Sermon 1-15-12 words w friends- relationships Eph 5:21-33=
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Note to jeff- also use 1 tim 6:1-3
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.
After reading those passages of scripture, the pastor had their complete attention, everyone, especially the wives were waiting, with brass knuckles in hand to see what words would come out of his mouth next.
Today is part 2 in our series words with friends. Our word from the scrabble tray for today is relationships
The broad range of relationships and problems with them
An entire sermon series after easter
Focus on marriage as an example that can be used
What is Paul saying. Are you still aghast that I read this passage. Let me help you.
We read this and think that Paul is pressing us into the dark ages. Paul did not write this for us. Paul wrote this for his day and for his day, it was ground breaking.
He was a raving liberal.
Slaves have rights? Kind to them? women have rights? Partnership? What?
He is apply the principles of faith to his culture.
We must do the same today.
Submit to one another
Give self as Christ gave himself for the church
In honor preferring one another Romans 12:10
What happens when we get this wrong
Parents that might want to manipulate you.
Children want everything.
Spouses insist you provide their needs
What I will get from you…..
Right at the center of all of this is us. Usually if there is a problem, part of the problem is me
Be kind- everyone u meet is fighting a great battle- philo of Alexandria
Bitterness and fear cause so many problems
1. Stop hurting each other
Why I am not a marriage counselor
2. Finding the healthy you
4 problems 4 kickers in marriage – four things that will sink the ship
In-laws, money, sex and children
We get it wrong about love……
Love is not attraction……….
I am attracted to you more that I am attracted to others
What happens when the attraction wears off?
Love is not dependence…..
Two broken people propping each other up
I am taking from you……..
Mom to son – what does your fiancé like about you
She thinks I smart, handsome and a good dancer
What happens when I need for me?
There should be give and take
Are you predominantly taking or giving
Relationships – acting vs reacting [the lover creates the love]
The lover creates the love – kiki the cat……..
What happens when we get this right?
When we get relationships right
I set healthy boundaries
Mom wants to manipulate me- no sorry, cant come
Kid wants a loan. Oh, I am sorry, you will have to figure that out
When we get relationships right
Primary relationship in the home is your marriage.
Ignore it to your peril
What people often do
When we get relationships right we understand that
Your ministry as a married person is to your spouse
To encourage them, help them fulfill their potential, bless them
what does long term success look like?
No relationship is perfect. Marriage is a dance between being madly in love one week and wanting to pull your hair out the next. There are challenges, there are seasons, but it is a wonderful thing when you find yourself at home and comfortable with the cadence.
You brought the best out of me….
Statement from Cathy
Jeff - Every relationship has rough patches, so it is important to always work hard to work through them. You know you are in love, when you want to put yourself second- you are just fine with it [being second]. Common goals are so important. When we spend years working together on shared values there is a bond that grows. We finish each other’s sentences. It is a little bit magical. I would rather spend time with you than with anyone else. You are my best friend.
Jesus said –
Let There be a washing of the feet. A laying down of one’s life. A going to the cross
Paul said, love is patient, love is kind
John said - Beloved, let us love one another………………1 jn 4
Conclusion –
How can we help
Fpu 5pm tonight
Marriage class We meet at 10:10 in room 306 and Dani and Rich Carroll co-teach with us. Bruce and Marilyn mcspadden. We are currently studying making decisions that foster freedom, respect, and responsibility for one's own behavior, thus providing a climate where love can grow.
This class has helped us get out of the rut of constant conflict.
We don’t like going to counselors…..shows weakness. No it shows selfishness. Intransigence. Love says, I will do whatever it takes…….I will go the second mile, the third…..
Came here looking for God to help you? I hope he has. Take that thought home. In your house pray. God help me to show grace.
Showing posts with label Ephesians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ephesians. Show all posts
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Why Am I Here Ephesians 4:7, 11-13 05/02/10
Why Am I Here Ephesians 4:7, 11-13 05/02/10
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cumming craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Why are you here?
I want my kids to get something.
I want to get filled up - I want to have a full heart
I feel guilty if I miss
My wife makes me to to church
Is there anyone who came here to be prepared for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up?
Imagine the advertisement - come to WCC to be trained to serve the world - maybe it doesn't sound that bad -
*come learn to give yourself away
*Come find something that will change your life
*come learn how to make a difference in the world.
Mature or immature church - painful thought
I want to get filled - imagine if that is what everyone thought
Imagine the atmosphere
Vs
We love you God, we praise you God, we give ourselves to you.
How can we be a part of who you are and what you are doing
Everyone now and then we need to ask ourselves, What is our mission?
to get filled? [tho that is important]
No, it is connecting people to Jesus Christ.
When we are engaged with others...we do get filled. Our hearts are full
Every now and then we have to ask,
Am I focused on being filled or filling others
Both are important...people find that when they are reaching out to others, they themselves are filled.
Recently I was at a restaurant when a bunch of ner do wells skipped out on an $80 tab. Our tip off to this was that a couple of servers went outside and then came back in and one of them was crying. She was mortified. She would have to cover the tab herself. Nice kid, crushed by unfairness. Several tables asked what happened. When they found out, people from all over teh restaurant kicked in to cover the cost and help the server who would have had to pay for it.
They could have sat there and said...hey, back to work, feed em. But instead something inside of them forgot about their need and reached out to the server. Their food may have been late and their service slow because of the incident, but they went home filled because they got to help the person out.
When you go to the restaurant, are you thinking about what you will get from the server or do you see your visit as a chance to share love with one another and care about the server?
Jesus said, I did not come to be served, but to serve and give myself as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Membership - Church vs Costco
Water buffaloes - card, hat, secret handshake
AARP - monthly magazine, discounts at hotels and restaurants
Church is not so. Join, give time talent and treasure to reach others
Our mission is done by all
Not just the pastor? Just the staff?
Starfish and the spider
Leaders are not just in charge of something
They help people to become engaged and connected with the mission
Getting yourself out of the way
Pastor centered world - churches stay small few are reached
Changes that I have had to face over the years - Due to church size
Pain of my role changing
I once knew where you lived, your kids names, your dogs name
I once was able to visit everyone in the hospital
Allowing others to visit you are the hospital
when it's about you, when it's about mission
bill Carpenter says that God never calls yo to the things that you find comfortable.
What did Jesus do?
did the disciples expect Jesus to do all the ministry? Yes.
but what did Jesus expect? He was leaving. He showed them, taught them, and got out of the way.
Acts - Deacons and orphans
And so we are teaching our staff to mentor and deploy others
Bill Hybels - I will give you wings, I'll watch you, I'll nurture you, I'll coach you, and I'll expand opportunities. I will make sure that your life is filled to the Zenith of your potential.
We are all faced with painful choices
We grew up thinking my life was about me
As Christians we are invited, not simply to serve, reach out and care
but to create a life view that puts God's purpose at the center.
Caring for you and inspiring you is important by the most important thing a pastor can do is to identify mentor and deploy others to ministry
We are invited to join Jesus in the mission field
What is your calling?
The most exciting part of being a Christian is being in ministry
The church is not the church when it simply gathers to sit and listen to the sermon.
A person coaches a basketball team.
They work together.
No one wants to sit the bench.
Everyone wants to get out on the floor
conclusion
I am not asking you to stop what you are doing and start doing church things
Colossians 3:17
And Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him
The sacred and the secular
What do you do that has nothing to do with the church?
Coach little league? Watch? PTA? Grocery store?
Everything is spiritual.
God help me be a good coach
God help me be a good shopper.
A few weeks ago - Someone is in need - who will go?
The girl who fell, Paul McClain
There are people everywhere waiting for you to be there for them.
I invite you to find your place int he mission and ministry of Christ.
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cumming craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Why are you here?
I want my kids to get something.
I want to get filled up - I want to have a full heart
I feel guilty if I miss
My wife makes me to to church
Is there anyone who came here to be prepared for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up?
Imagine the advertisement - come to WCC to be trained to serve the world - maybe it doesn't sound that bad -
*come learn to give yourself away
*Come find something that will change your life
*come learn how to make a difference in the world.
Mature or immature church - painful thought
I want to get filled - imagine if that is what everyone thought
Imagine the atmosphere
Vs
We love you God, we praise you God, we give ourselves to you.
How can we be a part of who you are and what you are doing
Everyone now and then we need to ask ourselves, What is our mission?
to get filled? [tho that is important]
No, it is connecting people to Jesus Christ.
When we are engaged with others...we do get filled. Our hearts are full
Every now and then we have to ask,
Am I focused on being filled or filling others
Both are important...people find that when they are reaching out to others, they themselves are filled.
Recently I was at a restaurant when a bunch of ner do wells skipped out on an $80 tab. Our tip off to this was that a couple of servers went outside and then came back in and one of them was crying. She was mortified. She would have to cover the tab herself. Nice kid, crushed by unfairness. Several tables asked what happened. When they found out, people from all over teh restaurant kicked in to cover the cost and help the server who would have had to pay for it.
They could have sat there and said...hey, back to work, feed em. But instead something inside of them forgot about their need and reached out to the server. Their food may have been late and their service slow because of the incident, but they went home filled because they got to help the person out.
When you go to the restaurant, are you thinking about what you will get from the server or do you see your visit as a chance to share love with one another and care about the server?
Jesus said, I did not come to be served, but to serve and give myself as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Membership - Church vs Costco
Water buffaloes - card, hat, secret handshake
AARP - monthly magazine, discounts at hotels and restaurants
Church is not so. Join, give time talent and treasure to reach others
Our mission is done by all
Not just the pastor? Just the staff?
Starfish and the spider
Leaders are not just in charge of something
They help people to become engaged and connected with the mission
Getting yourself out of the way
Pastor centered world - churches stay small few are reached
Changes that I have had to face over the years - Due to church size
Pain of my role changing
I once knew where you lived, your kids names, your dogs name
I once was able to visit everyone in the hospital
Allowing others to visit you are the hospital
when it's about you, when it's about mission
bill Carpenter says that God never calls yo to the things that you find comfortable.
What did Jesus do?
did the disciples expect Jesus to do all the ministry? Yes.
but what did Jesus expect? He was leaving. He showed them, taught them, and got out of the way.
Acts - Deacons and orphans
And so we are teaching our staff to mentor and deploy others
Bill Hybels - I will give you wings, I'll watch you, I'll nurture you, I'll coach you, and I'll expand opportunities. I will make sure that your life is filled to the Zenith of your potential.
We are all faced with painful choices
We grew up thinking my life was about me
As Christians we are invited, not simply to serve, reach out and care
but to create a life view that puts God's purpose at the center.
Caring for you and inspiring you is important by the most important thing a pastor can do is to identify mentor and deploy others to ministry
We are invited to join Jesus in the mission field
What is your calling?
The most exciting part of being a Christian is being in ministry
The church is not the church when it simply gathers to sit and listen to the sermon.
A person coaches a basketball team.
They work together.
No one wants to sit the bench.
Everyone wants to get out on the floor
conclusion
I am not asking you to stop what you are doing and start doing church things
Colossians 3:17
And Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him
The sacred and the secular
What do you do that has nothing to do with the church?
Coach little league? Watch? PTA? Grocery store?
Everything is spiritual.
God help me be a good coach
God help me be a good shopper.
A few weeks ago - Someone is in need - who will go?
The girl who fell, Paul McClain
There are people everywhere waiting for you to be there for them.
I invite you to find your place int he mission and ministry of Christ.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Body Systems Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16 10/11/09
Body Systems Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16 10/11/09
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all....
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will not longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it's work.
Series - The Body of Christ
Last wee, who are we...a soul
this week, we are connected...the difference that makes
next week...why I think WCC is worth supporting
Step card
early
Toby Keith - country song - I wanna talk about me
You know talking about you makes me grin
But every now and then
I wanna talk about me
Wanna talk about I
Wanna talk about number one
On my me my
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see
I like talking about you you you you, usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me
the sermon today is not about you and it is not about me. It is about us, it is about we
the scripture says-
make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Unity - oneness - All of us souls are connected
So what we do and do to each other, matters
God has a body, we are it. Yet we tend to act like individuals
The respiratory system will not function without the digestive system, circulatory system, vice versa
The reformation did us some favors and no favors - positive changes in society
Introduced individually - One-ness out of hand is an attack on community
We used to have to work together just to survive
Our modern life is focused on my and mine
Yet we are all interconnected
The holding of hands. The hugging of necks.....
Scriptural basis for this - it is a theme of scripture
Remember in the big inning. It was not good that man was alone
In Genesis, in Abraham, We are blessed to be a blessing
John 17 - Jesus prays that they might be one
Romans 8 everything is waiting for redemption
1 Corinthians 12 - 16
there is no other. We are in this together...If the hand thinks its not a part...to bad - you are still a part of the body
1 John 4 God is Love... If we are connected to God, we must be connected to each other because God is love
What does this mean
We spend a lot of time differentiating that which is not me. More things are you than you think
many illustrations of the principle of the connectedness in life
Steve Cook is my neighbor. I feed his dog. He kills my wasps. I water our common tree. He paints my house.
Kevin Bacon - 6 Degrees of Separation - see below
The largest living organism in the world is an Aspen Grove - A Single grove can grow large enough to cover an entire mountainside while the trees within the grove are interconnected through their shared root system. Each tree stands as an individual and at the same time is connected to the whole.
The aspen grove is our model for the interconnectedness of all life
Names of people you are related to.
kemper, toll, heising, mather, hanson, richardson, wallace, howe, degraff, teller, lee hammett, field, dudley, lewis, webster, williams, stebbins, taylor, schmidt, smith, stadler, wright
DNA - book by a scientist who became a Christian...6billion people go back to 10,000 sources of dna
There is no them and us. Only we.
Late - so what - We are all connected
-the church is more than what is here for me
-the christian faith invited us into a family, a very big family
Healthy families build each other up, support each other emotionally, spiritually, financially
the body, the earthly things, the time, talent and treasure are given to us to bless the soul. Ours and others, for the common good
the result is a unity, that
I am living for something greater than myself
When we are rooted in Christ, we live out of him, towards everyone else
16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it work.
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all....
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will not longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it's work.
Series - The Body of Christ
Last wee, who are we...a soul
this week, we are connected...the difference that makes
next week...why I think WCC is worth supporting
Step card
early
Toby Keith - country song - I wanna talk about me
You know talking about you makes me grin
But every now and then
I wanna talk about me
Wanna talk about I
Wanna talk about number one
On my me my
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see
I like talking about you you you you, usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me
the sermon today is not about you and it is not about me. It is about us, it is about we
the scripture says-
make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Unity - oneness - All of us souls are connected
So what we do and do to each other, matters
God has a body, we are it. Yet we tend to act like individuals
The respiratory system will not function without the digestive system, circulatory system, vice versa
The reformation did us some favors and no favors - positive changes in society
Introduced individually - One-ness out of hand is an attack on community
We used to have to work together just to survive
Our modern life is focused on my and mine
Yet we are all interconnected
The holding of hands. The hugging of necks.....
Scriptural basis for this - it is a theme of scripture
Remember in the big inning. It was not good that man was alone
In Genesis, in Abraham, We are blessed to be a blessing
John 17 - Jesus prays that they might be one
Romans 8 everything is waiting for redemption
1 Corinthians 12 - 16
there is no other. We are in this together...If the hand thinks its not a part...to bad - you are still a part of the body
1 John 4 God is Love... If we are connected to God, we must be connected to each other because God is love
What does this mean
- We are in this together
- We can't hurt another without hurting ourselves. 12:26 if one past suffers
- We have to begin to think about using our resources for the common good. Time, talent and treasure, for the good of all
- Think of what can be done when the body works in synch
We spend a lot of time differentiating that which is not me. More things are you than you think
many illustrations of the principle of the connectedness in life
Steve Cook is my neighbor. I feed his dog. He kills my wasps. I water our common tree. He paints my house.
Kevin Bacon - 6 Degrees of Separation - see below
The largest living organism in the world is an Aspen Grove - A Single grove can grow large enough to cover an entire mountainside while the trees within the grove are interconnected through their shared root system. Each tree stands as an individual and at the same time is connected to the whole.
The aspen grove is our model for the interconnectedness of all life
Names of people you are related to.
kemper, toll, heising, mather, hanson, richardson, wallace, howe, degraff, teller, lee hammett, field, dudley, lewis, webster, williams, stebbins, taylor, schmidt, smith, stadler, wright
DNA - book by a scientist who became a Christian...6billion people go back to 10,000 sources of dna
There is no them and us. Only we.
Late - so what - We are all connected
-the church is more than what is here for me
-the christian faith invited us into a family, a very big family
Healthy families build each other up, support each other emotionally, spiritually, financially
the body, the earthly things, the time, talent and treasure are given to us to bless the soul. Ours and others, for the common good
the result is a unity, that
I am living for something greater than myself
When we are rooted in Christ, we live out of him, towards everyone else
16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it work.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Farewell.....Princeton/Mercer....Ephesians 2:19-22 6/5/94
Farewell.....Princeton/Mercer....Ephesians 2:19-22 6/5/94
What is this...it is a brick
what is it for...to build...or for a weapon
bricks are nice by themselves, but they aspire to be a part of something great
Scripture...God is working... to build...something that is beautiful
there is one foundation...Jesus Christ
centered on him, the whole building rises together
To become something that is glorifing God
You too are being built into a plave where the holy spirit can live
bricks in building
God builds...and we build...hoping to make one another better
bricks as a weapon...
one brick gone, there is a whole in the wall
another brick attacked... we have lost our aspirations...forgot who we were
christian army only one that shoots its wounded
for 3 years we have tried to build...
measure of our success not by the number of sincere goodbyes
but by the way that you continue or not, to glorify God
you have built is us
I am proud of you
faithfulness
thank you for three beautiful years
I expect to hear good things...
if not, I will haunt you in the night
keep letting God build in your heart
keep building strength in one another
thank you and God bless you
What is this...it is a brick
what is it for...to build...or for a weapon
bricks are nice by themselves, but they aspire to be a part of something great
Scripture...God is working... to build...something that is beautiful
there is one foundation...Jesus Christ
centered on him, the whole building rises together
To become something that is glorifing God
You too are being built into a plave where the holy spirit can live
bricks in building
God builds...and we build...hoping to make one another better
bricks as a weapon...
one brick gone, there is a whole in the wall
another brick attacked... we have lost our aspirations...forgot who we were
christian army only one that shoots its wounded
for 3 years we have tried to build...
measure of our success not by the number of sincere goodbyes
but by the way that you continue or not, to glorify God
you have built is us
I am proud of you
faithfulness
thank you for three beautiful years
I expect to hear good things...
if not, I will haunt you in the night
keep letting God build in your heart
keep building strength in one another
thank you and God bless you
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Business of God Pt. 5 God Calls Us Ephesians 4:7-16 9-30-07
Sermon notes 9-30-07 the business of God, pt 5 God calls us
Ephesians 4:7-16
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it[a] says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."[b] 9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Series: the business of God, part 5-God calls us
Traditional denominations are in decline, including the UMC
There was a time in the past if you would build a building, people would come, and they had denominational loyalty.
Not like that any more……churches are dying because they became institutionalized
The traditional view of church
God gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors
and teachers
The pastors job is to take care of us
Story of my visit to harrisonville
The biblical view of church
Ephesians 4 : to prepare Gods people for works of service, so that the body of Christ would be built up.
The funnest part of being a Christian is being in ministry……..
The church is not here to entertain us.
God calls all of us
Some don’t want to be a part of a church that believes this. Sometimes we lose good people. But that doesn’t change the truth. Our life is Gods gift to us. How we live it is our gift to him.
Biblical examples-
Disciples called from their nets & boats to a life that follows Jesus Christ
I don’t think our problem is that we don’t believe this
The challenge that we face is
I am too busy with my own life to find the life of God
He is pulling one way, I am pulling another
Two trucks were standing back to back and a truck driver was struggling ot get a huge crate from one truck to the other. A passerby, seeing his desperate situation, volunteered to help. So the two of them huffed and puffed and struggled for well over half an hour with no result at all. I’m afraid it’s no use, panted the passerby, we’ll never get it off this truck. Off, yelled the driver, Good grief, I don’t want it off. I want it on.
demello heart of enlightened 117
Today is connecting Sunday. What is connecting Sunday
Why is it important
In a large church it is sometimes hard to get connected…..
Listening to Rachel Up, list these at a training session
9 ways you can get connected.
Litany of service opportunities.
Each member of the body is important
16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Puzzle pieces
The mosaic takes every piece. Ever made a puzzle and a piece was missing?
A great festival was to be held in a village and each villager was asked to contribute by pouring a bottle of wine into a giant barrel. One of the villagers had this thought: "If I pour a bottle of water in that giant barrel, no one will notice the difference." But it didn't occur to him that everyone else in the village might have the same thought. When the banquet began and the barrel was tapped, what came out was pure water.
Demello heart of the enlightened 150
Why engage in Christian service? Why engage in ministry?
· Not because god needs me
· Not because the church needs me.
· People need.
· You need. We all need. We need each other. We need to care about others. It is a deep part of who we are.
Gospel song, I love you , you love me were all apart of Gods body
A Farmer, whose corn always took the first prize at the State Fair, had the habit of sharing his best corn seeds with all the farmers in the neighbourhood. When asked why, he said, “It is really a matter of self interest. The wind picks up the pollen and carries it from field to field, so if my neighbours grow inferior corn, the cross pollination brings down the quality of my own corn. So I am concerned they plant only the very best-
Demello. Heart of the enlightened, p 133
It is impossible to help another without helping yourself
It is impossible to harm another with out harming yourself
We were created to love. To care, to be bonded.
Love heals everyone, both those who receive it and those who give it
There is something that everyone can do
So I ask you today to
Bear one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2
I invite you to go down to the gym and find a place, find a way to be in ministry, to give yourself away in the name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.
The Business of God Part 5 Ephesians 4:7-16 9-30-07
Sermon notes 9-30-07 the business of God, pt 5 God calls us
Ephesians 4:7-16
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it[a] says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."[b] 9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Series: the business of God, part 5-God calls us
Traditional denominations are in decline, including the UMC
There was a time in the past if you would build a building, people would come, and they had denominational loyalty.
Not like that any more……churches are dying because they became institutionalized
The traditional view of church
God gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors
and teachers
The pastors job is to take care of us
Story of my visit to harrisonville
The biblical view of church
Ephesians 4 : to prepare Gods people for works of service, so that the body of Christ would be built up.
The funnest part of being a Christian is being in ministry……..
The church is not here to entertain us.
God calls all of us
Some don’t want to be a part of a church that believes this. Sometimes we lose good people. But that doesn’t change the truth. Our life is Gods gift to us. How we live it is our gift to him.
Biblical examples-
Disciples called from their nets & boats to a life that follows Jesus Christ
I don’t think our problem is that we don’t believe this
The challenge that we face is
I am too busy with my own life to find the life of God
He is pulling one way, I am pulling another
Two trucks were standing back to back and a truck driver was struggling ot get a huge crate from one truck to the other. A passerby, seeing his desperate situation, volunteered to help. So the two of them huffed and puffed and struggled for well over half an hour with no result at all. I’m afraid it’s no use, panted the passerby, we’ll never get it off this truck. Off, yelled the driver, Good grief, I don’t want it off. I want it on.
demello heart of enlightened 117
Today is connecting Sunday. What is connecting Sunday
Why is it important
In a large church it is sometimes hard to get connected…..
Listening to Rachel Up, list these at a training session
9 ways you can get connected.
Litany of service opportunities.
Each member of the body is important
16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Puzzle pieces
The mosaic takes every piece. Ever made a puzzle and a piece was missing?
A great festival was to be held in a village and each villager was asked to contribute by pouring a bottle of wine into a giant barrel. One of the villagers had this thought: "If I pour a bottle of water in that giant barrel, no one will notice the difference." But it didn't occur to him that everyone else in the village might have the same thought. When the banquet began and the barrel was tapped, what came out was pure water.
Demello heart of the enlightened 150
Why engage in Christian service? Why engage in ministry?
· Not because god needs me
· Not because the church needs me.
· People need.
· You need. We all need. We need each other. We need to care about others. It is a deep part of who we are.
Gospel song, I love you , you love me were all apart of Gods body
A Farmer, whose corn always took the first prize at the State Fair, had the habit of sharing his best corn seeds with all the farmers in the neighbourhood. When asked why, he said, “It is really a matter of self interest. The wind picks up the pollen and carries it from field to field, so if my neighbours grow inferior corn, the cross pollination brings down the quality of my own corn. So I am concerned they plant only the very best-
Demello. Heart of the enlightened, p 133
It is impossible to help another without helping yourself
It is impossible to harm another with out harming yourself
We were created to love. To care, to be bonded.
Love heals everyone, both those who receive it and those who give it
There is something that everyone can do
So I ask you today to
Bear one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2
I invite you to go down to the gym and find a place, find a way to be in ministry, to give yourself away in the name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.
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