11-24-19 Thankful for worship

Scripture:    Luke 6:46-49

I am more thankful for Nov 4, 1974 than I am Aug 23, 1959.

Aug 23, 1959 I was born – Nov. 4, 1974 I was reborn.

The event on Nov. 4, 1974 would not have happened without the event that happened on Aug 23, 1959.

Let’s look at it – Richard and Phyllis Cooper were both born in 1928. She grew up in Oak Harbor then Toledo, he grew up in Toledo. They met at Divilbus high school, dated, fell in love, went to the University of Toledo where she graduated while he worked for Jeep and then got involved with rainbow sweepers selling them door to door eventually moving to Columbus where he became a regional supervisor – they had two sons and hit a rough patch in their marriage. Another woman gave birth a few weeks before their second child was born and Richard was the father of that child too. For most people that would have ended it but she decided to stay and try and make things work. Things still did not work well, but they did give birth to a third son, Jeffrey Kramb Cooper on Aug 23, 1959 after 3 days of labor and less than 3 years later, they would divorce.

I would say my birth is somewhat of a miracle – not physically – but the fact that my mother, an educated woman, stayed with my father and had another child seems like a miracle to me. So, am I thankful for my birth? Am I thankful for the parents God gave me? Am I thankful I was born into a situation I knew very little about till after my father passed away? Am I thankful that I grew up in a place and time where other people’s parents also looked out for you, and prayed for you because they knew your family did not attend church? I am absolutely thankful for all of that. I thank God for every part of my story. It is exactly because of my story that it led me to be in the right place at the right time when Jesus spoke my name and I responded to His invitation to accept him as my Lord and Savior on Nov. 4, 1974.

My rebirth was filled with an even worse story, but the bad parts of that story happened 2000 years prior when Jesus had to hang on a cross and die for my sins, so I wouldn’t have too. Therefore, I am even more thankful for my rebirth on Nov 4, 1974 than for my birth on Aug 23, 1959.

Thankful for kim – my family etc.

2 Corinthians 4:15

 Chapter Parallel Compare

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.

11-17-19 What are you becoming?

Scripture:    Luke 6:46-49

All He wants is all of you!

BECOMING

          Ministry should provide building blocks for discipleship, becoming the person God wants us to be.

           "I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built."  Luke 6:47-48

Luke 6:46-49

 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete."

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

This verse is not about salvation – it is for the already believer. It is for the one who calls Jesus Lord.

Jesus asks a straight forward question: Why do you call me Lord? LORD?

Kyrio – kyrios = Lord -  a person exercising absolute ownership rights

When we come to Jesus we voluntarily give him absolute ownership rights. When the owner of the car turns the wheel to the right – the car turns right – it does not one day decide, the owner is turning the wheel right but I think I will just go straight ahead then veer left. So, Jesus is right to ask of us = all who take the wheel away from him = why in the world, if we have given him absolute ownership rights, are we steering our life in a different direction?  We need to join Carrie Underwood and say “Jesus take the wheel”

          Let’s look at how God acts compared to how we act. God is right in his inner being (the essence of who He is) which determines His outer works – the things He does. We are fallen, flawed, broken on the inside and out works reflect that. The only way we can change is to know who we are now on the inside and then let that live out of us. But, like the dog returns to its vomit, so we return to our former ways denying the very power and the Lordship of the one who is in us.

          God’s being determines His good works. Now that God is in us, we must learn to do good works. For instance – if you hate your enemy – you have not learned that God is in you with the power of love over hate. Therefore, you can exercise a behavior that shows you have God at work in you by praying for your enemy – it’s a start.

          When you do what God says to do by His power now in you, then you are BECOMING a disciple – the person God wants you to be. Salvation is automatic and free – Discipleship – “becoming” requires sacrifice and energy. If you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you’ve always got and your workmanship will be brought to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.  Because you are saved does not automatically make you a disciple of Jesus – one who is becoming all God wants him to be.

THE ONE WHO DOES NOT DO WHAT GOD SAYS

49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete." We see those images on TV every time there is a flood – you are saved and so think your life is protected by the Dam. But when the waters rise, the dam can break, and your house can face destruction. Have you ever helped clean up a city after a flood (Cincinnati)? It sticks, everything is destroyed including lives. So, it is for the person who says Lord, Lord but does no do what he says.

THE ONE WHO DOES DO WHAT GOD SAYS

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

FULLY AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW

“One afternoon author Patsy Clairmont found herself on an airplane, sitting next to a young man. She writes, ‘I had already observed something about this young man when I was being seated. He called me ‘Ma’am.’ at the time I thought, ‘Either he thinks I’m ancient, or he’s from the South where they still teach manners, or he’s in the service. I decided the latter was the most likely, so I asked, ‘You in the service?’  ‘Yes, Ma’am, I am.’

‘What branch?’  ‘Marines.’

‘Hey, Marine, where are you coming from?’  Operation desert Storm, Ma’am.’

‘No kidding? Desert Storm! How long were you there?’ ‘A year and a half.’ I’m on the way home. My family will be at the airport.

I then commented that he must have thought about returning to his family and home many times while he was in the Middle East.

‘Oh, no, Ma’am, he replied. ‘We were taught never to think of what might never be, but to be fully available right where we were.’”

Patsy commented about her experience:

Wow! What commitment that this soldier had to the military and what his commanders told him. I couldn’t help but think about the soldiers last words here, “to be fully available right where we were.” Could you imagine the difference Christians could make if they made that same commitment? The commitment to be fully available right where we are, right where we are placed. Too many Christians spend time wishing they were in a different place or in a different position instead of making the commitment to be fully available right where they are. God has placed us where we are for a reason. And when He is Lord in our life we are fully available to Him for whatever purpose He may have for us, great and amazing things will happen.

What are you – no – what are WE becoming? Fully Available Disciples of Jesus Christ to build an inspired community that creatively and compassionately reaches out to connect people to Jesus Christ.

11-10-19 To whom do you belong?

Scripture:  1 Peter 2:4-9

BELONGING

          Ministry should help a person develop a sense of belonging with individuals and with the church as a whole. Participation in ministry is one of the best means for developing a sense of belonging.

          “As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9

I have belonged to the Georgian Heights baseball club, Georgian Heights Football club, the Georgian Heights neighborhood friends, the Western Lanes Bowling League, the Wedgewood Audio Visual club, the Wedgewood Student Council, the Wedgewood concert band, the West high presidents council, all the bands, choir, bell choir, drama club, pep club, Hilcrest Baptist Church, Hillcrest Baptist Youth Fellowship, Hillcrest prayer group and Bible studies, Sr. High Sunday School class, ABC/Ohio BYF State board, and a great group of high school friend both churched and unchurched.  And that is just to list a few things that I have belonged to and that is also just through high school. I can’t imagine how long the list would be if I went through all 60 years.

What are a couple things you have belonged to throughout your life that stick out to you as most important or memorable?  Gather in groups of about 4 and share with each other your responses to that question.

I think there are three kinds of things we can belong to:

1 Vocational things – College, work, anything related to what we do for a living.

2 Clubs and Organizations – Sports, Arts & Crafts, Church, official organization you voluntarily join and are a part of.

3 Affinity Groups – Friends, these likely change throughout your life depending on how mobile you are -if you move a lot you will have more friends but not as many close life-long friends. Any group that has shared values and experiences.

4 – Actually we left out a 4^th kind of group we belong to – our family.  Most of this is given to us and some of it is chosen (Spouse, adoption).

When we talk about belonging to the church – which of those four categories are we talking about? I think all 4. I am here because of my vocation. I did not come because a friend invited me to church. Some may belong because the like being a part of organizations. Others like the way we do church and have found an affinity with others here. And certainly, there are those who see others at church more like family – you have been through thick and thin together. If we believe we want everyone to feel like family – it seems like that can only come with time – or is it possible to make people like family right away – let’s come back to that after we look closely at the scripture.

(1 Peter 2:4-5) Coming to Jesus.

As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Interesting how often Scripture labels Jesus then calls us by the same title. Jesus is the light of the world – Jesus calls us the light of the world. He is the vine, we are the branches (the vine is a branch as well). He is a living stone, now we are also called living stones.

What is a living stone? Stones don’t live or move or breathe – they are inanimate objects but in that day were the prime material for building. That was the easiest material to find – today you pay big money for a house made out of stone. The bible refers to Jesus as a Rock – but here he is a LIVING STONE. The structure built with Living Stones is a Living Structure – spiritual, not just material. And we too. Like Jesus are living stones being build into a spiritual house – one that supersedes the glory of the temple in Jerusalem.

 a. Coming to Him as to a living stone: Peter’s picture here is that God is building a spiritual temple (a spiritual house) using living stones (Christians), those who have come to the ultimate living stone (Jesus).

This spiritual house shows that as much as Israel had a temple, Christians also have one. Yet the Christian’s temple is spiritual, and they themselves are the temple.

          God’s people worshipped at the Tabernacle (a mobile house of God and could not wait to be in a single permanent location – but not everyone had ability to get to Jerusalem to the Temple.  Now God says YOU are the church (not the building) and God wants his church to reach every nook and cranny of the world, so His temple is more mobile than ever…through us – his living stones.

But even living stones are of no use unless they occupy their proper place in His building”

b. Chosen by God and precious: As much as God chose Israel, so the church is also chosen. As much as Israel had a priesthood, so Christians are a holy priesthood. And as much as Israel had sacrifices, so Christians offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

A holy priesthood: The believer is his own priest before God. He does not need any mediator except his great High Priest, Jesus. “There can no longer be an elite priesthood with claims of special access to God, or special privileges in worship or in fellowship with God.”

Peter’s idea isn’t that God has abandoned Israel or that they have no place in His redemptive plan, but that Christianity is in no way inferior to Judaism.

To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ: God does the work of building (being built), but we do the job of offering sacrifices pleasing to Him, as we come to Jesus as who we are – living stones, made by Him. Romans 12:1 Living Sacrifices

Even a living stone cannot build something great for God as it sits all on its own. What God does in us together is important. He is building something out of us together.

We can only serve as priests as we do it through Jesus Christ. In ourselves, we have no priestly authority, but only in Jesus.

(1 Peter 2:9) The privileged place of God’s people.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

a. But you are a chosen generation: The things that once exclusively belonged to Israel – their election (chosen), priesthood, and calling are now no longer the property of Israel alone. These are now the property of every Christian, and we have them in a greater and spiritual sense.

We are a royal priesthood. The offices of royalty and priesthood were jealously separated in Israel. But Jesus, who is our King and Priest, has brought them together for His people.

b. His own special people: We are special because we belong to God. A museum may be filled with quite ordinary things: hats, canes, shoes, and so forth; but they may be significant because they once belonged to someone famous. God takes ordinary people; and because He works in them, they are special.

These same titles were applied to Israel (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 4:20, Deuteronomy 7:6, and Isaiah 43:20-21). Now in Jesus we belong to God as His own special people.

“The description of the Church is systematic and exhaustive. It is a race, and this suggests its life principle. It is a priesthood, and so has right of access to God. It is a nation, and so is under His government. It is a possession, and so is actually indwelt by Him.” (Morgan)

c. That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: The purpose for these high privileges is not so we can grow proud, but so that we can proclaim the praises of Him who has done such great things for us.

It is true that believers have a new life principle (chosen generation), a new access to God (royal priesthood), a new government (holy nation), and a new owner (His own special people)

Now we have examined the scripture - If we believe we want everyone to feel like family – it seems like that can only come with time – or is it possible to make people like family right away?

Absolutely – when each of my grandchildren were born – they I did not need time and experiences with them to make them feel anymore like family then in the first moment I laid eyes on them. So too, in the church, in Jesus, we who are seasoned Christians, ought to make everyone instantly feel like family. The church who can master that is the church that will not be able to contain the amount of growth it sees.

When I claimed Jesus as my savior, I did not have to be a Christian for a while, or prove myself to be adopted in as his child – it happened instantly. That is the way the stranger and alien should connect to Ashland Church – they should immediately feel not only like family but as much like family as anyone who has been a round for a very long time, because we are family in Jesus Christ – and he has been present since eternity past.

ILLUSTRATION

Tammy Harris of Roanoke, Virginia, began searching for her biological mother when she turned 21. A year of searching proved fruitless. Tammy did not realize, however, that her mother, Joyce Schultz, had been searching for her for 20 years--the same Joyce Schultz who worked alongside her at the same convenience store. When Joyce overheard Tammy speaking with another coworker about her search for her biological mother, Joyce's ears perked. The two compared stories and birth certificates. When the coworkers realized they were, indeed, mother and daughter, "We held on for the longest time," Tammy said. "It was the best day of my life."

Christians often sit side by side in the church pews, week after week, and fail to realize the depth of relationship they share in Jesus Christ. We are not inanimate rocks – we are living stones, designed to be like family whose lives are built together to be a spiritual house in the Lord!

11-03-19 The last line of the show: “Can you believe it?”

Scripture:   Romans 10:5-13

JOSEPH IS STILL ALOVE

Genesis 45:25-28

So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

          The disciples told Thomas they had seen the Lord alive again – risen from the dead. “I will not believe unless I can see him and touch him.” When Thomas saw Jesus, he believed. John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

All of Ashland’s work and ministry are built to help people: Believe, Belong, and Become. Ministry should help someone Believe in Jesus, Belong to Ashland Church, and Become the person Jesus wants them to be.

BELIEVING

          Everything we do should move people toward professing belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

          "But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."  Matthew 16:15-18

(6 Believe Slides)

7 Things to Believe

Nature of Man

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Nature of God

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Salvation

Acts 4:12  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Holy Spirit

John 14:26-27  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Bible

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Church

Romans 12:4-5   Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Ordinances – (Baptism and Communion)

1 Corinthians 1:26   For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1 Peter 3:21-22  This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:5-13

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."  But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

We simply don’t believe

In a survey conducted by the Barna Research Group, nearly 1/3 of all born-again Christians stated that all good people will go to heaven, whether they have embraced Jesus Christ or not. While 88% in a recent Barna poll believe Jesus Christ was a real person, what they believe about him differs sharply from scriptural teaching. 42% (even 1/4th of the “born again” Christians) believe that while on earth Jesus sinned just like other people. 61% believe the devil is just a symbol of evil, not a living being. And 54% think that if people are good enough, they will earn a place in heaven regardless of their religious beliefs. (Barna Research Group).

Simple Faith

A pastor in California was giving an invitation at the end of his Sunday morning message when a five-year old boy, sensing the invitation of the Holy Spirit came down the aisle. Not knowing if the boy was old enough to understand salvation, the pastor took him to his office and began to ask some theological questions. The more he questioned, the more confused the boy became. Finally, in exasperation, the little fellow stopped and innocently pleaded, “Pastor Patterson, in your message this morning you said that if I would come and ask Jesus to save me—He would!