Harmony Christian Church

Jesus' call transformed the lives of those who followed Him, but how did that call come to them?  Tune in to learn a surprising fact that most don't know about the call of the first disciples.  We'll be in Sections 21, 33, & 37 today @ https://www.harmonychurch.cc/tracking-jesus-timeline/. IT'S EASY TO GIVE, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ).

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Sermon Notes Slide Key:

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OPENING ILLUSTRATION:

Do you remember getting picked for Dodgeball as kids?  For some of you, this was like your favorite part of school sports.  if you were like me, you hated the dodgeball pick.  I’d stand there and watch as every other kid got picked until it finally came down to me, the chubby kid was pyand the scrawny kid with glasses who ate his boogers.  They’d ALWAYS pick that kid and I’d be the one who they’d say, “I guess we’ll take Kent…”

I think they just figured I was an easier target than that kid…

Getting picked (or not picked) means more than most of us want to admit…

• Today, going to look at Jesus’ picks and how strange it seems at first blush
• Show how there’s more going on under the surface than you think
• and then come back and make a connection you might have missed that can really impact your life!

check it out…

Mark 1:16-20

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

I’ve heard this read a hundred times and every time what I’ve heard preachers preach about is the faith of these guys to hear Jesus say, “come, follow me” and they just follow…

Normally the focus is on, “at once they left their nets and followed him”

But that’s not the whole story…

Did you know Jesus had met these guys before?

John 1:35-51 (section 21)

Let me tell you the story

Have you ever wondered why God didn't answer your prayer or why He hasn't removed you from a tough circumstance?  Hopefully, today's message will be healing for you as you tune in to listen how God has not forgotten you..  Visit section 4 today @ https://www.harmonychurch.cc/timeline-of-jesus/birth-preparation/. IT'S EASY TO GIVE, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ).

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OPENING ILLUSTRATION:

When I was a student pastor I was at this Summer camp and there was this girl that had an amputated leg.  It was Middle School camp and if you know anything about middle school, you know kids can be merciless.  We had been in worship for the camp and I noticed she got up and went outside.  I went out and asked if she was ok.  She was broken, kids had been making fun of her because of her disability.  She told me she just sometimes wanted it all to end…  She wanted to know where God was, why did he let this happen to her…

WE:

We can all feel that pain, right?

We’ve all questioned whether God even cares

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The problem is, most of us never take the time to actually answer the question

and we’re left with a weak faith that fails at the first sign of negative circumstances.

This morning, I want us to look at an early story of from before Jesus’ life of John the Baptist's birth…

-did you know John the Baptist was mentioned by the ancient Roman/Jewish Historian Josephus?  Not just a myth, but a real person who really lived in history…

We’ll look at this story that so many can identify with and then out of it we’ll come back and answer the question - does God even care?

Lk 1:5-25

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

ILLUSTRATION:

I need us to slow down here because I have known several families in my time who have struggled with not being able to have children.  It is a deep pain for them to watch their friends have kids, to play with nieces and nephews and long to be able to have their own children and not be able to.  I have had them sit in my office and weep as they mourn the children they are unable to bring into this world.  It is absolutely heartbreaking.  And if that has ever been you, then I want you to hear.  Elizabeth and Zechariah know that pain.

One of the things I love about the bible is the real stories of real people with real struggles

In Zech & Betsy’s day, this would not have just been seen as something to be sad over, there is a strong likelihood that they would have been understood as not being righteous enough…

Lu

FACEBOOK COPY:  The gift God gave in Jesus is foreseen in a pretty amazing way in the genealogies of Jesus - today Kent unpacks some pretty incredible hidden treasures you may have never heard.  Visit section 3 today @ https://www.harmonychurch.cc/timeline-of-jesus/birth-preparation/. IT'S EASY TO GIVE, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ).

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OPENING ILLUSTRATION:

Growing up there was always this constant thing that would happen as my parents got to know other adults.  it would start like this.  Someone would start talking about how they were related to someone famous, Bloody Mary, or Herbert Hoover, whoever it was didn’t matter, because what followed next was always the same.  My mom would chime in and start talking about her maiden name was Crockett and we were actually related to Davy Crockett - I think His dad was my ancestors' dad too…  All I know is every male in my family has to kill a bear by the age of 3…  Ha, remember the song…  

Anyway, my mom would start to regain these fine folks and show them up on their history and how we were related to one of America’s finest folk legends.  And that’s when it would happen, my dad would chime in and he’d say something to the effect of, “yup, Janice is related to Davy Crockett, the Wagners, come from a long line of horse thieves…”  Ha.  I’m about 95% sure that wasn’t true…  But every time it’s what my dad said…

As American Genealogies are kind of a mixed bag.  With the invention of ancestory.com and other websites like it, some of you have figured out that you are related to the duke of wellington.  

But for others of us, like my dad - you could care less..

Generally speaking, Americans are about the future, not the past.  

“Where I come from isn’t as important as where I’m going”

But that’s not the case for a huge part of the rest of the world…

ILLUSTRATION:

Jenni’s uncle by marriage is Muslim.  He and I were talking one day and he told me that he has a document that takes his family lineage back to Abraham through Ishmael.  That’s crazy, right?  

His genealogy anchored him in the history of a larger story

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Today, we are going to look at what some might consider the most boring part of the gospels, but if you are willing to do a little literary archaeology - you will see it’s a treasure trove that anchors Jesus’ story in the history of a much larger story…

So, first things first - before we put on our Indiana Jones hats and go archaeology-ing, I need to clear something up…

Both Matthew & Luke give us the genealogy of Jesus.  The problem is, they are different…

Matthew 1:15b-16

Matthan the father of Jacob,

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the

The story of the announcement of the birth of Jesus is breathtaking.  Tune in today to make some connections to the past and the future - we are in Section 5 @ https://www.harmonychurch.cc/timeline-of-jesus/birth-preparation/. GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ).

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OPENING:

Years ago I thought Jenni was dying…  She had just had surgery about a week earlier and she was not getting better.  She was pale and at one point I walked into the bedroom and she was laying on the bed looking like death.  I don’t know that I’ve ever been so scared.  We immediately called the doctor and got an appointment.  We went in and they drew blood to start running tests.  Waiting to get the results back was torture - some of you know what that’s like.  Finally, they called us back in for a consult.  I can remember sitting in that room, neither of us talking, both just hoping for anything but the worst…

I’ll never forget the doctor coming in…  She sat down with a serious look on her face.  

She said, “we got your results back…”

My heart stopped beating for a moment

Finally, the doctor leaned in and she blurts out, “You’re pregnant!”

I literally almost fainted…

We hadn’t even considered the idea that Jenni was pregnant - she had taken a pregnancy test before undergoing the surgery the week before and it was negative.  Not only that, but Jen hadn’t been sick or anything with our first child - so it never even crossed our mind…

My grandma of course wanted to know if we knew what caused that…

Ha…

That was a crazy way to find out you were about to have another child…

But not near as crazy as the first Christmas story…

LK 1:26-38 

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy

In a couple of weeks we are going to talk about this baby…

Elizabeth is the mom of John the baptist - so when she’s 6 months along, Mary is going to have the following happen…

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

This is not the first time Gabriel has appeared in the bible, he is who announced the birth of John the Baptist, but in 538BC this same angel appeared to Daniel…

Daniel is in his 80s, he knows the prophecy in Jeremiah that says the captivity in Babylon will only last 70 years and he’s close to the end of that 70 years.  Literally, within a year, Cyrus will make a decree for the Jewish people to begin to be able to start returning home.  Daniel has been praying this prayer of repentance when an angel appears…

Daniel 9:20-22

20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had se

Follow along in Section 1 @ https://www.harmonychurch.cc/timeline-of-jesus/birth-preparation/

OPENING ILLUSTRATION:

So, I have a confession of how much of a dork I am.

Years ago, when we were gearing up to plant our church, I had a therapist tell me that I needed to take 4 hours a week to go off by myself and be alone to just let my brain process.  I wasn’t supposed to do anything.  Not take a book, not listen to anything, not be around people.  Just be totally alone to let all the thoughts in my head role around to their end…

So, I went out into the country where we lived at the time in Kansas - just prairie as far as you can see.  No trees, no big hills, just prairie, wheat and corn.  I would walk around trying to not do anything for 4 hours…  But every time, I would end up doing the same thing…  I’d end up seeing a coyote track and some scat and I’d end up attempting to track coyote’s….

Ha, I know, I’m a nerd…

I was supposed to be out there letting my brain process, but I couldn’t do it, I wanted to track down a coyote and wrestle it to the ground and wear it around my neck like some kind of trophy :)

I’m not a master at tracking things

Shoot, my wife will tell you I can’t even find my own underwear without her help :)

but one thing I’ve gotten good at over the years is tracking Jesus and His story in the scriptures…  

Today we are starting a year long journey to track Jesus through the eyewitness Gospel accounts

We are going to spend the entire next year preaching through Jesus’ life and ministry…

Because of that, I need to give you some context of what this years going to look like…

Where we’re going…

For the first few months we will be looking at Jesus’ life through a topical lenses in order to understand some of the major themes Jesus highlighted in His ministry.

Then in December we take a turn and begin tracking Jesus’ life chronologically using a resource called a Harmony of the Gospels.

So, let’s define some terms for you - so we’ll all be on the same page…

Defining Terms

I just said we are going to be using a “harmony of the Gospel.”  What is that?

A harmony of the gospels is a resource where scholars (in this case the ones that put together the Life Application Study Bible) take the accounts of Jesus’ life in the various Gospel accounts and put them in a chronological order and pair them together.

What’s a Gospel?

So, Christians will talk about “the Gospel” which we mean the fact that God came to save us from our sins and that He died and rose from the dead to do so.

But the word Gospel actually is just a word that means, “Good News” - in the Greek it’s Euangelion 

Euangelion was the good news that would go out when a Roman soldier had experienced victory in war or when news about the caesar and his exploits

Christianity has 4

David is with Mustard seed church planting in Japan and shares with us how desperately the Gospel is needed and how Harmony is making an impact in helping bring the Gospel to people there.

Today we are going to hear Elijah Ombati share with us about a ministry called NASHA.

NASHA has seen more than 32,000+ students/families benefit at various levels. It currently serves 202 students at the Church school, targets to provide 250 children/learners with uniforms each year, and currently targets 600 to help find sponsors for high school.

Currently, 400 high school students who are in great need are in sponsorship in different levels provision of helpful resources that helps to shape their moral lives/values.

GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

If you would like to order a Harmony Christian Church t-shirt. follow this link to order your own! https://my.breezechms.com/form/c10c96

GREG HORN is the Founder and Executive Director of “HOPE is Here Ministries” based here in Central Kentucky.

HOPE is HERE Ministries started in 2017 after Greg Horn lost 3 friends to SUICIDE in the previous 18 months.

GOD put a “HOLY DISCONTENT” in Greg’s Heart that something needed to be done to create awareness about the growing SUICIDE rate in Central Kentucky and that there needed to be “Light Shined on this area of Darkness.”

GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

This week, Nathaniel shares stories of transformation in Scott County and how YOU can be a part of that process. GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .