Seaside Church

After finishing 2 Samuel and before we start 1 Peter this fall, we are going to pause and listen to some of our brothers and sisters share about what God is doing in their lives and how they see Him working in the world around them.Luke 24 tells the story of two disciples walking along the road to the village of Emmaus. This happened the same day that Jesus was raised from the dead. As they walked and talked, Jesus joined them. Scripture says the disciples were kept from recognizing him. Jesus walked and talked with them for 7 miles. When they arrived at the village, the disciples urged Jesus to stay, and he did. When Jesus broke bread with them, the disciples' eyes were opened, and they recognized that it was Jesus. And then Jesus vanished.Like the two disciples in the story, sometimes we don't see where God is working around us. Sometimes Jesus is teaching us things, and we don't realize it. We don't always recognize when the Lord is speaking to us. Sometimes we go about our lives and easily miss what God is doing.Stories are one of the best teachers. It's no coincidence that the Bible's primary style is narrative – telling the stories of people who have gone before us. We learn from their successes and failures. We learn about their experience with God.Similarly, when we hear each other's stories of triumph, struggle, and God's goodness, it draws us together. It grows our collective faith and reminds us that we are all walking this same road together with Jesus.So, this morning we'll hear several stories that are different from each other, but at the core is the same story: God's people walking with Jesus. Each of these stories is a part of OUR story as WE all walk through life with Jesus together. This is important, so we are taking time in our Sunday gathering to do this now, which is great. But I want to encourage us to do this more often, wherever we are. We need to build the habit of sharing our stories and experiences about Jesus with each other.

In 2 samuel 24, King David predifully leans on his own understanding, looking to his own strength to prevail, instead of depending on the Lord to guard him. As a result, Israel pays a hefty price, and though we are left with yet another story of David's failure, God's mercy shines through as god continues to make a way to be with his people. King Jesus is…-A perfect King-An all-powerful King-A merciful King2 Samuel 24-1-9: David sinfully counts his fighting men, against the counsel of Joab. -10-14: David repents of his sin, ultimately depending on the Lord's mercy as he chooses between three consequences.-15-17: 70,000 people die of the plague, as the angel of the Lord enters Jerusalem, David asks God to spare his people.-18-25: The Lord tells David to build an altar on what would later become the temple mount; David offers costly sacrifices, and the Lord stops the plague Principles for interpreting, and applying the Bible:-Approach the Bible on its own terms-Context is key -Use what's clear to interpret what's unclear

1. God is faithful2. Community is necessaryThree Themes of Samuel:1. God opposes the proud and exalts the humble2. Despite human evil, God is at work3. God will raise up a Messianic King

-God, our REFUGE in distress-God, our RESCUER from distress-God alone is WORTHY of our trust & praise

A SUMMARY OF THE 2 SAMUEL EPILOGUE (21-24):-Don't idolize or romanticize this king. OUR COMMON GROUND WITH KING DAVID:-Like David, we are often slow in recognizing and responding to injustice experienced by others. -Like David, we are limited in making things right after a wrong has been done.-By contrast, we are challenged by the courage and persistence of Rizpah.-Like David, our physical strength will fail.REMEMBER, JESUS IS THE BETTER KING!-He hears our cries when deprived of justice -He awakens us to care about the plight of others-He gives us courage to stand for what is right and true-He invites us to ask for wisdom when leading others-He is strong to deliver us when we are weak-And, as perfect justice AND mercy, Jesus is our Comfort and Hope

Hope in God's promise of a completely reconstructed future-Jesus will conquer evil (Rev. 17-20)-Jesus will renew the world (Rev. 21-22)Walking down the road of reconstruction today-The road is long & bumpy (but good)-God is with us on the road-The road is paved with mercy

-God opposes the proud & exalts the humble-Despite human evil, God is at work-God will raise up a messianic King 

How do we reclaim faith in exile?-Lament [not distance or despair]-Surrender [not control]-Courageous action [not inaction]-Dependence [not self-reliance]

1. Sin impacts us and everything around us2. The problem of sin starts with us (the sickness is myself) 3. God can free us from sin and bring healing-13:1-19 Amnon, filled with lust, takes and rapes his half-sister Tamar, then discards her.-13:20-29 Absalom and David hear of Amnon's sin against Tamar; Absalom kills Amnon-13:30-38 David grieves, Absalom flees-14:1-24 Joab devises a plan to get Absalom back to Jerusalem-14:25-33 Absalom arranges reunion with David

Surrendering a broken heart1. We must recognize our helplessness.2. We must ask God for help.3. God transforms his people through relationship with Him.4. Right relationship with God strengthens our community.5. God delights in our sacrifices when they flow from right relationship with Him.

The Lord Sees King David's Sin (11:27)...What will the Lord do about David's sin & how will David respond? -12:1-14 The Lord sends David a messenger-12:15-23 The Lord strikes David's son -12:24-25 David goes to Bathsheba & Solomon is born -12:26-31 Joab sends for David to defeat Rabbah

What can we learn from David's fall? Soberly consider our own corruption-Our vulnerability to sin intensifies when we isolate ourselves.-The lure of sin blinds us to the inevitable consequences of sin.-Our sin sucks us into heartless, evil measures to cover it up.-Covering our sin hardens our hearts, resulting in an indifference and disregard for other people.Trust in Jesus to rescue us:Freedom from the penalty of sinFreedom from the power of sinFreedom from the presence of sin

What a good king does:• Comforting those in loss and sorrow• Covering his people's shame• Leading his people in victory over their enemies

Davidic Covenant: One of four primary covenants (Noah, Abraham, Moses, & David) in the OT that are all fulfilled in Jesus and culminate in God blessing all people (new covenant). God promises to take us from every nation, tribe, and tongue, and make us into his own. Our Response: Grateful, humble service to God (a kingdom of priests)Life with God is relational, not transactional. God doesn't need us to ensure his future, nor does he want us to do things for him in exchange for his blessing on our future.

What if the thing holding you back from living as a witness isn't a lack of knowledge or ability — but a failure to believe what's already true of you? This Pentecost Sunday, City Chapel and Seaside joined together to celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Listen in as Pastor Jon and Pastor Peter Voorhees discuss this day that changed everything — and what it means for ordinary people like us today.

God is personally present with us today, through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, & in the ChurchAND we are waiting for our King (Jesus) to return and establish his eternal city.How should we respond? Rejoicing & Blessing

RESOURCESRead stories of baptism in the Bible:-Jesus' Baptism: Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1-Early Church: Acts 2.37-41, Acts 8.26-40, Acts 10Read stories of communion in the Bible:-Jesus' last supper with his disciples: Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22-Early church: Acts 2, Acts 20:7-16Articles:Baptism @ SeasideBible Project: The Meaning of Baptism in the BibleBible Project: Why Is the Lord's Supper Significant in the Bible?Baptism of the Holy Spirit: What It Means & How We Get it WrongThe Biblical Basis of BaptismBooks:Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal: Why the Church Should Be All Three by Gordon T. Smith

How do we rise above the chaos and conflict of life? By trusting God to faithfully lead us as we walk forward in His ways, instead of our own.Our Ways:-Bitter conflict-Selfish politicking-Perpetual revengeGod's Ways:-Obedience to God-Justice on God's terms-Peace through forgiveness-Lament

Getting our bearings in Act 2 of the Old Testament book of Samuel.3 Key Themes in Samuel:-God opposes the proud & exalts the humble-Despite human evil, God is at work-God will raise up a messianic King Bible Project 1&2 Samuel: https://bibleproject.com/guides/books-of-samuel/

Peter was weighed down with his failure, guilt and shame.Jesus wasn't done with Peter, and he's not done with us!Here is what Jesus does to restore us:1. Jesus pursues us.2. Jesus provides for our needs.3. Jesus conquers our failure, guilt and shame with his love.4. Jesus brings purpose to our lives. We now extend his love to others.

+From fear to joy. [John 20:19-20]+From futility to Spirit-filled vitality. [John 20:21-22]+From conflict to peace (through forgiveness). [John 20:23]

Holy Spirit Illumination: Conviction of the world-"concerning sin, because they do not believe in me." (v. 9)-"concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father..." (v. 10)-"concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (v. 11)Holy Spirit Illumination: Guiding those who believe-"Into all the truth"