03-19-17 Parents, make sure Jesus is with you!

Scripture  Luke 2:41-52

          Social Media and children. As I have talked about Social Media being the language of younger generations – let me make it clear that for most of the things we are talking about we are primarily referring to teenagers and young adults. A child must be 13 or older to legally have a Facebook account. However, Facebook removes 20,000 underage users a day. That tells us that parents need to do a better job of deciding when their children can use social media and what is appropriate. There are special sites designed for children 12 and under that come with all kinds of parental controls and predetermined words that can and cannot be used to prevent profanity and bullying. Most of them are designed as online games or even educational sites. They can help teach a young person how to use social media responsibly. It also tells us that Social Media is the place where kids want to be, and better to use it to communicate the good news of Jesus – the alternative is one more tool for the devil if the church isn’t the one working on the front lines.

          Therefore, when we talk about using current social media as a means of communicating the gospel we are talking about it primarily for the 13 to 50-year old’s, realizing that today’s 12-year-old will be 13 next year.

          With that in mind, and in light of our 2017 theme, God’s Social Network: The Bible, let’s look at some social networking from one amazing 12-year-old and how his parents were not watching his social media usage at all.

Luke 2:41-52

Every year his (Jesus) parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

(MAP SLIDE The route from Galilee to Jerusalem via Samaria was the shortest and easiest route, a journey that took only three days. Pilgrims from Galilee passed through the Herodian royal estates in the Jezreel Valley to Ginae, spending the night in the last city in Jewish territory. The next day they walked across the rolling hills and valleys of Samaria to Anuathu Borcaeus, the first Jewish city of Judea,  or further if daylight and weather permitted. The third day was spent walking along the ridge route of the mountains of Judea up to Jerusalem. The direct route through Samaria was not the only way. It was also possible to follow the Jordan River to Jericho, then ascend the Jericho road to Jerusalem. This route was not only 23 miles longer, but also considerably hotter, with a steeper ascent to Jersualem. The bulk of the 3,400-foot change in elevation—Jericho lies 812 feet below sea level and Jerusalem towers 2,600 feet above sea level—occurs within a distance of 15 miles. The steep road winds through a desolate wasteland of barren rock with twisted canyons and cliffs. Pilgrims went up to Jerusalem for the three required feasts: Unleavened Bread/Passover, Weeks/Pentecost, and Tabernacles/Booths. Jesus also went to Jerusalem during Hanukkah/the Feast of Dedication, even though there was no commandment to go to Jerusalem for the celebration. So, for 11 years previous Jesus went from Nazareth to Jerusalem for at least 3 feasts a year) 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, (They were in a large caravan of people traveling together – you can imagine a group of 12 year old boys – without social media – running around and playing games on the way home and within view of someone’s parents…unless one is just not there even though you assume they are) the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. (What was Jesus thinking at night?...Home Alone) 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then (that night when families came together) they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. (They were mad) His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 49 "Why were you searching for me? he asked." (in other words…how did you not know where I would be?)  "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Jesus was beginning to test the religious social networks)  50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

          A fascinating glimpse into the childhood of Jesus and the person he was becoming. Who wrote this? Who was Luke? How did he get this information? Notice the phrase his mother treasured all these things in her heart. Where have you heard that before?...Who wrote it? Where did Luke get the info about Jesus birth that no one else wrote about and the story of Jesus in the temple at age 12 that no one else wrote about? FROM MARY, Joseph died at some point between this event and the beginning of Jesus public ministry.

          Can you imagine the special care that God the Father took in protecting His son? Got them out of Bethlehem – sent them to Egypt – sent them back to Nazareth. And how pleased the Father must have been when at age 12 Jesus knew who he was – that he had to be in His Father’s house!

          The Jewish synagogue in Jesus’ day was no place for children. Children and women were not to worry themselves with the study of torah – the law. That was for the men. Some may have seen the movie Yentle when at the turn of the past century there was a young woman who wanted to study the Torah but was forbidden. She had such a passion for the word of God that she cut her hair and pretended to be a boy so she could go to the Yeshiva – Jewish seminary and learn the Torah.

          Personal study of scripture for men, women and children is still a relatively new thing. Until the printing press a little over 500 years ago, few average people ever read the scriptures unless it was at church, and then it was in Latin. Why do we place such emphasis on it and why for children? Because it is no longer about keeping rules and regulations that the father can just make the children follow. The Christian life is about a relationship = a Social Network. The place we learn about it outside of the church is in the Bible. It is better to aquaint a person with Jesus as early as possible and using the unchanging social media of scripture is the best way to do that. So, yes parents and grandparents – absolutely teach scripture to children from infancy Hmmm… 2 Tim 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

          What did Jesus say about children? 3 passages from Matthew will tell us:

Matthew 18:1-6

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone MILLSTONE SLIDE hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

Matthew 19:13-15

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Matthew 21:15-16

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"

SCREEN GO UP REVEALING THE CROSS

          I have always dreamed of having a church facility that children walk into and know that God loves them by the very nature of the building. Not the entire building but a good portion of it. STORY Nathan as a little child at Cedar Point. He found a place JUST for him. STORY Care Bear’s replacement for God.

A Group Of Believers

                  A group of believers gathered in a church.

                  They believed in one God, God Almighty, who made the world and everything in it.

                  They believed in God the Creator.

                  And they believed that God the Creator sent the Son, Jesus Christ, to save the world.

                  They believed these things and they said them every Sunday at ten o’clock.

                  They were very busy and did the things most churches do.  They had church dinners and they inquired about each other’s families.

                  And they read the Bible and they sent a check to missions every year, And at Thanksgiving they

                  collected canned goods for the poor.

                  And on Sunday mornings things were done decently and in order.

                  They were good church people.

                  But one Sunday morning during the service of worship, a little boy came running in the church door, ran right down the center aisle, and stood under the cross screaming, “Help me!”

                  He was a thin child with dark, sunken eyes. The clothes he wore were no more than rags.

                  His feet were bare and he shivered and then, with a cry, fell – under the cross.

                  Everything was quiet – and then a voice yelled: Get him out of here!         And another said: We don’t want to get involved with his kind. And a third said: He’s interrupting our worship.

                  But the rest of the congregation arose quietly, in unison, and walked as if they were in step until they, too, stood under the cross. They bent and lifted the child gently and ministered to him.

                  And then, as if for the first time, they noticed each other.

                  They smiled and their hands reached out to one another and they began to dance.

                  Some people laughed, and said: They’re drunk! But others asked: What does this mean?

                  And the people answered: The Lord’s Spirit has been poured out upon us. The Lord has anointed us to care for God’s children everywhere who are crying, “Help me!”

                  And now this church is decorated in the bright colors of joy. The people wear robs of caring and commitment. The call to worship is: “Help them!” Then entire congregation dances together.

SCREEN COME BACK DOWN

INVITATION: Come and pray for children.

03-12-17 God’s Greatest Social Network

Scripture  Matthew 1 & 2

Notes – not actual part of sermon:

SERMON POINT: God’s Greatest Social Network is Family – His Family

The central character of God’s family is Love.

The ideal size of God’s family is ever growing.

The only way to be in God’s family, is to be born into it.

I may make a video for this scripture or read it quickly at the beginning of the message:

Matthew 1:1-18 paraphrased

A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of

Isaac, the father of Jacob,

father of Judah and his brothers,

Judah the father of Perez

the father of Hezron,

the father of Ram,

the father of Amminadab,

the father of Nahshon,

the father of Salmon,

the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of David who became the greatest King of Israel.

----------------------------------------

David was the father of Solomon,

the father of Rehoboam,

the father of Abijah,

the father of Asa,

the father of Jehoshaphat,

the father of Jehoram,

the father of Uzziah,

the father of Jotham,

the father of Ahaz,

the father of Hezekiah,

the father of Manasseh,

the father of Amon,

the father of Josiah,

and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

--------------------------------

After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

the father of Zerubbabel,

the father of Abiud,

the father of Eliakim,

the father of Azor,

the father of Zadok,

the father of Akim,

the father of Eliud,

the father of Eleazar,

the father of Matthan,

the father of Jacob,

& Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Matthew 1:17 There were 14 generations in all from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the exile to Babylon, and 14 from the exile to the Christ. This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit…

DEPRESSING STORY # 1

Saddest funeral I ever did: Graveside service of a woman I did not know; she was from a nursing home. Those coming for the service were late – two women who worked at the nursing home came and were the only two there besides the grave digger and me.

          It is sad but there are people on earth, people you know, maybe people here today who either don’t have a single living family member, or are not in contact with any family or who have very small families.

          SURVEY: How many people are in your family?

SHARE: My family make up

All of creation led up to the last thing that happened in creation. God’s Greatest Social Network was the pinnacle of His creation. Gen 2:18 The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Gen 2:21-24  So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Gen 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”

          God had one plan for how we should live on earth. Our character should be one that loved our creator and also those who were created (Love God, Love others). That love would be expressed through a Social Network (not in isolation) beginning with a husband and wife followed by them having children and thus creating God’s greatest Social Network = THE FAMILY. The family was not only God’s idea; it was the essential element for having His creation work.

          Unfortunately, that original couple decided they knew better than God, or at least believed they could know as much as God (that was the temptation) Gen 3:4-5 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." And once they decided they could make a better plan than God – all hell broke loose – literally! But even that did not change God’s original centerpiece of life – the family. When all hell broke loose and God decided to start over he chose a righteous “family” husband and wife and their 3 sons and their wives. Without that family – the flood would have been the end of the story.

          Even when that family messed up later-on, God did not waver from His original creation or original design. Family has remained at the center of His design.

          SO, what does that mean for the lady with no one to bury her? What does that mean for the person with only a handful of relatives? What does that mean for the person with a family they wish they had never known? What does that mean for the people with a large family or the most awesome family? What does it mean that God created us in such a way that we are wired within to live within the Social Network of a family?

Let’s state some facts:

          There is no perfect God designed flawless family.

          Every family could be labeled a ‘dysfunctional’ family.

          Societies throughout history have greatly distorted God’s intent for family.

Knowing the centerpiece of His creation would be so messed up and flawed, why did God create it in the first place? Why not just create every individual human – forget male and female, husband and wife, parents and children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.  Why not just zap the dirt with the number of individuals He wants on earth at any given time?

          The answer? For the same reason, he did create you and me – as distorted, dysfunctional, and sinful as we are, God is able to redeem that which He created. He can take what is broken and fix it. He can take what is unsalvageable and save it. God can make right what we have made wrong. God can take each individual, no matter their natural situation and make them become part of the Greatest Social Network possible – the FAMILY OF GOD!

          The flawed earthly family serves as a shadow of the perfected family of God. The word family denotes that people are part of the same blood line and if not blood part of the same love line (as in adoption). Those who are part of God’s family all have the same blood line and same love line, both of which come through what Jesus did on the cross – shed his blood and showed the full extent of God’s love!

DEPRESSING STORY # 2

Totally Alone in The World

First let me say this isn't intended as a pity party. I just have to know if there are others out there like me. Let me start. I grew up in a dysfunctional and abusive family. I have had both emotional and physical scars from that time. A secret I kept from everyone until I was about 23 and moved to California. I left the house when I was 18 and never looked back. It was always expected from as far back as I can remember to have 2 faces. The one you show in public (happy, smiling, full of life and love) and the one you have when you are alone (doubtful, scared, vulnerable). In my household, it was just my mother and I. She was a survivor of childhood abuse from her family that left her with permanent brain damage (in the form of epilepsy) and an extremely violent temper (that would have sent me to the hospital but no one ever called). She had a very low tolerance for imperfection and I was the daughter that was always all thumbs around her. Most of her out bursts left me with permanent scars (inside and out), joint damage, and a back injury. I knew I didn't want to live like that, so I used college as a way to get escape. She has always told me that when I turned 18 she didn't care if I graduated or not, she just wanted me gone. So, that is what I did. I haven't been back since. She has contacted me from time to time, but it's only to bring me down. I stop taking those calls after a while. So, the harassment stopped for a while. Then some jackass showed her how to text message. Damn that person.

It's weird because even though my brain knows that she will never change, my heart still longs for a feeling that I missed out on. A sense of a family. I never really had that. I don't have a single picture of me with family or even a single picture of my mother. I only have 3 pictures of me during my childhood years. Again, this is not a pity party. I just needed to give some background. I have never let my childhood stand in the way of accomplishing goals. I graduated from college I work in a lab and have been promoted to supervisor. When people meet me, they have no idea that I had a horrible childhood because (as I was well trained) I am always the life of the party. This has left me with in a weird position in life. I had a horrible upbringing, but never once strayed from the straight and narrow. Never did drugs, alcohol and wasn’t promiscuous. This seems like the exact opposite of many that survived this severe of abuse. I just saw what I didn't want to be and never lived my life like that. Although I am a normal functioning member of society, I still feel like I live outside the glass snow globe. I feel like I have my face pressed against the glass and am watching everyone live their lives. Many of the conversations I can't participate in like funny things my mom, dad, sister, brother, etc... said or did. I don't even have an emergency contact. And dating has been a joke. I was never taught body language of the opposite sex so I have never understood the rules of flirting or even picking up signals.  And it doesn't help that I now live in Los Angeles.  For anyone who doesn't know what that means, most people here only judge others based solely on their stereotype (as I had to find out the hard way).  So, since I am black, it makes dating here impossible.

Living outside the glass snow globe also means you don't have anyone who understands. I don't talk about this often, because most of the people I know never had to deal with abuse. The few times I do, the only thing they would say is "Don't worry, you will find a great guy someday". Don't get me wrong, I do want that. Yes, it would be nice to find someone that makes me feel special, since I've never experienced that before growing up. But this is way deeper than that. I've never had a birthday party.  I don't know what it is like to have a holiday with family.  Sure, people invite for their family functions, but that only feel worse because I am only an observer watching someone else’s family traditions.  While the people who invite me are patting themselves on the back for their good deed of the day, I am left wondering what is worse.  Spending a holiday alone or being somewhere that is a constant reminder of what I have never had.

Most important, I would like to know that there is someone, anyone out there that knows how this feels. How did you move inside the glass snow globe to join everyone else? I just want to know I'm not alone in this. I even went to therapy, but that was a bust. I'm not depressed.  The therapist said that there is nothing wrong with me, which I already knew. In fact, she seemed to be in awe on how functional I was based on the stories I told. So, that brings me back to this post. Does anyone out there understand what it is like to live outside the glass snow globes?

Thanks for listening, Outsider

Only ONE WAY to enter the Christian Snow Globe – to be BORN AGAIN!

          Who do you know outside the snow globe of God’s Family?

          What are you doing to make inside the globe attractive to an outsider?

          Are you sharing with outsiders how to be born again as the only way to enter the snow globe – God’s family?

03-05-17 View from the Cross

Scripture  Hebrews 1:1 – 2:18

Church Unique: “Christianity is much more than a private transaction with Jesus… According to scripture, Christianity is corporate.” p89 {Jesus and WE vs. Jesus and ME}

If you were starting a business as a new sock company and had 100 employees and were trying to get your name out there, to get sales, to have an organized profitable business, would you rather have, have a 100 people going in 100 directions or 100 people going in one direction?

If you are a wise business person, you would want everyone going in the same direction. You still have the individual talents and abilities of 100 people but you are all moving toward a single objective – sell as many socks as you can.

Jesus is the CEO. Chief of Eternal Operations. As an entrepreneur, Jesus began a new organization and called the “Church”. People have grossly misunderstood why Jesus came and died. People think they did it for them – for the individual – that is such a Western idea. Did Jesus die for the individual? YES! Did he die for you? YES! Did he die for me? YES! But only from an Eternal Operations perspective – Jesus died for the sins of the people so that they could build His business which again is called “the church”.

GROUP GRACE

Acts 4:32-34

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

The following text was preached but no notes were written - see the video message at www.ashlandchurch.com or on youtube under Jeff Cooper.

Hebrews 1:1-2:18

 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"?  Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7 In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds his servants flames of fire."

8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." 10 He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."

13 To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

2 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

"What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything under his feet."

In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says,

"I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

02-26-17 We are the Ancestors for our Future

Scripture  Hebrews 1:1-3a

Cecil DeMille was making one of his great epic movies. He had six cameras at various points to pick up the overall action and five other cameras set up to film plot developments involving the major characters. The large cast had begun rehearsing their scene at 6 a.m. They went through it four times and now it was late afternoon. The sun was setting and there was just enough light to get the shot done. DeMille looked over the panorama, saw that all was right, and gave the command for action.

One hundred extras charged up the hill; another hundred came storming down the same hill to do a mock battle. In another location Roman centurions lashed and shouted at two hundred slaves who labored to move a huge stone monument toward its resting place. Meanwhile the principal characters acted out, in close-up, their reactions to the battle on the hill. Their words were drowned out by the noise around them, but the dialogue was to be dubbed in later.

It took fifteen minutes to complete the scene. When it was over, DeMille yelled, "Cut!" and turned to his assistant, all smiles. "That was great!" he said. "It was, C.B.," the assistant yelled back. "It was fantastic! Everything went off perfectly!"

Enormously pleased, DeMille turned to face the head of his camera crew to find out if all the cameras had picked up what they had been assigned to film. He waved to the camera crew supervisor. From the top of the hill, the camera supervisor waved back, raised his megaphone, and called out, "Ready when you are, C.B!"

          C.B. had assumed his camera supervisor knew this was the real deal but failed to communicate that. Where would we be if God failed to communicate what he wants of us? Well God has communicated to our ancestors. That is important to know. That gives us a place to create faith. If God spoke to our ancestors, it stands to reason God will communicate to us. We learned last week that God communicates at many times and in various ways.

Hebrews 1:1-3a

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Background to the Letter to the Hebrews

Author: We don’t know. The only NT book with uncertain authorship. He was a Jew familiar with the Old Testament, who had never met Jesus, and was familiar with 1^st century Jewish practices.

Date: Likely 68-69 AD. Clement of Rome writing in 95 AD cites Hebrews. The writer of Hebrews regards the sacrificial system of the OT to still be in place – the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. It was written during the lifetime of Timothy whom the author knew. Possibly written from Rome or near Rome.

Recipients: Jews. Not specified which Jews. Could be to Jews who were believers along with believers who were slipping back into a bondage to Judaism.

Did God speak to “our” ancestors? In the book of Hebrews? NO. YES! No – the ancestors were Jews – the decendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yes – Go back to Adam and Eve and we are all related and therefore all people are our ancestors. But there is something about God speaking to our direct ancestors.

          It is amazing how much we are a product of who our ancestors were.

The size and strength of the church in America seems to be getting weaker from one generation to the next. In families, statistics show that the strength of Christian Conviction typically grows weaker with each passing generation. Find where Christianity was first introduced into a family and survey the next 4-5 generations and see the difference of a family that once served faithfully through a church, that made a difference for Christ in their community, that stood as a shining example of Christian life compared to generations later when corporate worship is an option, there is no time for community involvement and it is difficult to tell if the family truly believes or not.

However, there is good news. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are already exceptions to this pattern but it should become the rule instead of the exception. Parents are often poor in talking to their kids about drugs, sex, money or other things that matter. Many never say anything about faith to their children. Therefore, the church is the only place where there is any hope of having a next generation stronger than ours.

I think we could agree that Moses must have done something right for the next generation when we see someone strong and courageous like Joshua take over. But how well did the generation after Joshua do for the next generation? Judg 2:8-12  Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger.

          Spiritual Generational Decline is nothing new. It often happened among the people of Israel. That is exactly why God had to raise up prophet after prophet so that He could communicate with each new generation. And the cycle continued – there would be a few strong generations and degenerate into weak ones.  Even though we have the benefit of being on the good side of the great divide of Hebrews 1:1-3 (prophets as the primary means of communication and Jesus as the primary means of communication) we still see this take place. I say not so here. Not with this generation. Not with this people. A new chapter needs to be written for Ashland church that has been greater than any chapter in its past history. Some will think that is impossible – I say “because of those in the past who invested in this church” and because nothing is impossible with God – we will see His glory in the next generations and beyond.

          I want people 100 years from now to look back and say – that is the spot on the Ashland timeline when people worked to make sure we would know Jesus who was crucified and risen from the dead.

          Prior to Jesus being God’s way of communicating, God pointed to His son through the prophets and people of the OT: God even spoke to Adam & Eve, that the Messiah should come of the seed of the woman,—to Abraham, that the Messiah should spring from his loins,—to Jacob, that he should be of the tribe of Judah,—to David, that he should be of his house,—to Micah, that he should be born at Bethlehem,—to Isaiah, that he should be born of a virgin.

God spoke to our ancestors, but in these last days has revealed God through His son!

The words of the prophets were written but few people read and they were passed on through the oral tradition.

          We began with C B DeMille who was a great story teller through film. One of the greatest American Story Tellers through words was L Frank Baum – W-OZ. (Describe his story telling) So our social media allows us to be story tellers – through words, pictures, film and brief messages. Take the story of Noah – before being written – it was part of the oral tradition. It has prob been told as much as any other bible story. All you need is a body, a voice, and imagination and someone to tell the story too. (Tell the story of Noah)

What is the story God is writing in us that our ancestors will speak of? It is the story of God’s redeeming love.

02-19-17 At Many Times and in Various Ways

Scripture  Hebrews 1:1-3a

Hebrews 1:1-3a

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.     

DRAMA: (maybe) Entrance from right side through doors, trip and shout to get attention. Walking across the front and pausing every time a new form of communication from God comes to me.

The Bible records a variety of ways God has revealed Himself to humanity-primarily through words and deeds. The Bible lists the following ways in which God has made Himself known.

1. God Directly Communicated to Humanity with an Audible Voice

Gen 2:18 The Lord God said . . .Let there be light. But there was no one to hear it.

But in Genesis 15:18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates…”

Ex 3:4-6  When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."

Acts 9:4-6  (Paul, formerly Saul) fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

2. The Lot Was Used to Determine God's Will

One of the ways that God made himself known was in the casting of lots. Prov 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.  Acts 1:24-26 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

3. Once God Wrote with A Huge Hand On a Wall

Dan 5:1-6  King Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that had been taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that his wives and his concubines might drink from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.  Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.

Dan 5:25-31  "This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

"This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom.

4. The Urim and Thummim Helped Determine God's Will

An object(s) worn in the breastplate of the high priest to determine guilt (Urim) or innocence (Thummin).

This would imply that the purpose of the Urim and Thummim was an ordeal to confirm or deny suspected guilt; if the Urim was selected it meant guilt, while selection of the Thummim would mean innocence.

Exodus 28:30   Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

5. God Revealed Himself Through Dreams

While dreams are a common experience of humanity, God used them in a special way to reveal His truth. God said to Moses: Num 12:6 "Listen to my words: When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.”

Does God communicate with Non-believers? YES! The Bible says that nonbelievers, as well as believers, have experienced God-given dreams. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a married woman." (Genesis 20:3).

Joseph learned about Mary’s pregnancy in a dream and the wise men were warned in a dream not to return through Jerusalem.

6. God Gave Visions to A Number of People

There is some distinction between dreams and visions. Dreams happen, of course, while we are asleep. A vision can occur while the person is awake. Furthermore, in a dream the emphasis seems to be more on what is seen, while in a vision the emphasis seems to be on what is heard. The Bible records that God spoke to certain people through visions. Isaiah records.

Isa 1:1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Ezek 1:1   In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

7. Paul Was Transported into The Spirit World

2 Cor 12:1-5   I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know — God knows. And I know that this man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

8. At Times God Dictated His Truth

On a few occasions God directly dictated what the biblical author would write.

Revelation 2:1-2   "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.”

9. Sometimes God Appeared in A Human Body (Theophanies)

A theophany is the temporary appearance of God in a human body in order to reveal something specific to His people.

Gen 17:1-4   When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." Abram fell facedown, and God said to him…   Ex 6:2-3   God also said to Moses, "I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty…   Num 12:4-6   At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." So the three of them came out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, he said, "Listen to my words:…”

10. God Used Angels to Bring His Message

Luke 2:8-14   And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

11. Miracles Were Performed to Reveal God's Power

John 14:11-12   Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

          Acts 2:1-6   When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

12. God Sometimes Gave Object Lessons

Jer 19:1-2   This is what the Lord says: "Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate.   Jer 19:10-11   "Then break the jar while those who go with you are watching, and say to them, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter's jar is smashed and cannot be repaired.

Ezek 4:1-8   "Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. "Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel. "After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.

13. God Directly Intervened in History

Ezek 25:6-7   For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel, therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the Lord."

14. The Prophets Were Used to Reveal God's Truth

2 Sam 23:2   "The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.”

The prophet spoke the Word of the Lord as God gave it to them. Today, a preacher’s job is not the same as a prophet. I give you what God already spoke through the prophets and apostles and therefore, the authority of my words exist because they are based on what God has already communicated. I am simply a vessel of communication to a new generation in a another location. Therefore, what I speak is a communication from God, by His Spirit, for you who have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

15. Jesus Christ Was God's Final Word to Humanity

God's ultimate word to humanity was through His Son, Jesus Christ. The coming of Jesus both explained and revealed who God is.

John 1:1-4   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.   14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.   18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

16. The Bible Records All These Different Means of Special Revelation

The record of God's direct communication, the theophanies, His miracles, His message to the prophets, and the coming of Jesus Christ are found in the Bible. However, the Bible is not merely the record of the revelations from God. The Scripture also contains truth not revealed by these other sources. The Bible therefore, is the record of different aspects of special revelation as well as special revelation itself.

Summary

Special revelation is God communicating with humanity concerning all aspects of His Social Network – How God relates to us and how we are to relate to one another and the world we live in. The Bible records God revealing Himself in the following ways. Direct communication, casting the lot, the Urim and the Thummin, hand writing on the wall, transportation into the spirit world, dreams, visions, dictation, theophanies, angels, miracles, object lessons, direct events, prophets, Jesus Christ, and the Bible.

Augustine said, “When the Scriptures speak, God speaks.”

          LIV BIB 1 Corinthians 2:9-16

02-12-17 God’s Social Network: The Bible

2017 THEME INTRODUCITON 

VIDEO 1 – Theme Introduction

Hebrews 1:1-3a

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Why a theme? Why this scripture text? What will it teach us? What are the challenges?

WHY? A yearly theme comes from my relationship with God and His Word.  It must be something I believe is preachable and meaningful enough to be preached for our community – those of faith and those not yet of faith. It must be something that gives us a focus for one year so that we get more of that ‘one thing’, rather than total random messages from week to week, while at the same time allowing every week to stand alone.

WHY HEBREWS 1:1-3a? As you will see, this text provides way more than enough foundation for an entire year’s worth of preaching form the Word of God. If I said, describe what the Bible is about in one word – what would you say? Love! Faith! Jesus! Salvation! Grace! People! All are good answers, my one word for the Bible has always been “RELATIONSHIPS”! If the Bible is about one thing it is about Relationships! Our relationship with God. Our relationship with one another. Our relationship with creation, with food, with systems, governments, institutions, with sin, with morals, with wellness, with life and death and on and on but primarily the first two – relationship with God and one another = 1^st commandment LOVE GOD 2^nd commandment LOVE OTHERS everything else rests on these two!

          Therefore, if 1^st purpose of the Bible is concerning relationships, the 2^nd is like it, Communication. The Bible is God’s primary way to communicate with us about those relationships.

          Therefore, The Bible is God’s Social Network!

In the past God spoke through the prophets, but in these last days by his Son, sustaining all things by his powerful word – communicated by the Holy Spirit through the Bible!

WHAT WILL THIS THEME TEACH US?

It will teach us how God communicates with us, as well as the passionate desire God has ‘to’ communicate with us. That God’s Social Network was not just ‘back then’ but is now with us as much as it was with those…we read about in the bible. It will teach us that God’s methods of communication has no limits, even as current Social Media Networks have no limits (none of which were even imagined when I was young). Our great social media technology was two (SLIDE 2 Tin Cans) tin cans and a string. // Just like Facebook – God ‘likes’ us, has us in his ‘friend’ list and wants to share with our friends and friends of friends. Like Instagram, God communicates to us though pictures – snapshots of his love and grace. God communicates like Twitter – quick messages when we are in a tough place and need help or an answer right now. God communicates like Pinterest where He gives us a bulletin Board with several good options and the common sense to choose wisely. Sometimes God communicates like snapchat, giving us a chance to laugh at ourselves and realize the human condition, as serious as it is, also has moments where we just have to do a face swap and laugh.

          To some, primarily those older than me, I have just spoken in a foreign language. But I want you to be a missionary with me – who’s first job is to learn the language of the people they are ministering too. Our younger generations don’t have the typical communication generation gap like our grandparents did when we started using words like hip, cool and groovy. They have entirely different systems of daily communication. So often I hear people say; “Oh I hate that facebook and don’t even know what a Tweet is.” I used to think – Oh I get it, why learn something knew if you don’t have to. Now I think – we in the church have to be at the forefront of Social Media. It is neither good or bad. Just like words which are neither good or bad – it is how they are used. If we were missionaries in Uganda, do you know what language we would speak? English – but also Bantu, Central Sudanic, Nilotic, Swahili and Luganda. What if we were in El Sal Vador? Spanish but of the Caliche vernacular. Do you get the point? We can no longer afford to see ourselves as evangelists. We are missionaries in a foreign country. The language of younger generations for now and forever is Social Media and the dialects are ever changing. To effectively communicate the gospel we need to speak the language.

          Therefore, we want to look at turning Social Media on its head and show that God has been using Social Media and Social Networks since the garden of Eden. The first recorded words ever spoken were - Gen 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.” The word had power to communicate as well as create. Then God created man and beasts from the ground and said, Gen 2:18 "It is not good for the man to be alone.” And for this special relationship created the one suitable for him, not from the ground like all others, but from his own rib creating a new kind of Social Network!

WHAT ARE THE THEME’S CHALLENGES?

You will be challenged to memorize the theme passage. To read and study the Bible more. To become better than any church in the U.S. at using Social Media as a way to communicate the truth of scripture and the good news of Jesus with others. To find a life verse and find a way to creatively share why it is your life verse.

Slides 3 and 4

                                

Nov. 4 1974 for the first time I heard the word of God in my own language…

02-05-17 Let it Go!

Scripture   Hebrews 12:1-3

What or who, is keeping you from what you need to do?

          Do you need to get more occupational experience to get a better job? Do you need to get more education to move up in your field? Do you need to be kinder to have a better relationship with your parents? Do you need to get rid of sin to have a closer relationship to Jesus? Do you need to get over your fear so you can ask out him or her on a date? Do you need to stop doing certain things so you have more time to help build God’s kingdom and this church? Do you feel drained all the time and desire to feel a sense of peace? Are you chained to the past? Are there things you are afraid to let go of? Has God painted a preferred future for your life but your struggle with relationships, with your emotions, with sin is keeping you chained down and you just need to experience the bumper sticker theology that says: “Let go, let God!?” Then I say “Let it Go!”

What are the greatest struggles in your life? There are three areas of struggle for most of us. 1) Struggle with Guilt from Sin – relationship with God 2) Struggle with Pain from the past – Relationship with others. 3)  Struggle with Potential – Not living as well as we should – our relationship with ourselves.

First and most important struggle

1)    Guilt of sin – let it go!

Time and again, Israel got drug down by its sin. God would always raise up a remnant who still desired to follow him. We will let our sin drag us down and keep us from living the abundant life described in John 10:10 “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus comes that we might have life and have it to the full.” God knows our struggles – Jesus experienced temptation physically, mentally and spiritually – Matthew 4 – Jesus was tempted in every way in the wilderness. 1 Cor 10:13 GOD’S WORD translation “There isn't any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps his promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, he will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape.”

As the deacons come and prepare to serve communion. I want you to answer – what is the greatest sin struggle in your life? You need to know that Christ Jesus is ready to forgive you if you confess to him – 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

          Let’s watch and see how we can let go of sin and the guilt that comes with it?

Video: Experience Life

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2)    Let go of the pain from the past.

Have you been hurt in the past? Has there been an event or circumstance or person that caused you great pain? Are you holding on to bitterness that leads to anger or depression? Let it go!

          When thinking about that thing in your past, the two questions my pastor always asked: Dr. Francis Hitch – “Who or What is in Control?” The empty tomb was God’s answer to the bloody death tree called the cross. Everything indicated death had won -but the entire time, God was in control. The other question to ask is “Who’s problem is this anyway?” If you have not forgiven someone – something – or even yourself, what good is it doing to hold on to it? Matt 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

The idea is not to forgive the same person 490 times for various offenses, rather to forgive a person 490 times for a single offense. You may have forgiven them for the offense today and have forgotten you did that by tomorrow and need to exercise forgiveness again and again. The multiplication of forgiveness is not for the offender but for the one doing the forgiving. If they, or it, did the offending, who’s problem is it anyway? Let it go!

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3) Let go of anything that keeps you from attempting great things for God.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

          Let’s look at a few people in our great cloud of witnesses.

VIDEO History of Traders (People who traded their personal life for a life to serve Jesus)

My power flurries through the air into the ground My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around, and one thought crystallizes like an icy blast I’m never going back, the past is in the past!

Words from the popular 2013 Disney animated movie “Frozen” and the song “Let it go” It is not a Christian song and not every word fits with today’s message – but the heart of the song fits so well and agrees with Phil 3:13-14 But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

SONG: Frozen by Alexis and Aralyn

RESPONSE SONG Amazing Grace / Chains