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Notes
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Introduction
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Bible Reading 3/21 - 3/27: Num 32:1 - Deut 8:20; Luke 4:31 - 8:3; Psalm 64:1 - 69:18; Proverbs 11:22 - 12:1
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Review
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Do It For God - Not For Show!
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Preparation - Matthew 6:1-18
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Select the Passage - Matthew 6:1-18
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“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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Alms (Giving) - Matthew 6:1-4
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Prayer - Matthew 6:5-15
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Fasting - Matthew 6:16-18
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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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Do good deeds for God's approval, not the public's.
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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The "big three" of Jewish piety:
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Charity, Prayer, Fasting
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Their importance causes them to be promoted by leaders.
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This, in turn, causes people to use them for status.
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We like the approval of others and we seek it out.
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What about letting our light shine? - Matthew 5:13-16
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Our goal should be praise for the Father - not praise for us.
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By seeking the approval of others we forfeit God's approval.
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Cuba Gooding in "Jerry McGuire": grandstanding vs. his team.
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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God saves us so that he will be the focus of our attention.
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Jesus' food was to do the Father's will. - John 4:31-34
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Some other verse about prioritizing God?
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When we direct our behavior at someone else we are demonstrating that our relationship with God is not our priority.
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Introducing R. as Dr. Poussaint's niece: status over relationship.
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Me trying to triple major: status over true learning.
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Me defending traditional doctrines as a new convert.
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Examples
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Charity as a form of public relations
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Religious praying in church
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Religious fasting in church
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Typical Easter behavior - clothes, etc.
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Gospel music - Everybody wants to look spiritual so that they can tap into the money from the gospel audience.
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Man at revival who looked around before "falling out".
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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"Be careful not to . . ." - Matthew 6:1
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You are in danger of losing your reward!
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If you want it to count with God then do it for God!
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Human approval is ultimately worthless - 1Corinthians 3:10-15
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Only a genuine relationship saves! - Matthew 7:21-24
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Jesus made the Father his audience. - John 5:24-47
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The world can see our hypocrisy.
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It makes us like the Pharisees - Matthew 23:1-39
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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Do it for God - not for show!
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
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Deal with your own religious approval-seeking:
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Recognize and acknowledge your own desire in this area.
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Recognize and acknowledge your own behavior in this area.
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Repent by sabotaging your human approval-seeking behavior!
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Make God your primary audience.
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Come correct!
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Give out of love for the needy.
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Pray to connect with God - not to impress others.
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Fast to align yourself with God's will - not to impress 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 - Importance of Corporate Worship
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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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Announcement
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Pastoral Leadership meeting at 1PM at Clarke Home.
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Introduction
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Top Secret - From the Movie "Pearl Harbor":
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Alec Baldwin: “Do you know what top secret means?”
Ben Affleck: “Yes sir. It’s the kind of mission where you get medals, but they give them to your relatives.”
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Are you prepared to execute a mission without enjoying the glory?
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Saul and the Amalekites
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What does the Bible say about our desire for glory and/or approval?
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Read the Passage - Matthew 6:1-18
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|
|
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
|
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Alms (Giving) - Matthew 6:1-4
|
|
|
|
Prayer - Matthew 6:5-15
|
|
|
|
Fasting - Matthew 6:16-18
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea: Do good deeds for God's approval, not the public's.
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea: Do it for God - not for show!
|
|
|
|
What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
The "big three" of Jewish piety:
|
|
|
|
Charity, Prayer, Fasting
|
|
|
|
Their importance causes them to be promoted by leaders.
|
|
|
|
This, in turn, causes people to use them for status.
|
|
|
|
We like the approval of others and we seek it out.
|
|
|
|
What about letting our light shine? - Matthew 5:13-16
|
|
|
|
Our goal should be praise for the Father - not praise for us.
|
|
|
|
By seeking the approval of others we forfeit God's approval.
|
|
|
|
Cuba Gooding in "Jerry McGuire": grandstanding vs. his team.
|
|
|
|
Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
God saves us so that he will be the focus of our attention.
|
|
|
|
Jesus' food was to do the Father's will. - John 4:31-34
|
|
|
|
Some other verse about prioritizing God?
|
|
|
|
When we direct our behavior at someone else we are demonstrating that our relationship with God is not our priority.
|
|
|
|
Introducing R. as Dr. Poussaint's niece: status over relationship.
|
|
|
|
Me trying to triple major: status over true learning.
|
|
|
|
Me defending traditional doctrines as a new convert.
|
|
|
|
Examples
|
|
|
|
Charity as a form of public relations
|
|
|
|
Religious praying in church
|
|
|
|
Religious fasting in church
|
|
|
|
Typical Easter behavior - clothes, etc.
|
|
|
|
Gospel music - Everybody wants to look spiritual so that they can tap into the money from the gospel audience.
|
|
|
|
Man at revival who looked around before "falling out".
|
|
|
|
What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
"Be careful not to . . ." - Matthew 6:1
|
|
|
|
You are in danger of losing your reward!
|
|
|
|
If you want it to count with God then do it for God!
|
|
|
|
Human approval is ultimately worthless - 1Corinthians 3:10-15
|
|
|
|
Only a genuine relationship saves! - Matthew 7:21-24
|
|
|
|
Jesus made the Father his audience. - John 5:24-47
|
|
|
|
The world can see our hypocrisy.
|
|
|
|
It makes us like the Pharisees - Matthew 23:1-39
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea: Do it for God - not for show!
|
|
|
|
Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
|
|
|
|
Deal with your own religious approval-seeking:
|
|
|
|
Make God your primary audience.
|
|
|
|
Come correct!
|
|
|
|
Give out of love for the needy.
|
|
|
|
Pray to connect with God - not to impress others.
|
|
|
|
Fast to align yourself with God's will - not to impress others.
|
|
|
|
Deal with your own religious approval-seeking:
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|
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|
Know the difference between seeking God's approval and man's
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We always play to some audience:
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Pleasing your parents vs. pleasing your friends.
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Pleasing your teacher vs. pleasing your classmates.
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Pleasing your boss vs. pleasing your coworkers.
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Politicians seem to constantly play to an audience.
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Picture yourself on stage.
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Who's in the audience - God, people, or both?
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When you read your lines who are you facing?
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Who's going to get the glory?
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When you're seeking God's approval he gets the glory.
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When you're seeking man's approval you get the glory.
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Recognize and acknowledge your own desire and behavior in this area.
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Do you seek places of honor when being seated?
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Are you eager for a title?
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Shriners: Grand Potentate, Grand Scribe, Chief Rabban, High Priest & Prophet
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Church: Doctor, Bishop, Prophet / Prophetess, Apostle
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You need other brothers and sisters in your life to help you with this!
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Be accountable in this area.
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Repent!
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Sabotage your human approval-seeking behavior.
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Be accountable in your repentance.
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Make God your primary audience.
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Talk to God. Develop your relationship with him.
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The closer you get to God the less you'll want to impress others.
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One "attaboy" from God beats several "attaboys" from anyone else.
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You have to be close to God to hear the "attaboy".
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Come correct!
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Give out of love for the needy.
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The purpose of giving is to love the recipient, not to create a fan club.
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Do you gain status because of your giving? - James 2:1-13
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Pray to connect with God - not to impress others.
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Prayer is for relating to God, not impressing an audience.
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Do people who hear you pray say: "Don't call on me to pray because I could never pray like that!"
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Fast to align yourself with God's will - not to impress others.
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Fasting is for focusing on God, not impressing others.
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Do you somehow find yourself discussing the fact that you're fasting?
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Conclusion
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Be willing to serve others in obscurity.
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Give in secret.
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Pray privately
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Spend most of your prayer time away from the public.
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When in public pray simply so listeners will say: "I can do that!".
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Fast privately.
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Allow followers of Jesus to speak into your life in this area.
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Story about Bishop's friend: "He left you didn't he?"
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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
|
|
|
|
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
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|
|
|
Mo Money Mo Problems
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Preparation - Matthew 6:19-34
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Select the Passage - Matthew 6:9-34
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Study the Passage
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|
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|
NIV
|
|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
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|
NASB
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|
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RSV
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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Store up treasure in heaven instead of on earth.
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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How does storing treasure on earth affect us? - Matthew 6:19-21
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Possessions on earth need protection and maintenance, so it forces you to focus your attention earthward.
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Treasure in heaven needs neither protection nor maintenance, so you know it will all be there for you when you arrive.
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Our hearts will be drawn to wherever we store up treasure.
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We should store up treasure in heaven instead.
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How can we store up treasure in heaven? - Matthew 6:22-23
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Jesus' practical tip: Have "good eyes".
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Context: this text sits between two passages about money.
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"If your eyes are good . . ." (Jewish idiom) - Matthew 6:22-23
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"Good eyes" vs. "bad eyes": generous vs. stingy
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Store treasure in heaven by being generous rather than stingy.
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"The eye is the lamp of the body" - Jesus links two metaphors
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"good eyes" - generosity
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"good eyes" - light for the body
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Generosity makes us sources of light instead of darkness.
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What kind of choice are we being asked to make?
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storing treasure on earth vs. storing treasure in heaven
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good eyes vs. bad eyes
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body full of light vs. body full of darkness
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Matthew 6:24
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Storing treasure ultimately makes you a slave either way.
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You can be a slave to God or money but not both.
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Jesus' practical tip: Don't worry
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God is your daddy and he's "got you".
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Worry is incompatible with serving God (it's what pagans do).
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Worry keeps us from maturing - Mat 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
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Seek God's Kingdom first.
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God doesn't deal well with second place -
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No other gods - Ex 20:1-6
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Give God the best of the first - Ex 23:19; Ex 34:26
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It's about giving what God wants, not getting what we want.
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Your money
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Take God's portion out of your account ASAP.
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"Complete Business" - a business with boundaries.
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Your possessions
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Your time
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Your relationships
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Your goals
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Yes - God has taken care of us personally.
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Key Bible References
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Parable of the rich fool - Luke 12:13-21
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Danger of pursuing riches - 1Timothy 6:3-10
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Command those who are rich - 1Timothy 6:17-18
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Other references
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Lazarus and the rich man - Luke 16:19-31
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Rich will fade away - James 1:9-11
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Listen you rich people - James 5:1-6
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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Don't worry!
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Seek God's Kingdom first!
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea: Mo Money Mo Problems
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I don't know what, they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
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Stop storing up treasure on earth.
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Start/keep storing up treasure in heaven.
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Be generous.
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Stop worrying about stuff.
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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 - Importance of Corporate Worship
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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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Introduction
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Palm Sunday: Jesus' triumphal entry to Jerusalem - Matthew 21:1-11
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Read the Passage - Matthew 6:9-24
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“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
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Exegetical Idea: Store up treasure in heaven instead of on earth.
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Homiletical Idea: Mo Money Mo Problems
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Notorious B.I.G. (featuring Mase, Puff Daddy) 1997
I don't know what, they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
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What does this mean?
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How does storing treasure on earth affect us? - Matthew 6:19-21
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Possessions on earth need protection and maintenance, so it forces you to focus your attention earthward.
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Treasure in heaven needs neither protection nor maintenance, so you know it will all be there for you when you arrive.
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Our hearts will be drawn to wherever we store up treasure.
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We should store up treasure in heaven instead.
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How can we store up treasure in heaven? - Matthew 6:22-23
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Jesus' practical tip: Have "good eyes".
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Context: this text sits between two passages about money.
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"If your eyes are good . . ." (Jewish idiom) - Matthew 6:22-23
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"Good eyes" vs. "bad eyes": generous vs. stingy
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Store treasure in heaven by being generous rather than stingy.
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"The eye is the lamp of the body" - Jesus links two metaphors
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"good eyes" - generosity
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"good eyes" - light for the body
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Generosity makes us sources of light instead of darkness.
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What kind of choice are we being asked to make?
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storing treasure on earth vs. storing treasure in heaven
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good eyes vs. bad eyes
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body full of light vs. body full of darkness
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Matthew 6:24
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Storing treasure ultimately makes you a slave either way.
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You can be a slave to God or money but not both.
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Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Yes - God has taken care of us personally.
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Key Bible References
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Parable of the rich fool - Luke 12:13-21
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Danger of pursuing riches - 1Timothy 6:3-10
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Command those who are rich - 1Timothy 6:17-18
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Other references
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Lazarus and the rich man - Luke 16:19-31
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Rich will fade away - James 1:9-11
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Listen you rich people - James 5:1-6
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What difference does it make? So What?
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Don't worry!
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Seek God's Kingdom first!
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Transition - What have we learned?
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Insight about "treasure":
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Storing it on earth focuses our hearts on material things.
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Storing it in heaven (though generosity) sets our hearts on heaven.
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By being generous we store up treasure in heaven
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All this "treasure" business raises the issue of who or what we will serve.
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Read the Passage - Matthew 6:25-34
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“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
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Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
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Stop storing up treasure on earth.
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Start/keep storing up treasure in heaven.
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Be generous.
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Stop worrying about stuff.
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Stop storing up treasure on earth.
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Jacuzzi Tubs - installed and underutilized
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Start/keep storing up treasure in heaven.
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Be generous
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Stop worrying about stuff.
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Jesus' practical tip: Don't worry
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God is your daddy and he's "got you".
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Worry is incompatible with serving God (it's what pagans do).
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Worry keeps us from maturing - Mat 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
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Seek God's Kingdom first.
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God doesn't deal well with second place -
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No other gods - Ex 20:1-6
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Give God the best of the first - Ex 23:19; Ex 34:26
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It's about giving what God wants, not getting what we want.
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Your money
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Take God's portion out of your account ASAP.
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"Complete Business" - a business with boundaries.
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Your possessions
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Your time
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Your relationships - Invest in the community of God's people
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Your goals
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Conclusion
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Mo Money Mo Problems
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Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion ?
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Welcome Cards - refer to script
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Worship Team
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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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Life Group Material
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Life Group Word Material
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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.
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Matthew 6:9-34
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“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
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Discussion Questions / Topics:
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Are you storing up treasures on earth and/or in heaven? How so?
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Are your eyes good or bad (i.e. are you generous or stingy)? Discuss.
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What hinders you from seeking the Kingdom first? What helps you?
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Are you seeking the Kingdom first, or just the King? Discuss.
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1Timothy 6:3-10
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If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
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Discussion Questions / Topics:
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What does this passage say about wanting and/or loving money"?
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What is God saying to you about your relationship with money?
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Life Group Witnessing Activities
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Key Passage - Matthew 5:13-16
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“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
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Activities
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Pick a partner with whom you can work on being salt and light in the world around you for the next month. Tell your life group whom it is.
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Pray regularly with your partner for God to show the two of you some places and ways that you can use your gifts and resources to do good.
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Get together with your partner to act on what God shows you.
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Scriptures For 03/28/2010 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.
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As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
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“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
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Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg — I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
“‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’
“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’
“‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.
“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.
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If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
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Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
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