Who Is Jesus-Jesus Relates to Regular People John 1-35-46 09-07-0/

Who Is Jesus? Jesus Relates to Regular People John1:35-46 09/07/08

Series about Jesus - gospel of john in every adult hand
Not scary, or dominating-sovereign, lord, sinless, theological words
Want to talk about things that help us feel as approachable-available

Jesus relates to regular people
Look at where he was from
A normal place where normal, uneventful, poor people came from
Can anything good come from Nazareth?

Look at the people Jesus chose. Anyone was available to him. think of who he passed over - Romans, rich, Pharisees, Herod

He resisted the proud
Luke18:14
"For everyone who exalts himself will be humble, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
If he were calling folks today
Who are those that he would avoid
Who would he seek out?

He was normal
He was accused of running with sinners
Luke7:29-35 [what is the point of this?]
29(All the people, even tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) 31"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:"We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirg and you did not cry." 33For John the Baptist can neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." 35But wisdom is proved right by all her children.

What is the point of this?

1. he was accused of running with sinners
2. the Pharisees had closed hearts - were not baptized by John
3. wisdon is proved right by all her children

Jesus doesn't want to be distant...real people relate to a real savior
Confused followers of Jesus have got this wrong for years....
Mark10:13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them. for the kingdon of God belongs to such as these, 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
He doesn't want to be distant...real people relate to a real savior.

Somehow over the years spirituality became for the pompus, guilt bearers
We strained under the load
Church has become the place where normal people feel uncomformtable
Many of you here today have a story of pain...from a church
Quote from a will..."With regard to my estranged family who were never there for myself or my children, but always there for their distorted version of [names and denomination], I give and bequeath the sum of $1 each to my "mother, father, two brothers and sister" and request that they donate the same to their precious church to whom they had a greater allegiance, than to their first child and sister."
The very place that is to heal us, has wounded us...
Pharisees put loads on others
Would not carry them themselves
Jesus did not put on loads, he freed people from loads, freed them to live

Better
You have to be better than you are to go to church
People that go to church think they are better than you
No question we want to get better,
but we come as we are...no strings attached
Jesus wasn't looking for those who thought they were better. He resisted and rebuked them
Jesus was looking for those who are hurting, normal, regular, authentic
Sometimes it takes times of hurting and brokenness before we can undertand the love and grace of God

The pierced picture - call attention to it.
Todd Agnew, my Jesus
Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on his feet might stain the carpet
But, He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale ST. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear if I cry out load

You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus

My Jesus bled and dies
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?-----there is a place where the presence of God reaches people

Todd Agnew, my Jesus

There is a place where the presence of God reaches people. When we are honest enough to stop pretending, he can come in and heal our wounds.

There is an old story an aged preacher, lets call him Jeff, who became fearful as death drew near. His friends chided him: "What! Are you afraid that you'll be in trouble with God because you weren't Billy Graham?" "No," the old pastor replied, "I am afraid I will be in trouble with God because I was never Jeff."

Have you bought the Jesus that the church sold you, that said you were not good enough? That you had to pretend?
The Jesus that we know says in Matthew11:28 "come unot me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matthew11:28

Let me go a different direction for a moment and ask you a question. Who are you inviting to church?
Who is out there?
We need to welcome the broken, the divorcing, the poor, the struggling, the tattooed

• permanent identification with something
• I want to be able to talk the language of this generation

Is our church the kind of place that can reach normal people
Mike Montgomery-am I welcome in this church
Maybe you are here today and you have the same question

Conclusion
Here is the good news
Jesus comes for those in pain, for the imperfect, for the broken, for regular people living normal lives

Have you come to church and tried to act like everything was okay?
You don't have to

You thought you weren't good enough
You thought your weren't acceptable
You were not holy enough, not spiritual enough-you don't have to worry about such things

Jesus is looking for regular people.
And these, he chooses
Listen, you will hear his voice....Put down you nets, come follow me

So let's go back to the question
If Jesus was picking

Jesus Was Humble Phillipians2:1 2/10/08

Jesus Was Humble Phillipians 2:1 02/10/08

All around us are examples of humility and a lack thereof
An applicant was being interviewed for a job. The employer held a glowing letter of reference and complimented the applicant on such an impressive letter. With modesty the reply came: "I'm glad you liked it. I wrote it myself.

A young man's father always traveled third class. When the young man asked why, his father said: "Because there is not fourth class."

Indria Gandhi, --My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people; thoses who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be inteh first group; ther was less competition there.

Jesus was humble
Jesus was also assertive
Jesus was mean and wild
Jesus and the Pharisees

How was Jesus Humble
he left heaven
was born into the lowest of socioeconomics orders
he was nice to children
to the outcasts, to the small, broken-to sinners to women
he did not take anything to himself
he emptied himself-he suffered and dies
we are asked to have the same mind, to be like Jesus

humility a lack of humility - define the unhumble
the opposite of humility is to be prideful and self consumed

The self consumed person is known for this grandiosity, need for attention, inability to take criticism, lack of concern for others

It is to sing the son, my dog's bigger than your dog.

to be unhumble is to blow your own horn
It shounds bad.

Jesus did not take anything to himself
we take things to ourselves because we insist that things are a certain way
we are defined by something being a certian way so we hold to it and insist
we got our pride up....
our egos are bruised
we blame others because we are broken

If you are unhappy about something at your home your work or your church, please don't wound other members, please don't wound the staff. Come talk to me. I will help you.

humility, what is it
Biblical examples
Matthew16 at cesarea phillipi...Whoever would save his life must lose it.

Luke18 parable of Pharisee and publican
he that humbles himself will be exalted, he that exalts himself will be humbled

John the Baptist
He must increase, I must decrease

Right before holy week--who is the greatest in you kingdom
who will sit on your left and right....
we lord it over each other - who ever will be great must be the servant

Humbling experiences can make us humble
humility is central to the spiritual life,
for some of us the path to humility goes through humiliation -
being brought low, unable to function, stripped of pretenses and defenses feeling fraudulent, empty, useless -
loss of job, financial ruin, illness, divorce, rejection, you have come to your end.

humbling experiences can make us humble. If you are in the middle of a painful, time of breaking, take heart, these are times when God can work.
regrow our lives fromthe bottom up

Humility is not just gentleness or meekness. It demands vulnerability, the willingness to be hurt.
Hello Mr. Pain
It is readiness to go unnoticed, to be last, to reveive the lease...it describes the way of Christ better than any other word.

H Humble person lets go of fames forture, status,
He does not chase such things
He is not special or better than others. I can listen. I can be a part of a team
He is not concerned with such things

They are a distraction from his purpose

a humble person kows who they are....
when you find a humble soul, youfind a healthy soul

women in a coma was dying. She suddenly had a feeling that she was taken up to heaven and stood before the Judgement Seat.
"Who are you?" a Voice said to her.
"I'm the wife of the mayor," she replied, "I did not ask whose wife you are but who you are."
"I'm the mother of four children."
"I did not ask whose mother you are, but who you are."
"I'm a school teacher."
"I did not ask what you profession is but who you are."
And so it went. No matter what she replied, she did not seem to give a satisfactory answer to the question, "who are you?"
"I'm a Christian."
"I did not ask what your religion is but who you are."
"I'm the one who went to church every day and always helped the poor and needy."
"I did not ask what you did but who you are."
She evidently failed the examination, for she was sent back to earth. When she recovered from her illness, she was determined to find our who she was. And that made all the difference.

I am a soul, come from God and returning to God. I am a soul on a journey. I am a dispenser of God's grace

During lent we give something up.
Something that separates us fromChrist's purpose
the thing that most gets in the way of the purpose of Hesus Christ is myself.

A humble person lets go of self to find the purpose of Chirst
Not a vocatio, but a way of life....

the humility of our church
can a church be humble or unhumble
what would happen if 1,000 humble people attended woods chapel
what would be the signs of such a place?

• we would be grateful of the gifts that God has given us
• we would ask some very interesting questions....
• We understand that we are here for God's purpose.....
• We are available for a purpose beyond ourselves

2 thought - space and missions
Space---new church, second site? New sanctuary
Missions---proud of what we do in missions?
What if we doubled what we were doing in the next 3-5 years

What is God's purpose?
Would you put aside your preferences to find God's purpose

Jesus Was Forgiving Matthew18:21-35 2/17/08

Jesus Was Forgiving - Matthew18-21-36 - 02/17/08

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times". 23Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 24Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26"The servant fell on his knees before him. Be patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back everything. 27The servant's fell on his knees before him. Be patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back everything. 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. he grabbed him and began to choke him. Pay back what you owe me! he demanded. 29His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, Be patient with me, and I will pay you back. 30But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32Then the master called the servant in. You wicked servant, he said, I canceled all that debt of your because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured., until he should pay back all he owed. 25This is how may heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Peter want to be unforgiving
Let me do enough to be religious and then I want to go back to being human
I Forgave 7 times!!
490 times is a figure of speech

The chains of unforgiveness
Unforgiveness is a gathering of chains that begin to weigh me down
I choose them myself
The Christmas carol...I am the ghost of Jacob Marley....
"Ebenezer Scrooge! These chains that I wear in death, I forged in life!"
Scrooge admired his craftmanship. "They're good chains," he said.

Chains look stylish
Chains are rusty and dirty
Chains are heavy

Forgiveness of others
It's not easy
We don't have the tools
We understand the idea, but it is so against our natural inclinations

• If I see myself as wounded, I look for the perpetuator
• If I see myself as whole, I have to let go of the offense

Verb tenses: past; present; future; present; perfect; progressive
My need to seek forgiveness
Don Rodenburger and first job

Jesus forgives me
Guys, I just tfargave you, are you forgiving others? 33-32
"Then the master called the servant in, "You wicked servant," he said, "Icanceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33shouldnt' you have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had on you?"

7 times? 490 times?
Our humanness gives us an opportunity to be small
Forgiveness gives us and opportunity to be great
When you are a player on the platform of pain, and you step in and truly forgive,

you have chosen the right road, you have chosen the way of love, you have chosen to bring a healing balm to the wounded, you have chosen to bring greatness to the arena of life

I am not speaking of a greatness as most people consider greatness. I do not refer to an accomplishment of national or political stature. I do not refer to a greatness that comes from wealth or fame. No, I am talking about the greatness that occurs when true spiritually is thrust into an argument. When grace is delivered to a foe. When entering the field of battle, where we have raged with fury in the past, now we enter with a different attitude, a different countenance, a difference purpose. We step forward and face our former foe and we way to them, I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. I forgive you, please forgive me. Let the grace of Jesus Christ be larger, longer and heavier, that any chains I have carried around in the past. I forgive you. Please forgive me.

When we are willing to do this, the chains of unforgiveness fall to the ground with a resounding thud.
we are clean, we are free

As we close our service today,
Kris is going to sinf
I want to invite you to take a moment to
Ask for forgiveness and to
Offer forgiveness to any persons that the Holy Spirit would bring to your mind
Lets move forward into the rest of this day and into our future with a clean heart.

Some people have greatness thrust upon them
"Some people are born great; some people achieve greatness; and some people have greatness thrust upon the." [Winston Churchill]

Jesus Was A Man Of Prayer 2-24-08 Matthew14:22-36

Jesus was a man of prayer - Matthew 12:22-36
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to tray. when evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance [a] from land, buffered by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him waking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost" they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29"come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked ont he water and came toward jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were inteh boat worshipped him saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35and when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Sermon Series...Jesus was humble, Jesus was forgiving, Jesus was a Man of Prayer

This is an awsome piece of scripture. There is so much here. This passage is a good example of how reading scripture is such a blessing.

Prayer prepares him for what lies ahead
Time with God makes us whole and makes us healers

Jesus shows the importance of time with God in Prayer
We don't know what he is doing.
He is by himself
He is not being distracted by the world [huge problem]
Maybe he is speaking, maybe he is listening
Maybe he is just spending time
Spending time with Jesus is awsome

What if that is the best part of prayer
Our ideas of prayer have kept us from prayer
I an in the way. again
I wnated to throw up a few requests, but it was about relationships

The disciples cired when Jesus was crucified. Why?
Was it because of what he did for them or becuase they were going to miss him?
We are crying becuase we get not more miracles

We are crying becuase we have come to enjoy this man and we are going to miss him

Prayer as relational
Jesus said, if you have seen me, you have seen the father - John14
I and the father are one - they are spending some time together - John10

Prayer isn't always about talking...Anthony Demello
4 stages of prayer

• I talk, you listed
• You talkl, I listen - many of us never get here
• Neither talk, both listen, silence. Spending time together must be past needing to be entertained
  

sometimes in prayer. You are in the way
our ideas of prayer have kept us from prayer

maybe the most important part of prayer is the just being together.
Think of a friend
What do you like the most about the relationship?
Talking sure. Bit don't you have lots of time when you are just together?

You are in the presence of someone you love.
You don't have to talk. You just hang out

what would you do with a friend. Fish, play darts, listen to music.
Sit on the desk, Go for a drive. Go for a walk

You can do this with God, with Jesus Christ.
This is prayer
This is a relationship with God

People never find richness because they settle for shallowness
How would you feel if i was always asking.....
Always wanting something, never just enjoying the time toghther

Seems odd to ask for things is you don't know the person

prayer is realtional
John1 he came into the world, but the world did not recognize him
Matthew7 - not everyone who ways to me, lord, lord, I never knew you.....
21"Not everyone who ways to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will ofmy Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Jesus and Peter model this relationship.
Peter and Jesus go for a walk

When hei eyes are on the lord, he is at peace
He rises above the wind and waves

When his eves are on the storm, he sinks
Tell a story of a time when you focused onthe wind and waves instead of Jesus - when Scott had a tumor in his abdomen

Peter has a real come to Jesus moment
Help me lord......

In prayer, will we look at the wind and thewaves or will we look at Jesus

Song...turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face....

Let us pray.

Christmas Sermon Joy Zechariah 9 12-25-2005

Sermon Christmas Day 2005 Zechariah 9

Video…..what is in the box? The Joy of knowing Jesus


9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king [b] comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River [c] to the ends of the earth. [d]
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

Joy
This scripture is used in Handels messiah
Most exhibits joy to me…
More so than the shepherds who left glorifying and praising God
More so that the wise men rejoiced with exceeding great joy
More so than Gal 5 Love, Joy peace, patience
Dad would sing it around the house…..

Joy is much talked about…..
Few people actually have it

The "Grinch who stole Christmas" had a heart "two sizes too small
There are those Christians who ought to have joy, but they are stuck on unhappy
You don’t have it just because you attend church………
Administration, learning, working, landscaping,

Joy…..What is it?
Joy is more than a piano player

It is not happiness….
Here is my bag of happiness from this morning
You feel joyful, but it is not transferable or contaigious, it is really just happiness

My kids……….on what is joy…..
Alli
Different kinds of joy
Kids and presents
Parents watching kid open
Real joy between God and ma

Jenny
1. open a present…kid is happy
2. joy of giving

fulfills you more when you give to others

give to help others …katrina work….
Man on oprah sold his world series tickets to help Katrina victims
Choice…world series or helping the suffering

Appreciating your life
Sick people also appreciate life

Joy is contagious…..booth of young people at the restaurant.
Begin to laugh….annoyed at first, taken over by the wave

Joy is transferable…….other people want it, and you can give it to them

Joy leaves behind a kernel of the eternal
Terency Elwyn Johnson, of Margate Community Church (New Jersey), tells the story of Bonnee Hoy, a gifted composer, who died in the prime of life. At her memorial service, a friend told of how a mockingbird used to sing regularly outside Bonnee's window on summer nights. "Bonnee would stand at her bedroom window, peering into the darkness, listening intently, marveling at the beautiful songs the mockingbird sang. Then, musician that she was, Bonnee decided to sing back. So she whistled the first four notes of Beethoven's 'Fifth Symphony.' With amazing quickness the mockingbird learned these four notes and sang them back to Bonnee. 'And in perfect pitch,' Bonnee marveled. Then, for a time the bird disappeared. But one night, toward the very end of her life, when Bonnee was so terribly sick, the bird returned and, in the midst of other songs, several times sang those first four notes of Beethoven's 'Fifth.'" At that memorial service, her beloved friend, with a smile on her lips and tears in her eyes, said, "I like to think of that now. Somewhere out there (in a big, big world) is a mockingbird who sings Beethoven because of Bonnee."
Let me describe some of the things that hold joy for meJoy is having the best friends in the world.
Joy is knowing people that love me.
Joy is knowing that God loves me.
Inspite of myself.
Joy is celebrating life
Joy is not being afraid to die.
Joy is having the best friends in the world
Joy is having jesus for my friend

This stuff is contagious
This stuff is transferable
The joy of Jesus is eternal

Conclusion
The Christmas Truce

If the message of Jesus is so real that hated enemies can stop shooting at each other, then how much is the message able to reach out and change your world?

You can let go, you can forgive, you can be free to love, because you are loved.

It is Christmas, we are open for business.
Today and every day.
Tell your friends.
Spread the joy.

Let us pray.

Christmas Eve 1 Corinthians 13 12-24-2004

Christmas eve sermon dec 2004

Today, Jim Bryant is a pastor in Columbia MO. Years ago, his dad was a pastor and then bishop. one Christmas Eve they were preparing to go to church for the candlelight service. On the way Jim asked his father: "Dad, are you going to let us enjoy this Christmas or are you going to try to explain it to everybody?"

December 1904. One hundred years ago. The World’s Fair was wrapping up in St. Louis, Theodore Roosevelt was president. The Wright Brothers’ flight, performed a year earlier, had not received much coverage, so people were still wondering if air travel would ever get off the ground.Then, all of a sudden, a flying boy appears. His name? Peter Pan.In December 1904, Peter pops up on a London stage in a play called Peter Pan, Or the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. …... Peter invites a girl named Wendy to travel via fairy dust to Neverland, to be a mother to his gang of Lost Boys. Many adventures unfold, but in the end Wendy decides that the best place for her is back at home with her family. And then, years later, he returns to see Wendy again, and is shocked to discover that she has grown up. “You promised not to!” he protests.“I couldn’t help it,” she explains. He sits down on the floor and sobs, not able to accept the fact that Wendy has become a woman. Peter is destined to be, forever, the “Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up.” One suspects that we, too, would prefer that Jesus be the boy who doesn’t grow up, to be the baby who stays in the manger.

Baby Jesus in the crib
If he is only a baby in a crib, we can live our lives however we wish
O come let us ignore him
A baby is powerless and doesn’t effect the world.

Then there are those who know only the Second coming Jesus
End of the World……..Jesus

Swing low, sweet chariot

Join a church, make a confession, live life how yu want to , wait for pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye

Song mercy me……..I can only imagine
I can only imagine what it will be likeWhen I walk by your sideI can only imagine what my eyes will seeWhen your face is before meSurrounded by your gloryWhat will my heart feel? I can only imagineI can only imagine

If we think of Jesus only in future term, then we are discounting the savior of the world…..A few years ago, one of America's biggest department stores tried marketing a doll in the form of the baby Jesus. The advertisements described it as being "washable, cuddly and unbreakable," and it was neatly packaged in straw, satin and plastic. To complete the package, the manufacturer added biblical texts appropriate to the baby Jesus. To the department store executives, it looked like a sure-fire winner, a real moneymaker. But they were wrong. It didn't sell. In a last-ditch effort to get rid of the dolls, one of the store managers placed a huge sign in a prominent display window. It read:Jesus Christ………..Marked down 50%……….Get him while you can.

If we are only thinking about Jesus in the future, we are discounting his power……..

Martin Luther was once asked what he would do if he knew for certain the world was going to end tomorrow. Without hesitation he replied, "I would plant an apple tree this afternoon." You see, Luther was not given to speculation about the ENDING of the world. He focused rather on the PURPOSE of the world which God intends for the present time. Luther would plant an apple tree today, even though the world will be ending tomorrow, because he believed that what may happen in the future does not excuse you from what God wants to do in us here and now.

Jesus in the here and now
Isaiah 9
Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given….The government shall be upon his shoulders and his name will be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty god the everlasting father the prince of peace

This sounds like a savior who is present in our world

Some of the most popular tv shows in my life…Mash, Seinfeld, friends are all about life situations that help us to laugh and forget….. when the laughing is over, we do have to grow up, we to have to face the real world and the messy business that we find life to be

God asks no man whether he will accept life. That is not the choice. You
must take it. The only choice is how.
Henry Ward Beecher

Jesus is not a baby stuck in a manger or a pie in the sky see you some day guy
Present Jesus= teaching
1. love your enemies do good to those who hate you
2. judge not, lest ye be judged
3. do not worry…but…seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added

he is present to help you/we proclaim a savior alive in the world today

We always have fun decorating the Christmas tree….dad puts on the lights and the rest of the clan takes it from there. We are always proud of how our tree looks."But, you know, God has a different way of decorating trees. Think about it. God decorates a tree by providing the sunshine and rain, and by placing food in the earth. Then the tree itself partakes of these blessings of God and thus develops a strong, healthy, vigorous life. First thing you know, some leaves or fruit appear on the limbs. But here's the key. God decorates the tree on the inside."

1 cor 13

If you are tired of a powerless God or a god that exists only in your future, today I offer to you the light of Jesus Christ
More than a candles light….his light will bring you life…..

Christmas Eve 12-24-2003

Christmas Eve 2003

Dad used to say… Christmas bah humbug
people don’t know what it is about anymore
illust 134 white socks and fur coats

Winter festivals
Snowman songs, snowflake songs

Charlie brown
Don’t remember the story
Doesn’t anybody know what Christmas is about
‘this is what Christmas is about Charlie brown
there went out a decree

Tired of meaningless Christmas, Christless Christmas
Sick of the sterile Christmas
Where are those people tonight? What are they doing?
Ive had funerals for people like that….tough
I want the real thing
I want to live my life with people who know the real thing

That’s not what Christmas is about
Nick swanson story

Look in the manger, what do you see?
In him was life
Authentic-earthly
Honest/Appealing
No masks
I cannot bear a stuffy church
If you are here tonight, maybe this is your song
In Christmas,God becomes approachable, known, moves in next door
We come to know who we are, to know who God is
We come to know that we are loved and forgiven

Look in the manger, what do you see? Life..light of men
Changes them: selfish to caring; turned in to turned out
We become change agents
Light shines in the darkness
Shines everywhere
The flu…don’t want it, don’t want to be a carrier
You are a missionary wherever you are at
You are passing something on right now to those around you
But when you open yourself, something happens

4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[1] it. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

Tonight we celebrate the light
The light that has come into the world
We have one chance to live….
Will we be the winter festival crowd
Will be be the bah humbug crowd
No
It is my joy to offer you the light
Take the light. Embrace the light.
Stand to receive the light of Christ

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Dear friends…..It is a joy each year to participate in out tradition of walk to the manger.

On that first Christmas, shepherds angels and wise men made their way to the manger and offered their worship, their love, and their gifts.

God has blessed us in the year 2003 and we to have the opportunity to offer a special gift to the Christ child.

It is a joy to invite you to join me and take a walk to the manger.

Lost and Found Luke 15:1-10 1-28-07

Sermon 1-28-07 Luke 15:1-10 Lost and found

Often when we think of those who are lost, we think of those who do not know Christ.

We have all been lost or lost something
Conchola grandmother who forgot where she parked her car

There is usually one way to get somewhere. One best way. 50 highway to Sedalia. 70 - 13 to Sedalia. I-35, I-29, 71 highway, Wornall Road, not going to get there.
More ways to get lost then there are to help you arrive safely

Back roads, side roads, = sidetracked

Imagine planning a trip to the moon…..cant be off much in your directions or you are lost in space

Christians can develop a spiritual pride that will sidetrack us
The demoniac possessed with evil spirits….
Any worse off than we are
I am legion, we are many
The roads back into lost ness are legion

We may have said the right words, and prayed the right prayers,
Those do not let us off the hook.
It is very easy to be sidetracked, even lost in life as a chrisitan

To enjoy the world without acknowledging the creator is to be sidetracked.
To take for granted the gift of health is to be sidetracked
To assume that we deserve a life of comfort is to be sidetracked
To be unappreciative of life itself is to be sidetracked
It is to demand for ourselves what we are not promised in life if to be lost

When we fall into a life of comfort
And depend on anything instead of Jesus Christ- we find our way back into lost ness




You can be lost in money, or fame or collecting stuff. [you know if you are]

You lost in worry -needing someone’s approval
So broken that we spend our lives worried sick instead of living

lost in your kids lives-so busy that you cant come to church
they are leaving you, sooner than you think
no marriage left

lost in religious stuff
I know how it is.......be careful!!!!!!
russ clines resolutions
God is bigger than our ideas of him

it all boils down to being Lost in self
we are not in control, but we want to be
Jenny who do you think you are the boss of the world
no but I'd like to be

Maybe its because you were abused as a child
Maybe its because you have low self esteem
Maybe we never learned how to manage life

I think most people can smell the smoke when they are lost. They cant always see the fire, but they know that there is something wrong.
If you are here today and maybe it is time for a change, I invite you to leave that thing that is keeping you separated from God.

If you are a Christian and you are lost or sidetracked in some part of life that is holding you back
We must be willing to see our own dysfunction.
We must be willing to look into our own pain

A bee is stuck in a car…..keeps running into the back window…..
He just cant or wont see that there are other ways

Comic this week – the old pastors says “I have grown tired of expecting you to make leaps of faith, but it would be nice to see a little hop now and then.

Is your Christian some thing that changes and challenges you, or is it a place where you go to Hide
Is you Christian life more like a cave or a tunnel
. A cave is an underground area where one goes in and comes out at the same place, the A tunnel, on the other hand, is where one goes in and comes out in a different place.our faith should lead us in the direction of the light -- knowing that the light at the end of every tunnel is the light of Christ.

Transition
forest gump, after Jenny left him
running and running, for no particular reason
sometimes you have to put your past behind you.
Forest ran for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, 16 hrs
he just quits..............
I’m tired. I want to go home
Are you tired of running? Stop. Go home. Jesus is waiting

Conclusion
We have a little dog. Sometimes he gets out of the yard. Everyone helps.
When he is lost there is great worry. When we find him, there is great joy.

In this parable, Jesus is telling every one that common people are worth saving.
Telling the Pharisees I am going after these people
And he is telling them that there is much joy in heaven when a lost person comes home.

good news, where ever you are, Jesus is still looking for you

Sometimes to find our way, we have to admit that there are parts of our life that need to be different.
Jesus searching. Jesus is waiting.

Let us pray.

Troubling the Waters 8-14-05 2 Timothy

Sermon 8-14-05 troubling the waters

Let us pray…..Dear Lord, please let any idle words fall to the side, and please let your words find the fertile soil of open hearts. Amen

Topics from this story
Jesus is the healer……no man can replace him
Jesus doesn’t heal everyone….many lay by the pool – 38 years

Story of the troubled waters [certain times, angel stirs the waters]
Story as it develops in the life history of the church
God acts in an unusual way……
· Stir up the gift- 2 timothy 1 Paul to Timothy
· moving in the tops of the mulberry trees 2 Sam 5 David vs Phillistines
· The waters are troubled
At a particular time……a season of his choosing

God has been acting in the past..not to say he hasn’t
· Cancer people 1994-5
· exodus from the old building to the new was filled with amazing stories

How do you know if the waters are being troubled?
We are often afraid to be too spiritual……….
You look at people that you think are spiritual…..they intimidate you, scare you,
This is not spirituality….
Are they better parents than you ….Are they a better spouse

When the waters are troubled, we get our self out of the way and begin to say yes to God
Better fathers, better neighbors
Holy spirit doesn’t take sides, he takes over
When your wife says….what is happening to you?…the waters are troubled

Could have given you some safe little sermon on Jonah and the whale
My heart is on the line with you today
I am very uncomfortable to tell you this story

About a month ago…..I get this feeling…I am acting at wcc
frightening
What do you want me to do……..exactly what I tell you to do

Went to talk to some guys out on a pontoon boat-
Crashed their party,

What if nothing happens
I cannot contain this

So I am trying to be faithful…I am laying this out there…..

If God is acting now or is preparing to act at WCC
Would you be ready? Would you be willing?

Email this week…Said she heard that on e of the best abilities you can give God is your availability.

What if nothing happens….well, It is not just up to God, it is up to us to choose if and how we respond to what we are called to do

Who knows, maybe……A great and marvelous work is about to come forth

Transition to specific ideas
I have talked to you for years about hearing Gods call and acting out in mission with Jesus
Missions driven…not just missions, but also ss teachers, landsacape teams

Several have asked…what do you want me to do?
Its not up to me….
But If you are ready but are waiting for the right Idea, here are some that have been on my heart

Specific ideas
· Spanish speaking members to ccv
· Prison ministry
· Wcc radio
· Wcc tv
· Secret hospitality team
· Water bottles in downtown
· Deliver invitation to west oaks ridge
· Gasoline at a reduced price
· Admin asst vol for the dist supt
· Christ based Karate or similar martial arts, like our dance ministry
· Dodgeball for youth
· Cancer center ministry – drive them, pick up and deliver meds, clean house
· 3-6 months in the mission field



conclusion
How do you know that God is acting?
I witnessed 2 grown men talking about their church, crying in a public restaurant

Young men are hearing Gods call & stepping forward and taking responsibility

I am getting emails about how god is acting in the lives of our members

How big are your dreams for God
He can do abundantly more than you can ask or think-now is the time

If the pool is being stirred…..who will be the first one in….
I don’t care if everyone in your pew thinks you are nuts,
everyone in your neighborhood thinks you are crazy……

I don’t care if you have been an invalid for 38 years
God is looking for someone to kneel and pray and say…..Lord, If you want to act, what do you want me to do.

Fear Not Luke 12:22-34 9-23-01

Sermon 9-23-01 Fear Not Luke 12:22-34

Poignant times of fear in my life
1. At 17, fear of losing girlfriend
2. At 30, fear of losing a child
3. At 37, fear of new appointment
They all seem small now…..fear has crept into our world
Fear of safety, financial loss, job loss
Uncertainty has overtaken our sense of security

Maybe our security was in the wrong things
Scripture…..don’t worry about these things
It’s the father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom
The act of terrorism destroyed the prosperity gospel
Sure God cares about your food and clothes
Not his primary concern
Primary concern = your soul bonded to him
Until you understand this, you are going to struggle
Band of brothers, until you understand that your life on this earth is
irrelevant, you wont be able to function as a soldier
Seek first the k of God, then all this will be added to you

Nervous about tasks I used to face as a teenager
What if I don’t do it right?
Sent a boy to do a mans job
When we relied on stuff for security it didn’t work
It failed us
We sent a human to do Gods job
There is only one who can deliver us from fear…Jesus Christ
We don’t have to fear future if we know the one who holds the future
Security lies not in the absence of danger,
But is found in the presence of god

This scripture always seemed irrelevant to us
They were worried about all that stuff
Now we are worried about all that stuff
I remember my Dad talking about the depression
What if bread gets to be 10cent a loaf? Buy bread
What if gas goes to $5 a gallon, buy gas
What if church burns down, no insurance,
We will have church in the parking lot

Why can we have this attitude?
We know the God who loves
1 jn 4:18 Perfect love casts out fear

I ask you today to seek the Lord
Fear is sneaky it sneaks up on you
Remember: God is there. Run to him, trust him
You can’t focus on him and be filled with fear at the same time
His love will drive out the fear

People at front will pray with you

Close w Jesus centered prayer