Life Church Vision and Mission (Part 4)

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday January 31, 2010

© 2010 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

Notes Introduction Bible Reading 1/24 - 1/30: Gen 48:1 - Ex 12:13; Mat 15:29 - 20:28; Psalm 20:1 - 25:15; Proverbs 4:20 - 6:11 Review Life Church Vision and Mission (Part 1) Preparation - Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2 Expository Preaching Select the Passage - Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2 Study the Passage NIV Hebrew Study Bible KJV The Message NASB RSV Discover the Exegetical Idea God's river of life makes things fruitful. Analyze the Exegetical Idea Explain It: What does this mean? The river originates from God's Sanctuary From the south side of the altar. The altar points to the sacrifice of Jesus. The river grows as it flows. The river makes fruitful things even more fruitful (i.e. the trees). The river makes dead things alive (i.e. the Dead Sea). The river supports swarms of living creatures. The river represents the life of God poured out to others. The curse is over - Revelation 22:3 God's rule is settled - Revelation 22:3 God's presence is "locked in" - Revelation 22:4 We will walk by the light of God's revelation - Revelation 22:5 We will reign - Revelation 22:5 Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it? Yes - God's sanctuary changes lives. Yes - God's sanctuary changed my life. We are seated with Christ - Ephesians 2:1-10 We are reigning in this life - Romans 5:12-17 If we endure we will reign - 2Timothy 2:11-13 We reign on the earth - Revelation 5:1-10 Apply It: What difference does it make? So What? If we meet the conditions God can use us to: Make broken lives whole Make weak lives powerful Make barren lives fruitful - Psalm 1 Mold individual lives into communities Make dying communities thrive Make the impossible possible The Conditions: Establish and acknowledge the sanctuary Celebration Cell Groups Identify and stay beside the river Be available to others Meet the needs of others Reign in love Establish and Acknowledge the Sanctuary You must be a follower of Jesus. You must draw your purpose, direction, and strength from Jesus Grow Beside the River Phase 1 (the 1st 1000 cubits): Water reaches ankle depth Phase 2 (the 2nd 1000 cubits): Water reaches knee depth Phase 3 (the 3rd 1000 cubits): Water reaches waist depth Phase 4 (the 4th 1000 cubits): Water becomes too deep for wading Go Fishing This element is not reflected in Rev 22:1-2 Where the river flows everything will live - Ezek 47:9 Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself The Life Church Vision Based on these passages: Ezek 47:1-12; Rev 22:1-2 The standard against which we check ourselves. Sanctuary Check River Check Fruit Leaves River Rules This is where the fruit trees grow. Don't: Walk in the counsel of the wicked Stand in the way of sinners Sit in the seat with mockers Delight in God's Word Meditate on the Word constantly Result: Yield fruit in season Leaf won't wither Prosper in everything Sea Check Be fishers of men - Mat 4:17-19 Laborers for the Lord of the Harvest - Mat 9:35-38; Mat 10:1-16 Life Check If you're not down with the vision you won't last here. Evaluate 2008 “Year of Discipleship” - How did we do? Highlight my personal transition from being too lenient to enforcing commitment to the vision. Proclaim 2009 “Year For Growth”: making the gospel simple so that everyone can share it. Purpose Driven Church: "Catch the wave!" Formulate the Homiletical Idea Fruit grows where the river flows. Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do): Understand the Life Church Vision Understand its connection to Ezekiel 47:1-12. Understand its connection to Revelation 22:1-6. Align with the Life Church Vision Purposeful lives are aligned lives Reign in love. Take responsibility for representing the Kingdom to your world. Be a blessing and a source of life to others. 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 - Importance of Corporate Worship 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 Introduction Nanny went home to be with the Lord on 12/7/2009. Nanny was God's friend. Nanny wasn't very successful in transmitting her faith in Christ to her children. Eva's grandmother was not very successful in transmitting her faith in Christ to her children. Churches often fail to equip saints with "tools for transmission". Transition Israel often failed to transmit faith in and obedience to God. Ezekiel received a vision of judgement including the destruction of the Temple because of Israel's failure to be faithful to God. Ezekiel also received a vision of a new temple which would reflect a time when Israel's failures would be done a way with. God has a solution for our failures to expand his Kingdom. Read the Passages - Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2 Exegetical Idea God's river of life makes things fruitful. Homiletical Idea Fruit grows where the river flows. What does this mean? The river originates from God's Sanctuary From the south side of the altar. The altar points to the sacrifice of Jesus. The river grows as it flows. The river makes fruitful things even more fruitful (i.e. the trees). The river makes dead things alive (i.e. the Dead Sea). The river supports swarms of living creatures. The river represents the life of God poured out to others. The curse is over - Revelation 22:3 God's rule is settled - Revelation 22:3 God's presence is "locked in" - Revelation 22:4 We will walk by the light of God's revelation - Revelation 22:5 We will reign - Revelation 22:5 Is it True? Do I believe it? Yes - God's sanctuary changes lives. Yes - God's sanctuary changed my life. Something happens when God's life enters the picture! Apollo 1 Fire - velcro is not a fire hazard under normal conditions, but it explodes into flame in a pressurized pure oxygen environment. What difference does it make? So What? If we meet the conditions God can use us to: Make broken lives whole Make weak lives powerful Make barren lives fruitful - Psalm 1 Mold individual lives into communities Make dying communities thrive Make the impossible possible The Conditions: Establish and acknowledge the sanctuary Celebration Cell Groups Identify and stay beside the river Be available to others Meet the needs of others Reign in love Establish and Acknowledge the Sanctuary You must be a follower of Jesus. You must draw your purpose, direction, and strength from Jesus Grow Beside the River Phase 1 (the 1st 1000 cubits): Water reaches ankle depth Phase 2 (the 2nd 1000 cubits): Water reaches knee depth Phase 3 (the 3rd 1000 cubits): Water reaches waist depth Phase 4 (the 4th 1000 cubits): Water becomes too deep for wading Go Fishing This element is not reflected in Revelation 22:1-2 Where the river flows everything will live - Ezekiel 47:9 Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself The Life Church Vision Based on these passages: Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2 The standard against which we check ourselves. Sanctuary Check River Check Fruit Leaves River Rules This is where the fruit trees grow. Don't: Walk in the counsel of the wicked Stand in the way of sinners Sit in the seat with mockers Delight in God's Word Meditate on the Word constantly Result: Yield fruit in season Leaf won't wither Prosper in everything Sea Check Be fishers of men - Mat 4:17-19 Laborers for the Lord of the Harvest - Mat 9:35-38; Mat 10:1-16 Life Check If you're not down with the vision you won't last here. Evaluate 2008 “Year of Discipleship” - How did we do? Highlight my personal transition from being too lenient to enforcing commitment to the vision. Proclaim 2009 “Year For Growth”: making the gospel simple so that everyone can share it. Purpose Driven Church: "Catch the wave!" Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do): Understand the Life Church Vision Understand its connection to Ezekiel 47:1-12. Understand its connection to Revelation 22:1-6. Align with the Life Church Vision Purposeful lives are aligned lives Reign in love. Take responsibility for representing the Kingdom to your world. Be a blessing and a source of life to others. Our Vision: Why We Exist Vision Statement Our vision is to build a network of churches, ministries, and businesses through which God’s river of life can transform people, their communities, and the systems in which they participate. In short: purposeful lives making a powerful difference! Vision Explained God’s river of life is the “river of the water of life” referred to in the first two verses of chapter 22 of Revelation — the last book of the Bible: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2) It’s a picture of God entering the lives of those who are willing to receive him. By letting him in we can live the way he wants us to live — the way we would choose to live if we knew what he knows about us and about the world we live in. Vision Narrative God wants to live inside of you! Then, from the inside he wants to transform your life into something beyond your wildest dreams. While he’s doing that, he wants your life to be a springboard that allows him to reach many others as well. We want to support this process. If you think of God’s life as a never-ending river, we want to bring that river to you. It begins when you hear the life-changing message of what God has done and is doing through Jesus Christ. You may or may not remember when you first embraced the message but after you do, you notice your life changing. The changes may seem small at first, but the longer you stay in the river, the bigger they get. You notice a new love for God in your heart that you never experienced before. You find yourself connected to others who are having the same experience. Some of them never expected to have anything to do with God but now they and you know him intimately. You also notice a new love for others — even your enemies — that you never experienced before. God’s life on the inside is making you a better person, a better mother, father, sister, or brother. You’re becoming a better student, a better employee, a better businessperson, a better leader. Others notice the changes in your life as well. Your family relationships and friendships are transformed into healthy nurturing life-giving bonds. You realize that you yourself have become a branch of the river and through you God’s life is reaching and transforming others. Because of you and the other changed people in the river with you, your community experiences new life and vitality. You begin to imagine a day when you’ll read your local newspaper and find that all of the bad news comes from somewhere else. The new life within you is unstoppable. It gives you a hunger to see your city, your nation, and even the whole world renewed. Together with your new brothers and sisters in Christ you give birth to new cultural expressions. Your collective talents and gifts are woven together to create new music, new dramatic performances, renewed culture. All this and more is what we see as we bring God’s river of life to a thirsty world. In order to achieve this vision we have made a commitment to remove any possible obstacle. That’s why we’re transforming the way church is done! Come on in and join us — the water’s fine! Understand the Life Church Vision Understand its connection to Ezekiel 47:1-12. Understand its connection to Revelation 22:1-6. Align with the Life Church Vision Purposeful lives are aligned lives We are seated with Christ - Ephesians 2:1-10 We are reigning in this life - Romans 5:12-17 Reign in love. Take responsibility for representing the Kingdom to your world. Be a blessing and a source of life to others. If we endure we will reign - 2Timothy 2:11-13 Conclusion We reign on the earth - Revelation 5:1-10 Life Church Vision and Mission (Part 2) Preparation - Matthew 4:12-25 Select the Passage - Mat 4:12-25: Jesus' Validation Jesus' Validation Jesus' Ministry - Mat 4:12-25 His Message - "Repent . . ." - Mat 4:12-17 Implicitly assumes God's existence. Implicitly assumes that God wants a relationship with you. Implicitly assumes that a relation with God must be on his terms. His Disciples ("Follow Me") - Mat 4:18-22 His Results - Mat 4:23-25 Follow Jesus! Study the Passage NIV Hebrew Study Bible KJV The Message NASB RSV Discover the Exegetical Idea Jesus wants people to follow him. Analyze the Exegetical Idea Explain It: What does this mean? Jesus called on people to change their way of life. Jesus called on people to rearrange their lives around him. Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it? The gospels are the authentic historical source documents for what Jesus said and did. Apply It: What difference does it make? So What? He said "follow me". This affects your entire life (it requires repentance). This can't be done casually. This is personal - Jesus invited people personally. Formulate the Homiletical Idea Follow Jesus. Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do) Follow Jesus Understand the Life Church Mission Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them. Love God with everything you've got. Genuinely love your neighbor. Take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom wherever you go. 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 - Importance of Corporate Worship 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 Introduction Transition Life Church vision is based on the vision of the River of Life found in Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Revelation 22:1-2. It is a vision of a revolutionary movement with these key elements: its people relate to God on his own terms by following his Son, Jesus christ, its people are known far and wide for living fruitful lives that nourish and heal their families, networks, and communities, it seeks and welcomes unchurched people who have been transformed by God's life and power into new followers of Jesus. One place where healing is needed is Haiti. Haiti earthquake Disasters don't correlate directly with judgement - Luke 13:1-5 It is hypocritical to highlight a supposed "pact with the devil" on the part of slaves yearning for freedom and to ignore the sin of the slave holders. We have to approach other cultures with humility. Biblical slave regulation - Deut 15:12-18; Deut 23:15-16; 1Tim 1:2-11 Many who call themselves Christians advocate against policies that would help the poor. Christians should be helping the poor. What kind of Christians are we going to be? How will we represent Jesus to the world around us? Churches often fail to equip saints with "tools for transmission". Nanny went home to be with the Lord on 12/7/2009. Eva and I had grandmothers who were Christians, but who weren't very successful in transmitting their faith in Christ to their children. Barna Research Article - Churches struggle to define spiritual maturity We want to equip you to transmit your faith in Christ, without transmitting unnecessary cultural baggage. To do this, let's take a look at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Read the Passage - Matthew 4:17-25 Exegetical Idea: Jesus wants people to follow him. Homiletical Idea: Follow Jesus! What does this mean? Jesus called on people to change their way of life. Jesus called on people to rearrange their lives around him. Four Life Principles: God exists. God wants to have a relationship with you. A relationship with God must be on his terms. God's terms are: follow Jesus! Is it True? Do I believe it? The gospels are the authentic historical source documents for what Jesus said and did. What difference does it make? So What? Jesus is God's approved representative. Introduced by John - Mat 3:1-12 Received God's approval after baptism - Mat 3:13-17 Was victorious in temptation - Mat 4:1-11 He said "follow me". This affects your entire life (it requires repentance). This can't be done casually. This is personal - Jesus invited people personally. Formulate the Homiletical Idea Follow Jesus. Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do) Follow Jesus Understand the Life Church Mission Love God with everything you've got. Genuinely love your neighbor. Take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom wherever you go. Follow Jesus How do I follow Jesus? Hear Jesus’ message: the gospel (i.e. good news). Believe the message. Act on the message. Put the message into practice in your life. Hear Jesus’ message: the gospel (i.e. good news). - Acts 2:22-36 Jesus is the Christ Jesus is the source of eternal life. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Believe the message. - Acts 2:37 Lord, liar, or lunatic? Act on the message. - Acts 2:38-41 Repent Be Baptized Be Filled With The Holy Spirit Identification Publicly With Jesus Commit To Start Growing Seek Relationship Over Rules Put the message into practice in your life. - Acts 2:42-47 Devote yourself to the Apostles' teaching. Devote yourself to fellowship. Large group Small group Devote yourself to the breaking of bread (i.e. The Lord's Supper). Devote yourself to prayer. Expect the supernatural. Share with your brothers and sisters. Praise God (i.e. worship). Understand the Life Church Mission Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them. Love God with everything you've got. Meeting together on Sundays Meeting together in small groups (i.e. life groups) Living rich and balanced lives together Genuinely love your neighbor. Meeting together on Sundays Meeting together in small groups (i.e. life groups) Living rich and balanced lives together Take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom wherever you go. Engage the people in your life and in your community. Identify social, political, and economic systems that are ripe for Kingdom influence. Be mature Establish godly habits. Turn godly habits into skills. Turn godly habits and skills into ministries. Conclusion ? Life Church Vision and Mission (Part 3) Preparation - Mark 12:28-34 Select the Passage - Mark 12:28-34 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. Study the Passage NIV Hebrew Study Bible KJV The Message NASB RSV Discover the Exegetical Idea God's highest priority for us is to love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors the way we love ourselves. Analyze the Exegetical Idea Explain It: What does this mean? Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength Intellect Emotions Will Love your neighbor the way you love yourself Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it? God expects us to "go all out" for him. Deuteronomy 4:25-29 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time — if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and provoking him to anger, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. Matthew 10:32-39 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Apply It: What difference does it make? So What? A relationship with God must be on his terms. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Everything is on the "one". Why shouldn't I love anyone else more than God? Anyone else whom you love will sometimes: act in ways that are not good for them. act in ways that are not good for others. Loving them will sometimes influence you inappropriately. Illustrations: Mike F. fighting off the EMTs who arrived to treat his brother for gunshot wounds. Me holding Sharon down for an IV at Children's Hospital. Me holding Sharon down for anesthesia. Why should I love God with everything? God is the only one who himself operates in perfect love. God already loves everyone that you love more than you do! God alone knows what's best for the other people you love. Why do I need to love God with my intellect? Why do I need to love God with my emotions? Why do I need to love God with my will? Love your neighbor the way you love yourself. Why? Because it's part of God's nature in you. - 1John 4:7-21 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. Jesus commands it - John 15:9-17 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. Why is this safe? God has your back His commands are not burdensome - 1John 5:1-5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Formulate the Homiletical Idea Love God with everything you've got and genuinely love your neighbor. Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do) Follow Jesus Love God with everything you've got. Genuinely love your neighbor. Take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom wherever you go. Embrace the Life Church Mission Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them. 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 - Importance of Corporate Worship 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 Introduction - Transition My experience with Course 5.41 freshman year and the flood of information in week 3. When you're learning new things you need a framework for organizing your information. Jesus was asked a question by one of the teachers of the law and he used his response as an opportunity to provide a framework for Kingdom life. Read the Passage - Mark 12:28-34 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. Exegetical Idea God's highest priority for us is to love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors the way we love ourselves. What does this mean? Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength These four aspects basically cover the whole map. Let's look at the map another way: intellect, emotions, will. Intellect Emotions Will Love your neighbor the way you love yourself. We love ourselves: We give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. We judge ourselves by our intentions, but others by their actions. - Dr. Edwin Louis Cole. We respect our own needs and desires. This should be our standard for loving our neighbors. Is it True? Do I believe it? Yes - God expects us to "go all out" for him in other passages. Deuteronomy 4:25-29 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time — if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and provoking him to anger, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Yes - Our love for God should exceed our love for others. Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What difference does it make? So What? A relationship with God must be on his terms. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Everything is on the "one". - James Brown & Parliament/Funkadelic Why shouldn't I love anyone else more than God? Anyone else whom you love will sometimes: act in ways that are not good for them. act in ways that are not good for others. Loving them will sometimes influence you inappropriately. Illustrations: Mike F. fighting off the EMTs who arrived to treat his brother for gunshot wounds. Me holding Sharon down for an IV at Children's Hospital. Me holding Sharon down for anesthesia. Why should I love God with everything? God is the only one who himself operates in perfect love. God already loves everyone that you love more than you do! God alone knows what's best for the other people you love. Why do I need to love God with my intellect? Why do I need to love God with my emotions? Why do I need to love God with my will? Love your neighbor the way you love yourself. Why? Because it's part of God's nature in you. - 1John 4:7-21 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. Jesus commands it - John 15:9-14 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. Why is this safe? God has your back His commands are not burdensome - 1John 5:1-5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Formulate the Homiletical Idea Love God with everything you've got and genuinely love your neighbor. This connects directly to our 4th life principle: God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. He wants you to love him back - he's relational! This is central to our mission. State the Life Church Mission Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them. How do I do this? State the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do) Love God with everything you've got. Genuinely love your neighbor. Love God with everything you've got. Meeting together on Sundays Meeting together in small groups (i.e. life groups) Living rich and balanced lives together Genuinely love your neighbor. Neighbors inside the church: Meeting together on Sundays Meeting together in small groups (i.e. life groups) Living rich and balanced lives together Neighbors outside the church: Valentines Day service opportunity Conclusion Next week we'll look at what it means to make mature followers of Jesus Christ and how we expand God's Kingdom. For now, let's take seriously the command to love God with everything we've got and to genuinely love our neighbor. New Material Preparation Expository Preaching Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers. Select the Passage Study the Passage NIV Hebrew Study Bible KJV The Message NASB RSV Discover the Exegetical Idea Subject Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why Complement Analyze the Exegetical Idea Explain It: What does this mean? Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it? Apply It: What difference does it make? So What? Formulate the Homiletical Idea Determine the Purpose of the Sermon Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose Make it plain Use accessible language and modern parables. Make sure people do something with God's message. Keep it simple. Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience. Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises. Outline the Sermon Life Church Vision and Mission (Part 4) Preparation - Hebrews 5:7 - 6:3 Select the Passage - Hebrews 5:7 - 6:3 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. Study the Passage NIV Hebrew Study Bible KJV The Message NASB RSV Discover the Exegetical Idea The audience is difficult to teach because they don't listen well. They should be teachers by now, but they are still beginners who haven't trained themselves to tell right from wrong; it's time for them to become mature. Analyze the Exegetical Idea Explain It: What does this mean? The audience was being tempted to turn away from Jesus and go back to trying to keep the traditional Hebrew law. The Letter to the Hebrews was written to try to set them straight. Jesus paid the price to be our high priest. This has many important implications that we need to understand. Slow to learn = sluggish listeners If we don't listen well we can't get beyond the beginner stage and eat regular food. Beginners aren't unskilled at righteousness. Mature people can handle regular food because they have trained themselves to tell right from wrong. Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it? Yes! As a new convert: I studied the material my pastor gave me. I memorized scripture. I read books about biblical subjects. I spent time with people who were spiritually ahead of me and tried to emulate them. Apply It: What difference does it make? So What? Babies are great unless they never grow up. Illustration - Rocky as a baby said "ghee"! You are responsible for moving forward to maturity. Repentance, faith in God, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement are all elementary teachings! Formulate the Homiletical Idea Let's grow up! Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do) Embrace God's call for us to mature. Understand the meaning of spiritual maturity. Adopt practices that lead to spiritual maturity. Embrace the Life Church Mission Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them. 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 - Importance of Corporate Worship 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 Introduction - Transition When you lend something to someone. Some people won't return your property if they run into problems. Car won't start. Can't get a ride. etc. Others will inconvenience themselves to return your property. They take responsibility. My experience with my admin. asst. taking messages from vendors. Her first approach was to give me a list of vendors to call back. I had to tell her that I didn't want to speak to them. She had to take responsibility. When you delegate a task: Some people want to hand every issue back to you for a decision. Others handle the details and produce the outcome you want. They take responsibility. Taking responsibility is important in normal times, and it's even more important during a crisis. The early Christians were no strangers to crises. The New Testament gives many examples of this. The Book of Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians facing a crisis of intense persecution. We're going to take a look at a passage from Hebrews to see what it has to say to us about taking responsibility Read the Passage - Hebrews 5:7 - 6:3 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. Exegetical Idea The audience is difficult to teach because they don't listen well. They should be teachers by now, but they are still beginners who haven't trained themselves to tell right from wrong; it's time for them to become mature. Homiletical Idea Let's grow up! What does this mean? The audience was being tempted to turn away from Jesus and go back to trying to keep the traditional Hebrew law. The Letter to the Hebrews was written to try to set them straight. Jesus paid the price to be our high priest. This has many important implications that we need to understand. Slow to learn = sluggish listeners If we don't listen well we can't get beyond the beginner stage and eat regular food. Beginners aren't unskilled at righteousness. Mature people can handle regular food because they have trained themselves to tell right from wrong. Solid food ("meat" in KJV) is not soteriology, christology, pneumatology or other expressions of complex theology. Solid food is when you let the Word identify areas of your life for you to work on and then consistently working on them ("constant use", "training"). Is it True? Do I believe it? Yes! As a new convert I learned to feed myself: I studied the material my pastor gave me. I memorized scripture. I read books about biblical subjects. I spent time with people who were spiritually ahead of me and tried to emulate them. What difference does it make? So What? Babies are great unless they never grow up. Illustration - Rocky as a baby said "ghee"! You are responsible for moving forward to maturity. Repentance, faith in God, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement are all elementary teachings! Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do) Embrace God's call for us to mature. Understand the meaning of spiritual maturity. Recognize obstacles to spiritual maturity. Adopt practices that lead to spiritual maturity. Embrace the Life Church Mission Embrace God's call for us to mature. What is spiritual maturity? Spiritual maturity is not: Spiritual maturity is not sinlessness Blamelessness (not sinlessness) - Gen 6:9; Gen 17:1 Spiritual maturity is not being a Bible expert Taking Responsibility For Your Own Growth Stability Producing a Crop Obstacles to Spiritual Maturity Misunderstanding what spiritual maturity is Focusing on life's worries, riches, and pleasures - Luke 8:4-15 Spiritual Consumerism Consumerism is part of our culture You will be fighting it until the day you die. Adopt practices that lead to spiritual maturity. Listen well - Hebrews 5:11; 6:7 Do something with what you hear. Illustration You can't hold a toothbrush in you hand and command your teeth to be clean in Jesus' name. Don't just hear the word; do what it says. - James 1:22-25 Take Responsibility For Your Growth Train yourself by practicing - Hebrews 5:11-14 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. Keep "brushing your teeth"! Press forward - Philip 3:10-15 Persevere through trials - James 1:2-4 Learning lifestyle vs. Entertainment lifestyle Stability - Ephesians 4:10-17; Colossians 4:12 Producing a Crop Fruitfulness through perseverance - Luke 8:4-15 Fruitfulness through staying in the vine - John 15:1-8 Three Phases Developing godly habits - staying in the vine Turning godly habits into skills - persevering, training yourself Combining godly habits and skills into your ministry - fruitfulness Embrace the Life Church Mission Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them. Take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom wherever you go. Engage the people in your life and in your community. Identify social, political, and economic systems that are ripe for Kingdom influence. Conclusion Remember what spiritual maturity is not: Spiritual maturity is not sinlessness Spiritual maturity is not being a Bible expert Remember what spiritual maturity is: Taking Responsibility For Your Own Growth Stability Producing a Crop Opportunities to take responsibility: Keep "brushing your teeth"! Listen - What did you hear this week? Practice - What are you working on this week? Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion Welcome Cards - refer to script Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26 “‘“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.”’ Men's Prayer Life Group Material Life Group Word Material These are sample discussion questions / topics. Your life group leaders may choose to adjust these questions, substitute new ones, or spend the Word section of the meeting in a different way altogether. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Hebrews 5:7 - 6:3 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. Discussion Questions / Topics: Are you living on milk or on solid food? Are you committed to growing spiritually? Discuss. Describe some of the ways that you have trained yourself to distinguish good from evil. Luke 8:4-15 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Discussion Questions / Topics: Which of these four kinds of soil best describes you today? Discuss. James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Discussion Questions / Topics: Are you persevering right now? If so, in what ways? Colossians 4:12-13 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Discussion Questions / Topics: How firmly have you been standing this past week, month, year? James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does. Discussion Questions / Topics: Do you merely listen to the Word or do you do what it says? Discuss. Life Group Witnessing Activities Key Questions Work as a team to develop some questions you can ask the unchurched people you know. The questions should meet the following criteria: Developing Your Questions They should be natural (i.e. you can ask them without feeling awkward). They should relate in someway to the person's life situation. They should be open-ended (i.e. not be simple "yes" or "no" questions. They should help to deepen your relationship. Using Your Questions Use the questions during this coming week and report back on the results. Scriptures For 01/31/2010 Life Church Sermon Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Hebrews 5:7 - 6:3 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. Luke 8:4-15 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Philippians 3:10-15 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Ephesians 4:10-17 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Colossians 4:12-13 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.