Faith

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places // My Dad

Deuteronomy 5:16 (NIV)

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

1. I had a father who taught me compassion and kindness.

Psalm 103:13 (NIV)

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him."

2. My dad showed me what it meant to let the Lord shape you.

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV)

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

3. My dad modeled disciplines he wanted his children to have… 

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

"Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it…"

4. My dad taught me that Love pursues the rebel.

Matthew 18:12-14 (NIV)

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”

1 John 3:1 (NIV)
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

5. My dad taught me grace and joy in the midst of suffering.

Dementia and wheelchair bound and in a room in a care facility - “God has been so good to me.”

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places // Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”

Ephesians 4:22-25 (NIV)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Ephesians 4:28-5:1,2 (NIV)

“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others upaccording to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Let us imitate Christ and have the mind of Christ.

Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.”

Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Keys to a Transformed Life

         Deny Self

         Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

         “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves 

         and take up their cross and follow me.’”

         Walk in the Light

         Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV)

         “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for 

the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”

Cast Off Hindrances 

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Fix Our Eyes on Christ

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places // Stopping a Jesus Parade

Mark 10:46-52 (NIV)

“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means ‘son of Timaeus’), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ So they called to the blind man, ‘Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.’ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Jesus asked him. The blind man said, ‘Rabbi, I want to see.’ ‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”

Luke 4:16-21 (NIV)

“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’" 

The 59 “One Another’s” of the New Testament

1.               “...Be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50) 

2.               “...Wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14) (Serve one another)

3.               “...Love one another...” (John 13:34) 

4.              “...Love one another...” (John 13:34)

5.               “...Love one another...” (John 13:35) 

6.              “...Love one another...” (John 15:12) 

7.               “...Love one another” (John 15:17)

8.              “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love...” (Romans 12:10) 

9.              “...Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)

10.            “Live in harmony with one another...” (Romans 12:16) 

11.             “...Love one another...” (Romans 13:8) 

12.             “...Stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13) 

13.             “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you...” (Romans 15:7) 

14.             “...Instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14) 

15.             “Greet one another with a holy kiss...” (Romans 16:16) 

16.            “...When you come together to eat, wait for each other.” (I Cor. 11:33) 

17.             “...Have equal concern for each other.” (I Corinthians 12:25) 

18.            “...Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (I Corinthians 16:20) 

19.            “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (II Corinthians 13:12) 

20.            “...Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13) 

21.             “If you keep on biting and devouring each other...you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:15) 

22.            “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:26) 

23.            “Carry each other’s burdens...” (Galatians 6:2) 

24.            “...Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2) 

25.            “Be kind and compassionate to one another...” (Ephesians 4:32) 

26.            “...Forgiving each other...” (Ephesians 4:32) 

27.            “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” (Ephesians 5:19) 

28.            “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) 

29.            “...In humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

30.            “Do not lie to each other...” (Colossians 3:9) 

31.             “Bear with each other...” (Colossians 3:13) 

32.            “...Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” (Colossians 3:13) 

33.            “Teach...[one another]” (Colossians 3:16) 

34.            “...Admonish one another” (Colossians 3:16) 

35.            “...Make your love increase and overflow for each other.” (I Thessalonians 3:12) 

36.            “...Love each other.” (I Thessalonians 4:9) 

37.            “...Encourage each other...” (I Thessalonians 4:18) 

38.            “...Encourage each other...” I Thessalonians 5:11) 

39.            “...Build each other up...” (I Thessalonians 5:11) 

40.            “Encourage one another daily...” Hebrews 3:13) 

41.             “...Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24) 

42.            “...Encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25) 

43.            “...Do not slander one another.” (James 4:11) 

44.            “Don’t grumble against each other...” (James 5:9) 

45.            “Confess your sins to each other...” (James 5:16) 

46.            “...Pray for each other.” (James 5:16) 

47.            “...Love one another deeply, from the heart.” (I Peter 3:8) 

48.            “...Live in harmony with one another...” (I Peter 3:8) 

49.            “...Love each other deeply...” (I Peter 4:8) 

50.            “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (I Peter 4:9) 

51.             “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others...” (I Peter 4:10) 

52.       ...

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places // Jesus and the Leper 

Matthew 8:1-4 (NLT)

“Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. ‘Lord,’ the man said, ‘if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.’ Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.’”

John 6:37-39 (AMP)

“All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me]. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.”

Romans 10:13 (NLT)

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

We are the Leper … 

… And Jesus has come to heal

Healing is Found in an Encounter with the Authentic Love of God.

We Get to Love Like Jesus

John 14:12-14 (NLT)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

Matthew 10:8 (NLT)

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places - Asleep in the Boat

Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)

“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’”

1.     Jesus says to them, “Let’s go over to the other side…”

1 John 4:17-18 (ESV)

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

2.     Responses to Fear in Life.

1.     Evasion

2.    Control

3.    Engagement

4.    Faith

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places // The Human Womb

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

“Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (God with us)”

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Colossians 2:9 (NIV)

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”

Colossians 1:15-22 (NIV)

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”

Isaiah 40:12,15 (NLT)

“Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? … For all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.”

John 1:1-4 (NLT)

“In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”

Luke 1:30-39 (NIV)

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacobʼs descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.’ ‘I am the Lordʼs servant,” Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea.”

Luke 1:41-42 (NIV)

“When Elizabeth heard Maryʼs greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!’”

Luke 1:44-45 (NIV)

“As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Hebrews 4:15-16 (AMP)

“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”

 John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 (MSG)

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son.”

John 1:9-11 (NIV)

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

“We know that God works all things together for good to those that love him and are called according to his purposes.”

Romans 8:31-39 (NLT)

 “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?  Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.  Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

We are now the ambassadors…

• Representatives of the kingdom
• Representatives of the person
• Representatives of the values
• Representatives of the invitation

When we read about Jesus in the Gospels, we can ask ourselves a series of questions:

• What is being communicated?
• What can I learn?
• What can I apply or adjust accordingly?
• What can I imitate?
• What needs to be formed in me?

John 21:1-14 (NLT)

“Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ ‘We’ll come, too,’ they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, ‘Fellows, have you caught any fish.’ ‘No,’ they replied. Then he said, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!’ So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It’s the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.  The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. ‘Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,’ Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. ‘Now come and have some breakfast!’ Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.”

Baptism Sunday

Romans 6:1-11 (NLT)

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”

Easter Sunday

Mark 16:11,13 (NIV)

“When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it… These returned and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.”

Hope restored in the face of deepest despair.

Without the resurrection of Christ, our horizon is diminished. There is no hope.

Romans 5:6-10 (NLT)

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came, at just the right time, and died for the ungodly. Now, most people would not be willing to die in someone else’s place, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, we will certainly be saved from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”

Jesus once and for all declared…

• I am the resurrection and the life!
• I am the good shepherd!
• I am the light of the world!

You cannot extinguish the creator of light and life.

You cannot extinguish true hope.

You cannot extinguish perfect love.

1 John 4:10 (NIV) 

“This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.”

John 3:16-18 (MSG)

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”

Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Those who will come to me, I will never ever reject. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me.