Lord's Supper - Sermon Notes

Sunday, November 18, 2012

                                                       Lord's Supper

I loved this sermon. A gentle reminder of what it's all about.
And a reminder to me that scholars and historians who do not understand that night at that upper room supper in Jerusalem do not understand human history at all -- without an acceptance of God's redemptive purpose in history, nothing else works. All other theories and explanations lead simply to meaningless ruin and destruction.  Full of sound and fury...signifying nothing....

[Note: The event in Luke 22 is known as the Last Supper. It only happened one time. We call it the Lord's Supper, because we are memorializing the original event, not repeating it.]

The main text was Luke 22.

Introduction: Bro Mike reminded us how frustrating it is to come across old photos, which we assume to be family portraits, and have no notations of date and name on the back. How blessed we are to have eye-witness accounts of Christ's days here on earth - often even dated for us.

This event, we know, occurred at the time of Passover...

Verse 1: Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching.

Tens of thousands of Jews would be crowding into Jerusalem for this important time.

In Verses 7-8: Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.'

We can faithfully search for meanings in every passage of Scripture - every word is God's Word. We might not always like it and might not want to try to defend it, but it is God's message to us - to all mankind.

Notice the two roads - not one road - in verse 2 we read that the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, and Judas was pursuing a way to betray Him, but Peter and John were searching for a place to have Passover with Him.

These same two roads are present today - they are parallel and near - not one here in the US and one in China - right here in front of us - two choices.

Even in the same household - one person seeks to pursue God and come near to Him and another finds way to ignore, or even oppose, Him.

We are so aware of responses around us -- most of what we talk about in church is treated as a joke -- ridiculed -- we are pictured as ignorant.

Two roads - -choices then and the same choices now.

Verses 15-16: And He said to them, 'I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.'

Did you know (or remember) that Jesus the Son of God desires that you sit at this table with Him? We have an engraved (with His blood) invitation to join Him, He wants you to be there.

Many people still feel as if God is wanting them to suffer. That He is waiting for them to trip up.

NO - God's grace pulls us toward Him. 'I am not good enough,' we say.

 'I know that. That's why I sent my Son Jesus.'

Illustration: A young man entering the military being sent to Afghanistan. His family and friends meet at the airport for lunch before the plane leaves. It is a happy time - but not a joyous occasion. A memorable meal, but toned down.

Jesus knew the time was coming and only He could walk through that door. He discussed it with His disciples, but to hear it foretold is nothing like the actual experience.

Some people are on that road which will led them to sit down with Jesus at that Banquet Supper in the future. Do they deserve it? Did they earn it? Of course not.

GRACE

I don't deserve a seat at this table.But Jesus provided it for me.

We are taking the Lord's Supper in the interim. One of these days He will blow His horn and sound His trumpet and we will join Him at that Great Table.

This should be a time of compassion for those who don't even think of taking a place at that table.


[Note: I loved this sermon so much. I am re-reading the notes and listening on the website. It's  all so profoundly amazing -- between the Last Supper Jesus had here on earth and that great Banquet Table in the future, we are remembering it all with our celebration of the Lord's Supper -- right here on earth -- right now. This today is just a small taste - a brief glimpse - a preview of what's coming someday in the future!

For the ancient Jews is was the most joyous celebration on their calendar -- for us, it is mixed, because we understand better the cost Jesus paid to give us freedom -- in the future, though, it will be the most joyous time!

Is that one reason we call it amazing grace?]

For full sermon - hear it again - go to: fbc-bc.org and click on sermons...

Dean Koontz - Sorrow, Humility and Words

Sorrow.....

To keep sorrow from overwhelming me, I remain focused on the beauty of the world, which is everywhere to be seen in rich variety, from the smallest wildflowers and the iridescent hummingbird that feeds on them to the night sky diamonded with fiery stars....I keep sorrow in check by anticipating the fulfillment of that much-desired destiny...



Humility....

Narcissists are everywhere in this ripe age of self-love, which amazes me because so much in life would seem to foster humility. Each of us is a potential source of foolishment, each of us endure the consequences of the foolishness of others, and in addition to all of that, Nature frequently works to impress upon us our absurdity and thereby remind us that we are not the masters of the universe that we like to suppose we are....


Words....

Maybe it's just that before anything, came the word, and words are the roots of everything that our senses perceive. Nothing can be imagined, nothing can be visualized in our minds, until we have a word for it....tapping into the primal creative power at the heart of the cosmos.

 -- From Odd Apocalypse, by Dean Koontz



And God said...(Genesis 1)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning....(John 1)

What the Chinese Figured Out - Philip Yancey

[A result of the Turning Point?]



Because of their ambivalence about the West, Chinese bureaucrats face a constant dilemma: whether to crack down on or encourage the growth of Christianity in China.

Is faith in God good or bad for society?

Sometimes they launch campaigns against the Chinese church and sometimes they openly tolerate it.

Chinese leaders know that the top 15 countries ranked on a respected Prosperity Index have a Christian heritage.

Indexes that rank nations by corruption and economic freedom show exactly the same trend.  Even die-hard atheists have to recognize that religious faith can have positive affects on society.

...a statement from a Chinese scientist indoctrinated in Maoism who had carefully studied the west:

      "One of the things we were asked to look into was what accounted for the success, in fact, the pre-eminence of the West all over the world.

     "We studied everything we could from the historical, political. economic and cultural perspective.

     "At first, we thought it was because you had more powerful guns than we had. Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system.

     "But in the past twenty years, we have realized that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity. That is why the West has been so powerful.

     "The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics. We don't have any doubt about this."


*From the Communist Party's perspective, it can have a dangerous effect, too. In 2009, the human rights organization Freedom Watch certified 89 countries as "free;" 81 of them were predominantly or historically Christian.

        --From What Good is God? by Philip Yancy

Meet Me

I am so touched by these words of this song by Bobby Michaels. He dedicates this work --

This song is for our Cambodian hosts, Setan and Randa Lee, who survived the Cambodian "Killing Fields." Setan was saved from death when, at the edge of a pit with a Khmer Rouge soldier poised to kill him, he called out to the "Lord of the Universe" to save him, promising he would spend the rest of his life telling others about the "Lord of the Universe"  -- Jesus.

 

Meet Me

 

Meet me, I'll meet you

In the quiet of this room

I'll close the door of life, Lord,

For a moment with you.

 

Meet me, Oh, I'll meet you

In the quiet of this room

You'll show yourself in this holy place.

I'll know you.

 

Meet me, Oh, I'll meet you

In the quiet of this room

Prepare me now for things to come

For the honor of you.

 

Lord of the Universe, be Lord of me

Loosing bonds of all wickedness

Setting me free

Break every yoke

That now separates me from you

Lord of the Universe, be Lord of me.

 

 

 

Come near to God and He will come near to you.

(James 4:8)

 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me

(John 10:27)

 

If the Son therefore has made you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

 

Is this not the type of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)

 

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free. (Psalm 146:7)

What Jesus Revealed to John- Sermon Notes 10/14/12

Turning to the Book of the Revelation...


The declarations and specific datings of Christ's return by William Miller in the 1800s and Harold Camping in the 1900s have scarred the church with the scorn and ridicule of the world.

But the Book of the Revelation has an important message for us today and had an immediate impact on the early Christians.

The early church faced intense persecution -- including death and imprisonment. John's Revelation encouraged them, reminding them that human history is in the hands of God.

[Often, Bro Mike reminded us, we thank God for the freedom we have today - freedom to worship and exercise our faith. But what are we doing with this freedom?]

Did the early Christians wonder what was happening all around them? Did they wonder why saying 'yes' to Jesus seemed to bring them into danger? Was it going to ruin their lives? 

They were reminded in John's Revelation that earthly places are temporary - even Jerusalem and the Promised Land was temporary. So why, they might wonder, did God provide for His people a land and place of worship; why did He encourage them to hold on to it so tenaciously, when it was all temporary?

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO

IN THE FUTURE

 

Revelation 21:1-5

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."


1. God is going to provide a permanent home for people.

       God cares about a physical place. A physical location. There were no clouds - no floating around - no mist hiding John's vision.

       In Jerusalem today we are not impressed with its actual physical beauty. We look around at the stones and dirt. And some other nation has Temple
Mount. This Jerusalem is temporary.

       Why did the God of all space and time and eternity choose a particular physical place?

2. He is going to join us at that permanent home.

        The tabernacle in the desert and the temple in Jerusalem were symbols of God's presence, but in another way, symbolic of where God wasn't. He brought down His shekinah glory and filled the temple with His glory.

       But in reality, He could not live anywhere there was any microscopic cell of sin. He is holy. He was not there in the same way He is going to be with us -- now the dwelling of God is with men - and He will be with them --

3. He will remove all evidence of sin and suffering.

      Preachers spend much of our lives trying to explain pain and suffering - people wonder, 'God, why couldn't You have just made a slight adjustment to Adam and Eve so they would be obedient to You? Why was that tree so important?'

      Doctors in the ER repair bodies from violent acts and people wonder, why? 'I don't know. Pass the scalpel.'

      God is going to remove all evidence of sin and suffering.

      Note from verse 1: there was no longer any sea.
 In ancient literature, including the Bible, the sea represented the unknown, dark, dangerous...a symbol of evil.

      Someday, He will, wipe away all evidence of our pain and suffering.

IMPLICATIONS OF ALL THIS

 

1. This world is not my home. I know this, but I am still caught up in the world.

 

We might think, "Oh, I want Him to return, but maybe He could wait a couple of weeks....we want to go to Hawaii...", or "I have tickets to the big game..."

 

We would be kidding, but not kidding.

 

Question: Do I really long for verse 3 - having God's dwelling place with me?

 

Bro Mike shared that often he is respected and receives special treatment. Other times his forehead is stamped "Party Pooper"! People wonder, why did you invite him? He's no fun! Hide everything til he leaves, which will probably be early because he doesn't like parties!

 

God right there? is that attractive to us? Is that our desire? Or is it like having the Big Boss around....better hide!

 

2. I'm being prepared for it. I'm not ready. Oh, Bro Mike, you can't be serious! No, there are some things I need to take care of --

 

We need to start imaging how wonderful it will be -- that every conceivable fun thing we can think of is nothing compared to what He has for us.

 

This is a fact: I am going to be OK...I'm going to be changed. 

 

We will be ready. He is going to change us. When we take that first breath of heavenly air, we'll be ready!
 

 

ARE YOU GOING WITH ME?

 

Here's the thing: I have believed what the Bible says about Jesus and I have responded. I am a sinner. I am guilty. He is perfect. At the cross I lost my guilt. I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life.

 

I am not perfect. I need to get over some things. He is patient, nudging and guiding me and speaking to me.

 

One day I will arrive in heaven and I don't deserve it. Jesus will introduce me to His Father as one of His because He paid the price for my sin.

 

 

 

Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for what is absolutely going to be true some day. I pray it would make us live differently - and act like it in our loose grip on things and we would look to you as the Author and Finisher of our faith.This I pray in Jesus
name....



Note: This was a really super message - challenging and comforting and uplifting....go to our web site to hear it all - these notes are really inadequate.... I almost deleted them....

Go to: fbc-bc.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
   

    
      
      

Sermon Notes for 09/30/12

Just notes.....to hear full sermon go to: fbc-bc.org and click on "Sermons" -

This has been such a challenging series - The Mission of the Church - Discipleship.  Bro Mike concluded it today.

The basic text has been Colossians 1:24-29.

Introduction:

 

All to Jesus I surrender;

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him;

In His presence daily live

 

All to Jesus I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine,

Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit

Truly know that Thou art mine.

 

All to Jesus I surrender

Lord, I give myself to Thee

Fill me with Thy love and power

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

 

I surrender all; I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior

I surrender all.

 

 

 

This hymn will be today's "Invitation Hymn" at the close of the service. It will the time for a public response, to receive Christ, or join the church, or a private response to fully surrender our lives to His call for discipleship. All should decide something - publicly or privately.

 

Bro Mike referred to Christ's last words to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..."

 

 

Last words are significant. We pay close attention to them.

 

Christ told His disciples to go out and engage people. There must be a point of decision. Baptize - a public statement you are a believer, and then discipleship begins...teaching them to become something different....to lead them to grow to be ready to go to the Lord when the time comes.

 

 

Back to the initial question asked in this series:

 

If the staff of this church asks for volunteers to disciple new Christians  -- would you consider yourself qualified?

 

 If you continue to say "no," then the root problem is not feelings of inadequacy, but pride and unfaithfulness.


Paul gave up everything -- his status, his influence, his authority -- to follow Christ.

If we were to ask him later, "Paul, was it worth it? All the suffering -- prison, beatings, scornful rejection? He would say, 'Yes!'"

Colossians 1:24-29:

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.


The riches of the glory - not just great fundamental doctrines of the church, but Christ in you - in us - in the people in our church.

Do you see Christ in the people in your church?  Seeing Christ at work in those around you should bless and encourage you.

1. The Person of the Discipleship Process....How does a person grow (mature)? To be genuinely ready to go when God calls them home...Bro Mike again referred to the two recent funerals of women in our church who had become "discipled." They were ready to be called home.

Salvation, new birth,being saved - is the beginning point only. How do you go from there to being ready to go to the Lord? Discipleship --  someone, some church helps us grow....

verse 28: Him we preach - He is  above all denominational lines - above all else - He is the head of the Church.

Is the message we have worth interrupting some one's life to talk about Him? Is it worth being nervous to talk to someone we don't know? Is it worth the feeling of being scared and nervous to talk to a close friend?

You have to answer the question in the privacy of your own heart;  Do you believe someone is better off if they follow Jesus? Better off now? Better off later?

Or better off being left alone.  Is it worth it? Is He worth it?
Do you have a right to interrupt their livers?

2. The Purpose of the Discipleship Process....to present every man perfect (mature, complete). The world may think "perfect" means I think I am better than you. No....I am in the process of becoming like Jesus...changes taking place in my life make me different...on the way to becoming what He wants me to be....

Everyone is worth being discipled.

3. The Power of the Discipleship Process ....to this end I labor,  striving. ..In the Greek it means "agonizing..."

American church attitude: don't expect anything from me...leave me alone. This is the American marketplace.

Hey, relax, chill out, quit struggling...

But we agonize, because He is worth it...

Remember "soccer mom"  - picture of women who get up before dawn, get their kids breakfast, to school, pick them up and take them all over for all their activities....they don't stop til is all done - everyday - 6 or 7 days a week.

"I will agonize till my death for my kids.. there is no sacrifice I won't make.." they are saying.

Would you agonize for anyone beyond your family?

American mentality -- look at my calendar....my schedule is full...

Is there any evidence I am serving the Kingdom of God on my calendar?

verse 29:  I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully within me.  "Power"  - from the Greek word for "dynamite."

We all need His power - laid back, passive people and aggressive, active people.


Bro Mike turned to an example from the life of Bonhoeffer, who said:

  Christianity without discipleship is Christianity without Christ.

Bonhoeffer himself was an supreme example of discipleship. Teaching in the US during the 1930's, and then when he realized what was happening in Germany he returned to his homeland to serve Christ, and suffer there with His Church,  knowing he was facing certain death.

Closing:

If you flew from New York to Los Angeles in (1) a large 747, or (2) a light Cessna... what would be the difference? On the larger commercial plane, the pilot would put it on autopilot and all the course adjustments would be taken care of.

In your friend's Cessna 172 you would make many stops for fuel, and make various course corrections and adjustments, and it would take a lot longer.

Your life: "Lord, what adjustments  do I need to make?"

If so, what adjustments are you making?

Will you consider discipleship a part of it?

Prayer:

Lord, help us to be faithful to You. For some this morning that means we are asking that You would influence them and draw them to Yourself and be saved. For others to be really open about their walk with You and where they are on this road of discipleship. For those who are very intrically involved in church life, to step back and see what this should be about. Help us, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen.



 



Sermon Notes - 09/23/12 - Part 2

Here are just some notes from the remaining portion of Bro Mike's sermon last week...



1. God wants to reach people's hearts - break through their intellect and pride - and capture their hearts. Maybe they are not intellectual - maybe they dropped out of school after 6th grade. He still wants to reach them - break through their illiteracy and capture their hearts.

2. So the church is in an age when the world thinks we are irrelevant and holds us in contempt.

3. And the church is in an age when even part of the church itself has doubts....

We can't be the church today. The world is not paying attention!

Bro Mike referred to a book he is currently reading about pastoral ministry. The author gives John the Baptist as a example of a pastor's ministry in the world.  He walked into whatever was going on and had a simple,  single-minded message.

Prophetic preaching is telling the truth and helping make sense of people's lives.

To speak God's word with authority and with the intention of  persuasion.

John brought up God - an awareness of Him and His work - in a particular moment in time.
 

 

     I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ    who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

 

     Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching.

 

     For the time will come when they will not endure  sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears...they will turn away from the truth...but you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry... 2 Tim 4:1-5

 

 

And just about everyone believes we are at that time -- when they will not endure sound doctrine....


4. Probably 90% of what goes on in church during the pastor's message is the work of the Holy Spirit. The text...the topic..and then the Holy Spirit takes it and runs with it. You are paying attention to the preacher, but also to the Holy Spirit.

5. What about a child - a seven-year old - church is divided. Should there be children's church for all young people? Or should they be in the sanctuary with their families.

Something about that moment in time. Bro Mike tells about his experience in church at 7 years old and how his mother pinched him to keep him still and quiet. "Even the 7 year old needs to be there," he said, "to experience that moment."

6. Re-orientation. Our compasses...our GPS...  have to be redirected, re-oriented each week. That goes for pastors, too.

7. The church should not take a survey of the world to find out what they need or want....we should look to God to show us His agenda.

A preacher knows many will walk by and walk off...We are doing things on God's agenda.

8. Closing prayer:


Thank you for the activity you are doing in people's lives. Help us as we try to reach certain people to realize that You love them even more than we do, whether they are smart or challenged. Help us to cooperate with You in reaching them... help us to be the church in a manner You can use...

I pray for mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and sons and daughters...who right now consider Your message irrelevant....
that You will do a work in their lives...to draw them closer to Yourself...and help us to be faithful. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Sermon Notes - 09/23/12 - Part 1

Sermon notes for September 23, 2012 (Part 1)


These are just my notes. This series on discipleship is packed full.
For the complete sermon go to fbc-bc.org, click on sermons.


Bro Mike often describes our Christian life as a journey -- it is not just a bunch of stuff happening each day. It has a definite beginning and a definite destination.

The beginning of our journey is not our physical birth. It is our "re-birth," our "born again experience," our "salvation event."

All words used to describe the starting place of our journey.


Before we begin our journey, we have to deal with Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Everyone is a sinner. We all need a Savior.

Then Romans 10:13: For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Everyone.

It is when we call on the name of the Lord, placing our trust in Him, that we are "converted," "born again," "saved..." 

This is when we begin our journey...our walk with Jesus...our work of discipleship.

We start there and follow Him in discipleship until we are called home.

Bro Mike mentioned 2 funerals this week of women who had at some time in their life begun their journey of discipleship.

He could, with confidence, read Paul's words in 2 Timothy 4:7, and use it to describe them:

       ...the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good
       fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.
      
Discipleship is not automatic. The word means "learner."



Am I on the journey of becoming a disciple?


Paul suffered for being a follower of Jesus, and he linked his suffering for Christ as being for the sake of His body, the church.
(Colossians 1:24)

Our own First Baptist Church in Bay City is a part of that great church. Jesus is the head and the Holy Spirit is at work.

Colossians 1:26: the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

This should jolt our attention -- what was hidden for centuries has been revealed to us!

Do we really know who we are today?


At no time will I ever say, "I got it! No more praying! No more study!"

 I will be unwrapping the glorious riches of this mystery throughout my life. We must be ferocious in our quest for understanding the glorious riches available to us.



What will you do with the rest of your life after you are saved?

Colossians 1:28: Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect [mature] in Christ Jesus.

"We" is not just the preacher.

Three Words:

 

Him

We

Preach

Today the church is an object of contempt and irrelevance in the world's eyes.

     For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who
     are perishing, but to us who are saved it is the power
     of God.     1 Corinthians 1:18

Our own families -- same gene pool, same background...but...they just don't get it!

We need to pray intelligently: Lord, my brother could care less. When I talk to Him about You and Your work, he scoffs. Lord, please stir up his spirit to feel drawn to you. Please do whatever it takes for him to feel Your touch on his life. This is a daring prayer.

 

 

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1 Corinthians 1:19

 

 

 

The church today is having a hard time with intelligent people.

Sometimes we must wonder, 'Lord, did You take into account the 20th century in Your plan?  All these intelligent people and all the scientific discoveries they promote?'

 

How do we approach them?

 

He answers, "I love them even more than you do. I want to blot out their pride. I want to get through their intellect and reach their heart." I want this even more than you do...

 

Sermon Notes - Mulling It Over

Bro Mike says he plans  now to do 4 sermons (originally he planned to do 3) on Discipling (Making Disciples) - The Mission of the Church. That suits me just fine, because I am being confronted with a lot of important truths, and would like to spend more time in
Colossians 1.

I am "mulling over" some things I really need to "mull over."

I haven't heard the term, "mulling over," in a long time.
"To mull" comes from an old Middle English word that means "to grind." It is normally used with "over." It means to "cogitate" or "ponder."

Actually I don't hear those terms much anymore, either.  (Maybe we don't do it much anymore?)

Anyway, I made a list of thoughts that I am pondering, cogitating about, or mulling over, from the messages for September 9 and 16:



1. Angels look at our inheritance of God's grace by Christ's atoning sacrifice and marvel - we are so blessed!

They "look over the balcony of heaven" and are amazed at the extent of His love for us. (Are they "mulling it over"?)
 
Even they are astounded at God's unspeakable gift to us, His lowly creatures. And at what a great cost...(In my imagination, I hear a great cosmic "gasp!")


 2. Kingdom mentality. The Old Testament prophets had a kingdom mentality. They served God and suffered for Him, delivering faithfully His message for mankind, knowing they would not be around to witness His greatest Act - they would not be recipients of His greatest Gift. Still they served.

Do we serve that faithfully - even knowing sometimes that others will reap the greater benefit of our service? Do I?


3. How am I different now from (1) the way I used to be, and, (2) others around me? Am I taking "the road less traveled by"? Is there really a difference in my life?


4. Being an expert in the life of Paul would be the most important goal for our Bible study. (I am understanding this better as I keep "pondering" it.)


5 Each decision we make each day requires us to make a choice relating to our journey with Him.


6. Our testimony to others should not be "intense" but carried out, lived out, in freedom and love. (I needed this!)


7. Christ (and the Holy Spirit) are partnering with us in our "extreme make-over." We are not alone in our pursuit of holiness.


8 We are to teach disciples obedience - not just reading and studying  what Christ did, acknowledging His great acts, but to commit ourselves to complete obedience and teach others to do the same.

He said, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey every thing I have commanded you.
......Matthew 28:19-20

Sermon Notes - 09/16/12 - Part 2

Part 2 - 09/16/12



Colossians 1:27

     To them [saints] God has chosen to make known among the   
     Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ
     Christ in you, the hope of glory.

An expert at Antique Roadshow  might ask, "Do you know the story of how this came into your family?"

Jesus Christ left glory and came to Israel - God's chosen people.
Most did not receive Him, but some did.

Jesus took the form of a human being, touched dirt, bled and died. Then He ascended back to His glory in heaven.

Paul knows the gospel beyond a shadow of doubt. He came out of Judaism with its rich, rich heritage as God's people. Jesus went right past them to the Gentiles - people Jews called "dogs."

CHRIST IN YOU - not in Jews only. Your birth certificate is meaningless, he says to his fellow Jews. It will not cut it with God!



Finish the title of this movie: The Invasion of the_____________!
(Body Snatchers)

Remember the movie? Sci-fi-came out in 1956 and remade in 1978. Aliens came to earth  to take over people's lives. A man walks into his home - his wife recognizes him, but after a few minutes she knows it is not really him -- he moves and acts like a robot - no emotion. A doctor discovers the plot and sees truckloads of "pods" coming into town.

Some people think "Christ is you" is like that.

"No, thank you," they say. "I'm not going to be a robot for anyone. Every day die to self? I'm not perfect, but I'm not going to do that!"

Most young preachers reach for more and bigger churches. Later
they begin to learn the truth.

Wherever you are, God has placed you with other people - in whom Christ lives. Don't look over their heads to someone else.

God is in me - He is still working.

You should consider: Christ is in you, loving you, loving your personality. Not your sinful expression of life, but YOU and your
real personality.

After He saves you He transforms the root of sin in you and becomes a partner with you in your "makeover."

He takes us as we are, but He makes us into something new.

Do you recognize Christ in others?

When I first began my journey with Christ I lost a couple of friends. I walked in intensity and alienated them.

Now I am learning to walk in freedom and love.


III. Do you know what it would be worth today?

You will have to decide for yourself.


In 2009, when in Raleigh, North Carolina, a woman brought in a piece of jade her father had given her years before. What was it worth today? 1.07 million dollars. It was the first million dollar appraisal in the show's history.


How do you appraise your salvation? You are a multi-faceted diamond. God is shaping and tuning that diamond.




Discipleship occurs when people are impressed with the attractiveness of Christ and confronted with the deficiency of lesser gods.


When you talk to others who have not begun their journey with Christ, remember they are idolaters. No doubt about it. Help them see how deficient their god(s) is (are.)



We don't make Christ attractive. We don't make Him awesome. We don't make Him better than the world. He already is.




I hope someone today has been attracted to Christ. It's time to begin the journey of following Jesus only, not all religions.

This sermon is not meant to take you from level 1 to level 10. If you get from level 1 to level 2 you will begin to realize there is something more ahead to journey toward.

The Baptist church is full of folks who claim to know Christ. Maybe in their 50's and 60's, who had at one time an encounter with God, but did not continue the journey, and have missed out on the mlti-faceted richness of the glory of the mystery nof Christ in us. 

These are just notes - this was a "rich, rich" message - hear it all at our website - fbc-bc.org.

Sermon Notes - 09/16/12 - Part 1

This is Week 2 in Bro Mike's 3-week series on Discipleship -- the Mission of the Church.


Main Text, Colossians 1:24-29, this week concentrating on verses 26-28:

(26) the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

(27) To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

(28) Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.


Introduction: The Church is responsible for taking a person from where he starts his journey in Christ on to maturity. We want to take every member and help them grow.

Do You Appreciate Your Salvation?

Appreciate --

• to grasp the nature, worth, quality, or significance of;
• to judge with heightened perception or understanding;
• to be fully aware of

Sometimes we need to stop and have our salvation appraised --
Bro Mike's illustration was the popular Antique Roadshow.

You can take items to knowledgeable, expert antique dealers.
An item might even come from your attic, tucked away, without any value or use. An expert will look at it and, describes it in great detail, and then asks, "Do you want to know what it is worth?"

It is usually good news for them, and fun for us to watch.



I. Did you know that the gospel of your salvation was once hidden from even God's choicest servants?

     Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of
     the grace that was come to you, searched intently and with
     the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances
     to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he
     predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would
     follow.... 1 Peter 1:10-11


Your salvation: when you die you will be delivered from death with sin to life with forgiveness. That is salvation.
 

To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:12
 

Angels, looking over the balcony of heaven, saying, "Hey, that is
a rich, rich gospel down there."   It is not accessible to them.

"Wow, tell us more about that - what we see from a distance!" they
might be saying.

Angels wonder about it and marvel.

Prophets - it was revealed to them, but it was not for them. All the prophets -- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah -- all of them worked diligently and faithfully for others (like us)  to be blessed.

That means they had a kingdom mentality.

Do you have a kingdom mentality? Can you serve God when
someone asks you to do something that will bless someone else?
Maybe sometimes we have a slight hesitation if we are not to be the recipients of the blessing.

The prophets searched carefully for something they could not put their hands on.


II. Do you know the mystery behind the gospel being hidden? (v. 26-27) Christ in you! 


Perhaps on Antiques Roadshow a person might be told their item was made in Paris in 1814. So how did it end up in my attic? they might wonder. How did it come into their possession?

What had been hidden for centuries, was, as Paul said in verse 26,  now revealed to his saints.

The term saint can be a huge issue for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ in other traditions. We are saints...saints with a little "s".

If I am not a saint the day I die, God will say, "I never knew you!"

The Greek word for saint means  "separated unto God."

Over 100 times in the New Testament the term is used to mean that if you know Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit has come into your life and separated you unto God.

Look at the word now: Bro Mike tells us he highlights words and phrases in his Bible, often in blue, but the word now here should be highlighted in red!

Now....could you tell another human being that at one time you were in one position and now you have moved to another position....or..."once I didn't understand that, but now I do" ....or "once I knew I was lost, but now..."

This week's assignment is to think about that...how are you different now?

It was hidden to Isaiah, but you get to have it!


This was really a powerful message -- I have listened to it  on line, parts of it twice, to help put these notes together. There is much more....

I will finish notes in Part 2. If you want the whole thing right now, go to fbc-bc.org and hear it!

Sermon Notes for Sept 9, 2012 - Part 2

Sermon Notes for Sept 9, 2012 (Con't)
 

Main Text: Colossians 1:24-29

 

     Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

 

     I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--

 

    -- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints,

 

     To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 

     We proclaim him, admonishing and telling everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

 

     To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
 

 

Because of the importance of these verses in relation to our topic: The Congregation's Path Toward Becoming a Faithful Church, Bro. Mike says he will spend 3 weeks in this passage.

 

 

MAIN OUTLINE:

 

• Faithfulness in Christ
• The Mystery of the Gospel
• The Work of the Gospel

Faithfulness in Christ

We all want to be part of a faithful church. Paul demonstrated
his faithfulness and it caused him great suffering.

Suffering in Paul's Life Came:

1. With Professing Christ in His Life
2. With Identifying with the Church
3. With Seeing his Ministry as Serving Others

1. Paul gave up Israel, status, protection of the law, special aspects of being one of the top people in Israel. He exchanged all of this
for a life of suffering.

Read his resume in 11 Corinthians 11:23-27. He worked hard, was often imprisoned, flogged, exposed to death many times, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, lost at sea, in danger everywhere he went, experienced cold, hunger, and lack of sleep for the sake of the gospel.

And in Colossians 1:24 he says, "Now I rejoice in my suffering for you and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in His afflictions for His body, which is the church." Bro Mike noted particularly the last four words...which is the church....all Paul's suffering was for the church.

Paul says he was rejoicing in his suffering. He was enjoying them!
Was Paul (1) mentally ill? (2) suffering from low self esteem?

No, he has a high view of Christ. Paul says, "Count me  in as a Christian." Did he ever feel he was perhaps following the wrong path? No! He kept saying "Count me in!"

2. Identifying with the church can get us into trouble these days. People will begin telling us about how the church hurt them, let them down, destroyed their faith. Likely telling the truth. Paul had a deep concern for all the churches. In 11 Corinthians one of the causes of suffering he added to his list was "Besides everything else, I face daily concern for all the churches" (11 Corinthians 11:28

The church is being thrown overboard today in America. 'We don't need the church. We can go somewhere at sunrise and worship alone or with a few friends. The church is irrelevant...out of fashion..out of touch'. We must be prepared to face this opposition.

3. Bro Mike said he was humbled when he considered Paul's ministry. He said after he was ordained (in January of 1978) he feels the first years were all about himself. God must have done a special work in Paul - from the start it was all about others.

[Note: that must have been a Bro Mike I never knew.]

Conclusion:

FOR THE PROFESSING BELIEVER:

Is there any level or degree of difficulty in your life that is expressly due to your association with Christ, His church, and your devotion to others?

FOR THOSE THINKING ABOUT FOLLOWING CHRIST:

You are going to be influenced by someone or something. You are going to be following some path. And when you choose a path, you will have to make a choice about Jesus.

 

The Bible says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You can begin the journey today.

                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

P.S. I am beginning to see why Bro Mike said that the thing to concentrate on in Bible study is to become an expert in the life of Paul.

For full sermon, go to our church website: fbc-bc.org. I heartily recommend it! He has some great illustrations I didn't include here.