With all the talk about the economy right now, our pastor felt led to change his sermon yesterday (Sept 28)...we'll be back to the 10 Commandments next week, but for now, the topic is money, from a sermon series titled, Where Your Treasure Is:
Worship Through Giving
2 Cor 9:6-8
'Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.'
***Our response to God's goodness is an act of worship.
***We are not to just receive good things from God -- we are here to give to God as an act of worship.
***God has a law of identical harvest. Gal 6:7 - 'Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.'
***God acts toward us in unconditional love, but not unconditional blessing -- blessings come as a response to our obedience (!!)
Malachi 3:7-10 - 'Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'
***When you understand God's perspective on money, you will be set free.
***Tithing is not giving a gift to God, it is giving back to God what is already His.
***Anything less than a tithe is not a tithe.
***Tithing is an act of worship where we sacrifice what is precious to us.
***If you can't afford to tithe when you are poor, you will never tithe when you are rich.
***Our use of money reflects our heart.
***He is not asking for the 'extra.' He is waiting to see if we love Him enough to sacrifice what is dear to us.
***There is nothing more frustrating to God than to see His people receive immeasurable blessing from Him, then be stingy with what they receive.
Then, one of the last things he said, was 'How can we be mad at the people on Wall Street, etc if we are also not doing what we are supposed to be doing in our giving to God??'
Food for thought.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
New Series - The Introduction - Living in the Father's House
We started a new sermon series on Sunday (Sept 21) titled, 'The Power of Ten,' based on the Ten Commandments:
"Living in the Father's House"
Exodus 19:3-6; 16-19
Exodus 19:3-6 - Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you [will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
Exodus 19:16-19 - On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
***What was God's intent in giving the 10 Commandments? To guide us to have the best life possible in a coventant relationship with Him.
***The 10 Commandments were not given to the world, but to those in a love relationship with Him.
***The 10 Commandments came from a heart of love, but were delivered with absolute firmness.
***The 10 Commandments were delivered in such a way as to instill fear, in order that all would hear and obey.
***The 10 Commandments were delivered in sternness because God saw people wandering off in ways that were not good for them.
Ezekiel 33:11 - Say to them,"As surely as I live declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?"
***Because God loves us, He has given us specific instruction to live in harmony with Him.
Exodus 20:1-17 - The 10 Commandments:
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
The Power of Ten puts you in a position:
-- to reflect God's character to a watching world
-- to know God
-- to experience God's blessing
"Living in the Father's House"
Exodus 19:3-6; 16-19
Exodus 19:3-6 - Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you [will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
Exodus 19:16-19 - On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
***What was God's intent in giving the 10 Commandments? To guide us to have the best life possible in a coventant relationship with Him.
***The 10 Commandments were not given to the world, but to those in a love relationship with Him.
***The 10 Commandments came from a heart of love, but were delivered with absolute firmness.
***The 10 Commandments were delivered in such a way as to instill fear, in order that all would hear and obey.
***The 10 Commandments were delivered in sternness because God saw people wandering off in ways that were not good for them.
Ezekiel 33:11 - Say to them,"As surely as I live declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?"
***Because God loves us, He has given us specific instruction to live in harmony with Him.
Exodus 20:1-17 - The 10 Commandments:
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
The Power of Ten puts you in a position:
-- to reflect God's character to a watching world
-- to know God
-- to experience God's blessing
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The Cry of My Heart
Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 1:18-25 - "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
***The Heavenly Father hears the cry of His people.
***The gospel story is not just the invention of God, but the incarnation of God.
***God is looking for His children.
***God hears your cry if you are a child of His and you cry out to Him. Do you know how to cry out to God?
***Crying out to God has to do with your heart and you cannot fake your heart. You can't fake being desperate -- either you are or you aren't. Ask God to "Show me what I look like thru your eyes."
***Are you a child of God? When was the last time you cried out to Him?
***Don't keep God at arm's length. Cry out to Him.
Matthew 1:18-25 - "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
***The Heavenly Father hears the cry of His people.
***The gospel story is not just the invention of God, but the incarnation of God.
***God is looking for His children.
***God hears your cry if you are a child of His and you cry out to Him. Do you know how to cry out to God?
***Crying out to God has to do with your heart and you cannot fake your heart. You can't fake being desperate -- either you are or you aren't. Ask God to "Show me what I look like thru your eyes."
***Are you a child of God? When was the last time you cried out to Him?
***Don't keep God at arm's length. Cry out to Him.
Let's Talk
Acts 4:31
Acts 4:31 - "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
***Is Jesus someone you've met from afar or do you know him? Has He changed your life?
***Have you talked to the Lord lately?
***If we don't spend time with God and knowing Him, we do not need to be out in the world talking about Him.
***An encounter with God should be your normal daily experience - is it practical in real life?
***Prayer isn't a duty, it's the heart of your salvation. Can a person be saved who does not pray?Can a person be in love with Christ and never talk to Him? There are scores of people who believe in God, but never utter a word of prayer.
***Do you think God is worthy of your time? Does He deserve our best?
***Do you WANT to spend time with Him? Not that you HAVE to, do you WANT to?
***The most important part of your day is time spent with Him.
***The early church had nothing but God, and turned the world upside down.
***Boldness comes from the presence of God.
***Have you learned to talk to God?
***The greatest gift we have is our relationship with God, but sadly it's the one thing we most neglect.
***Do you give to God thinking He is impressed, or do you spend time with Him?
***Everything in your life is a by-product of your relationship to Christ.
***Do you ADMIRE God, or have you MET Him?
Acts 4:31 - "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
***Is Jesus someone you've met from afar or do you know him? Has He changed your life?
***Have you talked to the Lord lately?
***If we don't spend time with God and knowing Him, we do not need to be out in the world talking about Him.
***An encounter with God should be your normal daily experience - is it practical in real life?
***Prayer isn't a duty, it's the heart of your salvation. Can a person be saved who does not pray?Can a person be in love with Christ and never talk to Him? There are scores of people who believe in God, but never utter a word of prayer.
***Do you think God is worthy of your time? Does He deserve our best?
***Do you WANT to spend time with Him? Not that you HAVE to, do you WANT to?
***The most important part of your day is time spent with Him.
***The early church had nothing but God, and turned the world upside down.
***Boldness comes from the presence of God.
***Have you learned to talk to God?
***The greatest gift we have is our relationship with God, but sadly it's the one thing we most neglect.
***Do you give to God thinking He is impressed, or do you spend time with Him?
***Everything in your life is a by-product of your relationship to Christ.
***Do you ADMIRE God, or have you MET Him?
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