New Years Day, 2006
Matthew 9 “Encounters with Jesus”

Intro…In the last couple of years, I’ve become fascinated, with living a simple life that follows Jesus.

Simple Shoes and my new hat..

Margaret Becker??? Simple House CD…

Remember what the new follower of Jesus were first called in Acts? Followers of the Way. “Christian” wasn’t a term that was used yet...

The Way of Jesus by Jonathan Campbell

Here we are faced with another new year, lots of possibilities etc. My prayer is that we’ll all live a life that follows Jesus…

So I thought we’d take some time today to look at a slice of life during the time of Jesus. A cross-section of his daily encounters with people and what we can learn from that.

Text: Matthew 9:35-36
(Try and find yourself in this story/these encounters with Jesus…)

V. 1-8 Feeling paralyzed.
There are different things in all our lives that paralyze us. Fear of the unknown or even what’s coming up.

The first thing Jesus was (and always is) concerned about was this man’s sin, more than his physical state. “When Jesus saw their faith...”

The bigger issue is always our heart. We need our hearts healed before our physical problems. That’s usually the harder thing to give Jesus...our hearts...

V. 9-13 For those of us tempted to cheat.
“The party at Matthew’s house” I love this story. Who was Jesus hanging out with in this story?

Who were these “sinners?” “Those who broke Pharisaic Halakoth (rules of conduct)--harlots, tax collectors, and other disreputable people. Though eating with them entailed dangers of ceremonial defilement, Jesus and his disciples did so.”

IOW...us! We’re all tempted to cheat, we all need Jesus! V. 12…

What is Jesus saying when he says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice?”

V. 14-17 “Losing my religion” (or needing a fresh perspective on your current one.)
Isn’t all about “fasting” (or other things that seem so religious)?

Jesus just got done telling them it’s about mercy, not sacrifice…

We are the “best man” or “guests of the bridegroom” Jesus is the groom, enjoy your time with Jesus, daily.

What are some “new wineskins” we need to keep in mind as we walk with Jesus this year?

V. 18-26 Jesus can heal us from disease and death.
On the way to healing someone from death, Jesus was able to stop and address a “common” problem that a needy woman had.

Sometimes we are in such a hurry to get to what seems so urgent, we can’t even stop to encounter someone with a common need.

Pray that God will give us these daily encounters, it’s so good for us!

Again, it was her faith that healed her. Stay close to Jesus this year.

V. 24 Sometimes we laugh at Jesus and his ability to heal us or get us through a certain situation.

For Kel and I right now, it’s the situation with our newborn…

V. 27-34 Blindness/mute etc.. (Things we aren’t able to see or hear, that Jesus wants us to see or hear.)
There’s that wacky faith again...are we seeing a common theme?

What are the things in your life that you’ve been blind/deaf to?

V. 30 “See that no one knows about this.” Why would Jesus tell them this?

“This rather violent verb reveals Jesus' intense desire to avoid a falsely based and ill-conceived acclaim that would not only impede but also endanger his true mission.”

(He came to do so much more than just heal our physical problems, back to that heart issue.)

GOSPEL Communion intro...

Maybe I didn’t list an issue in your life that you are dealing with as you head into this new year.
Well, guess what, you are not left off or outside of the capacity of Jesus to heal you, give you a new direction or point you in the right direction.

V. 35-36 The verses we started this sermon with….

Once we have been healed, (and that’s a continual process) let’s remember that we have a further calling from there.
V. 37 wheat field…

Ask God to use you, send you out.

The Christian life is not just about being around other Christians and getting healed. It’s about giving away your faith, helping others.

January 8th, 2006

Giving properly, Mark 12:41-44

Intro...resolutions….often have to do with exercise…” why I don’t exercise”
~ I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently, you have to show up.

~ If God meant us to touch our toes, he would have put them further up our body.

~ I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them

~ If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.

~ I don't jog. It makes the ice jump right out of my glass.

~ I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

~ I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

A doctor has a stethoscope up to a man's chest. The man asks, "Doc, how do I stand?" The doctor says, "That's what puzzles me!"

I love reading the stories of Jesus. Remember last weeks, “slice of life” or encounters with Jesus?

Today we’ll see how he loved to tell stories and use common everyday occurrences. From there he let people ponder the meaning. Think on it and find the application.

Let’s do that with today’s story, as we read the text. Woman looking for coins…
Text: Mark 12;41-44

I preach on tithing at least once a year. I could drive home the specific’s, 10% etc. etc. But this story, I believe really speaks to the heart of the matter. We can see ourselves in this story.

Let’s take a look at this picture and the text and get some feedback. What’re your general thoughts regarding money, the church and giving?

After this incident (the last in his public ministry), Jesus spends his time exclusively with the disciples. What an amazing example to leave them. Check your motives with your money.

Today’s story may be to contrast the greed of the teachers of the law with the liberality of the widow.

Or it may be that it teaches that the true gift is to give everything we have.
That’ll wake you up.. give it all? (That should be the over-all mentality though.)

Why is that the case? Why should we at least consider this?

Jesus gave up everything for us…

The setting is the court of the women, into which both men and women were allowed to come, and where the temple treasury was located.

Jesus sat down on a bench where he could watch the people bring their offerings and put them in one of the thirteen trumpet-shaped boxes.

Notice it wasn’t the pompous rich with their large gifts that got Jesus’ attention.

Instead it was the poor widow with the right heart. That is so like Jesus. Always pointing things out in the opposite way we would expect.

(Not that I’m comparing myself to Jesus) but I purposely don’t know who gives what. I’m worried that if I knew of the “big givers” at our church I would be tempted to give them special treatment.

I’m glad we don’t have one or two large givers to our church...too much power..

Your giving is between you and God…. (However, don’t let that be an excuse for not giving!)

This woman placed in the box two copper coins , the smallest coins in circulation in Palestine. Their value was, as NIV puts it, "only a fraction of a penny."

What do you see in this picture?

The disciples were not sitting with Jesus, but he couldn’t pass up this teaching opportunity. (“You guys gotta come see this…”)
“I tell you the truth” (listen up...here comes a valuable lesson...)

And it’s a valuable lesson for us today too.

“The means of the giver and the motive are the measure of true generosity"
(Plummer)

Let’s look at some other verses that show the importance of tithing:

Prov. 3:9-10
Deut. 14:23
There are three kinds of givers--the flint, the sponge, and the honeycomb. To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver are you?

Ps. 24:1
II Cor. 9:6-8

Malachi 3:7-10
Seven levels of giving
1. Giving to the poor, but with bad grace
2. Giving with a good grace, but not enough
3. Giving enough, but only after being asked
4. Giving without being asked
5. Giving without knowing who will benefit from the gift
6. Giving without the beneficiary of the gift knowing who is helping him
7. Fighting poverty by giving the poor person the means to escape from his condition

Matt. 23:23

Lev. 27:30

Sometimes we’re really proud of the amount we give back to God (and want everyone to know).
We’re the pompous rich people…

Let’s not forget that Jesus still sees the treasury today...He knows how much, and from what motives we give. He looks at our hearts too.

God is aware of every penny we posses and how we spend it...ouch!

God also sees all of our motives for every action, how we give included.

No matter how much money we have or give, Jesus is the great equalizer. Why? Because he’s looking at our heart, not our possessions.

There is a lesson of humility for the rich. Who because of coveting or luxury give little or none back to God and the poor.

There is also a lesson for the “poor” (could be any of us in that we may feel like we don’t earn enough to give…) possibly distrusting God and give nothing at all.

Our possessions can only be sanctified by giving a portion to God.

Comments?

Conclusion:
When you go to a doctor for your annual check-up, he or she will often begin to poke, prod, and press various places, all the while asking, "Does this hurt? How about this?"
If you cry out in pain, one of two things has happened. Either the doctor has pushed to hard, without the right sensitivity. Or, more likely, there's something wrong, and the doctor will say, "We'd better do some more tests. It's not supposed to hurt there!"
So it is when pastors preach on financial responsibility, and certain members cry out in discomfort, criticizing the message and the messenger. Either the pastor has pushed too hard. Or perhaps there's something wrong. In that case, I say, "My friend, we're in need of the Great Physician, because it's not supposed to hurt there."

January 15th, 2006

Getting connected at Coastlands
Ecc. 4:4-12, Ephesians 2:19-22

Intro...one of the biggest things we’ve noticed with our new baby Micah is his need to connect. Nothing like the physical contact. God created us for relationship.

Some of you may fear this…

Whether you have kids or not, there is a need to connect. Relationships, love, marriage, best friends, someone to hang out with etc.

It’s funny/sad how we can so easily recognize the need outside of church life, yet be content with coming to church once a week….

Once you come to Christ, the need to connect with other Christians is tantamount to our growth. Sunday mornings are good, but only one way to connect.

Text: Ecc. 4:9-12

These verses clearly speak to the need to get help from others.

Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiates. He was one of those guys who “had it all.” Yet throughout the book he laments and reflects of the meaning and purpose of life.

In chapter 4 he talks about oppression, toil and the need for friends.

V. 4-6 remind us of the empty pursuit of work and achievement, envying what everyone else has. “Meaningless, chasing after wind.”

V.7-8 The guy who has wealth, but no family to speak of. “Who am I doing all this work for?”... “Meaningless, a miserable business!”

“The drive to succeed is mature when it has its interplay with the whole of society.” Comments?

Society begins with one's neighbor and as Christians, it begins with one another...

V. 9-12 Let’s take a look at these verses together...What do they say to you in regards to the need for connecting with other Christians?

Individualism and divisions make for weakness. There is a proper complex of power in a three-strand rope, provided the strands are good and support one another.

“But I can worship God anywhere, I don’t need to be in church to do that!” Thoughts, comments?

The “Taoist” I meet at Osprey...

Josh’s group…

The reality in most churches is that only 30% of the people actually attend the small group bible studies. Instead of only offering small group bible studies as a way to connect at our church, we are limiting someone’s ability to connect.

We recognize that. We’d like you to get connected initially and hopefully move up the “connection ladder” from there.

There are many ways to get connected at our church.

It could start with joining one of the teams on Sundays...Tech team, music team, welcome team, children’s ministry, (have Maegan stand) community outreach (Jenna and Anne)…New ”Theology in film” group.

Church was never intended to be 1 1/2 hours once a week. It’s about connecting with the family of God throughout the week.

(Like I say every year I preach on this subject...) How can we know what your needs are, pray for you, love on you, hold each other accountable, if all we do is talk for 5 min. on Sunday mornings?

Hopefully you are recognizing the need to connect with other humans.
As Christians, we have a higher calling, to connect with each other.

Ephesians 2:19-22

V. 11-22 remind us that as Christians, we are one in Christ.

V. 13 The GOSPEL

V. 14...he is our peace, opened up a relationship with God…

V. 19 CONSEQUENTLY...

We are no longer foreigners or aliens. We have a new family.

“Fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”

What is our church (and our relationships) built on? V. 20 Christ Jesus.

The word "cornerstone" literally means "at the tip of the angle." It refers to the capstone or binding stone that holds the whole structure together.

When we gather as Christians (on Sunday mornings or wherever) the most important thing that should happen is that the presence of Jesus should be felt, obvious.

V. 22 Through Christ we are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Kelley Klassens group...

Questions/comments on today’s subject?

Conclusion:
The tunnel hike with the boys...Eli getting scared and heading for the entrance...I needed to carry him for a little while...

January 22nd, 2006

The bigger plan, carried out by the average person.
Exodus 1- 4

Intro: Article from Thursday’s paper about churches in the poor parts of our Nation. “How the other half worships.” Humble men used by God…Moses was one of those men. Five times he tried to weasel out of the calling God had for him. Yet God had a bigger plan to accomplish his purposes.

Text: 3:1-6, 11-12

Today we are going to jump back into our study of the OT. We left off at the end of Genesis. Joseph and all of his generation had died in Egypt.

About 350 years had passed between the time that Israel came to live in the land of Egypt with Joseph and where our story picks up in Exodus. Exodus literally means??? “going out.” (Exit) Exodus is a record of how God took his people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.

As we study the OT it’s good to remember that the Bible is true history. Not just some book of amazing stories. These things actually happened!

We will also learn a lot about God and his character from this book. His omniscience and sovereignty (He knew what Pharaoh was going to do.) No one can thwart the plans and purposes of God.

We see a vivid example of Satan and his opposition to God’s plan (he wanted to cut of the line that lead to Jesus).

Man’s inability to save himself.

(Into the story of Moses) Exodus 1:6-7
Clearly, God allowed the children/people of Israel to prosper and multiply. So far so good. Until the new King arrives and doesn’t like what he sees.

V. 8-11 We are now see Satan enter the story as the fight against God continues. He was directly guiding Pharaoh.

Why do you think Satan wanted to destroy the nation of Israel?

Satan knew that God had promised to send the Deliverer (Jesus) who would destroy Satan and deliver man from his power. He also knew that this deliverer would be born through the nation of Israel, that he would be a descendant of Abraham.

The whole reason Satan got kicked out of heaven was because of his lust for power. (That can be us too, huh? An insatiable lust for power.)

Then along comes the man who God would use to carry out his plan, Moses.
Exodus 2:1-4

The parents of baby Moses trusted God to take care of their baby son. In reality, we are doing the same thing with our baby dedications here at CC…

Parents or not, we all need faith in God in order to please him and be saved.

God’s plan for Moses? Have him adopted into a family of wealth and influence. Pharaoh’s family! Ex. 2:5-10.

God knew Moses would be the most safe there as well as learn many important things that would help him later on. (He most likely was given instruction in writing and literary skills as well as domestic and military leadership training.)

Wow, God used Moses’ brave sister and Pharaoh’s daughter to protect Moses.

(I’m telling you, it’s a female thing...Single guys, want attention from girls? Borrow my 10 week old son…)

Then God allowed Moses to be nursed by his own mother! V. 7-8

God had a special beginning for the man he would use to deliver Israel.

What is the special purpose that God has for you in your life?

Just like the story of Joseph, we see God working through an adverse situation to accomplish his purposes. (Seems inevitable, he is working with us humans after all. Lets remember that as we discover our special purpose in life.)

Clearly God is supreme and sovereign. He is greater than Satan and any plan he can come up with. Nothing can stop him. God has all wisdom, we can trust him. He cares for us today as much as he cared for his children, the Israelites.

I pray these are comforting words to you this morning…

Exodus 2:11-22 Moses reaches manhood.
The Israelites are held captive by evil Pharaoh, can’t escape.

Moses tries on his own and messes up big-time, v. 11-12.

No human being could’ve pulled off the rescue of the Israelites by himself. Only God could manage that. We need to view the “impossible” tasks we face in the same way…

Just as the Israelites were held captive by Satan, we too are born captive to Satan. We can’t deliver ourselves from his power, only God can...GOSPEL…INVITATION...

Exodus 3:1-3 God’s power is shown.
This was an ordinary bush, used in an extraordinary way by God. Hmm, see the theme running here. Joseph, Moses, (ordinary) the bush (ordinary) you and me (ordinary) and all the “legends of the faith” (ORDINARY!)

God was in the bush and kept it from being destroyed. So he was with the Israelites and us today.

Exodus 3:4 God speaks clearly to Moses.

God can speak to us today in numerous ways. How do we stay open to hearing from God?

Exodus 3:5-6 God is holy and righteous.
God told Moses to take off his shoes as a sign of respect. To be barefoot was a sign of humility and submission, slaves went barefoot.

It’s why we stand (out of respect for God) when we read the Bible. (Coach Apostle, 9th grade football…)

Exodus 3:7-11 God is supreme and sovereign.
God will choose whomever he please to carry out his plans and there is nothing that can stop him. That can be comforting and freighting, why?

Exodus 3:13-14 Trust in God...because he’s God!
What a powerful answer, and a powerful name! “I AM” is really so powerful, we can’t fully understand it.

It means that God is the self-existent one. “In the beginning God..” He’s always been around. No beginning and no end. He never was and never will be dependent on anyone. He controls everything. He is the great “I AM.”

Exodus 3:19-20 God knows everything.
God knew exactly how the king of Egypt would react, same with us...again, that’s a good and scary thought…

Exodus 4:13-28 God gives us help when we need it.
V. 13-17, Moses lacks confidence, God is (rightly so) angry with Moses.

V. 27-28 God sends Aaron. Who are those helpers in your life? Recognize they are sent by God.

Exodus 4:29-31 Moses and Aaron are faithful to God and eventually all the people did to.
The people are now thankful that God heard their cries for help.

The Israelites were wise to listen to God and believe God’s message through Moses.

When we don’t believe the word of God, we are calling him a liar, doubting that God knows what’s best for us.
God is unable to help those who refuse to believe his word.

Conclusion/wrap-up:
Today’s sermon is about much more than just the calling of Moses. It is the history of Israel.
It also shows us God’s grand plan to eventually send Jesus.
No one is greater than God. No ruler, no boss, no “evil person” etc.
God knew exactly what the people of Israel needed to go through and it’s no different for us today.

January 29th, 2006

“Plagues and Passover, Disease and Deliverance.”

Moses, Exodus 5-12

Intro…VIDEO frogs from the sky (Magnolia) trying to make a connection with God on our own terms is always trouble…
We are stubborn and don’t want to let go those things which make us comfortable.

Text: Exodus 5:22-6:8

I hope you got a chance to read Exodus 5-12 this week. A great story, a classic one from the OT, for sure.
Re-tell the story from chapters 5-12…

Important stuff to keep in mind from this story:
Through this story we see God’s sovereignty and power in bringing the plagues on Egypt. Sounds strange but, God actually used Pharaoh’s resistance to display his power.

We also see his holiness, grace and mercy displayed in his deliverance of Israel through the Passover.

Blood is an important part of this story. Only those protected by the blood of the lamb would be spared the death of their firstborn. (Hmm...sound familiar?)

Normally when we see/think of blood it gets creepy...movies esp. When we see blood, we get queasy. Blood means life, it has deep meaning!

When a big disaster strikes, what is often needed? Blood! Blood can be life giving and “life-taking.”

Just as the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, we too are enslaved to sin. Why was Pharaoh being so stubborn? Why did it take ten awful plagues for God to finally get his attention? Pharaoh didn’t want to give up the slaves, the things that made him comfortable. (Not like we’d ever do that…)

Any one of the plagues can represent things that keep us from God.

God promises deliverance. (before all the awful plagues hit…) Exodus 5:22-6:8
God will provide a way to escape for those who trust him. God promises deliverance, but we don’t always know his time table or process.

We too are spared the wrath of God because we have been placed under the protection of the shed blood of Jesus.

Just like Pharaoh trusted in his own power and the power of false gods, today people refuse to humble themselves before God.

Pharaoh realized too late that he was not the greatest and that he couldn’t do it his way.

The Egyptians were intelligent, highly skilled, writers, mathematicians, chemists, architects, artists, craftsmen etc. etc. But Spiritually they were toddlers…

Lessons to learn from the 10 plagues: Exodus 7-12 (actually starts back in chap. 5)
“I don’t know God and I don’t want to let ____________go.” Exodus 5:1-2

The Egyptians didn’t worship God. Instead they worshipped the things he made, i.e. the Nile River, the sun, moon, different animals. They had all kinds of gods. They even worshipped “Pharaoh” (the title given to all rules of Egypt).

Because all these people had turned to worship idols and lost a true understanding of God, God called Abraham and made him the Father of the nation of Israel. God did this so that through Israel, He could preserve the true knowledge of God.

Had Pharaoh not been so stubborn, God could’ve shown him who the real God was. Sound familiar?

Instead of saying, “Why did it take 10 plagues?” We should see it as a chance for God to show his power 10 times!

How did the Egyptian magicians duplicate some of these plagues? (Staff into snake, water into blood, frogs.) It was the power of Satan.

Notice how each of the plagues had to do directly with a god the Egyptians worshipped.

Why did God protected the Israelites from these plagues even though they lived near?

God had not forgotten his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

It’s all about his grace and mercy.

So Pharaoh would realize who the true God was.

With each of the plagues, the response was the same. Pharaoh asked Moses to remove the plague, God does it, Pharaoh changes his mind.

We see this pattern in our own lives too. “Just give me one more chance God.” We “barely escape” something only to promise God that next time, “I swear I won’t do that again.”

God’s final plague and deliverance. Exodus 11-12
Ex. 11:1, 4-7.

showing the comparison/similarites between the Passover lamb and Jesus…

Can the GOSPEL message get any clearer? (Invitation too...)

God is still the same, he never changes. We can never come to God on our own terms. We can only come to God according to his way.

Conclusion:

We can learn from this awful tragedy to believe God. He never changes.

He still requires that we believe in him and the system he has set up for our salvation.

He still judges sin and will punish those who fight against him. Yet he will show mercy to those who trust him.

We can “feel bad” for Pharaoh, yet he had nine warnings. Same with us. Usually we bring the trouble on ourselves, even when we’ve been forewarned.