Sunday, December 12, 2021

Family Feud The Final Chapter

Sunday December 12th


Pericope: Gen 37:9-11 - 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.


Sermon Text: Gen 37:11b - 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.


Sermon Title: Family Feud Pt 3 BOOK II: The Final Chapter


Point 1: There should be assertive intentionality in every family – Gen. 37:11b his brothers were jealous of him but his father kept the matter in mind.


Point 2: There has to be some empowerment in your family Gen 42:1-4 - When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”


3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.


Point 3: There has to be grace in your family if your family is going to benefit from it. Gen 45:1, 4, 7 - Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.


4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!


7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.


Life Application


Grace

Intentional

Intimate

Empowerment

Life lessons

Family altar call




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Sunday, November 28, 2021

Family Exercise

  worship (online only) please complete the Life Application from the sermon.  See attached or below.  


Family Exercise – Virtual Family Sunday
  1.  Find your family in the book (or see the family types below)
  2. Discuss questions 1-3
  3. Take pictures and post them and share your answers only if you think they will help another family #myfamilyish #virtualfamilysunday
 
Reflection Questions (The Nuclear Family):
  • How does your parenting style help to mold your children?
  • How grateful are you for the gift of parenthood? What could you do to increase your gratitude?
  • Are your kids heading in the right direction? If they are not, then how do you think you could steer them in a new direction?

 

Reflection Questions (Single Parent Family)

  • What are your concerns about your child’s television and social media habits?
  • What kind of plan can you develop to make social media work for you and your family?
  • If you are a single parent and you date, then what kind of screening do you have for potential partners?

 

Reflection Questions (Blended Family)

  • How do you define a family?
  • If you are in a blended family, then how do you work to achieve unity?
  • What unique challenges has your blended family faced?

 

Reflection Questions (Special Needs Family)

  • How do you define “special needs?”
  • If you have a special needs child, how do you stay intentional?
  • How do you care for yourself while caring for a special needs child?

 

Reflection Questions (Parenting Adult Children)

  • If you still have children at home, then how do you see your role in their lives changing after they leave the nest?
  • If you have adult children, then how do you advise them?
  • What dysfunction have you noticed in your adult children’s lives, and what kind of advice do you give? Has that advice worked? If it has not, then what would you do differently?

 

Reflection Questions (Caring for Aging Parents)

  • How can caring for an aging or ill parent be a gift for you?
  • What do you think your responsibility to your parents is?
  • If you are caring for your parents, what scriptures give you strength?
 
Reflection Questions (Financial Issues in the Fabulous Family)
  • What are your family’s financial goals?
  • Do you make it a goal to pray daily for financial wisdom?
  • How do you and your spouse talk about finances?

 

Reflection Questions (Military Family)

  • What is the top stressor in your military family? How does your family work together to make sure it does not tear the family apart?
  • How do you use grace in your family? How do you demonstrate grace to the other military families around you?
  • Is your family stable? How can you establish stability?
 

Sunday, October 17, 2021

GPS Serving Word on the Street - Pastor Geoff Dudley, II

Sermon text: Luke 24: 13-21, 32, 41-42 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,


Sermon title:  GPS: Serving: “The word on the street”


Pinnacle Point 1: Your reveal shouldn’t be loud


Vs 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 19 “What things?” he asked.


“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; Luke 23:8-10 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.


Pinnacle Point 2: There is a generational expectation on your next


21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.


Pinnacle Point 3: You are the word on the street


32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”


Pinnacle Point 4: Don’t let unbelief keep you from serving


Matthew 5: 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Saturday, October 16, 2021

October Partnership Forum Notetaker

God’s Good Disruptive Plan

The ___________ to life were ___________ every day.

Sometimes that ___________ is Earth ___________
Lives and livelihoods were uprooted and ___________. Families had to adjust to living life in new places. 
As each day brought something new, the Apostles needed to ___________. The Lord was working through them to achieve His divine purposes. 
And people needed to be ___________ up to do this new ___________ (Acts 6:1-7). 

Our ___________ Routine ___________
Just like how the Apostles lives were turned upside down; we are also experiencing the Lord ___________ our daily routine.

Work has been ___________. School life has changed. Church is more different than ever before.
But how should we respond?

Adapting to the New ___________

When the Lord ___________ us, we were saved from our sin to the ___________ life in Christ and to a new ___________
2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!; 

Ephesians 4:17-32. 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 We had to ___________ to a life now rich with ___________ to our Lord and Savior

The ___________ Faithfulness of God

As believers the one thing that we can fully depend on is the unchanging faithfulness of our God (Psalm 33:11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
    the purposes of his heart through all generations.; Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.; James 1: 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.)! 

His ___________ are forever (Hebrews 6:17-18 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.
 

Sunday, October 10, 2021

GPS Pt 2 The Secret Service

 

                                                                           Oct 10, 2021                                                    

Pericope: Gal 6: 1-5 6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.

Sermon Text: Gal 6: 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Sermon Title:  GPS: Pt 2 The Secret Service

 Gal 6: 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Now the interesting thing about that verse is it is, accompanied by Vs 3-5 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.  

2 Samuel 24:24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

Point 1: Put others before yourself. Romans 12: 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Don’t push your way to the front of the line.  Philippians 2:3-4 Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Point 2: Jesus requires service to be great.  Matthew 20: 25-26 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant

Point 3: Scripture requires us to help one another. Someone said, “Great opportunities to help other seldom come, but small ones surround us every day” One another at least 16 times in scripture, Rom 12: 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 1 Thes 5: 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”… Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling

Point 4: Nicodemus served Jesus. John 19: 38-42 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.  

Point 5: Remember Christ put you before himself. He brought you with a price. Phil 2: 6, 7 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Life Application:

1. Are you serving in church

2. Are you serving in the community

3. Are you serving in your Life Group

Ways to serve:

1. Helps Ministry

2. Worship Arts

3. Pastoral Ministries

4. In the Community

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Are you a Mountain Mover - Pastor G2

Sermon text:

NLT

14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.

19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”

20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.[d]”

Sermon title: Are you a mountain mover?

BP: Move the hearers to learn how to build their faith

Introduction:

A.) What do you do when you see Jesus? What do you recognize him as? Healer? Messiah? Anointed one? The living word? Bread of Life?

B.) It’s just like how you see your spouse or people in your life. If you see people in your life as your personal assistants and not friends you’ll treat them as such.

1. If you see people as humans with potential you'll do everything you can to help pull it out of them.

2. And then you will assign worth to those very same people based on your perspective of them.

3. The more worth and value you assign to other people the more you will ultimately value and respect them, who they are, and what they bring to the table.

C.) Your relationship with Jesus is the same

1. You will never honor and love God more than the degree to which you see worth and value in him.

2. Your relationship with him will only grow as big as the container of value that you put him in.

3. The more value you ascribe to him, the more the relationship will grow.

D.) The man in the text doesn’t see Jesus. He doesn’t see the messiah, he doesn’t see the son of Man. He doesnt see the living word, bread of life or the anointed one.

1. He sees Jesus as a mountain mover.

2. He ascribes value to Jesus because he thinks highly enough about him to hand Jesus is situation.

Identifier #1: At first mountain movers were once beginners

V. 14, Luke 2:52

14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said,

52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

A.) Ministry doesn’t start until he was 30 years old.

B.) Principle-Your production will never supersede your process.

C.) Jesus becomes who he is not only because he is God but also, because he goes through process.

Identifier #2: Mountain movers don’t rely on their leaders to carry all of the load

V. 16-19

6 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.

19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”

Identifier #3: Mountain movers know the difference between a moment of little faith and a posture of little faith

V. 20

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (NIV)

A.) Jesus (the ultimate mountain mover) has hope for the disciples. He knows that they’re only in a season of little faith. And their little faith won’t last always.

B.) They know who Jesus is. Messiah chapter 16. But they don’t know who they are and what they’re capable of as followers of Jesus.

C.) Just because you know someone’s title, doesn’t mean you know who they are.

Identifier #4: Mountain movers use what they have

Romans 12:3, V. 20

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (NIV)

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (NIV)

Sunday, September 5, 2021

Crushed but Not Broken

 

                                                                           Sep 5, 2021

Pericope: Matthew 26: 36-46 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go!...

Sermon Text: Matthew 26: 36, 38 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Sermon Title: Crushed but not Broken; Life Lessons from a Wine Bottle  

§  Step 1 – Harvesting

§  Step 2 – Crushing

§  Step 3 – Fermentation

§  Step 4 – Clarification

§  Step 5 – Aging and Bottling

Point 1.  Crushed. Vs 38 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

        The text says Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow. In other words, Jesus was crushed like a grape under the feet of the Father. Repeat. The three years of ministry was coming to a head. Jesus can literally feel the death of the cross in this moment. In this moment Satan has returned as he said he would. Luke 4: 13 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. . Here is the opportune time and this time is crushing Jesus.

        Luke 4: 13 (MSG) 13 That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.  

Point 2: Called. Vs 39 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

        2 Peter 1: 10 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

Point 3: Captured. Vs 42 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

Jer 20: 9 9 But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Eph 3: 18 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ… To grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ Rom 8: 38-39 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Point 4: Cup. Vs 46 46 Rise! Let us go…

       

The grapes of our lives are crushed to bring forth the wine of life.

Saturday, July 3, 2021

It's On The House

 

Pericope: Luke 14: 15-24 15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Sermon Text: Luke 14: 23 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

Sermon Title:  It’s on the House

Point 1:  The table is set, dinner is ready! Vs 15 15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”  (send out the invitation). Israel gets the invitation 

Point 2:  Unexcused absence

a) Bought a field. Vs 18b ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’     

b) Bought a yoke of oxen. Vs 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

c) Bought a bride. Vs 20 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

Point 3: Empty Seats! Vs 22 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

Point 4: Fill the house. Vs 23 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

Conclusion: 

Life Application:

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Stuck in the Middle pt 2 - Destiny Decisions - @BishopDudleyPHD

 

Pericope:  1 Kings 18:20-29 - 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. “But the people said nothing. 22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Sermon Text: 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

Sermon Title: Stuck in the Middle Pt 2 Destiny Decisions

Point 1: Delayed destiny decisions delay your destiny

Verse 21 - Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions [ESV limp, NLT hobble, MSG sit on the fence, CEV try to have things both ways, LB waiver]? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

…How long will you go limping between two opinions…

Point 2: Make a Decision Vs 25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”

(a)        The future without pain…Jesus was looking at the cross…

(b)        The fear of getting it wrong…faith is risk taking and without movement faith is dead

(c)        The fear of reaction of family and friends…they neither live with you in the middle nor your future even though they are controlling it…

Transition: You cannot get stuck in the middle, you have to make a decision in order to get to your destiny, and you have to be DETERMINED!

Point 3: Determined Decision verse 34 and 35 - 34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. When we look at the story we see

Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

Point 4: Decisions that Deliver Destiny

(a)        Timing (look at the confluence of events e.g., the Mississippi River is a confluence of rivers)

(b)       Trusting (Romans 8:28 God will work things together for the good according to his purpose))

(c)        Temperature (everybody is not going to like what you do…the thermostat never pleases everyone)

(d)       Treasure (there should be some reward, personal growth, personal gain, etc.)

(e)        eTernity (what impact will it have on the kingdom and eternity)

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Stuck in the Middle

 

Sermon Text:  Lamentations 3:22-23 - 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

Sermon Title:  Stuck in the Middle

Point 1: How did I get in the middle of this? 1: 1 How…

How she sits alone, the city once crowded with people! (Lam. 1:1).

How the Lord has overshadowed Daughter Zion with his anger! (Lam. 2:1).

Jerusalem is portrayed as a lonely widow and as a princess who is now a slave (1:1).

The city weeps with “tears on her cheeks,” being abandoned by her former lovers and opposed by friends (1:2).

The once-glorious nation is now scattered “among the nations” with no resting place (1:3).

The people of God are facing the judgment of God because of their sin – “Jerusalem sinned grievously” (Lam. 1:8).

Point 2: How do I get out of the middle of this? Vs 22- 23

The first part of Lamentations 3 (verses 1-20) is dark and hopeless, but the second part (verses 21-66) reflects an emerging level of trust.

Look at the contrast:

Lamentations 3:18: Then I thought, “My future is lost, as well as my hope from the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:58: You championed my cause, Lord; you redeemed my life.

The key to the change and contrast is found in verses 21-24: 21 Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! 24 I say, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will put my hope in him” (Lam. 3:21-24).

And yet, as Jeremiah laments this destruction, he still says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.”

Point 3: How do I stay out of the middle going forward? As we turn to chapter 4 of Lamentations, we notice that Jeremiah contrasts the before and after experience of God’s people.

Conclusion:

The book of Lamentations ends with a hopeful prayer: 21 Lord, bring us back to yourself, so we may return; renew our days as in former times, 22 unless you have completely rejected us and are intensely angry with us (Lam. 5:21-22).

The ESV translates verse 21: Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old.

Life Application: So, let’s review what we have learned today.

First, sin can get us stuck in the middle… and God’s new mercies gets us out

Second, we learn that we have often created idols in our lives that we are valuing and depending on more than God…

 

 

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Three's a Cloud Pt 5: The Purpose of Power

 

Pericope: Acts 1:1-8 - In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Sermon Text Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Sermon Title: Three is a Cloud Pt 5: The Purpose of Power

You know the story, but do you know the purpose.  There are at least 5 purposes for the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Purpose 1:  Power creates communityvs. 14, 15  14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty.

God shows up in community. 

A.  Diverse men and women gathered together.

B.  Unified

Purpose 2:  Power creates spiritual discipline and accountabilityvs. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, …

A.  They were not distracted (sanctified)

B.  They were determined

C. They were destined

Purpose 3: Power creates a crowdActs 2: 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.

Matthew 9: 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Mark 6: 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

When Jesus saw the crowd without a Shepherd, he brought order and leadership. He appointed apostles - the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. This is similar. A crowd in need, but this time they have the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Purpose 4:  Power creates a connectionActs 2: 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Purpose 5:  Power creates a strategyActs 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

·       Macro level

o   Power without strategy is dangerous and can be destructive.  It will only be used for personal gain and exploitation. That is why Jesus was clear with what they were supposed to do with the power of the Holy Spirit. Go witness in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and the ends of the earth

·       Micro level – granular – Acts 2: 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

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...