07-10-16 REMIX: day by day!

Scripture     2 Corinthians 4:7-18

INTRODUCTION

REMIX = a new or different version of a recorded song (slide 1) that is made by changing or adding to the original recording of the song. // A remix is a piece of media which has been altered from its original state by adding, removing, and/or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, or photograph can all be remixes. The only characteristic of a remix is that it appropriates and changes other materials to create something new.

REMIX is a great way of looking at discipleship. Once you have become a Christian the bible says (slide 2) 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! After that then what? When you have been a Christian for 5 or 50 years, then what? As humans, from Infancy to teen years we are always growing and changing physically – then the 20’s plateau then the 40’s hit and we begin to see decline and eventual death. Is that how the spiritual life should be? NO Once we start growing and maturing in Christ our growth should NEVER stop or decline. Then why does it so often seem to do just that? Because we don’t do a day by day REMIX.

          How do we do a Day by day REMIX?  The song from Godspell titled “Day by day” gives a simplified answer:

song: DAY BY DAY (slide 3)

Day by day, Day by day, Oh, Dear Lord Three things I pray
1)    To see thee more clearly
2)    Love thee more dearly
3)    Follow thee more nearly
Day by day

To see thee more clearly

Open your eyes and ears

Know who Jesus is by reading the Bible. Best place to start – Gospel of John – then Ephesians

The OT speaks of Jesus as well. (If Jesus, speaking in the NT mentions “scriptures” what part of the bible is he talking about? OT Let’s see what he says about himself in the OT - (slide 4) John 5:39-40 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.

Study & Prayer  (ACTS 2:42)

Love thee more dearly

Exercise your heart and mind

All of life should involve worship – since we aren’t good at that God gave us instructions to practice Sabbath – once a week to focus solely on Him – How important is weekly church participation? (slide 5) Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. Not only worship but fellowship – being together for Christ’s sake:

(slide 6) Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Worship & Fellowship

Follow thee more nearly

Move your hands and feet

This church serves the underprivledged. This church serves the world through American Baptist Mission work in

Africa, Albania, Angola, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia-

Herzegovina,  Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Asia, Chile, China, Costa  Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba

Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia,

France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Haiti, Holland, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary,  Caribbean, India, Indonesia,

Italy, Jamaica, Republic of Georgia, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Sudan,

Southeast Asia, Spain, Sudan, Thailand, Tibet, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Your work, school, family, neighborhood is where your hands and feet are needed most – God wants you to bloom where you are planted.

Service and Mission

2 Cor 4:7-18

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (A clay jar is very fragile – easy to break, but can hold iron or gold – things with great strength or exceptional VALUE.) (slide 7)  1 Cor 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair;

persecuted, but not abandoned;

struck down, but not destroyed.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. (The theme of death and resurrection are played over and over again in us)

          13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

          16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (Glasses at 42 I realized that outwardly I was wasting away while reading the bible being renewed inwardly) 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  (slide 8) (SEE THEE MORE CLEARLY – LOVE THEE MORE DEARLY – FOLLOW THEE MORE NEARLY – When? (slide 9) DAY BY DAY!)

CALL TO RESPOND

          Are you ready to commit to a daily REMIX to see/love/follow Jesus? Then live in this hope:  (Music start – Praise team make your way forward)

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair;

persecuted, but not abandoned;

struck down, but not destroyed.

Ashland Church always carries around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

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SCRIPTURE READING DURING WORSHIP

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.