Access Church

We’re a worshipping church.

We all worship something.

Worship is our response to what we value most.

We were made to worship.

Luke 19:37-40 // When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

What is God’s style of worship?

Halel – to rave, boast, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish.

Psalm 35:18 NLT // I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.

Yadah – to acknowledge in public with extended hands.

Psalm 138:1 // I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart.

Barak – to bless by kneeling or bowing.

Psalm 103:1 // Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Zamar – making music to God with strings.

Psalm 92:1 // It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 150:3-5 // Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

Shabach – to address in a loud tone, to shout.

Psalm 63:3-4 // Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Towdah – to lift hands in adoration.

Psalm 50:23 // He who offers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

Tehilah – exuberant singing.

Psalm 34:1 // I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

Psalm 108:1,3 // O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise (zamar), even with my glory... I will praise (yadah) Thee, O Lord among the people. And I will sing praises (tehillah) unto Thee among the nations.

Worship is love expressed.

Mark 12:30 // Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.

All your heart and soul

Expressing my affection to God.

All your mind

Focus my attention on God.

All your strength

Use my abilities for God.

1 Corinthians 12:1  //  Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

God created you to serve.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT  //  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Poiema

1 Peter 2:9 MSG  //  But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work.

1 Peter 2:5  //  You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

God gifted you to serve.

God changes you when you serve.

Philippians 2:3-4  //  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

“Leave your crown in the garage”

God uses you when you serve.

God rewards your serving.

Galatians 6:9-10  //  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Matthew 27:24  //  When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

John 13:3-5  //  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

You can wash your hands of the responsibility or you can pick up the responsibility.

Matthew 20:26  //  Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.

“But not in a good way.”

Mark 16:9-13  //  9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. 12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

Easter must move from history to personal.

Luke 24:17-21  //  17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;

Friday is a day of PAIN.

Jesus understands your pain.

Jesus died on a Friday so you wouldn’t have to stay stuck in a Friday.

Luke 24:21  //  21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

Saturday is a day without HOPE.

Luke 24:30-35  //  30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

Sunday is a day of FREEDOM.

Isaiah 53:5  //  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Grace paid the bill.

Vision - The ability to see clearly.

God speaks in dreams and visions.

Proverbs 29:18 KJV  //  Where there is novision, the people perish

Chazown

Proverbs 29:18 NIV  //  Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint.

You were created for significance, not just survival

Proverbs 29:18 MSG  //  If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.

Blessed - Happy in your soul

Ephesians 1:17-18 NIV  //  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

1. Know God

1 Timothy 6:21 TLB  //  Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God...

2. Find Freedom

James 5:16 NIV  //  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

3. Discover Purpose

Romans 12:6 NIV  //  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

4. Make a Difference

John 15:8, 11 NIV  //  “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” 11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Transcendence

Mark 8:22-26  //  22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 // And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 John 4:7-11 // Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

“This is the lesson of Beauty and the Beast; that a thing must be loved before it is loveable.” - G.K. Chesterton

John 13:23 // The disciple whom Jesus loved…

Agape - to will the good for another person

Bestowed Worth

1 John 4:10  // This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

To love is to give.

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

To love is to serve.

Matthew 20:26 // …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.

To love is to care.

Luke 19:10 // For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

John 15:13 // Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 // For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 MSG // 12 We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

You have no idea what God may produce through a single seed planted in faith.

Hebrews 11:1 // Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Faith is full confidence that God is who he says he is and will do what he said he will do.

Faith is…

Believing when I don’t see.

Obeying when I don’t understand.

Worshipping when I don’t feel like it.

Trusting when I don’t get it.

Genesis 15:1-2 NLT // Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” 2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?”

We think ADDITION.

God thinks MULTIPLICATION.

Genesis 15:5 NLT // Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky

and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Galatians 3:29 // If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed…

Hebrews 11:6 // And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Seeing isn’t believing.

Believing is seeing.

Faith is like a radar that sees through the fog. – Corrie Ten Boom

How do I forgive?

Matthew 6:14-15  //  For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Luke 22:32-33  //  Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with [Jesus] to be executed. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

How do I forgive like Jesus?

Pray for those who hurt you.

Forgive as you have been forgiven.

Luke 6:28 NLT  //  Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

Matthew 5:43-44  //  You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Your prayers may not change them, but it will always change you.

Colossians 3:13  //  ...Forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Forgiveness will not change the past, but it can change the future.

“Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” – Anne Lamont

 

For better or for worse, all of our ideas about marriage were influenced by something.

Marriage Myths:

If you wish it, it will get better.

Marriage takes work.

Perfect people exist.

No one is perfect.

Your love can make someone better.

People have to want to be better.

Physical affection can sustain us.

Physical affection should be a benefit of a solid relationship, not the reason for one.

1 John 3:18  //  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Love is not a feeling, it’s an action.

It’s not enough to say it, you have to show it, too.

John 15:12  //  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Love is not a feeling, it’s a choice.

Even when I don’t feel love, I choose love.

John 15:13  //  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Ephesians 5:25  //  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Love is not a feeling, it’s a sacrifice.

True love will always require a sacrifice.

 

Ephesians 5:21  //  Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Kill Unrealistic Expectations

Learn To Love Well

Live With Boundaries

Expectation says “You Owe Me”

Love says “You Before Me”

Selfishness says "Me Before You"

Selflessness says "You Before Me"

Immediate says “Me Before You”

Ultimate says “You Before Me”

 

1 Corinthians 13:11  //  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

Once upon a time...

...and they lived happily ever after.

Genesis 2:20-25  //  …But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 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 then 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.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

You can't un-one what God makes one.

Covenant: to cut

Luke 22:20  //  This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Ahava

James 1:19-20  //  My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Never call names

Never raise your voice

Never be historical

Never threaten divorce

Never quote your pastor