theHeart

Part 12 in a series on Discipleship taught by Teaching and Vision Pastor, Jason English.

 

Subtitle: Do Not Be Afraid

 

Genesis 3:10

"I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

 

 

Genesis 16:7-13 - Hagar

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me"

Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the Lord observe both good and evil.

 

1 Corinthians 13:12

Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 

Hebrews 4:13

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

 

MARY

Luke 1:26-35 - Fear

Luke 1:46-55 - Worship

 

ZECHARIAH

Luke 1:5-17 - Fear

Luke 1:67-79 - Worship

 

SHEPHERDS

Luke 2:8-11 - Fear

Luke 2:20 - Worship

 

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

 

Fear begins the process of worship.

 

We were not created to fear God.

We were created to worship God.

 

Don't fall backward.

Fall forward.

 

1 John 4:18

Perfect love drives out fear.

 

Ephesians 3:12

In him (Christ) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Part 10 in a series on Discipleship taught by Teaching and Vision Pastor, Jason English.

 

Subtitle: Prayer

 

 

Matthew 6:6 - Pray

When you pray go into your room, close the door and pray to Your Father, who is unseen

 

 

"In sin, we declare our independence of God. In prayer, we declare our dependence upon God."

 -Dr. S.M. Lockridge

 

"You have to pray in order to pray." -Dr. S.M. Lockridge

 

 

Philippians 4:6-7 - Petition

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - God's Will

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

Revel

Us -  God

 

Reveal

God - Us

 

tefillah - to discern what is in oneself; attachment; prayer

 

barukh - bless; bow; knee

 

Thin Places

 

"Something mysterious happens in the hidden contours of life when we pray. If we try to figure out the mystery, it will elude us". -Paul E. Miller

 

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 - God  Revealed

We declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" - the things God has prepared for those who love him - these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

 

Genesis 1

Revelation 22

 

My Lord, my Lover, the Source of my Joy,

Let me rejoice in you.

Let me delight in the pleasure of your presence within me.

Let me live a life of abandonment -

a life in which I let go of everything,

everything that shackles me to yesterday,

everything that imprisons me in my small self today,

everything that terrifies me

with the uncertainty of tomorrow,

everything except you.

Let me find my pleasure in you.

Because then I am free.

 

Blessed be the Lord, the Vulnerable Servant King.

It's easy to envision you a regal ruler,

exalted upon your throne.

Or as a mighty warrior, ready to fight for your people.

Or as the sovereign spirit,

turning nothingness into a living cosmos.

It's not so easy to envision you on your knees.

On your knees as my service.

It's hard to accept the reality, and the humility,

of a God who chooses to be a blessing,

who chooses to be vulnerable.

It's even harder to humble myself.

I don't mind bowing to some people...

Kind people, clean people, righteous people.

But to bless the unkind, the unclean, the unrighteous. This is so difficult.

Yet this I call to mind.

If you only blessed people who were always kind 

and clean and righteous on our own merits,

you would never have selected me.

 

The shining face of God

The face that Moses could not see

The face that sent prophets to their knees

The face that speaks from eternity

That face was present in this man from Galilee

Oh shining face of God please shine on me

Oh shining face of God please shine on us.

This is part 9 of a series on Discipleship taught by Teaching and Vision Pastor, Jason English.

Subtitle: Love

 

John 13:34-35  A New Command

 

Genesis 22:2 - First use of the word "Love" in the Bible

"Take your only son, whom you love"

 

aheb/ahav - long for, desire, to breath for and with. Face-to-face with someone, breathing with them, longing for them.

 

aheb/ahav - root goes into the soil, connected with the ground

 

Love is...

-when connectedness bears fruit

-bearing fruit

 

The fruit of love is...fruit.

 

Genesis 1:27-28 - First words God spoke to Mankind

"Be fruitful and multiply."

 

We were made to be connected with one another and to grow.

 

When people love, they are connected, and there is fruit that is produced that is evidence of that connection.

Love. Simple.

 

 

 

 

Romans 14:9 - EDIFY (build up)

"Let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

 

We need each other.

 

1 Corinthians 12:26-27

"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

 

Ephesians 4:11-16

"Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

This is part 8 in a series on Discipleship taught by Teaching and Vision Pastor, Jason English.

 

Subtitle: Behold

 

4 Things a Sermon Should Do

Stretch your mind (inform and instruct you)

Tan your hide (correct you)

Warm your heart (inspire you)

Provoke the will (challenge you to do what the Lord would have you do)

Scripture References:

John 19:14-19

John 1:29

Revelation 13:8

Galatians 2:20

Romans 6:5

John 20:24-29

Jesus is not your good luck charm to take into battle. He is your example to lay yourself down.

The cross is not where Jesus was defeated by us. It was where He won us.

Jesus died and resurrected in order to show you how to die and resurrect.

 

That's My King - S.M. Lockridge

"Good enough is called good enough because it's good enough." -Dave BrowningScripture References:Luke 10:38Phillipians 3:12Colossians 1:251 John 4:15-19"The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic, and a terrible waste of time." -Edwin BlissOur drive for excellence should flow from a Christ-centered life; it does not produce a Christ-centered life.The pursuit of excellence is something that must be pursued by God's strength.The holy words, truth, and faith of Jesus Christ will strengthen us with perfect love.

Andy Squyres tells us the stories behind the music from his latest CD, Cherry Blossoms. 

 

You can read and hear more from Andy at his website:  www.andysquyres.com

theHeart Teaching and

Vision Pastor, Jason English, is taking a much deserved break. Leadership Team

member Amanda Opelt brings our teaching today. She is a gifted speaker and

musician. You can discover more about Amanda at www.amandaopelt.comSabbathCreation

sabatnuhatohubohumayim     3. Curse     4. Command

ProvisionPerformancePowerPride

This is Part 7 in a series on Discipleship taught by Teaching and Vision Pastor, Jason English.

Subtitle: Abide

 

If you focus on EVERY THING, but you miss the THING that EVERYTHING is about, you miss EVERYTHING.

 

Abide - John 15:1-11

 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from em you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

 

 

Fruit - Galatians 5:22-25

 

But the fruit if the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we love by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

 

 

Overflow of the Heart - Matthew 12:33-35

 

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

 

 

Seek First...and All These Things - Matthew 6:33

 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

 

Take My Yoke - Matthew 11:28-30

 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 

The Cost of Discipleship - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

This is Part 6 in a series on Discipleship taught by Teaching and Vision Pastor, Jason English.

 

Subtitle: God and God's Glory

 

 

If you focus on EVERY THING, but you miss the THING that EVERYTHING is about, you miss EVERYTHING.

 

 

Temptation of Jesus - Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Song of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

"He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

 

Bread Alone - Deuteronomy 8:3

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

 

Foot Against Stone - Psalm 91:11-13

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 

Test - Deuteronomy 6:16

Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah.

 

Massah - Exodus 17:1-7

The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me." The LORD answerd Moses, "Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

 

Him Only - Deuteronomy 6:13-14

Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.

 

Name's Sake - Psalm 23:3

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.

 

Through Him/For Him - Colossians 1:15-17

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

 

Greatest Command - Matthew 22:34-40

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law

This is Part 5 in a series on Discipleship taught by Teaching and Vision Pastor, Jason English.

 

Subtitle: Become Like a Child