Sermon Notes June 11, 2023

How Big is God’s Yard?                                                “Taking Care of Business”

The Big Ideas About Creation Theology:                                

  1. Creation belongs to God.                                                           
  2. Creation is included in God’s redemptive plan                         
  3. We have been charged to care for creation, which involves stewardship.

 Exodus 23:10-11, “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.”

Leviticus 25:4-5, “But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.”

1. In agricultural terms, this is known as “fallowing,” letting a piece of land go ______________________ for a period of time.

  1. Big Rainforest fact: According to National Geographic, _____      acres of rainforest are cleared every ______________ for agricultural and industrial development.                                                  

Deuteronomy 22:6-7, “If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life.”

  1. Scary Extinction fact: The natural rate of extinction (and it can happen naturally) is estimated to be between 1 to 5 species a year. Our current rate — one species going extinct every ________________.                                                                   

Deuteronomy 20:19-20, “When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.”

 


Read more...

Sermon Notes June 04, 2023

“The Theology of Creation”                                                     Taking Care of Business

The Big Ideas on the Theology of Creation

  1. Creation belongs to _____________________________________. See: Psalm 24:1; 50:10-11; Colossians 1:15-16
  2. Creation is included in God’s redemptive _____________________. Genesis 1:26-28, Then God said, “Let us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in His Own image, in the image of God He created them; 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. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
  3. a) As a result, we are to ______________ God in terms of His creation. Genesis 2:15 The LordGod took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.                           
  4. b) As a result, God intends to redeem _________________________. See: Romans 8:19-22
  5. We have been charged to care for creation, that care involves responsible _______________________________________.
  6. a) God gave guidelines meant to ensure the ____________of the land. See: Exodus 23:10-11 and Leviticus 25:4-5
  7. b) God gave a day of rest (the Sabbath) to ______________________. Exodus 23:12, “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest  and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.”

See: Deuteronomy 5:14-15

Deuteronomy 25:4, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”

See: Job 39:5-8; Genesis 9:8-11; Psalm 104:10-12, 16-18

  1. c) God provided for maintaining a species’ ____________________.

See: Deuteronomy 22:6-7; 20:19-20

 


Read more...

Sermon Notes May 28, 2023

Baptism by the Book (2) 

Matthew 3:11; 13-15  “’I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’… 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented.”

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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Why Baptism?

1. Baptism is our opportunity to ___________________ Jesus.

Matthew 10:32-33,  “Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.”

2. Baptism is the time God has appointed for initially bestowing ______________________ upon believing,  repentant sinners.

Galatians 3:26-27, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

See 2 Kings 5:9-14


Read more...

Sermon Notes May 21, 2023

                                            Baptism by the Book

 

Mark 16:15-16, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’” 

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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Facts About Who I Am? 

  1. I am a _____________________________. 
  2. My sin brings _______________________. 
  3. Jesus paid the ______________________ for my sin. 

Romans 10:9,13, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved… Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” 

Acts 16:31, “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.’” 

Mark:16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” 

 


Read more...

Sermon Notes May 14, 2023

  Give Honor Where Honor is Due  

        “What’s Next”

  1. According to the Bible, we __________________for worship.
  2. Worship helps you…
  3. Order your _____________ around God. 
  4. Encounter and ________________ God.  Matthew 18:20, 

  “For where two or three gather in My name, there I am I with them.” 

  1. ___________________ to God.

Psalm 71:22-24, “I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy  when I sing praise to You—  I whom You have delivered. My tongue will tell of Your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.”                                                         Psalm 50:16-17, “But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.” 

  1. _________________________God. See Psalm 96.
  2. Receive spiritual encouragement and ___________________.

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

  1. The primary purpose of worship is not what WE get out of it, but what we ____________________ to God through it.

How Should We Worship?

John 4:23-24, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

See Psalm 28-2; 88:9; Nehemiah 8:5-6 

  1. They are called sacraments because they convey something to you and for you of a _________________________. 

Read more...

Sermon Notes May 07, 2023

Where Everyone Knows Your Name 

“What’s Next?”

Theme: If you want to live the life that Jesus lived, you ________________ the things that Jesus _______________.

Acts 2:42-47, “ They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Our Mission Statement:

We will help others KNOW Jesus as their Savior; GROW in their Christian Faith and relationships; and, SHOW Christ’s love through service to our community.

  1. This is accomplished in __________________________.
  2. Finding a community of faith and committing to it, is one of the most important spiritual steps you can take. The truth is: We cannot do life ______________________________.

Check out these “one another” references —                                        Romans 12:10; 12:16; 14:13; 14-19; 15:7; Ephesians 4:2; 4:32;             Colossians 3:13; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 4:9.

  1. We all need people who come alongside us and help us keep going. These people provide _________________________ and ___________________________.

Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching


Read more...

Sermon Notes April 30, 2023

DQT                                                                                “What’s Next?”

Theme: If you want to live the life that Jesus lived, you ______________ the things that Jesus __________________.

Mark 1:35-29, ”Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Simon and His companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for You!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’ So He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”

Jesus’ Time with the Father and It’s Impact

  1. Jesus set a ______________ and a _______________,

Luke 5:16, “ But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

  1. Because of His morning DQT, Jesus became…: 

    (a)  _______________________; and, 

    (b)  _______________________, and,

    (c)   _______________________.

Moving Forward

  1. Set a _________________ and find a _________________.

Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

  1. Some suggestions for Your DQT:   
  2. _________________ (Estimated time: 30 seconds).                                
  3. Read the Bible …            

   (1) Read from a __________________________ translation.

   (2) ____________ with the life and teaching of Jesus. (Estimated time: 4 minutes)

. Pray (Est. Time-2.5 min.)         

   (1) It should be _________________________________.  Matthew 6:9, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’”

   (2) Suggested Guidelines — A.C.T.S. 

      A= _____________. Tell God what’s in your heart toward Him. 

     C= _____________. Be completely honest before God.   

     T= _____________.

 1 Timothy 4:4, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,”  

     S= _____________. Asking God for help.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 


Read more...

Sermon Notes April 23, 2023

What to Look For…                                                            “What’s Next?”

The Deceivers 

  1. Religion — thinking that when we go through certain religious rites, rituals, services or ceremonies we are ___________________. This is called ________________.
  2. Knowledge — ALL we have to do is know and believe the __________________________________. 

See: James 2:14-19                                           

The Myths 

  1. When we give our life to Jesus, spirituality happens __________________________________.

See: Colossians 2:7

  1. 4. Being a Christian does not automatically translate into becoming ________________________.

See: Hebrews 5:12

  1. All you have to do is _______________ to be like Jesus. Wrong! You ___________________ the things Jesus did in order to live like Jesus lived.

See: Luke 6:40 and 1 Timothy 4:7

  1. Remember, becoming a truly spiritual person is a ____________________________

See: Proverbs 27:17 and Hebrews 10:24-25

  1. Becoming like Jesus is a _____________ for the rest of your life.

Facts About Being a Jesus – Follower 

  1. The state of your spirituality does not rest on how you ____________________________, but on who you are.
  2. It is YOUR responsibility to ____________________.
  3. The Mark of Spiritual Maturity is not being _________ but ________________________ yourself.

See: Hebrews 5:11-14

Are you willing to invest in Jesus?

 


Read more...

Sermon Notes April 16, 2023

The Rest of the Story                                                   “Getting Up on Easter Morning”

  1. Fact: We tend to see what we _______________________           sensitize ourselves to see.

See: 1 Corinthians 15:13-15, 17-20

John 20:11-16 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

  1. Doubt isn’t the same as unbelief. Doubt literally means to be ___________________________________________.

John 14:5-7,9  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  If you really know Me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”  Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

  1. The truth about shame:
  2. a)  We all have ___________________.  
  3. b)  We’re all afraid to _____________________ about it.
  4. c)  The less we talk about it, the more _______________ it has over our lives.

See John 18:15-18; 25-27                                           

John 21:4-9 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

John 21:15-17,19                                                                                                                    When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these? “Yes Lord,” “You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.” The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”  19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, “Follow me!”

 


Read more...

Easter Sunday April 09,2023

Take Jonah on the Third

“Getting Up on Easter Morning”

 

  1. When Jesus was asked what He could possibly do to prove Himself to skeptics — His answer: the ____________________.

Matthew 12:38-40, “Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to Him, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’ He answered, ‘A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’” 

Matthew 16:1-4, “The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested Him by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, ‘When evening comes, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,”  and in the morning, “Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.’ Jesus then left them and went away.”

  1. If you’re open to the possibility of the ___________________,    then the swallowing of Jonah by a great fish is ______________.   

Luke 9:18-22, “Once when Jesus was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.’ ‘But what about you?’ He asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘God’s Messiah.

  1. Jesus wants His audience to know two things about Himself: 
  2. He was the ____________________________.  
  3. He was a ______________________________.         

Luke 9:51, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, he steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”  (Also see Luke 10:38 and 13:22.)

  Luke 18:31-33, “Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ’We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, insult Him and spit on Him; 33 they will flog Him and kill Him. On the third day He will rise again.’”   

  1. Why does Jesus constantly declare how He would die and that He would be resurrected?
  2. It was always the _________________________; and,
  3. To ____________________ for the excruciating horror of the cross. (See Luke 24:1-8.) 
  4. The resurrection was the ultimate _________________or validation for everything that Jesus ever said and ever did.

Read more...