God is awesome - Ex 19; Isa 6:1-4; Ezek 1; Dan 7:9-10; Rev 4:1-11
God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you!
This has always been God's plan - Acts 15:12-21; Acts 17:16-31
Acts 17:28 some of your own poets. There are two quotations here:
(1) “In him we live and move and have our being,” from the Cretan poet Epimenides (c. 600 B.C.) in his Cretica, and
(2) “We are his offspring,” from the Cilician poet Aratus (c. 315-240) in his Phaenomena, as well as from Cleanthes (331-233) in his Hymn to Zeus. Paul quotes Greek poets elsewhere as well (see 1Co 15:33; Tit 1:12 and notes)
Paul made use of extra-biblical sources to evangelize non-Jews
Relationship means relationship!
God doesn't want his awesomeness to be a barrier to relationship - Ex 20:18-20; Deut 18:15-19; Heb 12:18-29
Lost Sheep; Lost Coin - Luke 15:1-10
What kind of relationship are we talking about?
People often see reality inaccurately
LIttle Joe escaping from Franklin Park Zoo
Catch the emotion being expressed:
The Heartbeats - "A Thousand Miles Away"
Shep & The Limelights - "Daddy's Home"
Jermaine Jackson - "Daddy's Home"
Clarence Carter - "Patches"
Daddy cares passionately about you!
Any lack you experience is due to circumstances beyond his control.
Who's Your Daddy!
People have various "daddy" experiences
We need to recognize what the Bible is describing
God is not a mean judge trying to catch you doing something wrong!
Dabney Coleman in "Cloak and Dagger"
Scene from "The Wire"
God is the real father
Earthly parents are given as pointers to our real Father!
Their strengths point to him by example
Their weaknesses point to him by contrast
Any deficits in your family background/experience were pre-approved by God.
The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32
Guess what I just found out about daddy!
He's alive!
He's back home!
He's rich!
There are no circumstances beyond his control!
He's giving me a house, a car, and a brand new job!
God wants the relationship to grow.
God wants you in the family business.
Palm Sunday
Solomon on King David's Mule - 1Kings 1:28-40
Messianic Prophecy - Zech 9:9
Jesus' Triumphal Entry - Mat 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40
Hindrances to a relationship with God
Not taking the concept of a relationship with God seriously.
How do I know you have a relationship with someone?
You spend time with them.
You talk about them.
You prioritize them.
You defend them.
Religion
Confusing God with his Church
How do I know you have a relationship with God?
You spend time with him.
You talk about him.
You prioritize him.
You defend him.
How do I know you have a relationship with the Church?
You spend time at church.
You talk about church.
You prioritize church.
You defend church.
You act religious.
Relating to the Church is not the same as relating to God
Scheduling events with a husband vs. with a wife
Some people embrace church for acceptance yet avoid God.
Not understanding God's loving nature - Mat 7:7-11
Allowing your view of your parents to limit your view of God.
If you think God is going to disapprove of you, you'll have a hard time developing a relationship with him.
Luke 19:11-27 (parable of the Minas)
Were there people who didn't want to spend time with you?
Faith is essential for relating to God - Heb 11:6
Easter Sunday
Anniversary of my first church service as a believer.
I know God personally!
Do you?
My testimony
I began reading the Word right away
I began talking to God right away
Easter Origins
The Resurrection - Mat 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20
Christians have been celebrating the resurrection since the days of the apostles
It wasn't first called Easter until around 800AD
Some embrace their relationship with God.
"How can I be down?"
They talk to God and they expect God to talk to them!
They allow the relationship to grow and develop.
Others neglect their relationship with God.
They don't talk to God.
They don't expect God to talk to them.
Some use obedience to rules as a way of avoiding it. - John 5:39
Some use good works as a way of avoiding it.
They never embrace God's agenda - Luke 19:11-27
"I never knew you"! - Mat 7:21-23; Mat 25:1-13; Luke 13:22-30
Welcome to the party - why are you here?
to honor and serve the host, enjoy relating to him, and help to make his party a success?
to hang out with the host? - Luke 13:22-30
to be entertained by the host and tell stories about his party later?
to hang out with the guests?
to be safer than when you're outside on the street?
How do you feel about having a relationship with God?
Especially For Men
Let go of the pride and the "hard rock" exterior.
Jesus is your commander
Especially For Women
Your relationship with God must be on his terms!
Accept God's complete authority over your relationship with him.
God establishes the requirements and the benefits
What kind of relationship does God want to have with you?
Hint - look at the relationship he has with Jesus
New Material
Preparation
Main Passage
NIV
Hebrew Study Bible
KJV
The Message
NASB
RSV
Exegetical Idea
Subject
Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why
Complement
Developmental Questions
Explain It: What does this mean?
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
Homiletical Idea
Purpose of the Sermon
Make it plain
Use accessible language and modern parables
Make sure people do something with the word God gives you for them.
This Great Salvation (continued)
God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you!
Welcome to the party - why are you here?
to honor and serve the host, enjoy relating to him, and help to make his party a success?
to hang out with the host? - Luke 13:22-30
to be entertained by the host and tell stories about his party later?
to hang out with the guests?
to be safer than when you're outside on the street?
How do you feel about having a relationship with God?
Especially For Men
Let go of the pride and the "hard rock" exterior.
Jesus is your commander
Especially For Women
God's terms are: follow Jesus! - John 6:24-29; Acts 4:12
Jesus as God - an accessible representation
When you've seen Jesus you've seen The Father - John 14:1-14
God's image - Col 1:15-20
Fullness of the deity - Col 2:9
The ultimate revelation of God - Heb 1:1-3
God is ineffable
Jesus as human - our example of how to relate rightly to God
Jesus at the temple as a boy - Luke 2:39-52
Jesus' baptism
Total commitment to the Father
Total commitment to his mission
Jesus prays at Lazarus' tomb - John 11:38-44
Jesus at the feast - John 12:20-33
Jesus as our mediator - 2Cor 5:1 - 6:2
Mediator - 1Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6; Heb 9:15; Heb 12:24
Reconciliation: you were God's enemy! - Mat 12:22-37; Luke 11:14-28
Setup
Why is the new covenant superior to the old? - 2Cor 3
It doesn't fade
What isn't the treasure of the gospel more obvious? - 2Cor 4
It's hidden in clay jars (i.e. us)
Our hardships reveal the treasure
2Cor 5:1-10 - Paul and his team are living for the Lord
They live confidently by faith
Faith is not necessarily mystical
Faith is persuasion
Mustard seed faith - Mat 17:14-20; Luke 17:1-6
It develops through experience (cruise vs. jet)
Use what you've got to get more!
Become like little children - Mat 11:25; Mat 18:1-6; Mat 19:13-15
Consider the parent/child relationship
Children expect parents to feed, clothe, and house them.
Your faith develops as you walk with God as your Father.
Confidence - Heb 4:14-16; Heb 10:1-25
We want to please God
2Cor 5:11-15 - They are committed to the Lord's mission
Live for Jesus, not for yourself
Let go of our self-love (narcissism)
The Rich Fool - Luke 12:16-21
Common television sitcom fare
"The Office", "Seinfeld", "Friends", "Frasier", "I Love Lucy", "Home Improvement"
Life is a complex system pervaded by unintended consequences. Only God can guide us through them properly.
Our sinful independence encourages more independence.
This is true even when we're at our best
Doing your own thing is death.
Pleasing God must be more important than pleasing ourselves
Luke 22:42; John 4:27-38; John 6:38;
Jesus changes everything; you must be born again - John 3
2Cor 5:16 - 6:2 - The ministry of reconciliation
God has reconciled us and sent us to "spread it around"
God is not counting men's sins against them
You were an enemy but God is offering you sonship!
Repent like the Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32
Be reconciled to God - accept the Father's invitation - Mat 22:1-14
The Gospel has power - Rom 1:16
Don't receive his grace in vain by living for yourself!
The time is now.
Imitate Jesus in his relationship with the Father - John 17:1-26
John 17:1-2 - Discuss mission milestones with the Father
John 17:3 - Eternal Life - the definition that counts
John 17:4 - Glorify the Father by completing your assignment
Yes, you have an assignment.
John 17:5 - Jesus is eternal
John 17:6-8 - Reveal the Father to others
John 17:9-19 - Care for the people assigned to you
Pray for their general protection
Protect them
Share your joy with them
Give them God's Word
Pray for their protection from the enemy
Pray for their sanctification
Sanctify yourself for their benefit
John 17:20-26 - Care for your legacy
Promote unity
Seek the unity of the Church
Recognize Jesus' glory
Jesus is still revealing the Father - go and do likewise
Putting It Into Practice - How do I live out my relationship with God?
Look to Jesus - Num 21:4-9; John 3:13-18; John 6:35-40;
Baptism - Rom 6:1-14; Col 2:11-15
Listening to his voice - John 10:14; John 10:27-29
God spoke to Jesus after his baptism - Mat 3:13 - 4:2; Mark 1:9-13; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:1-2
God wants to speak to you - expect him to!
Obey whatever he says.
Scripture enables us to hear what God is saying.
It lights our path - Psalm 119:105
It judges us - Heb 4:12-13
It is inspired - 2Tim 3:16-17
Like a radio tuner.
If you don't seek to study God's Word Jesus' lordship in your life is questionable.
We have no problem studying subjects that we find meaningful:
Convicts studying law in the prison library
Women studying how to improve their relationships
Read God's Word with the intention of understanding it and practicing it.
Welcome to God's family.
New Babies
breathe and cry right away.
hear from their parents right away.
Newborn Christians - 2Pet 2
should start praying right away.
should expect for God to talk to them right away.
should start reading God's Word right away
Characteristics of those who embrace the relationship and follow Jesus:
Faith - Heb 11:1
Talk and act like a son/daughter
Sonship first - then brotherhood
Sunday service is like Thanksgiving - we should all be together.
Gratitude - Luke 7:36-50
Walking with God - Gen 5:18-24; Heb 4:14-16; Heb 10:19-22; Heb 11:5-6; 1Pet 2:4-5
Talking with God - 2Cor 3; 1Pet 1:17
Love for God - 1Pet 1:8-9;
Love for others - Mat 25:31-46; John 13:34-35; 1John 3:18
Obedience / faithfulness - Luke 12:35-48
Walking in the light - 1John 1:5 - 2:6
Exposing your actions
Exposing your thoughts
Exposing your motives
Expectation - Mat 9:18-26
you are vulnerable to God disappointing you
Fruitfulness - Mat 7:15-20; Luke 13:6-9
When you pray bare your heart to God and learn to understand his.
Prayer is not wishing - it's must be based in God's Word.
Pray - Father I want to lead others to spiritual maturity.
Following Jesus means committing your resources - Mat 25:1-13
Some abandon salvation.
If your hand offends you - Luke 9:43-48
Disqualified - 1Cor 9 (ref. Luke 12:48)
Impossible for the enlightened to return - Heb 6:1-20
Can you lose your salvation?
Can you divorce your husband/wife?
Can you abandon your children?
Can you turn your back on your parents?
Can you reject your friends?
Experience God through fellowship with his children
Join the "family business" - expand the Kingdom - Mat 28:18-20
Reach out to others who will receive what you have
Don't try to use other good behaviors as substitutes for outreach.
Keep taking baby steps until you can take bigger steps.
Forget about yourself and give your life away
Overcome resistance to getting involved in other people’s lives.
Paratroopers have to overcome their fear of heights/falling
Swimmers have to overcome their fear of sinking/drowning.
Navy SEALS have to overcome fear of tied hands and feet.
Keep a notepad and pen so that you can stay in touch with the people you meet.
Let your relationship with God grow as you actively commune with him in new situations.
Spiritual growth is not about how "spiritually pretty" you can become.
Spiritual growth is about increasing your capacity to do God's will.
Keep your eyes on the Kingdom harvest prize.
Distinguish among (reference Doug's chaos code)
ministry prep
ministry - relationship building
ministry - no explicit evangelism
ministry - explicit evangelism
ministry - conversion
ministry - follow up
ministry - discipleship
Discussion Questions / Topics
Reflect on 2Cor 5:11 - 6:2
What is the message of reconciliation?
What are you doing with this message?
Reflect on Mat 12:22-30
Considering vs 30, what category did the Pharisees fall into? Were they with him or against him? Were they gathering or scattering?
Does Jesus refer to any options besides gathering or scattering?
Are you gathering or scattering? Explain your answer.
General
What has God been saying to you recently? What are you doing about what God is saying?
Are you talking to God on a regular basis? What do you say to him?
Reflect on John 14:1-14; Col 1:15-20; Col 2:9-10; Heb 1:1-3 (continued from last week)
How do these passages affect the way you view Jesus?
Is there anything about God that you can't learn from Jesus?
What have you learned about God from what Jesus said and did?
Works Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings (repeated from last week)
Review the current prayer partnerships in your life group.
Make sure that everyone has someone to pray with on a weekly basis.
These can be long-term assignments or your can rotate them.
If you rotate them, the assignments should last at least one month.
Review the list of people you are praying for in your life group.
Make sure that everyone knows who to pray for and how to pray for them.
Make sure that the people who need salvation are getting prayed for every day by the members of the group.
Review each person on the list of people you are reaching out to.
Has anyone invited him/her to lunch/dinner or some other informal activity along with at least one other life group member?
Has anyone invited him/her to a life group fun event?
Has anyone invited him/her to a life group meeting?
