Bannockburn Church

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16. (MSG)

He is the Light.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 (NLT)

Light defeats death.

"The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone." John 1:4 (NLT) Light conquers darkness. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:5 (NLT)

Light provides direction.

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

The Light of Jesus brings hope to the hopeless.

"I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark." John 12:46 (NLT)

The Light shows us how we are to shine light into the darkness.

"For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!" Ephesians 5:8 (NLT)

Philippians 3:12–4:1 (ESV)

Principles to getting back at it:

John 21:15-19 (ESV)

The Invitation To Return:

You Version Notes

John 21:15-19 (ESV)

“Every man dies, not every man really lives.” – William Wallace

On Sunday, May 27, 1973 a group of 137 people responded to God’s challenge to form a new church with a mission of reaching and ministering to people in far South Austin.  The group first met at Crockett High School, then at Sunset Valley Elementary School.

We exist to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Three things that cannot make a church, but can break a church: Location – Facilities – Finances

“I think we will bust through the 3 million mark by 2030.” – Ryan Robinson – City of Austin’s Demographer

What is the primary reason people do not invite guests to their worship services?

• 31% - I don’t know. 

“God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things”

Luke 5:17:26 (NIV)

God uses people who make themselves available

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)   (NIV)

God uses people who dare to be different.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

God uses people who follow Him completely and don’t give up.

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23) (NIV)

• Deny yourself 

God uses people who are willing to take a risk.

The same good news that came to you is going out all over the world it is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful Grace. Colossians 1:6. (NLT)

Who’s your one?

Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. (Shouldn’t the story be over? Why are we still talking about Abe?) 2 He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. (Senior servant? Most experienced and most trusted…and the thigh?...Adam Clarke.) 3 I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”

Your Part Matters - Open Hearts & Hands

THEME - The Gospel accounts that tell us the story of Jesus also include imperfect people (like us) who are used by God because they have hearts for Him and hands that are willing to serve Him.

Bad reality #1 = We think that the universe should center on us

Bad reality #2 = We think we are insignificant and meaningless

Different reality = We are not the center of the universe but we are significant

Luke 23:50-53 There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.

Matthew 27:57 - 57 When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.

What we know about Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph’s heart was changed by Jesus

Ezekiel 36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

As our heart is miraculously softened by Jesus we ask… How do I live for God?

Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

John 19:38 - After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body.

Matthew 10:32-33 - Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

What did a step of faith look like for Joseph?

Luke 23:53 - Taking it [the body] down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.

Matthew 27:​​59-60 - So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Do you have a heart open to God? (That has been changed by God?)

Are your hands willing to serve Him? If so, what does that look like?

Impact of One - Pastor Chuck Davis concludes our series: "Your Part Matters."

Mark 15:43-46

Joseph was Respected

Matthew 27:57-60

Joseph was Wealthy

Luke 23:50

Joseph was Good and Righteous

Luke 23:51

Joseph did not consent to evil

John 19:38

Joseph was a secret disciple

True Faith:

Impact:

2 Corinthians 4: 13-18

“I am only one

I can not do everything

But I still can do something

And because I can not do everything

I will not refuse to do something I can do.”

- Edward Everett Hale

1 Corinthians 12:1–11 (NIV)

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.  You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.  Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.  There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,  and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Living our lives supernaturally on purpose:

1) Discover the doctrine of spiritual gifts.

2)  Discover your spiritual gift.

Take the free S.H.A.P.E. Assessment Test.  Start serving others.  Listen for feedback from the body.

3) Exercise your gift for the benefit of others in the church.

Living for the greatness of the Kingdom involves:

1 Corinthians 12:12–20 (NIV)

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Ephesians 4:11–16 (NIV)

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.