Harmony Christian Church

OPENING ILLUSTRATION:

Prepare yourself to want to say, “Awe…” at the end of this story.  One of my earliest memories was hiding under a table in our living room.  It had been pushed up against a wall so we could clean.  I don’t know if every family is like this, but when our family came to visit my parents went crazy thinking we had to clean our house to the nth degree.  And my family growing up were slobs - that’s a nice way of saying it.  I was under that table crying my eyes out because my dad had told me to clean a particular room, my mom had told me to clean the bathroom, and my older brother had yelled at me and told me to put a bunch of junk away.  I was under that table crying because I couldn’t do all of them at once and I was afraid they were all going to be angry with me so I hid…

Can I tell you a secret about me and you?

When we were growing up, we all learned ways of dealing with the brokenness in this world - patterns of living, paths to walk on that seemed to “save” us…

For me, hiding and escaping became my mechanism - when things get painful - I escape by making things fun and funny…  and guess what…

Hiding or escaping became a type of salvation for me…

b

And it worked - for a while until it didn’t…

I’m not alone in this

Some of you are the opposite of me

you don’t try to escape, you try to control - you found that when you stood up and took the wheel - that you felt better, so you became a controller

Some of you need to bring things into order - and you have to have everything perfect all the time and perfection was your salvation…

For some of you, it was relationships and people - needing people in your world who could make you feel good and keep you from being alone

There are a million ways that we all set up idols to run to for salvation

b

But any salvation that is not found in Jesus leads to death

I want to read you a passage Jesus read about Himself…  Listen to it:

Isaiah 61:1-2

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

    to proclaim freedom for the captives

    and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

Good news to the poor

Bind up the brokenhearted

Proclaim freedom for the captives

Release from darkness for prisoners

b

Let me be clear - J

Today we look at an old story of arrogance and pride.  Our hope is that we will all be challenged by the end, to refocus our hearts on God, and what he's doing as we investigate living differently.  GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

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OPENING ILLUSTRATION:

Years ago, shortly after I had come to Christ I was riding in the car with my pastor and mentor Dan Mitchell.  I had gone all-in on Jesus.  We had been in the car for quite a while when Dan broke the silence and said, “Kent, do you know what humility is?”  I was honest with him and said, “no” to which he replied, “well, you don’t have any…”

Ha, man, sometimes you need a truth-teller in your life - someone who is not afraid to tell you how it is.  

That conversation literally changed the entire course of my life.  

Today, because I had no humility, I want to look at 

A story of what happens when a lack of humility is out of control.

We are jumping into ancient history…

Story of Israel…

Centuries before Jesus would come on the scene - the Israelites had originally gone to Egypt during a famine for help.  They eventually became disdained by the Egyptians and put into slavery for 430 years - 430 years they’ve been crying out for God’s rescue.  When along comes a man named Moses - his first 40 years he is the adopted son of the Pharaoh’s daughter.  He kills a man who is mistreating a Jewish man and he is exiled into the desert for 40 more years.  When God calls him.  Moses goes back to Egypt as a well-seasoned older man.  When he gets there he goes before Pharaoh and tells him what God tells him to say

“Let my people go”

ILLUSTRATION:

Have you ever known someone whose power of their position went to their head?  This is Pharaoh.

This guy has only known power and control - his word is final…

… and finally, there is a competing word to his…  

God has spoken and said “Let my people go"

There is something really interesting in this whole exchange that goes on for chapters in the book of Exodus…

God will send plagues upon the Egyptians

for a while, the scripture tells us that Pharaoh hardened his heart against God, but eventually it changes and starts to say, “God hardened his heart.

Look at this list…

God sends 10 plagues against Pharaoh…

1. Blood: Pharaoh’s heart “became hard” (7:22)
2. Frogs: Pharaoh “hardened his own heart” (8:15)
3. Gnats: Pharaoh’s heart “was hard” (8:19)
4. Flies: “Pharaoh hardened his own heart” (8:32)
5. Livestock die: Pharaoh’s heart “was hard” (9:7)
6. Boils: “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (9:12)
7. Hail: Pharaoh “hardened his own heart” (9:34)
8. Locusts: God announces that he has “hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (10:1,10:20)

Today Rich Reel is going to share with us a lesson from the book of Mark about a father desperate to find help for his son. GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

Today, Pastor David is going to teach us how to Persevere in Faith by keeping our eyes on Jesus. GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .)

I hate being out of control, my natural tendency is to try and get control back.  Today's message we are going to look at ways we all try and get control back spiritually and the way faith offers a better path forward. GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

What do you do when you feel out of control?

Genesis 15:1-6 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,[a] your very great reward.[b]” 2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Galatians 3:1-14 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[

Most of us don't realize the battles that have been fought for the gospel to have made its way to us.  Tune in to learn about some of the ways Paul fought for us and to be challenged about what we will give to the next generation!  GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

Acts 15:1-2 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

There were Jewish Christians coming to the non-Jewish Christians, and they were telling them, "You have to become Jewish to follow Jesus"

And that starts with circumcision…

As a matter of fact, the law was set up to show you how you couldn’t make it work

Galatians 2:1-2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

There are so many messages about how to gain traction spiritually in life, how do you know what to listen to?  Join us as we continue in Galatians and look at what message matters most. When you give at Harmony, you are investing in life change and are Advancing the Kingdom!  GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

• Sermons always start with “OPENING ILLUSTRATION:” and end with “CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:"
• All scriptures are NIV unless otherwise noted
• Bold = Slide text
• Bold Red = Scriptures (please reflect formatting of scripture on slides, i.e.  - underlines, italics, etc.)
• “b" or “B” on a line by itself = Slide break/New slide
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OPENING: Years ago, I was getting ready to go to sleep when my phone rang - this was before “do not disturb” on phones and before “spam” alerts.  So, I answered my phone.  On the other end was this guy who said, “is this Pastor Kent?”  I thought, “oh no, someone’s in trouble,”  I said, “it is, how can I help you?”  he told me his name and then immediately began to go into a tirade about how Christians are dumb for not believing in science and how he was an atheist who randomly calls Pastors to debate them and tell them how dumb they are.  

We live in a world that is full of competing messages about what to put your faith in.

On top of that, there are even more messages telling you what living out that faith should look like.

We live in a world with so many messages about spirituality what do you believe?

Because if Jesus is really real and did what He said He did, then that changes everything, if He didn’t, then you can believe whatever you want.

Have you ever felt like you're locked out with God?  What's that all about and how do you get past it?  This week, Kent starts unpacking Galatians and helping us see there's a better path than just trying to be better. When you give at Harmony, you are investing in life change and are Advancing the Kingdom!  GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

• Sermons always start with “OPENING ILLUSTRATION:” and end with “CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:"
• All scriptures are NIV unless otherwise noted
• Bold = Slide text
• Bold Red = Scriptures (please reflect formatting of scripture on slides, i.e.  - underlines, italics, etc.)
• “b" or “B” on a line by itself = Slide break/New slide
• Bold ALL CAPS WORDS = heading to be ignored
• [some text] = programming notes to be paid attention to

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: A few weeks ago our family had left to go do something and when we got back, our garage door wouldn’t go up…  Now, you need to know something about my wife…  You’ve heard the expression leave no rock unturned?  My wife leaves no lock unturned.  The moment that garage door didn’t go up, my heart sunk, because my wife locks everything.  I started checking every door and window in the house and nothing was unlocked.  I know what you’re thinking, “Kent, you don’t have a key?”  I do have a key, but on our front door the house came with one of those hotel locks you flip the little metal loop over the knob and the door can open like 3 inches.  And my wife…  leaves no lock unturned!

The problem is, that’s not how it works…

That piece of you that feels locked out from God is called righteousness- doing right things

The bible calls this “the law”

This week we are talking about baptism and why we need it - if you are interested in getting baptized, you can message us on Facebook or email [email protected] and we will help you take that step! When you give at Harmony, you are investing in life change and are Advancing the Kingdom!  GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

• Sermons always start with “OPENING ILLUSTRATION:” and end with “CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:"
• All scriptures are NIV unless otherwise noted
• Bold = Slide text
• Bold Red = Scriptures (please reflect formatting of scripture on slides, i.e.  - underlines, italics, etc.)
• “b" or “B” on a line by itself = Slide break/New slide
• Bold ALL CAPS WORDS = heading to be ignored
• [some text] = programming notes to be paid attention to

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: So, this happens pretty regularly in my house.  I do something dumb, like say, embarrass my poor sweet wife because I’m trying to be funny as an extrovert - I know you’d never believe this, but I like people to like me.  I do something embarrassing and she in a gentle kind way says, “Hey, when you did xy&z, I really didn’t like it, I hate being put on the spot like that…”

I know she’s right and I don’t want to admit it…

What’s that about?  Why is it so hard to face our failings?

Maybe you’ve seen this in yourself before-your failed promises to your kids are almost expected at this point, but you can’t bring yourself to admit that you failed them-your 3-year-old has started yelling words at cars in traffic that make you blush…  You know where she heard it, but laugh it off - trying to hide your shame-you gossip about people at work constantly, but when someone calls you on the floor about it, you’re actually mad at them - you know you’re in the wrong, but to get called out like that ticks you off…

What is it about being “found out” that’s so hard for us?

I think, at least part of it, is that when we are “found out” it doesn’t match the image we hold in our minds of ourselves.

The image that we're a “good person”

Honestly, it can be devastating when you really become honest about the sin that lives in you…

It's EASTER!  Today, we look at whether Jesus was just crazy or if His claims are worth taking seriously...  Invite someone to watch with you! When you give at Harmony, you are investing in life change and are Advancing the Kingdom!  GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

• Sermons always start with “OPENING ILLUSTRATION:” and end with “CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:"
• All scriptures are NIV unless otherwise noted
• Bold = Slide text
• Bold Red = Scriptures (please reflect formatting of scripture on slides, i.e.  - underlines, italics, etc.)
• “b" or “B” on a line by itself = Slide break/New slide
• Bold ALL CAPS WORDS = heading to be ignored
• [some text] = programming notes to be paid attention to

OPENING ILLUSTRATION:Man, one of my favorite things to do in this life is go to an escape room… I had some friends come into town a while back and we went to Countdown games.  They lock you in this room with a giant concrete castle and tell you if you don’t escape in an hour you will die.  I of course start immediately messing around and making jokes.  That is until it starts to get serious, about 45 minutes into it I start freaking out, running around like a chicken with my head cut off because all of the sudden “it counts”

• we put our kids in crazy amounts of sports
• hours spent reading news, swiping through tender, watching TikTok
• some of us have even gone to some dark places, trying to escape

The problem is the things we run to for escape are only short-term fixes.  They all still leave us in a locked room.

-giving them food is like just dumping yourself into entertainment or your phone or more stuff to do - it fulfills for a little while but leaves you empty