North Main Street Church of God Sermons

Faith Defined

(Hebrews 11:1-3)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Substance of Faith

December 1st, 2019

Something to think about:

As we come to the final month of 2019, and our theme of “LOVE” for the year, we look at the aspect of love from the New Living Testament translation in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 that describes a love that “never loses faith.” 

The best way to describe this kind of faith requires us to look deeper into the Biblical definition of faith.  So, in order to do that we will be focusing on Hebrews chapter 11, commonly known as the “Hall of Faith.”  As we explore the type of love that never loses faith, we need to first understand what faith really is:

Hebrews 11:1-40 (NLT)

1  Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 2  Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3  By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. (Continue reading in your Bible, or on the screen).

Author and Biblical scholar, William Barclay, wrote,

“To the writer of Hebrews, faith is absolutely certain that what it believes is true and that what it expects will come.  It is not the hope which looks forward with wistful longing [as in Hannah’s story]; it is the hope which looks forward with utter conviction.”[1]

The key point this morning is this…

Key Point:  “Faith is confident assurance devoid of things seen.”

Faith is the “substance, confidence, essence, or assurance” that what we hope for will actually happen.

Faith is the “proof, conviction, or evidence” of the things that we cannot see.

Something to take home:

The early 20th century evangelist, Oswald Chambers, wrote this about faith:

“Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.”[2]

How is your faith?  What is your faith rooted in?  Does your faith have substance, confidence, and assurance that what you hope for will actually happen?  Does your faith give witness through conviction and evidence of the things you cannot see?

We all have faith.  The question is:  What do you have faith in?  We all love.  The question is:  Who, or what, do you love?  When love and faith are rooted in the eternal, unchanging God of the Universe, there is nothing that can shake us.  However, when our faith is rooted in the temporal and imperfect, we find ourselves sinking amidst the toils and turmoils of this life.

Again, it’s important to remember…

Key Point:  “Faith is confident assurance devoid of things seen.”

[1] William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series: The Letter to the Hebrews, (Westminster John Knox Press:  Louisville, Kentucky; 1976) 128.

[2] Oswald Chambers, Run Today’s Race, (Discovery House Publishers; Discovery House Publishers; 2015).

A Prayer of Praise

(1 Samuel 2:1-11)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Hopeful in the Meantime

November 24th, 2019

Something to think about:

Americans struggle with thankfulness. We are a culture based on consumption, so the very nature of thankfulness is counter cultural. We struggle with thankfulness and praise not only because it’s counter cultural but also because it requires humility. But let’s take a look at Hannah again this week as she sets the perfect example for praising God.

We conclude our story of Hannah today. If you recall, Hannah was a woman who was barren and could not have children, so she asked God for a child and promised to give that child to God if she was able to have one. God granted her request and held up his end of the promise and eventually, when the boy was old enough, Hannah kept her promise and delivered Samuel (the boy) to the temple. Our story picks up directly after she drops Samuel off. Hannah could have chosen to react in many different ways, but she chooses to praise the Lord.

Hannah’s praise is inspiring, let’s take a look…

Turn in your Bibles to: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

2 Then Hannah prayed:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord!
    The Lord has made me strong.[a]
Now I have an answer for my enemies;
    I rejoice because you rescued me.
2 No one is holy like the Lord!
    There is no one besides you;
    there is no Rock like our God.

3 “Stop acting so proud and haughty!
    Don’t speak with such arrogance!
For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done;
    he will judge your actions.
4 The bow of the mighty is now broken,
    and those who stumbled are now strong.
5 Those who were well fed are now starving,
    and those who were starving are now full.
The childless woman now has seven children,
    and the woman with many children wastes away.
6 The Lord gives both death and life;
    he brings some down to the grave[b] but raises others up.
7 The Lord makes some poor and others rich;
    he brings some down and lifts others up.
8 He lifts the poor from the dust
    and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
    placing them in seats of honor.
For all the earth is the Lord’s,
    and he has set the world in order.

9 “He will protect his faithful ones,
    but the wicked will disappear in darkness.
No one will succeed by strength alone.
10 Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
    the Lord judges throughout the earth.
He gives power to his king;
    he increases the strength[c] of his anointed one.”
11 Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.

What’s the takeaway?

Key point: “Our hope is in the gift-giver not the gift.”

Something to take home:

Where are you today? We all have our own struggles but there are many of us who struggle with praising God. We lose track of who God is. We forget or don’t give God credit for the gifts he has given us, often we forget that Gods plan and kingdom look different which changes how we react to situations. I want to encourage you this week to try something. Here are a few practical applications.

First, start each day off by acknowledging who God is, this is as easy as actually verbally saying it each morning. This will radically change your daily perspective.

Second, keep a journal or list of all the things throughout the week that we might attribute to luck, or chance or coincidence and attribute those to God.

Finally, praise God for those things. I promise you that if you do this you will feel hope. God is right with us, walking and guiding and hurting with us. When we look for Him and praise Him we realize just how good and big and powerful He is, and that brings hope.

The Fulfillment of a Promise

(1 Samuel 1:19-28)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Hopeful in the Meantime

November 17th, 2019

Something to think about:

What is a “promise?”  And for that matter, what is a promise kept?

According to the Miriam-Webster dictionary, a “Promise” is, “a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified.”[1]

That being the case, a promise kept, then, is the fulfillment of a promise made.

As we continue Hannah’s story of hope in the book of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament this morning, we witness the result of God’s action in response to Hannah’s prayer for a son.  God came through for Hannah, and now Hannah is faced with fulfilling her vow/commitment to God.  And, what was that commitment?  If you remember last week, Hannah made a promise to God, as she prayed, that if God allowed her to have a son, she would give him back to God and that he would be dedicated to the LORD for a lifetime. 

So, what does Hannah do?  Let’s take a closer look…

Turn in your Bibles to:  1 Samuel 1:19-28

What’s the takeaway?

Key Point:  “The fulfillment of a promise requires our commitment to the promise.”

Hannah promised God, God delivered, and Hannah remained faithful to the promise she made.  Here’s how this breaks down:

1 Samuel 1:15-18 (NLT), 15  “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD. 16  Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” 17  “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” 18  “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

1 Samuel 1:24-28a (NLT), 24  When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and a basket of flour and some wine. 25  After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. 26  “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD. 27  I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. 28  Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.”

1 Samuel 1:28b (NLT), And they worshiped the LORD there.

Something to take home:

Believers in Christ are to be people who keep their word.  Just like Hannah, we must follow through with our promises to God.  This was one of the things that the people of the Old Testament had a hard time doing.  They struggled to remain faithful to God, and often worshiped idols and things that had no life or meaning whatsoever.  But, Jesus came and fulfilled every promise and every commitment to God that mankind should have, and He did it perfectly.[2]  Now, through Christ we have right standing before God as we believe in Him and live our lives for Him.  And, like Hannah, our worship of God is shown through our commitment to Him in every arena of our lives.

So, today, are you a person of your word?  Do you say what you mean, and mean what you say?  Do you keep the commitments you make to God, or do you struggle to remain faithful? 

Commitments require sacrifice, and sacrifice requires letting go.  What commitments have you made and are you making?  To whom are you making commitments, and do those commitments honor God?

It’s important to remember that in our walk with Christ,

Key Point:  “The fulfillment of a promise requires our commitment to the promise.”

[1] Miriam-Webster Dictionary, “Promise,” www.miriam-webster.com, (accessed on November 12, 2019), https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promise?src=search-dict-hed

[2] Matthew 5:17 (NLT), “[Jesus said,] Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”

A Prayer for a Son

(1 Samuel 1:9-18)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Hopeful in the Meantime

November 10th, 2019

Something to think about:

Watchman Nee’s story is a modern-day example that has been repeated time and time again in the Old Testament narratives.  Sarah is barren, but after some time, she conceives in her old age and gives birth to a son named Isaac.  Rebekah (Isaac’s wife) is barren, but after a while, she conceives and gives birth to twins named Esau and Jacob.  Jacob’s wife Rachel is barren – longing for a child – but after some time she gives birth to a son named Joseph, and then another son named Benjamin.  And now, today, we continue to the story of Hannah (from the book of 1 Samuel) who is barren – desperately longing for a son – but will God hear her prayers?  Let’s take a look…

1 Samuel 1:9-18 (NLT)

9  Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10  Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. 11  And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.”

12  As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. 13  Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14  “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”

15  “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD. 16  Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”

17  “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”

18  “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

So, what’s the take-away today?  What’s the main thing from this passage that we can learn?

Key Point:  “Hopeful prayer to a mighty God will dispel our despair.”

Let’s take a closer look at Hannah’s story today:

1 Samuel 1:9-11 (NLT), 9  Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10  Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. 11  And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.”

1 Samuel 1:12-14 (NLT), 12  As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. 13  Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14  “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”

1 Samuel 1:17-18 (NLT), 17  “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” 18  “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

Something to take home:

Have you ever been so desperate to hear from God that you prayed and prayed until He answered?  Or, have you given up and just moved on?  Maybe it’s time to trust in the LORD, and press in to Him.  Maybe it’s time to completely seek His will in the current situation you find yourself in.  Maybe it’s time to put your hope in God who knows what’s going on in your life and allow Him to do what He does best, “cause all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His good purpose for them.”[1]

Let’s remember the writer of Proverbs in the Old Testament who wrote:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT), 5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Key Point:  “Hopeful prayer to a mighty God will dispel our despair.”

[1] Romans 8:28 (NLT), emphasis mine.

The Story of a Girl

(1 Samuel 1:1-8)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Hopeful in the Meantime

November 3rd, 2019

Something to think about:

This month we will be focusing on the fact that, “love hopes all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).  As we begin this new series today, we come to an old story in the book of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament that unfolds into one of the greatest stories of hope in the Bible.  It’s the story of a woman named, Hannah.

Hannah was one of two wives of a man by the name of Elkanah.  Elkanah and Hannah lived in a time of Israel’s history when the nation was ruled by Priests and Judges; a time before there were kings in the land of Israel. 

Elkanah was a righteous man; a good man by all accounts.  He worshiped God and sacrificed to Him regularly for the forgiveness of sins for he and his family.  He was a benevolent mand to both of his wives, especially Hannah who was barren (unable to have children).  However, Hannah struggled with her situation; she wanted to have a child, but she was beginning to lose all hope.

Let’s pick up her story…

1 Samuel 1:1-8 (NRSV)

1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2  He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3  Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD. 4  On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5  but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. 6  Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7  So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8  Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

How was Hannah to maintain hope and keep her head up?  Well, let’s look at our key point this morning:

Key Point:  “In times of distress it’s important to look at who is for us rather than who is against us.”

For Hannah, to look at her situation was a terrible thing.  Peninnah relentlessly taunted her because she had no children yet.  What was she to do?  Who was she to turn to in her time of distress?  Eventually, she would turn to God (as we’ll see next week), but for now, her husband, Elkanah, works to reassure her, and remind her that he is “for” her.

Let’s take a closer look at Hannah’s story today:

1 Samuel 1:6-7 (NLT), 6  So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children. 7  Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.

1 Samuel 1:8 (NLT),  “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”

Something to take home:

Who are you helping/encouraging these days?  Is there someone you know of that could use some encouragement?  Is someone you know going through a difficult and distressing situation that could use your kind words of hope?  Sometimes it just takes a word, and sometimes it just takes your presence.

If “love hopes all things,” why don’t you help someone to see the hope of Christ in their difficult circumstances?

And, finally, it’s important to remind yourself and others that,

Key Point:  “In times of distress it’s important to look at who is for us rather than who is against us.”

And those of us who believe in Christ, the Lord our God, are able to embrace the promise of hope that Paul reminds us of in his letter to the Romans in the New Testament…

Romans 8:31b (NLT),  If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Be Not Afraid

(Mark 6:45-52; Hebrews 13:1-3)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Love Does

October 20th, 2019

Something to think about:

When you think about fear, what is it that makes you afraid?  What are some phobias that you have struggled with throughout your life?  Have you overcome those fears, and, if so, how have you overcome them?

We come to a passage of Scripture this morning that is a good example of multiple causes for fear.  In the previous scene, in Mark chapter 6, Jesus has just fed the 5000 with the loaves and fish, and He sends the disciples by boat across the sea of Galilee to the town of Bethsaida while He goes off to be alone with the Father and pray.  Later that night, probably around 3 in the morning, the weather on the Sea of Galilee had taken a turn for the worse where the disciples were, and they were struggling hard against the wind and the waves.  Their fears and anxieties had run amuck and now they’re faced with another fear:  a ghost, or so they think.

Let’s pick up the story…

Turn in your Bibles to:  Mark 6:45-52 and Hebrews 13:1-3

If we’re not careful, our fear and anxiety can be so dominant and controlling that it paralyzes us.  However, when we know the God of all creation, and surrender our lives to Him, we become free and open to new possibilities to move out of our comfort zones and into the glorious reality of abundant life!

The point today is this…

Key Point:  “Fear keeps us from living a full life in Christ.”

So what do we learn about fear from the disciples in this passage? 

Mark 6:47-48 (NLT), 47  Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48  He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,

Mark 6:49-50a (NLT), 49  but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50  They were all terrified when they saw him.

Mark 6:50b-52 (NLT), But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51  Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52  for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

Something to take home:

Dr. E. Stanley Jones, author and scholar has written:

“I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear.  Fear is not my native land; faith is.  I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil.  I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety.  In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath—these are not my native air.  But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely—these are my native air.

“A John Hopkins University doctor says, ‘We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact.’  But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear.  God made us that way.  To live by worry is to live against reality.”[1]

1 John 4:18 (NIV),  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

And, so, for your homework assignment this week:  Take some time this week to consider doing one of these things:  1)  Have lunch with a person you don’t know (e.g., a neighbor, a homeless person, someone sitting alone at a restaurant).  2)  Visit someone who is sick or in the hospital (someone you do not know, or know well).  While there, pray with them and the person in the other bed next to them, and – while you’re at it – the people in the next room or across the hall.  3)  Go visit someone who is home-bound or shut-in.  Consider visiting someone you do not know (or someone you do not know very well).

And, finally, remember…

Hebrews 13:2 (NLT), Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

[1] Dr. E. Stanley Jones, Source unknown.

Audacious Love

(1 John 4:7-12; Genesis 28:10-17)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Love Does

October 13th, 2019

Something to think about:

God’s love is audacious!  But, what does that really mean?

Well, the word audacious is defined as…

So, to say that God’s love is audacious is to say that God’s love is extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless!

The Apostle John (one of Jesus’ 12 disciples) talks about God’s love in one of his letters to the church in the New Testament.  John describes this love of God that is bold, daring, recklessly brave, and fearless.  Let’s take a look…

Turn in your Bibles to:  1 John 4:7-12 (NLT)

Now, there’s another thing about God’s love and God’s presence that must be understood:  If we’re not careful, we can miss it!

How is it possible to miss God’s presence and God’s love?  A good example of this is found in the first book of the Bible, known as Genesis.  We come upon the scene of a man by the name of Jacob (Abraham’s grandson).  While traveling to Haran, Jacob stops for the night and sets up camp.  Listen to what happens next…

Turn in your Bibles to:  Genesis 28:10-17

Since God’s love is audacious, our love for Him and others must be audacious as well, but this can only happen when we are willing to receive God’s audacious love.  And, we can’t receive God’s audacious love if we’re not aware of it.

So, the key point today is this…

Key Point:  “God’s love for us is audacious, and so must ours be.”

So how does all this work out? 

1 John 4:9-10 (NLT), 9  God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:11-12 (NLT), 11  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12  No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

Genesis 28:16 (NLT), Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”

Something to take home:

Jesus love for God and others was so audacious that he communicated love to lepers through touch; He communicated love to the blind through touch; He communicated love to the deaf by touch.  The pattern of Jesus’ love was active and engaging.  It broke social and religious protocols.  Jesus’ was aware of the needs around Him each and everyday because He was aware of the Father’s love wherever He was.  Unlike Jacob, Jesus was completely aware of the LORD’s presence each and every place He went, and He availed Himself to those opportunities by showing love in those places and to the people He encountered there.

And, so, for your homework assignment this week:  Take some time out this week to be an observer.  Go to the mall, to the park, or somewhere public and watch/observe what’s going on around you.  Look for evidence of God in these places.  Where to you see evidence of the hand of God and His love?  For example:  Maybe you’ll witness someone opening/holding a door for someone else; or, maybe you see someone helping carry something for someone else, or helping them walk to their car.  Whatever the case, take note and thank God for His willingness to be active in and around us each and every day.  Now, once you’ve observed, take action.  Step into the arena of God’s loving-kindness by actively sharing that in a practical way with someone else.  Allow the evidence of God’s love to flow through you by helping another person around you.

[1] Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on The Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Free to Fail

(Matthew 16:13-19 Luke 22:54-62; John 21:15-19)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Love Does

October 6th, 2019

Something to think about:

In your worship folder today, you’ll notice that you have two nametags.  Take one of the nametags and write a nickname that best describes you.  Now, once you’ve done this, hold on to it for a bit.

As we continue in the “Love Does” series this today, we look at a famous Biblical character that not only exemplified great failure, but also, great success (and, not always in that order).  Let’s take a look at a man named, Peter…

Our first instance of Peter this morning comes from Matthew’s Gospel in the New Testament.  In the disciple’s dialogue with Jesus, Peter rises to the top of the heap.  He proclaims something significant about Jesus, and Jesus praises him for it…

Turn in your Bible to:  Matthew 16:13-19

Now, not too long after this great proclamation of Peter about Jesus, there is a great fumble (mildly speaking).  Just after Jesus is arrested by the Temple guards to be tried and crucified by the Romans, Peter opens his mouth again, but this time his words and actions result in utter failure…

Turn in your Bible to:  Luke 22:54-62

Finally, not long after Jesus had risen from the grave, He appears to the disciples next to the Sea of Galilee where they had been fishing throughout the night.  After having breakfast with them, Jesus talks with Peter in one of the most amazing scenes of restoration in the Bible…

Turn in your Bible to:  John 21:15-19

Here’s the key point today…

Key Point:  “There is freedom to fail as a follower of Christ, but there’s no freedom to stay there.”

How can we learn this from Peter’s experience?

Matthew 16:15-16 (NLT), 15  Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Luke 22:60-62 (NLT), 60  But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61  At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62  And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

John 21:17 (NLT), A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”

Something to take home:

Peter had some glorious failures in his life, but (with the help of Jesus) he moved beyond his failures.  Peter learned to risk being a fool for Christ.  Sometimes he succeeded, but sometimes he failed.  Through winning and losing, through trial, and oftentimes error, Peter never gave up.  Sure, he was humbled as all risktakers are a times, and yes, he was embarrassed a time or two in his life, but he never let his failures destroy who he was.  Peter knew that He who began a good work in him would be faithful to complete it![1]  It’s because of this that Peter was able to move beyond his failures and was able to be the “Rock” that Jesus would use to build His church!

Now, remember the nametag from earlier?  The one with your nickname on it.  Take that one out and look at it. 

While you look at it, consider this:  Do you know what Peter’s name originally was before Jesus nicknamed him Peter?  Before he was Peter, his given name was “Simon bar Jonah,” or “Simon Son of Jonah.” 

What I want you to do is tear up the nametag with your nickname on it.  Now, take out the other nametag you have and write God’s nickname for you (e.g., “child of God,” “prince,” “princess,” “champ,” etc.).  Take some time this week to begin to see yourself as God sees you:  Someone worthy to be loved; someone worthy to be saved; someone worthy to receive His grace and forgiveness.

And, now, for your homework assignment this week:  Place your nametag with your new nickname from God on it in a visible place this week (e.g., the dashboard of your car, your refrigerator, your bathroom mirror, etc.).  Consider your worth and value in the eyes of God who created you.  Consider the love with which He loves you, and consider the love that He’s placed in you for others.  When you start to feel defeated, when you are reminded of your failures this week, remember God’s nickname for you, and find hope to press on.  

And, finally, remember…

Key Point:  “There is freedom to fail as a follower of Christ, but there’s no freedom to stay there.”

[1] Philippians 1:6.

I’m with You

(Matthew 5:13-16)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Love Does

September 29th, 2019

Something to think about:

Over the past 9 months we’ve been in a process of discovering what love does and what love doesn’t do by looking at Paul’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13, and though we’ve scratched the surface of what love is we’ve not really talked about who love is and what love does.  So, starting today, and over the next several weeks, we will be exploring the nature of love in its essence and in its actions.

Describing the very nature of God, the Apostle John (one of Jesus’ 12 disciples) writes:

1 John 4:16 (NLT),

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Now, out of the very essence of that love, God gave of Himself through His Son Jesus…

Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT),

18  This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19  Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

20  As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21  And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22  All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23  “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel,

which means ‘God is with us.’”

24  When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25  But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Now, what does Love/God expect of us?...

Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT),

 13  “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

14  “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

So, how can we love others?  We can love others the way God loved us:  We need to be present.

Key Point:  “Just as God is present with us, we need to be present with others.”

How can we be present with others?  Well, we can be present with others by…

Matthew 1:23 (NLT), “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Matthew 5:13a (NLT), “You are the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:14 (NLT), “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Something to take home:

So, what’s the final take away?  What’s the point to today’s message in practical application?  Well, we must do love in order for love to be real in our daily living.  And, the Apostle John gives us the best example of this…

1 John 3:16-17 (NLT), 16  We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17  If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

In addition, John goes on to write…

1 John 3:18-19 (NLT), 18  Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19  Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

So, here’s your homework assignment for this week:  Take one hour between now and next Sunday and be fully present with someone in need.  Allow the ministry of presence to be your act of love in someone else’s life.  Shut off your phone, computer, and all electronic devises and be fully present with them:  heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Don’t focus on you, focus on them.  Don’t try and fill the air with useless words.  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your conversation, and learn to truly listen.

Key Point:  “Just as God is present with us, we need to be present with others.”