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Alton Baptist Church |
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November 27, 2011 - Present
Pastor Quincy Collins is on medical leave.
November 20, 2011 How to Learn from History
A great many famous people have commented on the value of history, some believing the study of history to be worthwhile, while others dismissed in favor of the future. A look at Gibbons’s history of Rome provides 6 questions for we amateur historians to reflect up as Christians in 2011.
However, the fact remains the Bible is sacred history put there for us to reflect up, and to change the future by considering its lessons. A look at King Nebuchadnezzar reminds us that ignore the key fact of history at our peril that it is God who rules.
Views may vary about the future of our world, but one thing is sure, God has work for us to shape a more positive future to shape a more positive past. In Jesus’, Amen
November 13, 2011 Message: Lest We Forget
The motto of Remembrance Day seems to be, “Let We Forget.” What happens if we forget? Gabriel Garcia Marquez explored this in his fictional book,” One Hundred Years of Solitude” where a village suffered a memory loss. Today’s passage has to do when the people in Nehemiah and Ezra’s time recovered their memory of a great, loving, caring God through His Word. When memory of God is restored, spiritual awakening takes place! Let us also remember that the Baptist denomination came about by a spiritual awakening from God’s Word. In Jesus, let us remember all God has blessed us with!
November 6, 2011 Message: How to Recover After Fumbling The Ball
Thought: It’s not how you start, but how you finish. True Story of how a King started off wonderfully well and how he finished so badly they called him Ivan The Terrible. Another king started off well, but finished terribly. Teaching: God’s faithfulness even amidst the terrible finish for King Joash ensured a member of King David’s royal line would remain - and from that single survivor came King Jesus who can help us to finish well. How to finish well: 1. We must have a personal conviction in Jesus - we cannot depend on our pastor, parents, or other Christians! 2. Likewise a church must depend on Christ and not influential leaders Let us run the race remembering Gal.5:7 & Heb.12:1,2.
October 30, 2011 Message: Nothing a Revival Wouldn’t Cure
What can God do with one single person? Example: Billy Graham, King Hezekiah Lesson: He can change a nation, a world. Why was God able to accomplish these revivals through two mere men? Because these were leaders were totally sold out to God. The difference between a manager and a leader. A leader does the right thing. A manager does things right. Hezekiah, the leader, discerned what the right thing was to do to help Israel- to reopen the temple so that worship would be focused on Israel’s unseen king, God. How did Hezekiah’s actions bear fruit in eight days? Because God had prepared the hearts for revival. Question: Do we need a revival? Let us begin on our knees, make the changes that must be made for God to be central in our lives and our church, and pray for the infilling of the Holy Spirit as did Billy Graham. In Jesus’ name, Amen
October 23, 2011 Message: How To Be Wiser Than Solomon
What is the wisest thing anyone has ever said to you?
Benjamin Franklin’s proverbs remind us of the power of a proverb to guide us. Example: King Solomon’s proverbs, how they are constructed, their benefits, their limits.
How we can obtain the wisdom of God today- believers have the wisdom from one who was greater than Solomon, Jesus, so we can have the “mind of Christ.”
October 16, 2011 Message: The Psalms: Guide to The Inner Life of Our Souls
How easy do we find it to plumb the depths of our soul? Would you like to learn more of the soul’s language to help in this? The Psalms. The role of great hymns especially as the Titanic sank. The difference between hymns and choruses. Howard Macy broke down the soul’s language found in the Psalms in his book,” Rhythms of The Inner Life” as follows; 1) longing 2) being still 3) trembling 4) despair 5) resting and trusting 6) speaking with God 7) celebration In this way we discover God’s Promises are true for us!
October 9, 2011 Message: The Joseph Project
This weekend many preparations are being made for Thanksgiving. The story of English Prime Minister Winston Churchill reveals the importance of preparations. How Joseph became Prime Minister of Egypt and his preparations for a famine. Scripture’s lessons? Learning how to conserve water, and how to appreciate the gift of food as well as the importance of supporting the Food Bank and setting aside some extra food for emergencies as did Joseph. We need to remember the importance of preparing for the growing spiritual famine in Canada as predicted in Amos 8:11. Let us, as Josephs, prepare for these needs in Jesus’ name!
October 2, 2011 Message: Disobedience - A Sure Way To Kiss The Crown Good-bye
Can we still hear our parents asking, ”Did you hear what I said for you to do?”
Napoleon knew enough to obey sound military logic but when he became France’s Emperor, his pride caused him to disobey that logic resulting in the disastrous invasion of Russia. Likewise, King Saul would disobey God with the result that God would remove the crown from Saul’s family.
Key, Obey and things will go your way. Disobey - God’s favor blows away. Why obey? Jesus obeyed the Father, and at the Last Supper he expected that if we claimed we love God, we will obey.
How to we establish obedience? 1) 2 Cor. 10:5-6- every thought must be brought captive 2) Mark 7:21,2- the heart of every thought is the heart 3) we make the choice everyday to obey God 4) we must honor those God and the congregation has called to lead us into wise decisions as a church. (See Hebrews 13:17 & I Thess. 5:12) Let us be faithful and obedient and reap a reward- Rev.2:10 in Jesus! Amen
September 25, 2011 Message: From Deceiver to Believer or, Jacob joins the Jewish Wrestling Federation
Ever feel like life is one long wrestling match?
Short story of how Leiningen wrestled with ants as they attacked his plantation.
But what happens when we run out of options. Introduce Jacob as he ponders his lack of options and he turns toward God, only to discover God wants to wrestle him into faith.
Lessons learned: When help seems far away it may be that God has never been closer!
Learning how to wrestle with God. See bulletin thoughts. Humility, Prayer, Repentance. May we all see God face to face and realize He’s smiling at us. In Jesus’ name. Amen
September 18, 2011 Message: Living The Faith Adventure
“Your faith ought to get you in trouble at times. If everybody thinks you’re nuts, you may be. It’s okay if some think you are. However, you’re probably in trouble if no one thinks you are.”- Pastor Chuck Swindoll. So, when was the last time said we were nuts? An adventure for Nellie Bly. All you need for an adventure is... faith! Abraham’s faith adventure. How Christ fulfills God’s promises made to Abraham Five principles for having a faith adventure. 1) Know what faith is.. leaning hard on God 2) Faith is not a once in a lifetime adventure. 3) A trusting faith puts us right with God. 4) During the adventure we can always turn to God. 5) May we learn how, like Abraham, to give it all up, so can go where we know not. Faith in Christ is the Adventure!
September 11, 2011 Message: A New Beginning... After a Poor Start
Life Question: What should men and God do when evil gets out of hand? People still seek the Ark, because it would prove the Flood took place which in turn would add support to the belief that God judges evil. ( Do we remember Bill Cosby’s “Noah and the Ark routine?) A look at Noah and his times and what it says about God. Was God more interested in punishment or disciplining us with a view to restoration? The importance of discipline in families.. and churches. God’s new covenant or agreement with humankind. Let us ask ourselves about how God views evil today and Scripture’s prediction of Jesus’ return and judgment. Amen
September 4, 2011 Message: It’s Still a Wonderful World, Thanks to Jesus!
Anyone remember Louie “Pops” Armstrong’s song, “What a Wonderful World”? A video to remind us this world which God called “good” is a wonderful world. Deep down don’t we want to believe it is a wonderful world? However, there are many things which cause us to doubt it is a wonderful world, one of them is broken promises which have made us mistrustful. Yet promises are what fuel hope as we face an uncertain future. The Garden fulfilled our definition of a wonderful world. The Gardeners received two promises; oddly enough God’s negative promise that we would die if we ate of the tree of good and evil and Satan’s positive promise that we would not die but would be like God. Satan’s lie introduced us to sin, death and mistrust in God and others. The world ceased to be anything but wonderful. Greek and Hebrew meanings for “promise.” Guidelines for interpreting Biblical promises. Let us approach the Lord’s Table viewing the forgiveness offered by God so that we might heal any rifts between us and God so that it might be a wonderful world again!
August 28, 2011 Message: How to Care for Your Soul... and Society Pt.4
We will look at the final three commandments.
August 21, 2011 Message: How to Take Care of One’s Soul...and Society Pt.3
JFK’s story highlights our two commandments, not to kill nor to commit adultery. Jesus’ view on these two commandments.
For us today - We are the spiritual image bearers of God! So why would we tamper with something so precious? - Sin! How can we recapture the joy God meant for us to have? We need to, “cultivate an uneasy conscience.” Eldon Trueblood
Let us look to God to heal us from murderous anger and lustful desires. Let us humble ourselves and receive God’s gift of grace, and His forgiveness in Jesus.
August 14, 2011 Message: How to Take Care of Your Soul...and Society Pt.2
Wouldn’t you love to throw away your watch and calendar and live every day the same as the last? We might, but life will establish certain routines because the world contains a clock of rhythms and cycles. · God introduced a work /rest cycle - the Sabbath to the Jews · 1600 years later the Jews had forgotten God’s original reasoning for resting one day in seven Jesus said · God also instructed people to respect their parents to ensure the stability of society. · By Jesus’ time, the Jews had displaced that commandment also. What of us? Do we respect ourselves and God enough to respect the Sabbath? Do we respect the basic unit of society enough to respect our parents? Let us honour God - and thank Him for Jesus who has made it possible for us to have an eternal Sabbath rest, and for us to call God our Heavenly Parent-Father!
July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7, 2011
Special Guest Speaker: Reverend Karen Doucette
July 3, 2011 Message: How To Take Care of Our Souls and Society, Pt.1
June 26, 2011 Message: The Gospel of The Second Chance
The title says it all.
June 19, 2011 Message: The Never Ending Adventure... Of Prayer
What has been your greatest adventure in life?
As a young man, adventure was framed through the writings of the ill fated Scott South Pole trek. In some ways, Scott’s trek reminded me of Jesus’ prayer in John 17.
A tour through John 17 reveals much including Jesus’ purposes, and our purpose to live the adventure to follow Christ and how the role of feelings, fact and faith in Jesus’ style of conversational prayer.
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer is one long shout of joy. Let us do as did Jesus, commit ourselves to lives of obedience, holy service and continual prayer!
June 12, 2011 Message: Catch The Fire! ( Or, Are You Hungry?)
Happy Birthday Church! Today we celebrate our 1978th ( give or take a year or two) birthday! Break out the cake and candles! One birthday wish this year? To have our spiritual hunger filled.
True story of a Baptist pastor’s spiritual hunger- Dr. Guy Chevreau, who eventually became a pastor at Toronto’s Airport Church during the time of the “Toronto Blessing.” Today, he travels the world with a special desire to care for earth’s poor and needy. Regardless of what people may think of the former Vineyard church in Toronto, one thing is sure, it reveals a world wide spiritual hunger for God! Jesus’ teaching on how we can be filled with more of God. John 16:5-16
How do we satisfy the soul’s hunger? Mt.4:4 Yet, a world wide famine is emerging- for God’s word. (Amos 8:11,12.) The Holy Spirit will infill God’s Word to fill our hunger but to do this the Holy Spirit must convict us of the greatest sin of all, not to believe in Jesus. So, to get God’s Full Meal Deal have you come to faith in Jesus?
Second, if we have faith in Jesus, can we identify areas where we still feel spiritually hungry? How do we satisfy that? Not by wanting more of the Spirit, but letting the Spirit have more of us.
True story of an Anglican pastor 50 years ago who discovered he was spiritually hungry. So what must we do? Let the spiritual hunger fill our prayer to God in Jesus name. Amen
June 5, 2011 Message: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
How many here plan family and friend visits this summer? These visits will be joyful, but may include painful farewells. Jesus had to make his farewells but tried to do so in a way which would encourage His disciples in John 16: 16-33. (We have skipped a section, John 16:5-15 because next week is Pentecost, a very good time to study the Holy Spirit.) Life Application: How to handle our own farewells. Teaching: Prayer, closing the gap between our perceptions that God is distant, when in fact He is very close. Two stories. The Lord’s Table, a time when God calls us to draw near, a time reminding us of our eventual reunion with God when there will be no more farewells.
May 29, 2011 Message: When Christians are Persona Non Grata (not welcome)
Remember school bullying? At times bullying takes place on a large, violent scale in society. These events we can call persecutions. The Night of Broken Glass- a night when persecution broke out against German and Austrian Jews in 1938. John 15:18-16:4 reveals Jesus speaking about a very odd matter- how the world will hate Christians.
How did hatred gain a foothold in a world? Satan filled with hate, spread his hatred to mankind through Adam and Eve. From there it led to Cain killing Abel all over what a proper sacrifice to God should look like! Why does the world hate Christians who are called to love? (it hates Christ, because Christ was God, and people hate God because he spoils their fun.)
While we will not likely encounter persecution workplace bullying has become very common place and effects many jobs today. How to identify bullying, why people bully, with a prayer that we will promote justice on the jobsite. Early Christians knew persecution and suffering for exercising their faith. Let us take heart God is with us. I Peter 3:14; 4:12-13, Phil. 1:29, Mt.5: 12. In Jesus’ name, Amen
May 22, 2011 Message: I Heard It Through The Grapevine ( Jesus)
How do we improve our fruitfulness?
A wonderful story with a troubling end about a farm boy who becomes an internationally known pastor yet, his church goes into bankruptcy which raises questions about how connected the church was to the grapevine of Jesus.
A look at John 15:1-15 reveals that we are to live fruitful lives by abiding in Jesus and by obeying His commands, especially the command to love one another as our expression of loving God.
Teaching: How do we abide in Christ? 1) Lesson #1- Bearing fruit is God’s purpose for us in life. Jn. 15: 8,16 2) Lesson #2- Staying connected to Jesus is essential. Jn. 15:4,5 3) Lesson #3, When the Father prunes us or our church this results in a growth of fruitfulness. Jn. 15:2
Thoughts on developing fruitfulness through the Word and prayer. A final story reminding us that because of how Jesus’ arms were spread out like grapevine branches upon the cross, we are called to use our God given gifts to glorify God by being fruitful.
May 15, 2011 Message: How To Boost Our Faith Efficiency (or, The Importance of Obedience Training)
A study of Daniel Defoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” reveals a very mature book about how a man deserted on a deserted island has to struggle to do things on his own, and discovers some things he cannot. Likewise, in the Christian faith, we learn that while we want to do great things for God, we discover some projects are simply beyond us and we find ourselves frustrated. Did God want us to become frustrated as we work for Him? Has He left us any guidance how to improve our faith efficiency? Indeed He has in John 14: 15-31.
Key teachings: How to picture the Trinity- root, shoot, fruit
How a Christian can achieve their God given potential: obedience to Jesus’ commands. How to maximize God’s power through our lives: Not by a Second Blessing, not by asking how we can get more of God, but by granting God permission to have more of us. Illustration from marriage. In Jesus’ wonderful name, Amen
May 8, 2011 Message: The Hand That Rocks The Cradle....
Do modern political leaders appreciate mothers? Leaders 100 - 200 years ago certainly did! A Paul Harvey story and quotes support the idea that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. A look at some mothers; Eve, Hannah the unhappy example of Herodias and the wonderful example of mothering by Mary, including even disciplining of Jesus! (discipline is sometimes needed to bring out the best in a child.) Some thoughts on how mothers can bring out the very best in a child and so change the world - Monica and Augustine. John Killinger’s poem about mothers. Let us be thankful to God for those wonderful people we call our mothers in Jesus’ name.
May 1, 2011 Message: How To Get There From Here
All of us are looking for a place to call “home.” Yet, Christians know that Heaven, not Earth, is our ultimate home. (Heb.13:13-16) Jesus talked about how to get from our earthly home to our heavenly home in John 14:1-14. Teaching Points: Jesus is the way, the truth and the life leading to our heavenly home. Also, we know that if we do not join Jesus first in Heaven, we will, at His Second Coming, come to take us home. Oddly, many don’t really look forward to Heaven, at least according to Kenney Chesney, Philip Yancy and Time. Two final stories about heaven. Will Heaven be our next home? Then Jesus must become our way to the truth about God’s eternal life. Amen
“ John Newton, author of the hymn “Amazing Grace” wrote,” If I ever reach Heaven I expect to find three wonders there: First, to meet someone I had not thought to see there; Second, to miss some I had expected to see there; Third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.’
April 24, 2011 Message: Easter and The Roller Coaster of Faith
Easter began with one question of where the body of Jesus was laid, to a deeper questions of how does one face life? Two true stories help lead us into how we will face life- Victor Frankl and Dostoyevsky.
The first Easter story of how Christ released from his prison changes our lives: John 20:18-31. How the slim volume, the Bible, given to Dostoyevsky gave him hope in his darkest days. The genius of Easter - faith in a Risen Christ. The meaning of the word faith: Heb. 11:1. This Easter don’t stop 3’ short- true story. True story about how Easter can touch us - Dr. Dale. Jesus is alive! Celebrate and don’t stop 3’ short! Amen
April 17, 2011 Message: On Becoming an Anarchist.... Like Jesus
The Sixties were filled with young people protesting. At times parents would tell their children they were anarchists who wanted to tear society down. (Upon checking the dictionary we read that an anarchist is one who, “seeks to bring about the absence of government and lawlessness causing political disorder.”) An example of an anarchist- Leon Czolgosz.
On Palm Sunday’s second trashing of the Temple Jesus was viewed by the leaders of Israel as an “anarchist.” Was He? If so, was He showing us how to be a different kind of anarchist who uses “the violence of love, not the love of violence” to bring about the Kingdom of God?
A look at John 2:13-22
Some teaching points including how one of the Sixties biggest anti-war activists, Abbie Hoffman, used Jesus’ model of trashing the temple to make his own points.
How Christians can promote the Kingdom - the Fruit of the Spirit, and seeking mercy, justice, truth and freedom as would Jesus. And let us praise God for Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for the realization of the Kingdom in our lives.
April 10, 2011 Message: Eight Days That Shook The World
There are many histories that include the phrase “Days That Shook The World.” Jesus last week in Jerusalem, called the Holy Week, can also be called Eight Days That Shook The World. That week there were two competing visions and the leaders viewed Jesus vision of the Kingdom of God to be in the wrong.
Today, the Kingdom of God is seldom mentioned except as a short hand way of talking about either salvation or the future kingdom when Jesus returns. Your pastor believes that the Scriptures support the idea that we are called to live as citizens of the Kingdom, even if it seems rather hard to imagine God’s domain of love as the way God wants this world to run today. Let us be faithful to that vision!
A Sussex church in England in 1730 recorded the following; “ A vision without a task is but a dream. A task without a vision a drugery, A vision and a task is the hope of the world. As we sing Francis Havergal’s hymn, #379, Take My Life And Let It Be may we remember what she wrote that each of us can help change our world. Indeed, may we as Christians help shake our world this week!
April 3, 2011 Message: Huh?
If a tree falls in a forest but no one is there to hear, is there any sound?
Our House of Commons reveals the same problem. If a lone MP speaks to an empty house, if no one is there to listen, has anyone really heard? No. One solution? Allow people to speak so that MPs, the media and the people will listen. (Improving Parliament may be The Real Issue this election!)
In John 12:20-50 it was the same question. When Jesus spoke, if no one listened, did anyone actually hear what God was saying?” Most often the reply was, “Huh?”
Our choice? When we hear God we can reply, “Huh?” or, “ Sign me up!”
These days, in order to listen to God, we need to have a very good understanding of doctrine, i.e. foundational truths, an understanding of what the Christian life should look like in practice, and to create our own unique expression of what it looks like to have God living in our lives.
What does the listening life look like? denial of self, service to others, a holy lifestyle, and faithfulness. As we come to the Lord’s Supper may we have ears ready to listen to our Lord. Amen
March 27, 2011 Message: The Love of Power Verses The Power of Love
Understanding the two main ways that people act the way they do.
Story: Bismark, and Caiphas, lovers of power and Jesus, who showed the power of love in John 11:45-57.
Which method will we embrace?
March 20, 2011 Message: Are We At The Tipping Point?
What is a tipping point- example dump truck.
John 11 has various “tipping points” about our faith in the face of death. A singing sermon filled with stories to help build our faith.
With the latest earthquake in Japan, we must ask if life on earth has reached a “tipping point” and if so, are we ready to greet Jesus upon His return? Today, let us firm up what we most truly believe in Jesus and live in Him in these uncertain days!
March 13, 2011 Message: How To Hear The Voice of God
How can we hear God’s voice in these noisy, confused times? It’s possible! But wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was as straightforward as it was for young Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:1-10?
John 10 is known as the Good Shepherd chapter but contained within this blessed chapter are some key guides to how to hear God’s voice today.
John 10 teaches us the basics which permit us to hear God’s voice in the first place; Jesus must be our Savior, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who’s voice we will hear. In Jesus we have Eternal Life and Abundant Life and we will have it forever as the John’s teaching here on Predestination shows. All of this rests on the fact that God is sovereign.
Some guidelines as how we can hear God’s voice; Remember Ps.32:8; 1) We must commit our way to the Lord, must heed the Holy Spirit ( God in the now), God will speak as we pray. God will act upon our desires, God will guide through dreams, common sense, reasoning, circumstances, godly guidance. Discernment is a growing gift of God’s grace so let us do all that we can to learn how God can guide “each step I take” in Jesus! Amen
March 6, 2011 Message: Oh Say Can’t You See ( or the Three Sent Event)
Is it remotely possible to be blinded to God’s healing, saving presence? Some thoughts on walking about blindly lead us into John 9, where a man born blind recovers his sight and develops his spiritual sight.
Some questions on how each of the groups in John 9 were blind to God’s presence and how we need to improve our spiritual eyesight to see God’s presence.
February 27, 2011 Message: You Be The Judge
Has everyone seen Judge Judy? Today, we get to review the case of Karla Faye Tucker. A case of adultery brought before Jesus to judge in John 8:1 - 11 teaches us how to judge rightly, how to apply this in church settings, and how in everyday life we can apply John Nash’s Equilibrium Win-Win strategy using Jesus' wisdom so that love and justice prevail.
February 20, 2011 Message: Jesus Christ, Superstar?
As we saw in Jesus feeding the 5000, He went from being a famous bread making people’s choice for King to a man who had a scant 12 followers less than a day later. (Jn.6) Small wonder Jesus would not trust the success of His mission to fickle celebrity seeking followers. (Jn.2:24,5) At the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus sought to firm up faith. Some chose faith, others rejected faith. The question in this celebrity obsessed generation is not “Who is Jesus?” but “Who is Jesus to me?” Do we follow Him as long as He makes our lives nicer and do we leave when He actually expects more of us than our faint praise?
February 13, 2011 Message: Life’s For Learning
Way back in June I planned out the current sermon series on John. The passage that best fit Valentine’s Day was John 2 so today we will double back to John 2 to Jesus teaching those who would learn, about how He was superior to the Jewish religion. In addition as John 2 includes thoughts on a wedding, some modern counsel from Drs. Parrott on how to improve our relationships.
February 6, 2011 Message: Faith: The Food That Feeds Forever
Why are not more people Christians?
Illustration of bread leads into Jesus’ miracle of bread making, and his explanation in John 6 of He as the Living Bread.
Jesus Message; in 5 oven rotating bread pans; 1) Satan suggested that bodies are just bellies to fill. Not so, said Jesus, they are soul vehicles. 2) Jesus is the Heavenly Bread that feeds our souls 3) What work does God have in mind for us? Believe in Jesus. 4) By believing we feed our souls and have ever lasting life. 5) How does this work? The Spirit gives life.
Reasons people don’t feed on the bread of life; 1) We are making it just fine without Jesus, 2) Some people have never been told enough about Jesus, 3) Some people have been burned by religion, 4) Some people have had their minds closed by Satan, 2 Cor. 4:3,4
Why does this matter if we are already saved? Because there is a heaven and a hell and because Jesus Himself said that many would go to Hell.(Mt.7:13,4) Also, before we assume we headed for heaven would there be enough evidence of living a fruitful Christian life to convince God He should let us into His Heaven?
We have a responsibility to share about Jesus, and Heaven ( the upside of salvation) and Hell ( the downside of failing to welcome God’s forgiveness.) Stunning statistic- only 2% of people ever share in words their faith! This means the other 98/100 people must preach Christ through their lives in a powerful way!
The Lord’s Table, a time for reflection, prayer, and praise
January 30, 2011 Message: Do You Want to Be Made Well?
Modern medicine loves the quick fix, so it loves antibiotics. Jesus, in John 5, faced medical concerns of an ill man and the spiritual ill leaders of the day. Teaching points: On Jesus' authority to heal on the Sabbath, some thoughts on how we should view and use the Sabbath, and some questions about our health; 1) Life has a strong spiritual dimension. 2) To be truly healthy, we must be connected with the one who gave us life, God. 3) How do we make this spiritual connection? Jesus. 4) Why do we get sick, anyway? Back to the Garden. 5) Why are we all not healed even if we have faith? 6) What can we do to experience better health? Let us look to Jesus, our suffering Savior for all our needs.
January 23, 2011 Message: The Treasure in Our Backyard
The Oak Island Treasure has likely been found but there is a treasure much closer to home. Hint: Think water. John 4 - The woman at the well reminds us that we need to look around at today’s water rich spots, such as Tim Horton's to locate people who are thirsty. Likewise, we need to rethink of our church vision in terms of “the well” because there are many who have not yet discovered Jesus the Living Water even though He and we are as close as their wells.
January 16, 2011 Message: The Risk of Faith
Ever been really close to making a life changing decision, say buying a car, marrying, taking a new job and gotten cold feet? Welcome to risk.
Sailing involves risk because of the changing nature of the wind because it blows when and where and how it wants. This leads us into John 3, a chapter where Nicodemus, who I believe was quite open to faith, who may have been suffering from “cold feet.” Jesus tried to get Nick to see that he was already leaning toward faith in Him, but reminded him in black and white terms about his need to make a decision. And so do we need to make for Jesus, for He reminds us, not to decide for Jesus is to come firmly down on the side of not believing, which God holds us accountable for.
Four helps in faith: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience (John Wesley’s four bar linkage or quadrilateral)
The perils of being skeptical - we are not allowed the luxury of claiming we don’t have all the answers. God has given us the four helps to assist us to come to faith. A story.
Finally, God’s love in John 3:16 - complete hope and joy! Make the choice today!
January 9, 2011 Message: Have You Found What You Are Looking For?
Have you found your passion in life, the purpose for which you were born?
The true story of the father of modern Italy, Guiseppe Gribaldi, the man who was consumed with the dream of fired up the purposes of fellow Italians for a Free Italy.
Another man who had the ability to fire up others for his vision of a new Kingdom where the domain of God’s love and justice would be found forever, Jesus, and the Kingdom of God.
Passage: John 1: 35 - 51
This passage is how Jesus located men who were waiting for their life’s passion, their life work to be inspired by faithful service. Have we found this passion in life in Jesus?
No matter how much we may say we love God and want to serve Him, there is always more to learn especially from God’s word that will inspire us and help us become better witnesses. True Story from Wheaton College.
The Names of Jesus deepen our understanding of the great presence and promises of God in our lives.
Our passion should be that of early disciples, that our lives find purpose bringing the Good News of God’s freeing sacrifice to others. In Jesus’ Amen
January 2, 2011 Message: Have You Seen The Light, Yet?
How many of us make New Year’s Resolutions? One of mine several years ago was a short prayer from the movie “Godspell”; “Day by Day (2x) Oh, Dear Lord, Three things I pray, To see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, Follow Thee more nearly, Day by day(2x) How can we keep our resolutions, indeed what resolutions should we be thinking about? Let’s use our imagination to picture a modern day John the Baptist to help introduce us to this winter’s sermon series on John.
Key concepts: Jesus- The Light, Truth, Living Word, Only Begotten of the Father, Lamb of God, Son of God - He is the one who will help us discover and keep our resolutions to help us grow into the fullness God has planned for us. Some thoughts on our resolutions. In Jesus, Amen
December 26, 2010 Message: Finally, Peace on Earth
December 19, 2010 Message: The Kind of People God Favors
Does God play favorites? If so, who and why?
An illustration of a swindle carried out by William Fletcher.
Another swindle, one that seeks to defraud Christians - the denial of the Virgin Birth.
Some examples of the Fruit of the Spirit in our passage about Mary: faith, meekness, goodness. Let us praise God for Jesus and His unique birth.
December 12, 2010 Message: The Kindness Offensive
Ever noticed how public music becomes at Christmas?
The health aspects of singing.
How the fruit of the spirit called “ kindness” helped a poor kid become one of the most loved singers of modern times- a Paul Harvey story.
The role of music in Luke’s story of the pick up choir of angels singing to Judean shepherds reveals God’s glory and kindness.
Random Acts of Kindness for Christians.
This Christmas, let’s go on a Kindness Offensive! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
December 5, 2010 Message: Joseph: The Unsung Hero of Christmas (or Love sleeps little, wakes much.)
Men often hear critical remarks about their behavior from those who love them. This should incite us to do better. Indeed, there is a worldwide backlash against men as shown in the last United Nations World Conference on Women in 1995.
There are some trends where men are viewed as underachievers or not acceptable as men. Today, a look at Joseph, Jesus’ step-father, reveals two fruit of the Spirit, self-control and love- and these and many other fine qualities can be developed and found in men.
Story of a man in love followed by another story of a man in love- both of whom revealed heartache and struggle.
Thots on love and self-control
Joseph, unsung hero of Christ’s birth. We could do worse than Joseph, far worse, but not much better. In the name of his step- son, Jesus. Amen
November 28, 2010 Message: Lord, I Want Patience, and I Want it Now!
Christmas is a natural way to study the Fruit of the Sprit as we naturally examine several of them; love, joy, & peace.
A study of patience ( long suffering) and its relationship to joy is found in the angel’s announcement of the birth of a prophet and evangelist, John, to childless priest Zacharias in Luke 1.
Life lessons- while we love this story, it reveals how thorough Dr. Luke was in including all events which he felt had a bearing on the birth, life and ministry of Jesus.
Also, from this birth we learn of the difference of mankind’s chronos time and God’s kairos time as well as how patience can lead to greater joy for us this Christmas.
November 21, 2010 Message: How To Overcome Fear with Faith
All of us experience fear. Questions about fear. What is Fear? How do we experience fear? What makes us fearful? Is there anyway to reduce fear? What are some typical fears? Rev. Donald Barnhouse had to deal with the fear that war brought about, as did Habakkuk many years before WWII.
Things to do to deal with fear; 1) We must face our fear- knowing that nothing will take place apart from a holy, loving God. 2) Let us ask ourselves if we, like Habakkuk, are seeing clearly, or have we imposed our fearful thinking upon God? 3) Once we gain this perspective we are free to think more clearly. 4) Because when we fear our mind tends to shut down let us remember basic principles such as God may allow this fear producing event but He is a holy loving God. 5) If we still struggle with God allowing this to happen to us, let us commit the problem in faith to God and hang on.
Story: Blondin
The key is to trust God so that we can detach ourselves from the problem that causes us fear, knowing God is a loving and holy God with the goal of producing righteousness and greater faith in our lives. Key: the just shall live by faith!
Habakkuk spoke of God renewing us- which we translate in English as “revival”. The benefits of revival in facing fearful times. The downside of letting fear rule our behavior.
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