Worth Waiting For

Sermon: Worth Waiting For!

Sermon Text: Luke 6: 6-11 - 6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Point 1: A Waiting House - Vs. 6-7: 6On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.

Matthew 9:17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.").

Point 2: A Waiting Withered Man vs. 8 - . 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.”

Point 3: Jesus is Worth Waiting For - Luke 6:10RSV - 10And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored.

Matthew 12:13 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

Joel 2:25- 25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you.

Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

The Parent Trap

Genesis 4:1-2, 25 – 26 - Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

Sermon text:  Genesis 4: 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”

Sermon title:  The Parent Trap

Point 1: The absence of Adam. Genesis 3:6(c) - … who was with her…

1.       Adam didn’t teach what he was taught – Vs. 4:1 - Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 

2.       Equal worth. Vs. 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 

3.       Lessons learned vs. 26b - …At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. 

Point 2:  The manner of Moses.  Exodus 2:1a; 2b Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2b…and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.

Exodus 1: 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”. 

Vs. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.  Egypt was becoming too brown and then vs. 10a Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply..

1.  Protect them. – vs. 2:3 - 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket [ark] made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 

2.  Build strong family ties.  Vs. 2:4 - 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him

3.  Name him – vs. 2: 10 …She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” 

Point 3:  The errors of David.  2 Sam 13:1 -  Now Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her. 

1.  Ignored wrong vs. 13:21 - 21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 

2.  Released seed of rebellion vs. 13:32b …this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar.   Wrong grows…

3.  The community is affected. 15:2-3 - 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 

Point 4:  The passion of Lois 2 Tim 1:5  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

1.  Feed Timothy’s faith – vs. 5a 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith

2.  Established a generational seed – vs. 5b…, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 

3.  Created a fire for God – vs. 66 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 

Point 5:  The preciseness of Mary and Joseph.  Luke 2:52 - 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man

1.  Mary and Joseph were intentional – vs. 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

2.  Mary and Joseph knew where to find Jesus – vs. 46 -After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

3.  Mary and Joseph had a plan – vs. 51  And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them…

What do you do With the Pieces?

Pericope:  Matthew 26:26–30 - 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

Sermon Text: Matthew 26: 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples,

Sermon Title: What Do You Do With The Pieces?

Deuteronomy 28:67 - In the morning you shall say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and at evening you shall say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see.

Matthew 26:17–19, 26a - 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it…

Point 1: Pieces multiply John 6:12a - 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples,

Point 2:  Pieces can’t be wasted.  John 6:12b - “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”

1 Cor. 10:13 - He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation.

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Point 3:  Pieces can be difficult.  John 6:60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

Vs. 56, 61, 66, 67 - 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 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?”

Vs. 67-68 - 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 4:  Pieces do reconnect.  1 Cor. 11:24-25 - 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Cor. 3:4 - 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

1 Cor 11:28-30 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

Life Application:

1.   Try never to miss communion it your opportunity to get your pieces reconnected.

2.  Reconnecting with other LifeChangers – clear the air…bury the hatchet…forgive

3.  Examine your pieces and bring them to Jesus – be purposeful about it.

Designed to Make a Difference

Pericope: Genesis 1:26-28 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,

    in the image of God he created him;

    male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Sermon Text: Genesis  1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Sermon Title: The Difference Maker, Pt 4 Designed to Make a Difference

#1. Is it a design flaw? Psalm 139:14 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

Acts 17:28 - for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

#2. Have you read the operating instructions carefully? 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Psalm 119:11 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

2 Tim 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

#3. Have you ever had these problems before?

1 Cor 11:28 - Everyone ought to examine themselves…

#4. Have you nullified the warranty? Lamentations 3:40 - Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!

2 Cor 13:5 CEV 5 Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. But if Christ isn’t living in you, you have failed.      2 Cor 13:5 MSG Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted.

#5. Do you know the Designer when you call the help desk?

Prov. 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [live according to his design]

John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Born for Greatness

Pericope:  2 Sam 23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

Sermon Text: 2 Sam 23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

Sermon Title: Difference Maker:  Pt 3 Born For Greatness

Point 1: Outside looking in. Vs. 22- 23 - 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three…

Point 2: You are stable in your status – vs. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

Point 3: Opportunity will knock. Vs. 23B… and David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

How do you discover, develop and deploy your greatness?

1.  Embrace the fact that you were born into greatness – 500,000,000 to 1

2.  Be born again!

3.  Tell somebody who made you great.

Running from Greatness

Pericope: Jonah 1:3a 3 3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God

Sermon Text: Jonah 1:3a 3 3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God

Sermon Title: Running From Greatness

Jonah 1:1-3 One day long ago, God’s Word came to Jonah, Amittai’s son: “Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They’re in a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer.” 3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God. He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish—as far away from God as he could get.

Point 1: Jonah was Anxious. Vs. 4:1  4 1 Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, “God! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! 

Jonah 3:1-10 - Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”  10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Point 2: Jonah Anticipated what God would do through him. Vs. 4:2 I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!

Point 3: Anger was his emotion of choice. Vs. 4: 3 4 God said, “What do you have to be angry about?”.    

Point 4: Allow God to work through you. Vs. 4:11 So, why can’t I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike people who don’t yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?” 

Point 5: Accept your call. Vs. 1:3a 3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God

How do you avoid Jonah’s battle with making a difference?

1.  Correctly define greatness! 

2.  Detect Define and Direct your emotions

3.  Remember everyday is an opportunity to be great

Difference Maker Pt 2 - Discerning the Difference

Pericope: Acts 16: 6-10 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Sermon Text: Acts 16: 10 10 And when Paul[a] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Sermon Title: The Difference Maker, Pt 2 Discerning the Difference

Review: 1) We are born to make a difference. As Ezekiel was born to make a difference. In order to make a difference you have to have a healthy sense of who you are. 2) In order to make a difference you must speak to the situation (you are a prophetic utterance). 3) You must create an army (New Life is ready to create an Army). 4) In order to make a difference… it is a spiritual endeavor.

Vs 10  And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Point 1: You must be near God to hear God!  Vs 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

        a. Walk with God.

        aa. Affiliate. Jerimiah 33:3 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

        bb. Accord. Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place

        cc.  Agree. Amos 3: 3 “Do two walk together,

    unless they have agreed to meet?

Point 2: You must obey God. Vs 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

        a. Obedience is better than Sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

Point 3: You must press to the place to Make a Difference. Vs. 10 And when Paul[a] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.    

        a. Power. Vs 26  and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

        b. Philippians jailor. Vs 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

        c. Church at Phillippe.