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Ephesians 4:10-13 God speaks thru prophets and apostles. Jesus loves you so much that he gave the church gifts. “The One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.” – Ephesians 4:10-13 The Message by Eugene Peterson “And he (Jesus) himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ's fullness.” – Ephesians 4:11-13 CSB 1. Prophets God speaks. Prophecy – speak on behalf of God before others Prophet – one who speaks inspired utterances on behalf of God “The name ‘prophets' (in Eph. 4:11) is given to those who, having received the Spirit of God, spoke beforehand of Christ and his advent. These were the prophets who “were until Christ.” But after he arrived, was there no reason for any further prophecy? What prophets does Paul speak of here? It is obviously those who being full of the Spirit spoke of God after his coming, continuing to expound the divine teaching.” – Marius Victorinus 280-363 Old Testament prophets spoke the message God gave them, and many pointed to Jesus Christ. “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet.” – Matthew 1:22 CSB Some New Testament prophets: John the Baptist, Anna in Luke 2:36, Agabus in Acts 11:29, 21:10, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen in Acts 13:1-2, Silas & Judas Barsabbas in Acts 15:32, 4 daughters of Phillip in Acts 21:8-9, John in Revelation “the spirit of prophecy” – Revelation 19:10 “This means that prophecy at its very heart is designed to unfold the beauty and loveliness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – John Walvoord Training, Discernment, and Accountability: “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. And the prophets' spirits are subject to the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” – 1 Corinthians 14:29–33 CSB “many false prophets will appear and fool many people,” – Matthew 24:11 Elijah school of the prophets in 1 Kings 19:18, training people in understanding the Scripture, discerning God's voice, and speaking it. In 2 Kings 2 we see groups of prophets interacting with Elijah and Elisha. Paul & Barnabas – described as “prophets and teachers” then commissioned, sent in apostolic ministry “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.” – Acts 13:1-3 CSB 2. Apostle – an envoy of Jesus, a representative messenger sent, a “special” messenger (having been commissioned by Jesus Christ for a particular task or role, invested with the authority to speak on his behalf) …borrowing and changing a Greek term for, emissaries, one who is to carry a message and is commissioned to extend the kingdom (military or naval) a commander of a naval expedition (generally restricted to the immediate followers of Jesus Christ, but also extended, as in the case of Paul, to other early Christians active in proclaiming the message of the gospel) – Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament “Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.” – Romans 1:1 (possible reference to a Jewish embassy in Rome that required travel by sea) Denotes God-given spiritual authority, mission and message, to be recognized by others (including leaders) Influence in more than one local church Alignment > Heirarchy God speaks. God had spoken. God is speaking. God will speak. “This is a house set up and ordered by Jesus.… He does not do this in a casual manner. It is with the utmost discrimination and discretion: One is assigned to the rank of an apostle, one to the place of a prophet, others to look after the flock of Christ and to work at the divine instruction of others for those saints who are prepared to learn.” – Didymus the Blind a Biblical scholar 313-398 What are prophets & apostles? Gifts from Jesus to his church. Representatives and messengers. They speak when God has given them something to say. The church leaders recognize it and the church receives it. Each of the 4 Gifts function when recognized and received. What are prophets & apostles NOT? Free to do what they want, however they want. Not dictators. Not celebrities. Not gurus. What is the purpose of our interactions with the 4 Gifts? Sent to equip the church for ministry. Sent to build up the church. Sent to help the church learn about Jesus and become more like Jesus. Sent to help the church grow stronger spiritually, able to refute wrong thinking. Equipping – making, preparing, training, perfecting, making fully qualified for service, (in classical language the word was used to describe setting a bone during surgery – The Great Physician is now making all the necessary adjustments so the church will not be “out of joint”) What should we do? 1. Read Ephesians 3:14-21 and 4:1-16. 2. Pray, asking God for guidance. 3. Think about what we are reading. 4. Write down elements of God's purpose for us. 5. Write down ways in which we should interact with the 4 Gifts. Extra notes: “the spirit of prophecy” – Revelation 19:10 Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” – Revelation 19:10 CSB The word “testimony,” or witness, references someone who has seen or experienced something to be the case. John and his brothers are therefore witnesses and the bearers of testimony to the plan and purpose of God for redemption in Jesus. Consequently, God is the only appropriate object of worship. This is explained by the somewhat enigmatic statement, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Here the word “prophecy” (proph?teia), which arises from a combination of “speak” (ph?mi) and “before” (pro), an important use of the word essentially meaning “speak for God before.” Before what? is an appropriate question. One sense of the preposition (pro) would be to speak about an event before it happens. Another sense would be to speak before listeners of the purpose and acts of God. Likely in this case both of these senses are paramount. In any event, the meaning is actually reasonably clear: The spirit of both the proclamation and the telling of the future is bound up in the testimony of Jesus. Jesus the Lamb—and not just a chronology of last things—is the theme of the Revelation. As Walvoord succinctly declares, “This means that prophecy at its very heart is designed to unfold the beauty and loveliness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – Patterson, P. (2012). Revelation (E. R. Clendenen, Ed.; Vol. 39, pp. 345–346). B&H. Evangelist – one who announces the Good News of Jesus (in particular a function rather than an office) …such as Philip in Acts 8:4, 12, 35, 40, 21:8 and Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Philippians 2:22 and two women in Philippians 4:3 Titus in 2 Corinthians 8:18 Epaphras in Colossians 1:7 NT Evangelists – Paul/Phillip NT Church – 1 Tim 3:15, 5:1-2 1 Cor. 12:16-17 Note: not all evangelists were apostles, but all apostles were evangelists “Then he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'” – Jesus in Mark 16:15-16 CSB All disciples – “Make disciples,” – Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 “How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” – Romans 10:14-15 CSB Preachers: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors/Teachers will preach. Greek definition of the word “preach” · To publicly proclaim or announce news. · To proclaim as a herald. Matthew 4:17; 10:7; 24:14; Acts 8:5; Acts 28:31 A person who had particular responsibilities. Someone sent to say something specific. · To announce good tidings or good news. Luke 3:18; Luke 4:43; Luke 9:6; Acts 8:4; Rev 14:6 Euaggelizo – good news of the gospel · To teach or instruct. Matthew 4:23; 13:36; John 6:59; I Cor 4:17; 1 Tim 2:12; Rom 2:20; Acts 13:1; Rom 12:7; 1 Cor 12:28; Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15; Eph 4:1 · To cause people to learn. Mt 11:29; 28:19; Acts 14:21 · To place beside, as in clear presentation. Mt 13:24; Mk 8:6 ; Acts 16:34; 1 Cor 10:27; 2 Tim 4:3; Heb 5:12-14 Paratithemi – to place beside so you can pick up again · To interpret and make clear and simple. Lk 24:27; 1 Cor 12;30; 14:5,13,27 · To bring out the hidden meanings. Acts 11:4; 18:26; 28:23 Scripture has obvious and non-obvious meaning. Matthew 10:7 And as you go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, Colossians 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
1 Timothy 3 “Although I hope I can come to you soon, I am writing these things to you now. Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.” – 1 Tmothy 3:14-15 NCV Context: God provides a place. God gives life, gives love, and provides a place for us. From the Garden to the travels of his people with Tabernacles and a Temple, God lives among his people. God's design always includes his purpose, passion, pleasure, and places for relationship. God showed us love by sending Jesus Christ to be “God with us”, creating an opportunity for constant access. From the Garden to Tabernacles, Temple, and the local church, God's design has always included opportunities for stewardship and shared responsibilities. The stability of our lives is found by building our lives on the teaching of Jesus. The House of God is cared for and given further strength by Jesus' followers, ‘a priesthood of all believers' and 4 Gifts of equipping leaders who serve. With agape love as motivation, following the example of Jesus and the New Testament leaders, today's local church serving leaders function in their gifts and equip the believers to do the same. Jesus-followers lead by serving: “I am among you as one who serves.” – Jesus in Luke 22:20-27 Mark 10:43-45 Serve – to give help by performing certain duties, often of a humble or menial nature Choosing acts of service that show love and respect. “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” – Jesus in Mark 9:33-37 John 12:26 “the leader should be like a servant,” – Jesus in Luke 22:26 Jesus' word “servant” = server, dedicated focused faithful – helper, attendant, apprentice, collaborator, companion “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” – John 13:14-15 “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26, 28 “Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” – John 12:26 Deacon “Deacon” 1 Timothy 3:8 – servant of the master, helping/caring for the needs of believers according to their assignment (such as the stewardship of food provisions for those in need, in Acts 6:3) Please review our Deacon Bible Study. Qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Our church family is served by a team of leaders, including deacons and elders, who meet the qualifications, seen in 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9. A City Harbor Church Deacon is a person who has been selected, equipped, and recognized with specific serving leadership assignment (s). They have been chosen. They have responded with a commitment to a specific responsibility, within the vision, values, and expectations of City Harbor. Elder Elder – overseer of the local church The Eldership has a spiritual responsibility for and is accountable to the Lord for their stewardship of the overall vision, values and doctrine of the church as well as the spiritual health of the congregation. This is all to ensure that the gospel is preached, people are added to the church and people are discipled in order to live like Jesus and to share His love. Being an Elder is not about having position but fulfilling a call to servant leadership through the care, oversight and leadership for the flock. An Elder is an overseer of God's household which means they are a steward, charged with the care of God's family. Paul says “he must be” as he starts to list out fifteen qualifications to be an Elder. Fourteen of these qualifications are not describing gifting, but the character of an Elder that is needed to be an overseer of God's family. Lastly, Paul says an Elder must be able to teach sound doctrine. 1 Timothy 3:1 “What I say is true: Anyone wanting to become an overseer desires a good work. 2 An overseer must not give people a reason to criticize him, and he must have only one wife. He must be self-controlled, wise, respected by others, ready to welcome guests, and able to teach. 3 He must not drink too much wine or like to fight, but rather be gentle and peaceable, not loving money. 4 He must be a good family leader, having children who cooperate with full respect. 5 (If someone does not know how to lead the family, how can that person take care of God's church?) 6 But an elder must not be a new believer, or he might be too proud of himself and be judged guilty just as the devil was. 7 An elder must also have the respect of people who are not in the church so he will not be criticized by others and caught in the devil's trap.” – 1 Timothy 3:1-7 NCV Titus 1:5 “I left you in Crete so you could finish doing the things that still needed to be done and so you could appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must not be guilty of doing wrong, must have only one wife, and must have believing children. They must not be known as children who are wild and do not cooperate. 7 As God's managers, overseers must not be guilty of doing wrong, being selfish, or becoming angry quickly. They must not drink too much wine, like to fight, or try to get rich by cheating others. 8 Overseers must be ready to welcome guests, love what is good, be wise, live right, and be holy and self-controlled. 9 By holding on to the trustworthy word just as we teach it, overseers can help people by using true teaching, and they can show those who are against the true teaching that they are wrong.” – Titus 1:5-9 NCV “I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2 Shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” – 1 Peter 5:1-5 CSB (Peter to the elders) Elders are shepherds of God's flock and in caring for them, they are to watch over them and care for them with a servant's heart. An Elder leads God's flock, not by what they get out of it, but by giving to others and being a living example of how to live a Godly life marked by humility. “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.” – Acts 20:28 CSB (Paul to the Ephesian elders) context of Acts 20:17-30 Giving “attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” – Acts 6:3-4 NIV What is an elder? 1. Born again Jesus follower, water baptized, received the Holy Spirit, committed to a local church. 2. Having been assessed to meet the requirements of 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and faithful in the directives of 1 Peter 5:1-5, Acts 20:28 3. Proven to have been faithful in serving and solid in the teaching of Scripture, not new to this. 4. Set into the team of overseers of God's household which means they are a steward, charged with the care of God's family. 5. Giving attention to prayer. & Ready to pray for the healing of the sick. 6. Being able to teach sound doctrine, a pastor/teacher with a shepherd's heart, for the equipping of the believers to do the work of the ministry. 7. Living like Jesus in lifestyle of integrity, as an example. What is an elder not? 1. A boss using coercion. 2. Free to do whatever they want, however they want. 3. A lifetime appointee. What should we do? 1. Gladly receive & respect our elders, according to Scripture. 2. Pray for their stewardship of our local church. 3. Pray for the expansion of the Jesus Movement thru us. 4. Express gratitude to each person who serves our church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.'” – Matthew 9:35-38 NLT “like sheep without a shepherd” – Mark 6:34 1 Kings 22:17 Ezekiel 34:5 Zechariah 10:2 Jesus to Peter, “Feed my sheep / Shepherd my sheep.” – John 21:15-17 CSB Jesus loves us. Jesus gives us gifts. Spiritual gifts given by Jesus, not to be limited (There is no prescribed formula or “gift mix” for any particular office, as God uses different people in different ways in each of these five ministries Christ has given.), not to be confused with gifts given by Father God listed in Romans 12:6-8, or gifts given by God the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. “And he (Jesus) himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ's fullness.” – Ephesians 4:11-13 CSB Ephesians 4:11-13 with context of Ephesians 4:1-16. Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors/Teachers: Jesus' agape love = motivation and evaluation. A person who functions in a particular way for the purpose: “Jesus gives some a gift for ___ and equipping each of us to be active in ___.” Equipping – making, preparing, training, perfecting, making fully qualified for service, (in classical language the word was used to describe setting a bone during surgery – The Great Physician is now making all the necessary adjustments so the church will not be “out of joint”) Shepherds – one who is responsible for the care and guidance of a Christian congregation “pastor or minister” Pastors – Care-giving leadership Shepherd understanding from: Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, Luke 2:8-20, John 10:7-18, Luke 15:4-7, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 5:1-5, Acts 20:28, “In Ephesians 4:11 there are four classes of person, not five, for the last class involves two complementary roles, pastor and teacher, in other words, to guide and help a congregation as well as to teach.” – Louw & Nida Greek – English Lexicon Teachers – feeders Teacher – one who explains or shows how to do something, one who provides/imparts instruction, 70 times Jesus is referred to as a teacher. “You have one Teacher…one Instructor, the Messiah.” – Jesus in Matthew 23:8-10 CSB (teaching disciples humility when they lead, in contrast to the Pharisees) Biblical – a spiritual leader who explains God's Word, guides believers into spiritual maturity, equips them for ministry, and models Christ-likeness, acting as a conduit for divine truth to build up the church and lead people to obedience and worship. This role involves diligent study, sound doctrine, discipleship, and fostering growth. In the New Testament, this includes the apostles, Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, Priscilla, Aquila, and Timothy. Paul – 1 Timothy 2:7 2 Timothy 1:11 Teachers recognized in Antioch, Acts 13:1. Elders/pastors are required to be able to teach the local church, in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:9. How would we describe the pastor-teachers mentioned in Ephesians 4:11? Jesus-following, care-giving, feeding, serving leaders, equipping the local church members for the work of the ministry, growing into great spiritual maturity, stability, and ability to refute deceptive narratives. Leading you to a place that you may not have been able to arrive at on your own. If Jesus gives good gifts, for his purpose and our benefit: What are pastors? What are pastors NOT? What is the purpose of our interactions with pastors? …according to Ephesians 4:1-16 What should we do? 1. Read Ephesians 3:14-21 and 4:1-16. 2. Pray, asking God for guidance. 3. Think about what we are reading. 4. Write down elements of God's purpose for us. 5. Write down ways in which we should interact.
Healing: who God is, what God does, what God has done through Jesus, what Jesus' followers do “Divine healing is a miracle. It is the power of Almighty God intervening in human affairs and suspending natural law in order to bring healing to our bodies. This is what God's Son did when He was on the planet, and God desires His Church, the Body of Christ, to do the same today. He wants to see miracle working power in your body.” – Pastor Wendell Smith PhD in Faith for Healing Wisdom for Health Who God is: “They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you (Yahweh-Rapha).” – Exodus 15:22-27 NLT Who Jesus is: Isaiah 53 (Prophetic prediction of who Jesus would be and what He would do) 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn't value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; (Illness and mental/emotional pain) but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. 11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities.” – Isaiah 53 CSB What Jesus did and has accomplished on the cross: “He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, ‘He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.'” – Matthew 8:14-17 NLT (quoting Isaiah 53) “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:24-25 NLT (quoting Isaiah 53) Matthew 4:24, Luke 4:38-39, Mark 1:32-34, 6:5-6 Jesus heals blindness, paralysis, leprosy, and raises from the dead… sicknesses of all kinds. Matthew 4:23-24. (that which was beyond medicine) “Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.” – Matthew 4:23-24 NLT Jesus responds to the faith of those who want to be healed and those interceding for them. “A Roman officer pleaded with him, ‘Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.' Jesus said, ‘I will come and heal him.' But the officer said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,' and they go, or ‘Come,' and they come.' When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!' Jesus said, ‘Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.' And the young servant was healed that same hour.” – Matthew 8:5-13 NLT “The leader of a synagogue, ‘My daughter has just died,' he said, ‘but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.' So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, ‘If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.' Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, ‘Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.' And the woman was healed at that moment When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. ‘Get out!' he told them. ‘The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep.' Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!” – Matthew 9:18-26 NLT Mark 9:20-24 “'I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!'” Jesus delivered and healed the boy. Luke 17:19 Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” (leprosy) Many healing miracles through Jesus-followers! Philippians 2:25-27 Acts 2:43, 3:1-8, 5:12, 14:3, 8-10, 19:11-12, 28:7-9 (and many more Scriptures OT and NT) …using various methods, and same outcome. “A man was sitting, who had never walked, and had been lame from birth. He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, Paul said in a loud voice, ‘Stand up on your feet!' And he jumped up and began to walk around.” – Acts 14:8-10 CSB “God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.” – Acts 19:11-12 NLT “As it happened, Publius's father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed.” – Acts 28:8-9 NLT There are many calls to repentance of sin and warnings against a refusal to repent, in association with healing. “Go and sin no more.” – Jesus often said. New Testament church warned: “That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” – 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 NLT Faith, Miracles and Healing given to many NT believers (not just the first 12). “The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.” – 1 Corinthians 12:9 NLT “All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.” – 1 Corinthians 12:27–28 NLT Faith is essential in relationship with God. “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6 NLT Pray and keep on praying! “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” – James 5:12-16 NLT Faith: See, Agree, Act God, I choose to see you for who you say that you are. God, I choose to agree with what you say. God, I choose to take action based on this faith.
Matthew 28:18-20 Main Idea: We are called to help others to follow Jesus, be changed by Jesus, and to be on mission for Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mark 16:15-16 What is a disciple? A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, and is on mission for Jesus. Mark 1:17 “Follow me (Follow), and I will make you become (change) fishers of men (mission).” Principles for evangelism and discipleship Principle 1: Be motivated by love. Mark 12:30-31 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these.” Principle 2: Care for our neighbors' temporal earthly circumstances James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Principle 3: Keep first things first 1 Corinthians15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins inaccordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Principle 4: Attack the root not the fruit Colossians 2:21-23 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle”…these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Principle 5: Love calls one to costly discipleship Mark 10:21 “Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Rosaria Butterfield: “I am grateful that when I heard the Lord's call in my life and I wanted to hedge my bets, keep my girlfriend and add a little God to my life, I had a pastor and friends in the Lord who asked nothing less of me than that I die to myself. Biblical orthodoxy can offer real compassion because in our struggles against sin we cannot undermine God's power to change lives.” Samuel Sey: “One of the most prevailing myths in evangelicalism is that worldliness is a distinctly leftist trait. Worldliness is any personal, cultural, or political thing that makes us stray from the narrow road of Christ, from the Left or the Right. The Right side exit off the narrow road is just as worldly and deadly as the left side.” Principle 6: Be patient according to God's timing 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Principle 7: We follow Jesus, others follow our example John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Principle 8: Jesus gives some a gift for evangelism and equipping us to be active in it Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,” Principle 9: We are called to be obedient and trust God to change hearts and lives 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. How should we respond? 1) Ask God what he wants you to do. Ask God what he wants us to do. 2) Use resources to walk with others to seek answers to their questions 3) Invite others to join in what you are already doing 4) Breathe…Give grace to yourself and trust God to work in his timing
Romans 12:18 Family of God #3 – Living as a Family Intro: Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ‘ John Nolland To build a city on a hill is a piece of assertiveness. It expresses a certain confidence and a claim to importance, and flags a desire on the part of the inhabitants to play a wider role in human affairs. People who want to live a quiet and secluded life build their cities tucked out of sight in the hope that they won't be noticed. The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text Homes were lit with small terra-cotta oil-burning lamps. These could be carried around when required, but would normally sit on a stand conveniently located to provide a basic level of illumination for the whole dwelling (this is possible because the homes in mind consisted of single rooms, as was typically the case with Palestinian homes of the period). Lighting a lamp in order to hide it under the something is as senseless as thinking that a city built on a hill can be kept from the sight of those who pass by. In order to fulfill their nature, those who are the light of the world must be prepared to be located in places of clear visibility. This is all about a mission perspective. The outcome is that people are impressed by what God is currently doing. Our city is broken by sin, and the God-designed role of the family has been fractured.Because of this, our church must be a visible, living example of what it means to live as a family the way God intended—so people can find a place to belong that glorifies Jesus and points them to Him. Get ready to be visible! This is not to scare you but to make you realize that with Jesus, you are different from the average person! You do stand out! BUT Luke 8:16-17 ‘ “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ‘ If I come into your house and you have most of the lights off in an attempt to hide the mess, it's still visible, even if you don't think so. If our church is hiding sin or not following the commands of Jesus, it will come to light! Perfection is not the goal here but rather, reliance on God and our church family so that others learn to do the same! What fruit do we want evident in our church? Fruit: Love! Agape: selfless, sacrificial love John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Philippians 2:2-4 ‘Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. ‘ Fruit: Unity: Harmony within a community (family) John 13:34′ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. ‘ Romans 12:18 ‘Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. ‘ Does not mean we have to be everyone's best friend or even like everyone. How do we do this as individuals? (we are family, made up as individuals, what the individual does, affects the whole family) How do we live as a family: Believe the best Currently people are suspicious, always wondering others motives (from a negative view) Family should be in a posture of grace Colossians 3:13 – ‘Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ‘ DEF: The amount that something is permitted. Sewing definition : a built-in buffer for errors and future alterations, giving you “wiggle room” to make garments bigger or smaller”. Colossians 3:13 says allowances for faults, not sin. But sometimes, when we are hurting, we can equate someone’s faults with sin. Why? ‘“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? ‘Jeremiah 17:9 In contrast 1 Cor. 13:4a – Love is patient, love is kind. (gives allowance) If we do not do this and suspicion settles into our spirit then it's like: 1 Cor. 13.1 – ‘If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What settles in your heart starts to come out in your conversation! How do we give allowance? Pray for the person! In the moment On your own Ask the Holy Spirit if your heart is deceiving you BONUS: What if it is sin? Matthew 18 – go to them! First!!!!!! I have seen this broken so many times. It is incredibly divisive! It is the opposite of unity! More later Watch our words Watch our language (my bible tiles this section as “living as children of the light” Ephesians 4:29 – 32 – ‘Don't use foul or abusive language. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander Watch our motives Are we believing the best or trying to comfort our own soul and wrong thinking? Are we believing the lies? From our past, our enemy etc. Luke 6:45 – ‘A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. ‘ Don't gossip Bible “gossip” definition: whispering, tattling, spreading of secrets or rumors for the purpose of slander (which has to do with what I want/need) The Social Issues Research Centre found that 55 percent of men's conversation and 67 percent of women's conversation involve gossip. Research shows that women are more likely to participate in gossip than men Romans 1:29 – gossip is evil Gossip phrases “What do you think about…, did you hear, did you notice…” The gossip prayer request If you hear these phrases this is how we should respond Please stop talking about that. I don't want to gossip. Sounds like you are hurt. Have you prayed about that? Is this about a sin issue in their life? (Matthew 18) How to help with Matthew 18… Why is gossip so serious? It brings pain to the person It is a way for us to feel “better” than someone else” (by pointing out their “flaws”) This is the opposite of Agape, what we want to produce in our church. It brings divisiveness and disunity, the opposite of the unity Christ wants for his Bride! Encourage 1 Thess. 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Listen! James 1:19 – ‘Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ‘ Listen to learn Listen to love Listen to serve Agree to disagree Serve one another ‘God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ‘ 1 Peter 4:10 Honor one another Romans 12:10 – ‘Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. If you are struggling with these things (unity, love, gossip, listening, honoring etc. it is a sign of heart issues. Wrong thoughts Unhealed past Unforgiveness Bitterness 8. Prayer to pray: ‘Holy Spirit, please point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life and may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer.’ (Psalm 139:24, Psalm 19:14) Why does all this matter? How we treat each other as a family determines if others want to be a part of our church and how people view Jesus! As this church grows, whatever WE are will determine what the church will be in the future! What does the word say? Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. John 13:34-35 ‘So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” ‘ Romans 15:5-6 ‘May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ‘
Adoption: Neither Rejection Nor Abandonment Could Stop God’s Adoption Plan Introduction The Lies We've Let Ourselves Believe The Phrases of Abandonment and Rejection i. “I’m not good enough and I need to be perfect or successful to be worthy of love.” ii. “Everyone secretly hates me and no one wants me around.” iii. “My emotions are too big to control, so I’m consumed by my anger and rage.” iv. “I should feel shame and fear [about my life or life experiences].” v. “I need to medicate the deep internal isolation/rejection I feel with [a physical stimulus].” vi. “I have no worth beyond what I can provide.” vii. “I’m a victim to circumstances I can’t escape.” viii. “I cannot find rest in this world.” ix. “No one else will ever understand me or what I’m going through.” x. “I’m in competition with other people; there’s not ‘enough’ for all of us.” What We Say About Ourselves Matters i. Key Scripture: Proverbs 18:21 [MSG] ii. There's an enemy on the prowl 1. 1 Peter 5:8 2. John 10:10 iii. There’s an enemy on the prowl; he is looking to steal, kill, and destroy, but he has no real power over you. His time and power are limited and he’s looking for you to let him in. Your words can be his way in. iv. Book Recommendation: Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left out, and Lonely by Lysa Terkeurst v. We have to confront the lies we have allowed ourselves to believe. Jesus did not redeem you so that you can still be stuck believing that your temporary circumstances still define who you are. BUT GOD! Key Scripture: Ephesians 1:5 The Details of Adoption i. Greek word transliterated into “huiothesia.” ii. Huiothesia is derived from two Greek words: “huios” meaning “son” and “tithemi” meaning “to place, put, or set.” iii. Huiothesia literally translates to “placing as a son.” iv. Additional Scriptures where huiothesia is used: Romans 8:15, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:4, Galatians 4:5 New Testament View on Adoption i. Roman adoption was almost always something that happened to an adult, not a child Key point: You belonging, your adoption into a new family, was always the plan. Scripture vs. The Lies We Believe Lie: “I’m not good enough and I need to be perfect or successful to be worthy of love” i. Scripture: Ephesians 2:10 ii. Key point: You've already been called a masterpiece; the worth is already there. Lie: “Everyone secretly hates me and no one wants me around.” i. Scripture: Psalm 139:14 ii. Key point: How can someone shaped by God Himself not be wanted? This is a voice that’s meant to draw you into isolation, don’t follow it… Lie: “My emotions are too big to control, so I’m consumed by my anger and rage.” i. Scriptures: Romans 12:21; Galatians 5:16, 19-21 ii. Key point: Hey, all emotions are valid, all behavior is not. The Spirit of the LORD can and will help you not be consumed by your emotions. Lie: “I should feel shame and fear [about my life or life experiences]” i. Scriptures: Romans 8:33-34; 2 Timothy 1:7 ii. Key point: It’s okay to leave behind fear and shame. Lie: “I need to medicate the deep internal isolation/rejection I feel with [a physical stimulus].” i. Scripture: Colossians 2:10 ii. Key point: You can't find the healing and fulfillment you're craving anywhere else. Every “solution” will be temporary (yes, even healthy ones) when they’re not paired with Christ. When we draw near to God, He draws near to us and this is where healing actually begins. Lie: “I have no worth beyond what I can provide.” i. Scripture: Romans 5:6-8(MSG) ii. Key point: We, you and I both, had nothing to offer God. No skill, no talent, no resource, no activity He was interested in, no nothing. He thought and thinks you’re valuable in spite of that detail. We don’t need to beg for “scraps of His love” by presenting Him with our accomplishments, you already are loved and therefore have worth. Additionally, in relationships sometimes you will be the one giving help and other times you'll be the one receiving it, but both times you still have the same worth! Lie: “I’m a victim of circumstances I can’t escape.” i. Scriptures: Psalm 71:20; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ii. Key point: Your suffering hasn’t gone unnoticed and while it can fool you into believing there is no escape, you are not destroyed. Turn your eyes towards God who has created an escape for you, so that with Him you may be able to bear. Lie: “I cannot find rest in this world.” i. Scriptures: Isaiah 40:30-31(NKJV); Matthew 11:28 ii. Key point: I want to point out that to grow weary is not a fault of yours; it’s not some defect exclusive to you…it’s okay to be tired. Even the youths get tired, but here’s the Good News: the wait is over. There’s a lighter burden available, but we need to see it in the spiritual. However, there is a choice to be made: we must choose to come. Lie: “No one else will ever understand me or what I’m going through.” i. Scriptures: Psalm 139:1-2; John 15:18; Hebrews 12:3 ii. Key point: Please excuse my sense of humor, but you’re not that special…There’s nothing new under the sun (Ecc 1:9); suffering is not unique to you, it's the human condition. The LORD knows everything about you AND our suffering Savior knows exactly how you feel. You’re not crying out to someone who isn’t empathetic. His innocence met hostility and mistreatment, it’s not an experience unique to you…let Him comfort you. Lie: “I’m in competition with other people; there’s not ‘enough’ for all of us.” i. Key point: Maybe this isn’t one you’ve said out loud or even admitted to yourself, but I wonder if it has shown up in your behavior. Desperate for acceptance and successful relationships we begin to act out of scarcity. Seeing the success of others begins to make you feel like there’s now somehow less success available for you. The success of their relationship means there is now less opportunity for you. Now suddenly you’re in secret competition with the people you should be praying for. A scarcity mindset is unbelief and comparison kills joy. Be the best YOU because that's who God made you! ii. Scripture: 1st the admonishment — James 3:14-15 iii. Scripture: 2nd the truth – 2 Corinthians 9:8 iv. Scripture: 3rd the requirement – Philippians 2:4 v. There is a God who is big enough to see and provide for all of us and any statement otherwise is a lie from the pit of hell. Still Room for Improvement Key Scripture: Romans 8:1 Am I Part of the Problem? i. Understanding your identity as a child of God doesn't mean you just become a perfect person. Wearing a Kingdom identity well requires us to do some work. ii. An Illustration from King David 1. Innocent David a. Scriptures: 1 Samuel 18:28-29; 19:1-5, 9 2. Not so innocent David a. Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-9 3. Two things can be true at once: 1) we can be innocent and be mistreated and 2) we can behave in ways that produce negative outcomes. We need to be aware of both. 4. Trauma shaped identities can cause turmoil in our relationships and result in people not wanting to be around us. This is not persecution; it’s the direct consequence of our undesirable behavior. Fooled By Our Sin Nature i. “God made me like this.” With love, He didn't. ii. Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24 1. God can (and will) reveal to us the parts of our identities that we have taken on that are not from Him. Sin has distorted our standard of right and wrong; this means it’s not safe for us to rely solely on our own thoughts. iii. Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5 1. Genuine faith should produce obedience and faith and obedience produces Christ-like behavior. 2. We must repent, turn away from, and make amends when our behaviors cause harm or else we will never maintain and experience the fullness of relationship with others and this is a detriment to our spiritual family and our Kingdom assignment. Conclusion: Taking on a New Identity Key scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 i. There is no need to identify ourselves by our hurts, struggles, or failures. There is a more important title for you: An heir to the Kingdom of God. Here’s another one: Beloved Child of God. ii. It has always been God’s pIan to welcome you home to Him. Please put on and live out your proper identity, the Kingdom needs its workers. Closing Scripture: John 1:12-13
Ephesians 2:20, 3:6 Family of God: The Church I. Intro – I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God…. II. God's Purpose for the Family: a. Marriage and parenthood would reveal God's character. b. Love. (God put children in families so they can experience His love and learn how to love others.) c. Relationship and a sense of belonging d. Support e. Provide resources f. Maintain physical and mental health g. Pass on values to the next generation III. Sin fragmented God's plan for families. Part of God's redemption plan is to adopt people into a new family, the Church. IV. Family is not just a social structure, we should see it through the lens of the Trinity. Humanity, created in the image of the three-in-one God, is designed for relationships that mirror the Trinity itself. a. This establishes family as not just about bloodlines but rather about covenant bonds. Mk 3:31–35 Ephesians 2:20-21 V. Covenant Refresher: Parts of the covenant a. Word – Jesus , living word, The Bible and it's truths b. Terms c. Blessing & Cursing d. Oath e. Blood i. Sacrifice: Jesus death on the cross ii. Priesthood, Us (1 Peter 2:9) f. Seal – Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17) VI. God created humans and commanded them to fill the earth both with natural children and “godly offspring” (Genesis 1:28) to extend God's Kingdom. VII. The Church family a. functions as an instrument through which God accomplishes salvation. Col 1:18–22 b. is a means through which God blesses his people. § Eph 3:6 And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body (family), and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus VIII. Quotes a. Lexham Survey of Theology The doctrine of the church can deliver us from individualism, from the idea that Christianity can all somehow be reduced or concentrated to fit into my experience, my personal relationship with God. As important as that relationship is, God has something much larger in mind. All of God's ways move towards the end of establishing the people of God, who he has called out from the world to be set aside as his people b. Edmund Clowney – The Church The church is the community of the Word, the Word that reveals the plan and purpose of God. In the church the gospel is preached, believed, obeyed. It is the pillar and ground of the truth because it holds fast the Scriptures (Phil. 2:16) IX. The Church is to be: a. Holy – Set apart b. Universal – the application of teaching should be accessible to all people and should not be added to. c. Apostolic – remains faithful to the teaching and the mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus. X. How does the church function? Acts 2 a. Devotion definition: to preserve, constantly diligent, great care and perseverance, adhere closely to. b. Devoted themselves to the apostles teaching c. Devoted themselves to prayer d. Worshiped at the Temple each day e. Met in one place f. Devoted themselves to the fellowship § Some theologians say that the real miracle of Pentecost is “from every nation under heaven” a body of believers is formed. g. Devoted themselves to sharing meals (including the Lord's Supper) h. Shared everything they had i. This communal spiritual and practical way of life created a “family” of people that were not only set apart from the rest of society in how they loved and cared for each other but which also produced “signs and wonders”. (Acts 2:43) XI. What are we to do? a. Have a personal relationship with Jesus – this affects the others in the church. Who am I when I show up? Does God want to give me a word of encouragement or a scripture to someone in my church? b. Go to church (Hebrews 10:25) c. Be Devoted to your church d. Be in unity · Unity affords the greatest identifying mark of the people of God. That's why Luke emphasizes, all the believers were together and had everything in common. – “Acts” by Kenneth Gangel · The most prominent features are the brotherly love and the undisturbed harmony of the believers. – A commentary on the Holy Scriptures by Lange (et. al.) e. Be who God has called you to be, do what God has called you to do. f. Be fruitful and multiply – Make disciples XII. The Church is the Bride of Christ (Covenant Relationship) a. Revelation 19:6 b. Ephesians 5:27
Old Testament examples: Ezekiel 3:17-19 Esther 4:1-3 Esther 4:12-14 New Testament examples: Isaiah 61:1-3 (NLT) (cf Luke 4) Matthew 28:18-20 Romans 10:13-15 Application: Posture – Ask God for His heart for the lost, and feel a sense of righteous urgency for salvations. Holman Commentary: “God's charge to Ezekiel and Hosea is also a charge to every Christian. Christ warned His followers to “watch” for His return and to keep their lamps burning and trimmed. Servants of the Lord, who are found watching, will be given special favor for being ready. Jesus, the faithful watchmen of His sheep, has instructed us to follow Him. In so doing, believers keep themselves focused on the Lord, constantly growing in their relationship with Him.” Prayer – Keep a prayer calendar and intercede like Mordecai for your city. Isaiah 62:6-7a Purpose – Reach out to those in your sphere of influence. Invite them to church, and serve them as Jesus would. “Do the unbelievers in my life know that I am a Christian? Do they know how Jesus has affected my life?”
Luke 2:8-18 Advent Week 4: Love The word “advent” means “coming;” The season of Advent, which leads up to Christmas Day and includes four Sundays, is a time to reflect on the coming of Jesus on one holy night in Bethlehem — a coming that caused a great turning for the world toward hope, peace, joy, and love. The four themes just listed are the four themes the Church traditionally explores during the Advent season. We’re going to explore the final theme of Advent: love. Because the coming of Jesus brings a turning toward love. There are 2 ways we can talk about love in today’s message. God's love for us Horizontal love, love towards each other. Luke 2:8-18 Our main theme for today is. He came. They went. Later in this story we see in Matthew 2 the Magi visit Jesus and his parents at their house. He (Jesus) came. The Magi go. Jesus' “coming” inspired “going “ in the Gospels. As seen in the Sending of the Twelve Sending of the 72, for example. And all four gospel accounts, in each their own unique way, show a Resurrected Jesus urging the disciples to ‘go.' At the start of the story of Jesus, a pattern is set for God's people and embraced by God's people. This pattern and response is repeated in the middle and end of the gospels and all throughout the story of the Early Church. Shouldn't we also embrace this same pattern? He came. We go. Is the U.S. Church going? Barna (2019) Almost all Christians say that the best thing that could ever happen to someone is for them to know Jesus. Almost all practicing Christians believe that part of their faith means being a witness about Jesus Pew Research did a huge study over 17 years, 4 separate surveys with more than 35,000 surveyed EACH TIME, shows that after many years of steady decline, the share of Americans who identify as Christians show signs of leveling off. Millennials in particular feel equipped to share their faith with others. For instance, 73% say they know how to respond when someone raises questions about faith , and that they are gifted at sharing their faith with other people . This is higher than any other generational group: Gen X (66%), Boomers (59%) and Elders (56%). Despite this, many Millennials are unsure about the actual practice of evangelism. Almost half of Millennials (47%) agree at least somewhat that it is wrong to share one's personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith. Only 44% of Christian adults say they pray at least once a day. 33% of Christians say they go to a service once a month Approximately half (54%) of evangelical church attenders believe people are basically good and(50%) believe that people can earn salvation through their good works. Unexpectedly large minorities (24%) of evangelical church attenders reject the biblical nature and character of God and (26%) worship spirits other than the God of the Bible. An astonishing number—15%—revealed that they occasionally cast spells on other people. Is our church going? Jesus says Acts 1:8 – ‘You (all y'all) will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ‘ He came. We go to the ones nearest us.
Luke 2:8-15 Third week of Advent is based around Joy Luke 2:8–15 recounts the angelic announcement to shepherds: “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” This joy is tied to the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem. Understanding Joy Joy is described as “an often cheerful contentedness,” rooted in hope and peace rather than circumstances. It's marked by calm within a person and sustained by faith. Often means that maybe sometimes it may not be the same as just laughing and smiles. There is however peace. Peace that passeth understanding Sometimes you maybe grumpy but still have joy like Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets. Supporting Scriptures References to Philippians 4:6–7, 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, Romans 8:28, and 1 Corinthians 12 emphasize peace, grace in weakness, God's purpose, and unity in suffering. For the world around us The world often feels joyless—seen in news, entertainment, politics, and mental health struggles—highlighting the need for authentic joy. That is where we as believers can step in and be the joy, be the peace, be the example of Jesus on Earth. Call to Action “Joy to the World!”—a reminder that hope has come through Christ. Highly suggest listenting to the words fo Hope has Come
Luke 1:26-37 – Matthew 1:18-25 Holy Night – Part One Again and again in the Old Testament, God promises a broken and pained world that he will send a Messiah — that is, a Deliverer — to start to renew and restore all things. Genesis 3:15 Isaiah 9:1-7 Micah 5:1-4 Because the coming of the Messiah was a long time coming, it was easy for God's people to start to think of it as an impossibility. Most scholars agree that by the time we enter the period of the New Testament, nearly 400 years had passed since the last messianic promise had been given by God — and the Messiah still hadn't come. Two messages that broke the 400-year silence — the angels' messages to Mary (Luke 1:26-37) and Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25) Luke 1:26-37 – Matthew 1:18-25 I. The coming of the Messiah, Jesus, was never to be thought of as an impossibility, because all things had already been proven possible for God. Today marks the beginning of Advent: (1) the word “advent” means “coming,” (2) the season of Advent, which leads up to Christmas Day and includes four Sundays, is a time to reflect on the coming of Jesus to begin to renew and restore a broken and pained world, (3) it’s also a time to look ahead to when Jesus will come again to finish the renewing and restorative work he started at Christmas. God has indeed promised the Messiah, Jesus, will come again: Matthew 24 & 25 John 1 & 2 1 Thessalonians & 2 Thessalonians Revelation Because the second coming of Jesus has been a long time coming, it's easy for us to start to think of it as an impossibility. As we consider what Joseph & Mary may have been thinking, we may also be experiencing doubt, distraction, or discouragement such as: “Maybe the powers of the world hold too much power for Jesus to topple them. Maybe the powers beyond this world hold too much power. Maybe we've sinned too much, and we're undeserving. Maybe too much is needed by way of miracles to pull this off.” II. The second coming of Jesus is never to be thought of as an impossibility, because all things have already been proven possible for God. This is a time leading up to Christmas Day to remember the coming of Jesus. It's a time to remember how his coming brought about a great turning point for the world. The world had been hounded by hopelessness, shame, great sadness, and the coldness of self-concern and self-preservation, and his coming caused a great turning toward hope, peace, joy, and love. Each of the four Sundays in Advent speak to these four themes, respectively: hope, peace, joy, and love. We're going to speak to each in the four Sundays of Advent, and we're going to do so by exploring the angelic messages that were passed along either in the days leading to the holy night of Jesus's birth or on the holy night itself. We've already covered the first angelic message this morning, haven't we? “Nothing is impossible with God.” Which, of course, gives us hope — a confident expectation that nothing is impossible for God, because nothing ever has been. Hope November 30 Peace December 7 Joy December 14 Love December 21 You're probably familiar with the practice of the lighting of the Advent candles — four candles arranged in a circle (for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love), with another larger candle in the middle (often referred to as “the Christ candle”). The lighting of the Hope candle takes place on the first Sunday of Advent, the lighting of the Peace candle on the second Sunday — and so on. The lighting of the Christ candle often takes place on Christmas Eve, but traditions vary. (Some wait until Epiphany in January.) Your church might already take part in this practice, but if your church has yet to do so, this series might be the perfect time to introduce it into the life of the congregation. If you decide to take part in the practice, you could explain the tradition and then during the conclusion of the sermon, you could light the first candle — the candle for Hope.
Matthew 6:9-13 Praying according to God's Purpose: “Kingdom come, will be done,” Praying on Purpose – in alignment with God's purpose What would your neighborhood look like if each person received God’s love? What would your neighborhood sound like if each person shared God’s love with others? In what ways would the daily interactions change if each person shared God’s value on peace? What needs would be met and what challenges would be overcome if each person looked to Jesus as Savior King? “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” – Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13 “We can approach God with confidence, honestly confessing our need and heart condition. At the same time, we can learn to speak faith and align our heart, emotions, and confession with the Word of God. We can learn to pray the prayer of faith.” – Wendell Smith “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power (as it is working) and produces wonderful results.” – James 5:16 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them.” – 1 Timothy 2:1 “'Don't be afraid, Daniel,' he said to me, ‘for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” – Daniel 10:12-13 CSB Prayer Topics for the church? God's instrument for His purpose here and now! Pray according to God's Kingdom / Jesus Movement Purpose. Pray for the lost. Praying for God's purpose > current events. This service has been helpful to me, in keeping up with the news. The free account has been better than several paid services I’ve used. For local news I use a digital subscription to The Baltimore Banner and for the USA, The Pour Over: https://www.web.thepourover.org/subscribe?ref=Kw6vI7VQq4 Corruption? “So don't judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.” – 1 Corinthians 4:5 (CSB) Praying for the miraculous, according to God's value system & power, over famine/war What should we do? Plan it. Pursue it. Weekly Prayer Calendar ideas Closing Prayer: “O God, we acknowledge that too often we have not had confidence in Thy power to bring light out of darkness, good out of evil; by faith we believe through Thy chosen one Jesus the Carpenter, People's Leader, Chosen One, Prisoner, Defendant, Condemned Man and Confident Man, that good will indeed overcome evil, love overcome hate, and life overcome death.” – M. Moran Weston 1972 Good Friday Declarations of Awareness “Loving Savior and Ever Present Friend, we thank you this morning for the opportunity to pray for ourselves and for others. We know that no prayer goes unanswered. We trust you Lord, and we love you. We know that you will be steadfast – Oh thank you Jesus.” – Nancy Lynne Westfield I Must Tell Jesus
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had […]
“no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, of God's household,” – Ephesians 2:19
As ambassadors for Jesus, we invite people to receive and respond to this Good News covenant.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. (NLT) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (NIV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (ESV) […]
Perfect Love: How Imperfect People Can Love One Another With God's
Romans 14:17 - " For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"
God desires us to earnestly ask Him for more workers for the harvest and to actively participate in that work by following the example of Jesus.
Wedding feast - a countrywide celebration of several days, coming to the feast represents entering His Kingdom
The Kingdom of heaven is the culmination of the good news of Jesus.
PREVIEWING our series on the KINGDOM of Heaven
– Matthew 5:13-16 Context: The teaching of Jesus, in Matthew 5:1-16, helps us learn more about who God is and invites us into a blessed interaction with God. Jesus teaching about those who have received salvation through faith in the grace given by God and are responding in wholehearted devotion. We read about the heart […]
The teaching of Jesus, in Matthew 5:1-10, helps us learn more about who God is and invites us into a blessed interaction with God.
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