Joel Brassfield is closing our short series on Stewardship.

We continue in our series, "Stewardship", hearing from Elder Dan Johnson.

No One Can Serve Two MastersMatthew 6

January 13, 2019

Introduction:A. Just before Christmas, we completed a series on discipleship. We came up with adefinition of discipleship for MVC which is four words. Does anyone rememberthat?1. Following Jesus, Impacting Others!2. Following Jesus has to do with a wholehearted walk of obedience with Jesus.3. Impacting others has to do with bringing lost people to Jesus and helpingbelievers become more like Jesus!B. I want to speak today about an area of discipleship which according to thestatistics they say for about 80% of the believers this would be a very crucial nextstep that would accomplish four major things:1. First, the focus of our hearts and our entire spiritual life in following Jesus2. It is also a step that would position us to have a greater impact upon othersfor Jesus!3. It is also a step that would position us to experience greater spiritual riches!4. Finally, and most importantly, it will break down a major spiritual wall,actually break down the major competing idol for our love and devotion toJesus ChristC. What is that area? It is the area of stewardship, particularly our relationship withour money.• We need to see these big claims in God’s Word so you know these are not just bigpreaching words but truth! Turn in your Bibles to …I. Matt 6:19-24A. First, we see in v19-21 that the treasure we seek determines the focus of our heart.1. Read v19-202. Simple, straightforward teaching about not stockpiling your treasures here onearth but rather in heaven. On earth, they are vulnerable to deterioration orbeing stolen but in heaven, they are totally safe.3. But in v21, he gives the reason why he says this, read v21. Where our treasure is indicates to us where our heart is. “Also” = it is alsothere, my heart is right there besides it.(a) If my treasures are stockpiled on earth, my heart is right herewith it focusing upon temporal things;(b) If my treasures are being stockpiled in heaven, my heart is rightthere with it, focusing upon eternal things4. When we stockpile our treasures for the future in heaven rather than now onearth, our hearts will focus upon heaven, because our hearts always go whereour treasures go!B. Secondly, we see our perception about money impacts our entire spiritual life.1. In v22-23, the context for this section both before and after is money. Thinkof these verses in relation to money as I read v22-23a) He is using the physical here figuratively to illustrate the spiritual.(1) The lamp is what gives light(2) The eye is the organ of perception that receives light to allow oneto see.(3) The “whole body” I believe is referring to our entire life!b) The “eye” here is used as the “lamp” which gives light to the rest of thebody.(1) So I think the eye is doing double duty here both receiving thelight and then taking the light it receives and giving it to the rest ofthe inner life.(2) Illustrate with hands from sky to eyes then into bodyc) Ps 119:105 tells us that God’s Word is a light unto our path! Here Ibelieve Jesus is teaching us that God’s Word shines the light on the eyesof our hearts and that light of God’s Word shines through the eyes of ourhearts (lamp) and shines upon our whole life so we can see clearly!2. So in context He is saying:a) If my perception about money is good (seeing it as God sees it = God’sWord) then my entire spiritual life will be healthyb) If my perception about money is bad (seeing it as the world sees it) thenmy entire spiritual life will be unhealthy3. Our outlook on money will impact our “entire” spiritual life.C. Then Jesus summarizing the heart of He wants them and us to get about ourrelationship with money and our relationship with God.1. I will just read it now but will come back to it later.2. Read v24• But there is a second crucial impact this next step would accomplish and we see thatinII. Luke 16:1-13A. Luke 16 is the parable about the unrighteous steward who was unfaithful andlacked integrity in managing his rich boss’s financial affairs.1. The Storya) His unfaithfulness was reported to the rich man and as a result, he wasgoing to be fired.b) He was concerned about his future so listen – Read v3-4c) He went to those who had accounts with his boss, took their bills, andslashed what they owed him drastically.2. Moreover, here is an amazing thing – his master praised what he did. Now asI read this note he did not praise his lack of integrity but the fact that he waswise enough to think about his future and using money to impact others.a) Read 8-93. Jesus says here that His own children would be wise to use their money toinfluence others in their relationship with Jesus and when they do, in thefuture those same people will be there at the gates of heaven to welcome themand thank them for the impact they had upon them for JesusD. Then Jesus says something very interesting as He indicates their faithfulness withmoney will impact how much God can entrust to them the true eternal spiritualriches1. Read v 10a) If you are faithful in little things then you will be faithful in big things andif you handle little things with integrity then I know you will also handlebig things with integrity.b) But if you are unfaithful in little things then we can know you will also beunfaithful when big things are given to you.c) In other words, these “little” things become the testing ground of ourfaithfulness and integrity for “big” things.2. The next verse helps us understand what the little things are and what the bigthings are. Read v11-12a) The little things are mammon = money and possessionsb) The big things are the true spiritual eternal riches.3. Jesus is teaching us here that God uses money (the ‘little’ thing) to test to seeif we can handle and train us regarding the “big” things - spiritual riches, thethings of God, the true, important and “big” things.4. God is using the money and possessions He has entrusted to you and me totest to see if we are ready and to prepare us to be able to handle• And most importantly we see that our heart relationship with money and ourfaithfulness in caring for the money God has entrusted to usIII. Break downs a major spiritual wall, actually breaks down the major, competing idolfor our love and devotion to Jesus ChristA. Our choices regarding money impact our ability to serve God, to love Him and bedevoted to Him with all our hearts. Read v13B. This is one of those either/or passages – no gray areas as a hard choice has to bemade as Jesus makes it clear either you are serving God or you are servingmammon = money and possessions. You cannot, not may not, but cannot loveand serve both at the same time.1. Serving God and serving money are polar opposites that are mutuallyexclusive, that are impossible to do at the same time.2. Illustrate with the fact they are polar opposites with trying to walk twodifferent paths at the same time.3. We heard this before at the end of the last section we looked at as Jesus saysthe same thing in another context to a different group of people to summarizethe heart of what He just said.4. I think Jesus is summarizing the key He wants them and us to get about ourrelationship with money and with God no matter what context of Scripture orwhat context of life in which we find ourselves!C. Reread v13• The choice to serve, love and be devoted to Jesus with our money breaks a majorstronghold in our hearts So:IV. What do we do with all of this?A. The stakes are high – one of the biggest and most important decision in life thatwill impact your Following Jesus and Impacting Others and MVC being a disciplemaking church!B. My goal is simply a win-win by 100% participation because1. Every person at MVC wins when they know and experience the greatfreedom, joy and fulfilment of being devoted to Jesus and not held back bymoney. Everyone living out our God ordained mission of being and makingdisciples. I deeply want you to have that!2. MVC wins when every person does what is best for them and obeys God ingiving to their church because then MVC will have the resources to make agreater impact for Jesus upon this world, thus being a disciple making church!a) At the end of last year, I shared a sermon that did quickly highlighted themany ways that MVC is making disciples and Impacting the Lost forJesus and Believers becoming more like Jesus here, everywhere you thepeople of MVC go and around the world by our missionaries!b) At the end of last year, there was also a meeting of the membership ofMVC where by faith they voted to accept a budget for this year, which isa 5% increase over last year’s, so we can be the church we believe Godwants us to be.(1) I say faith because bottom line to meet that budget will require ourweekly giving to go up around $3,000C. Let me speak to the 80% that stats say either just throw in a few dollars or do notgive at all.1. The stakes are very high for your spiritual life here on earth now and yourtreasures in heaven in the future.2. For a major spiritual win in your life and for the sake of your church makethat choice, that will break the stronghold of money in your life and begin togive joyfully to your church.3. While there is an abundance of teaching on this in the Scripture let me justshare one verse with you that shows God wants us giving to the church we area part of, the place that ministers to us spiritually: Read 2 Corinthians 9:114. While 10% is the goal many people shoot for, the place I began when I firststarted to give, some give a greater percentage, which I do now, and somegive a lesser percentage.5. The important thing is that you give joyfully what you believe the Lord wouldhave you give. Because God loves a joyful giver.6. Take some time this week with the Lord and ask Him what He wants you todo, then by faith do it with joy and watch what God does in your heart andlife!7. A couple of resources have been given to you today to help you in thatprocess and at Welcome Center is brochure to help think through why, howmuch to give and how you can give.D. Let me speak to the 20% that stats say carry the bulk of the giving at a church1. Someone said at the meeting – this is our budget, we are the church so eachone of us must make a decision to increase our giving.2. I did that this week on line as I give digitally3. I ask you to prayerfully and joyfully do the same this week regarding adecision of faith and joy to increase your giving so MVC can make a greaterimpact as a disciple making church!4. Those resources may be help to you as well!E. Pray

HAPPY NEW YEAR MVC! Let's make Jesus first and last in everything we do.

How a Church GrowsEphesians 4 December 30, 2018Introduction:A. I remember a number of years ago when I driving into church to pick up mypaycheck when one of my daughters said “This is pretty cool – you just work oneday a week and you get paid for that”B. There are so many misconceptions about a church, for example who are theministers at MVC? How does a church growing? Is every person important?Where is the church? When is the church working?C. This morning I want to look at a passage that help us think more clearly aboutsome of these issues.• Turn in your Bibles toI. Ephesians 4A. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus to remind them of the riches theyhave in Christ, that in Christ they are now one community of both Jews andGentiles and then to instruct them how to walk in light of this!1. Here is chapter four he focuses upon our unity in Christ, especially our walktogether as a church community carrying out the mission that Jesus gave tous.B. Let’s start by looking at the roles as seen in v11-121. Read2. Note in v11 he talks about the fact that Jesus gave different ministers of HisWord to the church –a) the apostles and prophets build the church with God’s Word,b) the evangelists minster God’s Word to the lostc) the pastors and teachers minister God’s Word to the believers3. In v12 tells us the purpose of these ministers of God’s Word – It is to equip –prepare and train the saints. Read v124. For what are they preparing the saints, believers, and lay people?a) Read 12bb) The work of service or literally the work of ministry.5. My job or role in God’s program for his church is that I would prepare andtrain you to do the ministry! When you do look what happens –a) Read 12cb) Equipped saints doing the ministry build up and strengthen the church.C. Then in v13-15 he tells us what the church is being built up to, what we aregrowing up into.1. Listen as I read v13 “Until we all….” our job will not be done until we allachieve what follows:a) Unity of the faith – we all understand this bookb) Knowledge of the Son of God – We all have a living and real experienceof Jesus in our daily livesc) Mature man – we all are established, developed and matured) The measure of the stature … fullness of Christ – we all become moreand more like Christ.2. When we move in this direction listen to what it results in –a) Readb) That simply means we are able to stand strong and not be knockedaround by false teaching, men’s gimmicks and Satan’s schemes!3. He summarizes it all in v15 – We are all becoming more and more like Jesusin more and more areas of our lifeD. Sounds like there is still a ways to go at MVC – our job is not done until we allreach this place. How is that going to happen?1. Listen to v16 “… every …. Each individual….”2. Simply this verse teaches us that what causes the growth of the church iswhen every person is fully engaged doing the part that Jesus has designed forhim or her to do.II. ApplicationA. This passage answers many of our opening questions1. Who are the ministers at MVC? According to this verse, every believer inChrist is a minister not just the pastors or staff people!2. How does a church grow? - The church grows when the believers take thethings they have learned in God’s Word, live it out and take it to others!3. Is every person important? The church will not grow the way God intendsunless every person is fully engaged; doing the part that Jesus has designedfor them to do.4. Where is the church? - Since the church is people and not a building - rightnow the church is gathered at 6300 w 127th Street but this afternoon it will bescattered through the southwest portion of Chicago. During the week we willbe scattered throughout Chicago and the country as we go to work, school,play, travel with vacation and work, etc.5. When is the Church working? No, it is not just one day a week on Sundaymorning and during not only official programs of the church but alsowhenever a member of MVC church does anything in the name of Jesus atany time of the day or day of the week any place they go. Then in essence,MVC is always working wherever its people go!B. Simply you are MVC, you are the ministers of MVC, and you are very importantto MVC, you are the key to MVC growing. Whenever and wherever you areliving for Jesus, MVC is at work!C. Because of you MVC is working: (Start Slide show of Ministries)1. On Monday night, 45 junior high students come to our House ministry and anaverage of 65 high school students come to our Revolution ministry within aweek. They ministered to by 32 people who serve in these ministries withapproximately 35% of those kids who do not know Jesus.2. On Tuesday morning, at Coffee Break, an average of 80 women of all ages,from various churches, meet to hear God’s Word taught and to connect withone another for support. There are 35 women involved in ministering there3. On Wednesday night we have about 40 kids coming to Kidz club where 16people minister to these children and about 60% of them do not know Jesusand are from the local community4. Thursday morning at Precepts about 55 women from various churches, ofvarying ethnic and economic groups and various stages of spiritual growthgather together to learn how to study God’s Word in depth.5. Thursday afternoon there are teams of people who go to Roseland to theAgape Center to prepare a meal for the students and staff. Here the excitingpart – this ministry is an outreach ministry of our Widows’ Connection groupat MVC. They have cooked for as few as 30 and as many as 90. Fourteenpeople from here make that ministry possible6. On Thursday nighta) Around 30 college age kids meet together and are ministered to by fourpeople as they seek to navigate this stage of lifeb) We average about 25 addicts and codependents who are ministered to byfour people regarding their habits, hurts and hang-ups. About 20% ofthem do not know the Lordc) We also average about 23 men from surrounding communities, primarilythe hood, who come to play basketball and hear God’s Word presentedto them in a way that connects with them. One man runs this ministryby himself and about 98% of them are lost7. Friday night isa) Grief Share where three people minster to an average of 4-7 people whoare grieving the loss of loved ones in their lives. Close to 80% of thosewho come through do not know the Lordb) Five people from MVC go to IIT to minister to about 55 Chinesescholars studying at universities here in Chicago. The purpose of thistime is to examine the claims of Christ. 100% of those who have comeare lost with about 20% of them getting saved. We have been so blessedto witness some of their baptisms here and having some of themattending here every week!8. Every other Saturday morning and throughout the week there are studies formen with about 50 men ministered to by five men helping them connect withGod, His Word and other men.9. On Sunday morning during the second hour Pastor Clem and about 12volunteers minister to about 30 seniors as they drink deeply from the Word ofGod.10. And that only scratches the surface of what so many of you are doing everyday as you walk with Jesus ministering to those around you both saved andlost, young and old, rich, poor and in between, family, friends, classmates,coworkers, neighbors, etc.D. Bottom line, MVC is alive and at work constantly because wherever you go andwhenever you are doing something in Jesus’ name MVC is at work!• I want to close by acknowledging two of the people who have helped MVC make abig impact.III. AppreciationA. I would like to ask Keith Buell and Diana Fernandez to come up here for just afew minutes.B. Gratitude from meC. Gift from Mike KuboD. Diana or Keith like to say anything.E. Reception afterwards.

Merry Christmas, MVC!

Pastor Pat closes our Christmas series, The Christmas Story.

Pastor Pat continues in our series, "The Christmas Story".

MagnificatLuke 1:46-55 Dec 16, 2018 (1713)I. Introduction:A. Dan Bellamy will be here this Wednesday night, for our MV Kids ChristmasParty, from 6:30PM- 8:30PM! There will be hotdogs, chips, cupcakes and thenstoryteller Dan Bellamy sharing the gospel in a unique way that will absolutelyimpact your littles ones and how they see life with Christ. This night is foreveryone, young and old, kids or not, we want you to come out and enjoy thenight!B. As we continue today to look at the Christmas story through the eyes of Mary, theMother of Jesus, we will see her response to the announcement from the AngelGabriel that she will be the mother of the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ,Jesus!1. This section has been called the Magnificat, which comes from the first wordof the first line in the Latin version of the Bible, the vulgate of Mary’sdeclaration of praise. (“Magnificat anima mea Dominum,” or “My soulmagnifies the Lord.”)C. The setting of this praise was that after Gabriel told Mary the news of Jesus’ birththrough her that she went to visit her relative Elizabeth, the old barren womannow six months pregnant with the forerunner of the King, John the Baptist.1. When Mary arrived and the two greeted each other, Elizabeth was filled withthe Holy Spirit, listen to what she said.a) And note as I read that two times she will call Mary blessed.b) Read v42-45 Emphasize blessed in both placesD. And now we come to this morning’s passage, the response of Mary to whatElizabeth said and what the Angel told her, the Magnificat!E. Before I read it, let me tell you a bit about this section of Scripture.1. In this section Mary tells us that she is exalting or magnifying, lifting up thegreatness of God and rejoicing in God who is her Savior!2. It is loaded with OT allusions, which tells us that Mary, even at a young age ,most likely in her teens between 15-17, knew her Bible well, the OldTestament and the promises it had made especially about the coming Kingand Savior, the Messiah!3. Also this Psalm of praise is broken up into three sections:a) What God has done for Maryb) What He does for all who fear him and are humblec) What He has and will do for Israel4. Finally the driving theme of this passage is God’s mercya) Mercy is simply an inward concern for someone in serious need andbringing the outward help that they need.b) We see this idea as the word mercy is used two times and a thirdreference to mercy in the word regard which means to take special noticeof someone with the implication of concerning oneself with the one youare noticing.c) I believe that the thrust of this praise is the fact that God is merciful tothe humble by doing great things for them and merciful to Israe. byremembering His promises to them. Simply God is merciful to thehumble and to Israel!5. Watch for all of this as I Read v46-55• Let’s start by looking at the first section aboutII. God is merciful to the humble by doing great things for themA. Read 48a. God has taken notice of Mary who was not someone of high positionor importance in the community. She was just another one of the young girls, oneof humble state.1. She recognized that from then on every generation would consider her asblessed, just like Elizabeth just did for being the mother of the Lord andbelieving His word!2. Then she states that the Mighty One, the Holy One, has done great things forher, the one who is of a humble state!3. Listen as I read v48b-49 “for….”B. Then Mary continues her praise of God’s mercy by extending beyond just herselfas a person of a humble state and expands it to God’s mercy to everyone who ishumble, those who fear Him. To them also the Mighty One has done mightydeeds!1. Basically she is saying it’s not just me that God is merciful to and does greatthings for everyone who is humble, everyone who fears Him, He does greatthings.2. And here is the good news – that means what we read in the Magnificatincludes you and me who are humble before the Lord and fear Him!3. Watch as I read v50-53 for how God shows His mercy to the humble byexalting them and doing great things for them while he brings down theproud.C. The proud, the powerful and the wealthy she is referring to here are those who donot know God, or in our day we could say they are lost people who do not knowJesus.1. While God is always down on pride, there is a big difference between a lostperson who is so proud they have no need for Jesus and can do it allthemselves versus a believer who may struggle with pride.2. Also the Bible shows us many examples of wealthy and powerful people wholove God are Humble and have had His blessing.D. And we also know many lost people who are proud, have high positions andmany possessions who are not empty handed, and at the same time manyChristians whose lives do not seem so exalted and filled.1. Even the Psalmist was very troubled when he considered the prosperity andease of the wicked while he was being stricken all day long. But all thatchanged when he went into the presence of God and perceived their end!2. I think that Ps 107:8-9 gives us some perspective here.a) The wonders, the mighty deeds God does for the humble are things inthe spirit and soul and in the future. Things that are a part of the unseeninternal world and future world rather than the things we see right now!(1) We need to get our eyes off the two second life here and put themupon the big one!b) God scatters the lost proud and brings them down and sends them awayempty handed regarding the things that really matter, the things thatmoney cannot buy, the things that are eternal, the things of the soul andspirit!c) Makes me think of the picture I saw around Thanksgiving of a homelessman on his knees in the middle of the street thanking God.(1) Listen to what He said when he was asked why a homeless manwith nothing would be thanking God?(2) He replied: “God will never forsake me and though I might nothave much in material things, I have the greatest gift of all –salvation… thanks to Jesus Christ”! He said, “My riches don’tcome from man and money, but from our heavenly Father”!• So we learn in the first two-thirds of this psalm of praise that God is merciful to thehumble by doing great things for them! In the last third of this psalm of praise we seeIII. God is Merciful to Israel by remembering His promises to themA. Watch for this as I read v54-55B. God in His covenant with Abraham promised him many things which they hadbeen looking forward to the fulfilment of these for centuries! God promised Hewould:1. Bless Abraham and his descendants,2. That God would be their God,3. Save them from their enemies,4. Give them a land forever,5. Through Abraham’s seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed.C. This is all part of the larger story of redemption we will look at on Christmas Eve,but by the way we are in on these blessings and promises as well because thosepromises were spoken to Abraham and His seed Jesus, and because of ourrelationship with Jesus we are in on all these promises and blessings!IV. So what can we take away from all of this?V. Final ApplicationA. First “God is attracted to and blesses the humble!”1. Listen to what 1 Pet 5:5 saysa) There is a greater experience of God’s grace when a believer is humblebecause we see throughout Scripture that God blesses the humble!2. The Pharisees were a great picture of pride.a) They did deeds to be noticed and admired by men,b) They loved to be seated at the place of honor at banquets and religiousgatherings,c) They loved the respectful greetings they got in the market placed) And loved being called teacher,e) Basically they wanted to be seen by others as impressive, important andsuccessful.3. Listen to what Jesus said to them after confronting them about these things.Read Mt 23:124. Even believers struggle with wanting to be around people who areimpressive, important and successful so we can feel significant and looksignificant to others.5. If this is the case for your own benefit and the blessing of others and theglory of God, you need to confess your sin of pride, seek God to build intoyou a spirit of humility like Mary’s.B. Secondly, do you need mercy today? Prayer is one of the greatest forms ofhumility as we put everything else aside and turn to God to do for us what wecannot do for ourselves – Heb 4:16C. Finally when we consider worship, John Piper says, “The only people whose soulcan truly magnify the Lord are people like Elizabeth and Mary—people whoacknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the condescension of themerciful God.

Pastor Pat continues in our Christmas series, The Christmas Story.