Not Just Knee Deep

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday January 25, 2009

© 2009 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

Introduction

Bible Reading 1/18 - 1/24: Gen 37 - 49; Mat 12:22 - 16:12; Psalm 16 - 20; Prov 3:27 - 4:27

Review

Fruit Grows Where The River Flows

Read the Passage - Ezek 47:1-12; Rev 22:1-2

Explain It: What does this mean?

The river originates from God's Sanctuary

From the south side of the altar.

The altar point to the sacrifice of Jesus.

The river grows as it flows.

The river nourishes fruit trees.

The river makes dead water alive (resurrection).

The river supports swarms of living creatures.

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Yes - God's sanctuary changes lives.

Yes - God's sanctuary changed my life.

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

The Life Church Vision: A Resurrection Movement

If we meet the conditions God can use us to:

Make broken lives whole

Make weak lives powerful

Make barren lives fruitful - Psalm 1

Mold individual lives into communities

Resurrect hope, creativity, and vision

Birthing Creativity and Vision

Making the Impossible Possible

Transforming Our Communities

The Conditions:

Establish and acknowledge the sanctuary

Celebration

Cell Groups

Identify and stay beside the river

Be available to others

Meet the needs of others - 1Kings 17; Mat 25:31-46

New Material

Preparation

Expository Preaching

Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.

Select the Passage

Study the Passage

NIV

Hebrew Study Bible

KJV

The Message

NASB

RSV

Discover the Exegetical Idea

Subject

Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why

Complement

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Formulate the Homiletical Idea

Determine the Purpose of the Sermon

Make it plain

Use accessible language and modern parables.

Make sure people do something with God's message.

Keep it simple.

Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.

Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose

Outline the Sermon

Not Just Knee Deep

Read the Passage - Ezek 47:1-12; Rev 22:1-2

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

The Life Church Vision: A Resurrection Movement

If we meet the conditions God can use us to:

Make broken lives whole

Make weak lives powerful

Make barren lives fruitful - Psalm 1

Mold individual lives into communities

Resurrect hope, creativity, and vision

Birthing Creativity and Vision

Making the Impossible Possible

Transforming Our Communities

Establish and Acknowledge the Sanctuary

Court and Gate

The Ark of the Covenant - Ex 25:10-22; Ex 37:1-9

The Stone Tablets - God's Word

The Golden Pot of Manna - God's Provision

Aaron's Staff That Budded - God's Leadership

The Golden Table of the Bread of the Presence

Table

Made of acacia wood overlaid with gold

Place where the bread of the presence was placed every sabbath

Table symbolic of fellowship.

Symbolic of our fellowship with Jesus and with one another (e.g. communion)

Bread of the Presence

Twelve loaves replenished every sabbath

Baked from fine flour without yeast with frankincense on top.

12 loaves represent God's people.

Kernels of wheat give up their identity to become flour, then bread.

Cell Groups

Ref - Ex 25:23-30; Lev 24:5-9

The Golden Lampstand

Beaten from a single block of gold

Burning oil which needed constantly to be replenished

Symbolic of us with God's light shining through us

Ex 25:31-40; Ex 37:17-24; Ex 39:37

The Tabernacle

The Curtain

The Most Holy Place

The Bronze Altar

Made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze

A place of sacrifice

Symbolic of Jesus' death for us

Ref - Ex 27:1-8; Ex 38:1-7; Ex 20:24-26

The Courtyard

The Priestly Garments

The Golden Altar of Incense

Made of acacia wood overlaid with gold

The high priest burned incense every morning and evening when he tended the lamps. Jesus is our high priest.

Incense symbolic of our prayers - Rev 8:1-5

Ref - Ex 30:1-10; Ex 37:25-29; Ex 30:34-38

Bronze Washbasin

Made from the bronze mirrors of the Israelite women

Cleansing prior to service in the Holy Place

Symbolic of God's Word

Ref - Ex 30:17-21; Ex 38:8; Ex 40:7

Grow Beside the River

Phase 1 (the 1st 1000 cubits): Water reaches ankle depth

Phase 2 (the 2nd 1000 cubits): Water reaches knee depth

Phase 3 (the 3rd 1000 cubits): Water reaches waist depth

Phase 4 (the 4th 1000 cubits): Water becomes too deep for wading

Go Fishing

This element is not reflected in Rev 22:1-2

Where the river flows everything will live - Ezek 47:9

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

The Life Church Vision

Based on these passages: Ezek 47:1-12; Rev 22:1-2

The standard against which we check ourselves.

Sanctuary Check

Ark

Table and Bread of the Presence

Golden Lamp Stand

Bronze Altar

Golden Altar of Incense

Bronze Washbasin

River Check

Fruit

Leaves

River Rules

This is where the fruit trees grow.

Don't:

Walk in the counsel of the wicked

Stand in the way of sinners

Sit in the seat with mockers

Delight in God's Word

Meditate on the Word constantly

Result:

Yield fruit in season

Leaf won't wither

Prosper in everything

Sea Check

Be fishers of men - Mat 4:17-19

Laborers for the Lord of the Harvest - Mat 9:35-38; Mat 10:1-16

Life Check

If you're not down with the vision you won't last here.

Evaluate 2008 “Year of Discipleship” - How did we do?

Highlight my personal transition from being too lenient to enforcing commitment to the vision.

Proclaim 2009 “Year For Growth”:

making the gospel simple so that everyone can share it.

Purpose Driven Church: "Catch the wave!"

Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)

Scripture Reference - Ezek 47:1-12; Rev 22:1-2; Psalm 1

The Life Church vision is based on Ezekiel 47:1-2 and Revelation 22:1-2. Which elements of these passages appeal to you most strongly?

According to John 17:2-3 eternal life is knowing God and knowing Jesus Christ. We can bring life to others by helping them to know God better. In what ways are the people around you able to know God better as a result of the things you say or do?

In what ways are you like a tree planted by the River of Life? In what ways do people come to you for fruit or healing?

God creates windows of opportunity for us to share the good news about Jesus. What windows of opportunity are opening up for you?

Witnessing Activities

Life Church family, we are excited about 2009! Life Church is planning a BIG push to grow. We know that God is doing something amazing at LC  and wants us to share it. Our goal is to have 100 friends and visitors attend our Easter service. Reaching this goal depends on you. We are asking each member and friend of Life Church to bring 2 "unchurched" people to our Easter service. In order to get 2 people to attend, you may have to invite at least 4 or more people. We define unchurched as those who have not made a commitment to follow Christ or have no commitment to a local church. Please begin identifying and praying for the people that you are going to invite to our Easter Sunday service.