"What's Important to Us- Compassionate Service" (Core Value 3)
July 27, 2014
Pastor Jeff
We give ourselves to COMPASSIONATE SERVICE -
Responding to the grace of God we have experienced by loving our neighbors, serving those in our church, our communities, and the world.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:39-40 NIV)
A. What is Compassionate Service?
Stands on the 2nd commandment. Matt 22:39
2 parts:
1. Beneficial service to others.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:13-14 NIV)
2. Assistance and care to those in need.
(Parable of the Good Samaritan) Luke 10:
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27 He answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
B. Why?
Responding to the grace of God.
2 big works of grace:
1. The Exodus
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:17-19 NIV)
Deuteronomy 24:
14 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. 15 Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.
16 Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.
17 Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.
19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NIV)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
...
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.
...
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, 4-5, 8-10 NIV)
Grace of God we have experienced
Work of Jesus Christ + faith in Jesus Christ = salvation and good works
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV)
C. How?
- Giving
- Ourselves
Context: 4 channels of mercy:
1. Family
2. Local church
3. Voluntary organizations - "mission societies"
4. State
Arcs of concern:
1. Immediate family
2. Church family
3. Neighborhood or nearby community
4. World
Key principles:
- look close before looking far; start with family, close friends, neighbors...
- stop, look and listen; see what God is doing around you
Responding:
- (re-)affirm this value for yourself, for our church
- begin where you are - circles of concern
- compassion begins at home
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
"What's Important to Us?" Lives of Worship
"What's Important to Us?" Lives of Worship (core value 2)
7/20/2014
Pastor Miles
Old German proverb: the main thing is to make sure that the main thing remains the main thing.
We live lives of worship -
Believing that God is worthy of worship for who He is and what He has done for us, loving God by honoring Him in our lives, declaring adoration and praise, serving Him faithfully, being devoted to Christ.
1. What is worship?
Worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done for us.
We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV)
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11 NIV)
Worship is worth-ship, honoring God because He is worthy.
In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5:12 NIV)
2. What does it mean to love a life of worship?
By honoring Him in (all areas of) our lives, declaring adoration and praise, serving Him faithfully, being devoted to Christ.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (Colossians 3:23 NIV)
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44 NIV)
Sunday morning is a rehearsal and reflection of what we should be doing the rest of the week (and the rest of our lives).
APPLICATION
- commit to corporate worship every Sunday
- commit to private worship every day
- plan to worship as a family
- commit yourself to a life of worship
Lionel
7/20/2014
Pastor Miles
Old German proverb: the main thing is to make sure that the main thing remains the main thing.
We live lives of worship -
Believing that God is worthy of worship for who He is and what He has done for us, loving God by honoring Him in our lives, declaring adoration and praise, serving Him faithfully, being devoted to Christ.
1. What is worship?
Worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done for us.
We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV)
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11 NIV)
Worship is worth-ship, honoring God because He is worthy.
In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5:12 NIV)
2. What does it mean to love a life of worship?
By honoring Him in (all areas of) our lives, declaring adoration and praise, serving Him faithfully, being devoted to Christ.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (Colossians 3:23 NIV)
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44 NIV)
Sunday morning is a rehearsal and reflection of what we should be doing the rest of the week (and the rest of our lives).
APPLICATION
- commit to corporate worship every Sunday
- commit to private worship every day
- plan to worship as a family
- commit yourself to a life of worship
Lionel
Sunday, July 6, 2014
"What's Important to Us?" Biblical Faithfulness
"What's Important to Us?" Biblical Faithfulness
Pastor Miles
July 6, 2014
Core Value #1: We are committed to Biblical Faithfulness -
Believing that the Bible is the Word of God, submitting to it as the ultimate guide and final authority on all matters to which it speaks.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
1. The Bible is important to us because of what it is.
All Scripture is breathed out (INSPIRED) by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV)
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15-16 ESV)
2. The Bible is important to us because of what it does.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and PROFITABLE (USEFUL) for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Ephesians 6:17 ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9, 11 ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105 ESV)
But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4 ESV)
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23-25 ESV)
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— (1 Peter 2:2 ESV)
3. We submit ourselves to the scriptures.
We are committed to Biblical Faithfulness - Believing that the Bible is the Word of God, submitting to it as the ultimate guide and final authority on all matters to which it speaks.
Pastor Miles
July 6, 2014
Core Value #1: We are committed to Biblical Faithfulness -
Believing that the Bible is the Word of God, submitting to it as the ultimate guide and final authority on all matters to which it speaks.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
1. The Bible is important to us because of what it is.
All Scripture is breathed out (INSPIRED) by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV)
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15-16 ESV)
2. The Bible is important to us because of what it does.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and PROFITABLE (USEFUL) for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Ephesians 6:17 ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9, 11 ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105 ESV)
But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4 ESV)
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23-25 ESV)
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— (1 Peter 2:2 ESV)
3. We submit ourselves to the scriptures.
We are committed to Biblical Faithfulness - Believing that the Bible is the Word of God, submitting to it as the ultimate guide and final authority on all matters to which it speaks.
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