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Notes
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Introduction
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Bible Reading 9/27 - 10/3: Isaiah 51:1 - Jer 2:30; Eph 5 - Philip 4; Psalm 69:19 - 75:10; Proverbs 24:7-20
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Review
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The Cross (Part 1)
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Preparation - Luke 9:23-26
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Expository Preaching
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Select the Passage - Luke 9:18-26
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Study the Passage
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NIV
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Hebrew Study Bible
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KJV
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The Message
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NASB
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RSV
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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If you try to save your life - you'll end up losing it. If instead you lose your life by following Jesus in the way of the cross, you will save it.
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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". . . deny himself . . ."
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". . . take up your cross . . ."
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Suffering: " . . . the Son of Man must suffer many things . . ."
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Rejection: ". . . rejected by the elders, chief priests, and . . ."
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Death: ". . . he must be killed . . ."
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Crucifixion
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". . . daily . . ."
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". . . and follow me."
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"whoever wants to save his life will lose it"
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"whoever loses his life for me will save it"
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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What sparked this? Mark 8:27-38 (Peter's rebuke of Jesus)
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Sometimes we reject difficult circumstances that are actually sent by God. - Jeremiah 45:1-5
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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Attitude of the cross
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Experience of the cross
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If we reject the experience of the cross, we risk the Lord's anger.
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Trying to save your own life will make it useless for God.
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Losing your life daily is the path to saving it.
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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Take up the cross - it will save your life!
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
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I want believers who hear this message to:
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Deny themselves.
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Take up the cross daily.
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Follow Jesus.
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Learn to lose their lives.
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Take up the cross - it will save your life!
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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Outline the Sermon
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Standing Issues
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From a word Bishop gave me:
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Make sure people do something with God's message.
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Make it plain:
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Use accessible language.
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Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
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Sitting at a stop light
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Driving through a green light
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Approaching a yellow light
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Being cut off in traffic
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Going shopping
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Going to a mall
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Going to school; sitting in class
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Going to work; sitting in your office;
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Keep it simple.
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Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
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Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
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I want believers who hear this message to:
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Deny themselves.
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Take up the cross daily.
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Follow Jesus.
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Learn to lose their lives.
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Introduction
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We had another party for God this morning! Were you there?
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Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today?
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There is no substitute for your individual experience with God!
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There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God!
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Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents?
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God is your Father - don't miss his party!
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Plane on a conveyor belt - mental categories.
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The Word today will challenge our mental categories.
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Read the Passage - Luke 9:23-26
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Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
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Exegetical Idea
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If you try to save your life - you'll end up losing it. If instead you lose your life by following Jesus in the way of the cross, you will save it.
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Homiletical Idea
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Take up the cross - it will save your life!
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What does this mean?
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What sparked this? Mark 8:27-38 (Peter's rebuke of Jesus)
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". . . deny himself . . ."
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". . . take up your cross . . ."
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Symbolism
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The cross is not just a pretty jewelry item.
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It is a symbol of public humiliating death.
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Like a noose as a symbol of intimidation against Blacks.
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Suffering: " . . . the Son of Man must suffer many things . . ."
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Rejection: ". . . rejected by the elders, chief priests, and . . ."
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Death: ". . . he must be killed . . ."
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Crucifixion
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Explain - public humiliating execution
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Jesus' Crucifixion - Mark 15:1-39
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". . . daily . . ."
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". . . and follow me."
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"whoever wants to save his life will lose it"
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"whoever loses his life for me will save it"
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Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Sometimes we reject difficult circumstances that are actually sent by God. - Jeremiah 45:1-5
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It happened to Peter shortly after he had spoken revelation truth.
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It can happen to you!
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What difference does it make? So What?
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Attitude of the cross
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Experience of the cross
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If we reject the experience of the cross, we risk the Lord's anger.
|
|
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Trying to save your own life will make it useless for God.
|
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Losing your life daily is the path to saving it.
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Goals for believers who hear this message:
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Deny themselves.
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Take up their cross daily.
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Follow Jesus.
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Learn to lose their lives.
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Deny yourself
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Tell yourself "No!".
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It's not just saying "no" to sin.
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It's saying "no" to things that would otherwise be legitimate.
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Make your agenda take a "back seat".
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Drop the "I've got to get mine!" attitude.
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Jesus could have recreated the Sanhedrin and led the revolution the people wanted. Instead he chose the cross.
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Deny yourself in order to take up your cross!
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Illustrations:
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When I get up in the morning I am usually most eager to start tackling my "to do" list so that I can feel productive. I'm learning to deny myself in this area and set aside time to pray and read God's Word.
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Take up your cross daily
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Accept your own suffering in a sinful world.
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You should be out of sync with the world.
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Example - Americans' highest values are not necessarily God's highest values:
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Liberals - human dignity, mutual support
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Conservatives - freedom, self-reliance
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Accept rejection as a result of identifying with Jesus.
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People reject us for the stupid things other believers say and do.
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People reject us because of the message of the cross.
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Accept the death of some of your plans and dreams.
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The cross feels like failure.
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On the cross Jesus looked like a failure.
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Watching Jesus on the cross the disciples felt like failures.
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The cross is the doorway to the greatest success you can ever know!
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Your cross may be different from mine, but you need to take it up daily.
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Illustrations:
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I'm learning to let some of my daily agenda items go in order to be prioritize obeying the Lord.
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When I came back to New Covenant I was ready to let my dreams of pastoring die.
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Follow Jesus
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Pay attention to what Jesus says!
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Do what Jesus says!
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Follow Jesus, not just his followers.
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Don't substitute subcultural norms for God's Word.
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Conclusion
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Determine every day to lose your life for the Kingdom.
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What's your ritual? (e.g. Green Lantern's oath)
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The Cross (Part 2)
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Preparation - 1Corinthians 1:10-31
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Expository Preaching
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Select the Passage - 1Corinthians 1:10-31
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Study the Passage
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|
NIV
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Hebrew Study Bible
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|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
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|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
|
|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
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|
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|
The message of the cross expresses God's rejection of our efforts to connect to him based on our own status, resources, ability, or effort; it declares that we can only connect to God based on Jesus and his death on the cross. The lost reject this as foolishness, but the saved receive it as an expression of God's power for their benefit.
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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Background
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The divisions in the Corinthian church reflect an unhealthy focus on human status and ability.
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Relying on human wisdom empties the cross' effectiveness.
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The Cross Involves:
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Suffering
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Rejection
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Death / Execution
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Blow by Blow
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We can't connect to God through anything we "bring to the table".
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What we bring to the table:
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Wisdom and Intelligence - 1Cor 1:19, 21, 26; Isaiah 29:14
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Influence / Power - 1Cor 1:26
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Nobility - 1Cor 1:26
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Strength - 1Cor 1:25
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The Corinthian church members are primarily from the "lowly".
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God uses the lowly to:
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nullify the exalted
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eliminate human boasting.
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Jesus is our "wisdom": righteousness, holiness, redemption
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Thus our boasting should be in the Lord - Jeremiah 9:24
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We can only connect to God based on Jesus' death on the cross.
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Even though it seems foolish to outsiders - 1Cor 1:21-23
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The lost reject this as foolishness.
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This violates the expectations of Jews and Gentiles alike.
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Jews expected a triumphant revolutionary messiah.
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Greeks were sure that no reputable person would be crucified.
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Both rejected the message of a savior who experienced suffering, rejection, and death.
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The saved receive it as God's power for their benefit.
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Jesus has become wisdom from God for us:
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Righteousness (in place of rejection)
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Holiness (in place of suffering)
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Redemption (in place of death)
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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The message of the cross is foolishness to the perishing.
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Consider the way people reject the gospel.
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The message of the cross is the power of God to the saved.
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People get saved by hearing the message - you did!
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We can't connect to God through anything we "bring to the table".
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Paul rejected his own "credentials" - Philippians 3:1-11
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We can only connect to God based on Jesus' death on the cross.
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Do I behave consistently with this truth?
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Holiness / Pentecostal background
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Ready to denounce secular "wisdom" and credentials.
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Ph.D. - "Post Hole Digger", "Piled high and deep".
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Anti-intellectualism
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Opposition to doctors, medicine, and psychiatry.
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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It's different in the Kingdom!
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The way up is down.
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The way to receive is to give.
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The way to lead is to serve.
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The way to live is to die.
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Which aspects of the message of the cross do you embrace?
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Historicity of the Jesus' death on the cross.
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Jesus' death on the cross really happened.
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Efficacy of Jesus' death on the cross.
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Jesus' death on the cross has the power to save.
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Judgment of the cross. - Attitude
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The cross is God's judgment on my sin, independence, and "good works".
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Present day work of the cross. - Experience
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The message of the cross is foolishness to the perishing.
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Every aspect of the cross that I fail to embrace I implicitly judge as "foolish".
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The message of the cross is the power of God to the saved.
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Every aspect of the cross that I embrace releases God's power into my life.
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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God saves us with a message that the world calls "foolish".
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
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I want believers who hear this message to:
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Embrace the whole message:
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Jesus actually died on the cross.
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Jesus' death saves them.
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God sends circumstances into their lives to wean them from reliance on their:
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Wisdom
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Influence
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Nobility
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Stop trying to connect to God based on their own efforts.
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Legalistic righteousness.
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Knowledge of "deep truth"
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Sophistication
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Approach God based only on Jesus' death for them on the cross.
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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|
|
Outline the Sermon
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|
|
|
Standing Issues
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|
|
|
From a word Bishop gave me:
|
|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
|
|
Make it plain:
|
|
|
|
Use accessible language.
|
|
|
|
Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
|
|
|
|
Sitting at a stop light
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|
|
|
Driving through a green light
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|
|
Approaching a yellow light
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Being cut off in traffic
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Going shopping
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Going to a mall
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Going to school; sitting in class
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Going to work; sitting in your office;
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|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
|
|
|
|
I want believers who hear this message to:
|
|
|
|
Deny themselves.
|
|
|
|
Take up the cross daily.
|
|
|
|
Follow Jesus.
|
|
|
|
Learn to lose their lives.
|
|
|
|
Introduction
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|
|
|
We had another party for God this morning! Were you there?
|
|
|
|
Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today?
|
|
|
|
There is no substitute for your individual experience with God!
|
|
|
|
There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God!
|
|
|
|
Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents?
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God is your Father - don't miss his party!
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Plane on a conveyor belt - mental categories.
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The Word today will challenge our mental categories.
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Wild Bill Hickock (information taken from Wikipedia article)
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James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837 – August 2, 1876), better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a figure in the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized. His nickname of Wild Bill has inspired similar nicknames for men known for their daring in various fields.
Early life
James Butler Hickok was born in Homer, Illinois (what is now Troy Grove) on May 27, 1837. His birthplace is now the Wild Bill Hickok Memorial, a listed historic site under the supervision of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. While he was growing up, his father's farm was one of the stops on the Underground Railroad, and he learned his shooting skills protecting the farm with his father from slave catchers. Hickok was a good shot from a very young age.
In 1855, at the age of 18, Hickok moved to Kansas Territory following a fight with Charles Hudson, which resulted in both falling into a canal. Mistakenly thinking he had killed Hudson, Hickok fled and joined General Jim Lane's vigilante Free State Army ("The Red Legs") where he met 12-year-old William Cody, later to be known as "Buffalo Bill," who at that time was a scout for Johnston's Army.[1]
Due to his "sweeping nose and protruding upper lip," Hickok was nicknamed "Duck Bill."[2] In 1861, after growing a mustache following the McCanles incident, and with some encouragement from himself, he began calling himself Wild Bill.[3]
Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach driver, then became a lawman in the frontier territories of Kansas and Nebraska. He fought in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and gained publicity after the war as a scout, marksman, and professional gambler. Between his law-enforcement duties and gambling, which easily overlapped, Hickok was involved in several notable shootouts.
Death
On August 2, 1876, while playing poker at Nuttal & Mann's Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, in the Black Hills, Dakota Territory, Hickok could not find an empty seat in the corner of the room, where he always sat in order to protect himself against a possible attack from behind, and instead sat with his back to one door while facing another. His paranoia was prescient: he was shot in the back of the head with a .45-caliber revolver by Jack McCall. Legend has it that Hickok was playing poker when he was shot, holding a pair of aces and a pair of eights. The fifth card is debated, or, as some say, had not yet been dealt. "Aces and eights" thus is known as the "Dead Man's Hand".[26] In 1979 Hickok was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
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Read the Passage - 1Corinthians 1:10-31
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
The message of the cross expresses God's rejection of our efforts to connect to him based on our own status, resources, ability, or effort; it declares that we can only connect to God based on Jesus and his death on the cross. The lost reject this as foolishness, but the saved receive it as an expression of God's power for their benefit.
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
Unbelievers cling to worldly wisdom, rely on themselves, and perish. Believers cling to God's wisdom, rely on Jesus, and are saved.
|
|
|
|
What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Background
|
|
|
|
The divisions in the Corinthian church reflect an unhealthy focus on human status and ability.
|
|
|
|
Relying on human wisdom empties the cross' effectiveness.
|
|
|
|
The Way of the Cross (Luke 9:22-26):
|
|
|
|
Suffering
|
|
|
|
Rejection
|
|
|
|
Death / Execution
|
|
|
|
We can't connect to God through anything we "bring to the table".
|
|
|
|
What we bring to the table:
|
|
|
|
Wisdom and Intelligence - 1Cor 1:19, 21, 26; Isaiah 29:14
|
|
|
|
Scholar (scribe - John 5:36-40), philosopher (debater) - 1Cor 1:20
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Wisdom - 1Cor 1:26
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Influence / Power - 1Cor 1:26
|
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|
|
Nobility - 1Cor 1:26
|
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|
|
Strength - 1Cor 1:25
|
|
|
|
The Corinthian church members are primarily from the "lowly".
|
|
|
|
God uses the lowly to:
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nullify the exalted
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eliminate human boasting.
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Jesus is our "wisdom": righteousness, holiness, redemption
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Thus our boasting should be in the Lord - Jeremiah 9:24
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We can only connect to God based on Jesus' death on the cross.
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Even though it seems foolish to outsiders - 1Cor 1:21-23
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The lost reject this as foolishness.
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This violates the expectations of Jews and Gentiles alike.
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Jews expected a triumphant revolutionary messiah.
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Greeks were sure that no reputable person would be crucified.
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Both rejected the message of a savior who experienced suffering, rejection, and death.
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The saved receive it as God's power for their benefit.
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Jesus has become wisdom from God for us:
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Righteousness (in place of rejection)
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Holiness (in place of suffering)
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Redemption (in place of death)
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What difference does it make? So What?
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It's different in the Kingdom!
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The way up is down.
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The way to receive is to give.
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The way to lead is to serve.
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The way to live is to die.
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Which aspects of the message of the cross do you embrace?
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Historicity of the Jesus' death on the cross.
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Jesus' death on the cross really happened.
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Efficacy of Jesus' death on the cross.
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Jesus' death on the cross has the power to save.
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Judgment of the cross. - Attitude
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God's judgment on my sin, independence, and "good works".
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Present day work of the cross. - Experience
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I must die to my own efforts.
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Do I behave consistently with this truth?
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Holiness / Pentecostal background
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Ready to denounce secular "wisdom" and credentials.
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Ph.D. - "Post Hole Digger", "Piled high and deep".
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Anti-intellectualism
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Opposition to doctors, medicine, and psychiatry.
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Carry Out the Purpose of the Sermon
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Embrace the whole message:
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Jesus actually died on the cross.
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Jesus' death saves them.
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God sends circumstances into their lives to wean them from reliance on their:
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Wisdom
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Influence
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Nobility
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Stop trying to connect to God based on your own efforts.
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We can't connect to God through anything we "bring to the table".
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Paul rejected his own "credentials" - Philippians 3:1-11
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You have to reject your own credentials.
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|
Legalistic righteousness.
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Knowledge of "deep truth"
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Sophistication
|
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|
The lost reject this as foolishness.
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|
You probably know people who feel this way.
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|
Any aspect of the cross I reject becomes an indictment against me.
|
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|
Approach God based only on Jesus' death for you on the cross.
|
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|
We can only connect to God based on Jesus' death on the cross.
|
|
|
|
The saved receive this as God's power for their benefit.
|
|
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|
People get saved by hearing the message - you did!
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|
Every aspect of the cross that I embrace releases God's power into my life.
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God's goal for us is character that doesn't trust itself, but trusts him instead.
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Conclusion
|
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|
Wild Bill Hickok was playing poker when he died.
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Poker is a game in which each of the players is dealt a hand of card and then bets based on his/her belief that his/her hand is better than that of any of the other players.
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|
According to legend, Hickok was holding a pair of aces and a pir of eights when he was killed. "Aces and eights" is thus known as the "Dead Man's Hand".
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|
Some of us are sitting at God's poker table with what we believe is a winning hand. In reality however we are all holding a "dead man's hand".
|
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|
The Cross (Part 3)
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|
Preparation - Colossians 2:6-15
|
|
|
|
Expository Preaching
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage - Colossians 2:6-15
|
|
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|
|
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
|
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|
Study the Passage
|
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|
|
NIV
|
|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
|
|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
|
|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Background
|
|
|
|
Continue living in Jesus the same way that you received him.
|
|
|
|
Don't fall for false teaching based on human tradition rather than Christ.
|
|
|
|
Christ is fully God in bodily form. He is fully in you and fully in charge.
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|
Christ has spiritually circumcised you - removing your sinful nature
|
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|
In Christ you were circumcised, in the removal of the flesh - not by men but by Christ. You were buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the same God who raised him.
|
|
|
|
What did God do for us when we were dead in our sins?
|
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|
|
He made us alive in Christ.
|
|
|
|
He forgave all our sins.
|
|
|
|
He cancelled the debts we owe for our disobedience.
|
|
|
|
He disarmed and humiliated everything that accused us.
|
|
|
|
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
We were dead in our sins and in the uncircumcision (lit. foreskin) of our flesh.
|
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|
Dead - out of relationship with God.
|
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|
|
Uncircumcision - Col. 2:11-12
|
|
|
|
God made us alive with Christ.
|
|
|
|
He forgave all of our sins.
|
|
|
|
Cancelled the written code . . .
|
|
|
|
The Old Testament required things of us that we failed in.
|
|
|
|
In the cross, Jesus cancelled our debts.
|
|
|
|
Disarmed powers and authorities . .
|
|
|
|
Jesus took away the weapons that the enemy uses against us.
|
|
|
|
Through the cross, he led our enemies conquered, stripped, and humiliated.
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Romans 6:1-14
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
The fullness of God lives bodily in Christ and in him we have been made full (or complete).
|
|
|
|
Since Christ is head over every power and authority and we have fullness in him, we don't need to concern ourselves with intermediate powers - we go straight to the top.
|
|
|
|
He has broken the power of our flesh over us in a spiritual circumcision through our identification with his death and resurrection in baptism. - Romans 6:1-14
|
|
|
|
We must be careful not to fall for false teaching based on anything less than Christ and what he has done for us.
|
|
|
|
Continue living in Jesus the same way that you received him.
|
|
|
|
Formulate the Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
God made me alive with Christ, nailed my sins to the cross, and whipped my accusers.
|
|
|
|
Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
|
|
|
|
I want believers who hear this message to:
|
|
|
|
Continue living in Jesus the same way that you received him - by faith
|
|
|
|
Rely on nothing besides or in addition to Christ for your salvation!
|
|
|
|
The fullness of God lives bodily in Christ and in him we have been made full (or complete).
|
|
|
|
Since Christ is head over every power and authority and we have fullness in him, we don't need to concern ourselves with intermediate powers - we go straight to the top.
|
|
|
|
He has broken the power of our flesh over us in a spiritual circumcision through our identification with his death and resurrection in baptism. - Romans 6:1-14
|
|
|
|
Focus on your relationship with God and not on the rules!
|
|
|
|
Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
|
|
|
|
Outline the Sermon
|
|
|
|
Standing Issues
|
|
|
|
From a word Bishop gave me:
|
|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
|
|
Make it plain:
|
|
|
|
Use accessible language.
|
|
|
|
Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
|
|
|
|
Sitting at a stop light
|
|
|
|
Driving through a green light
|
|
|
|
Approaching a yellow light
|
|
|
|
Being cut off in traffic
|
|
|
|
Going shopping
|
|
|
|
Going to a mall
|
|
|
|
Going to school; sitting in class
|
|
|
|
Going to work; sitting in your office;
|
|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Introduction
|
|
|
|
We had another party for God this morning! Were you there?
|
|
|
|
Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today?
|
|
|
|
There is no substitute for your individual experience with God!
|
|
|
|
There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God!
|
|
|
|
Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents?
|
|
|
|
God is your Father - don't miss his party!
|
|
|
|
We are called to worship together!
|
|
|
|
Acts 2:42-47
|
|
|
|
Hebrews 13:15
|
|
|
|
1Peter 2:4-10
|
|
|
|
Gnosticism - popular philosophical system that was part of the context of the 1st century church.
|
|
|
|
Supreme God
|
|
|
|
Aeons
|
|
|
|
Demiurge
|
|
|
|
Paul confronts gnosticism at Colosse.
|
|
|
|
Redefines words used by gnostics:
|
|
|
|
fullness
|
|
|
|
powers and authorities
|
|
|
|
Read the Context - Colossians 2:6-12
|
|
|
|
|
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
|
|
|
|
Read the Passage - Colossians 2:13-15
|
|
|
|
|
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
What did God do for us when we were dead in our sins?
|
|
|
|
He made us alive in Christ.
|
|
|
|
He forgave all our sins.
|
|
|
|
He cancelled the debts we owe for our disobedience.
|
|
|
|
He disarmed and humiliated everything that accused us.
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
God made me alive with Christ, nailed my sins to the cross, and whipped my accusers.
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
We were dead in our sins and in the uncircumcision (lit. foreskin) of our flesh.
|
|
|
|
Dead - out of relationship with God.
|
|
|
|
Sin - missing the mark
|
|
|
|
Independence - Eden, tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
|
|
|
|
Uncircumcision - Col. 2:11-12
|
|
|
|
God made us alive with Christ.
|
|
|
|
He forgave all of our sins.
|
|
|
|
Cancelled the written code . . .
|
|
|
|
The Old Testament required things of us that we failed in.
|
|
|
|
In the cross, Jesus cancelled our debts.
|
|
|
|
Disarmed powers and authorities . .
|
|
|
|
Jesus took away the weapons that the enemy uses against us.
|
|
|
|
Through the cross, he led our enemies conquered, stripped, and humiliated (Roman triumphal procession).
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Romans 6:1-14
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
Paul is countering gnosticism.
|
|
|
|
The fullness of God lives bodily in Christ and in him we have been made full (or complete).
|
|
|
|
Since Christ is head over every power and authority and we have fullness in him, we don't need to concern ourselves with intermediate powers - we go straight to the top.
|
|
|
|
He has broken the power of our flesh over us in a spiritual circumcision through our identification with his death and resurrection in baptism. - Romans 6:1-14
|
|
|
|
We must be careful not to fall for false teaching based on anything less than Christ and what he has done for us.
|
|
|
|
Continue living in Jesus the same way that you received him.
|
|
|
|
Sermon Purpose (I want believers who hear this message to):
|
|
|
|
Keep living in Jesus the same way that you received him - by faith!
|
|
|
|
Rely on nothing besides Christ for your salvation!
|
|
|
|
The fullness of God lives bodily in Christ and in him we have been made full (or complete).
|
|
|
|
No other name under heaven. - Acts 4:8-12
|
|
|
|
No substitutes
|
|
|
|
Living positive
|
|
|
|
Family values
|
|
|
|
Rely on nothing in addition to Christ for your salvation!
|
|
|
|
Since Christ is head over every power and authority and we have fullness in him, we don't need to concern ourselves with intermediaries - we go straight to the top.
|
|
|
|
No Saints (catholicism)
|
|
|
|
No religious leaders
|
|
|
|
He has broken the power of our flesh over us in a spiritual circumcision through our identification with his death and resurrection in baptism. - Romans 6:1-14
|
|
|
|
Spiritual gifts don't make you any more saved.
|
|
|
|
Special revelation doesn't make you special - Colossians 2:16-19
|
|
|
|
Willpower won't. - Colossians 2:20-23
|
|
|
|
Focus on the relationship, not the rules! - Isaiah 29:13-15
|
|
|
|
Pharisees - Turned the Hebrew law into their own private system.
|
|
|
|
Legalists - Turn the New Testament into their own private system.
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
|
|
|
|
The Cross (Part 4)
|
|
|
|
Preparation - Hebrews 12:1-13
|
|
|
|
Expository Preaching
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage - Hebrews 12:1-13
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage - Hebrews 12:1-3
|
|
|
|
|
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage - Hebrews 12:4-6
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage - Hebrews 12:7-13
|
|
|
|
Study the Passage
|
|
|
|
NIV
|
|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
|
|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
|
|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Since there are so many witnesses watching us from heaven, let's drop everything that holds us back and keep running the race God has assigned us. Jesus is our Lord and our example in enduring suffering to attain a goal. By keeping our eyes on him and his victory over the cross we will be able to make it to the finish line.
|
|
|
|
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Remember how you originally stood firm - Hebrews 10:32-39
|
|
|
|
The "heroes of faith" listed in Hebrews 11 have gone on before us and are watching us in our walk with Christ. They are like cheering crowds in a stadium watching us run.
|
|
|
|
Runners have to let go of things that weigh them down and things that trip them up. So do we.
|
|
|
|
Race marked out for us.
|
|
|
|
Although many others had run races beforehand, Jesus ran the definitive race and ran it perfectly. He has become our example.
|
|
|
|
Jesus endured the cross because he saw it's joyful goal.
|
|
|
|
By keeping Jesus in mind we can avoid weariness and discouragement.
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
"But take heart! I have overcome the world" - John 16:33b
|
|
|
|
Endured the cross scorning its shame
|
|
|
|
Jesus denied the legitimacy of his crucifiers - John 18:28 - 19:16; Luke 23:33-34
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
This lets us know that we can make it. We can make it because Jesus went before us.
|
|
|
|
This helps us understand the purpose behind our hardships. They're not random - God us using our hardships to make us holy like him.
|
|
|
|
Other people (i.e. "the lame") are depending on us.
|
|
|
|
Formulate the Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
The pioneers and veterans of the church are in the stadium watching us. Let's drop everything that holds us back and keep running the race. Jesus is our Lord and our example in suffering to achieve victory. Focusing on him and his victory over the cross will keep us from giving up.
|
|
|
|
Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
|
|
|
|
Study Jesus' life and emulate it.
|
|
|
|
Endure hardship as discipline because God is treating us as sons.
|
|
|
|
Understand how their progress affects others.
|
|
|
|
Let God break them.
|
|
|
|
Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
|
|
|
|
Outline the Sermon
|
|
|
|
Standing Issues
|
|
|
|
From a word Bishop gave me:
|
|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
|
|
Make it plain:
|
|
|
|
Use accessible language.
|
|
|
|
Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
|
|
|
|
Sitting at a stop light
|
|
|
|
Driving through a green light
|
|
|
|
Approaching a yellow light
|
|
|
|
Being cut off in traffic
|
|
|
|
Going shopping
|
|
|
|
Going to a mall
|
|
|
|
Going to school; sitting in class
|
|
|
|
Going to work; sitting in your office;
|
|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Introduction
|
|
|
|
We had another party for God this morning! Were you there?
|
|
|
|
Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today?
|
|
|
|
There is no substitute for your individual experience with God!
|
|
|
|
There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God!
|
|
|
|
Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents?
|
|
|
|
God is your Father - don't miss his party!
|
|
|
|
We are called to worship together!
|
|
|
|
Acts 2:42-47
|
|
|
|
Hebrews 13:15
|
|
|
|
1Peter 2:4-10
|
|
|
|
Our Surprise Party
|
|
|
|
Rocklyn & Eva 50th birthdays
|
|
|
|
The Ruse
|
|
|
|
The request for babysitting for the grandchildren.
|
|
|
|
Valerie's request for Eva to introduce her at an "award dinner".
|
|
|
|
Mommy wanted to attend, so Valerie made arrangements.
|
|
|
|
Rocky, Monique, and Ricky left early and Sharon needed to ride with us.
|
|
|
|
The Arrival
|
|
|
|
Monique was at the curb waiting for us.
|
|
|
|
Sharon parks the van.
|
|
|
|
Valerie come out to greet us.
|
|
|
|
Monique pushes Mommy in the wheelchair.
|
|
|
|
The Entrance
|
|
|
|
Surprise!
|
|
|
|
The Mayor
|
|
|
|
A great party!
|
|
|
|
God is planning a surprise party for us!
|
|
|
|
It doesn't matter that we know about the party.
|
|
|
|
What he has in store will surprise us anyway.
|
|
|
|
The Bible tells us how to get into the party.
|
|
|
|
Transition: With this in mind, let's look at our passage:
|
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Read the Passage - Hebrews 12:1-3
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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
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Homiletical Idea
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The church's pioneers and veterans are in the stadium watching us. Let's drop everything that holds us back and keep running the race. The Lord Jesus is our example in suffering to achieve victory. Focusing on him and his victory over the cross will keep us from giving up.
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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Background
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Remember how you originally stood firm - Hebrews 10:32-39
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Hebrews 11 (the "roll call of faith") describes what the pioneers in the Bible accomplished through faith. - Hebrews 11:32-40
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The pioneers and veterans listed in Hebrews 11 are like cheering crowds in a stadium watching us run.
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Racers have to let go of:
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Anything that weighs them down:
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extra clothing or equipment
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Anything that entangles them or trips them up:
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untied shoe laces
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Consider biker shorts.
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We have to let go of:
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Weights - legitimate things that are nevertheless wrong for you.
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Sins - illegitimate things that are wrong for everyone.
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Race marked out for us.
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Every runner has a lane.
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Stay in your lane.
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Some athletes set the standard for everyone else.
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1987 NBA All Star Game.
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Slam Dunk Contest
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Although many others had run races beforehand, Jesus ran the definitive race and ran it perfectly. He has become our example.
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Jesus endured the cross because he saw it's joyful goal.
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Jesus scorned or despised the shame associated with the cross.
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Young men getting arrested often try to "man up".
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Denzel Washington was whipped in the movie "Glory".
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He denied the legitimacy of his crucifiers - John 19:4-12; Luke 23:33-34
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By focusing on Jesus we can avoid weariness and discouragement.
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"But take heart! I have overcome the world" - John 16:33
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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We can make it because Jesus went before us.
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We should expect the Father to discipline us - Hebrews 12:4-6
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In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
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Most of us have never actually shed our blood for Jesus.
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Like earthly fathers, God disciplines his sons - Prov 3:11-12
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Women are sons too! - Gal 3:26-29
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Our hardships have a purpose - Hebrews 12:7-13
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Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
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They're not random - they're part of God's discipline
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He did this with Jesus - Hebrews 5:7-12
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God is using our hardships to make us holy like him.
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Other people (i.e. "the lame") are depending on us.
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More is caught than taught.
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Sermon Purpose (what listeners should do):
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Engage, Expect, Endure!
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Engage with Jesus.
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Expect the Father to discipline you.
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Endure hardship as discipline because God is treating us as sons.
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Engage with Jesus (not just with church).
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Know who he is.
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Prophet
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Priest
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Messiah / Christ
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God's Son
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Know what he said.
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about himself
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light of the world,
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the way, the truth, and the life
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the resurrection and the life
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about you
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Know what he did.
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Know what he will do.
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Coming again
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What's your plan for engaging with Jesus?
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Expect the Father to discipline you.
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Don't live as an enemy of the cross. - Philippians 3:17-21
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You have to be able to repent.
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When you're at a red light at a traffic intersection you're at a cross!
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My turn onto an incoming traffic lane this past Tuesday (9/22).
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You have to have a nature that responds obediently to God's discipline.
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Strong willed children:
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Kim
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Sharon
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You can't do this to yourself - God has to do it.
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You have to be broken.
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Watchman Nee - the broken stick yields to the slightest touch.
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I had to be broken.
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Let God break you.
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Endure hardship as discipline because God is treating us as sons.
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Don't teach on the cross without expecting to experience it!
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Inconvenience on the path to the party:
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Our surprise party was in the works since at least July.
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For it to work we had to be there.
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Eva and I are busy with work, household needs, ministry.
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Getting us there involved asking us to make inconvenient commitments:
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Babysitting the grandchildren Friday night.
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Attending a Friday evening event.
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I work for a living: As a pastor, and part-time at MIT (TWH).
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Fridays are useful for focused work on projects after exercise.
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I had a previously scheduled doctor's appointment.
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I ultimately cancelled exercise and rescheduled my physical.
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Transporting Sharon in our loaded van.
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Bringing my mother to an award dinner in her weakened condition.
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Picking up Valerie with inadequate free space in the van.
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Letting Sharon park the van.
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Letting Monique push Mommy in the wheelchair.
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The end result of the inconveniences was a wonderful blessing.
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I had to be "broken" in order to not sabotage my own party.
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What about your surprise party?
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God is trying to get you to your surprise party!
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How are you dealing with the inconveniences - the hardships?
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Are you complaining?
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Have you learned to see them as preparation for the party?
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Let God break you.
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Have you been broken yet?
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Will you let him use hardship to break you?
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Conclusion
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Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame.
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We must endure the cross scorning its shame as well:
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Endure the "big" crosses that break us at key points in our lives.
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Endure the "little" crosses that slowly refine us.
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Storage
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Following Jesus (continued)
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How do I follow Jesus? (continued)
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Are You a Christian? (continued)
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Conversion process
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Warning about treatment of unsaved family members
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The "cross-fade" metaphor
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old lifestyle loses credibility due to contradictions
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internal contradictions
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external contradictions
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commitment to old lifestyle wanes due to lost credibility
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Kingdom of God becomes more and more credible
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Phase 1
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No effective awareness of Kingdom of God
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Complete commitment to independance from God
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Attitude Examples
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I lie because it works and anyone who has sense does too.
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Phase 2
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Awareness of Kingdom of God
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Commitment to Kingdom growing
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Commitment to old lifestyle exceeds commitment to Kingdom
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Attitude Examples
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I lie because it works for me, but I know there are some people who can get along without lying.
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Phase 3
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Commitment to Kingdom of God matches commitment to old lifestyle
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Candidate may have one or more experiences that are labelled as conversion experiences
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Candidate is "double-minded"
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Attitude Examples
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I lie, but I'm thinking about giving it up.
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Phase 4
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Commitment to Kingdom of God exceeds commitment to old lifestyle
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Candidate settles into practical church membership
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Attitude Examples
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I usually tell the truth, but there are some situations where lying is acceptable.
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Phase 5
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All lingering commitment to old lifestyle is extinguished - this is full repentance
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Candidate is fully committed to those aspects of the Kingdom that he/she knows about
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There is a clear path for future spiritual growth
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Attitude Examples
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Lying is wrong and I rarely do it - if I lie, it's because I was in a sudden jam and fell back on an old habit.
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Peter's Progression in Faith
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John 5:39-42
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Mat 4:18-22
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Luke 5:1-11
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Glorification
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kabod / doxa
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Parable of the Sower - Mat 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
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Some neglect and ultimately abandon the relationship with God.
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No one can snatch them out of my hand - John 10:27-30
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It is impossible to be lost when you still genuinely want a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
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If your hand offends you - Mat 5:27-30
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Disqualified - 1Cor 9:24 - 1Cor 10:13 (ref. Luke 12:35-48)
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Impossible for the enlightened to return - Heb 6:1-12
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Can you lose your salvation?
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Can you divorce your husband/wife?
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Can you abandon your children?
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Can you turn your back on your parents?
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Can you reject your friends?
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Spiritual Maturity - Heb 6:1-12
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Following Jesus Leads to Spiritual Maturity
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Accountability
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Stability
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Taking Responsibility For Your Own Growth
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Taking Responsibility for Ministry
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Reproducing Yourself
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Obstacles to Spiritual Maturity
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Focusing on life's worries, riches, and pleasures - Luke 8:4-15
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Failure to focus on the things of the Spirit - 1Cor 2:6-12; Col 3:1-10
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Misunderstanding what spiritual maturity is
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Spiritual maturity is not sinlessness
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Spiritual maturity is a lifestyle of effective engagement (i.e. engagement that produces real results).
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Spiritual Consumerism
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Accountability / Holiness
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To God - Blamelessness (not sinlessness) - Gen 6:9; Gen 17:1
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To other believers
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Walking in the light - 1John 1:5 - 2:6
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Exposing your actions
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Exposing your thoughts
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Exposing your motives
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Consistent availability - Heb 13:7, 17
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Sunday service PLUS life group
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Not - one church for Sunday and another for life group
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You should develop intimate friendships and accountability with the same people you fellowship with on Sunday.
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Stability - Eph 4:10-17; James 1:2-4
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Taking Responsibility For Your Own Growth - Philip 3:1-15; Heb 5:11-14
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Learning lifestyle vs. Entertainment lifestyle
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Fight until the fight becomes automatic. Wounded people are not always able to fight, but once they experience healing they must learn to do the fighting that they’ve been avoiding and keep fighting until they automatically hold their ground.
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Dramatize the “impossible switch” (ref Staples Easy Button)
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Sabbath discipline - prioritizing the Lord
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Taking responsibility for ministry - Mat 6:33; Luke 9:23-25; Rom 12:3-8
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Pleasing God must be more important than pleasing ourselves
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Luke 22:42; John 4:27-38; John 6:38;
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Your actions and words should build up others - Eph 4:29; 1Pet 4:11
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The New Testament writers weren't trying to write "scripture".
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They were trying to serve other believers.
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In doing so they produced scripture - 2Pet 3:15-16
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Your life should produce "scripture"
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Charles's recollection at the retreat
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My own frequent sharing of things Bishop said to me
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"I trust you with souls"
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Taking Responsibility For Reproducing yourself
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Fruitfulness - Mat 7:15-20; Luke 13:6-9; John 15:1-8
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God has promised you spiritual offspring
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Pray - Father I want to lead others to spiritual maturity.
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Define evangelism, followup, discipleship
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Work in the vineyard
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Require maturity from individuals in the congregation.
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Three Phases
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Developing godly habits
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Turning godly habits into skills
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Combining godly habits and skills into your ministry
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Have you made the “maturity decision” yet?
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Godly Habits Of Highly Effective Believers
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Relating to God - Prayer
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Talking with God - Jer 29:11-14; 2Cor 3; 1Pet 1:17
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Hearing from God boosts assurance of salvation
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Get started
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God wants to speak to you.
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God is able to speak to you.
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God is able to make you confident that you've heard from him.
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Trust him to do this as you approach him.
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Say "Speak Lord - your servant is listening" - 1Sam 3:1-18
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Start with praise and thanksgiving (use Psalms as a guide).
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Take time to listen.
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Write down the thoughts that come to you.
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God wants to meet your needs
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Children use their parents' resources.
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We get to use God's resources.
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Keep borrowing God's car and he'll give you one of your own.
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Life is God's training program for you.
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God wants to share the universe with you.
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Apostles make plans with God's resources in mind.
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Sometimes God wants us to narrow down the possibilities before we come to him for guidance. Make a list of alternatives with pros and cons. Propose the best solutions to God while allowing him to completely override your selection. God requires that we avoid laziness and inertia in the process of hearing from him.
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Warn about saying "I hope" during prayer.
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Relating to God - Worship
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Gratitude - Luke 7:36-50
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Love for God - 1Pet 1:8-9;
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Giving
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Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift - 1Cor 9:15
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Prayer releases revelation; giving releases resources (Tudor Bismarck). Service releases leadership.
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Relating to God - Learning and Doing His Word
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No flying "by the seat of your pants"
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Discipline your though life according to God's Word - Rom 12:2
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The Bible
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Discuss origins, translation, etc.
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Discuss inspiration - plenary, verbal, etc.
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Discuss versions, translations, paraphrases, etc.
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Don't use the Bible just to prove a point.
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Relating to Believers - Fellowship
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Love for others - Mat 25:31-46; John 13:34-35; 1John 3:18
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Sunday service is like Thanksgiving - we should all be together.
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Holiness
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Relating to Believers - Discipleship
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|
Relational Evangelism Quiz - grade yourself
- inviting people to church
- inviting people to your life group
- winning people on your own
- connecting believers you know to an unbeliever you know
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Followup
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CPR - seconds count - Followup
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The Life Church way is one on one
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Illustrate demonic opposition to followup / discipleship and how prayer counteracts this opposition.
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Discipleship is not a curriculum - it’s a lifestyle.
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How many people wish they had someone to disciple them? Provide a solution.
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Have I been discipled? How do I know when the job is done? What does discipleship look like?
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Relating to Believers - Service
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Relating to Unbelievers - Caring
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Relating to Unbelievers - Service
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Relating to Unbelievers - Evangelism
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4 P's
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Purpose
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Position
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Plan
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Partner
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Relating to My Community - Service
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Service
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Increase your capacity to serve
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Ministry Systems Dynamics
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Reinforcing Feedback
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Vicious Cycles
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Backsliding
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Virtuous Cycles
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Sanctification
|
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|
|
overflow of giving - 2Cor 9:6-15
|
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sowing seed
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Balancing Processes
|
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|
faucet/eye/hand system filling a glass of water
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Balancing Processes With Delay
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thermostat
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shower temperature control
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Limits To Growth
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Church grows to point where intimacy is lost
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Shifting The Burden
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Drug addiction
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Sexual addictions
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Television addictions
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Escalation
|
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arguments
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arms race
|
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Tragedy Of The Commons
|
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multiple flocks on a singlle field
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environmental pollution
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Success To The Successful
|
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Growth and Underinvestment
|
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|
|
attendance falls off due to crowding before new space is achieved
|
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Accidental Adversaries
|
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|
Employee / Company example
|
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|
employees are rewarded for political gamesmanship
|
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|
company is rewarded for pursuit of growth rather than development
|
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|
Traditional Church and the Arts
|
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|
Traditional Church and other Areas of Gifting
|
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Fixes That Fail
|
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|
EGC Questions
|
|
|
|
Question 1
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|
|
We don't ask:"How will WE get a building in the South End?"
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|
We ask: How can OUR COMMUNITY provide a BUILDING for us?"
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Question 2
|
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|
|
We don't ask: "How do WE plant CHURCHES?"
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|
We ask: "How does THE CITY plant CHURCHES?"
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Question 3
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We don't ask: "How do WE stop CRIME?"
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We ask" "How does the CITY stop its OWN CRIME?"
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Question 4
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We don't ask: "How does EGC do EVANGELISM?"
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We ask: "How does the CITY do EVANGELISM?"
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Question 5
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We don't ask: "How do WE set up an urban training school for uban ethnic ministry leaders?"
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We ask: "How do urban ethnic ministry LEADERS work with a seminary to SET UP their OWN urban training school?"
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Question 6
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We don't ask: "How can WE get more urban ethnic students into Christian schools?"
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We ask: "How can urban ethnic STUDENTS recruit their OWN PEOPLE to Christian schools?"
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Question 7
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We don't ask questions THAT PRODUCE: short-term, counterproductive ends
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We ask QUESTIONS THAT PRODUCE: long-term multiply-productive ends
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Question 8
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We don't ask QUESTIONS that: make us design OUR organization to DO a task
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We ask QUESTIONS that: force us to find how the SOCIAL REALITY we are working in will become the PRIMARY DOER of the task
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Twelve Steps
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1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
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2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
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3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
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4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
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5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
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6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
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7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
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8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
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9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
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10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
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11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
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12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
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Culture & World View
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Culture
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The complex structuring of customs (and their underlying assumptions) by which people govern their lives.
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It is how we relate to our selves (with biological, mental, psychological, and spiritual components) and our environment (with physical and social components).
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People both create and follow culture (culture is like a roadway).
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People follow cultural forms out of habit.
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People change cultural elements for various reasons.
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Creativity
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Improper instruction
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Worldview
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Worldview Functions - patterns in terms of which people do the following:
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Explain aspects of life according to socially approved ways of seeing REALITY;
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Where did the universe come from and what is its basic nature?
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How did people, animals, plants, etc. get here and what should we expect from them?
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Evaluate all aspects of life in socially approved ways;
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esthetics - what is visually or aurally pleasing
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ethics - what is moral or imoral
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economics - what should be more expensive or less expensive
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human character - what behavior is proper or improper, admirable or worthy of criticism
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Validate common perceptions and behavior;
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Assign commitment priorities that help people identify what people and other aspects of life to pledge allegiance to;
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Interpret things in ways that are consistent with those of the rest of the society;
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Pursue life in a reasonably integrated fashion;
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Adapt to internal and external pressure for change.
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Worldview Universals
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Categorization - all people classify, categorize, and think according to the logic of their worldview;
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Person-Group - all people relate to the various persons and groups in their lives on the basis of their worldview assumptions concerning how they should relate to them;
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Causality - all people explain and relate to the various things in life that cause other things on the basis of their worldview assumptions;
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Time-Event - all people structure the time and event aspects of their lives on the basis of their worldview assumptions;
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Space-Material - all people conceive of and arrange their relationships with space and material objects on the basis of their worldview assumptions.
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Five Views of God's relationship to culture:
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God is a product of culture
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God is opposed to culture
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God endorses at least one culture (Hebrew?, British?, French?, American?, Ehtiopian?)
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God is above culture and unconcerned
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God is above culture and working through it
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Discussion Question: How do you view culture?
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Misc
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Post-Modern America
Noone should judge anyone
It’s wrong to present ideas that hurt people’s feelings
People are basically good
When people do bad things it’s because of bad things that were done to them
Old institutions need to be updated and should be viewed with suspicion
Self-esteem is the key to black progress
People who are disillusioned by the hypocrisy of the dominent culture often respond by punishing it - they transfer their allegiance from the old culture to a new one. They invest the new object of their allegiance with all of the mythical qualities of the old one. People long for a hero but they resist coming to Jesus.
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New Material
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Preparation
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Expository Preaching
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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.
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Select the Passage
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Study the Passage
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NIV
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Hebrew Study Bible
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KJV
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The Message
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NASB
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RSV
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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Subject
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Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why
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Complement
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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Make it plain
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Use accessible language and modern parables.
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Make sure people do something with God's message.
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Keep it simple.
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Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
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Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
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Outline the Sermon
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The Cross (Part 5)
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Preparation - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
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Expository Preaching
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Select the Passage - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
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When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
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Study the Passage
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NIV
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Hebrew Study Bible
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KJV
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The Message
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NASB
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RSV
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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When Paul first preached to the Corinthians he avoided eloquence and superior wisdom so that their faith would rest on God's power rather than on human wisdom.
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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The message of the cross is foolishness to the perishing, and God uses this "foolishness" to save those who will receive it.
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Paul stuck to God's pattern so that the Corinthians' faith would be based on Jesus Christ and not on human personality or wisdom.
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Jesus must be lifted up:
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Son of Man must be lifted up - John 3:14-18
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Bronze snake - Numbers 21:4-9
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Time for Son of Man to be glorified - John 12:20-33
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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It affects the way we understand our own salvation.
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Not by our own efforts.
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It affects the way we present salvation to others.
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The gospel is the God's power for salvation. - Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:5-17
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Using human wisdom hinders this power. - 1Corinthians 1:17-18
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Human wisdom does not result in genuine salvation.
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We have to use the genuine gospel to genuinely save people.
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No more boasting about men!
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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It takes the story of Jesus and the cross to release God's power. It takes God's power to produce saving faith and spiritual maturity.
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Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
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Be clear about what salvation is.
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Be clear in communicating salvation to others.
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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Outline the Sermon
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Standing Issues
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From a word Bishop gave me:
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Make sure people do something with God's message.
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Make it plain:
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Use accessible language.
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Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
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Sitting at a stop light
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Driving through a green light
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Approaching a yellow light
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Being cut off in traffic
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Going shopping
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Going to a mall
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Going to school; sitting in class
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Going to work; sitting in your office;
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Keep it simple.
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Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
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Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
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Introduction
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We had another party for God this morning! Were you there?
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Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today?
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There is no substitute for your individual experience with God!
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There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God!
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Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents?
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God is your Father - don't miss his party!
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We are called to worship together!
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Acts 2:42-47
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Hebrews 13:15
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1Peter 2:4-10
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|
|
At age 12 - 13 I travelled to Europe.
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|
The park in Paris and the girl who fained - Crisis French.
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|
Read the Passage - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
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|
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
|
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|
Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
It takes the story of Jesus and the cross to release God's power. It takes God's power to produce saving faith and spiritual maturity.
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
When Paul first preached to the Corinthians he avoided eloquence and superior wisdom so that their faith would rest on God's power rather than on human wisdom.
|
|
|
|
What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Background - Acts 18:1-18
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|
|
The message of the cross is foolishness to the perishing, and God uses this "foolishness" to save those who will receive it.
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|
This was true in the 1st century context of the passage.
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|
Today the idea of a dying savior is more acceptable.
|
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|
The message of the cross cut across their deepest inclinations:
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|
Nothing we bring to the table counts towards our salvation.
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|
Depending on Jesus means not depending on ourselves.
|
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|
Paul stuck to God's pattern so that the Corinthians' faith would be based on Jesus Christ and not on human personality or wisdom.
|
|
|
|
Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
|
|
|
|
Be clear about what salvation is.
|
|
|
|
Be clear in communicating salvation to others.
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|
|
Know what salvation is and what it isn't
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|
This makes a difference in our understanding of our own salvation.
|
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|
The message of the cross still cuts across our deepest inclinations:
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|
Nothing we bring to the table counts towards our salvation.
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|
Depending on Jesus means not depending on ourselves.
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|
What Salvation Isn't:
|
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|
|
It's not "following the rules", "being positive", etc.
|
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|
|
"May I never boast except in the cross . . ." - Galatians 6:12-16
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|
It's not trusting yourself.
|
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|
What Salvation Is:
|
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|
|
Trusting Jesus' death on the cross as your righteousness.
|
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|
Jesus must be lifted up:
|
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|
|
Son of Man must be lifted up - John 3:13-18
|
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|
Bronze snake - Numbers 21:4-9
|
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|
|
I thought I as cool with God.
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|
Davey & Goliath, etc.
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|
When I was actually confronted with the gospel I rejected it.
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|
Communicate salvation effectively to others.
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|
Time for Son of Man to be glorified - John 12:20-37
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|
We must die in order to be truly fruitful.
|
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|
Like seeds, we must be broken in order for life to emerge from us.
|
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|
It affects the way we present salvation to others.
|
|
|
|
The gospel is God's power for salvation. - Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:5-17
|
|
|
|
Using human wisdom hinders this power. - 1Corinthians 1:17-18
|
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|
|
Weakness, fear, and trembling don't hinder. - 1Corinthians. 2:3
|
|
|
|
Human wisdom does not result in genuine salvation.
|
|
|
|
We have to use the genuine gospel to genuinely save people.
|
|
|
|
No more boasting about men!
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
|
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|
It's time for you to be clear about salvation.
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|
Almost two thousand years ago God became a human being and died in order to restore my relationship with him.
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|
Have you given up trying to earn what Jesus died to give you?
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It's time for the Son of Man to be glorified by you!
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|
What do you tell people who ask you about what you believe?
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|
Have you allowed God to break you?
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|
|
Are you willing to share the simple message of salvation?
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|
|
Are you willing to share the message with fear and trembling?
|
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|
|
Either the French I had been learning works or it doesn't.
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|
Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion
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|
Welcome Cards - refer to script
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|
Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26
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|
“‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
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|
Men's Prayer
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|
|
Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
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|
|
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
|
|
|
|
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
|
|
|
|
|
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
|
|
|
|
Discussion Questions / Topics:
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|
|
|
What role do eloquence and superior wisdom play in the way you tell people about salvation?
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|
How do you usually talk, present, or explain salvation to others?
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|
Describe the last conversation you had in which you talked about Jesus and his death on the cross.
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|
How have weakness, fear, and trembling affected the way you tell people about Jesus and the cross?
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|
In what ways has the Spirit's power been demonstrated in your presentation of the gospel?
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|
Numbers 21:4-9
|
|
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|
|
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
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Discussion Questions / Topics:
|
|
|
|
How do you think the Israelites felt about the solution that God gave Moses?
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|
|
God's solution of the snake on a pole required nothing from the afflicted Israelites but to believe enough to look at it. Describe a time when all you could do was believe in something that God said or did.
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|
John 3:13-18
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|
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|
|
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven — the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
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|
Discussion Questions / Topics:
|
|
|
|
The snake that Moses lifted up in the desert was an image of what the Israelites were being bitten by. Why do you think Jesus referred to this as a symbol of him being lifted up?
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|
|
|
Describe how you came to trust in Jesus alone without trying to earn your way into a relationship with God.
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|
John 12:27-33
|
|
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|
|
“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
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|
Discussion Questions / Topics:
|
|
|
|
Jesus claimed that his crucifixion ("being lifted up from the earth") would draw all men to himself. Do you believe this enough to talk about Jesus' crucifixion with others?
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|
Witnessing Activities
|
|
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|
|
Romans 1:16-17
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Note - The gospel is the good news that God has provided salvation for everyone through faith in Jesus Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection.
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|
|
|
Do you talk about the gospel to others? Considering your answer, what does this say about whether or not you are ashamed of the gospel? What does this say about whether or not you believe that the gospel is God's power to save everyone who will believe?
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|
|
|
Discuss the people you know personally who aren't followers of Jesus. Which ones have heard the gospel from you? Which ones haven't?
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|
|
|
Are there any people with whom you are afraid to share the gospel? If so, discuss this with your life group and pray together for boldness.
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|
|
|
Scriptures For 10/04/2009 Life Church Sermon
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|
|
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
|
|
|
|
|
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
|
|
|
|
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No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven — the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
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They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
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Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I 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. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
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Galatians 6:12-16 (consult your Bible for the text)
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I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
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Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
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