Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thanksgiving Message: "He Can Be Pleased"
Thanksgiving Message (Christ is Kings Sunday)
Title: He Can Be Pleased
Text: Various
In times when my heart is found to be unthankful and I pray from that perspective, I realize that I have reversed my understanding of serving God. I understand that my heart is focused on what may or may not make me happy. If it makes me happy, then I am thankful for it. However it the matter displeases me then I become unthankful. Because I tend to be this way, I have learned to ask the question, what is God thankful for, and then pray that He aligns my heart to that very thing.
When we have this issue of thanksgiving in reverse order, we begin to live and pray as if we were King and God the servant. Therefore, during this week that we call Thanksgiving may we celebrate it and in light of where we find ourselves on the Church Calendar. This is the last week of our church calendar, that being “Christ the King Sunday” (It’s ok to think this way on Saturday). From this perspective let us focus our time together understanding that we are called as Christians to…
MAIN POINT: Be thankful in what pleases God.
What pleases God?
1. Single minded service to Christ… Romans 14:18
MSG© 14:18 Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
2. Right thinking… Psalm 104:34:
NLT© 104:34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
3. Prayer for all, that leads to peace, quietness and salvation…1 Timothy 2:1-4
NET 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, 1 prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, 2 2:2 even for kings 3 and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 2:3 Such prayer for all 4 is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 2:4 since he wants 5 all people 6 to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
4. Sacrificially doing good by sharing what you have… Hebrews 13:16
13:16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, 11 for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
WE: What is God thankful for in our local church?
1. Our efforts in reaching out to our community.
2. Our children’s ministry is bringing joy to children who may not have much of
it in their lives.
3. Mentoring our our youth.
4. We worship with purpose.
5. We are learning that when our worship is about exalting God, all else falls
in line.
6. Teens are becoming difference makers in our world.
7. Teens are changing the way they look at their world around them.
8. Teens that are hurting are being comfort.
9. Teens are beginning to make an impact on their families.
10. His Word is being delivered outside of the walls of this place of worship.
Over the last month: Australia (14); Russia (6); Germany (3);
1 each from Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia and Latvia.
Title: He Can Be Pleased
Text: Various
In times when my heart is found to be unthankful and I pray from that perspective, I realize that I have reversed my understanding of serving God. I understand that my heart is focused on what may or may not make me happy. If it makes me happy, then I am thankful for it. However it the matter displeases me then I become unthankful. Because I tend to be this way, I have learned to ask the question, what is God thankful for, and then pray that He aligns my heart to that very thing.
When we have this issue of thanksgiving in reverse order, we begin to live and pray as if we were King and God the servant. Therefore, during this week that we call Thanksgiving may we celebrate it and in light of where we find ourselves on the Church Calendar. This is the last week of our church calendar, that being “Christ the King Sunday” (It’s ok to think this way on Saturday). From this perspective let us focus our time together understanding that we are called as Christians to…
MAIN POINT: Be thankful in what pleases God.
What pleases God?
1. Single minded service to Christ… Romans 14:18
MSG© 14:18 Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
2. Right thinking… Psalm 104:34:
NLT© 104:34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
3. Prayer for all, that leads to peace, quietness and salvation…1 Timothy 2:1-4
NET 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, 1 prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, 2 2:2 even for kings 3 and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 2:3 Such prayer for all 4 is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 2:4 since he wants 5 all people 6 to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
4. Sacrificially doing good by sharing what you have… Hebrews 13:16
13:16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, 11 for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
WE: What is God thankful for in our local church?
1. Our efforts in reaching out to our community.
2. Our children’s ministry is bringing joy to children who may not have much of
it in their lives.
3. Mentoring our our youth.
4. We worship with purpose.
5. We are learning that when our worship is about exalting God, all else falls
in line.
6. Teens are becoming difference makers in our world.
7. Teens are changing the way they look at their world around them.
8. Teens that are hurting are being comfort.
9. Teens are beginning to make an impact on their families.
10. His Word is being delivered outside of the walls of this place of worship.
Over the last month: Australia (14); Russia (6); Germany (3);
1 each from Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia and Latvia.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Earning the Right
The following are my personal notes from the sermon, "Earning the Right: Speaking about he possibility of God without using the Bible. Paul the Apostle, as he was in Athens, models this for us. If you are reading this prior to viewing the video of the sermon you may wish to print these notes and watch the video with them in hand.
God bless you as we together engage our culture for the sake of our love for God and those around us.
Pastor Paul
Sermon Title: Earning the Right: Speaking about the possibility of God without using the Bible.
Text: Acts 17:22-34
Earn the right to bring an unbeliever to the Bible by engaging in the current culture. Acts 17:22-34
Engage in current culture.
We live in a postmodern, secular humanist culture.
Postmodern: Truth is relative.
Secular Humanist: All that exist is physical and can be
understood through science.
Do this by...
1. ...using laws logic.
Ex. #1 The law of non-contradiction: Two contradictory statements
cannot be true in the same sense at the same time.
Ex. #2 The Law of the Excluded middle: Just because two things
have one thing in common does not mean that they have
everything in common
2. ...not being afraid of science.
Ex. #1 - The universe could not have brought itself into existence.
A. If something does not exist, it has no ability to
perform an action by which it can bring itself into
existence.
B. If it exists so as to be able to perform an action, then it
already exists.
C. For anything to exist there must be an uncaused cause that
is supernatural.
Note: By supernatural we mean it is completely 'other' than
the universe and is not natural.
Ex. #2 – The law of irreducible complexity. (The human cell)
3. ...lovingly pointing out the hypocrisy of postmodern thought.
Ex. #1 Saying “there is no such thing as absolute truth” is an
absolute statement.
Ex. #2 Saying “you should not push your morality on others”, is in
itself pushing morality.
Ex. #3 Saying “we should be tolerant”by definition implies
disagreement. However the postmodern uses the term to mean
that we should accept every one as right, which is
logically impossible.
Ex. #4 Saying that “it is wrong to judge” is a judgment.
Conclusion
Obey 1 Peter 3:15
ESV© 3:15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
NLT© 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
MSG© 3:15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
God bless you as we together engage our culture for the sake of our love for God and those around us.
Pastor Paul
Sermon Title: Earning the Right: Speaking about the possibility of God without using the Bible.
Text: Acts 17:22-34
Earn the right to bring an unbeliever to the Bible by engaging in the current culture. Acts 17:22-34
Engage in current culture.
We live in a postmodern, secular humanist culture.
Postmodern: Truth is relative.
Secular Humanist: All that exist is physical and can be
understood through science.
Do this by...
1. ...using laws logic.
Ex. #1 The law of non-contradiction: Two contradictory statements
cannot be true in the same sense at the same time.
Ex. #2 The Law of the Excluded middle: Just because two things
have one thing in common does not mean that they have
everything in common
2. ...not being afraid of science.
Ex. #1 - The universe could not have brought itself into existence.
A. If something does not exist, it has no ability to
perform an action by which it can bring itself into
existence.
B. If it exists so as to be able to perform an action, then it
already exists.
C. For anything to exist there must be an uncaused cause that
is supernatural.
Note: By supernatural we mean it is completely 'other' than
the universe and is not natural.
Ex. #2 – The law of irreducible complexity. (The human cell)
3. ...lovingly pointing out the hypocrisy of postmodern thought.
Ex. #1 Saying “there is no such thing as absolute truth” is an
absolute statement.
Ex. #2 Saying “you should not push your morality on others”, is in
itself pushing morality.
Ex. #3 Saying “we should be tolerant”by definition implies
disagreement. However the postmodern uses the term to mean
that we should accept every one as right, which is
logically impossible.
Ex. #4 Saying that “it is wrong to judge” is a judgment.
Conclusion
Obey 1 Peter 3:15
ESV© 3:15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
NLT© 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
MSG© 3:15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
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