For those who know Christ, we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, for a purpose – to proclaim the excellencies of God. As we consider the unending excellencies of Christ each day, let’s consider how we take next steps in the amazing purpose we have. What joy to be about the business of what we were specially made for.

Like the Lord has rescued us through his Son, we are to go out into the world with that same spirit of love and serve others. We can begin by looking within our own city and campus for needs we can meet.

SERMON POWERPOINT

Stonebrook

Pillars:  Serving the City, Part II

Verse:  1 John 3:16–18 ESV By this we know love, that he

laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

17 But if anyone has the world’s

goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does

God’s love abide in him? 18 Little

children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

One

of my Top Ten stories in the Gospels is an encounter Jesus had with a very sick

man.

He

had a skin disease.  Possibly

leprosy.  Leprosy in those days was

considered contagious.  Perhaps even a

judgment from God.  He likely was an

outcast, not welcome in the community. 

Completely ostracized from society.

Mark 1:40–42 CSB Then a man with leprosy came

to him and, on his knees, begged him: “If you are willing, you can make me

clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus

reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made

clean.” 42 Immediately the leprosy left

him, and he was made clean.

This

outcast of society was desperate, begging Jesus for help.

But

instead of being repulsed by the leper, Jesus surprises us.

He is moved with compassion.  His

heart went out to this desperate man.He actually touched the unclean man.

At

the very heart of God is a concern and compassion for people.

He

made us.  And he made us in his

image.  This gives us great worth in his

sight.  And in spite of our rebellion

against the will of our Creator, he surprises us with his mercy.

And he

surprises us with his heart for the broken and the vulnerable…. which

ultimately includes everyone, even those who are wealthy and powerful.  In an eternal and spiritual sense, all are

broken and vulnerable and in need of God’s mercy.

This

is God’s heart.  And he calls on his

people to walk in the same manner. 

1 John 3:16–18 ESV By this we know love, that he

laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

 But if anyone has the world’s

goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does

God’s love abide in him?  Little

children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

We are God’s vehicle to meet those needs, bringing a

measure of restoration to our fallen world.  

We

are 3/4 of the way through a sermon series looking at our Pillars.  Our Core Values based on the Scriptures.  Some core truths we hold dear and aspire to.

Last

week, Matt looked at how we serve our city and the broader culture through our

vocation.  Our work.

Today

we’re focusing on meeting needs in the community at large.  Our neighbors.  Co-workers. 

Those who are suffering.  The

vulnerable.  The voiceless. 

The

following 2 Sundays we’ll look at “Proclaiming Christ,” i.e., speaking the

gospel message and meeting the deepest need of the soul, the need for

forgiveness and eternal life from God. 

Today

is focused on serving in physical ways, on meeting real, human needs.  Caring for people in need.  Relational needs, financial, food,

shelter.  All kinds of needs, small and

large. 

Why serve the

city?

Why

should we serve our city?

We

need convictions—biblical convictions—in this area.  Honestly, many non-religious people are out

in our city helping people in need.  It’s

commendable.  And they might actually be

doing more than we are. 

Now

it’s not a competition.  And it’s not to

gain entrance into heaven. 

But

there is a nobility and a dignity in anyone who lives this way.  When we do, we reflect the image of God within

us, for this is the very nature and heart of God. 

From

cover to cover in the Bible, we are faced with our Creator God who hates

oppression against the vulnerable.  And

fights against injustices.  And …

When we hear about the idea if “good works” while reading the Bible or listening to a sermon, we usually think of “spiritual” work, praying, missionary work, evangelism, charity, etc. But Paul is talking about much more than that: “Good works” include every type of task, including your 9-5 job, your housework, your homework… everything. God cares about every single task you undertake, and every single task you undertake is an opportunity to bring him glory and serve him.

If you are a Christian, you have been born (again) into a glorious family called the church, Christ’s body. Not only are you a vital part of it, you are called to be devoted to it. And in this devotion to God’s family, together we are on glorious display.

For better or for worse we have all been imprinted by our Fathers or by the absence of a Father in our life. This Sunday we will look to see what God’s purpose for Fathers are and how we are meant to respond to His call to Fatherhood.

Having a strong family seems elusive in our world today. But the call God is to grow up into the fullness of his Son in all facets of our lives, including the home. Strong families are founded upon a robust walk with Jesus.

Sermon Powerpoint

Families

Walking with Jesus

Here’s

a bridge.  See anything wrong with it?

When

I was a 3-year old toddler living in Sioux City, in northwest Iowa, there was a

major flood on the Big Sioux River.

The

velocity of the water and the turbulence was so intense that this brand new

bridge collapsed.  What happened?  The foundation of the bridge was too shallow.  Rather embarrassing for the engineers who

designed this.

Having

a strong, deep foundation is necessary for structures.  And it is necessary for our lives. 

We

are in the middle of a series going through Stonebrook’s Pillars.  Foundational truths that hold up our lives

and help us to live fruitful, meaningful lives for Jesus.

These

Pillars are seven Core Values.  These are

core truths of the Christian life that we want us all to be growing in.

Today

and last week we are looking at our 4th Pillar, Strengthening

Families.

And

though our focus here is marriage and parenting, I would also include here

households, such as a group of singles living together.  You who are single will find truth and

application for your lives today, as well.

My

premise today is this:

Strong families are founded upon a robust walk with Jesus.

A

full, vigorous, comprehensive walk with Jesus.

To

have strong families, we have to look at our families in a comprehensive,

holistic sense.

Overview

So

again, my premise today is,

Strong families are founded upon a robust walk with

Jesus.

I

say robust

to mean strong, healthy, full, and comprehensive. 

I

say walk

to mean a lifestyle.  Not merely checking

off a To Do list.  Not merely religious

activity.  But a walk; a journey. 

I

say with

Jesus because our daily lives are to be wrapped up in a person, the Son

of God, who loved us enough to die to rescue us.  He wants to walk with us through this life on

into eternity. 

More

than simply accomplishing tasks.  Walking

with the Person of Jesus. 

My

proposal this morning is that God calls us to a robust, full, rich Christianity

in the home.

Instruction

Directly Toward Family

First,

we’ll look at instruction that God has given directly to the family.  Directly to husbands.  Wives. 

Children.  Parents.

It

is from Ephesians 5 & 6, the most extensive passage on family in the Bible.

I

just want to address one main aspect, focusing on one theme.  One phrase.

Ephesians 5:22–6:4 ESV 

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord…

Husbands, love your wives, as

Christ loved the church…

Children, obey your parents

in the Lord…

Fathers…bring them up in the

discipline and instruction of the Lord.

What

is the common thread through all these commands to the family?

The

Lord.  Jesus Christ. 

This

sounds incredibly obvious to all of us Jesus followers, but it needs to be

stated:   Central to strong, growing, fruitful families

is Jesus.

Wives, submit to your husbands as

you submit to the Lord.

This

is profound.   Now, some of you may be reacting to this.  Such as, what about the husband who is a

monster.  What about submitting to

him?   That is an important question that needs

careful and loving counsel on how to deal with specific situations.  If you are in such a situation, let’s

talk.  You may need help.

What

Paul is talking about here is the everyday relationship between a wife and her

husband.  She submits to and respects her

husband in the manner that she does to Jesus. 

Ladies,

I know very well your husband is not Jesus. 

Every

morning, I talk to the husband of my wife, and I am painfully aware he is not

Jesus.  He is a flawed, sinful man.  He can be impatient.  Irritable. 

Selfish. 

Even

with that in mind, my wife is in a relationship first with Jesus.  I am secondary.  She first…f…

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul tells believers that they have “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Do you feel this way in your family situation? A pillar of Stonebrook’s ministry is “strengthening families”. Marriage, parenting, being a kid, being a member of a household, we want these relationships to be strong and thriving. The Gospel is the power source for the kind of strength we are after. Lets find out how together as we continue our Pillars series and walking through Ephesians together.

When we believe in Jesus we become part of God’s family and part of His new creation, the new humanity. We are to live in a manner worthy of the high calling we have received—to put off the old ways of living and put on the new. But how, practically, do we do this? The key is mind renewal—a renovation of the heart that results in transformation from the inside out. Outward conformity to the ways of God is way too small a goal. Our destiny is much fuller, richer, and more exciting. We are to become like Christ to the very depths of our souls. This involves a turning from the old and embracing the new at a far deeper level than we might at first think. It involves bringing the transforming power of the good news deeper into every nook and cranny of our hearts.