Spofford
Recapture Your Passion
Session 3
9/28/2013
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter ). (John 1:40-42 NIV)
Jesus changes Simon's name.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22 NIV)
Jesus gives his disciples a new calling in life.
Jesus redirects Peter's passion.
Jesus redirects his zeal for His Kingdom's purpose.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." (Matthew 16:13-17, 21-23 NIV)
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matthew 17:1-5 NIV)
Peter is the 1st one to always speak up. He is passionate, and often says foolish things.
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." "Truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:31-35 NIV)
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." (Luke 22:31-34 NIV)
Peter was aware of who Jesus was, and that Jesus loved him.
Jesus prays for Peter, that he will be transformed. Peter, despite all his passion, was not there yet.
We may have the same desire to please God.
Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:54-62 NIV)
Have we disappointed The Lord like Peter?
How do we move on from that?
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. (John 21:1-3 NIV)
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. (John 21:4-6 NIV)
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. (John 21:7-14 NIV)
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17 NIV)
Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" (John 21:18, 19 NIV)
Jesus did not give up on Peter even though he blew it.
Jesus will never change His disposition toward us. He will always love us despite our failings.
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Revelation 2:1-5 NIV)
Let us go back to the basics, loving Christ. It's not just about doing and accomplishing things. We need to recapture our passion of loving Jesus and being in His presence.
Are we taking Jesus for granted?
Saturate ourselves with the Word of God. Allow Him to renew our passion. If we blow it, don't run from Him but run toward Him. Let us be convicted rather than condemned.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Spofford
Spofford
Recapture Your Passion
Session 2
9/28/2013
A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, "You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines." (Judges 13:2-5 NIV)
God had a plan for Samson even before he was born.
Samson was consecrated to God as a Nazarite.
Nazarites took vows as a sign of commitment to God.
Big sin is often a result of accumulated "smaller" sins or bad decisions.
Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife." His father and mother replied, "Isn't there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me. She's the right one for me." (Judges 14:1-3 NIV)
Samson goes against the counsel of his parents and pursued what his heart desired.
Are we willing to listen to the counsel of others, who love us and are wiser than us?
One of the greatest things that we can have as brothers is an accountable partner. Someone who can tell us honestly about what is going on in our lives.
Everyone needs 3 people in their lives:
1. Paul - a mentor
2. Barnabas - a friend
3. Timothy - a men-tee
Are we investing ourselves into other people's lives?
The greatest resource in the church is the church.
Samson was led by what he saw, not by what he got.
What looks right in our eyes is often short-sighted.
Strive for holiness, not happiness, which appears like a mirage.
Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. (Judges 14:5 NIV)
Samson put himself into temptation by going to the vineyards as he was not supposed to drink.
What we justify today we will regret tomorrow.
The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. (Judges 14:6 NIV)
Samson covered up what he encountered.
When we try to hide something from others, we have to consider that we are doing something wrong.
Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion's carcass. (Judges 14:8, 9 NIV)
The honey itself was not unclean but once it touched the carcass, it became unclean, and Samson had to cover it up.
Ultimately Samson was a failure, but God's purposes were still fulfilled.
Samson's passion was confused and corrupted.
If our passion is misdirected, we will never completely fulfill our potential and God's purpose in our lives.
The church belongs in the community, not in a building.
Ask ourselves, "who am I investing in?"
Recapture Your Passion
Session 2
9/28/2013
A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, "You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines." (Judges 13:2-5 NIV)
God had a plan for Samson even before he was born.
Samson was consecrated to God as a Nazarite.
Nazarites took vows as a sign of commitment to God.
Big sin is often a result of accumulated "smaller" sins or bad decisions.
Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife." His father and mother replied, "Isn't there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me. She's the right one for me." (Judges 14:1-3 NIV)
Samson goes against the counsel of his parents and pursued what his heart desired.
Are we willing to listen to the counsel of others, who love us and are wiser than us?
One of the greatest things that we can have as brothers is an accountable partner. Someone who can tell us honestly about what is going on in our lives.
Everyone needs 3 people in their lives:
1. Paul - a mentor
2. Barnabas - a friend
3. Timothy - a men-tee
Are we investing ourselves into other people's lives?
The greatest resource in the church is the church.
Samson was led by what he saw, not by what he got.
What looks right in our eyes is often short-sighted.
Strive for holiness, not happiness, which appears like a mirage.
Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. (Judges 14:5 NIV)
Samson put himself into temptation by going to the vineyards as he was not supposed to drink.
What we justify today we will regret tomorrow.
The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. (Judges 14:6 NIV)
Samson covered up what he encountered.
When we try to hide something from others, we have to consider that we are doing something wrong.
Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion's carcass. (Judges 14:8, 9 NIV)
The honey itself was not unclean but once it touched the carcass, it became unclean, and Samson had to cover it up.
Ultimately Samson was a failure, but God's purposes were still fulfilled.
Samson's passion was confused and corrupted.
If our passion is misdirected, we will never completely fulfill our potential and God's purpose in our lives.
The church belongs in the community, not in a building.
Ask ourselves, "who am I investing in?"
Spofford
Spofford
Recapture Your Passion
Session 1
9/27/2013
The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive." (Judges 6:11-16 NIV)
Gideon is like us. We have our own insecurities.
God has given us a passion, a drive that propels us, to be part of something extraordinary.
Our God-given passion is connected to our a God-given potential that will help form our God-given purpose.
The enemy will do everything to distract us from this passion. He will try to limit our potential.
We are unique! There is nobody like us. God has a unique plan and purpose for us to accomplish great things for Him.
What are we most passionate about? Our passion defines our purpose.
I exist not for my glory but for His glory. Whose lives are we impacting?
We are a new creation in Christ. Are we settling for mediocre living?
What counterfeits are we chasing after? Our inmost need can only be satisfied by God alone. If we give a God our passion, He will unleash our potential to work His purpose to the fullest.
Recapture Your Passion
Session 1
9/27/2013
The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive." (Judges 6:11-16 NIV)
Gideon is like us. We have our own insecurities.
God has given us a passion, a drive that propels us, to be part of something extraordinary.
Our God-given passion is connected to our a God-given potential that will help form our God-given purpose.
The enemy will do everything to distract us from this passion. He will try to limit our potential.
We are unique! There is nobody like us. God has a unique plan and purpose for us to accomplish great things for Him.
What are we most passionate about? Our passion defines our purpose.
I exist not for my glory but for His glory. Whose lives are we impacting?
We are a new creation in Christ. Are we settling for mediocre living?
What counterfeits are we chasing after? Our inmost need can only be satisfied by God alone. If we give a God our passion, He will unleash our potential to work His purpose to the fullest.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
The Gospel: In Christ and in the Kingdom of God
The Gospel: In Christ and in the Kingdom of God
Pastor Jeff
9/15/2013
Christianity is not fundamentally an invitation to get more religious.
Who do you think you are?
1. The Gospel: deeper and broader.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV)
- we have NEW LIFE, in Christ
- we were spiritually dead (v 1-3), but God (v 4) made us alive in Christ (v 5-9) for good works (v 10)
- the Christian life is more than just an encounter or event, it is a process and a journey of transformation
There are 3 responses to God:
1. Irreligious
2. Religious
3. Gospel
- there is a tendency to revert back to religiosity even if we have accepted the Gospel
- is it God that we desire or e things that He gives us
- a disciple of Jesus is someone who is with Him, learning to be like Him
2. The invitation: in Christ and in His kingdom.
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:12, 13, 19-22 NIV)
- you can live your life in Christ and His Kingdom
- will we let Christ rule in every aspect of our life?
3. New identity.
- "A Christian is one who has God as Father." J.I. Packer.
Living in the Gospel means living in Christ and in His Kingdom.
Pastor Jeff
9/15/2013
Christianity is not fundamentally an invitation to get more religious.
Who do you think you are?
1. The Gospel: deeper and broader.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV)
- we have NEW LIFE, in Christ
- we were spiritually dead (v 1-3), but God (v 4) made us alive in Christ (v 5-9) for good works (v 10)
- the Christian life is more than just an encounter or event, it is a process and a journey of transformation
There are 3 responses to God:
1. Irreligious
2. Religious
3. Gospel
- there is a tendency to revert back to religiosity even if we have accepted the Gospel
- is it God that we desire or e things that He gives us
- a disciple of Jesus is someone who is with Him, learning to be like Him
2. The invitation: in Christ and in His kingdom.
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:12, 13, 19-22 NIV)
- you can live your life in Christ and His Kingdom
- will we let Christ rule in every aspect of our life?
3. New identity.
- "A Christian is one who has God as Father." J.I. Packer.
Living in the Gospel means living in Christ and in His Kingdom.
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