Politically Incorrect

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service December 6, 2015:

Scripture:  John 1:1-17

P/C: Speaking what is socially acceptable and tolerant

1. Jesus was far from politically correct

The Pharisees:

  • A religious and political party in Israel in NT times
  • About 5 thousand in number
  • Fundamentalists of Judaism
  • Their zeal to apply the OT Scriptures directly to life led to a complex system of tradition and works

Examples of Jesus being Politically Incorrect:

  • Took time to speak to a Samaritan Woman – John 4
  • Ate with sinners – Luke 15:1, 2
  • Healed on the Sabbath Day – Luke 6:6-11
  • Strongly denounced the Pharisees – Matthew 23

Other Examples – Mark 2:23-28 (pluck corn on the Sabbath)

2. Believers are called to follow Jesus and be conformed to His image Not compromise with the world and culture around us

3. Truth is not politically correct but it does exist

A.Truth is absolute (that which is ultimately true)
B.Truth is discovered not invented
C.Truth is unchanging
D.Truth extends to all people, at all times, and in all places regardless of a person’s perspective or beliefs
E.Truth corresponds to reality
F.Truth claims are narrow and exclusive

  • If something is true, then its opposite is false

Tolerance: Be open minded, accept everyone, be careful not to offend anyone, and accept all religions and viewpoints as equally true

This is not an accurate understanding of tolerance

  • Instead of “Merry Christmas” it is “Happy Holidays”
  • Removal of Nativity scenes from public places (even some private places)
  • Don’t use the phrase “Radical Islamic Terrorist”
  • Confederate flag
  • Washington Redskins
  • Guns (Gun free zones)
  • Believing that marriage is between one man and one woman

The Christian’s Position

Real Tolerance: Understanding the position of others, knowing why you disagree, living alongside them, loving them, and confronting their false ideas with Biblical truth

4. Understand what you believe and why you believe it

5. Expect to be misunderstood by some and attacked by others

  • Racist, bigot, intolerant, judgmental, homophobe, hate speech
  • John 15:18-25 – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Don’t Underestimate Sin!

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Worship Service November 29, 2015:

Scripture: Romans 7: 14-8:1

Many strong have fallen to it:

Adam & Eve – State of innocence
Genesis 3

Noah – Walked with God
Genesis 9

King David – Man after God’s own heart
2 Samuel 11

King Solomon – Wisest man
1 Kings 11

Samson – Strongest man
Judges 13-16

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”  -1 Corinthians 10:11, 12

All have been infected with it

Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23

Sin is underestimated when:

1.The sacrifice is ignored

2.Confession is not immediate

3.Repentance does not occur

  • Proverbs 28:13
  • Evidenced by fruit – Matthew 3:8

4.Refuse to be delivered from bondage

  • Romans 6:6-13, 16
  • Before sin can have power over a believer it must first pass through his will

5.Overconfident in our own strength

  • 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
    Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for
    our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
    Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
    but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it

6.When we go into dangerous territory

7.Reliance is not upon the Lord

  • Instruction of the Word of God
  • The Surrender to the Holy Spirit direction
  • What we feed

Joy and Thanksgiving

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service November 22, 2015:

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Introduction:

A call to faith – If the Christian believes that his life and all its circumstances are in the hands of a sovereign, wise, loving god who is always working to accomplish good for him, then he can indeed rejoice always and be thankful!

Obvious Reasons for a Christian to be joyful and to have a thankful heart:

  • Salvation
  • Intimacy with God – the privilege of a love relationship with the creator of the universe
  • The Sovereignty of God – The assurance that God is in complete and absolute control
  • The Blessings of God

A. Joy

A feeling of happiness that is based on spiritual realities (based on truth).
A deep down sense of well being that abides in the heart of the person who knows all is well between himself and God.
Joy is that deep, abiding, inner rejoicing in the Lord.

In the Old and New Testament God Himself is the ground and object of the believer’s joy.

  • Psalm 35:9 – “My soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.”
  • Psalm 43:4 – The psalmist writes that God is his “exceeding joy”
  • Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice.”

Believers are commanded to rejoice (this is God’s will)
1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice evermore”

  • This is not to try to manufacture joy or try to imitate it, but to gratefully accept this great blessing believers can already possess.
  • See James 1:2-4

The Spirit of God produces joy in the believer – Galatians 5:22

  • The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy

The Believer’s Joy is Lost in the Following Ways:

1.When we forget the meaning of our salvation

  • Forgiveness
  • Eternal life
  • Ability to experience true freedom – Freedom from the bondage and guilt of sin
    “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked” – Psalm 32:10a
  • See Psalm 73:1-19

2.When we lose intimacy with God because of sin

  • Psalm 51:12

3.When we fail to recall our blessings

  • Just think for a moment and you will realize how blessed you really are!

4.When our joy is based upon some point in the future

  • “When we define our happiness by some point in the future, it will never arrive”…Josh Harris
  • “The reason we have to search for so many things to cheer us up is the fact that we are not really joyful and contentedly happy within.”…A.W. Tozer

5.When our joy is based upon another rather than the Lord

  • The condition of a relationship
  • The approval of another
  • “It is part of my belief that God wants to get us to a place where we would still be happy if we had only him! We don’t need God and something else. God does give us Himself and lets us have other things, too, but there is that inner loneliness until we reach the place where it is only God that we desire.”…A.W. Tozer

6.When we focus upon our self and negative circumstances

  • The opposite of joy is self-pity
  • If we major on the problem, the problem grows. If we major on the ability of God to help us the problem diminishes.

7.When we fail to trust God

  • Giving thanks is the highest expression of trust

B. Thanksgiving – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

  • Thanksgiving is the will of God
  • Thanksgiving is the expression of joy God-ward
  • The more we have the more difficult it can be to ward off ingratitude
  • The best cure for pride is to truly be thankful

How to have and maintain a thankful heart:

1.Recognize that being unthankful is sin

  • Romans 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:2

2.Recognize the manifestation of unthankfulness and confess it to God

  • Complaining – Philippians 2:14
  • Not being satisfied with what God provides
  • It is hard to be satisfied with what we have when there is so much more to get!
  • “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him.”  -Pastor/Author John Piper
  • Not appreciating what we have
  • Many times we don’t appreciate what we have until we lose it

3.View whatever you have as a gift from God and learn to be content

  • Philippians 4:11
  • We live in an age of discontentment

4.Verbally acknowledge that what you have is from God and practice being thankful to Him

  • What motivates you to thank God?
    • Do you thank Him for who He is?
    • Do you thank Him simply because you love Him?
    • Do you only remember to thank Him after you get what you want?

5.Share – give to others (Get your eyes off of yourself)

  • Be a blessing to someone else
  • Do not question why others in the world have so little – question why you have so much!

The Internet

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service November 15, 2015:

Introduction:

@ The world at our finger tips
@ Instant communication with people around
@ Incredible access to information
@ Generations:  Generation Z (1995 – 2009) Today’s Students (1 in 4 Americans are younger than 18)
Never known a world without digital technology

  • Tech Savvy
  • Community is not everyone in their presence
  • Social media connected
  • Does not prefer face to face interaction

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

1. Sites

  • Excellent and helpful
  • Dangerous and damning
  • Huge source of temptation
  • The porn industry generates $13 billion each year in the United States
    • Pornography and sexual imagery are rampant on the internet
    • Pornography searches since the start of 2015: Over 1,936,319,913
    • 1 in 8 online searches is for pornography
    • 1 in 5 mobile searches are for pornography
    • 24% of smartphone owners admit to having pornographic material on their mobile handset
  • 68% of divorce cases involved one party meeting a new lover over the internet

2. Postings

  • Either glorify Christ or dishonor Him
    @ Place to take a public stand for what is right and what is wrong
    @ Place to share prayer needs with one another
    @ You say things you would never say in person
    @ Not a place for the Christian to turn to air their frustrations, get something off their chest, or air their dirty laundry
    @ Give false impressions – Through online profiles people project an image of themselves that may not be real
    @ The Heart of the person is not easily discernable in written online Communication
    @ One moment of indiscreation online can destroy your testimony
    @ When you post on the internet it is out there forever – information is archived indefinitely
  • Alarming Statistics:
    • 71% of teens hide online behavior from their parents
    • Sext/Sexting: Sexually explicit text message
    • 20% of 16-year olds and 30% of 17-year olds have received a sext
    • 1 in 5 of 18-24 year olds have sent a sext (19%)

3. Believers Response

  • Be consistent with who you are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
    @ Not a substitute for handling conflict scripturally (Matthew 18; Galatians 6:1)
    @ Guard against addiction (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 9:27)
    @ Guard against the wasting of God given time (stewardship of time) (Ephesians 5:16)
    @ Guard that social media can become the “other man” or the “other woman” (your time and attention)
    @ Guard against rudeness (1 Corinthians 13:5)
    @ Abstain from fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11)

Internet expands your area of influence:

@ Allow your light to shine (Matthew 5:14-16)
@ An avenue for fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)

Caught in the Web

Here are the notes from the Sunday Morning Service, November 8, 2015:

Scripture: Proverbs 7

Various Webs:

1. Addictions

2. Internet (Where to go)

3. Lying/Dishonesty

4. Stealing

5. Sexual Sin

6. Spending/Materialism

7. Anger/Bitterness/Unforgiveness

8. Stubbornness

9. Rebellion

10. Gossip

11. Procrastination

12. Laziness

13. Disrespect

14. Homosexuality

15. Jealousy/Envy

16. Judgementalism

17. Unbelief

18. Idolatry

19. Pride

20. Selfishness

Questions:

What is the web you are caught in?

What is the web you need to be aware of?

1. Initial Appeal

Something that brings Pleasure or relief

7:5b – Flattery “Flattereth with her words”

7:17 – Scent “perfumed my bed”

7:18 – Emphasis on the Moment

2. Don’t see any danger

7:23 – “Knoweth not that it is for his life”

HALT

Hungry

Angry

Lonely

Tired

3. Once in the web they are stuck

7:13 – “she caught him”

4. The enemy can take his time to attack

– Flesh: yearns for things outside of his perimeter

– World

– Devil: he wants to highlight the goods of the trap

5. Once the attack is made it does not end well for the one that is caught

7:22 – “as an ox goes to the slaughter or as a fool to the correction of the stocks”

7:23 – “Till a dart strike through his liver”

Has something to do with you – “Reap what you sow”

6. Deliverance can only come from an outside source

“Faithful is the wounds of a friend”

Tendency to try to free yourself

Christ

– Biblical Counseling

Accountability with a trusted friend, pastor, deacon

7. How to avoid the web

7:24 “Harken” – Listen

7:25a “Let not” – decision of the will

7:25b “Go not astray

The Misery of Taking God Out of the Picture

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service November 1, 2015:

Scripture: 1 Kings 18, 19

The Background for the message

Elijah the Prophet of God:

  • Elijah announced God’s judgment in the form of a drought upon Israel – 1 Kings 17:1
  • Elijah is supernaturally cared for during the drought – 1 Kings 17:2-7
  • Elijah raised a widow’s dead son to life – 1 Kings 17:17-24
  • Elijah prayed and the drought ended – 1 Kings 18:17-40; James 5:17, 18
  • Elijah carried to heaven in a chariot of fire – 2 Kings 2:9 (Translated to glory without dying)

Elijah challenges Ahab and his 450 pagan prophets to meet him on Mount Carmel – 18:17-19

Ahab – King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the most wicked up to this time – He marred Jezebel, a fanatical Baal worshipper

Baal – Lord of the Canaanite religion, seen in thunderstorms as a god of weather, also worshiped as a god who provided fertility

Elijah rebukes Israel for wavering between worshipping the Lord and worshipping Baal – 18:20-21

Elijah proposes a contest between himself and the prophets of Baal -18:22-24

  • Each side was to prepare a young bull as a sacrifice and place it on the altar
  • Elijah tells the prophets to call on their god to send fire down to consume the sacrifice and Elijah will call upon his God to do the same
  • The God that answers by fire, “let Him be God” – 18:24
  • As the prophets of Baal shouted, leaped on the altar and cut themselves till the “blood gushed out” – 18:26-28
  • Elijah prays and fire falls from heaven and consumes the sacrifice – 18:30-39
  • The people acknowledge “the LORD, He is God” – 18:39
  • The prophets of Baal are executed – 18:40

Elijah announces the end of a 3 year drought and there is a terrific rainstorm that sweeps over the land – 18:41-45

(Drought was punishment for the sins of the king and those of Northern Israel)

News comes to Jezebel (Ahab’s wife) and she determines to have Elijah killed – 19:1-2

Elijah’s response – 19:3-4

  • Elijah suffers here from discouragement, despondency and depression

Taking God out of the Picture:

 Can happen to anyone at any time

Elijah, a great and mighty prophet of God

  • Elijah raised a widow’s dead son to life – 1 Kings 17:17-24
  • Defeated the prophets of Baal – 1 Kings 18:22-40
  • Elijah prayed and the drought ended – 1 Kings 18:17-40; James 5:17, 18

Many times begins with a trigger – See 19:1-3

  • Here we have Elijah, tired, drained and alone

When God is taken out of the Picture:

We are left with what we see on the surface

– 19:10  We focus of self and our own circumstances

We are left to our own understanding

We are left to struggle through life on our own and in our own strength

During times when God is taken out of the Picture:

God has not changed

God continues to be faithful – 19:5-8

  • God provided Elijah a time of rest and refreshment (that’s what he needed at the time) – 19:5-8

God wants us to consider where we are at and what we are doing – 19:9, 13

God wants our attention and for us to have listening ears – 19:11, 12

God brings clarity to our lives – 19:18

Jesus Never Fails

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service, October 25, 2015:

Scripture:  Matthew 8

1. Because of Who He is

  • God – Colossians 1:15, 19
  • Creator – Colossians 1:16, John 1:3, Hebrews 1:2
  • Sustainer – Colossians 1:17
  • All Powerful – Colossians 1:17
  • Cannot lie – Titus 1:2
  • He does not change – Hebrews 13:8
  • He defines love – I John 4:8

2. Because of what He has done

Shed His blood for us – Colossians 1:14, 20, 21

  • Redemption (verse 14a)
  • Forgiveness (verse 14b)
  • Peace (verse 20)
  • Reconciliation (verses 20, 21)

3. Because of what He has promised

  • Promised us eternal life – I John 2:25, I John 5:12
  • Promised never to leave us or forsake us – Hebrews 13:5b, John 14:18
  • Promised He will not reject those that come to Him – John 6:37
  • Promised to work all things together for good to those that are His and that love Him – Romans 8:28

Remember Whenever There is a Perceived Failure:

  1. He always keeps His Word
  2. He builds our faith and trust – Matthew 8:23-27
  3. He abides with us and works in ways we may not recognize – Matthew 14:22-33 (v26), Mark 6:46-51
  4. His delays are with purpose – John 11 (vs 4-6, 15, 15; 39-45)

 

Truth – “Jesus Never Fails”

Are You Eternally Secure?

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Worship Service October 11, 2015:

Scripture:  I John 5:11-13

Eternal Security:  The belief that once you become a Christian, you are always a Christian.

Reasons to Believe in Eternal Security:

1. The price has been paid – I Corinthians 6:19-20

  • The blood of Christ – I Peter 1:18, 19
  • On the cross, Jesus literally became your SIN BEARER.  Not only did He bear your sin, but He gave you His righteousness in return – II Corinthians 5:21
  • Salvation is by grace appropriated through faith and not of works – Ephesians 2:8, 9

2. A deposit has been made – Ephesians 1:13, 14; II Corinthians 1:22

  • The Holy Spirit seals the believer
    • “Believed” – Sealing coincides with the time of believing
    • “Seal” – Indicates possession and security
    • “Earnest” – The deposit, down payment
  • The Holy Spirit makes the believer a new creation in Christ – II Corinthians 5:17

3. An Adoption has occurred – Galatians 4:4, 5; Ephesians 1:3-5; Romans 8:15, 16

4. His Word is Clear – John 10:27, 28

  • John 5:24 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
  • John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
  • John 6:40 – “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
  • John 6:47 – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.”

5. Follow-Up is determined – Hebrews 12:7-11

  • Follow-up of conviction and discipline – Revelation 3:19

Follow through after Salvation

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Areas that need follow through:

1. Repentance

  • Initial repentance (unbelief & striving to earn heaven through your own efforts) but what about the other things that need to be taken care of? Things that hinder our conformity to the image of Christ

Repentance in my life following salvation:

  • Words that came out of my mouth – gossip, vulgar language, inappropriate jokes
  • The places I went
  • The things I watched
  • The music I listened to
  • My possessions
  • The way I dressed
  • The way I treated others
  • Dishonoring my dad
  • Who I dated and would marry
  • Lack of commitment to church
  • Giving to the Lord – Couple dollars to a tithe
  • My lack of care for peoples souls

2. Baptism

An act of obedience whereby the believer publicly identifies through immersion with Jesus death, burial and resurrection.”

A. Identification with Jesus Christ

  • A Proclamation – A public testimony that you are a Christian
  • A Sign – Sign of your commitment and allegiance to a new master and a new way of life
  • A Declaration – Declares your faith

B. Outward showing of what the Lord has done in your life

Announces your new life in Christ

Baptism says, “I am buried with Christ; I no longer live; I have risen from the dead;

I am a new person in Christ”

C. Baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord – Matthew 28:18-20

  • Baptism needs to be considered as the next step after salvation
  • Baptism is not an optional ritual, to be delayed or postponed

3. Membership in a Local Church

In the NT, from what we can tell, no one went church shopping or hopping!

There seems to have been only one church in each community

Church membership is not:

  • A record of a box once checked
  • A sentimental feeling
  • An expression of affection toward a special place
  • An expression of loyalty or disloyalty to parents

It is an expression of a living commitment!

8 Reasons Local Church Membership is Important:

1- Demonstration of your commitment a specific local church family

2- Transitions from attending a particular gathering of believers to belonging to a specific local body

By identifying yourself through membership with a particular local church, you are telling the church’s pastor and other members that you are not only committed to them, but committed in gathering, giving, prayer, service and accountability

3- Establishes an accountability relationship

4- Communicates your confidence that this is a place to direct others

5- Enables your participation at a capacity you can’t otherwise

  • Can’t hold a teaching position
  • Can’t be considered for any leadership role
  • Can’t be a part of decisions made by the church

It hinders your ability to exercise your spiritual gifts for the benefit of the local body – 1 Corinthians 12:7

6- Places you under a specific shepherd care and responsibility

Hebrews 13:17 – Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

7- Means taking responsibility

  • An act of saying I am now your responsibility and you are mine!

8- NT Pattern indicates some type of verifiable membership or commitment level

A. The phrase “whole church” indicates a verifiable membership – Acts 15:22

B. Records kept – Acts 2:41

  • They knew who belonged to their assemblies and who did not – 1 Corinthians 5:1 “Among you”

C. The responsibility for pastoral oversight and spiritual leadership – 1 Peter 5:1-4

D. Instructions given for church discipline – Matthew 18:15-17

  • You cannot formally exclude someone if he is not formally included in the first place (1Cor.5:13)

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 – I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Church is not a come-as-you-please and get-what-you-can attachment like one more store to peek your head into stores at the mall or market. Church is a body in which all parts care for one another – the home in which they live!

Church membership means being incorporated in practical ways into the visible body of Christ!

4. Involved in an Intentional Plan to Grow

  • Time with God – in His Word and prayer
  • Scripture memory
  • Prayer
  • Consistent intake of God’s Word through preaching and teaching

5. Taking Steps in Trusting God

  • Thanksgiving
  • Giving of resources

6. Witnessing

7. Recognizing and Obeying the Promptings of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Living With Fear

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service September 27, 2015:

Scripture:  Luke 12:1-7

When is Fear Good?

 1.  The fear of God

  • I Peter 2:17 “Fear God”
  • Acts 9:31 – The early church walked in the fear of the Lord
  • II Corinthians 7:1 – “Perfecting holiness in the fear of God”
  • Over 150+ references in Scripture to the Fear of God

Fear Defined:  Fearing God is having a sense of awe or reverence toward Him.  The person that fears God becomes so acutely aware of His moral purity and power that one is genuinely afraid to disobey Him.  It also includes responding to Him in worship, service, trust, obedience, and commitment.

The Benefits that come from Fearing God:

  • Blessed / Happy is the man who fears the Lord – Psalm 112:1, 115:13
  • Fearing God leads to wisdom – Proverbs 9:10
  • Fearing God is a deterrent to sin – Exodus 20:20, Proverbs 3:7; 8:13

“Anytime we sin with the thought lurking in the back of our minds that God will forgive us, we aren’t living in the fear of God.”  -Jerry Bridges

Revelation 20:10

2.  The fear of eternity when you are not ready

3.  The fear of the consequences from wrong choices and of living in sin

  • Proverbs 1:20-33

4.  The fear that motivates us to pray

  • Psalm 34

When is Fear an Intruder?

 1. When you are an authentic Christian loving and living for Christ.

  • Romans 8:28

2. When you are fearful about the future (the unknown).

3. When you are going through physical adversity

4. The fear that paralyzes

  • Fear of witnessing
  • Fear of taking a stand for Biblical truth (what is right)
  • Fear of serving
  • Fear of Serving and Stepping out in faith and reliance upon God