Sermon Notes 12-31-2017

The end of another year!

So where do we go from here??

So the big question is where do we go from here in 2016??

I ask my self this question all the time, where do we go from here? What should we do next? What needs fixed, tweaked, done away with, started up. But as a church congregation, and individuals in that congregation, what do those questions look like to each one of us?

After careful thought and prayer, I have some things for you to think about in the coming year, things to consider. And the best place to start is in Acts 2. After Peter delivered a big sermon, and the church grew quickly, the way the church responded might give us a peak in to what we should do next!

Let me set this set of verses up

·      Peter had just preached a sermon of a life time

·      Proclaiming the Gospel boldly

·      And all of a sudden, a church off a 100 became a church of 3000

·      And they didn’t sit back and say, “look at us” or “we don’t want this many people”

·      They dug in and kept doing the lords work!

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)

⁴²And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

⁴³And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

⁴⁴And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

⁴⁵And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

⁴⁶And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Before we continue with Matthew we are going to explore “Where do we go from here”!

Over the next 4 weeks I am going to break down Acts 2:42-47 and take a close look at what we are doing well and look at some of the shortcomings that we have so that we can continue to further the kingdom and carry out the great commission set forth to us by Jesus!

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, what did the first church formed after Jesus ascended that was so special, so awe inspiring that lead to the making of so many disciples?  

1. They learned together

2. They had one common mission

3. They hung out and spent time together

4. They gave for the common mission

and for the next 4 weeks we are going to look at who we are, through the lens of who they were and hopefully come out the other side with a new focus and direction for 2018! It won’t be easy, there will be a lot of inward looking and maybe even some hurt feelings, but I think we will only come put the other side stronger and more focused!

 My Vision for 2018! It’s going to be a big year!

Here are a few things I would like to see us doing in the new year! And it will take us all to make it happen!

1. More learning opportunities

·      More small groups

·      More Wednesday night class

·      Specialty classes

o   Couples

o   Men’s

o   Women’s

2. infrastructure up-grades

·      Finishing the Big Barn

·      Completing the kids church

·      Investing in our kids and teens

3. utilizing our facilities

·      From weddings

·      To fellowship

·      The arena

·      To charity events

4.  A community giving program

·      Develop a program to give back to our local community

·      Hosting Charity events

·      Raising money for the less fortunate where we live

It will take us all, we will all have to follow the first church model to pull this off, it won’t be easy, you and I will have to commit, to challenge each other, to get behind a common mission, and if we do we will further the kingdom, reach more people than we ever have, will touch lives, not just give lip service. And we will make and impact!

WHO IS WITH ME???

Close

What I don’t want to become, Lukewarm!

Revelation 3:14–16 (NLT)

¹⁴“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

¹⁵“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

¹⁶But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

·      I see to many churches just getting by

·      I see to many churches never walking out their doors

·      I see to many churches just going through the motions

·      And I will not sit back and watch us become LUKEWARM!

Sermon Notes 12-24-2017 (Morning)

Christmas Eve Service (Morning 2017)

What is Christmas all about!

What is Christmas all about?

Christmas has become about a lot of things but have we somehow missed the point of Christmas?

There are somethings we do during the Christmas season that are food things, I ma not her to tear down everything you do during the holidays.

The good things

·      Holiday traditions (meals with family and friends)

·      Gift giving (not to the excess)

·      Decorating

·      Parties

·      The food!!

·      All these things are great things

Some are not so good

·      Excessive spending (out of our budget)

·      The stress of taking on too much

·      And our country (America) is forgetting what Christmas is all about

And Charlie Brown was frustrated too!

All of these things, the family traditions, the decorations, the music, the cookies, the cards, the tree, and the presents are all symbols of Christmas, but I dare to answer the question asked by Charlie Brown when he said humbly, “What is Christmas really all about?”

 Show Clip

Luke 2:10-11

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

So, what is Christmas all about? I think Linus said it best, it’s about Jesus!

The perfect gift!

 John 3:16

“For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

·      Jesus Christ is by far the most perfect Christmas gift you will ever receive.

·      His birth is the true meaning of Christmas and what this season is really all about.

·      Christ was born not by chance, nor by luck, but for the purpose to save the world.  

God loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ into this world on Christmas day, born of the virgin Mary and wrapped in swaddling clothes, to ultimately die for you.

·      Christ died for your sins, so you wouldn’t have to.

And there is more!

As a child of God, there are other presents with your name written on them under your Father’s Christmas tree, and the gifts He has for you are more valuable and more precious than anything money could buy.

They do not

expire,

break,

rot,

rust,

malfunction,

need batteries,

or ever need to be returned at the store.

God’s gifts rather are

 indescribable,

innumerable,

supernatural,

and available for you any time of the year.

Here are just some of the Gifts God Has Given You

1.  The gift of a Savior:

“And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21

2.  The gift of God’s love:

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” – Jer. 31:3

3.  The gift of God’s grace:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

4.  The gift of God’s peace:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27

5.  The gift of God’s Holy Spirit:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” – Acts 1:8

6.  The gift of a brand new life:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

7.  The gift of freedom from bondage and sin:

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” – Romans 8:1-2

8.  The gift of supernatural strength:

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

9.  The gift of purpose:

“For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jer. 29:11

10.  The gift of prayer/ direct access to God:

“And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”1 John 5:14-15

11.  The gift of hope:

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

The list of God’s gifts for us, brothers and sisters, can go on and on and are all found in His infallible Word, the Bible.

As His kids, our job is simply to receive and open them.

Although presents, cards, cookies, and caroling are fun to do during the Holidays, we cannot lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas.

We have to be careful of getting so caught up in the material things of this world that we become distracted from the perfect gift this Christmas; the birth of our perfect Savior.

Jesus came into this world, so we can one day be with Him in heaven and He promises to provide for each one of our needs.

·      The possibilities for our lives, our purpose, and our impact for the Kingdom of God here on earth are endless.

·      Just as God had a plan and purpose for the birth of Jesus, He has a plan and a purpose for you too.

Close

Christmas is a time when we gather around friends and family to celebrate the most perfect gift we have ever received, Jesus Christ.

No matter what we’re given this Christmas, no matter what is taken away, come, let us adore Him.

No matter how we’re feeling or what we’re going through, come let our souls rejoice and find true Peace Love and JOY.