Keystone Church - Saline

Have you ever tried to assemble furniture or an appliance without following the instructions? It isn't that you had no access to instructions, you just didn't bother using them. Or maybe you did use the instructions but found out that you didn't read them correctly. Maybe you finished and there were enough parts left over to make you a bit concerned about a step you might have missed. Instructions are printed for a reson: They INSTRUCT! We have a library called the Bible that contains the most important set of instructions that have ever existed. And if most of us are honest, we don't bother reading those instructions. Jesus said it as plain as He could: "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise." (Mat. 7:24) Jesus also said, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:17) But what would Jesus say about people who haven't bothered to listen and don't even know the instructions? He has a name for these people and it ain't pretty. Come and find out what He has to say and maybe become wise and blessed in the process.

This popular phrase sounds like it comes right out of Proverbs, and resonates with our American can-do, pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps mentality, but it actually the exact opposite of the message of the gospel. Spiritually, there is nothing we can do to help ourselves – we are all dead in our sin. The truth is that God helps those who are utterly helpless, because we are incapable of helping ourselvs. Rom 5:6-8, Eph 2:8-9

John 16 helps to put into perspective the concep that following Jesus will always result in greater health, wealth and care-free existence. The bible doesn't promise that God will never give us more than we can handle. It promises that God will never give us more than He can handle. He'll be with us in the midst of pain and provides a family of faith to help as well.

This sermon will celebrate the various volunteers who serve every week and the call of God on all of us to serve each other and the world. Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) "11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Might be cool to give all our volunteers capes for the day. :)