Sermon Notes 9-1-2013

Gathering the Heard!

Our kids, are Gods Kids!

Sermon 3

Luke 18:15-17

Today its all about kids, and how Jesus loved and cared for kids

We need to understand kids are the life blood of our church

We need to be great parents and raise are kids up 

We need to be great grandparents and be involved with our grandbabies

We need to be a great church family and help raise the kids in this church to love God and carry on the work of Jesus!

So her we go, today it’s all about our kids, your kids, my kids, the church kids, our neighborhood kids. We are going to look at how Jesus established the need to love kids, honor kids are teach our kids in the ways of God. Jesus never missed an opportunity to spend time with, teach and love on kids. And some times we miss precious opportunity to teach our kids because our lives are to “busy” to spend time with our kids. Sadly I am as much to blame for not spending time with my kids early on in their lives, I have ask God to forgive me and I am publicly ask them to forgive me today, but hopefully I can impart some wisdom with Gods help to make our kids a priority, weather it be at home, at church, on the ball field, in the car on the way to school, to find opportunities to teach our kids about Jesus!

  

We are all Children, we all have parents, and we are all Children of God!

John 1:12–13 (ESV) 

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

Before we start I need to establish some basic, I want to get into the life lesson as parents, as grandparents, as church family. But we need to get into the right mindset of what in Gods eyes a child is!

It started in Gen. we are all created in Gods image and are born out of that image

Through rebellion we got kicked out of the Garden, because God loved us and knew that we would continue to sin

And now through faith we can become children of God

If your believe in Jesus, you’re a child of God

If you are a child of God, the bible is about Gods love for his chidren

And the whole book is a book about a father who raises His kids and His love and teaching for us

God is the perfect parent, and if you really want to know how to be a good patent it starts with becoming a Christian, and following Jesus’s example, digging in to Gods word and understanding what God wants for us so we can be more like him, and follow His example!

At PTCC we believe the whole bible is about Jesus, Gods first Son, and its about the Son that God sent as a sacrifice, to walk with us and bring us back to our Father. It’s a beautiful story about how God so loved the world (his children) that he sent is only Son to save us, to die a horrible death for us. And remember that Jesus trusted His Father so much, that he did this knowing that God would never forsake him. What better example of a Parent that loves his kids, honors His kids, and will do anything to restore them. 

Today I Have three points that I need to make to help you understand what God expects out of Parent to raise our kids to carry on our work in the kingdom for Generations to come!

One, Lead by example!

We have all heard all the scriptures about parenting, and all the responsibilities that kids have toward us, right?

Ephesians 6:1 (ESV)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 

Proverbs 13:24 (ESV)

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. 

It’s even a commandment right?

Exodus 20:12 (ESV) 

 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 

Then there are the old sayings

Spare the rod, Save the child

Respect your elders

And my personal favorite

Say it with “do as I say, not as I do” !

Those are all good sayings, good advice, but there is a second part to it. Are you leading your kids by example? Do they is you walking the walk that your talk? Or do they simply follow your example? Do they learn from your both in word and deed?

Your kids are watching you and learning to be Just like you!

1 Kings 22:52–53 (NLT) 

52 But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin. 53 He served Baal and worshiped him, provoking the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done. 

Kids learn by watching and listening to what you do!

At Home

Do you ask your kids to tell you the truth and then see you lie?

Do your ask them not to angry and hit, but its the first thing you do when you get angry with them is spank out of anger

Do you tell them to be nice to people, and you are always flying off the handle with your spouse? 

At Church, do you want them to love and grow in Jesus?

Do you make Church a priority?

If you don’t your kids wont!

Do you pray together as a family?

If you don’t your kids wont

Do you read your Bible?

If you don’t your kids wont!

Do you talk about Jesus on any other day but Sunday?

If you don’t your kids wont

If we want our kids to grow up, and be Godly people then we first have to be the example. 

When were wrong we have to own it

When we sin they need to see you repent

When they sin pray with them, then punish them

Bring God home and let him live there with you and show your kids that Jesus is a priority in your life

We do make a difference!

1 Kings 9:4–5 (NLT) 

4 “As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, 5 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ 

We have to start by looking in the mirror and asking God, where do I need to make changes in my life to be a better example to my kids? What sins am I holding on to that I need to let go of?  What log is in my eye that needs to be remove so I can help my kids get the speck out of theirs?

Two, Teach them about the world, who God is and His plan for us all

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (NLT) 

6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 

God has command us to teach our kids in His way

Its not the kids church’s responsibility to teach our kids about Jesus

Its not the Christian daycare ladies job either

Is ours all of ours in this room to raise our kids in this church

And the real responsibilities lay on you parents

It will stick with them a lifetime!

Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. 

Start young

Its never to late, if you go to church they need to be drug to church

It will stick with them

I’m a good example

The lady who drug me to church

Even when my parents couldn’t go it was important that I did

You have to teach them, have regular time to read and take every opportunity to teach them

They need to know about who god is and who Satan is

The world is a dark place

Your kids need to understand Gods plan for the world

The news is scary

The world is scary

God is the plan, its all in His time, His will

Take the time to teach your kids, its doesn’t have to be in a formal setting. It can be in the car, on a horse, watching Duck Dynasty, NASCAR whatever, whenever look for lessons about God and his plan for you, your kids and the world!

Three, Its not just Quality time, Its also Quantity of time!

Matthew 19:13–15 (NLT) 

13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 

14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. 

Matthew 18:1–6 (NLT) 

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 

2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf* is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 

Jesus made Kids a priority, so should we!

Jesus was busy in preaching and stopped everything to visit with them!

Jesus loved children, and children loved Jesus

Jesus ran to Jesus, why because he loved them

Kids have a great sense of weather you want them around or not

Dou your kids know you want them around?

Are you making them a priority in your life?

VS 5&6 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf* is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin,

Jesus makes children a priority

Jesus wants us to follow his example and make them a priority in our lives

If your have kids your life change and you must spend time with them to teach them, love them and guide them

He also tells us we need to keep them on the right path 

To keep them loving god, and hating sin

What are your priorities? 

Parents take it from a parent whose kids are grown you will regret not spending time with your kids

The most important job you have is raising your kids

The most important thing in your life as parents is your kids

The TV will wait (is really not the God of your house)

The Golf will wait (who needs that much exercise)

The hunting will wait (ok maybe take them with ya)

You cant take it with you (your stuff cant own you)

Your job will wait (its just money)

Sermon Notes 8-25-2013

Gathering the Heard!

Form Single to Married!

Sermon 2

Matthew 5:38-48

A wedding to a war!

I want to start where the Bible starts, and the Bible starts with a wedding.

Genesis 2:23–24 (NLT)

²³ “At last!” the man exclaimed.

“This one is bone from my bone,

and flesh from my flesh!

She will be called ‘woman,’

because she was taken from ‘man.’ ”

²⁴ This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

The Bible starts with a wedding, and it quickly moves to a war.

Genesis 3:4–5 (NLT)

⁴ “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. ⁵ “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

How many of you have had that experience? The story of Genesis is, our first parents are married, and immediately Satan, the enemy of God, shows up, and he moves his war from heaven to earth, and from assaulting God and the angels to assaulting a husband and wife.

The truth is that marriage is in the context of war.

·      A spiritual battle rages between the enemy of God and his people.

·      For those of us who are Christian, our marriages are on the frontline of that battle

·      And the closer you move toward ministry, it even intensifies, because Satan absolutely hates God.

·      He hates God’s people, and he particularly hates marriage, and he hates Christian marriage, because Christian marriage is a portrait of the gospel.

Isaiah 54:5 (NLT)

⁵ For your Creator will be your husband;

the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!

He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,

the God of all the earth.

Revelation 21:2 (NLT)

² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

A marriage is described Paul!

READ Ephesians 5:21-33

Paul says in Ephesians 5:

·      That husbands should love their wives like Christ loves the church.

·      He’s saying that a husband and wife, in loving union, communion, and covenant are kind of like the relationship that Jesus has with the church

·      That as Jesus leads the church lovingly, and humbly, and sacrificially, so men are to lovingly, humbly, sacrificially lead their families.

·      Wives respect their husbands, they are showing something of the respect that the church has, or at least should have, for Jesus, as the head of the church.

Satan Attacks Marriage!

So Satan attacks marriages, because marriages are an illustration of the gospel; and, furthermore, if Satan can destroy a Christian marriage, especially a ministry marriage—those couples that are seeking to honor and serve God with their gifts in the marketplace, home, or ministry—then he knows that he can affect generations. He can have an effect on their children, and their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren.

·      Satan Tempted Jesus because he was the Groom

·      I have seen the affects on my kids

·      Carrie and I guard very closely to show are kids a Godly marriage

·      The closer you walk with God the More Satan will look for ways to destroy your marriage

·      And never forget Satan is very shrewd and cunning. Don’t ever underestimate Satan!!

It’s a very serious matter to be married as a Christian.

I knew this from reading the Bible, that Satan attacks families. What I find curious is that Satan didn’t even show up to attack Adam and Eve until they were married. And for some of us, we have this naive notion that if we just get married, then our trials, and our troubles, and our temptations will go away. No, then our enemy will come, and the battle will, in fact, intensify.

·      If you have been married for a minute you know this

·      Heck if you’re planning a weeding you know this

·      With marriage comes trial and issues that double that of being single

·      Loving someone all the time, looking past their faults all the time, Get old and that’s when Satan gets ya!!

So how do we guard our marriage against Satan??

Before we get to deep!

From the book real Marriage

Taking Out the Trash: deal with conflict wisely

·      Conflict will come (married people, is this true?),

·      You need Lots on repentance

·      And you need lots of forgiveness

·      And you nee to avoid bitterness (“The true test of whether or not we are bitter is our tongues”).

·       

Proverbs 6:17 (NLT)

¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,

Psalm 10:7 (ESV)

⁷  His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;

under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

Conflicts will come, fight will happen. We have to learn to fight with love and respect. We have to learn to forgive, to repent when we are wrong, and don’t let bitterness set in!

Friend with Benefits

·      (A book reviewer) This was an awesome chapter. A lot of books on marriage don’t talk about the importance of friendship - the Driscolls do. I appreciate that.

·      You have to be friends first

·      You have to do life together

·      You have define beautiful by your spouse, not someone else’s

Physical beauty will fade, sex will stop but your friendship will last as long as you live! Cherish your best fiend, your confidant, your soul mate, whatever, however you define it. But just as no other Gods is to replace the one true God, no one on this earth should replace your best friend!

A new Study: I have talked about before

I think the best sociologist in this area is a man named Bradford Wilcox, at the University of Virginia. He did a massive study, and he published a book on his findings called Soft Patriarchs, New Men. And he says that for those who are Christian, there are three variables that do not necessarily guarantee marital success, but drop the divorce rate in half. I know we have covered these before, but Christians, married Christians need to understand marriage is a war and the devil will attack you and here are the best way to defend your marriage!

Number one: shared theology.

·      You agree on Jesus and the Bible and marriage and roles.

·      You both believe in God

·      The trinity

·      The forgiveness of Sin

·      That Jesus was the Son of the holy God

·      That He died a horrible death for your sins

·      He rose on the third day

·      The Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in us

·      We sin daily against God and others

·       

We have to agree, the Bible is God’s Word, Jesus is God’s Son, the law of God exposes our sin, we need the grace of Christ, we need the humility of the Holy Spirit, we need to repent to one another, we need to forgive one another, we need to obey the Bible because Jesus is Lord and I’m not. If we agree on those things, you can build a marriage. The rest is all details.  

And this ties in to number two!

Number two: regular, joint church attendance.

·      Husband and wife going to, part of, involved in community with the same church.

o   This does not mean show up Sunday and sleep half way through and go home

o   This means being in community, doing life with, being a part of a church

o   Do you even know what Christ defines as a church

o   It’s not the building, its you, its me; it’s the body of Christ!

·      This allows you to be under teaching, under authority, in community, getting accountability, positive examples, negative examples, encouragement for being obedient, and discouragement for becoming disobedient.

o   Under teaching means learning what God intends for His people

o   Under authority, being help accountable, seeing other struggle and helping in the work that God has called us all to do, REACH THE LOST!

·       Go to church together. And don’t just go to church together, be in community, get in a small group, teach the kids together, be a part of the body of Christ.

o   Get in a small group

o   Serve on Sunday together

o   Go feed the homeless

o   Help the arena team

o   Take your family, and help someone in the church out

o   Go buy groceries for someone you know needs it together

o   BUT MOST OF ALL SERVE TOGETHER!

Number three: bring your faith home.

·      Do you read the Bible together at home?

o   Do you talk about your struggles with sin together

o   I know this sounds chessey, but the closer you are the harder it is for Satan to get in

·      Do you read Christian books together?

·       Are you in a small group together?

o   We have tons of small groups

o   For women to grow

o   For men to grow

o   The one that saddens me the most most is single gals with out there spouse

·       Do you pray together?

o   If so, your odds of divorce go down by 50% because the couple that prays together stays together

o   You need to cover your marriage in prayer

o   Pray for your spouse, your kids, your dog, your church, BUT MOST OF ALL PRAY!

Sermon Notes 8-18-2013

Gathering the Heard!

It’s all about Family

Sermon 1, Single and loving it, Married and Faithful!

 

1 Corinthians 7:25-40

 

So here we are!

 

Are you single??

We will all be single at some point.

·         Some of you are single until you’re married.

·          Some of us will be divorced or widowed, then be single again.

Singleness is an issue for everyone, and singleness is to be preferred under certain conditions, for certain seasons, for certain purposes. And so we must in addition to being theological, we must be practical.

 

Just like now they were living together, sleeping together, booty calling, and friends with benefits. And Paul’s answers there questions as to his insight for what to do.

 

We pick it up in:

1 Corinthians 7:7–9 (NLT)

7 But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another. 8 So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. 9 But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.

 

·         If you good at staying away from sex, if you enjoy being single GOOD!

·         If you can’t, get married

·         So here is the bottom line if your single and you know your, Like a dog in heat

·         You need to hurry up and get married

·         Quickly, get a job, get a house, find a good single Christian and get married

 

Here’s my caution to you

·         Don’t get in a hurry, and settle

·         Let God, help you find the right mate

·         You should very careful, very discerning

·         Ladies, I’m talking to you for just a minute:

o   There needs to be layers of protections for you ladies

o   Men are pigs, we are all horn dogs

o   You need to run him by your family

o   Your friends

o   Your church

o   Don’t just jump in, go to pre-marital counseling here

o   Be very very cautious

 

1 Corinthians 7:25–28 (NLT)

25 Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you. 26 Because of the present crisis,* I think it is best to remain as you are. 27 If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married. 28 But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems.

 

·         This is one of those misunderstood verses

o   You have to do your homework to understand this

o   Paul is not saying marriage is bad, that goes against the bible

o   All the way through Scripture, marriage is ideal.

o   Marriage is to be honored.

o    Marriage is to be preferred.

o    Being alone isn’t good. You get into lots of trouble.

·         They’re living under a crisis.

o   It may be one of two things, or both.

o   One, persecution under the Roman emperor Nero was likely just commencing around this time, meaning Christians were being slaughtered and murdered.

o   Two there was a famine that had been prophesied in Acts 11:28 that would have occurred around this same time

 

 

Being single has its advantages

 

1 Corinthians 7:32–35 (NLT)

32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

 

·         When your single you have no distractions

·         You can come and go as you please

·         I love my family but with that responsibility, it sometimes takes you away from kingdom work

·         God brings seasons of singleness for a reason, so use that time to stay faithful to the kingdom

o   It might be you’re not ready for a relationship

o    Guys if you have lawn furniture and a Huge TV, you might not be ready!!!

o   Women, get close to God doing his work and finding yourself in Him, before you take on add responsibilities.

o   God will bring you a mate, when your faithful, God is faithful

o   Remember it’s all About your relationship with Him first

 

A rabbit trail

 

Widows, Retirees, Empty Nesters

·         It’s not time to sit back

·         It’s time to get involved

·         It’s time to reach people

·         It’s not about lounging, it’s about spending your time wisely and sharing your wisdom

·         It’s not about hording, It’s about healing

 

You have an opportunity now to shed yourself of some weight of this world and be free to serve in your church, your community, your family.

 

 

 

Are you married!

 

Revelation 19:7–9 (NLT)

    7 Let us be glad and rejoice,

      and let us give honor to him.

    For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,

      and his bride has prepared herself.

    8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”

      For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”

 

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of it let me start by saying this!

·         Your marriage the way your treat and love and serve your spouse is a direct reflection on your relationship with Jesus!

·         We are going to cover some things that will get a little sticky you need to take it in its totality

·         Jesus wants our marriage to mirror his love for us

·         So don’t take anything about your relationship lightly

·         Jesus said:

Matthew 25:44–46 (NLT)

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

 

·         This is just me saying, take your marriage serious

·         It’s something that needs to be worked at daily

·         I preach over and over to invest in your relationship with Christ, and you should invest in your relationship with your spouse

·         It’s easy to get complacent

·         It’s easy to take advantage, I encourage you to get involved in a small group with your spouse, to pray with your spouse, to spend time with your spouse and to understand what Gods word says about marriage

 

 

Just the tip of the Iceberg!

 

Ephesians 5:25–33 (NLT)

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.* 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.

31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”* 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

 

Let’s set some ground work! (you single people, soon to be married people, wanting to get married people pay attention)

 

Vs 25:

·         I want you men to think about this for a minute

·         How much did Christ love the church

o   He stepped out of a mansion, and in to poverty

o   He gave of Glory, for humiliation

o   He set aside a crown of Gold for one made out of thorns

o   He became homeless, penniless, to SERVE His bride!

o   He died a horrible, cruel death so she didn’t have to

o   Every day he makes her spotless, blameless in Gods sight!

·         Know compare your love for your spouse to how much Christ loved the church, and when you do right where you are bow your heads and ask God for forgiveness because everyone of us falls short, but my question for you, are you even trying to love your wife like God loves the church??

Vs 31:

·         Are you and your wife one or are you just coexisting?

·         Are you making your family decisions together, or are you just kind coasting along

·         Marriage is work, Jesus just didn’t show up. he worked hard every day on our relationship, and he still does

·         Are you putting in the time and effort to make this a relationship that mirrors Jesus’s relationship with His church

 

 

Vs 33:

·         Ladies, do you respect your husbands

·         Are you showing Him respect and letting him be the spiritual leader of your home

·         We talk a lot about men loving their wives, we talk very little about women respecting their husbands

·         This more important then you know, men need to be respected, more than they need to be loved

·         As a man and a leader in a war environment, I would rather be respected that loved 9 out of 10 times

·         We have a small group that teaches this one verse and its 12 weeks long.

·         Men and women are different, God designed us that way.