Life Church Message 2007-12-30 - Obedience Through Suffering (Part 4)

The Resurrection Blues

The Trial

The Sanhedrin Convicts Jesus - Luke 22:66-71

Pilate finds no basis for Jesus to die

Pilate Sentences Jesus

The Crucifixion - Luke 23:26-49

The Burial - Luke 23:50-56

The Resurrection - Luke 24:1-12

The Road To Emmaus - Luke 24:13-53

The Setting

The disciples are deeply disappointed - "It's over - I'm out of here"

They were withdrawing.

Jesus Enters the Picture - Luke 24:15

Jesus is not absent during your times of disappointment.

Jesus is relational - he engages you "where you're at".

God wants to relate to you

"But we had hoped . . ." - Luke 24:21

Many of you are experiencing disappointment but were hoping for something else.

"How foolish you are . . ." - Luke 24:25

Jesus directed them to the scriptures.

You are responsible for interpreting your life and your experiences based on God's Word.

The Word explains what's taking place in the world around you.

"Then their eyes were opened" - Luke 24:31

Once they recognized Jesus they returned to Jerusalem.

Stop focusing on yourself and relying on yourself.

Allow Jesus into your situation.

They rejoin the disciples in Jerusalem - Luke 24:36-53

Jesus enabled them to understand the scriptures.

God wants to speak to your situation through his Word.

Jesus coached the disciples back to faith so that they could see him.

Once you recognize Jesus you need to stop withdrawing and return to the fellowship and your ministry.

Resurrection Revolution

Introduction Eph 1:1-14

Revolution Power - Eph 1:15-23

Revolution Promise - Wait for the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:1-14

Revolution Pattern: People, Power, Proclamation, Persecution, Persistence

The Revolution - Round 1

People - Acts 2:1

Power - Acts 2:2-4

God's power can reach anyone.

Proclamation - Acts 2:5-12

Persecution - Acts 2:13

Persistence - Acts 2:14-41

Peter spoke in spite of the persecution.

Questions

Where will you be the next time the Holy Spirit shows up?

What do you do when the Holy Spirit simply shows up?

The Revolution - Round 2

People - Acts 2:42-47

Power - Acts 3:1-8

Proclamation - Acts 3:9-26

Persecution - Acts 4:1-22

Persistence - Acts 4:23-31

Principles

Prayer increases our capacity to be a channel for God's power.

People provide opportunities for us to be channels of God's power.

"Who touched me?" - Luke 8:40-56

Preparation increases our ability to benefit from God's power.

Elisha and the Widow's Oil - 2Kings 4:1-7

Position is critical for maximizing the effectiveness of God's power.

Jesus sends out the 12 - Mat 10:1-16

Jesus sends out the 72 - Luke 10:1-12

Questions:

What are you devoting yourself to?

What are you sharing with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Have you asked God to make you bold?

How's your prayer life? Are you praying for God to use you?

What needs are you encountering in the people around you? Are you asking God to enable you to meet them?

How are you preparing for God to use you?

The Revolution - Round 3

People - Acts 4:32 - 5:11

Vision - You need a vision!

Jesus' Vision - Heb 12:1-3

Early Church - Transforming the way Judaism was done - one household at a time!

Life Church Vision

Mission

Directed by Jesus - Mat 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-18; Acts 1:8

Bringing God's river of life to others - Rev 22:1-2 (Ez 47:1-12)

Prayer - increases our capacity

Preparation

None of them had done this before. When they were with Jesus, the crowds would come and go - now the crowds were staying.

Radical sharing; pouring into their brothers and sisters

Contrast with Hag 1:1-11

What's my role in making the vision happen?

Power - Acts 5:12-16

People provide opportunities for God's power to be demonstrated

Position - Solomon's Colonnade

Proclamation - Acts 5:17-25

Persecution - Acts 5:26-40

Persistence - Acts 5:41-42

Principles

Plant Kingdom Outposts

Kingdom Outpost

A geographical or virtual network of people

Centered on a man or woman of peace

Infiltrated by mature believers

Where outbreaks of God's power happen regularly

The Church is like a "Green Lantern power battery for local Kingdom Outposts.

The apostles proclaimed Jesus in the temple courts and from house to house.

Questions:

What are you doing to meet the needs of other believers?

Can you rejoice at suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus?

The Revolution - Round 4

People - Acts 6:1-7

Serving (diakonew)

Chosen by the people

Confirmed by the apostles

Taking responsibility

"FAT"

Faithful

Available

Teachable

Full of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom

Surrender

Obedience

Deny yourself; take up your cross - Luke 9:23-25

Let God choose the time and manner in which you "have fun"!

Vision - taking God's Word to others

Power - Acts 6:8

Things of the Spirit Rom 8:5-6

Stephen moves from waiting on tables to martyrdom

Assuming responsibility results in leadership - Mat 20:20-28

Proclamation - Acts 6:9-10

Persecution - Acts 6:11-15

Suffering - 1Pet 4:12-19

Obedience through suffering - Heb 5:1-7

Jesus' reverent submission

Jesus learned obedience

Persistence - Acts 7:1-60

Spirit-guided response - Acts 7:1-53

Stephen interpreted Jewish history in light of scripture

Abraham - Joseph - Acts 7:1-16

Moses - Acts 7:23-29; 35-43

The Jews are just like their fathers - Mat 23:29-32

Dying for the gospel - Acts 7:54-60

Deny yourself; take up your cross - Luke 9:23-25

Let God choose the time and manner in which you "have fun"!

Lovers of pleasure - 2Tim 3:1-14

Pleasure - 1Tim 5:6

Principles

You have to fight

Questions:

Can you be faithful to the point of death?

Can you forgive your persecutors?

Obedience Through Suffering

We have a great high priest - Jesus - Heb 4:12-16

God uses his Word to evaluate us. - Heb 4:12-13

Our high priest outranks everyone else. - Heb 4:14

Our high priest understands us. - Heb 4:15; Heb 2:5-18

We can come to him confidently. - Heb 4:16

Jesus learned obedience through suffering - Heb 5:1-14

Jesus confronted difficulties with prayer - Heb 5:7

His prayers were heard because of his reverent submission - Heb 5:7

Jesus learned obedience - Heb 5:8-10

innocence vs. virtue

Temptation - the source of Jesus' suffering - Heb 2:18

Learned obedience perfected Jesus' high priestly ministry.

Temptation and the believer - James 1:2-4; James 1:12-18

Suffering as a result of temptation.

Temptation makes us feel unclean.

Uncleanness keeps us out of "the temple".

Perseverance results in crown of life.

Process of temptation: desire --> sin --> death

Don't let desire drag you away.

Christmas

Jesus' Birth - Luke 2:1-20

Jesus growing - Luke 2:39-52

Let little baby Jesus grow up in your life.

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God - Heb 1:1-4

Answer some of last week's discussion questions

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.

Misc

General

Other

Use examples that appeal to men.

Set aside time for writing.

Make the Life Church Basic Training project-oriented - give everyone a ministry project.

http://home.regent.edu/ruthven/2Worlds.htm

Possible Newly Stated Vision

Transform the way church is done throughout the nation—one life group at a time!

Possible Newly Stated Mission

To Bring God's River of Life to you and your community.

Possible Newly Stated Objectives

Develop our love for God and one another through:

Meeting together on Sundays for worship and instruction

Meeting weekly in small groups (life groups) for fellowship, support, growth, and evangelism.

Living rich and balanced lives together.

Develop mature followers of Jesus Christ through:

Teaching godly habits.

Transforming godly habits into skills.

Turning skills into ministries.

Develop effective leaders who serve their brothers and sisters in humility.

Expand God’s kingdom by winning people in our lives and in our communities to Jesus Christ.

Lam 1 - 4; 3:22-23

The writer reflects on God's love and compassion after the display of his wrath.

Aftermath - Acts 8:1-8

1Sam 22:1-2 - The hurting and unhappy came to David.

What impact did the fighting men have on them?

How did it mold them?

Neh 4:1-23 - Keep a brick in one hand and a sword in the other.

Some people prefer to fight.

Some people prefer to build.

Everyone must do both.

Conclusion

The disciples responded to the great commission by filling Jerusalem with their teaching - Acts 5:28

What is your Jerusalem?

Who is your team?

What are you doing fill your Jerusalem with the gospel?

Obedience Through Suffering (continued)

Misc

During hard times

We should learn to focus on priorities

Dr. Kelly Miller (1863 - 1939) - "The Black man buys what he wants and begs for what he needs".

Going to Home Depot during the snow storm (creativity vs. discipline).

Cite examples of prioritizing during times of lack.

Infancy vs. Maturity - Heb 5:11-14

Infants don't understand righteousness.

Mature people practice (rehearse) obedience.

Definition: "trained themselves" - gumnazo - to exercise

Walk in the light by keeping your life open to scrutiny by your brothers and sisters. - 1John 1:5 - 2:6

Let's Go All The Way - Heb 12:1-13

Drop the baggage

Jesus is our example.

Have the right attitude about it - Prov 3:11-12; James 1:12-18

Satan misrepresents God as wanting to keep good things from us.

He did this in the garden of Eden

He does this today largely through the media.

1Cor 10:13 - God provides a way out.

Endure hardship as discipline - Heb 12:7

Endure - Mark 13:13; Luke 8:4-15; Rom 5:1-4; 1Pet 2:20;

Luke 21:19; Rom 2:7; Rom 8:25; 2Thes 1:4; 2Tim 2:11-13

Suffering -> Perseverance -> Character -> Hope - Rom 5:1-5

Our present sufferings - Rom 8:18-39

Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees!

Keep obeying.

Make level paths for your feet!

Get rid of the things that trip you up.

Get rid of the things that make others trip.

Walk In The Light - 1John 1:5 - 2:6

God reveals himself - 1John 1:1-4

This revelation is the foundation for everything else.

Complete joy is a major goal.

God is light - 1John 1:5

Walk in the light and live by the truth - 1John 1:6-7

Let God's light (i.e. his Word and his Spirit) illuminate your life.

Live in such a way that the saints can see what's going on in your life.

God's light exposes sin - acknowledge it. - 1John 1:8-10

Judge yourself - 1Cor 11:28-32; Rev 3:19

Confess without demanding forgiveness.

God can deal with our sin - 1John 2:1-2

Knowing God means obeying him - 1John 2:3-6

Obedience implies repentance.

Strength in Weakness

Don't mistake kindness for weakness - 2Cor 10

Don't measure strength by carnal standards - 2Cor 11

Don't boast about your strengths - 2Cor 12:1-6

When you're weak you are strong - 2Cor 12:7-10

"Thorns in your sides" - Num 33:50-56

Don't use your authority for selfish purposes - 2Cor 12:11-21

We too must learn obedience through suffering temptation

Get the right perspective - God's!

It's not about you - the Kingdom doesn't revolve around your desires.

Suffering can help you perfect obedience.

Anchor yourself to the principles of God's Word.

Let God schedule your good times - Luke 9:23-25; Rom 13:14

Fasting - not manipulating God but breaking our self-addiction!

Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)

Group A: Heb 12:1-13 (from last week)

What is hindering and/or entangling you as you run your race?

Did you struggle against sin this week? Whom did you talk to about it?

How has God disciplined you this week? (Heb 12:7)

What areas of your life are feeble? How are you strengthening them?

Is there anything in your path that might trip you or someone else?

What is God saying to you about all of this right now?

Group B: 1John 1:1 - 2:6; 1Cor 11:28-32

Is Jesus Christ the basis for your primary relationships?

Have you walked in the light and lived by the truth this week? (1Jn 1:6)

Can your brothers and sisters see what's going on in your life?

Do you walk in the darkness to hide what's going on in your life?

Has God's light exposed any sin in your life recently?

Have you judged yourself this past week?

Have you acknowledged and confessed your sins this past week?

Are you obeying God's Word?

Group C: Luke 8:4-15; Rom 5:1-5

Which soil have you been most like this past week?

In what ways have you produced a good crop by persevering?

How has suffering led to perseverance, character, and hope in your life?

Group D: 2Cor 12:1-10; Num 33:50-56

What problems have you unsuccessfully asked God to take away?

How has God's grace been sufficient for you this week?

How has your weakness made God's power complete recently?

What weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties in your life as a Christian can you boast about?

Group E: Rom 8:18-39

Have you experienced the Holy Spirit interceding for you this week?

How has Rom 8:28 applied to your life this past week?

In what ways were you more than a conqueror this past week?

Witnessing Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings

Make sure everyone in your life group has a prayer partner.

Pick a base of operations as a focus for your group's outreach ministry.

Plan a social event for your group to which you can invite some of the unbelievers you've been praying for.

Obedience Through Suffering (Part 4)

Pastor Rocklyn E. Clarke - Sunday December 30, 2007