What Gift to Bring to Jesus 12-18-05

Sermon 12-18-05 What gift to bring to Jesus

Everyone brought gifts.
§ Wisemen = Gold
§ Frankinsense
§ Myhrr
§ Shepherds their worship
§ Angels their song
§ townfolk, everyone who shows is bending the knee…
§ santa at the manger

Before this they were common…disengaged, selfish
Now they are in the game

Whose birthday is it
What gift will you bring

Whose Birthday is it, Anyway?
I walked and ran and shopped all day! Whose birthday is it, by the way?So much I still have left to do…practice, bake, wrap a few...I've spent alot of money, yet…..I know I've still got more to get!Was up 'til two again last night...somehow this picture isn't right.It seems we give to everyone….and they give back, and we have funbut once again I have to say…..Whose birthday is it, anyway?I know on mine, the folks I know….give just to me,not Sam and Joe;So if the birthday of a King…..is why we party and we singlet's not forget the reason why...this Birthday Boy came here to die.So give Him honor! Give Him praise!…..Give Him the gift of all your days.And when His birthday comes each year…..make sure that He’s the One you cheer.Don't forget, the birth was real,…..His death to save, part of the dealRemember, while running through the mall,….it is HIS birthday, after all.

what am I talking about…what gifts do I bring?
· gift of love + caring
· gift of forgiveness
brother or sister who has offended you

· feeding the poor
· gift of your time
· ring the bell for salvation army
· gift of a welcome…someone at church,
· estranged relatives on thanksgiving
· cookies to a neighbor

When we celebrate a birthday, we are careful to give what the person really wants or needs. Is there any doubt what Jesus wants from us? He insists that in order to give to him, we must find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.

do not neglect to do the things that are placed upon your mind

what gift will you give to Jesus
the same old part of your heart….regifting or something new

replacements…waterboy…
it’s the big game
person needed is not there
the team is losing

maybe up until this point of your life, this is your story…..in the spiritual game, you are not really present at the moments that count

its not too late
come in late in the game….2nd half..put it onto the field of play

All those who encountered Jesus lived the 2nd half of their lives differently
They were transformed by the encounter

Question
when was the last time you offered yourself transformationally to Jesus. What area is he calling for that is yet unsubmitted

In the Bleak midwinter…. Christmas carol
When we are truly touched by the story, something changes
Old English difficult to understand, difficult to sing
Jeff’s paraphrase….

The times were bleak, the night was cold
As is the world was hard as stone

But heaven couldn’t hold back Gods love
yet the seemed no place for the baby king
somehow, beyond our understanding
a stable became enough

enough for him whom angels worship
somehow a manger full of hay was enough for him
whom all creation bows before

Angels and shepherds gathered there
His mother worshipped with a kiss

The circumstances touch me
I am moved to the depths of my soul
I cant hardly believe that God did this for me

What can I give Him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

let us pray
walk to the manger



In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficedThe Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom angels, worship night and day,Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Shepherds - dirty jobs Luke 2:8-14 12-4-05

Sermon 12-04-05 Luke 2:8-14 Shepherds- dirty Jobs

New Tv show…….dirty jobs…seen it? Watched all of it?

Dirtiest job I ever did….plumbing under house in bixby
Sick to stomach….clothes in trash…..yeuch!!

Worst you ever felt about yourself? Don’t belong, I don’t matter, rejected, unloved, everyone else matters but me, On the plate of life I am the parsley.

This is the world of the shepherd.
Living in the fields….in tents, in the open, not a part of normal, clean society.
Alone, rejected, chided, cold, questioned their purpose

Lowest social stratum….with tax collectors and dung sweepers
Rift between farmers and shepherds Cain & Able
Accepted in early jewish history, set aside after Egypt
Became in illustration of how far someone had come….Amos, David
Some rabbis questioned ps 23….the Lord is my shepherd
Rabbis banned shepherding except in desert areas
According to jewish law, no one required to help a shepherd fallen into a pit

1st ones to hear
Goodwill to men
Goodwill to men upon whom the Lords favor rests

Worst you ever felt about yourself? Don’t belong, I don’t matter, rejected, unloved, everyone else matters but me, On the plate of life I am the parsley.

There is a giant contradiction in the Christmas story
Oxymoron….jumbo shrimp
Giant contradiction….to everything that the world calls important, power, prestiege, fame, money……..God says humbug
To the lowliest, to the humble, to those who are struggling God says
Peace on earth, good will to men and women upon who my favor rests and that begins with you.

Cant find anything to celebrate about?
Note from Susan Vogel

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 Isaiah 9 12-24-2005

Christmas eve

Isaiah 9
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death [a] a light has dawned…………………
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, [b] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
No one can change or remove the fundamental truths of this world, they are declared and set in motion not by men but by God

I will shake the heavens and the earth the sea the dry land the lord who ye seek will suddenly come to his temple the desire of all nations shall come

Take in God we trust off the money?
Merry Christmas vs. happy holidays I hope they don’t change it

If they change it, it changes nothing

No one can change or remove the fundamental truths of this world of what God has done in Jesus Christ; they are declared and set in motion by God not men


If you are here tonight and you are looking for a savior
I want you to know
You have come to the right place

Our neighborhood our laws president will change our border policies may change
But the fundamental truth of who god is and what he has done in sending Jesus Christ remains forever

Take his name out of the pledge, sadly done,
And to this end tonight we celebrate that a light is born in to this world

We celebrate the light of Christ

Will you receive the light today?

Innkeeper….
Did not know…..did not realize what he was doing

He is the most like us…so busy with preparing rooms and dealthing with the crowd that he missed the birth of the savior.

The birth still happened without him….
God’s urpose went on

Paul dodds story

Salvation army stories

Sermon Excuses 1 Peter 4:10 5-15-05

Read Scripture: each one of us should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1peter 4:10

I am sure at the pearly gates there will be many good reasons given to God as to why we led predominantly self centered lives:

Lord, I didn’t recognize you in the poor and needy

I am just one person, I didn’t think that I could make a difference

give me a break Lord, I am doing what I can

Church always made me feel guilty, so I did nothing, or I did what was convenient

Lord, They wouldn’t let me be in charge, and I didn’t want to do it their way, so I did nothing

Lord, My wife or husband doesn’t want me to be too involved in Christianity

God, you are so demanding. Don’t you know that I am busy?

Lord I would have reached out but I was waiting for a better time in my life

I didn’t know that it was my responsibility to care about others…I didn’t know that you were serious about this.

I have already done a lot, it is someone else’s turn

I have so many problems, you should help me, rather than asking things of me.

I have always been afraid of you, so I hid my talent in the ground

If I would have won the lottery, I would have done more for you
[if you live in America, you have won the lottery]

Lord, there is so much that I want to do, I am too selfish to follow you right now

Often when I pray, you don’t give me what I want, so why should I follow you?

I was going the flow of traffic, I was just doing what everyone else was doing

Lord, I am too young, too old, too inexperienced, too nervous

Lord, I have a right to be rich….haven’t you blessed me with all of this stuff?

I don’t have an excuse. I don’t need one, and I don’t owe you any explanation, I’m in charge of my life

Lord, I sat thru those presentations in church…they never did anything for me.

Does any of this common human thinking absolve us from listening to God’s call and following?

Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and gathered them around. He taught them saying:Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are the meek.Blessed are they that mourn.Blessed are the merciful.Blessed are they who thirst for justice.Blessed are you when persecuted. Blessed are you when you suffer.Be glad and rejoice for your reward is great in heaven.Then Simon Peter said, "Are we supposed to write this down?"And Andrew asked, "Are we supposed to know this?"And James asked, "Will we have a test on this?"And Phillip said, "I don't have any paper."And Bartholomew asked, "Do we have to turn this in?"And John said, "The other disciples didn't have to learn this."And Matthew asked, "Can I go to the boys' room?"And Judas asked, "What does this have to do with real life?"Then one of the Pharisees who was present asked to see Jesus' lesson plan , outline and objectives. Jesus wept. And 1 peter 4 still says that each one of us should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
Can one person make a difference ..only if they choose to

Bread Upon the Waters 11-13-05

Sermon 11-13-05 Ecclesiastes 11:1-5 Bread Upon the Waters

Consumer reports…best gifts for December 2005
I object

Eccl is an interesting book
This doesn’t matter, that doesn’t matter
Pleasure, work, advancement, riches, don’t matter

There is something that does matter
live your life in a way that honors God

There is this interesting section in Chpt 11
When you give of yourself, it will come back to you in due time
Help as many people as you can because there are many in need.
When trouble comes to you or someone else, bloom where you are planted. Help those around you.
Don’t just watch the storms of life, you will never understand them.
Remember that God is the maker of all things.

Christmas
This is a sermon about what you will give to others for Christmas. I am doing it now because we are entering shopping season. The week before it will be too late.

Christmas is a time when we focus on getting and giving.
Sometimes We focus on what does not matter.
If you only teach them materialism, the outcome will be predictable.
You can spend the next 6 weeks planning for gifts to open
Result: exhausted, broke, frustrated
You can spend the next 6 weeks giving yourself to others
Result: you have done the things that matter
Your soul has risen to the top

Gifts alone can seem hollow
Watching a huge man weigh in at the doctors office, and not knowing that the scale was out of order, a little boy watched with his mother as the indicator stopped at 75 pounds. “Whaddya Know,” the boy marveled. He’s Hollow.

Gifts alone can seem hollow
There should be a requirement that every gift given comes with a caring word…some message from the soul

Sometimes gifts are given to cover over what should have been there but was not……

What would a nuclear Christmas be like?
O Henry story….Gift of the Magi
The gifts in the story are not the watch chain or the hair combs, but the gift of extraordinary love

Don’t give gifts, give yourself.
Let me give you some examples:
Gifts of love and caring….
delivering kindness to those who are not kind to you.
Praying for those whom God has laid upon your heart.
You can’t be bitter about someone and pray for them.
Gift of forgiveness….
brother or sisiter who has offended you.
Member….can I sit by you, or do you want to smack me…gave
them a hug….life is short
Feed the poor-take 4 of your 6 winter coats and give them to the poor
Give your time….
no point in giving a new baseball glove if you will not play catch with
the boy.
Ring the bell for the salvation army.
Give a gift of welcome…..
to an estranged relative
To someone at church….welcome team
Cookies to a neighbor

Do not neglect to do the things that are upon your mind
It may be the Holy Spirit

Life is filled with distractions and mystery
Do the things that matter.

Let us pray

Communion Sermon 11-6-05

Sermon Communion John 6

What do people talk about on Friday night in America? In the 3rd world countries?

Jesus, what are your credentials? He had just fed 5,000

Let us tell you how it is….. We don’t tell God how it is,
Christianity is about our servanthood not our lordship

Our forefathers gave us manna…. No God gave you the manna
One of life’s little perspective rules

Lets talk about the manna
Manna was collected daily It skipped a day [Sabbath]
Spirituality is a daily endeavor

Manna spoiled if you hoarded it So does spirituality

Manna is to be sought early
Our spiritual life our prayer life deserves top billing

I love this about this story
Jesus speaks our language….they understood manna………. He didn’t change the subject….he discussed with them on their level Don’t expect to get instructions in King James English

I am the bread of life
Many turned back V38….Jesus wishes to lose none
We wish to win everyone…here it is sad- they are turning their backs on Jesus

Many turned back, not because they were being called to be cannibals, eat my flesh, drink my blood
They were being called to turn from self+ embrace a christ centered faith
Some could not follow Jesus To not follow Jesus is to follow self
True Christianity is Christ centered What percentage of your life is about you? What percentage of your life is submitted to Jesus

Will you leave me too? We have no other place to go You have what we need….you have the words of eternal life

Story of Clarksville Ark trip
Story of deep spiritual hunger as a youth….

If you are looking for something that is real……
Want an end to loneliness, anger, bitterness, insecurity
Jesus says to you today
I am the bread of life he who comes to me will never hunger, he who believes in me will never thirst…..
Are you hungry in your soul? Call upon the name of Jesus

Isaiah 55
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

Communion 11-06-05 - John 6

Sermon Communion John 6

Jesus, what are your credentials?
He had just fed 5,000

Let us tell you how it is…..
We don’t tell God how it is, Christianity is about our servanthood not our lordship

Our forefathers gave us manna….
No God gave you the manna

Manna was collected daily
It skipped a day

Manna spoiled if you hoarded it
So does spirituality

Manna is to be sought early

Jesus speaks our language….they understood manna……….
He didn’t change the subject….he discussed with them on their level
Don’t expect to get instructions in King James English

I am the bread of life
Bread is a dead thing, needs a human body to do the nourishing with
But Jesus is the living bread, he nourished by himself

There is something special about the name of Jesus
Universal swear word
Drop your books in the mud…buddah

Many turned back
V38….Jesus wishes to lose none

Many turned back, not because they were being called to be cannibals,
They were being called to turn from self and embrace a faith that was Christ centered
True Christianity is Christ centered
What percentage of your life is about you?
What percentage of your life is submitted to Jesus

Some could not follow Jesus
To not follow Jesus is to follow self

If you have forgotten him, it is time to come home

Will you leave me too?
We have no other place to go
You have what we need….you have the words of eternal life

You can leave a church and still follow jesus……
Gained some wonderful people
Lost some wonderful people
But when they turned back from Jesus, they turned to nothing

Conclusion
If I could say to you, let us solve this hunger forever, would you want it
End lonliness, end anger, end bitterness,
Here it is…call upon his name

Do you have an appetite for Christ?
Are you hungry for something that is real

Story of Clarksville Ark trip

Taste and see that the Lord is good

Honest Relationships Mathew 23 10-30-05

Sermon Matthew 23: honest relationships Eric Kelsey Painting

I went to a costume party….they said lose the hair.
Not a good costume….its just bad….not working for you

· Jesus is saying that to Pharisees…nice costume…nice mask….not foolin me
· They were pretenders, the epitome of the direct opposite of Jesus teaching
Pride, worldliness, and tyranny under a pretense of religion….
· In laying them open, Jesus teaches us some things about real Christian is
· Fact is I don’t think his primary purpose is to lay them open, but to free the normal people from their guilt laden religious junk

Who are you really? What you tell people you are, show people you are, or what you are on the inside

Jesus is pretty clear that they weren’t real.
I love these guys. They make even me feel good

Sins of the pharisees
· They condemned others for sins they embraced for themselves
Male pattern baldness-
Sometimes people lash out at others who have their same weakness
So and so is so brash

· Attracted attention to themselves
Everything is done to be seen by others
So insecure, needed others praise

Made a big show…broad phylacteries….paris airport
Ministry robes, david van giesen
Don’t blow your own horn….it is not a very pleasing tone
Ray says of himself….I am a great guy

· Took the best seats
Not only too the chief seats for themselves, but in so doing robbed others of what may have been rightfully theirs
I’ve got shotgun

· Titles….call me Jeff, my wife does….she calls me other things too, but I wish you wouldn call me those things….

· Strain a gnat, swallow a camel…..did not focus on the important parts
Love , truth, justice
More interested in religion or knowledge than in souls

· Worried about rules, never get to the heart
Worried about he heart, the character will follow
I want to build a church culture based on the work of the holy spirit, not rules
Holy spirit doesn’t need me to broker his work in your life

Jesus calls them hypocrites
What is a hypocrite…the church is full of hypocrites
· Not someone who goes to church but isn’t perfect…..oho, Jeff yelled at his wife, hes a hypocrite…
· Not a fallen person, not a broken person,
· Someone who says one thing and does another…no big hair in church
· Someone who holds themself up as an example and then isn’t
· Important call for Christians to be humble
· A stage player
· Clean on the outside, dirty on the inside

What are the implications for church
We have to be very careful about the kind of culture we create
They drew people to themselves
They were better than others
Build a church that is focused on Jesus Christ
Build a church where our hearts are welcoming and filled with Grace

What are the Implications for your daily living
11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Servanthood in daily relationships

Marriage the playing field of crummy relationships……
2 ships passing in the night
my parents…..I gave up 25 years ago and it is too late to start over
go home and lose an argument

Implications of relationships with God
He knew who you were anyway

Marriage line….before whom the secrets of all hearts are known
The Require & Charge ___________ & ___________ I require and charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, before whom the secrets of all hearts are known, that, having already considered in your own hearts and minds the holy covenant you are about to make, I want to remind you that you are now about to declare before this company your pledge of faith, each to the other. Be well assured that if your solemn vows are kept unviolated, as God’s Word demands, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, God will bless your marriage, will grant you fulfillment in it, and will establish your home in peace.
Rita Bass Coors paid $7,000 for a porcelain mask hand-painted by JohnDenver. It had been purchased at the 1997 Charity Celebrity Ball for Hospiceof Metropolitan Denver. As the auctioneer handed it to her, it slippedthrough her fingers and shattered on the floor.The new owner of an expensive pile of broken pieces decided to keep themanyway. Rather than attempting to fix the mask, she placed the pieces in amontage of John Denver photographs.
God is on a mission to find and pick up the shattered, jagged lives ofbroken people and transform them into something beautiful.

How to be real:
1. let people see your warts…….it ok
2. sit down with them and talk. Tell your stories, good and bad
3. stay the course…..work on relationships
4. receive love and healing, offer love and healing

What Are We Doing? 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 10-16-05

Sermon 10-16-05 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

What are we doing? - Packets are available
· Building stuff
· Reaching people
· We are giving 5% to other UM churches and ministries
· Glorifying God
What will it cost? 3.5 + arch fees, 5%, cost to borrow
Our goal….1.5, 2.0, 2.5 or raise it all
Why are we doing this?
Mt 9 35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Pray or ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Who should we pray that God will send?

Sowing and reaping- lets talk

You cannot sow if you don’t have the seeds
You must have the seeds John 3:16-
God so loved the world that he sent his only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life
Parable of the sower - mt 13
· There is no harvest of pumpkins without someone sowing the seeds
· There is no harvest of people in the pews unless forward thinking men and women are willing to make investments of their time, talent and treasure

You must understand kingdom principles
-God wants to reach the lost
-he wants to do it thru us
he has already done it thru us before
yes and if we are blessed, there will be more campaigns

-this is a great joy and a privilege
it is not an obligation
giving is always voluntary

If you are rolling your eyes today…..I want to tell you a story….when I was having my little health problem….you know what my wife would have given to have me well…..everything….go read luke 12 and remember that everything that we are and everything that we have belongs to God

Giving vs getting
the world finds joy in getting, Christians find joy in giving
your relationship here….
primarily about what you get or about what you give
those who give usually find what they need from God

greatest Christmas present…one you gave or one you received

works of charity do not impoverish us
selfishness impoverishes us
works of charity enrich our souls

Greatest part of this scripture
In the future, people will praise God because of your faithfulness

In may we are celebrating 30 years. Is there anyone here who would like to praise God for those who have made possible what you see here?

In 5 years we will be celebrating 35 years. If God continues to bless us, there will be another 200 or so people at WCC that are not here now. In 2011 the preacher will ask all those to stand who helped prepare the way and open the doors for these 200 new people. The 200 new people will look around at all of you who gave sacrificially to make room for them. Some of them will thank you for helping to connect their family to Jesus Christ.

Prayer of St Francis






The story is told that the industrialist Henry Ford was on vacation in Dublin, Ireland, when he was asked to contribute toward the building of a new orphanage. He promptly wrote a check for 2,000 pounds. When he picked up a newspaper the next day, his generosity was in the headlines, but the paper had gotten the amount of the gift wrong — instead of 2,000, readers were told Mr. Ford had given 20,000.The director of the orphanage apologized and offered to phone the newspaper’s editor and correct the error. “There’s no need for that,” Ford said. “I’ll give you a check for the remaining 18,000 pounds, but only on one condition. When the new building opens, I want this inscription on it: I was a stranger, and you took me in.”




Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone once featured a story about an inveterate gambler who dies and is taken to a room where there is a gambling table and a dealer. Every time he rolls the dice, he scores or wins. Every hand he holds is a winning hand. His living arrangements are plush and supplied with everything he could possibly want. At first, the man believes he is in heaven. He was so happy. But then, he becomes aware that he is totally alone. The fun of sharing his winnings with someone else is missing. He finally concludes that he is not in paradise as he had at first thought. He is in hell.

Count It All Joy James 1:2-4 10-9-05

Sermon 10-9-05 James 1:2-4
Count it all joy when you have trials and trouble
Presupposes that You are going to have it
I found some
Count it joy?
Right

The trying of your faith works perseverance….
We have had some trials
Tues Sept 12….re check for pneumonia
Wed sept 13 cat scan
Thurs sept 14 cat scan read 8am
Friday 5pm…I don’t think it is cancer….I think it is fungus
friday…sept 23rd its not fungus….
Monday sept 26…bronchiascope
Tuesday sept 27…..sarcoidosis

What is sarciodosis
Immune system problem
Lymposites clump like clusters of grapes
Commonly misdiagnosed as lung cancer
Humor….Steve Ward’s email

Let perseverance work its work
If a person had 12 days in which they were worried about death, what would they think about…..what can we understand about living
What are you about? what does it mean to be alive?
What do you learn about yourself during such a time
Can you let these struggles of faith work their work???

Things I have learned………
1. Big F Fear

2. Your friends come out of the woodwork

3. speaking of friends, a friend called…..God isn’t offended by our humanness--- God takes us just the way we are………

4. 80% of what I think is important, isn’t

5 If I have been with you all of these years, I am with you now
The old footprints story

6. live in today, not waiting for Christmas
Enjoy this moment, not the next
look at every flower, every tree…your children’s faces

7. Everyone should dance when you wake up in the morning
every day is a gift
Sense of gratitude-if you can find something to be thankful for, you will always be happy

Gives you a take on trouble…..
If this is the worst thing for me today….then I am having a great day.

8. Surrender….cathy’s prayers

9. No matter what, it will be ok

10. Peace….I cant do anything about this
Resignation

Went to see a counselor during this time……..what do you think about
Dr Ira Byock
The Four Things That Matter Most"Please forgive me. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you." These four simple statements are a powerful tool for easing suffering of people facing life's end - themselves or a loved one - and preparing to say "Good-bye." They are about cleaning up and "becoming current" in our relationships with the people in our lives who matter most.
Its not about how you will die, it is about how you will choose to live….

Conclusion-Do our Christian lives change when we face terrible times

Is it possible that we normally just live a mix of Christianity and selfishness?
Is that enough to make it to heaven -Who decides…im glad its not me

When you die and go to heaven, it is your home
You are home…it’s a place you’ve already been
Your brain has already lived here

That is the relationship that we are striving for here and now

There are things for us to learn about life….ideas that will help us live lives of joy and purpose…..lets not wait for the trials that James talks of. Lets allow God by his holy spirit to work his work in us now.

Job Job 1:13-25 9-11-05

Sermon 9-11-05 Job 1:13-25
when Lee Greenwood sang this song, he probably never thought that so many would experience the trial that he described……….
If tomorrow all the things were gone I’d worked for all my life,And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,I’d thank my lucky stars to be living here today,’Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can’t take that away.I’m proud to be an American ………………

Job
Job had it all, then lost it all
Yet In all things he trusted God
[repeat scripture portion]
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there.The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;Blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

It is bound to happen
Someone wants to blame God [last week on the news]
Comic: Swirling…..Hurricane Katrina
And they call this intelligent design

Presupposes the idea
that life should be a rose garden….bad things should not happen.
This is only possible in a pretend world. In a world where freewill matters, my choices have to mean something.
If God pushes all the buttons, our lives are meaningless

I want you to tell your friends this
You don’t get cancer or hurricaned because God pushed a button.
Sometimes bad things just happen. They are a part of our world

Someone wants to blame the people down there in the south
Mt 5:45 He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Are they worse then we are? Are the people In the powerpoint church worse then we are? Were the 9-11 victims worse than we are.
Bad things happen.
God does not give us what we deserve.
If we all got what we deserved, where would we be?


I want you to tell your friends this
You don’t get cancer or hurricaned because you are a bad person.

Bad things happen
Faith teachers are in trouble…their theology doesn’t work in this situation
No matter how good you are you are still going to face trouble in this life

John 16: 33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Sept 11 was not something God did, it did not happen because the people in NY were bad…it happened because in this case, bad people did bad things
We are not always going to understand why. If we did, then we wouldn’t need God. We are going to live and die with questions about Gods wonderful world.

The story for Christians is not the why, but what now?

What to do now?
You can close the door to caring
Lets take our toilet paper in and then go back to our life as it was
Ocala- homeowners assn wont allow residents to house evacuees

You can choose to be-Angry, bitterness, its not fair
Whether huge hurts as Katrina victims face or our everyday hurts, we have a choice.
We can hold on to anger and it will keep us from focusing on God.
Movie clara’s heart
You don’t have to die for the rest of your life to prove that you were hurt….

Christians have something to give in a time of trouble
This can be a growing point for me… Something to learn…
Someone to help out there, lets rally our hearts
I can choose to not be overcome by evil, but I can over come evil with good – Ro 12:21

No matter what, I can trust God, I can praise him. Take eyes off of circumstances, get my eyes on him

Song-Blessed be the name Blessed be Your name In the land that is plentifulWhere Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name And blessed be Your name When I’m found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed be Your nameBlessed be Your name When the sun’s shining down on me When the world’s all as it should be Blessed be Your nameAnd blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there’s pain in the offering Blessed be Your name You give and take away You give and take awayMy heart will choose to say Lord blessed be Your name

Lessons from Jonah Jonah 2 8-28-05

Sermon: Lessons from Jonah 2 8-28-05

Jonah is a member of WCC of city……
Pastor is asking them to hear Gods call and be in mission
Jonah is praying that prayer….Lord how can I give myself away for you

God Calls
People Run—if God called us to do what we wanted to do, we would already be doing it
· how long does it take to teach someone to want to reach people who are not your people?
· human nature does not love the ninevites
those who are different from you, those who hate you, judge you

Everyone can tell you are a mess--You can read people

Swallowed by a fish
God can do miracles
He is stubborn
Finally prays

Obeys
When was the last time you invited someone to church
The sign of his brokenness is all over him…..
Ninevah repents
Jonah is mad

If God can use Jonah, then God can use you
He is not looking for the perfect
When perfect people witness, it is about them
When broken people witness, it is about God
In fact, your brokenness is an important part of your witness
If God can use Jonah, then God can use you

Is God calling you
Is there something that you are yet to do because you have thought yourself unworthy
Let God’s love shine through your unworthiness

Uganda video
Grace alone

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.

Finding a Clean Heart John 1:5-10 6-26-05

Sermon 6-26-05 finding a clean heart

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.1 john 1 5-10

We are all in this
Here is a creative fund-raising technique used by "Fighting Bob" Shuler, an early radio preacher in 1926. …."I know a man listening in," Shuler told listeners. "If he does not give a hundred dollars, I will go on the air next Tuesday night and tell what I know about him." ……A lot of money was raised for the church before Tuesday night. Indeed, it was one of the biggest nights in the history of the broadcast. How many of us would have been tempted to send money in?

Paradox in this passage
. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

We want to avoid willful deliberate sin
We need to admit that in spite of our best efforts,, sin will still be with us
we are called to press on to a life of perfect intent,

cars
1. Even when you think a car is clean, there is something about them that intrinsically get dirty

2. Cars get a nice collection of dirt from time to time and you have to wash them
This is when people write on them….wash me

3. Then there are the cataclysmic moments where you drive your car thru the mud, eggs, or tar., and there is something that cannot be ignored. It consumes all of your consideration for the car…it is the first thing on your list until it gets taken care of

Now have talked with you about the dirt that gets on cars, I want to talk to you about the dirt that can get into our souls

Sin
1. Just as cars are going to by nature get dirty, so people, by nature have a bent towards sin.
Without ever doing anything overtly wrong, we have a propensity, a likelihood to be selfish. It is a part of our nature [original sin]

2. There are common sins….I need to be a better father,

3. I want to spend the rest of our time today talking about the third kind of sin
A besetting sin, it is on your mind. Every week, everyday it has a hold of you
You are here, god wants to cleans this from your life
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov 6

An unforgiveness. An anger, we cheated someone, we taken that which did not belong to us. An addiction
Spiritual pride
Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

There is a good thing about sin
Opens the door for dependence upon God -----Grace
You can come to understand you need for Jesus

But if we take an honest look at our sin------It calls us back to God

Remedies for sin
Remedy for original sin…….one prayer, one time

Remedy for ongoing sins……..prayer, decisions, commitment

Remedy for besetting sins…..warfare. grow tired to being controlled by something, tired of making destructive choices…..

You can become bitter
You can stop going to church
You can pretend it isn’t there

go t the priest….

I don’t have time to hear your confessions…..you must take them to Jesus
I am busy with my own.

go to Jesus….cathartic moment when you call on the name of the lord

14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:14-16

There may still be consequences
You may still have to work on forgiving yourself
An old woman in the village was said to be receiving divine apparitions. The local priest demanded proof of their authenticity. "When God next appears to you," he said, "ask Him to tell you my sins, which are known to Him alone. That should be evidence enough."
The woman returned a month later and the priest asked if God had appeared to her again. She said He had. "Did you put the question to Him?" "I did," she said. "And what did He say?" "He said, 'Tell your priest I have forgotten his sins.'"
Only the holy spirit convicts of sin
How do you know if this is something for you? Don’t listen to the preacher…don’t let anyone put the guilt on you. If this isn’t for you today, then fine, go on, God will find you in his time.

But look inside, and if the holy spirit is shining the light on your soul, if he is calling your name then maybe it is time to put this behind you.

If it is keeping you from God, then let today be the day that you begin the process to let it go

Cleansing
This is really hard to talk about, except that there is good news.
Verse 9..If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us from our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
It seems incredible, but I declare to you that it is true.

Closing prayer time
Today we are going to close with a time of silent prayer. Use this time to confess your sins to the lord and hear his word of forgiveness…..

If you want to come up here and pray, then do so…..If you want to pray in your seats then that is fine too….If God is calling you today, then do not leave this place without leaving your sin at his feet.
Let us be in an attitude of prayer

Conflict 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 6-12-05

Sermon 6-12-05 Scripture 1 cor 1:10-17

Conflict in the church….so soon…ad 65
Paul and Appolos
Paul was called to be an apostle
Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria who was a fervent bold speaker
Arguments over who was better, who they followed.

Sometimes good folks disagree. But in the church we should always be able to look past small disagreements and keep focused upon our mission.

Paul wonders what we are focused on…..Ministers vs. Jesus
· No; minister, however instrumental no matter how good to us,
are not to be put in Christ’s stead.
· They are not to usurp Christ’s authority, nor encourage any thing in the people that looks like transferring his authority to them.
· Jesus is our Saviour and sacrifice, he is our Lord and guide.

If we focus on the minister or the ss teacher,
the cross of Christ be emptied of its power
for the focus is on the messenger or the vessel instead of the savior and Lord


yet…each one has a purpose…all Christians have a place
· .chpt 3….Paul was fitted for planting work, and Apollos for watering work, but God gave the increase.
· Neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth, but God who giveth the increase, v. 7.
· ministers are nothing of themselves, can do nothing with success unless God give the increase.
· The best qualified and most faithful ministers have a just sense of their own insufficiency, and are very desirous that God should have all the glory of their success. Paul and Apollos are nothing at all in their own account, but God is all in all.

Umc in blue springs, UMC in Columbia, all on same team….Baptists are too, they just don’t always know it.



Annual Conference [the system]
Bishop appoints year to year….11 years is a long time
Donna is retiring, bob jeppson is being certified, Michele sue is moving
What will happen to Jeff?
Some day he is going to move on………hit by a train

Bill carter….bathroom….you will not always be the pastor here
Chat with the pastor….we need to build a church that is bigger than who the pastor is

What are we about?
I attend Jeff brinkman’s church
I sit under the ministry of Jeff brinkman.

It is the ministry of Christ.’
Any success that we have we must take the moment to lift up the name of Jesus Christ.

Chpt 3 vs 1 beginning Christians focus on the person…..
. The apostle tellsI spoke to you as babes in Christ…
because they could not get there focus off of who was their leader
as we grow, we grow past who the pastor is and focus on the mission.

What keeps us here….
Are we here for what we get or what we are a part of?

This is not my baby……Not my cushy appt until I retire
This is a church

As long as I have the privilege of being the pastor it is my responsibility to see that ministry is conducted in a manner that glorifies god..and outlives me

Some will like me, some will not
I must do the very best that I can

Are you committed because of who is on staff
Or because of a program????????
Or because you believe in our mission

Are you here for what you get or for what you can give?
There is a turn in our thinking when we see that it is in giving that we receive St Francis’ prayer

You must decide why you are here

We need to think today not merely about what we are getting, but we need to think about building tomorrows church.

Building a church that will last into the century

Bass pro shop is going in……this church has a great potential future
400 homes going in on woods chapel road
200 families in west oaks ridge

man I am ready to go knock on every door over there

Communion
If you walk away today wondering about if Jeff is saying something about how long he is staying, then you are missing the point. The point is that we must build a church that transcends human personalities and focuses instead upon our mission and upon the divine personality.

So I want to remind you that it is not about what your pastor does or who your pastor is. It is about this
Jesus loved, taught and gave of himself
He suffered, he died for your sins
If you choose to follow him, your sins are forgiven and the power of the holy spirit comes in to your life.

It is our mission to connect people to Jesus Christ. We must never forget this. Let us remember as he asked us.

Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins

Parable of the Sower Matthew 13 5-22-05

Sermon 5-22-05 Matthew 13 Parable of the sower

Good dirt is in demand: Had an argument at our house about if there was enough dirt in a particular corner to grow tomatoes.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus is looking for good dirt.

Good news: There is an immediate piece of good news in the story. The seeds of the kingdom go out to everyone. The message goes out to all kinds of soil…bad news is, not all soils receive the message

We see in this parable, Growth is God’s expectation
If you are not growing, you are dead
Parable asks an important question…What kind of soil are you?
Path-hard---mind full of competing thoughts
No theme song for this life, like all kinds of music
Eternity is at stake, have a theme song
Thorny—too much competition for your time
Too busy
Theme song, no time left for you, guess who
Rocky---my soul is hard
Grr…don’t try to tell me anything
Theme song….billy joel, my life….go ahead with your own life
leave me alone
Good soil
Humble, teachable, open
Hears and receives message
Theme song, amazing grace

Which life do you want?
Whoever does not have, even what you have will be taken from him

Parable looks for another question….How can we become good dirt?
1. thorns growing…..leave them….walk away….something will grow in your life, why not let it be the good stuff
2. path or rocky soil, same problem…..too hard
need some good Grinding, some good Breaking
Wind, water
Adversity is a great teacher
Horse is only useful when it is broken
Corn- breaking, grinding makes good bread

John 12:24

John 12:24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Points of tension in your life….don’t fight them. Let them teach you

Sometimes it feels like: I am in a life passage
Gail shehee…passages. Life is one constant passage
Adversity helps you grow, makes you mean or gives you the ability to care

An old maxim: We can't always choose what is going to happen to us in life, but we can always choose how we're going to respond to what has happened in life. In the words of Kierkegaard, "If it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger."

CS Lewis: It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: It would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad. -C.S. Lewis

If Rock will become dirt….become a teachable spirit

Plants grow automatically, we grow bodily, but not spiritually
Growth takes commitment and a willingness to be vulnerable
Call the spirit of God into your world

Story ends with Good news: God expects a harvest & we get to play
remaining a seed helps no one
How to see a harvest
When you know that your sins are forgiven
1. You don’t have to pretend anymore, no longer offering a pressed,
concocted, guilt laden faith…..genuine, Authentic, relaxed
2. That automatically fills a person with Joy
3. Invitations-are refreshing, freeing, joyful

what kind of soil are you?
Song press on

Communion Romans 18:8-15 5-1-05

Sermon Romans 10:8b-15 communion 5-1-05

Flight to Philadelphia…missed connection….trying to get me on the flight….
Everyone else is a peace, they have a boarding pass….I am worried

Went out to a couple of our bible studies
Questions people are asking
How can I be sure that I am a Christian

It shouldn’t be that hard
There are a myiad of voices….pastors, churches, job’s friends

Holy Spirit
About the time that you think that you have him figured out, the holy spirit works in ways that we did not expect

Tuttle: on an airplane at 30,000 ft, finger in ear

It shouldn’t be this hard.
Holy spirit works with different people In different ways

Wesley….listening to Luther’s preface to the epistle to the romans….
Faith is a divine work in us, which changes us and makes us newly born of God, and kills the old man, making us completely different men in heart, disposition, mind and every other way and brings the Holy Spirit with it.

Anthony Demello-Christian writer:
I have unfortunately had a multitude of people I could turn to for guidance. They badgered me with their persistent teachings until I could barely hear you through the din. It never occurred to me that I could get my knowledge firsthand from you, for they sometimes said to me, we are all the teachers you will ever have, he who listens to us, listens to God.
But I am wrong to blame them or to deplore their presence in my early life. I is I who am to blame. For I lacked the firmness to silence them, the courage to find out for myself, the patience to wait for your appointed time, and the trust that someday, somewhere, you would break your silence and reveal yourself to me.

He may work in different ways, the point is, he needs to work in you

And you can have an assurance of faith
In 1955 Carl Jung was asked in an interview if he believed in God. Jung replied, I dont believe. I know! I know tha t God exists!

As a believer, you can know that you are a Christian, you don’t have to live with underlying doubts

Wesley: Preach assurance until you get it


Choosing Jesus is simple
Paul is not providing a formula……he is saying it is simple
Heart/mouth inside/outside

When the holy spirit begins to work he doesn’t take sides, he takes over

-I know that I am a sinner
-I understand that Jesus died for me
-I accept his sacrificial death
-ask him to come into my heart and be my lord and savior, to live with me day by day.

Commercial: The call to ministry
I know that God is working in your hearts, because I hear it and I see the results.
I am wondering today. Is there someone here that is feeling a call to the full time ministry? You are sitting right here and you know that this is not from Jeff

Back to your choosing to follow Jesus: Were you sincere

You can do this anywhere, you don’t need a church or a preacher. You can choose him in a car you can choose him near or far, you can choose him while at work, on the deck, in the pool, on vacation, or walking the halls at school.

The only question that you can ask yourself is this…..were you sincere?

Whosoever calls upon the name of the lord shall be saved

If you do not have a place……….
The communion rail is a good place to call upon the name of the lord
Jesus said, remember me. Not remember that you have doubts, or that you are worried, but remember that You are loved, that you have chosen me and that I have chosen you.

Let us come to the table of the Lord and call upon his name.

Resurrectoin 4-24-05 John 21:1-18

Sermon John 21:1-18a 4-24-05
Opening:
This is one of the classic stories of resurrection. In the story, Jesus finds peter having returned to his trade. Although Jesus has already appeared to this disciples on earlier occasions, Peter is distracted from his mission and he is back to fishing. In this scripture today, Jesus asks Peter to recommit himself to feeding the sheep.

since this building opened in 1999 much has changed.
In 1999 when the building opened: There was no grace place in the gym. There was no youth room. That was no platform in the gym. There were no bathrooms in the gym and no showers. The fellowship hall was unfinished. There were no appliances in the kitchen. The choir room was not finished. The balcony and the 2nd floor area behind the balcony were a shell. In 1999 there were no elevators and there was no powerpoint in worship.

You have sacrificially gone the second mile. You have succeeded beyond my or anyone’s dreams. Who would have thought that this would happen? Yet in spite of this it is time for us to consider again the need to make room for others
[show slides-does any of this look framiliar?]

Our Foyer is packed with people every Sunday, our parking is woefully inadequate. We need more offices for staff. Our classrooms are packed and we need some large classrooms. My favorite… there is a line at the ladies room.

Because some of you had the foresight to see that these issues would arise, the building committee has been working for two years to be ready with a plan when we needed it, so that we could continue to feed Jesus’ sheep

Today I want to show you their ideas.
Master plan: second entrance, widening of Lakewood way, connecting wing, missions outbuilding, new sanctuary…..we will not tear down the old one…
Phase one: second entrance, widening of Lakewood way, connecting wing, missions outbuilding
Fellowship hall: remodel f hall for use by our children and youth programs. Small dinners, large dinners in gym
Main floor: expanded foyer, bookstore, coffee area, connecting area, new office area
Second floor: additional classrooms, one large enough for youth worship and our large SS classes. These plans are available for you in the foyer today.

Some may say….I don’t want to do this…..Of course we may all think this from time to time. Peter did… It is human nature.
But We must continue to work to create a church and a culture within our church that is about reaching out and feeding the sheep. As soon as we think we have arrived, then God’s ability to use us is over. Do you understand this? As soon as it becomes about us and our comfort, it will no longer be about connecting people to Jesus Christ.

In 1999 our building opened with 350 in attendance. Now we are averaging 950. Were not the 600 people won to Jesus Christ and his church worth the challenges of building? Of the children in our program last week ___ of the children, or / of their families were not here when this building was opened. Was the hard work worth it, seeing that so many have been won?

It is human nature to resist challenge. But Jesus continues to ask us to Take up our cross, feed his sheep and follow him.

We all know that none of this is really about buildings, or who the preacher is, or how many people we have here…
It is all about connecting people to Jesus Christ. Are we doing this?

Think with me of the stories we could tell, of missions projects, and Sunday school growth. Of upwards basketball and the dance ministry. You have adopted children, and delivered tons of food to hungry people. You are learning to give yourselves away.

I have watched you invite your friends…
The first week that Johnny cross came to church, he received 5 mugs delivered to his door.
We are not trying to be smarter than other Christians, we are trying to learn to be Christians who are giving themselves away.

Two weeks ago, you gave your names and phone numbers to

Ken Anderson wrote…It was quite an experience standing up front after the 11:15 service last Sunday. I was blown away. Out of 99 names and numbers….35 he did not even know…It just proves again what kind of a congregation we have. Such a blessing. The Church started that way 28 years ago and all that is changed over the years is that we have grown larger. Thank you for giving people a chance to express their hearts.

Dan wrote….The Head count for the phone #'s was 167 - pretty good but not near as good as the buzz of chatter it created inside the Church walls and outside the walls at the Softball fields today. What an incredible group of people we have at our church. There was a tremendous amount of Joy in the hearts of those who came to me with their phone #'s…it was Very cool! My favorite phone # and note came from a young man who wrote: my phone # xxx-xxxx PS. I can't drive yet, I'm 12, but I have a bike with pegs.

CVV church wanted new land for a parking lot…..one of you bought that land for them

Our culture
I am looking for the words to describe this woods chapel thing.
We have been sharing something here. No it is not a perfect something. But it is a very special something.
We have enjoyed it, and we have invited our friends to share in this special fellowship. It is wonderful, but not in a churchy way.
It is wonderful in a supernatural way, we have the kind of spirituality that regular people seek……and Folks, we have a responsibility to keep this going.

I wanted today to give your hearts and minds a chance to catch up with the staff and the building committee.
There are copies of these plans for you to pick up in the foyer. There will be an all church conference in the future for you to consider and approve or reject these plans.

In order to move forward we must have three things
1. a clear sense of need
1. a strong sense of focus on our mission of connecting people to Jesus Christ.
2. the financial resources

The need for parking and additional bathrooms are clear. If you cant find a place to park, and you have to wait in line to use the restroom, pretty soon you will be looking for a new church.
> 1. Foyer> Expanding our foyer will give our folks more fellowship opportunities and> more ways to get connected. They will be able to visit a connecting point> which is a "booth" or a "designated area" and find out how to get connected within our church while they are there on Sunday morning. They will enjoy a fellowship atmosphere to meet friends by visiting the coffee bar and donut area.> > 2. Children Youth & adult program Areas> As we grow we are attracting more families with children and youth. We will expand these areas so we have the room to make our Sunday School program one of the best hours of our kid's week. We will be able have a children's worship area where video and drama are used to teach this generation about how to live the Christian life at home, school and the neighborhood. The Youth will be able to worship in an area that gives them more room to grow and actually use our church as a "place they want to bring their friends. Some of our larger adult classes will have enough room to meet in and to grow in.> > 3. Missions Building> The missions building isn't about what WE want or what WE need - it is> about reaching out into our community and helping those less fortunate. It isn't about making our church more beautiful, it isn't about making our life> more convenient - it is about "Connecting People to Jesus Christ" in one of the most wonderful and powerful ways ... serving Jesus by helping His less fortunate children. Also for the first time in any building campaign there is talk of giving a portion of the funds to help our sister churches around the world.
Conclusion
The question that Jesus asked peter, he continues to ask his followers today.
Do you love me more than these things that distract you….then feed my sheep. Peter did just that. He spent the rest of his life telling people about Jesus. He gave his life, literally, to the mission. At woods chapel, our mission is not over. There are still sheep to win

But These dreams will only happen if God speaks to your hearts and asks you to reach out to others, as others have reached out to you.

I invite you to be praying with me and the building committee as we seek to reach and win other people to Jesus Christ and his church.


Please stand for our scripture reading from John 21:1-18a

1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[a] It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3“I'm going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We'll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5He called out to them, “Friends, haven't you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” 18Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

This is the word of the Lord, may God send his Holy Spirit to bless it to our hearts as we gather in his name today. Please be seated.

Guilt & Living 4-17-05 Colossians

Sermon 4-17-05 Colossians 3:12-17

Today I get to talk to you about whatever I want. This is a special group the 800 bunch

I grew up in a repressive, guilt laden environment.
· Scriptures like this drove me crazy….
· everything had to lineup.
· Everything had to be right
· if I just tried hard enough I could fix anything
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
John Evans,,,,,you are full of vim and vinegar….
we need that, we also need you to relax

21/2 years ago, my brains live was brought to a screeching halt….
I had had shoulder surgery….then my son scott was sick
I was having some thoughts that were bothering me……
I was totally dependent upon others for 12 weeks…
I am older, slower, losing muscle tone,
I have been here a long time…..Everyone knows my stories…..
Maybe I cant do this anymore
Took extra time off that summer and went to visit monastery, hermitage, folks that had made a significant impact on me spiritually.

Book: Halftime by Bob Burford
Passage- crisis ………or for anyone who wants to be less self focused

first half of life:
getting, gaining, learning and earning…the rat race
what if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
a story of climbers on Mount Everest. They had reached the top, although several members of the party died in the process. Instead of exulting in the victory of reaching the top, they were worried about how they would get down safely.

There can only be one thing in our lives that matter…..
We have to decide what is that one thing?
If you choose to pursue wealth, I can tell you what your life will look and feel like
If you choose to pursue Jesus, I can tell you what that will look like too.

One of the life events that push us to reconsider our purpose is the death of significant people in your lives.
You become an adult orphan ….life on earth is as “a pilgrim, not in control; a steward, not an owner; a soldier, you are not tenured, and you have little security.”

Halftimes are good.
They allow you to rest. To reflect. In the first half you learned what you were up against, in the second half you go after your goals. I run the best for God when I am running in the final stretch. The game is always won in the 2nd half.

In the second half of life, you are less controlled by external, and more controlled by internals. You can push to one side the demands of life and stay centered on your life mission.

Scott and Dad at Walmart in the black hills….why are you talking to these people?…….because they are people

This is second half living
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

21/2 years ago, I was having some thoughts that were bothering me……
I am older, slower, losing muscle tone,
I have been here a long time…..all true

What did I learn?
These are concerns about me….not about Gods purpose for me
When I stop thinking about myself and think again about what God wants me to do and be, I am no longer worried about being old and used up.

I realize that it is time to run the race to my best ability. Time to do the things that I have always known were right, but didn’t have time to do them.

17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

As far as preaching goes…..
my stories are all that I have
our lives are built on the repetitions of stories
what is your story….what will your story look like in the next ten years?
Are you focused on success or significance?
Significant actions….what are you doing to make sure your time counts?