First General Baptist

Message: Serving Jesus in a self serve world.

Text: John 12:1-8

Jesus had a lot of_________

He requires that we be___________

Following Christ requires that we__________

Serving = Sacrifice

It looks different for everyone, but it’s the same…it’s all we have.

The jar can’t be poured out, it has to be broken.

What are you holding onto?

What are you waiting for?

Don’t live with regret!

Vaclav Maly (Czech Priest), "They stripped our faith of all the superfluous things.  They took away church property.  Only someone willing to make a personal sacrifice could make a confession of faith.  Young people entered the church because they understood this sacrifice."

Message: The gospel according to Luke

Text: Luke 14:1, 15-24

Church members shouldn’t need to be invited, they should be inviting.

 Looking at them. Looking at you:

~Hands that are already so full there’s no room for anything more. A calendar that is already so full…

For many of us though, the cause and affect has been turned around.

~Need is the great spiritual game changer. When you see need, that is your sign from God.

Mother Teresa, “I knew that God had something for me to do, because He gave me the health to do something.”

~Strangers. Unexpected opportunity. What is your most important ministry opportunity__________?

Apostle Peter, “Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in you…”

Message: The gospel according to Luke

Text: Luke 14:1, 7-14

Jesus, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

How to Win Friends and Influence People-Dale Carnegie

~Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.

Fenelon, "Satan is the one who torments us with trivialities.  And he often transforms himself into an angel of light, and bothers us with endless self-examinations and an over-sensitive conscience which allows us no peace."

A challenge:________ How hard this challenge is for you is telling

~Go do something! Bless those who cannot bless you back. This is a long term investment.

A challenge:________ How hard this challenge is for you is telling.

Message: Father of Faith

Text: Genesis 22:1-13

How men pack for a trip…

In a test of faith, who is being tested?

Do I really believe? Is God believable?

Do I really trust Him? Is God trustworthy?

Do I really have faith? Is God faithful?

Abraham’s faith in God is being tested. Isaac’s faith in Abraham is being tested.

Isaac sees and hears faith in action.

Vs 2, Just start walking

Vs 3, Immediate obedience

Vs 5, Believed God, but what does that look like?

Vs 7-8, Statement of faith

Message: The gospel according to Luke

Text: Luke 14:1-6

~Perspective of the Pharisee:

How do you see them?

How does Jesus see them?

How would you treat your animal that has fallen into a ditch and can’t get out?

~Perspective of the man needing help:

How do you see you?

How does Jesus see you?

Outcast, misfit?

Desperation overcomes the difficulty.

Presenting yourself to Jesus, again.

A.W. Tozer, "In every generation, the people who have found God have been those who have come to the end of themselves."

Eugene H. Peterson, "A religion without miracles has only marginal worth; why bother with religion if you can do it all yourself anyway?"

Message: The gospel according to Luke

Text: Luke 13:27-30

~There is a heaven and a hell…there is a difference! (What story does vs 28 remind you of?) There is a consequence for everything we do.

~The Kingdom is huge, a vast number from everywhere. Everyone in the family is not like us. Who is the common denominator in this Family?

~Heaven will probably not be what you expect. God is not always what you expect. God will not always do what you wish He would…He does not always care about what you care about, and He may care very deeply about some things you are indifferent toward. God does not always see things as you do.

Message: Heartbreak and Joy

Text: Genesis

2:18, 24  Society is not complete without each other…male and female.

Fruitful, multiply, build, produce…

4:1-2  Children.

Sin wants to ruin everything for everyone.

4:25-26  More children and grandchildren.

Heartbreak finds you. You have to look for joy. You have to fixate on the good.

“Call on the Name of the Lord”…worship…pray…

Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You. Because he trusts in You.”

Message: Walking on air

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Virgin birth; sinless life; death on a cross that pays sin debt; resurrection; ascension; coming again.

No one thought Jesus could do any of it!

Jesus’ parables about His 2nd Coming:

~There is a beginning, Genesis 1:1

There is an end, Revelation 22:20-21

~A definite period of time, an ending, a reckoning…these things help create consequence. There’s a consequence for everything we do and are, everything we do matters.

 ~Jesus doesn’t tell us to “get ready” but rather “be ready, be watching.” There‘s a difference between “getting ready” and “being ready.”

 Living with our eye on the sky and our ear for a trumpet blast helps change the way we live.

Message: Seeing Jesus for yourself

Text: Luke 24:13-35

You can’t always go by:

1) What you think Jesus should be or do or look like

2) What the situation looks like at the time

3) What others say they saw, what they say He looks like (the Holy Spirit is contagious, but not really)

I want to see, I need to see Jesus for myself.

A radical change that I want, that I need.

Levels of belief

Dave McCasland, "If we want a safe, predictable Savior who always acts according to our expectations, we'll have to find someone other than Jesus."

Message: The Tree of Life

Text: Genesis 3:22-24

 ~The Garden of Eden, The Tree of Life Justice + Mercy = Grace

Grace is Jesus paying our debt

 ~The Garden of Gethsemane

Luke 22:39-44

 ~The Tree of Life

Galatians 3:10-13, 2:20, 6:14

When our sin becomes frivolous then the cross becomes frivolous then Jesus becomes frivolous to us.