Clovis Hills - Weekend Messages

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. 

-

-

-

-

-

-