Pleasureville SermonCast

Sermon Notes

1.) (1-4) Jesus knows and we would do well to observe: don’t simply maintain your life when you could enrich your life with God.

2.) (5-7) We do not need to test God. However, we do need to take time to prepare; life will bring plenty of its own tests.

3.) (8-10) Jesus was prepared: Jesus' power, ministry, and life are what God has bestowed so that he is equipped to serve. Consider how lent is a season of preparation for you.

4.) (11) Evil retreats when it holds no power over you. During this Lenten season, seek to be empowered by God!

Sermon Notes

(13-15) Servants in God’s ministry of care are those who can consider and anticipate potential harm. This is a major function for these servants: to care enough about raising disciples by raising the alarm as appropriate.

(16-18) When offering support for another’s transformation, the role of the servant has only just begun. The untransformed, those who are peers of the one receiving care, may perceive such a transformation as bad and may challenge the change.   

(19-20) A servant in caring ministries serve as a kind of channel between God’s grace and people. This also means that a person’s transformation toward accepting the role of a disciple is quite dependent upon your modeling of consistent obedience to God.

(21-23) The servants of a caring ministry can retreat once their care recipients have become peers in discernment and can take faithful steps on their own.

1.) (9-12) We know our prayer is off base when we feel justified through our works instead of through grace.

2.) (13) Our humility in prayer is evidenced by where we place our recognition and by whom we blame.

3.) (14) Our progress after prayer is largely determined by our approach to prayer. Consider where are you in prayer. To what degree do you pray with self-confidence or humility? Which do you believe God prefers more?

4.) (15-17) Consider what it looks like for a child to draw near to someone: they are quite vulnerable and yet fully trusting. How might this inform your prayer life as a child of God?

1.) (9-12) We know our prayer is off base when we feel justified through our works instead of through grace.

2.) (13) Our humility in prayer is evidenced by where we place our recognition and by whom we blame.

3.) (14) Our progress after prayer is largely determined by our approach to prayer. Consider where are you in prayer. To what degree do you pray with self-confidence or humility? Which do you believe God prefers more?

4.) (15-17) Consider what it looks like for a child to draw near to someone: they are quite vulnerable and yet fully trusting. How might this inform your prayer life as a child of God?

1.) (11-13) Everyone holds a unique perspective about God which directly influence their prayers and approach to God. For some, they wish to remain close to the few people they trust with rare exceptions made for those whose revealed good character change their perspective.

2.) (14) Examine God’s response here: to Go! Witness your restoration as you obey. When you are sent home then return to your community proclaiming God’s work in your life. This is the peculiar nature of prayer: God’s response to our requests come in and through our response to God’s requests.

3.) (15-16) Have we been faithful in our relationships to God and one another? For how long should a relationship endure withdrawals when it’s seldom reinforced with open communication, time spent together, and recognizing each other’s ongoing efforts?

4.) (17-19) Do you recognize what God has done?! If so, then rise and Go! Seek to be God’s uncommon example. Help others recognize how God has and is an answer to our prayers!

Sermon Notes

1.) (25-26) Jesus is NOT endorsing hate. However, Jesus does point out here how others may resent you because you have made faith in God your priority.

2.) (27-28) To carry your cross means you have come to terms with the cost of acknowledging and admitting your faith publicly.

3.) (29-30) To be committed means you hold enough knowledge for a comprehensive strategy and the ability to endure. These will emerge after thorough preparation and careful consideration.

4.) (31-33) Choosing your battles means knowing when and what to surrender. Why fight to gain what you later lose forever? Instead, strengthen your faith. Then be the mediator for terms of peace between your neighbors and God.

Sermon Notes

(49) Fire spreads, consumes, bringing light to the world and fundamentally transforms all of creation. This fire is an allegory for his desire to spread trust and restoration to all the world. 

(50) We all feel the pressures and demands from an imperfect life. The question is: will you let that pressure be your excuse from God or will this be your reason to seek to be submerged in grace. 

(51-53) Yes, talking about Jesus can be divisive. However, think about how hurtful and negligent it is to deny your faith. When you do this, are you not avoiding your salvation and theirs? 

(54-56) How weird is it that our discussions seem to always include the forecast yet seldom include Jesus. Isn’t one more important than the other?

Sermon Notes

(32-33) What one values reveals their heart; God has given you grace, access to eternity, the keys to the kingdom which you can build or neglect. It is now up to you: where will you offer your attention and care?

(34-37) A heart that anticipates is a prepared heart; a heart that reacts is underprepared, which may cause undue harm as it struggles to meet the sudden demand, and even risks failure. 

(38-40) True, whole faithfulness in our relationships, to God and one another, requires diligence. Otherwise, we neglect things now and risk more later.

(41-44) God does not value procrastination, rather, God wants our treatment toward a broken world to be proactive. Seek first the kingdom of God.

Sermon Notes

1.) (13-15) This should be obvious but it bears repeating. Do not demand judgment from God.

2.) (16-17) Unfortunately, we are seldom aware of our abundance yet frequent lay aware of what we lack.

3.) (18-19) Most of us spend the majority of our lives navigating with self-guidance, and yet so little time discerning what may be required of us. Be careful; do not miss the discernment.

4.) (20-21) This text is not primarily concerned about your financial planning, rather, this text is primarily concerned about us capitalizing on our many opportunities. Make sure your life includes a purpose that is bigger than your own demands.

Sermon Notes

1.) (38) We all at some point struggle with the balance of demands between serving and being served. However, it helps to remember Jesus, who exemplifies this balance.

2.) (39) When you do find time to recuperate, seek that which revives your soul; this is more important than that which revives your body.

3.) (40) Be careful when comparing your service with others: God’s plan is complex, and a worldwide reach requires different gifts.

4.) (41-42) Jesus points out that if you seek to serve then you need only bring one thing to bear: an empathetic focus.