Embracing Our God Given Responsibility

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service, September 20, 2015:

Something not to be taken lightly

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:1-11, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 20:24-27
-All of us have areas of Influence and opportunity
-What are we doing with that when it comes to truth/the Gospel?

1. The Need

A. Lost Condition
B. Eternal Suffering

2. The Knowledge

The Gospel: The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ
Luke 12:2-5
A. Something you personally receive
B. Something you personally share

3. The Responsibility

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:   Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
A. If not you who?
B. If not now when?
2 Corinthians 6:2b  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

4. The Methods

-The methods of reaching people
A. Prayer.
“Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.” A.W. Tozer
B. Sharing your heart and the gospel one on one
C. Invite to church
D. Arrange a Pastoral visit
1 Corinthians 3:5-8  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
E. Giving literature

5. The Accountability

Acts 20:26-27  Therefore I testify to you this day that I am  innocent of the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Wake Up and Watch!

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service September 12, 2015:

Watch: to keep awake, watch, be vigilant, wake, watchful

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13

1 Thessalonians 4:17 – snatch up
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 Night people (lost) & Day people (believers)

“Watch” in the following 7 areas:

  1. Rightly accessing what is happening in the spiritual dimension. Matthew 24:1-2 (fulfilled AD 70); 3-14
    1. Watch Israel and Jerusalem
    2. Consider people turning from the truth
    3. Observe the love of people growing cold
  2. Staying awake during times of prayer and looking for those specific things which ought to be praying about. Colossians 4:2, Eph 6:18
  3. For the Lord’s return. I Corinthians 15:51-52
  4. For false teachers. 2 Timothy 4:1-4; Acts 20:28-31
  5. For temptation
  6. Alert against Satan. 1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:12    Evil spirits: Exist, active, determined. Psalm 119:11
  7. Regarding apathy and indifference. Insensitive and will not be alert. Revelation 3:1-3

Spending Time Alone With God

Quote of the Week:  “The most important thing is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is first above everything else because who you are and who you will become flow out of your intimacy with Him.”  –Dr. Charles Stanley

REMINDER:  Word of Life Quiet Times begin today!

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning service August 30, 2015:

Scripture: Genesis 3:6-9, 21

1. Reasons God wants to spend time with you

  • He absolutely love you. Galatians 2:20
  • He wants you to know Him. Philippians 3:10
  • He wants to provide the direction, encouragement, comfort, and direction you so desperately need
  • He desires your love
  • He wants to prepare you. Ephesians 6:10-18 The Armor of God

2. Why God wants you alone:
Matthew 6:6, Mark 1:31, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:18, Luke 22:41

  • He wants your undivided attention
  • He wants to establish a level of intimacy that can only occur alone.

3. Practical means for spending time with God:

  1. Bible
  2. Journal
  3. Designated quiet time book

4. Practical Guidance for spending time with God:
Mark 1:35

  • Establish a time to meet with God
  • Identify a place to spend time with God. Psalm 5:3, Daniel 6:10
  • Incorporate a plan for spending time with God
    • Quiet yourself before Him
    • Come before Him in Prayer
      • Thanksgiving and Praise
      • Confession
      • Ask for help when you read His word
        • In understanding the Scriptures
        • In listening to Him
        • In making application of His Word to your life
  • Read the Bible and meditate upon what you read
    • Ask yourself
      • What is the word of God saying in this passage?
      • What is God saying to me?
      • How can I apply this in my life?
    • Helpful tips for making application
      • Is there any sin to confess or forsake?
      • Is there any caution for me to heed?
      • Is there any promise for me to claim?
      • Is there any example for me to follow?
      • Is there any command for me to follow?
      • Is there anything for me to be thankful for?
      • Is there something for me to learn about the person of God
  • Extended time in prayer

5.  Hindrances when spending time with God:

  • Misguided Priorities. Matthew 6:33
  • Demonic Attack – Satan will try to distract you in any way that he can
  • Sin in your lives. Unconfessed and Unrepented. Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:2

The Lord’s Supper

Quote of the Week:  “No sin, no matter how momentarily pleasurable, comforting, or habitual, is worth missing what God has for us.”  –Beth Moore

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday morning service August 23, 2015:

The Lord’s Supper – What is it about? / Should I partake of it?

Scripture:  Luke 22:7-20

Introduction

1st – A look at what the Lord’s Supper is not:

  • It is not a religious ritual
  • It is not Transubstantiation – The intended turning of the break and wine of the Lord’s Supper into the actual and real body and blood of Christ after a prayer by the priest.
  • It is not a means of earning God’s favor

Sacrament – Implies that the act itself conveys grace to the believer

There is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace!

G – God’s
R – Riches
A – At
C – Christ’s
E – Expense

 I.  What is the Lord’s Supper about?

A.  A Church Ordinance

Ordinance – A decree or command given by the Lord Jesus Himself

B.  An act of Obedience

  • Luke 22:19 “This do
  • This is a command from the lips of the Lord Himself
  • Not an option for the believer
  • Scripture: I Corinthians 11:23-24
    • Verse 23 – Very good possibility that this letter was written before any of the Gospels; therefore, this would be the first Biblical record of the institution of the Lord’s Supper

C.  A symbolic picture of the death of Christ (vs. 23-26)

  • For you” (verse 24) – Sacrificial death

D.  A memorial remembering the Lord’s death (vs. 24-25)

  • In remembrance of Me” (verse 24, 25)

E.  An opportunity for deep spiritual meditation on the work of Christ (vs. 24-25)

  • To remember is to go back in one’s mind and recapture as much of the reality and significance of the event or experience as one possible can.
  • Participate in the heart without just going through the motions

F.  A looking forward to Christ’s return (vs. 26b)

  • Till He come” (verse 26b)

G.  An opportunity to examine yourself (vs. 28)

  • Take caution (verse 29-32)
  • Verse 28 – “Let a man examine himself
  • Inwardly – heart attitude, unconfessed / unrepented of sin
  • Outwardly – relationship with others, unforgiveness, division
  • Upwardly – Relationship with God

II.  Should I partake of the Lord’s Supper?

A.  Are you a believer?

B.  Are you a believer walking in obedience to the Lord?

  • The Lord’s Supper is the most dangerous service in the church (verse 29-33)
  • “Unworthily” – ritualistically, indifferently, with a bitter spirit, harboring sin or unforgiveness, with an unrepentant heart

C.  Are you a believer willing to deal with sin in your life?

  • This is the time to take action (verse 29-34)
  • If we would judge ourselves, we will not be judged” (verse 31)
  • The Lord gives believers a choice – they may either exercise their own judgment upon themselves or they may await God’s discipline
    • Confession of sin
    • Repentance (a change of mind = a change of conduct)
    • Restoration with another

Parenting With Eternity in View

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning service August 16, 2015:

Scripture:  Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Temporal/Eternal

  • Temporal – Deals with the here and now
  • Eternal – Deals with God
  • Two judgments:  Great White Throne (for the unsaved – Revelation 20), Judgment Seat of Christ (for the saved – Romans 14)

Your child, your grandchild will spend eternity somewhere forever – You have a responsibility:

  • To mold and shape that young, tender heart to be receptive to the things of God.
  • To instill God’s truth in their lives.
  • To model the reality of an authentic relationship with Christ before them.

“You can’t give a child (no matter how much you love them) something you don’t have yourself – An authentic relationship with Jesus.”  –Pastor Peyton Fitzgerald

The Greatest Commandment – verse 5

  • According to Jesus in Matthew 22:37
  • Evidenced by our obedience – John 14:21a, 23a, 24a

These Words – verse 6a

  • Today we not only have the writings of Moses buyt the complete Word of God (II Timothy 3:16)

In Your Heart – verse 6b

  • Begins by having a relationship with God through His Son Jesus – Allow Him to transform your life.
  • Place the truths of God’s Word in your heart – read, heard, memorized, meditated upon and appropriated.
  • Make the truths of God’s Word a part of your everyday living (See verses 17, 18a)

Teach them Diligently unto thy Children – verse 7a (Spiritual Education)

Ephesians 6:4 – “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

  • Nurture means discipline (systematic training)
  • Admonition means putting in the mind (instruction)
  • Teaching the Lord’s ways through His Word.

Teach God’s Truth as a Natural Part of Life – verse 7b

  • God and His Word a natural topic of conversation
  • Times of non-conflict

Caution Against Forgetting the Lord – verse 12

  • Priorities – What’s first and most important
  • Dependence – What you are relying on
  • Investment – What is your life contributing toward

Either With or Against

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service August 9, 2015:

Scripture: Luke 11:23

Everyone falls into one of two Categories: Either with Christ or Against Christ

  • No neutral position
  • No choice is in reality a choice

Little Detour – Revelation 3:14-22

Verse 15“I know your works”/ “Thou art neither cold nor hot”

  • “Cold” – openly rejecting Christ, lifeless
  • “Hot” – a burning, glowing passion to grow closer to God, serve Him and give Him glory, zealous of good works

Verse 16 “Thou art lukewarm”

Who is He addressing? He is addressing those in between

  • Comfortable
  • Complacent
  • Indifferent
  • Maintaining Status Quo
  • Lacking zeal with God

God’s Response to Lukewarmness:

Verse 16b “I will spue thee out of my mouth”

Why would the Lord say such a thing?

  1. Lukewarmness is not a weakness or a small sin
  2. Lukewarm Christians have done more to harm the cause of Jesus Christ than all prostitutes, pornographers, homosexuals, and drug pushers. When you leave church and do not have a noticeable change there is a problem.
  3. Lukewarm Christians are the alibi of sinners

“Lukewarmness is the worst form of blasphemy”  –G. Campbell Morgan

Back to our Opening Text: Luke 11:23

Verse 23a“He that is not with me is against me”

  1. With or Against Christ regarding your eternal salvation. John 1:11-12
  2. With or Against Christ in your daily living
    1. Your time with God
    2. The use of your resources – time, treasure, talents
    3. Your conduct at home as well as in public
    4. The attitude you portray
    5. The words you say
    6. How directly your life aligns with the Word of God
      1. The way you treat your spouse
      2. The way you parent your children – heart training is important
      3. The way you are at work
      4. The relationships at church
  3. With or Against Christ in your service for Him

***Are you intentionally using your gifts and abilities to further the purpose of the local church?

***Are you helping people?

Verse 23b“He that gathereth not with me scattereth”

How we as believers scatter instead of Gather for Christ:

A. Saying you are one thing and not living as an authentic one
B. Not having an urgency when it comes to reaching the lost
C. Everytime we turn a deaf ear to the voice of the Holy Spirit
D. Not obeying the do’s of scripture
E. Not intentionally or purposefully working to place the Word of God in the hearts of your children
F. Not showing forth the joy, confidence and reality of having a relationship with Christ

Christians can be some of the most _______________ people

worried, anxious, fretting, gloomy, depressed, grouchy, bitter, angry, unforgiving, prideful, critical, unfaithful, etc.

As You Have Received…Walk

Quote of the Week:  “Your talk talks, and your walk talks; but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”

Here are the completed notes from the morning service August 2, 2015:

Scripture:  Colossians 2:6

1.  As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord

A.  Personal reception of the Lord

  • Point in time that you saw your self as a sinner unable to save yourself
  • You believed the Gospel
    • God loves you
    • Christ shed His blood for us when He died on the cross
    • Jesus resurrected
  • You personally appropriated Christ for yourself
    • Turning from sin – repentence
    • Trusted Jesus for your forgiveness and eternal life in heaven

B.  Confident of that decision being real based upon Biblical truth

  • Since that time God has changed your life – II Corinthians 5:17
  • No longer comfortable in your sin – John 16:7-8, Hebrews 12:5-8
  • Desire to be with God’s people – I John 3:14
  • Desire to obey the Word of God – I John 2:3-4

2.  So walk ye in Him

To walk in Christ is to live a life that is patterned after His

A.  Determine the Reality – Are you a fan of Christ or an authentic follower of Christ?

  • It’s not that fans don’t want a relationship with Jesus; It’s that they want the relationship with Him on their own terms
  • It’s not that fans don’t want a relationship with Jesus; It’s that they don’t want it to cost them too much.
  • Fans are satisfied going through the motions – God wants your love and He longs for you to passionately pursue Him.
  • The things that excite you – The things that excite you can also point to something or someone that is in competition with Jesus
  • Spiritual apathy screams – I don’t care

B.  Is your life characterized by practicing the presence of Jesus Christ on a daily basis?

  • Ongoing examination of your life before God
  • Immediately confessing sin
  • Striving to be right with others when problems arise
  • Asking yourself, what would Jesus do in a given situation
  • Prioritize your relationship with Christ above all else

C.  Consider the Following – Is your relationship with Christ best described as coasting or costly?

D.  Commit to the change God wants in your life

  • Radical:  Extreme change
  • Consistency:  Faithfulness over time
  • Commitment:  Putting yourself on the spot

Two Coming Events That Should Alter the Way We Live Today

Announcements:

-This coming Sunday, August 2nd, is Baby Dedication Sunday.  Please contact Pastor Peyton if you are interested in participating!

The Law of Desire:  “We do what we do because we want what we want.”

Here are the completed notes from the morning service July 26, 2015

Scripture:  I Thessalonians 4:13-18

The First Event – The Rapture – The Coming of Christ for His Own

1.  The promise of the Rapture – John 14:3

2.  Scripture teaches a pre-tribulation rapture:

  • The church is not mentioned on earth from chapter 6 of Revelation to chapter 19 (The period of the tribulation)
  • I Thessalonians 1:10
  • Revelation 3:10 (see vs 13)
  • Believers are ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20).  What do countries do with their ambassadors before going to war?  They call them home.

3.  The Description of the Rapture – I Thessalonians 4:13-18

  • Definition of Rapture:  To catch up or snatch away (I Thessalonians 4:17)
  • Those taken
    • Believers (the church) – I Thessalonians 4:13-17
    • Those dead in Christ (vs 13-16)
    • Those alive (vs 17)
  • The quickness – I Corinthians 15:51, 52 (vs 51-58)
  • The transformation – I Corinthians 15:51-53
    • Instantaneous change/transformation
    • Bodies changed from perishable to the imperishable
    • Changed into the image of Christ – I John 3:2 “We shall be like Him
  • The hope of this event – I Thessalonians 4:13-17
    • Hope for those who have died (vs 13-16)
    • Hope of possible not dying (vs 17)
    • Hope of seeing departed loved ones (vs 17a)
    • Hope of sharing eternity with the Lord (vs 17b)

4.  In View of the Rapture

  • Believers are not to forsake assembling together – Hebrews 10:25
  • Believers are to live a separated, Godly life – I John 3:2-3, Titus 2:12-13
  • The knowledge that Jesus could come at any moment should motivate us to holy living – I John 2:28
  • Life in order every moment of the day
  • The Delay – II Peter 3:3-4, 9 – God is not willing that any should perish

The Second Event – The Judgment Seat of Christ

The Christian’s face to face encounter with Jesus Christ

Scripture:  II Corinthians 5:10, I Corinthians 3:12-15, Romans 14:10-12

1.  This is the first major event in heaven following the rapture

2.  The issue at the Judgment Seat of Christ is not whether we are saved or not, or whether we will enter Heaven or not.  The fact is whoever appears before the Judgment Seat of Christ is already in heaven.

The Purpose:  To determine the worthiness or worthlessness of the believer’s works.  Character and motivation of the believer’s works will be examined.

The believers deepest motivation and highest aim in pleasing God – the realization that every Christian is inevitably and ultimately accountable to Him.

Backsliding from a Church Pew

Announcements:

-This week is camp week for our students.  Please pray for God to work in the lives of our young people that they might glorify Him.

Here are the completed notes from the morning service July 19, 2015

Scripture:  Colossians 2:6-8, Proverbs 14:14a

Characteristics of Backsliding from a Church Pew:

1.  Attends church but it’s about religion rather than about a relationship with Jesus

  • Sitting in church with unconfessed sin in your life
  • Little to no pursuit of God outside the four walls of this building

“IT’S ALL ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS!”

2.  Attendance at church is characterized by inconsistency and unfaithfulness – Hebrews 10:25

  • An essential to spiritual growth – I Peter 2:2
  • An important aspect of personal accountability
  • Believers are equipped for ministry at church – See Ephesians 4:11b, 12
  • Scriptural Command – Hebrews 10:24, 25

3.  Giving to the Lord is minimal, sporadic, or not at all

  1. Proverbs 3:9
    • “Honor” – Giving is an act of honoring the Lord with what He has provided you
    • “Firstfruits” – Of all thy increase
  2. I Corinthians 16:2
    • “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”
    • “The first day of the week” – Sunday (systematic giving)
    • “As God has prospered” – proportionate giving
  3. Malachi 3:8-10
    • “Tithe” – 10%
    • “Offerings” – additional giving
    • “This whole nation” – Tithe was what was required of Israel under the OT Law
    • Robbing God – not to tithe was robbing God and SIN
    • Blessing – Obeying God in tithes and offerings resulted in blessings / Robbing God resulted in a curse
    • See I Corinthians 10:11:  “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
  4. II Corinthians 9:6, 7
    • What we reap is dependent upon what we sow
  5. Luke 6:38
    • Give and it shall be given unto you
    • This is a natural part of life as a believer
  6. Matthew 6:19-21
    • Avoid materialism – “treasures upon earth”
    • Where your treasure is there will your heart be also
  7. II Corinthians 8:1-5
    • Example of the Macedonia churches
    • Their condition – in a great trial of affliction, deep poverty
    • Their sacrificial giving – riches of their liberality, giving beyond their power
    • The relationship – first gave themselves to the Lord

Taken from Corner Stone By-Laws:

  • Have you read and are you in agreement with our Doctrinal Statement, Constitution, and By-Laws?
  • Are you willing to give of your time, resources, gifts, and abilities for the furtherance of the ministry of this church?
  • Are you willing to be held accountable by the members of this local church?

4.  Spiritual growth is dormant not growing in knowledge or developing in Christian maturity – I Peter 2:2

  • II Peter 3:18 – How much closer are you to the Lord than last year at this time?

5.  Service is stagnate or non-existant – I Peter 4:10, 11

6.  Not taking God and His Word seriously

7.  God and obedience to Him is just not a priority – Matthew 6:33

  • The Law of Desire – We do what we do because we want what we want.
  • Deuteronomy 8:10-20

Doubts, Questions, and Unbelief (Part 2)

Announcements:

-Corner Stone Student Camp is coming up soon! July 21-25
-Special thanks to Dee Harmis for hosting the 4th of July Celebration for our church!

Here are the completed notes from the morning service July 12, 2015

Scripture: Mark 9:17-27

Reassurances

Consider Jesus (Matthew 5:17-18)
-He testified to the truth of Scripture
-His resurrection from the dead

Saturate yourself with the Word of God
-Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17
-Scripture memory

Fellowship with other believers

Contemplate the following:

The Existence of God
-Allow creation to testify to the existence of God (Psalm 19:1)
-Design demands a designer (Psalm 8:3)

The Word of God
-The strength of manuscript support
-Confirmation of archeology
-Scientific accuracy of Scripture
-Fulfilled prophecies
-Jesus’ stamp of approval on the Scripture

The Love and Goodness of God
-Consider the sacrifice (depth) of God’s love for you (Romans 5:8)

“Don’t judge God by your circumstances, judge your circumstances by God.”

The Involvement of God
According to Josh McDowell, Deism is “A firm belief in God, but a God who is not involved in the affairs of men.”
-Remember God promised never to leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
-Recall God’s faithfulness in past situations (I Samuel 17:33-37)
-Recall that nothing is too difficult for God (Mark 10:27)
-Know that God is in complete control (Romans 8:28)

Exercise the Faith We Have
-Prayer: be open and honest with God about our doubts
-Ask for His help
-Apply God’s Truth to our daily life