New Work Fellowship Podcast

Thankful for Prayer (John 11:32-44)

Jesus thanked the Father for prayer. What about you? Do you understand the incredible privilege that is ours in prayer? Do you know that God listens? Jesus models gratitude in just thanking God for hearing him when he speaks. Not only does God listen to your prayers, God speaks to you through prayer. Are you thankful for the privilege of prayer? Are you hearing his nudge? Are you following his lead? Be thankful. Just like Jesus.

The Joy Principle (Matthew 13:44-45 & Acts 20:35): In these two very brief parables, Jesus describes the Kingdom of heaven in the language of precious possessions—possessions that you joyfully (excitedly) give your all in order to secure. There is an undercurrent of joy in the teaching of Jesus on giving, and indeed throughout the bible. Watch Jesus as He takes as seat in the temple and watches the offerings being given. Luke 21:1-4. Do you not hear the joy as he declares her tiny gift the greatest gift? Listen as the woman anoints Jesus with the expensive perfume and everyone else is incensed. But Jesus praises her for such an extravagant gift (Mark 14:1-9, John 12:1-7). I love how John 12:3 states that the house was filled with the fragrance of the gift. Generosity is like that—it smells of joy. Generosity and Joy go together.

Is your generosity producing the sweet fragrance of Joy in your life?

Give until it feels good by Ben Elrod

The Eternal Principle (Matthew 6:19-21 & Matthew 19:16-30): It is easy for us to get lost in our giving. We tend to think it only has to do with here and now. Jesus clearly points us toward the eternal implications of generosity. It is not primarily about here and now, but leveraging the here and now for eternal impact and eternal results. The principle Jesus makes in the Sermon on the Mount is more fully explored in the interaction between Jesus and the rich curious man. This also rattled the cage of the disciples. Jesus goes on to teach that there is a direct connection between what we do now, with what we have—and how we invest in the Kingdom and eternal results.  James teaching about the rich would also parallel this teaching. James 5:1-6. Where have you fixed your gaze?

The Heart/Hand Connection:There is a spiritual connection to generosity between our heart and our hand. Jesus said where you put your treasure (invest your treasure); that it gets to your heart. You see a great example of this in the life of Zacchaeus. Before Jesus his heart of hardened by greed. After Jesus gets ahold of him—his heart is softened. We see that he gets the generosity of Jesus when he steps into generosity. Jesus even says that Salvation has come to this house. The heart/hand connection is real. What’s happening in your heart because of what your hands are doing?

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

 

Being a disciple means:

Jesus first. (Luke 14:25-26)

  A disciple loves Jesus first and foremost. (Revelation 2:2-5)

Being a sacrifice. (Luke 14:27)

A disciple must die to self. (Galatians 2:20)

Counting the cost.  (Luke 14:28-30)

A disciple highly values and heavily invests Godly growth. (Philippians 3:7-9)

Partnering in kingdom work. (Luke 14:31-32)

A disciple is part of the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 & 27)

 

Key truth: A disciple is a follower of Christ who is all in. (Luke 14:33-35) 

Are you in Christ? 

Are you growing in Christ together?

Are you going as the body of Christ? 

 

Final thought: What king do you serve? Follow Jesus and be all in.

Our relationships with others should reflect our relationship with the Lord.  Moving from performance-based relationships into relationships that are marked by God’s eternal covenant is essential for the believer.  Not only should this be evident in marriages, but in all of our relationships.  This is the biblical framework for parenting, friendships, co-worker relationships, acquaintances, and our relationship with the world.

Sermon Series: Preach Jesus: the life habits of Jesus

Sermon Title: Jesus and Salt

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

 

“ You are the salt of the earth.” (5:13a)

“You are” - Your identity is found in Christ. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

“salt” – Remember, you are in covenant relationship with God so that you can be a reminder of God’s eternal covenant. (Leviticus 2:13)

“But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?” (5:13b)

Salt loses its flavor when corrupted by impurities.(James 1:26-27)

Your purpose is to live out God’s good plan for you and others. (2 Timothy 3:16)

“Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” (5:13c)

How salty are you?  Not salty enough

Do you treat others as God has treated you or as you feel they deserve?

Do you have an awareness of God’s presence always or only at church?

Do you read scripture consistently, sporadically, or not at all?

Do people ask you about spiritual matters or are they unaware that you are a Christian?

Do you engage in prayer or are your prayers the “same old same old?”

What have you given permission to take priority over the things of eternal significance in your life?

Preach Jesus: the life habits of Jesus

Jesus and Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:5-10

 

Purpose: Today Jesus is going to show us Three Elements of Prayer and then tell us a Story with a Strategy.

 

Three Elements of Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13

1. Pray with Balance 

Pray with Affection – He is a Father 

Pray with Awe – He is the Lord 

 

2. Pray with the Kingdom in mind

3. Pray for your daily needs

Food 

Forgiveness 

Protection

 

The Strategy from the Story – Luke 11:5-10

 

Keep Praying - Be Shamelessly Persistent in your Prayers.

Preach Jesus: the life habits of Jesus

Jesus and God's Word

Luke 4:14-30

 

What life habits are you building? 

family traditions of faith

public faith declaration

private devotion

 

Jesus and God’s Word: 

#1—Jesus was disciplined in the Word

John 1:1,14 “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God….So the Word became human and made his home among us…the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

Jesus was disciplined in the Word, THEREFORE, I am to be a self-feeder.

(See 1 Peter 2:2 and Hebrews 5:11-12)

 

#2—Jesus was defined by the Word

Luke 4:21, Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (In other words: This is Me!). 

Jesus was defined by the Word, THEREFORE, I know who I am.

1 John 3:1-2, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children…” 

 

#3—Jesus displayed God’s Word

Luke 4:22a, “Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips.”

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” 

Jesus displayed God’s Word, THEREFORE, I am to go and do the same.

 

Final thought: Do not add God’s word to your life, build your life around God’s Word (See Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Preach Jesus: the life habits of Jesus

Private Devotion

Matthew 4:1-22

 

Three Habits of Individual Spiritual Disciplines:

Study

Intake of God's Word

WHY?

The Bible teaches us how to live our lives.

Pray

Continual conversation with God.

WHY?

Prayer builds relationship with God

Silence and Solitude

Silence is quieting our lives to hear God speak.

Internal and External

Solitude is to be alone with God and think.

WHY?

Time with God prepares us for time with people

 

In - Then Through

Public faith begins in private devotion.

 

Final Thought: If you want to change the world around you, change the spiritual practices within you.