Family Life Church-Hermitage, PA

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 103:8-14, Hebrews 12:5-11, Luke 11:11-13 NLTMAIN POINTS:The CHARACTER of a good father gives life to his children.restrainedcompassionateforgivingyieldingmercifulpatientcarefulsteadfastlovingunderstandingforgetfulThe DISCIPLINE of a good father gives life to his children.The GUIDANCE of a good father gives life to his children.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15Main Points:Giving to God is a MINISTRY to reach the lost and provide for the poor.Generosity leads to abundance and a DELIGHT in sharing with those in need.Notes:Generosity FalsehoodsYou can't afford to giveThe church is greedyGod understands you need your moneyGiving is legalistic and Old TestamentYou will give when things are betterGiving your time is enoughGod's Generosity Pathway (Old Testament)Honor God with your wealth, and your blessings will overflow(Proverbs 3:9-10)Generosity = Prosperity(Proverbs 11:24-25)Your money doesn't last because you don't honor God(Haggai 1:5-6)Stop cheating God and watch him bless you. Test him!(Malachi 3:8-10)God's Generosity Pathway (New Testament)Treasures impact your heart's desires. God will provide!(Matthew 6:19-21 & 31-33)Generosity to the poor matters(Matthew 19:21)Tithing is just the beginning of honoring God(Matthew 23:23)Generosity = Prosperity for sharing with others(2 Corinthians 9:6-12)

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 11:25-29, Exodus 20:8-11, 31:12-17, Mark 2:27Main Points:Why does a pastor need to take a Sabbatical?Make Time to rest.Generational Stress.Notes:What is a Sabbatical?NOT a vacation or a break from the work of ministry.NOT a reward for time served in ministry.An investment into the future of ministry.A chance to heal from the emotional and spiritual strain that accompanies ministry.A time, through healing, to reconnect with God in the quiet.A time for safety from surprise traumas or eventsEmotionally Healthy Spirituality-Pastor Peter ScazzeroSabbath is a 24-hour block of time in which we stop work, enjoy rest, practice delight, and contemplate God.”Stop – God is in control, not meRest – Intentional recovery for the soulDelight – Enjoy God's gifts/creationContemplate – Focus your life on GodThe Science of StressStress releases adrenaline and cortisolIncreased BP, Heart Attack & StrokeDecreased immune functionHormonal imbalancesDigestive disorders and ulcersMuscle tension, headaches & body painAlters memory, mood & emotionsShortens DNA protective caps, telomeresAnxiety, Depression, & sleep disruption

Scripture: Luke 6:12-19, Exodus 17:8-11, Mark 5:21-34Main Points:Find time for Prayer.Find your People.Love the One in front of you.Prayer in the BIBLE:1 Thessalonians 5:17 = pray without ceasingMatthew 6:5-13 = it doesn't have to be fancyRomans 12:12 = pray constantlyColossians 4:2 = continue steadfastly in prayerLuke 18:1 = always pray, don't lose heartPhilippians 4:6-7 = rid of anxiety and gives peaceMark 6:5-13 = Reminds of who God is, puts him in his rightful placePsalm 4:1 =gives reliefMark 11:24 = gives us what we ask forJames 5:14-15 = brings healing and forgivenessMark 11:25 = brings forgiveness for you as well as for othersPsalm 34:17 = deliverance from troubles

Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:13-16, Leviticus 20:7-8, John 14:15-17, 16:7-14, 20:19-22, Galatians 5:16-26Main Points:Righteous Response3 days laterLiving with GodHoly Living for JesusRom. 12:1-2 – Live as Holy SacrificesEph. 4:1 – Walk worthy of your callingTi. 2:11-12 – Renounce ungodliness2. Cor. 5:14-16 – God's love controls usGal. 5:16-25 – Life in the Spirit (Fruit)Phil. 2:12-13 – Work out salvation in fear & tremblingHeb. 12:14 – Without holiness, no one will see God1 John 3:2-3 – Hope compels us to purify ourselves

Scriptures: Romans 4:18-24, Romans 4:25-5:2, John 8:31-36Main Points:Impossible PromisesThe Hope of GloryThe Hope of FamilyResurrection OutcomesIs. 53:5 & 1 Pet. 2:24 – Paid the penalty for our sinsRom 3:25 & 1 John 2:2 – Satisfied the justice of God2 Cor 5:18-19 & Rom. 5:10 – Reconciled us to GodEph 1:7 & 1 John 1:9 – Forgave our sinsRom. 6:6-7 & Col. 1:14-14 – Defeated the power of sinCol. 2:15 & Heb 2:14-15 – Defeated Satan/Devil1 Cor. 15:2—22 & Rev. 1:18 – Defeated deathJohn 11:25-26 & 1 Pet. 1:3-4 – Gave us eternal life

Scriptures: John 3:28-34, John 1:29-30, Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 10:32-33Main Points: -I'm NOT Him.-The Lamb of God.-Beyond a Prayer.Prophecies of the MessengerMal. 3 – A messenger declaring the Messiah and judgementMal. 4 – Another “Elijah” to turn hearts of fathers/sonsLuke 1 – Gabriel says child will have the “spirit of Elijah” and to name him John (God is gracious)Luke 1 – Zechariah prophecies “prophet of the Most High”Public Professions of FaithPeter - Matthew 16:16Martha - John 11:27Nathanael - John 1:49Andrew - John 1:41Demons - Luke 4:41Centurion - Mark 15:39Disciples - Matthew 14:33Paul - Acts 9:20

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-9, 1 Peter 2:22-24, Romans 8:3-11Main Points:Sustitutionary deathGod ForsakenOut of Control

The Church was not designed for SundaysScriptures: Acts 2:42, 5:42Main Points:Love one another… John 13:34Serve one another… Gal. 5:13Carry one another's burdens… Gal. 6:2Encourage one another… 1 Thes. 5:11Be devoted to one another… Rom. 12:10

The Prodigal SonLuke 15:11-31, Isaiah 1:18-19Main Points:Livestock, cash, and kids.The longing of the Father.Passio pro mortuis suffering for the Dead.

Sermon Title: The Parable of the Unforgiving ServantScripture: Matt 18:23-35, Rom 6:16-23, Matt 11:28-30, Josh 24:14-15, Matt 18:21-22, 6:14-15Main Points: 1. Forgiven & Forgiving: We are constantly walking through the simultaneous action of beingforgiven by God and forgiving others. Our debt is far greater than those who sin against us!2. Debtors & Slaves: Biblically, someone is a slave to whoever they owe a debt. We were bornas slaves to sin, but have offered the opportunity to become slaves of God. Choose your Master.3. Limitless Forgiveness: Forgiving others becomes easier when we realize how great our debt isto God and how gracious he was to forgive us. No one gets forgiveness because they deserve it.Dig Deeper:1. Why is forgiveness so difficult when someone has sinned against us?2. Share a testimony of something God delivered you from when you were a “slave to sin.”3. What does it mean to become “slaves to righteous living?”4. How do we typically approach the concept of forgiving others? Do we love them afterwards?5. Take a few moments and contemplate if there is someone you need to forgive. What is stopping you?

Sermon Title: The Parable of the Persistent FriendScripture: Luke 11:5-10, Jas. 5:16, Gal. 6:2, Jas. 4:1-3, Matt. 6:9-13, Luke 11:11-13Main Points: 1. Sacred Responsibility: Prayer is not just about asking God for what we want. It fulfills thesacred responsibility of caring for others by lifting them and their needs in prayer.2. Prayer Motives: Why we pray is just as important as the things for which we are praying.James reminds us that our motives must be pure and Godly for our prayers to be answered.3. Wills & Needs: True prayer challenges our will and wants by putting them in alignment withGod's will for the things we need. What we need most is the Holy Spirit.Dig Deeper:1. What are most of your prayers about? Are they for you, or are they for others?2. What is something you've been praying about for a long time that you're still waiting to see?3. How can you make sure your motives are Godly when you are praying?4. How do you balance the difference between what you want and God's will when you pray?5. Why should we pray for more of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Sermon Title: The Parable of the Two SonsScripture: Matt. 21:28-32, John 8:34-41, Gal. 3:6-9 & 29, Jas. 2:26Main Points: 1. Love in Action: Our intentions do not define our love for God. It is our actions that we liveout daily that displays the depth (or lack thereof) of my love for God and his will.2. Heritage Cannot Save: A lineage of faithfulness does not connect us to God. We areindividually connected or disconnected from God. It's a relationship, not an association.3. Firm Faith: Faith is not simply belief. Faith is belief in action. Without action, it is not faith.We only act upon that which we truly believe. That should tell us a lot about our true beliefs.Dig Deeper:1. Share a story of a time when you knew you should obey God in something but didn't.2. Why does obedience to God (even when we've done it grudgingly) feel so good in the end?3. Who in your family tree is the “Pillar of Faith” that you look up to?4. What are some things you think you believe but struggle to walk out in faith?5. What is something you've been avoiding that you need to obey? It's not too late!Note:There are over 30 parables that Jesus taught throughout his ministry. The point of them was to use simple concepts to teach deep and difficult theological ideas. They are not whimsical or merely recommendations. They are some of the most important lessons of Christianity. In this one, Jesus shows that intentions are no comparison to action. Our faith in action is the only way to truly obey God. Many people think they are secure in their relationship with God because of their lineage of faith. Some may even say, “My mom is religious enough for all of us!” That truly isn't the case. Faith is a relationship with God, not an association with God's people. We aren't included by default. We follow by decision. Our decisions speak the truth about our true beliefs. We will not follow through on things that we do not actually believe. If we do not believe them, then we have not truly accepted the message of Jesus. This is why obedience is so important. Sometimes, we have to obey to make ourselves believe instead of waiting until we believe to start obeying.

Sermon: Otherly LoveScripture: Matthew 9:9-13 NLTMain Point: Love broken people before they are fixed.Misconception #1: Jesus loves everyone but only likes Christians. Truth: Jesus invites everyone to follow him out of a life of brokenness.Misconception #2: Jesus only accepts people who have it together. Truth: Jesus loves us as we are, but doesn't leave us that way.Misconception #3: Jesus separates himself from hurting people. Truth: Jesus wants us to go where the hurt is.

Sermon Title: American Jesus, Part 2Scripture: Matt. 25:1-13, Heb. 12:14-17, Matt. 25:14-30, John 15:2, Jas. 2:14-26, Matt. 25:31-46,Main Points: 1. Endurance: It is not just about starting the race, we have to finish. Jesus reminds us thatsalvation is a marathon that must be run to the end or we will miss the prize of eternity.2. Active Faith: True faith is alive and active. It reproduces itself and reproduces the Gospel inthe lives of others. It is so much more than the personal thing we make it.3. Compassion: Jesus offers more than a social Gospel. The activity of our salvation shouldproduce a heart that sees the needs of others and seeks to be a blessing to the least of these.Dig Deeper:1. How is our relationship with God more like a marathon than a sprint? How can we show that to others?2. What are some characteristics of a person who is living their life completely sold out for Jesus?3. What has God given to you that you could use to build His Kingdom?4. Why is compassion ministry so important to God? Why should it be more important to us?5. What could you be doing to show compassion to the “least of these?”

Sermon Title: American Jesus, Part 1Scripture: Rom. 10:9, Luke 14:25-30, Matt. 4:18-22, 16:21-28, John 16:33Main Points: 1. The Cost of Salvation: To truly accept the gift of salvation means that we have to rejecteverything that isn't part of that salvation. We forsake all others and cleave only to God.2. The Cost of Following: We say that we are “following Jesus,” but the truth is we are oftentrying to lead him and include him. Following means surrender and a second seat to Jesus.3. The Cost of a Soul: We all want God to bless us with a good life, but God wants to bless oursouls with salvation, even if it costs some comfort in this life.DIG DEEPER-1. What has your salvation cost you? What changes has it made in your life?2. What have you given up for the sake of following Jesus?3. Where do you think that God is leading you in your life? What's his plan?4. Share a story of a time when the challenges of life caused you to question God's goodness.5. If God is most concerned with our souls, what does that mean for our everyday lives?

Sermon- Omnipotence (omnis potentia)Scripture: Genesis 1:1-3m, 2 Samuel 7:8-11, 1 Peter 1:3-5Main Points:The Paradox of the STONE .God needs NOTHING to create everything.God's power and plan EXCEED our imaginations.God's power to SAVE is the greatest miracle of all.SERMON NOTES:Omnipotence in the Bible Genesis 1:1 - God creates everything ex nihilo Job 42:2 – God can do all things Psalm 33:6 – God created by speaking Jerimiah 32:17 – Nothing too difficult for God Isaiah 40:28 – God never gets tired Matthew 19:26 – Nothing impossible for God Ephesians 3:20 – Beyond what we can imagine

Sermon: Omnipresence (omnis praesentia)Scriptures: Psalm 139:5-12, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Matthew 18:19-20, 2 Chronicles 7:13-15Sermon Notes:Omnipresence in the BibleJeremiah 23:23-24 – God fills the whole earth1 Kings 8:27 – Earth cannot contain GodProverbs 15:3 – God's eyes are everywhereMatthew 28:20 – God is with usActs 17:27-28 – God is never far awayEphesians 4:6 – God is over all and in allColossians 1:17 – All things held together by GodMain Points:1. Comfort & Challenge: God sees and knows all things. It comforts us because there is no difficulty that escapes his view. It challenges us because he sees every sinful heart. 2. Fellowship Reflects God: God's presence is inside us, but his glory is reflected in our fellowship and communal worship. Inviting his glory activates his power. 3. God Dwells In Righteousness: Humility and prayer are important, but God responds to righteousness because it's sacrificial and reflects the sacrifice he made for us. Notes: David is uniquely positioned to speak of God's Kingdom Authority because he himself is a king. He understands that a kingdom is accessible to a king, but that a king is not always accessible to the kingdom. However, he sees God's ability to be everywhere at all times for all his people and he marvels over it. God's presence is in us personally, but his glory is found in our fellowship and corporate worship. He says he is always with us but makes it so that we must gather two or three to see his power activated fully. The presence of God is further activated through upholding a Biblical standard of righteousness in our lives. When we live for God, it invites him to move in and through us with greater fluidity. Humility and prayer are good, but it takes turning away from sin to truly see the power of God activated personally and/or corporately.

Sermon Title: New Year, Same God, Part 2- Omnibenevolence (omnis benevolentia)Scriptures: Genesis 1:31, Genesis 2:15-17, Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Jeremiah 29:11-14Main Points:Why should God get all the credit for good things and none of the blame for bad things?God demonstrates his goodness through instruction.Human will conflicts with the goodness of God's will.Even when it hurts, God has a good plan for my life.Sermon Notes:Definition: Possessing perfect and limitless goodnessThe goodness of God can be conceived in terms of God in himself (ad intra) and God's work in creation (ad extra). A thing is good to the extent that it is all that it can and should be—namely, perfect. God alone is all that he can and should be. Thus, since God is wholly perfect, lacking nothing, he is the supreme and absolute good. Moreover, since he is already himself fully perfect according to his nature, there is no end—no good—toward which he strives. That is to say, God is immutably incapable of becoming more good or less good. To refer to God's goodness is simply to refer to God himself. That is to say, God's essence is identical with goodness, and goodness is an essential and necessary attribute of the divine nature. Since God is infinite, his goodness is as immeasurable as his being and nature. Moreover, as self-sufficient, God does not derive his goodness from anything else. Thus, he rests in himself as good. -Lexham Survey of Theology, God's GoodnessInevitably, when we talk about the goodness of God, this is the question that plagues most people. We treat this question with incredulity because it seems unfair in our eyes that God should only get credit for something if it's good. Even for those who believe in God's ultimate goodness, there remains the question of the things that he allows which are not good. He himself is good. He has the power to stop that which is not good. If he doesn't stop that which is not good when he instruction, stop it, how can he himself still be good?How do we teach out children what the word hot means? Some of us will tell a kid over and over again, ”No. Don't touch. That's hot.” Now the truth is a child does not know what hot means until one day they touch something either because you permitted them, they disobeyed or a combination of the two. When a child gets burned, are you a bad parent because that happened? No. You had warned them. You had even scolded them for getting too close to whatever was hot. instruction, the fact remains that they did not know what hot meant until they got burned.

Sermon Title: New Year, Same God, OmniscienceScriptures: Psalm 139:1-4,16, Romans 8:26-30, Hebrews 4:10-13Main Points: God has a PLAN for me in 2025.I need the Holy Spirit more than a resolution.I will give an account to God for everything.Sermon Notes:While there are many doctrines that are not agreed upon universally, the doctrine of omniscience has always been an ecclesial belief. It is deeply rooted in scriptures of the Old and New Testatments. The word omniscience can only define God. It is derived from the Latin words omnis (all) and scientia (knowledge) and literally means that someone possesses “all knowledge.” Who, other than God, could ever truly embody this concept?If you are someone who has had their life completely changed by one day… are you willing to believe that it can happen again?When we read the Bible, it REVEALS to us what is already EXPOSED before God, to whom we must someday give an account!

The Christmas Story, Life-Altering Journeys to Jesus, Part 5-Why are you here?Scriptures: Luke 2:15, Matthew 2:2, Luke 1:38, Matthew 1:24, Matthew 2:3Main Points:The Shepherds-Hunger for MoreThe Magi-Hope and ExpectationThe Parents-Blessing and ObedienceThe Kings-Fear of the UnknownSermon Notes:There were a number of individuals who were part of the birth story. The question we might ask all of them is “Why are you here?” What's a magician from the far east doing here? Why are there shepherds here? What's this young girl and her husband doing here? Let's take a few minutes to look at the reasons they were there and finally the reason that one person didn't show up. Which one is most like you?There are some people who find their way to Jesus because at one point in their lives they had an experience that changed their perspectives. Something happened that sparked just enough interest in them to create a “hunger for more.” So, they go looking. But be careful… sometimes our hunger for more ends in disappointment because we think that more is going to be grandiose and experiential. Make sure your hunger fore more doesn't drive you away from God after the goosebumps and the hype are gone.We've been hearing about the coming Messiah. We've come a long way because we want to find him. If he's real, we want to worship him! Sometimes we show up because we need some hope in our lives and we are filled with just enough expectation that Jesus could be the answer to some longing within us that we don't even understand. It comes on the heals of the “there's got to be more than this” moment that most of us have or will experience. What if Jesus is the more? What if God is the answer? What if giving my life to God would change the way I see myself and the world around me? I am hoping he's the answer to everything I'm expecting. That's why I'm here!Some people end up at the feet of Jesus just because that's what you're supposed to do. God commanded it. So, I'm going. God said I have to give my heart to him. God said I have to follow him. God said I have to obey him. That's why I'm here. They can't imagine not being here. It wasn't always that way, but somehow at some point God got ahold of their hearts and they can't even consider doing anything but obeying now. The amazing part of Mary and Joseph's story is that there was a blessing in their obedience, not just for them, but for the whole world!We have all these people who showed up for different reasons to be part of the birth of Jesus. Then, we have a group that was no where to be found. They are typified through King Herod. He was the “King of the Jews” at the time of Jesus' birth. When he was told by the Magi that they had come to find the newborn King of the Jews… he was disturbed by that. The announcement of the Messiah was disturbing to all of Jerusalem. Why were they so surprised? They should have known. They probably did. However, there was fear. Life is cushy. It's manageable. What will happen if Jesus takes over? What will it do to my world? What will it do to my kingdom?If you are someone who has had their life completely changed by one day… are you willing to believe that it can happen again?

Sermon: Hope is AliveScriptures: Psalm 16:1-11, Psalm 84:10-12Main Points:Hope begins when we make the decision to follow God completely.Hope follows Trust in Jesus as we let Him show us the Way of Life.Sermon Notes:What does it mean to completely trust in God?John 11:25 – God will save you from your sinDeut. 31:5 – God will never leave you or forsake youJas. 1:5 – God will give you wisdom to guide youPs. 37:3 – God will direct your steps if you are righteousMal. 3:10 – God will provide for you if you are generousIs. 55:8-9 – God sees and knows what you do notMatt. 6:33 – God will take care of everything if you put him firstRom. 8:28 – God is working good things for those who love himHow can we confidently approach 2025 and hope for it to be a good year? Let's move away from ideas that it might be “the best year ever” or “a better year than last year.” We are too downtrodden with our thoughts. There is a biblical pathway for choosing hope in our lives and it begins with a foundation of godliness that we must each choose to build upon each day.

The Christmas Story, Life-Altering Journeys to Jesus, Part 2 The Kings Scriptures: Micah 2:12-13; Micah 5:2-5; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 2:12-16; Revelation 17:14 Main Points: 1. The Servant King 2. The Fearful King 3. The Insecure Kings 4. The King of Kings Sermon Notes: Within this story, there are four kings. The first King in the story is the the easiest to discuss. His name is Jesus. We see in scripture that he is heralded as a coming king who will change the world. His coming was foretold for hundreds of years. His journey to Earth is not something that we can so quickly glance over. While the rest of us are on a life-altering journey to Jesus, he was on an unbelievable journey of humiliation and blessing. The other three kings of this story are the Parthian Emperor Phraates IV, the Roman Emperor August Caesar and the King of the Jewish territory, Herod the Great. The book of Revelation describes the ending of everything as we know it. It's the end of the world. It's the end of human suffering. It's the end of sin and evil's dominion. It's the time when the King of all Kings defeats every enemy of the world, past, present and future, and established eternal peace for his people. It is a battle won for the Glory of God and only those who are “with” him will be the victors. So, why do we keep fighting against him? Why do we scheme to maintain a façade of control in our lives, thinking that we could never truly surrender to God? The only way we win is if we lose.

The Christmas Story, Life-Altering Journeys to Jesus, Part 4- The Parents Scriptures: Matthew 1:18-21,2:11; Luke 1:26-38,2:16-18,25-28 Main Points: 1. The Challenge of Faith2. The Response of Faith 3. The Fruit of Faith Sermon Notes: There are times when following God is not going to be easy. When I stop to think about the things that Mary and Joseph endured, it feels like it's too much. Imagine being a 12-year-old girl and trying to explain to your parents and your fiancé that your pregnancy is God's doing and that you are not a fornicator. How well do you think that argument went? On a side note... I wonder how many times that excuse has been tried since then? Then, imagine you are Joseph. I don't want us to lose sight of how marriage worked in this her but. Mary and Joseph were not marrying for love. They were marrying because Mary needed a husband and Joseph needed a wife. He was entering into a contract to care for Mary. Imagine his reaction when he finds out that this young woman has been unfaithful to him? That may not sound like a huge deal in our time, but it would have been appalling to them. Even for us, this is a stretch. A 12/13-year-old girl is pregnant? Where were her parents? How did this happen? As if all this isn't bad enough, God sends an angel to Joseph to tell him that he should not divorce pregnant, should still take her as his wife. God has brought disgrace to Mary by impregnating her out of wedlock. Now, he is bringing disgrace to Joseph by asking him to care for a wife who is pregnant, and everyone will know it is not his child. There is shame and disgrace surrounding everything. Yet, this is the way that God chose to bring about the birth of Jesus. Here's the “Challenge of Faith.” God just might birth something in you that doesn't make sense to anyone else, or even worse, could harm your reputation and bring shame to you! God wouldn't do that! He did. He does. He is less concerned with our earthly reputations than we are. That means we have to be open to what God is doing, even when we don't fully understand it. We may have had an idea in our head about how something was going to go. That may not be God's plan. He may do something that alarms us or confuses us. We have to see the response that these parents had and be open to God. “I am the LORD's servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” There are few things in the world that can bring such awe and trepidation as to say to the creator of the universe… “Have your way with me. Do what you think is best. Do what is best for your Kingdom. Do what will accomplish your will. Not my will, but your will be done.” These are faith-filled responses. Writing a blank check with your life and handing it to God is terrifying, but it's also satisfying. Mary and Joseph both had a decision to make. They could have said, “No.” They could have refused God's plan. He likely would have used someone else, but they would have been removed from the story. We read in the birth narratives that “Mary treasured these things in her heart.” What did she treasure? Was she merely treasuring the moment? Or, was she treasuring her decision to say yes so that she could be there? It's hard to say, but important to consider. There will be times in your life when you realize, ”I'm here and part of this because I said yes.” There may also be times in our lives when we stop to consider, “I wonder what would have happened if I had said yes?” Let's not forget that along the way there may be a few times when you think, “Why oh why did I say yes?” They are all part of the process of trusting God and following his lead for your life. If you stop to consider some of the greatest events in scripture, most of them came after someone said yes to something really difficult.

The Christmas Story, Life-Altering Journeys to Jesus, Part 1 The Magi Scriptures: Matthew 2:1-12, John 3:12-15, 1 Corinthians 1:26-28, Matthew 13:44-46, Main Points: 1. Intellectual Journey 2. Earthly Wisdom vs Heavenly Wisdom 3. Don't forget where you came from or where you're trying to go. 4. An intellectual journey to Jesus takes a lot of time and effort. 5. Discover the value of knowing Jesus. Sermon Notes: The Magi represent those who have a more intellectual approach to seeking Jesus. They want the answers. They want the clues. They want the proof. If they see proof, they will follow up the lead, but they aren't taking anything on faith. There are several interesting aspects of their discovery which led them to Jesus. We have evidence of this today. Is there an intellectual journey to Jesus that we can take to find him? Yes! However, there are a few guidelines we must carefully consider along the way. The first is evidenced in a conversation that Jesus had with a man named Nicodemus. He was a teacher of the law, a Pharisee. He was well-educated in the scriptures and had spent his entire life pursuing an understanding of the things of God. He was teaching the law and highly regarded. Yet, when Jesus steps on the scene he is confounded by the things Jesus says. Jesus makes one thing very clear to him in his conversation that we can read in John 3. To be clear… both exist. There is wisdom that can be found, interpreted and applied here on earth. The book of Proverbs, the teaching of Solomon and a lot of Jesus's teaching attest to this truth. There is a pursuit of earthly wisdom and understanding that is important. However, this must be accompanied by a pursuit of Heavenly wisdom. This kind of wisdom is not as easy to ascertain and understand. It's not as easy to comprehend or teach. It is part of the journey to Jesus.

The Christmas Story, Life-Altering Journeys to Jesus, Part 3 The Shepherds Scriptures: Luke 2:8-20; Psalm 23; John 10:11-16 Main Points: 1. The God of One Day. 2. The Message of Hope. 3. The God of Tomorrow. Sermon Notes: One of the most encouraging things about God, is that he only needs one day to change everything. However, this can be deflating when we are waiting for our day! The very first prophecy of the Messiah had come somewhere around 700 years before Jesus was born through the Prophet Isaiah (Is. 53). I don't know about you, but that's a long time to wait! God is a good shepherd! He provides for us. He protects us. He strengthens us. He leads us. He anoints us. He blesses us! Jesus is The Good Shepherd! He lays down his life for the sheep and he gathers those who are not yet his. He won't rest until they are under his care. He is pursuing them with an everlasting love! He died and rose again for people who were not worthy. We were like sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36) and he rescued us. We were wandering around aimlessly, with no one to care for us. Then… ONE DAY… Jesus became our shepherd. He gave us his promise and sealed it with his blood. He gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. He laid down his life so we don't have to die for our sins! This is the message of hope! It's a life-changing, life-giving message! Why aren't we sharing it?

Sermon Title: Grateful Over Hateful Scriptures: Philippians 4:2-9, Matthew 5:9, 23-24, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Ephesians 4:30-32. MAIN POINTS: 1. If you have a disagreement with someone... Fix it 2. If you see a disagreement between Believers... Fix it 3. Prayer is a defense that protects you from offense 4. Fix your thoughts before you fix someone else's 5. In choosing between being right and showing love… love like Jesus

Sermon Title: Jonah, pt 3- Does God give second chances? Scriptures: Jonah 3:1-5,4:1-3,5-9,10-11, Genesis 39:2-4,21-23,41:38-40 Main Points: 1. Who gets the blessing? The inclination to return to God and obey him is much greater when we think that it will result in a blessing for us. We desire the restoration of our path and God's plan. We want the blessing that will come from reconciliation. How will we respond if we find out that the blessing goes to someone else for our obedience? 2. Look for the Lesson. While the storm certainly teaches us about obedience, this is not the only lesson. On the other side we find that God is not simply teaching us about obedience, but he is giving us an opportunity to gain perspective. 3. Is God's plan worth it? At the beginning of the message, I gave you a list of individuals to whom God gave second chances. The interesting thing about nearly all of them is that by the end of their lives, they are praising God for all that he has done. They've gone through the process of storms. They've received the gift of 2nd chances and the lessons that are imparted during that process. They get to the end of their lives with a profound love for God and a perspective of his goodness. I see this as a “Perspective of Praise.” Jonah, however, did not. NOTES: There is no conclusion to Jonah's story outside of his anger with God's plan of mercy for the Ninevites. The book ends with a question from God that Jonah never answers. I think that God did it this way on purpose. He's good at stuff like that! I think the answer to the question wasn't for Jonah. I think it was for us. Jonah got a unique perspective of God's process and at the end was faced with the totality of God's plan. It was for the salvation of 120,000 people that God cares about. The numbers, people and places aren't the real question. God's question that echoes down to us is simply this, “Is my plan worth it?” That is a question that we each must answer, often without knowing the totality of the impact. What do you say to your storm, your struggles, your lessons and God's plan? Is it worth it? Is he worth it? Can you trust him? The answer is up to you…

Sermon Title: Jonah, pt 2–When is a storm more than a storm? Scripture: Jon. 1:4-12, Luke 15:20-21, John 9:2-3, Ps. 116:1-4 & 17-18, Dan. 4:34-37, Rom. 5:3-5 Main Points: 1. Confession & Repentance: When we know that the storm is our fault, we must confess our sin to God and repent (turn away from our sin). This is for our benefit! 2. The Glory of God: Regardless of the cause, God is able to get glory in any storm. Our repentance gives him glory. Our righteous response to suffering gives him glory. 3. Praise in the Storm: Even in our pain, God is still worthy of our praise. That is not a feeling. It's a fact. When we choose to ignore the feeling and face the fact, we honor God. 4. Return to God: After our time of testing we are met with a decision. We can either draw closer to God or turn away from him. The decision affects our future with God. Prayer: Suffering is difficult for us to comprehend. We do not like it. We don't like punishment. We don't like to be collateral damage for someone else's sin. We don't like natural outcomes. We want to see God blessing us in all things. Pray for those in your group who are suffering. Pray that God would open their eyes to see that whether He is the cause or not, there is a righteous way for us to respond to suffering that is worship. Notes: Jonah knew that the storm was his fault. We often wrestle with this question in our own lives. It can drive us to see where blame belongs. Seeking to find appropriate blame distracts us from what is most important in our suffering. The cause is not as significant as our response. How we respond speaks to the depth of our faith in God and our love for Him. Our anger in suffering does nothing to produce peace. It is the decision we make to confess our sins, repent and draw close to God that makes us stronger in the storms of our lives. Our “tested” faith produces endurance (Rom. 5:3-5) so that we can endure to the end in relationship with God.

Sermon Title: Jonah, pt 1–Why would someone run from God? Scripture: Jon. 1:1-3, Matt. 5:43-48 & 6:14-15, 2 Cor. 11:23-27, Lu 14:26-30, 2 Ki. 14:23-25, Am. 6:14 Main Points: 1. Forgiveness is Hard: Jonah despised the idea that God wanted to show mercy to Israel's enemies. An attitude of unforgiveness drives us from God. We run from mercy. 2. The Process is Hard: Jonah would have to travel 500 mi to preach to Nineveh. Sometimes we think the things God is asking are too much. So, we back away from His plans. 3. God Doesn't Make Sense: God tells Jonah to witness to the enemy that Amos says is going to destroy Israel! When God's plan doesn't make sense, we run. Logic and faith are not equals. Notes: Jonah was alive in the 700's B.C. He lived and prophesied at the same time as Amos, during the reign of King Jeroboam II. There is wickedness in the Kingdom of Israel. Jonah prophesied that God would still bless Israel, while Amos prophesied punishment. Jonah is speaking of victory over Assyria while Amos is predicting punishment from God at the hand of Assyria. They seem to be contrasting and wrong. Jonah is speaking of God's blessing through obedience, which Jeroboam II and Israel did not choose, and Amos is giving God's warning of punishment if Israel does not turn from wickedness. When Israel does not turn, it is Amos' prophecy that comes true and that directly overturns the prophecy given by Jonah. At the same time, Jonah is being asked to go and witness to this enemy so they can repent. It's a wild series of events that must be understood in context for Jonah's response to make more sense.

Sermon Title: This Changes Everything, Pt 3 Scripture: Phil. 4:6-8, Eph. 3:14-21, 8-12, Josh. 1:9, Ps. 34:7, Matt. 18:20 & 28:20, Heb. 13:5 Main Points: 1. Fix Your Eyes On God: We tend to believe that the Presence of God is only in church services or in quiet moments. We can invite God's presence into everything in our lives! 2. More Than You Can Imagine: God does not give us his power for our use or to do work through us. He wants to give himself to us; just him for no other reason than relationship. 3. God Is Inviting You: We shy away from God because we feel unworthy. We are sinful, but he is merciful. He longs to bring us to the King's Table and refresh us with his love. 1. What barriers keep you from living in and experiencing the presence of God? 2. When and where do you feel like you are experiencing the presence of God in your life? 3. How could you invite God into the everyday things that keep you busy? 4. Are you a cup or a pitcher? Does God give himself to you for others or just so you can receive? 5. What practical steps can you take in your life to begin practicing the Presence of God? Notes: Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection was a cook in a French monastery who learned that service for God is more than spending time in solitude and silence. While the Monks around him were devoting themselves in solitude, he was devoting himself in service. He invited God into his work, even work that he did not enjoy, and learned how to Practice the Presence of God in everything. The two greatest barriers to God's presence are busyness and worthiness. We think that we can only experience God in services or solitude, but we can invite him into everything and then experience even greater times of joy in those places. We also consider ourselves unworthy. We are unworthy, but Jesus did not come for worthy people. His invitation is not for worthy people. His invitation is that of a King to wretches who have no business in his presence, but whom he desires to invite to his table and feed from his own hands. He delights in wretches and elevates us to the status of “Child of the King.”

Sermon Title: This Changes Everything, Pt 2Scripture: Rom. 8:5-8, Ex. 34:27-30, Matt. 5:17-20, John 14:15-21, 2 Pet. 1:3-11Main Points: 1. Accept God's Authority: Our relationship with God is covenantal. Accepting that covenantmeans humbly submitting to the sovereignty of God.2. Keep God's Commands: Our love for God is not demonstrated in words, but in actions. Weshow true devotion to God by keeping the commands found in scripture as our worship.3. Plow Through the Plateaus: We often ask, “Where is God?” when we experience momentsof difficulty. In these moments, we find a return to God's faithfulness through scripture andthe testimony of his love for all of us.Notes: Submission requires taking a lower position while elevating someone or something else to a level thatexceeds our own. When we trust in God and submit to his authority, we relinquish our own in exchange for his.This exchange is difficult when we are immature, but the more we know about God the better we realize thistrade to be. Love is not a statement of words or a system of beliefs. Love for God is demonstrated throughobedience to the commands that are given in scripture. In immaturity, we see Christianity as a system of dosand don'ts. As we grow in relationship with Jesus, we learn that he had our best interests in mind from thestart. However, submission and love are challenged when difficulties arise. We may find it difficult to keeppursuing these things with God when we are hurting, disappointed or steeped in sin. In these moments wecannot succumb to the lies of the enemy. The only way out is to press in to the goodness of God.

Sermon Title: This Changes Everything, Pt 1 Scripture: Ex. 33:13-20, 34:29-30, Matt 17:1-6, John 1:1-6, 2 Cor. 3:13-18, Deut. 6:4, Ex 3:14-15 Main Points: 1. Attributes of God: The beauty/splendor/majesty/honor of God is expressed in his attributes. He is: self-existent, unified, spirit, simple, immutable, infinite, eternal, omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. 2. God's Glory Changes Me: When we reflect the glory of God, it is apparent to the world. It is not something we have to say. It shines through our character and daily lives. 3. Access to God's Glory: The work of the cross gives us the clearest picture of God's glory as manifested through Jesus' substitutionary death and subsequent resurrection victory. Small group questions:1. What attributes of God are most recognizable and easy to believe about God? 2. What attributes of God are harder to believe fully? Which ones do you wish you understood better? 3. What are some characteristics of a person who reflects the glory of God to those around them? 4. How does Jesus reveal the Glory of God for all of us? 5. In what ways do you want to better reflect the “glorious image of Christ” for your family and friends? Prayer: A lot of people would say that they want a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. As we outline some of the most significant ways that our relationship changes, it's going to be a matter of prayer and application that truly makes the shift. Pray that God would reveal his glory to the people of your group and pray that they would have the boldness to see everything in their lives changed by the Glory of God. Notes: When we hear the word glory we are prone to think of it in our modern terms. We might describe it as the honor or the credit for something. Glory, as it relates to God, is something deeper and wider. There are about 10 different words used in scripture that we translate as glory. Most significantly we see kabowd (Hebrew; the weight of splendor) and doxa (Greek; glory) used in scripture. The Old Testament gives us the fullness of the definition through multiple words. The New Testament simplifies all of them in the word doxa which just means glory. God's glory is made powerful in our lives through our comprehension of his beauty. Then it is magnified through the reflection of that beauty that we live as our worship for the God who redeemed us.

Sermon Title: Jesus for President Scripture: 2 Sam. 12:14-15, Ps. 101:8, Rom. 13:1, Matt 5:14-16, Mal. 3:8-10, Num 34:2, Jer. 19:4-5, 1 Cor. 6:12-19 1. Christianity & Politics: For much of history, Christians have seen it as their duty to be involved in politics. It's the best way to infuse Biblical beliefs into leadership positions. 2. God on the Issues: It takes study, but the Bible speaks to every issue of our day. We can find guidance and direction from the LORD if we make the effort to do so. 3. Biblical Voting: As the “light of the world” we have a responsibility to infuse Biblical truth into the dark places of the world. Voting is one significant way that we can accomplish that.

Scriptures: Romans 10:8-15, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Proverbs 3:5-6,9-10, 27-28 NLT The Gospel is FREE to those who receive it, but it will COST those who give it away. Where should we send the Gospel? One Day for the Nations, Sunday, October 6, 2024. $20,000. Convoy of Hope and the Missionary Housing project in Carlisle. Break It Down: Salary $ ______________ / ________ work-days Offering = $ ______________________

Scriptures: Genesis 2:7, Psalm 23:1-3, 42:11, Matthew 10:28, Mark 8:36-37, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, James 1:5-6 What is a SOUL? How do I care for my SOUL? What does it mean to lose your SOUL? The part of us that aligns our whole being with God. Your soul is what integrates your will (your intentions), your mind (your thoughts and feelings, your values and conscience), and your body (your face, body language, and actions) into a single life. soul-care vs self-care. Soul-Greek= psychē; root word in psychology. Recalibrate your inner world. To fall out with self and with God.

PASTORScriptures: Ephesians 4:11-13, Psalm 23:1-4, John 10:11-15, 1 Timothy 4:14-16 NLTA pastor is God's heart for the church. They are given the grace to care for the needs of those in the church.A pastor's responsibility:LeadFeedProtectGod is a Good Shepherd.A good shepherd:Cares for my needsKeeps me safe from harmProvides for my rest and strengthWon't harm his name (or mine)Won't leave me when I'm in dangerWill protect me from an attackA Good Shepherd Sacrifices.Embrace the Gift.

Gospel of John- Blind beggar EVANGELIST- An evangelist is God's passion for the church. They are given the grace to reach the lost for the benefit of growing the church. I'm not good enough — Jesus is perfect so I don't have to be I'm too busy — I prioritize what is eternally important I don't know what to say — I can share my story Two-Line Testimony: Jesus saved me from ( what ) and gave me ( what ). Significant Scripture: ( what is you go to verse ).Alive is 5God is love.Our sin divides us from God.Jesus died for our sin, then came back to life.We need to decide to put our faith in God.The Holy Spirit will help us live for God.

TEACHER Scriptures: Colossians 1:9-10 NLT, 2 Peter 3:18 NIV, Philippians 3:8 ESV, Exodus 33:12-23 NIV • God's Word is transformative. • The gifted teacher encourages us to keep on growing” or “be constantly growing.” • Grace: God's Riches At Christ's Expense. • Have a specific time and place that you meet with God daily.

Five Fold, Part 2 Prophet Scriptures: Ephesians 4:11-16; Matthew 24:23-24; 1 John 4:1; Deuteronomy 18:18-22; Jeremiah 23:16-32 NLT -A prophet is God's voice to the church. They are given the grace to speak on behalf of God for the benefit of the church. -Pseudoprophets are coming. -Pass or Fail Testing

Five Fold, part 1-Apostle Scriptures: Ephesians 4:11-16, Corinthians 12:12, Hebrews 13:17 The Church Needs: Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers To Be God's: Delegate Voice Passion Heart Wisdom -God gave us individuals with a GRACE to fulfill a responsibility that protects and propels the Church. -An apostle is God's delegate to the church. They are given the grace to act with the authority of God for the benefit of the church. APOSTOLIC PROOFS- sēmeiois-signs terasin-wonders dynamesin-power -Office and Responsibility -The Blessing of Authority

Scripture: Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 144:1, Matthew 4:19-21, Ephesians 5:25-30 DEFIANT or DEFEATED- Wilderness Mentality: Winner-Selfish-Loser Empowered-Over-confident-Powerless Strong-Toxic-Weak Courageous-Dangerous-Fearful Leader-Arrogant-Follower Driven-Unyielding-Unmotivated Successful-Greedy-Stagnant Loyal-Narrowminded-Unreliable (I don't want to take anything away from women here. That's not what this is about. Women… ladies… please hear me. YOU ARE CAPABLE of any of these things. You are capable of winning, empowerment, strength, courage, leadership, motivation, success and loyalty. You CAN do this… but men MUST have these things to feel satisfied in life. That's not a gender stereotype.) “There are three desires I find written so deeply into my heart I know now I can no longer disregard them without losing my soul... I am convinced these desires are universal, a clue into masculinity itself. They may be misplaced, forgotten, or misdirected, but in the heart of every man is a desperate desire for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.” -John Eldredge, Wild at Heart -A Battle to Fight -An Adventure to Live -A Beauty to Rescue Joshua Blessing: No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For God will be with you as He was with Joshua. He will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead your family, your church and your community to possess all the blessings God promised to give to them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions written in the Word of God. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study God's Word continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. I solemnly challenge you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Sermon Title: What is Truth? Scriptures: Timothy 3:16, Genesis 2:8-9,15-17, Genesis 3:1-7, Romans 12:2 1. Truth comes from God. 2. Did God really say...

Scripture: James 4:11-12, Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, Hebrews 10:26-31 NLT 1. What does the Bible say about judging others? 2. Did I talk to them first? Are they in the room? 3. That time your sin affected me… What does the Bible say about gossip? Lev. 19:16 Prov. 11:12-13 Prov. 16:28 Prov. 20:19 Matt. 12:36 Rom. 1:29 2 Cor. 12:20 Gal. 5:13 1 Tim. 5:13 Jas. 3:7-8