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2009-01-27 - Jesus with People - Rich Young Ruler

Luke 18:22-24
Wouldn't all Christians love to meet someone who comes across as this man does initially?

Most of us would say, "can we study the Bible?"
Jesus had a very different responce because he knew his heart

Sell everything and follow him = It's not what you do but who you are
For him to have a heart set fully on following Jesus - it meant a willingness to seel all
Following the exchange, it became clear - the man was out of touch with himself and God

Jesus did challenge him but he also loved him
He pointed the man to the narrow way
At the same time he drew him close want to give him strength, faith, and hope

Jesus does not get into a lengthy theological debate
He saw weaknesses the man had to deal with if he was going to enter the kingdom of God

Each of us lacks that "one thing" deep down that we must give up and following Jesus
Something we don't know what it is but God will reveal it - Hebrews 4:12-13



2009-01-28 - Jesus with People - Full of Grace and Truth

John 8:10-11 - When they were going to throw stones - Jesus just didn't say no
He said - one who is deserving of the same fate, go ahead

Jesus called what it is was - sin:

  1. Not a fault
  2. Not a cultural problem
  3. Not a weakness

Was she being used by the Pharisees? Yes
Was she the product of a culture that oppressed women? Yes
Was she probably from a "bad" home? Yes

Sin enslaved us - John 8:31-34
Respect and love were the last things she expected
Jesus gave her freedom to change and was willing to forgive

 Sometimes we think repentance is more difficult than it is - Jesus called for immediately
We like to stall - think about it a while, talk about it

Is it hard for me to confront others in their sin?
Do I accept or resist others when they confront me with your sin?
What sin do I find difficult to leave behind me?



2009-01-30 - Jesus with People - Greatest in th Kingdom
I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom  of heaven - Matthew 18:1-4

Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost - Matthew 18:12-14

We need to become like children in a very specific way
Our human nature wants to be first and to have control
Matthew 18 were driven by the same desire - they asked Jesus "Who is the greatest?"
When become like little children, we become like Jesus

Paraphrase - Because of your power-hungry pride you guys are not even in the kingdom of God, and nothing will change this fact unless you start imitating this child

After Jesus' sacrifice, all his teachings made sense
Having a child's humility is impossible until we understand the cross
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends - John 15:13

Must see other brothers and sisters in Christ as God's little spiritual children who must be cared for
God's heart is that not a single person be lost
Do we feel the personal responsibility for others?

Who do you know who is struggling spiritually? What can you do to help them?

2009-02-13 - Jesus with People - Jesus Wept

Upon hearing about the death of his close friend Lazarus, Jesus wept...

Jesus really felt the emotions that we feel
He fully divine and fully human at the same time
He knows what it is like to experience loss, pain, hurt, and fatigue

Why did he cry? Scripture does not say. Could be because:

  • He felt the hurt of Mary and Martha
  • He was expressing the hurt of the loss of his friend
  • He was antipating his own death

Who are your deepest relationships in the church?



2009-02-18 - Jesus with People - Doing What We Ought
1 Timothy 6:13-14

Compared to previous struggles, the "Jesus dilemma" made the governor's worries look minuscule

Jesus was accused of
  • stirring up the people - Luke 23:5
  • being an insurrectionist -Luke 23:13-14
  • being a blasphemer - Matthew 26:65
  • being a criminal - John 18:30
Jesus' friends had deserted him
Masses that had given homage were the same crowds asking for his death

Jesus always did what was right
Pontius Pilate knew what he ought to do and what he wanted to do but did not do it

2009-03-29 - Promises of God - God Can Relate
Hosea 11 - God who knows what is lie to grieve
We see his compassion and sorrow over the loss of his relationship with his people

Jesus displays a similar broken heart over the people of Jerusalem -  Luke 13:34

He can relate, he has felt the same feeling too

2009-04-12 - Promises of God - God is Still Faithful
You gave into the temptation again, you sinned
It is the same one and you have never been able to completely conquer this one area of your life

What are your options?
  1. Justify your sin and say it's not all that bad
  2. Blame God for not keeping Satan at an appropriate distance
  3. Decide to leave God because this repenting thing is not working out
  4. Decide to be not to be open about your sin
  5. Tell yourself how bad of person you are
  6. Could trust God and his promises
Read the following passage at least 10 times, memorize it, and be ready with it - 1 Corinthians 10:13


2009-04-19 - Why We Need God - He is The Redeemer
GOD IS THE REDEEMER...
  1. All have made a mess of their lives - Romans 3:23
  2. Some more than others, but all are in need the same major correction - Romans 3:9
  3. God offers Himself as our Redeemer - Psalms 34:22


2009-05-04 - No one like him - His dependence on God (part 3)
4. I cannot draw people to myself on my own – I can not save anyone
  • “All that the Father gives me will come to me…” (John 6:37)
  • “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” (John 6:44)
5. I cannot judge on my own - emotions and subjectivity might get in the way
  • “I pass judgment on no one … I am not alone.” (John 8:15-16)
  • “[God] has given him authority to judge…” (John 5:27)
6. I cannot glorify myself – it is for God’s glory
“…God, is the one who glorifies me.” (John 8:54)

Challenging to Jesus to be humble - tempted with being the preexisting Son of God

Jesus understood he belonged to God – we should have this same understanding

2009-05-14 - No one like him - Jesus believed God was the source of scripture
Jesus was quoting God through Moses
Matthew 19:4-5 – Haven’t you read? (quoting Genesis 2:24)

Jesus quoting Psalms
Matthew 22:31-32 – Have you not read?

John 10:34-36 – Law, scripture, word of God were all one in the same

2009-05-20 - No one like him - Extravagant Generosity
Jesus about the insanely generous love of God

God wants to do more than we can ask or imagine

God's radical giving - Luke 15
Parable of lost coin, lost sheep, lost son

Our radical response - Matthew 13:44-46
We must the same as God has for us
We must give up all we have for the kingdom

2009-05-28 - No one like him - Conflict and Controversy (part 1)
Established positions were threaten

Again and again Jesus said “You have heard it said … but I say to you…”

Some say Jesus was the ultimate nice person but he was a prophet (reputation for being offensive)

Examples in Matthew 23:
  1. v3 – Called them hypocrites
  2. v4 – Put heavy burdens on other but did nothing themselves
  3. v5 – Everything was for show
  4. v13 – Behavior blocked themselves and others from entering the kingdom
  5. v16-22 – Making ridiculous rules about swearing
  6. v23-24 – straining about some fine point and neglecting justice, love, faithfulness
  7. v25-28 – Outward show and no inward change
  8. v29-30 – They had the same attitude as the people who killed the prophets


2009-06-01 - No one like him - Words from the Cross
1. Forgive them
a. Choose to pray for other first
b. Living what he preached – Pray for your enemies
2. Here is your mother
a. He wanted to make sure other were taken care of before he left
3. Be with me in paradise
a. Show he was generous with the undeserving
b. Similar to the parable about the servants being paid the same with different lengths of service
4. Why have you forsaken me?
a. Felt his need for God and separation from him
5. I am thirsty
a. Jesus was aware of his limitation
b. Hebrews 4:15-16 – Jesus can sympathize with our pain
6. It is finished
a. Foundation of his work was finished
b. Some thought this was the end of his ministry
7. Into your hands I commit my spirit
a. Conforms Jesus unswerving commitment


2009-06-06 - One Another - Center of the Target
Many people look at everything in God's will is the same weight - this leads to endless controveries over smaller details

Jesus looked at God's will as a target
Ex. Pharisees gave 1/10 of their spices but neglected the more important maters of the law - Matthew 23:23-24

Scriptures does not spell out what the second and third rings are
Made it very clear what was at the center of the target

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


2009-06-20 - A Life of Impact - Selfless Authority

Abandon

Mark 2:6-12

  • Jesus didn’t walk on eggshells when he was around those who opposed him.
  • We are often so careful not to offend anyone that no frankness and no power is left our speech.
  • We need to be constantly ready to withstand opposition

Selfless Authority

  • People who seem apologetic about authority they have or hesitate to exercise it are not very impressive
  • Reason: they see it as a means of gaining something for themselves for themselves rather than a means of achieving a goal
  • People that abuse power act the same way as those who do not use
  • Pilate failed because he did not understand why he was in power
  • We should not hesitate to make use of this authority and we should be unashamed
  • How can disciples of Jesus not be bold and assertive? We must be forceful people!


2009-07-04 - A Life of Impact - Amazing Speech

Amazing Speech

Mark 6:1-6

Suspicions and fear can evaporate because of love and openness

1. Deep Conviction

  • Listeners who put his words into practice were wise
  • How convicted are you about what you’ll be saying?
  • Think about what to say instead of how it will come across

2. Passion - If the speaker isn’t moved by the message, how can he expect it to move anyone else?

3. Integrity - Speaker must take plank out of their own eye before one can challenge other on the same topic

4. Person to person

  • Speak at their level mean not “to talk down to” or “to talk up to” an audience.
  • Apologizing without reason, belittles himself
  • Jesus was above us, but he came down to our level

5. Inspirational

  • Conservative and low-key he will have no impact
  • We all want our lives to count for something

6. Practical

  • Message must be practical and applicable
  • He specifically addressed the sins in their lives
  • He gave them direction, and at times He told them exactly what to do

7. Meet the Need - Out of touch with the needs on the audience can actually make things worst then they are.



2009-07-24 - A Life of Impact - Warmth

Warmth

Mark 9:36-37

  • Often children are terrified of bold, assertive adults.
  • He was tough, yet not lacking tenderness.
  • He was forceful and fun at the same time.
  • The reaction of children to any particular adult can be a very good barometer how you appear to people in general.


2009-08-27 - Wild at Heart - Question that haunts every man (part 1)
Men look in their hearts but they don’t discover something valiant and dangerous
Find fear, lust, and anger
"All men die, few men really ever live"
Women - Many have given up hope for a true man.

Real life of the average man seems a universe away from the desire of his heart
  1. No battle to fight
  2. No swords and castles
  3. Without a great battle in which a man live and die - fierce part goes underground
Men are angry – and we don’t know why
Why are men addicted to sports? - biggest adventure many will ever taste
Careers? Same reason
Trading stock – taste of excitement and risk

Guys have been told to be responsible

2009-08-31 - Wild at Heart - Question that haunts every man (part 5)
We pick battles that are easily won, rescue only the beauties we are sure to rescue

Strength gone bad

Violent men and passive men - Cain kills Abel
Men say the most awful things to their wives or they kill them with their silence
Type-A personalities – casualties tend to be the family

Abraham - Always hiding behind his wife’s skirt - tells Pharaoh that Sarah is his sister
Isaac does Rebecca the same way - he is a coward

What if I offer her all I have as a man it’s not enough?

2009-09-01 - Wild at Heart - The wound (part 1)
There comes a time when we simply have to face the challenges in our lives and stop backing down Men rarely praise each other directly - by way of accomplishments (“you are a wild man”, “what is up stud”

The question – Do I have what it takes? Am I powerful? Until a man knows he’s a man he will forever be trying to prove he is one, while at the same time shrink from anything that might reveal he is not

Boy learns who is he and what he’s got from a man
  • can not learn it from any other place
  • can not learn it from other boys
  • can not learn it from women


2009-09-05 - Wild at Heart - Battle for a mans heart (part 1)
Jesus told us to turn the other cheek. We can not turn a cheek we do not have. Church full of such men
Many have their soul hanging in the balance because no one invited them to be dangerous and to know their own strength or to discover they have what it takes
I feel like I have to ask for permission
Nearly every blow ends up falling in the same place - against our strength
Life takes one vertebra at a time until he has no spine at all

Boy are 3-4 times more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from ADD
Society teaches to be a nice guy -– to be soft
Women are often attracted to wilder men, but once have caught him they settle down to task of domesticating him

How do I get my husband to come alive? Invite him to be dangerous
Women don’t start wars
Violent crimes aren’t really committed by women.
Our prisons aren’t filled with women

2009-09-17 - Wild at Heart - Healing the wound (part 3)
Wound unfelt is wound unhealed
Door may be your anger – perhaps from a girl, failure
The way to God is stopping the false self
It may a simple prayer – Jesus, take me into my wound

Jesus never seems to heal the same way twice
There are no formulas with God
Insists on working personally
Masculinity is bestowed by masculinity
Healing never happens outside of intimacy with Christ

It begins with surrender; until you have given yourself to him you will not have a real self
…to set you free – What? Your heart
So take him at his word – ask him in to heal all the broken places within you
But you can’t do this at a distance

I simply allow myself to say that the loss of my father mattered
Important for us to grieve our wound
Grieving we admit the truth, we hurt by someone we loved
Few men are ever so vulnerable as to simply let themselves be loved by God
Why don’t you just let God love you?
The imitate union with Jesus and with his Father is the source of all healing and all our strength
Unforgiveness and bitterness can wreck our lives and the lives of others – Ephesians 4:31, Hebrews 12:15
Forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and then discovering the prisoner was you.

2009-10-12 - Wild at Heart - The Strategy (part 5)
We don’t need accountability groups we need fellow warriors, someone to fight alone side, someone to watch our back

We don’t need a meeting of the Really Nice Guys

Never a more devoted group of men than those who have fought alongside one another

You will be wounded
To lose a leg is nothing compared to losing heart
Enemy knows the wounds of your past and he will try to wound you again in the same place
It is an honor to be wounded in the service of the Lord
Boys are proud of their scars, they are badges of honor
Kingdom forcefully advances and forceful men take hold of it - Matthew 11:12

Jesus says it is going to take every ounce of passion and forcefulness you’ve got

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

2009-10-27 - Repentance - Illustrations (part 1)
Scrooge
  • Should we expect a man so deep in repentance to spend a better part of the morning grieving for his transgressions?
  • Scrooge facing in the right direction, forward

Gestalts Switch
  • German word for “the big picture”, seeing something differently even though all it parts remain the same
  • Like repentance – don’t repent of a list of sins, we repent of the whole rather than the parts
  • Tends to happen all at once, not in a series of small steps


2009-11-13 - Repentance - Godly Sorrow (part 1)
Are you content with four out of seven, even five out of seven?

Spoude – Dispatched Diligence
  • Earnestness, carefulness, diligence, make every effort, haste
  • Real Estate – earnest money – intent to buy
  • Accounting – due diligence
  • We good intentions but are they marked with diligence?
Apologia – A Drive to Clear Yourself
  • Literally mean defense – not excuses or defensiveness
  • Prodigal Son – “I have sinned against heaven and against you”
Homologia – Confession
Literally means “same” – “homo” = word; “logos” = reasoning
Satan –
  • “Go ahead and try…”
  • “Now that you’ve sinned, you’re different.”
  • “Now that you are in the darkness, you might as well…”


2009-11-21 - Repentance - Its Time To Go Home (part 3)
There is no perfect repentance, but wholehearted repentance
David – search me (Psalms 139)

Spirit’s conviction
Good – overcome blinding pride
Bad – Satan will try to stop you

Sometimes easier to see our sin than think about loved ones salvation (passed away)
What would they want you to do?

Questions
  1. How can you make the same journey as David – from repulsive to repentant?
  2. How does repentance differ between the lost turning to God and the saved re-turning to Him? How is it the same?
  3. How do qualify for God’s love and grace (see page 201)?
  4. If you have not yet repented, why are you without excuse before God?
  5. What will specifically change in your life when you proclaim, “Jesus is Lord!”?
  6. If you have repented, have you also been forgiven of your sins – if not, what are you waiting for (see Acts 22:16)?
  7. What can make post-baptismal repentance more difficult than your initial repentance?
  8. What role does shame play in obstructing your repentance?
  9. What is fellowship in the light vs. fellowship in the darkness? Which have you most often experienced in your church?
  10. Finally, to the “confused”: take time to consider and answer the questions on pages 207 and 208. How can you thwart Satan’s attempts to undermine your path to true repentance?
  11. Who can you encourage today with the good news of your repentance?
  12. Who can you reach for Jesus by “telling how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5: 19)?


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


2009-12-11 - 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)


2010-01-07 - Kingdom First - Blessing of Persecution
Matthew 5:10-12 - Describes 3 types of blessing that come from persecution:

1. Kingdom of Heaven

Testing refines our faith and proves it to be genuine - 1 Peter 1:6-7
Faith, by definition, is all weather

2. Reward in Heaven
Because of Christ blood, he keeps no records of wrong
He is keeping a record of rights
He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him - Hebrews 6:10

3. Prophets before you

Persecution and suffering means pain but also means glory
Glory - Comes from in realizing we walk in the company of the glorious
They endured the exact same things
We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - Hebrews 12

2010-01-10 - Kingdom First - Majoring in the Minors
Unless your righteousness surpasses the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven - Matthew 5:20

Pharisees:
  • Strict observers of the law
  • Walked around in flowing robes
  • Offered prayers in unnatural holy voices
  • Advertised their benevolence
  • Majored in the minors yet forgetting the heart
Any different today?
  • Boring clergy in odd clothes
  • Preaching burdensome dos and donts
  • Unrelatable sermons
  • Unrelatable lives
People need and desire a relationship with God - not man-made religion

Perfect salvation is not the basis of salvation
Not a matter of making ourselves feel or look good, but to please God

Do you struggle with this?
  • Have you created your own system of salvation?
  • Do people say you are a people pleaser (Galatians 1:10)?
  • Are we steeped in our own traditions or preconceived notions about the truth?
  • What if no one was watching, would you still: give, sing, pray, study the same?


2010-01-28 - Kingdom First - Personal Responsibility (part 2)
When talking about removing the plank from our eye so we can remove the speck from someone else, there are two extremes:
  1. Becoming inwardly focused, see only our problems
  2. Trying to help other straighten out their lives without being open to the same help ourselves
How do I get a sober estimate of myself?

A. Look daily into the mirror of God's word
Foolish to just look at the word of God and not let it transform you - James 1:22-25

B. Pray fervently for God to open your eyes and give you insight into your heart and life
An incredible prayer about searching our heart - Psalms 139:23-24

C. Be open with those in your life
Be quick to confess sin - James 5:16

D. Have a humble attitude toward challenge in your life
Let this be our goal - Psalms 141:5

2010-01-31 - One Another - Confession Questions (part 1)
While someone is confessing a sin, what if repentance is not in a person's heart?

a. Confession is never done from humility if it does not involve repentance
Confession without repentance is the same as faith without action - useless

b. Confession is self-focused and not God-focused if it does not seek to please him

Without repentance, confession is being done for a self-serving reason:
  • Gain sympathy
  • Appear open
  • Avoid a charge of hypocrisy
c. Confession of sin must involve forsaking sin

The opposite of concealing sin is confession AND forsaking sin
The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy - Proverbs 28:13

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

2010-03-05 - To Live is Christ - From Trials to Triumph

A successful life is not life from difficulty, trial, or tragedy - Philippians 1:12-14
While Paul was imprisoned, he learned how to live

He saw God the same - no matter what happened in his life

In an earlier letter he saw illness as an opportunity bring the gospel to the them - Galatians 4:13

He saw imprisonment for a chance to convert Romans
There became disciples is Caesar's household - Philippians 4:22
Something "not good" can be turned into the complete opposite when in God's larger pattern

Paul not giving up deepen their convictions - he emboldened them to share the message

Whatever happens in life can serve to advance the gospel when we are living by faith



2010-03-10 - To Live is Christ - Having the Same Love

Paul wanted to remind the Philippians of the blessings of their relationship with Jesus - Philippians 2:1-4
He called them to "be like-minded, having the same love" for each other

By this all men will know we are Jesus' disciple by our love - John 13:35

"Sharing in the common life" ws his heartfelt vision for them

He applealed to them to be one to initiate this kind of love
To love like Jesus is to love first
We love because he first loved us - 1 John 4:19
God did not wait for us to initiate and get an attitude because we didn't

It is not natural to love this way
Jesus does not ask of us something he did not do or something we cannot do

Will we trust the message he lived and taught?
Will we be the kind of friend to others that he has been to us?



2010-03-17 - To Live is Christ - Considered Rubbish
Not only did Paul give up his religious past and performance, he gladly counted everything else a loss too
He would give up any claim of such things so he could gain justification by grace

He considered them rubbish  - Philippians 3:8-9
skubala = human waste or dung (KJV)
He was saying the same thing as Isaiah - all righteousness acts are like filthy rags - Isaiah 64:6

The good we do is not rubbish but it is if those works are seen as the source and trusted in
Our obedience, which is imperfect, does not make us right with God
Christ's righteousness saves by faith

The message of the cross calls us to sacrifice everything to Christ, who sacrificed everything for us

Without his sacrifice, our sacrifice would be worthless to God and to man


2010-03-27 - Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1)
James address Christians under pressure
Without pressure, the human body soon slows down and dies
Pressure keeps the blood flowing

James chooses to call himself servant rather than brother - James 1:1
He was a prominent leader in the early church but he kept a down-to-earth perspective
Anyone in a leadership role needs to have the same attitude

How are trials to be met? With pure joy - James 1:2-8
There are two options: continue in the process of becoming mature or walk away and do it our own way
Maturity is not just spiritual longevity - it is how you react under pressure

What do we do it we lack wisdom? Ask for it
Not IQ but for knowing what to do in tricky situations
It's a promise of God that he will enable you to live more intelligently

What is last big trial you faced? How did you react?

2010-05-10 - World Hates Jesus (part 2)

Ephesians 5:1-13

  • Being open pleases God
  • Sin enslaves us.
Hebrews 10:26-31

  • Our sins killed Jesus
  • Not oops...Deliberate!
  • Two ways to look at it
    • Bad Bad = Guilty/No change
    • Good Bad = Repentence/Change
  • Only 72 left to follow Jesus when he ascended
  • Today:
    • God is the same.
    • People change.

John 6:60-71

  • Jesus' message offended people
  • They my have said:
    • You are going to lose some members
    • You are not going to be popular
    • This might start a controversy

Matthew 10:34-38

  • The message is going to cause friction
Matthew 7:13-14
  • The road is narrow:
    • Hard to get on
    • Not easy
    • Few will be on it
  • Are you on the narrow road?


2010-05-13 - Desire's Journey - Same Old Thing
Something worse than the fall of man (losing paradise) = getting used to it
  • Been there, done that
  • Life sucks, then you die
  • How is it going? "Same old thing"
How has life turned out differently from the way you though it would?
  • Friendship
  • Marriage
  • Children
  • Holidays
What if we were told that the future would be the same as today? It is hell

We have not solved the riddle of our existence
Everyone else seems to be getting on with things. What is wrong with me?

It is possible to run away from the desire for years but we are desire - essence of the human soul

Our desire, if we listen, will save us from committing soul-suicide
Same old thing would not be enough
Life as usual us not the life we truly want
It is not the life we were made for

"All good things come to an end" is a lie

We abandon the most important journey of our lives when we abandon desire

Whatever we might gain, it is not worth it - Matthew 16:26


2010-06-09 - Take the test (part 4)

Take the test

50% is better than 0%

Luke 8:11

  • Time for testing
  • We need to have grit and determination
  • You are stronger than you think
  • You can get answers (open book test)

 

Learn from the results

 

1 Peter 5:5-7

  • Older people have taken those same tests
  • Deepens our love and faith
  • Help you get closer to people
  • Helps with compassion toward others

 

Do better than on your next test

 

Each test is administored by God

1 Peter 5:8-9

  • God wants us to improve
  • Do not quit
  • Admit where you are weak


Who is winning in you life? God or Satan?



2010-06-12 - Why Jesus Came (part 1)

Preached 1998-07-05
    Most of us have lost something:
    • Losing wallet - not a good thing
      • Feels good to find it.
    God's desire is to "find" what is lost - YOU!
     
    • Problem: We are separated from God by sin

    Jesus came to...

    Save the lost

    Luke 19:10

    • Uses people to save others
    • Many people to save some:
      • Do not know they are lost
      • Are confused
      • Misguided
      • Are not interested
      • Are looking
    • Despite the what phase we are in we are still lost.
    • No excuses 
      • Those who have issues are not really searching
        • "What about those hypocrites?"
        • "I am too busy"
        • "I will but...."

    Acknowledge the Father

     John 14:9

    • To relate
    • Some think God doesn't care
      • How can God allow all these shootings?
        • Isrealites were saying the same thing in the dessert
    • Jesus = God with us
    • If Jesus was standing next to you how would you act differently?


2010-06-19 - All or Nothing (part 2)

New Testament

Romans 11:17-21 - You can get arrogant

1 Corinthians 10:1-10 - Do repeat the same misakes of those in the OT

Galatians 6:7-10 - We reap what we sow, do not become weary of doing good

Jude 3-4 - Grace of God is not a license to sin

1 John 4 - Can not love God without loving your brother

2 Timothy 4 - We need to check to see if we have sound doctrine

Hebrew 5 - Teachers can become arrogance

Revelation 2-3 = Churches can loose focus

  1. Read and Pray Daily to God
  2. We need others in our lives
  3. We need meetings of the body
  4. Giving to God
  5. Complete Openness
  6. People are going to heaven or hell
  7. Reaching out to others


2010-06-22 - Amazing Grace - how fearful the sound
Preached on 2003-11-13

There is nothing we can do or not do to change it

Psalms 103:8 - Grace is not a new concept for God


Luke 9:51-56 - the disciples struggled with grace

What fears do we have about grace?

1. Grace - produces lazy Christians

We cannot control the freedom of others
Acts 4:33 - much grace given and produced committed disciples

2. Grace - produces sinful Christians

Grace exposes our hearts and gives us the responsibility to respond

Romans 5:15-19
- Regulations is not grace
- Grace is a mature concept

What has grace produced in you?

3. Grace - produces weak convictions

John 6:28-29
- Must believe
- Belief is a work you must do

Luke 13:2-9
- Repent or perish
- Level of repentance and faith may be different for each person but baptism is the same for all.


2010-06-23 - God does not change (part 1)
Preached on 2003-01-12

Hebrews 13:8 - Same always; it is his nature

Hebrews 6:13-20
- God's purpose is unchanging
- Wanted to make it clear

Numbers 23:19-20
- God's Integrity never changes
- God keeps his promises and oaths
- Who else do I know is like this?

Malachi 3:6 - God does not change
James 1:16-18 - God does not change

But our lives change

God allows our lives to change so we hold on to his unchanging hand

2010-07-24 - Desire's Journey - Letting Go (part 1)
The more comfortable we are with mystrery in our journey, the more rest we will know along the way

Paul's quests - 2 Corinthians 6:10
  • Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
  • Poor, yet making many rich
  • Having nothing, yet possessing everything
If we remain open to sorrow, we can know joy

Somehow being empty allows us to make others rich

Some believe in the church that being a Christian somehow satisfies our every desire
Augustine: "The whole life of the good Christian is a holy longing"

Being content is not the same as being full

2010-09-21 - Waking Dead - Fellowship of the Heart
The first Christians were called "followers of the Way" - Acts 9:2

They found the Way of Life and had given themselves over to it:
  • They lived together
  • Ate together
  • Fought together
  • Celebrated together
How wonderful it would be if we found the same

A fellowship must protect you:
  • Frodo hasn't a chance without Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli
  • Neo is set free from the Matrix and joins the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar
  • Dorthy, the Scarecrow, Tin man, and the Lion
  • Band of Brothers - enough said
  • Prince Caspian with a faithful few Narnians
  • Maximus rallies his little band
  • Captain John Miller and is squad of eight to save Private Ryan
  • Jesus had his Tweleve
Fellowship functions as  a team to watch each other's back
A family bound together in a single fate
Each one has a role

2010-09-23 - Waking Dead - It Must Be Intimate
Most churches offer small group activities but they are usually short lived for two reasons:

1. Can't just throw a random group together and then it instantly become allies
Closeness takes time - playing, working, helping, living together develops relationships
All the believers were one in heart - Acts 4:32
  • They all love the same thing
  • They all wanted the same thing
  • They were bound together to find it come hell or high water
2. Small groups are anything but redemptive powerhouses

You can study til you are blue in the face but it will not heal a broken heart
A small fellowship needs to be a redemptive community and one that protects

Idea: In a group - write down 5 words or phrases that captures your life right now
Then find what stories or scenes or characters help you interpret those words

2010-09-27 - Waking Dead - Storing Up
The good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart
Out of the overflow of the heart, his mouth speaks - Luke 6:45

Jesus from the fullness of grace we have all received one blessing after another - John 1:16
Paul: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you - Ephesians 3:16

Caring for our hearts isn't selfish - it is how we begin love
We care for our hearts for the sake of others
What will you bring to others to others if your heart is empty?
You can not love without your heart, you can not love well unless your heart is well

How you handle your heart is how you will handles theirs
Love others as you love yourself - Mark 12:31
If you dismiss your heart, you will end up dismissing others
Perfection of your heart will raise that same standard for them

Caring for your heart is also how you protect your relationship with God
Your heart is where that life flows into you - John 7:37-38

We love ourselves for God's sake - he considers our hearts the treasures of the kingdom

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