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Archive for July, 2009

Sunday Sermon … The Year of the Lord’s Favor

July 27th, 2009

Wonderful, Merciful Savior – amazing song. And the choir did awesome.

Amen! – this song is just simply awesome! Our minister of music always does a great job singing it.

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Luke 4:14-21

So, Jesus came to the synagogues and taught and was praised. He returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” (v. 14). We see in verse 16 that it was His custom to go to a place of worship on the day of worship. It’s a good habit to have.

It was custom to allow a visiting rabbi to do the preaching, so jesus stood up and read from Isaiah 61:1-2. This passage in Isaiah refers to the year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25 which happened every fifty years. In the year of Jubilee, three things happened:

  1. All property returned.
  2. All debts canceled.
  3. All slaves released.

In the year of Jubilee, they would sound a horn on the day of atonement. When Jesus announced that the year of the Lord’s favor has come, his voice was the horn that marked this ongoing year of Jubilee for us! Jesus also described three things we can experience:

  1. Freedom
  2. Recovery
  3. Release

We can be free from the prison that is sin!

We can recover from being spiritually blind!

We can be released from the oppression we face!

All we have to do in order to have these three experiences is accept them from Jesus.

Why did Jesus stop reading halfway through Isaiah 61:2?

Well, He’s not on the same timeline that we’re on. When we read the verse, it looks like the year of the Lord and the day of vengance will all be at the same time. And, to God, on His timeline, it might be. … Have you read the Chronicles of Narnia books? In the books, whenever the people go from world to world, the timeline is always different. Maybe that’s how it is between the Earth and Heaven. … I also believe that there will be a second coming of Jesus that will be the day of vengance. … Perhaps, like the children in the Narnia books, Jesus came and lived a life for a while and returned to Heaven as if He had never left. And when he comes back, maybe only a week or a year later in His timeline, it could tens-of-thousands of years in this world. … Just an idea.

His announcement is also like announcing that a gas station is offering free gas for today only. It’s a limited time offer that can save you a lot on. All you have to do is accept it.

Your time could be up soon. Jesus may come this week or in the next millinium. We don’t know. Or, to be frank, we could die any moment.

Don’t waste time!

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I’m gonna close with a song this time.

Just as I Am

religion, Sunday Sermon

Brandon Heath – Wait and See

July 24th, 2009

Sunday Sermon … Spiritual High

July 20th, 2009

Well, my brother has been serving as the interum youth pastor at a church in South Carolina this summer. So went down to visit and spend time on the beach too. We also went to church with him Sunday morning. So here’s a SS from SC.

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My Chains are Gone - Awesome song by Chris Tomlin!!!

The Georgains Quartet – They did a marvelous job in the service.

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Mark 6:7-13, 30-31; Luke 9

Disciples = Followers = Believers = Disciple-Makers
The Israelites were God’s chosen people. They were to be God’s disciples and to make more disciples that would follow God. However, they became disciples of other gods, man-made gods, and started making disciples for these false gods instead of for the one true God. (A cross or fish or any “representation” of our Lord could also become a false god.) … In today’s day and age we are God’s chosen people. We are to be His disciples and are to encourage others to became disciples. Bur we do the same thing that the Israelites did. We began to follow false gods. Thst doesn’t necessarily mean statues or other people. It could be money, cars, sports (mine was soccer for the longest time), any type of electronics, or even your family. Basically, a false god is anyone or anything that you put even with or above God on your list of priorities.
Normally, when we really follow God, we get a ”spiritual high” but then we get a “spiritual low” when we stop following God. If you’ve ever been repelling than you know that it is much easier and faster to go down the side of the cliff than it is to climb up it. … As disciples, God has invited us to go on a journey with Him as the guide. It can seem rough quite often and very exhausting, but He has equipped us with everything necessary to make it to the top of the mountain. He has given us a helmet and let us choose who we tie ourselves too in case someone falls, but we are all somehow connected to Him through all the ropes, But if someone you are directly tied to decides to go repelling or just falls of the mountain than you are likely to fall too unless you have become strong enough in your Faith that you (and probably a few others together) are able to pull that person back up, onto the trail. … Sometimes you might be the one that falls or decides to repel. The descent may be “fun” with all the adrenaline while it lasts, but if you hit pointy rock or something, well, ouch. That would hurt. But the Guide won’t let you do any major damage to yourself unless you just flat-out run away and get rid of all your equipment.
Some people may be uncomfortable going on this journey and I can’t really blame them. Even Jesus’ twelve disciples were uncomfortable with the idea at first. This is when true faith comes in. If you aren’t comfy going on this journey than just take confidence in the Guide and equipment He has given to you. Take the equipment and use it. …Maybe you get scared when walking near a cliff even with the provided equipment. It’ll happen,. Just watch your step and make sure you continue to follow the guide. Doing these two things correctly will ensure your safety.
All the time we are on this journey, there is someone right beside us to teach us about everything we see as we go by it. All the beautiful flowers, magnificent animals and even the horrid vines. … Sometimes we may come to a plateau and remain at that altitude for a while. While on this flat area we will meet more teachers, people who have gone further up the trail and come back to us all the glorious and also dangerous encounters that we might have along the way until the next plateau. But these teachers need to continue on their journey too. So other disciples take a turn and teach the new travelers that come by the plateau for a while.
Wow. That was a much different spin on the sermon than usual. The pastor did a great job preaching, I just put a weird spin on it when I typed it up. … video

Disciples = Followers = Believers = Disciple-Makers

The Israelites were God’s chosen people. They were to be God’s disciples and to make more disciples that would follow God. However, they became disciples of other gods, man-made gods, and started making disciples for these false gods instead of for the one true God. (A cross or fish or any “representation” of our Lord could also become a false god.) … In today’s day and age we are God’s chosen people. We are to be His disciples and are to encourage others to became disciples. Bur we do the same thing that the Israelites did. We began to follow false gods. Thst doesn’t necessarily mean statues or other people. It could be money, cars, sports (mine was soccer for the longest time), any type of electronics, or even your family. Basically, a false god is anyone or anything that you put even with or above God on your list of priorities.

Normally, when we really follow God, we get a ”spiritual high” but then we get a “spiritual low” when we stop following God. If you’ve ever been repelling than you know that it is much easier and faster to go down the side of the cliff than it is to climb up it. … As disciples, God has invited us to go on a journey with Him as the guide. It can seem rough quite often and very exhausting, but He has equipped us with everything necessary to make it to the top of the mountain. He has given us a helmet and let us choose who we tie ourselves too in case someone falls, but we are all somehow connected to Him through all the ropes, But if someone you are directly tied to decides to go repelling or just falls of the mountain than you are likely to fall too unless you have become strong enough in your Faith that you (and probably a few others together) are able to pull that person back up, onto the trail. … Sometimes you might be the one that falls or decides to repel. The descent may be “fun” with all the adrenaline while it lasts, but if you hit pointy rock or something, well, ouch. That would hurt. But the Guide won’t let you do any major damage to yourself unless you just flat-out run away and get rid of all your equipment.

Some people may be uncomfortable going on this journey and I can’t really blame them. Even Jesus’ twelve disciples were uncomfortable with the idea at first. This is when true faith comes in. If you aren’t comfy going on this journey than just take confidence in the Guide and equipment He has given to you. Take the equipment and use it. …Maybe you get scared when walking near a cliff even with the provided equipment. It’ll happen,. Just watch your step and make sure you continue to follow the guide. Doing these two things correctly will ensure your safety.

All the time we are on this journey, there is someone right beside us to teach us about everything we see as we go by it. All the beautiful flowers, magnificent animals and even the horrid vines. … Sometimes we may come to a plateau and remain at that altitude for a while. While on this flat area we will meet more teachers, people who have gone further up the trail and come back to us all the glorious and also dangerous encounters that we might have along the way until the next plateau. But these teachers need to continue on their journey too. So other disciples take a turn and teach the new travelers that come by the plateau for a while.

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Wow. That was a much different spin on the sermon than usual. The pastor did a great job preaching, I just put a weird spin on it when I typed it up. I actually typed it in the back-seat of our mini-van at 10 or 11 at night, using the middle seat as a desk. And sorry I didn’t get all the verses in with the text. … I’ll try to get a video of the actual sermon. I’d love to be able to post a video of the actual sermon each week… I’m working on that.

Well, they used to post the sermons on their website, but they haven’t put this one up there yet.

religion, Sunday Sermon

You Are God Alone – Phillips, Craig and Dean

July 17th, 2009

Sunday Sermon … When God Looks at Me, What Does He See?

July 14th, 2009

Bless That Wonderful Name

Praise the King

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1 Samuel 16:1-13

Samuel had been mourning the rejection of King Saul by the Lord God. Then God comes to him and says, “move on, it’s time for a new king.” (v. 1)

Then Samuel questions God in verse 2 like we often do. God answers in the rest of verse 2 and 3 as He gives Samuel a reson to go to the alter and then tells him He will show him is to be the next king of Israel.

Samuel does what God told him to do. (v. 4-5)

Now, Jesse had eight sons, but only brought seven with him, leaving the youngest to tend  to the sheep. As each of the seven passed by Samuel, he though, “that’s the next king! Just look at him!” But God would say, “no. Samuel, physical appearence does not matter to me. I look at the heart.” (v. 6-10)

Samuel asks Jesse if he has any other sons. Jesse remembers his youngest son and they send for him … When he gets there, God says, “that’s him. Get up, Samuel, and make him the king.” Samuel did so and David became king. (v. 11-13)

The point: God sees everything differently than we do. Let’s look at verse 7.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Many people today are obsessed with their “figure”. Unfortunately, this obsession (like many other earthly obsessions) can easily lead to depression, eating disorders or even suicide. … If everyone could see themselves and everyone else the way God does, the world would likely be a much happier place. … Maybe we would all care about how are hearts look instead of our bodies. I’m not saying that it’s bad to take care of your body and physical appearence, do by all means. Just be careful that the temple does not become more impoprtant than God.

Ok, so David was young. He was the youngest son of Jesse’s. But he became the king of Israel. … The pastor at our church told us a story. He felt called to be a pastor at a young age. Some people thought he was too young, but God opened a door at a church when he was just eighteen. So he started preaching at this church in front of people far older than himself. He looked different a “normal” pastor at the time with his long hair (it was the seventies) but he was doing what God had called him to do. And when God calls you to do to His will, it’s a good idea to do it.

… What does your heart look like?

Uncategorized

Set the World on Fire – Britt Nicole

July 8th, 2009

Sunday Sermon … Freedom!

July 6th, 2009

Our pastor gave two short sermons this past Sunday … So the layout of this post might be slightly different.

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Sermon 1

God Bless America

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We Celebrate Our Religious Freedom in America

The first amendment in the Constitution of the United States says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The pioneers of our nation came to this land in order to get away from religious oppression. However some of the groups who came over here wanted religious freedom for only people who believed what they believed. On the other hand, the Baptists who came had the idea of religious freedom for everyone no matter what they believed. As a result, the Baptists were still persecuted even in the new world. … Eventually this principle was put into the Constitution as the First Amendment.

We need to be thankful that we can express our Faith in Christ without fear of persecution.

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Sermon 2

I Stand Here Forgiven

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We Celebrate Our Spiritual Freedom in Christ

Jesus’ death affects our relationships in four ways. … 1) it affecfts your relationship with yourself. … 2) it affect your relationship with God. … 3) it affects your relationship with others. … 4) it affects your relationship with the devil.

Let’s focus on the last one… There’s this cycle (or chain) and it goes like this…. Sin –> physical death … Sin –> spiritual death –> Hell … The first is inevitable, but the second has been altered by the death and ressurection of Christ! Instead of sin, we have God’s grace and forgiveness; instead of spiritual death, we have spiritual life; instead of Hell, we have Heaven. … So mow the it looks like this: God’s Grace and Forgiveness –> Spiritual Life –> Heaven! … Jesus’ death and ressurection broke the old chain of sin and death and created a new chain of Grace and eternal life in the bliss of Heaven!

In other words, Christ has broken the chain of Sin and given us the freedom to choose life or death.

religion, Sunday Sermon

Happy (Belated) Fourth of July!

July 5th, 2009

Should’ve done this yesterday…

Free to believe what we want to believe! … so fitting for the Sunday Sermon I’ll post tomorrow. (I don’t like blogging twice in the same day.)

Fun, Holidays, Music, Video

Two Hands – Jars of Clay

July 3rd, 2009