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Question: "Can I just live my life my way and leave God out of it? Can't I just play by my own rules and do what I want?" Paul's answer is, "No, it's not possible to exclude God from your life - not without consequence." Today's text explains why. There are four things I want you to see.
- The reason for God's wrath, Romans 1:18; Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:5-8; Romans 1: 21-23.
Godlessness- A complete disregard of God's rights, bringing about a destruction of our vertical relationship with God.
Wickedness- A complete disregard of human rights to love, truth, and justice, bringing about a destruction of our horizontal relationship with those around us.
- No one has an excuse before God, vs. 18b-20.
- If you want to be left alone, God will leave you alone, vs. 21-27.
"...gave them over" can also be translated "abandoned." Paul is describing people who were so set on abandoning God that He ultimately abandoned them and let them go their own way. Have it your way.
- Life without God is a downward spiral, vs. 28-32.
When it comes to how you live your life, you can leave God out of it if you want, but there are consequences. Or you can make it a point to keep God in it, front and center, and you will experience all that He has for you. It's your choice.
Josh and Shannon are members of the Indianapolis District Church of the Nazarene. Before they met, they served separately in different world areas: Josh in India and Venezuela, and Shannon in Cuba, Mexico, and Kazakhstan. Josh is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in Christian Education with a focus in Youth Ministry, and holds a Masters of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Nazarene Theological Seminary. Shannon is a graduate of Northwest Nazarene University with a degree in Social Work, and has a Masters in Organizational Leadership through Regent University. Their mission assignments have taken them to Guatemala, Spain, Greece, and currently, Romania, where they live in the city of Brasov, and Josh serves as District Superintendent. This week concludes their 3-month home assignment. Their daughter, Karis, and son Kaeden are here with them this morning.
Luke 9:23-27 What is surrender? Hands up...I give up/give over, yield, relinquish, submit, abandon, take my hands off; the posture of a disciple, every aspect of my life given to God. What does God call us to surrender? Our family, Luke 14:26 Our possessions, Matthew 19:21; Matthew 6:24 The world, 1 John 2:15-16 Our worries, 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:33 Our desires, Ephesians 4:22-23 Our minds, Romans 12:2 Our bodies, Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. How do I surrender? My goal is to be a moment-by-moment person moving in His ways, applying His Words, according to His Will; a daily commitment: hands up, hands down, hands cupped, Romans 6:12-13; Galatians 2:20.
Luke 9:23-27
What is surrender?
Hands up...I give up/give over, yield, relinquish, submit, abandon, take my hands off; the posture of a disciple, every aspect of my life given to God.
What does God call us to surrender?
Our family, Luke 14:26
Our possessions, Matthew 19:21; Matthew 6:24
The world, 1 John 2:15-16
Our worries, 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:33
Our desires, Ephesians 4:22-23
Our minds, Romans 12:2
Our bodies, Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
How do I surrender?
My goal is to be a moment-by-moment person moving in His ways, applying His Words, according to His Will; a daily commitment: hands up, hands down, hands cupped, Romans 6:12-13; Galatians 2:20.
A disciple is a follower of Christ who is motivated by love - love of God and love for others, and committed to daily surrender, generosity and mission.
Daily Surrender...but why surrender? Because that is the Jesus way.
The early years of Jesus, Luke 2:49.
The early ministry of Jesus, John 5:19.
The middle ministry of Jesus, John 6:38; 7:15-16.
The last hours of Jesus' ministry, John 14:24; Matthew 26:39.
The legacy of Jesus, Philippians 2:6-8.
Two responses to Jesus and His surrendered life:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
William Borden
We love others...Mark 12:31; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:21.
Jesus' command to love raises a couple of questions that we need to answer.
- How does Jesus Love? He loves us...
...unconditionally, Romans 5:8;
...sacrificially, 2 Corinthians 5:21;
...forgivingly, Ephesians 4:32;
...eternally, Romans 8:38-39;
...with a pure love because He is holy, Hebrews 7:26.
The culmination of Christ's amazing love for us is His death, burial, and bodily resurrection, 1 John 4:9-10. Disciples are to love each other like that.
- How then, can a disciple love as Christ loved?
With the help of the Holy Spirit and a commitment to obedience.
God's love is different from the love of this world. The best description of what Jesus' love is like is found in the Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. To love like this is not normal or natural, it is the love that flows out of a personal relationship with Jesus. It is a love that is developed as we journey with Jesus.
The DUTY mode: He commands it; it is His expectation of His disciples. We have to love.
The DETERMINATION mode: We begin to see through His eyes and seize the opportunity. We want to love.
The DEFAULT mode: Loving God and loving others is second nature. We do love.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another, John 13:34.
Discipleship is more than accepting Jesus, doing the right things and not doing the wrong things. Discipleship is simply thinking, acting, and living like, and for Jesus, daily. To live like Jesus looks like love, loving God and loving others.
The Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
Love, defined: Unconditional regard for a person that prompts and shapes behaviors in order to help that person become what God desires. Love, when working properly, is both emotion and will, affection and action.
Discipleship is not so much about radical commitment as it is about radical love.
Here's the great news... We don't love, hoping that God will love us; we love God because He first loved us.
Ephesians 2:4-5; Romans 5:6-8; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:9-10
Here's the challenge. How do we actually love God all day long?
Loving God with all our...
heart means exclusive loyalty to God alone;
soul means dedicating our life to Him;
mind means allowing God to be the controlling influence in everything our mind absorbs and reflects, Philippians 4:8-9;
strength means persevering for Him each day.
Every day is made up of hundreds of little moments that are opportunities to love God, and every single opportunity matters.
A moment for evaluation, John 14:15-24.
Question, does Jesus offer two acceptable standards for living the Christian life; a less demanding one for 'ordinary Christians', and an optional, more challenging version for those who commit themselves to be 'disciples'? Christian defined: Adherent or follower of Christ; those who belong to Him; people of Christ; servants of Christ; Little Christ. Disciple defined: • "One who has come to Jesus for eternal life, has claimed Jesus as Savior and Lord, and has embarked on the life of following Jesus," Michael Wilkins. • "A disciple is one who responds to the call of Jesus in faith, resulting in a relationship of absolute allegiance and supreme loyalty through which Jesus shares His own life and the disciple embarks on a lifetime of learning to become like his Master," William Kynes. • "At salvation, a believer becomes a disciple...discipleship is a walk that lasts the rest of one's life," Darrell Bock. Matthew 28:18-20, NLT To make a disciple, you must be a disciple. Christian, believer, and disciple are synonymous. A Christian is called to live a life of wholehearted discipleship to Jesus. The clearest definition of a disciple is provided by Jesus in Matthew 4:19. In this short sentence, we see three essential elements of a disciple: 1. Come, follow me... A disciple is one who follows Jesus. We think like Jesus. 2. And I will make you... A disciple is one who is being changed by Jesus. We act like Jesus. 3. Fishers of men... A disciple is engaged in the mission of Jesus. We live for Jesus.
The book of Hebrews reminds us that everything we need in the spiritual life is found in Christ alone. The author closes with some rapid fire exhortations to do right, think right, and live right.
As we complete our study, we are reminded of three qualities that will provide a foundation for our relationships with one another, and for our relationship with God.
Quality 1: Compassion, vs. 1-3 "Put yourself in the place of every poor man, and deal with him as you would want God to deal with you," John Wesley .
Quality 2: Contentment, vs. 4-5 The Apostle Paul talked about contentment in Philippians 4:11-13. "You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have," Corrie Ten Boom.
Quality 3: Consistency, vs. 7-8 The problem with consistency is that we can't fake it; we are either consistent or not. Hebrews is our reminder that life is in Christ alone. When we remember this, we will live a significant life, v. 21.
Things to think about this week from Pastor Chad...
God's story through Hebrews 12 today, begs us to answer [today] this question... What are you hungry for? What truly quenches your thirst?
Esau gave up his birthright and inheritance for momentary pleasure. What things have you given up or lost because of choosing 'the moment' instead of God's plan?
We will always battle between our flesh and spirit. Whatever you feed the most will win out. Which one have you spent more time feeding?
Holiness is not a list of do's and don'ts, but about creating new habits that are formed to express God's holiness to the world and draw the world toward God.
"Holiness is not principally, the absence of sin alone, but the presence of love," Mildred Wyncoop.
Holiness people must know what they are living for, what they are searching for, and what they hunger for, not just what they stand against when we share our faith.
Holiness is wholeness and health - loving God and others.
All through this letter the writer has stated that Jesus is better, superior to anyone or anything. The writer exhorts the reader to remain true by sharing a series of warnings:
The danger of drifting, Hebrews 2:1-4 The danger of doubting, unbelief, 3:7-4:13 The danger of dullness, not maturing, 5:11-6:20 The danger of drawing back, faithlessness, 10: 26-12:13
The writer tells us that the answer to this danger is faithful endurance. Faith defined: Faith is the certificate of ownership, the title deed that lays claim to the future realities we hope for. Faith guarantees the possession of what we hope for and faith is the proof, the evidence for the unseen, the transcendent realities we do not see.
Our faith is in Jesus Christ alone, vs. 2-3.
Our faith produces perseverance, v.1. To people of faith, this is our greatest encouragement. Sin is our greatest obstacle, obstructing and constricting.
Our faith (pulls)(pushes) us over the finish line. The goal is that our faith is active from beginning to end. Our faith never hits the pause button. Galatians 6:9; 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Our faith incorporates discipline, vs. 4-13. The goal of discipline is to produce a harvest of righteousness and peace.
Today, we'll look at one of the most popular chapters in Scripture; it's been called the Hall of Faith. The common factor in each of the lives of those mentioned, was the possession of faith. This same faith that they possessed, we can possess today. Faith is vital for the follower of Christ.
Faith as defined in Webster's Dictionary: 1. belief and trust in; loyalty to; complete trust; 2. firm belief in something for which there is no proof.
Hebrews 11 is God's family album. If you know Him, then it's your album as well; if it's not, then it can be before you leave today.
Some insights concerning this faith we are to possess.
Faith is the only way to please God, v. 6. Our heavenly Father is always ready to share His pleasure He has in us, and living by faith pleases Him the most.
God responds to our faith. Even more than God's response to our needs, wants or wishes, He responds to our faith, Matthew 9:29.
Even if we have all the faith in the world, we still won't get everything in the world. It's not a question of what we deserve or what He wants to give us or how much He loves us, it's a question of when is the appropriate time.
John and Vicki Moore have been in pastoral ministry since 1977. Their first two pastorates were church plants: Chino, California, from 1977-1987; and College Church of the Nazarene on the campus of Nazarene Theological College in Brisbane, Australia, where they also served as lecturers from 1987-1992. The school attracts a global student population and supplied significant practical experience in cross-cultural ministry. The years there prepared for a transitioning ministry at Christ Community Church of the Nazarene in Concord, California, where they served from 1992 to 2006. Christ Community is located in a diverse neighborhood: within 1.3 miles of the church campus live 30,000 immigrants from over 50 countries, speaking 27 languages. During their tenure, the church became multi-congregational — one church with worship expressions in five languages: Indonesian, Korean, Spanish, Tamil, and English.
Both John and Vicki graduated from Pt. Loma Nazarene University. John holds graduate degrees from Nazarene Theological Seminary and Fuller Graduate School of Theology. Vicki is a secondary school teacher. They have four children and five very remarkable grandsons. In 2006 they moved to the Eurasia Region where John served as the Regional Coordinator of Evangelism and Church Planting, and District Superintendent of the Hungary District, residing in Budapest, Hungary. In May of 2010 the Moores assumed the appointment as Field Strategy Coordinators for Australia / New Zealand on the Asia Pacific Region where they reside near the Gold Coast in Australia. John also serves as Regional Education and Clergy Development Coordinator for the Asia Pacific Region working alongside 13 Nazarene schools on the AP Region. nazarene.org/asia-pacific/missionary-profile
We are encouraged, vs. 1-18.
Hebrews 10 tells us that, even though the Old Testament sacrifices had to be performed again and again, year after year, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is a once and for all event.
We encourage others, vs. 19-25.
A word of warning, vs. 26-31.
A better alternative, vs. 32-39.
Through His Son, Jesus Christ...
...God demonstrates His absolute and unlimited forgiveness;
...God offers us absolute and unlimited access into His presence, and all the help we need whenever we need it;
...God calls us to give our life to Him, to embrace Him and to say, "God, I'm hanging on to You and I'm not letting go."
Hebrews 9 provides us with some great truths for our journey; encouragement for our present challenges and a hope-filled future.
Truth No. 1: The death of Jesus paid the price for our sins once and for all. He served as our High Priest, vs. 11-12; He became our ultimate Sacrifice, vs. 24-26; He is our Purifier, Hebrews 10:10.
Truth No. 2: The death of Jesus made Christ the Mediator of a new covenant, vs. 14-15. He came to set us free to live life in the presence of God and in the fullness of His blessings.
Truth No. 3: The death of Jesus frees us from the fear of God's judgment, vs. 27-28. The judgment part has been taken care of. We've been acquitted and declared not guilty. It's not because we deserve it; it's because of His goodness, compassion, mercy and grace, Philippians 3:20-21.
His death redeems us, reconciles us, and saves us - from our past...our sins...ourselves.
In Chapter 9, the writer wants to compare the sanctuary and the sacrifices of the Old Covenant with the sanctuary and sacrifice provided by Christ found in the New Covenant. The Tabernacle, vs. 1-5; The Holy Place The Most Holy Place
Worship, by way of sacrifice, vs. 6-10; Ministry in the Holy Place Ministry in the Most Holy Place
Sacrifice...really? The Superior Priest and Superior Sacrifice, vs. 11-14.
Covenant defined
The Hebrew meaning- An all encompassing agreement between two parties with clearly outlined perimeters and promises.
Once a person entered into a covenant in the ancient Middle Eastern world, they could not be released from it; it was forever binding. When one entered into covenant, it meant that everything that I have now belongs to the other party. The two people would intentionally release their individual identities in order to have a merged identity.
The Greek meaning- A testament or will. In a will, there is no negotiation of conditions; the terms are made by one person, the other person only has the power to accept or refuse the offer.
Our Lord is persistent, He is the Covenant Maker and Covenant Keeper. Hebrews 8 talks about this New Covenant found in Jesus, our Savior, and what it provides for us.
- It's a covenant based on second chances, vs. 8-10;
- It's a covenant based on a personal relationship, vs. 10-11;
- It's a covenant based on a clean slate, v. 12; Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 38:17; Micah 7:19; 1 John 1:9.
Jesus Christ came into this world, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins so that we could enjoy this new covenant with God. Whether you are brand new to the faith or you've been a Christ-follower for 50 years, I invite you to receive your inheritance today.
Pastor Mark with Fire Captain Brian & Andrea Underwood Welcome First Responders, Correctional Officers, and families Thank you for your service
Dr. Filimão Chambo was elected to the office of General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene in June 2017 by the 29th General Assembly. He was director of the Africa Region at the time of his election. As Regional Director, Dr. Chambo was responsible for overseeing the church development efforts of the Church of the Nazarene across the continent of Africa. Born in Mozambique, South Africa, Dr. Chambo grew up in a pastor's home; both of his parents served in full-time ministry for the Church of the Nazarene. He answered God's call to ministry at the age of 17. He went on to earn a Diploma in Theology in 1993, a Bachelor of Theology in 1997; was ordained by Dr. Jim Diehl as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene in 2000 in South Africa, attained his Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies the same year, and his PhD in Biblical Studies in 2009. Before serving in the regional office, Dr. Chambo's ministry experience included pastoral positions and Christian higher education. He served as pastor on several districts in South Africa; educator, and later, as President of the Nazarene Seminary in Mozambique. In 2005 Dr. Chambo was named Education Coordinator for the Africa Region, where he served until his appointment as Regional Director in 2009.
Dr. Chambo is married to Samantha, who is also an ordained elder, and they have two children, a daughter, Tsakani Gabriella, and a son, Emanuel.
Chapter 7 is the center of Hebrews; it is balanced with Chapters 1-6 on one side, and 8-13 on the other. We need the Jesus of this chapter to provide balance for our lives. It also illustrates the significance of one life. We matter to God; what we do or don't do matters to God; what we say or don't say matters to God.
The Significance of One - you and me Who is Melchizedek? Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:4 Why is this man so significant? vs. 1-10 Melchizedek was a king...a priest...unique...superior.
The Flaw in the System, vs. 11-19 Objection No. 1: Why would God create a system to take away sin that didn't really take away sin? Objection No. 2: Why is sacrifice necessary? Can't God just forgive us?
The Significance of One - Jesus Christ, vs. 20-28 Jesus, the guarantee of a better covenant, v. 22; ...the permanent solution to our sin problem, vs. 23-25a; ...actively involved in ministry to us, v. 25b; ...effective because He is sinless in character, v. 26; ...the perfect offering, both now and forever, vs. 27-28.
The message of Hebrews 7 is that through Jesus, we can draw near to God. Forever. His sacrifice for our sins lasts forever. His power to save us lasts forever. His willingness to stand before God on our behalf lasts forever. Through Him we know that we belong to God. Forever.
Jesus wants to bless us - He believes in us - He believes in you!
Review - It's not O.K. to not grow.
Objective No. 1: Be determined to move forward, 6:1-3. Move to maturity.
Warning, 6:4-6 Listen to the words of Jesus, Luke 9:23-27; Matthew 7:21-23; 10:32-33; Mark 4:3-20.
Encouragement step: Daily surrender, every day given to God.
Objective No. 2: Show our love for Him by loving others, v. 10. The Bible defines spiritual maturity by showing love to others, John 13:35; 1 John 4:7-12.
Encouragement step: Daily generosity. How am I sharing who I am and what I have with others?
Objective No. 3: Be anchored in a relationship with Jesus, vs. 17-19. God's promise is based upon... His dependable Word; His dependable nature; His dependable Son.
Encouragement step: Daily mission. Where will this journey with Jesus take me today, and what can I learn from it?
ChaLLenge - It's not okay to not grow, 5:11-14.
Objective no. 1: Be determined to move forward, 6:1-3. Go on to maturity; we can't remain 'neutral' in the Christian life. The Christian walk is an uphill climb.
Warning, 6:4-6, 6:18; 10:4; 11:6 The writer has already warned us of drifting (Hebrews 2:1-4); doubting and disbelief (H. 3:7-14), and now, ofdullness, leading to a hard heart. It's not a question of God refusing to forgive us, it's a matter of us becoming too hard-hearted to even ask. EncourageMent steP: Daily surrender, every day given to God.
objective no. 2: Show our love for Him by loving others, v. 10-12, Galatians 6:10; John 13:35. Love leads to spiritual maturity. EncourageMent steP: Daily generosity. How am I sharing who I am and what I have with others?
objective no. 3: Be anchored in a relationship with Jesus, vs. 17-20. God calls us to move forward in Him and to go deeper in our relationship with Him. EncourageMent steP: Daily mission. Where will this journey with Jesus take me today, and what can I learn from it?
Three primary qualifications for the high priest: The high priest comes from among the people; The high priest's job is to represent people in matters related to God; The position of high priest is not a job one chooses for himself.
The writer of Hebrews tells us how Jesus fulfills each one: God appointed Jesus to be the high priest; Jesus stood between God and man;
Jesus earned the right to be our high priest through His reverent submission and His obedience. When Jesus came to earth as a man, He achieved His full potential. We can too, if we follow His example: Seek God's call for our life, vs. 4-6; John 5:30; 4:24; Make solitude a top priority, v. 7; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; Luke 22:42; Be ready to grow through suffering and obedience, v. 8.
As Jesus lived His life in reverent submission to God, making prayer and fellowship with God a top priority, and as He learned obedience through suffering, we are called to follow in His footsteps. As we follow, we too will realize our potential in building His Kingdom!
God's REST was introduced in Chapter 3:11 & 18; that emphasis continues in Chapter 4. In Hebrews 4, the writer uses the word REST to refer to three different things.
God's work of creation, Hebrews 4:4, 10; Entrance into the Promised Land; A place of spiritual rest, vs. 8-11.
We need to understand that we can't earn this REST. We don't work our way in; we faith our way in. So, how do we enter the place of God's REST?
It involves daily surrender, v. 3; It involves submitting to the Word of God, v. 12; It involves trusting only in the mercy of God, v.16.
Hebrews 4 closes with some of the most precious words in all of Scripture, vs. 15-16. This summarizes living in the place of God's REST. We enter by faith, through a yielded heart. We remain, by the power of God's grace, through His never-ending mercy.
The author reminds us that an entire generation of God's people missed out on entering the Promised Land because they let sin, rebellion and hard-heartedness get between them and the blessings of God. The purpose of Chapter 3 is not only to remind us of Who Jesus is, it is to remind us of who we need to be. Our focus today will be on how to hold fast and finish well.
Set your mind on Jesus, Hebrews 3:1-6, Isaiah 26:3: Jesus is our apostle; Jesus is our high priest, 1 John 2:1.
Hang on to your heart, vs. 7-19: The second of five exhortations, doubt and disbelief, Exodus 17; Psalm 95; Proverbs 4:23.
Take care of those around you, vs. 12-13: See to it... ...that turns away... But encourage one another daily...
As we begin to study any book of the Bible we should seek to find out about the three "A's"... ...Author ...Audience ...Aim
Hebrews 1 teaches us that Jesus is supreme, above and beyond all others.
Who is Jesus, exactly? That's what I want us to look at: 1. Who Jesus is, Hebrews 1:3, 8; Colossians 2:9; John 14:9-9; John 1:1. 2. What Jesus has done, vs. 2, 10; Colossians 1:15-16; John 1:3; He paid the price for our sins, v. 3b; Ephesians 1:7 CEV; He accomplished all He set out to do, v. 3c; 7:25.
- What the Old Testament says about Him, vs. 5, 6, 8, 12; Psalm 2:7; 2 Samuel 7:14; Deuteronomy; Psalm 45; Psalm 102
Jesus is the complete package; He is all we need. hat's Who Jesus is, exactly!
Ephesians...a letter sent to Ephesus by the Apostle Paul; ...describes human beings, their predicament, sin, and delusions, but more, it describes God's reaching out to people to recreate and transform them into a new society;
...shows who we really are without Christ and who we become both individually and corporately with Christ; ...is a great book to study to understand ourselves and how we can get along with each other; ...provides some of the most direct and practical guidelines for living found in Scripture; ...4:25-5:2 specifically expressing ethical teaching; rejecting what destroys, and promoting what builds community (the Body of Christ); ...gives the Body of Christ our unique identity and belonging.
Questions: How has your journey with Christ transformed your everyday life? What is your larger purpose in life? How does the Church play a part in that purpose? What is the backdrop that is shaping your life? Does it give you meaning and purpose? Where can you be more honest in your life? With whom can you share this? Which issue that we read and discussed in Ephesians today do you struggle with the most, truth, anger, stealing, speech, bitterness, compassion, or love?
What is worship? Simply stated, 'Worship' is declaring the worth of God.
The reality of God's omnipresence; God is always with us, Exodus 33:14-15; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 139:8; Matthew 28:20. The reality of God's revealed presence; this is the presence we long for in Worship, John 1:14.
What is needed in Worship? A hunger for God, Exodus 33:13; An encounter with God, Exodus 33:18. This encounter, this sense of God's supernatural presence, transforms Worship from duty to devotion, from ritual to relationship, from just another meeting to a holy gathering. God's attendance in our lives and our experience of Him is the essence of real Worship.
What do we need to do? Anticipate • Look • Listen • Open • Activate
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians, 3:17, NLT
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31-32, NLT
Jesus was the One who prepared His followers for this moment. He provided the training that lay the foundation for the building of His church. His approach was to take disengaged individuals and provide the opportunity to be engaged followers who would become the disciples that He would build His church with. LifeChange was His mission; Kingdom building was His purpose.
A brief overview of Jesus' approach with His original disciples: Come and see, John 1-4, lasting four months - observation was the purpose; Come and follow Me, lasting ten months - establishment was the purpose; Come and be with Me, lasting twenty months - equipping was the purpose; LifeChange takes hold when we... ...begin to think like Jesus, ...begin to act like Jesus, ...begin to invest like Jesus; Come and remain in Me - His final hours - becoming a servant was the purpose.
He tied all of this together with two great statements: The Great Commandment, Mark 12:28-31; The Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20. His message is our mission. His love for us, and our love for Him, is our motivation for engagement; our engagement proclaims His message and fulfills His mission through us!
Conquer Series begins Wednesday, 6:30pm, Room 306 A 10-week video-based series for men & women • Facilitated by Jason & Melinda Confidential discussion groups • Childcare available Information > puredesire@portnaz.org; call or text, 559.679.6977
These times, they are a changing... Concerns about our culture: Church attendance is now a fringe activity; Regular church attendance is irregular; Online participation is replacing in-person attendance; God has become generic.
From the very beginning, God has made it clear that we are better together! That's why on Pentecost the Church was born, not as an institution, but as a movement - gathered around a mission. Question: Are we as a church just doing ministry and running an institution or are we part of a movement?
Two important things about this movement: 1. The message captured their hearts and minds. Has it captured yours? 2. They yielded themselves to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Have you?
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved, Acts 2:42-42, NLT.
They devoted themselves... ...to the Apostles' teaching, together;
Research from the Center for Bible Engagement reveals that regular Bible reading actually causes visual behavioral changes in our life. ...to the fellowship, together; ...to the breaking of bread, together; ...to prayer, together
Two great needs we all have, that when met, will bring great fulfillment: 1. We need to belong; 2. We need to engage.
The story of the wise men teaches us three wonderful things about the Gospel. God reveals Himself to those who seek Him, vs. 1-2; God speaks to those who will listen, v. 12; God leads those who will follow, vs. 9-10. The story of the wise men teaches us that the Gospel is not about religion; It's about a relationship with the God who loves us. Do you want to know God? Do you know what He's really like? Seek Him, and you will find Him; Listen for His voice, and He will speak to you; Be willing to follow, and He will lead you every step of the way, every day of your life!
Joseph...a man of character; ...a man of obedience ...a man of influence.
Questions: What do others learn about Jesus through you? What did they learn through Joseph? Jesus was fully human, John 1:1-3, 14; Philippians 2:6-7; Jesus is fully God, Colossians 2:9; 2 Peter 1:1; Jesus is with us, Isaiah 7:14. We need the courage of Joseph to let God transform our character; to use our obedience and our influence to make known the One Who will save His people from their sins.
Let your life reveal Who Jesus is, so that others, can be a part of His Kingdom.
In Chapter 17 Jesus prays: for himself; for His disciples; for those who will believe. Jesus’ prayer illustrates the sort of _________________________ and _________________________ we can approach the throne with. Prayer is both present and _________________________. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life. Our prayers are heard, not because we are in earnest, not because we suffer, but because Jesus suffered. Prayer is not logical, it is a mysterious moral working of the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to conduct your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer. Prayer is not getting things from God, that is the most initial stage; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God; I tell Him what I know He knows in order that I may get to know it as He does. -Oswald Chambers-
The Word is our strength. The Holy Spirit in you and me makes people uneasy. The prayer of persistence:
Persist in _________________________; Persist in _________________________; Persist in _________________________; Persist in _________________________.
If you have questions about prayer > text PORTNAZ to 22333
Jesus' prayer brings up three important questions we all ask... Where do I find my _________________________? Who is my _________________________? What is my _________________________ or _________________________ in life? Our job is to make God _________________________. We need to learn to pray for _______________________________________, because it is what and how Jesus prays for His people.
If you have a question about prayer > text PORTNAZ to 22333
"If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer." Martin Luther
"Satan does not care how many people read about prayer if only he can keep them from praying." Paul E. Billheimer
"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray." Samuel Chadwick
"The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, 'Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!'" J. Hudson Taylor
"Four things let us ever keep in mind: God hears prayer, God heeds prayer, God answers prayer, and God delivers by prayer." E.M. Bounds
"Our prayers lay the track down which God's power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails." Watchman Nee
"Prayer is where the action is." John Wesley
"When Jesus Christ died on the cross, something happened as a result of which the world was a different place... by 6:00pm that dark Friday, the revolution had begun. Though Jesus' followers didn't realize it until the third day, it was the start of the new world," N.T. Wright.
The road to Emmaus, vs. 13-35: Jesus opened the Scriptures to them; He joined them for a meal; He opened their eyes.
With the disciples in hiding, vs. 36-53: He opened their minds; He opened their lips.
The revolution begins in us when the resurrected Jesus opens our eyes...our minds...our lips. This revolution is resourced and empowered from above, Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:8.
Paul's encounter with Jesus changed everything, Philippians 3:10-11. Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 3:20; 1:19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. All this happened as the result of one man's death, John 11:47-54. There was no mistake, it really happened, Jesus of Nazareth was dead. Luke provides us with witnesses... Witness #1, the Centurion, v.47; Witness #2, the crowd, v. 48; Witness #3, His followers, v. 49.
Nobody ever dreamed that one would die and then be raised up. The women went to the tomb; they would be the first ones to experience the shock and awe.
The Good News is that this Resurrection Power is available to us right now.
Power to live the redeemed life; The power of His forgiveness flows from the empty tomb resulting in our redemption.
Power to live the abundant life; The power of His love radiates from the empty tomb releasing His love to all who will receive it.
Power to live with an eternal view; The power of His life is proclaimed from the empty tomb! He is Risen. He is Risen, Indeed! 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
The Cross, Deuteronomy 21:22-23;
Jesus wasn't alone in carrying a Cross, Luke 23:26; Mark 15:21-22; Romans 16:13; Acts 11:20-21; Luke 9:23, 14:27; No one is excluded from the power of His Cross; The hidden message on the Cross, Luke 23:38; John 19:19-22;
What does the Cross bring to us today? • Forgiveness, Luke 23:34 • Acceptance, Luke 23:43 • Fellowship, John 19:26-27 • Fulfillment, John 19:28 • God's love, Mark 15:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21 • Completeness, John 19:30 • Confidence, Luke 23:46; John 14:1-3
Why Freedom Sunday? Luke 4:18-19
Resources: ijm.org polarisproject.org ncm.org/antitrafficking Human Trafficking Hotline (non-emergency) 888-373-7888
Donations collected today and next Sunday will help fund Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and IJM.
International Justice Mission: A global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the world.
Donations can be given: In the acrylic box on the resource table in the Gym; Using a giving envelope, noting 'Freedom'.
Paul said, So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days, Ephesians 5:15-16.
The foolishness of the religious leaders; The foolishness of the political rulers; The foolishness of the crowd.
In the middle of this foolishness stands the Wisdom of God in human form, John 1:10-12, 14; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25; Isaiah 53:3-7.
Jesus provides us with the two key components for survival in these evil days... Peace in our present; Hope for our future.
We need to return to The Passion of the Christ and journey with Jesus from the beginning to the end. I believe that it is in the Dark Night of the Soul, that we have the clearest view of God's LOVE REACHING!
Love reaches into a garden, v. 39; Love reaches to a costly cup, vs. 40-46; Prayer brought Jesus the power to face the ultimate challenge. Love reaches beyond a hypocritical kiss, vs. 47-48, Proverbs 27:6; Love reaches beyond a useless sword, vs. 49-53, Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Love reaches beyond the crowing rooster, vs. 54-62; With God, failure is never final.
Love reaches and reveals, vs. 63-71.
At the end of this chapter, Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Him, His disciples deserted Him, and He is in the hands of the enemy. For us though, Jesus is no longer in their hands, the disciples were reclaimed and reactivated, and we can rejoice; darkness has entered into the Light!
This was a turning point in history...
Preparation for a crime, vs. 1-6 The Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread, Exodus 12 The religious leaders, Luke 12:1-2 Judas Iscariot, John 6:64-71; 12:4-6; 13:2, 27 Preparation for Passover, vs. 7-13 Secure a room and the Passover items New Revelations, vs. 14-38 Celebrating the Exodus; why is this night different from all other nights? A new Exodus, Jesus creates a new Sacrament Jesus took the Cup Sanctification, v. 17 Jesus took the unleavened bread (matzah), v. 19 Jesus took the third Cup of Redemption, v. 20 A reminder of our release from captivity and our entrance into new life in Christ A reminder of our covenant relationship; God's commitment to us and our commitment to Him A Betrayer A worldly attitude; our understanding of leadership and greatness Peter's denial, 1 Corinthians 10:12
Luke 21:5-37
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,
The questions in our text today, asked by the religious leaders, were not for the purpose of personal growth, honest inquiry, or seeking the truth. The purpose was to embarrass Jesus, discredit Him, and try to catch Him in a mistruth so they would have grounds to have Him killed.
Question 1, about authority, vs. 1-19 Question 2, about taxes, vs. 20-26 Government has a legitimate realm, Romans 13:1; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 1:1; God has a legitimate realm. If the two realms are in conflict, then God takes priority, Acts 4:19; 5:29. Question 3, about the Resurrection, vs. 27-40 Jesus' response to the Sadducees... You are wrong about the Resurrection; You are wrong about the Law. Question 4, about identity, vs. 41-44 Psalm 110:1 is both a prophetic and messianic scripture; it speaks of the enthronement of the One to come. A warning, vs. 45-21:4 We have a choice: To live out this life on the surface; a life that is shallow, looking for public recognition and personal gain but lacks in personal holiness: EXTERNAL ADORNMENT; To let His life go deep, impacting every area of our life; wholly yielded, fully devoted, knowing that all I am and all I possess belong to Him: INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION.
The questions in our text today, asked by the religious leaders, were not for the purpose of personal growth, honest inquiry, or seeking the truth. The purpose was to embarrass Jesus, discredit Him, and try to catch Him in a mistruth so they would have grounds to have Him killed.
Question 1, about authority, vs. 1-19
Question 2, about taxes, vs. 20-26 Government has a legitimate realm, Romans 13:1; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 1:1; God has a legitimate realm. If the two realms are in conflict, then God takes priority, Acts 4:19; 5:29.
Question 3, about the Resurrection, vs. 27-40 Jesus' response to the Sadducees... You are wrong about the Resurrection; You are wrong about the Law.
Question 4, about identity, vs. 41-44 Psalm 110:1 is both a prophetic and messianic scripture; it speaks of the enthronement of the One to come.
A warning, vs. 45-21:4
We have a choice: To live out this life on the surface; a life that is shallow, looking for public recognition and personal gain but lacks in personal holiness: EXTERNAL ADORNMENT; To let His life go deep, impacting every area of our life; wholly yielded, fully devoted, knowing that all I am and all I possess belong to Him: INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION.
His Proclamation Luke 4:18-19; 19:10; Revelation 3:20
His Demonstration The healing of a leper, Luke 5:12-16 The healing and casting out of a demon, Luke 8 The healing of a blind man, John 9:1-32
His entrance into Jerusalem would teach the senses and be a clear statement of Who He really was. His Illustration
Jesus as King The Royal Aroma 1 Kings 1:39-40; 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 The Royal Sight, Luke 19:28-36 1 Kings 1:33-35; Zechariah 9:9-10 The Royal Sounds, Luke 19:37-40 Psalm 118
Jesus as Prophet, Luke 19:41-44
Jesus as Priest, Luke 19:45-48 Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:9-11; John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16
Have you experienced the triumphal entry into your life? Have you experienced the cleansing of His Temple?
Setting, v. 11: Blind Bartimaeus had just been healed, Zacchaeus had just been saved, and they were ready to embark on the last stage of their journey to Jerusalem. The purpose of the parable, v. 11 The Kingdom has come in Jesus Christ, but it is still in the future; The Kingdom is near and yet far off. Followers of Jesus will never know the timing of the Kingdom of God, but there are signs...
The Kingdom's delay, vs. 12-14 He teaches that there will be an interim between His first and second coming; A faithful servant will be busy with Kingdom business while waiting for His return. Good news for the faithful, vs. 15-19 They understood that everything they had belonged to their king, and He is entitled to their obedience. Bad news for the unfaithful, vs. 20-23 The servants' unfaithfulness produced a twisted vision of the master; The way we live influences how we see God.
Reward and destruction, vs. 24-27 Faithfulness in small things brings a great reward; Verse 27 is a reminder that God is faithful and He will be consistent in judgment.
Take Aways: Live life as a Kingdom Now person, prepared for His return at any moment; Live life as a Kingdom Now person, knowing that His Kingdom has yet to come in it's fullness; Live life as a Kingdom Now person, faithfully using His provisions daily.
Jesus had just had an encounter with one who was the oppressed in his community. He now has an encounter with one who is the oppressor. Zacchaeus His name, righteous one, pure; His vocation, chief tax collector; His success, he was wealthy; His curiosity, he wanted to see; His determination, he carried out two highly unusual acts; His hospitality, he made his home available; His condition, he was a sinner, he was lost; His conversion, he confessed, repented and made restitution.
Jesus His vision, He looked up; His knowledge, He called him by name, He knew all about him; His desire, I must stay at your house today; His purpose, to seek and to save. Today, salvation has come to this house; this man too, is a son of Abraham; Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of Man.
God wants us to be Kingdom Now people, living in light of eternity, applying His Kingdom principles to our daily lives.
Ears to Hear, vs. 31-34; 2 Timothy 4:3-4 It's amazing to consider that we could be with Jesus day and night, hear Him teach, watch Him do the miraculous, and yet be without understanding and insight.
Eyes to See, vs. 35-43 A blind man, named Bartimaeus, vs. 35-39. What faith was Jesus affirming? He had faith that Jesus had the power of God to heal; He believed that Jesus had compassion on the poor, which included him; He was confident that Jesus was the son of David, and accepted Him as Lord.
Jesus was on His final journey to Jerusalem. It was of utmost importance that His disciples had great clarity on the Kingdom of God; not just a future hope, but a present reality. Through story after story, and encounter after encounter, He was creating a picture of this Kingdom that soon would be made available for all.
Jesus used every moment and situation as a teaching moment for His disciples.
Babies and the Kingdom of God, Luke 18:15-17. What characteristics of a small child would assist us in being God's Kingdom people?
The story of the rich young ruler, vs. 18-30. The young ruler possessed everything that our society identifies as the ultimate in life.
His question...what is he really asking about? vs. 18-19; John 17:3; John 5:39-40. Jesus' response and invitation, vs. 20-22. Wealth was a barrier to this young man. Do you have a barrier that keeps you from following Jesus? vs. 24-26. We have a problem; God has the answer...What is impossible with men is possible with God, v. 27.
Jesus invites us to...Come and follow Me, vs. 28-30. Will you accept His invitation?
Jesus had just completed His teaching on the coming of the Kingdom of God, concluding by sharing with His disciples how to be prepared, by being ready to go, moving straight ahead, and having the right priorities. He wasn't finished though; he had one more preparation step, the most important one...PRAY!
The Parable of the Persistent Widow, vs. 18:1-8.
An essential core idea in prayer is intercession; to intercede on behalf of others. In prayer, we are to be tenacious in our intervention for others, just like the persistent widow.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, vs. 18:9-14.
Another essential core idea in prayer is introspection; the evaluation of oneself before God. In prayer, we are to be humble in spirit and have tender hearts, seeking to reflect His righteousness in our lives, pleasing our Lord in all we do.
Intervention and introspection will prepare us to be His Kingdom people now, as well as in its fulfillment in the future. That is what praying the Jesus way will do for you and me.
Father’s Day • Sunday, June 17
“Game Ready, Part 2” Guest Speaker - Mayor, Milt Stowe
After four failed matches, Milt finally received a heart transplant in UCLA on Easter Sunday of this year. His story is an inspiration of faithfulness during life’s biggest challenges. Milt and his wife, Lori, will be sharing with Pastor Mark about their journey to health when there was little hope. Milt has been an athlete, coach and an NBA referee. The community is invited to join us as we hear from our mayor.
Did you miss "Game Ready, Part 1" listen online: http://portnaz.org/?sermons=testimony-milt-stowe
When the Gospels speak of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven, are they referring to two different Kingdoms?
The Kingdom of God was a vital part of Jesus' message. Mark 1:15; Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 7:21; Matthew 6:9-10; Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
Insights from Jesus on the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is present but not yet complete; The Kingdom will come suddenly and unexpectedly, vs. 22-24; His return will be preceded by suffering and rejection, v. 25; His Day will come as in the past, vs. 26-30;
Make preparation for that Day, vs. 31-37; Be prepared, ready to go, v. 31; Be prepared, moving straight ahead, vs. 32-33; Be prepared, having the right priorities, vs. 34-36.
Discipleship dialogue, Luke 17:1-10
A disciple doesn't trip-up others;
A disciple is determined to forgive;
A disciple deepens their faith;
A disciple does their duty.
Discipleship demonstration, vs. 11-19
What a teaching moment for the disciples. Jesus is saying that the rhythm of the life of a Christian is faith and gratitude.
How can we increase our faith? Acknowledge the greatness of our God and step out and walk in faith; just obey and do it now!
Be grateful, Psalm 103;
2 Corinthians 9:15;
Ephesians 5:20;
Colossians 3:17;
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
‘The eye is the lamp of the body.’ So if you have a ‘good eye’ [that is, if you are generous] your whole body will be full of light; but if you have an ‘evil eye’ [if you are stingy] your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can be slave to two masters;
for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first.
You can’t be a slave to both God and money, Matthew 6:22-24, Complete Jewish Bible.
Proverbs speaks of the 'good' and 'evil' eye...Proverbs 22:9 NKJV; 28:22 NASB; 28:22 NLT.
Wealth affects our attitude.
Wealth affects our attitude and impacts our actions.
Wealth affects our attitude and impacts our actions and determines our destiny.
He had determined his destiny by leaving God out of his life.
Our response to this story...
Know His Word;
Live as though you are in the Kingdom of Heaven now, because you are!
...as mentor, Karen Pitcher
...as counselor, Pastor Kristy Johnson
...as a follower of Christ, Stephanie Luras
More often than not, we ask the question, "Can I trust God?" A more important question to ask is, "Can I be trusted?" To help answer this question, let's look at one of Jesus' most challenging parables; The Shrewd Manager.
Accountability of the manager, vs. 1-2; Assessment of the manager, v. 3; Action of the manager, vs. 4-7.
Lessons to Learn: Use every opportunity wisely, vs. 8-9; Trust must be earned, vs. 10-12; Why would the Master give us more if we misuse what we have now? Trust can be measured, vs. 10-12; How would our Lord measure our trust factor right now? Be totally devoted to God, vs. 13-15; This is a Lordship issue, Exodus 20:3-6.
Be faithful in our use of money; Be faithful to God rather than money; Be faithful in our heart, not just in our outward appearance.
God knows our heart!
In Luke 15, Jesus reveals the very heart of God, and what should be at the heart of our Christian faith. People matter to God. You matter to God!
The setting: Jesus is responding to the complaining of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. What about? Jesus' eating companions - tax collectors and sinners. He shares three parables to make His point, and they have a similar structure.
The lost sheep: Foolishness, the cause - shepherd searches, sheep found, celebration;
The lost coin: Carelessness, the cause - woman searches, coin found, celebration;
The lost son: Willfulness, the cause - longed for, son found, celebration minus one;
Scene 1: The younger son's request, vs. 11-12; Scene 2: The younger son's rebellion, vs. 13-16; Scene 3: The younger son's return, vs. 17-20; Scene 4: The younger son's reception, vs. 21-24; Scene 5: The elder son's rejection, vs. 25-32.
A final word from the father, vs. 31-32: There is something worse than death; it is being lost. There is something better than life; it is being found.
Scott and Emily are global missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene and have been ministering in the Mesoamerica Regional Office since January 2004, co-coordinating Mesoamerica Global Mission and Mesoamerica Genesis. Global Mission seeks to discover, develop and deploy missionaries from the countries of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Genesis is a regional initiative to make Christ-like disciples in the urban centers of Mesoamerica; teams of 3-6 volunteer missionaries are sent to 28 strategic sites in order to develop new churches and organize congregations in the heart of the cities.
Since 2004, the Armstrongs have served under the structure of the Mesoamerica Regional Office and have lived in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. They have coordinated ministries of NYI and Regional Missionary Personnel, in addition to Global Mission. They currently live in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Both Scott and Emily graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 1999. Emily received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Scott received his Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication. They have both also graduated from Nazarene Theological Seminary with the Masters of Divinity - Scott in 2003 and Emily in 2016.
Scott and Emily have a special interest in working with children and youth as they discern the will of God in their lives and how missions might be a part of their call. Scott accepted his call to missions as a student at Olivet, and Emily answered God’s call to missions as a child.
Scott and Emily were married in June of 2000, and have two children. Their son, Elijah, was born in May, 2003 and was seven months old upon their arrival to the mission field; their daughter, Sydney, was born in Guatemala in February, 2005. Elijah and Sydney both enjoy being involved in multiple cultures and both have shared that God may be calling them to serve as missionaries when they are older.
Pharisees accuse Jesus of keeping bad company. He is guilty as charged! The inclusion of the excluded caused the religious leaders to grumble and be in a foul mood. Jesus responds, not by defending Himself, but by giving an earthly example with a heavenly vision; a parable, sharing a spiritual truth.
The parable of the lost sheep, Luke 15:3-7 God is the Shepherd Psalm 23; 100:3; Isaiah 40:11; 53:6; Ezekiel 34:11-12
We are the sheep Lost is our condition Go after Until He finds Joy
Do you matter to God? You better believe it! The parable of the lost coin, vs. 8-10 House Search carefully
Do you matter to God? You better believe it!
God is the Investor; He is in the business of turning nothing into something, and a little into a lot. We are His investment, and His purpose is that His investment will grow. He invests in us, and we invest in others. That's what DISCIPLESHIP is all about.
A disciple is a student of some subject, a pupil of some teacher, an apprentice of some trade. But unlike the discipleship of the day, Christianity took it one step further, not only dedication to the message, but devotion to the Messenger.
A disciple is called BY Jesus, Mark 1:14; John 15:16-17; John 13:35.
A disciple is called TO Jesus, Luke 14:26; John 12:32.
Discipleship means knowing Him, loving Him, believing in Him, and being committed to Him.
A disciple is called to love God supremely, v. 26; Matthew 10:37.
Our love for God is so strong that all other love pales in comparison; we must even hate our own life.
A disciple is called to carry their own cross, v. 27; Luke 9:23.
To bear the cross is to be misunderstood, 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 1:6-8.
A disciple is called to give God complete ownership, v. 33; Philippians 3:7-9; Luke 9:24-25.
We must count the cost...
Building a tower, vs. 28-30;
As a king going to war, vs. 31-32.
A disciple is called to be salt, vs. 34-35.
Salt preserves, purifies, gives flavor, and causes thirst. Does that describe us?
Discipleship is serious business. He has invested in us and He expects His investment to grow.
Luke's Gospel provides us with more meal time scenes than any of the others. Further, our text today is the fourth invitation that Jesus had to dine with a leader of the Pharisees and it happened to be on the Sabbath.
Grace comes to dinner, vs. 1-6;Grace reaches out, vs. 7-11; James 4:6; 4:10;Grace reaches out to the 'whosoever,' vs. 12-14;Grace reaches out...NOW, vs. 15-24; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Acts 1:8.
This is a picture of God's new community. Jesus' grace community erases the distinction of class, power and wealth. His community expands the boundaries of inclusion, to every kind of person from every kind of background. Those that are excluded are those who are prideful.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, NLT The light of His Word and the light of His way guide us as we follow Him as His dedicated disciples. In Luke 12, Jesus ha already shared that a dedicated disciple is not... ...a hypocrite, Luke 12:1-12; ...possessed by his possessions, vs. 13-21; ...worried, but is faithful, vs. 22-34.
The emphasis switches from being worried about the present to being watchful about the future. Be ready!
Be ready, watch and wait, Luke 12:35-40; Revelation 16:15. They were to be ready to welcome and render any service that was needed.
Be ready and work, vs. 41-48; 1 Corinthians 4:2-5. God is fair, vs. 47-49 Principle: The more we have from God, the greater our accountability before God.
Be ready for war, vs. 49-53. Fire, baptism and division speaks of opposition and conflict.
Be ready to reconcile, vs. 54-59. Reconciliation is the coming together of two enemies for the purpose of peace.
Be discerning, vs. 54-46. Today, we know how to split the atom, read the financial signs, weather signs and even travel outside the earth's pull. But we do not know how to get to heaven.
Be diligent, vs. 57-59; Luke 13:34-35; 19:41-44. Personal application: If we knew a storm was approaching we would prepare; If we knew that we were being taken to court, we would get a lawyer and try to settle the issue. James 5:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Be reconciled to our Lord; be reconciled to anyone else, Matthew5:25-26.
Setting: Jesus had been invited to eat at the home of a Pharisee, not because the Pharisees admired Him, but to find some way to ruin His ministry. Jesus turned the table on them and confronts their hypocrisy. Jesus used this moment as an opportunity to express His strongest displeasure, using the phrase, "woe to you." Hypocrisy in giving, Luke 11:42; Micah 6:8; Reputation vs. character, v. 43; Exterior vs. the interior, v. 44; Expectation of others vs. expectation of self, v. 46; Lip service vs. sincerity, vs. 47-51; Barriers vs. bridges, v. 52. Jesus' concluding remarks, Luke 12:1-3. A 'Jesus' response for the church today: Stand up... Stand up and let our lives of integrity shine like stars in the midst of darkness; We are men of God, women of God. We choose to do that which is right; We stand against all abuse. We stand for all those who are broken. ...with arms wide open Racial injustice is still very prevalent in our society and prejudice is still the norm rather than the exception; Jesus did not create His church to be racially divisive or prejudicial in who can attend; Paul said it best in Galatians 3:28. Our Lord calls us to live with arms wide open. That is to be our business! Lord, daily, I will make time and room for people; Lord, bring someone into my life today; Lord, give me the ability to recognize them and then the grace to open my arms to them.
Pray Scripture;
He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, May your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. Give us each day the food we need. Forgive us our sins, for we too forgive everyone who has wronged us. And do not lead us to hard testing.'" Luke 11:2-4, Complete Jewish Bible
Father - an intimate salutation;
Worship and honor God and His name;
Ask for forgiveness;
We offer forgiveness because that's what Christians do;
We seek protection to withstand testing;
We pursue God's best with intense persistence:
Ask and keep asking...
Seek and keep seeking... Not pursuing cheap gifts, but the Holy Spirit.
Knock and keep knocking..
Not pursuing cheap gifts, but the Holy Spirit.
Our job description: We are to go out as Christ's ambassadors; We are to look for ways to show mercy.
Question: What must we do to inherit eternal life? The encounter with the expert in the law provides us with one of the best known parables of Jesus...The Parable of the Good Samaritan. The Participants: A man, v. 30; Religious leaders, vs. 31-32; The Priest, The Levite, The Samaritan, vs. 33-35.
Jesus' follow-up question: "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor?" Application: We need to evaluate our attitude as we look at others. We are not to be sensitive people but people sensitive; We are not to be selective people but people selective; We are to be gracious people and people of grace.
Question: "Who are you..." The person on the side of the road; The priest, the Levite; The Samaritan?
Be the neighbor God wants you to be.
We are ready to return to our studies in the Gospel of Luke, specifically, Chapter 10. This chapter provides us with the Believer's Job Description. It gives answers to the question, "What in the world does a Christian do?" We are His ambassadors: The Apostle Paul stated, We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us, 2 Corinthians 5:20. As Christ's ambassadors, we are His representatives. As His ambassadors, we are to go. Genesis 10; Numbers 11:16, 25; Genesis 46:27 As Christ's ambassadors, we have been resourced with everything needed for the journey: We bring PEACE, vs. 5-7; We bring HEALING, vs. 8-9; We bring the GOOD NEWS of salvation, v. 9; We bring JUDGMENT, vs. 10-15; We bring DELIVERANCE, v. 17; We bring the JOY of SERVICE, v. 17; We bring the JOY of SALVATION, v. 20; We bring the JOY of REVELATION, v. 21.
Probably no other verse has been more debated and discussed than Isaiah 7:14. This verse tells us, perhaps more than any other, what is so special about Jesus and why His birth is so significant. He was born of a virgin: The virgin will be with child, v. 14b Three things the Bible teaches about Jesus: Jesus has always existed; Jesus is God; Jesus created the world. John 1:1-3; 10:30; 8:58 He was fully human: ...and will give birth to a son, v. 14c Even though Jesus was God, He became fully human. Philippians 2:6-8; 1 John 4:1-2; Hebrews 4:15-16 He lives among us: ...and will call him Immanuel, v. 14d. The word Immanuel means "God with us." The Christmas story teaches us that in Jesus, God is at work in the world in a way in which He never was before. Matthew 1:22; 28:20 The greatest Christmas promise of all is that Jesus Christ came to live in this world so that He could come to live in our hearts. God is with us. Accept, receive, and recognize His Presence in your life.
Joy is God's gift to us that gives us strength; it is one of the fruit of the Spirit and is to be a part of our spiritual DNA. Joy is a vital part of God's ultimate Kingdom. As we read God's Word, we need to ask two questions: Is there something here that God wants me to know? Is there something here that God wants me to do? In Isaiah 35, we see both.
God wants us to know that we are destined for everlasting joy. In the meantime though, what does He want us to do?
Strengthen those who are weak, v. 3a. Proverbs 11:25 When we look for opportunities to strengthen those who are weak, we will experience joy.
Support those who fall, v. 3b. Galatians 6:1-2; Proverbs 17:17 When we steady those whose knees give way, we will experience joy.
Speak encouragement to those who are troubled, v. 4. When we speak encouragement into the lives of others, we will experience joy.
Last week's memory phrase: Seek peace and pursue it; This week's memory phrase: Seek God and pursue Him.
Isaiah 11 reveals what God's chosen Messiah came to do for each and every one of us, as well as teach us a great deal about the nature and character of God.
He is our source of spiritual strength, vs. 2-3a. Through Jesus we have... Wisdom and understanding: The ability to make wise decisions based on understanding of the rightness or wrongness at the heart of the issue. James 1:5 Counsel and power: Counsel means advice, guidance, direction and strategy. Strategy is the capacity for determining a correct course of action. Counsel is combined with God's might and power. Knowledge and fear of the Lord: Knowledge is truth grasped and applied to life. Fear of the Lord means holy reverence.
He is the source of infinite justice, vs. 3b-5. We must not limit the role of Jesus to merely that of teacher or miracle worker. We must remember that, ultimately, He is our Judge.
He is the source of ultimate peace, vs. 6-9. God's peace is a recurring theme of Advent. God wants us to experience it. John 14:27; Romans 5:1
How do we get to know God? Through His Son, Jesus Christ. He provides us with spiritual strength; wisdom and understanding, counsel and power, knowledge and fear of the Lord. Through Him we have infinite justice; He judges us with righteousness and mercy. Through Him we have peace; peace with God, and, ultimately, peace with others.