Sunday, August 29, 2021
Sunday, August 8, 2021
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 community – vs. 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
accountability – vs. 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 crowd – Acts 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 connection – Acts
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 strategy – 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.”
· 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,
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Three's a Cloud: Why You Need the Holy Spirit
Review: Cloud leading, Cloud lifting,
Cloud filled. Time to come be in the cloud in the crowd
Pericope: Exodus 40: 34-38 34 Then the
cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory
of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could
not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on
it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever
the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;
37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until
the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord
was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night,
in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
Sermon Text: Exodus 40: 38
38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was
in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites
during all their travels.
Sermon Title:
BP: Move the hearers to stay in the
presence of God
Introduction: Overview of
1) Genesis –
Hovers
2) God speaks
to Patriarchs theophany’s
3) Judges –
Operational temporal
4) Prophets –
Instructional
5) Gospels –
rested of Jesus Baptism of Holy Spirit
Point 1: The Cloud (Holy Spirit) envelops Worship. 2
Chronicles 7: 1-3 7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven
and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the
Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the
Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites
saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple,
they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they
worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love
endures forever.”
Point 2: The Cloud (Holy Spirit) causes us to be Reflective.
Isaiah 6: 4 At the sound of their
voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with
smoke.
Isaiah 6:5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a
man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes
have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not simply with words but
also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we
lived among you for your sake.
Point 3: The Cloud (Holy Spirit) gives Instructions.
Matt
17: 5 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice
from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleased. Listen to him!”.
Verse 5 While he was still speaking, a
bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is
my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”.
2 Peter 1:16-18 - 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised
stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,
but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from
God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves
heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred
mountain.
Point 4: The Cloud (Holy Spirit) changes
our Communication. Acts 2: 4 4 All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
enabled them.
1 Corinthians 14: 1-3 Follow the
way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For
anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no
one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who
prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
Life Application:
1.
Get in the cloud in the crowd
2.
Reflect on your routines in the cloud
3.
Get instructions in the cloud
4.
Tell the masses about the wonderful works of Jesus