Placerville Church of the Nazarene

Let Us . . .

Under the old covenant, the holy of holies—situated in the

back of the tabernacle (photo)—was the most sacred place

on earth. Only the high priest, after a process of ritual

cleansing, could enter this most holy place and only once a

year on the Day of Atonement. (photo-priest)

For everyone else—even other priests—it was off limits.

When the tent of the tabernacle was replaced by the temple

in Jerusalem, a giant curtain continued to separate the most

holy place from the rest of the temple.

(photo) At the moment Jesus died, this massive curtain was

torn in two, from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51)

The writer of Hebrews proclaims this dramatic change from

the old system to the new. (And so – Let us. . . )

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter

heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.

Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood to forgive our

sins – AND SO we can enter into God Holy presence.

20 By-his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way

through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

And so . . .

1. Let us Come

21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over

God’s house, 22 let us go (COME, approach, draw near,

WORSHIP) right into the presence of God with sincere

hearts fully trusting him.

Come – Let us draw near to God. Let us worship.

The blood of Jesus makes a way for us to come to God.

We have to trust Him and we get to come.

Trust God, Come near!

For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s

blood to make us CLEAN, and our bodies have been

washed with pure water.

Christ’s blood cleans us up – (Imagine going on a big date.

Prom night 1969- off work, borrowed car, washed, dressed

up – texudo, dinner at the Space Needle, Olympic Hotel)

This is the kind of dedication we put into following Christ

demonstrating a changed lifestyle.

Jesus died to make it possible.Let us get close to God.

Christ made the way, Come.

2. Let us Hold

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,

for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess

Hold tight, affirm, profess – make confession of your hope!

God will keep his promise. He can be trusted and He trusts

you to take hold of that hope and share it.

3. Let us Think

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love

and good works.

Don’t just kick someone and expect them to change.

Take time and consider how we may spur one another on

show love and demonstrate love with kind acts.

4. Let us Meet – Let us not give up meeting together

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some

people do,

We are meeting here in person for the first time in four

months. But we have been meeting online each week. If you

can’t be here physically, be presence spiritually. It is harded

to do church this way, do it anyway.

22 but encourage one another, especially now that the day of

his return is drawing near.

The Pursuit of Progress

Philippians 3:12-14

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.

But I press on to possess that perfection

for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,

but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

How do we possess perfection?

• Focus be like Christ.

• Forget disregard

• Forward reach forth.

• Follow pursue

• Finish complete

• Feather What feather would you like in your cap?

James 1:2-5

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested,

your endurance has a chance to grow.

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God,

and he will give it to you.

Freedom to be Instruments of Grace

Jesus shares with us His life purpose.

Luke 4:18-19

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,

for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,

that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,

and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”

Romans 6:12-14

Do not let sin control the way you live;

do not give in to sinful desires.

Do not let any part of your body

become an instrument of evil to serve sin.

Instrument – hoplon: utensil,tool, weapon.

I am a weapon of goodness.

Instead, give yourselves completely to God,

for you were dead, but now you have new life.

So use your whole body as an instrument

to do what is right for the glory of God.

Sin is no longer your master,

for you no longer live under the requirements of the law.

Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

I am free by the Grace of God.

Philippians 3:13-14

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,

but I focus on this one thing:

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

I press on to reach the end of the race

and receive the heavenly prize for which God,

through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

I am an instrument of freedom.

“Our skills, capabilities, and bodies

can serve many purposes, good or bad.

In sin, every part of our bodies are vulnerable.

In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service.

It is the one to whom we offer our service

that makes the difference.

We are like lasers

that can burn destructive holes in steel plates

or do delicate cataract surgery”

Life Application Bible Commentary

Welcome, Please join us! Pastor Sean shares an important message about the power sin has over us, Taken from

Romans 7:13-25 (ESV)

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Matthew 10:24-39

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[a] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[b] those of his household.

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[c] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[d] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Peace with God Through Faith

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith[b] into this grace in which we stand, and we[c] rejoice[d] in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Commissioning of the Disciples

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Look back, but move forward!

A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person (photo Lincoln)

or a historical (photo Iwo Jimi), tragic event.

Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects (photo Rushmore) or works of art such as sculptures, (photo Christ) statues or fountains and parks.

The most common type of memorial is the gravestone (photo Gravestone) and there are memorial plaques.

Do you stop at Historical markers (photo Placerville)

alone the road? There are 114,735 in America.

(Side of the road, photo) cross, flowers.

The greatest memorial of all is the cross. (photo) Normandy

Memorials help us look back and if we use the lessons of the past, to move forward.

Anonymous quotes on the subject:

• “The past is like using your rear view mirror in your car – it’s good to glance back and see how far you’ve come; but if you stare too long, you’ll miss what’s right in front of you.”

• “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.”

• “Don’t let yesterday . . . take up too much of today.”

• “You can’t reach what’s in front of you until you let go of what’s behind you.”

• “Sometimes God closes doors because it’s time to move forward. He knows you won’t move unless your circumstances force you. Trust the transition. God’s got you.”

The disciples were going through a tough time too.

After Easter they were living in fear behind closed doors.

They lived in fear and in limbo lockdown. Just like us.

But they had these encounter with Jesus and they moved on. During those forty days, let’s look what happened.

Acts 1:1-11

1 In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

3 During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive.

So what does the Bible say about 40?

The flood lasted 40 days.

40 years Moses fled Egypt.

40 days Moses stayed on Mount Sinai.

Exodus lasted 40 years.

Jesus fasted for 40 days.

Lent is 40 days.

Passover to Ascension is 40 days.

40 days is Biblical number for a time of purification.

40 days for a woman to rest after giving birth.

And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them,

“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.

5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.

10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.

11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven?

Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

What started in fear moved to instruction and then to Commission.

The Disciple, learner became an Apostle, a messenger.

Look back, learn and move forward to act.

What have you learned: “Live life and do the best you can.”

Christ promises us that everything works together for the good for those who love God. Romans 8:28

“We have the most creative, forward-thinking, adaptive, innovative, progressive Leader the world has ever known, and He has been with the organization

WE CELEBRATE 95 YEARS AS A CHURCH TODAY!  

Exodus  12:14-15  “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord — a lasting ordinance.

Ex 12:24-28    “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.  When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.    And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’    then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.'” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.    The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

To most, a building

To some, denomination or organization

To some, their group at the church building

It is all this and more

WHO WERE THOSE WHO STARTED OUR BUNCH?

A group of people who loved God and chose to become Nazarenes

They agreed to the Nazarene doctrines and polity

They chose to accept the Nazarene code of ethics

They accepted the mission and purposes to walk with God and reach new people to do the same

They committed to support the church financially, participated in its mission to spread the “Good News” to the community, and endeavored to grow in their faithful walk with God every day

We are still accepting the same challenges today and committing to faithfully serving God daily

 

THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT COME TO MIND ABOUT OUR CHURCH

SOME THINGS SHOULD NEVER CHANGE;  SOME THINGS WILL ALWAYS CHANGE;  WE NEED TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE 

SOME THINGS ARE TO NEVER CHANGE!

God is Almighty and it is HIS church and we are HIS people

God loves and cares desperately about ALL His people

God wants to be our life’s traveling Partner

God has a plan for our life and He is the center of it

God’s Word never changes

God will honor and fulfill his promises

We are ALWAYS powerless to meet our every need

God wants his people to WANT to serve him because they love him and trust him

The message and mission of our church to faithfully serve God; obey his commands; and love people must never change

 

SOME THINGS WILL ALWAYS CHANGE

Our journey will ALWAYS be a challenge; sometimes up, sometimes down

There will always be changes in the people make up of a church

The commitment level of a church is constantly in flux

Yesterday’s blessing is a great memory but it will not be adequate for today’s challenges

Our programs, methods, art forms, will constantly change (not the mission nor the message)

Music will change; it always has

Our facilities will need to change

The way we dress will change;

Our communication devises will change (technology)