1.  Centered. 

Centered on Jesus’s Command.

“All authority has been given to me”   Jesus, the risen Savior, is taking His rightful place as King.  Before He ascends into heaven He gives His marching orders.

2.  Open

Jesus tells us to be open to wherever God calls us.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

3.  Pull

When you are pulling the clay what you are really doing is stretching it.  In God’s mission you will be stretched.  The call for us to make disciples will stretch us.  Let’s talk about the Biblical concept of “Priesthood of the believer”.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”   1 Peter 2:10

4.  Shape

God shapes all of us different.  He gives us all spiritual gifts so that we can build up the church and make disciples. 

“Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”

1.  The Reliability of God’s Word

The first question in the Bible was about the reliability of God’s word.

“Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God poihad made.  He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” – Gen. 3:1

Let’s look at the reliability of God’s word.

Consistency

-         66 Books

-         Written over 1,500 years

-         Over 45 authors

-         Written on three different continents

-         Three different languages

Archeological Proof

-Dead Sea Scroll found in 1947, which include the book of Isiah

- Herod’s Palace, Ceserea Merritina 2023, Roman cells where Paul imprisoned

- Discovery of the City of David

Nelson Glueck “It may be stated categorically that no archeological discovery has contradicted a Biblical reference”.

Manuscript Reliability

What you look for-  Number of manuscripts and how close we can get to the source.  For example:

Writer        Date Written       Earliest Copy     No. Years No. of Copies

Plato.        427-347 BC          900 AD                  1,200        210

Caesar      100-44 BC           900 AD                   1,000        251

Homer      900 BC                  400 BC                    500           1,757

New Test. 50-100 AD           130 AD                    40             5,795  

For more information on Manuscript Reliability or Ancient Languages:

Wesley Huff: www.apologeticscanada.com

2.  The Power of God’s Word

Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus demonstrated the power of God’s Word.  He used three words over and over when dealing with the devil in the wilderness and demonstrated exactly how powerful God’s word is.  He told the devil, “It is written” and proceeded to quote scripture to fight off anything the devil threw at him.  God’s word is powerful and should be read, studied and memorized to ready us for battle.

2 Tim. 3:16-17

Hebrews 11:32-40 NIV

1. Faith’s Power through Scripture 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets…..

Earlier in this chapter the author commends multiple biblical heroes including Noah, Abraham, Moses and others. Here at verse 32 he says there’s not enough time to continue although there are many more. The goal of the writer of Hebrews is to provide examples of those who displayed the power of faith. This provides us readers with education and inspiration from the Scriptures.

There is power available to us as we are educated in what God has done through people like us, and we are inspired by what God can do through people like us. 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬.  “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

There is education and inspiration available to us through the Scripture to empower our faith!

These are not characters from fables, these are real stories about real people and more so they are our faith ancestors. Our relation is not in blood but by faith.

Example: What one man can do another man can do (movie the edge)

These people of God, our faith ancestors, had sins and struggles. They experienced difficult times and struggled with tears, sweat and even blood. They made mistakes, major mistakes. But they are commended here because of their faith. It is amazing what the Lord can do in us and through us when we trust him. 

What does it mean to trust the Lord…….leads us to point 2…

2. Faith’s power when we trust the Lord’s plans and promises

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 

Again our faith ancestors are commended for their faith not perfection. Only Jesus is perfect, amen! No one at any of our campuses is perfect. Cut that out. Stop being a poser. Be real and God will mature you and lead you in righteousness but don’t act like you are farther than you are and don’t look down on others. 

They are commended for their trust in the Lord's plans and promises, especially the promise of home. As verse 16 says earlier in the passage, they trusted in the promise of God to bring them to their heavenly country.

3. Faith’s power when we accept we are part of a larger family

40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Our God is larger than we realize but also we are part of a larger family than we often realize.  It’s not all about YOU! Your struggles, your experiences, your gifts, your blessings. They are not all about you; they fit into a larger family context. The family is to grow up into the maturity of Christ TOGETHER. Us locally, us generationally, and us universally as part of God's big C Church!

Have you ever had a terrible thing happen and thought why does God hate me? 

Have you ever had an amazing thing happen and thought God loves me!

Have you ever had either an amazing thing or terrible thing happen and thought God is doing a work for his people? Having an understating that we are part of a larger family actually empowers our faith. It allows us to think big, not small. And it is true this life we live is part of something bigger!

What would you say to Abraham? You’d say you gotta go because what God does in your life through the good bad and ugly it launches the beginning of God’s people. 

What would you say to Paul? You’d tell him about his impact on the “future” of the church. So we can say more than anyone before us with great clarity of how God works that what happens in our Christian lives is significant not only for today but the future of our families, local church, and the future of the church.

SERMON NOTES

Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:31-33 NLT

1. Hope looks UP 

2. Hope looks BACK

3. Hope looks AROUND

4. Hope looks FORWARD

SERMON NOTES

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “

Jeremiah 29:4-13

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Jeremiah 29:4

6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. John 17:6

5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:5-9

17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Philippians 3:17-20 NLT

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord,"

Jeremiah 29:11-14

1. Living In A Foreign Land.

2. IN the world, not OF the world.

3. You will find God when you seek him 

1. The World Has Been a Mess

Evil is real: 

“No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good.” C.S. Lewis

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

This is why human history is littered with violence, deceit, adultery, lies, greed, grabs at power

This is why our family tree has that in it

This is why you and I have that in us

The Bible says in Romans 3:10-11

“There is no one righteous, not even one; 11  there is no one who understands there is no one who seeks God.

We all follow something or someone… Yourself? Sheep gone astray.

1. The Lord Is MY Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2  He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,

3  he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk    through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,    for you are with me; your rod and your staff, Psalm 23:1-4

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  Matthew 7:24-27

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and 17-20

 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:2-3

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1 Corinthians 15:4-7

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep

1 Corinthians 15:17-20

1. Christ died for our sins

2. The resurrection is a real event, or this is a waste of time.

3. One way or another, you are betting your life on the resurrection.

“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me.  He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.  I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.  He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.  They will tell you everything that is happening here.  My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.  (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)  Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends his greetings.  These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they proved a comfort to me.  Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings.  He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.  I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.  Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.  Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.  After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.  Tell Archippus:  ‘See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.’  I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.  Remember my chains, Grace be with you.”

Colossians 4:7-18

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we are all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free-and we were all given the on Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27

Theme #1 It’s ALL about PEOPLE

Theme #2  It’s intensely PERSONAL

1.  Be devoted to Prayer

He will ask the Church to pray specifically for opening doors in order that he may be able to preach the gospel even though he is in chains (v.3).  But first, he asks the Church to be watchful and thankful while praying.  When I think of Paul’s request to be watchful, I think of a lifeguard canning the ocean making sure that nothing is wrong or under attack.  Thankfulness stems from us experiencing His grace.

2.  Engage outsiders.

Paul encourages the Church to engage outsiders but gives us some ways to do so.  Be wise (v.5), Let our conversations be full of Grace and seasoned with salt(v.6) In other words, full of love and compassion (grace) but not to compromise the truth (salt).  In that time the people would have understood two things about salt.  Salt was used to preserve and to put in wounds to fight off infection.  In the same way our conversations with outsiders should be focused on God's unconditional love, fueled by our passion for Jesus and others, but making sure we are not compromising or watering down the message of the Gospel.  Jesus demonstrated this with his conversation with the women caught in adultery.  Jesus asked her, “Who has condemned you, I don’t condemn you” this is grace.  He then says, “Go and sin no more” this is the salt.

3.  Make Disciples

Our job is to make new disciples and teach them to become like Jesus.  Paul points out that we should all be ready to answer everyone (v.6)

I believe that takes learning the scripture and living out the scripture.  James tells us to not just be hearers but doers of the Word. 

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