    • How could a kingdom transcend geographic boundaries?
    • How could a kingdom be within us?
    • What sort of kingdom has no capital, no government, no army, and no temple?
  • Longed for a tangible kingdom rather than a spiritual kingdom
The Kingdom of God is Here
  • Many Christians the kingdom of God as something the future holds
  • Some wish to avoid the kingdom commitment here on earth
  • Kingdom expect allegiance ahead of all others
  • Any real government expects this type of loyalty
The North Pole Kingdom Paradigm
  • King exerted seasonal influence
  • Three levels of subjects:
    • Disciples – treated him a Lord
    • Christians – little bit naughty, gave mainly to friends and family, on rear occasions to the poor
    • Unbelievers – little bit naughty, did not believe, not Hitler or other really bad people
  • Most indirectly believe in this theory of the world
  • If I abandon this paradigm, I would have to admit I am wrong.


2009-11-05 - Repentance - Jesus Opens Our Eyes (part 3)
The Purpose of Parables
  • Parables offers an opportunity to slip a message past the defenses and filters
  • Kingdom parables
    • Parable of the Sower
      • watch out for Satan, he will try to rob you of the true and understanding of the kingdom
      • church needs to honest with how worldly cares (wealth, etc)
    • Parable of the Weeds
  • Repentance parables
    • Parable of the Lost Sheep
    • Parable of the Lost Coin
    • Prodical Son
      • Vivid picture of meanoia (when he came to his senses)
      • Data did not change, his thinking did
      • Younger son objectivity saw where he was with his father
      • Reoriented heart returns a reoriented life
      • Proves his repentance by his deeds


2009-11-06 - Repentance - Jesus Opens Our Eyes (part 4)
Necessity of Repentance
  • Alternative to repentance is rejection of God
  • If we don’t repent, we will perish
  • We are not asked to analyze our mental orientation but to see fruit from our repentance
Questions
  1. What causes spiritual blindness? Why is it so hard to see our own pride?
  2. Why is Jesus so tough on spiritual blindness?
  3. Earlier we discussed worldviews, how does a Kingdom view compare and contrast with your current worldview?
  4. Why is the arrival of the Kingdom cause for metanoia?
  5. What is Jesus’ purpose for teaching via parables?
  6. What can we learn about metanoia from Jesus’ description of the Prodigal Son?
  7. Why – according to Jesus’ teaching - will we perish if we don’t repent?
  8. How can we be sure of our repentance?


2009-11-07 - Repentance - The Cross Compels Our Hearts
World is graceless, performance orientated
  • Students – pass/fail
  • Employees – promotions\get fired
  • Calories – lose/gain weight

Sin + Forgiveness = Love

Accurate assessment of debt
  • None of delight in a highlight reel of our personal sinfulness (especially avoid reference to specific sins)
  • Whenever we expose our sins in the light of fellowship – able to see our sin more clearly

Questions
  1. How can grace compel repentance?
  2. How can you assess your debt to Jesus?
  3. How can you be assured of the forgiveness of that debt?
  4. Who is to blame for Christ’s death on the Cross?
  5. How does one’s good confession - “Jesus is Lord!” - express one’s repentance?
  6. Why is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ a clear indication of one’s repentance?


2009-11-08 - Repentance - Transfigure Our Minds (part 1)
We each have a worldview or mindset that functions as a life lens
World has been squeezing us into its mold – more than we realize

Peter’s mind
  • Thought of Jesus as a Messianic Champion
  • Thought Jesus would reveal himself in a fierce battle
  • “You are the Christ!”
  • All the right data
    • Witness the transfiguration – built shelters for Moses, Jesus, and Elijah – Jesus said Peter didn’t know what he was saying
    • Night of the betrayal – Peter said bring it on, he held on hope that 12 leagues of angels would come; drawn his sword to the guard
    • Peter joined the other disciples in Jerusalem – with “one mind” in prayer and purpose
The World around us persists in its big squeeze on us
Prepare your minds for action – 1 Peter 1:13-14
Space shuttle takes 2,250,000 pounds of fuel to escape the earth’s gravity
Only few pounds to remain in orbit – Christians are called more than just to orbit
Most trials produce greater faith – hospitalized child, illness, death, ministry turmoil, financial pressures
Ways to fight – devote time to prayer, read scripture, explore ways to encourage wife, get advice from elders, spend special time with the kids
Ways to not to – laziness, frustrate wife, neglect kids, feeling overwhelmed and under underappreciated, escape to the TV

2009-11-10 - Repentance - Transfigure Our Minds (part 3)
Issue with Lust
  • Old Way: “Treat … younger women as sister, with absolute purity”
  • New Way: “…strength to comprehend with all the saint what is the breadth and length and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge”
Difference: metanoia!
  • Understands that he a citizen of the kingdom of heaven
  • Jesus is Lord of the kingdom
  • Jesus delivered him into the kingdom through his blood
  • His sins placed him in Satan’s domain
  • Live gratefully for Jesus rather than self
  • Should anticipates the King’s glorious return
  • Want no one to perish
  • Should no fear man
  • Only agenda is God’s agenda

Apply spiritual disciplines with dramatically different results

How would Jesus think?
Once you see the world through God’s eyes your mind and heart become so transformed that you “automatically” respond to every situation differently

Questions
  1. What influences have shaped your worldview?
  2. How has the world tried to squeeze your mind into its mold?
  3. How can you resist – even reverse – this persistent pressure from the world?
  4. Why should you “gird the loins of your mind”?
  5. When and how did Saul/Paul repent?
  6. What is the difference between a fleshly mind and a spiritual mind?
  7. At a popular level, what is the difference between WWJD and WWJT?
  8. Why are spiritual disciplines more effective after one has experienced the paradigm shift of metanoia?


2009-11-11 - Repentance - Worldly Sorrow (part 1)
Sorrow does not equal repentance
Nothing is more tragic than losing your eternal reward through popular yet readily avoidable errors
Two great misconceptions

Confusion that sorrow is repentance
Humble prayers and our sorrow pleases God – still not repentance

World Sorrow is neither Godly Sorrow Nor repentance
Worldly sorrow brings death

Five signs of world sorrow (pride)

1. Damage Control
  • Many call press conferences to get there side of the story our first
  • Once guilt is found, party than give a “heart-felt” apology – sorrow for getting caught
  • Sin is destructive. It ruins relationships, reputation, peace of mind and personal integrity
2. Self-Pity
  • Some believe the abundance of tears is repentance
    • Forgiven women (forgiven)
    • Peter, Paul vs Cain (became angry)
    • Esau (wailed loudly)
    • Judas (deeply regretted)
  • All three shed tear but not one repented
  • Claiming to be a victim doesn’t make one a victim
  • Tears can be self-affirming to one with self-pity (can become more sinful)
  • Ones mostly likely to enable and least likely to help you


2009-11-12 - Repentance - Worldly Sorrow (part 2)
3. Excuses
  • Comes up with creative targets – upbringing, genetic makeup, society
  • Excuses are the clearest indicators of worldly sorrow
  • Excuses come right after the apology – I am sorry for forgetting our anniversary, it has been crazy at work
  • Where there is an excuse, there is persistent sin
  • Excuses rob us of the indignation that energizes our turn from self to Jesus
4. Selectivity
A repentant Christian embraces absolutions, even moral absolutes
5. Repetition
Repentance is no fragile state of mind that we barely notice entering and exiting
Questions
  1. What is wrong with defining repentance as “being sorry for your sins, so sorry that you stop them”?
  2. What is the root cause of worldly sorrow?
  3. In what ways have you exercised “damage control” rather than true repentance?
  4. What damage has your sin caused?
  5. Have you ever confused the tears of self pity for true repentance? What is the danger of this confusion?
  6. Why does the author assert that “excuses are the clearest indicators of worldly sorrow?” Would you rather have your excuses accepted or your sins forgiven?
  7. What’s the difference between cognitive dissonance and repentance? Why doesn’t cognitive dissonance prompt us to preach the good news to others?
  8. Have you been selective in your repentance? What does that indicate about your repentance?
  9. Why doesn’t metanoia accommodate the repetition of sin?


2009-11-17 - Repentance - The Church Reorients Us (part 1)
There is no church without repentance
There is no repentance without the church.

How did the early church help seeker to repent?
Aligning themselves to the new community
The church, by definition, is counter-culture
World says, “Conform, get back in line”
Church says, “Repent, come out be different”

What do we think of when we think of counter-culture? Skinheads, etc
Not rebellion for the sake of rebellion but for selfless-love, sexual purity, generosity, purposeful living, revolutionary zeal,
humility, joy beyond understanding

The world hate holiness – hates holy saints

Discipline
Practice largely disappeared during the second half of the century
We live in the customer’s always right culture
Not expelling members but the church meets my needs, what feels right, sin/repentance not your business

2009-11-18 - Repentance - The Church Reorients Us (part 2)
Bible says if your brother sins again you – go and point out his sin
Must repentance as a whole
Church repentance – 41 times
Individual repentance – 11 times

Not usual in the world
Football team at half-time
Company changes due to market conditions

All churches sin; not all repent
Some spin their shortcoming, craft reasonable explanations, minimize damage to reputation, issue statements

Questions
  1. How does the church represent the “destination of repentance”?
  2. How did the early church help sinners to repent? How did it safeguard true repentance from compromise?
  3. How did the walls of the early church stand steadfast against the assaults of the world?
  4. What does it mean to be of “one mind” with your brothers and sisters?
  5. How were early Christians both non-conformists and conformists?
  6. Why has church discipline gotten a “bad rap”? Is it warranted?
  7. Why do so few churches practice the Biblical mandates to discipline its members?
  8. How can a church best practice church discipline?
  9. Have you ever been disciplined by your church? Did God’s plan lead you to repentance – why or why not?
  10. Over 85% of the Biblical references to repentance address groups rather than individuals. Thus, how can you help your fellowship - at various levels – repent?
  11. How can you spark repentance – even revival – in your church and in your community? Are you willing to walk its path of selfless commitment?


2009-11-19 - Repentance - Its Time To Go Home (part 1)
Psalms 51 – has become an anthem of repentance for generations

David worldly sorrow:
2 Samuel 12:
V9 – why have you despised the word of the lord?
V10 – you have despised me [God]
V12 – You did it secretly
V14 – You have utterly scorned the Lord

How to repent? – Consider what God does
Establishes foundation of grace and kindness – 2 Samuel 12:7-8
Provides role models – 2 Samuel 11:11
Sends prophets – 2 Samuel 12:1
Creativity opens our eyes – 2 Samuel 12:5-6
Exposes and Convicts – 2 Samuel 12:7

2009-11-23 - Master Plan - Selection (part 2)
  • Not the kind of group you would expect to win the world for the Christ.
  • Represented an average cross section of the society of their day
  • Some already had joined the revival movement of John the Baptist
  • Jesus can use anyone who wants to be used.
  • Kept the group small enough to be able to work effectively with them.
    • More special than the twelve was the three – Peter, James, John
      • Jairus’ daughter (mark 5:37, Luke 8:51)
      • Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2, Matthew 17:1)
      • Waited Near the Lord when He prayed. (Mark 14:33, Matthew 26:37)
    • Choose twelve – Luke 6:13-17, Mark 3:13-19
    • Others – the 70 (Luke 10:1), Mark and Luke (gospel writers), James, His own brother (1 Cor 15:7)
  • Rapidly diminishing priority given to those outside the twelve.
  • Staked His whole ministry on them. Everything depended upon their faithfulness.
  • Some believe that focusing on a few is favoritism
  • Jesus however did not neglect the crowds.
    • Taught them
    • Healed the sick
    • Blessed the children
    • Wept for them
    • He died for them.
  • Crowd aroused
    • Wanted to make him King by force - John 6:15
    • All men were clamoring for His attention - John 3:26
    • Pharisees admitted that the world has gone after Him - John 12:19
    • Frequently asked those that recipients of His healing to say nothing to prevent mass demonstrations
    • Own brothers and sisters did not understand him - John 7:2-9


2009-11-30 - Master Plan - He Required Obedience
  • Jesus required and expected obedience
  • They were disciples, learners, pupils (“Christian”) did not even come until later - Acts 11:26
  • Being smart was not a requirement for His students, but loyalty was.
  • No statement of faith made at the beginning but they believed that he was the Messiah (Luke 1:41, 45, 49; 5:8)
  • Jesus was obedient to His Word and expected others to do the same.
  • People do not follow hypocrites – Jesus lived it
  • Way of the Cross
    • Meant more than a joyful precession: it meant a surrender of one’ whole life and of His sovereignty.
    • God or Money - Luke 16:13
    • Do not conform to the world = new life - Matthew 5:1-7:29
    • Love was found in obedience (John 14:21)
    • Cross – willingness to die to self so that other may live
  • Strong Teachings
    • Not many followed (many left) - John 6:66
    • Jesus did not go running after them to get them to stay
    • Must be willing to pay the price


2009-12-01 - Master Plan - Count the Costs
  • Those who did not go all the way fell by the wayside
    • Can not make excuses - Matthew 8:21-22
    • Greed will try to take us away (Judas) - Mark 14:10
    • Turn loose of the world - Matthew 27:3-10
    • Leave comforts of this world - Matthew 8:19
    • Those who want to turn are not fit to serve - Luke 9:62
    • Must love God above all else - Luke 14
  • Few want to pay the price
    • Jesus had only a few followers = Are you going to leave too? …Where shall we go? - John 6:68


2009-12-05 - Master Plan - Jesus gave himself away (part 1)
  • Disciples realized that they were responding to Jesus who was willing to give of Himself for them
  • Examples of Jesus giving himself away
    • Gave away what the Father gave to Him - John 15:15
    • He gave them peace - John 16:33
    • He gave them despite pain and suffering - John 15:11
  • Love is not love until it is given away
  • Jesus – God gave away His most precious possession
  • No greater love than to lay down our live for others
  • Jesus impressed the deep compulsion of His eternal purpose
  • It was clear that the Master considered no service too small or sacrifice too great.
  • Jesus denied Himself many of the comforts and pleasure of the world and became a servant
  • He continually gave His life “for their sakes”
  • Disciples learned not in theory but in practice (painful and hard to accept)
  • Jesus life was the measure by which they were to regard their own service.
    • To give freely as they had received – Matthew 10:8
    • Love one another as He loved them - John 13:34
    • Calvary love was the standard


2009-12-09 - Master Plan - Delegation (part 1)
He assigned them work
  • Jesus considered their ability and taught them with patience
  • At first, Jesus did not say anything about evangelizing the world
    • Showed them how to have a relationship with God
    • Showed them how He worked
    • Their need to follow
  • He did not discourage spontaneous acts of faith
  • Duties performed by His disciples
    • Baptized some - John 4:2
    • Food arrangements
  • Jesus kept the vision in front of them
  • Little evangelism was done on their own at the beginning
    • We should be patient with new disciples
  • First evangelist mission with the 12
    • Began with Jesus’ third tour through Galilee
    • Sent them forth - Mark 6:7


2009-12-11 - Master Plan - Delegation (part 3)
  • Sending of the Seventy - Luke 10:1
    • Almost the same instructions - Luke 10:2-16
    • They would be forerunners (Luke 10:1)
  • Post Resurrection
    • Peter: Feed my sheep - John 21:15-17
    • I send you - John 20:21
    • Great Commission - Matthew 28:16-20
    • Repent and remission of sins - Luke 24:47-49
  • Evangelism is not an option (Jesus was all about – heartbeat of why he lived)
  • Tangible expression by those who are following the Savior
  • He gave work assignments (made sure they carried them out)
  • At first assignments started small, but grew gradually until the graduation (started the church that turned the world upside down)


2009-12-12 - Master Plan - Supervision (part 1)
He kept check on them
  • His teaching rotated between instruction and assignment
  • Questions, illustrations, warnings, and admonitions were calculated to fill His work to evangelize the world.
  • When the disciples were sent out they gathered themselves to see what things had been done
    • They were expected to share their experiences
    • Previous mission there was no mention of any spectacular success
    • They gain additional experience
    • Jesus cautioned the disciples against pride in their accomplishments
  • Demon-possessed boy – lesson on how they needed more prayer and fasting
  • Loaves and fish – lesson on faith they God will provide
  • Lessons of patience
    • Danger of discouraging any sincere work - “Those who are not against you are for you” - Mark 9:50
    • Do little the little one stumble - Mark 9:42
    • Encounter resistance - Call down fire from heaven - Luke 9:51-54
    • Jesus came to save not destroy - Luke 9:55


2009-12-13 - Master Plan - Supervision (part 2)
  • On the job training – let followers have experience or make some observations of their own
  • Gave them greater awareness of their deficiencies
  • Kept disciples going toward the goal He had set before them.
  • He did not expect more from His disciples than they could do
  • He did expect their best
  • We never assume the work is done. Ask lots of question / probe.
  • There are many things that can happen to frustrate, discouraged or defeated.
  • The goal is world conquest.
    • Never dare to let a lesser concern capture us.
    • No further training or inspiration needed.
    • Focus can easily be on us.
  • The ability of a worker is not developed if there is no supervision
  • Our little efforts can be a excuse for not doing more.
  • We can lose the advantage years of hard work and sacrifice.
  • Disciples must be brought to maturity
  • We have not been called to hold the fort but storm the heights.


2009-12-14 - Master Plan - Reproduction (part 1)
He expected them to reproduce

  • Jesus built into the disciples the structure of the church; Mustard seed - Matthew 13:32
  • Jesus’ vision was for the church to be world-wide
  • The church would have many trials and battles but would never be overcome - Matthew 16:18
  • Peter finally realized what was going on - Matthew 16:18
  • Must see the direct relation:
    • Bearing witness to Christ
    • Ultimate Victory over the world
  • If the disciples did not evangelize, there would not be any Christians today.
  • “Through the Word” – Others would believe in Him too. - John 17:20
  • We must do what Jesus – He made disciples, we should walk as Jesus walked
  • He taught His disciples to reproduce
  • He had no other plan


2009-12-15 - Master Plan - Reproduction (part 2)
  • The Test
    •  Could His disciples do a good job without His bodily supervision as they could with it?
    •  Human point of view: Never could be sure that His investment in their lives.
  •  Life-sustaining power of the vine was not to be given to endlessly upon lifeless branches
    •  A barren Christian is a contradiction.
    • A tree is known by its fruit
  • Principle throughout His ministry
    • Reward of His own sacrifice for the world - John 12:24
    • Distinguishing work of those who did the will of His Father - Matthew 7:16-23
    • Wages given to His disciples for their work in the harvest - John 4:36
    • What was lacking in the Sadducees and Pharisees - Matthew 3:7-8


2009-12-17 - Master Plan - Reproduction (part 4)
  • Are those who have followed us to Christ now leading others to Him?
  • Not enough to rescue the perishing but to build them in the faith of Christ.
  • Converts go out and make leaders out of the converts not just simply more followers.
  • Church should be measured on how many Christians are actively winning souls.
  • Lord added to the Church, those who were being saved
  • Within a few centuries, the world would have known the hand of the Master
  • Shortcuts have failed
    • Adaptations of the principle are always necessary in the light of changing circumstances.
    • Costly principles of leadership development can not undercut
    • We try ceremonies, programs, organizations, and crusades of human ingenuity.
    • We must understand that evangelism is not done by something but by someone
    • God's nature is to get personal. Men reaching other men for Christ.
  • Need men who:
    • See His vision
    • Feel His passion
    • Willing to be nothing so that He may be everything


2009-12-19 - Master Plan - The Plan (part 2)
  • Giving an explanation will not suffice.
  • World must have a demonstration of what to believe – “Follow me, I know the way!”
  • We must seek them. We must win them. We must pray for them.
  • Practicals
    • Begin with a few
    • Stay together – see us on what they need to become
    • See how the message relates to daily experiences
    • Becomes intimately practical.
  • Give them time – they can be with us while we are doing other things
  • Arrange special times of:
    • Study the Bible
    • Pray
    • General sharing of deepest burdens and desires
  • Expect results from them gradually


2009-12-20 - Master Plan - The Plan (part 3)
  • Keep them going
    • All of this is going to require supervision
    • When questions arise, they must be answered while the problem is still in their mind.
    • Setup a schedule of training and keep a record of their growth
    • Exercise patience: Growth is sometimes slow and with many setbacks (while honestly seeking truth)
    • Seldom put them out of our mind
    • They need to be in our prayers and dreams
    • Accept the burden of their immaturity until they can do it for themselves
  • We are not living primarily for the present.
  • Our satisfaction is in knowing that in generations to come from bearing fruit
  • World is desperately seeking someone to follow
    • Someone who is certain
    • Will be a man who knows the way of Christ
    • Or are one who is leading someone into greater darkness?
  • Destiny of many hangs on our decision.


2010-01-03 - Kingdom First - Making Peace with God
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will called sons of God - Matthew 5:9

World knows little peace - God wages peace
The heart of God is to be at peace with man

In order to have peace with God, we must resolve war(s) in our heart
Peace is not conflict avoidance, it is resolution after a spiritual war

Only those who know God can make peace that endures
Once alienated from God and enemies - Colossians 1:21
After humbling our hearts and mourning over our sin - we become his children, part of the family

Keep peace is an on-going process
Our lives must be continually cleansed from sin

What is your level of peace?
Have worries rob you of your trust in God?

2010-01-04 - Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others
Having peace with God - story is not over
We are in a world to wage peace just as God does

Jesus is our example
Courage and honesty destroy barriers
Openly expressing his thoughts and feelings pulls down superficiality and distrust

Jesus expressed his:
  • Fears - Matthew 26:36-46
  • Disappointment - Matthew 11:14-17
  • Anger and Frustration - Matthew 23
He wanted people to be totally united, regardless of differences

If you want real peace, don't avoid conflict
Do whatever is required to settle matters quickly

2010-01-05 - Kingdom First - Helping Others to Make Peace
Highest calling as peacemakers is to help other make peace with God

We have been fitted with the feet of readiness that comes from the gospel of peace - Ephesians 6:15
Are proclaim peace to others - Isaiah 52:7

Jesus shed his blood so we could have peace
He calls to die to ourselves so others can be made right with God

Not superficial "world peace" but true peace in the heart of each man and women

2010-01-08 - Kingdom First - Light Gives Direction
You are the light of the world - Matthew 5:14-16

Without light we do not know where to walk
Don't know when to turn or how to reach our destination

God provided the direction for the Israelites when the left Egypt
Wise men were guided by light to find the Savior of the world

Your willingness to give help provides direction and light most do not have

Purity and integrity can shake the business world
Faith and joy in the face of trials can show others with God there is a way out of anything

2010-01-17 - Kingdom First - Not Kidding
His challenge to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors
His message totally defies world standards

Consider the alternative: responding like the world
We become enslaved by how other treat us

Regardless how much we love the brotherhood of believers, if we hold any bitterness or resentment - we are simply reduced to the level of the world
No matter how unjust or painful the treatment, God's grace is sufficient - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

He expects us to have
Because he call to a life of righteousness which will produce enemies
Are we willing to go all the way and suffer for him - Philippians 1:29

He expects us to love and actively pray for the people who oppose us
How much do we persevere with people?
Do we answer back kindly when spoken to unjustly?

2010-01-26 - Kingdom First - Self Titled
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, all these things will be given you - Matthew 6:33

Kingdom First:
  • Everything must be re-examined
  • Everything must be reconsidered
  • Every desire, dream, use of money and time
  • Now everything must have a kingdom-first focus
How to tell when you are not seeking first his kingdom:
  1. When you don't have daily times with God in the Bible and prayer
  2. Responsibilities to the church are a burden
  3. Not happy or consistent in giving
  4. Personal comfort, desires direct life's decisions
  5. Can't find the time to share your faith
  6. Gain greater feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction serving another "kingdom"
  7. You have greater regard and protection of your schedule
  8. Discipleship times, family devotionals not deep or consistent
  9. Gaining one more than is greater than gaining one more soul
  10. Dreams center more in this world than in the kingdom
Are you seeking first his kingdom?
The kingdom consists of people who volunteer in a battle between good and evil

2010-02-13 - First the Kingdom - Deceision Time
There are fundamentally three responses one can have to Jesus' message:

1. No way! Tho could possibly do this?
Too hard, No one can do it  Just trying to make me feel guilty

2. It's wonderful. We should think more about it.
Many want to hear it - but few live it
Same problem in Ezekiel's day - Ezekiel 33:31-32

3. It's a great challenge, but it's God's will and I want it
No one can live it without error, but all those who put their hearts into it and go for it will start changing their part of the world

2010-02-21 - One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 1)
Bible is clear - Jesus came to break down divisions - Ephesians 2:14

Worldly divisions
  • Race
  • Money
  • Gender
  • Culture
  • Distance
  • Too busy
Common barriers in the church:
  • Past hurts
  • Bitterness
  • Sin - yours, mine or others
Jesus broke down walls through the cross - Ephesians 2:16
Can ONLY be done at the foot of the cross

Only way a holy and righteous God can be reunited with his unrighteous enemy (us) - Romans 5:6-11

Reconcile = to become friends again
Not to politely tolerate one another or a ceasefire

The goal of Jesus is to be one - John 17:20-21
Only way Jews and non-Jews could form the church of God

What Paul had is mind when writing - Ephesians 3:20
"...him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think"

2010-02-28 - One Another - One Another In Groups (part 2)
Look for the Spirit's work in all things - 1 Thessalonians 5:6-19

The Spirit is always at work - John 5:17
Guard against the tendency to look at your group through unspiritual eyes
God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong - 1 Corinthians 1:27
Don't just hang those you click with, God wants to teach us through people who are different from us

Support spiritual leadership - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Ask your leader(s) if he/she feels your support and encouragement - how you can more fully show it

2010-03-09 - To Live is Christ - Whatever Happens

Paul set an example for them by facing frustration with faith - lesson for us as well
Whatever happens...in a manner worthy of the gospel

It is not just a good moral life; is is united with each other - standing firm in one spirit

Jesus died to bring us together
1st century - no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own - Acts 4:32
An autonomous Christian was unknown to the biblical writters

Staying in the fellowship means:

  • Suffering
  • Extra work
  • Carrying each other's burdens

The world needs to see men, women, singles, marrieds, teens, all races, rich and poor brought together as "one man".

 



2010-03-13 - To Live is Christ - No One Else Like Him
Those with with the greatest impact are not the ones you expect
Romans centurion - Matthew 8:5-10
Canaanite woman - Matthew 15:21-28

Timothy struggled with illness and fear made quite an impression on Paul
  • He looked out for the interest of others
  • He lived out the message
  • He knew what it meant to go to the cross
  • He was convinced that he was more alive when he was dead
  • He discipleship was a matter of practice
  • He had no trouble seeing the mission of Jesus
  • He did not run aimlessly but purposeful, selfless, and dedicated servant of Jesus
How do Timothys come about?
  • They study to become like this
  • They are discipled to become like this
  • They do whatever it takes
God uses them to bless the world

2010-03-14 - To Live is Christ - Fellow Worker and Soldier
Epaphroditus was committed to Paul in the most difficult of circumstances - Philippians 2:25-30
Having a brother to encourage you and not be ashamed of you while in prision meant the world to Paul

Great friends are fellow worker - To accomplish a common goal
Great friends are fellow soldiers - a common enemy and a common plan to go make disciples

Easy to get wrapped up in our own needs
If we are selfless in our thinking and actions - do we think we will lose out in some way?
Paul was eager to send Epaphroditus - not reluctantly
Who we have been so generous?




2010-03-24 - To Live is Christ - Mind Change
Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable - think of such things - Philippians 4:8-9

It is all about the focus
Focus on the mess or you can change your mind and focus on:
  • Who God is
  • What God can do
  • The changes he can make
  • The victory he will most certainly achieve
Paul is not hopeful on what direction the world is going
Jesus saw the increase in wickedness - Matthew 24:12
While pessimistic about the world's chances, he was totally optimistic about the future with God

You will have trouble in this world but Jesus has overcome the world - John 16:33


2010-03-30 - Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 4)
True freedom is not political freedom but spiritual freedom - James 1:25
Remember how the Jew sought political freedom?

Religion without self-control is useless - James 1:26
Worldly speech includes gossip, slander, cursing, swearing, deceit, etc

Lack of social concern is a sure sign that a person is a false Christian
Worldly values and social apathy go hand in hand
Do we really care about the widows and orphans and widows - James 1:27


2010-03-31 - Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 5)
In the spirit of James 1:27 and the heart of helping others, here are some ideas on helping others:
  • Pray about adopting a child
  • Visit a nursing home
  • When the homeless ask for spare change, do not be stingy, give to them - Luke 6:30-38
  • On your next vacation, go to a 3rd world country
  • See what you can sell to help the poor - Luke 12:33
  • Get to know a homeless person and have them into your home - Matthew 25:35
  • Read the news - follow up with the victims of accidents, fires, robberies


2010-04-07 - Life to the Full - Two Wisdoms (part 1)
Wisdom can be earthly or demonic

Teachers will be judged more strictly - James 3:1
The danger with the wrong type of teacher is his misuse of his tongue:
  • Sarcasm
  • Negativity
  • Bitterness
  • Cursing
  • Worldly reactions
Coming across as self-righteous is a danger too
We all stumble in many ways - James 3:2
James included himself


2010-04-11 - Life to the Full - Macho Mist (part 1)
Worldliness = spiritual adultery
In the OT, Israel is called "adulterous" after going after idol

We are in the world but must not be of the world - John 17:14-18

Question to check to see if we are flirting with the world:
  • Am I tempted to miss church meetings?
  • Do I work overtime without a thought?
  • Do I cheat on my contribution?
  • Do I pretend to be more devoted that I am?
  • Do I take a second look at .....?
  • Do I grow sleepy during sermons?
  • Is there anything in the world that has a stronger grip on my heart, soul and strength than God, his word, or his will?


2010-04-12 - Life to the Full - Macho Mist (part 2)
Spiritual adultery - How easy it is to flirt with the world if we fail to guard our hearts - Proverbs 4:23
In Jewish law, adultery is grounds for divorce

The Spirit cause to live within us envies intensely - James 3:5

The nature of God: He will tolerate no rivals for his love
God is a jealous God - Exodus 34:14

One of the quoted OT verse in the the NT is about pride - Proverbs 3:34
Much of the pride mention in the NT is bad: Pride goes before the fall - Proverbs 16:18
Pride mentioned in the NT is usually good: I take great pride in you - 2 Corinthians 7:4
It depends on where the pride is rooted and the attitude behind it

If you feel ineffective, frustrated, unproductive, opposed - it might be because God is opposing you because of your pride
He is trying to get your attention so you will turn back to him

2010-04-19 - Life to the Full - In His Steps (part 2)

Disciples are priests and ministers in function - using the righteousness of Jesus - 1 Peter 2:4-6

Preist, by definition, is holier than the common man

The clergy-laity system is flawed because of there reasons:

  • It is elitiest
  • Fosters a double-standard
  • It is unbiblical

Consider today's denominational titles:

  • Father - Jesus said to avoid this title - Matthew 23:9
  • Pope - means father; Peter was suppose to the first one but he never claimed that he was
  • Paster - Latin for shepard; refered only in - Ephesians 4:11
  • Bishop - Greek for overseer
  • Priest - corruption of the Greek presbyteros, meaning elder
  • Female pasters - Roundly rejected by the NT; See 1 Timothy 3 and 1 Corinthians 14
  • Monks and Nuns - created in the 2nd and 3rd centuries; Jesus said we are in the world but not of the world

 



2010-04-22 - Life to the Full - In His Steps (part 3)

1 Peter 3:1-7...

Submission, kindness is a two-way street

Wondering God is not using you more?
Why children are slow to become Christians?
Why don't feel more peace and joy in your house?

Look no further than your marriage!

Questions for wives:

  • Do you resort to worldly means to win?
  • Do you fight for your rights more than fighting for others?
  • Do you show respect for your husband and emphasize his strengths?

Questions for husbands:

  • How often you compliment your wife?
  • Are you generous in the amount of housework you do?
  • Do you respect your wife for her spirituality and other strengths of character?

Questions for both:

  • Do you pray together regulary?
  • Do your children have a fear of God?
  • Are your family devotionals consistent?
  • When outsiders visit your home and see your family, are they more likely to want to follow Christ?


2010-04-28 - Heart of Maturity (Motivation of Maturing)

Preached by John Lusk (2005-01-30)

How passionate are you about maturing?

  • Being a new Christian, it was easiler because everything was new. Now what?
  • We must have the correct motivation if we are to continue maturing in the long run.

Motivation of Maturing

1. To regain your identify

Genesis 1:26-27

  • We need to realize who we are suppose to be
  • Duck example
    • First thing it sees when it is born it assumes is its mother and will follow it around
    • If the baby duck follows something other than another duck, it will get frustrated because it can only do what duck do
  • Human example
    • We were made to be like God
    • We see other things and try to follow the world
    • We also get frustrated because worldly persuits are not what were designed for

2. To remian in Jesus

1 John 2:3-4 - This is a expectation from God

3. To be effective and productive

2 Peter 1:4-8

  • Must make every effort
  • It would be sad to find out in the end we were ineffective and unproductive
  • Others need you to grow!
  • Your growth rate will determine how much you are effective, not where you are right now

4. Secure salvation

2 Peter 1:8-11 - We have been given a new start

Wrong motivation - Pleasing people, selfish ambition



2010-05-02 - Renewing Your Spiritual Passion for God (part 1)

Preached by Richard Dixson (1997-05-18)

1 Samuel 16:7

  • Worldly things look more appealing
  • The people saw the others with better things
    • Most important thing:
      • Everyone spends time to get ready
      • Do you spend more time getting ready for the outside appearance than your inward?
      • The heart is most important

Psalms 51:4-9

  • Being true to one's self
  • When our conscience violated things are not fun
  • Renew the steadfast spirit


Special Place for a special for a special friend

Psalms 63:2-4 - Remember God's Power

Psalms 63:6-7 - The night bed and protection from God

Psalms 91:4 - We are being attacked all the time

Psalms 63:8 - Confidence - God holds us up



2010-05-15 - Desire's Journey - The Dilemma of Desire
We can not live without yearning, yet the yearning sets us up for disappointment
Because of its vulnerable nature, desire begins to feel like our worst enemy

Despair is the fate of the desiring soul - Sam Houston
Hope deferred make the heart sick - Proverbs 13:12

How awful it feels to open our hearts to joy, only to have grief come in
How do we live in a world with desire so deep in us and disappointment lurking behind every corner?
Are a few arrows, dare we even desire?
Do we refuse to love because we may hurt? possibility of pain?

Shutting down our hearts is to die altogether
Hope deferred make the heart sick... but when dreams come true, there is life and joy

Most of us have chosen to reduce our desire to a more manageable size
We allow it only in small doses:
  • Dinner out
  • Vacation
  • A new ______


2010-05-16 - Desire's Journey - Battle Between Us
What causes fights? Isn't it the evil desires within you? - James 4:1-2

The life we want is so far from the life we truly want.
For longing to be filled - we need the cooperation of others
We need others, it is part of our design
Very few of our desire are self-fulfilling

The world is indifferent to our desire
We weren't made to be ignored
We pretend it does not matter - it is doing damage to our souls

Resentment - simmering anger at our blocked desires
We pretend we have rise above it

2010-05-17 - Desire's Journey - The Beast Within
Years of living in an indifferent hostile world creates a deep sense of unsettledness with in us

Battle of good and evil within us - Romans 7:20-23
Sinful desires are contrary to the Spirit
They conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want - Galatians 5:17

There is a nagging awareness warning us not to feel our hunger too deeply or it will undo us
We wouldn't want to do anything crazy or desperate

We want what our unmet desire wants but our sinful nature wants what is contrary

We try everything - TV, sex, relationships, drugs, etc - going one to another
We don't know what we want because we're so unacquaninted with our desire

We try to keep a safe distance between our daily lives and our heart's desire - because it causes us too much trouble

Do we really want to open Pandora's box?

Dare we awaken our hears to their true desires?
Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?

Our dilemma is this: we can't seem to live with desire, and we can't live without it



2010-06-04 - Desire's Journey - Misplaced Hope

In this world, you will have trouble
But take heart! I have overcome the world - John 16:33

Why aren't we encouraged by this?
We are still committed to arranging our life
We are disappointed that there is not a "7 secrets to a great life"

Desire can not live without hope. Hope in what?
Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed - 1 Peter 1:13
for most Christians, heaven is a backup plan

We try to create heaven here
In our heart we say, "I really could be happy here without God"
God must take away the heaven we create or it will become our hell



2010-06-18 - All or Nothing (part 1)

Preached by Curt Simmons on 2002-08-28

Old Testament

1 Samuel 15:1-35

  • Rebellion = not obeying = pride (arrogance)
  • We can take "being choosen" as pride
2 Kings 17:7-20
  • What lead to this?
  • They started practicing what other around them were doing
  • They had become stiff-necked
2 Chronicles 36:15-16
  • No remedy
  • Didn't go all the way
  • Worldly and got distracted
Ezra 9:1-2; 15-10:16
  • How can we say "God will understand." ?
  • Leaders can lead people astray by the live they lead
Neheniah 13:1-15
  • House of God being neglected
  • How has you offerings to God been?


2010-06-24 - God does not change (part 2)
Genesis

v1:1 - Not much of the world

v2:1 - What a change in a few weeks

v2:20-25 - God created companionship - Adam's life changed

v3:23-24 - Punished, banished, and moved out of the garden

v6:11
  • God moves people around
  • Noah's life changed because of his righteousness
  • Would start the whole human race over again
v12:1-5 - Abraham is called to leave even though he did not know much about God

v37:17-28
  •  Joesph life changed
  • Often did not know what God was doing but we must have faith to change

Genesis 45:4-8
  • Results of brother's action lead to the coming of Jesus
  • God allowed Joesph brother's to throw him into slavery for me
  • God is all about change because he wants us to have have faith

God will never change

2010-07-01 - Desire's Journey - Great Restoration (part 2)

Restoration of the world is play out each spring and summer
Jesus preached more than sin management and forgiveness

He annouced the coming of the kingdom of God

  • Preaching the good news of the kingdom - Matthew 4:23
  • Repent and believe the good news - Mark 1:15
  • Proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God - Luke 8:1
  • He appeared to them for 40 days and spokr about the kingdom of God - Acts 1:3

God's kingdom - his will is done "on earth as it is in heaven"
In heaven, everything is as it was meant to be
Isn't every one of our sorrows on earth the result of things not being as they were meant to be?

Jesus healed every disease and sickness among the people - Matthew 4:23
He spoke and the kingdom of God and healed those who needed healing - Luke 9:11 



2010-07-03 - Desire's Journey - Great Restoration (part 4)

Too many of us have placed eternity somewhere out there
We seem to forget that we will get the earth back as well

I will create new heavens and a new earth - Revelation 21:1
When he says he is making all things new, he includes the earth

Won't the whole earth be destroyed?
That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat - 2 Peter 3:12

Noah's day of the Lord
By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed - 2 Peter 3:6
World was destroyed in the sense that all wickedness and corruption of mankind - Genesis 6-7
Fire is also used for cleansing throughout the Scriptures



2010-07-13 - Desire's Journey - The Adventure Begins (part 5)
Creation awaits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed - Romans 8:19

The kingdom of God prepared for you since the creation of the world - Matthew 25:31-34

He will put the faithful and wise servant in charge of all his possessions - Matthew 24:47

They will reign forever and ever - Revelation 22:5

We will take the position for which we have uniquely made and will rule with him
Much of the activity of God in our lives brings us to the place where we can be entrusted

To each their own
Each person will live out the passion of their heart - given by God

The kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it - Revelation 21:24

Hard to believe that we can add anything to the splendor of God
That is exactly what we are designed for and what our future involves


2010-07-25 - Desire's Journey - Letting Go (part 2)
Paul learned the secret of being content - Philippians 4:12
Many Christians assume he no longer experienced the thirst of his soul
Earlier Paul said he had not obtained his soul's desire nor already made perfect (complete)
He was straining toward what was ahead - Philippians 3:12-14

Contentment is not freedom from desire but freedom of desire
It is no longer being ruled by your desires

We have 3 options:
  1. To be alive and thirsty
  2. To be dead
  3. To be addicted
Most of the world lives in addiction
Most of the church has chosen deadness

Christians are called to live the life of holy longing but we don't like to stay there

To live in thirst is to live with an ache
Every addiction comes from the attempt to get rid of the ache
Merely trying sets us on an unending chase that leads us farther and farther from home

2010-07-27 - Desire's Journey - Letting Go (part 4)
If we do not give our ache a voice, it does not go away
It becomes an undercurrent of our addictions

Pleasure becomes necessary in larger and larger doses

The paradox of grief is that it is healing - somehow it restores our souls
Control is the enemy; grief is our friend
When we let go of controlling, something better takes its place - mourning

Comfort is in store for those who mourn and healing for the brokenhearted - Isaiah 61
This idea was the center of Jesus' mission
None of this makes sense until we admit our brokenheartedness and give our sorrow a voice in mourning
Only then will we know His comfort

Solomon said that it is better to go to the house of mourning that it is to a house of feasting
We need to mourn, it is the only way our hearts can remain both free and alive in this world


2010-08-11 - Waking Dead - Myths (part 2)

Myth tell us three truths, the second is:

2. There is a great struggle or quest or battle that is well under way

Christianity isn't about:

  • Going to Sunday school
  • Being nice
  • Holding car washs
  • Sending clothes to Mexico

As good as those things might be, this is a world at war
We live in a far more dangerous and dramatic story than we ever imagine

Reason we love these is because it is telling us that this is our most desperate hour

  • The Chronciles of Narnia
  • Star Wars
  • The Matrix
  • The Lord of the Rings

Without this buring in our hearts, we lose the meaning of our days

Notice that those who have tried to wake up to this reality were ususally killed

  • The phophets
  • Jesus
  • Stephen
  • Paul
  • Most of the disciples in the Bible

Has it occured to you that someone is trying to shut them up?

 



2010-08-12 - Waking Dead - Myths (part 3)

Myth tell us three truths, this third one is:

3. In this desparate hour, we have a crucial role to play

Neo sees himself as Thomas Anderson, but he was the one
Dorthy see herself as just a farm girl from Kansas but Joan of Arc was also on the farm but saw much more

People in the scriptures that saw this:

  • Little boy slays the gaint
  • Loudmouthed fisherman who can not keep a job to lead the church
  • Sinful woman with a golden heart became a example of humility to the Pharisees

This eternal truth is the most difficult for us to believe
Our days are extraordinary but most don't see it this way
It is the 'veil of familarity' - you are not what you think you are

There is a glory to your life that your enemy fears

The one who knows what you could be, fears it
The whole world lies under the power of the evil one - 1 John 5:19

Things happen to you and we question why
There is a bigger story going on

If believe we have a crucial role to play and come to know it is true, everything would change



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