Saturday, November 21, 2020

A Joyrful Noise

PericopePsalm 100: 1-5 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Sermon Text: Psalm 100: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 

Sermon Title: A Joyful Noise!

Point 1. The noise of injusticeelections.  

Point 2The noise of self-centeredness. Rom 1: 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:22, 24-25 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Point 3. The noise of COVID 19 sickness and diseaseJer 30: 17, Jer 17: 14, Hos 6: 1, But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord… 14 Heal meLord, and I will be healedsave me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise... 

he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

"He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” ~ Exodus 15:26

"Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you…" Exodus 23:25

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." ~ Isaiah 41:10

"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." ~ Isaiah 53:4-5

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD" ~ Jeremiah 30:17

Point 4: The noise of God. Ps 100: 1-5 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. [you didn’t make yourself – Romans 1:21] 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Conclusion: 

Life Application: 

1) Check your frequency and wiring!

2) Don’t let the noise fool you!

3) Make your noise unto God continually!

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Amazing Faith!

 

Pericope: Luke 7:1-10 - When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Sermon Text: Luke 7: 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”

Sermon Title: Amazing Faith!

Point 1: Amazing faith starts with your hearingvs. 3a - The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him

Romans 10: 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Matthew 6: 22 – 24 says our eyes our light to our body.

Point 2: Amazing faith includes agreementvs. 3b …sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

        Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Luke 5:19-20 - 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Amazing faith is never alone, singular or individualized. 

Point 3: Amazing faith requires intercessionvs. 4 - 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this

Point 4: Amazing faith is concrete actions of generosityvs. 5 - 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”  Vs. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.

Also, show a little humility like the Centurion.  Vs. 6-7 Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you

Point 5: Amazing faith believes in the authority of the wordvs. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Point 6: Amazing faith gets resultsvs. 9-10 - 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Life Application:

1.  Connect with a body of believers to amp up your faith to amazing

2.  Live the word so you can be authorized to use the word.

3.  Activate your amazing faith by applying it daily.

Saturday, November 7, 2020

No Matter What Part 2

 

Pericope:  Daniel 3: 24-30 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Sermon Text:  Daniel 3: 29 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

Sermon Title: “No Matter What” Pt 2 The Shift

Review:

Lesson 1: Choices and Consequences aren’t new! 

a)  Adam and eve

b)  Saul

c)  Mathius

Lesson 2: Choices and Consequences, requirements, discernment, determination, and final decisions.

Lesson 3: Choices and Consequences can shift a nation.

Point 1: Maintain who you are. Vs 21 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.

Point 2: Furnaces will reveal who you really are. Vs 24, 25, 27 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

·      Acts 17:28 - For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

·      Genesis 1:27 - So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Point 3: The real you can shift the room. Vs 29, 30 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Vs 30 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

a)  The real you will get promoted

b)  God need real people to shift a nation

c)   The real you wont smell like anyone else

Life Application:

1: God can’t bless you if you are busy being somebody else

2: Association brings on assimilation

3: Your why is essential to your survival

Sunday, November 1, 2020

No Matter What

 Pericope:  Daniel 3: 16-25 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Sermon Text:  Daniel 3: 17-18 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Sermon Title: “No Matter What”!

Lesson 1: Choices and Consequences aren’t new!  

The first lesson we must learn before we ever begin to teach the text is choices and consequences are not new.

(a)        Adam and Eve started it all. In the Garden of Eden God showed the depth of God's love by giving Adam and Eve everything. Gen 2: 16, 17 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 

(b)        Saul 1 Sam 8: 19-22 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.” Saul was picked against the will of God

(c)        Matthias. Acts 1: 23-26 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Lesson 2: Choices and Consequences, requirements, discernment, determination, and final decisions. Vs 15, 16 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.   

        Hananiah, Mishel and Azaria (vs. 19) also known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego by their oppressors given name, had some tough choices. Four considerations come into play with their choices.

1.  Requirement – They had to vote for the most corrupt egotistical politician of their time.  Every time you saw his --- you had to vote with our worship.  When the music played you had to genuflect.

2.  Discernment – They had to discern the signs of the times.  They had to discern what was at stake.  They had to discern what was God going to do if they acquiesced or if they didn’t.  Their discernment lead to their determination. 

Lesson 3: Choices and Consequences can shift a nation. Vs 29 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

Verse 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Jesus will be with you and your decisions.

Life Application:

1: Vote like your life depends on it…

2: Get somebody else to vote like their life depends on it…,

3: Trust God No Matter What

 

Virtual Family Sunday Questions

What ways can we create community as a family? How has our viewership/church attendance enhanced or diminished our family covenant? What way...