Bible Reading 1/25 - 1/31: Gen 50:1 - Ex 13:16; Mat 16:13 - 21:22; Psalm 21 - 25; Prov 5:1 - 6:15
Review
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!"
Misc
Always impart faith along with with the sermon purpose - Heb 4:2
Come and share your master's happiness - Mat 25:21, 23
Be curious! Learn!
Vision
To facilitate a revolutionary outpouring of God’s life, love, and power that transforms the church and through us transforms our families, networks, communities, and the world.
Brings life and vitality
To help lead a revolutionary outpouring of God’s life, love, and power that transforms us within the church, and then through us transforms those around by bringing life, healing, and vitality to our families, networks, communities, and the world.
To be a revolutionary movement of Christians who are continuously transformed by God's life, love, and power, and who bring life, healing, and vitality to our families, networks, and communities by faithfully transmitting God's life to those around us.
Through Jesus God is pouring his life out to a dying world. Our vision is to channel that life to our families, networks, and communities.
New Material
Preparation
Preparation - Template
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
Preparation - Mat 3:1-12
Select the Passage - Mat 3:1-12: Jesus' Introduction
Jesus' Introduction
John's Ministry - Mat 3:1-12
Study the Passage
NIV
Hebrew Study Bible
KJV
The Message
NASB
RSV
Discover the Exegetical Idea
God is coming and you need to get ready.
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
This will have eternal consequences - Mat 3:7-10
Formulate the Homiletical Idea
Get Ready For Jesus
Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
Keep it simple.
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
Outline the Sermon
Preparation - Mat 3:13 - 4:11
Select the Passage - Mat 3:13 - 4:11: Jesus' Certification
Jesus' Certification
Jesus' Baptism - Mat 3:13-17
Jesus' Temptation - Mat 4:1-11
Lust of the flesh
Lust of the eyes
Pride of life
Study the Passage
NIV
Hebrew Study Bible
KJV
The Message
NASB
RSV
Discover the Exegetical Idea
Jesus is uniquely qualified to be God's representative to us.
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
Explain It: What does this mean?
You need to know the qualifications of the people who serve you.
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
Preparation - Mat 4:12-25
Select the Passage - Mat 4:12-25: Jesus' Validation
Jesus' Validation
Jesus' Ministry - Mat 4:12-25
His Message - "Repent . . ." - Mat 4:12-17
Implicitly assumes God's existence.
Implicitly assumes that God wants a relationship with you.
Implicitly assumes that a relation with God must be on his terms.
His Disciples ("Follow Me") - Mat 4:18-22
His Results - Mat 4:23-25
Follow Jesus!
Study the Passage
NIV
Hebrew Study Bible
KJV
The Message
NASB
RSV
Discover the Exegetical Idea
Jesus wants people to follow him.
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?
He said "follow me".
Formulate the Homiletical Idea
Follow Jesus.
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
Jesus Is Our Standard
Introduction
Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them.
Our vision is based on the vision of the River of Life found in Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Revelation 22:1-2.
It is a vision of a revolutionary movement with these key elements:
its people relate to God on his own terms by following his Son, Jesus christ,
its people are known far and wide for living fruitful lives that nourish and heal their families, networks, and communities,
it seeks and welcomes unchurched people who have been transformed by God's life and power into new followers of Jesus.
Key concept: follow Jesus.
Ask questions.
What does this mean?
How do I do it?
Is it enough just to go to church?
We're presenting "The Standard 2009"
A major part of what it means to follow Jesus.
Not by rules, but by listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit
Jesus started it all - it's his "fault".
Get Ready For Jesus
Joke - The Pope Is His Driver
Read the text - Mat 3:1-12
John was Jesus' forerunner.
We need to get ready for Jesus
If we don't it will have eternal consequences - Mat 3:7-10
Jesus Is God's Approved Representative
Know the qualifications of the people whose services you depend on.
Doctor, lawyer, accountant
Police - The 14 year old who impersonated a Chicago police officer.
Had uniform, radio, ticket book, but no gun or badge
Identified himself as a transfer from another district
Was assigned a partner and went on patrol
Really wanted to be a police officer
Accountant - Obama's cabinet nominees and their tax problems
Jesus' Baptism - Mat 3:13-17
He receives the Father's seal of approval.
He receives the Holy Spirit
Jesus' Temptation - Mat 4:1-11
He faces the full range of human temptation:
Lust of the flesh
Lust of the eyes
Pride of life
He overcomes.
Follow Jesus
Jesus' Ministry - Mat 4:12-25
His Message - "Repent . . ." - Mat 4:12-17
Implicitly assumes God's existence.
Implicitly assumes that God wants a relationship with you.
Implicitly assumes that a relation with God must be on his terms.
His Disciples ("Follow Me") - Mat 4:18-22
Jesus wants people to follow him.
His Results - Mat 4:23-25
Follow Jesus!
Read his story.
See his glory.
Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
Scripture Reference - Mat 3:1-12
Describe a time when you repented. Did you repent for a specific act? Did you repent for an entire way of living?
The people confessed their sins as they came to John the Baptist. Have you ever practiced confession to another human being? If so, how did you choose the person you confessed to?
Scripture Reference - Mat 3:13-17
Jesus was baptized. What about you?
Scripture Reference - Mat 4:1-11
How do Jesus' temptations resemble yours? How are they different?
What can you learn from the way that Jesus responded to temptation?
Scripture Reference - Mat 4:12-22
Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum to begin his ministry. What moves or changes have you made for the sake of ministry?
Jesus asked people to follow him. How has your understanding of what this means changed over time?
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.
