The Anatomy of a Decision

Pericope:  Matthew 26:39b

Sermon Text:  Matt 26:39b - 39 … “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Sermon Title:  The Anatomy of a Decision

1. Seek God’s wisdom – James 1: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

2. Determine whose will 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.”

3. Count the cost/consequences - Luke 14:28  “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you haveenough money to complete it?

4. Determine his gate or my gate.  Matt 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

a. Wide or narrow

b. Many or few

5. Will it bear fruit or futility? – Gal. 6:7-9 - 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

6. Is it a destiny decision? – Ps 139:24b – lead me in the way of everlasting

Passion + Life = Success

Pericope:  Matthew 26:36-46 - 36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Sermon text: Matthew 26:38a My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. NIV my soul is crushed with grief to the point of death NLT
Sermon title: Passion + Life = Success

Hebrews 12: 2 …for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Luke 22:44 - And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Point 1: The first thing you must do when faced with life’s problems is pray Verse 39 -  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” James said it best James 5: 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray… (16) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Matt 21: 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer

Point 2:  When faced with life problems prepare to persevere. Verse 44 – So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.

James 1:2-4 - 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Point 3: When you are faced with the problems of life you cannot depend on your partners to get you through. Verse 40, 42, 43 - And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?
42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

A. Stay laser focus

B. Keep the main thing the main thing

C. Distractions never deliver you to your destination

Point 4:  Passion produces power Verse 46 - Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Luke 22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthen him.

10am Sermon A Parade of Feelings: Are You in Your Feelings?

Pericope: Matt 21: 1 – 11 - Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your king is coming to you,

    humble, and mounted on a donkey,

    on a colt,[a] the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Sermon Text: Matt 21: 1a And they approached Jerusalem

Sermon Title: A Parade of Feelings

Point 1: Fan Feelings Vs. 1 As they approached Jerusalem…

a)  Fickle…fans are with you as long as you are winning. If you start losing to long they will dump you…

b)  Fanatical…the word fan comes from the word fanatical. They don’t think things through.

c)  Frenzy…lately there has been a succession of fans going into a frenzy when their team wins the championship. They act like they were the ones who did it.

Point 2: Follower Feelings Matt 20: 29 – 34 - 29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord,[e] have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

 John 6: 60 – 68 - 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”  66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

Point 3: Finisher John 19: 25, 39 – 42 - but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Is God Pleased with your Passion

8am Palm Sunday

Pericope: Luke 19: 28 – 40 - 28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Sermon Text: Luke 19: 40 He answered, “I tell you” if these were silent, the stones would shout out”

Sermon Title: Is God pleased with your Passion?

Point 1: A Crowd of Passion: vs. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,-

2 Ki. 9:13 - Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare[a] steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”,

…riding a donkey and not a horse represented a king of humility not prideful,

Point 2: A Community with passion. Vs 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.

Move 3: Stones of Passion.  Jesus response is the third thing that grabs you about this day. I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out”

God mandated praise in Psalm 150. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. In other words, some times our praise is held captive by our reluctance to sound funny or Matt 21: 16 Out of the mouths of bathes comes perfected praise. The transliteration of that scripture says out of the mouth of babes and suckling thou prepare praise

 Psalm 118: 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD, we bless you.

Fav Five

Pericope: John 1:35 – 46 - 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.[a] 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus[b] was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter[c]).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Sermon text John 1:46 - 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Point 1: Find your way Vs 35 – 37 - 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

Point 2:  Find the right people Vs 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus found Philip.

Definition Greek word…

A.  Jesus discovered Philip

B.  Jesus developed Phillip

C. Jesus deployed Philip

Point 3:  Figure it out verse 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Point 4: Find your future Vs 47- 50 - 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

In Vs 50- 51 - 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Point 5: Find Jesus Vs 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 

Lost and Found

Pericope:  John 1:43–51

Sermon Text: John 1: 46b Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Sermon Title: Lost and Found

Point 1:Jesus found Philip. Vs 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

Definition Greek word…

A. Jesus discovered Philip

B. Jesus developed Phillip

C. Jesus deployed Philip

Point 2:Philip found Nathaniel.  Vs 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Definition Greek were found

A. Philip searched for Nathaniel

B. Philip didn’t defend Jesus Vs 46Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

C. Phillip said come and see. Vs 46...come and see...

D. You don’t have to defend Jesus

Point 3: Jesus found Nathaniel Vs 47, 48 - 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

A. Jesus knew Nathaniel Psalms 139:1 Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

B. Jesus knew Nathaniel‘s aspirations John 4:39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

C. Jesus knows our deepest Jesus dreams.

Point 4:Finding Jesus is findingyour futureVs 50,51 - 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[a] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”