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Who's spotting you?
Be The Church part 4 - 2.25.09
Acts 2:44-47
Acts 4:34,35
Proverbs 27:17
Genesis 2:18
A Spotter: One that looks or keeps watch; a person who assists another
The Christian Life is not something that was ever meant to be lived alone.
The body of Christ today is not 'in one accord' as they were in Acts.
To the world this looks like and sounds similar to banging on a piano.
When we're together - helping each other, praying for each other, encouraging each other, in one accord. We'll grow together.It it vital that we surround ourselves with good friends who will be 'spotters'Who's your spotter? and Who are you spotting?We need each other. Life is not meant to be lived alone.-----------------------------------------------------
No 'Buts'
Be the Church part 3 - 2.18.09
Luke 9:57-62 'Lord I will follow you; BUT.....
Acts 2:46
Genesis 19:24-26
Matthew 5:13
Psalm 34:8
Don't stop short, Don't look back.
A group of the 18/19 year old guys came up with the idea to have a box to put our 'buts' in.
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Be the Church Part 2 - 2.11.09
The Church as described in the bible were people who carried the burden that Jesus had - A burden for people. Matthew 11:30 says My yoke is easy and my burden is light. In other words - he did and does all the work. You just bring him to your world.
When most people think of church, they think of another religion.
The average person has seen religion and has been turned off by it. Why? because it doesn't work. Ask a stranger who they think Jesus is and they'll describe someone who's self-righteous, no fun to be around, knit picks everything, and unfriendly. That description sounds more like the pharisees (arrogant religious snobs). In the Bible it was the religious people that killed Jesus. Jesus and religion were in opposition to each other. Religion is mans solution to mans problem. Jesus is God's solution. Jesus is as opposed to religion as he is to sin
There's a contrast between what we call 'church' and the Church in the New Testament. Most obviously that people followed Jesus, they sold everything, left everything, and followed Jesus. The average person did enjoy being around Jesus.
He met their needs - both physical and spiritual.
The Church body in the new testament brought Jesus (love, grace, truth, forgiveness, selflessness) to their cities. Unlike most 'pew potatoes' today who are passive about their faith and have narrowed church down to a service they attend once a week to pay their 'dues' and confess some sins. . .
Mathew 21:1-10 (Jesus rides to Jerusalem on a Colt -young male donkey)
Verse 10 says that the whole city was 'moved, in an uproar, stirred'.
In other words everyone was talking about this Jesus.
If we'll bring Jesus to our campus' - they'll be moved. Jesus wants to change people's lives and do something explosive.
In vs. 3 he said "I have need of it(referring to the Colt-donkey)".
Jesus most likely won't just show up at our schools. We've got to bring him there.
Like most of us, the donkey was young, stubborn, inexperienced, probably inadequate, clumsy, and kinda goofy looking. But Jesus rode in on the Colts back.
If we'll be willing and faithful and bring Jesus to our schools; they'll be moved.
Matthew 9:35 says when Jesus saw the huge crowds he was moved with compassion.
He said pray for laborers - the harvest is plenteous, it' s the laborers that are few.
A donkey is a working animal - it carries a burden.
If we'll get a burden and become laborers together with Christ and bring Jesus to our city something explosive will happen - We're here to move our city, our schools, our workplace. We're here for more than to play some lame games and eat some pizza. We're here because we believe that God can move our schools. But we've got to bring him there.
Matthew 5:13-16
says we're the light of the world, and we're the salt.
Psalm 34:8 says Taste and see that the Lord is good.
The world needs to taste and see how good the Lord is - Salt is tasted and Light is seen.
It is through us that the world should taste and see the goodness of God.
Matthew 11:28
28 - Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 - For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
Most of the church is carrying the wrong burdens - our own. Most of the church is going to church and not being the Church.
How can you BE the Church and bring Jesus to your world?
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Be the Church - 2.4.09
Most Christians are 'doing church.'Church to most people is an activity - a service they attend once a month or maybe as much as 3 times a week.Church is a place. A building.Pastors have been saying 'we're the body'-'the church is people' for years.Yet most Christians in America are very passive.We show up, grab a coffee, sit down and listen, sing a few songs, and say a prayer; and now we're good for another week.As long as we're a 'member' somewhere and we're tithing - God's appeased. right?There's a huge contrast between that picture and the church of the Bible.'Church' as mentioned in the new testament through the gospels, acts, and Paul's 13 letters - is always referring to a group of people.Not an organization - but an organism.The next several weeks we'll search through the bible to see what it means to BE the CHURCH and not just 'do church.'
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Sexual Purity Part 5 - 1.28.09
Purity is a means to an end - not the end itself.Purity is about obedience to our creator God.John 8:2-11The pharisees were arrogant, self-righteous religious people.most had the Pentateuch memorized (first 5 books).That's 187 chapters or 5,853 verses.They "knew" the law.They were gung-ho about stoning someone who broke the law.
Jesus said “he who is without sin – cast the first stone.”
Pharisees didn't accept grace.
unmerited favor, love, acceptance; Jesus
This story is a demonstration of what Jesus did for all of humanity.
Eph. 2:13,14
Rom. 5:19
Gal. 3:24,25
Matt. 22:36-40
We must be careful that we don't become a "virgins only" youth ministry - where anyone else is not loved and accepted.
There are plenty of judgemental self-righteous Christians that are living in little compounds and not sharing the love of Christ with those who need it most.
If we’re not careful, we can get so caught up in our purity that we forget why we’re committed to living purely.
We can get back into the Global Gym mentality – High standards are good – but are we treating people like we’re superior to them because we’re pure? Remember ultimately the only purity we have is in Christ – separate from Jesus, we have no purity.
Sexual Purity Part 4 - 1.21.09
Restoration:
II SAM 11:1 (David and Bathsheba's affair that led to murder)
David's Prayer after an affair, lies, and murder.
Psalm 51
God want to restore us like a classic car.
No more guilt, shame or burdens to carry (no more condemnation).
He died for them ROM. 5:8(while we were yet sinners – Christ Died for us).
No more guilt and shame, free in Christ. He wants to Improvise and make you more valuable than ever.
John 8:2 - Adulterous woman - forgiven by Jesus
vs. 11 ". . . . neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more"
2 Cor. 5:17 "if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Sexual Purity Part 3 - 1.14.09
The biggest influence on our relationships is our need for Love and acceptance.Love without acceptance is lacking – it doesn’t satisfy: when your parents love you, but won’t accept you.Acceptance without love is lacking – it doesn’t satisfy: when people accept you but don’t love youWE ALL NEED LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE.JOHN 18:4Many of us drink in the compliments of others. We live every day looking for love and acceptance from our peers.When we feel loved and accepted - we're happy. When we don't feel loved and accepted - we're unhappy. The cup that's filled with everyone Else's acceptance is often empty.God has a cup that's always full of his unconditional love and acceptance - his grace.It overflows all day everyday.We need to start each day reminding ourselves what God thinks of us!PSALM 16:5 5 O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;You maintain my lot.6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;Yes, I have a good inheritance.7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.8 I have set the LORD always before me;Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;My flesh also will rest in hope.10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.11 You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy;At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore
Sexual Purity Part 2 - 1.7.09
We've got to be pure on purpose.Plan to be sexually pure.1 Thess. 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:1 Cor. 6:18-20 Flee Fornication. It's time to be intentional about being pure.God's restrictions for us are out of love for us.Much like a baby gate that a mother puts at the top of the steps to protect her baby. (Every year in America approx. 1307 people die falling down stairs)Sex has a purpose, a time , and a place.When done at God's time should be free of guilt, shame, and regret.God didn't put restrictions in this area of our lives to make life miserable. He knows and wants what's best for us - his children.There's no such thing as a condom for your heart.
Sexual Purity Part - 12.3.08
Purity is not a score.It's not a scale that we measure ourselves with.Purity is a direction.Sex is not dirty.God created sex.Our culture has a perverted sex.1 Cor. 6:16-20 - Fornication - Por ni'-ah: sexual immorality
Eugene Peterson puts it this way:16-20There's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never "become one." There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another. Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.
Sexual Purity will not happen on accident.Purity isn't just being a virgin.Eph. 5:3We've got to do something different:"if you keep doing what you've been doing, you'll keep gettin' what you've been gettin'."
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